The intricacies of having a cat, or rather being owned by a cat!
Everyone who has ever had a cat will be able to relate to this book. The author goes The intricacies of having a cat, or rather being owned by a cat!
Everyone who has ever had a cat will be able to relate to this book. The author goes into depth about everything, 'cat': how their eyes look like marbles, their secret stash of things from around the house, their gurgling purrs, the intense bird watching from the window, how they silently judge you and how you can never find them when you want them.
Invisible Kitties is charming and has some really cute illustrations as well.
NetGalley and 4th Estate William Collins provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review. ...more
Forest of Noise is a powerful collection of poems. Every word is a blow to the gut. Every poem will leave you hollow. The situations are real; highligForest of Noise is a powerful collection of poems. Every word is a blow to the gut. Every poem will leave you hollow. The situations are real; highlighting the horrific realities that not only the Palestinian people are currently facing, but have always faced since the 1948 Nakba.
NetGalley and 4th Estate and William Collins provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review.
Matt Goodfellow knows how to write from an older child's perspective. This anthology of poems is profound. Not only are these poems about trying to naMatt Goodfellow knows how to write from an older child's perspective. This anthology of poems is profound. Not only are these poems about trying to navigate through high school but they are about home-life as well. They are about self-discovery, peers, teachers and parents.
These poems will have you smiling: "I look like a muppet." Others are thought-provoking: "We're the ones who've seen too much." Poems such as Rugby Club will make you laugh out loud - "What a stupid game." And the poem Lost Boy certainly hits hard.
This book will take you on a rather bumpy ride from Year 7 all the way through to to the finish line at Year 11, on the journey that is called high school.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review....more
A wonderful insight into the life of renowned Surrealist artist, Salvador Dali. Being somewhat familiar with some of his paintings, I had no idea abouA wonderful insight into the life of renowned Surrealist artist, Salvador Dali. Being somewhat familiar with some of his paintings, I had no idea about his personal life or background until now. There are also some fantastic, vibrant illustrations.
This is yet another wonderful addition to the Little People, BIG DREAMS series.
My thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Francis Lincoln Children's Books for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review. ...more
A year previously, Sophie finds her fiance cheating on her with her best friend. Within a year, she sells her all-year-round Christmas shop and ends uA year previously, Sophie finds her fiance cheating on her with her best friend. Within a year, she sells her all-year-round Christmas shop and ends up buying and running a B&B in the Lake District. She no longer enjoys the magic of Christmas and advertises and an escape from Christmas for the Christmas period, for people like herself who want to get away from the festivities. Handsome vet Brody is her neighbour who lives in a farmhouse next door.
Escape For Christmas is a lovely, comforting read and I really couldn't put it down. There is much more to the book than the usual romance. Sophie's B&B guests turned out to be quite entertaining and added to the story.
NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review. ...more
Losing a loved one is difficult and completely shatters the lives of the ones left behind.
The Chibineko Kitchen deals with grief. The restaurant offeLosing a loved one is difficult and completely shatters the lives of the ones left behind.
The Chibineko Kitchen deals with grief. The restaurant offers healing through food by specializing in remembrance meals that are 'shared' and offered to loved ones who have passed.
The story is beautiful and the characters are well written; they are given a sense of closure and the courage to move on after their interactions with the ones they have lost.
The cat Chibi adds to the story by just being cute. Recipes to the remembrance meals have also been given at the end of each chapter.
A special thanks to John Murray Press for granting my wish to read this book via NetGalley....more
Once in a while, a book comes up that is completely bizarre. This is one of those books and the story had me hooked.
I absolutely loved the unique conOnce in a while, a book comes up that is completely bizarre. This is one of those books and the story had me hooked.
I absolutely loved the unique concept. However, I really didn't like the main character Vi who just seemed to continuously get herself into a rut. I suppose she did have to get herself into the depths of despair, in order to eventually get out of the mess and get her life sorted.
NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review....more
The premise of The Trunk is intriguing but I wouldn't classify this as a feminist thriller at all.
Told through a first person narrative, The Trunk teThe premise of The Trunk is intriguing but I wouldn't classify this as a feminist thriller at all.
Told through a first person narrative, The Trunk tells the story of Inji who works for the secret New Marriage (NM) department of W&L - a matchmaking company as a Field Wife (FW). First Wives take up a contractual marriage for a year. Inji's 'husband' renews their contract. He is a music producer and lives a quiet life. There is no sanctity in this sort of marriage.
The other characters add overall depth to the story. Granny, Inji's neighbour adds some humour by being obsessed with a young man. Inji's best friend Shi Jeong makes Inji question her sexuality. It is Inji's stalker Tae Seong that gives The Trunk a very dark side.
The Trunk is unconventional and offbeat and I do have to say that I did enjoy Inji's inner monologues and musings. I did feel that the ending was quite abrupt and lacked closure.
Kudos to the KoLab team behind the translation - a team effort by university students across Australia.
NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review. ...more
I was hit by the Korean Wave (Hallyu) five years ago and haven't looked back since. As well as the Kdramas, Kpop and learning the language via a populI was hit by the Korean Wave (Hallyu) five years ago and haven't looked back since. As well as the Kdramas, Kpop and learning the language via a popular app, I try to read as many English translations of Korean books as I can.
This is why Barbara Zitwer's profession really interests me. She is a literary agent who specialises in Korean literature and I think I probably have her to thank for so many of the Korean books that I have read.
As the title states, this book is about joy, resilience and the art of giving and Zitwer explores the philosophies of Jeong, Han and Heung.
This is an insightful book with the author exploring cities, retreats and other places of interest such as the DMZ. It acts as a guidebook as well as a cookbook. It is also an insight into the how diverse Western and Eastern cultures are - especially when it comes to family.
NetGalley and Octopus Publishing provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review....more
This was such a lovely, heartwarming read and it had me totally emotionally invested in the characters from their very firstDo you believe in destiny?
This was such a lovely, heartwarming read and it had me totally emotionally invested in the characters from their very first encounter. Both Bea and Ollie meet when their flight is delayed as they head back home to Ireland from London for Christmas. There is instant chemistry. They even sit next to each other on the plane, yet they don't exchange numbers.
I will admit to holding my breath till their paths crossed again.
The two main characters are really likeable, as are the secondary characters such as Leroy and Aunt Nora.
What I really liked about this book was that it wasn't all rainbows and unicorns. There were issues that were real, such as being in a long distance relationship and the theme of grief. Also, the picturesque Irish towns and villages mentioned are all real which has made me want to visit Ireland.
NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review.
"Just as there are heartbreaking memories that need to be erased if you want to move forward, there is also the pain that is a kind of fuel that keeps"Just as there are heartbreaking memories that need to be erased if you want to move forward, there is also the pain that is a kind of fuel that keeps us going. Sadness can sometimes give you strength."
The Marigold Mind Laundry is a philosophical book told through whimsical stories. Jieun has special powers. She can make things come true by dreaming about them and she had the power to heal others' pain. Her parents disappear after she dreams so. It is after this that she lives many lifetimes. I was really unsure as to how she did this because it really wasn't clear. Did she die and then get reborn? Did she just turn into a different person overnight? She is a broken person who cries about her parents every night and is always looking for them.
Jieun manifests the Marigold Mind Laundry into existence. She gets customers who come to tell her their stories and she washes away their 'stains' - their pain from existence. Yet, she is unable to wash away her own pain.
This is a book about overcoming obstacles and self-healing. I found the various characters' stories interesting but there were parts when the writing wasn't very straightforward and felt quite confusing by frequently going off on a tangent.
NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review....more
I'm going to begin by saying that I've always enjoyed reading Sarah Morgan books ever since being introduced to them a couple of years ago.
Told from I'm going to begin by saying that I've always enjoyed reading Sarah Morgan books ever since being introduced to them a couple of years ago.
Told from the three different female narratives, The Christmas Cottage revolves around Imogen, Dorothy and Sara. Imogen's life is complicated because she has made it so. She has a successful career. An absolute workaholic, she makes up a fake home life - whereas in reality, she is lonely. Dorothy is one of her clients and Sara is Dorothy's daughter.
It is after being on the brink of burnout that Imogen is forced to take a month off work. Dorothy asks her to come and stay with her at her family cottage in the Cotswolds. It is here that the story takes a dramatic turn.
In all honesty, I struggled with the first part of this book. I found that it dragged and nothing really happened. The mid-way plot twist came out of nowhere. It initially felt odd and felt like an afterthought but it was after this that the story picked up.
The setting was gorgeous. The romance was very rushed into, but then again, the second half of the book was rushed and with one particular storyline, there was no closure.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQStories for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review.
Once again, the Kamogawa Food Detectives are hard at work recreating recipes for their clients at their culinary detective agency. The second book is Once again, the Kamogawa Food Detectives are hard at work recreating recipes for their clients at their culinary detective agency. The second book is just as good as the first. Mirroring the same pattern as the first book, The Restaurant of Lost Recipes is made up of short stories. Each story is about a customer who wishes for them to make a dish that they once ate in their past. The food acts as a sensory trigger for the customers - encompassing them in nostalgia and food is always described in an exceptional way and mouthwatering detail.
Each story follows the same trend. A customer walks into the unmarked restaurant and is given delicious food to eat. They then go to the back room where the agency is situated. The daughter, Koishi makes them fill out a form and then the client talks to her about food that they once had and wish the Kamogawas to recreate. The client then comes back after a fortnight, and after having the food, they are asked to pay whatever they wish through a bank transfer. At the end of each story, the father-daughter duo always take Nagare's late wife into consideration, by talking to her, offering food at her altar and lighting incense.
It is Nagare Kamogawa who travels to places to find out about the dishes that their clients want them to recreate. The ingredients seem to be unique to their region of Japan which is quite interesting to read.
Just like the previous book, The Restaurant of Lost Recipes is another lovely comfort read.
My thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review....more
This was quite an intriguing read with a unique time travel concept. Riley wakes up on Valentine's Day 2025, a year after her first wedding anniversarThis was quite an intriguing read with a unique time travel concept. Riley wakes up on Valentine's Day 2025, a year after her first wedding anniversary. She doesn't know how she got there but what she does know is that her circumstances have drastically changed.
She is no longer married to her husband, Tristan. Instead, she wakes up with her husband's cousin, Milo by her side.
What happens next is time travel in reverse - the timeline goes backwards for things to fall into place. Riley gets to consequences of events that have happened in the previous days.
This book did have me hooked. However, there are only a certain amount of conversations about tea that one can tolerate and talk of tea between Milo and Riley just went overboard and became really tiresome to read. They literally had the same conversation over and over again.
NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review....more
Step into a world of Rent-a-Cat. Don't expect to like any of the characters. These short stories are mainly about selfish humans who don't deserve to Step into a world of Rent-a-Cat. Don't expect to like any of the characters. These short stories are mainly about selfish humans who don't deserve to have a cat; they don't understand the psyche of cats. They are critical of the cats but don't have the ability to be critical of themselves.
Delve deeper and you realise that the cats are reflections of the characters. The cats act as a 'cat'alyst for the stories.
Be warned, this is not a comfort read; instead it is irksome and at times, infuriating.
NetGalley and Quercus Books provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is Not a Holiday Romance is a cute read. Following the enemies to lovers trope, it tells the story of Nina and her brother's best friend Tristan.This is Not a Holiday Romance is a cute read. Following the enemies to lovers trope, it tells the story of Nina and her brother's best friend Tristan. Considering that they're both grown adults, they both play pranks on each other which were quite amusing. However, when they actually got together, it was all very sudden which I found quite unrealistic.
I do hope that there is a follow up to this book which follows the lives of the other characters.
Also, if you've watched the Cdrama Hidden Love, you will love this book.
NetGalley and Boldwood Books provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review. ...more
"I'm just a kid from Harlem. I overcame the odds and more, Inspiring others is the goal, Nothing less, nothing more."
To the outside world, Harlem has al"I'm just a kid from Harlem. I overcame the odds and more, Inspiring others is the goal, Nothing less, nothing more."
To the outside world, Harlem has always had a notorious reputation. In Stories of a Harlem Resident, the poet shows the different worlds that Harlem encapsulates.
This collection of poems may be short, but they are powerful such as A Voice from East Harlem and cleverly written like the impressive abecedarian poem, Rising Star.
NetGalley and BookBuzz provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review....more
"She'd never imagined that anonymous words of comfort would mean so much to her."
Inside the Yeonnam-Dong Smiley Laundromat, there is an olive-green di"She'd never imagined that anonymous words of comfort would mean so much to her."
Inside the Yeonnam-Dong Smiley Laundromat, there is an olive-green diary where the customers write down their troubles; and are then given written replies of advice and words of wisdom by other customers - mainly from elderly neighbourhood resident Old Jang.
I absolutely loved this book! The story was warm-hearted and wholesome; a beautifully written comfort read.
My thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for providing me with this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review. ...more
What a super cute read! All of feels of Christmas during this warm summer weather. This book oozed Christmas.
I read this as a standalone so I was notWhat a super cute read! All of feels of Christmas during this warm summer weather. This book oozed Christmas.
I read this as a standalone so I was not familiar with the Ever After Street Series. Imagine having a street dedicated to Christmas all year round! The various shop names made me smile - Coming Gnome for Christmas and All You Need is Gloves, being just a couple of examples.
Christmas Ever After revolved around Franca and Raff - two business owners who always seem to be at loggerheads with one another until Franca has a fall and breaks three of her fingers. With her injury, she's unable to make any of her bespoke nutcrackers, so Raff comes to her rescue and helps her craft the nutcrackers and also shows her that he isn't a bad person after all. I really liked Raff's character and I loved how he showed Franca so much love and positivity.
Christmas Ever After was captivating - brilliantly capturing the magic of Christmas and I will definitely be reading the previous books in this series.
NetGalley and Boldwood Books provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review....more
"...we had paused on our temple visit to watch a crane surrounded by a pack of hungry wolves. I had waited for the pack to tear it apart and devour it"...we had paused on our temple visit to watch a crane surrounded by a pack of hungry wolves. I had waited for the pack to tear it apart and devour it, only to be startled by the crane's formidable strength. The truth reminded me of that crane; the truth was strong. It held the courage to strike out, no matter how ferocious the oppression."
I love watching a good sageuk, so this book drew me in to a certain extent. Set in ruthless King Yeonsan's reign in the Joseon Period, A Crane Among Wolves tells the story of Iseul who fights everything and everyone in her path in order save her sister who has been kidnapped by the King. Iseul meets Prince Daehyun along the way and a camaraderie ensues.
There was a lot going on in this book. As well as citizens living in fear of the tyrant king, June Hur also threw in a serial killer storyline.
Overall, an intriguing read, but I would have liked to have seen more oomph between Iseul and Daehyun.
NetGalley and Headline provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
"...we had paused on our temple visit to watch a crane surrounded by a pack of hungry wolves. I had waited for the pack to tear it apart and devour it, only to be startled by the crane's formidable strength. The truth reminded me of that crane; the truth was strong. It held the courage to strike out, no matter how ferocious the oppression."
I love watching a good sageuk, so this book drew me in to a certain extent. Set in ruthless King Yeonsan's reign in the Joseon Period, A Crane Among Wolves tells the story of Iseul who fights everything and everyone in her path in order save her sister who has been kidnapped by the King. Iseul meets Prince Daehyun along the way and a camaraderie ensues.
There was a lot going on in this book. As well as citizens living in fear of the tyrant king, June Hur also threw in a serial killer storyline.
Overall, an intriguing read, but I would have liked to have seen more oomph between Iseul and Daehyun.
NetGalley and Headline provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review....more
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