My Review for The Drowners by David A. Anderson

'We're all sprinkled with crazy. Some of us are just better at hiding it.'

You know those books that stay with you for a long time after you've read it? Well, I think this is going to be one of those. The Drowners was incredible, from start to finish. I never know what to expect from a new author, and I often open that first page with a certain amount of trepidation. I needn't have worried about this one though, I was hooked. 

Set in the early 1990s, Aaron is just beginning to understand his sexuality, and it's difficult, the stigma, the apprehension and the judgment of being queer in 1990s Ireland. Aaron is funny, so funny, and when he and Robbie get together the puns are never-ending. I highlighted just a couple of the lines, which had me spitting my coffee out!

'All those years without draining your nuts is enough to send you loopy.'

'That miserable old bollix isn't knocking on Heaven's door, he's booting it off its hinges.'

It wasn't lost on me that the protagonist has the same name as part of the author's and I have no idea whether this novel is semi-autobiographical. If it is, then it's even more heartbreaking, as some of the crap the main character went through was awful.

Check the trigger warnings before you read this, but if you're all good, then I'd 100% recommend you read it. 

Thank you to David A. Anderson for the opportunity to read and review The Drowners.

About the Book

For Aaron, this world is an unfathomable puzzle. Haunted by disturbing dreams, he drifts through empty days, shielding himself behind sarcasm and cynical wit. After being expelled, he sees an opportunity to rewrite his future at a new school. Connecting over a shared love for De Niro films with Robbie, an aspiring actor of Jamaican descent, he unexpectedly finds his companion piece, one person who truly understands him. Together, they navigate the chaotic waters of adolescence, from dramatic first dates to sociopathic bullies, iconic concerts, drugs, and a dead body.

With adulthood fast approaching, can their unique bond survive the crushing weight of societal pressures and devastating revelations? Confronted by the ghosts of his past, Aaron must choose whether to blaze bright or fade away.

A funny and poignant meditation on the forces that shape us, The Drowners transports us back to a time when our tolerance for hypocrisy was zero and life seemed infinite.

About David

Award-winning author of The Drowners, David Anderson hails from the cold, wet streets of Dublin. Like a Hummingbird, after college, he migrated south to warmer climes. Namely, sunny Spain, where he teaches students who are bemused by hearing the Queen's English delivered in an Irish brogue. In his early thirties, he caught the writing bug. In 2021, he won a YA Watty award.

Buy on Amazon UK | Buy on Amazon US

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My Review for The Cassandra Complex by Holly Smale

'My theory is that my brain is like a lazy IT department, and every time there's a problem with the electrics it just panics and pulls the plug out at the wall. Switch her off, switch her back on again: see if that helps'.

I loved, loved, loved this! A contender for my favourite book of 2023. There were definitely hints of Sally Diamond and Eleanor Oliphant in this book, and perhaps that is why I enjoyed it so much.

Who on earth can lose their boyfriend, their job and their home in the same morning? Cassandra can! Bad luck or self-inflicted? Maybe a bit of both, but when Cassandra realises she can manipulate time to change the past, she sets out to do just that, not necessarily with the outcome she wants, so she tries again and again!

Such an amazing character. Cassandra stayed with me for many days after I’d finished the book. She resonated with me a lot, her quirky ways, her routines, just many things about her and I so want to be her best friend - even if she wouldn’t want to be mine! 

I’m glad Holly wrote a beautiful story about neurodivergence.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for the opportunity to read and review The Cassandra Complex by Holly Smale.

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My Review for The Man Without Shelter by Indrajit Garai

I was approached by the author’s assistant, who asked if I would like to read a copy of The Man Without Shelter. The synopsis sounded like something I would enjoy and so I agreed. 

Lucy and Arnault are the main characters. Lucy is a lawyer, with a promising future ahead of her and Arnault has recently been released from prison and is now living on the streets of Paris. Through various situations, their lives become linked and the story progresses.

Overall, The Man Without Shelter is a good book. I enjoyed both Lucy and Arnault’s stories and with Arnault in particular; the author described, in detail, how he progressed as he left prison and I enjoyed his story.

That being said, the book could definitely have done with a final edit. There were quite a few grammatical errors, and it appears that English isn’t the author’s first language. I’m not sure whether the book was written in English or whether it has been translated, however, for me, it didn’t flow as well as it could have done. I would suggest a re-edit to address these issues and the few storyline anomalies.

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review a copy of The Man Without Shelter by Indrajit Garai.

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My Review for The Locked Away Life by Drew Davies

⭐⭐⭐⭐ I really enjoyed reading The Locked Away Life, I didn’t think I was going to though. It was very slow to begin with, and I honestly thought I was going to struggle to finish it, but about a third of the way through it suddenly picked up the pace and the characters became more interesting, and from then on, I was fully invested.

Esther and Bruno, are two completely different characters, one an eighty-something-year-old woman and the other a teenage boy who develop an amazing friendship and support one another through changes in both their lives as they learn to accept both the past, present and future.

The chapters mainly alternate between Bruno and Esther, both telling their stories, and we learn how their situations become intertwined and how quickly they become ensconced in each other’s lives. Bruno is just learning who he is and how to deal with the issues life is throwing at him. Esther is realising that she isn’t too old to learn new things and embraces them entirely.

I loved both their stories, but I found Bruno’s being particularly heartbreaking until he realised he didn’t have to change and that he just needed to accept himself for who he was and that everything else would fall into place. I commend Drew Davies for bringing together sexuality, mental health, generational issues and friendship and dealing with them in such a sensitive manner.

I was astounded to learn that conversion therapy is still legal in the UK. For those of you who aren’t aware of it, this is taken from banconversiontherapy.com. ‘Conversion therapy includes medical, psychiatric, psychological, religious, cultural or any other interventions that seek to change, “cure”, or suppress the sexual orientation and/or gender identity of a person’.

If you fancy reading something a little bit different, that isn’t a thriller, rom-com or fantasy story, then check out The Locked Away Life. It’s definitely worth adding to your TBR list.

I am lucky enough to be a part of Books on Tour for this book, so thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of The Locked Away Life by Drew Davies.

Book Description

At the grand old age of eighty-two, Esther Saul has just one regret in life. Today, she’s going to change that.

For decades, Esther has barricaded herself in her vine-covered manor house. She spends her days tending to her rose-filled garden, glued to the pages of her favourite books, and listening to her beloved records. But, one spring morning, Esther wakes up and realises that time is running out.

Forty years ago, the love of her life betrayed her – the only man she allowed herself to trust. Where is Thackeray, the handsome Scot with a devilish smile and piercing blue eyes? Will she ever learn the truth? Will she ever understand why he lied to her? Esther has to find out. If she doesn’t act soon, her one regret will haunt her forever…

But she’ll need some assistance. That’s where Bruno comes in. After Esther places an advert in the local library, seeking internet lessons, the eighteen-year-old knocks on her door. Esther can see how out of place Bruno is in their sleepy village, and that the paid position could be his one-way ticket out of there.

An unexpected friendship forms between the two strangers, who have nothing in common except that they have spent most of their lives in hiding. It’s the beginning of a journey – featuring a secret motorcycle ride, an escape plan, and a garden party with whisky, apple pie, and dancing the jig. Along the way, can a locked-away life finally start living?

Just as heartbreaking as it is heartwarming, this utterly gripping page-turner is for anyone who has ever felt left behind, came close to giving up, or needed a friend. Perfect for fans of Sally Page, Ruth Hogan and Mike Gayle.

Author Bio

Drew Davies was born in London and grew up in Whanganui, New Zealand. He attended the Unitec School of Performing Arts in Auckland and won a Playmarket New Zealand Young Playwright of the Year award in 2000. After a brief stint on a kiwi soap, he has worked in Search for the past 15 years. Drew’s other claim to fame is that Stephen Fry once called him droll. Either that, or he got his name wrong. He now lives in Wanstead, London.

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My Review for The Boy in Makeup: TikTok made me buy it by Anthony Connors-Roberts

⭐⭐⭐⭐ I wanted to get this review out before the end of Pride month and June 20022. A great read, and ideal for younger people who are perhaps coming to terms with their sexuality. The Boy in Makeup is fun, entertaining and in parts heartbreaking as we follow Cory as he deals with the people who can often be narrow-minded, uneducated and prejudiced as well as his close friends who accept him for who he is. He is an inspirational young lad who knows what he wants and goes all out to make it happen despite the obstacles that appear in his way.

I really enjoyed the story and the characters and the author was adept at drawing me into Cory’s life. I was invested in how he was going to deal with bullies and teachers who perhaps weren’t quite as understanding as his friends.

As The Boy in Makeup is a short story, a lot happened in a short space of time, this would be great as a prequel to lots more full-length novels about Cory and I hope Anthony Connors-Roberts continues to write and I’d love to read more about Cory and the challenges he faces as he becomes a young man and leaves school. 

My only comment and the reason for 4 stars and not 5 is that this perhaps needed a final edit as there were a few spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. However, this in no way detracted from the story and I’d recommend The Boy in Makeup, to everyone, young or old, that may be interested in the difficulties faced by members of the LGBTQ+ community.

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My Review for The River Between Us by Liz Fenwick

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I love Liz Fenwick, one of my favourite authors who writes about Cornwall, and The River Between Us didn’t disappoint. We are currently looking at houses in Devon and Cornwall, possibly a small renovation project, but nothing quite as big as the one Theo, our protagonist, took on in Boatman’s Cottage on the banks of the Tamar.

Theo is escaping from the breakdown of her marriage and, whilst looking around her new home, she discovers some love letters written during the First World War. The story is then told between the two time periods, 1914-1920 and 2019. We come to learn how and why the letters were written and how Theo and her family fit into the storyline. 

The author covers a variety of subjects in the wartime part of the novel, including same-sex relationships, marrying for money and titles, but not for love, and the control parents had over their children. I enjoyed both timelines equally, and it was interesting to see how each was going to play out.

The River Between Us is a title true to its name, as love flourished on either side of the Tamar. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading novels set in Cornwall, with lots of Cornish history throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of The River Between Us by Liz Fenwick.

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My Review for Wahala by Nikki May

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Wow! Just wow! What an amazing book to start my reading in 2022. Wahala, by Nikki May, is outstanding and I simply loved it, staying up way past my bedtime to finish it! 

Wahala is set in London and centred around three, Anglo-Nigerian friends. Ronke, Boo and Simi have been inseparable since they met at University and are constantly in and out of each other's lives, godmothers to one another's children, and shoulders to cry on when necessary. Until Isobel appears on the scene, causing chaos wherever she goes and with whoever she meets. Everyone's lives are turned upside down and no one can understand what is happening.

I'm not giving too much of a synopsis to this book, it will spoil it for you but read it, read it, read it! It's a romance, a thriller, and a mystery all rolled into one.

I understand that they are making Wahala into a television series later this year, and I'm so excited to hear this. I'm sure it will be awesome.

I'm off to make some jollof rice for dinner!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of Wahala by Nikki May.

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My Review for Diary of an Angry Young Man by Rishi Vohra

 

⭐⭐⭐⭐ I have very little knowledge of life and events in India or Indian history, but after reading ‘Diary of an Angry Young Man’ by Rishi Vohra, I’d be interested in learning more.

At the beginning of the book, Raghav is a seven-year-old boy, but as the story progresses, he does indeed turn into ‘an angry young man’, for a very good reason.

Inspired by true events, the author has captured the characters and scenes vividly. With the descriptions of the shantytowns and the people begging on the streets, we are almost taken there to experience the sights, sounds, and smells for ourselves.

Raghav wants to make an impact on the country that he lives in and slowly but surely he discovers what he can do to help this happen.

Thank you to the author for contacting me and asking me to read his book in exchange for an honest review. I’m so pleased I accepted and I will definitely read more of his books.

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My Review for The Imperfect Art of Caring by Jessica Ryn, Read by Rebecca Cooper

 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I loved this so much, I just couldn’t stop listening! Violet Strong is bad news, a bad person with no friends, no career, and a mother who hates her. Or has she got all that wrong.....?

What jumped out most to me about this book is how adept and compassionate Jessica Ryn is at describing many people with many caring needs. From adults with learning disabilities to elderly folk with Parkinsons, or a seemingly normal person on the outside who is suffering from mental torment within. Each character has their own unique personality and Ryn writes delicately about each one and their carers and how they deal with everyday life.

I loved that Violet has her own blog, where she puts her book reviews, and I identified a lot with this, as I’m sure many people reading this review will do. What better place is there than loads of reviews, all in one place, from people who like the same sort of things you do!

Violet discovers her true self towards the end of the book and realises that perhaps she isn’t bad news after all and maybe there is hope for the future.

I’d highly recommend this book as something to warm the cockles of your heart when you need something happy to dip into.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review an ARC of The Imperfect Art of Caring by Jessica Ryn.

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My Review for The Women of Primrose Square by Claudia Carroll, narrated by Aoife McMahon

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Let’s not spoil the story by giving you too much of a synopsis. Suffice it to say, if you enjoy contemporary fiction, women’s fiction, easy reading, and as long as you are aware that there are some sensitive topics, you will love The Women of Primrose Square. I listened to it as an Audiobook, from Borrowbox and it was narrated brilliantly by the marvellous Aoife McMahon. 

Frank Woods, Emily Dunne, and Violet Hardcastle are the three main protagonists in this book, each with their own story to tell and each with a very different background. For a short while, they all end up as housemates and in their own inimitable way, they are able to help each other to manage their individual situations.

Frank is a troubled family man who needs to become more comfortable in his own skin. Emily is an amazing young woman who hasn’t had the best of starts in life and dealt with this in the only way she knew how to, and Violet has a traumatic past which is the reason she has become known as the ‘witch of Primrose Square’. Everything becomes clear as you read on and become involved once again with the residents of Primrose Square. Carroll covered the many sensitive topics incredibly delicately and a great deal of research must have gone into this book and one reason I gave The Women of Primrose Square 5, well-deserved stars.

An enjoyable and educating read, I would thoroughly recommend this as an escape from the real world for a while. I need to check whether there are any more adventures coming from Primrose Square.

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My Review for Stephen Fry in America

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. In September 2021 we have a 5-week road trip booked in America, flying to Atlanta, Georgia and travelling South, then West, then North a bit and finally East, back to Atlanta!  Whether this will happen in September 2021 remains to be seen as currently (June 2021) we still aren’t allowed to travel there from the UK.   Never mind, we will get there eventually, I tell myself!  If you are reading this and there is also a post on this blog for the trip, then we made it at some point!  In the meantime I thought I would get myself in the mood, so we watched BBC1’s ‘Stephen Fry in America’ and I decided to listen to the audiobook too.

In his own inimitable style, with wry humour and enthusiasm, Stephen tells us of his journey across the 50 (or 51 - I’m still not sure) states of the United States of America in an English, black taxi cab, collecting fridge magnets as he goes!  

Stephen meets and talks to fascinating people, views wondrous landscapes and mingles into small-town life, taking Thanksgiving dinner with a family on a plantation.  All throughout his journey (which takes about 8 months in total) Stephen transported us into the days and weeks alongside him. As he describes each state in such detail, we can almost imagine we are there with him.

The audiobook was so, so much better than the television series. There was more content, more detail and a lot, lot more humour.  I’m guessing that if I’d read the actual book, the same content would have been there, probably with photographs too, but I wouldn’t have had Stephen’s dulcet tones, speaking to me directly for 8 hours and this made it even more appealing.

I would definitely recommend Stephen Fry in America for anyone who has the slightest interest in the United States, for me who loves the country. It was a simple decision.  I don’t know why I hadn’t sought out the book before now.

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My Review For The Dream Keepers by Linda Keen

⭐⭐⭐⭐. My first book review was for The Dream Keepers by Linda Keen which I reviewed in August 2020 for Online Book Club.  I found it quite difficult to grab my interest at the beginning and I wasn’t sure whether I would be able to finish it but how wrong I was!

In essence, the book is about a young brother and sister who, together, learn to find their way in a world that isn’t always accepting or tolerating the people who live in it. The novel follows their lives as they develop from children into young adults and how they deal with various situations and other people along the way. From their families to their friends and from strangers both kind and not so kind, Star and Thatcher deal with whatever life throws at them as they continue on life’s journey, showing the true meaning of being there for each other.

The book covers a multitude of life’s issues, from race and culture to suicide and near-death experiences and although it took me a few chapters to become used to the characters, I was soon embroiled in their lives and this became a real page-turner. I found the sister to be an addictive character and I often discovered myself encouraging her in some of her adventures and wanting to be involved.

There are many dream experiences described in the book and these are what I disliked the most throughout the story. Although I understand the relevance and insight these provided, in my opinion there probably didn’t need to be as many and I wanted to read through these as quickly as possible and to return to the main characters and their stories.

On the flip side, I found that the descriptions of the different characters, cities, and environments the children found themselves in were what I enjoyed the most. They were well written and the author drags the reader into each situation and you can imagine yourself being with the kids along their journeys.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a novel with a spiritual undertone, for those who value the importance and learning that reading about race, culture, and diversity brings and for those that like to be immersed in someone else’s world for a while to bring you relief from your own. I will definitely be looking out for future novels by Linda Keen.

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