Show us your books - November link up
Second Tuesday of the month which means linking up with Steph https://www.lifeaccordingtosteph.com/ and Jana http://janasays.com/ for Show Us Your Books.
Here is what I read in October.
The Endless Beach by Jenny Colgan
The plot: Flora runs the Summer Seaside kitchen in the Scottish highlands, after leaving her job and life in London. She has a complicated relationship with Joel who she worked for in London. This is the second book in a series (which I didn't know until starting the book) but it is possible to just jump in without reading the first book.What I thought: I've read many books by Jenny Colgan and in all honesty I see a trend. The Little Beach Street Bakery and Rosie Hopkins Sweet Shop series have similarities and it doesn't seem to matter if you start the series at the beginning or just pick up one and delve in. You are quickly caught up but the themes seem similar. Woman leaves job to run coffee shop/bakery/sweet shop. Woman meets man but rocky road to love follows.Lack of communication in the Endless Beach was a huge irritation for me. Seriously in the modern age of technology how difficult to stay in contact (bad signal/cellphone reception taken into consideration)…..Everyone is drowning in their own thoughts, but nobody shares or opens up. Main characters assume everyone must read their minds. I was relieved when it was finished and will not read the next in the series.
My Goodreads rating: One star.
The Hive by Gill Hornby
The Plot: It is a new school year at St Ambrose. There is fierce competition and one upmanship. Shifting friendships and betrayal. And that is just the mothers.Bea is the unchallenged queen of the various committees and rules the school. Heather just wants to volunteer and be a part of it all. Rachel, former best friend of Bea doesn't know why she has been pushed to the sidelines.What I thought: This book started off slowly and I put it to one side earlier this year. Then decided last month to try again and I'm glad I did. There are a few characters which I'm sure everyone has met in their lives. Bea is a bully - a grown version of Regina George in Mean Girls. Rachel is her bewildered friend, going through a divorce and confused why her former best friend has frozen her out. Heather is a people pleaser desperate for approval. Georgie does her own thing, doesn't care what people think and most people love her despite her blunt honesty and careless attitude. The book grew on me the more I read it.
My Goodreads rating: 3 stars
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
The plot: Libby has just inherited a huge house in Chelsea. 25 years ago police were called and found a well fed baby (Libby) in one of the bedrooms. Downstairs were 3 decomposing bodies and a note. The 4 teenagers who lived in the house had disappeared and couldn't be found. As the investigation was carried out 25 years ago, chilling facts were uncovered but the truth has remained unknown.What I thought: Another awesome read from Lisa Jewell! This book has so many twists and turns and kept me guessing.These days I tend to predict a lot of the so-called surprises and endings in books but this time I didn't.Told from various character's points of view - Libby, a woman called Lucy who is in France and needing to return to the UK (and to the house where everything happened), and one of the children who grew up in the house with dreadful secrets. The last view gives history to the house and what events led to the shocking discovery 25 years ago.
My goodreads rating: 4 stars
Currently reading "The Missing wife" by Sheila O'Flanagan.
What about you? Read anything interesting lately?
xx