My 2021 Goodreads Reading Challenge: May - June

An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

A weekend retreat at a cosy mountain lodge is supposed to be the perfect getaway. But when the storm hits, no one is getting away. Soon, one of the guests turns up dead - it looks like an accident. But when a second guest dies, they start to panic. Within the snowed-in paradise, something - or someone - is picking off the guests one by one. And there's nothing they can do but hunker down and hope they can survive the storm - and one another.

To quote 10 Things I Hate About You, during and after reading this, I didn't feel underwhelmed or overwhelmed; I just felt 'whelmed'. And this was despite the fact that the pacing made me race through the 250 or so pages in record timing. Plus, I was hooked the whole way through. It was easy to follow along as to who is who. Which can often be tricky in books like these with multiple characters. Technically I would give this 3.75 stars. But since I've been rating in half star increments for years now, I plumped for 4. It was also 100% times better that The Couple Next Door by the same author, which I abandoned about half way through.

The Couple by Helly Acton

Millie is a perfectionist. The last thing she needs is romance messing up her perfectly organised world. Besides, normal people just don't have romantic relationships. Everyone knows that being in a couple is a bit - well, odd. You know, like having a pet snake or referring to yourself in the third person. So, when Millie lands a new project at work, launching a pill that prevents you falling in love, it seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. That is, until she starts working with Ben. He's charming and funny, and Millie feels an instant connection to him. Will Millie sacrifice everything she believes in for love?

This had a really interesting concept, one that I hadn't seen done before, being set in a world where being single for the entirety of your life is the societal norm. And the whole notion of a pill that stops you from falling in love and the ways in which the PR company are looking to advertise it was incredibly well done and thought provoking. However, the rom com itself was pretty standard. I'm also not sure that her friends have quite the same levels of characterisation as Millie or Ben did, which is a bit of a let down when Millie interacts with them regularly. But it was well written and I couldn't put it down.

The Castaways by Lucy Clarke

A SECRET BEACH. A HOLIDAY OF A LIFETIME. WISH YOU WERE HERE? THINK AGAIN. It should be like any other holiday. Beautiful beaches. Golden sunsets. Nothing for miles. You’ll never want to leave. Until you can’t.

I thoroughly enjoyed this! The whole notion of a plane disappearing without a trace has always intrigued me. So to see it from both the perspective of someone on board that very plane and one of the family members searching for answers, was why I ultimately raced through this book. I had a few different theories about what had happened on the island in the two years between the plane's disappearance and the current day timeline. Only one ended up being correct, which was a nice surprise given that books like these can often be pretty predictable. I now can't wait to read more from Lucy Clarke as the year goes on.

Shipped by Angie Hockman

When Henley Evans is shortlisted for the promotion of her dreams, all her sacrifices finally seem worth it. The only problem? Graeme Crawford-Collins, the remote social media manager and the bane of her existence, is also up for the position. Their boss tasks each of them with drafting a proposal on how to boost bookings in the Galapagos - best proposal wins the promotion. There’s just one catch: they have to go on a company cruise to the Galapagos Islands; together. But when the two meet on the ship, Henley is shocked to discover that the real Graeme is nothing like she imagined. As they explore the Islands together, she soon finds the line between loathing and liking thinner than a postcard.

This was such a lovely book, so much so that I caught myself breaking out into a big smile many times as I read this. The cruise ship and island setting were ones that I enjoyed thoroughly. And it gave me those escapist holiday vibes the whole time that they were away. I also enjoyed what happened in regards to the promotion at the end. In so many of these books (The Hating Game, Last Tang Standing, etc.) the man always steps aside for the woman to get the job. And I really liked the fact that that didn't happen here. If you enjoy a good enemies to lovers story, I would definitely recommend that you read this next.

How To Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie

When Grace Bernard discovers her absentee millionaire father has rejected her dying mother’s pleas for help, she vows revenge, and sets about to kill every member of his family. But then Grace is imprisoned for a murder she didn’t commit.

This is easily one of the best books that I have read in a long time! The idea of it being written in a confessional style was brilliant. Plus, each of the murders were unique and somewhat unexpected, which I really enjoyed. This was easily a 5 star read for me until a certain character appeared (I won't say who so as to avoid spoilers) in the last 15% of the story. Up until then I could not fault this book or the story. But it changing to a different perspective, one which ultimately put a kibosh on Grace's plans/the ending I wanted for her, was a little bit frustrating. However, that was only a minor issue for me as the rest of it was smart, witty, dark and definitely memorable.

Publication date: 22nd July 2021

Just Haven't Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens

Laura has built a career out of finding epic true-life stories for her column on love and relationships. When she picks up the wrong suitcase at the airport, Laura wonders if this could be her very own meet-cute moment. From piano sheet-music to a battered copy of her favourite book, Laura finds in the bag evidence of everything she could hope for in a partner. If Laura's job has taught her anything it's that when it comes to love, you can't let opportunity pass you by. Now Laura is determined to track down the owner of the suitcase, and her own happy ending. But what if fate has other ideas?

I adored This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens (see my review here). And even though this story wasn't quite as special as Minnie and Quinn's, this is feel good rom com in the very best way. I loved the setting, as well as the escapist vibes that it gave me. Laura was living a completely new life outwith her usual comfort zone and to see how her world expanded made me smile and root for her. I also liked that she didn't go for the 'perfect' man/fairytale ending that she had conjured up in her head for years and years. That and the fact that 'the one' that she had been waiting on meeting her whole life wasn't who or what she was initially expecting.

Publication date: 1st September 2021

The Dog Share by Fiona Gibson

Suzy Medley is having a bad day when a shabby terrier turns up at her door. Just like Suzy, Scout has been abandoned, although only Suzy has been left with a financial mess and a business in tatters thanks to her ex. Suzy takes Scout in and her chaotic world changes in unexpected ways: strangers have never been more welcoming and her teenage kids can’t wait to come home to visit. Then a chance encounter on a windy Hebridean beach makes things more complicated, because Suzy isn’t the only one who needs a friend. Scout has plenty of love to go round - but does Suzy?

If you go into this looking forward to 'the dog share', you might be left a little disappointed. It takes until at least halfway before 'the dog share' actually takes place, which felt way too long to wait until it actually gets going. And the 'romance' itself, that you're expecting, is pretty much non existent. For that reason, you're not rooting for these two people to get together. It was a pleasant read though. And I liked the fact that the two main characters were in their forties, with different things going on in their lives than a twenty/thirty-something. The Scottish setting/atmosphere that was created was well done too.

Survive The Night by Riley Sager

Charlie is being driven across the country by a serial killer. Maybe. Behind the wheel is Josh Baxter, a stranger Charlie met by the college ride share board. On the road they share their stories, carefully avoiding the subject dominating the news - the Campus Killer, who's tied up and stabbed three students in the span of a year, has just struck again. As she begins to plan her escape from the man she is becoming certain is the killer, she starts to suspect that Josh knows exactly what she's thinking. Meaning that she could very well end up as his next victim. A game of cat and mouse is about to play out. In order to win, Charlie must do only one thing; survive the night.

I am a huge fan of Riley Sager's (Lock Every Door is one of my favourite books of all time). But sadly this was my least favourite of his books so far. The 'movies' that Charlie sees were a unique and interesting take on the unreliable narrator trope. But they frustrated me almost immediately. I also didn't find myself in Charlie's shoes like I had with all of Sager's other heroines, as she behaved in the exact opposite way to any normal person quite a few times throughout. I did like the twists, ones that I didn't necessarily expect and how it really did feel like a movie playing out. And if you enjoy horror movies, I'd definitely recommend checking it out.

Publication date: 23rd December 2021

56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard

56 DAYS AGO - Ciara and Oliver meet in a supermarket queue in Dublin the same week Covid-19 reaches Irish shores. 35 DAYS AGO - When lockdown threatens to keep them apart, Oliver suggests that Ciara move in with him. She sees a unique opportunity for a new relationship to flourish without the pressure of scrutiny of family and friends. He sees it as an opportunity to hide who - and what - he really is. TODAY - Detectives arrive at Oliver's apartment to discover a decomposing body inside. Will they be able to determine what really happened, or has lockdown provided someone with the opportunity to commit the perfect crime?

As soon as I read the blurb, I was immediately on board. And I thought that it would go/end a certain way. But it soon became apparent that I really had no idea what to expect. I did like how the story unraveled. But I wasn't a huge fan of when big chunks of dialogue were repeated time and time again. And the current day timeline, with the detectives investigating, wasn't as strong as the ones written from Ciara or Oliver's points of view. But overall, it was a unique story, one that kept me gripped throughout.

Publication date: 19th August 2021

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world. But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.

This was such a unique and interesting story, that from the outset I was immediately invested. There were so many passages, particularly at the start that I had to write down, they were that impactful and well written. I completely understand why Henry was introduced as a character. But I just wasn't as interested in his life or perspective as I was Addie's. I also wish we could have seen more of Addie and Luc's relationship develop as this felt quite rushed, especially in the run up to the New Orleans incident. It also felt rather indulgent to have it clock in at almost 600 pages, when a lot of the midsection began to drag on.

The Heights by Louise Candlish

The Heights is a tall, slender apartment building among the warehouses of Shad Thames. Its roof terrace so discreet you wouldn’t know it existed if you weren't standing at the window of the flat directly opposite. But you are. And that’s when you see a man up there - a man you’d recognise anywhere. He’s older now and his appearance has subtly changed but it’s definitely him. Which makes no sense at all since you know he has been dead for over two years. You know this for a fact. Because you’re the one who killed him.

I immediately understood and embraced Ellen's perspective. I could picture myself as a worried mother, as she witnesses her teenage son start to morph into someone unrecognisable because of undue influence. Even though I wasn't sure about it when the first chapter is told from Vic's perspective, I really liked the way that his chapters added a new dimension to the story and allowed us to find out things that we would never have gotten from Ellen's point of view. Having the book be told in the form of someone writing a book in a writing class was also inspired and brilliantly executed. It also wasn't the ending that I expected, which I very much appreciated.

Publication date: 5th August 2021

The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox

When Charlie gets hit on the head on her reality baking show, she loses a lot more than consciousness; she also loses her ability to taste and smell. Meanwhile, Charlie's identical twin, Cass, is frantically trying to hold her own life together back in their quaint mountain hometown while running the family's bustling bakery and dealing with her ex, who won't get the memo that they're over. With only days until Christmas, a desperate Charlie asks Cass to do something they haven't done since they were kids: switch places. But temporarily trading lives proves more complicated than they imagined, especially when rugged firefighter Jake and gorgeous physician's assistant Miguel are thrown into the mix.

Even though I read this in June, I did enjoy the festive vibes. It was interesting seeing what goes on behind the scenes of a big baking competition show in LA. But I also enjoyed the home-y/cosy feeling of Starlight Peak and seeing the ins and outs of running a bakery. However, it was just a little bit too predictable. And everything was wrapped up way too neatly at the end for me. It was also rather chaste. I understand that both relationships are meant to take place over the course of a week. But there's zero longing or anything more than a kiss, which meant I wasn't as invested in either relationship as I could have been. It was a quick and easy read though.

Publication date: 30th September 2021

4 out of 5 stars · Buy it now

8 Perfect Hours by Lia Louis

What if you fell in love - and then he disappeared? When Noelle and Sam's lives collide one snowy evening, they spend eight perfect hours stuck side by side believing that they'll never see each other again. But soon their lives become entangled in ways they never expected - and it's going to change everything.

There really is a lot crammed into this book, above and beyond the rom com element. It deals with loss, grief, postpartum depression, caring for a parent who has suffered a stroke and living life to the fullest, along with so much more. Certain things did feel a bit forced in terms of missed connections. Like the heather keyring and some of the other times that they bumped into one another. But that's not to say that I didn't enjoy the serendipitous story, I really did. If you're a fan of the likes of Sophie Cousens (particularly This Time Next Year), Beth O'Leary or Lindsey Kelk, I can see you really enjoying Lia Louis' writing style and this story in particular.

You Let Me In by Lucy Clarke

Nothing has felt right since Elle rented out her house. I’M IN YOUR HOUSE There’s a new coldness. A shift in the atmosphere. The prickling feeling that someone is watching her every move from the shadows. I’M IN YOUR HEAD Maybe it’s all in Elle’s mind? She’s a writer - her imagination, after all, is her strength. And yet every threat seems personal. As if someone has discovered the secrets that keep her awake at night. AND NOW I KNOW YOUR SECRET As fear and paranoia close in, Elle’s own home becomes a prison. Someone is unlocking her past - and she’s given them the key.

After loving The Castaways I was quick to reserve this at the library. But sadly this fell well short of that brilliant book. I did enjoy the creepy and invasive things that were going on throughout. And it was a definite page turner. But as soon as it is revealed who has been in Elle's house and taunting her all along, I couldn't help but feel disappointed. Everything seemed so extreme given the real reason. The ending itself was also incredibly frustrating. But I'm not giving up on Lucy Clarke just yet. Hopefully my next read from her, possibly No Escape, will be a bit better.

The Shelf by Helly Acton

Everyone in Amy's life seems to be getting married (or so Instagram tells her). And she feels like she's falling behind. So, when her boyfriend surprises her with a dream holiday to a mystery destination, she thinks this is it - he's going to finally pop the Big Question. But the dream turns into a nightmare when she finds herself on the set of a Big Brother-style reality television show, The Shelf. Along with five other women, Amy is dumped live on TV and must compete in a series of humiliating and obnoxious tasks in the hope of being crowned 'The Keeper'. Will Amy's time on the show make her realise there are worse things in life than being left on the shelf?

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about The Shelf. I did race through it. And the subject matter and concept were interesting ones, plus, a lot of it is relatable. I also liked the different backgrounds/personalities of the female contestants. But I felt a bit let down by the portrayal of pretty much every man in this. They almost felt like caricatures without any redeemable qualities. But there were good messages about self love and self acceptance. And if you're a fan of reality TV and social media, I've got a feeling you will enjoy what essentially feels like you're reading a series of Big Brother.

The Maid by Nita Prose

Molly the Maid is all alone in the world. A nobody. She’s used to being invisible in her job at the Regency Grand Hotel, plumping pillows and wiping away the grime, dust and secrets of the guests who pass through. But Molly is thrown into the spotlight when she discovers an infamous guest, Mr Black, very dead in his bed. This isn’t a mess that can be easily cleaned up. And so Molly becomes embroiled in a hunt for the truth, learning who to trust as she navigates the secret underbelly of the Regency Grand Hotel.

Molly the maid is a protagonist like none that I've encountered before. And yet, I immediately understood her. She's definitely an old soul (thanks to her Gran) in a young person's body and undeniably on the autism spectrum. But this is handled with care and attention. This isn't necessarily a thriller of a murder mystery, it's more of a cosy old fashioned one, if that makes sense. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. I did enjoy how it was all wrapped up at the end. But getting Molly out of the precarious situation of being arrested for various different crimes happened a bit too quickly and neatly for me. I can't wait to see the movie adaptation of this that is already in the works with Florence Pugh playing Molly.

Publication date: 20th January 2022