My 2021 Goodreads Reading Challenge: November - December

The Party Crasher by Sophie Kinsella

Effie's still not over her parents splitting up a year ago. Her dad and his new girlfriend are posting their PDAs all over Instagram. And as if that wasn't bad enough, they're now selling the beloved family home. So when Effie receives a last-minute anti-invitation to their 'house-cooling' party, she decides to give it a miss. Then she remembers her precious Russian dolls, safely tucked away up a chimney. She'll have to go back for them. But not as a guest. She'll just creep in, grab the dolls and make a swift exit. But Effie can't find the dolls. And as she secretly clambers around dusty attics, hides under tables and tries to avoid bumping into her ex-boyfriend (who she's very much not over), she discovers unexpected truths about her family - and even about herself.

I feel like this is a book of two halves, particularly when it comes to my thoughts about Effie, how she behaves and her character development. At the beginning everything about Effie feels stubborn and childish. There are so many times that I felt like screaming, 'just go to the party!', even though I knew why she wouldn't. I did enjoy her misadventures, eavesdropping and reminiscing though. So I'm not sure that I can really complain. I also wouldn't class it as a romance either really but more of a family drama rom com. Or even a coming of age story. However, at the end and with how everything is resolved, I definitely got that warm and fuzzy feeling.

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

Welcome to No.12 Rue des Amants. A beautiful old apartment block, far from the glittering lights of the Eiffel Tower and the bustling banks of the Seine. Where nothing goes unseen. And everyone has a story to unlock. The watchful concierge. Scorned lover. Prying journalist. Naïve student. Unwanted guest. Something terrible happened here last night. A mystery lies behind the door of apartment three. Only you – and the killer – hold the key.

I was hooked from the very beginning with this. It had me guessing as to what had happened to Ben and what could possibly be going on at the exclusive apartment building. And even though I thought I had some clue as to what was going on, in the end I really didn't. I enjoyed the use of different perspectives for each chapter and liked Jess as a protagonist too. Even though any of the characters could have been responsible, not every single person hated Ben so much as to have been the one behind everything. This is definitely my favourite of the three Lucy Foley books that I've read so far. 

Publication date: 3rd March 2022

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

When Katy’s mother dies, she is left reeling. Carol wasn’t just Katy’s mom but her best friend. To make matters worse, their planned mother-daughter trip of a lifetime looms: two weeks in Positano, the magical town Carol spent the summer right before she met Katy’s father. Now she is faced with embarking on the adventure alone. Buoyed by the stunning waters, beautiful cliffsides, delightful residents and delectable food, Katy feels herself coming back to life. And then Carol appears - in the flesh, healthy, sun-tanned, and thirty years old. Over the course of one Italian summer, Katy gets to know Carol, not as her mother, but as the young woman before her.

I raced through this book and loved that this transported me to somewhere warm and beautiful. I liked the time travel aspect and I did not expect the couple of twists that happened towards the end. Both really did add to the story. And whilst Katy's grief is very much understandable, it wasn't until near the end that it really impacted me. Even though my Mum is my best friend, the closeness between Katy and Carol is rather strange. However, I really enjoyed watching Katy discover/rediscover herself during her stay in Positano. And even though it didn't quite live up to the magic of In Five Years, I still very much enjoyed it.

Publication date: 1st March 2022

One of the Girls by Lucy Clarke

One of us is a liar. One of us is a stranger. One of us is a cheater. But who could be a killer? The six of us arrived on the beautiful, sunbaked island of Aegos to leave it all behind, our suitcases packed with flip flops and beach towels, our heads full of dreams for the perfect weekend away with friends. On the first night, we laughed and danced under the stars. On the second night we went skinny dipping in the warm, summer sea. On the third night the wine loosened our tongues, the lies spilling and the masks starting to slip. And on the final night it all ignited as we celebrated around the beach fire - for someone, the holiday in Greece would be their last.

Even secrets and drama are hinted at before then, it takes until at least the halfway point for things to really get going. Fen's secret and storyline wasn't as strong as I would have liked. And even though Lexi is the bride, she was probably the least interesting character for me. I really enjoyed all of the reveals and how everything and everyone ended up connected as the story came to a conclusion. The climax was great and I enjoyed how it was all tied up at the end. Lucy Clarke is brilliant at creating characters that feel completely real, which is why I felt myself so wrapped up in this. If you're a fan of Lucy Foley's books, I've got a feeling that you will enjoy this as well.

Publication date: 28th April 2022

The Staycation by Cressida McLaughlin

Thanks to her fear of flying, she hasn’t been on a plane in years. Now Hester wants to make a good impression on her newest client, Jake Oakenfield, who was heroically injured saving an old lady and is now laid up in a luxury hotel. For Jake, unable to return to New York, binge watching Netflix just won’t do. He wants Hester to invent the ultimate escape and re-create her most magical holidays abroad from the confines of his hotel room. As their perfect mini-breaks around the globe take on a life of their own, Hester wonders if her world of make-believe is all starting to feel just a little too real.

I really enjoyed the concept of this and the way in which it progressed. Hester and Jake were definitely a couple that I could get behind and root for. I also adored all of their staycation trips and completely agree with Hester about the magic and transformative power of fairy lights. Even though I had an idea that they would end up together by the end, I wasn't expecting the twists and turns that it took. Given the current circumstances, it was nice to imagine jetting off to these exciting destinations and even having Edinburgh (a city that I visit all the time) and New York (my favourite city in the world) feature. Rosalie was a fabulous character as well. I would love to hear all about her escapades in another book or story.

Publication date: 3rd February 2022

The Rebound by Catherine Walsh

Abby isn’t where she wants to be. She’s heading back to the childhood home in rural Ireland she swore she’d never return to, with some big old secrets. Namely that she’s suddenly found herself unemployed, homeless and absolutely 100% single. When the first person she meets after she touches down is an absurdly hot guy called Luke, who offers her a lift home Abby knows instantly that he’s exactly what she needs to take her mind off everything. The perfect rebound. Until the next day, when Abby realises who he actually is. He is, in fact, Luke Bailey, aka the boy next door - who she’s pretty sure she once shared baths with when they were kids. And judging by the smirk on his face, the same Luke who’s known exactly who she was the whole time.

I have mixed feelings about this book. The concept was an interesting one and I liked seeing Abby out of her comfort zone. I also liked the small town Ireland setting. The writing style was also enjoyable. But the back and forth between Abby and Luke got real frustrating really quick. Considering they could have avoided all of it if Abby had just spoken to Luke and been truthful, it was pretty annoying seeing her push him away and him feeling pushed away by her actions. It was also rather predictable but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

Publication date: 14th February 2022

The No-Show by Beth O'Leary

Three women. Three dates. One missing man. 8.52am: Siobhan's been looking forward to her breakfast date with Joseph. She was surprised when he suggested it - she normally sees him late at night in her hotel room. Breakfast with Joseph on Valentine's Day surely means something - so where is he? 14.43pm: Miranda's hoping that a Valentine's Day lunch with Carter will be the perfect way to celebrate her new job. She's been dating Carter for five months now and things are getting serious. But why hasn't he shown up? 18.30pm: Joseph Carter agreed to be Jane's fake boyfriend at a colleague's engagement party. They've not known each other long but their friendship is fast becoming the brightest part of her new life in Winchester. Joseph promised to save Jane tonight. But he's not here. Meet Joseph Carter. That is, if you can find him.

This is easily one of the best books that I have read in years! When you read the blurb you expect one thing to happen, or at least I did but the twist literally blew my mind. I was already such a fan of the three separate stories but seeing how they related to one another really took everything to another level. I also adored how all encompassing the three stories were and how much character development went into every single character, from the main four characters to secondary characters and even peripheral characters. The No-Show was both heartbreaking (as someone who never cries, I could not stop myself at a pivotal point in this) and heartwarming at the same time. All I can say is, this truly is a must-read!

Publication date: 28th April 2022

Dial A For Aunties by Jesse Sutanto

When Meddy Chan accidentally kills her blind date, she turns to her aunties for help. Their meddling set her up on the date so they kind of owe her. Although hiding this goddamn dead body is going to be harder than they thought especially when her family’s wedding business has THE biggest wedding of the year happening right now. It turns out the wedding venue just happens to be managed by Meddy’s ex, aka the one who got away. It’s the worst time to see him again. Or is it? Can Meddy finally find love and make her overbearing family happy?

I'm torn between giving this 3.5 and 4 stars (again this would be a good time for me to consider doing .75 ratings). But it was an enjoyable, if somewhat unbelievable at times, caper. If you lean into the craziness and suspend disbelief most of the way through, this is a fast paced story that keeps you wanting to read more. A lot of Meddy's life is incredibly relatable but then it's mostly overshadowed by all of the madness and drama taking place. Let's just say that this is chaotic in both good and not so good ways. But I am interested in reading the follow up that's on its way and to see more of Meddy and Nathan's lives going forward.

Careering by Daisy Buchanan

Imogen has always dreamed of writing for a magazine. Infinite internships later, Imogen dreams of any job. Harri might just be Imogen's fairy godmother. She's moving from the glossy pages of Panache magazine to launch a fierce feminist site, The Know. And she thinks Imogen's most outrageous sexual blog content will help generate the clicks she needs. But neither woman is aware of the crucial thing they have in common. Will Harri wake up to the way she's being exploited before her protégé realises that not everything is copy? Can either woman reconcile their love for work with the fact that work will never love them back? Or is a chaotic rebellion calling?

This reminded me of Insatiable in some ways but I was looking for more of those kinds of stories in this, particularly from a sex blogger and writer. As someone who has had the exact same dreams as Imogen for as long as I can remember and who has also worked many unpaid internships and written a blog to progress my writing career, I could easily empathise with her. I did find it more difficult to immediately warm to Harri. I also felt like some plot lines went nowhere or didn't feel resolved. This was relatable and timely for anyone in their twenties/thirties (from Imogen's perspective) and older (from Harri's perspective). However, it was good rather than great.

Publication date: 10th March 2022

Lease On Love by Falon Ballard

After missing out on an overdue promotion, Sadie drunkenly re-opens a long-ignored dating app and two days later, finds herself on a date with Jack. Except it isn't a date. Realising that she mistakenly matched with Jack on a roomate-finding app, Sadie prepares to make a hasty exit, only to notice the gorgeous Brooklyn brownstone that Jack is advertising. And the unbelievably cheap rent. Introverted Jack doesn't know what to make of the talkative whirlwind in front of him. But he offers Sadie his spare bedroom while she gets back on her feet. As Sadie's presence starts to turn the brownstone into a real home and Jack learns to come out of his shell, they both begin to wonder if this accidental roommate arrangement is the best deal they ever made.

I feel a little torn about this book. Giving it 3.75 stars instead of 4 would probably be more appropriate. But since I'm rating in full and half stars, I went for 4. Even though I liked Jack, despite the fact that he was so nice that it was almost difficult to believe such a man exists in real life, I didn't get the same build up that I needed to be fully invested in them as a couple. The sexy scenes were good but it didn't feel all that memorable in the end. It was also frustrating to see her continually call herself 'an asshole' despite everything that we see throughout. The same can be said for her reaction to Jack not telling her that he was a millionaire artist. I did, however, really enjoy the way in which this was written.

Publication date: 1st February 2022

One Day In December by Josie Silver

Laurie is pretty sure love at first sight doesn't exist anywhere but the movies. But then, through a misted-up bus window one snowy December day, she sees a man who she knows instantly is the one. Their eyes meet, there's a moment of pure magic. And then her bus drives away. Certain they're fated to find each other again, Laurie spends a year scanning every bus stop and cafe in London for him. Instead they "reunite" at a Christmas party, when her best friend Sarah giddily introduces her new boyfriend to Laurie. It's Jack, the man from the bus. What follows for Laurie, Sarah and Jack is ten years of friendship, heartbreak, missed opportunities, roads not taken, and destinies reconsidered. 

This really had an almost addictive quality to it which meant that you simply had to keep reading to see what would happen next. It is predictable to an extent, in the fact that we just know that eventually they will end up together. But the story that unfolds and the twists and turns that their lives take until that day were interesting and well done. I also found myself willing Laurie and Jack to be together. I will say, I was expecting a suitably festive read, given the title. But actually very little/only one or two days out of the ten years that this book spans are set in December. And none of it really feels all that festive at all. But I still really enjoyed this and can't wait to read more from Josie Silver.