What I listened to in August!

At the start of the year, I started listening to audiobooks. I always wanted to be a reader but couldn't/wouldn't make the time, so audiobooks were a way around it. I could be busy doing something while still listening to a book. Anyway, I thought I would share what I have been listening to. All of my audiobooks come from my local library through the app BorrowBox. I know lots of what I listen to might be considered old but they are all new to me!

This is what I listened to in August:

Come Again by Robert Webb!

Kate’s husband Luke - the man she loved from the moment she met him twenty-eight years ago – died suddenly. Since then she has pushed away her friends, lost her job and everything is starting to fall apart. One day, she wakes up in the wrong room and in the wrong body. She is eighteen again but remembers everything. This is her college room in 1992. This is the first day of Freshers' Week. And this was the day she first met Luke. But he is not the man that she lost: he’s still a boy – the annoying nineteen-year-old English student she first met. Kate knows how he died and that he’s already ill. If they can fall in love again she might just be able to save him. She’s going to try to do everything exactly the same.

This book is in three parts and I really enjoyed the first two parts. Waking up in your younger body is never going to happen but this story made it feel believable enough to just go along with it. It did make me think about what I would do if I could go back in time, knowing everything that I know now. I didn't enjoy the third part nearly as much. It felt like I’d gone from reading a story to watching an action movie. There was drama dealing with a high-speed car chase, a brawl in a theatre, spies, cabbies and Russian heavies. It felt so over the top and not in keeping with the first two parts. It was not needed and felt a shame since I had been enjoying it so much until then. One thing I did love was Olivia Colman reading it. She is brilliant doing all the different voices and accents for the characters and it made listening so much fun. Even when the plot started going a little off the rails, I was still enjoying listening to her.

My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney!

Eden Fox, an artist on the brink of her big break, sets off for a run before her first exhibition. When she returns to the home she recently moved into, Spyglass, an enchanting old house in Hope Falls, nothing is as it should be. Her key doesn’t fit. A woman, eerily similar to her, answers the door. And her husband insists that the stranger is his wife.One house. One husband. Two women. Someone is lying. Six months earlier, a reclusive Londoner called Birdy, reeling from a life-changing diagnosis, inherits Spyglass. This unexpected gift from a long-lost grandmother brings her to the pretty seaside village of Hope Falls. But then Birdy stumbles upon a shadowy London clinic that claims to be able to predict a person's date of death, including her own. Secrets start to unravel, and as the line between truth and lies blurs, Birdy feels compelled to right some old wrongs.

This story got straight into the drama in the first chapter, so I was hooked from the beginning. It made me want to know what was going on, what was going to happen and how it was going to end. I was a little confused in parts, especially with the different characters which I kept changing my mind about and the timelines but I think that is part of what kept me listening. I did make sense of it all eventually. There is so much going on that you have to pay attention and every time I think I had worked something out, something changed and I wasn't completely sure any more. The ending was a little far-fetched, but by then, I was invested enough to see what happened and it all came together well at the end. I listened to this as an audiobook and the different voices were fantastic. The sound effects added to the suspense too, which I really enjoyed. It made certain parts feel even more dramatic and I found myself wanting to carry on listening rather than switching it off.

Someone Else's Shoes by JoJo Moyes!

Who are you when you are forced to walk in someone else’s shoes? Nisha Cantor lives the globetrotting life of the seriously wealthy, until her husband announces a divorce and cuts her off. Nisha is determined to hang onto her glamorous life. But in the meantime, she must scramble to cope she doesn’t even have the shoes she was, until a moment ago, standing in. That’s because Sam Kemp in the bleakest point of her life has accidentally taken Nisha’s gym bag. But Sam hardly has time to worry about a lost gym bag she’s struggling to keep herself and her family afloat. When she tries on Nisha’s six-inch high Christian Louboutin red crocodile shoes, the resulting jolt of confidence that makes her realize something must change and that thing is herself.

Who'd have thought a story about a pair of Christian Louboutin red crocodile shoes would be so good! I loved this book. There is quite a lot going on in this story, with lots of different characters and their own little storylines. I loved getting to know each of the women and finding out what was going on in their lives. They all have their own problems, secrets, worries and mistakes and slowly their lives start to become intertwined. There’s a bit of everything in this book with romance, mystery, humour, heartbreak and friendship. I really didn't want it to end!

Best Summer Ever by Heidi Swain!

Summer is in full swing when Daisy drives back into Wynmouth in her almost-clapped-out car, having left both her most recent job and the man her parents thought she was going to marry. Coming home could be just what she needs to move her life on. At Wynbrook Manor, things are in disarray. Owner Algy isn’t getting any younger, and Daisy’s mum Janet, housekeeper at the manor, spends her days running around after him, while Daisy’s dad Robin, the gardener, has been let down by the person he had lined up to take care of the new cut-flower garden. As Daisy tries to find her place at Wynbrook and in the village, she’s drawn to summer visitor Josh. But when he turns out to be not the person he appears to be, will the spark between them fizzle out? And with it, the chances of this turning into the best summer ever?

This is my first book by Heidi Swain and I loved it. It was exactly the sort of book I wanted during August. I know summer books don't need to be read in the summer but listening to this one while we were in the middle of a heatwave felt perfect. It has a coastal village, gardens, family, friendships, romance and plenty going on with the characters. It was pretty obvious where the story was heading and I was mostly right. I didn't mind because sometimes I just want to sit back and enjoy the story without having to think too hard. I really liked the setting of Wynmouth. It's a fictional coastal village but it was so easy to picture while I was listening and it made me want to visit somewhere by the seaside! I also discovered that there is a whole series of books set in Wynmouth, which I didn't realise before starting this one. I will definitely be looking for the others on BorrowBox.

What have you been reading or listening to lately?

What I listened to in July!

At the start of the year, I started listening to audiobooks. I always wanted to be a reader but couldn't/wouldn't make the time, so audiobooks were a way around it. I could be busy doing something while still listening to a book. Anyway, I thought I would share what I have been listening to. All of my audiobooks come from my local library through the app BorrowBox. I know lots of what I listen to might be considered old but they are all new to me!

This is what I listened to in July:

You Sent Me a Letter by Lucy Dawson!

At 2 a.m. on the morning of her fortieth birthday, Sophie wakes to find an intruder in her bedroom. The stranger hands Sophie a letter and issues a threat: open the letter at her party that evening, in front of family and friends, at exactly 8 p.m., or those she loves will be in grave danger. What can the letter possibly contain? This will be no ordinary party; Sophie is not the only person keeping a secret about the evening ahead. When the clock strikes eight, the course of several people's lives will be altered forever.

This had psychological, thriller, romance, comedy and mystery all rolled into one! I was hooked from the first chapter because I immediately wanted to know what was in the letter. I did enjoy listening to this and it kept me wanting to find out what happened but I didn’t find it quite as thrilling as I expected it to be. The plot was quite basic and I felt like I could see where the story was heading fairly early on. I had a theory about who was behind the letter and I was right for the first time ever! Even though I had worked out who sent the letter, I still wanted to keep listening because I wanted to know how everything would play out. I think this would be a good book if you’re just getting into psychological thrillers because it wasn’t too complicated and was easy listen to.

The Saturday Night Sauvignon Sisterhood by Gill Sims!

Claire’s family has gone nuclear. Her precious moppets keep calling Childline when she feeds them broccoli, and her darling husband is having an affair with her best friend. The question isn’t whether she needs a glass of wine, but is there one big enough? Enter the Sauvignon Sisterhood, a new set of friends brought together by a shared love of liquid therapy. Together they might just be able to convince Claire that, like a good bottle of red, life really can get better with age. Or at least there’s more to it than the joy of an M&S non-iron school uniform.

This was brilliant and had me laughing out loud several times. There were so many moments where I found myself thinking Yes, I can totally imagine someone saying that!” It had that very British humour that just works. Claire’s situation is obviously awful and there are some really difficult subjects covered, including betrayal, grief, loneliness and dealing with huge life changes but the humour always stood out above everything else. I loved the idea of the Sauvignon Sisterhood and the friendships that formed between these women. It was a lovely reminder that friendships don’t always happen when you’re young. I think this is one of those books that wouldn’t translate as well to other countries because so much of the humour is very British. The references, the sarcasm and even some of the situations are things that I think many UK readers will instantly understand.

Just Got Real by Jane Fallon!

He's not who he says he is. Then again, neither is she. When Joni finds Ant via a dating app, neither is entirely honest about who they are. But when they meet in real life, they fall for each other. Soon they are a happy, steady item. Until Joni discovers Ant is still on the app, still dating other women. Having secret rivals devastates Joni. So she decides to take revenge. But not on them. Can she turn these rivals into allies to get back at the real enemy, Ant?

I went into this expecting a fun revenge story and that is exactly what it was! I loved hearing the women come up with their plans and seeing Ant get what he deserved. hehehe One of my favourite things about this book was that the characters were a bit older and have already lived a bit of life instead of it focusing on people in their 20s. I loved the friendship side of the story just as much as the revenge. The only downside for me was that it was just too long. I did really enjoy the story but it seemed to drag at the end.

The Flower Girls by Alice Clark-Platts!

The Flower Girls. Laurel and Primrose. One convicted of murder, the other given a new identity. Now, nineteen years later, another child has gone missing. And the Flower Girls are about to hit the headlines all over again.

This is a tense, chilling story and a lot darker than the rest of the books that I read this month. The murder of the two year old girl really made me think it was a lot like what happened to James Bulger which is still horrifying all these years later. I enjoyed hearing the story from different characters and different sides to each bit of the story with different emotions being shown. It discusses the debate between being born evil or learning it and explores the age of criminal responsibility. It doesn't go into gory details about the 1997 murder, it lets you fill in the blanks for yourself, which in a way is worse. The ending, the last couple of chapters were shocking, I did not see that ending coming! 

What have you been reading or listening to lately?

What I listened to in June!

At the start of the year, I started listening to audiobooks. I always wanted to be a reader but couldn't/wouldn't make the time, so audiobooks were a way around it. I could be busy doing something while still listening to a book. Anyway, I thought I would share what I have been listening to. All of my audiobooks come from my local library through the app BorrowBox. I know lots of what I listen to might be considered old but they are all new to me!

This is what I listened to in June:

My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella!

Katie Brenner has the perfect life: a flat in London, a glamorous job, and a super-cool Instagram feed. OK, so the truth is that she rents a tiny room with no space for a wardrobe, has a hideous commute to a lowly admin job, and the life she shares on Instagram isn’t really hers. But one day her dreams are bound to come true, aren’t they? Until her not-so-perfect life comes crashing down when her mega-successful boss Demeter gives her the sack. All Katie’s hopes are shattered. She has to move home to Somerset, where she helps her dad with his new glamping business. Then Demeter and her family book in for a holiday, and Katie sees her chance. But should she get revenge on the woman who ruined her dreams or try to get her job back? Does Demeter the woman who has everything actually have such an idyllic life herself? Maybe they have more in common than it seems. And what’s wrong with not-so-perfect, anyway?

There’s something about Sophie Kinsella books that make me smile and feel happy. The chaos in this story felt over the top but at the same time believable and I loved every moment of listening. There’s romance running through it but it never takes over the story, it's like a little bonus rather than the main event. There is a lesson to learn from this book. Nobody has it all sorted and everyone’s just winging it in their own way. I really liked how Katie changes and grows into herself throughout the story. She’s not perfect, makes some very questionable choices, overthinks things but I ended up rooting for her anyway because she feels real. I found myself laughing, cringing and nodding along all through this book!

This Bright Life by Karen Campbell!

Gerard is twelve. He hates his name, but loves flying round the streets of Glasgow on his bike, or mucking about with his gang, the Broncos. He's a bright kid, but trouble seems to follow him. No one really knows what it's like at home for Gerard; he's used to carrying a lot on his small shoulders. Gerard doesn't always make good decisions. And on one April morning, in the blink of an eye, he makes a very bad one, one that will upend his whole world. Now, he faces a bewildering stream of concerned adults clutching files, unfamiliar streets to navigate, a strange bed to sleep in, and the very real chance he won't see his wee brother and sister again.

This book is not trying to be flashy or full of shocking twists and that’s exactly what makes it work so well. It's about everyday life and explores the realities of social and foster care. It doesn’t rush through the difficult bits and with each word you feel the emotion. The start was pretty bleak but it does get more hopeful as it goes on. It is a thoughtful story that focusses more on people than big plot twists.

Bad Apple by Alice Hunter!

Becky Lawson’s life has been shattered. When she discovered her husband, John a trusted policeman was a monster, she reported him. But her faith in the system was crushed when it didn't lead to any charges or consequences. Now, John lives freely with a new girlfriend and her young daughter, while Becky battles guilt over missing the obvious signs. Determined for justice, Becky hunts him down. But John wants her silenced at any cost. Becky knows only one of them can survive, and she’ll do anything to make sure it’s her. Becky must tread carefully though, because John isn’t the only bad apple lurking in the shadows.

If you’re looking for an audiobook that grabs you straight away and keeps you guessing right up to the very end, you need to listen to or read this. From the very beginning, its full of suspense and it doesn’t stop. It has so many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming and I spent most of it trying to piece things together only to realise I was wrong again and again. What I really enjoyed was how it made me question everyone and everything. I was so suspicious and was constantly changing my mind about who could be trusted and who couldn’t. There was even a point where I thought maybe the main character was imagining things. This book plays with your head in such a clever way. I felt so much frustration for the main character because of everything she goes through. Then there’s the ending! I didn’t see it coming at all.

Welcome to the Neighbourhood by Jane Fallon!

Kitty thought moving to London would spice up her life. Unfortunately, she ended up on Ashdown Close, where the hottest topic of gossip is a missed bin collection. That was before the arrival of Sian and Rich at number 8. They are cool and glamorous, and Kitty is perfectly willing to be dazzled by their company. But when she spots a mysterious woman furtively leaving their house, she realises they might not be the magnetic couple she thought. Aided and abetted by best friend Grace, Kitty feels she needs to investigate. Do Sian and Richard really have something to hide, or are Kitty and Grace just being nosy neighbours? And if they are, perhaps they are not the only ones. Because on this street’s nobody’s business might just turn out to be everybody’s business.

I went into this expecting a who done it, murder mystery, and it really wasn’t that at all. That threw me at first, but in a good way. It’s more of a funny, messy, nosey neighbour kind of story where everything happens and you don't see it coming! The characters felt like people you could actually bump into on a normal street and I liked most of them too well, apart from one. hehehe It’s light, a bit silly in places and it doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is probably why it works so well.

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke!

Natalie lives a traditional lifestyle and her followers are sick with envy. Her charming farmhouse on her working ranch is artfully cluttered, her husband is a handsome cowboy, her homemade sourdough boules are each more beautiful than the last. So what if there are nannies and producers and industrial-grade ovens behind the scenes? What her followers don’t know won’t hurt them. Then, one morning, Natalie wakes up in a strange, horrible version of reality. Her home, her husband, her children, they’re all familiar, but something’s off. Is this a hoax? A reality show? A test from God? Natalie knows just two things for sure: this isn't her perfect life, and she must escape, by any means possible.

There is a lot of hype about this book but I don't know how I feel about it after listening to it. I thought Natalie the main character would wake up in 1855 and be forced to live the real lifestyle that she tries so hard to show on her social media but that was not the focus of the book. Instead, there were lengthy chapters dedicated to her past. I feel cheated. It is more about mental health issues that get deeper and deeper as the story unwinds. On one hand, I was hooked. Natalie was such a horrible person, I couldn't stop listening as I wanted to know what happened. She was cruel, unlikeable and unkind but on the other hand, I felt annoyed as I felt it was pushing a political view down my throat and trying to make me swallow it. If I had to describe this book in one word, it’s icky.

What have you been reading or listening to lately?

What I listened to in May!

At the start of the year, I started listening to audiobooks. I always wanted to be a reader but couldn't/wouldn't make the time, so audiobooks were a way around it. I could be busy doing something while still listening to a book. Anyway, I thought I would share what I have been listening to. All of my audiobooks come from my local library through the app BorrowBox. I know lots of what I listen to might be considered old but they are all new to me!

This is what I listened to in May:

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page!

When Tilly Nightingale receives a call telling her there’s a birthday gift from her husband waiting for her at her local bookshop, it couldn’t come as more of a shock. Partly because she can’t remember the last time she read a book for pleasure. But mainly because Joe died five months ago....When she goes to pick up the present, Alfie, the bookshop owner with kind eyes, explains the gift - twelve carefully chosen books with handwritten letters from Joe, one for each month, to help her turn the page on her first year without him. At first Tilly can’t imagine sinking into a fictional world, but Joe’s tender words convince her to try, and something remarkable happens, Tilly becomes immersed in the pages, and a new chapter begins to unfold in her own life. Monthly trips to the bookstore and heartfelt conversations with Alfie give Tilly the comfort she craves and the courage to set out on a series of reading-inspired adventures that take her around the world. But as she begins to share her journey with others, her story like a book becomes more than her own.

I had heard so many good things about this book that I was scared to listen to it in case I was disappointed. I needn’t have worried because it was every bit as lovely as people said it was and maybe even more. From the start, it felt comforting, like sitting down with a cuppa and having a proper catch up with an old friend. The story was sweet, emotional and full of moments that made me stop and smile. I loved how real the characters felt and how easy it was to care about them. It had such a warm feeling running through it the whole way through and by the end I didn’t want it to finish. It really was like a warm hug in book form.

The Astral Library by Kate Quinn!

Alix Watson knows one thing: unlike people, books will never let her down. Working dead-end jobs to make ends meet, she takes nightly refuge in the reading room at the Boston Public Library, dreaming of far-off lands. Until she stumbles through a hidden door and is transported to The Astral Library, a place where the lost find sanctuary within their beloved stories. But when a shadowy enemy threatens to destroy the library, Alix must flee from danger through the Regency drawing rooms of Jane Austen and the back alleys of Sherlock Holmes’ London as danger closes in.

I went into listening to The Astral Library by Kate Quinn completely blind and had no idea it was a fantasy story filled with magic. If I'd known that beforehand, I probably wouldn't have picked it to listen to, as fantasy isn't usually my go to genre. I'm so glad I didn't know because from the very beginning, I found myself enjoying the story and eager to find out what would happen next. The magical world was imaginative without being too much and the words brought the characters and setting to life. I could just imagine the library in my head. This book ended up being a fantastic surprise and a reminder that sometimes the books I least expect to enjoy turn out to be the ones I love the most.

You Will Never Be Me by Jesse Q. Sutanto!

Influencer Meredith Lee didn't teach Aspen Palmer how to blossom on social media just to be ditched as soon as Aspen became big. So can anyone really blame Mer for doing a little stalking? Nothing serious, more like Stalking Lite. Then, Mer gets lucky; she finds one of Aspen's kids' iPads and swipes it. Now, she has access to everything: the family calendar and Aspen's social media accounts. Would anyone else be able to resist tweaking things a little here and there, showing up in Aspen's place for meetings with potential sponsors? Mer's only taking back what she deserves, what should have been hers. Meanwhile, Aspen doesn't understand why her perfectly filtered life is falling apart. Sponsors are dropping her, fellow influencers are ghosting her, and even her own husband seems to find her repulsive. If she doesn't find out who's behind everything, she might just lose it all. What everyone seems to forget is that Aspen didn't become one of TikTok's biggest momfluencers by being naive. When Meredith suddenly goes missing, Aspen's world is upended and mysterious threats begin to arrive but she won't let anything get in the way of her perfect life again.

Being in the blogging world myself, I could really relate to some of the pressures shown in You Will Never Be Me. There can be a lot of pressure to make life look perfect online and while I used to get caught up in that years ago, these days I'm much more comfortable showing real life as it is. The story does a great job of exploring the darker side of social media, how we compare ourselves to others and the lengths some people will go to in order to maintain that carefully crafted image. If someone had told me at the start where this story was going to end up, I wouldn't have believed them. Every time I thought I knew what was happening, another twist came along and changed things.

The Wish by Heather Morris!

Jesse is fifteen. She loves her friends, her little brother and her parents, even when they’re arguing, which feels constant these days. But most of all, she loves playing video games. Even from her hospital bed. Alex is twenty-nine. He doesn't love a lot of things and isn’t really sure he knows how to. A virtual reality games designer, his work desk is empty except for his computer, much like his life sometimes feels. Then Jesse makes a wish. A simple a video experience made of her life, something to be there, just in case she isn’t. One loving teenager. One lonely adult. Which one will get the happy ending?

This was the story of two people from very different walks of life, coming together in the saddest of circumstances. It was hard-hitting and very emotional but it kind of went between sad moments and then these little bits of hope that stop it from feeling too much. I enjoyed this even if I did shed quite a few tears.

Berserk by Ally Kennen!

What happens when there's no-one around to tell you when to stop? When fifteen year old Chas finds a website asking people to write to prisoners on Death Row, he thinks it would be funny to get letters from a murderer. He writes to an inmate, pretending to be his mum. When his new pen-pal is unexpectedly released, Chas' already problematic life spirals horribly out of control.

I went into it thinking it would be one thing and it turned out to be completely different. It has characters that are so different from characters I’m used to listening to and that was interesting. When I was a teenager I knew a few boys like Chas, troublemakers but with a good heart deep down. What surprised me most was that I found it funny in bits where I think it was probably meant to feel more serious or dramatic. The audiobook was easy to get through and never felt like a slog. 

What have you been reading or listening to lately?

What I listened to in April!

At the start of the year, I started listening to audiobooks. I always wanted to be a reader but couldn't/wouldn't make the time, so audiobooks were a way around it. I could be busy doing something while still listening to a book. Anyway, I thought I would share what I have been listening too. All of my audiobooks come from my local library through the app BorrowBox. I know lots of what I listen to might be considered old but they are all new to me!

This is what I listened to in April:

Looking for JJ by Anne Cassidy!

Three children walked away from the cottages on the edge of town toward Berwick Waters. Later that day, only two of them came back. Alice Tully knows exactly what happened that spring day six years ago, though it's still hard for her to believe it. She'll never be able to forget, even though she's trying to lead a normal life. She has a job, friends and a boyfriend whom she adores. But Alice's past is dangerous, and violent sad and it's about to rip her new life apart.

I found Looking for JJ quite unsettling to listen to. It’s not exactly an easy or light listen but I did find it gripping. I needed to know what happened six years ago and what happened to Alice now. I had moments where I felt quite sympathetic and then I’d catch myself and feel a bit weird about it, like should I feel like that about a murder? It definitely made me question a lot, especially about people changing and whether the past should always define someone.

Kill Them with Kindness by Will Carver!

The threat of nuclear war is no longer scary. This is much worse. It’s invisible. It works quickly. And it’s coming. The scourge has already infected and killed half the population in China and it is heading towards the UK. There is no time to escape. The British government sees no way out other than to distribute ‘Dignity Pills’ to its citizens: One last night with family or loved ones before going to sleep forever together. Because the contagion will kill you and the horrifying news footage shows that it will be better to go quietly.

Dr Haruto Ikeda, a Japanese scientist working at a Chinese research facility, wants to save the world. He has discovered a way to mutate a virus. Instead of making people sick, instead of causing death, it’s going to make them… nice. Instead of attacking the lungs, it will work into the brain and increase the host’s ability to feel and show compassion. It will make people kind. Ikeda’s quest is thoughtful and noble, and it just might work. Maybe humanity can be saved. Maybe it doesn’t have to be the end. But kindness may also be the biggest killer of all.

I really wanted to get into Kill Them with Kindness but it just didn’t click for me. I gave it a fair go but I kept losing track of what was going on because it felt like it was constantly jumping about. In the end, I didn’t finish it. This is the first book I haven't been able to finish since I started listening to audiobooks.

Lucky Day by Beth Morrey!

Work. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. But not today. Today, the rules don’t apply. After a morning that starts with a terrible migraine, an accidentally strong concoction of painkillers, and a bump on the head, Clover Hendry is not quite herself. And as she walks out of work at 9.47am, for once Clover isn’t worrying about the consequences. For once, she’s going to live for herself, if only for a day. Full of a joyful recklessness, Clover Hendry is taking the day off. But will her new-found freedom uncover long-buried secrets?

I really enjoyed Lucky Day and as a people pleaser it appealed to me. It’s one of those books that just makes you feel good while you’re listening to it and I found myself properly smiling while listening. There were loads of laugh out loud moments too, which I didn’t expect but they really made it such an easy, enjoyable listen. I think I could do with a day life this where I say stuff it to all my responsibilities and do what I want to do.

Audition by Katie Kitamura!

Two people meet for lunch in a Manhattan restaurant. She’s an elegant and accomplished actress in rehearsals for an upcoming premiere. He’s attractive, troubling, and young young enough to be her son. Who is he to her, and who is she to him? In Audition, two competing narratives unspool, rewriting our understanding of the roles we play every day partner, parent, creator, muse and the truths every performance masks, especially from those who think they know us best.

I liked Audition by Katie Kitamura but I’ll be honest, I also came away a bit like I’m not sure I fully got all of that. It’s one of those books that feels really clever and I kept wondering if I was missing something important underneath it all. Like I was reading it slightly out of sync with what it was trying to do. There were parts I really enjoyed and got pulled into but then it would shift again and I’d be back to trying to work it all out in my head. Either way, I’m glad I listened to it even if it’s still sitting in my head a bit like a puzzle

The Black Dress by - Deborah Moggach!

Pru is on her own. But then, so are plenty of other people. And while the loneliness can be overwhelming, surely she'll find a party somewhere? Pru's husband has walked out, leaving her alone to contemplate her future. She's missing not so much him, but the life they once had - picnicking on the beach with small children, laughing together, nestling up like spoons in the cutlery drawer as they sleep. Now there's just a dip on one side of the bed and no-one to fill it.

In a daze, Pru goes off to a friend's funeral. Usual old hymns, words of praise and a eulogy but it doesn't sound like the friend Pru knew. And it isn't. She's gone to the wrong service. Everyone was very welcoming, it was oddly a laugh and more excitement than she's had for ages. So she buys a little black dress in a charity shop and thinks, now I'm all set, why not go to another? I mean, people don't want to make a scene at a funeral, do they? No one will challenge her and what harm can it do?

I was hooked on this after the first chapter wondering how things were going to unravel next. Just when I thought I had things figured out, it would shift and I’d be sat there thinking I didn't see that coming! There’s a nice mix of humour and sadness running through it and has a mischievous edge that made me keep listening just to see what happens next. There were so many twists and turns and I could have never have guessed the ending.

What have you been reading or listening to lately?

What I listened to in March!

At the start of the year, I started listening to audiobooks. I always wanted to be a reader but couldn't/wouldn't make the time, so audiobooks were a way around it. I could be busy doing something while still listening to a book. Anyway, I thought I would share what I have been listening too. All of my audiobooks come from my local library through the app BorrowBox. I know lots of what I listen to might be considered old but they are all new to me!

This is what I listened to in March:

Skin by Liam Brown!

A strange virus is sweeping the globe. Humans have become allergic to one another. Simply standing next to somebody could be a death sentence. A kiss could be fatal. Angela is a woman trying to get by in this bewildering new world. Though she still lives with her husband and children, they lead separate lives. Confined to their rooms, they communicate via their computers and phones. In some ways, very little has changed. That is, until she spots a mysterious stranger walking through town without even a face mask for protection. A man, it seems, immune to this disease. A man unlike anyone else she knows. A man it might just be safe to touch...

Reading Skin by Liam Brown felt a little too close to home at times. After everything we’ve all been through in recent years, the idea of a world where you can’t touch anyone any more didn’t feel that far fetched at all. That’s what kept me hooked. I needed to know where it was going and how it was all going to make sense but when I reached the end and I was left wanting more. After all that build-up, I expected answers or at least some kind of proper conclusion. Instead, it felt quite open and unfinished. I don’t mind a book that makes me think but I do like a bit of clarity after investing my time in it. It wasn't a bad book, it was just the ending which let it down as it felt quite rushed!

What Does it Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella!

Eve is a successful novelist who wakes up one day in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there. Her husband, never far from her side, explains that she has had an operation to remove the large, malignant tumour growing in her brain. As Eve learns to walk, talk and write again and as she wrestles with her diagnosis and how and when to explain it to her beloved children she begins to recall what’s most important to her: long walks with her husband’s hand clasped firmly around her own, family game nights and always buying that dress when she sees it.

I am not an expert when it comes to books but from Sophie Kineslla you expect funny, the main character getting herself into awkward situations and lots of chaos but this isn’t that. This was such a raw, beautiful, powerful story and this being Sophie Kineslla's last book, is so heart breaking! I found it so brave of Sophie Kinsella to write something so personal and to find humour in the hardest moments. I finished it in a couple of hours.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig!

When Nora Seed finds herself in the Midnight Library, she has a chance to make things right. Up until now, her life has been full of misery and regret. She feels she has let everyone down, including herself. But things are about to change. The books in the Midnight Library enable Nora to live as if she had done things differently. With the help of an old friend, she can now undo every one of her regrets as she tries to work out her perfect life. But things aren't always what she imagined they'd be, and soon her choices place the library and herself in extreme danger. Before time runs out, she must answer the ultimate question: what is the best way to live?

I think we've all had those moments in our lives when we've wondered what if? What if we took a different job, moved somewhere else or said yes to something we turned down? I know I have had lots of those moments and this book takes that feeling and turns it into an interesting story. Some of the lives Nora tried were amazing but they weren’t always what she expected. It made me think that even in a life we imagine being perfect, there are still things which are not so perfect. The book deals with some heavy topics, like suicide but it's also quite hopeful. It's a nice reminder that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.

The Surrogate Mother by Freida McFadden!

Abby wants a baby more than anything. But after years of failed infertility treatments and adoptions that fall through, it seems like motherhood may never happen for her. Everything changes when her personal assistant, Monica, offers to be her surrogate an offer that feels like a miracle and a chance to finally have the family Abby has always dreamed of. But soon, strange things begin happening. Monica isn’t who she claims to be, and the woman carrying Abby’s child is hiding a dark secret. As the truth slowly unravels, Abby realises she may have trusted the wrong person and Monica will stop at nothing to get what she wants.

This was one of those books where I kept telling myself just one more chapter and then I'd stop and then suddenly it was an hour later. It pulls you in really quickly and before you know it you’re completely caught up in the story. I kept changing my mind about what I thought was going on and who I trusted, which is always a good thing with a thriller. Every time I thought I’d worked it out something else would happen that made me question everything again. The whole idea behind the story is tense, as trusting someone else to carry your baby is such a huge thing. I don't think I could do it and after listening to this, definitely not. The chapters are quite short, so it’s very easy to keep going. It was a twisty thriller which kept me guessing right until the end.

Swept Away by Beth O'Leary!

Lexi is looking for no-strings-attached fun. Zeke is looking for love. Neither of them were looking for a one-night stand to become their one and only lifeline. But when they wake up after an unforgettable night together, the houseboat they stayed on has been swept out to sea. There's no signal, no steering and no sign of rescue. And as the waves pick up and supplies run low, Zeke and Lexi realise there's much more on the line than their new relationship.

I started listening to this feeling pretty excited, especially because I really enjoyed The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary but I came out of it with mixed feelings. I didn't hate this book but I didn't love it either. It was easy to listen to but it just seemed to go on and on and I liked the characters but I didn’t feel connected to them. I could have easily given up on it halfway through but I am not a quitter and I carried on and I am glad I did as the ending was quite good.

What have you been reading or listening to lately?

The book was better and I’ve become that person!

I’ve always been jealous of those people who read the book first and then go on to watch the TV or movie based in it. They always seemed so smug, like they know something the rest of us don't. They get to say things like "That didn’t happen in the book," or "They completely changed that character," and I had to believe what they were saying because I was never one for books. The only time I read the book before seeing the movie was the last 2 Harry Potter books and even then I already knew what the characters were like from watching the first few movies.

Now that audiobooks are in my life, it has changed everything. I am listening to them every chance that I get and so far, have listened to some great ones. In fact, I feel really lucky that every book I have chosen, I've enjoyed. One day I started listening to The Flat Share by Beth O’Leary. I didn’t know anything about it, I hadn’t heard the hype, I didn’t even know it existed before I pressed play and started listening.

The story is about Tiffy Moore and Leon Twomey, two complete strangers with opposite schedules who agree to share a one-bedroom London flat and the same bed without ever actually meeting. Tiffy uses the flat at night after a breakup leaves her desperate for somewhere affordable, while Leon, a palliative care nurse working nights, sleeps there during the day. They communicate entirely through Post-it notes, slowly building a connection while dealing with their own messy lives, emotional baggage, and in Tiffy’s case, an ex-boyfriend who is way more than just a bit annoying.

When I was writing a blog post, I Googled the name of the book to make sure I had the author correct and that’s when I discovered it had been made into a TV show. For Channel 5 of all places. I hadn’t seen a trailer or anyone mention it, it had completely passed me by. Suddenly I was excited because this was my moment. I had finally done it the right way round, the book before the TV show. Watching the TV version after listening to the book was such a strange experience, in a good way. I wasn’t annoyed or rolling my eyes every five minutes, I was more curious! The TV show gets the heart of the story but it did feel different.

Tiffy, for example, in the book you hear all the little doubts she brushes off, the way she laughs things away, the way she slowly realises that her past relationship wasn’t just a bit rubbish, it actually did some damage. On screen, she’s still warm and likeable but she feels more confident early on. Leon is where I really noticed the change. In the audiobook his voice is such a big part of who he is. Those short sentences, the pauses, the way he thinks. On TV, he’s still kind and gentle but without hearing his thoughts, he becomes a bit more average when, in the audiobook Leon has something extra. The relationship itself also feels different. In the book, everything takes its time with the notes, missed chances and waiting around but in the show things move along a bit quicker, which I get. TV has a pace to keep but I did miss that slow build.

By the end of the series, I found myself doing the thing I’d always watched other people do. Comparing, not in a nasty way but just noticing. Understanding why some things were changed, why others were left out but thinking the book did it better. That’s when it hit me. I’ve become one of those people!

The book is deeper, the audiobook especially. The TV show is comforting and easy to watch and does a decent job of staying true to the story but if you want the full experience, the one that makes you feel a bit wobbly in places, the book wins! If you’d told me a year ago that I’d be sitting there judging a Channel 5 adaptation based on an audiobook I found by accident, I’d have laughed. Yet here we are. Turns out, I just needed to listen instead of read and now I finally get why people love being able to say the book was better!

What book do you think is better than the TV show or movie?

What I listened to in February!

At the start of the year, I started listening to audiobooks. I always wanted to be a reader but couldn't/wouldn't make the time so audiobooks were a way around it. I could be busy doing something while still listening to a book. Anyway, I thought I would share what I have been listening too. All of my audiobooks come from my local library through the app BorrowBox. I know lots of what I listen to might be considered old but they are all new to me!

This is what I listened to in February:

Cat Lady by Dawn O’Porter!

It’s safer for Mia to play the part that people expect. She’s a good wife to her husband Tristan, a doting stepmother, she slips on her suit for work each morning like a new skin. But beneath the surface, there’s another woman just clawing to get out. When a shocking event shatters the conventional life she’s been so careful to build, Mia is faced with a choice. Does she live for a society that’s all too quick to judge, or does she live for herself? And if that’s as an independent woman with a cat, then the world better get ready...

If you’re in the mood for something a bit bonkers but surprisingly deep, you have to listen to Cat Lady! I flew through this. It felt like a rollercoaster. One minute you’re laughing out loud and the next you’re actually a bit heartbroken. It touches on some heavy stuff like childhood trauma and grief but it never feels like it's too much because the wit is always there to pull you back up. It’s basically a life lesson to stop trying to be the perfect version of yourself and just be the weirdo you actually are. What I loved most was how it challenges that whole "cat lady" stereotype. It flips it on its head and turns it into something empowering instead of sad. 

The Flat Share by Beth O'Leary!

Tiffy and Leon share a flat

Tiffy and Leon share a bed

Tiffy and Leon have never met...

Tiffy Moore needs a cheap flat, and fast. Leon Twomey works nights and needs cash. Their friends think they're crazy, but it's the perfect solution: Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy's at work in the day, and she has the run of the place the rest of the time. But with obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients at work, wrongly imprisoned brothers and, of course, the fact that they still haven't met yet, they're about to discover that if you want the perfect home you need to throw the rulebook out the window...

I absolutely loved how Beth O’Leary made something that sounds quirky feel genuinely warm and emotional. Tiffy is this wonderful, bubbly, whirlwind, while Leon is much more quiet and reserved. They communicate by sticky notes, texts and random little messages left around the flat and over time those notes build a connection that’s warm and funny! The audiobook is clever because it uses two narrators, Kwaku Fortune and Carrie Hope Fletcher. Having two different voices for Tiffy and Leon makes the whole post-it note friendship feel so real. While it’s definitely funny and has those heart-melting moments you’d expect, it actually handles some pretty heavy stuff with a lot of grace. Tiffy is dealing with the aftermath of a really gaslighting, emotionally abusive relationship and seeing her find her confidence again is good. Leon is dealing with a massive family crisis involving his brother. It balances the will they/won't they tension with some really high-stakes drama that makes the happy moments feel earned rather than just handed to them. By the time they finally meet in person, which takes a while, I was rooting for them so hard.

The Carer by Deborah Moggach!

From the bestselling author of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Tulip Fever, a deliciously funny, poignant and wry novel, full of surprising twists and turns: James is getting on a bit and needs full-time help. So Phoebe and Robert, his middle-aged offspring, employ Mandy, who seems willing to take him off their hands. But as James regales his family with tales of Mandy's virtues, their shopping trips and the shared pleasure of their journeys to garden centres, Phoebe and Robert sense something is amiss. Then something extraordinary happens which throws everything into new relief, changing all the stories of their childhood - and the father - that they thought they knew so well.

The Carer shares a very ordinary slice of life. You’ve got these two siblings who ease their guilt by hiring Mandy to look after their dad. I found myself cringing a bit at how much they patted themselves on the back for finding her only to turn into investigators the second they realised their dad actually liked her more than them. When the siblings start spiralling, convinced that Mandy is some sort of gold-digging mastermind it got me hooked. It’s not a thriller but the tension comes from flipping between thinking the kids are being spoiled brats and wondering if Mandy really does have a skeleton or two in her closet. Without giving anything away the story changes into something much deeper than someone being a shady character. It touches on how little we actually know our parents and they have a history before we were born. By the end I wasn't even thinking about the mystery anymore I was just really moved by the secrets people carry to keep their families together.

Breaking Point by Edel Coffey!

Susannah has two beautiful daughters, a high-flying medical career, a successful husband and an enviable life. Her hair is glossy, her clothes are expensive; she truly has it all. But when - on the hottest day of the year - her strict morning routine is disrupted, Susannah finds herself running on autopilot. It is hours before she realises she has made a devastating mistake. Her baby, Louise, is still in the backseat of the car and it is too late to save her. As the press close in around her, Susannah is put on trial for negligence. It is plain to see that this is not a trial, it's a witch hunt. But what will the court say?

This is not a light, fun listen. It’s tense, uncomfortable and there were moments I had to pause because it felt a bit too real but it’s also sharp and thoughtful and very relevant. It says a lot about burnout, ambition and how close someone can be to the edge without anyone noticing. What makes this book so gripping is that it doesn’t feel dramatic in a sensational way, it feels like what happened to Dr Sue could happen to anyone! The blurb above isn't a spoiler as what happens, happens in the first couple of chapters, this is all about the aftermath and how one single bad decision or even just a moment of human weakness could tip someone over the edge. This book makes you think about how quick we are to judge mothers and how harshly we look at women who falter.

Emma on Fire by James Patterson & Emily Raymond!

What Emma Caroline Blake has planned at New Hampshire’s Ridgemont Academy is shocking. Her school blames a heart breaking tragedy in her family. Her best friends point to her most recent social media. Her teachers, even her father, say it’s a drastic cry for help. But Emma doesn’t want help. She wants to make a difference. Not tomorrow. Today. Now. She’s going to walk through fire to change the world.

When I started this I thought I knew what I was getting. Fast paced, dramatic a bit shocking with a twist or two but I wasn’t fully prepared for was just how intense this book would feel right from the start. This isn’t a slow build, there’s no gentle easing into it as during the very first chapters you know something big is coming! Emma is not your typical troubled teen character, yes she's had tragedy in her family and normal teenage stresses but she doesn't see herself as someone falling apart. I was constantly questioning what’s really going on. She pushes people away, keeps secrets and has a belief that she has to do something drastic to be heard! By the time you reach the final chapters, the tension is almost unbearable.

What have you been reading or listening to lately?

What I listened to in January!

At the start of the year, I started listening to audiobooks. I always wanted to be a reader but couldn't/wouldn't make the time, so audiobooks were a way around it. I could be busy doing something while still listening to a book. Anyway, I thought I would share what I have been listening to. This post would have come sooner but I had to wait for my listening time to reset on Spotify to finish the last book. I have since moved away from Spotify audiobooks as 15 hours listening time per month is just not enough for me and I now borrow audiobooks from my local library through BorrowBox.

A Chosen Destiny: My Story by Drew McIntyre!

A destiny chosen, a destiny squandered, and a champion's relentless pursuit for redemption.

Growing up in a small village in Ayrshire, Scotland, Drew dreamed of becoming WWE Champion and following in the footsteps of heroes Stone Cold Steve Austin and Undertaker. With his parents' support, he trained and paid his dues, proving himself to tiny crowds in the Butlin's circuit. At age twenty-two, McIntyre made his WWE debut and was touted by none other than WWE Chairman Vince McMahon as "The Chosen One," who would lead WWE into the future. With his destiny in the palm of his hands, Drew watched it all slip through his fingers.

Through a series of ill-advised choices and family tragedy, Drew's life and career spiralled. As a surefire champ, he struggled under the pressure of expectations and was fired from the company. But the WWE Universe has not seen the last of this promising athlete. Facing a crossroads, this powerful Scotsman set a course to show the world the real Drew McIntyre. Buoyed by the support of his wife, Kaitlyn, and the memory of his beloved mother, Drew embarked on a mission to recharge, reinvent and revitalise himself to fulfil his destiny. It is a story of grit, courage and determination as a fallen Superstar discovers who he truly is and storms back to reclaim his dream.

This was the book which kicked this whole audiobook thing off for me. If you know me, you know I love WWE. I always have. Drew McIntyre is one of my favourites, so this was always going to be top of my list but I didn’t expect it to grab me the way it did! He reads it and comes across exactly how he does on screen. What really got me with this book was how open Drew is. There’s no glossing over the bad bits. He talks about the poor choices, the self-doubt, the ego and the knock to his confidence when he was released from WWE. Hearing him talk about that period, in his own voice, made it hit harder. You can hear the disappointment and the frustration, the way he rebuilt himself, not just physically but mentally and how much he changed as a person, not just a wrestler. Losing his mum clearly shaped so much of that growth too and those parts were emotional without being overdone but I did cry!

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella!

Audrey can't leave the house. She can't even take off her dark glasses inside the house. Then her brother's friend Linus stumbles into her life. With his friendly, orange-slice smile and his funny notes, he starts to entice Audrey out again - well, Starbucks is a start. And with Linus at her side, Audrey feels like she can do the things she'd thought were too scary. Suddenly, finding her way back to the real world seems achievable. Be prepared to laugh, dream and hope with Audrey as she learns that even when you feel like you have lost yourself, love can still find you.

I don't usually listen to fiction but this was a great way to get into it! At first, it felt light and funny but underneath there’s a thoughtful look at anxiety, recovery and someone finding their way back to who they were. The way it is written feels kind and careful, not heavy or preachy. Nothing is rushed. There’s no big dramatic suddenly everything is fine moment. There are still laugh-out-loud moments mostly thanks to her family and her mum’s obsession with self-help books had me smiling more than once. As a mum myself, especially knowing the struggles my youngest Ellie has faced, some parts hit close to home. That feeling of wanting to fix everything, to make the fear disappear and sometimes getting it wrong despite good intentions. It was impossible not to relate. Even though this is aimed at young adults, I got so much out of it. It’s a reminder that kindness matters, patience matters and that small steps are still steps.

Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella!

Lexi wakes up in a hospital bed after a car accident, thinking it's 2004 and she's a twenty-five-year old with crooked teeth and a disastrous love life. But, to her disbelief, she learns it's actually 2007 - she's twenty-eight, her teeth are straight, she's the boss of her department - and she's married! To a good-looking millionaire! How on earth did she land the dream life? She can't believe her luck - especially when she sees her stunning new home. She's sure she'll have a fantastic marriage once she gets to know her husband again. He's drawn up a 'manual of our marriage', which should help. But as she learns more about her new self, chinks start to appear in the perfect life. All her old colleagues hate her. A rival is after her job. Then a dishevelled, sexy guy turns up and lands a new bombshell. What happened to her? Will she ever remember? And what will happen if she does?

I loved this book while I was listening to it. I flew through it while laughing, cringing and muttering Oh no," like they could hear me. The whole idea of meeting a version of yourself you don’t recognise was so interesting. he ending but the ending! I didn’t dislike it, it wasn’t bad or disappointing but it just felt unfinished. Like we reached the most important part and that was it. Even with that, I enjoyed it. It was funny, warm and thoughtful.

The Woman Who Got Her Spark Back by Fiona Gibson!

Meet Celia. Life hasn’t worked out quite how she’d planned.

Since her son left for university, Celia has felt stuck at home battling with her husband Geoff over control of the thermostat, and without the merest glint of a social life. Her only joy comes from the plants she nurtures in her makeshift plant hospital in their Glasgow flat. Then three unexpected things happen: She catches Geoff in bed with a secretary from his sausage factory (no pun intended). Her high-flying best friend Amanda arrives on her doorstep without warning (but with a very large suitcase) and A tall handsome French teacher asks her to tend his daughter’s cactus back to health.

Suddenly, Celia finds her life in freefall, but she makes a decision: she won’t let this be the end of her. She’ll bring herself back to life, just like the plants she works her magic on. But just how do you change the habits of a lifetime?

Celia is so relatable, she’s the sort of woman you want to cheer for because she’s kind, a bit shy of the spotlight but when life knocks her down, she doesn’t just lie there. She starts figuring out who she is apart from all the roles she’s been playing. There’s humour too in the right places. Her dynamic with the other characters is brilliant, especially with Amanda, who has her own set of baggage and Enzo, the French teacher who doesn’t mind that she talks to cacti like they’re her best friend. I really enjoyed this. There was drama but no big drama. It was a cosy sort of book.

What have you been reading or listening to lately?