beckyyreadss's reviews
734 reviews

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I wanted to read this book because I wanted to read more of authors I enjoyed. I adored the Divergent series so much so that I’ve got the Ferris wheel with Tris and Four climbing it tattooed on my leg, I’ve not really enjoyed her other work, but saw this book was being released and wanted to give her another shot and unfortunately it was missing something.

This book is based on Sonya Kantor, and she knows the slogan what’s right is right, she lived by it for most of her life. For decades, everyone in the Seattle-Portland megalopolis lived under it, as well as constant surveillance in the form of the Insight, an ocular implant that tracked every word and every action, rewarding or punishing by a rigid moral code set forth by the Delegation. Then there was a revolution. The Delegation fell. Its most valuable members were locked in the Aperture, a prison on the outskirts of the city. And everyone else, now free from the Insight’s monitoring, went on with their lives. Sonya was the former poster girl for the Delegation, has been imprisoned for ten years when an old enemy comes to her with a deal: find a missing girl who was stolen from her parents by the old regime, and earn her freedom. The path Sonya takes to find the child with lead her through an unfamiliar, crooked post-Delegation world where she finds herself digging deeper into the past and her family’s dark secrets than she ever wanted to.

I liked the world building and obviously this was released during COVID, and it would have been hard-hitting when we were in the midst of lockdown. I liked Sonya’s character development and how even though she felt guilty for what happened to Grace, she wanted her parents to have the truth. She could have easily covered it up and just said she was taken, and she’s died but she also told her parents that she was the one who reported Grace for being a second child. I liked the mystery aspect of the book and that’s what kept me reading, I wanted to know what happened to Grace and who killed Knox and who was after Sonya. I'm glad that there was little romance throughout the book as well because I feel like sometimes a lot of dystopian books are like the government is tracking them and trying to kill them, but they love each other so the world is good. There was a romantic connection, but it wasn’t the focus point of the book.

I would have loved for this to have a bit more depth and history like a couple of chapters where it was before the revelation, how did it come to this point? Why did Sonya’s dad go bad? Was it for money? Power? Did her mum and sister know? I wanted more to do with the government and her dad. I wanted more history with Sonya and the brothers? Something was missing and I wanted more unlike Divergent, Veronica Roth manages to build the world and the history, and you know everyone and everything before the action happens.

Overall, this book is enjoyable, but it was just missing something, and I was wanting more.

Content Warnings

The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I wanted to carry on with this series because I enjoyed the first book in the series and wanted to see what was going to happen to Paige and the gang after they escape from Oxford. However, this book had a lot of information dumping and I was just getting bored.

This book is based on Paige Mahoney, and she has escaped the brutal prison camp of Sheol I, but her problems have only just begun: many of the survivors are missing and she is now the most wanted person in London. As Scion turns its all-seeing eye on the dreamwalker, the mime-lords and mine-queens of the city’s gangs are invited to a rare meeting of the Unnatural Assembly. Jaxon Hall and his Seven Seals prepare to take centre stage, but there are bitter fault lines running through the clairvoyant community and dark secrets around every corner. Then the Rephaim begin crawling out from the shadows. But where is Warden? Paige must keep moving, from Seven Dials to Grub Street to the secret catacombs of Camden, until the fate of the underworld can be decided.

I felt like this was the first book in the series rather than the second book in the series. We were back at square one, I was very lost and confused for most of the book. I was expecting this to be about Warden and Julian and Paige and the survivors. It was a complete information overload and my head was hurting. I missed The Warden, and it shouldn’t have taken thirteen chapters to see him again. Another issue I have with the book and with Samantha Shannon’s writing is very big reveal or twist is very anti-climactic, I was just waiting for the reaction to be Holy Mother of Mary, and it just didn’t happen, it was just sort of crept in and then we moved on. Plus, I would have loved for this to be dual POV or even multiple POV with Warden and Jaxon having their own chapters, especially towards the start of the rebellion.

Paige saved this book from being 2 stars. Her character development was the only thing that was keeping me sane. I loved that she was like yeah I've changed, I'll play all my cards right but I'm going to save everyone if I can because everyone should be trying to help anyone in need. I’m so glad she won that fight with Jaxon but I'm assuming he isn’t going to leave quietly. The ending got me back into it and wanting to know what the hell was going to happen. I’m assuming the Rag King is Jaxon, that’s my prediction before I carry on with the next book in the series.

Overall, I was disappointed in this book and hoping that it’s the odd one out in the series and I enjoy the other books in the series.

Content Warnings

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I wanted to read this book because I enjoyed the Throne of Glass series and ACOTAR and wanted more. The size of this book scared me mainly because it was a new series, and Sarah usually likes you to get settled before throwing at 700-900 pages book like in ACOTAR and Throne of Glass and this was the first book in the series and over 700 pages. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

This book is based on Bryce Quinlan, and she loves her life. Every night is a party, and Bryce is going to savour all the pleasures Lunathion – also known as Crescent City – has to offer. But when a brutal murder shakes the very foundations of the city, Bryce’s world comes crashing down. Two years later, Bryce still haunts the city’s most notorious nightclubs – but seeking only oblivion now. Then the murderer attacks again. And when an infamous Fallen angel, Hunt Athalar, is assigned to watch her every footstep, Bryce knows she can’t forget any longer. As Bryce and Hunt fight to unravel the mystery and their own dark pasts, the threads they tug ripple through the underbelly of the city, across warring continents and down to the deepest levels of Hel, where things that have been sleeping for millennia are beginning to stir.

I love Bryce – she has now joined the group of kick-ass women who could hit me, and I would say thank you. I think she is so amazing and strong, and I just wanted to hug her throughout the whole book. I enjoyed reading the book from multiple POV, I feel like it makes the book so much better. I loved seeing Bryce comes from a broken person who was ready to give up on life to a strong powerful woman who is not afraid to kick ass. My favourite chapter was when Bryce figured out who the murderer was and how to get the answer out of him. The book left you with enough drama that it didn’t feel rushed but also left you wanting you more.

This book seemed to have more adult themes than her previous book and yet some of these people were acting like children – Amelie, I'm looking at you. I hate the fact that they also killed one of the major side chapters like don’t do that, I wanted them to be together. Kill someone who would have a bit of impact but not those characters. I was shook. I also felt like Bryce’s dad got off the hooked way too much. I am hoping that Bryce is going to kick his ass in the next book.

I am wondering what the hell is going to happen now and how the hell she has wrote two more books that are over 700 pages.

Content Warnings

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I wanted to read this book as I wanted more of Camp Half-Blood. I loved the original PJO series, and I did want more, so I thought I would try the next series of The Heroes of Olympus, I was initially a little bit disappointed that it wasn’t Percy and the gang, but I was so shocked and the action kept me on the edge of my seat.

When Jason, Piper and Leo crash land at Camp Half-Blood, they have no idea what to expect. Apparently, this is the only safe place for children of the Greek Gods – despite the monsters roaming the woods and demigods practising archery with flaming arrows and explosives. But rumours of a terrible curse and a missing hero are flying around camp. It seems Jason, Piper and Leo are the chosen ones to embark on a terrifying new quest, which they must complete by the winter solstice. In just four days' time. Can this new trio succeed on this deadly mission and what must they sacrifice to survive?

I went into this book completely blind; I usually do with most books with authors I have enjoyed, but I was surprised with the multiple POVs, and I enjoyed that aspect. I did struggle with the third person aspect just because I fully enjoyed listening to Percy’s thoughts during his series and was imagining Jason, Piper and Leo’s would be the same as a bunch of young children heading out on a deadly quest and especially with Jason having no memories whatsoever. For a young adult book, this book was a super easy read, and the explanation didn’t feel like you were stupid, and I didn’t even have to google anything. I think it helped that I had read Percy Jacon already. The storyline was action-packed but also managed to give you a feel of the characters and the world we’ve are being re-introduced to. I love the found family element in this book and I love the trio. I liked seeing Thalia and Annabeth again but if you hadn’t read the first series you weren’t confused or lost.

The ending to this book was cruel but also makes me want to jump right in especially if we get to see more of the gang like Percy and Grover and these kids are going to be so stressed over the next couple of years especially if it’s anything like Percy’s series.

Content Warnings

Off To The Races by Elsie Silver

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I wanted to read this book because I’m enjoying the Chestnut Series and the Rose Hill series so when I saw the new covers getting announced, I was so excited to start it. I loved seeing where Elsie Silver started.

This book has two points of view. The first one is Billie Black, and she is a talented horse trainer who has travelled all over the world in the most prestigious places, but when a good friend and father figure Hank, calls in a favour to come and work on a small-town ranch called Gold Rush Ranch in Ruby Creek. She makes the trip, but the second she lands, she is dealing with the arrogant Vaughn Harding who think Billie is there on his mother request for a date. They but heads and Vaughn gives Billie a deal, she has three months to make his most difficult horse into a race winner. The second point of view is Vaughn Harding, and he has taken a leave of absence from his job to get things sorted out his grandad’s ranch especially after his grandad is getting bad press about fixing major races. He is determined to keep things professional with all of his employees, but he can’t stop thinking about Billie. She's mouthy and so damn tempting. They clash from the moment they met. And in a small town, on an even smaller farm, it’s hard to keep your distance. It's even harder to keep the friction from turning to fire. But keeping his distance? That might be the biggest struggle of all. Because Billie is the whole package. They both drive each other crazy. Every smart-mouthed little comment, every game they play, they both want more. Suddenly Vaughn doesn’t care about winning race, he wants to win the girl.

I love that Elsie has a way of writing these found family, small town vibes. Like everyone instantly loved Billie where Vaughn was wanting her out of his hair as soon as possible. I loved that the girl group was formed, and they were all looking out for each other but also if they didn’t want to talk about the men in their life being a pain in the ass, they would just get drunk instead. I loved Billie instantly, how she was standing up for herself from day one and didn’t give a shit about her past she just wanted to make sure she proved herself. My favourite chapter was actually when Billie wacked the hell out of the jockey that hurt her horse after she specially told him not to hurt the horse and then screamed at Vaughn’s brother. I adored Hank, he reminds me of Harvey and how he loves the lads he adopted like Vaughn but Vaughn hurt his adopted daughter, so he is like I adore you, but I'm pissed off at you right now and told him some hard truths.

Vaughn was a walking red flag, he took a while to grow on me, he sorts of reminded me of Rhett. Cold, then warm, then cold again. Can't speak his mind. Then makes promises he can’t keep and then a man has to tell him that he fucked up. Like dude, could you not tell by the fact that Billie broke up with you, handed in her notice and was planning to leave the country towards the end of the book. Vaughn had his major character development within the last three chapters when the third act conflict happened, which I don’t believe was needed.

I love how Elsie has already introduced most of the characters from the ranch and the Harding family and this book was a solid first book in the series and I cannot wait to see what happens within the Gold Rush Ranch.

Content Warnings

Reckless by Elsie Silver

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I wanted to read this book because Elsie Silver is adored all over the book community. I have been enjoying this series and the Rose Hill series and the Gold Rush series. This year for me Elsie Silver has been my top read author. I wanted to know more about Winter and Theo from the snippet we’ve seen in the last book. I hate pregnancy tropes, but this one was done differently.

This book has two points of view. The first is Winter Hamilton and she is sick of her life. She is working at the same hospital as her estranged husband who groomed her younger sister and her mother who is wanting her to stay with the perfect husband. All that Winter wants to do is get the hell away, so she decides to post the divorce letters to her husband and go and see her sister in Chestnut Springs. She wants to rebuild a relationship with the one person who cares about her. She has sworn off men entirely, but when she arrives in Chestnut Springs, all she sees when she looks back is temptation served up with a heap of heartbreak. The second point of view is Theo Silva. He is a rowdy bull rider and a notorious ladies’ man. He is scorching hot trouble wrapped up in a drool-worthy package and he wants Winter Hamilton even if everyone thinks of her as an ice-cold queen. Theo can be persistent and likes a challenge. He is determined to get under the icy exterior and to pull apart her defences. Over a drink in a small-town bar, Winter blurts out her deepest and darkest secrets. Then they spent one hot night together. They agree to keep it as a one-time thing and to forget it ever happens. It was supposed to be simple and a one-time thing, but the little plus sign is going to make this secret impossible to keep in this small-town. Theo is determined to live up to his father’s expectations but now does he want to be the hot-shot bull-rider or stay in the small town and be a father and co-parent with a woman he had a one-night stand with.

I love how addictive the sport romances can be, the bull-riding aspect was so addictive, I was rooting for Theo from page one. The book was so fun and flirty, and I loved that Theo didn’t give up and that he could see past the icy exterior from Winter and was willing to prove that he would be a good dad to Viv. I loved how the romance grew between Theo and Winter and how they were both just trying to ignore their feelings, but they just couldn’t. I still adore the Eaton family, if they would like to adopt me that would be fantastic because I love their family dynamic and how Harvey just has no filter whatsoever. Theo came back to town, was sat next to Winter and staring all lovingly at Viv and Harvey’s just like “Christ, this family doesn’t pay attention, and Theo is Viv’s dad” and then the whole table just went quiet and laughed. I loved Theo’s mum and how she practically adopted Winter and said that even though her and Theo aren’t together she is family. I loved the little details of Theo wanting to look after Viv and to let Winter have a girl's night and to just have time alone, but also trying to make her feel special. I loved that Rob finally got the kick in the balls though I would have loved for someone to have kicked him in the ball preferably Summer to kick him in the balls.

This is the first pregnancy trope where it isn’t the focus, but you knew what was going to happen when Theo and Winter had sex within the first six chapters. My main issue was the fact that Theo was stupid as hell especially coming to the baby. The whole time you hear she’s Theo’s twin, surely Theo heard through his family that Winter had a kid, wouldn’t you think to send her a text especially with the fact that after they met, he rang his mum and was like I've found my wife? Surely you would be like is everything okay? Congrats on the child, you know open a line of communication. Theo was nearly perfect, but he took a while to warm up to me.

I will carry on saying this until Elsie hopefully writes one, but I want a Harvey book please whether it’s a prequel or a current day showing him finding love later in life. I just want a book from Harvey point of view because he is one of my favourite characters like ever.

Content Warnings

Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven

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emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I wanted to read this book because I wanted to read more work from authors that I've enjoyed previously. I enjoyed All the Bright Places, I didn’t enjoy Breathless, so I was a bit nervous going into this book. But I wanted to hug both characters but also slap them both.

This book has two points of view. The first is Libby Strout and everyone thinks they know her, the girl once dubbed as America’s Fattest Teen. But no one’s taken the time to look past her weight to get to see who she really is. Since her mum’s death, she’s been picking up the pieces in the privacy of her home, dealing with her heartbroken father and her own grief. Now, Libby’s ready for high school, for new friends, and for every possibility life has to offer. She knows the part she wants to play at her new school. She wants to be the girl who can do anything. The second point of view is Jack Masselin and everyone thinks they know him too. Yes, he’s got swagger, but he has also mastered the art of fitting in. What no one knows is that Jack has a secret: he can’t recognize faces. Even his own brothers are strangers to him. He's the guy who can re-engineer and rebuild anything, but he can’t understand what’s going on with the inner workings of his brain. So he tells himself to play it cool: be charming, be hilarious. Don't get too close to anyone. Until he meets Libby. When the two get tangled up in a cruel high school game which lands them in group counselling, Libby and Jack are both angry, and then surprised. Because the more time they spend together, the less alone they feel. Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the world – theirs and yours.

I liked the representation of Jack’s conditions and the fact that the fat girl is more than her weight. Both characters were going through a really shitty time in High School and people and their families didn’t make it much better. I liked Libby’s character development and her growth throughout the book. She went from getting ready to quit school and go back into hiding to wearing a bikini in the hallway of the school handing out letters basically telling everyone she is worthy, even though she’s a virgin and that she isn’t going anywhere. I loved that Libby punched the crap out of these jock-like bullies as well, even if one of them was Jack because he came too close to her and one of them for punching Jack. Like I wish I was like in high school and just didn’t give a shit then maybe I wouldn’t care what people think of me. I loved Dusty, he was adorable, and I wanted to protect that child from the world. I was ready to go to war for Dusty once he came home from school upset over bullies.

My personally peeve with books is short chapters. They just drive me nuts. I was wanting for the book to get to the point. Like they were about to get to the point and then it would change and then slowly build again, I wanted it to hurry up. Even though I wanted to hug Jack because of his condition and how exhausted he was, he did some shitty things like purposely hurting Libby after the date, not standing up for Libby because he didn’t want to lose his friends, kissing random girls at party to piss off both Libby and Caroline. I wanted more answers once the book was done, did Jack get help with his condition? Did his parents get divorced? Did Monica become Jack’s stepmum? Did Libby end up getting along with her father’s new girlfriend? How did the dance team go along? Did the school help? Did Caroline get any trouble for bullying Libby?

I liked the message of people are shitty for a lot of reasons and the growth of the characters, but I wanted more after the book was over from Libby and Jack’s future and would have liked the points to be done quicker like Jack telling his parents that he’s got a brain condition so that we could get the points that we wanted.

Content Warnings

Trouble Me by Eliza Peake

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challenging lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I bought this book during the one of Stuff Your Kindle Days and I’m not gonna lie, I choose this because the cover was pretty and seems pretty interesting. But the miscommunication trope ruined this for me.

This book has two points of view. The first point of view was Emma Reynolds, and she knows how to run a successful company. But when her life takes a troubling turn, she finds herself back home and determined to save her family’s estate – even if it means working in a winery as a recovering alcoholic. It turns out, her new boss, the broody billionaire owner, Shane Kavanaugh is far more tempting than the wine. The second point of view is Shane, and he is in the small town of Madison Ridge, and he is there to make a name for himself, and he will do whatever it takes to get it done. He is smart and hard-working which is a dangerous combination. However, he has got a lot of pressure to make the business work with his father having cancer and his health declining. Emma has a list of carefully crafted rules, but Shane is an irresistible and addicting package. But breaking those rules reveals secrets. Secrets that leave Emma facing the loss of her legacy, her career and her heart.

I liked this storyline and I’m a sucker for a small-town romance. I love everyone being in everyone’s business like the family intervention at the end and telling Emma that her alcoholic past isn’t going to affect her future and shouldn’t put her off from future relationship. I liked that they made sure to tell her they were proud of her for the progress she has made. I liked the growth of Emma and how she was feeling so guilty for not telling Shane the truth and didn’t know how to tell him and to be fair to Emma, they had just met, you don’t tell someone right away that you are a recovery alcoholic do you? I get that she should have disclosed it for her job working in Vinery and all but for personal relationships I wouldn’t have said anything straight away.

Shane took forever to grow on me like forever, like end of the book. He was rude and cold and then he was all I'm going to pay for your car and treat you like a queen and then cold again. I understand the pressure he was under and the conflict he had, but the way he reacted to Emma’s story is the reason why she didn’t tell him and then he just left. Emma forgiven him way too quickly because his father passed. Like I get it but also, I wanted him to crawl on his knees from California to Madison Ridge and I still wouldn’t have forgiven him. The miscommunication killed this book, the second Emma knew about Shane’s ex-wife, she should have been honest with him and said that she has struggles. Shane should have been honest with Emma, the second he knew Emma owned the house and that he was the one wanting to buy it. It would have cut the book down to maybe 100 pages.

I liked Emma’s family and from the preview I've seen one of Emma’s cousins is the main character so I'm looking forward to seeing more of Emma’s male cousins especially because they were all so sweet and protective to her in this book.

Content Warnings

Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I wanted to read this book because I have enjoyed Lynn Painter’s previous work. At the end of my review for Better than the Movies, I said “I love this book; I would love for her to write a book with Liz and Wes as adult being friends with Michael and Laney with them living in California or something and being adults.” and I did the thing of going into this book blind because the foundation should have already been built with the first book, however, it was like the first book didn’t exist and it made me dislike Wes and Liz. So, if you like the first book, I wouldn’t read this one.

This book is based on Wes and Liz who we met in the first book. For a few beautiful months, Wes had his dream girl: strong-willed girl-next door Liz. But right as the two of them were about to set off to UCLA to start their freshman year together, tragedy stuck. Wes was left dealing with the fallout, which ultimately meant losing Liz in the process. Flash forward to now and Wes and Liz find themselves in college, together and in a healthier place. But Wes knows he broke Liz’s heart when he ended things, but he is determined to make her fall back in love with him. Wes knows Liz better than anyone, and he has a foolproof plan to win her back with the rom-com worthy big gestures she loves. Only Liz wants none of it. Wes has a scheme like a rom-com hero to figure out how to see her. Even worse, Liz has a new guy friend. Still, Wes isn’t giving up, adapting his clever plans and going hard to get Liz’s attention and win back her affection. But after his best efforts get him nowhere, Wes is wondering if their relationship is over for good.

I liked the side characters in this book more than our main characters. I would have loved for this to have been about Wes’s sister, and I loved that the friendships knew what was going on from Wes and Liz’s old friendship group back in the small town and the baseball guys and Liz’s roommates. I loved them, I wanted them more than Wes and Liz. I would have loved for this book to be about Wes’s sister because the way she was talking about Wes’s friend, it could have been a great friends-to-lovers story. I loved the movie quotes still and how they related to the chapters; it was so sweet, and it gave me more of movie recommendations because I hadn’t seen half of them.

This book drove me nuts though, I would have liked this book to have started where it ended with them going to UCLA and Wes’s father passing, I would have loved for it to be about that event and Liz helping him with the grief. The jump and the flashbacks annoyed me especially with how much Wes didn’t communication and Lynn could have used this as a perfect opportunity to discuss heavy subjects that she mentioned in the first book in more details and a way to talk about Wes’s mental health at a young age and what he went through. However, I would never want to go what Wes through, but he did miscommunicate the hell out of in book, he could have been straight up with Liz and been happy for her successes but also should have been honest about the fact that he was struggling and couldn’t see himself going back to college and to see how things were in a year or something instead he was a walking red flag who was jealous that Liz had changed and didn’t like that she was different, but college is the time for people to change and also told Liz he cheated when he didn’t so that Liz would move on but then was unhappy when Liz was doing exactly that. Liz isn’t get off the hook either, I understand that she was trying to help him and also live her life, but she was acting like a twelve-year-old like she was acting like a high schooler and an adult but wasn’t happy with either, also she only ended up forgiving Wes because he got a baseball to his chest and thought he was going to die. It was jumping between I need space and to be alone to forget about it I'm in love with you. Both were giving me whiplash.

There was barely any romance in this book or character growth. The pop culture references were over the top and as someone who isn’t a Taylor Swift fan, I was getting sick of those references. This book just wasn’t needed whatsoever. I wanted to love this book and was rooting for them, but it just started on the wrong foot especially with Wes giving me a whiplash within the first chapter and it starts on a breakup. I struggle with second chances romances, but I shouldn’t have struggled with this one because the foundation has been built. But it’s like this foundation just got crushed within the first couple of chapters.

Content Warnings

Someone Else's Shoes by Jojo Moyes

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I wanted to read this book because I enjoyed The Giver of Stars and the Me Before You series and wanted to see more of her work. This book was the first one where it seemed like a mission to finish it, and I didn’t really enjoy it.

This book has two points of view. The first is Nisha Cantor and she has been living 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 of Sam Kemp – the second point view. She is in the bleakest point of her life, and she 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.

The issue I had with this book that I hated both main characters; they were both so selfish and stuck up even though they were from “different worlds”. I get it, both of their husbands were so shitty people, but don’t be even shitter please. I also understand that these two were going through equally traumatic things but again, so is everyone don’t be a shitty person. People were obviously going to judge Nisha, she was an American walking round London screaming and in barely any clothes, I would have thought she belonged in a loony bin especially with how rude she was being. I don’t understand why she didn’t just go straight to the police or the embassy, they would have helped her. Sam was doing okay at her job but she was getting shit from her boss and then her husband is dealing with depression and yet all she’s complaining about is not being seen, like mental health is a rough subject and then she’s not being empathic and then just shouting at him, like her daughter was more empathic even if she thought Sam was having an affair (she might not have been having a text book affair, but she was definitely cheating). Sam needed to stand up for herself more and filled a complaint against her boss from HR, but again she was just like not my life. How many of us have got a crappy boss and still carry on with work? She wasn’t even looking to find a job and one just magically fell in her lap. The pacing of the book was so slow and both character’s inner thoughts was just boring, and I ended up skimming most of them where they weren’t talking to people, and they were just thinking about things. I would have liked more to do with the case, did Nisha testify? How did this go down with her rich friends? Did they all come out of the woodworks and support Nisha?

Even though all the men in this book should have been shitty and have done shitty things. Phil’s depression and anxiety and him trying to talk to a therapist were so real and I liked watching him grow and realize that the depression isn’t taking over his life and showing how much of a struggle it is for men to open up with people. If Sam knew that Phil’s dad was begging and demeaning him to get him to kill him. Like you know how shitty that is? How would Sam feel, I bet that she would take her mum and dad complaining over random things that her dad calling her things to die. Aleks was so sweet as well and sort of proved that the best men and the most romantic doesn't have to be filthy rich, they can be homely and a gentleman and still be a head chef and things. I liked the friendship that developed but Jasmine was a saint to deal with Nisha just because she’s a good person.

This was a disappointment for me and hoping that the next Jojo Moyes book I read is better than this and more like The Giver of Stars.

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beckyyreadss's reviews 734 reviews

beckyyreadss's reviews
734 reviews