Monday 3 August 2015

Recently Read #1


I've been terrible at keeping up with reviewing the books I've read lately, so I'm doing this a bit differently - I'll go through a few of my recent reads all in one post letting you know what I thought.  I'm planning on splitting this post into two parts - the first half of the books shown in the picture will be in this post, and the rest will come this time next week.


Every Day - David Levithan

This is the book I've finished most recently, it was completely unlike the books I usually go for, but after coming across it SO MANY times on my Amazon recommendations I gave it a go.  

It's about A - a teenager who is not attached to a body; every day A wakes up in someone different's body and lives that persons life for one day before moving on.  Through this movement between bodies as a reader you experience first hand how it feels for A to be depressed, addicted, happy, overweight, hungover, loved, mean, grieving and a lot of other feelings and emotions that a 16 year old might experience.  It is written beautifully and you quickly form opinions on the person who's life A is living each day.  A is happy until Rhiannon becomes part of the story, because this girl makes A wish for another day in the same body.   The story follows their struggle to have an unconventional relationship.

Although this book was completely different from my usually fast-paced crime/thriller, I really enjoyed it and found myself looking forward to snuggling up on the sofa and reading more of the story.  Levithan's writing is thought-provoking and beautiful all the way through - the perfect accompaniment for a brilliant story.


Never Smile at Strangers - Jennifer Jaynes

From a beautiful book to a not-so-beautiful one; this one is back to my usual crime/thriller storyline.  Another one popping up in my recommendations which I just couldn't resist.

Unexpectedly a teenage girl disappears from a small Southern town and her best friend Haley was the last one to see her.  Queue the detectives, questioning and suspicion until another girl disappears and everyone starts to question the people under their noses.  The book is written from a number of different points of view; one of them the serial killer.  When you're seeing the world from his perspective is when things start to get a bit twisted and creepy.

I couldn't put this down, although I did think at some points it was a little slow-going, most of the plot is fast-paced and interesting.  The story is well-developed and as a reader you quickly feel for the characters, particularly the teenage girls.  If you're into thrillers you won't regret giving this one a go.


Evil Games - Angela Marsons

A few months ago I read the first DI Kim Stone book, Silent Scream, and loved it so immediately preordered this one - as soon as it dropped into my Kindle library I couldn't wait to get reading.  There's something I love about crime books with female detectives, I seem to enjoy them so much more.

In Evil Games Kim Stone faces two cases; a sickening child abuse report and Dr Alex Thorne, a frighteningly evil psychologist who sees manipulating her clients as a game.  While Kim draws on her own past to help her solve the abuse case, Dr Thorne's death count rises until Alex sets her sights on Kim.  DI Stone has to confront her own demons and fight head-to-head with one of the most frightening characters I've ever come across simultaneously.

It's one of those books you find yourself thinking about for days afterwards - I can't wait for the next Kim Stone installment!


Under a Silent Moon - Elizabeth Hayes

Another brilliant thriller, but I did get around to doing a more in-depth review of this one which you can read here


21 comments:

  1. I love this kind of post! I think it is such a nice addition to a blog - I haven't read any of the books you've read but I do love crime/thriller books so I will definitely check them out :) http://jesswift.blogspot.co.uk xxx

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    1. Let me know if you get on with them :)
      xx

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  2. Ooh i'll have a read of your review now :) thanks!
    xx

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  3. Love this post!! And I love your blog! I would love for you to stop by mine :) - Seri from www.Serisblog.com

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  4. I've read good things about Every Day and I think knowing a bit more about it has definitely placed it firmly on my need to read list! The other ones sound really interesting as well. Love reading book reviews, especially with you putting them all in one post :)
    Michelle x
    michellegleaves.com

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  5. For a second there I thought I had written a book! I need to read more.

    Jenn | Jennifer Jayne

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  6. Every Day does sound really good - I haven't heard of it before so thanks for the recommendation!

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  7. I looooove a good thriller/crime book even if it gets me paranoid about everything. Hence why I read them in the morning and not at night. Never Smile at Strangers is definitely going to be a book I will read in the future.

    Xo, Sitara | Desiphora

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    1. YES it makes me paranoid too! It's definitely worth a read :)

      xx

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  8. I really wanna get the Never Smile at Strangers book! Im a super scaredy cat so I usually avoid those book but because you mentioned that it is told by many perspectives, Im really interested.

    BCfactor Blog

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    1. It's really interesting, but maybe don't read it late at night!

      lillies and lipbalm
      xx

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    2. Every Day sounds so interesting! Definitely putting it on my To-Read list x

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  9. THanks so much for posting this - I'm aaalllways looking for new kindle recommendations so this has been really helpful! Lovely blog by the way x

    Lola and Behold

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    1. ah glad it's been helpful :) thank you!
      xx

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  10. Thank you so much for your review of Evil Games. Truly appreciated 😃😃

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