Click the link to skip to the book’s review:
- We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker
- A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin
- The Help by Kathryn Stockett
- Grown Ups by Marie Aubert
- London, With Love by Sarra Manning
- The Castaways by Lucy Clarke
- Sorry I Missed You by Lorraine Brown
- A Splendid Ruin by Megan Chance
SPOILERS THROUGHOUT! (Skip to my overall thoughts for my spoiler-free verdict)
We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker
CRIME | FAMILY | THRILLER
A girl on her way to right a lifetime of wrongs.
After spending 30 years in prison for killing Star Radley’s sister, Vincent King is back in his hometown. His childhood best friend, turned police chief, is more than ready to welcome him back, but not everyone shares his sentiment. Meanwhile, Star’s daughter, Duchess, is forced to care for and protect her younger brother and deeply troubled mother.
This book blew me away. It intricately weaved multiple ongoing mysteries together that each kept you on your toes. Every time I thought one was going to be solved, a new mystery popped up in its place. You couldn’t go a few chapters without some sort of tragic revelation.
At its core, this was a story about protecting those you love. This was most clearly seen through Duchess’ devotion to her brother Robin. She was forced to grow up too soon, making her brusque whenever strangers showed her compassion. However, her care for Robin was always obvious as she never failed to put his needs above her own. This was heartwarming to watch, especially as tragedy seemed to follow her around.
Amidst such a bleak story, there were a surprising amount of characters who were kind-hearted, like the optimistic Police Chief, Walk, and Duchess’ brave friend, Thomas Noble. However, no one exemplified this trait more than Vincent King himself. I was so glad that Walk was right about his childhood friend and that, despite being subjected to the horrors of prison since a teenager, Vincent retained his goodness and morality.
For these reasons, the characters managed to lodge themselves into my heart. This made the shocking, yet predictably tragic, ending all the more devastating. In spite of this, I would still want to read it again so that I could pick up on all the subtleties that I no doubt missed the first time. I half hope that the author will write a sequel just so I can make sure they’re all ok. I would definitely want to read more about the adventures of the outlaw, Duchess Day Radley, and see her find some sort of peace.
OVERALL: Despite the onslaught of tragedy, the unexpected kindness the main characters manage to possess keeps the story afloat and ensures that you’re deeply invested till the very end.
Would I recommend?… Yes, come for the mystery but stay for the family.
A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin
HISTORICAL | ROMANCE | COMEDY
Her breath caught, she found she was quite capable of blushing after all.
To save her family from destitution, the ambitious Kitty Talbot launches herself into London society with the sole objective of securing herself a rich husband. Unfortunately, Lord Radcliffe intends to thwart her plans when she sets her eyes on his younger brother.
This regency romance had all the qualities of a beloved period drama – with its yearning glances and witty dialogue – but it felt uniquely modern by being from a perspective often overlooked in the genre. Typically, the character of the fortune-hunter is depicted as a grasping villain intent on coming in the way of true love. However, the fortune-hunter is the novel’s, albeit flawed, protagonist. Kitty Talbot is relentless in her mission to secure a wealthy husband but it is repeatedly made clear that she is fuelled by her need to protect her sisters. In this way, Kitty elicited sympathy as it was similarly obvious that she was a romantic at heart but forced into fortune-hunting out of necessity. Over the course of the book Kitty evolved to become kinder, more thoughtful and have a greater appreciation for her sisters. One of her standout moments for me was when she defended her sister against a slimy toad of a man. All in all, this made her an easy heroine to root for.
As to the novel’s central romance, it was definitely swoon-worthy. The chemistry between Kitty and Lord Radcliffe was undeniable and their relationship developed naturally. Despite starting off by blackmailing each other, there was never any real animosity behind their bickering. I didn’t expect Radcliffe to figure out Kitty’s fortune-hunting scheme so quickly but this made for an exciting dynamic.
As a hero, Radcliffe was on par with many of his brooding regency counterparts. He had the generosity of Mr Darcy as he never hesitated to help Kitty regardless of the consequences. Kitty was similarly prepared to set aside her goals to come to Radcliffe’s aid, highlighting how well matched the pair was.
Even when the focus deviated from Kitty and Radcliffe’s romance, I still found the sub-plots thoroughly interesting. They kept the story fast-paced and helped create a fuller picture of the main characters. Overall, this was such a fun read, one which I will be sure to repeat, and it makes me eager to see what the author writes next!
OVERALL: This swoon-worthy romance had all the best features of a period drama – witty dialogue, yearning glances and a brooding love interest – but it managed to feel distinctly modern thanks to its admirable, yet flawed, heroine.
Would I recommend?… Yes, especially if you need something to fill the Bridgerton-shaped hole in your heart.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
HISTORICAL | FRIENDSHIP | DRAMA
That’s what I love about Aibileen, she can take the most complicated things in life and wrap them up so small and simple, they’ll fit right in your pocket.
Aibileen’s raising her seventeenth white child while nursing the hurt caused by her son’s tragic death, Minny’s lost yet another job by failing to mind her tongue and Skeeter wants to know why her beloved maid has disappeared. Together, the three women set out to record and expose the shocking reality of black housekeepers.
Being full of vibrant characters that you desperately want to see succeed, this novel became a poignant tale of unlikely, yet powerful, friendships. Between the core trio of Aibileen, Minny and Skeeter, there was definitely different levels of attachment but by the end of the story they all harboured mutual respect and wanted only the best for each other. My favourite relationship amongst the three women was Aibileen and Minny’s. The unconditional love between the two was clear in the care, concern and admiration they had for the other.
Aibileen was the emotional heart of the story. She was characterised by her wisdom, kindness and bravery. This made it heart-warming to watch her get the recognition and appreciation she deserved from her community. However, her time with Mae Mobley was truly heart-wrenching. Aibileen did all she could to love and care for the child who didn’t receive it from her own parents. I was left unrealistically hoping that Mae would grow up to become the exception and remember to carry with her what Aibileen taught her.
Minny was such a powerful and dynamic woman, but she was also full of contradictions, making her feel real. She never held back from speaking her mind to anyone, so I really enjoyed watching her finally stand up to the one person she did. My favourite aspect of Minny’s storyline was the development of her relationship with the social outcast Celia Foote. Celia began as the complete opposite of Minny, being ingratiating and lazy, and around simply as a comic relief. Therefore, it was empowering to watch Minny’s effect on Celia trigger her to become more active and to stop fawning over the horrible Hilly Holbrook.
Skeeter was ignorant for much of the novel and, at times, frustratingly oblivious to her privilege. Thankfully, through her relationship with Aibileen and Minny, she did grow to have a better understanding and awareness of the harsh inequality and discrimination black people were subjected to.
I really admired the story’s message that you can find courage in your friends to do what needs to be done. Through the process, the trio all became better versions of themselves – Aibileen more daring, Minny more thoughtful and Skeeter a little bit more informed. The ending perfectly sent them off in different directions to build on what they gained, making the final flick of the page feel hopeful.
OVERALL: This novel was both entertaining and thought-provoking due to its endearing characters and the brave steps they took to share their story.
Would I recommend?… Yes, if you love reading stories which celebrate the power of friendship.
Grown Ups by Marie Aubert
CONTEMPORARY | FAMILY | DRAMA
I can’t carry on like this, lamenting things that happened a lifetime ago.
Single and panicking that her chances of motherhood are rapidly slipping away, Ida tries to put a pause on her worries as she heads to her family’s seaside cabin for her mother’s birthday. That is, until her sister’s happy news sets old tensions simmering and reignites past feuds.
Thankfully this book was relatively short because otherwise I don’t think I could have got to the end. I kept going in hope that the characters would elicit some sympathy or show some sort of positive progression but I was sorely let down.
The main character of Ida could only be described as a demon. She lacked any redeemable qualities despite insisting that she was the “good” one out of her and her sister, Marthe. Ida showed no genuine kindness or affection to any of her family members. On the outside she may have seemed good with her step-niece Olea, but her inner monologue exposed her true indifferent feelings. She behaved even worse with Marthe. Triggered by her jealously, Ida took constant jabs at her, let her take the blame for her own mistakes and even worse, shamelessly flirted with and kissed her husband. This was characteristic of Ida as she proudly expressed to, and almost relished in, feeling no remorse from sleeping with married men.
I understand the emotional pain that she was dealing with would be taxing – feeling like you’d never get the opportunity to be a mother – but I still couldn’t find it in me to root for her. She desperately wanted to be a mum but not because she wanted to raise and care for a child, but simply to remedy her loneliness.
The only thing I enjoyed about this book was watching Ida get her comeuppance. However, I still would’ve wanted to see a massive showdown between Ida and Marthe
OVERALL: An unsympathetic and irredeemable main character made this a truly unpleasant reading experience – one which I’m glad is over.
Would I recommend?… NO, please don’t waste your time.
London, With Love by Sarra Manning
ROMANCE | FRIENDSHIP | HISTORICAL
He was the man she’d loved first and the echo of that love lingered on.
When Jennifer meets Nick as a teenager, she is unaware of the impact he’ll have on her as she grows into adulthood, builds her career and enters into new relationships. Over the decades, the pair fall in and out of each other’s lives, but never quite out of love with the other.
I enjoyed the majority of this book, which embedded the author’s love of London deep within its narrative, but what I didn’t like, I REALLY didn’t like.
Let’s start with the good… I loved watching Jen/Jennifer/Jenny grow into an ambitious career woman after progressing from shy to wild to uncertain. Through it all, she remained hard-working and determined which was admirable to watch. As her story unfolded, it was striking to visibly see how a person’s life contains so many versions of themselves. This is often forgotten in real life as there the change is more gradual and less obvious. I also appreciated the reminder that a person can do lots of different things all in one life, taking themselves in countless directions.
The romance between Jenny and Nick was actually rather sweet but it didn’t really feel romantic until the very end. Prior to that they just took it in turns to pine after each other. Nick wasn’t very likeable for a considerable chunk of the story, with ‘pretentious’ being a very accurate word to describe him. For this reason, it was sometimes annoying to watch Jenny still being hung up on her unrequited adolescent love when really I wanted her to move on from him. As Jenny was always in love with Nick, their love story was more about Nick falling in love with her and then growing to deserve her love. I liked how they went their separate ways so that when they did eventually come together, they were perfect for each other.
And now to the bad… I did not appreciate the insensitive inclusion of terrorist attacks to drive the plot forward. Having Jenny and Nick’s declaration of love being prompted by witnessing and experiencing 9/11 in New York left me with an uncomfortable feeling. It was a thoughtless decision on the author’s part to use it as a plot device. This tactlessness was emphasised by using 9/11 to kill off Jenny’s former friend, Priya, who she had just made amends with in the previous chapter. Jenny and Nick are also in London when the 7/7 bombings occur, which similarly prompts them to reunite. The use of such devastating terrorist attacks to spur the couple to act on their feelings detracted from an otherwise lovely romance novel. Personally, I preferred when the storyline focused on objectively insignificant moments that were significant to the main characters. Keeping this approach throughout the novel would have been a more endearing and authentic way to portray their love story.
OVERALL: This was a sweet coming-of-age story and moving romance that was unfortunately undermined by the insensitive inclusion of certain historical events.
Would I recommend?… I’m not sure… it’s hard to look past the author’s decision to add in certain events purely to move the plot forward.
The Castaways by Lucy Clarke
SISTERHOOD | SURVIVAL | MYSTERY
Survival. That was the word that rippled beneath every action and decision.
Two years ago, Lori’s plane crashed – the plane Erin was meant to be on with her. Erin is still reeling from her sister’s disappearance and desperate to find out what actually happened. So when the pilot of the doomed flight suddenly reappears, she sets off determined to uncover the truth.
By establishing an intriguing mystery from the start, this book was on track to be a twisty and exciting read. However, the drama quickly petered out as the unfolding of the mystery was quite slow. This was exacerbated by the repetitive nature of the narrative which tended to disclose Lori’s experiences and then follow it with Erin’s discovery of the same event. For this reason, I think it could’ve been made a lot shorter which would have quickened the pace.
The novel took a deep dive into the characters of Lori and Erin and their fractured relationship. My favourite aspect of this examination was seeing how Lori and Erin still found themselves talking to each other and asking for guidance despite being separated by time and place. Their reliance on the other sister had an empowering effect as it often got them through the challenges they were faced with.
Unfortunately, the other characters weren’t afforded such attention. This meant I didn’t connect with anyone else stranded on the beach with Lori. It also made me indifferent to the instant romance she struck up with fellow castaway Felix. Felix would have particularly benefitted from his character being properly fleshed out as it would have made his demise all the more potent and I could have sympathised with Lori.
The ‘big reveal’ in the final act – that the pilot was the reason behind the plane crash – was underwhelming as it was obvious from the crash sequence itself. It was no shock that he couldn’t be trusted and was only out for himself. This rather simplistic conclusion weakened the impact the ending could have had. Similarly, I was disappointed by what happened to Lori after she escaped the island. I felt that Erin deserved better from her sister, especially considering the book’s focus on their relationship. Nevertheless I did like where the story left Erin, forging her own path in Australia, and I would be interested in following her journey.
OVERALL: With such a gripping premise that incorporated both mystery and survival, this novel had the potential to be full of drama and suspense but in reality it left me wanting more.
Would I recommend?… Yes, if you liked Lost (you’ll be hooked by the premise but let down by the lukewarm ending).
Sorry I Missed You by Lorraine Brown
CONTEMPORARY | FRIENDSHIP | ROMANCE
I’d said whatever I wanted. Except how I felt about her; that I couldn’t seem to say.
Two neighbours, navigating their own career dilemmas and romantic woes, keep bumping into each other in the halls of their London apartment building. After setting aside their mutual misconceptions, they quickly form a friendship which hints at something more.
With relatively low stakes and an endearing cast of characters, this book ended up feeling like a warm comforting hug. Just because it wasn’t dramatic, doesn’t mean it wasn’t engaging. The first half of the novel focused on building up Rebecca and Jack’s own backstories, familiarising the reader with their own personal challenges. This got me invested in their separate storylines before the pair even properly interacted. Rebecca and Jack barely crossed paths in the beginning of the book but still managed to cross each other’s minds. They also unwittingly paralleled the other in their thoughts and actions – hinting at their deeper connection.
When Rebecca and Jack’s tentative friendship started to grow into something more, charming side characters were on hand to help the hesitant pair decipher what they were feeling. I particularly liked Rebecca’s grounded and realistic friendship with Val. Rebecca and Jack’s own friendship felt natural as it was rooted in genuine interest in and concern for the other. This meant when they eventually did get together, I was already cheering them on.
Outside of the romance, I thought it was interesting how the novel highlighted how biased a person’s perception of other people can be, often leading them to be completely wrong. The book cleverly made the most of this by telling its story from two perspectives. This emphasised the sometimes amusing disparity between personal assumptions and the truth.
OVERALL: Just like the romance which slowly blossomed between the main characters, this book was sweet, unassuming but totally endearing.
Would I recommend?… Yes, if you want an easy read that’s guaranteed to leave you smiling.
A Splendid Ruin by Megan Chance
HISTORICAL | MYSTERY | CRIME
Sometimes people tell you exactly who they are, but I was not listening.
After the sudden death of her mother, May Kimble is sent across country to live with her wealthy relatives in San Francisco. Her uncle and cousin seem more than welcoming but she can’t shake the feeling that her ailing aunt and all-seeing maid are desperately trying to warn her of a darker conspiracy.
This historical mystery was a twisty family drama full of secrets, murder and revenge. The start was quite slow at setting the stage and the first half took a pretty predictable trajectory. May remained naive to the nefarious intentions of her uncle and cousin so the escalation of their plot to betray her was sometimes frustrating to watch. However once the extent of their deception was made abundantly clear to May when she was placed in an asylum, that’s when truly unexpected things started to happen.
It was easy to connect with May due to her underdog nature. This was cemented by seeing her resilience and resourcefulness in the asylum. Despite the barbaric cruelty she was forced to endure, she still retained a sense of identity. It was truly disturbing to read about this part of her life. May’s strength of character made it easy for me to will her on on her journey to revenge.
The incorporation of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake was initially jarring because it felt like a random inclusion. However, it made for the perfect backdrop for May’s comeback story.
The sub-plot of romance was a welcome source of levity amongst all the backstabbing and betrayal because it didn’t detract from May’s journey to retribution. Instead, Dante, her journalist love interest, was just what May needed to help her take down her corrupt relatives and then keep her grounded once entering high society.
May was an inspiring heroine who really came into her own when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The ending the book afforded her was satisfying, but I still thought her relatives were let off too easy.
OVERALL: Despite a predictable start, both the novel and its heroine soon came into their own when following her thrilling journey to retribution.
Would I recommend?… Yes, if you love a good twisty, revenge story.
Wishful Thinking 
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