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This month has been a little bit of a slower reading month for me. However, the books I have read have been some of my favourites of the year! Get ready for some HIGHLY recommended reads – perfect for these cold, winter evenings that are creeping in!
Belladonna
by Adalyn Grace
The Blurb
For as long as Signa Farrow has been alive, the people in her life have fallen like stars . . .
Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa has been raised by a string of guardians, each more interested in her wealth than her wellbeing – and each has met an untimely end. Her remaining relatives are the elusive Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at Thorn Grove, an estate both glittering and gloomy.
Its patriarch mourns his late wife through wild parties, while his son grapples for control of the family’s waning reputation and his daughter suffers from a mysterious illness. But when their mother’s restless spirit appears claiming she was poisoned, Signa realizes that the family she depends on could be in grave danger, and enlists the help of a surly stable boy to hunt down the killer.
Signa’s best chance of uncovering the murderer, though, is an alliance with Death himself, a fascinating, dangerous shadow who has never been far from her side. Though he’s made her life a living hell, Death shows Signa that their growing connection may be more powerful – and more irresistible – than she ever dared imagine.
From New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace, Belladonna brings to life a highly romantic, gothic-infused world of wealth, desire, and betrayal.
What I Thought
So I am not a huge fantasy reader – but I do enjoy some and this one was all over BookTok so I had to give it a go.
And I was not disappointed! I absolutely loved this book and flew through it. Signa is a great main character and I loved how Death was portrayed – so perfect! I enjoyed the fact that he wasn’t a morbid and grim character
There is a mystery/thriller aspect to the story, alongside the fantasy elements and a love story but it never feels overwhelming and is written so well by the author. For someone who often guesses plot twists, this really kept me guessing throughout. The book is beautifully written and the descriptions are stunning and evocative.
Like a Gothic version of Bridgerton – a brilliant read I definitely recommend! I have also heard the Audible version is great and the character of Death especially, is narrated amazingly.
Buy ‘Belladonna’
The Housemaid’s Secret
By Freida McFadden
The Blurb
It’s hard to find an employer who doesn’t ask too many questions about my past. So I thank my lucky stars that the Garricks miraculously give me a job, cleaning their stunning penthouse with views across the city and preparing fancy meals in their shiny kitchen. I can work here for a while, stay quiet until I get what I want.
It’s almost perfect. But I still haven’t met Mrs Garrick, or seen inside the guest bedroom. I’m sure I hear her crying. I notice spots of blood around the neck of her white nightgowns when I’m doing laundry. And one day I can’t help but knock on the door. When it gently swings open, what I see inside changes everything…
That’s when I make a promise. After all, I’ve done this before. I can protect Mrs Garrick while keeping my own secrets locked up safe.
Douglas Garrick has done wrong. He is going to pay. It’s simply a question of how far I’m willing to go…
This absolutely explosive and shockingly twisty sequel to international phenomenon and New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestsellerThe Housemaid will keep you racing through the pages late into the night. Anyone who loves The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose, The Woman in the Window and Gone Girl will be totally hooked!
What I Thought
If you haven’t already read The Housemaid, you will want ti read that first so you get more of Millie’s back story! You can read my review of that here.
As with the first, I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller. Fast-paced, but not lacking detail, I flew through the Audible version. Still not sure about the narrator’s voice but it is so unique, I feel I hear her as Millie now!
I enjoyed the twists in this one and while guessing some, there were also surprises along the way. I feel that you have to read The Housemaid first, in order to learn more about and understand the character of Millie. In this one, there is less of that information and it could mean that people misunderstand and potentially not like the character which I think would be a shame.
Sequels are so often lacking in comparison to the first book, but I enjoyed this one equally – another great thriller and I am going to have to check out more of Freida McFadden’s books.
Buy ‘The Housemaid’s Secret’
The Four*
By Ellie Keel
The Blurb
Dark academia perfect for fans of The Secret History and If We Were Villains. Four scholarship students’ dreams come true when accepted into an exclusive boarding school, but they will soon be bound by a dark secret that could save one of them… or destroy them all…
A dark, compelling and beguiling novel of revenge, guilt and love – Ellie Keel is a dazzling new voice’ Kate Mosse
‘An intensely gripping, thrilling and darkly beautiful debut. I was hooked’ Karin Slaughter
‘Sharp, powerful, tragic and addictive’ Chris Whitaker
‘This is The Secret History for millennials’ Daisy Goodwin
***
We were always The Four. From our very first day at High Realms.
The four scholarship pupils. Outsiders in a world of power and privilege.
It would have made our lives a lot easier if Marta had simply pushed Genevieve out of our bedroom window that day. Certainly, it would have been tragic. She would have died instantly.
But Marta didn’t push her then, or – if you choose to believe me – at any other time. If she had, all of what we went through would not have happened.
I’ve told this story as clearly as I could – as rationally as I’ve been able, in the circumstances, to achieve. I don’t regret what we did. And I would do it all again.
What I Thought
While this one started slow, and didn’t have me reaching for it every night, but that soon changed as I got into part 2. I really struggled to put it down from that point on!
Rose, Marta, Lloyd and Sami are thrown together as scholarship students of an exclusive boarding school, but build solid friendships quickly as outsiders. The characters are all so well written and believable, and a credit to the author.
This book is beautifully written but dark. At times it is uncomfortable to read due to the content, but it is handled very well. A warning to those who may want to give it a try – themes of self-harm, rape, suicide and child abuse are all involved – so if easily triggered it may not be for you.
A slow burner, that really picked up the pace around a quarter of the way in and proved difficult to put down from then on. For a debut novel, it is excellent and I look forward to more from this author. Highly recommend!
Buy ‘The Four’
What Lies Between Us*
By John Marrs
The Blurb
Nina can never forgive Maggie for what she did. And she can never let her leave.
They say every house has its secrets, and the house that Maggie and Nina have shared for so long is no different. Except that these secrets are not buried in the past.
Every other night, Maggie and Nina have dinner together. When they are finished, Nina helps Maggie back to her room in the attic, and into the heavy chain that keeps her there. Because Maggie has done things to Nina that can’t ever be forgiven, and now she is paying the price.
But there are many things about the past that Nina doesn’t know, and Maggie is going to keep it that way—even if it kills her.
Because in this house, the truth is more dangerous than lies.
What I Thought
My first John Marrs read – and I will definitely be reading more from him!
This gave me all the feels – it felt creepy and was full of shocking twists and turns.
This really is a house full of secrets, and it isn’t just Nina pulling all the strings. The situation can be quite heart-breaking at times but it can be hard to feel much sympathy for either of the main characters. A great, page turning thriller that keeps you guessing and will keep you up late!
Buy ‘What Lies Between Us’
Lessons In Chemistry
By Bonnie Garmus
The Blurb
THE #1 SUNDAY TIMES and #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
The multi-million copy bestseller
As read on BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime
Winner of the Goodreads Choice Best Debut Novel Award
British Book Awards Author of the Year
‘Sparky, rip-roaring, funny, with big-hearted fully formed, loveable characters’SUNDAY TIMES
‘The most charming, life-enhancing novel I’ve read in ages. Strongly recommend’ INDIA KNIGHT
___________
Your ability to change everything – including yourself – starts here
Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing.
But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute take a very unscientific view of equality. Forced to resign, she reluctantly signs on as the host of a cooking show, Supper at Six. But her revolutionary approach to cooking, fuelled by scientific and rational commentary, grabs the attention of a nation.
Soon, a legion of overlooked housewives find themselves daring to change the status quo. One molecule at a time.
What I Thought
Another recommendation from BookTok and one I thoroughly enjoyed!
Elizabeth Zott is a brilliant main character – unconventional but she is someone I really warmed to. The book is lots of things – a story about family, a love story and one of the fight for emancipation. The subject of misogyny in science, society and TV are covered well and despite the book being set in the 60’s, still feel so relevant today.
Definitely one of my favourite books of the year, a five star read for sure! I listened to this one on Audible and recommend it, but would have equally loved the read too. I know the book has been turned into a TV series and cannot wait to see this too – as well as looking out for more from the brilliant Bonnie Garmus.
Buy ‘Lessons In Chemistry’
Some brilliant books and I am happy to recommend them all to you this month! A great idea for a treat for yourself, or to buy as a gift for a special book lover you know!
Happy reading,
The Spoonie Mummy 
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