Blurb: Iris and Gabriel have just got home from a make-or-break holiday. But a shock awaits them. One of their dearest friends, Laure, is in their house – sleeping in their bed, wearing Iris’ clothes, even rearranging the furniture. She has walked out on her husband – and their good friend – Pierre over his confession of an affair.
Iris and Gabriel want to be supportive. But as Laure’s mood becomes more unpredictable, her presence begins to unravel secrets in all their pasts – until things reach breaking point…
Review: Firstly, thank you to Netgalley and Hodder for accepting me to listen to an early copy of this suspense filled thriller. I honestly cannot stop thinking about it and cannot turn to another story until I’ve got this out of my system.
The Guest is a slow burn with a lot of information being drip fed slowly. There are three sets of couples all with their own lives, secrets and lies – and a number of things link them together. Now this is an extremely hard story to review as there is so much I want to say and so much I truly cannot say.
What I will say is B A Paris knows how to captivate an audience from the off. I was intrigued as each of the characters have their own stresses and strains. Let’s take Gabriel for instance from the start I was captivated by what was making him act the way he was, I wasn’t expecting what came to be in any way shape or form. It made sense in a lot of ways by his behaviour but that was only the surface of what was to come. Laure is an interesting character – there really is so much to her, granted very early on in her stay with Iris and Gabriel I found her annoying. I found myself wanting to scream at Iris and Gabriel to throw her out.
In this story there are two questionable guests that will leave you questioning a lot about our couples. What BA Paris has also done is interlinked a mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. What I will say is you will not believe the outcome. The epilogue is fast paced and full of so many twists and turns that will make your eyes pop. I’m jealous of everyone who hasn’t read this book as that first read you’ll never get that feeling back.
So I go from not doing one for ages to two in one day. You’re in for another absolute treat. Another Books and the City author too.
Before I share the gorgeous cover let’s take a look at what the book is about.
Blurb: Set in a small community on the Scottish coast, the new feel-good story about family, belonging and finding peace with the past from the author of The Lighthouse Bookshop and The Forgotten Garden.
Can a return to the past be the start of something new?
Bette and Nina Crowdie have never been close – they’re too different, the ten-year age difference doesn’t help, and Bette’s rarely been back home since she left for university at eighteen. When their father passes away and unexpectedly splits the family farm between them, Nina is furious and afraid. She’s been working at the farm for the past five years. It’s the only stable home her young son Barnaby has ever had, and she’s convinced that Bette, who never wanted anything to do with the family business, will sell at the first chance she gets.
When they discover the huge debt their father has been hiding from them both, Bette reluctantly agrees to help her sister. But that means they have to find a way to work together, and Bette must face up to the real reason she left all those years ago.
Could the discovery of an ancient orchard on their land be the key to saving the farm – and the sisters’ relationship?
How gorgeous is this????
I still have a few Sharon books to read but here is My Review of the first of hers I read and loved.
Now it’s been a little while since I’ve penned one of these beauties and my oh my this one is a beauty. I love a Heidi Swain novel and her last Christmas one I loved and finished in early January.
So excited to be joining the #coverreveal for #HomeForChristmas, the heart-warming new festive novel from much-loved bestseller @Heidi_Swain, coming 10th October.
Blurb: When Warren has the opportunity to live with a female roommate, he instantly agrees. It could be an exciting change.
Or maybe not.
Especially when that roommate is the cold and seemingly calculating Bridgette. Tensions run high and tempers flare as the two can hardly stand to be in the same room together. But Warren has a theory about Bridgette: anyone who can hate with that much passion should also have the capability to love with that much passion. And he wants to be the one to test this theory.
Will Bridgette find it in herself to warm her heart to Warren and finally learn to love?
Maybe.
Maybe not.
Review: Now this audiobook was a truly interesting listen. Maybe Not is very different to that of Maybe Someday which I read long before Colleen Hoover became the TikTok sensation she is now. I feel for this author as I always see a lot of marmite reviews for her stories. Now there are elements in this novella that are uncomfortable to listen to or read at best as a woman. So if you’re triggered by complicated sexual encounters I think that’s the best way to describe it, then this book may not be for you.
Warren and Bridget start off as enemies with venomous animosity on both sides. Or is that just a weird way of flirting- you make your mind up. Some of their scenes were humorous some were damn right steamy and as I say some were uncomfortable. Both characters have their own back story and reasoning for the way they are and as that unfolds I found myself rooting for them. It’s not your average boy meets girl or enemies to lovers, but as ever Colleen has me unable to stop listening I needed to know where the story was going right from the off.
I found myself easily invested in the characters and throughout the strange elements I was glad they found their way. I believe there’s another story so I’m intrigued to see if these characters feature and how they fare.
Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish in June 2010 out of a love of lists. In January of 2018 we decided it was time to close our doors. It was then moved to That Artsy Reader Girl here. It came from a love of lists, books and a desire to bring bookish people together.
Now this is an interesting prompt….as an avid reader I’ve always an ever expanding TBR pile. As a blogger I often read certain books at certain times especially if I’m on a blog tour or to review by a certain date.
This has been on my TBR for a short while and before the end of 2023 I purchased a copy from Bert’s books. This will be devoured soon. After loving the first instalment of this series I had read a few pages of this. And then a blog tour took over and this was abandoned. I cannot wait to get back to the gang. A truly gorgeous group of people.
Blurb: Everything You’ll Ever Need (You Can Find Within Yourself) is Charlotte Freeman’s first book and was written from the most vulnerable places of the heart. This book is open and honest, written to resonate with those who need it the most.
Full of messages we all sometimes need, that often come at just the right time, this book is your reminder that everything you’ll ever need, you can find within yourself.
Review: This is a short audiobook with short, sharp and to the point chapters that will inspire and give you a much needed boost.
In the time I’ve had this via the Libby library I have listened to it a number of times. On my last listen I penned some notes so that I could do my review justice. I can definitely see me downloading and listening to this again in the future.
Self love can save you – that sentence alone makes me smile and makes me thoughtful. To say my self esteem is up and down is most definitely an understatement, at the moment I’m in a pretty good place. Charlotte’s words hit home and made me feel seen and heard.
There is a lot of emphasis on worth, capability and how it comes from within. Be unapologetically yourself – this definitely made me smile as that’s a slogan that the legend that is Mary Earps uses, and one I can wholeheartedly get on board with.
Stop overthinking in terms of life and also in convincing yourself that no one will listen to the madness in your head. Wow! Now this definitely made me feel seen. In some aspects I’m getting better in others not so much.
A self-help book that you can get on board with as I said I felt seen on a number of aspects. It’s not preachy and it’s written so you can emphasise and I guess feel seen. Charlottes words resonated with me on a number of things and I’m feeling empowered from listening to this. As I say I’ve listened to these words a few times and I dare say I’ll do so again someday.
Sometimes a few days off is just what you need to reset, refocus and be inspired by life once again.
I have tried to be more organised this week, so let’s take a look at how I faired and whether that transpired here at Hayley Reviews. I must add this post should have been finished and scheduled for yesterday. I had made a start but my break at work wasn’t as long as usual as I had a lot to do yesterday so my apologies. Although do let me know if you would like to see this stay on Saturday’s or whether Sunday works better.
Now before I share the posts of the week I wanted to check in and see if you would like me to keep this purely about the books, or whether you would like my other life updates do let me know.
On Monday I shared my review of The Chalet By Catherine Cooper.
I had meant to post a non fiction review on Friday and this update yesterday, as I say I hadn’t made the final touches on either or scheduled them. So here we are, with that in mind I hope I can have all my posts scheduled for the week with the ones pre done being sorted as and when.
Do let me know if you want me to stick to purely the books or whether you liked my previous ramblings. Until next time…
Blurb: Athena Liu is a literary darling and June Hayward is literally nobody.
White lies
When Athena dies in a freak accident, June steals her unpublished manuscript and publishes it as her own under the ambiguous name Juniper Song.
Dark humour
But as evidence threatens June’s stolen success, she will discover exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.
Deadly consequences…
What happens next is entirely everyone else’s fault.
Review: Now where do I begin? I don’t always like reading books that are hyped up. They either go one way or another for me. Although in saying that I was far too intrigued about this one to miss out.
As I could get a copy of this via my library using the Libby app I jumped at the chance to devour this novel. I had heard so much about it and wanted to make my own assumptions. Although in saying that the last novel that had been hyped I tried to listen to and I had to give up. That was my only worry although the intensity of this novel and how quickly the story took a turn left me truly captivated. I was in awe and in shock as to what was transpiring.
This is a fast paced and truly intoxicating read about the world of publishing. Showcasing the good, the bad and the incredibly ugly side of it. I had Psycho vibes where you know Norman is in the wrong but on a small level you want him to overcome it. That’s how I felt listening to June. She is a truly incredible leading lady, that has you with a mixture of emotions. I mean I don’t want to ruin the story but wow she really is a character, and just like with Norman Bates, you know there’s a whole element of dishonesty yet you also are willing to see her get through it.
There’s a number of emotions as a reader and I guess there’s a number of emotions from June. She justifies a lot of her actions but wholeheartedly I don’t feel even she believes some of her reasonings. I’ve seen and heard bits and pieces about the publishing industry and a lot of people say this is a true account, in the parts I know I think it can be.
Yellowface is a page turner that will captivate you and suck you in. My final comment will be simply believe the hype!!. A beautiful read that I wish I could get that first read feel back again.
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