Saturday, July 7, 2018

Monthly Reads: June 2018

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Hi!

Since early June, we've had a heatwave here in Ireland. I find that I'm much less likely to pick up a book if the weather is too hot, so I've been struggling to fit reading in. I got through just six books, most of them very light holiday reads.

Click on an individual cover to go to my full Goodreads review.


  

Next To You (Love With Altitude #1) by Daisy Prescott
This was on offer via BookBub a few weeks ago. It's a dual POV between Stan, a hot South African rugby player, and his girl-next-door neighbour Sage, a dance teacher/animal welfare volunteer. It was sweet, and sexy, and had a little more bite than some other novels of this type (yay for safe, consensual sex!). I really enjoyed it so I bought the others in the series. This is free on Kindle at the time of posting.
Buy: Kindle | Book Depository

Crazy Over You (Love With Altitude #2) by Daisy Prescott
These are standalone books - they're set in the same world and feature the same characters but you don't have to read them in order to enjoy them. This one focuses on Jesse (ski patrol) and Mara (a veterinarian). Again, it was really witty, enjoyable, and light.
Buy: Kindle | Book Depository

Wild For You (Love With Altitude #3) by Daisy Prescott
This one is for the cowboy fans - Justin and Zoe get together despite Justin's brooding lone cowboy schtick. I didn't enjoy this one as much, who knew that the rodeo wasn't my thing?
Buy: Kindle | Book Depository



The Kissing Booth by Beth Reekles
This has been made into a movie on Netflix, and I wanted to read the book before I watched it. Firstly, it's worth mentioning that the author first wrote this when she was 15 - and it's pretty indicative of what 15 year olds write - I wrote a short story when I was 16 (if you want to punish yourselves you can read it here) - so I get it, I get the fascination with America and boys and kissing. What I don't get is how this was published as it is. I thought it was going to be a story about escaping an abusive relationship, such was the level of obsession and control involved. It's disturbing, and the constant switching from UK to US slang was confusing. I really didn't like the book - but I have nothing but admiration for a young author who lands a deal like this. I wasn't mad about the movie either, to be fair.
Buy: Kindle | Book Depository



Mad by Chloé Esposito
Following in the footsteps of quirky main characters like Eleanor Oliphant, Elvira Carr and Eileen, along comes Alvina Knightly. Foul mouthed and with no regard for other people, her life is a bit of a mess. Alvie accepts her estranged twin sister Beth's invitation to join her at her perfect mansion - thinking that being miserable in Sicily beats being miserable in London. But why does Beth want Alvie there after so long? It's funny, full of action, and clever - unfortunately, after about the first third or so, I just found it pure daft and didn't really buy any of it. I loved the first part and I really liked Alvie as a character, I'm very fond of a foul-mouthed evil twin. If you want something to read by the pool on holiday but you don't mind it descending into utter filthy, gory madness, you may enjoy this.
Buy: Kindle | Book Depository


Review Copies


All The Little Lights  by Jamie McGuire
In the words of the great poet Vanessa Williams, I saved the best for last. It's a story about Elliott and Catherine, two young people in a small town who find solace in each others company. But when Catherine really needs Elliott, he can't be there - will she ever forgive him? This has a lovely "old" quality to it, I would have assumed it was set in the fifties or sixties but for a Beyoncé reference. It's part hazy Summer, part mystery - it really changes pace mid way and manages to do it well. I couldn't put this down, and when I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it. I adored it, it's one of my favourite reads so far this year.
Buy: Kindle | Book Depository


That's all for June - it's July 7th and I haven't read one single book this month, but Booktube-a-thon is on the way so hopefully July will be a better reading month. I'll be back in a couple of days with a blog tour spot for a wonderful debut novel by an Irish author and my Booktube-a-thon planned reads. If you've read anything interesting lately please let me know!





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