In a world of smartphones, games & the internet, how many of us forget to pay attention to those around us?
Jackie is one of those people. She prefersIn a world of smartphones, games & the internet, how many of us forget to pay attention to those around us?
Jackie is one of those people. She prefers online friends, gaming to reality and has no time for her classmates. But when two of them go missing, she’s forced to look at herself and realise that maybe, just maybe, people are not how they seem online.
The concept for this book is brilliant! Jackie and the others are inside a game called Capsule and they have just 24 hours to challenge themselves and win if they want to return to reality unscathed.
This book was really fast-paced which I liked, with plenty of secrets spilled as each character faces the past and tries to move forward. I would’ve liked a bit more peril, as the challenges seemed a bit simple to me and there could have been more danger.
What I did like was the way everything was connected and showed how one person’s actions can affect another for the rest of their life. Characters were well developed and relatable, while the book was well-written and intriguing, at times funny and sad.
The ending wasn’t what I expected, but worked quite well. I did have a few questions, but overall Capsule is a really good YA story and I read it in one sitting!
Merged review:
In a world of smartphones, games & the internet, how many of us forget to pay attention to those around us?
Jackie is one of those people. She prefers online friends, gaming to reality and has no time for her classmates. But when two of them go missing, she’s forced to look at herself and realise that maybe, just maybe, people are not how they seem online.
The concept for this book is brilliant! Jackie and the others are inside a game called Capsule and they have just 24 hours to challenge themselves and win if they want to return to reality unscathed.
This book was really fast-paced which I liked, with plenty of secrets spilled as each character faces the past and tries to move forward. I would’ve liked a bit more peril, as the challenges seemed a bit simple to me and there could have been more danger.
What I did like was the way everything was connected and showed how one person’s actions can affect another for the rest of their life. Characters were well developed and relatable, while the book was well-written and intriguing, at times funny and sad.
The ending wasn’t what I expected, but worked quite well. I did have a few questions, but overall Capsule is a really good YA story and I read it in one sitting!...more
I’m reviewing all of these with fond memories of the books I read as a child. This isn’t the perfect adult novel, and yes it’s predictable, silly and I’m reviewing all of these with fond memories of the books I read as a child. This isn’t the perfect adult novel, and yes it’s predictable, silly and at times a little bit problematic. But I still loved it for what it represents. We’ve all wondered what happened to our favourite characters from childhood; this may not be what we expected, but it’s still lovely to be reunited with the three girls we all know and love....more
Perhaps best known for the snobbish yet sassy grandma in Gilmore Girls, Kelly Bishop has led a fascinating life.
A trained ballet dancer she danced inPerhaps best known for the snobbish yet sassy grandma in Gilmore Girls, Kelly Bishop has led a fascinating life.
A trained ballet dancer she danced in multiple Broadway shows before inspiring and starring in A Chorus Line which won her a Tony Award. Realising that the show is based on real chorus line members entirely changes my perception of the show and I may have to watch it again.
It’s always interesting to hear more about someone who to you is just a character. Kelly and Emily Gilmore may have a lot in common, but there are subtle differences. The way Kelly talks about her husband is heartwarming and it definitely feels like her grief over Richard in A Year in the Life is inspired by her own losses throughout her life.
Her admiration for and friendship with Lauren Graham and Amy S-P also blends fiction and reality, but will be a happy revelation for fans of the show.
As someone who has only seen her in Gilmore Girls - or so I thought - learning about her other roles was wonderful. I’ll also be watching Dirty Dancing again.
Honest, poignant and witty, this memoir brings the woman behind the pearls to life....more
Bit slow, quite tame and very little happened. Definitely felt like a mash up between a few other books and there was very little romance or magic, whBit slow, quite tame and very little happened. Definitely felt like a mash up between a few other books and there was very little romance or magic, which is a shame. Belle didn’t feel credible as a character - any bookworm who was excited by magic would have read the coven text book and more besides. And why would you ignore your magic for so long?
There’s a fine line between cosy and boring, and this book wasn’t sure where it sat. With a bit more editing to reduce the excessive adjectives and prose, this would have been much better. If it was positioned as YA it might work better, as the characters felt younger than they actually were which affected enjoyment....more
Although this book was very predictable (I clocked the Sam situation immediately), it was just what I needed after a hard week at work. For 3.5 stars
Although this book was very predictable (I clocked the Sam situation immediately), it was just what I needed after a hard week at work. For who among us has not craved a duvet day where we can chill out and mooch around the house having a pity party?
I could completely understand how Alexa felt: caught up in the hamster wheel of work and struggling to find where she fits, although I did find it hard to believe she hadn’t even been to Southbank...
Although the story was well-written, it started off very slow, characters weren’t particularly likeable and the interactions were a little far-fetched. I would also have liked the ending to retain its empowered feel, rather than succumb to the stereotypical happy ending.
That said, it was very sweet and relatable. While many of us who have lived in house shares in London have struggled with the issues of laundry, mess and stress, I felt sorry for Alexa that she didn’t have the fun and friendships that often go with it.
A little sugary in places, but a nice cosy read - perfect in fact for a duvet day.
I was provided with an ARC. All opinions my own.
For more reviews, check out my blog: or follow me on Instagram: @Paradise_Library
Merged review:
3.5 stars
Although this book was very predictable (I clocked the Sam situation immediately), it was just what I needed after a hard week at work. For who among us has not craved a duvet day where we can chill out and mooch around the house having a pity party?
I could completely understand how Alexa felt: caught up in the hamster wheel of work and struggling to find where she fits, although I did find it hard to believe she hadn’t even been to Southbank...
Although the story was well-written, it started off very slow, characters weren’t particularly likeable and the interactions were a little far-fetched. I would also have liked the ending to retain its empowered feel, rather than succumb to the stereotypical happy ending.
That said, it was very sweet and relatable. While many of us who have lived in house shares in London have struggled with the issues of laundry, mess and stress, I felt sorry for Alexa that she didn’t have the fun and friendships that often go with it.
A little sugary in places, but a nice cosy read - perfect in fact for a duvet day.
I was provided with an ARC. All opinions my own.
For more reviews, check out my blog: or follow me on Instagram: @Paradise_Library...more
Although cosy crime isn’t usually a genre I rush to pick up, historical fiction is. Add in the fact that the amateur sleuths are Virginia Woolf and VaAlthough cosy crime isn’t usually a genre I rush to pick up, historical fiction is. Add in the fact that the amateur sleuths are Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell then how could I resist?
This novel is excellent. It’s slow, cosy and gripping, with excellent characterisation, brilliant visualisation and discreet humour. It’s so easy to picture, because Ciar’s writing flows so well; her love of the landscape really shines through the writing, but everything is carefully constructed to ensure nothing dominates the story.
It is - of course - entirely fictional, but it feels real and the characters come across exactly as you would expect, with a few cameos from the Bloomsbury set that are a nice touch. There’s so much simmering scandal in the town, but none of it feels contrived and the motive is believable.
Characters are so real I felt like I knew every single one and I wanted to be a part of the community and soak up the literary and artistic talent that lurked around every corner and on every page.
If I had one criticism, it was the overuse of the phrase ‘warm for October� - I appreciate the weather needed to be sunny for the story to work, but it probably didn’t need to be mentioned so many times. No doubt this has been edited out of the final version so it’s a minor point.
A Deadly Discovery is an absolutely fantastic story and I can’t wait for the next instalment!...more
A cosy murder mystery set in an historical theatre is precisely the book we all need to read now that autumn has sprung. It’s the perfect mix of genreA cosy murder mystery set in an historical theatre is precisely the book we all need to read now that autumn has sprung. It’s the perfect mix of genres, with insightful information into one of London’s long-gone landmarks, the Gaiety Theatre.
Since Death on the Pier, playwright Bertie Carroll has been down in the dumps, unsure why Hugh has not been in touch. Yet fate will bring them together again when there’s another murder in another theatre.
Murder at the Matinee takes inspiration from Agatha Christie, along with the author’s knowledge of working backstage in the West End. This passion really shows, along with discreet humour when discussing the crew and it’s a real page turner. Pacing is fast, but with enough time to drop in clues and allow readers to spend a bit more time with Bertie and Hugh.
Once again there are some fantastic characters, no doubt drawn from real actors throughout the years. Katherine Debenham is feisty, elegant and outspoken, whilst Alice Crawford is a bit Marple-esque, but more erratic and stubborn. And Bertie is just adorable.
With lots of sneak peeks into the world of the Golden Age of the West End, Murder at the Matinee is a short, sharp read that invites you to test your sleuthing and solve the crime....more
Another twisty turny murder mystery from the queen of mixed media crime writing.
This time set in a university (definitely inspired by RHUL), a group Another twisty turny murder mystery from the queen of mixed media crime writing.
This time set in a university (definitely inspired by RHUL), a group of mature students take on a project with deadly consequences�
As usual, Janice manages to bring her characters to life, despite everything being via email and chat. We learn about everyone’s personality through their tone, style and things that are unsaid like when and why people ‘leave the chat�.
We also have more information than the characters, with the exception of one specific trait that is cleverly done but feels a little misleading in terms of the story.
Although enjoyable, The Examiner doesn’t quite live up to the precious three books and is not entirely believable. It also feels very similar in style to The Twyford Code, which is a shame as all the others are unique in their structure and concept. The environmental elements are interesting but the motive and build-up fall a little flat.
Don’t get me wrong - it’s still very good, but not quite a five star read this time. ...more
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