Review: Love, Rosie by Cecelia Ahern

Love, Rosie is a heartwarming yet occasionally frustrating novel that follows the decades-long friendship of Rosie Dunne and Alex Stewart, childhood best friends whose unspoken love for each other is constantly thwarted by life's twists and turns. Told through letters, emails, and messages, the book highlights how missed opportunities and timing prevent them from being together, despite their undeniable connection.

The epistolary format is unique, but at times it makes the pacing feel sluggish and disconnected, which affects the emotional depth of the story. While some parts are charming, the constant misunderstandings and delays in their relationship can feel repetitive.

One of the memorable quotes from the book is:
"You deserve someone who loves you with every beat of his heart, someone who will always be there for you, and who will love every part of you, especially your flaws."
This sums up the overarching theme of the novel—waiting for the right kind of love, though it can be a drawn-out and exasperating journey.

Overall, Love, Rosie has its moments of warmth and humor, but the prolonged "will they, won’t they" plotline may leave readers feeling more frustrated than satisfied. It's a pleasant read, but lacks the emotional punch that could have made it more memorable.

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Review: Truly Madly Amy by Kerry Wilkinson

It is the end of school and Joe has been offered a job at the local summer camp. Life at home hasn't been so great for young Joe since the passing of his father. His mother is suffering from depression, and her "bad" days outweigh the good days.

Although the job at camp is "uncool" and doesn't pay much money, it is an escape from hope and an escape from boredom.

Jo meets Amy at the camp, and it's love and first sight. Witnessing Joe fumble his way through asking her on a date, and trying to impress her are quite entertaining, and as a reader I felt I was reminiscing with my own summer childhoods.

This book is a light easy read, and extremely enjoyable. The perfect book to read to fill in some downtime. Jo the main character had me laughing and crying alongside him, it was very well written.

5 Stars: It was amazing. It was compelling, well-researched, entertaining and/or moving and often complex. I will definitely want to read more books by this author.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for my advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

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Review: The Immproblable Life of Ricky Bird by Diane Connell

 What an absolutely wonderful book.

I decided to give this one a try, as I was looking for an audiobook I could listen to in the car, during my long drives each day to and from work.   This one was a winner!   It had me laughing, and crying along with little Ricky.

Ricky (Victoria) is a 12 (almost 13) year old girl.  Her parents are going through a divorce, and Ricky is forced to move from her hometown Brixton to Camden with her Mum and little brother Ollie.

The story is told by Ricky, how she sees the world through her eyes.  Ricky is loosing a father who she absolutely adores, and is completely heartbroken.  She blames her mother for this and feels that if her Mum just treated to her Dad better they may still be together as a family.     

Her little brother Ollie falls sick, and spends a lot of time in hospital have lots of tests done.  Ricky does not know what is wrong with him, but makes her own assumptions, and her creativeness is adorable.    

Due to her little brother Ollie's sickness, her Mother spends most of her time at the hospital caring for Ollie, Ricky is at home, on school holidays, she spends her mornings at the local community centre doing a creative writing class, and her afternoons are spent wondering around her unit block, or assisting in a garden.  She is being cared for by Dan, her Mum's new partner whilst her Mum is at the hospital with Ollie.

Ricky is a bit of a tom boy, and refuses to grow up to be a "lady" in fact she changes her name to "Ricky" from Vicky or Victoria because she does  not want to be known as a girl.   She wants to be strong and brave like a boy.   

Ricky is extremely smart and her creative mind is adorable, I enjoyed reading the book from Ricky's eyes on the world, she is an amazing young girl who I really admired her courage and strength whilst enjoying the book.

This unbiased review is from an audio copy provided by NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Australia.

5 Stars: It was amazing. It was compelling, well-researched, entertaining and/or moving and often complex. I will definitely want to read more books by this author.

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Review: Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett

 

My daughter was reading this book as part of her senior reading tasks at school, and she really enjoyed it and asked if I would like to read it also.   I obviously jumped at the opportunity not only to read a good book, but also for a chance to bond with my teenage daughter.

The story is very sad, on so many accounts, so much tragedy and loss.  

Harry is the youngest of three boys, and the story is based around Harry’s life.  

The boys lost their mother in a terrible car accident, and are trying to survive life and its turmoils without their loving mother.    The eldest son Joe, has moved out of home, due to conflict with the father and he is living with his Grandfather.  Both of the elder boys love surfing although Harry is quite frightened of the water.  He spends his days strolling the sand looking for treasure, whilst the elder two are surfing.

Harry befriends a local dog and it’s owner, the love and friendship that is formed between Harry and George (the dog’s owner) is beautiful, George is the protector overseer that comes into Harry’s life just when he needs it.

The story is a tragedy, and will end with tears, so have on hand the box of tissues.

3 STARS - It was a good book and well-crafted. I would recommend it to the right person.

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Review: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

 

This book is like nothing I have ever read before.  Markus Zusak is an incredibly talented Australian author, and has written a very unique, captivating, story based in Germany during the Nazi era.

The book is  narrated by "Death" yes that's right, Death itself, the Grim Reaper, is actually telling the story from his perspective.

Liesel and her younger brother, are put up for adoption by their mother,  Liesel is on a train ride to Munich with her brother and mother, to prepare for the adoption, when her brother passes away.  This moment haunts Liesel and keeps her awake with nightmares most nights.   When Liesel is watching her brother being buried, she spies a book on the ground, Liesel quickly snatches it and hides it on her person, it is her that Liesel's love and fascination with books and reading begins.  The book Liesel steal is "The gravediggers handbook" it is not the words, the story, or the information provided within this book, that captures Liesel's interest.   It is purely that book itself that Liesel loves.

Liesel is adopted by Hans Huberman and his is wife, Hans is a very kind man, and gets up and supports Liesel during the night when she is suffering from these dreadful nightmares.  It is during these late nights, down in the cold dark basement that Hans teaches Liesel to read and write.

Liesel befriends the boy next door Rudy, the pair get up to much mischief together, but they also a good support to one another during the horrible times of Hitler.

Liesel's story is my favourite, It is a book I will re-visit time and time again.  I do not wish to give away too much of the story, as I suggest to any reader, to sit back and relax and dive deep into The Book Thief.  It is a story that will stay with you forever.

5 Stars: It was amazing. It was compelling, well-researched, entertaining and/or moving and often complex. I will definitely want to read more books by this author.

Review: Bridge of Clay by Marcus Zusak

What an incredible book.  

I had really enjoyed The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, so thought I would give Bridge of Clay a go also.   Markus does not disappoint.   I had read a few reviews, and a couple of them are quite disappointing, as this book is nothing but incredibly amazing.   It is extremely well written, it really hits you emotionally, so make sure you have a box of tissues beside you.

The story is about the Dunbar family, and their 5 boys.   The story is told by Matthew the eldest son but it is Clay's story, the 4th boy in the family whose story Matthew is telling.

It is written in multiple time lines, which could be confusing for some, but I found this extremely clever of the author, as shows that behind every story, there is a back story, a history, a reason why things happened the way they did.  

I highly recommend this book to everyone, it is truly lifechanging!

5 Stars: It was amazing. It was compelling, well-researched, entertaining and/or moving and often complex. I will definitely want to read more books by this author.

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