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adult contemporary

Blog Tour: The Adults by Caroline Hulse

Title: The Adults
Author: Caroline Hulse
Published: August 23rd, 2018
Publisher: Orion
Rating: ★★★★
Find the Author: Goodreads 


Disclosure: I was sent this ARC by the publisher, reviewing it as an impartial review. This does not sway my opinion of the book. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.

The most hilarious debut you will read this year. 
* * * * *MEET THE ADULTS.Claire and Matt are divorced but decide what’s best for their daughter Scarlett is to have a ‘normal’ family Christmas. They can’t agree on whose idea it was, or who said they should bring their new partners. But someone did – and it’s too late to pull the plug.Claire brings her new boyfriend Patrick, a seemingly eligible Iron-Man-in-Waiting. Matt brings the new love of his life Alex, funny, smart, and extremely patient. Scarlett, their daughter, brings her imaginary friend Posey. He’s a rabbit.Together the five (or six?) of them grit their teeth over Organized Fun activities, drinking a little too much after bed-time, oversharing classified secrets about their pasts and, before you know it, their holiday is a powder keg that ends – where this story starts – with a tearful, frightened, call to the police…
But what happened? They said they’d all be adults about this…
* * * * *
If you loved THE BREAK by Marian Keyes or raved about THE ROSIE PROJECT – look no further than THE ADULTS.

First Thoughts…

There’s something just super relaxing about reading a book like The Adults. I think when I read YA, I’m like this is my game face, I’m ready to read! But Adult fiction is just a lot more calming to me, no matter what the genre or plot. When I first was introduced to The Adults by the lovely team at Orion, I couldn’t say no! It sounded like a true breath of fresh air.

My Review…

I would pick up any book that was for fans of The Rosie Project. I truly devoured those books and thought this little slice of fiction would be no exception! So, first and foremost, Claire and Matt are a divorced couple. They have a daughter together, Scarlett, who really is a little star among the pages. They want her to have a life as normal as possible, and in doing that, a perfect Christmas that runs along the line of normalcy. They don’t know how it happened, but soon enough, they’re all together and the awkwardness starts to appear. Despite the fact that they have new partners, it first gets off to a rocky but steady start. But then the cracks start to appear. 
With Claire’s new partner Patrick and Matt’s new love Alex, with Scarlett (and her imaginary friend Posey the rabbit) they make an unlikely bunch. Doing activities together and “bonding” with organised “fun” they start to unravel. Oversharing leads to secrets, tears and a whole lot of fireworks. But what they don’t expect most is to learn something new about themselves, each other and what it really means to be an adult.
Overall, I really just couldn’t get enough of The Adults. Whilst it took me a little bit to really get into the novel, the middle and end sure made up for it. The points of view, striking and capturing my attention, were poignant and funny and just so real (is it strange I really loved Posey, the imaginary “friend”?) I never expected for The Adults to be as it was (if that makes sense) and it took me on a whole different journey (in the best way possible). If you’re looking for a novel with humour, “adulting” and mayhem that leaves you feeling like you’ve read something importantly great, you’ve found your new favourite read. Four amazing stars! 
Hi Caroline! Your characters go through so much before the book even begins. Which character has been your favourite to craft personality-wise?

Hi! I should probably answer about a human character first. On that basis, it’s Patrick. I enjoyed writing his dual-edge character, showing the difference between his successful, enviable ‘outside’ and the teeming insecurities within.
Overall though, my favourite character was Posey. There’s an element of wish-fulfilment in writing a character’s imaginary friend who exists purely to support and entertain that human: who can get over physical hurdles effortlessly (logistics, gravity etc.) and who doesn’t care about anyone’s needs or feelings except those of ‘their’ human. It would be ace to go through life with a side-kick like that.
Also, Posey gets to have all the fun, all apart for having to sleep in the airing cupboard. I wouldn’t be so keen on that part.

The Adults is such a funny, yet oh-so-real book. What inspired Claire and Matt’s story?

I was trying to think of a plot for an everyday suspense, with the potential to produce tension between well-meaning people. I don’t really like to write ‘good guys’ and ‘bad guys’: in my books, people are more complicated than that.
I read an article in a weekend section about an ex-couple who went on holiday together with their shared family and new partners, and I just thought, How? Why?
I wish all my exes well, but I don’t have to see them on a day-to-day basis – and I don’t think it would be a great idea to go on holiday with them and their new partners! But people do! And those people must be way more mature than me.

You blend humour and drama together faultlessly. If you could write in any other genre, what would it be?

Firstly, that is lovely, thank you.
I read widely, mostly crime and thrillers, book club and literary stuff, and I would love to write a serious thriller one day. I just need to think of a killer, edge-of-your-seat plot, and work out how to drop the comedy that sneaks in to my writing. Leave it with me.

Finally, if The Adults was made into a movie, who would you *love* to play who?

I’m so sorry, I can’t answer this properly. The people in the book are so real in my mind, I can’t think how to suggest actors for it. It’s a good thing I’m not a casting director, and if The Adults does get produced as a movie, I’ll be fascinated to see who they choose!

Thank you so much for answering my questions, today.
No problem, and I’m so pleased you enjoyed the book.

Caroline Hulse spends most of her days writing, having fulfilled her dream of having a job she could do in pyjamas. She also works in Human Resources sometimes.
She is openly competitive and loves playing board and card games. She can often be found in casino poker rooms, and wishes other people would want to play Cluedo for money.
She lives with her husband in Manchester, UK, where the two are captive to the whims of a small, controlling dog.he Goodreads database with this name.

Have you read The Adults? Are you looking forward to it?


Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs!


Tweet me about the book and get involved in the Blog Tour with the tag #TheAdults


happy reading!

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Blog Tour & Review: The Woolgrower’s Companion by Joy Rhoades
Title: The Woolgrower’s Companion
Author: Joy Rhoades
Published: June 28th, 2018
Publisher: Vintage Books
Rating: ★★★★
Find the Author: Goodreads 

Disclosure: I received this ARC in exchange for an impartial review. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.

As the war draws to a close, one woman faces her greatest battle . . . 
Australia 1945. Until now Kate Dowd has led a sheltered life on Amiens, her family’s sprawling sheep station in northern New South Wales. The horrors of war have for the most part left her untouched. But with her father succumbing to wounds he’s borne since the Great War, the management of the farm is increasingly falling on Kate’s shoulders.
With only the sheep-rearing book The Woolgrower’s Companion to guide her, Kate rises to the challenge. However the arrival of two Italian POW labourers unsettles not only the other workers, but Kate too – especially when she finds herself drawn to the enigmatic Luca Canali.
Then she receives devastating news. The farm is near bankrupt and the bank is set to repossess. Given just eight weeks to pay the debt, Kate is now in a race to save everything she holds dear.
‘A heart-breaking tale beautifully told . . . This compelling story of war and love, of family and prejudice is magical’ Kathryn Stockett, author of The Help

First Thoughts…

I usually stray from any type of Historical Adult Fiction, but there was something about The Woolgrower’s Companion that enticed me from the get-go. It had this simplicity-meets-heartbreak kind of feel and I was so delighted when offered to be on Joy’s tour!

My Review…

Kate has always led more or less a sheltered life in Australia, on her family’s sheep farm. We’re introduced to her life in 1945, wavering the line of the second World War. Her father, a veteran of the first war, has been struggling. From the despair of his wife’s passing and from age, and now with the farm, it’s been difficult. So the responsibility falls to Kate, her only helping hand the sheep-rearing book called The Woolgrower’s Companion, hence the title.
She’s thrown into the grueling everyday tasks of taking charge, but when some Italian POW laborers arrive and she finds out her Father has been hiding things from her to do with the Farm, it all comes crashing down around her. So when she finds herself drawn to the Italian Luca, she doesn’t know how to deal with the newfound ways her life is changing. With the Farm almost bankrupt, it’s a race against time. She loves the Farm and everything it’s provided for her, but losing it is only a blink away.
Overall, The Woolgrower’s Companion really did surprise me. There was of course the beauty of the story, the landscape and the romance aspect. The plot – and some of the choices the characters chose – did keep me on edge and despite not agreeing with everything Kate chose or did, I couldn’t help but be hypnotized by the ways the story kept me reeled in and turning pages faster and faster. It’s heart-breaking and moving to-the-max and despite not being a huge Historical-Lit fan, I thoroughly devoured the book in just a few sittings. If you’re like me, and need a break from reality and a change of pace, The Woolgrower’s Companion will be the breath of fresh air you need. Truly such a beauty of a story! 4 stars.

I grew up in a small town in the bush in Queensland, Australia. I spent my time with my head in a book, or outdoors – climbing trees, playing in dry creek beds, or fishing for yabbies in the railway dam under the big sky. Some of my favourite memories were visiting my grandmother’s sheep farm in rural New South Wales where my father had grown up. She was a fifth generation grazier, a lover of history, and a great and gentle teller of stories. My childhood gave me two passions: a love of the Australian landscape and a fascination with words and stories.
I left the bush at 13 when I went to boarding school in Brisbane. I stayed on there to study law and literature at the University of Queensland. After, my work as a lawyer took me first to Sydney and then all over the world, to London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo and New York. But I always carried in my head a strong sense of my childhood: the people, the history, the light and the landscape. Those images have never left me and they would eventually become The Woolgrower’s Companion. It’s a story I’ve felt I had to tell.
I currently live in London with my husband and our two young children. But I miss the Australian sky.

Have you read The Woolgrower’s Companion?


Let me know in the comments, on twitter @LittleMemoirs or using the hashtag #TheWoolgrowersCompanion!



happy reading!

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Book Review: The Scent Of You by Maggie Alderson

Title: The Scent Of You
Author: Maggie Alderson
Published: June 14th, 2018
Publisher: Harper Collins
Rating: ★★★★
Find the Author: Goodreads 

Disclosure: I received this ARC in exchange for an impartial review. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.

Perfume blogger Polly is in crisis. Will her husband’s absence break her … or make her? A novel of perfumes, exploring life, love, loss and forgiveness – Maggie Alderson’s new bestseller.
Are you still married if you haven’t seen your husband for months?Polly’s life is great. Her children are away at uni, her glamorous mother – still modelling at eighty-five – is happily settled in a retirement village, and her perfume blog is taking off. Then her husband announces he needs some space and promptly vanishes.
As Polly grapples with her bewildering situation, she clings to a few new friends to keep her going – Shirlee, the loudmouthed yoga student; Guy, the mysterious, infuriating and hugely talented perfumer; and Edward, an old flame from university.
And while she distracts herself with the heady world of luxury perfume, Polly knows she can’t keep reality at bay forever. Eventually she is forced to confront some difficult truths: about her husband, herself and who she really wants to be.

First Thoughts…

I tend to read more YA as you all know, but when I had the chance to read The Scent Of You, it really drew me in! Not only do I love the fact that the MC is a perfume blogger (and I love perfume), but it had some complex issues in the blurb that make for interesting reading.

My Review…

Polly’s life is on the rocks. Well, technically, it’s because of one thing: her husband. Before he just left abruptly, life was good. But perfume blogger Polly, who links different scents to different memories and other things, on her own little blog, hasn’t seen her husband for months. Before he announces his need for space, Polly had an idyllic kind of normalcy. Her kids are away at university, her mother is still modelling and settled in a retirement village, she’s loving being a perfume blogger among other things. 
So with his vanishing from her every day life, she struggles to cling to what her life is without him there. She hangs on to her friends – some new, from her yoga class – and with the space in her life, finds herself being drawn to a man from her past and a striking new man with the same tastes in perfume as her. But the end of her trying to ignore her husbands vacancy comes too soon, and she’s forced to face the reasons why he’s left and who she wants to be in life. 
I wasn’t sure how I felt about The Scent Of You when I first started it. It did take me a little while to get into the world and get used to the character setting, but once I was mid-way in, something clicked. I became absorbed with the way Polly loved perfume (and as a candle maker, myself, I love scents just the same!) and the way she was. Despite it not engaging me until a lot into the story, the middle and ending really did make up for that. 
Overall, The Scent Of You was a cloud of sweet fiction that I didn’t know I needed. If I only read a few Adult reads this year, I’m definitely glad this was one of them. Maggie has a very unique and compelling way of storytelling and I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who loves women’s fiction and heart-felt reads. 

Have you heard about The Scent Of You?


It publishes TOMORROW, so be sure to add it to your TBR!


Let me know in the comments or on Twitter @LittleMemoirs! I just want to say a major thanks to Jessie at Harper360 for this book, too! 


happy reading!

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Book Review: “Letter From Paris” by Thérèse

Title: Letter from Paris

Author: Thérèse

Published: June 10th, 2014

Publisher: The Story Plant

Find the Author: Goodreads


I recieved this for review. As always, my reviews are fair and unbias!



India Butler’s journey to America put her life on a new track. Now a trip to Paris threatens to derail her – or to make things all they are supposed to be. With a new job, a new friend, a potential new lover…and an old lover, India is dealing with nearly as much as she can handle. But that’s only the beginning.

The infectious sequel to India’s Summer, Letter From Paris is witty, glamorous, incisive, and refreshingly real.

 Having not read India’s Summer, the previous book about India Butler, I lost a little of that “before” chapter of her life, but after brushing up on India’s Summer, I felt like I gained a little insight on India’s life before reading Letter from Paris.

From Los Angeles to Paris, Thérèse takes India to a new scene with new sights, adventures and travel. Having a fresh look on India having not known her character in India’s Summer, I grew to see her character within the first few chapters as highly like-able (I can see why Thérèse’s novels are so popular with celebrities alike) and balanced person in life. I loved that as I was reading, I was aware that I didn’t have to read the first novel in the series to understand India and grew to know her characters quirks and ways; her humour and poise especially. 
As Letter From Paris delves into the story, we learn some secrets from India’s Summer and get straight into India’s growth as a person. Suddenly, we’re whisked away to Paris on streets I’ve never heard of but want to go to and descriptions of adventures I could only dream of. Not only does India’s life burst full of love and light, but romance and drama as the story progresses into personal and business relationships of conflict and mystery – above all, India trying to stay true to who she is and what she truly wants out of life. 
In a word, I would call Letter From Paris a book about change – change in surroundings, thoughts, life and relationships – and I truly admired Thérèse for how beautifully effortless she wrote India’s journey. The things that are thrown into the works of her life and as a reader, I wished they could ricochet off her and she could trudge through them over the course of the novel as I started to care for her character and realise how real she seemed, as if she could exist right ahead of me. There’s more to India’s life and to this novel than a stint in Paris, it’s much, much more. Even though the French way of things might seem parfait, India knows it’s always better to be herself.
A real page-turning, glamorous, wonderful adventure, Letter From Paris was an amazing read that swept me away for the week. Even though I sway to the more YA side of things and prefer reading about characters around my age, I loved getting a little vacation from it and spending time reading India’s incredible story – and I can’t wait to read India’s Summer to get the full experience!
 Lovers of adventures, Contemporary fiction and Parisian fans!

happy reading!

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Book Review: “The Bear” by Claire Cameron (and Giveaway!)


Title: The Bear

Author: Claire Cameron
Genre: Adult – Contemporary/Suspense
Release Date: November 6th, 2014
Published by: Vintage (Random House)


★ I received this from Vintage Publishing for review. As always, my reviews are fair and non-bias. ★ 


 Anna is five. Her little brother, Stick, is almost three. 
They are camping with their parents in Algonquin Park, in three thousand square miles of wilderness. It’s the perfect family trip. But then Anna awakes in the night to the sound of something moving in the shadows. Her father is terrified. Her mother is screaming. Then, silence.

Alone in the woods, it is Anna who has to look after Stick, battling hunger and the elements to stay alive. Narrated by Anna, this is white-knuckle storytelling that captures the fear, wonder and bewilderment of our worst nightmares – and the power of one girl’s enduring love for her family.

The Bear sounded like a movie when I read the synopsis, like a fight for survival. But what gave my reading habits a change up was that this is straight from young children, with there being little adult voice. I love that I haven’t read anything similar to The Bear before, so going into it without knowing what it would be like was exciting. 

Anna is the narrator, a five-year old girl on a camping trip with her Parents and little brother; Stick, who is almost three. There isn’t another family around or anything for miles, wilderness surrounding them – and for a little while it seems like this is a perfect little family holiday – until disaster strikes in the most strange form. 
In the middle of the night, Anna doesn’t know why her father is scared or why her mother is screaming – she never yells. So when her and Stick are put to a somewhat momentary safe location by their father, Anna thinks everything will be okay. Her father will come and get them, or maybe her mother. 
But soon enough, Anna realizes that they are alone in their struggle. That she must look after Stick and keep him safe, no matter what happens. They battle hunger, darkness and scares in the woods, trying desperately to stay alive and find someone. Obstacles throw Anna and Stick, but Anna’s bravery keeps them together. Although five-year old Anna can’t comprehend what’s happening and where her Parents are truly, she is loyal and focused. Her thought patterns are impulsive and scared, then frustrated – but she doesn’t give up trying to keep her and Stick alive. 
The Bear is quite extraordinary. I’ve never read such a gripping, emotional and thought-provoking novel that battles the struggle of a child trying to comprehend a tragedy without any parental guidance or any guidance at all. Claire has written a believable, striking book with characters that no doubt seem real like the inspiration for the novel itself. I found myself hooked to Anna’s voice and felt determined for Anna and Stick on their journey. The ending couldn’t have been more perfect. It was not only an overall incredible story, but will stay with me for a very long time. 
Compelling, intense and exceptional, once you’ve read The Bear – it will be remembered.

Anna’s love for her family was a moment-pause and awe inspiring note.

For Adult Contemporary fans of Suspense and Thrills.

Thanks to the amazing people at Random House, I get to give away THREE copies of “The Bear”, you can enter here, Goodreads and on Twitter! So if you’re interested in reading it, enter below! 


Open: UK only


Have you read The Bear?

What did you think?


Tell me in the comments, on twitter or by using the hashtag #TheBear

 

happy reading! 

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Book Review: “The Proposal” by Tasmina Perry

Title: The Proposal

Author: Tasmina Perry
Genre: Adult Fiction – Contemporary 
Release Date: August 14th, 2014
Published by: Headline Review

I received this from Headline/Bookbridgr in exchange for an honest review. As always, my reviews are fair and non-bias. 

Just say yes to this unforgettable read and take a spellbinding, romantic journey from the dazzling days of the debutantes in 1950s London to glamorous modern Manhattan.


When Amy Carrell’s wealthy boyfriend ends their relationship just before Christmas, she’s left to nurse her broken heart alone. With nothing to lose, she replies to an advertisement requesting a companion for a mysterious ‘Manhattan adventure’.


Whisked off to New York with eccentric British aristocrat Georgia Hamilton, Amy experiences a glamorous side of the city that she’s never seen before. Along the way, Georgia initiates her protegee in the arts of old-school elegance.


But as Georgia shares her life lessons, Amy discovers a painful secret in her mentor’s past. A secret that shattered her future. A story of love and betrayal that only Amy has the power to put right.

The Proposal is quite different from your ordinary tale. It’s set in two different times; 1958 and 2012, centered around Amy and Georgia, the two lead characters of the novel.
Amy in 2012, had a dream to come to London to become a dancer, a dream that had many obstacles on the way. She worked in a restaurant to pay rent, but still longed for her big break. But suddenly the future she wanted is no longer written in the stars and she feels thrown back to square one. Longing to see her family back in New York, she stumbles across an Ad looking for a companion to the Big Apple and she becomes more determined than ever to see her family. 
Georgia in 1958, was quite similar to Amy in a lot of ways. At 18, her whole life changed. In 1950’s London, it was the place to be with the debutante season and eligible men. Looking for a husband should be at the top of Georgia’s list but she is very different to the other girls. Fancy parties and men were not on her radar at all.  So when a tragic event happens, she is even more uncertain about her future. 
But now, both Amy and Georgia’s futures were uncertain with the tragic times of ending relationships and bright futures ahead, leading to the start of a bittersweet story that would span more than fifty years in time. 
The Proposal was an amazing story of friendship, family, love and lies…and New York. It’s a breathtaking, unique novel that sparkles in it’s own right. Incredible. 
The parts with Georgia back in the 1950’s were my favourite parts – there was just something about her story that intrigued me more than Amy’s and I loved the originality of it all. It’s an incomparable book by far.

Adult Fiction readers, along with Romance and Contemporary readers! 


Have you read The Proposal?


What did you think?


Tell me in the comments, on twitter or by using the hashtag #TheProposal

happy reading!

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