Pretty Little Memoirs - a YA Book Blog

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chick-lit

Blog Tour / Review: “How to Find Love in a Bookshop” by Veronica Henry

*Minor spoiler / spoiler-free review*

Title: How to Find Love in a Bookshop

Author: Veronica Henry

Published: June 16th, 2016

Publisher: Orion

Find the Author: Goodreads


I received this book for review! As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.


Nightingale Books, nestled on the high street in Peasebrook, a picture-postcard Cotswold town, is a dream comes true for booklovers. Everyone who enters falls in love with something.

But owner Emilia Nightingale is struggling to keep the shop open and the developers are circling. The temptation to sell up is proving enormous – but what about the promise she made to her father? Not to mention her customers, for whom the shop is a comfort, a meeting place, a lifeline.

There’s Gary, a stable lad for a nearby trainer, who buys books to read to Nikki, who is lying in a coma. He spends every spare hour at Nikki’s bedside, never giving up hope that she will come round.
Betty, who runs a supper club from her tiny cottage, has a huge crush on a man she met and then lost in the cookery section, somewhere Auguste Escoffier and Marco Pierre White.
Mrs Norris repeatedly ‘forgets’ to pay for her books – and Emilia never has the heart to remind her. But Mrs Norris isn’t quite as forgetful as she pretends …
And then Emilia meets Dexter, local jack-the-lad, who is looking to improve his English so he can better himself. He buys all Emilia’s recommendations, and together they re-discover all her favourite authors. But Dexter has a secret, and is not all he seems…

How to Find Love in a Bookshop is the delightful story of Emilia’s fight to keep her bookshop alive, the customers whose lives she has touched – and the books they all love.

When I first heard about a novel about falling in love in a bookshop, I thought about how that’s literally every book lover’s dream. What better way to fall in love than the place we love the most? I had heard such great things about Veronica Henry’s writing from other bloggers and I was definitely excited to get started reading my first novel from her.

Nightingale Books is exactly the kind of bookshop you want to go to. It used to be owned by Julius who had sadly passed and now was passed on to his daughter; Emilia, who took over everything to do with the store. But what she didn’t expect was the multitude of things she would have to re-organise and put the store back together again to optimal condition. There are other characters that weave into the tapestry of the book, like Thomasina who’s shy and has a secret crush, Sarah who uses Nightingale Books to escape her life and Jackson who wants to buy the bookshop to convert it, working for developers, among many characters that blend into the story in their own plots. They all play important parts, but Emilia’s storyline takes center stage and I couldn’t help but become enthralled by her story, past and future that may or may not include Nightingale Books.
Everyone is there for Emilia when her father dies and the shop is left to her, book lovers and musicians among them. There is a moment when I thought maybe she would cave in to the developers and sell the store, but I knew underneath it all she had learned to love the store just as much as her father did, after all, it sounded like an idyllic, wonderful little bookshop. Not only does Emilia find herself in the store, but she finds love, friendship and happiness within the cosy walls of Nightingale Books.
Overall, How To Find Love In a Bookshop is a book that all book lovers have been waiting for. It’s a love story, friendship rollercoaster and journey all in one, all tied to one special bookshop. It had heart, love, beauty and charm and everything that I love in a story. I can’t praise it highly enough – Veronica has surely written something all book lovers are going to think is a dream read. Five stars completely.


 Book Lovers everywhere.

Veronica Henry was a television script writer before turning her hand to fiction. She has published six novels which she describes as realistic escapism – her characters might have Agent Provocateur knickers drying on the Aga, but their problems and dilemmas are ones everyone can identify with. She is also on the writing team of Bafta-award winning Holby City.

Thank you for stopping by my tour stop for How to Find Love in a Bookshop!


What did you think of the story?


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


happy reading!

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Blog Tour: “The Summer We Danced” by Fiona Harper (Q&A!)

Title: The Summer We Danced

Author: Fiona Harper

Published: April 21st, 2016

Publisher: MIRA

Find the Author: Goodreads


I received this book for review! As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.



Fiona Harper, a rising star in the world of romantic fiction, had phenomenal digital success with her 2014 title, The Little Shop of Hopes and Dreams, which was a Kindle #1 bestseller and one of the top 10 bestselling ebooks of 2015. Her new novel The Summer We Danced is a warm, summery read perfect for fans of Milly Johnson, Carole Matthews and Katie Fforde.

After a humiliating divorce and watching her former rock star husband leave her for a model live on reality TV, Pippa is determined to disappear. So she returns to the small Kent village where she grew up to make a fresh start. Little did she know that would mean saving her beloved childhood dance school or falling for her old school crush Tom too!

The Summer We Danced explores lost love and new beginnings with emotional depth and wry humour. This is a novel to curl up with and laugh, cry and enjoy the perfect happy-ever-after.

I have a soft spot for books like Fiona’s: the type that make you swoon and feel comforted reading with entertaining and humorous lines to keep you laughing and crying ’till the end. I hadn’t read anything by Fiona before, but my sister has and she couldn’t recommend her highly enough, so I was eager to get stuck in.

Straight away, I loved Pippa. I felt so bad for her after she was horribly dumped by her husband that she had stood by through his journey for fame without batting an eyelid,  only for him to leave her for a model on TV as soon as he’d gotten to be a star. She was humiliated, as anyone in her situation would be, and now it was all she could think about. She wanted to get away and forget about her troubles, even if it was just for a while. She returned back to her hometown where she was brought up and searches for some kind of meaning to how her life had ended up this way. So, ultimately she decides to go to a dance lesson of all things, still run by the tutor she used to have, Miss Mimi. It was a huge thing for Pippa as a child and she loved dancing but she ditched it to support her husband – now, what was stopping her?
But Miss Mimi’s dance school is on the rocks and Pippa feels like she should help try to save it and make it thrive again. Then she meets her old school crush, Tom, who still lives in the village she grew up in. He has a daughter, and even though they’re older and have lived two very different lives, they find their old selves in each other as they work together to save Miss Mimi’s dance school and maybe their lost love along the way.
I really connected with The Summer We Danced. Not just the characters, but the plot and the way it all came together like a perfect story about a small town love and reconnecting. Pippa was such a bright, brilliant character and she really made the book.  Fiona did such an amazing job writing her story with so much believability. There were laughs along the way and although it was humorous, it didn’t distract from the deeper elements of romance and emotion that I love in adult romance novels. 
Overall, The Summer We Danced is a perfect, funny, enchantingly amusing book that had me hooked from beginning to end. This will definitely not be the last I read of Fiona’s novels and I can’t recommend this highly enough. It’s definitely one of the stand-out Adult romances I’ve read this year and is a top contender with the likes of Lindsey Kelk and Milly Johnson.  

Adult romance fans with humour and love elements.

Hi Fiona! I just read my first book of yours (The Summer We Danced) and I’m an instant fan! What gives you the inspiration for your books?


I get ideas from all over the place – sometimes it’s a headline in a newspaper, sometimes an enchanting place I’ve visited, and sometimes the idea of a character or a situation they face. Before The Summer We Danced I’d written a book called The Doris Day Vintage Film Club and I enjoyed combining a story with my love of old movies so much I wanted to do another one. The working title for The Summer We Danced was The Ginger Rogers Tap Club – so you can see where the idea came from!


Pippa is such a likeable character. If The Summer We Danced were a movie, who do you think would play her and Tom?


I imagined Pippa to be a curvier version of Ginnifer Goodwin (from Once Upon A Time and He’s Just Not That Into You), with those beautiful big eyes and a dark pixie cut. Tom’s harder to pin down, though. Hmm. No one too pretty. But ruggedly handsome would do! How about Dougray Scott?


If you could sum up your ideal writing environment in a sentence, what would it be?


I can write almost anywhere, but I have to have my trusty Moleskine notebook and Post-it notes, my current favourite pen and coffee! (And occasionally my laptop.)


As an aspiring writer, I’m always grateful for advice. Do you have any for me—and for all the other aspiring writers out there—who aspire to be like you?


I have two bits of advice:

1. Don’t stop dreaming! You might have to work hard to make those dreams happen, but if you don’t try you’ll never get there. 

2. Don’t stop learning. You can always improve your craft.


Finally, do you have plans for another book? If so, is it similar to The Summer We Danced?


I’m working on the next book at the moment, but it’s a bit of a gear change from The Summer We Danced in that it’s romantic, but it’s not a boy-meets-girl story. The new book looks at long-term love: what makes it work, what makes it fail… It also has a slight supernatural element, which is a bit of anew thing for me, but I have to say I’m loving every second of writing it!


Thank you for being on my blog; Pretty Little Memoirs today!


Thanks for having me, It’s been a blast!


The Summer We Danced by Fiona Harper is out now in paperback and ebook (MIRA) 

happy reading!

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Speed Review: “The Rosie Effect” by Graeme Simsion

Title: The Rosie Effect (Don Tillman #2)

Author: Graeme Simsion
Genre: Adult – Contemporary Romance
Release Date: December 30th, 2014 (UK)
Published by: Penguin 

AUTHOR SITE  | TWITTER | GOODREADS                                                                        
I received this from Penguin (with thanks to LoveReading) in exchange for an honest review. As always, my reviews are fair and non-bias. 

Join everyone’s favourite unconventional couple Don Tillman and Rosie in the next chapter of their love story

With the Wife Project complete, Don settles happily into a new job and married life in New York. But it’s not long before certain events are taken out of his control and it’s time to embark on a new project . . .

As Don tries to get to grips with the requirements of starting a family, his unusual research style soon gets him into trouble. To make matters more difficult, Don has invited his closest friend to stay with them, but Gene is not exactly a prime example of marital happiness, and as his life with Rosie continues to be unpredictable Don needs to remember that emotional support is just as important as his practical expertise . . .

definition: a “speed review” is a new meme on Pretty Little Memoirs, specialized for short reads, galley copies, reviews for lovereading.co.uk or novellas!


With thanks to Lovereading.co.uk and Penguin for the copy of The Rosie Effect for review! 

First thought when this arrived in my mailbox: YAY, YAY, YAY! 

The Rosie Effect is the immensely and highly anticipated sequel to The Rosie Project. I thoroughly adored The Rosie Project last year and as anyone who has read the book will know, it’s pretty unique. 
Don Tillman is quite the inimitable character as we learned in his Wife search in book one, when he found the woman he would love called Rosie in his “Wife Project”. Now married to Rosie in a lovely ceremony and then living in New York, Don is slowly adapting to his new life. That’s until Rosie drops the unexpected news that she’s pregnant, and it shatters Don’s plan for the near future. So armed with this new news, Don has to rethink everything he planned for him and Rosie, creating a whole new project for him to focus on that inevitably starts one of the best novels I’ve read this year. 
Don and Rosie really are the most hilarious, unique and fun characters in a book you’ll find. They’ll have you in hysterics, then crying, and then laughing again. The Rosie Effect was the perfect addition to The Rosie Project and I can’t wait to read more from Graeme Simsion’s witty, imaginative writing style. A marvellous, incredible story that will be top of everyone’s to-read list! You’ll fall for Rosie and Don time after time. 5 stars doesn’t cover it.  




Have you read The Rosie Effect?


What did you think?


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




happy reading!



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Blog Tour: “The Summer Guest” by Emma Hannigan {+ Emma’s Writing Tips!}

Title: The Summer Guest

Author: Emma Hannigan
Genre: Adult Fiction – Contemporary Women’s Fiction
Release Date: March 27th, 2014
Published by: Headline

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

Perfect for fans of Maeve Binchy, a lovely, warm, Irish family saga of three generations of women coming together one magical summer in the small seaside town of Caracove Bay.




Lexi and her husband Sam have put their heart and soul into renovating No. 3 Cashel Square. Lexi’s mother thinks it’s high time they had a baby, but Lexi’s thriving art gallery keeps her more than busy. Plus her headstrong niece Amelie seems to have practically moved in. And then, just as summer arrives, a mysterious stranger knocks on the door. 
Kathleen Williams has come from America, longing to see the house in Cashel Square where she was born, over sixty years ago. Kathleen’s visit is tinged with sadness but she finds comfort and laughter with Lexie and Amelie. 
Soon the three women are sharing their hearts, tears and secrets, little knowing their unexpected friendship will touch them all in more ways than they can imagine…

The Summer Guest was a delightful and fresh idea influenced by friendship – that of three people in Caracove Bay, in Ireland. Their friendship is a very unusual one that sparks one day in the lovely little town. With Lexi, her marriage has turned from blissful to a nightmare almost overnight. 

For Kathleen, it’s grief and returning to Caracove Bay to the house she used to live in, even if it’s a plan she made with her late husband. But for Amélie, it’s being a teenager that’s got her life in a mess. If it’s not a boy, it’s her Parents fighting and questioning her at every chance they get. Lexi, Kathleen and Amélie grow a unique and amazing friendship, despite their ages, lives and problems. Having each other there to lean on when they need each other benefits each of them, even if it’s just talking and laughing with each other at the end of the day. 

I adored Emma’s writing style in The Summer Guest. Women’s Fiction has always been my go-to for Adult reads and books like Emma’s are the sole reason, with captivating towns and relateable characters and a plot to keep you hooked. 

Overall, ‘The Summer Guest’ is perfect for adult fiction lovers this summer. It’s the perfect book to read on the beach or on holiday. A must read.

Chick-Lit fans everywhere! Anyone who loves Women’s Fiction will adore this magical summer story.


Oh
dear Lord I always cringe when faced with the idea that I should instruct
anyone else on how to write a book! You see, I still think I’m a bit of a
fraud. I never had any sort of formal training when it comes to penning my
books. Writing became my profession quite by chance. At first it was purely my
therapy. My way of releasing my hopes dreams fears and anxieties while battling
cancer. Swiftly I realised it was exactly what I’ve always wanted to do. So how
did I begin? I literally sat one day and began to type. So I guess my first tip
has to be just that!
1.     Sit and go for it.
Nobody
else can write your book. Thinking
about writing doesn’t raise the word count. So find a quiet and comfortable
spot and get writing.
2.     Make some planning notes.
I
don’t mean twelve foolscap pages of intricate details. Just an idea of what
you’d like the story to be about. Going back to school English lessons – have a
beginning, middle and end. It doesn’t need to be set in stone as the story will
always evolve as you go along, but it’s vital to have clear ideas and will
ensure the pace is kept going swiftly as you advance through your story.
3.     Characters should be realistic.
Unless
you’re writing about a schizophrenic reclusive psychopath with a twitch who has
no grasp on reality, readers need to be able to identify with the characters.
Often the ones my readers love most are those that remind them of people they
know.
4.     Don’t be afraid to let go of your own emotions.
By
this I mean that it’s fine to laugh like a hyena even if you’re in a room on
your own accompanied only by your words. It’s OK to sob like a toddler being
left at crèche for the first time too. Odds are, if you find the story
hilarious or desperately sad, so too will your readers.
5.     If it’s boring cut it out.
You
are the first gauge on your own work. So if you feel the story or character is
boring and you don’t particularly care what happens to them, you can bet nobody
else will either. Less is more.
6.     Read over what you’ve written.
The
first draft of a book involves getting all the ideas out of your head. But once
you look at it again (perhaps after a few days break so you’re seeing it with a
fresh eye) any adjustments can be made. I don’t know a single author who has
completed a perfect novel on the first draft!
7.     Enjoy it!
That
may sound crazy, but writing is a craft and it won’t work unless you are
relaxed and enjoying the process. Magic won’t be made if the author is having
to squeeze each sentence onto the page as if it were a chore.
8.     Be yourself.
As
the late great Oscar Wilde famously said: “be yourself, everybody else is
already taken.” Finding your own unique voice (and we’re all born with one) is
key to knowing who you are as a writer.
9.     Read, read, read.
In
my mind, it would be impossible to become a good author without reading other
people’s work. In my mind it would be akin to having all the ingredients to
bake a cake without the method. Good writing involves learning and what better
way than absorbing other authors knowledge?
    10. Don’t give up!
Writing
can be difficult as it’s pretty much a solitary occupation. But believing in
what you’re doing is a must. If you don’t have dreams how can they ever come
true?
For
me, writing is a gift. I am so privileged to have my work published and I will
never take that for granted. With each book I learn so much more than before. I
am slowly developing my craft and coming to know who I am as a writer. I
embrace the ideas and guidance of my editors and publishing team. I endeavour
to make each book better than the last.

I
hope many more people go down the writing road. I for one would heartily
recommend it and already I’m looking forward to reading all your books! 



Emma Hannigan is the author of six bestselling novels including Keeping Mum and a bestselling memoir Talk to the Headscarf which charted her journey through cancer. Emma lives in Bray, Ireland, with her husband and two children.

For more about Emma, visit her website www.emmahannigan.com or follow her on Twitter @MsEmmaHannigan.

The Summer Guest is published by Headline in paperback on July 31st, priced £7.99

Don’t forget to stop by the previous posts for Emma’s tour!

Have you read The Summer Guest?


What did you think?


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


happy reading!

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Book Review: “If You Were Me” by Sheila O’Flanagan





Title: If You Were Me

Author: Sheila O’Flanagan
Genre: Adult – Women’s Fiction 
Release Date: July 3rd, 2014 (UK)
Published by: Headline Review

With thanks to Headline Review for the copy of this novel! As always, my reviews are non-bias and fair.

Carlotta O’Keefe is happily engaged, and the wedding plans are coming together. She’s clear about her future path, both personally and in her busy career. Maybe Chris doesn’t make her heart race every time she sees him, but you can’t have that feeling for ever. Can you?


Then, on a trip to Seville, Carlotta runs into Luke Evans. Luke broke her heart so long ago she’d almost convinced herself she’d forgotten him. Now, he’s not that boy any more, but an attractive and intriguing man. And he can explain everything that happened way back when.


Suddenly Carlotta’s not so sure of anything any more. Except that what she decides now will shape the rest of her life…

I’ve always wondered what Sheila O’Flanagan’s novels would be like after seeing my sister read them for years, so when I had the opportunity to read what looked like an amazing read, I jumped at the chance!
Carlotta O’Keefe has everything she could want in her life; a handsome doctor-fiancé and a job she loves among the many highlights. Although there are some things she isn’t liking about her life right now. Her mother-in-law to be and her sister-in-law to be are judgmental and always put her job down, but the thing that’s the worst is the constant comparisons to her fiancé Chris’s ex-fiancée. She knows they wish she wasn’t in the picture and they could be together again. 
When Carlotta has to take an important project that’s crucial to her career to Seville, she promises to be back before her mother-in-law’s birthday party. But a couple of incidents occur that delay her departure. The most startling one of all happens to have the past hurdling back up when she sees Luke Evans, her crush once-upon-a-time. He was quite literally the one that got away. He’s different from the Luke she once knew, the one who left in the middle of the night. Even though she loves Chris, she can’t stand his family. The new Luke is different in a million different ways, and she’s suddenly thrown from what she thought her life would pan out like. 
If You Were Me is a story about dilemmas, uncertain futures and everything about that future ends with a question mark. Carlotta now has to decide whether she wants the future she planned or something entirely unthinkable. Written by the incredible and highly-talented and much loved author; Sheila O’Flanagan, If You Were Me is going to be on bookshelves in many homes to come. Brilliant! 

I can’t tell the ending, but it was definitely my favourite part by far. Another favourite of mine was when Carlotta meets Luke again after the time and years they had spent apart. 

Anyone who loves Chick-Lit and Women’s Fiction. I’m a Young Adult book fan by heart, but it was a change that I didn’t mind – I now see why everyone loves a Sheila O’Flanagan novel!

Have you read If You Were Me?

What did you think? 

Tell me in the comments or at @LittleMemoirs on twitter!

happy reading!
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Book Review: “Deep Blue Sea” by Tasmina Perry

Title: Deep Blue Sea

Author: Tasmina Perry
Genre: Adult – Women’s Fiction 
Release Date: July 18th, 2013 (UK)
Published by: Headline Review

With thanks to Headline for the copy of this novel! As always, my reviews are non-bias and fair.

Passionate. Explosive. Impossible to put down. Tasmina Perry is back with her most spectacular novel yet.

 Beneath the shimmering surface lies a dark secret…

 Diana and Julian Denver have the world at their feet. With a blissful marriage, a darling son and beautiful homes in London and the country, Diana’s life, to the outside world, is perfect. But nothing is as it seems…

 When Julian dies suddenly and tragically, Diana is convinced there is more to it than meets the eye. She calls on the one person she had never wanted to see again – her sister, Rachel.

 A former tabloid reporter, Rachel appears to be living the dream as a diving instructor on a Thai island. The truth is she’s in exile, estranged from her family and driven from her career by Fleet Street’s phone-hacking scandal.

 For Rachel, Diana’s request opens old wounds. But she is determined to make amends for the past, and embarks on a treacherous journey to uncover the truth – wherever it may lead…

 The cover first got my attention (it looks like a vacation I’d love to be on) and then the summary just hooked me. I knew I had to read it! 

Deep Blue Sea is above all, what Women’s Fiction is all about, and it’s Tasmina Perry at her very best. I’ve only read two of her eight novels excluding Deep Blue Sea, but even now, this is my very favourite. I got a little “Revenge” (the TV show) vibe, because of the idyllic setting turned to tragedy, but that’s where the similarities end, nevertheless it being one of my favourite things that lured me in being the picturesque qualities. 
Diana and Julian have everything that anyone could ever want. They are wealthy and glamorous, living in luxury and Diana thought they were happy. But when Julian commits suicide, Diana doesn’t know where to turn. She’s lost in thoughts of doubt and worry and turns to her estranged sister; Rachel, who lives in Thailand after a bad career experience. 
When Diana turns to her sister, Rachel decides it’s about time that she solved the estranged relationship with her sister and help her in her time of need. So, travelling very far across many countries for Diana, Rachel also turns to uncovering the clues behind Julian’s sudden death. 
I was amazed by the very storyline and the characters that graced the pages. My favourite was Rachel by far, just because she seemed to stand out to me a lot more than Diana. She seemed strong and far more complex, in a good way. Diana was a great character, but the qualities I felt were stronger in a character came from Rachel’s character vibes. The mystery and suspense aspects were definitely what kept me reading. I was literally flicking the pages for hours in enthrallment. Tasmina Perry can definitely claim her place becoming one of my very favourite Women’s Fiction authors. I would say that if you’re a fan of glamorous, gripping novels with underlying mystery factors like a good TV show, then a Tasmina Perry novel is definitely for you. It lived up to my expectations and much more. 
Looking forward to more from Tasmina! A definite five star novel with charismatic characters and an alluring plot.

There’s a part near the ending and conclusions to the novel that was my favourite. Other than that, I think maybe my favourite parts were when a hint of mystery kicked in – it gave me a push to turn the pages quicker!


 Anyone who loves Tasmina Perry’s novels, Women’s Fiction and Chick-lit. Or if you’re a YA book lover thinking of moving up to some Adult novel’s, this would be a great fit.

Have you read Deep Blue Sea?

What did you think? 

Tell me in the comments or at @LittleMemoirs on twitter!

happy reading!
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Speed Review: “If I Could Turn Back Time” by Nicola Doherty



Title: If I Could Turn Back Time

Author: Nicola Doherty
Genre: Adult – Chick-lit
Release Date: April 10th, 2014 (UK)
Published by: Headline

With thanks to Headline for the copy of this novel! As always, my reviews are non-bias and fair.

What if you found The One, then lost him again? 
Or not so much lost him as became the neurotic, needy girlfriend from hell. The girl who tried to make him choose between her and his job, and got seriously paranoid about his relationship with his best female friend…

Zoe knows she doesn’t deserve another chance with David. 

But if there’s the tiniest possibility of making things right, she’ll snatch it. Even if it means breaking the laws of physics to do so…
def: a “speed review” is a new meme on Pretty Little Memoirs, specialized for short reads, galley copies or novellas!
What is there not to love about Nicola Doherty’s book? For me, it was one of those rare amazing-all-round books, never failing to make me laugh or warm up to the incredible set of events that occurred throughout the plot. 
Zoe, our main character, was this girl who liked fashion and was a strong, determined girl. She had regrets in her life, hence the time travelling aspect of the novel, in life and love. Her life never failed to be action-packed, whether it was in her relationships with friends or love-interests. There was the ever-charming David, sweet and lovely Max, and Jenny, who was quite bizarre! Overall, the people in Zoe’s life crafted the way she looked at things, and throughout the novel she became like a friend figure, not only to her friends, but to us as readers. She was very relateable and her character developed beautifully over the course of the book. 
The time travelling theme was a twist that completed the perfect pieces of the book, that was ultimately a love story with quirky humour, fashion and a story to capture the hearts of readers. Nicola’s book reminded me of the reasons why I love novels like hers and Lindsey Kelk – and why I need to read more of them! 
I was totally won over by this stunning weekend read, that felt like watching a Rom-Com on TV. Anyone who loves an all-around lovely chick-lit novel, will adore If I Could Turn Back Time. With inspiring and thought-provoking wonders, it’s on my favourite Adult-reads of the year list!
Fans of Nicola Doherty’s previous novel, fans of Lindsey Kelk and Sophie Kinsella. Overall, anyone who loves getting lost in a good love story with laughs and twists along the way.



Have you read If I Could Turn Back Time?

What did you think? 

Tell me in the comments or at @LittleMemoirs on twitter!

happy reading!

Book Review: “The Wedding Bees” by Sarah-Kate Lynch

Title: The Wedding Bees
Author: Sarah-Kate Lynch
Genre: Adult Fiction – Contemporary/Chick-lit
Release Date: January 28th, 2014 (US) February 13th, 2014

Other Books by Author: Dolci di Love, Eating With The Angels

Published by: William Morrow (Harper Collins) 

Purchase at: Amazon, B&N, Waterstones


With thanks to Harper Collins for the copy of this novel! As always, my reviews are non-bias and fair.


The Wedding Bees by Sarah-Kate Lynch, the author of the bestselling Dolci Di Love, is a delightful novel about love and loss, heartbreak and hope, and the magic of honey, in the vein of Amélie and Chocolat. 

 When Sugar Wallace arrives in Manhattan with nothing but a beehive, a secret past and a taste for good manners, life starts to change for the dispirited occupants of 33 Flores Street. 
 But as love wings its way into their hearts and homes, it flies away from Sugar herself. That is, until a doorman without a door and a certain busy queen join forces in a sting to end all stings. It looks like love might be in the air once more … but for how long?

 The Wedding Bees has one of those covers that just immediately says; read me! And any book set in New York has me reeled in, regardless. I don’t read that many Adult books, but when I do, chick-lit and contemporary is the one I am drawn to, so many thanks to HarperCollins360 for allowing me to get my Chick-Lit fix for January!

Sugar is running from her past, and has been for quite some time, never taking more than her cherished bees. She’s nothing but enchanting and well mannered wherever she goes and never fails to have the neighbours and people of wherever she goes becoming her lifelong friends. Although, she never stays long enough. She’s always moving on to the next place, guided by her prized bees. So I was enthralled as to her heart leaning toward a deeper connection to her arrival in Alphabet City, as she becomes attached to the people and possibilities the city has to offer. 

I could easily see Sugar’s charisma and grace acted out on the big screen, and I would be first in line. The Wedding Bees is unlike any other, alluring and riveting in every way possible. The introduction to Sugar is inviting, but toward the middle is when we delve into the storyline and back-story a little more, giving us a more open-eyed view to Sugar’s past and her potential here, guided by only her bees, which gave me a feeling that she was a very hesitant person. Even at the start, her oldest friend thinks she’s gone a little crazy, but when everyone gets a glimpse through her contrasting view of the world, they start to understand Sugar in all her inimitable ways. 

Sugar Wallace was as sweet as honey. She was an idyllic lead heroine and I was captivated by her unique quirks and charming southern appeal. She was definitely my favourite character of the book and I rooted for her the whole way through. Her stories of South Carolina were a lovely addition and just the way of how she was, as if she was enraptured by life itself meant she was an absolute delight, overall.
There were many characters along the way that sparkled like Sugar did, alike her romance with Theo; the Scottish love interest of hers. Their meeting and connection was undeniably sweet the way Sarah-Kate Lynch weaved their paths together, I knew they were going to have chemistry. And the others along the way, like; Ruby, Nate, George…there were so many that shone throughout the story and fitted in without the pages feeling cramped with characters. 

The Wedding Bees is whimsical, fascinating and an almost magical-type of Love Story set in one of the most coveted and lively places on Earth; Manhattan, NYC. I fell in love with the characters, the honey and the bees and the feel-good realistic elements. It had everything in a novel I love, filled with imagination and sweet, memorable features. 

Sarah-Kate Lynch deserves every five-star review for this amazing read!


Have you read The Wedding Bees?

What did you think? 

Tell me in the comments or at @LittleMemoirs on twitter!
happy reading!
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Review: “The House We Grew Up In” by Lisa Jewell

Raw and sincere, Lisa Jewell writes another winner with this bestseller-worthy novel…
 
Many, many thanks to Corsair, the publishers and Najma for the copy of this complex, interesting and amazing book. I was so happy to get my hands on an early copy, because of course, Lisa Jewell is one of the best writes out there for this genre.
A little bit about “The House We Grew Up In”…
 
Meet the Bird Family

All four children have an idyllic childhood: a picture-book cottage in a country village, a warm, cosy kitchen filled with love and laughter, sun-drenched afternoons in a rambling garden.

But one Easter weekend a tragedy strikes the Bird family that is so devastating that, almost imperceptibly, it begins to tear them apart.

The years pass and the children become adults and begin to develop their own quite separate lives. Soon it’s almost as though they’ve never been a family at all.

Almost. But not quite.

Because something has happened that will call them home, back to the house they grew up in – and to what really happened that Easter weekend all those years ago.

 
Add on Goodreads?
My Review:
 
All 400+ pages of The House We Grew Up In kept me hooked all the way through. I like to not read a whole book at once to take it in better, and I read this one in just a few days in awe. The time changes were confusing, but nevertheless incredibly written as though the flashbacks glided smoothly into current time.
The lead character, I would say, was the mother of the Bird family; Lorelei Bird. She was friendly and joyful, though swept up in a world of hoarding and that made her neglectful to her family; which was most probably her downfall overall. My thought is that, if she hadn’t been a hoarder, or so consumed with it, that she might have been able to save her family from disastrous scenarios, and sometimes disturbing times.
The Bird family were a troubled and broken family where most of the time, the blame ricocheted around to each family member, who passed it to another and so on, because no one really wanted to be to blame for anything. Their story was slow paced, which was better to take it all in, with thought-provoking and reflectiveness being one of the highlights of the story. It was a dramatic and tragic story, like a rollercoaster of emotions that took you on a ride of happy, then sad, and insightfulness.
Lisa Jewell wrote such a page-turner with this plot, with it’s originality being the most eye-opening. I would completely recommend this–and any of her novels to anyone. I own at least three of her previous novels to date and have loved each one just like this. Not being spoiler-ish, but I was extremely content with the ending and the way things tied up neatly.
Overall, an incredible novel from an amazing author with a huge four stars.
 
 
 
I hope you enjoyed my review & will pick up a copy at your nearest bookstore on July 18th and onwards!
 
happy reading,
xo Becca
 
 
Lisa Jewell (born 19th July 1968, Middlesex, London) is a popular British author of chick lit fiction. Her books include Ralph’s Party, Thirtynothing and most recently 31 Dream Street. She lives in Swiss Cottage, London with her husband Jascha and daughters Amelie Mae (born 2003) and Evie Scarlett (born 2007).
 
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