Premise: April Coutts-Cliveden was the first person Hannah Jones met at Oxford. Taking the timid Hannah under her wing, April introduces her to a whole new world of glitz and glamour. Together they form a close knit group of friends – Will, Hugh, Ryan, and Emily – but not everything is as it seems. Being the IT girl seems to go hand-in-hand with toxicity for April. So it's no surprise that by the end of the school season, she's found dead.
Now, a decade later, it has been brought into question whether the man who was convicted of April's murder was actually innocent. Being the main witness to the crime, newly pregnant Hannah begins questioning her own memories and sets on a mission to once and for all find out who killed April.
In the past I've had good experiences with Ruth Ware's books. For me they've always fallen into the category of junk food reading. They aren't exceptionally written and usually fall flat in some areas, but are nevertheless fun to read. And I always devour her books within a short time period. However, The IT Girl didn't do this for me. It instead resembled a dry granola bar that was marketed a fun flavor.
It's hard to explain what felt different about this book without giving away minor spoilers, but a large part of it was most definitely the university setting and Ware's lack of ability to write younger characters. You could quite honestly stick this book in the YA mystery section of a bookstore and it'd fit right in. But while saying that, the 'current day' chapters of the book felt more adult. It often seemed like Ware wanted to go the dark academia route but was instead told she had to make it a domestic thriller. It simply had no cohesive vibe.
If you've read other Ruth Ware books you'll already know that her protagonists are usually duller than dull. But Hannah took that to another level. She was such an infuriating character to read from, and not in a thrillery 'ooh, she's mysterious' way. She was simply bland. You'd think reading from younger her and adult her would be interesting as surely she's matured even a smidge, but alas, nope. Her character continued to be dumb in any decision making and somehow became more whiny with age?
April, however, was interesting. While yes, she was a very stereotypical IT girl from a thriller standpoint, she did have layers and I was interested in reading more about her character. All the other characters, you ask? One of the same. Think The Secret History character list but without the eerie atmosphere surrounding them.
But what is a thriller review without a non-spoiler discussion on the twist? Well.. it was something. The ending of books has never been Ruth Ware's strong point (unless you're talking Turn of the Key, which I did wholly enjoy), and The IT Girl sadly continues that trait. It was lackluster and seemed to drag on without it needing to.
Basically, if you tend to read Ruth Ware's new releases, you may as well pick this up. It's more of the same. However, if you aren't that familiar with Ware's writing and are just looking for a fun thriller to pick up this Summer, skip this. It's not going to be a memorable read.
Books I've Recently Loved!
10/19/2021
Well, hello there strangers. I've been rather MIA the past few months as my mental health took a spiral downward. But I'm back! In an attempt to talk about something cheery, I thought it would be fun to discuss some of the 5 star books I've recently read. We have romance, a short story collection, and some modern fiction. Let's get into it..
Malibu Rising
Taylor Jenkins Reid
Four siblings. A party. A fire. Dramaramarama, Nina, Jay, Hud, and Kit are throwing their yearly party to mark the end of Summer. It's a lavish affair that everyone wants to attend. But this year will be different, everything is about to go wrong. From failing marriages, estranged parents, sibling rivalries, and flames.
The synopsis is vague, but I think it needs to be to add to the reading experience. It's no surprise that I devoured this book in one sitting and gave it a radiant 5 stars. For me, TJR's books have been consistently good. I adored Nina as a character, she was definitely my favourite. I appreciated how gradual her story was told, making us (as the readers) work to understand her. Her ability to write a large cast of characters while still managing to keep them all feeling individual is remarkable. The reviews for Malibu Rising have been varied, and I think that is partly down to the pacing. Though we mainly read from the day of the party, we do get flashbacks of the past to build up the story. I personally enjoyed the 'all over the place' feel as it added to the build-up of the fire that we know is coming. All in all, TJR doesn't miss and this is a huge contender for my favorite book of 2021.
People We Meet On Vacation
Emily Henry
Poppy and Alex used to be the perfect definition of friendship goals. Since their days at university they'd taken a yearly vacation together, scrimping and saving throughout the year to make it happen. Memories were built, career's blossomed, and friendship remained. But nowadays they barely speak. Poppy is struggling with her life, she feels aimless and decides that the only thing that could possibly restore her zest for life and travel would be to recreate those vacation days with Alex. But when he agrees and everything starts to go wrong for the duo, they are forced to face the vacation that broke them apart.
This was such a fun read. I read Beach Read by Emily Henry a few months ago and loved that too. She has a knack for writing romance that are build around a more serious topic without losing the fun of banter. Poppy and Alex were a great dynamic, they were the epitome of the sunshine&grumpy trope which I adore. There were a few steamy scenes and a slow burn that made the pay off more than worth it. If you enjoy The Brown Sisters series or Sally Throne's books, give this a shot.
Honey Girl
Morgan Rodgers
Grace Porter is a 28-years-old woman, a PHD student, and just drunkenly got married to a girl she doesn't know in Vegas. Can they make it work? And is Grace's time at her unfulfilling job nearing an end?
The character growth in this book is flawlessly done. I adored Grace as a character, she was messy while still showing a vulnerability that kept her feeling real. I really enjoyed how Grace's career was the main drive for her story. Her love for science translated well off the page and I even learned a few things! There is a podcast element to this story that worked great if reading this as an audiobook. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this! It was an authentic look at a 20-something woman struggling to find her footing in life. Also.. how gorgeous is this cover?
Indelicacy
Amina Cain
Too cautious to pursue her passion of art, Vitória instead works as a cleaner at an art museum. When she meets a man who can offer her more, her entire world gets turned upside down. But the artist soon learns that having it all can quite easily feel like having nothing.
Though the main plot of this 2020 release is centered around a marriage, at heart Indelicacy follows in the footsteps of Convenience Store Woman opening a discussion of loneliness, feminism, and dreams. I adored this mere blimp of a novel (it's 112 pages) way more than I thought possible. The writing flowed like poetry while maintaining a grit that the story needed. Though at times dislikeable, Vitória had a complexity to her that kept me invested in her story. If you enjoyed books such as My Year of Rest and Relaxation and The Bell Jar, pick this up. Definitely one of the best books I've read in 2021.
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue
V. E. Schwab
Though marketed as a love story between a forgotten girl and the devil, the complexity of this novel is impossible to be summed up in a mere sentence. In 1714 Addie Larue made a deal with the devil to escape the life she was being forced into. She lives until she wishes to give up her soul, but on the condition that everyone she meets forgets her within minutes of being apart. Lonely, unable to lay down roots, and craving intimacy with another human, Addie goes through her day-to-day life as a ghost. That is until one day a miracle occurs: someone remembers her.
Firstly, this truly isn't a love story between Addie and Luc (the devil), so I felt a little conned about that. However, have you ever read a book that gave off such a haunting atmosphere? That's how I feel about Addie Larue. This is my first Schwab book, and I was honestly blown away by the writing. It was flowery, but in just the right sense. I grew to love Addie as a character, and felt the loneliness that riddled her. Some negative reviews I've seen are mainly about the length, which yes, this was a tome of a book. But when a book has to rely on you bounding with such a small character list, I think it needs the slow burn. If you're easily bored or go into this expecting a fast-paced fantasy, it'll disappoint you. It gave me We Have Always Lived In The Castle vibes, but in a romantic setting. I can't stop thinking about this book.
How to Pronounce Knife
Souvankham Thammavongsa
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The Hufflepuff Book Tag
4/28/2020
Some time ago What Victoria Read posted a video entitled 'The Ravenclaw Booktube Tag". I was so intrigued that I instantly sought out a Hufflepuff tag as that is, proudly, my Harry Potter house. (We had Cedric.. we win everything.) Low and behold, I found one created by the lovely Abigail's Book Corner which you can watch HERE. So without further ado, I'm going to get stuck in and embrace my inner Puff.
Harry Potter: Which Harry Potter book is your favourite?
Same as Abigail, I have to go with the fifth instalment of the series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix. This amuses me greatly as it was this book that put me off reading the series as it was the movie I was most "meh" about, and the book was bloody huge, However, I loved it because of it's size. I listened to the entire series as audiobooks last year for the first time, and my favourite part of each book were the chapters that were pure nonsense. The day-to-day banter between the characters.
Loyalty: Hufflepuffs are known for their undying loyalty. Name an insta-buy author.
Let's go with a double answer, because I'm laying naked on the floor (if you don't get that lyric.. I'm sorry). Firstly, Taylor Jenkins Reid. Last year she topped my favourite author list as I have yet to read anything by her that disappointed me. Some people criticise her novels as they can be heavily inspired by popular Hollywood movies, and while I do see that, I just can't not enjoy her spin on each plot. She writes incredible female characters, who each has her own voice which I can't not appreciate given how many times the side characters in female focused novels can be a little.. bland. Reid, however, managing to give each female a moment to shine without it ever feeling forced. And the lack of 'girl hate' pleases me immensely. My other insta-buy author is Fredrick Backman. As of right now, I have read all of his work and have yet to give a book less than a 4 star rating, and have yet to not cry when reading his work. If you love heartfelt writing with well developed characters that are realistically flawed, give his work a go. Strongly recommend Beartown or A Man Called Ove as an introduction.
Animals/Magical Creatures: As Hufflepuffs, we tend to have a great love for animals. Name a book/series that has your favourite animal/magical creature in it.
Nana from The Travelling Cat Chronicles. This is a translated novel about an older gentleman who builds a friendship with a stray cat. Together they travel to people from the man's past, and in doing so we get flashback chapters of their dynamic. I loved Nana, the stray. He was written brilliantly. You know, in real life, when you create an inner commentary for your cat? This read like that, in the best way possible. I found myself laughing so many times at the cat sass.
Trustworthy: We Hufflepuffs are very trustworthy, however books can also be very trustworthy. Name a series in which none of the books disappointed you.
I had to really give this some thought as I was at a loss for an answer. I would say Harry Potter but, in all honestly, the first two books really bored me as I already knew the story so well from having watched those particular movies so many times. Perhaps the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson? The second book dragged a bit, but overall I found each book very entertaining and kept instantly picking up the next. The same goes for the Wax and Wayne series that takes place in the Mistborn universe, and technically count as Mistborn #4, #5, and #6. I just really love the entire cast of characters in this world.
Caring: Us Hufflepuffs care for others a lot, even fictional characters. Name a book/series whose main character holds a special place in your heart.
I have to go with Louisa Clarke from the Me Before You trilogy by Jojo Moyes. The first book was quite a controversial topic a few years back, especially when the movie came out starring Emilia Clark and Sam Claffin, and though I fully saw the points people were making I just adored the entire series because of Lou. Her character reminded me so much of myself, especially the parts surrounding her home life, and her growth throughout the trilogy helped push me toward making a difference in my own life. I made more of an effort to be sociable, and even now I find myself thinking "embrace your inner Lou" when social anxiety kicks in. She heavily influenced my decision in moving abroad.
Kindness: Hufflepuffs always strive to be kind to others, no matter who they are. Name a book/series that you love despite its flaws and imperfections.
The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. This was my first introduction into a YA series that Twilight ought to of been. Take all the angst and love triangleyness from Meyer's series and add in girlpower, well developed teenagers that both act young yet don't make you want to hit your head against a wall, and a plot that keeps you enthralled. But like everything YA, it does have some problematic elements.
Patience: Hufflepuffs tend to be very patient, and that's a useful trait when reading slow paced books. Name a book you struggled to get through, but stuck it out until the end.
Literally anything by Donna Tartt. I read her two most popular books The Goldfinch and The Secret History last year and, Jesus Christ, they were both so long winded. Beautifully written? Yes. Worth my time? .....maybe? I felt so disconnected to both stories and the moment I turned each last page I couldn't help but think "what was the point?". They left no impression on me, and neither made me itch to read more by the, by all accounts, modern classic writer. I'm still going to pick up The Little Friend, but I think I need yearly breaks between her books.
That was a long-winded synopsis, I know. I'm sorry. It's really hard to put this book into words without giving away any of the plot.
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| Huge thank you to @theshelfaroundthecorner for borrowing me her photo for this blog post. Go give her a Bookstagram follow! |
I loved this novel, it broke my heart and then sewed it back together. The characters were all greatly developed despite the 272 page count (or 5 hour listening time), and I truly was blown away by the writing. As mentioned at the beginning, this was written about the enrichment that a healthy friendship can bring to your life. It had romantic elements without ever falling into the trap of being corny or unrealistic. This was a beautiful portrait of the paths that life may give us, if we only felt brave enough to listen to our hearts and not our minds.
As a main character, Dannie was a pleasure to read. She was flawed despite her seemingly perfect life, but not in a try-hard 'why is this supposedly smart character doing all these dumb things?' way. If you're the friend who always seems to have it together, giving out advice, while secretly being a little broken, you will find solace in Dannie. In parts she reminded me of a more grounded Eleanor Oliphant from Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. All the characters were actually great in this, all had fleshed out personalities which was a real accomplishment by the author.
All in all, if you like stories driven by female friendship and enjoy a little destiny in your stories, pick this up. I enjoyed the audiobook but I guarantee I would've had the same experience if I'd physically picked this up. Go with the format that you prefer.
Intimidating TBR Book Tag
3/19/2020
In light of the current mess that is our scary world, I decided to post more over the next couple of weeks to give both myself and you lovely readers a (hopefully) book escape. What better way is there than a book tag? Feel free to tell me your answers to any of these questions in the comments, over on twitter, or do this tag yourself on your blog! I officially tag you! Let's get on with it..
1) What book have you been unable to finish?
Over the past year or so I've gotten much better at choosing to DNF books, the giving up guilt has slid off me. There are just too many books to be read in the world to forsake precious reading time with a novel you're feeling 'meh' about. The last book I DNF'd was The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin, I tried both the physical book and the audiobook to no avail. I found the story long-winded, the characters too bland, and overall it bored me. Welp.
2) What book have you yet to read because you just haven't had the time?
The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin. I enjoy a fantasy every now and again, but they take me a while to get through without always puts me off picking this up despite the multitude of glowing reviews and the fact it's on my '20 Books I Want To Read In 2020'.
3) What book have you yet to read because it's a sequel?
A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers. I read The Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet last year and really enjoyed it, but I just haven't yet felt compelled to pick up the second of the series. These books are what the world of Firefly would be like if it was written as a book series instead of a show, which really sings to my heart. Soon my pretty, soon.
4) What book have you yet to read because it's brand new?
One of my most recent book purchases is King Of Scars by Leigh Bardugo which I found at my library's bookstore for a grand total of $1. I've seen this book absolutely everywhere online, but I'm still not 100% sure whether I can read the first book of this trilogy without ever having read any of her past books. Help?
5) What book have you yet to read because you read a book by the same author and didn't enjoy it?
The Little Friend by Donna Tartt. I've read both her other books and despite kind of liking The Goldfinch, I loathed The Secret History. So I'm in a complicated relationship with the author. Yet I still want to read The Little Friend so I can say that I've read everything the author has written.
6) What book have you yet to read because you're just not in the mood for it?
I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai. I know that sounds awful, but I really struggle to pick up non-fiction that I'm not in the mood for and yet it's a genre I'm never really psyched to pick up. Sooo.. yes. I know the importance of the book and for that I keep trying to force myself into picking it up, yet I know if I force it, it has the risk of putting me into a reading slump. The fear!
7) What book have you yet to read because it's humongous?
I don't easily get put off by a books length as I'm a huge mood reader so I just wait for what feels like the right time. However, spinning this question on it's head a little, I do really want to catch up with the Throne Of Glass series by Sarah J Mass, I left off on the third book but I know each novel in the series just continued to get bigger and bigger so I fear how long it would take me to read them all. They're total trash books, but that's just what you sometimes need. Reading is meant to be fun, after all.
8) What book have you yet to read because it was a cover buy that turned out to have poor reviews?
Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty. Big Little Lies is one of my favourite books, I loved the characters and laughed out loud multiple times. The moment I finished it, I read almost all of Liane's other books. I didn't love any of them as much as I did Big Little Lies, but they were fun. Cliche fun. I was excited to read her newest novel but the majority of reviews I've read have disliked it. For that read it's sat on my shelf for close to a year now untouched.
9) What is the most intimidating book in your TBR pile?
From the women that brought us The Wife Between Us and An Anonymous Girl comes a new exciting thriller that has been pegged as the most anticipated thriller of the year by various outlets. I was a little hesitant going into this as I didn't have a great time reading their two previous novels The Wife Between Us and An Anonymous Girl. Though I did find The Wife Between Us interesting, the domestic abuse element of the story rubbed me the wrong way. I also physically read it, which having now chosen to go with the audiobooks for both their other novels, I realise was a huge mistake. It read too long. So, learning my lesson I then picked up An Anonymous Girl via audiobook from my local library, which gave an overall better reading experience despite giving it a 2.5 rating. I digress, basically I chose to listen to You Are Not Alone as I felt it would be the best option, I was right. 100%. If I had picked up the actual book I would've likely given this a lower rating than I have. Before venturing into why this is, let's talk about what this book is about.
In You Are Not Alone you're following a young woman named Shay Miller. Shay's life begins to crumble around her after she witnesses a suicide on the subway of New York City. She can't get the woman in the polka dot dress out of her mind, over and over she goes through the circumstances that led to that tragedy. Shay decides to go to the woman's memorial service and it's there that she meets Jane and Cassandra, two sisters who eventually bring Shay into their inner circle of friends. They give her a makeover, find her a new place to live, and all-in-all turn her into a better version of herself. Without ever meaning to, she slips into the life of the woman who killed herself. Was this all just a chain of events, or did the sisters plan this?
I can't go much further into the synopsis as it's always difficult to not give away too much when reviewing a thriller. But let's just say 'bitches be crazy'. This worked as an audiobook as there are multiple POV's throughout the story and the voice actors really bring that to life. If I had physically read it, I imagine I would've gotten lost in the multitude of female characters a few times.
Shay was a likeable but heavily naive protagonist, which is what you expect if having read Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen's previous novels as it seems to be their style. Young naive main character who trusts too easily, and a more mature woman who you can't trust. Which is cool, but a tad predictable at this point. Speaking of predictability, I did foresee the 'twists' that happen in the story way before any of them happened, which I can usually forgive if the story gives off originality like Lock Every Door by Riley Sager, but I'm still uncertain as to whether this book managed that. Though I will be likely to pick up any other books these woman eventually release, I can't help but wonder whether I would want to if it were not for the popularity and hype of these authors on Booktube/Bookstagram. To be honest, all three novels read very basic. I've read better thrillers by much smaller authors who haven't had their work pushed as much online. Unlike Riley Sager and Ruth Ware, I don't believe Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen deserve the popularity. Harsh, I know, it makes me feel bad writing it, but I can't not be honest in an in depth review.
All in all, this book was semi entertaining but forgettable like their previous bookd. I won't remember what happened in this thriller in a few months, and I'll likely forget I ever read it.
The Happy List Book Tag
11/12/2019
As you can probably tell by now, I love a good book tag. Today I'm answering the ever positive questions that go alongside The Happy List Book Tag. Yay! The original tag was made by Words & Sunflowers. Be sure to go and watch her answers. Without further ado, let's begin!
1. A book you can always go back to and feel happy
As I always answer with The Perks Of Being A Wallflower so to shake things up a bit I'm going with Secrets For The Mad by Dodie Clark. Though she's a Youtuber (which never really translates well in the book world) and this is essentially a collection of Instagram captions and lyrics, there's just something about her words that resonates with my heart. And that makes me reach for this book when I need a little lift.
2. Your standoms (your number one joy filled fandom or fandoms)
I don't really have a fandom anymore but my younger days were spent heavily in the Twihard community. I ran a popular (well, popular for back then on Twitter) fan account and would pull way too many all-nighters fangirling with fellow fans across the world. I miss those days.
3. Type of book cover you’ll always pick up in a bookstore
Though it's a huge sin, I really do judge a book by it's cover. So anything colourful with a pretty font and maybe some type of illustration. Here are some examples..
4. A book trope that you love
Tropes are fun, but the only answer I could come up with isn't necessarily a 'trope'. I personally have a soft spot for the classic spin on a book about mental health where we have a main character that's socially awkward and lovable, who then comes into their own after a journey of self discovery.
5. An anticipated release that makes you happy when you think about it
There really isn't a book that comes to mind. I'm interested in reading the fifth instalment to the Wayward Children series 'Come Tumbling Down' by Seanan McGuire which comes out next year, so I guess that...? I'm not really huge on new releases unless I'm already familiar with the author, which leads me onto the next question...
6. An author whose full canon of books you love
Taylor Jenkins Reid. 100%.
7. Your coziest go-to reading snack/drink
I've been known to indulge in a bag of Harvest Snaps Pea Crisps at 2am when I'm awake and still reading. This is a terrible habit but glorious. Drink wise, I tend to have peppermint tea at bedtime which is otherwise known as my and @BilliamSWN's 'Marriage Reading Hour'.
8. A book you’ve shared with with family or friends
I share books all the time with my husband, as do you really love a book if you don't make your significant other read it too? The last one I pushed onto his TBR was A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman and he gave it 5 stars.
It's a tie for first place with BooksWithEmilyFox and BooksAndLala. Both creators make great original content that I enjoy immensely, but most importantly, they both make me laugh. Which is what we need in this Online world. If you're into Bookstagram or you've only just discovered this cosy part of the Internet, I strongly recommend you subscribe to both of them.
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