Tag: family

Book Review, reviews

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Book Lovers by Emily Henry, Paperback, 384 pages, Penguin Books, £8.99, Waterstones.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry, follows Nora Stephens into the stereotypical country life of Sunshine Falls in North Carolina, in the hope to rekindle her friendship with her sister, Libby.

Libby however has other plans and demands Nora to complete her checklist over their month-vacay in the country.

Whilst ticking off the checklist, Nora bumps into an arch rival in the publishing industry, Charlie Lastra. Will he unravel her plans and more importantly, her checklist?

Characterisation

Each character within Book Lovers has their own unique voice and opinion of the scenarios that unfold in the novel. With Nora’s fix-it attitude and Libby’s relaxed vibe, it’s easy to see how Sunshine Falls or even Charlie Lastra, might showcase their opposing views. What Henry does well in this book is delivering a distinct voice whilst simultaneously showcasing multiple aspects of a characters personality. The juxtaposing views and attitudes only add the the reality of what a real personality looks and sounds like.

Plot

The plot if Book Lovers has a strong viewpoint on romance tropes and how they play out. With both of the main characters working in publishing, it’s pretty hard to not see them pop up everywhere, be it in conversation or in Henry’s plot itself.

Overall, Book Lovers is a feel-good read about – yes, books – as well as relationships. This isn’t just a love interest. Henry explores all kinds of relationships, from lovers and friendships, all the way through to family.

After reading Book Lovers, it could possibly be compared to Sally Thorne’s style. I would suggest that if you like reading Beth O’Leary or Sally Thorne, give Emily Henry a try. Although I prefer the humour of Sally Thorne, I can’t deny the hours I spent laughing over this book. If you’re after a funny feel-good read, then look no further.

You can read more reviews and purchase a copy of this book here.

If you would like to see what I’m reading on a more regular basis, feel free to give me a follow on instagram at: @cbarkerwriting.

Book Review, reviews

Magpie by Elizabeth Day

Magpie by Elizabeth Day, Hardback, 256 pages, HarperCollins, Waterstones, £14.99

Magpie does not follow the whimsical tune associated with magpies. Instead Elizabeth Day has used other associations with magpies, to help tell this twisted tale.

Magpie begins through the point of view of Marisa, a creative individual who illustrates children’s stories for a living. The reader is soon introduced to Jake and Kate, as they all live together. Magpie is about how their lives weave into each other and how a very complicated love triangle can occur in a very unexacting way. If you were looking for a romance novel however, you would be mistaken with this novel. Magpie tackles women’s issues within family roles and questions what it is that makes a women, a mother.

Magpie is written in three parts, to allow the reader to see Marisa and Kate’s point of view in relation to what’s happening inside their house. The point of views work well in this novel as it gives an insight into Marisa and Kate’s background. The first part of the novel was quite steady and I found it quite tricky to read. It was only at the end of part one that my interest began to peak. The writing in part one seemed a little chaotic, however I believe this to be intentional to suit where the plot is going. For this reason I applaud Day in taking meticulous care with her narrative.

Elizabeth Day appears to have strong female leads within Magpie. This consists of Marisa, Kate and Jake’s mother, Annabelle. Each character is strong with survival instincts, however these traits are expressed differently throughout Day’s novel. As a result, readers are able to feel connected to one of these character’s, whilst the remaining women will likely remind them of someone they know.

Day’s novel is very calculating, gripping and brings to light the depths that women will go to for motherhood. A compelling read.

Magpie by Elizabeth Day is out September 2021.

Pre-order a signed copy at Waterstones today.

Star rating: 3.5/5