About: A group of friends spend a summer holiday together in a villa, a year after their friend's suicide. When an unexpected guest arrives claiming she possesses evidence that the suicide was in fact murder, things take a turn for the worse and she soon ends up dead. The friends know that the killer has to be one of them, but who?
Verdict: This book had me from the moment I read the synopsis before the book came on sale. I love mysteries and this book did not disappoint. James Dawson is my favourite author in terms of writing because his writing in his books is exceptional, and nothing else I've read has came close to his vivid style, which grips the reader and truly transports them to another world. I could not put this book down and thoroughly enjoyed the plot, characters and style of the book. It kept me guessing until the end and completely took me by surprise. (I won't say anymore about that in case any of you decide to read it, which I 100% encourage you to do).
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Young Adult, Thriller, Crime
Say Her Name by James Dawson
About: A Halloween dare at a boarding school results in Bobbie, Naya and Caine summoning the legendary ghost 'Bloody Mary' by repeating her name five times in front of a candlelit mirror at midnight. The characters aren't surprised when nothing happens... until the next morning when Bobbie finds a message on the mirror reading 'five days'. Things start to get stranger and the three teens soon realise that Mary had indeed been summoned that night, leaving them with only five days before Mary comes for them like the many before.
Verdict: I had high expectations of this book but I didn't think it could be anywhere near as good as Cruel Summer... I was wrong. This book is phenomenal! Based on a well known horror figure (Bloody Mary), Dawson presents his own spin on the story, showing the effect and emotion through out. It sent shivers down my spine reading it and left me feeling haunted, which may not seem like a good thing, but for this particular style, is a wonderful thing. A book to avoid if you scare easily, and possibly to avoid reading at night but if you love a good horror or just a well written book, definitely check this out.
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Young Adult, Drama, (Elements of witty humor)
Revived by Cat Patrick
About: 'Daisy Appleby was a little girl when she became one of the first subjects in a covert program that tests a drug called Revive. Now fifteen, Daisy has died and been Revived five times.
Each death means a new name, a new city, and a new identity. The only constant in Daisy’s life is constant change. Then she meets Matt and Audrey McKean, charismatic siblings who quickly become her first real friends. But if Daisy’s ever going to have a normal life and lasting relationships, she needs to escape from an experiment that’s much larger—and more sinister—than she ever imagined.'- Cat Patrick
Verdict: Cat Patrick is another of my favourite authors, who writes very well and produces incredible stories. Revived is my favourite book of the three I have read but I do love them all. The plot is very intriguing and mesmerising by it's mysterious yet emotional storyline. I've read this book a couple of times and each time I read it, like with any books by Cat Patrick, it doesn't take me long to finish based on the fact that I simply can't put it down. It's intense drama keeps me hooked and makes me want to just get to the end, even when I know the plot.
Genre: Young Adult, Drama, Romance, Thriller, Mystery
Can You Keep A Secret? by Sophie Kinsella
About: 'The heroine, Emma, is sitting on a turbulent plane. She's always been a very nervous flyer and really thinks that this could be her last moment. So, naturally enough, she starts telling the man sitting next to her - quite a gorgeous American, but she's too frightened to notice - all her innermost secrets. How she lies about her size. How she's not sure if she has a G-spot, and whether her boyfriend could find it anyway. How the coffee at work is horrible… how she once threw a troublesome client file in the bin... If ever there was a bare soul, it's hers. She survives the flight, of course, and the next morning the famous founding boss of the mega corporation she works for is coming to look at the UK branch. As he walks around, Emma looks up and realises...
It's the man from the plane. And he recognizes her. And it’s soon clear that he remembers everything she said.
What will he do with her secrets? He knows them all - but she doesn't know a single one of his. Or... does she?'- Sophie Kinsella
Verdict: As I mentioned in a previous post (Haul (part one)), I love this book. This books is a very different genre to the other books in my favourites, although it does have an air of mystery about it, it's primarily a romantic comedy. The main character is portrayed perfectly, in a way that we can empathise and relate to the main character. This is one of the few books that really makes me laugh out loud, I find the wit and humour really appeals to my own sense of humour and provides me with great amusement. I would recommend this to anyone wanting a laugh or just a joyful experience from a book.
Genre: Romantic comedy
I hope you enjoyed reading a brief synopsis and review of some of my favourite books and that you've maybe found something new to read. If anyone has any book suggestions, I'd love to hear them, just let me know in the comments below or via any of my social media links.
Love, Steph x
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I love Sophie Kinsella, she's such a great writer!! I haven't read any of the other books you've listed here, they all sound really good though, I'll definitely have to check them out :) I'm currently reading Every Day by David Levithan which is really unusual, I'm really enjoying it! I just finished Tanya Burr's new book as well, so I'm just about to write a review on my blog, it was absolutely brilliant, I definitely recommend it if you like Tanya! xx
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Me too, although I've only read Can you keep a secret? and Remember me but both were very good and I want to read some of her others. I hope you like them! I also really want to read Everyday, me and my best friend have a similar taste in books and it is one of the books on a very long list that I plan on borrowing from her when I get through a few of my own. I'll look forward to that review, I got mine today but haven't had chance to read anymore than the first two or three pages but I'm excited to read that as soon as I get time to. xxx
ReplyDeleteRemember Me is one of my favourite books ever!! I also like The Undomestic Goddess by her, I've lent that one to so many people, haha! Ah well you will definitely enjoy Everyday when you get round to reading it. It is such a good book, Tanya has such a lovely, bubbly style of writing, her personality really comes across through the book :) xxx
DeleteI definitely want to read some more of her books when I get chance as she does write so well! xxx
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