Review: The Best of Adam Sharp by Graeme Simsion

Would you risk everything for a second chance at first love?

At forty-nine-going-on-fifty, Adam Sharp likes his life. He works part-time in IT consulting, is a leading member of his local pub-quiz and has a stable relationship with his partner, Claire. But there's something he can't shake: a longing for the life he might have had with smart, strong-willed actress Angelina Brown.

Then, out of nowhere, Angelina walks back into his life. All the intensity of their affair twenty years ago resurfaces and Adam must make a decision.

Should he let her go again? Or does he dare to live dangerously? 

  

Review: I got stuck into this book straight away, it is definitely a very compelling read because you know the situation tat Adam is going to get himself into but you don't know how he got there or how he is going to resolve it in the end. The structure of this book is firstly that it is in two parts and the author said himself that those two parts are both very different. The first part is definitely very much Adam reminiscing about his time in Australia, about his music and his past love. And the second part is very much present day and what the consequences of Adam's actions, whatever they might be, are. The first part has flashbacks as well so sometimes we are with Adam in Australia and sometimes we are with him in his present day life pondering the meaning of life. I am a big fan of flashbacks and these work well in the physical copy of the book because you can track where you are, but don't work so well in the audiobook because you can't always tell you have shifted time periods. 

Adam himself is a great vehicle for this novel. He isn't always easy to like but he is very easy to relate to because he is just a normal guy, someone who has a very middle class, suburban life, thinking about what he could have made of his life and the adventures he had in his youth. Unless you are still very young, you will definitely be able to relate to this. Adam doesn't always say and do the things you expect him to, making this quite a challenging read sometimes, but because Adam is the way he is, he moves the book forward and makes it much more of a realistic story. 

There are other supporting characters in the book took, none of whom i particularly liked either but all add a sense of something else to the story, the characters who encourage risk, the characters who play devils advocate, the characters who offer safety and those that offer escapism. I thought the mix of characters was really well-written, even though I didn't like them! 

As I mentioned above, I listened to this book on audiobook and really didn't get on with the narrator. He was quite softly spoken and had little or not intonation. I found that the physical copy of the book I ended up reading was much more dramatic because I could hear more pitch change and excitement in my own head and I also didn't have to turn the volume right up to be able to hear the words! So my advice would be to get the ebook or the physical book of this one. 

If you are expecting a novel the same as the Rosie Project then you are definitely in for a shock but this is an incredibly well written novel. The music is great and I loved the fact that there is a play list to accompany this book, it really brings it alive. I laughed, i related, I cringed and I got angry. This book brought out all the feels and that's why I found it to be an enjoyable read!

Click here to get your copy now: UK or US

Greatest Hits by Laura Barnett

One day. Sixteen songs. The soundtrack of a lifetime...

Alone in her studio, Cass Wheeler is taking a journey back into her past. After a silence of ten years, the singer-songwriter is picking the sixteen tracks that have defined her - sixteen key moments in her life - for a uniquely personal Greatest Hits album.

In the course of this one day, both ordinary and extraordinary, the story of Cass's life emerges - a story of highs and lows, of music, friendship and ambition, of great love and great loss. But what prompted her to retreat all those years ago, and is there a way for her to make peace with her past?

Daughter. Mother. Singer. Lover. What are the memories that mean the most?

Review: This book was long but enjoyable. It took me a while to get through but that it simply because there is so much detail to it. We are taken back through time as Cass relives moments from her past as far back as when she was a young child. This book is interspersed with songs that Cass has written in her career as a singer and we see her in present day and then we revisit a memory from her past. I read a paperback proof of this novel and found it very easy to keep track of what time of her life we are in, whether it is present day or a flashback. I think my favourite moments were moments from her childhood because we get to see what has made her what she is today. I really liked the structure of this novel, although I think it would work best read in physical form so that it is easy to see what era you are in and also easier to flick back and revisit something that links with what you are reading now. 

I didn't necessarily warm to Cass as a character in her present day persona, I think this may be why I enjoyed the childhood sections of the book more. This is possibly because she is a star and so naturally quite introverted and selfish. This didn't mean that I didn't find her fascinating though. I really enjoyed getting to know her as a character and seeing her interact with others over the years. She didn't really grow on me as the book went on but I didn't strongly dislike her either. I just found her difficult to warm to. 

There are other characters in this novel too but none of them have as high a profile as Cass. I found some of the friends/managers/band members slightly difficult to keep track off, I think this was possibly because they really didn't have as much character development as the main character in this instance because this is very much a book about Cass and about her life. I enjoyed the insight into the music industry that this gave me and loved the fact that the chapters are interwoven with her music. As I say this was a long read so make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to get through this and I would recommend picking this up in hardback because you will want to revisit parts from Cass's past as you get to know her future. I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend this if you are looking for something to get your teeth into. 

To get your copy now, click the link! UK or US

Review: Notewrothy by Riley Redgate

A cappella just got a makeover.

Jordan Sun is embarking on her junior year at the Kensington-Blaine Boarding School for the Performing Arts, hopeful that this will be her time: the year she finally gets cast in the school musical. But when her low Alto 2 voice gets her shut out for the third straight year—threatening her future at Kensington-Blaine and jeopardizing her college applications—she’s forced to consider nontraditional options.

In Jordan’s case, really nontraditional. A spot has opened up in the Sharpshooters, Kensington’s elite a cappella octet. Worshipped…revered…all male. Desperate to prove herself, Jordan auditions in her most convincing drag, and it turns out that Jordan Sun, Tenor 1, is exactly what the Sharps are looking for.

Jordan finds herself enmeshed in a precarious juggling act: making friends, alienating friends, crushing on a guy, crushing on a girl, and navigating decades-old rivalries. With her secret growing heavier every day, Jordan pushes beyond gender norms to confront what it means to be a girl (and a guy) in a male-dominated society, and—most importantly—what it means to be herself.

Review: How much fun was this book? Tons! I loved the premise behind this book before it was even published, the idea of combining an A Capella group with a bit of hidden and mistaken identify sounded like so much fun and it really was just that. I'm trying to think of another way to put it so I don't continue to use fun over and over again. It was entertaining, it was thought-provoking, it was real, it was just an excellent read. Not just for the YA audience but for anyone. 

Let's start with Jordan. I loved her as a character because she was so determined. She is at this posh school for the arts and she knows it is a privilege for her to be there, unlike some of her fellow pupils, and so she is willing to do what it takes to make a success of herself and make her family's hardship worth it. I mean whatever it takes. I loved the fact that she builds relationships with people quickly and gets on with most adults and the rest of her cohort. 

There are some other really likeable characters in this novel too. The A Capella group that Jordan, as Julian, joins is full of characters, diverse characters and I really enjoyed seeing how they interacted with each other, as well as how they reacted to each other. There are other A Capella groups on campus too and they also bring interesting characters. I really liked Jordan's adviser too and I hope that that is the kind of teacher I am. 

The storyline is great. It is fast paced and your will definitely find yourself turning pages over and over again as you read this. There is of course a singing competition, which provides a certain level of intrigue, then there is whether Julian is going to be found out. And of course there is some relationship drama, Jordan has more than a few skeletons in her closet. There are also some scenes of real, difficult family dynamics, throughout the book, and not just involving our main character and that really grounds this book and makes it more relatable to just the average Joe who doesn't attend a fancy arts school!

I loved this book, as I say I don't think that this is just for a YA audience, I think that this book would appeal to anyone with a sense of humour and a reader who wants the good guy to win for a change. This is quite a difference read from this author's previous novel and so don;'t be expecting the same thing, but do be expecting something wonderful!

To get your copy now, just click here!

Blog Tour: The Singalong Society For Singletons by Katy Lovell

Today is my stop on the singalong society for Singletons blog tour. I'm so excited to be sharing my review for Katy Lovell's debut novel as the first stop on the tour! The links for her twitter account are there on the banner and there's a link below for you to buy the book. Please do add Katy on twitter, she is such an awesome online buddy to have! 

A charming, feel good novel about the healing powers of friendship…and Frozen!

Monique and Issy are teachers, housemates and lovers of musicals! Their Friday night routine consists of snacks, wine and the Frozen DVD. So when Monique’s boyfriend moves to America for a year and her sister Hope moves in because of her own relationship woes, Friday nights get a new name… ‘The Singalong Society for Singletons’!

It’s a chance to get together, sing along to their favourite tracks from the best-loved West End shows, and forget the worries of work, relationships and love (or lack of it). But when Issy shares the details of their little group further afield, they get some unexpected new members who might just change their opinions on singledom for good….

http://amzn.to/29YrHEA

Review: I loved this novel so much! It was seriously so much fun. The fact that this book features a couple of teachers (including a year 6 teacher) and a teaching assistant, as well as a long distance relationship and a ton of fabulous musicals means that it is right up my street. But if you're not into any of those things, or can't relate to any of those things, don't worry, this novel is about so much more too. There is moments of identiy crisis, moments that deal with unrequited love, moments where first aid needs to come into play and so many more issues facing us today in society. 

I really related to all of the characters in this book. I loved Monique and the situation she is in in her life. Although she is a little younger than me, I can relate to her on so many levels. I don't think anyone could not love Mon, she has so much going on but is such a positive and compassionate person who clearly loves her friends and family to the moon and back. Roommate Issy is equally as loveable and I know you will all be able to feel her need for a glass of red bigger than her head on a Friday night, especially given that she is a year 6 teacher with Ofsted and Sats looming! Connie and Hope make up the rest of the cast of girls, and if you forget who's who, there's a cast list at the beginning of the book to keep you'd straight (something which I love!)

The storyline centres around the four girls and their singalong society for singletons. We meet them having just set up the society when Issy invites actors Ray and Liam to join them....you know this makes for some interesting moments! I love the fact that no issue is left untackled here including revealing a same-sex relationship to overly conservative parents. This is the only moment in the book where I wanted just a little bit more than this author gave. I felt there could have been more made of the scene where this May or may not happen (no spoilers) but I still loved this couple all the same! I really liked the long-distance relationship aspect of the book because I can completely empathise with that and of course, all the attention to the detail when it came to the teachers. This author clearly knows her stuff when it comes to working in a primary school and I love her for getting it so right! 

I need to mention the structure of this book as well. Each chapter takes place on Friday night when the group watch and singalong to each musical. You get to know which miss it is and who chose it. I defy anyone not to sing a number or two as they are reading this when their favourite musical comes along. And fear not! If you aren't that into musical, each chapter also has some details abotj the film/show and it's biggest numbers. I found this quite helpful as I totally couldn't Rememebr what songs came from a certain Rogers and Hammerstein film that the cast watched-fabulous. It also sparked an idea in my mind for watching all of this shows mentioned-I need to do it now! 

This book is about so much more than the musicals though, but I've rambled on enough. I urge you to pick up this feel-good bouncy book and discover the joy for yourself, I'm going to go and watch Rocky Horror! 

Miranda Mondays Exclusive Playlist from I'll Take New York by Miranda Dickinson

Its my turn to host a Miranda Monday this week and you guys are very lucky because I have an exclusive for you today. I have the songs that Miranda Dickinson used to inspire her as she wrote the fabulous I'll Take New York which is out on 4th December. I suggest you have a listen to these songs before, during or after reading the book and don't forget to click the link at the bottom to pre-order your book now!



For every book I write, I put together a playlist to inspire me. For I'll Take New York, these are the songs I listened to:

1.      World Spins Madly On - The Weepies
2.      Tourist - Athlete
3.      Fall for You (Single Mix) - The Whitlams
4.      Sing - Travis
5.      Amsterdam - Imagine Dragons
6.      Every Little Thing - Delirious?
7.      My Waltz - Bailey Tzuke
8.      U + Me = - Dan Black
9.      Stars - Dubstar
10.     Pulling Teeth - Newton Faulkner
11.     Audience of Souls - Emily Smith
12.     Caught Up In Circles - Chesney Hawkes
13.     Loud and Clear - Olly Murs
14.     Umbrella - Scott Simons
15.     Where to Go from Here - Teddy Thompson
16.     You Can Close Your Eyes - Carole King & James Taylor
17.     Someone You Need - Howard Jones
18.     Panic Cord - Gabrielle Aplin
19.     Ashes On Your Eyes - Deb Talan
20.     The Last Song (Acoustic) - Ben Carrigan

Thanks so much to Miranda for this playlist, I know I'll be heading to Spotify to give it a listen now. If you'd like to read Fairytale of New York (Miranda's first novel) before returning to that same world in I'll Take New York, I'm going to be doing a readalong leading up to the release date of I'll Take New York. So keep your eyes peeled for that. 

Click here to get your copy of I'll Take New York

Click here to grab a copy of her first novel Fairytale of New York

Review: This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

Making friends has never been Elise Dembowski’s strong suit. All throughout her life, she’s been the butt of every joke and the outsider in every conversation. When a final attempt at popularity fails, Elise nearly gives up. Then she stumbles upon a warehouse party where she meets Vicky, a girl in a band who accepts her; Char, a cute, yet mysterious disc jockey; Pippa, a carefree spirit from England; and most importantly, a love for DJing.

Told in a refreshingly genuine and laugh-out-loud funny voice, THIS SONG WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE is an exuberant novel about identity, friendship, and the power of music to bring people together.

Review: I'd heard a lot about this book which made me really want to read it. I was very excited when I found it in my local library and when I eventually got around to reading it I was glad that I did. This book is a great book for young adults because it tackles issues such a bullying, in real life and cyber bullying. Self esteem and how children cope when their parents are separated. It also teaches readers to go for what you believe in and not just follow the crowd. This is definitely something I'll be buying for school! 

From what I'd heard people say I thought this book was going to be a total contemporary book full of slushy romance but it really wasn't it was very real. Elise is a great characters. The reader can tell straight away that she is unhappy with her life and confused about the kind of person she wants to be, but she knows the kind of person she definitely doesn't want to be, and totally stands behind that 100 percent. She is loyal to her family and seems to have endless energy to go after her true passion which is djing! She has some very interesting friends and other characters in the book surrounding her and I think the quirkiness of these other characters really make the book what it is. 

The issues dealt with in this book make for some difficult reading in parts and you definitely shouldn't pick this up if you're feeling down in any way. The talks of such ideal jbehaviour will definitely bring you down even further. The issues and the bullying that Elise faces make for really compelling reading,however, and you find yourself turning the pages quicker and quicker to learn what her eventual fate is going to be. I really enjoyed reading about her relationship with her parents and how that develops, and her trying out being a DJ for the first time. There is also the issue of you glove, and whilst this isn't explored fully in the pages of this novel, it is touched upon and of course, only adds to the issues that Elise has to cope with. 

Overall I thought this was a really good, solid read. I read it very quickly because whilst it is a short book, it is also a real page turner. You should definitely be aware that this book deals with touch issues very honestly and it will definitely dredge up some memories of your own high school bullies, but overall this is definitely worth a read!