Review: Someone Else's Shoes by Jojo Moyes

 MEET SAM

She's not got much, but she's grateful for what she has: a job she's just about clinging on to and a family who depend on her for everything. She knows she's one bad day away from losing it all - and just hopes today isn't it . . .

MEET NISHA

She's got everything she always dreamed of - and more: a phenomenally rich husband; an international lifestyle; and . . . she's just been locked out of all of it after her husband initiates divorce proceedings . . .

Sam and Nisha should never have crossed paths. But after a bag mix-up at the gym, their lives become intertwined - even as they spiral out of control.

Each blames the other as they feel increasingly invisible, forgotten, lost - and desperately alone.

But they're not.

No woman is an island. Look around. Family. Friends. Strangers.

Even the woman you believe just ruined your life might turn out to be your best friend.

Because together you can do anything - like take back what is yours . . .

Review: Ah I loved a new Jojo Moyes novel and this one was no exception. I listened to this latest story on audio and right from the word go I was hooked into the story of these women and their lives. What would really happen if you had to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes? What would happen if you had to go to a very important work meeting in someone else’s shoes/ What would happen if you had to try and have a very important relationship conversation in someone else’s shoes? This book explores all of these questions. 

As the book progressed and Sam and Nisha seem to be getting closer to swapping their shoes back and getting on with their lives I worried about what would happen in the rest of the book. But I need not have worried because it is when these two women finally cross paths again that the real story starts and the action begins. I loved these women separately but I love them even more together. There were some really funny moments with these two characters but also some serious issues dealt with along with the issue of feeling lonely even when you’re surrounded by people. 

Sam and Nisha are great characters to spend the book with and I think Jojo Moyes made a great choice making their lives too different. We instantly warm to Sam because she is relatable. She doesn’t necessarily like her job but she’s doing her best. Her boss is awful, she doesn’t have any support at home and she is always just a little bit chaotic-very easy to relate to. Nisha has it all on the other hand, a rich husband, fancy shoes and houses on multiple continents but when all that begins to implode, that’s when I really started to like her-when the fire and passion inside of her started to show. 

I think one of the things I personally connected with most was Sam’s home life. She has a teenage daughter who brings all the classic teenage angst with her whilst still being a beautiful human and a husband with depression. No two days are the same and she feels like she’s can’t do anything right, With lack of support at home she feels she is drowning and she basically being gaslighted by her boss 24/7 to make her think she bad at her job because he sees her position in life as a woman and a mother as a weakness that he can pick on. I loved the way that Jojo Moyes explores this and unpicks ways in which Sam can deal with that. 

We also get to meet some amazing friends to both women along the way, they are fully formed characters and are all dealing with their own issues that many readers will be able to relate to as well. I loved the way this story was built up and the way the characters all bring something to it. The audiobook was fantastically narrated and I would recommend this to anyone whether you are a Jojo Moyes fan or not-definitely one of my favourite books of the year!

To order your copy now, just click here!

Movie Review: Did I LOVE What's Love Got To Do With It?

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Guest Review: Encyclopaedia of World Football By Tim Hill

Review: This is a compilation of people, clubs and countries involved in association football throughout the world. Published in 2010, and therefore somewhat outdated, it gives short biographies and histories of famous players, managers, clubs, countries and major competitions.

The book is very detailed and is illustrated throughout with excellent photographs. I found the chapters on clubs and countries particularly interesting, providing their histories and the honours won. As intimated above, the chapter on heroes of the modern game is now out of date.

As a weighty tome on the history of the beautiful game, this is a detailed and well-illustrated entry. It should appeal to all fans of the game, and is also a good introduction to readers new to the sport.

To order your copy now, just click here!

Guest Review: Picking Up the Pieces by Amanda Prowse

As Nora and her British Army officer husband, Gordy, pack up yet another home and leave the sun of Cyprus for the drizzle of England, she can’t shake a feeling of regret—at her failure to follow her own dreams, but also, if she’s honest, at having ended up an officer’s wife at all, drifting through a life of temporary homes and temporary relationships.

Since losing her parents at a young age, Nora’s life has been lacking an anchor: someone or something to make her feel secure. Her marriage has been her only permanent relationship, and just as even that appears to be fizzling out, a tragedy forces Nora into the role of legal guardian to her seven-year-old nephew, Ted. Faced suddenly with a responsibility she never dreamed of, how can Nora possibly offer the boy the kind of unconditional love he deserves, when she’s never experienced it for herself?

But as she navigates the precarious and unfamiliar world of parenthood, Nora begins to see herself through Ted’s eyes, as someone worthy of love and even joy. When she’s welcomed into the previously intimidating huddle of mums at the school gate, she has to wonder: is it too late to smash down the other barriers she’s built—and to have a second chance at a happy marriage with Gordy?

Review: I have read and enjoyed a few Amanda Prowse books now and was pleased when I spotted this, her new release. I have found that she writes thought-provoking fiction with a strong family content. I chose the audio version of this book, read by the author herself. As anticipated, I was pulled into the story from the very start and was left thinking about the characters long after I had finished.

The central character in the story is Nora, who is married to Gordy, an officer in the British army. They are currently preparing to move from Cyprus back to the UK for Gordy’s new posting. Nora is not sure she is looking forward to the move, and has been contemplating her life as an army wife, a role she doesn’t wholly enjoy. She is even unsure of how strong her marriage is, particularly as Gordy has raised his concerns. Out of the blue, a tragic situation involving her sister, Kiki, sends Nora flying back to England earlier than planned to look after her 7-year-old nephew, Ted. Due to a difficult childhood, Nora has never wanted children and has no experience looking after them. Her sudden guardianship of Ted means a steep learning curve, but she finds that she relishes her new role and unfamiliar situations, making her feel more positive and that she and Gordy have a more certain future as a consequence.  

I really enjoyed this powerfully emotional book and would not hesitate to recommend it. The author has dealt with some really difficult subjects in a skilled and sensitive manner. It is quite hard to read about Nora’s life, first her unconventional childhood and then her difficulty fitting into the role of officer’s wife on the army base, constantly moving around from house to house. Although coming about as a result of a traumatic situation, her enforced role as parent to Ted makes her see things from a different angle and realise the value of friendship and indeed her own value. As a consequence, she has renewed hope for her relationship with Gordy. I loved the characters in this story. Gordy was such a kind and patient husband, trying to give Nora the space she needs. Nora and her sister have both had difficult, if different, upbringings, but have been brought closer and reached a new understanding after things got as bad as they could. Ted was a lovely, but vulnerable little boy, at the same time wise and old before his time. I particularly liked the school gate mothers who Nora got to know when she was looking after Ted; they were loyal and practical. It was marvellous watching Nora’s outlook on life change throughout the book, giving her new hope for the future. 

To order your copy now, just click here!

February 2023 Read Wrap: An Audiobook Only Month!

I only ended up reading audiobooks this month. I made a mistake with my buddy read so that ebook didn't happen but I did manage to read more than a book a week which is very exciting! I didn't do any reading during February half term becasue I was too busy with life admin and I've also been trying to catch up on Oscar nominated movies I haven't seen yet. Overall, what I'm trying to say is that, although this wrap up is short, I'm happy with it!

March 2023 TBR: New Book Releases, Book Vs TV Show, A Buddy Read & Audiobooks!

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March 2023 TBR

I feel like it was just yesterday I made my March 2022 TBR right before moving and here I am making another TBR knowing it (and April) will probably be disrupted by moving!

There are a couple of holdovers from February because I made a mistake with my buddy read and definitely bit off more than I could chew in terms of books I would get to in this short but busy month. There's also another buddy read and a March release as well as a book vs movie read-yey! I do want to catch up on the Oscars movies I've missed so I need to balance that with reading and working 24/7-wish me luck!

March Release

Holdovers from February

Buddy Read

Book Vs Movie