Book Review: I Still Dream by James Smythe

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

This was an interesting book. I loved that the main character was a female computer programmer. I loved that we watch her grow up. I found the rise of SCION fascinating. I enjoyed all the computer stuff even though a lot went over my head - talk of coding and suchlike - and Organon both fascinated and scared me. The whole thing seemed too real, too possible...

I did think the sections cut off a little too abruptly, I would be thinking "this is interesting, what's going to happen next?" and then it would move forward another 10 years. Some of the sections also had different narrators which confused me at first because there wasn't any difference in the voices.

I loved the section written by Laura's father, seeing the origin of it all was fascinating. That ending though... If you can call it that. I didn't understand any of it. I think the author was trying to do a Christmas Carol type thing but it was about as clear as mud and there was some disconnected rambling about a neanderthal. The conversation between Laura and Organon was also hard to follow due to the lack of quotation marks. Overall I struggled with the lack of clarity in the ending.

Stef Out x

Book Review: Wonder by R.J. Palacio

This was a lovely heartwarming story that all kids should read. It's true kids struggle with people who look different but hearing the perspective of someone who is and what they feel and go through should help a lot.

Auggie was so genuine and beautifully written, his voice was young but mature and I loved his growth throughout! Only a few things bothered me, while I loved Via's chapter, her boyfriend's (whose name I've forgotten) and Miranda's seemed more pointless, and Jack's, honestly it would have been better being single persepective.

I wish they'd been more specific regarding Summer's background, she's physically described as being blonde if I recall yet mention is made, referencing a photo, that she's biracial. I feel like it would help kids who struggle with dual identity to know what she is specifically. Summer is such a great character, kind and implied to be smart, that she'd be a great role model for kids reading this book.

Overall I loved this book and it's writing and I wish it had been longer but I understand it covers a single school year.

Stef Out x

Book Review: Beautiful Broken Things by Sara Barnard

I really enjoyed the book but more for the story than the characters themselves.

Caddy was a little too blank and too much of a pushover, if she didn't want to go to private school why wasn't she honest with her parents? Rosie was quite brash and harsh and didn't seem like a very good best friend. She was also selfish and started to act up as soon as things weren't about her.

I loved Suzanne's character and her friendship with Caddy was so pure. Suzanne was selfish and reckless and vibrant and brave and sad. She was both everything and nothing and I loved her story arc and the way she changed everything, she was like a storm blowing through town.

I didn't understand how Suzanne and Rosie became friends, they're similar enough that I can imagine them clashing strongly even at the start. I did love how Suzanne's story didn't end with everything being fixed and perfect because real life isn't like that. It's a process that takes time.

Stef Out x

Book Review: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

This was a very interesting novel. I found Eleanor fascinating as a character and her story really drew me in.

I can relate to her feelings of loneliness in routine and being annoyed if things change. The way her character developed over the course of the novel was so real and remarkable and the way she realised that she was allowed to participate in life, not just watch it pass her by was lovely.

I loved her friendship with Raymond, it was unexpected but so sweet and I'm glad they appeared to be staying as just friends, romance would complicate things too much. The gradual revelation of Eleanor's past was so sad but so well done. Overall beautiful writing.

Stef Out x

Book Review: Marley and Me by John Grogan

This was a lovely heartwarming story about a couple and their crazy Labrador, Marley. Some of their training or lack of was not great. I feel like they gave up too easily and I wasn't much keen on the choke chain idea but I guess it could have been worse... It could have been a prong or shock collar.

The main area that worried me was Marley's reaction to storms. If he's scared enough that he's mutilating himself then something more really needs to be done. I did love that despite his behaviour they did keep him when they had kids - the No 1 reason pets are dumped (I could be wrong about this statistic) - and it's also one of the most accurate book to movie adaptations I've seen. Also the writing is beautiful and really drew me in, I rarely cry but the end did bring tears to my eyes.

Stef Out x

Book Review: The Smoke Thieves by Sally Green

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Too many narrators. None of them were in first person either so it made narrator changes in the middle of a scene very odd and kind of pointless.

The story was slow moving at the start, a lot of unnecessary travelling. I liked the way the individual stories eventually connected. My favourites were Catherine and Tash, feisty women with their own minds in a very medieval misogynistic society.

I was curious how the smoke would be involved and the eventual reveal was interesting, I'd like to know where that goes. Oh and if demon smoke is illegal why is there a hand-sign in a book for it?

Also Ambrose annoyed me. He was whiny and pathetic, too willing to be the hero and selfish I'd say. The world building was magnificent though! So detailed and so much thought put into everything.

Stef Out x

Book Review: When Dreams Come True by Rebecca Emin

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

A weak storyline, weak characters and weak writing. There was also a lot of tell rather than show. We're told repeatedly that Auntie Jenny is ill but not with what. We're told Charlie and the boys are best friends who text loads but they don't have many conversations or texts.

In the UK I can't imagine any 13/14 year old (year 9 age) needing a childminder, you go to a friends house or just home on your own. The book wasted a lot of time on the school trip and completely rushed the whole ending making everything a bit jumbled. Also were the dreams prophetic/magical or not? It was implied they were but it was never covered.

Stef Out x

Note: These next few reviews are going to be a little out of order as I have a couple of NetGalley reviews I need to prioritise - especially as I read them a few weeks ago.

Book Review: The Tall Man by Phoebe Locke

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

For a thriller this wasn't very thrilling. Highly disappointing actually. I kept going because I hoped there would be more.

The writing was decent but the plot was seriously lacking, I think it may have been better as a novella, it was a lot of talk with not a lot of action. Most of the characters is the present day sections were very under-developed and I didn't really care about them. Or any of the characters really. I wanted to know more about the Tall Man and how it started. The ending was also weak compared to how much it was built up.

Stef Out x