RATING: 2/5 STARS

RELEASE DATE: JULY 24TH 2018

With three best friends, a troubling past, and hurtful secrets, Girls Night Out by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke delivers an interesting take on what friendship should, and shouldn’t be.

PLOT SUMMARY

For estranged friends Ashley, Natalie, and Lauren, it’s time to heal the old wounds between them. Where better to repair those severed ties than on a girls’ getaway to the beautiful paradise of Tulum, Mexico? But even after they’re reunited, no one is being completely honest about the past or the secrets they’re hiding. When Ashley disappears on their girls’ night out, Natalie and Lauren have to try to piece together their hazy memories to figure out what could have happened to her, while also reconciling their feelings of guilt over their last moments together.

Was Ashley with the man she’d met only days before? Did she pack up and leave? Was she kidnapped? Or worse—could Natalie or Lauren have snapped under the weight of her own lies? (goodreads.ca)

The book starts off in an intriguing way, and had me wanting to keep turning the page to see what would happen next. Each chapter was either before Ashley went missing, or after, and showcased the little details that would foreshadow the main plot of the book, and had each character give their own perspective. As the book continued on, you start to learn about why Ashley, Lauren and Natalie slowly began to drift away from each other, and why suddenly Ashley wanted them to come back together as friends.

But – by the time I reached the middle of the book, I began to find myself a little bit irritated at the three main characters. These three women were middle aged, married mothers, and rather than being somewhat mature regarding the problems in their friendship, they just really acted like young girls in high school. Although each of the characters have gone through terrible things, everything they said or done was childish, and unrealistic in a way. There wasn’t a sense of realism in these characters, but rather, it seemed that these characters prefered to drown themselves in drama and self pity. None of these characters had a speck of empathy for their friends, and just continued to fight with each other, and all those around them.

The plot was very interesting, and the premise of the entire book had me excited to finish the story and see how the mystery unravelled. But unfortunately, the characters ruin the book. The three women did not grow as the story progressed, they remained flat through the whole book. I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately found it disappointing.

Overall, I’d give this read a 5/10 stars. It had a great plot, and at times, a great dialogue between characters, but, the character development and just overall characters within the book were frustrating and childish.

Girls’ Night Out by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke will be hitting stores on JULY 24th 2018 at Chapters/Indigo, Kobo, Amazon, Google Books, iBooks, and Barnes & Noble.

THE DEATH OF MRS. WESTAWAY

RATING: 5/5 STARS

RELEASE DATE: May 29th 2018

A dysfunctional family, a quiet troubled protagonist, a mystery ensuing, and secrets revealing – these are the makings of Ruth Ware’s newest novel. Ruth Ware is famous for her thrillers In a Dark, Dark Wood, The Woman in Cabin 10 and her most recent, The Lying Game. Her novels portray strong, independent female protagonists that are challenged by mysteries and thrilling situations. But, The Death of Mrs. Westaway may be her best novel yet, and it’s most definitely my favourite Ware novel thus far.

PLOT SUMMARY

Harriet Westaway—better known as Hal—makes ends meet as a tarot reader, but she doesn’t believe in the power of her trade. On a day that begins like any other, she receives a mysterious and unexpected letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance. She realizes quickly that the letter was sent to the wrong person—but she also knows that she can use her cold-reading skills to potentially claim the money.

Hal attends the funeral of the deceased and meets the family…but it dawns on her that there is something very, very wrong about this strange situation and that the inheritance is at the center of it… (simonandschuster.ca)

The book starts off with a 1994 diary entry from an unknown narrator. Shortly after, the first chapter begins and we are introduced to Hal. A quiet, black haired girl trying to live her life as best she can after experiencing a tragic loss. Immediately you can tell that Hal is lonely, troubled, confused and lost when it comes to her personal life. Couple of chapters later, Hal receives a letter stating that her grandmother has passed away and she is now entitled to a large inheritance. But how could this be? She has no family, and no friends – all she has are a mountain of bills, an unaffordable rent, and a dead end job. The novel continues with Hal wondering if this was a mistake – could this letter be for a different Harriet Westaway? Or should she bite the bullet, go to the funeral, and get that money to pay for her financial woes?

This may seem like I am giving away too much here, but that’s not the case!!! There is SO much more to this story. The characters introduced later on all have such unique personalities and histories, and the dialogue was as if it was straight from an Agatha Christie novel.

If you haven’t ever read an Agatha Christie novel.. firstly YOU SHOULD! And secondly, Christie tells her stories solely through dialogue between her characters. The dialogue holds a majority of the story, rather than the story being set by description or thoughts from the main character, and I think that is my favourite thing about Christie AND this novel!

I read this book on an eight hour flight, and I absolutely devoured it! I loved Hal as a protagonist, and I loved each character. This is the kind of book you want to keep reading just to find out more about these characters and how they came to be who they are. This novel had everything I looked for in a mystery – great dialogue, great characters, relatable protagonist, and family secrets!

If you are looking for a lighter suspense novel, that is bursting with family secrets and mysteries, then this novel is for you!

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware will be hitting stores on MAY 29th 2018 at Chapters/Indigo, Kobo, Amazon, Google Books, iBooks, and Barnes & Noble.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and this does not affect my views , opinions, or thoughts on this book.

LET ME LIE BY CLARE MACKINTOSH

RATING: 4/5 STARS

RELEASE DATE: March 13th 2018

When you think about psychological thrillers, suspense, and strong female protagonists – Clare Mackintosh is one of the authors to come to mind. And I can say with 100% certainty that she does it again with her newest novel – Let Me Lie. I first read her second book I See You, not really knowing that it was her second novel – and I absolutely loved it.. but then I read her very first book, I Let You Go, and was obsessed… it quickly became one of my favourite reads of 2017.

Her newest novel, Let me Lie, definitely did not disappoint in comparison to her first two novels. Where the first books were more serious, and thrilling, this book was lighter in suspense – focusing on family secrets, betrayal, and self discovery.

PLOT SUMMARY

The police say it was suicide.
Anna says it was murder.
They’re both wrong.

One year ago, Caroline Johnson chose to end her life brutally: a shocking suicide planned to match that of her husband just months before. Their daughter, Anna, has struggled to come to terms with their loss ever since.

Now with a young baby of her own, Anna misses her mother more than ever and starts to question her parents’ deaths. But by digging up their past, she’ll put her future in danger. Sometimes it’s safer to let things lie… (Goodreads.com)

 I will admit that I found it a bit slow at the beginning (it could be my horrible reading slump I’ve been in for the last month). The characters’ introductions were thought out, with a gradual build up for the plot. After a few chapters, the story began to pick up, and I became immersed in the world of Anna Johnson, and her need to solve what exactly happened to her parents. As the story began to pick up, the twists and secrets were so shocking to me. I thought I had the mystery figured out, but I was completely blindsided – and that is what I absolutely love about crime fiction. Again, this is a much lighter suspense than her previous novels, which is perfect for those that aren’t particularly interested in a full on crime mystery. It was so easy to get close to the protagonist thanks to Mackintosh’s brilliant writing that I found myself rooting for Anna by the end. Although Anna’s familial situation was incredibly interesting and shocking to read, we can’t forget about another character’s POV… Murray.

Murray is a retired police officer who eventually works for the police with a desk job. Anna approaches him and confides in him that she doesn’t believe her parents committed suicide. Of course with his history in the police force, he became interested in the case and decided to take matters into his own hands before letting the rest of the police squad know. Not only is Murray’s thirst for continuing his policing career interesting, it’s his love for his wife, Sarah, who is battling with mental illness, that is the most intriguing to the point where it is heartbreaking to read. Although I loved Anna as a character, I really loved reading Murray’s side of the story. I don’t want to go on and spoil Murray’s story, but it’s amazing the way Mackintosh has the ability to write a story about ordinary, relatable people, in an unusual situation. Anna and Murray both showcase different sides of what a person will do to protect their family… and they manage to do so while being completely ordinary, and relatable characters.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read, and Mackintosh didn’t disappoint in the slightest. I was worried at first as I found it a bit hard to get into… but once those chapters were rolling I couldn’t stop myself.

If you are looking for a lighter suspense novel, with a relatable, and reliable narrator, then this novel may be for you!

Let Me Lie by Clare Mackintosh will be hitting stores on MARCH 13TH 2018 at Chapters/Indigo, Kobo, Amazon, Google Books, iBooks, and Barnes & Noble.

 

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and this does not affect my views , opinions, or thoughts on this book.

 

On a goal of reading 25 books for the year, I managed to read 55 amazing books!

I’ve always been an avid reader, since I can remember. But, as I entered the final years of high school, and went on to study English Literature in University, my reading for pleasure began to go downhill… and wow did I miss it! After finishing school, I decided to set a goal for 2017 and read 25 books.

With all the books I have read this year, I’ve decided to narrow it down to my top ten of the year… hopefully among this list, you’ll find a great book to read!

Let’s begin…

10. The Breakdown by B.A Paris

This past year continued to shine in books with strong female protagonists that are involved in a mysterious crime, and by the end of the book, a surprise twist catches you off guard. This book definitely falls into that category in a good way. This was an addictive read! I remember finishing this in one sitting – I could. not. stop. This story follows a woman named Cass, who is driving home in the middle of the night in a terrible rain storm, on a road where she promised her husband she wouldn’t drive on. As she is driving by, she sees a car on the side of the road, with someone in sitting in the driver’s seat. The next day, Cass finds out that a woman has been killed… the woman she drove by just the night before. As Cass begins to question her actions (or lack thereof), she slowly begins to feel like she is losing her mind… 

Cass is such a troubled character, but I absolutely loved reading her story. As I continued reading, I began to feel like I knew what Cass was going through. It was as if she was stuck in a prison of her own mind, and she had no way to escape. I won’t continue on because I don’t want to spoil the story for any potential readers, but if you enjoyed Gone Girl, or Girl on the Train,  this book will not disappoint those cravings!

9. Lie to Me by J.T Ellison

THIS. BOOK! Wow, this book is definitely one of my favourites of the year. This book is a story about Sutton and Ethan – a couple that seem to have everything that anybody could want in a relationship and in life. But, behind closed doors, as tensions mount between Sutton and Ethan, Sutton disappears. Of course, the prime suspect is her husband, Ethan. Ethan finds himself the target of all the gossip surrounding the disappearance of Sutton, and as police continue to investigate, they begin to unravel the truth of Sutton and Ethan’s relationship.

Ellison’s writing is brilliant and I love how she was able to offer so much detail in order to really understand the character. The plot line was well thought out – but I think my favourite part of the book is how in depth, and complicated each character is. They are all so troubled and there are so many secrets. From the first page to the last, I couldn’t stop reading about the lives of Sutton and Ethan. 

I had the pleasure of interviewing Ellison on my blog in September which you can read here: https://readwithsam.com/2017/09/14/interview-with-j-t-ellison/

8. The Child by Fiona Barton

THIS WAS SO GOOD!!! (I feel like I’m saying that a lot). Fiona Barton is just brilliant. This novel begins with the demolition of a old building site, and a construction worker comes across a small skeleton.. a skeleton belonging to a baby. Kate Waters, an investigative journalist begins immersing herself with the case to find out who is the baby and what happened to it..

The plot is so complex and intertwined with so many ideas, that you really don’t know how it’ll end. Not to mention how raw and real the main characters are. I love that Barton used each chapter as a perspective from each character – it was so interesting to see what they thought. Emma and Jude have a very interesting relationship that at times made me uncomfortable because of Barton’s amazing writing and dialogue.

I was ecstatic to be able to interview Fiona Barton this year for my blog, which you can read here: https://readwithsam.com/2017/10/12/meet-the-author-fiona-barton/

7. The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood

An amazing read by Atwood! Her other books were definitely challenging and more dry, but this narrative was particularly interesting in terms of the Republic of Gilead and what exactly happened to modern society for women to be stripped away of all their freedoms. The protagonist Ofred was relatable, and quite endearing. There were points where I got a little bit scared by the end, because of the setting Ofred is in, and how one little move by any woman, can threaten their life. It’s really interesting to compare this story with what’s going on around the world when it comes to equality amongst genders – especially this year. To top it off, after reading this book, I did watch the television adaption, and it stays so true to the novel, but still expanding on the world of the Handmaids. Atwood has done an amazing job taking modern society and twisting it into something that we wouldn’t imagine happening, but still is so realistic to read.

6. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Different from my regular reads this year, but it’s an important story to read especially with everything going on in America between now and the last few year. It’s a heavy focus on racism, stereotypes, class divides and oppression. You hear about police brutality in the news almost every week, but it was SO interesting to actually read a story, and read a witness’ side and get a glimpse of their thoughts and feelings. I really liked Uncle Carlos as a character because he embodied both sides of black and white – at first he was a symbol of the “grey” areas in certain scenarios, but his true colours shined when he stood up for what was right. This was a really good read, and honestly I’d recommend it to EVERYONE – it’s an eye opener.

5. Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

I absolutely love this series! A story about a wizard detective named Harry Dresden, who within each book, gets stronger and his powers and loyalty are constantly tested. There are 15 books in the series so far, and a 16th one hopefully to come out soon! I’ve read 12 books so far within the series, and I’d have to say the 12th book, Changes, is my favourite of the series. From the first page until the last, Dresden goes on a wild ride which tests his loyalty, patience, and strength as a wizard and as a human. Think of this series as a more “mature” Harry Potter series – but with more mortal interactions within the books! Such a good series, and I’m looking forward to reading the next 4!

4. White Bodies by Jane Robins

Okay, this book took me completely off guard.. in a good way! This novel follows a story about twin sisters and their odd, and complicated relationship. Tilda was always seen as the prettier, popular one throughout her childhood, and as she becomes an adult, finds herself involved with a man named Felix. Everything seems amazing on the outside with these two, but of course, there are secrets behind closed doors. Tilda’s twin sister, Callie, notices Tilda shrinking under Felix’s domineering love. 

This book was a great psychological thriller! During the first half of the book I really didn’t know where it was going with it’s characters and plots… but the way Robins was able to tie everything together in the end was perfect. Tilda and Callie have such a complicated, and odd sibling relationship, and even stranger personalities as characters themselves. I would’ve loved to read a bit from Tilda’s perspective, but Callie is equally as interesting. Overall a great read, and once again, a book I’d recommend to any psychological thriller fans out there!

3. Turtles All The Way Down by John Green

This is hands down my favourite John Green book. There was a lot of hype around this one, so I was a bit reluctant to get it, but I caved – and I am SO glad I did. This books is about a 16 year old girl who tries to take matters into her own hands with her best friend Daisy when billionaire Russell Pickett goes missing.

I absolutely LOVE the protagonist Aza. She’s genuine and real, and Green perfectly captures what anxiety feels like through Aza. I’ve related so much to this wonderful story and all of its characters, and have even found some new favourite quotes. I honestly don’t think I have anything bad to say about this book. All I can say is, pick this up if you want to understand the mind of someone who lives with anxiety everyday.

2. I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh

I read this just over a week ago, and it’s definitely one of my favourite thrillers. To say this was a good book is a complete understatement. This novel begins with a tragic accident – a young boy runs across the street, and gets hit by a car. The driver unfortunately drives away, and the boy is dead. The boy’s mother tries to cope with the sudden accident, and her past begins to creep up on her as well.

From the first page, the story immediately hooks you and gets you feeling guilty, sad, and angry for the poor little boy. As the novel continues, each of the characters continue to grow – I loved the character development in the characters, especially Jenna. Reading this book felt like I was sitting on the edge of my seat, and it was as if I was the woman in the story. Mackintosh’s writing is so personal and realistic that at times you forget you’re reading a book.

Now.. my FAVOURITE read of 2017 is…

 

1. MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS by Agatha Christie

I am a HUGE fan of murder mysteries/detective stories. Ever since I was little I would stay up very late either reading a Nancy Drew story, or writing a detective story of my own. The fact I never read an Agatha Christie novel until this year is SO SAD to me! I have missed out on so much!! This novel is probably one of the most popular stories out there, following a detective named Hercule Poirot who rides the Orient Express.. and in the middle of the night, one of the passengers is found dead. It’s up to Poirot to find out who is the killer among the train.

I really enjoyed this book! From the first page, I knew I’d be hooked – Christie’s writing is unique, in which she is able to perfectly showcase every characters’ personality without having to write a giant descriptive paragraph. I loved the fact that the majority of this book is based purely on dialogue – which gives a real feel of what each of the characters are like. I have a huge admiration for Hercule Poirot after this book! He’s witty, smart, and a different kind of detective compared to other crime or murder mystery books I’ve read! I’d definitely say that this is one of my favourite books.. and I am SO excited to read it again and dissect it a bit more and try to solve the crime on my own ;).

The year of 2018 is definitely going to be a year full of Agatha Christie novels!

I hope my top ten reads of 2017 was somewhat helpful if you are looking to indulge in a really good book!

Along with my top ten reads, there are a few books I’ve read this year that still deserve an honourable mention:

Stay with Me by Ayobami Adebayo

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

The Lying Game by Ruth Ware

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

The Child Finder by Rene Denefeld 

(Check out my interview with her here: https://readwithsam.com/2017/10/04/meet-the-author-rene-denfeld/)

The Party by Robyn Harding 

(Check out my interview with her here: https://readwithsam.com/2017/09/07/the-party-with-robyn-harding/)

and

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

 

This was a great year, full of great books and the launch of my book blog! I’m quite proud of what I’ve accomplished this year, and I’m looking forward to the great reads and interviews 2018 will bring!

Imagine being called by your loved one for help… to dispose of a dead man’s body.

What would you do?

In Gale Massey’s debut novel, The Girl From Blind River, nineteen year old Jamie Elders must help her Uncle Loyal dispose of a man’s body, and help her Uncle cover it up. Things begin to get more terrifying when her Uncle decides to pin the murder on Jamie’s younger brother, Toby. Trying to to deviate away from her family’s reputation of liars, cheaters, thieves and convicts, Jamie needs to prove her brother innocent with a detective on her trail, and her inner criminal begging to come out..

A coming of age story set in the depths of a small town where illegal corruption and gambling ensue, Jamie Elders has to prove herself and clear her family’s name.

Gale Massey’s stories have appeared in several different outlets including: the Tampa Bay Times, Sabal, Connotation Press, Seven Hills Review, and Walking the Edge. She’s been a Tennessee Williams Scholar at The Sewanee Writers’ Conference and a Standiford Fellow at Writers in Paradise. She is also the author of the booklet Grief-reminders for healing. The Girl From Blind River is her debut novel set to release July 10 2018.

In anticipation of her new novel, Gale kindly agreed to answer a few questions about her writing process and upcoming book:

Who’s your favourite author?

My reading preferences seem to change every few years. When I was in my twenties I couldn’t get enough of Agatha Christie. In my thirties Barbara Kingsolver wowed me. Annie Proulx, Daniel Woodrell, Elizabeth Strout, and  Marilynne Robinson fed my soul for several years. It seems these days though, I’m interested in reading debut novels. Along those lines I’m falling for voices like David Joy and Emma Cline.

Favourite book or genre to read?

I prefer grit and realism. Having grown up in a fairly impoverished town I like stories about rising from nothing and those usually involve a fair amount of grit and striving at basic levels of existence. Where All Light Tends to Go and Winter’s Bone are two of my most cherished reading experiences.

You’ve had some works published in newspapers, how was the change from newspaper writing to novel writing?

Writing human interest stories for the newspaper was key in developing writing skills. Getting published allowed me to know a few things. First, that I had something to say that interested other people. Second, what it feels like to have thousands of readers. It can be a scary thing but I got used to it pretty fast.

Where did you draw your inspiration from for your new novel?

Inspiration for The Girl From Blind River came from the difficult choice writers sometime face. I’d given up on a novel I’d been working on for several years. I was empty and feeling very down about it. I had the feeling that I’d run through all my good options and was at a dead end with my writing. This is how my main character Jamie Elders starts out in the book. Then a mentor suggested that I read The Queen’s Gambit. That book opened up so many possibilities for what a character can be put through and still rise. At the same time I was just beginning to learn about poker and Jamie started taking shape. Jamie is an impoverished girl with no options other than mad poker skills. It’s like that with some books. A character with so many possibilities appears in your psyche and you run with it.

Did you always see yourself becoming a fiction writer?

Someone recently asked when I knew I was a writer. My immediate answer was that I never knew that. I saw the power of words as a child, not that I read very much, but stories touched me and everyone around me. It’s why we went to church every Sunday, to hear stories. So I always knew I wanted to become a writer but it was and continues to be something I work very hard toward claiming for myself.

Do you plan on writing another novel any time soon?

Of course. I’m a hundred pages into a story about a young woman on the professional poker circuit. This novel explores the difficulties of being young and female and excellent at a craft but working within a male dominated field. There are obvious parallels to be drawn in our culture right now but being female in a patriarchal world has interested me since I was a child. I’d like to see girls grow up in a more fair minded world.

Any advice for young aspiring writers?

First of all, there are legitimate new writers of every age who need encouragement. My first advice is age old: READ. Read a lot. When you find a book that blows your mind dissect it. Find critiques that explain the book on a structural level and contemplate it. Find characters that you relate to on a soul level and seriously investigate why that character moves you. If you’re lucky enough to come across a teacher that gets you or what you’re trying to achieve, pay close attention. I could not have created this book without the many generous teachers and writers I’ve come to know. And persevere through the thousands of large and small disappointments that you’ll encounter along the way. And always, always celebrate the milestones.

 

Gale Massey’s debut novel, The Girl From Blind River is due out in July 2018 by Crooked Lane Books. Mark Gottlieb of Trident Media Group provides literary representation.

Thank you for your time Gale – looking forward to your debut novel!