Revenge Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger: A Review

Revenge Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger


When Was It Released?: 4th June 2013
Where Did I Get It From?: From the publisher. Thank you!
Who Published It?: Harper Collins
Number Of Pages?: 432 Pages
Buy?:Paperback or Kindle

I was an enormous fan of The Devil Wears Prada, both the book and the movie versions, if you haven't read or watched this yet then you really need to. As soon as I heard that there would be a sequel, Revenge Wears Prada, I could not wait to get my hands on a copy. I just had to see what had happened to Andy, Emily and Miranda since the days of working at Runway.

Everything's in place for the season's hottest launch: Tall latte (with two raw sugars)? Check. Gucci trench (draped over desk)? Check. Outrageous, unreasonable demands? Check. Andy has just turned thirty and is an incredibly successful magazine editor, working closely with her best friend Emily, another Runway survivor. She's about to get married - life's on track and she's been careful to stay clear of Miranda Priestly, her dreadful first boss. But Andy's luck is running out. Miranda Priestly isn't the kind of woman who hides in the background. She's back...and more devilish than ever.

I love Lauren Weisberger's writing style; it just flows so easily and naturally while still managing to be engaging. I found myself wanting to keep reading on and on as Lauren Weisberger managed to make me want to know exactly what was going to happen next by leaving little cliff hangers at the end of chapters, making it very difficult to put the book down. I did enjoy reading about the old characters, especially Miranda Priestly who returns in full force in this sequel. She was her usual self and defiantly a character that I love to hate. I could not get enough of her in the book. I also loved how Andy and Emily now run a wedding magazine, The Plunge, as I have a fascination for wedding so I enjoyed getting a glimpse into that world.

My main issue with Revenge Wears Prada was with the character of Andy. I loved Andy in The Devil Wears Prada, but there were very few flashes of that old Andy with Revenge Wears Prada. Most of the time I felt like I was reading about an entirely different character, someone new and definitely not Andy. Even though I know that the book is set ten years later and so of course Andy's character has grown and changed I just felt that she had changed beyond recognition at time. Even Emily did not seem to be the same girl she was in the previous book.

The Revenge Wears Prada may not have lived up to the expectations I had for a sequel to The Devil Wears Prada but overall it was still a good book. I loved returning to the characters that I have missed and reconnecting with them all over again. Revenge Wears Prada is filled with the luxury and glamour of living in Manhattan and left me wishing that I could live in that world.

Swimming Pool Summer by Rebecca Farnworth: A Review

Swimming Pool Summer by Rebecca Farnworth


When Was It Released?: 18th July 2013
Where Did I Get It From?: Netgalley. Thank you!
Who Published It?: Arrow
Number Of Pages?: 448 Pages
Buy?:Paperback or Kindle

I love reading a good summer read while it is hot outside and I can relax in the sunshine imagining that I am on some exotic island far away. A large part of reading for me is about escapism so devouring Swimming Pool Summer over the summer months was just perfect for me. Although I am sure that if you pick up this read during the winter it will be able to transport you away from those cold winter nights.

Frankie hasn't had a proper relationship for years. But though she tells everyone this is how she wants it, secretly she's in love with her best friend Patrick.
Tor didn't think she could have a baby, but now she is pregnant by her younger lover. Could this mean the end of a romance that has started to mean more to her than she expected?
Leila seems to have it all - a happy marriage, a beautiful daughter and a successful career. But Leila is harbouring a secret that could destroy her marriage forever.
On an idyllic Greek island, the three women try to keep their secrets hidden. But emotions are running high, and when an unexpected guest arrives, events start to spin out of control.

The premise of the story is quite simple focusing on the three women and their separate as well as inter-joined lives while on holiday in Greece. Rebecca Farnworth manages to describe Greece in such detail that I find myself wanting to book a holiday there immediately. From the villa the women are staying in to the restaurants and the scenery, it was all brought to life and made me feel as though I could almost be there along with them. I love books that are set abroad as they manage to add another layer of escapism while reading and Swimming Pool Summer did this perfectly for me.

All three main characters were fantastic, each being so relatable with their problems and dilemmas. I really felt for each of them with what they are going through as thirty something year old women in todays society. I really enjoyed the way in which the novel switches between the viewpoints of the women each chapter meaning I got a real feel for each of the ladies in turn and kept the plot moving at a good pace. My favourite character was probably Tor as she has many insecurities that a lot of women can relate to yet really she is a beautiful woman.

Swimming Pool Summer is a fantastic book to devour over the summer or while on holiday with a cocktail in hand. A beautiful setting, real issues and likeable characters make for a great light hearted summer read. I am looking forward to reading more from Rebecca Farnworth.

Love Is A Thief by Claire Garber: A Review

Love Is A Thief by Claire Garber


When Was It Released?: 5th July 2013
Where Did I Get It From?: Netgalley. Thank you!
Who Published It?: Mira
Number Of Pages?: 416 Pages
Buy?:Paperback or Kindle

Have you ever wondered how different life would have been if you hadn't met your current or ex-boyfriend and fallen in love? I sure have and I know that it can be a dangerous question to start thinking about considering there is not much that can be done to change the past. Love Is A Thief is a story that focuses on just that question and shows the story of how it is never too late to give up on what you want from life.

What did you miss out on because you fell in love?
I might just be ‘that’ girl. You know the one. The girl who, for no particular reason, doesn’t get the guy, doesn’t have children, doesn’t get the romantic happy ever after. So I needed to come up with a plan.
What did I like doing? What didn’t I get to do because I fell in love? What would I be happy spending the rest of my life doing if love never showed up again?
Kate Winters is going on a journey to do all the things that love has snatched from her and her friends, to reclaim her dreams and theirs in the hope of finding her future. But there’s a chance that new dreams are better than the old.

I really like the concept of Love Is A Thief, as it looked at love from a completely different perspective. I am sure many of you have given up something for love whether it is willingly or without really realising it and it is interesting to think about and see what Kate and the other characters would have done differently if they hadn't met their partners. In some senses it is almost like a self help book as well as a work of fiction, as it really made me question my own life and what I may not have done because I fell in love and how things may have been different. There is a lot of humour in this book, which keeps it light hearted, and had me laughing on more than one occasion.

The characters were a mixed bag, I really liked Kate as she grows so much throughout the book on her journey finding out what other people have missed out on which in turn makes her question her own life. I enjoyed seeing women become empowered by trying things they always wanted to alongside their relationships and realising they don't have to entirely give up on their dreams. The only problem I had with Love Is A Thief is that, as it is quite a large book, at times it did drag a little and the pace slowed down so I was left wondering when it would become interesting again. These times however, were few and far between.

Overall I really enjoyed Love Is A Thief would recommend it to anyone who loves their chick lit with a twist, especially if you like a book that leaves you thinking about your own life. Love Is A Thief is a story of love, self realisation and humour.

Wicked Wives by Anna Lou Weatherley: Review

Wicked Wives by Anna Lou Weatherley


When Was It Released?: 18th July 2013
Where Did I Get It From?: Netgalley. Thank you!
Who Published It?: Avon
Number Of Pages?: 466 Pages
Buy?:Paperback or Kindle

Every now and again I just love a good bonkbuster full of glamorous women with secrets to hide, rich men who get up to no good and sinful goings on. Usually when I'm after a book like this I would turn to the ever reliable Jackie Collins or Rebecca Chance but when I read the synopsis for Wicked Wives I knew I just had to see whether Anna Lou Weatherly would be able to live up to my expectations.

Playboy Casino owner and serial gambler, Tom Black, leaves a trail of broken hearts behind him wherever he goes. So when he disappears, it’s no surprise that foul-play is suspected.
The finger of suspicion points to three women from his past; Eleanor, the beautiful socialite with a dubious past, Loretta, the fame-seeking gold-digger, and Victoria, the glamorous, bestselling author.
Bound together by one man and his mayhem, it’s not long before secrets begin to surface, forcing the three women to take the biggest gamble of all. But in the game of love there can only be one winner – and the winner takes it all….

Wicked Wives alternates chapters between characters, showing the story from all viewpoints which I love in a book. Not only because I get to know all the characters so much better but also because it helps with remembering who is who, which there are no difficulties with in this book. I loved the characters in Wicked Wives. Anna-Lou Weatherley knows exactly which characters we want to see from the glamorous, beautiful and rich to the conniving, scheming and money grabbing. All are thrown in the mix adding a colourful bunch of characters who I loved and hated in turn.

The plot twists, of which there are many, are set up in such a way that I didn't see them coming and was completely shocked on more than one occasion. Of course with this being a story of the rich and glamorous the story is daring and many of the characters get up to some down right dirty things but this is what we expect from this world and Anna-Lou Weatherley delivers it superbly. I loved her writing style and all her descriptions from the decadent places the characters go to the sex that they have to the exotic destinations they visit.  I wanted to be part of the world while at the same time being grateful that I am not.

Wicked Wives is a fantastic beach read that you will want to take on holiday with you and devour in one sitting. A wicked, decadent, explosive read that will have you hooked from the first page to the last. I'm rushing out to buy Anna-Lou Weatherley's first book, Chelsea Wives.

Bout Of Books 8.0 Readathon

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 19th and runs through Sunday, August 25th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 8.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team.

I want to keep this nice and simple so I won't be participating in any challenges just reading books from my to be read pile and enjoying the readathon as much as possible. Here are the books that I hope to read during the readthon:

• City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare

• Revenge Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

 

• Bones Of The Lost by Kathy Reich's

• Pushing The Limits by Katy McGarry

 

• Tempting Fate by Jane Green

 Monday
Number of pages I've read today: 353
Total number of pages I've read: 353
Books: Currently reading City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Tuesday
Number of pages I've read today: 193
Total number of pages I've read: 546
Books: Finished City Of Bones, now reading Revenge Wears Prada

Wednesday
Number of pages I've read today: 80
Total number of pages I've read:626
Books: City Of Bones and still reading Revenge Wears Prada

Thursday
Number of pages I've read today: 272
Total number of pages I've read: 898
Books: City Of Bones, Revenge Wears Prada, currently reading Bones Of The Lost

Friday
Number of pages I've read today: 216
Total number of pages I've read: 1114
Books: City Of Bones, Revenge Wears Prada, still reading Bones Of The Lost

Saturday
Number of pages I've read today: 198
Total number of pages I've read: 1312
Books: City of Bones, Revenge Wears Prada, Bones of The Lost, currently reading Pushing The Limits and Tempting Fate

Sunday
Number of pages I've read today: 88
Total number of pages I've read: 1400
Books: City Of Bones, Revenge Wears Prada, Bones Of The Lost, currently still reading Pushing The Limits and Tempting Fate

Are you joining in the readthon? What will you be reading?

 

Do You Remember? by Mandy Baggot: Review

Do You Remember? by Mandy Baggot


When Was It Released?: 25th July 2013
Where Did I Get It From?: Netgalley. Thank you!
Who Published It?: Harper Impulse
Number Of Pages?: 306 Pages
Buy?: Kindle

I have a confession to make. I have never picked up and read a Mandy Baggot book. Her books have always intrigued me but I have just never gotten around to reading one. Well lets just say that will all change now that I have devoured Do You Remember, as I cannot wait to read more from Mandy Baggot.


First Love. First Loss. Last chance?
2005 was the most traumatic year of Emma Barron’s life. It was the year her mother died and the year she met Guy Duval. Eight years on, she’s an English teacher with a doting boyfriend and a young son. Life’s been hard but now it’s comfortable. She’s settled and content…so why would she risk it all for another chance with the man that broke her heart?
Guy’s an international renowned footballer newly signed to a top UK team. But behind the confident facade is a man determined to drown the horrors from his childhood with fame, success and money.
Unable to confide in her best friend, Ally, Emma tries to hold her life together as her heart is pulled apart. Did she turn her back on love too soon?
Neither of them know what really happened on 5 September 2005 and as events are slowly revealed can anyone cope with the truth?

Do You Remember? is such a emotional romance story that had beautiful and also heart wrenching moments throughout. I really enjoyed the romance in this book, all the way through I found myself wanting a man who would love me over the years the way that Guy does Emma. What made me enjoy the romance the most, however was that it wasn't easy and both Guy and Emma go through some devastating times within their journey. While no-one wants to go through hard times this did make their romance much more believable as the reality is love is hard.

I loved the character of Emma, she is such a sweet and genuine person who I really connected with. I felt along with her through the whole story, through her moments of doubt, guilt, sadness and also the love and happier times as well. I was routing for her to find a good ending throughout the whole book. I also adored Guy, I mean what is there not to like about a sexy French football player, but he has so much more depth than this. You just know that Guy and Emma are meant for each other and even though they have been apart for so many years I was hoping that they would be able to overcome what ever tore than apart in the past.

I would recommend Do You Remember? to anyone who is looking for a compelling romance story with depth. This is defiantly not a light fluffy romance story but deals with real issues and emotions throughout. I could not put this book down, once I started it just drew me in and didn't let go. If like me you haven't read any of Mandy Baggot's books before then pick this one up I can guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

About A Girl by Lindsey Kelk: A Review

About A Girl by Lindsey Kelk


When Was It Released?: 16th July 2013
Where Did I Get It From?: Received from publisher. Thank you
Who Published It?: Harper Collins
Number Of Pages?: 402 Pages
Buy?:Paperback or Kindle

I am a huge Lindsey Kelk fan from her famous I Heart series, which just gets better and better with each book. I was a little worried that with the start of a new series and new characters that it wouldn't be as good. I shouldn't have worried at all, however as About A Girl, the first book in this series was just amazing.

Tess Brookes has always been a Girl with a Plan. But when the Plan goes belly up, she’s forced to reconsider.
After accidently answering her flatmate Vanessa’s phone, she decides that since being Tess isn’t going so well, she might try being Vanessa. With nothing left to lose, she accepts Vanessa’s photography assignment to Hawaii – she used to be an amateur snapper, how hard can it be? Right?
But Tess is soon in big trouble. And the gorgeous journalist on the shoot with her, who is making it very clear he’d like to get into her pants, is an egotistical monster. Far from home and in someone else’s shoes, Tess must decide whether to fight on through, or ‘fess up and run…

About A Girl is the type of book that you will pick up and not want to put down. I read this book on a weekend that I was spending with family so I couldn't just sit down and devour it in one go, even though I know that if I had the time I so easily could have. Every time I picked the book up I just kept getting lost in the characters, the storyline and the setting of Hawaii. The location of Hawaii was just perfect for the book and made me want to book my next holiday there immediately.

The characters in About A Girl are just fantastic. Tess is so likeable as the main protagonist, having so many down to earth qualities that you can connect with. I was routing for her the whole way through, and even though she made some silly mistakes you still couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Amy was the perfect best friend, hilarious and caring but with her own problems as well. Kekipi, the gay butler, had to be one of my favourite characters, his sense of humour was just one of a kind. There are two different love interests in the book and no matter how hard you try to remain neutral you will end up favouring one character over the other.

Lindsey's writing style manages to flow perfectly throughout and her humour and likeable characters mean that I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Go and buy it now. Even though this book is the kind of book that you will want to take on holiday with you and read by the pool it is in fact perfect to read any time of year. I am so excited that About A Girl is the first book in a new series and I just cannot wait for the next instalment to find out what happens next

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