Simon Skinner

“The Inheritance Games” by Jennifer Lynn Barnes really swept me off my feet. This book is a page-turner from the get-go, blending a gripping mystery with a cast of intriguing characters that keep things lively and unpredictable.

Jennifer Lynn Barnes knows how to hook her readers. The plot is clever, packed with twists that pop up just when you think you've figured things out. I found myself constantly guessing, and the final twist was a genuine stunner—I didn't see it coming at all! It's rare to find a book that keeps you guessing right up until the end, but Barnes nails it.

The protagonist, Avery Grambs, is thrown into an unexpected and bizarre inheritance game that makes her both relatable and impressive. Watching Avery navigate the challenges thrown at her, with her intelligence and resilience shining through, was a highlight for me. Her interactions with the other characters are sharp and full of tension, which adds layers to the plot and makes you want to dive deeper into their world.

I was so hooked by the time I turned the last page that I jumped straight into the sequel. The transition was seamless, and I'm crossing my fingers that it keeps up the momentum.

All in all, “The Inheritance Games” is a fantastic read for anyone who loves a good puzzle or a mystery that keeps you on your toes. It's fun, it's clever, and it keeps you engaged right through to the surprising finish. Definitely worth picking up if you're in the mood for an adventure that keeps you guessing.

What a ride! “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” really pulled me in. Taylor Jenkins Reid writes so vividly it's almost like you're flipping through a real biography, not just a novel. This isn't usually my go-to genre, but I was totally hooked.

The plot twist? Brilliant. Reid sprinkles just enough hints along the way that you feel the surprise, but when it hits, it still packs a punch. And Evelyn Hugo herself? She's a powerhouse with a complex, layered life that makes you root for her even when you see the end coming. The finale is bittersweet—sad, but totally what you'd expect from a character like Evelyn, full of drama and depth till the last page.

In all, “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” is an unforgettable story that blends the allure of old Hollywood with the intrigue of a mystery novel. It's a standout book that proves sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone can be totally worth it.

This book had such potential and I was lapping it up for the first 100 or so pages. Vibes of groundhog day, an interesting mystery to solve... Would Maelyn find her true happiness and stop jumping back in time?

Then, the author appeared to completely forget the premise the book was born on and just got stuck writing a romance.

Don't get me wrong, this was a reasonable book, with some ok romance. But if you are expecting something akin to Groundhog Day, or some other time hopping romance you will end up disappointed.

I struggled with this book in it's written form and it almost made my DNF list. However, I decided to try it in audio book format and that made it a lot more manageable. It was a cute book with a nice premise. I liked the focus on 4 different stories under the same time travel idea. But I still have unanswered questions that I presume might get answered in a sequel which unfortunately I don't think I will ever read.

I was suggested this book as being a ‘tear jerker' and I spent most of the book completely ignorant of what I presume is the main ‘tear jerker' moment. Personally, it didn't get me there, but this is a sad yet sweet romance novel that's worthy of a read / listen (whatever takes your fancy).

I enjoyed this book. It had a great sense of humour, wit and regularly made me laugh. Unfortunately, I feel like it was a 100 page short story fleshed out with so many insignificant details that really took away from the ending. In fact I believe my comment was something in the realm of “All that for that ending”. Such a shame to have to give such a low rating on a book I actually enjoyed.

I decided to read “Gangsta Granny” after receiving a free copy while staying in the themed room at Alton Towers, UK. With typical Walliams humor that includes jokes about people's appearances, smells, and the inevitable fart jokes, the book was a blend of silly fun and engaging storytelling. Despite these childish jokes, which one might expect from Walliams' background in TV, the humor and storyline kept me entertained and made it easy to blast through the book an a few hours.

While the book was enjoyable, it hasn't particularly motivated me to delve into other works by Walliams. However, I don't regret reading it; it was a light-hearted diversion with a charming twist on the typical grandparent-grandchild relationship.

One notable aspect of “Gangsta Granny” is its ending, which, without giving away any spoilers, might be considered too mature for the intended age group. The conclusion could potentially cause some emotional upset for younger readers, which is something parents might want to be aware of.

Overall, I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars. “Gangsta Granny” is a fun read, especially for children who enjoy a mix of humor and adventure. It combines a quirky storyline with the warmth of an unexpected family bond, making it a decent choice for young readers, albeit with a word of caution regarding its ending.

A fun little book, striking at the heart of discrimination and fear of someone or something purely from not understanding it. I listened to the audio book and it was very enjoyable, I'm not usually fond of audio books that put on accents but this worked well.

I'm a huge fan of short stories / novellas, but this one took both some time to get into and more time to finish than expected. In fact this book almost entered my DNF list in the first 30 pages, I had all but given up and then google led me to the reason why I felt this book was strange and that was due to the different writing styles of multiple authors. Due to the unusualness of this I persevered and I'm so glad I did, what would have been a DNF turned into a 4 star book.

A lovely twisted story of romance, time travel, war and fantasy. Written in a “she said, she said” (I guess) style that is strange at first but turns out to be really beautiful. Persevere through this and you will be rewarded with a great read and an ending wanting you to read more.

I really wanted to love this book, and I did! I will certainly say this has been the most enjoyable book I have read since probably The Hobbit as a child and also the only book since that very same book and age that has brought a tear to my eye.

I have to disclose that I listened to the audio book version from Audible and as such I do think that the Narrator (Rebecca Soler) certainly helped. The urgency in her voice at just the right points had me on the edge of my seat, and was potentially the main reason I felt enough to be so moved. However I also really thought the majority of the writing was exceptional.

Ok, so there are always negatives and that sits in one place for me. We know there is romance in this book so I won't mark it as a spoiler. Personally I thought there was too much kissing, at points it read like I imagine a 13 year old girl's diary would read (based on the teen movies I have seen, not from experience) and that was off-putting. I also felt the smut parts were too unrealistic. But that's just me.

I don't believe the negatives take away from my rating and I give this a solid 5 stars. I can't wait for book 2!

Another excellent addition to the Murderbot series. I never realised that I would have quite such a sentimental attachment to an AI built for killing and a transport ship!

If there was half a start available I'd put this at 2.5 stars. I struggled for the first half and enjoyed the last half.

I felt the first half gave way too many cliche ideas of English people being stuck up and always drunk. But in the second half I was like “ohhhhhh”.

Not bad, but not good. You won't be worse off for reading this, but it's not going to make it to your book of the year. A solid 2.5.

Gripping

I felt the writing in this book (although better than my own) was not the best with the author almost dropping plots in unexpectedly and adding complexity where it was not needed. However, I was completely hooked into the world from just a few chapters in and had it not been due to a need of sleep I would have finished this book without stopping.

Well worth the read!

My wife had “You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight” by Kalynn Bayron on her TBR list, and we decided to give the audiobook a shot. Boy, are we glad we did! The story unfolds in a creepy camp where the main character, Charity, and her crew scare guests by reenacting scenes from a horror movie filmed on that same location. The whole setup gets chillingly real as the plot thickens.

Kalynn Bayron does a fantastic job of creating a spooky atmosphere that's perfect for the setting. The characters were all really well developed, making you root for them as things start to spiral, but also written well enough to make you trust that they are all suffering the same fate. The plot twists are smart and keep you on your toes, building suspense in the best way.

The audiobook was a real delight. Pace was spot-on, and the voice work was just right — not exaggerated, but still intense enough to bring the scary bits alive without having to get dramatic.

Though I found the ending a bit too revealing (without putting any spoilers), it didn't detract from the overall experience. It also sets up some intriguing possibilities for a sequel, which I would certainly read.

Overall, if you're looking for a good scare or just a thrilling story, this audiobook is a great pick. It keeps you engaged and delivers a solid mix of suspense and character depth. Five stars from me—definitely a worthwhile listen!

What a great book, had me utterly gripped from the first page. I really enjoyed the flashback style of writing which really added a lot to the amazing character development.

The only reason this doesn't get 5 stars is that I felt the last few chapters were almost “action movie” style. Very much bang, bang, bang, over. After the way the book read I really wish there had been another 50 pages just fleshing this out more.

After being thoroughly impressed by “The Inheritance Games,” I approached its sequel, “The Hawthorne Legacy,” with high hopes. While still an enjoyable read, this installment didn't quite hit the same high marks as its predecessor, earning it a solid three-star rating from me.

“The Hawthorne Legacy” revisits many of the elements that made the first book compelling—mysterious puzzles, high stakes, and complex relationships. However, this time around, the puzzles seemed less fresh, feeling somewhat rehashed from the first book. While the original puzzles were a delightful brain teaser, their repetition in this sequel lacked the novelty and intrigue that initially captured my attention.

The romantic elements also felt more scattered compared to the focused narrative of the first book. The love interests and their dynamics were all over the place, making it harder to root for any particular pairing. This scattered approach detracted from the central mystery, which itself unfolded at a slower pace with less urgency.

As for plot progression, the revelations in “The Hawthorne Legacy” didn't feel as impactful. Much of the information disclosed felt like it could have been condensed significantly, without the need to navigate through similar puzzles. This pacing issue made the storyline seem stretched thinner than necessary.

Despite these criticisms, the book maintains the engaging writing style of Jennifer Lynn Barnes and the charming allure of its characters, especially Avery Grambs. Her development continues to be a strong aspect of the series, keeping the door open for further exploration in future installments.

While I'm not as eager to dive into the third book as I was with the second, I'm still considering continuing with the series. Fans of “The Inheritance Games” might find elements to enjoy in “The Hawthorne Legacy,” but they may want to temper their expectations for a repeat of the first book's brilliance.

Reading Stephen Fry's “Heroes: Mortals and Monsters, Quests and Adventures” felt like reconnecting with old school lessons but with way more flavor and a bit of a darker twist. Fry has this knack for keeping things interesting, and it really shines through in this book, even though it's nonfiction.

Fry digs deeper into the classic stories many of us might remember from school or even Disney flicks, bringing out the grittier, more nuanced details that those versions tend to gloss over. His writing keeps you hooked, turning what could be a dry historical recount into a compelling narrative full of drama and intrigue.

In essence, if you're up for a journey through the more shadowy alleys of mythic tales, told with Fry's characteristic wit and eloquence, this book should definitely be on your reading list. It's a fresh take on the heroes of old, exposing their flaws and all, making them more relatable and, frankly, more human.

I found this a tough read. As someone who has already started on a digital minimalist journey I was hoping to get something insightful from this book. Unfortunately the only way I can describe it was, “a blog post that took too long to read.”

That's not to say that i didn't get some useful facts from reading this book, it's just that I feel like it could have been condensed dramatically. Ironically, it could have been more minimalist.

An Artificial Intelligence breaking its programming and going rogue whilst all the time continuing to do the job it was intended to in the first place... It doesn't sound like a particularly compelling storyline, but once you read through the first paragraph you are sucked into a story told by Murderbot, an AI trying to just get on with his life.

I could tell from their expressions they were all thinking hard. The HubSystem that controlled their habitat, that they were dependent on for food, shelter, filtered air, and water, was trying to kill them. And in their corner all they had was Murderbot, who just wanted everyone to shut up and leave it alone so it could watch the entertainment feed all day.

This book had me sucked in from the first page, there was enough character development of the secondary characters to allow me to follow the story whilst only needing to know enough to not dilute the story of Murderbot.

All in all, I would recommend that anyone with an interest in Sci-fi to read this book, looking forward to continuing the series!

Excellent book, really grasped my attention. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

“Hex” by Jenni Fagan was more slog than spell. It took me a year to get through, and the repeated lines—“before this, before that, before more”—were just too much. I get the poetic aim, but it felt confusing. I wanted to like it, but the style kept tripping me up. The ending was okay, nothing spectacular. I do respect the grim take on witch hunts, yet overall, I found it more frustrating than fascinating. I admire the intention, but it just didn't captivate me.

It's a shame that the author sadly passed away whilst writing what was planned to be an “Epic Series” as this first book really had me wanting more. There was so much explained, yet so little but I spent the majority of the book coming up with different theories of which none proved correct.

I'm looking forward to the second book being released, but sad to know there will be no more.

After being captivated by the Netflix TV series adaptation of “Fool Me Once,” I was compelled to explore the original novel by Harlan Coben. My motivation stemmed from a sense that the series, while entertaining, might have glossed over nuances and complexities inherent in the source material. This assumption proved partially correct; the book indeed offers a deeper dive into the intricacies of the plot which the adaptation had trimmed or altered for dramatic effect.

Harlan Coben's “Fool Me Once” masterfully maintains a gripping sense of mystery that propels the narrative forward at an exhilarating pace. The storytelling is taut, with just the right amount of twists to keep the pages turning without resorting to the overly sensational additions found in the TV version. The book balances plot development with character depth, making for a reading experience that was both engaging and satisfying.

In conclusion, while the Netflix series introduced me to the story, the novel provided a more fulfilling and complex experience, resonating with a richness that the adaptation could only hint at. “Fool Me Once” is a testament to Coben's ability to craft suspense that is not only entertaining but also intellectually stimulating.

Although Foster by Claire Keegan had a nice style, it felt WAY too short for me. I couldn't get attached to the characters, and everything seemed rushed. Moments like the wake and the well felt glossed over, and the ending didn't hit as hard as I'd hoped. I ended up feeling disappointed, wanting more time to connect with the story and its people. Still, there's a gentle warmth here for fans of quiet, reflective tales. I just wish it had been given more time to shine. In the end, it left me wanting much more depth behind it.

The Trading Game” by Gary Stevenson is a rollercoaster of a read. I was hooked from the start, feeling a deep connection with Gary's journey. The middle chapters did slow down a bit, and there were moments when Gary's choices frustrated me. But by the end, I found myself cheering out loud.

As someone in the fintech industry, I was surprised by how much I learned about the inner workings of finance. Beyond the technical aspects, the book offers a profound look into the mental challenges traders face, highlighting how their mindset can both drive and torment them. It's been years since I picked up a non-fiction book, and this one reminded me why I should do it more often.