August and September were busy months for books. I went back to work a while back and I’ve been spending my commute reading or listening to Audible. I’ve actually managed to smash my Goodreads Challenge this year (only one book to go!) which I guess is one positive to come out of lockdown!
I’m always open to recommendations so please leave your favourite titles in the comments (my TBR list is ever growing…)
The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
During the languid days of the Christmas break, a group of thirtysomething friends from Oxford meet to welcome in the New Year together, a tradition they began as students ten years ago. For this vacation, they’ve chosen an idyllic and isolated estate in the Scottish Highlands—the perfect place to get away and unwind by themselves.
They arrive on December 30th, just before a historic blizzard seals the lodge off from the outside world.
Two days later, on New Year’s Day, one of them is dead.
The trip began innocently enough: admiring the stunning if foreboding scenery, champagne in front of a crackling fire, and reminiscences about the past. But after a decade, the weight of secret resentments has grown too heavy for the group’s tenuous nostalgia to bear. Amid the boisterous revelry of New Year’s Eve, the cord holding them together snaps.
Now one of them is dead . . . and another of them did it.
Keep your friends close, the old adage goes. But just how close is too close?
I really enjoyed this one! I was in the mood for a classic whodunit and The Hunting Party delivered spectacularly. It had all the reminiscents of an Agatha Christie novel – an ominous setting, endless twists and a boatload of crooked characters. This is definitely one you can devour in one sitting – whenever I had to put it down I was itching to get back to the story!
The book is told from the POV of five different characters – Miranda, Emma, Katie, Doug and Heather. I thought Doug and Heather’s chapters could have been omitted as, personally, I didn’t think they added anything to the story, but I can understand why the author chose to include them. There are countless red herrings in this book and characters which seem to have been crammed in to simply create extra suspects. I’m not a fan of this tactic as it feels like a cheap move to manipulate the reader and keep you in the dark. I did, however, relish the twists and turns and I found the ending satisfying.
I know a lot of people have complained that the book is a bit of a slow burner, but personally I was hooked from the start. I enjoyed the dark backstories of the Oxford friends – each character was crafted so well. I found Miranda the most interesting; there’s nothing I love more than a villainous female lead! She was a total Regina George.
It’s been a long time since I’ve felt genuinely sad about finishing a book but The Hunting Party left me wanting more (in a good way!) I’d recommend it to anyone wanting a juicy, suspense-filled thriller.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life.
When she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one in the journalism community is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now? Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband, David, has left her, and her career has stagnated. Regardless of why Evelyn has chosen her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.
Summoned to Evelyn’s Upper East Side apartment, Monique listens as Evelyn unfurls her story: from making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the late 80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way. As Evelyn’s life unfolds—revealing a ruthless ambition, an unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love—Monique begins to feel a very a real connection to the actress. But as Evelyn’s story catches up with the present, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.
Oh I loved this – it’s without a doubt the best book I’ve read so far this year. It was so believable there were times I was convinced I was reading a real autobiography. I adored Evelyn and the minute I finished the story I missed her. Her character was so well written and I loved how unapologetic and empowering she was.
The relationships in Seven Husbands were a thing of beauty. Evelyn’s friendship with Harry and her love for Celia had me invested right from the beginning. I was sent through all the emotions – I laughed, I cried, I got angry. This book did a wonderful job of rekindling my love for Hollywood’s Golden age whilst also reminding me how much I’d hate to be famous. The misogynistic directors, ruthless paparazzi and controlling contracts sounded so familiar to biographies I’ve read about Judy Garland and Marilyn Monroe. It broke my heart that Evelyn, Celia and Harry weren’t ever able to present their true selves to the world.
If I had one tiny criticism to make it would be that I didn’t connect with Monique all that much. Whenever the story flipped to the present day I was desperate to rush to the next chapter and get back to Evelyn. However, I thought the way the author wove the two timelines together was clever and the ending tied up nicely. I semi-predicted the ‘twist’ but I’d enjoyed the book so much this didn’t bother me.
Five glorious stars! I really hope they make this into a film.
The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
Anne and Marco Conti seem to have it all–a loving relationship, a wonderful home, and their beautiful baby, Cora. But one night when they are at a dinner party next door, a terrible crime is committed. Suspicion immediately focuses on the parents. But the truth is a much more complicated story.
Inside the curtained house, an unsettling account of what actually happened unfolds. Detective Rasbach knows that the panicked couple is hiding something. Both Anne and Marco soon discover that the other is keeping secrets, secrets they’ve kept for years.
Inside the curtained house, an unsettling account of what actually happened unfolds. Detective Rasbach knows that the panicked couple is hiding something. Both Anne and Marco soon discover that the other is keeping secrets, secrets they’ve kept for years.
This had been on my TBR pile for a while – it’d been recommended to me a few times and I’d seen numerous glowing reviews online. However, the obvious problem with reading a book that’s so hyped up is you have high expectations, and unfortunately The Couple Next Door didn’t deliver.
It was a quick, easy read and the plot held my interest. Sadly that’s where the positives ended for me. First of all, I didn’t connect with the characters and found I didn’t care what happened to any of them. Secondly, the writing felt repetitive and amateurish. The whole thing read like so many other forgettable, cliche thrillers – you get through it because you want to know ‘whodunit,’ but as soon as you finish you’ll never think about it or pick it up again.
I was ready to give this 3/5 – it was relatively enjoyable (in a guilty pleasure sort of way) and it kept me entertained. Then the ending came. I hated it so much I dropped my rating to 2 stars.
I know I’m probably in the minority with this one as it’s received so much praise online, so definitely check it out if it’s been on your radar. Unfortunately it just wasn’t for me!
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Who are you?
What have we done to each other?
These are the questions Nick Dunne finds himself asking on the morning of his fifth wedding anniversary, when his wife Amy suddenly disappears. The police suspect Nick. Amy’s friends reveal that she was afraid of him, that she kept secrets from him. He swears it isn’t true. A police examination of his computer shows strange searches. He says they weren’t made by him. And then there are the persistent calls on his mobile phone.
So what did happen to Nick’s beautiful wife?
I feel like I can’t give this an accurate rating as I’ve seen the film and therefore already knew the plot. I put off reading it for so long as I believe half the fun with books like this is anticipating the twists! However, I was pleasantly surprised to find I was still hooked the whole way through. I could also relax in a way and enjoy the writing and the characters rather than focusing solely on how it was going to end.
I read/watch a lot of thrillers and I feel I’ve almost become desensitised to descriptions of crime scenes, murders etc. However, Gone Girl seriously raised the bar for me – it’s deliciously disturbing. The plot – clever and unpredictable – is probably one of the most original I’ve ever read, especially in this genre. You’ll be thinking about it for days afterwards!
While I really enjoyed this for the most part, there are a few things I didn’t like which led me to rate it 4 stars instead of 5. Firstly, the whole book had an air of ‘smugness’ about it which left a bad taste in my mouth. Gillian Flynn is an amazing writer but many of her one-liners had me cringing – (“She blew more smoke toward me, a lazy game of cancer catch” – oh please!) Also, it was rather slow in places, with drawn-out paragraphs that added nothing to the plot. I get that it’s important to flesh out your characters but there were so many unnecessary side stories (in my opinion); the book could easily have been halved in length.
Despite the negatives, Gone Girl has earned a place as one of my favourite thrillers. I couldn’t put it down. The film is also a fab adaption – Rosamund Pike is incredible as Amy!
What have you been reading recently?
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