The Little Library Project

Six of Crows & Crooked Kingdom - Leigh Bardugo I can't believe that being the fantasy fan that I am, I haven't read this yet. I bought these back in December last year and I've been waiting to read them so I have a few days to binge. I've got them marked for the Easter Bank holiday! A Fatal Crossing - Tom Hindle I tried reading this last year and I think I just wasn't in a great place at the time - I made it about 40% of the way through. It'd one of the few books I've ever DNF'd, BUT I don't think that's anything to do with the book itself - so I'm going to give it another go.  Fatherland - Robert Harris For some reason, this book has always intrigued me and this month I WILL read it. The premise is of what could have happened in the UK had Germany won the second world war. Knowing what we now know, I'm keen to see how it plays out.  My Killer Vacation - Tessa Bailey A spontaneous find a few months ago, but I've enjoyed the other

  If there's one kind of book I love - it's one about witches.  Weyward is a new release that I knew I had to read as soon as I could. The cover is absolutely gorgeous too so naturally, I was drawn to it like a moth to a flame.  The story follows three generations of women, each attuned to nature and with a power to right the wrongs against them.  Whilst I was reading I tweeted that it's no wonder I'm a feminist when I read these kind of books because seriously - women have got the raw end of the deal for a while. Through flashbacks of each of the Kate, Violet and Altha, we learn their stories and how they came to realise their ability as a result of the trauma they'd experienced.  It's quite an intense book but I was able to read it quickly (once I'd got a pesky headache out of the way) and is a must for fans of all things witchy. 

  I had such high hopes for this book. The idea of a dystopian / science fiction novel that is looking at What Could Have Happened was something I was super invested in but instead.. it just seemed like a guessing game.  I am completely honest with myself here and fully accept that I may just not be intellectual enough for this book. I don't doubt that it is a great piece of work and has some really good messages and themes but it's one of the few books that I personally think would be better on screen.  And I have no shame in admitting it - I read the plot summary on Wikipedia once I'd finished and suddenly the book made sense.  Set in a world where Germany and Japan won the war, the US has been split into 4 territories, Africa has been destroyed and the Mediterranean Sea has been drained to become farming land. There are multiple stories running throughout the book with a little overlap, but the common theme is always something to do with a book - The Grasshopper Lies Hea

  As far as Romeo and Juliet inspired writings go - this was by far, the most perfect I could have expected. On one hand, the trope is familiar to us all but can sometimes come across as cliched and forced.  However, One For My Enemy used so many layers to bring this story to life in a really compelling way.  Using familiar settings of New York and underworld crime families, magic is weaved in to create this love story that focuses not just on our modern-day Romeo and Juliet, but their families.  The writing is stunning, it's extremely plot driven but the insight into the characters is just enough to choose favourites.  This is my first read of Olivie Blake and now I am SO excited to read Atlas Six because her writing is stunning.  And whilst it's completely unrelated, I'm glad that I'd previously read The Witch and the Tsar because it gave some of the Russian family names and terms so much more meaning. 

Rosie meets Will in sixth-form. He's tutoring her twin brother and a late night conversation around a bonfire begins a complex and deep friendship between the two opposites. Will is your stereotypical bad boy and Rosie is wholly focussed on her studies.  But in their final summer before they go their separate ways, a horrific incident leaves them emotionally bound to each other. Over the years, they drift in and out of each others lives and both deal with what happened in their own ways.  The premise of this book is almost cliche... but the execution is going to make this book a classic in its own right.  At first, I struggled with how it was written - the dialogue was basic and written in an untraditional way but I feel like this only added to the simplicity of the story in it's early pages. By the mid-point of the story, it was no longer a problem.  The characters are beautifully flawed, selfish and stubborn. The peaks and troughs are well thought out at there is sensitivity

  After been sat on my bookshelf for nearly 2 years, Ready Player Two was one of my chosen reads for February. The first one was fantastic and I remember being so immersed in the whole thing, even to the point where I considered picking up some old style arcade games to see what all the fuss was about.  But where Ready Player One was a love letter to the 80s and retro computer games... Ready Player Two may as well have been a ransom note.  I enjoyed being back in OASIS with the High Five and Wade/Parzival's decline after winning the hunt definitely came across as realistic. Even the plot of the sequel was believable for me and felt like it was suited for the story.  But what made the first book such an experience was the same as what ruined it in the second; the pop culture references.  It's been a while since I read the first instalment but I remember... getting it. Despite not being a computer game fan myself, I could follow the references, they were generic or well known eno

  TW: Suicide As a teen, I was really taken with the film, The Virgin Suicides with Kirsten Dunst. I remember watching it so much (an honour held by very few films) but everytime - it completely devastated me. I don't think I was quite mature enough to understand beyond; these beautiful young people couldn't take it anymore so they ended their lives.  Fast forward and I bought the book last year. I had to wait until I was emotionally ready to read it knowing that there was a very strong chance I'd be left a mess.  A few confessions: Knowing the story as I do, I am confident in saying that I probably rushed through this book I didn't allow myself to emotionally connect to it But I don't regret it.  I think I will re-read this one another time; I don't think I was as ready as I thought otherwise I would have digested the story slower and with more care.  What I didn't anticipate was how stunning the writing is. Written from the perspective of one of the witnes

  After an incident leaves Ibrahim in hospital, the gang is on a quest to ensure that justice is dealt to the teenager who hurt him. At the same time, Elizabeth has an unexpected visitor to the retirement village, on the run after an MI5 job didn't go to plan.  Once again, Joyce, Rob, Ibrahim and Elizabeth are joined by Chris and Donna on a mystery that will keep them all on their toes, getting them into trouble and proving that sometimes the oldest tricks in the book are the best. I cannot tell you how lovely it felt to curl back up with The Thursday Murder Club. I read Richard Osman's first book back in 2021 and devoured it in a single sitting.  I think we need to rename this genre Cosy Thriller - because it keeps your guessing, there's definitely some dark undertones but thanks to Osman's quintessentially British writing, it feels like harmless fun with the grandparents.  I can't wait to reach The Bullet That Missed when it comes out in paperback later this year.

Fresh in the midst of Valentines, I started reading Don't Swipe Right on Valentines day. Not only was it topical but the book is set on the lead up to Gwen's best friends wedding on February 14th. Following a fairly recent break up, Gwen is dipping her toe in the dating pool using online apps to meet new people. She is quickly realising that it's slim pickings. But the biggest shock comes when one of her dates, Rob is found dead in the local park.  After finding messages on the dating app from Gwen, the police want to speak her as she may have been one of the last people to speak to him alive. But then Freddie - her date from the following night is found dead too.. In my opinion this book is extremely plot driven - I enjoyed the characters but they were relatively flat with only the barest of back story.  As a thriller, this definitely meets he whodunnit criteria - I was kept guessing all the way through!

I've never bought into "tropes" but this one ticked some serious boxes... I may be converted.  Catalina's sister is getting married. Her ex is the best man and she is definitely NOT going to turn up on her own - especially after finding out that he's now engaged.  But she's still single, so what choice does she have? Aaron. That's her choice. Irritating, smug Aaron - work colleague and general pain-in-her-arse. But what's in it for him? The Spanish Love Deception is a fake romance, one bed, enemies to lovers FEST and I loved it.  Armas' writing was exactly what I needed - easy to digest, character driven and brilliant storytelling. My only criticism? I would have LOVED more scene setting in Spain. Maybe it was the dreary February British weather but that would have been the icing on the cake for me. 

When Love Theoretically became available for request on NetGalley, my Twitter feed was awash with excitement. Naturally, I joined the masses.  Between me and you - I purposely requested no other books so I could sit comfortably at the desired 80% mark awaiting approval.  Elsie is fed up of earning very little, rationing her insulin and dealing with paper extension requests from her students - she's being championed for a position with MIT but her two worlds are about to collide. Whilst working on the side as a Date-For-Hire, in walks Jack, the brother of one of her Fake Boyfriends.  Elsie has to navigate the interview process under the tutelage of her mentor whilst also managing to keep up the charade of the fake relationship.  Focussing much more on the politics of academia; if your main challenge with Hazelwoods books have been the science element - this is going to be right up your street.  Yes, Love Theoretically does follow the tried and tested formula for this series of incre

Having been interested in the Romanov executions from a young age, this book was an immediate addition to my TBR but I was so disappointed to find the paperback was £16 to buy. That's not within my paperback budget.  But then, I signed up to Kindle Unlimited and I cannot tell you how pleased I was to find this book on there - and it was of course my first KU read.  The thing with books that are based on real people and real events; it's easy to judge them on the historical accuracy. It's easy to metaphorically tear a book apart because the fictionalised character and events to not match what the reader believes or knows.  And going into reading Anastasia,, that's exactly what I was concerned about. I have an educated idea of what happened, how and when. And there was one point of this book where the timeline was note matching up - specifically Red Sunday. In reality this would have happened when Anastasia was 4/5 years old, whereas in Lark's story - she was in her t

I have been ITCHING to read this for about 6 months now so I was pleased as anything when I caught it in the Hardback sale at Waterstones in the New Year.  If you want cosy fantasy then this is definitely a book for you.  Viv has been adventuring and caught up in bounty hunting for all of her life but she wants to settle down. She sets herself up in a quiet village and starts her business venture... coffee! Discovered in a faraway town, coffee is a gnome creation and she has no idea if those in Thune will even like it.  With the local mob and an old acquaintance threatening to bring everything down around them, Viv teams up with Cal, Tandri and Thimble to make Legends & Lattes a success. I want to live in Thune. I want to take a book and sit in one of the booths of the cafe and try a Thimblet.  This has so much potential to become a cult series akin to Discworld. There is so much scope for Baldree to develop the world he's started.  If you love fantasy but want something lighth

  If there's one thing I love... it's a fictional retelling of factual events - but when I started it, I had no idea.  And with this one - you're in for a wild ride. The Maiden is about the trial of an adulteress and Murderer, Lady Christian Nimmo. From a family of standing, Christian is due to be executed on The Maiden.  Whilst the time and setting of this tale is based in the 17th century - I wouldn't call this a Historical Fiction in the manner that I typically find them. This is as much of a mystery - potentially even a thriller.  The plot definitely leads this book but the characters are well written. My favourite was Violet - ambitious and selfish, she came across the strongest and had a real feeling of Bad*ss B*tch about her. 

  LEGENDS & LATTES - Travis Baldree Read the full review here HOMECOMING - Kate Morton Read the full review here THE MAIDEN - Kate Foster Read the full review here READY PLAYER TWO - Ernest Cline Read the full review here ANASTASIA - Sophie Lark Read the full review here LOVE THEORETICALLY - Ali Hazelwood Read the full review here THE SPANISH LOVE DECEPTION - Elena Armas Read the full review here DON'T SWIPE RIGHT - LM Chilton Read the full review here THE MAN WHO DIED TWICE - Richard Osman Read the full review  here THE VIRGIN SUICIDES - Jeffrey Eugenides Read the full review  here TALKING AT NIGHT - Claire Daverley Read the full review  here ONE FOR MY ENEMY - Olivie Blake Read the full review  here THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE - Philip K Dick Read the full review  here WEYWARD - Emilia Hart Read the full review here ICE PLANET BARBARIANS - Ruby Dixon Read the full review here HOKEY POKEY - Kate Mascarenhas Read the full review  here BARBARIAN ALIEN - Ruby Dixon Read the full r