Ghosts - Dolly Alderton

Description

Everything gets easier in your thirties, right?

Though she has plenty to celebrate - successful career, new home, loving friends and family - for Nina Dean, her thirties have not exactly been the liberating experience she was sold. From fading friendships to exes popping the question, everyone is moving on (or worse, to the suburbs). And as her dad slowly loses his memories, her mum seems dead set on making new ones.

Then she meets Max, who tells her on date one that he's going to marry her. But what seems like an exciting new development will ensure this year is Nina's strangest yet . . .

Review

I wasn't interested in reading this book at all, but then the audio was on the library app, and I thought I would give it a go. Wow! Thank goodness I did, I would have missed this gem of a book.

Nina George Dean (named George for reasons that will be explained) had thought she was settled until she broke up with her ex and now she is on the look out for Mr Right again. She's still friends with her ex and he's definitely moved on, so now it's time for her to move on too. Set in 2018, Nina signs up to a dating website and then she finds Max who she begins a wonderful relationship with.

Meanwhile she has a best friend who she rarely sees these days, as she has a child and Nina doesn't. Is there anything left of their friendship now she's moving to Surrey? Her other friend, Lola, (who wouldn't be amiss in Ab Fab) is childless and is looking for the one too.She is full of sage advice and fun. A mad Italian neighbour who is causing her so much grief (her retaliation is wonderful) and her lovely Father who has dementia, but his wife is changing her name from Nancy to Mandy - that won't be confusing for him at all!

So much was relatable in this book despite my being way past my thirties and not having lived them in the recent past. I just loved all the characters, some more than others, but they all became so familiar to me that I'm missing them already. Very funny but at times so poignant that I got a tear in my eye.

I listened to the audio version of this book which was narrated brilliantly. I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to borrowbox and the local library.

Comments

No One Would Do What The Lamberts Have Done - Sophie Hannah

Description The twistiest murder mystery you are ever likely to read? A story about a family that does the unthinkable in order to save the life of one of its beloved members? Both? Or something else altogether? You'll have to read until the very last word in order to find out… You think it will never happen to you: the ring of the bell, the policeman on the doorstep. What he says traps you in a nightmare that starts with the words, 'I'm afraid…' Sally Lambert is also afraid, and desperate enough to consider the unthinkable. Is it really, definitely, impossible to escape from this horror? Maybe not. There's always something you can do, right? Of course, no one would ever do this particular something – except the Lamberts, who might have to. No one has ever gone this far. Until Sally decides that the Lamberts will… 'An incident involving a dog in a small village escalates to an all-out conflict, turning neighbour against neighbour, and culminating in murder. Bu...

The Dilemmas of Work Women - Fumio Yamamoto

Description The classic Japanese bestseller published in English for the very first time - a darkly funny and relatable book portraying the lives of five women 'Witty, wise and thought-provoking' Cecelia Ahern 'Crackles and pops with humour, empathy and intelligence' Lisa Owens, author of Not Working 'So brilliantly written that I kept trying to memorise sentences in order to repeat them to people later' Roxy Dunn, author of As Young as This Izumi needs to get a job. Haruka needs to stop talking about how she once had cancer. Katō needs to get through a shift at the convenience store without being harassed. Mito needs to break up with her boyfriend - or marry him. Sumie just needs somewhere to live. In this classic Japanese bestseller, published in English twenty-five years after it took Japan by storm, the lives of five ordinary women are depicted with irresistible humour and searing emotional insight. Review A collection of short ...

A Neighbour’s Guide to Murder - Louise Candlish

Description A gripping new thriller from the author of Our House, packed full of stunning twists! ‘Louise Candlish has a gift for examining hotly topical issues with intelligence, wit, and a keen eye for observational detail. A Neighbour’s Guide to Murder is a smartly constructed psychological thriller with a wicked twist in the tale. Flawless!’ Lucy Clarke ‘A terrific story, witty, engaging and a total page-turner.’ Liz Nugent 'A whip-smart, razor-sharp domestic thriller… a fiendishly twisty plot. Gwen is my new obsession!' Isabelle Broom ‘A brilliant mess-with-your-mind slow burn thriller. Louise is a master manipulator and this is not to be missed’ Nikki Smith 'Louise Candlish excels at issue-led plots. A clever “through the keyhole” take on neighbours.' Jane Corry 'Meticulously plotted with twists and turns aplenty. It's a truly addictive read.' Hannah Beckerman Her secrets will be the death of you. It’s rare for a r...

BOOKSIMO

Search This Blog