Fourteen Days - Margaret Atwood and Douglas Preston

 

Description

A BBC, Financial Times and Cosmopolitan What to Read in 2024 pick

Set in a New York apartment building, Fourteen Days is an irresistibly propulsive novel with an unusual twist: each character in this diverse, eccentric cast of neighbours has been secretly written by a different, major literary voice - from Margaret Atwood and John Grisham to Emma Donoghue and Celeste Ng.

One week into lockdown, the tenants of a run-down apartment building in Manhattan have begun to gather on the rooftop each evening and tell stories. With each passing night, more and more neighbours gather, bringing chairs and milk crates and overturned pails. Gradually the tenants – some of whom have barely spoken to each other before now – become real neighbours.

A dazzling, heartwarming and ultimately surprising narrative, Fourteen Days is an ode to the power of storytelling and human connection.

Includes writing from: Charlie Jane Anders, Margaret Atwood, Jennine Capo Crucet, Pat Cummings, Joseph Cassara, Angie Cruz, Sylvia Day, Emma Donoghue, Dave Eggers, Diana Gabaldon, Tess Gerritsen, John Grisham, Maria Hinojosa, Mira Jacob, Erica Jong, CJ Lyons, Celeste Ng, Tommy Orange, Mary Pope Osborne, Doug Preston, Alice Randall, Caroline Randall, Ishmael Reed, Roxana Robinson, Nelly Rosario, James Shapiro, Hampton Sides, R.L. Stine, Nafissa Thompson-Spires, Monique Truong, Scott Turow, Luis Alberto Urrea, Rachel Vail, Weike Wang, DeShawn Charles Winslow, Meg Wolitzer

Review

I came to read Margaret Atwood, but really I never knew which author I was reading, and I loved it.


This is about a group of New Yorkers during the Covid pandemic of 2020. Each night they meet on the roof top to share stories to pass the time, and begin to really know their neighbours.


This isn't a collection of short stories. There are no chapters as such, just the date of each of the 14 days in the title. Each day those on the roof just begin to share whatever they want to say. Some of them are tales, some are experiences, and they differ in length. Brilliantly written by everyone, I really felt I was there each evening. A few of the voices I loved more than others, but the ones (in the minority) I didn't care for I just scan read. It could have been the subject matter or the character, not everyone was for me.


I thought that was it, nothing more to say. However, unexpectedly at the end there was a twist - which I never saw coming, but it did explain some of my doubts. I read through this like a novel, but you could pick it up as and when you felt like it. There are a lot of characters and sometimes I felt like they had a slightly different voice, but I just went with it. I didn't get too hung up on which author wrote what. At the end of the book there are credits to each of the authors, explaining which of them wrote which tale.


I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review. This book is published on 6 February 2024.

The Mystery Guest - Nita Prose

 

Description

*The sparkling new novel from the award-winning, million-copy bestselling author of The Maid*

‘Witty, joyful and utterly unique’ A J FINN
‘Captivates from page one’ JANICE HALLETT
‘A flawless and brilliant read’ LIZ NUGENT
_________________________________________________________________

A new mess.
A new mystery.
Molly the maid returns . . .

Molly Gray wears her Head Maid badge proudly for every shift at the Regency Grand Hotel, plumping pillows, sweeping up the guests’ secrets, silently restoring rooms to a state of perfection.

But when a renowned guest – a famous mystery writer – drops very dead in the grand tea room, Molly has an unusual clean-up on her hands.

As rumours and suspicion swirl in the hotel corridors, it’s clear there’s grime lurking beneath the gilt. And Molly knows that she alone holds the key to the mystery. But unlocking it means thinking about the past, about Gran, and everything else she’s kept tidied away in her memory for so long.

Because Molly knew the dead guest once upon a time – and he knew her . . .

Review

When I read The Maid by the same author, the ending was so neatly tied up that I never expected to see a sequel. It's been a delight to read about Molly the maid once more.

It seems Molly has matured a lot since the last book, and whilst she still is a little unworldly wise, her reasoning seems spot on. She's even hiring a new maid, but will her character assessment of the new maid be found to be lacking?

I was intrigued to know how Molly knew the famous mystery writer who has since died in her hotel. An unfortunate coincidence based on the death in the last book, and one which the police are keen to pick up on. I fear for Molly but she took it all in her stride and even became a sleuth herself. The book goes to "before" to show us Molly's early life, which is when she met the writer. What a great insight it was, not only into her character but that of her beloved and wise Gran. 

It's always a worry that a sequel will not do justice to the original, but this is even better in my opinion.

I just loved reading this book. If you enjoyed the first book, then I think you will also enjoy this one too. 

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. The book is published on 18 January 2024. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review.

The Secrets Between Us - Laura Madeleine

 

Description

A gripping mystery with a heart-breaking revelation, The Secrets Between Us is a sublimely satisfying story of lost love, betrayal and the dangers of war.

‘Sublimely satisfying’ Veronica Henry, author of The Forever House

High in the mountains in the South of France, eighteen-year-old Ceci Corvin is trying hard to carry on as normal. But in 1943, there is no such thing as normal; especially not for a young woman in love with the wrong person. Scandal, it would seem, can be more dangerous than war.

Fifty years later, Annie is looking for her long-lost grandmother. Armed with nothing more than a sheaf of papers, she travels from England to Paris in pursuit of the truth. But as she traces her grandmother’s story, Annie uncovers something she wasn’t expecting, something that changes everything she knew about her family – and everything she thought she knew about herself…

Perfect for fans of Kate Morton's The Lake House and Dinah Jeffries' Before the Rains.

Review

This is a dual timeline novel set in 1943 and 1993. I found that I was getting into the story in 1943 and then pulled to 1993, where not so much seemed to be happening. The character Annie in the 90s was a little boring to me. There was so much more action and vigour in the 1943 characters.

The second world war timeline was different than anything I have read about this period before. It certainly opened my eyes to a world in a small village in France I was not aware of. Although not totally historic the author did base the writing on a real village.

I thought that the first half of this book dragged a little. But once the two timelines met I found it much more intriguing and couldn't put it down. This resulted in a satisfying ending which has had me replaying parts of the book to make sense of it all.

I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the review copy.

The Vintage Village Bake Off - Judy Leigh

 

Description

Now in his seventies, Robert Parkin is stunned to find himself the unlikely sex symbol of the village gardening club.

Living in happy solitude with his cat Isaac Mewton in the Devon village of Millbrook, entertained by his mischievous chickens and goats, Robert has never figured out the rules of romance. But as the local ladies vie for his company, it soon becomes clear that Robert’s Victoria Sponge cake is the lure, and as his baking prowess grows, so does his confidence.

Cheesecakes, meringues, puddings, Robert can do it all, but his real masterpieces are his scones – ginger, rosemary, coconut, fruit, his recipes are inspired and soon come to the attention of the local media. Which county does the best cream tea – Devon or Cornwall? It’s time for an age-old debate to be settled with a competition.

Robert’s sisters Bunty and Hattie are both at crossroads in their lives, so news of their brother’s baking competition is the perfect excuse to bring them to Millbrook. And as the siblings relish each other’s company, and Robert relishes being at the heart of his community, a summer of scones may just light the way to long-lasting happiness for them all.

Review

I admit the title of this book and the author just had me wanting to read it. So I spent a good few pages wondering when the Bake Off was going to begin. I even began to think I had picked up the wrong book.

Once I settled into the story I was fine and put the Bake Off idea out of my head. Whilst this might on the surface appear to be a gentle tale there were a couple of characters who made my blood boil. Just as I was beginning to think all was well in the village there was a little incidence and I was brought back down to earth.

I loved the descriptions of the baking and the recipes - you might want to have eaten before reading! The characters were charming in the main and some even grew a backbone after decades of put downs. Eventually we got to the bake off and the deciding factor of who does have the best cream tea - Devon or Cornwall?

A delightful fun and witty read. I'm giving it four out of five stars.

My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review. This book is published on 4 December 2023.

What Might Have Been - Holly Miller

 

Description

One split-second decision.
Two different love stories.

Lucy's life is at a crossroads. She's just walked out of her unrewarding job and has no idea about her next step: use her savings to pursue her dream of becoming a writer, or move to London to try and revive her career? It almost seems like fate that on that same night she meets Caleb, a stranger in a bar, and runs into Max, the one-time love of her life.

Should Lucy stay in the seaside town she grew up in, and in doing so, get to know Caleb better? Or should she go to London and reconnect with Max again after he broke her heart a decade ago? It's just one decision - but sometimes one decision can change the course of your whole life . . .

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN is a sweeping and unforgettable novel for anyone who has ever believed in destiny and soulmates - or paused to wonder what your life might look like if you'd made a different choice.

Review

If you've seen the film Sliding Doors or read the Two Lives of Lydia Bird, then you will be familiar with the concept of this book.

The premise of this story is that Lucy has two life choices. Should she reunite with an ex and go away or stick with the new guy she just met in the pub and stay put? The book follows what her life would be like depending on her choice. It has a dual time line with the header STAY or GO so you know which time line you are reading.

I did have moments in this book where I got confused which timeline I was in. Not due to the writing, but just with my own memory, having put the book down in between chapters. I read on and clues to past events put me right again. Towards the middle of the book I felt the progression of the story slowed down and whilst it was interesting to read the same events in the different timelines it also felt a little repetitive.

The last third of the book was for me where the stories came together, and it was very poignant. I'm glad I read to the end, I really wanted to know what would become of Lucy, Max and Caleb, just a little quicker than it took. Although this is a romcom there are potential triggers for readers.

I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review.

Mrs Winterbottom takes a Gap Year - Joanna Nell

 

Description

It's never too late for the adventure of a lifetime . . .

Heather Winterbottom has worked side by side with her husband as GPs in their idyllic rural practice for over forty years. But as the time comes to hang up their stethoscopes, the Winterbottoms discover that they have rather different visions of retirement . . .

Heather dreams of exploring the Greek Islands, of escaping the shackles of her routine life and embracing an exciting new adventure. Alan dreams of growing his own vegetables.

When things come to a head at a family lunch, Heather announces that she has decided to take a year off. From her old life, from her marriage - from Alan. Alone in beautiful Greece, Heather embarks on her very own odyssey - complete with peak experiences, pitfalls and temptations. But what if coming home is the biggest adventure yet?

Review

There were so many facets to this story and I enjoyed all of them.

What I loved most about this book is that it covered lots of things I found really interesting. For instance how patients stop the Dr and want advice on their aliments and the medical jargon. The insights into The Odyssey by Homer, and most of all how someone someone you think you know can have such a different outlook on your life. 

There were so many facets to this story and I enjoyed all of them. The characters were given depth through the eyes of Heather as she sifted through what she knew of them and what they meant to her. How her relationships and path in life had changed now she was officially retired. There were also flashbacks to the past covering how she met her husband.

Slightly comical was her unexpected travelling companion to the Greek Isles who had introduced her to The Odyssey. As was the couple she breakfasted with when she couldn't avoid them. Each time I put this book down I couldn't wait to get back to it, which is always for me the sign that I am really enjoying a story. It was a wonderful read, just like all the other books I've read by this author.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review. This book is published on 2 November 2023.

This Christmas - Emma Heatherington

 

Description

Rose used to love Christmas – until the year everything changed. She hasn’t been home to visit her family for the holidays since.

Charlie is facing his first Christmas alone. It may be the most wonderful time of the year for some, but not for him. Not this year.

In search of comfort and seclusion, Rose escapes to a cottage in rural Donegal to hunker down for the festive season alone.

But when Charlie opens the door to Seaview Cottage, the two strangers realise that their holiday rental has been double-booked.

Both of them expected to spend this Christmas alone. But their lives could be changed forever if they agree to spend it together. . .

Review

A lovely read, especially for fans of The Holiday.

Whilst this books was quite similar to the premise of the movie "The Holiday", it does have a little more depth, and is not so sugar coated. We don't know why Rose and Charlie chose to go away by themselves for Christmas, only that it doesn't hold happy memories for them this year.

However, as the cottage is double booked, they don't spend Christmas alone but with each other, almost! Charlie is not at all keen to acknowledge Rose and insists they text each other if they are to share the cottage together. They also each have a dog which is a nice touch.

Difficult to say more without giving too much away. It isn't too Christmassy that you need to save it to the holiday season, in fact due to some of the issues raised I was glad I hadn't read it at Christmas.

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review. This book is published on 26 October 2023.