O: Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout #atozchallenge

Posted on April 18, 2023 by Jennifer Jones

The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge is for bloggers who wish to participate by publishing a blog post every day in April except for Sundays. Each blog post will focus on a letter of the alphabet. For example April 1 will be A, April 2 will be B and on it goes. By the end of April, a blog post for every letter of the alphabet will have been posted. My theme for 2023 is Book Reviews.

You can read my reviews without worrying about spoilers. My reviews are quite brief and I give away nothing more than you would read on the back cover or on Goodreads.

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OH WILLIAM!
BY
ELIZABETH STROUT

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY

“Lucy Barton is a writer, but her ex-husband, William, remains a hard man to read. William, she confesses, has always been a mystery to me. Another mystery is why the two have remained connected after all these years. They just are.

So Lucy is both surprised and not surprised when William asks her to join him on a trip to investigate a recently uncovered family secret—one of those secrets that rearrange everything we think we know about the people closest to us. What happens next is nothing less than another example of what Hilary Mantel has called Elizabeth Strout’s “perfect attunement to the human condition.” There are fears and insecurities, simple joys and acts of tenderness, and revelations about affairs and other spouses, parents and their children. On every page of this exquisite novel we learn more about the quiet forces that hold us together—even after we’ve grown apart.

At the heart of this story is the indomitable voice of Lucy Barton, who offers a profound, lasting reflection on the very nature of existence. “This is the way of life,” Lucy says: “the many things we do not know until it is too late.” – Goodreads

Published in 2021. 240 pages

MY THOUGHTS

This is a quite a short novel, but that doesn’t at all detract from it’s substance, or my enjoyment of the story. Elizabeth Strout has created characters who are flawed, and are totally relatable. The story of Lucy who is in her sixties, is also the story of her ex husband William. Lucy and William have been divorced for years, but have remained friends. This is a lovely story about relationships, the worries of ageing, memories, family, and the thoughts we have that worry us.

Perhaps it’s because Lucy and William are very close in age to me, but I really did identify with these characters. I felt their pain and their joy. I also understood the importance of their memories to them, at this stage of their lives. Perhaps this was also due to the excellent writing of the author.

I didn’t realise until I finished Oh William! that it is book three in the Lucy Barton series. Not having read the first two, didn’t make Oh William! any less enjoyable. However, I now have the other three books on my TBR list. Below is a photo of the books in order.

Image – Penguin Publishing

All books that I review have been purchased by me or borrowed from the library, unless otherwise stated.

Star Rating

Please note that my star rating system isn’t at all based on literary merit, but is based on my enjoyment for the book.
For me a book that gets five stars, is a book that I really enjoyed, and found difficult to put down.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Unputdownable. Would definitely read again
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Fantastic read. Not to be missed.
⭐️⭐️⭐️Enjoyable read. Would recommend.
⭐️⭐️Wouldn’t read again
⭐️Don’t recommend this book again

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Images and author information: Goodreads

You can find my other blogs here:
Next Phase In Fitness & Life and Tracking Down The Family

N: Nightwork by Nora Roberts #atozchallenge

Posted on April 17, 2023 by Jennifer Jones

You can read my reviews without worrying about spoilers. My reviews are quite brief and I give away nothing more than you would read on the back cover or on Goodreads.

NIGHTWORK
BY
NORA ROBERTS

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Summary

At nine years old, Harry Booth started sneaking out at night to steal from houses, in order to provide for the family, as his mother was gravely ill, and wasn’t able to work. After her death, he continued with the stealing, and became an expert, continually taking on new identities, to evade capture. Harry became friends with Miranda at school, and as they become older, she had no idea of Harry’s nocturnal activities. As Harry enters a dangerous world, he splits with Amanda, to protect her safety. Harry then takes on a very complicated job, which has been commissioned by a notorious, dangerous person. This is when Harry’s world becomes a dangerous place to be.

Published in 2022. 437 pages.

My Thoughts

This is the first of Norah Robert’s books that I’ve read, and I surprised myself by really enjoying it. I loved Harry. Even though his is definitely a criminal, he is a very likeable character and otherwise, has very strong morals. Other than stealing, of course. Even though this story line is a mystery, and could even be classed as a thriller, it is very much character based. The other characters around Harry are very strong, believable and entertaining. I found myself laughing many times. I definitely recommend this book, and will be reading more of this author.

Star Rating

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Images and author information: Goodreads

You can find my other blogs here:
Next Phase In Fitness & Life and Tracking Down The Family

J: Just An Ordinary Family by Fiona Lowe #atozchallenge

Posted on April 12, 2023 by Jennifer Jones

The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge is for bloggers who wish to participate by publishing a blog post every day in April except for Sundays. Each blog post will focus on a letter of the alphabet. For example, April 1 will be A, April 2 will be B and on it goes. By the end of April, a blog post for every letter of the alphabet will have been posted. My theme for 2023 is Book Reviews.

You can read my reviews without worrying about spoilers. My reviews are quite brief, and I give away nothing more than you would read on the back cover or on Goodreads.

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JUST AN ORDINARY FAMILY
BY
FIONA LOWE

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Summary

“Alice Hunter is smarting from the raw deal life has thrown her way: suddenly single, jobless and forced to move home to her parents’ tiny seaside town. And now she faces an uncomfortable truth. She wants her twin sister Libby’s enviable life.

Libby’s closest friend Jess Dekic has been around the Hunter family for so long she might as well be blood. She’s always considered herself a sister closer to Libby than Alice ever could be…

Libby Hunter has all of life’s boxes ticked: prominent small-town doctor, gorgeous husband and two young daughters. But when she is betrayed by those she loves most, it reveals how tenuous her world is…

For Karen Hunter, her children are a double-edged sword of pain and pride. She’s always tried to guide her girls through life’s pitfalls, but how do you protect your children when they’re adults?

As the family implodes, the fallout for these four women will be inescapable…” – Goodreads

Published in 2020
Paperback,

My Thoughts

I don’t usually pick up books about relationships, especially family relationships, but surprising to me, I enjoyed reading about the family, the women and the secrets in this story. The secrets and conflicts seemed very real and believable to me.

There are many tears and laughters in the story, as there were for me. As the story went on, I found that I kept changing my mind about who’s side I was on, and who was the more honest and deserving of a happy ending. This is also a story about kindness and forgiveness. Nobody is perfect, as is the case in real life. A very real and relatable read, that I would recommend.

Star Rating
Please note that my star rating system isn’t at all based on literary merit, but is based on my enjoyment for the book. For me a book that gets five stars, is a book that I really enjoyed, and found difficult to put down.

Find me here: Facebook and Instagram and Goodreads

Images and author information: Goodreads

You can find my other blogs here:
Next Phase In Fitness & Life and Tracking Down The Family

B: Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah

Posted on April 3, 2023 by Jennifer Jones

You can read my reviews without worrying about spoilers. My reviews are quite brief and I give away nothing more than you would read on the back cover or on Goodreads.

BETWEEN SISTERS
BY
KRISTIN HANNAH

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Summary

“We all make mistakes, but for Meghann Dontess the terrible choice she made some years ago cost her everything, including the love of her sister, Claire. Meghann is now a highly successful attorney, and has put all thoughts of love completely behind her – until she meets the one man who believes he can change her mind” Goodreads

Claire has fallen in love for the first time in her life, and as her wedding day approaches she prepares to face her strong-willed older sister. Reunited after two decades, these two women who believe they have nothing in common will try to become what they never were: a family.

Published in 2003, 428 pages

My Thoughts

I’m a big fan of Kristin Hannah which is why I decided to read this book. The topic didn’t really call to me but I was expecting to enjoy it.

Between Sisters is a book about relationships, both the good and the bad. It’s not the type of book that I would normally pick up, but I did enjoy it. I found the sisters to be very interesting characters. This story is totally different to other books written by Kristin Hannah, that I have read. My favourites are Alone and The Nightingale. Between Sisters is an enjoyable read, but I didn’t find it to be totally engrossing and memorable.

Key To My Star Rating

Books that I review have been purchased by me or borrowed from the library, unless otherwise stated.

Find me here: Facebook and Instagram and Goodreads

Images and author information: Goodreads

You can find my other blogs here:
Next Phase In Fitness & Life and Tracking Down The Family