Below The Big Blue Sky by Anna McPartlin (Audiobook)

 

When Rabbit Hayes passes away from cancer her family and friends struggle to come to terms with her death.

Most of the audiobooks I listen to are from my local library via the BorrowBox app, as a result, they tend to be a couple of years old. Below The Big Blue Sky by Anna McPartlin, is just such an audiobook. Beyond the tiny bit of blurb I scanned on the app, "...will make you laugh, cry and shout with joy...... perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes and Marian Keyes" I knew nothing about the book.

Below The Big Blue Sky has one of the most emotional opening chapters I've ever come across. I'm sure listening to the story, rather than reading it, made the opening scene even more moving thanks to the wonderful narration of Simone Kirby. We join the Hayes family and friends as they gather around the hospice bed of forty-year-old Mia 'Rabbit' Hayes who is dying of breast cancer. I found my eyes welling with tears at the reactions of the people gathered around as the inevitable happened.

The rest of the book focuses on how the family struggles to come to terms with their loss. For some it's having responsibility thrust upon them, for others, it's the fear of the unknown, and for most, there's an element of survivor's guilt. Funeral arrangements are heated as some want a traditional occasion while others want to abide by Rabbit's unorthodox wishes. The guardianship of her teenage daughter, Juliet, is another point of friction. Rabbit wanted her older brother Davey to raise Juliet. The only problem is that Davey is a musician who now lives in America and spends most of his time touring, hardly a stable lifestyle for a grieving teen.

Much of the focus of the story is on Rabbit's older sister. Having witnessed what her sister went through, Grace is faced with the dilemma of deciding whether to be tested to see if she has the same genetic markers for breast cancer and what to do if she does. The scenes featuring Grace and her family came across as incredibly real, the quandary between wanting to have all the facts and at the same time being able to remain in denial. The author manages to tread a fine line between sensitivity and being informative.

Over a period of two years, we get glimpses into how various members of the family are dealing with their loss, seeing how they grow emotionally. The conclusion is almost as moving as the opening pages. It was at this point that I discovered that the author has an earlier novel, The Last Days Of Rabbit Hayes, which tells the story of Rabbit and her devastating diagnosis. I don't think I'm emotionally ready to read the story at this moment but I hope to in the near future as Rabbit sounds like a wonderful character.

The Daughter by T. M. Logan

 

Going to collect her daughter at the end of her first term at university Lauren Wingfield discovers a complete stranger in her daughter's room. No one remembers seeing Evie and the university claims she dropped out weeks ago. All of this is news to Lauren.

You just know that as soon as you see a book written by author T. M. Logan you are in for a treat, a thrill ride filled with unexpected twists and turns. For fans, and new readers, The Daughter, will not disappoint.

Although I'm not a parent it was impossible not to put myself in Lauren's position and feel the joy and excitement of having her eldest child home after her first term at university. Phone calls, text messages and social media posts have been sporadic but Lauren simply put that down to a student lifestyle of studying and partying. The shock and bewilderment of finding a stranger in her daughter's room is completely understandable.

Frustration follows as Lauren can't make sense of the situation. The stranger is adamant it's been his room since the second week of term and the girl in the room next-door doesn't remember Evie. The frustration deepens when Lauren feels that the authorities don't believe her. Determined to find answers, Lauren starts following the few clues available to her. The more she digs, the murkier the situation becomes. The pace of the story never lets up as it becomes a race against time. Lives are in peril and a face from the past reappears as Lauren risks everything looking for answers about what happened to her daughter. 

The Daughter from T. M. Logan will be published on 27th February 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Zaffre for a review copy.

Author Details

TM Logan's thrillers have sold more than two million copies in the UK and are translated into 22 other languages for publication around the world. A former national newspaper journalist, Tim lives in Nottinghamshire with his family and writes in a cabin in the corner of his garden.

Other People's Houses by Clare Mackintosh

 

While DC Ffion Morgan investigates the suspicious death of an estate agent her boyfriend, DS Leo Brady, is trying to solve a spate of burglaries at an exclusive housing estate. Meanwhile, the rest of the country is obsessed with a podcast about an unsolved ten-year-old murder.

Other People's Houses by Clare Mackintosh is the third book in the DC Morgan series. As with most books in a series, this could easily be read as a standalone novel but I would really recommend reading the first two books in the series, The Last Party and A Game Of Lies, to gain a better understanding of the main character, Ffion Morgan, and the dynamics between her and Leo Brady.

Ffion and Leo work for different police forces and met when a murder straddled the Cheshire/Wales border. In the latest book, they are investigating completely separate crimes but you quickly begin to suspect that there may be a connection between the two. 

A younger Ffion was known locally as "Wild Ffion" and maturity has done little to tame her nature, this makes her relationship with Leo rocky at the best of times. Added to the mix this time around is the stress of her house purchase falling through, a boss determined to quell her maverick nature and Leo's ex-wife who is still trying to control his life. 

Each investigation on its own is enough to hook the reader but when you begin to suspect that there may be links between all three investigations you are completely gripped. As each clue is uncovered the investigations begin to spiral closer and closer towards apprehending the person responsible.

Leo's ex-wife, Allie, having a greater role in this book is what really made the story for me. Having cheated on Leo, Allie has now remarried but is still determined to control Leo's life and is extremely jealous of Ffion. Allie lives close to the exclusive housing estate that has been targeted by burglars and is desperate to ingratiate herself with the women who live in the luxury homes. The lengths that Allie is prepared to go to in order to curry favour with the women are ridiculous. However, the women look down on Allie and treat her almost as a servant. It's difficult not to sympathise with Allie, but then you remember the way in which she is making Leo suffer and all sympathy disappears.

Other People's Houses by Clare Mackintosh will be published on 27th February 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown UK for a review copy.

Author Details

Clare Mackintosh is a police officer turned crime writer, and the multi-award-winning author of seven Sunday Times bestselling novels. Translated into forty languages, her books have sold more than two million copies worldwide and have spent a combined total of sixty-eight weeks in the Sunday Times bestseller chart. Clare lives in North Wales with her husband and their three children.

The Woman With All The Answers by Linda Green

 

Michelle Banks, wife, mother, and daughter, is exhausted and at the end of her tether. A hectic job, combined with having to look after her family and elderly parents is pushing her to the brink, the onset of the menopause isn't helping either. Luckily her smart speaker begins to offer solutions; luckily Alexa isn't AI but a real person, sixty-five-year-old Pauline who knows the family well.

Author Linda Green has been publishing novels for almost twenty years. I've heard the name numerous times but looking at her back catalogue I honestly don't think I've read any of her previous novels. After reading The Woman With All The Answers I'm beginning to wonder why I've never read any of the author's books before as I absolutely loved this.

Categorising The Woman With All The Answers is tricky. It's uplifting and features an older protagonist, something which is very popular at the moment. Alongside this it makes you sit up and think about some of the many pressures on society today.

The Banks family is a normal family. Mum, Michelle, is the heart of the family; the organiser, the carer, the problem solver. When she changed jobs to become a district nurse she hoped that her work/life balance would improve but it only seems to have got worse. Husband Marc works from home. He doesn't enjoy his job and boredom has resulted in him buying memorabilia from the internet, something the family can't really afford. Daughter Liv is about to take her A-Level exams but is struggling with crippling anxiety, she doesn't think she'll be able to leave the house ever again. Son Callum is the only one in the family who seems ok. He's about to take his GCSEs and is all loved up.

Michelle is part of the "sandwich generation", alongside caring for her immediate family she also has to look after her father and mother-in-law. Both are elderly and cause Michelle different problems.

Sat in the corner of most of the rooms in the house is the unassuming little smart speaker. Everyone thinks the speaker is powered by AI but in reality, it's real people behind each voice and the one dedicated to the Banks family is sixty-five-year-old Pauline from Halifax. The chapters alternate between Michelle and Pauline and when it's one of Pauline's chapters her Yorkshire accent comes through loud and clear. 

Pauline not only answers questions via the smart speakers, but she can also access lots of other devices and data too such as laptops, webcams, mobile phones and doorbell cameras. Pauline uses her access to all of these to prompt Michelle in the direction of help but after it becomes obvious that she is floundering Pauline makes her true identity known and together they look at solving all of the problems Michelle is dealing with.

Linda Green uses the story to raise many of the issues families are dealing with today; the pressures on teenagers, district nurses being too busy to spend any quality time with patients, and the elderly being left behind in an ever-increasing digital world are just a few. Women's health is a major topic, particularly the menopause. The nature of Michelle's job means that she is isolated, she has no close friends or colleagues to confide in. Thankfully, Pauline is there to push her in the right direction. Getting the help needed isn't always easy though. One moment I was filled with rage at the way in which Michelle was treated by a male GP, the next I had tears of laughter running down my face as she endured a cringe-worthy smear test.

Thanks to Pauline's help many of Michelle's burdens are lightened. The nature of modern life means that there are always going to be dilemmas, we just need to remember the saying "A problem shared is a problem halved".

The Woman With All The Answers by Linda Green will be published on 26th February 2025 in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to Boldwood Books and the Bold Book Club for a review copy.

Cover Reveal - Lucky Day by Beth Morrey

Today I'm taking part in the cover reveal for the paperback publication of Lucky Day by Beth Morrey. I've loved everything Beth has written, such uplifting and heartwarming stories about community. Lucky Day is a tiny bit different and will resonate with everyone who has had one of those days where fate seems to be mocking you, and that's even before you get to work.

Below is the synopsis of the book. If you want to read my full review you can find it here > Lucky Day review

You can order the book from here > https://tinyurl.com/3xtfnjp8

Synopsis

After a morning that starts with a terrible migraine, an accidentally strong concoction of painkillers, and a bump on the head, Clover Hendry is not quite herself.
And as she walks out of work at 9.47am, for once Clover isn't worrying about anything. She is taking some much-deserved me-time, and everyone else had better get out of her way.
As she crashes from once incident (a deliciously illicit swim) to the next (art theft), Clover is on a one-woman mission to do exactly as she pleases – consequences are for tomorrow!
It's a day of joyful recklessness, but behind the chaos, a plan is afoot. Will her new-found freedom uncover long-buried secrets?

Life Hacks For A Little Alien by Alice Franklin

 

Little Alien has always known she was different, particularly when she doesn't fit in at school. She often wonders if she really is from another planet. Could a six hundred-year-old manuscript that has never been translated give her the answers she's always looked for?

Life Hacks For A Little Alien by Alice Franklin is one of those quirky titles that caught my attention. Reading the synopsis only cemented my need to read this unconventional story.

We meet Little Alien as a toddler. From this early age, it's very obvious that she's different. Where Little Alien is convinced she must be from another planet, the reader quickly discerns that she's neurodivergent. We see Little Alien and her family struggle with unmet needs in mainstream education, leading to an unsuccessful attempt at homeschooling. I was filled with empathy as we followed Little Alien trying to cope with an education system that simply wasn't fit for purpose and reinforced her feelings of not belonging.

By chance, Little Alien sees a documentary about a manuscript that has never been translated although many people have tried. This sets her off on a quest to learn as much as possible about the origins of language and ciphers. Having promised so much at the start of the story, it was at this point that I felt the plot lost its way a little, leaving me feeling as if the quest to solve the riddle of the manuscript was padding for the greater issues at the beginning and end of the novel.

The final section of the story focuses on mental health and as with the section on education we see a commentary on how the current system fails the people in desperate need. I did feel that the conclusion where Little Alien found her place in society and similar people was a fitting one, reminding us that there is a place for every person if they are lucky enough to find it.

Life Hacks For A Little Alien by Alice Franklin will be published on 13th February 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for a review copy.

Author Details

Alice Franklin lives and works in London. She has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia. Life Hacks for a Little Alien is her debut novel.

Hope Street by Mike Gayle

 

Thirty-year-old Connor is the last remaining resident of Hope Street. Despite repeated warnings from the council he refuses to move out. When local newspaper reporter Lila gets hold of the story she discovers the heartbreaking reason for Connor's refusal to move.

Mike Gayle is one of those authors who you know is guaranteed to tug at the heartstrings and Hope Street is no different. Filled with wonderful characters and a plight that would melt the coldest heart the reader can't help but become immersed in the story.

The book opening does pull you up a little as we join 64-year-old Bernie McLaughlin taking a cup of tea to her 27-year-old son Connor who is still in bed. You immediately form an unfavourable opinion of Connor, thinking he's a layabout. Bernie then leaves the house, telling her son she has a few errands to run.

We then rejoin the story three years later and discover Connor living alone in the house on Hope Street, his mother has been missing for three years having never returned from her day out. It is slowly revealed that the reason Connor was still living with his mother was because he has a learning disability. He's had a job in the local DIY store since he was sixteen and copes well on a day-to-day basis because he likes routines. 

When the local newspaper hears about the sole resident of soon-to-be demolished Hope Street they send a local reporter to find out more about the story. Reporter Lila is sucked into Connor's life when she learns about his mother's disappearance. Connor has never given up the belief that his mother will return. He is worried that if he moves and Hope Street is knocked down she won't be able to find him. Lila promises Connor that she will help him try to find his mother.

Hope Street is the perfect title as your hopes are raised, then dashed, then raised again as Lila investigates what happened to Bernie. Not everything centres around Connor either, some of the other characters have issues to contend with. The author also uses the story to shine a light on some real-life problems but this is done with a light touch so as not to detract too much from an uplifting tale.

I was dreading the conclusion, particularly after  Mike Gayle's last novel, A Song Of Me And You. My heart was in my mouth as the events from three years ago were slowly revealed, bringing tears to my eyes.

Hope Street by Mike Gayle will be published on 6th February 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a review copy.

Author Details

Mike Gayle was born and raised in Birmingham. After graduating from Salford University with a degree in Sociology, he moved to London to pursue a career in journalism and worked as a features editor and agony uncle. He has written for a variety of publications including The Sunday Times, the Guardian and Cosmopolitan. Mike became a full-time novelist in 1997 following the publication of his Sunday Times top ten bestseller My Legendary Girlfriend, which was hailed by the Independent as ‘full of belly laughs and painfully acute observations’, and by The Times as ‘a funny, frank account of a hopeless romantic’. Since then he has written eighteen novels, including The Man I Think I Know, selected as a World Book Night title, and Half A World Away, selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club. His books have been translated into more than thirty languages. In 2021, Mike was the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Romantic Novelists’ Association. He lives in Birmingham with his wife, kids and greyhound

We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes

 

Lila Kennedy's life is in turmoil. Her house is falling down around her, her teenage daughter has reached the rebellious phase, her agent is pestering her for the book she hasn't even started writing, and each day she has to face the woman her husband abandoned his family for at the school gates. The last thing she needs is her estranged father turning up on her doorstep.

I've read the odd book by Jojo Moyes in the past but I wouldn't call myself a "fan". I've mentioned in a previous post that I sickened myself with chic lit thirty years ago and Jojo Moyes always seemed to sit firmly in that category as far as I was concerned. The synopsis for We All Live Here grabbed my attention and has completely changed my opinion of the author's writing.

I loved every word of this tale of the messy lives of a blended family. Lila is struggling to cope. She's still not come to terms with the death of her mother or the fact that her husband, Dan, has left her for another woman. Shortly before Dan left the couple bought a large house with the intention of doing it up, unfortunately, it's turned into a money pit. To make matters worse finances have become a problem. The money from her best-selling self-help book, ironically about reinvigorating a stale marriage, has just about gone and Lila's struggling to even start her next book. Added to this misery is the fact that Lila has to see the other woman every day at the primary school gates.

The couple have joint custody of their daughters. Violet is a precocious child with an obsession for x-rated rap lyrics and poo. As you would expect Violet has no filter. Celia is sixteen and has reached that moody and rebellious phase where all adults are the enemy and parents are the absolute worst.

And then there's Bill, her stepfather. Bill has been there for most of her life after her real father, Gene, abandoned Lila and her mother for a life of fame. Bill has been lost since his wife died and has moved in to "support" Lila. 

The sudden appearance of Gene is a catalyst for everyone. There is immediate friction between Bill and Gene, to the extent that Lila compares it to having two toddlers to deal with. Gene is self-centred and flaky, you immediately dislike him, but as the story progresses you begin to realise that he's unselfish, bighearted and altruistic. 

Each character is so well written that as the story focuses on them and the issues they are dealing with you feel every emotion, particularly for Lila who is trying to hold everything together, striving for perfection instead of accepting "good enough". I cared deeply about what happened to everyone, especially when Jojo Moyes avoided a series of saccharin-coated plot points and threw in a couple of anguishing moments. The story reminds us that life isn't perfect, it's chaotic, challenging and unexpected. We need to learn to enjoy what we have and embrace the imperfections. 

We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes will be published on 11th February 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for a review copy.

Author Details

Jojo Moyes is a novelist and screenwriter. Her books include the bestsellers Me Before You, After You and Still Me, The One Plus One, The Giver of Stars, Someone Else's Shoes and her short story collection Paris for One and Other Stories. Jojo's novels have been translated into forty-six languages, have hit the number one spot in twelve countries and have sold over fifty-seven million copies worldwide. Me Before You has now sold over fourteen million copies worldwide and was adapted into a major film starring Sam Claflin and Emilia Clarke. In 2023, Jojo joined BBC Maestro’s online platform of world-class experts with her course, Writing Love Stories, which is available now. Jojo lives in the UK.

The Many Futures Of Maddy Hart by Laura Pearson

 

Teenager Maddy Hart has her whole life ahead of her, a life full of wonders and possibilities. Her first experience of sex isn't quite what she expected as it gives her a glimpse of her life ten years in the future - and she doesn't like what she sees. This happens each time she has sex and as a result Maddy quickly swears off relationships altogether, until she meets Oliver.

Laura Pearson's last two books have had novel plots and The Many Futures Of Maddy Hart is the same. As a teenager, Maddy discovers that when she has a sexual encounter she gets a glimpse of her life ten years into the future. She doesn't like the life on display each time and after a while decides to avoid relationships completely. Instead, she's going to concentrate on her career as an actress.

Becoming a successful actress isn't easy and Maddy ends up taking some strange jobs. Through one of these jobs she meets Oliver, another aspiring actor. The description of the actual job is hilarious, you can feel Maddy's astonishment and then indignation at having to demean herself.

There is a spark between Maddy and Oliver but Maddy doesn't think their paths will ever cross again. Fate has other ideas. And that is the crux of the story, what if our fate is already mapped out for us? A little bit like "sliding doors", Maddy can glimpse her future if she stays with her current partner. This peek into her future allows her to change course if she doesn't like what she sees.

When Maddy finally begins a relationship with Oliver the flashes of their future look perfect. Eventually, Maddy begins to question what she sees, realising that she's been making assumptions about the intervening ten years and this has a major impact on her relationship with Oliver.

I loved all the conundrums Maddy's "curse" (or is it a blessing?) raised. How sure can Maddy be that the visions of the future are real and will actually happen? There's also a big question about what it means if Maddy sees nothing at all? Will Maddy keep getting glimpses of the future for the rest of her life? What should she do if she learns information that could impact a friend's future? All these questions, and more, are ones that the reader ponders alongside Maddy.

Maddy has to make some difficult decisions that effect not only her and Oliver but also her wider family. As I read I felt my heart breaking because Maddy couldn't explain her actions to the people around her. 

The Many Futures Of Maddy Hart by Laura Pearson will be published on 4th February 2025 in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a review copy.

Author Details

Laura Pearson is the author of seven novels. The Last List of Mabel Beaumont was a Kindle number one bestseller in the UK and a top ten bestseller in the US. Laura lives in Leicestershire, England, with her husband, their two children, and a cat who likes to lie on her keyboard while she tries to write.

The Queen Of Fives by Alex Hay (Audiobook)

 

Quinn Le Blanc is the best con woman in Victorian London. Working with her team of likewise criminals she sets out to ensnare a wealthy husband in five days.

Although I'm a big fan of crime and thrillers I tend to steer away from reading historical crime. The opportunity to listen to the audiobook of The Queen Of Fives by Alex Hay seemed an ideal way to rectify this.

You are straight into the story thanks to the excellent narration of Polly Edsell and the almost thirteen hours of audio never felt overly long or tedious thanks to the many twists. Quinn is the lead confidence trickster of The Chateau, a criminal fraternity based in London. Their aim is to separate wealthy individuals from their money, usually bankers, and they have a strict set of rules they abide by.

With no obvious mark in sight, Quinn decides to use an old tactic from their playbook and ensnare someone with a title. According to their rules, she needs to meet and marry the man all within the space of five days. Thankfully, the small world of the privileged classes makes this a possibility with the right introductions and a beautiful wardrobe.

The narration switches regularly between Quinn, her partner-in-crime, the Duke she has set her sights on and his sister. Alongside this we also hear from another voice, someone watching from the sidelines, not connected to any of the main characters.

I felt completely immersed in high society thanks to the brilliant descriptions and was intrigued as the story progressed. As we got to know each character better we discovered that they were hiding secrets, secrets that they would do anything to keep hidden. It also became obvious that despite the meticulous planning of Quinn and her partner someone was trying to sabotage their exploits. I was sorry when the story reached its conclusion, I could have easily listened to more of Quinn Le Blanc's escapades.

The Queen Of Fives by Alex Hay will be published on 30th January 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Headline Publishing Group for a review copy.

Author Details

Alex Hay grew up in Cambridge and Cardiff and has been writing as long as he can remember. He studied History at the University of York, and wrote his dissertation on female power at royal courts, combing the archives for every scrap of drama and skulduggery he could find. He has worked in magazine publishing and the charity sector, and is a graduate of the Curtis Brown Write Your Novel course. His debut novel The Housekeepers won the Caledonia Novel Award 2022 and was published to great critical acclaim. Alex lives with his husband in South East London

Instructions For Heartbreak by Sarah Handyside

 

Katie, Liv, Dee and Rosa have been friends since university. Katie's world falls apart when her boyfriend of nine years ends the relationship. Turning to her closest friends for support they offer advice for surviving the grieving process.

I can't resist a quirky title, or cover, and Instructions For Heartbreak by Sarah Handyside offered both. Probably because of the title and cover I was expecting something more akin to romantic fiction. However, the book really is a guide for surviving the anguish following the end of a long-term relationship with the steps following those of the grief process after a bereavement.

The women met at university and have all ended up working in London. Liv, Dee and Rosa share a home while Katie lives with her boyfriend Chris. When Chris suddenly announces the relationship isn't working for him Katie flees to the safe haven of her friends. You are immediately sucked into Katie's world. Sarah Handyside clearly conveys the suffering and disbelief she is experiencing. Any woman who has suffered the end of a relationship will be thankful that Katie has friends willing to throw their protective arms around her. This really is a story about the power of female friendship.

After a drunken evening denigrating Chris the women decide to write a handbook for Katie offering help and advice to suvive the coming months. Having all had relationships end over the past year the friends are ideally placed to offer guidance. It was at this point that I found the storyline became too introspective.

Just like the grieving process following bereavement, healing a broken heart isn't linear and it's not a one-size-fits-all model. I am sure that readers will recognise elements of the healing process in their own break-ups. 

While I sympathised with Katie I didn't really warm to the other female characters. No doubt this story will resonate with Millennials or someone who has recently seen a relationship crumble. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me.

Instructions For Heartbreak by Sarah Handyside will be published on 30th January 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for a review copy.

Author Details

Sarah Handyside is a Northumbrian in London, a former communications consultant and a current government policy advisor. She lives with her husband and two children. The opening pages of Instructions for Heartbreak were longlisted for the Curtis Brown First Novel Award.