emma_therabbithole's reviews
147 reviews

I’m currently enjoying a phase of obsessively reading wartime historical fiction, and The Weight of Goodbye stands proudly amongst them. 
Following Lucia, a young and privileged woman as she learns a truth about her father she can’t stomach and leaves her family behind. Told across multiple timelines, it follows her through friendship, love and tragedy. I loved the sections of the novel which focused on Lucia’s experiences as an ambulance driver during the Blitz, and I was fascinated by the references to the Blackshirts, which somehow I’ve never come across before, but will now be looking into.
An emotional read, perfect for curling up with and getting lost in.

Was this an easy read? No, it’s bound to be one that will be triggering for some because it deals with some tough topics. However, for me this was a masterclass in characterisation. Adelaide is imperfectly perfect, the kind of character you fall in love with and ride the highs and lows with. Her relationship with Rory and her wonderful friendship group provide light and shade bringing this story to life. It goes to dark places, but it also feels relatable and full of hope. I loved every second of Adelaide.

Wow, this was dark, with a hugely unlikeable main character, but I was in equal measure horrified and fascinated. The writing is sublime, layered and enticing. Abuse is a central theme, and I’m not going to lie it is thematically a tough read. But from a psychological and human perspective it is brilliant.

I’m really enjoying this series, fun with a great cast of ballsy characters (Elizabeth and Joyce are the ultimate dream team) I wasn’t initially sure if i would like Fiona Shaw as a narrator as I loved Lesley Manville, but I settled in and enjoyed this title just as much

I absolutely loved this book. It was my first read by Kate Quinn, and it absolutely will not be my last. I enjoy historical fiction that fictionalises real life people as well as eras and events in history, and this book loosely bases one of the main characters on Osla Benning, a socialite who was actually Prince Phillip’s wartime girlfriend, and worked at Bletchley Park. The comradeship between the women, the peril of wartime and the secrecy of BP comes through so well. I found myself sailing through the pages, and reading well beyond when I should have been fast asleep!

A fascinating read which examines a community, warts (a lot of warts!) and all. Tara, Mum to Betsy and formerly employed in televison, employs the services of sixteen year old Ashleigh to babysit her daughter (in addition to the nanny). Ashleigh isn't all she seems however, she likes to pry and find the truth behind the veneered perfection of the families she works for.
Intensely character driven, this a short but impactful read which deals with the secrets that lie beneath.  

I’m currently in pieces! I loved The Women which was the first Kristin Hannah book I read, and The Nightingale was recommended to me, my god, what a book! I loved it from beginning to end and I will miss Vianne and Isabelle 

I do enjoy these books! My second on audio, and I have to say I’m a little sad that this is Lesley Manville’s last book as narrator, her voice is Elizabeth and Joyce!! Unusually, I actually enjoyed this more than the first. I little bit of a delve into Elizabeth’s past, and the mystery kept me hooked! 

When Merry’s neighbour and the son of her late best friend, Lucas, goes missing, Merry becomes embroiled in an investigation that drags up secrets and betrayals.

I really enjoyed this, some books take you a while to ‘get into’ but this was almost instantaneous. Merry is a gem, a bit of a loner and scarred by her past she tends to keep herself to herself. But I loved her and began to feel very protective over her!

With lots of twists and turns, this was a fab read - and I really hope this isn’t the last of Merry!!

A really enjoyable read and fascinating for me to read as a white woman. On the one hand, I completely related to the stress of planning a wedding. And on the other, I knew very little about desi weddings and the traditions and culture and The Big Day is a brilliant snapshot into another culture. Regardless of culture, at its core it is a story about family. And Noor’s relationship with her mother, Leena, is particularly close, as she has been a single mother to Noor. But their bond is threatened as Leena turns into a ‘Mumzilla’ and when secrets from the past ultimately rise.