TANDEM COLLECTIVE READALONG: The Book Lovers Retreat by Heidi Swain

Genre: Fiction | Romance

Released Date: Expected 13th April 2023

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Sometimes a book grabs you by the heart and grows to mean everything to you. That’s what Hope Falls is to friends Emily, Rachel and Tori. So, when they get the chance to spend a whole summer at the cottage in Lakeside where the film adaptation was located, they know it is going to be the holiday of a lifetime.

Spending six weeks away will give them a chance to re-evaluate their life choices. For Emily to decide which way her career will go – the safe route, or the more risky creative option? And for Rachel to decide whether to move in with her partner Jeremy. Then Tori has to drop out at the last moment, and her space is offered to another Hope Falls afficionado, Alex.

But when Alex turns out not to be who they expected, the holiday takes an unforeseen turn. And as the summer develops, so does their friendship. Could this be where they uncover their future selves, find love in all its forms and where their lives will change course forever…?

"Sometimes in life ... something unexpected, which might seem like a total disaster can turn into something wonderful."

Delicate, dreamy and delightful - this is a story for anyone who knows the transformative power of a good story. The setting was stunning; a vivid, stormy and sunny summer that was descriptive and detailed. The story moves slowly like a lazy afternoon, taking it's time and giving us all the little moments in this life-changing trip that turn into something big. Rather than a big reveal, it's all about the people and their personal and collective journeys.

The cast was wonderful- they were all so beautiful and real, not always perfect but perfectly lovable. Despite their distinct differences, everyone was a little lost and confused - and of course shared their love of their favourite book. I adored how Hope Falls was referenced throughout the story and the parallels between the book and this story, the book almost being it's own character. Their relationships were wonderfully complex, affectionate and loving - at times they made me crack up with their silliness, sassiness and their witty observations about growing up and growing old. This story is all about friendship and self-discovery, with a sweet dose of romance that complemented the story rather than overshadowing it.

Witty, warm and wonderful - this is a positively feel-good story that feels familiar and friendly. You kind of know where the story might be going, but getting there is absolutely delightful. I laughed, I cried, I swooned, I rolled my eyes - this is definitely the perfect read for any bookish break.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was gifted an advanced reviewers copy of this title in return for an honest review. Thank you to my partners at Tandem Collective (UK)

cw: loss, mentions of terminal illness and abusive relationships.

Comments

REVIEW: This Could Be Us by Clare McGowan

Genre: Fiction | Literary Fiction Release Date: Expected 1st June 2023 Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group | Corsair Kate has done the unthinkable. She'd worked hard to build a perfect life for herself, while ignoring her growing unhappiness. But when her second child was born profoundly disabled, reality hit. Unable to cope, Kate left - disappearing without a trace. She ends up in LA, with a glittering career and a new family of sorts, but the guilt is still suffocating. Husband Andrew was left to pick up the pieces and care for their disabled daughter and angry, confused son. Bereft and broken, he leaned on Olivia, Kate's best friend. She's been by his side ever since, ignoring her own needs to meet his. Years later, Andrew has written a memoir about his daughter learning to communicate against all odds. But when Kate's new producer husband decides he wants to make a film of it, their worlds collide once again. Now, Kate must return to the life she abandoned and reck...

REVIEW: Live, Laugh, Lesbian by Helen Scott

Genre: Non-Fiction | Memoir | LGTBQ+ Release Date: 19th October 2023 Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Part memoir, part guide, part conversation and all queer joy — Live, Laugh, Lesbian is a brilliantly warm and friendly journey into the queer experience, not only from the author but from plenty of other lesbian, queer, bisexual and pansexual contributors who bring a unique viewpoint and voice and also show a beautiful diverse, intersectional scope of the queer spectrum and welcomes in queer people and allies of any kind to come feel the love. The book is very conversational, talking to the reader in a fun, friendly way — at times I rolled my eyes as the use of “famalam” but as a previous patron of Colours and Chicagos I’m not in a position to judge the Essex-isms. It’s full of anecdotes and observations that were witty and relatable as well as talking is through the more difficult side of queerness like dealing with workplace discrimination, religious trauma and coming out to family...

BOOK TOUR STOP x RANDOM THINGS TOURS: Thirty Days of Darkness by Jenny Lund Madsen

" This town has secrets that are best left alone." Author Hannah is a success, on paper at least. She's receiving critical acclaim and praise worldwide and her work is regarded as some of the best. She writes literature, not just books. But the reality is, outside of the literary circles nobody actually reads her work. But when she finally snaps at a book event and publicly criticises the genre fiction books that outsell hers, claiming they're easy and mindless she's challenged to write her own crime fiction novel in just thirty days by an author she loathes. Desperate not to lose to him, her editor arranges for her to spend a month in a quiet, cold village in Iceland hoping that the solitude will spark inspiration. But instead of writing a murder story - she's in one . Just before she arrives, the body of a young man is pulled from the icy waters and her search for ideas soon becomes a search for a killer. And if she's not careful, she might end up the...

On Bee's Bookshelf

Search This Blog