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Hello Everyone!

At the bottom of the page, you can find links to my socials. Namely, Twitter, Goodreads and Twitch. Now, I’m not a streamer but you can find the amazing people I follow/host on my channel at the link below.

There are two more social platforms where you can find me at. Those are NetGalley and StoryGraph.

What is NetGalley?

NetGalley is a free to use site aimed at influencers and professionals to help find, recommend and promote books to their audiences. NetGalley has a wide range of genres to choose from including audiobooks for those of you who prefer to listen on the go. All books and audiobooks are digital review copies otherwise known as advance review copies.

As a book reviewer, whether that’s on a retail site, blog or for a professional publication NetGalley asks that in exchange for your free copy that you leave a review. This doesn’t have to be heavily detailed but does need to involve your thoughts, feelings and whether you would recommend to others or purchase the book come publication.

When you find a book that interests you, all you have to do is click that request button and within a few days, you will be notified as to whether you’ve been successful or not. There are also lots of great options that you can read instantly without having to wait. What’s more, is that NetGalley also has a great app that is available on iOS and Android where you can find your books ready to read. You can also add your ARCs to your Kindle or reader using alternative download links.

I hope you check out this amazing site and give it a try. I’d love to hear about your experiences.

What is StoryGraph?

I only recently discovered this site which is also available for download as an app via iOS and Android. I was recommended this site by a friend and I can honestly say it’s amazing so far. It has similar features to Goodreads in that you can log everything you read. You can even import your Goodreads bookshelves. There’s a tutorial for it. It’s so simple and easy to do. My favourite feature is that you are able to visually see your reading stats in the form of a pie graph.

The graphs show your most read genres, the pace of each book, the number of pages and how often you read fiction or non-fiction books. You can also track your reading goals and compare stats between different time periods. What I also like is that you can log any and all trigger warnings present in your books which, is such a handy feature. for those of you who want to avoid certain themes.

The Story Graph like Goodreads will also recommend books to you based on your reading preferences which you can input on your profile page. For example, my preferences are:

favourite genres (Crime, LGBTQIA+, Magical Realism, True Crime and Thriller)
kind of books you like (Enemies to Lovers, Secret Dating, Murder Mystery, LGBTQIA Authors and Fanfiction)
characteristics you appreciate (Character Driven, Strong Character Development, High-Quality Writing)
genres you dislike/aren’t interested in (Autobiography, Business, Children’s, Comics, Economics, Essays, Graphic Novel, Manga, Mathematics, Music, Politics, Reference, Science, Self Help, Sports and Video Games)
things that turn you off books (Flat Characters, Poor Writing, Groy Horror/Violence)
books you’re never in the mood for (Challenging)

As we know a person’s reading preferences change over time, and that’s great. You can edit the above at any time. There are a whole bunch of recommended books that take your preferences into account. However, if you’re looking for something specific then StoryGraph’s search tool is amazing. You can search by mood, pace, type, genre, number of pages and even exclude parameters.

So, If you’re interested and what to check out what StoryGrpah has to offer for yourselves, I highly recommend you check out my stats page. It’s bright, colourful and just awesome to look at.

The Language of Food by Annabel Abbs

TW:

Note: These TWs reflect the times, views and opinions of characters living in the early-1900s.

Chronic Illness
Dementia
Misogyny
Alcholism
Child Death
Emotional Abuse

The Language of Food is an incredible read that combines the delicate, lyrical verse of poetry with the comforts and creativity of recipe creation and food. Annabel Abbs’ research into how cookery books evolved looks into the life of unmarried Eliza Acton, her housemaid and companion Ann Kirby and their journey to create a cookbook that not only contains delicious recipes but is easy to follow for all users of the kitchen.

I’m not going to lie, reading this book made me hungry. The way Abbs describes each dish is, as intended like poetry. Told from two points of view, we as the reader are transported to early Victorian England. The book starts and ends with Ann, yet Eliza Acton is the main focus. It is she after being rejected by her publisher that is the creator of modern cookery books. We are all aware of Mrs Beeton and the popularity of her own cookery book, yet I was amazed to discover that her recipes were not originally written by her.

Despite this, The Language of Food is a sad tale where we discover the realities of mental health, how women are viewed and that the expectations of daughters are crippling. And, yet, Eliza doesn’t care about any of it. Not even when the option for marriage is handed to her on a silver platter. For her, her independence and the ability to make her own choices far outweighs her mother’s desire to see her married. I had a love/hate relationship with Eliza. I found her passion for creative writing and food inspiring, and yet she was oblivious to the realities of those less fortunate to her. This is a product of her comfortable childhood and expensive education.

Poor, destitute and poorly educated, Ann, is all that Eliza is not. After struggling to manage a mother suffering from advanced dementia and other mental illnesses, she is forced to work for the Acton women under the belief that her mother is to be cared for at the new asylum in Kent. What we know now, of asylums is that her mother was not living in luxury with good food, dedicated nurses and regular doctor’s visits and that her death though tragic could have been prevented.

Each recipe was so beautifully crafted and described that it felt like you could taste each ingredient, in the same way, a line of poetry can paint a picture. It also shows just how much work goes into creating a cookery book. They are items that we take for granted for they are all so easily accessible. We, as cooks and readers can go into any shop and pick up a cookbook with ease. Yet, in Victorian England, cookbooks were scarce, and any that were available contained measurements and foods that boggled the mind.

Every page, every line and chapter is infused with the perfumed scent of vanilla, the rich tang of a perfectly crafted gravy and dusted with the finest of powdered sugar. It is a feast for the eyes as well as for the stomach.

If you like historical fictional novels and have a passion for food whether that’s dabbling in the kitchen, or eating out at restaurants, then this is the book for you. I highly guarantee that you will not regret picking up and indulging in this book, just as I have.

September TBR…

September is almost upon us so I thought I’d share the books I’m planning to read. I just want to thank NetGalley ahead of time for allowing me to have access to digital review copies of these books in advance of their publication. I am extremely grateful. The weather is starting to get colder and that to me means getting cosy with my favourite blanket, a cup of hot chocolate and a good book.

Currently Reading…

The Language of Food: ‘A recipe can be as beautiful as a poem’ by Annabel Abbs

pub date: 01/03/2022

‘A sensual feast of a novel, written with elegance, beauty, charm and skill in a voice that is both lyrical and unique. The Language of Food is an intriguing story with characters that leap off the page and live, but what sets it apart from it’s contemporaries is Abb’s outstanding prose’ Santa Montefiore, Sunday Times bestselling author

‘I love Abbs’s writing and the extraordinary, hidden stories she unearths. Eliza Acton is her best discovery yet’ Clare Pooley, author of The Authenticity Project

‘A feast for the senses, rich with the flavours of Victorian England, I prepared every dish with Eliza and Ann and devoured every page. A literary – and culinary – triumph!’ Hazel Gaynor, author of The Bird in the Bamboo Cage

‘A sumptuous banquet of a book that nourished me and satisfied me just as Eliza Acton’s meals would have… I adored it’ Polly Crosby, author of The Illustrated Child

‘An effervescent novel, bursting with delectable language and elegant details about cookbook writer, Eliza Acton. Don’t miss this intimate glimpse into the early English kitchens and snapshot of food history’ Sara Dahmen, author of Copper, Iron, and Clay: A Smith’s Journey

‘Wonderful… Abbs is such a good story teller. She catches period atmosphere and character so well’ Vanessa Nicolson, author of Have You Been Good?

‘I was inspired by Eliza’s passion, her independence, her bravery and ambition. Like a cook’s pantry, The Language of Food is full of wonderful ingredients, exciting possibilities and secrets. Full of warmth and as comforting as sitting by the kitchen range, I loved it’ Jo Thomas, bestselling author of Chasing the Italian Dream

Eliza Acton, despite having never before boiled an egg, became one of the world’s most successful cookery writers, revolutionizing cooking and cookbooks around the world. Her story is fascinating, uplifting and truly inspiring.

Told in alternate voices by the award-winning author of The Joyce Girl, and with recipes that leap to life from the page, The Language of Food by Annabel Abbs is the most thought-provoking and page-turning historical novel you’ll read this year, exploring the enduring struggle for female freedom, the power of female friendship, the creativity and quiet joy of cooking and the poetry of food, all while bringing Eliza Action out of the archives and back into the public eye.

England 1835. Eliza Acton is a poet who dreams of seeing her words in print. But when she takes her new manuscript to a publisher, she’s told that ‘poetry is not the business of a lady’. Instead, they want her to write a cookery book. England is awash with exciting new ingredients, from spices to exotic fruits. That’s what readers really want from women.

Eliza leaves the offices appalled. But when her father is forced to flee the country for bankruptcy, she has no choice but to consider the proposal. Never having cooked before in her life, she is determined to learn and to discover, if she can, the poetry in recipe writing. To assist her, she hires seventeen-year-old Ann Kirby, the impoverished daughter of a war-crippled father and a mother with dementia.

Over the course of ten years, Eliza and Ann developed an unusual friendship – one that crossed social classes and divides – and, together, they broke the mould of traditional cookbooks and changed the course of cookery writing forever.

Coming Up Next…

five stangers by e.v. adamson

pub date: 30/04/2021

Five strangers. One horrific event. What did they see?

‘Assured and engrossing’ The Sunday Times

‘Tightly-plotted, entertaining’ LOUISE CANDLISH

‘Meticulously plotted with an ending I really didn’t see coming.’ SARAH VAUGHAN, author of ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL

A gripping new thriller about secrets, obsession and lies

When disgraced journalist Jen Hunter witnesses a horrific murder-suicide on Hampstead Heath one February alongside four strangers, she is compelled to find out what really happened that day. They all saw Daniel kill his girlfriend, Vicky – but can they trust their own memories?

Jen’s best friend, Bex, is worried about her. She knows Jen hasn’t always been the most stable of women. She knows about the lies. She knows why Jen lost her job at the paper.

As the lives of the Parliament Hill witnesses begin to unravel, one thing becomes clear: there is more to what happened that day on the heath.

And Jen needs to find out the truth – even at a cost.

The BookBinder’s Daughter by Jessica Thorne

pub date: 20/09/2021

The song surrounded her now, the murmuring of the library insistent, and her foot took the first step on the winding stairs. She knew it wasn’t entirely a dream. It was the library calling her, its magic driving her.

When Sophie is offered a job at the Ayredale Library – the finest collection of rare books in the world, and the last place her bookbinder mother was seen when Sophie was just a teenager – she leaps at the chance. Will she finally discover what happened to the woman she’s always believed abandoned her?

Taking in the endless shelves of antique books, the soaring stained-glass windows, and the grand sweeping staircase, usually shy Sophie feels strangely at home, and is welcomed by her eccentric fellow binders. But why is the Keeper of the Library so reluctant to speak about Sophie’s mother? And why is Sophie the only person who can read the strange spells in the oldest books on display, written in a forgotten language nobody else understands?

The mysteries of the library only deepen when Sophie stumbles upon an elaborately carved door. The pattern exactly matches the pendant her mother left behind years ago, engraved with a delicate leaf. As the door swings open at her touch, Sophie gasps at the incredible sight: an enormous tree, impossibly growing higher than the library itself, its gently falling golden leaves somehow resembling the pages of a book. Amidst their rustling, Sophie hears a familiar whisper…

‘There you are, my Sophie. I knew you’d come back for me.’

An absolutely spellbinding read about long-hidden family secrets and the magic that lurks between the pages of every ancient book. Perfect for fans of The Ten Thousand Doors of January, The Night Circus and The Binding.

peach blossom spring by melissa fu

pub date: 17/03/2022

‘Glorious and tender, exquisitely written and beautifully nuanced. I finished it with tears in my eyes and will be recommending it to everyone I know‘ JENNIFER SAINT, SUNDAY TIMES-BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF ARIADNE

With every misfortune there is a blessing and within every blessing, the seeds of misfortune, and so it goes, until the end of time.

It is 1938 in China, and the Japanese are advancing. A young mother, Meilin, is forced to flee her burning city with her four-year-old son, Renshu, and embark on an epic journey across China. For comfort, they turn to their most treasured possession – a beautifully illustrated hand scroll. Its ancient fables offer solace and wisdom as they travel through their ravaged country, seeking refuge.

Years later, Renshu has settled in America as Henry Dao. His daughter is desperate to understand her heritage, but he refuses to talk about his childhood. How can he keep his family safe in this new land when the weight of his history threatens to drag them down?

Spanning continents and generations, Peach Blossom Spring is a bold and moving look at the history of modern China, told through the story of one family. It’s about the power of our past, the hope for a better future, and the search for a place to call home.

The arctic curry club by dani redd

pub date: 09/12/2021

‘For my whole life I had been looking for home. But why would that be in a place that I’d left? Perhaps I had to keep moving forward in order to find it…’

Soon after upending her life to accompany her boyfriend Ryan to the Arctic, Maya realises it’s not all Northern Lights and husky sleigh rides. Instead, she’s facing sub-zero temperatures, 24-hour darkness, crippling anxiety – and a distant boyfriend as a result.

In her loneliest moment, Maya opens her late mother’s recipe book and cooks Indian food for the first time. Through this, her confidence unexpectedly grows – she makes friends, secures a job as a chef, and life in the Arctic no longer freezes her with fear.

But there’s a cost: the aromatic cuisine rekindles memories of her enigmatic mother and her childhood in Bangalore. Can Maya face the past and forge a future for herself in this new town? After all, there’s now high demand for a Curry Club in the Arctic, and just one person with the know-how to run it…

A tender and uplifting story about family, community, and finding where you truly belong – guaranteed to warm your heart despite the icy setting!

The Elephant in the Room by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Disclaimer: I was provided with a digital review sample copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.

TW:

Cancer
Terminall Illness
Immigration Issues

I don’t usually go for children’s books however, I was drawn to the beautiful cover and the warm, heartfelt and bittersweet blurb. The story is told from two POVs: Sila and Gio Gardino. Sila is a first-generation Turkish-American who lives in Albany, New York with her parents. When her mother is forced to return to her birthplace, she and her father struggle to live without her. Fighting immigration issues, and an empty apartment that was once filled with Sila’s mother’s presence their lives are changed when her father goes to fix an old truck belonging to Mr Gardino.

Gio seems to blossom in Sila’s presence after the death of his wife and together they learn to weather the storm of loneliness. I loved the way we as the reader were able to experience the emotions of the characters. It made them relatable and realistic. You felt as though you were experiencing what they experience without feeling like you were looking from the outside in.

Because this was a sample and not the whole book, I am unable to voice my thoughts on the book as a whole. I would love to read more, to discover what happens to Sila’s mother and if she is finally able to return to her family. The whole time, I just wanted to wrap Sila in a big hug and tell her that everything was going to be okay. Seeing her hurting was hard and I just wanted to make everything better.

This book was so charming. I loved that it touched on the reality of immigration issues, and the way it affects families. It showed that grief can affect others even when the person missing is still living and that companionship can be found in the most unlikely of places.

As a child, I would have devoured this book before displaying it on my bookshelf with pride. This is a great book for advanced young readers and teens and I highly recommend it. Had I had access to the book as a whole, my rating would be higher. However, for the portion, I was given I feel like three stars are fitting.

Take Me With You When You Go by David Levithan & Jennifer Niven

Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.

TW:

Child Abuse
Domestic Violence
Cursing
Physical Abuse
Emotional Abuse
Gaslighting
Toxic Relationships
Fire
Death of a Parent
Kidnapping
Abandonment

I have mixed feelings about this book. Even though it was an easy to read tale with dark themes on child abuse, familial expectations and self-doubt. I found the format uncomfortable. The entire interaction of characters especially Bea and Ez took place in a series of emails. Told via two points of view: Bea and Ezra, we are taken on an emotional rollercoaster as we discover an empty room where a sister once lived and the apathetic reaction of her mum and stepfather.

It is quickly established through the panicked and frantic emails to his sister that Ezra is hurt, angry and feeling abandoned by the one person who has always been his constant. As their conversations unfurl you can’t help but fall in love with these broken individuals. Bea is spunky and brave even when she feels her world crumbling around her, and Ezra is emotional, relatable and wise beyond his years. Together, they were strong but apart they learn how to stand on their own two feet and that despite their heartbreaking situation discover who they are as individuals and how they can go forth and flourish.

I was heartbroken when I read about the abuse Bea and Ezra experienced at the hands of their stepfather, but what made it worse was knowing that their mother ignored their pain and suffering. You may think that Anne Ahern’s personality and apathy are dramatised for effect but, it’s all too more common than some people realise. There are hundreds of young children and teenagers who live every day with parents and caregivers who treat them as an inconvenience “who should be grateful” that the adult/s in their lives allows them to live in “their house”.

As, a survivor of a Narcissistic parent, I understand and can very much relate to Bea and Ezra. Even now, after over eleven years of being free from, said parent, I am still struggling with the effects of their behaviour. I know, the issue lies with them, but sometimes it’s hard to escape the memories.

This was the reason why I requested this book. I wanted to see how the topic of child abuse was handled by David Levithan and Jennifer Nevin. I was pleased that they handled it carefully, honestly and didn’t sugarcoat anything. I just wish they’d gone with a different format. The e-mail interactions just weren’t for me. The story was great. The characters had substance and the message was uplifting and bittersweet.

I would very much like to read more from these authors and hope they continue to collaborate in the future.

If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse or suspect is being abused whether that is a child, young person or adult within the home or in a care setting, please know that you are not alone. Don’t be afraid to speak up. There is help out there.

UK:

CHILDLINE | http://www.childline.org.uk | 0800 1111 | Free confidential helpline for children and young people.
CHILDREN’S SOCIETY | http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk | Dedicated to protecting children threatened by abuse, exploitation and neglect.
MANKIND | http://www.mankind.org.uk | 01823 334244 | A specialist charity focusing on male victims of abuse. They provide a confidential helpline for male victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence.
NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) | http://www.nspcc.org.uk | 0808 800 5000 | The leading children’s charity in the UK that specilise in protecting children. Their helpline is available 24/7 and can be used by anyone who is concerned about a child’s safety.
Refuge | http://www.refuge.org.uk | 0808 2000 247 | Supporting women and children by helping them to rebuild their lives and overcome various forms of violence and abuse. Their helpline is available 24/7.
UK SAYS NO MORE | http://www.uksaysnomore.org | A national campaign to help raise awareness of domestic abuse and sexual violence throughout the UK and to help bring it to an end.
Galop | http://www.galop.org.uk | 020 7704 2040 (for hate crimes) | 0800 999 5428 (for domestic abuse) | LGBT+ anti-violence charity that provides advice, support, research and lobbying around the policing of LGBT+ issues.
Switchboard | http://www.switchboard.lgbt | 0300 330 0630 | A helpline for anyone to discuss anything they want, including sexuality, gender, identity, sexual health and emotional wellbeing. Helpline open from 10:00AM – 22:00PM every day.
Mind | http://www.mind.org.uk | 0300 123 3393 | Aims to empower those experiencing a mental health problem by providing advice and support by ensuring no-one has to face a mental health problem alone.
Papyrus | http://www.papyrus-uk.org | 0800 068 4141 | Working towards giving hope to young people. Providing confidential support and advice to vulnerable young people as well as to those concerned about a loved one.
YoungMinds | http://www.youngminds.org.uk | Text ‘YM’ to 85258 | Offers advice on coping with mental health issues as well as having a 24/7 crisis messenger.

AUSTRALIA

Headspace | http://www.headspace.org.au | 1800 650 890 | The National Youth Mental Health Foundation providing early intervention mental health services for 12-25 year olds.
Friends with Dignity | http://www.friendswithdignity.org.au | A charity organisation that provides a collection of practical programmes to assist survivors of domesitc viokence in collaboration with refuge and crisis centres.
RizeUp | http://www.rizeup.com.au | 1800 737 732 | Providing support for families affected by domestic violence by giving them hope and empowerment to move on to a life free from violence.
QLife | http://www.qlife.org.au | 1800 184 527 | QLife provides LGBT+ individuals anonymous support and referrals for those wanting to discuss issues surrounding sexuality, gender, identity, bodies, feelings and relationships.

NEW ZEALAND

Aviva | http://www.avivafamilies.org.nz | 0800 28482 669 | A charity dedicated to creating safe homes for all individuals.
InsideOUT | http://www.insideout.org.nz | 027 331 4507 | A national organisation that works with youths, whanau, schools and communities to make Aoetearoa a safe place for all young rainbows to live, and be in.
Mental Health Foundation | http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz | A charity working to create a society free from discrimination, so everyone can enjoy positive mental health and wellbeing.
Shine | http://www.2shine.nz | 0508 744 633 | Providing a wide range of practical and innovative services to help stop domestic abuse in New Zealand.

SOUTH AFRICA

Childline | http://www.childline.org.za | 0800 055 555 | A free 24-hour helpline for abused children, young people and their families.
POWA | http://www.powa.co.za | 076 694 5911 | A feminist organisation that provides counselling, legal adivce and shelter for survivors of violence.
OUT | http://www.out.org.za | Providing stigma-free services to gay, bisexual and MSM communities. Also works towards eradicating LGBT+ hate crimes and discrimination by supporting and assisting victims.
South African Federation for Mental Health | http://www.safmg.org | 0600 123 456 | The largest national mental health federation in South Africa by promoting mental health care in the community.

USA

National Domestic Violence Hotline | http://www.thehotline.org | 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) | Text “START” to 88788 | Provides a free and confidential hotline 24/7 as well as practical resources to survivors of domestic violence.
Project Extreme | http://www.projectextreme.org | Text “LEV” to 741741 | Provides information and support for anyone in the USA experiencing a crisis who sends a text to the above number.
The Trevor Project | http://www.thetrevorproject.org | 1-866-488-738 | Text “START” to 678678 | Confidential helplines available 24/7 providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to young people under the age of 25 within the LGBT+ community.
National Runaway Safeline | http://www.1800runaway.org | 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) | Providing a helpline that is available 24/7 as well as online services and resources for runaways and homeless youths.

Wahala by Nikki May

Disclaimer: Many thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to receive a digital review copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.

TW:

Domestic Abuse
Infidelity
Racism
Toxic Friendships
Toxic Relationships
Medical Content (Dentistry)
Grief
Death of a Parent
Gaslighting
Chronic Illness (briefly mentioned)
Death
Stalking
Pregnancy
Abortion
Murder

Nikki May is a Nigerian-British author born in Bristol, England and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. Wahala is her debut novel which was inspired by a long lunch with friends.

Wahala follows the lives of three lifelong friends, Simi, Ronke and Boo as they navigate their way through relationships, friendships and memories of the past. When their close-knit friendship changes with the arrival of rich, glamourous Isobel, Simi, Ronke and Boo find themselves in unchartered waters.

I absolutely loved this book. I loved it so much that I pretty much read it through the night and well into the early hours of the morning. The characters were all so different in their personalities, life stages, hopes and dreams, yet they gelled so well. By far, my favourite character was Ronke, who embraced her culture like a giant hug and never let go. She, through Nikki May’s wonderfully rich, evocative writing, brought Nigeria alive for me, even in the heart of London. Every dish, the characters ate and made left me salivating and wishing I could pull up a chair and join them.

So, let’s talk about each of the characters, who they are, how they came across and their likeability. Because I feel like even the worst characters can be likeable in their own unique way. It’s why so many people love a villain as opposed to a hero.

I’ve touched a little on Ronke but, I want to dive in a bit deeper. Ronke to me felt like home. She was warm, funny, honest and comforting. I loved her zest for life, her love for her boyfriend Kayode, her friendship with Simi and Boo, and ultimately her love of food. As a plus-sized woman who loves to cook, this resonated with me. Food is so much more than nutrition. It’s memory and emotion. Love, grief, sadness all tied together. It’s what we give to someone who’s grieving, or to a celebration or just because they look like they could do with a good feed.

Watching her story unfold was beautifully bittersweet. One moment, Ronke had me in stitches, and the second, I was reaching for the tissues. Her life was so relatable and I just wanted to wrap her up in a big hug and make the pain disappear.

Simi or Simisola as she’s known to her father is almost the opposite of Ronke. Where Ronke wants a husband and a family, Simi is happy with her extravagant yet comfortable life with her husband Martin. She too grew up in Lagos, Nigeria before moving to England for university. Where Ronke’s life is full of comfort, Simi’s is full of polish and pizazz. She gets the best of both worlds; living in London but getting to travel to New York regularly. A lifestyle, not many of us get to dream about, let alone live. Simi’s story is different. Instead of trying to fill the shoes of a deceased father, Simi is trying to navigate her way through the world of fashion as a mixed-raced woman where she is automatically pushed onto projects that are considered “urban”, as well as appease her husband’s dream of having a family.

Boo otherwise know as Bukola is simply lost. It’s the only way I know how to describe her. Her personality is jarring and her attitude is frustrating but that is because, to me, Boo has forgotten how to be herself. She’s stuck in a rut of routine and expectation with absolutely zero way out. Imagine a washing machine constantly stuck on a spin, and that is how Boo sees her life. Her husband Didier and daughter Sofia are precious yet cliquey. They don’t mean to be, and yet you can see how their strong bond, makes Boo feel sidelined and alone in her own home. So, when Isobel arrives on the scene, it’s understandable that Boo clings to her like a lifeline.

Isobel is the wildcard. The catalyst. The ticking timebomb. She’s a young woman who like Simi, Ronke and Boo is also mixed-race and understands how frustrating that can sometimes be. However, we discover that she’s Nigerian-Russian, rather than Nigerian-British. We first meet Isobel quite early on in the book, and instantly it’s shown that there’s something not quite right. Isobel is too flashy, too quick to insert herself, and too quick to pass blame. Before long, we discover that Isobel has her own tragic story and a mentality that definitely left me reeling. Do I like Isobel? No. But, I do feel that Isobel’s story isn’t finished. That like a bad smell you can’t quite get rid of, she’ll be back to wreak havoc once more.

I was initially drawn to Wahala because of its beautiful vibrant cover. It’s a flaw of mine when it comes to books. Give me a pretty cover and I’ll be automatically interested. However, the storyline whilst slow in the beginning really dug its claws in as boats were rocked, friendships were tested and truth prevailed. I had read a couple of reviews going into this book and knew ultimately that like most good fiction novels, Isobel was the villain of the piece. However, I was shocked as to just how tarnished she was. Isobel was ultimately a giant catfish masquerading as an angelfish.

Ultimately, this book is gritty, honest, brutal in places and just wonderful especially with the hidden gem at the end. I cannot fault it. I highly recommend you check out Wahala when it’s published on the 6th January 2022.

You can preorder your copy now from retailers such as; Amazon, Waterstones, Blackwells and more.

The Liar of Red Valley by Walter Goodwater

Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Content Warnings:

Death
Death of a parent
War
Blood/Gore
Grief
Police Brutality
Drug Addiction
Blood
Cancer
Fire/Fire Injury
Medical Content
Terminal Illness
Violence
Pregnancy
Abortion

Don’t Trust the Liar.
Don’t Go in the River.
Do Not Cross the King.
The Liar of red valley – walter goodwater

Red Valley is a fictional Californian Town that has a creepy, haunted, abandoned aesthetic to it that really helps to set the scene. This darkness is echoed by the three simple rules the inhabitants are expected to follow in order to survive.

The three constants; the Liar, the River and the King affects every aspect of this incredible read. Even our protagonist cannot escape her fate. Forced to accept her new reality as the town’s Liar after the tragic death of her mother, Sadie is left searching for answers.

I found it hard to gather my thoughts regarding the narrative as it flips back and forth from plot twist to plot twist. It truly is like a rollercoaster ride full of thought provoking ideas, high stakes and more. Making this book a real page turner.

The characters themselves were not the most fleshed out in my opinion. There was a two-dimensionality to them that left me feeling cheated. There was so much Walter Goodwater could have done with his characters but it was obvious that his main focus was on the King, his plans for Red Valley and Sadie’s self discovery.

I enjoyed what I read but would I read The Liar of Red Valley again? Probably not. The premise behind this book has so much promise, such as Sadie’s ability to hide the secrets of the townsfolk, her family history and her blossoming friendship with Thomas and Charles Gray. I found I was much more interested in why the Grays were both present and absent at the same time, and why it was that Charles appeared weak and frail as opposed to the battle for control over Red Valley.

Another theme that I felt could have done with a bit more investigation was Walter Goodwater’s take on drug addiction. Unlike your average addicts, Red Valley is plagued by a group of people who are so desperate to chase the ultimate high that they invite demons into their minds. It would have been nice to see just one of these people trying to fight their addiction, rather than just accepting their “new companion” as their new normality. Even if it ends up being yet another lie in Sadie’s ledger.

I can definitely see this book being something that is either loved by people or hated. To me this was a fun, fast-paced read that definitely leaves you spinning.