Faridah Abike-Iyimide - Ace of Spades

14+

YA, Thriller

Drama 

LGBTQ+

Triggers, including: homophobia, racism, bullying, grief

I finally got round to reading Ace of Spades this weekend, the debut, and award-winning, YA book from the South-London based Faridah Abike-Iyimide, which had been on my TBR list for most of 2021.  

And wow.  

The nearing-500-pages novel features dual viewpoints from two Black students at the elite Niveus Private Academy, a US-based high school.  Their lives unfold slowly on the page, which allows for deeper character insights, before they ultimately connect.  

I couldn't turn the latter half of the novel fast enough, as I needed to know what happened next, who Devon and Chiamaka could trust next. 

Ace of Spades is a thought-provoking book about racism and sexuality with some chilling moments.  My bookworm of a 10 year old was intrigued by the plot, and by how fast I read the book, so I will use it as a basis of conversation with her about race and sexuality, over the next few years, as well as the inspiring story of the novelist who published this book whilst still studying for her English Literature degree.  

Rick Riordan - Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief

11+ (9+ if confident reader) 

Greek Mythology

Action, Humour

Relatable 

I bumped into Percy Jackson and The Lightening Thief in a Year 8 class, about five years ago, and was hooked immediately.  Finally, my daughter was ready to read this at bedtime with me, and we spent most of last autumn and winter learning about Greek mythology while following Percy around Olympus (New York) and the Underworld (LA).  

Percy is a relatable 12 year old kid, who seems to be a magnet for trouble.  He is also the first book-based hero I've read who has dyslexia and ADHD.  Riordan's action-packed book has a healthy dose of humour throughout, so the serious events were navigated wonderfully, enabling this to be read at bedtime. Usually with our hefty Usborne Book of Greek Myths book nearby to find out more about the characters Percy meets. Great for KS2 prediction in literacy, as well as developing reading for pleasure; MiniDgtl does tend to sleep surrounded by books. 

We're now onto the second book in the series, which should see us through to spring. 

5/5   

Janice Horton - The Backpacking Housewife (book 1)

 Feel-good Fiction

Travel - Southeast Asia 

Could you imagine running away from the UK and finding yourself in Thailand, after your marriage breaks up, with only your passport and a backpack (hastily filled at the airport)?  

One mum is leaving it all behind for the adventure of a lifetime…

Lorraine Anderson was meant to be making a Sunday roast, not swanning off to Thailand, backpack in hand! But when she finds her husband and her best friend in bed together there’s only one thing to do – grab her passport and never look back!

Now, with each mile travelled Lori sheds the woman she once was and finds the woman she was always meant to be. A woman of passion and spirit who deserves to explore the great unknown…and to indulge in the temptation she encounters along the way!

I was hooked on this book, feeling every unsure first step that Lori took as she navigated her way around Thailand (north and south) and Malaysia.  Such wonderful descriptions, that I really want to return to southeast Asia, as soon as it's safe to do so! 

Can't wait to read the other books in this engrossing travel-based, feel-good fiction, series. 

Emma Lynden - The Holiday Plan

Sweet Romance

Valentine's Day 

I’ve just curled up on the sofa, reading The Holiday Plan, the sweetest romance novel, from debut Harpeth Road Press author, Emma Lynden. And when I say sweet, I mean this Valentine’s Day-set love story gave me all the feels of joy, warmth and happiness.

Verona – Roni – Scott has been hurt by love in the past. She plans everything in life, including a plan to escape the February holiday and overcome her writer’s block by indulging in a week- long, five-star hotel stay. The Adirondack mountain resort, the Courtington Castle Hotel (yes, a castle-based romance) holds lasting memories of her late Aunt Theoni for Roni, as they visited there when she was a child. Surely, it’s the perfect place to concentrate on reviving her … writing?

Single Dad Troy Turner has been surrounded by love all his life, thanks to his parents, and his own, marriage. But after the death of his wife he took their shared dream of building a matchmaking business and, over the last four years, has become the successful coach for people looking for love. As he prepares for the biggest social event of his professional calendar, the only heart he is focussed on is that of his six year old daughter.

There are some stunningly beautiful moments in the happy-ever-after story, handled with much love from Lynden. My heart easily followed this slow burn romance between Verona and Troy, lightening with each magical moment they shared together.

I'm lucky enough to be a part of The Harpeth Road volunteer book reviewer team - come on, the company works out of Nashville, Tennessee; of course I was going to be intrigued.  I read an ARC of The Holiday Plan, and I was a little unsure at first - was this Valentine's Day story going to be too sugary sweet? I'm happy to report it really is not; I was won over by Lynden's storytelling and wonderful characters.  My heart lifted at all the right spots. I already can’t wait to read more sweet romance stories from Emma Lynden! 

Kat Kinney - Dyrwolf

Paranormal romance/Shapeshifter

I've just binge-read this thoroughly engaging, mesmerising, new world of the dyrwolf, from Kat Kinney.

Evocative description of the lands, woven with an intriguing plot and back story. Lea is the perfect kind of feisty heroine, struggling to overcome her taught beliefs with her instincts and visions of the white wolf.

Highly recommend this wolf-based YA novel, and can't wait for the sequel, Darkwitch.

5/5

Lucy Mitchell - Instructions For Falling In Love Again

Feel-good Fiction

Trigger: grief 

Oh, excuse me; I didn’t see you reading there, what with the wracking, happy sobs that Lucy Mitchell’s Instructions for Falling In Love Again has just put me through.  Oh, it’s ever such an unputdownable book of heartache and heartmake.  My family should know; they’ve had to fend for their own lunch and laundry whilst I binge-read the story of Pip and Mikey and Dan…there go the sobs again.

Emma and Mel and Helen and the four children in the story were wonderfully distracting secondary characters, too.  I confess that I’ve had this second-chance-at-love novel on my TBR list for almost a year.  And I’m already keen to wonder what’s happened to the characters since Lucy last wrote The End. 

I loved the dual POV from the two central characters, with well-timed instructions from the third (as an old friend in each of Pip’s and Mikey’s chapters).  And the duck-egg, and the cakes (who may not have had a voice, but had something to say). 

Anyway, what are you still reading my five star review of Lucy Mitchell’s heartwrenching and heartwarming novel for?  Go read it yourself, immediately.  Go on.  You’ll thank Lucy for her story, too.