Monthly Book Stack Review April
What a busy month April turned out to be! I knew it would be, I planned ahead but still, I didn’t quite realise what I was letting myself in for, and escapism was greatly needed. Due to that this month’s book stack is fiction heavy but I’m sure there is something for everyone.
The Jewel by Amy Ewing
(Book 1 in the Lone City Trilogy)
I love YA (young adult) fiction. You get all of the fantasy and brilliant characters, with a focus on romance and possibilities rather than sex, and let’s be honest who doesn’t love anticipation!
This is a powerful storyline with echoes of The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. We are offered a world in which people are divided into class and separated, their lives revolving around the ‘Jewel’ at the centre in which the richest and most important live. Throughout the fast-moving narrative the author nudges the reader to think about how we see each other, the judgements we make of other groups, and what will are willing to accept from the powers that be in our own lives. I devoured all three books in a week and enjoyed every second. This is one I’m praying they adapt for the screen, and soon!
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
If you read my work on Medium, you will already have heard me wax lyrical about this book. It is definitely one I will return to and a must for all who have a love of the classics and Greek mythology.
The most memorable aspect of the book for me being the depth and intimacy taken with the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus, and the passion and love between the two men. A beautiful and fast-paced read, that I highly recommend.
The Idea of You by Robinne Lee
What would you do if at 39 you met a man you know only from the posters on your daughter’s wall and he sees you in a way you hadn’t seen yourself in a long time?
This book is a sexy, tantalising gift of escapist fun. As much as I love YA, here is a book that meets the woman I am now and allows a whole new kind of fantasy! It is indulgent and the perfect holiday read but it also deeply touches the way we women view ourselves, and the way society begins to treat us once we reach a certain age. I think every woman will resonate with Solene Marchand as she faces the reality of herself alongside the idea she had grown used to of a middle-aged ex-wife whose focus on her daughter and work had pushed some of her own needs to one side.
Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
Shonda is the writing force of nature behind Bridgerton, Grey’s Anatomy, and Scandal to name but three of her hugely successful television shows. I was intrigued to find out more about the woman holding the pen, and hear her story of overcoming the fear of saying yes which allowed her introverted nature to control her decisions and enjoyment of life.
Told in a hilarious, down-to-earth way, her story is one I think many of us can identify with. It’s a genuinely inspiring journey that leads you to question the default setting of ‘no’, opening the reader up to the ‘what if’ instead.
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In full disclosure, this post contains affiliate links which means if you choose to click on any of the images, you will be taken directly to Amazon so you can pop the book in your basket and I’ll earn a tiny commission to help fund my reading habits!
Image by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash