The Noveltea Corner

Book Review

Save the Date Review

5:30 AM

Title // Save the Date

Author // Morgan Matson

Publication Date //July 2018

Publisher // Simon & Schuster

Readership // Young Adult

Genre // Contemporary

Rating // ✭✭✭✭

I received a copy of Save the Date from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Synopsis

Charlie Grant tries to keep her life as normal as possible. Hanging out with her best friend, pining for Jesse Foster - who she’s loved since she was twelve - and generally flying under the radar as much as she can.

But sometimes normal is just another word for stuck, and this weekend that's all going to change. Not only will everyone be back home for her sister’s wedding, but she’s also juggling:

- a rented dog that just won't stop howling

- an unexpectedly hot wedding-coordinator’s nephew

- her favourite brother bringing home his HORRIBLE new girlfriend

- fear that her parents’ marriage is falling apart

- and the return to town of the boy she’s loved practically all her life…

Over the course of four days Charlie will learn there's so much more to each member of her family than she imagined, even herself, and that maybe letting go of the things she's been holding on tightest to can help her find what really keeps them together.

Review

Save the Date is a fun, young adult contemporary book about finding yourself and understanding that your family are people, too.

Charlie Grant is the youngest child in her family, and loves her siblings and her life to bits, but struggles with change, even though it’s happening all around her - her siblings have all moved out, one’s getting married, her parents are selling their family home, and she’s soon to discover that all of them have secrets that she’s chosen to turn a blind eye to for the sake of nostalgia.

She throws herself head first into making sure her sister’s wedding day goes smoothly, addressing each and every obstacle and set-back with a determination that’s admirable, if at times a little worrying. She tries to keep the peace between her family and the guests and puts herself and her needs on the back burner until she can’t anymore and she’s forced to see the world as it is, and not as she wants it to be.

This is an easy-to-read coming of age story that addresses love, lust, loss and family in an easily accessible way. Charlie comes across as quite young for her age, but only because she’s chosen to play the part of the youngest sibling, the baby of the family, for so long that it’s a role she falls into and it’s great to see her start to take steps into her own life and how she plans to create her own story parallel to the story of her family.

I gave Save the Date 4 out of 5 stars.

Book Review

Record of a Spaceborn Few

11:12 AM

Title // Record of a Spaceborn Few (Wayfarers #3)

Author // Becky Chambers

Publication Date //July 2018

Publisher // Hachette

Readership // Adult

Genre // Science Fiction

Rating // ✭✭✭✭✭

I received a copy of Record of a Spaceborn Few from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Synopsis

Centuries after the last humans left Earth, the Exodus Fleet is a living relic, a place many are from but few outsiders have seen. Humanity has finally been accepted into the galactic community, but while this has opened doors for many, those who have not yet left for alien cities fear that their carefully cultivated way of life is under threat.

Tessa chose to stay home when her brother Ashby left for the stars, but has to question that decision when her position in the Fleet is threatened.

Kip, a reluctant young apprentice, itches for change but doesn't know where to find it.

Sawyer, a lost and lonely newcomer, is just looking for a place to belong.

And when a disaster rocks this already fragile community, those Exodans who still call the Fleet their home can no longer avoid the inescapable question:

What is the purpose of a ship that has reached its destination?

Review

Wow.

Just wow.

Anyone who follows my blog or youtube channel will know how much I adore Becky Chambers’ books and writing, and Record of a Spaceborn Few was no different. Set in the same universe as her two previous novels, with characters tied loosely to characters from those books, Chambers explores so many different ideas in this story. Each and every ideas is poignant and draws on the themes of humanity, relationship and life and death.

I’ll admit, it took a minute to get used to all the different character perspectives, but it was well-worth it, and each character that we meet brings a different perspective and history to the story that, once they begin to weave together, creates a rich tapestry of the history of these spacefaring humans who’ve chosen to stay with their fleet, rather than leave and explore the rest of the universe.

The strength in Chambers’ writing, beside her style (which is just gorgeous), is that she develops character so well. Every character is well-defined and as a reader you feel like you know them. You can see the world through their eyes, understanding how their history and experiences shape the way they interact with others.

This is not fast-paced science-fiction; after the disaster at the start of the book, there’s not a lot of action, rather focusing on the impact the opening scenes have on the characters. And it’s just gorgeous.

If you haven’t picked up Becky Chambers’ books before, I highly recommend all of them.

I gave Record of a Spaceborn Few 5 out of 5 stars.

Book Review

Tiger's Roar Review

4:47 PM

Book Review

The Neighborhood Review

5:30 AM

Title // The Neighborhood

Author // Mario Vargas Llosa

Translated by // Edith Grossman

Publication Date // April 2018

Publisher //Faber

Readership // Adult

Genre // Fiction

Australian RRP // $29.99

Rating // ✭✭✭☆

I received a copy of The Neighborhood from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Synopsis

A thrilling tale of desire and Peruvian corruption from the world-renowned Nobel Laureate.

From the Nobel Laureate comes a politically charged detective novel weaving through the underbelly of Peruvian privilege. In the 1990s, during the turbulent and deeply corrupt years of Alberto Fujimori's presidency, two wealthy couples of Lima's high society become embroiled in a disturbing vortex of erotic adventures and politically driven blackmail.

One day Enrique, a high-profile businessman, receives a visit from Rolando Garro, the editor of a notorious magazine that specializes in salacious exposes. Garro presents Enrique with lewd pictures from an old business trip and demands that he invest in the magazine. Enrique refuses, and the next day the pictures are on the front page. Meanwhile, Enrique's wife is in the midst of a passionate and secret affair with the wife of Enrique's lawyer and best friend. When Garro shows up murdered, the two couples are thrown into a whirlwind of navigating Peru's unspoken laws and customs, while the staff of the magazine embark on their greatest expose yet.

Ironic and sensual, provocative and redemptive, the novel swirls into the kind of restless realism that has become Mario Vargas Llosa's signature style. A twisting, unpredictable tale, The Neighborhood is at once a scathing indictment of Fujimori's regime and a crime thriller that evokes the vulgarity of freedom in a corrupt system.

Review

I had never heard of The Neighborhood when it was sent to me unsolicited and I will admit to being rather hesitant to pick it up. I often get that way with books that I have heard nothing about because of a fear of the unknown. While I can say that I probably wouldn’t have picked up The Neighborhood of my own accord, I was pleasantly surprised by this translated work that proved to be filled with political and sexual intrigue, coupled with a very different writing style.

The story follows two high-profile couples who are also friends. One of the men, Enrique, is approached by the editor of magazine with scandalous photos of Enrique from a previous business trip which he threatens to publish unless Enrique invests in his magazine. Upon refusal, the photos are released and Enrique’s life is turned upside down as all eyes turn on him. His wife, meanwhile, has begun an affair with the wife of her husband’s best friend. If that wasn’t enough intrigue, the reporter then turns up dead and both couples are forced to navigate a politically tricky situation.

It sounds very complicated - and it is - but it wasn’t a hard story to follow. I’m the first to admit to being unfamiliar with Peruvian history, so this narrative was, in itself, quite eye-opening for me because it includes quite a bit of political backstory. The story of the two couples involved in the scandal was engaging and watching each person navigate the fall from social grace and search for redemption in the eyes of the public was of great interest. I also appreciated the presence of very strong female characters who take their lives into their own hands, in spite of their husbands.

The one part of the book that left me uncertain, for a while, was a chapter towards the end, titled A Whirlpool. This chapter includes the perspective of every major character in the book, with the perspective shifting from one to the next every other paragraph. At first this left me highly confused and it took me a bit to recognise what was happening. After some time away from the book, I think my impression of that chapter has improved greatly, because it takes skill to be able to weave in all the different storylines together and keep track of them. So while it’s unusual, it may have become one of my favourite aspects.

Overall, I gave The Neighborhood 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Book Review

Monsters Review

11:07 AM

Title // Monsters

Author // Anna Fienberg

Illustrators // Kim Gamble, Stephen Axelson

Publication Date // May 2018

Publisher // Allen & Unwin

Readership // Children

Genre // Fiction

Australian RRP // $24.99

Rating // ✭✭✭✭

I received a copy of Monsters from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Synopsis

Tildy can see monsters that no one else can see and she sleeps with one eye open, until a new friend at school helps her overcome her fear - a delightful new picture book by the popular picture-book creators of Tashi.

Tildy knew there were monsters. They sailed in from outside and hid behind the curtains. Moonlight brought them in. Tildy hated moonlight. Mum and Dad said there were no such things. Her aunt and uncle couldn't see them, and when Tildy wrote to her twenty-three cousins about monsters, only one wrote back saying she shouldn't eat spicy food before bedtime.

Then a new boy came to school. Hendrik drew pages and pages of monsters when the class was writing numbers. He had a way of dealing with his monsters.

When Tildy dares to stay over at Hendrik's house, she panics when the moon rises... but together they make the night safe, and Tildy can watch the moon sail through the starry sky.

Review

Monsters is a beautiful picture book that shows the power of friendship in conquering fears.

Tidy is a little girl who sees monsters everywhere once the sun goes down at night. Her fear stops her from sleeping at night and the lack of acknowledgement from her family members makes her feel miserable all the time. When she makes a new friend at school, he shows her a new way of looking at her monsters, and Tildy finds a way to get through the night without fear.

This gorgeous little book can be interpreted in so many different ways for children - as all the best books can. Tildy is a tough little girl who tries to find solutions to her fears by asking the adults around her only to be met with disbelief or dismissal, which causes her to internalise her fears. It takes the courage of trusting her new friend to help her see past her fears and even finding compassion for them to help her overcome them, which is a great message for young readers.

The illustrations are wonderful, too. As Kim Gamble’s final book, it’s a lovely testament to his skill as an illustrator, as well as Stephen Axelsen, for the way the story is conveyed through this quirky and whimsical style with monsters that could be frightening or intriguing. Anna Fienberg’s storytelling is beautiful and easy to read, and reminiscent of conversations that children would actually have with both adults and their peers.

This would be a great book to read with children who are working on ways to overcome their own fears.

I gave Monsters 4 out of 5 stars.

Book Review

Into the Night Review

7:40 PM

Title // Into the Night

Author // Sarah Bailey

Publication Date // May 2018

Publisher // Allen & Unwin

Readership // Adult

Genre // Thriller

Australian RRP // $32.99

Rating // ✭✭✭☆

I received a copy of Into the Night from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Synopsis

The riveting follow-up to The Dark Lake, acclaimed debut novel and international bestseller.

'The Dark Lakeis a stunning debut that gripped me from page one and never eased up. Dark, dark, dark--but infused with insight, pathos, a great sense of place, and razor-sharp writing. It's going to be big and Sarah Bailey needs to clear a shelf for awards.' C.J. Box, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Sarah Bailey's acclaimed debut novel The Dark Lakewas a bestseller around the world and Bailey's taut and suspenseful storytelling earned her fitting comparisons with Gillian Flynn and Paula Hawkins.

Into the Nightis her stunning new crime novel featuring the troubled and brilliant Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock. This time Gemma finds herself lost and alone in the city, broken-hearted by the decisions she's had to make. Her new workplace is a minefield and the partner she has been assigned is uncommunicative and often hostile. When a homeless man is murdered and Gemma is put on the case, she can't help feeling a connection with the victim and the lonely and isolated life he led despite being in the middle of a bustling city.

Then a movie star is killed in bizarre circumstances on the set of a major film shoot, and Gemma and her partner Detective Sergeant Nick Fleet have to put aside their differences to unravel the mysteries surrounding the actor's life and death. Who could commit such a brazen crime and who stands to profit from it? Far too many people, she soon discovers - and none of them can be trusted. But it's when Gemma realises that she also can't trust the people closest to her that her world starts closing in...

Riveting suspense, incisive writing and a fascinating cast of characters make this an utterly addictive crime thriller and a stunning follow-up to The Dark Lake.

Review

Last year I read Sarah Bailey’s debut novel, The Dark Lake, and loved the atmosphere and the troubled protagonist, Gemma Woodstock. The story wrapped up and I thought that was the end of Gemma’s journey, and then Into the Night came out and I was pleasantly surprised by the direction that Bailey took with her character.

When Into the Night begins, Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock has left her small hometown and moved to Melbourne - a complete contrast in settings (and also a major drawcard from me, because I love seeing my hometown in books, through the eyes of characters) for Gemma and her family. She’s made difficult decisions, like leaving her ex-husband and young son behind, in order to cope with her life. Alone in a big city, Gemma’s troubles are highlighted even more so by the anonymity that a city like Melbourne can provide. The only stable part of her life is her job, which she is just as committed to as she was previously.

Alongside the journey that Gemma takes, is the case that falls in her lap - a murder on a movie set, with hundreds of witnesses, film footage… and no clue who was responsible for the death. The high profile nature of the crime increases the pressure for Gemma and her new partner, Nick Fleet, to uncover the truth sooner rather than later. There’s a lot of information to sort through, as well as the seemingly perfect life of the victim which turns up more questions than answers, and the reality that just about every person in the victim’s life has a secret to hide.

Overall, I enjoyed Into the Night. Again, one of my favourite parts was simply the atmosphere that Bailey creates when writing about Melbourne. It’s my city, but it’s dark and gritty and kind of scary at times in this story. I also continued to enjoy reading about Gemma’s personal journey - she’s still flawed. Moving away hasn’t fixed her and she’s still trying to figure who she is and who she wants to be. As a woman at a similar age, I totally relate to that.

I did have a few issues with pacing - I felt there were scenes that could have been moved through a bit quicker - but overall, it’s a solid book with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing who the killer is right until the end.

I gave Into the Night 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Blog Tour

Starry Eyes Blog Tour

5:00 AM

Title //Starry Eyes

Author // Jenn Bennett

Publication Date // June 2018

Publisher //Simon & Schuster

Readership // Young Adult

Genre //Contemporary

Rating // ✭✭✭✭☆

I received a copy ofStarry Eyes from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Synopsis

Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best-friends-turned-worst-enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern-day version of the Montagues and Capulets. But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.

Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to try to make their way to safety. But as the two travel deeper into the rugged Californian countryside, secrets and hidden feelings surface. Soon it's not simply a matter of enduring each other’s company, but taming their growing feelings for each other.

Review

Starry Eyes is a coming-of-age story for two young teenagers set amidst the Californian countryside as the two former best friends try to reconcile who they once were with who they are now.

I’m pretty picky when it comes to young adult contemporary books, but Starry Eyes had me hooked from the third paragraph, when main character Zorie waxes lyrical on the benefits of a well-planned, washi-taped lifestyle. Had I known about washi-tape in my teen years that would totally have been me. The instant connection to Zorie continued with astonishing relevancy to my own life when she outlined her ambition to become an astrophysicist (also my - sadly, unattained - childhood dream). Where was this book when I was growing up, I ask?

It also doesn’t hurt that it has a trope that I’m quite fond of - enemies to lovers - and it’s written at a slow-burn pace which draws out the drama and intrigue of how and why Zorie and Lennon came to be at odds with one another. Their relationship is complicated, caught between raging hormones and family issues that are not always readily apparent to the other party. And while Zorie and Lennon are front and centre for the entirety of the novel, there was a lot of information given about their families (and the complications that come with families) that grounded the story in reality. The only thing I wished had been fleshed out further was the mutual friendships they had with the group of fellow students they went camping with, but at the end of the day, the friends were more a plot device than an integral part of the narrative as a whole.

Jenn Bennett has a wonderfully engaging writing style that draws the reader in and keeps you turning pages long into the night, and - even though I can think of nothing worse than camping out - she sets the scene so well that you can picture yourself right there alongside the main characters. There are heaps of cultural references, from books to movies to television, that align the narrative with today’s teens (and adults) and it was honestly a pleasure to read.

I’m definitely going to be picking up Jenn’s other books to catch up on what I’ve missed!

I gave Starry Eyes 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the stops on this blog tour by clicking this link.

Author Info

Jenn Bennett is an award-winning author of young adult contemporary romance books, including: Alex, Approximately; Night Owls; and Starry Eyes. She also writes romance and urban fantasy for adults. Her books have garnered multiple starred reviews, won the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® Award, and been included on Publishers Weekly Best Books annual list. She lives near Atlanta with one husband and two dogs.

Twitter // Instagram // Website

Purchase Links

Amazon // Booktopia // Dymocks // QBD // Readings // Kindle // iBooks