After completing my TBR for April, I still had a week of reading left before the end of the month and the start of my May TBR.
Here is a quick wrap up of the books I read in this final week!
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver
Overview: After losing her fiancé in an accident, Lydia Bird is thrust into a state of unbelievable grief. We follow her story over the next couple of years as she tries to come to terms with what she has lost, and if new love could be around the corner.
Review: I read The Two Lives of Lydia Bird as a bookclub choice with a small group of friends. I would never have voted for this one, but I was pleasantly surprised and proved wrong! I have never been someone that reads many romance books. I generally only read them when I need something light and fluffy (which isn't too often) - but this was so enjoyable. Frankly, it actually covers a very relatable topic: grief. Whether a fiancé, friend or relative, this is a impossible thing to process. This book completely warmed my heart and exceeded all expectations. There are some truly beautifully written passages about how it feels to lose someone you love, and if nothing else, this book has made me want to go on a holiday by myself; it actually sounds like a really good time?!
Rating: 4.5 stars
Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty
Overview: Yvonne is a successful, married middle-aged woman. She meets another man and is swept up in an affair. A horrible event leads to devastating consequences for Yvonne, where her whole world unravels around her.
Review: I picked this book on a total whim to break up my fluffy romances prior to going ahead with my May reads. Louise Doughty perfectly sets an ominous tone throughout the novel. The plot was exciting and plays out like an intense drama as opposed to a thriller. My only criticism of this book is that the first one hundred pages or so were slow and not entirely engaging. Being advertised as a thriller, this first section just felt too drawn out and slow. I don't know if a 'drama' is even a genre that is associated with books - but it should be! Drama would perfectly describe Apple Tree Yard. Courtroom scenes are additions to thrillers that are always welcome for me, so this will definitely go down as a memorable thriller on my shelves.
Rating: 4 stars
The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary
Overview: Tiffy and Leon are two strangers who have found their perfect solution to the expensive London rent; a flatshare (really a bed share). Tiffy takes the flat in the evenings and weekends and Leon has the flat during the day. Romance starts to blossom through a series of notes they leave for one another around their shared home.
Review: Well wasn't that just a delight?! I was so happy to get swept up in this little romance - especially delighted to hear the flat being in Stockwell, which is where I live too! Alternating chapters between our two protagonists constantly kept the story flowing. They're both incredibly delightful and likeable characters despite being very different. The chapters are written in very contrasting ways, with Tiffy's chapters being more traditional with whimsical trains of thought and Leon's chapters being more direct with short, sharp sentences. Initially, I didn't enjoy the writing style of Leon's chapters but got used to it soon enough. This is the perfect romance to read in any place, at any time, it's very sweet with the uncanny ability to warm your heart no matter the situation.
Rating: 4.5 stars
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