KIWI AUTHOR Book Review: Broken Silence

Broken Silence is a brand new book by NZ author Helen Vivienne Fletcher.
I won this book at her online Book Launch on Facebook, I don't know how I ended up there but I am glad I did!

This is a YA novel about seventeen-year-old Kelsey who is having a rough time, her mum is very sick, and her dad doesn't want anything to do with her. She ends up staying with her older brother at his flat and on top of all these issues she has an abusive boyfriend. It makes for a big downward sprial in Kelseys life. She begins getting stalker-esque prank calls which have a dark undertone to them. Soon Kelsey is fearing for her life and those of her friends and family too. Who is it on the phone and what do they want?

I must admit, this book sat on my drawers for a good long time before I picked it up. Life got busy, but I wish I had read this as soon as it arrived. Although I do not personally relate to Kelsey on most of these issues, they are very present in society and having a front seat to the train wreck was confronting yet compelling. Helen has managed to craft a character that I really cared about by the end, despite her whingy 'tantrums' throughout the book.

I love that it was set in Wellington but apart from the odd reference here and there such as Manners Street, it could have been set anywhere. I had some great images in my head of the setting of this book.

There were some very good twists and turns as we try to identify the caller, I thought I had it a few times before being proven wrong again and again. The ending works well and everything felt resolved, although it got darker than I expected towards the end.

I would definitely recommend this book to those who like a good psychological thriller and don't mind themes of violence and abuse. As I said before, they are more common than we think and having an inside perspective shines a light on some of the mental health issues that many suffer.

Please support our hard working Kiwi writers and find a copy of this book (or I can lend you mine!), then leave a review on her Facebook page! This is not a sponsored post - I just really enjoyed this book and think that our local writers deserve a shout out now and then!

Book Review: The Pool House by Tasmina Perry

The Hamptons - summer playground for the rich and mega-rich. Jem and her husband Nat can't believe it when they are invited to share a house beach-side in the Hamptons one summer. Style editor Nat has made massive connections since moving over from England a year ago, and this well-planned schmoozing has meant that the summer will be one to remember.

Jem has been at a loose end since moving to New York and has big dreams of running her own food blog. She tolerates her husband's cutthroat career and sees the summer as a way of making friends and spending time with Nat. But it turns out that the reason that the spot opened up at the house is that last year one of the wives - Alice - drowned in the pool on the property. It was ruled as accidental - she had been drinking after all, but gut-instinct tells Jem that there is more to it.

As she delves deeper she finds out that a lot went on last summer that no-one wants to talk about. The housemates do well hiding their secrets but with the help of a surprising new friend, Jem finds the cracks in their stories and finds out the truth about Alice.

The novel is written in two alternating sections - 'this summer', written from Jem's perspective, and 'last summer', written from Alice's perspective. The timing of the jumps is perfect for making you want to keep reading, each section ends with a massive cliffhanger or revelation and leaves you wanting to know just a little bit more before you put the book down.

FYI- there are a decent chunk of raunchy scenes, they are not too over-described but are definitely a bit part of the storyline, especially in Alice's story  - I was unprepared for the stark change from Jem to Alice!

The plot is well written and well thought out and having a small pool of suspects makes it interesting to guess what really happened. The characters are well drawn and not always likeable which is a refreshing change. As well as the whodunnit, there are also some much deeper issues that affect the main characters which are worked through as the novel progresses.

I really, really enjoyed this book! I will definitely be reading some more of Tasmina Perry's work - despite the cheesy covers. The look of this novel seems to stray from her usual so it will be interesting to see how the others read.

Available now!

Thanks to Hachette for the review copy of this book!

Book Review: Oi Cat by Kes Gray and Jim Field

The third hilarious book in the series with Oi Frog!, Oi Dog! and now Oi Cat!

Poor Cat has been instructed that cats sit on gnats - it's the rules! But Cat doesn't enjoy the gnats biting his bottom - perhaps HE can change the rules like Frog and Dog have done? What else can a cat sit on?

This brightly coloured and wonderfully illustrated book is full of animal rhymes that you wouldn't expect: Racoons and macaroons, armadillos and pillows, alpacas and cream crackers. So many animals, so many rhymes. You would think by the third book of essentially the same premise, that there would be no rhymes left but nope they keep on coming. It helps introduce new animals to children (and adults - what is a lark?!), and adds the odd bit of classic potty humour.

We love this series and I think they will bring a smile to your face.

Available now.

Thanks to Hachette for the review copy of this book!

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Playscript

Not the actual cover - changes exclude the words 'new' and add PLAYSCRIPT

Don't worry guys, I'm not super behind the times here, I know this has been out for ages but Hachette have been releasing a few special editions of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The specific edition I got my hands on to read and review is the Playscript.

"This revised paperback edition updates the 'special rehearsal edition' with the conclusive and final dialogue from the play, which has subtly changed since its rehearsals, as well as a conversation piece between director John Tiffany and writer Jack Thorne, who share stories and insights about reading playscripts. This edition also includes useful background information including the Potter family tree and a timeline of events from the wizarding world prior to the beginning of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child."

Having not read the original script when it was first published, I can't compare the 'subtle differences' but I did enjoy the extra timeline and family tree. The conversation piece I could give or take, it didn't really add to anything for me.

If you haven't already read it, this story is set 20ish years after the 7th Harry Potter novel, and Harry & Ginny's middle child, Albus Severus Potter, is headed off to Hogwarts for the first time. Albus has big shoes to fill and ends up befriending Draco Malfoy's son and they get involved in something they shouldn't and mess everything up. All with good intentions mind you.
That's pretty much all I can give away from the plot.

I enjoyed the storyline. I'm not a diehard Potterhead but I have read and loved the HP series. I can take this story as it comes and look past the things that others didn't like about it. There is plenty to read if you Google it!

After already reading a script-as-novel before with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, I quickly re-oriented myself with the script format of the book. Also not for everyone, but you kind of get used to it and it adds a different dimension to how the characters act and think.

Overall a good read as an addition to the Potterverse and this version may be up your alley - it is also a paperback edition.

Available now!

Thanks to Hachette for the review copy of this book!