Review ~ The F Word by Lily Pebbles

Hodder&Stoughton
8 March 2018

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

Modern female friendship is the subject of this book which looks at the whys and wherefores of friendship and what makes some relationships last forever, whilst others are fleeting and disappear almost as quickly as they come.

The author writes with enthusiasm, taking us back in time to her first best friend made at primary school, and then through to those friendship groups made when older. Interspersed throughout are diaries entries and illustrations made when the author was younger and which highlight the trials and tribulations of girl groupings when boys start to come into the equation. I read through the sections quickly and enjoyed reading the author's thoughts about the various situations that girl friends often find themselves in, like arranging hen parties and what happens when, inevitably, female friends fall out with each other.

This recipe for friendship made me smile.

125g loyalty

140g empathy, melted 

2 cups of support
110g of trust
2 litres of self confidence
150g time

Throughout the book I was reminded of my own friendship groups. I've had some close friends for many years whilst others have been made in more recent times and with them all I know instinctively that if I ever needed any of them they would be there for me in an instant and vice versa. I think what this book emphasises is that it's not about how many female friends we have but rather it's the quality of those friendship groups, and of the love and understanding found in those close friends who have been with us through good times and bad.

In this confusing time of social media when everyone shares their data with hundreds of 'friends' online, perhaps it does well from time to time to stop and consider just how many are true friends. 

About the Author

Lily Pebbles has been blogging since 2010 and is one of the pioneers of the industry. She's amassed a league of loyal followers pf her blog and self-named You Tube channel for content that covers, beauty style and advice. Lily is the co-host of the hugely popular 'At Home With' podcast.

The F Word is her first book

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Twitter @lilypebbles


@HodderBooks

Review ~ Angelica Stone by Susi Osborne

The Book Guild
2017

My thanks to the author for my review copy of this book

What's it all about...

Following years of sexual abuse and resulting psychological trauma, Angelica Stone has learnt to rely solely on herself. Unwilling to allow anyone to get close to her, Angelica is reluctant to allow her work colleague Lola into her life. Lola, in contrast to the damaged Angelica, is from what appears to be a happy middle-class family. But all is not what it seems…

An unlikely bond is formed between the two as they learn more about each other. As they become closer, a series of life-changing events leave Lola on the verge of ruin. Will the friends be able to better themselves and have the lives they so desperately want? Or will they succumb to the expectations and the path already laid out for them?

My thoughts...

This rather unusual book took me by surprise as I wasn't, from reading the first pages, expecting to read such a dark and, at times, quite disturbing story about two very different young women, who first meet as co-workers, and then whose lives intertwine in a fascinating, fly on the wall, sort of way.

Lola and Angelica's backgrounds couldn't be more different and yet, they form a bond of friendship which will prove to be their salvation when things in their lives start to change. That they form this bond is to their credit and makes for interesting reading.

The story moves from some laugh out loud funny moments, to times when I didn't quite believe what I was reading, but through it all the author maintains a light and easy style of writing, which despite the darker elements, draws you in so that you are compelled to read on just to see how the story eventually plays out.

It's rather difficult to say too much about Angelica Stone as it would give far too much away, but my main thoughts on finishing the book was just how well written it was, and how much I liked the author's natural ability to make this unusual story into a very readable account of the power of friendship and the strength of self discovery.

About the Author

Susi Osborne worked within the library service and now runs Northwick LitFest in Cheshire, where she lives. Susi also worked as a classroom assistant in a junior school and, in addition, has had first hand experience of social workers and the adoption system.

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Twitter @susiosborne

Amazon UK

Hist Fic Saturday ~ Christmas at Woolworths by Elaine Everest

On His Fic Saturday 

Let's go back to ...1942

Pan Macmillan
2 November 2017

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

"Even though there was a war on, the Woolworths girls brought Christmas cheer to their customers"

Sarah, Maisie and Freda work together at the Erith branch of Woolworths and have formed a strong bond of friendship which has seen them through difficult times, however, their loyalty and camaraderie is about to be tested again in this difficult year of World War Two. With their loved ones caught up on the war, the girls must keep their morale high, even though, at times, they are caught up in the worry and uncertainty of not knowing what's going on with those they love.

The story very quickly involves the reader in the lives of this feisty group of women, and even though I haven't read the previous book, The Woolworth Girls, I very quickly picked up the nature of the story and enjoyed getting to know the different personalities. I think that the wartime feel of the novel sits nicely against the festive element and shows just how good people were at making the best of what was available.

The author writes with warmth and wit and creates an authentic war-time atmosphere, giving life to believable characters who linger long in the imagination. Becoming involved in their dramas and heartbreaks make this lovely novel an absolute joy to read.

I enjoyed spending Christmas at Woolworths with this group of women and hope to be able to catch up again with them in future sagas.

About the Author

Elaine has written widely for women's magazines, with both short stories and features. When she isn't writing, Elaine runs The Write Place creative writing school in Dartford, Kent, and the blog for the Romantic Novelists' Association. Christmas at Woolworths is her third novel.

Elaine lives with her husband, Michael, and their Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Henry, in Swanley, Kent.

Twitter @ElaineEverest  #ChristmasatWoolworths @panmacmillan

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Review ~ The Fifth Letter by Nicola Moriarty

Penguin
March 2017

What's it all about...

Joni, Trina, Deb and Eden.

Best friends since the first day of school. Best friends, they liked to say, forever.

But now they are in their thirties and real life - husbands, children, work - has got in the way. So, resurrecting their annual trip away, Joni has an idea, something to help them reconnect.

Each woman will write an anonymous letter, sharing with their friends the things that are really going on in their lives.

But as the confessions come tumbling out, Joni starts to feel the certainty of their decades-long friendships slip from her fingers.

Anger. Accusations. Desires. Deceit. 

And then she finds another letter. One that was never supposed to be read. A fifth letter. Containing a secret so big that its writer had tried to destroy it. And now Joni is starting to wonder, did she ever really know her friends at all.

What did I think about it...

This story looks at the dynamics of female friendships and of those secrets we keep even from our closest friends, which just goes to show that you never really know the people you think you know.

For Joni, Trina, Deb and Eden, their annual 'girlie' trip is something they all look forward to immensely. It's a time to break away from the conventions of their ordinary lives, and a chance to let their hair down and enjoy each other's company. When Joni suggests, as a matter of fun, that they each write a letter revealing a secret about themselves, what should have been fun and frivolous, soon turns into something very different. The inclusion into the mix of a mysterious fifth letter written by one of the group but never meant to be shared suddenly changes the whole dynamics of the situation , and as lives are laid bare, the repercussions on their friendship becomes intolerable.

The story flows well and the author has done a great job of making each of the four friends feel different and yet, each of them has something quite special about them. Inevitably, I liked some characters more than others but throughout the story I was involved in what was going on and was intrigued by the both the concept and repercussions of revealing so much about themselves.

I enjoyed this candid look at female friendship and of the dangers of revealing too much about yourself to the wrong people.

Best Read With ...a protein shake and healthy snacks..

About the Author

Nicola Moriarty is a student, a mother, a swimming teacher and now a writer. She has been an actress, a(terrible) waitress, an (equally terrible) bartender in a London pub, a marketing coordinator and a door-todoor sales person. She lives in Sydney with her husband and children.

Follow on Twitter @NikkiM3

#TheFifthLetter

My thanks to Sarah at Penguin for sending a copy of this book to me.

~***~