Would I Lie To You? by Aliya Ali-Afzal | Book Review

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Would I Lie To You? By Aliya Ali-Afzal

My rating: 3/5

Publisher: Head of Zeus

Publication date: 8th July 2021

Blurb:

She could lose the perfect life... if she tells the truth.

At the school gates in Wimbledon Village, Faiza fits in. It took a few years and a brand new wardrobe, but now the snobbish mothers who mistook her for the nanny treat her as one of their own.

But the perfect life costs money. When her husband Tom loses his job, Faiza realises she'll have to reveal her biggest secret: she's spent her family's entire life savings.

Unless she doesn't...

It only takes a second to lie to Tom. Now Faiza has six weeks to find £75,000 or risk losing the family she has worked so hard to protect.

Review:

I went into this book blind and it is a very unique premise. Faiza is married to Tom, a banker who is made redundant. They have three children, some of which attend a private school where she has to keep up appearances with the white school mothers. 

Faiza has had sole responsibility of the "emergency fund" for the past few years but, unbeknownst to her husband, she has been spending it frivolously and the full £75,000 is gone. Faiza begins lying on a small basis to Tom but her lies spin and grow out of control. But how far is she willing to go to keep her secrets?

I really liked the fleshed out characters throughout this book and they all have great backgrounds. We know them. Serious topics are covered such as finance, sexual assault, racism, culture, suicide and they are done well. For me, the book is very slow paced which made it feel a bit long. This is totally personal preference though, I just like a bit more fast-paced excitement. I did feel Faiza's anxiety grow as I read and was willing her to stop lying and tell her husband the truth.

19 Claws And A Black Bird by Agustina Bazterrica | Blog Tour Book Review

[ad/gifted - I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]

19 Claws And A Black Bird by Agustina Bazterrica

My rating: 4/5

Publisher: Pushkin Press

Publication date: 4th May 2023

Blurb:

In these tense, macabre stories, bodies fall from the sky, perfect nails conceal grisly secrets and violence pulses behind gleaming façades. From hellish visions to obsessive relationships, acclaimed author Agustina Bazterrica takes us to the dark heart of human desires and fears.

Shocking, brutal, yet glinting with sharp humour, Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird is a breathtaking dive into human monstrousness from a master of contemporary horror.

Review:

I don't usually read collections of short stories, no real reason why, but I was intrigued by this especially as I knew they'd have a horror focus.

When I started, my first thought was "what on earth am I reading?" Each story, although short, packs a punch and it goes without saying that there are massive trigger warnings throughout. From suicide, to rape, serial killers and more.

It feels strange to say given the subject of the stories but they really are beautifully and poetically written. I think Sarah Moses does a great job of translating this work too.

19 Claws And A Black Bird is definitely a book worth picking up to have you either gasping, going wide-eyed, feeling a little gross or like your head is fuzzy!

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A massive thank you to Pushkin Press for having me on the blog tour. You can find information about the bloggers taking part in the tour in the graphic below.

The Dead Are Gods by Eirinie Carson | Blog Tour Book Review

[ad/gifted - I received an ebook copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.]

The Dead Are Gods by Eirinie Carson

My rating: 5/5

Publisher: Melville House 

Publication date: 13th April 2023

Blurb:

After an unexpected phone call on an early morning in 2018, writer and model Eirinie Carson learned of her best friend Larissa's death. 

In the wake of her shock, Eirinie attempts to make sense of the events leading up to Larissa's death and uncovers startling secrets about her life in the process. 

THE DEAD ARE GODS is Eirinie's striking, intimate, and profoundly moving depiction of life after a sudden loss. Amid navigating moments of intense grief, Eirinie is overwhelmed by her love for Larissa. She finds power in pulling moments of joy from the depths of her emotion. 

Eirinie's portrayal of what love feels like after death bursts from the page alongside a timely, honest, and personal exploration of Black love and Black life. Perhaps, Eirinie proposes, 'The only way out is through.'

Review:

This is an absolutely gorgeous book that I read in near enough one sitting.

In 2018, Eirinie receives a call to say that her best friend Larissa has died. As soon as I started reading I instantly fell in love with Eirinie's writing style and although the subject is a hard one, it was very easy to read. Grief is explored so well with a lot of raw honesty surrounding feelings, how to cope and remembering.

I adored reading about Eirinie and Larissa's friendship and from the personality descriptions to music that they enjoyed, I truthfully felt like I'd love to have been friends with them too.

Not only does it explore grief and the loss of a best friend who was like a sister, you also have the focus on Black life and love.

The transcripts between Eirinie and Larissa peppered between the chapters were a lovely addition. The Dead Are Gods is a beautiful book that I will be thinking about for a really long time.

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A massive thank you to Melville House for having me on the blog tour. You can find information about the other bloggers on the tour in the graphic below.

Sleeping With A Psychopath by Carolyn Woods | Book Review

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Sleeping With A Psychopath by Carolyn Woods

My rating: 4/5

Publisher: HarperElement

Publication date: 29th April 2021

Blurb:

Carolyn Woods was living happily in a quiet Cotswolds village when an attractive stranger abruptly arrived in her life.

Introducing himself as Mark Conway, he exuded confidence and to her surprise Carolyn quickly became captivated by this mysterious man. A rich Swiss banker (who later confessed to being a spy), he offered Carolyn companionship and introduced her to an exciting, glamorous world.

In fact, some things were so astonishing she began to question her new lover. Was all as it seemed?

The truth was even harder to believe. For a start, his real name was Mark Acklom, he was wanted by Interpol, and he was rich but for one reason only…

A true-crime story that reads like a thriller, Sleeping with a Psychopath is a blow-by-blow account of the power of manipulation and a testament to the human will to survive.

Review:

I, like the majority of people these days, love anything to do with true crime. I was vaguely familiar with Carolyn's story so I was interested to hear the intricate details surrounding what happened.

Divorcée Carolyn Woods met Mark Conway (real name Mark Acklom) and he quickly set his sights on her. He duped her into a whirlwind relationship, managing to get her to transfer all of her savings to him and being very clever whilst doing so.

When I hear stories like this in the news, I am always confused as to why these women put their trust into men like this and Carolyn explains exactly how everything transpired. She seems like a very headstrong and independent woman at the start but, I felt, barely recognisable by the end. Mark was great at theatrics and made everything so believable.

Not only did he take Carolyn's savings, leaving her with nothing, he destroyed relationships and left her reaping the consequences for years afterwards. I am so happy that she is living a better life now but can't believe that Mark will be free soon and clearly he will continue on!

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson | Book Review

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Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson

My rating: 3/5

Publisher: Hutchinson Heinemann 

Publication date: 13th April 2023

Blurb:

Old money. New family...

Pineapple Street in Brooklyn Heights is one of New York City's most desirable residences, and home to the glamorous and well-connected Stockton family...

Darley, the eldest daughter, has never had to worry about money. She followed her heart, trading her job and her inheritance for motherhood - but ended up sacrificing more of herself than she ever intended.

Sasha is marrying into the wealthy Stockton family, who are worlds apart from her own. She feels like the outsider, trying to navigate their impenetrable traditions and please her new mother-in-law - plus her hesitancy to sign a pre-nup has everyone questioning her true intentions.

Georgiana, the youngest, is falling in love with someone she can't (and really shouldn't) have - and is forced to confront the kind of person she wants to be.

Review:

Pineapple Street is a character driven book so if you are looking for fast-paced plot, this maybe isn't for you. In saying that, it is written in a way that totally immersed me and I felt like I knew the characters well.

Pineapple Street is told from the points of view of three women, Darley and Georgiana who are sisters and Sasha, their sister-in-law (married to their brother Cord). The Stockton family are very well-to-do and are in the 1%. They live in the Fruit Streets area of Brooklyn Heights, hence the title.

Darley is married to Malcolm and gave up her inheritance to be with him, although his career in banking means that they aren't stuck for money.

Sasha grew up in a middle class family, and this causes a bit of a rift between her and Cord's two sisters, especially as they believe she didn't sign a pre-nup. 

Georgiana is the baby of the family and at 25 following the death of a married colleague that she is having an affair with, decides that she wants to be a philanthropist and donates her inheritance.

The plot doesn't really go anywhere but the writing is entertaining. I read this whilst on holiday and I feel like it was the best way to read because I could fully relax. If you like reading about the lives of the rich, you will like this one.