Release Day Review: Lockdown on London Lane by Beth Reekles
Lockdown on London Lane
Author: Beth Reekles
To Be Published: TODAY: February 1, 2022
352 Pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: January 7-19, 2022
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
For the inhabitants of London Lane, a simple slip of paper underneath each of their doors is about to change their lives in a hundred different ways.
URGENT!!! Due to the current situation, building management has decided to impose a seven-day quarantine on all apartment buildings on London Lane.
With nowhere else to go . . .
Ethan and Charlotte wonder whether absence really does make the heart grow fonder when they end up on either side of a locked door.
A fierce debate over pineapple on pizza ignites a series of revelations about Zach and Serena’s four-year relationship.
Liv realizes rolling with the punches is sometimes much harder than it looks after her bridesmaids’ party goes off the rails, leaving the group at each other’s throats.
Isla and Danny’s new romance is put to the test as they jump ten steps ahead on the relationship timeline.
And Imogen and Nate’s one-night stand is about to get six do-overs they never really asked for—not awkward at all.
Through make ups, breakups, love-ins, and blowouts, friendships are tested as everyone scrambles to make it through the week unscathed. Amidst all the drama, one thing remains constant: life is full of surprises.
Jessica’s Review:
Lockdown on London Lane takes place at the beginning of our current pandemic in the UK, without mentioning the dreaded ‘C’ word that we constantly hear now. The reader knows it is CoVid with the mentioning of certain mainstays throughout the novel. Though a serious issue with how life had forever changed for us all, Lockdown is an entertaining read with the unique situations that are occurring in each apartment.
From a one-night stand trying to sneak out but then forced to stay a week, to a bridal party stuck together for all chaos that could and will happen. We also have an entertaining debate on pineapple on pizza that a long-term couple faces. There is a fun and entertaining climax that involves the whole apartment complex that just brings a smile to your face.
I enjoyed reading this light take on our current world situation. Would you want to find yourself stuck in any of these situations? Would you be able to handle staying in your apartment for a week with your special or not so special someone? Will you survive or tear each other apart? These days it is still happening daily.
Lockdown is a fun read that takes a variety of circumstances in each apartment and puts the reader in a ‘fly on the wall’ situation to see what happens. This is an entertaining read that we all may need after two years of a seemingly never-ending pandemic.
Many thanks to Bookish First for granting me an arc copy to read and review.
Release Day Review: The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey
The Echo Wife
Author: Sarah Gailey
Published: TODAY, February 16, 2021
256 Pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: January 27-February 8, 2021
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
Basically what you need to know is this: A Science Fiction novel that deals with clones and murder.
**Read the below book description and face spoilers**:
Martine is a genetically cloned replica made from Evelyn Caldwell’s award-winning research. She’s patient and gentle and obedient. She’s everything Evelyn swore she’d never be. And she’s having an affair with Evelyn’s husband.
Now, the cheating bastard is dead, and the Caldwell wives have a mess to clean up. Good thing Evelyn Caldwell is used to getting her hands dirty.
Jessica’s Review:
I must say that after I had read about 80 pages I decided that the book description gives away too much and I really can’t stand that! All you really need to know is that The Echo Wife deals with clones and murder.
I am selective with what I read that is of the sci fi genre, but this one was right up my alley! The Echo Wife is total Science Fiction, and the science is not too much for the typical non sci fi reader. Some describe this one as a thriller as well, but for me it was not: It is character driven and is slower moving. All science fiction is fiction until it becomes fact!
Evelyn is our narrator to the novel and she starts her story with receiving an award for her research. It goes in a direction I figured out (most likely due to the many thrillers I read), but I enjoyed going for the ride. Evelyn is not very likeable and yet Martine is and they are total opposites, yet also not.
There are a few OMG moments that add to the story. The novel does have a conclusion, yet I wanted more story to see what will be coming next. This novel does leave you thinking about how far we humans will push science and to quote Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park: “Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn’t stop to think if they should.”
This is my first novel by Gailey and I really enjoyed it. If you are a sci fi reader then this one you should read!
Many thanks to the publisher Tor Books for granting me a copy to read and review via Bookish First.
Purchase Links
Amazon US
Amazon UK
A Release Day Double Review of The Companion by Katie Alender
Today is release day for The Companion by Katie Alender and today I bring you a double review for it! This double review is not with Kim, but my friend Yami, who runs her own Facebook page: A Bookworm’s Thoughts. We received our copies from the publisher G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers via Bookish First on the same day and I approached her on if she wanted to do a double review and she said sure!
The Companion
Author: Katie Alender
Published: TODAY, August 25, 2020
448 Pages
Book Description:
The other orphans say Margot is lucky.
Lucky to survive the horrible accident that killed her family.
Lucky to have her own room because she wakes up screaming every night.
And finally, lucky to be chosen by a prestigious family to live at their remote country estate.
But it wasn’t luck that made the Suttons rescue Margot from her bleak existence at the group home. Margot was handpicked to be a companion to their silent, mysterious daughter, Agatha. At first, helping with Agatha–and getting to know her handsome older brother–seems much better than the group home. But soon, the isolated, gothic house begins playing tricks on Margot’s mind, making her question everything she believes about the Suttons . . . and herself.
Margot’s bad dreams may have stopped when she came to live with Agatha – but the real nightmare has just begun.
Jessica’s Review:
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Dates Read: August 11-18, 2020
This is the first book I have read by Alender, and it will not be the last. From the beginning we are pulled in to the accident that Margot survives. Margot tell us the story in first person, so we are along with her for the duration of the novel. We experience everything with her from the group home to moving in with the Suttons.
This is a standalone YA/Horror novel and you know something that is going on is just not right. It is not gory horror, but psychological and a very quick read. It really was one I did not want to put down! I wanted to know how this one was going to end! Yes, it is somewhat predictable but to get to the ending and then be thinking “What did I just read!?!??!?” But this is meant in a great way! Even better is that we have a satisfying ending.
This is one where you cannot say much as it is best to go into it not really knowing much, but do read this if you enjoy thrillers and horror. You won’t regret it!
Many thanks to the publisher G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for granting me a copy via BookishFirst.
Yami’s Review:
Yami’s Rating: 4.5 stars
Another of Katie Alender’s book that I enjoyed. This one was more of a thriller. Poor Margot went through a great tragedy in the beginning of the book. Being the only survivor from a car accident with her family is such a horrible thing. So when a family decided to take her into their home, you would hope things will get better for her but right from the start you know things are just not right. I figured out a lot of the stuff from the beginning but it was still an enjoyable, crazy ride. I don’t know how much I could say without giving anything away so I will just end it here. Also, I was very happy with the ending.
Check out Yami’s Facebook Page and give her a like if you wish!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
