Book Reviews: Books I Read in July – Likes/Dislikes

This month I read a Thriller, Historical Fiction, Chick Lit and YA.

1.      Before She Was Found – Heather Gudenkauf.  ****

Summary of Plot:
Three twelve-year-old girls sneak out at night. One is brutally attacked, one is holding the bloody knife, the third initially denies being there. Who is the attacker?

Liked:
I put off reading this for ages because it just didn’t appeal to me, but I absolutely loved it. I couldn’t put it down and, almost to the end, I had no idea what was going on.

Disliked:
The ending. If it had any other ending, I would have given it 5 stars. Usually, if I hate the ending, it’s because it doesn’t make any sense, but that wasn’t the case in this book. It was a little far fetched but, I suppose, it was possible. I think I was disappointed because the ending was the only thing that stopped it from being an almost perfect thriller.

2.      The Last Tudor, Philippa Gregory****

Summary of Plot:
The story of Jane Grey and her sisters. NB – Jane Grey is only a small part of this book. The main character is her sister, Katherine.

Liked:
I haven’t read a Philippa Gregory book in years and I really enjoyed this one. Some reviewers didn’t like Phillipa Gregory’s interpretation of Elizabeth I’s actions. Maybe it’s because this is a period in history that I know little about, but it didn’t bother me. I had always felt sorry for Elizabeth because she had such a terrible start in life, but if even half of this book is factually correct, Elizabeth didn’t deserve anyone’s sympathy. If you like Jane Grey, you may be upset by her portrayal in this book. I thought she came across as a silly teenager and I found it rather amusing but some people found it annoying. A fascinating story, especially if you know little about the period.

Disliked:
I didn’t like the constant references to Anne Boleyn being a slut. I can understand that Jane Grey’s sisters hated Elizabeth and would want to think the worst of her mother, but Phillipa Gregory portrayed Anne Boleyn as a slut in The Other Boleyn Girl as well. She also portrayed Katherine Howard as a slut. You don’t have to be a historian to know that women were often called ‘sluts’ by their enemies, especially if they were young and pretty.

3.      Wedding Night, Sophie Kinsella *****

Summary of Plot: 

Lottie marries on the rebound. Her sister thinks an annulment would be less traumatic than the inevitable divorce. She couldn’t prevent Lottie getting married but she’s determined to ensure the marriage is never consummated. NB – Unlike most Sophie Kinsella books, the men in this book are very minor characters.

Liked:

I read this years ago. I remembered liking it so when I saw it on audio in my library, I decided to try it again. It’s undoubtedly silly and completely unrealistic but it is absolutely hilarious. I was stuck in a traffic jam for an hour during one of the funnier bits and I didn’t even care. I laughed out loud the entire time. People in the other cars probably thought I was nuts.

Disliked:
Initially, I disliked some of the voices on the audiobook but I soon got used to them and the narrator did a perfect job on the hysterical bits.

4.      Girl in the Blue Coat, Monica Hesse ****

Summary of Plot:

A World War II YA story. Seventeen-year-old Hanneke lives in Amsterdam in 1943. Her father is disabled and Hanneke supports the family by dealing in black market goods. A customer asks her to find a Jewish girl who has gone missing.

Liked:
At first, I thought this was going to be a love story. It isn’t. Then I thought it was going to be an adventure story but it isn’t that either. It’s really a story of different types of relationships and how people react in difficult times. I found it interesting, although the relationship that interested me most was barely touched on – i.e. Hanneke’s relationship with her schoolfriend who marries a German soldier. I especially liked the historical note at the end which explains the parts of the book that are based in fact. A good read if you are interested in this period.

Disliked:
I think the genres are a bit mixed. It’s partially YA but the theme is unlikely to appeal to that age group.