Penguin Publishing Group | August 2018 | 352 pgs
Source: Library
Julia's life is flat and boring. After a painful breakup with her boyfriend, she set her mind on proving herself at work and hopefully her boss will start to notice her hard work and assign her some important tasks. Bryce walks into her life literally when she is preparing for a presentation and a gust of wind blows her papers everywhere. After Bryce has helped her pick up the papers, he asked to meet her for a drink which she said yes. That drink leads to another meeting and soon Julia finds herself saying yes to being his girlfriend. It's hard not to like Bryce; after all he's handsome, charming and he knows how to make Julia feels special and different. Bryce then brought Julia to his church; introducing her to his so-called family and encouraging her to engage in his church's activities and to follow their teaching and principles. Everything sounds promising except that Bryce doesn't share about his past and that there's something a little off with the Reverend and the followers' belief. And despite Julia's doubts, Bryce always manage to convince her in the end.
Julia slowly become isolated from her family, friends and eventually her job. After marriage, it become worse as Bryce doesn't seem like the man he used to be. Is it possible for her to leave, given that Bryce has already had plans for their relationship?
Although this latest novel by Rena Olsen is marketed as a psychological thriller, it read more like a women's fiction with domestic abuse issue. I've to say the plot was quite predictable and I'd some issue about Julia and the ending. First off, I felt Julia jumped too fast into the relationship right from the beginning. Sure, Bryce may seemed like a perfect man initially, but this didn't give Julia a good reason to lose control of her decisions. I knew then that the relationship isn't going to work and after the marriage it only got worse. At that point, I felt no motivation to read further (this explains my slow progress) but there's something about the author's writing that made me continue reading. As for the ending I felt it to be rushed and that some questions are left unanswered. That said, this may deem to be a suitable read for readers who love a domestic drama rather than a suspense/thriller.
© 2018 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
Titan Books Ltd | April 2018 | 400 pgs
Source: Library
Sixteen years ago, child psychiatrist Dr Kate Wolfe lost her younger sister, Savannah, to a brutal murder. On that fateful night, Kate left Savannah alone for a moment to be with her boyfriend. That short moment led to a tragedy; Savannah's body was later found and the murderer was caught and put behind bars. Kate continues to live with guilt as her selfishness had led to her sister's death until one day a retired detective told her something that caused her to lose her equilibrium. According to the detective, it seems like Savannah was only one of many victims of a serial killer and he is afraid that the real murderer is still at large.
While searching for the truth surrounding her sister's murder, Kate also finds out that her parents' relationship was on the rocks. Kate's mother died of drowning when Kate was young so there is no way she could find answers from her; and Kate's father is a man of few words and Kate rarely sees him anyway. Kate's search for the truth surrounding Savannah's death begins to catch the murderer's attention and soon she becomes the hunted instead of the hunter.
Well, I've to say this book has lots of potential. Unfortunately it was a letdown due to the repetitiveness and an annoying protagonist. While I've no problem with unlikeable or unreliable characters in general (after all they do add some 'spiciness' to the story, no?) but Kate's naivety and stubbornness got on my nerves. There are times I questioned her professionalism with the choices she made and the thoughtless acts which put her in danger (roaming alone in a forest under bad weather with a low battery cellphone? I get it that she's searching for answers, but with no plans and no safety measures? And this is only just one example.) I also find the dialogues between her and her boyfriend seemed a little forced and unnatural. I think this was the weakest part of the story but of course this isn't a romance so I'd let it pass.
Back to the story, while there are enough red herrings and twists to catch the reader off guard, readers who read lots of suspense/thrillers books (or the observant ones) would've no problem guessing the murderer towards the end (not that it's a flaw but mainly not much surprise there). As mentioned, I do think this book has potential but it was a disappointment due to the points I noted above. That said, it was an OK read and I'd have enjoyed more if I hadn't expect too much of it.
© 2018 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
St. Martin's Press | October 2017 | 240 pgs
Source: Library
There are quite a number of books on retelling or reimagination with a different twist and Pride and Prejudice is among those top of the list and I can see why considering it is a well loved classic by many readers. While there are some which fall under the fresh, creative category, there are also some which are simply disappointing.
In this gender-swapping set in contemporary America, 29-year-old Darcy Fitzwilliam is a beautiful and a successful hedge fund partner in a well known firm in New York. She hasn't set foot in her homeland in Ohio for almost eight years, not even for Christmas until news of her sick mother made her go home to spend the season with her family.
As in Fitzwilliam tradition, they always hold their annual Christmas party and this year is no exceptional. Darcy is "forced" to reunite with her friends considering she has left quite an impression leaving home for New York. On the top of her "not-to-see" list is Luke Bennet, the smart and sardonic slacker son of their neighbour. They don't hate each other, but they don't like each other too. After a night of too many eggnogs, they found themselves in a compromise situation and although Darcy brushed it aside as just another one-night stand, she couldn't help thinking of him thereafter. But could they fall in love given her pride and his prejudice against big-city girls like her?
To begin with, I thought this book has lots of potential. I always love a retelling and I'd read one or two of those of P&P in the past and enjoyed them but unfortunately I couldn't find myself liking this one although I wished I did. I think the main reason is the characterisation and also the emotional depth wasn't enough to entice me. I liked Elizabeth from P&P, but Darcy (never mind the gender swap and everything else) didn't really leave too much of an impression on me other than that she was super wealthy and she behaved like a teenager at times; which I hate to say it but alas that was how I viewed it. Overall I think this book didn't work for me but if you don't mind something light and entertaining then this book may probably fit your reading preference.
© 2018 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
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