Tag: books

Review: The Good Son by You-jeong Jeong

Ali@abookishlife6 Comments

The Good SonA dark and disturbing story that had me gripped from the very first page until the very last.

THE BLURB

Yu-jin is a good son, a model student and a successful athlete. But one day he wakes up covered in blood. There’s no sign of a break-in and there’s a body downstairs. It’s the body of someone who Yu-jin knows all too well.

Yu-jin struggles to piece together the fragments of what he can remember from the night before. He suffers from regular seizures and blackouts. He knows he will be accused if he reports the body, but what to do instead? Faced with an unthinkable choice, Yu-jin makes an unthinkable decision.

Through investigating the murder, reading diaries, and looking at his own past and childhood, Yu-jin discovers what has happened. The police descend on the suburban South Korean district in which he lives. The body of a young woman is discovered. Yu-jin has to go back, right back, to remember what happened, back to the night he lost his father and brother, and even further than that.

The Good Son deals with the ultimate taboo in family life, and asks the question: how far will you go to protect your children from themselves?

MY REVIEW

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

This was such a great read and so different from what I was expecting when I accepted the publisher’s offer of a copy. Based on the reviews I skimmed through prior to picking it up, I will admit I was a little wary. There was a lot of “it’s a slow burn” and “you have to stick with it” but this was not my experience of reading it at all.

From the very first page I found myself gripped and completely immersed in this story. There may not be a huge amount of action (although I should warn it is violent and a little gruesome in places) and it’s heavy on internal monologue and flashbacks (something I usually hate) but the whole story and Yu-jin in particular absolutely fascinated me.

The central premise of “main character awakes to discover a brutally murdered body and has no memory of what happened” is not a unique one but it is one that intrigues me and this author does it so well. The story is told almost entirely from the point of view of Yu-jin and I found being in his head a very interesting experience. There is clearly something not quite right but I found myself drawn to him and wanted to know more.

The truth of what happened to his mother and the reasons behind it are uncovered very slowly over the course of the book as Yu-jin finds clues, makes deductions and recalls the events from the night before (and further into the past) while simultaneously trying to cover everything up for as long as possible. It quickly becomes clear that there was something not right in the relationship between mother and son but, while we’re given the impression that she’s overly controlling and he’s afraid of her (and his Auntie), it’s obvious that Yu-jin may not be the victim he first appears and there could be a reason he’s kept on a tight leash.

I will say I wasn’t necessarily surprised by what is revealed over the course of the story as the author leaves enough hints and clues along the way for you to figure it out but this wasn’t the main draw for me. I was much more invested in what was coming next and what would happen to Yu-jin. I wouldn’t say I liked him, and he admits himself that he’s a skilled liar so you know not to trust him, but I was intrigued by him. Despite being the classic unreliable narrator he is very convincing and I found myself empathizing with him even when I knew I shouldn’t.

There’s a very claustrophobic, dark and disturbing feel to this story and while it’s not all action all of the time there were more than a few moments which had me on the edge of my seat. It is fairly limited in terms of scope, it’s primarily set within the apartment, takes place over a short period of time and there are very few characters (or interactions between them) making it quite quiet and intense but for me this just added to the suspense and anticipation.

The ending when it comes was brilliant but I will admit I found it a little disappointing. It wasn’t bad, I think it was more that the rest of the story had built my expectations up so high that I was expecting more.

If you can’t tell by now I really loved this book and would recommend to anyone who loves a thriller that really gets into a characters head.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy. As always all views are my own.

WWW Wednesday: 9th May 2018

Ali@abookishlife29 Comments

The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.

WWW Wednesday

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently ReadingMeddling Kids

I’ve gotten seriously behind on my reviews (blog posts in general, housework, work work, life etc) so I’m determined not to pick up anything new till I’m at least slightly caught up. That being said I did start reading Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero at the weekend so I’ve been dipping in and out. It hasn’t really gripped me so far which is a good thing as I don’t really want to disappear into book obsession right now.

Recently Finished

Legendary (Caraval, #2)

The first book finished this week was Legendary, the sequel to Caraval, by Stephanie Garber and wow this book was everything. Having spotted a lot of rave reviews I did have high hopes for it, so high I kept putting off reading it, but it exceeded them all. I wasn’t sure I would like Tella as a main character but she made this book for me. She’s reckless and impulsive and goes for what she wants no matter the risk which makes her so fun (and only occasionally frustrating) to read. I also had some doubts that Garber would be able to keep the level of mystery but I found myself questioning everything and some of the reveals were jaw dropping (I was very tempted to stay on the train and not go to work). I have written up my review for this but I need to wait a little closer to publication before I post it.Romancing the Duke (Castles Ever After, #1)

Because Legendary blew me away so completely I have to admit I struggled to pick up anything else for a day or two and ended up doing that thing where I started something, read a chapter or two before putting it down again and switching to something else. I therefore did what I usually do when a slump is looming and went for a light and fun romance with Tessa Dare’s Romancing the Duke. Ever since I read her latest book The Duchess Deal I’ve been wanting to pick up something else by Dare and as they don’t require a lot of thought (and are available on Overdrive) it seemed the perfect choice. I didn’t enjoy as much as The Duchess Deal, but I’ll blame that on the slump and it did get me ready to read something more serious.The Good Son

The third and final book finished this week was The Good Son by You-Jeong Jeong, which I’d received from the publishers via NetGalley. I think this is probably the first book I’ve read by a Korean author and it was absolutely brilliant. It’s a mystery/thriller that digs deep into the mind and memories of one character. It has a lot of things I generally dislike, lots of internal monologues, flashbacks, unreliable narrator but it just worked for me. It’s dark and a little bit gruesome and I found it completely addictive.

Reading Next

I still need to get my NetGalley shelf under control as despite it creaking at the seams I haven’t stopped requesting more and more books (I need a Netgalley addicts anonymous group or something). I think I am going to be looking for a fantasy read next so I’m thinking one of the following.

Red Sister (Book of the Ancestor #1)Smoke in the Sun (Flame in the Mist, #2)Ash PrincessAce of Shades (The Shadow Game #1)

Have you read any of the books on my list this week? Any others you’d recommend? As always please feel free to leave comments and links below.

Happy Reading ❤

Review: Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Ali@abookishlife3 Comments

Dear Martin by Nic StoneA fascinating read that really opened my eyes to some of the issues around race relations in the US. I did think it was maybe a little on the short side but well worth reading.

THE BLURB

Raw, captivating, and undeniably real, Nic Stone joins industry giants Jason Reynolds and Walter Dean Myers as she boldly tackles American race relations in this stunning debut.

Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can’t escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates. Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out.

Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up—way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it’s Justyce who is under attack.

MY REVIEW

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As an ever so slightly older than teenage white woman who lives in a small town in Scotland I don’t think this book was really aimed at me, and I suspect I didn’t “get” it in the same way it’s intended audience would, but I did find it an absolutely fascinating read. My experience of the impact of racial stereotyping is very limited and gun violence isn’t really a thing here (although gang culture is) so this really opened my eyes and highlighted a lot of the issues in a very real and natural way.

At only 210 pages, I did find it a surprisingly quick read (I finished it within a couple of hours) but while I appreciated the fast pace and ease of reading it I think I would have preferred a little more depth and detail. It moves at such a speed that I never felt connected to the characters or emotionally invested in the story. That’s not to say that this is not an emotional read (there were a few truly heartbreaking moments) but I think if there had been more background to the characters and more relationship building I would have felt so much more.

As far as main character Justyce goes I can’t say that I ever connected to or fully understood him and his actions although I suspect this is likely more to do with our relative backgrounds and ages rather than the writing as he is very convincingly portrayed by the author. In fact I think the author did a brilliant job of portraying all of the characters in this story and the dialogue and interactions between them felt especially real.

I also have to give the author praise for presenting the issues in a very clever way so that they’re clearly demonstrated without the story ever becoming preachy. The use of Justyce’s letters to Martin Luther King combined with the discussions at the debate club and his experiences were ideal ways of getting points across and combining both the facts/statistics and the emotional impact on Justyce in a natural way. I do think the author could have gone deeper in certain areas and developed them a little further but there is no doubting that the key messages come across loud and clear.

This is a book with a lot of buzz around it and a very important message so I am glad to have been given the opportunity to read it. It’s definitely one I would recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC. All views are, as always, my own.

Teaser Tuesday: 8th May 2018

Ali@abookishlifeLeave a comment

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purple Booker. If you want to join in grab your current read, flick to a random page, select two sentences (without spoilers) and share them in a blog post or in the comments of The Purple Booker.


This week my teaser comes from The Good Son by You-Jeong Jeong, a disturbing thriller I received from NetGalley. I read this over the weekend and absolutely loved it. It’s such a dark and chilling read that really takes you into the mind of a very unique character.

My Teaser

I could figure it out. Or at least I could make it make sense. I had always had a gift for reshaping a scene to make it comprehensible, though Mother disparaged this skill, calling it ‘lying’.

~ 12% The Good Son by You-Jeong Jeong

BlurbThe Good Son

Yu-jin is a good son, a model student and a successful athlete. But one day he wakes up covered in blood. There’s no sign of a break-in and there’s a body downstairs. It’s the body of someone who Yu-jin knows all too well.

Yu-jin struggles to piece together the fragments of what he can remember from the night before. He suffers from regular seizures and blackouts. He knows he will be accused if he reports the body, but what to do instead? Faced with an unthinkable choice, Yu-jin makes an unthinkable decision.

Through investigating the murder, reading diaries, and looking at his own past and childhood, Yu-jin discovers what has happened. The police descend on the suburban South Korean district in which he lives. The body of a young woman is discovered. Yu-jin has to go back, right back, to remember what happened, back to the night he lost his father and brother, and even further than that.

The Good Son deals with the ultimate taboo in family life, and asks the question: how far will you go to protect your children from themselves?

WWW Wednesday: 2nd May 2018

Ali@abookishlife15 Comments

The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.

WWW Wednesday

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you’ll read next?

I was on holiday last week and didn’t have time to schedule any posts before I left as I planned to do due to a troublesome little black cat. This therefore covers the last couple of weeks reading.

Currently ReadingLegendary (Caraval, #2)

I finally started reading Legendary, the sequel to Caraval yesterday and while I’m only around a quarter of the way through I am already loving it. I have to admit that knowing the story followed Tella (the wilder, more reckless of the two sisters) I was a little wary going in as I didn’t really take to her in Caraval. However, she’s turning out to be a very interesting character. She knows (and speaks) her own mind and isn’t afraid to take a risk which makes for a pretty exciting read. It’s not hurting that there’s a bit of flirtation with the resident bad boy 😉

Recently Finished

I’ve had an odd couple of weeks with 5 days in Spain horse riding and a cat who decided that just before I left was the perfect time to develop a limp. Needless to say I’ve been a bit stressed so I’ve been doing what I always do and escaping into some light (ish) reading to take my mind off things and I managed to finish 6 books.

SnapDear MartinA Summer Scandal

  • Snap by Belinda Bauer (NetGalley) – Bauer is fast becoming one of my go to authors when I’m looking for a pretty fast paced and twisty thriller and I very much enjoyed this one. It has an absolutely brilliant beginning before diverging into three seemingly unconnected stories before coming back together. There are maybe a few too many coincidences but if you just go with it it’s a great read, and I loved Jack.
  • Dear Martin by Nic Stone (NetGalley) – There’s been a lot of buzz around this story of race relations and it is a really fascinating read. I did find it a little on the short side (I finished it in a couple of hours) and therefore lacking a little bit of depth and emotion but it is worth reading.
  • The Summer Scandal by Kat French (NetGalley) – French is one of my favorite romance authors and this turned out to be a great poolside read. It’s sweet and fun read with a little bit of mystery and a lot of romance. And, as always it has French’s usual slightly quirky characters.

Chaser (Dive Bar, #3)Twisted Palace (The Royals, #3)Northanger Abbey

  • Chaser by Kylie Scott (NetGalley) – I’d only read one other Kylie Scott (Lick from the Stage Dive series) before picking this up but while it’s the third book in the Dive Bar series it can easily be read as a standalone. It’s quite a sweet story about a barman who doesn’t like commitment but can’t resist getting involved with a young pregnant woman
  • Twisted Palace by Erin Watt (Kindle Unlimited) – I was looking for something light and easy and remembered this the third book in the series was lurking on my kindle. These books always feel like a bit of an American soap to me (think Dallas without the oil) so they’re great for a bit of escapism.
  • Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (owned) – Possibly my fave Austen I re read this for a challenge and very much enjoyed (I swear I could read this every year).

Reading Next

I’ve been going a bit nuts on NetGalley yet again (it’s just too tempting) and currently have about 50 books sitting on my shelf which is not good (although it kinda is cos there’s a lot of good books there) so my focus this month is going to be on getting all caught up. I think one or more of these four will probably be my next read.

Cross Her HeartRed Sister (Book of the Ancestor #1)Macbeth (Hogarth Shakespeare)The Good Son

Have you read any of the books on my list this week? Any others you’d recommend? As always please feel free to leave comments and links below.

Happy Reading ❤

TTT: Ten books I can’t wait to read

Ali@abookishlife23 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a bookish meme that was started by The Broke and Bookish and moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018.  It was born of a love of lists (something I share) and each week participants come up with a list of ten(ish) things based on a theme.

The theme for this weeks Top Ten Tuesday is Books I’d slay a lion to get early. Given my love of felines of all shapes and sizes I’m probably not going to slay a lion for any book (what did the lion do to deserve that??) but these are 10 books I can’t wait to get my hands on.

King of Scars (Nikolai Duology, #1)

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo – Considering my love for all things Leigh Bardugo, the Grishaverse and the fact that Nikolai Lantsov is one of my all time fave characters this book is definitely top of my list (and may even be slay a lion worthy). This is the book I feel I’ve been waiting for ever since Siege and Storm.

And the Ocean Was Our Sky

And The Ocean Was Our Sky by Patrick Ness – Again I’m a big fan of anything Ness writes and was particularly excited when I heard this described as Moby Dick from the POV of the whale.

Us Against You (Beartown, #2)

Us Against You by Fredrik Backman – this is due out in June so not really too long a wait but I am keen to find out what’s happening to the residents of Beartown

99 Percent Mine: A Novel by [Thorne, Sally]

99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne – The Hating Game by Thorne is probably one of my all time favorite romance reads. I pick it up and read random sections on a fairly regular basis and it never gets old. I’m therefore very curious to see if her second book will become my new favorite.

The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy (Guide, #2)

The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee – I adored Felicity’s character in the Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue so I am very excited that she’s getting a book all of her own.

The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air #2)

The Wicked King by Holly Black – Cruel Prince was an absolutely brilliant read but honestly that ending was a killer. Part of me wishes I hadn’t read it so I didn’t have the wait for book 2.

Shadow of The Fox

Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa – DRAGONS!!!! There’s only around a week to go until Inferno, the final book in the Talon series, is released in the UK and I just know that once I’m finished it I’m gonna need something else to fill a dragon shaped hole. And this new series with a Japanese influence sounds sooo good. Plus ya know, Kagawa books are always exciting reads (and she’s not afraid to bump off characters)

City of Ghosts

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab – My kitty cat is on the cover (not really) so I feel like I have to read this. Seriously though, a girl who can see ghosts, Edinburgh setting, Schwab’s writing, I’m in.

Spinning Silver

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik – You’d think I’d be over my obsession with fairytale retellings by now but nope and this sounds good and dark and twisty.

Big Sexy Love

Worst Girlfriend Ever by Kirsty Greenwood – Yep I know the cover above is for a different book but I there doesn’t seem to be a cover up for this one yet so I’m using it as an excuse to once again plug Big Sexy Love (that book is sooo under appreciated). I think Greenwood is just seriously under appreciated. Every book I’ve read so far by her I’ve loved so looking forward to this, her next one.

So that’s the 10 books I’m very excited about and would love to get a hold of early (although maybe not slay a lion early). Are any of these on your list or is there a book you’re particularly looking forward to?

Feel free to leave comments below and links to your top ten’s.

Teaser Tuesday: 1st May 2018

Ali@abookishlife1 Comment

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purple Booker. If you want to join in grab your current read, flick to a random page, select two sentences (without spoilers) and share them in a blog post or in the comments of The Purple Booker.


This week my teaser comes from Dear Martin by Nic Stone, a galley of which I received from NetGalley. This is one of those books that has had quite a bit of buzz around it and while I’m not sure it completely lives up to the hype I thought it was a really good read. It certainly gave me a much better understanding of race relations and the various surrounding issues in the US.

My Teaser

“You can’t change how other people think and act, but you’re in full control of you. When it comes down to it, the only question that matters is this: If nothing in the world ever changes, what type of man are you gonna be?”

~ 70% Dear Martin by Nic Stone

BlurbDear Martin

Raw, captivating, and undeniably real, Nic Stone joins industry giants Jason Reynolds and Walter Dean Myers as she boldly tackles American race relations in this stunning debut.

Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can’t escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates. Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out.

Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up—way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it’s Justyce who is under attack.

Hiatus

Ali@abookishlife5 Comments

Hey all!

This is just a quick post to let you all know that I’m going on holiday this week and won’t have any internet access. I had planned to schedule some posts but unfortunately life, in the form of a small black cat who suffered an injury at the end of last week, got in the way (he’s under house arrest but on the mend).

I should be back by next weekend when normal service shall resume.

Until then, Happy Reading Everyone !!!!

Ali xx

WWW Wednesday: 18th April 2018

Ali@abookishlife23 Comments

The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.

WWW Wednesday

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently ReadingSnap

I started reading Snap by Belinda Baur on Monday and am already almost half way through despite not getting a lot of reading time. It’s just so gripping I’m sneaking a read at every possible opportunity. I have to say though that it’s a bit of a strange one as I really have no idea where the story is going. Usually with this type of thriller there’s a clear direction but at the moment it seems to be three different stories which I’m assuming will come together at some point.

Recently FinishedThe Craftsman

The first book finished this week was The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton which I’d received via Netgalley. I hadn’t read anything from this author before but I really liked the synopsis and it seemed to get some great reviews. I haven’t written up my review yet (I am the queen of procrastination) but I will be adding to those great reviews as I liked this A LOT, definitely one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a while. I loved the setting of northern England in the late 1960’s and I loved the sinister atmosphere the author created. There were more than a few creepy moments and a lot of unexpected twists.The Design

After the Craftsman I was in the mood for something light and fluffy so switched to a romance with R.S. Grey’s The Design which I got on kindle unlimited. It’s a follow up to The Duet (a book I really liked) but could probably be read as a standalone. Unfortunately while this book was a pretty quick and easy read I didn’t enjoy as much as I hoped. I’m not sure I really liked main character Cammie (I didn’t like the way she behaved or how she kept pushing and playing games) and there wasn’t enough of Grayson to really get to know him. It just lacked spark, although I have found Grey’s books can be a bit hit or miss at times.

Call Me by Your Name

The third and final book finished this week was Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman which I’d been listening to on audio. This is probably one of those books where I’m glad to have read it but am not entirely sure I enjoyed it. Main character Elio is a little too obsessed with house guest Oliver in my opinion and I found some of his actions a little disturbing and uncomfortable to read (or should that be listen to). There are other moments I did like but having now also watched the film I’d pretty much recommend you stick with that as it’s actually a lot better (or less disturbing).

Reading Next

I’m off to southern Spain on holiday this weekend so I’m not sure how much reading I’ll get done. I have managed to get a copy of Fantastic Beasts on audio from Overdrive so I think that’ll be my entertainment for the plane, although I may try to get something else as a backup. I also requested and was approved for Kat French’s new summer romance, A Summer Scandal, which sounds like perfect by the pool reading to me, and I still have Dear Martin and Legendary (and a few hundred other books) ready to read.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original ScreenplayA Summer ScandalDear MartinLegendary (Caraval, #2)

Have you read any of the books on my list this week? Any others you’d recommend? As always please feel free to leave comments and links below.

Happy Reading ❤

Teaser Tuesday: 17th April 2018

Ali@abookishlife2 Comments

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purple Booker. If you want to join in grab your current read, flick to a random page, select two sentences (without spoilers) and share them in a blog post or in the comments of The Purple Booker.


This week my teaser comes from thriller The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton, an ARC of which I received from NetGalley and devoured at the end of last week. It’s a pretty creepy and sinister story about the investigation into a killer who buries his victims alive, with the majority taking place in northern England at the end of the 1960’s. This was my first book by Bolton but it impressed me so much I’m going to have to see what other novels of hers I can track down.

My Teaser

We can never predict who will be killers, or recognise those who have become so. If I’ve learned one thing in thirty years, it’s that.

~ 82% The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton

BlurbThe Craftsman

Catching him will make her career – and change her forever. 

August, 1999 
On the hottest day of the year, Assistant Commissioner Florence Lovelady attends the funeral of Larry Glassbrook, the convicted murderer she arrested thirty years earlier. A master carpenter and funeral director, Larry imprisoned his victims, alive, in the caskets he made himself. Clay effigies found entombed with their bodies suggested a motive beyond the worst human depravity.

June, 1969 
13-year- old Patsy Wood has been missing for two days, the third teenager to disappear in as many months. New to the Lancashire police force and struggling to fit in, WPC Lovelady is sent to investigate an unlikely report from school children claiming to have heard a voice calling for help. A voice from deep within a recent grave.

August, 1999 
As she tries to lay her ghosts to rest, Florence is drawn back to the Glassbrooks’ old house, in the shadow of Pendle Hill, where she once lodged with the family. She is chilled by the discovery of another effigy – one bearing a remarkable resemblance to herself. Is the killer still at large? Is Florence once again in terrible danger? Or, this time, could the fate in store be worse than even her darkest imaginings?