Before I Go to Sleep by SJ Watson Review

Before I Go to Sleep by SJ Watson

Who would you be if all of the memories you held dear suddenly vanished? You certainly wouldn’t be the person you are right now. SJ Watson explores that topic amongst others in Before I Go to Sleep.

This book was lent to me by my dear friend Sophie, who has recently set up her own book blog, there’s no posts just yet, but there soon will be, so check her out at Phie Alyce Reads. This book is one of her favourites, so naturally I was intrigued. 

Before I Go to Sleep is a psychological thriller that follows the story of Christine, who wakes up every morning with twenty years of her memory missing. It’s like an evil version of 50 First Dates - and I loved it! 

I read this book in less than a week because I just had to know what was going on. You only hear things from Christine’s perspective you’re constantly questioning who you can trust. 

I’d defiantly recommend this book if you like crime books or psychological thrillers. And for those local the West Midlands, SJ Watson comes from Stourbridge! If that isn’t a good enough reason to pick up this book than I don’t know what is. 

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Showcase Sunday #6: The Good Children Roopa Farooki

Showcase Sunday is hosted by the lovely Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea. It's a chance for bloggers to show of their weekly book swag and an opportunity to meet other bloggers and talk about all things bookish! 
I've received another book from BookBridgr this week. It was a surprise that it came so quickly as I'd only requested it a couple of nights before. The Good Children is set in 1940s Lahore, Punjab. The book is centred around four siblings who are brought up to be "good children".
Obedience and honour seem to be the two main running themes in this book. The tag line is Leaving home is one thing, going back is another. This book seems perfect for me as I enjoy reading about families, and the conflicts and struggles they sometimes have to face together. 
Thank you again to BookBridgr and Tinder Press for sending me this to review. I can't wait to get stuck in! 
What did everyone else buy, borrow or receive this week? 
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Mom's Reading: The Wolf of Wall Street by Jordan Belfort

The Wolf of Wall Street by Jordan Belfort

It's Mother's Day in the UK, and to celebrate I'm introducing a one-off feature on the blog called Mom's Reading. Currently my mom's reading The Wolf of Wall Street by Jordan Belfort - and won't stop banging on about it!
One thing you should know about my mom is that she loves tales of money and corruption. The Godfather is her favourite film and she would relish a day visiting the stock market. We saw the film together not so long ago, and she completely abandoned the last book she was reading in favour for the wolf. 
If you have somehow missed all of the hype surrounding the film (perhaps you have been living in a cave...), it follows the true story of Jordan Belfort, the self-proclaimed "wolf" of Wall Street. He made thousands of dollars a minute and to quote Tinie Tempah, lived "a very very very wild lifestyle."
"Was all of this legal? Absolutely not!" the film trailer exclaims. But how does the book compare? According to my mom, it's much better than the film. She's really enjoying it and has said that it's hilariously written and gives a great insight into the New York finance district. Apparently, the book is even more outrageous than the film, which is hard to believe.
I haven't read this read yet, but I really enjoyed the film. And after all of the positive praise my mom's given this book, I don't think I'll be disappointed! 

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How They Met and Other Stories by David Levithan Review

 In the UK, February is the month of Valentine's Day and LGTB History Month, so what better way to celebrate both than to read a romantic LGTB book?! Although, I must admit, I didn't realise that most of the stories in this book had a running theme of sexuality and identity until I started reading it. But it was a happy coincidence. It also made me realise that I hadn't read many books with gay characters as protagonists, so that was something I really enjoyed.
This book is a book full of mini love stories. As the title suggests, the main theme is about how the different couples meet. Each story was completely different to the last, offering up different genders, sexualities and ethnicities. I've never read David Levithan's books before, but heard a lot of great things, and I must admit, he writes each character with authenticity. Despite what the cover would have you to believe, not every story is a happy romantic one. Some were about heartbreak, loss and unrequited love, but these stories were just as interesting to read as the happy ones.
One of my favourite stories is about a young couple that meet on an aeroplane. They're sitting next to each other and are reading the same book! I've always fantasied about making a friend that way. One of the main criticisms I have with this book, however, is that some stories seemed underdeveloped in comparisons to others. But after reading the prologue, I realised that some of these stories date back to when David was in secondary school. He used to write love stories for his friends as Valentine's day presents, and these are the stories that are featured in the book. It is obvious to see how his writing style has developed and improved over time.
Overall, this book is a very enjoyable read. I really liked all of the different characters and perspectives David offered up. However, some stories seemed underdeveloped, and sometimes it was hard to imagine characters fully until half way into the story as their gender was not addressed straight away. A very lovely read none-the-less, and if you're looking for a sweet collection of YA stories, then I'd recommend this one. 
Favourite Quotes:
"We'd said we'd keep in touch. But touch is not something you can do from a distance. Touch is not something you can keep as soon as it's gone, it's gone.  We should have said we'd keep in words, because they are all we can string between us - words on a telephone line, words appearing on a screen."
"The minute I knew I was in love was the minute when there was no question about it."
"You have to believe there are kisses and laughs and risks worth taking." 

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