I am in a reading rut and I cannot tell you how much I loathe it. The first trimester has done a number on me; feeling too sick to read and too exhausted to get drawn into a book. I am really hoping that now I’m through the worst, and cosy season is here, I will get stuck back into some good’uns. In the meantime, here’s the small selection I read over the summer:
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
A civil servant finds herself working on an experimental project that brings expatriates from the past into the twenty first century. She is responsible for helping Commander Graham Gore, a Victorian polar explorer presumed dead in 1847, adjust to modern day phenomena such as Spotify, germs, transatlantic flights and political correctness. Over a long, sultry summer, the two begin to fall in love but as uneasy truths start to emerge, they are forced to reckon with the realities of the project that brought them together. I loved the first half of this novel; watching Gore discover and adjust to modern day life, the dynamic between the two main characters, the scenes where the characters from across history came together (particularly loved Maggie and her Tudor-ways). I didn’t so love the final third of the novel where it got caught up in sci-fi adventure that just wasn’t… very good? And jarred with the first half of the story. I wish we could have just spent more time watching the characters integrate and interact; that was the better story to tell. 3.5/5
I hope this finds you well by Natalie Sue
Jolene works in a dead-end job, riddled with anxiety and depression, and hates her co-workers. When an IT mix-up grants her access to the entire department’s private emails and DMs, she is initially horrified to discover what her colleagues really think of her, until she learns job cuts are looming and realises the power this access can give her. But as she delves deeper into the private lives of her colleagues, Jolene discovers a lot more than she bargained for and her carefully-built walls start to crumble. Imagine a very low-key thriller of office politics combined with a romantic comedy. This was very funny in places with characters that are so flawed, you can’t help but love them. It was one of those that has you from the first page and I really enjoyed it. 4/5
You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry
Poppy and Alex have been friends since college and made a pact 10 years ago to go on vacation together every year. They’ve had adventures in Vancouver, New Orleans and Croatia, but two years ago it all went wrong. Now Poppy has invited Alex on one last trip; perhaps the last opportunity for these two best friends to realise they could be something more. I’m slowly working my way through Emily Henry’s back catalogue and whilst I enjoyed this, I didn’t think it was quite as good as the other two I’ve read. Still, a nice summer read and full of the great dialogue that Emily Henry does so well. 3/5
Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
Christopher is visiting his reclusive grandfather when he witnesses an avalanche of mythical creatures come tearing down the hill. This is how he learns that his grandfather is the guardian of one of the ways between the non-magical world and the Archipelago, a cluster of magical islands where all the creatures we believe to be myths live and thrive amongst humans. But the protection of the islands is wearing thin, and Christopher sets off on an urgent quest alongside Mal, a girl with a flying coat and a baby griffin, to find out the truth about what threatens both their worlds. This novel got a lot of fuss in the world of children’s books, and I can see why. I think it’s a real talent to write well for children and I think if the author has done it in such a way that an adult can enjoy the story as well, then they’ve nailed it. 4/5
Happy reading folks x
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