
Today I’m sharing a new selection of books that I’ve read recently. The first two are from my 20 Books of Summer TBR so I’m still doing well with that. I think I’ve read six book from my stack now and have reviewed five of them, which makes me happy. The other two books are from NetGalley so I’m still getting through my review books, which I’m really pleased about.
The Old You by Louise Voss

I’ve had this book on my TBR for over a year and I’m kicking myself for not picking it up sooner because I very much enjoyed it. The novel follows Lynn Naismith who is shocked and devastated when her husband Ed is diagnosed with early-onset Dementia. She struggles with the manifestations of his symptoms but then strange things start happening in and around the house and she begins to question herself. This novel is so twisty and just when you think you have a grip of it the rug is pulled from under you yet again. As it progresses we learn more about Lynn, and more about Ed’s past and nothing is quite as it seemed at the start. I devoured this book in a couple of sittings and highly recommend it.
While I Was Sleeping by Dani Atkins

This is a book I was sent from a publicist a couple of years ago and it got forgotten about on my bookcase. I do love Dani Atkins’ writing so I picked it up whilst sitting out in the garden one day last week and I read the whole book in one go! The novel follows Maddie as she wakes from a coma after being hit by a car. Life has change quite a bit for her and she has a lot to get used to. It also follows Chloe who is a hospital volunteer who gets to know Maddie’s fiance Ryan. We spend a lot of time getting to know both of these women, and there is so much heart in this book. It’s a novel that will bring a lump to your throat more than once but it will also restore your faith in human nature. While I Was Sleeping was so much more than I thought it was going to be and I very much enjoyed it. I definitely recommend this one!
Little Disasters by Sarah Vaughan

I read and enjoyed Anatomy of a Scandal by this author but Little Disasters is even better! This book follows Jess – all her friends think she’s a perfect stay-at-home mum devoted to her children but when an incident happens and her baby is badly hurt conclusions are jumped to. Liz is Jess’ best friend and also the hospital consultant on duty when Jess brings her baby in. The novel follows the two women as they struggle with what happened and the fall out from it. There is the thriller element to this novel of wanting to know what happened and how but more than that it’s an exploration of the pressures on women, and the tension that runs through some female friendships which makes it hard to be honest when you’re struggling. This is an intense, gripping novel and one that refuses to leave me – I’m still thinking about it and I read it a few weeks ago now. I recommend it!
Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner

This is a novel that I got from NetGalley and I had a couple of false starts with it before deciding to borrow the audio book from the library and I have to admit that it did work better for me on audio. The novel opens with Toby Fleishman – a recently separated 41 year old who is suddenly having to cope with his two children on his own as his wife Rachel has seemingly had enough. What follows is a self-obsessed, arrogant man who spends pages and pages telling us all about the women he’s slept with or is flirting with online. In between that he’s constantly bad-mouthing Rachel. He never lets up! I had heard that this novel has a big twist partway through that makes it so worth the first half but to be honest I guessed what would happen. Ultimately, I just felt very sorry for the two children caught up in this, and to a lesser extent for Rachel. I did enjoy the latter stage of the book more than the first part but ultimately it wasn’t a novel for me.
I really need to get my hands on Little Disasters, it sounds like my kind of read!
It’s such a good book, I found it hard to put down. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
I’ve ordered it, looking forward to it arriving and diving in! 🙂
I hope you love it as much as I did. 🙂
I’m so glad you’ve got your reading mojo back, Hayley. And these do sound like good reads. I like books that explore self and relationships, and these seem to do that in different ways.
Thank you, I’m so relieved to be reading again.
Ooh that’s exciting that Little Disasters is even better than Anatomy of a Scandal!
I definitely think it is, and I really enjoyed Anatomy of a Scandal. I hope you enjoy Little Disasters as much as I did when you get to it.
I’ve read a lot about Fleishman being very self-indulgent and not a fun read so well done for getting through that and for doing so well with your 20 books! I’m on books 5 and 6 with 4 to review so happy with my progress.
I’d heard that too but there was something about it that made me want to persevere but it wasn’t really worth the time. I can see what the author was trying to do but it just didn’t work for me.
Well done on your 20 Books too. I do enjoy this reading challenge, it’s enough to focus my mind on a plan but not so much that it’s overwhelming.
I like the idea of a mini-review 🙂 Great post!
Thank you so much 🙂
I have not read any of these authors, although I do have a couple of books that Louise Voss wrote with Mark Edwards on my TBR. The first three all sound pretty good. Nice reviews Hayley.
I love Louise Voss’ writing. Years ago she wrote women’s fiction and I adore those books. The ones she wrote with Mark Edwards are good thrillers, I enjoyed the couple that I read. Hope you enjoy them.
Thank you 🙂
Great reviews, Hayley! I’m wondering if Fleishman is a synonym for Flashman – the antagonist in the Tom Brown’s Schooldays… he sounds exactly like a grown-up version of the same person. Hats off to you for persevering as much as you did with this one.
Thank you 🙂 Ooh I wonder if it could be, it would make sense. I kept being drawn back to it so decided to finish it but it wasn’t really worth it. I can see what the author was trying to do but it didn’t work for me.
Yes – I think you are a trooper! I’m not a fan of deeply unpleasant protagonists in any case…
Great reviews! I’m definitely going to try and read at least The Old You some time soon now… And I’m more than curious about Little Disasters. xx
Thank you. I hope you enjoy The Old You as much as I did. xx
I’m glad to see you liked Little Disasters! I have that one coming up soon. Great reviews!
It was such a gripping read, I didn’t want to put it down. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Thank you 🙂
Thank you! I’m looking forward to it!
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