September 2022 Mini Reviews - part 2

 Made in Manhattan by Lauren Layne

Published: 18th January 2022 by Headline

I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way affects my review.

I don't think I've enjoyed a book this much in a very long time! I read this in one sitting because I couldn't bear the thought of putting it down without knowing what happened next. I knew that Layne was an established romance author but I had not had the pleasure of reading her works before. I definitely want to dive into her back catalogue now! I just thought the chemistry between Violet and Cain was so strong, and I love the whole enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract tropes that Layne had going on, especially between Violet's uptight New York-ness compared to Cain's broody Southern gentleman ways. The bickering and constant back-and-forth between them put a smile on my face and I honestly didn't want it to end! It really felt like the perfect romance, and one that stands a league apart from a lot of the other 2022 romances I've read recently.

5 stars

The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings

Published: 18th August 2022 by Pan Macmillan

I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way affects my review.

I really didn't have any expectations going into this book - I couldn't really remember what it was about apart from a mother-daughter relationship, which is something I am always drawn to in novels. Luckily, I think going into The Women Could Fly quite blindly was the best thing to do, as I really enjoyed the way in which the story slowly unravelled itself to the reader, with the worldbuilding becoming bigger and more dystopian as time went on. It felt like the perfect time to read Giddings' book, as the weather has started to turn colder and the days have been particularly gloomy lately. I found the overall story to be really strong, and I enjoyed the fact that Josephine was a realistic rebellion to the confines of her world, not an activist but not silent in her disapproval of the restrictions either. I found the relationship between her and her mother to be slightly disappointing, but I understand why it was written with such restraint. Overall I really enjoyed it.

4 stars

Stone Blind: Medusa's Story by Natalie Haynes

Published: September 15th 2022 by Mantle

I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way affects my review.

I was quite excited about this book going into it, as I appreciated Medusa's story being retold because she has always been typecast as the villain, and mainly in stories written by men who love to portray her as a spiteful man-hater. However, I do feel that Stone Blind is slightly false advertising, because while Medusa's story is told, it is interwoven with the tales of lots of other Greek figures, to the point where I actually felt that Medusa's story got lost in the mix to be honest, which was disappointing. I did enjoy Haynes' writing style, as I find that I can sometimes be overwhelmed by the Greek myths and in keeping track of all the characters, but this felt informative without being oversimplified, and it reminded me of how much I do really enjoy reading about the Greek Gods and Goddesses.

3 stars

So It Goes by Jennifer Probst

(Twist of Fate #2)

Published: 13th September 2022 by Montlake

I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way affects my review.

Going into this I didn't even realise that it was the second in a series, but I can safely say that this can be read as a standalone and be enjoyed just as much as if you had read the first one! I thought I would like So It Goes as the fake-dating trope is such a staple of romance novels that it is almost a guarantee for success, which it certainly was here. The chemistry between Palmer and Malia was so strong, and I think it was definitely helped by the fact that they both come from these big families full of siblings. I really enjoyed these parts of the book, with their respective family dynamics showing just how well-suited they are to each other's lives. I did feel that Palmer was way too pushy in his pursuit in the beginning, and Malia too unwilling, but once they were together I felt myself enjoying reading it.

3.5 stars