Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
#CharactersAreFrenemies
review
sprainedbrain
post image
Pickpick

It‘s been more than 4 years since I read My Brilliant Friend, but I finally got to the second book… and I‘m wondering why it took me so long.

Masterfully written and just completely absorbing, with some of the most complicated characters I‘ve read in a long time. I didn‘t want to do much of anything until I had finished, and I don‘t think I will wait nearly as long to read the third book. 😉

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My #Booked2021 #CharactersAreFrenemies book

Cinfhen Yay!!!! I stopped after book one but maybe I should continue on in 2022?!??? 2y
jdiehr Such a great series 2y
Cathythoughts I loved this series ❤️💔 2y
See All 12 Comments
LeahBergen I‘m in exactly the same boat! I read the first one several years ago, immediately bought the other three and… 🤷🏻‍♀️. What‘s wrong with me? I think I‘ll make it my 2022 resolution! 2y
LeahBergen @Cinfhen I hear you!! 2y
LeeRHarry Enjoyed this series and the HBO/RAI adaptation 😊 2y
Cinfhen Of course I barely remember book one @LeahBergen 🤪 2y
sprainedbrain @Cinfhen @LeahBergen I had to refresh myself with an internet synopsis of the first book before I started, but it all came back. 😆 We should all finish the series in 2022! 2y
sprainedbrain @LeeRHarry Part of my motivation for reading more was my self-imposed rule about reading before watching… I want to watch the series. 😉 2y
Cinfhen I‘m up for that Jenni @LeahBergen The Neapolitan quartet in 2022 2y
DrexEdit I've been dragging my feet because I don't want the series to end! I'm on book 3 now too. Once I finish all 4 I'll probably immediately start a re-read. 2y
LeahBergen @Cinfhen @sprainedbrain Good idea to read a synopsis! 😆 And yes, this will be our year for finishing it 💪 2y
82 likes2 stack adds12 comments
review
Smarkies
post image
Pickpick

A YA fun read for #charactersarefrenemies for #booked2021. This book is the third in the Dimple and Rishi series but they can be read separately.

review
Reviewsbylola
post image
Pickpick

Finally got my bingo card set up—I had to finish my book first so I could immediately cross it off. 😆

For anyone looking for a book for the #charactersarefrenemies prompt (#booked2021) this one is an excellent choice. The friendship issues plaguing MCs Emmy and Alice are one of the main storylines.

I was expecting a book more atmospheric and creepy, and this didn‘t quite live up to those expectations, but it‘s a great book for fall!

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
Bookzombie Yay! I still need to fulfill this prompt and this one is on my TBR for October already. Thanks! 2y
64 likes2 comments
review
Singout
Butter Honey Pig Bread | Francesca Ekwuyasi
post image
Pickpick

Really intriguing and well-written narrative of the intertwined lives of a Nigerian mother, who struggles with the belief that she is living under a curse, and her twin daughters. The story flows between their childhoods, the girls‘ estranged adulthood‘s in Canada and London, and their present reunion in Nigeria, where some hard truths come out. Longlisted for Canada‘s top fiction honours.
My May #Bookspin.
#Booked2021 #CharactersAreFrenemies

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
15 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
CarolynM
Miss Plum and Miss Penny | Dorothy Evelyn Smith
post image
Pickpick

I think this book should have been called Alison & Ada, because that relationship is at the heart of the book. Miss Plum was a spectacularly damp squib, & don't get me started on the men! I'd suggest that this is a feminist text, except that Miss Penny seemed trapped in childishness in spite of her independence. Did anyone get the Victoria Plum joke? #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub.
I think the two Miss Ps fit #CharactersAreFrenemies for #Booked2021

Ruthiella I just assumed “Victoria Plum” was some sort of English dessert? Like her name was Peach Melba or something? The men were awful...it was all about was she could do for them and not what they could bring to the potential union. 😠 3y
Cinfhen I‘m just enjoying the cover art and title 😉 3y
Cathythoughts Yes , I thought Victoria Plum had to do with a Victoria sandwich.. sponge with a jam filling ( maybe plum jam ) I wasn‘t sure though. Alisons baby voice drove me mad 🙄. The men were annoying , but true to form and so believable I thought. I did like the part where Ronnie slipped his hand into Pops in the church. I was in stitches when George PS‘d his letter with ‘ Vicky sends her love. ‘ Vicky!! 🙄😂 3y
See All 26 Comments
Cathythoughts #CharactersareFrenemies 👏🏻👌🏻 perfect choice ( I think I‘ll follow your lead & use this book too 🙏😘 3y
CarolynM @Ruthiella Even the men who weren't potential suitors, like the publican and the guy who gave George a lift, had awful attitudes! 3y
CarolynM @Cathythoughts I like your cake suggestion? I wondered if "Victoria" was a variety of plum I hadn't heard of. Yes, the men were believable, particularly in the place and time. It was nice to see Ronnie showing signs of growing up. The kind way of looking at the vicar's attitude towards Alison would be to say he didn't think she measured up to his late wife. And she probably didn't. I think "Vicky" was just the right sort of woman for George? 3y
CarolynM @Cinfhen I love the design of the Furrowed Middlebrow imprint and all the cover art I've seen has been lovely and very fitting for the sort of stories they are. 3y
LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I assumed that as well as I couldn‘t think of any other explanation other than it was in reference to a Victoria sponge cake. 🤷🏻‍♀️ And then I had to ponder it more when Ronnie had no idea what was wrong with her name (was he too long in America?). 3y
LeahBergen @CarolynM @Ruthiella @Cathythoughts And for any of you who‘ve read Mapp and Lucia ... didn‘t Stanley give you Georgie vibes? 😆 3y
Ruthiella @LeahBergen OMG I was JUST THINKING THAT! It only just occurred to me, however. Not actually when I was reading the book. 3y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen I only vaguely remember the TV show .. but that rings a bell. The men are amusing .. taken with a pinch of salt 😂 3y
CarolynM @LeahBergen I didn't think of it, but, yes, you're quite right. They are both very much of a type. 3y
batsy Great review! And the Victoria Plum thing went over my head 😂 3y
batsy @LeahBergen Georgie vibes!! Yes! I was thinking he vaguely reminded me of someone (real or fictional 😂) and now you've clarified it, lol 3y
batsy Also, "damp squib" sums her up perfectly! 3y
erzascarletbookgasm I didn‘t know what‘s the joke ..thought it must be some very English thing, so I Googled it 🤷‍♀️ . 3y
erzascarletbookgasm @CarolynM @Cathythoughts The men are selfish and self-righteous, I didn‘t like any of them. I was initially annoyed with Miss Plum but towards the end I have sympathy for her..she‘s not manipulative as I thought, she‘s merely taking care of herself, imo. I thought she and George make a good pair. (edited) 3y
erzascarletbookgasm @CarolynM @Cathythoughts Although I didn‘t like the men, I‘m happy Ronnie and his father made peace. As for Alison, on one hand, I feel sad that she‘s remained in the village & never got to travel the world...but then it‘s what she wants, peace & things familiar to her..the village is her life. 3y
quietjenn Like @ruthiella, I sort of assumed Victoria Plum was a sort of dessert - Christmasy in my mind. It's really not such a good joke and Victoria's distress over it seems a bit extreme, but I suppose that is keeping in character with her. Agree that she's a damp squib and I found both of the Misses a bit frustrating and the men were such pillocks. 3y
quietjenn @Cathythoughts that was definitely a nice moment. Ronnie's about the only one who exhibiting any growth ... 3y
quietjenn @LeahBergen Yes, total Georgie vibes! 3y
rubyslippersreads I think Vicky and George deserved each other. I didn‘t like any of the men, and although I find Alison‘s life rather dull, she wouldn‘t have improved things by marrying any of them. 3y
rubyslippersreads @quietjenn @Cathythoughts Of all the male characters, I ended up liking Ronnie best, even though I detested him at first. 3y
rubyslippersreads @batsy @quietjenn @CarolynM “Damp squib” describes Vicky perfectly. 🤣 (edited) 3y
rubyslippersreads I think Ada was my favorite character. 3y
CarolynM @rubyslippersreads Hurray for Ada! My favourite too. 3y
58 likes1 stack add26 comments
review
Jas16
The Secret Place | Tana French
post image
Pickpick

It has been a year since a boy was found murdered in a girls‘ boarding school and Stephen Moran must wade through all of the cliques, mean girls, and teenage drama to help find the killer if he wants a shot at a spot on the Murder Squad. My least favorite book in the series so far for a variety of reasons. Even still I got sucked in and kept trying to guess the ending.
#charactersarefrenemies #booked2021

Reggie Aww I like the pic! 🌱 3y
Jas16 @Reggie Thanks Reggie! 3y
56 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
Lizpixie
The Bluffs | Kyle Perry
post image
Pickpick
Lizpixie The ending shocked the hell out of me, which doesn‘t happen often anymore, so well done Kyle Perry👏👏👏 3y
Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏 3y
Clwojick Awesome! I‘ll have to check this one out! ♥️ 3y
Cinfhen You are killing it #ChallengeSlayer ⚔️🛡🧨 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y
55 likes5 comments
review
Crazeedi
An Anonymous Girl | Sarah Pekkanen, Greer Hendricks
post image
Pickpick

Jessica takes the place of someone and signs up for a study on morality and ethics. But she is drawn into Dr. Shields world in ways she never imagined. How much can someone influence another person? What can be done in the name of "science "? The ending was unexpected
Definitely recommend
#Booked2021 #19 #charactersarefrenemies
@Cinfhen @4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliophage

Cinfhen Fun choice for this prompt 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 3y
61 likes1 comment
review
Cinfhen
The Divines | Ellie Eaton
post image
Pickpick

#NetGalley Although this book is very unsettling, difficult to care for any of these vile girls, I could not stop listening to Imogen Church, as she brilliantly narrates this disturbing story. Part coming of age, part mystery/ psychological thriller this debut is compulsive. They called themselves The Divines. A group of posh young girls attending an English boarding school. Now years later, Josephine looks back at those traumatic years. 👇🏼

Cinfhen I liked it @Reviewsbylola I think you will too 💕💕 3y
Angitron I absolutely love Imogen Church! She elevates every audiobook I‘ve heard her read! 3y
See All 12 Comments
Cinfhen Agreed @Angitron Her voice is a combination of authority and austerity ❣️Really sharp and clear (edited) 3y
Reviewsbylola Ooooh, excited now! 3y
KarenUK Going to start this one today! 👍 3y
Cinfhen Yay!!! Keep me posted @KarenUK @Reviewsbylola Its weird, I didn‘t love this book but I honestly couldn‘t stop listening 🤷🏼‍♀️I was completely invested even though I couldn‘t stand any of the characters. 3y
Hestapleton Ooo this sounds like it would work for #darkacademia for #pop21 too! (edited) 3y
Cinfhen Definitely @Hestapleton although I used a different book for that prompt - 3y
BarbaraBB Sounds so good!! 3y
Kalalalatja Seriously, you are blowing up my tbr with all your reviews! 🙌 3y
Cinfhen Thanks @Kalalalatja @BarbaraBB this book surprised me/ I didn‘t think I‘d get so caught up in the story. Audio really pushed the plot forward for me 3y
94 likes3 stack adds12 comments