BOOK REVIEW - FRACTURED BY DANI ATKINS

Fractured by Dani Atkins

Published – 01/07/13 Publisher – Head of Zeus

Pages – 289 Genre – Chick Lit/Romance

Synopsis – What would you do if life gave you a second chance?
The night of the accident changed everything...
Now, five years on, Rachel's life is crumbling. She lives alone in a tiny flat, working in a dead-end job, desperate with guilt over her best friend's death. She would give anything to turn back the clock. But life doesn't work like that... Does it?
The night of the accident was a lucky escape...
Now, five years on, Rachel's life is perfect. She has a wonderful fiancé, loving family and friends around her, and the career she always wanted. But why can't Rachel shake the memory of a very different life?
Gripping, romantic and heartbreaking, Fractured is a magical love story that asks: can two different stories lead to the same happy ending?

My Thoughts – I must admit, I only picked this up because it was a bargain on the Kindle Store. But a few of my friends had given it raved reviews, so I thought I would give it a go and I think this has to be my favourite read of 2014 so far. The story keeps you guessing and it did take me some time to piece together what was happening. I would recommend you read this in a few days, as I found it a little confusing at times when I was picking it up and down again. The plot was great and really unique, like nothing I have read before. The character were really likeable and the twists were so cleverly written. The last chapter is so beautifully written, I had tears rolling down my face and the story has stayed with me long after finishing the book. I've downloaded Dani Atkins next read and I'm looking forward to reading more.

My Rating - 5/5

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BOOK REVIEW - THE ONE PLUS ONE BY JOJO MOYES

TheOne Plus One By Jojo Moyes

Published – 27/02/14 Publisher - Penguin

Pages – 516 Genre – Chick Lit/Romance

Synopsis – One single mum - With two jobs and two children, Jess Thomas does her best day after day. But it's hard on your own. And sometimes you take risks you shouldn't. Because you have to...
One chaotic family - Jess's gifted, quirky daughter Tanzie is brilliant with numbers, but without a helping hand she'll never get the chance to shine. And Nicky, Jess's teenage stepson, can't fight the bullies alone.
Sometimes Jess feels like they're sinking...
One handsome stranger - Into their lives comes Ed Nicholls, a man whose life is in chaos, and who is running from a deeply uncertain future. But he has time on his hands. He knows what it's like to be lonely. And he wants to help...
One unexpected love story
The One Plus One is a captivating and unconventional romance from Jojo Moyes about two lost souls meeting in the most unlikely circumstances.
My Thoughts – If I'm honest it did take me a while to get into this book. I purchased the Hardback version but ended up reading it on my Kindle as I seemed to be having a reading slump. Each chapter followed a different character which I liked, it is a steady story but one which is totally believable and could be reality. I love that two very different people can be joined together through certain events. I love all the main characters, especially Tanzie and Norman. I was so emotional in the last third of the book and the characters really opened up to the reader. It wasn't just chick lit for me, I finished this thinking of the real meaning behind every page. This is the first Jojo Moyes book I have read and I was left wanting to read more.
My Rating - 4/5

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BOOK REVIEW - ELEANOR & PARK BY RAINBOW ROWELL

Eleanor & Park By Rainbow Rowell

Published - 12/04/12 Publisher - Orion

Pages - 336 Genre - Young Adult/Romance

Synopsis - Eleanor is the new girl in town, and with her chaotic family life, her mismatched clothes and unruly red hair, she couldn't stick out more if she tried.
Park is the boy at the back of the bus. Black T-shirts, headphones, head in a book - he thinks he's made himself invisible. But not to Eleanor... never to Eleanor.
Slowly, steadily, through late-night conversations and an ever-growing stack of mix tapes, Eleanor and Park fall for each other. They fall in love the way you do the first time, when you're young, and you feel as if you have nothing and everything to lose.

My Thoughts - This book is such a cute, romantic 80’s love story. It follows the lives of two teenagers, switching character from chapter to chapter. It took me a little while to warm up to the characters, but once they opened up more to each other I just wanted to read more. Everybody has a first love, and this is the story of theirs as opposites attract. I like that the story was simple and most of the chapters were on the school bus or at each other’s houses, which I’m sure many people could relate to. It made me feel quite nostalgic, I felt all the emotions of a teenage again, their lives aren’t perfect, but they had each other. I didn’t give this book five stars because of the ending, I felt it was a little rushed but bittersweet at the same time. It finished and I needed more, I look forward to reading more from Rainbow Rowell in the future.

My Rating - 4/5
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