Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

BIG LITTLE LIES by Liane Moriarty

Wow. BLL has been sitting on my desk next to my laptop for months! Months and months. This post is so overdue. Woops! Sorry to anyone who was waiting for this.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. Liane Moriarty is, as you probably already know, one of my favourite authors in the world. AND she's Australian.

Her books are hilarious and intelligent, her characters are authentic and believable, her stories are out-of-this-world entertaining, and her writing is unmatchable in quality and execution. I got to see her at the Perth Writers Festival this year, which was amaaazzzinnggg.

Big Little Lies is her latest release (she's written quite a number of novels, and I haven't read all of them yet but I WILL!) and it has a murder mystery! Someone has been killed, and at a primary school quiz night, no less! The characters are so captivating, the plot can't help but entice, and the writing delivers the whole package together so brilliantly.

There are some heavy things some of the characters go through that are pretty serious and challenging, such as domestic violence, but Liane touched upon them with finesse and grounded authenticity. I absolutely love the way Liz Byrski worded it when she talked about this at the Perth Writers Festival in a panel along with Liane. Liz described them as "dark, contentious issues dealt with very lightly and never trivially".

I'm really excited for this book to be adapted to the screen - especially with Reese Witherspoon playing Madeline and Nicole Kidman playing Celeste.

My rating: 4.5 stars

The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty

The Last Anniversaryby Liane Moriarty

When I flipped through the Perth Writers Festival brochure I was shocked and excited to see one of my favourite author’s names. Liane Moriarty, in PERTH?!?! my mind exclaimed. I was in a year-long reading slump and decided I’d had enough. A few of Liane’s pre-Husband’s Secret novels were sitting unread on my bookshelf so I picked up the one I knew the least about (I had started reading Three Wishes a while back but I wanted to dive into something completely afresh). That book happened to be The Last Anniversary.

It all happened because of a mystery. The Munro Baby Mystery, to be specific. A baby was found in its home, the parents nowhere to be found. Alice and Jack Munro disappeared into thin air, leaving the kettle boiling for tea and a freshly baked marble cake ready for frosting. The neighbours, two teenage girls, Connie and Rose, came by to visit them and found the baby.

This mystery is the basis of every plotline and character in the novel. Connie and Rose took the baby home and looked after her as their own. They called the baby Enigma, and Enigma went and had kids, and then her two kids went and had three kids. All the kids are adults now, the youngest is in their late thirties. Suffice to say, there are a lot of characters in this book. It took me a little while to figure out who was whose daughter, who were siblings, who were cousins, etc. But obviously it was worth it to take the time to get to know the characters, because it’s Liane Moriarty and duh, the book is gonna be awesome. And it was. Awesome characters, awesome writing, awesome storyIine, awesome everything. I rated it 4.5 stars, so..

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

I had a lot of fun writing Goodreads status updates for this one as I read through it. 

You can see them here.

This was a rather intense one. I know it's called The Husband's Secret so I should have expected some mystery and twists, but there's some heavy stuff that these characters deal with! For example: grief, guilt, betrayal, the blurred line between right and wrong, and murder. There were also lots of secrets and tragedies.

Can You Keep A Secret? by Sophie Kinsella

Can You Keep A Secret? by Sophie Kinsella

Click here to read my Goodreads review.

A few weeks ago I had a new bookshelf added into my bedroom and as I re-organised books onto my new shelf (I was categorising all my chick lit novels together), I looked at Can you keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella and suddenly it dawned on me, the book was stiff - the spine wasn't bent at all, it still looked brand new and I said, "Have I not read this? I thought I'd read every single Sophie Kinsella book there is!" (not verbatim) But I hadn't. Somehow this little purple book flew under my radar (I must have had this book in my possession for a few years now) and I remedied the situation STAT.

new on my bookshelf: billy and me

I got something in the mail yesterday! Gi Fletcher's debut novel Billy and Me. :) 

I know Giovanna because she's Tom Fletcher's wife... and I know Tom not because he's from McFly but because he is Carrie's brother! Carrie Hope Fletcher as you may know her on YouTube. 

I'm obsessed with Youtube and British Youtubers especially, and I've been watching Carrie for a while now. But enough about her, let's talk about Gi! She and Tom post the cutest, most adorable song covers on Tom's YouTube channel. Also, the pixiwoo sisters Sam and Nic Chapman did Giovanna's makeup on their channel whilst interviewing her about her life and Billy and Me. 

Here is that video: 

Also, you can read more about Billy and Me on its Goodreads page here.

I'm excited to read this and I've heard so many great things about it as well - even Alex Day dedicated a video to it! I'll just go ahead and stick that video in here too.

Books I Want To Buy (But Can't Because I Have No Money)

While my bank account, general life spirit and joie de vivre whittles itself down from pathetic to practically non-existent, I'm finding myself left with merely empty wishes and dreams.

So to kick-off from that delightful introductory sentence, this post is going to be filled with books that I want on my bookshelf, but can't afford to go out and buy at the moment. (I tend not to borrow books from the library, not because I'm a snob for cleanliness but because I have too many books on my shelves left unread)
Let's get this thang going.

A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty

I've been waiting for this Kingdom of Cello thing to be released ever since Dreaming of Amelia came out! Jaclyn Moriarty is one of my favourite authors.. like, EVER. Her YA Contemporary novels (the Ashbury series) leave me in stitches so adding fantasy into the equation?.... will probably make me pee my pants. And then explode. That is how much I love Jaclyn Moriarty's books.

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
After reading What Alice Forgot, Liane Moriarty immediately joined her sister up there at the top of my list of faves. I went and bought all of Liane's other novels (I haven't read em yet but I need to, ASAP!) way back when, and now that this new one's out, I'm itching to get my little hands on it.

Perfect Scoundrels by Ally Carter

There's been quite a long wait between Heist Society #2 and Heist Society #3 (this book). I absolutely LOVED Ally Carter ever since the beginning of the Gallagher Girls series. I actually first found out about Ally Carter from MySpace! THAT WAS THE DINOSAUR AGE, PEOPLE!!!
Normally I'm quick about getting my hands on the new releases of her books, but for some reason I forgot about this or didn't realise it had been released, and now I'm late on the bandwagon!

The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
I read Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief early this year when I was vacationing overseas... in fact I bought the first and the second books of the series for pretty cheap when I was in the Strand bookstore in NYC. I know I'm going to love the entire series even though I haven't read the second one yet. The Titan's Curse is the third, and I want it! I will probably end up getting ALLLLLLLL of them. Eventually.


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Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella

Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella

(My star rating: 4 stars)
read the synopsis here

Well, despite the 'low' ratings I saw for Wedding Night on Goodreads - I was once again thrown into the wonderful world of Sophie Kinsella.

The magic and beauty of literature is that it allows your spirit to be dynamically shifted by merely looking at the words on a page.

In every Sophie Kinsella book I have read - my mood is lifted, I end up crying, and there is always, always a happy ending. For Wedding Night however, it wasn't a happy ending. It was a BEST ending. Literally, the outcome could not have possibly turned out better for the characters.

You may be wondering why I only gave it a four star rating instead of the usual 4.5 or 5 I normally award S.K. books, so I'm going to tell you why.

The characters were lovely; I did like them a lot, and it was really cool (and necessary) to switch between the narrators Lottie and Fliss, but the hero/s and heroine/s didn't exactly have the (for lack of a better term) epic-ness that past S.K. characters had. A reason why I may have felt this is that the characters in Wedding Night are a fair bit older... Lottie is 33 years old and Fliss is 38. Lottie is all about settling down and Fliss has a 7 year old son and is getting through her divorce. Of course we still get packs and packs of crazy behaviour from the protagonists and lucky for us there are two of them. Double trouble!

The plot didn't have as many layers as I was expecting/hoping for... normally with S.K. you get a huge scandal simmering away underneath the upper layers of plottiness and relationshippy romance stuff. Wedding Night didn't really have that, although that doesn't mean there weren't any heart-wrenching, sob-inducing moments, coz there were a few of those. For example when Fliss has her breakdown in the hotel and Lorcan ushers her into the steamroom to cry it out, or when Richard goes to Arthur to find out about the fire that happened fifteen years ago all to soothe away Lottie's fears, or when he walks up to Lottie on the beachside on Ikinos island and tells Lottie he loves her even though all the hotel guests are watching and her husband is standing right there.

Wedding Night was a funny, light and easy read that still brought out of the all the emotions. So for that I give it full props! Sophie Kinsella still remains one of my favourite authors and I would still recommend this book even though it is not the best S.K. novel out there.

Bonus feature!
Watch me fail at talking about this book!

new on my bookshelf : wedding night

 I was in Big W today and found this lovely new novel by Miss Kinsella - who, as you should well know by now, is one of my favourite authors of all time. 

I will probably start reading Wedding Night TONIGHT. 

Here is the Goodreads page for the book in case you need a lil bit more info/love Sophie Kinsella and didn't realise she had a new book out. 

OMG I just hopped onto Wedding Night's Goodreads page... I can't believe the ratings are so low! 

I really hope I enjoy this one as much as ALL her others (because I have literally read all of her other books and none disappointed me in the slightest).

Alrighty so that is what's new on my bookshelf - you might be seeing a review soon ;) but 'til then 

PEACE OUT, SAAAAAAN!

(PVP Dope Fresh Nation reference)

my thoughts on: mini shopaholic by sophie kinsella

Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

published 2010, read synopsis.

It's a wonderful feeling, reading a book for the first time, reading the last page of a story and finishing it for the first time. Nothing compares. 

That is why I'm sitting on my bed at 2am, wide awake and scribbling in a notebook, trying to somehow articulate all of what I'm feeling right now. 

For the most part, Mini Shopaholic was not like Sophie Kinsella's other novels, or even like the other Shopaholic books either. Sophie Kinsella fooled me for the first two thirds of the book - she made me think Mini Shopaholic would be a big disappointment (and in a tiny way it was a bit of a disappointment). Becky was up to her usual antics - deceiving everyone, keeping secrets, telling fibs left, right and center and satiating her hunger to shop. I was halfway through the book and felt disappointed that her character was still the same as ever, disappointed that Becky hadn't grown or matured since the first book. She had though, it was just difficult for me to see that at first. 

my thoughts on: I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

Bantam Press, 2012

click here to read the synopsis

I've literally just finished reading this book a few minutes ago and all I have to say about it right now is: 

WHY can't my life be a Sophie Kinsella novel!??? 

Just, why not??

And from looking on Goodreads I just realised this is the first SK novel I have read since last year! Why has it taken me this long? I have a small pile of SK novels on my bookshelves sitting there unread. 

Oh my gosh. I just loved this story SO SO MUCH. (the extra intensifier is warranted, I swear!)

new on my bookshelf

Guess where I ended up on Thursday evening? 

BIG W. 

Again. lol. My sister needed to get some makeup so we decided to go to big dub. Obviously I had to check out the book section again and managed to pick up the brand spanking new Sophie Kinsella stand alone, and yet another popular penguin. 

Then on friday, I came back from work and as I went to check the letterbox I found two brown boxes at the front door! One of them held... T H E  F A U L T  I N  O U R  S T A R S by John Green! I literally gasped and squealed. Multiple times.

The other huge box was from urban outfitters but that's not bookish news so I might blog about it on pen & pepper dreams.

I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

I'm incredibly glad I found this, because I actually forgot that SK had just released her new stand alone novel. I recently read an awesome review of it written by Molli at once upon a prologue which got me really excited about it. Sophie Kinsella protagonists are literally the best kind. 

The Fault in our Stars by John Green

I ordered this in October last year, I think. So... that was like almost HALF a year ago. Amazon just took hella long to deliver it to me. But they did estimate that I'd get it on the 16th, and I got it on the 10th, so that's something I guess. 

I actually don't know what the book's about, but I think I like it that way. I just know that it will be amazing, because John Green is amazing, and he signed 100 000 copies (or was it 150 000?) of the first printing, and my copy is signed in a blue sharpie. (but it's not hanklerfished like I hoped and dreamed it would be)

when i look at this i slightly feel like i'm walking on air. :)

Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay

This is an Aussie mystery about some girls from a private school who go on an excursion to Hanging Rock, deep in the bush. Three girls and a teacher vanish mysteriously after climbing the rock, but one girl returns. However, she has no memory of what became of the others. The blurb alone sends shivers down my back! I only bought this because I wanted another popular penguin book, and Big W didn't have a very diverse range in stock. I heard this one is good though. :)

new on my bookshelf

Big W is my hero. 

Currently they've got 35% OFF adult fiction in store, so these penguin books were less than $6.50 each! I thought that was a pretty darn good deal. Mini Shopaholic was about 13 bucks, which is still really good imo. Anyway, now that I think about it, I feel like I should have gotten way more books than just these three. Big Dub is AWESOME. I walked outta there feeling really great, headache gone, and a smile on my face. But I'm so glad I didn't get more, because I am kinda broke. (eeep :/)

 The popular penguin book covers have really started to grow on me!! 

I didn't care for them at the beginning, but now that it's more of a brand of its own (and with all the different merchandise), those orange-coloured books seem a lot more easy on the eyes. :)

So here are the 3 I bought, face-on, in all their glory: 

 Mini Shopaholic 

The most recent instalment of Sophie Kinsella's shopaholic series, which is one of my favourite book series' in the whole wide world. So funny, so British, and a guaranteed great read. 

In Cold Blood

I need this for my uni-work, and I didn't realise until I was inspecting the book before bedtime that this is non-fiction! Truman Capote was a journalist for the New Yorker, and after reading a 300-word article, he went on a full-blown investigation about the murder of this family. Which is this book. 

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

I recall one of my favourite childhood memories was reading this book about this really smart kid who solved mysteries. He was like a super clever boy-detective, and the stories about his life and detective work were so enthralling, I'm pretty sure I read the book a zillion times. I'm expecting this to be a bit like that... fingers crossed it is!

Day 24: Two Books I Wish More People Had Read

REMEMBER TO ENTER MY GIVEAWAY FOR FRIENDSHIP ON FIRE (ends next Monday!)

Day 01 – The best book you read last year

Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times

Day 03 – Your favourite series

Day 04 – Favourite book of your favourite series

Day 05 – A book that makes you happy

Day 06 – A book that makes you sad

Day 07 – Most underrated book An unexpected good read

Day 08 – Most overrated book

Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving

Day 10 – Favourite classic book

Day 11 – A book you hated

Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore

Day 13 – Your favourite writer

Day 14 – Favourite book of your favourite writer

Day 15 – Favourite male character

Day 16 – Favourite female character

Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)

Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book

Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood

Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t

*Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read*

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

This one I think I featured on Day 1 of the 30 Day Book Meme, as the best book I read in 2010. I haven't really read any other amnesia-based stories other than this one, but I know that it's worth the read! Liane's writing is effortlessly funny and the witty humour flows smoothly through the novel. 

How to Live Forever by Colin Thompson

I picked this up from the school library because I wanted to read another standalone book by this author after Pepper Dreams had such an effect on me. How to Live Forever is definitely much darker, there are scary creatures and characters and some interesting issues that I never really saw too much of in the books I read as a kid. Definitely an intriguing one to check out. But I wouldn't give this to my kid to read if they were younger than 9 years old. 

Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most

Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something

Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending

Day 28 – Favourite title(s)

Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked

Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

Review: Miss Pettigrew Lives for A Day

Title: "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day"
Author: Winifred Watson
Genre: Historical Chick Lit, Modern Classic
First Published: 1938
Format: Paperback, 234pg
Publisher: Persephone
Source: Bought (The Book Depository)
Other details: featured in 'New on my Bookshelf'
My Rating: 5 STARS!






I thought I would do something different with this review... I'm gonna present it through dot points! FUN FUN FUN. (It's really weird, that I subconsciously say that stupid phrase, only on Fridays - technically today was Friday - darn you, Rebecca Black!)


Anyway, these are my favourite things/what I love about Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day: 

• the illustrations
• the settings
• the characters
• the writing
• the dialogue

These are not just things I like about the book, but things I PASSIONATELY LOVE about it. 

New on my bookshelf

Happy New Year! 

I thought I would, for the first time, actually put up a New on My Bookshelf post on IMM (In My Mailbox) day.

Hope you all have a fantastic Two Thousand & Twelve. 

Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day

by Winifred Watson

1938

The chapters proceed with corresponding time increments, which is fabulous (and also informative). I love the illustrations, it gives you an extra little push into the story and into the realm of pre-war London in the 30's. I have already started the book because I couldn't resist - it's delightful and funny and lovely, just like the film. 

Review: The Undomestic Goddess

Title: The Undomestic Goddess
Author: Sophie Kinsella
CLICK HERE FOR SYNOPSIS
Genre: Chick Lit
First published: July 19, 2005
Format: Paperback, 416 pages
Source: Bought (Borders, AUS)
Other Details: featured in The Time Will Come meme. Click here for that post. 
My Rating: 4.5 stars


The story is about Samantha, a 29 year old lawyer in London, whose life solely revolves around her career. She's on the verge of scoring a partnership with the top law firm in the country, but a little bump in the road sends her life soaring out of control. Suddenly Samantha finds herself outside a huge house somewhere in the countryside - tired, drunk, jobless and with a massive headache. The next day she wakes up realising she's taken a job as a house-cleaner. With no domestic experience whatsoever, Samantha has to figure out how to bluff her way through the cooking, the cleaning, the ironing and all the other household chores she needs to complete on a daily basis. 


Do not be fooled by the storyline you expect - there is almost always something deeper going on beneath the surface narrative of a Sophie Kinsella novel. I was pleasantly surprised by the sheer genius that goes into each of her stories, especially this one. I was laughing and crying, jumping up and down in my chair with bright eyes and a goofy grin on my face while reading The Undomestic Goddess. 

New on my Bookshelf *Sophie Kinsella style*

Can you keep a Secret? and 
Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella!!!! 


So chuffed about finding these books on sale in Big Dub today. I was silently hoping to find Mini Shopaholic there but that'll have to wait for another time, I suppose. 
Sophie Kinsella standalone novels are almost just as good as the Shopaholic series. 


The book I just finished was also by her - if you follow me on twitter you'd have seen me rave on and on about The Undomestic Goddess. 
Review for that one will be up hopefully tomorrow! 

Day 17: *FAVOURITE QUOTE*

Day 01 – The best book you read last year
Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times
Day 03 – Your favourite series
Day 04 – Favourite book of your favourite series
Day 05 – A book that makes you happy
Day 06 – A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book An unexpected good read
Day 08 – Most overrated book
Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favourite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favourite writer
Day 14 – Favourite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character

*Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)*

I've been putting this one off for quite some time, thinking that I'll have to somehow get out all my favourite books and compile all my favourite quotes. I just realised that that isn't possible! It would take about 12479587376 years for me to do that. So why even bother trying? Instead I'm going to just show you a few of my favourite quotes - ones that stopped me in my tracks and had me writing them down. Or ones that just made me laugh hysterically.
Seeing as you know my favourite writers and my favourite books it won't be hard to guess that my other favourite quotes stem from those.

The Time Will Come #9: *THREE WISHES*

'The Time Will Come' is a Thursday book meme which began at Books for Company, where we pick a book we've been meaning to read but haven't got around to yet, one that's been sitting on 

our shelf gathering dust for a while...

The Time Will Come #8: *The Undomestic Goddess*

'The Time Will Come' is a Thursday book meme which began at Books for Company, where we pick a book we've been meaning to read but haven't got around to yet, one that's been sitting on 

our shelf gathering dust for a while...