I set myself a goal to read an average of a book a month. I have to do it on an average because I tend to binge read. I won’t read for ages and then I’ll get through 3 books in a weekend!

It’s almost half way through the year and I am 4 books in so I have some catching up to do and with over 20 unread books waiting on my shelf I have no excuse!

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All prices correct at the time of writing – 30th May 2023

First up for what I have been reading in 2023…

Peter Robinson – Not Dark Yet

Available from Amazon from £0.99 (Kindle) : Waterstones from £8.99 : WHSmith from £8.37

This book felt like it took me FOREVER to get through, I’m not really sure why I just didn’t seem to be able to really get into it.

I think, for me, it was a bit far fetched and I do prefer storylines that are at least on the edge of believable. Or perhaps I needed to have read the previous books in the series to be more invested in the characters?

My Rating – 2/5 – Not really sure why I couldn’t get into it but it just didn’t seem to really garb my attention

Bonnie Garmus – Lessons in Chemistry (BOTM:April*)

Available from Amazon from £5 (Paperback) : Waterstones from £7.99 : WHSmith from £7.99

Quite the opposite to the previous book, I couldn’t put this one down! I cried quite a bit but I loved the storyline and I really felt the emotion coming through.

It says it is due to be released as a series on Apple TV and I genuinely can’t wait to watch it. The book was really good and I hope they do it justice!

*BOTM = Book of the month for my book club

My Rating – 4.5/5 – I really enjoyed this and look forward to the TV series.

Stuart Macbride – A Dark So Deadly

Available from Amazon from £2.99 (Kindle) : Waterstones from £9.99 : WHSmith from £9.19

This one kept me company in hospital in Turkey and my brief time on the beach once I was released and cleared to fly home.

I had my suspicions early on as to who the villain was but even with this thought in mind, I loved the book and couldn’t put it down. It’s really well written to keep you in suspense and questioning everyone’s motives!

My Rating – 4/5 – An easy read although quite graphic so probably not for the faint hearted!

Demon Copperhead – Barbara Kingsolver (BOTM:April*)

Available from Amazon from free (KinUnl) : Waterstones from £8.49 : WHSmith from £7.99

I was really excited with this award winning book being our book of the month but what a letdown!

I really struggled to get into this book it’s quite a slow builder and very long.

I haven’t actually finished it as I abandoned it to get on with reading something else so maybe the ending will be more interesting – I will update when I get there!

My Rating – 1.5/5

Glendy Vanderah – Where The Forest Meets The Stars (BOTM:May*)

Available from Amazon from free (KinUnl) : Waterstones from £8.99 : WHSmith from £8.29

I think I read this book in 2 sittings, I really enjoyed it. That was until the final chapter or so where I felt like it was a rushed ending and wasn’t what I was expecting at all.

It isn’t a book I probably would have chosen myself so I am glad it came up as a book club book of the month as it was a really easy read.

My Rating – 3.5/5 – As I said above I enjoyed it until the end!

The Mum Who’d Had Enough – Fiona Gibson

Available from Amazon from 99p (KinUnl) : Waterstones from £8.99 : WHSmith from £8.29

This was a really nice easy read and an accidental one! I ordered a different book on vinted and the seller couldn’t find it so I said to just send me something else.

It’s really easy to follow and full of emotional ups and downs I finished it in just a couple of sittings.

My Rating – 4.5/5

Olive Kitteridge – Elizabeth Strout (BOTM:July*)

Available from Amazon from 99p (KinUnl) : Waterstones from £8.99 : WHSmith from £8.29

This was an easyish read but without spoiling anything it had the most abrupt end without really ending.

My Rating – 2.5/5

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Fairy Tale – Stephen King (BOTM:Aug*)

Available from Amazon from £5.50 (Kin/PB) : Waterstones from £7.99 : WHSmith from £7.99

I have only ever read one other Stephen King book (The Green Mile) and for August we could choose any of his books. I went for Fairy Tale as it was a new release and most people went for classics.

I don’t know what I expected but it wasn’t this! As I had only read The Green Mile, I sort of expected it to be a more real life based book. But this is anything but. A story of magical lands, giants, unexpected events and so much more.

It was a really good read but it did take more attention than I would normally pay to a holiday read!

My Rating – 4/5

Rainbow Garden – Patricia St John

Available from Amazon from 99p (KinUnl) : Waterstones from £4.99

This was a random book I got in a bundle I purchased on Vinted. It gave no indication on the cover that it was infact a VERY bible-ly book. I read about half of it before it got a bit too hardcore godly for me and then skim read it until the end (because I can’t half finish a book!) It was a shame because there was a nice storyline behind it which was overshadowed by the religious push.

My Rating – 0.5/5

I’d love to know what you are reading at the moment – let me know in the comments below and whether I should add them onto things I should be reading in 2023 list!

Chrissy xxx