The Alphabet Weekends- Elizabeth Noble

Alphabet Weekends- Elizabeth Noble

Blurb:
Natalie and her sisters have known Tom and his family forever. They climbed trees together, scraped knees on the same pavements and shaped bonds that would last a lifetime.

So when Natalie's long-term love walks out on her, Tom's is the much-needed shoulder she cries on. And he dreams up an ingenious way to dry her tears; a series of Alphabet Weekends- activities which, if not fun, will nonetheless distract her- and what bigger distraction to get them started then A for Abseiling? And even as she plunges down cliffs, Tom hopes Natalie might see what's been staring her in the face all these years. His undying love for her.

But as they tumble from A to Z, their families and friends face broken hearts and tragedies of their own. Can the Alphabet Weekends unlock love in all its many and wonderful guises? And not only for Natalie and Tom, but for everyone they care about?

First Thoughts:
I loved this idea! Doing set activities for each letter sounded awesome! I was excited to see what they came up with. I hadn't read anything by Elizabeth Noble before, so I was curious to see how it would turn out.

Final Thoughts:
It was a lot messier than I originally thought it was going to be like. I liked it. I did, but while the blurb seemed to indicate that it was majority Natalie and Tom's point of view, it actually wasnt. It was in the end only a small bit Natalie and Tom and mainly focused on their relatives and friends, which I also liked. It was very interesting that, although Elizabeth Noble's writing style wasn't my favorite (I prefer Katie Fforde) I could get past it and actually be a part of the characters lives, and that surprisingly one chapter actually nearly made me end up in tears! (read: nearly!) That is unusual for me with a book.
I think, in my opinion, Natalie and Tom should have been minor characters and some of the others should be the major ones, but that is just all petty stuff and I actually really enjoyed the book!
If you are someone who really can't get over the less than perfect writing, then this book probably isnt for you. I did see another Elizabeth Noble book, but I didn't end up getting it, just because I wasn't too fond of her from this one.

I would love to hear someone else's view on it! Have you read it? Let me know what you thought in the comments :)

French Kissing-Catherine Sanderson

French Kissing-Catherine Sanderson

Blurb:

'Name: Sally Marshall Status: single mother Age: 32 Nationality: ten years in France, yet still English through and through. I like: living in Paris, playing with my daughter Lila (four years old), the company of good friends, the smell of baking bread...

So reads Sally's ad, posted on a French online dating site called Rendez-vous, Sally left Nicolas, her boyfriend of ten years and Lila's father, after she discovered that he was having an affair with his secretary. Six months have now passed, and although most of the time she feels like she's just dashing around like a headless chicken, Sally's beginning to bounce back. 

But making a new start is fraught with complications. As she meets freshly-single Frederic for a drink, spends the night with charmer Manu and runs away from ex-pat Marcus, she wonders: can she find a way to reconcile motherhood with single womanhood? To what extent can she keep Lila and her love life separate? And is she truly ready to turn her back on Nicolas?'

 My Review:

First Thoughts: 

I knew this book would just be a nice, simple book to read quickly. The front cover was cute and it seemed like an interesting concept. 

Final Thoughts:

I actually really loved this book, the language was interesting and the main character, Sally, didnt get on my nerves so much! As the book is set in France, there is quite a lot of French language written in it, which was a nice challenge for me (I speak a little French). The only criticism I have is that at one time she acted a bit like a child, but I can see that this is her first time learning how to be a single woman with a child, and it sort of justified it a little bit. I really enjoyed it. Well worth a read :) 

Shopaholic & Sister- Sophie Kinsella

Shopaholic and Sister- Sophie Kinsella

Blurb

'Becky Bloomwood thought being married to Luke Brandon would be one big Tiffany box of happiness. But to be honest, it's not quite as dreamy as she'd hoped. The trouble started on their honeymoon, when she told Luke the tiniest little fib, about the teeniest little purchase. Now she's on a strict budget, she doesnt have a job - and worst of all her beloved Suze has a new best friend. She's feeling rather blue - when she receives some incredible news. She has a long-lost sister!

Becky has never been more excited. Finally, a real sister! They'll have so much in common! They can go shopping together...choose shoes together...have manicures together... 

Until she meets her - and gets the shock of her life. It cant be true. Surely Becky Bloomwood's long-list sister cant...hate shopping?

My Review

First Thoughts:

I thought it seemed interesting when I picked it up. I admit, at first it didnt click it was part of the series with Confessions of a Shopaholic. Once I realised that, it seemed less interesting, as I am not as much a fan of the movie. But I read it, anyway, just so I could see what it was like. 

Final Thoughts:

I cant say I liked this book very much. The main character was irritating, and although you could tell she meant well, it just grated on your nerves in not a good way. The story line was okay. I liked it, the problem was that it didnt seem to flow very well. I loved the ending though. The ending did exactly what a book should do if it has a sequel, makes you want to read the next one!!! (Unfortunately, I fell for it and am currently reading the next one, Shopaholic and Baby) Oops!

If you a shopaholic, which I definitely am not, you will like this book. Really, if you can sympathise with the main character, but unfortunately, this series is not really for me, im afraid.

Let me know what you guys think of it, if you have read it!!

What Alice Forgot-Liane Moriarty

What Alice Forgot - Liane Moriarty

Blurb:

'When Alice Love surfaces from a strange, beautiful dream to find she's been injured in a gym, she knows that something is very wrong - she hates exercise. Alice's first concern is for her unborn baby, and she's desperate to see her husband, Nick, who she knows will be worried about her.

But Alice isn't pregnant. And Nick isn't worried - he is in the process of divorcing her. Alice has lost ten years of her life.

When Alice returns 'home', it is totally unrecognizable, as is the rest of her life. Why is her sister, Elisabeth, being so cold? Who is this 'Gina' that everyone is carefully trying not to mention? And what's all this talk about a giant lemon meringue pie?

Over the days that follow, small bubbles of the past slowly rise to the surface, and Alica is forced to confront uncomfortable truths. It turns out forgetting might be the most memorable thing that's ever happened to her.'

My review:

First thoughts: 
When I saw the front cover and read the blurb, I expected to like it. It was intriguing, the thought of losing ten years worth of memories from an accident at the gym. I have never read any other books from Liane Moriarty, so I was excited to start!

Final thoughts:
At first, when I had started reading it, I thought the main girl, Alice Love, would start annoying me. Luckily, she didnt end up being like. I definitely liked reading it, but not necessarily my favorite book. It took me a while to get used to the layout and the changing between characters.
In my opinion, there was a lot Moriarty could have cut during the story and expanded more on the ending, which was quickly rushed into the epilogue. Too much happened in the epilogue! I also think the main character should have learnt a bit more from her injury, but she didnt really.

Definitely worth a read, and it got me thinking, 'How would I accept my life if I woke up one day and it was 10 years ago?'