Review: Exit Party by Emily St John Mandel
14 September 2026
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Books, Emily St John Mandel, Exit Party, Fantasy, fiction, Review
My Five Word TL:DR Review: I Am Absolutely in Awe
I haven’t read everything by ESJM but the books I’ve read have all been really good, absolutely thought provoking and the type of story that all who read will surely take away something unique. Obviously, reading is a unique experience but this is definitely an author whose body of work is complex, often inter-connected, forthright and with the ability to conjure the time and place with seemingly minimal effort. Its frankly impressive and quite often a bit unsettling.
I am so in awe and also a little bit scared to write this review. It would be so easy to give away spoilers that I barely want to say anything at all – other than ‘read this’ – and yet at the same time there are so many things that I want to say. It’s a conundrum.
I’ve decided to cut and paste the description for the book below, then I’m going to stick to my usual style of review and try to talk about the elements of this that worked so well for me and keep everything crossed that I don’t blurt out the wrong thing.
2031. America is at war with itself, but for the first time in weeks there is some hope: the Republic of California has been declared, the curfew in Los Angeles is lifted, and everyone in the city is going to a party.
Ari, newly released from prison, arrives with her friend Gloria just as a fragile new era begins. But there are people at the party who shouldn’t be there. Something is very wrong…
Years later, living a different life in Paris, Ari remains haunted by that night. Whatever happened at the party fractured her sense of reality – and may hold the key to a very different world.
Freedom and surveillance, art and survival, love and loss in a broken world: Exit Party is the electrifying new novel from Emily St. John Mandel.
The first thing I would point out is that this book has two very unique settings. Parallel universes. Inexplicably, at the party mentioned above a number of people appear who are basically doppelgangers for others at the party, in fact two new people appear and one person from the party actually disappears. I don’t want to say any more about this because it will all become obvious as you read. As the book begins we are reading chapters from ‘Homeland’ later in the book we flip to Side B.
We predominantly follow Ari. Ari has been to prison for taking out a contract on her cousin, something that she now deeply regrets. She’s a very resourceful character, not given to hysterics and quite calm in a tough spot. Her life is almost inextricably linked with one of the ‘others’ who appeared at the party – a character called Nico. Through Ari we will witness the current chaos of the Homeland and read as she goes from problem to problem. Given that she’s spent almost 20 years in prison she seems to be going all out on making up for lost time. Anyway, I won’t go into everything she does but she certainly leads a very eventful life, always in the shadow of the ‘party’ and the strange occurences that had such an impact.
We then appear in Side B. This is a very different America. One that avoided uprisings, war and militia but in reality escaped little having simply replaced one set of horrors for another. This is an authoritarian world. On the face of it things appear really good. People seem to have good lives here, diseases such as cancer have been eradicated, great leaps in science allow the cities to be cooled more easily, the moon has been colonised, everything is so advanced – however, scratch the surface and it soon becomes apparent that this version is far from idyllic. People are watched all the time. People frequently disappear, their children are sent to state orphanages, other people who seem to have veered off track become ‘ghosts’. There is no freedom.
Two totally different experiences of, effectively, the same place split by whatever strange phenomenon is at work here (the multiverse I suppose).
The timeline jumps about. We don’t always follow a totally straight line in terms of Ari. Sometimes she reflects on things from her past and that’s when we catch up with some of her earlier exploits. Similarly when we flip to Side B the timeline is slightly earlier which allows the reader to observe what happened on the night of the ‘party. And, the character we follow in Side B is also very closely connected to Ari – but I won’t say why.
I loved the writing. ESJM has a gift with words. I think this book is only around 320 pages and yet it feels like she manages to convey so much. You understand the characters, they have different motivations and these all make them easy to identify, even when they seem, at face value, to be the same person. The worlds are so completely different and yet again she manages to bring them to life with so little fuss. It’s fascinating.
Now, every now and again I had to go off at a tangent and have a think about everything and where it was going. And this is actually something I really enjoy about this author’s work. I feel like I have to stay focused and more than that I want to figure things out – to be fair, I didn’t succeed at all in that endeavour but you have to have a try.
There are so many good things about this book, little twists on words and names, nods to current affairs, particularly in terms of future threats to society as we know it and also to the way we currently live our lives, and yet this isn’t preachy. Climate change has a dramatic impact as does the fear of a life threatening pandemic. It’s a book of opposites, the key characters, or more to the point, the ones with doubles, are opposites of each other, if one loves children in version A they are sure to be totally indifferent to them in version B. And all of this, the wonderful writing, dramatic settings and unusual characters are glued together by an intriguing storyline that I was desperate to get to the bottom of.
I don’t think I can say much more. Thoroughly enjoyable. I have no hesitation in recommending this. Much like the themes of opposites explored within the pages this is a story that is complicated and yet at the same time understandable, feels strange and yet familiar, scary and yet hopeful.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 5 of 5 stars
Review: Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley
8 September 2026
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Agatha Christie, Book Reviews, Books, Lucy Foley, Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel, Mystery, Review
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Captures the Voice and Era
I’ve read a few Lucy Foley books and so I was very keen to see how she would get along writing a Miss Marple story and to be honest, she doesn’t disappoint. This is exactly what I expected. A murder mystery, set in a luxury hotel atop a mountain that unfortunately becomes impossible to reach, with a cast of suspects, many who appear suspicious, and a shrewd old lady with a pair of knitting needles and a sharp intelligence who is usually under estimated.
I enjoyed this, it’s very easy to read, I think Foley captures the time period perfectly and there’s a closed room style murder with the usual suspects that your mind would conjure for such a story. I would say it has, almost a charming feel, if not for the fact that the bodies begin to gather!
The setting is a luxury hotel. Miss Marple has been invited on holiday by her friend Dolly Bantry, the two are accompanied by Dolly’s lady’s companion, Diana Glass. They arrive aboard the Grand Alpine Express to stunning scenery, powdery snow and magnificent mountains, an opulent hotel and spa, attentive staff and roaring fires and hot chocolate for those not brave enough to face the slopes! Everything they could wish for to make the this retreat perfect. What could possibly go wrong?
Foley introduces us to a number of characters, a politician, his wife, an actress and obviously our sharp-eyed Miss Marple. It takes a little time for the set up and to picture just who’s who but happily this is told in multiple povs which is really helpful in reinforcing the different characters.
I’m not going to go into the mystery or any sort of description of characters, it would be all too easy to drop clangers and like any good murder mystery part of the fun is in the guessing. So, no spoilers from me.
What I particularly liked about this.
It was a quick read, it feels light and entertaining. Yes, of course, it’s a murder mystery but being a Miss Marple story it feels almost low stakes, the real enjoyment factor coming from the final reveal. To be honest, this story was exactly what I expected and what I wanted.
The writing was really good. Foley totally nails down the 50s feel. The way the characters talk, dress, but more than that it’s difficult to describe other than to say she manages to capture the essence of the period. Not very eloquently put but hopefully you understand where I’m coming from.
Miss Marple is her usual low key self. She’s used to being overlooked and underestimated but all the while she hardly misses a trick.
The murder mystery was intriguing, this isn’t some sort of slasher. No hideous deaths or blood soaked rooms. Foley gives us a very good rendition of Marple and a cunning mystery to boot.
In terms of slight issues the only niggle I had was the ending, it felt a little bit rushed and somehow not as satisfying as I wanted – I’m being vague to avoid spoilers. The actual solution was good and worked really well, but the final execution was a bit off, I can’t really put my finger on it.
Anyway, this was a really good read, I found it easy to fall into and it kept me entertained. I hope Foley will tackle more Miss Marple stories and will keep an eye out (and my fingers crossed).
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opiniion.
My rating: between 3.5 and 4 stars out of 5 – rounded up to 4
Review: Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison
3 September 2026
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Books, fiction, Kiss Slay Replay, Rachel Harrison, reading, Review
My Five Word TL:DR Review: What a Thrillingly Unique Blast
Rachel Harrison is a definite ‘must read’ author for me. I’m loving her books, her imagination, her style of writing and the fact that I never know what to expect. I had an absolute blast with Kiss Slay Replay, I genuinely didn’t know what this one was about and although the title actually gives away more than I at first realised, I went into the read fairly cold – just knowing that I like Harrison’s books, and what can I say – it was such a good, blood soaked, gory, astonishing, perplexing, compelling and sometimes humorous read.
Now, to be clear, the inevitable comparisons to Ground Hog Day are bound to be thrown around with this one and with good reason because, and I know that I’m not giving away spoilers by telling you this, this is a time loop story. However, Harrison totally makes it her own and although I started out thinking I had a good idea of the direction things would take I couldn’t have been more delightfully wrong.
Willa Sullivan is our MC. She’s in something of a funk. A few months ago she broke up with her boyfriend just weeks before they were due to get married. A decision that feels right to her but has at the same time left her with niggling doubts, a kind of thirty year old crisis in terms of where her life is going, not to mention her life has changed in terms of having had to move out, find her own place and discover a small studio is all she can afford – plus she has very few possessions to speak of other than a very unfriendly cat. So, she’s a bit anxious anyway without the wedding of two of her best friends looming and the knowledge that her ex will be there. Don’t get me wrong, Willa is very happy for her friends, she’s just turning into a nervous wreck about the whole event.
So, the day of the wedding things continue to escalate. Thrown together with firm friends – who, on reflection all seem to be in different places, and then discovering that her ex has brought a date! Willa definitely needs a moment alone to gather herself and escaping into the surrounding woodland she thinks she sees something very creepy. Then she meets Danny, a handsome, single guy who makes her feel a spark of something and she forgets her worries briefly. Right up until the blood starts to flow.
I’m not going to elaborate any further on the story as this is something that you truly have to discover for yourself. You need to experience that wth moment with no spoiler alerts.
What did I like about this.
It kept me absorbed. I think I read this in one sitting whilst ignoring all sorts of things around me that I should have been doing. I couldn’t help it I really needed to see what was going on, well, even to see what would happen next because I clearly had no idea. I can’t impress upon you just how much this story kept my attention.
I liked Willa. Yes, she’s having a little crisis but these things happen. Living in this strange, dangerous and creepy loop certainly starts to uncover things, about her friends and herself, even her ex but eventually I think the terrible events that she becomes a part of eventually help to clarify the things that really matter.
The writing and the pace are spot on. It’s a contemporary setting, a wedding with a view to die for (couldn’t help myself), everything is easy to imagine and for me I had the whole wedding scene fully developed in my head no problem. And this just makes the focus stay on the central character and the events which is a real bonus. In terms of other characters, well Willa is the main focus, and quite rightly so because the other versions, well, they’re not always the same. Willa herself can affect the narrative and so something somebody says in one version may not be said in the next. It’s kind of similar to having an unreliable narrator.
The shock. Yes, I think that’s the best way I can describe it. This book shocked me. It’s like Harrison just thought I’m coming in all guns blazing, no holds barred, no rules and it just feels like she enjoyed herself writing this, it’s so crazy.. And this is bloody, a bit gruesome at points, but all somehow made manageable because of the time loop. And, instead of feeling the repetitiveness of events I found myself massively intrigued to see what the heck was going to hit this poor woman next. Honestly, this can be a little bit jaw dropping and bloody but for some reason it didn’t make me cringe. Perhaps that is a combination of the relentless pacing and the novelty of events. I don’t know.
What I can say, with absolute confidence is that this was a banger of a book. I’m going to leave this review now before I become a gushing maniac. Highly recommended
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. the above is my own opinion.
My rating 5 of 5 stars
Review: Aphrodite in Pieces by Lauren JA Bear
31 August 2026
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Aphrodite in Pieces, Book Reviews, Books, Fantasy, fiction, Lauren JA Bear, Review
My Five Word TL:DR Review: I Absolutely Inhaled This Book
Aphrodite in Pieces was an absolute belter. I loved it. I read it in two sittings. I hated to be torn away from it. I was always happy to return and I’m sad that it came to an end. I could read it again right now – and I would do so if I didn’t need to catch up with a few books. This will, without doubt appear on my favourite books of the year list come December.
Unsurprisingly, Aphrodite in Pieces is a reimagining of the life of the Goddess Aphrodite and it’s truly compelling. The Goddess of Love and Beauty, Aphrodite is usually portrayed in quite a different way, usually shallow and like the other Gods quick to temper and vindictive. Now, I’m not saying that she doesn’t make mistakes in this version, or that she can’t be vengeful but this reimaging brings a vulnerability to her not to mention a certain clear sighted honesty that is not often seen.
I’m not going to go into the story too much. What I can say is this portrayal shows you Aphrodite’s beginning, her upbringing and her rise to become one of the Twelve. It details many of the stories that she is known for but gives a slightly different slant as we hear these stories from the horses mouth. And, it also concludes with a very satisfying ending.
What I loved about this.
I absolutely loved the writing. The style, the flow, the pace. Everything worked for me. Aphrodite, probably at a slightly jaded point in her life, has decided to tell her story to a little known sculptor so that he may carve her likeness but bring something more, hopefully, to the statue because he knows ‘her’. Who she is. What she’s suffered. The love of her life. Her triumphs and defeats. I thought the voice was perfect. I was hooked from the first page and compelled to read, pushing myself into the early hours.
Aphrodite. She’s not a Goddess that I know much of. I’ve read stories in which she appears, but usually as the ‘baddie’ of the piece. And yet, now I feel like I’ve missed out! Her’s is such an interesting story and, predominantly at its heart, a love story. The Goddess of Love and the God of War, Ares, inextricably linked, sometimes parted for extended periods – but immortals, well, they have nothing if not time. The story between the two is told really well. And, this can quite often be an incredibly sad tale. Not to mention frustrating – particularly in the way Aphrodite is treated. Often vilified and usually called witch and whore, everyone believes she is a temptress, women fear her taking from them, men want her but then hate that she holds power over them. She is the Goddess of Love! She behaves much as you would expect, love is not a crime after all. Lets be honest, she’s not portrayed here as some sort of innocent. She makes mistakes. But, she does own them.
The other Gods are much as you would expect. Zeus is an absolute horror! Expected. I pretty much wanted to strangle him, all the time. Apollo is given a ‘softer’ personality, a close friend to Aphrodite, sometimes grounding her and bringing her back to herself. The other Gods play minor roles here and there, the other predominant role being taken up by Ares.
In conclusion. A fantastic reimagining. A consuming love story. Amazing writing. Interesting, compelling and addictive. I loved this and now have a book hangover. I need to go and look up more by this author to see what I’ve missed out on. Watch this space.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Review: They Say a Girl Died Here by Sarah Pinborough
27 August 2026
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Books, fiction, Review, reviews, Sarah Pinborough, They Say A Girl Died Here
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Dark, mysterious and typically Pinborough
They Say a Girl Died Here is a dark story, a little bit (well actually quite a lot) bleak in parts. Told by Anna it pretty soon becomes clear that the family dynamic is not great, on top of that, choosing to live in a down at heel farming town when trying to deal with family trauma is not a great combination. And, to complicate matters, Harper’s Creek has apparently suffered two rather gruesome murders, both young women, barely having had a chance to start their own life, and with the anniversary looming everyone is a little on edge. Not everyone believes the killer was caught (and it’s difficult to question events as the suspect was shot and killed at the time) It’s a combination of family drama, murder mystery and, as the description mentions, genre bending in terms of the twist in the tale.
I really like Pinborough and have read and loved many of her books. Now, when I picked this up I admit I wasn’t in the best headspace and so eventually I ended up putting it down, which was a big shock for me as this was a highly anticipated read. As it happened I really didn’t put it down for long because it seemed that the main character had actually got into my head and so I picked it back up. This was a really good read with the author’s signature twisted ending. I won’t say this is my favourite of hers, perhaps because it feels so bleak, but then of course it feels bleak given the subject matter!
Anna has suffered a traumatic event – something so bad that as a means of self protection her brain has decided to block out events. Her family, her mother, gran and younger sister, have since relocated to the town where the grandmother grew up – something that they had little say in as the gran bought the house and desperate times call for desperate measures and rent free accommodation is a must when dire straits come knocking. So, they’re living in a rather creepy house, that seems to have stood empty for some years for some reason. On top of this Harper’s Creek is also a strange place. It’s in decline, the surrounding farms struggling to maintain a livelihood, especially in the face of long periods of drought and the other inhabitants all feel a little odd, which is perhaps simply because of the horrors they’ve faced having two young females murdered within three years of each other. On top of this, the anniversary of the murders is looming and there is a very real feeling of tension as not everyone believes that the killer was caught. Could another victim have already been chosen?
What I really liked about this is, first and foremost, this author is a natural storyteller and I love the ideas and directions that her stories often take. She loves throwing in a curveball and TSAGDH is no exception. Her writing is easy to read, compelling and creepy, in fact I was reading late at night, alone, and one of the lights began to flicker and then went off – I kid you not – and I practically ran out of there and got in bed! So clearly it was giving me the heebies being on my own and reading. Does this happen to anyone else when they’re reading along at night or am I just a raging softie?
I felt, for a portion of the time that Anna was an unreliable narrator, in a really perplexing way. I even found myself flipping back and forth to see if I’d actually misremembered something. This is something you need to stick with as it plays into the story. Anna also felt a little reckless at times. This is a small town and she seems to be pushing a lot of buttons (quite often based on rather flimsy ideas) and more than that, placing a ‘come get me’ sign right above her own head if indeed the killer is still alive and out there.
The tension was palpable, like everyone is infected by this unknown fear and nobody really wants to speak of it. Of course, Anna has different ideas and is practically running round the place stirring up the pot.
Anna’s family are definitely on the verge of falling apart. Her gran seems to have a case of rather aggressive dementia, her mum is sad, lonely and overworked and her sister is coming to terms with being uprooted from her friends and being relocated at such a difficult age. Home life is not exactly a bag of cherries and Anna has become almost like a nurse and babysitter to her gran and younger sister due to her mother’s late night shifts. Then, unexpectedly Anna’s gran starts to become more amenable towards her, perhaps the two are becoming closer now they’re spending more time together – not to mention both of them having these terrible holes in their memories. Anna’s gran seems to be having very bad dreams – or are they dreams? She seems to be having conversations and it all sounds mysteriously connected to the murders. In fact Anna and her gran seem to have become inextricably linked somehow.
Now, in terms of slight issues. Well, yes this is bleak but given what’s going on that’s only to be expected. I always enjoy the strange twists that the author comes up with – but – in this instance I felt like the actual uncovering and conclusion were both a little rushed and also not quite as polished or smooth as I’ve come to expect from this author.
In conclusion though. I did enjoy this story. It was a good read, plenty of suspicious people. Anna running round town like a maniac accusing people left, right and centre, a good deal of family drama and a satisfying ending. I think Pinborough lovers will enjoy this even if it’s not quite as smooth as some of her other works.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4 of 5 stars
Books and travelling with Lynn 