Repeating Another Two Book Month
After a few rolls on my March Bookopoly Board, I decided not to pressure myself, making this another two-book month. Opting to mood read, I found this was a lot better for my mental health. It has been a stressful month.
Jumping into another monthly wrap-up…
The Book Of Doors by Gareth Brown
We find ourselves with Cassie Andrews, a bookseller in New York City. When a customer leaves her an unusual book as a gift…
He wrote on the front page that it is ‘The Book of Doors’ and that any door could be every door.
Cassie and her best friend, Izzy, soon discover the magic this book possesses. And that there are other books with different magical abilities. But there is a danger that follows.
Not long after Cassie is gifted The Book of Doors, we meet Drummond Fox, a man who is also fleeing danger.
Cassie has to decide if Drummond, who owns a secret library of these magic books, can be someone to trust.
“Because some doors should never be opened.”
I cannot remember the last time I read a book where I felt such a child-like buzz over what could happen next. The journey this book takes is so simple and so relatable for having that fantasy aspect. Cassie is very easy to relate to. Without spoiling too much, she didn’t have the easiest start but found safety and happiness with her grandfather. We do get to know a bit about him, which was both lovely and heartbreaking at times.
When you are like Cassie and feel stuck, it is usually the parent or parental figure in your life you yearn to talk to. Or go back for advice and comfort. The Book of Doors allowed that kind of comfort for Cassie. And those feelings came across to me as the reader.
The secondary characters were all well-fleshed, even though some are featured at brief moments or are the “strong silent type.” I didn’t find myself having to go back and figure out who came into the story where or through whom.
An impressive debut for Gareth Brown. This was a huge 5-star read for me. One of the contenders for my favourite read of 2024.
The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas
Two sisters with very different lifestyles.
Older sister Alice is married to Kyle and lives for her career. Tasha married her childhood sweetheart, Aaron, and had twin daughters. She is now living in the suburbs.
Alice suggests a life swap, so Tasha and Aaron can have time away at Alice and Kyle’s Venice apartment while she and Kyle stay home to look after the twins.
But a few days in, Tasha gets a call that turns everything upside down. Alice is injured in the hospital, and Kyle has been murdered.
Police investigate it as a burglary gone wrong until Tasha receives a note through the door.
“It was supposed to be you.” But this story goes a lot deeper than you first thought.
Claire Douglas has done it again! I feel so thankful to have come across her books because I honestly cannot put them down once I start reading. I decided to get into bed early one night, around 9 p.m. By midnight, I had finished this.
It is very difficult to describe how many twists this has without spoiling. I will say that I again didn’t see some of them coming. We have Claire’s style of different POVs, some with different timelines. I have come to appreciate gaining more backstory, especially about characters, through this style of writing. It is really interesting how you make assumptions as you are reading, and then something from the past makes you question everything about that assumption. I think it keeps you on your feet but also paces the story well.
I loved the dynamic between the sisters. It makes me think of the Chinese philosophical principles, Yin and Yang, because there is such love there and yet both balance the family’s dynamic.
This was gripping, descriptive, and overall a great read. 4.5 stars.
And that is another two books wrapped up. Have you read either book? What were your thoughts? Comment your thoughts below, or find me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest.
As always, thanks for reading…