Laura Neale > Recent Status Updates

(Almost) Half way thoughts - I’m really enjoying the main story but with so many threads of different POVs and timelines it can be hard to keep track. I also enjoy the current day much more than the story of the parents and Bear’s disappearance but I think I might like that more as we get deeper into the mysteries.

I picked this up as research for a new escape room project based on the history of Letton Hall and then got sucked in! So much interesting history and some fascinating facts!

After feeling like I was wading through this until two days ago when I got hooked but the library book had to be returned today 🙄 I have put a hold on it but it’s an 11 week wait! 😩

Let’s see how much I can still remember when I get the chance to continue 😂

I’ve barely started but the trigger warnings alone are quite a lot 😬 I’ve heard it’s funny too though so as it’s a spooky book in spooky season, I’m being brave and giving it a try 🙈

We should not have words like spastic as insults still in the 2020s. 🙄

Reading for the teen book club.

So far… *cringe*

I have been intrigued by this book but for a short book it feels long! So much repetition - just say ‘the horse was moved between many owners, some good and others not so much’ and leave it there! 🙈😂

I have heard mixed things but mostly good things from people who like similar books to me so I thought it would be a good choice for the end of Summer. I was not prepared for the content, especially the intensity of SA/ incest so be sure you check the triggers out if you’re going to read this.

Apart from that, I am enjoying this.

This started well and I have become interested in the characters and the way grief is addressed and dealt with (or not) but then the very explicit, underage sexualisation descriptions started and I just feel really uncomfortable 😳 I hope I can at least finish it to complete the story but if you decide to read this, be prepared for this.

This is like being read a fairytale which is very relaxing but I just don’t love fantasy type stories although some parts are interesting!

How can I be only 1/8 of the way through a book and have wet eyes already?! Mr Backman, we need to talk. Please never stop writing because every single line is like magic. I’ve had to stop annotating/ underlining because I got to the point where there are less lines noted than not.

Just wow.

I am enjoying parts of this but it feels soooo long and slow! Please tell me it’s worth it to keep going?

I am flying through this! In just one sitting I’ve made it this far and would happily keep going but it’s late and my eyes are tired so it’ll have to wait til tomorrow/ the morning. I can tell I’ll be sitting on the edge of my seat (or more accurately, edge of my bed!) the whole way through.

This book felt like YA/ middle grade as it was so quick and easy. However, it begin with the Yorkshire ripper murders which are announced throughout the book as the death toll increases and there are some very adult themes later on.

The fact that I felt connected to the MCs and cared what happened to them shows how well written they are as usually I dislike reading younger MCs. I’ll be keeping on any future books.

It took a matter of pages to go from ‘meh’ to ‘wtf?!’

Gripped!

I had heard really great things about this but I have put it off as I knew it was quite long and rarely do I feel that a literary book needs to be long.

I have been reading it via audio which has helped but it does feel long and drawn out but I am enjoying the multi generational, multi-POV aspects and I’m getting invested in their lives.

I haven't been a romance fan for many years but I've recently started trying some again and this is a great book to gradually get back into this genre.
A mix of time travel and romance with issues around grief and when it's okay to move on, it's right up my street and a very easy and fast read (when I get round to it).

I haven’t been a romance fan for many years but I’ve recently started trying some again and this is a great book to gradually get back into this genre.

A mix of time travel and romance with issues around grief and when it’s okay to move on, it’s right up my street and a very easy and fast read (when I get young to it).

I’m taking a break from this to get a festive book or two finished whilst it’s still Christmas time

I’ve heard good things about this and so far I’m enjoying it and intrigued to see what comes next…

This was ‘sold’ to me as a true story told in a way that makes it feel like fiction - with fast paced plot, descriptive style writing and suspense around a serial killer. It’s not that at all. A lot of it is interesting but it feels like a historical non fiction book to me, not helped by the dull, monotone speaking of the audiobook narrator and the fact the majority of the story is about buildings, not murder.

Only 50 pages in to my first Murakami and I can see already why people love his writing ☺️

How has it taken me so long to read this? It’s right up my street and I’m loving it so far! Long may it last 👍🏻

So far, the only thing that makes this a fantasy book is that the characters are orcs, trolls etc, otherwise it’s just a cute countryside, new life story (which honestly is a good thing for me as I’m not a huge lover of fantasy books generally)

😳😱😭💔

One minute I’m thinking, “ah yes very clever, I get it” and the next minute I’m thinking “is this even real words? Did the author just convince me this makes sense when it’s actually gobbledygook?”.

I think I like it but I also hate how confused I am

It feels strange reading Christmas chapters at Lent but i have underlined lots of lines that stood out to me so I’m looking forward to continuing

This isn’t an amazing book but it would have been a lot better if it wasn’t for all the ‘he said’ ‘they said’ ‘I said’ - I’ve lost count of how many times the word said is… said? 😜