📖 Book Review #6: Homecoming by Kate Morton

Six reviews in — I’m starting to feel as though this little blog is becoming a proper habit now, which was exactly the plan when I made my New Year’s resolution.

Homecoming felt very much like a return to the sort of book I naturally gravitate towards: layered, character-driven, and steeped in secrets from the past.

The novel moves between two timelines — one set in 1959 in Australia, where a shocking tragedy takes place on Christmas Eve, and the present day, where a journalist begins to investigate what really happened. I do enjoy a dual timeline when it’s done well, and Kate Morton handles it beautifully. The transitions felt smooth, and each strand was equally compelling.

The mystery at the heart of the story is intriguing from the start. A family is found dead by a creek, with only a baby surviving. It’s the sort of opening that immediately makes you ask questions. But rather than rushing towards answers, the story unfolds patiently, revealing secrets layer by layer.

What I particularly loved was the sense of place. Even though much of it is set in Australia — very different from my corner of the South of England — it felt vivid and immersive. The contrast between the dry, rural setting of the past and the modern-day investigation added depth.

This isn’t a fast-paced thriller. It’s slower, more reflective, and focused on family, identity, and how the past echoes through generations. There were moments when I had to concentrate to keep track of the different characters, especially in the historical sections, but I never felt lost — just aware that it’s a book that asks for your attention.

If I’m being honest, it is quite long, and I did wonder at one point whether it could have been slightly shorter. But by the end, I appreciated the detail. It felt like a fully realised story rather than something rushed.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Homecoming. It’s thoughtful, atmospheric, and emotionally satisfying.

I’m giving it ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ out of 5 (my first half-star!).

If you enjoy:

• Dual timelines

• Historical family mysteries

• Slow-burn storytelling

• Rich, detailed settings

…then this is definitely one to consider.

Six books reviewed — I’m so glad I decided to start this little blogging adventure.

Victoria 📚

 

📖 Book Review #5: Don’t Believe A Word by Susan Lewis

Five reviews! I honestly didn’t know if I’d keep this up when I started in January, but I’m really enjoying putting my thoughts down after finishing a book.

Don’t Believe A Word is another suspenseful read, but this one feels much more rooted in family and relationships — which probably explains why it appealed to me.

The story centres around a woman whose teenage daughter suddenly disappears after becoming involved with a mysterious older man. What follows is every parent’s worst nightmare: confusion, fear, and the creeping realisation that perhaps you didn’t know your child as well as you thought.

I found this one particularly unsettling because it feels so plausible. There’s nothing far-fetched or overly dramatic about it — the danger feels frighteningly real. It explores themes of trust, manipulation, and how easily someone vulnerable can be drawn into something unhealthy.

What I appreciated most was the emotional side of the story. Yes, there’s tension and mystery, but at its heart it’s about a mother desperate to protect her child. That emotional thread kept me invested even during the quieter moments.

There were parts where I wanted the truth to come out faster — I’m noticing I do get a little impatient when secrets are stretched out! — but in hindsight, the gradual unfolding added to the suspense.

I also liked that it made me think about how we present ourselves online and how much we really know about the people our children (or even we ourselves) interact with. It feels very relevant to modern life.

Overall, I found this gripping and thought-provoking. Not a flashy thriller full of huge twists, but a steady, unsettling story that lingers.

I’d give Don’t Believe A Word ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5.

If you enjoy:

• Domestic suspense

• Family-focused dramas

• Realistic, modern dilemmas

• Stories that make you slightly uneasy

…then this would be worth picking up.

Five books reviewed and counting — I’m rather pleased with myself!

Victoria 📚 

📖 Book Review #4: The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

 

For my fourth review, I seem to be continuing with a slightly more suspenseful theme! After enjoying One Perfect Couple, I decided to try another book by Ruth Ware — and The Woman in Cabin 10 certainly kept me on edge.

The story follows a travel journalist, Lo Blacklock, who is invited on a luxury cruise to write about the experience. It all sounds glamorous and exciting — until she believes she witnesses a woman being thrown overboard from the cabin next door. The problem? According to everyone else on board, no one is missing.

I found the setting absolutely brilliant. A cruise ship in the middle of the North Sea is such a perfect backdrop for a thriller. There’s something very unsettling about being trapped at sea with nowhere to go. The sense of claustrophobia really builds as the story unfolds.

What I liked most was the feeling of uncertainty. You’re constantly questioning what Lo saw, what she thinks she saw, and whether she can trust her own judgement. That psychological element made it more than just a straightforward mystery.

I will say that at times I found Lo a slightly frustrating character — she makes some decisions that had me shaking my head! But at the same time, her anxiety and vulnerability made her feel realistic. She isn’t a perfect, fearless heroine, which actually adds to the tension.

This was definitely a fast read for me. I kept wanting to find out the truth, and there were enough twists to keep me guessing. It’s more of a traditional thriller than some of the slower, more atmospheric books I usually lean towards, but I enjoyed the change of pace.

Overall, I’d give The Woman in Cabin 10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5.

If you like:

• Locked-room style mysteries

• Isolated settings

• Unreliable narrators

• Plenty of suspense

…then this is well worth adding to your list.

Four reviews in now — I’m quite proud of myself for sticking to my New Year’s resolution!

Victoria 📚

Book Review: One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware

 

For my third review, I thought I’d mention that I do tend to pick up quite a few of the Richard and Judy Book Club selections. I’ve found over the years that they’re usually reliable page-turners, and One Perfect Couple certainly fits that description.

This one is very different from the family dramas and old-house mysteries I often gravitate towards. Instead, it’s set on a remote tropical island where a group of couples are filming a reality television show. What could possibly go wrong? (Quite a lot, as it turns out.)

The premise immediately hooked me. There’s something about being stranded in an isolated location that always creates tension. When things begin to unravel — both in the relationships and in their physical surroundings — the atmosphere becomes increasingly claustrophobic and unsettling.

I found the idea of “perfect” couples being tested under pressure really interesting. It raises questions about how well we ever truly know another person, and what happens when carefully presented versions of ourselves start to slip.

This was definitely more fast-paced than my previous reads. I found myself saying “just one more chapter” several times, particularly once the situation on the island becomes more dangerous. It has that slightly addictive quality that makes it hard to put down.

That said, I did feel at times that some of the characters blurred together for me in the beginning, simply because there are quite a few of them. Once the story narrowed its focus, though, I became much more invested.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. It’s tense, dramatic, and feels very modern in its themes of reality television and curated public images. It’s perhaps not as emotionally reflective as some of the books I usually choose, but it was an entertaining and gripping change of pace.

I’d give One Perfect Couple ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5.

If you enjoy:

• Remote island settings

• Reality TV drama

• Psychological tension

• Twisty, fast-moving plots

…then this would be well worth picking up — and another solid choice from the Richard and Judy list.

Three reviews in now — I’m starting to feel like a proper blogger!

Victoria 📚

Book Review of The Midnight Hour by Eve Chase

Hi everyone! This is only my second book review, so I’m still getting the hang of putting all my thoughts into words — but I really wanted to write about The Midnight Hour because it stayed with me after I finished it.

First of all, the atmosphere in this book is brilliant. The story is set in an old house called Applecote Manor, and it feels almost magical but also slightly eerie. The author describes the house and the surrounding woodland so vividly that I could properly picture it. I love books where the setting feels important to the story, and this one definitely does.

The novel moves between two timelines — one set in the 1950s and one in the present day. At the beginning I was a little bit confused (I sometimes struggle when books switch time periods), but after a few chapters it became much clearer. I actually ended up really enjoying seeing how the past and present were connected. It made the mystery feel more layered.

There’s a disappearance in the past that affects everything that happens later on, and I liked how the secrets were revealed gradually rather than all at once. It kept me turning the pages because I genuinely wanted to know what had happened. I wouldn’t describe it as a fast-paced thriller — it’s more of a slow-burn mystery with lots of family drama and emotion.

The characters felt very real to me, especially the women in the story. They all had their own challenges and flaws, and I liked how the book explored themes of family, belonging, and how the past can shape your future. Some parts were quite sad, but in a thoughtful way rather than overly dramatic.

If I’m being honest, there were moments where the pacing felt a bit slow, and I found myself wishing something dramatic would happen sooner. But at the same time, I think that slower build is what makes the story feel rich and atmospheric.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Midnight Hour. If you like:

• Old houses with secrets

• Dual timelines

• Family mysteries

• Atmospheric, slightly gothic vibes

…then I think this would be right up your street.

I’d give it ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5.

Thanks so much for reading — I’m still new to reviewing, but I really enjoyed sharing my thoughts on this one!

📖 My First Ever Book Review: The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde by Eve Chase

I can’t quite believe I’m writing my very first proper book review — it feels a bit like standing up to speak in a room full of very well-read people! But here we go…

The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde is the kind of book that slowly wraps itself around you. It’s set partly in the present day and partly in the 1970s, centred around a beautiful old house called Applecote Manor. (I’m already learning that I have a real soft spot for stories set in slightly crumbling country houses!)

The story begins when a family spends a summer at Applecote Manor after a tragic disappearance years earlier — Audrey Wilde vanished there and was never found. Straight away, there’s a sense of something unsettled and secretive lingering in the walls of the house.

I’ll admit, at the start I had to concentrate a little to keep track of the different characters and timelines. But once I found my footing, I became completely absorbed. I really enjoyed how the past and present gradually connected, and how little pieces of the mystery were revealed bit by bit rather than all in one dramatic moment.

The atmosphere is probably what stood out to me most. The descriptions of the house, the gardens, and the long summer days felt so vivid. There’s a warmth to the writing, but also an underlying sadness that gives the story emotional weight.

What I appreciated most was that this isn’t just a mystery about a disappearance — it’s also about family, grief, guilt, and how events from years ago can shape people’s lives in ways they don’t even realise. The characters felt believable and flawed, which made them easier to care about.

If I’m being completely honest (and I want to be on this blog!), there were moments where the pace felt a little slow for me. I kept hoping for a big twist. But in the end, I think the gentler unfolding suited the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It’s thoughtful, atmospheric, and quietly emotional rather than dramatic or shocking.

For my very first rating on this blog, I’m giving it ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5.

If you enjoy:

• Dual timelines

• Family secrets

• Old country houses

• Emotional rather than action-packed mysteries

…then this might be one to add to your reading list.

I’m still finding my reviewing voice, but I’m so glad this was the book that started it off.

Victoria 📚

📚 Hello & Welcome to My Little Bookish Corner

 

Hi everyone,

My name is Victoria, and this is my very first blog post — which feels both exciting and slightly nerve-wracking!

I made a New Year’s resolution this year to finally do something I’ve thought about for ages: start blogging about the books I read. I’ve always been an avid reader. Books have been a constant in my life — through busy working years, family life, holidays, rainy Sundays, and everything in between. Now, as I’m approaching retirement age, I feel like I’m stepping into a new chapter (excuse the obvious pun!) and it seemed like the perfect time to begin something just for me.

I live in the South of the UK, where there are plenty of cosy corners perfect for reading — especially when the weather does what British weather does best. I won’t be sharing my exact location, but I quite like the idea of this blog being a quiet, slightly anonymous space where the focus stays firmly on the books.

I tend to read a bit of everything, though I’m particularly drawn to:

• Family dramas

• Historical fiction

• Mysteries (especially those with old houses and secrets!)

• The occasional contemporary novel that really makes me think

I’m not an expert, a critic, or an English graduate — just someone who loves getting lost in a good story and wants to talk about it afterwards. My reviews will probably be honest, fairly informal, and based entirely on how a book made me feel rather than any technical analysis.

If you’re someone who also loves reading, is perhaps in a similar stage of life, or simply enjoys chatting about books, I’d be delighted if you followed along.

Here’s to new beginnings, good stories, and finally ticking off that New Year’s resolution.

Victoria 📖