I used to be an avid reader when I was younger, devouring books in a week, sometimes even a day! But the past few years have seen me read less and less as university, work and other commitments have taken over. I didn't read many books this past year - I didn't keep count but it couldn't be more than a dozen - however there's a few I really enjoyed, so here my five favourites and why they were so memorable, with NO spoilers! Note : Library books all the way! It's pretty much a free and unlimited subscription! Flight RiskThis was actually the first book I read in 2019 and I could not put it down! I love all things aviation and this mystery involving disappearing planes had me intrigued - even if I was slightly offended when a Qantas A380 was described as fat and lazy looking! Some parts of the book were a little slow and felt random to the story, especially at the start when Ted - a former pilot, now secret investigator - travels to outback Australia. But it quickly picked up pace and I was hooked all the way through, loving every twist and turn. Some reviews critic the stories plausibility but given political tensions in recent years, and the disappearance of MH370, it was easy to see how a mystery like this could play out. It's hard to say much more without giving away the ending but I loved this book and would definitely consider rereading it - I would even love to see it become a movie! Plus I'm giving this book all the credit for getting me hooked on the thriller genre, although it set the bar very high. The Flight AttendantI'm not sure why I picked this book; I don't do well with blood and murder. But on a high from Flight Risk, it seemed like a good book. And I loved it, unable to put it down from the moment Cassie woke up next to a dead man! Throughout I found some bits a bit random, although I feel as though these moments were successfully brought together in the final chapters. I also questioned the plausibility of a few other things but I've never been involved in an international spy ring or murder investigation so what would I know! And I surprisingly enjoyed the different POV's it offered at random intervals - they weren't clearly marked but it added to the sense of anticipation and helped understand the range of motives at play. The only thing I really didn't like about this book was the epilogue - without spoiling it, I was disappointed and it sort of felt like a lazy way to tie it all up because the ending had been really exciting up until then. Nonetheless, I look forward to the movie adaption, although I'm definitely squeamish at the thought of the blood! The Other Mrs. Miller"Two women watching each other, only one knows why." That statement on the back cover intrigued me although I struggled to get into this book at the start and didn't really understand the two different POVs. That was until all the drama went down suddenly and there was a shocking twist, taking the story in a direction I did not see coming! And then it became a puzzle I needed to understand; who was lying and who was telling the truth?! All the way up until the epilogue which I had to read twice just to come to grips with the truth it revealed! A really great read, and despite my initial hesitation, the difference between part one and part two made it all the more exciting. The RumourAt this point I was really stuck into the thriller genre and this relatively new release seemed like a good idea. Given the title, it wasn't a surprise the book had a very gossipy feel, especially at the start when things kick off, but with many twists and turns, I finished this book pretty quickly, trying to piece the clues together. It felt like there were plenty of unnecessary characters and plot points - particularly with Alfie's father - but I couldn't work out if this was annoying and confusing or if it added to the suspense at who the killer was. Still I enjoyed the ending, the killer revealed as the only person I hadn't thought to suspect! And that last page - I was shell shocked! And the very last line in this book has stuck with me ever since I read it months ago! It may not be the best thriller but still a good read with a satisfying ending. The Quality Street GirlsI'm pretty sure I read this in September but it would make a great holiday read as the story leads to a magical white Christmas. Bored of the thrillers but not in the mood for a romance I thought this old fashioned book about friendship and chocolate would be a good idea. It was an easy read with an enjoyable story and enough excitement to keep it interesting. Reenie was my favourite girl by far although the book follows four girls as they face different challenges, including women's rights in the 1930s. The only thing that slightly bothered me was Diana's secret as it seemed pretty obvious to me from early on yet wasn't revealed until very late. But overall, it was a heartwarming read and well written and researched. I believe this is the first book in a series so I'm interested to see what will follow as it felt like this story was wrapped up very nicely.
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