Sheila O’Flanagan: If You Were Me. Review

Synopsis

Carlotta O'Keefe is happily engaged to Chris and the wedding plans are coming together. Not only is she clear about her future path personally but she's also clear about her busy career too. Maybe Chris doesn't make her heart race every time she sees him, but you can't have that feeling forever can you??

But then on a trip to Seville, Carlotta runs into Luke Evans, the same Luke Evans who broke her heart so long ago she'd convinced herself she'd forgotten him. However, he is now an attractive and intriguing man, who can explain everything that happened back then. Suddenly, Carlotta's not so sure of anything any more, except that what she decides now, will shape the rest of her life.

My Thoughts :)

I was extremely happy and grateful that I was sent this to review by Headline Publishing via BookBridgr. Having read some of Sheila O'Flanagan's books previously, I knew we would be in for a treat and I was not disappointed, which I think was obvious as I started it on Saturday and finished it on Sunday. This will be a spoiler free review so will not go into alot of detail and will focus on my views on the book.

I loved how at the start of the book, we dive straight into Carlotta's life. She's woken up in Seville after a meeting and realises she has over slept and there's a slight chance she could miss her train, meaning she would miss her flight  and finally leading to her missing her 'monster in law's' Dorothea's seventieth birthday party.  She also has to let her fiancée Chris down, who will surely understand....won't he??

I feel, that one of the things that Sheila excels at, is how well we can as readers relate to her characters. Whilst reading the book, I was able to imagine what the characters would look like and how they would act. It was also easy to imagine the settings with the book, such as Seville with the music playing in the background while she sits with Luke. Due to how brilliantly Sheila writes, I grew to love some characters, which at times lead to me cheering them on deep down and also wishing for a happy ending for them. It also lead to taking a dislike to some, such as  Mother In-law Dorothea. At times I felt myself telling her to be quite and to leave Carlotta alone, and hoping at some point Dorothea would be put in her place. I had a love/hate relationship with Chris, I wished at times that Chris stood up to his mother but then I also felt for him when it sometimes seemed that he came second to Carlotta after her job.

This book kept me gripped from beginning through to the very end. It also reaffirmed my favourite saying 'everything happens  for a reason'.  I would recommend this book to everyone, you definitely won't be disappointed. 5/5 stars (if I could give it more I would)

May Wrap Up

Hello Book Lovers Everywhere :)

Hope everyone has been reading lots :) So today were going to discuss the books I acquired during the month of May and also the books I read throughout May.

MAY HAUL

So In the month of May I acquired these 8 books :)

                        I have read two of these and the rest have joined my ever growing TBR list :)

Books Read throughout May

So through the month of May I read a grand total of 9 books, I know that there are only 7 books in the picture, however the one was a trilogy and therefore contained 3 books so I count it as 9 :)

The first Book I read was ‘His Dark Materials’ by Philip Pullman: The trilogy takes place across a multi verse, moving between many parallel worlds. I know I am a bit behind the times in reading this, but I’m glad I finally got around to reading this, I really enjoyed it especially how it moved between the parallel worlds. Would recommend this to anyone who hasn’t read it yet, 5/5 :-D

The second Book I read  was ‘The Murder Bag’ by Tony Parsons: Twenty years ago seven rich, privileged students became friends at their exclusive private school, Potter’s Field. Now they have started dying in the most violent way imaginable. I was gripped by this book from the very beginning, I also liked how the story was set in London, surrounding the lead Detective Max Wolfe. I am really looking forward to reading the next instalment and I hope that it’s just as good, 4/5

The Third Book I read was ‘Attachments’ by Rainbow Rowell: The book focuses around two young women who spend their hours emailing each other, discussing every aspect of their life. However, at night Lincoln, an IT guy spends his hours reading the emails between the two women. Whilst doing so he finds himself drawn into the lives of them both and falling for one of them. I found this a really quick read, but was gripping till the very end. I loved the way that although the emails were not extremely long you still found yourself finding out alot about the people involved, 5/5.

The Forth Book I read was ‘Unlucky 13′ By James Patterson: Were back once again with the Women’s Murder Club. This time two dead bodies are found inside a wrecked car on the Golden Gate Bridge, but it seems that this will not just be a simple traffic accident. While Lindsay Boxer is investigating the case, she gets the call that her ex-colleague turned ruthless killer Mackie Morales has been sighted. Another Brilliant book by James Patterson surround the Women’s Murder Club, at times it was hard to keep up with all three plot lines that were going on but I still found it a good read, 4/5.

The Fifth Book I read was ‘Gone’ by James Patterson.  Manuel Perrine doesn’t fear anyone or anything. Detective Michael Bennett had once managed to put him behind bars, but now Perrine is out and has sworn revenge on Bennett and everyone he holds dear to him. Bennett and his family are in hiding in witness protection, however the FBI leave Bennett no choice but to come out of hiding.  The one thing I do love about the Michael Bennett series, is how much we get to know his family and in cases how they play a part in the story. I found this book a bit slow at times but then at other times it was really fast paced, especially near the end, 3/5.

The Sixth Book I read was ‘A Monster Calls’ by Patrick Ness: Thirteen year old Conor, awakes at seven minutes past midnight to find a monster outside his bedroom window. However, it isn’t  the monster he has been expecting, instead his been expecting the one from his nightmare, which his had since his mother started her treatment. WOW what can I say about this book, I read this in a day as once I started it I couldn’t put it down. I don’t want to say too much about this book as I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, but all I’m going to say is that it is a MUST read for anyone as I absolutely loved it, 5/5 if I could give it more I would :)

The seventh Book I read was ‘Eleanor and Park’ by Rainbow Rowell:  Eleanor is the new girl in town and she feels all alone, with her mismatched clothes and red hair, she couldn’t stick out more if she tried. Then one day she takes the seat on the bus next to Park. As time goes by they found a common connection and through late night conversations and mixed tapes they fall in love.  This book was really good, it was heart-warming and heart-breaking all at the same time. I really liked how the book went into detail of the characters so you felt at times like you knew them personally and in some cases even relate to them, 4/5 I only gave it 4  starts due the ending.

So overall, I think I had a really good reading month, and it has also put me in good stead of my GoodReads reading Challenge. What books have you read in the Month of May, have you read any of my May reads, if so what did you think of them?

Until Next time…Keep Reading :)

May has gone, but June has only just begun

Helloooo Book Lovers Everywhere :):)

So May is over and what a good reading month it has been, in the next few days I will do posts about what books I have read in the month of May, with a small review included. I will also let you all know what books I brought in the month of May as well. Now I never really have a definitive tbr for each month, but I might try and compile a list of books I aim to read in the month of June.

So what did everybody ready in May, do you have any favourites that you think I should try and read, do you have any reading plans for the month of June, would love to hear from you.

Until next time….keep reading :)