Following on from my previous post, in this one I'll round up 5 lovely advanced reader copies that I read in January that you can keep your eyes out for later this year!
Madam by Phoebe Wynne
Rated: 3/5 🌟
PHYSICAL EDITION RELEASED: MAY 13TH 2021
Set amongst the looming Scottish cliffs, is Caldonbrae Hall, a boarding school for wealthy and privileged girls. This illustrious school is steeped with tradition, and promises that students will emerge 'resilient and ready to serve society'.
Rose is welcomed into its midst to teach Classics and head up a department but finds herself disjointed by its intimidating prestige, secrecy from staff about the goings on at the school, and a haggle of vindictive students. She is the newest teacher to be recruited, and the first to be hired outside of the schools' usual realm. She teaches her students about fearless and powerful women from Greek and Roman history, igniting their curiosity and sparking an inability to question the lives and rules set out for them. In the haven of her classroom, the girls are encouraged to defy expectations and be exceptional within their own right, but Rose soon discovers Caldonbrae's true motives and the fate that lies before the young students. The school is a masterpiece of horror: an antiquated system run by rich, powerful men which she soon learns is not at all what it first seems.
This gothic feminist tales has all the elements I'd normally love - secrecy, a male-led patriarchy to defy, enough mystery to keep you intrigued, and a host of interesting women like you'd see in the work of Margaret Atwood, but it falls a little flat in its execution. The cult-like notion of the school itself, and how quickly Rose becomes entangled even against her wishes, is fascinating to learn about and you're almost sucked in by the notions of deception and appalled at just how wide Calondbrae's presence and power looms. The fault in the story lies in the lack of character development, and the passing mention of moments that seem to have no relevance to the main narrative. It was an interesting take to start with the fire, and then work back through the timeline to see how this develops, but I felt as though this made it lack suspense as you knew something terrible was due to happen.
The backdrop of a secluded and elusive boarding school is perfect for the brooding eeriness and foreshadowing, and I think with some elements changed this had the potential to be exceptional. I loved the elements of Mythology, and how the women Rose teaches about soon become figureheads and role models for the young women in her care. Interestingly there were some connections between the plot and the Greek or Roman woman introduced in that chapter, which was a clever syncopation from Phoebe Wynne. However the 1990s backdrop makes the narrative a little unrealistic, and it would be better suited to the early 1800s where menace and gothic undertones would've had more chance to thrive.
If you're a fan of Greek literature like Circe and more recent feminist dystopian titles like The Power and Vox you'll enjoy this.
The Lucky Escape by Laura Jane Williams
Rated: 4/5 🌟
PHYSICAL EDITION RELEASED: JUNE 10TH 2021
Told ultimately in three stages - pre-honeymoon, the honeymoon, and post-honeymoon, this story follows the life of Annie, a recently jilted bride. Uncertain how to proceed after being left by long-term partner Alexander, Annie decides to takes a chance on an old friend she becomes reacquainted with. She packs her suitcase and passport, and the pair set off on her honeymoon, reminiscing about their youth together in a theatre group. Ultimately this is a story of the newly single Annie figuring out what she wants from life going forward.
Much like a cute romantic-comedy blockbuster, there are moments of hilarity - most notably a naked spa retreat - but also themes of touching sincerity including the loss of a spouse. This story is a retrospective look at womanhood and what constitutes a healthy relationship - whether romantically or platonically. This story of love and adventure has a much deeper thread than you'd imagine which I was pleasantly surprised by. Kudos too for the representation of non-binary characters at the spa Annie visits too.
Annie's journey to becoming a self-assured woman was fun to follow along with, but at times I felt there were unnecessary lapses (view spoiler) which is why I hadn't rated this higher.
This is fluffy and romantic much like Laura Jane Williams' other work, and I am a fan. If you're looking for something that doesn't take itself too seriously, this feel-good frolic is a perfect beach read (or a slice of escapism in the middle of January).
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
Rated: 5/5 🌟
PHYSICAL EDITION RELEASED: APRIL 8TH 2021
Esme, both motherless and curious, spends her childhood in the Scriptorium - a garden shed style building that is the birthplace of the very first Oxford English Dictionary. She spends days hidden beneath the sorting table of her father, alongside a team of male lexicographers who are gathering entries and definitions.
One day, a slip falls into her lap, depicting the word 'bondmaid', which she claims and hides in an old wooden trunk belonging to Lizzie, a young servant in the big house, who looks after Esme. Words that are misplaced, discarded or neglected find a home in the trunk, which soon becomes a dedicated dictionary of lost words. Esme soon realises that some words are considered more important, whilst others are neglected entirely simply for being suggested by women.
As she notices what is missing from the official records, she seizes an opportunity. Whether that be the opportunity for words missing from the dictionary to be recorded or for the women whose stories aren’t recorded to speak. She works tirelessly on her new dictionary as its counterpart continues to be published. Esme deals with the ordinary, the illiterate and the forgotten to create something extraordinary and definitive. It’s an examination of what is lost in the process of defining a word, and the significance the meaning behind our words can have. In later life, she even seizes the opportunity to provide comfort through words to the soldiers from the war who are too traumatised to speak - the vivid descriptions made me choke up.
The author looks into the male-orientated field that gave us the Dictionary we recognise today, and she gives power and a story to the women who made so many contributions and efforts at this time. Many of the characters are based on real women who were involved at the time, providing a significance and a voice to the absent women. It acts as a narrative for all those hidden between the lines of a history written by men and is a significant exploration into why the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary was biased in the favour of men. It’s a fantastical world embedded in history. As the suffragette movement and the Great War reign on, the clatter of the presses, the smell of oil, and the transcription of words remain. There is a heady sense of melancholy to all those words and loves lost or those words that are left unspoken.
As a writer myself I know the power behind words - how they can create a picture, express emotion, and in this case create a whole new world. Whilst the first edition of the dictionary was flawed and incredibly gendered, it was an extraordinary development and a book that has shaped so many people’s lives whether they realise it or not. There’s a lingering fascination between how the dictionary and words themselves continue to progress, changing and evolving to the present day.
Just like this story, it’s effects linger and is tangible beyond just words on paper. The Dictionary of Lost Words, or Women’s words, takes a year for a man to bind them, and years for a woman to collect them. Collections from women and those that society didn’t favour, much like the words they speak. All those women; all those words recorded in history. This is a story of hope, a story where the importance of words remains long after the book or the people in it who forged those words could imagine. If you're a fan of The Binding and The Betrayals you will surely love this.
Yes & I Love You by Roni Loren
Rated: 3/5 🌟
PHYSICAL EDITION RELEASED: APRIL 1st 2021
KINDLE VERSION: MARCH 2nd 2021
This light rom-com style story focuses on Miz Poppy, a music and entertainment reviewer in New Orleans who is praised for her quick wit and sarcastic posts. Behind the online avatar is Hollyn an anxious girl who has Tourettes. Hollyn tries to coax herself out of her social anxiety by doing more things that scare her - like acquiring office space at WorkAround (a home for creatives, writers, podcasters, video producers etc.) and trying to make friends.
When the company that publishes her Miz Poppy column ask her to switch her column to video content in an attempt to compete with others, Hollyn feels overwhelmed and enlists the help of Jasper, an unemployed improvisation actor who's currently serving coffee at WorkAround, to become more confident. The interactions between Hollyn and Jasper are cutesie and believable, and the pair go from work colleagues to fake dating friends - a trope I am a sucker for!
This is actually the first story I've read where some of the main characters have Tourettes. I really liked that it is not used as a crutch or an element of quirkiness for the characterisation of Hollyn, but instead offers an insightful portrayal of a young girl's life that is affected by her tics. Her interactions with her best friend Cal, who also has Tourettes, cleverly highlights how tics can manifest in different ways for different people. The story as a whole is light-hearted, humourous chick lit with a sprinkle of erotic romance mixed in.
The characters are quirky and likeable, and the story as a whole is a great perspective on self-improvement and confidence growth. It is endearing, warm and a light-hearted distraction, something which is well needed considering our current climate.
The Lake by Louise Sharland
Rated: 3/5 🌟
PHYSICAL EDITION RELEASED: MARCH 18th 2021
One thing Louise Sharland does well is the execution of Kate's anguish of the loss of her son which is believable and emotive. She delicately portrays her insecurities as an emotional abuse victim brilliantly, and it does add a little dimension and motive to her actions. There is always a clear theme of evoking justice and getting revenge after the loss of her son.
As someone who loves a good thriller, I was drawn in by the premise of the story and the eerie-looking cover and whilst it does deliver some twists and turns I felt as though it could've been better and more sinister. Some of the characters felt a little lacking or underdeveloped, and the big twist was underwhelming. It was absorbing at times and I was intrigued to find out what happened, but it wasn't as addictive or fast-paced as some other reviews claim it to be. There were parts that had me a little like 'really?' when Kate uncovered clues with unconvincing means so there could be elements that need a little more work or finesse to be executed efficiently.
And there we have it, 5 new releases to keep your eyes peeled for!
Kisses,
Chlo x
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