Book Review - The Two Lives of Louis and Louise by Julie Cohen - #HolidayReading Thailand

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Amazon UK

Title: The Two Lives of Louis and Louise

Author: Julie Cohen

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Orion

Publication Date: 5th September 2019 

Rating: 5 Stars

ONE LIFE. LIVED TWICE.

Louis and Louise are the same person born in two different lives. They are separated only by the sex announced by the doctor and a final 'e'.

They have the same best friends, the same red hair, the same dream of being a writer, the same excellent whistle. They both suffer one catastrophic night, with life-changing consequences.

Thirteen years later, they are both coming home.

Fantastic and fascinating story about fate,  destiny and the role gender can play in life. 

How gender can produce certain preconceptions of what a person can or can't do.

It was the story of Lou Alder, who in one version was born Male and the other female.  We see snippets of their younger lives and what they are up to today. 

With both their stories there are certain similarities,  key happenings and the friendship over the years with Benny and Allie which is so interesting to view. 

This is without a doubt an incredibly well written,  well researched book that really will get you thinking.  

Arguably this is probably the author's best book and it was so unlike others that I have read before.  

I don't really want to say much more as its book that will have a greater impact the less preconceptions you have about it. But The Two Lives of Louis and Louise is certainly a story not to be missed. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Orion for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Falling by Julie Cohen

Amazon UK

Title: Falling

Author: Julie Cohen

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Transworld

Publication Date: 28th July 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Can you imagine keeping a secret so devastating, you couldn’t even tell the people you love?

Honor’s secret threatens to rob her of the independence she’s guarded ferociously for eighty years.

Jo’s secret could smash apart the ‘normal’ family life she’s fought so hard to build.

Lydia’s secret could bring her love - or the loss of everything that matters to her.

One summer’s day, grandmother, mother and daughter’s secrets will collide in a single dramatic moment.


Is it too late for second chances?

Three very different secrets, three generations of women in the same family. One day where it will all come out, and a cracking story even leading up to that point. The Falling is simply amazing, Julie Cohen has managed to weave three stories together, with very little overlap, in such a way that you are drawn in and want to keep reading. 

Honor, is in her eighties and after a fall, has to move in with Jo, her daughter in law. Honor is hiding a few secrets. Honor is a proud woman, and doesn't want to accept any help, despite knowing she possibly may need it. 

Jo, is a single mother with three children, the youngest two are under five and then there is Lydia who is sixteen. Jo has been incredibly unlucky in love, although that could be about to change. 

With Lydia we see her diary entries, as well as third person narrative, and I felt the most sympathy with Lydia. Lydia's secret is revealed early to the readers, in her diary, but she keeps it hidden from everyone, but thanks to the diary, you really get a great insight into her mind. 

As they all adjust to the new living arrangement, you can see their relationships change, and see the family dynamics adjust. 

The secrets although they are important, aren't going to shock you, as you are in on them all quite early on, but because the book is written in alternating perspectives between the three ladies, you need to be aware of who knows what. 

The single dramatic moment mentioned in the blurb, is towards the end of the book, and where you may think that could be clever wording to get you to buy the book, it really is a highly dramatic moment, my heart was pounding, as it was playing out.

I'm so glad I read The Falling at a weekend as I couldn't put it down. It was compelling story telling, and the slightly tougher subjects were clearly well researched, and dealt with in a sensitive manner. 

The Falling is easily one of my favourite books by Julie Cohen, as she continues deliver thought provoking stories. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Transworld for this review copy. This was my honest opinion. 

Book Review - Where Love Lies by Julie Cohen - Rachel Reads Randomly Book #4

Amazon UK

Title: Where Love Lies

Author: Julie Cohen

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Purchased

Publisher: Black Swan

Publication Date: 12th February 2015

Rating: 4.5 Stars

When Felicity steps off the train on the way to meet her husband, she is so sure of everything. Where she is heading, what she will eat at the restaurant, the first words her husband will say when she arrives, their life together. 

Then she catches a scent of perfume in the air. Forgotten emotions rush to the surface, memories of another man she loved years ago.

As it happens again and again, Felicity begins to make decisions that no one can understand. What is happening to her? Is she losing a part of herself, or finding one?

How can she truly know where love lies?

I was intrigued and hooked by this book from the first few pages. I lost large periods of time, at a time, while absorbed in the story. At times I wasn't really sure what the point of the book was, but yet I wanted to continue reading, and see what would happen. 

What really fascinated me was how Felicity kept smelling a specific scent, and at first she was convinced it was her mother sending a sign, and then she realises that it belonged to her first love. We get flash backs to when she first meets, this man, and its a very intense feeling, and was all encompassing. 

It really does show how complex the brain can be, where a certain scent can bring a long forgotten memory right to the front. 

During the period of time of the story, Felicity is trying to work out is what she keeps smelling and remembering real, does she really have feelings for her first love, or is her husband enough for her.

We have some chapters from Quinn, her husbands point of view, and you can sense he on some levels thinks either that Felicity is weird or there is something up with her, but he is clearly besotted by her, and the surprise anniversary gift was very thoughtful and romantic. Quinn just tries his hardest to please his wife. 

We also have chapters from the point of view of the old boyfriend, and they at first are quite dark in content, and its clear the young man has had a troubled life. 

Where Love Lies is split into three very distinct parts, each of them with a slightly different feel and bias to the story. 

Felicity has some very tough decisions to make, and there is only so long she can bury her head in the sand about it all. I just wanted to know more about these smell memories, and you do get an explanation during the book for them. 

Where Love Lies is a brilliant book, which is as interesting as it is serious, and gives you a lot of food for thought. 

Thank you to everyone that voted for Where Love Lies, in last weeks Rachel Reads Randomly feature, including Julie Cohen herself. Really appreciate you all telling me I must read this book, and so glad you did, as I hate to think how long it could have been on my kindle without my reading its fabulousness otherwise.