Book Review - Destination Anywhere by Sara Barnard

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: Destination Anywhere

Author: Sara Barnard

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books

Publication Date: 15th April 2021

Rating: 4 Stars

Sometimes you have to leave your life behind to find your place in the world.

After five years at secondary school spent without any friends, Peyton King starts sixth form college determined that things will be different. Whatever happens, she will make friends at any cost.

When she finds the friends she’s always dreamed of, including an actual boyfriend, she’s happier than she’s ever been.

But when they let her down in the worst way, Peyton is left no better off than when she started.

Now Peyton knows the only chance she has of finding happiness is to look for it somewhere else. Her life may feel small, but it doesn't have to be. With nothing but her sketchpad and a backpack, she buys a one-way ticket and gets on a plane. . .

In Destination Anywhere, Sara Barnard explores love, life and friendship in this exquisite tale of the lengths one girl will go to to change her story.

I really had no idea what to expect from this book, it was almost certainly an impulse request from Netgalley, due to the cover grabbing my attention, as anything with a plane on it, while in lockdowns is extra appealing as I need to be able to constantly dream of escape. 

And well that is what Peyton is trying to do, she is only 17, yet more or less overnight decides to drop out of college and get on a plane to Canada without much of plan.  It is clear she is unhappy with her life back in England, but until you start getting the alternating chapters set in the past, and seeing how her first year of college panned out,  plus other key background, you don't realise just to what extent the desire to get away is. 

In fact even as she was describing the toxic friendship and relationship she was in, after having done five years of secondary school being bullied and having no friends at all, I still wouldn't have guessed what would act as the ultimate trigger for her to try to flee her life. 

While we are getting all this background, we also get to see Peyton's travels across Canada, her lack of plan, the other backpackers she meets and forms some sort of friendships with.  

As a travel fiend I absolutely loved all the descriptions of Canada, especially of its breath-taking beauty, stunning scenery and some of its wildlife too.  I loved the idea of backpacking across such a Canada although personally October is probably too cold for me, but it does add to the atmosphere. 

But this is more than just a book featuring a fabulous bit of travelling across a country that I rarely see featured in the books I read,  This is a coming of age, journey of self discovery for Peyton, of learning all manner of lessons about herself, as well as with hindsight realising just where the previous year went wrong for her. 

She's also a talented artist and I couldn't help but be annoyed that her family didn't seem to support her that much, or listen to how she is really feeling at any point which would have attributed to the possibly rash decision to book a flight elsewhere. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style and also found myself thinking about Peyton even when I wasn't reading it, which is a sure fire sign of a book getting under my skin.   And it even made me feel quite emotional too! 

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily., 

Book Review - The Village of Lost and Found by Alison Sherlock

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: The Village of Lost and Found

Author: Alison Sherlock

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 9th March 2021

Rating: 5 Stars

Scandal hit party girl Lucy Conway needs to leave London fast, so she packs her bags and escapes to the sleepy village of Cranbridge to take care of her beloved Uncle Frank.

But the country village isn’t quite as idyllic as she remembers. To make matters worse, her Uncle’s pride and joy, The Cranbridge Times, is close to going out of business.

Editor-at-Large Tom Addison is having a crisis of confidence and needs help if the newspaper is going to survive.

With time on her hands, can Lucy work some magic and together save the family newspaper?

Over a long, hot summer, friendships are made and hearts begin to heal.

 And, with the help of a stray dog, perhaps Lucy and Tom can find their very own new beginning...

How lovely to be back in Cranbridge, with a whole new story.  It's such a lovely village setting, and I knew even before I started reading this one it would be a lovely gentle book, that would leave me smiling 

And that is exactly what happened, I had a calming day or two reading this story, was completely caught up with life in the village, and seeing just whether they would turn around the fortunes of The Cranbridge Times. 

I really enjoyed seeing the character development from both Lucy and Tom, but also Molly.  Molly was a fascinating side character and I really hope she is in line to get a book to herself in this series, as I would love to see her as a focal point.  Especially seeing her confidence growing as it is currently.

Actually I just loved all the characters, great to see what Dodgy Del is up to ,and there is a rather explosive scene involving him that is brilliant,  and Keith is wonderful too!  And I loved seeing Lucy making proper friends with Molly, Amber and Belle, as she hasn't really had friends in the past. 

It's just an all around lovely and charming book, and hit all the right spots for me.  A pleasure to read. 

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

Book Review - The Flight by Julie Clark

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: The Flight

Author: Julie Clark

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Publication Date: 25th June 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

Claire and Eva lead very different lives, but they have one thing in common - they are both in huge danger and need to disappear.

A chance encounter at the airport presents the two women with a simple but crazy solution: switch places then drop off the grid when they land.

But one woman will never reach her destination.

The Flight has been highly acclaimed across the world and delivers a smart, tense and twisting narrative that will have you hooked from the first page to the last. It's the perfect escapism, wherever you are!

Between the rather creepy prologue and then that first chapter, I was hooked and knew this would be book that I would be able to devour. 

And that is exactly what I have done over the course of about 3 sittings during the day, with breaks for work in between, I have been absorbed in both Claire and Eva's story. 

About just why it is they felt they had no choice but to disappear from their lives and just what happens next.  On the whole we get Claire's story in the present tense, seeing just how the aftermath of the decision unfolds. But perhaps more grippingly we get Eva's story, in the 6 months leading up to her meeting Claire, and what a story that is too. 

Both women had incredibly strong reasons to want to leave their current lives behind, and I couldn't help but continue to read on to see just what would be revealed next.  There was at least one moment where I gasped out loud and then said that I couldn't believe I hadn't made a certain connection. 

This is utterly gripping and I can't believe this is the first book I have read from the author and the fact that had if I wasn't seemingly obsessed with reading books with a travel connection, or holidays, or even just flights, and if that cover hadn't caught my attention that I would have missed out on such an accomplished and impressive book. 

I was rooting for Claire and Eva as everything unfurled and really would not have been able to predict the final outcomes at all. 

Addictive, and fabulous! 

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Six?!!! Six?!!! How on earth is Rachel's Random Reads Six already?!

I know I say this every year but I can't believe another year has gone by already, and that my little blog is still going six years on. 

Well Happy Blogiversary to me! 

This is normally where I look back at the past 12 months since I last celebrated, but as I think we all know the world has been struggling big time over the last year, and it has now been over a year since I saw any of my wonderful book friends in person. 

I miss all the various in person book launches, publisher showcases, blogger / author meet ups and all those sorts of things that I really hope will be back at some point toward the end of 2021, as it has been far too long. 

Of course I have watched some great Facebook lives, especially Kim The Bookworm on Tuesday evenings, Miranda Dickinson on Wednesday evenings, the One More Chapter weekly with their authors and also Boldwood Books to name a few of the more regular ones that have helped me at least see familiar faces through a screen and given me a reason to stop working like a maniac for an hour here and there. 

I am though even more grateful than usual to books and book blogging, for in a world which is so far from normal at the moment its painful, this is something I've been able to do consistently throughout lockdown. With the magic of books I'm at least able to travel virtually from my armchair all over the world and my reliance on pure escapism is at an all time high.

And of course its thanks to my blog that I have been happily working for 3 and a half years now at Rachel's Random Resources, my very own blog tour organising business that is going from strength to strength.  I'm very aware I'm one of the lucky ones that already was happy working from home, and in a business that has kept going throughout the pandemic.  To those of you on furlough, or have lost your jobs over the last year especially, my heart goes out to you, but remember a good book will be able to give your mind a rest from your worries for a few hours at least. 

Many thanks as ever to Laura Bambrey for persuading me to become a blogger all those years ago, and congratulations on the release of your own debut novel - The Beginners Guide to Lonliness in the past year too.   A massive thank you to the RNA for the nomination last year for Media Star of the year, for the third year running.  I really appreciate it, but Julie Morris from A Little Book Problem is a very worthy winner. 

And of course a massive thank you to my friends, especially Anne Cater, who have kept me going over the past year, let's raise a glass to being able to meet up again in person as soon as its safe to do so.  I need hugs, and human contact, and possibly some Baileys too, but white wine will work as well that tends to be what's at bookish gatherings! 

Last but by no means least thank you to anyone who has ever read my blog, supplied me a book to review, shared my posts, put up with my ramblings, and or just generally been any support to me. Without you all, there is no way I'd be celebrating my 6th Book Birthday and I'm very grateful. 

And to borrow a last paragraph from last year, but it is still relevant today.... although if things haven't changed by this time next year, then I won't post it again and I'll stop jinxing us all. 

I have everything crossed that by the time I write this post next year, that the world has gone back to something resembling normal, that we are allowed some free movement again, that independent bookshops have survived the crisis, that all the publishers are still publishing, authors are still writing and above all readers are still reading to escape the real world we live in.

Thank you for being you - and above all please please stay safe (and have the vaccine if you are able to, despite my side effects it really is still better than having full blown Covid, and this is coming from someone who knows). 

Book Review - The Islanders by S. V. Leonard

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: The Islanders

Author: S. V. Leonard

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Canelo

Publication Date: 11th March 2021

Rating: 5 Stars

Her dream escape is about to become a nightmare…

Kimberley King has spent the last five years trying to outrun the reason she left the police force. Her life is a mess and she’s desperate for change. So when she is randomly selected for the new series of the hit show LoveWrecked, she can’t pass up the chance to win the £100,000 prize. All Kimberley needs to do is couple up with one of her fellow contestants, win the infamous LoveWrecked challenges, and she will have enough cash for a fresh start.

But the island isn’t the paradise she was promised and within hours, one of the contestants is dead. Then the announcement comes: one of the islanders is a murderer and Kimberley must find out who, live on television. For every hour it takes her, one more person will die.

The game is rigged, everyone is hiding secrets, and time is running out…

An addictive and unputdownable crime thriller, perfect for fans of Lucy Foley and T.M. Logan.

My head is reeling, I don't know exactly what to say other than OMG! Remind me never to go onto a reality TV show ever, it could be the last thing you ever do. 

I think even programmes like "When Reality TV Goes Wrong" wouldn't have been able to know what to make of the events that happened in the LoveWrecked villa over the course of the book. And a word of note if you are a TV producer, I know ratings are key for you, but please don't allowing live streamed murder, and then the rest of the happenings in this book on your programmes, its horrific. 

That being said I can't help but think The Islanders would make a wonderful film, full of intrigue, its fast paced, you literally don't know what will be thrown at them next, other than Kimberley is being put into an impossible situation. 

This is about a reality TV programme but not as you know it and its very hard to know who you can trust, and at no point did I guess just who set it all up or who was responsible. Then again the action was so frenetically paced that my head didn't have time to try to work anything out, just trying to keep up with what was happening. 

This is one seriously impressive debut, I read the book in two sittings and that was only because I wanted to go to bed, not because I wanted to be parted from the story that was ramping up at all times.  Utterly brilliant! 

Thank you to Canelo and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily, 

Book Review - We Just Clicked by Anna Bell

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: We Just Clicked

Author: Anna Bell

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HQ 

Publication Date: 16th April 2020

Rating: 4 Stars

Izzy’s always played by the rules. But now, it’s time to break them…

Izzy Brown has always dreamed of making it big on Instagram, but her followers just aren’t growing. So when her colleague and fellow ‘influencer’ Luke suggests they fake date to boost their profiles, Izzy says yes – against her better judgement. Now Izzy’s profile shows a confident, glamorous thirty-something with the perfect boyfriend, and her followers are shooting up by the thousands.

So what if behind the scenes, things are a little different? Izzy can’t stop bickering with Luke, his habit of checking his quiff in EVERY SINGLE mirror is driving her insane, and she’s hiding a secret heartache. But everyone tells a few fibs on social media, right?

Then Izzy runs into Aidan, the mysterious stranger who saved her the day her world fell apart two years ago – and major sparks start to fly. Izzy’s sure she can have the online success she’s always dreamed of, whilst falling in love in real life. After all, Aidan doesn’t use social media… what could possibly go wrong?

Well I do love a book that features some sort of fake relationship, although not really sure I can explain why that is the case.  I also love a book that features social media influences and find it amusing the lengths they go to, to show off their "perfect lives".  Oh and I love Anna Bell's books too! 

So unsurprisingly with all three of these elements present in We Just Clicked, i had a fantastic time reading it, and found the whole story rather enjoyable. 

Especially when you take into account the initially handsome stranger who helps Izzy on the worst day of her life, but only knows the first name for,  and the fact that she decided to enter into a fake "showmance" as such with Luke, to increase their followers, and hopefully become higher profile and be able to start making money from Instagram. 

Now I've read a fair few books featuring the fake date trope and thus sort of knew what to expect, while at the same time I've also read a fair few featuring social media influencers and kind of knew what to expect but yet what you actually have with this book feels rather different, and not everything you may anticipate as outcomes from the tropes actually happens. 

Yet there is also more to it then the tropes, there  are memorable characters at Izzy's place of work, her best friend is fabulous and the story with Becca, her flatmate is so important and key and I loved seeing how that developed too. 

Between the real and fake dates there are all manner of memorable and entertaining moments, plus one scene that turned my stomach and had me skipping a few pages as it was disgusting. Yet it's that scene that I bet men would laugh their heads off watching, if the book was made into a film! 

There is so much to love about this book and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. 

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

Book Review - The Waffle House on the Pier by Tilly Tennant

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: The Waffle House on the Pier

Author: Tilly Tennant

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 25th June 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

Run away to Sea Salt Bay, where the sand is warm and soft, the sea is a perfect blue, and a candy-coloured waffle house is about to change Sadie’s life…

For as long as she can remember, Sadie’sgrandparents have run the waffle house on the pier at Sea Salt Bay. With its pretty painted chairs, sweet smells, and the warm advice of her beloved grandparents, the waffle house is like a second home

But when Sadie’s grandfather dies, leaving her grandmother without an anchor, Sadie must make a difficult decision. She quits her job and moves back home, determined to keep things going. The trouble is, she knows nothing about running a business, and learning at a million miles an hour with a shop full of hungry people isn’t easy. When she nearly burns the waffle house down, she has to admit she needs to get some help.

Her ex-boyfriend Declan promises to be there for her but Sadie worries that getting too close is a mistake – especially as he has a new girlfriend now. And anyway she’s just met newcomer Luke, with his gorgeous suntan and mellow voice…

Sadie’s family have always loved Declan and they’re not too sure about Luke, leaving Sadie unsure which way to turn. A terrible accident at sea forces her to look into her heart, but what if it’s already too late to tell the right man that she loves him?

If you love stolen kisses under the pier, walking along spray-capped shores eating ice cream, and books by Lucy Diamond, Jill Mansell and Jenny Colgan, you will fall in love with this romantic, heart-breaking read.

How I loved this story, however it didn't make me crave waffles which confused me slightly. In fact there really isn't too much talk about waffles itself, more about family and just what to do with the waffle house now that Sadie's grandpa has unfortunately died. 

As it is clear her Gammy, April is struggling, but no one initially is quite sure whether its grief or something more, that is leading to April's current behaviour. 

All of the family that live in Sea Salt Bay, which oddly is a location name that had me thinking of salted caramel every time I read it, have their own jobs and none are really sure what to do with the waffle house. 

But Sadie who is rather impulsive decides she wants to quit her teacher training, which based on having seen her try to control a classroom, I'm inclined to agree she may not be in the right line of work, and to help April re-open and run the waffle house without thinking it through. 

And it soon becomes apparent, just how impulsive Sadie is, and while she is dealing with various family dilemmas, I'm also enjoying trying to work out who the main romantic interest for the book is, and just who she may end up with. 

For there are two front runners, and I felt like Sadie wasn't really sure of her own heart for most of the book, and because I quite liked both men, I was unsure which way to will her on too! 

I really did love the seaside setting of Sea Salt Bay, and all of Sadie's family members.  It was just a really enjoyable calming read that was just what I needed at the point I sat down and read it. 

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

Book Review - Just Friends by Holly McCulloch

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: Just Friends

Author: Holly McCulloch

Format reviewed: Paperback

Source: Competition Win

Publisher: Corgi

Publication Date: 4th February 2021 

Rating: 4 Stars

It's easy to put someone in the friend zone. But what happens if you change your mind?

Bea isn't happy. Desperate for a change, she looks to her friends for inspiration. Every single one of them is paired off, perhaps that's what she needs too.

So, she starts dating again. But everywhere she goes - amid the hilarious and scarring dates - there's Peter. Good old, oddball Peter, her closest friend from university. He's always been firmly in the friend zone but something's happened lately - he seems taller, more handsome and suddenly making him smile is Bea's favourite thing.

But how can Bea possibly risk their friendship? And how do you even go about taking someone out of the friend zone? What if Bea and Peter were only ever meant to be just friends...

A story that will have you giggling off and on throughout the book. 

Bea is just hopeless, she can't see the blatantly obvious in her own life, but then who ever does realise the obvious when its staring you in the face.  She has a few close friends but isn't always in the mood for socialising, which I could definitely identify with, but also seems to be a bit of a people pleaser when it comes her friends and work. 

She isn't particularly happy with her job, she has a sideline too which she does enjoy but hasn't really done much with at least initially and suddenly decides she needs to stop acting happy and try to be happy. 

So she starts dating with some very amusing results.  Watch out for a second date, some chilli and a large amount of discomfort, it's hilarious! 

I really enjoyed seeing her various exploits, and the book is written in short chapters which makes one more chapter syndrome a lot easier to keep reading! This a a very enjoyable debut,  and well although you can possibly guess the ending from the blurb  / title or just very early in the book, the journey to get there isn't that smooth, and even I started to doubt it would conclude the way I wanted.  

Plus it's just an entertaining read in between, so why miss out on something that can easily take your mind off lockdowns and pandemics! I'm already interested to see what Holly McCulloch writes next and look forward to reading it.

Book Review - The Single Dad's Handbook by Lynsey James

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: The Single Dad's Handbook

Author: Lynsey James

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: 2nd April 2021

Rating: 5 Stars

Welcome to The Single Dad’s Handbook, your comprehensive guide to life without me when I pop my clogs!

‘I laughed, I cried, and I swooned a bit too (both over Evan and the beautiful Edinburgh setting). Gorgeous.’ Lia Louis

It’s been two years since cancer stole Evan Harper’s wife, Claire, from their lives. Although Evan’s doing everything he can to be Super Dad for his five year old, Violet, he can’t seem to get anything right. So he turns to the one person who gives the best advice – Claire herself.

Before she died she wrote him a book of letters to see him through the ups and downs of raising their daughter and her words soon help him see that there is life after loss – and maybe even a second shot at love – when you find the courage to start living again…

It’s time to start living again, Evan. Your new forever starts right here. Love always, Claire

Well I was on the verge of tears at the start, and at the end, and a few times in between, for Lynsey James really does know how to pack an emotional punch. 

The letters Claire has left to her husband Evan, on how to move on after her death, and how to be the best dad he can be to Violet are perfectly written. They hit just the right tone, and I suspect if you are more sentimental than me, then you will need tissues handy as you read some of them. 

But in between it's also heart warming, and well brilliant.  There are moments of levity, seeing Evan attempting to navigate the world of tinder and the dates he goes on are light relief, even if he couldn't see something I suspected rather early on. 

And Violet, you can't help but feel for her, we meet her properly on the first time on her first day of school, and its heart-breaking that she's having to navigate this milestone without her mummy. Evan is trying is hardest but 2 years on is clearly still grieving and barely coping as it is. 

Thankfully whether he wants it or not, Evan has a fabulous support network with his various friends, and family, They are all in their own ways trying to help him, whether he is ready to move on or not. 

I knew nothing about this book as I started reading and I really feel that is the best way to approach it, to get the full impact.  I literally couldn't put this down and devoured it very quickly.  I was completely absorbed the the story, and its reminded me how great an author Lynsey James is.   I just hope we don't have to wait another 3 years for her next book! 

Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Five Hundred Miles From You by Jenny Colgan - #HolidayReading Malta

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: Five Hundred Miles From You

Author: Jenny Colgan

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Sphere

Publication Date: 1st April 2021

Rating: 5 Stars

Lissa loves her job as a nurse, but recently she's been doing a better job of looking after other people than looking after herself. After a traumatic incident at work leaves her feeling overwhelmed, she agrees to swap lives with someone in a quiet village in Scotland.

Cormac is restless. Just out of the army, he's desperately in need of distraction, and there's precious little of it in Kirrinfief. Maybe three months in London is just what he needs.

As Lissa and Cormac warm to their new lives, emailing back and forth about anything and everything, finally things seem to be falling into place. But each of them feel there's still a piece missing. What - or who - could it be?

And what if it's currently five hundred miles away?

From the highly gripping opening chapter, that had me going nooo that is not how you end the first chapter of a book - as well the action was on a knife edge and from then on everything was alternating between London and Scotland. 

The aftermath of this opening dramatic occurrence is what leads to Lissa and Cormac swapping places for three months - Lissa is moved to a small Scottish village to recover from what she witnessed, and Cormac to London to grain new skills. 

They are both community nurses, and it is interesting to see how they cope with their life swap. 

They have never met each other but communicate about their regular patients and also more personal things via messenger throughout the few months. 

They may be 500 miles apart but there is certainly something forming between them. 

I loved every moment of this wonderful and heart warming story. It is always a joy to read a new Jenny Colgan novel, and this one was really something special. 

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