Jill's Book Blog

Title: White Bodies
Author: Jane Robins
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Canada
Source: NetGalley
Release Date: September 30, 2017
Rating: ★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Felix and Tilda seem like the perfect couple: young and in love, a financier and a beautiful up-and-coming starlet. But behind their flawless façade, not everything is as it seems.

Callie, Tilda’s unassuming twin, has watched her sister visibly shrink under Felix’s domineering love. She has looked on silently as Tilda stopped working, nearly stopped eating, and turned into a neat freak, with mugs wrapped in Saran Wrap and suspicious syringes hidden in the bathroom trash. She knows about Felix’s uncontrollable rages, and has seen the bruises on the white skin of her sister’s arms.

Worried about the psychological hold that Felix seems to have over Tilda, Callie joins an internet support group for victims of abuse and their friends. However, things spiral out of control and she starts to doubt her own judgment when one of her new acquaintances is killed by an abusive man. And then suddenly Felix dies—or was he murdered?

Review:

The concept of this book is so intriguing, but it had many weird aspects that were hard to get past.

First of all, this story talks about an important issue. Domestic violence. Particularly, abusive partners who are very controlling. There are some serious situations in the novel that show just how dangerous these relationships can be. It’s scary to imagine a loved one in this kind of relationship, while being helpless to get them to see the truth.

Callie is weirdly obsessed with her sister. She’s worried about her sister’s relationship which is valid, but the way she stalks her is strange. Callie waits outside her sister’s home to follow her and she sneaks into her house to find out stuff about her relationship. That was so extreme.

I found Callie super creepy. When she was younger, she would eat things belonging to her sister to feel closer to her. She would eat her sister’s hair, paper from her journal, and even her baby teeth. Yes her baby teeth. I was so grossed out that it made me really dislike Callie. I couldn’t get past her weird obsession with Tilda.

Some parts of the story reminded me of The Girl on the Train, in the way that the plot unfolded. Callie is an unreliable narrator, so it’s hard to know what to believe. But Callie was so creepy that I didn’t even want to get involved in her story. And she made some strange and dangerous decisions.

Normally I don’t mind an unreliable narrator because they can add to the mystery, but I couldn’t get past Callie’s strange tendencies in this story.

Title: Me Before You
Author: Jojo Moyes
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Penguin Books
Source: Borrowed from a friend
Release Date: December 31, 2012
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Louisa Clark is an ordinary young woman living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has never been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex-Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair-bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life—big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel—and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.

Will is acerbic, moody, bossy—but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.

A love story for this generation, Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn’t have less in common—a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?

Review:

I really loved this story.

I loved Louisa. She’s a funny and quirky character. She’s very positive, even when Will is constantly making her life harder. But he has some redeeming qualities too. He’s very thoughtful. And his bitterness can be understood, since he was in a terrible accident that left him paralyzed.

The ending of the story absolutely broke my heart. And it made me wonder how there could be a sequel (and another one coming out this year!). But I look forward to reading After You very soon!

Soon after After You was released, I went to a book signing and met Jojo Moyes! It was a fun event, where they even gave away bumblebee tights! Here’s a photo of her signing my book.

Have you read Me Before You or After You?

Title: The Wolves of Winter
Author: Tyrell Johnson
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Canada
Source: NetGalley
Release Date: January 2, 2018
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Station Eleven meets The Hunger Games in this ruthless, captivating story of a young woman’s survival in the frozen wilderness of the Yukon after the rest of the world has collapsed.

As the old world dies, we all must choose to become predators. Or become prey.

The old world has been ravaged by war and disease, and as far as Lynn McBride is concerned, her family could be the last one left on earth. For seven years, the McBrides have eked out a meagre existence in the still, white wilderness of the Yukon. But this is not living. This is survival on the brink.

Into this fragile community walk new threats, including the enigmatic fugitive, Jax, who holds secrets about the past and, possibly, keys to a better future. And then there’s Immunity, the pre‑war organization that was supposed to save humankind from the flu. They’re still out there, enforcing order and conducting experiments—but is their work for the good of humankind or is something much more sinister at play? In the face of almost certain extinction, Lynn and her family must learn to hunt as a pack or die alone in the cold.

Breakout debut novelist Tyrell Johnson weaves a captivating tale of humanity stretched far beyond its breaking point, of family and the bonds of love forged when everything else is lost. Reminiscent of Station Eleven and The Hunger Games, this is a classic and enthralling post‑apocalyptic adventure and a celebration of the human spirit.

Review:

This book is a great way to start of the new year! It’s a cross between the Hunger Games, Station Eleven, and even a bit of The Maze Runner.

I love dystopia stories. Some seem so realistic, especially with the way the world is going these days. In this story, there has been nuclear war that destroyed a lot of the world. Asia was decimated by the Asian flu, which eventually made its way to North America. This future is terrifying, but unfortunately it is believable.

I loved the character of Lynn. She’s conflicted and takes chances but she sticks with her decisions. This doesn’t always have the best outcomes, but it made the story thrilling and unpredictable.

Also, while I’ve been reading this story, the weather in Toronto has been breaking records for how cold it is. This has nothing to do with the story, but it made me sympathize with the cold Yukon environment that the characters were experiencing. It really set the scene.

From the ending of the story, I hope there will be more to come. I’ll definitely be looking for it!