A Review – How To Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie

This was a book chosen for the book club I'm a part of. February was The Paper Palace. March was How To Kill Your Family. I must say, The Paper Palace was a much more acceptable title for a book to read in public. I did get a few strange looks while reading this book!

I generally share about the book club on my Instagram, so if you fancy following along each month, and reading the same books as I am, keep an eye on my posts over there. The next book we're reading is All The Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood.

Let me introduce this book, and then we can get into my review!

They say you can’t choose your family. But you can kill them.

Meet Grace Bernard.

Daughter, sister, serial killer…

Grace has lost everything.

And she will stop at nothing to get revenge.

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

While Grace grew up not wanting for more love from her mother, there are many things she missed out on. Her father refuses to believe that Grace is his child, ignoring his daughter to keep her existence from his wife and focusing his love on his other child instead. But Grace not only missed out on her fathers love, but also on the lifestyle her half-sister enjoys. Her father is an incredibly successful businessman, which comes with riches most can’t even imagine. And he wasn’t even willing to spare enough to keep Grace's mother from working herself to an early grave. 

After losing her mother, Grace has been planning her revenge against her father. And unfortunately for her father, the plan is vast and does not work out in his favour. One by one, Grace plans and carries out the murder of each family member, building up to be able to finally reach her fathers name on her list and cross it off. 

As Grace makes her way through her list, you slowly start to learn just how far she will go to achieve her goals. Each murder almost feels like a different episode of a show, as she changes course and moves from one victim to another. She finds herself in some strange scenarios, travelling and immersing herself in her relations’ lives as she attempts to figure out the best way to kill each one. 

I loved the layout of the book. Grace is telling the story of her murders herself, writing out her story, from a prison cell. Where she is for, ironically, a murder she didn’t actually commit. So not only does the book show her thoughts as she carries out her plans, we also get her thoughts as she looks back on what she’s done, as the story builds to the point where she was arrested. Grace’s dark humour throughout adds a lighthearted tone to the story, so even though it’s a book about a mass murderer, and the crimes are detailed within the pages, you find yourself laughing as you read. 

Despite enjoying Grace’s commentary through the book, I didn’t find myself liking her too much. Granted, her father didn’t provide any financial support and left Grace and her mother living in poverty, and when Grace’s mother was dying, he didn’t even look their way, but turning immediately to killing everyone her father is directly related to was an incredibly drastic turn for Grace to take and, overall, she is still technically the villain of the story. She kills innocents who had nothing to do with her father abandoning her mother, people who didn’t even know of her existence and died not knowing why, or who was targeting them. She wasn’t a character I was supporting in any way, if anything I was hoping she would get caught sooner rather than later. 

While I wasn’t a supporter of Grace, I did find her murder plans almost entertaining, as dark and disturbing as they were. Some of the lies Grace tells to get out of particular situations are rather comical and the murders themselves are not set up how you would expect them… There are no general stabbings or poisonings! It is all very creative, unexpected and, strangely, very entertaining to read.

I do especially love the title of this book. It is an interesting one to read in public, as it can look a little like a how-to book if you only glance at the title! Reading it around family was also rather entertaining! I know someone who said he saw this book on his wife’s nightstand and was a little concerned!

I really enjoyed this book, I read the whole thing across two days, and didn’t want to stop reading. There was a twist at the end that ended up tying in really neatly to the story, although to begin with it seemed entirely irrelevant. The story itself seemed really original, and for a book I knew next to nothing about when going into it, it greatly exceeded my expectations. Also, the tagline (They say you can’t choose your family. But you can kill them.) is amazing.

And done!

The overall opinion of the book club was that this was a very good book, and we all enjoyed reading it. I must admit, I enjoyed this one a great deal more than I liked The Paper Palace – that one wasn't exactly my cup of tea.

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

Book and Movie Comparison – Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott, Mikki Daughtry, and Tobias Iaconis

Five Feet Apart was a film I watched because I remembered someone once mentioning it was a good film, and it had Cole Sprouce in it (I was in my Riverdale phase... it didn't last too long).

I actually found this book in my brother's room, and stole it because I've wanted to read it since I watched the film, but didn't want to buy yet another book that would sit on my shelf for ages before I finally read it. Unfortunately, after two days of me having it, he asked for it back, so I had to hurry up and read it before he broke into my house and stole it back.

The Movie

Stella Grant (Haley Lu Richardson) is every bit a seventeen-year-old… she’s attached to her laptop and loves her best friends. But unlike most teenagers, she spends much of her time living in a hospital as a cystic fibrosis patient. Her life is full of routines, boundaries and self-control – all of which is put to the test when she meets an impossibly charming fellow patient named Will Newman (Cole Sprouse).

There’s an instant flirtation, though restrictions dictate that they must maintain a safe distance between them. As their connection intensifies, so does the temptation to throw the rules out the window and embrace that attraction. Further complicating matters is Will’s potentially dangerous rebellion against his ongoing medical treatment. Stella gradually inspires Will to live life to the fullest, but can she ultimately save the person she loves when even a single touch is off limits?

There are few movies that I watch, and then subsequently force my whole family to watch. This was one of those. Stella and Will have CF, and are both in the hospital for different treatments. But while Stella is organised, and sticks to a strict regimen with regards to meds and looking after her body, Will has practically given up. He is simply waiting for his 18th birthday, when he will finally have control of his own life, and can walk away from all the hospitals and live the rest of his life seeing the world, and doing what he wants to do. But when he meets Stella, she forces him to start looking after himself, and it seems he has finally found something to stay alive for.

This is a heart wrenching film to watch. A love story, but the protagonists can't get within 6 feet of each other, lest one passes on germs that could kill the other. And yet, they find ways to spend time together, growing closer, while staying far apart.

I don't know how many times I've watched this film to date, but I know I've enjoyed it every single time (even though I'm now very definitely out of my Riverdale phase, and Cole Sprouce is not quite so exciting).

The Book

Can you love someone you can never touch?

Stella Grant likes to be in control - even though her totally out of control lungs have sent her in and out of the hospital most of her life. At this point, what Stella needs to control most is keeping herself away from anyone or anything that might pass along an infection and jeopardize the possibility of a lung transplant. Six feet apart. No exceptions.

The only thing Will Newman wants to be in control of is getting out of this hospital. He couldn’t care less about his treatments, or a fancy new clinical drug trial. Soon, he’ll turn eighteen and then he’ll be able to unplug all these machines and actually go see the world, not just its hospitals.

Will’s exactly what Stella needs to stay away from. If he so much as breathes on Stella she could lose her spot on the transplant list. Either one of them could die. The only way to stay alive is to stay apart. But suddenly six feet doesn’t feel like safety. It feels like punishment.

What if they could steal back just a little bit of the space their broken lungs have stolen from them? Would five feet apart really be so dangerous if it stops their hearts from breaking too?

Amazon UK • Amazon US

As I mentioned, I stole this book from my brother, and when he started asking for it back, I knew I had a limited time in which to read it before I lost my chance and the book was removed from my person. Reading this book quickly was no problem. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. I read the whole thing in two days, and I did read some of it while at work because I didn't want to put it down.

I loved seeing both Stella's and Will's point of view as the story progressed. Every chapter switches perspective, so you know what they're both thinking, and watch as they both fall in love, and struggle with the distance. They are so close, and yet their disease keeps them painfully far apart from each other. 

Comparison

Honestly, it is quite hard to compare this movie and book. I don't think I have come across a movie that is so similar to the book. If I didn't know that the book came first, I might've said that the book came after the movie, it was so alike. It is almost astounding how similar they are, especially considering how information, scenes, and sometimes entire characters are cut while making the movie, and the dialogue is generally heavily edited.

The book had decidedly more information about CF, as it is told by the people living with it, rather than in the film, where you are just watching the characters. Stella, in particular, describes the ins and outs of it, what it is, how she struggles with it, and what the dangers are. In addition, Will's B Cepacia diagnosis is explored in depth more in the book than in the film – the disease means he is no longer a candidate for a lung transplant, and should he pass it on to Stella, she would also be taken off the list. But other than some more explanation about Stella and Will's physical, and mental, struggles, the book is not that much different from the film.

The actors have done a fabulous job at portraying Stella and Will. Stella's almost obsessive need to do everything right, and as safely as possible, comes across as clearly as Will's nonchalance, even though his general lack of care about his treatments acts as a mask to hide the range of emotions he feels about his CF, and his dwindling life expectancy. 

If you have enjoyed this book, but have been afraid to watch the film in case it doesn't live up to your expectations, I say just watch it. It is incredibly similar to the book – I would struggle to find a scene that greatly differs between the two.

And done!

I did try to get my brother to participate in this post, as he was the one whose book I had stolen, and I know he likes both the book and the film, but he was too busy napping to write a short piece to help me out. Typical teenager.

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – Testing Faith: Kalili's Temptation Book 2 by AC Adams

There is something so great about really enjoying a book, and then the author approaching you asking if you want to read book 2.

Before book 2 even releases.

I did have a few books I absolutely had to get to first, but I definitely pushed some aside to get to this one first! I am ever so greatful to the author for giving me the chance to read this book early, and for gifting me a copy!

Let me introduce the book, and then we can get into my review!

Kalili has Faith.

Heaven and Hell don't approve.

Their trials have only begun.

Kalili and Faith - the last of the Thirteens - have found the passionate partner they craved, leaving lonely lives behind. Their love might be forbidden, even scandalous to their peers, but they don't care. They'll brazen it out.

But if they thought they were done with their former employers, they were mistaken.

Just because they've fought free of the first efforts to bring them back into the fold doesn't mean they're in the clear.

Now, with their true natures becoming known, powerful and power-hungry forces are aligning to make them offers they can't refuse.

Lilith. Gabriel. Beelzebub. Ariel.

Add to that their new friends and allies, unexpected obstacles, and a dash of the malevolent undead, and you have TESTING FAITH.

One thing's for certain: eternity will never be the same.

The immortals are going to learn: never bet against a pair of Thirteens!

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

Angels and demons still battle for souls. Right and wrong, good and evil, work to achieve what they need for either the Below or Upstairs to benefit. But Kalili and Faith are no longer simply Demon and Angel. They are the last of the Thirteens – but that doesn’t mean the Below or Upstairs approve of their relationship.

Despite plenty of people working against them, Kalili and Faith have their allies, and their network of people slowly grows as they make deals and pledge allegiances in what is shaping up to be a worldwide war between those above, and those below. 

I missed these characters! Until I started reading this book, I didn’t properly realise just how much I missed Kalili and Faith, how much I enjoyed spending time with them and living their story besides them. They might’ve managed to stay on Earth so far, but Faith’s mission on Earth was to kill Kalili, not that it went entirely to plan, and she only has so long before she is summoned back to Heaven to give a report of her mission. And, of course, Kalili is not dead, so there are problems on all fronts.

There are plenty of new friends and allies in this book. I won’t talk too much about the allegiances, and the sides being picked, for the sake of not giving out spoilers, but the friends I can definitely talk about. Thia once again plays an important part in this story, being there for Kalili as a friend, and helping out where she can. Thia is incredibly brave, standing up for herself when the need arises, even if the ones she is standing up to are much more powerful than she. I also really liked the introduction of Zophiel to this book. She is an angel who, like Faith, doesn’t quite follow the directions she has been sent to Earth with, and breaks a few rules here and there. I loved Zophiel, and hope she continues to be a part of the story in the next book. 

I loved the difference between this book and the first, in that this story is told equally by Faith and Kalili, whereas the first book was just told by Kalili. As their story progresses, they become more of a singular entity, two souls joined together into one being. Faith and Kalili are much less than the stereotypical ‘good angel’ and ‘evil demon’ than they were throughout the first book, their personalities shining through and their ideals settling for a happy medium as they become more accustomed to being Thirteens, and altogether different from angels and demons. 

There are a lot of steamy scenes in this book – Faith and Kalili are horny to a level that transcends just angels and demons, and a war between Upstairs and the Below. After living so much of their lives without knowing each other, now they are together, they simply cannot get enough. If you are not a fan of these kind of scenes, then this definitely isn’t the book for you, because Faith and Kalili do not hold back! Their connection to each other, in both the literal and magical sense, is strongest when they are together sexually, and as they come to grips with what they, as Thirteens, can really do, they get up to a lot of experimenting!

There is the addition of some well known characters to this book that were not necessarily a part of book 1. Just to reel off some names, Lilith, Gabriel, Michael… most everyone knows these names, but the way they slot into this story is not necessarily how you might expect. Faith and Kalili are now part of a much bigger story, one that they do not control all the strings to, and find themselves with more enemies, and more potential allies than ever. As things start to reach a level much more than just an Angel and a Demon falling in love, there is more action, suspense, and intrigue than ever. It is the kind of book that you fall asleep reading, because you just don’t want to put it down.

Once again, the author has done an absolutely astounding job with bringing Faith and Kalili’s story out into the world. Angels and Demons. The immortal, and the undead. An unknown hierarchy in Heaven, and a simmering revolt in the Below. An overflowing amount of love between two who seem destined to be together, but have been kept apart for all their lives. There is plenty and more in this book to keep you reading, and I absolutely adored the entire thing. This book has only just come out, so I know I will be waiting for a while, but I will be waiting incredibly impatiently for the next book in the series to come out!

Once again, thanks to the author for gifting me an ARC to read. I absolutely love this series, and cannot wait to continue reading when the next book is ready! I would recommend starting with book 1, as there is a lot of information in book 1 that you need to get into book 2 properly, in order to properly understand what is going on and who is who, but if you start with book 1, there is an absolute guarantee that you will be buying book 2 not long after!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!