[16] The Marriage Act by John Marrs
Fiction / Literary, second in series after The One, Kindle
Synopsis: In a near-future Britain, the government enforces marriage through the Sanctity of Marriage Act, punishing those who remain single and giving perks to those in the Act. As four couples navigate love under constant surveillance, they deal with the consequences on their bond.
Review: This is such an interesting concept. Unfortunately, with all the different POVs, it was hard to keep the characters straight for too long. And I despised most of them. There were so many characters and I couldn’t find one that I was interested in or wanted to root for. But I did finish to see if they got what they deserve muah ha ha.
Recommend? No
[17] The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan
Fiction / Women, Green Light by Jamie on The Popcast, Kindle
Synopsis: Bestselling author Cate Kay has captivated the world – but she doesn’t really exist. Having kept her true identity hidden for years, Cate has been on the run since a tragic event happened in her last year of high school. Now, a shocking revelation forces her to confront the past she’s spent a lifetime escaping.
Review: This book was absolutely captivating and beautifully written once I got into it. It took me a little longer than it should have because I was so tired each night while reading, and the shifting POVs meant it wasn’t always immediately clear why the person narrating was part of the story. Similar complaint as to The Marriage Act, but it was easier to follow since all the characters connect back to Cate. And it all came together so satisfyingly in the end. The characters were incredibly well-developed and felt real, so much so that they make you feel everything right along with them. My only complaint is that it should have been longer!
Recommend? Absolutely yes
[18] None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense, Saw in “Available Now” on Libby, Audio
Synopsis: Podcaster Alix Summers meets Josie Fair, her birthday twin, at a pub and later outside her children’s school. Josie, claiming to be on the brink of big life changes, convinces Alix to feature her on her podcast. As Alix delves deeper, she begins to questions what Josie is telling her, and wonders if she never should have invited her into her life. Warning: if you read blurbs of this online there is a massive spoiler
Review: This book was also captivating – the writing style kept me hanging, making it nearly impossible to stop listening because I just had to know what was going on! While I found the “twist” at the end a bit disappointing, the journey was still thoroughly enjoyable. I had so many “what the AF is GOING ON with Josie and her family? GAWD!” moments. I also loved that the audiobook fell somewhere between a traditional and graphic audio experience, featuring a larger narrating cast along with music and podcast-style intro/outro elements.
Recommend? Yes
