Did I manage to complete my #20BooksOfSummer Challenge?

Over June, July and August, I have been attempting to read the 20 books I chose for my #20BooksOfSummer challenge hosted by Cathy at 746 Books. So did I manage it? Well, yes I did! Full disclosure though, I did change a few books as I went along so there have been a few substitutions. Over the three months between the books on my list, the books I have been tempted with and audiobooks I've listened to, I've read a…

http://portobellobookblog.com/2023/09/01/did-i-manage-to-complete-my-20booksofsummer-challenge/

Other Women by Emma Flint | #bookreview #20BooksOfSummer | @PicadorBooks @Flint_Writes

I bought Other Women for my Kindle earlier this year and chose it to read as part of my #20BooksOfSummer reading challenge. As you'll know if you are a regular reader of the blog, I don't read a lot of crime or thriller novels but this one really intrigued me. About the Book It is 1923 and a country is in mourning.

http://portobellobookblog.com/2023/08/31/other-women-by-emma-flint-bookreview-20booksofsummer-picadorbooks-flint_writes/

Paper Cup by Karen Campbell | #bookreview #ScottishFiction #20BooksOfSummer | @WriterKCampbell @CanongateBooks

I've been meaning to read Paper Cup for quite some time now and put it on my #20BooksOfsummer challenge list to make sure I would finally get around to it. If it's a book you've been meaning to read too, then I highly recommend you bump it up your to-be-read list immediately as it's brilliant. About the Book What if going back means you could begin again?

http://portobellobookblog.com/2023/08/28/paper-cup-by-karen-campbell-bookreview-scottishfiction-20booksofsummer-writerkcampbell-canongatebooks/

The Last Summer by Karen Swan | #bookreview #RomanticFiction #TheWildIsle | @KarenSwan1 @PanMacmillan | #20BooksOfSummer

It's a while since I've read a Karen Swan novel and I've always enjoyed being swept away to her settings which are usually hot and sunny. In The Last Summer, we are taken somewhere not quite so far away, the remote archipelago of St Kilda, a remote group of islands off the west coast of Scotland. I am quite fascinated by St Kilda and the people who…

http://portobellobookblog.com/2023/08/24/the-last-summer-by-karen-swan-bookreview-romanticfiction-thewildisle-karenswan1-panmacmillan-20booksofsummer/

The Girl on the 88 Bus by Freya Sampson | #bookreview #uplit #20BooksOfSummer | @ZaffreBooks @SampsonF

I absolutely adored Freya Sampson's debut novel The Last Library (review here) so I was really excited to read her second novel, The Girl on the 88 Bus. Funnily enough, I spotted a London bus being used for a wedding bus near here last week and it was a number 88! I thought that was a sign I'd better get on and read this one which was published by Zaffre Books earlier…

http://portobellobookblog.com/2023/08/18/the-girl-on-the-88-bus-by-freya-sampson-bookreview-uplit-20booksofsummer-zaffrebooks-sampsonf/

Music in the Dark by Sally Magnusson | #bookreview #historicalfiction #20BooksofSummer | @sallymag1 @JohnMurrays

As you'll know if you are a regular reader of the blog, I am a big fan of historical fiction particularly fiction inspired by true events. This book looks at one such event, the 'Massacre of the Rosses' during the Highland Clearances, focussing on the experiences of the women of Strathcarron and also draws on the experiences of the author's great grandmother…

http://portobellobookblog.com/2023/08/16/music-in-the-dark-by-sally-magnusson-bookreview-historicalfiction-20booksofsummer-sallymag1-johnmurrays/

#20BooksOfSummer reading update – 18 days to go, how many books still to read?!

It's not far away from the end of the time period covered by the #20BooksOfSummer reading challenge - eek! I thought I'd do a quick update on how I'm getting on. To remind you, the challenge is to choose and read 20 books over June, July and August. I have read 20 books up till now over this time but they weren't all on my #20BooksOfSummer list!

http://portobellobookblog.com/2023/08/13/20booksofsummer-reading-update-18-days-to-go-how-many-books-still-to-read/

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett | #bookreview #20BooksOfSummer | @bloomsburybooks

One of my friends is a big fan of Ann Patchett's writing but up until now I had never read anything by her. Now that I've read Tom Lake, I now count myself as one of Ann Patchett's admirers. This is the 12th book from my #20BooksOfSummer reading challenge. About the book This is a story about Peter Duke who went on to be a famous actor.

http://portobellobookblog.com/2023/08/11/tom-lake-by-ann-patchett-bookreview-20booksofsummer-bloomsburybooks/

The Invisible Women’s Club by Helen Paris | #bookreview #20BooksOfSummer | @RandomTTours @DrHelenParis @DoubledayUK @ChloeRose1702

I'm really pleased to be taking part in the blogtour and sharing my review for Helen Paris's The Invisible Women's Club today. I had read the author's previous novel, Lost Property, which I really enjoyed so I was hoping for another heart-warming and uplifting read and I certainly found it in this book. About the book One woman’s journey…

http://portobellobookblog.com/2023/08/04/the-invisible-womens-club-by-helen-paris-bookreview-20booksofsummer-randomttours-drhelenparis-doubledayuk-chloerose1702/

The Little Italian Hotel by Phaedra Patrick | #bookreview | @HQStories @PhaedraPatrick | #20BooksOfSummer

I have read almost all of Phaedra Patrick's novels (I've only missed Rise and Shine Benedict Stone) and have enjoyed them all. I was really pleased to have the opportunity to read her latest, The Little Italian Hotel, published last week by HQ (Harper Collins). Isn't that cover just gorgeous? Usually an evocative cover like that makes me want to visit the setting…

http://portobellobookblog.com/2023/07/27/the-little-italian-hotel-by-phaedra-patrick-bookreview-hqstories-phaedrapatrick/

Playing Under the Piano by Hugh Bonneville | #memoir #bookreview #20BooksOfSummer | @LittleBrownUK @AbacusBooks

I think that the first time I was aware of Hugh Bonneville was when he played bumbling Bernie in one of my favourite films Notting Hill. I was quite convinced he was in Four Weddings and a Funeral as well but he's not. There's a story in this book about that! This is the seventh book in my #20BooksOfSummer challenge - I'm getting there slowly...

http://portobellobookblog.com/2023/07/22/playing-under-the-piano-by-hugh-bonneville-memoir-bookreview-littlebrownuk-abacusbooks/

Unladylike Lessons in Love by Amita Murray | #regencyromance #bookreview #romanticfiction | @amitamurray @harperfiction #RandomThingsTours | #20BooksOfSummer https://portobellobookblog.com/2023/07/20/unladylike-lessons-in-love-by-amita-murray-regencyromance-bookreview-romanticfiction-amitamurray-fictionpubteam-randomttours/

Unladylike Lessons in Love by Amita Murray | #regencyromance #bookreview #romanticfiction | @AmitaMurray @FictionPubTeam @RandomTTours | #20BooksOfSummer

I'm very pleased to be sharing my review of Unladylike Lessons in Love which is published in paperback today. It’s the first in a planned series about the Marleigh sisters and this one is focussing on Lila Marleigh. Julia Quinn, author of the hugely successful Bridgerton series, has described it as a ‘sizzling romance…

http://portobellobookblog.com/2023/07/20/unladylike-lessons-in-love-by-amita-murray-regencyromance-bookreview-romanticfiction-amitamurray-fictionpubteam-randomttours/

Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn | #bookreview #20BooksOfSummer https://portobellobookblog.com/2023/07/15/yinka-where-is-your-huzband-by-lizzie-damilola-blackburn-bookreview-20booksofsummer/

Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn | #bookreview #20BooksOfSummer

I recently bought myself a copy of Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn. I had fancied reading it because Yinka has been likened to a modern day Bridget Jones. This is the fifth book in my #20BooksOf Summer challenge - I better get a move on! First here's what the book is about: Yinka wants to find love.

http://portobellobookblog.com/2023/07/15/yinka-where-is-your-huzband-by-lizzie-damilola-blackburn-bookreview-20booksofsummer/

The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons | #historicalfiction #bookreview | @headlinepg | #20BooksofSummer https://portobellobookblog.com/2023/07/13/the-air-raid-book-club-by-annie-lyons-historicalfiction-bookreview-1annielyons-headlinepg-randomttours-20booksofsummer/

The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons | #historicalfiction #bookreview | @1AnnieLyons @HeadlinePG @RandomTTours | #20BooksofSummer

When I saw the beautiful evocative cover of this book, I knew that I just had to read it. I was delighted to get the opportunity to receive an early copy and am pleased to share my review of this lovely book today. This book is the fourth I've read from my #20BooksOfSummer list. About the book As the bombs began to fall, the book club kept…

http://portobellobookblog.com/2023/07/13/the-air-raid-book-club-by-annie-lyons-historicalfiction-bookreview-1annielyons-headlinepg-randomttours-20booksofsummer/

Alex Green's The Heart Goes Boom is a wise-cracking look at the meaning of true love and immortality featuring a narcissistic actor, a motherly psychic medium, a genius young writer, a philosophical wise man and a mute magician.
It made me laugh a lot.
https://thinkaboutreading.wordpress.com/2023/07/03/the-heart-goes-boom/
#BookReview #books #AlexGreen #WreckingBallPress #TheHeartGoesBoom #romance #satire #20BooksOfSummer

A long overdue return to #MagnusMills, one of my favourite authors. A Cruel Bird Came to the Nest and Looked In is the fifth #book of his that I've read and it was lovely to be back in the arms of his spiky whimsy and quiet allegory.
https://thinkaboutreading.wordpress.com/2023/06/29/a-cruel-bird-came-to-the-nest-and-looked-in/
#BookReview #jans2023readinglist #20BooksOfSummer #books

Last #BookReview update (for now)!
Almost a decade ago I started #reading the #Winterhill series of #SciFi books about amnesiac archaeologist Rebecca Winterhill. I bought all five books that were available, read two then took a long break. Turns out two more #books were published but are no longer available to buy. So I'll never know how the story ends.
It doesn't matter. Each installment is a fun read on its own. I read Book 3 for #20BooksOfSummer
https://thinkaboutreading.wordpress.com/2023/06/23/winterhill-3-bad-company/
#jans2023readinglist