Bird Box by Josh Malerman

Bird Box by Josh Malerman

I read Bird Box over the space of two days. Everyone was talking about the Netflix film which I was dying to see, but I absolutely had to read the book first. 

People across the world have started committing suicide in the most horrendous ways. Some presence or creature or beast or who knows what is making them do this... happy people with everything to live for, taking their own lives. 

The only way to survive is to not look, to keep your eyes closed, the blinds down and the keep your wits about you, a task that is proving difficult for Malorie because she also has boy and girl to protect. 

Malorie is taking a risk. She is taking the children on a dangerous journey to a place she hopes will provide safety. Will the three of them make it or will the urge to look become too great? 

It had been a while since I read anything that put me on edge. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy being creeped out... so long as I'm not home alone!!! It's the fear of the unknown. There were times when a character would know that something was right behind them but they couldn't see what it was and it gave me goosebumps to imagine myself in that same situation... I know I'd freak out and rip my blindfold off.. and then slit my own throat!!

The chapters alternate between the past and present, Malorie living in a house with a group of strangers, trying to stay safe and figure out how to beat this thing and Malorie and the children on their journey to what they hope will be safety. It is interesting to see how the characters in the house interact with each other under the tense circumstances. They know they need to work together if they want to survive yet they mistrust one another and sometimes with good reason.

I loved seeing Malorie's method of training the children to survive by learning to use hearing as their main sense instead of sight. They could tell so much more from a single sound than we ever could. At times her methods could be perceived as harsh or even cruel but is an alive frightened child not better than a disobedient dead child?

To begin with Malorie wasn't ready to be a mother and didn't believe she could ever be a good one. To then see her being able to stay level headed and focused, putting her own fears to one side so she could stay strong for those children, Malorie proved that she was the best mother those children could have ever had. She was one super strong woman.

This book had me glued to the page but also with one ear listening out for noises and the duvet pulled right up to my nose because I'm a great big scardy cat!! 

Thank you to Harper Collins for sending me this book.

The Good Friend by Jo Baldwin

The Good Friend by Jo Baldwin

I've been lucky enough to be able to read a proof copy of The Good Friend by Jo Baldwin which is released in February 2019.

When Jenny moved to Australia eight years ago to focus on her swimming career she lost all that was dear to her, her best friend Kath and her boyfriend Tom.

After all this time Jenny has decided to take a break from swimming and visit her best friend, who is now married to Tom and they have a child together. 

It's not long before Jenny realises she still has feelings for Tom but she is also noticing some very odd and malicious behaviour from Kath, making her question whether she ever really knew her friend at all.

I knew from the beginning that it would be difficult for Jenny to see Tom again, especially since she still loved him when they parted ways. I was morally torn because I so wanted to see Jenny and Tom together but how could it ever be right to steal a married man from your best friend? Or was it the other way round? Had Kath stolen Tom from her? Dilemmas, dilemmas!!!

It soon becomes apparent that Kaths behaviour is not normal and that her and Toms relationship was strained, even before Jennys arrival. Kath is unpredictable, sharp tongued and hard to work out. She is worried that Jenny and Tom still have feelings for each other but I got the sense that she does not really want Tom anymore, she just doesn't want Jenny to have him. 

The book touches upon the subject of mental health. At one point Tom mentions that he thinks Kate has stopped taking her medication for depression and they agree to not confront her about her malicious behaviour until she is back on the meds and more stable. This got me thinking, should we ever excuse bad behaviour if it stems from a mental health issue or should a person be confronted regardless? How difficult must it be to support someone though their darkest times when they are hurting you in return?

This was a great psychological drama that I loved from start to finish. I wouldn't say it's particularly fast paced but there was definitely enough going on to keep me interested. It's story that simmers nicely until bubbling over right at the end! 

I'd definitely recommend checking it out when it is released in February.