Hello everybody, I hope you’re doing great!

Today is Sunday and I’ve got the most lovely day planned. I’m up with a coffee (more on that below), I’ve left my husband to be and Chester the Cat in bed whilst I blog, and very shortly I’m going to one of my favourite local places which is Huggate, for a gorgeous roast dinner at The Wolds Inn, famous for being the first pub David Hockney (artist) got drunk in!

It’s been a very busy time for me recently. Not only am I wedding planning – (38 DAYS TO GO!) but I’ve also been in training for the Three Yorkshire Peaks which I am hiking on 1st July with all of my lovely work colleagues, in aid of a charity that the company actively fundraises for. That means I’ve been spending most of my weekends out on the hills (10-16 miles at a time) rather than reading recently, but I have got some gorgeous photos to show for it, see below!

When I’ve not been stomping around the local countryside, a book I did read recently and prior to publication was the book below – thanks to the super cool people at Randomhouse for sending me a free e-copy to review!

THE CASSANDRA COMPLEX, BY HOLLY SMALE

The Cassandra Complex (Published as ‘Cassandra in Reverse’ in the USA), is the debut Adult novel by Holly Smale, author of YA Sensation ‘Geek Girl’, which has recently been picked up by Netflix.

I knew therefore that I absolutely needed to read this book if it was by such a talented author, so how lucky that I was sent a copy!

The Synop:

If you had the power to change the past…where would you start? 

Cassandra Penelope Dankworth is a creature of habit. She likes what she likes (museums, jumpsuits, her boyfriend, Will) and strongly dislikes what she doesn’t (mess, change, her boss drinking out of her mug). Her life runs in a pleasing, predictable order…until now.

• She’s just been dumped.
• She’s just been fired.
• Her local café has run out of banana muffins.

Then, something truly unexpected happens: Cassie discovers she can go back and change the past. One small rewind at a time, Cassie attempts to fix the life she accidentally obliterated, but soon she’ll discover she’s trying to fix all the wrong things.

Okay, so a lot to unpack here. We’ve got a slight hint here from the synopsis words used about habits, order and strong likes and dislikes to every day things, that Cassandra may be somewhat neurodivergent (Holly Smale is diagnosed as autistic herself, for some background information).

Cassandra is also obviously meeting us as readers on one of the worst days a person can have – dumped, fired and your favourite comfort food is out of stock.

Then – TIME TRAVEL!

I am a huge lover of stories about time travel. Most of those stories involve going back to stop a world disaster, to see what life would look like if another path was taken, or to meet famous celebrities and transport them through time to your history class presentation so that you don’t fail and have to go to Military school.

The Cassandra Complex on the other hand is quite different. What starts out as our main character trying to ‘fix’ mistakes she’s made, to stop her from being fired, dumped and at odds with her flat mates all in a day, she soon realises she’s not trying to undo decisions, but she’s trying to undo herself.

Cassandra is a neurodiverse character living in a world that doesn’t understand her and one that she struggles to understand in return. She uses her new found gift to try to steer her through situations and events. The knowing what will happen appears to help and soothe her through decision making. She knows the process and the events that will unfold. But what happens when they start to go off their timeline?

Cassandra is such a loveable character to read. At times painfully honest and socially awkward, she struggles with reading people and gets through these interactions by using a paint chip chart which identifies moods. So rather than saying ‘this person is happy’, she might say ‘this person looks yellow’.

Now at first when I was reading, I thought Cassandra was reading auras (this person looked yellow)! But then as time went on I realised we werent going down that path, no it was so much more charming and beautiful than that.

The book takes us back to THAT day a couple of times, until Cassandra feels shes got it right, and even more fun than that, Cassandra can close her eyes and undo any ‘mistake’ she makes in her dating life or at work. Wouldn’t we all like to have that super power at times?

CAN’T PUT IT DOWN RATING: 5/5

Warm, witty, a sprinkle of romance, a family backstory and a whole lot of Cassandra.

I loved her honesty and her paint chip chart made my heart so warm. Whilst I’m not diagnosed as neurodiverse in any way, I could identify with many of the issues Cassandra had in the world around her such as noise sensitivity. Hello fellow loop earplugs wearers!

The story did feel like it went on quite a long while but given that we are reading the same part of the story multiple times it is quite self-explanatory as to why the pacing could feel slow at times.

I fell hook line and sinker for Cass and her love of Greek mythology. I have a really close friend who could (and has) given full presentations on Greek mythology and so I felt like I was reading my friend at times which put such a smile on my face.

I was also so happy with the ending and its not often I say that to be quite honest. It really is one where you’re cheering for the protagonist and dead chuffed at how it all works out. It left me feeling super warm and happy!

If you enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant or Oona Lockhart then this is absolutely the book for you.

Fantastic adult debut novel and congrats to Holly Smales for this book now becoming a Reese’s Book Club pick! Huge thanks to Randomhouse for my free copy of this’un. 💜

WASHED DOWN WITH:

This month i’ve been drinking copious amounts of Beanies Birthday cake coffee, which is something you probably think sounds gross until you try it! Now let me frank – it doesnt taste like buttercream, icing sugar and sponge, but its sweet, got a berry flavour to it and smells quite delicious.

If you like sweet coffee or added syrups you’ll possibly enjoy it too and hey – it’s 2 calories a cup and sugar free! But if you enjoy your coffee strong and unadulterated, perhaps give it a a miss…

Image: Amazon

I really hope youve enjoyed todays review! I’d love to hear from you if youve read it/going to read it/even not going to read it! Leave me a comment below, or catch me on Insta at @papyrusandpeppermint and goodreads here.

Enjoy the rest of your day, and Happy Reading!

Until the next Chapter,

Emma X0