Hello and Welcome to October!

September was such a beautiful month with a clear (although perhaps a little confused at times) transition from summer into autumn. We’ve had the most beautiful nature return to our garden, I’m seeing robins, squirrels and swarms of butterflies. I do love this time of year!

September and October call for walks in crispy leaves, coffee with friends, books under blankets and cosy candles. I certainly dislike the lack of sunlight, but I genuinely love the way that the season forces you to slow down.

Summer has been an absolute blast and as a result I didn’t get a whole host of blogging (or reading!) done. I am currently 2 books behind my goodreads tracker – I’ve read 35 out of the 50 I’ve challenged myself to read by year end, so I need to read 5 for the next 3 months to hit it, which I’m confident I can now do.

However – I’m behind (and have been quiet on my reviews) for very good reason. In July I jetted off to NYC with my Fiancé and came back with a Husband! 10 of our favourite people went out with us, we spent a week in NYC, got married half way through in the middle of the city and it was honestly the best, relaxed day. It was everything we wanted and more. When we returned we then had a Wedding reception party, so up to September, I didn’t have a lot of time for much else!

Once all the wedding confetti had settled, I cracked on with my books and managed to read SIX in September! I read a complete mix of genres, reading some well known show stoppers and also some more obscure reads for good measure.

The next book I have decided to review for you as 1) I read it in less than a day, loved it! and 2) the authors next book has just been published so what better time to tell you about this one!

THE NO SHOW, BY BETH O’LEARY

Synopsis:

Three women. Three dates. One missing man…

8.52 a.m. Siobhan’s been looking forward to her breakfast date with Joseph. She was surprised when he suggested it – she normally sees him late at night in her hotel room. Breakfast with Joseph on Valentine’s Day surely means something… so where is he?

2.43 p.m. Miranda’s hoping that a Valentine’s Day lunch with Carter will be the perfect way to celebrate her new job. It’s a fresh start and a sign that her grown-up life is finally falling into place: she’s been dating Carter for five months now and things are getting serious. But why hasn’t he shown up?

6.30 p.m. Joseph Carter agreed to be Jane’s fake boyfriend at a colleague’s engagement party. They’ve not known each other long but their friendship is fast becoming the brightest part of her new life in Winchester. Joseph promised to save Jane tonight. But he’s not here…

Meet Joseph Carter. That is, if you can find him.

We’re introduced to our three ladies in three chapters, these chapters are each the date that Joseph has stood them up on. Each time he comes back around to make amends and apologise for his absence.

Joseph is a charming character, nerdy, warm, good humoured and caring. He’s not the traditional f’boy you told your friends to steer clear of in your twenties, the handsome guy overspilling with smooth talking lines and lies with multiple women on the go. So who is this Joseph? Is he a new kind of f’boy? Are these women doomed?

Each of the female characters are different and relatable to the reader in their own way. Siobhan is a business success story, feisty and a great friend. Joseph and Siobhan have an arrangement, but nothing serious.

Miranda on the other hand is in a full blown relationship with Carter (Joseph Carter). Miranda is a kick ass tree surgeon on a team of guys and an elder sister to her two twin sisters. She cannot quite put her finger on it, but something is off with her relationship.

Jane works in a charity shop after a major fall out in her corporate London job, loves routine and Joseph is her friend. Isn’t he?

I devoured this book in less than a day. This is a romance novel with all of the elements of a thriller. We, the reader, can see exactly what’s going on and here are these three women questioning their self worth and at times, their sanity because of all of Joseph’s inconsistencies. I spent about 50% of the book absolutely fuming. These women all had had crappy past relationships and experiences and deserved a fantastic relationship. Not only that, there’s a character with dementia and we believe Joseph is using her illness to cover his tracks.

Then, with one big swoop, everything you thought you knew about Joseph Carter and the story is truly turned on its head. O’leary pulled out that rug and I was not at all prepared for it!

CAN’T PUT IT DOWN RATING: 5/5

This book is insanely clever. I thought I knew (especially after reading so many thrillers) exactly what the score was here and boy was I wrong.

This is a book of false assumptions and miscommunication, both between Joseph and the women and the reader and the story. This is a book so expertly woven and multi faceted. I’ve read three of Beth’s books now – The Flatshare, The Switch and The No-Show and this is without doubt my favourite book of hers so far.

Fantastic.

WASHED DOWN WITH

Taylors of Harrogate Coffee Bags, Flying Start (Roast 4).

I’ve reviewed these on my blog before and im still just as obsessed with them. Theyre usually around £3.50-4 for 10 bags, but I got these on offer in Waitrose for £2. Bargain! It’s like ground coffee without the washing up.

Well , we’re into spooky season and ive got so much fun stuff planned! I’ll be sharing my blogs more often now, so keep your eyes peeled and your notifications ON!

Until the next chapter,

Emma, X0

@papyrusandpeppermint