Minnie's Fiction Addiction

Because one more chapter is never enough

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  • Book Review: Lucky Girls by Liv Webbe

    👀 First impressions:
    The moment I read the premise I was drawn in. A sun-drenched French island, a wedding filled with money and expectation, a woman trying to outrun a painful secret and a bride who wants her own celebration over before it begins. The setup promised tension simmering beneath the holiday gloss and the kind of character-driven suspense built on lies, pressure and unraveling façades.

    ✅ What I Liked:
    The setting on Île de Ré is vivid and atmospheric, creating a perfect contrast between postcard beauty and the darker emotional turmoil beneath it. Dee is compelling from the start as someone carrying a secret so heavy it threatens to eclipse the entire trip. Willa, meanwhile, is fascinating in a very different way. Her desperation to get through her wedding without the truth surfacing adds a tense current to every scene she appears in. When their paths begin to intersect, the story finds its strongest rhythm. The interpersonal drama and the slow peeling back of each woman’s motivations kept me invested.

    ❎ What I didn’t Like:
    Although the premise is rich with potential, the tension builds more gently than I expected, and some plot turns felt a little predictable. At times I wanted deeper emotional excavation from both Dee and Willa, especially as the stakes rose around the wedding. The final reveal lands, but it lacked the sharpness that the long buildup seemed to promise. Some side characters blurred together, which softened the impact of certain moments.

    📚 Why You Should Read This Book:
    Readers who enjoy character-focused suspense set against luxurious backdrops will find plenty to love here. The island wedding setting is escapist, the secrets feel weighty and the slow tightening of both women’s stories offers an engaging holiday-thriller feel. It suits readers who prefer tension over shock and atmospheric settings over relentless twists.

    💭 Final Thoughts:
    Lucky Girls is an enjoyable and absorbing read with a strong sense of place and two women whose lies make the pages quietly simmer. While it does not fully maximise the dramatic potential of its setup, it offers a satisfying escape into sunlit secrets and wedding-week chaos.

    🛍️ Where to buy
    To buy your own copy click HERE and HERE

    Final Rating ★★★ – Atmospheric and engaging but not fully explosive

  • Book Review: Never Saw It Coming by Linwood Barclay

    👀 First impressions:
    I picked this up expecting a quick, twisty thriller and that is exactly what I got. The story follows Keisha Ceylon, a woman who pretends to have psychic visions and approaches families of missing people to “help” them for a fee. It is such a simple setup but it works incredibly well, especially when she targets a man whose wife has disappeared and quickly realises she has stepped into something far more dangerous than a routine scam. The book expands on Barclay’s earlier novella Clouded Vision, so the pacing is tight and there is absolutely no wasted space. It hooked me from the opening scene.

    ✅ What I Liked:
    Keisha is what drew me in most. She is not a traditional heroine and I loved that about her. She is flawed, selfish, frightened, brave and sometimes foolish, and that mixture makes her incredibly compelling to follow. The pacing is another strength. Chapters move quickly and every choice Keisha makes pushes the situation further out of her control, which creates a really addictive momentum. The tension builds gradually until it suddenly becomes clear how dangerous everything has become. I also enjoyed the escalating sense of chaos that follows Keisha from the moment she knocks on the wrong door.

    ❎ What I didn’t Like:
    Some of the side characters felt a little underdeveloped, mostly because the story moves so fast. I occasionally found myself wanting just a little more depth around the edges. There are also moments that felt slightly rushed, scenes that ended just as I wanted a bit more aftermath or emotional space. It never ruined the experience but it did leave me wishing for a tiny bit more detail.

    📚 Why You Should Read This Book:
    This is perfect for anyone who wants a fast paced thriller that can be read in a day. It is especially good if you enjoy morally grey characters, domestic tension, and stories where one bad decision spirals into a full disaster. It is gripping without being heavy and is ideal when you want something entertaining that wastes no time getting to the point.

    💭 Final Thoughts:
    Never Saw It Coming is sharp, quick and surprisingly character driven considering its length. Keisha carries the story beautifully with all her flaws and questionable choices. She is memorable in a way many thriller protagonists are not. Although this is not Barclay’s most complex novel, it succeeds completely on the level it aims for. It is tense, fun, readable and exactly the sort of thriller you reach for when you want something you can fall into immediately.

    🛍️ Where to buy
    To buy your own copy click HERE and HERE

    Final Rating ★★★★ – A slick and suspenseful suburban thriller that keeps you guessing

  • Book Review: If You Tell A Lie by Lucinda Berry

    👀 First impressions:
    Lucinda Berry is known for diving straight into the darkest corners of the human mind, and If You Tell a Lie is no exception. The premise immediately signals emotional tension, buried trauma, and a secret that refuses to stay hidden. From the opening chapters the story creates a sense of unease that pulls you in, suggesting a web of psychological complexity and danger about to unravel. It is atmospheric, intense, and clearly written for readers who enjoy thrillers that explore the fallout of long kept secrets.

    ✅ What I Liked:
    The pacing is strong and the story wastes no time in building tension. Berry excels at crafting internal conflict and the way guilt, fear, and memory collide in the protagonist feels authentic. I appreciated the way the narrative keeps shifting just enough to make you question what is real. There are moments where the emotional weight truly lands, and the book captures the spiralling feeling that comes from trying to outrun the truth.

    ❎ What I didn’t Like:
    Some of the twists felt predictable or came too quickly without enough buildup to make them hit as hard as they should. Certain characters felt underdeveloped, which made it harder to fully connect with their motivations and reactions. While the psychological depth is there, it sometimes leans more toward shock value than exploration, leaving the ending feeling a bit rushed and less satisfying than the setup promised.

    📚 Why You Should Read This Book:
    If you enjoy psychological thrillers that focus on trauma, secrets, and emotional tension, this book will keep you turning the pages. It is gripping, dark, and very readable, especially for fans who like thrillers that dig into the messiness of memory and guilt.

    💭 Final Thoughts:
    If You Tell a Lie offers the tension and emotional turmoil Lucinda Berry is known for, with a storyline that pulls you in even when some elements feel uneven. It is a solid, fast paced thriller that delivers plenty of suspense but leaves you wishing for a little more depth.

    🛍️ Where to buy
    To buy your own copy click HERE and HERE

    Final Rating ★★★ – A compelling but imperfect psychological thriller

  • What to Read Wednesday: December Edition ☃️❄️🥶

    Photo by Oliver Kiss on Unsplash

    December reading is its own kind of magic. The nights draw in, the air turns crisp and every story feels better when read beside a window glowing with fairy lights. This month’s picks are absolutely drenched in seasonal atmosphere, from snow swept mysteries to festive romances to stories that feel like a warm mug between your hands.

    A Cosy Christmas Romance: One Day in December by Josie Silver

    This book practically sparkles with fairy lights. It begins with a single moment of love at first sight at a London bus stop and unfolds across a decade of missed chances, tangled friendships and tender moments. December is woven through the story like a silver thread. If you want something heartfelt, romantic and perfect for curling up on a cold night, this is the one.

    A Snowy Murder Mystery: The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley

    Nothing says December like a remote lodge in the Scottish Highlands, friends gathered to celebrate New Year and a storm that traps them together as tensions boil over. Lucy Foley’s icy, atmospheric thriller is the perfect December page turner. You can almost hear the crackle of the fire and the crunch of snow outside while you try to guess who will make it out alive.

    A Warm and Whimsical Festive Tale: Midnight in Everwood by M. A. Kuzniar

    This enchanting retelling of The Nutcracker is soaked in winter wonder. Snow laden forests, glittering palaces and a heroine swept into a magical realm make this the perfect December escape. It feels like stepping inside a fairytale ballet where every chapter tastes like sugared almonds and frost.

    A Comforting Modern Classic: The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

    Set in 1920s Alaska, this novel is both haunting and hopeful. A couple grieving their losses build a girl out of snow who then seems to come to life. The winter landscape is so vividly written you’ll want to wrap yourself in an extra blanket. This is a quiet, reflective December read that lingers long after the final page.

    A Feel Good Festive Romcom: A Winter’s Dream by Sophie Claire

    This is the book for anyone who wants a soft, uplifting December story filled with snowy villages, twinkling lights and gentle romance. It’s warm, sweet and perfect for evenings when you want to escape into something comforting.

    A Mystery Wrapped in Winter: Snowed In for Christmas by Sarah Morgan

    Think big family chaos, a blizzard, a mistaken identity and unexpected romance. Sarah Morgan knows how to write a true festive comfort read. This one has the exact energy of getting stuck inside with people you may or may not like while snow keeps piling up outside.

    Final Thoughts

    December is a month made for reading that feels seasonal, atmospheric and a little bit sparkly. Whether you want something cosy, mysterious or magically wintery, these books capture the heart of the season and pair perfectly with mince pies and woolly socks. If you want, I can also create a January edition focused on fresh starts, snowy settings or books that feel like a long exhale into the new year.

  • Book Review: The Women of Wild Hill by Kristen Miller

    👀 First impressions:
    The Women of Wild Hill opens with a strong sense of place, drawing the reader into a landscape shaped by history, weather and the long echo of women’s untold stories. The premise is compelling, centring on a woman who returns home and uncovers the hidden truths carried by generations before her. The dual timeline structure creates an immediate curiosity about how the past has shaped the present. The early chapters promise mystery, emotional depth and a powerful exploration of family legacy.

    ✅ What I Liked:
    The setting is the novel’s standout feature. Wild Hill feels textured and alive, its ruggedness reflecting the resilience of the women who inhabit it. The multigenerational focus adds richness, especially in moments where past and present quietly mirror each other. There are flashes of beautiful writing, with descriptions that feel almost poetic and characters whose emotions ring true. The underlying themes of inheritance, motherhood and the weight of silence are handled with sensitivity.

    ❎ What I didn’t Like:
    The pacing can be uneven, particularly in the first half where the narrative sometimes drifts without clear direction. This made it difficult to stay fully engaged, even though the premise was appealing. Some characters feel underdeveloped, their motivations hinted at rather than fully explored. The central mystery resolves in a way that feels slightly anticlimactic, as though the story never quite reaches the emotional intensity it was building toward.

    📚 Why You Should Read This Book:
    This is a good choice for readers who love atmospheric, slow-burn fiction with a strong sense of place. If you enjoy family sagas filled with secrets and gentle emotional reveals, you may connect more deeply with it than I did. It has the kind of quiet charm that appeals to readers who favour introspective, character-led storytelling.

    💭 Final Thoughts:
    The Women of Wild Hill is a thoughtful and often beautifully written novel, though it doesn’t always maintain its momentum. While the setting and themes shine, the narrative sometimes feels stretched and the emotional payoff lacks the punch it seems to be aiming for. Still, there is enough heart and atmosphere here to make it worth a read for those who enjoy generational tales rooted in landscape and memory.

    🛍️ Where to buy
    To buy your own copy click HERE and HERE

    Final Rating ★★★ – Atmospheric and emotional, but not always fully engaging

  • Book Review: One of Us by Elizabeth Day

    👀 First impressions:
    From the moment the Fitzmaurice family steps onto the page, One of Us feels like a slow, tightening coil of privilege, ambition and unresolved grudges. Elizabeth Day brings together old friends, old wounds and old scandals in a way that immediately sets the stage for betrayal. At the heart of the novel is Martin, a man once inseparable from Ben Fitzmaurice until a disastrous 40th birthday party shattered their friendship. Seven years later, the unexpected invitation back into Ben’s world reads like a trap and a temptation. Ben is now a rising political star, rumoured to be the next Prime Minister, and the Fitzmaurice dynasty appears dazzling from a distance yet deeply fractured at its core. The set up is rich with tension, creating the sense that every returning character carries both an agenda and a secret.

    ✅ What I Liked:
    The character work is the novel’s strongest asset. Day gives each member of the Fitzmaurice clan a distinct emotional burden, from Serena’s quiet suffocation within her polished life to Cosima’s rebellious fight against the very system that built her family. Martin’s simmering resentment is compelling and uncomfortable, making him an excellent lens through which to view the family’s cracks. Fliss’s death, hovering like a shadow over everyone left behind, adds a powerful emotional weight and a lingering sense of mystery. The political backdrop feels authentic without overwhelming the interpersonal drama. I also loved how the story lets privilege rot from the inside, revealing hypocrisy, fragile loyalty and the consequences of unchecked power.

    ❎ What I didn’t Like:
    The pacing occasionally lingers, particularly in the sections dealing with political manoeuvring, and the constant shifts between perspectives may briefly pull some readers out of the moment. There are also points where Martin’s motivations feel slightly repetitive, although this does reflect his fixation on revenge. A few threads feel intentionally ambiguous, which works thematically but may leave readers wanting clearer closure.

    📚 Why You Should Read This Book:
    If you enjoy novels that blend political ambition, family dysfunction and psychological tension, this is an excellent choice. The story feels timely, grounded in the realities of modern British power structures while remaining intimate enough to invest emotionally in the characters. Readers who love multi-layered narratives filled with secrets, shifting alliances and moral ambiguity will find this deeply satisfying. It is perfect for anyone who wants their fiction to explore the messy human cost of power.

    💭 Final Thoughts:
    One of Us is sharp, atmospheric and quietly devastating. Elizabeth Day weaves together betrayal, loyalty, privilege and revenge into a story that feels both contemporary and timeless. The Fitzmaurice family is captivating in its dysfunction, and Martin’s return to their orbit triggers a gripping unravelling that holds your attention to the final page. It is the sort of novel that lingers, leaving you thinking about who gets to belong, who pays the price for power and what loyalty truly means.

    🛍️ Where to buy
    To buy your own copy click HERE and HERE

    Final Rating ★★★★ – A taut, character-driven political drama simmering with secrets

  • Book Review: Legion of The Damned by Sven Hassel

    👀 First impressions:
    Legion of the Damned is one of those books whose reputation precedes it, a cult classic of war literature first published in 1953 and still widely discussed today. Sven Hassel draws heavily on his own controversial past as a soldier in the German penal battalions during the Second World War. The novel follows Porta, Tiny, the Legionnaire, and the rest of the motley crew as they are thrown into the meat grinder of the Eastern Front. From the opening pages it becomes clear that this is not a heroic war story. Instead, it is a grim portrait of survival among men who have already been written off by their own army. The tone is raw and unsentimental which immediately sets it apart from more polished military fiction.

    ✅ What I Liked:
    The book’s greatest strength is its honesty. Hassel does not pretend that war is noble or glorious and his characters certainly do not behave like traditional heroes. They are thieves, cynics, gamblers, and jokers yet they are also deeply human. The camaraderie between them is often the only thing that keeps the story bearable and those moments of humour feel like tiny rays of light in an overwhelmingly dark world. The writing is punchy and vivid which gives the battles a real sense of immediacy. You can smell the mud and cordite and feel the hunger and exhaustion that define their everyday lives. It is also a fascinating look at the penal units which are rarely explored in war fiction.

    ❎ What I didn’t Like:
    Some of the scenes are extremely violent and relentless which may make this a difficult read for many. The pacing can feel uneven as the narrative jumps between bleak humour and graphic brutality. There is also the long-standing debate around how autobiographical the book truly is because Hassel’s own wartime claims have been questioned. While this does not necessarily detract from the reading experience it may affect how one interprets the story.

    📚 Why You Should Read This Book:
    If you appreciate war novels that confront the reality of conflict without romance or sanitisation this is an essential read. It offers a perspective from the “other side” that is rarely shown and does so with remarkable clarity and grit. Readers who enjoy character driven stories will find themselves strangely attached to the ragtag group of antiheroes even as they stumble through horror after horror.

    💭 Final Thoughts:
    Legion of the Damned is harsh unforgettable and often shocking. It is both a piece of historical fiction and a human study of people forced into impossible circumstances. It leaves you with the uncomfortable truth that war does not produce heroes so much as survivors. It is not a book that everyone will enjoy but it is certainly one that leaves an impression.

    🛍️ Where to buy
    To buy your own copy click HERE and HERE

    Final Rating ★★★★★ – Dark, Powerful, and Relentlessly Human

  • Book Review: Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by Martin Edwards

    👀 First impressions:
    Martin Edwards is a master of classic crime storytelling and Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife feels like a love letter to the Golden Age of mystery fiction. From the moment the story opens, there is a sense of nostalgia mixed with a sly modern twist. The premise is deliciously theatrical. A country house. A closed circle of suspects. A body discovered in a place that ought to be safe and silent. And at the heart of it all is Miss Winter, a character who manages to be both familiar in her genre roots and refreshingly unpredictable. The novel blends cosy crime charm with a wry sense of humour and a carefully plotted mystery that rewards close attention.

    ✅ What I Liked:
    The setting is wonderfully atmospheric. Edwards has a talent for painting scenes that feel straight out of a vintage detective novel, from creaking staircases to shadowy libraries. Miss Winter herself is the standout. She is observant, sharp and quietly formidable and her presence lifts every chapter. The mystery is cleverly constructed and clues are seeded with just enough subtlety to keep the reader guessing without feeling cheated. I also loved the affectionate nods to classic mystery tropes. It feels like Edwards is inviting the reader to share in the fun rather than simply following a formula.

    ❎ What I didn’t Like:
    There were a few structural lulls where the pacing felt slower than necessary and a couple of side characters were painted a little too lightly to fully invest in their motives. These moments didn’t undermine my enjoyment but they did occasionally pull me slightly out of the momentum of the mystery.

    📚 Why You Should Read This Book:
    If you love cosy crime that respects its Golden Age roots while still feeling fresh, this is a charming and clever pick. Fans of Agatha Christie, Anthony Horowitz’s Hawthorne series and Edwards’ own Rachel Savernake novels will feel perfectly at home. It is a satisfying mystery with a strong sense of place and a protagonist who deserves more adventures.

    💭 Final Thoughts:
    This is an engaging, comforting and smartly plotted mystery that hits all the right notes for classic crime lovers. Edwards brings warmth, wit and a delicate touch to the genre and Miss Winter is a character I would happily follow into further investigations. It captures the joy of traditional detective fiction while offering just enough modern sparkle to make it stand out.

    🛍️ Where to buy
    To buy your own copy click HERE and HERE

    Final Rating ★★★★ – A vintage mystery with modern charm

  • Book Review: Namaste Motherf*ckers by Cally Beaton

    👀 First impressions:
    I went into Namaste Motherfuckers expecting sharp humour, a bit of chaos, and a lot of honesty, and Cally Beaton delivers all of that with a refreshing lack of pretence. As a comedian and broadcaster, Beaton has a knack for cutting through polite filters and getting straight to the messy truth of modern life. The book blends memoir, social commentary, and self help in a way that feels both irreverent and surprisingly grounded. It dips into parenting, career reinvention, ageing, relationships, the corporate world and the quest for calm in a world that seems determined to resist it. It is part life lesson, part therapy session, part pint with a particularly hilarious friend.

    ✅ What I Liked:
    The thing that stands out is Beaton’s voice. She is honest without being self pitying and funny without using humour as a shield. Every chapter feels like a conversation with someone who has been through enough to earn some wisdom but is not trying to preach at you. Her anecdotes are vivid and her reflections often hit deeper than expected. I also enjoyed her ability to balance vulnerability with sharp observational humour. She is very good at saying the thing most people think but would never actually say aloud.

    ❎ What I didn’t Like:
    A few of the ideas became a little repetitive and occasionally the shift between humour and seriousness felt abrupt. Nothing major, just moments where I found myself wanting to get back to the storytelling rather than the reflection.

    📚 Why You Should Read This Book:
    If you enjoy memoirs that mix humour with honesty, this is an easy recommendation. Readers who like authors such as Sara Pascoe, Bryony Gordon or Caitlin Moran will feel immediately at home. It is a book that makes you laugh, think and occasionally wince in recognition. It is perfect for anyone navigating stress, burnout, family pressures or the sheer ridiculousness of modern life and wants a companion who understands all of it.

    💭 Final Thoughts:
    This is a bold, insightful and wickedly funny book that manages to feel both cathartic and comforting. Cally Beaton’s mix of chaos and calm works beautifully and she has written something that entertains as much as it reassures. It is warm, sharp and surprisingly heartfelt and I can see it resonating with anyone who feels like they are constantly trying to find balance in a world intent on knocking them off it.

    🛍️ Where to buy
    To buy your own copy click HERE and HERE

    Final Rating ★★★★ – Funny, frank and fully human

  • Book Review: The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper

    👀 First impressions:
    Set in the bustling, dangerous world of ancient Pompeii, The Wolf Den follows Amara, a once free woman who has been sold into slavery and now lives and works in the city’s most infamous brothel, the Lupanar. The novel blends historical detail with emotional depth, revealing a world full of power plays, quiet rebellions, found family, and the constant tension between survival and hope. From the first chapter, Harper immerses the reader in the daily life of the marginalised women who lived on the edges of Roman society. It is not just a tale of hardship but a story that centres female resilience and ambition in a world determined to crush both.

    ✅ What I Liked:
    unforgettable. Harper brings Pompeii to life with vivid but readable historical detail, creating an atmosphere that feels authentic without overwhelming the reader. The relationships between the women in the Lupanar are the true heartbeat of the story. Their friendships, conflicts, humour, love, and pain give the novel emotional richness. The writing is fluid and beautifully crafted, balancing brutal reality with moments of warmth and intimacy. I also loved how the book examines power, exploitation, and survival through a lens that feels both historically grounded and incredibly relevant.

    ❎ What I didn’t Like:
    There are moments where the bleakness of the women’s circumstances becomes heavy, and some scenes are emotionally difficult to read. While this reflects the harsh realities of the time, it may feel overwhelming for readers looking for lighter historical fiction. The pacing also slows occasionally as Harper lingers on daily routines, though this ultimately enriches the world building more than it detracts from the narrative.

    📚 Why You Should Read This Book:
    If you enjoy historical fiction that gives voice to those history often forgets, this is essential reading. The Wolf Den is powerful and character driven, offering a fresh perspective on Pompeii that moves beyond marble villas and volcanic ash. Fans of Madeline Miller, Pat Barker, and Jennifer Saint will feel right at home. It is the first in a trilogy, so readers can follow Amara’s journey beyond the walls of the Lupanar.

    💭 Final Thoughts:
    The Wolf Den is immersive, emotional, and full of heart. Harper shines a light on the lives of women who lived with little freedom yet found ways to claim moments of joy and power. It is a novel that lingers long after the final page and sets the stage for an unforgettable series.

    🛍️ Where to buy
    To buy your own copy click HERE and HERE

    Final Rating ★★★★ – Raw and compelling with unforgettable characters