2016 - Top Five Novels

2016 has seen a wealth of amazing novels published by both debut and long established authors and I feel lucky to have started this blog in the midst of such greatness.  As such it has been tricky to narrow down the large number of fantastic books to a top five, but after much internal debate it has been finalised.  So, to see out 2016, The Very Pink Notebook is proud to cite these as its top picks for this year...

FIVE 

The Tea Planter's Wife by Dinah Jefferies

With wonderful writing and the most beautiful and fragrant imagery, although this is a gently told novel the plot is packed with punch and body and has stayed with me.

Full review

FOUR

Distress Signals by Catherine Ryan Howard

A gripping psychological thriller set in the muddy realms of maritime law.  Catherine Ryan Howard's fantastic novel will keep you on the edge of your seat... or life ring.

Full review

THREE

Another Love by Amanda Prowse

Chillingly real and poignant, Another Love is the story telling of Amanda Prowse at her best.  Looking at a women and her battle with alcohol and the consequences it has on everyone in her life, this is a heartfelt, moving and relatable novel.

Full review

TWO

A Suitable Lie by Michael Malone

This novel is just, brilliant.  Dark, domestic and brutal it will keep you turning the pages long into the night and make you rethink the way you think.

Full review

ONE

I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh

Clare Mackintosh's debut novel, psychological thriller I Let You Go, take the number one spot for The Very Pink Notebooks top five novels of 2016.  Fantastically written, with superb dialogue and descriptions and a twist you will never see coming is what makes this book impossible to put down.

Full review

To say, as a reviewer, I am looking forward to 2017 is an understatement.

Happy New Year!

Review : A Suitable Lie by Michael J Malone

The Very Pink Notebook is thrilled to be part of Michael J Malone's exciting new psychological thriller, A Suitable Lie, blog tour this week.  With much thanks to Karen at Orenda Books for involving me in the tour and for a copy of the book, in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher : Orenda Books

15 September 2016 (paperback)

Copy : Paperback - Received from publisher as part of tour for honest review

The Blurb

Some secrets should never be kept…

Andy Boyd thinks he is the luckiest man alive. Widowed with a young child, after his wife dies in childbirth, he is certain that he will never again experience true love. Then he meets Anna. Feisty, fun and beautiful, she’s his perfect match … and she loves his son like he is her own.  When Andy ends up in the hospital on his wedding night, he receives his first clue that Anna is not all that she seems. Desperate for that happy-ever-after, he ignores it. A dangerous mistake that could cost him everything.

The Very Pink Notebook Review

Dark, a touch sadistic but utterly brilliant and heart-wrenching at the same time, Michael J Malone's psychological thriller, A Suitable Lie, kept me gripped and page turning until the very end.

So much goes on within this plot it is quite exhausting, but it is so well written I flew through this book in two sittings.  Dealing with the subject of domestic violence can be difficult to read about but it seemed even more intense somehow because the stereotypical roles have been reversed, which was refreshing and a mark of genius by the author.

The subplots run alongside the main fantastically and enhances the involvement of the reader into the mind set of the main character, Andy.  Through the characters of Sheila and Malcolm, who are dealing with their own trauma's in life, Andy is able to glean strength from them. 

I was surprised at how perfectly the author cast and developed every character within this novel, from the main ones of Andy and Anna, to those mentioned in passing, for example, Malcolm's father.  As a reader I felt the author had known these people a long time.

At times when reading, I found myself clutching at my heart or head, thinking 'No!'  I wanted to jump into the page to stop or change what was happening I got so engrossed.

This book deserves the same kind of huge recognition as the likes of The Girl on the Train and I hope and expect to see it on a best-sellers list.  I can also easily envisage it as a very good three part drama or even film, it kept playing out that way in my head.

With this book shooting straight into my Top 5 of the year so far I can do nothing less that award it the highest rating and enthuse to everyone who loves a brilliant, dark, psychological thriller to get a copy of this book immediately.

I am thankful and honoured to have been part of the blog tour for this brilliant book.  Great work Michael.

Follow the Tour

Check out other reviews of A Suitable Lie by following the tour.

COMING SOON : Blog Tour - A Suitable Lie by Michael J Malone