Book Synopsis:

Have you ever imagined running away from your life?

Well Birdy Finch didn’t just imagine it. She did it. Which might’ve been an error. And the life she’s run into? Her best friend, Heather’s.

The only problem is, she hasn’t told Heather. Actually there are a few other problems…

Can Birdy carry off a summer at a luxury Scottish hotel pretending to be her best friend (who incidentally is a world-class wine expert)?

And can she stop herself from falling for the first man she’s ever actually liked (but who thinks she’s someone else)

The Summer Job is a fresh, fun, feel-good romcom for fans of The Flatshare, Bridget Jones and Bridesmaids.

WANT TO ESCAPE REAL LIFE FOR A WHILE? RUN AWAY WITH BIRDY FINCH, A MESSY HEROINE WITH A HEART OF GOLD. THE SUMMER JOB IS THE HOTTEST DEBUT TO LOSE YOURSELF IN THIS YEAR.

The Summer Job is published in ebook and hardback on the 15th April 2021. You can purchase your copy using the link below or through your local indie bookstore.

My Review:

The Summer Job is a heart warming, escapist and funny read that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was just what I needed to get lost in after a few hectic days over Easter.

I always love books that make me feel like I’m actually there so much so that I start to wish I can experience exactly what the characters in the book are. This book was no exception and I soon found myself wishing I was able to work in a remote Scottish hotel, working alongside the lovely team Birdy meets there. The beautiful descriptions of the rugged Scottish landscape surrounding the hotel were very vivid which further helped draw me into the story as it was easy to visualise the hotel and it’s surroundings.

The thing I most liked about this book were the wonderful characters and the descriptions of the amazing team they made which was heartwarming to read about. I really liked the way they welcomed Birdy and helped her settle into her new job. My favourite character had to be the lovely Birdy who was such a real, down to earth character who I absolutely fell in love with. I was routing for her from the start and found I wanted her to be successful at the hotel.

Overall I found this a fantastic read that was hugely enjoyable. Birdy’s antics often me laugh out loud and while her often self debasing attitude ensured I was firmly on her side. While I did guess that the book would end the way it did I liked the subtle way the book ended and I especially liked that the book continued for a little bit after so we could see how the characters were doing. I really hope this isn’t the last we hear from Birdy and her friends!

Huge thanks to Ellie Hudson from Viking for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Lizzy Dent (mis)spent her early twenties working in Scotland in hospitality, in a hotel not unlike the one in this novel. She somehow ended up in a glamorous job travelling the world creating content for various TV companies, including MTV, Channel 4, Cartoon Network, the BBC and ITV. But she always knew that writing was the thing she wanted to do, if only she could find the confidence. After publishing three young adult novels, she decided to write a novel that reflected the real women she knew, who don’t always know where they’re going in life, but who always have fun doing it. The Summer Job is that novel.

Book Synopsis:

Swan Lake is divided into the black acts and the white acts. The Prince is on stage for most of the ballet, but it’s the swans audiences flock to see. In early productions, Odette and Odile were performed by two different dancers. These days, it is usual for the same dancer to play both roles. Because of the faultless ballet technique required to master the steps, and the emotional range needed to perform both the virginal Odette and the dark, seductive Odile, this challenging dual role is one of the most coveted in all ballet. Dancers would kill for the part. 

Ava Kirilova has reached the very top of her profession. After years and years of hard graft, pain and sacrifice as part of the London Russian Ballet Company, allowing nothing else to distract her, she is finally the poster girl for Swan Lake. Even Mr K – her father, and the intense, terrifying director of the company – can find no fault. Ava has pushed herself ahead of countless other talented, hardworking girls, and they are all watching her now. 

But there is someone who really wants to see Ava fall . . .

Watch Her Fall is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below of through your local indie book store.

My Review:

Watch Her Fall is an incredibly addictive, gripping thriller that I really enjoyed. I read this book over a couple of days which is no mean feat for a mother of three. It’s going to be hard to review this book as I don’t want to give anything away.

I was quickly drawn into the book and into the competitive world of ballet which is something that has always intrigued me. I loved learning more about how a ballet company is run and to learn about the interesting relationships that exist there despite being tainted by underlying competitiveness. Its definitely a world that I’m glad I don’t inhabit so I was happy to be able to experience it through the characters. The book isn’t just set in this world though and I enjoyed the other setting that the author describes throughout the book too.

The characters were very interesting creations that kept surprising me. The author has a clever way of letting the reader understand them and their background so that you start to feel that you know them well. I don’t think I particularly warmed to any of the main characters which meant I didn’t take anyones side so I could try to work out what was going on without any bias. There were some character’s I loved to hate and would have loved to meet in real life so I could give them a piece of my mind and others who I’m very glad I haven’t come into contact with yet.

The story goes back and forth in time as we visit different characters to learn about what happened from their point of view. The author slowly reveals the truth of what happened, gradually chipping away at what the reader believes to be true until the whole story is revealed. I have to confess to being a little confused when this first happened as it meant that the story went in a completely different direction then it had been but I soon got used to the changes.

I found this story to be completely addictive and often found myself trying to fit a few more pages in when the kids were occupied or sneaking to the toilet so I could read some more. I really wanted to find out what would happen next and often found myself completely wrong footed when a new twist was revealed as I never saw them coming.

I’ve read all of this author’s previous books and I’d definitely be recommending this to everyone to read. In fact I have already purchased copies for my sister and my mum as I think they would enjoy it. I think it would make a good book club read as there would be lots to discuss.

Huge thanks to Eleni from Hodder and Stoughton for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour.

About The Author:

Erin Kelly is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Poison Tree, The Sick Rose, The Burning Air, The Ties That Bind, He Said/She Said, Stone Mothers and Broadchurch: The Novel, inspired by the mega-hit TV series. In 2013, The Poison Tree became a major ITV drama and was a Richard & Judy Summer Read in 2011. He Said/She Said spent six weeks in the top ten in both hardback and paperback, was longlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier crime novel of the year award, and selected for both the Simon Mayo Radio 2 and Richard & Judy Book Clubs. She has worked as a freelance journalist since 1998 and written for the Guardian, The Sunday Times, Daily Mail, New Statesman, Red, Elle, Cosmopolitan and The Pool. Born in London in 1976, she lives in north London with her husband and daughters. erinkelly.co.uk twitter.com/mserinkelly.