On her latest book, Isabelle Broom takes on an amazing tour around Sri Lanka. There are monkeys aplenty, wild elephants and stunning views all around. Are you ready for your next adventure? This is why you should read this amazing book:

Title: One Thousand Stars and You

Author: Isabelle Broom

Published: August 23rd 2018 by Michael Joseph

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: One spark will light up both their lives

Alice is settling down. It might not be the adventurous life she once imagined, but more than anything she wants to make everyone happy - her steady boyfriend, her over-protective mother - even if it means a little part of her will always feel stifled.

Max is shaking things up. After a devastating injury, he is determined to prove himself. To find the man beyond the disability, to escape his smothering family and go on an adventure.

A trip to Sri Lanka is Alice's last hurrah - her chance to throw herself into the heat, chaos and colour of a place thousands of miles from home.

It's also the moment she meets Max.

Alice doesn't know it yet, but her whole life is about to change.

Max doesn't know it yet, but he's the one who's going to change it.

Review: Isabelle Broom is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors. Her stories are getting better and better with each new book and she always takes us readers to the most wonderful places. In her latest book, she takes us on a stunning tour of Sri Lanka. 

Full of magical moments, heart-melting romance and intense emotions, One Thousand Stars and You is unmissable. I fell completely in love with this story and its characters and I am now 100 % obsessed with Sri Lanka. I even cooked a Sri Lankan Chicken Curry this weekend and made Chicken Kottu Roti with the leftovers. I cannot wait to go there myself and try the real thing. 

Also, don't you just loved it when you get to a scene in a story and then boom! The title makes so much sense and is so perfect? This happened here and I loved it, so much. 

Alice is such and interesting and intriguing character. I really couldn't wait to discover all her secrets. I enjoyed it so much reading about her friendship with her two child-hood friends and how they interacted with each other. And then we had Max. He stole a tiny be of my heart and kept it to himself. 

This is one of those reads that makes you remember what is important in life and that there's always the possibility of an adventure around the corner if you are willing to turn the corner. Definitely a story that I will be re-reading soon to enjoy all the little details again. 

New book review today for the gorgeous The Place We Met by Isabelle Broom. Heartbreak, humour and romance set in Italy's beautiful and dramatic Lake Como. Under dazzling New Year's Eve fireworks, two women hope for new beginnings... 

Title: The Place We Met

Author: Isabelle Broom

Published: November 30th 2017 by Michael Joseph

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Taggie is only a few months into her job as a tour guide in Lake Como. She's rushed off her feet, but distraction is what she needs to forget why she left England. 

Lucy arrives at Lake Como with her perfect new boyfriend, Pete. Falling fast in love, she's sure that life is about to start for her, it feels so right with him.

But as New Year's Eve approaches and the women meet by chance, it becomes clear this isn't the perfect place of new beginnings. While Lucy is willing to do anything to keep hold of Pete, the past Taggie so desperately wanted to escape is catching up with her...

Review: Isabelle Broom is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors. Her stories are getting better and better with each new book and she always takes us readers to the most wonderful places. This time we head to Lake Como to discover a magical setting and two heartfelt, compelling and really interesting stories.

On one hand we have brave and stubborn Taggie, who has left London and moved to Como to try to heal her broken heart. On the other hand, we have Lucy who is quite at the beginning of a relationship. She has surprised her boyfriend with a trip to Como to share her love for this lake with her special person. 

I was really curious about both story lines and it was really difficult (quite impossible, actually) to put this book down. Both stories were full of secrets and quite unexpected surprises and I just wanted to know everything that was going on. This was such a clever and touching book. I completely fell in love with it.

Once again, Isabelle Brooms brings us a magical and evocative story that really tugs at your heartstrings. And its characters will stay with me for a long time. I actually finished this book a few days ago and I haven't stopped missing them. It's safe to say that The Place We Met will be on my top reads of the year.

Definitely one not to miss these holidays, pick a copy and get lost in gorgeous lake Como.

Rating: 5 stars

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

Today's review is for Graeme Simsion's latest book, The Life of Adam Sharp. You probable heard about The Rosie Project a few years ago. I loved that book and its sequel, so I couldn't not pick his new work. Here are my thoughts:

Title: The Best of Adam Sharp

Author: Graeme Simsion

Published: February 9th 2017 by Penguin

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Can you define your life by a single song?

Adam Sharp - former pianist in a hip Melbourne bar, now a respectable IT consultant in Norwich - can. And it's 'You're Going to Lose that Girl' . . .

On the cusp of fifty and a happy introvert, Adam is content. He's the music expert at his local pub-quiz and he and his partner Claire rumble along. Life may not be rock n' roll, but neither is it easy listening. Yet something has always felt off-key.

And that's his nostalgia for what might have been, his blazing affair - more than twenty years ago, on the other side of the world - with Angelina Brown, a smart and sexy, strong-willed actress who taught him for the first time, as he played piano and she sang, what it meant to find - and then lose - love. How different might his life be if he hadn't let her walk away?

Then, out of nowhere, Angelina gets in touch. Adam has sung about second chances, but does he have the courage to believe in them?

Review: I really enjoyed both The Rosie Project and The Rosie Effect so I was very curious to see what that author would write next. The first I noticed about this story is that it is quite different to his previous books. It is less humorous, drier and less touching. The characters in this one are difficult to like and they usually take quite questionable decisions. It doesn't mean that it is not a good story, but I have to say that I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted.

First of all we have Adam, almost fifty with quite an easy even if a bit boring life. That is until he gets un email from his first love, Australian actress Angelina Brown. She stole his heart more than 20 years ago and they haven't been in touch since then. During the first part of the book, we get to know what happened back then and also how they interact now via email. There's a certain mystery surrounding their story so I was really curious to find more about them as a couple. This is definitely the part I enjoyed the most.

When they finally meet again, the story takes quite an unexpected turn that I am not sure worked that well. They were not their better self when they were together and I found the relationship between Angelina and her current husband plain weird. I then realized that I didn't like Adam and I even liked Angelina less, so I didn't care about what would happen to them next. But I guess, like in life, you cannot like everybody.

All in all, this is quite an interesting story that reflects on what could have been and long lost loves but also on how we don't appreciate what we have until it's too late. I was expecting something a bit more fun but it turned out to have quite a serious tone, which was OK as it was well written and engaging. But it won't be for sure a story that will stay with me. 

Rating: 3 stars

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book via NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

Isabelle Broom has a new book out and this time she is whisking us away to the magical town of Mojacar, in Spain. Are you ready? Today I'm sharing my thoughts on this story:

Title: Then. Now. Always.

Author: Isabelle Broom

Published: April 20th 2017 by Michael Joseph

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Hannah can't believe it when she's offered a trip to sunny Spain with her best friend and dreamy boss . . . what's the catch?

Twenty-eight year old Hannah is ready for an adventure. She and her colleagues are in Spain for a month to film a documentary, and it's a dream come true. Not least because Hannah will get to spend long summer days with Theo, her boss (and crush). If only Tom (Hannah's best friend and cameramen) and Claudette (the presenter) would stop getting in the way...

Then things become even more complicated when Nancy, Hannah's half-sister arrives. What on earth is she doing here?

For once in her life, can't Hannah just have one perfect summer, free of any drama?

Review: Isabelle Broom is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Her stories are always surrounded by a special magic and her characters are always interesting, charming and full of surprises. In her latest story, we meet Hannah, a young woman with a stable but quite boring job researching for documentaries and with a huge crush on her boss. Her life is a bit lacking in the love and the adventures departments so when she is offered to join the team on a field trip to the south of Spain, to the very same place she discovered and fell in love with during her teen years, she is ready for the adventure of a lifetime. Especially as it will give her many chances to get to know her gorgeous Greek boss.

Once we land in Almería, we soon start feeling excited ourselves for the stay in Mojácar. This little town on the south coast of Spain is a hidden gem full of stories, sunshine, beautiful views and a bit of magic. I had never heard about it before reading this story, but as usual, Isabelle Broom has convinced me to visit asap. I especially liked how it brought the best of people out, especially with Hannah. We got to know a braver more confident Hannah as she connected with the place again.

Mojácar was full of surprises for everyone, and as the story progressed, I couldn't stop reading to know more. The unexpected arrival of Hannah's half-sister threw a bit Hannah off, but I soon realized there was something really amiss between these two. I was really curious to find out how their relationship evolved and if Hannah would be able to share her special bit of paradise with her. 

As you can image, there's also love in the story. But I have to say that this part is the one that surprised me the most. The story didn't go at all as I would have thought and it surprised my in a very positive way. The ending of the story was really fitting with the whole atmosphere of the book and it literally left me with goosebumps. It's been a few days already since I finished Then. Now. Always. and it hasn't left my mind yet. 

A truly special and magical story that will bring lots of sunshine to your life. I highly recommend you pick this book this summer and enjoy the south of Spain as you have never done so before. 

Rating: 5 stars

After loving Isabelle Broom's debut, A Map of You, earlier this year, I was really looking forward to getting my hands on her second book. Even more when she said it was set in Prague, a beautiful city that I loved visiting. Here's what I thought about it:

Title: A Year and a Day

Author: Isabelle Broom

Published: November 17th 2016 by Penguin

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Welcome to a city where wishes are everywhere

For Megan, a winter escape to Prague with her friend Ollie is a chance to find some inspiration for her upcoming photography exhibition. But she's determined to keep their friendship from becoming anything more. Because if Megan lets Ollie find out about her past, she risks losing everything - and she won't let that happen again . . .

For Hope, the trip is a surprise treat from Charlie, her new partner. But she's struggling to enjoy the beauty of the city when she knows how angry her daughter is back home. And that it's all her fault . . 

For Sophie, the city has always been a magical place. This time she can't stop counting down the moments until her boyfriend Robin joins her. But in historic Prague you can never escape the past . . .

Three different women.

Three intertwining love stories.

One unforgettable, timeless city.

Review: What a treat! After loving Isabelle Broom's debut, My Map of You, I was really looking forward to her second book and after finishing it, I can truly say A Year and a Day is a magical and evocative story. Set in the beautiful city of Prague, this book tells the story of three different couples that find themselves in the same hotel. My favourite couple was Megan and Ollie. They are actually only friends but it's quite clear from the begining that Ollie has other intentions. I really enjoyed reading about them and their back stories, and they had so much fun together.

Then we've got Hope and Charlie. She has just left her husband for him and their are still getting used to each other and their quirks. I really liked Hope, she was like a mummy bear, always worrying and taking care of the younger girls. I think her story was really inspiring, especially as she started to realise that her own happiness should be her priority and everyone else's. And finally, we've got Sophie and Robin. At the beginning of the story, Sophie is alone, waiting for Robin to get to Prague. I found her a bit needy and annoying, always missing him and thinking about him. I felt like she couldn't function without him. But then as I got to know her better, I started to warm to her and she really got me by the end of the story.

And then, there's an addition character in the story: the city of Prague. I had the pleasure of visiting it a few years ago during winter too and found it a really interesting and beautiful place but Isabelle Broom makes it a magical place (I need to revisit pronto). I loved reading her descriptions of the cobled streets, the statues on the bridge, the clock in the main square and all the secrets places we discover during the story. I think that reading about Megan's pictures (she's a photografer) and her instant connection with the city added a new dimension to these description. I could totally picture her photos, the light and the feelings they evoked.

Isabelle Broom has done it again with A Year and a Day, an unforgetable story that will surprise you and will make you fall in love with the magical city of Prague. Definitely one not to miss these holidays, pick a copy and get lost in the colourful Christmas Markets of Prague! 

Rating: 5 stars

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Hello! Thanks so much for having me – it’s such a pleasure to be here. Who am I? Well, on top of being a very excited debut author, I’m also the Book Reviews Editor at heat magazine, huge lover of holidays, adventures, my dog Max, wine, nice chats with lovely friends and, most importantly of all, laughter. I’ve been working at heat for over ten years now, and before that I did a media degree and lots of travelling. I’ve been a book fan since I could hold one up, and have been writing since the age of five. Only took me thirty years to get published, then. Ha! 

2) Your debut, My Map of You, is such a well-crafted story with lots of family secrets and twists. What inspired you to write this story?

It came from my love of Zakynthos. Ever since I first visited the island in 2000, I felt this pull to the place. I’ve lived in London for almost 15 years now, but it’s still never felt as much as a home to me as Zakynthos does. When I’m there, I feel at peace; I’m the best version of myself, and it was this feeling that I wanted to convey through the novel. Holly’s story grew from that original idea, but I always knew I wanted to set my debut novel in my beloved Greece.

Frappe on Zakynthos

3) I completely fell in love with the island of Zakynthos, the setting for My Map of You. Why did you choose this setting and what makes it special for you?

Ah, see above! And as far as the reasons I love it so much go, there are a few. First of all, it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. I could sit on that beach in Kalamaki and watch the water for hours, and I love how unspoiled much of the island is. Secondly, the Greek people are just amazing – hospitable, hilarious, genuine, patriotic, warm, welcoming – I could go on and on. I love the way of life over there, and the gorgeous weather. Every time I head there, as soon as the plane wheels hit the tarmac I start smiling, and I don’t stop until the trip ends.

4) Do you have a favourite character from the story?

Oh, it has to be Aidan, although I have a huge soft spot for Kostas and Nikos, too, as well as my darling Holly. And Phelan. In fact, all the animals!

5) Mine is also gorgeous Irish Aidan. Did you have anyone in mind while writing him? 

While I was writing him, no, but people have asked me since who I’d pick to play him in a film version of the book, and I always choose Aidan Turner (aka Poldark). He has that tall, dark, Irish sexiness in abundance.

6) You're quite a traveller yourself. What's the best place you have ever visited and would like to escape to right now?

Oh gosh, what a question! Zakynthos always tops my list – I fully intend to retire there one day. But I also love Prague, purely for the magic and welcoming people, and LA is a lot of fun. I went to Sri Lanka last year, which was captivating, and I’d love to head back there and see more of it. 

7) And what place you haven't visited yet would you love to discover?

As far as dream destinations go, my number one is Hawaii. I’ve never been, but I’m desperate to go! I’d also love to go on a wine tour in New Zealand, do some charity work in India, drive through Alaska, and see Easter Island. I have a very long list!

8) You are the Book Reviews Editor at heat magazine. Do you think that reviewing books helps your own writing process?

It certainly sets the bar high. I think reading a wide range of books is so important for writers, because it keeps you inspired and motivated. I’m always reading something, even while writing my own novels, and I don’t have a problem separating the two. If I couldn’t, I’d be very sad indeed, because reading is second only to writing when it comes to stuff I love to do. I’ll tell you a little secret, though – being a reviewer doesn’t make the prospect of reading reviews of your own book any easier. That stage of the process is nerve-wracking, because what I want most is for people to enjoy the story.

9) What are your most anticipated books of the year?

This is SUCH a stellar year for books, but I’m very excited to read new titles from Katie Marsh, Claire Mackintosh, Stella Newman, Giovanna Fletcher and – fingers crossed – Lucy Robinson. There’s also the small matter of a new Harry Potter script coming out in July and a brand-new epic beast of a bonkbuster from Jilly Cooper in September. All these make me very excited indeed!

10) And finally, can you tell us what can we expect from you next?

I can! My second novel, which is entitled A Year and a Day, is arriving in November, and follows three couples who head to Prague over the same long weekend, and whose lives end up colliding. I can’t give away too many details just yet, but I can tell you that it will have plenty of laughter, love, tears and even magic.

About the book: 

Title: My Map of You

Author: Isabelle Broom

Published: April 21st 2016 by Michael Joseph

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: How do you move on after losing the person you loved? How do you build a life worth living?

Louisa Clark is no longer just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. After the transformative six months spent with Will Traynor, she is struggling without him. When an extraordinary accident forces Lou to return home to her family, she can’t help but feel she’s right back where she started.

Her body heals, but Lou herself knows that she needs to be kick-started back to life. Which is how she ends up in a church basement with the members of the Moving On support group, who share insights, laughter, frustrations, and terrible cookies. They will also lead her to the strong, capable Sam Fielding—the paramedic, whose business is life and death, and the one man who might be able to understand her. Then a figure from Will’s past appears and hijacks all her plans, propelling her into a very different future...

For Lou Clark, life after Will Traynor means learning to fall in love again, with all the risks that brings. But here Jojo Moyes gives us two families, as real as our own, whose joys and sorrows will touch you deeply, and where both changes and surprises await.

Review: I think I've never been so excited and afraid at the same time for the release of a sequel. Me Before You is one of my all time favourite reads and even after finishing it a couple of years ago I remember it as if I had finished it just yesterday. So when Jojo Moyes announced she was writing a sequel I was over the moon but at the same time I couldn't not think what if it doesn't live up my really high expectations? 

So to go straight to the point, is After You as good as Me Before You? For me the answer is no. But just because Me Before You is out of this world good and such a unique and powerful story that it stays with you forever. But I have to say that After You is a great book and a worthy sequel. I promised myself I wouldn't cry like a baby with this one. I think I lasted ten pages. As soon as you go back to Louisa's world, everything goes back to you and the emotions are too much. 

I soon realised that just as Louisa, I was still mourning Will. I think we all needed this book to be able to accept his death and move on too. As the beginning of the story, Will's presence was still really strong and alive and I just couldn't stop my tears just thinking about it all. I could feel Lou's pain. But as the story progresses and new characters appear, little by little you feel how Will's presence starts to fade away and it becomes Lou's story. 

It was difficult not to compare the new characters with Will, especially Lou's new love interest, basically because if you compare them, they are going to fail miserably against Will, he had a charisma and a personality so unique and his connection with Lou was just extraordinary. But, little by little I starting liking and even loving these new characters, especially a young girl who was a bit lost and needed someone to love her unconditionally. And soon I found myself so immersed in the story that hours would pass without me even realising. 

I am giving After You five stars because on its own it is an extraordinary story about moving on and finding who you want to be but also because it worked as a sequel. It probably won't be my book of the year but I will hold it close to my heart. And I'm sure that Me Before You fans will not be disappointed with Lou's after Will life. 

Rating: 

Blurb: It's springtime in London and everything is about to change for Annie Mulholland. From the moment she meets Stephen Flint, things seem too good to be true as Annie abandons her customary cautiousness for a wild love affair.

In Somerset, Kate Brady is starting a new job. Fresh air, new faces and good old fashioned hard work is just what she needs to put everything that happened in Dublin behind her.

But what are these two old friends hiding, and for how long can they run from the secrets of their past before they come crashing into their futures?

Review: I knew from the moment I finished The Greatest Love Story of All Time, Lucy's debut, that Lucy Robinson was gonna be huge. But with every book, she keeps blowing me away even more and The Day We Disappeared is no exception. I think it's her best book yet and if The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me was my book of the year of 2014, I am quite sure The Day We Disappeared will be my book of the Year of 2015.

This story is about two friends who are undergoing major changes in their lives, new job, new love interest, new life style. I really liked both characters. Annie seemed fragile like a petal, hunted by her horrific past, but was actually strong and ready to fight for a better life. And I loved Kate from the first page. Lively, always smiling and with her own secrets. The book alternates their stories by chapters, and I just wanted to read it all at once, when I was reading Kate's story I missed Annie and viceversa. And then, boom! Lucy left me speechless. Really, you need to read the book to know what I am talking about but there was a twist (multiple, actually) that I didn't see coming at all and was just wow! Lucy, I take off my hat and salute you. You clever cookie.

The Day We Disappeared is a compelling and gripping tale that will capture you and won't let you go until you've devoured the story rather than read it. Lucy is one of those epic story tellers who gets in your head, her stories always remain with me and each and every one of her books has been an instant favourite.

Plus, Lucy has the ability to make you laugh and snort so easily. I loved how Kate always had the Bad Shit under control (more or less) or how Annie's group of friends was called Le Cloob (because it sounded French-ish). But this book has a dark side too. Beautifully written and handled.

I have no doubt that The Day We Disappeared will be one of the books of 2015. A true work or art that you can't miss.

Rating: