CHRONICLES OF A LINCOLN PARK FASHIONISTA

Author: Aven Ellis

Today is my first review for the #NetGalleyMonth, the fantastic event organised by chicksthatread.com. So first of all I would like to thank the publishers, Avon (HarperCollins) for sending me a copy of the book via Net Galley. 

Title: The Atlas of Us

Author: Tracy Buchanan

Published: July 31st 2014 by Avon (HarperCollins)

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: How far would you go for the one you love the most?

When Louise Fenton flies to Thailand to find her mother, Nora, after the Boxing Day tsunami, she fears the worst when the only trace she can find is her mother’s distinctive bag. In the bag is a beautifully crafted atlas owned by travel journalist Claire Shreve, with her notes and mementos slipped in-between the pages. The journal tells the story of Claire’s struggle to find her place in the world following a life-altering revelation, and a tumultuous love affair.

Louise treks across Thailand's scarred landscape, exploring Claire’s atlas to try to make sense of the connection between this woman and the mother she is so desperate to find.

As devastated people are beginning to put their lives back together, Louise uncovers the secrets that nearly destroyed Claire and the man she loved – the same secrets her mother has been guarding all these years …

THE ATLAS OF US will take you on a moving and enthralling journey across the globe, and into the most intimate spaces in a relationship. And it will find its way into your heart.

Review: I was very intrigued by the blurb of this book and by the beautiful cover. When I started reading it, I could sense that it was going to be an epic story and I was not wrong. Tracy Buchanan writes an impressive debut novel, that captures you from page one and takes you around the world in a gripping journey packed with adventures, secrets, struggles, devastation but also courage and love. 

The Atlas of Us is a layered novel set in many different parts of the world and in different periods of time that tells the story of two different women Claire and Louise. Claire is a journalist that after coming to terms with the fact that she is infertile starts reconsidering her life, her job, her mariage... then it's when she meets Milo, a sometimes dark character that has had a troubled life in an even more troubled family. But they somehow click. Claire is a fascinating character to read about: stronger than she seems, with a huge heart, we accompany her on her journey not only around the world but through her life, with its up and downs. And Milo is one of the most intriguing men I have read about, he had an aura of mistery surrounding him, with all his secrets, his changes in personality but with so much love to give. It was really interesting getting to know him better, I think I hated and loved him in equal parts though. 

As for Louise, she is in Thailand after the tsunami looking for her stranged mother. But then she finds the body of a woman with the bag and passport of her mother but with an Atlas and necklace belonging to Claire. She doesn't know who this Claire is and what connects her to her mother, but trully believing that her mother is still alive she starts her own journey around the devastated country to try to locate her. Little by little, she unfolds the secrets surrounding her mother and Claire and what brought them together. 

As I said, Tracy creates an utterly gripping story that will suck you and will have you turning page after page wanting to know more about the lifes of these women. I especially loved Tracy's way of describing, not only all the places this journey took us to but also her way of describing people, how you could see their soul through her writing. Some of the secondary character were a treat to read about, from the haunted Holly to the lovely Filipe. I loved this book, it was raw but beautiful and it merged the two stories perfectly. I totally recommend it. 

Rating: 

Blurb: Sally is an incredible singer but she sings only in her wardrobe where nobody can hear her. She'd rather join a nudist colony than sing in public.

That is until she ventures to New York where a wild and heady summer of love and loss changes her forever. No longer able to hide in the shadows, Sally must return home to London to fulfill a promise she cannot break - to share her voice.

But just as she's about to embark on her new life, a beautiful man turns up on Sally's doorstep bearing a sheepish smile and a mysterious hand-written message.

How did he find her? Why is he here? Does he hold the truth to what happened back in New York? And, with him back on the scene, will she still have the courage to step into the spotlight?

Review: I absolutely loved Lucy's debut novel, The Greatest Love Story of All Time, but with The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me, Lucy has completely blown me away. When I finished it some days ago, I thought this is one of the greatest books I have read this year, but now I am actually thinking this is one of the greatest books I have EVER read. I loved it from cover (which by the way is just perfection) to end. It was a unique novel written like an opera and even if I have absolutely no idea about opera, I have ended up loving this world immensely thanks to Julian and especially Sally.

As we start reading the book we learn that something horrible happened one year ago in New York to Sally, her best friend but also cousin Fiona and Julian, the love of her life. But after that, they all have parted ways and Sally is back to London to fulfill a promise: she is going to go the conservatory and sing in public. From that moment, we learn little by little all about Sally's life, her struggles with her parents when she was a kid, her love and support for her wild cousin, her fears, her dreams and her secrets. The opera structure, with its acts and scenes, works perfectly and you find yourself devouring the book for hours.

Sally is a character I instantly warmed to and I totally got her. That she would sing in her wardrove for fear of being heard was just genius. I could imagine her, as a little girl, in her wardrove singing like there was no tomorrow. But during the book she becomes a better version of herself and we have the privilege to do it with her. I was so proud of her at the end! And what about Julian? He was the cutest. Since we met him in New York, I could sense he was someone special and they had the perfect connection, you could sense their love for each other. Even after their separation and his betrayal, I just couldn't hate him. He was the piece of puzzle missing in Sally's life.

As for the secondary characters, they were the cherry on top of this wonderful story. I especially liked Jan Borsos, who walked through half of Europe to get to London so he could attend the conservatory, he even lost one of his shoes in Paris! I mean, how can you not love him! He had a very special role in Sally's life and was one of the funniest!

This book has so many layers. It handles some heavy topics like addiction, eating disorders or betrayal with such wonderful delicacy but at the same time Lucy makes you laugh until you snort. I'd say she writes an epic love story in an epic setting, the world of the opera. I completely forgot about everything else while reading this book and I felt like I learned a lot too. It makes you appreciate a new world, she writes with such a passion that as soon as I finished I begged my boyfriend to take me to the opera. All I have left to say is drop everything you are doing right now and get this book. As I said, it has become one of my all-time favourites and I will be re-reading it quite soon.

Rating: 5 stars plus a little heart, meaning it has been one of my favourites so far!

These are the titles I would like to read and review during September. I still have a couple more books in my shelves so if I have time, I might read more book and who knows maybe get my percentage to 100%! Too optimistic maybe? Well, we'll see! 

I'll be back soon with reviews but in the meanwhile you can check which other blogs are taking part in the #NetGalleyMonth here: http://www.chicksthatread.com/netgalley-month.html

And don't forget to enter the fantastic giveaway that Tay have prepared with the help of multiple authors: 

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Blurb: They were teenage sweethearts from opposite sides of the tracks - with a passion that would change their lives forever. But life would force them apart.

Years later, the lines between past and present are about to slip . . . Called back to their hometown for the funeral of the mentor who gave them shelter when they needed it most, they are faced with each other once again. Can true love ever rewrite the past?

The new epic love story from the multi-million copy bestselling author of The Notebook and The Last Song. Nicholas Sparks is one of the world's most beloved authors.

Review: As a huge fan of Nicholas Sparks I was over the moon when I was offered the chance to review The Best of Me. Nicholas is one of my favourite authors, his books never leave me indifferent and something that always captures me is that with his books you never know if the ending is going to be happy or devastating. I remember when I first read Message in a Bottle when it came out and I was so angry this the way the book ended! But Nicholas' books are about life and the struggles and difficulties we all find and fight, so if they all ended like fairytales, they wouldn't reflect real life and we wouldn't love them so much.

The Best of Me tells the story of two teenagers who fall in love against all odds. They share a love pure and real but life gets in the way and they get separated. They aren't able to forget each other though and even with new lifes, new families, they keep thinking, what if? So when they find each other years later, they wonder if their love might have survived all these years and they might have a future together.

The book is beautifully written, describing their feelings perfectly, you can actually feel their love through the pages. But as I said, Nicholas' book never promise a happy ending so you just keep wondering if they will be able to make it at the end or not. But the beauty of the book is not only the ending but the journey through it. You get to know the characters and end up loving them, I especially warmed to Tuck, the lonely old man who helps this couple even after his death and you can tell that there's more under his grumpy exterior. It was beautiful to read about his love story with Clara too.

All in all, I loved this story and how all the pieces clicked together to create a wonderful unique love story. Even the title makes perfect sense when you finish the story. I cannot wait now to see this great book turned into a movie. 

Rating: 

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