Summer Q and A with Chrissie Manby!

Today my guest is the wonderful Chrissie Manby, whose new novel  A Proper Family Adventure is released today!  To celebrate summer, Chrissie has kindly answered some seasonal questions just for Books with Bunny. 

Ice cream or ice lolly?

Chrissie Manby

Ice cream. Preferably Bacio flavour (chocolate and hazelnut) from an Italian chain called Grom. They also make Bacio hot chocolate in winter.

 

Sea or Sand?

Sand. It has to be sizzling hot before I go into the water. My favourite beaches are in Wales and Cornwall so you can imagine how often that happens.

UK or abroad?

Both. There's nothing as beautiful as a wild beach in West Wales but I am also in love with Florence and Tuscany for the countryside, the people and the views.

Vacation or staycation?

Vacation. I love to travel. I live in Balham. I'm always looking for an escape.

Bikini or swimming costume?

Bikini. I'm long-waisted so one piece costumes never fit.

A glass of Pimms or a chilled beer?

Neither. Aperol spritz.

Tennis or cricket?

Neither. I'm afraid I am utterly disinterested in sport.

And finally, what's your favourite summer read?

Anything by Lucy Dillon, Fiona Walker or Alex Potter. Three immensely talented ladies I am lucky enough to count as friends.

 

Chrissie Manby’s new novel A Proper Family Adventure is published in paperback and eBook today (16^th July) by Hodder & Stoughton, £7.99. Follow Chrissie on twitter @chrissiemanby

 

With many thanks to Chrissie for taking the time to answer my questions!  My review of A Proper Family Adventure will be up in August.

 

The Beach Cafe- Lucy Diamond A DIAMOND FRIDAY, PLUS GIVEAWAY!

It's a gloriously sunny day here in South Yorkshire, and what's more- IT'S FRIDAY!  And even better than that, DIAMOND FRIDAYS ARE BACK!!!!!

Yes, after a week off due to the dreaded laptop malfunction I am back with a review of The Beach Café.  This was the first Lucy Diamond book I ever read, and as I reread it a few weeks ago I remembered exactly why I loved it so much.

Firstly, the plot.  Evie is different to the rest of her family.  A bit of a dreamer, some might even go so far as to say flighty, Evie has never really settled at anything.  So when her beloved Aunt dies, leaving her a café in Cornwall, she is doubtful as to whether she can run it.  She couldn't manage it long distance, that's for sure, so would mean a move to the seaside.  And what's more, Evie can't bake.  Surely she can't really make a go of it?

It sounds good, doesn't it?  It is.  The Beach Café is a proper old fashioned story about life, love and dreams.  It makes me feel like good things can happen out of difficult situations.  It makes me believe pie in the sky fantasies can come true. And it makes me long to be on a beach, the waves crashing onto the shore reminding me of the beauty of life.

Lucy Diamond has created a character you will fall in love with in Evie.  She represents everyone who has ever longed for something which seems out of reach and everyone who has failed to live up to the expectations of society, their parts or the world at large.  In short, you'll be aching for her to triumph, in all areas of her life.

The fine line between balancing humour and poignant moments in life is walked with precision, and even though I knew what was coming I had a lump in my throat as Evie made difficult decisions.  The observational humour is brilliant, Lucy could always take her sharp quips about the quirks we as humans possess to the stage as a sideline- she'd give Peter Kay a run for his money!

Overall, this is a wonderful book, heartfelt and touching.  The perfect summer read.

Next week I am going to be sharing my thoughts on Lucy's Me and Mr Jones.  If you would like to win a copy, kindly donated as a prize by the publisher , enter the rafflecopter giveaway below.



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Camp Payback- JK Rock (Camp Boyfriend #2)

Alex is sort-of-famous.  The troublesome teen daughter of two 'family lifestyle' bloggers, she can't wait to escape to her final summer camp.  She's determined to make the most of it, live life to the full and break some of the rules.  Her plan is to be outrageous and shock her wholesome parents and her conniving ex boyfriend-her wild summer will be payback.

But then she meets Javier.  Her world turns upside down.  Alex no longer wants to put herself first, and is almost shocked to find that she cares for someone other than herself.  However, she still manages to cause chaos, even if it is unintentionally...

Camp Payback is a coming of age tale, sometimes a bit too pious, but overall an enjoyable tale of the experience of summer camp.  As a Brit this is something I have never experience first hand (except 2 nights at Brownie camp when I was seven, where we slept in a church hall in fusty, festering sleeping bags) and I have always enjoyed books in this genre.  It is the balance between freedom, the parent free existence, and the constraints imposed by other adults.  Like books set in boarding schools, there is that limbo state where boundaries are constantly being pushed. 

I didn't especially warm to Alex, which probably hampered my enjoyment of this book.  However, I really liked Javier, he came across as warm and honest despite his difficult life.  The romance between the two protagonists was sweet, but again my lack of empathy towards Alex didn't make me long for their happy ending.

I found the beginning of this book great, but as it progressed my interest faded.  It wasn't badly written and I quite liked the plot, but Alex became more and more irritating to me as the story went on. 

Overall, I am sure that the teen audience will enjoy this book- I also expect they would overlook some of Alex's character traits which I, as an adult, found annoying.

Camp Payback is out today.

6.5/10

With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy of this book.

The Memory Box- Sarah Webb

Can you ever really forget your first love?

 

The Memory Box appealed to the side of me that is an emotional wreck.  I loved the blurb-the novel sounded like a real blub-fest which is exactly what I was looking for.  A good cry every now and then is so cathartic and it always feels that bit safer to let emotion out from behind the cover of a book (except when you are reading on public transport.  Then it just feels embarrassing.  When you get those snot bubbles from gulping in too much air between pitiful sobs-surely it isn't just me?!). 

 

A story encompassing the power of first love, The Memory Box follows Pandora Schuster at a difficult point in her life.  On the cusp of turning thirty, she is tested for a hereditary family illness.  This eye-opening process prompts Pandora to search for her ex-boyfriend and the father of her child, the deliciously named Frenchman Olivier Huppert.   On a trip to Paris with her girl-friends, Pandora seeks Olivier but things do not turn out as she had hoped.  With a heavy heart and the knowledge that her daughter will never know her father she begins to collate the memories of their relationship.  Pandora's box stirs up emotions that challenge her and cause her to reassess her current life. 

 

I found The Memory Box to be an easy read without being completely frivolous.  Touching on cancer, bereavement, lost love, financial hardship and stepfamilies, there are a lot of women who will be able to relate to the many aspects of life conveyed in this book.  Personally, I was especially affected by the emotionally charged letters throughout The Memory Box and that was where my eyes welled up with tears (although I managed to escape the snot bubbles, thankfully).

 

I did feel that Pandora's daughter, Iris, was portrayed as being much younger than her nine years.  That was the only thing that really irked me about the book as I thought she came across as being much younger and I didn't find her a very believable character.  However, I thought Pandora was real and likeable and I developed a bit of a literary crush on the idea of Olivier through Pandora's memories of him.  Overall, I found the friendships, family complexities and especially the romance in The Memory Box engaging and would recommend it to fans of Cecelia Ahern, Sophie Kinsella and Marian Keyes.

 

The Memory Box is out today, published by Macmillan.

 

7.5/10

 

With thanks to Macmillan for kindly providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.



Wicked Wives-Anna-Lou Wetherley

Wicked Wives is Anna-Lou Wetherley's second adult fiction title. Packed to the rafters with wealthy women and charming yet caddish men, this is a sizzler of a book perfect for the beach. 

 

Tom Black is the ultimate playboy.  His dream is to own a luxury casino, but the dream slips through his fingers as he gambles away his millions in Las Vegas.  Old flame Loretta seizes the opportunity to help Tom out, but only at a price.... 

Meanwhile friends Ellie and Tor are also linked to Tom Black.  A tangled web of lies and passion soon spirals out of control.  Can any of these women tame him?  Or is Tom playing with the heart and mind of each and every one of them?

At first I found it difficult to keep track of the characters.  There are quite a few and their lives are all intertwined, which took a while to get my head around.  However, once I did I was completely hooked- this was escapism pure and simple.  Follow the rich and the powerful as they all fight for attention and vie for all their hearts' desire-these women are used to getting what they want and they don't care how they get it!  Loretta in particular deserves a mention. She is just the kind of woman I love to hate in fiction- selfish, manipulative and bitchy beyond belief.

I was in the mood for a proper romp of a book and Wicked Wives fitted the bill perfectly.   It was like a soap opera in a book-compelling and addictive, sometimes reassuringly predictable yet with the odd curve-ball that left my jaw gaping in disbelief. 

It reminded me very much of Tasmina Perry's books, but I think I preferred Wicked Wives.  The women were sharp, cunning and devious, which I loved, and although far from the perfect man I must admit Tom Black was exceedingly attractive (helped along by the fact I visualised him as looking like Chris Noth-yum!), all the women falling at his feet is testament to the fact I'm not the only one feeling the heat!

If you like your fiction challenging and thought provoking this probably isn't the book for you, but if you are after an entertaining, easy read full of glamour, lust and competitive women then you'll love it.

Wicked Wives is out now, published by Avon, and imprint of HarperCollins.

8.5/10
With thanks to Avon for providing me with a review copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Mad About You- Sinead Moriarty

 

Mad about You is the fourth book following the relationship of Emma and James.  Although it could be read as a stand alone novel I felt that having previous knowledge of the characters did add to my enjoyment of the book. 

 

Emma and James are now parents to two young children.  Following a move to London so James can continue working as a rugby coach, Emma finds she struggles to fit in.  The yummy mummy's seem content to spend their husbands big fat paycheques and Emma quickly realises this lifestyle is not for her.  Returning to work as a make up artist alongside her outlandish sister Babs, Emma discovers life as a working Mum holds challenges of its own.  Emma is pushed to the edge of her limits when it appears James, previously so supportive and loving, is having an affair.  Overtly sexual text messages are initially taken to be a prank, but when a vibrator arrives with a sinister message, Emma is close to breaking point.  Can their marriage survive under the strain?

 

Sinead Moriarty is often compared to Marian Keyes, and there are certainly some similarities in the writing style.  Very much family orientated, Mad about You has a perfect balance between wicked humour and an engaging plot.  Emma is a likeable character that females will relate to- a woman trying to have it all and struggling to keep her sanity as a working Mum. The family dynamics are also something that many readers will be familiar with, the 'can't live with them, can't live without them' dilemma.  I thought the relationship between Emma and Babs in particular was believable and touching.

 

Although I did find parts of the book predictable, Mad About You was a fun, easy read that chicklit fans will enjoy. 

 

Mad About You is out now, published by Penguin.

 

8/10

With thanks to Penguin for providing me with a review copy of Mad About You in return for an honest review.

The Naughty Girls' Book Club- Sophie Hart

A struggling café.  A new reading group.  A rather naughty reading list...

 

Estelle, a single Mum running the struggling Café Crumb, is keen to bring customers back to her business.  When the local bookshop closes, Estelle sees an opportunity- starting a book group at the café.  Estelle advertises locally and a small but select group is formed.  We meet Sue who feels stuck in a marriage rut, vintage fan and staunch feminist Gracie, Rebecca who wishes to spice up her sex life with husband Andy, and studious Reggie, attending only to gain material about book clubs for his thesis.

 

Starting with Tess of the D'Urbervilles and progressing to a bestselling erotic novel, the book group explore a saucy reading list covering Marquis de Sade, Jilly Cooper and Shirley Conran.  Inspired by the books they read, the members of the book club are soon having adventures of their own with romances blossoming and self confidence renewed. 

 

I must admit that when I first saw the cover of The Naughty Girls' Book Club I was doubtful as to whether it would be my kind of thing.  I've not really bought into the boom in erotic fiction, not for any reason other than I tried Fifty Shades of Grey and found it so badly written that I couldn't continue with it.  I have read other 'naughty' books in the past and am certainly not snobbish about them.  Riders, one of the books the book club read, was a favourite of mine in my student days.  I just haven't found much of the new wave of erotica that appeals to me.

 

However, The Naughty Girls' Book Club is not really erotica.  It does have some sexy scenes, but is actually more about the friendships that grow between the members of the group and their lives away from Café Crumb.  The characters really grow throughout the book and are a diverse group- I am sure readers will be able to see aspects of themselves in Estelle, Gracie, Rebecca, Sue and Reggie.  Plus, a book about books is always a success for me.  Fans of erotic fiction will find plenty of suggestions for future reads, both in the novel itself and the additional recommended reading at the back.  My edition also had a list of questions for book groups reading and discussing The Naughty Girls' Book Club.

 

Sophie Hart has written a book that is fun and flirty, frothy and frivolous, frank and forthright.  It strikes a perfect balance between naughtiness and niceties, and  reading The Naughty Girls' Book Club reminded me just how important true friends, those who accept you warts and all, really are.

 

A perfect holiday read for those seeking a story of romance, friendship with a touch of extra spice.

 

8.5/10

 

With thanks to Avon at Harper Collins for sending me a review copy of The Naughty Girls' Bookclub in return for an honest review.

It's Raining Men-Milly Johnson

I absolutely love Milly Johnson.  She writes witty 'chicklit' and I always find her characters likeable and believable.  The lead characters in It's Raining Men are no exception, and the bond between the friends is portrayed beautifully throughout the book. 

May, Clare and Lara are workmates that seem to have lost all work/life balance.  On top of that they are each facing relationship difficulties.  A spa holiday is just what the doctor ordered, a chance to escape and withdraw from the stresses of life for a while.  However, when they arrive at their destination, it isn't at all what they expect.  Ren Dullem is unwelcoming and full of locals who seem determined to spoil the girls' holiday. 

It's Raining Men is very different to Milly Johnson's previous novels.  Whilst still driven by relationships and friendships, there is also a magical element that will require most readers to suspend disbelief.  Personally that was my least favourite aspect of the novel, but that is possibly as I was expecting It's Raining Men to be similar to Milly's other books.  I did however, really enjoy finding out more about Lara, May and Clare's lives, and my nosy nature enjoyed meeting the eclectic, eccentric mix of locals in Ren Dullem. 

An easy read, It's Raining Men entertained and amused me.  If you enjoyed Sophie Kinsella's Twenties Girl, I am sure you'll love this. 

It's Raining Men is out now in paperback, published by Simon and Schuster.

7.5/10

You can read about the fun I had at the Meadowhall book launch of It's Raining Men here.

Just Add Spice- Carol E Wyer *Part of Carol's blog tour*

Just Add Spice is a witty and entertaining summer read that will resonate with everyone out there who feels their life comprises purely of the mundane. 

Dawn is a housewife.  That had always been enough for her, especially when her son was fully reliant on her.  However, now that he has flown the nest Dawn can't help but feel that her marriage to Jim, suffering from stresses following his redundancy, is going stale.  In an attempt to regain a sense of purpose, Dawn joins a creative writing group.  Here she meets a diverse group of people that share a desire to express themselves through writing, including the uber-attractive Jason, a younger man that has all the ladies in the group swooning. 

Just Add Spice is particularly interesting as it follows not just Dawn's story, but also the book that she is writing.  We are introduced to Cinnamon, a ball-breaking, no nonsense woman that no man dare mess with!  Her far fetched escapades are in sharp contrast to the banal nature of Dawn's existence, and this makes for an engaging and appealing read.

Can Dawn draw on Cinnamon's confidence and unleash her inner goddess?  Can her marriage be salvaged?  And will she ever finish writing this blasted book that is taking up so much of her time, energy and soul?

I really enjoyed Just Add Spice, my first Carol E. Wyer read, but not my last.  Perfect for anyone looking for an injection of romance and those reassessing what they want from life, it is a thought-provoking, humorous romp that will suck you in-I read the whole thing in two sittings.  It isn't an especially long book either, so would be ideal for reading on those flights to sunnier climes or lazing on a beach.  Carol has written a touching book that manages to strike just the right balance of romance, humour and heartfelt emotion.  Give it a whirl-spice up your life!

7.5/10
Published by Safkhet, Just Add Spice is out now.  You can find out more about Carol E. Wyer and her previous books here.

You can buy Just Add Spice from the following places...
Smashwords : https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/340188

US: http://www.amazon.com/Just-Add-Spice-ebook/dp/B00E4L8U7Q/

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Just-Add-Spice-ebook/dp/B00E4L8U7Q/

DE: http://www.amazon.de/Just-Add-Spice-ebook/dp/B00E4L8U7Q/

*Carol is celebrating the release of Just Add Spice by running a giveaway here -enter for the chance to win some spicy prizes!  Good luck!*

You can also catch up on more news, reviews and interviews with Carol E. Wyer on the following blogs which are also part of the Just Add Spice blog tour...
*Rick at http://rickrainbow001.wordpress.com/ * Melanie at http://mebookshelfandi.co.uk/ *Josie at http://jaffareadstoo.blogspot.co.uk/ *Shaz at http://shazsbookboudoir.blogspot.co.uk/ *Lisa at http://bookalicious-traveladdict.blogspot.co.uk/ * Donna at http://donnasroomforreading.blogspot.co.uk * Kim  at http://kimthebookworm.blogspot.co.uk/ * Sharon at http://jerasjamboree.com/ *JB at http://brookcottagebooks.blogspot.co.uk/ * Sheryl at http://sheryls-ramblings.blogspot.co.uk/ * Chris at http://chrisjamesauthor.com/category/blog/ *

Carol at http://dizzycslittlebookblog.blogspot.co.uk/ *

Swimming Pool Summer- Rebecca Farnworth

Swimming Pool Summer is definitely a holiday read.  I've been enjoying reading it outside in the recent heatwave, not by a pool, but sprawled on a blanket in the garden and lounging in a shaded spot of the local park.  Even the cover is alluring- a sky-blue pool that is just crying out to be dipped into.

Set on an idyllic Greek island, Swimming Pool Summer is the story of Frankie, Leila and Tor.  These thirty-something friends each have a secret that they can't share- Tor, who thought she was infertile, is pregnant, strong-minded Frankie is in love with her friend Patrick and workaholic Leila is trying to forget the one night stand that could ruin her marriage and tear her family apart. 

I found the plot believable and the characters were very human- they weren't all perfect size 8s, happy and carefree with no misdemeanours.  I particularly liked the portrayal of Frankie as hard-nosed and judgmental, until later in the book when her behaviour is justified through a revelation.  Each chapter of Swimming Pool Summer examines the friends in turn, which makes for a pacy, page-turning read and allows the characters to develop throughout.

I wasn't overly keen on the ending, I'm not generally a huge fan of books that do a 'one/five/ten year(s) on' summary.  Overall, however, I was thoroughly entertained by the fun, frolics and frivolity of Swimming Pool Summer.  I think fans of Jane Green and Marian Keyes might enjoy this story of friendship and romance.

Swimming Pool Summer is out now, published by Arrow.

8/10

With thanks to Arrow Books for providing me with a review copy of Swimming Pool Summer.
You can find out more about Rebecca Farnworth here.

Confessions of a Chalet Girl- Lorraine Wilson

Confessions of a Chalet Girl is a steamy, romantic chicklit novella.  I had heard positive things about it from the chicklit communities online and was keen to give it a try.  I loved the idea of a book set in the ski resort of Verbier, the chalet girls juxtaposed against the rich playboys, days on the slopes and nights in the hot tubs.

The chalet girl in question is Holly, reserved and slightly reluctant by nature.  Holly is challenged immediately when her initiation ceremony involves removing her bra so it can hang from the rafters of the local bar.  She is approached by attractive, flirtatious Scott and is immediately intrigued.  However, it soon transpires that Scott is her boss-can Holly resist his charm and attention?  Does she even want to?  And why has fellow chalet girl Magda got it in for her?

Confessions of a Chalet Girl is a fun read that chicklit fans will enjoy.  There are also some quite steamy scenes in there for those hooked by erotic novels.  I enjoyed Confessions of a Chalet Girl, reading it in two sittings.  Holly was a character that many readers will be able to relate to-she seems 'normal', with a balance of neuroses and a sense of fun.  Scott is the troubled yet attractive boss, powerful and confident but with hidden depths.  Magda-well, she is instantly dislikeable, which must prove that she is a well constructed character.  Catty and spiteful, I wanted to reach into my kindle and slap her!  And I'm not a violent woman... 

The main downside for me was that the book flew by.  I would have loved to hear more about the relationships between the chalet girls, perhaps learning a bit more about some of the minor characters and their exploits on the slopes.  However, author Lorraine Wilson has said that there will be more Chalet Girl books, which is bound to please the chicklit readers giving Confessions of a Chalet Girl  positive reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. 

8/10

Confessions of a Chalet Girl is a novella published by Harper Impulse, a Harper Collins imprint specifically focussing on romance in a digital format.  It is Lorraine Wilson's debut book.

The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris-Jenny Colgan (Guest review for Dizzy C)

I'm guest reviewer on Dizzy C's Little Book Blog once again!

You can read my review of the deliciously sweet The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris by Jenny Colgan here right now. 

Before I Met You-Lisa Jewell

Lisa Jewell is an author that I was a huge fan of in the late 1990s and early 2000s.  Her books were always entertaining, pacey reads and not remotely taxing-perfect escapism.  The amount of reading I did took a huge dip during the mid 2000s-I was too busy getting married, having a social life and having a baby.  I was aware that Lisa Jewell was still writing, but for some reason never got around to reading the books I had missed out on.  Then last year she released Before I Met You.  Everyone seemed to be reading it and talking about it.  The Daily Mail said it was 'fabulous', Marie Claire described it as 'heartbreakingly good'. 

The story spans two very different eras, the glamorous roaring 1920s and the grungy, Britpop addled 1990s.  Following the great war Arlette has moved to London from Guernsey to experience all life has to offer.  She works in fashionable, respectable Liberty by day and by night she socialises in glitzy jazz clubs with the exotic and artistic London set.  As well as the charismatic Arlette, readers are introduced to other brilliantly constructed characters such as artist Gideon, inspired by Arlette's outstanding beauty and clarinetist Godfrey, an attractive West Indian touring with the Southern Syncopated Orchestra.  In the 1990s, Arlette's granddaughter Betty also finds herself in London.  Amid the wild Soho lifestyle she is searching for the mysterious Clara Pickle to inform her of an inheritance she is due.  Romantic and witty, Before I Met You is a fabulous read that will draw you in, a book that is best devoured in as few sittings as possible.

I absolutely adored it.  As a fan of all things vintage, Arlette's lifestyle was both appealing and enchanting, without being completely unbelievable.  I could also relate to Betty's money worries and struggle to find employment, as I am sure many others reading within the current recession will be able to.  The plot was engaging and twisting, quick-paced and well executed.

The key to Jewell's success is in her writing style-accessible, easy to read and yet jammed full of evocative, lush descriptions of people, places and fashions.  I read an edition that I chose at the library, but will be buying a copy to keep as I loved it so much.  A beautiful novel with all the heart and emotion of those by other popular writers such as Jojo Moyes.

9.5/10

In the Summer Time- Judy Astley

I have previously read and enjoyed some of Judy Astley earlier books, but must admit I haven't read one for the last few years. 

Her latest offering In the Summer Time is set in beautiful Cornwall, where Miranda and her family have gone to scatter her step-father's ashes.  In order to fulfil his final wish the family have to confront memories from their last trip there twenty years previously.  Miranda is both dismayed and comforted to find that her teen sweetheart Steve is still a local whereas her mother Clare is trying to come to terms with the loss of her soul mate.  Z-list celebrity Harriet is escaping the press following the end of her relationship to a top-flight footballer, whilst teenagers Silva and Bo are adjusting to adolescence, not feeling like they are either children or adults.  In the Summer Time cleverly shows how different age groups often share the same emotions, providing a deliciously entertaining and touching read.  Miranda in particular is a warm and likeable character holding her family together, someone that women will relate to.

With a gorgeous cover, In the Summer Time will draw in the holiday book buyers, and I am sure that if they are looking for an enjoyable, humorous tale of family life, friendship and romance they will agree that Judy Astley has come up trumps again.

In the Summer Time is released on 4th July 2013, published by Bantam Press.

9/10

With thanks to Bantam Press for providing me with a review copy of this book. 

You can find out more about Judy at her website here.

On the Island- Tracey Garvis Graves

'On the Island' was a charity shop find.  I often mooch the local shops (which are pretty much all charity shops), and I happened upon a beautiful cover, blue sky, turquoise sea, biscuit-toned sand...exactly what the UK is missing. 

The cover suggests a holiday theme, with a glamorous girl centre stage, tousled hair billowing in the sea-breeze.  The reality is quite different.

'On the Island' follows the story of Anna Emerson, a thirty-year-old teacher who accepts a summer position tutoring T.J., a teenager in remission after battling cancer.  Luckily for Anna, the post is in the Maldives.  However, as T.J and Anna are en route to the Maldives to meet with T.J.'s family their seaplane crashes.  Stranded on an uninhabited island, T.J. and Anna face a battle for survival.  With echoes of the film 'Castaway', 'On the Island' explores survival instincts, human nature and relationships.

Whilst I did enjoy the book, especially how it was written from both Anna and T.J.'s perspectives, I did feel that some aspects of the plot were too far fetched, even for my escapist mind. 

Would I recommend it?  Possibly.  Tracey Garvis Graves has written an accessible, readable novel especially suitable for summer (or those dreaming of it!). 

7/10