Where the magic is (by Giselle Green)

(Amazon UK link)

I have read and enjoyed all Giselle Green’s books so far, so was delighted when she offered to send me a pre-publication copy of her latest novel ‘Where the Magic Is’. I have just finished reading it on my Kindle, and on the whole liked it very much.

There are three main characters in this novel: Sofia, Cal and Sofia’s 13-year-old daughter Ida. The story is told in alternating viewpoints, as is typical for this author, although until the epilogue we only read Sofia and Cal’s viewpoints. The two are very different in culture, financial situation and outlook on life; but I felt that I got to know them - and several of the minor characters - fairly well. Giselle Green has a gift for creating three-dimensional people, most of them very likeable.

Despite her not having a viewpoint voice until the end, I became fondest of Ida. She is bright, sometimes outspoken, and has some quite mature ideas and opinions that are perhaps typical of only children. Ida’s father is not in the picture; he is barely mentioned. But Sofia has brought her up alongside her close extended family in Rio de Janeiro. They are not well-off, but Ida has had a happy childhood, and their financial situations are about to change dramatically. For Sofia is soon to be married to the wealthy Cristian.

It’s clear from the beginning that Sofia is having a few doubts. But large amounts of money have been spent on the wedding already, and her family are benefitting in various ways from her future in-laws. She feels the pull of duty and tries to avoid the treacherous concerns that creep into her mind and heart.

The person who matters most to Sofia is Ida, and Ida has a serious problem with her eyesight. I’m not sure we ever learn exactly what it is, but it’s likely she will become blind at some point. Cristian has paid for her to see a top specialist in Rio and the news is not good. So when Sofia hears about a possible experimental treatment available in London, she is determined to take her daughter there, even if it means postponing her wedding…

I liked Sofia’s family on the whole - not that we get to know any of them very well - although her sister seemed a bit pushy. I didn’t much like Cristian’s family, however. And the one character I couldn’t entirely believe in was Cristian himself, who seems to change personality depending on who he is with, and is entirely under the thumb of his dominant sister. I couldn’t really see why Sofia was in love with him - but she is convinced that she is, even while wondering what it will be like spending the rest of her life as part of his family.

The other viewpoint character is Cal, a Scotsman who lives in England. He offers to help out an old friend who is ill. Cal’s regular job is that of a male escort, with quite a demanding boss called Melissa. He’s very good at his job, and he discovers that he’s also rather good at being a tour guide in place of his friend. He’s clearly a kind person, one who is able to make women feel cared for and special even though he’s acting most of the time.

Sofia and Ida fly to the UK for a visit to the clinic and to Scotland for a short holiday, to enable Ida to see some scenery from her favourite film while she still can see. It’s no surprise, given how the novel unfolds, that Cal ends up being their guide. He knows a lot about the history and legends of the places they visit, and he’s not above weaving a few extra stories too. He and Ida hit it off instantly, and Sofia finds him attractive although she tries to resist it.

The writing is good, as I expect with Giselle Green. The conversations are realistic, and her lyrical descriptions of expeditions to different locations in Scotland work very well in moving the story along. I could feel Sofia’s stress as she tries to ignore her growing affection and attraction for Cal, while fielding messages from Rio from her concerned family. She’s also very worried about Ida: not wanting to raise her hopes too much, but also not wanting to miss out on even the slightest chance of a cure, or at least remission of her condition.

Giselle Green’s novels often take unexpected turns in the storyline, so I really didn’t know, for the first half, where it was going to lead. I hoped that Ida’s treatment was going to yield positive results, but wasn’t at all sure whether Cal and Sofia would end up together, despite that being a somewhat predictable storyline for women’s fiction. Indeed, I suspected one particular twist which seemed quite possible early in the book, but I was entirely wrong about that.

Overall I thought it was an enjoyable read, with an interesting contrast of cultures, some thought-provoking issues related to the importance of family ties and expectations, and intriguing glimpses into a profession I knew almost nothing about. The subplot involving Ida’s eye condition made an excellent addition to the more traditional storylines, as well as being a catalyst for Sofia to re-think her priorities. At times I could barely put it down.

Definitely recommended if you enjoy character-based women’s fiction.

Review copyright 2022 Sue's Book Reviews

The girl you forgot (by Giselle Green)

(Amazon UK link)

I have very much enjoyed the books I’ve read by Giselle Green over the past twelve years. So when, once again, she invited me to read a pre-publication copy of her latest novel, ‘The Girl You Forgot’, I leapt at the chance. I received a version which I was able to read on my Kindle, and have just finished it.

It’s always slightly concerning when I’m sent a book for review. What happens if I don’t like it? That wasn’t a problem with this book, however. I was hooked from the first chapter. I don’t like to use cliches, but I can’t think of a better phrase to describe this book than ‘emotional rollercoaster’. Giselle Green has a talent for creating unusual situations and crafting moving stories around them, and this novel is no exception.

The main characters in this book are Ava and Will, a couple in their early thirties. We meet them when they’re having an argument right at the start of the book. This isn’t the kind of normal argument a couple might have; it’s about whether or not Will is going to have an operation to save his life. Without it, he doesn’t have long to live. It’s an operation on his brain which should be fairly straightforward… except that he is going to lose some of his memories.

Ava is desperate that Will should have this operation. However Will, who is a talented and successful musician, is very depressed due to something he has only recently discovered. Ava convinces him to go ahead with the surgery, after promising that she will keep secret the issue that he wishes he had never learned about. She promises to stick by him afterwards, no matter what happens.

So Will has the operation, and loses about seven years of his memory. That includes all knowledge of Ava, but they had recorded some video clips, and he accepts that she was his girlfriend; he also accepts that she is the one who is going to look after him as he starts his rehabilitation.

That’s what happens in the first few pages of the book. It’s a scenario I could not begin to imagine, yet it feels all too real. It’s hard for Will, having to re-learn many things which he has forgotten ; it’s also difficult for Ava, trying to help him without moving too fast or making any assumptions, and with the knowledge of her secret weighing her down. She’s torn because after the operation Will asks her to tell him everything, yet she is determined to keep the promise she made before he went into the hospital.

There are other characters in the book: Ava’s parents are a bit two-dimensional and over-protective, but she has a younger sister called Robyn who’s an interesting person, and very close to Ava. Will’s mother and stepfather also appear, but he isn’t particularly close to them. There are various friends and colleagues, and at times I couldn’t quite remember who was whom, but it didn’t matter too much.

My favourite minor character is Harry, an elderly man with dementia who works at a butterfly garden where Ava volunteers. He can never remember Ava, though she speaks to him almost every day. But he’s a sympathetic listener and quite capable of carrying on a conversation. So she confides in him, more than she does to anyone else. It’s a clever device, meaning we learn more of her thoughts without too much introspection.

The narrative alternates between Will’s point of view and Ava’s, and that works extremely well, showing their different perspectives as he gradually recovers from his operation. Of course things aren’t straightforward. There are misunderstandings and upsets, and some reconciliations, before the predictable but entirely satisfactory climax to the book, and its gentle epilogue.

The writing is excellent, the conversation realistic, and the pace exactly right for my tastes. All in all, I loved this book and would recommend it highly to anyone who likes women’s fiction with an unusual premise and a great deal of depth.

Review copyright 2020 Sue's Book Reviews

Dear Dad (by Giselle Green)

(Amazon UK link)

I’ve enjoyed all the books I’ve read by Giselle Green, so was delighted when she asked me if I would like to read a pre-publication review copy of her latest novel. I received the an edition that worked on my Kindle, and have been reading it avidly over the past week or so.

There are three main characters. Nate is the one we meet first; he’s a journalist who has worked as a war correspondent and is about to be given a special award for bravery. Unfortunately he can’t get to the award ceremony because he’s unable to leave the house: he’s developed a form of agoraphobia that leads to terrible panic attacks whenever he tries to go out.

Jenna is a young woman who’s trained as a teacher, but whose passion is tattoo art. We meet her as she arrives in the UK after the breakup of a relationship abroad. She lands on the doorstep of an old friend, but realises she has to find a place of her own. And to sign a rental agreement, she has to have a job… so, reluctantly, she takes on some supply teaching.

Adam is a nine-year-old boy in Year Four at the school where Jenna goes to work. She meets him in the hands of some bullies and realises he’s intelligent and likeable but also rather neglected. His connection with Nate is more unusual: Adam, a motherless boy who lives with his elderly grandmother,, is convinced that Nate is his father.

The story is told alternately by Jenna and Nate, and this works well in the early part of the story as we see their different perspectives, and eventual meeting. It was a little confusing at times later in the book when the point of view switches from one to the other when they’re together, but their names head the sections concerned so it was only a minor problem when I wasn’t concentrating.

The three storylines weave together gently; both Jenna and Nate want to help Adam, but he’s a catalyst for what happens to them, both separately and together. There’s an overriding theme about running away: Adam from the school bullies; Jenna from previous relationships, and from stresses in her past; Nate from fear of being out of control. Neither Nate nor Jenna know what they really want out of life. Adam’s desires are much more straightforward: he wants someone to listen to him, to look out for him, to watch him at Sports Day.

Adam got under my skin almost immediately, with his mixture of determination and vulnerability. He’s had to grow up fast as he takes on more and more care for his beloved Nan, but he has nobody to help him deal with the bullies. His school isn’t a bad one; the Head is trying to make a success of it, and sees his sports teams as most important, but the staff are busy, and quiet, neglected children such as Adam tend to get lost in the system. I hope the story will be eye-opening to those who are involved in schools, as this kind of thing may easily happen.

The writing is good, the pace just right for my tastes, although those who prefer fast action stories might find it a bit slow. There’s not a huge amount of plot, and the time-line is only a few weeks from start to finish. But from the point of view of the three main characters, major decisions are made, healing begins to happen in different ways, and new relationships are forged.

Perhaps there’s a tad more introspection than I’m comfortable with, and a few more speech tags than are needed - but these things really didn’t matter. The characters are believable, the situations moving, and there’s a dramatic climax which left me unable to put the book down for several minutes until I knew what was happening.

Highly recommended to anyone who likes thoughtful character-based women’s fiction.

Review copyright 2016 Sue's Book Reviews

Finding You (by Giselle Green)

(Amazon UK link)

I read Giselle Green’s debut novel ‘Pandora’s Box’ almost six years ago. I loved it so much that I was determined to read any other books she might write - and have not been disappointed. A year later I read the very moving ‘Little Miracles’. It was about a young couple whose only child Hadyn - a young toddler - vanished one day, while playing on the beach in Spain. 

Haydn's parents, Charlie and Julia, discover a great deal about themselves and their past as they work through their grief and anger, and Julia never gives up hope. At the end of the book there’s an implication that they have found him, but it was left open. I always hoped that there would be a sequel.

‘Finding You’ is exactly that, so I was delighted to be offered an advance review copy of the e-book which is to be released at the end of March. It picks up on the story a few months after Hadyn is back with Charlie and Julia, just before they return home to England. The novel stands alone, so I didn’t re-read ‘Little Miracles’ first. It’s not necessary, but I’m glad I did have at least a vague memory of the original as this gave a sense of closure to the story.

The narration, as with the first book, is split between Charlie and Julia, each writing in the first person and in the present tense. This is a good device as it enables the reader to see both points of view when, inevitably, they have disagreements or different experiences. And, as we quickly discover, life is decidedly stressful, despite their tremendous relief at having found their son again.

Julia’s perspective helped me to empathise strongly with her as a mother who slowly realises that all is not well with her son. I wanted to give her a hug: to remind her that he had been through a lot of experiences in his short life; that his difficulty communicating wasn’t surprising, given that he had been thrust into a year of hearing nothing but Spanish, and was now expected to understand English again.

Charlie, meanwhile, is torn between his professional life as a surgeon, with an unofficial offer of promotion, and trying to support Julia emotionally. As a medic he see his role as fixing problems; so when he realises that Hadyn isn’t adjusting as quickly as might be expected, he takes professional advice, which Julia disagrees with strongly. And I absolutely sided with Julia.

At the same time, Charlie’s father is becoming increasingly frail in his nursing home, and Charlie’s ex-fiancée Lourdes keeps impinging on Julia’s life...

It’s impossible to say much more without introducing spoilers; suffice it to say that this novel is very well put together, the various threads unfolding gradually, alongside some delving into Charlie’s past and his relationship with his father. The characterisation is excellent. There were times when I felt there was a tad too much introspection, as one or other of the protagonists pondered recent events, but that was partly because I was so eager to find out what was going to happen next.

I suspected the truth about Hadyn’s difficulties quite early on in the book, and wanted to take Julia on one side to make a gentle suggestion. But she has to follow her heart, to discover whether her fears about him are true, and there are some quite emotional scenes before the end. By the time I was about three-quarters of the way through this book, I couldn’t put it down and had to neglect everything else to finish it. In contrast to ‘Little Miracles’, it has an entirely satisfactory and conclusive ending, which might seem too neat and tidy to some readers, but which I approved of thoroughly.

All in all, I would recommend ‘Finding You’ highly to anyone who enjoys this kind of character-driven thoughtful novel, whether or not you have read the previous one.

Initially published in e-book format only, but it should be available in paperback later in the year.

Review copyright 2014 Sue's Book Reviews

A Sister's Gift (by Giselle Green)

(Amazon UK link)

I first came across Giselle Green's novels when I read the wonderful - and very moving - book 'Pandora's Box' just over four years ago.  Since then I've read two of her other books, and enjoyed them both, so it made sense to add her fourth novel to my wishlist. I was given it for my birthday a few months ago, and finally started reading it just over a week ago.

'A Sister's Gift' is not a short book - just over 400 pages in all - but I found it increasingly difficult to put down, and finished it yesterday.

It's about two sisters. Hollie is married to the likeable, caring Richard, but is unable to conceive. In her thirties, and increasingly desperate, she starts to consider surrogacy.

Scarlett, Hollie's younger sister, seems to be quite a contrast. She is not interested in commitment or even living in England, but at the start of the book is involved in a project to save part of the Amazon rainforest. She's a risk-taker, passionate about the people she meets and the plants she is collecting.

Then Scarlett has to return to the UK for a while, to sort out a new visa and, her boss hopes, to raise significant amounts of money for their ongoing project. Hollie asks her tentatively if she would consider being a surrogate mother. Scarlett is shocked at first, but then agrees, seeing it as a bargaining ploy in persuading her sister to sell their old home and thus give her access to a lot of money.

Hollie and Scarlett have a hot/cold kind of relationship. They are eight years apart in age, so Hollie saw herself more as Scarlett's mother than her sister, at times. Their real mother Helen was a botanist who spent most of her time abroad, and they were brought up by Flo, Helen's best friend. Hollie and Rich live in what was Flo's home and Hollie is extremely attached to it.

This is a very intense book, that made me feel quite drained at times. It's told alternately by Hollie and Scarlett, a device that is highly effective as it gives insight into each of them. The character development works well, gradually showing us that both sisters are complex, with mixed motives about all they do. Hollie's image as a caring homebody is tinged with some selfishness, leading her to make a remarkably stupid suggestion about half-way through the book. And Scarlett, who is more obviously self-centred, has plenty in her past to mitigate this, as well as her passion for the people whose lives are being destroyed by 'progress' in the rainforest.

Other characters were more shadowy; I had a hard time keeping track of all the folk Scarlett worked with, and had forgotten them all by the time she sees them again towards the end of the book. It didn't particularly matter. I was slightly more disappointed that Hollie's husband isn't more three-dimensional. He has good looks, integrity, a deep sense of commitment, and, it seems just about every possible virtue. Which made me find it very hard to believe that he would actually take part in the dramatic scenario which Hollie, in her desperation, suggests.

Still, it's a minor niggle. Overall I very much enjoyed this novel. It was a little slow to start, but I quickly became deeply involved in the story, and did not anticipate the various revelations that happen in the latter part of the book. I was rooting for a positive ending and was not disappointed, even if it was left a bit more open than I would have liked.

Definitely recommended. The link is to a paperback version of this book, but it's also available on Kindle.

Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews, 9th August 2012

Falling for you (by Giselle Green)

(Amazon UK link)

I first came across the writer Giselle Green a few years ago when I was asked to review her book 'Pandora's Box' for the Bookbag website. ​​​I was very impressed with the writing and the story. Nearly a year later I read 'Little Miracles', by the same author, and also liked it very much, while being a bit disappointed at the ending.

So when I was contacted and asked to review the Kindle edition of Giselle Green's latest book, 'Falling for You', I was delighted. I started reading it on Christmas Eve, and have been reading it in evenings since then.

The two main characters of this book are Rose - who is 18 - and Lawrence, who is a little older. Rose, when we first meet her, is full of worries and insecurities. Her father is frail, her mother died some years previously. Rose is desperately hoping for a letter offering her a place at the university of her dreams... but has no idea how her father will survive without her there to look after him.

Meanwhile, in Sri Lanka, a young man called Lawrence hopes to find help for a nine-year-old boy who has been seriously injured. Lawrence clearly has a chequered past, and is afraid of something, but expends his energy in caring for those who are sick or injured.

Within a couple of days, after a series of events, Rose and Lawrence find themselves thrown together taking shelter in the midst of the worst snowstorm for many years. And it's there, when they tentatively get to know each other in an uncomfortable situation, that we gradually learn about their families and circumstances, and just what it is that each of them is running away from.

I found this book gripping at first. The writing in the early chapters is fast-paced and terse, piling on the stress for both Rose and Lawrence, switching viewpoints every few pages and leaving me wanting to find out what was going to happen next. There were plenty of hints which drew me into the story, making me intrigued to know what had happened to make each of them who they were.

Unfortunately, the middle section of the book is, to my mind, far too long. I lost track of how many days Rose and Lawrence spend in an old chapel, eating tuna and crackers, melting snow for tea. Their gradual friendship and inevitable attraction works well, as does the gradual unfolding of their personal histories until the dramatic denouement I had been expecting. But there is also a vast amount of reported thoughts and anxieties from each of them, sometimes repeated, which slows the story almost to a standstill.

However, the ending picks up the pace again, and is, thankfully, quite satisfying. I found it almost impossible to put down in the last few pages, a contrast to the middle section where I found myself drifting off all too easily.

Definitely recommended, if you don't mind skimming somewhat in the middle of the book. Note that the link is to the paperback version of this book rather than the Kindle edition.

You can also read my longer review of 'Falling for You' at the Bookbag site.

Little Miracles (by Giselle Green)

(Amazon UK link)

I first came across Giselle Green about nine months ago, when I was sent her first novel, Pandora's Box, to review for The Bookbag. I found it engrossing and powerful, and also enjoyable. So I was delighted that Bookbag sent me the second novel by the same author recently.

'Little Miracles' is the story of a young couple devastated by the loss of their toddler Hadyn. It's not a spoiler to say that this is the overall plot of the book, since it says so on the front cover, and in more depth on the back. Hadyn appears for the first few chapters, as we get to know his parents, Julia and Charlie. I found the first part of the book quite tense reading, wondering when tragedy was going to strike.

The majority of the book is about Charlie and Julia learning to deal with their loss in their different ways. Charlie is a plastic surgeon who does a lot of charity work; Julia had given up her job to be a full-time mother. After her initial devastated grief, she launches an investigation to find out exactly what happened to her son, convinced that the local police were covering something up.

Along the way Julia learns a lot about herself. We delve into her childhood, as she talks about her past, and then finds a few surprises. The book is character-driven, narrated alternately by Julia and Charlie, and - not surprisingly - is quite a tense novel.

I thought it very well-written, a book that will probably stay in my mind for quite some time. My only annoyance is that the ending was left open in a way that didn't quite make sense to me. I would have liked a little more.*

Still, overall I thought 'Little Miracles' was excellent. Probably more for women than for men, but if this kind of plot appeals to you, I'd recommend it to anyone.

You can read my longer review of 'Little Miracles' on The Bookbag site. 

*I'm pleased to report that there is now a sequel to this, 'Finding You', which enlarges on the ending and continues the story.

Pandora's Box (by Giselle Green)

(Amazon UK link)

I've never come across Giselle Green before. I probably wouldn't have done so, but I was sent her first novel by The Bookbag for reviewing. I started it on Monday evening, thinking it would last me all week... and finished it a couple of hours ago. I was gripped within the first few chapters, and today could hardly put it down.

'Pandora's Box' is the story of Rachel and her daughter Shelley. Shelley is nearly fifteen, and is terminally ill. This has made her sometimes wise beyond her years, but she combines this maturity with being a normal moody teenager who likes dressing in black, and feels her mother is over-protective. She spends a lot of time at her computer, and she would love to have a boyfriend.

Rachel is tired, and stressed. She loves her daughter, but caring for her is exhausting, since Shelley is wheel-chair bound. Rachel divorced her husband Bill three years before the story starts, but he still intrudes in her life at times, usually disagreeing with her parenting style. And there's Danny, Shelley's younger brother, who seems to get ignored sometimes because of Shelley's many needs. Moreover, Rachel has given up a lot in her life, and carries around a large burden of guilty feelings.

The story is told in alternating viewpoints - Rachel's and Shelley's. Shelley saw her friend Miriam die a painful death with the same medical condition as she has. So, clear-headed, she decides she will take her own life on her fifteenth birthday. We know this right at the start of the novel, but nobody else does.

We also learn there are some mysteries in Rachel's past, which may be revealed in old diaries and photos that are stored in a box. It's perhaps slightly forced that Rachel's mother (who sent her the old box of bits and pieces) is called Pandora... and Rachel feels that opening up Pandora's box will bring yet more trouble to her life.

Rachel and Shelley both have to come to terms with themselves, to work through the past, and to see what, if anything, their futures might hold. There are some difficult ethical questions raised in the book - is euthanasia ever right? What about suicide in the case of someone who knows they will soon die an unpleasant death?

I could relate quite strongly to Rachel. Just letting my sons go when they leave home is hard enough; the thought of seeing a child die, or take their own life doesn't bear thinking about.

It could have been trite; it could have been over-emotive and cringeworthy. But it's neither. Giselle Green has managed the middle path very effectively. There is a lot of tension and a dramatic climax, where I had no idea what would actually happen until I read the words.

I am very glad I have read this book. It's powerful, emotive, and moving and I'm sure will stay in my mind for some time. Highly recommended.

My slightly longer review of 'Pandora's Box' can be found here at the Bookbag site.