Natasha

Beautiful, emotional and unexpected.

A beautifully written novella on the breakup of a marriage, the collapse of a partnership, self doubt turning into self belief and rediscovery. Some people criticise this because she is privileged (which she repeatedly acknowledges) and yes, her financial struggles may have been soften, but she is still allowed to feel heartbreak and loss.

I can't say I enjoyed this reading experience. It was incredibly bleak and painfully slow. The book was just too long. But I persevered and the pace definitely picked up towards the end. The true horror wasn't the monster at all. Hell is other people.

This was a pleasant surprise. I expected all bleakness and families who hate each other - it was that (lol), but it was so much more. Witty, satirical, funny, bleak (at times) but ultimately hopeful. I really enjoyed it.

Some really great stories in this collection. I loved For Sale by Owner, Money of the Dead, Hag and Special Meal (all 4.5 or 5 stars)

This is my favourite book of the series so far.

Really bleak and haunting. Didn't connect to the characters though.

Harrowing

I really did not connect to this. So disappointed. I was expecting something like The Correspondent or Remarkably Bright Creatures, but this is didactic - way more preachy and virtue signalling than I expected . Show don’t tell. I’m too cold hearted for this lol.

Yet another shocking example of injustice and corporate greed. I love that Kate Moore gives a voice to these forgotten women and tells the stories we all should know.

Loved the beginning and ending of this book. The middle dragged a bit though. It is a gory and humorous tale of a man and his demons, of love and violence; adventure and debts to repay.