JESS JUST READS

A BOOK REVIEW BLOG

The Satsuma Complex by Bob Mortimer

Gary Thorn goes for a pint with a work acquaintance called Brendan. When Brendan leaves early, Gary meets a girl in the pub. He doesn’t catch her name, but falls for her anyway. When she suddenly disappears without saying goodbye, all Gary has to remember her by is the book she was reading: The Satsuma Complex. But when Brendan goes missing, Gary needs to track down the girl he now calls Satsuma to get some answers.

And so begins Gary’s quest, through the estates and pie shops of South London, to finally bring some love and excitement into his unremarkable life…

Comedian Bob Mortimer’s debut novel The Satsuma Complex is a madcap comedic crime story, a rather bizarre and fast-paced tale.

Centred around thirty-year-old legal assistant Gary Thorn, who is a rather timid, shy loner, we meet a rather quirky cast of characters when Gary’s colleague is murdered not long after a trip to the pub. What ensues is a rather chaotic, nonsensical journey to find out the killer, as well as uncovering the identity of a mysterious woman that Gary met at the pub.

“My name is Gary. I’m a thirty-year-old legal assistant with a firm of solicitors in London. To describe me as anonymous would be unfair but to notice me other than in passing would be a rarity. I did make a good connection with a girl, but that blew up in my face and smacked my arse with a fish slice.”

Written in first-person, the narrative style feels very stream-of-consciousness. Unrestrained and travelling down tangents. I found there was very little introspection, so whilst the characters actions did suggest he was growing as a person – befriending and caring for his neighbour, chasing after a woman he believes could be a match – there is little internal dialogue to really help solidify the character’s progression in the story.

Additionally, the humour tries very hard in the story but ultimately falls flat. The dialogue, in particular, was unnatural and forced. Overly ridiculous at times and a bit cringey. I appreciate that fans of Bob’s humour might love his type of storytelling, but if you’re not familiar with his work and you go into the story blind, I dare say this isn’t going to be a story you’ll fall in love with.

“I was slightly perturbed by what Grace had to say, so I took a little stroll to calm me down. It’s something I often do when I feel ill at ease. This is how I use a walk to my advantage: I imagine, for example, that it’s a beautiful sunny day and I’m wearing a pair of baggy red corduroy shorts and a magnificent pair of tan yellow clogs.”

I appreciate that the story is a fast-paced, compact one, meaning you don’t have to sit with it too long. The story doesn’t drag, nor loiter. It is, after all, a crime novel and so the reader is engaged each chapter because we want to find out the killer’s identity.

My favourite character is Gary’s neighbour Grace – quick-witted, dry, and genuinely funny. She acts as a vessel for Gary to grow, especially as he learns to lean on another person and trust them enough to let them help him in his journey.

“Girlfriends are a topic I am never that comfortable talking about. I know I’m not good-looking but I’m not a full-on spud. I would describe my face as forgettable (certainly many people seem to forget it), and I’m five foot seven and a half inches, which is just one and a half inches below the national average (I’ve looked this up on many occasions).”

A rather absurd, oddball and accelerated tale suited for occasional readers, The Satsuma Complex skews male, 25+

Thank you to the publishing company for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Satsuma Complex
Bob Mortimer
January 2023
Simon & Schuster Book Publishers

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Nora is a cut-throat literary agent at the top of her game. Her whole life is books.

Charlie is an editor with a gift for creating bestsellers. And he’s Nora’s work nemesis.

Nora has been through enough break-ups to know she’s the woman men date before they find their happy-ever-after. That’s why Nora’s sister has persuaded her to swap her desk in the city for a month’s holiday in Sunshine Falls, North Carolina. It’s a small town straight out of a romance novel, but instead of meeting sexy lumberjacks, handsome doctors or cute bartenders, Nora keeps bumping into…Charlie.

She’s no heroine. He’s no hero. So can they take a page out of an entirely different book?

Emily Henry’s Book Lovers follows an unapologetic, cutthroat literary agent as she vacations to a small town, only to run into the belligerent, grumpy book editor that she despises. The book explores the cliche of the small town love story, and the common trope of enemies to lovers.

Perpetually single, Nora is career-driven and thrives under pressure. She loves books — editing them and advocating for them — and she strives for success. She is goal-oriented and never feels she has to apologise for her ambition. On her vacation, when she’s constantly crossing paths with the devious editor Charlie, she realises just how similar they really are. Maybe there’s more to him than she realised.

“It’s late in the day for lunch, so the crowd is thin, and I spot Charlie Lastra near the back, dressed in all black like publishing’s own metropolitan vampire.”

Book Lovers is upbeat and relatable, bringing to life a cast of characters who are fun to read.

The setting is quaint and cosy, and the character banter enjoyable. Nora’s relationship with her sister provides a nice additional layer to the story, exploring family responsibilities and what we owe to each other when each other is all we’ve had.

The chemistry between Nora and Charlie builds over the course of the novel and will please romance readers — whilst the heat builds quickly, an energy of ‘will they or won’t they’ persists throughout the book because their circumstances make it difficult to pursue any kind of relationship.

“I go toward her, wrap my arms around her, and hold tight. She circles me in hers too, her lemon-lavender scent settling over me like a blanket, her glossy strawberry waves falling across my shoulders as she runs a hand over the back of my head.”

Emily Henry’s books suit readers looking for light content — perhaps someone looking for a beach read, or something to take on vacation. You’ll power through this in a short amount of time, and when you’re finished, there are two other Emily Henry books out there for you to discover.

“Happy doesn’t begin to cover it. The image of stern-browned, highly polished Charlie tucked into a plastic Corvette and scowling at his Kindle makes me laugh so hard it’s a struggle to stay upright. He’s probably the last person I could picture in a race car bed, aside from myself.”

Fun and light-hearted, Book Lovers is recommended for readers of romance, comedy and contemporary women’s fiction. Readership skews female, 20+

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Lovers
Emily Henry
May 2022
Penguin Random House Publishers Australia

In A New York Minute by Kate Spencer

Their love story has gone viral. But it hasn’t even begun . . .

Franny meets Hayes in the opposite of a meet-cute – when her dress gets caught in the subway doors on her way home and then rips, leaving her in the fashion equivalent of a hospital gown. Hayes is the stuffy suit whose one redeeming quality is giving Franny his jacket, saving her from showing her assets to half of New York. Franny is eager to forget the whole horribly embarrassing encounter as soon as possible, but neither of them anticipated a fellow commuter live-blogging them as #subwaybaes – turning their awkward run-in into click-bait and a manufactured love story for the ages . . .

Quick to dismiss Hayes as just another a rich guy, Franny is sure she’ll never see him again, and she’s desperate to put her three minutes of viral fame behind her. But fate isn’t done with the would-be subway sweethearts just yet . . .

Set in New York City and centred around a couple whose first meeting goes viral on the internet, Kate Spencer’s In a New York Minute is a romantic comedy that is charming, fun and incredibly heartwarming.

What feels most striking about this novel is how the premise immediately draws you in — I don’t feel like I’ve come across another book like this, which is rare in this genre. Franny and Hayes meeting on the subway is a clash between two very different people — the creative, career-struggling Franny, and the anxious, analytical, assured but closed off Hayes. As their paths continue to cross, the romantic tension and build-up is very adorable. In A New York Minute is perfect for readers on the hunt for something upbeat and feel-good.

“And in an instant, everything felt impossible again. Pizza. This was the only appropriate solution to the end of this day. Plus, I could afford it, for now at least.”

Franny and Hayes’ characterisation feels believable. Both leads are flawed in their own way, and the way they tackle their insecurities is paced well and crafted with authenticity. Additionally, setting is a strong part of the novel. From the subway and the workplace, to the restaurants and the social scene, Kate captures New York City with ease. There’s a feeling of centrality that accompanies the premise of this novel, so it’s easy to believe how Franny and Hayes’ meeting becomes so viral.

Secondary characters Lola and Cleo hold great significance in the story, not just providing emotional support for Franny but adding humour and tenderness to moments throughout the book when Franny and Hayes’ paths don’t cross.

“I was normally clear on what needed to be done. It wasn’t often that I got things wrong. But in that instant on the subway, I just might have, and my miscalculation was nagging at me. Maybe I’d overstepped, assumed she needed help when she was fine on her own.”

I did think the ending of the novel felt like it meandered. It almost seemed like the story wrapped itself, but then a tragedy befalls Franny and she knee-jerkingly breaks up with Hayes, and reconciliation must eventuate. It felt a little disjointed from the rest of the novel, like that extra part at the end was an afterthought.

Additionally, the subplot of Franny and her half-sibling in Italy felt only loosely tied into the story and like it wasn’t overly gelling with the story. Sometimes I forgot about this altogether, until it wove itself back into the story.

“Of course it was weird. It was too much, too forward. Once again, I was tripping over my tongue around this woman, I never said stuff like this to Perrine, much lest people I didn’t know.”

Heartfelt, funny and full of chemistry, In A New York Minute is highly recommended for readers of contemporary women’s fiction and romantic comedies. Readership skews female, 20+

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

In A New York Minute
Kate Spencer
April 2022
Pan Macmillan Book Publishers Australia

The Patron Saint of Second Chances by Christine Simon

Local vacuum cleaner repairman and self-appointed mayor Nino Speranza is in trouble. Without the thousands of euros in taxes that he could never bring himself to collect from his neighbours, the water board will cut the town off. All 212 inhabitants will be forced to leave.

His usually reliable Compendium of Saints yields no answers to his prayers. So, in a desperate bid to save his hometown, he starts a rumour that major movie star Dante Rinaldi is filming his next movie in the village.

Soon, all the locals want to be involved: Speranza’s assistant has written a screenplay and the local butcher will invest – each of his fifteen enormous sons is given a role. It seems the only way to save the town is to actually make the movie.

And Nino Speranza starts to think he might have created the second chance they all needed . . . until word of the production reaches Dante Rinaldi himself.

Christine Simon’s debut novel The Patron Saint of Second Chances is a charming, fleeting, over-the-top tale of a struggling Italian town and their mayor’s ridiculous efforts to secure $70,000 euros to keep it from closing down.

The premise is clever and inviting — Signor Speranza, mayor and local vacuum cleaner repairman, starts a rumour that famous actor Dante Rinaldi will film his next project in their small town of Prometto. Signor plans to secure funding from enough vendors to cover off the town’s debt, but, as expected, things do not go according to plan. And soon, this rumour catches the attention of Dante and his unimpressed agent.

“This, Signor Speranza thought, was his best shot at avoiding mortal sin. If he were just to let slip, casually, that it would really be something if some famous person — Brad Pitt, for example — were thinking of buying a house in Prometto, then he wouldn’t actually be lying, would he?”

Strengths lie in the small Italian setting — there’s a strong sense of place in the novel, which upon reading Christine’s authors note, feels even more real. There’s a claustrophobic element to these kinds of settings, where everyone knows everyone and secrets do not stay hidden for long. There’s genuine concern for the younger generations, who don’t seem to understand the charm of the town as much as their parents and grandparents, and so they’re fleeing Prometto in droves.

Christine’s voice and style of writing makes the book incredibly accessible. Her writing feels almost stream of consciousness, with ample internal monologue and dialogue to give depth to the main characters. There’s a conversational tone to the novel, rendering it an appealing read for sporadic readers or reluctant readers.

“Signor Speranza regarded the pig’s carcass hanging in the window of the shop, and his spirits quailed. Don Rocco was right, of course. Maybe this was crazy. If it all blew up in his face, as Betta had said, he wondered which would be worse, being carted to jail, or having Signor Maestro after him.”

Overall, the novel is quite over-the-top and sensationalist, and rather unbelievable at times. Some elements of the plot I did find rather silly, but I know there’ll be readers who’ll find it charming and fun. I can’t say I ever laughed out aloud during this read, but I did find it an uplifting read, which is a nice discovery amidst the gloom of the world right now.

One small gripe, but there are so many characters in this novel it was really hard to keep track. There is, in particular, a lot of characters with names starting with S, and I got them confused on a regular basis.

“Fate. Chance. The Hand of God. Signor Speranza believed in the last of these, although over the next few days he did not recognise it when he saw it.”

Light-hearted, uplifting and written for the optimistic reader. Recommended for fans of comedy and familial sagas that are just that little bit over-the-top and too extreme to be believable, but are still well loved. Readership skews female, 35+

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Patron Saint of Second Chances
Christine Simon
April 2022
Hachette Book Publishers Australia

Careering by Daisy Buchanan

careering (verb)
1. working endlessly for a job you used to love and now resent entirely
2. moving in a way that feels out of control

There’s a fine line between on the right track and coming off the rails.

Imogen has always dreamed of writing for a magazine. Infinite internships later, Imogen dreams of any job. Writing her blog around double shifts at the pub is neither fulfilling her creatively nor paying the bills.

Harri might just be Imogen’s fairy godmother. She’s moving from the glossy pages of Panache magazine to launch a fierce feminist site, The Know. And she thinks Imogen’s most outrageous sexual content will help generate the clicks she needs.

But neither woman is aware of the crucial thing they have in common. Harri, at the other end of her career, has also been bitten and betrayed by the industry she has given herself to. Will she wake up to the way she’s being exploited before her protege realises that not everything is copy? Can either woman reconcile their love for work with the fact that work will never love them back? Or is a chaotic rebellion calling…

Daisy Buchanan’s second novel Careering follows two career-driven women and their unhealthy relationship with their jobs — from toxic environments and underpaid roles, to unrealistic expectations around how many hours to work each day. Most of us will be able to recognise elements of this in our careers.

Careering moves between Harri and Imogen, reflecting opposing sides of the toxicity of a workplace. Harri, in her 40s and boss of the media outlet, feels hurt by management’s decisions to shut her out of Panache. She’s exhausted and perhaps spent too long drinking the company Kool-Aid – maybe now she’ll realise what she really wants.

And Imogen, young and hungry. Desperate for full-time work with the magazine she’s always adored. But perhaps it isn’t what she thought it’d be — mismatched information and feedback, no clear direction, little pay, and no certainty of job security or career progression. Perhaps she’s placed Panache on a pedestal, and it’s time to chase another dream.

“On Monday, Harri was hopeful. By Friday, she’s exhausted. She’s crashing out in the Cafe Cucina — again, terrible, but so handy for the office — and trying to listen to Giles’ long list of woes, complaints and grudges, and how Giles has effectively been left to run Panache single handed.”

Careering presents us with a situation most commonplace — how hard are we willing to work for our ‘dream job’, long after the passion has dissipated? And what is an appropriate sacrifice to make to try and achieve that dream job? How long is it acceptable to work for free, or for minimum wage? What about long hours when we’re still considered junior in the company, with very little chance to progress through the ranks.

The novel also explores the pressures we can feel to fit in at a job, particularly somewhere illustrious like the fashion industry. From changed names to expensive outfits, most of the characters in this novel are presenting a facade very far from who they really are behind closed doors.

“Still, I’m so tired of doing this dance. Sam’s excuses for the lack of this imaginary job have been so creative, inventive and impressively consistent that it’s almost baffling that he’s failed to find any critical acclaim as a novelist.”

Careering heroes female sexuality and empowerment — the novel zeroes in on the importance of media outlets adapting and growing with its readers. Understanding readership is integral to launching something new, something daring, and Imogen’s writing material proves popular and timely.

Over time, Harri grows too desperate to succeed that she starts to lose sight of what she’s actually wanting to achieve. She loses sight of quality, as she hunts down quantity. While Imogen feels like the clear protagonist of the novel, Harri brings a contrasting perspective into the story and opens up the readership to an older demographic.

“To be fair, Tabitha should not have to explain herself when her outfit works as a sort of living CV. There is so much to take in, my brain didn’t fully process it all as she walked through the door. From the waist up, she’s dressed as Gene Kelly in On the Town, in a puffy white sailor blouse, with a navy blue collar.”

Sharp and observant, Careering fits well alongside authors such as Dolly Alderton, Beth O’Leary Emma Jane Unsworth and Anna Hope. Another tale about a woman taking control of her situation, in career and in love. Readership skews female, 20+

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Careering
Daisy Buchanan
March 2022
Hachette Book Publishers