The Glitch by Leeanne Slade
If you put Sam Claflin in a rom-com, I will watch or read that rom-com. To me, he is the rom-com king. This one isn’t sad you’ll be glad to hear. He’s always dying in films, but not the case here. He’s his usual swoonworthy self and listening to him narrate an audiobook is heavenly. More books narrated by Sam Claflin please!
I’ve listened to two of Leeanne Slade’s books so far and they’ve both been great. If you’re a fan of magical realism, you will love The Glitch. The magical elements are not heavy. Moreover, our main character goes back in time to try and rewrite her romantic history. There are no witches and no spell casting (technically) but there is a hint of magic throughout. The twist at the end is something special, let me tell you.
I’ve legitimately, at the time of writing this post, have just found out this is being adapted into a film. I will 100% be watching that. Sam Claflin and Daisy Edgar-Jones are going to also star in the film right? That would be great.
Synopsis: What would you change if you could start all over again? From Leeanne Slade, the bestselling author of The Rebound and Told You So, and narrated by Daisy Edgar-Jones (Normal People) and Sam Claflin (Me Before You), this summer, fall in love with Henry and Grace.
Five Years Earlier
Henry Dunne knows three things: that agreeing to host this raucous house party was a terrible idea, that he absolutely cannot show up to his nursing shift tomorrow with a hangover, and that the beautiful redhead in the corner will be sleeping in his bed tonight.
But what he doesn’t know is that Grace Monroe, the ambitious and fiercely independent chef catering this party, is about to walk a tray of cream cheese appetisers straight into his chest and turn his world upside down. Now, the work-a-holic with a reputation for keeping things casual is planning romantic dates and meeting the family. Utterly smitten, Henry now knows something else: that Grace is the one and that absolutely nothing could come between them. . .
Present Day
Grace Monroe is one day away from thirty, her restaurant has just been declared bankrupt, her beloved grandmother has been rushed to hospital, and she’s now sobbing in a packed train station. The only way life could get worse is having Henry Dunne – the man who showed her what true love and heartbreak feels like – see her like this.
And there he is, wordlessly watching her from the opposite escalator.
A bottle of wine and an erratic wish later, Grace wakes up to one hell of a life glitch: it’s five years earlier, her twenty-fifth birthday, and she’s got picture-perfect memory of the missing years. Grace’s plan is clear: save her doomed career and prevent the worst heartache she’s ever known. All she needs to do is stop history repeating. . .
Easy, right?
Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra & Dhonielle Clayton
I enjoyed this audiobook a lot more than I thought I would. The only reason why I decided to listen to the audio version is because I was using the Spotify listening hours at the time, which they make you think are free but you’re actually paying for them because there’s a version of the subscription without the hours that’s cheaper. Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend paying for them as you only get 15 hours a month. Audible Plus is better, in my opinion.
Anyway, rant over. Back to the book.
If you’ve watched the show and are expecting the book to be the same, they’re not. I’m not sure who was in charge of reviewing the book to write the screenplay, but I don’t think they ever picked this up. The characters, other than Bette and June, have different names and the book is actually less chaotic. The whole storyline of the show is that someone pushed Cassie off the roof. That doesn’t happen in the book.
However, I did enjoy the drama of the book. It focuses more on the competitive side of ballet (which does feature in the show) with the characters pulling harsh pranks on each other, think razor blades in ballet slippers, and inflicting actual psychological trauma. The tension of the book builds slowly over time and I’m sure these conflicts are going to build to some real dark and chaotic interactions in book two, which I’m yet to read.
Synopsis: Gigi, Bette, and June, three top students at an exclusive Manhattan ballet school, have seen their fair share of drama. Free-spirited new girl Gigi just wants to dance—but the very act might kill her. Privileged New Yorker Bette’s desire to escape the shadow of her ballet-star sister brings out a dangerous edge in her. And perfectionist June needs to land a lead role this year or her controlling mother will put an end to her dancing dreams forever.
When every dancer is both friend and foe, the girls will sacrifice, manipulate, and backstab to be the best of the best.
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