All The Tw*ts I Met Along The Way by Carolyn Hobdey

SYNOPSIS

What happens when you so deeply believe something were told as a child that it becomes the driving force behind almost every thought, feeling and action for the rest of your life - until you decide to take complete control and change your life entirely? For decades, Carolyn Hobdey believed she was 'trouble' and if she wasn't 'nicer' she'd spend her days alone and unloved.

All The Tw*ts I Met Along The Way tells Carolyn's tales of crappy boyfriends, sickening sexual encounters, manipulative men, love triangles, unsupportive and unsupported medical diagnoses... and that's just the first few pages. From porn-addicted boyfriends who go from fitties to owners of 'dad bods,' to car crashes and boob jobs. Marriage to a lover who became more like a brother (and who came out as gay after their 15 year relationship) and later a relationship with a man and his 'ready-made family' that exposes a damaging case of coercive control and narcissism. Carolyn's story exposes the unrelenting pull of the child-parent relationship - even in adulthood - and all the messiness, self-esteem issues and confusion that can cause.

REVIEW

Before I begin this review I just wanted to say that if you are ever in the situation where you feel like you are trapped in a relationship, abused, or feeling like the only option is the end, please there are people who are here to talk. Whether that is a friend, a family member, a colleague, or even on the phone, there is always someone there who will always be there to talk when you are feeling low. I'm going to be providing some numbers at the end of this post if you feel any of the above. Because no matter what you feel right now, you do matter.

This is a gripping book which highlights the relationships of Carolyn Hobdey and her journey of how she was a woman who was struggling, to a someone who is able to see the toxicity in her life and ultimately is able to help others in their own journeys.

Of course there are times when you can clearly see that she makes mistakes, but somehow her decisions of how she corrects them is interesting but also inspiring. To not only identify what was wrong in the relationships she had, whether that be the toxicity of the workplace, or at home, it is admirable how she opens up a dialogue to the reader, to show that you are not alone and you are not going mad.

You can tell that she has a strong character due to her tenacity to achieve the most out of work, but also be able to stand up when she really needed to. In fact, it was truly terrifying at points that I thought that maybe she wouldn't come through. But she didn't disappoint. In fact, if I remember correctly, towards the end I had some kind of pride of how she was able to conquer her problems and fears. It truly is an admirable quality.

I think this is book which should be small bible to those who have some inkling that something isn't quite right in their life. All I can say to family and friends who know someone who might be going through a similar ordeal themselves, it might be time to put this book on their gift list.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a copy to review.

RATING: ***1/2 (THREE AND A HALF STARS)

PHONE LINES

Samaritans: 116 123

Mind: 0300 123 3393

YoungMinds: 0808 802 5544

The Mix: 0808 808 4994

ChildLine: 0800 11 11

WHERE TO BUY

Amazon: All the TWATS I met along the way: A story of growing up, moving on, falling down and getting back up again: Amazon.co.uk: Hobdey, Carolyn, Hobdey, Carolyn: 9781913623333: Books

Waterstones: All the twats I met along the way 2021 by Carolyn Hobdey | Waterstones

Just the Two of Us (Book 2) by Ryu Hyang

SYNOPSIS Soohyuk, a pediatric emergency medicine specialist, came to Korea in search of his birth parents, wanting to sort through the muddled darkness of his past. When he met Yuna, an anxious cook, he didn't expect to fall in love. Yuna has struggled all her life to trust men after an incident in her past and spends all her time doting upon her nephew and pursuing her one true love: cooking. The last thing she expected when she met Soohyuk was that she would want to move in with him. Both took a leap of faith and found happiness. Now, it seems certain they were meant for each other. Yet, navigating the twists and turns of a real relationship proves more difficult than either of them expected. Yuna fears what her brother will say when he finds out she's living with Soohyuk. and she grapples with the changes brought on by her young nephew's recent medical diagnosis. Meanwhile, Soohyuk is tied up working hours on end at S University Hospital, fending off the hospital direc...

Blog Tour: The Beast Hunters Dark Sovereign by Christer Lende

REVIEW So we are back in the world of the Beast Hunters for a sophomore instalment where we see Ara, Khendric and Topper back on another adventure. But this time with a difference. Instead of the world building from the previous book, we get to delve into a mystery with darkness starting to make pace in the background. We meet new characters, some good and some not so much. Not only do we have the overarching themes of beasts but also political intrigue and secretive plots. It is far more intricate than the previous instalment where the characters are making decisive and confident choices. Especially for our fave apprentice, Ara. If you want to get away from the current world affairs, this book will serve as an escape from reality. What these last two books do remind me of however, is a tv show. Why I say this is because it felt kind of episodic but they both have reinvented themselves with different themes. I found this to be quite good actually. This is because it feels l...

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

I know that this has been a review which has been a long time in the making. Especially when I received the books back in August last year. So I guess, that is quite a long time. But as some of you may already know, they all pack a punch as to how big they all are in pages! So, to put you all out of your misery, here is the long-awaited review for 'The Lost Symbol'. YAY! The main plotline is based around the organisation called the Freemasons, which throughout the years have had quite a bit of controversy. Not because they may have done something immoral, but rather that no one really knows what they actually do - except for Freemasons of course. People say that they are a secret organisation. But, that is completely and utterly incorrect. They are simply an organisation with secrets. Otherwise if they are a secret organisation, why do people know that Freemasonry actually exists, rather than a conspiracy? Anyway, onto the review I go! The omniscient narrator had a m...