Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley and I should have read this sooner.

This is a very well written and thought provoking that had me hooked.

I really enjoyed this and really think everyone who likes this type of fiction should read it. - you will keep thinking about it once you have finished!

This one wasn’t really for me. I did finish it but it was a struggle. Because you didn’t know the back story, what was the great sickness I felt like I had missed a few chapters out.

This book turns out to be a Dystopian thriller, a bit confusing but still a good read.
The book has a good ending.
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I was intrigued by the premise of The Library Suicides, which is set in a dystopian world where papers are banned and books are under restriction. Thus the library has become a place of exclusivity, where the characters have to jump hoops to make their way inside for their own purposes. In this case, they are the twins, Ana and Nan, who are seeking revenge after the death of their mother, Elena. The book spends a lot of time inside their minds, ruminating thoughts about everything. The same goes for the other characters - the literary critic Eben and the library guard, Dan. There's an element of subterfuge in their interactions which I found quite interesting.

While usually world-building isn't necessarily important to me in dystopian fiction, I felt the vagueness here hindered the story in the sense that I wasn't sure if the twins' plan was effective. It would have been helpful to know more about the current world and how that affects everyone. The writing is skillfully done but the characters' internal monologue gets tedious after a while, I just wanted the story to move faster. There's a nice psychological twist at the end but it was too little too late. A great effort but not my cup of tea.

I loved this dystopian thriller. Libraries are among my favourite places to chill out, so author Fflur Dafydd did a great job of making this library so disturbing. I enjoyed reading from the different characters perspectives, especially as the twins voices became more and more distinct throughout the book. I guessed some of the twists but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment, in fact sometimes it added to the tension through wondering how the characters would react to the reveals. Highly recommended, and I would definitely read more from this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
I think this book is impossible to define! There are references to 'The great sickness' which has contributed to the demise of printed books and documents, and includes actions such sanitisation of hands, wearing of gloves and vaccination records. The library has archivists, library cards and security staff. Then there are the 'other-world' arrangements such as how to access sperm from donors. The ideas were cleverly - entwined to build a realistic 'whole', much like George Orwell's 1984, where the close future could be foreseen along with the hope it would never be like this, and it is easy to understand how the events unfold around Ana and Nan.
This was a real page-turner for me, captivating from Page 1, and I have signed up to follow the author.

I wanted to love this, but something just didn’t sit right when reading this. It was good, but it felt like it dragged a bit and at times I wanted to stop reading it. I persevered and I was glad I did as the ending was quite good.

Although the premise of this book is intriguing, I felt the delivery wasn't what I had expected. For me, personally, I didn't like the style of writing and any kind of tension building was disrupted by this. That said, the author clearly has a great store of ideas and I am hoping that, with time, the writing becomes more fluid so I could try again.

I was looking forward to reading this book but wasn’t sure what to expect.
I found it strange to read and struggled to like any of the characters. None of them were likeable and I didn’t really get into the story despite finishing it. I would however like to thank Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read an advance copy in return for my honest review.

In Joseph O'Connor's "My Father's House," the author explores the complex and often contradictory relationship between a father and son.
The narrator, a successful writer, grapples with his father's death and the legacy he left behind. The novel is a poignant and insightful meditation on family, loss, and the enduring power of love. One of the most striking things about "My Father's House" is the way O'Connor portrays the relationship between the narrator and his father. The narrator's father is a charismatic and larger-than-life figure, but he is also deeply flawed. He is an alcoholic and a philanderer, and he often treats his family with cruelty. Despite his flaws, the narrator loves his father deeply, and he is haunted by his death. The novel is also a meditation on loss.

The narrator's father dies suddenly, and the narrator is left to grapple with his grief. He is angry, confused, and lost. He feels like he has lost a part of himself, and he struggles to find meaning in his life. Over time, the narrator comes to terms with his father's death. He realizes that his father was not a perfect man, but he also realizes that he loved him unconditionally. The narrator learns to forgive his father for his flaws, and he finds a way to move on with his life. "My Father's House" is a powerful and moving novel about family, loss, and love. O'Connor's writing is lyrical and evocative, and he creates a rich and complex world that readers will not soon forget. The novel is a must-read for anyone who has ever loved and lost a father.

The Library Suicides by Fflur Dafydd is a thought-provoking novel that explores the complex issue of suicide through the interwoven stories of four individuals whose lives intersect in a university library. The novel's title alludes to the mysterious deaths of several students at the library, which initially appear to be suicides but are later revealed to be more sinister. Dafydd skillfully weaves together the narratives of four characters who are each struggling with their own personal demons: Bethan, a brilliant but troubled student who is haunted by a traumatic childhood experience; Osian, a withdrawn and enigmatic librarian who is hiding a dark secret; Mari, a young woman who is trying to come to terms with her sexuality; and Ifan, a university lecturer who is struggling with depression and feelings of inadequacy.

As the novel progresses, the reader is drawn into the characters' inner worlds and comes to understand the complexities of their struggles. Dafydd's writing is lyrical and evocative, and she creates a vivid and atmospheric setting that perfectly captures the claustrophobic and oppressive atmosphere of the library. The novel's exploration of suicide is both unflinching and compassionate.

Dafydd does not shy away from the difficult realities of suicide, but she also offers a glimmer of hope by showing how even in the darkest of times, there is always the possibility of redemption. The Library Suicides is a powerful and moving novel that will stay with the reader long after they have finished reading it. Dafydd's insightful exploration of suicide and her compassionate portrayal of her characters make this novel a must-read for anyone who is interested in the human condition.

This was one mind-blowing story! With so many twists and turns, I didn't know if I was coming or going. This book had a very dystopian feel to it which I wasn't expecting, but did enjoy. There was a lot of insight to the characters thoughts and background. I thought the ending fell a bit flat though, too much build-up and not enough punch. Overall, it was a decent story.

The writing style is quite basic and lacked descriptions. The premise was interesting but it failed to deliver. I couldn’t connect with the characters. The ending felt as though it was unfinished

My thanks to Hodder and Stoughton and NetGalley for a copy of “ The Library Suicides” for an honest review.

I was eager to read this book because of the title and blurb , but sadly it just wasn’t for me.I found it too slow and confusing and it didn’t keep my attention at all .Unfortunately I eventually gave up on it as I have so many other books I’d rather be reading.

I’ve just ordered this for my daughter. It’s a fabulous dystopian story told from 4 people’s view. I loved it. Just as you get into one person’s part it ends and then you forget and before you know it - it’s over. I am totally a fan of this talented and clever writer. I’d also recommend their other books too.

I really liked the idea of a mysterious, dark story set in a library, and the blurb of this novel appealed to me. After stopping the first time I tried to read this one at about 20%, I decided to pick this back up over the holidays to give it a second chance. Unfortunately I still couldn’t become engrossed and ended up skim reading some parts to get to the end.

The pace was too slow for me and the plot a bit too melodramatic. While I expected a literary writing style, some parts didn’t read well at all and I felt that other passages were complex for complexity’s sake. I also didn’t find any of the characters likeable and couldn’t root for or connect to anyone.

For me this was a five star premise, blurb and cover without the execution to back it up. I hope some readers will enjoy this one more than I did, as not every book suits every person.

I remain grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book and will not be posting this review beyond NetGalley as I usually only highlight 3 star + reviews on socials.

This was an interesting read by an author that I was not familiar with having never read their work before. I always enjoy a new to me author and I wasn’t disappointed although I have to admit it was a struggle at the start.
I found the characters interesting and really had a depth to them.
The story line took me to a place I wasn’t expecting and kept me intrigued right until the end but It was a slow burn for me and I just couldn’t seem to engage with it from the start.
I would recommend to anyone interested in this genre and will be read more work by this author.

This is an interesting and thought-provoking thriller. The story involves identical twins working together in a strange library set in some dystopian future. There is a mystery bout the cause of their mother's death. This would suit followers of Margaret Atwood.

Not what I was expecting but after a slow start and a slow burn, it's very compelling and difficult to put down.

I had hoped for an exciting dystopian read and was looking forward to the library setting. However, this was a confusing - almost incomprehensible at points - read that did very little for me. The characters were unlikeable and the twins' motivation unclear.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Very slow paced and confusing characters. The characters were very strange and not in a good way, more of a ‘why are the acting/thinking like this’. I also didn’t realise that this was a dystopian book which is also not my cup of tea.

The plot was slow and didn’t seem to have any twists at all. Everything was guessable and felt like I was reading just for the sake of finishing this book for a review. It seemed like a lot of little details for not enough of a plot. The blurb appealed to me greatly but I didn’t get that from the actual book.