How well do you know your own daughter? And how far would you go to find out the truth?
A stunning debut novel told in alternating voices, Reconstructing Amelia is a story of secrets and lies, of love and betrayal, of trusted friends and vicious enemies – of how well a parent really knows a child and how far a mother will go to vindicate the memory of a daughter whose life she could not save.
Reconstructing Amelia, written by Kimberley McCreight, is a brand new release from Simon & Schuster.
Available in paperback where all good books are sold for $24.99. Also available as an ebook for $13.99.
For a debut novel Kimberly McCreight has impressed me. I love reading and hate when an author clearly can't construct legible sentences or entertain the mind. This book is well written and gets the mind thinking all the way through. Not once was I bored or forgot what had happened when I did have to put the book down. The story stays with you from cover to cover. I just loved the way she wrote in two person view. Not many apple can pull that off. But the way Kimberly McCreight did it made it flow. It slowly pieced the story together from past and present views and mum and daughter views. The ending was a shocker but I had pretty much guessed what had happened just before the end.
I am loving this book!! Although I'm only halfway through I just had to write my thoughts on it now. The way the author has written in a two person view and jumping from past to present to cover what has happened and how it's lead up to the death of Amelia makes the story flow and allows you to become a sort-of detective yourself as you draw conclusions on certain things along the way. I absolutely love it and can't wait to finish it - if only these children would look after themselves so I never had to leave it!!! lol
Omg i cant put it down. Definitely a page turner. Make sure you have piece and quiet when you start. I cant wait to read the rest. The story line covers real issues. Im enjoying it as i have a daughter of my own. Tonight ill be snuggled up with this book in my mind going just one more page, hmm i wonder how many times ill say that.
Lovely Book - Can't wait to finish it :) (First Impressions Review)
Firstly, this was the book I chose to review as I felt I would be able to relate to it. I am a single mother with a young girl at home(also named Amelia) and so was drawn to this book from the very first moment.
I love the way the story switches from both the mother and daughters point of view. It definitely makes it more interesting than other books.
I am looking forward to finishing this book and posting my final review in the near future
i've now given this book to my friend and my mum to read... both have said, it was an easy read, an enjoyable read and both wouldn't hesitate to read another story from this author again, whereas may have passed her over before. i will continue to share this book with all and sundry and thank you for selecting me to be part of this review.. much appreciated.
I loved the way this was written to read in alternating voices, it makes for the most interesting read I have had in a long time. A very poignant and memorable story line! I recommend to anyone looking for a great read with a fantastic story line this is a must to add to your reading list you will not be disappointed!
Having just finished this book, I've found myself thinking a lot more about my communication with my kids. I'd recommend this to family and friends for a good read, and I look forward to reading other books by this author. Whenever I finish a good book, I find it hard to find another book, it's been about a week since finishing & I've not been able to find one yet.....
I Am half way through this book and are enjoying it a lot .....Gives you another reason to Hug your Daughter and understand them a little better...Will def look for more books written by this author.. It's a Very emotional read so far I def Recommend this novel to any Mums out there....You will enjoy!
Almost finished and I think I am dragging out the end, will have to bite the bullet and finish it. The story has been unfolding and at times its heartbreaking to think that it may have been different if the poor mum in the story had a bit more time for her daughter. Makes you think.
Enjoyed this book when I requested it from the library. It was easy to get into and enjoyable and would definitely call it a "women's read'... I can't see my husband reading this!!!!
This book is really really good, I really felt if engaged me a lot, I found It very difficult to put down, had to be reading it all the time, really annoyed the crap out of my hubby! which made it even better,
very good story , would be happy to read it again!
I haven't read any other books byKimberly McCreight. I liked how the storyline was written, and it was a great read without having to sit and think too deeply. The relationship between the mother and daughter was so typical like today, you felt like you knew them and could easily relate. I borrowed this off a friend and she loved it and said she couldnt stop reading. I will keep my eye out for more books, and may start a collection.
I wasnt picked to review this book but have just finished reading it after finding it in my Mum's collection.
I loved it, it was one of those books that you couldnt put down. I love the way that you get to read 2 sides to the story and that they were clear. Sometimes when reading books from multiple perspectives its easy to get lost.
I have lent my copy of Reconstructing Amelia to 4 friends, 3 female one male, and interestingly all the girls said they could not put the book down, whereas the male friend found it dull and hard to read. I guess it means this one is for chicks!
Was not sure I would enjoy this book as I had never heard of the writer. I was wrong as soon as I picked it up I could not put it down, my first reading I read the book for two hours straight. Very easy to read and is a book that you can read without to much thought so a good relaxing read as well as entertaining. Liked how it goes back and forth between caractors.
i've now given this book to my friend and my mum to read... both have said, it was an easy read, an enjoyable read and both wouldn't hesitate to read another story from this author again, whereas may have passed her over before. i will continue to share this book with all and sundry and thank you for selecting me to be part of this review.. much appreciated.
KUDOS' to Kimberley McCreight! This debut novel opened my eyes to how a seemingly normal, but high achieving adolescents life can go so terribly wrong. A decision made by her, taken into a few hands can destroy a life Psychologically and eventually take her life. It takes bullying into a totally different mind set. Riveting to the last page. :)
Thank you for the chance to read this book. It was a great book to read. The Author kept me glued for the whole book. I am looking forward to reading more from this author. The book was well written and the writing flowed well. I would recommend this book to other mums. It is a book that can be read without too much thought.
For a debut novel Kimberly McCreight has impressed me. I love reading and hate when an author clearly can't construct legible sentences or entertain the mind. This book is well written and gets the mind thinking all the way through. Not once was I bored or forgot what had happened when I did have to put the book down. The story stays with you from cover to cover. I just loved the way she wrote in two person view. Not many apple can pull that off. But the way Kimberly McCreight did it made it flow. It slowly pieced the story together from past and present views and mum and daughter views. The ending was a shocker but I had pretty much guessed what had happened just before the end.
When I started to read this book I thought it would be a predictable ,low impact and uninteresting story.
How ever, a few chapters into the story made me sit up and think that I must find out what happens from here.
It is the story of the relaionship between a daughter and a single mother who believes she is doing the very best she can to give her daughter a good life and future. The book asks the question are material goods ,beauty and wealth necessary for a happy life. After reading this story you may change your attitude to this question.
I reccomend this book as a good ,thought provoking read that was hard to put down.
I loved the way this was written to read in alternating voices, it makes for the most interesting read I have had in a long time. A very poignant and memorable story line! I recommend to anyone looking for a great read with a fantastic story line this is a must to add to your reading list you will not be disappointed!
This book is great. I'm only half way through but couldn't wait to write my review. I have to read books that are enjoyable and move at a reasonable pace as I get bored very quickly. The characters are well defined and the book seems to be well written. The start of the book engages you right away. Its a simple read, not taxing at all so far.
There is a little swearing which puts me off a little, but that's the story of thing I don't like. Im only half way through but will finish it.
I am loving this book!! Although I'm only halfway through I just had to write my thoughts on it now. The way the author has written in a two person view and jumping from past to present to cover what has happened and how it's lead up to the death of Amelia makes the story flow and allows you to become a sort-of detective yourself as you draw conclusions on certain things along the way. I absolutely love it and can't wait to finish it - if only these children would look after themselves so I never had to leave it!!! lol
Wow wow wow, what a fantastic book, it will make you laugh and cry all at the same time. it really gets down to the nity grity of raising a teenage daughter. a real page turner i couldnt go to sleep without reading more znd more. even my husband picked it up and started reading it.
I read this book great ideaKimberly McCreight has used the different points of view of the characters really deftly and the jumping between time frames works seamlessly, but there wasn’t a lot of depth to keep track of, so there wasn’t a lot of distractions either. Her characters are entirely typical of a TV show (the bad girl, the mum who wants to be better, the absent father etc) so the world is entirely familiar the issues are those that anyone could relate to.
Very much recommended for a quick read on holiday or if you are having a stressful day
Having just finished this book, I've found myself thinking a lot more about my communication with my kids. I'd recommend this to family and friends for a good read, and I look forward to reading other books by this author. Whenever I finish a good book, I find it hard to find another book, it's been about a week since finishing & I've not been able to find one yet.....
This book finished exactly as I thought it would - all the loose ends tied up and a neat little package which had solid morals.
Kimberly McCreight has used the different points of view of the characters really deftly and the jumping between time frames works seamlessly, but there wasn't a lot of depth to keep track of, so there wasn't a lot of distractions either. Her characters are entirely typical of a TV show (the bad girl, the mum who wants to be better, the absent father etc) so the world is entirely familiar the issues are those that anyone could relate to.
Very much recommended for a quick read on holiday or if you are having a stressful day, then it's nice to jump in to a familiar story in an easy voice.
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Article
“My Floor Has Never Been So Clean”: The Mop That’s Winning Over Mums
Mopping isn’t exactly the chore most of us look forward to, but like most mums, for Katrina Macilroy, it’s unavoidable.
With three teenagers, a husband, a dog, two cats and timber flooring throughout most of her home, there’s plenty to keep her mop busy.
“I thought the toddler stage was hard, but teenagers take it to a whole other level,” Katrina told Mouths of Mums.
She describes herself as a ‘full-time Uber driver’ for her three kids, but when she’s home, she may as well be a full-time cleaner.
Her husband is a concreter, the family has plenty of sand coming inside and, with teenagers touching everything, the floors quickly show the evidence of a full family life.
“I have to mop like every second day because the floor gets marks,” she said.
So when Katrina was given the chance to try the Vileda Easy Wring & Clean TURBO Mop & Bucket Set, she was keen to see whether it could actually make one of her least favourite cleaning tasks any easier.
“I didn’t have high hopes for it to start with, because I’ve used spin mops before and I’d been disappointed,” she admitted.
But it didn’t take long for her to change her mind. One of the first things Katrina noticed was just how easy the mop was to use.
The foot pedal made wringing the mop quick and simple, without having to stop and fiddle with anything.
“It was so easy to spin it,” she says. “It wasn’t like you’re spinning it for hours or anything.”
She was also impressed by how quickly the mop itself could be put together, and the simple button that releases the mop head for washing.
“That simple press notion, everyone can do that. So I love that.”
It’s The Little Things That Add Up
For Katrina, who regularly finds herself cleaning up after a busy family, these little details made a surprisingly big difference. She also loved the triangular mop head, particularly when it came to getting into the corners and edges that her previous mop struggled with.
“The triangle design makes it easy to get into all the little corners,” she says.
But ultimately, the big question was whether it actually cleaned her floors. Katrina’s answer was an enthusiastic yes.
“My floor has never been so clean,” she says.
Katrina was also surprised by how light and manoeuvrable the mop felt, because at just 4’11”, she says mopping can sometimes be an uncomfortable job.
“I’m not a tall person, so trying to mop is always just a horrible experience.”
But she found the Vileda Easy Wring & Clean TURBO Mop & Bucket Set easy to move around and able to go in different directions without feeling heavy or awkward.
And it wasn’t just the mop itself that won Katrina over. She says the bucket design solved one of her biggest mopping frustrations: accidentally tipping the bucket over.
With timber floors, getting too much water onto the floor is something she tries hard to avoid. “The amount of mop buckets I’ve tipped over and just gone everywhere,” she says.
That can turn a simple cleaning job into another mess to deal with, particularly when you’re suddenly scrambling for towels and a dry mop head.
But Katrina says the Vileda bucket feels much more stable because of its design.
And for someone who mops as often as she does, she says that has saved her time. “This thing has saved me so much time, I can’t get over it.”
The Only Mop You’ll Need
Katrina also admits that she’d previously convinced herself she needed a steam mop. She even bought one, only to discover that plugging it in every time she wanted to clean wasn’t exactly appealing.
“You have to plug it in like a vacuum. Like, that’s not fun, I don’t want to do that.”
After trying the Vileda, she says she’s no longer convinced she needs one.
“Why do you need a steam mop when you can get this one?”
For Katrina, the combination of being lightweight, easy to wring, simple to manoeuvre and able to get into those awkward corners has made mopping feel much less frustrating. And despite going into the trial with low expectations, she’s now very happy to recommend it.
“I’m not trying to sell you a product, but I’m just saying that I’m very impressed with it. It’s really good.”
Her final verdict?
“It’s been really, really good. Recommend!”
This Real Story was provided as part of a paid sponsorship opportunity. Katrina was chosen to share her story because she was sent out and tried the Vileda Easy Wring & Clean TURBO Mop & Bucket Set, and genuinely loved it! And Vileda is so confident they’ve made the best spin mop ever, they’re backing the new & improved Easy Wring & Clean TURBO with a 5 Year Guarantee.
This mop so good and the views all are positive so I just purchased one on milkrun through Woolworths and it come with 2 mop head refills. Can’t wait to use it.
Yes, I couldn’t agree more. The Vileda spin mop is by far my favourite mop for a good thorough clean at home. I even got the landlords to purchase one for the holiday house I clean to make cleaning a breeze and get the job done properly. I always grab a spare when they’re out for half price.
Ah, I received a ‘you’re a finalist’ email from MoM for this fantastic mop but didn’t receive anything beyond that. I was looking forward to giving this a try to compare the three existing options I have but alas. Looks good, fingers crossed I can try it in the near future!
Omg! Yes! With 4 dogs and 4 teens AND the guests they bring home with them LOL our timber floors and tiles don’t stand a chance! I would love to see them add some wheels to the bottom of the bucket so that you don’t have to carry the bucket around with you.
This sounds like an excellent mop that makes cleaning so easy! I love a product that not only is as effective as advertised but makes a job less grueling. I gotta say though, a steam mop that plugs in sounds like an awful idea. I have a tineco floor mop, which is cordless and charges at a base, and it’s incredible on my white tiles.
6:26 pm
Definitely a book worth reading
All round a FANTASTIC book to read!!!
2:46 pm
Fantastic book!!!
12:57 pm
first early review
10:13 am
Lovely Book - Can't wait to finish it :) (First Impressions Review)
I love the way the story switches from both the mother and daughters point of view. It definitely makes it more interesting than other books.
I am looking forward to finishing this book and posting my final review in the near future
12:49 am
A good easy read
I loved the way you were given the chance to look at situations and events etc from more than just the one persons perspective.
The story flowed freely and the plot was easy to follow and didn't deviate in its "flow" will be looking for more books by this author
12:47 pm
easy read
9:08 pm
Reconstructing Amelia - Brilliant!
2:02 pm
Good reading
4:58 pm
A Must for any Mum of a Daughter
11:41 pm
Makes mums of teens think
3:16 pm
Very easy read!
5:16 pm
so good
very good story , would be happy to read it again!
12:49 am
A good easy read
I loved the way you were given the chance to look at situations and events etc from more than just the one persons perspective.
The story flowed freely and the plot was easy to follow and didn't deviate in its "flow" will be looking for more books by this author
12:31 pm
light read, very enjoyable
1:20 pm
Couldn't put it down
I loved it, it was one of those books that you couldnt put down. I love the way that you get to read 2 sides to the story and that they were clear. Sometimes when reading books from multiple perspectives its easy to get lost.
8:13 am
friends opinions
3:59 pm
I really enjoyed it.
12:47 pm
easy read
12:11 pm
It was ENLIGHTNING!
3:16 pm
Great easy read
6:26 pm
Definitely a book worth reading
All round a FANTASTIC book to read!!!
5:05 pm
Thought provoking.
How ever, a few chapters into the story made me sit up and think that I must find out what happens from here.
It is the story of the relaionship between a daughter and a single mother who believes she is doing the very best she can to give her daughter a good life and future. The book asks the question are material goods ,beauty and wealth necessary for a happy life. After reading this story you may change your attitude to this question.
I reccomend this book as a good ,thought provoking read that was hard to put down.
9:08 pm
Reconstructing Amelia - Brilliant!
4:35 pm
enjoyable read so far
There is a little swearing which puts me off a little, but that's the story of thing I don't like. Im only half way through but will finish it.
Give it a goid for sure :-)
2:37 am
disappointed
However I just couldn't get into it, I forced myself to read half the book but for me it didn't get any enjoyable.
I normally enjoy books that jump bak forth in time ...I think it was the use of swear words that put me off the most.
2:46 pm
Fantastic book!!!
10:18 am
final review of reconstructing amelia
12:00 am
bery useful when u r on stress
Very much recommended for a quick read on holiday or if you are having a stressful day
2:02 pm
Good reading
1:36 pm
Lacked Sub Plot, but Good Pace
Kimberly McCreight has used the different points of view of the characters really deftly and the jumping between time frames works seamlessly, but there wasn't a lot of depth to keep track of, so there wasn't a lot of distractions either. Her characters are entirely typical of a TV show (the bad girl, the mum who wants to be better, the absent father etc) so the world is entirely familiar the issues are those that anyone could relate to.
Very much recommended for a quick read on holiday or if you are having a stressful day, then it's nice to jump in to a familiar story in an easy voice.
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