I did not like this book that much. The story felt a bit unbelievable to me and the characters were way too blah.

I'm afraid I couldn't get into this book and I stopped after about 15% as it just wasn't for me. I've noticed most people enjoyed it though so I would recommend trying it for yourself too see what you think.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC of this novel.

This was a different book to what I am used to reading. It discusses something we all wonder about... Is there life after death? Do our loved ones look out for us once they have passed or do they simply pass on?

I liked the characters in this book but I felt a little like we were only scratching the surface of them. Like an overview. The writing was good but I felt more could have come from this book.

This was a bit different I liked it don't get me wrong. Its just I don't know about another book that brings you through a characters after life. How she can connect with them and watch over them. One persons take on death and after. It makes you think.

Melissa wasn't exactly intending to be unfaithful to Steven when she set out to meet an old friend. It was just that he was more interesting than her husband, more exciting. There was nothing wrong with Steven, it was just that he was beginning to seem a bit boring and this meeting was with Totga - The One That Got Away. Only the meeting was cancelled whilst Melissa was on her way and she was hit by a car and killed on a dangerous road. Melissa had always though that when she died that would be it: she's rather surprised to discover that there's an afterlife. She finds that she's in limbo, where she'll remain until all her unfinished business on earth is sorted out.

She's not alone either. Melissa meets people who are waiting to pass on and soon becomes involved in collecting souls who are about to die. Author Marilyn Bennett is particularly clever here: the novel could have become a collection of short stories but the linking is well done and we see how Melissa learns to adapt, to accept what is happening to her family and friends as she watches their lives. She can be there with them, listening to all that's going on, but she can't interfere, or be seen or heard.

I liked Melissa. In life she was a PE teacher and a force of nature. In death nothing changes, except that she's no longer alive, but, of course, that changes everything. She's feisty and determined, but life in limbo requires a more subtle approach and an acceptance of your limitations. It was Steven who surprised me most: I'd taken heed of Melissa's initial feelings about him and I expected someone rather staid, but he's not. He's devastated by Melissa's death and very loyal to her, but not blind to some of her less appealing characteristics. Bennett allows him to develop in the time after Melissa's death and there's a glimmer of happiness on the horizon for him too. Most touchingly, Melissa finds that she's fallen in love with Steven all over again.

Melissa's parents turn tragedy into something positive and they become campaigners. Bennett's very good at allowing her major characters to develop, but I occasionally lost track of some of the minor characters. That's a small quibble about an otherwise good story which kept me gripped from beginning to end and I'd like to thank the publisher for letting Bookbag have a copy of the book.

What I particularly liked about the story was the way that I found myself being gently nudged into evaluating how I live my life. There's nothing preachy or heavy about it but it highlighted for me that I should live my life the way that I want to be remembered, which isn't always as easy as it sounds!

Thank you to NetGalley and Marilyn Bennett for the free review copy of Reap by Marilyn Bennett for my honest review.

There isn’t much that I didn’t love about this novel. The story was AMAZING. It was such an interesting premise. Melissa has a lot going on in life and she is holding on to the past. On her way to have drinks with ex she gets struck by a car….she doesn’t make it.

This story is about Melissa’s journey through the afterlife. She is able to connect with her family and ensure that they are okay. Melissa finds herself in what she calls “limbo”. Her job there is to collect other souls that are ready to leave the world. She doesn’t think she can do it but through these people that she collects, she learns things about herself. She cannot cross over until her unfinished business is taken care of. She doesn’t know it, but Melissa has special business to take care of before she can cross over.

This is a story of sadness, love, and anger. I felt with all of the characters of their loss and the love that is between them. I couldn’t but this book down and I am so glad I’ve read it. It makes me think about how I live my life and how sometimes a tragedy can be the beginning of a new life.

I would definitely recommend this book. Warnings: Language, death.

This was a very interesting book. I thought the ideas of the afterlife were original and thought to provoke. I was able to feel sadness and other emotions through the story and that tells me that it was written pretty well. I have to say, for a single story, it was unusual but welcome. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend who has questions about kids and death.

At times this book was somewhat confusing but it has quite a good story line.
Melissa is married to Stephen but she goes to meet up with her ex; the only problem she didn't see the car until it was too late.
The story centres around characters who have died but haven't yet passed over..
Melissa watches over her family and those people she'll help after their deaths. Can Melissa accept Stephen getting on with his life?
An interesting take on death and afterlife.

I am divided on this book still, I thought the writing was good but found I could get a little lost at times. I like the fact it was fast paced and the characters were well written and world building was good, just felt it left a little to be desired wanted to like it more but I felt was worth three stars as I did enjoy the writing style

Reap, is beautifully constructed, and innately weird. It grabbed my attention from the moment I began reading, but it was a slow progressing novel, which I struggled with - I like pace. However, I did appreciate the writing style, character development and the world building. The author, did an amazing job of taking a character who lacked depth, and constructing a gorgeous, deep, critically flawed MC who was authentic and relate-able. I adore the plot-twists, however, I am still confused and would love a sequel.

This was the first book I have read by this author, I liked this novel. Although this is not the usual genre I read I really enjoyed the way this author's world building. This novel was able to grab me from the first chapter until the very last. I was never always sure where this novel would take me but it was certainly a wild ride that I did enjoy.

A strange book, it’s covers everything from humour to serious emotion. An ok read.
Thank you to both NetGalley and Marilyn Bennett. For my eARC in exchange for my honest unbiased review

I did not enjoy this book and was only able to read the first few chapters. Having just lost someone close to me I found it upsetting.

Not my normal kind of book. But it was light hearted with a serious twist. It tells the story from a dead persons view. Well written and a good light hearted red

This was completely unlike anything I think i've ever read before. Bennett created a truly fascinating yet terrifying world. Really addictive read.

This book started out so well but about half way through I just got confused. Melissa seemed like quite a flighty character and half of the time I didn’t fully understand what was going on. Some of the good points are the description of grief and having a peek through a window type of experience of loved ones grief. I thought this part of the story was excellently written, however, the guides didn’t really give any clues of where Melissa had ended up and why she was required to help others. Maybe I missed this further along in the book as I did skim read quite a bit. I just felt bored. It is more than likely me and not the book but I wasn’t inspired. Sorry

I would post this on Goodreads but I am not able since the book does now show up there. At least I cannot seem to find it.

I found the whole premise of this story very beautiful and the first half is breathtaking, I loved the book. I devoured it. But then things started to shift and it fell flat. I didn't understand and I was left very very confused. I wish the author had perhaps re-written this since I have seen other reviewers struggle with this too, and I'm not sure if it is because my native tongue is not English or what it is but I fell really off. However, the first half of the book was done beautifully and I think the author did well there. So I am having a hard time leaving a star on this, so I'm going with three.

A brilliant read with a brilliant storyline and characters and I will look forward to reading more from this author thank you for my arc

I really liked the beginning of the story. It had me nailed. As the book continued, I found myself feeling confused - particularly during the last half.

Melissa worked as a PE teacher; had a husband, Stephen, (she took him for granted); a lover, Hayden, (whom she "loved" a lot more than he loved her), and a few friends. Running late to meet her lover, Melissa is struck by a car and subsequently dies at the scene.

I found it interesting how Melissa was able to see what went on after her death. Since this is a sci-fi book, I expected the glorious detail during Melissa's state of limbo (?). I also enjoyed that she found out who REALLY counted in her life - who really cared...Shades of Ebenezer Scrooge? Additionally, in heaven, (?) she began liking/understanding children younger than middle school age and became more accepting of others. I was a bit confused with the story of Annabelle et al. and the ending of the book.

Many thanks to Marilyn Bennett and Netgalley for a chance to read and review.

This book was a little different. I liked the description of grief and the journey it encompasses. That was a little personal for me. I enjoyed the author’s writing style. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.