🔍🚀❗ BOOK REVIEW ❗🚀🔍

"People think the decisions you make that change the course of your life are the big ones. But she knows it's the little ones, the tiny moments, that really plot the course."

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN! The first few chapters had me hooked....I'm not kidding, when I wasn't reading I was constantly thinking about this book.

I really enjoyed the style of writing. It travels through time to show the reader what's happening with our protagonists and through out each time jump reveals HUGE SECRETS that leave you speechless. The way the author used time, characters and the pandemic to create this plot was absolutely brilliant and is the reason why I never wanted to put the book down.

Authors creating a book about the COVID-19 pandemic have a lot to prove because Catherine Ryan Howard nailed it! A huge thank you to her, Blackstone Publishing and Net Galley for giving me a copy of this AMAZING thriller.

There's quite a bit of a question mark about whether a story revolving around the 2020 pandemic is too soon to tell; I am here to say that if done right, no story is too soon to tell. In 56 Days we meet Ciara and Oliver two people besieged with each other right before the pandemic hits Dublin city center and they're forced to get to know each other very quickly and decide if they should bunk down together without really knowing each other-each of them harboring their own dark and secretive pasts.

This mulit-POV story was interesting in that the main characters (inducing a third main character; Detective Lee) switched between the three, the detective investigating present day and Oliver and Ciara each experiencing the same even in their own POV; i hadn't read this writing beat in a while and it felt refreshing versus having a third voice narration so well done! I also found myself compelled to find out what layers these characters had and what else they would reveal.

Fun, quick easy read and some unique twists. IMO the pace kind of fell off about three quarters in but otherwise recommend.

This was such a wonderfully twisty thriller. Told from multiple points of view and timelines, it’s about Ciara and Oliver who met and began dating right before the lockdown in Dublin began. In order to continue seeing each other, Ciara decides to move in with Oliver for the two week lockdown. But neither of them know each other very well and there are tons of secrets. Every time I thought I had this figured out, there was another twist. I love books that surprise me. I also enjoyed the dialogue and banter between the detectives in this story. I would love to read more books featuring them.

Hold on to those masks folks, a Covid-19 pandemic murder mystery is here. 😷

& it’s serving twist after twist after twist.

Yeah, that’s right. A thriller novel that takes place during the 2020 quarantine.

IMO it’s not too soon, it’s right on time.

Just about all readers can connect with this novel since the entire world just went through this global emergency together - We’ve all faced uncertainty, done the shelter in place, hand washing, news watching, alcohol drinking or banana bread baking…we’ve all been there.

This book takes place in Ireland (which is cool) despite being in a different country I found it relatable…except for the part about moving in with a new bae and then killing them off. That’s where the book does it’s own unique thing. 🤷🏼‍♀️

The author does a fabulous job of creating multiple points of view (girlfriend, boyfriend, and detective investigating the murder that takes place after the couple shacks up during Quar).

The suspense level was high and I was fully engaged from start to finish in this, dare I say, unprecedented *gasp* novel.

I’m so glad I had this as an ebook instead of as a physical book, because I was SO TEMPTED to flip ahead and see what happens. I don’t know that I would have been able to ignore the temptation if I had the book in my hands.

I loved the way the story switched back and forth through time and perspectives. Excellent storytelling.

There were parts of this book and parts that were a bit slow and I knew Ciara wasn't a total innocent, however, I did not see the end coming. The premise was good and was the first "pandemic" book I've read....and although the pandemic served as a good cover, it was really strange umbrella with the back and forth which at times was a little confusing. With that said, a good beach read that could be tightened up with some more editing.

What happens when two people meet and seemingly fall in love right before a global pandemic? They can either stay apart and try to date virtually, or try out living together. Luckily our protagonists Ciara and Oliver decide they can't possibly be apart for two whole weeks, and do the latter. Sounds simple--that is if you're not carrying secrets that could ruin lives. As we all know, two weeks turned into two months and beyond. How long can they keep their secrets before one of them winds up dead?

As a long time fan of Catherine Ryan Howard, I was both excited and nervous that she was releasing not only a new book, but a book taking place during the COVID-19 lockdown. I kept thinking, "Is it too soon? What if it is just a new fad to try and sell books?". Well I have good news--it is neither. When authors write fiction during this time they could certainly learn Catherine Ryan Howard. This wasn't a story about Covid; its about people who saw a unique opportunity caused by Covid and seized it. The multiple points of view are incredibly satisfying and kept me on my toes. Highly Recommend.

I was pleasantly surprised by how well written and entertaining the story was, and would definitely recommend. I was drawn in by the premise, but on the fence since we are still living in the midst of the pandemic and I wasn't sure if it would capture the feelings and the depths. My hesitancy was unfounded (and the author also revealed she wrote the book over three lockdowns, so plenty of time to craft a great story as she also lived through the events, just like her characters.)

This was a solid story and the author definitely has a talent for writing. However, I think it was just too soon for me to pick up a book with Covid-19 as a focal point. I’m going to give this one three stars because I did enjoy aspects of it. Chalking this up to a “it’s not you, it’s me” type of situation. Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

Just when you think you have it figured out, 56 Days but Catherine Ryan Howard will surprise you. Things are not as they seem so don't stop reading.

What an intriguing thriller this is!. Set during the first wave of the pandemic, It's about two people who meet by chance (or do they?) on the days leading up to the pandemic, and by the end of it, one of them is dead. The layers peel back with the conflicting narratives of Oliver and Ciara in the past, and the detectives in the present. That would be quite the balancing act for a less deft writer, but Catherine Ryan Howard handles it beautifully. This one kept me guessing all the way through. A great read!

What a ride! What a thrill! What a book!! This is our September book club pick and I was so excited to grab a copy. Worth it!!

I was riveted by this book! I had to just keep reading and ignore everything else. So many great twists in the second half that I did not anticipate. Loved it!

Ciara meets Oliver in a Dublin supermarket a few weeks before Leo Varadkar made that St.Patrick's day speech we all remember so well! They decide to move in together as Covid-19 impacts the country. But do they know each other well enough to survive what's ahead? What secrets do they hold? Then a body is discovered.......

This book brought back a lot of memories of the pandemic in Dublin, like working from our apartment and exercising within the 2km limit!

This book is a bit of a slow burn mystery rather than a thriller.......but that's definitely not a negative! I loved how the multiple timelines were easily followed as we countdown to day 56. This great suspense read kept me engaged throughout as we learnt more and more about the characters. I finished this in one sitting over the weekend. I gave it 4.5 stars and I would definitely recommend this book!

Thanks to @netgalley and @blackstonepublishing for providing me with this copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very well done twisty murder mystery, that incorporates Covid-19 into the story in a way that is essential to the plot. I enjoyed this book, and just when I thought I had it all figured out, turns out I didn’t! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thought I figured out the ending at least 5 times only to be wrong, kept me guessing for sure. It’s so interesting to read Covid as a plot point while we’re still in the throes of the pandemic. This was perfect quick beach read, which is exactly where I read it.

Summary: 56 DAYS AGO
Ciara and Oliver meet in a supermarket queue in Dublin and start dating the same week COVID-19 reaches Irish shores.

35 DAYS AGO
When lockdown threatens to keep them apart, Oliver suggests they move in together. Ciara sees a unique opportunity for a relationship to flourish without the scrutiny of family and friends. Oliver sees a chance to hide who -- and what -- he really is.

TODAY
Detectives arrive at Oliver's apartment to discover a decomposing body inside.

Can they determine what really happened, or has lockdown created an opportunity for someone to commit the perfect crime?
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Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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My thoughts: Thank you @blackstonepublishing and @netgalley for the advanced readers copy. I was a little hesitant to read a book about Covid, it still feels a little too soon but this was such a good read !! Once @bookofthemonth chose this as an option for July I knew I needed to read this one! The mystery and twists were so so good! It switched from past to the present murder investigation. The twists were unexpected, the characters were great, all and all a pretty prefect thriller! Highly recommend checking this one out when it hits book stores August 17th!
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I was not sure about reading a story set during the Covid pandemic while it is still going on, but I am glad I did. I was immersed in the twists and turns of the plot and devoured this book.

Two lonely people meet in a grocery store in early March 2020. They go out on a date, enjoy each other's company, and as lockdown starts...find that it would be ideal to just live together. They don't have anyone in Dublin.

56 days later, there's a body in an apartment. It's been there for awhile. The place has been wiped clean of fingerprints. No one know what happened.

But...who was Oliver....before. Who was Ciara....before.... And what happened in that time they were together.

This is a pandemic book and a thriller. I did think the 'twist' did become a bit convoluted but it still kept me hooked.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

WOW!

Absolutely could not put this one down. The book begins by sucking you in with a love interest between two lonely strangers in Dublin. Once the COVID pandemic hits, they decide to become lockdown roommates. Slowly and steadily, things are revealed about their past. But who can be trusted?

I don’t want to give up much else because I was shocked and tricked at every turn. I always try to guess what’s really going on in every thriller, but I have to admit I did not see any of that coming. So well done. And don’t let the talk of the pandemic deter you - it was a helpful tool to set the claustrophobic tone for this ominous thriller. Be sure to read the trigger warnings on book of the months page if you’re worried about that. Otherwise, try not to look up too much beforehand about this one, just dive right into it and enjoy the thrilling ride.