"It is a quiet place, especially at night. Too quiet, you'd be entitled to think, for any kind of monster to live among its pretty, tree-shaded lanes....If you let yourself think this, you would be wrong. For 17 Orchard Lane is the home of the Radleys, and despite their very best efforts, they are anything but normal."
The reason I bought a copy of the The Radleys by Matt Haig a couple of years ago is because I liked his witty and wonderful novel, The Humans, so much. (And also because my library didn't own any copies of this one.) So I don't know why I then let it languish unread for so long on my shelf. Maybe because I was afraid it wouldn't be as good as I hoped. But I needn't have worried. The Radleys is a very readable and entertaining novel with a great ending. I liked it a lot!
It's about a married couple, Peter and Helen Radley, who are vampires that have chosen to become "Abstainers" in order to give their two children an ordinary, human life. The only problem? Clara and Rowan Radley aren't human; they're vampires, too. They just don't know it. Until the night Clara is attacked by a boy from her high school. When she fights back and tastes blood for the very first time, the secret Peter and Helen have been keeping from their children is revealed in a big way. And suddenly Clara and Rowan know who they really are...and what they're meant to be. To make matters even worse, Peter's brother, Will, an unrepentant blood-drinking vampire, shows up at their house causing even more havoc for Helen and her family. And suddenly their quiet existence is threatened with extinction. "The Radleys explores the lengths to which a parent will go to protect a child, the costs of denying your true identity, the undeniable appeal of sin, and the everlasting bonds of family love."
Happy Reading!
P.S. This book counts as my fourth TBR read for The Backlist Reader Challenge hosted by Lark at The Bookwyrm's Hoard. Only six more TBRs to go!
I enjoyed this one too. It was very exciting. Especially at the end. I couldn't put it down. It's the only book I've read by this author. I need to check out his others.
ReplyDeleteI've read two of Matt Haig's books now and loved them both. :)
DeleteIf you and Jenny liked this one, I'm pretty sure I'm going to. It's already on my TBR list, but maybe I need to bump it up a bit, eh?
ReplyDeleteIt's a good one whenever you decide to read it. :)
DeleteI'very just put it on reserve at the library!
ReplyDeleteYay! Let me know what you think of it! :D
DeleteSounds like an interesting story and I'm curious where it'll lead. Shall see if my library have it.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed. :)
DeleteOf course, having Radley in the title is immediately interesting! Love the cover and your review--I want this one. :)
ReplyDeleteI was drawn to the title, too. :) I hope you get a chance to read this one...and that you like it, too.
DeleteThis sounds very original and entertaining, and I am glad for you that this novel did not disappoint you! :-)
ReplyDeleteKind regards,
Thanks! I'm glad it was as good as I hoped, too. :)
DeleteEvery time I read or hear about this book title, my first thought is that it is going to be related to To Kill a Mockingbird!
ReplyDeleteThat was my first thought, too. And I have to admit, I was a little disappointed to find out it's not. But turns out it's a good read anyway. :)
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