Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?
There isn't an individual book that that I haven't finished this year, however, I've read both Scythe and Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman and kept meaning to pick up The Toll to finish the series but I didn't quite manage it!
Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?
I find I tend to steer more towards light-hearted, rom-com style fiction during spring and summer, and autumn and winter is when I start reading dystopian / fantasy or something a little darker or more serious in tone. I'd highly recommend A House of Salt & Sorrows by Erin A. Craig for a good transitional autumn book!
Is there a new release you're still waiting on?
I'm waiting for In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren to be released in paperback as I've stopped buying hardbacks now, but I don't think it's available in paperback until October 2021?!?! I've also started reading the ACOTAR series and the 5th installment is due out in February 2021 so fingers crossed I've finished the other books before this one is released!
What are three books you wanted to read before the end of the year?
I really wanted to get around to reading I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes but it's such a chunky book that I don't think that will be possible. I also really wanted to pick up another Fredrik Backman book as A Man Called Ove was one of my favourite reads of this year.
Is there a book that you think could still shock you and become a favourite of the year?
I honestly think that Bear Town by Fredrik Backman will absolutely blow me away. I've heard nothing but amazing reviews and if it's as good as A Man Called Ove, then we'll be onto a winner. I also really want to read The People in the Trees by Yanha Yanagihara as A Little Life is one of my all time favourite books.
Have you already started making reading plans for 2021?
I think 2021 is going to be a year of series for me. I desperately want to read The Toll by Neal Shusterman but I feel like I'll need to re-read the first two books as it's been a couple of years since I read them. I've also read Caraval by Stephanie Garber and I want to continue with that series too. But I'm going to prioritise reading the After series by Anna Todd as I've heard it a series that will just suck you in and my friend absolutely raves about those books. I'm also itching to start the ACOTAR series too as I haven't read a fantasy book in a while!
Let me know if you decide to do this tag as I love reading them!
2020 had been a bit of a shitter of a year, has it not? However, it's not all doom & gloom as I've discovered five books this year that have completely taken me by surprise and have made it into my top five books of all time. These are all books I'd heard were good, but, as the title says, completely knocked my socks off and blew all expectations out of the water. I've written a review about each book in the past and all five reviews are linked, but I feel like the year wouldn't be completely rounded off without another little shoutout to them, because they really were just that good.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I read this book way back in February and yet I still remember reading and loving this book like it was only a few weeks ago. I think it's a true testament to a book when - even 10 months on - the plot and narrative don't fade away. Not only was this book incredibly well written, it was full of Old Hollywood drama, characters who were awful but who you couldn't resist rooting for, shocking twists and a beautiful love story at the centre of it all.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
I put off reading this book for so long because of the sheer size of it (700+ pages with really tiny font) but I finally read it back in July and it's a story that will stay with me forever. This book has character development like no other and Jude will stay with me for a very long time. My heart still breaks every time I think of this story and it's one that I've recommended time and time again to people and will continue to recommend to people because it's so beautifully written and the plot is one that will absolutely break you in the most heart-wrenching way possible - but don't be put off, it's simply beautiful.
Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
This is a more recent read for me but one that I instantly knew would stay with me for a long time. This is one of the most vivid and atmospheric books I've ever read and the simplicity of the setting is one that is just so beautifully crafted. It's a story about survival, hope, loneliness, prejudice, coming of age, trust, love, and most importantly, strength. There is murder mystery, a love story, nature, coming of age, and poetry woven through the pages of this book and all this together makes it one of the easiest five star books for me.
This is Going To Hurt by Adam Kay
This was my first medical based non-fiction book and it completely surprised me by how unbelievably good it was. Kay is very funny throughout this book but he also exposes a lot that is wrong with the NHS that us Brits kinda could have guessed at already, but he never loses sight of how truly important it is. He finishes his hilarious and touching tales with a direct plea to the government - and to us all - to take the NHS and its doctors seriously; to respect it and them and to not take the work that they do for granted. It's such a powerful and important read wrapped up in a highly-entertaining package and that's the best kind of learning.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
This is one of those books that will warm your heart from the very get go and will only continue to make you fall more in love with with the story and Ove the more you read. This is a story of loss, loneliness, acceptance and friendship and it is one that always puts a smile on my face when I see it sitting on my bookshelf. I highly recommend this one to anyone who is after a laugh-out-loud story with broken, grumpy (yet begrudgingly loveable) old man at the centre of it all.
What books have you loved this year?
Title: The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street
Author: Karina Yan Glaser
Publication date: 3rd October 2017
Page length: 297
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Genre: fiction
About the book
The Vanderbeekers have always lived in the brownstone on 141st Street. It's practically another member of the family. So when their reclusive, curmudgeonly landlord decides not to renew their lease a few days before Christmas, the five siblings have eleven days to do whatever it takes to stay in their beloved home and convince the dreaded Beiderman just how wonderful they are. And all is fair in love and war when it comes to keeping their home.
Review
I was doing some Googling for light-hearted, fun Christmas books and I came across the Vanderbeekers of 141st Street and I won't lie, it was the cover that completely got me. I'm a sucker for a beautifully illustrated book cover and I'm also a sucker for books set in New York, so this one instantly jumped out to me.
Now for the disclaimer: this IS a middle-grade book aimed at children 10+ years old.
Having said that, I personally really enjoyed this book and I'm 26 years old, so definitely, definitely do not let the target age group put you off. The story is charming and entertaining and I was completely absorbed in the Vanderbeeker kids and their shananigans and I found it the perfect easy, absorbing, comforting Christmas read.
I found the story really realistic and really warmed to each of the Vanderbeeker children. Each had their own individual personality and even the minor characters had enough depth to them so that they never felt like filler characters. I love reading about large, chaotic families (probably because I'm an only child!) and this book was exactly about that. There were five siblings (two of which are twins), two parents, a dog, a cat & a house bunny. Plus all their lovely neighbours and friends that give a real sense of community to this book. I loved reading all about Harlem and how much the children loved living there. The family dynamic was wonderful and I loved reading about their connection to their home and the emotions surrounding the possibility of having to let it go.
The story was really well written and held my attention from beginning to end. Something significant happened in each chapter and the story just flowed really well. I really enjoyed the illustrations throughout the book (there's floor plans, diagrams, newspaper cuttings, maps etc) and I imagine if I was reading this aged 10, I would have loved looking at these. I find something that illustrations throughout books can be a bit misplaced, but these enhanced the story further and were a lovely added extra.
For me, this is was a sweet - but not overly sweet - story that had a lot of emotion in it. There is a great messaged at the heart of the book and I would have absolutely loved this when I was younger. Heck, I loved it as an adult and for readers who enjoy seasonal books, this is a great choice for this time of year.
Verdict: ★★★★
Title: How To Stuff Up Christmas
Author: Rosie Blake
Pages: 324
Publication date: 5th November 2015
Publisher: Corvus
About the book
Tis the season to be jolly. Unless you've found an intimate picture of another woman on your fiance's phone...
Eve is heartbroken after discovering her fiance is cheating on her. Being surrounded by the joys of Christmas is more than Eve can bear, so she chooses to avoid the festivities by spending Christmas alone on a houseboat in Pangbourne. Eve gets an unexpected seasonal surprise when handsome local vet Greg comes to her rescue one day, and continues to visit Eve's boat on a mission to transform her from Kitchen Disaster Zone to Culinary Queen.
But where does Greg keep disappearing to? What does Eve's best friend Daisy know that she isn't telling? And why is there an angry goose stalking Eve's boat?
Review
Continuing on with the Christmas books (because, why not?!) and I figured that since I've had How To Stuff Up Christmas by Rosie Blake sitting on my shelf for well over a year now, I should probably pick it up. The story sounded fun from reading the blurb and I'm all about light-hearted, cosy Christmas reads at the moment.
I wanted to love this book more than what I did, but that's not to say I didn't enjoy it, because I did, but there was just an overwhelming urge of 'alright-ness' throughout reading this book. I wasn't not enjoying it, but I also wasn't in a mad rush to read the next chapter either.
The book started off on a strong note and I thought the conversations were written really well and I was eager to find out what Eve would get up to, but as the book went on, everything just kind of fell a bit flat and nothing much of anything really happened and on the very few occasions that something did happen, it was all very predictable. I guessed straight away who the picture was on Liam's (Eve's ex fiance) phone and I guessed from Greg's early chapters what was going on his life (every now and again there would be a chapter thrown in concentrating on Greg's point of view whenever he and Eve had spent time together - which I actually did quite enjoy).
That's not to say that the writing of the book wasn't done well, because it was - I liked both Eve and Greg as characters, and I loved Eve's sister, Harriet - but the grand reveal of the mysterious woman on Liam's phone and the 'secret' surrounding Greg's life, which I presume were both supposed to be omg-what-the-hell moments, were just very anti-climatic and bit lacklustre due to already having guessed both of them from very early on. When Greg's 'secret' was revealed, I also thought it was far too under-explored and bit rushed. The same can be said when the grand reveal of who the naughty photo is of on Liam's phone - it was all very last-minute and added no real tension to the plot as Eve's reaction was a bit underwhelming.
Also, the 'love' element between Greg and Eve felt like a bit of an effort at times. They had barely learned a thing or two about each other before spending the day together and then deciding that a kiss was too much and they should't see each other ever again. It was all just very odd and a bit wishy-washy and not at all convincing - that's probably where the biggest downfall in this book comes from for me. I've read a lot of books in this genre, so me guessing major plot points isn't too much of a disappointment, but I did expect more in terms of development in the relationship between Greg and Eve and unfortunately it wasn't there.
I also feel like Greg was a very under-developed character and I wanted to know a lot more about him that we didn't ever get to find out. Why was he a vet? What was his and his brother's childhood like? What was his previous relationships like? I feel like if we knew these things about him, he would have been a much more solid character. It wasn't that he was a badly written character, but I feel like the author could have done a lot more to make him a really tangible character that readers could root for.
There were aspects of the plot that were well executed though, such as the pottery classes and the houseboat scenes, these did give all the cosy feels. Marmite injected some much needed canine cuteness into the story too and I found his little personality to be one of the highlights of this book. I also adored the relationship between Eve's mum and dad too - her mum's embarrassment at her dad's choice of clothing did allow for some funny moments. As I mentioned above, I also loved Harriet as a character, there was just something so sassy and empowering about her that made me want her to be included more throughout the book.
Overall, How To Stuff Up Christmas was an enjoyable festive read and I finished it rather quickly, but it wasn't one I was itching to pick up. The houseboat and village settings were cute and gave me all the Christmas vibes that you want from this kind of book and I enjoyed the recipes at the beginning of the chapters - I thought this added a cute little extra to the book. I'd recommend it if you want something you can fly through with cute, festive scenery, but don't expect a whole lot of development from the main characters.
Verdict: ★★★
I haven't done a tag post in what feels like forever but this is one that I've seen it doing the rounds on Twitter lately and is one that I quite enjoyed reading so I figured I would give it a go myself!
1. "All I Want For Christmas Is You..." | What book do you want to see under the Christmas tree?
Honestly I love gifting presents rather than receiving them for Christmas and I'm very grateful for whatever I receive. Christmas takes on a whole new meaning when you have kids and this is the first year my daughter (who has just turned 3) can really grasp what Christmas is, so the best present I could ever receive is giving her the best Christmas possible.
2. "Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time..." | What book have you enjoyed the most this year?
There's two standout books that I've read this year that have become my all-time favourite books and I'm struggling pick out of the two! They are A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara and Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. Both of these books will stay with me for life. A Little Life isn't a book I'd recommend to everyone as it's extremely traumatic and raw and if you're not in a good headspace, I suggest you don't read it. Where the Crawdads Sing is a more recent read of mine but I knew the minute I finished reading it that it was such a special story.
3. "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas..." | Which book has the most festive look to it?
I'm an absolute sucker for a beautifully illustrated cover, so I'd have to go with something along the lines of Calling Mrs Christmas by Carole Matthews or A Winter Flame by Millie Johnson.
4. Elf | What book unleashes your inner child?
I've recently just read The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser which is technically a middle-grade book that follows the story of 5 young siblings living in a brownstone in New York who are trying to save their home after their landlord decides not to renew their lease. This is the kind of book I'd have read when I was in my early teens and it just took me right back to reading as a teenager. The story is wonderfully wholesome and it's a lot of fun!
5. The Grinch | Your favourite villain?
Ahh this is such a difficult one to answer without giving away major plot twists! The thing that makes a great villain for me though, is someone who isn't a great person but for all the right reasons!
6. The Holiday | Name your two favourite couples!
Going back to Where the Crawdads Sing, and I have to say Kya and Tate. There is something about their relationship that is so humble and pure. Tate understands what Kya needs and never pushes her to do anything she is uncomfortable with and I LOVE that about him. Again with A Little Life and Jude and Willem - those two just broke my heart with the amount of love they have for each other and their whole relationship was built on trust and companionship.
7. What book would you like to give as a present to your readers?
One of my other favourite books of the year was A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman and I think it holds an important message in the sense of never judging someone straight away and you never know what someone might have been through. For anyone living in the UK, I think a highly important (yet very entertaining) read is This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay, which is an insight to the daily goings on of an NHS doctor which shows how truely strained and pressured the NHS really is. Both of these stories are very entertaining and funny but with an important message at the centre of it all.
Have you done this tag yet?
Title: Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas
Author: Adam Kay
Pages: 144
Publisher: Picador
Publication date: October 17th 2019
Genre: non-fiction
About the book
Twas The Nightshift Before Christmas is the hilarious, poignant and entertaining story of the life of a junior doctor at the most challenging time of the year. With twenty-five tales of intriguing, shocking and incredible Christmas incidents, the British public will finally appreciate the sacrifices made and the challenges faced by the unsung heroes of the NHS.
Review
If you read my review on Kay's first book, This is Going to Hurt, then you'll know that I absolutely loved that book; it had me hooked from the first couple of pages and it made me laugh out loud as well as break my heart. Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas absolutely exceeded my expectations and dare I say it, I think I loved it even more than This is Going to Hurt because it was everything the first book was, but it has Christmas in it!
I love the way Kay writes and Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas was written in the exact same format at the previous book; short diary entries that means you can put the book down and pick it back up again whenever you want, so if you're strapped for time, then this is one you can pick up even if you only have a spare 5 or 10 minutes here and there.
I felt every emotion when reading this book and as I said in my previous review, laughter is definitely the best kind of learning and this is book is both hilarious and heartbreaking and - despite the book being very short - it definitely took you on a rollercoaster of emotions and it was done so extremely well. Kay incorporates both humour and humanity as he recounts the six different Christmasses he worked throughout his career in the NHS and he details the pressure and the tension NHS staff are under even around Christmas time and it makes me incredibly sad to read about the way NHS staff are treated.
I love how much Kay cares about his time spent working in the NHS and the last chapter from Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas was so wholesome. This book really does reinforce how much we should appreciate the NHS and the staff who give up their Christmasses with their families in order to be there for us when we need them because as Kay says, the NHS doesn't suddenly take a break because it's Christmas.
I flew through this book in a couple of hours and my only complaint is that the book wasn't longer as I'm fully invested in Kay's stories. Don't get me wrong, I understand that there is only so much Christmas related content Kay can give us, but because the book was so short and I got through it so quickly, it left me wanting more and I hope that there is more to come from Kay.
Verdict: ★★★★★
Title: Away With The Penguins
Author: Hazel Prior
Pages: 368
Publisher: Berkley
Publication date: June 16th 2020 (first published March 5th 2020)
Genre: fiction
About the book
Eighty-five-year-old Veronica McCreedy is estranged from her family and wants to find a worthwhile cause to leave her fortune to. When she sees a documentary about penguins being studied in Antarctica, she tells the scientists she’s coming to visit—and won’t take no for an answer. Shortly after arriving, she convinces the reluctant team to rescue an orphaned baby penguin. He becomes part of life at the base, and Veronica's closed heart starts to open.
Her grandson, Patrick, comes to Antarctica to make one last attempt to get to know his grandmother. Together, Veronica, Patrick, and even the scientists learn what family, love, and connection are all about.
Review
I bought this book on a whim and hadn't read or even seen much about it, but I figured that anything with penguins in it could only ever bee a good thing, right?!
Well, I wasn't wrong and I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was an absolute delight; it's charming, heartwarming and an all round beautifully told story that will give you all the feels. I love the fact that there was an important environmental message within the story too, and it's clear that the author is passionate about what she writes about.
The characterization of Veronica & Patrick is fantastic - Prior has told the stories of both characters so well, and their personalities leap off the page. I love it when a character feels 'real', you know? I can imagine exactly what Veronica & Patrick look and act like as if they were people I knew in real life, and loved that about the book. It made me so much more invested in them and I read on excited to see how things panned out for the two of them.
Veronica - despite her gumpy moodiness - is extremely likable and her character give me major A Man Called Ove vibes, which is never a bad thing (in fact, it's one of my favourite books of this year). She is relentless, feisty and doesn't take no for an answer, but I loved all of that about her and knew from the very beginning that she was a character that was going to have a huge personality. Throughout the book, Prior expertly allows us to get to know Veronica on a deeper and more personal level and we read about her life story - which happens to be quite heartbreaking - and we see why she has become so emotionally shut off and why she has such a huffy exterior. It gives her character so much more depth, and despite her ill-tempered mood, us, the readers, can connect and sympathise with her on a much more sentimental level.
And then there's Patrick, who happens to be so lovable but he sort of just stumbles around aimlessly with no real purpose in life and without any direction or real ambition. He sort of just gets through each day. He hasn’t had the best life and up until the point of being introduced to him, he kind of just gets on with it. But he’s good natured and considerate and tries his best to do what's right, despite his unfortunate upbringing and life treating him fairly poorly. It's difficult not to room for him; he's funny and kind and is in desperate need of a break, yet, he never feels sorry for himself for too long.
One of the main criticisms in this story, for me, is the romance in this book. I don't want to give any spoilers, but the romance aspect of this book was just a bit rushed and a bit too sudden for it to be plausible, but the romance isn't a major aspect of this book and it is very brief so it doesn't spoil the story too much, and don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad, it was just a teeny bit unrealistic and could have done with Prior fleshing out that aspect of the book a little more for me to be fully engaged and on board with it.
This is just an all round, well written, engaging and entertaining story. I loved reading about the penguins (I want a baby Pip). I loved reading about the three scientists and I loved reading all about Antartica. The way it's told is just fantastic and every chapter was a joy to read. It was quirky and greatly life affirming and it's hard to imagine who wouldn't enjoy this story - besides, who doesn't love penguins?
Verdict: ★★★★
Title: All I Want For Christmas
Author: Joanna Bolouri
Pages: 368
Publication date: 1st October 2020
Publisher: Quercus
The blurb
What if the love of your life was your best friend's girlfriend, and you were the one that set them up?
When Nick loses his job and is dumped by his glamorous but demanding girlfriend, he is forced to grudgingly accept work as a Santa at a local Christmas grotto. As his friends are getting married or promoted, Nick spends his days being terrorised by unfriendly elves and cried on by snotty, spoiled children.
Then he meets 4-year-old Alfie. All Alfie wants for Christmas is for his mum, Sarah, to be happy again. Moved by the boy's selfless wish, Nick arranges a date between Sarah and his best friend, Matt. But as Sarah and Alfie become part of all their lives, Nick realises that happiness for Sarah and Matt might mean heartbreak for himself.
Review
Another Christmas read and the first book I've ever read by Joanna Bolouri! I wasn't too sure what I was expecting from this book, but I was hoping for a cute, Christmassy read that I could just switch off and get stuck into, and this book definitely gave me that and it's clear already that Bolouri is fab at writing rom-coms - it really did hit the spot!
The premise of the story was so simple and not overly complicated, and that's exactly what I was looking for. The story was just very endearing and the characters personalities really shone through. The plot isn't extremely gripping and there are no major page turners, but there was enough depth to make the friendships and relationships feel credible and the sarcasm throughout was great and that's exactly why I flew through it. In fact, there were some one liners that genuinely had me laughing out loud, and I don't think I've done that in a while!
I particularly loved the relationship between Nick and Matt and their friendship never seemed forced or fake, and the relationship between Nick and Alfie was just adorable. The love triangle between Sarah, Nick and Matt was realistic and very believable and I enjoyed reading how Sarah was diplomatic and thoroughly genuine in her emotions. In fact, I really liked Sarah, and found her to be believable and likeable and that goes a long way for rooting for characters in books. Given that the narrative was led by Nick, it was Sarah I was rooting for all along, and if there's one thing I would have liked to have seen more of, it would be her backstory; Bolouri gave her quite a tragic history and I would have liked to have read a bit more about that, perhaps through a conversation with Nick - I just feel like it would have made her a completely solid character and I would have been rooting for her more than I already was.
Whilst the story was simple, it was therefore a bit (okay, a lot) predictable, but I honestly don't mind that, like I mentioned, I wanted something that I could switch off too and not think about too much, and this was the perfect book for that. This is one of those books that I can imagine being turned into a really lovely, simple and slightly cheese Christmas film and I wouldn't be completely mad if it did!
This is the first book I’ve read by Joanne Bolouri but I understand she has written many chicklits, and I will most definitely read more by this her after being thoroughly entertained with All I Want For Christmas.
Verdict: ★★★
Title: Calling Mrs Christmas
Author: Carole Matthews
Pages: 464
Publisher: Sphere
Publication date: 1st August 2013
Genre: fiction
About the book
Cassie Smith has been out of work for a while but she has an idea. Drawing on her love of Christmas, she begins charging for small things: wrapping presents; writing cards; tree-decorating. She's soon in huge demand and Cassie's business, Calling Mrs Christmas, is born.
Carter Randall wants to make Christmas special for his children so he enlists Cassie's help, and his lavish requests start taking up all her time. Thank goodness she can rely on her partner Jim to handle the rest of her clients.
When Carter asks Cassie to join them on a trip to Lapland, she knows she shouldn't go. As much as tries, Cassie can't deny how drawn she is to Carter and everything he has to offer, but she still loves her warm-hearted Jim. Suddenly Cassie finds herself facing a heart-breaking choice that could change her entire life.
Review
I'm well and truely into the Christmas spirit and I figured, why not read another Christmas book?! I watch Jess's YouTube videos and I always look out for what books she recommends and one of her favourite Christmas books is Calling Mrs Christmas by Carole Matthews, so I figured I would give it a go since I already had it sitting on my bookshelf.
Firstly, I'm a sucker for a beautifully illustrated book cover and the this one was no exception. Just LOOK at it. If this doesn't give you all the festive feels then I don't know what will.
As well as loving the cover, I really loved the story, too! It's full of Christmas cosiness and after I finished reading it, I desperately wanted to take all my Christmas decorations down so that I could immediately redecorate and put them all back up again (I didn't do that, don't worry).
I also really liked Cassie and found her relatable and not at all perfect. Whilst, yes, she is a nice person and all, that doesn't mean she's not entirely flawless, but that just made her more realistic, and I LOVE that about characters in books, I love it when characters aren't super perfect and pristine but you can still tell that they're a good person, and Cassie was exactly that. The whole reason I've knocked a star off is because Jim, Cassie's partner, is exactly what I don't like in characters; he's too perfect. Like literally the most impeccable person on the planet. Not a bad bone in his body. And that's a little off-putting for me. I like a character who have faults and weaknesses, and Jim didn't have either. I get that the author did this so that the reader would have empathy for him, and don't get me wrong, I did empathise with him, but I'd have liked to have seen him react differently to certain situations, I wanted him to throw a hissy fit when Cassie announced she was off to Lapland with a hunk of a millionaire, I wanted him to slam some doors or tell her he wasn't happy about it. He was just too nice.
I actually really felt for Carter too despite the fact that he also wasn't perfect. He was perfect in the sense of everything he could offer Cassie that Jim couldn't, but he had major personality flaws to begin with. He was a workaholic who put his business before he put his kids, but we saw throughout the book how he came to realise that and change his ways and put his kids before he put work.
Aside from the characters, this book actually touches on some pretty important topics, the main one being young offenders, and the author does this through two characters that Jim takes under his wing in the form of Smudge and Rozzer. Jim works at the Young Offenders Unit at Bovingdale Prison and takes these two "lads" into his and Cassie's home when they are released from the unit and have nowhere else to go. He almost becomes like a father figure to them both and helps to guide them through life on the outside of prison. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book and I enjoyed reading about Jim's job which was both interesting and eye-opening and not something I can say I've given much thought to before.
Another subject touched upon - albeit, not as thoroughly as the young offenders - is loneliness in the older generation. Cassie's very first client is an elderly lady called Mrs Ledbury who hires Cassie to help her write out her Christmas cards as her own hand-writing is no longer readable. Through their conversations, Cassie discovers that Mrs Ledbury's family don't visit her often and she spends most of her time alone. This was especially heartbreaking to read and I wish the subject was explored in more depth throughout the book, but I'm glad that it was included in the book and it was touched upon.
Overall, this book is a little on the chunkier side for a chicklit novel but it doesn't ever feel dragged out or dull in places and I would highly recommend it as a cosy Christmas read.
Verdict: ★★★★
Title: Where the Crawdads Sing
Author: Delia Owens
Pages: 384
Publisher: G.P Putnam's Sons
Publication date: 14 August 2018
Genre: fiction
About the book
For years, rumours of the “Marsh Girl” haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet fishing village. Kya Clark is barefoot and wild; unfit for polite society. So in late 1969, when the popular Chase Andrews is found dead, locals immediately suspect her.
But Kya is not what they say. A born naturalist with just one day of school, she takes life's lessons from the land, learning the real ways of the world from the dishonest signals of fireflies. But while she has the skills to live in solitude forever, the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. Drawn to two young men from town, who are each intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new and startling world–until the unthinkable happens.
Review
I'm just going to say it outright, this book absolutely blew me away and I'm kicking myself for letting it sit on my bookshelf unread for so long. I'm usually a bit skeptical of books that are as hyped up as this one is, but take my word for it, this one is talked about so much for a reason.
What Owens does with this book is just astounding. The story is so vivid and atmospheric and the way it is told is just out of this world. We essentially jump back and fourth between the murder of Chase Andrews and we look at Kya's life from a young girl to her life directly after Chase's death (and a whole town pointing the finger at her) and what we see is a child who is slowly left behind by everyone she ever knew and loved, to fend for herself in the marsh whilst maturing and yearning for things she never knew she needed.
The story packs a punch but does so in such a gentle, humble way. It's a story about survival, hope, loneliness, prejudice, coming of age, trust, love, and most importantly, strength. It's a story that builds on itself until you are completely and truely mesmerised and enthralled in Kya's world. She is a character that is so vivid and so delicate. Kya's upbringing and her struggles to comprehend what was happening as a child would go on to mould her into the independent and self-reliant person she becomes as an adult, yet one who yearns to belong to a part of a group, who craves for social acceptance and who struggles to understand why everyone she ever knew and cared about eventually ended up leaving her.
This is the debut fiction novel by Owens and the writing is so breathtaking and the pages are filled with sentences that read like poetry but without being too whimsical or over the top. It did take me a a few chapters to get to grips with the writing as it's not my typical style, but soon enough the words just flowed and there is so much detail and precision in the writing that it's near impossible to not be drawn in. The chapters are filled with suspense and you can almost feel Kya's frustration and confusion as she navigates her way through the most important years of maturing and going from girl to woman and we are forever reminded that we are shaped by our childhood experiences.
It's wonderfully written and the character development is phenomenal, which in itself is a great book, but this has so much more. There is murder mystery, a love story, nature, coming of age, and poetry woven through the pages of this book and all this together makes it one of the easiest five star books for me. Delia, you are a genius.
Verdict: ★★★★★
Title: To Be Loved
Author: Laura Paddick
Pages: 320
Publisher: Cherry Publishing
Publication date: 20th November 2020
Genre: fiction
Trigger warnings; eating disorders (anorexia), acquaintance rape.
About the book
There is a thin line between love and hate, but there is also a thin line between provocation and indignity. Amanda Bell oversteps her limits when a new student arrives at her university and gets under her skin with his infuriating behaviour. Chris Downes will do anything to make her blood boil, and in return, she will do anything to prove to him that all his assumptions about her are wrong. Chris might well be the most irritating man she has ever known, and yet, he could be the only one who can save her from herself…
Review
I was contacted by the lovely people over at Cherry Publishing to review an early eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, and when I read a little bit into what the book is about, it sounded right up my street! I love a good haters-to-lovers romance and this one hit the spot, albeit, a few minor issues that we'll get onto later.
Let's start with Amanda, or "Mandy" as most of her friends call her. This book was written with Amanda leading the narrative and I liked her; she was a good female lead and she seemed very real, which is something that I mainly look for in a female protagonist. She was considerate and clearly cared about other people other than herself.
Chris on the other hand, was awful. He was sly and a bully and cared only about impressing people in order to form some ugly male ego. HOWEVER. I did kinda guess from very early on that he would have some kind of tragic back story and I wasn't disappointed in the overall character development of Chris. He was really well written and I went from severely disliking him in the beginning, to somewhat rooting for him at the end.
This book does tackle some serious subjects and it's done so throughout the character's relationships which I really enjoyed reading about. We got to see how friendships and relationships can be effected through misgivings and disorders (Amanda's best friend, Olivia, suffers from an eating disorder and we see how it effects their friendship). I feel like this was really well done and I genuinely cared about these characters and what they were going through.
I did enjoy this book, but it wasn't completely perfect. The narrative was a lacking in certain places and Amanda did come off a bit too wishy-washy at times. The dialogue was also lacking too and I found that some of the conversations were a bit child-like. This isn't a huge deal breaker for me and it wasn't a constant issue throughout the book, but that inconsistency in the narrative made the story seem slightly conflicting at times. It was also a bit TOO fluffy in places for me, and usually I don't mind that (the fluffier the better) but given the lacking narrative and the tough subject matters, it was again, a bit off-putting at times, but nothing that would stop me from reading.
This was a good, middle-ground easy read and I think younger readers (16-20 year olds) will relate to this book more than I did. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it, because I did, but it didn't have me completely gripped.
Verdict: ★★★
*I was sent an early eARC by the publisher in return for a review.
Title: Shopaholic Abroad (also known as Shopaholic Takes Manhattan)
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Pages: 387
Publisher: Dell Publishing Company
Publication date: 27th December 2004 (first published 3rd September 2001)
Genre: fiction
About the book
With her shopping excesses (somewhat) in check and her career as a TV financial guru is thriving, Becky's biggest problem seems to be tearing her entrepreneur boyfriend, Luke, away from work for a romantic country weekend. And worse, figuring out how to pack light. But packing takes on a whole new meaning when Luke announces he's moving to New York for business - and he asks Becky to go with him. Before you can say "Prada sample sale," Becky has landed in the Big Apple, home of Park Avenue penthouses and luxury boutiques.
Surely it's only a matter of time until she becomes an American TV celebrity, and she and Luke are the toast of Gotham society. Nothing can stand in their way, especially with Becky's bills miles away in London. But then an unexpected disaster threatens her career prospects, her relationship with Luke, and her available credit line! Shopaholic takes Manhattan - but will she have to return it?
Review
I reviewed the first Shopaholic book a couple of weeks ago and I enjoyed it for what it was but wasn't in a mad rush to pick up the next book. I decided to leave it a couple of weeks in between and I'm so glad I did because how I feel about Shopaholic Abroad is pretty much the same as how I felt about the first book and I think I would have found it a bit of a slog reading them back to back.
Becky is as charming and spontaneous as she is in the first book, only now she's in New York and there are some quite hilarious moments in this book. I absolutely loved the whole wedding situation and thought that was really well written and I really felt for Becky and the humiliation she faced in that scenario. In fact, there were quite a few times I felt sorry for her as she showed all the alarming signs of a true addiction - she hides her purchases from friends and family, she doesn't actually even remember what she buys and she definitely doesn't have the funds to support her habit. Having said that, there were also times when I genuinely couldn't comprehend her justifying her spending habits and found some of it slightly unrealistic and a bit over the top, even for Becky.
The biggest downfall in this book was the romance. It fell very flat for me and we simply didn't see enough of Becky and Luke together as a couple to warrant me caring about them and their relationship. What little we did see of Luke, he was always late or overly business-like and always seem to put Becky on the back burner, which I didn't particularly enjoy. I kinda found myself forgetting why they ever fell for each other in the first place and didn't care too much about their future together.
Overall, this book was a fun, satisfying escape and great if you're looking for something light to read. By the end I was ready to pick up another book not from this series, and I think this is how it's going to go for me with this series... I'm not dying to pick up the next book and will read other books inbetween, but I will carry on with the series as I have enjoyed the first two books so far, they're just not my all-time favourites.
Verdict: ★★★
I wanted to get this post up earlier on in the month but it's taken me longer than expected to finish buying all the books for this book advent and I wanted to give a break down of all the books I bought. As a bit of a background, I'm buying these books for my three year old daughter and it's the first year I've done it as I feel like she can now fully grasp the story and will actually sit still long enough to listen to the story!
My parent's used to do a book advent for me every year and I LOVED it so much that I want to carry on that tradition, and it helps that my daughter is a little bookworm and loves a good picture book. She's at the age in which she likes bright illustrations and a story that isn't overly long (plus I love a beautifully illustrated picture book and children's book illustrators definitely do not get enough recognition). You'll probably notice that there's a lot of Julia Donaldson books in this book advent, and that's because I took full advantage of Asda & Tesco's 2 for £7 offer, which did work out rather pricey when you add it all up, but I just feel like my daughter is missing a lot of classics, and growing up, Julia Donaldson was a staple on my bookshelf. I've also tried to include a mix of Christmas and non-Christmas books as I didn't want to spend so much money on books that would only get read throughout one month of the year, so I've included a mixture of seasonally appropriate books and books that can be read at anytime.
I've included a book for Christmas day too, which I don't feel like many people do, but that's what my parents did for me and I loved jumping in bed with a brand new book to open on Christmas night after all the shananigans for the day. If you wanted to cut costs, The Works do book bundles of 10 books for £10 which will make putting together a book advent both easier and cheaper!
The books I got, and in oder of dates are:
1st: The Very Snowy Christmas by Diana Hendry
2nd: The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
3rd: Ollie's Christmas Reindeer by Nicola Killen
4th: Mr Large in Charge by Jill Murphy
5th: Elmer in the Snow by David Mckee
6th: The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson
7th: When will it Snow by Kathryn White & Alison Edgson
8th: Big Bear, Little Bear by David Bedford & Jane Chapman
9th: The Highway Rat by Julia Donaldson
10th: The Gruffalo's Child by Julia Donaldson
11th: A Long Way from Home by Elizabeth Baguley & Jane Chapman
12th: Tiddler by Julia Donaldson
13th: Max Meets a Monster by Tracey Hawkins
14th: Santa to the Rescue by Barry Timms & AG Jatkowska
15th: A Quiet Night In by Jill Murphy
16th: The Smartest Giant in Town by Julia Donaldson
17th: A Squash & a Squeeze by Julia Donaldson
18. The Detective Dog by Julia Donaldson & Sara Ogilvie
19th: Rosie's Hat by Julia Donaldson
20th: Sweep by Louise Greig
21st: The Smeds & the Smoos by Julia Donaldson
22nd: Stick Man by Julia Donaldson
23rd: Zog by Julia Donaldson
24th: Zog & the Flying Doctors by Julia Donaldson
25th: We're Going on an Elf Hunt by Martha Mumford
Do you do a book advent for your children(s). I'd love to see what books other people have picked up for their little one's this Christmas!
Author: Natalie Cox
Pages: 320
Publisher: G.P Putnam's Sons
Publication date: 9th October 2018
Genre: fiction
Pages: 320
Publisher: G.P Putnam's Sons
Publication date: 9th October 2018
Genre: fiction
Her boyfriend has left her for his personal trainer, her mother has absconded with her latest husband for the holidays, and - adding insult to (literal) injury - her London apartment has just been destroyed by a gas leak. Single, mildly concussed and temporarily homeless, Charlie realises there's only one place to go: Cozy Canine Cottages, where she'll spend the season looking after her cousin Jez's doggy day care centre. And if she's not exactly a dog person, well, no one has to know...
But her plans for a quiet Christmas in a quaint country village are quickly dashed. Peggy the pregnant beagle and Malcolm the anxious Great Dane seem determined to keep her up all night. A strange man has been casing her cousin's house. And where is Cal, the unbearably patronising but disturbingly handsome local vet, when she needs him?
As the days tick down to Christmas, Charlie's life has never felt so out of control, but with some help from her new four-legged friends, she just might learn a thing or two about living in the moment, embracing the unexpected and opening herself up to love...
Review
I've been ridiculously eager to pick up my first Christmas read of the year and I figured, what better choice than one about dogs?!
I really, really enjoyed this book and I'm so glad I picked this one first for my first Christmas read of the year. I absolutely loved Charlie's character. I found her spontaneous and witty; she wasn't at all unrealistic and she is someone I really warmed to and was an all round, well-written character who had great dialogue and acted her age (in fact, all of the characters in this book acted their age, which is a huge deal breaker for me if they don't), but it's the dogs and the details of their different personalities that really, really drew me into this book. Their quirks and different characteristics really stood out but it was Malcolm the deaf dane and Peggy the pregnant beagle that were the stars of the show for me. I feel for a book that has 7 dogs written into it, it would have been very easy to forgot which dog was which, but it was very easy to differentiate each dog as they were all incredibly well written & held their own character which make the dogs easy to remember by name.
I truly loved this story. The plot was simple but engaging and the whole book was just really well written. I've knocked a star off purely because the ending was far too open and there were too many unanswered, lingering questions that I feel like could have been better tied up. There is also a slight LGBTQ+ storyline running in the background which I would have liked to have had more closure on too.
This book is obviously based around Christmas but it wasn't shoved down your throat or overly Christmas-y, so if you don't like over-the-top Christmas settings, this one might be a good one for you.
If you're looking for a good cosy Christmas book with well-rounded characters (and you love dogs), I highly recommend this book.
Verdict: ★★★★
The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic (Shopaholic #1) by Sophie Kinsella Book Review
Wednesday, 11 November 2020
Title: The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Pages: 369
Publisher: Dell Publishing Company
Publication date: 4th November 2003 (first published 2000)
Genre: fiction
About the book
Becky Bloomwood has a fabulous flat in London’s trendiest neighbourhood, a troupe of glamorous socialite friends, and a closet brimming with the season’s must-haves. The only trouble is, she can’t actually afford it—not any of it. Her job writing at Successful Saving magazine not only bores her to tears, it doesn’t pay much at all. And lately Becky’s been chased by dismal letters from the bank—letters with large red sums she can’t bear to read. She tries cutting back. But none of her efforts succeeds. Her only consolation is to buy herself something . . . just a little something.
Finally a story arises that Becky actually cares about, and her front-page article catalyzes a chain of events that will transform her life—and the lives of those around her—forever.
Review
The Shopaholic series is one that's been around forever (seriously, like 20 years!) but it's one I've never delved into, until now. I watched the movie years ago so I kinda knew the basics on the story and what to expect, but the books do differ quite a lot from the film, which is loosely based on books 1 & 2, but even then, the plot for the movie has been heavily modified so if you have seen the movie, just know that the books - in my opinion - are much better than the film.
The characters were really well written and I found Becky quite funny, if not extremely irresponsible for a 26 year old living in London, but it's one of those books that you go into knowing it's going to be a bit over dramatic and comedic, and that is certainly reflected in Becky's character. I couldn't relate to her character at all and her behaviour towards debt is ridiculous, but I did find her quite charming and the way she justified her shopping was hilarious in places.
I didn't completely love the way this book was written and was actually one of the poorer written books I've read this year, but then again, I've gotta remember that this book was written 20 years ago. It did come across quite 12-year-old's-diary-entry at some points and considering Becky is a 26 year old adult living independently in London (albeit with help from a friend), it was a bit of a contrast and at times she came across a bit childish given her age.
I will say this book has aged quite a bit for two reasons, the first being the fashion choices (Becky's biggest downfall is clothes shopping), and the second being the whole bank manager situation and the way that banks used to interact with their customers - obviously, everything is done online now and I can honestly say I've never asked to go into a bank for a scheduled appointment with my bank manager to discuss my finances. I'm not sure if this aspect has been over-emphasised, or if this is genuinely how things used to happen 20 years ago, but it did make the book feel a bit dated.
Overall, this wasn't a bad book, but I also wasn't completely sucked in. I liked Becky and found her funny and charismatic, and I will continue with the series, but I'm not in a mad rush to do so.
Verdict: ★★★
For the Kindle books I bought this month, I started out with So Luck by Dawn O'Porter. I've been after getting my hands on this for a while, but I don't buy hardbacks anymore and I was going to buy it in paperback, but then it was on offer for 99p on Kindle throughout August! I also bought Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon, which, again, I've been after for a while now. I also picked up Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney - I've got Normal People but I haven't read it yet, but I figured I'd pick this one up to go along with it.
Then I picked up the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith (which consists of The Cuckoo's Calling, The Silkworm, Career of Evil & Lethal White). Now, I'm really torn about this, because it wasn't until after I'd bought them and started reading them that I realised that Robert Galbraith is a pseudonym for J. K. Rowling who I find very questionable as a human being and is not someone I aspire to support. I hate the fact that I'm enjoying The Cuckoo's Calling so much. I'm trying to focus on the characters and the plot rather than letting the author sway my judgement BUT I don't think I would have picked this series up had I known it was Rowling behind them.
Then, to keep in the theme of what's going on in the world, I picked up Lockdown by Peter May. I also picked up The Familiars by Stacey Halls which I used to see quite a lot of on bookstagram. The last two Kindle books I picked up were Ten Little Words by Leah Mercer and Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones. Both of these just sold me on the blurb alone and I'm excited to give them a go.
Onto the physical books now, and I picked up City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert which, honestly, I haven't heard too many great things about, but we shall see! Then, because this book is literally everywhere and has gathered quite the cult following, I picked up Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.
Now, I know I said I don't buy hardbacks anymore, but I did pick up The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy which might just be the most beautiful book I own. The illustrations are stunning and this is probably the book I've been most excited to have in my collection in a long time.
And finally, I took a trip into Waterstones for the first time in six months (?!?!?!?!?) and picked up three books that caught my eye. They are Blood Orange by Harriet Tyce, The Catch by T.M. Logan and In the Full Light of the Sun by Clare Clark.
And that's all the books I picked up this month! This has got to be the most books I've bought in a single month in a very long time, but I'm excited for each and every one!
I got a new Kindle! My old Kindle was about 8 years old and on its last legs. It served me very well and brought me many books of pleasure, but it started to not hold its battery very well and the touch sensor wasn't as great as it once was, so my husband surprised me with a new one which I am incredibly grateful for. He got me the 10th generation Kindle Paperwhite in the sage green colour (which is my favourite colour!) along with the matching case. I absolutely love it and it's currently all I use as I'm so obsessed with it!
Getting my health kick back. I have struggled with my weight since I was about seventeen. I gained a lot of weight and then lost it, then I had a baby and never really lost the baby weight. That was almost three years ago now and I woke up early one day at the beginning of this month and something in me just said today is the day we start loosing weight. I live right next to a river and so I've been going on daily "powerwalks" around the river - nothing major, just a 30 minute speed walk on my lunchbreak and I've been absolutely loving it. I've also cut out treats and unhealthy food on weekdays and instead have a little treat on a weekend. So far I've lost around 10lbs this month and I really feel like this time I'm doing it for good. I'm not excessively dieting (I hate that word), I'm simply just making better food choices on a daily basis and it's been so good not only for my physical health but for my mental health as well!
Starting my Christmas shopping! Sorry to everyone who hates to use the C word before December, but I'm the type of person who like to have my Christmas shopping done before November! My daughter's birthday is at the end of November, so a lot of the toys I've bought will be split between her birthday and Christmas, but I've also started buying for my parents and my Nanna too. If it gets to October and I haven't started Christmas shopping, I genuinely start to worry, so the sooner I start, the better!
Author: Millie Johnson
Pages: 464
Publisher: Pocket
Publication date: 1st January 2007
Genre: fiction
Trigger warnings; sexual abuse, emotional spousal abuse, assisted suicide, incest.
About the book
Three South Yorkshire friends, all on the cusp of 40, fall pregnant at the same time following a visit to an ancient fertility symbol.
For Helen, it's a dream come true, although her husband is not as thrilled about it as she had hoped. Not only wrestling with painful ghosts of the past, Helen has to deal with the fact that her outwardly perfect marriage is crumbling before her eyes.
For Janey, it is an unmitigated disaster as she has just been offered the career break of a life-time. And she has no idea either how it could possibly have happened, seeing as she and her ecstatic husband George were always so careful over contraception.
For Elizabeth, it is mind-numbing, because she knows people like her shouldn't have children. Damaged by her dysfunctional childhood and emotionally lost, she not only has to contend with carrying a child she doubts she can ever love, but she also has to deal with the return to her life of a man whose love she must deny herself.
Review
I've got this thing in which if I own all of an author's books, then I need to start off reading their first ever published book, kinda to see where it all began. I guess my brain thinks that if there's any place to pick up an author's book, the beginning is a logical place to start, so this is exactly what I did with The Yorkshire Pudding Club by Millie Johnson. I've got every single one of her books sitting on my shelves but until now, I haven't delved too much into them. I did the exact same thing with Jane Fallon's books as well as Carole Matthews.
To begin with, this book was first published in 2007, which makes it 13 years old and therefore runs the risk of feeling outdated, however, I found this wasn't the case at all and it read like it would if it were published only a few years ago. I even found the bits about pregnancy still extremely relevant and I guess not much has changed in terms of medical side of pregnancy - as someone who has had a baby only a few years ago, I found myself reading about these women and their experiences very relatable and not at all outdated or old. I guess that could be a downside of this book though; it's only really interesting if you have been, currently are, or are wanting to be pregnant.
What I really appreciated about this book more than anything else, is that it shows the not-so-glamourous side of pregnancy, and I don't just mean the physical side effects of morning sickness and fatigue. This is a book that explores the mental and emotional side of pregnancy; Elizabeth is not sure she is ready to be a mother and is scared she might not love her baby. Janey is a career-driven woman and is struggling to come to terms with the fact that it's a possibility she might not now have that option, and Helen, who has always wanted a baby, is in a very unhappy marriage that is portrayed to the rest of the world as perfect. I really welcomed this premise as it's fair to say that I myself did not have a great experience with pregnancy, both mentally and physically, and I wish it was something more people would talk about, but that's a whole other discussion.
The book was a little slow at first in establishing all three women and their situations but in hindsight, it meant that I cared more about these characters and I wanted happy endings for all of them. I think all three women were really well developed and each had their own distinct personality. I've heard a few people say they struggled to get to grips with these characters because they were all a bit 'same-y' but personally I didn't have a problem with that. Yes, all three women are pregnant and therefore going through the same thing at the same time, but all three are different enough in themselves so that I didn't get confused with who's who. It's a testament to Johnson; I imagine writing about three characters who are all of a similar age and going through a huge lifestyle change at the same time and yet still managing to give them their own distinct personality must not be an easy task, but she pulled it off perfectly.
There are also some huge subject matters thrown in this book, which you can probably guess from the trigger warnings. This book was nowhere near as fluffy and light as I thought it would be. Compared to a lot of the other women's fiction (is that what we're calling it now?) this one is much deeper and tackles a lot of difficult subjects. I don't want to spoil anything, but I think Elizabeth's story is the one that was written and executed the best. Elizabeth's story is one that came full circle for me, and so was Helen's looking back, however, there was a lot of loose ends that just weren't tied up in this book, and whilst it doesn't matter too much, I still would have liked to have had that closure.
There is also a lot of Yorkshire slang in this book and I've heard a lot of people say they had to stop and look up what certain words meant. I'm not too far outside of Yorkshire/Leeds/Barnsley where this book is set, so I was familiar with some of them, but even I had to look up some of the dialect used in this book, which is fine and didn't interfere with my enjoyment of this book at all, but I imagine if your outside of this area, or even outside of the UK, you might have to stop and look up certain words a lot more than I did as there is a lot of them.
I really enjoyed this book and like I mentioned above, it wasn't overly fluffy which I actually prefer and appreciate. For a book that's nearly 14 years old, it's still very relevant and at times funny and at other times it's heartbreaking. I loved Johnson's writing style; it was captivating and left me wanting to read more. Her character development is spot on and I will definitely be picking up more of her books in the not too distant future.
Verdict: ★★★
Toffee by Sarah Crossan
Ever since I read Clap When You Land, I've been wanting to read more books written in verse and this one has been sat on my shelf for a while now!
The story follows Allison who has run away from home and ends up hiding out in the shed of what she believes to be an abandoned house. The house, however, isn't empty and belongs to an elderly woman named Marla who is suffering with dementia. Marla mistakes Allison for an old friend from her past called Toffee, but as their bond grows and Allison discoveres just how much Marla needs a real friend, she begins to question herself and ask herself - where is home? And what is a family?
This sounds like a beautiful, character-driven story that I will most probably cry at. I've heard nothing but amazing things about this book and I can't wait to pick it up and give it a go.
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
I recently read Clap When You Land by Acevedo and really enjoyed it and I've had With the Fire on High sat on my bookshelf for ages now and I really want to pick it up sooner rather than later.
This follows a 17-year old girl called Emoni, who, ever since she fell pregnant, has had to make tough decisions in order to to what needs to be done for her daughter and grandmother. Emoni has a passion for cooking and wants to be a chef more than anything else, but there are rules she has to play by - all the rules everyone expects her to play by - and she believes this dream of hers to become a professional cook is near impossible, but when Emoni starts cooking, her only real choice is to let her talent break free.
I've not read a tonne of reviews on this book because I want to know as little as possible going into it, but it sounds exactly like my kind of book and I'm excited to see if it's just as good as Clap When You Land.
Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
I'm really trying to build up my collection of non-fiction books and this is a book that I bought not too long ago because I was instantly intrigued by the premise and when I asked on Instagram a couple of weeks ago for people's non-fiction book recommendations, this is one that came up quite a lot!
This book, which was almost a decade in the making, is Taddeo's debut book and focuses on three American women - Lina, Maggie and Sloane - and their sex lives; each woman has their own story to tell and each has a very different sex life which is documented throughout this book.
I've heard very mixed reviews on this book though. Whilst it has came highly recommended to me, I've also read that some people have been disappointed by it. Most of the complaints I have read have came in the form of this not reading as a non-fiction and the lack of analysis on the three women's sex lives. I have been told that the enjoyment of this books depends on your mindset going into it; if you're looking for less of an analytical review of these women and their sexual experiences and more of a juicy, exciting insight into other people's sex lives, then this is the one for you.
I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes
I am an absolute sucker for anything that Lizzy Hadfield recommends and in one of her recent vlogs she talked about I Am Pilgrim and I was pretty much sold.
The book follows a mysterious undercover detective called Pilgrim who has led a very questionable career. We follow Pilgrim from New York, who embarks on a mission that leads him to dealing with gruesome and complicated cases. But whilst he is on this case, will his past catch up to him and what will become of his life after the mission he is about to undertake?
I don't often want to read a thriller, but this one sounds exciting and full of adventure. It's a hefty book at almost 900 pages but I've been really into longer books lately and this one sounds like it will read quite quickly!
So there we have it, four books that I'm looking to pick up over the next few months! What's on everyone's TBR list?
Author: Mitch Albom
Pages: 210
Publisher: Warner
Publication date: 1997
Genre: non-fiction
About the book
Maybe it was a grandparent, or a teacher or a colleague. Someone older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and searching, and gave you sound advice to help you make your way through it. For Mitch Albom, that person was Morrie Schwartz, his college professor from nearly twenty years ago.
Maybe, like Mitch, you lost track of this mentor as you made your way, and the insights faded. Wouldn't you like to see that person again, ask the bigger questions that still haunt you?
Mitch Albom had that second chance. He rediscovered Morrie in the last months of the older man's life. Knowing he was dying of ALS - or motor neurone disease - Mitch visited Morrie in his study every Tuesday, just as they used to back in college. Their rekindled relationship turned into one final 'class': lessons in how to live.
Review
This is one of those books that has both insanely good and utterly terrible reviews and I was a bit unsure going into it what I would make of it but I tried to keep an open mind as possible.
This book really does raise the big questions in life despite not being a very long book. It's also quite lightly written and easy to read; it's essentially about a middle-aged man reconnecting with his old college professor who is dying from ALS. It deals with some important questions that myself, and probably everybody else I know, more likely than not, doesn't consider thinking about all that often.
A lot of the negative reviews I have read on this book is due to people complaining about the lack of original wisdom and also the lack of depth. Now, this book was originally published in 1997, which makes it over 20 years old. I'm not entirely sure if critiquing this book based on lack of originality is both fair or accurate given its age, and I imagine if you read this when it was first published, it probably would have been a different reading experience altogether.
Don't get me wrong, did I think this was omg best book everrrrr? No. But I also didn't hate it either. In fact, I can appreciate what it was trying to convey and get across to the reader. There was meaning and inspiration in this book that I think everyone can 'get' something from, but I'm also glad the book wasn't longer than it was. Not so much in a way that I couldn't wait for the book to end, more so because this book is very poetically quotable without being overly deep and complex, and I think if it was any longer than what it is, it would have been a tad too much and a bit tedious.
It's a funny scenario; what a lot of people critique this book for, I actually preferred. The book is small and simply written and the dialogue is touching and can be appreciated by pretty much anyone but it's also not overly drawn out.
Personally, my biggest drawback for this book is that Morrie is almost flawless. Now, this book is non-fiction and perhaps the author wanted to only write positively about his old college professor, but Morrie is almost too perfect and I would have liked to hear some stories about the times Morrie acted imperfectly (because let's face it, he's human) and the lessons he learned from behaving this way. I think reading about Morrie's flaws would have bumped this review up a notch for me and gave the book an interesting perspective and something the readers could relate to.
For me, this book wasn't five-star incredible, but it was thought provoking and I appreciated it whilst reading it.
Verdict: ★★★
Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
This is a book I'd seen Lizzy Hadfield talk about in one of her recent vlogs and honestly, that woman has become my go-to for book recommendations lately. This is again a non-fiction, but a lot of the reviews I've read have stated that it doesn't read like a non-fiction and some people were even surprised that the stories are real! I think this book is either going to be a love-it-or-hate-it book but I have a funny feeling I'm going to love it (I'm just nosey like that). Here's what the book is about;
"A riveting true story about the sex lives of three real American women, based on nearly a decade of reporting. In suburban Indiana we meet Lina, a homemaker and mother of two whose marriage, after a decade, has lost its passion. Starved for affection, Lina battles daily panic attacks and, after reconnecting with an old flame through social media, embarks on an affair that quickly becomes all-consuming. In North Dakota we meet Maggie, a seventeen-year-old high school student who allegedly has a clandestine physical relationship with her handsome, married English teacher; the ensuing criminal trial will turn their quiet community upside down. Finally, in an exclusive enclave of the Northeast, we meet Sloane—a gorgeous, successful, and refined restaurant owner—who is happily married to a man who likes to watch her have sex with other men and women. Based on years of immersive reporting and told with astonishing frankness and immediacy, Three Women is both a feat of journalism and a triumph of storytelling, brimming with nuance and empathy. “A work of deep observation, long conversations, and a kind of journalistic alchemy” (Kate Tuttle, NPR), Three Women introduces us to three unforgettable women—and one remarkable writer—whose experiences remind us that we are not alone."
Women Don't Owe You Pretty by Florence Given
This book is so ridiculously amazing and I'd seen it float about bookstagram for a while and I just had to pick it up. I'm trying to build up my collection of non-fiction books as I'm seriously lacking in that genre, so I figured it would be perfect to add to what little non-fiction book collection I have. I've had a quick flick through and the illustrations are so fun and the whole book is just bright and makes me smile! Here's what the book is about;
"WOMEN DON'T OWE YOU PRETTY will tell you to...
love sex, hate sexism,
protect your goddamn energy,
life is short, dump them,
And that you owe men nothing, least of all pretty.
Florence's debut book will explore all progressive corners of the feminist conversation; from insecurity projection and refusing to find comfort in other women's flaws, to deciding whether to date or dump them, all the way through to unpacking the male gaze and how it shapes our identity. WOMEN DON'T OWE YOU PRETTY is an accessible leap into feminism, for people at all stages of their journey who are seeking to reshape and transform the way they view themselves. In a world that tells women we're either not enough or too much, it's time we stop directing our anger and insecurities onto ourselves, and start fighting back to re-shape the toxic structures of our patriarchal society. Florence's book will help you to tackle and challenge the limiting narrative you have been bombarded with your whole life, and determine feminism on your own terms. After all, you are the love of your own life."
Queen Bee by Jane Fallon
I've read two of Jane Fallon's books this year but own them all, so when I saw she released a new one, I had to add it to my collection. One thing that does annoy me about this book though, is that it doesn't blend in well with my other Jane Fallon books, which are all white and beige (which is oh so aesthetically pleasing) and this one is... blue. I haven't actually read up on it too much if I'm being completely honest, but here's what the book is about;
"Welcome to The Close - a beautiful street of mansions, where gorgeous Stella is the indisputable Queen Bee... It is here that Laura, seeking peace and privacy after her marriage falls apart, rents a tiny studio. Unfortunately, her arrival upsets suspicious Stella - who fears Laura has designs on her fiancé, Al. When Laura stumbles on the big secret Al is hiding, suddenly Stella's perfectly controlled world, not to mention Laura's future, are threatened. Taking a chance on beating Al at his own twisted game, these two former strangers are fast becoming best friends. But has Laura forgotten that revenge never comes without a sting in the tail?"
My One True North by Millie Johnson
I own all of Milly Johnson's books but have admittedly not read any yet (which is crazy) but I saw her new book in Tesco for £3.50 and had to pick it up to complete the collection! Just like the book above, the spine on this book is blue when all her other books are white (which is slightly annoying) but I love the illustrations on the cover of her books!
"Laurie and Pete should never have met. But life has a different idea. Six months ago, on the same night, Laurie and Pete both lost their partners. Overwhelmed by their grief, they join the same counselling group…and change their lives forever. From their profound sadness, Pete and Laurie begin to find happiness and healing. Except, the more they get to know one another, the more Laurie begins to spot the strange parallels in their stories. Then Pete discovers a truth that changes everything—one which threatens to reverse everything they’ve worked towards. But, as surely as a compass points north, some people cannot be kept apart."
Summer at Rachel's Pudding Pantry by Caroline Roberts
This is the third book in the Pudding Pantry series and I own the other two books but have only read the first one, but, if you can't tell yet, I have a really unhealthy habit of needing to complete series and collections!
"The sun is shining as Rachel and her gorgeous beau, Tom, prepare to tie the knot at Primrose Farm. It takes a village to pull off the perfect country wedding and Rachel couldn’t be more grateful for her friends and family as they roll out the haybales and string up the bunting – all she needs to do is focus on her Happy Ever After. But no wedding is without drama. A face from the past is looking to stir up trouble in the village and there’s a secret following Rachel all the way up the aisle... With old friends, new promises and a little borrowed time, will Rachel get the wedding of her dreams?"
What books have you been buying this month?
Visiting waterfalls. I don't know why, but we've been visiting a lot of waterfalls lately and we're always on the lookout for another one to visit! Luckily, there is a lot of country side up north and some of the waterfalls are stunning! My favourite so far has been Hardraw Force which is breathtaking and certainly worth a visit if you're near or around the Leyburn area!
Getting my reading bug back. I've was in a bit of a reading slump throughout the first half of the month, but something I've come to realise is to not fight it and force myself to read as it just makes me want to not read even more. Thankfully my reading bug came back pretty quickly and I'm back to loving picking up a book again! I have recently read A Little Life which, if I'm honest, I'm still recovering from, but since then I've read a couple of more books and I feel like I'm finally back in the swing of things!
Getting my blogging bug back! Since my blog is 99% based around books, whenever I'm in a reading slump, I'm usually always in a blogging slump too as the two kinda go hand in hand for me. Now that I'm enjoying reading again, my blog posts have naturally picked up too and I'm loving be back to writing reviews and chatting about books on here!
Seeing my best friend after 4 months! We live pretty close and so we used to visit each other fairly often, but then lockdown happened and I haven't seen her since the beginning of March. We went to the seaside together and just had a lovely in-person catch up and it felt surreal but completely normal all at the same time, which is a bizarre feeling in itself!
What has everyone been loving this month?
Pages: 417
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Publication date: 5th May 2020
Genre: fiction
About the book
Camino Rios lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. But this time, on the day when his plane is supposed to land, Camino arrives at the airport to see crowds of crying people...
In New York City, Yahaira Rios is called to the principal's office, where her mother is waiting to tell her that her father, her hero, has died in a plane crash.
Separated by distance - and Papi's secrets - the two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead and their lives are forever altered. And then, when it seems like they've lost everything of their father, they learn of each other.
Papi's death uncovers all the painful truths he kept hidden, and the love he divided across an ocean. And now, Camino and Yahaira are both left to grapple with what this new sister means to them, and what it will now take to keep their dreams alive.
In a dual narrative novel in verse that brims with both grief and love, award-winning and bestselling author Elizabeth Acevedo writes about the devastation of loss, the difficulty of forgiveness, and the bittersweet bonds that shape our lives.
Review (warning: spoilers!)
I had very high expectations for Clap When You Land because I've seen nothing but rave reviews all over bookstagram. People LOVE this book - and love the author - and there is generally just a lot of hype surrounding it. I've heard Acevedo's other books are outstanding and so I was very excited to pick this up and give it a read. This book explores themes of grief, mourning, cultural differences, sexual abuse and stalking and given that this is a YA novel, I was intrigued as to how this incredibly well received author would tackle such important topics. I've also never read a book written in verse and I just so desperately wanted to see what all the fuss was about.
Now, my expectations were high. Perhaps a little too high, because Clap When You Land just didn't fully meet what I was expecting to get from this book. The premise sounds incredible and like nothing I've read before; two sisters who had previously not known of each other's existence but find each other through the grief of their father after he is killed in a plane crash. It sounds like an amazing story, right?
If I'm being completely honest, the pacing was just way off and the two sisters didn't feel distinctive enough to set them apart and they never felt truely 'real' to me. From a readers point of view, there was very little to distinguish one from the other and at times it felt like I could have been reading about either one of them, despite being a dual narrative. I wish each sister's personality shone through that little bit more. I wanted them to be united in grief but also bring something different to each other's lives. They were too much of the same person, and I get that the author was trying to show a connection to these sisters, but no two people are the same, and that's not even taking into account the huge cultural differences between these girls. In the author's notes, Acevedo reveals she only made the decision to split the book into two POVs until much later on, and unfortunately, you can really tell as Camino and Yahaira just didn’t feel distinctive enough.
Something else this book focuses on is sexual harassment and this is probably my biggest issue with this book. Hear me out. We hear of a time when Yahaira is molested during a train ride when she was younger, and throughout the book, Camino is trying to avoid the threat of El Cero, the local pimp who stalks her and tries to coax her into working for him. At this point, it's worth mentioning that El Cero is a truely awful character who literally made my skin crawl. However, my biggest issue with this extremely sensitive and complex storyline is that it's not talked about in-depth enough. I also don't personally agree with the way the author made out Camino was too concerned about what was going on in her family and friend's live that she couldn't open up to them. We hear of Camino and her aunt Tia's close relationship, and yet Camino lets Tia believe she is flirting and getting involved with El Cero all because she doesn't want to bother her? Why do so many YA books put the idea in the reader's (younger readers, at that) head that you can't talk to your friends and family about sexual harassment? I just don't understand it. YA books should not be normalising this behaviour. In this book in particular, it ultimately comes down to El Cero trying to rape Camino but she is saved because her sister (who has only been in her life for, what, a week tops?) has figured out where she might be after she is missing from the house. Okay, sure, that certainly has more shock value, but I simply don't agree with it and so, so many young people are not saved in this miraculous way in real life.
Even though this book has it's shortfalls, I still wanted to give it three stars because I really enjoyed the premise and I've never read a YA book like this before and the representation in the book is simply brilliant. I've heard that Acevedo always includes LGBTQ representation in her stories and I'm here for that. Acevedo writes poetically and passionately and the writing is simply beautiful. Like I mentioned above, I've never read a book that's written in verse before, but I really enjoyed this style of storytelling and I'll be on the lookout for more books written in verse!
I feel like I've gone in really harsh on this book, but that's only because I really enjoyed it and it was very close to being a truely exceptional book. I feel like I can talk (or write) more about 3 and four star books that I can about five star books... anyone else?!
Like I mentioned, it was so close to being that much better but I still loved the premise. I did really enjoy Clap When You Land and I would read more books from Acevedo.
Verdict: ★★★
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