Reading Challenge 2023: The Cloisters – Katy Hays

Hello Loves.

I’ve been knocked off my feet with a bug again which has slowed me down but as promised in my previous post, I’m here to reveal my choice for my reading challenge with you all. For February, I decided to pick Read a book with a beautiful cover. I’m an absolute sucker for beautiful covers and sprayed edges. I love adding them to my vast collection. The Cloisters by Katy Hays is absolutely gorgeous. I picked this up when I went to Waterstones in Piccadilly (7 floors of unquestionable joy). I really hope you enjoy this review.

What’s it all about?

At the heart of this story is the protagonist, Ann Stilwell, Slightly awkward, slightly unsure of herself yet full of drive. She ends up in New York City hoping to out run the drama of her past by spending her time working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art over the summer. However, things don’t quite work out and she finds herself at The Cloisters, a gothic museum and garden renowned for its collection of medieval and Renaissance art. Ann is still excited to work here but she soon becomes drawn into the lives of her colleagues: Patrick, the. museum’s curator, Leo, the nonconformist gardener and Rachel, a rich, beautiful and well connected intern. Ann aspires to be more like her so pays a lot of attention to everything she does.

“The question was always: Could they change those futures, or were they predestined? Were they fate? This is the question that underlies what we are doing here today.” 

Ann is desperate to be a part of the research that Patrick and Rachel are working on. She decides to make herself invaluable to The Cloisters, joining Rachel in her every whim and indulging Patrick’s theories, regardless of how outlandish they are. As time passes, she discovers a mysterious deck of 15th century Italian tarot cards, thought to be lost to history, throwing Ann into the centre of a game with deadly consequences. Someone will end up dead with the rest of them under suspicion for murder. Things start to spiral out of control and Ann has a decision to make: is the future predetermined or is she free to defy the cards she’s been dealt?

“What if our whole life—how we live and die—has already been decided for us? Would you want to know, if a roll of the dice or a deal of the cards could tell you the outcome? Can life be that thin, that disturbing?” 

As a reader, we are thrown into the world of tarot and fate. It’s expansive, overwhelming and elaborate. When you’re reading it, you can feel the claustrophobia The Cloisters creates. The summer is sweltering, The Cloisters claustrophobic, the scene for desire, fixation, murder and betrayal is set. Desperate to fit in, Ann turns a blind eye to all warning sides. She’s spent her whole life feeling invisible and inconsequential so she yearns to be part of something, no matter how awful may seem. She wants to be heard and for her knowledge and opinions to be valued. The Cloisters gives her that, but at what cost?

“I think I do believe that people can tell the future,” I said quietly. 
“But I don’t know why anyone wants to know how their story ends,” she replied.” 

The dark academic world reveals itself to be full of toxic relationships, unhealthy rivalries and an atmospheric setting that influences the decisions each and every character makes. Following the murder, Ann’s personality changes. She becomes more bolder, more assertive and much more likely to get her own way. Ultimately, more like Rachel. However, it is what separates these two women that matters the most by the end.

“Like a true cloister, it was silent save for the sound of our footsteps.” 

Final Thoughts

There’s so much to this book. To be perfectly honest, I’ve missed plenty out but I’m hoping that this little taster is enough to get you hooked on this book. It’s visually stunning, it’s written beautifully to match. I feel in love and found myself being dragged deeper into the murky world of obsessive academia. Whilst some might be used to reading novels with academia at its core, I wasn’t so was completely thrilled by it.

I’m desperately trying to catch up with different books and your posts. Thankfully I’ve already read March’s book so I am back on track! I’ll see you next time for more bookish delights.

Big Love xxxx

Reading Round-Up: February

Hello Loves!

Did anyone else blink and miss February? I feel like I did. I know there’s only 28 days but still, I feel like it’s gone super quick. However, it’s been a great reading month. I’ve had half term as well where I spent time pottering around and I noticed that it was getting brighter earlier and for longer. The spring flowers are arriving too. Exciting times ahead!

In February I managed to read 13 books which I’m really chuffed about. I’ve read some absolute crackers too. I’ve just noticed that they’re all similar colours: oranges, reds and yellows. Clearly I’ve been (unconsciously/subconsciously?) looking for some bright colours to perk the season up! Anyway, enough jabber! Let’s check out the shelves!

1. Love & Saffron – Kim Fay. Food and friendship, what’s more to love? This story is heartwarming and I really enjoyed it. I also loved that it was all letters! Joan and Imogen remind us that friendship and food are the most important things. A gorgeous little read.
2. The Measure – Nikki Erlick. This book really intrigued me. In a nutshell, small wooden boxes are left outside doors all around the world containing one thing: a string showing how many years you’ll live. Do you open it? What if yours is a short string? Totally captivating and a genius idea of a plot!
3. The Love of my Life – Rosie Walsh. I love Rosie Walsh’s writing, she never disappoints. It was a safe bet buying and reading this book and I really didn’t see the plot unravelling like it did. There’s lots of twists and turns but ultimately, are you really who you say you are?

What a brilliant reading month and of course, more pennies into my savings account too! I can’t wait to see what March brings. I need to self care because it’s mock exam season so reading hopefully will be the best medicine for this! Have a great reading month everyone! I’ll see you next time for my book choice for my reading challenge for February!

Big love all xxxx

Love Letters of Great Men – Ursula Doyle

Hey loves!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Whether you’re a lover of Valentine’s day or not, I had to find something fitting to read in preparation for the day of love. I don’t think I’ve ever done that before so I thought, why not?

What sparked this idea off was on a recent trip to Scarborough, I saw this book of love letters from the war. I absolutely love a letter and find myself saddened that it’s dying out. However, it brought back a memory of the book, Love Letters of Great Men made famous by the Sex and the City film. It was time to give this a read and experience love through the ages.

What’s it all about?

Rather than tell you all of the letters, I’ve picked my favourite three all for very different reasons. The collection covers prolific men in history from the likes of King Henry VIII to Lord Nelson, Napoleon Bonaparte to Oscar Wilde, just to name a few. Devised in chronological order, it really is wonderful to see love and all that is associated with it through time. It made me wonder how much has actually changed over the course of history.

My first pick of the letters is by Ludwig van Beethoven. Written in July to his Immortal Beloved, the full extent of the letter is an impressive ten pages long. The reason why I love this so much is because it’s written on my birthday (many moons before) so it felt like fate. Most importantly though, you can see how it oozes romance and despair.

“Be calm – love me – to day – yesterday. What longing in tears for you – You – my Life – my All – farewell. Oh, go on loving me – never doubt the faithfullest heart

Of your beloved

L

Ever thine.

Ever mine.

Ever ours.”

My next favourite comes from Oscar Wilde. Oscar and I go way back. I discovered him when I was at university and became obsessed with everything about him: his wit, his style, his talent and his life. A soul born before his time, Wilde was a broken man following his imprisonment for homosexuality. I’ve read all of his letters but this one shows love at its most vulnerable.

“My sweet rose, my delicate flower, my lily of lilies, it is perhaps in prison that I am going to test the power of love. I am going to see if I cannot make the bitter wardens sweet by the intensity of the love I bear you.”

Finally, I’ve picked a letter by Robert Browning. Every year I teach Sonnet 43 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning and I really enjoyed seeing some of his letters back. Their love is something that I think every aspires too: overwhelming, all encompassing, complete joy. My favourite letter is from their wedding day. It makes my heart soar.

“Words can never tell you… how perfectly dear you are to me – perfectly dear to my heart and soul. I look back and in every one point, every word and gesture, every letter, every silence – you have been entirely perfect to me.”

Final Thoughts

There’s so many other incredible letters in this collection. It’s a joy to see them published. I can only imagine what it was like to receive them. There is a real art to writing a letter – I still write them now. However, there really is something special about these. We’re stumbling into these historical relationships where distance and time were real issues and where communication was by letter alone. It almost feels like a much simpler time.

Whether single, taken or in between, these letters really were something special. Love is an emotion that really has stood the test of time. These great men, all great for different reasons, all evoked the same reaction, acknowledgement of what a beautiful thing to receive. That snapshot into a little moment into these varied lives really is special. It’s a collection that will remain treasured on my shelf.

Sending you all love on this Valentine’s Day.

Reading Challenge 2023: Nine Perfect Strangers – Liane Moriarty

Hello Lovelies!

It’s half term! Hurrah! I am so glad to see this Friday for sure. I am utterly exhausted and I’ve got myself into a pickle. I explained a bit in my previous post but it appears that I am still not able to do much reading which is a real shame. My head is still too much of a fog for me to see through it. However, whether I just write a sentence a day, I wanted to share with you my book choice and topic for my reading challenge of 2023! I know I launched this with you all around New Year. Doesn’t that seem like ages ago? Anyway, I wanted to get stuck in with this for sure so I decided to pick: Read a book with a number in the title. In the run up to Christmas I’d been watching Nine Perfect Strangers so I thought that would be a brilliant book to read. Thankfully, the series and the book were a little different so it made for a really exciting reading experience really. I hope you like my review!

What’s it all about?

Well, there will be gaps in this review because I don’t want to spoil anything. The premise is quite simple: a wellness resort and nine perfect strangers coming together for enlightenment and relaxation for ten days. Sounds perfect, right? However idilic the grounds of Tranquillium House are, it doesn’t make up for the fact that things do seem a little strange there. These nine people are: Frances, a semi famous romance novelist, Lars, a health retreat enthusiast, married couple Ben and Jessica, Carmel, a divorced single mother, Tony, an ex famous sportsman and the Marconi family which consists of Napoleon, Heather and daughter Zoe. Once they are all finally in the grounds, they embark on a period of silence. They also participate in activities like hiking, yoga and therapy. Whilst experiencing these delights, we learn more about each character and what had let them to this point. Tragically, the Marconi’s lost a son to suicide, Ben and Jessica won the lottery and thereby their whole relationship changed. Sucker for love Frances got scammed by a man pretending to love her. Carmel’s ex husband and daughter had gone off travelling with his new younger fiancée and she is obsessed with losing weight.

“Women and their bodies! The most abusive and toxic of relationships. Masha had seen women pinch at the flesh of their stomachs with such brutal self-loathing they left bruises. Meanwhile their husbands fondly patted their own much larger stomachs with rueful pride.” 

As fascinating as Traquillium House is, the resort director is even more intriguing. Masha along with her wellness consultants, Yeo and Delilah watch the guests closely and monitor how they act, behave and what they do. Half way through the ten day trip, Heather realises that something isn’t quite right. During their breakfast smoothies, Helen realises that they’ve all been drugged. Naturally, they’re all furious. However, Masha eventually reveals that they have been micro-dosing them with LSD. Heather only spotted it that day because the dose was higher. Masha stands by this decision because she believes that it would help them all with opening up and progressing along their spiritual wellness journey. Regardless, the guests are furious. But they’re much too high to be able to do anything about it. They’re all busy on the waves of the high. Lars sees how his parent’s unhappy marriage has made him afraid of marrying his partner, Ray. Heather feels guilty about the death of their son Zach because she gave him medication that had potential side effects of depression. On the flip side, Carmel decides that her body is perfect and she loves it.

“The risks were calculated. The risks were justified. No one ever ascended a mountain without risk.” 

Post high, the group all learn that they are locked in the confines of a room together. Masha had high expectations of the group working together to secure their release but she decides to try something new with them. Deliah takes off, stealing Ben and Jessica’s Lamborghini as she believes that Masha has crossed a line. Yeo also tries to protest but Masha drugs him too. Left to her own devices she has nothing to do but try this new idea out. Yet, there is a problem. She cannot stop thinking about her own loss; the loss of her baby boy who strangled himself with a curtain cord accidentally. It took one slip of attention for that to happen and as a result, she’s never really forgiven herself. She too then takes LSD and is clearly out of her mind. The strangers humour her but they are distracted when they can hear and smell fire. Tony mentally goes back to his pre-injury athleticism and tries to jump, causing some pain. Panic ensues but after a while, they realise the door is open. Upon leaving the room, they see that it’s just a recording of a fire with a small wastebasket with burnt items in.

“Only those who have feared they will lose everything feel true gratitude for their lucky lives.” 

As soon as Masha learns that they’ve all got themselves out, she is delighted albeit still high. She asks them if they’re pleased with their results but Heather is less than kind. She is filled with grief and rage and attacks Masha. Masha fights back and Frances steps in and knocks Masha out, protecting Heather. Finally, Deliah returns, Ben is relieved to see his car again and Masha and Yeo are arrested. The story doesn’t quite end here though. Afterwards, the guests do end up resolving the various root issues of their problems – the ultimate reason why they all went to the resort anyway. Many years later, Masha is out of prison and is publicising a book she as written. She still has an exclusive secretive LSD based therapy programme going on too. Arguably most surprisingly, Tony and Frances marry.

“It’s called guided psychedelic therapy,” said Masha. “As your ego dissolves you will access a higher level of consciousness. A curtain will be drawn back and you will see the world in a way you’ve never seen it before.” 

Final Thoughts

I really did like this book and found myself compelled to get to the end. I also liked loved each character, their flaws and their development. Each were explored brilliantly and had their own edges to them. It felt like different characteristics really were explored well. I also really appreciated that I had no idea which way the narrative was going to go – I liked that I was kept hanging really. Overall, I’d definitely read something by Liane Moriarty again. She’s got a really good style and way of making the plot evolve.

I really hope half term gives me the opportunity to reset and feel better soon. I hope I can pick up my books and do some reading too. Fingers crossed.

Stay safe and well all.

Big love xxxx

The Art of Buying Books part 4

Hello loves!

Am I glad it’s the weekend! I’ve got myself in a bit of a black hole. Maybe that’s too deep… but there’s definitely a fog in my head. I’ve really struggled to read, write, focus. Some of it is exhaustion but some of it is that I feel like life is just a challenge. Work is hard, too hard. We don’t live to work surely? Anyway, with good people by my side, I’m trying to find my way through the fog. The weekend always acts as a natural breaker.

As you may know, I was trying to be really good with buying books but actually, today I went on a huge book buying spree and I loved every second of it. It gave me a sense of purpose, it made me want to read again (I’ve been reading the rest of the day) and made me come back to my ever faithful blog. Here I am!

I started my little spree at my local Salvation Army. They are a cause close to my heart so I was there to drop a donation off. Books were not on my mind. However, I saw a sign on the door saying they can’t take any books as they had ran out of room. Well, this really was my time to shine! I had to step up. It was for charity after all. I had the overwhelming need to save as many as I could.

11 books for £2.75. I would have happily paid more but what an incredible bargain. There’s some great looking books here and a good mix too. I also got a stunning copy of The Girl on the Train which is going to dazzle on my shelf.

Isn’t that gorgeous? It means I can also gift the copy I’ve got on. Win-win! I also toddled along into town where it got me thinking about what other books I like. I used to collect fashion books (many moons ago) because I loved the pictures. I really wanted to be a fashion journalist at one point but I found that the books were enough for me. It was a strange thought it coming back to me. I felt foolish for forgetting about it. It dawned on me because I found this beautiful book on Coco Chanel. It’s even got silver sprayed edges.

This then got me onto another train of thought: cookery books. I love everything about food. Another idea for a career I had was a food journalist but that didn’t last long because I’m allergic to fish. It kind of narrows down the market! I did consider just cakes but that’s a hobby, not a job.

Anyway, I do like to collect baking and cookery books. Back in 2019, Penguin published the first five of Jamie Oliver’s cookbooks in their classic cover colours for their 20th anniversary. At £26 each, I knew I’d have to save hard. But then they just ebbed from my mind, until today…

At £5.99 each, I couldn’t ignore them. There’s just two more to find but hopefully, one day I’ll get them. However, they’re visually stunning and I can’t wait to see them with my other cookery books in the kitchen. So much so, I’m considering getting a floating shelf to pop them on!

It’s the first time for a little while that the fog lifted. I came home and had all these beautiful books around me and I couldn’t wait to start reading. Then, I just wanted to write about it. I’m sure this isn’t the best post I’ve ever written but I hope you’ve found it to be full of truth, admiration and purpose. If you’re in a fog like me, I hope it helped.

I’ll see you very soon for my reading challenge book for January. I hope you’re all well.

Big Love xxx

Reading Round-Up: January

Hello Loves!

Well, I wasn’t expecting to be so absent for the month of January. I’m really sorry. Since I’ve been back at work, it’s felt like one thing after another. My head feels full of fog. I’ve been reading but I’ve not been writing much at all. Hopefully, with the half term holiday in sight, I might start to feel a bit better.

I wanted to spend the last day of January with my round up for this month. 2023 promises to be an amazing year of books, let’s face it. I really can’t wait to get down my pile, read some new titles and branch out more. I need to get back on here more too!

Anyway in January I managed to read 11 books. Considering I went back to work straight after New Year, I am quite pleased with my progress there. There’s always room for improvement and my poor little blog needs some attention but I’m okay with it. Let’s check out the shelves!

I’ve not reviewed anything so it’s been quite tricky to decide however, I think I’m there!

1. That Green Eyed Girl – Julie Owen Moylan. Oh gosh, I loved this one so much. Really gritty and compelling characters with a well thought out plot. What’s not to love?!
2. The Ink Black Heart – Robert Galbraith. I absolutely love the Galbraith series. They’re just so incredible. This one even included dialogue from chat rooms which was a new reading experience for me. As always with Galbraith, I couldn’t work it out. I wasn’t even close.
3. The Accidental Medium – Tracy Whitwell. I really find mediums incredibly interesting so this book appealed from the cover alone. However, I really enjoyed reading it! It’s an easy read with some likeable characters who try to use their skill for good. It’s what I’d call a weekend read.

There’s an elephant in the room (so to speak) with Spare. I wanted to read it so I could be fully equipped rather than just see the media interpretation of events. I feel more informed which does help. I do have an issue with the media representation of events. However, I have nothing but respect for our Royal Family. It’s definitely a controversial book, that’s for sure.

I’ll see you at the weekend where I’ve got to review the book I chose for my reading challenge. See you then darlings!

Big love all xxxx

Stop The Press! Cover Release for the Girl in the Eagle’s Talons – Karin Smirnoff

Hi all!

I am super excited because the day has finally come to release the cover for the incredible The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons. It feels like an age ago but I posted before about the announcement of the next writer and the next part of this series but so much work has been going on behind the scenes to make this launch incredible. There’s also the plot release which I can share with you today too! I want to take this opportunity to thank @QuercusBooks and @maclehosepress for being one of the lucky people to be a part of this. I’m super excited and I hope you are too!

First of all, the cover:

Isn’t this lush? But what about the blurb? Well, I think we can all agree that it sounds incredible!

KARIN SMIRNOFF

Translated from the Swedish by Sarah Death

MacLehose Press | 29 August 2023 | HB & e-book £22 | TPB £16.99

Change is coming to Sweden’s far north: its untapped natural resources are sparking a gold rush with the criminal underworld leading the charge. But it’s not the prospect of riches that brings Lisbeth Salander to the small town of Gasskas. She has been named guardian to her niece Svala, whose mother has disappeared. Two things soon become clear: Svala is a remarkably gifted teenager – and she’s being watched. 

Mikael Blomkvist is also heading north. He has seen better days.Millennium magazine is in its final print issue, and relations with his daughter are strained. Worse still, there are troubling rumours surrounding the man she’s about to marry. When the truth behind the whispers explodes into violence, Salander emerges as Blomkvist’s last hope.

A pulse-pounding thriller, The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons sees Salander and Blomkvist navigating a world of conspiracy and betrayal, old enemies and new friends, ice-bound wilderness and the global corporations that threaten to tear it apart.

It’s clear that this is going to be an excellent addition to any book shelves and reading pile. Let’s face it, #LisbethisBACK. Bring on the #GirlInTheEaglesTalons

See you soon lovelies! Have a brilliant rest of the week.

Big Love xxxx

The Art of Buying Books part 3

Hello loves!

Happy Sunday. I hope you’re having a wonderfully restful weekend. I definitely am! However, the wind and the rain is disturbing my sleep for sure. I hope you’re all keeping safe, dry and warm.

I seem to have gone off the boil again with my little blog. I’m back at work so that’s the norm really but work is so tough. My flight or fight response is to read, read, read. Writing makes it real but reading means I can hide away and throw myself into someone else’s narrative. I miss the joy of my book advent calendar too. However, book shopping really does take the edge off. I also had my book subscription box delivered this week. Books everywhere!

This weekend I had a lovely day to Beverley which has some of the most gorgeous independent shops along with a Hotel Chocolat cafe. My favourite shop though is the Beverley Book Shop where I often stop by. This weekend was no different. I picked up two gorgeous looking books: Are We Having Fun Yet and We All Want Impossible Things. I also popped to the Oxfam Book Shop too where I used to go as a student to pick up the texts I needed to read. I had a good haul from there too! Have any you read any of these? I’ve no idea when I’ll get to them but I did make a big dent in my to be read pile I’ve the Christmas break.

It’s obvious that people, myself included, spend a lot of money on books. I’m really lucky – I get free copies but I am trying hard to save some pennies this year too. I’ve set up a little savings challenge for myself – 1p for each page I read. It means that I’m making an effort to save as well as spend. It’s really easy to get carried away when buying books. I know for a fact that I get taken in with a gorgeous cover, a signed copy or a sprayed edge. But, if I can save too, I’ll feel much better!

I’ve been working my way through the next Galbraith book too. It’s an incredible 1012 pages (£10.12 in the savings pot!) and has a brilliantly clever plot. I highly recommend it!

I’ll be back for reviews soon! Much love everyone!

Big Love xxx

Reading Round-Up: 2022

Hello Lovelies!

Happy New Year! I am super excited to round up on last year and also launch with you my reading challenge for 2023! 2022 was a great year for my little blog because I found that I really enjoyed posting more. I hope you didn’t get sick of me in the process though! I’m on a particular high today because I should have gone back to school but the heating had broken! Yes! An additional day off. More reading time for me!

First of all, I want to round up 2022. I was really pleased to see that I managed to read 145 books in 2022. Definitely down from 2021 but that’s because we weren’t stuck at home! You can remind yourself of last year here, should you wish to. Along the way, there have been some amazing books. I’ll give you my top 5 later but I’ve honestly loved it. It’s all been about trying to get down my to be read pile and I’ve put a dent in it, that’s for sure! It hasn’t been easy, like most readers there have been slumps along the way and the inability to find a book I can get into. There’s so many factors in play at times so I don’t tend to share which books I didn’t finish because I know it isn’t the book, usually it’s me. But, I am ruthless. I do give up and move on because life is too short.

Regardless, let’s check out the books of 2022!

1. Appanah, Nathacha – The Sky Above the Roof
2. Tattersfield, Eleanor – Lockdown Secrets
3. Rauf, Onjali Q – The Lion at the Door
4. Colwin, Laurie – Happy All The Time
5. Grisham, John – The Racketeer
6. Flack, Caroline – Storm in a C Cup
7. Patterson, James – The Last Days of John Lennon
8. French, Dawn – Oh Dear Silvia
9. Jennings, Luke – Codename Villanelle
10. Priestley, J.B – An Inspector Calls
11. Tremayne, S.K. – The Assistants
12. Hazelwood, Ali – The Love Hypothesis
13. Morris, Heather – Three Sisters
14. James, Erica – Mothers and Daughters
15. Wilson, Antoine – Mouth to Mouth
16. Hitchings, Henry – Love Letters to Bookshops Around the World
17. McCartney, Sophie – Tired & Tested
18. Dowd, Siobhan – The London Eye Mystery
19. Zgheib, Yara – No Land to Light On
20. Lepionka, Kristen – The Last Place You Look
21. Halls, Stacey – Mrs England
22. Prose, Nita – The Maid
23. Donaldson, Julia & Scheffler, Axel – The Gruffalo
24. Debona, Katherine – Love Me, Love Me Not
25. Allen, Anthea – Life, Death and Biscuits
26. Ware, Jessie – Omelette
27. Shrager, Rosemary – The Last Supper
28. Schwab, V.E. – Gallant
29. Halls, Stacey – The Foundling
30. Ryn, Jessica – The Extraordinary Hope of Dawn Brightside
31. Logan, T.M. – The Curfew
32. Maher, Kerri – The Paris Bookseller
33. Penner, Sarah – The Lost Apothecary
34. Blackburn, Lizzie Damilola – Yinka, Where is Your Husband?
35. Hockney, David & Gayford, Martin – Spring Cannot be Cancelled
36. Mas, Victoria – The Mad Woman’s Ball
37. Strout, Lucy – My Name is Lucy Barton
38. Cox, Katy – M is for Mummy
39. Osbourne, Bella – The Library
40. Wahrer, Caitlin – Damage
41. Ireland, Sandra – The Unmaking of Ellie Rook
42. Gold, Hannah – The Last Bear
43. Williams, Candice-Carty – Queenie
44. Keyes, Marian – Rachel’s Holiday
45. O’Leary, Beth – The No-Show
46. Grohl, Dave – The Storyteller
47. Hargrave, Kiran Millwood – Julia and the Shark
48. Gold, Hannah – The Lost Whale
49. Steinbeck, John – Cannery Row
50. Fforde, Katie – Saving the Day
51. Keyes, Marian – Again, Rachel
52. Lockhart, E – We Were Liars
53. Hawkins, Paula – Blind Spot
54. Buchanan, Daisy – Insatiable
55. Vine, Lucy – What Fresh Hell
56. Craven, M.W. – The Cutting Season
57. McCaughrean, Geraldine – The Supreme Lie
58. Sams, Saba – Send Nudes
59. Wilson, A.K. – The Manager
60. Sims, Gill – The Saturday Night Sauvignon Sisterhood
61. Oseman, Alice – Nick and Charlie
62. Patterson, James – Honeymoon
63. Bennett, Alan – The Uncommon Reader
64. Malik, Ayisha – Sofia Khan and the Baby Blues
65. Paris, Helen – Lost Property
66. Wilson, A.N. – Lilibet – The Girl who Would be Queen
67. Carvan, Tabitha – This is not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch
68. Hogan, Ruth – The Keeper of Lost Things
69. Buchanan, Daisy – Careering
70. Benson, Jen – The Wild Year
71. Han, Jenny – The Summer I Turned Pretty
72. Cox, Sara – Thrown
73. Sutanto, Jesse – Dial A For Aunties
74. Wickers, Kate – Shape of a Boy
75. Chen, Kirstin – Counterfeit
76. Stonex, Emma – The Lamplighters
77. Candlish, Louise – The Other Passenger
78. Heydenrych, Amy – The Pact
79. Sunim, Haemin – The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down
80. Cha, Steph – Your House Will Pay
81. Backman, Fredrik – Anxious People
82. Bly, Mary – Lizzie & Dante
83. Takhar, Helen Monks – That Woman
84. Heller, Miranda Cowley – Paper Palace
85. Campbell, Michele – A Stranger on the Beach
86. Jewell, Lisa – The Family Upstairs
87. Corry, Jane – We All Have Our Secrets
88. Cave, Jessie – Sunset
89. Han, Jenny – It’s Not Summer Without You
90. Hui, Angela – Takeaway
91. Swanson, Peter  – Before She Knew Him
92. Rowell, Rainbow – Fangirl
93. Han, Jenny – We’ll Always Have Summer
94. Mulhern, Stephen – Max Magic
95. Osman, Richard – The Man Who Died Twice
96. Newson, Karl & Anganuzzi, Clara – The World at Your Feet
97. Sutanto, Jesse – Four Aunties and a Wedding
98. Jestin, Victor – Heatwave
99. Brook, Kate – Not Exactly What I Had In Mind
100. Bourne, Holly – How Do You Like Me Now?
101. Bochis, Iulia – The Sun, The Sea & The Stars
102. Hazelwood, Ali – Love on the Brain
103. Taylor, Matson – All About Evie
104. Kay, Adam – Undoctored
105. Norbury, James – The Journey
106. Gayle, Mike – The Museum of Ordinary People
107. Felton, Tom – Beyond the Wand
108. Kawaguchi, Toshikazu – Before the Coffee Gets Cold: Tales from the Café
109. Shakespeare, William – Macbeth
110. Kawaguchi, Toshikazu – Before Your Memory Fades
111. Murray, Lily & Surplice, Holly – Five Little Penguins
112. Tucci, Stanely – Taste: My Life Through Food
113. Osman, Richard – The Bullet That Missed
114. Sanghani, Radhika – Thirty Things I Love About Myself
115. Doughty, Louise – Platform Seven
116. Theroux, Louis – Theroux the Keyhole
117. Du Beke, Anton – We’ll Meet Again
118. Moore, Ian – Death and Papa Noel
119. Donati, Alba – Diary of a Tuscan Bookshop
120. Kemp, Roman – Are You Really Ok?
121. Coles, Richard – Murder Before Evensong
122. Bennett, S.J. – Murder Most Royal
123. Miller, Madeline – Galatea
124. Swanson, Peter  – Rules for Perfect Murders
125. Sharma, Nisha – Dating Dr. Dil
126. Smith, Alex T – The Twelve Days of Christmas
127. Dickens, Charles – A Christmas Carol
128. Jewell, Lisa – The Family Remains
129. Collins, Bridget & co – The Haunting Season
130. Duffy, Carol Ann – Advent Street
131. Herron, Mick  – Slough House
132. Grimm Brothers & co – A German Christmas
133. Pooley, Claire – The People on Platform 5
134. Taylor-Bessent, Mel – The Christmas Carrolls
135. Sampson, Freya – The Girl on the 88 Bus
136. Macomber, Debbie – Jingle All The Way
137. Ayoade, Richard – The Book That No One Wanted to Read
138. Herron, Mick – Stanging By The Wall
139. Du Beke, Anton – Ballroom Blitz
140. Dean, Will – The Last Thing to Burn
141. Carroll, Lewis – Through the Looking Glass
142. Hendricks, Jaime Lynn – His Missing Wife
143. Lockhart, E – Family of Liars
144. Perry, Matthew – Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing
145. Garmus, Bonnie – Lessons in Chemistry 

I think we can all agree there’s some incredible books here! Picking a top five is tough but they are:

• Beyond the Wand – Tom Felton. When I reviewed it, I called it. I just knew that it was going to take a really special book to beat it.
• Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing – Matthew Perry. I’m a huge Friends fan so I couldn’t not read this book. It was utterly heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time.
• Paper Palace – Miranda Cowley Heller. One of my summer reads that I couldn’t put down. I absolutely loved it. It gave me Crawdad vibes that I’d been desperately looking for!
• The Lamplighters – Emma Stonex. Another beach read that I reviewed but fell in love with the plot after the first few pages.
• The Lost Apothecary – Sarah Penner. A beautiful cover, a wonderful story with strong female characters.

That’s it! There’s so many others that I could have chosen but I decided to stick with these. What do you think? Have you read any of these?

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2023: My focus has now changed to 2023 and what exciting books the future holds for me here. I’ve decided I need to continue with my efforts of getting down my to be read pile. Whilst going through my monthly reading challenge last year, I spotted that some of the criteria were quite similar so I’ve worked on it and please let me introduce to you all, the reading challenge for 2023!

I’ve tried to make sure that I’ve got some things that motivate me (e.g. a beach read. Who isn’t longing for summer?) as well as things that will definitely challenge me and broaden my reading horizons. Feel free to join in with this and make suggestions for me! I get a lot of my reading list from you guys so I’m keen for any books you think are good! I really hope you join in with me!

So, onto the next book and preparing myself for the next half term.

Big love all xxxx

Reading Round-Up: December

Hello Loves!

I literally cannot believe it’s New Years Eve! Time has a really funny habit of running a way with us, for sure. I don’t think I’ll finish another book today so it’s time for my reading round up of the month. To be honest, I’ve read some excellent books in December. Holidays do provide me with the best time to relax and read and I’ve definitely been doing just that (and eating far too much…) Please tell me you’re all like me!

Anyway in December I managed to read a total of 16 books which I’m super pleased with. There’s been times when I’ve finished a book I’ve started in the same day. It’s been joyous to really get down my reading pile and enjoy reading some of the books from my advent calendar. I’ve got plenty still to keep me going though, that’s for sure! I can’t hold off any longer, I’m just too excited. Let’s check out the shelves!

I’ve written reviews of three of these already and have plans for more so this is going to be quite tricky. Lessons in Chemistry was previous post here – I just love that book. I’ve also reviewed Advent Street here too along with The Haunting Season over here and Slough House right there. It makes it a bit easier to pick a top three outside of these, that’s for sure!

1. Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing – Matthew Perry. As a huge Friends fan, I had this on my list as soon as I saw it’s publication date. I hope to review it properly but I found it to be raw, moving and brutally honest.
2. The Family Remains – Lisa Jewell. Another absolute classic from Lisa Jewell. Again it was quite a hyped up book for me so I took me some time to get to it. However, it was so worth the wait.
3. The Girl on the 88 Bus – Freya Sampson. This book filled my heart and soul with unrivalled joy. If you’re needing a little pick me up, go for this one. You won’t be disappointed.

What a month! I’ve had one of the best months for reading so I’m feeling quite pleased with myself. I’m really excited for my reading challenge next year which I can’t wait to share with you (I’ve not finished it yet so any categories are welcome!) and to share more books with you too.

Have an excellent New Years Eve and of course, a very Happy New Year. I wish you all the very best for 2023! I’ll see you next year, probably tomorrow (see what I did there?!) for a roundup of the whole year, my favourites and thank yous as well as the future plans for my little blog. Until then…

Big love all xxxx