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where our team of writers love to talk all things books, sharing reviews, features, lists, interviews and more.

Getting lost in a book is escapism at it's finest and it's what everyone who contributes here thrives on.

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Tuesday, 9 March 2021

Book Club | Team BB Recommends: Autobiographies and Memoirs

 


Welcome to the first of our roundup series where we'll be sharing ideas for some of our 2021 book club reading prompts.

We wanted to include at least one non-fiction prompt on our 2021 book club reading list and we think autobiographies/memoirs are a great way to learn about different life experiences and points of view. Whilst we're sure many of our readers are already fans of the genre, if it isn't your usual go-to or you're simply stuck for ideas today's post is for you! 

Below are 17 suggested titles you could pick up for our 2021 book club prompt 'an autobiography or memoir'. If you have any favourites not listed here we'd love for you to leave further suggested reads in the comments section below, or tag @bloggersbookshelf on Instagram.


  • Becoming by Michelle Obama
  • We're Going To Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union
  • To Be A Gay Man by Will Young
  • Straight Outta Crawley by Romesh Ranganathan
  • Naturally Tan by Tan France
  • This Is Just My Face: Try Not To Stare by Gabourey Sidibe
  • Over The Top by Jonathan Van Ness
  • The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher
  • Finding My Voice by Nadiya Hussain
  • In Order To Live by Yeonmi Park
  • Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham
  • Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
  • A Long Way Home (Lion) by Saroo Brierly
  • Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick
  • I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
  • Year Of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
  • Who Am I, Again? by Lenny Henry
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Tuesday, 2 March 2021

Feature | 10 Young Adult Books Being Released in 2021 I'm Looking Forward To

We may be a few months into 2021 already but here are some Young Adult novels to look forward to!

The beginning of the year is always exciting for me because we have another whole year of books coming out, ready to be eagerly devoured by readers.

Despite the urgh of 2020, 2021 is looking mighty fine because of all these epic books coming out! I've been checking out articles and Goodreads Lists over the last few weeks to remind myself of what I'm meant to be excited about, and thought I'd do a bit of a roundup of 10 Young Adult novels I'm looking forward to this year.


1. Rule of Wolves (King of Scars, #2) by Leigh Bardugo

Talk to anyone I know and they're telling you how much I love this universe that Bardugo has created. Rule of Wolves is the second in the King od Scars duology, following one of the characters in the Shadow and Bone series. I really enjoyed King of Scars, so can't wait for Rule of Wolves comes out!

Release date: 30 March

2. Chain of Iron (The Last Hours, #2) by Cassandra Clare

Another Cassandra Clare book you say? Sign me up! If you've been around Blogger's Bookshelf for any length of time then you'll probably now just how much I enjoyed her books. The first in this series, Chain of Gold was out in March 2020 after a delay, and I loved the characters and the general vibe of this book a lot more than her previous Shadowhunter series. Needless to say, definitely looking forward to Chain of Iron!

Release date: 2 March

3. Lore by Alexandra Bracken 

So here's the thing. I review books for publishing companies, which means I often get books before they're on the shelves. Lore by Alexandra Bracken was out in January but I scored it in December and it was brilliant. I so loved the combination of our world and Ancient Greece. I'm a big classics fan, so it was a great combo!

Release date: 5 January

4. The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson 

We're big fans of Maureen Johnson here at BB. Most of us who have read her Truly Devious series have loved it. The Box in the Woods follows on from the Truly Devious series, though doesn't follow the same storyline. As far as I can work out, it follows Stevie, the main character, as she heads off somewhere where she stumbles upon another murder. Cue murder solving and brilliance. Here for it!

Release date: 15 June

5. Heartstopper: Volume Four (Heartstopper #4) by Alice Oseman 

The world doesn't deserve Alice Oseman. Her stories are pure gold and the Heartstopper graphic novel series is no different. This is such a great series and I'm so looking forward to number four!

Release date: 13 May

6. Concrete Rose (The Hate U Give #0) by Angie Thomas

Another book that's already come out, Concrete Rose by the phenomenal Andie Thomas follows Star from The Hate U Give's father as he battles his way through high school as a young father. It's another great story from Thomas, which such important messages. While I didn't love this one as much as THUG, it's still a brilliant read and I highly recommend it, especially if you read and loved THUG.

Release date: 12 January

7. Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales 

To be completely honest, I didn't know this book was being released until I was putting this post together. But I read Sophie Gonzales' book Only Mostly Devastated and really enjoyed that. I haven't read anything else by Gonzale's and this one looks like a lot of fun. Also, Goodreads tells me it's 'Leah on the Offbeat meets To All the Boys I've Loved Before' so you know, that sounds great.

Release date: 9 March

8. Blade of Secrets (Bladesmith #1) by Tricia Levenseller 

Daughter of the Pirate King (and it's sequel) by Levenseller is such a great book. I enjoyed it so much so when I saw that another one of Levenseller's books was being released this year, it was a quick addition to my Goodreads' Want to Read list. 'A teenage blacksmith with social anxiety accepts a commission from the wrong person and is forced to go on the run to protect the world from the most powerful magical sword she's ever made.' Yup! Let's gooooo.

Release date: 4 May

9. Any Way the Wind Blows (Simon Snow #3) by Rainbow Rowell

When an author says 'there won't be a sequel' and then you're blessed with two ... ! All heavens come at once. However, I suspect this will be the last one. But Rainbow Rowell is finally releasing Any Way the Wind Blow which is the third (and final?) instalment of the Simon Snow series. Check out our reviews of Carry On and also Wayward Son. 

Release date: 6 July

10. Bridge of Souls (Cassidy Blake #3) by Victoria Schwab

Okay, I cheated. Bridge of Souls is a middle-grade book but I love this series by Schwab! It's so sweet and entertaining at the same time and there so many ghosts in it it's brilliant. This is the third and final instalment of the Cassidy Blake series, and while I'm looking forward to reading it, I also don't want it to end.

Release date: 2 March

Young Adult Releases in 2021: The Shoutouts

What books are you looking forward to this year? 

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Saturday, 11 July 2020

Bookish Links #58


1. It may no longer be pride month, but this awesome list of YA books with LGBTQIAP+ protagonists contains 46 books to enjoy at any time of year.

2. This Ally Box book subscription created by Onikah Asamoa-Caesar is such a brilliant idea. Find out more in this interview.

3. If you're looking for a cute summer read, Say Yes Summer could be it! Click here for Jen's review.

4. Whether you're working from home, or back to your commute, we recommend adding the Southbank Centre's Book Podcast to your feed and catching up on past episodes.

5. Blogger and author C.G. Drews shared a great post on ways we can all keep supporting diverse books.

6. If you've been looking to try out some new recipes you'll love these cookbook recommendations from Book Riot.

7. And whilst you're over at Book Riot, this interview with one of Team BB’s favourite authors Neal Shusterman is also an interesting read.

8. We love this list of amazing books written by women of colour from Michelle over at Daisybutter.

9. Anika’s recent ‘Educate Yourself’ Stack also had us adding so many titles to our TBRs.

10. Finally, as lockdown continues in the UK why not treat yourself or a loved on to a surprise book?

This month’s beautiful bookstagram accounts to follow:
@whatrachelisreading
@scsreads
@booknerdnative
@parisperusing
@amysbookshelf
@sajdareads

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Saturday, 27 June 2020

Features | 10 Of My Favourite Reads Of The Year So Far



As we are now halfway through 2020 (and hopefully halfway to our reading goals!), I wanted to share 10 of my favourite reads of the year so far. Whilst I have re-read a few titles that I love, this list only includes books that were new to me in 2020, and I’ve kept them all in order of date read. It goes without saying that I would highly recommend picking up copies of any of these books if you haven’t read them yet.

1. After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

My January book club pick for our prompt ‘by an author you love’ was After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid. This book follows Lauren and Ryan who, after growing apart, decide to take a year out of their marriage in an attempt to find their way back to each other. Whilst I had expected to enjoy the book, I didn’t know I would love it as much as I did. It ended up being an easy 5-star rating and a great start to my reading year.

2. Meat Market by Juno Dawson

I’ve been a fan of Juno Dawson’s writing for years and her 2019 release Meat Market certainly didn’t disappoint. Tackling the darker side of the fashion industry, this novel follows Jana as she unexpectedly becomes a model and has to navigate her way through this unfamiliar and often scary situation. The book is formatted as Jana telling her story for a documentary which I really loved. Side note; I recently ordered a copy of Dawson’s latest release Wonderland and I can't wait to read it!

3. No Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Just Mercy is the only non-fiction title to make this list but it was the easiest 5-star rating of the year so far. The book focuses on the work of the Equal Justice Initiative and in particular the story of Walter McMillian, a black man who was sentenced to death for the murder of a white woman; a crime that he did not commit. The work that Bryan Stevenson and the EJI have done, and are continuing to do, is incredibly inspiring and this book is such an important and informative read.

4. Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Ria kindly gifted me a copy of Friday Black after it made her 2019 favourites list and I’m very grateful to her for doing so. This unique collection of twelve short stories was an amazing debut release that has stuck with me long after reading, and is a book I’m sure that I will revisit. I found it to be a captivating read and enjoyed the writing style so I’m also looking forward to reading any future releases from Adjei-Brenyah.

5. On The Come Up by Angie Thomas

Set in the same neighbourhood as Thomas’ brilliant debut, On The Come Up tells the story of aspiring rapper Bri. Having read and highly rated Angie Thomas’ first novel The Hate U Give I was excited to read this one too and wasn’t disappointed. I’m also looking forward to the release of Concrete Rose early next year, a new novel which tells the story of Maverick Carter, a name fans of The Hate U Give will recognise.

6. A Place For Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza

Another book club pick to make this list is A Place For Us, my choice for the February prompt ‘a tree or leaf on the cover’. The story is centred around an Indian-American family living in the US and switches between past and present, as well as different character’s perspectives, to explore their complex relationships. This is not an action-packed book but instead takes you on a quieter journey which I really enjoyed.

7. Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha

Inspired by the events of the LA Riots in the early 90’s and the fatal shooting of Latasha Harlins, Your House Will Pay tells the story of two families, one African American and one Korean American, connected by the tragic death of a teenage girl. Having not heard much about it previously, I had no idea what to expect from this novel but it was an intense, heartbreaking and well-written read. The story has stuck in my mind ever since I finished reading it in March and I’m already planning on re-reading it sometime in future.

8. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

During the earlier part of the lockdown period here in the UK, I ended up reading several YA contemporaries in close succession. Having enjoyed most of them it wasn’t easy to choose which one/s should make this list but I felt that My Life Next Door was the one that stuck in my mind the most. This book, which tells the story of neighbouring families the Garretts and the Reeds, had been sitting unread on my Kindle for years, so I’m really glad I finally found time to read it.

9. One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The second Taylor Jenkins Reid title to make the list is One True Loves, which I picked up for our May book club theme ‘a number in the title’. This book tells the story of Emma whose husband Jesse is tragically involved in a helicopter accident on their first wedding anniversary. Several years later Emma has managed to piece her life back together and is happily engaged to Sam, when she receives a phone call that changes everything. As with all of Jenkins Reid's novels the characters felt realistic and the story had a mix of heartbreaking and heartwarming moments.

10. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

The Nightingale tells the heartbreaking and inspiring tale of Vianne and Isabelle, two sisters living in France during World War II and has been a hugely popular book within the book blogging community. I was captivated by this novel right from the start and thought it was engaging and well-written. I have been known to say that Historical Fiction isn't a genre that I typically go for and whilst this has been true in the past, I'm beginning to realise that perhaps it should be one I reach for more often.

Other books I’ve really enjoyed in 2020:
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Saturday, 16 May 2020

Bookish Links #56


1. Classics can be tricky, but there's one out there for everyone! In this post Holly shares six that she enjoyed.

2. How amazing are these book shelf inserts? If you're looking for a craft project to tackle this month perhaps these will inspire you.

3. Over at This Northern Gal, Kelly reviewed The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern.

4. Obviously, we hope that you're joining in with our BB book club, but here are 6 more to try out too.

5. Looking for advice on how get your book published? This post is for you.

6. Whilst we can't go on any real holidays right now, this post has some reading recommendations to take you on a literary vacation instead!

7. Sophie shared a review of creative title Find Your Artistic Voice.

8. If you're watching Normal People, you'll enjoy this interview post over on the Waterstones blog.

9. This post features 4 short but highly recommended audiobooks, all under 4 hours.

10. Our last link this month is to our very own archives! Anjali has been very busy tidying up all of our post labels, post images and links to make it easier to find what you're looking for on BB (thank you Anjali!)
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Monday, 4 May 2020

Features | 12 Ideas For Our May Book Club Theme


 Photo by Daily Nouri on Unsplash

There are so many different options for this month's BB book club theme 'with a number in the title' so I thought it might be fun to share a few suggestions. For today's post I scrolled through my Goodreads shelves to find recommended titles with numbers 0 through 11 in them (all of the books listed below I rated between 3 and 5 stars) and I even managed to sneak a few all time favourites in there too! I've also included links to reviews available in the BB archives if you'd like to find out more about any of these titles.

0. Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman

Instead of kicking off this list by starting at 1, I wanted to include a recommendation for 0 too. If you haven't yet read Malorie Blackman's popluar YA dystopian series Noughts and Crosses, now is the perfect time! Not only does the first book in the series fit in with our book club prompt this month, but the BBC adaptation was also released recently so you can read the book and binge the TV show too; win-win!

1. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

I can't quite remember why I picked up a copy of Ready Player One back in 2012, but I do know I'm glad that I did. This Science Fiction title quickly became one of my favourites and is still a book I often recommend to people today. I haven't yet listened to the audiobook version, but I think this story would be amazing in that format too.

2. Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Okay, okay I may be cheating with this one since it's not technically a 2 in the tile, but second definitely contains a number if you imagine it as 2nd, and we encourage you to interpret the book club prompts however you wish! There's just something about Morgan Matson's books that I really enjoy, and you can find out a little bit more about this one in an Author Spotlight post from our archives.

3. Hungry Hearts: 13 Tales of Food Love, edited by Caroline Tung Richmond and Elsie Chapman

I picked up this short story collection last year after being drawn in by the beautiful cover design. In this YA short story collection, all of the tales are connected by the fact that they are set within the same restaurant/cafe area. As with every anthology, there were some stories I enjoyed much more than others, but overall it's a great little collection. Just make sure you have snacks ready because all of the food talk is bound to make you hungry!

4. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

For this pick, I dug way back into my Goodreads archives to 2013. This book was hugely popular upon it's release and I remember lots of bloggers and YouTubers talking about it which is probably what encouraged me to buy a copy. As I said in my review, this book is one for book lovers but also those who love technology and typography. I'm even tempted to put this on my 'to-be-re-read' list!

5. In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

One of my more recent reads was the latest release from Rebecca Serle, which has likely been popping up all over your Instagram feed lately. The book is a contemporary tale which follows Dannie who falls asleep one night as normal, only to wake up and find herself five years in the future. Whilst at first she thinks it must have all just been a strange dream, she quickly realises that this might not be the case.

6. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

There's only one book that comes to mind when I think of those with a 6 in the title and that's Daisy Jones and the Six! This novel is made up of interviews with members of a popular 70's band and is a fictional tale that manages to feel 100% real. I would highly recommend the audiobook version of this one (I plan on listening to it again this month!), although it's a fantastic story in any format.

7. The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Similarly to Daisy Jones, this is another work of fiction with characters that feel very realistic and is such an addictive read. Here we follow Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo who decides it's time to tell the truth about her rise to fame and the many marriages that made newspaper headlines throughout her career. Again, I would highly recommend the audiobook version of this one if you can get hold of it.

8. 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

I haven't yet finished reading this trilogy (I have the editon with all three books in one and it's a lot of pages) but I really enjoyed the first part of the story as it felt very unique. If you haven't yet read any of Murakami's books, 1Q84 could be a good place to start!

9. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

Taking place at a health resort this novel follows nine strangers as they head to what they think is set to be a perfect spa experience, but of course things aren't exactly as they seem. I didn't enjoy this one as much as Big Little Lies as there were a few bits that were a little too over the top for me, but it was still a good read overall and I know a lot of people thoroughly enjoyed it.

10. Ten by Gretchen McNeil

This YA murder mystery style novel is a tale inspired by Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None which sees two best friends travel to an island to attend an exclusive party which quickly turns into a nightmare. With the mystery element and creepy setting, this is a read you're sure to fly through.

11. Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel

My final pick for this list is Station Eleven, another title which was very popular upon it's release back in 2014. Following a selection of characters as they try to navigate a post-apocolyptic world, I remember thinking that this one was such an interesting read. If you like dystopian novels, Station Eleven is the one for you.

If you do join in with our book club this month, don't forget to let us know which book/s you're reading by tagging @bloggersbookshelf or using #bloggersbookshelf on Instagram.
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Saturday, 4 April 2020

Bookish Links #55 - Bumper Edition!


1. Olivia's book The Insecure Girls' Handbook was recently released. In this post she answers questions about the writing process.

2. To keep fans entertained whilst working or schooling at home Neal Shusterman is reading some of his lesser known short stories and sharing them over on YouTube.

3. Anjali compiled a list of books that are all over 500 pages, but definitely worth your time.

4. Kate shared some of her all time favourite books.

5. Over on Instagram, Kelly has started sharing writing prompts to help us all stay creative whilst we're staying home.

6. If writing more is something you're hoping to do, you'll also love this post from Michelle.

7. Anna shared her tips for reading more, as well as some of her favourite titles.

8. Emma added a bookish accent wall to the Ravenclaw bedroom at her Harry Potter themed B&B; here's the how-to!

9. If Thrillers are your thing, check out this list of 5 gripping titles for your TBR.

10. Alternatively, if you want a lighter read Jaime's post has you covered.

11. The Baby-Sitters Club is coming to Netflix! Here's a first look at the poster for the series.

12. It's not too late to join in with the 2020 Magical Readathon. Visit the website to find out more about how to get your O.W.L.S.

13. Love reading about food? Megan has an amazing list of titles to add to your TBR.

14. If you're a book blogger, you may find Holly's post about Netgalley to be a very relatable read.

15. Our final link is to Kelly's review of Fierce Fairytales. How beautiful is that cover?!
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Tuesday, 10 March 2020

Bookish Links #54


1. How gorgeous are these new holographic Harry Potter inspired stickers over on Sophie's shop?

2. Have you tried out the Book Of The Month subscription? Jamie shared her thoughts in this recent post.

3. Taylor Jenkins Reid talks Daisy Jones and the Six, and how she got into writing fiction in this podcast episode.

4. We love this colourful bookish print by Meenal Patel!

5. Haven't read The Secret History yet? Here are 10 reasons why you should add it to your 2020 TBR.

6. Amy's list of books she loved as a child brings back lots of memories!

7. Whilst we're talking children's books, Elsie also has an amazing list of titles her family loves.

8. Have you caught the Noughts and Crosses adaptation yet? All six episodes are available over on iPlayer now.

9. How amazing is this bookish wall Emma created for her Harry Potter inspired B&B?

10. Anjali shared a recent book haul, have you read any of these titles?
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Friday, 31 January 2020

Features | Debuts I Loved in 2019

There's nothing better than finding a new author you love but with my towering TBR I'm more often than not choosing my current read from the backlist, so it's rare that I get around to reading an author's debut novel in the year that it's actually released. To be honest, it's rare that I get around to reading my favourite authors' fifth or sixth novel in the year that it's released. But last year I did actually manage to read a few novels by brand new authors when they actually came out, so here are my top five debut novels of last year that you should read immediately if you haven't already.


No Big Deal by Bethany Rutter

I reviewed No Big Deal for Blogger's Bookshelf when I read it last year but let me use this opportunity to remind you just how much I enjoyed it. No Big Deal is a fun novel full of heart, with a fat girl at the centre of the story who knows she doesn't need to change in order to be happy. A UKYA classic in the making but with a message even us adults need to hear once in awhile too.


Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Okay, chances are you've either already read Red, White & Royal Blue or you're completely sick of everyone talking about it. I was starting to sway into the latter camp when I finally picked it up last year but immediately realised that McQuiston's enemy-to-lovers romcom about the son of the President of the United States and an English prince falling in love is absolutely worth the hype.


A Gift in December by Jenny Gladwell

A Gift in December is the story of a heartbroken investigative journalist whose editor sends her to find a story in the presumably tame annual presenting of a Christmas tree from Norway to the UK, and find a story she does, just not the one anyone was expecting. This is the perfect festive read, full of mystery, romance, and lots of Christmas cheer, but certainly good enough to be read all year round.


The Furies by Katie Lowe

Another one I reviewed last year, The Furies is a dark, witchy tale that I'm still thinking about all these months later. When Violet starts at a new school, desperate to leave her tragic past behind, she joins a secret society designed to encourage girls in academic pursuits, but the girls themselves have other ides, and it isn't long before Violet's desire to fit in takes her down a terrifying path.


Enchantée by Gita Trelease

And finally, the very first book I read and reviewed last year, that I then spent pretty much the entire of 2019 wanting to re-read. Enchantée is the story of a girl who wants only to use her magic to make some money to support her sister, but who ends up instead caught up in the intrigue of the palace of Versailles, the life of a young man with a hot air balloon, and the French revolution.

I highly recommend all of these books and I'll be keeping my eyes out for the future novels of each and every one of these authors!
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Sunday, 12 January 2020

Bookish Links #52


1. Is one of your favourite books becoming a movie this year? Check out Jamie's post to find out.

2. We loved following Michelle's bookish content in 2019 and look forward to hearing about her 2020 reads!

3. Did you catch this list of recommendations from Barack Obama?

4. This quick quiz from Epic Reads will reveal which celebrity you would share a bookshelf with.

5. A list of amazing audiobooks to add to your 2020 TBRs!

6. Kelly reviewed 'Some Kids I Taught & What They Taught Me' over on her personal blog.

7. A bunch of beautiful books.

8. Amy shared her top picks from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine book club.

9. If you're looking to add to your enamel pin collection in 2020 you'll love this post.

10. Books and food; what's not to love?
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Wednesday, 4 December 2019

Bookish Links #51


1. Here's a list of upcoming YA adaptations. Which one are you most excited for?

2. Michelle has some amazing bookish gift ideas!

3. Speaking of bookish gifts, we love this embroidered patch.

4. If finding a new book club to follow is on your 2020 to-do list, this one's for you. Of course, we'd love for you to join our BB book club too!

5. This list is one to bookmark for planning your 2020 book blog content.

6. We're obviously big fans of Rants and Reviews but you can never have too many bookish podcasts on your feed - this list features loads of titles to try.

7. Get into the festive spirit with this choose your own adventure novel.

8. These personalised bookends will look chic on any bookcase.

9. Looking for something different for your next read? This list features titles with unusual narrative structures.

10. Sophie shared some of her favourite reads from the past few months.

11. In this post from the BB archives, Anastasia recommended a title that's perfect for this time of year.

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Wednesday, 27 November 2019

Features | 6 Audiobook Recommendations

Photo by Icons8 Team on Unsplash

2019 has been the year that I've really embraced audiobooks thanks to Borrow Box; at the time of writing this post I've listened to no less than 21 titles since I first got the app back in March! With that in mind I thought it might be fun to share a few of my favourites...


1. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Read by Alex Reid, Ari Fliakos, Arthur Bishop, Benjamin Bratt, Brendan Wayne, Fred Berman, Henry Leyva, Holter Graham, January LaVoy, Jennifer Beals, Jonathan Davis, Judy Greer, Julia Whelan, Nancy Wu, Oliver Wyman, P.J. Ochlan, Pablo Schreiber, Peter Larkin, Robert Petkoff, Robinne Lee and Sara Arrington

Kicking off the list is one of my favourite reads of the year, which I enjoyed in both ebook and audiobooks formats back in August. As the story is told entirely through interviews, the audiobook was the perfect format to allow the characters to come to life. If you love interview style podcasts you'll love this one.


2. They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera

Read by Bahni Turpin, Michael Crouch and Robbie Daymond 

A more recent listen, and another book looking very likely to make it onto my top 5 list for 2019, is this YA title from Adam Silvera which follows two teens on their End Day. Listening to the story rather than reading it seemed to make the characters feel really realistic and made the ending even more heartbreaking.


3. Genesis by Bernard Beckett

Read by Becky Wright 

I first read Genesis back in 2014 and really enjoyed it, so when I noticed my library had the audiobook version I thought it would be the perfect way to re-read the book. At just short of four hours I got through my re-read over the course of one day and loved revisiting the story.


4. Bridget Jones Diary by Helen Fielding

Read by Imogen Church 

As mentioned in this post I shared a few months back, I thought Imogen Church did a great job bringing the character of Bridget to life through this audiobook. Similarly to the interview format in Daisy Jones, I think the diary format worked really well as an audiobook and would definitely recommend this one if you're a fan of the Bridget Jones movie adaptations.


5. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Read by Stephen Fry 

How could I share this list and not include Harry Potter? This one was my Netflix replacement back in October whilst on holiday in an internet-free cottage and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm now in the library queue for books 2-4 and can't wait to continue with the series in this format.


6. The Rest Of The Story by Sarah Dessen

Read by Rebecca Soler

My final recommendation is The Rest Of The Story, a YA Contemporary set by a lake. It may be cold here in the UK right now but I think this one would be perfect for your summer 2020 TBR.
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Wednesday, 24 July 2019

Features | My Favourite Reads Of The Year So Far


Whilst I'd been hoping to squeeze in a mid-year update I was still a little busy in June, but hopefully it's not too late to check in and share some of my favourite reads of the year so far. Instead of simply listing my top 5 reads, I'm switching things up a little and have come up with a selection of categories, sharing my top pick for each one.

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid


No surprises here, right? Thanks to The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six, everyone has been talking about Taylor Jenkins Reid. Evelyn Hugo is the only book I've given a five-star rating to this year after I read the whole thing in one weekend; I just couldn't put it down. I can't wait to find out if Daisy Jones will be another five-star read for me too.

I also recently read Maybe In Another Life, one of Taylor Jenkins Reid's earlier releases, which tells the story of Hannah, who moves home to California and goes on a night out with some friends. At the party Hannah bumps into her ex boyfriend and has to choose whether to head home with her friends or stay out with Ethan. From then on the chapters alternate between the two timelines, exploring how this one decision could change her whole life, with a few interesting turns along the way. It may not be as well-loved as the author's most recent releases but I think it's definitely one to add to your TBR.

Series: Truly Devious (Maureen Johnson)


I first heard about Truly Devious from Ria last year, when she raved about the first book in the series. Set in a famous private school, this YA series follows true-crime obsessive Stevie who takes it upon herself to try and solve the mystery of what happened to the wife and daughter of the school's founder and the identity of 'Truly Devious'. I flew through the first two titles in the series (The Vanishing Stair was the reason I signed up to use the digital services at my local library!) and I'm really looking forward to finding out what will happen in the third instalment The Hand On The Wall, which is due out in January.

Cover: The Last (Hanna Jameson)


Whilst bright red isn't my favourite colour, I love the simple and striking design of The Last's cover. We're always told we're not supposed to judge books by them, but it's definitely one of the things that first drew me to this book.

Non-Fiction: Becoming (Michelle Obama)


My top non-fiction pick of the year so far has to be Becoming, and I'm sure it would make many other reader's lists too. I had wanted to listen to the audiobook version, read by the author herself, however it's reserved at my library all the way through until early 2020, so I opted for the ebook instead. Going into the book I didn't know much about Michelle Obama's background or life before becoming the FLOTUS and I found this section to be equally as fascinating as her stories from her time in the White House.

Sequel: Us Against You (Fredrik Backman)


Beartown was one of my favourite reads of 2018 so it's no surprise that I loved Us Against You almost as much. The series deals with some difficult topics but both the town and residents Backman has created feel very realistic, leaving readers wanting to know more about their stories.

Audiobook: Bridget Jones's Diary (Helen Fielding)


This year, thanks to Borrow Box, I've been making a real effort to make audiobooks part of my reading routine. Podcasts have always been a feature on my bus journey to work and lunch break walks, but it's been nice to switch things up with audiobooks too. Whilst I'm now pretty sure that Sci-Fi audiobooks aren't for me, I've had more success with this format for titles within the Women's Fiction and YA genres. In particular, I recently enjoyed listening to Bridget Jones's Diary read by Imogen Church as I felt like she really captured the personality of Bridget and the diary format worked well for me. Although I was familiar with the character and story through the film adaptation, I hadn't actually ever read the book before. Whilst there were parts I wasn't a huge fan of (including Bridget's constant calorie counting) I'd really recommend this story as an audiobook - I'm currently listening to the sequel!

Re-Read: The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)


Another way I'm keen to use audiobooks is for re-reading, and that's how I found myself listening to The Hunger Games earlier this month. With the announcement of a fourth book set within this world and Netflix UK adding all four films back into their catalogue, I decided it was about time I revisited the book I credit with getting me back into reading seven years ago - there would be no BB without it! I had originally planned to listen to the special edition, narrated by Orphan Black actress Tatiana Maslany, but there was a fairly long queue for this through my library so I picked up the original version read by Carolyn McCormick instead. I also have Catching Fire on hold but sadly it's not available until October so I have a bit of a wait before I can revisit the series again.

Which books would make your list?
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Friday, 24 May 2019

Features | 3 Books to Fill the Game of Thrones Shaped Hole in Your Heart


Are you already missing Game of Thrones as much as I am? Have you, unlike me, already read all the Song of Ice and Fire books currently available, and now you're just looking for something to fill the big dragon shaped void in your week? If so, you've come to the right place. Here are three suggestions for novels to give you your fix of magical creatures and fighting for the throne, at least until George finishes those last few books.


Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

Three Dark Crowns is the story of three triplet sisters, all equal heirs to the crown and all in possession of a different type of magic, but only one sister can be queen and the only way to win is to be the last one still alive. You can read Anjali's full review of this book here.


The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

The Priory of the Orange Tree is an epic fantasy tome, which tells the story of four narrators in a world of magic and courtly politics, where dragons may be revered or feared but are most definitely real, a queen must conceive a daughter to protect her realm, and a great threat looms over all.


Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

Rebel of the Sands is the story of a young woman raised in a desert town where real life is all too real and mythical beasts and magical beings roam at the outskirts of normality. When she finally manages to escape her back-country town, it isn't just freedom waiting for her, but a rebellion.
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Thursday, 9 May 2019

Features | 5 Books on the Top of My Wish List


If you don't already know I've put myself on a book buying ban for 2019 and boy has it actually been way easier than I thought. I haven't been perfect, I may have bought 4 kindle books for a total of $22 this entire year so far. The problem I'm finding though is I'm mostly ignoring what books are coming out/have come out so today I've scrolled through Book Depository and my Goodreads wishlist to come up with 5 books that I really want to buy but are avoiding and will probably borrow from the library once it's back open again. (Our city library is currently indefinitely closed due to earthquake damage cry). Some of these totally haven't come out recently oops!


Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak (Out Oct 2018)

Love The Book Thief so totally want to try Markus' new book!

The breathtaking story of five brothers who bring each other up in a world run by their own rules. As the Dunbar boys love and fight and learn to reckon with the adult world, they discover the moving secret behind their father’s disappearance. At the center of the Dunbar family is Clay, a boy who will build a bridge—for his family, for his past, for greatness, for his sins, for a miracle. The question is, how far is Clay willing to go? And how much can he overcome?

Things Are What You Make Of Them by Adam J. Kurtz (out 2017 oops)

Adam has some of the best advice for creatives so can't wait to get stuck into this.

From the creative mind and heart of Adam J. Kurtz comes this quirky, upbeat rallying cry for creators of all stripes. Expanding on a series of popular guides he's created for Design*Sponge, this handwritten and heartfelt little book shares wisdom and empathy from one working artist to others. The advice is organized by topic, including: (How to) Get Over Comparing Yourself to Other Creatives, Seeking & Accepting Help from Others, How to Get Over Common Creative Fears (Maybe), How to Be Happy (or Just Happier). As wry and cheeky as it is empathic and empowering, this deceptively simple, vibrantly full-color book will be a touchstone for writers, illustrators, designers, and anyone else who wants to be more creative--even when it would be easier to give up act normal. 

Unconventional by Maggie Harcourt (Out 2017 again oops)

I swear this was to do with a comic con (hence unCONventional) but according to the blurb it doesn't seem like it, I guess I'll find out!

Lexi Angelo has grown up helping her dad with his events business. She likes to stay behind the scenes, planning and organizing...until author Aidan Green - messy haired and annoyingly arrogant - arrives unannounced at the first event of the year. Then Lexi's life is thrown into disarray. In a flurry of late-night conversations, mixed messages and butterflies, Lexi discovers that some things can't be planned. Things like falling in love...

The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman (Out 2017 I give up)

Can't deny another historical fiction novel, and this one includes a zoo!?

When Germany invaded Poland, Stuka bombers devastated Warsaw—and the city's zoo along with it. With most of their animals dead, zookeepers Jan and Antonina Zabinski began smuggling Jews into empty cages. Another dozen "guests" hid inside the Zabinskis' villa, emerging after dark for dinner, socializing, and, during rare moments of calm, piano concerts. Jan, active in the Polish resistance, kept ammunition buried in the elephant enclosure and stashed explosives in the animal hospital. Meanwhile, Antonina kept her unusual household afloat, caring for both its human and its animal inhabitants—otters, a badger, hyena pups, lynxes. With her exuberant prose and exquisite sensitivity to the natural world, Diane Ackerman engages us viscerally in the lives of the zoo animals, their keepers, and their hidden visitors. She shows us how Antonina refused to give in to the penetrating fear of discovery, keeping alive an atmosphere of play and innocence even as Europe crumbled around her.

Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell (out August 2019 woo)

A comic by Rainbow Rowell what more needs to be said?

Deja and Josiah are seasonal best friends. Every autumn, all through high school, they’ve worked together at the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world. (Not many people know that the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world is in Omaha, Nebraska, but it definitely is.) They say good-bye every Halloween, and they’re reunited every September 1. But this Halloween is different—Josiah and Deja are finally seniors, and this is their last season at the pumpkin patch. Their last shift together. Their last good-bye. Josiah’s ready to spend the whole night feeling melancholy about it. Deja isn’t ready to let him. She’s got a plan: What if—instead of moping and the usual slinging lima beans down at the Succotash Hut—they went out with a bang? They could see all the sights! Taste all the snacks! And Josiah could finally talk to that cute girl he’s been mooning over for three years . . . What if their last shift was an adventure?

If you have any recommendations of new books let me know, not that I can buy them but I sure can borrow them from the library!

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Friday, 22 March 2019

Features | 10 YA Novels I'm Looking Forward To in 2019


I realise we're halfway through March already (already?!) but I keep seeing books on Goodreads and blogger's early ARC reviews of novels that are coming out this year. I have to say, I am definitely looking forward to what this year will bring to my bookshelves.

With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to pile a list of some of the Young Adult books that I'm really looking forward to, with a few honourable mentions of books that have already hit the shelves.

Features | 10 YA Novels I'm Looking Forward To in 2019


Once & Future, by Amy Rose Capetta and  Cori McCarthy (March)

This is just about to be released, and it sounds super neat. This is a gender-bending retelling of none other than the great King Arthur. It's Sci-Fi too, so it should be a really interesting, hopefully very unique take on an old tale.

Wicked Saints, by Emily A. Duncan (April)

"A girl who can speak to gods must save her people without destroying herself. A prince in danger must decide who to trust. A boy with a monstrous secret waits in the wings. Together, they must assassinate the king and stop the war." I don't think I need to say more.

The Red Scrolls of Magic, by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu (April)

The next Shadowhunter book coming out is the first in The Eldest Curses series, which is focused on Alec and Magnus travelling around Europe, I believe. While I struggled through the latest Shadowhunter book, Queen of Air and Darkness (it was 880 pages long you guys! That's about 400 pages too many!) I am looking forward to this series.

Finale, by Stephanie Garber (May)

I should probably read the second in this series before this one comes out, but I really enjoyed Caraval, the first in this series by Garber.

Romanov, by Nadine Brandes (May)

I'm so so so looking forward to this re-telling of Anastasia and the Romanov family. One of my all-time favourite kids movies is Anastasia and I don't think it gets enough credit at all. I believe it's on Netflix at the moment, so you guys should totally get on that train. It's wonderful.



Stepsister, by Jennifer Donnelly  (May)

Another re-telling to add to the list, this time for Cinderella. But it's a flip on the story we all know so well (perhaps too well?), and told from one of the stepsister's perspectives.

Sorcery of Thorns, by Margaret Rogerson (June)

This one is about magic and libraries. Could a book have any greater potential? It also looks to be a stand-alone, which I can totally get behind (don't get me wrong I love series, but it's also nice to dive into a stand-alone fantasy every now and then).

Pumpkinheads, by Rainbow Rowell (August)

Um, hello. Another Rainbow Rowell book is coming out and this time it's a YA graphic novel! This looks super cute.

Wayward Son, by Rainbow Rowell (September)

The long-anticipated sequel to Carry On, which was never meant to have a sequel, is finally coming! I am so looking forward to this book! Check out my review of Carry On here and Sophie's review here.

Chain of Gold, by Cassandra Clare (November)

Another start of another series in the Shadowhunter world from Clare, The Last Hours series is jumping back in time to sit somewhere between The Infernal Devices series and The Mortal Instruments series. Really looking forward to this one, too!

Honourable mentions

These books have already been released sometime in the past 2.5 months, but I haven't got around to reading them yet. Let me know what you think of them if you've already managed to have a read!

  • King of Scars, by Leigh Bardugo
  • The Gilded Wolves, by Roshani Chokshi
  • Two Can Keep a Secret, by Karen M. McManus
  • A Curse So Dark and Lonely, by Brigid Kemmerer 
  • Four Dead Queens, by Astrid Scholte
  • Evermore, by Sara Holland
  • Enchantée, by Gita Trelease 
  • Circle of Shadows, by Evelyn Skye
  • Crown of Feathers, by Nicki Pau Preto 
  • Ship of Smoke and Steel, by Django Wexler 
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Saturday, 22 December 2018

Features | Popsugar 2018 Reading Challenge Update #5

about a boy nick hornby

Somehow it's been a whole four months since I last shared a Popsugar update. Whilst I got off to a great start with the challenge, crossing off around half of my total completed prompts in the first three months, as the year has progressed I haven't quite managed to keep on track. As you'll see when I share my goals for 2019, I definitely took on a few too many different challenges back in January and as a result I haven't ended up completing all of them, including the ambitious 40 prompts set by Popsugar. Out of the full list I've managed to complete a grand total of 29, which is a couple more than last year's list. Here are a final few to round off this year's challenge...

A Book With Song Lyrics In The Title | About A Boy, Nick Hornby (1998)

Whilst I hadn't originally planned to use About A Boy for this prompt, things fell into place when we decided to revisit BB's first two reviews for our October book club. The film is quite possibly one of my most-watched of all time (at the time of writing this post, it was added it to Netflix about a week ago and I've already re-watched it four times...) and along with it comes the soundtrack! The book's title features in the lyrics of the song Something To Talk About by Badly Drawn Boy.

A Book That Is Also A Stage Play Or Musical | Strangers On A Train, Patricia Highsmith (1950)

I bought a copy of this as a potential book club pick and whilst it turned out to be a bit too long to fit our 'short story' criteria, I decided to use it for this challenge prompt instead. I actually ended up really enjoying the book and giving it 4/5 stars.

A Book By An Author Of A Different Ethnicity Than You | Men Without Women, Haruki Murakami (2014) 

This short story collection was the second Murakami title I picked up this year but sadly I didn't enjoy it as much as the first (The Strange Library). Although there were a few tales that I liked, there were none that have really stuck with me over the past few months. I'm still hoping I'll really enjoy 1Q84 though!

A Book About A Villain Or Antihero | You, Caroline Kepnes (2016)

One of the most interesting things about You is that it's not just about a stalker, but it's actually told from his point of view. I really struggled with how to rate this novel because I had such mixed feelings, but an adaptation is due to hit Netflix next week and I'm pretty interested to see how they will translate the story onto the big screen.

You can catch my previous Popsugar Challenge Update here.
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Wednesday, 28 November 2018

Features | Books I Hope To Read Before The End Of The Year


With so few weeks left of 2018 it feels as though we're all racing to complete all of those reading challenges we set back in January. When I first started drafting this post I had no idea that Sophie had had a similar idea, but I thought it would still be fun to share my own list too! If you missed Sophie's post last week you can find it here.

Us Against You, Fredrik Backman (2017)


One of my favourite reads of this year so far would have to be Beartown, so it's no surprise I've been keen to read the sequel as soon as possible. I was originally planning to pick up a copy next year but when a recent Kindle Daily Deal email dropped into my inbox letting me know that Us Against You was on offer for just 99p, I snapped it up straight away and bumped it to the top of my TBR list!

IQ84, Haruki Murakami (2009)


Whilst it's highly unlikely I'll find the time to finish up all of my 2018 'vow to read list', I really want to make an effort to finally dive into 1Q84. If I'm completely honest I think I've been avoiding the book all year thanks to it's daunting 1300+ pagecount! Technically this edition is three books in one, so I'm hoping to at least read a good chunk of it by the end of the year.

The Blinds, Adam Sternbergh (2017)


This one makes the list as it has an incredibly intriguing synopsis, and just happens to be my latest library loan! From what I've heard, The Blinds is set to be quite a different read for me and I can't wait to find out more.

Savage Stone Age, Gorgeous Georgians & Incredible Incas, Terry Deary (1998-2000)


As you may have seen over on Goodreads, I've recently started re-reading some of the Horrible Histories books. These three are new additions to my collection, and a few of those in the series that I haven't read before. They're nice and short (but full of facts...) so I'm hoping to squeeze all three into my reading schedule before we jump into 2019!

Which books will you be reading in December?

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