3 Recent Reads

Reading is something that I have really been trying to get into recently. I always view reading a book as something far superior to scrolling on my phone – it doesn’t feel like wasted time. For some reason though I have always found the scrolling way more tempting, so I’m really trying to turn that habit around. I even wrote a whole article about this before, as creating a reading habit is something I have always wanted to do – in my Basic Girls Guide to: Getting into Reading. Here are a few of the books that have really helped distract me from my phoneI have been reading recently:

One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus: You might have already read this one as it’s been pretty popular for a few years and I think it was recently picked for Zoe Sugg’s book club. It’s a YA thriller, mystery style book set in an American High School – all fairly typical – with a ‘Breakfast Club’ style comparison. I really liked the way the perspective was constantly changing, although it was a bit confusing at the beginning. It gave you the chance to see things from each character’s view and have the ability to see how the incident impacted them all individually. I did find this a real page-turner and if you like that very specific and popular YA genre then I’m sure you’ll enjoy this!

Our Stop by Laura Jane Williams: If you like Paige Toon, ‘The Flatshare’ or most of Giovanna’s Fletcher’s books then I think you will really enjoy this one! It has that classic romance, chick lit style to it but there is also some difficult themes in there too. It’s a book that really has some heart and that is one of the best qualities that a book can have. These are the perfect books for escapism and although sometimes it was a bit predictable, on the whole this was a really great read to transport you to happier and more romantic times.

A Good Girls Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson: I really liked the style of this book as it follows a teenagers EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) as she investigates the suspected-murder of local girl Andie Bell. There are lots of twists and turns within the book and the ‘scrapbook’ style made it a real page-turner. One of the things that I found difficult was that it was set in the UK, when the whole thing just felt really American. I don’t know exactly why this is, but it didn’t feel like it fitted within a usual British secondary school or society at all. There was something that didn’t click with the plot, characters and location which made it a bit hard to believe and disjointed. Overall, if a YA thriller is your thing then I think you will find this story really engaging and the unique writing style will make you want to find out the truth, just as much as the narrator does.

Take care,

Amy

3 Recent Reads

I am STILL loving reading. This has been going on for nearly 2 months now and I am SO shocked. I never keep things up this long, but I’m hoping its really become a proper habit now. I only shared my last 3 Recent Reads a few weeks ago, but I already have more books that I wanted to share with you. Hopefully these will become a monthly, or more regular, thing on here and I know I need a better name for them. For now, these are 3 books that I have recently been reading- there is quite a mix this time!

‘There’s Someone Inside Your House’ by Stephanie Perkins: This is a bit of a different kind of read for me. Typically, I am very YA Romance. Stuck in that boyband ‘phase’ from being 15. This is very much not that. This is still a YA, so there are elements of the whole ‘lost teenager’ feeling and falling in love with a ‘mysterious’ boy, but it goes beyond these themes into slasher and thriller. Slasher and horror is very NOT ME, but this book had me COMPLETELY gripped. It was scary too and actually I had proper dreams about it! It was not like anything I had ever read before, but I would actually read something like this again. It proves that reading something outside your comfort zone can be a good thing.

‘Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine’, by Gail Honeyman: This book has been sat on my bookshelf since last year and now I’ve finished it I can’t believe that I left it SO long! I think the thickness overwhelmed me a little, but it was very manageable and I found a few chapters before bed each night and I was well away. This is very unlike my normal book choice, it is not YA and contends much more with real life. It has been a very popular book and I thought it would not live up to the hype, but it actually was very gripping and dealt with difficult themes well. Eleanor is a character that I felt like I grew to love and in a worrying way, I could see parts of myself in her. It isn’t boring, which is what I had thought it might be, it deals with seemingly ‘mundane’ life in an exciting way.

‘Glass Sword’ by Victoria Aveyard: I’m still reading this one, but it is the second part of a series called ‘The Red Queen’. I read the first book AGES ago, I really enjoyed it and then I bought the next two but never got round to reading them. I’m trying to read the books that I already have around before buying new books. This series is for those who enjoy a fantasy, dystopian vibe like ‘Divergent’ or ‘Maze Runner’- although this is nowhere near as good as ‘The Hunger Games’ which remain one of my all time favourites. This series is a little confusing, but once you get the hang of who is who you’ll be alright. It’s very much like ‘who can you trust?’ kind of thing, but I’m looking forward to seeing how it all ends!

Amy

3 Recent Reads

I recently posted my Basic Girls Guide to: Getting into Reading which is something that I have been following myself, in order to make reading a regular habit. I have always enjoyed reading, but in recent years it has taken a back seat especially with my university degree and the rise of Netflix… making it difficult to stop binge-watching and pick up a book. I’ve found myself succeeding with it for about a month now, maybe a little longer and have managed to complete 3 books within that time. I thought I would share those books now, incase you’re looking for some recommendations! These are not necessarily new books and a couple featured in my 4 Autumn Reads but I just never ACTUALLY read them once I bought them. So I thought it would be a good idea to re-visit them and share my thoughts now that I’ve actually read them… enjoy!

‘It Only Happens in the Movies’ by Holly Bourne: This was the first book that really got me back into reading and I really enjoyed it! It’s a little bit of a slow-burner, but I felt that it was a good one to read a couple of chapters of before bed. This will definitely be a good one if you’re looking for a summer book to read by the pool! It’s essentially a girl meets boy YA Romance but he’s a bad boy and she has a very challenging home life. The characters are alright, Harry was a little unlikable, which is not usually how you feel towards the good looking lead. I’m not going to pretend like it was the best book ever AND it is very long, but it was an enjoyable read and I would look at Holly Bourne’s work in the future.

‘Under Rose-Tinted Skies’ by Louise Gornall: Now this is very, very much like Nicola Yoon’s ‘Everything, Everything’ which is one of my favourite books. In this one the girl suffers from agoraphobia, instead of the physical illness that Yoon’s character ‘has’ (spoiler!). I did enjoy this book quite a lot and I really loved the way that the author wrote about mental illness, she made it very immersive as a reader. It felt like we were really in her head and it helped develop a bond with the character. This book went by really quickly and I definitely enjoyed it, would recommend to a friend.

‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ by Heather Morris: Alright, this is very different from the other two books I have read recently. This is definitely not a YA chick-lit, but it does have a key romance element to it. This is a wonderfully written account of Lale and Gita, two characters who found love whilst working in Auschwitz. It’s based off actual, real life events and is such a poignant story. I really, really recommend this book even if it sounds like it will be too ‘heavy’, its the characters that make this story and their enduring love that makes this one that will stay with me long after reading it. I think that learning more about the Holocaust through stories like this allow it to feel very current and raw, because you’re learning through a person rather than a textbook. This is a book that I really feel we should all read.

Let me know any book recommendations below!

Amy

5 Books on my TBR List

I’m doing my best to get into reading again and have complied quite the To Be Read List… but I thought I wouldn’t completely bore you so I’m just going to share 5 today! If you’ve not read any of my posts before I’m into YA and general chick-lit. Every now and then I like to delve into a fantasy or slightly unique series for me, something along the lines of The Hunger Games. I do love reading once I’m into a good book, but when I get stuck on a slow one then I tend to twindle off for a few months. Especially, when academic reading should really be the priority at the moment I struggle to justify reading for pleasure- which is a bad habit!

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood: Now this is a pretty out-there book on my TBR but I really think it will good to push my reading boundaries. There was a lot of hype surrounding this when it got made into a TV series, so I’m looking forward to seeing if it’s all worth it. It is actually quite an exclaimed book, I think some people study it at school, so this would definitely be a different type of book for me. The story sounds a weird, but there is something enticing about this one.

The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord: This was part of Zoella’s book club last year, so I’m a little late to the party! I did buy it last Summer but still haven’t got round to reading it. I think it is more of a classic romantic YA, which is what I’m typically into. It raises some important issues too and should be a simple read.

There’s Someone Inside your House by Stephanie Perkins: When scouring through Amazon’s recommendations I came across this YA book, which looks really interesting! I really enjoy YA mystery, thriller kind of books with a shock twist, like E. Lockhart’s books. The story follows a girl who moves to a new school where the students are being killed off one by one!

Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy: This book is VERY different from the other books and focuses on a chubby teenager. I think it raises lots of current issues, it’s quite a modern text and think it could be quite a poignant read. I think it’s lovely that this kind of book has been written because it doesn’t fit the stereotypical YA and will help lots of readers with body-image, friendship and other challenges they face.

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake: This looks kind of Hunger Games-esque or similar to ‘The Red Queen’ series. Basically, there are three sisters fighting for the throne… I’m sure they’ll be more to it that that though! If this lives up to its potential then it could be really gripping- so I really want to give it a read.

Hopefully you’ve enjoyed seeing some of the books I’ll be giving a read over the next couple of months. If you want to see my thoughts on these books then definitely stick around! If you want some more inspiration for some reading then check out my YA Summer Reading Recommendations or my Kindle Paperwhite: Is it worth it?, I’ll also be keeping you updated with any favourite books in my monthly favourites.

What book would you suggest gets added to my TBR list?

Amy

Christmas Book Haul

Happy December!

For the final installation of my Christmas Haul week we’ve got BOOKS! Some of these books I bought last Christmas but I haven’t got round to reading them so I’m guessing it’s okay to include them! They’re romantic, Chick-lit books mainly obviously with a big Christmas influence… they sound dreamy?! I love reading over Christmas by the tree with a cup of tea! These will make a lovely gift too and if you want to buy some non-seasonal books then you can look here YA Summer Reading Recommendations. So here are a selection of Christmas books that I’ve bought:

The Twelve Days of Dash and Lily by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan: I bought this last year when it was in Zoella’s book club but haven’t got round to reading it. I also have Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle: This is a collection of short festive stories, I use to love John Green’s books so I’m looking forward to giving this a read. These two are the perfect YA Christmas gifts for any teenage bookworms in your life!

My Christmas book collection!

The Cosy Chocolate Shop by Caroline Roberts: I bought this a couple of weeks ago for the title alone. Chocolate and Christmas are two of my FAVOURITE things. I can’t wait to start reading this… with some chocolate of course. Another book I’ve picked up is How to Stuff Up Christmas by Rosie Blake which is more of a comedy chick-lit festive book! It follows Eve who has broken up from her fiancé and is trying to move on. It is set in England and looks so lovely, a very cosy read!

I really hope you’ve enjoyed reading this haul/ general Christmas book recommendations post! I’m actually reading The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Lisa Dickenson and I’m really enjoying that so I would recommend that one too! So I hope this has encouraged you to take some time out over this busy period and read a festive book.

Happy reading,

Amy

 

Kindle Paperwhite: Is it worth it?

Happy Book Lovers day,

I thought it would be fitting for me to talk about my new Kindle Paperwhite, which I have had for about a month now. I was majorly torn about whether to purchase one because I love an actual book, like a physical sniff the pages book. SO I thought this little review/ chat would help anyone looking into buying a Kindle or who just love books and were looking for a couple of recommendations too! I’ve specifically tailored this post towards the Kindle Paperwhite because that’s the one I have but some of these points can be applied to other e-readers.

Advantages of a Kindle Paperwhite

• It makes it really easy to read at night because it comes with a back light which has made reading in bed 100x easier! The brightness is always adjustable and has a wide range of options, so there really is nowhere that you can’t read it.
• The best thing about the Kindle is that it can store LOADS of books but is SO tiny! I do have a case on mine which makes it slightly bulkier but generally it is pretty small and cute. It fits into all my bags and allows me to carry loads of books which would be almost impossible if I bought them all as physical paperbacks.
• A real benefit of having a Kindle, for me, has been that it encourages me to read A LOT more. This is down to a few reasons like the portability of it, the cheapness of the books and the fact that you can’t see how thick the book is! There is also the minutes left in each chapter and the book in the bottom corner (which you can turn off!) so it makes books go really quick!
• I love the recommendation tool on the Kindle too and without it I wouldn’t have read some of the books that I have! It takes books you’ve read and suggests a large range of similar books and there are so many different tools to help you find a new book.

Disadvantages of a Kindle 

• The initial cost is probably it’s biggest disadvantage and one that is completely avoidable if you stick with books. The usual cost is £109.99 but I bought it on Amazon Prime Day for £79.99 which was not as bank breaking. It’s still a lot of money BUT the books are cheaper than buying them physically and the prices are generally always being reduced with many titles being just 99p.
• The fact that they’re not physical books… which I won’t lie does get me sometimes. Just tapping to change the page is a bit weird and the fact that the covers aren’t in colour is a bit strange too but these little things I just have to try and look past. I do miss bookmarks as well! BUT, I am still going to buy some literal books.

Top 3 books I’ve read on my Kindle so far

• The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr: I’ve already spoken about this in my July Favourites 2017 so I won’t go on BUT I really think is worth the hype! It’s such an interesting book that tackles topics that I’ve not really read about before. It is fast paced and has a nice balance between thrills, romance and character interaction.
• Lying about Last Summer by Sue Wallman: This is a bit more of a thriller YA that follows a girl on summer camp for bereaved teens. It is definitely not as sweet as the other two books but I really enjoyed it- if you enjoyed ‘We Were Liars’ by E. Lockhart I’m pretty sure you will LOVE this.
• 99 Days by Katie Cotugno: This is probably the most light-hearted out of these three books and is much more of a YA romance. The main character cheated on her boyfriend with his brother and now she has to deal with all the aftermath because her mum wrote a book about it all! It is definitely a chilled summer read that will be a good one for on holiday.

I hope that this post has been helpful or at least interesting about the Kindle and books in general! It’s completely up to you and your reading habits, but just remember having a Kindle doesn’t mean I’m never buying a book again. If you’re unsure like I was then I would suggest waiting until Amazon has some sales, like on Black Friday, to allow you to feel less guilty if the price is holding you back. So I would definitely say don’t rule it out, even though I did for a few years, now it has really helped me get back into reading.

If you have any YA or Chick-Lit suggestions please leave them below, I’m always looking for books to add to my TBR list!

Happy reading,

Amy💖

YA Summer Reading Recommendations

Hello,

In my Shake up your Summer post I talked about reading as a hobby that you could consider taking up during the sunnier months. So following on from that I wanted to share a few of the books I enjoyed last Summer, that you should consider trying this year! I’m mainly into YA/ Chick-lit books, so if you’re into a similar genre then you are definitely going to find some gems in here. I’m kind of into fantasy too… well Hunger Games haha so sometimes I look for similar series but haven’t found anything to beat those books yet. Hopefully one of these 3 tickle your fancy:

• The Sun is Also a Star, Nicola Yoon: I read this REALLY quickly last Autumn, which is unlike me because I can be pretty slow and easily side-tracked, so it MUST be good! The story follows Natasha and Daniel’s story from a variety of perspectives, but it is clear to follow and is such an innovative way of story-telling. ‘Everything Everything’ is one of my favourite books, Nicola’s debut novel, and I would DEFINITELY recommend giving both a go if you haven’t already. \
• The Red Queen Series, Victoria Aveyard: These books are much more for the fantasy fans, it is very much Hunger Games-esque. There is some magic, romance and I thought the plot was very unpredictable! I’m looking forward to reading more of the series, I think there are 3 out at the moment.
• The Potion Diaries Series, Amy Alward: I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy this book because I thought it might be a little bit young BUT I loved it! It is VERY magical, I would say it is more of a teenage fairytale with love. I’m really looking forward to the third one which is out this summer AND a majorly good thing about these books is the really pretty covers.

I think I’m going to leave it with these 3 different options for now because most of my other suggestions are a bit unoriginal! Basically, most of Zoella’s first book club in summer 2016 are worth a read and Giovanna Fletcher’s books are guaranteed to make you fall in love. Other places to look for books are on goodreads, Amazon or YouTube where you can look for a specific genre and look at books similar to your tastes. I’m looking for some new books for this year now, so let me know any of your recommendations below!

Happy reading,

Amy