Book Review: The Diabolic

I'm so close to my 70th book of 2016, it's crazy and I'm so happy with my progress especially as my reading goal was only 30 books! I've read a range of genres this year from classics and adult fiction to YA, graphic novels, picture books and many more. YA or young adult fiction has become one of my favourite genres as they are usually fun, entertaining, easy and quick to get through and very assessable but they tend to have consistent tropes which I'm not a massive fan of but The Diabolic is something else...

I was very kindly sent *The Diabolic by S. J. Kincaid (£5, hardcover, sale) from the lovely people at Simon and Schuster UK. It's an amazing price for a hardcover so get it while you can! The book is categorised within the young adult and science fiction genres - while I'm used to the YA genre, I haven't read much science fiction at all! The hardcover edition is 416 pages and the cover is so striking.

The book follows Sidonia and her diabolic, Nemesis, as well as her family during a tumultuous time in which radical, scientific thinking is coming back in place of the current religion which is making the powers at be more than a little nervous and trigger happy. A diabolic is an individual who has superhuman like abilities such as hearing and strength and they can be bonded to another individual who they will protect for life. But when politics and obviously a love interest get in the way, who will Nemesis choose and will the world survive the purge, politics and love?

The writing style is very quick and easy to follow so I managed to finish the 416 pages in a couple of days which is one of the reasons I really like reading YA! The writing style makes a slightly complicated world with a variety of characters and politics/factions easier to understand. The book features a lot of science fiction and politics which I haven't read much of before and I loved the political side of the story.

I loved the relationship between Sidonia and Nemesis as well as the relationship between Nemesis and Tyrus (to be honest one of the main reasons I wanted to reach he end was to find out if a certain two characters would get together - I'm SO happy with the ending!). I found all of the characters to be vidid, the world feels familiar but something I haven't read about before and it read like a YA science fiction/romance TV series which I personally loved. There are some ancient Rome vibes as well as some similarities with Red Queen but they are two completely different books but I loved both! As in Red Queen there are a lot of twists and turns, some of which I thought would happen and others I didn't - it was a fantastic rollercoaster and I think if you like YA then you will adore this book! To me it was like a story from ancient roman times of love, friendship and especially death and betrayal but set in space! The only reason it lost one star was because I found it to be a bit angsty towards the end which was a little annoying and other times it was quite brutal but in a way that it was a little over the top, in my opinion. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

Have you read this book? What are your currently reading? 

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Book Review: The Girl With All The Gifts

I have wanted to read this book for a few months, as the movie looks great and I really wanted to read the book before I watched the movie. I was very kindly sent the book to review from Social Book Co which is a book price comparison website which is so useful as books can be quite expensive and we all want a good deal and to find the best price possible! 

This post contains an affiliate link. 

I have *The Girl With All The Gifts (RRP £8.99, paperback) which is published by Obit and it's 460 pages long although this edition has an interview with the author and an excerpt from The First Fifteen Lives Of Harry August which I have already read and loved - I think this must be the same author but with a different pen name which is annoying as I'd love to read more from this author. 

Firstly, I love the cover! It is so simple but colourful, striking and unique - it also doesn't really give away anything about the storyline (also the blurb doesn't give away much either) and it's great that you go into it quite blind. Text on the cover states that it is a thriller and I think it is a little but I'd personally classify it as a dystopian, apocalyptic and an action read, not really a thriller as such. 

"Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite. But they don't laugh. Melanie is a very special girl." From Amazon

This little section may contain a could of minor spoilers so just skip to the final paragraph. The book follows a curious, intelligent and...very unique young girl called Melanie and other very unique children like her.  The soldiers take extra care with her and the others, it follows her life and what happens when the...stuff hits the fan.

I didn't know this book was written by the same author as The First Fifteen Lives Of Harry August (which is one of my favourite books of 2016 so far) and I do see some similarities as both as so quick and easy to read even though they aren't short books. The writing style for The Girl With All The Gifts is a bit more simplistic, to the point and refreshing especially as some of the views/perspectives are of Melanie who is only a child.

I love Melanie's character as well as Miss Justineau, their friendship is just so sweet and caring, unlike all of the other relationships in the book. Then there were some awful characters such as Dr Caldwell and Sargent Parks, although I came to like him in the end. It was interesting to find out about the world in the book, the worldwide disaster and the wide reaching effects  on individuals and society - I haven't read anything exactly like it before. I found the mystery element make it a real page turner and I managed to read the book in just under two days which I think it quite quick especially as it's 460 pages long (not including the interview or extract).

Overall, it was a quick, easy and entertaining read and I loved it much more than I thought I would. It's great to go into it blind, it kept me wanting to read on and on and it is perfect for this time of year. It is a little gory and gruesome at times, which I wasn't fully expecting, and it has strong apocalypse/dystopian themes so if that's not your thing then possibly skip this book but if you like action, adventure and dystopian books with some fighting, survival and more then definitely check it out! My only main problem is that although the ending was quite heart felt and emotional, it was also a little convenient for me and I still had a lot of questions when I finished reading. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

Have you read this book or watched the film? What are you currently reading/watching? 

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The Little Book Of Hygge

Everyone has been going hygge crazy over the past couple of months and it's easy to see why! Hygge kind of translates to coziness but it means so much more than that - it means safety, comfort, happiness and it's a Scandinavian speciality that the rest of the world should adopt.

I was very kindly sent *The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking (£5, hardcover) by Penguin which is not only a really useful and interesting book but it is also one of the most beautiful books on my bookshelves! I love the cover design, illustrations and the gold detailing! The book explains hygge (pronounced hoo-ga? or who-knows!), what it means, how to incorporate it into your lifestyle and the significance in Danish culture.

The chapters range from explanations, beautifully designed diagrams and graphs to recipes, hygge activities, danish culture and so much more. I didn't know it had recipes in it and I'd definitely be interested in a hygge cookbook! I loved learning about the Danish culture especially as I've been to Copenhagen and I'd love to go again - the book gives me serious Scandi withdrawals.

The love the writing style, it's almost as if you were talking to a friend, with candles everywhere, comfort food and board games because that is the hygge way. I am an introvert and I love spending time at home with friends and family, especially during the colder months, so this book and the hygge ideas of home is where the heart is, coziness and good food and company definitely appeals to me.

Overall, I think it is a fantastic all round book full of interesting information about the Danish culture, hygge and recipes; it's perfect for this time of the year when hygge feeling is at it's highest. One fact that I found interesting is that in Denmark they burn SO many candles (although right now I might be able to single handedly compete with Denmark when it comes to candles!) but they usually only burn unscented candles which seems to the opposite in the UK. This beautiful book would be a perfect christmas gift, I cannot recommend it enough! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

Now...can I move to Denmark? 

Have you read this book? Do you love some of the hygge essentials of candles, coziness and comfort food? 

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Book Review: Heap House

The colder autumnal and winter months are perfect for spooky, dark and quirky reads; I've already read quite a few creepy books so far this month and this is one of them although even though it does have creepy elements, it's definitely more quirky, atmospheric and unusual - think Tim Burton.

I was very kindly sent *Heap House by Edward Carey (£7.99) by Hot Key Books which is the first book in the Iremonger trilogy. I adore the cover, it's so unusual and unique - it also looks quite gothic. The Hoy Key Books I have all have a pie chart style symbol on the back depicting the main themes and topics within the book which I think is a fantastic idea! For this book the themes are stated as friendship, gothic, revenge and escape.

The book follows the massive Iremonger family including Clod Iremonger who are all very eccentric. They've created a frankstein's monster of a house all full of the family and distant relatives, the house is pretty much a character of it's own...The majority of the family and plethora of distant relatives who act as servants, never leave the house as it's surrounded by the heaps which are gigantic, mountain like structures of rubbish. New servants are brought in every so often, including a curious girl called Lucy Pennant and she makes an unlikely and adorably cute friendship with Clod.

The Iremonger family are more than a little unusual and one of their main eccentricities are their birth objects; when an Iremonger is born, a member of the family gives them a 'birth object' which can be anything from a bath plug to a fireplace. Poor, sickly (but cute and delightful) Clod can hear birth objects and he knows that something is wrong, not just with the birth objects but the house in general and he endeavours to find out what has caused the disturbance and the odd peace the family have found for themselves in their own unique, topsy turvy world.

I love the writing style, it's incredibly easy and quick to read and I also love the illustrations throughout the book even though some are a little creepy to say the least. You get so many points of view from the family members and servants, each one with an illustration, so it can be a little confusing just because there are SO many characters but it is an unusual, essenctric and easy read that has such a fantastic quirky and victorian atmosphere. There are a few twists and turns all of which are a little predictable and I wasn't massively happy with the ending but I would definitely recommend it - I think it would be an incredible film, if done correctly and if Tim Burton directed it as this is definitely Tim Burtonesque already! I definitely want to carry on with the trilogy! Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

Have you read anything from Edward Carey? What are you currently reading? 

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Book Review: A Study In Scarlet + The Sign of the Four

I am a massive fan of Sherlock Holmes, I love the films and the BBC TV show but I am a bit ashamed to say that I haven't read any of the Sherlock Holmes books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle but thanks to the incredibly lovely people at Pan Macmillan, I now have this divine copy of *A Study in Scarlet & The Sign of the Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (£8.99, hardback).

I have to gush about the cover and book design for a bit, the dust jacket is so pretty but simple and understated and the page edges are gold! Additionally the hardback cover is a gorgeous pale duck egg blue and it's embossed. Oh and the end papers are lovely and autumnal. It's definitely one of the most beautiful books in my collection and I need more!

Anyway, moving onto the actual content of the book! As I said, I've watched all of the seasons of the BBC Sherlock series and the films as well so I'm familiar with the general stories and the characters but I didn't know how much of the tv shows and films was directly taken from the books. This edition contains the first two Sherlock Holmes novels (there are only four full novels as far as I know) and they are both very short with the book as a whole being around 317 pages.

A Study in Scarlet is the first Sherlock Holmes book and it's the book were the best crime fighting duo of Sherlock and Watson meet. As I haven't read anything by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle before, I didn't know if it would be easy to read or if it would be very formal as most classics seem to be; however I was very pleasantly surprised. The writing is formal and of it's time but it is quite easy and relatively quick to read but the best part is the feel of the writing, it makes me feel comfortable in the same way that Terry Pratchett's and J.K. Rowling's books make me feel, if that makes sense!

While reading, I can very clearly see the BBC Sherlock on the pages that I know and love - the portrayal of Sherlock by the BBC is pretty spot on but even though I'm familiar with the characters and story, it is still very enjoyable and there definitely are quite massive differences between the TV show/films and the books. I don't want to say at lot at all about the stories as I thought I knew what would happen but it is different and it's worth reading!

The second story, The Sign of the Four, is not part of the tv series or films as far as I know (maybe I'm misremembering) but I loved it, although there is some instalove in this second story which I am not a fan of! Both stories are obviously filled with Sherlock's unique and endearing, if a little quirky, nature and lots of mystery and crime but also other aspects and themes that aren't prominent in the adaptations such as the British colonies, religion, revenge and hidden treasure which I did find to be equally interesting and a teeny bit slow/dry at times. The second story is filled with much more adventure (it almost has Agatha Christie vibes) than the first story which I loved but I think on the whole, A Study in Scarlet is my favourite of the two.

Overall, I adore the book cover and design - it's so beautiful and I definitely need more! I have another copy from this range from Pan Macmillan, English Fairytales, which I can't wait to start around December. This edition is part of the stunning Macmillan Collector's Library range. I loved both of the stories in this edition, they are unique, interesting, very entertaining, familiar (although there are massive differences between the books and the adaptations) and intriguing. I think I do prefer A Study in Scarlet but they are both fantastic and almost fantastical at times. If you are familiar with the films and TV series and think you know the stories so you don't need to read the books - think again, the books are definitely worth reading! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5!

Have you read any of the Sherlock Holmes books or anything by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle? What are you currently reading? 

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Book Review: Blood Wedding by Pierre Lamaitre

I haven't read anything by this author before but when an opportunity arose via Twitter to review a signed copy of *Blood Wedding by Pierre Lamaitre (£7.99, paperback is available next year but the hardback is available now) I couldn't say no; it;s published by the lovely people at Quercus Books! I don't have many signed books in my collection, I only started getting into reading again this year, but it's nice to have signed copies on my shelves. Thrillers as well as mystery novels are some of my favourite types of books to read so this ticks a lot of boxes for me. I think if you're a fan of thrillers, mysteries or crime novels then you will love this book!

The book follows Sophie, as well as her husband, a unusual stranger and to an extent her friends and father through a series of unexplainable, gruesome and tragic events. Sophie keeps forgetting things she's done, misplacing items and it's starting to worry her and her husband. The book jumps between the past and the present, describing events Sophie has gone through and what she is currently going through. Things are not as they appear, she has done things that are unexplainable and horrific, or that may not be the case...

There are lots of events in this book that are initially unexplainable and unusual as well as gruesome however as events start to unfold and you learn more about Sophie's past, her mother and about the events that she can't explain as well as the disturbed individual stalking her. It's split into three main parts and as the book progressed it did become more interesting and mysterious however I did guess the main twist in the book, it was a little predictable. I like the mystery surrounding the crimes and the past of both the main characters, although it was quite disturbing at times. iThe book overall has such an eerie feel which make it perfect for this time of year as Halloween is almost here (well, in my mind it is!). It's quite a fast paced, action and suspense filled read that left me wanting to know how the novel ends but I did have some problems with it as a whole. I love the writing style, it's very easy to read and I managed to get through the book which is 312 pages long in a couple of days. The book in some places reads like a diary but there are also newspaper articles within the book to as well as psychological/clinical assessments.

Overall I liked the book, I can't say nearly as much as I want to because I will give quite a lot of the plot away but I did find that the ending was unusual and out of character for Sophie, she seems to have changed so much from the beginning of the book and the explanations for what happened with the main characters seemed a bit bleh, if that's makes sense. There are some psychological reasons given for what happened but as someone with a first class BSc psychology degree, I found them to be a little imaginative and nonsensical. I was left with quite a few questions when I finished as some things about the main characters actions didn't make sense and I feel as though it could possibly have been explained better, if that makes sense. The book does contain a lot of crime and murder as well as some psychological aspects, suicide, stalking and depression so if those are triggering topics for you then maybe this isn't the best book for you. However, I think if you like crime, mystery and thriller novels then this will be a great autumn or halloween read! Oh and I have to add that I love the cover, I only realised towards the end that some of the rose petal edges are screaming faces...that kind of sets the tone for the book! Overall rating: ★★★☆☆, 3/5. 

Have you read this book? Have you read anything by Pierre Lamaitre? What are you currently reading - any autumn/halloween recommendations? 

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August Reading Roundup

All Images from Google

August wasn't the best reading month for me, I mean it wasn't awful, but I didn't get through all of the books that I wanted to in August because we went to London and the Harry Potter tour which took up a few days (even though I was going to read on the very long coach journey, I just couldn't as it was too loud and stressful) and I haven't felt 100% this month. Also this post is quite late, oops!

*Ink and Bone by Lisa - available now 

Firstly, I love the cover and I love the premise of this book; it was free as an e-book via Netgalley. The book follows Finley, a misunderstood young woman who has experienced family tragedies and as a result she has an unusual ability which she shares with her grandmother. She has to use her 'gift' to solve the mystery of missing girls. Finely's ability is that she has a kind of psychic ability so she can see/hear ghosts or links to people which is so interesting. The ghost element, the awful mother and the strong grandmother figure as well as the special and misunderstood abilities really reminds me of another book I've read recently - The Witches Kiss. If you've read Ink and Bone and The Witches Kiss then you'll probably see the connections too. It's a mystery/thriller with lots of paranormal and psychological aspects as well as a focus on family and relationships (whether they are loving or destructive). It definitely gave me a Sleepy Hollow vibe in terms of the setting and paranormal elements which I loved. All of the characters, whether good, bad or plain evil were interesting and I love the story on the whole even though some characters and relationships were quite annoying to me. The writing style is quick and easy to read so I will be looking for other books from this author. I did find the switching from locations and in.out of Finley's visions a bit disjointed and confusing. The book was a lot darker than I thought it would be, in terms of the crimes and missing girls so I think it would be a great halloween read. To summarise, it's a dark and gripping but easy to read story of family tragedies, gruesome crimes, paranormal entities and relationships; it's definitely not perfect with a couple of very annoying characters and an air of predictability but well worth checking out. Overall rating: ★★★☆☆, 3.5/5.

*Caribbean Vegan Cookbook by Taymer Mason - available 29th November 

I haven't tried any caribbean cookbooks so I was excited to check this one out and again, it was a free e-book from Netgalley. I have tried a few vegan cookbooks and I love them and this one is no different. I love the food photography, the layout and how colourful the e-book is. I also love the snippets of information about caribbean food culture as it's something I know nothing at all about. I have tried a few recipes in the e-book so far including the chickpea curry which is so yummy and I like the lentil stew too. As with any vegan cookbook, it does include some hard to find or obscure ingredients but not so much so that it makes the recipes unrealistic to make. The only thing I don't like is the font used and I wish there were more photographs but other than those minor points, it's fantastic! Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

*Man, I Hate Cursive by Jim Benton - available 18th October

I have read a few illustrated books and graphic novels so far this year and I have loved reading them, especially in-between longer and more heavy reads; they act almost as a refreshing read or a way to get out of a reading slump. I haven't tried anything from Jim Benton but I love his style of illustrations - the style changes throughout the e-book but I love all of the illustrations. It's a very quick, easy and funny little e-book. The illustrations and stories they convey can be cute, sarcastic, funny, relatable and entertaining. The topics the illustrations cover include: daily life, pets, technology, relationships and more. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

*Crafting With Feminism by Bonnie Burton - available 18th October

I have to be honest and say that the cover and the title of the book instantly drew me in! It is a craft book like no other, I don't have anything else like it with feminist quotes throughout as well as interesting craft projects. There were really useful tips for sewing beginners like me and explanations of various crafting tools, some of which were useful but others were so self explanatory I don't know why were they included. There is a recommended feminist reading list and must watch feminist films list which I will definitely be looking into. There were really fun and interesting craft ideas such as a girl coat of arms banner, which I think I'm going to try and make although I will adapt the design and a cassette business card holder. Then there are more obscure craft ideas such as a high heel planter (which again I might actually attempt because it looks pretty amazing), vagina christmas tree ornaments...and a huggable uterus shaped pillow. Overall, it's the most interesting and unusual craft book I've read but I think it's equally amazing. Overall rating: ★★★☆☆, 3/5.

*The Harrowing by James Aitcheson - Available now

First up, the cover of this book really intrigued me! It looks like a dark historical fiction and to me, it is. The story follows five main characters as well as a host of others and it is set during the time just after the battle of Hastings which like every British school child knows was in 1066. The characters are so vivid as is the setting and the harrowing times it must have been to live through with Norman raids and such uncertainty which I think the author captured really well as well as the atrocities, gore and brutality of the time. The main themes for me were survival, morality and friendship and I haven't read anything quite like this before; it was so interesting to read and I wanted to know if the characters were all going to make it to their destination. The ending for me was bittersweet and I think it had to end the way it did to make it realistic and believable. The book did take me a lot longer to get through than I thought it would at around eight/nine days as there were slower and slightly tedious points throughout but overall it was an thought provoking and interesting read but it was quite repetitive at times. Overall rating: ★★★☆☆, 3/5.

*My Family Would Never Eat Vegan! by Kirsty Turner - available 15th November

I've read quite a few vegan cookbooks but I'm always looking for more as there are so many vegan recipes and options out there and I want my diet to be more vegan than vegetarian - this cookbook is amazing! The food photography and recipes in this book make me SO hungry just flicking through it! Some of the recipes are very simple and I don't think they really needed to be included, such as avocado toast but other recipes are so delicious and don't contain a tonne of hard to find ingredients. I love the explanations at the beginning or various vegan ingredients/tools and how to cook the basics so I think it would be perfect for people who are new to a vegan lifestyle. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

*Grace Not Perfection by Emily Ley - available 11th October 

I love the cover and the photography in this book it's so clear, crisp and fits the book perfectly but I really don't think that a e-book is the best format for it; I think it would be a great coffee table book. There are some sections of the book that aren't of interest or relevant to me such as the pregnancy but those sections were still interesting to flick through. The writing style is that of a friend talking to you or an informal letter, it's seems truthful and unforced. The chapter I liked the most was definitely chapter three, all about planning and organising. It is written by an American author so some of the phrases etc aren't familiar to me and make the book a little less relatable. Overall, it was an interesting e-book to flick through and refer back to but I don't think it was created for my age group on the whole. Overall rating: ★★★☆☆, 3/5.

*How Not To Disappear by Clare Furniss - Available Now

I haven't read anything like it before, it is not the kind of book are usually go for but that is one of the reasons why I wanted to try it! The story follows Hattie, her family and friends as well as a long lost relative, who has a lot of secrets! If you like books involving relationships and family mysteries then definitely pick this one up but be warned that it is not a happy book – it is one of the most melancholy and at times upsetting books I've read recently. The book deals with a lot of important but difficult and potentially triggering topics such as rape, domestic abuse, racism, dysfunctional families, adoption, dementia and more so if any of those topics might be upsetting or triggering to you then maybe this isn't the book for you. I love writing style, it was such an easy and quick read; I loved Gloria, she is such a vivid, interesting and entertaining character – she was my favourite character from the book as well as Hattie! My only problems with the book was a couple of the characters were a bit annoying such as Reuben and Kat as well as the mum at times. Additionally I think the cover/blurb doesn't explain how triggering the book could potentially be although that would take away some of mystery and shock factor I guess. Lastly I think it was a little repetitive in places but that might be the authors way of making the reader feel as people with dementia, and those who care for them, could feel. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

Those are all of the books, illustrated books, cookbooks and craft books I've read during August!

Have you read any of these? What are you currently reading? Will you be picking up any of these books? 

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Book Review: Be Frank With Me

I haven't read anything by this author before or the publisher and it's quite different to the books that I usually read, so I didn't know what to expect! I have *Be Frank With Me by Julia Claribourne Johnson (£12.99, hardcover, Corvus). The book follows Frank, Alice and Mimi as well as a range of other characters. Mimi is a writer and she is trying to write her second book, that's where Alice comes in as an assistant and to look after the wonderful, if eccentric, Frank. I loved Alice's character and her relationship with Frank, they have such a sweet and endearing relationship, even though I think Frank, a sweet nine-year-old, can be quite a handful most of the time. Throughout the book you get to see all of Franks eccentricities and his sweet nature as well as he is more unusual habits; I loved all of the facts Frank laced into conversations throughout the book particularly about film and Hollywood stars which is something I knew nothing about.

Mimi on the other hand is such an annoying character, there are some times when she is so frustrating and rude, dismissive and ungrateful regarding Alice that it made Mimi's positive characteristics seem very minor and almost insignificant. I also wasn't a massive fan of Xander as he and Mimi were two people that Frank needed the most and they weren't really there; I think that contributed to some Franks more unusual and potentially dangerous habits/nature.

It wasn't a very plot driven book, it is more of a character study and a mystery regarding Frank's father, how Xander is involved with the family and if Mimi will ever finish her book that at times seem far more important to her than her son. Overall it was an entertaining, sweet and relatively quick read which I did enjoy (the best parts of the book were definitely the conversations and relationship between Alice and frank as well as Frank's personality). I also liked Mr Vargas in the book too, he seemed like a geuinely sweet character. However it was a little slow in places and I felt as though the story wasn't progressing very much because as I said it doesn't seem to be very plot driven, in my opinion so it was more of a show of family dynamics, stressors, mental health and relationships. Overall rating: ★★★☆, 3/5. 

Have you read Be Frank With Me? What are you currently reading? 

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Book Review: Whispers Through A Megaphone

I read a few books published by the lovely people at Pushkin Press before, you can check out my reviews of The Pendragon Legend and Soft In The Head. I have loved all of their books, they publish quite quirky and unusual books that I don't seem to find anywhere else. I received *Whispers Through A Megaphone by Rachel Elliot (£7.99, paperback) and I didn't know what to fully expect apart from that it would be unlike anything else I have read this year.

The book follows Miriam, her past, present and how she wants to change for the future. It also follows her opposite in many ways, Ralph, who is living an ordinary but ultimately unfulfilled life with a wife and two teenage boys; homosexuality is relatively prominent throughout the book which I'm a fan of as I don't tend to read books with gay characters and I want to expand the diversity of the books I read. Ralph and Miriam meet under quite unusual circumstances, which is the case for the rest of the book, and I love the relationship they have - it's platonic which is a change from the rest of the books I've been reading recently. It was interesting to find out about Miriam's life, how she is now in which she hasn't left her home for three years and her relationships with friends and her mentally ill mother who has passed away. I love the writing style, it's quite unusual in a simplistic and 'train of thoughts' kind of way but it is very easy to read even though it deals with a couple of heavy issues such as mental illnesses, secrets, suicide and dysfunctional families of a sort.

I loved Miriam, Ralph, Eric and his family as well as Boo, they are all such interesting, unique, quirky and sweet characters that I could easily see in an independent, slow and kooky British film but then there is Sadie who to put it bluntly is a bit of a bitch - I really didn't like her character and I also didn't like Miriam's mum because of how Miriam had to grow up but she did have mental health issues so I have to forgive her. The only main point about this book that I hated were the six pages that made up chapter 45, I wish chapter 45 was completely different, as it was like reading a completely different book, but sadly it's in there. 

Overall, I cannot recommend it enough! It's an unusual, sweet, endearing and thought provoking read that would be perfect if you like books regarding family relationships, family secrets, kooky and sweet characters or past regrets and an identity crisis. It was longlisted for the Baileys women's prize for fiction this year too, so it's definitely worth picking up! Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

Have you read this book or anything published by Pushkin Press? What are you currently reading?

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Book Review: How Not To Disappear

I've been loving reading this year, compared to last year when I only read about 6/7 books and this is my 42nd book; I was very kindly sent *How Not To Disappear by Clare Furniss (£3.38, SALE, paperback) from the lovely people at Simon and Schuster. The book was published last month, it's 416 pages and it's within the YA, young adult, genre. 

I haven't read anything like it before, it is not the kind of book are usually go for but that is one of the reasons why I wanted to try it! The story follows Hattie, her family and friends as well as a long lost relative, who has a lot of secrets! If you like books involving relationships and family mysteries then definitely pick this one up but be warned that it is not a happy book – it is one of the most melancholy and at times upsetting books I've read recently. The book deals with a lot of important but difficult and potentially triggering topics such as rape, domestic abuse, racism, dysfunctional families, adoption, dementia and more so if any of those topics might be upsetting or triggering to you then maybe this isn't the book for you.

I love writing style, it was such an easy and quick read although when I say easy, I mean easy to read as some parts of the book were so upsetting and I can't imagine myself in some of the characters situations. I managed to finish the book quite quickly although I did have to have a break for a few days while travelling to London and the Harry Potter tour which turned out to be a bit of an ordeal – blog post coming soon!

I loved Gloria, she is such a vivid, interesting and entertaining character – she was my favourite character from the book as well as Hattie! I love the relationship between Gloria and Hattie and it was interesting to watch that relationship develop. The journey they take, the stories, secrets told and memories relived are at times funny, melancholy, relatable, upsetting and shocking and it's an emotional journey for the reader as well and it did make me quite upset especially regarding Gloria's memories of her youth but it's a journey I'm glad I was able to take with Gloria and Hattie. My only problems with the book was a couple of the characters were a bit annoying such as Reuben and Kat as well as the mum sometimes. Additionally I think the cover/blurb doesn't explain how triggering the book could potentially be although that would take away some of mystery and shock factor I guess. Lastly I think it was a little repetitive in places but that might be the authors way of making the reader feel as people with dementia, and those who care for them, could feel.

Overall, I think it's a great read that involves a lot of important topics such as mental health, teenage pregnancy, relationships, whether supportive and loving or dysfunction and abusive which I think are not very present or as raw as they are in this book compared to other YA books. I won't be re-reading as I'm not really one for emotional books but I loved the ending and the rays of friendship, love, hope and the endearing spirit of the gloriously fabulous Gloria throughout the book. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

Have you read this book? What are you currently reading? 

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Book Review: With Malice

Mystery, thriller and YA books have become some of my favourites for this year and from the description, this book ticked all of my book loving boxes as it's a mystery YA book set partly in Italy and I LOVE Italy! Additionally it's a relatively short book and shorter books are great to read in between longer and more heavy going books.

I received *With Malice by Eileen Cook from the super super lovely people at Hot Key Books and I chose it because I'd heard great things about it from so many people on booktube; also the cover is really interesting and I obviously gravitate towards pretty and interesting looking books. It's 293 pages and on Amazon the genre is 'young adult' and 'action/adventure' and I'd definitely says it's a YA books but it's not really an action/adventure book - to me it is a YA psychological thriller/mystery.

The book follows Jill, she's woken up in hospital with no recollection of the past few weeks but what she does know is that something is very wrong and she hasn't been told the whole story and she doesn't even know the whole story herself. I don't really want to give anything away but it did remind me a little of the real crime case involving Meredith Kercher, so if you are familiar with that case then you will probably see some vague similarities.

I like the writing style and the inclusions of interviews with characters, transcripts and social media comments from various characters as it added an immersive element to the book. I got through the book in less than two days as it is an interesting and page turning read so I think it would be a great holiday or summer read. I did like a couple of the characters, especially Dr Weeks and Anna but eveytone else was annoying on some level and the way the lawyer, Jill's parents and others were to Jill was just so incredibly frustrating but I think it was written to be make you feel frustrated like Jill was rather than because of poor writing. I did have an issue with the ending which I think was a little rushed and wrapped up quite conveniently but it did leave questions unanswered. In summary, even though I did have issues with the book, I still think it's worth picking up as it's an interesting and entertaining book that kept me turning the pages to find out what happens. Overall rating: ★★★☆☆, 3.5/5.

Have you read this book? What have you been reading recently? 

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Book Review: The Lament For The Fallen

I've been in a little bit of a reading slump for the past couple of weeks as I've been focusing on driving practice and trying to get another test date, which has been so stressful so I haven't been reading as much as I usually do. However, I have been able to finish six books last month and most of this book in June too. You can check out my June Roundup post for my thoughts on more books!

I was very kindly sent *The Lament For The Fallen by Gavin Chait (£14.99, hardcover) from Transworld Books which is a division of Penguin Random House. Firstly, let's just take a moment to appreciate the gorgeous and super striking cover - I love it but it's maybe a little scary, according to some commenters on my social media. On Amazon it's categorised as contemporary fiction, it's 384 pages and it will be available to purchase as a hardcover edition on the 28th July 2016.

The book follows Joshua and his family, friends and a more than unusual stranger...that fell from the sky! If that sentence alone doesn't make you want to check out this book then I don't know what will! The story follows a wide cast of characters including warlords, the president of the US, militia, space people and more...Oh and space cities, super human people and a prison called Tartarus *which in ancient greek myths was an area of underworld*. It has action, adventure, mystery and sci-fi elements, the latter isn't a genre I usually go for but I'm pleasantly surprised by this book.

I found the main characters of Joshua and Samara surprisingly endearing as were many of the others, I cared about what happened to them all, even though there wasn't that much description of them or that much backstory to some of the characters. The story not just follows the repercussions and effect of this new stranger and his life, backstory and his adventure to return home but also the relationships of the characters and how the relationships change and grows over time. I loved the emphasis on the important of family, story telling, home, music and community in this novel.

For the most part I loved the writing style as it is SO quick and easy to read but it's quite blunt in places and as I've never read a book set in Africa and I'm not used to certain terms, I did have to google a few terms while reading. Also the structure of the book was easy to follow but throughout the book you get mini stories which I really enjoyed but it was a little jarring while reading, if I'm honest.

Overall, I think the book is very entertaining, unique and engaging throughout! The cast of characters was interesting and some of the main characters were really memorable and endearing. The unique element of the orbiteers, their world and especially the character Samara were so interesting to read about particularly the symbionts and Achenia. However, I found the mini stories a little jarring and the writing is a little blunt but it is a debut novel which is so impressive. Warnings for violence, murder, human sacrifice and rape, the latter two made me quite uncomfortable reading about! I think this book is well worth reading though as it's so unique and entertaining! Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

Will you be picking up this book? What have you been reading currently? 

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Book Review: The Pendragon Legend

I've been reading so much this year, especially compared to last year and I've already surpassed my 30 book goal for 2016 so I've up my goal to 50 books which I think is easily achievable. I've read horror, graphic novels, fantasy and YA this year although I want to expand my reading range and classics are high on my list to read.

I was very kindly sent *The Pendragon Legend by Antal Szerb (£12.99, paperback) which is published by Pushkin Press. Firstly, let's take a moment to appreciate the bloody gorgeous cover; it has a unique shape, being quite petite and boxy which makes it really nice to read. The Pendragon Legend was first published in the 1930s, so I would categorise it as a classic.

The book follows a Hungarian intellectual on an adventure that takes him to the Welsh mountains and ancient castles. The book has so many themes that I adore such as myths, legends and folk tales, secret societies, gothic settings of abandoned castles, mysterious lakes and rural villages, the occult and black magic and mystery as well as ghostly beings, prophets, welsh mythical figures and a range of intriguing characters.

The only point I am always cautious about with classics is the writing style as usually it can be so different to what I'm used to, as it's normally formal, complex and more convoluted than non-classics; however the writing style on the whole was easy to read and follow although in some areas it was a little confusing as there are a fair few characters.

The storyline is interesting and entertaining throughout, the mystery is enticing and I was left wondering how the storylines would conclude throughout the book. The characters were so vivid and believable, if a little annoying at times. This next point might be a little spoiler so skip to the next paragraph - my one problem with the characters was the main character, Janos Batley, as some of his beliefs and remarks really got under my skin such as his insinuated belief that intelligent woman are masculine and aren't typically beautiful or feminine; this is most prominent with the character Lene who he seems to admire but as he would admire an intelligent man and she was portrayed as generically masculine. Although this may have just been the view at the time.

There are so many elements that I loved such as a mystery, occult and alchemy elements which I enjoyed so much! Parts of the book reminded me of The Woman in Black by Susan Hill in terms of ghostly apparitions and spooky atmosphere. I also think it had elements of frankenstein, in terms of raising the dead and scientific experimentation. Additionally, I thought that Mrs Roscoe was quite similar the Countess Narona in The Haunted Hotel by Wilkie Collins.

Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough! If you think you don't like classics then just give them a go and you might be surprised. I adored the themes in this book particularly all of the mystery, occult, mythic and atmospheric/gothic elements. I definitely want to check out more books from Antal Szerb even though there were a few points about The Pendragon Legend that I wasn't a fan of. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

What have you been reading recently? Have you read The Pendragon Legend? Any recommendations similar to this book? 

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Book Review: A Graphic Cosmogony

I can't believe that it's now summer, the year is going by so quickly and my reading challenge for the year is actually complete! I aimed to read 30 books in 2016 and I am currently on book no. 33 so I'm going to up my reading goal to 50 books in 2016.

I have already reviewed a couple of gorgeous books from the lovely people at Nobrow and I was kindly sent another graphic novel; I have *A Graphic Cosmogony (£24) which is a collection of tales of the creation of everything by 24 artists including Luke Best, Andrew Rae and Robert Hunter, the latter wrote The New Ghost which I reviewed a couple of months ago.

The cover of the book is so beautiful and so different to anything else on my bookshelves; I think it would make a fantastic gift for book lovers and graphic novel lovers. Also it would make a unique and thought provoking coffee table book too. The majority of the artwork is so unique, colourful and interesting, as are all of the stories, some of which I love more than others but all of them have an interesting take on various creation stories and ideas. My favourite stories were: Luna by Robert Hunter, Pilgrims by Jon Mcaught, New Game by Luke Pearson and my favourite of all, Deity School by Andrew Rae.

Overall, I think this is a beautifully published collection of stories by fantastically talented artists and illustrators that are unique and thought provoking about a topic that has been pondered for the whole of human history. I can't recommend it enough, overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5!

Have you bought anything from Nobrow? What are you currently reading? Have you read any graphic novels? 

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Book Review: Soft In The Head by Marie-Sabine Roger

Another day, another book review and this one was very kindly sent for review by the super lovely people at Pushkin Press! I thought that I was more of a fantasy, mystery, magical realism and classic book reader but I actually think I'm more of an eclectic reader as I loved this book. So if like me you don't think a genre is particularly for you, just give it a go and you might be pleasantly surprised. 

His mother called him a worthless halfwit while his fellow drunks at the local bar ensure he's the butt of all their jokes. He spends his days whittling wood, counting pigeons and adding his own name to the bottom of the list on the town war memorial. So how could Germain possibly understand what a casual encounter on a park bench with eighty-five year old Margueritte could mean? In this touchingly comic tale of an unusual friendship, that first conversation opens a door into a world Germain could never have imagined-the world of books and ideas-and gives both him and Margueritte a chance at a happiness they thought had passed them by.

*Soft In The Head (£8.99) is Marie-Sabine Roger's first adult novel and the award winning translator is Frank Wynne. The book is 224 pages, it's published by Pushkin Press and it was adapted into the film, My Afternoons with Margueritte in 2010 which I'll definitely have to watch! 

The book follows Germain, a man who's life hasn't been a walk in the park...well a walk in the park with diversions, potholes, pigeons and a load of ungrateful and rude people but one day he comes across an elderly woman who changes his lives for the better. I loved the relationship between the somewhat naive and single minded Germain and the well read, sweet and intelligent Margueritte; their relationship is an unlikely one but it leads to a mutually loving and endearing friendship that demonstrates how books can bring people together and that you never know how new relationships could affect your life. The writing is quick and easy to read but it has a directness that I think shows the directness of Germain and I think it also shows life in a unguarded and raw form rather than sugar coating the more difficult and ugly parts of Germain's life. I read the book in a  day as it's such a quick read but the story will stay with me for much, much longer. I adored the ending, it was so incredibly sweet and I wish I could gush about it but I obviously don't want to give anything away. 

Overall, I love the cover and the writing style as well as the storyline, it's such a heartwarming and endearing story of the power of books, friendship and how you never know what life if going to throw at you, it might be the best thing that has happened. The book will be released on the 23rd June and I can't recommend it enough! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5. 

Will you be picking up this book? What are you currently reading? 

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Willoughby Book Club + Book Review

I haven't tried any kind of book subscription service until this one, although I have tried so many beauty and even a couple of food subscription services. One of my goals for 2016 was to read 30 books as I hardly read at all last year and I wanted to change that and since then I have been completely obsessed - I'm one of those people that when I find something I like or want to collect, I can't be stopped!

I have so many books on my shelves now and I am only 9 away from finishing my 2016 reading goal and we aren't half way through the year yet so I am really happy with my progress especially as I only read about 6/7 books last year and they were all re-reads (the bloody amazing and very steamy blackdagger brotherhood series by J.R Ward). I am always looking for book recommendations, I particularly love mystery, fantasy, historical fiction and magical realism books and recently I'm loving classics so I was super excited when a mystery book arrived from the super lovely people at The Willoughby Book Club.

The mystery book arrived really nicely packaged with twine and included bookmarks and badges too which is a really nice addition. The book is selected for you based on your stated preferences and I received a book that I have been wanting to read for a while, The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon. I adore the cover and even though it looks really chunky and a bit daunting, I flew through it in two days as I couldn't put it down! I stayed up until around 2am to finish it and I have already ordered the next book. So the mystery book turned out to be a very good choice and I adore it however with any kind of subscription service, whether it is food, makeup or books, you will run the risk of receiving something you don't want or already have.

The Bone Season follows eighteen year old Paige, who is part of an underground collection of people who have 'magic' abilities, I type magic but it isn't really but that's the best way I can describe it. The book has so many terms for the different special abilities these people called 'unnaturals' have such as cartomancer, dreamwalker, soothsayers, mediums, oracle and so on as well as many, many others not just for the people but the world in general so it is a little confusing but thankfully there is a glossary at the back of the book. The book is really gripping from the start and only contains to be so as you progress through the book.

It is very action packed at times, it is sad and melancholy at times and it is unlike anything else I've read with monsters, an imaginative and almost dystopian world and an easy to read writing style. I always think it is best to go into a book not knowing much which is great for me as this book is too complex to explain in a paragraph or two. It reminded me slightly of x-men and the hunger games but it's so much more than that and I cannot recommend it enough. I was a little disappointed by the ending but it means that there is another book for me to read! However, if you're looking for an easy read then this is not it as there are SO many characters and terms to get to grips with and the story is quite fast paced and at the end of each chapter you're always left wanting to know more. I'm currently reading The Mime Order which is the second book and I'm loving it; once you get into the world, you won't want to leave...ever. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

Overall, I'm really happy with the book and the service from The Willoughby Book Club as well as the presentation and extras included. You can choose from a lot of book subscription boxes such as the young adults box, baby books, classics, fiction lovers and more! There are 3 month, 6 month and 12 month subscription options and for every subscription box sold, they will donate one new book to Book Aid International which is fantastic! Can't recommend enough!

Have you read The Bone Season? Are you subscribed to a book subscription box/service? 

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Book Review: Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

We all know by now, how obsessed I've become with reading and buying books this year and one of the main genres that I've been reading is 'young adult' which after being out of the reading game for years, I think is a relatively new genre composing of books targeted towards teens to early twenties. I've read a few books from this genre such as The Shadow Queen, Dorothy Must Die and I think the Harry Potter books could be considered part of the young adult genre; now Truthwitch can be added to be list of finished young adult books.

Today's post is a review of *Truthwitch by Susan Dennard (£12.99, hardback) which I was SO excited to receive as I've heard so many amazing things about this book from American booktubers and bloggers. The book is 412 pages, it is published by Tor and the cover is so damn gorgeous!

Young witches Safiya and Iseult have a habit of finding trouble. After clashing with a powerful Guildmaster and his ruthless Bloodwitch bodyguard, the friends are forced to flee their home. 

Safi must avoid capture at all costs as she's a rare Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lies. Many would kill for her magic, so Safi must keep it hidden - lest she be used in the struggle between empires. And Iseult's true powers are hidden even from herself. 

In a chance encounter at Court, Safi meets Prince Merik and makes him a reluctant ally. However, his help may not slow down the Bloodwitch now hot on the girls' heels. All Safi and Iseult want is their freedom, but danger lies ahead. With war coming, treaties breaking and a magical contagion sweeping the land, the friends will have to fight emperors and mercenaries alike. For some will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch. Amazon UK

I had really high hopes for this book as it is a genre that I'm loving, it has so many positive reviews and it has so many elements that I love such as fantasy/magical realism, action and adventure, political power play (or softs) and an interesting range of characters. The book is action packed and suspenseful from the beginning and it doesn't really slow down from that initial pace which I love as it made me not want to put the book down - I ended up reading it in about three days, maximum.

The main characters, Safi and Iseult, were fantastic and their girl power and friendship is such a dominant and endearing theme throughout the book. I also loved Merik in the story and I wanted a certain two people to have a happily ever after; surprisingly I also loved the 'bad guy' in the story Aeduan who was such an interesting and unique character. It's so easy to read, the world is vivid and memorable and I think it would be a great movie or TV show!

The most interesting and unique aspect of this book, to me, was the magic - it's a magic unlike any other I have read about; whereby magic isn't very common and the people who do have magic are sectioned into groups such as threadwitches, firewitches, bloodwitches, truthwitches and so on; I found the threadwitch abilities the most intriguing as they can see the threads that bind people together or emotions as threads/lines of colour.

Overall, I want to write so much more about the book but I don't want to spoil it for anyone and I always think it is best to go into a book without knowing much about it. I loved the world, the writing, the unique cast of characters, the magic system and the strong female characters, of which there were many, throughout the book. Although I was a tiny bit disappointed about the ending (just because a lot of questions were kind of left unanswered but I guess that is why there will be more books) but overall I loved this book! Highly recommend! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5!

If I had to summarise the book in a sentence or two it would be: A fast paced magical adventure, where peril and power mix and at the centre, two strong witches with everything to gain but also everything to loose.

Have you read Truthwitch? What have you been reading recently? 

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Book Review: My Map Of You

If you've been following my blog, twitter or instagram for the past few weeks then you will know that I have become a bit obsessed with buying books, watching book hauls/reviews and reading - I need help. The super lovely people at Penguin Random House UK kindly sent me a new debut novel, *My Map of You by Isabelle Broom (£7.99) and it is available to buy today!

Firstly, the book cover is so pretty, it makes me wish I was on a flight to Greece! Now, I have to be honest and say that I rarely read romance or contemporary books, I'm definitely more interested in fantasy, thriller, horror, mystery and crime books but I do like romantic contemporary books every once in a while and this one fits the bill perfectly.

I didn't know what to expect with this book, probably because I don't really read books in this genre but I wanted to give it a go as I can't stop reading! The book is 415 pages, it is published by Penguin Random House and I have the advance readers copy *so exciting!*.

The book follows the journey of Holly Wright, who has been through so much tragedy with her mother so she has created an alternative personality and family history to keep everyone from finding out, especially her handsome and well off boyfriend, Rupert. However when she receives a letter from an aunt who has recently passed away, in Greece, that she never knew about, a family mystery unravels. She re-discovers herself and falls in love with more than just the gorgeous Greek island of Zakynthos.

The writing did take me about 30 or so pages to get into but after that it was so easy to read and I ended up finishing it in a couple of days. It didn't read like a debut novel to me! It is really well written, it had me guessing throughout and hoping that a certain two characters would get together and the ending was a tiny bit disappointing to me. The characters, especially the main character Holly, was well rounded, relatable and endearing. The story was well written, descriptively beautiful and it isn't a typical romantic contemporary novel but it is still easy to read and satisfies the part of my brain that wants contemporary romantic novels that make me feel all the feels. I think it will be the perfect summer/beach read! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

Will you be picking up this book? What are you currently reading? 

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Book Review: Findo's Mousetrap

Now, you will know that as well as all of the lifestyle, beauty and occasional fashion/outfit posts, my blog has recently been filled with wonderful books too. I have started my 2016 reading challenge off really well, my goal is 30 books this year and I'm half way there already!

I was very kindly sent this book for review, I have *Findo's Mousetrap by Graham Paskett (£6.99), I have the paperback version although there is an e-book version for £3.01 which is an unusual price and to be honest, I would recommend the e-book over the paperback as I only buy physical books if they are, one: cheaper than the e-book version or two: if I like the cover. I'm not a fan of this cover at all and it isn't the easiest to photograph, hence the below par quality #BloggerProblems.

Findo's Mousetrap is the debut novel from author Graham Paskett. It's a modern romance that melds the Stone Tape Theory, an Anglo-Scottish laird, an Irish-American media luvvy and high-tech computer technology to unravel mysteries that have been lost to the mists of time. Findo's Mousetrap follows the adventures of Findo Gask and his trusty friend mac as they and the Mousetrap solve a Royal mystery, a petty theft, and gain notoriety for their unique invention that can unlock events and emotions that have been recorded and held in the very fabric of buildings. Join Findo and his friends on an unforgettable journey.

The premise of the book is really interesting, I haven't read a book with a similar plot before so kudos to the author for such an imaginative and unique storyline. Firstly, I do want to start with some of the negatives I have about this book, some of which were probably just personal reasons and then I'll get onto the positives. In terms of the structure of the book, it does have a nice flow to it and it isn't disconnected in any way but it doesn't have chapters, the different sections of the story are marked by a line of asterisk which I'm not a fan of; but overall it isn't a big deal, it's just unusual. 

Next up, I did like the characters, especially Findo and his parents, they were quite vivid in my mind, if that makes sense but I found the relationship between Findo and Dympna SO unrealistic, especially because of the time frame and it made the whole relationship (which is one the main focuses of the book) seem fake and corny. Also, I don't want to spoilt anything for any readers, but there was one point in the book regarding a kind of minor sexual harassment and the way it was written, to me, seemed to assume it was the womens fault for how she dressed which I think it quite a victorian and almost insulting way of looking at it.

Anyway, my negatives aside, I liked the overall story and the concept of Mousetrap but I think the book could have been SO much better. It seemed to focus more on a slightly unrealistic and cheesy romance rather than would is a really unique premise and the device in the book, Mousetrap (a device to look back in history at real events). One of the main settings of the book is Strath Gask, Findo's family home, in the scottish highlands and it could have been so incredibly atmospheric and dark but it wasn't and I think that was such a missed opportunity. 

Overall, I think the potential this book could have had is amazing but it really wasn't taken to it's full reach and I think if it was taken down the more atmospheric, historic and or spooky/dark route, rather than the soppy and sometimes cheesy romance, it would have been an incredibly amazing book but sadly it wasn't. Although, I do have to say even though the writing was quite blunt at times, it was an overall enjoyable book and it was easy to read. The ending was also really lovely and heartfelt. I have to give it a lower rating than I would have because of the negatives I've mentioned and because I think it could have been an amazingly atmospheric and interesting book but for me it wasn't unfortunately. Overall rating: ★★★☆☆, 3/5. 

Have you read this debut novel? What have you been reading recently? 

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