It’s been such a long time since I last posted about what books I’ve been reading (which, to be honest, has been to a much lower level than usual) and I love chatting about books so I’m excited to be back at it. Without further ado, let’s get into it – shall we?

Recent Reads.

The Boyfriend.

Author: Michelle Frances

About: After a fall, Amy can’t remember the last six months, an upcoming holiday or being with Jack. Despite everyone’s awe, his air chills Amy and she begins to question reality.

My Review: After loving the “sliding door” feel of Frances’ other books, this was disappointing with it being wildly unbelievable in an array of reasons.

My Rating: 3.2 stars

Price: 2 for £7 [Paperbacks] on Amazon – offer unavailable, now £6.29

The Rise & Fall Of Worlds

Author: Dawn K Lake

About: A night before her unwanted marriage, Fury’s drawn by the city’s tomb. Disregarding the fact it’s heavily guarded with no women allowed inside, Fury makes her journey.

My Review: I didn’t fully absorb the story (not because of the book), but still enjoyed its beautiful written and ability to be relatable despite how far it was to my own life.

My Rating: 4 stars

Price: free – offer still available

That Weird Courtship Ritual.

Author: Dassy Bernhard

About: After falling for Ethan, Nick learns he probably should’ve researched first but they eventually begin a happily ever after future.

My Review: Although cheesy and unrealistic, I felt swept away by its fun imagination and would gladly read more from Bernhard.

My Rating: 3. 4 stars

Price: free – now 77p

Romeo & Julian – Free Fall

Author: Bealevon Nolan

About: Romeo, an undercover communist party informant, is the only local witness of a major event. But meeting German paratrooper Julian, who after years of hiding his identity is ready to give up, is more important.

My Review: Once I’d begun I was hoping it would redeem itself by changing the sequence but its romanticising of sexual assault left me appalled.

My Rating: N/A

Lady Jayne Disappears

Author: Joanna Davidson Politano

About: After a cold welcome by her late father’s wealthy family, Aurelia finishes his novel with unflatteringly tales about them as she fights to keep her identity hidden and for answers about her his death and mother’s disappearance.

My Review: Whilst not gaging me as I’d hoped, it felt the exciting to read and, had I read it another time, I’d likely have been more gaged.

My Rating: 4.1 stars

Price: included in an Audible subscription

What If Its Us?

Author: Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera

About: Meeting at the post office, Arthur’s only in New York for the summer and Ben carries a box of his ex’s things. After repeatedly being pulled together, they start to wonder if they’re each other’s fate.

My Review: The characters are developed so well you’re almost instantly routing for them as a couple and as individuals. The ending was a little disappointing but I’m excited about where it’ll lead.

My Rating: 4.4 stars

Price: 99p [kindle], now £4.99

I Let Him Go

Author: Denise Fergus

About: Two decades after her son was lead away by two ten-year-olds, Denise remembers their story and ensures James is thought of as the happy child he was instead of his murder.

My Review: With this, Fergus has done an incredible job at both telling the story of James’ beautiful life and the devastation after.

My Rating: 5 stars

Price: free on BorrowBox

Big Little Lies

Author: Liane Moriarty

About: A beautiful beachside primary school’s annual trivia night leads the parents to learn that sometimes the little lies are the most fatal.

My Review: Such a clever mystery with unexpected twists with its layered characters bringing vastly more depth and suspense.

My Rating: 5 stars

Price: free on BorrowBox

Halloween Party

Author: Agatha Christie

About: At a Halloween party, Joyce storms off when her story about witnessing a murder isn’t believed. Later she’s found drowned in an apple-bobbing tub, but is it the only murder?

My Review: It disappointingly feels far from Christie’s other books and its Halloween theme – which I looked forward to – is limited.

My Rating: 3 stars

Price: 99p, now £5.99, visit first link above.

Someone’s There

Author: Diane Saxon

About: When the he body of DC Downey’s date is found, he’s prime suspect but the modus operandi soon points to a prisoner’s copycat.

My Review: The point of views were a riveting add, we soon caught on to the killer and the impact was limited.

My Rating: 2.5 stars

Price: included in an Audible subscription

Heartstopper: Volume 1

Author: Alice Oseman

About: After being sat together in class, Charlie soon falls deeply for Nick and Nick likes him more than either realised.

My Review: I’ve been lucky enough for my sister, another fan, to read/describe this heartwarming story to me.

My Rating: 4.1 stars

Price: £26.99 for 4 [eBay]

Heartstopper: Volume 2

Author: Alice Oseman

About: Whilst Nick knows Charlie’s gay, Charlie is sure Nick’s not but Nick is learning many things about himself, his life and those around him.

My Review: We’re glad we bought the whole series as the first season covers both book one and two.. and it’s addictive!

My Rating: 4.2 stars

Price: £26.99 for 4 [eBay]

Nadine

Author: Vimi Bajaj

About: A young bride-to-be makes friends with a sixty-year-old woman and, hearing her stories, begins to view her life differently.

My Review: A likely crucial intended message seems lost and the abrupt ending, which heavily lacked necessary editing, didn’t help.

My Rating: 2.1 stars

Price: included in an Audible subscription

Heartstopper: Volume Three

Author: Alice Oseman

About: After Nick came out to his mother, he and Charlie are now officially together. With many others to tell and a school trip to Paris, they’ll need each other more than ever.

My Review: The story takes on a more serious tone with a developing storyline of mental health which I feel could’ve used more development.

My Rating: 4 stars

Price: £26.99 for 4 [eBay]

Heartstopper: Volume Four

Author: Alice Oseman

About: As Charlie begins to feel ready for the L word, Nick has much on his mind like Charlie’s possible eating disorder.

My Review: Lacking the needed development, the ED storyline felt pushed, lessening its important impact.

My Rating: 4 stars

Price: £26.99 for 4 [eBay]

This Winter

Author: Alice Oseman

About: Christmas isn’t always a happy time of year for Tori and her brother, Charlie, but his year’s will be harder than most.

My Review: It’s wonderful to find a book about mental health at Christmas and this one does it well with the great add of the little brother’s voice.

My Rating: 4.6 stars

Price: £30.00 for 6, now £31.90 for 6 [eBay]

Carry On

Author: Rainbow Rowell

About: Simon’s plans to enjoy his last school year are ruined by a break up, a pesky best friend, a missing room-mate and longtime nemesis, and those trying to stop him as the most powerful magician.

My Review: With fully immersive writing that doesn’t take itself seriously and fab characters, this is the supernatural book I’ve longed for.

My Rating: 5 stars

Price: an Audible credit

Pictures Or It Didn’t Happen

Author: Sophie Hannah

About: After a stranger saves the day, Chloe decides to find him and ignores a warning to stay away from the “dangerous” man.

My Review: Although I was left with some questions, it was a good short story with a unique take.

My Rating: 3.2

Price: unknown sorry, but it’s currently £2.99

Solitaire

Author: Alice Oseman

About: After a hard year, student Tori meets fellow loner Micheal arrives and, for them to stop, must investigate a group’s soaring pranks on the school.

My Review: With happy and sad hues, the tale wonderfully depicts real life issues like mental illness and the complexities of friendships.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Price: £30.00 for 6, now £31.90 for 6 [eBay]

Wayward Son

Author: Rainbow Rowell

About: Simon fell in love, beat the villain, won the war but now he can’t move from the sofa. His best friend says a change of scenery is needed, leading to a troubled trip to America.

My Review: I love that it touches on more sensitive subjects like mental health and growing up whilst continuing a sort of fun that lifts the whole plot.

My Rating: 4.8 stars

Price: an Audible credit

Forever

Author: Judy Blume

About: After Katherine meets Michael, they’re constantly together – to her parents’ concern – and soon start having sex, but will finishing school and adult life get in the way?

My Review:

My Rating: 3.1 stars

Price: unknown sorry, but currently £6.89

Nick & Charlie.

Author: Alice Oseman

About: Nick and Charlie are the perfect couple, but now Nick is leaving for university, Charlie will be left behind leading them both to doubt.

My Review: I got to enjoy this fantastic book again with my wonderful Mum, also an avid Oseman fan, reading.

My Rating: 4.7 stars

Price: £30.00 for 6, now £31.90 for 6 [eBay]

The Scream

Author: Joan Aiken

About: Oddly allured The Scream painting and supposedly having the Evil Eye’s power, David Gran moves in; sparking evil forces only stoppable by a trip to her occult birthplace.

My Review: Despite not using book age-guides, maybe it’s key on this as I feel, if I were that, it would’ve been fun – not confusing and boring.

My Rating: 1 star

Price: unknown sorry, couldn’t find a new copy

Currently Reading

Radio Silence

Author: Alice Oseman

About: Nothing will stop Frances’ way to elite university but meeting podcaster Aled, who fights dark secrets, means a whole new world opens up and she must confront her past.

My Halfway Thoughts: I’ve been loving Alice Oseman’s work recently and, although this isn’t my favourite, it’s still good.

Price: £30.00 for 6, now £31.90 for 6 [eBay]

Alan Turing – The Enigma

Author: Andrew Hodges

About: By the 1940s, Turning’s machines were breaking Enigma-enciphered messages, he developed the first digital computer design and more. However, criminalised for homosexuality, he took his own life at 41.

My Review: I’ve been interested in Turing for a long time (I’m a computer geek, surprise!) so I’m taking my time to learn more about him, what he did and his life and it’s really interesting.

Price: free on BorrowBox

Want To Read

Spring At Blueberry Lane

Author: Holly Martin

About: Finding a handsome homeless man on her doorstep, she invites him in but there’s just two questions: can she fall in love again? And what’s he hiding?

My Reason: I actually got this for my eldest sister last Easter and she thought it was so good that she’s passed it for us to read.

Hollyoaks: Stolen Emails

Author: Chris Parker

About: A hacker gains Hollyoaks villagers’ emails and leaks the information. To stop the person on their trail they start a devastating misinformation campaign.

My Reason: I’ve loved the other Hollyoaks books that we’ve read and this one has been sitting on the shelf for a while.

Other Bookish Bits.

• On TV: I’m so excited for the second series of Heartstopper!
• 53 Books: We’re behind on our Goodreads challenge but I’m sure we can get there..
• Waterstones: I may have got some special Waterstones book editions 😊

I will be posting about three spring reads next week, so keep your eyes peeled! For now though, I hope you enjoy this and will join in with the bookish conversation!

Lots Of Love,

& Big Gentle Hugs,

Tig x

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