Never Judge a Book by its Cover

TWENTY EIGHTEEN - A YEAR OF BOOKS

2019-01-01T07:00:00.000+00:00

I can't believe it's that time of the year again. This is honestly always the hardest post of the year, but this year I've read so many but I got a cracking top list of books, such a variety as well which I love. I've done something slightly different with my end of years posts by doing my best books of 2018 today and then my reading goals and most anticipated books of 2019 in the next few days. So without further ado here are my favourite books of 2018...

The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

This is a story of love, revenge, sacrifices and secrets twisted into the tales of witches and curses.

Goodbye Perfect by Sara Barnard

A story about defining love, building healthy relationships and succeeding for yourself.

The Witch's Blood by Katherine and Elizabeth Corr

It’s a series that feeds on your fantasies, favourite fairy-tales, romance, realism and most of family!

I Stop Somewhere by T.E. Carter

This is the hardest book I read but the most important. A true and harrowing story of survival.

The Extinction Trials: Exile by S.M. Wilson

Suspenseful and more exciting and it totally beats Hunger Games in my book.

It's a Wrap by Perdita and Honor Cargill

Waiting for Callback series shines with star quality. It’s one not to miss!

Theatrical by Maggie Harcourt

What I felt was that this book truly opened my eyes to something out of this world.

Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes? by Holly Bourne

This is her greatest achievement and it’s shines with hope, friendship, kindness and strength.

Songs About a Boy by Chris Russell

This series is so addictive, fun and most of all it really does give you fuzzy feelings too.

This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada

I've found my new favourite book/series of 2018 and my new favourite author.

This Cruel Design by Emily Suvada

Take a breath, grab the book and sink into on the best sci-fi series ever.

Just Don't Mention It by Estelle Maskame

It made the DIMILY universe a more honest and tangible reality that we as readers can relate too.

Jinxed by Amy McCulloch

Jinxed will be your reading companion for life.

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

It's an adult version of Twilight. A total guilty pleasure and I love it.
Paper Avalanche by Lisa Williamson
Lisa's best novel yet.

It's of no surprise with some of these books being my favourites of 2018 like Holly Bourne. This year though I did find some brand new authors and series that I absolutely love, like Emily Suvada's This Mortal Coil and The Wicked Deep that sends chills when you read it. Then there's series that have come to an end, which I'm very sad to see finish with The Witch's Kiss, Songs About a Girl and Waiting for Callback. But being a reader and a blogger and a librarian, you know it's never the end, you can reread them anytime, discover something new from the authors you love. I would recommend every single one of these books and there has been so many cracking books this year.

2018 Highlights

So many amazing bookish memories this year, meeting my favourite author, bringing my blogging and my job as a librarian together, being acknowledged in a book and nominated for champion of social media. It's been a surreal year but here's to a new year and new a bookish adventures ahead.

I wish everyone a very Happy New Year and I hope it's a restful filled with wonderful memories both bookish and personal.

BLOG AVALANCHE: REVIEW - PAPER AVALANCHE by Lisa Williamson

2018-12-30T07:00:00.000+00:00

I am so excited to be part of this celebration of the new and upcoming novel, Paper Avalanche by Lisa Williamson. My review was meant to go up way before Christmas but due to end of term I was unable to read it time. So I read this book in two days over Christmas and it was the highlight of my reading that week. Rather than posting it quickly straight after reading it, I want this review and this book to have maximum coverage, because it needs to be heard and praised for how brilliant this book is. So I end 2018 with this beauty of a review.

Paper Avalanche
by Lisa Williamson
Publisher - David Fickling Books
Release Date - January 1st 2019
Buy - Amazon | Book Depository

'Bonnie. Never Mum or Mummy or Mother. Just Bonnie.'
When it comes to flying under the radar, Ro Snow is an expert.
No friends.
No boys.
No parties.
And strictly NO VISITORS.
It may be lonely, but at least this way the truth remains where it should – hidden.

Then Tanvi Shah, the girl who almost died, comes tumbling back into her life, and Ro finds herself losing control of her carefully constructed lies.

But if Ro’s walls come crumbling down, who’s going to take care of Bonnie…

My absolute favourite book from Lisa Williamson. Get a box of tissues because you will need it. It's good tears, tears of joy and the honest love you have for these characters. I'm going to be very brief with what this book is about because for the main the important part of the book was Lisa beautiful story of two girls, Ro and Tanvi, they each have their own story but toegther they are an unstoppable force of pure friendship, love and affection of what it's like to have a friend that is there for you no matter what.

Ro Snow likes to be invisible, to blend in with the rest of the crowd. Because Ro has a secret. Her mum, Bonnie is a hoarder of everything. Their house looks like something of a haunted house, they are constantly in overdraft, and Ro is constantly finds herself playing the adult in their relationship. Her mum irresponsible and immature to say the least and Ro has the whole world is on her shoulders. A family pulled apart, she is alone, segregated by paper avalanches and new families. Her father, has a new family and doesn't see past them to help Ro. Grrrr. Then, one day at the beginning of a new term, a girl called Tanvi sits next to Ro and they are inseparable, whether they want to be or not, this sparks a friendship like no other.

Tanvi has to be my favourite character of the book. Her story of surviving cancer, how she never gives up and takes on everything. But we see past that, this story isn't one of sympathy but actually seeing who Tanvi really is. I love how her character shines with such vibrancy, she radiated in colour with each page you turn. I laugh at how blunt and unapologetic she is about everything, she is honestly a breath of fresh air I love how no matter what she will just chat and chat. I loved how she never stopped giving up on Ro, she tried to break those layers off one by one.

Ro Snow is embarrassed where she lives and she doesn’t want to get too close to people, to find out the truth about her. When she meets Tanvi, she’s stubborn, she doesn’t understand why she wants her to her friend, she wants to be left alone, she feels she can’t truly be her friend when she has so many secrets. If it wasn’t for Tanvi she wouldn’t be able to unleash the voice that she has in her, be part of choir or just live and look after herself first. Living at home is hard, no one wants to live next to her until someone moves in, a boy called Noah. I loved how Lisa didn't entirely focus on the romance between Ro and Noah, it was a sweet sideline storyline, in a way I felt it was a lovely way to see how Ro really tried to open up to others a bit more and allowed more people in her heart.

When I saw this book in my local Waterstones, I can tell you that this digital copy of the cover does nothing to the physical book, because when I saw it, it was utter perfection as it stands out just like it's characters and storyline. This is honestly the most heart wrenching and emotional rollercoaster of a story. Lisa has really created something special. Her writing is something that continues to grow, the themes of her stories really fits with the current times. A special story that really will break you for the tissues with tears of joy and happiness. Tanvi and Ro’s friendship is inspiring and beautiful. Everyone will want to read their story.

Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to David Fickling Books for a proof copy in exchange for an honest review.

MINI REVIEWS - SHADOWBLACK by Sebastien de Castell & BOOKSHOP GIRL by Chloe Coles

2018-12-06T07:00:00.000+00:00

Some amazing reads I've read lately both totally different but brilliant in their own way.

Shadowblack (Spellslinger #2)
by Sebastien de Castell

It's a few months since Kellen left his people behind. Now aged sixteen, Kellen is an outlaw, relying on his wits to keep him alive in the land of the Seven Sands. He misses home, he misses family and more than anything, he misses Nephenia, the girl he left behind.

Then he meets Seneira, a blindfolded girl who isn't blind, and who carries a secret that's all too familiar to Kellen. Kellen and Ferius resolve to help - but the stakes are far higher than they realise. A Shadowblack plague is taking hold - and Kellen can't help but suspect his own people may even be behind it.

Shadowblack takes you on a self-discovery journey for Kellen. This is the book that you really find out who Kellen is, not hiding behind his family or the so-called powers he's meant to have. He now finds himself at a crossroads, and in this book he finds out what path he needs to take to finally take hold of his powers and smarts he has to become the man he is. He may not be Argosi, he may not be a Jan'Tep... he might be something far more than that.

So after reading and absolutely loving Spellslinger, I really couldn't wait to head straight into the second. This series is so fun and escapable that there is something so refreshing and magical that it's addictive. Plus I have a secret crush for a squirrel cat. 😂 I do feel that the squirrel cat is becoming quite famous because of this series, and it seems to be getting to his head especially with a bath and butter biscuit scene. Hilarious and slightly cringe. Nobody brings this level of humour into a fantasy like Sebastien de Castell.

I feel this series is totally underrated and I love discovering these ones. They are like the hidden gems of the bookish world. This book has balls, guts, magic and tricks. What's not to love about this series.

Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bookshop Girl
by Chloe Coles

Bennett's Bookshop has always been a haven for sixteen-year-old Paige Turner. It's a place where she can escape from her sleepy hometown, hang out with her best friend, Holly, and also earn some money.

But, like so many bookshops, Bennett's has become a 'casualty of the high street' - it's strapped for cash and going to be torn down. Paige is determined to save it but mobilising a small town like Greysworth is no mean feat.

Time is ticking - but that's not the only problem Paige has. How is she going to fend off the attractions of beautiful fellow artist, Blaine? And, more importantly, will his anarchist ways make or break her bookshop campaign?

So this book is the ultimate book for any book lover, reader or bookshop fanatic of the quaint variety. I found this book to really pull on my emotional attachment to books and how shops on the high streets are slowly becoming non-existent. Seeing a bookshop that brings such happiness to people to be slowly then away because they care more about profits than people is honestly horrible.

But then there is Paige Turner, a bubbly, passionate human being who wants to stop and shout to heavens that books and bookshops are here to stay. You don't realise how much a bookshop helps people not just find stories and acts but also people to talk too. A bookshops opens you up to the universe and it's cruel to shut something like that down. Paige believes and it won't take stubborn business people or hottie's like Blaine to stop here.

A cute, passionate read is a book after every book lovers heart. It’s Quirky & Fun! It’s standing up for what you believe in, and BOOKS! It’s just perfect!

Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

BLOG TOUR - ROSIE LOVES JACK: IMPORTANT JOURNEYS

2018-12-03T07:00:00.000+00:00

Today I'm so happy to be part of this blog tour celebrating important journeys. I'll be honest I wasn't sure what to write at first and then it hit me... and this feels like one the most honest and best piece of writing I've written about myself on here. So I really hope you enjoy.

A LIBRARY HOLDS MILLIONS OF JOURNEYS... but all you need to do is find just one - MY JOURNEY.

Every one has a life journey, we all embark on that special journey we know will stay with us forever. I was going to start this post with my life really began when I left school, that I felt I was leading my own life for once because the bottom line is I never really enjoyed school.... this is all very true and that is part of my journey but it was a specific place that really set me on my path that I am on today. A LIBRARY.

A timeline of my journey so far...

1995 onwards...

It begun with mum taking me to the library to borrow books with my best friend.
I would always get excited by the new books, I had to have one, just having one was a prize even if I didn't read it, I would admire it. As well as my favourites, obviously.
My fondest memories with my best friend was in a library in our craft sessions.
My proudest moment: I was the very first person to sign up to the Summer Reading Challenge called The Reading Planet (does anyone remember that?!) and winning to complete in first in my local library. I still have the medal.

*I did stop going to the library for a bit when I was in secondary school as I bought quite a few of my books. But one of those places that you just gravitate too, it will never leave you.

2012-2014

I returned but I joined a new library in a new borough where my grandparents lived for a more range of books.
I did volunteering as part of Summer Reading Challenge. (Can you see how my journey seems to have a way of becoming a cycle.)
I got my first job as a Saturday Library Assistant. (I also became a book blogger at this stage too.)

2014-2015

I progressed from Saturday Library Assistant to Part-Time Library Assistant and increasing my hours all the time.
My grandparents were regular customers.
The biggest moment in this journey - I found love... not just in books but also with my boyfriend... Nearly 5 years together.
In 2016 I left being a Library Assistant to the biggest and most profound moment in my career, and finding in love in something I do every day.

2016- Present Day

I became a Librarian, managing my own secondary school library, working with incredible students that make me proud everyday, and who love the same books as I do.
Organising author events and meeting them as a fangirl and librarian. What could be better. ->
Buy new books for the library.
Going from being part of a library to having my own library.
Not just one but two...building the second library from scratch.

Present Day

3 years down the line and I'm still love with my job as a librarian, its one of the most rewarding jobs in the world. There is times in my life journey that I haven't noted that was hard and not all rewarding or good. But I know it's the places and the people that make your life journey and a library seems to be right there at the centre of it. A library has brought my family, my love for my boyfriend, my love of books and turned my unknown path of my career into a certain one.

There isn't a day that is the same which I love. To this day and to my future, I appreciate every day as I continue my life journey because I know there is still way more memorable moments to come... My journey is only just starting and I live each day as it comes reminded of where it all began.

Rosie loves Jack. Jack loves Rosie. So when they're split up, Rosie will do anything to find the boy who makes the sun shine in her head. Even run away from home. Even cross London and travel to Brighton alone, though the trains are cancelled and the snow is falling. Even though any girl might find that hard, let alone a girl with Down's syndrome. See the world through new eyes in this one-in-a-million story about fighting for the freedoms that we often take for granted: independence, tolerance and love.

Add to your Goodreads shelf

Rosie Loves Jack is out now. Grab your copy and embark on their important journey.

NOVEMBER WRAP-UP & DECEMBER TBR

2018-12-01T07:00:00.000+00:00

Hi Everyone, I've been MIA lately, late October and all of November has been very busy at work. I've started a new position alongside my Librarian role which has taken up a lot of my work at the moment. I'm hoping December will be a different story as Christmas comes to work and it will feel a lot less busy and more festive and relaxed. This month I have been re-reading the Throne of Glass of series in anticipation of the Kingdom of Ash release. I started this series when it first came out and then stopped at Crown of Midnight. But I've adored everything else from Sarah that I wanted to go back to it. I'm now on Heir of Fire which I'm loving as it's new and exciting for me.

November also saw a lot of new books from publishers and some amazing 2019 releases as well which I can't wait for. This month I do have some very exciting posts coming up with reviews, blog tours and discussion posts which I'm looking forward to writing them.

Books I've Read & Book(s) of the Month

Loving my re-read. I don't think I can choose between these so let's say Throne of Glass series Books 1-3 at the moment.

No Book Reviews this month - more this month I promise.

This Month I received (loads of books) - Thank you lovely publishers 😍

And some 2019 releases:

A huge haul and some I honestly don't have room for. I was accepted onto a new mailing list so I snap happy on my emails with Supernatural, The Dark Vault and Sherlock Holmes. I'm part of the Rosie Loves Jack blog tor this month talking about my Important Journeys so I intend to read it this month. We are celebrating Paper Avalanche by Lisa Williamson this month too with my review at the beginning the Christmas holidays. These are some of my most anticipated books of next year and there is still more to come. I can't believe it's nearly 2019. Scary. During my Christmas holidays I intend to read all of these at least and be ahead of myself for review books next year. But that means I still have my entire TBR which keeps growing.

Book Most Anticipated this Month

I haven't read the first two but I have them all on my shelf and it's the Waterstones gorgeous edition.

December TBR

Like I said earlier with Blog Tours and Christmas Holidays coming up I'm hoping to read loads. To catch up and make a dent on the TBR pile. The Light Between Worlds I bought yesterday because it reminded me a little of Narnia and always feel these books are very seasonal. I can't wait to read the rest and in between I will be dropping into the rest of the Throne of Glass series. Also my godmother is really trying to get me into the A Discovery of Witches series which she bought me last Christmas so I really need to get on that before I watch the TV adaption.

A couple of days ago I started Christmas a little early by going to Christmas at Kew. I went two years and it was amazing! This year was simply magical and I would highly recommend it.

Have a fabulous festive and wintery month.

Over and out...

REVIEW - A PLACE CALLED PERFECT by Helena Duggan

2018-10-15T07:00:00.000+01:00

A book that will haunt you in the best way possible weeks after you've read it.

A Place Called Perfect (Perfect #1)
by Helena Duggan
Publisher - Usborne Children's Publishing
Release Date - August 1st 2017
Buy - Amazon | Book Depository

Violet never wanted to move to Perfect.

Who wants to live in a town where everyone has to wear glasses to stop them going blind? And who wants to be neat and tidy and perfectly behaved all the time?

But Violet quickly discovers there's something weird going on – she keeps hearing noises in the night, her mum is acting strange and her dad has disappeared.

When she meets Boy she realizes that her dad is not the only person to have been stolen away...and that the mysterious Watchers are guarding a perfectly creepy secret!

This book is one of those that I wished I read when I first heard about it, when it received its glorious nominations and when my students kept on reading and recommending this book, I knew I was missing out. But never fear I got there in the end when the lovely publisher were sending around book 2 The Trouble With Perfect and it jumped on that band-waggon immediately. I'm so thankful to them as I absolutely loved it, it's a book that stays with you weeks after you've read it.

When Violet moves to a new village after her father's big promotion, she hates it. She left friends, her school, her home to now wash up in this place. There's a problem with this town, and her father being an eye-surgeon is the only one who can help, the town is going blind. The next morning, her whole family can't see, so they're fitted with Archer's Rose-Tinted glasses that glosses the town in utter perfection. When Violet meets the Archer brothers with their perfect tea that honestly tastes like nothing she's ever drank, she knows not to trust them and she's right too. This town is far from perfect, quite the opposite and she along with her new friend Boy, even with all eyes of the town on her, is going to prove it.

This book kept me going through the beginning of term. It took my a while but whenever I dived into the book, I was completely immersed. When I left it behind I wanted to know what happened next, I just wished I had more time to read it. Helena creates such a vivid and darkly imaginative of the world of Perfect, so much so it's quite creepy. One particular thing is the eyeballs, growing eyeballs that wrap around you and attack you. I see them in a totally different way when I look on the cover. *shivers* I really loved the characters in this book, Violet is not afraid of being who she is, she's confident and she's got balls to take on two horrible brothers, to fight against her whole family and be cast out because she knows in her heart that this isn't right, and that's bold for a 11 year old. Oh and Boy, he's so reserved I wish we saw more of him, I hope in the sequel he'll come out of his shell, there's a story that I want hear but I can tell that's it could be broken one. Aow.

One of the goals as a reader and a librarian is to expand my reading, I'm not saying classics or anything like that, more Middle Grade, younger books not just the Teen and YA because as proven there is some glorious MG, that keep you in the edge of your seat. It was only a few days ago when I received Violet and Boy in the post by Usborne (thank you) that when students kept asking have you go this book? or "Miss, there's a second book?!" or for some "Miss, what's it about?"
Confession: I read so much that, I'm absolutely terrible at describing a book, but I did pretty well with this one as instantly I remembered what it was about, the adventure, cheeky characters and the eyeballs and the student reserved it instantly. Proud moment. That's how amazing this book is and I would recommend to anyone. This is a hauntingly, captivating and beautiful story. Please read it.

Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Usborne for sending this book in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW - SPELLSLINGER by Sebastien de Castell

2018-10-11T07:00:00.000+01:00

When one author reads from his latest book to spark me into reading the whole series because of it.

Spellslinger (Spellslinger #1)
by Sebastien de Castell
Publisher - Hot Key Books
Release Date - May 4th 2017
Buy - Amazon | Book Depository

Magic is a con game.

Kellen is moments away from facing his first mage's duel and the start of four trials that will make him a spellcaster. There's just one problem: his magic is gone. As his sixteenth birthday approaches, Kellen falls back on his cunning in a bid to avoid total disgrace. But when a daring stranger arrives in town, she challenges Kellen to take a different path. Ferius Parfax is one of the mysterious Argosi - a traveller who lives by her wits and the three decks of cards she carries. She's difficult and unpredictable, but she may be Kellen's only hope...

When Sebestein de Castell started reading an excerpt from his latest book in the series at the Hot Key Books blogger brunch it brought all of us to laughter, even me. It was like the room suddenly lifted, and I loved that and I needed that feeling especially with work, you need that complete escapism and this book totally is that.

Kellen wants to be a Jan'Tep, a full fledged mage when he reaches his sixteenth birthday. He wants to smash the trails and be the son that the mighty Ke'heop's wants him to be. The thing is, he hasn't sparked any of his bands. He hasn't a shred of magic at all, which can only mean one path to become a Sha'Tep, who serves the family as basically a servant, just like his uncle Abydos. Living in a world where citizens pride themselves on magic and living with it, Kellen certainly feels the pressure. But after a failed duel, his sister, Shalla tries to force his magic, only to result in nearly killing him, when a lady, a Argosi stranger with bright red hair saves his life. Ferius Parfax only she leads him down another path, one of trickery, cards and a squirrel cat names Reichis.

Spellslinger is in a league of its own. I don't think I've laughed quite so much in a book like this in a long time. It a series of books I wish was around after the hype of Harry Potter. With a fast paced storyline its unputadownable and seriously addictive. There's also such a family of characters. Kellen is such a likeable, cheeky character, his perseverance is admirable when all he wants is still be part of the family that he's protected and protected him. I think Kellen needed a little pushing, a bit of guidance, ask the right questions and he'll find out where her belongs. But whilst he's trying to find that he figures out more than he bargained for, including being part of citizens that is based on a lie. I really loved Ferius Parfax, she is really intriguing and that's what pulls you in, she had something about her that just caught your attention throughout the whole book, that you sub consciously following, wondering what she's up to. But I guess you the star of the series, has to be the Reichis, the squirrel cat. Sebestein just nailed his character, a squirrel cat that is Kellen familiar, and he steals the entire book. All you need to know is that he will try and eat everyone eyeballs, he's stubborn, in it for himself but he does will have your back.

Spellslinger reminds me of a magical Robin Hood, although he doesn't have a cool familiar like Reichis. Kellen hasn't quite learnt how to protect himself physically, his friends do. It's a family of outlaws. This book is all about fitting in with what you got and that you play with the cards you're dealt with.

Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Hot Key Books for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.

SEPTEMBER WRAP-UP & OCTOBER TBR

2018-10-03T07:00:00.000+01:00

Hi Everyone, How has your September been? Mine has been manic and the fact that it's already October has passed me by completely. Where does the time go? I mean we are counting down to Christmas already in shops.... Oh god that means I need to start thinking about presents. Who leaves it to the last minute?

With the start of September came the start of term at work, it's never been busier, additional roles to my job has been interesting but also exciting. That also comes with hardly no reading. I read a grand total of 1 book and I guess a half even though I've DNFd it for the time being. September also brought along Back to Skool theme on my blog and towards the end of the month I was very excited to attend the Hot Key Book Blogger Brunch which has sparked my magical reading this month.

I'm hoping October will be more productive, with spooky reads as well as half term approaching which means more reading. Yay.

Books I Read and Book of the Month

A Place Called Perfect by Helena Duggan - 5/5

As a librarian I'm really trying to broaden my reading to younger books, older middle grade and when the publisher approached about this I couldn't not say no. Look at the covers and these are honestly the perfect books for autumn and halloween.

Book Reviewed

ARC - The Cruel Design by Emily Suvada

This Month I received - thank you lovely publishers (and authors)

A small haul this month but one that I'm thankful of. The Spellslinger series book were from the Blogger Event and Charmcaster is Sebastien's actual author's copy which is awesome. Last year I read Otherworld, that I was book I couldn't put down and a total surprise that it was a book I loved. So I can't wait to immerse myself in the same gaming world once again in it's sequel Otherearth. Whilst I didn't receive much I did buy the new V.E. Schwab, Vengeful which I hope to read very soon as well as a few others.

Book Most Anticipated

October TBR

After the Hot Key Books Blogger Event I'm on a Spellslinger series kick, these are just brilliant. I'm also so so excited to finally get a copy of Otherearth. I hoping my reading will pick up a lot this month. So I can't wait to read each and every one.

How was your month? What are you Spooky October TBR plans?

GUEST POST - Chloe Seager talks about making and maintaining friends...

2018-09-17T07:00:00.000+01:00

Hi Everyone, I continue my #Bk2Skool September (I finally came up with a cool hashtag name for it.) If this is your first post that you have seen of my blog then here's a brief catch you up.

#Bk2Skool September was created by me as I work in a school, a librarian. I see first hand what it's like going to school for the first time with a new cohort of Year 7s, but also to those who are going back to school, starting their GCSEs etc. So I've asked some of favourite authors that explore school life in their books.

Last week I had Tamsin Winter, author of Being Miss Nobody discussing her top tips to starting secondary school. Today I have the lovely Chloe Seager author of Editing Emma and her latest book Friendship Fails of Emma Nash talking about the heart of her book, friendships and how scary it can be fitting in, finding friends, or keeping the ones you've had for years. Here is a bit more about her book.

Emma Nash is back….and determined to work out the world of friendships and relationships once and for all (…ish).

Now she’s in the sixth form, Emma’s expecting life to be a breeze but when her best friend Steph suddenly has a boyfriend who she’s spending more time with Emma’s not sure what to do with herself.

So Emma’s got a mission in mind: making new friends. Signing up for the school fashion show seems like the perfect opportunity. Although soon, through a series of mishaps that are absolutely not Emma’s fault (well, sort of), her world is teetering on the edge of disaster again.

Would going back to creating a life for herself online reaaaaaallllyyy be so bad?

School Friendships

In Friendship Fails of Emma Nash, Emma is navigating not only trying to find new friends at school, but also keeping on top of her existing ones. I definitely went through many friendship highs and lows during my teen years, so here are some of my top tips for making and maintaining friends at school.

1. Take your time choosing

When you start a new school/college, there’s a lot of pressure to ‘make friends’ straightaway. I’ve heard that statistically, you’re 90% likely to make friends with the first person you sit next to in a new school. This doesn't make me think, ‘oh wow, how lucky that 90% of us instantly sit next to a BFF,’ it makes me think that some people must surely settle with the first person they meet. With all the pressure and fear that surrounds entering a new place it’s totally understandable, but try to talk to as many people as possible; you want to make sure you’re making the right lifelong friends.

2. Be brave about switching groups

If you do end up feeling you’ve chosen the wrong friends somewhere down the line, it can feel an awful and impossible task to change them. After starting school in Year 7, I didn’t find the right friendship group for me until I was in Year 9. That is two whole years of shifting groups. It involved a lot of guilt (about leaving people behind who were perfectly nice, I just didn’t feel the ‘chemistry’ with), a lot of nastiness (when I’d accidentally fallen in with some very mean girls) and a lot of loneliness (during shifts, and from hanging out with people I didn’t really click with). I began to think the problem was me; that friends who were right for me didn’t exist. Then I tried moving on one last time, and bam! I found girls who were lovely, clever, fun and just the right amount of dorky for me.

3. Remember school friendships are intense

In a way, friendships when you’re at school are unlike any other, because school is such a big part of your life. You might walk into school with your friends, sit next to them all day, walk back together and hang out together in the evening to watch TV or do homework together. You might even hang out on weekends and in the summer holidays, too. As a teenager you don’t realise it, but THAT IS A LOT. It’s natural that sometimes you’re going to get on each other’s nerves and fall out. It’s unavoidable that things will get blown out of proportion. Arguments will happen, so try not to blow the thing that got blown out of proportion, out of proportion…if you see what I mean. The storm will pass and if your friends are good friends, you’ll resolve problems between you.

4. Communicate

You won’t resolve problems without talking to each other (calmly) about what’s gone wrong and how to change it in future. It took me a long time to discover this and this actually isn’t just a tip for school friendships; once I learnt it, I carried it into my friendships for the rest of my life.

5. If BFFs don't happen at school, don’t beat yourself up

For some people finding amazing friendships happens as soon as they join a new school, for some (like me) it takes time, and for others it happens at university or during their adult life. If it’s not happening don’t place blame on yourself; it’s not you, it’s just that you haven’t found ‘your people’ yet. If your people aren’t at school that’s ok - they might be outside it; on your street, at an after-school club, or on Twitter! Keep looking and trying, because they are out there.

Thank you so much Chloe for guest posting on my blog. One thing I couldn't agree more is 'don't beat yourself up'. I promise it gets better when you out of school.

Chloe Seager grew up in East London with her Mum and much-loved cat, Katie. She studied English Literature and Drama at the University of East Anglia, where she sadly realised she couldn't act, but did rediscover her love of children's books. Children's Literature was one of her favourite modules, and it made her wonder why grown-ups ever stopped reading them. She now works with them full-time as a YA/Children's literary agent at Diane Banks Associates, and lives back in East London with her boyfriend and pet fish. Editing Emma is her first novel.

Website | Twitter | Instagram

ARC REVIEW - THE CRUEL DESIGN by Emily Suvada

2018-09-12T07:00:00.000+01:00

This series is like any other... If you think book 1 is brilliant then the sequel is even better. Read my review for The Mortal Coil, the first book in the series here.

The Cruel Design (The Mortal Coil #2)
by Emily Suvada
Publisher - Penguin Random Children's
Release Date - November 4th 2018
Pre-Order - Amazon | Book Depository

Where can you hide when you're running from yourself?

Catarina thought they'd stopped the Hydra virus. She was wrong.

After laying everything on the line to decrypt the vaccine, Cat realises that Lachlan's daemon code is in the panel of every person on the planet's surface. With it, he can reprogram humanity.

She, Cole and Leoben set out to stop him, but they're on a timer. Cartaxus - the shadowy corporation that's both helped and hindered them - has a deadly end game in play. The virus is evolving, the vaccine is dying, and if Cat can't find Lachlan in three days, they'll use lethal code to wipe out every person on the planet.

Their path takes them to Entropia, an underground city deep in the desert and home to the most extreme gene hackers, run by the queen of coding, Regina.

Struggling with the revelations about her past, and plagued by strange visions, what Cat finds in Entropia is more than just a trail to Lachlan. Because in the vaulted chambers of Regina's kingdom, Cat is forced to question everything she knows and everyone she trusts, and discovers that the biggest threat of all may be buried in her own mind.

The best of Science Fiction is right here... Emily Suvada is undoubtedly one of my new favourite writers. I couldn't wait but to head straight into the sequel, I mean if it's in front of you its hard not too, right? The Mortal Coil certainly didn't end in a cliffhanger if that's what your wondering but it left you wanting for more, so if you can read them together then do. Although now I'm wishing the final book was here already, I have to wait painstakenly another year.

Without giving too much away for those who haven't read it, I'll keep it simple. After a life-changing moment at the end of TMC, her life and those of millions of other rest once again in her hands. Like everything in the world, it changes it state, it moves on but nothing as fast as this virus. It's existence of the virus is evolving far worst than Catarina could ever imagine. It's a race against time, with three days before the shadow organisation wipes out the entirety of the human race. Catarina faces some hard truths as well as some very hard decisions ahead, she's at a point where she is a constant struggle with herself but also those around her. When she needs her friends more than ever, its times like these that find herself asking, can she really trust them?

Emily Suvada is undoubtedly one of my new favourite writers. New characters are introduced, a team that was broken apart is now rebuilt. You'll find yourself in this book having a lot of trust issues, including and I hate to say this with a certain super soldier. I hated that. Cat really does go through it in this book though, both physically and mentally. This girl is one of the best heroines I've come across in a long time. Her strength, bravery, is to be truly admired, the fight in her, it really makes your heart swell.

I loved how Emily really racked up the tension and excitement in the story. The thrill of the chase, the constant twists in the plotline sent you on the edge of you seat on in my case my bed. Your heart was beating so fast, you literally couldn't contain yourself. Emily really pushed the boundaries with the impossible, the stunning breakthroughs with genetics and technological advancements, it felt like you were in a whole new world, especially when Catarina went to Entropia, they were thriving on the virus, with the use of DNA and coding, panels are a thing of the past in TCD. The writing style is stunning, utterly seamless with the science behind making the realms of the impossible even more surreal, pushing ever closer to our reality which is scary to say the least.

It was said to me that The Cruel Design is even better than The Mortal Coil. In a way I didn't want to get my hopes up, you know how some sequels can be and I really didn't want to be disappointed. But boy was a wrong, this is a series that really exceeds everything in the first, it intensive, thrilling and quite simply stunning. I can't wait for book 3 but the wait will be excruciating. Take a breath, grab the book and sink into on the best sci-fi series ever.

Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you so so much to the lovely Penguin publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

GUEST POST - Tamsin Winter discusses her tips to surviving secondary school...

2018-09-10T07:00:00.000+01:00

Hi Everyone, it's a new term, a lot of us are returning to work like me as librarian or a teacher and some of you are heading back to school. Some of you are heading back for GCSE year, starting college of Sixth Form, going to University or could you be starting that journey from scratch with your first year in secondary school.

There are a lot of books in Teen and YA that really captures a teenagers life, through school, family, friendships, and social media. So this month I've got some of my favourite authors that really talk about all aspects of school, life as a teenager, pressures and today begins that journey with the lovely Tamsin Winter who has written her top tips for surviving school. These are rules to live by I think.

Her debut novel came out last year, Being Miss Nobody and here is a little bit more about it.

Eleven-year-old Rosalind is mortifyingly shy and cannot speak at all, well, not in front of anyone at school.

Her classmates CALL HER weird and she becomes the perfect target for bullying - someone who cannot fight back.

So, Rosalind starts Miss Nobody - an anonymous blog to expose the bullies at her school.

But, as her blog starts trending, things begin to spiral out of control. There is only one thing Rosalind has to do - speak up.

But how do you do that when you can't actually speak?

Starting a new secondary school: my best tips to help you boss it

1. Get Organised. Starting a new school is THE best excuse to buy a load of new stationery. Don’t worry about what pencil case or bag or everyone else might have – choose the stuff that makes you happy. Being prepared for a new term by having all the right equipment is majorly dorky, and that is a GOOD thing.

2. Good Friendships Take Time. Some people seem to befriend everybody within about three seconds of meeting them. Most people’s friendships take a bit longer than this. Don’t worry if you haven’t made a new best friend in the first week. You will likely be with these people for FIVE YEARS. It’s okay to take time getting to know them.

3. Take A Photo Of Your Timetable. Because you will lose it.

4. Join A Club. Clubs can be a brilliant way of meeting people with the same interests as you, and people who you might not come across in your usual school day. Most schools have an extensive programme of lunchtime and after-school clubs, ranging from Book Club (I strongly recommend) to Boxercise (I did this once and afterwards could not move my arms). Clubs are great for socialising, learning new skills or even just avoiding the crowds.

5. DO NOT GET A PERM. I literally did this the week before I started secondary school in 1990 and I have regretted it ever since.

6. Find The Library. Then Visit It A lot. One of the best things you can do with your school days is to spend it reading books. It’s one of the few times in your life when you have a library on your doorstep, so make the most of it. Also, it will make your new English teacher very happy. And that can only be a good thing.

7. Be Yourself. The pressure to be like everybody else when you start secondary school is IMMENSE. I spent almost so many years pretending I liked stuff just because everyone else did. I wish somebody had told me at the time that it is okay to not be into the same stuff as your classmates. The right friends won’t expect you to be a carbon copy of them.

8. Tell Someone If Something’s Wrong. It can be really hard to ask for help when you’re at a new school. Sometimes, you might not know who to ask. But if something is wrong, tell someone. Your form tutor is a good place to start. If they seem busy photocopying or something, don’t worry. That’s just start-of-term normalness, believe me. I’ve never met a teacher who was too busy to help a young person in need. It’s literally their job.

9. Report Bullying. Unfortunately, some people will tell you bullying is just a normal part of school life, and not to worry about it. This is the biggest lie ever. Bullying is not acceptable. It should not be a normal part of someone’s life. And it should not go unreported. If you experience it yourself, or if you see it happening to someone else, report it. IRL and online. You could be saving a life.

10. Be Kind. If there was only one piece of advice I could give you about starting secondary school, this is it: be kind to people. It’s just about the greatest thing you can be.

Thank you so much to the lovely Tamsin for guest blogging on here. These are certainly tips to live by.

AUGUST WRAP-UP & SEPTEMBER TBR

2018-09-01T07:00:00.000+01:00

Hi Everyone, it's that time of the month for the wrap-up post but that also mean it's the end of my summer holidays. At the beginning of the holidays I was thinking 'what am I going to do with myself?' as I love my job and I missed the library. But now that the time has gone, I've had a gorgeous holiday in Cornwall, I've been reading quite a lot, (although the TBR hasn't really gone down) lots of blog tours, celebration of kindness both on the blog and off . I feel that having this time off does lead to sending lots of money and obviously purchasing loads of books which doesn't help the TBR. Haha.

September starts a new term, full time hours, two school libraries and much more. So I'm very excited. Blog wise, there might be some fewer posts but I do have some cracking ones in September all part of a secret themed project next month. Reading will continue but I will be slower and more tired, so hitting that GR target at the end of the year seems so far away. Anywho, lets see what I've read and what I plan to read in September.

Books I Read

Are We All Lemmings and Snowlfakes? by Holly Bourne - 5/5

Songs About a Boy by Chris Russell - 5/5

Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas - 5/5

The Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada - 5/5

The Cruel Design by Emily Suvada - 5/5

Books Reviewed

Jinxed by Amy McCulloch

Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes? by Holly Bourne

Songs About A Boy by Chris Russell

The Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada

Books of the Month

I couldn't honestly choose between the both of these. This is Holly's best book without a doubt. And after discovering a new author and series, The Mortal Coil is nothing that I've ever read before.

This Month I Received - thank you lovely publishers

Its been a great month for books! Although I have bought a few as well so I've gained books rather than trying to get the TBR down. The first 3 I have already devoured and read, I'm coming to the end of The Cruel Design which is out till November but oh my is this series addictive. The lovely people at Usborne sent me both books in the Perfect series including the new book releasing in September. I really want to get into some younger teen novels and these sound so spooky and autumny that I can't wait to devour these.

Most Anticipated this Month

September TBR

Reading will be downsized this month with going back to month but these are the books I'm hoping to read.

How was your month? What are your September TBR plans?

REVIEW - THE MORTAL COIL by Emily Suvada

2018-08-29T07:00:00.001+01:00

So the question I need to ask you first is - Have you read this book? To be honest it shouldn't be a question, because you need to read this book - end of story. I can convince you, promise just continue reading this...

The Mortal Coil (The Mortal Coil #1)
by Emily Suvada
Publisher - Penguin Random Children's UK
Release Date - November 2nd 2017
Buy - Amazon | Book Depository

When a lone soldier, Cole, arrives with news of Lachlan Agatta's death, all hope seems lost for Catarina. Her father was the world's leading geneticist, and humanity's best hope of beating a devastating virus. Then, hidden beneath Cole's genehacked enhancements she finds a message of hope: Lachlan created a vaccine.

Only she can find and decrypt it, if she can unravel the clues he left for her. The closer she gets, the more she finds herself at risk from Cartaxus, a shadowy organization with a stranglehold on the world's genetic tech. But it's too late to turn back.

There are three billion lives at stake, two people who can save them, and one final secret that Cat must unlock. A secret that will change everything.

Catarina is living on the surface of the world that is facing an apocalypse. Two years ago a virus spread across the world, infecting people with a plague. The Lurkers (zombies to you and I) roam the world, the only way to protect yourself is by eating infected flesh to become immune. Eventually they denote called The Hydra, spreading the disease further. Her father is a scientist, working on vaccine to finally end this virus. Until when he was taken by a shadow organisation known as Cartaxus (kind of like Umbrella Co-operation) to find a cure Cat has been living and surviving on her own. So when a lone soldier called Cole arrives at the cabin, she finds that her father has died and being his daughter of his intelligence she is the only one who can save the world by continuing his work lying within her own body.

So my initial thoughts when I first saw this book was apocalypse, zombies, virus and girl who saves the world. I loved the fact that I read nothing like this, so as someone who likes a movie or two on zombies this was right up my street. What I didn't know was that it was going to turn out to be the best book/start of a series that I've read in all of my reading history. It's book likes these that really do surprise me but also ones that are close to my heart as well. This book has blown my mind wide open.

Cat is such a strong herione of the novel, I love her bravery which you will note more throughout the book. Being the daughter of a genius, her intelligence speaks volumes. What I really enjoyed was the way Emily knew her stuff to really appeal to the readers and also a way for you understand the world around you. Cat is a survivor, she was born one, her only companion after losing her father to Cartaxus was Agnes who would protect and look out for her. Agnes was never far from her thoughts and would always look after as if she was her own. When it came to Cole, badass super soldier, I loved that Cat took no crap from him and still had her independence despite Cole's protectiveness. I thought there might have been a love triangle but I'm glad for the sake of the book that it was more of thought when the spark between them that ignited something powerful, a deeper connection.

Catarina lives in a world of scientific and technical advancements so much so that everyone on the planet has a panel in their arm, they are connected to various apps, and jacked into coding and tech within their bodies. With a bit of VR, each person can access a digital and surreal world, where everything is accessible, coder like Cat can change the look of yourself just simply by creating a code and uploading it, broken limbs can heal within a week with healing tech, and you can knock someone out by creating a virus. Emily Suvada's writing is out of this world! The world building makes the world seem very real, which was very intense. Her writing style wasn't over-whelming, you could understand and feel the world that she was creating, her knowledge shines through each page. While I was reading TMC, it felt so surreal that the book was VR, everything became so real, I was jacked in and I felt I couldn't escape until the end, that's how addictive and adventurous it is. The narrative is fast-paced and I could feel my heart-pounding with every twist and turn. The book needs a movie ASAP. If you get all this visual effects through Emily's writing, imagine how it would be on the big screen.

As a way to end this review, all you need to know that I've found my new favourite book/series of 2018 and my new favourite author. Don't let The Mortal Coil pass you by in the bookshop, pick it up, you won't regret it. It's a book you can't put down and it's a story that you will never forget.

Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to the amazing Penguin Random Children's for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

DISCUSSION - WHAT ARE YOUR READING HABITS?

2018-08-25T07:00:00.000+01:00

After sending out a tweet a few days ago, it stroked up quite the likes and conversation. It made me rather happy and I guess I enjoyed talking all things books with everyone, seeing that I'm not the only one and laughing about it.

Reading habits are what makes you who you are, your unique to your own character. When your a reader, book blogger, librarian or teacher, your more than that, books, characters become your life. The care you take to your own books, your bookshelves it's singular to you. You can't help that maybe or series, author or book is more precious than maybe some other. Your favourites become something more to you than just a book. So like me when I enter a bookshop or any kind, Waterstones, WHSmith or Independent, you can't help but take the pride from your shelf to the outside world. That's why when I see the YA and Teen Shelves is disarray I can't help but sort it out. It natural to me. So the Holly Bourne books, you know she's my favourite author so I make sure that the book are in publishing order, The Spinster Club series starts with Am I Normal Yet?

I'd like to point that this is no way a criticism to staff who work there. I guess I kind of feel the customer is part of it and we are doing a kind service.

I love bookshops but I do have this habit of putting the books in order of the series! Does anyone else do that or is it a librarian thing!?😝😂
— Emma📚☕️ (@NverJudgeaBook) August 22, 2018

What are your reading habits?

REVIEW - SONGS ABOUT A BOY by Chris Russell

2018-08-17T07:00:00.000+01:00

This series has fast become one of my favourites. I'm so sad that's it come to the end, no more Charlie, Gabe, Aiden, Yuki, and Olly but I have to say that Songs About A Boy, was a superb ending and truly one of the best finale books I've read in a long time.

Songs About A Boy (Songs About A Girl #3)
by Chris Russell
Publisher - Hodder Children's Books
Release Date - August 9th 2018
Buy - Amazon | Book Depository

Music, boy bands, first love and heartbreak in the explosive finale to the Songs About A Girl trilogy - a modern love story for anyone who has ever dreamed of being 'with the band'. From a Zoella Book Club friend.

Just as Charlie allows herself to succumb to Gabe's charms, the explosive revelation about her mother's death threatens to pull them apart.

Meanwhile, a media circus has exploded around the future of Fire&Lights - when they announce a US tour to show the world that they are stronger than ever, Charlie gets the opportunity to accompany them. New York City, here she comes! But it's not all fun and games. Charlie is still feeling all kinds of awkward around Gabe and knowing that her mother's last days were in America touring with her band, Charlie uses the opportunity to uncover some more truths about her mother's death.

As Fire&Lights try to win over the world again, and as Charlie and Gabriel uncover the true story that links their pasts, will Charlie finally be able to follow her heart?

"The story of four teenage boys, trying to grow as adults while the entire world watched them."

So we are reunited with the boys and Charlie for the third and final time and I'm in mourning. I couldn't bring myself to let go of the final page, I knew then it would be officially over. But hey it doesn't stop me from re-reading does it.

This book is hard not to spoil with some of the story-line as it's the final book, so if you don't want to know, then skip ahead to the next paragraph. There's something special about Fire&Lights, I know it and so does Charlie. With the break up of Olly from the band, the backlash of the press, and the hate towards Gabe, they didn't know where their future lies. Charlie didn't know where she stood with Gabe, and she didn't know how to take the fact that Gabe's father had something to do with her mothers death. Everything is up in the air and she just doesn't know what to do. So with Charlie focusing on her exams, the last she needed was more distraction. Until F&L announces that they are doing a month long tour in America and Charlie and Melissa is coming with them. Not just for the band and it's success but also for finding out what is really between her and Gabe and truth behind their parents past.

Ah shucks this book made me cry! I'm going to miss this guys so much. Aiden, Yuki, Gabe, Olly and of course the legend of photography Charlie Bloom. Charlie is just the bomb, her strength is her creativity but also her kindness. You don't really realise this until the band have broken up just how much Charlie is a vital part of the band. Seeing them through her lens, is just the beginning but what you witness is that her photos become a story of the band, how they changed and how they have changed her. They have opened her eyes to the world and she's the luckiest girl in the world to be able to call Aiden Yuki, Gabe and Olly her friends, they will be friends for life that's for sure. Charlie really grows as an individual being part of this band as well, but she can also see the band for who they are as individuals as well. She sees them as human beings rather than celebrities hassled by the press, and many stage performances. That's the beauty of Charlie is lights up Fire & Lights from within. She is the core that brings them together and she makes them something unique, something special.

I did the "What member of Fire & Lights am I? quiz" - and I got Aiden who I knew I would, he's the quite, soulful member of the band, he appears very vulnerable at times but that's what makes my heart just lifts about him that he is there for his friends and for the music not for the fame. His partner in crime in the group is Yuki that honestly lights up the band in a comical way. Gabe, is well Gabriel, he's broody, distant and clouded with darkness at times until Charlie brings something else out him, life. He comes alive with her and that what I loved about their relationship. There isn't much I can say about Olly apart from the fact they he is part of the band, the band are nothing without him and that's what you realise during the whole book. One person that really surprised me in this book was Barry, H.the group's manager, I felt like he was a parent figure throughout the whole book. He may want to the success of the band, but he looks after them as if they are his sons and daughters and Barry is the parent when they are on tour, the person they turn too.

Chris Russell is a sensational writer, you can't stop turning the pages, he brings a fictional boy band to life in the hearts of his readers, like me. He touches up on the ugliness of the press and the media can be. How friendships are essential to everyone individuals and as a band. But most all that makes my heart swell with pride and love is the importance of family. Fire and Lights are a family, how each branch of the group becomes a blooming tree, how family shouldn't be taken for granted, you should be honest with them as they are there to support you in life. But sometimes being reckless can be the best decision in life, otherwise Charlie Bloom wouldn't be able to call Fire and Lights her extended family. As someone who is part of a band himself, he really opens up through his writing how and I found myself glazed eyed in the final moments of this book.

This series is so addictive, fun and most of all it really does give you fuzzy feelings too. I honestly can't believe it's over...but can I say that this is one of my favourite series to date now and the ending although sad was spectacular.

Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Team BKMRK and Hodder Children's for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW - ARE WE ALL LEMMINGS AND SNOWFLAKES? by Holly Bourne

2018-08-15T07:00:00.000+01:00

Holly Bourne's book are always my most anticipated, as soon as finished the latest from her, I'm craving for more. I was so excited when it came through the door from Usborne, I really am so very lucky. It's not unknown that she is my favourite author.

Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes?
by Holly Bourne
Publisher - Usborne Publishing
Release Date - August 9th 2018
Buy - Amazon | Book Depository

Welcome to Camp Reset, a summer camp with a difference. A place offering a shot at “normality” for Olive, a girl on the edge, and for the new friends she never expected to make – who each have their own reasons for being there. Luckily Olive has a plan to solve all their problems. But how do you fix the world when you can’t fix yourself?

There is no need for an introduction for this author. Holly Bourne is the leading lady of UKYA and her latest book honestly doesn't compare to her others, it's truly her best. I don't say that lightly, I mean yes I say that about every book she writes but Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes? has combined the greats of her collection of books in her latest novel.

Olive doesn’t want to be Nothing or Everything in her world. Her emotions goes from one extreme to another and her crazy brain and she calls it can’t find the middle. It doesn’t know balance and that’s what Olive needs! She doesn’t like labels. She lives life through emotions and highs or lows, she either sleep all day or she doesn’t at all. So after stopping herself from being suicidal she is sent to Camp Reset, a government-led treatment trial. There will be others like her but it’s the hope of finally being able to mend herself, to not be like this again that drives within her.

Olive is a brave and sensational young woman. Sometimes you don't really know how to take Olive at first, she loves photography though, seeing her through a camera lens lens and developing them calms her. She's an emotional rollercoater - the way she uses humour and jokes to cover how she feels. She's unable to stand still, she's like one of those po-go sticks, pulsing with energy. Oh and she hates labels and she thinks she's a failure. Living with mental health is one things, figuring out what she may have is another, so she just knows she has a strange brain and needs support to help it, to understand it. What I loved was that, Olive is the catalyst of the novel, she's the main character, the main instigator in starting a revolution and that's why she is an inspiration to young people and readers everywhere.

Who I really loved was Olive's friends like Ally, her best and only friend who was always there for her and who is unafraid of telling it how it is and that's why Olive loves her. Then you have others Olive met at Camp Reset, I won't go though all the characters but there are some that really shined like Sophie who just lifted my heart, her vulnerability to life but the camp and her friends like Olive let her overcome her mental illness in small steps. Her confidence and strength grew and grew, it really made the novel. Then you have Lewis, Jamie and the rest of The Prime Numbers, each with their own vulnerabilities, their persona that it's hard to grow attached to them. The Prime Numbers defines the book.

The representation of mental health in Holly's book's is very impressive. What I find is that Holly's writing and narrative of her characterization of Olive was very moving and the impact of metal health on individuals and the world just makes it more intense at times. The emotional attachment you have with Olive and also The Prime Numbers but also more than that the joy you experience as it comes to an end. This book is more than just mental health, it's about being kind to yourself, it's about having some hope in this very complicated and sometimes dark world, it's about appreciating and spreading the love and happiness you feel that others don't feel so alone.

I'm a reader entranced by Holly's stories she writes, to me it's more of an understanding of mental health, it's makes me realise that this is the world we are living in and we all need to help, to support younger people more. Working with young people every day as a librarian has opened my eyes to so much with what they go through and knowing that Holly's books has not only found a place in my heart but also a place for others to resonate, a story for them to relate too gives me hope, that the world is a much kinder place to have Holly representing it in YA. She’s opened up YA to everyone. It was like we didn’t think to talk about mental health, friendships, reality until Holly came around.

I LOVE Holly's writing. There's something about it that just sings to your soul. Holly brings out all the emotion from page 1, her writing style is singular and unique. No one I've read, writes with such insight and sincerity and then BAM - insert the humour. It cracks me up every time but it just makes the it that more realistic and more human to read. With each of Holly's book there's always a moral to live by and which stays with you after finishing this book. This one is powerful and life affirming and changing is sharing kindness and it starts with yourself.

Holly Bourne is waiting at the top of the avalanche waiting for us to join her. This book truly moved me in a way that Holly’s books haven’t before. This is her greatest achievement and it’s shines with hope, friendship, kindness and strength. This book defines Holly Bourne at her best!

Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Don't forget to join in in the #KindnessIsContagious virus on Twitter.

Thank you to Usborne and Holly for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

BLOG TOUR: REVIEW - JINXED by Amy McCulloch

2018-08-09T07:00:00.000+01:00

Hi guys, I'm so excited to be part of this tour. It was this time last that I began reading The Potion Diaries, and it was one of my highlighted series of the year. I loved just being transported somewhere magical and I couldn't wait to read more from Amy. Today I share my review of Jinxed. All I can say at this point is that you need to buy it, because it's a cracker.

Lacey Chu has big dreams of becoming a companioneer for MONCHA, the largest tech firm in North America and the company behind the "baku" - a customisable smart pet that functions as a phone but makes the perfect companion too. When Lacey finds out she hasn't been accepted into Profectus - the elite academy for cutting edge tech - it seems her dreams are over. Worst of all, rather than getting to choose one of the advanced bakus, she’s stuck with a rubbish insect one.

Then, one night, Lacey comes across the remains of an advanced baku. Once it might’ve been in the shape of a cat but it’s now mangled and broken, no sign of electronic life behind its eyes. Days of work later and the baku opens its eyes. Lacey calls him Jinx – and Jinx opens up a world for her that she never even knew existed, including entry to the hallowed halls of Profecus. Slowly but surely, Jinx becomes more than just a baku to Lacey – he becomes her perfect companion. But what is Jinx, really? His abilities far surpass anything written into his code or built into his motherboard. He seems to be more than just a robotic pet. He seems ... real.

I have the worst habit which I'm sure all readers do, they compare the authors previous series or book to their latest. It's a curse I think. Ha. When I first started reading Jinxed, I guess you could say I was disorientated because it is so different to The Potion Diaries, and I adored that series. That is no way a bad thing I promise, I guess it shows just how much I love this author and how that series has stayed with me. What was funny was that this time last year, I discovered Amy Alward for the first and I can say that she is becoming one of my favourite authors.

Jinxed, follows a very talented and sassy girl called Lacey. She's been brought up with the inspiration of Monica... and her creation of the baku. A baku is the perfect companion, with real-time apps, texts, phone calls, directions. It's you Apple product as a pet and the best thing if you have allergies it won't effect you. How genius is that? Lacey has finished school and wants to start at Profectus the school that Monica envision creating like-minded individuals like her that want to create and mold their own vision of a baku as they morph with the future. But disappoint strikes when she receives an email. She worked so hard, her stats and exams are the highest, her future of giving her mum a better place than her condo and giving her mum a break is ruined. She doesn't understand until she stumbles on a piece of junk that becomes the best things that ever happened to her...Jinx.

Lacey Chu is an inspiring character, she reminded me of me a little, her determination, her perseverance of not giving up. But also when she works on her companioneering with baku, mending and fixing them, it's like a light is glowing all around her as she immersed in what she loves doing. The rush is like a mystery that needs unfolding until it's solved. That's why she feels she belongs at Profectus because that is where her talent is going to be recognised and challenged and she can't wait. I loved how Amy really touched upon feelings of being a teenager, with her mum that strong relationship she has for her, wanting to protect and make her mum's life ever since her dad left better. That relationship really struck something within me and my relationship with my mum. Her frenships not only with best friend Ally who is just amazing, no matter what she was always there for her. Those of baku team and how they valued her.

Set in a new-agey, near futuristic reality, Amy undoubtedly is a phenomenal writer and her world-building really is quite something. It was a mix between Divergent and Pokemon especially with the baku battles. I have to say I found I was quite jealous of this world, because I would love a baku especially as I have allergies and can't have a pet so having a dog preferably as my companion would be just surreal but that feeling of your not alone. Jinx really made this book, he needs to have a series of his won adventures I think. He's something new but also old, he's got character, humour and sassy-ness.

I really loved this new era of Amy's writing, like I said this is totally different from The Potion Diaries. It's fun, STEM-fueled, addictive, and adrenaline-juiced first novel in this series and really ADDICTIVE should be underlined, because it's a book that is unputtadownable and I really need Book 2 now. Much like Baku's, Jinxed will be your reading companion for life.

Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's for providing a copy in exchange for a honest review.

About Amy McCulloch

Amy McCulloch is the author of The Potion Diaries series (under the name Amy Alward) which has sold in eight languages around the world and was a Zoella Book Club pick in 2016. Her current sci-fi series, JINXED, is out from Simon & Schuster UK in August 2018.

Before becoming a full-time writer and freelance editor, Amy was editorial director for Penguin Random House Children’s Books, where she worked with many YA and MG authors and published the #1 international bestseller GIRL ONLINE by Youtube sensation Zoe Sugg, and its follow-ups GIRL ONLINE: ON TOUR & GIRL ONLINE: GOING SOLO. Previously she was also commissioning editor for HarperVoyager, where she worked with some of the top SF&F authors in the world. In 2013, she was named one of The Bookseller’s Rising Stars of publishing.

An adrenaline junkie with a love of adventure travel, she’s never in the same place for long. Other addictions include coffee, ramen and really great books.

BLOG TOUR: MEET FIRE&LIGHTS from SONGS ABOUT A BOY by Chris Russell

2018-08-08T07:00:00.000+01:00

Right now I'm sitting by the beach reading this very book and when I received it my life was complete. I'd been waiting for it for so long. Chris Russell's book are feel good, addictive, romance with a hint of bad boy boy-bands and photography what more could you ask for from an author who tours and sings a band himself. I met him at YAShot this year and he is so nice. Today I'm really excited to be sharing Fire&Lights: Band Member Profiles. But before that here is a little bit more about Songs About A Boy the final book in the Songs About A Girl series.

Music, boy bands, first love and heartbreak in the explosive finale to the Songs About A Girl trilogy - a modern love story for anyone who has ever dreamed of being 'with the band'. From a Zoella Book Club friend.

Just as Charlie allows herself to succumb to Gabe's charms, the explosive revelation about her mother's death threatens to pull them apart.

Meanwhile, a media circus has exploded around Olly and Fire&Lights: What made Olly walk out? And what future does this leave for the band? As Olly begins his solo career, Fire&Lights announce a US tour and a new band member. Knowing that her mother's last days were in America touring with her band, Charlie is determined to accompany the boys on tour so that she can get to the bottom of her mother's death, once and for all.

When Olly's first single clashes with Fire&Lights's latest release, a race for top of the charts begins ... and as Charlie begins to uncover the truth, will she finally be able to follow her heart?

It's time to face the music ...

FIRE&LIGHTS: Band Member Profiles

I’m not gonna lie - creating my own fictional boy band has been an absolute riot. From commissioning the amazing Alice Oseman to draw the band (and their logo!) to releasing an actual Fire&Lights single, Dance With You, it’s been so much fun bringing them to life for my readers.

F&L have had a tumultuous time throughout the Songs About a Girl trilogy, and let me tell you - it ain’t gonna get any easier in the series finale, Songs About a Boy. For the uninitiated, here’s a (spoiler-free!) character summary of each band member…

OLLY SAMSON
Olly is kind of the unspoken ‘leader’ of Fire&Lights. A former schoolmate of Charlie’s, Olly might be a global megastar, but in some ways he’s still the smiley, down-to-earth boy-next-door that once walked the corridors of Caversham High. He’s a good guy, through and through, and selfless to a fault. Olly will never let you down. He’s also, let’s face it, pretty dreamy.

YUKI HARRISON
Yuki is a lot of people’s favourite F&L boy (confession: he’s mine too). On the surface, he’s the quick-witted class clown with a pocket full of wisecracks - but scratch beneath that surface and you’ll find an intelligent, determined and incredibly loyal guy who cares deeply about his bandmates. He faces his own demons, too, throughout the trilogy, and we learn that, despite his extroverted personality, he’s not invincible. He notices very early on how smart Charlie is, and how good she can be for the group. As a result, he is extremely fond of her right from the start. (“Where have you been all my life, homie?!”)

AIDEN ROBERTS
Aiden’s the quiet one. The sweet one. He’s a bit of a reluctant popstar, but that’s partly why the fans love him so much. Wide-eyed and thoughtful, with a lilting Irish accent, throughout the series we watch Aiden grapple with the darker sides of fame; we find a sensitive teenage boy struggling to understand his own fears and desires while living under the most intense media spotlight imaginable. Just like the others, he develops his own distinct friendship with Charlie - and even, in vulnerable moments, tells her some of his most closely-guarded secrets.

GABRIEL WEST
Gabe is dark, enigmatic and fiercely talented. As a result, he has always been the most photographed, the most adored and the most hounded member of the band. The press are driven crazy by the murky childhood he refuses to discuss, and eventually this leads to some pretty dodgy practices from a certain tabloid journalist. More so than any other member of the band, Gabriel gets put through the wringer in the Songs About a Girl novels. And while he may be a moody so-and-so sometimes, he would do anything to protect his band, and Charlie, too.

So how will the story end for Gabe, Charlie, Olly and the gang? You’ll just have to read Songs About a Boy and find out…

About Chris Russell

At the age of thirteen, Chris Russell formed pop/rock band The Lightyears with his best friends from school. Since then, The Lightyears have toured all over the world, performing everywhere from Wembley Stadium to Glastonbury, and trashing a grand total of zero hotel rooms. In 2013, after a three-month stint ghostwriting for a One Direction fan club, Chris developed an obsession with boy bands and came up with the idea for Songs About a Girl. He is currently busy writing the next book in the series, gigging with The Lightyears and fanboying in the general direction of Harry Styles. Follow Chris on Twitter at @chrisrusselluk

BLOG TOUR: GUEST POST - SHOW STEALER by HAYLEY BARKER

2018-08-06T07:00:00.000+01:00

Hi Everyone, I'm currently on holiday in the gorgeous blue seas of Cornwall. But I'm so excited to read this book. Circuses have always fascinated me, I've enjoyed them as a child and most recently as well. I haven't read this series, but thank you to the lovely Scholastic team for sending me copies so I can. Any who, I'm really excited to share with you a guest post that Hayley has written about the magic of fictional circuses that is just amazing, so I hope you enjoy it.

But before that here is a little bit more about the book.

The deadliest show on earth is ready for an encore... Hoshiko and Ben have been on the run since they burned Silvio Sabatini's circus down to the ground at the explosive finale of SHOW STOPPER. But Ben's mother will stop at nothing to track him down and get her revenge: backing him into a corner where he is forced to sacrifice himself to save Hoshiko. The deadliest show on earth has been resurrected and if Ben thought he'd seen into its dark corners as an outsider, the true extent of the horrors that lurk beneath the Big Top are about to be revealed as he becomes the circus' new star attraction...

The Magic of Fictional Circuses….

I have a confession to make: I’ve never really liked circuses that much. Well, not real ones, anyway. The circuses I’ve been to always seem to be a bit lacking in… well, in magic and sparkle and shine.

It’s not their fault, I suppose; they never really stood a chance against the circuses they were competing with: the ones which raised my pulse and stole my heart and took me on wonderful adventures.

It all started with Enid Blyton: her stories of cheeky, chattering monkeys and loyal steadfast elephants, of tumbling acrobats, slap-stick clowns and feisty fortune-tellers grabbed hold of me and never really let go. And there have been so many others over the years - ones with elephants with ears so big they could fly (Dumbo), ones appearing mysteriously at sunrise with their flowering gardens made of ice (The Night Circus), ones with feathered heroines hatched from an egg (Nights at the Circus), ones with poor, brutalised elephants rescued by love (Water for Elephants), ones with enigmatic and devilish ringmasters (Caraval) and, most recently, ones accompanied by rip-roaring soundtracks celebrating individualism and uniqueness (The Greatest Showman).

It’s clearly not just me who feels the magic. Hugh Jackman’s box office hit seems to have given all of us a touch of circus fever. So what it is it about fictional circuses that draws so many of us in?

I think it’s the way they offer their audience an escape, an alternative to drab reality, an almost, sometimes actual, magical place, where anything and everything can, and often does, happen; where people can fly through the air, swallow fire, juggle, dance, captivate; where the night is illuminated with a thousand lights; where the smell of hot caramel popcorn and spun-sugar candy floss and the sound of the hurdy-gurdy music cast their spell and lure you in.

It was my love of fictional circuses that made me want to write about a circus—to see if I could capture some of that bewitching charm myself. When I started writing, I didn’t know my circus would be such a cruel and horrible place though-- “the deadliest circus in the world,” in fact. The Cirque in Show Stopper and Show Stealer isn’t wonderful at all: it’s evil and deadly.

And yet…there is still some of that old circus magic about it, or I hope so at least. It’s a dark magic: a magic that casts a spell over Ben, the male protagonist, and draws him back again and again and again, intrigued and fascinated even as he is repulsed and horrified.

Even Hoshiko, who captures Ben’s heart as she dances on the tightrope, isn’t immune from the circus’ power. Stolen from her family at the age of five, institutionalised and tortured, surrounded by death and violence… and yet, when she escapes the shackles of the Cirque, forced to admit to herself, that she will never really be free:

“Not when the circus--the bright, shiny, evil, intoxicating circus--still calls me back.”

So, here’s to fictional circuses, and all who shine in them. May they confound our senses and steal our hearts for evermore.

About Hayley Barker

I live in Essex with my husband, two sons and our dog. When I’m not writing, vising schools or taking part in author events, I’m usually taking care of the family–running someone to a sports fixture, cheering on at the side-line, cooking, feeding and tidying up or maybe jumping on the trampoline with the kids.
I cannot imagine what my life would be like without literature in it. Before becoming published, I was a secondary school English teacher and books have always played a massive part in my day-to-day to life and have made me the person I am today. Being an author is a dream come true for me and I feel so lucky to be spending every day doing what I love.

SPREAD THE #kindnessiscontagious VIRUS!

2018-08-03T07:00:00.000+01:00

Hi Everyone, tomorrow I'm going on holiday but I wanted to share with you a campaign that will be happening from the 9th August.

As you know I'm admire and adore Holly's book, some have said I'm a 'super fan' and I guess you could that I am and I'm honoured to be ever since her first book Soulmates she has a special place in my heart and her next novel is my most anticipated every year. I couldn't wait for Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes? because 1) I love the title, I've always found that Holly's books are unique and they stand out and I love that. 2) The cover is just simply gorgeous. I'm currently reading this book and it's everything! I just want to hug it all the time. You feel so much for Holly's protagonists. But hey I won't spoil it anymore instead here is a little bit more about the book:

Welcome to Camp Reset, a summer camp with a difference. A place offering a shot at “normality” for Olive, a girl on the edge, and for the new friends she never expected to make – who each have their own reasons for being there. Luckily Olive has a plan to solve all their problems. But how do you fix the world when you can’t fix yourself?

As part of the release of the campaign Usborne are hosting a 11 days of Kindness to spread the virus everywhere because Holly Bourne wants to show you how. Below is more about the challenge:

The reason I'm posting this is because I want to shout to the heavens about this book and about this campaign to get everyone involved. I was very lucky to get a Kindness Ambassador pack and I have a plan of my own, when I'm away in sunny Cornwall I've infected myself with lots of origami which I will share when I'm away and I can't wait. I will post pictures and update you over the release week of Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes? So please make sure you keep an eye on Twitter and Instagram. - @nverjudgeabook.

But what I've realised is that wherever you are, whatever your doing, online and outside you can share the kindness virus. Let's make life that little bit brighter with Holly's book and Holly's message we can do just that.

JOIN IN - Twitter: @hollybourneya @Usborne
Instagram: @hollybourneya @usborneya

JULY WRAP-UP & AUGUST TBR

2018-08-01T07:00:00.000+01:00

Hi Everyone, it's the end of July already and I can't believe it. The end of term finally came around and all I've done since is caught up on some reading - See my Summer Reading Post for more on what I hope to read these 6 weeks. I've been relaxing - this heatwave seriously hasn't helped with sleeping as we all know and just enjoying the time off. Next week I am off on holiday to Cornwall for a whole week so I can't wait - although swimming in the see will be interesting as there was a shark reported in the harbour a couple of weeks ago.

On another note - this month sees a lot of releases in YA that I can't wait to read and I'm starting my most anticipated of the entire year today as we speak. Can you guess? If you know then you'll know straight away. ARE WE ALL LEMMINGS AND SNOWFLAKES? by Holly Bourne!!!! As you have probably seen over Twitter, Instagram and YALC with the #KindnessisContagious hashtag, Holly wants to spread it and that's what I intend to do from next week. Make sure you stop my blog on Friday to find out all.

Books I Read

Truly Madly Awkward by Beth Garrod - 5/5

Access All Awkward by Beth Garrod - 5/5

Theatrical by Maggie Harcourt - 5/5

Jinxed by Amy McCulloch - 4/5

Books Reviewed

Series Review of the Awkward series by Beth Garrod

Theatrical by Maggie Harcourt

Book of the Month

As you can see I read a lot of amazing books, but Theatrical hit a part of me that really touched and enlightened me. Read my review - you'll understand it more.

This month I received - Thank you so much lovely publishers.

It's been a lighter month which I'm thankful for as my TBR pile is already toppling over - you know how that feels. I can't wait to read all of these. I was very lucky to receive some american proofs courtesy of Harper 360 and I can't wait to read Heart of Thorns, sounds incredible. Girl At Sea I'm taking on holiday because well - it's the perfect beach read. Show Shopper and Show Stealer I received as part of a blog tour as I love circuses and the magic of them.

Most Anticipated this Month

August TBR

Is my Summer Reading - see my post here.

I have a holiday pile I'm taking which may include these but honestly I'm just going with it and what I fancy - all I can say is that I want to read a lot of books.

Don't forget to stop by Friday with all about Holly and her campaign for #KindnessisContagious

How was your month? What are your August TBR plans?

BLOG TOUR: REVIEW - THEATRICAL by Maggie Harcourt

2018-07-28T07:00:00.000+01:00

Happy YALC Day everyone and to those who aren't there like me, I hope your enjoying a bookish day in the a cooler environment. Once again I seem to be on some amazing blog tours at the moment. This one I've been excited since I found out. I admit I finished the book only few days and it's still with me at the moment. The feels from Maggie's writing is just...unimaginable really. As part of the blog tour as well as our review, we also share our memories of theatre. Mine is a little different so don't forget to continue reading past my review.

But before my review, here is a little bit more about the book...

Hope dreams of working backstage in a theatre, and she’s determined to make it without the help of her famous costume designer mum. So when she lands an internship on a major production, she tells no one. But with a stroppy Hollywood star and his hot young understudy upstaging Hope’s focus, she’s soon struggling to keep her cool… and her secret.

Gorgeously fresh, funny and commercial YA romance from the author of Unconventional, and The Last Summer of Us.

Amazon | Book Depository

Who is Rainbow Rowell when there is only Maggie Harcourt.

Theatrical speaks to the hearts of a lot of people and it opened mine to a whole new world. Ever since I read Unconventioal, Maggie's writing speaks to so many readers, it was blogging conventions first, now the magic of theatre and it totally turns you into a puddle of emotions really. When I finished this book I felt like it had opened my eyes to something unimaginable really, to something truly magical. Films are second nature to us when we see them, our favourite turned to something visual and that we believe our imagination has come to life. Theatre I have come to believe is more than that, more soulful, more emotional, more realistic and it's a family... all this I got from Maggie's magical writing written from Hope Parker's point of view.

Hope Parker has been overshadowed by her sisters and their accomplishments, but ever since she was little Theatre has been her life. She was introduced to Earls theatre in her childhood, and working in theatre and it's been part of her but one thing has always undermined and stood in her way the reputation of her mother. Her name is famous through the tears of fabric of the costume world, and the one thing Hope didn't want was to be associated with her. People think of her as getting into theatre was an easy gig because of her mum, the sniggers behind her back judging her becuase she's the daughter of... it wasn't about her and she'd had enough. So finally she wanted to do something for herself, she wanted to work hard as her position in stage management and work toward creating her own name and being proud of it. But she didn't realise she'd be supporting a famous lead actor, a forbidden romance behind the scenes and keeping this rather large secret from her mum.

"Because sometimes, it's the things that nobody notices which deserve noticing." - Luke

So I have a lot of admiration of Hope, being seventeen is hard enough with the pressures of real life, her career and being the younger sister of three. Hope has real gumption, she had drive and she had so much passion and love to give that you can't not but be inspired by her. Whilst this book is focused on performance and theatre - I think a lot of it can be taken in life too. It's hard work getting to where you want to be, Hope find a lot of challenges but rises above them even if it defeats for just a minute. Maggie strips theatre apart, that actors are human too, and that maybe they really don't know how to be themselves [Insert Luke] and I think Hope learns just as much from them as Tommy - the famous lead act learns from her.

Maggie's writing is extraordinary, she gives life to the unimaginable. She oozes beauty and magic into the workings of theatre with how it isn't just actors and a script, it's so much more - it's a work of art. What I felt was that this book truly opened my eyes to something out of this world. Theatrical maybe for the theatre nerd but I hugely encourage everyone to read this because it's a book that will warm your heart, it will at time make it burst with such emotion for the theatre but also for love of Hope and her story.

Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Everyone has a theatre story and we are encourage to share that with you as part of this tour. Mine is a little different as I don't have much of story. It's very simple but there was a very recent turning point in my life not so long ago and with this book, I can say with heartfelt sincerity that Theatrical by Maggie Harcourt has truly inspired and enlightened me.

Don't worry I have been to a theatre, two theatres, 3 productions. My first was when I was in Year 6, the book we were reading was Kensukes Kingdom by Michael Morpugo. There was a showing at Richmond Theatre, and I'll be honest I was entranced but I think a young girl at the age of 9/10 would be but honestly it wasn't something that I continued. A few years older my mum took me to a pantomime, as a surprise at Christmas. It was Peter Pan at Windsor and I loved it. I think it also had something to do with the fact that Elisabeth Sladen was in it. Your probably thinking who is that, it was Sarah Jane Smith from Doctor Who and also her spin-off adventures. I was a little starstruck at the time as that was the most famous person I've come to see in real life before and it was beautiful. Then more recently I saw Shawshank Redemption with my boyfriend a couple of years ago, which was a whole new aspect of theatre to me. A film widely regarded and a story none other than Stephen King, it was inpsirating through motion picture but the quality of the acting and the set was just incredible. It truly brings a new perspective to this story. That's the beauty of theatre, it's more than just a story or a film or a musical, it actually touches people emotionally.

So that's my history I guess of theatre in my twenty-something years of my life. But it was only last week when I guess my perception of theatre really changed - I went on a couple of enrichment trips to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. It's a magnificent place, I was able to see a sneak peak of their latest production Othello with Mark Rylance who is incredible, the way he acts and made the audience be part of the play - it was like you understood what he was saying. It's Shakespeare, you have to get you head around it. I was talking to my colleagues and they couldn't believe the lack of theatre trips I've done. I enjoyed it so much that I'm going to make a promise to myself to go to more, go on school trip to Wicked or so other productions, take myself off to the Globe.

I feel I need to be culturally enlightened and not only from my recent experience but I feel with reading Theatrical it's given me an epiphany, that there's to more than just films and stories - there's theatre and there's a seat waiting for me with my name on it.

Thank you to Stevie at Usborne for letting me be part of this tour and sharing my theatrical story as well as providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

PERSONAL POST - MY SUMMER READING

2018-07-24T07:00:00.000+01:00

So working in a school means holidays and the big one the summer break - 6 whole weeks. Even though I am a librarian, reading should be second nature to me. But I honestly don't have the time after work which is frustrating. I see all my students reading all the time and I actually feel quite jealous as I want to be like that again. So these 6 weeks can't come quick enough.

What I plan to do is read, relax and read some more.

So this is my TBR pile that's been growing since Easter break and I can't wait to just knock those books down. So rather than reading 1 book a week - I know depressing, I want to read 3! Ambitious I'm not sure we'll have to see. I also have two 7 hour train journeys when I go on holiday to Cornwall so I intend to read during those and throughout my beach holiday also.

So these are my top books to read this summer...

This book is set in Cornwall and I honestly can't wait to read this when I'm on holiday. It's the perfect book right?

I also want to read V.E. Schwab - I bought a couple of her books recently and I want to have a change in some of my reading and discover this author that everyone is talking about.

What are you reading this summer? Fancy a buddy read? Well look me up on Twitter and Instagram @NverJudgeaBook and lets chat!

BLOG TOUR: SERIES REVIEW - ACCESS ALL AWKWARD by Beth Garrod

2018-07-20T07:00:00.000+01:00

Today I'm so so excited to end this incredible blog tour, why because I think I've found one of my favourite series this year. For the past month I've been binge reading this series so I can could get the final book. I've done it and it's been simply the best month of reading. Anywho I digress, today I share my SERIES review. So not just one review but three combined together. I promise there will be no spoilers but there will be some awkward fangirling of this series. So before my review, here is a little bit more on the latest installment Access All Awkward.

The brand new, laugh-out-loud bestseller. Funny, sunny, feel-good fiction with a cool festival vibe! Bella Fisher is stuck in EXAM HELL - with only the promise of a weekend at the RebelRocks festival with her mates as a reward afterwards. OK, so she can't actually afford a ticket and will have to work as a litter picker and toilet scrubber, but it's still going to be epic: the best bands, her best friends and best-boy-in-the-world Adam, with not a parent or teacher in sight. But when she arrives to find annoying older sister Jo has been sent by Mum to keep an eye on her, things go from bad to worse. BFF Rachel is hanging out with some mean girls, awful ex-boyfriend Luke pitches up with his model girlfriend and her pristine Hunter wellies, and the drummer in her favourite band is exposed as a sexist pig. All the face glitter and flower crowns in the world can't save the day... can they?

This book has been on my shelf since it first came out and I'm feel awkward that I haven't honestly read them sooner. What pulled me was the cover and the fact that it was book that even looked awkward and that’s the best bit! No actually the best bit about it has been having such a month of reading full of joy and laughter, I've binge read the entire series and I've honestly loved it, you can't put them down and I’ve never had a series that has kept me hooked from page 1 of book 1 of the series.

Bella Fisher's journey begins with her dressed up as a cereal box with an arrow through her in the middle of a caravan park. She meets the hottest boy in the middle of the forest whilst doing star jump, or and she accidentally hits on the head with her shoe. Bella, it wouldn’t be her without something going wrong or her mouth decides to starts talking for her. Things go from friendly to unfriendly quite drastically! Her ex is a complete tool bag who just wants to ruin Bella’s life, but her online life as Plum.... on PSSST seems to be a big hit!

It continues with Bella going Zero to Hero in a matter of 1 book when Bella seems to be the key person win the biggest band to come to her school and do a concert. So you know a lot of pressure, awkward pressure. Friendship fails and potential boyfriend alert with TMIGTM - the man I going to marry! Mumbles dislodging a penis from a statue - read and you’ll find out! And ice statue blunders! Copious amounts of fangirling with the Helicans!

Finally, it all comes down to this book. Bella is stumbling through life, the reality of her final year at school, her revision for her GCSE's is non existent whilst looking at various breeds of doing on Instagram. She's feeling awkward finding a time to admit how she really feels about Adam and she's fighting a social media battle with the removal of The Session after their sexist comments on their new merch. It's all in an honest day's work with Bella Fisher.

What you will find with these books that there is no shortage of cringy-worthy-goodness and that Bella Fisher isn't that different from you. How you revel in her awkwardness and also her struggle to make the mean girls or even boys pay in these books. Bella is so loveable, she pretty bonkers. She’s unafraid if keeping her personality hidden even if it does get her into trouble! But she also has the bestest of friends, all so different but each radiant when they are together! Her mum is slightly away with the fairies I think and her sister, like any sister! She has her moments but she will always be there for her! That's what I loved, as read through the series they get closer, They support their mum more than anything especially with her new store Give a Dog a Cone which left me very emot you guys. Oh and the WhatsApp group has me in fits of laughter. Her mum can be just as bad as Bells, she is not discreet that's for sure.

These stories on teenage life are just so entertaining and hilarious that you will devour it. Beth Garrod writes such relatable fiction that it can be quite emotional because it's so true especially the last book with the perils of social media and Bella facing the reality of life and pressures of exams. I think the cure of any teenager or adult is Bella Fisher, we all need a bit of Awkward in our life and this series has started the revolution. We need to embrace this! It’s a book you will devour when you’ve had a bad day and need cheering up.

The Awkward Series is a book guaranteed to make you not only laugh, but snort - snaughing - and it will not be pleasant! It’s book that will have your tummy in stitches! Super Awkward Is Laugh Out Loud Kind of Book - SAILOLKOB - there’s a lot of this of this and caps too! Beth Garrod is one of the funniest author of teen fiction and one of my favourites to date! It’s a series I recommend to all my students especially if they loved Geek Girl and Waiting for Callback!

Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you so much to Emily at Scholastic for letting me be part of this tour and sending a copy in exchange for an honest review(s).

BLOG TOUR: EXTRACT - A BAD BOY STOLE MY BRA by Lauren Price

2018-07-18T07:00:00.000+01:00

Happy Wednesday Everyone, for me it's the last Wednesday of term so I'm pretty happy. Only two more days till I can finally start reading my huuuge TBR pile.

The reason I tell you this is because this is one of the books on the TBR, today I'm very excited to be part of this blog tour with a extract from the book. Instantly when I read the blurb, I am very intrigued and sounds like such a funny book, so I can't wait to get a moment to finally sit a read this book. So here is a bit more about the book and make sure you enjoy the chapter, it's a cracker.

A Bad Boy Stole My Bra
by Lauren Price
Release Date - July 12 2018
Publisher - Black and White Publishing
Buy - Amazon | Book Depository

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to find your new neighbour dangling out of your window. And not only is he dangling out of your window, he’s also clutching your tattiest bra in his hand. What. The. Actual. Fudge.

When notorious bad boy and new kid on the block, Alec Wilde, moves in next door to Riley, sparks fly. Alec is everything that Riley despises – he’s cocky, obnoxious and annoyingly handsome – and after their ‘unconventional’ introduction, Riley is determined to get her own back. Alec picked the wrong girl’s bra to steal!

A furious prank war ensues, and it’s clear Alec has met his match in Riley. But behind the playful give-and-take, Riley is barely holding it together. Her family is struggling to cope after her cousin’s death, her cheating ex-boyfriend is back in town and maybe, just maybe, she’d like more from Alec than banter and practical jokes. But how can Riley get through to the real him when she can’t even take herself seriously?

Chapter Extract

"“Mario wins again!”"

"As the cheesy, overplayed music comes to a close and the screen goes dark, I drop my controller into my lap in defeat. Be it the stuffiness of this room or the fact that this is our sixth tournament today, I lost my first game of Mario Kart in months . . . to my eight-year-old brother. I watch through narrowed eyes as Jack catapults around the room in victory, lifting his shirt over his head to reveal his pale torso. Seriously, what is it with boys and showing their chest when they win something? Is it some sort of animalistic display of dominance originating from our monkey ancestors? I can’t help but snort in amusement as I consider this. He’s such a little show-off. My hands dart out to grab him by the sides and I tug him down to tickle him."

"“You wish, monkey boy,” I scoff. “We both know that I"

"kicked your butt on the other games.”"

"Jack squirms to free himself from my hold, shooting me a glare as he brushes himself down. He hates me tickling him. “Monkey boy? I beat you with Mario, not Donkey Kong.”"

I’m way too lazy to explain my thought process to him so I just roll my eyes.

“Riley, can you come here please?” Mom calls from downstairs. If it wasn’t for the urgency I can hear in her voice, I would probably make more of a scene asking why she can’t just come upstairs to me, but she sounds excited about something. There’s a spark of vitality in the words that I haven’t heard in a while and it intrigues me.

Mumbling my protest instead, I swing my legs from the beanbag and give Jack a warning look with a clear subliminal message: Steal my seat, I steal your life. Of course, by the time I’ve reached the door, he’s already sitting there. Oh, how I

miss the days when I had some kind of authority over him.

As I enter the kitchen, I’m hit with the heart-warming aroma that signals Mom’s baking: cupcakes and coffee, like the inside of a Starbucks, but much cosier. It’s something that I haven’t smelled for quite a while, and my sourness at having to walk all the way down the stairs disappears in a second at the sweetness of the nostalgia. I can’t help but smile as I see her standing behind the kitchen counter in an apron. She looks up and brushes her hands off immediately. There’s icing sugar in the curls of her hair.

“Come and look at this,” she says, beckoning, abandoning her half-iced cupcakes. She leads me over to the kitchen window and pulls back the plaid drapes ever so slightly, just enough for me to peek through. Shooting her a look of bewilderment and wondering if this has anything to do with the new geraniums she bought yesterday, I squeeze my head into the gap and look out at the neighbours’ driveway. I was expecting a potted plant, so what I see instead surprises me greatly.

We have new neighbours.

Parked next door, in the house that has been empty for almost six months now, is a large removal truck. The giant green anomaly overshadows the small car beside it, and my eyebrows rise further upwards as I watch the family climbing out of the vehicle. A woman steps out first, and reaches into the back to grab a small girl from the back seat. Her dark curls are scraped back into a clasp, and her features are delicate and feminine. It’s nice that someone around Mom’s age is moving in next door – my mom could use someone to talk to living so close by. The girl the woman carries is around the age of four or five, with the cutest baby face I’ve ever laid eyes on and two brunette bunches on either side of her head. Adorable.

I’m not sure who I was expecting to see get out of the car next, but it definitely wasn’t the alluring, moody boy that I see now. He looks around my age, and from what I can see of his ebony hair and angled jaw . . . he’s hot. No doubt the entire population of the student body will completely swarm this one. I can’t help but watch as he threads his fingers through his hair, slightly entranced. I’m a bit of a scientific hermit when it comes to the species of “the hot”, so the fact that I have an attractive male now living next door is enough to make my stomach flip.

I pull the drape further to the side, but to my complete horror, the boy’s head snaps up at the movement. His eyes latch onto mine as he notices me ogling. Oh. I pull away quickly, bumping back into Mom’s shoulder. I can already

feel a blush burning my cheeks. He must think I’m such a creep. Surprisingly though, by the time I’ve recovered enough courage to peek through again, he doesn’t look affected in the slightest. Bored almost, which reassures me.

I head straight back upstairs to my room and shut the door behind me. My bedroom is my haven. It’s not particularly glamorous or artsy, but it’s rustic and it feels like home. The entire far wall is dedicated to tacked posters of bands and TV shows. Everything in this room, from the mess of books to the mix of old vinyl records, screams introvert and I love it. My skateboard and old guitar sit propped against the wardrobe, and my double bed, complete with Star Wars sheets, sits in its usual unruly state just opposite my window. Funnily enough, my window exactly mirrors a window in the neighbouring house, separated only by a couple of metres.

Now that I have neighbours . . .

Oh crap.

I tiptoe towards the window and cautiously peer round the window frame into the room opposite. If my luck is as bad as I estimate it to be, I can’t risk being spotted staring at Neighbour Dude again. Sure enough, as my eyes rest on the room opposite, I have to fight to restrain my groan. Of

course it’s the guy. I guess my drapes will have to remain closed from now on. I tug the purple material further back to see that he’s packing away his things. He hasn’t noticed me this time, at least. It’s only this close up that I realise quite how attractive this guy is. With a strong, chiselled jawline and defined cheekbones, his face is angular and, dare I say it, sexy. Inky locks curl over his forehead, and his eyes are a deep cobalt.

He turns to face the other way and I snap out of my daze, a little surprised with myself that I have stared at him so much already. I will be the first to openly admit that I haven’t had the best experiences when it comes to boys, so it’s really out of the question for me to have a crush. I guess there isn’t any harm in looking, but I close the drapes and walk away just to be on the safe side.

Putting on my music, I settle down to do some studying. My grades dropped a lot last year, and I’m determined to get back on track in time for Senior year. Studying is a way to focus my energy so that I feel like I’m actually accom- plishing something in my free time. Twenty One Pilots blast through my docking station. I nod my head in time to the music and stare down at the equations in front of me until my eyes blur. I’ve never been good at Math, and now I’m having to fight my hardest to keep up. Nothing seems to click. I just hope this extra work will be worth it in my final exams next year.

My phone buzzes. It’s Violet again.

I escaped from that hellish date! I’ll tell you all the details on

Monday xx

Don’t get distracted by the phone. Ugh go on then. May as well reply.

I type in a hasty message before turning my phone off. No doubt if I didn’t, Mom would walk in, see me texting Violet and think I’d been doing that the entire time. We have some major trust issues in our relationship – mainly due to the bowl cut she made me get when I was twelve. Yup, it looked just as bad as it sounds, if not worse.

After a solid hour of studying, I finally finish and it’s getting late. I stifle my yawn and begin to get changed ready for bed, ensuring the drapes are firmly closed before I strip. I would not want Neighbour Dude to get more than he bargained for by moving into that room. I don’t think that’s the kind of first impression I want to make, funnily enough.

I slide into the covers in my pyjama top, frowning as I realise that the music next door is playing pretty loudly. Surely that heavy metal couldn’t belong to the mom of a toddler. No, my bet is placed on the boy in the room next door, which would explain why I seem to be taking the brunt of the volume. Judging by the raucous laughter and heavy rock music, Mr Neighbour has friends over. He hasn’t even been here for a day, and already he’s having a party. If this isn’t foreshadowing, I don’t know what is.

I sigh, frustrated, and slam the pillow over my head in an attempt to muffle the sound, curling further into the soft sheets and hoping for the best.

Twenty minutes later, I’m still unsuccessful.

Looks like this will be a long night.

I stir to a small sound near by, and groan quietly. The music from next door still hasn’t stopped! Can a girl not get her beauty sleep any more? Blinking to clear my vision, I prop myself up on one elbow and turn on the lamp beside my bed. Light floods the room, and I survey the lit scene quickly, my jaw slackening in surprise at what I see.

I stare wide-eyed at the boy, who seems just as paralysed as I am.

His eyes lock onto mine in shock and we stare at each other for what feels like hours. He’s positioned halfway through the window, reaching out towards the opposite sill, with my Minnie Mouse bra swinging in his closed fist.

What. The. Actual. Fudge.

-Don't forget to buy your copy to continue the story.-

About Lauren

Lauren Price is 19 years old, and first began writing A Bad Boy Stole My Bra at the age of 14. Lauren spent her childhood with her nose in a book or writing short stories and, as a self-confessed book lover, intends to study English at university. She currently lives at home in Coventry.

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Never Judge a Book by its Cover

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BLOG TOUR: EXTRACT - A BAD BOY STOLE MY BRA by Lauren Price