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NAMESAKE BY ADRIENNE YOUNG (BOOK REVIEW)
Book rating: ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐ (4/5)
I am going to keep this one short and sweet as I don’t want to give too much away for those of you who have read Fable (review on my profile) but haven’t yet had a chance to read this one.
Namesake by Adrienne Young is the second instalment of Fable’s story. In the first instalment we got to know Fable and her hard life at sea, and the second book is no different. Namesake follows Fable and the Marigold’s crew trying to achieve independence from the corrupt sea governing bodies.
I absolutely love this series, mostly because when I read it, I genuinely feel like I’m at sea and it’s an incredible place to escape to when life is a bit much. Fable’s life is by no means easy, but the whole universe where the story takes place is incredibly interesting and it captures your attention straight away.
If you like adventures and have a fascination with the sea, like I do, you will absolutely love these!
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A GOOD GIRL’S GUIDE TO MURDER BY HOLLY JACKSON (BOOK REVIEW)
Book rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson is about Pip, a student who is doing her A-Levels in school. Pip’s town has been haunted by the murder of a beloved teenager five years prior, and although the alleged murderer, Sal, committed suicide at the time, Pip doesn’t quite believe the story the town has been told, so she decides to do some exploring of her own and use it for a school research paper. After interviewing the alleged murder’s brother, Ravi, Pip enlists his help to prove Sal’s innocence.
The book is written through “scans” of official documents, interview transcripts and very little narration, which makes you want to solve the investigation yourself and go through the clues to see if Pip has missed anything. However, I couldn’t have guessed the ending, so give it a try and let me know if you did!
The only factor that made me remove a star was that, at times, the book felt quite unrealistic and though it’s not usually a bad thing, it made me not get as into it as I otherwise would have been.
This was my first read by Holly Jackson, but it certainly won’t be the last. I know there is a sequel to this one, so I shall be reading it in the near future. Surprisingly, everything tied up together really nicely at the end of AGGGTM, so I’m not in a hurry to read it straight away.
If you like an easy thriller, this book is definitely for you.
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SUCH A FUN AGE - KILEY REID
Book rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐⭐ (4/5)
As some of you know, I have been stuck in a reading slump for a while, so this book has taken me longer to read than any other book I can remember. This, however, is no reflection on the book itself.
I don’t think I have a whole lot to say about this one, so I’ll keep it short and sweet.
This book starts with a racist encounter between a black babysitter and a racist security guard at a grocery store, who is quick to insinuate that Emira (the babysitter) has stolen the white baby she is looking after. Although this particular incident happens in the beginning, it sets off a chain reaction throughout the book.
The story is really easy to read, but also extremely insightful and clever. It takes a while to get to know all the characters and their backgrounds, but knowing this is crucial to understand everyone’s position and actions in the story. This book was an extremely interesting read and I definitely recommend you pick up a copy if you haven’t already.
I will definitely seek out more books by Kiley Reid in the future!
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THE SONG OF ACHILLES BY MADELINE MILLER - BOOK REVIEW
Book rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (3.5/5)
I know what you’re thinking - that I’m completely crazy for rating this book 3.5 stars, but hold on - hear me out!
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller seems to be everyone’s favourite book, so going into it I had extremely high expectations, and I think this might be why I didn’t enjoy it as much as everyone else - that and the fact that I’m not big on Greek Mythology.
The story is a retelling of Achilles through Patroclus eyes. At a young age, Patroclus gets exiled to King Peleus’ kingdom (Achilles father) after accidentally killing a boy. Achilles and Patroclus grow up together and with time their feelings start blossoming into something more. When Helen of Sparta gets kidnapped, Achilles is recruited to fight and Patroclus follows.
For someone who doesn’t know much about Greek Mythology, I didn’t really know where the story was going to go but there was a clear sense of impending doom throughout it. The story is told beautifully and it really does make you feel like you’re inside the book, seeing through Patroclus’ eyes.
What didn’t I like?
I think there were a few things. This is by no means a critic of the writing, which by the way I think is excellent, but I didn’t really connect with Achilles. I thought his character wasn’t very likeable and though it’s obvious he did love Patroclus, but I really didn’t like how his story progressed.
I also struggled to understand some of Patroclus actions as they seemed conflicting in my head.
Lastly, I didn’t like that the only powerful women were the goddesses, which are mirrored after men themselves (as a friend of mine pointed out), though I do understand this is meant to be ancient greek history, so there might have been some limitations from the writers perspective.
Although the beginning and middle of the book were quite slow, the book really caught my attention towards the end and I did end up enjoying it a lot. So do I recommend it? If you want a great retelling that paints Achilles from a different angle, not as only the violent warrior - Absolutely!
#bookreview#bookreviewblog#madeline miller#the song of achilles#review#fiction#greek myth retellings
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FABLE BY ADRIENNE YOUNG - BOOK REVIEW
Book rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (4/5)
I have seen this book all over Instagram and always thought the cover was stunning. I have been reading a lot of pirate related books recently, so thought I’d give Fable a try as it seemed fitting with my recent reading habits.
Well... Fable was completely different than what I expected, in a good way. Although the book’s genre is Fantasy, it doesn’t feel like you are in a different world at all. I’m not sure what it is about it, it might just be my connection to the sea, but this book was quite calming.
The story revolves around Fable, who was left in an island after witnessing her mother drawn at sea. The island is filled with thieves and Fable quickly learned to keep to herself and hide the coins she gets from her trades. Fable’s mission is to collect enough coins to get passage on a boat, so she can go see her dad, who is the king of The Narrow’s sea and claim her rightful place next to him.
This story is beautifully written and for a few hours you are actually out at sea and not laying in your sofa, drinking hot chocolate. Fable’s world is so different from mine, yet there is something that deeply connected with me and made me fall in love with the story. There’s a little hint at romance, but mostly, this is a story about a girl fighting for herself and being at one with the sea.
The book ends in a cliffhanger, so I’m dying for book 2 (Namesake) to be released this year. Worth noting that Fable is not yet out in the UK (r.d: 26th January), but make sure to get your hands on it when you can - I definitely recommend!
Have you read it? Are you adding it to your tbr?
#books#amreading#bookreview#bookreviewblog#bookstagram#bookstagrammer#booklover#bookaddict#booknerd#bookblogger#shesaysbooks#fantasybooks#fantasy#fable#namesake#adrienneyoung#teen fantasy#young adult fantasy
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FOREVER WILD BY K.A TUCKER - BOOK REVIEW
Book rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3.5/5)
This is the last book of the Wild Series, which came out last month. My pre-order took ages to arrive, so I didn’t read it as soon as I would have liked. I will keep it short as I feel there isn’t a lot to say about this one.
The story picks up not long after Wild At Heart (Book 2) takes place, with Calla preparing to receive hers and Jonah’s family for Christmas in their new house. With a both families eager to set a wedding date and location, Calla has to filter through the noise to find out what she really wants. There’s a lot of Christmas cheer and lovely, helpful neighbours, all in all it’s a pretty lovely Christmas read - though I am aware that season as now passed.
As a novella this book is short, I read it in about four hours - so don’t expect a whole lot of plot, it’s more of a Christmas holiday story.
Could you read it as a standalone? Probably not ideal.
This novella wraps up the story pretty nicely with Calla’s wedding to Jonah and a small epilogue.
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WILD AT HEART BY K.A TUCKER - BOOK REVIEW
Book rating: ⭐⭐ (2.5/5)
The second instalment of K.A Tucker’s Wild At Heart series follows Calla’s move to Alaska to pursue a relationship with Jonah, her father’s right-hand man who she fell in love with in in the previous book.
Calla decides to leave everything behind for Jonah and move to a remote Alaskan town so Jonah can own an airstrip and fly his planes from home. Personally, I am not a big fan of how Calla seems to mould herself after Jonah’s wishes and though there is some character development on her part, it doesn’t sit well with me that apart from solving everyone’s problems, Calla’s main storylines seem to either involve Jonah or her being jealous of Jonah’s female best friend. In the first book, Calla had an up-and-coming business and there was a strong energy about her, which she seems to have mostly lost in this one.
If you can overlook this, which I did on my first read, there’s some heart-warming content. This is a light, easy read for days when you want to escape to a remote place and disconnect from all the city noise.
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THE SIMPLE WILD BY K.A TUCKER - BOOK REVIEW
Book rating: ⭐⭐ ⭐ (3.5/5)
I came across this book during the first lockdown in the UK back in April. I was reading a lot on my phone and the cover grabbed my attention, so though there were no reviews at all on Apple Books, I decided to give it a shot and purchase it.
This book follows the story of Calla Fletcher, a twenty six year old woman from Toronto, who receives a call about her estranged father that changes her life. With no job, no boyfriend and an ill father, Calla decides to visit Alaska so she can get to know her dad in case the worst happens.
For someone like me, who lives in a major city, reading a book about a place like Alaska definitely makes me re-think my life choices and daydream of a life which isn’t as busy. K.A Tucker does a brilliant job at describing Alaska landscapes and making you feel like you are living in Calla’s shoes. This is a book about love, family and second chances and if you are in the mood for a heart-warming story this might just be the right book for you. The first time I read it, it made me incredibly keen on visiting Alaska and I lived vicariously through Calla’s story.
I re-read the book for this review, and I’ve got to say I wasn’t as impressed the second time around, possibly because it’s not the kind of story you read twice in a year - that’s my bad! Will be sharing my review of the Wild Series book 2 & 3 in the next couple days.
Have you read this one? Have you read any other K.A Tucker books?
SSB x
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THE ROOMMATE by ROSIE DANAN - BOOK REVIEW
Book rating: ⭐⭐ ⭐ (3/5)
The Roommate is a light romance debut by Rosie Danan. This book tells the story of Clara Wheaton, a Connecticut socialite, who moves to Los Angeles to pursue a romance with “the one who got away” Everett Bloom. When she arrives full of hopes and dreams, Everett breaks the news that he is going on tour with his band on that same day, leaving Clara to share a house with a stranger in Everett’s place. The stranger is Josh, a porn star who’s career is at a make or breaking point.
Although the novel has typical romance elements to it, the storyline is original and touches on subjects, such as sex work, in a previously untouched light -without all the assumptions and stigma that usually come with it. This book is very sex positive and the subject of female pleasure is brought up fairly often, being one of the main subjects of the book.
There’s three main storylines entangled together, Clara’s journey to freedom and self-discovery, the obvious romance blossoming between the main characters and a new business venture that explores women’s sexual needs.
The book was quite a fast read as it’s not particularly long or heavy. There are a lot of explicit scenes, not only between the main characters but also while depicting pornographic auditions and settings - so be warned, it’s quite steamy.
Overall, the book was a three star. It was satisfying enough to read and it caught my attention quickly, but there’s not a lot of depth or any particular standout moments. It’s a good lighthearted romance for the festive season!
SSB x
#book#bookreview#book review#book rant#review#reviews#rosie danan#the roommate#romance#fiction#writing
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A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES SERIES REVIEW
This week I’m changing it up slightly and will instead be reviewing the whole series of A Court Of Thorns And Roses by Sarah J.Maas. The reason why I’ve decided to review all four books is because I couldn’t put them down and ended up reading them in four days - so a lot of the story is kind mixed up together in my head.
I won’t be talking a lot about the plot as I went blindly into these books and loved it even more for it, so this won’t spoil anything for you.
A Court Of Thorns And Roses (Book 1) - ACOTAR
Book rating: ⭐⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (4/5)
In the first instalment of the series, the plot is very loosely inspired by Beauty and The Beast. We follow the main character, Feyre, as she explores a whole new world she used to disregard as evil while she falls in love for the first time.
The beginning, though gripping, was slightly slow as we are introduced to a new universe and have to grasp all the new concepts of the world. The plot development is pretty good, but in comparison with the follow-up it didn’t seem quite right to give it 5 stars.
A Court Of Mist And Fury (Book 2) - ACOMAF
Book rating: ⭐⭐ ⭐ ⭐⭐ (5/5)
This book... Funnily enough, I read some spoilers when I finished ACOTAR and wasn’t quite sure this book was for me, but I have never read a book quicker (and trust me, I am a very speedy reader). This is by far the best instalment of the series and I couldn’t recommend it more.
Feyre’s growth is astounding and it is immensely gratifying to see her come into her own and overcome past traumas.
A Court Of Wings And Ruin (Book 3) - ACOWAR
Book rating: ⭐⭐ ⭐ ⭐⭐ (5/5)
Though all three books are packed in action, this one is particularly action filled. There is never a right time to put the book down as you are always in the middle of something.
The thing I adore the most about this one is the secondary characters. I think this is the first book/series that made me deeply care for the supporting characters as much as for the main ones.
A Court Of Frost And Starlight (Book 4) - ACOFAS
Book rating: ⭐⭐ ⭐ (3/5)
This book is completely different from the previous three. It’s a Christmas book that Sarah J. Maas used to wrap up Feyre’s story. There’s a lot of Christmas shopping and absolutely no plot. I am rating it three stars because I care for the characters, which made it satisfying to read.
All in all, these books are great and I’m having a terrible ACOTAR hangover that doesn’t allow me to enjoy any other books.... hopefully it shall pass soon. You have been warned!!
I know this didn’t disclose a lot of information, but I really don’t want to spoil it for you. If you’re looking for a great female heroine, look no further!
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REGRETTING YOU BY COLLEEN HOOVER (BOOK REVIEW)
Book rating: ⭐⭐ (2.5/5)
I discovered this author in the beginning of 2020, just after lockdown started in the UK. After the first book I was hooked and spent about a month reading some of her other books, instantly becoming a fan. When I saw this title all over Instagram recently, I excitedly bought it and dove in straight away.
Regretting You by Colleen Hoover is about a turbulent relationship between a mother (Morgan) and her daughter (Clara), the story navigates through their ups and downs after facing an unspeakable tragedy.
The book is written from both their perspectives, giving the reader an insight into what has gone wrong in their relationship, even when the two main characters are oblivious to what the other is going through. We witness them trying to cope with the tragedy in different ways, while keeping lies and omissions from each other, deepening the hole in their relationship.
The story is quite enjoyable, but for me it was lacking depth. The mother/daughter relationship was slightly interesting at times, but the romantic connections of each of the main characters didn’t quite cut it for me. I thought they developed way too fast and there wasn’t much chemistry. I know it’s a work of fiction, but at times the plot didn’t feel realistic at all, therefore it was very hard to connect with the story and get engrossed in the book.
I had higher expectations for this book, which is why I’m scoring it so low. I finished the book not quite as invested as I did with many other Colleen Hoover books.
If you haven’t read any Colleen Hoover books and are looking for good romance novels, she has plenty - but I wouldn’t necessarily start with this one!
SSB x
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BOOK REVIEW: WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING BY DELIA OWENS
Book rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3.5/5)
I bought this book two months ago, but haven’t felt compelled to pick it up. So thank you to every one who voted for me to read it and forced me to give it a try ✨ I’m keeping this one short and sweet as I find that I don’t have that much to say on it.
Where The Crawdads Sing is a beautifully narrated coming of age story, about a girl named Kya who has been fending for herself since the age of five years old, living in a marsh, segregated from the life in the nearest town. She quickly learns how to use her marsh knowledge to exchange for money or essentials. The story is narrated throughout different years, sometimes jumping between past and present (between 1952-1970). In the present, we learn about the death of Chase Andrews, one of the town’s most beloved citizens. Due to prejudices and a mysterious relationship between Kya and Chase, she finds herself the main suspect in his murder.
The first part of the book is quite slow. In all honesty, I had to convince myself to persevere through the first third of the story and not just put the book down. The chapters are small and there isn’t a lot of action happening, which makes it hard to engage with and stay motivated.
Kya, however, was easily the best part of the book. I really enjoyed seeing the world through her simplistic and, in ways, naive eyes. Her comparisons between animal behavioural patterns and humans were certainly interesting and made you understand her character on a deeper level. The way she sees the world, despite her traumatic history, is a breath of fresh air and it’s impossible not to grow to care for this character.
I know this book is loved by many and I have certainly enjoyed it, but the story is definitely not as gripping as I would have liked. I won’t read the book again, but if you don’t mind slow plots - you might enjoy it more than me!
#book review#books & libraries#book blog#best seller books#currently reading#long reads#fiction#delia owens#wtcs
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BOOK REVIEW: DAISY JONES AND THE SIX BY TAYLOR JENKINS REID
Book rating: ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ (5/5)
Working in music myself, reading fiction books about my industry can be a minefield of inaccurate dramatizations, but I’ve got to tell you I didn’t even realise this was a work of fiction for the first full chapter, and had to check online to make sure it wasn’t an actual band’s biography.
The book is about Daisy Jones, an LA groupie, who hangs out and sleeps with rockstars at only 14 years of age; and The Six, a new rock band emerging in the scene. Daisy Jones… follows the journey of the titular character from groupie to musician, through a series of interviews with her and the other members of the band The Six, friends and crew.
The book maps the band’s rise and fall: with their tremendous success with a hit album while everyone is falling apart backstage. It’s a captivating and interesting journey.
And you won’t want to put it down. I read most of the book in one sitting. It’s an addictive read and the storyline is packed, leaving you gripped until the last second.
I saw somewhere that Fleetwood Mac’s breakup inspired this book and I can definitely see elements of it on the story, but the author did make it her own and I couldn’t be happier with it. 
Despite an ending that left me wishing things had turned out differently, it still thoroughly deserves it’s 5 star rating. One of my favourite reads in 2020, safe to say I will be reading more from Taylor Jenkins Reid in the future.
Have you read this one? I definitely recommend you do if you haven’t yet!
#book review#books & libraries#book blog#best seller books#currently reading#long reads#fiction#taylor jenkins reid
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BOOK REVIEW: GHOSTS BY DOLLY ALDERTON 👻
Book rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
A big thank you to Penguin for sending me an early ebook copy to review.
I had seen this book for pre-order for a while and was curious to read it, so I was very excited when this opportunity came around.
This book is not your typical adult romance as this is more of a story about Nina Dean’s journey throughout her 32nd year of life. At 32 she is single and tired of hearing about her friends perfect lives with partners and children and feels like her friendships are falling apart because of her different lifestyle. Nina decides to join a dating app for the first time, where she meets Max who seems to be a great match for her. However, things don’t end up working out for them as Max ghosts her, leading Nina to change her perspective on relationships and current dating norms.
Living in London myself, I found the descriptions of areas where I’ve spent a lot of time in (and lived!) enchanting and the familiarity of the culture and places in the story made it a great read for me.
However, I found the book quite slow and not as gripping as I would have liked, but I’m certain that has got to do with me not being the target audience. The main character didn't appeal to me and I didn't find her very relatable.
Although, if this seems like your cup of tea - do give it a read and let me know what you thought - the book is out today!
Did you see this book out for pre-order? Are you thinking of reading it?
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Women Don’t Owe You Pretty by Florence Given Review
Book rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5/5)
I bought this book on the week it came out (in the UK) and it has been one of my reads all Summer. The reason why it took me so long to finish is purely because I get easily distracted by fiction books that I can devour in one day (yes, I’m one of those!), so this one took a back seat.
Florence Given has written the book I wish I had read when I was a teenager. It teaches you how to take care and respect yourself and not let your life revolve around other people’s acceptance. It teaches you to check your privilege. It teaches you to be accountable for your own actions. It teaches you about systemic problems; how females are taught to exist to satisfy the male gaze and it makes you evaluate all the toxic relationships in your life.
I found this book extremely liberating; to see that some thoughts and struggles aren’t exclusive to me - there’s people out there who are battling the same issues and that they are a lot more common than one is led to believe.
It touches on all sorts of subjects such as: queerness, trans rights, marriage, self-love, black lives matter, sexual abuse, toxic habits and much more.
I have only deducted 0.5 as I disagreed with certain opinions, though most of the time I was clapping and cheering Florence on for doing an incredible job at describing the lives and thoughts of women all over the world.
Please do me a favor and read it! And then let me know all about how it made you feel. This book is not yet available in every country, but if you’re interested in reading it let your local bookshop know and I'm sure they can pre-order/order it for you.
Does this sound like a book you’d like to read? If you’ve already read it, what were your thoughts? Was there anything you disagreed with?
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Pretending by Holly Bourne - Review
Book rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
TRIGGER WARNING: IF SEXUAL ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH ARE A TRIGGER FOR YOU, PLEASE DO NOT READ THE BELOW.
This book is a wild ride...
I have got to be honest and say this book was an impulsive buy, I had previously read the synopsys and decided it wasn’t for me, but something compelled me to pick it up... and I couldn’t be happier I did.
The story revolves around April, "a kind, pretty and relatively normal” person, in her own words, who is giving up on relationships after the last guy she thought might be “the one”, betrayed her trust and left her when she revealed she had been raped. This seems true for all her previous relationships, which leads a frustrated, hurt and enraged April to fake her identity online to try and get revenge on men. She meets Joshua, who seems quite taken by her internet persona “Gretel” and they start dating. Throughout the book April is struggling to cope with all the feelings she has towards her sexual assault, while getting herself lost in playing a part as “Gretel”.
The writing in this book is so impactful and honest that there were pages I re-read four times in a row, admiring the talent of Holly Bourne and how she turned such a complex issue into words that made it impossible for you to argue with her. This book is so important. It makes extremely important points about consent, mental health, sexual abuse and self-identity and you will come out of it, feeling empowered and with a new sense of what forgiveness feels like.
I only deducted a star because, as beautifully written as it was (and I really did became a fan of Holly’s writing), it took me a while to get into the story. As the plot revolves almost entirely around relationships with men, I felt it was lacking in other areas that could have been explored.
Have you read it? What were your thoughts?
SSB xx
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My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell Review
Book rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
TRIGGER WARNING: IF SEXUAL ABUSE IS A TRIGGER FOR YOU, PLEASE DO NOT READ THE BELOW.
My Dark Vanessa is the story of Vanessa Wyes, a normal fifteen year old who starts her first year at a renowned boarding school, where she finds herself vying for the attention of her teacher, Jacob Strane.
The book alternates between the past, the beginning of Vanessa’s unconventional relationship with Strane, whom at points she even describes as “disgusting”; and the present, when she is a thirty-something year old and he is being accused of sexual assault by another former student.
This book contains harrowing scenes where Vanessa’s complicated feelings towards her abuser make you deeply uncomfortable, though not nearly as uncomfortable as when you witness her being groomed by the 42 year old man one step at a time. As tough as this is to read, Vanessa’s story is extremely important to digest.
For most of the book, Vanessa struggles with her identity as a victim of abuse and refuses to recognise herself as such, despite the relationship having devastating consequences throughout her whole life. At points I found myself conflicted between wanting to shout at her and wanting to hug her tight. I can’t help but revert back to my own experiences from when I was younger and thought I was “special” or more “mature” than other girls my age, which to someone like Strane, makes it extremely easy to prey on children by saying what they want to hear. During her teenage years all Vanessa wanted was for Strane to see her as an equal, but she was completely blind to him only wanting her to be what she was; a child.
My Dark Vanessa doesn’t paint the victim and villain roles black and white. Vanessa is not a “good” victim, her thoughts and emotions are all over the place and at times can be incredibly infuriating to read. The same goes for Strane... he isn’t the perfect villain, there are lots of layers to him, but I love the way you can, throughout the book, decipher his manipulation tactics and how it impacts Vanessa in the past and in the present.
Kate Elizabeth Russell has done an outstanding job in giving life to a sexual abuse victim. The writing is dark, painful and disturbing when you helplessly watch her misclassify her part in the relationship and watch as she clings on to the narrative she was different to the other girls abused by Strane.
100% recommend you give it a read if you haven’t already.
If you have already read it - what did you think? Let me know in the comments below!
SSB x
#review #books #bookreviews
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