Bath Travel Guide

 It's been quite a while since I last wrote a travel guide but I thought it was about time I share my tips and ideas for the beautiful city of Bath. We've been 4 times now which may seem excessive but it's almost becoming tradition to visit around our anniversary now which is what we did just a few months ago. It's become a bit like London for me now in that sometimes you just find a place that you connect with and have lots of happy memories so why wouldn't we want to keep going back? As we've been quite a lot, here are some of my recommendations which I hope will help if you'd like to visit in future.

Where to Stay

Let's start with the hotel I'd personally recommend whilst in bath, Hotel Indigo. We've stayed here every trip so far because it's just a really nice hotel. The interiors are gorgeous, as soon as you walk into reception you're hit with the scent of basically a spa and the whole check in area is just lovely. The rooms are all designed so uniquely and I love seeing what kind of room we end up with each time. It's in a great location, literally round the corner from Bath Abbey and an array of restaurants and shops and it's directly across from a car park and just down the road from the train station so ideal however you're travelling. It can be pricey depending on time of year but I'd recommend regularly checking in the run upto your trip as prices do come down and you can easily rebook at the cheaper price. Another hotel I see recommended a lot is The Abbey Hotel which is in a similar area and there's also several Premier Inns dotted in and around the centre if you're looking for a more budget friendly option. 

What to See/Do

Bath Abbey

The most obvious attraction I'm sure but one I do really recommend. It's such a focal point of the centre of Bath. It's really special inside and I love having a chilled walk around mid afternoon taking in all of the information and sights. I'm not religious but it's quite nice sitting and listening too when there is something going on inside. It's around £8 per person to visit.

The Royal Crescent

Another of the main attractions in Bath, the Circus and Royal Crescent. It's such a lovely area, especially in the summer as there are benches dotted around and a huge patch of grass so you can sit and enjoy the sun. If you're a Bridgerton fan you'll spot a few places from the show here including the home of the Featheringtons.

Victoria Falls Adventure Golf

Just down from the Royal Crescent, you can find Victoria Falls Adventure Golf. We love a game of mini golf and we've been coming back to this for the last few summers. It's an 18 hole course so can take a little while, especially when it's busy but take your time and have fun! I'd recommend booking in advance if you can.

Toppings & Company Book Shop

If you're a book lover, you must visit Toppings & Company! It is the most incredible book shop and we visit pretty much everyday when we're there. You'll find every book you could imagine here, there are several floors and you can even get free hot drinks so you can sit and read whilst you're there. Just love it.

Roman Baths

This feels like something you have to do in Bath at one point or another. We did this during our first trip in 2022 and I'm sure we'll go again one day. It's full of history and they have some really cool interactive ways of showing you what life was like once. You can go through at your own pace so I'd recommend freeing up 1-2 hours in your day for it. It's around £28 per person to visit.

Independent Shops

Whilst you can find most of your favourite chain shops in Bath, it's also full of lovely, independent businesses and it's always great to support them isn't it. The homeware shops in particular are brilliant and there are a few I always make sure I return to when we're there. Vinegar Hill and Sam Wilson Studio are two I recommend for all things decor.

Food

Mrs Potts Chocolate Shop

The absolute #1 recommendation when it comes to food. Mrs Potts is a chocolate cafe where you can get all manner of decadent cakes, brownies, cookies, milkshakes and so much more. The Matilda cake is pure chocolate heaven but honestly everything we've ever tried there has been delicious. This is a must for us every single trip!

Bertinet Bakery

I love pastry. Especially croissants and pain au chocolate which Bertinet Bakery do incredibly well. We found this place on a whim but it's become another staple for us now. Their pastries are so buttery and flaky and they also do some incredible babkas in a variety of flavours aswell as mini loaf cakes, cookies and even things like mince pies at christmas.

Joya

If there is one restaurant you must try whilst in Bath, it's Joya. An Italian Steakhouse with a menu full of choice, from things like Steak which you can opt to cook yourself on a hot stone, to a range of gorgeous pasta and risotto and they also do some amazing desserts - we particularly love the Tiramisu. The service is always great too and if it's a special occasion they'll often throw in free prosecco or do something to help you celebrate which is such a bonus.

Bandook

Another must of ours, usually on the last night as it always feels like such a special way to end each trip - Bandook. An Indian restaurant which I genuinely couldn't recommend enough. We like to get a variety of small plates, we particularly love the Samosa Chaat, Pocket Kebab & Kerala Chicken but they have a huge menu to choose from so you're spoilt for choice. The cocktails/mocktails are beautiful too!

A few other places worth a mention, Dough for delicious pizza, Bakervee for NYC style cookies and Rosarios for coffee!

Travel

When you're in Bath, most things are really walkable and as it's such a picturesque city it's a perfect way to take everything in, aswell as lots of photo opportunities. That being said I always recommend the Big Bus Tours when they're available in a city as they're such a great way of getting your bearings and are a convenient hop on/hop off option. You can usually get 48 hour tickets so no need to cram everything into one day either. There's even a boat tour you can do too but we've yet to tick that off our list. In terms of travelling into Bath, it all depends on where you're coming from but if driving, there's convenient parking dotted around the city centre and the train station is less than 10 minutes walk away from the centre.So, that wraps up my Bath travel guide. Just some of my tips and highlights of a beautiful city that I already can't wait to go back to again one day! Whenever you go, whether the peak of Summer or the during the Christmas period, there's something for everyone and so much to discover.

Have you visited Bath?

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What I Read In The First 6 Months Of 2024

 One of the posts I always love writing each year is my reading roundups. A few years ago I was book mad and I had 2 years in a row where I read over 100 books and then another year where I read about 80, which now seems crazy. I'm not sure how I did that and now I struggle to get about ten in! Here are the books I've read so far this year though, let me know if you've read any of them too.

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was one of my Christmas presents and I wasted no time in getting stuck in. I read The Silent Patient by the same author a few years ago which was genuinely incredible so I'd been really excited to read his newest book. The Maidens focuses on Cambridge University's most exclusive society, a group of members selected by charming & charismatic professor of Greek tragedy, Edward Fosca. When a series of murders occurs at the university, grieving therapist Mariana Andros is drawn back to Cambridge where she was once a student herself. She uncovers a web of secrets, jealousy and lies and when the killer threatens the person she loves the most, Mariana will do anything to stop them. This was one of those books that had you guessing from the beginning and every time you think you've sussed it out, another dubious character or twist would be thrown in and you'd be back to square one! I loved that it was written in quite short, snappy chapters and that we got the killers perspective occasionally too. Just a great read to start off 2024.

Never Never by Colleen Hoover & Tarryn Fisher - ⭐⭐

Oh I did not enjoy this and it's such a shame as I'm usually a really big fan of Colleen Hoover's books. I think this must be one of her older ones? I'd never heard of it until I saw it in a second hand bookshop in Bath but I'm glad I wasn't paying full price for it. Never Never follows Charlie and Silas who have been best friends since they were kids and they've been in love since they were 14. But as of one random morning, every memory has vanished. They must work together to figure out what has happened to them and why but as they find out more about themselves and the couple they used to be, they start to wonder why they were ever together to begin with. This was just such a slog to get through, I didn't particularly connect with any of the characters and it never really got going for me.

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lisa Jewell is just one of those classic authors for me. I haven't read every book of hers but the ones I have, I've always enjoyed and whenever I see a new one out in the shops, I'll always add it to my to be read list. None of This Is True is a psychological thriller about a woman who finds herself at the centre of her own popular true crime podcast. One night whilst celebrating her 45th birthday at a pub, Alix meets Josie, a lady also celebrating her 45th birthday - birthday twins! After bumping into each other various times over the next few weeks, Josie becomes more and more entwined in Alix's life and she soon suggests an idea for Alix's podcast. Josie wants to change her life and she wants Alix to document it. Whilst finding Josie slightly unsettling, Alix still gives into temptation. What she doesn't know is Josie has some very dark secrets and getting involved with her might be the worst mistake Alix could have made. This was just a thriller you don't want to put down. The alternating point of view chapters were snappy and gripping and I could never really guess where the story was going. I loved the real podcast that was released to coincide with the book, starring Nicola Walker who is just brilliant in everything she's in and I thought that was such a cool idea too so I listened to that after!

The Fury by Alex Michaelides - ⭐⭐⭐

When I spotted the latest by Alex Michaelides in York in February, I grabbed it, despite knowing very little about it and it being a hardback which I usually don't prefer. The Fury is a pacy thriller about an ex-movie star and her famous friends who take a trip to a private Greek island. Something they do most years, no reason to suspect this is any different? That is, until a murder happens on the island. Old friendships unravel and what follows is a game of cat and mouse with everyone trying to figure out who is to blame and if anyone else is in danger. Narrated by a very unreliable Elliott Chase, the readers are left guessing can any of these people be trusted? Overall, this was still a really good book and I did find I was racing through it a bit faster towards the end but initially it did start off quite slow and therefore didn't hook me in quite as quickly as Alex's books usually do. It takes so long for things to be revealed that by the end when there was so much information at once, I was having to stop and really think about what was going on and I just found it a bit confusing. Despite that, I will absolutely be buying Alex's next book as I've loved his others.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I'm a huge fan of the Hunger Games films. We did a big rewatch of them all not too long ago after watching the prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and for some reason this time round it made me really keen to finally read the books. I never read them when they were first released and I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy them now quite in the same way as the films so I just bought the first one initially. Pretty much straight away I could tell I was going to enjoy it and I found it a really easy read. I just think it's such a unique idea for a book and despite knowing what happens I was still gripped when reading it and I'm excited to get the next in the series.

Seven Summers by Paige Toon - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If there's anyone still around who read my blog years ago, you'll know how much of a fan I am of Paige Toon. She's my all time favourite author and I've loved pretty much every book of hers so it's no surprise her latest, Seven Summers, was another 5 star. In Seven Summers we meet Liv and Finn who after a night of passion have to go their separate ways. Finn's life is in LA with his band and Liv's is in Cornwall with her family but they make a promise that Finn will return every year and if they're still single, they'll spend the Summer together. What starts off exciting soon becomes more difficult than they predicted and eventually Liv meets Tom, who might be able to offer her a life that doesn't leave her heartbroken every year. Can she ever really give Finn up though? This just pulls on your heartstrings the whole way though as every book Paige writes does. It was perfect in every possible way and I know I'll re-read it one day.

The Other Mothers by Katherine Faulkner - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I picked this up randomly when doing the food shop recently and despite the blurb hooking me in, I didn't expect to enjoy it quite as much as I did. When I say I couldn't put this down, I genuinely mean it. I think I read it in two sittings! Tash is desperate to be part of a friendship group. It's something everyone else seems to have apart from her so when spots the other mothers at her sons new playgroup, the sleek & sophisticated mothers that is, she's keen to get to know them. Their lives are exactly what she's been dreaming of, they have it all. But she soon discovers they have their secrets too and everything isn't always as it seems. I'm really keen to read more from Katherine Faulkner now, this was just brilliant.

Cat Lady by Dawn O'Porter - ⭐⭐⭐

I've read a few books from Dawn O'Porter and have enjoyed them so when I spotted Cat Lady on offer on my kindle, I grabbed it and hoped it would be a good read. That it was but it's definitely not one of my favourites this year. Cat Lady follows Mia, a woman who seems to have it all. She's married, has a nice house, a good career, what more could she want? But for Mia that isn't enough and there's another woman inside just waiting to get out. There were some really funny moments in this and for the majority of the book I genuinely didn't know how it was going to end. Whilst I'm more of a dog person than a cat lady, I could definitely relate to Mia's pure love for her pet and some parts made me really emotional because of it!

A Song of Me and You by Mike Gayle - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I read Half A World Away by Mike Gayle a few years ago and loved it but for some reason he's never an author I think to look for in bookshops so it took me by surprise when I spotted this a few months ago. A Song of Me and You tells the story of Helen, a divorced, part-time teacher and Ben, a world-famous millionaire rockstar, who dated when they were young but lost contact. That is until Ben turns up on Helen's doorstep twenty years later. He needs help and even after all this time, Helen is the first person that came to his mind. So much has happened in those twenty years but it's clear feelings are still there. Can there really be a happy ending though? This was a lovely read and I loved the characters of Helen and Ben. I was rooting for them from the moment Ben turns up in her life again but as with the previous book I read from Mike, there's always a heartbreaking twist thrown in! I really recommend this if you just want an easy, romantic read and I know I'll be looking out for more of his books now.

Keep Her Secret by Mark Edwards - ⭐⭐⭐

I've really enjoyed some of the books I've read from Mark Edwards before so I was intrigued when I saw Keep Her Secret on offer on kindle. This follows Matthew & Helena who have rekindled after 20 years apart. When a shock accident happens whilst on their first holiday together, Helena reveals a shocking confession which makes Matthew realise, does he really know who Helena is anymore and what else has she been hiding? I found this so easy to whizz through and it never felt like it was dragging at any point. I tend to find that with books by Mark Edwards and it never takes me long to read them. That being said I didn't love this and I'm not really sure why!

No One Saw A Thing by Andrea Mara - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was so excited to read this! 'Two children get on the train. Only one gets off... No one saw it happen. By the time you get to the next station to catch up with them, only one of them is there. Someone is to blame. Has the other daughter got lost? Been taken by a stranger? or perhaps the culprit is closer to home than you think?' I was so intrigued by where this was going to go and whilst I had a few ideas quite early on, there were so many twists and turns! Every time you think you've got it figured out, something else happens which makes you re-think. I'd really recommend this if you want a tense read.

The Switch by Lily Samson - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Switch is about Elena and Adam who have recently moved to Wimbledon to housesit. Not long after settling in, they meet Sophia and Finn, their new beautiful, enigmatic neighbours who seem to have the perfect life. Making it even more shocking when Sophie proposes a twisted game to Elena whereby they swap partners in secret. It's not long before Elena's life is thrown up in the air when she finds herself in an illicit love affair that she's not even sure she could give up now. Unfortunately for her, Sophia has a further twist to the plan that Elena could never have imagined. This was just everything you want in a thriller. Pacy, exciting, tense, I just raced through it! I really liked the characters of Elena and Finn and the chemistry between them was noticeable from the beginning. There were several twists and turns throughout and I'd urge you to read it.

So, that's everything I've read so far in 2024! I'd love to know if you've read any of these books or if you have any recommendations?

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A Look At My 2023 Goodreads Challenge

 Gone are the days where I used to get through 100 books a year. Looking back, I genuinely don't know how I ever did that and I'm sure I did it at least 2 years in a row too. I used to love nothing more than getting stuck into a good book but over the last year or so in particular, I've massively struggled with it. I went into 2023 with the challenge of reading a book a month, so 12 by the end of the year obviously. Right now I'm just ahead so I thought I'd do a little roundup of what I've read so far this year, a bit of a throwback post as I used to these almost monthly!All Your Perfects - Colleen Hoover

When I'm in a bit of a reading slump, I find books by Colleen Hoover to be the perfect choice. They're always such an easy read and I tend to get through them ridiculously fast. I've read quite a few of hers now but the first of 2023 was All Your Perfects. This follows Quinn and Graham's troubled marriage and their quest to repair it. Memories, mistakes and secrets have built up over the years but promises from the past could be the one thing that saves them. I gave this 4 stars as it wasn't my favourite of Colleen's but still a great story that had me hooked.

Taste: My Life Through Food - Stanley Tucci

I don't know about you but I love Stanley Tucci. His films, his Instagram, he just seems like such a nice person 😂 Taste is a memoir of life in and out of the kitchen. Stanley talks about his life before films like The Devil Wears Prada which turned him into a bit of a household name, the highs and lows of acting and family life and he also shares some of his own recipes which I'm still yet to try out. It was just a really charming read and I love that there was a bit of everything in it!

London Block By Block - Cierra Block

I got this for Christmas last year and I was so excited to start it. It's a great guide to all things London and it's illustrated beautifully! Cierra literally goes block by block and talks all things Notting Hill, Chelsea, Piccadilly and so much more. Each section has a list of must see things and there are some dedicated sections like top London bakeries to visit, restaurants etc. Just a really cool little guide that I know I'll come back to before a trip!

Just Got Real - Jane Fallon

I've read quite a few books from Jane Fallon now, in fact she's one of the authors I used to absolutely love when I was in my major reading phases a few years ago. I picked up Just Got Real earlier this year and it was another enjoyable read. This book is about Joni who meets Ant via a dating app and neither of them are being entirely honest about who they are. Despite this they start a relationship and all is well until Joni discovers Ant is still on the app and has several other women in his life. I love how normal Jane's books are, they don't feel super far fetched and always keep me guessing how they're going to end and this was no different.

November 9 - Colleen Hoover

The second Colleen Hoover book of the year so far and I doubt it'll be the last. This follows Fallon and Ben who meet on Fallon's last day in LA before she heads off on a cross country move. After a great day together, they plan to meet up every year on November 9th and they do but then one day Fallon discovers Ben has actually used her eventful life as inspiration for his novel. Was anything between them ever real or has he been fabricating something for the perfect story? I really enjoyed this and it was another of Colleen's books that I just didn't want to put down.

One True Loves - Taylor Jenkins Reid

I actually watched the film adaptation of this starring Simu Liu and Phillipa Soo first, which I loved, before I read the book but I don't think that would have made a difference to how I felt about it. I loved both and the book has actually become the only one so far this year to get 5 stars from me. One True Loves follows Emma who is married to her high school sweetheart Jesse who later goes missing one day and is suspected dead. Years go by and Emma has no choice but to move on. She reconnects with an old friend called Sam and eventually they fall in love. Happy at her second chance at love and life, she never expects Jesse to one day turn up at her door but he does. Who is actually her one true love and where do they all go from here? I just love how this was written. I felt I could really imagine what Emma was going through and put myself in her position and I cared for all of the characters. This is a close second favourite of mine from Taylor Jenkins Reid, only beaten by the greatness that is The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

Only Love Can Hurt Like This - Paige Toon

If you've been around since pretty much the start of my blog, you'll know my love for Paige Toon. I've read every book of hers so far and always have the latest release on pre-order so it was no different with Only Love Can Hurt Like This. We start by meeting Wren who has just realised her fiance is in love with someone else. On the other side of the world we have Anders who lost his wife 4 years ago and is struggling to move on. Wren decides to spend the summer with her dad on his farm in Indiana, hoping it will help her heal but when she meets Anders there, both of their worlds are turned upside down. As always with books by Paige though, someone has a big secret and it could have serious implications for everyone involved. I gave this 4 stars as it was another beautifully written, emotional book from Paige that I found myself racing through.

Happiness For Beginners - Carole Matthews

Carole Matthews is another author that I went through a real phase with and I've definitely read the majority of her books. Some of my favourites being The Chocolate Lovers series! Happiness For Beginners had been on my list for a long time but I'm going to be honest, it wasn't a favourite of mine. Molly Baker lives on a farm and is surrounded by pretty much every animal you could imagine. She has turned it into an alternative school for kids who struggle to thrive in mainstream education and this is where she meets Shelby, someone so far removed from a life like hers, when he enrols his son Lucas. Despite their differences, there's something there between them, could this be the start of something special? This was an easy read with lots of little happy moments but I just didn't find myself hooked by the story.

So that's where I'm at so far with my 2023 Goodreads challenge. My current read is None Of This Is True by Lisa Jewell so I'd love to know your thoughts if you've read it! Hopefully I'll be back at the end of the year with a few more books to talk about, I have a huge pile growing in my office just waiting to be read!

What's been your favourite book of the year so far?

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What I Read In September, October, November & December

 I have been so behind with blogging recently so this post is literally months later than I planned! I still wanted to share it before I talk my favourite books of the year and set myself a new Goodreads challenge. Luckily there aren't loads of books to talk about since my last reading roundup so it won't take too long to get through! Here are the books I read in September, October, November and December.

Eight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis - ⭐⭐⭐

It was in 2020 I think that I first read a book by Lia Louis, that being Dear Emmie Blue and I really did enjoy it. I was so excited for her new release Eight Perfect Hours so I grabbed it as soon as I saw it was on one of the kindle deals recently. On a snowy evening in March, Noelle finds herself stranded after a blizzard closes off the roads. All seems lost until she sees Sam Attwood, a handsome American stranger who is also stuck on the road with no-one for company. They find themselves stuck for eight perfect hours and at the end of that, neither of them want to say goodbye. Eventually parting, they both face facts, they'll never see each other again but maybe fate has other plans.... I'm glad I've got to read another book by Lia Louis as I find her writing style just flows really well and it always hooks me in but I can't say I loved this. It was sweet but I wouldn't be in a rush to read it again.

Baby It's Cold Outside by Emily Bell - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was such a lovely book and exactly the sort of thing that I needed. I read it all in about a day which in the past when I was reading all the time was a regular thing but not this year so that shows how much I enjoyed it. Baby It's Cold Outside follows Norah who faces Christmas alone contemplating the mad idea of trying to reconnect with someone she met ten years ago. All those years ago on a trip to Italy, she met & fell for Andrew but since then life has got in the way and they've not seen each other since. They planned that if they were both single on Christmas Eve 2019, they would meet in Dublin. Norah has nothing to lose but will Andrew be there? And even if he is, has she actually been missing out on someone a little closer to home? This was very predictable at times but I didn't even care, I just found it a really easy read and it made me feel all festive!

Worst Idea Ever by Jane Fallon - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I find books by Jane Fallon so easy to read and I always tend to really enjoy them for that reason. When I've been in a slump with reading or just can't decide what to go for next, a book like Worst Idea Ever usually really gets me stuck in again. This is one of Jane's latest books and probably my favourite one from her so far. Worst Idea Ever is about best friends Georgia and Lydia. Best friends tell each other everything don't they? When Lydia's online business starts to struggle, Georgia wants to help her. Setting up a fake Twitter account do so, she hopes moral support from a potential new customer may give Lydia a boost. But then Lydia starts telling her new internet friend things about Georgia and Georgia realises maybe she's got herself in too deep. Can their friendship come back from this? This is definitely one of those books that you know from the beginning the characters have created an absolute mess and it's almost hard to read at times because of it but there's a lot of humour too and I really liked Georgia and her husband as characters.

The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This had been on my to read list for a long time so when the trailer for the TV adaptation was released, I knew it was finally time. When I can I like to read the book before seeing the show or movie if one has been made and I'm glad I did that with this. The Girl Before follows Emma and Jane. Two women in different years but in the same house. The first tenant Emma needs a new start. A house she can feel safe in after a break-in. One Folgate Street seems perfect. But there are rules. The landlord won't allow books, photos, clutter or personal effects. The house is intended to transform the occupant and that's exactly what it does to Emma. Years later Jane is the newest tenant. All seems too good to be true and she soon learns it is. She discovers how much she looks like the previous tenant and how similar they were but will she have the same tragic fate? This was such a good psychological thriller and I couldn't put it down. Loved the short, snappy chapters and it was so easy to flick from one persons perspective to another. I thought the TV adaptation was brilliant too. 

So that's finally a roundup of my final few books of the year! Not as many as I hoped but I think I know now not to aim so high with my reading challenge in 2022.

I'd love to know if you've read any of these books?

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What I Read In June, July & August

 I didn't plan on leaving it so long since my last blog post but I've just really not felt like writing anything recently and since 2021 started, I've really found myself pulling away from blogging. I don't want to just stop as there are still things I like to share but I do feel very differently about it now and I can't see myself ever going back to blogging several times a week like I used to. One thing I do want to keep up with, even if they are less frequent, is my reading roundups. When I read a lot in one go, I share them monthly but as you might have noticed from the lack of posts, I've really slowed down on the reading front so there's been no books to talk about! I've ended up combining my thoughts on the books I read in June, July and August so here they are.

Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane - ⭐⭐⭐
I find books by Mhairi McFarlane really hit and miss sometimes. I adored You Had Me At Hello and If I Never Met You but then struggled a lot with Don't You Forget About Me and her most recent book, Last Night. I don't think it helped that I was trying to read this as we were in the middle of moving house as it meant I was only ever getting to read little snippets so it was much harder to get into the story and remember what had happened previously. I really liked the premise of this book though. It follows a group of friends Eve, Justin, Susie and Ed. Eve has been secretly in love with Ed for years but has never told him but then one night a tragic accident happens and their lives change forever. I actually went into this convinced I knew what was going to happen but I was wrong and that is one big positive with this book, it completely threw me and I never guessed how it would end. 

Someone I Used To Know by Paige Toon - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Paige Toon never disappoints. I think there are only one or two of Paige's books that I've given less than 5 stars which is good going for the sheer amount I have read from her. Whilst Someone I Used To Know wasn't my favourite book that's been released so far, there was so much to love about it. This book is about Leah, George and Theo. Then, George is Leah's new foster brother and despite a rocky introduction to the ever growing family, Leah finds herself getting drawn closer to him as time goes on. Theo, the new boy at school that Summer forms a bond with George and Leah that none of them thought would ever be broken. Life doesn't always go to plan though. Now, Leah is back in Yorkshire with a baby girl but Emilie's father Theo isn't with them. George has also just unexpectedly returned. After half a lifetime, can they move on from what happened all those years ago and are the feelings between George and Leah still there? There is always some sort of love triangle in a Paige Toon book so I fully expected that but I didn't find this was as focused on romance as previous books, kind of the only thing that let it down a little. I wanted more from George and Leah when they were younger and then I wanted more when they reconnect all those years later but I think Paige was telling a really important story much more focused on families and fostering and everything that can come with that. I'm sure I'll read this again one day.

Freed (Christian's POV) by E.L. James - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I know the Fifty Shades of Grey series isn't to everyone's taste but I personally really enjoy reading the books. I can't say it's the best writing ever but I like the story and I love the characters so I can get past that. I love that E.L. James has released all three books again, this time from Christian's point of view and I've definitely enjoyed them all much more this time round. I find his perspective much more interesting and a little less cringe! I think Freed has become my favourite and I could definitely see myself re-reading it again one day. 

The Marriage by K.L. Slater - ⭐⭐
More often than not I really enjoy books by K.L. Slater. She's one of my go to authors when I feel like reading a thriller so when I spotted The Marriage for 99p on Kindle, I grabbed it. Unfortunately I didn't particularly enjoy this. Bridget lost her son Jesse when he was 18 due to a fight with his best friend Tom. A tragic accident. 10 years on, Bridget has found it in her heart to forgive Tom and they've formed a closer connection than they could have ever imagined. Friends and family can't understand it but Tom and Bridget decide they want to be together and get married. Quite quickly though Tom's mum starts to worry that there's more to it. Has Bridget got an ulterior motive? I kind of went into this with an idea of where it was going to go and it ended up being quite different which I suppose is a positive really but overall the story just fell flat. It didn't seem like a psychological thriller at all!

The Getaway by Isabelle Broom - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
As soon as I read the synopsis for this months ago, before it was released, I knew it would be my sort of book. The Getaway follows newly single Kate as she travels to Croatia to escape her very normal life. She's just been dumped, can't find a job and needs some time to assess what it is she actually wants. It turns out someone else is feeling the same. Alex is different to any other man Kate has ever known but the connection between them is palpable. It wasn't what she planned but could this trip end up changing her life forever? This took me a little while to get into which surprised me but eventually I ended up absolutely loving it and just waiting until I could pick it up again. I thought Kate was really relatable, I liked Alex and I was just rooting for them the whole way through. This has definitely made me want to visit Croatia one day too!

You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry - ⭐⭐⭐
This was one of those books that seemed to be everywhere last month! Two friends, ten Summer trips, their last chance to fall in love. You and Me on Vacation is about Poppy and Alex. They first met 12 Summers ago. 11 Summers ago they were forced to share a ride home from college and surprisingly by the end of it, a friendship had formed. Each year since then they've gone away but 2 years ago it all went wrong. Trying to reconcile their friendship, Poppy asks Alex to join her on one last trip. This will determine the rest of their lives. I've gotta say I much preferred reading the present chapters rather than the ones set in the past. I know we needed those chapters from previous summers to build up all of the chemistry and the tension but for me nothing could beat the moments when they were back together in the present. This had some amazing moments throughout and I was rooting for Poppy and Alex to finally come clean about their feelings for one another. Whilst overall I didn't absolutely love this, I can see why it's become so popular.

The Mothers by Sarah J.Naughton - ⭐⭐
This has been on my to be read list for absolutely ages but I ended up being really disappointed with it when I finally got round to reading it. The Mothers is about five women who meet at their NCT group. The only thing they have in common is that they're all pregnant. 3 years later though, they've become good friends. Or so we think? Now someone's husband is missing. One of the women knows something but who? This had such a great premise and to be fair it started out really well but eventually it just got confusing. I thought there were too many characters to keep track of and I just found myself having to go back to figure out who was who which isn't really what you want! 

So that's everything I've read over the last few months. Nowhere near as much as I used to be able to get through in a short space of time but life has changed a bit since then and I just can't read book after book like I used to right now! I'd love to know if you've read any of these books, let me know what you thought of them!

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What I Read In April & May

 I've ended up combining April & May's monthly reading roundups as there just wasn't enough to say for April alone, I seriously slacked with reading and for the most part I just couldn't be bothered to pick up a book. There has been a LOT going on recently and to be honest the majority of this year has been quite stressful which has definitely played a part in the lack of reading I've been doing but there was a good reason for it. We moved house! In May we FINALLY got the keys to our new home after first having our offer accepted just before Christmas so it's felt like a lifetime waiting to complete. We had so many delays so week after week I just felt stressed & of course lockdown didn't help but as soon as we got the keys, all of that just went away. I'm hoping I'll get the reading bug back now that stress has gone & Summer is on the way so I just know I'm going to be sat in the garden loads with a book while Bear plays, something I've wanted to do for so long. Anyway, now that's out of the way and hopefully explains a little why things have been a bit all over the place here, let's talk about the books I did manage to read in April and May.

Playing Nice by J.P. Delaney - ⭐⭐⭐
This is the first book I've ever read by J.P. Delaney which is surprising as his books have been recommended so many times! Playing Nice starts when Pete Riley answers his door one morning, not knowing a parent's worst nightmare is about to come true. There stands Miles Lambert, a stranger, who says that Pete's son Theo isn't actually is his son, he is the Lambert's little boy who was switched at birth. Their real son went home with Miles and his wife Lucy. For Pete and Maddie, their life is about to change forever. This was really tense just from the first chapter and I knew that no matter how nice everyone seemed, Pete and Maddie were going to end up with a fight on their hands. I didn't trust Miles from the start but I found all the characters quite complex and like they could be the one hiding something big from everyone else. For the most part I really enjoyed this but towards the end it just lost me a little. The ending was really drawn out and unrealistic.

The Stopover by T.L. Swan - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The first five star book of the month! I know books like Fifty Shades of Grey can divide opinion and I would say this is definitely along those lines so I'll keep try and keep this short and sweet but I clearly really enjoyed it! I'd seen this recommended quite a few times recently on Instagram and I was too intrigued to leave it any longer. This starts out with Emily Foster getting bumped up to first class for her flight to New York, something that never happens to a girl like her and that's where she meets Jameson. Sitting next to one another during the flight, they enjoy drinks and find they actually get on really well. Due to bad weather during the flight, they are rerouted to Boston and have the chance to spend the night together. After the best night, they go their separate ways, thinking that was all it was ever meant to be. A year later, Emily now has a job interview in New York and it turns out it's at Jameson's company. He wants to pick up where they left off but Emily has a boyfriend now. Can they resist? I'm so excited to read more from this author in future now.

The Spark by Jules Wake - ⭐⭐⭐
This is a really tricky one to rate, at times it felt like a five star, especially at the beginning but as the book went on, something changed and to be honest I don't know what. Insightful I know. The Spark is about Jess and Sam. As soon as their eyes lock at a party, there's a spark, genuine love at first sight. The issue is Sam is just out of a relationship and his ex Victoria won't back off making the honeymoon period hell. Is love at first sight enough to make this work? There was an obvious connection between Jess and Sam & I loved both characters despite their flaws & the messy way they get together because it just felt very believable. Life isn't always straightforward. At times though it was very predictable & I wish Sam had been a bit more outspoken as it often felt like Jess had to take the brunt of Victoria's pain which was a little unfair. I think if you're after something lighthearted to read this Spring, this is probably something you'd enjoy.

No One Can Change Your Life Except For You by Laura Whitmore - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I rarely read non-fiction books but Laura Whitmore's brand new book stood out to me for a few reasons. Not gonna lie the gorgeous cover sucked me in and the title but it also seemed like such a positive, uplifting read and that was something I really needed at the time. In this, Laura talks about how we can become our own heroes and create our own dreams after sharing her struggles and experiences with heartbreak, self-doubt, insecurity and more. There's lots of chat around positive affirmations, self-belief and optimism and how all of those things can benefit our lives if we let them. I'm really into manifestation and speaking positive affirmations and I truly believe it's why some things have worked out how they have over the last 6 months so this was kind of just reinforcing a lot of what I've been trying to do anyway. I loved finding out more about Laura and some of the people she looks upto and I think there was a nice balance throughout of chapters about her life aswell as tips on controlling your perspective, trying to have a more optimistic outlook and positive affirmations to use going forward. It left me really empowered to be honest and I can see myself going back to this again and again for several little snippets.

The Doctor by Nikki Sloane - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Okay I'm going to have to keep my reviews short for the next few because I don't really know what to say other than they're pure smut. Books by Nikki Sloane make Fifty Shades seem tame so that's saying something. The Doctor is the first book in a 3 part series by Nikki and it was definitely my favourite of the three. Cassidy is just home from college for the Summer when she realises her relationship with Preston is going nowhere. After deciding to end things, she realises the connection she has with his father...There's a 20 year age gap but the chemistry is real & can either of them resist? Of course not. I can see why this wouldn't be for everyone but I really enjoyed it. I read it all in about an hour!

The Pool Boy by Nikki Sloane - ⭐⭐⭐
The second in the series by Nikki Sloane and just as risque as The Doctor. Erika has just discovered her husband has been cheating on her for years with his boss and she's decides she's wasted too many years doing what is best for everyone else. She's putting herself first from now on and that means saying yes when she finds herself in a compromising situation with the twenty something pool boy. Whilst I did enjoy this and again found myself reading the whole thing super quickly, I definitely didn't find it quite as intriguing as Nikki's previous book.

The Architect by Nikki Sloane - ⭐⭐
The final book in the series and this was definitely my least favourite. I don't even know how to go about explaining the plot because it's just so crazy. It had moments which I enjoyed and it was nice that characters from previous books turned up at points but overall it was a bit too much for me.

So that's everything I've read over the last two months. I would still love to reach my reading goal of 80 books this year but I'm very behind right now so I have my doubts! I've really missed just sitting and getting properly stuck into a book these last few weeks whilst everything has been a bit mad so I'm looking forward to a bit of calm now.

What books have you read recently?

By the way, after taking much longer than I expected away from my small business to move house, I've finally re-opened the shop today! We still have 7 gorgeous brownies to choose from and we have 15% off all week too so would love it if you felt like treating yourself to a box or spreading the word!

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What I Read In March

 Anyone else think the months are flying by?! I can't quite believe we're already in April and it's time to talk about the books I read in March. It genuinely feels like a few days ago when I was talking about books from February. I can't say I'm sad that the days seem to be going by quite quickly at the moment though. I mentioned last month how much I struggled with the latest lockdown and now we're officially out of it (I think?) and better times are coming, it feels like a weight has been lifted. I'm definitely not reading at the speed I was last year just because I've been so busy with Bear's Brownies and More and generally life has been a little stressful so it just hasn't been on my radar but there's still loads of time to reach my goal for the year. In March I managed to read 5 books so here's what I thought of them!

My Sweet Revenge by Jane Fallon - ⭐⭐⭐
It had been quite a while since I'd last read a Jane Fallon book and after becoming really picky with thrillers which is one of my fave genres, I thought I'd go for something completely different and also from an author I always enjoy. My Sweet Revenge follows Paula who wants to make her husband fall back in love with her. She's discovered he's been having an affair so goes on a mission to revamp herself, so when she confronts him, he'll realise what he's lost. While this wasn't my fave book by Jane, it did give me the reading bug back a little. It was such an easy read and I loved how snappy the chapters were, nothing felt like it was dragging and there was a good twist towards the end which I didn't expect! I didn't initially like that she set out to lose weight and change herself for a man but I do think as the book goes on and she gains confidence that it does become more about her finding herself which I liked.

If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ahh I really enjoyed this! I've read a few books by Mhairi McFarlane before, my favourite being You Had Me At Hello so I had just been waiting for this to be on offer on Kindle. If I Never Met You is about Laurie and Jamie, who to all of their work colleagues look madly in love. The reality is though that it's all staged. Laurie has just been dumped by Dan, her boyfriend of 18 years who she'll still have to work with & she wants revenge. Jamie is after a promotion and knows how much the bosses admire Laurie. Why not join forces? The rules are set via email, the photos are staged but over time do the feelings become real? I loved the tension between Laurie and Jamie almost instantly and whilst it might have been quite predictable how it would end, I still loved it. I felt Laurie's pain when Dan quickly moves on & she felt like a character I could really root for. I hope there's a short story follow up one day as I'd love to know what happens to Laurie and Jamie next.

The Perfect Nanny by Karen Clarke & Amanda Brittany* - ⭐⭐⭐
The first thriller of March and I really enjoyed it. The Perfect Nanny follows Sophy, a new mother whose struggling with looking after her nine month old, an overbearing mother in law and feeling like she's lost herself since becoming a mother. After bumping into Liv at a mother and baby group who offers her services as a nanny, Sophie is relieved. The thing is Liv has a secret. For years she has been convinced Sophy is responsible for her brother's death many years ago and now she's found her, she's going to make her pay. As Liv starts to work for Sophy though, has she actually got it all wrong? I have read books quite similar to this before so parts of it were quite predictable but overall it did keep me guessing throughout. I liked that we hear from both Sophy and Liv throughout and all of the characters were quite complex so I was never quite sure who to trust. I enjoyed the twists that are revealed towards the end too!

The Catch by T.M. Logan - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is the second book I've read by T.M. Logan. I read his previous book The Holiday a while ago and to be honest I wasn't that impressed so I wasn't sure if this would end up being similar. It was SO different though and for that reason so much better and it's become my second 5 star book of the year. I've been so picky with thrillers recently but this was genuinely tense, kept me guessing throughout and had some really interesting characters involved. The Catch is about Ed's quest to figure out who his daughter's fiance Ryan really is. From the moment he meets Ryan, he's suspicious and knows that something is not quite right. Everyone else thinks Ed is just being an overprotective dad so the more he digs into Ryan's past, the more he pushes everyone else away. Has Ed got it all wrong or is Ryan actually dangerous? and who will come out top in the end? This was just everything you want in a psychological thriller. As soon as you think you trust a character, the next minute something happens that completely changes your opinion. The setting of the Peak District was perfect too & I could picture everything so clearly and the writing itself just flowed perfectly. When I read The Holiday, I thought the writing was a bit clunky and I just couldn't comfortably sit and read a lot of it in one go but I could with this. A really brilliant book.

The Shape Of Us by Drew Davies - ⭐⭐
The Shape Of Us is about several different characters all going about their day in London whose lives end up colliding in ways they never expected. Daisy, rushing to work is almost knocked over by a cyclist who then asks for her number. Jojo, a woman in her sixties is desperately trying to win her husband back from his mistress. Adam lies to his housemate every day since losing his job. Dylan has an illness which means he can't leave his home, but it hasn't stopped him falling in love. These four strangers have one thing in common, they're looking for love and totally hopeless at it. But could that all change? This started off really well and I quite quickly became really invested in Daisy's story and her chapters were the ones I always ended up looking forward to. About a quarter of the way in though I felt like the pace really changed and I found it a bit of a slog to get through after that. There are so many characters throughout that it became a bit too complicated trying to keep track of who was who and how they were connected. I'm glad I finally read this as it's been on my list for a while but it didn't blow me away.

A bit of a disappointing end to the month but overall quite a good month for books! My first five star book in a while and a nice variety which kept things interesting. I'd love to know if you've read any of these books or if you have any recommendations?

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What I Read In February

 February was a really slow reading month for me. In January I read 6 books which I was really happy with as I'm aiming for 80 this year but in February I just couldn't be bothered. I don't know about anybody else but I've been really struggling with this lockdown. Even though I've had days where I've felt really good or weeks where I've had a lot on with Bear's Brownies and More which keeps me busy, the majority of the time I've felt quite low. I've definitely perked up since the last announcement as at least we now have a rough idea of what's hopefully happening over the next few months & I really needed that but some days it just feels never ending. Because of lockdown being so tough, I just wasn't in the mood to pick up a book most days and I didn't want to force it. So, here are my thoughts on the books I did manage to read last month.

The Housewarming by S.E. Lynes - ⭐⭐
I was in the mood for a thriller and saw this was only 99p on Kindle. I was really intrigued by the premise - a year ago Ava left her daughter in her pushchair for 5 minutes. When she came downstairs, Abi was gone and hasn't been seen since. For a year she's been convinced she's to blame but at their neighbours housewarming party, Ava discovers a secret that changes everything. I do think this started off really well and there were several characters who seemed suspicious. It soon became quite obvious though who was to blame and the suspense wasn't really there when it was all revealed towards the end. It was also just pretty sad and didn't really feel like much of a thriller.

How To Be More Paddington by Michael Bond - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love Paddington so much. The films, books, even his Twitter account fills me with joy! This was a birthday present and I'd been saving it for a day where I knew I really needed it. It's full of little poems, illustrations and words about life, love, family and more and it's just incredibly heartwarming. I read it all in one sitting as a lot of it is illustrations but I know it will be one I keep and go back to over and over again. 

Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris - ⭐⭐⭐
I read The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris in January 2019 and it ended up being one of my favourite books that year. It was a tough read but it stuck with me. I've been meaning to read the sequel Cilka's Journey ever since it was released but I've only just got round to it. It's obviously a heartbreaking topic so I really wanted to give it my full attention and take it all in which is why it took me a while to get through. Whilst I'm glad I finally read this, I can't say it made me feel close to what The Tattooist of Auschwitz did. Books like this are always so hard to review but I just found it didn't quite flow right for me and as someone else put it on goodreads 'you could skip 3 chapters and feel like you haven't missed anything'. A bit disappointing.

The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley - ⭐⭐⭐
This was recommend quite a lot by a few book accounts I follow on Instagram recently so when it was on sale on Kindle, I bought it and hoped it would live upto expectations. It reminded me a lot of books like The Lido by Libby Page and on the whole I did enjoy this. This follows a man named Julien who writes a bit about his life in a notepad and names it the authenticity project, leaving it in a cafe for anyone to find. He hopes someone will pick it up and leave their story too and this creates a web of quirky friendships that would never have come about otherwise. I can't say I loved all the characters and Monica was definitely my favourite but it was a nice, heartwarming read.

I'm feeling a bit stuck with what books to read at the moment so if you have any recommendations please let me know! I'd love to know if you've read any of these too?

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What I Read In January

Books marked * were either sent via Netgalley to review or as a PR sample but all views are my own

 If you've been following my blog for the last few years you'll have seen that each year I like to set myself a reading goal. Usually throughout the year I'll do a few mini updates, usually every few months and I share my thoughts on the books I've been reading. This year I'm aiming for 80 books. I've managed to read over 100 books the last two years but I found towards the end of last year I was getting really picky and I found myself getting disappointed quite a lot, probably just because I was reading so much in one go. I also know when I'm busy I can go ages without picking up a book and I'd love a busy year with Bear's Brownies & More so if that becomes a reality, I just don't think I'd be able to reach 100 again. I know 80 isn't loads less but I still think it could be do-able. Anyway, long story short, I'm changing things up and I'm going to share a 'what I read this month' each month instead. I just think this will mean they'll be less books for you to read about in one go and I can go into a bit more detail about the ones I've really loved. So, here's what I read in January.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The last book I read in 2020 was Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and I gave it 5 stars so it was a great one to end the year on. I started Chamber of Secrets as soon as the New Year hit and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm not quite sure why it's not five stars like the first book but I can just tell when one is. I'm pretty sure I read the first few Harry Potter books when I was younger but I can't remember reading the last couple so this year, even though I'm sure I'll space them out, I want to get through them all. I adore the films and at the time of reading this, we were re-watching them all again for the millionth time but I'm loving getting a bit more detail from the books.

Haven't They Grown by Sophie Hannah - ⭐⭐
'Twelve years have passed, the children don't look a day older. Why?' That alone on the cover had me desperate to read the book every time I spotted it in a shop so when I saw it was 99p on Kindle, I bought it and got stuck in straight away. Unfortunately there was so much about it I didn't like. The characters were so unlikeable, it all felt so far fetched and some of the dialogue was just a bit strange, everything was so matter of fact at times. This has such a fantastic premise and could have been amazing but I ended up feeling really let down by it.

Never Greener by Ruth Jones - ⭐⭐⭐
I love Ruth Jones. I was so keen to finally read one of her books and actually really intrigued as she's clearly a great writer going on the success of Gavin and Stacey (which is a masterpiece let's be honest). I ended up feeling quite conflicted about this though. Never Greener is about Kate who at 22 had an affair with married man Callum. Years later when they've both moved on and had children, they meet again and find the feelings are just as intense and hard to ignore as before. They're faced with a choice - walk away or find out what might have been. From the beginning I didn't like Kate so it was hard to feel much sympathy for her and all the way through I just wanted Callum to realise what he was risking as I LOVED his wife Belinda. I think it's a brilliantly written book with lots of humour throughout but I'm not sure it's one I'd be recommending to everyone.

The Duke & I by Julia Quinn - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Did anyone else absolutely love Bridgerton which was released recently on Netflix? We flew through it in a matter of days and I grabbed the book soon afterwards as I loved it so much. Even though I didn't race through this, I found it such an easy read. I just took my time with it and really enjoyed reading a few chapters each evening. Daphne and Simon were just perfection.

Until Next Weekend by Rachel Marks* - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I absolutely loved Rachel's first book, Saturdays at Noon so I was so excited to read her latest book. Until Next Weekend follows Noah, a 'weekend dad' on a mission to win back his ex-wife Kate. He misses the life they used to have together, he misses spending everyday with his boys and he's decided enough is enough, he's going to change. At first I wasn't sure how I felt about Noah, it seemed like Kate had been well within her rights to make the decision she did but as the book went on, I really grew to like him and every character actually. The story felt very believable and after we find out what Noah went through growing up, it was very easy to feel sympathy for him and hope he would get the ending he wanted. There's no denying Rachel is a fantastic writer, this had some really emotional moments throughout which I didn't expect but there was humour thrown in too and it was the perfect balance. I can't wait to read more from Rachel in future.

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman - ⭐⭐⭐
I'm not gonna lie, I didn't love this as much as I hoped I would. Maybe I went into it with too high expectations, I don't know, but it's one of those books that seems to be endlessly spoken about at the minute but I just didn't feel what it seems everyone else is. It took a long time for me to really feel interested in the story unfortunately and the writing wasn't quite flowing for me. Not every book is for you and that's okay so I'm still glad I read it but I'm not sure I'll be reading the sequel.

So that's everything I read in January! I had about 2 weeks where I didn't really pick a book up so I'm glad I still managed to get through 6 before the end of the month.

What did you read in January? Have you read any of these books?

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New Year Book Haul

 It's a New Year which tends to always mean a fresh pile of books to read. Pretty much all I ask for at Christmas is books and as my birthday is just 2 weeks later, I tend to end up with quite a few in January to see me through the start of the new year. I thought I'd share a little new year book haul before I get stuck into reading these and I'd love to know if you've read any of them too!

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
'In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet up once a week to investigate unsolved murders. But when a brutal killing takes place on their very doorstep, the Thursday Murder Club find themselves in the middle of their first live case. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron might be pushing eighty but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves. Can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer before it's too late?'

This is a book I've wanted to read for months so I was thrilled to receive this for my birthday! You might know Richard Osman as one of the TV presenters from Pointless but recently he released The Thursday Murder Club, his first book and it's received endless praise ever since. I have a feeling I'm going to love this!

Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris
'In 1942, Cilka Klein is just sixteen years old when she is taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp. The commandment at Birkenau, Schwarzhuber, notices her long beautiful hair, and forces her separation from the other women prisoners. Cilka learns quickly that power, even unwillingly given, equals survival. After liberation, Cilka is charged as a collaborator by the Russians and sent to a desolate, brutal prison camp in Siberia known as Vortuka, inside the Arctic Circle. Innocent, imprisoned once again, Cilka faces challenges both new and horribly familiar, each day a battle for survival. Cilka befriends a woman doctor, and learns to nurse the ill in the camp, struggling to care for them under unimaginable conditions. And when she tends to a man called Alexandr, Cilka finds that despite everything, there is room in her for love.'

I read The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris at the start of 2019 and it's stuck with me ever since. Cilka's Journey is the sequel and I'm so surprised I've not read it before now. It's been on my list to buy ever since it was released. No doubt this will be just as moving as The Tattooist of Auschwitz but I think books like this are really important to keep reading.

How To Be More Paddington: A Book of Kindness by Michael Bond
'Paddington Bear is a beacon of happiness - well meaning, funny and always kind. Explore Paddington's unique and universal take on life in this very special collection of warm words about friendship, family, love, laughter... and everything in between.'

I adore Paddington. I don't know who couldn't. I love books like this which you don't have to rush with, you can just pick up as and when you feel like it. This is full of beautiful illustrations, quotes and more and I just know it's going to be a book I'll always have on my bookshelf ready for whenever I need it.

All Along You Were Blooming by Morgan Harper Nichols
'A celebration of hope. An encounter with grace. A restoration of the heart. A healing of wounds. An anthem of freedom. All Along You Were Blooming is the ultimate love letter from the pen of popular Instagram poet Morgan Harper Nichols to your mind, heart, soul, and body. All Along You Were Blooming is a striking collection of illustrated poetry and prose.'

I've followed Morgan Harper Nichols on Instagram for a while and always absolutely loved her words so when I saw she had released a book, I knew I was going to have to read it. I think like Be More Paddington, this will be one I can just come back to time and time again and I won't necessarily read it all in one go. Whilst I love fiction, I also really enjoy having books like this to pick up as and when.

Us by David Nicholls 
'Douglas Petersen understands his wife's need to 'rediscover herself' now that their son is leaving home. He just thought they'd be doing their rediscovering together. So when Connie announces that she will be leaving too, he resolves to make their last family holiday into the trip of a lifetime: one that will draw the three of them closer, and win the respect of his son. One that will make Connie fall in love with him all over again. The hotels are booked, the tickets bought, the itinerary planned and printed. What could possibly go wrong?'

I watched the TV adaptation of Us on BBC towards the end of 2020 and absolutely loved it so I can't wait to read the book. David Nicholls also wrote One Day but I've never got all the way through that for some reason so I'm hoping I won't have that problem with this. I'd love to know if you've read this and what you thought of it?So, that's my New Year book haul! I can't wait to read all of these, I don't even know what to start with!

Have you read any of these books? What was your first book of 2021?

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