The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon Book Review

Though I feel like I speak about books ALL the time on my blog, it's actually been a little while since my last proper review, or at least that's how it feels, so I couldn't think of a better book than The Sun Is Also A Star to come back with!

'Natasha: I'm a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I'm definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won't be my story. 

Daniel: I've always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents' high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget all about that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store - for both of us.

The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?'

My review

So first of all, I think we need to talk about the cover of this book. ISN'T IT STUNNING?! I am absolutely obsessed with it. Though The Sun Is Also A Star and Everything, Everything, both by Nicola Yoon are Young Adult books, I think they appeal to all ages. I can totally see why this would stand out to teenagers but it's also one I think anyone my age could pick up and enjoy.

I'd seen the film adaptation of this a few weeks ago, as I mentioned in my latest mini film reviews post and I adored it. Instantly I wanted to read the book and compare the two. Straight away, as I'd seen the film, I could picture each scene so clearly but I think I would have been able to regardless. I adore Nicola's writing style, it's effortless, creates tension and is never over complicated, which I think could be easy to do when you're talking about science a good chunk of the time, and that is certainly not one of my strong points. I just find it so easy to get lost in her stories and it never takes me long to feel like I'm part of it.

Sticking with Nicola's writing style, this has a multiple person narrative which sometimes I find can be a bit tricky to get right, but she has nailed it. We hear from Natasha and Daniel the majority of the time, and I love that we get his side too as like I've said in a few book reviews before, we often don't get the man's side of the story but a lot of the time they can be just as soppy and romantic and THAT'S WHAT I WANNA SEE. We do also hear from several other minor characters too which I wasn't expecting but it added a whole new perspective to the story. There's Natasha's attorney Jeremy Fitzgerald who on the same day Natasha and Daniel meet, decides to finally confess his love to his PA Hannah. We get a few chapters from Hannah too and hear her side of this love story. And we even get chapters from Natasha's dad, who is the one that has caused the family's possible deportation in the first place. I looked forward to all of these little chapters as it was like multiple stories in one, but it never distracted from the main plot. I've never read a book that's done this before, but it worked.

There was so much about this book that stood out to me for all of the right reasons. It feels very current with Natasha's struggle to stay in America, I learnt a lot about Korean culture aswell as Jamaican history, and it really made me question fate and whether it does exist. There's a lot of discussion around Destiny and Multiverses too and if Natasha and Daniel were truly meant to meet on that one day, and I just love how Nicola has taken a simple boy meets girl story and turned it into something so incredibly unique. It never seemed like a story I could be sure would have a happy ending (though I'm a hopeless romantic, it's what I always hope for) so there was definitely unpredictability about it and it did seem like maybe this was going to be a love story about two people who may never end up together, and actually that's okay.

I don't really have any criticism about this book. I fell in love with the characters, it's so different to other books I've read so far this year and I 100% can't wait to read more from Nicola Yoon in the future. Now I've read both the book and seen the film, I can definitely tell they had to cut quite a few parts out for the movie and there were definite changes but I think it's made the translation to screen pretty well. I'll definitely be picking it up in future to watch again and I'm sure I'll be reading this again one day, just so I can get lost in Natasha and Daniel's story all over again.

Have you read The Sun Is Also A Star or anything else by Nicola Yoon?

Book reviews - The Lido by Libby Page // Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich

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Things To Consider When Starting A Business*

There are lots of things to think about when you're starting your own business, some more obvious than others. Of course, there's the company name, the target audience, a place where yourself and your staff can work, and so many other things. The type of business plays a huge role in determining some of these factors; for example, are you selling products that require storage or is your company an online service that can run from your home office? Will you need to employ a digital agency to build you a website or have a bespoke business sign installed above your store?

Photo by Ylanite Koppens from Pexels

All of the things you need to consider can become quite overwhelming, especially when it comes to financial matters that are really important to get right. You'll need to set up a business bank account and potentially employ an accountant. Nothing's to say you can't deal with your finances on your own but an accountant will help ensure all of your tax returns are done correctly and legally, taking some of the pressure off.

Make sure you do plenty of market research before launching your business and advertise in the right way. You can't expect potential customers to find you if you don't promote your products or services. There are lots of options to promote your business, from digital marketing to branded merchandise. Often when it comes to marketing, you have to go through several trial and error processes before you find something that truly works, so try and be patient and positive.

If you're likely to be printing documents, you might want to look into specific printers for business so that you don't waste money on paper, ink and other resources. Reckless printing is bad for the environment, as well as leaving devices in standby mode when not in use, so be sure to think about how you can become more environmentally friendly as a business.

Be sure to do your research and understand all aspects of your new business before you start. Size up the competition and focus on your USPs. The more time and effort you put in at the start, the better your company will perform going forward. Don't be afraid to get professional support if you think it will help, and be sure to talk to other people who have been in your position to get their advice.

This is a collaborative post

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Top Ways You Can Wear Boho Jewellery

Image source: Unsplash

If you are a boho lover, you will be one of the many who are hot on the trend at the moment. Its one of those things you don't want to overdo but to strike the right balance. 

Many are attracted to the light, airy and free-flowing feel of the boho-fashion. Many people also love the roots in spirituality and native indigenous tribes from years ago. No matter the reason you love it so much, this article will walk you through some of the top tips for wearing boho style jewellery so you can make the most out of your pieces.

Looking to grow your collection? Silver by Mail is a great place to start and features a number of beautiful boho pieces made from sterling silver. Besides that, let's now look at some ways you can effortlessly wear boho jewellery every day.

How to Effortlessly Pull Off Boho Jewellery Styles

If you want a creative yet stylist Bohemian vibe, follow the tips below to help you style your jewellery boho look.

Fringed Necklace

These necklaces have a whimsical vibe and can be very strong symbolically. They definitely have their roots in bohemian style and usually similar to those fringes seen at the bottom of a dress. They are used also to add length to a particular style and can do the same to a necklace. Moreover, when wearing this type of boho accessory, bring it to the fore by wearing it as a centre piece in a casual or formal setting.

Image Source: Unsplash

Layer Necklaces

Delicately layering your necklaces can create a kind of romantic boho style. A basic white t-shirt will work wonders with beautiful layered necklaces and help you effortlessly pull off the boho look you desire. Remember that the choices are varied when it comes to layering. You can go for pendants, thin chains, thicker chains and lucky charms to complete your look and give your layering enough diversity. Also, consider if you want to add extra colour in the mix too to add depth and shade to your look.

Sea Shells

This kind of beachy boho-inspired look can give you that light and flowy feel. Whether you have a selection of shells on a choker or coloured shells with different designs painted on them, they look beautiful against any skin tone.

Dangling Earrings

Long dangly earrings can also frame your face whilst providing the finishing touches to your boho vibe. Remember to incorporate essential bohemian elements such as feathers and boho-inspired patterns to complete the look.

Image Source: Pexels

Your bohemian journey is an exciting one that can include lots of variety and experimentation. Hopefully this article has helped you gain perspective when wearing boho style jewellery so you can achieve the look you desire.

*This article is published in partnership with Mediabuzzer

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My 2019 Reading Challenge - Update #3

Already months have passed since my last reading update of 2019 - can you believe it's September already?! Not that I'm complaining, the best time of the year is starting and I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER ABOUT IT. Anyway, if you haven't already seen my last two book updates, I set myself a challenge of reading 30 books this year and I've just reached #60 which is kind of insane. I've been putting together little roundups every few months so I thought it was about time for another.

Let's Meet On Platform 8 by Carole Matthews - ⭐⭐

I've become a bit of a fan of Carole Matthews this year after loving Million Love Songs and With Or Without You but Let's Meet On Platform 8 was not for me at all. I didn't particularly like any of the characters, the story just seemed a bit all over the place and I didn't have that urge to keep picking it up. Bit of a disappointing start to this post!

Then She Vanishes by Claire Douglas - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Claire Douglas is practically the queen of thrillers at the moment! I'm thoroughly enjoying getting through all of her books so when I spotted Then She Vanishes for just 99p on Kindle, I bought it straight away. It's only out recently so I didn't know much about it and didn't go into it with any expectations. Like all of Claire's books though, this had me hooked right from the very first page. I just don't know how she gets it so right every time!

The First Time I Saw You by Emma Cooper - ⭐⭐⭐

Ahh I feel so sad saying this disappointed me because a lot of people seem to love it, but it just wasn't for me. The chapters seemed to have random parts thrown in which didn't make any sense to the story and I didn't really connect with any of the characters. It did pick up a little towards the end though and there are some beautiful moments throughout, it just wasn't on par with the majority of books I've read recently.

Friend Request by Laura Marshall - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I'd been keen to read this for a while because I knew that the 2016 film of the same name was loosely based on this so I was intrigued to see just how similar they were. In the end I don't think the book was that scary and I couldn't really find that many similarities to the film either, but I still really enjoyed it. It wasn't the most creepy thriller I've ever read but if that's your sort of book, then it's definitely worth picking up.

Gone by Leona Deakin - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gone by Leona Deakin had me shook for hours after I finished reading it! It took a missing person story and flipped it completely meaning that the missing people were the ones to fear, something I've never seen in a book before. It was tense throughout, I doubted every character and it had Killing Eve vibes to it which I liked. Couldn't recommend this book enough!

If You Could Go Anywhere by Paige Toon - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Usually with books by Paige Toon, I'm all in within a few pages and I pretty much don't stop until the end. Unfortunately her latest really took me a while to get into. It wasn't until I was about halfway through that I felt things started to pick up, and that was when I really started to connect with Angie and Alessandro. Once I reached that point though I started to really look forward to picking the book up again and I then ended up finishing it so quickly. I think this will be one I re-read in future and maybe I'll love it more second time round. I mean, Paige is still my favourite, I've just preferred some of her previous books to this.

The Ingredients Of Us by Jennifer Gold - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book massively surprised me and once I finished it, I was just so happy I read it! The main character Elle runs her own bakery and she pretty much bakes her way through her husbands affair. It reminds me very much of the musical Waitress in some ways, so for both those reasons, it was just very me.

Billy and Me & Christmas With Billy & Me by Giovanna Fletcher - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I first read one of Giovanna's books last year, Some Kind Of Wonderful so I've been meaning to pick up some of her older ones ever since. I really hoped I'd love Billy and Me like the book I've just mentioned, and I really, really did. Just the perfect love story with some drama and heartbreak thrown in. I love Giovanna's writing, and the short sequel Christmas With Billy & Me made me just long for Christmas.

Always With Love by Giovanna Fletcher - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I love that there was more for Billy and Sophie. I don't want to spoil anything but for a while it looked like the story was going in a direction I don't think would have really made much sense after everything but luckily this ended up being just as heartfelt as the previous books in the series. I still want more though, there has to be another book in the future.

You by Caroline Kepnes - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I'm actually really glad I watched the TV series before reading this, I think I'd have massively struggled otherwise. The writing style just isn't me and I found it incredibly 'wordy' if that makes any sense! I think because I was so hooked to the show, I went into this expecting to get loads more detail from it and I just didn't. If anything quite important parts are far too short in my opinion. It's such an interesting story though and it's really unlike anything else I've read, it's worth sticking with.

Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ahh I just adored this! I've been a huge fan of the cast recording to Dear Evan Hansen for a long time so when I spotted this for 99p on Kindle, I grabbed it immediately. This gives so much detail into why Evan is the way he is and why he goes onto do what he does, so now I feel so prepared to go in and see the show once it opens in London. It's so relatable if you suffer with anxiety, parts made me so emotional because I just thought 'that's me' but it was also surprisingly funnier than I expected. This is definitely a contender for my top book of 2019.

You're The One That I Want by Giovanna Fletcher - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

When I find an author I like, I go through pretty much every book of theirs! After loving the Billy & Me series, I gave this a go next and whilst I didn't quite feel that same love that I did for her previous books, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm just soppy and like a bit of romance. This was definitely very bittersweet though and I'm still not sure how I feel about the ending. Giovanna is so good at stirring up emotion and I personally think you can just tell that she pours absolutely everything into her work.

The Prison Doctor by Dr Amanda Brown - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I'm a bit weird, I am fascinated by prisons. I don't know what it is but I love reading about them so when I spotted The Prison Doctor for £3.99 on Amazon, I ordered it straight away. This whole book is based on Dr Amanda Brown's time working in various British prisons and I found it so insightful. It's hard to imagine having to be the one caring for people who have committed some of the most horrendous crimes but Amanda seems like such an incredible person. I loved reading about her work and really hope they'll be another book in future when she has retired with more stories to tell!

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time by Mark Haddon - ⭐⭐⭐

I wanted to love this but I found it quite boring to be honest. It's a murder mystery but unlike any other as the detective and narrator, Christopher, is fifteen and has Asperger's. Because of that the whole book is very matter of fact, and that does make for some funny lines and it's definitely unique, but the story just didn't really make sense to me at times. I know this has had rave reviews so I'm sure I'm in the minority with not being a fan of this.

Don't You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane - ⭐⭐⭐

As I adored You Had Me At Hello by Mhairi McFarlane, I had high hopes for her latest release, but I was kind of disappointed. It's sold as a love story but I found there was very little interaction between the two characters who supposedly used to be in love. They're the ones you're meant to root for but so much of it focused on other people that I didn't think were that relevant. I also found sometimes it just took ages to get to the point. What should have taken up 1 page, took up 5 and I just found myself skimming parts.

The Lido by Libby Page - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Just thinking about this book makes me smile! It wasn't like anything I've read recently as it's focused on the friendship between a 26 year old and an 86 year old, and how they come together to try and save their local lido, but I am SO glad I gave it a chance. It's just incredibly heartwarming and I'm already looking forward to going back to the story one day.

The Ex-Girlfriend by Nicola Moriarty - ⭐⭐⭐

Ahh I hate it when the 'twist' that's always advertised on the front ends up being the most obvious thing in the world. I suppose as it's titled 'The Ex-Girlfriend', I thought there would be more to it and it wasn't just a case of a jealous ex wanting her man back, but the plot was so predictable.

Our Stop by Laura Jane Williams - ⭐⭐⭐

I was rooting for this book. It just seemed like my sort of story - it's set in London, it's supposed to be a cheesy love story and usually it's pretty much everything I could want in a book, but I found myself skim reading most of this. I didn't particularly like the main character Nadia and I don't really think there was much suspense between her and Daniel. It just felt like it never really got going. Such a gorgeous cover though.

The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary - ⭐⭐⭐

This actually ended up being one of my biggest disappointments of the year so far and I hate saying that because I know SO many people adore this. Maybe that's why I was disappointed though, there was so much hype around it that I went in with too high expectations. I just didn't connect with the characters and the author's writing style wasn't for me. I stuck with it and I was willing for it to suddenly click with me but it never did. I think the concept is brilliant and I'm sure it would make an amazing film but on paper, it just didn't quite work for me.

Go To My Grave by Catriona McPherson - ⭐⭐

I picked this up on a whim a few weeks ago and I thought the premise sounded great. A group of people all back in the same place something clearly went down years ago, and the idea that one of them won't be making it out alive this time, but it just didn't make sense once I started reading it. Far too many characters to keep up with, none of them likeable and no real clear ending.

The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory - ⭐⭐⭐

I didn't go in to this expecting it to be the best book in the world but I was actually pleasantly surprised. I really liked Jasmine's writing style, the characters were fun and quirky and the storyline was just cheesy and not too serious. Was it a book I could have been okay with never reading? Yes. But am I glad I read it? Yes. The word that comes to mind with this, is nice. Worth a read if you like a cheesy romance but it's nothing groundbreaking I suppose.

So before this post gets any longer, that's the latest list of books I've managed to get through since June. I never expected to end up reading so much in 2019 but I'm loving it and I can't wait to see what number I end on in December.

What books have you loved recently?

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