The Mid Year Book Tag 2020

HOW ARE WE IN JUNE?! Given how dreadful the majority of this year has been so far, I'm quite glad it's going so fast and the sooner we enter a fresh year, the better but another part of me wants it to slow down. I don't want a whole year to be wasted even if it is necessary. Anyone else understand what I mean? I really do think Summer will be over before we know it though given the speed at which the weeks are going by at the moment! As we're already in June, it's officially time for the mid year book tag! I first took part in this in 2018 and as I enjoyed it so much I did the same last year, and as you can see I'm doing it again this year. As I've been reading more and more each year, this has felt like a nice way to document where I'm at with my reading challenge and go over my thoughts on some of the books. I don't know if anyone will be particularly interested but I love writing these up so why not carry on the tradition? Let's get started.

1. Best book you've read so far in 2020?

At the moment I'm really torn between Normal People by Sally Rooney and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I mentioned in my recent favourites that there seems to be one book every year that I bang on about for months and so far it seems Normal People is the one for 2020. I know it's a book that divides opinion and I can see why but I'm in the club of people who utterly adored it. When I finished The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo last week though I realised it's not going to be so easy picking my favourites come the end of the year. It blew me away.

2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2020?

I've not read many sequels so far this year but I think it has to be A Murder Of Magpies by Mark Edwards. The Magpies series is absolutely brilliant and it's what has made Mark become one of my favourite authors. Whilst I did prefer the first book, The Magpies, I thought this was a great follow up.

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to?

Ooh there are so many! One that stands out to me which I think came out earlier this year is Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. I'm seeing that all over Instagram at the moment and I'm really intrigued.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year?

Kind of cheesy but I can't wait for Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer to be released in August. I was a HUGE Twilight fan when I was a teenager so when she announced recently she had written Edward's point of view, I knew I was going to have to read it. I also can't wait to grab The Minute I Saw You by Paige Toon. It was due for release in May but due to Covid-19 it's been pushed back to August. I think the kindle version is available but I love that I have a little collection of Paige's books on my bookshelf so I'm going to wait it out and add to that.

5. Biggest disappointment?

Probably The Chain by Adrian McKinty. I had such high hopes for it and to be honest, I hated it. It had an amazing premise but I just didn't get along with it. I was also a little underwhelmed by The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley. Another book that seems to get rave reviews but I felt was a bit meh.

6. Biggest surprise?

Half A World Away by Mike Gayle. It broke me at times but also made me incredibly happy at other points. I'd read reviews of this beforehand and I had a feeling it was going to be good but I never expected it to go where it did. The story of siblings being separated and adopted by separate families then being reunited years later was always going to be heart-wrenching but Mike Gayle throws in a twist that meant I couldn't put it down. I also want to mention Everything I Never Told You by Celeste NG. I found it started a little slow but at one point it's like something switched. The more I think about it, the more I realise what a great book it was (in my opinion anyway).

7. Favourite new author?

K.L. Slater. I've read two books of hers now, The Apartment which I rated 5 stars and Little Whispers which I rated 4 stars. I was really impressed with both of these and The Apartment especially had me gripped! I'm so excited to read more from her in the future.

8. New fictional crush?

It's got to be Connell from Normal People. I fell in love with his character whilst reading the book, despite his flaws and Paul Mescal's portrayal in the TV adaptation is just perfect. I'm someone who LOVES the Irish accent too so that probably helps.

9. Favourite new character?

Probably Laura from The Longest Holiday. I've got so many favourite books from Paige Toon but The Longest Holiday just made me really happy. It had everything you want in a romance and I loved getting to know Laura as the story went on. This is sort of a follow up to Chasing Daisy and though we don't get loads with Laura during that, I wasn't particularly her biggest fan, so it was nice to get a book just about her and where her life went after the first book.

10. A book that has made you cry?

The obvious one that jumps to mind is Half A World Away by Mike Gayle. Another is A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. That had some really emotional moments throughout and I just wanted Ove to be back with his wife who he clearly adored.

11. A book that made you happy?

The Five Year Plan by Carla Burgess had moments throughout that made me beam. I loved the relationship between Orla and Aiden and the ending was perfect.

12. Favourite review you've written?

I really like the review of People Like Us by Louise Fein, a book I was kindly gifted earlier in the year. The book is set in 1930s Nazi Germany and was inspired by the authors family history and I just found it really powerful and thought-provoking so I hope that comes across in my review. I also really love my review of Queenie which I posted last week. With everything that's going on in the world at the moment, it's very topical and I hope I got across just how much I want to learn and do more to help.

13. Most beautiful book you've bought?

Ooh I think the cover of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is stunning.

14. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

I've got such a long list of books to get through! I really need to read Lost by Leona Deakin, the follow up to Gone which I reviewed last year. I also picked up The Innocent Wife by Amy Lloyd last week which I'm really keen to get started on.

And that wrap's up the 2020 mid year book tag! I can't wait to see come the end of the year how many books I've managed to read and which ones have come out on top. I already have a few in mind that I think will end up in my top 5 but there's still plenty of time left to go so it could all change.

Have you read any of these books? What's your favourite book of 2020 so far?

Follow Me - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Bloglovin!

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams Book Review

What's this? Another book review in less than week? Not something that happens often around here but if you've read my blog for a while you'll know I go months without any and then several come along at once. Last week I shared my review of Everything I Never Told You by Celeste NG, a book that has had a lasting impact on me and today I wanted to share my thoughts on Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams.

'Meet Queenie. She just can't cut a break. Well, apart from one from her long term boyfriend, Tom. That's just a break though. Definitely not a break up. Stuck between a boss who doesn't seem to see her, a family who don't seem to listen (if it's not Jesus or water rates, they're not interested), and trying to fit in two worlds that don't really understand her, it's no wonder she's struggling. She was named queen of everything. So why is she finding it so hard to rule her own life?'

My Review

I think it's fair to say 2020 will be a year we all remember, but unfortunately not for good reasons (so far). After the murder of George Floyd in America two weeks ago, the justified outrage all over social media and the protests in the streets here in the UK and America have proven to me that I need to be a better ally. Myself and many others I'm sure have realised that not being racist isn't enough, we need to be anti-racist and we need to be shouting about it! Whilst initially I wasn't sure how to put what I was feeling into words and I was afraid of saying the wrong thing, I've realised that I need to do more. Over the last week I've committed myself to signing petitions, having discussions offline and educating myself. I've seen many books by black authors recommended so I have a long list I want to get through but the one that I saw over and over again and had for weeks before this actually, was Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams. Whilst doing the food shop last week, I spotted it and saw it was the last one on the shelf so I grabbed it. I then read it all in one sitting the next day.

As soon as I started this book, I instantly warmed to Queenie. The book has been advertised in a way as a modern version of Bridget Jones and I could see why quite quickly but this book is far deeper than that (soz Bridget). The book starts with Queenie moving out of the home she shares with her boyfriend Tom after they decide they need a break from one another. Despite having many things in her past not dealt with, generally she was happy so this break leads her down a path she never expected. In her mind she was only years from marriage and babies but now she finds herself in a world of one night stands, anxiety and her job on the line. Everything pretty much changes for her in an instant and I couldn't help but feel for her.

This book tackles a variety of topics including racism, mental health issues, childhood trauma, relationships and more and I thought Candice approached each one perfectly. I felt angry on Queenie's behalf everytime a new man she met up with mentioned her race and I just wanted everyone to see her for being so much more than that. She was a character that was bubbly, funny, caring, a good friend, had so much going for her and yet she has to deal with so much crap from people who only see her for how she looks. It was infuriating. Parts of the book like this though really put things into perspective for me and I think that's what is so great about it. As a white person, I'll never experience some of the things she did so I felt this gave me a better understanding and allowed for me to be in her shoes for a while. For other reasons though I could really relate to Queenie. I could understand her want to be wanted, her struggles with anxiety, her ability to self-destruct sometimes. She was frustrating at points but also so honest and believable.

I also think Candice did brilliantly in making all of the characters feel so alive. I hated Queenie's ex Tom at points and he's not even in the book that much! I loved Queenie's friends, Darcy and Kyazike who I genuinely want to be my friends too and I could picture her whole family so clearly. It was such an easy read with each chapter flowing into the next. I also really liked the use of texts and emails throughout which not only broke up some of the bigger chapters but also really meant you got to go into the depths of her relationships with several characters.

Queenie is one of the best books I've read in 2020 and I'd urge everyone to read it. It had me laughing from the first page but also gave me chapters where I just wanted to grab Queenie and hug her. I found it incredibly refreshing to read something so different from all of the other books I've read so far this year and I genuinely feel like it was an education. 

I'm really keen to read more books from black authors so if you have any recommendations, please let me know! 

I'd also love to know if you've read Queenie? If so, what did you think?

Follow Me - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Bloglovin

Lockdown Snacks With The British Snack Co*

AD - This post is in collaboration with The British Snack Co but all opinions are my own

Life has definitely changed dramatically for us all over the last few months and whilst we're hopefully seeing the light at the end of the tunnel now, things aren't quite back to normal yet. Whilst we've been in lockdown I've had up and down days as I'm sure most of us have. Some weeks I've felt absolutely fine and I've been embracing this extra time with my family and other times I've felt very low and just wanted my life back. I've been trying to find the positives where I can and I'll admit recently I may have treated myself to a few new things just to have something to look forward to (see the amazing brownies we ordered in my recent favourites!). Food is the one thing I've really looked forward to each day, whether that be getting fresh pastries for breakfast at the weekend, having a pizza night on a Saturday or as I just said, treating George and I to something special from small businesses. As food is one of the biggest joys at the moment, I was thrilled to receive a package from The British Snack Co, full of tasty crisps and popcorn to enjoy whilst at home.

Who are The British Snack Co?

The British Snack Co are a UK based company who launched in 2013 with a mission to create the tastiest snacks and years later, they're still doing that. They currently produce Awfully Posh which is a range of crispy pork crackling snacks in a variety of flavours, The British Crisp Co which are hand cooked crisps in 5 no-nonsense flavours and The British Popcorn Co which stock the hand-popped treat in exciting flavours you might not have tried before. With more than 5 million bags sold so far and a Great Taste Award too, they're the company to go to for your lockdown snacking needs! 

The British Crisp Co

So what did I think of The British Crisp Co? Well I am a crisp fiend so I was thoroughly excited to get stuck into these! I was sent 5 flavours to try - Sea Salt, Cheese & Onion, Sea Salt & Cider Vinegar, Sweet Chilli and Sea Salt & Black Pepper. You can't beat a classic so the first bag I tried was the Sea Salt and it didn't disappoint. The flavour was really strong and I loved the salty hit I got from every single crisp but it definitely wasn't overpowering. The thick cut of them too meant that they had that super crunch you want from a crisp. Each flavour is delicious and there's something for everyone but I think my favourite would have to be the cheese & onion! I also have to mention how much I love the packaging of these crisps. So unique and just like what you'd find in a pub!

The British Popcorn Co

Now onto the popcorn which at the beginning of lockdown became a staple snack for us! It often doesn't feel quite as indulgent as crisps or chocolate, not that there's anything wrong with indulging in those things and it's also the perfect treat for a movie night which is something we've been having lots of throughout lockdown. Hand-popped in Great Britain, these bags of popcorn are inspired by Britain's Great Animals, as you might be able to tell from the packaging. Love, love, love the funky packaging and bright colours. With only 63 calories per serving, they're a great snack for that mid afternoon slump or as I just said, a movie night, or just whenever you fancy really. I received all 4 flavours to try - Caramel & Espresso, Sea Salt, Sour Cream & Black Pepper and Sweet & Salty. I'm always a fan of just salty popcorn, it's my go to cinema snack so this is the flavour I've been going through the fastest! The flavour was a hit with me and incredibly moreish. Even little Bear is partial to a bit of popcorn so it has the thumbs up from him too. Whilst flavours like Caramel & Espresso are a little out there and not usually something I'd go for, the coffee flavour is subtle and worked perfectly with the sweet caramel. An added bonus of The British Popcorn Co is that these all are completely vegan and allergen free too!

George and I both really enjoyed trying out the huge range of snacks available from The British Snack Co and I know if I see them in stores, I'll be picking more up in the future. Whilst all of these products are usually available in stores like Fuller's and Waitrose, they are also available to purchase online which is important for them now than ever. If you're looking for tasty snacks to get you through the next few weeks or you just want to treat yourself to something different, then be sure to check out The British Snack Co website aswell as Amazon where all products are stocked.

What snacks have you been enjoying throughout lockdown?

Follow Me - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Bloglovin!

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste NG Book Review

It's not often I find myself still thinking about a book months on from reading it but for some reason Everything I Never Told You by Celeste NG keeps popping into my head and I felt compelled to finally write a review. I've said in a few of my book reviews recently that I only tend to blog about books which I feel really passionate about or that have stirred up emotions in me and this has clearly done that.

'Lydia is the favourite child of Marilyn and James Lee; a girl who inherited her mother's bright blue eyes and her father's jet-black hair. Her parents are determined that Lydia will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue - in Marilyn's case that her daughter become a doctor rather than a homemaker, in James's case that Lydia be popular at school, a girl with a busy social life and the centre of every party. But Lydia is under pressures that have nothing to do with growing up in the 1970s small town Ohio. Her father is an American born of first-generation Chinese immigrants, and his ethnicity, and hers, make them conspicuous in any setting. When Lydia's body is found in the local lake, James is consumed by guilt and sets out on a reckless path that may destroy his marriage. Marilyn devastated and vengeful, is determined to make someone accountable, no matter what the cost. Lydia's older brother, Nathan, is convinced that local bad boy Jack is somehow involved. But it's the youngest in the family - Hannah - who observes far more than anyone else realises and who may be the only one who knows what really happened.'

My Review

As I said in my second reading update of 2020, this book really took me by surprise. I'm usually one to go for specific genres, whether that be thrillers, crime or the opposite end of the scale - romance - but this doesn't fit into any of those. It focuses very much on family dynamics and race so I really wasn't sure what to expect or what I was going to make of it. The people are what make this book though and I found each character fascinating.

Despite the initial shocking opening of 'Lydia is dead', I did find the first quarter or so quite a slow start. I had to really push myself to keep picking it up but I'm so glad I persevered as there seemed to be a moment where it just clicked for me. I think as the family dynamics became clearer and each character was developed and explored more, I found myself really connecting with the story. What becomes obvious as the story progresses, skipping from past to present with ease, the seemingly close-knit family didn't really know each other at all and I was so intrigued with where this was going to lead us.

Lydia's disappearance and death, which is the main focus of the book really resonated with me at times. She was clearly extremely sad at times and felt an immense pressure to live upto her parents expectations. Whether it be academically like her mother wished or socially as her father wished, I imagine a lot of us at times will have been able to relate to that feeling.

It becomes quite clear that Lydia was in someway holding the family together so with her gone, everything shatters and this is when I felt things really picked up the pace, when we saw the impact this had on each person for different reasons. The person I found the most intriguing and the one I enjoyed reading about the most was Marilyn, Lydia's mother who is part of another topic addressed in this book, interracial marriage between a white woman and an American Chinese man in the late 1950s, a time where an occurrence like this was rare. She herself had felt pressures to go along with what is expected of you. She was extremely smart, longed to be a doctor (something else that was also very rare at the the time) but due to getting pregnant unexpectedly, she soon realised she was going to have to give her dream up. I felt for her because she had clearly put her all into Lydia's future instead, she was almost living through her, clearly it was unhealthy to do so but when Lydia is gone, what's left? Where does she go next? It was almost as if her life was over too. Whilst every relationship in the book fascinated me, it was the mother/daughter element that really spoke to me throughout.

Everything I Never Told You is sad at many points throughout, pulls at your heartstrings and makes you question your own relationships and views but is beautifully written. It tackles racism, sexism, family dynamics and much more throughout making it extremely powerful and such an important read. I felt for each of the characters in a number of ways. I almost felt like they were all real! Despite it's slow moments at the start, I feel sad that it's over now and all I want to do is urge everyone to read this. I'm thoroughly excited at the news that this is being made into a film so I'll definitely be seeing that when it's out, I'm really intrigued to see how it works on screen and I'm also really keen to get started on Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste which is another book I've heard amazing things about recently!

Have you read anything by Celeste NG before? What did you think to Everything I Never Told You?

Follow Me - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Bloglovin!