Book Review: 30 Things Before 30 by Hope Alcocer

Sep 13, 2018Leave a comment

‘Twas the night before my thirtieth birthday and all through the house- wait, I don’t have a house. I rent a ridiculously expensive apartment in New York City with the occasional cockroach and a radiator from 1908 that sounds like it’s about to eat me.’

Now, 30 seems scary right? I know it sounds it to me. Next week I’m going to be 24, officially in the ‘mid-twenties’ section of my life. Gulp. I’ve spoken to a lot of people who feel like when your 30 you’re supposed to have your shit together. That’s why I picked up this book and I am so glad I did.

This isn’t going to tell you what you should have done by the time you were 30, but that’s the beauty of it. In this Hope talks of her life and how things didn’t follow a rigid life plan that we’re all supposed to. She talks openly and honestly about her struggles with mental health and the clarity this gave her later on.

There is a whole chapter focused on just trying. Try something out, do what you need to do. This was so refreshing, we’re told so many times that 30 is the end of something, the end of fun perhaps? And Hope challenges this.

This didn’t feel like a self-help book, it felt like listening to a friend give you a pep talk and most importantly, Hope doesn’t pretend that she has all of the answers. She admits that she’s muddling along with whatever life throws at her, she makes mistakes, she doesn’t have a clear idea about what she’s doing but she carries on.

For anyone who’s nervous about heading towards their 30s, no matter how close or how far, this is perfect. In fact, even if you just want a positive read then this is also fab. I gave this 5 stars, it’s a book that I hope to read a few more times to share in Hope’s wisdom. I look forward to also read her first book.

Book Review: Amy Chelsea Stacie Dee by Mary G Thompson

Sep 6, 2018Leave a comment

Two girls are kidnapped, after six years Amy returns to her mother’s doorstep. What happened to her best friend and cousin, Dee? Is she alive? And why won’t Amy tell anyone what happened in those six years?

I have no doubt this was a difficult novel to write because it is an uncomfortable read. The girls are kidnapped and as you can imagine it’s not sweetness and light. There is kidnap, violence and abuse. The nightmare that 16-year-old Amy has endured hasn’t ended. She must keep quiet or those she loves most will suffer.

Wow, this novel is dark but incredibly gripping. I picked this up at YALC earlier in the year and it did not disappoint. There’s an element of mystery, thriller and heartbreak. This is a page turner, I read this within 24 hours and between that, I slept and went to see a musical so that should give you an inclination of how much of a pageturner it was.

It was also interesting to see the perspective of someone who is still bound by their captor and not in a traditional sense. The character of Amy is incredibly complex and this shows throughout the novel. The idea of someone returning to the world after losing the majority of their childhood is interesting, particularly how they navigate the outside world.

I gave this 4 stars. It feels wrong to say I enjoyed it? This is, of course, a tough subject matter but the novel is incredibly well written. The pacing is perfect for the novel and there is the right amount of information and mystery. That said it didn’t get the full 5 stars because there were certain points I didn’t feel were completely realistic to the situation such as lack of medical. I did enjoy it but there were some things I’d like to have seen. Either way, I’d highly recommend this novel.

What I Read in July and August

Sep 3, 2018Leave a comment

I have a confession to make! You might have noticed that I didn’t post a what I read post in July. Honestly, I forgot and then I felt like it was too late AND I only read 5 books in July. I completely lost my mojo, which is mostly due to having a lot of other things on my mind and recovering from my stay in hospital. BUT, it came back in August thanks to my YALC haul so let me share with you some of the awesome (and not so awesome) books I’ve read.

July

How To Be A Grown Up – Daisy Buchanan

A light-hearted book on growing up. This was a nice book to read, it had some useful insights but didn’t particularly stand out to me – I gave it 3.5 stars.

Plum – Hollie McNish

My regular readers will know I loved Hollie’s collection on motherhood so I wanted to pick up another collection. Plum is about growing up with added poems Hollie wrote as a child and teenager. Another 5 star read.

Notes On A Nervous Planet – Matt Haig

I love Matt Haig’s writing. This is such a relatable book, whether or not you’ve struggled with mental illness, it’s one to read. Short and easy to read chapters that will really make you think and give you a little pick me up. 5 stars review here.

Saga Vol. 5 – Brian K Vaughn

It’s so hard to write about these because if you write about ANYTHING after the first one then you post spoilers. Still loving it, still solid. 5 stars

Moonrise – Sarah Crossan

I loved this novel, even if it made my heart hurt. This looks at the brother of a death row prisoner. It is entirely written in verse which actually works really well, so much so I want to try her other novel One again. 5 stars and will make you very emotional. You’ve been warned.

August

Orbiting Jupiter – Gary D. Schmidt

If you need a good cry read this novel. Short, sweet and heartbreaking all at the same time. It’s a novel about second chances and a young teen who just wants to see his daughter. 5 stars, review here.

She Must Be Mad – Charly Cox

Poetry about being a woman, mental illness and body image. I enjoyed Charly’s first collection and think there will be more to come, one to watch. 4 stars.

Amy Chelsea Stacie Dee – Mary D Thompson

I read a few darker novels in August, starting with this one. Two girls are abducted and only one comes back, what happened? This was a thriller and a half! I gave this 4 stars and there will be a full review coming soon!

This Is Where It Ends – Marieke Nijkamp

On to another dark book, this time centring around a school shooting. Told from multiple points of view this was a novel full of suspense and intrigue. 4 stars.

Are We All Lemmings & Snowflakes – Holly Bourne

I used to love Holly Bourne but her adult novel left a lot to be desired and her newest made me frustrated. The novel follows teenager Olive who does not want to know her mental health diagnosis. After a crisis, she is sent to a remote therapy retreat which has the best treatment possible (no waiting list, just ‘luck’). Some parts of it were lovely and there were some good ideas it just didn’t feel realistic to me. 3 stars.

Vox – Christina Dalcher

This is one of the hottest novels of the year and for good reason. This novel is set in the future of the states, women can only speak 100 words a day, they cannot work, they cannot travel. While I felt like it was a slow start and there were a few plot holes I did really enjoy it and I keep recommending it! 4 stars.

Please Don’t Grab My P*ssy – Julia Young

This is a short, fun but powerful book. Poetry, satire and awesome illustrations. Some of them were a little bit of a stretch but I enjoyed it all the same. 5 stars.

The Choice – Dr Edith Eger

A memoir of a phenomenal woman. From teenage Auschwitz survivor to an internationally acclaimed psychologist working with those who suffer from PTSD and trauma. An interesting read and one filled with kindness and positivity. 4.5 stars.

What have you read in the past few months? I’d love to know! Let me know in the comments below!

Book Review: Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt

Aug 30, 20181 Comment

When Jack meets his new foster brother, he already knows three things about him: Joseph almost killed a teacher. He was incarcerated at a place called Stone Mountain. He has a daughter. Her name is Jupiter. And he has never seen her. What Jack doesn’t know, at first, is how desperate Joseph is to find his baby girl. Or how urgently he, Jack, will want to help.

When I picked up this novel I knew it would make me feel something, how could it not with that blurb? What I didn’t anticipate was that it would break my heart into a million pieces. Just as you thought you’d recovered from the first blow there’s another one. But, weirdly, it also made me happy. Basically, you’ll feel all the emotions.

When Jack’s family take in Joeseph, they welcome him,despite his past, as a foster family. While it is clear that Joseph has his own problems and it’s going to take time, they are patient, giving him the love, care and attention he needs. This was lovely to see because these kinds of people do exist and I don’t think they are mentioned enough in literature.

As we know from the blurb. Joseph has a daughter, despite the fact he is only 14 himself. More than anything he wants to meet her, but his past, her future and other demons prevent his only wish. I know you might be thinking, he’s 14? How could a 14-year-old understand, but the character is written in such a brilliant way you understand him and his emotions through the eyes of Jack.

Of course, I gave this 5 stars. This is short but so, so powerful. It’s possibly on the list as one of my favourite books of the year, I liked it that much. The writing is beautiful, it’s full of emotion and ah I just want to gush about it so, so much. I really recommend this if you want a shorter read but to have a good cry.

Book Review: The Surface Breaks – Louise O’Neill

Aug 23, 2018Leave a comment

There was a LOT of hype for this book. A feminist retelling of The Little Mermaid, umm all of the yes! I know that Louise O’Neill is a fantastic author who isn’t afraid to challenge taboos, but this was different. If you’re looking for the Disney version of the Little Mermaid (which I love to no end) this is not for you. This is much more gritty.

We meet Gaia, the youngest princess of the Sea King. She and her older sisters are the pride of the kingdom must be perfect at all times. As her fathers favourite, Gaia faces her own pressures, including her fate as the most beautiful princess with a voice of gold. But Gaia wants more. She wants to know what life is like above the water, to know why her mother would risk it all just to see the human world.

This was heavily promoted as a feminist retelling. This wasn’t wrong but I wouldn’t have promoted it that way. The feminist aspects, I feel, don’t come into the novel until much later. There is a lot of misogyny and I felt quite uncomfortable reading parts, which was completely the point. That said, if you’re uncomfortable with misogyny, body perceptions or homophobia this may be a challenging need.

I also found it fascinating that this brings the fairytale into a more modern world. I wasn’t completely sure when this was set but it’s definitely not in an older time period, which I feel might have worked better? But maybe that’s just me.

This novel does teach a lot and makes you look at the world but at times I felt that it was trying a little hard to be feminist. At times the lessons felt a little forced or predictable. That said, I feel its true merit lies in the last quarter of the novel and that saves it.
I’m so torn when reviewing this book. I loved the idea, I loved the premise but for the majority, I sat at 3 stars, until we got to the last few chapters which really impressed me. The Sea Witch was an excellent character and the novel itself did look at some really important notions of being a woman. There were parts that were quite graphic, but it didn’t feel out of place, it just drove the point home further. As a feminist retelling, I did really enjoy it but I also felt that the best part was pretty rushed. But the ending was so, so good, currently sitting between 3.5 and 4 stars.

The Honeydukes Book Tag!

Aug 20, 2018Leave a comment

I love a good book tag, I love Harry Potter so why not combine the two? Now, this is the first tag I’ve ever written so I’m really hoping that you guys enjoy this one! So, what’s it about? We’re combining the sweetest part of the Wizarding World with books, what could be better? Let’s get started and make sure you share your responses with me!

Chocolate Frog

A book that you have multiple copies of because you have no chill

Chocolate Frogs are a classic in the Potterverse. You’ll end up with a lot of doubles so for this question I’m looking at a book I have multiple copies of. I could have used Potter but for this, I’ve used one of my faves, The Fault in Our Stars because you need to have a signed and non-signed edition, right?

Sugar Quill

A super sweet read

Wonder was just a book that made my heart feel so much. If you know anything about the novel you know it will probably make you cry too. Overall though, it gave me the feels and was just so, so sweet.

Exploding Bonbons

A book you love that exploded onto the scene!

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book and I LOVED it. Then it got released and loads of other people also loved it. I’d highly recommend getting on this novel before the second comes out. My review is here.

Honeydukes Chocolate

A book that can fight off Dementors

This is the ultimate Dementor fighter, alongside Haig’s newest book Notes On A Anxious Planet. If you’re having a rough time this is the book to pick up. It’s not in your face but is a gentle way to find your way out of a dark time.

Pepper Imps

A book that blew your mind!

If you like weird, you’ll like Nutshell. This is told from the perspective of an unborn foetus who is incredibly intelligent. It’s so well done though? Absolutely blew my mind. Review here.

Pumpkin Pasties

A book that gets you ready for Autumn

You didn’t think I’d forget the series that inspired this tag? While all of the Potter books start in the summer, there’s going back to school, Halloween etc. I might even start a reread on September 1st…

Cockroach Clusters

A book you wish you’d never read

I know, I know this is really controversial. The book just made me so, so mad. To me, it just gave a message of forgetting about the average person with a mental illness and focusing on the uber rich. Not my kinda novel.

Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans

A book you make everyone try (even if it might not be their taste)

I’ve spoken many times about how Slyvia Plath meant a lot to me, so much so I wrote my dissertation on her works. So I always recommend this to everyone, even if I don’t know if they’ll like it because I think it’s a really close depiction of the depths of mental illness.

Blood Flavoured Lollipops

A book that you love, but others aren’t so sure on

Now, if you give me a choice between a new release and a classic I’ll pick a new release BUT when I got to uni I had to read some and then I found Jane Eyre. I’ve encountered people who think it’s quite long and a bore but I adore Jane and everything she achieves.

Cauldron Cakes

A book you shared with all of your friends

I made 3 of my closest friends read this, and almost all of them have now finished the series. We’re all more than a little bit obsessed!

So, that is my first tag! I hope you enjoyed it and please make sure to link or tweet me with yours! I can’t wait to see them

Book Review: A Court of Wings and Ruin

Aug 16, 2018Leave a comment

A Court of Wings and Ruin

If you haven’t read the first two novels in the series A Court of Thorns and Roses and A Court of Mist and Fury you might want to read those before this review because of spoilers! You’ve been warned!

We open with Feyre back in the Spring Court, her sisters are now Fae and she must fight to save both the human and fae world in secrecy. Old enemies come back to haunt her and new challenges that she could never imagine Wow, let’s get into this one because there is a lot to unpack here. I left the last novel with an open mouth.

Of course, it was obvious she was playing a game but I was SO excited to see Feyre become a spy and kick some serious Tamlin ass here. It was a very interesting move here for Maas to do this. And, personally, I think it really worked. Comparing Feyre to the beginning of the last novel is was fantastic to see her growth. I truly believe Tamlin would be desperate enough to believe that Rhysand had tricked her because Tamlin has underestimated her throughout the entire series.

As the undercover High Lady of the Night Court, Feyre has one thing on her mind, and one thing only. Revenge. Revenge for her sisters that have been turned, for the treatment that she received and for all of those who may lose their lives in the impending war. It’s a dangerous game to play but to protect her friends and family she will risk everything. And as you can imagine, that’s just the start.

I feel that this could have been split into two books, there was so much that Maas was trying to fit in and it felt a little rushed. We had threads of various plots running throughout, character development from the second novel, new characters, it was a lot to take in. Which, I think is why there have been some mixed reviews.

I gave this 4.5 stars, just because of that rushed element. I wanted more from the novel and it definitely could have been two books. That said, there were occasional elements I found problematic with the ending, however, with the news that Maas will be writing another series connected to the original trilogy, I believe we will see a lot more of Feyre and Rhysand.

What did you think? Are you excited for more Maas? Let me know in the comments below!

Book Review: Notes On A Nervous Planet – Matt Haig

Aug 9, 20181 Comment

Notes on a Nervous Planet - Matt Haig

In a world where we have constant access to social media, instant news and 24-hour access, the world can feel a little too fast. Now, I love social media, it’s one of my passions but even I need to step away sometimes. Matt Haig captures that in this book, that we as humans need to have that distance. We need to go on walks, to have someone step in sometimes and go hey, this is the real world. Well, I know I do!

I absolutely adored Matt’s previous book on mental health Reasons To Stay Alive. It talks about his own experiences of depression, as he stood at the age of 24 at the edge of a cliff, contemplating killing himself. But, how does someone get from that point? With great difficulty, but Matt has a beautiful way of writing about it. So, of course, I pre-ordered this the second I found out about it.

While I was reading this I was struggling with panic attacks, things weren’t going as planned, I’d lost my job and this is the book I needed. When I told people this book changed my life I meant it. This is broken down into short chapters, with lists, ideas and this format makes it so readable. I wasn’t sure at first but when the whole books is about breaking things down, slowing down and taking your time, it makes perfect sense.

The best thing is that Notes on a Nervous Planet doesn’t tell you to just stop using technology, sit in a field and meditate. Let’s be honest, it’s not easy to do that an avoiding the world around us isn’t possible, nor is it healthy. I was refreshing to read because it made me realise I wasn’t alone in feeling anxious about the speed of the world around us.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re struggling, if you’ve wondered if you’re alone in this then you need to read this book. Even if you haven’t I recommend reading this for a beautiful look at the world around us. This is an inspiring, thought-provoking and beautiful read.

YALC 2018 Part Two – The Book Haul!

Aug 2, 20185 Comments

Well, I promised you a book haul, I just didn’t think it would be this big. I managed to pick up 20 books at YALC. Yep, Two-Zero. I’d saved some money so that I could go and not feel any guilt about buying a stack of books and I sure as hell did. I mean almost all of the books were discounted, so why wouldn’t I make the most of it!

As many of my regular readers know I loved Sarah J Maas’s ACOTAR series, so I decided to pick up the start of another of her series’ Throne of Glass, there are assassins and I’m told it’s loosely based on Cinderella. Sounds good to me. Next up was a hardcover copy of This Is Where It Ends, a novel about a school shooting by Marieke Nijkamp which I’ve wanted to read forever. Next is Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt which I’m currently reading and it’s already breaking my heart.

Who Runs the World by Virginia Bergin is about a distant future where a virus almost completely wiped out men. I’m not 100% sure but I’m going to give this a go. I then picked up Amy Chelsea Stacie Dee by Mary G Thompson two girls are kidnapped, one returns. Sounds chilling. I finally got hold of Trans Mission by Alex Bertie which I’ve heard really great things about, this is Alex looking back at his F to M transition. Suicide Club by Rachel Heng has been all over booktube recently. Set when humans have the secret to becoming immortal, but only if you deserve it, what could go wrong? I also picked up the A Court of Thorns and Roses colouring book, because I have no chill.

I picked up Royals by Rachel Hawkins as it just seems fun, a girl thrust into the spotlight because her sister is getting married to a Prince? Not my normal read but why not give it a chance! What Happened That Night by Sandra Block is a novel I was given for free. It’s about a woman who was assaulted at a party, years later a video of her assualt surfaces, but what will she do? Only one word needed to be said to be aboue The Price Guide to the Occult by Leslye Walton was witches. I also picked up the latest novel by Holly Bourne Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes? This is the only novel I bought full price, but it is Holly Bourne.

The first stand I went to was to HarperCollins to get a copy of Vox by Christina Dalcher. This has some The Handmaids Tale vibes, where women are only allowed to speak 100 words a day. I’m both terrified and excited. Leila Sales’s novel If You Don’t Have Anything Nice to Say is a tale of saying the wrong thing on the internet and the consequences it can have. It helps that the cover is gorgeous. I found Night of The Party by Tracey Mathias and this one is a little too close to home, I have high expectations. It’s political and it looks like it might be pretty dark. Get excited. I don’t even know how to explain Never World Wake by Merisha Pessl. There’s a shocking death, past friends and a mysterious man. I’m hoping it’s good.

Now, Look Closer by Stewart Lewis doesn’t come out until February 2019. Yep, and I got this beauty for FREE. I think this one is going to make me cry as Tegan comes to terms with her father’s death and tries to help others. Next up, My (Secret) YouTube Life. This novel looks really interesting, the first like on the blurb is ‘What if your favourite Youtuber’s life was a lie?’ So here for it. I know, I know how could I have not read THUG yet? This is my change with a beautiful new cover to get into what people are calling Angie Thomas’ masterpiece. And FINALLY, congrats if you made it this far, Moonrise by Sarah Crossan. A novel written in verse about a family dealing with the impending execution of a man who claims he is innocent. I’ve already read it and it was incredible.

So, what do you like the look of, what should I read next? Let me know in the comments below!

YALC 2018 – Part One

Aug 1, 20184 Comments

It finally happened! I finally went to YALC after watching from afar for a few years. My bestie Abbie and I got a train and bus to Olympia. I had a small suitcase to transport the books I knew I’d end up buying, a rucksack and snacks. The game was on.

If you haven’t heard of YALC, it is the Young Adult Literature Convention it’s hosted in London. Basically, it is a book nerd’s dream there are panels, there are signings of your favourite YA authors, bookish merch, discounted books, competitions, advance copies. The best thing? Everyone was SO NICE! There was so much excitement you have not just one but two blog posts to look forward to.

Let’s get cracking.

Tote Bags, T-Shirts and MORE!

I came home with two tote bags and a new T-Shirt, why? Because I bought books. These actually came in handy throughout the day to throw swag in, there was so much swag.

Samplers

I brought home 20 samplers of up and coming YA releases. I’m really looking forward to skipping through these and getting excited for what’s coming up. I’m particularly excited to get a peak of Feminists Don’t Wear Pink (And Other Lies) and Oh My Gods. We shall see!

A mix of stuff

Postcards for new releases, stickers, a ton of bookmarks, pencils. Basically, if you like this kind of stuff then YALC is a dream. I want to make a really cute display of stuff like this but where I’m going to put it I don’t know.

A Court of Thorns and Roses Bookmarks

C’mon was I really going to walk away from these beauties? Not a chance.

All the badges

I became a bit of a talking point when I walked up to stands because I started decorating my dungarees with badges. The more I got, the more stall holders gave them to me, took pictures and just generally chatted to me. I also got two beautiful shiny pins, one for buying a novel and another for posting a picture on Instagram. My favourite one has to be the #TeamBoobs one from CoppaFeel .

The Curses Sampler – SIGNED

I got to meet Laure Eve. I fangirled, really hard because I loved her first novel, and first in the series, The Graces so much. I really hope I didn’t scare her… I was really excited.

So that’s the swag, but what about the books? You’ll have to pop back tomorrow because I may have had 20 books when I got home…maybe. Oops!

Chloe Metzger

Lifestyle, Books and More

Category: Book Review

Book Review: 30 Things Before 30 by Hope Alcocer

Book Review: Amy Chelsea Stacie Dee by Mary G Thompson