Tag: books

Book Review: The Perfect Girl – Gilly Macmillan

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To the rest of the world Zoe is perfect, a model daughter and musical genius on Piano, but Zoe has a secret. She’s not as perfect as she may seem because Zoe was responsible for the deaths of three other teenagers. While she’s tried her best to leave it all behind that past has a way of catching up to you, after her recital is interrupted the truth comes spilling out, 12 hours later her mother is dead. I received a copy of The Perfect Girl in return for an honest review from the publishers at Little Brown Books.

I love a good Thriller, but after the hype surrounding Gone Girl and my later disappointment I’m always a little sceptical  picking one up that’s been recommended. I’m pleased to let you know that this is not one of those times. The Perfect Girl deserves every bit of praise it gets. While I have seen mixed reviews it was thoroughly enjoyable to read and had some definite twists and turns within the plot. It also looks at the life and pressures of being someone so young and yet so talented, something I haven’t seen in this genre and adds the realism it needs to be believable.

The novel has multiple narrators Zoe, her Aunt and her Lawyer. As the novel opens Zoe is preparing for another performance with her step-brother. This performance, however, is disrupted and the perfect illusion that Zoe and her mother created is quickly put under the spotlight. While they have spent months rebuilding their lives and now her mother is happily remarried and Zoe dotes on her baby sister, Grace. Will Zoe’s second chance family be able to survive the truth coming out? Or will the curse of the perfect girl strike again? At first the blurb leaves you questioning why you would need another narrator, Zoe’s Aunt and Lawyer give different insights into how the story unfolds, adding more to the plot.

The novel does have elements of being incredibly creepy, which are needed and the further in you get the darker the plot becomes. This really stepped up the plot at a time where it could have otherwise slipped because the plot wasn’t without any potential holes, however Macmillan makes sure these are covered by the end of the novel, while also ending up giving the reader a few surprises along the way. Without spoiling the plot I will say that the plot is enriched by multiple subplots, that said there is one that I felt was stopped rather abruptly and could have been left out but was a nice additional nonetheless.

I ended up giving the novel 4 stars. It was the first thriller I’ve really enjoyed in a long time, one that I couldn’t put down for too long because it was always on my mind, I always had questions about it. There were a few issues I had, for example, I’m still not sure how I feel about the ending of the novel and certain decisions that are made by certain characters, but I have read a lot, lot worse. Overall this was a thoroughly enjoyable read and one that is worth picking up if you like a solid thriller.

Book Review: Others Of My Kind – James Sallis

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Jenny Rowan has spent years re-building her life. After being kidnapped at the age of eight by a paedophile and kept under his bed for two years, she finally managed to break free and ends up living in her local mall. It takes 18 months for the urban legend of ‘mall girl’ to be found and placed in the state care system after she can’t even remember her real name. We meet Jenny yeas later after she’s built herself a life and career, but her past starts catching up with her.

Although I fell in love with Sallis’s style and generally the way he writes I didn’t really understand the meaning of the novella. It was as if there were so many avenues that Sallis could have taken and so many unanswered questions remained at the end. The story moves quite quickly and you can generally assume that this is building up to a key part of the story. It wasn’t until after I finished I realised that there isn’t a  huge moment in this novel, instead, the plot actually seems to reflect the personality of the protagonist.

I found the character of Jenny to be sweet but I don’t feel like I really knew her throughout the novel. The changes were almost too quick and despite knowing her back story the reader doesn’t have a relationship with her. The novel doesn’t focus on Jenny’s past, which although others say is one of the perks, I found quite disappointing. I also didn’t understand the relationship between Jenny and Jack, it didn’t really make sense to me and perhaps that is due to the lack of context. They just seemed to be thrown together and get on instantly, it didn’t seem real or likely. As did Jenny’s relationship with Cheryl, while it highlighted Jenny’s open and caring nature, this also seemed rushed, perhaps because this is a novella. That said Jenny’s empathy for the squatters was what, for me, showed her as the ‘good person’ she is described as on the back of the book.

Overall I enjoyed the short story and it was interesting but it could have done with more suspense or general push behind it. I’m going to give this 3 stars ***, I did enjoy it but I found it difficult to follow. For example, Sallis also brings in some sort of political agenda, one which I struggled to understand. While it relates to Jenny’s past I wish it had added more suspense rather than just being there as an issue and a link. This would definitely have made a much better full length novel in my opinion.

Book Review: On The Other Side – Carrie Hope Fletcher

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“No, I won’t be hopeless. I am full of hope. I’m a HopeFUL. – Evie Snow”

Evie is 82 years old, so when she finds herself at a former home and is 27 again she’s more than a little surprised. The truth is that Evie has passed away in her sleep and she is in ‘heaven’s waiting room’, because her soul is restless, Evie has to make her peace the three ways before she can enter heaven. Evie soon knows what she has to do and that to do so she’s going to need the help of some of the people she loves most.

I’ve been a follower of Carrie’s youtube channel for quite a while now and also bought her first book All I Know Now, although I gave this to my sister as I felt a little old for it. So, knowing that this was going to be her first novel I was excited when I picked it up in my local Waterstones. I’m not usually someone who buys novels that mention love stories on the back BUT I was intrigued by what this novel would be like. I was definitely impressed, the novel made me think it would be quite fluffy but it wasn’t it dealt with heartbreak, expectation and doing what is right.

I loved the idea of her ‘own private heaven’, I’m very sceptical of books about heaven, because I don’t believe that it’s this one huge place, it just wouldn’t work. Carrie, however, has really thought this out. Her character goes back to the time that she was truly happy, her own personal heaven, which may surprise people in regards to who is there and who is not. She’s also taken care of the problem of ‘automatic heaven’, at one point in the novel we see what can happen when a person’s soul is restless and doesn’t deal with what it left behind. It also has a message for all of us, to try and make peace with the things we know are wrong in our lives.

I definitely had mixed feelings about the love in the plot line – but I think that’s personal preference. This is a love story, but it’s also much more than just a romantic love. I completely understand why the character did what she did BUT at one point I just wanted to shout no! That said, it was right for the ending of the novel, even if it did cause a bit of heartache for the reader. I would have liked to have known more about Evie’s life with her children and brother but can understand why they were pushed aside slightly in the novel, simply because of the main point of the plot.

The novel very much has Carrie’s voice to it. I could almost hear her reading it to me, it has her bubbly tone and optimistic outlook on life. There are also some parts (not character related) that seemed to have a Disney quality to them, such as the way that Evie has to settle her problems, this magical element just adds to the story. One thing to be mindful of this that the writing can come across a little young, although I wouldn’t say this was a bad thing. This is Carrie’s first novel and so I feel that she’s trying to determine her writing style, it’s still fab but I feel like it’s worth mentioning because for a first novel this is pretty incredible.

I gave this 4 stars! I really liked this novel and it pleasantly surprised me. I was slightly nervous when picking it up but it really is a charming novel that is well thought out and easy to fall in love with. I’ll definitely be picking up any of Carrie’s future novels because she clearly has a talent for writing as well as her many others!

 

 

 

The YA Chronicles Unboxing and Review

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A new subscription box to add to the pile today! I decided to order The YA Chronicles from Australia as I’ve seen it a few times on Booktube and it’s one that I thought had looked good in the past, so why not try it out? This is for August’s box so if you haven’t had a chance to open yours then look away NOW!

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Words in Deep Blue and reading light

First up is the novel I received this month. I’ve never heard of this book and was quite disappointed that it’s a mass market paperback and seems to be a fairly generic love story. I did like the light but also thought that it was quite cheap some something I could pick up in my local poundland, but it was a nice idea.

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Library Stamp Wrap Around

I really liked this, as it’s something different and creative, plus I remember when booked were actually stamped rather than scanned, ah the good old days of libraries.

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Bibliophile Soap 

This little soap was both adorable and practical. I like that it was something I’ve never recieved in a box before.  IMG_0253

Bookmarks

I purchased one and had two others come free with the box. You can always use more bookmarks…always.

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Overall I think this box was sweet but I don’t think I’ll be getting it again. For what I paid and what I paid to get it shipped from Australia I was a bit disappointed at how little I got in it. It was a nice change but I’m going to go on the hunt for more!

Sunday Seven: Seven Things My Weekends Are Made For

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Lie Ins 

I try not to make plans before 12pm, after 5 days of having to get up early a lie in is all I want most weekends.

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Baking

I’m not keen on actually cooking, but baking is entirely different. There’s no pressure if you’re just baking for yourself or for family and, you know, it’s less likely you’ll go disastrously wrong with cookies or cupcakes.

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Sofa Days 

Being able to curl up with a duvet or big blanket, usually with a stack of books and mug of tea is one of my favourite parts about the weekend.

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Good Food 

I don’t stress about what I eat at the weekends. If I want a burger, I get a burger. If I want to eat a bag of cheese puffs, I eat a bag of cheese puffs. Life’s too short to be constantly worrying about what you eat and I’m speaking from experience.

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Travelling

Depending on where you want to go, a weekend or long weekend can be the perfect time to go exploring. Last weekend I was up in Durham , I’ve also spent a few days in Amsterdam before. Now that we’re working, Ali and I are also looking at going to different places across the UK for the weekend. I love a good relaxing weekend but exploring is great too.

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 Quality Time

The best part about the weekend for me is being able to spend quality time with the people I love. Waking up and dozing with Ali on a Saturday morning, not having to rush to get up and get showered just makes me so happy. It’s definitely the little things.

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Book Bingeing 

If I have a free day, I read. It’s as simple as that. I love curling up with a good book (or three) and just blissfully enjoying reading. Since finishing uni I don’t have the time to read as much as I used to, simply because I drive to work, rather than getting the bud everywhere. With that in mind weekends are the best, you can stay up late reading Friday and Saturday with no consequences, win!

Of course there are so many other things I could have added to this list but these are just a few. What do you like spending your weekends or days off doing?

Let me know in the comments below 🙂

Book Review: The Baby Laundry for Unmarried Mothers – Angela Patrick with Lynne Barrett-Lee

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I became interesting in this subject after watching a TV show called Lost Families on UK’s ITV 1,  a show trying to reunite families with their loved ones, often due to a child being adopted. As I watched again and again, the same story was repeatedly coming up. A young woman getting pregnant between the 1930’s to the 1970’s (ish) and being sent away in shame and disgrace or removing themselves to mother and baby homes, run by Nuns to give birth alone, spend mere weeks with their children (who were desperately loved by their mothers in the majority of cases) and being put up for adoption often leading to years of guilt and heavy secrets for the mother.  I was walking around my local library and I saw this blurb…

‘I’d been denied saying goodbye to my baby,

denied that last chance to stroke his cheek and feel his fingers grip mine,

to kiss his tiny mouth in loving farewell’

That alone is heart wrenching. The year is 1963 and a young nineteen year old girl is forced to wear a fake wedding ring, to go alone to a convent run by so called ‘women of God’ (which made me seriously consider why people don’t think religion is about power), to endure a horrendous labour with no comfort and no idea of what was going on, then to fall in love with her perfect little boy Paul only to have to give him away and why? To avoid stigma and ultimately to make sure she did not disgrace her family in the eyes of the Catholic Church. Although Angela forgave her mother and step father (after the death of her own beloved father) her story made me feel uneasy.

However it haunts me that throughout in all aspects of things going wrong or Angela feeling pain, she repeatedly asks God if he has forgiven her yet, desperately praying for her personal hell to be over, for her sins to be forgiven. To me, this in itself is pretty alarming here is this young intelligent woman, with a job in London and what seems to be a loving family (even though some love cannot be expressed) who does what she needs to do in societies eyes but ultimately pays the price her entire life because of wondering what God would think? It just proves that too me religion is so dangerous and don’t even get me started on these lovely nuns! Sister Act they were not, women were forced to work in heavy labour jobs until the day they went into labour, not laughing, no smiling, insulting these vulnerable women, leaving the babies all night long with no feeding and no changing, no holding the babies and god forbid you give your own child a kiss goodbye!  Even after leaving the nuns behind, Angela is terrified and heartbroken after leaving her son , she is later sure that being unable to conceive is God still punishing her for having sex before marriage!

Angela does move on, although never forgetting Paul, happily marrying and having a ‘miracle baby’, her daughter Katherine. Although the joy that pours from these pages when Paul finally gets hold of his mother is euphoric, it really makes you ecstatic even though you know it will happen! This story has made me realise the true bond of mother and child. I do not have children myself, although I desperately wish to have them in the future, it seems strange to think that within the next ten years if I am lucky I will have my own child.

It’s so clear that Angela truly loved this tiny baby boy the agony she must of had to endure hearing him crying and not being able to say goodbye.  It is both sad and beautiful, we know from the blurb  that Angela will find Paul again, for the reunion she dreamt of for thirty years, but in the thick of it you forget that, you feel her pain. This is a valid part of history that cannot be forgotten we must learn as a younger generation from these poor women and children’s stories and make sure that it never happens again.

 

This book is truly unique, heart breaking and inspiring❤

 

I give it 5 stars.

Review originally posted in 2012.

 

Illumicrate Unboxing and Review – August 2016

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It’s that time of the month again! Yes it’s Illumicrate unboxing and review! As always if you don’t want to see/read about the contents of this box LOOK AWAY NOW! If not, I’m so excited to share what I think is possibly the best book box I’ve received so far and with that, on with the review.

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The Graces by Laure Eve with letter 

I’d never heard of this book prior to getting my sub box but it looks incredible. There’s talk of witches, power and wealth. The letter from author Laure is also a lovely touch to the box, it also came with a signed sticker to place inside the book. I can’t wait to tuck into this!

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NeverNight – Jay Kristoff 

I actually squealed when I found this in the box. I’d actually pre ordered this online but luckily my box got here before. I’m SO excited to read this assassin based novel and love a good bookmark and something to stick up. *squeal*

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Gilmore Girls Exclusive Bag 

Now, I’ve never seen Gilmore Girls (although I might give it a go seeing as there is so much hype) but found out that this means ‘ready for anything’, I love that quote. So it’s a win, win. IMG_8676

The Trio Coasters by Taratjah Art – Exclusive 

I was nervous when it was announced there would be an item related to The Cursed Child (see my review here) but this catered to both the original films and the current play. I do think it’s odd that the Hermione’s don’t match but I supposed one is to match Emma and one Noma. Either way they were a nice addition to the box and thoughtful of different interpretations of Hermione.

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Drink Me Strawberry Tea from Post Tea (also an exclusive) 

An Alice in Wonderland themed treat, I’ve never tried a Strawberry tea before but I’m excited to try this.

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Small Prints 

Now, I’m not sure what these are from and the box doesn’t tell me either, they are beautiful designs though and I’d like to know more.

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Bookmark Discount Code 

I love a good bookmark and the promise of an unusual bookmark is always a bonus, I’ll be heading over to check them out soon!

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Witch Tattoos

This ties in with The Graces (I think) as a fun addition. I doubt I’ll wear them but I will head over and take the quiz!

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Colouring Quotes – Ashley Poston 

Some fun colouring from Ashley Poston, we also received a discount for her latest book. These are fun but without reading the books I have no idea of their significance, either way colouring is colouring!

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Unboxed print and discount code 

The latest novella from Non Pratt (who I once met and is really nice) with a discount code as it is out this month! The novella promises to be about ‘a brilliantly diverse case of characters…return to their old school and discover that no one can ever truly go back’. I may have to pick this one up.

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And that’s all of it! It was such a lot of content that I almost couldn’t fit it all in one picture! Again I can 100% recommend illuminate, it’s definitely my favourite book sub so far!

The 50 Bookish Questions Tag!

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50 Bookish Questions Tag

Hello, hello, hello! I absolutely love tags and want to expand the bookishness of this site, so what better than a bookish tag! I found this over on My Little Book Blog so definitely go and check her out! Now, on with the questions.

1. What was the last book you read?

Baby Doll by Hollie Overton

2. Was it a good one?

So good, incredible for a debut novel.

3. What made it good?

It went deeper than most and made the characters real. It was also interesting to see the captors perspective after their victim escaped.

4. Would you recommend it to other people?

Yes! I text my friend almost immediately after finishing saying she needed to read it.

5. How often do you read?

Every day if I can.

6. Do you like to read?

Nothing better than a good book.

7.What was the last bad book you read?

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – a play in book form.

8. What made you dislike it?

The plot was ridiculous and took away so much from the original series.

9. Do you wish to be a writer?

Yes I’d absolutely love to, working on it!

10. Has any book ever influenced you greatly?

There are so many and each for a different stage of my life.

11. Do you read fan fiction?

I’ve read a few Harry Potter ones but I’ve never really been into it.

12. Do you write fan fiction?

No, personally I don’t see the point, why not create something original.

13. What’s your favorite book?

How do I choose? Probably 19 Minutes by Jodi Picoult I could read that over and over.

14. What’s your least favorite book?

I’m really not sure. Wasn’t a fan of Gone Girl, the twist just pissed me off.

15. Do you prefer physical books or ready on a device (like a kindle)?

Kindle’s are great to travel and get discounted reads but there’s nothing like a good book.

16. When did you learn to read?

When I was really small, I think I could read by the time I was 5.

17. What is your favorite book you had to read in school?

To Kill a Mockingbird, still my favourite classic.

18. What is your favorite book series?

Harry Potter OR The Normal trilogy by Holly Bourne

19. Who is your favorite author?

I don’t have a favourite! I have favourites like J.K Rowling, Jodi Picoult, John Green, Caitlin Moran.

20. What is your favorite genre?

Probably YA, followed by autobiography/biography.

21. Who is your favorite character in a book series?

Hermione Granger.

22. Has a book ever transported you somewhere else?

Often, Game of Thrones is doing that right now.

23.Which book do you wish had a sequel?

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

24. Which book do you wish DIDNT have a sequel?

The Hunger Games – could have been done in one long book and not had THAT ending.

25. How long does it take you to read a book?

Really depends how busy I am and how much I’m enjoying the book. If I’m left alone I can easily do a book a day unless it’s something like GoT, then not so much.

26. Do you like when books become movies?

Definitely depends on how it’s handled, I always get a little nervous though.

27. Which book was ruined by its movie adaptation?

Twilight.

28. Which movie has done a book justice?

The Colour Purple, that was a brilliant movie to match a brilliant book.

29. Do you read newspapers?

If there’s one laying around but normally I read the BBC and the Guardian on my phone

30: Do you read magazines?

Not really, I read The Vagenda and it completely made me rethink what I consumed.

31. Do you prefer newspapers or magazines?

Newspapers but ones that have opinion pieces too, like The Guardian

32. Do you read while in bed?

Of course, who doesn’t?

33. Do you read while on the toilet?

Yes, it used to drive my parents mad :’)

34. Do you read while in the car?

Yep, have done since I was a kid.

35. Do you read while in the bath?

No. I’m not keen on having baths often and even then I’m too worried I’ll drop it in the bath…I’m super clumsy.

36. Are you a fast reader?

Yes.

37. Are you a slow reader?

Nope.

38. Where is your favorite place to read?

Curled up with lots of cushions and a fluffy blanket.

39. Is it hard for you to concentrate while you read?

If I’m into the book and not in a slump I will fall into a book and not resurface for hours.

40.Do you need a room to be silent while you read?

It helps but I don’t need it to be.

41. Who gave you your love for reading?

No one, I just kind of started and didn’t stop.

42. What book is next on your list to read?

Haven’t set a final choice yet, I’ll see how I feel once I’ve finished this one

43. When did you start to read chapter books?

Pretty young with as many Jaqueline Wilson books as I could get my hands on.

44. Who is your favorite children’s book author?

Jacqueline Wilson.

45. Which author would you most want to interview?

Jodi Picoult.

46. Which author do you think you’d be friends with?

Holly Bourne

47.What book have you reread the most?

Probably the Harry Potter series. When I was younger I read it every summer.

48. Which books do you consider “classics”?

The Colour Purple, To Kill a Mockingbird. I’m not keen on a lot of canon stuff.

49. Which books do you think should be taught in every school?

A big mixture! I think that there should be books on wider issues and not just ‘classics’. There are some great novels on mental health for example that young people could relate to instead of being forced to read Dickens or Austen again and again.

50. Which books should be banned from all schools?

I don’t think any book should be banned, they should just be age appropriate.

If any of you guys would like to do this take don’t forget to let me know!

Book Review: Harry Potter and The Cursed Child – J.K Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany

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Last year it was announced that the Harry Potter story would continue in a new work, this time a play. Rowling was to work with a small team to carry on the story, this time focusing on the next generation of Potter’s, Granger-Weasley’s and Malfoy’s.

I wrote last week about how I was going to queue up at midnight to get my copy of The Cursed Child, along with Abbie and my Mum. I’ve been a Harry Potter fan since I was a little girl and I hoped, like all the other Potterheads out there that this was going to be something incredible, although I was disappointed it wasn’t going to be a novel. So I eagerly tucked in to what was billed the eighth story in the Harry Potter universe and read a little when I got home and the rest the morning after and, well, I kind of wish I hadn’t. While I was nervous about reading this and quite apprehensive, as many of the people I spoke to were, I didn’t think this was going to be the final product, especially after the incredible reviews the play has received. Please note this is ONLY MY OPINION I respect other’s opinions :).

The play starts where Deathly Hallows finishes, on Platform 9 and 3/4, where Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione are about to wave off their children. For Albus Potter and Rose Granger Weasley this is the first time they’ll take the trip to Hogwarts and start their magical education in a place we’ve all firmly kept in our hearts. While the first part of the play almost completely matches the novel, that is where I feel the similarities end. The first shock was Rose Granger-Weasley, while I think the aim was to create similarities between Rose and Hermione at the same age, she came across as a brat, not how I imagined her at all.

I can’t go into a lot of detail because of spoilers and the fact I would probably ramble on for hours. I think the main issue with it is that you can tell this wasn’t written by J.K Rowling, it may have been her idea but this does not read like her work at all. At best this reads like a fan fiction, and not necessarily a good one. In fact knowing that Rowling is supposed to have come up with this entire plot makes me very sad, the energy and passion isn’t there. It has so many classic fan fiction tropes that just made me mad. I wanted to shout at the book, what are you doing to the world we’ve all fallen in love with.

The hardest thing though was the trio themselves. It didn’t feel like I was reading about the character’s I’d grown up with. Harry said certain things that I felt Harry just wouldn’t say, Hermione had lost her spark of being able to take control of a situation and Ron was probably the hardest of all. When he was in the play, which wasn’t a lot, he just milled around and was used as minor comic relief but, as will Harry and Hermione, had lost what made Ron, Ron. I will say though that I absolutely loved Draco Malfoy in this, we really got to see him come into his own and develop as a character so gold stars for that. Ginny Weasley, however, is pushed to the side in this play as she was in the films, in fact I felt like all the women were pushed aside which was very disappointing.

When it comes to the new generation again it was a Malfoy that I liked, the character of Scorpio was probably my favourite and reminded me of someone from the original novels, although not his father. The relationship between Scorpio and Albus was sweet and there was an understanding between them. I wish I like the character of Albus as much but I didn’t, thankfully Scorpio will tell his friend when he is being ridiculous, because someone has to. There were rumors there would be a romance between the two and as great as that would have been, I can confirm it is not true.

There are some surprising characters that appear throughout the play and some…interesting concepts too. Other than that we are mostly following Albus, Scorpius and their parents over about three years.

I’m only giving this 2 stars (**), frankly I am heartbroken that this is now canon in the word of Harry Potter. While I’m sure this is a lot better in the medium is was written for, it doesn’t feel like Harry Potter to me. At most this is a basic plot relying heavily on fan fiction tropes and in some cases completely ignoring what happened in the previous seven books and the wizarding law within them. I have a ticket for the play next year and I’m kind of curios to see how it looks on stage (because, you know I already paid for it) but it’s safe to say this doesn’t work in the same way the books do. Do I think it should have been published and given the hype it did? Not at all. In my mind there are 7 Harry Potter books, that’s all the canon we need and want.

 

What did you guys think? Love it, hate it? Let me know in the comments below!

 

Why I’m queuing up at Midnight for a book

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‘Hogwarts will always be here to welcome you home’

It’s no secret that I love books, I put release dates in my diary, I stay up way later than I should and always have a stack of books that are on my to be read pile. I’ve queued up for signings, met some of my favourite authors and collected like crazy, now I order subscription boxes too. BUT I have never been to a midnight release, you see very few books warrant it but this isn’t just some book, this is Harry Potter, someone who means as much to me as some real people.

I grew up reading these books, although back in 2001 I was a little late to the game because I was told Harry Potter was ‘for boys’ at some point (what rubbish) but it didn’t take long before I read the books and was hooked. By the time Order of the Phoenix came out when I was nine I begged my Mum to take me to get the book the morning it was released and then again with Half Blood Prince and finally with Deathly Hallows. I was only 11 when the final book was released (10 years ago!!) so I’d never gone to the midnight releases, but got there super early the next day.

There’s something about Harry that brings people together, that gave me comfort every summer when I read the books over and over, when I watched the films and felt the magic in front of my eyes and have a collection that spans more than 10 years now. I was lucky enough to visit The Wizarding World in Orlando when it first opened and then, later the Studio Tour in the UK. This is more than a set of books, this is the first fan obsession I found on my own and fell in love with.

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People have asked me why I would stay up until midnight just to pick up a book, but it’s more than that. There is a whole community of Potterheads who, from my experience, are the most loyal, kind and intelligent people I have ever spoken to. We talk, we debate and we welcome people from all walks of life. Hermione taught girls like me that we’re allowed to be smart and that it’s cool to be who we are instead of being like everyone else. Lupin hiding that he is a werewolf is linked to attitudes towards AIDs in the 1980s. The treatment of Muggle Borns by Voldemort and his followers is reminiscent of the treatment of Jews in world war two. There’s endless links to myths and legends as well as brilliant plot. Is it perfect? No, no book is but it meant something to so many people, and it still does. We’re seeing a day we thought would never come and although I’m slightly nervous about the plot, we get to see Harry 19 years later.

And that is just the start of why I’m queuing at midnight tonight.