(Mini) Book Review: Her Name Was Rose by Claire Allan

(Mini) Book Review: Her Name Was Rose by Claire Allan

Monday 16 July 2018

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I own a lot of books. Most of these books I’ve read already but needless to say there are a large amount of books that I have had on my reading list for quite a while, and I just haven’t gotten around to reading them yet. I’m sure I will read them at some point but you need to be in the mood for certain books, you know what I mean? So as I was browsing my TBR pile a few days ago, I realised that I wasn’t in the mood to read any of them, which was problematic considering how I’m supposed to be saving my money at the moment. I sent a tweet around asking for recommendations and quickly received quite a few. One of the books recommended was Her Name Was Rose by Claire Allan, and by God I am glad I was. I quickly bought a copy of it for Kindle (currently priced at 99p) and settled myself down to get stuck into it.

The story follows Emily, a lonely and isolated woman who is clearly incredibly damaged from previous experiences. It’s written from her point of view and you are really able to get inside her head and understand how much turmoil she has suffered from in the past. You are able to feel the pain that she is going through and understand the craziness behind her extreme actions. We meet Emily on the day of a horrendous accident, where a woman pushing her baby son is involved in a hit and run. Emily, reminded of her past, is sure that it was her who was being targeted and becomes overwhelmed with guilt, holding herself entirely responsible for the young woman’s death. She quickly envelops herself into the life of this young woman, taking on her vacant job at the dentist and befriending her grief stricken husband, all the while convinced that whoever killed Rose will soon come back for her. Emily is the ideal protagonist in this psychological thriller: she is both paranoid and intriguing and you continually question whether she’s imagining everything or not. 

Time and time again I witter on about how much I love psychological thrillers and this one was no exception to that rule. There is something so fulfilling about delving into a book that sends you on a whirlwind of questioning and doubt. As satisfying as I find it when I do guess who the perpetrator is, there’s nothing more satisfying than coming to the end of the book completely dumbfounded as to how it played out- good psychological writing allows you to be pulled into the novel, doubting every line of action and every character without question. The characterisation in Her Name Was Rose is fantastic – the characters and both endearing and likeable and you find yourselves getting completely absorbed within their tale. The book was a pretty quick read- the prose is simple and easy to get through, with the right amount of suspense to keep you hooked and not so much that you’re struggling to keep up with the plot. 

4/5

Fashion: Giving off those Clueless Vibes (and staying cool in this heatwave)

Fashion: Giving off those Clueless Vibes (and staying cool in this heatwave)

Saturday 7 July 2018

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As a nearly 25-year-old female, the chick-flick is something that has played an integral part of my upbringing. It’s fair to say that of all the chick flicks I have seen in my lifetime – and trust me, I’ve watched a lot of them – that Clueless, staring the beautifully amazing Alicia Silverstone, is up there with one of the best. As a reader, I’m naturally a big fan of Jane Austen and Emma, the book that Cluelessis loosely based on, is one of my favourite tales of misdemeanour and scheming. 

I must admit, I feel like an absolute nineties queen in this gorgeous bodycon dress. The last few months have involved me really coming to terms with my body image and I’ve been trying to push myself out of my monochrome comfort zone and wear clothes that are a little more ‘out there’ and show off my personality a little bit more than my usual attire. It also happens to be an absolute steal on I Saw It First – currently selling for £10. 

This dress is definitely outside of that comfort zone but I have to say, I absolutely love it. The yellow and black checked pattern is absolutely gorgeous and the whole outfit comes together when paired with some black heeled boots. I feel as though I’m really giving off that Clueless vibe but because of the cotton material and the length of the dress, I’m also able to stay nice and cool in this crazy British weather that we’re having at the moment. Tartan styled clothes really seem to be in at the moment so maybe for once I’m keeping up with the trends here! I must admit that I would be a little bit nervous to wear this one out and about during the day but I can see myself wearing this on a night out with a pair of heels and a curly blow and rocking the night away. 

How do you feel about the checked trend? In? Out? Shake it all about? Let me know in the comments. 

Food: McDonald's (Table) Service with a Smile

Food: McDonald's (Table) Service with a Smile

Tuesday 3 July 2018

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Last week, I had a particularly long, tiring day at work. As a teacher, days are very regularly long and tiring but the reward that comes with it is more than enough to get me through. Every so often, I need a little something more than that feeling of accomplishment and generally speaking, that little bit something more comes in the form of a McDonald’s double cheeseburger. We’ve all been there. The dread of arriving into a packed restaurant, with nowhere to sit and the added stress of having to wait for your order number to be called – the likelihood of you hearing your order number being called over the sound of the child wailing next to you looking less and less likely by the second. 

McDonald’s have only gone and alleviated this stress, and they’ve done so in an innovative way. 

Table service is something that McDonald’s has been doing for quite a while now- Rich and I experienced it first hand around six months ago for the first time, in a McDonald’s Restaurant in Haydock and we were both impressed on how quick and easy the system was to use. The McDonald’s team in Wallasey, along with a number of other restaurants nationwide,have taken the service that one step further, incorporating technology with this already well-established concept to make customer service even more commendable. 

And the best thing about this? Absolutely nothing else in the ordering process has been changed, ensuring that it is still as easy to order your meal and have it personally delivered to your table than it is to collect it yourself from collection counters. 

A step-by-step, fool proof guide to table service. (If this dummy can manage it, so can you!)

Enter your favourite McDonald’s restaurant and head on over to to a self-service kiosk. 

At this point, you need to decide whether you’re going to eat in or takeaway. Presumably if you’re reading this guide, you’re all about eating in so go ahead and click that option. 

Now, previously when I’ve made the decision to stay and eat in a McDonalds restaurant, you’re asked to select a zone where you’ll go and sit after making your order. Staff will then find you within this zone and deliver your food. 

Here’s the interesting part: this is no longer an essential piece of information because McDonald’s have blown things out of the water and have inserted innovating technology into specially designed plastic table numbers. Inside the stylish table setting is a small tracker which allows customers to move freely around the restaurant without having to specify exactly where they were sitting. This all sounds far too good to be true, right? Wrong. The only piece of information you have to share with the crew members, via the ordering kiosk, is the number printed on the table setting. Enter that number onscreen when the kiosk requires and Bob’s your uncle! Done. 

The rest of the process is as easy as 1, 2, 3. 

Pick out your usual order (or be adventurous and have a look at the restaurant’s specials if you’re feeling like a bit of a change!) The self-service kiosks are easy to use, have settings to make them accessible if you have additional needs and make the entire ordering process that little bit less stressful. 

Pay for your order at the kiosk using your debit card or Apple pay. 

Whizz off to find somewhere to sit and wait for your food to follow you! 

It really is that easy. The tracker within the device notifies staff of any movement meaning that if you’re joined by a group of friends shortly after ordering and have to find a new, more sizeable table to sit on, then there is no risk of your food not being delivered to you promptly. Crew members who deliver your food do so with a smile – allowing for that little social interaction that is otherwise cut out when ordering traditionally on the kiosks – and they are quick to offer you condiments, straws and napkins upon delivery of your food. 

I can already see the benefits of this kind of technology. I imagine that this would be an ideal scenario for parents with small children – a quick order made at a kiosk by one member of the party would make the process much more prompt and much less stressful as a result. 

It’s fair to say that McDonald’s have done it again and changed customer outlook on stressful ordering systems. The entire process is quick and easy, ignites customer-crew interactions and is a hassle-free way of enjoying a delicious meal in a friendly environment. I cannot see what is next in store for McDonald’s – I hope I’ll be invited along for the ride!

Packing it all in: travelling hand-luggage only.

Packing it all in: travelling hand-luggage only.

Sunday 1 July 2018

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Travelling is the done thing nowadays: everyone seems to be doing it. Flights, for the most part, are more than reasonably priced and enough planning ahead can get you abroad and exploring for very little cost. It’s only when you start adding on additional costs, like choosing your seat on the plane, breakfast at the hotel and that dreaded additional luggage charge when things start to get a little bit more expensive.

It is more than possible to travel abroad for both short trips and longer trips alike, you just need to be savvy about your packing and ensure that you’re only packing the essentials. Over the years, I’ve found that I’ve seriously over-packed and only worn half of the clothes in my suitcase – let’s be realistic, you don’t need 20 different outfits and 10 bikinis for 7 days in the sun! That’s without even mentioning the shoes… 

Pack strategically

Packing is probably one of the only stressful things about going away: ‘have I forgotten something?’ being the question on everyone’s lips upon arrival at the airport. Chances are, yes, you have but as long as it’s not your passport, your boarding pass or your wallet then you’ll be absolutely fine and nothing bad will come of it. Make a checklist of everything you need to pack and cross it off the list as and when you put it into your case to completely eliminate the risk of you forgetting something important! Pack a rucksack or bag that can be easily flattened – I find that my Fjallraven Kankenbackpack is perfect for travelling as when it’s empty it flattens down and takes up absolutely no space in my hand luggage and it’s roomy enough to store all of my handbag essentials, sunglasses, a book, my camera, a large bottle of water and a light jacket. I also pack a small Kate Spade cross body clutch for evenings. 

Buy toiletries when you get there

The temptation to stock up on those tiny little bottles of shower gel and shampoo before you go – not only are they a complete waste of money, they use up some of your limited liquid allowance, allowance you should be using on sun cream and makeup (if you wear it!) Believe it or not, supermarkets in Spain stock shampoo and shower gel just like they do over here in the UK and they’re not that expensive. Save your money in the UK and buy these items when you arrive. You can then just throw them away when you’re leaving, saving the hassle of having to cart them all back home. 

Plan your outfits 

One of the most exciting things about waiting to go away is checking the weather forecast for the time you’re being to be there and bragging shamelessly about just how hot it’s going to be. With this in mind, it’s easy to plan ahead and think about the type of clothes that you’re going to need to wear. Despite what you might think, if you’re going away for a week then you don’t need to pack your entire wardrobe. Think about what you’ll be doing whilst you’re there – if you’re planning on spending the entire holiday by the pool, then you’ll only need 3 or 4 bikinis and some loose dresses to throw over the top and then full outfits for the evening. If you’re more of a touristic type of holiday goer then pack loose and light clothes, the odd bikini and your evening outfits. Pack shoes that can be worn with a number of different outfits and shorts that can be worn with multiple blouses. Generally there is no weight limit across airlines for hand luggage, so as long as it fits in the correct-sized case and you can lift it easily into the overhead compartment, there’s absolutely no reason to worry about bringing additional luggage with you. 

To summarise, hints and tips:

-              Check the maximum hand-luggage dimensions of your specified airline. 

-              Think ahead about what you want to be wearing, based on your activities.

-              Make a list! Pack only what you need to take with you!!!! 

Travelling light is so much easier than it used to be and it seriously saves you money in the long run. Do you have any hints or tips for travelling lightly? Let me know in the comments and share your wisdom! 

Book Review: How Far We Fall by Jane Shemilt

Book Review: How Far We Fall by Jane Shemilt

Saturday 30 June 2018

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At the moment, for me, books are a little bit like buses: I read nothing for a long period of time and then smash through a pile in an incredibly short space of time. I’m not sure what it is about this time of year, but I find that I always find myself much more motivated to read now than I do in the earlier months of the year. Must be the weather! A few months ago I received a very exciting book in the post and I’ve been eager to get it read and reviewed since then: time hasn’t allowed for me to zoom through it in the way I would have liked, but I had some spare time last week and managed to read it in a single afternoon. 

How Far We Fall by Jane Shemilt is attracting from the word go – armed with a gorgeous cover and an intriguing tag line The perfect marriage. The perfect murder? I had an inlking from the word go that this book would be one that I would really enjoy reading. It’s safe to say that I wasn’t disappointed and the story caught me from the offset. 

Beth is a surgical nurse, full of grief after the loss of her daughter. She meets Albie, an ambitious neurosurgeon, at a party hosted by her former lover, Ted. Their relationship ends after Ted’s daughter goes missing and Beth births a still-born baby shortly after. Her feelings towards Ted are, quite naturally, toxic as she blames him for their child’s death. Ted also happens to be Albie’s superior, which puts her, naturally, in a bit of an awkward situation. In an unconnected turn of events, Ted offers Albie a promotion and the opportunity to lead on a trial for a possible cure to a rare children’s brain cancer. Slowly but surely the tables start to turn and Albie finds that Ted has taken credit for the hard-work that he has put in over the years. Couple this with Beth’s immense hatred towards Ted and it’s fair to say that no good can come from this situation and the two work together to come up with a final solution. 

Jane’s characterisation is incredible. I found myself really connected to the characters – all of them, in differing ways- and her medical experience is evident throughout the story. The story was thrilling and I found myself imagining all sorts of crazy conclusions to explain bits and pieces about what happened. In the end, I didn’t need to imagine- every question that I had was answered fuss free and wrapped up beautifully at the end of the story. I’ve never read anything by Jane Schemilt before so I’ll definitely be going and picking up some of her other books next time I do a cheeky book haul. The story centres itself around manipulation, jealous and a web of lies – the story did start off quite slowly but it was quick to pick up the pace. Once you got used to the writing style it was a very enjoyable and well written piece of fiction. I’ll definitely be recommending this book to people who ask -  and probably to people that don’t, as well! 

4/5. 

A romantic (but budget) weekend in Paris

A romantic (but budget) weekend in Paris

Sunday 24 June 2018

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Back in December when I was budgeting for the year ahead of me, I booked a spontaneous weekend break for my partner’s birthday. Treating Richard is something that I’d love to be able to afford to do on a regular basis but naturally, life only allows for so many treats. Richard’s birthday happened to fall during this year’s 2-week school holiday so timing was perfect – this time of year is usually when I’d take my annual trip to France so I thought “why not kill two birds with one stone and treat Richard to something memorable for his 25^thbirthday?” 

Booking the trip in December was beneficial – not only was the entire trip incredibly well-priced for two people, it also meant that I had 5 months to put small amounts away to pay off the package. I booked the trip through EasyJet Holidays for 2 nights, 3 days and the total cost for the two of us was less than I paid for a similar solo trip last year. 

WHERE TO STAY

Having a few friends who lived in Paris means that I was able to choose a nice looking hotel, check that the area wasn’t dangerous with aforementioned friend and then book, completely worry free. After a lot of deliberating over whether staying in Central Paris and travelling over to Disneyland was better than staying next to Disneyland, I eventually booked into the Mercure hotel located on Avenue Jean Jaurès, in the 19^thArrondissement. I’ve never stayed (or even visited) the 19^thbefore so wasn’t overly familiar with what was around there but I was reassured that that Avenue was pretty safe and in a good location for the metro. The metro was in a prime location across the road from the hotel itself and at no point did I feel unsafe walking around the area. 

In terms of things to do in the 19^th– the 19^thhosts the famous Parc de la Villette as well as the Philharmonie music hall, Conservatoire national supérieur de musique and the Museum of Science and Industry. I must admit we didn’t spend much time at the hotel, what with our trip to Disneyland and exploring central Paris together so as a place to stay, it was absolutely perfect. Location wise, it was ideal – the metro into central Paris was fast and the station was quiet, meaning that our journeying into the hustle and bustle of central Paris started off calm and collected.  

WHERE TO EAT 

Because of our incessant need to budget, we were very sensible about where we ate our meals. As we had two full days in Paris, we spread our spending money equally across these days– our trip to Disneyland was a gift from a friend so other than food, there were no touristic outgoings. We also both happen to be under the age of 26, meaning that the vast majority of tourist attractions were free to enter upon presentation of identification. Whilst at Disney, we chose to eat in one of the restaurants during the day but when we arrived back into Paris that evening we were able to pick and choose exactly where we wanted to eat. Having perused the menus of a number of restaurants in the 4^tharrondissement, we eventually settled on a pizza picnic in the park and set about finding the perfect pizzeria. Whenever I’m planning a trip, Trip Advisor is always my go to in terms of reading restaurant reviews (alongside blog posts, of course) and a quick search led us to Pizza Julia, a restaurant that is just outside the top 100 in Paris (out of tens of thousands of restaurants) and one of the top Pizza restaurants in the city. 

Pizza Julia was an absolute blessing and a place we will definitely return to on our next trip into Paris. Vegetarian friendly, purse friendly and absolutely delicious, we ordered our pizza quickly and it was made right before our eyes. We ordered a prosciutto and mushroom pizza, probably one of the best pizzas I’ve ever eaten and took it off with us to enjoy in the park. We found that a lot of young people had done similarly to us and found ourselves really blending in with the locals, talking and eating with a view of the infamous Place de la Bastille. 

Our lunch choice the following day was on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées – a small treat, but still relatively inexpensive. When I visited Paris last year to catch up with a friend, she introduced me to Pizza Pino. The food is nothing to cry from the mountains about but the environment is classy and sophisticated in the prime location for people-watching. Having eaten pizza the previous night, Richard and I both went for pasta dishes and our plates were piled high. With wine, beer, water for the table and two main courses, we spent a mere €40 between us. 

Honorary mentions:

Pizza Popolare – if you’re after cheap pizza but want a place to sit, check out Pizza Popolare. Get there half an hour before opening as the queues get incredibly long.  

If you fancy something a little bit fancy (but still on a budget):

Les Ombres. With a view of the Eiffel Tower, this place is absolutely ideal for those beautiful Instagram shops. Food is tasty but the offer of a set-menu means that it is also relatively affordable. 

WHERE TO VISIT 

I feel like this section may well be a little bit redundant considering the vast knowledge that people have of Paris even before they actually visit but there are still a few hints and tips I can share that will make your trip less stressful. 

Getting that perfect Parisian cityscape shot:

The obvious choice would be to climb the Eiffel tower to get that acclaimed shot of the city. Fair enough, if you fancy queuing up for hours and hours, but there is an alternative that cuts down the wait time and actually gives you a shot of the Eiffel Tower as well. Get a metro to the top of the Avenue des Champs Élysées and climb the Arc de Triomphe instead. The wait time, while still there, is much less and there are fewer steps to climb to the top. The view from the top is absolutely incredible, and there is a small museum inside the Arc if you need a rest-stop. Outside the Arc is the famous tomb of the unknown soldier, with the eternal flame lit above it. 

Saving some money on Paris attractions: 

If you’re under the age of 26 and from the EU (technically the UK hasn’t actually left the EU yet, so this still applies to us Brits) access to a lot of museums and attractions is completely free – check online for details on how this works. Otherwise, if you’re planning on visiting Paris and your inventory includes a lot of these museums – it might be worth buying a Paris Museums Pass.The pass allows you free access to over 50 museums and monuments within the city. Currently the passes are priced at 48 euros for 2 people which, considering access to the Arc de Triomphe is 12€ alone, is definitely a bargain. 

Finally, if you time your trip right and arrive in Paris on the first Sunday of the month, access to the Louvre is completely free between October and March, and on Bastille Day, although I imagine crowds would be much more busy. 

Paris is a beautiful city and there is so much to do. I would be here all day mentioning attractions that are worth visiting, because there really is something for everyone but my highlights include: Les Invalides, Tour Eiffel, Musée d'Orsay, Louvre, Moulin Rouge, Montmartre, Sacré Cœur Cathedral, The Shakespeare and Co Bookstore (next to Notre Dame Cathedral), Versailles and the Palais Royal. 

What are you favourite tourist sites in Paris? Let me know! 

(Mini) Book Review: The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

(Mini) Book Review: The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

Saturday 23 June 2018

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A few years ago, I wrote a blog post about Why I Read War Fiction and since then I’ve been slowly adding more and more books to the list of War Fiction that I’ve enjoyed reading. My most recent War Fiction read is actually less fiction and more historical fact – and a book, rightfully so, may I add, that has been on a lot of peoples’ radar over the last few months.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris is based on the true story of Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew who is sent to Auschwitz in 1942. Lale stands out from the rest of the people sent to the camps – he is well dressed, well educated and speaks a number of different languages. At home, he is known as being a lady’s man – a smooth talker. These language skills and seemingly his personality allows him to stand out and he is asked to become the camp’s Tatowierer, a job that carries multiple repercussions but also provides a number of benefits. As Tatowierer, he is given better sleeping arrangements, he accesses more rations – which he shares with the other prisoners, no less- and he is able to move around the camp much more freely than everyone else. In doing so, he meets Gita, a young girl who he falls instantly in love with and suddenly his reason to survive becomes all the more clear. His attraction to Gita is clearly instantaneous.

The book is particularly poignant in the sense that it depicts the horrors of the war at their worst, highlights the difficulty of survival in the bleakest of occasions, but also the beauty of life and appreciating it in its purest form. It’s about showing compassion to people who deserve it and not taking the little things for granted. Told to the author by Lale himself, it highlights the significant role that non-compliant people had in the war effort and how people on either side of the war front had to make difficult choices to survive. 

My love of history goes deep within me and having the opportunity to read such a book was just fantastic – knowing that the characters within the story were real and the story that they had to tell was just as real really affected me and made the story all the more enjoyable for me. The story – in spite of its somewhat bleak content- has a happy ending and it’s nice to see that sometimes, for some people during the war, there was a light at the end of the tunnel and they were allowed some happiness in their lives. 

I’m looking around for books with similar themes at the moment so if anybody has any recommendations then I’d be incredibly happy to hear them! 

What I Wore in Paris – Disneyland Paris Edition

What I Wore in Paris – Disneyland Paris Edition

Wednesday 6 June 2018

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My lovely partner celebrated his 25^thbirthday last week so naturally, I took it as an excuse to spoil him rotten (and book an exciting trip at the same time). I am very fortunate having Rich in my life and he does so much to make me happy so a lovely, romantic break away was the perfect way to return the favour. After umm-ing and ahh-ing over the location, my need to return to France took over and I booked a two night stay in central Paris with the hope that I could later convince Richard that Disneyland was the perfect day-trip to take. I didn’t have high hopes on that one but it’s funny how luck works in your way – a friend of mine had some spare tickets to the Disneyland parks that were due to expire this week so offered them to us to use! How could we say no to that stroke of luck? 

Getting to Disneyland from central Paris is pretty simple to do and can be done very cheaply as well. As we went to Paris for the weekend, we benefitted from buying the tickets jeune week-end metro passes, for people under the age of 26, which cost just under €9 each for unlimited day travel on the metro and RER trains. The train from central Paris to Disneyland is an RER train so was inclusive within the ticket- otherwise a single ticket costs €6,50! We hopped on the RER A Line from Châtelet-Les Halles to Marne-la-Vallée, the station that’s just a stone throw away from the Disneyland Parks. 

Dressing for the occasion was a must- I made sure to pack a Disney themed headband- and as the forecasts had predicted incredibly hot weather I had an important decision to make regarding my outfit for the day. I wanted something lightweight to keep me cool but also classy enough that I was covered up for the family-friendly theme park. I’m really loving wrap dresses at the moment so ordered a couple of beautiful ones on ASOS. The one I eventually went for was this classic striped wrap dress from Warehouse – very similar in style to my other Warehouse wrap dress, just much more vibrant in colour and completely the opposite of my normal style. It really has been a ‘new year, new me’ in terms of fashion choices! I paired the dress with a pair of slip on pumps, perfect for the inevitable miles of walking that we were bound to do. 

The outfit went down an absolute treat in the park and has had such a positive response from everyone that’s seen it so far! It covered up enough of my body that I didn’t feel self-conscious or awkward walking around without my jacket on but was loose enough that I didn’t melt in the 28 degree heat. It was the perfect rollercoaster riding outfit, without a doubt. 

It’s fair to say that we had an absolute ball at Disneyland – the rides were fantastic and the entire experience was magical beyond belief. The atmosphere at the place was remarkable – I imagine that Disneyland is the only place where grown adults can completely lose their inhibitions and let loose in such a child-like way. Walking around the parks was fantastic and there really was something for everyone. We rode ride after ride, had a little river ride through a fairytale wonderland and ate Bavarian hotdogs in Geppetto’s workshop.  I couldn’t imagine spending a better day with my other half – the first day in a magical Parisian adventure. 

What are your favourite things about Disneyland? Let me know in the comments! 

Goodreads: My June/July Reading List

Goodreads: My June/July Reading List

Friday 1 June 2018

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It’s been a while since I did a post talking all about the books I’ve hauled recently and there’s good reason behind this. I’ve been on a self-imposed book ban and for the most part I’ve stuck to it- one of the benefits of being a book blogger are the dozens of books I receive on a monthly basis from publishing houses. It means that generally, I don’t have to buy books unless they’re ones I really, really want and for the most part I can get by reading the books I get in the post. Richard and I are flying over to Paris tomorrow morning and I’m super excited about this: however, pretty much all of the books on my to-read pile currently are hardbacked and the last thing I want to be doing on a weekend break is lugging around a heavy hardback in my backpack. 

I put in a teensy amazon order last night – and it actually WAS teensy, for once- and picked out a few books that have been on my radar for a while now. I tended towards Young Adult fiction this time despite the massive amounts of contemporary fiction in my basket at the time. I thought I’d share the two books that I chose, along with a few of the books I’ve been sent by publishers recently. 

The book I’m currently reading isWhistle in the Dark by Emma Healy. Having read (and of course, loved) Elizabeth is Missingby Emma, I was over the moon to receive a copy of the book for review from the publishers. I was quick to get stuck into the book (although I did finish off my most recent read The Tatooist of Auschwitzbeforehand) and about 120 pages in I’m enjoying it – I am waiting for something big to happen at the moment but I’m sure that that will come soon enough. The story follows Jen, a mother whose 17 year old daughter vanishes seemingly without a trace until suddenly she is found- but nothing goes back to how it used to be. Lana can’t – or won’t- remember what has happened to her and is reluctant to discuss where she went for those hellish days of Jen’s life. However, her daughter is different now and she can’t quite put her finger on why or how this is the case. It’s fair to say that I am very intrigued to read on and find out all the answers. 

Another book I received in the post for review is Kismet by Luke Tredget. I’m not too sure that this one is my cup of tea – based around dating apps, Kismet is a love story, seemingly, and focuses on the inperfections in people and consequently their obsession in finding the perfect match. First of all, I am completely in favour of dating apps. As a person whose work life has completely overshadowed ANY possible chance of going out and meeting people, I understand the convenience of being able to meet and connect with people from home. As a nearly 25-year-old socially inept woman, the prospect of going out and striking up conversation with a potential suiter would absolutely terrify me. I am quite intrigued by this book and am planning on reading this book as soon as I’ve finished up with Whistle in the Dark. 

As most of my readers are probably aware by now, I am a teacher and consequently I spend a lot of my time reading Middle School age books, prior to sharing them with the children in my class. I recently received a copy of The Boy Who Grew Dragons by Andy Shepherd and I cannot wait to share it with the kids at work. I’ve been reading a chapter at a time whenever I have a chance so I’m already a fair way through the story without even knowing it, and it is absolutely hilarious and exactly the kind of story that my class are going to adore. The cover is absolutely beautiful as well – from the looks of things, I’ll definitely be adding the sequel which comes out later this year to my wishlist as well! 

The final book from my proof pile for this month’s to do list – not that I’m being at ALL ambitious here- is probably the one I’m most excited about and the only psychological thriller I’ve included! My love for thrillers knows no bounds and I would happily read nothing but thrillers if I had to, so going this long having not read one is definitely unlike me. I’m excited to be a part of the blog tour for How Far We Fall by Jane Shemilt and the book sounds exactly my cup of tea. I’ll be sharing my thoughts on this book on the blog on the 30^thJune so be sure to check back then for a full review if you’re interested in this one! 

Onto books that I’ve actually purchased now. My Year 4 English class are using Grandpa Chatterji by Shamila Gavin as their class reader this half term so naturally I bought my own copy to read prior to planning. I was a little bit apprehensive about using this book within my lessons as it’s quite old fashioned – I’m pretty sure we might even have read it when I was at school – but having flicked through it I’m reassured that it’s of good quality and I’m excited to see what work the children in my class will produce using it. My Year 3 English class are focusing on Greek Mythology this half term so I’m going to be reading lots and lots of Greek Myths and stories based on them in the coming weeks as well! 

My final books in this little haul are The List by Siobhan Vivian and 13 Minutes by Sarah Pinborough. Both of these books have been on my radar, and consequently in my Amazon basket, for a good while now. They both fall into the Young Adult category what was just what I was looking for for my trip to Paris – quick and easy reads that don’t require all that much thought and that I’ll fly through. I’m on track with my Goodreads challenge as it stands but I’m conscious that there’s always time to fall way, way behind! 

What are you reading at the moment? Have you read any of the books on my list? Let me know in the comments!