Round up of The British Book Challenge 2016

It’s that time of year again… time to reflect on the British Books I’ve read this year for the British Books Challenge. I read a grand total of 66 British books! (I shall add anymore to this post if I read more between now and 1st January) Yay!

The challenge involves reading 12 books from British authors, so I think we can safely say I smashed that number! 😉 I really enjoy finding British authors to read as much of my reading is dominated by US authors (they are amazing though!) Linked below are the reviews of the 66 British books that I read!

1. Lighter Than My Shadow– Katie Green
2. For Holly– Tanya Byrne
3. Am I Normal Yet?– Holly Bourne
4. The Demon Headmaster– Gillian Cross
5. The Unbelievable Top Secret Diary of Pig– Emer Stamp
6. The Haunting– Alex Bell
7. In A Dark, Dark Wood– Ruth Ware
8. The Number One Rule For Girls– Rachel McIntyre
9. Carrie’s War-Nina Bawden
10. The Sin Eater’s Daughter– Melinda Salisbury
11. Radio Silence– Alice Oseman
12. The Samaritan– Mason Cross
13. Moving– Jenny Eclair
14. More Of Me– Kathryn Evans
15. The Next Together– Lauren James
16. The Boy In The Dress– David Walliams
17. Consumed– Abbie Rushton
18. V is for Violet– Alison Rattle
19. Read Me Like A Book– Liz Kessler
20. Follow Me Back– Nicci Cloke
21. Noble Conflict– Malorie Blackman
22. When I Was Invisible– Dorothy Koomson
23. Poppy’s Place– Karina Charman
24. The Horse and His Boy– C.S. Lewis
25. Orangeboy– Patrice Lawrence
26. Always With Love– Giovanna Fletcher
27. The Moonlight Dreamers– Siobhan Curham
28. According To Yes-Dawn French
29. The Borrowers– Mary Norton
30. Swimming To The Moon– Jane Elson
31. The Castle– Sophia Bennett
32. The Woman Next Door– Cass Green
33. Songs About A Girl– Chris Russell
34. Maggot Moon– Sally Gardner
35. Shtum– Jem Lester
36. The One We Fell In Love With– Paige Toon
37. My Embarrassing Dad’s Gone Viral– Ben Davis
38. Cuckoo– Keren David
39. Harry Potter and The Cursed Child– J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, Jack Thorne
40. All About The Hype– Paige Toon
41. The Girls– Lisa Jewell
42. Head Over Heels– Holly Smale
43. Crush– Eve Ainsworth
44. Perijee and Me– Ross Montgomery
45. How Not To Disappear– Clare Furniss
46. A Dictionary of Mutual Understanding– Jackie Copleton
47. Looking for JJ– Anne Cassidy
48. A Boy Made Of Bricks– Keith Stuart
49. Robyn Silver- The Midnight Chimes– Paula Harrison
50. Isadora Moon Goes To School- Harriet Muncaster
51. The Last Act of Love– Cathy Rentzenbrink
52. Time To Say Goodbye– S.D. Robertson
53. On The Other Side– Carrie Hope Fletcher
54. Beautiful Broken Things– Sara Barnard
55. The Widow– Fiona Barton
56. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase– Joan Aiken
57. Dead Romantic– C.J.Skuse
58. Haunt Me– Liz Kessler
59. Missing, Presumed– Susie Steiner
60. Strange Star– Emma Carroll
61. Ballet Shoes– Noel Streatfeild
62. The Lie Tree– Frances Hardinge
63. Into The Trees– Robert Williams
64. Lighthousekeeping– Jeanette Winterson
65. Infinite Sky– C.J. Flood
66. The Sleeping Prince– Melinda Salisbury

A massive thank you to Kirsty from Overflowing Library for hosting this challenge this year.

As this is one of my favourite challenges, I am definitely on board for 2017. In 2017, the challenge will be hosted by Michelle from Tales of Yesterday. Sign up here!

Top Ten Books To Read If Your Book Club Loves Women’s Fiction

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the wonderful The Broke and The Bookish. For this week’s list we are listing ten books that you should read if your book club loves a bit of women’s fiction. I used to read this genre ALL THE TIME and I recently was feeling the love for women’s fiction, hence this list! Here we go…

Book images go to Goodreads

Billy and Me- Giovanna Fletcher

Giovanna Fletcher’s debut novel was brilliant. I find her writing so engaging to read. The story is cute!

Johnny Be Good- Paige Toon

Paige Toon is one of my favourite writers in the genre. She’s definitely an autobuy author for me. I find her books so easy to devour. She often uses characters in different books, so you get a sense of familiarity.

P.S. I Love You- Cecelia Ahern

A beautiful book which is way better than the movie, so if you haven’t read the book but loved the movie, I urge you to check this one out. It’s a stunning read.

If You Could See Me Now- Cecelia Ahern

One of the reasons why I like Cecelia Ahern’s books so much is because they’re so magical but at the same time there’s usually some inspiration or insight to be gained from them. This one is about a woman who ends up with an imaginary friend…

Me Before You- Jojo Moyes

It couldn’t be a woman’s fiction recommendation list without recommending one of my favourite books of all time Me Before You. I know people are probably bored of seeing this book on my list, but I just can’t help it!

The Undomestic Goddess- Sophie Kinsella

I love Sophie Kinsella’s writing. She’s an incredibly easy to read author. I’ve lapped all of her chick-lit books up. Wonderfully funny at times and sometimes a little ridiculous but that’s what makes them fun.

A Walk To Remember- Nicholas Sparks

I’m a bit of a sucker for a romance tale and Nicholas Sparks does them well. This one is incredibly moving. I adored it and actually enjoyed its movie adaptation too.

The Husband’s Secret- Liane Moriarty

Love this book! It’s more of a thriller so it would definitely appeal to those that don’t love women’s fiction, but I also think it fits nicely into this genre too. It’s a really compelling read.

Rachel’s Holiday- Marian Keyes

This is a story about a woman who takes recreational drugs. She goes to rehab because she thinks it’s going to be like a holiday. It’s a heart-warming read which has some incredibly fun moments within it!

The Ice Cream Girls- Dorothy Koomson

I really enjoy Dorothy Koomson’s writing. It’s much deeper than you might expect. I find her writing so enjoyable to read. It never fails to grip me.

What have you done for your Top Ten list this week? Feel free to leave a link to your post and I’ll stop by!

All About The Hype (Jessie Jefferson #3)

How did I get it?:
Received from publisher- this has not affected my opinion of the book. I always give an honest review.

Previously reviewed by the same author:

• The Longest Holiday
• Johnny’s Girl  (novella)
• Thirteen Weddings
• The One We Fell In Love With

Jessie Jefferson

• The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson
• I Knew You Were Trouble

Synopsis:

Is the life of a famous rockstar’s daughter all it’s cracked up to be? And what about dating your fellow band-member just as you hit the bigtime? 
Jessie is still getting used to being a celebrity, and the daughter of one of the world’s biggest rock stars. With her own music career on the rise, a gorgeous love interest and a fun group of friends, it seems Jessie’s glamorous LA life couldn’t get any better . . . but things are about to get really complicated.

Thoughts:

Regular readers of my blog won’t be surprised to see this book being reviewed. I absolutely adore Paige Toon. I have read (although not reviewed) all of her books and her books regularly feature on my Top Ten lists. I was recently given the opportunity to read All About The Hype which is the third (and perhaps final?) Jessie Jefferson book. The Jessie Jefferson series is Paige’s step into YA fiction which I think she does incredibly well. I am fond of the adult characters in these books having met them in Paige’s adult fiction books (which I highly recommend!)

In the latest instalment of this series, Jessie is adapting to life as a celebrity. She has decided to live in LA with her dad, Johnny, a famous rockstar. Jessie is singer in a band formed with some friends and a love interest… She has an interesting love life (unfortunately there’s a bit of a love triangle- I say unfortunately as I’m not a fan of the love triangle!) and seems to be loving the LA lifestyle. Things aren’t easy for Jessie though, she’s still grieving for her mother and missing life with her old friends.

What I love about Jessie as a character is that she is flawed. She can be a little selfish at times and is easily drawn into quite a superficial lifestyle. Yet, she is lovely at heart and wants to do the right thing in her mother’s memory and to please her stepfather. She also doesn’t want to anger her dad or his wife Meg. Jessie is torn between her old lifestyle and her new lifestyle. I absolutely love Johnny and Meg. I have loved them since Johnny Be Good and I adore that I get to read about them once more with this series.

You can buy All About The Hype on Amazon and The Book Depository. Visit her website at paigetoon.com, and follow her on Twitter @PaigeToonAuthor

Would I recommend it?:
Of course!

Paige Toon really is a fantastic writer. I always enjoy reading about her characters and I can devour her books in no time at all. 

The One We Fell In Love With

How did I get it?:
I bought it!

Previously reviewed by the same author:

• The Longest Holiday
• Johnny’s Girl  (novella)
• Thirteen Weddings

Synopsis:

Phoebe is caught between a rock and a hard place. Settle down and get married, or return to the French Alps to pursue her passion?

Eliza is in love with someone who is no longer hers. In fact, he probably never was… And her dream of becoming a musician seems to be spiralling down the drain.

Rose is out of a job and out of a boyfriend. To make matters worse, she’s been forced to move back in with her mother…

But these very different girls have one thing in common. Angus. The one they fell in love with…

Thoughts:

Paige Toon is one of my favourite writers in the chick-lit genre. I have absolutely loved her books in the past, but felt some of her books were becoming a little predictable. However, Paige is one of my autobuy authors. I buy everything she releases without a second thought. I am thrilled to say that The One We Fell In Love With is a brilliant addition to Paige Toon’s catalogue. I think this is because even though it had its typical Paige Toon moments (not a criticism, I love Paige Toon’s writing style) there was quite a serious twist in the story. It gave the story much more depth which I really enjoyed.

The One We Fell In Love With follows three points of view. It follows identical triplets Rose, Eliza and Phoebe. They are all connected to Angus. They have all been in love with him at some point. I can’t say much more than that because it really would ruin the story. It’s better to not have a clue about what was coming which was certainly the case for me. I didn’t see the twist coming, but I’m pretty sure you’ll love it when it does come. It changed my rating of the story that’s for sure. It wasn’t expected.

Apologies for the vague and rather brief review, but I really don’t want to ruin the reading experience for other readers. In this book you’ll find some amazing characters and a gripping storyline. I adored the triplets, two more than the other, but that’ll become clear if you read it. I also really loved the character of Toby. He was so easy to like and to root for.

If you are into this genre, then I highly recommend picking up The One We Fell In Love With. Then go back and explore Paige Toon’s back catalogue. She has some gems!

Would I recommend it?:
Of course!

Paige Toon has created another wonderful book. I highly enjoyed it!

This Week In Books #39

I am joining in with the lovely Lipsy from Lipsy’s Lost and Found’s feature which highlights our week in books. I shall be sharing what I’m reading now, then and next! I won’t be showcasing my new books as I do that on a Saturday. I’m really excited by this feature as I loved sharing my recent reads. My book reviews published on my blog are often WAY behind what I’m actually reading, so this is a good feature to keep you up to date!

As ever, click on the book image to get to Goodreads!

  

NOW–Shtum– Jem Lester– I’m currently just over 100 pages through this book. It’s a book about a boy with autism. It’s so dark, but at the same time there’s some humour which is needed for light relief!

THEN– The One We Fell In Love With– Paige Toon– I love Paige Toon’s writing. She’s one of my favourite ‘chick-lit’ writers. Her books are often deeper than your average chick-lit. This one had a twist in it that I didn’t see coming!

NEXT– Cuckoo– Keren David– This is another book which features an autistic character.I’m intrigued to read this one!

What are you reading this week? Feel free to let me know in the comments or leave a link to your posts. Happy Reading! 😀

Top Ten Book Releases For The Second Half of 2016

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the wonderful The Broke and The Bookish. This week’s list are the Top Ten books releases for the second half of 2016. How are we already in June!? Crazy!

As ever, click on the book image to get to Goodreads!

June

My Lady Jane- Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows

I am really excited about reading this book. I love the topic and I adore Cynthia Hand and Brodi Ashton!

Always With Love- Giovanna Fletcher

I really enjoy Giovanna Fletcher’s writing and I’m looking forward to reading the sequel to her debut novel Billy and Me. 

July

Harry Potter and The Cursed Child- J.K Rowling

As a huge Potter fan, I’m very much looking forward to this!

P.S. I Like You- Kasie West

I really enjoy Kasie West’s contemporaries and summer is the perfect season to read them in!

On The Other Side- Carrie Hope Fletcher

I’m intrigued by the synopsis of this book. I am looking forward to getting stuck into it!

Nothing Tastes As Good- Claire Hennessey

Another one I’m intrigued about. This book tackles mental illness. I’m very curious.

All About The Hype-Paige Toon

Paige Toon’s YA spin off series is such fun. Perfect summer reads!

The May Queen Murders- Sarah Jude

Love this cover. I’m excited about this story.

October

Stealing Snow- Danielle Paige

I have to admit that I wasn’t aware of this book until I was sent an ARC a few weeks back. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Dorothy Must Die but I shall give this book a try.

November

Heartless- Marissa Meyer

Very excited to read more from Marissa Meyer! Especially excited that this book involves Alice in Wonderland!

What releases are you looking forward to for the next part of the year? I feel my TBR growing already…Feel free to leave a link to your posts!

Top Ten Brilliant Beach Reads

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the wonderful The Broke and The Bookish. This week’s list is all about those beach reads. I haven’t necessarily read these books on the beach, but they are definitely books that I define as perfect for the beach!

Books are in no particular order with book images going to the Goodreads page!

 

Big Little Lies– Liane Moriarty– I love a gripping read. If I’ve got a lot of time to sit around and devour a book, it can often be a psychological thriller. This book is about an awful parent’s evening…

Me Before You– Jojo Moyes– If you don’t mind crying on the beach, I’d recommend this book. Also because I like to recommend it wherever possible. ❤

  

Giovanna Fletcher is a great chick-lit writer. Her books are easy to enjoy and so they qualify for a beach read in my eyes!

 

I haven’t read a lot of Sarah Ochler’s books, but I enjoy both of these pictured above. Twenty Boy Summer has a more serious edge to it, but #scandal also deals with issues (the perils of social media!)

  

Paige Toon’s books are some of my favourites in the genre. I love how her characters appear in other books. It makes every book so familiar!

 

I love Cecelia’s books for how magical they can be. I really like Cecelia’s writing style.

What are your Top Ten Beach Reads? Feel free to leave me a link to your post and I’ll stop by!