NetGalley Tag

• Link back to the tag’s creator: Kourtni @ Kourtni Reads
• Thank and link back to the person who tagged you: No one tagged me, but I got the idea from Yvonne over at It’s All About Books
• Answer the questions the best you can. If you don’t use NetGalley, you can substitute other sites or places where you get books!
• Tag a few people to do this too!

AUTO-APPROVED: WHO’S ONE AUTHOR WHOSE BOOKS YOU AUTOMATICALLY WANT TO READ, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY ARE ABOUT?

A very difficult question. I have quite a few authors that I absolutely adore. It has to be Paige Toon if I have to pick just one.

REQUEST: WHAT MAKES YOU WANT TO REQUEST A BOOK ON NETGALLEY?

It’s usually the blurb that pulls me in.

FEEDBACK RATIO: DO YOU REVIEW EVERY BOOK YOU READ? IF NOT, HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT BOOKS TO REVIEW?

I do tend to write a review even if it’s just a few bullet points. Most books I don’t finish end up on my Ones That Got Away

BADGES: IF YOU COULD CREATE ONE BADGE TO DISPLAY ON YOUR BLOG, WHAT WOULD IT BE FOR?

Hmm.. I am proud of the ones I do have. I think something about being consistent would be nice, however, the top reviewer one pretty much does that. Here at the ones I do have.

WISH FOR IT: WHAT’S ONE BOOK THAT YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY DYING TO READ?

I have Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine on my TBR coming up soon. I know it’s not a new release but I’m eager to see what it’s like.

2018 NETGALLEY CHALLENGE: WHAT WAS THE LAST BOOK THAT YOU RECEIVED AS AN ARC THAT YOU REVIEWED? IF YOU’VE NEVER RECEIVED AN ARC, WHAT’S THE LAST BOOK YOU REVIEWED?

This is the most recent book that I received from NetGalley that I’ve reviewed. I have lots coming up 🙂

Feel free to join in this tag if you want! 🙂

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Five Years From Now

How did I get it?:
I bought it!

Previously reviewed by the same author:

• The Longest Holiday
• Johnny’s Girl  (novella)
• Thirteen Weddings
• The One We Fell In Love With
• The Last Piece Of My Heart

Synopsis:

Nell and Van meet as children when their parents fall in love, but soon they are forced worlds apart.

Five years later, they find each other.  Their bond is rekindled and new feelings take hold, but once again they must separate.
 
For the next two decades, fate brings Nell and Van together every five years, as life and circumstance continue to divide them. Will they ever find true happiness? And will it be together?
 
‘One day, maybe five years from now, you’ll look back and understand why this happened…’

Thoughts:

As you might see from my previously reviewed by the same author section, I’m quite the fan of Paige Toon. I love her books because they’re not your typical chick-lit. There’s usually quite some depth involved within the story and that’s something that I really appreciate. Paige’s recent release did not let me down!

Five Years From Now centres around Nell and Vian. Their birthdays are two days apart. They first meet at 5 years old when family circumstances bring them together. After some resistance at first, they really start to get on with one another. Their friendship is so pure and beautiful to read about. Later on, at the age of 10 Nell and Vian get separated from one another. They end up living on opposite sides of the world, but still keeping contact with one another. Eventually they begin to develop feelings for one another, but their lives take different turns along the way. Through the story, we meet them every five years and see what has happened in their lives.

Something I really love about Paige Toon is that she doesn’t give her characters an easy ride. Both Nell and Vian have major things happening to them. It certainly isn’t an easy ride for them. I like the idea of the future helping you to reflect on the past. It is true, sometimes moments feel huge in the present moment but with some moments, your past can make sense years on.

The ending was not what I wanted, but I really do think it took some guts to write it the way that Paige did. I don’t want to spoil what happened, but if you have read this book, I’d be really intrigued to know if you liked the ending?

This book solidifies why I enjoy Paige Toon’s writing so much. It’s much more than your average chick-lit so please don’t be put off by the cover!

Would I recommend it?:
Yes! 3.5 stars

Another wonderful read from Paige Toon. I love her books!

This Week In Books #127

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!

Book images go to Goodreads!

  

NOW– Five Years From Now– Paige Toon– I’m currently around half way through this book. I really like Paige Toon’s writing. It’s so easy to read and is perfect for when I’m super busy! It’s about a relationship that’s discussed in 5 year intervals. It moves from 40 to 15 and then sometimes back again. It’s super easy to follow.

THEN– Tattooist Of Auschwitz– Heather Morris– This is the next book Beth and I will be reviewing as part of our ‘Talking About’ feature. I’m really looking forward to reviewing it with her. I think our review will be out next week, so keep an eye out!

NEXT– I Believe In A Thing Called Love– Maurene Goo– I’ve had this book for so long now. I think it’s time to read it.

What are you reading this week? Let me know!

Ten Hidden Gems

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It’s all about love of lists, love of literature and bringing bookish people together. 

This week’s list is all about hidden gems. Books that we love that we don’t think get enough loving in the blogosphere.

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

I absolutely loved this book when I read it a few years back. I don’t see it around enough! It’s a sad book, but so worth reading.

This book was beautifully written!

Alison Rattle is so underrated! I’d recommend all of her books for beautifully written historical fiction.

Some beautiful characters are within these pages. I adored this story.

You might know Alex through her YA and middle grade reads, but she has written some stonking adult fiction too. This is great for those that love fairy tales.

This was such a unique read!

I thought this was a brilliant read. It reaches different ages too as my Gran loved it!

This is quite possibly my favourite chick-lit. I love Paige Toon’s writing!

I definitely judged this book by its cover. I thought it was going to be a New Adult/Fifty Shades book… it wasn’t.

Tell me about your hidden gems. Feel free to leave a link to your post and I’ll stop by!

The Last Piece Of My Heart

How did I get it?:
I bought it!

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
• All About The Hype

Synopsis:

Meet Bridget, a successful travel journalist with ambitions to turn her quirky relationship blog into a novel. But, after numerous rejections from publishers, she accepts an alternative proposition: Nicole Dupre died leaving behind a bestselling novel and an incomplete sequel, and the family need someone to finish it. Bridget is just thankful to have her foot in the publishing door. But as she gets to know Nicole’s grieving family, and the woman behind the writing, Bridget’s priorities begin to change …

Thoughts:

I’m a bit of a fan of Paige Toon if you hadn’t noticed already. Her books are always so easy to read and I feel like they have more depth than your average piece of women’s fiction/chick-lit. Paige’s books are often filled with amazing characters and very strong female leads. I can’t really ask for more in a book like this one.

As with all of Paige’s books, characters turn up that you meet in other books. This time, we learn more about Bridget. Bridget is a travel-writer and she’s used to travelling the world. Bridget’s focus at the moment is her blog, where she’s recounting stories of meeting up with her ex-boyfriends to get the pieces of her heart back that she left with them. Bridget is back together with her first love and she’s determined to give all of her heart to him. Her agent likes her writing style and says it’s similar to another writer, Nicole. Unfortunately, Nicole has recently passed away. They want Bridget to write Nicole’s sequel to her highly successful book. If Bridget is successful, it will open the doors to her own book being published.

Bridget travels to Cornwall to meet Nicole’s husband. Nicole’s husband Charlie shows her the notes that she wrote for her sequel. Through reading Nicola’s notes, Bridget learns more about how she wanted the sequel to go.
Bridget finds that there are lots of similarities between her and Nicola, including feelings towards her husband, Charlie…

I absolutely warmed to Paige’s characters straight away. Bridget was fun and adventurous and often made me smile. Charlie was sweet and adorable with his baby daughter, April. I grew to love them both. Paige Toon sure knows how to write beautiful male characters. Charlie’s determination to bring up April made my heart swell. He was clearly struggling with juggling childcare, work and his grief. His story touched my heart.

This book is a great beach read and perfect for fans of women’s fiction. It has light humour but also a lot of depth between its pages. Yes, parts of it were predictable, but that really didn’t affect my enjoyment.

Would I recommend it?:
Of course!

Charlie and April stole my heart!

This Week In Books #117

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!

Book images go to Goodreads!

NOW

I usually really lap up Louise O’Neill’s books. They push the boundaries and intrigue me. I’m enjoying this book, but it’s not the 5 star that I thought it might be.

THEN

I read this short story before I started Almost Love. I enjoyed it and wished it was longer! My review is up already as it was an ARC from May. Oops. See my review HERE.

NEXT

After reading two heavy going books, I’m in need of some light fiction!

What are you reading this week? Let me know!

Stacking The Shelves #167

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you’re adding to your shelves, be it buying or borrowing. From ‘real’ books you’ve purchased, a book you’ve borrowed, a book you’ve been given or an e-book they can all be shared!

Bought:

I have heard so many good things about this book! I’m intrigued…

I adore Paige Toon’s writing, so I hope to read this book soon!

What have you added to your shelves recently? Let me know!