Top Ten Books For Those Who Want To Read British Authors!

Oh how I’ve missed Top Ten Tuesday! It’s back today after a mini break. Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the wonderful The Broke and The Bookish. This week’s list are the Top Ten Books for a certain person or subject. I decided to promote those British Authors I love so much. Here are a selection!

Click on the book image to get to the Goodreads page for the book! 🙂

Orangeboy- Patrice Lawrence

I loved Patrice’s debut novel which centres around drugs, gangs, friendship and family. It’s well worth a read.

Indigo Donut- Patrice Lawrence

I recently read and adored this book which is another heart-warming family read. I gave this one five stars.

The Next Together- Lauren James

I didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did. Packed full of time travel which isn’t usually my thing!

Mad Girl- Bryony Gordon

I enjoyed this memoir about the author’s experience with mental health!

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time- Mark Haddon

I absolutely adored this book. So unique and special.

Am I Normal Yet?- Holly Bourne

Another mental health story… not intentional but wonderful all the same. I love Holly Bourne’s writing.

Paper Butterflies- Lisa Heathfield

Such an intense read!

Infinite Sky- C.J Flood

A beautiful read!

The Wolves Of Willoughby Chase- Joan Aiken

I only discovered this book last year! I absolutely lapped it up. A stunning piece of children’s literature.

A Boy Made Of Blocks- Keith Stuart

Oops, another book featuring a character on the autistic spectrum. This one is WONDERFUL and I can’t recommend it enough. A raw account of the main character’s struggle with his son.

Have you read any of these books? Have any caught your eye? Let me know! Feel free to leave a link to your posts and I’ll stop by!

Indigo Donut

How did I get it?:
NetGalley- thanks to Hatchette!

Previously reviewed by the same author:
Orangeboy

Synopsis:

A story of longing, belonging and trust. Two very different young people discover who loves them, and who they can love back.

Bailey is 17, mixed race, lives with his mum and dad in Hackney and spends all his time playing guitar or tending to his luscious ginger afro. Indigo is 17 and new to London, having grown up in the care system after being found by her mum’s dead body as a toddler. All Indigo wants is to know who she really is. When Bailey and Indigo meet at sixth form, sparks fly. But when Bailey becomes the target of a homeless man who seems to know more about Indigo than is normal, Bailey is forced to make a choice he should never have to make.

A story about falling in love and everyone’s need to belong.

Thoughts:

I absolutely loved Patrice Lawrence’s debut novel Orangeboy, so when I had the opportunity to read Indigo Donut I jumped at the chance. I also bought myself a copy, because I knew it was going to be an amazing read. It really was! I think Patrice Lawrence has just become one of my auto-buy authors. Her writing is exceptional. Indigo Donut is everything I look for in a story. Gripping, many layers, complex and most importantly for me, it has great heart.

Indigo Donut is about a girl named Indigo who is in foster care. She is fed up of everyone thinking they know everything about her, due to being in the press after being found by her mum’s dead body when she was a toddler. It was said that Indigo’s father killed the mother. Her father was imprisoned. Some of the girls at Indigo’s new school pick up on Indigo’s background and use it to torment her. (These girls actually enraged me whilst I was reading!) But then Bailey’s story line began to pick up! ❤ Bailey is known for his ginger Afro and his ‘cool’ dad who happens to be a social worker. Bailey can’t put up with the bullying and sticks up for Indigo. From that day on, Indigo and Bailey grow closer. Indigo’s early life is a mystery and Bailey is intrigued, especially after a run in with a homeless man that seems to be stalking them…

I thought Indigo Donut was an absolutely stunning piece of fiction. It really explored family and identity. I grew to love both Indigo and Bailey throughout and loved following their stories and their relationship. I adored Indigo’s foster mother. Patrice Lawrence really has a way of making you fall for her characters and root for them.

Patrice Lawrence’s writing is simply beautiful. There was a wonderful analogy about a donut.

‘She was like one of those donuts from the cheap shelves in supermarkets. Everything seemed all right until you bit into the middle and there was just nothing.’  – Indigo Donut

This quotation really spoke to me and completely sums up why I enjoy Patrice Lawrence’s writing. I could absolutely imagine how Indigo felt about herself.

‘Though when she was with Bailey last night, it was like there’d be something else inside her, something sweet and good. Not filling the space all the way up, but enough. You think there’s nothing there and then the first splodge of jam hits your tongue. You just want to smile.’- Indigo Donut

❤ I just adore Patrice’s writing. In just a few sentences, she totally captured Indigo’s feelings and my heart. I can’t help but rave about this book. It totally exceeded my expectations. More please!

Would I recommend it?:
Without a doubt!

‘Donut’ miss this book!

ARC August Sign Up Post

I have decided to join in with ARC August (hosted by Read, Sleep, Repeat) to keep up to date with those pesky ARCS. Don’t get me wrong, I love having ARCS but sometimes I’m not so good at keeping up with them. I’m getting better though and challenges like these often help out.

Here are the rules:

• Any Advanced Reading Copy counts as part of this reading challenge; your backlist books count
• No blog necessary to participate, but you’ll need to include some form of social media as part of your sign up
• Use the #ARCAugust on social media to check-in

e-ARCS I aim to read

(Book images go to Goodreads!)

  

‘Real book’ ARCS I aim to read

 

I’m happy to say that only one of these ARCS are backlist ARCS which is Indigo Donut. The rest of them are either August or October ARCS. I’m hoping that getting these books read will keep me on track! I’m trying so hard not to request as many ARCS as I used to!

Are you joining in with ARC August? Please feel free to link me to your sign up posts so I can cheer you on!

Ten Underrated Books That I’ve Read In The Past Year Or So

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. For this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, it’s all about underrated or hidden gems that we’ve read within the last year or so.

Some of these have got some good ratings on Goodreads but I don’t feel I see them around enough for how good they are!

For the Goodreads page, please click on the book image!

A Boy Made Of Blocks- Keith Stuart

I don’t know if I’ll ever stop promoting this book wherever I can. I thought it was an absolutely beautiful read which explores the relationship between a father and his child who has autism. It’s much more than just about relationships. It’s a stunning read and I can’t recommend it highly enough!

Strange Star- Emma Carroll

Emma Carroll is another great writer who I wish more people read! 🙂 This is because I think her writing is so impressive. I always feel like I’m inside the story. This story is inspired by the creation of Frankenstein!

Dead Romantic- C.J. Skuse

Such a unique story. It’s about a girl who wants to create her perfect boyfriend from dead parts of others…

Crush- Eve Ainsworth

This book is incredibly raw. It centres around an abusive teenage relationship!

Orangeboy- Patrice Lawrence

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book!

V is for Violet- Alison Rattle

Alison Rattle’s books are always underrated in my opinion.

The Next Together- Lauren James

I know that this book has received mixed reviews, but I really hope people aren’t put off by it!

The Haunting- Alex Bell

Everyone’s all about the author’s book Frozen Charlotte which is awesome, but I prefer The Haunting.

Between The Notes- Sharon Huss Roat

I really enjoyed this contemporary YA read.

Born Weird- Andrew Kaufman

A very unusual, unique read!

What are your underrated or hidden gems that you’ve read recently? Feel free to leave a link to your Top Ten post and I’ll stop by!

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!

Annual End Of Year Survey- 2016 Edition!

I absolutely love taking part in Jamie’s End Of Year Book Survey. It can be a little time consuming, but I absolutely love thinking about my reading in the year.

 

 

Number Of Books You Read:  So far…134
Number of Re-Reads:  2 or 3!
Genre You Read The Most From: Young Adult

 

1. Best Book You Read In 2016?

Oh my goodness, that’s hard. I think it would have to be Highly Illogical Behaviour, One or Paper Butterflies. I couldn’t pick one.

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

I thought I was going to love Ballet Shoes more than I did.

 3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?  

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did.

 4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

I still push Me Before You wherever possible. I can’t help myself.

 5. Best series you started in 2016? Best Sequel of 2016? Best Series Ender of 2016?

Ooh. I’ll go for series. This is a tough one because I have two I have really enjoyed. I’ll pick two! The Spinster Club by Holly Bourne and Bad Girls Don’t Die by Katie Alender.

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2016?

Holly Bourne

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

Paper Butterflies by Lisa Heathfield

9. Book You Read In 2016 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Hmm… I’m not a big re-reader but I’ll say Harry Potter. I read the first book this year and it’s made me want to continue with the series.

10. Favourite cover of a book you read in 2016?

11. Most memorable character of 2016?

Jeannette from The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2016?

The Last Act Of Love– Cathy Rentzenbrink

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2016?

A Boy Made Of Blocks– Keith Stuart

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2016 to finally read? 

One by Sarah Crossan. I know it only came out in 2015, but still… I should have read it then!

 15. Favourite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2016?

“He was afraid of the world, afraid it would find a way to swallow him up. But, maybe everyone was sometimes.”   -John Corey Whaley- Highly Illogical Behaviour.

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2016?

Longest- Carry On– Rainbow Rowell- 518 pages

Shortest- To Dance– Siena Cherson Siegel- 64 pages

 17. Book That Shocked You The Most

Crush by Eve Ainsworth

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

Celeste and Justin- Flat-Out Celeste by Jessica Park

19. Favourite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Sam and Alex- A Boy Made Of Blocks by Keith Stuart

20. Favourite Book You Read in 2016 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Flawed by Cecelia Ahern

21. Best Book You Read In 2016 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

One by Sarah Crossan

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2016?

Hmmm… this is a tricky one. I’m not one for fictional crushes. Justin from Flat-Out Celeste was adorable, I guess!

23. Best 2016 debut you read?

Underwater by Marisa Reichardt

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

The Love That Split The World– Emily Henry

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

On The Other Side by Carrie Hope Fletcher

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2016?

The Last Act of Love by Cathy Rentzinbrink

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Orangeboy by Patrice Lawrence

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2016?

The Rest Of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Mother, Mother by Koren Zailckas

1. New favourite book blog you discovered in 2016?

I am so bad at remembering how long I’ve been enjoying blogs, so I’ll pick a blog that I’ve enjoyed in 2016. That has to be Megan at Love, Literature, Art and Reason.

2. Favourite review that you wrote in 2016?

I never like reading my own reviews as I always find flaws with them! I did enjoy writing A Boy Made Of Blocks.

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?

I haven’t had very many this year. Definitely need to get my thinking cap on for 2017.

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

The Transatlantic Book Project with some other wonderful bloggers.

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2016?

Winning an award at the UKYA blogging awards. A surprise to me that’s for sure as I didn’t ever anticipate winning!

6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

Balancing blogging and reading with a full time hectic job!

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

Swimming To The Moon– Jane Elson

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

Highly Illogical Behaviour– John Corey Whaley

9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

I really love the Reading Year subscription from Mr B’s Emporium in Bath that my sister and my mum got for my birthday.

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

At this point not all of them, but by the end of the year I anticipate that I would have made my 140 book challenge and completed the series that I wanted to! I have completed the British Book Challenge that challenges its readers to read 12 books by British Authors. I’ve nailed that one with 64 read so far!

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2016 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2017?

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2017 (non-debut)?

Perfect by Cecelia Ahern

3. 2017 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2017?

I’m so bad at keeping up with series so I’ll mention one I’m anticipating to finish… What’s A Girl To Do? by Holly Bourne.

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2017?

Continue to add different features to keep my blog fresh!

6. A 2017 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

I’m just starting my 2017 ARCS so can’t comment on that yet. I have high hopes for The Edge Of Everything by Jeff Giles though!

Top Ten Books I Enjoyed That Have Under 2000 Ratings On Goodreads

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the wonderful The Broke and The Bookish. This week’s list are my Top Ten books I have enjoyed that have under 2000 ratings on Goodreads. The way you do this is go to Goodreads, your read list, at the top of your read list where it says settings you can add a column for # of ratings, then you can sort by that. If you aren’t a Goodreads user you can look up books you think are underrated and see what their # of reviews is on Goodreads.

Click on the book image to get to Goodreads! (These books are from lowest-highest of my under 2000 ratings list)

Orangeboy- Patrice Lawrence

This book came out last month and I wish I saw it around more in the blogosphere!

V is for Violet- Alison Rattle

I love Alison Rattle’s writing so much and this book is so wonderful. It’s a gripping mystery/thriller/period drama. I love it.

The Haunting- Alex Bell

I love Alex’s books and this one really creeped me out!

The Madness- Alison Rattle

Another one from the very underrated Alison Rattle. Her books make you feel like you’re inside the story, feeling and experiencing the action. I highly recommend her books.

The Girl Who Walked On Air- Emma Carroll

Emma Carroll is a fantastic writer for middle grade fiction. I love her books! I can easily see me using them in the classroom in the future!

Boy In The Tower- Polly H0-Yen

This book was a really interesting, unique read. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did.

Radio Silence- Alice Oseman

This book has great ratings on Goodreads, but not nearly enough in my opinion. It’s such a gripping read, which I much preferred to Alice’s debut!

Lighter Than My Shadow- Katie Green

I absolutely loved this memoir of Katie’s struggle with an eating disorder. It’s in the form of a graphic novel and I have to say, it completely blew me away.

Of Scars and Stardust- Andrea Hannah

I do love this book and wish that more people had read it. I still think of it! It was different and gripping.

A Kiss In The Dark- Cat Clarke

I thought this was one of Cat Clarke’s best books. I found it to be utterly gripping and a real page turner.

Which books made it to your list this week? Feel free to leave a link and I’ll stop by later! 🙂