The Mardi Gras Book Tag

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Happy Wednesday Bibliofriends!

We are halfway through the week already! Whilst I was planning out blog posts for this month, I came across an entertaining book tag over at Randomly Bookish Gina’s channel on YouTube linking to Mardi Gras. Being from the UK, our Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day) takes place on the same day as Mardi Gras, however it is quite a different type of celebration so this was a brilliant opportunity for me to learn about other worldwide traditions.

Designated Driver: What re-read book is reliable to get you out of a reading slump?

To get me out of a reading slump, I have to effectively pick up one of my ‘God-Tier’ books which I go on and on about to anyone that will listen. Think Sarah J Maas, Addie La Rue, Harry Potter, the Inheritance Games, Emily Henry… anything from that list will banish my reading slump to hell!

The Drunk Best Friend: Which character(s) would you like to grab a drink with, or simply hangout with for a night on the town?

Who am I partying with…? Princess Samantha from American Royals! I’m positive there will be plenty of drama and drunken antics!

Fat Tuesday: Which book on your TBR can you not wait to devour?

Crescent City 3 is sitting on my bookshelf as we speak and is sending my little winks and pouty faces! I also bought a 10th anniversary edition of The Bone Season which I managed to get signed and dedicated by Samantha Shannon at a literature event last year so that would also qualify as a good pick too.

Lent: Which genre would you give up reading for 40 days?

I could probably give up Romance or Science Fiction easily for 40 days. I don’t think I could live without a little mystery or fantasy in my life for that long though!

Masquerade Masks: Which book do you mask that you have read? (Ex: a book you’re embarrassed about, a book or author you’re embarrassed by having not read yet, a guilty pleasure book, something you hide behind etc.)

I’m embarrassed to have read the entire Fifty Shades of Grey series – I mean, it’s not even really my genre. I just got swept away on the hype train. I also have some very promiscuous covers on my iBooks bookshelf, but to be honest I don’t think they’ll ever get read!

The Annual Mardi Gras Party/Parade: What classic could you read time and time again?

Taking ‘classic’ in the classical literature sense, I would pick Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy. The rural landscapes are exceptionally well written and the very provincial love triangle is so at contrast with the time period. There’s a brilliant range of characters and it has a balance between tragedy and redemption too.

New Orleans: Which fictional place would you like to party?

The Green Dragon Inn of Bywater in The Shire, mixed with some of Gandalf’s epic fireworks of course!

Jazz Music: What book just makes you want to dance? (Could be when you received it or as you read it)

Geekerella by Ashley Poston makes me want to go to a massive Comic Con and dance the night away at the after-party.

The Colors of Mardi Gras:

Purple represents Justice: Which character do you feel got justice at the end of the book or series? Holland from the Darker Shades of Power series by V.E. Schwab. He’s such a morally grey character but I feel his ending was somewhat deserving.
Green represents Faith: Which character would you put your complete faith in, no matter the situation?
Aelin Ashryver Galathynius from Throne of Glass – every damn time!
Gold represents Power: Which book gave you a very powerful emotion after reading it?
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill – the evolution of the characters, the attitudes to women. It was pretty heartwarming.

Show Your Tatas, Get Those Beads!!! Which character would you throw beads to?

I genuinely had to look this up to work out in what context the beads were being thrown in! Now that I know that, I would be throwing beads to Jacks, the Prince of Hearts from Stephanie Garber’s Once Upon a Broken Heart series. I can only imagine the initial scowl he’d have from having something thrown at him. Then I can imagine him smiling sardonically, joining in and throwing beads right back!

BONUS: Southern Hospitality: Give an example of a time when you received beyond exceptional service in a bookstore!

I was away in London for the weekend when I finished reading American Royals #1. I immediately had to have the next book in the series and one of the only bookshops that had it in stock was Waterstones on Strand! When I took it to the till, the cashier’s face lit up when she saw it and we both had a little fangirling moment over the series! It was pretty sweet!

That’s a wrap! This tag was so much fun that it makes me wish we had a little more carnival atmosphere in the UK for our own Shrove Tuesday celebrations! Do you celebrate Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Day or Mardi Gras? Do you have different traditions for your own celebrations in the run up to Easter? If you fancy like continuing the tag and creating your own prompt answers, consider yourselves tagged!! As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

#Top Ten Tuesday – Bookish Superpowers I Wish I Had

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Hey Bibliofriends,

Happy Tuesday! How is your week going so far? This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is Top Ten Bookish Superpowers I Wish I Had. This suggestion was by Cathy @WhatCathyReadNext and it is brilliant! I must say, I had so much fun putting this post together and thinking of lots of different bookish powers. Once I’d thought of a few, others just kept popping into my head and it was eventually quite tricky to narrow it down to just 10! I wish some of these powers existed in real life!! If you don’t already know, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly, list-themed book prompt hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

Word Apparition

So I kind of had a thought, and then coined it ‘word apparition‘… hear me out! You know when you’re listening to an audiobook and all of a sudden the narrator will read a character name or a place in the world and you have no idea how it would be spelled or what it would look like on a page? Well with the bookish superpower ‘word apparition’, the word that you’re puzzled over would magically appear in front of your eyes, like a little purple cloud so that you’d know what it actually looks like on the page. This would be really helpful to me currently as I am listening to Rin Chupeco’s The Bone Witch and I can guarantee that my ingrained English spelling rules would be butchering some of the amazing place and character names in Chupeco’s world! 🙈

Knowledge Absorption

I read The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean last year and although it’s not particularly a unique concept, the idea to absorb knowledge by eating a book is really appealing to me. To start with, I’d be ingesting some of my cookbooks so I could remember my favourite recipes by heart. Also, imagine how much of an asset you would be on a pub quiz team if you could pretty much ingest all of the knowledge and facts that you want!!

Floating / Weightless Physical Books

Sometimes I really wish that the book I’m reading could just float around in the air in front of me so that I could read and have both hands free to be doing a job or task at the same time. Also, if my book is weightless and floating, my nose won’t be so bruised from constantly dropping books on my face when I’m falling to sleep reading.

Automatic e-book and audiobook editions

I really wish that when you buy a book from the bookshop, there’s a code inside so that you could download it as an e-book and an audio edition as well, rather than having to pay for all three format separately – that way I have all the access I need to my current read whatever I’m doing and wherever I am!

Astral Projection Reading Self

One of me could go to work, socialise, do adulting things… the astral projection part of me can stay at home reading! All. Day. Long! 💜

The Honey I Shrunk The Kids Ray Gun

Too many books and not enough shelf space…? With the shrink ray gun from Honey I Shrunk The Kids, bookish storage problems be solved! I’d shrink down my entire book collection into a cute range of miniatures for my shelves, and then blow them back up to normal size when I wanted to read them.

A Faster Reading Speed

Sometimes, I really wish I could read quicker, but without losing the enjoyment and understanding of the book. I can skim when I need to, but sometimes I don’t feel like I’ve really retained what I’ve actually read and other times, I’m so engrossed and loving my book that I want to savour every word.

Mary Poppins’ Carpet Bag OR Hermione’s weightless extension charm

One of my beloved English teachers always told me to carry a book with you. Therefore, I am always guilty of carrying a physical book around with me everywhere I go, regardless of its size (Crescent City was a mission to haul around!). Imagine all the books you could take away on holiday or carry around with you if you had Mary Poppins’ Carpet Bag or that amazing beaded bag Hermione has in the Deathly Hallows with the weightless extension charm on it – I would never have a capacity or weightlifting problem ever again!

A Portal to my own never-ending library

I was totally thinking of the Library in Beauty and Beast when I was writing this. Unfortunately, I don’t live in a magical castle with said library, however if I had a portal to take me to my own never-ending library which didn’t actually occupy any physical square footage in my house, that would make my heart sing with joy!

The Ability to Read Every Book Ever Written

I had this idea when I was younger (and obviously, so incredibly naive!), that I could read every book that had ever been published since time began! And yes, whilst some of those books may be incredibly boring and totally mundane – I imagine that there will be some absolute masterpieces along the way which I never would have discovered otherwise! Also, imagine the bragging rights if you’d read every book that ever existed! 😂

That’s it! My Top Ten Bookish Superpowers That I Wish I Had. Would you want any of these skills? What bookish superpowers would make it onto your own list? Feel free to leave your own Top Ten Tuesday posts below so I can visit. As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

Biblioshelf Musings – A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin

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Hey Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings are about A Storm of Swords (Game of Thrones #3) by George R.R. Martin.

Book: A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 3)
Genre: Fantasy
Publication Date: First published August 2000 (Audiobook copyrighted 2011)
Publisher: Harper Collins / Audible
Pages: 1177
Audiobook Duration: 47hrs 32mins
Audiobook Narrator: Roy Dotrice
Rating: 📚📚📚📚

I first began reading the Game of Thrones series when the buzz about the upcoming TV adaptation was becoming global. I had found A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings as paperbacks in a second hand book store and started reading them pretty much immediately. The first book was fairly easy to get through, the second one a little less so. Then by the time I had started reading A Storm of Swords Part One (again as a paperback), I found myself struggling a little with some particular character-based chapters (not mentioning any names, Bran…!). I did something I don’t usually do, and DNF’d the book.

At some point during my reading mission, I watched the first couple of series when they came out on TV and got hooked by the characters. Needless to say, without a continuously rolling Sky subscription, I eventually abandoned the TV series as well. Fast forward to end of 2023 and I had still neither finished the TV show or the book series and was getting a little curious as to how the whole saga had progressed. I was also quite pleased that I’d managed to avoid all spoilers as to who finally wins the Iron Throne. Having a tiny stash of Audible credits to spare, I eventually downloaded the A Storm of Swords audiobook and it has definitely reignited my love for this series again!

🚨🚨🚨 Normally, I try not to write spoilers into my reviews and musings, however with the content of this book, I’m not going to be able to stop myself from discussing key events – take this as your spoiler warning if you’re still making your way through the series or you’re yet to reach it! If you haven’t got to it yet, but you love your fantasies on the more ‘epic’ side, you should totally check this series out. Complex world-building, mixed with equally complex characters make for a gripping peregrination through the world of the Seven Kingdoms!

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as violently as ever, as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey, of House Lannister, sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the land of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, the victim of the jealous sorceress who holds him in her evil thrall. But young Robb, of House Stark, still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Robb plots against his despised Lannister enemies, even as they hold his sister hostage at King’s Landing, the seat of the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world. . . .

But as opposing forces maneuver for the final titanic showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost line of civilization. In their vanguard is a horde of mythical Others–a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords. . . .

My Musings

First and foremost, I think I need to address the issue of audiobook narration by Roy Dotrice. If you read some of the Audible reviews, he comes across as quite a marmite narrator – people either love his style of they hate it. Personally, I absolutely loved Roy’s voice and felt like the intonation and voiceovers he used matched the rural, rugged image I have of Westeros in my head. At times, he comes across as gruff, sometimes incredibly Welsh; other times, he puts on a lighter more feminine lilt to reflect Sansa’s or other ladies’ characters.

The power of Roy’s voice is really the main driver as to why I think I fell in love with this series again. He put entertainment back into character arcs which had dried up a little bit in my head. According to Wikipedia, he holds the Guinness World Record for the most character voices by an individual for an audiobook – a pretty remarkable achievement. His background in Shakespeare and the theatre can be heard through the clarity of these different voices and the expression with which he reads. Obviously, his style will not suit every listener which is where audio samplers are brilliant at helping you know what you’re letting yourself in for.

Now onto the book itself… My mind was blown all over the place throughout this almost two day audiobook journey. Here are some of my favourite parts from the book!

Jon Snow – I was already aware that Jon and Ygritte were a bit of an item from the TV show and that eventually Jon turned his back on her in order to get back to The Wall. I found the descriptions of the fights along The Wall itself to be filled with excellent amounts of tension and an eye for detail. From the battle strategies and details of weapon supplies, especially the contrasts from battling in the dark at different altitudes, these scenes provided an adequate break from the more political/courtly style conversations happening in King’s Landing. I found the part where Jon becomes elected as Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch to be quite poignant and moving. Dotrice’s narration helped to emphasise that this was a major moment in this character’s development to set him up as a key player within the world of Westeros.

The Red Wedding – I felt like Robb Stark’s journey was starting to stagnate and he is one of the characters I was struggling with in the first read around of this book. I mean, yes he’s the King in the North and yes he is amassing a whole host of troops to move towards the Iron Throne, but marrying a bit of a randomner called Jeyne … really? That is where his decision-making went completely downhill! I’m not adverse to a bit of blood and gore, but I have to say that what happened at the Red Wedding was brutal yet brilliant. I feel so sorry for poor Grey Wind, but my mind was reeling that we had essentially lost two main characters in Robb and Catelyn. Martin is forever proving that he isn’t afraid to hold his punches and no character is at all safe! I adored Catelyn’s character so much, although she married into a household with a sigil of the direwolf, Catelyn protected her flock like an absolute lioness. I loved her ferocity, shrewdness and common-sense approach to the power-plays evolving around her.

Tyrion Lannister – I cannot read his parts without thinking of the awesomeness that is Peter Dinklage. He was so made for this role! I’m glad we got some extra depth to his character in this book. I love the fact that he admits he isn’t a hero, but also tries so hard to show everyone that he isn’t a villain either. He doesn’t necessarily treat Sansa kindly, but at least he shows her a little bit of respect and honesty in a world filled with liars and schemers. Major, major kudos points for the showdown with Tywin at the end of the book. I couldn’t help myself but to laugh out loud – Tywin only got the shit that he deserved! 😂

Joffrey’s Wedding – the audiobook definitely brought this particular segment to life with the song elements! I don’t usually have a smile on my face when a character dies (despite what I just said about Tywin above!), but then again some characters don’t really deserve death in the way that Joffrey did – it was giving me major ‘ding, dong the witch is dead’ vibes! And go Olenna Tyrell, having the guts to help organise what countless characters had dreamed about!

Arya and Sandor Clegane – I love this pairing! And not in some weird -ship way (eew!). Arya is such an aggressive little character, she needs someone strong like Clegane to show her the ropes and simmer down that hot temperament of hers. I was mentally screaming in my head when they parted ways, I hope their paths cross again in the future of the series!

Daenerys – For me, Dany’s storyline here was a little bit of character filler before she moves into action again. This is the part of her character arc where she is building bonds, working out who she can trust and figuring out what she really wants from being a Queen. Is that the Iron Throne and conquering the Seven Kingdoms? Is it ruling in one place kingdom filled with loyal followers where everyone can live in freedom and peace? Who will be at her side when she achieves this? Jorah… seriously, what is his game? Obviously, I’m predicting that Daenerys is going to be a major power player when this series comes to a head – I can’t wait to see where that journey takes her – especially as she’s packing in that whole Mother of Dragons vibe!

Return of the dead – OK, I totally did not see that major ending plot twist coming!! I clearly haven’t caught up to this part of the TV show and to be honest, I’m glad! Finding out that Catelyn Stark is actually ALIVE, my eyes were popping out of my head! Imagine the PTSD she must be going through after what she’s witnessed – I mean, whoa! This also blows another part of the storyline wide open again, because she must have been brought back for a reason right?! I can’t wait to find out what that is!

All in all, listening to this audiobook has been the most excited I have been about this series in a long time and I’m so glad I took the plunge! Once I’m done with my current audio read, you can damn well bet that A Feast for Crows will be queued up right away!

Have you read or watched the Game of Thrones series? Have you got any tips for getting through books 4 and 5? Who are your favourite characters? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

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The Pancake Book Tag!

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Happy FriYAY Bibliofriends!

The weekend is almost upon us. Have you got any exciting plans to look forward to? With it being Pancake Day earlier this week, I thought it was a great opportunity to do this fun Pancake Book Tag created by Becky on Blogs of a Bookaholic. Images are Becky’s original graphics.

I recently finished the novella ‘We Shall Sing a Song into the Deep’ by Andrew Kelly-Stewart. There were some really beautiful segments of this book describing the whale song and relationships between the characters. The plot itself is fairly dystopian – think metal submarine prison, but Remy’s narration was so delicate in comparison to combat this harshness. The choral incantations and songs also gave a beautiful juxtaposition to the masculine attitudes of the characters.

Rather than thinking of the acerbic side of a sharp character, I picked a character that offers a ‘smart cookie’ take on the sharp wit dynamic. This has to go to Art3mis from Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. She’s often one step ahead of Parzival in almost every way and offers an encyclopaedia of knowledge to the quest. Without her, there would be no way that the ending of this book would have come off!

Without fail, a book I can turn to at any time which can comfort my deepest of woes is The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. I go on about this book so, so much, but it really is like my bookish soul-mate – it’s perfection in every last syllable and I love it and its characters very much.

House of Sky and Breath is one of those books that you almost need a defibrillator to get yourself through. There’s constant danger lurking at every corner – and then just when you think we’re about to wrap up the last 900 pages, Sarah J Maas throws the MOTHER of all curveballs in there and decides just to end the book. I remember sitting on my bed after having finished this and actually questioning whether I had just read the ending correctly. Then in all my shock, I had to immediately phone a friend only to realise that I didn’t actually have any words to describe the ending. All that came out of my mouth was mono-syllabic ‘what-how-why?’ sounds! Seriously hanging after that one!

Reading Fourth Wing was pure indulgent feels all the way – there was chemistry, tension, dragons, magic wielding, secrets, friendship dynamics, dragons, betrayal, defiance, politics, loyalty, a mini-heist and did I mention the dragons?? I’ve read varying reviews on Fourth Wing’s quality as a ‘fantasy novel’ and what it brought to the genre which I can totally understand and justify, however at the time this book came into my life – it gave me everything I was wanting and needing in that current read!

There were so many characters I could have chosen for this prompt. Namely, Severus Snape and even Sadie Green from Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. However, the ultimate character that deserves this accolade just has to be Nesta Archeron! She starts off as some acerbic, waspish individual with a chip on her shoulder that’s the same size as the iceberg that sank the Titanic. Yet in spite of all that, I found her character arc heart-wrenchingly beautiful. The journey she goes on in A Court of Silver Flames is wide ranging and filled with devastating lows and dramatic highs of healing.

This was a difficult prompt for me as I always tend to pick the same book (I’m looking at you Inheritance Games…). Instead, I went for a crime/mystery series which I don’t think gets enough love and that is The Her Majesty the Queen Investigates series by S.J. Bennett. These are cozy mysteries where Queen Elizabeth and her sidekick Rozie solve murders that take place around the Royal Palaces. The thing I particularly love about these stories is the way S.J. Bennett encapsulates her late Majesty’s voice. I can literally hear dear old Lizzie saying her lines in my head. I’ve never correctly guessed the culprit in one of these yet! They’re so much fun!

Oh boy did I struggle trying to work out who to include as this prompt?! My first thoughts were Jude and Cardan from Holly Black’s Elfhame series – but then I questioned myself – are they the perfect match??? I’m not so sure… Then, without spoiling it for anyone, I considered Manon from Throne of Glass and her subsequent other half but I always felt like I was rooting for them from the outset! So, I finally settled on Hades and Persephone from the Lore Olympus series. They aren’t meant to be destined for each other, but there’s something about them that just fits!

Apollo Arcadian from the Once Upon a Broken Heart series by Stephanie Garber actually had me crinkling my nose up in disgust when reading this trilogy. There wasn’t any single part where I actually liked him as a character.

The Illuminae Files sum up this prompt to perfection. It has a whole host of diverse characters, some human… some less so! There are also some brilliant plot-twists, artistic illustrations, world-building, threat, peril, humour, symbology – it really offers the reader a little bit of everything!

That’s a wrap on The Pancake Book Tag. I hope you’ve had chance to tuck into some pancakes this week. What did you think of my picks? Did they match your expectations or are there some you think are way off?! If you feel like having a go yourself, consider yourselves tagged! As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

Biblioshelf Musings – ASAP by Axie Oh

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Hey Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings are about ASAP by Axie Oh. I was thrilled to win and ARC copy of this from Harper360 last year 💜 – and then even more thrilled when I discovered that it was a companion novel to XOXO! Upon being introduced to Axie Oh’s first K-Pop drama, I was incredibly taken with the fictitious world of this boyband. I’m so pleased that there was enough traction to develop the world of XOXO even further with ASAP which celebrates its UK publication release today! Read on to find out more in my spoiler-free review!

Book: ASAP by Axie Oh
Genre: Teens and YA
Publication Date: UK release – 15th February 2024
Publisher: Harper Teen / Harper360
Pages: 352
Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

New York Times bestselling author Axie Oh’s ASAP is the much anticipated companion novel to beloved romance XOXO, following fan favorites Sori, the wealthy daughter of a K-pop company owner, and Nathaniel, her K-pop star ex-boyfriend, in a swoon-worthy second chance love story.

Sori has worked her whole life to become a K-pop idol, until she realizes she doesn’t want a life forever in the spotlight. But that’s not actually up to Sori—she’s caught between her exacting mother’s entertainment company and her father’s presidential aspirations. And as the pressure to keep her flawless public image grows, the last person she should be thinking about is her ex-boyfriend.

Nathaniel is off limits—she knows this. A member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world and forbidden from dating, he isn’t any more of an option now than he was two years ago. Still, she can’t forget that their whirlwind romance was the last time she remembers being really happy. Or that his family welcomed her into their home when she needed it most. . . .

So when Nathaniel finds himself rocked by scandal, Sori offers him a hideaway with her. And back in close quarters, it’s hard to deny their old feelings. But when Sori gets an opportunity to break free from her parent’s expectations, she will have to decide: Is her future worth sacrificing for a second chance at love?

My Musings

ASAP takes place after the events of XOXO and returns us to the world of one of South Korea’s hottest boybands. Rather than offering up a direct sequel and continuing the focus on Jenny and Jaewoo, Axie Oh cleverly gives us a fresh narrative with the perspective of Sori. This was a brilliant curveball in that it opens up more of the XOXO world, rather than just churning out a sequel to an already well-rounded and satisfying conclusion from the previous novel. I really loved this direction change as we still get to explore what happened to this K-Pop band after XOXO ended, but we also got a brand new main character to offer fresh depth to this showbiz world.

Sori has immensely strong ideals. She cares about her family and wishes to uphold the traditional Korean values she is expected to exude. On the other hand, she also wants to stay true to herself and establish her own identity, but in doing so runs the risk of disappointing those around her. Trained her whole life for stardom as a K-Pop Idol, when the time finally arrives for Sori to step into the spotlight, she begins to doubt that this is her true career path and the life that she is destined for. When past-love Nathaniel of worldwide XOXO fame comes back into her life, Sori finds herself completely lost and unsure which path she wishes to venture down the most.

This conflict between familial expectation and personal desire was exceptionally well balanced and written. Axie Oh managed to portray all of Sori’s feelings in the open for the reader to bond and connect with, be it her relationship with Nathaniel, or her future career choices. She comes across as strong yet polite, humble but not weak-spirited, friendly yet not afraid to stand up for herself. This notion of a vulnerable rebel was a refreshing difference from Jenny’s characteristics in XOXO and firmly establishes ASAP as a fully-fledged novel in its own right.

We need to talk about the actual boyband that is XOXO! I’m not one for K-Pop (or boybands actually), but I found something remarkably charming about the dynamics between these boys. Experiencing more of their dramas brought me a happy sense of nostalgia that I had when reading ASAP’s predecessor. I enjoyed hearing the updates about Jaewoo and Jenny, gaining more of Sun’s wisdom and getting to read more of Youngmin’s joyous outlook on life.

The romance element in the book was tastefully done. Nathaniel had an air of brooding mystery about him which kept the angst and tension flowing from page to page. The perception of ‘forbidden love’ was subtle, yet effective. As relationships for K-Pop idols are highly frowned up and almost forcibly discouraged, the sense of forbidden love in ASAP is a refreshing twist against those where the two main love interests may be rivals or enemies. In a world where Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are actively cheering each other on and demonstrating their love to the entire world, the idea that musicians and those in the spotlight must deny themselves of any relationship happiness seems really backwards and archaic. This only ends up making the reader champion Nathaniel and Sori’s relationship even more and I was rooting for them so much by the ending of ASAP.

This book also offers some wonderfully delightful moments in the form of a TV reality show where the characters have to buddy up and find missing tokens; Sori and her penchant for stuffed animals; the awkward, cringey blind date set-ups; numerous references to Korean food (which if you’re anything like me will make your mouth water!) and of course, the return of Korean Karaoke!

All in all ASAP is truly a book that you can lost in, with characters that you will find yourself championing to the core! If you loved the first glimpse into the world of XOXO, then this companion novel should be right up your street!

Why Should I Read This?

As this is a companion novel to XOXO, I would strongly recommend that you read that first to get a true flavour of the world and the characters, however this isn’t entirely necessary as Sori and Nathaniel’s narrative is a story in its own right.

You should try picking up ASAP for:
> a heartwarming, sweet tale of two characters who embrace their second chance at romance
> the semi-escapist, dramatic world that is K-Pop and their idols
> the references to Korean culture which will have you putting Seoul on your travel bucket-list!

Find out more about this book here:

Amazon | Waterstones | Bookshop.org | Goodreads | Harper Collins UK | Author Website

Connect with me here:

Twitter | Goodreads | Book Sloth: @thebiblioshelf |Email: thebiblioshelf@gmail.com

#Top Ten Tuesday – Books That Made Me Swoon

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Hey Bibliofriends,

Happy Tuesday! How is your week going so far? This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is a Love Freebie to celebrate Valentine’s Day so I have decided to compile the Top Ten Books That Made Me Swoon. These are books that have absolutely melted my heart! It could be for the romance element, the divine world that I wish I could visit, the quirks and obscene attention to details that has my eyes popping out of their head… the list is endless – either way, these ten reads captured a very special place in my heart! If you don’t already know, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly, list-themed book prompt hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas

Would it be one of my Top Ten Tuesday lists without one of SJM’s books?! Out of the Maas Multiverse, ACOMAF is the one that hit me in the feels the absolute hardest! The journey Feyre goes through here… if you know, you know! 👀

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Fourth Wing was my second read of 2024. I went into it without any preconceived ideas, however I was impeccably aware of ‘the hype’. I was definitely not ready to love it as much as I did and Iron Flame will almost certainly make its way off my TBR within the next few months!

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

I’ve seen Divine Rivals on so many lists and memes this past month and it rightly deserves its place here – February is the month of love after all, and Divine Rivals was one of my favourite reads of 2023. What I appreciated about this story was the way the romance element felt like it was gradually able to evolve. It wasn’t instalove and it wasn’t overladen with lots of smut and explicit scenes. It was so tenderly done that I really champion Iris and Roman as one of my favourite bookish couples.

The People on Platform 5 by Clare Pooley

Clare Pooley has such a brilliant knack for writing about a group of misfit strangers and bringing them together into a tight-knit friendship group. This novel has such a feel-good and uplifting quality that you can’t help but smile after reading the final pages.

Happy Place by Emily Henry

Emily Henry knows how to write in a way that makes me feel almost every emotion possible within just one story! Love her!

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen

The sheer whimsical cuteness of this read really drew me in. It’s so thrillingly quirky and adorable whilst dealing with undertaking and death…?!

Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

From the vivid descriptions of the Carolina marshlands, to the way I was so captivated by Kya’s vulnerabilities – this book took the concept of a whodunnit to a new, more subtle level.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

The swoonworthiness in this book comes from my absolute adoration of all things easter egg and treasure hunt! If you could post-it note every 80s pop culture reference that Cline writes into this book, you’d have more post-it notes than deaths in a Game of Throne novel…

The Lonely Hearts Travel Club: Destination Thailand by Katy Colins

A total chick-lit guilty pleasure, the thing I loved most about this book was the sheer sense of wanderlust it invoked within me. These literary descriptions of Thailand had me wanting to hop on a plane ASAP!

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Before you start questioning my sanity about why this is on my list about books which make me swoon, let me just confess that sometimes… I really enjoy books which make me have a damn good cry! There’s something so cathartic about it, as if it makes you feel a bit more self-affirming about your own life. Lou and Will’s relationship had me sobbing for hours, days even! A heartbreaking read!

That’s it! My Top Ten books that made me swoon and melted my heart. What are your favourite swoonworthy books? How are you compiling your Love Freebie Top Ten Tuesday list? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

Auto-Buy Authors

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Happy Monday Bibliofriends!

This week is the half term holiday and I am so happy to be able to sink into a little book cocoon for the week and catch up with some reading!

Whilst I was looking through various blogging things on the internet, I came across Jo Lindsell’s website. Jo discusses a range of different topics on her blog from fashion and lifestyle to travel and books. She had a really interesting post about a variety of book blogging topics for the whole of February and ‘auto-buy authors’ was one of the prompts!

I had a fair bit of fun thinking about this! When I first sat down to write my post, I began writing a list of author names in my journal, but the more I sat and pondered over how to compile these together, I started to really consider why I had chosen these particular authors above all of the others I have read.

What makes an author an ‘auto-buy’?

For me to add an author to my auto-buy list, I have to be completely, irrevocably swept away by the world they have created in my mind. I am one of those people that sees images in my head when I’m reading (I only recently learned that some people don’t do this, which is another intriguing topic in its own right). The crafting of a world, especially in SFF can sometimes be one of the most integral parts of investing into a story. The ability to do this well, fills us with hope that an author’s follow-up novels might be just as fleshed out and vividly appealing as their predecessors. If I can picture that world, as clearly as if it were a real-life place, then I can guarantee that will go a long way to making me fall in love with an author’s work and buy more of it.

Writing style is a hugely important factor. As a self-confessed logophile, the ability to balance elaborate and intriguing words in a way that doesn’t distract from the action of the plot is going to be a winner in my eyes. I teach English to 9 year olds and you can tell when they’ve regurgitated half the thesaurus into their writing just to try and make it sound more fancy – especially when half of the words are then out of context!

Appropriate word choices also go a long way in contributing to pace. Sometimes, all we’re in the mood for is fast-paced action which gets the characters from beginning to end in a way that doesn’t involve investing over half of our brain-power to it. Other times, the metaphors, imagery and language are actually what links us to the characters on the page and the emotions they’re going through. A heartbreaking scene can either be intensely heightened or left to fizzle out based on the vocabulary used to describe it.

Other times, all it takes is a series starter whose characters, plot, world-building, pace and narrative voice mix together in a wonderful cocktail of perfection, that we just can’t help ourselves going back for the next book, and the next book, and the next book… hoping they’ll be just as good as that first read. Then the author might branch out with a new series, or even a different genre altogether and we’re still picking up those works in the hope that we get to chase that flawless story which kicked off our passion in the first place.

So without further ado, here are some of my auto-buy authors and a few of the reasons why I’ll blindly follow their writing into the dark.

Carlos Ruiz Zafôn

Despite the fact that we sadly lost Zafôn in 2020, he was one of my first ever auto-buy authors and deserves his spot on this list as I own every single one of his books. My Nan had given me a copy of The Shadow of the Wind for my birthday and I had never heard of it before. Initially, I actually gave up reading it as I found it so hard to get into. However for some random reason, that book found its way back to me again, and when I dived in this time, I just couldn’t put it down! Zafôn’s beautifully lyrical writing style had me spellbound. He was an absolute artist with words and knew how to bend the magical realism genre in such an ethereal way. I’m so glad I gave his writing that second chance!

Sarah J Maas

Maas is the author I had in mind when I mentioned that perfect cocktail of perfection. Each of her books feel like they have imprinted themselves into my brain. Throne of Glass, ACOTAR and Crescent City are some of the most beloved books on my shelves. When my reading habits were cast slightly adrift after the ending of Harry Potter, these series gave me everything I was pining after and dragged me out of my mega reading slump. They gave me back my passion for reading and created this weird kind of soul-bond with their characters and worlds. Apart from the increasingly graphic smut scenes (ahem…), there is nowhere S J Maas can take her books that I wouldn’t follow. She could probably write a cookbook and I’d still have to buy it!

V.E. Schwab

Addie La Rue is emphatically one of my GOAT characters. She introduced me to the universe of Schwab’s writing and I haven’t looked back since. The thing I love about Schwab is that she is very upfront in telling her readers that her books have completely different vibes. The things I loved in Addie La Rue will not be the same things that I loved in the Shades of Magic trilogy or in Gallant. Schwab manages to create such multi-faceted characters and worlds which constantly surprise and intrigue me. It’s for this reason that she is on my auto-buy list and I’m gradually making my way through her catalogue.

Emily Henry

Romance isn’t my usual genre at all – however, Emily Henry does such a brilliant job at making you fall in love with her characters. So much so, that you want to put yourself in the book to try and ascertain that character their happy ending. To me, Emily’s books are the perfect balance of comedy, tragedy and those heartwarming feel-good moments. Her characters are usually book-lovers, or are written in a way which mixes their inner complexities with a relatable persona. Her author’s voice feels way beyond just generic chick-lit that I appreciate every single chapter, and they always leave me wanting just that little bit more!

Notable mentions…

I wanted to include some other authors who I’m ~95% likely to buy their new books, but it might be for a particular series or because I’m still making my way through the rest of their works.

  • Leigh Bardugo – I’m yet to read the Hell Bent series, but I already have The Familiar on pre-order because it sounds right up my street! I enjoyed the Six of Crows duology way more than the Shadow and Bone series. The ending of Crooked Kingdom still breaks my heart and I would adamantly campaign for justice for one particular character!
  • Ernest Cline – Ready Player One and Ready Player Two are probably in my Top Ten Books of All Time! I’m hoping to read Armada at some point this year but if it’s just as good as RP1 then I can see myself automatically buying whatever Ernest Cline writes next! Fingers crossed there’s something soon!
  • Jennifer Lynn Barnes – any of Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ books in the Inheritance Games series is on my auto-buy list. I’m not too sure that her Debutantes or the Raised by Wolves series will be appealing to me but the Naturals series may also be worth me taking a punt on.
  • J.K. Rowling / Robert Galbraith – any new Cormoran Strike novel is always in my shopping basket, although I usually wait until it comes out as a paperback. I’m too invested in this crime series to stop now!
  • Stephanie Garber – I feel like I buy Stephanie Garber’s books for the hype surrounding them – I don’t want to get FOMO when nearly my entire bookish feed is filled with them! I initially got both Caraval and Once Upon a Broken Heart as part of my Fairyloot subscriptions and bought the sequels just to keep reading on. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy her books and the whimsical characters she creates, but I’m not sure I would have bought them as an ‘auto-buy’ if I hadn’t received them through book boxes first.

That’s pretty much the core of my auto-buy authors! Which writers would make it onto your list and why? Let me know in the comments, I’m intrigued to see what you come up with!

T xx

The Lunar New Year Book Tag

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Happy Lunar New Year Bibliofriends,

Whilst I was trawling the internet for a new Book Tag to sink my teeth into – this fantastic Lunar New Year Book Tag popped up! This tag was originally created way back in 2017 by Tiff @ Mostly YA Lit and Josh @ Thoughts and Afterthoughts. Both of their blogs seem to have been dormant for some time so I’m not terribly sure if there’s an updated version of this somewhere in the ether, however I’m using the original 2017 prompts and graphics from Tiff’s post.

Back in 2017, we were celebrating the Year of the Rooster which had the prompt of ‘Most Anticipated 2017’ release; obviously in 2024, we’re celebrating the year of the Dragon, but I decided not to swap any of the prompts around as they seemed to fit so well with the personalities of the animals. Therefore, the Rooster prompt will read as most anticipated read of 2024.

You may have already heard me rabbit on about this book before, so it should come as no surprise that my Royalty book prompt is the American Royals series by Katharine McGee! I love the drama, it’s like a bookish reality show!

No pun intended, but The Once and Future Witches had me absolutely spellbound from the very first page. There was something so magnetic about the spooky atmosphere that Alix E. Harrow created, that I just couldn’t help but be drawn into the world of James Juniper, Agnes Amaranth, and Beatrice Belladonna.

My own Zodiac animal, the snake! Hand on my heart swear, that when I was choosing the book for this prompt, I didn’t intentionally match up The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes with the snake, purely for all of the snakenesssss… I genuinely saw this cover on my Goodreads list and thought, yes – this book is filled with manipulating characters from every corner! Is there even a character in here who doesn’t manipulate someone at some point?!

I am an absolute sucker for an eye-catching cover! As you can see, animals tend to be a running theme on these selections, however anything that is pattern-based, popping with colour and with a minutiae of intricate detailing is a winner with me!

Xander Hawthorne from The Inheritance Games is winning this prompt for me. He can always be relied upon to sneak up on a character, just at the precise moment to call them out or offer some witty one-liners and backchat.

This is my edited prompt to read ‘Most Anticipated 2024 Release’. With Crescent City 3 – House of Shadow and Flame already out in the world, it feels a little like cheating to mention that… Another read that I am desperate to get my hands on this year is The Grandest Game which is the fifth instalment in The Inheritance Games series! Out in August 2024! You can read my review for the previous book in the series The Brothers Hawthorne here.

The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue. Always. This book occupies a really special place in my bookish heart. Addie’s character captivated me in a way like no other and the bittersweet elements of the plot keep me coming back to this read over and over and over again.

When I first read Midnight in Everwood, I was astounded at the level of detail M.A. Kuzniar had put into researching her main character Marietta Stelle. In this Nutcracker retelling, the author not only created an in-depth world filled with all of the fantastical elements of this wonderful, well-loved ballet, but she also took a deeper look into the actual ballet dancers who shaped the role and used this to inspire her main character. It’s a fantastic piece of craftsmanship which I definitely feel needs a little more love. You can read my review for it here.

Erm… my book subscriptions themselves! Does that count?! I thought it wasn’t too bad to start with as I only get Illumicrate and the Fairyloot YA and Adult Combo each month, but then I started having to get the matching sequel editions to match… then came the gorgeous collector editions of books I already owned… it’s definitely a sickness. I’m in desperate need of a bookaholics anonymous society!

I could have gone with a multitude of characters for this. It seems like strong morals and ideals are an unofficial prerequisite for fantasy heroes on a crusade to save the kingdom. However, as my mind wandered, there was one character in particular who was exactly kind-hearted and resolute, even in the face of the darkest dark – step on up Samwise Gamgee! 💜

Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution – whilst I found the academic writing style a little tricky to get my head around, the powerful and poignant messages leaping from every corner of this book had me writing this down as my prompt pick almost immediately. Even R.F. Kuang’s brutally honest author note really put it out there. I wanted to high five for her reiteration that yes, although this book is set in a very real Oxford, the fictional liberties taken with dates and architecture were for the actual storytelling and not intended to be verbatim fact.

I mean, how can I not pick Divine Rivals for this…? For starters, that enchanted typewriter! 😱 Without sounding like Veruca Salt, “give it me now!” The way and Iris and Roman are drawn together, every element of their journey is so tender that is totally encapsulates the ‘sweet romance’ part of this prompt. I can’t wait to read the sequel Ruthless Vows!

That’s a wrap! Twelve Zodiac animals, twelve bookish prompts, twelve book selections! What do you think of them? Are you celebrating the Lunar New Year and do you know your own Zodiac animal?

As always, drop me a comment below to chat!
T xx

Biblioshelf Musings – The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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Hey Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings are about The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. I have long been a fan of The Inheritance Games cycle, but when I first heard about The Brothers Hawthorne, I have to admit – I was a little apprehensive. I worried that taking the main narrative away from Avery and onto the Hawthorne brothers might have detracted from all of the elements I loved about the original trilogy… but boy was I wrong! Read on to find out more in my spoiler-free review!

Book: The Brother Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Genre: Teens and YA / Mystery
Publication Date: August 2023
Publisher: Little, Brown Books
Pages: 480
Rating: 📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Four brothers. Two missions. One explosive read. Jennifer Lynn Barnes returns to the world of her #1 bestselling Inheritance Games trilogy, and the stakes have never been higher.  
 
Grayson Hawthorne was raised as the heir apparent to his billionaire grandfather, taught from the cradle to put family first. Now the great Tobias Hawthorne is dead and his family disinherited, but some lessons linger. When Grayson’s half-sisters find themselves in trouble, he swoops in to do what he does best: take care of the problem—efficiently, effectively, mercilessly. And without getting bogged down in emotional entanglements.
 
Jameson Hawthorne is a risk-taker, a sensation-seeker, a player of games. When his mysterious father appears and asks for a favour, Jameson can’t resist the challenge. Now he must infiltrate London’s most exclusive underground gambling club, which caters to the rich, the powerful, and the aristocratic, and win an impossible game of greatest stakes. Luckily, Jameson Hawthorne lives for impossible.
 
Drawn into twisted games on opposite sides of the globe, Grayson and Jameson—with the help of their brothers and the girl who inherited their grandfather’s fortune—must dig deep to decide who they want to be and what each of them will sacrifice to win.

My Musings

From the very first page, I was instantly pulled into the world of Avery and the Hawthorne Brothers. With short, snappy chapters, a flashback from twelve and a half years ago, and the use of one of those 911-coded emergencies, it didn’t take me long at all to get sucked right back into this Inheritance Games novel.

We pretty much pick up from where The Final Gambit left off, but this time the central narration is a split perspective based on Jameson and Grayson’s POV. They each have different character arcs which focus on discovering more about the families on their fathers’ sides, and it is these familial branches which provide two weighty plot lines threading through the whole story.

As Grayson and Jameson’s characters are already well-established throughout the first three books – The Brothers Hawthorne allows for a perfect blend of action interspersed with character building. The high stakes, super-sleuthing and clue-solving still resonate within each chapter, whilst gradually chipping away at the brothers and their inner selves.

The idea of belonging and a sense of needing to feel needed is a key element within the development of both brothers. We see Jameson’s desire and absolute compulsion to win at all costs, how his relationship with Avery impacts upon that, and the secrets he is willing to sacrifice in order to succeed. Grayson on the other hand, is able to utilise his Knight in Shining Armour persona by coming up with clever tricks and strategies to help out his newly found family and relatives-in-need.

This novel is packed with an almost double dose of treasure hunting and problem solving. Whilst Grayson embarks upon his use of ciphers and cryptic puzzle boxes to find the means to an end, Jameson ends up on a full scale treasure hunt complete with stately home, ancient artefacts and secrets from a corrupt underworld thrown into the mix. There is danger, there is intrigue. There is suspense and betrayal. All of the quizzical gimmicks I adored in the original series are right back here unfurling page after page! At several times, I’m pretty sure I even gasped out loud when reading. The way Jennifer Lynn Barnes write these elements into the plot literally blows my mind!

The ending of this novel reaches an intensely satisfying conclusion, not to mention the jaw-dropping revelation and cliffhanger-y plot twist at the end – again, suspense by the bucket load! The scene is perfectly set up to whet your appetite for the fifth instalment of the series (The Grandest Game) which comes out later this year.

All in all, I can’t believe I waited so long to read this book. There is just something about the whole series which speaks to my bookish soul. It’s not just the treasure hunting, secret passageways and coded messages (although that is a hefty driver) – the Hawthornes stick together, and it makes you want to be a part of their crew. I think I’d happily live inside the world of these books if I could! The plot is written with the perfect amount of pace to drive the story forwards yet offering up enough world-building and character detail to keep turning page after page. I can’t wait to see what’s next in store for Avery, the Hawthornes & Co – and you can bet that when The Grandest Game comes out in August, it won’t be sitting on my TBR shelf for very long!

Why Should I Read This?

If you loved The Inheritance Games trilogy, then this refreshing continuation will be right up your street – what are you waiting for?!

If you haven’t read the original trilogy, then this you should try picking it up for:
> the sheer intrigue and cryptic bewilderment that is The Game itself…
> character arcs which combine morality with the need to discover self-identity and belonging.
> an easy reading page-turner which will have you second-guessing character motives at every turn!

Find out more about this book here:

Amazon | Waterstones | Bookshop.org | Goodreads | Penguin Books UK

Connect with me here:

Twitter | Goodreads | Book Sloth: @thebiblioshelf |Email: thebiblioshelf@gmail.com

#Top Ten Tuesday – Top Ten Quick Reads/Books to Read When Time is Short

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Hey Bibliofriends,

Happy Tuesday! How is your week going so far? This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is Top Ten Quick Reads, books to read when time is short or even books which can be devoured in just one sitting. After scrolling through my virtual bookshelf (a.k.a. Goodreads), I’ve gone for a mixture of my favourite short books, novellas, graphic novels and cover-to-cover in one day reads! If you don’t already know, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly, list-themed book prompt hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

The Assassin’s Blade novellas by Sarah J Maas

It wouldn’t be a short reads post without mentioning this collection of novellas from one of my all-time favourite authors / series / fantasy worlds… (the SJM love is real over here)! I read these novellas before actually starting Throne of Glass itself and I found that they were a brilliant introduction to whole world of Erilea. I love the way each of the the threads in these stories is interwoven and tied together later on in the series.

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

Narrative verse always intrigues me and Dean Atta created such a beautiful transformation story in the Black Flamingo. It’s quick to make your way through the story, but the impact it leaves upon you will stay with you for a long time afterwards.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Not a novella or a short story by far, but I did devour this whole book, cover to cover, in just one day. I think I possibly even started reading the first pages in the actual bookshop, then continued it on the car ride home. This series appeals to my treasure-hunting soul!

The Once Upon A Con novellas by Ashely Poston

The Geekerella universe is one that I wish would be brought to life as a TV series adaptation. I started listening to them as audiobooks and became captivated with the characters and their stories – I’m convince Starfield is a real TV show! As soon as I had finished the main series, I found the novellas on Ashley Poston’s website and quickly made my way through them in one fell swoop.

Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe

I’m not terribly big into graphic novels, but once I saw the exquisite art design and Greek mythology references, these volumes fast became on my purchase list. Lore Olympus originally started as a webtoon, and I’ve tried my absolute hardest not to read ahead as the colours in the artwork are so vibrant that I feel the need to see them in print rather than on a screen.

Songs of Innocence and of Experience: Poetry by William Blake

William Blake is one of my all-time favourite poets. I remember studying this volume of his poetry in school and becoming overwhelmed by the amount of imagery, foreshadowing and hidden meanings within his collection. The perfect anthology to dip in and out of, as well as offering a contrast between the light and the dark.

The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter

Fantasy and Fairytales feel like my life’s blood; I even wrote my Dissertation on Sleeping Beauty. Angela Carter’s Bloody Chamber occupies a ‘forever-space’ on my bookshelf; it offers my brain both the magical elements of the childhood fairy stories I grew up with, mixed with the dark, twisted mind-bending tales that make my head spin as an adult.

The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafôn

I could have chosen any/all of Zafôn’s short stories or novellas to put in this list, but The Prince of the Mist was my favourite. The eerie clown statue inside a six-pointed star, the abandoned mansion house… Zafôn is an expert at taking creepy symbology and plot lines and turning it into an ethereal, yet lyrical page-turner. His way of story-telling borders on an art-form.

Useless Magic by Florence Welch

Since Dog Days Are Over first came pounding into my ears way back in 2008, Florence + the Machine have been my no.1 desert island disc band. If I were at all into tattoos, Florence’s lyrics would be inked all over my body! So it pretty much goes without saying that a book of lyrics and poems by Florence would make this list. Not only is it a quick read, but you can come back to it time and time again, although I defy you to try reading the lyrics without trying to make it fit to the music! I fail every time!

Spies by Michael Frayn

This entry feels a little like a cheat entry. As I normally read full-on novels, I really struggled trying to find a book that was either a novella or a one-sitting read that I had enjoyed enough to put into my top ten of faves. Whilst at the time, I didn’t read Spies in one go, I’m pretty convinced that I could. It has always been a tale which had me intrigued whilst reading, and the relationship between the boys against the backdrop of wartime had me guessing at things which were a little inconceivable. It’s a story which has stayed with me ever since first reading it in high school.

That’s it! My Top Ten quick reads, one-sitting reads, or books to read when time is short. What have been your favourite one-sitting page turners or novellas? Do you like mixing up your reading with poetry anthologies or graphic novels? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx