The Girl of Ink and Stars is one of those rare treasures that is as gorgeous on the inside as it is on the outside. After initially eyeing this up as a cover buy and then hearing nothing but incredible things about this book I finally jumped straight in and I loved every second.

This book is absolutely gorgeous from beginning to end. Set in a beautifully imagined parallel world, The Girl of Ink and Stars is Isa’s tale. She is such a strong and fierce character and I’m sure that she will be an inspiration to many young girls. This is truly a tale of strength and love whether it be family or friends both of these themes run throughout this book.

The writing is gorgeous and I loved how magical and mystical the world was whilst remaining firmly rooted in our world. I loved the mythology behind the story and how everything unfolded. The added magical realism elements were also really engaging for me.

This is definitely a book that younger readers will be captivated by but there is plenty to like about this magical tale for people of all ages.

I also just need to take a moment to acknowledge that as well as an incredibly gorgeous cover the inside pages of this book are also all beautifully decorated with small illustrations and maps for each part of the book. It’s a masterpiece in every sense.

The Girl of Ink and Stars is a beautiful adventure in a vibrant world with wonderfully imagined characters. A new kind of fairy tale.

Hilarious. Deliciously dark. Quirky. Bold.

Just a few ways to quickly describe this fabulous read.

In Sweetpea, the first adult novel from author C. J. Skuse, there is no holding back. From the very first page it is clear that this book is not for the faint hearted or for those offended by strong language or explicit sexual references. If you are easily offended then I recommend now that you don’t read this book because you won’t get on well with it. If you enjoy a bit of dark, twisted comedy then you will probably love this book.

Rhiannon is an outrageous character but I loved her voice and thought she was hilarious. Despite being unable to relate to her on most levels (I am not a serial killer) there were definitely moments where I found myself laughing out loud at her brutal honesty. That being said, I am not easily offended but there were a few moments in the book where I thought ‘Ouch’ and had a bit of a cringe at some of what was said. On the whole though I thought it was great to read a book that held nothing back and featured a female serial killer!

It goes without saying that Rhiannon clearly has her own emotional baggage and is damaged by events in her early life. Despite how cold-hearted she comes across, at the centre of her actions are real reasons to commit her crimes: killing paedophiles, sex offenders and so on. Her murders are bloody and unforgiving. She is a psychopath through and through.

I really enjoyed that this was written as her personal journal (a la Bridget Jones) and that each entry started with a list of things/people that she hates and/or wants to kill. There were so many of the things she mentioned where I thought ‘I get that!’ and that’s what makes this so great. Despite her fondness of murdering people, Rhiannon is also very normal. She loves her dog Tink, she goes out with friends, she has written a novel, she has a boyfriend (albeit a cheating one) and she dreams of her future in a little Welsh cottage. Mix that in with all the murder and sex that Sweetpea delivers and you have an idea of why I think of her as a Bridget-Jones-like character.

I’ve seen people describing this book as marmite and I understand what they mean. Some readers will LOVE this book and others will LOATHE it. Personally I really enjoyed it and would actually love to see what happens next for Rhiannon, I mean the ending was just a little frustrating!

Full of hilarious quips and deliciously dark, Rhiannon is the murderous Bridget Jones I never knew I needed in my life!

4.5*

I went into this book knowing quite little about it. I knew it was a dystopian novel and that it is considered to be a feminist piece of literature. Really that was all I needed to know in order for me to read this classic.

I’m not sure that I can say I truly enjoyed reading this book. It made me feel exceptionally uncomfortable and I hated so much about the society Offred was living in but this is the whole point of the book. Margaret Atwood has created a society that people feel uncomfortable with, or at least I hope they do. It was obvious from the outset why this book is considered to be such a huge influence on people’s lives and why it inspired so many to call themselves feminists.

This is a very well written book but I was confused at times. Maybe something to do with reading this on my early morning commutes, but sometimes I lost track of what was going on with the timeline sometimes moving around and the talk of her life ‘before’. Atwood also doesn’t use speech marks so it took a while for my brain to adjust to when there was dialogue and when there wasn’t. That being said, this book is very well written and it was so realistic that I had to keep reminding myself that this terrifying dystopian world was not my reality.

The most frightening thing about this whole book is that the society Offred lives in isn’t too far-fetched. There are enough references to the real world and things that happen in our society today that it is not impossible that this could happen. In today’s climate more than ever I think this is a book that more people need to read.

I’m glad that I read this even if I can’t quite bring myself to say that I ‘enjoyed’ it. It really is a masterpiece of its own. I’m certainly looking forward to seeing what the upcoming miniseries will be like and I know for a fact that I’ll be watching!

Strange the Dreamer is possibly one of the most anticipated books in the book universe this year. Thanks to the hype I was super excited to get my hands on it despite still not having read Laini Taylor’s trilogy. It’s safe to say that I was completely sucked into this magical world and I completely understand why so many readers are big fans of Laini and her books.

This book is a tale of dreams, myths and fantasy. Lazlo Strange is a dreamer, in fact some call him Strange the dreamer. He dreams of the mysterious Weep and knows just about everything there is to know about the long deceased city. Lazlo thinks his passion is a fantasy until the day some strange visitors take him on board and Weep becomes his reality. Lazlo’s passion for Weep was so infectious that it didn’t take long before I needed to know absolutely everything I could about it and I was not disappointed!

Reading Strange the Dreamer is a truly magical experience. Laini Taylor manages to breathe magic and mystery into every sentence, weaving together a beautiful tale full of emotion. As the story of Weep’s history unfolds it is easy to feel the pain of its citizens. Laini uses her words to create a world that will mean something to her readers. Not only is this book atmospheric, it is emotionally charged and touching. I urge you to reread the prologue once you’ve finished this book and then you will truly grasp just how much of a genius Laini Taylor really is.

I loved the characters so much! Lazlo is so dreamy! He is obsessed with books and knowledge, he is sweet and caring, he doesn’t judge others but is open to the world around him. He is such a darling and I LOVED how his character developed right up until the end.

Also my mythical blue babies: Sarai, Sparrow, Ruby, Feral and Minya. Sarai and Minya were by far my favourites but this is probably just because we get to know more about them. Sarai just repeatedly broke my heart, I loved her and her moths. She seemed so genuine and she easily became a favourite of mine. Minya is just deliciously evil and I am all about those kind of characters!! Her role at the end of this book really made me excited for book 2!!

With a whole new world to learn, this is initially quite a slow read as you get to learn the relevant vocabulary, locations and mythology but once you are familiar with those you won’t be able to put this book down. The plot is driven, the characters are wonderful and the world is so well written and unique. I loved everything about this book and if you like fantasy novels with exceptional world building and mythology then you’re guaranteed to love this!

I’ve got to admit that until picking up this book ‘girlbandlit’ wasn’t really something that had crossed my path before. I can’t remember a book I’ve read that could compare to Becoming Betty and I thought it was a marvellous introduction to the world of band lit.

Becoming Betty truly embraces that teenage struggle of finding yourself. After leaving school with her GCSEs and starting afresh in college, Lizzie soon finds herself firmly under the wing of ‘cool’ girl Viv. It’s not long until Lizzie becomes Betty and loses touch with herself. Will she be able to find her way back to Lizzie?

I first have to address the fact that for almost 2/3’s of this book I really wasn’t sure how I felt. I really despise the trope of girls (in particular, but it can also be boys) changing themselves to be ‘cool’ by doing bad and detrimental things. I think it gives out such a negative vibe to young readers and I have to admit that I was concerned at where this book was going. Luckily Eleanor Wood saved the day in the final third of the book and I loved how this story turned out. I loved that by the end of this book Lizzie had found her true self and realised that she only ever needed to be herself to fit in and feel loved. The ending of this book was strong enough for me to add that fourth star to my rating!

I really, really, really loved Lizzie’s parents in this, particularly her dad. As someone who never really grew up around a supportive father I felt quite emotional at times because I longed for a dad like Lizzie has. He is so sweet and supportive and I loved all his little fangirling moments about various bands. Although there is a clear distance between Lizzie and her mother I liked how this felt realistic and by the end you could see that actually her mum just cares about her so much that sometimes it comes across in the wrong way to Lizzie. It was so refreshing to read a YA book where parents were so supportive and involved.

The characters in this book are SO well written and I have to give Eleanor Wood her due for that. I wanted to scoop Lizzie up in my arms and just give her a hug and tell her everything would be okay. I loved Lizzie so much and as a result absolutely despised most of what Betty was. Daisy and Jake seemed really fun and I liked the portrayal of Lizzie and Grace’s sibling relationship. Despite their differences they were deep down really supportive of each other and I appreciated that so much. Viv makes my skin crawl, maybe partially because she reminded me of someone that I know. I just couldn’t stand how manipulative and self-centred she was regardless of how it affected others. She was horrid. I’ve also decided that I would have SO loved to be best friends with the girls in Dirty Harriet, they sounded like a right laugh!

Overall I thought this was a great book and really well written. I loved the characters and the way their relationships were portrayed. It was also really cool to read a book with so many musical references and I definitely want to read more books like this in the future.

Warning: This book and review both talk about an eating disorder, please do not read on if this may trigger you in any way.

Wow. This book had a real hold on my heart and emotions from the very first pages and that grip only tightened as the story went on. I felt like I was with Hedda on her journey and so wanted to wrap her up in cotton wool and take care of her.

From experiences on the unit, to counting calories, exercising and that voice in her head, Hedda’s anorexia, or Nia as she calls it, is life consuming, until she discovers that she is pregnant. When faced with this enormous life changing experience, Hedda is forced to confront her own feelings, fears and emotions. But what will her future be?

This book is so emotionally driven and it is such a raw read. I don’t have any personal experience with having an eating disorder and neither have I been a teenage mother and I found this book to be a real eye opener. It gave a really honest insight into being anorexic and how hard it is to fight your own demons. The way in which Nia was always there looking over Hedda’s shoulder, ready to pounce and spit out spiteful names at her was something that really got me because it was such a powerful way to show the world just how life consuming having an eating disorder is. There isn’t a moment in this book where Hedda’s mind isn’t somehow straying towards counting calories or comparing herself to others and it is frightening to say the least. I am thankful that I’ve read this book because I genuinely feel that I’ve learnt so much from it.

Teenage pregnancy is another topic which still seems to be somewhat taboo in the UK and that is tackled head on in this novel. There are many occasions where Hedda is receiving dirty looks or is made to feel uncomfortable and whilst we must also take on board that this will be because of her appearance too, there is something to be said for those who judge teenage mothers. At the young age of seventeen and completely isolated Hedda certainly does not have an easy time of it when Rose comes along. It was so heartwarming to read of Hedda’s journey with Rose and to see how that motherly love just blossomed over time into something so special and beautiful. Of course it is not plain sailing but Hedda’s love for Rose knows no bounds and the last few chapters and the epilogue of this book absolutely destroyed me. I think that sobbing would be an understatement.

This book is beautifully written and deals with such a raw and complex subject matter in a really authentic and meaningful way. This book is a very difficult read and I imagine that for someone with personal experience it may be too difficult. That is something that really needs to be considered on an individual basis. Personally I loved that this book didn’t have a fairytale ending. Hedda’s problems weren’t solved by a knight in shining armour and there wasn’t a happy ever after. What we ended up with was a heartbreaking story that felt real. It was worth every single tear that I shed.

Thank you, Karen Gregory, for putting Hedda’s story out there.

A big thank you to Netgalley, Bloomsbury and Karen Gregory for my advance copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Hate U Give is an incredibly special debut novel by the wonderful Angie Thomas. It has been over a month since I finished reading The Hate U Give and I’ve tried on several occasions to write a review and I just can’t do it justice. I also do not feel that it is my place in this world to review a story that is so meaningful and personal. Who am I to ‘review’ and critique a book that taught me so much? Rather than review, what I would like to do is just talk about why I loved the book so much and why I think it’s a book that everyone (and I mean everyone) needs to read.

It would be easy to say that The Hate U Give is an important book and stop there. I think this book is much more than important. It is POWERFUL. Angie Thomas is writing from such a personal position that it is impossible not to be affected by her and Starr’s story. When I got to the end of this story I just sat still for a while. I needed time to let the profound effect of this book settle on my shoulders whilst I also marvelled at what Angie has done. Not only is she showing young black people that they can succeed in their dreams but she is not afraid to call out white privilege and I loved that about this book. Angie herself at the even in London told us that whilst touring she has met young black children who were amazed that she was black and an author. This book and this wonderful woman are literally changing lives and paving the way to brighter futures for so many young black people who will be nothing but inspired by Angie. Incredible.

I loved everything about this book and it evoked a lot of emotion in me. I felt anger and despair at the situation and more importantly just completely sickened knowing that this isn’t fiction. This is real life and this is happening all the time. I can’t get my head around it and that in itself shows my own privilege as a white person, I’m so lucky that I’ve never had to experience this kind of situation and it felt like a complete privilege that Angie has shared such an emotional and poignant event with us all.

This book is phenomenal. I will be actively encouraging as many people as possible to read this and hopefully then you will understand exactly how I feel about this book. Not only has it captured my heart but is has evoked feelings in me that I didn’t know I possessed. The Hate U Give is surely the classic book of our time and I honestly believe it will be life changing for so many who read it.

Thank you, Angie.

Tree Magic had been hovering on my TBR for some time before picking it up but I’ve finally read it and thought it was wondrous. Filled with magical realism, this story is a real treasure and I felt like I had been on a real journey with Rainbow by the end of it.

Rainbow has a secret power, she can communicate with trees and exercise control over them, helping them to grow and heal. After a devastating accident where her power spirals out of control, Rainbow’s world changes and so does this book. I don’t want to say much as I knew very little going in and I think that made it better for me. From a plot point of view this isn’t going to be a fast-paced and action-packed book but it is a lovely, complicated coming of age story for Rainbow.

Harriet herself has described this book to me as a ‘slow-burn’ novel and I definitely agree. For a YA book this is long at just short of 450 pages (Kindle edition), especially for a book that has such contemporary vibes. It took me some time to get through this book but it was worth every minute, especially for readers who are fans of magical realism… and trees!

Tree Magic is a complex coming of age story that deals head on with so many feelings young people will be familiar with: love, loss, jealousy, success, failure, anger, sadness. There is something in here that people will undoubtedly relate to. I do have to admit that I felt a little lost at times during the middle of this book and a little clueless as to what was going on but it all came back together in a beautiful ending which made perfect sense to me.

Harriet truly knows her craft and I enjoyed her writing style very much. This is an intricate exploration of Rainbow’s character which spans her early life and teenage years. There are plenty of events which help to shape Rainbow as a person but most importantly for me was the careful portrayal of the relationships in Rainbow’s life. She has so many complex relationships with people and it was interesting to see how these changed and developed over time. As someone who is always in a book for the characters I really appreciated the time that was taken in getting Rainbow to where she needed to be.

In finding herself Rainbow truly discovers her strengths and how she can blossom. A well-crafted and beautifully written story.

I LOVED this book so much! It was everything I dreamt it would be and so, so much more. I loved that this was set in a convention and just how much all of the characters were fangirling over their favourite authors and YouTubers. It just felt so real and I’m sure thousands of people will easily relate to this story.

I have fallen head of heels in love with the characters in this book. I liked that it was told from two different POVs: Tay suffers with anxiety and ASD and Charlie is a famous YouTuber who is also bisexual. I loved both of these girls and how their mental health and sexuality was not what this book was about but that it was just a part of their being. I loved the dynamic of the friendship between Charlie, Tay and Jamie and I was pleased with where it ended up. Although there was a tinge of instalove I did think it was sweet and found myself rooting for a particular couple quite early on. (No spoilers!!)

The writing is absolutely delightful and I probably could have filled a notebook with the quotes that made me laugh out loud. I loved how contemporary this book was too, filled with references to social media platforms, which makes this book so easy to relate to. This book deals with so much that I did wonder if it was a bit too much for a second, but that second quickly passed and I realised that I just love this book. Body shaming, sexuality, sexual experience, mental health, friendship, romance and so much more is relevant in this book and dealt with in a way that is relatable and accessible.

I loved how diverse this book was but also how Tay’s anxiety and ASD and Charlie’s sexuality didn’t define them or their story. Sure, this added to who they are but this story was not about Tay and her anxiety or Charlie and her sexuality. It was about Tay following her dreams of meeting her favourite author and Charlie falling in love. That being said we got an honest insight into how anxiety affects certain situations. I thought some of the scenes where Tay is overwhelmed by her anxiety were really powerful and there was something so raw about them that can only be found in an #OwnVoices book.

Overall I just loved this book and thought it was super sweet and fluffy. It was just what I needed at the time. Filled with fangirling, wonderful characters and lovely writing, I’m sure this will be a lovable read for many of you!

A big thank you to Netgalley, Swoon Reads and Jen Wilde for my advance copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.