4.5 stars

Well, well, well, Robert Bryndza does it again! I very rarely read books that are not Young Adult but nothing can keep me away from the DCI Erika Foster series – I am truly addicted!

Deadly Secrets is another really strong addition to the series. The case itself is a really intriguing one and this time we don’t know who the killer is. We do get glimpses into different perspectives on the odd occasion which certainly roused my suspicions but I did not nail the killer in this book! Which was great! I was close (despite thinking I had it nailed) but I just wasn’t quite there and I think the end of this book will shock a lot of readers.

Aside from the detailed police procedural side of the story, we get to know Erika on a deeper level in this book than we have in previous ones. I really like Erika as a character and find her to feel so real and down to earth. I love seeing her interactions with her colleagues although the interactions between her and a certain male colleague weren’t quite what I was hoping for in this book! My favourite character aside from Erika is definitely Moss. She makes me laugh so much and I get such a warm feeling from her – it was nice that she had her chance to shine a bit more in this book.

Whilst these books can easily be read as standalone novels, I would highly recommend starting at the beginning and working your way through. They are addictive, gripping and fast-paced but I think getting to know the characters such as Erika, Moss and Peterson along the way really adds something special to each case. At the moment each book is peeling back a different layer to each character and I can’t wait to see where Robert will take them all next!

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Robert Bryndza for my advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I only read Simon Vs. a short while ago but I loved Becky’s writing. I’m ashamed to admit that The Upside of Unrequited has been on my Kindle for well over a year and I’ve only just read it but I am SO glad that I did. I adored this book. Molly is such a fantastic protagonist and it was refreshing to read a story about a fat character whose story is not about the fact she is fat. In fact this is very much a love story for Molly and I loved every moment of it. There were certainly parts that made my heart ache, especially between Molly and Cassie but the majority of the time my little heart was singing with joy. Becky Albertalli is definitely on my list of ‘auto-buy authors’ now!

I absolutely LOVED The Call so when I got my hands on a proof of book two last July I was really excited. For some reason it’s only recently that I actually read The Invasion and, for me personally, it just wasn’t quite up there with the first book. Granted that this is because I spent half my time confused (which is not a reflection of the book but of my own brain). I think I’m going to revisit this in a reread of both books around Halloween. One thing I can tell you is that the Sídhe are just as terrifying as ever!

This book is gorgeous in every sense. I loved the writing style, the vivid imagery, the characters but most of all this felt like a proper adventure. If I taught in a primary school I would 100% be wanting to use this with my class. It really is middle grade at its best and I’m not surprised it won so many awards. This is such an enchanting adventure that I’m sure will mesmerise young readers for years to come. The world of the Explorer is a fresh and vivacious one.

Exquisite. Honestly that is the only word that can be used to describe this book and Kiran’s writing. This is a lyrical, gorgeous story of love, loss and friendship. I loved that it had a historical setting but that Kiran has made history her own with this wonderful tale. Ami has such inner strength and determination making her a wonderful protagonist for young readers. Her story is both touching and adventurous, lit up with gorgeous descriptions and tainted with emotion. I just loved this book. Kiran’s writing is so special.

I just really, super enjoyed this book. It was exactly what I needed at the time that I read it: a cosy, cute, fluffy read. I love that Sandhya Menon just creates these characters who feel SO real. I adored Twinkle and the way that her mind worked. This book has a fantastic depiction of friendship and a really gorgeous romance whilst also looking at social class struggles. That was an aspect I wasn’t expecting but it was possibly my favourite thing about the book. Seeing how Twinkle dealt with being different from her peers often had me feeling sympathetic towards her but was also a reminder that so many young people also feel the same way as her. I just adored this book; it was really like having a warm hug off a best friend.

Thanks to Netgalley, Hodder and Sandhya Menon for my advanced copy in exchange of a fair and honest review.

I absolutely LOVE a Holly Bourne book and I’m not sure how it took me so long to read It Only Happens in the Movies. What I do know is this: I flipping loved this book! This book had my feminist heart beating quiet contentedly. I loved everything about this book from its insights into romantic movies (are they actually romantic??), to love and sexual relationships and complex family dynamics. Throw in a good old dollop of zombie movie making and this book really was a blast!

That being said, this book was also quite an emotional read. I really did feel for Audrey at points during this book and I was absolutely, wholeheartedly rooting for her throughout the whole thing. Audrey is one of those characters I found myself immediately liking: she is pretty sassy and doesn’t take any stick, at least on the outside, inside she is a squishy, emotional little doll. I loved her journey throughout this and although I was concerned at one point on how this was going to go, I was delighted with the ending!