Carry On - A Review By Laura

What is it about?
Simon Snow just wants to relax and savor his last year at the Watford School of Magicks, but no one will let him. His girlfriend broke up with him, his best friend is a pest, and his mentor keeps trying to hide him away in the mountains where maybe he’ll be safe. Simon can’t even enjoy the fact that his roommate and longtime nemesis is missing, because he can’t stop worrying about the evil git. Plus there are ghosts. And vampires. And actual evil things trying to shut Simon down. When you’re the most powerful magician the world has ever known, you never get to relax and savor anything.
Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story — but far, far more monsters.

Who is it for?
Young adults 

Genre? 
fantasy fiction

Is it any good?
I took a little bit more convincing getting into this book, although I was the one introducing Jen to Rainbow Rowell and telling her a little bit about this book she automatically loved it where as I felt the beginning was a little bit too similar to Harry Potter for my liking. On saying that I am so glad that Jen kept on at me to just keep reading because I honestly loved the book once I got into it. If it wasn't for the similarities to Harry Potter there is no doubt in my mind this book would have got 5 stars.

I was looking forward to this book just from reading the extracts in Fangirl, Rainbow Rowell introduced us to Simon and Baz as part of Caths fanfiction in her latest release before this which was called Fangirl. As soon as I heard that she was actually writing a book dedicated solely to those characters I was excited. Just like in every Rainbow Rowell character you will come across she writes these characters just as amazing and lovable if not more when looking at Simon, Baz and Penny... Agatha annoyed me a little but I suppose in a way that just makes the book that little bit better. A good book puts you through a lot of different emotions and this book does just that! So although I couldn't really get started with this book I was actually really upset to be finishing it... You are yet to let me down Rowell.

Was the ending Satisfactory?
Yes, I wasn't left thinking 'is that it?' or 'what happens next?'

Would I recommend the book?
Highly, I was recommending this book from the snippets of it we got to read from Fangirl before I had even read Carry On 

Read it if you like:
Rainbow Rowell
John Green
Krystal Sutherland 

Attachments - A Review By Laura

What is it about?

"Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you . . . "
Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It's company policy.) But they can't quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives.
Meanwhile, Lincoln O'Neill can't believe this is his job now- reading other people's e-mail. When he applied to be "internet security officer," he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers- not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke.
When Lincoln comes across Beth's and Jennifer's messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can't help being entertained-and captivated-by their stories.
By the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late to introduce himself.
What would he say . . . ? 

Who is it for?

Older teenager onwards

Genre? 

Romance, Chick Lit

Is it any good?

I read this book so long ago... back in 2012 to be precise and i'm afraid to say I can't really remember much of what happened in it, only a summarised version my head decided to keep. 

What I do remember is that it began my love for Rainbow Rowell and here I am 4 years later waiting for her to write another book because i've read them all. At first I remember struggling to get into the book and wondering what it was that made me buy it in the first place, to be honest I still can't remember why I did but I am so glad that I did because once I was into it I absolutely loved the emails that where exchanged between Jen and Beth and remember being able to relate to certain aspects they spoke about. 

Was the ending satisfactory?

I hate when a book ends leaving the reader to guess what happens next, in some cases when this happens I can't help but lower my rating even if I have enjoyed the rest of the book and I am just dissatisfied with the ending.

Would I recommend the book?

I would recommend this book purely on the bases of it being a Rainbow Rowell book although it was one of her early ones and one of my least favourite.

Read it if you like: 

Helen Warner

Rainbow Rowell

Marian Keyes  

Stacking The Shelves - October 2016

Stacking The Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews! It is a list of what books you have received over the previous week or in our case over the previous month. 

This was a bad month for us both for Stacking the shelves, Laura had just moved into her new house and Jen was preparing for a move too... I swear sometimes it is like we are the same person. Jen is still dealing with the move as is Laura but now Laura has a little less stress and a little more time, just a little more time to do such things... This stacking the shelves will only consist of the books that Laura has some how managed to afford this month, Jen will do a double Stacking next month... God help us all with the amount that she buys monthly!

I am surprised I have ended up with this many books this month I was expecting to buy none but you all probably understand how impossible that would be! I miss my old shelf for my photograph this one looks a little rubbish sorry but I am living in chaos right now.

A Whole New World by Liz Braswell

The one below this Once upon a time came in on the delivery a few weeks ago and I instantly needed it in my life, I am a Disney fan through and through and it just didn't make sense not to buy this when I seen it in Tesco a few weeks later, I bought this along with The Beast within as part of the buy two for £7

Once Upon A Time by Liz Braswell

As mentioned above this book came into work on the delivery, I loved the look of the cover and the feel of the book as well as it being Disney related and bought it without hesitation

The One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

I have blabbed on and on about this book since I read Me Before You  and After You that Jen so kindly bought me it as a house warming gift when I moved into my new house, what better way to war a house than to fill it with books, books and even more books... Thanks Jen!

Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige

When it comes to anything Shiny I am a magpie, if you seen me in the street you would know it was me from the amount of jewellery I have on that is so sparkly... same with books, a little bit of glitter or mirrored front covers and I will buy it no matter what it is about but this one looked pretty as well as sounding really interesting.

Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland

I don't know why all of a sudden I am buying books with fish in the title or on the cover, I don't mean to its a fluke but this month I have managed to buy two that have fish on, This book caught my attention because it was described as John Green meets Rainbow Rowell in this heartbreaking tale of bittersweet first love. John Green... Rainbow Rowell... it had to be a winner and I only have a few pages of it left and I have loved it so much!

The Beast Within By Serena Valentino

Everyone who knows me will know that I love Belle and Beauty and the Beast... I am considering a village Bella tattoo too... At first I thought this book was part of the other two Disney books I have bought this month but now looking at it I can see that it is not... Still cannot wait to read it though!

Silence Is A Goldfish by Annabel Pitcher

My other fish book from this months haul... I pointed this one out to Jen as soon as I spotted it and she had bought it and read it before I got a chance to but i've heard its good so I bought it anyway.

We Are Back!!

Long time no see! As you may know from previous posts I was in the process of buying my first home with my Fiancé and I can happily say that I am now sitting in my very own Living room writing this!

We didn't bother with a hiatus post because I wasn't planning on not having internet for the three weeks I've had to cope without it! I actually set up the broadband plan a week before we moved in and there was problem after problem trying to get internet, we literally got connected just a few hours ago and I am blogging again already! Oh how I have missed this.

Hopefully the worst is out the way now, who knows we may even manage to blog a little more often now, look out for a lot more posts, we have a lot of catching up to do and maybe even some bookish household posts, I have my eye on quite a few place I am going to cosy up and make into blogging/bookish places starting with the gap under the stairs! Oh this home owning is so fun!

See you soon Laura x

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Books On My Fall To Be Read List

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week we are given a different top ten to complete. For more information and a list of past and future topics, go here.

I've got such a big amount of books that I keep buying and have not read yet that I guess I should aim to read quite a few of them during fall

1. The Return Of The Young Prince by A.G Roemmers
Need to read this now that I have watched the first one on Netflix

2. The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin
This is one of the bookclub books in our store so I guess I should read it to be able to recommend it to people

3. Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz
This is also one of our bookclub books in our store and sounds soooo good I also need to read it before the sequel comes out next year.

4. The Trouble With Henry And Zoe by Andy Jones
Keep wanting to read it and haven't got around to it yet

5. The Hope Family Calendar by Mike Gayle
Read one of his books years ago and vowed I'd read more

6. More Than This by Patrick Ness
The only Patrick Ness book I haven't read so far that he has released

7. According To Yes by Dawn French
Heard such good things about this book I need to read it

8. Resistance Is Futile by Jenny T.Cogan
Had this for a while sitting on my shelf.

9. Once Upon A Dream - A Twisted Tale by Liz Braswell
Only bought this today and absolutely cannot wait to read it, it sounds soooo good and interesting

10. Silence Is A Goldfish by Annabel Pitcher
Had my eye on this for a while so will definitely be reading this soon

As I have recently purchased fifteen books, since August 31st and some need to be read…

1. Username: Evie by Joe Sugg
I have read graphic novels in the past and have enjoyed them. This one seems teenage angst, which I like!

2. Username: Regenerated by Joe Sugg
The sequel to the above

3. The Potions Diaries: Royal Tour by Amy Alward
Read the first one and loved it, so this is the second one in the series

4. Maestra by LS Hilton A thriller and I want to be thrilled….

5. The Sudden Appearance of Hope by Claire North
Me and Laura bought this as a book to read together, and as we started Jane Green’s Falling: this still needs to be read

6. Trans: A Memoir by Juliet Jacques
Laura pointed this out to me and told me to buy it…..she will not be disobeyed.

7. Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall
More teenage angst: my type of book

8. The Ice Beneath Her by Camilla Grebe
Another one of Laura’s choices, for us to read together

9. Closed Casket by Sophie Hannah
Hercule Poirot returns in the second of Sophie’s Poirot novels.

10. Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher
The last of Zoella’s book club books (Laura wouldn’t let me purchase Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl, just for the new front cover).

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Favourite Albums - Jens Choices

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week we are given a different top ten to complete. For more information and a list of past and future topics, go here.

 

These aren’t necessary my Top Ten Albums of all time, these are just some I like listening to…. 

1. Blue Neighbourhood by Troye Sivan (Deluxe Edition) 

 Electro-pop, synth-pop? Very angsty, but I love it. Favourite tracks are ‘Talk Me Down’ and ‘Blue’ (Feat. Alex Hope).

2. Live in Concert by Barbara Streisand (1994) 

Love this album, and her introducing the songs. So many classics. Barbara at her best LIVE!

3. Communion by Years and Years (Deluxe Edition) 

Just genius!

4. The Velvet Rope by Janet Jackson 

One of her best albums, I want to feel special.

5. Girl at the End of the World by James

She’s just a ……

6. Grease Live by Various Artists 

Good singalong musical! Not the original, but amazing!

7. The Original High by Adam Lambert (Deluxe Edition) 

Adam’s voice is astounding!

8. The Rocky Horror Show by Various Artists 

I’m just a sweet transvestite…..

9. Sunset Boulevard by Various Artists (Glenn Close Version) 

I bought this as I loved the cover, and the music didn’t disappoint either.

10. Rainbow by Mariah Carey 

I just love this album, Heartbreaker Remix is my favourite track.

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Favourite Musicals - Lauras Choice

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week we are given a different top ten to complete. For more information and a list of past and future topics, go here.

 

1. Wicked

My uttermost favourite ever musical along with Les Miserables, I went to see this in London for my 21st and absolutely fell in love with it and I am also in the middle of reading the series of books

 
2. Ghost The Musical
I haven't seen the musical YET but I do listen to the songs from it all the time, there is actually a story that goes with me and ghost which is that my Mum went into labour whilst watching Ghost at the cinema with me, I clearly just wanted to watch the film.

3. Beauty And The Beast
I'm probably not the only bookworm that compares herself to Belle from beauty and the beast, so for that reason I absolutely love beauty and the beast.
 
4. Mamma Mia
Abba is a guilty pleasure so of course I love this musical, both the film version and the theatre production.
 
5. Les Miserables
Amazing! thats all I have to say
6. Wizard Of Oz
Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh My!
 
7. Rocky Horror Picture Show
I found the theatre production a bit awkward the way they expect you to join in but I do really enjoy the music from it!
 
8. Sound Of Music
Always find myself bursting out in songs from this film.
 
9. Annie
Love love love both the original and the new version
 
10. Grease
Who doesn't love a bit of grease!

The Marble Collector - A Review By Laura

What is it about?

A forgotten childhood. A discovered life.
What if you only had one day to find out who you really were?
When Sabrina Boggs stumbles upon a mysterious collection of her father’s possessions, she discovers a truth where she never knew there was a lie. The familiar man she grew up with is suddenly a stranger to her.
An unexpected break in her monotonous daily routine leaves her just one day to unlock the secrets of the man she thought she knew. A day that unearths memories, stories and people she never knew existed. A day that changes her and those around her forever.
The Marble Collector is a thought-provoking novel about how the most ordinary decisions we make can have the most extraordinary consequences for how we live our lives. And how sometimes it’s only by shining on a light on someone else, that you can truly understand yourself.

Who is it for?
When reading the blurb I thought this book was going to be for older teenagers to younger adults but the issues you deal with throughout the book are a bit too deep for younger teenagers at least

Genre?
Adult Fiction

Is it any good?
The book is told from two different perspectives, we have Sabrina who is Fergus's daughter, talking about the present situation as she embarks on her journey for answers about her Dads past and who he actually is. Along with Sabrina we have Fergus's view on the past helping us as the reader to understand what is going on in Sabrina's journey throughout the book.
It took me a while to read the first few chapters, well when I say few I mean about 9 or something chapters, It takes a while to get the story rolling, I wasn't fully enjoying the book until I reached the ending. I don't know whether that was just because I could relate too much with Sabrina and the feeling of not knowing her fathers past. My own father is terminally ill and I only get to see him twice a week from the age of 11... I realised I don't actually know much about his past, for example where his tattoos came from, who his family was and it really hit home.

Was the ending satisfactory?
Usually its the ending that lets me down in books rather than the ending being the only thing I actually liked about about the book. It was a happy ending although I was dreading a different outcome and I think Cecila was trying to convey that the past will always come back and catch you up.

Would I recommend the book?
I would and I wouldn't... I think part of my problem though was that I related to the issues in the book a bit too much and it was a reality check

Read it if you like:
A Man Called Ove
The Five People You Meet In Heaven
One More Day

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Favourite Books Of The Romance Genre - Lauras Choice

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week we are given a different top ten to complete. For more information and a list of past and future topics, go here

There will be two separate Top Tens this week as Jen has chosen to look at her favourite book series where as Laura has chosen her Top Ten Books of the Romance genre that she has read.

1. On The Other Side By Carrie Hope Fletcher
I loved loved loved this story, it just shows that if it is meant to be it will be in the end one way or the other, such a nice thought.

2. Falling By Jane Green
My current read with Jen, I know by reading this with Jen that it is not just me who loves the relationship between the two main characters in this book, they are just perfect as well as Dominic being perfect on his own anyway.

3. Eleanor & Park By Rainbow Rowell
Reminded me of what it was like to be a teenager when all emotions of crushes are heightened, some of the best feelings when you think you are in love and you are going to be with that person forever! I hope these two actually lasted though!

4. Carry On By Rainbow Rowell
I was rooting for Simon and Baz just from the fanfiction sections of Fangirl, I am so glad Rainbow Rowell wrote a book about them, they are adorable.

5. The Notebook By Nicholas Sparks
Both the book and the film make me want a love like this, I hate the idea of either me or my Fiance having to live without the other, it would be nice to go together when it is time.

6. One Day By David Nicholls
I have experiences best friend love at the time I was reading this book and it literally broke my heart imagining wasting all that time loving someone but never actually being with them to finally get them and it be cut short.

7. Me Before You By Jojo Moyes
This is one of the latest Romance books that I have read, it is still raw and I cannot wait to see if the film is as good as the book, I'm just not ready to put myself through it just yet.

8. A Fault In Our Stars By John Green
Okay, Okay... No I am not Okay! this book was so touching and I loved the relationship between Hazel and Gus

9.  Clockwork Princess By Cassandra Claire
One of my all time favourite books probably due to all the love between Will, Jem and Tessa. The bromance aswell as the romance.

10. The Geography Of You And Me By Jennifer E.Smith 
A cute, light read once again about young love.

According To Yes - A Review By Jen

What is it about?
Rosie Kitto escapes her primary school teaching post and gets a job as a Nanny in Manhattan for the posh Wilder-Bingham family.

Who’s it for?
Definitely for Adults

Genre?
Comedy

Is it any good?
Mary Poppins with fishnets and basque…. this is one nanny who can’t say no. Humorous from the start, with Rosie being interviewed being stood on a newspaper in case she drips on the carpet, will she able to heal the cracks in this family, who have hard exteriors and even harder interiors?
This joyful narrative is witty… I can’t say too much, because of what happens and I couldn’t believe it…so funny. As this is Dawn’s third novel, I guess lightning does indeed strike three times.

Was the ending satisfactory?
An ending worthy of The Jerry Springer Show or for the UK audience, The Jeremy Kyle Show.

Would I recommend the book?
Yes if you want a laugh.

Read it if you like:
Not Quite Nice by Celia Imrie
Or any other Dawn French books (which I now myself want to buy)