Review: Are We Nearly There Yet? by Lucy Vine

Alice is turning thirty and is stuck in a rut. Her friends are all coupling up and settling down, while she's still working as a temp, trying (and failing) not to shag her terrible ex, getting thrown out of clubs, and accidentally sexting her boss...

She decides to throw caution to the wind and jets off on a round-the-world adventure to #FindTheFun and find herself. Of course, she's no more likely to find the answer to true happiness on the beach in Thailand than she is at the electric beach in Tooting, but at least in Thailand there's paddleboard yoga.

Can Alice find happiness on her travels? Or is she more likely to lose herself all over again...?

Review: Oh my goodness I could not put this book down, it made me laugh, it made me feel and it quite simply made me keep turning the pages until I had had my fill-I just loved it. 

Alice is such a great character because she is so easy to relate to. We have all been there, wondering where our life is going and trying to do something about it when it just isn't going where we want it to. I loved Alice's decision making process and I loved her view of herself. I think a lot of us would struggle with being brave enough to go off and do the travelling that she did and so it was wonderful to live vicariously through here. She also has some amazing one-liners thanks to the awesome writing of Lucy Vine so you've got that to look forward to as well. 

There are some fab supporting characters in this book as well, all of whom add to some great comedy setup but also counteract some of Alice's personality traits. We get to meet friends in LA first then Alice's brother and his friend in Thailand and let's not forget bestie Eva back home in London. Then there are the men in Alice's life, another part of what makes her so relatable. She switches between thinking she needs to meet someone completely different and thinking that she's best to stick with the kind of guy she had back home. There are also some AMAZING one-liners when it comes to sex in this book none of which I will spoil for you but you are in for some spitting out the coffee with laughter moments there trust me!

When it comes to things like being sex positive and being body positive Alice is pretty open and honest. She hasn't got it quite right but she knows what it ought to look like and so this is a pretty open and honest book which is strongly feminist and definitely girl power and that's one of the things that really kept me turning the pages. I loved the fact that Alice knows what respect should look like even if she doesn't always look for it for herself, or others. Those around her also help with that and so I loved what this book had to say about the way we view women in society and the way they are often treated without explicitly coming out and saying in. 

There are definitely some serious moments in this book and Lucy Vine has achieved the perfect balance of some serious messages within the laugh out loud comedy. I loved this book. I loved the characters and the travel and the fab writing and I highly highly recommend it to you!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Blog Tour: Review of Make or Break by Catherine Bennetto

Jess, a 29-year-old Londoner with a Kate Beckett fringe and a tendency for dramatics, gets taken on a surprise trip by her long-term boyfriend, Pete, to attend her best friend’s last minute wedding in South Africa. Jess imagines sun, sand, wine and safaris. And returning to London with an ethically mined diamond on her left hand...

But this holiday isn’t set to be quite the fairy tale Jess has planned... and suddenly she finds her world tilting on its axis. And things are only set to get worse when Jess returns home…

Review: Oh this book had me laughing out loud just as much as Catherine Bennetto's last novel, it was so funny and so relatable and just such a great read to cheer me up and entertain! Oh my goodness there were so many twists and turns in this novel I really felt for poor Jess and everything that life was throwing at her, but at the same time, some of those twists turned out to be so entertaining and have such comedy value, it was just hilarious!

Jess was a great character to spend time with and I really felt like the story was being told to me by her as she was recounting it via tweets and texts, even though that's totally not how the book is written, just because I felt like we were friends and I was really hoping that everything would turn out alright for her in the end. Sometimes Jess just can't seem to see what's happening right in front of her and other times I was just so proud of how maturely she handled some of the situations that she was faced with,. I loved the family values that she had and what a loyal friend she was. She was just a lovely character who you definitely want the best for. 

There are definitely a couple of other characters in this novel who you will love to hate, and possibly will even boo when they appear on the page and then, to balance that out, there are a couple more who you will fall in love, or at lest in love with and will possibly eve cheer when they appear on the page, the novel is well cast!

I loved the fact that a lot of this book is set in South Africa because Jess i right out of her comfort zone is a beautiful city but also a city with a lot of potential dangers, so many storyline possibilities therefore. I enjoyed reading about the city and about how Jess handles it all. 

There is definitely a very strong message of family in this novel too and I loved getting to know how Jess's family ticks and the way they all look our for one another. There's a very positive message of love and respect here and I really enjoyed spending time in this family and friendship group. This was just a really well-rounded, standalone novel that you should definitely invest in to keep you entertained whatever you're doing with your summer!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: Mums Just Wanna Have Fun by Lucie Wheeler

Meet Nancy…

Single mum Nancy will do anything for her little boy. Jack’s autism makes life difficult at times, but she’s determined to ensure he lives the best life possible. So, when her best friend Harriet suggests a holiday to Ibiza, Nancy is torn: will Jack cope with the change in routine…will she?

And Harriet…

Workaholic mum Harriet convinces Nancy it’s the break they all need. A chance to have some fun with the kids, away from the stresses of normal life. And she’s determined to switch off her laptop, ignore her inbox, and just have fun with her kids for seven whole days…

Cocktails and kids’ club – what could go wrong?

Ibiza is beautiful, but Jack struggles with everything, Harriet refuses to put her laptop away, and Nancy begins to think she’s made a huge mistake. And then Nancy meets Cameron and his young son, Aiden and discovers that sometimes the best fun happens when you least expect it…

Can these two single-mum’s swap their mummy guilt for sunglasses and sangria?

Review: Wow! This book has it all, great characters, totally believable storyline and the full range of emotions! I got so much more than I was expecting to from this book. The story surrounds mums Harriet and Nancy and their children as they embark on a vacation that will mean more to them than they can imagine. Every part of the holiday and the stories that come from these mums could have happened to me or other women I know. I loved the fact that their lives are not straightforward and are not easy but they have been trying to keep going for the sake of their families and also to save face, I love that there is finally light shed on this happening!

As characters they are great to spend time with. As I said, they are so easy to relate to and identify with. Their children are also easy to identify with, they are typical children in that they are anything but typical and I could easily see aspects of all of their personalities in many of the children I have worked with over the years. I thought it was a great choice made by this author to include a child on the autistic spectrum on their and shine a light on the various intricacies and nuisances that become different when you have a child with an additional need such as this. There are aspects such as school and crowded places, bed time and the use of technology that are explored and I think that Lucie Wheeler did a great job on all of these aspects. 

There were some great comedy moments in this book, everyone knows that children know just what to say at just the right moment to make everything funny and this happens so many times in this book. This book also made me cry, more than once. Happy tears and tears alongside some of our lovely characters, just what I want from a book. I am not a mum but I know so many amazing mums who are doing a fabulous job and think they are messing it up and so I can see where a book like this would be amazing for them. I would love to put this book into the hands of so many of my friends and really recommend picking this one up now!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: What Fresh Hell by Lucy VIne

What do you get if you cross a dozen drunk hens with one shiny Butler in the Buff?

Meet Lilah Fox. She's on the hen do from hell. Then she gets a message (44 of them, actually) from her best friend with big news: she's getting married in six months. Oh, and Lilah's her maid of honour. Which means she just got signed up for:

- A military schedule of wedding fairs and weekly planning meetings

- Excel spreadsheets and endless hen emails

- All the enforced, expensive fun you can imagine...

What fresh hell is this?

Review: If you loved Lucy's last book Hot Mess then you will love this book, and it is even funnier than Hot Mess. If you loved Bridget Jones's Diary, then you will love this book, and this is even funnier! I know, I went there but this book was such a romp from start to finish. I laughed out loud, I identified with the main character, and most of her Friend so much and I just loved every minute.

Lilah is a great main character for this novel because she is just like all of us. She has set her life up, she has a boyfriend and a decent job but sometimes she hates that job and she's not sure her relationship is quite right for her, but at the age of 28 she really feels as if she ought to have it altogether. What she does have is great mates and she wants to be there for them and support them, especially when it comes to their big day.

The weddings, this story revolves around several (and i mean several) wedding that Lilah has to attend, sometimes as a bridesmaid and sometimes as a guest. We've all had those years when you have a zillion weddings to go and and the hen dos and the outfits and the wedding presents that go with them. You loose your bank balance, your sanity, and as happy as you are for your friends, you loose your life somewhat. Its a great premise for a book and Lucy Vine really pulls this off incredibly well, prepare for hilarity at every turn!

As i probably mentioned in my review of Hot Mess, Lucy Vine also writes down what we are all thinking. This is amazing and i defy anyone not to love her writing style, particularly when lines such as 'Fuck you Gwyneth Paltrow' and 'without a bra, these are already somewhere around my vulva'. There are also some really touching family moments in this book and its great to have some secondary storylines surrounding family and friendship running alongside Lilah's main issues.

I really enjoyed this novel. Lucy Vine doesn't censor her language so if swearing easily offends you then this might not be for you. But if you've ever attended a wedding, or had one of those years where everyone you know is getting married, if you;re questioning pretty much anything in your life even. Then this book is for you-enjoy the laughs!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: It Had To Be You by Keris Stainton

Twenty-five-year-old Bea is a hopeless romantic – with a hopeless love life. She’s been single ever since her awful ex broke her heart, and the only thing she gets up to in bed is watching rom coms on her laptop.

When Bea meets Dan, who is basically the man of her dreams, she knows she can’t let him get away. They might not have fireworks, but not everyone can be fighting and (loudly) making up every night, like Bea’s housemates.

But Bea can’t shift the feeling that something just isn’t right. As time goes on, Dan seems less like Mr Right, and more like Mr Couldn’t-Be-More-Wrong… Will Bea be brave enough to change her dreams – and dare to ask for more?

A laugh-out-loud tale for anyone who’s ever dreamt of a fairy-tale romance and found a real-life happy ending.

Review: I always enjoy Keris Stainton's writing but I have been loving her romantic comedies, emphasis on the comedy, that she has released recently. This book had me laughing out loud, had me championing the main characters and is so easy to relate to. I love the premise behind this book, that you can meet someone who seems like your perfect guy and meets all the criteria you have learned to put in place from watching romcoms, but something just isn't right. It is so true to real life, as so much of this book is. There are moments in this book where I said out loud "that's just like me/I did that/I've soooo been there' and I think if something is going to be easy to relate to, that's what you should be doing as you are reading it. 

I really loved the characters in this book too. You are dropped right into the middle of their lives and yet you feel like you've always been friends with these people. I could so easily picture their shared house and their work place. I really liked Bea as a character. She is slightly unsure of the world and we get to see that through her eyes although she doesn't really want to let on to her Friends that this is the case. Again something we can probably all relate to!. I also really loved the fact that she is in her twenties and yet we don't see her being sexually active. I think there is often a stereotype that is embraced in books about twenty somethings that they are always looking for their next sexual partner and that they are incredibly sexually experimental, and whilst that is true in some cases and I absolutely embrace that, it isn't always the case and so not every twenty something character has to be portrayed this way. 

I love Bea's group of friends too. Henry is so down to earth, and like Bea, he is single for the majority of the time that we know him! Freya is amazing gives great advice and has amazing stories abut her own hookups with women all over London. And then there is the couple of the house, Adam and Celine. We've all been in that house share where we can hear someone we live with having sex and so again, so easy to relate to this friendship group. They also have an amazing restaurant where they go fro brunch with a sage Mrs C character, who is Greek. Again, I swear I have met this person before, she is so like people I know who have played that exact same character in my life!

There are plenty of moments of real truth as well as comedy in this book. Bea has some issues with her family and spends some time with them, she isn't sure about her career choices and she is obviously questioning her romantic choices. The story about her ex is very real as well and is an unfortunate reality of life. But whilst this story definitely keeps it real there are some proper crying with laughter moments and I had to try really hard to laugh quietly when reading this book in public or when my husband was still asleep!

I wold definitely recommend this read. It is fast-paced and fun, but with a real message that I'm sure we can all relate to. If you are fans of romantic comedy films, you will definitely love this and even if you are not, I will guarantee that this will make you laugh. Download it to read over the holiday period to give yourself some much-needed me time, you won't regret it!

Click here to order your copy now: UK or US

Review: The Break by Marian Keyes

'Myself and Hugh . . . We're taking a break.'
'A city-with-fancy-food sort of break?'

If only. Amy's husband Hugh says he isn't leaving her. He still loves her, he's just taking a break - from their marriage, their children and, most of all, from their life together. Six months to lose himself in south-east Asia. And there is nothing Amy can say or do about it. Yes, it's a mid-life crisis, but let's be clear: a break isn't a break up - yet . . . However, for Amy it's enough to send her - along with her extended family of gossips, misfits and troublemakers - teetering over the edge. For a lot can happen in six-months. When Hugh returns if he returns, will he be the same man she married? And will Amy be the same woman? Because if Hugh is on a break from their marriage, then isn't she?

The Break isn't a story about falling in love but about staying in love. It is Marian Keyes at her funniest, wisest and brilliant best.

Review: Well this book had me in hysterics right from the word go and yet it deals with such a serious topic. I think I had forgotten just how witty Marian Keyes can be, even when dealing with the issue of a marriage coming to an end or not! The way she phrases things, the way her characters react to things, is just so funny and will definitely have you laughing out loud. 

Now the issue of a marriage staying together or not. This really does sound like the kind of issue that would make for heavy reading, and yes the things that Amy goes through over the course of this book are very very real and I really loved that fact that every reaction and her life in every situation whilst she is on her break from Hugh is covered. And yet Amy is just the type of person that deals with things and deals with things in her own way. I think if this issue had been dealt with by another author, this book would have been much darker and  much more 'issues' based. But i loved that fact that Amy was the vehicle for this story, she gets on with her life and deals with her grief in her own way. The book shows Amy at various points before and during her break and we get to count up the days it has been since the announcement. I think that was a great way of structuring it. 

As I mentioned above, Amy is a great character to go on this journey with. She is strong, independent and she has great values, family values and work ethic. Her family are also great to get to know. Marian Keyes always writes great Irish families with slightly bonkers members and they make for great reading. I loved meeting Amy's daughters in this book. They are each so different and unique and I really think they add another layer of depth to the storyline. Hugh also plays a big role in this book even though he isn't always physically present and I think that his growth over the course of the book, has a big hand in Amy's growth and the growth of the girls too. 

My one complaint with this book is that it is a little on the long side. It did take me a while to get through and I kind of regret saving it for a plane journey because I didn't manage to finish it on that journey. I think the length also made me forget some of Amy's friends and family a little too as the book progressed so I was having to try and dredge up relationships as they came and went in the story. Other than that though, this book was an absolute hoot. It deals with the issue of keeping a marriage working, or not working as the case may be. It deals with the issue of what family means to you and it also deals with the issue of self identity. Never does it shove any of these things down your throat though and it is a thoroughly entertaining read. I didn't realise how much I missed Marian Keyes's writing until I picked this book up and fell in love with it all over again!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: I Heart London by Lindsey Kelk

Angela’s back on home turf – and in her biggest romantic scrape yet…

Angela Clark has fallen in love with America – and it’s starting to love her back.

Throw one expired visa into the mix, and things quickly take a turn for the worse.

She might love her life as a Brit in New York, but now she has no choice but to return to London. Not only does she leave behind her gorgeous boyfriend Alex – she must also face unfinished business back on home turf.

There’s the ex-boyfriend – who she moved to New York to get away from.

Then there’s her best friend, with her perfect new baby.

And there’s her mum.

Now, there’s another wedding in the offing – and everyone remembers how well the last one went . . .

Review: Another fabulous book in the I Heart series by Lindsey Kelk. I just cannot get enough of these books! This book sees Angela return to London and I loved that fact that this book is set in both New York and London, both great cities. And we also have Angela staying back with her parents so we get the whole 'I've been away and now I'm back in small town England' type of thing too. This just mixed so well with the story line of these novels. I honestly think that the cities these books are set in contribute so well to the plot and the character development so of course London was going to be fabulous!

Obviously we have an amazing cast of characters in this novel. Angela's mum plays a much bigger part than she usually does and I loved her character in this book. I also loved the way Alex's character changes quite a lot during this novel compared to the previous novel. This is probably because Angela is in denial for a lot of this book, about a lot of things. She reverts back to childhood behaviors when she comes back home, thank goodness Jenny is there to sort her out, although Jenny may have a few issues of her own-I guess Alex to the rescue it is-I loved that!

There are some hilarious moments in this book, as there are in the others in this series, but I think it is made even more funny by the fact that we have some American's in England and some Brits trying to accommodate those Americans. There are also some hilarious moments of people jumping to conclusions they shouldn't. Obviously this is not always a good thing, but what would an I Heart book be without a little drama?

I loved this read and it was a great sequel and a great addition to the series. If you are a Brit who has been living in America too and knows what it is like to go back home, this is definitely the book for you! You don't HAVE to read the other books in the series to read this one, you will get to love the characters either way but I would definitely recommend reading them all-what are you waiting for?

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: If You Could See Me Now By Keris Stainton

Izzy Harris should have it all – but her boyfriend has been ignoring her for months, she’s been overlooked for a promotion, and the owner of her local coffee shop pervs on her every time she has a craving for a salted caramel muffin.

Then her life is unexpectedly turned upside down.

Izzy dumps her oblivious boyfriend, and leaps on the chance to win a big pitch at work. Needing to work closely with gorgeous colleague Alex is an added perk…

But then her best friend has her heart broken, the pitch is way more complicated than expected, and Alex is keeping secrets. Does Izzy have what it takes to help her friend, save her career and get the guy?

Review: Oh this was such a fun read and just the kind of thing I was looking for. This is a classic romantic comedy with a healthy dose of decent sex and just a little twist in the tale. This book made me laugh out loud but also made me think. It;s a book about relationships but also about friendship and female empowerment. 

This was an incredibly quick read because of all those reasons above. It has short chapters, which I love and sped up the pace a bit too. This book surround Izzy and her quest to get her work life, her personal life and her relationship life on track. I loved her as a main character because she is just so much fun. She is optimistic and yet she knows the realities of every day life. I think this is helped by the fact that she has been living in London for a while and she is a lady who knows how to take care of herself. She has also been coasting through life until a couple of events happen to her, including this big work pitch and she realises she is worth more than that. I found her so easy to get along with and could definitely recognise her in a few of my friends!

Her best mate Tash is definitely a good influence on her, even if those from the outside might think quite the opposite. I think these two made a great team. At first they seem to be kind of ying and yang, but as the book progresses, we see just how alike they are and just what bonds their friendship together. Obviously we have possible love interest Alex too, he is an interesting character and it takes a while to work him out but I am really glad he came into the picture! There are a couple of villains too which help to make up a great cast for this novel. 

I really like the fact that this book does definitely touch on female empowerment. It is really all about Izzy taking back that control and along the way she learns some invaluable lessons. She does get a little help from her friends but really she is an independent woman with a lot going for her and once she realises this, she knows that she's got this and i loved this message coming through throughout the novel. There are also some fabulous sex scenes in this book which definitely help to balance it out and just make it an even more fun read. There's nothing too offensive but I would give a little public service warning not to read too much of this book in public; a, because you'll find yourself laughing out loud and b, because you may find yourself blushing just a little. 

This was a great read. If you're a fan of Keris's other books, you'll see her wicked sense of humour coming through in this one, but if you are new to her novels, this is a great place to start. Get this one ordered now, a definite read if you're looking for something to cheer you up this summer!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: Boys Don't Knit (In Public) by TS Easton

Meet Ben Fletcher, an Adrian Mole for a new generation

Ben Fletcher must get to grips with his more 'feminine' side following an unfortunate incident with a lollipop lady and a stolen bottle of Martini Rosso from Waitrose. All a big misunderstanding of course.

To avoid the Young Offenders unit, Ben is ordered to give something back to the community and develop his sense of social alignment. Take up a hobby and keep on the straight and narrow. The hot teacher he likes runs a knitting group so Ben, reluctantly at first, gets 'stuck in'. Not easy when your dad is a sports fan and thinks Jeremy Clarkson is God. To his surprise, Ben finds that he likes knitting and that he has a mean competitive streak. If he can just keep it all a secret from his mates...and notice that the girl of his dreams, girl-next-door Megan Hooper has a bit of a thing for him...

Review: wow I really totally loved this book. I felt like I was watching a TV show about some unlikely lads and how they all got themselves in and out of trouble. I laughed so much reading this and just generally had a jolly good time. 

I think it was interesting that the whole premise behind this book is that Ben is doing things that are all requirements of his probation and yet I found myself forgetting so often that he had done something wrong and was now dealing with the consequences. I really liked Ben as a character and he really does seem like a decent stand up gentleman. There are even knitting magazines hidden under his bed where you might expect other kinds of magazines to be hiding as well. Ben's friends, as I mentioned above, are also interesting characters. They just remind me of the lads that I went to school with and one of them is even attempting to write a sort of Fifty Shades of Grey spin off novel-how hilarious is that?

This book is very very funny but there are also some decent messages for life in here too. Ben really does grow and change because of his court mandated knitting and community service. He really is a decent person to start with but gains a level of maturity throughout the novel. He also finds out what happens when a lie spirals out of control. There is a little romance in this novel, and not just between Ben's parents (who are very much as embarrassing as a teenage boy's parents should be) and I liked that there was just a smattering of that left in there. Despite the fact that there is some slightly offensive language in there and allusions to sex in some scenes, I think this would definitely be something entertaining for the younger end of the YA audience, with those disclosures in mind. 

This is a very British read, despite me having read the US version and translating certain things in my head as I went along and I loved that about it. I really enjoyed getting to know Ben and his friends and also getting to know a little bit more about knitting and football (soccer). I would definitely recommend this read, it was very funny and thoroughly entertaining!

To get your copy now, click here!

Review: Big Sexy Love by Kirsty Greenwood

Olive Brewster is a scaredy cat. She doesn't do new or risky. She’s happy enough with her job at the local market, it’s cool that she has no boyfriend to fret over, she even likes that she still lives in her childhood home. No drama, no fuss, no problems. Everything is fine. Super duper fine.

Except … Olive's best friend in the world​, Birdie, is dying.

Birdie has one final wish. She wants to track down her first love, Chuck, and because she's stuck in the hospital she needs Olive's help to do it. But there’s a teeny problem: Chuck is somewhere in New York and Olive has never even left her home town, let alone roamed the crazy streets of Manhattan.

As if the big city isn't scary enough, Olive has to contend with Seth, a cocky comedy TV writer who thinks she’s a joke; Anders, a bored socialite who’s taken a shine to her; and the fact that no matter how hard she tries to track down Chuck, he doesn't seem to want to be found.

Can Olive learn to overcome her fears, abandon her old safe routine and fulfil her best friend’s last wish? It's going to take extra bravery, one badass attitude and a whole lot of big sexy love to make this happen …

 

Review: I loved this book so much. Kirsty Greenwood is now a total auto buy author for me because her books just absolutely blow me away with the storyline, the characters and her ability to write such epic romances that happen to such real and likable characters. Seriously I enjoyed this book so so much!

 

The characters in this book are so easy to get to know and so easy to like and so right from the beginning you feel that they are your friends and you are ready to get stuck into their story and take this journey with them. I loved the fact that Olive begins this story and someone who chooses to lead a fairly sheltered life, and she's absolutely fine with that. I also love the fact that she works on a fish stall-when was the last time you read a book about a fishmonger? Her best friend Birdie is fabulous and they interact just like me and my best friend, I'm sure all readers will be saying the same thing! Birdie is great and we know right from the start that she has a terminal illness, but she doesn't let that hold her back and Kirsty doesn't let that cast a dark shadow over the novel at all.

 

There a whole host of other character to love and love to hate as well. The fabulous Seth, funny little Colin; Anders the GBF and Olive's family. I absolutely loved meeting everyone and getting to know how they were going to play a part in Olive's story. New York is obviously another fabulous character in this book. Everyone knows I love a story set in New York and the fact that I was there whilst I was reading it made it even more fun! I loved the fact that there are views of the city from the river and they even go over to Staten Island. Olive gets to live in an actual apartment as well, something which most tourists won't get to do.

 

Another thing which I really enjoyed about the book was the way it was structured. The chapters are a great length, not to long and just short enough that you bargain just one more with yourself again and again when you are totally supposed to be somewhere else other than the pages of Olive's story. Each chapter begins with a text or a tweet, sometimes multiple and these can be really really funny. In fact the book made me laugh out loud many many times! I also cried in public and shouted 'bitch!' at one of the characters in the book, thankfully I was in a noisy Starbucks so that was ok!

 

This is a great read and I guarantee you will fly through it. I really recognised myself in some of these characters and loved spending time with them! There is such fabulous romance and just a really great story and setting. You don't have to have read Kirsty's other books to read this one, it would be a great intro to this fab author,. This would also be great to read at any time of year but I definitely recommend reading it right now because you will love it!

 

To order your copy now, just click the link! UK or US

Review: Lobsters by Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison

Sam and Hannah only have the holidays to find 'The One'. Their lobster. But instead of being epic, their summer is looking awkward. They must navigate social misunderstandings, the plotting of well-meaning friends, and their own fears of being virgins for ever to find happiness. But fate is at work to bring them together. And in the end, it all boils down to love.

Review: Why did I wait so long to read this book? I know I am always saying this but I bought this book when it first came out in the UK and so it has been sitting on my shelf that long waiting to entertain me. I loved this read right from the word go. It was entertaining, funny and relatable. I loved the fact that it is a YA novel but it is about grown up, British teenagers. Something which is often hard to find. This book is all about that summer between school and university when people are going off on group holidays, heading to festivals, travelling to their gap years, finding jobs and waiting for those exam results. Most people have gone through that time and so it is about time someone wrote a novel about how weird a time it is!

This is also a love story obviously. But, like all real relationships things aren't smooth and happy and jolly, there are some total cringe moments, as well as some hugely funny misunderstandings and I loved that about it. These characters of course, bring these situations to life and I loved spending time with Hannah and Sam and their groups of friends. Sam's group of friends felt just like watching an episode of the Inbetweeners and I think that's one of the reasons I found them so hilarious. Hannah's group is the usual frenemies situation and are always talking about sex and losing their virginity (remember when that's all you and your friends could talk about?). I really enjoyed the dynamic between them and any of them could have been the people I went to school with. 

I listened to this book on audiobook and because it is a dual narrative, this worked really well. The only aspect of the audiobook that let it down a little was the fact that the narrator gave Tilly a really squeaky voice so that she sounded 4 and not 18! The romantic aspect of the book isn't rammed down your throat, this is a funny story about growing up more than it is about relationships and so don;'t be put off by that. There are some very real relationship moments and I loved the bits that really were sweet in there, because that's real life isn't it? I just really loved this book, I loved what it stood for I loved the humour and I really want to know where these characters all are now!

To get your copy, just click the link UK or US

Review: The One With The White Wedding (Bridesmaids Part 4) by Erin Lawless

This is the fourth part in a four part series and so there may be spoilers for the previous 3 parts in the blurb or in my review. I've tried super hard to keep them out but you have been warned!

Nora Dervan is ready for her Happy Ever After. With her darling Harry waiting at the altar, and all her family and friends around her. She is certain that her special day will not be forgotten/will be one to remember…

But with her four bridesmaids hiding more secrets, than bottles of champagne. Will her big day be remembered for all the right reasons?

Bea has barely gotten past the fact that her two best friends are dating, and now they’re engaged, whilst cupid’s arrow points in a forbidden direction for Cleo. She is so distracted by her off limits, hot new colleague that she has forgotten Daisy, who has been left dreading the singles table. There’s more romance in the cheesy pick- up lines than Sarah’s own marriage, which hasn’t turned out as she hoped it would be.

Review: I love the characters from this series and so I was so excited to re-join them for one last story and find out just how the story ends for all of them. Obviously we have all the usual characters there. We have Sarah and Cole who are wonderful in this instalment, I really feel like they come into their own as they cope with the things being thrown at them by this terrific author. Then we have bride to be Nora and Fiancee Harry. I just love how chilled out these two are and I feel privileged to be invited to their wedding. 

Then there's Daisy. Again I feel like she really grows up a lot in this particular installment. She is pure comedy value up until now and the voice of fun, and she's by no means a downer this time around but she reveals a softer side to herself, bridesmaids duty can do that to a person! And finally, my favourites Cleo and Gray. I love these two (and not just because they are fellow teachers) I don't feel like the focus is as much on either of them in the beginning of this episode, you have to wait until the end to get any answers about what the future hold for those two! There are also obviously other family members in this installment, because it is the one with the wedding and there are some obvious funny family wedding moments, but mostly this book focuses on our bride and her bridesmaids and I loved that about it. 

This series is so realistic about what it is like to be part of a female friendship group and what it can be like leading up to a wedding for all of those people involved in that wedding and that's something that I love about Erin Lawless's writing. Like a good observational comic, she goes witch what can really go wrong and right for people in real life and then combines it all with witty anecdotes from others and curve balls thrown at her characters. This book made me laugh, it made me cry, and that goes for the whole series, not just this installment. I loved every moment of this series and between episodes, the characters stayed with me. I would have loved an epilogue to find out where they all are now, but I'm hoping that no epilogue means that we're going to hear from some of them again in the future! 

If you haven't already read this series, you're in luck! You don't have to wait for any more episodes to come out, they are all there to gorge upon and have the same laughs and emotions that I did reading this, or you can buy the whole book in bulk-go forth and enjoy in engagement and hen party and wedding capers!

Click here to buy the series now!

Bridesmaids Ep 1

Bridesmaids Ep 2

Bridesmaids Ep 3

Bridesmaids Ep 4

The One With All the Bridesmaids. (out on 21st July)

Guest Review: A Night In With Grace Kelly by Lucy Holliday

Fate has got it in for Libby Lomax. She realised, far too late, that her best friend Olly, is the actual Love of Her Life. Now he’s in love with the so-nice-it-hurts, Tash, and it looks like her happy ending is completely out of reach.

Things start looking up when she, quite literally, runs into the completely gorgeous Joel. Libby discovers that there is more to Joel than his six-pack, not least, the incredible fact that he honestly believes he has found his fairy tale princess in her.

And if this wasn’t enough, an unwanted guest shows up on Libby’s enchanted sofa; Grace Kelly, wearing her iconic wedding dress and convinced that Libby is figment of her imagination. But Grace also believes that if you want something, then you’ve got to make it happen; words which give Libby hope that happy endings aren’t just for fairy tale princesses…

Review: This is the final part of a trilogy by Lucy Holliday, following on from A Night In With Audrey Hepburn and A Night In With Marilyn Monroe. The question with trilogies is always whether each part can be read as a standalone. In this case, I would suggest that it would be best to read all three in order, as there is a central story running through them; but then I would suggest that you should read them all just because they are so good. They are without doubt some of the funniest books I have read. It does help if you can suspend belief a bit, as magic forms the basis of the stories. 

The central character in all three stories is Libby Lomax, a lovely girl with a dreadful overpowering mother and an equally awful sister. It's just as well she has long time best friend Olly to look after her and keep her grounded. Having found somewhere to live, he is the one who helped her find some furniture, including a sofa which turns out to have some strange powers and play a big part in the story.  In this book, Libby, as the title suggests, has a  surprise meeting with long dead actress Grace Kelly, dressed in her fabulous and iconic wedding gown. As in previous parts of this series, Libby is given very good advice by her actor friend in an attempt to help her sort out both her love life and her future in general. 

I really loved this story and would highly recommend it to anyone. Libby Lomax is such an endearing character, persevering through all that befalls her. Her friend Olly is also lovely; you can't help feeling that they belong together. As I said at the beginning, the book is really funny; a cleverly written combination of romance and comedy with a little sprinkle of magic. 

To get your fabulous copy now, click here!

Review: The Mills and Boon Modern Girl's Guide to Turning Into Your Mother by Ada Adverse

Perfect for mothers' day here in the US!

Have you ever…?

A) Opened your mouth and heard your mother come out?

B) Wondered whether a bunch of flowers and breakfast in bed once a year really makes up for the 37 hours your mum spent in St Agnes’ Maternity Ward?

C) Voiced a heartfelt opinion on the weather?

If so, the Mills & Boon Modern Girl’s Guide to Turning Into Your Mother is for you: a guide to the joys of motherhood – with a feminist twist.

Review: now I am not a mother, but when I received this book, just before mothers day, I had to dive right in. This book follows the current trend for books in the style of children's how to books but with grown-up funny things on each page. This structure of this one is that it is an A-Z of things that mums and perhaps their children too, do and feel every day. Of course there is a comedy twist to it and I laughed my way through this one. 

This book would make the perfect gift for anyone who is a mum because there are definitely things in here that any mum will be able to relate to such a not being able to go to the bathroom on your own or one day of breakfast in bed making up for all the other stuff you have to deal with on a daily basis. Of course this is the guide for turning into your mother and so I found things resonating with me, as a get older, despite the fact that I am not a mum yet. 

Whether you have children or not, I am sure that you will be able to find the humour in this book. I read this one from cover to cover in one sitting, reading most pages out loud to my parents who were also in the room. This book could be picked up again and again however, providing a bit of light relief and humour just when you need it. Since mother's day is over in the UK, consider this one for your next gift giving occasion, Easter, Birthdays etc because I can assure you, it will be very much appreciated!

Here's the link to order now!

Review: Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

In LET'S PRETEND THIS NEVER HAPPENED, Jenny Lawson baffled readers with stories about growing up the daughter of a taxidermist. In her new book, FURIOUSLY HAPPY, Jenny explores her lifelong battle with mental illness. A hysterical, ridiculous book about crippling depression and anxiety? That sounds like a terrible idea. And terrible ideas are what Jenny does best.

According to Jenny: "Some people might think that being 'furiously happy' is just an excuse to be stupid and irresponsible and invite a herd of kangaroos over to your house without telling your husband first because you suspect he would say no since he's never particularly liked kangaroos. And that would be ridiculous because no one would invite a herd of kangaroos into their house. Two is the limit. I speak from personal experience. My husband says that none is the new limit. I say he should have been clearer about that before I rented all those kangaroos."

"Most of my favorite people are dangerously fucked-up but you'd never guess because we've learned to bare it so honestly that it becomes the new normal. Like John Hughes wrote in The Breakfast Club, 'We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it.' Except go back and cross out the word 'hiding.'"

Jenny's first book, LET'S PRETEND THIS NEVER HAPPENED, was ostensibly about family, but deep down it was about celebrating your own weirdness. FURIOUSLY HAPPY is a book about mental illness, but under the surface it's about embracing joy in fantastic and outrageous ways-and who doesn't need a bit more of that? 

Review: you've probably heard me talking about this book on social media, or talking about wanting this book on this blog, or heard me laughing at this book in the gym! This book did no disappoint. I didn't read Jenny Lawson's first book, but this fabulous cover caught my eye in Target, then I heard people talking about the premise of this book on Twitter and I knew that I had to have it. Sometimes books like this that pop up again and again in front of you can be a disappointment when they actually arrive but I loved this books so much, it did not let me down! 

The structure of this book is a collection of essays and a bit like a good comedy show, they link together and gel together well to form this fabulous book, these essays deal with all sorts of thing that life can throw at us concerning personal life, professional life, family life, mental health, food, transport, travel, work everything under the sun. This book will also provide you with amazing facts about creatures you knew little about before, about taxidermy and about all sorts of health (physical and mental) issues. It really could be a go-to guide it is that interesting. The authors style is somewhat erratic and chatty but that is just how I like a non-fiction book and so this was absolutely perfect for me. If you like your books ordered and very much 'by the book' (excuse the pun) then perhaps you will not like this style of writing, but for me, this was absolutely perfect. 

This books does deal with all sorts of mental, and other, health issues and so there is a serious side to it but Jenny Lawson is so open and honest about everything, at no point does it feel heavy or preachy or scary. She is open about her anxiety, she is open about how her depression makes her act, she is open about the struggles she faces but the stuff that she does anyway. There are moments in the book where she perfectly sums up society's attitude to depression and how frustrating it is and she challenges all of that right here in this book. It seems crazy to say that I was laughing along at a book that deals with mental health issues but I seriously was. I could identify with so much of it and Jenny Lawson's anecdotes are just the funniest and because she narrated the audiobook, which I listened to,  the way she tells each story and structures each chapter is just so on point. 

Even if you have no interest in the subject of mental health, even if you have never even heard of some of the things discussed in this book you need to get this in your collection now. The structure means that you can dip in and out of it and when you need a pick-me-up (which we all do) jump to to the chapter that is right for you. You won't regret it!