Guest Review: How to be an Ex Footballer By Peter Crouch

Often recruited before they've worn long trousers, today's footballers become superstars who earn huge amounts without ever learning much about the world beyond the training ground. Coddled by their support teams, everything is done for them. They live their lives in the glaring media spotlight, yet only really develop one life skill - how to kick a ball better. Then inevitably, when age catches up with them or injury strikes, these

man-children are thrown out into the real world, utterly defenceless apart from their multi-million-pound bank accounts.

So what do these Peter Pans, whose careers end just as most people's are getting going, do with the rest of their lives? Crouch speaks from his own experience and discusses with fellow former professionals too - just how do you safely release a near seven-foot striker back into the wild?

Peter goes in search of the answer to what his second career might be and encounters stories far more bizarre than anything you'll find on the pitch. From the pleasure and pain of management to the lessons we can learn from Jamie Carragher and Joe Cole on not going to seed. From those staying in the sport - the diehard veterans, coaches, managers, owners and of course the legion of pundits, to those moving on to pastures new. Peter talks to entrepreneurs, men of the cloth, eco warriors, artists, private detectives and budding actors, as well as those who've lost their way in addiction, crime and NFTs.

Review: Peter Crouch is a former footballer who, in his 20 year professional career, scored over 100 goals in the Premier League and holds the record for the most headed goals in that League (he may refer to this record once or twice in the book). He also represented England on 42 occasions, scoring 22 goals for his country. He retired from playing at the end of the 2018-2019 season. This book is a natural sequel to his previous two books, “How to be a Footballer” and “How to be Footballer 2”.

In this book, the author documents how ex footballers move from a high earning and heavily regimented world into one where they have to fend for themselves. He does this by exploring the different opportunities that may lie ahead. The book is divided into chapters covering the various options available, including the more obvious ones of coaching and management to radio and television punditry. There are also chapters covering other career options such as the worlds of finance or politics. There are a number of interviews with former footballers about the path they have followed since retiring and why they chose it, together with the author’s thoughts on how he would cope with that particular choice. As in his previous books, his sense of humour comes through. However, there is a more serious note in one chapter that discusses the struggles that a number of ex players have had with various issues since retiring.

So, if you want to know which ex footballers went on to have careers as: a funeral director; a hedge fund manager; a police detective; a pastor; or even President of Liberia, then this book, which is both humorous and thought provoking, is the one for you.

To order your copy now, just click here!

Review: Coming Undone by Terri White

To everyone else, Terri White appeared to be living the dream, named one of Folio’s Top Women in US Media and accruing further awards for the magazines she was editing. In reality, she was rapidly skidding towards a mental health crisis that would land her in a locked psychiatric ward as her past caught up with her.

As well as growing up in a household in poverty, Terri endured sexual and physical abuse at the hands of a number of her mother’s partners. Her success defied all expectations, but the greater the disparity between her outer achievements and inner demons, the more she struggled to hold everything together.

Coming Undone is Terri’s documentation of her unravelling, and her precarious navigation back from a life in pieces.

Review: This book comes with care warnings for addiction, self harm, suicide, abuse and sexual assault. 

Those care warnings do mean that this book is a challenging read at times but challenging in the best possible way. This is not a book you will pick up and breeze through in one sitting. You have to take this book in decent doses and sit with it a while before moving onto a new chapter. And sit with you this book will, I am still thinking about all of the things that this writer has overcome and gone through in her life. This is a very transparent account of being a recovering addict and battling with mental health issues. 

Not only did it strike me how honest this book was, something i greatly appreciated, but this book is written so well it is almost poetic at times. It is tough to get your head round how something so horrific could be written in such a beautiful way and how things which might seem normal and even nice to some people can be so incredibly painful to others. 

I loved that this memoir is not necessarily linear but more of a reflection and so therefore events and experiences link back to others. I liked that we got a full account of what it is like to be hospitalized on a psychiatric hold and how childhood trauma can have a whole host of effects in later life. This book was an eye opener for me and I really recommend listening to the audio as it is read by the author. Take the care warnings into consideration when picking this up but I do recommend this audiobook to you. 

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

Guest Review: Psycho: The Autobiography By Stuart Pearce

In an era of superstar prima donnas, Stuart Pearce's total commitment on the pitch earned him the affection of football fans everywhere, who nicknamed him Psycho. He will forever be remembered for two penalties - one missed and scored - for England, but there is so much more to him than that. This book reveals the fascinating story of one of football's greatest personalities. PSYCHO is as honest and straightforward as the man himself.

Review: Stuart Pearce is a professional football player and manager. During his playing days, he earned a reputation as a tough, uncompromising defender. He made over 500 league appearances and was capped 78 times for England. Due to his playing style, he was nicknamed “Psycho” by the fans. However, his disciplinary record was reasonably good and he received very few red cards, certainly fewer than such an epithet would suggest. He states in the book that if he was shown a yellow card during a match, he would tone down his subsequent play to avoid a second yellow.

Born in west London, he did not follow a conventional route into professional football but, instead, played for non-league side Wealdstone for five seasons whilst training and working as an electrician. He was signed by Coventry City, with whom he spent two seasons, before signing for Nottingham Forest where he spent twelve seasons, comprising the bulk of his playing career. This was followed by short spells with Newcastle United, West Ham United and Manchester City.

The book describes his childhood and his introduction to the game, along with many of the colourful characters with whom he has played and under whose management he has served. It also includes his international career playing for England. His time with the national team coincided with two semi-final appearances, one in the World Cup in 1990 and one in the European Championship in 1996. Both of these games were decided by penalty shootouts, and there is a whole chapter in the book devoted to penalties.

Published in 2000, the book describes the author’s playing career up to his first season at West Ham United. During his time at Nottingham Forest, he took over as player/manager for a short period from December 1996 until May 1997. The last chapter in the book describes his thoughts on going into management when his playing career is finished. Since the publication of the book, this is what he has done, filling a number of coaching and managerial roles at both club and international level.

I found the book to be a fascinating account of someone who did not take a conventional route into professional football, although I found the timeline jumped around on occasions. It will interest all football fans, giving an insight into someone who was a formidable opponent on the field, but who comes across as a grounded, family man off it.

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

Guest Review: Ben Stokes On Fire By Ben Stokes

Early evening on Sunday 14th July 2019. Lord's Cricket Ground in London. Something had just happened in the sport of cricket that had never happened before: England had won the Cricket World Cup for the very first time since the tournament's inception in 1975. 

At the epicentre of England's historic triumph was Ben Stokes, the talismanic all-rounder with an insatiable appetite for The Big Occasion. He contributed an absolutely critical 84 runs off 98 balls when England batted, a seemingly nerveless innings of discipline and maturity. Thrillingly, it was enough to tie the scores at 241 runs each, so the match reverted to a Super Over - just six balls for each side to bat in the ultimate in sporting sudden death. Stokes and his batting partner, Jos Buttler, saw England to 15 runs off their over. When it was finally confirmed that Martin Guptill had been run out off the very last ball of New Zealand's Super Over with the scores once again level, England had astonishingly won on the boundary count-back, and the nation could finally breathe again.

Early evening on Sunday 25th August 2019. A sun-drenched Headingley in Leeds. Having been bowled out for just 67 earlier in the Third Test, England were facing the prospect of failing to regain the Ashes. In their second innings England were still 73 runs short of victory with a solitary wicket remaining. Australia were near certainties to retain the Ashes there and then. Cue one of the most amazing innings ever witnessed as Ben Stokes thrashed the Australian bowlers to all corners of the ground, in the process scoring 135 not out, driving England to a barely believable one-wicket victory and keeping the series very much alive. The nation took another breath. 

In his brand-new book, Ben Stokes tells the story of England's electrifying first ever Cricket World Cup triumph as well as this summer's momentous Ashes Test series. It is the ultimate insider's account of the most nerve-shredding but riveting three-and-a-half months in English cricket history.  

Review: During a remarkable summer of 2019, the England cricket team won the Cricket World Cup and contested a memorable Ashes Test Match series with Australia, drawing 2-2. Ben Stokes played a major part in both the World Cup and the Test Match series. This book is his story of that summer, with particular emphasis on two Sundays, July 14th and August 25th.

At the start of the World Cup tournament, England were the favourites. They were in good form going into the tournament and were playing on home soil. After a bit of a wobble during the group stage of the competition, England entered the final two matches of this stage needing to win them both if they were to progress to the semi-finals. This they achieved and, after winning their semi-final, they went through to the final against New Zealand at Lord’s on Sunday 14th July. Batting second, they were losing wickets at regular intervals whilst chasing down New Zealand’s score. Ben had come in after the fall of England’s third wicket and was determined to be there at the end to see England home. He describes the excitement of facing the 50th, and final, over when England needed 15 runs to win. Off the final ball, England needed two runs to win, but could manage only a single, meaning that, after both sides had batted for 50 overs, the scores were level. This meant that, for the first time in the history of the World Cup, the game went into a Super Over. Each team would bowl one further over to be faced by two nominated batsmen to decide the winner. England batted first, with Ben as one of the nominated batters, and scored 15. It was now New Zealand's turn to bat for one over. Again, needing two to win off the final ball, they managed only a single. This meant that the scores were tied, but the rules of the competition stated that in this event, the team scoring more boundaries during their innings would be declared the winner and, on boundary count-back, England had won the World Cup for the first time.

Following such a pulsating World Cup, it would have been difficult to predict that the rest of the summer would throw up more drama. However, the World Cup was followed by a series of five Test Matches against Australia for the Ashes. These matches are always fiercely contested. After losing the first match and drawing the second one, England went into the third match at Headingley knowing that should Australia win, they would retain the Ashes. This was looking highly likely when England, batting second, were dismissed for 67 in their first innings. Following their second innings, Australia posted a target of 359 runs for England to chase. Ben went in after the fall of the third wicket on the evening of the third day and was there at the close of play when England had scored 156. The fourth day was Sunday 25th August. England applied themselves to their batting but wickets were starting to fall. When the ninth wicket went down and the last batsman came to the crease to join Ben, England still required 73 runs to win. The following phase of play is the stuff of legends and is up there with a previous sensational victory England pulled off at the same venue in 1981.

Following England’s win at Headingley to level the series, Australia won the fourth Test, thereby retaining the Ashes, and England won the fifth and final Test.

The book is the author’s personal recollection of a truly memorable summer, with particular attention being paid to the pivotal role he played on those two aforementioned Sundays. I found reading the accounts of these matches as exciting as being there. (In fact, I had a ticket for the fifth day’s play of the Test Match at Headingley, but the match finished a day early.) I would recommend this book to all cricket lovers.

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

Guest Review: Ben Stokes Firestarter By Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes is not cast in the same mould as the vast majority of English cricketers. Fiery, combative, gladiatorial - he plays the game hard and with great gusto. He is an all-rounder who bats, bowls and fields at full throttle.

Stokes impresses with his physical stature and muscular brand of cricket. He doesn't back down, smashing the next ball for six, bowling his 90 mph "chin music", or taking a breathtakingly full-stretch catch at backward point.

Whether it's thrashing the fastest ever Test century at Lord's or the quickest ever Test double-hundred by an Englishman or destroying the Australian batting at Trent Bridge, Stokes plays the game he loves with his heart on his sleeve and with 100% effort and commitment. Cricket fans adore him for it.

His very first book focuses on the pivotal moments in his life and career so far. These episodes are vibrant, emotional, poignant - revealing the man in three dimensions, red in tooth and claw. From being forged as a young boy in New Zealand, to moving to Cumbria at the age of 11, to playing county cricket for Durham and then onto the England team, this book provides a riveting insight into one of the most exhilarating figures in sport today.

Review: This is the autobiography of the England cricketer Ben Stokes. Born in New Zealand, he moved to Cumbria aged 12 with his family when his father, a rugby league coach, was appointed as coach of Workington Town.

The book describes his childhood, firstly in New Zealand and subsequently in Cockermouth in Cumbria. Having been a keen sportsman since his earliest childhood, he was soon selected for representative cricket teams in Cumbria, before signing a professional contract with Durham County Cricket Club. He made his debut for the England One Day International Team in 2011, and for the England Test Match Team in 2013 during an Ashes Tour in Australia. It was during this tour that he scored his maiden Test Match century. His further cricketing exploits and his family life are described.

This book was published in 2016, so the author’s performances only up until the end of his season through injury in the summer of that year are described. It is a must read for all cricket fans and gives an insight into his personality and competitive spirit. His achievements during what would turn out out to be a remarkable summer of 2019 are described in a further book (and will be the subject of a further review).

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

Review: What Have I Done? by Laura Dockrill

This is a raw, courageous and honest recovery story that breaks the silence on one of life’s best-kept secrets. Written from the front-line of mental illness, this heartbreaking and uplifting memoir is about resilience, love and finding your way to the other side.

Laura couldn't wait to meet her new baby. But as she went into labour things began to go wrong and Laura started to struggle. A traumatic birth, anxiety about the baby, sleep deprivation, a slow recovery – all these things piled up until Laura (like any new mum) felt overwhelmed.

As many as 8 out of 10 new mums struggle in the weeks after birth. Laura had never experienced mental illness before and was reassured by family, friends and professionals that what she was feeling was ‘normal.’ But in Laura's case these feelings escalated scarily quickly into post-partum psychosis; a rare and debilitating illness. Within a matter of days Laura became paranoid, delusional and suicidal. And when her baby was just three weeks old, on Mother’s Day, Laura was institutionalised without her baby. Throughout this time she was haunted by a sense of: 'What have I done?'

It wasn’t until Laura began to put her story into words (on her phone whilst her son slept) that she began to find herself again and recovery seemed within reach; these are those words.

Despite this gruelling experience, Laura’s story is a hopeful one. Not only has she got better, she has come out the other side stronger and more assured. Now she is determined to break the stigma around post-natal mental health, shatter the romanticised expectations of perfect motherhood, and to empower parents: you are not alone.

Review: I feel very lucky to have been able to listen to this book on audio. I pre-ordered the audiobook of this memoir because I knew I wanted to read it in Laura’s own words and having her tell me her story herself was truly a powerful experience. It's definitely the best audiobook experience I have had in a long time. 

This book is raw and open and honest and tough to read at points but it is so necessary and I am in awe of Laura Dockrill for sharing this story with us. I feel like not enough people talk about the mental health surrounding new mothers. People talk about baby blues and that is generally dismissed and yet there is such a need for this to be taken more seriously and for people to speak up about their experiences because this is such an important time in the lives of any family. 

There are definitely moments in this book that could be triggering for anyone who has been through childbirth, new mothers or anyone who has struggled with mental health in any way so do exercise care when picking this book up. If you are able to though, i highly recommend giving this a read because I learned so much about the way mental health is viewed in new mothers, the way the health service in England deals with concerns of a new or expectant mother as well as very personal thoughts and feelings from this writer during her period of recovery. 

It almost feels wrong to be ‘reviewing’ this book because this is someone’s personal experience and therefore is valid in every possible way. So this review is basically me recommending this read to anyone who feels able to pick it up. It is an incredibly powerful read and I am sure it will be helpful and definitely a source of comfort to a great many people. 

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

Review: Inside Out by Demi Moore

Famed American actress Demi Moore at last tells her own story in a surprisingly intimate and emotionally charged memoir.

For decades, Demi Moore has been synonymous with celebrity. From iconic film roles to high-profile relationships, Moore has never been far from the spotlight – or the headlines.

Even as Demi was becoming the highest paid actress in Hollywood, however, she was always outrunning her past, just one step ahead of the doubts and insecurities that defined her childhood. Throughout her rise to fame and during some of the most pivotal moments of her life, Demi battled addiction, body image issues, and childhood trauma that would follow her for years – all while juggling a skyrocketing career and at times negative public perception.  As her success grew, Demi found herself questioning if she belonged in Hollywood, if she was a good mother, a good actress – and, always, if she was simply good enough.

As much as her story is about adversity, it is also about tremendous resilience. In this deeply candid and reflective memoir, Demi pulls back the curtain and opens up about her career and personal life – laying bare her tumultuous relationship with her mother, her marriages, her struggles balancing stardom with raising a family, and her journey toward open heartedness. Inside Out is a story of survival, success, and surrender – a wrenchingly honest portrayal of one woman’s at once ordinary and iconic life.

Review: Well this book was a really wild ride. It was intriguing and really gripped me from the first page. I had heard a lot of scandal about this one but I didn't know I was going to learn so much about a person I know very little about. 

Obviously I have seen some of Demi Moore's films and I have read about her relationships in gossip magazines but it was really great to hear what she had to say and to learn an awful lot about her through this audio book. She narrates the book and it was wonderful spending the day listening to her tell me about her life. 

This book really does go deep. You have heard that it contains scandalous confession, but to me this book was just a woman baring all for her memoir. I earned about the hard work she has put into her career and also what she has had to overcome from her past. She talks openly about relationships, good and bad. Health issues and the issues facing women today. She does recognise her privilege and you can tell that she values her children over all else. Demi Moore came off really well from reading this book. I liked the fact that her sense of humour came across and I feel like a learned a lot reading this book. 

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

Guest Review: Always Managing: My Autobiography By Harry Redknapp

‘From kicking a ball as a kid under the street lamps of Poplar and standing on Highbury's North Bank with my dad, to my first game at West Ham, I was born head over heels in love with football. It saved me, and 50 years on that hasn't changed one bit - I'd be lost without it…’

Harry is the manager who has seen it all - from a dismal 70s Portakabin at Oxford City and training pitches with trees in the middle to the unbeatable highs of the Premiership, lifting the FA Cup and taking on Real Madrid in the Champions League. With his much loved, no-nonsense delivery, Harry brings us a story filled with passion and humour that takes you right inside every drama of his career.

Harry finally tells the full story of all the controversial ups and downs - the pain and heartache of his court case, the England job, his love for Bobby Moore, his adventures at Portsmouth with Milan Mandaric, the Southampton debacle, Tottenham and Daniel Levy, and not forgetting his years at West Ham or the challenges at his current club QPR.

It’s the epic journey of one of the great managers and, along the way, the story of the British game itself over the last five decades. In an era now dominated by foreign coaches Harry is the last of an old-fashioned breed of English football man - one who has managed to move with the times and always come out fighting.

Review: This is the second autobiography by the former footballer and football manager Harry Redknapp, written with the assistance of Martin Samuel. It describes his career as a footballer, playing on the right wing for the Tottenham Hotspur youth team, before playing the bulk of his career as a professional footballer for West Ham United and Bournemouth. Following the end of his playing days in England, he had a spell playing and coaching in the USA for Seattle and Phoenix.

On returning to England, he had periods as manager of numerous clubs, including Bournemouth, West Ham United, Portsmouth, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers. The book describes, in an informal, almost conversational, style his experiences over this time, including such high points as steering Portsmouth to FA Cup victory in 2008 and managing Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Champions League. There are numerous anecdotes throughout describing many of the colourful characters he has met during his career. These include the England legend Bobby Moore, alongside whom Harry played at West Ham United, and the talented, if temperamental, Italian player Paulo Di Canio whom Harry managed at the same club. It is interesting to read about the contrast between the culture of British footballers during the 1960s and that of more recent years when the influx of overseas footballers resulted in a change in attitudes towards training, conditioning and nutrition. There are also numerous stories about the relationships, good and bad, he has had with chairmen and staff members of various football clubs he has managed.

Although the bulk of the book is concerned with football, there are details of his private life. This includes a chapter devoted to his trial, in 2012, for tax fraud, when he was acquitted of all charges. However, the book is mainly about football and his style of management, particularly in relation to his ability to wheel and deal in the transfer market. As such, it should appeal to all football fans.

The book was published in 2013, so details of his later management career with Birmingham City, or of his winning the 2018 TV series of "I'm a celebrity...get me out of here!" are not included. As can be seen from Harry's CV, this is an entertaining autobiography by a very colourful character.

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

Review: Too Much is Not Enough by Andrew Rannells

I was given a copy of this audiobook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

From the star of Broadway's The Book of Mormon and HBO's Girls, the heartfelt and hilarious coming-of-age memoir of a Midwestern boy surviving bad auditions, bad relationships, and some really bad highlights as he chases his dreams in New York City

When Andrew Rannells left Nebraska for New York City in 1997, he, like many young hopefuls, saw the city as a chance to break free. To start over. To transform the fiercely ambitious but sexually confused teenager he saw in the mirror into the Broadway leading man of his dreams.

In Too Much Is Not Enough, Rannells takes us on the journey of a twentysomething hungry to experience everything New York has to offer: new friends, wild nights, great art, standing ovations. At the heart of his hunger lies a powerful drive to reconcile the boy he was when he left Omaha with the man he desperately wants to be.

As Rannells fumbles his way towards the Great White Way, he also shares the drama of failed auditions and behind-the-curtain romances, the heartbreak of losing his father at the height of his struggle, and the exhilaration of making his Broadway debut in Hairspray at the age of twenty-six. Along the way, he learns that you never really leave your past--or your family--behind; that the most painful, and perversely motivating, jobs are the ones you almost get; and that sometimes the most memorable nights with friends are marked not by the trendy club you danced at but by the recap over diner food afterward.

Honest and hilarious, Too Much Is Not Enough is an unforgettable look at love, loss, and the powerful forces that determine who we become.

Review: Oh my goodness I loved this audiobook so much. I am an absolute sucker for a memoir that is read by the author. I just love to hear people talking about things in their own way and using their own voice and Andrew Rannells tells his story with humour and with emotion. I loved that he could emphasise points he wanted to make and change his tone when things became serious or sad. 

This book is not a complete memoir by any means so if you're looking for stories from when this actor was in Book of Mormon or Girls then these aren't coming quite yet, I really hope to get another book covering these soon. This is what it says right there on the cover, a memoir of fumbling towards adulthood. It love the fact that this covers growing up and family life in Nebraska, what being gay meant to him then and there. I also loved the fact that he is open and honest about how scary it was moving to New York and how alone he felt. 

Andrew Rannells is also very open and candid about his relationships before and during his time in new york and I just love how honest he is about every aspect of that. He shares moments of joy and moments of regret and I really felt every moment with him as I was listening to the book. I don;t think you have to be a massive fan of this actor to enjoy his book, I think that you don't necessarily even have to have seen him in anything. This is a great memoir, so open and yet so hilariously funny at times. I loved listening to this one and definitely recommend it as a contender for your next audiobook listen!

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

Review: Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson

I was sent an audio copy of this book for review from Penguin Random House. 

A searing poetic memoir and call to action from the bestselling and award-winning author of Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson!

Bestselling author Laurie Halse Anderson is known for the unflinching way she writes about, and advocates for, survivors of sexual assault. Now, inspired by her fans and enraged by how little in our culture has changed since her groundbreaking novel Speakwas first published twenty years ago, she has written a poetry memoir that is as vulnerable as it is rallying, as timely as it is timeless. In free verse, Anderson shares reflections, rants, and calls to action woven between deeply personal stories from her life that she's never written about before. Searing and soul-searching, this important memoir is a denouncement of our society's failures and a love letter to all the people with the courage to say #MeToo and #TimesUp, whether aloud, online, or only in their own hearts. Shout speaks truth to power in a loud, clear voice-- and once you hear it, it is impossible to ignore.

Review: This was an amazing book which I already feel like listening to again. I think I will have to get myself the hardback edition of this book just so I can mark out some of my favourite verses and prose because there were so many memorable moments. 

I did this book on audio and it is read by the author Laurie Halse Anderson who wrote Speak amongst many others. I was lucky enough to hear this writer speak at my local library in Denver and so I knew that this audio was going to be amazing and it was. In a memoir like this which contains so many personal moments as well as calls to action and is written in verse, I think it is so valuable to have the author read their own work. She injects such feeling and so much passion into what she says and how she says it, the audio was fantastic. 

Even if you don;t know this writer I think this is still a very valuable read an something you will be able to enjoy with no prior knowledge of her work. This book deals with many tough issues and so definitely comes with car warnings for sexual violence and domestic abuse, amongst other things. But this book deals with hard hitting issues in such a personal and relatable way. One of my favourite sections was the one concerning consent, it was just so true and so beautiful. The verse called Yes just begged to be listened to or read again and again and again. 

I definitely recommend this book and recommend the audiobook. I will, however, be purchasing the physical book so that I can go back and flag some of my favourite verses and re-read some of the stories that this writer has. I am excited about enjoying it all over again!

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

Review: Short and Skinny by Mark Tatulli

New from syndicated comic strip artist Mark Tatulli comes a full-color middle grade graphic novel that centers on Mark's own experience in the summer after seventh grade.

As a middle schooler, Mark finds himself on the smaller side of the physical spectrum--being short AND skinny has really wreaked havoc on his confidence. So to end his bullying woes and get the girl--or at least the confidence to talk to the girl--he starts to explore bulking up by way of the miracle cures in the backs of his comics. But his obsession with beefing up is soon derailed by a new obsession: Star Wars, the hottest thing to hit the summer of 1977. As he explores his creative outlets as well as his cures to body image woes, Mark sets out to make his own stamp on the film that he loves.

Mark Tatulli's graphic novel debut is a humorous and heartfelt take on body-image, finding a creative outlet, and spending a summer in the 70's.

Review: this was the first graphic novel I have read all of, I normally struggle with them and so I think a graphic memoir was a great place for me to start. I was endeared to the setting, time wise, straight away and loved the fact that not only is this a memoir but takes place when Mark is in middle school in the 70s, what a great period in recent history. 

I also loved the illustrations in this novel. I actually liked the black and white that was used, especially for the more dramatic pages when there is a lot of dark in the story and on the page, as well as the illustrations of the Star Wars parody, they looked great in black and white so I am VERY curious to see how this one looks when it is out in full colour. 

I really liked Mark's story, being short and skinny but finding something he loved to do and was good at. He goes through everything we all do as teenagers, but this is also a fab example of male body positivity in a novel-so great to see. I love the fact that he calls himself short and skinny and we see what that does to him and the reaction of his classmates and yet he doesn't let that stop him from winning friends and trying something a lot of people wouldn't go to the effort to. 

I will definitely be seeking out more from this author and publisher because I really enjoyed this and will certainly be looking for more graphic memoirs in the future!

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

Review: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Megan Mullally & Nick Offerman

Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman reveal the full story behind their epic romance--presented in a series of intimate conversations between the couple, including photos, anecdotes, and the occasional puzzle.

The year: 2000. The setting: Los Angeles. A gorgeous virtuoso of an actress agreed to star in a random play, and a basement-dwelling scenic carpenter said he would assay a supporting role in the selfsame pageant. At the first rehearsal she surveyed her fellow cast members, determining if any of the men might qualify to provide her with a satisfying fling. Her gaze fell upon the carpenter, and like a bolt of lightning the thought struck her: no dice. Moving on.

Yet, unbeknownst to our protagonists, Cupid had merely set down his bow and picked up a rocket launcher . . . that fired a love rocket (not a euphemism). The players were Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman, and the resulting romance, once ignited, was . . . epic. Beyond epic. It resulted in a coupling that has endured to this day; a sizzling, perpetual tryst that has captivated the world with its kindness, athleticism, astonishingly low-brow humor, and true (fire emoji) passion.

How did they do it? They came from completely different families, ignored a significant age difference, and were separated by the gulf of several social strata. Megan loved books and art history; Nick loved hammers. But much more than these seemingly unsurpassable obstacles were the values they held in common: respect, decency, the ability to mention genitalia in almost any context, and an abiding obsession with the songs of Tom Waits.

Eighteen years later, they're still very much in love and have finally decided to reveal the philosophical mountains they have conquered, the lessons they've learned, and the myriad jigsaw puzzles they've completed. Presented as an oral history in a series of conversations between the couple, the book features anecdotes, hijinks, photos, and a veritable grab bag of tomfoolery. This is not only the intoxicating book that Mullally's and Offerman's fans have been waiting for, it might just hold the solution to the greatest threat facing our modern world: the single life.

Review: this had to be one of my most anticipated reads of the year so it really did have a lot to live up to! But live up to it it did. As soon as I downloaded this audiobook I started listening straight away and would find excuses to be in the car or have my headphones on so I could Keep on listening, it was just so entertaining and so engaging! 

This book doesn't necessarily follow a usually 'memoir' format but then it isn't really a traditional memoir so that's to be expected. Each chapter is broken down by subject rather than have the book in chronological order. There is a certain amount of 'the happened first and then that happened' but it really is just the two authors in conversation a bit like their stage show! 

The topics covered are of course both entertaining and fascinating. They range from past relationships, careers, sex and religion. It was really interesting hearing the different level of detail the two authors not only recall but are willing to share. 

Since I did the audio I missed out on pictures but they are described in great deal by two talented actors so that doesn't really matter (although I am probably going to get a physical copy of the book so I can see them for myself!) Where listeners miss out on pictures, you do get some songs performed for you so really you're not missing out on anything! 

I finished this one and immediately wanted to listen again from the start, I think I will definitely share this one with friends, especially those who are fans of these two actors. I don't really think you have to be Uber fans of the two authors to find this either interesting or entertaining. I think you will be entertained either way. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm heading out to buy a hard copy of the book and then start reading it all over again! 

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

Review: You're on an Airplane: A Self-Mythologizing Memoir by Parker Posey

Have you ever wondered what it would be like talk to Parker Posey? On an airplane, with Parker as your seat companion, perhaps? Parker's irreverent, hilarious, and enchanting memoir gives you the incredible opportunity. Full of personal stories, whimsical how-tos, recipes, and beautiful handmade collages created by the author herself, You're On an Airplane is a delight in every way.

In her first book, actress and star of movies such as Dazed and Confused, Party Girl, You've Got Mail, The House of Yes, and so many more, Posey opens up about the art of acting, life on the set, and the realities of its accompanying fame. A funny and colorful southern childhood prepared Posey for a life of creating and entertaining, which not only extends to acting but to the craft of pottery, sewing, collage, yoga and cooking, all of which readers will find in this whimsical, hilarious, always entertaining book. Parker takes us into her childhood home, behind the scenes of the indie film revolution in the 90s, the delightful absurdity of the big-budget genre thrillers she's turned into art in a whole new way, and the creativity that will always be part of both her acting and her personal life.

With Posey's memorable, hilarious and poignant voice, her book gives the reader a feeling of traveling through not only a memoir, but an exploration, meditation, and celebration of what it means to be an artist. Buckle up and enjoy the journey.

Review: I listened to this book on audio and it was read by the author and that's why I love reading a memoir in audio form. The added bonus to listening to this one on audio was that Parker Posey has written this as if she is chatting to the reader on an aeroplane and so we have added audio features such as the sound of the trolley, the sound of her dog and her speaking to us as if we are her seat mate-it was great fun!

One of the other things I love about reading memoirs of actors is the love they have for the film industry and other actors in their field. Parker has some great stories about spending time with actors and directors and also has some great stories about her love of films and actresses from the past. It is great to find out the kind of films that she enjoyed both making and watching.

While she does go into the different films she has made and the TV shows she has starred in, she also talks a lot about her personal life, her childhood and her decision to adopt a dog and become vegan. She also includes things like breathing exercises she does, yoga poses and recipes and talks you through them so you could realistically make the recipe or follow the breathing, I thought this was a real added gem!

Some of the ideas and beliefs she shares are fairly 'unconventional' and that's also what makes this book stand out from other memoirs I have read recently and I liked how open and honest she was about her opinions and ideas on how things should be and what's wrong with the way they are. She also explains why she chose the cover image which really was appreciated. I think even if you haven't seen this actress in a lot of things, this memoir stands up on its own as something to read and enjoy and I really recommend the audiobook!

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

Review: How to be Champion by Sarah Millican

Part autobiography, part self help, part confession, part celebration of being a common-or-garden woman, part collection of synonyms for nunny, Sarah Millican's debut book delves into her super normal life with daft stories, funny tales and proper advice on how to get past life's blips - like being good at school but not good at friends, the excitement of IBS and how to blossom post divorce. 

If you've ever worn glasses at the age of six, worn an off-the-shoulder gown with no confidence, been contacted by an old school bully, lived in your childhood bedroom in your thirties, been gloriously dumped in a Frankie and Benny's, cried so much you felt great, been for a romantic walk with a dog, worn leggings two days in a row even though they smelt of wee from a distance, then this is YOUR BOOK. If you haven't done those things but wish you had, THIS IS YOUR BOOK. If you just want to laugh on a train/sofa/toilet or under your desk at work, THIS IS YOUR BOOK.

Review: I listened to this book  on audiobook in  the car with three of us listening and it proved to be a great 'community listen'. I was always going to listen to this on audiobook because it is narrated by Sarah herself and so we get the true meaning of everything she is saying, straight from the authors mouth so to speak. She does mention pictures and photos attached in a PDF to the audiobook but I couldn't find them, so that was the only drawback of the audiobook!

The content of this book is great though. As the synopsis suggests, this is part memoir and part self-help because each of the chapters comes complete with the 'How to Be Champion' tip. I loved this aspect of the book. Amy book that has a call to action of some kind is a refreshing read and really stands out from the crowd. I also loved the fact that this author is so open and honest about things that have happened to her and the way they have made her feel. Her true feelings are sometimes not what you might expect them to be and she talks about the value of being honest and he value of therapy, which I really appreciated!

Of course, being Sarah Millican, this book has quite a lot of colourful language and graphic detail, so if swearing and a lot of talk of bodily functions isn't your thing then you might not enjoy this book. This book did make me laugh a lot and I was able to identify with some of the anecdotes too, always a good thing. As I said at the beginning, I think the audiobook was a great way to read this and would highly recommend if you are thinking of reading this book yourself. The hardback would make a great gift though, if you have some presents still left to buy!

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

Guest Review: Back Story by David Mitchell

David Mitchell, who you may know for his inappropriate anger on every TV panel show except Never Mind the Buzzcocks, his look of permanent discomfort on C4 sex comedy Peep Show, his online commenter-baiting in The Observer or just for wearing a stick-on moustache in That Mitchell and Webb Look, has written a book about his life.

As well as giving a specific account of every single time he's scored some smack, this disgusting memoir also details:

• the singular, pitbull-infested charm of the FRP (‘Flat Roofed Pub’)

• the curious French habit of injecting everyone in the arse rather than the arm

• why, by the time he got to Cambridge, he really, really needed a drink

• the pain of being denied a childhood birthday party at McDonalds

• the satisfaction of writing jokes about suicide

• how doing quite a lot of walking around London helps with his sciatica

• trying to pretend he isn’t a total **** at Robert Webb’s wedding

• that he has fallen in love at LOT, but rarely done anything about it

• why it would be worse to bump into Michael Palin than Hitler on holiday

• that he’s not David Mitchell the novelist. Despite what David Miliband might think 

Review: This is the comedian David Mitchell's memoirs, describing his childhood, school days, university life and his breakthrough into the world of entertainment. Although there is plenty of humour in the book, there are some serious insights into life. Prior to reading the book, my impression of David Mitchell was limited to that of the persona he projects in his television appearances, but he comes across in the book as a more rounded, pensive individual.

One of the reasons I was keen to read the book was that he and I went to the same college at Cambridge University, where he read history, so I was interested to compare his experiences with mine. I can concur with his observation that, for students reading natural sciences or medicine and had lectures all day and every day, it was like having a full-time job. I read natural sciences. Our times at Cambridge did not overlap. I started my final year in the same calendar year in which he was born. However, I was pleased to discover that we did have one thing in common. His director of studies in the college had been my tutor (at Cambridge, a tutor is not a teaching position but is involved with welfare issues).

I enjoyed reading the book. It was full of wry observations, as may be expected from a professional comedian, but also had some serious things to say. Although there is more to the book than his Cambridge years, there is much to interest to fellow Cantabrians.

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

Review: Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen Degeneres

"Sometimes the greatest things are the most embarrassing." Ellen Degeneres' winning, upbeat candor has made her show one of the most popular, resilient and honored daytime shows on the air. (To date, it has won no fewer than 31 Emmys.) Seriously... I'm Kidding, Degeneres' first book in eight years, brings us up to date about the life of a kindhearted woman who bowed out of American Idol because she didn't want to be mean. Lively; hilarious; often sweetly poignant.

Review: This one has been on my wishlist for quite some time. Sometimes when you wait and wait and wait for something, when it finally comes, it can be a little disappointing. Unfortunately that was the case with this read. I chose to listen to this one in audiobook. I was hoping for something insightful, something I hadn't heard before but this was broken down into short chapters, some of them just as short as a single joke and the others merely an extension of the monologue that she does at the start of each show. 

There were moments in the book when I laughed out loud, there is no question that this is a very funny woman and I do find her stories entertaining. So if you are looking for some entertainment during a holiday or a long car journey then this is definitely going to be the book for you. Because this was an audiobook and is read by the author, Ellen does sometimes address the audience. I liked this style and found it particularly spooky when she was picturing us reading  or listening to the book and 'maybe you're looking at a view of the mountains in Colorado' I was driving along a particularly picturesque road in Denver, looking at the snow on the mountains!

I did enjoy the way the book was structured and I did find it entertaining. I would definitely recommend listening to this on audiobook because it is read by Ellen and so you will have the jokes told with her timing and hear the way she talks about the language that she uses. I was hoping for a little more with this read though and I really hope that Ellen will bring out an updated version or another version of her memoirs for me to really get my teeth into!

To order your copy and see for yourself, click here!