Top Ten Tuesday: Book Titles That Would Make Great Song Titles 10/11/20

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

So this is an interesting one because I know for a fact that some of my favourite books are already song titles so here we go...

Review: He Will Be Mine by Kirsty Greenwood

 Nora Tucker is an admin assistant from a tiny English village.

Gary Montgomery is Hollywood’s hottest new star.

After seeing him on the silver screen, Nora believes that Gary is her soulmate, her one true love, the man she's supposed to grow old and wrinkly with. She knows it sounds nuts, she knows it’s completely crazy. But sometimes love is crazy, right?

Only... how on earth is this Plain Jane introvert supposed to get to Los Angeles, infiltrate Gary’s inner circle AND convince him that they’re meant to be? Throwing herself into this mission might be a tall order but it means Nora can stop thinking about that one awful day, two years ago, when everything in her life fell apart...

With the help of a sunny Californian weather girl, a super hot but super grumpy script writer, and a very passionate Adam Levine tribute act, Nora is about to try the impossible and let fate decide her future…

Review: What a fabulous story about what we all dream of doing, running off to a far off land to pursue the celebrity we are sure that we are meant to be with. If you are looking for some escapism right now then you can't really go wrong with joining Nora on her Californian adventure!

This story really is escapism at its finest, it takes those 'what if' moments and plays them out on the page with a whole dose of Hollywood glam and a lot of help from romance novels. I love any book that champions its own genre and makes romance writing and reading romance novels cool. I also love all the pop culture references in there like lines from The Office, SNL-alike stars and of course the most amazing romance books and movies. 

Nora and Gary make for great main characters in this book. Nora is somewhat insecure and so we get to travel with her as she steps out of her comfort zone of this journey and what a journey it is for her. She has to adjust to a whole new lifestyle and a whole new culture as well as adjusting to doing something that is completely out of character for her. With Gary we get to see behind the smoke and mirrors of the celebrity lifestyle and a little of what life is like when  you take away the Instagram filters. I loved how much heart Gary had and how he actually dealt with his emotions in his own way rather than keeping them bottled up like a lot of people in his position. I love that we get to catch up with Seth and Olive from Big Sexy Love too! The real star of the show here are the side characters though, they are fully formed, uniquely weird and just totally there for Nora on her journey-perfection!

I didn't really know how this book was going to play out. I was definitely wishing for Nora to have a great trip but I was doubtful about her endeavors a lot of the time and I did want to hop into the book and speak to her at certain moments. Overall though this book made me laugh and at the same time was very real about what life is like when you're in the public eye. I really enjoyed it and enjoyed escaping with some ice cream along with Nora and Winklepuff.

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

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Review: Meal by Blue Delliquanti and Soleil Ho

Yarrow is a young chef determined to make her mark on the cutting edge of cookery with her insect-based creations. Though her enthusiasm is infectious, it rubs some of her fellow cooks the wrong way, especially Chanda Flores, Yarrow's personal hero and executive chef of an exciting new restaurant. Her people have been eating bugs for centuries, and she's deeply suspicious of this newbie's attempt to turn her traditions into the next foodie trend. While Chanda and her scrappy team of talented devotees struggle to open on time, Yarrow must win over Chanda—and Milani, the neighbor she's been crushing on for weeks—or lose this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to achieve her dreams. Co-written with chef and food writer Soleil Ho, Blue Delliquanti's sweet coming-of-age story takes us deep into a world of art, mystery, and memory on the culinary frontier.

Review: I picked this book up based on a librarian recommendation and this graphic novel really does have it all, we have food, we have diversity and we have representation of marginalized groups. I really enjoyed this and it felt so different from anything I've read recently. 

I love the fact that this book introduces us to eating bugs, how to, what to and the history of where in the world eating bugs is part of the tradition and culture. I had no idea it was such a normal prat of cuisine in such culture and was really happy to learn about it through this graphic novel. 

I also really love the fact that the characters in this book are so diverse and really represent inter-sectional feminism at its b est. I loved watching relationships and friendships both professional and personal grow and develop. This graphic novel also contains some recipes and a note from world class chef and food pod caster Soleil Ho. It was such an interesting mix, I loved the story arc and I loved all the extras that came with this book.

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

Review: One Snowy Week In Springhollow by Lucy Knott

 When old friends return, sparks ignite this Christmas in Springhollow...

Tomboy Scarlett thought Devon would be her best friend forever. He was the only person in Springhollow who supported her ambitious artist dreams. But then one winter, Devon and his parents disappear without warning to start a new life in NYC and a devastated Scarlett is left alone to face her high-school bullies and overbearing mother.

Fast-forward ten years: Scarlett is playing it safe in her childhood village with a dull PA job and a wardrobe that passes her mother's old-fashioned standards. Meanwhile, Devon is a Hollywood heartthrob, starring in the latest superhero blockbuster. And he's finally coming home for Christmas...

Scarlett can't help blaming her former best friend for the way her life has turned out, but Devon's cheeky charm and gorgeous smile prove difficult to resist. Devon always did make her feel on top of the world, but Scarlett knows her heart isn't racing just because she has her friend back – is it mistletoe madness, or is she seeing Devon in a completely new light?

Scarlett hasn't taken a risk in years... but this Christmas of second chances could finally be her time to shine.

Review: Small town, the big movie star returning to his roots and of course tons of super hero mentions, plenty to love in this Hallmark movie of a novel. I love this small town setting, its is one of my favourite romance tropes and definitely something we need to find comfort in right now. I love the fact that it reminds me of my own home town especially memories of playground and libraries. The trouble with staying in your home town though, you're never pushed to take any risks and your bullies are still there to haunt you. 

I loved meeting Scarlett and getting to know her. I also love the fact that she is a main character with an edge. She hates those frilly dresses and is a graphic comic artist-how cool is that. Plus she grew up idolising super heroes with her best pal who just happens to be of the opposite sex. I like when we as readers have to step out of our comfort zones of what a female lead should look like in a romance novel and we get to do it here. I applaud Lucy Knott for taking this chance. I read a lot of YA romance and we have main characters who don't fit into the stereotypes but you don't see it as often as I would like in adult romance and so I really loved Scarlett (and her creator) for that. 

The small town themes in this book are super strong. I love that Scarlett and Hope work for the failing town magazine, it all felt very Gilmore Girls to me and I totally pictured this town as a cross between my own home town and Stars Hollow! I also loved the constant references to the peppermint coffee that were around the town. I will admit to going and grabbing an iced peppermint cold brew of my own whilst reading this. 

And then we have Devon. He comes back a bit of a hero but is he really that great if she jjust left Scarlett for NYC when they were younger? He's a lovable rogue and I love the idea of him playing the superheros that he and Scar hero worshiped when they were younger. I would definitely stand in line at NYC Comicon to meet him and share a cinnamon pastry with him. If you're looking for a novel with contrasting small town and big city ideas and some lovely sweet romance with home body vibes then this is the one for you. 

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

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