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Books
Follow me on Instagram for lots of book content. From book reviews and recommendations of my favourite reads to good ole book chat. I review published books and ARCs. Send me an email to discuss featuring your book on my page.
![We've had a super chilled weekend, and I've found lots of pockets of time to read, which has been very needed. This is what I'm currently reading:
📚 The Girls Who Grew Big - Leila Mottley
I have just over 100 pages left and I reeeally don't want this to end! Mottley's writing is so poetic and heartfelt. I sense a glowing 5 stars coming. [Follows the lives of teenage mothers in Florida.]
🎧 So Old, So Young - Grant Ginder
I'm glad I did audio for this as I don't think it would hold my attention as much in print. But the characters are good and it's nostalgic enough to immerse yourself in.
[Six college friends meet over two decades.]
How has your weekend been, and what are you reading?](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/649643436_18100539161308616_176404079082612580_n.webp?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=111&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=L16x8XfvlKYQ7kNvwFQNYkN&_nc_oc=AdpBt9h_XFtrY50mgWSZ1Jlv_5mrBieNe7yYWcCCB33hJzBnamnWdkXtmy8huOtMJCw&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=0DwCRYuycPPK3tFGJ4cxrQ&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQHkVnEFqZjS9y7PETGv3P1BMrNHRBLuJNbICpqkc-oGvH64wcne4RgaXQqPArscfXfZoDpQxgS_&oh=00_AfxoUmHrTnu7hcvUMIAFpWKIYCkSmuZvcQAkzeDkSnohUw&oe=69C2DE3E)
![[ARC] REVIEW: The Sea Between Us - Charlotte Krasniqi 📱4⭐️
Pub. date: 3rd March.
Oh, oh, oh, this book!! 🥹
The Sea Between Us tells the story of Elizabeth, a writer, and Theo, a very famous music star. They meet by chance but can't be together due to his fame and some other bits you'll have to read to discover. 🙊
The small-town, coastal setting is perfect and creates a beautiful backdrop for a beautiful story. The dual POV and short chapters had me racing through the book.
The initial power imbalance and the forbidden/ secret love storyline work so well—Elizabeth and Theo's chemistry is palpable and the spice is spicing. 👀 I did find Theo a bit frustrating and arrogant in parts but I've still never wanted a couple to be together more!
As well as having a twisty plot, this book is so well written. I highlighted lots of poetic quotes—Krasniqi creates such powerful emotion with her words.
I did notice some typos which took me out of the story slightly but this is a self-pubbed first edition and I do read with my copy editor brain on. 🙃 A heads-up to check the trigger warnings as one part was tough to read and I cried my way through it.
Read this and I guarantee you'll fall in love with Elizabeth, Theo and the town of Sable Square, just like I did.
Massive well done to @charlottekrasniqi.author for writing such a great book full of love and emotion; and thank you for letting me review an ARC. I have book 2 firmly on my TBR! 😍](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/645761651_18099845123308616_1597672117340307252_n.webp?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=111&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=blNkoAfT4lwQ7kNvwHpdhK7&_nc_oc=AdqL2Cq4IJxXG4QpVM6-tStaksQ9gazyZ1uxn5VsOfCquFOCeY1a6xl4q2G9OkXco0U&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=0DwCRYuycPPK3tFGJ4cxrQ&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQElxeWyr4r31p6sgfbyTp8fRlbXHjDNlpe9ZwkaGS84bgfqBgYJyhj4Bov5ieZHouBW5QzpM6eA&oh=00_AfwVqIS7ocxSWywr-RI4i4jxYL6qtd2sC0l6PcGzWYRqug&oe=69C30CFC)
![[ARC] REVIEW: The Waiting List - Matilda Wilding📱3⭐️
"If the end of someone else's life offers you the chance of saving your own, whose life means the most?"
Liv, a young mother, needs a new heart. While on the transplant waiting list, she starts wondering how far she'd go to survive and see her son grow up. What if she can engineer an apparent accident to make sure she gets a new heart? But how does she decide who's worthy of living?
The premise for this is brilliant—I loved the ethical implications of what a parent would do for their child. The opening intrigued me and sucked me in.
Without giving too much away, Liv makes a plan to find a new heart. The characters are realistic and well-written but I didn't particularly care for any of them (apart from Max, her son—he's a dribbly, squishy-cheeked sweetheart!) The characters' lives are intertwined wonderfully and Liv's morals get more blurred as we learn each of their stories.
Although the writing is poetic it's also repetitive and parts of the plot are far-fetched. Some chapters felt slow and I was almost skimming to get to something else.
Although the characters and plot didn't quite do it for me, I did enjoy reading this book and gave it 3 stars. Read if you're looking for a twisty book with a big side of 'what would you do?' that will make you question ALL of your morals. 🙊
The Waiting List publishes tomorrow, Thursday 26th Feb! 📚](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/641753669_18099377351308616_633825415645144496_n.webp?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=100&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=Y1wwecA1T74Q7kNvwEr8kEG&_nc_oc=AdrDf6u8AR-EiZuZksZIcCPD5SOtiYgRPu2_LlgEw2f0Na9vW6Ye5qcfshpSMSJ1t04&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=0DwCRYuycPPK3tFGJ4cxrQ&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQFSVny72p0BeeUmbYGqaTcVfjg2nz_JszMtiNPYUK_4gnO-55jGI1sHxt-TJBAQFKjn2g1EBxmp&oh=00_AfyXgAFacgKRW2SBWIq-Yh35q5pYCYBsZyWl7xJDte6D9Q&oe=69C2F2C9)
![New week, new reading update with a nice and simple, Last, Now, Next. ✨️
Last week was our half-term break so booksta took a backseat for a little while but here's what I've been reading:
🎧 Audiobook:
L: Night Road - Kristin Hannah 5⭐️
N: Table for One - Emma Gannon (maybe a 4⭐️)
N: The Shell House Detectives - Emylia Hall
📚 Physical:
L: Gone Before Goodbye - Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon 3⭐️
N: The Waiting List - Matilda Wilding [ARC] (maybe a 3⭐️)
N: The Sea Between Us - Charlotte Krasniqi
[ARC]
Pop your Last, Now, Next in the comments! ⬇️](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/641657379_18099163187308616_8206992230753680049_n.webp?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=ih5QEEkZNtYQ7kNvwFoDK3J&_nc_oc=AdowOZzVj3iRnZiEuaJtxEQdYCDD_X84Of8yt439_nEyIYfZoUFKo93HGsT7yEZM2OI&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=0DwCRYuycPPK3tFGJ4cxrQ&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQErMfdzw3WCKPUM8qjYGqHb0nmr4SyOVhMX73eMaUfW_bpqBz3L9mQf6GQYn9wM30sido3mdzEx&oh=00_AfzxHlOs_t9HfZFEsyr6ufhkyJIWuDKZat8RH28SupqlQA&oe=69C30D1E)
![Happy February! 💖
These are the books I'm tentatively planning for Feb:
📱 The Last Letter - Rebecca Yarros
🎧 My Husband's Wife - Alice Feeney
📚 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
📱 The Waiting List [ARC] - Matilda Wilding
📱 The Sea Between Us [ARC] - Charlotte Krasniqi (@charlottekrasniqi.author)
📱 Orbital - Samantha Harvey
📚 The Girls Who Grew Big - Leila Mottley
🎧 Dear Debbie - Freida McFadden
What are you hoping to read this month?
Big shoutout to @bookclurbuk, @readwithlauren_ and @ambersometimesreads for encouraging me to bump Brave New World, My Husband's Wife and Dear Debbie up my TBR. 🙌🏻](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/626550827_18096953645308616_3352182440400023748_n.webp?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=PtzBoO8_fvoQ7kNvwG9bKv8&_nc_oc=AdobNXgPR_YZf7esHFUfnfL7MkqIf-b6SFitSHP1FBRJT90fQtdJ-5niZ31kIOwcNsU&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=0DwCRYuycPPK3tFGJ4cxrQ&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQF8_LWbQR_-2cG2wYPmHtPQmvPG2fRoZ3XcHdPybdwQvHXnq7MHdRgEdyOupHAgACJiVgZmcjMc&oh=00_AfwsuU95CjX1LC_EsXQWPp-PWRCCNxvDbFujXMm6rAVBeg&oe=69C302A6)
![[ARC] REVIEW: This Book Made Me Think Of You - Libby Page 📱5⭐️
Before Joe, Tilly's husband, dies he arranges for the local bookshop to pass a book to Tilly every month. A book that will unknowingly help Tilly to grieve the time they spent together. Along the way, Tilly meets Alfie, the owner of the bookshop, and starts to discover who she is without her late husband.
The opening quote is, "The right book in the hands of the right person at exactly the right moment can change their life forever" and as serendipity would have it, this book came to me at just the right time, after what's been a difficult and grief-filled year. Page writes grief perfectly—it's heartfelt, raw, honest and relatable. I cried a mix of happy and sad tears within the first 10% and kind of didn't stop? 😅
There's something so special about a book about books—I loved hearing Alfie recommend some of my fave books to Tilly from Roald Dahl to Emily Henry. Tilly also works in publishing and the chapters start with book recommendations which is a fun touch.
The characters are beautiful, from Alfie and the other staff in the bookshop to the people Tilly meets throughout the year. Joe is so thoughtful and grounding and may actually be the perfect man. Seeing Tilly grow over the year was a pleasure.
This book is written with such passion and care. You can really tell that Page lives books and that this story has come from the heart. The first thing I wrote in my notes is "LP is awesome!" and I stand by it! The Lido, Page's debut, is still a book that holds special meaning for me 6 years after I read it and I can tell that TBMMToY is going to be the same.
So if you're a book lover (aren't we all around here?!) and want a wholesome and beautiful book to escape in, get your hands on a copy ASAP, ideally from your local version of Alfie. You won't regret it! 😍](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/625004441_18096647654308616_5446577537345234478_n.webp?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=102&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=V-mh-eyxSe0Q7kNvwFyCp_D&_nc_oc=AdpGrLh5aT8UPmyalKOejJAU_TcW6FaFEoxLSN6vdAu-MR14CW-TR5b0t1nBAJUP5XM&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=0DwCRYuycPPK3tFGJ4cxrQ&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQFlIRWBtT16EvrUUiggOCJE9KR5QNWllA3VymEaBY_DhmMpEcmLnRz3CymaqtXuD3yj_4oX3DDC&oh=00_AfxIW58nkXOgJv7u-KWBGfPv2yKNW7Bl_xqm-vTyO1Ylpw&oe=69C2F875)
![Currently Reading:
🎧 Such A Bad Influence [ARC] - Grace Demyan
📚 Once There Were Wolves - Charlotte McConaghy
Two very different books but they're both looking like 5 stars atm! 😍
How's your current read going?
SABI: While grieving her mother, Felicity meets Alex. The two women form an unlikely friendship, as well as a revenge-for-hire business. Set on a small-town blueberry farm.
OTWW: Reintroducing wolves to The Highlands reveals trauma and secrets for the local village and the scientists. When a body is found, nobody knows if the wolves are to blame or if it's the villagers themselves.](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/620457382_18095727722308616_6569274445416165979_n.webp?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=MolhDPVBwXYQ7kNvwGfWtAj&_nc_oc=Adp-IvEaMiUPxGAKY5qz5SSLUvBRp82v6EHX6XCGrxUEUTnaHBJCyyjhH-3IrYp-2z4&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=0DwCRYuycPPK3tFGJ4cxrQ&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQEcLNmMa0s6_Bm7p2twcTgfyTUp8rf1FczRpshcjGGDeJZF0lJtUsL2xbBgfuyYKST8fjP3wOHb&oh=00_Afw6-cGKDderluLu_rlvVZDX7SeQYqeOFrMWD6aLUgDARw&oe=69C2F57F)
![[ARC] REVIEW: Meet the Newmans - Jennifer Niven 📱5⭐️
The Newmans are America's fave TV family and have been since the 50s. There's Del, the patriarch who also writes their scripts; Dinah, a stereotypical mother and wife; and their sons Guy and Shep, a straight-laced golden boy and singing heartthrob, respectively.
But with the changes of the 60s, the traditional, family-values-based show is struggling to keep its viewers; and when Del finds himself out of action, things need to change. Enlisting help from Juliet, a young reporter who faces sexism at work on the daily, can Dinah and Juliet work together to write the show's final episode when their opinions on who women should be are decades apart?
I'll use lists because I have a lot to say. 😅
I loved:
- ALL of the characters and their storylines, there's so much going on.
- the feminism!! It made me so angry in parts, especially seeing how Juliet is treated at work and how Dinah is treated in her own home.
- the Hollywood setting and the behind-the-scenes of making a TV show. The fakery/ façade of TV.
- the solidarity between the female characters, esp. Dinah and Juliet. Big shoutout to Renee who is wise beyond her years!
- Del and Dinah's relationship.
- the pop culture references. I learnt so much about events at the time and absolutely will be dragging out my uni notes about Simone de Beauvoir, Beatniks and Kerouac's On the Road after this!
- the twists. I couldn't guess where the plot was going.
- the format: it's told in prose and newspaper articles.
- the ending that made me cry big, ugly, happy tears.
- *last one* the gingham cover! 😍
I didn't love:
- how much I had to force myself to put it down at bedtime.
- that my husband hadn't read/ watched it so I couldn't fully chat with him about it. 😂
It's been compared to Lessons in Chemistry (for obvious reasons) and The Seven Husbands of EH but it made me think of Romantic Comedy, Atmosphere or even Lula Dean's Library of Banned Books—all books I loved!
In short, this book is brilliant! It's inspiring, fun, emotional, twisty, immersive and so important. Somebody, please make this a series so I can meet the Newmans in glorious (Techni)colour! ✨️](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/616586534_18095160953308616_52461653572343117_n.webp?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=109&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=XOdbAPh5H2EQ7kNvwFyXw-r&_nc_oc=AdpZnrJ6ORzU9OS_SsYUZm1LGZhz-lu0brJeVFgNd-ox_x64zh5i2C9YTZfdhF2RL8I&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=0DwCRYuycPPK3tFGJ4cxrQ&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQGRvFmO7nTQCThUxyXvk8TJJfAUcXqv-OE27WjJ3Vxd6p9zLb-eDRGJZPVnL0OeswzYXhVXECrx&oh=00_AfyckNv8nCDf3dL4JsEXbPcyiriHSZoSsLemT4-6VniTIA&oe=69C2EBB9)
![[ARC] REVIEW: Galentine's Day - Rebecca Anderson 🎧 5⭐️
On the cusp of leaving school at age 18, three best friends vow to meet every 13th Feb to celebrate Galentine's Day (matching pyjamas and all!) Fast forward 13 years and only two friends are at the party.
I absolutely loved this book and the narration was perfect! The book switches between Galentine's 2026 and past Galentine's where we learn more about the girls' lives at the time. There are so many early 2010s pop culture references (remember the ice bucket challenge?! 😂) and topical UK events mentioned that were such a joy to read and remember. The story is told through prose and social media posts/ WhatsApp messages which I loved. Basically, this book was like reliving my teens: nostalgic, comforting and funny but with much less social anxiety. 😅
The characters are so fleshed out and believable. The girls have three very different lives and the character development of them growing from unsure teenagers to driven women is beautiful. Reading how their relationships change through romantic break-ups, career milestones, motherhood, mental health issues, marriage etc. made me think of my close friendships and how they've changed through the years too.
A fave quote, "[Friendship is] choosing to reconnect with each other again and again, even after bust-ups, drifting away and busy lives."
In short, Galentine's Day is funny, emotional and nostalgic and the biggest love letter to female friendship. 💖
Galentine's Day releases 15th Jan in physical copy or is available in digital now. The biggest recommendation to grab a copy ASAP, you absolutely won't regret it! ✨️](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/613184617_18094757003308616_6195968472891484777_n.webp?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=104&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=C2XQ4EQvsHcQ7kNvwGHMpQF&_nc_oc=AdqgqDY6305EMB4THmO0ZBP_zzDsa46kNdqfA2X7qFOMdDdMSqiPGvCbsKKk1fnbDhk&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=0DwCRYuycPPK3tFGJ4cxrQ&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQHpIwPHUr1VxR9F4sSph6yPm9woI0NLOxpFrFCJE0ZiF5MGBBX3pNTkwYobJ-Rap1cmMaGlFNT1&oh=00_AfwqVYKaEeXQOkxUvt8OI7SAWG-t-TjjPIAXmUcRkjbxHw&oe=69C2DAFC)
![I know fiction is an incredibly broad category to put books in but here goes: my top 5 of '25 fiction books. All 5 of these books were standout reads for me this year and I devoured them all!
Wild Dark Shore - Charlotte McConaghy
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes - Suzanne Collins
River of Stars - Georgina Moore [ARC]
Sunrise on the Reaping - Suzanne Collins
Broken Country - Clare Leslie Hall
Do we have any of the same faves from 2025?](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/607953239_18093597038308616_2990516469737382203_n.webp?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=109&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=8ivUOFVhNZsQ7kNvwFrsEd5&_nc_oc=AdqNCCpQarAtklRmEenQbgpMQ2M3t0Kv4fcO8T1emt5hyvx_INYQrDIhyme0ErAj9ls&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=0DwCRYuycPPK3tFGJ4cxrQ&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQHZ6gVfIr_-ReFEg9XwTYc3eKUuFqPtLWFpGPdvGB77jQt49Eln_zRMD9txPfi8MZedBqEnFtyV&oh=00_AfyXKXhudm4-fFLYIAkyjaaUdsZu1ZsOOQ8rN4oHynn1DQ&oe=69C2E62D)
![My top 5* romance books of 2025! 🙌🏻
This year has been the year of romance for me and I am here for it! There's nothing quite as comforting as a romance book.
2025 was also the year I discovered a new fave author. From this list, any guesses who it might be? Spoiler: it's @carleyfortune 😅🫶🏻
In no order...
This Summer Will Be Different - Carley Fortune
Swept Away - Beth O'Leary
In the Likely Event - Rebecca Yarros
Love and Lattes at Pumpkin Hollow - Victoria Walters [ARC]
One Golden Summer - Carley Fortune
* and a bonus shoutout to two really great short stories that I absolutely loved! 💗](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/603645730_18092385725308616_8800420856862802687_n.webp?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=HYImdzugjJEQ7kNvwF_CPXP&_nc_oc=AdoEfoJbUTvBM17YjnKHlF8LVSuMmQiGMw-QyuY35Xxd2zH0w3wcjhxMFazyzyPQQos&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=0DwCRYuycPPK3tFGJ4cxrQ&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQFKmH9_sGDPGMoVeqIQjQFFVurghnjjUh1ubJvlOee6F7AGrNtI2UuE4CeNylxraNBq0iNDr0vd&oh=00_Afy4WklAW11WPPOZnUHp1bW4KpXOKEDSHklaELd9_sA2YQ&oe=69C2DEAB)
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