Book review: Bookish by Lucy Mangan

I've heard lots of people recommend Bookworm by Lucy Mangan – in which she recounts her childhood through the lens of the books that she read along the way – in recent months, and it has rapidly made its way up my towering to-be-read list. So how serendipitous that the second book (which can be read as a standalone) is out today. I was fortunate to read an advance copy of Bookish and, needless to say, I absolutely adored it. It is perceptive, funny, moving, and highly relatable – and it made me even more eager to read Bookworm ASAP!

Book review: The Official Agatha Christie Puzzle Book [blog tour]

The cover image for this post showing my book shelves may be a slight indication that I adore Agatha Christie's stories. In recent years, this has translated into hunting down titles I don't yet own in charity shops (and splurging on the gorgeous new hardbacks as they come out) alongside devouring contemporary authors writing similarly gripping whodunnits, such as Anthony Horowitz, Janice Hallett, Robert Thorogood, and Richard Osman. But – of course – nothing can quite beat a "Christie" and I love the gorgeously designed merchandise that is being released: including a brand-new puzzle book. 

Book review: Wild Treasures by Hannah Stitfall [blog tour]

After a cold and very wet winter, I'm sure I'm not the only one ready for spring and going out into nature again. The sun is tentatively peeking through the clouds and the garden is bursting into colour and birdsong, which is making me very excited to explore the countryside and see what other beautiful flora and fauna is making a reappearance. But while spring and summer are the most obvious seasons to find 'wild treasures', Hannah Stitfall's new book shows us there's wonderful wildlife to encounter in Britain every month of the year. 

Book review: The Green Gardening Handbook by Nancy Birtwhistle

Watching the Instagram stories from Great British Bake Off champion Nancy Birtwhistle for practical cleaning tips and easy recipes is one of the favourite parts of my day. Who knew you could clean oven racks with tough food stains by leaving them overnight in damp grass? Or that you can create your own laundry detergent with ivy cuttings from the garden? Her knowledge is incredible and we are so lucky that she is sharing all her wisdoms with us. Nancy's advice is simple to follow, cheap and, most of all, green. Meaning that it's much better for our planet. And after focusing her first few books on tips for a greener house – in her latest one she turns her hand to gardening.

Book review: What's For Dessert by Claire Saffitz [blog tour]

Claire Saffitz is a prolific baker and self- proclaimed "dessert person". I first discovered her through the Gourmet Makes series on Bon Appetit's YouTube and have continued to follow her career as she launched her own very successful YouTube channel all about sweet and savoury bakes.

Book review: Thirteen Ways to Smell a Tree by David George Haskell [blog tour]

Trees line even the most urbanised of streets. Yet despite having them on our doorsteps, beyond appreciating the blossoms and coloured leaves as the seasons change, many people don't take much notice of them. And that's a real shame. Trees are vital to us, working hard to give us green spaces, oxygen, and a viable ecosystem for the many big and small organisms that keep our planet alive.

Book review: The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2023 by Lia Leendertz [blog tour]

In recent years, many people have been gravitating more towards nature to ground and guide them. Just look at the rising popularity of allotments, foraging, and house plants. And I fully admit, I'm one of those people. I've always loved exploring the natural world, but it's only recently I've become more aware and knowledgeable of so many things around me. As the seasons are changing and the days are getting darker, one might be mistaken to think that the time for explorations is over for the year. But that's not the case. Every season and every month has something that makes that moment in time unique and worth celebrating. And that's exactly what The Almanac shows its readers. 

Book review: The Language of Food by Annabel Abbs [blog tour]

You know when you read a book (in one sitting) that is so good that you immediately have to message everyone you know who has ever picked up a book in their life that they immediately need to read it? That's The Language of Food by Annabel Abbs for me. I was mildly interested in it because of that stunning cover and the fact that it's a historical fiction with a foodie twist, but never did I think I would fall in love with it as much as I did. But I have, and I will warn you now that I will continue banging on about how amazing this novel is for the remainder of 2022. 

Book review: Deeper Into the Wood by Ruth Pavey [blog tour]

I've been on a non-fiction kick lately, particularly enjoying reads on the natural world, such as the incredible and insightful Tapestries of Life by Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson and the calming descriptions of the English countryside and its inhabitants in the books by John Lewis-Stempel. So when I saw that Deeper Into the Wood by Ruth Pavey was released last month it immediately caught my attention – and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to share my review of this wonderful book as part of the blog tour. 

Book review: Tapestries of Life by Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson [blog tour]

The natural world is so fascinating but to the average person (myself included), a large part of its mysteries are hidden. The most magical yet tightly run ship happening just beyond my view, impacting everything that surrounds me – and allowing me to live the life I do. The most obscure animals, insects, fungi, and plants are all vital parts of the process, going unnoticed and unrecognised. Until now.

Love for Imperfect Things by Haemin Sunim

For many people, January is the time of year for a fresh start and promises to better themselves and their lives in the year ahead. They resolve to eat healthier, exercise more, and kick a habit they're not happy with. But what about the things that can not be seen on the surface, yet which can lead to anxiety and depression? Your mental health is just as important as your physical one, and The Things You Can Only See When You Slow Down helps you tackle one of the biggest challenges out there: self-care.

The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down by Haemin Sunim

You may have noticed I've started reading more lifestyle and well-being books in 2018, such as You Do You by Sarah Knight and The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. Combined with calming and evocative reads such as The Last Wilderness by Neil Ansell and O's Little Guide to the Big Questions by the Editors of O, they've inspired me to be more mindful, which is just what I need in my life right now. And the beautifully written and thoughtful The Things You Can Seen Only When You Slow Down is a worthy addition to my collection of reads of this variety.

The Last Wilderness by Neil Ansell

I've been meaning to pick up more nature writing and The Last Wilderness has been the perfect introduction. Neil Ansell's astute observations and eloquent descriptions of his solitary journey through the remote Scottish Highlands was a true delight to experience – bringing a sense of calm to my hectic days with the sheer power of his words.

O's Little Guide to the Big Questions by The Editors of O

I'm really into inspirational reads at the moment; books that make you think and give you a greater appreciation of life. I love how this journey and exploration has led me to discover all kinds of reads that I didn't necessarily gravitate towards before but I am now absolutely in love with. O's Little Guide series is one of those. Up until a few weeks ago I wasn't aware of their existence but after devouring the latest thought-provoking installment in just a day and a half I'm already eyeing the rest of the series, because these little books are true treasures that will enrich my life (and my book shelves, because they're very pretty as well ♥).

What I Read in November 2017 – Wrap Up & Mini Reviews

October was a bit of a dud when it came to my reading list. I couldn't really decide on what books to pick up and very few managed to capture my attention fully. I am very pleased to say that this feeling completely turned around in November due to an excellent mix of books that managed to get me excited again about reading! Not only did I devour 11 books (which is a lot in a single month for me) but there were many I really fell in love with along the way, most notably evocative YA Vanilla by Billy Merrell told in verse, funny memoirs The Amazing Book is Not on Fire and Dan & Phil Go Outside by YouTubers Dan Howell and Phil Lester, fantasy YA Everless by Sara Holland, and the fact-filled 147 Things by Jim Chapman. (Excuse the poor quality of the photos in this post though, I had no day light to work with this weekend 😢)

What I Read in October 2017 – Wrap Up & Mini Reviews

After September's incredible selection of reads, in October when I was looking at my TBR I found it harder to decide on what to pick up next and some books I did end up choosing still didn't grab me quite as much. I did read a variety of genres to mix things up, which helped a little bit to get excited about my chosen reads again. My two absolute favourites in October were the excellent Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman and non-fiction title Why the Dutch Are Different by Ben Coates.

The Little Book of Lykke by Meik Wiking [blog tour]

As soon as it hit September the skies started to weep; a miserable way to commence the changing of the seasons. The days are getting shorter and darker, and it's so very easy to get pulled back into the routine and stresses of school and work, the quieter and more relaxing holiday period disappearing into a distant memory. I for one actually prefer the colder seasons, but I too got dragged back into the rut of work and it sometimes can be hard to find enjoyable moments to look forward to. The Little Book of Lykke has been the perfect antidote for me these past few weeks; its sunny exterior and positive contents providing inspiring moments of happiness.

What I Read in August 2017 – Wrap Up & Mini Reviews

After reading a massive eleven books in July, August was a bit of a quieter month as my reading high halted. My siblings stayed with me for two weeks out of the four meaning I wasn't commuting by myself, diminishing my reading time to the few longer train journeys we took out to Brighton and Oxford. Still, out of the six books I did manage to finish in August, five were 4-star reads which wasn't bad at all. My favourites this past month were YA alien invasion sci-fi I Am Traitor by Sif Sigmarsdóttir and magical fantasy epic A Shiver of Snow and Sky by Lisa Lueddecke.

What I Read in July 2017 – Wrap Up & Mini Reviews

Wow, July was a whirlwind reading month. I went to Edinburgh for a long weekend, which means I was on trains for a good ten hours providing plenty of reading time, and I picked up quite a few quick reads in the past month as well – so I ended up reading eleven books in total! In an attempt to finally read some of the ones that have been gathering dust on my shelves, I've also made a (small) dent in my TBR, which feels awesome, though being less picky did mean that I read three books I rated with just 2 stars and another I gave 2.5 stars. To balance that out though, I got lost in the magical worlds of Lost Boy by Christina Henry and Moonrise by Sarah Crossan, both of which were so incredible that they will likely make my top 10 of favourite books for all of 2017. 

What I Read in May 2017 – Wrap Up & Mini Reviews

While I post book reviews on this blog, I actually read more in a month than I can cover in a weekly review and I thought it was high time to start with monthly reading round-ups, so all the books I've had the pleasure to enjoy that month can be spotlighted on here! This post marks the first monthly wrap up and is a real mix of adult reads (fiction and non-fiction), young adult and even children's. Out of the books I read in May my favourites were When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi and Trouble Makes a Comeback by Stephanie Tromly ♥