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Showing posts from October, 2018

LYING TO YOU - by Amanda Reynolds

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LYING TO YOU - Amanda Reynolds
Published: July 2018 - Wildfire.
Genres: Adult / thriller / contemporary
Pages: 355.
Triggers/Content Advisory: Sexualinnuendos / stronglanguage. 
Format: Paperback.
Source: Thank you so much to Jonathan Ball SA for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.
You'd know if you were lying to yourself, wouldn't you? When Jess Tidy was Mark Winter's student, she made an accusation that ultimately saw him sentenced to three years in prison. A jury found him guilty, but he always maintained his innocence. Now, Jess's mother's death has brought her back to the village where she grew up, and where Mark still lives with his wife. And the truth about that night ten years ago which nearly destroyed them both is finally going to come out.

Unfortunately, this is one of those books that I knew from the first chapter wouldn’t be getting 5 stars. I didn’t love the writing; it’s very boring and too impersonal. The dialogue is also extremely weak…
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THE GRISHA TRILOGY - by Leigh Bardugo

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( A huge thank you to Pan Macmillan SA for sending me these beautiful books in exchange for an honest review )
Shadow and BoneSiege and StormRuin and Rising

I first read this trilogy last year and really enjoyed it. When Pan Macmillan were kind enough to send me these new editions, I jumped at the chance to re-read them. Since I've already done separate reviews for each book, however, this post is an overall "review" of the whole series, in a different review format. Hope you like reading it :)


Bardugo is one of my favourite authors. The amazing thing about these new editions, apart from the gorgeous covers, is also the awesome bonus content inside. There are interviews with Leigh about her writing process and this specific story and characters, a sneak peek of Six of Crows, and lots more. Please read this trilogy! And get these editions! They're incredible.


This post does not contain spoilers.




I love Leigh Bardugo's writing. But her style in this book is quite dif…
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Weekly What's Up - The One With Writer's Block

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This week, I had writer's block. Thankfully it only lasted till Thursday, but that still meant that my Robin Hood retelling hit some major snags and is definitely not gonna be ready for NaNo. So I've turned back to my Peter Pan retelling. It actually works out well because I wrote the first draft of it for NaNo last year, and so this year it'll be the second draft. 
As annoyed and frustrated as I am about my Robin Hood story, I'm excited to go back to Peter Pan. Sometime in the future I will definitely go back to Robin Hood, but for now it's being pushed back.  


Posts of the Week














Currently Reading
Not loving Spinning Silver, just started Lying To You, and re-reading Ruin and Rising.




For Review
I received a beautiful hardcover of this book, which is the sequel to the magical Nevermoor. Can't wait to read it!

















How was your week? What are you reading and watching? 
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OCEAN'S EIGHT - 2018 action comedy thriller film

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OCEAN'S EIGHT - 2018
Director: Gary Ross.
Cast: Sandra Bullock / Cate Blanchett / Mindy Kaling / Anne Hathaway / Sarah Paulson / Richard Armitage / Rihanna / Helena Bonham Carter / Awkwafina / James Corden.
Score: Daniel Pemberton.
Cinematography: Eigil Bryld.
Content Advisory: PG13 for drugs, mild language, and some suggestive content.
Source: Rented.


Debbie Ocean gathers an all-female crew to attempt an impossible heist at New York City's yearly Met Gala.


I have been ecstatic about this film since the day it was announced. Even when the critics didn't like it, I floated on a cloud of rose-tinted expectation. It just sounded too perfect to fail.


The cinematography is brilliant, atmospheric, and very appropriate to the story and setting it explores. The soundtrack is punchy, and the costumes are absolutely divine. I love how each outfit is so thoughtfully chosen for the character wearing it - considering that the script doesn't give much in terms of character depth and develo…
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THE SEVEN DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE - by Stuart Turton

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THE SEVEN DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE - Stuart Turton.
Published: February 2018 - Raven Books.
Genres: Mystery / thriller / historical / magical realism
Pages: 512.
Triggers/Content Advisory: Gory descriptions / violence / mild sexual innuendoes.
Format: eARC.
Source: Netgalley.
How do you stop a murder that’s already happened? At a gala party thrown by her parents, Evelyn Hardcastle will be killed--again. She's been murdered hundreds of times, and each day, Aiden Bishop is too late to save her. Doomed to repeat the same day over and over, Aiden's only escape is to solve Evelyn Hardcastle's murder and conquer the shadows of an enemy he struggles to even comprehend--but nothing and no one are quite what they seem.

At first I wasn't in love with Turton's writing because the sentence structure felt long-winded and awkward. But as the story continues, it definitely smooths out. Before long I was utterly enamoured with the prose - the vivid details, the excellent dialogue. To…
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Weekly What's Up - The One With All The Productivity

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As usual, I'm writing this post on Friday, and right now I am so so happy that the week's over! I'm exhausted - writing has sapped my energy and staying up past midnight every night hasn't helped either. But at the same time, I feel like I've accomplished a fair bit this week. I have done so much outlining and work on my WIP (which includes a heck ton of re-outlining and fixing stuff as well) and I've even gotten back into bookstagram photo-taking. Hopefully that lasts! Ha.
Because of all the writing, I've hardly read anything and I've barely watched Netflix. It actually feels good :)
Posts of the Week














Currently Reading
I'm buddy-reading Spinning Silver with Di, but otherwise I've hardly touched a book this week.






Around the Blogosphere
Heather reviews Hunting Prince Dracula

Erica reviews Under My Skin

Kyra reviews Expelled

Angela shares 5 books you should read before you take a trip to Disney World




How was your week? What are you reading and watchi…
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FLOORED - a novel by 7 YA authors

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FLOORED - Holly Bourne, Sara Barnard, Tanya Byrne, Non Pratt, Melinda Salisbury, Lisa Williamson, and Eleanor Wood.
Published: July 2018 - Macmillan's Children's Books.
Genres: Young adult / contemporary / drama.
Pages: 320.
Triggers/Content Advisory: Bad language / sexual innuendoes / some explicit sexual content.
Format: Paperback.
Source: Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan SA for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.
When they got in the lift, they were strangers (though didn't that guy used to be on TV?): Sasha, who is desperately trying to deliver a parcel; Hugo, who knows he's the best-looking guy in the lift and is eyeing up Velvet, who knows what that look means when you hear her name and it doesn't match the way she looks, or the way she talks; Dawson, who was on TV, but isn't as good-looking as he was a few years ago and is desperately hoping no one recognizes him; Kaitlyn, who's losing her sight but won't admit it, and who used to …
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WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY

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Today I wanted to write a post about mental health - specifically mental illness - because it's International Mental Health Day. It's been a hard post to write, and I've deleted and altered and rewritten a number of times. I've also been back and forth about whether I should actually post it.

In the end, here it is.


Mental illness is still considered by many to be a stigmatic subject (although definitely not as much as it used to be). Personally, I often feel silly and embarrassed talking about my anxiety, because it shows a vulnerability with which I'm extremely uncomfortable. Worse, some people just assume you're overreacting, and worse still, some are unable to comprehend how difficult some things might be for you because they've never ever felt the same way. You might feel stupid, like there's something wrong with you, and you begin to wonder if maybe it is all inside your head, that maybe you are being silly and overreacting. Too often, I feel lik…
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Weekly What's Up - The One Where I Work On My WIPs

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It's been a weird week! I finally mustered up the courage to ask my local dvd store about getting a job there, but unfortunately they said there aren't any vacancies as of yet. It was disappointing, but honestly I'm just glad I asked. I was so anxious beforehand. 
I also started watching a new TV series (Heartland) - it's got 11 seasons though, so I was just hopping around random episodes because I do not wanna watch all 11 seasons, especially since it isn't actually a good show. The writing is terrible, as is the acting, but it's also relaxing and fun, which is why I stuck with it. Now, however, I'm back to Gilmore Girls :) Yay!
I've been doing a lot of writing prep this week. No actual writing the story, but a ton of outlining and character arc work etc etc. I ran a Twitter poll asking for help deciding which WIP I should focus on (since I'm notorious for trying to write multiple stories and characters at once and it never ends well), and thanks …
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THE FALLEN - by David Baldacci

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THE FALLEN (Amos Decker #4) - David Baldacci
Published: April 2018 - Pan Macmillan.
Genres: Adult / thriller / contemporary.
Pages: 432.
Triggers/Content Advisory: Violence.
Format: Hardcover.
Source: Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan SA for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.
Amos Decker and his journalist friend Alex Jamison are visiting the home of Alex's sister in Barronville, a small town in western Pennsylvania that has been hit hard economically. When Decker is out on the rear deck of the house talking with Alex's niece, a precocious eight-year-old, he notices flickering lights and then a spark of flame in the window of the house across the way. When he goes to investigate he finds two dead bodies inside and it's not clear how either man died.

But this is only the tip of the iceberg. There's something going on in Barronville that might be the canary in the coal mine for the rest of the country. Faced with a stonewalling local police force, and roa…
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5 Classic Novels You Need To Read

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Classics aren't for everyone. Personally, I love them. There was even a time when I would only read classics. Thank goodness I eventually branched out.

Below are some of my favourite classic novels and ones I highly, highly recommend. Even if you're not a big classics fan, maybe give them a go! You could be pleasantly surprised.


Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell /

This book. Guys.This book. I'd recommend it especially if you're not a big classics fan, because honestly, it doesn't read much like a classic. It's fast-paced, utterly compelling, and will leave you smiling with a warm and fuzzy feeling inside of you. The goings-on in this little English town will hook you from start to finish. It's amazing. The TV series is also excellent, if you wanna give that a watch.


War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy /

Don't let the sheer volume of this book intimidate you! It's an epic for a reason. It's so incredibly profound, and the characters are rich and enticing. So…
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