Tuesday 1 February 2022

Top Ten Books With Names In The Title

 

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by ThatArtsyReaderGirl and this week's theme is books with names in the title. I have read quite a few books with names in the title over the years and I have really enjoyed a lot of them so this was hard to narrow down. I have chosen ten books that I have either read and loved recently or loved a while ago and want to reread some time soon.


What is your favourite book with a name in the title?

Sophie :)



Thursday 27 January 2022

Seven 2022 Book To Screen Adaptations I'm Excited About

 I love a book to movie or TV adaptation. I used to keep up with upcoming adaptations and read the book in preparation for the adaptations release but I have gotten out of that habit in recent years. I figured I would try to get back to that a little this year and decided to look into the upcoming adaptations. I found a few that I am excited about that I thought I would share.




 

1. The Hating Game - This has already released elsewhere but is coming to the UK at some point in 2022. This is the movie adaptation of Sally Thorne's novel, which I read last year and didn't love as much as everyone else seems to. I love Lucy Hale, though, so I am excited for the movie.


2. Bridgerton Season 2 - The second book in the Bridgertons series, The Viscount Who Loved Me, is my favourite of the series so far and is the book the second season of the show is based on. I started reading the series after falling in love with the first season of the show so I can't wait for the second season.


3. Luckiest Girl Alive - This is a movie adaptation of a book I read years ago. The Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll follows a seemingly perfect woman with a traumatic past, the secrets of which are tearing her apart. I wasn't a fan of the book but I am interested to see how they take this story to the screen.


4. Daisy Jones And The Six - One of the most popular books of the past few years, Daisy Jones And The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, is being adapted into a TV series. I have not yet read this book and didn't really have much interest in it until Sam Claflin was announced as part of the cast of the adaptation. Now I will definitely be picking it up and watching the show when it is released.


5. Anatomy Of A Scandal - This is a thriller that I have not read but the premise sounds interesting. The TV series adaptation is pitched as for fans of Scandal, a show I really loved, so that has me hooked already. I believe it is to do with a politician accused of committing a crime and follows the court case that ensues.


6. She Said - This is an adaptation of a non-fiction novel that is on my TBR. The book is written by two journalists who broke the news of the Harvey Weinstein's sexual harassment. I believe the adaptation is a dramatisation of the book.


7. After Ever Happy - The final instalment in the After series is coming and I am both excited and very sad about it. I have never read the books but the movies are my absolute guilty pleasure and I have watched them far more than is considered normal. I am excited to see this story reach it's conclusion but also don't want it to end.


Those are seven book to movie or TV adaptations due to be released in 2022 that I am excited for. I'm sure there will be some I have missed as I can never keep up with movie and TV news. 

What upcoming book to screen adaptation are you most excited for?

Sophie :)

Tuesday 25 January 2022

Top Ten New To Me Authors I Discovered In 2021

 


Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and this week's theme is new to me authors I discovered in 2021. I read 53 new to me authors in 2021, compared with just 9 that I had read from before, so it is very difficult to narrow it down to just ten. I discovered some really great authors last year but these are the ones I am most excited to read more from this year.


1. KA Tucker - I completely fell in love with KA Tucker's writing after reading The Simple Wild and can't wait to try out the books outside of that series.

2. Brittainy C Cherry - I read three of Brittainy C Cherry's books in 2021 and loved all of them so much.

3. Mariana Zapata - I finally read a Mariana Zapata after having it on my TBR for far too long. I will definitely be reading more soon.

4. Beth O'Leary - I really enjoyed The Flatshare and I have high hopes for Beth O'Leary's other books, I just need to get around to reading them.

5. Chloe Liese - I discovered the Bergman Brother's series in 2021 and fell in love with it. I just adore Chloe Liese's writing.

6. Christina C Jones - I read a book by Christina C Jones towards the beginning of 2021 and wanted to pick up more from her later in the year as I enjoyed it so much but never got around to it.

7. Rosie Danan - I didn't expect to like Rosie Danan's writing as much as I did when reading The Roommate but now I really want to check out her other books.

8. Tessa Bailey - I started the Hot & Hammered series last year and have been really loving it. I definitely want to finish that series soon and then see what Tessa Bailey's other books have to offer. I have high hopes.

9. Kandi Steiner - I fell in love with a Christmas novella by Kandi Steiner so now I really need to read more from her. I also started the PSU series, which was so much fun to read.

10. Heidi Swain - Heidi Swain was a real surprise as I picked up a Christmas book by her on a complete whim and fell down a bit of a rabbit hole. I ended up reading four of her books in December and now want to read all of them.

Those are ten of the best new to me authors I discovered in 2021. There are many more that I could have mentioned here but these are the ones that stood out the most. I can't wait to read more from all of these authors soon.

Who was your favourite new author discovery of 2021?

Sophie :)

Saturday 22 January 2022

2022 Most Anticipated Releases

 I have never really been one to look too much into new releases. However, this has been the post I have been most looking forward to. I am just generally really excited about the reading year ahead and that includes all of the amazing new books that will be published in the coming months. I don't have a massive list, as I generally don't read a lot of new releases right as they are published, but I do have a some upcoming releases for the first half of the year that I am really excited for. 





1. Running Wild by KA Tucker - This is easily my most anticipated release of the year. The Simple Wild was my favourite book of 2021 and this is the next book in the series. It is the first book not following Calla and Jonah but instead follows Marie, the local vet who was a bit of a villain in the previous books in the series. I am so excited to see how KA Tucker is going to make me fall in love with Marie, which I know she will, and I can't wait to be back with all of characters I love so much. (January 25th)


2. The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka - I have been interested in some books by this author duo before but have never gotten around to them. I believe this is their first adult romance and it gives me Beach Read vibes. It follows an author duo who now hate each other but are under contract to write another book together. I am definitely intrigued by this one. (January 25th)


3. Love, Locked Down by Beth Reekles - This is another one that I believe is a first adult romance from a YA author. This is following five different couples all locked down in an apartment building for a week and each having to deal with their own circumstances. It really sounds like something I would enjoy and I'm excited to give it a go. (February 1st)


4. The Reunion by Meghan Quinn - I just read the prequel to this, The One Night, and now I am desperate to read this book! This follows the three Chance siblings as the prepare to throw a 50th anniversary party for their parents. From what I can tell, each sibling gets their own romance and it just sounds like so much fun. (February 20th)


5. Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake - I read and enjoy the one YA book I have read from Ashley Herring Blake and this is her first adult romance, which seems to be the theme of my anticipated releases this year. This is a f/f romance following a photographer who goes back to her hometown to photograph her stepsister's wedding and falls for one of her stepsister's best friends. (February 22nd)


6. The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa - I really enjoyed The Worst Best Man so I am excited to get more from Mia Sosa. I don't know too much about this other than I think it is about a woman who crashes a wedding and then ends up fake dating the man whose wedding she crashes. I don't need to know much to know I'll be picking this one up. (April 5th)


7. The No-Show by Beth O'Leary - I have no clue what this book is about. Even after reading the synopsis. This is enough to make me so excited to get my hands on this. I enjoyed The Flatshare and definitely want to read more from Beth O'Leary. (April 12th)


8. Book Lovers by Emily Henry - Another of my most anticipated books of the year. I have loved both of Emily Henry's previous adult romance novels so I have high hopes for this one. It follows a woman who goes to a small town with her sister for the summer but keeps bumping into her rival. I'm so excited for another enemies to lovers romance from Emily Henry. (May 3rd)


9. Something Wilder by Christina Lauren - Of course I have a Christina Lauren book on this list. This is a second chance romance involving a fake treasure hunt gone wrong, which is all I really need to know. That sounds like so much fun and I can't wait to get to it. (May 17th)


10. Heartbreak Houseshare by Emily Merrill - Emily is one of my favourite people on Booktube (alittlewriterem) and her second book is being published this year. It follows a woman who moves out of the flat she shares with her ex-boyfriend and into a house with three other very different women. That is all I really know about this book but I am so excited about this one and can't wait to get my hands on it. (August 18th)


Those are ten of my most anticipated releases for the first half of the year. I know I will have missed some, I'm terrible at keeping up with new releases. I am so excited for every one of these books and have high hopes for all of them.

What upcoming releases are you most excited about?

Sophie :)

Thursday 20 January 2022

My 2022 Reading Prompts

When I first started blogging back in 2014, I was really into reading challenges involving various prompts to encourage you to read outside of your comfort zone. I really enjoyed these kinds of challenges as I wasn't sure what I loved in books and used these challenges to find books I wouldn't typically gravitate towards. They were also a lot of fun to do, so I had considered doing a similar challenge for 2022. However, I found that I got easily burnt out on these kinds of challenges if they had too many prompts so struggled to find one that suited me. 

As I couldn't find a challenge I liked, I decided to create my own challenge for myself and compiled a list of 12 prompts, one for each month of the year in theory. Each of these prompts is to encourage me to either read outside of my comfort zone or pick up the books that I already own. I thought I would share these prompts, mostly to hold myself accountable.


1. Read A Classic - This is pretty self-explanatory. I have not really read any classics, except the couple I skim read for school, and I want to change that. These books are classics for a reason and I have never picked one up voluntarily. 

2. Read A Historical Romance - I read my first historical romance in 2021 when I started the Bridgertons series by Julia Quinn after loving the TV show. I have read the first five books in that series but I would like to read a historical romance outside of that series in 2022.

3. Read A Book In A Series I Have Already Started - I am so useless when it comes to finishing series so this was a prompt I knew needed to be on the list. I have so many unfinished series so I just need to read a book in one of those to tick this off.

4. Start A New (non-contemporary) Series - Despite already having so many unfinished series, I want to start a new series, ideally one that I have been meaning to get to for a while. I have started a lot of contemporary series recently but own a lot of first books in fantasy/paranormal series that I would like to get to.

5. Read A Book That Is Out Of My Comfort Zone - This is also self-explanatory. I want to push myself to pick up books I wouldn't typically gravitate towards. I might end up being surprised and find a new genre or type of book I really love.

6. Read A Book I Have Owned Since Before 2015 - I have a few books on my shelves that have been there since 2015 or earlier and I am trying to prioritise them in 2022. 

7. Read A Paranormal Romance - This is a sub-genre I haven't really explored since my Twilight days. I would like to give it a go this year and see if it is something I would enjoy now.

8. Read A Book Being Adapted In 2022 - I haven't actually looked into this one much so I'm hoping it won't be too difficult. I used to loved reading books in preparation for watching their adaptation but have gotten out of that habit in recent years. I thought it would be fun to read something being adapted this year before watching it's adaptation.

9. Read An Intimidating Book - I have quite a few books on my bookshelves that have been there for years because I find them intimidating for whatever reason. This prompt is here to force me to finally pick one of those books up.

10. Read A Low Rated Book On My TBR - This just seemed like a fun one to throw in here. I always find it interesting when I read a book a lot of people either love or hate and seeing where my thoughts lie. 

11. Read An Underhyped Book - I tend to read a lot of books that other people in the book community are reading because that is where I get my recommendations from. I don't want to just be reading super popular books that everyone else is talking about so for this prompt I want to read a book that has less than 200 ratings on Goodreads.

12. Read A Book By A Popular Author - In contrast to the last prompt, I want to read a book I haven't read by a popular author. There are a lot of popular authors that I haven't read a lot from and want to see what all the fuss is about.

Those are my twelve prompts for my little reading challenge I have made for myself. If you have any recommendations of books to read for any of these prompts, especially the classic or the paranormal romance, please let me know. 

Are you doing any prompt based reading challenges in 2022?

Sophie :)

Tuesday 18 January 2022

Top Ten 2021 Releases I Didn't Get To

 


Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and this week's theme is 2021 releases that you wanted to read but didn't get to. With so many great books being published each year, it is hard to get around to all of the books I am anticipating. I am also just terrible at keeping up with new releases in general so I have quite a few still on my TBR that I hope to get to soon.

1. Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas - This is the prequel to The Hate U Give following Starr's father. I'm still really excited to read this one, I just haven't gotten around to it yet.

2. The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary - I read The Flatshare in 2021 so was super excited to read more from this author. This is one I hope to get to soon.

3. Sunkissed by Kasie West - I have read every one of Kasie West's contemporary novels so this was one of my most anticipated releases. I have since drifted away from YA and lost a bit of my excitement for this book but I would still like to pick it up.

4. One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston - This was super hyped prior to it's release, which made me excited for it to. I have heard great things but haven't gotten to it yet.

5. Reel by Kennedy Ryan - I discovered Kennedy Ryan in 2020 and completely fell in love with her writing. I was highly anticipating this release, I don't know why I still haven't picked it up.

6. The Mixtape by Brittainy C Cherry - Brittainy C Cherry is another author I discovered last year and fell in love with. I want to read everything she ever writes so I hope to get to this one soon.

7. It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey - This is one I wasn't really anticipating but after hearing so many amazing things, I'm now desperate to read it! I read a couple of Tessa Bailey's books last year and enjoyed them, so I 'm excited for this one.

8. Sweethand by NG Peltier - This was a debut that I was highly anticipating in 2021. The premise sounded like my kind of book and the cover is beautiful, I just never got to picking it up.

9. With You Forever by Chloe Liese - I read the first three books in the Bergman Brother's series in 2021 and really enjoyed them all. This is the fourth book in the series and I am so excited to finally get to it soon.

10. Freckles by Cecelia Ahern - Cecelia Ahern is one of my favourite authors but I am terrible at keeping up with her new releases. This book has such a unique premise, as do all of her books, and I can't wait to dive into this story.

Those are ten 2021 releases that I really meant to get to last year but just didn't get the chance to. I hope to get to at least some of them this year, hopefully pretty soon.

Have you read any of these? Which one should I pick up first?

Sophie :)

Monday 17 January 2022

2022 Goals

 I love this part of a new year! The fresh start and the chance to make new goals for yourself in the upcoming year. I always find making reading goals at the beginning of the year really gives me the motivation to get reading and gets me excited to find my new favourite books. I'm trying not to be too ambitious with my goals this year but I always get a bit over excited and get carried away.



Goodreads Reading Challenge

I have always set my Goodreads goal as 50 books but after surpassing that the past two years I have decided to push myself this year. I had my goal set at 100 books for some of last year but reduced it when it became clear that wouldn't happen. As I managed to read a total of 80 books during a pretty mental year for me, I thought I would try and challenge myself again this year and set my 2022 Goodreads Challenge goal at 100 books.


Buzzword Challenge

This was one of my favourite things I did last year so I am excited to do it again this year. This challenge comes from Kayla from booksandlala's Buzzword Readathon. She has compiled a list of buzzwords for each month of the year which can be used as either a year long reading challenge or as prompts for a week long readthon each month of the year. I completed it as a challenge last year and will be attempting to do the same in 2022.


Read The Books I Own

This is not a new goal for me. I think I have made this a goal every single year I have had this blog and I still fail miserably every year. Once again, I really want to try and prioritise the books I already own, either physically or as an ebook. I have around 150 unread physical books and around 110 unread ebooks, some of which I have owned since 2012. I need to get these numbers down this year, both by reading them and by getting rid of the ones I am no longer interested in.


Reread Books

I didn't reread a single book in 2021! That is crazy to me as rereading is one of my favourite things. I love diving back in to a story I have already fallen in love with and being with characters I enjoy all over again. I want to try and reread more again in 2022. I would like to do at least one reread a month but I'm never great at sticking to that so just more would be enough for me.


Read More Non Fiction

This is similar to my last goal, I love nonfiction but don't read enough of it. I only read 8 nonfiction books in 2021, which is nothing considering I read 80 books. Again, I would love to read at least one a month but I know that doesn't really work for me so I would like to just read more than I did last year.


Read More Diversely

I am so ashamed that I am having to make this a 'goal' again this year, as I feel it should be something I just do. I did not do a good enough job of reading more from authors who are not white in 2021 and I need to do better this year. 


Review Every Book

This one is a goal that I am already doubting my ability to do. I would really love to review every single book I read this year, even if it is just a couple of sentences on Goodreads. I don't necessarily want to review every book on the blog, I think I'll probably just do that with favourites or new releases, but I would like to review every book on Goodreads and most of them on Instagram as well. I'm terrible at keeping on top of reviews so this will be a struggle but I'm hoping I can do it.


Those are my main reading goals for 2022. I do have some other goals relating to blogging and the book community in general, as well as some personal goals, but I think reading goals are the most interesting. I really am hoping to be able to stay blogging this year, with no big long breaks, but I know life can be crazy and unpredictable.

What are your goals for 2022?

Sophie :)