Top Ten Books For People Who Like Character Driven Novels

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.

This wasn't an easy list to compile, but if you love a good character driven novel you'll probably like these:

Which character driven novels would you recommend?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #2

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a meme hosted by Book Journey.

Read Last Week

Currently Reading

Up Next

I'm really craving some fantasy, so hopefully I can get onto these soon!

What are your reading plans for this week?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #1

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a meme hosted by Book Journey.

Read Last Week

Currently Reading

Up Next

What are your reading plans for this week?

Review: No Matter What

No Matter What

by Sally Donovan

Goodreads Description:

'I love you, no matter what.' This book tells the uplifting true story of an ordinary couple who build an extraordinary family - describing Sally and Rob Donovan's journey from a diagnosis of infertility to their decision to adopt two children who suffered abuse in their early life. Writing with incisive wit and honesty, Sally Donovan movingly describes the difficulties of living with infertility when friends and family have no idea, and the emotional process of arriving at a decision to adopt. She recounts the bewildering logistics of adoption and, after finally Sally and Rob are joyfully matched with siblings Jaymee and Harlee, how their joy is followed by shock as they discover disturbing details of their children's past. Determined to heal their children, Sally and Rob realise they will need to go 'beyond parenting' to give them with the help they need. By turns heart-rending, inspiring and hilarious, Sally and Rob's story offers a rare insight into the world of adoptive parents and just what it takes to bring love to the lives of traumatised children.

This book is insightful and, at times, heartbreaking. Donovan highlights the fact that the end of the adoption process is not the end of the journey, that there's so much more before and afterwards. I haven't read anything before has been so honest about adoption - the highs and the lows.

I would thoroughly recommend this to any parent or especially anyone considering the adoption process or anyone who has adopted.

Review: If I Stay

If I Stay

by Gayle Forman

Goodreads Description:

Everybody has to make choices. Some might break you. For seventeen-year-old Mia, surrounded by a wonderful family, friends and a gorgeous boyfriend decisions might seem tough, but they're all about a future full of music and love, a future that's brimming with hope. 

But life can change in an instant. 

A cold February morning ...a snowy road ...and suddenly all of Mia's choices are gone. Except one. As alone as she'll ever be, Mia must make the most difficult choice of all. 

With the film trailer out, I thought I'd better post an overdue review of this little beauty!

This was my first Gayle Forman, and I'm hooked. Although short, this story is beautifully sweet and believable. The stream of consciousness style lends so well to this story and the characters felt well-rounded. I especially loved Adam. You will be left wanting more, so be sure to check out the companion novel Where She Went. I still cannot believe I picked this gorgeous hardback like new for £1 from a charity shop!

What did you think of If I Stay and are you excited for the upcoming film? 

Review: The Geography of You and Me

The Geography of You and Me

by Jennifer E. Smith

A cute contemporary romance focusing on love, family, loss and the idea of home. When a blackout hits New York City, Lucy and Owen find themselves trapped together in an elevator. The friendship and romance that progresses from this chance meeting spans countries through the medium of postcards.

I love the film You've Got Mail, in fact, it's one of my all time favourites! So when I saw that this romance was through postcards, I leaped at the chance to review an e-arc from Netgalley. Smith's writing flows off the page but I found myself dipping in and out for some escapism. For me, it's good but not profoundly different to the other books of the same genre.

If you're a fan of Stephanie Perkins or, of course, Jennifer E Smith's previous work you should pick this up tomorrow.

Happy reading!

BookTuber Recommendations #1

Sarah Churchill (Clumsiness is a Curse)

A Welsh designer for Jammy Custard who has quite an eclectic taste and a love of 'gorgeous' covers. She's been on BookTube for over a year and films vlogs, mail art and book related videos.

Megan Olivier

A vegan hailing from Northern England. She's stylish, personable and a lover of  YA and contemporary. Recently she's started to film vlogs and lifestyle videos as well.

Sanne (booksandquills)

A Dutch graduate living in London. She works for a Hot Key Books and was recently on the BookTube panel at the London Book Fair. Her videos cover everything from hauls and reviews to working in publishing.

Waiting on Wednesday

Hosted by Breaking The Spine

I'm currently reading The Book Thief and really want to read more books of the wartime era. So this book is most definitely one of my most anticipated reads of the year:

Prisoner of Night and Fog (Prisoner of Night and Fog #1)

by Anne Blankman

Release Date: 22 April

Goodreads Description:

In 1930s Munich, danger lurks behind dark corners, and secrets are buried deep within the city. But Gretchen Müller, who grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her "uncle" Dolf, has been shielded from that side of society ever since her father traded his life for Dolf's, and Gretchen is his favorite, his pet.

Uncle Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler.

And Gretchen follows his every command.

Until she meets a fearless and handsome young Jewish reporter named Daniel Cohen. Gretchen should despise Daniel, yet she can't stop herself from listening to his story: that her father, the adored Nazi martyr, was actually murdered by an unknown comrade. She also can't help the fierce attraction brewing between them, despite everything she's been taught to believe about Jews.

As Gretchen investigates the very people she's always considered friends, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Will she choose the safety of her former life as a Nazi darling, or will she dare to dig up the truth—even if it could get her and Daniel killed?

From debut author Anne Blankman comes this harrowing and evocative story about an ordinary girl faced with the extraordinary decision to give up everything she's ever believed . . . and to trust her own heart instead.


Which books are you 'waiting on'?

March Wrap Up

I'm pretty late posting this, so let's just get straight to it! This month I finished...

City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments #3)

 by Cassandra Clare 

 I enjoyed this but guessed early on the big plot twist.

 If I Stay

by Gail Forman

 I picked up this beautiful hardcover edition for a bargain £1 from a local charity shop. And I really liked it. Short and sweet. 

 The Help 

by Kathryn Stockett 

A re-read for book club. Enjoyed this just as much as the first time.

 Divergent

 by Veronica Roth 

Why I waited to long to read this I do not know! Really enjoyed it, although Tris did annoy me at times.

The Geography of You and Me 

by Jennifer E. Smith 

A really cute contemporary romance that I received from netgalley. Will release a full review near the release date, 15 April.

 And the books I started but didn't finish... 

 Prep 

by Curtis Sittenfeld 

I was excited for this book and I was thoroughly disappointed. I found Lee to be pretty depressing and I just couldn't connect with her. However, Sittenfeld's writing is great as per usual.

 On Beauty 

by Zadie Smith 

 I just was not in the mood for this. May loan it from the library at a later stage. For that reason I won't be giving this a rating just yet, I don't feel that would be fair.

March was a busy month for me, again, so I didn't read as much as I wanted to. Although I didn't do too badly! Later this week I'll tell you what I'm reading this month. Until then, what was your favourite read in the last month?

Five Influential Reads

Recently I've seen a similar tag floating around in the booktube community, so I started to ponder which books have influenced my life. Here are just a few:

Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson
This book is full of adventure and inspired within me a desire to see the world.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The first book I remember buying with my own money. I first read this at aged nine and have reread it time and time again. Jane Eyre has shown me why classics are so beloved, as well as introducing me to Gothic fiction.

Oleanna by David Mamet
An assigned read in my English Literature course. Oleanna allowed me to consider the importance of education in society as well as in my personal life.

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Through Mitch's memories of Morrie, I realised truly how much one person can inspire a generation. 

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
This was another assigned read and I studied it alongside Jane Eyre. Wide Sargasso Sea has deeply influenced my views on the treatment of women and mental health, both past and present.