Well hello to you my reader chums! Being a bookworm is a part of my personality. My love for books has never changed, it's simply evolved and over the past year, I've been trying to focus on reading as much as possible. There's always something new I want to read with so many books in the world!

I'm always up for reading new genres, however, my favourite genres include crime fiction, detective novels, murder mysteries, historical fiction and women's fiction. Recently, I've read some incredible books and wanted to share the books I'm loving at the minute.

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

I haven't read a Gillian Flynn book since Gone Girl a while back and when I started reading this, I remembered why I loved this author so much and her talent for crafting thriller novels. This novel follows reporter Camille Preaker after she's released from a psych hospital and given a troubling assignment, returning to her small hometown to cover the unsolved murder of a preteen girl and the disappearance of another.

Camille hasn't visited her hometown in a long time and hardly spoke to her neurotic mother and half-sister she barely knows. Visiting her hometown again, she finds herself unravelling a psychological puzzle of her own past and looking further into the people around her. This novel gripped me from the beginning and I couldn't put it down at times, with twists of new characters and various narratives happening all the time. I got an incline of what I thought would happen towards the end and to my surprise, I was correct. This novel was strange and thought-provoking and highlighted many scary issues happening in everyday life to young people.

True Crime Story by Joseph Knox

I was recommended this book when I visited Bath in Mrs B's Emporium as I love crime stories, including true crime and this book was just that. This novel follows the disappearance of Zoe Nolan, a nineteen-year-old Manchester University student who went to a party one night in her shared accommodation and was never seen again. Seven years after the disappearance, a writer called Evelyn Mitchell is intrigued by the mystery and begins to investigate.

This book features plenty of interviews with Zoe's friends and family and Mitchell begins piecing together what happens to Zoe. Through investigation, many secrets are revealed of Zoe's life and Evelyn turns to crime writer Joesph Knox to make sense of the case. I loved this book as I could really feel the tragedy on every page and how heart-wrenching the narrative was. The interview style made the book fast-paced and intriguing with every page. I began reading thinking the book would end one way and then it flips with more leads and revealed secrets.

The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean

My heart broke the entire time I read this book and I read it in two sittings. This novel is set on an isolated farm in the UK where a woman is trapped by her abuser for seven years. It is a very exact novel, following the everyday motions of 'Jane' and the ordeal she goes through with this man and what happens if she doesn't obey him. He films her every move and when she discovers she's pregnant, she begins planning her escape, protecting her and her baby.

It's hard to put into words this book's tragedy as it's based on the facts of trafficking victims and the ordeal they experience every single day. I vouched for her safety and escape through the book, pushing me to read on with hope. It's realistic, heart-breaking and honest, an account I can imagine of someone dealing with the abuse of a kidnapper.

The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell

I love a thriller, especially a missing person's case. This book follows a young mum, Tallulah in 2017 where she heads on a date, leaving her baby with her mother, Kim. When the early hours come around, Kim awaits her return but she never comes home. Kim phones Tallulahs's friends who say the last place she was seen was a party in the Dark Place. Two years later, Sophie moved into the boarding school her boyfriend has a new job and sees a note fixed to a tree, so she begins to investigate.

This book was one of the first I read this year and I loved every minute. With every missing person's novel, I wondered about the direction it would go. This included all themes of wealthy people, dysfunctional relationships and how being a teenager is one of the biggest struggles of them all. I liked the perspective change in this book and how I could understand many people's views of the story. It had one of those endings that got even more shocking as I kept reading.

The Maid by Nita Prose

Not all murder mystery books are heavy and dark, some have a lighter tone and The Maid is just that. Following Molly The Maid who works for the Regency Grand Hotel, sees everything as she cleans rooms every day. Her honest and diligent approach to life makes her a brilliant maid, but she isn't so great at understanding social cues. When a famous guest dies and she finds his body, a police investigation is called and she's stuck in the middle.

I adored this book in many ways because it's incredibly honest, to the point and somewhat like a diary entry as she recalls every day as a maid. The book has a comedic aspect to it at times and features many characters who aren't nice to Molly at all but through her experience and understanding more of what it's like to be an adult, she realises who has her back all along.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Which books have you been reading at the minute?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! Don't you love when you read a book and become obsessed with what's going to happen? That's how I felt about this plot, Found. I'm a big fan of mystery books and crime fiction and this had a brilliant combination of both with twists and turns throughout it. 

If you're looking for a new crime thriller, here is my full book review of Found by Erin Kinsley.

Plotline

The plot follows a missing child story, however with a twist: he is found. 11-year old Evan goes missing without a trace and there's no answer from the police, plunging his parents to live their worst nightmare. A few months later, he is found, terrified and refusing to speak about what happened to him. His family soon realise he's not going to be the same Evan he was before the abduction and that his life may be altered forever. 

DI Naylor is aware that unless they find who abducted Evan, other children may be in danger and it's a race against time to find those responsible before the inevitable happens.

Characters and relationships

The characters in this book were incredibly diverse and I loved how their relationships shaped the honesty and humanity of the story. It really amplified the importance and love of a family unit and how you should never give up.

The parents, Claire and Matt are your typical couple and loving parents, with a great bond that breaks slowly with the news of Evan. It's sad to read they fall apart and lose sight of who they are and their love for each other. Evan is a character you don't learn much about until after the incident where he opens up and learns a new way of his life with his grandad. Evan and his grandad's bond has to be my favourite as it's so precious and shows how turning to nature and having a focus can do wonders for your mental health.

I especially loved how the book doesn't just focus on what the plotline is about and finding out the mystery but sheds light on the relationships of the police force. With the heavy plotline, learning about Naylor's love life and her every day really added a human element to the plot.

Overall thoughts

Overall, I absolutely adored this book and couldn't put it down. The novel had an amazing amount of layers adding twists and turns in every chapter. The author had this wonderful way of talking about the present in the case and then moving to the now of the characters, and describing it in a chronological way that read clearly, and beautifully. I loved how despite the heaviness and sadness of the novel, there was light and positivity throughout and an endless feeling of love.

My favourite thing was the family unit in the novel, the mum, dad, grandparents and Evan himself and the love they had for each other. It made the plot even more heartbreaking at times because the sadness of what the family went through, especially Evan is traumatic. 

Ending

I won't give away the ending like in all my reviews, however, it was a brilliant one. I love when a novel comes together and all the snippets of information described throughout add up - and that's exactly what happened in this book.

I hope you enjoyed this review. What are you reading at the minute?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! As many of you know murder mystery books are my favourite, I love discovering a mystery unveiled throughout the book, especially in a crime fiction novel. I've read my fair share of murder mysteries and continue to pick them up as it's a genre that thrills me. 

A recent book I picked up was The Maid on a whim and I didn't expect such a random purchase to be such a fab choice. If you're looking for a new novel to read, here is my book review of The Maid by Nita Prose.

Plotline

This novel follows Molly Gray, a maid working in the luxury Regency Grand Hotel. She is a cleaning whizz, taking her duty seriously and loving every moment of her job. One day, she discovers a very famous guest, Mr Black, dead in his bed, in Suite 401 and a messy mystery begins to unravel. Molly becomes the heart of the investigation because if anyone knows the secrets beyond the dirt, it's the maid.

Characters and relationships

The characters in this book were everything, especially Molly Gray. Molly is the most honest character, her authentic self every day, even at times when she doesn't mean to be. She isn't like a normal 25-year-old as she's mainly grown up with her nan, doesn't have many friends and isn't on board with the social cues. I love this about her though because she's always unapologetically herself and tries her best in every way to be kind to others and work hard in her job.

Molly had the most precious relationship with her late nan and references her throughout the novel and all the things she's taught her which has shaped who she is today. It's apparent how much she misses her nan and how navigating life without her is a massive challenge.

Another character I loved was Mr Preston, one of the older men working in the hotel and a character that always looks out for Molly in every way as he understands she's too nice, and can't comprehend when many people are joking about her or causing her harm.

Giselle is another staple character and as Mr Black's wife, a big suspect in the case. However, what's most important about her is their connection with Molly and how she offers a sense of friendship.

Overall thoughts

Overall I loved this novel in every way. It's a murder mystery that wasn't too heavy, with a big heart to it and a lighter tone. I love how even though it wasn't terrifying or too much of a thriller, the book had its fast pace, honest appeal and twists and turns adding to the overall thriller element.

It's a book that shows the true power of the good and bad people in your life, how good work goes a long way and who will always stand by you.

Ending

The ending of this book was a hopeful one, and honestly, throughout, I wasn't sure if the book would get to that point. However, I can say, I finished the book feeling satisfied for Molly and the other characters.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What are you currently reading?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you, my reader chums! Last year, I read nearly 30 books, and I'm aiming to keep to the goal this year as I loved that I could dive into the world of that many stories. My favourite types of books are crime thrillers, murder mysteries and historical fiction, with the occasional romance or non-fiction thrown in.

If you're looking for book recommendations, here are the best books I've read this year. 

The Wrong Sister  by Claire Douglas

This book follows two sisters, Tasha and Alice. Tasha is married to her childhood sweetheart and lives in a suburb with their twins, and she has always felt in the shadow of her older sister. Alice has a different lifestyle, married to a wealthy entrepreneur with a high-flying career. She realised Tasha was struggling with money and losing her identity and offered a life swap for a week, where Tasha and her husband could stay at their holiday home whilst Alice and her husband watched their children. Things go wrong, and Tasha receives a phone call that Alice is in hospital and Alice's husband is dead after a break-in. They think it's a burglary gone wrong until a note lands in the letterbox.

I adored this book for many reasons. I loved learning about the complexities of the sisters' relationship, and how much they care and value each other despite their differences. However, the best part was the incredible number of twists and turns. At one point, I thought I solved the mystery, and then the author added more layers and characters, including the knowledge their younger sister went missing as a baby.  

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

The Help is a classic novel following the lives of three ordinary women. Skeeter has returned home from university, and her mother is insistent on her finding a husband. She would usually chat with Constantine, the woman who raised her, but she has disappeared, and nobody will tell her why. Skeeter has the idea to tell the stories of 'The Help' in a novel, and two brave women, Aibileen and Minnie, share their experiences alongside other maids to start a movement and change how everyone views each other. 

I wanted to read this book for a long time, especially as I saw the film many years ago. This novel was a 5/5 read and a book which moved me, inspired by the lives of these women, mistreated and segregated due to the colour of their skin. I loved learning about each character's journey, and the delivery of the tale was pure genius.

The Audacity by Katherine Ryan 

I'm a massive Katherine Ryan fan because I admire her confidence, defiance and bold persona. This book highlighted that energy, sharing her life story, journey and many life lessons that gave her the confidence and freedom to express her honest opinion today. I loved this book because it shared how to have that self-assurance, how we all deserve to love and celebrate ourselves and that not caring too much about what people think is the best way forward to be happy.

The Last Flight by Julia Clark

This novel shares the lives of two women with two completely different lives. Claire Cook seems to have a perfect life, married to a politician and living this fancy lifestyle, but life is not what it seems. Her husband has a temper, and his staff tracks Claire's every move. Claire has spent months planning to vanish, and luckily, at the airport, she meets Eva, and the two of them decide to trade plane tickets. However, when the flight Eva got on crashed, Claire had to assume Eva's identity and the secrets Eva had taken so long to hide.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it shared the vulnerability and rawness of two women in a difficult and hard-to-get-out-of situation and what they had to do to save themselves. It's a challenging read, but that adds to the book's addictive nature and hope that both characters end up okay. This book is fast-paced, with lots of loopholes I didn't expect.

So As Long As You Write: Women on Writing by Kerry Ryan

This book was an uplifting and highlight moment for women as it shares many fiction pieces from different women, explaining honest experiences and life events in short stories or poems. I loved reading the diversity of voices in this book, including the author who compiled all the pieces together, Kerry Ryan. Between the stories, there's also honest and actionable advice for budding writers and those looking to make it in the industry, which I found very helpful.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What's your favourite book of the year so far?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! As many of you know thrillers, especially crime thrillers are my thing and when I was recommended this book on my trip to Bath, I couldn't wait to read it. I actually ended up reading it in only a few sittings as I couldn't get enough of the hard-hitting plot.

If you enjoy a crime thriller and an honest, first-person perspective, here's my full review of The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean.

Plotline

Set on an isolated farm in the UK, a woman is trapped by the monster who kidnapped her over seven years ago. The everyday motions she goes through and the punishment he gives her if she doesn't obey his every order. He films her every single move meaning that when he's away from the house, he knows what she's up to. When she discovers she's pregnant, she strives to protect her child no matter the cost and begins planning an escape away from him. In the meantime, another woman is kidnapped into the farm and it's down to her to escape with the woman and her child - but will she save them all?

Characters and relationships

Told from the perspective of 'Jane', the name her kidnapper gives her, I really came to grips with her raw feelings, the everyday emotions and what she has been through. The rules of the land she has to live, the pain she feels, the abuse she tolerates and the punishment she endures. It's an honest and heartbreaking account to hear the trials she deals with every day by this monster. 

'Jane's' relationship with her monster is honestly hard to describe or write as at times I could feel her pain and desperation for how he treated her. It made me so angry to see a human treat another human being in that way like they were absolutely nothing. 

'Jane's' relationship with her child, however, is the most beautiful thing to read. It really does show the power a mother's love will have to protect their child and sacrifice everything to do just that. The love she shows for her daughter broke my heart in every way as I wanted to leap onto the page and help her out. 

Overall thoughts

Overall this book is an intense page-turner and one which is impossible to put down. I could have easily read the entire book in one sitting as I desperately wanted to know she gets out and ends up okay. It's a gripping book, a psychological thriller showing the rawness of humanity and the desperate things people will do when they're truly suffering. 

It's a book highlighting the awful truth of what happens to victims of human trafficking and the abuse they endure every single day. Even though this story is fiction, I know it's based on many of the real stories of people who are kidnapped, trafficked and abused. If you read it, expect that sense of desperation in the words of 'Jane', the fear factor on every page and feeling every kind of awful emotion as you make your way through the story.

Ending

Like always, I won't give away the ending and honestly, with this book, I wasn't sure which way it was going to go. I sat in hope throughout the entire book as I wished for a happy and content ending. Luckily, the ending is positive and hopeful, everything this novel needs.

I hope you've enjoyed this post. What's next on your TBR?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! I recently turned 27 and honestly, it baffles me I'm closer to my thirties than my early twenties, however, I'm loving the woman I've grown into. Every year, I write a birthday post on either experiences or learnings and this year, I wanted to step back and reflect on what I'm grateful for.

Gratitude is one of the most important things for living a positive life and enjoying what life offers. To celebrate my birthday, here is a list of 27 things I'm grateful for.

My family and friends

I have the most adoring family and friends around me and as I've gotten older, these connections have grown even deeper. I'm lucky to have people in my inner circle who are my biggest cheerleaders and my biggest support system. Whether it's wanting to book a fun holiday or go to a coffee shop to have a chat, they're always up for spending the time. As I've grown, I've increasingly improved in opening up to my family and friends, developing our relationships more.

My supportive partner

I've been dreaming of finding true love for a long time, a love where that person supports me, grows with me and wants to be silly with me always. I'm lucky to find that in my partner who from the first moment of meeting me, has been a constant in my life. We love to adventure together and do the little parts of life together which makes my heart so full. I'm grateful for us to grow together and see what our future holds.

Living by the beach

I've lived by the beach my entire life and it's home to me. There's something to peaceful in knowing the sound of the waves is only a few minutes away from my home. I love heading to the beach for strolls, reading and enjoying the sunshine. I've recently moved to another beach town as well and love it just as much. I appreciate how wonderful it is to have the beach on my doorstep.

Working for myself

My biggest goal in life has always been to run my own business and work for myself, and here I am today, making it work. I started full-time freelancing this year and it's progressing exactly how I wanted and can't wait to see what the future holds for my career. 

My travels

Travelling is one of my biggest passions and as you may guess from this blog, I love nothing more than roaming around new cities and countries. I've been privileged enough to travel to 27 countries and many of those I've seen more than once, and I'm excited to see even more countries on my list.

My local freelancing community

When I started freelancing, I was worried about how lonely the experience would be. However, where I live, there's an amazing co-working group which I've joined and regularly attend multiple times a week. It has given me the opportunity to develop great connections with other freelancers, grow my confidence and find 'colleagues'. 

Beach sunsets

I'm obsessed with sunsets, especially on the beach. I think there's something so magical about watching the day come to a close with the calm ambience of the waves. With the beach on my doorstep, I can watch as many sunsets as possible.

My flexible schedule

Working for myself means I've finally been able to experience the flexible schedule I've always wanted. This means I'm able to work based on my productivity levels, slot in hobbies I want to do and socialise on weekdays whenever I like, rather than waiting until the weekend.

The wonder of books

Books have been my biggest passion from a very young age and to this day, reading brings me an incredible amount of joy. I'm obsessed with various books but especially, historical fiction, crime thrillers and feminist literature. 

My writing skills

My obsession with books is what fuelled my passion for writing. I've been wanting to write since I began to read and as I grew so did my writing skills and today, I've written five books and have a career in writing - everything I've dreamt of.

Baking cookies whenever I want

I love to bake, and I love brownies, cookies and cake more than anything. One of the little things as an adult I love is to bake whenever I want to. If I crave cookies or brownies, I can bake them in my own kitchen and it's wonderful.

All types of food

Food is one of the greatest things in life and I adore trying new cuisines and different types of foods. I'm grateful for all the restaurants around me that I can regularly visit.

Relaxing in coffee shops

There is something so peaceful about sitting in a coffee shop and reading a book or having a chat with a pal. In my town, there are many gorgeous coffee shops to enjoy this simple pleasure.

Yoga on the beach

I recently started yoga classes on the beach and love the relaxing element of it, and also appreciate how accessible it is where I live.

Musical theatre

I adore musicals and think I've seen around 15 in total over the years. I could happily see musical theatre shows time and time again - they are beautiful. One of my favourite pleasures is playing musical theatre tunes and singing my heart out.

Nostalgic music

Music is one of the best things about life and hearing someone's thoughts through their songs is a gorgeous experience. There are so many tunes and albums which bring back a nostalgic feeling and I love listening to them on repeat.

My blog

I've had this blog for ten years and to this day, it brings me an immense amount of joy to write and share my thoughts with the internet. 

My Italian heritage 

Being half-Italian is something I'm incredibly proud of and every time I visit Italy, my heart feels so full. I love Italy and how it is a part of my heritage and soul.

Trying to make new recipes

Cooking is another favourite thing as I love how there's so much you can do with food and there are plenty of recipes to try.

Road trips

The joy of a road trip is the best, there's something entertaining about sticking on some tunes or a podcast and admiring the scenery around me.

Plane rides

Soaring through the sky is a phenomenal feeling, knowing you start the day in one location and end it in another. I've been lucky enough to make use of travelling and experiencing many plane rides.

Freedom of living the life of my dreams

It's amazing to be sitting here living what I've dreamt about growing up. I always wanted to work for myself, be in a loving relationship and stay living by the beach - and I'm here doing just that. I love how I have the freedom to do exactly what I want.

My body

I've had a love-hate relationship with my body for years and it has taken me a while to accept it and learn to love it as my body has changed through the years. However, I'm incredibly grateful for the powerful things my body does for me every day and continues to do.

My anxious brain

I used to think anxiety was a hindrance in my life but as I've grown, I've realised what a positive effect it can have and how it has helped me develop and achieve things I never thought I would. Living with anxiety has certainly been a journey over the past decade but I'm grateful for the lessons it has taught me and how it has made me more understanding and empathetic to others.

The power of kindness

Kindness is all around us, from the little things loved ones do to a greeting of a stranger. It's what makes life so magical.

Dungarees

I live in dungarees and they're my favourite item of clothing to wear on whatever occasion. They're comfy, cute and suit me perfectly.

Quality time with loved ones

My loved ones mean the world to me and I wish I could spend every day with them all and enjoy life. But as life does get so busy, I appreciate all the quality time loved ones make for me and the things we do together.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What are you grateful for?

Thank you for reading <3