Tag: Book Blog

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Children's Non Fiction

Nature and Me, The School of Life

Nature and Me is a beautifully written book, by The School of Life, about the lessons children can take from nature.

Each chapter has a theme, which is something linked to nature e.g. The Himalayas, and each theme links to a valuable life lesson, such as learning to appreciate time to ourselves, mindfulness, and the power of imagination. The book has a warm and comforting tone, is well laid out and is supported with beautiful illustrations.

What I particularly like about this book is that it doesn’t gloss over life. In an age appropriate manner it tells children that sometimes things don’t go the way we want them to or that sometimes people are mean, but through the valuable lessons it gives through the examples of nature, it really does teach children coping mechanisms for these hardships.

We often hear that nature is important and we must protect the planet, but this book shows us exactly how important nature is, particularly for what it teaches us. Whilst, this is a book aimed at children’s, I thoroughly enjoyed it as an adult. I learnt some things I never knew before, other things I did know before were shaped into a new way of thinking, and I came across reminders of things which I just needed to hear right now.

Overall, Nature and Me is a book which we can all benefit from as it not only points out the beauty of nature, but teaches us lessons of what we can take from it.

Thank you to Netgalley and The School of Life for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Categories
Non Fiction Self help

The Book of Hope, Jonny Benjamin & Britt Pflüger

TW: Some people may find some of the themes discussed in this book upsetting.

The Book of Hope shares the stories of 101 individuals, including the likes of Dame Kelly Holmes, Joe Tracini and Martin Seager. All the stories have one thing in common: hope.

The contributors to this book vary from athletes, to psychologists, to actors and musicians. Some are very famous, others not so much, but the value of each story is limitless.

The Book of Hope is broken down into the following chapters Always Hope, Acceptance, Peace, Tool Kit, Compassion, Courage, The Right Words, Inspiration, Resilience, Kindness and Connection. This is really helpful as if you need something specific you can easily jump in and out.

Within each chapter you will find a number of stories. Some of the themes which appear in the contributor’s stories include, but are not limited to, mental health illnesses, loss, homophobia, racism, suicide, violence and sexual assault. Each individual tells us of the dark places they have been to. The stories are very raw (hence the trigger warning) however they also tell us how through these adversities they found hope, which in turn can provide hope for those struggling.

There are three important things I took away from this book. 1. You really are not alone. By just reading this book you will realise that there are at least 101 other people who have been to the dark side of life. 2. Even famous people struggle. In a world infatuated by the mass media and Instagram, not everyone’s lives are as they seem. 3. Nothing lasts forever and hope is the most important thing. I wish I had this book as a teen and even more so wish I was able to gift this book to my sister before she gave in to her demons.

Overall, this is just another example of how Jonny Benjamin continues to break the stigma around mental health, and I would like to thank all the contributors, including Jonny and Britt themselves, for being open and honest, and for trying to do just that. We all need a little hope from time to time, so I would recommend all to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan who kindly gave me the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Categories
Fiction Historical Fiction

A Ration Book Daughter, Jean Fullerton

A Ration Book Daughter is the fifth book in The Ration Book series and is focused around Cathy Brogan and her son Peter. If you have read the previous books, then you will know Cathy is stuck in an unhappy marriage and is living with her horrible mother-in-law, who treats her terribly.

When Cathy’s husband Stanley is declared missing in action, it comes as no surprise that Cathy begins counting down the days until she can be declared a widow and be free of her violent husband. Cathy dreams of a big family, like the one she herself grew up in, and has given up on this dream, but then she meets Sergeant McIntosh and finds herself falling for him. Can she find the love she deserves? Certainly not if her mother-in-law has anything to do with it!

Having previously read A Ration Book Wedding I was very excited to read A Ration Book Daughter and was certainly not disappointed. I was already invested in the characters, and was excited to continue my journey with them. I love Jean Fullerton’s style, her writing really allows you to immerse yourself in the story, and she has really made me grow on historical fiction as a genre.

The themes in the book really made me think about how society has changed (and perhaps not changed enough) since WWII. For example the position of women in society. Today if a woman was stuck in Cathy’s situation you would hope she could up and leave. However, for Cathy and other women at that time, they relied on their husbands wages to live on, and there was more stigma attached to a woman who left an unhappy marriage than there was to a man who treated them so horrifically. Other themes touched on in the book include war, racism, abuse, relationships and love.

Overall, whilst The Ration Book series doesn’t hide us from the brutalities of the war, and is great to learn more about family life during WWII in a fictitious way, this was a very cosy and heartwarming read. If you haven’t read all the previous books then this isn’t necessarily an issue, although I am keen to go back and read the ones I have previously missed.

Thank you to Readers First, who gave me a copy of this book pre publication in exchange for an honest review.

Categories
Non Fiction

The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person, Frederick Joseph

In the The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person Frederick Joseph draws upon his personal experiences of growing up as a black child in America. He talks about the stereotypes and hurtful comments people said to him because of the colour of his skin, and reflects on them, explaining why these comments were wrong and discusses how he would react to these differently as a grown up.

Joseph writes from the perspective of a friend. He deals with a very serious issue, in a concise way, with bits of added humour. The book is made up of chapters, each covering a core concept, of which Joseph includes his personal anecdotes, as well as interviews with important voices. At the back, you will find a glossary of all key words and concepts discussed through the book, as well as a list of people/books/movies and songs for you to check out to expand your mind further.

I found this book a real eye-opener. Whilst I could see racism evident in society before reading this book, I did like to think that I did all I could to treat people of colour with equality. However, this book has made me realise that there is more I can do. Whilst, I will never know what it is like to be black and to face the injustices that Joseph has faced in his life, by giving me the gift of this book, I would like to hope that this has given me the confidence to call out injustices in the future.

Overall, this book is a must read for teens and adults, and even if you think you don’t need to read it, trust me when I say it is the gift you never knew you needed.

Categories
Non Fiction Self help

What They Forgot to Teach You At School, The School of Life

What They Forgot to Teach You at School is a book of all the essential emotional lessons which, as its title suggests, are not taught to us at school.

Each chapter explores a different topic which range from forgiveness, kindness, worrying about other people’s opinions, being aware and so forth.

My first impressions of this book were very hopeful, as I am passionate about schools teaching vital lessons to prepare us for our adult life, as I truly believe this is something which was missing from my own education! Many times I have questioned why do I know how to do trigonometry, yet had to learn for myself that is not selfish to be kind to myself every once in a while?

The book is a short read, and whilst in some places I would have loved to see the topics be expanded on, upon reflection I am pleased that the chapters are bitesize. After all, not everyone is a big reader, and perhaps by the book being more of a guide it makes it more accessible to all.

Some people may perceive the lessons in this book to be ‘common sense’, or ‘nothing new’ however I love being reminded of the values taught throughout, because with how busy everyday life is it is so easy to push these things to the back of our mind. It’s also great for all these lessons to wrapped up into one book.

Overall, a great guide of some of life’s values, which are most simple yet often forgotten about. Personally, I would have preferred more detail, but I still found it very useful and would give it three stars.

Thank you to Duckworth Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Categories
Fiction

Everything is Beautiful, Eleanor Ray

11 years ago Amy Ashton’s best friend and boyfriend disappeared without a trace. They must have run away together is the obvious conclusion. At first Amy is not convinced, but with it being 11 years later and still no answers, there is little else left for Amy to believe.

Over the years Amy begins to collect things. It started with things related to the case and things which reminded her of her past and better times. However, now her house is full of lots of things; things which people would consider junk, but which Amy finds meaning in and uses to fill the gaps her losses have left her with.

It isn’t until a new family move in next door that an incident occurs in Amy’s garden which leads her to discovering a clue. Is it enough to lead Amy to finally uncover the truth about the past?


Everything is Beautiful is a fantastically written novel. Structured with chapters which switch between the past and the present- this was particularly helpful to understand who the main protagonist Amy was and how she got to where she is now. As the past helps us to understand what she once had and why she is drawn to certain things.

I felt very drawn to Amy and thought that her character was well thought out. At the beginning she comes across as someone who is a bit of a recluse and very lonely, perfectly happy in her own company with her many belongings. However, as the book moves on you begin to realise that is not the true Amy.  It is difficult for Amy to move on when she is holding on to the past and has not ever had closure. At first it is almost unimaginable to think Amy can change and live the life she deserves, however, this is where Eleanor Ray gets it so wonderfully perfect, as with all situations in life, not everything is black and white or is it always linear. As we move through the book, we see that Amy still has so much to give and experience.

Themes in this book include but are not limited to love, loss, hope, healing and hoarding. I particularly loved that Eleanor Ray delved into the topic of hoarding. I think sometimes those who hoard can be really judged. Those who do not understand may see it as a choice or as simply lazy and therefore it can be seen as a taboo. However, as we see in the novel, hoarding is normally a sign of a deeper problem, which for Amy was her past and all the sadness she had experienced. I thought Eleanor Ray got this message across in a very sensitive way and I would hope it would have brought a greater understanding to many readers.

Overall, this is a story of hope. It truly felt like a hug in a book and without a doubt it deserves 5 stars.

Categories
Fantasy Fiction

The Midnight Library, Matt Haig

Trigger Warning: Suicide

Nora Seed feels trapped in her life, she views herself as a failure, and has many regrets. Regrets about giving up swimming, regrets about old break ups, regrets about not moving to Australia…The list goes on! What if she had only made the opposite decision, perhaps her life could have been completely different!

One night Nora finds herself tempted by suicidal thoughts. It is at this point that she finds herself in a library. However, this is not just any library. This is the library between life and death, full of infinite shelfs with infinite books. Each book providing a chance to see and live a life, where Nora made different decisions.

After seeing how her life could have panned out had she made different choices, does Nora still regret her decisions? Or does she realise that she is already living a fulfilled life.

The Midnight Library is a fantasy/sci-fi novel which carries philosophical teachings. Touching upon themes such as suicide, regret, mental health and living in the present.  I never thought fantasy was for me, however The Midnight Library has shown me otherwise. A lot of the quotes and philosophy behind this novel will stick with me for a long time.

Having enjoyed Matt Haig’s other books, I was really excited for this book to come out. However, I never rushed to read it. Why? Probably because I enjoy knowing I still have a book on my ‘to read’ list, which I can almost guarantee I can enjoy. I finally got a copy for Christmas and sadly just three days later I lost my sister to suicide. For anyone who has experienced suicide, you may know how no matter what you did or how much you tried to help, it does not stop you from tormenting yourself with the ‘what ifs’. It was at that point I was glad I had not rushed to read this book and it could not have come to me at a better time.

Overall a deeply meaningful, comforting and thought-provoking read. 5 stars.

Categories
Fiction Thriller

The Lies We Tell, Jane Corry

What would you do if your only son came home one night and told you he had killed someone? Would you hand him in? Or, would you go to great lengths to try and protect him?

That is the dilemma which Sarah and Tom are faced with, when 15-year-old Freddie comes home one evening and tells them exactly that.

The book rewinds back to the past and takes us on the journey of how Sarah and Tom met. Two, very different, people with very dissimilar traits and personalities, both of whom have experienced turbulent pasts and mistakes.

Overall, this book centres around the moral dilemma, of would you protect your child if they told you they murdered somebody, or not? Sarah takes a more nurturing approach, whereas Tom wishes to call the police. I think for some this may seem too far fetched- you may like to hope you would do the obvious right thing- but Jane Corry has a way with writing which really makes you feel Sarah’s pain. She wanted to be a mother to correct the wrongs of her own up-bringing, she suffered multiple miscarriages, therefore for Sarah the pain of giving up her son is unfathomable.

Jane Corry is one of those authors who I know will not let me down, and The Lies We Tell did not fail to impress. Her writing is spot on. The characters in the book, were well thought of, not just the main protagonists but also those supporting, such as Olivia and Gladys, and the pace was perfect. Whilst a huge timeframe was fitted in to one book, it did not drag and it kept my attention. The novel was full of twists and turns and every time you thought you knew you didn’t.

Overall a great book. A solid 4.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin General UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Categories
Fiction Thriller

The Family Friend, C.C. McDonald

Erin is a mum, living by the sea with her fiancé Raf. when looking at Erin’s Instagram it would easily fool you into thinking she is living the perfect life. With thousands of followers, her posts suggest she is super mum, managing to have it all, whilst remaining upbeat and happy. However, in reality Erin is struggling with anxiety, finding connecting with her son challenging and is estranged from her family.

One day Erin gets home from a retreat to find Amanda, at their house. Raf explains Amanda is a family friend, from Australia. Having never heard of Amanda, Erin finds this strange at first. However, these suspicious thoughts quickly turn to gratitude when a famous agent offers to help Erin with her Instagram career and Amanda offers to move in and babysit.

However, the novelty of Erin’s new career soon wares off, when she begins to get trolled. Videos are posted which not only leads to a backlash from her followers, but her agent isn’t happy. To make matters worse these videos could have only been taken by someone close to Erin, leaving her second guessing all those closest to her.  

The Family Friend is a modern-day thriller, which could have done with a bit more thrill. From a thriller you expect twists and turns, but unfortunately the twists and turns failed to surprise and the plot was predictable.

Whilst the plot wasn’t amazing, I did still find this novel easy to read and enjoy the level of detail C.C. McDonald writes in. The immaculate detail really impacted the way I perceived the characters. For example, at first, I failed to connect with Erin, I wanted her to get off her phone (hypocritical really!), but the detail used to describe the trolling she experienced, as well as the details used to describe her anxiety, particularly around the other mum’s, really made me feel for her. I found myself feeling as though I was in her shoes and could really sense these worries and fears.

The themes which were discussed throughout The Family Friend are very relevant and relatable to today’s society. These themes included social media vs reality, trolling, anxiety, being a new parent and control in relationships. Pretty much all of us have a different persona online, and if you think you don’t then ask yourself how often you post about your worst days. Not to mention, those who feel parenting does not come naturally to them often feel too afraid and guilty to admit it, particularly when on social media it looks like all the other parents are doing everything swimmingly perfect. Therefore, I thought it was an important portrayal, which is not often seen, or if it is it is normally a bad character (think wicked non-maternal stepmothers in fairy tales). I would hope that Erin’s characterisation would make at least one new mum feel a little less alone.  

Overall, I would give The Family Friend 4/5 stars. It was an easy read, which was well written and discussed important issues, it would have just been nice to have a little less predictability.  

Thank you to Random House UK and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Categories
Non Fiction Self help

Why the F*ck Can’t I Change? Dr. Gabija Toleikyte

How many of us want to implement new habits into our lives, but often find them short lived? Whether it is diet related or how we deal with stress change is hard, but Why the F*ck Can’t I Change is here to tell you that it is not as impossible as you may think.

Dr. Gabija Toleikyte is a neuroscientist and behavioural coach, who explains why we form certain habits and behaviours, shows us how we can stop ourselves from repeating mistakes and takes us on an eye-opening journey through the way the human brain works.

Covering topics such as why you should not suddenly stop bad habits, ways to improve your productivity and how to look after your brain health. Why the F*ck Can’t I Change is transformative, inspiring and empowering.

Unlike other self help books I found Why the F*ck Can’t I Change took a more pragmatic approach to guiding us. Dr. Gabija uses a mixture of academic research and case studies to bring her points to life, and she suggests activities throughout so you can put her advice into practice.

I enjoyed the scientist approach this book took as it was useful to know the ‘why’ behind things. Rather than just being told how to change, it was helpful to know why we are a particular way, which the author tells us by going right down to basics, for example our animal instincts.

Some may say that this is more of a textbook, as the author introduces the purpose of each chapter and writes summaries at the end of each chapter. Whilst, for some this may trigger bad school memories, or perhaps feel overly repetitive, I found it really helpful. The chapters were well-structured, the summaries reminded of what I had learnt and are incredibly useful if you wish to refer back to things.

Will you enjoy this book if you are not overly interested in science? Personally, I never particularly enjoyed science at school, but found this book fascinating. I found the author’s explanations easy to understand and no matter how scientific you are or you are not, I believe this is the one neuroscience book we can all get behind. We all have a brain (some may say debatable) so do we not owe it to ourselves to understand how it works?

Overall, a refreshing, well researched and practical self-help book, which not only teaches how but why. Five stars.

Why the F*ck Can’t I Change is out now. Thank you to Thread and NetGalley for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review.