September Wrap Up (2022)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm done with feeling like a failure when it comes to posting on here. I'm an unpologetically shitty writer when it comes to this and I'm just going to own it. 

Here's my wrap up for last month. I read a fair few books this month. 

1. The Thursday Murder Club (Thursday Murder Club #1), by Richard Osman 

I re-read this is preparation for The Man Who Died Twice and even though I only rated it three stars the first time around, I remember enjoying it, I remember it being a strong read, and truth be told, I had high hopes that re-reading it would give me enough inclination to rate it higher this time around. Unfortunately, I had exactly the same experience. This was a decent read, but it wasn't really any more than that. It took me like a week and a half to get through it, and I just wasn't motivated to pick it up. Yes, the premise is original, and it's entertaining, and going into it, I was excited to revisit this world. I more or less ended in a slump that I had to fight my way out of. 

2. Life is Strange Vol. 4: Partners in Time: Tracks (Life is Strange #4), by Emma Vieceli, Claudia Leonardi, Andrea Izzo 

My birthday present! Bloody awesome, my favourite one yet. Two seperate realities, each of them leaving me wanting more when I jumped to the other one. It's so easy for these number volumes to just feel like fillers, when you've gone so far from the start, and you're a few volumes from the end. This felt nothing like that. It felt like now we've established the plot, where the direction of the story's going, that these Emma and the illustrators just let rip upon us. I have no idea where this is going to end but I know what I'm hoping for. 

3. Off the Record, by Camryn Garrett 

I put this on one of my Anticipated Releases post a couple of years ago and it's one of the few that I've been meaning to order since. Stumbled across it in Waterstones Picadilly and the rest is history. Flew through it, absolutely loved it, as I kind of always knew I would. 

How do I start? This has such an important theme to it? Doesn't have enough weight to it to really put across what I want to say about this book. 

Review will definitely be coming soon. 

I don't even think I've fully grasped the severity of situations like this, even though I've read this. 

Just, read this guys. It'll change your world. 

4. The Man Who Died Twice (Thursday Murder Club #2), by Richard Osman 

I actually enjoyed this more than I thought I did. Did unfortunately have the same problem as the first one, was forced to download the audiobook, so I could feel like I was actually making progress, but I found that I actually started enjoying this more because of that. 

Our adventurous eighty-year-olds are up against the clock on this one, so there's a chase to the finish: find the diamonds, as a favour to Elizabeth's old friend, before the killer! You actually see Elizabeth sweat a little, something I never thought I'd read about. 

I'm very much hoping that this series will continue to get better and better, rather than having it peak here. 

Who knows? I guess we'll see. 

5. Illegal, by Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin, Giovanni Rigano 

Stumbled across this masterpiece in a literal comic book store for just a few quid. Simple but moving tale about a young boy, Ebo, trying to make the journey from Africa to Europe, to meet up with his brother and sister. Every time I think about it, I want to pick it up and re-read it again. 

What I loved most about this book was the hope. Ebo never gave up on the idea of that better life, in Europe, with his brother and sister, even when the situation was desperate. I hope to be like that when I grow up. Never giving up, never losing face of what's important. 

6. Ballet Shoes, by Noel Streatfeild

I found this in Daunt books in London, when I was travelling round searching bookshops (certainly making my mark for this trip) when I saw this poking out of the children's secret. Ballet Shoes was one of my favourite classics to re-read when I was a child and it wasn't long before I'd read the first chapter and gotten sucked in. 

Saying that, I'm sure I wasn't the only child that read and loved this; it is considered timeless after all. 

I'm sure I'm not the only child that pictured themselves being best friends with these girls, or even being them, like they say at the end of the book "I wonder- if other girls had to be one of us, which of us they'd chose to be?" 

Okay! Those are all the books I read in the month of September! I'm surprised and extremely happy by how many I actually managed to finish, despite being in London. 

Let me know in the comments what you guys read in September, and we can chat about them! 

I hope you have a wonderful evening and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx

September TBR (2022)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm here with my September TBR (2022)! 

My progress might be a bit slower than usual, because I'm just coming back from reading really large books but hopefully I should be back and consistently reading more by the end of the month (at least that's what I'm hoping).

So, here's what I plan to read this month. I hope you enjoy it. 

1. The Thursday Murder Club (Thursday Murder Club #1), by Richard Osman 

I was hoping to get to this last month, and although I did manage to start it, that's as far as I got. But I'm slowly gaining speed as I work my way through this now, and I'm really enjoying the re-read. 

If you didn't know, the thursday murder club is Joyce, Elizabeth, Ibrahim and Ron, and they are all eighty-year-olds that reside in a retirement village. Every thursday, they meet to discuss some unsolves murders from years ago. But when there's a murder right on in their backyard, the thursday murder club find themselves right in the midst of it. 

Very amusing, yet sad and shocking moments in this book, it's been great to be able to go back and re-read in preparation for the second and third book (which is due out later this month if I'm not mistaken). 

2. The Man Who Died Twice (Thursday Murder Club #2), by Richard Osman 

Don't know much about this book, and that's the way I want to keep it. I've read the blurb obviously, and that's enough to wet my appetite. From what I can tell, the murder club are working to help Elizabeth's friend, who made a mistake. But this time, they're working to find something before the killer does. So there's a deadline, a heist, and a mystery to solve. That's certainly intriguing enough for me. 

3. Life is Strange Vol 4: Partners in Time: Tracks (Life is Strange Comics #4), by Emma Vieceli 

The fourth volume! I'll really be speeding through this series after I finish this. 

Okay, I don't actually have this at the moment. It's a birthday present, but I'm hoping I'll be able to jump right into this upon receiving it. It's weird to think that at the start of July I was only reading the 2nd volume, and after this I'll only be two away from completing the entire series. 

(But there's already another series- from a videogame that I've got my eye on- I just need to finish the games first haha.) 

I love this cover by the way, such rich colours, 

And an awesome story to go with it! Can't wait to continue with this saga! 

4. The Miniaturist (The Miniaturist #1), by Jessie Burton

I read this several years ago, and I actually think I was close to getting rid of it, cos I figured that because it was a standalone, that I wouldn't be picking it up again. Boy was I wrong! One of my local independant bookstores had an advertisement outside their shop, so I went in and straightaway bought a copy (next book) with sprayed edges. (So obviously I have to re-read this, because I've forgotten the finer points.) 

Since I read this back in 2019, I actually haven't read many books set in this time-frame (1686), so it'll be nice to have a change in the book that I read. And of course, I'm looking forward to going back and re-learning everything I've forgotten. 

Basically, The Miniaturist tells the story of eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman, who arrives at a grand house in Amsterdam to begin her new life as the wife of a welathy merchant, named Johannes Brandt. He presents her with an extroadinary gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. As Nella grows into her new life, she finds that this model home that has been gifted to her, seems to hold the residents fate- in her hands- but what does she plan to do with their lives- save or destroy them?

This is a mysterious, intriguing story, full of secrets and history, and although I'm not sure if it's totally accurate, it sure feels like it is. 

5. The House of Fortune (The Miniaturist #2), by Jessie Burton

I can barely remember how the first book ended, so I'm not going near the blurb, or the first page until The Miniaturist has at least been opened. I honestly don't know what possessed me to see this book, and purchase it straight away, because it definitely isn't the cover (even if it does have sprayed edges and a gorgeous cover exactly the same as the first book). I really do hope it's as good as the first one though. More to report when I've actually read it though. 

6. Where Am I Now?, by Mara Wilson 

I've had this stashed on my "Library" shelf of Audible for at least a couple months now, since I watched the film, and it's high time I listened to it. It was recorded by Mara Wilson, and there is nothing that I love more than listening to a person telling their own story to you. I always loved Matilda, both the book and film, because Matilda was a big reason of 1)why I became a reader in the first place, and 2) it was an awakening that it wasn't considered different to want to read. I always knew about Danny DeVito and what he did for Mara and his mother, but when I heard about this, I just knew that I'd need to read it soon. 

And that's why it's on here, so I can start my listen as soon as I've read my physical books (this should also line up nicely for ironing too)! 

And that is my September TBR (2022)! I hope you enjoyed it and as always, feel free to comment what you plan to read this month! 

I hope you have a wonderful evening and I'll see you all soon with my anticipated releases for the last quarter of the year! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx

August Wrap Up (2022)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm back with my Wrap Up for the month!

I hope you enjoy it. 

I read a total of four books in the month, but honestly, I don't care, because I finally finished the Skulduggery Pleasant series! (And they were pretty hefty books too!) 

1. Seasons of War (Skulduggery Pleasant #13), by Derek Landy 

In a nutshell: A gang of heros go on a private mission to another dimension to kill a bad guy (Mevolent- dead in their reality, very much alive in the other one and planning to shunt over to their reality and take over). Chaos ensues, one of my absolute favours of part 2 (I'll be referring to the second part of the Skulduggery Pleasant series as part 2). This was one of my favourites to date, and I think it still is, even after reading it through a couple times because, there's a clear goal, some epic fighting and characters and there's a clear start and end, like some of the typical earlier books in the series. 

2. Dead or Alive (Skulduggery Pleasant #14), by Derek Landy 

This one sat differently with me. After absolutely loving Seasons of War I was hesitant as for what direction this was going to go. Of course I loved it, as I do all of Derek Landy's books, but it wasn't a stand out. My opinion of part 2 was that they just kept getting better and better, and although this was awesome, I wasn't totally blown away. 

Nevertheless, I liked the fact that the darkly brothers had a lot more book time. They had become a lot more noticeable in Seasons of War, but in DOA was when I really became invested in them, like I wanted to keep reading about them, Omen especially. Solid book in the lead up to the final. 

3. Until the End (Skulduggery Pleasant #15), by Derek Landy 

And finally, book 15! The book I had been waiting for for over a decade, and it was finally in my hands. And honestly, it was just as amazing as I hoped it was going to be. Obviously I'm not going to spoil it, but the chapters were explosive and fast paced, (though there was still plenty of great humour and heart-to-hearts, (I literally laughed out loud at some points). 

Genuinely, as relieved as I am to finally be at an end of this series (not spoiling anything), it's been an amazing ride. I'm so happy that I decided to do a full read-through of this series (even if reading it on and off has taken four months). 

I'll miss you Valkyrie, Skulduggery, Tanith, Omen, Auger, China, Ghastly, Temper, Never, Militsa, Xena and all of Valkyrie's family. Love you guys. 

4. Life is Strange Vol 3: Strings (Life is Strange Comics #3), by Emma Vieceli 

Just when I think that I know where this series is going, it throws me through a loop. As always, very loyal to the videogame, I didn't for a second believe that this was the same Max from the game. Chloe and Rachel were very believable too, and honestly, I think this one was my favourite so far. Very much looking forward to receiving the fourth volume for my birthday in a couple of weeks. 

    Okay! Those are the books I read this month! 

I'm glad I got through as many as I did (they had large page counts, okay)? 

And I'm excited to read another pile in September! 

Right! That's all I have for you guys, as always, comment what you read/ got up to this month and we'll talk in the comments! 

I hope you have a wonderful day and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeeee! 

-Abi xxxx