August TBR (2023)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm back with (a rather late) August TBR! 

I've already finished 2/6 of the books I planned on picking up this month (one of which was this evening- which enabled me to start (and hopefully finish) this TBR). 

But nevertheless, here is my August TBR. I hope you enjoy it. 

1. The Seven Sisters, by Lucinda Riley 

My work colleague gave this to me to read, because I was interested in it. It's the first in, I think an eight book series, and it's about seven adopted sisters, that were born all across the world, and upon their pa's death are each given a clue- a clue that leads them to their heritage, their past. 

Eighty years earlier, in the Belle Epoque of Rio, 1927, Izabela Bonifacio's father has aspirations for his daughter to marry into aristocracy. Before she is married, she convinces her father to allow her to accompany him to on his trip to Europe. In the lively, vibrant café of Montparnasse, she meets ambitious young sculptor Laurent Brouilly, and knows her life will never be the same again. 

It's 622 pages long, and I'm so excited to sink my teeth into this huge novel. 

2. Happy Place, by Emily Henry 

It's September next month, which means I'll be thinking about the spooky reads and the thick fantasies to sink into. And honestly, it's about time I picked this up. 

Happy Place is about Harriet and Wyn-who are considered 100% right for eachother- going on a trip with their best friends for the last time- as the cottage is closing after this holiday year. There's only one problem- they've been broken up for the last six months, and they haven't told their friends. They decide, for this last trip, they'll just pretend- just for one week- to be a couple once more to protect their friends' feelings. Besides, what's the worst that could happen? 

Looking forward to loving another one of Emily Henry's books. 

3. Open slot

 
I'm just going to leave this for when the time comes. Originally it was going to be Good For A Girl, an autobiography by Lauren Fleshman, an american runner, but now I'm in the mood to pick up THUG for a re-read. Last month it was Theatrical. Honestly have no idea which one I'll be picking up. 

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

I've had The House of Fortune (sequel) for several months now and because it's been several years since I read the first, I feel I'm due a re-read. 

I'm going to list the blurb in bullet points now: 

1. Nella is sort to a wealthy but distant merchant. 

2. He gifts her a miniaturist house, exactly the same as the house they live in. 

3. As Nella uncovers hidden secrets within the house she realises the depth of the danger they are all in. 

4. The Miniaturist seems to hold their fate in her hands- but will she save or destroy them?

It seems this is the month for historical fiction books! Not gonna lie, I'm genuinely looking forward to it. 

Okay! Those are all the books I plan to read in the month of August! If you have any thoughts on any of the books listed, then don't hesitate to comment! 

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

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxxxx

July Wrap Up (2023)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm back with my July Wrap Up (2023)!

I think I did slightly better this month in terms of finishing books. I read a total of 4 books and they all took round about the same amount of time- there isn't a book that took 14 days at all! 

Slowly getting there. 

Here's what I read. 

I hope you enjoy it. 

1. Little Girls Tell Tales, by Rachel Bennett

I'm trying to actually read some books that people have mentioned to me recently, and this was one of them, from my mother. Little Girls Tell Tales follows Rosalie, a girl trying her best to stay on her feet after her wife passed away, when her brother and a girl knocks on her door. The girl claims that the skeleton Rosalie found in the marsh when she was a young girl (which noboby believed her about) might have been her sister. 

Rosalie, along with Dallin and Cora, start to scour the marsh for clues, or anything the town folk can give that might stear them in the right direction. But the further they delve into the marsh, the more strange happenings occur. Who doesn't want them looking for Cora's sister? And what's hidden in the depths of the marsh?

This was a very easy book to get into, and every time I picked it up again, I was always able to remember exactly I'd got up to previously. Well written characters, compelling plot. I'm starting to think I should give the crime/ thriller genre more of a chance than I have been. 

Not an absolute masterpiece but I'm very glad I followed through and picked Little Girls Tell Tales up. 

2. A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman 

I've recently posted a review of this book so if you want to read some of my most in-depth thoughts, you can click the link in the title. 

All my thoughts rolled into one paragraph: I loved this book. Less than 300 pages long, but it sure packs a punch. I laugh, I smiled, I nearly cried on a train, I went through a range of emotions because of this book and I would do so again. The film is decent too, so after sobbing your heart out on this book, go and watch that. This is my favourite book of the year before and I challenge every other book to make me feel even a tiny amount of what I feel when reading this book. I dare you. 

3. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, by Taylor Jenkins Reid 

As soon as I post this and my August TBR, I'll be back with my review of THIS. That's right, I'm posting another review! To be fair, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo very much needs one, because I have thoughts. And I'm thinking I'll fit in as many as I can, providing I have thoughts and I'm in the mood. 

This has been my third Taylor Jenkins Reid book, and even though the two other books I've read by her, Carrie Soto is Back and Daisy Jones and the Six have subject matters that I care about a bit more, I found this just as amazing. Maybe even more actually- every time I put this down, I was almost anxious to find out what was going to happen next. 

I so very much want to say more but I should probably hold off until writing this review I've promised myself I'll write- otherwise I might just end up posting it now. 

4. Amari and the Night Brothers (Supernatural Investigations #1), by B.B. Alston 

I finally got to this! Enjoyed it just as much the second time around- and am currently reading Amari and the Great Game and thoroughly enjoying what I've read so far! 

Amari and the Night Brothers follows Amari who, after being expelled from school, is nominated to a  summer camp by her brother Quinton- who has been missing for several months- which turns out to be a magical summer camp! Amari's only goal is to find out what happened to her brother, but after finding out what her own magical power is, must contend with all sorts of challenges- not least her only classmates- but the question is- will she ever find out what happened to her brother?

It's difficult not to see the similarities this book shares with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone- but I really do love this- great start to the trilogy (I think it's a trilogy)- very excited to see where this series is headed! 

Okay! Those are all the books I read in the month of July! I'm hoping I'll get to heaps more in August, but of course, I'll be taking it steady so as not to fall into a reading slump. 

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

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxx

A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

I bought A Man Called Ove on holiday in Lake District, and the fact that I've already finished it is something in itself. 

It took me completely by surprise, and I found I had a lot of thoughts on it. 

Without further ado, I hope you enjoy the review. 

Title: A Man Called Ove

Author: Fredrik Backman 

Genre: Fiction 

Release date: 27/08/2012

Status: Standalone 

Pages: 294

Blurb: "Ove is almost certainly the grumpiest man you will 

ever meet. He thinks himself surrounded by idiots

-joggers, neighbours who can't reverse a trailer

properly and shop assisstants who talk in code. 

But isn't it rare, these days, to find such 

old-fashioned clarity of belief and deed?

Such unswerving conviction about what 

the world should be, and lifelong dedication 

to making it just so?

In the end, you will see, there is something 

about Ove that is quite irresistable..." 

My Thoughts

Now, I don't mean this in a bad way, far from it. I'll explain. But the first few chapters, and then less so, thoroughout the book (but still getting that same impression), but Ove very much reminds me of Jordan, my boyfriend. There are certain quotes I have in my notes that just make me think of him. I just couldn't help but chuckle to myself when I was able to find such resembelence between this fifty-eight-year-old widow and him. 

It says it in the blurb- Ove is probably the grumpiest man you will ever meet- and I'm not saying Jordan is- but it's just the way he has a routine, he has things that need to be finished and stuck to, and Jordan is exactly the same. Which I must say, I love that quality in both of them. 

Okay, enough about Jordan. 

On to the book. 

Ove's temperament never really changes throughout the book. He always has that sour look on his face, as begrudgingly helps out his neighbours. And you always get the impression that if he wanted to be screaming bloody murder at some irresponsible twat, then he would be doing so. 

In fact, he sometimes does! At the asshole driver blaring music, or the girl with the pissy dog. Or the clown. It might have been the fact that I don't read many books where the protagonist is a fifty-eight-year-old man, but some of the funniest parts for me was reading about Ove giving some deserving sod what for. 

And in this is where the magic lies. Fredrik Backman has the ability to have you clutching your side, laughing one minute, and have you crying the next. I've never read a book that's ever changed my mood so quickly as this. 

But what I love about this book is that, even though he always has that grim and grouchy look on his face, you see him start to care about his pushy neighbours and cat- who at the start- barely prefers to the flea-ridded dog and it's owner. 

The thing is, A Man Called Ove isn't about anything that happens in a person's life that isn't completely ordinary. But it's so much more than that. You see loss, new beginnings, mental illness, family, love, heartbreak, happiness, pain. 

And I am extremely happy that I had the pleasure of reading it. 

Okay! That is my review of A Man Called Ove! I won't lie, I absolutely loved it, and it is the front runner for my favourite book of the year. 

I hope you have a wonderful afternoon and I'll see you all soon with my Wrap Up (2023)! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx