Lovers Exes Soulmates by Elison Alcovendaz

From the first page this book made me feel all the feels some relatable and beautiful emotive poetry a really great collection that's heart-breaking and so cleverly written the way they're set out into three separate stages of life and romantic relations makes it easy to dip in to and get hooked reading them definitely worth a read!

The Secret Seaside Escape by Heidi Swain

Tess goes away to the Norfolk coast where she has good memories of her mum after making a shocking discovery at home about her parents.

Leaving her father's business in the lurch and switching off her phone she sets about helping the lovely locals, Sam, Hope and there she meets brother's Joe and Charlie.

However as she grows closer to them she finds out a huge life changing secret and her workaholic dad surprises her beyond belief...

The ending was phenomenal, a huge unexpected plot twist which made me gasp I was shocked and hooked on reading on about her family what a twist! A perfect read to distract through current times I was immersed in this wonderful world and the characters lives.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

The Cornish Cream Tea Summer Part 1 All You Knead Is Love by Cressida McLaughlin

Lila is Charlie's cousin who surprises her by turning up out of the blue after a disaster in London with her best friend and job.

It safe to say drama follows Lila as an opportunity for the Cream Tea Bus to work with a BBC production arises and Lila is eager practically signing them up before asking Charlie properly!up

As Lila gets to grips working the bus, brushing shoulders with tv stars and many guys Lila wonders of maybe Cornwall can serve her life well like it has leading Charlie to Daniel and then they drop a huge bombshell on her, can she cope?

This series is one of my favourite ever discoveries and seeing Lila arrive and enjoy the area, uniqueness of the bus and the chance to be part of a filming set is great fun to read. If you enjoy Cornwall, food or baking and love stories this is a book for you a magical read I wish I could wander into myself and live in!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

First Day Of My Life by Lisa Williamson

In this book we follow Frankie as on GCSE results day her best friend Jojo doesn't show up as a baby went missing and Frankie puts two and two together to think as Jojo has been acting so out of sorts she could have abducted the baby randomly.

Frankie calls on her ex boyfriend Ram to help her as she traces her to far away in Swindon where the two discover a life changing shock can the three ever be on good terms with each other again?

This book was a fabulous read with a great twist the initial mystery of a baby going missing was thrilling and I would've like to have seen how that side played out too as well as Frankie and Jojo's friendship story too. The trio battle a lot of drama and if like me you enjoyed The Baby by Lisa Drakeford you should definitely read this one or both of course!

Thanks to David Fickling books for kindly sending me a copy to review!

Rebel With A Cupcake by Anna Mainwaring

When Jess gets called fat by the school mean girl, Zara on Own Clothes Day after a freak clothing ripping accident, she starts to doubt herself and her attitude towards her life choices such as her cupcake making and eating habit for one.

Hannah and Izzie her beat friends assure her it's not all bad as she's gained the attention of her secret crush, Matt and been asked by him to his party! But is he the boy of her dreams after all?

Her older sister Cat has suffered with an eating disorder it's hinted at, her mum encourages her to lose weight and so Jess begins questioning what she eats, when and why as well as taking up some exercise and eating less in general. But, she meets her blogger idol and gets asks to write a piece for her site after a chance meeting at her dads gig and so she swaps numbers with her idol and new friend quite possibly, Imogen and go shopping together.

The book deals with the issues of bullying and name calling in school, it can really effect peoples psyche and so is a key factor especially around the subject of weight as it could have sent Jess spiralling completely but eventually she owned her weight and who it makes her, A Rebel With A Cupcake as she calls herself online and good for her too!

A great book about not letting the bullies get you down, or at least not for long!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

The Girl With Space In Her Heart by Lara Williams

In this book Mabel faces even more space being made in her heart as after her dad left, her mum met Gavin or as her sister Terrible Topaz as she calls her calls Gavin, Galactic Gavin as he's a huge fan of astronomy like Mabel is.

As Topaz gets Mabel involved in figuring out a way to tell their mum that Gavin is cheating on her, Mabel feels even more lonely as Gavin was helping her and they got on especially as she discovers a letter from her dad to her, while she discovers Topaz has a while other reason to not be happy about after a run in with some girls after school one day, Mabel starts to realise her family may have more secrets than she thought...

This is a story that many will relate to about missing a parents and being left with a space to be filled. Topaz was a typical teenager and a troublemaker who was a great contrast to Mabel and her good girl persona. I loved the unique hobby of astrology and think it gets greatly overlooked in fiction but it works so well in this book!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

The Wrong Side Of Kai by Estelle Maskame

When Vanessa's mum died her life fell apart as her dad was battling his grief and her and her sister were left to fend for themselves which made Vanessa acting out and sleeping with random guys easy to do with no one to stop her.

However after breaking off her latest fling with Harrison, she discovers he has leaked a recording of her to their whole school and her life starts to fall apart...

Until Kai transfers in from another school also with a grudge against Harrison and the pair team up to get revenge...

This book was fabulous, I loved the dynamic of a good duo teaming up to get revenge in YA and it was done really well and the twist at the end while being easy to predict was a great twist nonetheless and made me as a reader happy with the outcome of the book overall.

Twisted Tales Let It Go by Jen Calonita

In this retelling of Frozen, Elsa grew up as an only child while Anna grew up adopted to her knowledge unknowing her rarely visiting aunt is actually the queen and her mum!

When their parents die, Elsa discovers the secret with Olaf's help and sets off to find Anna while Anna feels drawn to Arandelle as she always has and so plots to venture there with the help of Kristoff and Sven.

Can the girls find and heal their lost sisterly relationship?

This was literally a Frozen retelling through pieces of the film being moved around like a jigsaw with alterations added throughout and you know what, it worked so well I prefer this version I think!

Women In Sports by Rachel Ignotofsky

When I saw this book I was so super happy. As a girl, I've actually always preferred male sports and been parts of Cricket, Golf, Football, Badminton and now weight lifting groups as well.

We often get judged for it and unfairly so and a book about women doing great in sports is just what is needed in society to be celebrated more.

The book goes through a timeline of history as well as including a wide range of sports. It talks of the challenges the women faced and some consequences were even death in past times!

This book would be brilliant for schools, in modern day we need women and young girls to not give up on sports and think its for boys and it's a subject I am passionate about greatly. An empowering and inspiring book with many modern athletes we know doing great today from Serena Williams to Simone Biles and Nicola Adams.

Thanks to the publishers for allowing me a copy to review!

Stitch Camp by Nicole Blum and Catherine Newman

This is a fun and nature set picturesque themed book around the craft of sewing and creating your own fun projects based around the ideas presented in the book. Of which, there are a mix of ideas to create for both boys and girls to try.

There are basic tips included to help even very beginners get started and try and have a go too with clear and concise information set to simple, effective diagrams and clear shot photographs.

The projects are fun, with beanbag toys, useful ideas for everyday use such as, mason jar sewing kit storage and winter hand warmers, t-shirts, necklaces and bracelets as well as embroidered plaques and pillowcases which could be good as gifts too. There sure is something for everyone to try.

The book is set into sections on, Sewing, Embroidery, Knitting, Crochet and even Weaving!

I loved this book, as a crafter since I was little (age four I splattered our redecorated kitchen walls with paint... oops! Still sewing grew to be a passion till today still though!) I appreciate the projects and tips being greatly beneficial for kids and beginners. I will be making a rolling pin embroidery floss holder though, very useful as I have a tub of them all tangled which makes it very awkward to use! A great buy for crafty people!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book!

Apple And Rain by Sarah Crossan

Apple lives with her nan but knows her dad and stepmum whereas her mum let her go willingly so she could live her life how she wanted to. Apple isn't popular but does make friends with Del the home-schooled boy whom lives in the house at the back of her band and is friends with Pilar at school until she gets taken by popular Donna and her group.

Yet as Apple's mum returns suddenly unexpectedly, she makes another shock discovery but also discovers so much from being a good poet writing about her true feelings to release them privately she also has to cope with her mum's drinking, parties, smoking and her other daughter, Rain whom at ten still carries a doll believing it to be real and mothering it even at school.

But then a good and bad thing happen to her at once leaving her with mixed emotions not even starting to add Egan into the mix too...

The book deals with the typical broken family but adds so much more to it as her mum actually returns only to let her down once again in many ways, she also has to deal with more typical issues being a teen girl and some of the story is shocking adding a thrill to the book hooking me in to the point I had to just finish it, I loved it.

The Ticket To Happiness by Faith Bleasdale

Pippa and her siblings turned their home of Meadowbrook Manor into a hotel after their father passed away just leaving a final wish saying they must live together there for a year.

The single sibling Pippa longs for her partner to come along despite the workload from the hotel all her siblings being in couples makes her question when it'll be her turn as she would love a baby despite going through a divorce and being an auntie.

Her writer friend Hector checks in, a firm family friend with an apart crush on Pippa, he was previously from reality TV and involved in a sex scandal from it making Pippa feel he's immature!

Then American Brooke arrives set for a long stay trying to find her British family after learning that she's not just American...

When Harvey a guest comes and sweeps Pippa off her feet as he's so her type, older, high up job, appreciates her, unlike her ex husband still she can't see how Hector her long term friend feels about her because she feels he's too young for her when he's only two years younger!

As Pippa has to realise her true feelings, she makes a shock surprise discovery about Brooke which tips her and her family's world upside down...

While some parts were predictable and did happen how I thought there's still the drama and element of surprise in how the actions come about. I liked the element of team family as the siblings are all on each others sides especially when trouble strikes as well as each being distinctively different from each other in personality, interests and family set up there's someone you can relate to in some way. In my head the characters came to life and I felt like I was immersed right into the story like I was there at Meadowbrook myself, best read under the beautiful sunshine you won't regret picking up this feel good book!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Rosie's Travelling Tea Shop by Rebecca Raisin

In this book we meet London chef Rosie who's life is turned upside down when her husband Cameron reveals he's got someone else, a Khloe with a K specifically and so wants a divorce as he blames Rosie's strict planning as the issue despite him playing away for months!

This however is a result as it makes Rosie look at her life and one drunken decision later lands her with Poppy her new travelling shop van as she finds like minded people on forums online she gets chatting to helpful Oliver and finds her way to meeting and teaming up with Aria who runs the little shop of happy ever after, a nod to Jenny Colgan and so the pair team up selling books and book themed tea a perfect duo!

Though as they travel a lot happens from the festival circuit from meeting burly vegan guy Max to hopefully meeting Oli at last until a shock surprise comes to light thanks to Max...

Rosie has a complete change not only in her life but herself throughout the novel. She has a refreshing change in all aspects of her life making her more content and showing she shouldn't settle for the safe route in life after all a little fun and competition with Max shows her maybe her perfect life could be right in front of her after all! Take a chance on Rosie and get a cup of tea ready to enjoy with this book of course too!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Other Words For Home by Jasmine Warga

Jude lives in her war torn city with her family, her brother Issa believes and fights to campaign for peace despite their father, their Baba being against it as Issa gets involved in fighting back.

As her and her mum must flee after Issa joins the fighters and her Baba refuses to leave his store life takes a huge change.

Arriving in America to her uncle and his wife and daughter Sarah who are all Americans and speak perfect English unlike them who have to learn. Her cousin Fatima doesn't write for a start making her feel more alone than ever away from everything she ever knew.

in American she becomes a woman starting her period and wearing a hijab as well as getting her first crush and gets to perform at her new school while her cousin seems uninterested in including her in anything.

From making new friends, joining school and discovering drama as well as a new baby sister, tension in family with Issa and Baba this book kept on giving drama which made this a thrilling read and a great one to show how hard it can be to be a muslim girl and cope with such a hard lot stacked against her. I liked the way the verse flowed and it suited this book to be written this way.

Lost by Eve Ainsworth

Alfie is struggling with the loss of his mum after she passed away from cancer. Meanwhile his dad is shut off from him unlike he was before and the pair seen to just exist not live anymore especially as their shared love of football is now nonexistent after Alfie refuses to play now his mum's not cheering him on.

Then at school he meets Alice, the pair judged each other at first sight and since then the pair's new friendship gets off to a Rocky start after Alfie realises his new friend doesn't have a happy home life either for an entirely different reason.

Throughout the novel we get flashbacks to the worst time in Alfie's life when he loses his mum and it was so sadly realistic it was emotional and moving. Meanwhile Alice and her family situation is also dangerous and scarily true for many people out there right now in the world living in fear. Utterly breathtaking this novel is one you will zip through and not forget.

Splash! by Charli Howard

In this book, Molly is an aspiring swimmer growing up with her grandparents who champion her natural talent in water.

However as the pressure of facing secondary school loom, her best friend Chloe starts acting out being mean towards everyone. As she starts making jibes at Molly about her weight alike some horrid boys Molly encounters at the swimming pool.

When her absent mother finally turns up, she doesn't get the dream reunion she wants and as she fails to impress Chloe, she feels pressure to please and ends up losing her best guy friend after hurting his feelings when she lashes out.

All about the pressures of school, bullying, weight and appearance this is an essential, necessary read for teens and preteens growing up into an image based world.

There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins

Makani lives with her grandmother after her parents passed away, where she should be settled happily at home and school however, they're not at all. Her old best friend Jasmine, has been in touch for a start but that's not all.

A new relationship with Ollie that's fast paced but happy, things get weird when students at school start to die, from murder. Then she starts to question everyone.

She gets attacked and injured in her home and becomes paranoid of shadows around her luckily Ollie looks out for her despite his cop brother acting off...

Suspenseful and chaotic with tension in every second of the pursuit with brutality used in all the murders it makes for a tense read!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Just Don't Mention It By Estelle Maskame

This book is told from Tyler's perspective from his past self at the time of the first book.

Told between the past, five years ago and present day, we learn of how Tyler was treated by his abusive father in graphic accounts and how it caused Tyler's behaviour to change from happy to angry as well as his memories about his father, we see how he met Tiffani and Dean and him attending games together to watch and how well his father and him managed to hide everything as their family let alone anyone else never spotted the signs even when Tyler's wrist got broken three times in a year due to his aggressive father and him blame himself for his father's horrific actions.

Dean and Tyler are the first best friends then Jake joins them late on and so does Tiffani as the new girl at their school before she was 'queen' of the school.

Partying, kissing girls and him and Tiffani using each other for sex really shows the extent of their relationship as they clash and Tiffani is super high maintenance and crazy with manipulating Tyler and using his secrets to blackmail him to stay with her despite his stronger feelings for Eden which are true and not just out to use her like he does Tiffani.

The pull for him toward Eden shows just how much their attraction worked both ways as he can't ignore his true feelings he never had for Tiffani ever and finds himself wanting to be better to be with Eden.

This was a good book and addition to the series rehashing the first book from Eden's perspective into Tyler's as we see his feelings and hurt he suffered through in his childhood and how it stayed with him affecting him to now. It raises the subject of violence and domestic abuse happening to boys too and not just girls. Tyler was a brave young character and so was his brother for eventually discovering it and helping him, there's always a way to stop abuse.

This book might just be the most powerful one of the whole DIMILY series yet!

Becoming Jo by Sophie McKenzie

In this retelling of classic Little Women made modern, we see from the perspective of aspiring writer Jo, as she befriends a guy her age called Lateef whom is an immigrant orphan living across the road from her family with his foster dad who lost his family too. He's richer than Jo and her family.

Amy is quite superficial wanting a nose job and to fit in and find friends as well as enjoy making art and painting.

Beth is shy and quiet loving to play piano but not in front of others and needs to find her confidence.

Meg dreams of being a nanny as she loves kids but feels judged by Jo who though she wanted to be a designer as she's good with styling.

Jo of course wants to be an author.

As the novel progresses, Jo and Amy come to blows about her writing, a fall out over money with Lateef leaves Jo feeling sad and of course the girls deal with many issues as their dad gets sick abroad working and has to leave them in the care of their aunt they don't like!

However each girls discovers her true path in life and Lateef stuns Jo with a revelation she didn't see coming. For the sisters, illness, crushes, college and writing all push them apart but ultimately they'll be stronger for it I feel.

A novel with real teen family life at the heart!

My Big Greek Summer by Sue Roberts

When bar manager Mandy finds out her husband Danny has been having a fling she up's and leaves for exotic Greece inspired by watching A Place In The Sun, for adventure, sun and sea. A welcome break from the pub as her boss wanted her to take a break after the shock break down of her marriage after they'd been together since they were teenagers.

Her best friend Hayley also suddenly arrives in Greece to stay with her and also falls in list after Matt. Meanwhile kindly hotel worker Costas takes a liking to Mandy especially after Mandy helps him and his father begin hotel renovations and she helps them set up a music festival, even when she returns home she carries on helping. Danny also see's sense and splits up with Slimming World Sarah, an old school acquaintance of Hayley and Mandy's but Mandy knows Greece is calling once again.

The chemistry between Danny and Mandy was dwindling from the start as the serial cheat got on with his own life without Mandy yet when she met Costas you can't help but root for the pair to get together for sure! A fun read with great maturity in Mandy dealing with a rubbish situation and I'm glad she got so much from her trip to Greece with helping out a festival beginning which is a first in any chick lit book I've picked up and I loved it the story line was perfect for this book!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!