Radical Love by Zachary Levi

In my time off reading I discovered Chuck a TV show I grew up aware of but not a viewer of being born in 1996 not 1990 alike my cousin's I was always aware of things they were into and then came to discover again as I grew up and to the age they loved them. Then, I watched Shazam! I was hooked and invested into the fun adult Zachary Levi was and after watching Chuck and many of his Instagram Live video's alongside me discovering and watching Chuck from start to end within the first couple of weeks of the pandemic lockdown starting. I then discovered this book, not only a refreshing, open account of a mental health breakdown and then getting back to life working on yourself and healthier habits, but a male in his forties being so open about it is honestly just great to see and I'm sure will encourage other older males to check in and realise they too can help their lives change for the better. Zachary may be a great actor, but his awareness and openness to help others and encourage mental health and trauma discussion is so refreshing to read about all the ways open and available to us to reflect and change and the fact that it's never, ever to late to help yourself, others and create a better you.

Somehow, Somehow Nyanda Foday

It's quite fitting the first book I am back to review is actually a memoir of sorts in prose about the pandemic. Call it a coincidence but when I read the summary I knew it would be interesting to read an account in verse and as it turns out was very similar and relatable to my own experience. As someone who has dealt with depression and others who struggled maybe even for the first time during the lockdowns that occurred the accounts in the book were not only relatable but raw and honest with the emotions written into each part of the book which told the authors story of their life in and out of lockdown during the occurrence of Covid ehilst they were away at university in their own little world of sorts at times locked in and away from others at some times. I really enjoyed the book, relatable, emotional, honest and a reflective book it's hard to believe how far we've come back to a semblance of normality since them first lockdown days.

A Long Awaited Catch-up!

Hello everyone still here on my old book blog! Long time no reviews, right?! What a strange few years it's been when COVID hit I had to isolate, we tragically lost my uncle and nearly my cousin and her husband too, my dad then broke his foot and after that spent three years unable to walk awaiting hip replacement surgery, we lost little Splodgie our bunny just after he turned eight very suddenly and I won't lie to you I was very low, depression I struggled with as a teen came back and I also dipped back into old negative self harming habits. It has been a rough few years and very mentally draining, the pleasure of reading slipped away as I tried hard to regain my sense of self and move on with what felt like jigsaw pieces left from my old life pre-covid to reassemble into a new life. So what has changed post COVID? Well, for me the biggets change is this year, 2024, in January I got my learners driving license and passed my theory test in the first two weekxs of the year which at 27 nearly 28 and being years on from my last exam experience at GCSE's I am immensly proud of myself for going through and not only getting through the test and passing first time trying it. I got through the shaking, crippling anxiety and passed with 50/50 on the questions! I have always been my own harshest critic and still seems incredible how far I've come deciding to go on the journey to driving despite my health wobbles I'm doing it, I have a beautiful little white Fiat Panda and am awaiting a practical test date to come now. As for reading and blogging now I am doing better and feeling brighter, I am coming back, intermittently but I am here, Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/28656604-eve-beinguniquebeingme Also on Instagram too @beinguniquebewingmeeve feel free to message, comment etc Also to you still here, thank you!

Great Destinations Of A Lifetime by Claudia Martin

In this book packed with stunning photography my stand out faves were the blue lagoon, ice caves and northern luights in Iceland as well as, Hawaii and Florida, the Seychelles and Mt Fuji, it's hard to believe these beautiful places exist! With great detailed captions and gorgeous photography encapsulating the areas being discussed, it will certainly invite you to learn about the world and where you may want to travel to. Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Kawaii Doodle World By Pic Candle

In this book we learn how to creat cue/kawaii colourful art with characters and day to day objects brought to life by pen and personality. Great for kids and adults to have fun with and create a kawaii world! Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Kicking Off Dick Kerr Book 1 By Eve Ainsworth

In this book we see how during the war effort young girl Hettie takes over her brother's factory job only she's making ammuntion and making friends with the fellow worker girls who get her playing football which she enjoys immensely only when an injury stops her playing her manager helps her still boost the women's team as they take on matches despite her gloomy strict father's words against her actions and eventually dramatic news comes about her brother's arrival home will be have survived the war? A great look into what life during the war would be been like for these young women inspired by their true lives becoming a team together and the worry they faced about their families and friends away fighting too. Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Wigglesbottom Primary The Toilet Ghost by Pamela Butchart

 In this funny book about a primary school class, they discover a toilet ghost making the boys unable to use their toilet at school resulting in a funny if not obvious outcome.

The second part of the story focusses on a show and tell of tricks
which wasn't funny for the teachers but was obvious to us readers what was happening!

Finally the third story focusses on a mysteriously itchy carpet with a not obvious at first cause that'll make you itch upon reading too!

This was a funny little quick read I flew through in ten minutes Pamela is a fabulous author to have discovered for writing funny books and I highly recommend you check out her books!

Sleepless by Lou Morgan

 In this book we meet student Izzy who along with her friends, Dom, Mia, Noah, Tigs, Grey, Juliet and Kara start to experience hallucinations and creepy deaths after taking FokusPro which Tigs gives them to aid studying.

However Kara doesn't take it and Tigs doesnt realise it's harmful until its too late as shes jealous of Grey and Izzy being such close friends.

After Izzy got kicked out of her last school she just wants to do well and keep her dad happy while he goes away for work.

However as her and Grey try to stay awake and not die, they discover maybe their friends are more dangerous than they thought and maybe even they'll be the end of each other?

Wow what a thrilling book, I was hooked on discovering which of the characters would survive or not as we get straight into the nitty gritty plot from the get go. I liked the jealousy and toxic friendship aspects as they added extra drama this book was all round captivating.

Fire Boy by J M Joseph

 In this book we meet, Aidan who gets sent a package he opens with his friends Sadie and Hussain only when they each eat a sweet from inside the package do they change, gaining new magical and superhero-esque powers!

Aidan has a strict grandma, dead previous army serving dad, mum who works all hours he has obviously had a bit of a rough upbringing, especially as his grandma approves of old fashioned beatings it seems too and is a bit psychopathic!

As he finds a circus set up near by know him a cirque du freak esque book vibe joins in as he's foreseen by them coming however when his dad's so called old army friend, Ash Aitkens comes to visit and take the parcel off their hands trouble breaks out as the sweets contain a rare juice from a legendary destroyed tree and Ash is set in getting them back for himself to use...

This new series looks set to be like a male hero character version of Alesha Dixon's Lightning Girl as the style of adventure and powers is the same, family and friends are involved and there's a bad guy to beat, thrilling and plenty of detail to the plot this is a series I'll be reading the next book of for sure!

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

The Teashop On The Corner by Milly Johnson

 Carla loses her husband at only thirty four years old, her husband Martin and her shared only ten years of marriage to lose it to literal sudden death. She faces the funeral with neighbours as her best friend Theresa is on holiday and she doesn't want to spoil their holiday.

The drama kicks off as Julie Pride also announces she's married to Martin and has been for thirty years, whilst also being five months pregnant by him supposedly too when she makes herself known at the funeral!

Will Linton loses his money while his wife Nicole blows tons on unnecessary items of clothing and expensive treatments. After looking for a room to rent he meets Carla...

Leni runs the teashop on the corner as well as her ginger cat being there overseeing the action too but she doesn't expect to have a new Saturday boy on her hands with as poor a past despite him being a good lad he suffers at home...

Margaret marries a good guy whilst her sister Molly marries a rotten one which unfortunately also leaves her son influenced that way too as Molly's love of her life returns and drama kicks off between them all...

All these wonderful character lives collide at the little tea shop and it was a vibrant book full of evolving and historical drama over their lives. I love the way they are all so unique but really do click when they meet up at the cafe.