Pave Your Way With Chronic Illness by Pippa Stacey

This was a wonderful book to read as someone who struggpes with multiple chronic illnesses it's often a comfort to find a book that engages you to rediscover yourself with your illness and not just let it take over and be your sole personality or identity as often can be considered to be by some people you encounter. The book encourages you to notice and remember qualities about yourself, hobbies you enjoy alongside how your illnesses do effect you undoubtedly in some way day to day. I particularly thought long and hard about the sections of how you feel being asked invasive questions as well all do over the course of our lives with illness and if it's not particularly a visible disability to some people you can face harsh judgement and feel very down over this, I know I have and reflecting back on it now I just hope it helped them educate themselves. There was a particularly handy meal plan chart as even simple things like needing our meds and making food ready to have can slip from memory until you realise it's hours later than you should have taken meds or eaten some food if in a bad flare one day, I know this has happened to me and some friends before as our brains wander on how we feel more than what we need right then. It was a nice touch to include pages of colouring and puzzles when a pain flare hits or fatigue and you feel trapped in bed it's nice if you're able enough to be able to pre occupy your mind away from how you feel and it makes for some great spoonie-friendly escapism.

For The Love Of Chocolate by Phillip Ashley Rix

This book was beautifully laid out with pictures aplenty to story the history the author has evolved of his love of chocolate, the family links to it he has and of course his own blossoming chocolate shop business. I really enjoyed hearing especially how the business has so creatively evolved with the use of social media especially during and after covid to gain more attention and custom from online. Memphis also seems to be an area rich in culture and fun businesses to be explored further too. Not forgetting Phillip's chocolate jewels as he calls them fit right in with the bright bold lights Memphis has drawing you in it seems they're a great bold fit! There's also a fabulous detailed guide into all different types of chocolate forms and the history from decades and centuries of it being made from scratch and how the plants have various nutritional gains too not just an indulgent treat but a medicinal one too at times. With inviting photography, intriguing story of the business and passion this book is clearly showing the devotion to the chocolate business and part of the industry to thrive in.

365 Days Without You by Akhira

Another beautiful selection of poetry focusing on the year after a break up between two partners. Simple well thought out sentences and verses packed with emotion of questioning why the relationship ended and why what happened did happen for them to break up or the relationship fall apart the way it did so. Gut wrenching and honest display of feelings of grief of the relationship and losing the future they had idealised too a poetry book packed full of poems you'll surely find one to relate to.

Thunder and Daisy by Mercedes Paradiso

Wow what an emotive potry book with the contrasting sides ofthe title a kin to light and dark it was certainly a journey through what felt like many different people's diffent stories of love, longing and desire with sketches added alongside the poems for more effect to visualise the poetry too. It was such a moving collection that anyone can surely find a poem that resonates with them.

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!

No Shame by Anne Cassidy

Stacey Woods or Girl X to the press is back pursuing the conviction of her rapist Marty after his brother Harry didn't help her or stop him from raping her.

Stacey has the support of her family and Patrice her best friend as she faces the toughest time of her life yet as she faces court and her uncertain future to come.

This book was brilliant in the way it wasn't straight forward and easily dealt with in a case closed kind of way as a twist occurs and throws Stacey and her future off course. However, the story may be short but it packs punch after lunch of drama from not only her court case but the reappearance of her rapist too Anne has made another carefully crafted story here.

You Left Me On Read by Akhira

A sweet potry book, told in a mix of verse and actual text messages printed depicting a relationship between a couple in love exploring the start and growth of their relationship. I found this book a really sweet and delightful look firstly, into how a relationship can be enlightening and feel full of hope and joy and the less lovely part if a sudden fade in contact leaving the writer questioning everything and overthinking the relationship completely. A relatable and emotional read.

Handle With Care by Louisa Reid

Ruby has a baby, unexpectedly and leaving Ash her best friend shocked especially ehen the truth comes out about the baby more so, no spoilers here. It explores the hard hitting subject or teenage motherhood and all the challenges a baby in someone's life can bring up, let alone coping with raising a baby unexpectedly for both wider families involved and the mental health of a young struggling mum. There were many tough situations faced in this book written beautifully from both main character best friends perspectives as they come to terms with what the baby brings up and into their lives it was both beautiful in verse and gut wrenchingly honest and utterly gripping to me I really enjoyed exploring the worlds of Ash and Ruby and had me questioning, how would I feel in either girls situations.

Somewhere In The Sunset by Estelle Maskame

When Gracie and Luca break up out of the blue, Gracie is shocked and heartbroken after years together creating their influencer life together in their shared YouTube channel. Meanwhile, trainee police officer, Weston has found himself newly single after his girlfriend breaks up with him. After a chance meeting the two can't keep away from each other, their lives become intertwined in many fun, sweet and sometimes very serious scenes. A sweet but sexy summer read that had sizzling scenes between the couple but my word the end was breath taking, Estelle has written a cracking New Adult debut and I hope she writes many more in the years to come!

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.