Explorer's Amazing Tales Of The World's Greatest Adventurers

This is a concise book all about various explorers of different gender, face and age from all over the world braving land, sea and air.

On intricately detailed illustrated pages depicting scenes of discovery and adventure, the kids have something to help being the story to life visually as well as learning their facts from this book, it is inspiring to read how many adventures have taken place over the years and some at grand elderly ages too!

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

Charlie And Me 421 Miles From Home by Mark Lowery

In this book we meet Martin struggling with his family and the state they're in, his mum is depressed and a shadow of her former self whilst their dad is working all hours of the day.

So with a plan to go back down to St Bernards in Cornwall where they had their last family holiday and were happy, especially Charlie as he loved seeing the local dolphin, he and Charlie sneak off one morning to travel by train down there alone.

Through escaping the police and deterring attention from them they meet Hen a girl whom helps them with her friends help too as she too is escaping her parents and likes to be independent and travel around with no ties holding her down.

The book was unexpectedly heart breaking but it was a great adventure the siblings take on and highlights how much change can alter young people's lives and how seeking happiness is good but can go too far!

Girl's Guide To Summer by Sarah Mlynowski

Leela and Sydney are heading off to Europe for four and a half weeks yet on the plane, Matt, Leela's ex is also travelling.

We learn of Sydney's hesitance to leave her agoraphobic mum and as a result of her mum's condition, her stressed and stuttering sister will be left to somehow cope alone with their mum.

Leela leaves an online social media trail in the hopes of Matt coming and finding her, until someone else catches her eye and just maybe she doesn't need Matt after all...

This book was a lovely read for the summer and as someone who can't travel on planes I enjoyed getting a feel of the travel they go through and the cities the travel to. Leela was a likable character but I was rooting for her to have a nice time and forget Matt so she could just enjoy her adventures!

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

Meat Market by Juno Dawson

When sixteen year old tall girl, Jana gets unexpectedly scouted by a modelling agency she finds herself taking off faster than expected into the world as she struts her way through London Fashion Week and juggling college with the support of her friends and boyfriend Ferdy too.

Only as she books more and more work quickly she's soon jetting off to New York and beyond walking fashion week and doing campaigns until meeting Blo a photographer who changes her life forever comes into her life and the dark side of fashion and modelling prevails.

Showing the dim and toxic side to modelling in a grippy, gritting way this shows what models and fashion realistically could be facing in that world. My favourite Juno Dawson book so far!

Lost In Rome by Cindy Callaghan

Lucy and her sister Gianna are spending two weeks with her aunt helping to run Amore pizza her business in Italy!

Upon arrival though the girls discover business is dire so set to work advertising and soon their rival is onto them, causing their food to be sabotaged at one point!

As Lucy grows closer to Aj and Rico, her sister does to Lorenzo their rival's worker, however they discover Lucy has a skill in matchmaking by pizza preference and so sets about using their niche to help drum up business.

This was a fun idea of a book as being able to matchmake and accurately through pizza preference would be a cool life skill!
I enjoyed the rivalry and friendship that grows through the story of their stay and it was a quick light read perfect for teens.

Frosting And Friendship by Lisa Schroeder

In the final book in the trilogy of sweet treats, this time told from Sophies camp friend, Lily's perspective, we see how she takes on too much and struggles to cope.

From baking and hosting Sophie's birthday party to helping her band win and to play at their spring fling dance as well as become good enough at baking to fit in with their baking book club.

All about joining and trying new things as Lily tries to feel a proper part of the group and for in properly as each girl had a passion for either books or baking, but Lily feels a tag along friend as her baking isn't good at all! Final fun and joy in the final of the trilogy!

Sprinkles And Secrets by Lisa Schroeder

In the second of the trilogy, this time we continue the story from Sophie's perspective as we see how her aim for fame and acting threatens her friendship with Isabel after she wins a commercial call back for a rival to Isabel's mums cupcake shop.

We also see her battle jealousy over Isabel's success with her cupcakes and how she discovers boys can be friends with girls too after making a new buddy during all the chaos in her life! Showing how friendship can survive anything and supporting each other is best this celebrates friendship and passion for our hobbies at it's best!

It's Raining Cupcakes by Lisa Schroeder

In this book, her parents opening up a cupcake shop leads Isabelle to discover she wants to travel and see more than just of their rainy town. When a competition to win a trip to New York and a part in a baking competition arises she sets to working on getting there.

Sophie best friend however is also entering the competition so can their friendship survive the test?

A sweet fun read as a girl follows her mum's footsteps as they set about baking up a cupcake storm. Her best friend is ambitious by nature while laid back Isabelle just goes with the chaos her mum's new shop brings to their lives and sure there's hard times but good too and I loved this book!

The Summer House Of Happiness by Daisy James

After losing her mother, Gabbie fulfilled her dream of becoming a perfumer, now though after rejecting a deal which would be left her working away from customers like she wanted, she is returning back home to Devon to see her father whom works in a garage he owns.

Only she doesn't expect Max, a mechanic at the garage who also restores his uncle's old vintage car. There's an instant sizzle of attraction and desire between the pair as they connect seamlessly bonding over their car knowledge and combined loss of mum's.

However, Gabbie can only help so much and when she has tidied up enough to make sense of the accounts does she realise the baggage is on the precipice of bankruptcy!

Gabbie also helps out locals wanting remedies as she rediscovers her mum's old personal summer house of aromatherapy oils and creams. While it makes them some money it's not enough, so when she gets offered another perfumery postion, will she take it and manage to save the business?

Ooh so much action especially in the last quarter of this book as everything comes to a head health, work and relationship wise! As a knight in garage overalls may just save them all from worrying anymore. Love, friendship, following your dreams and of course passion for your career shine through this book in every page as each character is dealing with something in those categories. I loved the idea of Gabbie working as a perfumer as it's so rare to fiction to hear of as a career and plot around that As I would love that job imagine the fun! It was a true show of family love throughout!

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.

A Spoonful Of Murder by Robin Stevens

In this book, we travel with Hazel and Daisy to Hong Kong where Hazel will be with her family as they mourn her grandfather's death.

As the pair get shocks and discover a horrid murder plot wrapped around and interwoven through Hazel's family as she uncovers some horrid truths about her family life.

We see how Daisy struggles with Hong Kong and gets a taste of how Hazel feels to be in England as their roles reverse. We see how Hazel's family unit works as her father has two wives but a whole family. There are some shocking things in the plot and to be fair I guessed one of the main characters to be involved but it only made the story better to have guessed right and then had a shock when another character also appears in the situation too. It kept me on my toes whilst allowing me a taste of Hong Kong culture especially as Daisy thinks Hazel's super rich after visiting her the divide is a good reflection of the girl's lives they knew before Deepdean!

The Switch Up by Katy Cannon

Willa is forced by her parents to go to Italy to stay with a relative despite having her summer planned to be in London on a theatre course.

Her mum is an actress in LA while her dad is away shooting in Edinburgh.

Meanwhile at the airport, she meets Alice and the pair get mistaken for sisters. Leading Willa and Alice to talking about their plans and hatching the idea to swap places for the next few weeks.

Alice lost her mum to cancer but her marine biologist dad is away working sending her to stay with his girlfriend in London.

As the story progresses, the pair swap info online alike they swapped possessions and keep on impersonating the other they're playing.

Alice's friend Hal recognizes Willa isn't her so she ropes him in to her plan meanwhile Alice visits the waterfall her mum told her about while her dad or rather Willa's dad turns up randomly...their game is up.

The location choices were great who wouldn't want to be in Italy or London two of the greatest cities in the world to explore and especially how the girls families didn't recognise the girls were different was shocking but understandable after so many years apart.

Like a modern parent trap this book was super fun and keeps you on your toes reading on in eager suspense about each girls summer and the outcome it'll be good or bad.

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

Probably The Best Kiss In The World by Pernille Hughes

Jen loves her home brewery whilst by day she helps to sell incontinence pads which are eco-friendly and the company is ran by her future sister in law's.

When her sister Lydia suggests she will have FOMO Jen waves it off as she and fiancé Robert stick to certain days for dates so they know what to expect. It's their routine and spontaneity doesn't exist.

Lydia her sister has a prosthetic leg after being in the accident which killed their parents and left Jen to be her form of mother in place of the loss of theirs.

Jen however gets engaged to Rupert and before she knows what's happening is whisked away to Copenhagen on her hen party with her sister and best friends by her side and she literally falls for Yakob.

Yakob also appreciates beer as Jen tells him all about her being a local award winner at home with her craft beer and how she loves making it, he encourages her unlike so called love Rupert who doesn't!

As the book goes on we hope Jen finally breaks it off with Rupert as his family smothers her in the future and tries to get her to stop brewing unlike Yakob whom her friends and sister repeatedly try to show her how much better off she is with him around, for one she's not glued to her planning on her phone all the time after they meet!

Throughout the book we see how the girls relationship is pressured by the fact that Jen always tries to keep her away from danger and doesn't always take into account the fact that Lydia has grown up and is independent even sneaking off to partake in adrenaline junkie sports events which get news articles written about her! Which makes more drama in the novel, it was also refreshing and overdue to have a character with a disability like Lyidi has being without her leg as I can't recall ever reading about a character with that before.

Hilarious and serious this is a beer friendly read as we see Jen develop and grow with the help of her friends and family as the story goes on. It was as Jen would say, Beerilliant!

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

A Home At Honeysuckle Farm by Christie Barlow

Alice aged ten was moved from Honeysuckle Farm, her home to New York thanks to an argument and rift between her mum and her grandfather or Grandie and now she's heading back after learning her Grandie is ill and she longs for her real home still, despite leaving thirteen years before.

Her New York dream failed and she leaves her best friend Molly there but back home is reunited with her oldest friend Grace who informed her of her Grandie not being well. Connie is another old friend whom picks her up and takes her back to the unchanged village where the residents may be older but still the same. She also meets Sam Reid, a fellow performer Grace knows and whom lives next door too her.

When her ill Grandie hands her keys to their now long shut down and disused dance school and Honeysuckle Farm, Alice faces a choice whether to travel back to her dreary in debt life in New York or stay where she feels at home and welcomed.

She also uncovers many secrets not only about her real father but also her grandma and the link between Sam and the villager's attitude towards him which obviously rightly surprises her despite her feelings for him. Alice is a determined woman and changes attitudes while reopening the dance school she so loved as a child whilst she organizes Village Day celebrations to bring their community together even more. As well as finally getting her mum and Grandie to spill what the rift was about and why it started.

Alice is a weak and fragile character for a start, totally unfulfilled in her life but as she returns home we see how she flourishes into a strong and determined woman. Sam and her friends are all supportive and aiding friends to her and are great representations of how bonds can be created and unbroken. The rift was an amazing plot twist which was totally unpredictable for once and I loved it, an amazing homely book! I also loved the dance school aspect worked into the novel too as I'm sure any dance fans will do too.

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

Our Stop by Laura Jane Williams

Nadia catches the London tube train on which she notices handsome model like Daniel.

Daniel is in love, he thinks, with Nadia. Having a hard time after losing his dad he puts an advert in the paper asking the cute girl from the train for a drink.

Emma and Gaby, her best friends encourage Nadia assuming it's got to be her, she matches the description perfectly she also has her friend Naomi whom also encourage her to write back.

After some back and forth across the Missed Connection page, the pair arrange to meet up never giving names or numbers just agreeing times and places only of course things don't go to plan!

After a revelation about her best friends, Nadia comes to terms with her feelings about Eddie a guy she meets while Daniel has to stand up Nadia as his mum breaks down about the loss of her husband.

After chance near meetings throughout the novel its at a Romeo and Juliet event they finally feel a spark...

The ending is so romantic and lovely, a dream for a couple to meet just imagine!

This book is such a step out there a chance meeting at love on a train sounds so random but it actually happened for my auntie and uncle when they were sixteen which made me want to pick this book up after we just lost said auntie. I think she'd love this book like I did, the relationship that develops after so many near misses makes them even stronger in my opinion as it's like they were being pushed together from the world it was so funny that way. I liked the random LGBTQ relationship that develops though I figured it pretty quickly when the story progresses. I really did love the book, it captured my heart and you wouldn't regret picking this one up.

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

Summer Of No Regrets by Kate Mallinder

In this book we meet four friends who decide to have a summer where they regret nothing and take control of the situations in their lives.

Hetal heads off to science camp and there she gets into a competition with a guy who she gets a crush on...

Cam sets to track down her dad after worrying that she'll have no family as she believes her foster parents will grow sick of her...

Nell suffers under her mother's protective gaze after being in an accident resulting in her having a prosthetic hand fitted. Only she wants time and space and gets a job to prove she is capable and can cope until she takes a turn...

Sasha set off for Geneva to meet up with her dad after not seeing him for ages only to find out he's got a girlfriend who's not much older than her and that soon their lives are going to change...

As they all rush home after an incident they rush and meet at the hospital and from there things get better as they open up about their deep and true feelings about their summer's.

Four girls with very different lives colliding this book is a typical summer teen beach read with modern day girls with serious issues each has to deal with. It was a serious quick read book everyone will zip through engrossed.

Happy Mum Happy Baby by Giovanna Fletcher

In this book Giovanna fletcher talks openly about her experience before being pregnant, during and the aftermath too. She tackles taboo topics such as breast feeding, getting sleep, potty training, struggles working and travelling etc...

As a huge music and book fan I grew up on McFlys music and then Giovanna's books so when I bought this book I was intrigued into life with a baby especially if you're an author or musician especially being so busy.

This book was an honest and eye opening look into motherhood that dispels taboo topics and asks questions and answers them too that I hadn't ever thought about to do with pregnancy and beyond.

Full of family moments, sweet developments in her children's lives and her loving approach to life this book is the book every to be mother should read to prepare for what's to come!

The Little Wedding Island by Jaimie Admans

Bonnie heads to an island dubbed The Wedding Island thanks to the Many successful marriages that come from the little chapel there.

On the boat journey there, she meets Rohan for the first time as she comforts him as he suffers with his seasickness and when they arrive, head to a hotel Where they stay separately but do share dinner where Bonnie learns that he's R.C. a rival journalist and columnist whom she has had Twitter drama with.

Just as they were getting along so well! As Rohan tries to apologize after her upsets her over dinner that Clara the kind hotel owner makes for them, he tries to win her round with humour and chocolate cake.

There's a little wedding street complete with all the shops and businesses you could think of to need for a wedding event to go ahead using the services off and of course, it's aesthetically beautiful. Even if the shops remain shut to those who aren't obviously a couple getting married, there's also the hilarious situation of a pug guard dog which I loved!

However as the pair share love secrets and wedding atories, witness a bear marriage to sour and experience their chemical attraction grow even stronger, it all implodes after an article appears and threatens their own little happy ever after...

This book was so sweet and endearing, the characters were vibrant and so super as the storyline was amazingly planned, plotted and executed. The writing drew me into their time on the island and made me feel part of their adventure there. As the first book I've read by Jaimie, I'd snatch up another as the story won me over as well as the writing style being so beautifully descriptive and captivating. Also love the cover as the colours defiantly boast summer and love contrasting perfectly.

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

Girl At Sea by Lucy Courtenay

Precious's parents got divorced or are getting divorced after pictures emerged of her dad with other women.


Harry's dad drowned at sea and his mum had a breakdown over it.

Nathan wants to be an artist but his dad doesn't approve and yet he's a drug dealer.

After their GCSE'S are over, Precious and Lotta are off on holiday with their mum's to the Algarve only Lotta wants Olivia to join them when Precious can't stand her and finds her just wanting drama and gossip.

Harry is interailling with new friend Sasha whilst he wants to avoid the sea then ends up alone travelling by it anyway.

Harry and Precious first meet at a hot dog stand when she leaves her change, they witness the bomb go off on the boat, her father's boat and later when she can't catch her flight home and has an uneasy feeling she's being watched, she tries to leave via a cab once again offering too much money, Harry strides in to help. She then follows him as he talks of loneliness and catches the train with him.

Nathan is sent after her as the hunt for her goes national, her face on billboards everywhere whilst running with Harry away from the guys following them as her father's business is in trouble...

This book was told from a three way split perspective once from each main characters point of view. They all have father issues and talk about them whilst the boys also have a jealousy and territory issue over Precious and wanting to help her. The book did have some good points but I did find it dragging in other's, the action was good but more to do with the parent's business deals would be possibly made things clearer. The characters voices were believable and I liked how headstrong Precious is.

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