The Little Library Project

  If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times - for me, snuggling down with a Jenny Colgan book is like a hug from an old friend. And Christmas At The Island Hotel is no exception. Now, this is part of a series in the way that it follows a family of characters for their fourth installment, however as always, this works perfectly as a standalone book. Fintan, grieving the loss of his partner, has been left to open The Rock - the hotel on the island of Mure. Suddenly, this born and bred farmer needs to source a kitchen team to maintain the legacy of his late partner. And now he has a French chef that no one else wants, working in his kitchen. Konstantin, Norwegian party boy and all round spoilt brat, has been cast out by his Dad and has to learn how to be self sufficient. He finds himself on the remote island of Mure, halfway between Scotland and Norway, with no money, no friends and no idea how to chop an onion,  As always, Jenny expertly weaves the lives of the characters togeth

  It’s a story we all know and love. I think you’d be hard pushed to find anyone who doesn’t know the story of Ebeneezer Scrooge and the ghosts of past, present and future, yet I would bet that not many appreciate the true story. The main adaptations I know of, consist of The Muppets Christmas Carol and most recently - Spirited, the 2022 release with Ryan Reynolds and Will Farrell (a fun new take on the classic) so my comparisons between the book and films will be quite basic. The first thing I’ll say is that A Christmas Carol is a tiny 80 page read. I got through it in one evening (90 mins) in fact and would be a perfect addition to someone’s end of her reading goal. Secondly, the book does now take long to get into it. I can see why it’s heralded as a classic - easy to read and a basic but resonating moral, this is great for a reader of any age. The fact that it jumps straight in so soon will keep younger readers hooked.  The original text is slightly darker that is expected though -

Having read another Nutcracker retelling immediately before, I was hesitant about jumping straight into A Curse of Frost and Fate but what better time than the weekend before Christmas?! This tale was very different though and in some ways, made for enjoyable easy reading full of cosy imagery and spicy scenes to get the heart rate going.  Klara lives in New York, she's just your typical 27 year old but she has an eccentric uncle, who for Christmas gives her a nutcracker ornament from his travels. After being let down for her Christmas Eve date, Klara ends up in a different realm with the gorgeous Prince Jaemis, looking to rescue the kingdom from the evil Mouse King. I loved this book and couldn't have asked for a better, cosy read to transport me on the run up to the holiday season.  Highly recommended for some festive fantasy escapism!

This year, I signed up to NetGalley and already, I've read a real mix of books. Here's a quick list of books that are due to be released in 2023 that I've been super lucky to read already - and what I thought of them! The Lodger Release date: January 2023 Full Review HERE Set just after the First World War, this book explores the heartache of loved ones lost, and the seedy underworld of London. This book is oozing with gothic atmosphere and is a good mystery.  Looking Out For Love Release date: February 2023 Full Review HERE A nice easy read that follows Stella who meets mysterious Fitz. A relatable quest for Mr Right with a secondary plot around her best friend.   Thirty Days In Paris Release date: February 2023 Full Review HERE A classic; let's-move-and-reinvent story but with a good backstory. Pure escapism. If you're a fan of Paris then I urge to read this and I dare you not to be tempted to jump on the Eurostar for your own sabbatical. The Last Tale of The Flow

The Great Gatsby has long been on my TBR list and at the end of November, I found myself looking for a sub-200 page book to finish off my month - it was time.  This is quite a difficult one for me because if I hadn't seen the film, I probably wouldn't have stuck with it. I watched the film a few years ago having tried to read the book before and failed within the first few pages. I even tried listening to the audio book - again, couldn't quite get into it.  But this time, being on the reading binge thatI have been, I decided to persevere. But that didn't make it any less difficult for me. Thankfully, with a knowledge of the film I could follow the storyline but relying on the words alone, it was difficult.  Dialogue is choppy and incomplete, scenes not fully completed to give the answers that were needed. It probably wasn't until the second half that I really got into it and picked up what was going on but even then, I had to stop and start a bit to reread.  Maybe I

Midnight In Everwood was an impulse purchase based on the cover because LOOK AT IT! It's stunning. Of course, I'd taken a look over the synopsis and the idea of a retelling of the infamous Nutcracker story was definitely too delicious to pass up.  It was relatively new out when I first purchased it but I left it until December before picking it up - purposely because I knew it would give me all of the Christmas feels.  I don't think I've been alone in this - I've noticed a few people post up about reading Midnight in Everwood this month and we've all been saying the same thing... it isn't the easiest book to read.  The first half dragged for me, it was relatively slow paced at first and had I not had the temptation of The Nutcracker retelling in the back of my mind, I probably would have DNF'd it.  But I persevered and the second half of the book really ramped up. I think it took about 2/3 days to get to the second half but once I was there, I couldn'

  When I was younger, the only Shakespeare play I remember enjoying was MacBeth - The Scottish Play. I can't even remember why, I just know that I enjoyed it and if anyone ever asked me what my favourite was - this would be my answer.  So, as is typical of subjects that pique your interest as a child, MacBeth has long since been one of those stories that I've veered towards whenever it's come about.  So that is how I found myself with an ARC copy of Lady Macbethad by Isabelle Schuler. I will be completely transparent and say that this sat on my list for a little while - about 4-5 weeks. Normally, I've been diving straight into my ARCs but I held back slightly on this one. I wasn't sure I was ready for a story of complex historic language that would require learning new words.  But I needn't have worried.  If you've seen the synopsis for this book, you'll know that this is focussed on the life of Lady MacBeth, and the events that lead to the infamous Scot

  This one has been sat on my TBR since last Christmas. I'd tried to read it last night but struggled to get into it (this was definitely more to do with me than to do with the book!) so I've been super excited to get stuck in this year.  This is a sequel book. I didn't realise this until the end, the prequel is Happiness For Beginners. Thankfully, the story is written so well that I wasn't left wondering "why?" at anything so you can easily read this is a festive stand-alone.  Molly runs Hope Farm, a charity that works with not only animals that have been rescued, but children from different backgrounds. And this is where Molly is at her happiest; mucking out and mucking in.  With her almost-step-son Lucas and her best friend, they're preparing for the Christmas open day which will bring in some much needed funding for their charity and home. But working with animals never goes to plan; and on top of unruly alpacas and an anti-social sheep, Molly is also

​ Another BookTok find, I fell in love with the covers and the idea of a Greek Mythology based spicy saga? SIGN ME UP!  Before I turned page one, I thought the series was going to be based in the traditional Olympian setting but instead, it’s a modern day retelling of the Hades and Persephone love story. Because it wasn’t what I was expecting, it did take me a little while to get into it but when I got used to that, it was fine. I enjoyed it - the story is good and the characters are brilliant but I felt it was a bit… shallow? I guess I’m hunting the feeing that ACOSF gave me, and this didn’t hit it. The spice scenes felt rushed but maybe that was so they came across as more intense? I’m not sure.  That being said, I will absolutely be reading the reset of the books in the series but I’m going to space them out especially after seeing that the fourth instalment (A Touch of Chaos) is due out next year! 

What a bloody lovely Christmas beaut this was! If you're venturing into spicy romance books and have been on Instagram or TikTok recently, it's likely that you would have seen this little gem doing the rounds.  Bee is a content creator for ClosedDoor (think.. OnlyFans) and Nolan is an ex-boyband bad boy that are both cast in a Hope Channel (think... Hallmark) Christmas movie, Duke The Halls. Nolan is reinventing his career and trying to rid himself of the bad boy image whereas Bee is brought in last minute because the Lead Actress has been taken ill.  The best part? Bee was a massive fan of Nolan in her teenage years and Nolan has been following Bee on social media for a while. And they're getting paid to get to know each other.  I adored this book. It was everything I wanted it to be and is perfect for those of us who love a Hallmark Christmas movie but wished there was a bit heat in the romances. the positive message around Bee's work is brilliantly handled, not to me

  I received a copy of The Witch and the Tsar from NetGalley and I couldn't wait to dive in.  Baby Yaga is a witch. In 16th century Russia she is both respected for her knowledge but feared for her talents. Having been persecuted in the past, she lives in the forest with her companions, known as a healer and working with the communities and villages around to protect and cure them of their ailments.  But something strange is happening in Russia - her best friend, the Tsarina has been poisoned and the seasons are no longer behaving as they should. Travelling through the country, Baby Yaga must look to the old Gods to fix what has become unbalanced and see that her Motherland is not destroyed int he process.  The Witch and the Tsar is a beautiful story, mixing traditional Russian folklore with historical fiction set within an almost permanent winter backdrop. It has everything; myth, magic, love and war. I absolutely loved it and adored the way the writer described not only the story

  This was a spur of the moment purchase because it was on offer. I'd seen it mentioned a few times by other Book Bloggers so thought I'd give it a go.  It's Fake Romance done well and I really enjoyed it - to the point where I completely inhaled it in one evening!  Olive needs her best friend to believe that she is dating someone so Anh can get on with dating her ex. She randomly grabs someone in the hall of the university and Dr Adam Carlsen agrees to be the fake boyfriend... Adam is dark and brooding, Olive is unaware that she is brilliant. It's all the classic tropes but fantastically wrapped up in the world of Academia.  I think my concern was that this would be science-y. And it is but not to the point where it interrupts the reading. There are no lessons in the world of genetics and everything that is referenced, adds to the story.  The "conflict" part of the book was handled well too - in a world where there is (seemingly) still gender imbalance, it wa

November was a GOOD book month.  Annoyingly, only one of my reads came from my existing TBR list thanks to my new NetGalley account but that just means I have some cracking recommendations to make for next year! Here's a quick list of all the books I devoured last month and links to the full reviews! Looking Out for Love - Sophia Money-Coutts READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE A lovely little palette cleanser that hit the spot without overcomplicating it! Easy to read however the characters weren't the most likable for me. I received an ARC from NetGalley and the book is out in February 2023! The Lodger - Helen Scarlett READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE A great mystery set in the wake of the First World War, this kept me guessing throughout with good characters and a tale that took you on a journey through post-war London and the heartbreak that followed. I received an ARC from NetGalley but the book is out now! Hook, Line and Sinker - Tessa Bailey READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE A small town romance

  Billy Summers has been sat on my bookshelf since last Christmas and whilst I knew I was going to love it - I'd been putting it off as I didn't think it was going to fall into my preferred King genre.  Let me explain. I've read a few King novels (only about 10 or so of the his back catalogue) and have noticed that whilst his incredible writing is of course prevalent throughout - the main plot styles vary. You've got your Supernatural (Pet Semetary, Carrie), your End of Civilisation style (Sleeping Beauties, The Stand), your Suspense Thrillers (Misery, 11.22.63) and your horror (IT - though I've never read this one). Billy Summers is about a hit man - but he only takes jobs that go after the Bad men. Forgive me Feminists for I will sin with this next statement - the description screamed Bloke Book to me.  That being said - I am committed to working my way through all of his books so, as I've hit my reading goal I can afford to risk a couple of DNF's so decid

I'm not feeling very Christmassy this year - anyone else? The decorations are up, the fake fire has been lit and the presents are bought and wrapped but I just cannot get excited about it.  So what am I going to do about it?  Force myself; kicking and screaming I am going to get that festive feeling. Here's a list of books that I'll be reading this month! A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens The classic. I've never read it before but of course, I know the story well so I'm excited to finally get round to it! I'm probably going to save this for maybe the week before Christmas to really get me into the spirit of Christmas.  Christmas at the Island Hotel, Jenny Colgan As you'll have read from my November Book Haul post - this is long overdue. I haven't read all of the Island series so I may be a little out of the loop but I just know that the lovely Jenny will fill me in as I read my way through! The Christmas Bookshop, Jenny Colgan I've been excited to r

I put myself on a book ban in November... yet I still managed to buy myself 18 of the damn things. Oops? Here's the books I bought, why I bought them and links to the reviews for the ones I've already read! WARNING - I absolutely judge books by their cover. I'm not ashamed to admit it.  The Ex-Hex I saw this around Halloween and everyone was reading it. I ordered it a bit late but it still gave me those cosy Autumn vibes and I loved it.  Full review  HERE Cackle   Another book that was big around Halloween and I love witchy books so I didn't resist. Didn't quite give me the Autumn feeling that I was looking for but cabin in the woods? Box ticked! Full review HERE The Goblin Emperor   As a Labyrinth fanatic, I have no shame in admitting that anything to do with Goblin Kings or the like will absolutely draw me in. Wintersong and Shadowsong upheld my obsession. I have no idea if this will follow suit but I'm looking forward to getting into it. The Priory of the Ora

My affection for Agatha Christie is fairly new - I've only read two of her books, both in the last 6 months and mainly because of the films. But even after such little exposure, I've realised she's going to fast become one of my favoured authors.  The Christie Affair is a fictional story based on Christie disappearance for 11 days back in 1926. I haven't looked into the comparisons between truth and fabrication but I have a strong sense that creative license was used to excess. A keen Christie-fan will no doubt be able to pull it apart, and probably have a very different feeling towards this book.  But I really enjoyed it. Christie was portrayed as a very strong, matter-of-fact human being that had her flaws like everyone else. The surrounding characters were great, and the story overall was really enjoyable. The book itself didn't take me long to devour and I kind of hope they develop it into a film at some point.

  After an amicable separation with her husband of 25 years, Juliette finds herself with new found freedom. She makes the decision to go back to the city she fell in love with and to put to bed ghosts that she has never once stopped thinking about.  I absolutely adored this book. It had everything I look for - a strong female character that is true to her emotions, a beautiful backdrop, and memorable and complimentary secondary players. Juliette's account of what she went through thirty years ago works with the story of her journey in present day and enhances the story without being condescending or repetitive. Yes, the ending was predictable but in the most delightful way.  I hope that this story inspires everyone to re-establish themselves when they have the need or want to.

Another book that I definitely should have read over the Halloween period! Cackle was another one of those buzz books circulating on the run up to Halloween this year and I ordered it just a tad too late.  Cackle focuses around Annie - recently dumped and forced to move away from the big city to a small town to start a new job and new life. But she can't stop pining her for ex. Whilst navigating her new home, she meets the gorgeous Sophie who introduces her to the joys of being alone.  Sophie isn't the main character in this book but she's the one that stuck with me the most. If she existed here in the UK - she'd absolutely be shopping at Collectif! I really liked her - yes her methods are extreme and questionable in many ways, but she was a badass bitch and I aspire to that level of confidence. It was another nice, and simple read. Some people have described it as "dark" - I didn't think that at all but as someone who has always had a love of all thing wi

  I was given an advanced copy of Holiday Read by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.. so here goes.  I didn't love it, but I also didn't hate it.  The challenge with romance is that it's a very common and intensely saturated genre. Writers have to stand out to make them feel different to all the others. And whilst I can see what Cole tried to do - it rarely missed the mark.  I made the mistake of reading reviews whilst I was reading the book. I got about a third of the way in and, getting quite frustrated with the story in a "Surely not?" kind of way - I took a look at the reviews (something I NEVER normally do). The guilt absolutely took me over so I finished it instead of DNF'ing it.  And I'm glad I did because thankfully, it set itself back on a relatively good course.  In an attempt to set themselves out from other romance writers - there were some seriously unnecessary facts throughout the dialogue which turned elements into a lesson. There w

  I have no shame in admitting that I wouldn't have even heard of this book if it wasn't for Harry Styles. But the reason I LOVED it, was of course - for many other reasons.  Beginning in the 1950's, the story follows Marion, her school-girl crush on her best friends brother Tom, and his subsequent turmoil over his sexuality.  It's hard to do this book justice and not undersell it.  The relationships in this book are complex, and the reasons for it are steeped in the prejudice against homosexuality. The characters are stunningly written and the angst and sadness felt by all characters at various stages and well portrayed.   If you enjoyed The Hearts Invisible Furies, then I urge you to read this.  I haven't yet watched the film, however I have been told that elements of the plot have been amended for cinematic purposes so even if you've drawn judgement on the film - give the book a try. It was stunning. 

  I'm going to prelude this by saying that I read for enjoyment. I don't necessarily read for my reading ability to be test (though I enjoy my views and perceptions being challenged). So I will generally read books that are "easy" to read for me - language that I understand without subtext or second meanings.  However, after reading The Last Tale of the Flower Bride, I think I'm missing out.  This story was DRIPPING in poetry. It is the most hauntingly beautiful tale I have ever read. I just -. I can't shift it.  "In the end, a fairy tale is nothing more than a sense of hope." I feel like anything I say may well lead to spoilers and I can hand on heart say - I'd never want to spoil any aspect of this book for anyone.  All I'll say is that this is a gothic fairytale in every sense of the word - one I could well see Del Toro producing - and I think this could become one of the few books I would re-read.  I loved every single part. 

  For a while now, I've been wanting some Autumn themed books that weren't horror or thriller based. You know what I mean - like how Christmas books are basically romance but with snow. I wanted Autumn/Fall leading up to Halloween. The pumpkins are implied but not the whole story.  And whilst The Ex Hex is absolutely witchy - it delivered on the Autumn feels.  The Ex Hex tells the story of Vivi - 9 years ago she had a summer thing with one of the Penhallow boys and he broke her heart. Vodka drunk, she did want any teenage witch would do. Together with her cousin, they hexed him! But years later, they had no idea of what the impact would be.  Small town romance with a spooky twist, I absolutely adored this book and will be on the hunt for the second book next Autumn. Apparently there's even going to be a third! 

  Like many, I have been suckered into the world of BookTok recently and as a result of experiencing the ACOTAR series, I've developed a taste for books with a bit of.... spice. Tessa Bailey seems to be one of the more "mainstream" authors delving into the detailed romance style so this and It Happened One Summer were going to be my starting points. Unfortunately, of the two-book series, only the second was available to buy in my local Waterstones but I didn't let that stop me - I dived right in.  It didn't disappoint. There were hints of the previous book in the plot but for me, enough information was given that this one works well as a standalone.  LA based Hannah is heading back to Westport. Not only does she get to see her sister Piper after months apart, but also the gorgeous Fox who she has found herself a friendship with after 7 months. But through texting consistently, they've become good friends through sharing their love of music.  The only problem i

  Whilst grieving the deaths of her brother and fiancé during the First World War, Grace is shocked to find out that her families lodger, Elizabeth has also passed away. The police have ruled it to be suicide but Grace fears there’s more to the tragedy. A beautiful and poignant description of post-War London, this mystery wove a tale that didn’t help but pull at my heart strings. No tears were shed, but the feelings of grief were portrayed subtly and effectively.   Grace is a truly likeable character, seeing good in the world and a thirst for truth. Her determination and awareness was quite refreshing, especially when set in a time where womens rights were being pushed for and understood. The twist was good, a surprise but not unbelievable. An enjoyable read.  

Looking Out For Love is the latest novel by Sophia Money-Coutts and promises a laugh-out-loud and heartwarming read. We follow Stella, unlucky in love and searching in all the wrong places until she meets mysterious Fitz. Falling head over heels in lust, she has unanswered questions whilst doing her best to support her best friend Billie, who is going through the worst time imaginable. Is Fitz everything she wants and needs him to be? For me personally, Stella’s quest for Mr Right was totally relatable but she came across as extremely one dimensional and selfish. So much more could have been down with the story and characters - Billie’s storyline could have proven an opportunity for Stella to grow and develop, but instead she acted with only herself in mind. I loved Jez - he was exactly what you'd expect the boyfriend of your best friend to be - irritating but worthy. He could have provided a lot more comic relief especially in the more sensitive parts of the plot As an easy r

  Started: Sunday 24th July 2022 Finished: Sunday 24th July 2022 Rating:  ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ I'm a sucker for Beauty and the Beast , it's always been my favourite fairytale and my best friend treated me to the book that was released alongside the live-action film a few years ago.  I'm going to share a post another time about the multiple copies of the fairytale that I own because it's a mild obsession.  I really enjoyed how this book was written in the sense that you didn't lose the music. I think when it comes to a film that you know SO WELL, you play it along in your mind as you read the book and I was hesitant as to how they would handle the musical numbers.  But they did it really cleverly, there was no bursting into song by the characters but nods were made to the lyrics in the right places and it allowed me to continue to play out the scenes in my imagination.  This story very much follows the live-action adaptation including the scene where Maurice is taken to the f

  Started: Sunday 24th July 2022 Finished: Sunday 24th July 2022 Rating:  ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I'd seen quite a bit of negativity around this book on Booktok so I think I'd been putting it off. But on Sunday, I had a sofa day planned and thought what better time to give Ugly Love a go.  But I ... kind of enjoyed it? I mean, Miles was a bit of a dick BUT I could absolutely relate to Tate's character and her seemingly glutton-for-punishment attitude to the whole time.  This book wasn't challenging for me and I devoured it in a few hours (I think I sat down with it about 7am and finished at about 11am?) but I was able to get stuck in which really helped.  Would I recommend it to a friend? Probably not. But would I deter someone from reading it if they said they'd bough it? Also no.  If you want a nice easy read with a smattering of spice.. I'd say go for it. 

FROM THE ARCHIVES! Written by David Nicholls, this book was recommended to me YEARS ago by my friend Jas and I found a copy a few weeks ago on one of my Charity Shop hauls. All I knew about the story, is that it follows the lives of two people, who meet in university, and the 18 years that follows, the cross overs and distances in their lives.  It was a slow burner for me initially; I found it difficult to get into. I'll put this down to the fact that the first portion of the book greatly features the culture of the early 90s which isn't something I ever brought into.  But I persevered and the hook for me was their expedition to Greece together. This was where my interest heightened.  As a side note, I've really started to see how much of a Travel Bug I'm becoming - mention a holiday to me and I'm listening! Anyway, the book is written extremely cleverly. You dip in and out of their lives on an annual basis, on the same day - 15th July. This allows for the reader to

  DISCLAIMER: I do not enjoy things that make me cry. I avoid films if I know they'll make me cry, and I do the same with books. I cannot see what enjoyment can come from a book that encourages a feeling of sadness. Remember at the beginning of the year I said I was going to read lots of books and become all cultures and shizz? It hasn't exactly panned out. Being busy with absolutely everything has kind of slowed that down, but on Monday 9th, I carved out some time and was able to sit down and read for a bit. I had no idea what to expect; I knew this book is set around WWII but that is pretty much it. However, within the first few pages you will grasp the idea. I had to put the book down at around page 30. I wasn't emotionally prepared for this. It's not devastating; but, if you're not in a strong state of mind, I dare your heartstrings to not be pulled. It's beautifully written. I can see how this book, as a relatively new publication, has been regarded and cre