August has been an eventful month what with the summer holidays, and so without further ado, here are my monthly favourites! 'The Ride' by Catfish and the Bottlemen Catfish and the Bottlemen have been one of my favourites for a long while - I've replayed their first album to death. I hadn't had a chance to listen to 'The Ride' until now, and I seriously love it! I'm planning on writing a full review for this in the next week, so be sure to look out for that if you're interested in my full thoughts on it. Connie Glynn / noodlerella I subscribed to Connie this month after seeing her make regular appearances on Snapchat stories and falling in love with how adorable she is. Connie makes a wide variety of YouTube videos, from weekly vlogs, to impressions, to beauty and lifestyle, and I love every single one. She's funny, she's cute, and she's very, very pink! Dragons' Den
A bit of an odd one I know, but I have become seriously invested (pun not intended) in watching Dragons' Den every Sunday. The business ideas are often interesting, but there is also a fair share of the weird and wonderful, making this a very entertaining watch. In addition, the dramatic editing is remarkably O.T.T, adding to the amusement value and overall tension - a must see! Stradivarius
I discovered this clothing brand when on holiday in Menorca, and I instantly fell in love. I'd describe it as a cross between Zara and H&M - the clothes are gorgeous, and so are the prices. Furthermore, each piece is extremely well made, and I was delighted to hear they had a UK online shop as I am tempted to order from here in the future. Dungaree Dress by QED London I'm not going to lie, I have been wearing this dress far more than necessary this summer. I've been looking for a denim one for a while now, but the lengths are usually too long or too short for me. However, this dress fits like a dream, and I adore the fabric patches! It has served me well on cooler days, and I know this will still be perfect for winter with a cardigan thrown on top. Barry M Nail Paint - Ballerina This shade of pink is just so gorgeous that I knew I had to buy this as soon as I saw it. I've got a good track record with Barry M's nail paint, and this is no exception. Not only is the colour absolutely beautiful, the varnish only needs one coat to get even coverage, and it dries quickly with a long-lasting effect. In addition, it has a stunning sheen when applied, which I didn't expect! I will definitely be adding to my Barry M collection in the future. Poppy JUJU Shoes Similarly to the nail paint, these shoes were a love-at-first-sight purchase. I do own another pair of JUJU shoes in the original style Maxi, but I was craving another pair for summer, and these were absolutely perfect. From the makers of the original jelly sandals, JUJU continue to produce excellent quality products, and the rubber texture makes them comfortable and well-fitting. I would highly recommend this brand to anybody looking for new sandals. And that rounds up my August favourites! I'm really enjoying these posts so far, and I hope you guys are too. Here's to another month!
(N.B. This book deals with heavy and potentially upsetting issues such as animal torture and mental illness. Grotesque imagery is also used frequently - this is not for the fainthearted!) 'The Wasp Factory' was recommended to me by my English Literature teacher as part of my A2 coursework. At first, I had no idea how this novel could possibly relate to my chosen topic of masculinity, but I was pushed to wait for the end..and now it makes perfect sense.
Throughout my time reading 'The Wasp Factory', I was very unsure how I felt about it. In some places, the writing is spectacular; in others, it fails to deliver. Whilst the novel is a short read as it is, I believe it was heavily padded out with mundane descriptions of Frank's daily activities which bared no real significance to the plot. This made it a difficult read to begin with as I was unsure on the importance of these details, but in the end they proved to be a waste of time, and an effort to trawl through. However, in the last twenty pages or so, Banks upped his writing game immensely, with gripping narrative and an extreme amount of tension. Something else that made this novel a struggle to get through was my intense dislike towards the protagonist Frank. Having committed unforgettable crimes, whilst having a passion for torturing wasps and collecting animal corpses - he's not the friendliest of people. As a reader who prefers characters they can relate with, this certainly (but fortunately!) didn't resonate with me, and it was hard to feel any sympathy for Frank and his family. In addition to this, the violence and gore depicted so calmly by Frank honestly scared me a little; the peculiarity and horror of the situations did not seem to faze him in the slightest which made for a chilling experience. Although, I do suppose a novel which can cause that reaction from a reader must be commended for its atmosphere and disposition. However, one thing that I did enjoy was my overall understanding of the novel once I had finished it. The ideas centring around sexuality and gender were extremely compelling, and some which I am excited to explore in my coursework. This was probably because I was analysing the novel in more detail than I would have done if this wasn't for my A Level, but nevertheless it was an interesting insight into the world of masculinity. Therefore, for something I would not usually pick up, I was pleasantly surprised by the plot and theme as a whole. It is a wonder I didn't give 'The Wasp Factory' 2 stars after my generally negative review; however, in my opinion the ending deserves a star all for itself. This novel is an extremely bizarre read, featuring gruesome topics and chilling characters, but with an overall thought-provoking message. I don't think I would have enjoyed this novel as much if it wasn't relevant to my coursework, but in the end it was a fairly satisfying read none the less. Next read: 'Everything, Everything' by Nicola Yoon
Author: Stephen Chbosky Publish Date:1 February 1999 Genre: Realism Audience: Young adult (and above) (N.B. This book deals with heavy and potentially upsetting issues such as suicide and sexual harassment) 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' was recommended to me by my friend Bex as it is one of her favourite novels of all time (you can check out Bex's wonderful blog here). I thoroughly enjoyed the film a few months back, and so after finding this at a car boot sale I thought it was due time! I have read very, very few books which are written in epistolary form, but this style immediately felt perfect for 'Perks'. As neither you or Charlie know who the letters are addressed to, it somewhat makes the experience much more personal, and I felt connected to Charlie from the get go. The letters themselves are so raw and honest that it's hard to believe this is fiction; it accurately depicts school, home, AND personal life, with no unnecessary sugar coating, yet packed with emotion. Another thing I adored about this novel was the authenticity of the secondary characters. Sam and Patrick are two very genuine friends to Charlie; they support him despite his flaws, yet they have their own issues too, which provides engaging and emotional action alongside Charlie's everyday life. It is hard not to instantly fall in love with Sam and Patrick as you can feel the fondness Charlie holds for them from the very beginning, and their differences highly compliment one another. Upon research, I discovered that both characters were influenced by many people Chboksy knew in his adolescence which certainly shines through in their realistic nature. The writing style of 'Perks' is one that is lacking from YA novels of the same content - it's not pretentious, but it's not dismissive. Despite the odd inspirational (and incredibly beautiful) quote, it is simply real and incredibly easy to identify with. Charlie brushes over the parts he thinks are unnecessary, and he TELLS you that; likewise, he goes into a lot of detail into the things he considers important, and then apologises for the rambling. It gives you a definitive idea of his morals and priorities, and allows the sensitive topics featured to be handled with the utmost care, adding just that extra layer of feeling which 'Perks' revolves so heavily around. In addition, I felt 'Perks' wrapped itself up perfectly. Not everything was resolved, but that only highlighted its authenticity towards life. There was sufficient character development all round, and Charlie's road to self-discovery ended at a deeply emotional, yet necessary point. Despite knowing the ending from watching the film, it was still as heartbreaking as I'd hoped it would be, leaving me full of angst but with an added burst of love and compassion for the characters. In conclusion, 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' is an emotional roller-coaster from beginning to end. Everything about this novel is genuine: the loving friends, the broken home life, the heartbreak and angst. This is quite simply an intensely beautiful read from the onset, and I have no doubt I will be re-reading it in the future. Next read: 'The Wasp Factory' by Iain Banks
Hello all! As you can see, this is a change from my usual 'Album of the Month' post. In truth, I have not been listening to as much music lately, let alone full albums, making it a big struggle to choose one for the month! In addition, I felt the posts were far too short and didn't contribute anything substantial to my blog. Therefore, I have decided to start doing Monthly Favourites, which will allow me to include any new music if I wish, but also other items I have been loving. I absolutely adore watching these sorts of videos on YouTube, and as the saying goes, you should make what you love! Without further ado, here are my July favourites...
'We Were Liars' by E. Lockhart My favourite book of this month has got to be 'We Were Liars' by E. Lockhart. I won't got into too much detail as I wrote a full review which you can check out here. I absolutely loved the suspense and mystery in this novel, much down to its incredible ending and the revelations which came with it! This is definitely worth a read if you're looking for some incredibly unique YA. 'Into You' by Ariana Grande
Ever since I heard Lucy Moon produce an amazingly soft cover of this on her YouTube channel, I have been utterly obsessed with this song. It has SUCH a catchy chorus, but Ariana's extreme range is what makes this song. Previously, I have not been a huge fan of Ariana's work, but this song (along with 'Dangerous Woman') have prompted me to have a listen to the full album! Gabriella Lindley / velvetgh0st Over the past month, I have been loving Gabriella Lindley's YouTube channel, velvetgh0st. I started watching Gabbie after seeing her Weight Loss Surgery video, and I was completely drawn in by her realism. Gabbie is definitely one of the most honest YouTubers I watch, and I am addicted to both her calming main channel videos, and her bubbly, honest vlogs over on PlanetGabb. 'High School Musical' trilogy I am 100% unashamed to say I have been loving the 'High School Musical' films once again. These movies instantly make me so happy and upbeat; the songs are incredibly feel-good, and Troy and Gabriella's relationship is just so adorable. (Yes, I have a crush on Troy Bolton...) I would recommend to any age needing a pick-me-up, particularly if you want to be blasted back 10 years for an hour and a half. What team?! WILDCATS!! Best Fiends
I know. I know that you're all probably sick and tired of hearing about this game. I was too, until I decided to download it...But this game is just too damn good! It's my constant go to whenever I'm bored, and unlike other popular games such as Candy Crush, it's not impossible to complete harder levels without spending real money. I would highly recommend this to anybody looking for a new game to play!
Dream Cream - body lotion from Lush As a sufferer of eczema (a condition which makes the skin extremely rough and irritable), this lotion has completely saved me. It is incredibly hard to find products which truly help eczema, but my skin has never been so soft! Dream Cream contains ingredients such as oat milk, rose, and lavender, all of which help to soothe and revive the skin. This is a must for anybody suffering from dry skin. Bath Latte - bath and shower milk from Zoella Beauty
The announcement for Zoë Sugg's new beauty range, Sweet Inspirations, had me extremely excited from the get go. Not long after it was released, I rushed to get this bath latte and I'm so glad I did! The smell of almond, cacao, and honey is irresistible, creating the most relaxing bubble bath known to man; plus it leaves your skin feeling incredibly soft. This Bath Latte has made me go a bit bath-mad, and Zoë's frequent vlogs have been accompanying me along the way!
And there we have my July favourites! I hope you enjoyed this post as it was something a bit different - I certainly enjoyed writing it, and I am excited to do more in the next coming months. Let me know what you've been loving recently in the comments ☺
Author: Carrie Hope Fletcher Publish Date:14 July 2016 Genre: Magical realism, romance Audience: Young adult (and above)
I have been excited for this novel ever since Carrie announced it on her channel in July last year. Just the design of the book is stunning, and once I had my hands on it I couldn't wait to start this magical adventure. At first, I found Carrie's simplistic writing style hard to acclimatise to, but it soon became familar and easy to read. This was helped by some very powerful quotes throughout, some of which I simply had to re-read in pure awe! In addition, the dialogue is extremely realistic, ranging from irresistably romantic encounters to angst-ridden heartbreaking scenes, and adding a unique contrast to the magical setting. Another feature I loved about this book was its omniscient nature; it allows the reader to obtain a well-rounded idea of each character, regardless of their status. I did think that a few characters seemed fairly ALL good or ALL bad seeing as it is a magical realism novel, however the characters that I did love completely made up for this, and there are plenty of minor characters to fall in love with. Futhermore, I adored seeing the perspective of Evie's children and Vincent when reacting to her secrets; the situations felt intensely personal and real, despite their magical and unimaginable nature. The elements of magic themselves were breathtakingly beautiful, with situations that were so extraordinary yet felt so right to the story. My only critism with this was that I felt the magic needed a little bit more explaining; I still haven't really been able to figure out how a couple of the situations happened, but I think that this may just be me needing more experience with the world of magical fiction! Regardless, I absolutely adored the plot as a whole, and thought it an outstanding idea for a debut fiction novel. In conclusion, I really loved 'On The Other Side', as it offered a unique and emotional adventure from the start. Magic is not a genre that I would usually pick up, but thanks to this magnificent read it is one that I will seriously consider again! Whilst it did have its flaws, it was a novel which had me grinning from ear to ear throughout. Next read: 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' by Stephen Chbosky
Author: E. Lockhart Publish Date:13 May 2014 Genre:Realism, romance, mystery, thriller Audience: Young adult This is my second read off the Zoella Book Club reading list, and MY GOD was it incredible. Both the reviews and blurb made me extremely excited to discover the mystery that lies within this book, and it did not disappoint. The first thing that must be praised is the superb writing. Lockhart weaves unique metaphors into heart-breaking moments, leaving you wondering what is real and what is not. This distinctive way of personifying events is unlike any other I have seen in YA novels, and adds a mysterious yet emotive depth. In addition, the increasingly frequent line breaks add pauses and repetition, creating an intense amount of emotion to strung situations. I am aware that the writing style is one that many have found infuriating, but I absolutely adorted it as I felt it added an extra layer or meaning and oddness to the unsual atmosphere. Secondly, it was very easy to form huge attachments to the side characters without knowing a great deal about their background or personalities. They felt incredibly important, despite not having massive amounts of dialogue, and it was easy to gage a sense of their priorites and motives. These side characters weren't exactly relatable as such due to the setting of the novel, but they were delicately and sensitively handled. The sheer immense mystery and tension that features in 'We Were Liars' is something that I think is severely absent from current YA novels. Throughout the whole book I was theorising the ending, and the characters' refusal to let the main character know what had happened was so infurtiating that I was desperate to reach the end. Speaking of the ending: IT WAS INCREDIBLE. As always, I will give no spoilers, but I simply cannot believe I did not suspect that. Looking back on events, it is so blindly obvious, and I think a re-read will be needed to spot everything that I missed! Having expressed my frustration at myself, I must say it was especially pleasing when everything clicked into place, and a satisfaction that I haven't experienced with a novel in a while. The use of fairy tales to reflect the current situation was also something that I found unique and enchanting. It added an extra layer of surrealism, and fitted with the plot's intertwining themes of beauty and tragedy. In regards to the overall theme, I loved how the idyllic set-up slowly becomes corrupted as it corresponds with the main character's perceptions of reality. I am aware that this review is slightly vague in its details , but I am making a conscious effort not to give away a single thing that might spoil the plot as this is a novel that requires you to go in completely blind - hence why I did not even mention that characters' names! In summary, 'We Were Liars' is an insanely addictive novel; unlike anything I've ever read before, it entwines an intense mystery with typical YA themes, creating a unique and unforgettable reading experience. In other words, "there's not even a Scrabble word for how I'm feeling right now"...
Next read: 'On The Other Side' by Carrie Hope Fletcher
Author:Jennifer Niven Publish Date:6 January 2015 Genre:Realism Audience: Young adult
(N.B. This book deals with heavy and potentially upsetting issues such as suicide and mental health issues)
'All The Bright Places' is the first book I have chosen to read from the Zoella Book Club list, and I was thoroughly excited to read it having heard incredibly good reviews. Unfortunately, I am left feeling rather confused about whether I really enjoyed this novel or not.
First of all, something that vexed me throughout this read was the portrayal of the two main characters Violet and Finch. Their personal stories and background were engaging and relatable, but they were implemented into your stereotypical, 'quirky' teenagers. For example, they went on spontaneous road trips at 3am, and their lives revolved around quoting dead poets such as Virginia Woolf. Thus, it made it very hard to develop a deep connection with the protagonists. Unfortunately, this issue managed to dictate my whole opinion on the book, seeing as the plot is nearly dominated by these two characters as they travel around Indiana for a school project (e.g. the impulsive road trips). In addition, the mental health issues are not romanticised as such, but they didn't feel realistic or relatable - in fact, I would go as far as to say it was rather clichéd at times. This was extremely disappointing to see in a YA novel, particularly after having read the raw truth that is 'Am I Normal Yet?' by Holly Bourne. Having said that, the last 100 pages or so did make me feel incredibly emotional, despite having a loose connection with the characters. This is most probably down to the superb writing style which features throughout the novel; it was engaging, and did make me want to read more. The ending was somewhat predictable, but it felt conclusive. Casting aside the 'quirkiness' of the situation, the clues and subsequent road trip felt fitting to the rest of the novel, and it was the first time I felt a serious connection towards both Violet and Finch. Furthermore, I really liked that it was split into two narratives - seeing as Violet and Finch were the only two dominant characters in the novel, it was appropriate to be able to have a first-person perspective from both. The subheadings on each chapter were also a really pleasant touch as it reflected their priorities in the given moment; for example, Violet goes from counting down the days to her graduation, to simply documenting the date once she is fully involved with Finch. And there is another praise in itself - the character development for Violet was outstanding as she is broken and mended time and time again, with what felt like a satisfying and realistic outcome for her character. In conclusion, I did enjoy 'All The Bright Places' to an extent - it was beautifully written with a conclusive ending and fulfilling character development. I was prepared to get over the lack of originality due to these factors, but unfortunately the 'quirky' characters and unrealistic teenage situations niggled me too much, preventing me from fully enjoying what is a very beautiful and promising novel. Next read: 'We Were Liars' by E. Lockhart
Catfish and the Bottlemen have been one of my favourites for a long while - I've replayed their first album to death. I hadn't had a chance to listen to 'The Ride' until now, and I seriously love it! I'm planning on writing a full review for this in the next week, so be sure to look out for that if you're interested in my full thoughts on it.
I'm not going to lie, I have been wearing this dress far more than necessary this summer. I've been looking for a denim one for a while now, but the lengths are usually too long or too short for me. However, this dress fits like a dream, and I adore the fabric patches! It has served me well on cooler days, and I know this will still be perfect for winter with a cardigan thrown on top.
This shade of pink is just so gorgeous that I knew I had to buy this as soon as I saw it. I've got a good track record with Barry M's nail paint, and this is no exception. Not only is the colour absolutely beautiful, the varnish only needs one coat to get even coverage, and it dries quickly with a long-lasting effect. In addition, it has a stunning sheen when applied, which I didn't expect! I will definitely be adding to my Barry M collection in the future. 
Similarly to the nail paint, these shoes were a love-at-first-sight purchase. I do own another pair of JUJU shoes in the original style Maxi, but I was craving another pair for summer, and these were absolutely perfect. From the makers of the original jelly sandals, JUJU continue to produce excellent quality products, and the rubber texture makes them comfortable and well-fitting. I would highly recommend this brand to anybody looking for new sandals.
