Hello everybody! Today, for my last post of May, I have a great piece from upcoming debut author of the Undetectables, Courtney Smyth. They’ve written about disability and friendship, which isn’t discussed nearly enough. Onto the post!
Hello everybody! Today, for the first #AreYouWithUs post, of which I hope there shall be many amongst standard ones this month, I’m bringing you a little TBR post about some of my hopeful reads (again, alongside other things, and there are more disability rep books I hope to pick up as well). Anyway, onto the post!
Continue reading “Ten Books on My #AreYouWithUs TBR This Month!”Hello everybody! I seem to be going through phases of intensive blog posts and then very sporadic ones, and I think I’m about to enter another intense phase as I have lots of content I want to get out before the end of April, and then lots of content for Are You With Us? too, as well as other bits and bobs I also have planned for May.
Today’s is a new installment of spelling words with books, onto the post!
W is for… the Week at World’s End– it’s no secret I’m a huge fan of Emma Carroll, and her landmark tenth book is of course brilliant. It takes place in the UK, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, so a very unique historical setting!
I is for… If I Never Met You– this was my first Mhairi McFarlane book and I loved it immensely. I still burst into giggles when I think of the hooded claw joke. I owe her a whole bunch of rereads cause she’s a genius and I’ll probably start with this fake-dating masterpiece!
S is for… the Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates– this is one of the funniest books I’ve ever read (the smiting scene!!!). Jenny Pearson is one of the greatest middle grade writers around at the moment and I will greedily devour everything she writes until the end of time (and probably reread the ones I’ve already snorted and giggled my way through)
H is for… Hold Back the Tide– this is such a creepy horror, and thinking about it now still freaks me out a little, to be honest. I really must get round to the author’s latest release, Her Dark Wings, cause I still haven’t 🙈
B is for… the Boy Who Saw a Whale- this is the second in the Serendib series of linked standalones. They’re all great adventures with super lovely animal-child bonds!
O is for… Open Road Summer– I read this like 5 years ago now, and it’s another I should probably try and reread sometime. It’s a YA roadtrip romance about a girl falling in love with a musician, and I remember it being utterly incredible.
N is for… Nevermoor- this is, very simply, one of my favourite books of all time. I reread last year, and I’m hoping to squeeze in the whole series before the release of the (extremely long awaited!) fourth book Silverborn. If you haven’t read these books, you MUST.
E is for… the Extraordinary Adventures of Alice Tonks– this is a brilliant debut from 2022, about an autistic girl with the power to speak to animals. It’s so cosy and lovely and made my heart smile, so I’m very excited for the autumnal sequel later this year.
This word is one I chose for myself, because I do social media management for the magazine Wishbone Words and I love it so much 🥰
Thank you so much for reading! Which books would you have chosen for these letters? Do you have any thoughts on the ones I’ve mentioned? I’d love to chat in the comments!
Amy xx
Hello everybody! Today, I’m sharing some miscellaneous reviews from my 2022 reading that I just haven’t got round to, as part of my catching up project (and when I finish, I get to buy myself luxury chocolate buttons, if you missed that particular Instagram post). And yes, I did just think this title was a funny song title, I’m fineeee please don’t worry . Onto the post!
Hello everybody! It’s time for another installment in the spelling words with books series; today is the turn of flowers. Onto the post!
F is for… Fear Ground– I’m a massive wuss when it comes to horror, but the humour and heart Jennifer Killick brings to the genre numbs the terror enough for these to be faves. This one has villains with creepy clown masks!
L is for… the Lost Girl King– this was the most recent Cat Doyle middle grade, and it was such a good standalone fantasy story that taught me loads about Irish mythology. I’ve been loving seeing more of that, actually!
O is for… Operation Nativity – not the most seasonally appropriate recommendation, but this book is SO much fun. Who knew the Angel Gabriel was a full on COMEDIAN?!? Already so excited for Jenny Pearson’s next one.
W is for… the Wedding Season– Katy Birchall’s adult romcoms bring me SUCH joy. This one is about a woman who gets dumped on the day of her wedding, and the new love story she finds while she attends her friends’ weddings over the summer.
E is for… Every Gift a Curse– this was the final book in the phenomenal Gifts trilogy, which are utterly unique and deeply difficult to describe. I IMPLORE you to read them and agree with me, ASAP!!
R is for… Read with Pride– this was book 2 in Lucy Powrie’s fabulous Paper and Hearts Society series, and probably my favourite of the trilogy. It sees main character Olivia start an underground book club when her school library bans queer books, and it’s so joyful while also tackling many important topics.
S is for… the Stickleback Catchers- this is a wonderful book about family and friendship, with fabulous disability representation by a disabled author (my stick sister, in fact!) and a raven called Fig Archimedes who stole my whole heart. I hope to get round to writing my proper review soon!
This word was suggested by my friend Rachael, whose amazing blog you should absolutely check out!
Thank you so much for reading! Have you read any of these books, or are you planning to? What’s your favourite flower? I’d love to chat in the comments!
Amy xx
Hello everybody! Today, I’m bringing you a very belated 2022 edition of Perpetual Page Turner’s End of Year Book Survey, because writing it just kept getting away from me and how here we are, 3 months later with me trying to catch up on a whole bunch of different posts I should have done longggg ago. Will hopefully get the 2023 version up in January of next year, cause this feels ludicrous to be posting in March 😂. Anyway, onto the post!
**2022 READING STATS**
Number Of Books You Read: 258
Number of Re-Reads: I think just two?! Daisy Jones and the Six and! Nevermoor
Genre You Read The Most From: no idea ! Probably fantasy ??
**BEST IN BOOKS**
1. Best Book You Read In 2022?
Oh no, way too hard to pick just one! Even a longlist would take 5000 years to type… and I’m already late with this post so we simply don’t have time.
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
This just snuck into my 2022 reads, as I read it in December, but Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone. What a boring book for such a brilliant title, it’s honestly embarrassing. Also the Secret of Splint Hall was a gigantic letdown.
3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
The No Show was great, but definitely different to what I thought it would be.
4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)? I reckon the Secret of Haven Point, but please jump in if there are others you’ve read because of me! I also got someone to read Her Majesty’s Royal Coven which I was proud of cause it’s a belter of a story.
5. Best series you started in 2022? Best Sequel? Best Series Ender of 2022?
I’m trying to pick things I didn’t mention elsewhere here, so I’ll say Hedgewitch, the aptly named Spectaculars, Twin Crowns and Drama and Danger for the first books in a series. Definitely need to shoutout The Gifts that Bind Us for a sequel, and also the Last Fallen Moon and Twice Hexed.
I was kind of struggling with a series finale cause I hadn’t read any super recently… so I went back and looked and I think A Storm of Sisters was the final Widdershins book and I loved that back in January. Michelle Harrison is a legend if you don’t already know!! And also the Last Starfell book, I need from Dominique Valente ASAP!
6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2022?
I have two! Clare Pooley and Daisy May Johnson both added such immense joy to my life with their stories.
7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
I don’t read tons of non fiction, but I had a great time with Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton. I also discovered a new favourite subgenre in witchy romcoms.
8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
I think I’ll go the It Girl! You can’t beat a good Ruth Ware when it comes to thrillers.
9. Book You Read In 2022 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
Yesterday Crumb and the Storm in a Teacup because I already have plans to reread it. I want to refresh my memory before the sequel. Also Mad About You by Mhairi McFarlane is a strong contender.
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2022?
I’m a David Dean devotee, so Orla and the Wild Hunt and When the War Came Home. Both of which also have excellent insides, of course. And I can’t recall who did it but the Sky Beneath the Stone has a stunning cover too.
11. Most memorable character of 2022?
Probably Clementine from Always, Clementine. She’s such a little darling. Another one who comes straight to mind is Hazel Hill from Hazel Hill is Gonna Win This One. Ooooh and also Fishbone from the Treekeepers.
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2022?
The Map of Leaves has lots of gorgeous prose about nature, so I’ll go for that.
13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2022?
Not one book, but a collection. I finally felt like disability representation was becoming more commonplace in 2022, and every piece of slow progress is helping make my dreams come true.
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2022 to finally read?
Probably has to be Howl’s Moving Castle! Please do weigh in on whether or not I should read the sequels, I can’t decide. Also contemplating finally giving the Chrestomanci books a proper chance. Also Fig Swims the World, and the Memory Thieves.
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2022?
I always find this question so hard cause I can never think of anything ahaha. Well, I can, but it’s hard to both remember something AND decide between a bunch. But I may have an answer in 2023 picked out already cause one thing just sums up my year so far perfectly 😂
16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2022?
Autumn Moonbeam: Dance Magic was the shortest and the Distant Echo was the longest.
17. Book That Shocked You The Most
I feel like this is basically asking the same as the book that surprised me? I’ll say the Last Library cause I only expected to like it, but fell in love.
18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)
Clara and Josh from the Roommate; Ruby and Nic from One Night With You; and perhaps my very favourites, Kitty and Lord Radcliffe from a Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting.
19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year?
Struggling to think of a singular example, which is odd cause I know I love so many. I’m a sucker for animal-human relationships especially, and I think the Extraordinary Adventures of Alice Tonks has some especially delightful ones.
20. Favorite Book You Read in 2022 From An Author You’ve Read Previously?
I almost always say Emma Carroll and Robin Stevens for this, so the Tale of Truthwater Lake and the Ministry of Unladylike Activity seem like the most obvious answers. For a wildcard, I’ll say Operation Nativity cause that was the most fun EVER, and also the outstanding Like a Charm, set in a fantastical interpretation of Edinburgh.
21. Best Book You Read In 2022 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure/Bookstagram, Etc.:
I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about Her Majesty’s Royal Coven, but I read it because some friends did and I fell in loveee with it. Defo wouldn’t have read Defy the Night of my own accord either.
22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2022?
I adored Jack from Lease on Love! Also Jamie from the Wedding Season.
23. Best 2022 debut you read?
Honestly there are SO MANY I loved. It’s nearly impossible to choose, but because of loyalty, I have to say the Miraculous Sweetmakers and the Frost Fair because Tasha is one of my close friends and I love her and her book dearly. And the same goes for brilliant Bletchley Park murder mystery the Secrets Act too.
24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
Basically every fantasy book I read in 2022 had an amazing world, so again I cannot be expected to choose. I’ll say Witchlings since I haven’t mentioned it elsewhere.
25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake immediately springs to mind, as do the Ex Hex and the Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. For younger readers, Sleepover Takeover, Grandpa Frank’s Great Big Bucket List, the Secret Sunshine Project and the Harper Drew books are utterly joyful. And in YA, no one does comedy better than Simon James Green!
26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2022?
I cry at basically everything lol, how long a list would you like? One I had quite a visceral reaction to is Diary of a Confused Feminist, because I saw so many of my mental health problems reflected back at me in Kat.
27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
I’ve not heard nearly enough folk talking about the October Witches, which is the closest thing to Eva Ibbotson I have ever read.
28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?
Forever, Interrupted absolutely devastated me. I love Taylor Jenkins Reid, and it was amazing, but I kind of wish I hadn’t read it cause it feeds into one of my worst anxieties.
29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2022?
I think Our Sister, Again and the Revelry were both very unique- I loved them both! And also the Eternal Return of Clara Hart; it’s a stunner.
30. Book That Made You The Most Mad ?
You Can Trust Me, because rape culture makes me absolutely rage. It’s an outstanding indictment of it, as well as a bloody brilliant mystery/thriller.
**YOUR BLOGGING / BOOKISH LIFE**
1. New favorite book blog/Bookstagram/Youtube channel you discovered in 2022?
This is too hard cause almost everyone I follow are people I’m friends with and so I find it tough to answer! I *think* it was early 2022 when I started following Johanna though. She’s lovely, has great taste in books and an EXCELLENT dog called Lucy. 2. Favorite post you wrote in 2022? Definitely this one (let’s talk about disability rep)
3. Favorite bookish related photo you took in 2022?
Oh god I’ve no idea 😂. I’ve started using my Instagram a LOT more- I’m instagram.com/goldenbooksgirl if you don’t follow me already!
4. Best bookish event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, etc.)?
Seeing/meeting Elle McNicoll and Maisie Chan at the Edinburgh book Festival. It was SUCH a special day!
5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2022?
Absolutely hands down being a judge for the inaugural Adrien Prize. Truly the honour of a lifetime.
6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?
Just finding motivation to write during rougher health patches I think (both mental and physical)
7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
It was one of the debut spotlight posts I did! Never quite got round to any this year but I wish I had. They were fun to research and write!
8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
There are quite a few! Sometimes posts I love writing and ones that do well aren’t the same thing sadly 😔
9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)
I never really have an answer for this one, even though I probably have a bunch!
10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year? I definitely exceeded my goodreads goal and also hit 3000 followers on twitter and 1000 on insta. So basically I smashed it!
Thank you so much for reading, if you have despite it being so LATE! You’re an absolute legend. I’d love to chat about anything I’ve mentioned or what some of your answers would be in the comments!
Lots of love, Amy xx
Hello everybody! I almost forgot to write this, because I’ve had a very busy and tiring few days, but here we are at the eleventh hour, with a new spelling out a word in books post. Onto the post!
H is for… Hazel Hill is Gonna Win This One– this is such a powerful and important, yet also engaging and funny, middle grade contemporary about sexual assault and using your voice to stand up for what’s right. SUCH a fab book!!
E is for… Ellie Pillai is Brown– this was a great YA contemporary, with music references that made my heart happy and a lovely romance.
A is for… a Kind of Spark – Elle McNicoll is one of my favourite authors, and her debut was the wonderful start of our love affair. I can’t wait for the TV adaptation this spring!
R is for… Rainbow Grey- I thought I’d have used this in a similar post before, but apparently not. I loved the first in this series about a world where people can control weather, and badly need to read the others in the trilogy.
T is for… the Three Dahlias- I love a murder mystery, as you likely know! This one about three actresses who have played the same iconic detective is incredibly fun, with excellent twists and a brilliant dénoument.
This word was suggested by… my boyfriend! Is this his first official blog mention? I think it might be. I thought this was a very cute choice. I’d link you to his social media, but he barely has any.
Thank you so much for reading! Do you have any words to suggest for this project? What are your thoughts on the books I’ve chosen? Do you know what your picks would be? I’d love to chat in the comments!
Amy xx
Hello everybody! For today’s post, I have a blog tour review to share with you, for the book the Shield Maiden, which I became involved in because we all know how much I love supporting books with disability representation and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Onto the post!
Hello everybody! Today, I’m sharing the January and February releases that I am hoping to read, at some point. My tbr is ridiculous and I don’t get to everything within release year, but I try hard, and a great book is a great book even if you are late to the party. So without further ado, here’s a stupidly long list!
Hello everybody! Another later one today, again, my apologies! Today’s post is from Catherine Balavage Yardley, who has written about why she thinks this is such a special time of year. Onto the post!
Golden Books Girl 