BOOK CLUB #7

T-SHIRT- SATURDAY BY MEGAN ELLABY, JUMPSUIT- c/o SEZANE, SHOES- GUCCI

Hello there, I'm back with a long awaited book club blog post. The beginning of lockdown did me SO good in the reading department, escaping into a good book and being transported to other destinations and worlds entirely was just what I needed to take my mind off the state of the world and to stop my hands from endlessly scrolling. I was on an absolute reading roll and was flying through to my target of 15 books in 12 months, but I must admit over the last month or two I've lost my mojo for reading once again which is frustrating. I'm struggling to focus my mind on even the smallest task of watching television without my brain wandering onto other topics, wanting to scroll through the news apps on my phone or educate myself through Instagram or wanting to get back to an audio book or a podcast instead.

But for the most part reading throughout lockdown helped me to relax and worked wonders for my mental health. I've enjoyed every single book that I've read during the last few months and thought I'd share my mini reviews with you in case you're on the look out for some more fab reads too.

As always, I'll leave my previous book club blog posts linked here too, in case you need even more inspo.
Book Club #1 | Book Club #2 | Book Club #3 | Book Club #4 | Book Club #5 | Book Club #6

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
I absolutely stormed through Queenie, a magnificent read that I just couldn't put down. It's an amazing novel that explores the life of Queenie, a young black woman who's world begins to fall apart after a breakup. But this story isn't about heartbreak, the breakup was just the beginning. The story explores anxiety, and self loathing, racism, complicated families and letting go of those who don't add value to ones life. I adored Queenie as a character and her wonderful group of gal pals so much, Queenie is the kind of character you can't help but fall in love with and root for. It was a tough read in parts but one I would highly recommend everyone to read.

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Once again Taylor Jenkins Reid smashes it with the wonderful, easy reads. One True Loves is a beautiful novel that explores love and the idea of there being "The One" for each of us.
Following the life and loves of Emma Blair from her high school sweetheart, Jesse to her old pal and new love Sam, it's a heartbreaking yet beautiful read that I flew through, as I seem to do with each of Jenkins Reid's books.

If I Can't Have You by Charlotte Levin
A debut novel for Charlotte Levin and one I completely devoured. A chilling tale of obsession and love, that left me on the edge of my seat. The main character Constance falls in love with Samuel in a big, BIG way until he betrays her and she refuses to go down without a fight. I found this book to be like a dark Elinor Oliphant and loved it just as I did that book too.

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
I read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn a fair few years ago now and I totally and utterly LOVED it. So I'm a little confused why it took me so long to catch the book Sharp Objects.
But, I have to say I didn't love it.
I found it slow and just a little bit of a rubbish story line, something I know not everyone will agree with having read it's rave reviews for myself.
The book follows a murder mystery in a small American town where lead character Camille Preaker is from. Camille, a journalist now based in Chicago is assigned to cover the murders for her newspaper which forces her to move back in with her mother and half sister. The book has a number of twists and turns which I did find myself shocked by, particularly the outcome of the book, so that's certainly something at least and I'd definitely be keen to catch the TV series as I do love myself a book turned TV show.

Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
One of my favourite books ever, despite it taking me quite a while to get into it.
It's a slow, very wordy and extremely descriptive piece of writing and whilst it was completely beautiful and I found myself totally transported to a different place entirely; it was so different to the other books I'd spent devouring during lockdown that it took some time to find it's flow.
However, when it did, my goodness gracious me did I adore it!
Based in a quiet town on the North Carolina Coast we're introduced to the "Marsh Girl" Kya.
Kya has survived years living alone in the marsh, making friends with and studying the wildlife that surrounds her, you completely fall in love with Kya and her sensitivity and intelligence.
As the story unfolds we learn that one of the more popular members of the town Chase Andrews, suddenly dies in a rather mysterious way and the book follows the murder case whilst bouncing back and forth to different times which allows us to get a true and real understanding of each character.
It's a must read, the most perfect holiday book!

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Taylor Jenkins Reid fan club continues with After I do, another gorgeous and easy read that I quite frankly flew through.
Lauren and Ryan's marriage is at breaking point when they come up with an unconventional plan to take a year off from their marriage, to explore new experiences and people in the hope that they will fall in love with one another again. The only rule they have is they cannot contact one another.
It's a gorgeous book about self discovery, about love lost, love found and everything in between.

Forever Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Oh what do you know another by TJR... What can I say when I like something I really like something.
I think this might have been my favourite of the three that I've read this year, not ever though, those top spots are reserved for Daisy Jones & The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
Forever Interrupted is about Elsie and Ben, two people who do everything fast. They met, they married and then sadly it was all over. Again it's a heart breaking story about love found and love lost, about self discovery and healing, it's gorgeous, as is everything TJR does.

My Sister The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Okay, so this book I ADORED! I read it in 24 hours which I have never, ever done before. Granted, it's quite a short read BUT I simply did not put it down once, I was hooked!
It's funny because my sister really didn't rate this book, yet I adored it. I've heard mixed reviews from those who loved it and those who really weren't bothered about it at all, I love a book that divides people.

The tag line for the book- "My Sister, the Serial Killer is a blackly comic novel about how blood is thicker - and more difficult to get out of the carpet - than water..." just brilliant!

The book is about two sister's Korede, a nurse and her younger and extremely desirable sister Ayoola who has a lethal streak that has left three of her previous dates with a knife in their backs...
As Ayoola's older sister Korede helps to cover up the murders, because family comes first, that is until Ayoola starts dating the doctor that Korede has been in love with for some time...

LOVED IT, devoured it, would totally recommend giving it a read!