What I've Been Reading: May 2019.

Thanks to Mcdonalds Monopoly I won a 2 month subscription to Kindle Unlimited. I think most of, maybe even all the books I read in May are available to subscribers but I'll be sure to list the normal kindle prices as well.

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Hannah Moskowitz

Current kindle price: £3.19 or free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers

"Taylor Cipriano had everything figured out, back when she lived with her single mother in Miami. Now, she's moved upstate for her junior year to live with her mom's boyfriend and soon-to-be-stepsister and is trying to figure out who she is out of the shadow of her best friend. When she meets Theo- quirky, cute, sensitive Theo- he seems like a great match... Except he has a girlfriend. Josey, icy, and oh-so-intimidating.

But Theo and Josey aren't like anyone Taylor's met before; Josey grew up in a polyamorous family, and the two of them have a history of letting a third person into their relationship. It's nothing Taylor's ever considered before... but she really likes Theo.

Her feelings for Josey though?

That's where it really gets complicated."

This was a different read, especially when it comes to YA romance. The highlight for me was the relationship between Taylor and Josey. This wasn't a book I devoured hungrily but it was a steady grower that held my attention and gave me an interesting look at polyamorous relationships and how people perceive them. One annoying thing? There are so many spelling and grammar mistakes in this, more than any book I've ever read.

The Stranger Beside Me

Ann Rule

Current kindle price: £4.58 or free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers

"When Ann Rule and Ted Bundy became friends while working at a Seattle crisis clinic in 1971, she had no idea that her kind, charismatic co-worker would go on to become one of the world's most notorious serial killers, who confessed to murdering at least thirty-six women across America.

In The Stranger Beside Me, Rule details not only her personal relationship with Bundy, but his life; covering everything from his complicated childhood to the media circus revolving around his trials, and his eventual execution."

If you were going to read a book on Ted Bundy, this would be the one to go for. It's a long read, detailing events before the murders when Ann met Bundy and concluding with his execution. The foreword is the most interesting to me. The book has been rereleased so many times and the before the book properly starts, it includes near misses with Bundy that scores of women wrote to Ann about and while she doubts that all of them that she received are real, the ones included in the book are ones she felt were genuine encounters. They're chilling to read.

The book itself is also great but extremely long. It took me ten days to finish this! I highly recommend it though.

Bless Her Heart

Blakney Fancis

Current kindle price: £1.99

"Scarlet, Alabama doesn't know what to make of Sloan Averley. She's an outsider, as wild as she is beautiful, and so much trouble even her Yankee parents didn't know what to do with her. But she's their beloved high school football coach's granddaughter and this is THE year... The year that blue chip recruit and quarterback protege Courtland Mckenzie carries them on his very capable shoulders all the way to their first state championship.

As a surprising common goal is forced upon them, Sloan and Courtland's very different worlds collide and clash. The town's golden boy and the rebellious beauty: they have as much contempt for one another as they do fascination.

Can Sloan find a way to accept the dark past she can't change in the last place she ever thought to look: on a football field? Will Courtland be able to create a balance in his life before his promising future slips away? They have to go through each other to get what they want, but time's running out- the season's almost over."

I wasn't sure what to expect with this. I finished it but I was going through the motions. Didn't hate it, didn't love it. I wouldn't even say I liked it really. It was okay.

Em & Em

Linda Budzinski

Current Kindle price: £3.19 or free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers

"The last thing sixteen-year-old Emily Slovkowski wants is to move away from her home at the Jersey Shore, gorgeous surfer boyfriend Zach, and her entire identity. But that's kind of how Witness Protection works, and Em must prepare herself for an epic do-over as she starts a new life in the Midwest.

Even as she pines for sandy beaches and the night life of the shore, the newly-named Ember O'Malley finds herself making new friends, taking photos for the high school newspaper, and thinking an awful lot about the paper's editor, and oddly cute cowboy named Charles.

When Em stumbles upon a shady beneath-the-bleachers exchange between one of the school's football coaches and a student, she refuses to get involved. The last thing she needs is to be witness to another crime or call attention to herself. Besides, she finally has some real friends- well, real except for the fact that they don't know a single thing about her- and she prefers to keep it that way until the trial.

But as her day in court approaches, Em begins piecing together what she saw that day beneath the bleachers. And, as her own past secrets start to catch up with her, Em needs to figure out who she really is- Em or Em."

This was a good read. It switches between present and flashbacks before the move so you get to learn about both sides of Emily's life. I grew to care about Emily and I just wanted her to be happy, especially after reading the flashbacks. 

Ted Bundy: The Horrific True Story Behind America's Most Wicked Serial Killer

Ryan Becker

Current Kindle price: £3 or free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers

"A murderer's tale is not always shrouded in darkness, trauma and failure to perform as a normal person. Some killers are just as successful in life as those around them or even more so. They are able to function as any regular human being and charm their communities and victims into believing that they are of a good, pure nature.

Ted Bundy was a handsome, charming and ambitious man who carried his hatred deeper and more hidden than any other murderers do. He was able to lead a life that included normal friendships and relationships, and he even got far as both a student and a politician.

But the hatred was there... It was always there...

Bundy ended the lives of over thirty young women, ensuring that their final moments were ugly and violent. His torture methods were cruel, and there was no mercy shown to each female as he bludgeoned, strangled or cut them.

Ted Bundy- The Campus Killer- a name of nightmares. This is his story."

Only one thing to say here, skip this. Read The Stranger Beside Me instead! 

Verity

Colleen Hoover

Current Kindle price: £3.80 or free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers

"Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin. When Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, asks Lowen to complete the remaining books in a contract his permanently injured wife is unable to fulfill, Lowen has no choice but to accept.

Lowen arrives at the Crawford home with the intention of only staying one or two nights- long enough to sort through Verity's chaotic home office to collect all the notes and outlines she'll need to start writing the first novel. But the more time Lowen spends with Jeremy Crawford, the less of a hurry she is in to leave.

While there, Lowen discovers a hidden manuscript. An autobiography containing chilling admissions Verity planned to take to her grave, including the truth behind the events that turned their lives upside down. A truth that, if revealed to Jeremy, would firther devastate the already grieving father. Lowen decides to keep the manuscript a secret, allowing Jeremy to continue to believe Verity is merely an innocent, unfortunate victim of circumstance.

But as Lowen's feelings for the devoted father and husband deepen, she wonders if keeping Jeremy in the dark is in her own best interest. After all, if Jeremy were to read his wife's autobiography, the disturbing truth would make it impossible for him to continue to love her."

I'll be honest here, I've never been a big fan of Colleen Hoover books. I've read a couple and her YA romance books jusg don't to it for me at all. But this? This was my favourite book I read in May and IT. IS. AMAZING. 

This is such a well written psychological thriller that kept me guessing til the very end. It's taken me a while to get there but I finally understand the Colleen Hoover hype.

You can read previous posts of What I've Been Reading here.

What were you reading in May?

Danni

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Glossybox, May 2019.

I missed my usual Glossybox blog post last month, a cross between forgetting and then laziness when I remembered I hadn't done it. And I'm writing about the May box in June. All signs point to a blogging slump, one that I want to try to combat.

May's box featured the usual five items, all of which were full size. The total value of all the products comes to a whopping £81, when the cost of the box is only £10 plus P&P. The box cost can lower depending on what method you choose when you subscribe. I pay once per month and can cancel whenever I like but 3 month, 6 month and yearly subscriptions are available too. You can also sign up for a year and still pay monthly, which comes out at £8.50 instead of £10 per month.

Barry M Cosmic Lights Highlighting Palette

Full size, RRP £7.99

"From glass skin to yoga skin, a glowing complexion is always en vogue. That's where your Barry M highlighting palette comes in! Boasting 6 shades, including 2 creamy hues and 4 irridescent powders, it's the perfect companion to give your complexion a luminous, healthy glow. Apply the creams for subtle radiance, use the powders to create a shimmery look, or layer the two to build an on-trend, dewy glow."

I'm not going to be keeping this. The majority of shades look too dark for me. It was nice to see but I do wish I'd gotten the contour palette instead.

Annabelle Minerals Mineral Blush in Rose

Full size, RRP £12.50

"Mineral makeup is a trend that's here to stay. Boasting natural and lightweight ingredients, it's not only suitable for all skin types, but actually helps heal, soothe and protect your complexion. That's why we love this blush so much! 100% organic, it's formulated with 4 mineral ingredients that help maintain healthy skin. Plus, the gorgeous pink shade will give your cheeks a rosy and radiant flush."

I love this! It's such a perfect, subtle shade and the packaging means they'll be no powder spillages even when travelling. 

Beauty Kitchen Natural Lip Treatment

Full size, RRP £2.99

"2019 is all about sustainable beauty! Beauty Kitchen have created this 0% petroleum sustainable lip treatment that is more effective and less greasy that petroleum jelly alternatives. Made with 100% natural ingredients, this balm moisturises and protects your lips for up to 8 hours, keeping them soft, beautiful and healthy. Better yet, the packaging is 100% recyclable and made from recycled tinplate- good for the environment, great for your lips!"

The description for this sounds great but there's only so many lipbalms I can use at one time and there seems to have been an influx of them in beauty boxes recently. I could do with a break from the lipbalms for now please glossybox!

Mudmasky Aftermask Vitamin Serum

Full size, RRP £43

"This serum is at the forefront of an up-and-coming beauty trend! The first skincare product in the world specially designed to be used after a facemask, it nourishes your complexion with the vitamins your skin will craving after an intense clay, charcoal, sheet or peel off mask treatment. Simpy apply a thin layer to your face after removing your mask and you'll have soft and smooth skin!"

This sounds amazing. Not only do I like the idea of this product, but Mudmasky is a brand I've enjoyed using in the past so I'm really happy to have this.

Nailberry Nail Polish in Love Me Tender

Full size, RRP £14.50

"Meet the next generation of state-of-the-art nail polish! Part of Nailberry's revolutionary Oxygene range, this multi-award winning nail polish uses patented technology to deliver a healthier manicure without compromising on colour quality. It covers your nail with a unique film which allows air and water vaper to pass through it, ensuring your cuticles are protected, even while wearing nail polish."

This is so similar to other shades I've already got but it's my go-to shade so I'll definitely me trying this. It'll be interesting to see how this compares to my favourite Nails Inc polish!

The sneak peak for June's box is an Avant Primer, worth £85!

What do you think of May's box?

A Staycation in St Ives.

The week before Easter we headed down south for a wedding in Plymouth. We thought since we were going all that way, we'd make the most out of it and drive to St Ives the day after. We booked an apartment with Aspects Holidays who have a wide range of properties all over Cornwall.

The apartment was perfect for the two of us (38 Carrack Widden if you're interested!) and was only a ten minute walk to the harbour and main stretch of restaurants. It did imvolve a steep uphill walk everytime we came back though, which I was cursing by the end of the week!

We had a gorgeous view of Portminster beach from the living room window but our go to beach while there was Porthmeor beach. The beach cafe there was amazing and even the takeaway options were great too.

Me being me, I'd obviously researched places to eat before we'd even finished paying for the holiday! Our favourites from the week were Beer & Bird, Harbour Fish & Chips, The Loft Restaurant & Terrace and Peppers Pasta & Pizzeria. 

We had an amazing week and some beautiful weather to go with it. Neither of us had been to St Ives before but we fell in love with it. We'll definitely be using Aspects Holidays again next year for another visit.

Have you visited St Ives before?

Danni

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What I've Been Reading: April 2019.

I've been slacking lately when it comes to posting and even the April edition of What I've Been Reading is late. Anyone else get these slumps when it comes to blogging?! April was a standard month when it came to reading, I finished a total of six which is about my average for a whole month.

Nina Is Not OK

Shappi Khorsandi

Current kindle price: £4.99

"Nina does not have a drinking problem. She likes a drink, sure. But what 17-year-old doesn't?

Nina's mum isn't so sure. But she's busy with her new husband and five year old Katie. And Nina's almost an adult after all.

And if Nina sometimes wakes up with little memory of what happened the night before, then her friends are all too happy to fill in the blanks. Nina's drunken exploits are the stuff of college legend.

But then one dark Sunday morning, even her friends can't help piece together Saturday night. All Nina feels is a deep sense of shame, that something very bad has happened to her..."

Well, this was a brilliant read. I could hardly put it down. It has everything, funny moments and angsty moments plus characters you grow to care about. At times I was horrified by some of Nina's drunken decisions but the book comes full circle to the night in the first chapter, making this an important story not just about addiction, but also consent.

Some Boys

Patty Blount

Current Kindle price: £4.91

"Some girls say no. Some boys don't listen.

When Grace meets Ian, she's afraid. Afraid he'll reject her like the rest of the school, like her own family. After she accuses Zac, the town golden boy, of rape, everyone turns against her. Ian wouldn't be the first to call her a slut and a liar.

Except Ian doesn't reject her. He's the one person who looks past the taunts and the names and the tough-girl act to see the real Grace. He's the one who gives her the courage to fight back.

He's also Zac's best friend."

I'd never read anything by Patty Blount before but after this, the majority of her books have been added to my to read list! It reminded me alot of All The Rage by Courtney Summers that I read the month before and while I did prefer that, this was still great. Ian and Grace's story continues One Girl but I haven't read that yet.

The Impossible Vastness of Us

Samantha Young

Current Kindle price: £2.99

"India Maxwell hasn't just moved across the country- she's plummeted to the bottom rung of the social ladder. It's taken years to cover the mess of her home life with a veneer of popularity. Now she's living in one of Boston's wealthiest neighborhoods with her mom's fiance and his daughter, Eloise. 

Thanks to her soon-to-be stepsister's clique of friends, including Eloise's gorgeous, arrogant boyfriend, Finn, India feels like the one thing she hoped never to be seen as again: trash.

But India's not alone in struggling to control the secrets of her past. Eloise and Finn, the school's golden couple, aren't all they seem to be. In fact, everyone's life is infinitely more complex than it first appears.

And as India grows closer to Finn and befriends Eloise, threatening the facades that hold them together, what's left are truths that are brutal, beautiful and big enough to change them forever."

I loved this! It was amazingly well written and the storyline intertwined the three main characters perfectly. Some parts were a little predictable, I'd guessed what Eloise's secret was before it was revealed but it didn't make me love the story itself any less. A definite recommend.

The Magpies

Mark Edwards

Current Kindle price: £1.99 or free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.

"When Jamie and Kirsty move into their first home together, they are full of optimism. The future, in which they plan to get married and start a family, is bright. The other residents of their building seem friendly too, including the Newtons, a married couple who welcome them to the building with open arms.

But then strange things start to happen. Dead rats are left on their doorstep. They hear disturbing noises, and much worse, in the night. After Jamie's best friend is injured in a horrific accident, Jamie and Kirsty find themselves targeted by a campaign of terror.

As they are driven to the edge of despair, Jamie vows to fight back- but he has no idea what he is really up against..."

Well, as someone who is in a couple saving for our first home, I can safely say a flat is crossed off that list! This was a disturbing read, especially when it is partially based off the author's own experiences. This is one of my favourite psychological thrillers I've read so far this year.

Things We Know By Heart

Jessi Kirby

Current Kindle price: £4.49

"After Quinn's boyfriend, Trent, dies in an accident their junior year, she reaches out to the recipients of his donated organs in hopes of picking up the fragments of her now-unrecognizable life. But whoever received Trent's heart has chosen to remain silent. The essence of a person, Quinn has always believed, is in the heart, If she finds Trent's, then in a way, she will still have a piece of him.

Risking everything to get closure once and for all, Quinn goes outside the system to track down nineteen-year-old Colton Thomas, whose life has been forever changed by this priceless gift. But what starts as an accidental run-in quickly develops into something more, sparking an undeniable attraction. She doesn't want to give in to it- especially since he has no idea how they're connected- but the time Quinn spends with Colton makes her feel alive again. No matter how hard she's falling for Colton though, each beat of his heart reminds her of all she's lost... and all that remains at stake."

This was a sad but cute read. It didn't blow me away or anything but was it was well written. The story is a little predictable but if you're into this sort of thing, you'll probably enjoy it.

Veronica Mars: The Thousand Dollar Tan Line

Rob Thomas & Jennifer Graham

Current Kindle price: £4.99

"Ten years after graduating from high school in Neptune, California, Veronica Mars is back in the land of sun, sand, crime and corruption. She's traded in her law degree for her old private investigating license, struggling to keep Mars Investigations afloat on the scant cash earned by catching cheating spouses until she can score her first big case.

Now it's spring break, and college students descend on Neptune, transforming the beaches and boardwalks into a frenzied, week-long rave. When a girl disappears from a party, Veronica is called in to investigate. But this is no simple missing person's case; the house the girl vanished from belongs to a man with serious criminal ties, and soon Veronica in plunged into a dangerous underworld of drugs and organized crime. And when a major break in the investigation has a shocking connection to Veronica's past, the case hits closer to home than she ever imagined."

The season 4 revival of Veronica Mars comes out this summer and articles online stated that events in these books, which take place after the film, are canon to the series. So I obviously had to read it! The second book isn't available as an ebook, which is annoying but the first one is. My verdict? It's fab, the dialogue is fitting to all the characters we've grown to know already, especially Veronica's and Dick's. I could practically hear Ryan Hansen saying "Handies only" as I was reading. And if you haven't watched the series yet? Well, I'm biased as it's one of my favourite shows but where have you been?! It has a highly dedicated fanbase for a reason so give it a try, you'll most likely love it!

What were you reading in April? Have you read any of these before?

You can read previous posts of What I've Been Reading here.

Danni

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What I've Been Reading: March 2019.

Hello April! A new month means looking back at the books I finished in March and hopefully giving others some good recommendations.

All The Rage

Courtney Summers

Current Kindle price: £4.74

"Romy Grey wears her lipstick like armour, ever since the night she was raped by Kellan Turner, the sheriff's son.

Romy refuses to be a victim, but speaking up has cost her everything. No one wants to believe Kellan is not the golden boy they thought he was, and Romy has given up trying to make herself heard.

But when another girl goes missing after a party, Romy must decide whether the cost of her silence might be more than she can bear."

Courtney Summers is one of my favourite authors so I went into this expecting great things. It certainly didn't disappoint. An anthor I wholeheartedly recommend checking out if you haven't read anything of hers.

Friends Like These

Sarah Alderson

Current Kindle price: 99p

"Lizzie hasn't thought about her colleague Becca in years- not since the accident.

Then Becca's ex-boyfriend turns up on Tinder, and Lizzie's curiosity is sparked.

It looks like Becca hasn't changed. She's still all over social media: #perfectlife, #perfectjob, #blessed. Lizzie can't resist a dig. But she sends her mean comment to Becca by mistake...

She's about to find out you can't always believe what you see online.

And that with friends like Becca, you don't need enemies..."

Well, this was a surprise. I'm picky when it comes to psychological thrillers and usually end up giving up halfway through but I couldn't put this one down! The ending is a shock, the characters are written perfectly and now I want to read more by Sarah Alderson.

Her Defiant Heart

Monica Murphy

Current Kindle price: £2.99

"Life can feel like a cruel joke. I grew up poor and motherless, with a father who never got over his wife's abandonment. But now he's gone too, and I'm dead set on finding the woman who so carelessly tossed me aside when I was a baby.

I want revenge. And I'm going to get back at my mother any way that I can.

I change my name. Start my new life in college, and just happen to cross paths with the gorgeous, ultra-rich Rhett Montgomery. He's immediately interested in me, not that I'm surprised.

You see, I planned it that way. I meant for him to find me. He's the one connection to my mother, and I'm using him, so I can destroy her. But I didn't plan on Rhett being so charming. Sweet. Sexy.

And I definitely didn't plan on falling for him either..."

Meh. I didn't like this. I finished it but I won't be carrying on to read the rest of the books in this series. The whole book I was waiting for the main character to finally meet her mother and it didn't even happen. That was the part of the synopsis that intrigued me the most and the whole book was just about her relationship with Rhett. It was a disappointment for me, which is a shame as I love some of Monica Murphy's other work. The Friends series is one of my favourites.

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda

Becky Albertalli

Current Kindle price: £1.99

"Simon Spier is sixteen and trying to work out who he is- and what he's looking for.

But when one of his emails to the very distracting Blue falls into the wrong hands, things get all kinds of complicated.

Because, for Simon, falling for Blue is a big deal...

It's a holy freaking huge awesome deal."

This has been on my to read list since watching Love Simon. I liked this, it was interesting to see the difference between the book and the film but I did enjoy the film more, probably because I saw that first.

Starry Eyes

Jenn Bennett

Current Kindle price: 99p

"Ever since last year's homecoming dance, best-friends-turned-worst-enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn't hurt that their families are the modern-day version of the Montagues and Capulets. But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.

Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to try to make their way to safety. But as the two travel deeper into the rugged Californian countryside, secrets and hidden feelings surface. Soon it's not simply a matter of enduring each other's company, but taming their growing feelings for each other."

This was a cute YA read. I much preferred this over Alex, Approximately by the same author. Aside from the main characters, there was a few unlikable characters sprinkled in here, but they are necessary to have Zorie and Lennon stranded in the first place. A bargain of a read for 99p!

The One Who's Not The One

Keris Stainton

Current Kindle price: £1.99

"Cat's life has hit a brick wall. Since her ex ditched her without ceremony five years ago she's quit stand up comedy, landed in a steady but dull job, and lives in a tiny flat with roommates she knows only as The One Who Eats All My Food and The One Who Has Really Loud Sex.

So when she bumps into old friend Harvey and sparks fly, Cat is surprised- and horrified, because Harvey is her ex's brother, and so absolutely, 100% off limits romantically. Even if his dimples do make her insides fizz...

When she's offered a job abroad, Cat is tempted to accept- and leave her depressing flat and mess of a love life behind her. But will running away from her problems really solve them?"

Another cute read, this just didn't quite live up to my expectations. I like Keris Stainton as an author, everything is written perfectly, some of books just fall a bit flat for me. I know exactly why this is. Because Counting Stars was the first Keris Stainton book I read. And it's one of my favourite books EVER. So here's my recommendation: Read Counting stars!

Have you read any of these authors before? What were you reading in March?

Danni

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