MY RECENT READS + REVIEWS

Over the past couple of months, I’ve been busy reading a few books but unfortunately haven’t had time to review them due to life. So, I figured I’d make a post with a few mini reviews of some of my recent reads!

 

It Starts Like This: a collection of poetry by Shelby Leigh

Shelby Leigh uses poetry to tell the story of a girl learning to overcome and appreciate all aspects of life.  Short, sweet and beautiful poems that take you on a journey through love, loss and healing. I loved a few chapters in this, in particular the ones about love, and the poems that were longer than most. Some poems were more polished than others, but all round It Starts Like This was a simple yet beautiful book of poetry.

 

Adrift by Sarah Darlington

I did a blog tour for Adrift back in May and I loved the story of Ben and Juniper. I am hoping to read the other books in the series, however this book can be read as a standalone. I will be writing a series review once I go back and read the previous 3 books in the Kill Devil Hills series.

Impulse by Ellen Hopkins

***WARNING: Mentions of self-harm and depression that may trigger readers***

Wow! Impulse was honestly one of the most confronting books I’ve ever read! Three lives, three different paths to the same destination: Aspen Springs, a psychiatric hospital for those who have attempted suicide. Ellen writes this book in verse, which was the initial reason I picked it up and her writing is excellent. In Impulse, Ellen shows how some people will make it and others won’t, some people aren’t strong enough, some people don’t want to fight anymore. Therefore, they all act on their impulse.

The Switch by Joseph Finder

The Switch is a new release from Dutton Books that tells of Michael Tanner, CEO of Tanner Roast and the incident that changed his life. When Tanner exits LAX, he accidentally picks up the wrong laptop belonging to US Senator Susan Robbins, a laptop containing top secret files that should never have been there in the first place.

Joseph Finder’s book was a little difficult to get into but once I was hooked, I couldn’t stop reading and needing to know more about Michael Tanner’s situation. Finder writes his book in such a realistic way that it’s scary as the whole plot is about government and corruption.

I highly suggest checking out each of these authors and the books I’ve mentioned above! I’ll be posting more regularly now my assignments and life is under control.

Think Lovely Thoughts xo

ONE HUNDRED BREATHS LATER BY HAYLEY STUMBO

Rating: 5 stars

Goodreads Book Description:

I’ve got such an envious heart;

it sloshes and aches

when you touch her face,

and I don’t know what to do with it,

other than to just

let

it

break.

Taken straight from the journals these poetic memoirs came from, One Hundred Breaths Later is a collection of love, loss, guilt, strength, and what it feels like to be vulnerable in a world that is resilient.

My Review:

First of all, thank you to the beautiful Hayley for sending me an ARC and final copy of her masterpiece!

She does it again! I am constantly amazed by the brilliant work Hayley creates and this one in particular struck a heartstring to which I ended up in tears after finishing it.

At the end of One Hundred Breaths Later, Hayley mentions that she wrote these poems starting circa 2004 when she would jot down thoughts into a little black notebook. Now 13 years later, here she is publishing pieces of her life and I have to tip my hat off to Hayley for being so brave and courageous to do so.

Poetry can be a truly personal and somewhat daunting thing to put out into the world; it’s even more wonderful when readers can relate to the written work,

It’s hard to review a poetry book but what I can say is that I loved the style of One Hundred Breaths Later, it’s a treasure containing a lot of relatable poems that should be savoured.

Some of my personal favourite poems from One Hundred Breaths Later are:

·      HOMECOMING

·      ONE HUNDRED BREATHS LATER

·      ALMOST

·      LANE AND HIGH

·      LEFT AND LESS

Buy One Hundred Breaths Later today on Amazon

Think Lovely Thoughts xo