Featured blog posts
I’ll see you at the bookshop!
Stacey Halls Books in Order
A bestselling British writer who grew up in Rossendale, Lancashire, Stacey Halls has four fantastic historical fiction novels to her name.
Her first book, The Familiars, published in 2019 and instantly became a Sunday Times Bestseller, spending 11 weeks on the list.
Here are all of her books in publication order.
Readly Review and Free Trial
Here’s my review of Readly - the app for magazine fans and travellers who like to read on the go.
As an avid reader and freelance writer, I’m a big fan of a glossy magazine. It’s always fun seeing my writing in print, and I’ve found that a good mag can be a great way to learn new things. I particularly like reading travel magazines for inspiration for my future travels!
While I do really love the feel of physical magazines, buying lots of them can get quite expensive. That’s why I like Readly, which provides a way to read lots of different titles for an affordable price.
The Best Daisy Jones and the Six Book Quotes
The hit novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Daisy Jones and the Six is a New York Times bestseller and the first book in TJR’s famous fictional women quartet.
First published in 2019, the book was adapted into a miniseries for Amazon Prime in 2023. Well received by critics and fans alike, the series was accompanied by an album which reached the top 40 of the UK’s Official Album Chart.
18 Iconic Quotes From Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Considered to be one of the literary greats, here are 18 quotes about love, life and heartbreak from Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë.
Her first and only novel, Wuthering Heights was published by Emily Brontë in 1847, shortly before her death in 1848. Emily passed away from tuberculosis at 30 years of age and was buried under the floor of St. Michael and All Angels Church in Haworth, West Yorkshire.
Joanie Clothing Review - Book Lover Collection
When it comes to literary themed clothing, Joanie is one of my go-to brands.
Whether you work as a bookseller, librarian, or just want to show off your love for books, you’ll find something you love in Joanie Clothing’s Book Lovers edit.
To celebrate World Book Day, Joanie have sent me some of their favourite pieces from the collection to try. With options ranging from floaty book print dresses to cosy cardigans, oversized jumpers and soft shirts, I was spoilt for choice, and had so much fun styling them.
13 Chilling Quotes from 1984 by George Orwell
Originally published in 1949, George Orwell was the pen name for Eric Blair. A British writer who wrote 9 books throughout his lifetime, Eric was born in India in 1903, before moving to Henley-on-Thames in England the following year.
Orwell was known for being opposed to all forms of totalitarianism, both on the left and the right of the political spectrum, and his work frequently reflected this.
Well Read Company Bag Review
Here’s my review of the Well Read Company’s stunning book themed bags, with an exclusive discount.
Regular readers will know that I’m a big fan of a book themed bag. I love any way of adding bookish whimsy to an outfit, and when I first saw the Well Read Company bags on Instagram, I knew I had to have one.
Specialising in book themed gifts, Well Read’s signature bags feature covers of well known literary classics. Imagine a large book with a beautiful cover that you can store things in, and on a strap so you can wear it too.
Books to Read About Bookshops
For bibliophiles, there’s no better feeling than reading about the places we love the most - bookshops.
Whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, these bookshop books allow characters to find themselves, build empires, spark magic and learn about their history. They span not just genres, but transcend languages, and are set in countries and cultures around the globe.
Here are some of the best books about bookshops - including some that I’ve read, and others from my TBR. Enjoy!
Yoshi Bookworm Bag Review
Here’s my review of Yoshi Goods and their range of book themed leather products.
Yoshi Goods are a small, family run business who specialise in creating quality leather products in a range of unique styles. I love how quirky their designs are and, being a book lover, I adore their extensive Bookworm collection.
I’ve been using Yoshi’s products for years and love how their distinctive designs add an element of bookish whimsy to my outfits.
20 Quotes From The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Published in 2017, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo forms one part of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s quartet featuring famous fictional women.
The story follows a 1950s movie star as she unravels the secrets of her past. It’s a fantastic read that was well received by critics and gained huge popularity on TikTok, selling more than 1.5 million copies worldwide.
The book is currently being adapted into a movie by Netflix, and is set to be directed by Maggie Betts (who replaces Leslye Headland).
19 of the Best Alice in Wonderland Book Quotes
Born in 1832, Lewis Carroll was the pen name of University of Oxford mathematician Charles Dodgeson. He began his writing career in 1865 with Alice in Wonderland, following up with sequel Through the Looking Glass in 1872.
Carroll was famously inspired to write Alice in Wonderland by family friend Alice Pleasance Liddell, who was a young girl at the time.
The book has been enormously popular since publication, having been translated into at least 174 languages.
Where to Stay in Hamburg, Germany - A Complete Guide
Here’s my guide to the best accommodation in Hamburg, featuring options for all budgets.
Located in the north of Germany, Hamburg is a large port city with more bridges than Venice, Amsterdam and London combined.
Here you’ll find the world’s largest miniature railway (which is much more impressive than it sounds), the oldest opera house in Germany, and plenty of restaurants, cafes and bars.
Take a cruise along the harbour, visit the historic warehouse district and learn about Hamburg’s history in one of the many museums - there’s even one all about chocolate.
Evie Woods Books in Order
An international bestselling author, Evie Woods published her first book, The Lost Bookshop, in 2023. It has since sold more than one million copies and been translated into 30 languages around the world.
Evie’s newest book, The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris, is set to publish in early 2025.
Inside Waterstones Piccadilly - Europe’s Largest Bookshop
With over eight miles of shelves, six floors, two cafes and a bar, Waterstones Piccadilly is officially Europe’s largest bookshop.
More than just a bookshop, Waterstones Piccadilly stocks more than 150,000 books, runs events with world famous authors and even hosts its own annual book festival.
I used to visit regularly while living in London in my early twenties - affectionately referring to it as ‘the mothership’ amongst my friends.
Is the Livraria Lello the Most Beautiful Bookstore in the World?
I explore Portugal’s historic bookshop, Livraria Lello, which is frequently named the world’s most beautiful bookstore.
Established in 1906, the Livraria Lello is a bookshop and publisher known for its stunning neo-gothic interiors.
The shop takes its name from founder Jose Pinto De Sousa Lello, who opened his first bookshop in 1881. The Livraria Lello came along 25 years later, opened in collaboration with Jose’s brother.
Where to Stay in Bucharest, Romania - A Complete Guide
I recently travelled to Bucharest as part of my 30th birthday celebrations and had an absolutely fantastic time.
The capital of Romania, Bucharest is a vibrant and bustling city of more than 1.75 million, with a further 2.3 million living within the surrounding metropolitan areas.
While I was initially drawn to the area by Bucharest’s viral spa and water park, I was lured into its old town by the beautiful architecture, modern vibe and abundance of restaurants and bars.
Inside Daunt Books, Marylebone, London
One of London’s most recognisable bookshops, Daunt Books has occupied its iconic premises in Marylebone since it was first opened by Richard Daunt in 1990.
The shop now forms part of one of the largest independent bookshop chains in the UK, with ten branches located across London and the south of England.
Travis Baldree Books in Order
As a professional audiobook narrator, Travis Baldree has voiced hundreds of books over the course of his career. In 2022 he self published his very first book, Legends & Lattes, which was picked up by publishing house Tor shortly after.
This low stakes cosy fantasy novel has been hugely popular with readers, and now forms part of a series.
Outside of writing, Travis also works as a game developer and currently lives in the Pacific Northwest.
Here are all of Travis Baldree’s books in publication order.
BookBeat Review - Better Than Audible and Scribd (Everand)?
Here’s my honest review of the book streaming service Book Beat - plus an exclusive discount code.
The online audiobook streaming service, BookBeat, was launched by Bonnier Books in 2015. The brand expanded their service into the UK in 2017, after initially seeing success in Finland and Sweden.
According to BookBeat’s CEO, the UK was Europe’s fastest growing audiobook market, which made it an obvious choice for their expansion.
B.K. Borison Books in Order
Beginning her writing career as a self published author, Borison followed in the well trodden footsteps of Colleen Hoover and Ana Huang. She was then picked up by a traditional publisher, Berkley, after the Lovelight series took off on social media.
When writing, Borison specialises in cosy contemporary romances with emotionally vulnerable characters and swoon worthy settings. She currently lives in Baltimore with her husband, toddler and giant dog.
Welcome to the Viking Skaga - one of Viking Cruises’ noble river ships. She takes her name from an ancient Norse myth, where the Valkyrie Skaga rode into battle and escorted the dead to Valhalla, before preparing them to fight in the epic battle of Ragnarok.
A relatively new ship, the Viking Skaga only entered the fleet in 2020. At just 410 feet and carrying 168 guests and 48 crew, she was built specifically to sail down the Seine in France, although the specific itinerary will vary depending on the time of year. I was fortunate enough to join the ship for her week long Christmas on the Seine cruise, which starts and ends in Paris, calling at Vernon, Caudebec-en-Caux, Rouen, Honflour (via an excursion) and Les Andelys along the way.