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Just a girl, living her life through books

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Remain
Remain
by Nicholas Sparks
tagged: arcs and currently-reading

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Professional Reader Camp NetGalley 2025

10 Book Reviews
Read and Release at BookCrossing.com...

  • The Book Reader – ARC Review

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    ⭐️ 2/5 stars
    📖 Length: 617 pages
    📱 Format: ePUB
    ⏳ Read Time: DNF’d at 63% (12 days)

    Synopsis

    What if this time, she’s powerful enough to stop them all. What if this time, they don’t destroy her?

    Arianna Jay is born into a life of magic, she’s a low level witch in a world where daemons and other supernatural beings walk the earth. She thinks she’s destined to a life as a nightclub owner while doing the occasional spell, until one fateful meeting with the man that has been haunting her dreams changes everything.

    Gaelan Illis has spent thousands of years reliving the pain and devastation of losing his soul mate. He’s cursed to find her and lose her over and over again, but this time when he finds her, she’s not the same.

    Could this be the life he’s always wished for? One where he gets to keep her forever?

    As dark secrets start to unfold and the purest of evil after them – can true love really conquer all?

    What I thought

    I don’t actually remember applying for this ARC, but when it landed in my inbox, I was intrigued. The premise sounded perfect for spooky season: witches, daemons, magical books, and a world where the supernatural walk openly alongside humans. Add in fated mates, a strong FMC, and those “Charmed vibes” the author promised, and I thought I’d found a new autumn favourite.

    Arianna Jay, a low-level witch destined for a quiet life, suddenly finds herself tangled with Gaelan Illis, a daemon cursed to relive the loss of his soulmate over and over again. This time, Arianna is different, stronger, and their connection could finally break the cycle… if the darkness hunting them doesn’t destroy them first. It’s a great setup, full of magic, romance, and danger.

    The release was originally set for September 30th, but on October 1st I received an email from the PR company pushing it back to October 20th due to “editing issues.” Honestly, I should have known then.

    Because while the concept was solid, the execution just wasn’t there for me. At over 600 pages, the book felt unnecessarily long, and by the halfway point I found myself skimming. The biggest problem, though, was the editing. Early on there were just a few errors per chapter, but by 50% the text was riddled with mistakes and wrong-word usage. It pulled me out of the story constantly, until eventually it became almost unreadable.

    As for the romance, this one is very spicy. In fact, I’d class it as more erotic than straight paranormal romance. That surprised me, because the cover calls it a “Daemon Romance,” which led me to expect more urban fantasy with romantic elements. Instead, the spice dominates. For readers who enjoy explicit scenes with themes like primal play, knotting, “touch her and die” energy, and a “special peen,” (this gave me the biggest ick!) this will probably be a highlight. But for me, it felt abrupt, repetitive, and occasionally unnecessary to the plot. I’m more of a slow-burn reader who likes tension to build naturally, so this aspect really didn’t work for me.

    This is actually my first ever DNF, and I don’t make that decision lightly. My inner perfectionist hates leaving a book unfinished, especially an ARC, but sometimes you just have to admit defeat. Life is too short to push through something that isn’t working.

    All in all, I’m gutted. The Book Reader had all the ingredients of a book I should have loved, but the poor editing and heavy-handed approach to spice meant I just couldn’t connect with it. Maybe it’ll hit differently for readers who enjoy more explicit fantasy romance and can overlook the errors, but for me, it was a miss.

    Thank you to the PR company and the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

    Until next time… ✨

    Dead Girl Reads

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  • Love Notes To Myself; Mistakes

    Dear Me,

    Right, let’s be honest, you’ve made mistakes. A few, a lot, and some you’d really rather forget. At work, you’ve sent emails that made you cringe halfway through typing (but still hit send 😅), missed deadlines that had you sweating, or nodded along in meetings pretending you knew exactly what was going on when really… nope, not a clue! Life has its own version of that too. The times you overthink, overcomplicate, or just get lost, wondering how on earth you ended up there. And love… well, love has a way of sneaking in mistakes that make your chest ache and your brain spin. You’ve trusted too quickly, said the wrong thing, maybe given a bit too much to people who weren’t ready to hold it.

    But here’s the thing, who hasn’t done that and more, right? Mistakes don’t make you broken. They don’t make you a bad human. They’re just part of being alive. That embarrassing email, that awkward conversation, that moment where you completely misread everything, they all prove one thing: you showed up. You tried. You cared. And that matters more than you give yourself credit for.

    Some mistakes are ridiculous, yes. Overcommitting, forgetting something obvious, saying something you instantly regret. Classic. But even then, even in the chaos and embarrassment, there’s something quietly beautiful about surviving it. You get back up. You carry on. You figure it out as you go. You learn a little. You laugh a lot and you grow a little. Even if it doesn’t feel like it at the time.

    Life doesn’t hand out scripts or guarantees. It’s messy, unpredictable, sometimes hilariously awkward, and often exhausting. And you? You’re allowed to be messy too. You’re allowed to stumble, to make a fool of yourself, to get things wrong, and to still keep going. That’s exactly what makes you human, and exactly what makes you strong.

    There will be moments when you feel like hiding under a blanket, avoiding emails, dodging phone calls, or pretending the world doesn’t exist. And that’s okay. Some days are for resting, for quietly recovering, for letting the mistakes of yesterday shrink into perspective. You’ve survived worse. You’ve weathered storms. You’ve carried on, quietly and steadily, even when it felt impossible.

    You’ve got resilience tucked in there somewhere, even on the days it feels hidden. You’ve got kindness, even when your brain insists you’re failing. You’ve got courage, even when love or life, or work makes you question it. You’ve got yourself — and that’s a start.

    So, when the world is loud, when your brain is critical, when the mistakes feel enormous, pause. Take a breath. Remember that even when you stumble, even when things go wrong, even when you doubt yourself, you are still here. You are still trying. You are still only human.

    And maybe, just maybe, for today at least, that is enough.

    With love always,

    Me 🖤

    Dead Girl Reads

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  • September 2025 Reading Wrap-Up: 9 Books & 3,308 Pages

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    September has slipped away like a ghost in the night, and suddenly the evenings are darker, the air is colder, and my TBR is starting to look like something straight out of a horror story. Luckily, before the pumpkins took over, I managed to have my best reading month ever — 9 books, 3,308 pages, with an average rating of 3.88 stars.

    Honestly, I feel like some kind of bookish witch who’s finally mastered her spells.

    Here are the StoryGraph stats to prove it 👇

    1. The God Of The Woods by Liz Moore – ★★★☆☆

    Dark, mysterious, moody… and yet, it left me a bit meh. I wanted to love it more, but instead I just wandered around the woods a little confused.
    🔗 Check out my full review of The God Of The Woods here

    2. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman – ★★★★★

    Oh. My. Heart. Eleanor is awkward, hilarious, heartbreaking, and somehow all of us. The audiobook narrator absolutely nailed it, and yes, I cried in the kitchen while chopping onions. Don’t judge me.
    🔗 Check out my full review of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine here

    3. Remain by Nicholas Sparks & M. Night Shyamalan – ★★★★★

    Did anyone have this collab on their 2025 bingo card? Because wow. It’s emotional, it’s eerie, and it had me staring into the void at 1am thinking about life. Five stars, easy.
    🔗 Check out my full ARC review of Remain here

    4. The Ghost Merchant by Ben Andrews – ★★★☆☆

    Cool premise, spooky vibes, but I kept wishing it had gone just a little bit deeper. Like ordering a fancy coffee and then realizing they forgot the syrup shot.
    🔗 Check out my full review of The Ghost Merchant here

    5. Atticus Arnott’s Great Adventure by Caroline James – ★★★★☆

    Utterly charming! Like a warm hug in book form, with a sprinkle of whimsy. Definitely one of those reads that makes you want a mug of tea and a blanket.
    🔗 Check out my full ARC review of Atticus Arnott’s Great Adventure here

    6. Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell – ★★★★★

    Excuse me while I go and sob in Shakespearean. Stunning writing, devastating story — basically, this book emotionally ruined me and I loved every minute.
    🔗 Check out my full review of Hamnet here

    7. Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang – ★★★☆☆

    This one is spicy, messy, and sharp. I loved the commentary, but the execution left me a bit torn. Think “hot take at a dinner party” energy.
    🔗 Check out my full review of Yellowface here

    8. The Cocoon Within by Liisa Sabah – ★★★☆☆

    Creative and thought-provoking, but the pacing threw me off a little. Still, I appreciated what it was trying to do.
    🔗 Check out my full ARC review of The Cocoon Within here

    9. The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros – ★★★★★

    Rebecca Yarros, you did not have to destroy me like this. This book wrecked me in the best way possible. Tears? Everywhere. Heart? Shattered. Would I read it again? Absolutely.
    🔗 Check out my full review of The Last Letter here

    ✨ Faves of the Month
    While I had some brilliant reads in September, two completely stole my heart:

    • Hamnet — lyrical, devastating, and one of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever picked up.
    • The Last Letter — Rebecca Yarros reached into my chest, tore my heart out, stomped on it… and somehow I’m still saying “thank you, please may I have another?”

    Both of these are staying with me for a long time.

    🎃 What’s Next?


    October is shaping up to be extra exciting — it’s our first ever Paper + Word book club pick! We’re reading The House Witch by Emilie Nikota, which promises cozy kitchen magic, court politics, and a fluffy black kitten familiar named Kraken (yes, I’m already obsessed).

    On top of that, another book club member suggested A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny. It’s written in 31 short chapters, so the idea is to read one per day all month — basically a spooky literary advent calendar, and I’m so here for it.

    And because no good TBR is ever simple, I’ve got a couple of ARCs that need finishing before the month is out. So between witches, familiars, daily gothic chapters, and my ever-watchful ARC pile, October is looking busy — in the very best way.

    Will I top my September record? Probably not… but who knows, spooky season might have a trick or two up its sleeve.

    👻 So, spooky season is officially upon us!
    Which books haunted your September, and what tales are you summoning from your TBR cauldron this October?
    Bonus points for black cats, witches, or a little literary mischief.

    Until next time… 🕯️📖🖤

    Dead Girl Reads

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  • The Last Letter – Book Review

    ⭐️ 5/5 stars
    📖 Length: 450 pages
    📱 Format: Paperback
    ⏳ Read Time: 5 days

    Synopsis

    One final letter. His last wish. Go and be with her…

    Beckett,

    If you’re reading this, well, you know the last-letter drill. You made it. I didn’t. Get off the guilt train, because I know if there was any chance you could have saved me, you would have.

    I need one thing from you: get out of the army and get to Telluride. My little sister Ella’s raising the twins alone. She’s too independent and won’t accept help easily, but she has lost our grandmother, our parents, and now me. It’s too much for anyone to endure. It’s not fair.

    So if I’m gone, that means I can’t be there for Ella. I can’t help them through this. But you can. So I’m begging you, as my best friend, go take care of my sister, my family. Please don’t make her go through it alone.

    Ryan

    What I thought

    Trigger Warning: This book contains themes of grief, loss, and heartbreak. Please read with care if you are sensitive to emotional content.

    I don’t even know where to start because The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros completely consumed me from the very first page. I ATE THIS UP, and by the time I reached the last 100 pages, I was sobbing uncontrollably. How dare Rebecca give me hope and then rip my heart into pieces? I’m still not sure I’ll recover. But wow, what an incredible journey.

    Yarros has an unparalleled gift for crafting stories that hit you straight in the feels. Her characters are so vivid, so real, and so achingly human that it feels like you’re living their lives alongside them. Every laugh, every heartbreak, every fleeting moment of joy. She makes you feel it all. By the end, you’re not just reading a story; you’re experiencing it.

    Plot and Themes (Spoiler-Free)

    Without giving too much away, The Last Letter is a story about love, loss, hope, and resilience. Yarros weaves together past and present, showing how choices, secrets, and connections shape the lives of her characters. The emotional tension builds slowly but powerfully, and just when you think you’ve braced yourself, she delivers moments that will leave you gasping, crying, and clutching your heart.

    Themes of grief, healing, and the power of human connection are explored in a way that feels honest and relatable. Whether it’s the way people cope with loss or how love can both save and break us, Yarros handles it with the perfect balance of realism and hope.

    Why You Need This Book

    If you’re thinking of picking up this book, I have one piece of advice: prepare yourself. Stock up on tissues, snacks, ice cream, and every comfort item you can find because this book will wreck you. The emotional depth of Yarros’ writing is breathtaking, and the story swings from hope to heartbreak in ways that will leave you reeling.

    What I loved most about The Last Letter is the way Yarros balances heart-wrenching emotion with moments of pure beauty and love. She doesn’t shy away from the hard parts—the grief, the longing, the difficult choices—but she also reminds you why these stories matter. They make you appreciate the fragility and strength of life, love, and human connection.

    Final Thoughts

    This is a book that stays with you long after you close the cover. You’ll find yourself thinking about it hours, days, even weeks later. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll be reaching for the tissues more than once while reading. It’s emotional, it’s raw, it’s honest. And it’s an absolute triumph.

    Bravo, Rebecca Yarros. Truly.

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    You can grab your copy of The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros from trusted retailers:

    Until next time…

    Dead Girl Reads

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  • 🎃 Spooky-Themed Giveaway Alert! 👻

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    Hello, fellow book lovers!

    Halloween is just around the corner, and what better way to get into the spooky spirit than by entering a fang-tastic giveaway? My friend over at So many books, so little time is hosting a Spooky-Themed Giveaway, and I wanted to share the details with you all.

    🎁 What’s up for grabs?

    • 🕸️ Beetlejuice-themed book protector: Perfect for keeping your paperback or Kindle safe with a touch of Halloween flair.
    • 🔥 Freddy Krueger candle: An unscented candle featuring the iconic horror character.
    • 🎀 Horror-themed hair scrunchie: Adorable scrunchie featuring prints of your favorite horror characters.

    📅 Closing date

    Gleam-powered giveaway: Open worldwide and running until 29th October. This is their first time using Gleam, so let’s show some support!

    📌 How to Enter
    Visit the official giveaway page here: Spooky-Themed Giveaway for all the details and to enter via Gleam.

    Best of luck, and may the spookiest win!

    Dead Girl Reads

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  • The 50p Charity Shop Book That Broke My Heart

    I popped into town on Saturday morning on the hunt for a new read. Top of my list was Alchemised—but the Waterstones special edition had already sold out. There weren’t even any standard editions left on the shelves, not even an empty space where they should have been..

    In the end, I ordered a copy from Amazon on Sunday. The corners are a little bashed from transit (something that would have been avoided if I’d grabbed one in-store), but at half the price it’s hard to complain; and once it’s on the shelf, the damage is unnoticeable. You know me though, I’ll no doubt still pick up the paperback edition when that’s finally released.

    Still, the trip into town wasn’t wasted. With no Alchemised to bring home, I decided to wander through the local charity shops instead, and if you’re a book lover like me, you’ll know exactly what I mean when I say that charity shop shelves often feel like treasure chests; you never quite know what hidden gems you’ll stumble upon.

    Among the rows of paperbacks and hardbacks, one title immediately caught my eye: The Lost Girl by D. H. Lawrence. First published in 1920, it tells the story of Alvina Houghton, a woman torn between duty and desire, between the constraints of her provincial English upbringing and her yearning for freedom and passion. It’s a novel about love, identity, choices, and the search for meaning in a world that doesn’t always make it easy for women to carve their own paths. Many consider it a semi-autobiographical reflection of Lawrence’s own turbulent life and complicated view of relationships.

    But it wasn’t the title, or even the author, that truly floored me.

    When I opened the book, I found an inscription written inside:

    I hope you are near to the exit of the maze! Love G x

    I froze, staring at the handwriting. It felt like the recipient had been going through something difficult, and G was offering them hope, that the hard part of their journey was nearly over, that they were close to finding their way through. It wasn’t just an inscription. It was a lifeline.

    I stood there in the shop, my chest tightening. The message was so deeply personal, so tender, that it almost felt wrong to be holding it. A stranger’s story, captured in ink, still echoing decades later.

    And then I did the unthinkable.

    I put the book back.

    Fast forward to today, Tuesday. And I can’t stop thinking about it. Less than the cost of a chocolate bar, and yet I walked away from a piece of someone’s story. But ultimately who was G? Who was the recipient of this book? Was it a gift to a lover, a partner, or even a close friend? Did they walk through the metaphorical maze together and find the “exit”? Or did fate intervene, leaving one or both of them lost, their story unfinished?

    That inscription has stayed with me all weekend, and in a strange way, it made me reflect on my own absence from blogging. Like the recipient of that book, I’ve felt caught in my own maze lately; life, work, the everyday distractions that pull me away from the things I love. Writing has always been an “exit” for me, a way of making sense of things. Yet I’d let it slip.

    Finding that book felt like a nudge. A reminder that stories, whether in novels or in life, are worth sharing. Even the ones with no neat ending.

    So maybe this post is my first step towards my own exit of the maze. And if I’ve learned anything from this experience, it’s this: never leave behind a book that speaks to you. Especially one with words scrawled inside. Because sometimes, those scribbled messages mean more than the story itself.

    As for The Lost Girl and the mysterious G, perhaps I wasn’t meant to carry their story forward. But their words found me all the same, and they’ve left me wondering about love, loss, hope, and the exits we’re all trying to find.

    ✨ Have you ever found an inscription in a book that stopped you in your tracks? Would you have bought The Lost Girl, or walked away like I did?

    Dead Girl Reads

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  • Love Notes To Myself; Solitude

    Dear Me,

    You need to remember this: being alone is not something to fear. It is not a reflection of your worth, and it is certainly not a punishment. Being alone is a gift, a chance to step fully into yourself, to explore the depths of your heart without the noise of the world, or the expectations of others. It is a quiet space where you can breathe, reflect, and remember who you truly are.

    It’s easy to believe that love must come from someone else, that your value depends on who chooses you or who notices you. But you have already been chosen, by you. You are the one who has carried yourself through every storm, the one who has picked up the pieces each time life tried to shatter you. No one else has done that. And that is what makes you extraordinary.

    So, love yourself louder. Celebrate your victories, even the small ones that others might overlook. Laugh at your own jokes. Take yourself out, write yourself letters, make plans that excite only you. Learn to enjoy your own company more than you already do, because it is not a lonely place, it is sacred. You do not need someone else to bring light into your life; you are capable of shining brilliantly by yourself.

    Remember, being alone is not emptiness, it is a foundation. It is the soil in which your confidence, your dreams, and your resilience grow strong. One day, love may come knocking, or it may not. And that is okay. Either way, you will be whole. You will be enough. You will have built a life where you are not waiting to be saved, because you have already saved yourself.

    Do not rush. Do not compare yourself to others. You are not behind. You are not missing out. Every step you take, every moment you spend in your own presence, is part of building a life that belongs to you and you alone. There is freedom in being alone, and there is joy in discovering that your own heart is the most loyal companion you will ever know.

    So stand tall. Speak kindly to yourself. Honour your journey. Trust in your strength, your wisdom, and your beauty. Love yourself with the fierceness and tenderness that only you can give.

    You are not incomplete. You are not waiting. You are already whole.

    With love always,

    Me 🖤

    Dead Girl Reads

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  • The Cocoon Within – ARC Review

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    ⭐️ 3/5 stars
    📖 Length: 326 pages
    📱 Format: ePUB
    ⏳ Read Time: 4 days

    Synopsis

    The Five-fold Chronicles: Book I
    Ever since finding the book in the attic, strange things have been happening to seventeen-year-old Ariana. She dare not tell her beloved grandfather, ‘Granpey’, for fear of making him worry. After all, he is more like a father to her, having raised her single handedly after her parents died in a car crash when she was just a few years old.
    The only person Ariana can tell is her best friend and confidant, Jack. Though surprisingly, romantic sparks are beginning to emerge in their friendship, but Ariana can’t be sure, as Jack has always had a schoolboy crush on the stunningly beautiful Jessica.
    As Ariana grapples with strange visions and appearances, one thing becomes apparent, she isn’t the only one who sees them. Finding the book has triggered events which lead Jack, Ariana, and her unlikely new-found friend, Jessica, through a portal into a new and magnificent world, where her arch enemy, the all-powerful Destroyer thwarts her every move. Ariana’s little rescue dog, Leo, is a Godsend and she can’t help but believe that his arrival is no coincidence. But what is in store for Ariana, Jack and Jessica as they launch into an adventure with a seemingly impossible goal? Will Ariana discover her true identity and prevent the forces of evil from changing the world forever or will the powerful Destroyer triumph over this brave but vulnerable young woman and her friends?

    What I thought

    Okay, so I don’t usually read a lot of YA and mostly find myself dipping in when something really catches my eye. And The Cocoon Within? That cover had me at “hello.” Seriously, it’s gorgeous and gives off all the mysterious-adventure vibes that made me immediately want to dive in.

    We’ll set the scene, Seventeen-year-old Ariana finds a mysterious book in her attic (cue instant Neverending Story vibes) and — wait for it — a talking lion shows up. Yep, I thought of Narnia immediately. Throw in her adorable rescue dog Leo, her bond with her ‘Granpey’ (honestly, made me think of my own childhood with mine), and her complicated friendships with Jack and Jessica, and you’ve got a recipe for adventure, tension, and even a little romance.

    Now, full disclosure: I felt like I’d been catapulted straight into the deep end. So many characters, so many events, so much happening all at once… it was a LOT.
    And the e-ARC I had? A few layout hiccups here and there made it trickier to stay in the groove.

    That said, if you like fast-paced stories that throw you in and don’t let go, this could be your jam. There’s a lot to love here; imagination, quirky companions, high stakes, and even a dash of humour tucked in. I just wish there’d been a smidge more breathing room to let me fully settle into Ariana’s world before she’s off facing the big bad Destroyer.

    All in all? Definitely worth a peek if you like layered YA adventures with a mix of mystery, romance, and action. And I’m already curious to see where Sabah takes us in the next book.

    You can grab your copy on Amazon UK, Amazon US, or add it to your Goodreads shelf.

    Thank you to Love Books Tours, the publisher and the author for having me on this tour and providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

    Until next time… ✨

    Dead Girl Reads

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  • Atticus Arnott’s Great Adventure – ARC Review

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    📅 Release date: 9th September 2025
    ⭐️ 4/5 stars
    📖 Length: 356 pages
    📱 Format: ePUB
    ⏳ Read Time: 4 days

    Synopsis

    Escape to sunny Spain with the #1 bestselling author of The Cruise in this heartwarming rom com full of romance, self-discovery and the magic of saying yes to adventure.

    The best chapters of life are still waiting to be written…

    When seventy-year-old Atticus Arnott trades the rainy hills of Cumbria for the golden coast of Spain in his beloved vintage campervan, his quiet village is left reeling from the shock. With only his faithful collie, Ness, for company, Atticus sets off in search of sunshine, serenity, and perhaps a glass or two of sangria. But his solo adventure quickly turns into something far more unexpected…

    Back in Ireland, Atticus’s daughter Mary is facing a crisis of her own. As her picture-perfect life starts to crumble, she must find the courage to put herself first for once and rediscover the dreams she set aside long ago.

    As father and daughter navigate new paths, they learn that starting over isn’t about running from the past—but embracing the unknown with open arms…

    Full of laughter, love and second chances, Atticus Arnott’s Great Adventure is a feel-good escape that proves it’s never too late for a new beginning—no matter where life might take you.

    What I thought

    I wasn’t expecting to fall for Atticus Arnott’s Great Adventure by Caroline James, but from the moment I started, I was completely hooked! This isn’t usually the kind of book I pick up (I often lean towards darker or twistier stories) but I couldn’t put it down, and by the end, it felt like I’d been on the adventure with him every step of the way. Having always dreamed about van life, reading about Atticus’s journey only made that need to get out there grow stronger, and I found myself daydreaming about packing up and hitting the open road.

    What really made this book stand out for me was the relationships between the characters. Atticus is seventy, grieving his late wife, and initially a little lost, but he’s stubborn, funny, and utterly endearing. Finding the old camper van tucked away in one of the farm’s outbuildings gives him a purpose, and bringing his grandson on board to help with the restoration adds a lovely multi-generational dynamic. Their interactions are full of warmth, humour, and real-life charm, from the mishaps during the van restoration (a nod to the gnomes!) to the small victories that make you root for them both. It’s a joy to watch Atticus rediscover happiness and learn that life can still be full of adventure, even after loss.

    Mary’s storyline is equally compelling. I loved her fight and persistence, and she definitely reminded me of myself when it comes to matters of the heart. Watching her take control of her own life, step back from putting everyone else first, and rediscover her dreams was both touching and inspiring. Sometimes you just have to put yourself first, right? The parallel journeys of father and daughter make the story resonate on multiple levels, showing that reinvention, healing, and self-discovery can happen at any stage of life.

    One of the highlights of the book for me was the world-building. Caroline James paints such a vivid picture that I could easily imagine every page. From the rainy, almost cosy hills of Cumbria to the sunny Spanish coast, the lively campsite, and even the little red Fiat 500 that sneaks into the story, the settings are so immersive that the story feels real and alive. It adds a wonderful escapist quality that had me completely absorbed.

    The humour and warmth throughout the book are another reason I loved it. Caroline James has a knack for balancing light-hearted, laugh-out-loud moments with tender, reflective scenes. There were plenty of moments that made me chuckle, smile, and even tear up a little, all while keeping the tone uplifting. The interplay between characters, the gentle romantic tension, and the everyday mishaps create a story that’s both entertaining and emotionally satisfying.

    Overall, I’d give Atticus Arnott’s Great Adventure an easy 4 out of 5 stars. It’s not only a heartwarming, funny, and uplifting read but also a reminder that life is full of second chances, and adventure can appear in the most unexpected forms. Whether you’re drawn to the humour, the family relationships, the escapism of van life, or the emotional journeys of Atticus and Mary, there’s something here for everyone. This book left me smiling, feeling inspired, and wishing I could hop into my own camper van and follow the sunshine.

    If there’s ever a sequel, I would buy it in a heartbeat!

    You can grab your copy on Amazon UK, Amazon US, or add it to your Goodreads shelf.

    Thank you to Love Books Tours, the publisher and the author for having me on this tour and providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

    Dead Girl Reads

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  • Love Notes To Myself; You Survived Monday

    Dear Me,

    You made it through today and I know just how much effort that took. Mondays are heavy enough, but being thrown straight into the noise and chaos after a quiet weekend is like a shock to the system. Your social battery drained before you even had a chance to catch your breath, and still… you showed up, you kept going, you did your best.

    I see the exhaustion in you, both in your mind and in your body, and I want you to know that it’s okay. It’s okay to find days like this hard. It doesn’t make you weak, it makes you human. You don’t have to be endlessly “on” for others—you’re allowed to feel tired, you’re allowed to step back, and you’re allowed to rest now.

    So, tonight, let the world dim a little. Wrap yourself in quiet, in softness, in whatever comforts you most. You’ve given so much of yourself today; now it’s time to give something back to you.

    With love always,

    Me

    PS: You don’t need to be everything for everyone.
    You only need to be enough for yourself, and you are 🖤

    Dead Girl Reads

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