Just a girl, living her life through books
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Recent posts
- The Midnight Train – ARC Review
- Elizabeth & Marilyn – ARC Review
- Eye Spy – ARC Review
- February 2026 Reading Wrap-Up:
- Of Blood and Fire – Book Review
Categories
- ARC & Advance Reads (28)
- Audiobook Reviews (1)
- Book Club (5)
- Book Reviews (41)
- Bookish Life (25)
- Community & Causes (10)
- Letters To Myself (4)
- New Releases & Spotlights (7)
- Reading Challenge (5)
- Recommendations & Wrap-Ups (8)
- WordPress Prompts (1)
ARC ARC Review blogging book-reviews Book Blog Book Blogger UK book blog UK BookCrossing Book Recommendations Book Review books Dead Girl Reads UK Fantasy Fantasy Books fiction Historical Fiction NetGalley reading Romance Romantasy
-
I enjoyed Emilia Hart’s Weyward, but it wasn’t perfect. The three-way timeline didn’t fully work for me, and the present-day sections felt a little rushed. The historical sections had strong atmosphere, but the story was fairly predictable. Still, it’s a slow-burn, witch-trial-adjacent read with feminist themes, and I’d be curious to explore more of Hart’s…
-
A dark and atmospheric story with an intriguing premise, but the slow pacing, confusing flashbacks, and unrelatable characters made it difficult for me to fully connect with the story.
-
A Shakespeare retelling, a low page count, and high hopes — none of which Vinegar Girl managed to live up to. Despite its short length, the story felt sluggish, the characters forgettable, and the overall experience disappointingly bland.
-
I went into The Salt Path with no expectations — a slightly random pick, a Goodreads Challenge tick, and most importantly, short enough to fit my reading mood at the time. While the writing is often lovely and the coastal walking vibes are strong, there were moments that felt too neat, too cinematic, too perfectly…
-
A gentle, comforting story about grief, love, and the quiet ways books can help us heal. Tilly receives a year of carefully chosen books from her late fiancé to guide her through the first year without him, and what follows is a quietly beautiful story about loss, courage, and rediscovering life.
-
The Summer War was my first introduction to Naomi Novik, and while I wanted to love it, it ultimately landed in the OK range. With a cluttered opening and several underdeveloped elements, this short fantasy novella struggled to fully win me over — though it did come together as the story progressed.
-
Drawing on real historical records, The First Witch of Boston tells the tragic story of Margaret Jones, the first woman executed for witchcraft in Boston. This thoughtful historical novel explores fear, conformity, and injustice through a deeply human lens.
-
Daughter of Smoke & Bone is a lyrical, emotionally rich fantasy with vivid characters, stunning world-building, and a story that balances beauty with darkness. As the second Paper + Word Book Club pick, it completely drew me in — slow to start, but impossible to put down once it found its footing.
-
A slow reading month, a chaotic life month — classic me. December’s finally here, the tree is up (thanks to my daughter and her 300-bauble attack), and I’m easing back into blogging with a dark festive retelling and some exciting plans for the Christmas break.
-
I, Medusa by Ayana Gray reimagines the classic Greek myth, giving Medusa a human, nuanced voice beyond the “monster” label. Gripping, emotional, and beautifully paced, this retelling will make you root for Meddy from page one.