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GOOD GIRL, BAD BLOOD BY HOLLY JACKSON // spoiler-free book review: what YA mystery thriller twisty goodness is this??? this series has me by the throat
Say hi to my fashionably late review of a book I read and LOVED last year aka Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson , the sequel to A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder which quickly became a new favourite series of mine. Click below for my review of book one, if you dare *wink wink* This book was absolutely excellent so I shall go forth and rave about it, however this is a sequel so MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD. I don’t talk specific events or anything, so do with this information what you will. Let’s get into it! Title: Good Girl, Bad BloodSeries: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder book #2Author: Holly JacksonPage count: 417Date published: 30 April 2020Genre: Young Adult mystery 🔎 Synopsis: Pip is not a detective anymore. With the help of Ravi Singh, she released a true-crime podcast about the murder case they solved together last year. The podcast has gone viral, yet Pip insists her investigating days are behind her. But she will have to break that promise when someone she knows goes missing. Jamie Reynolds has disappeared, on the very same night the town hosted a memorial for the sixth-year anniversary of the deaths of…
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FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL & MAY RECAP // i’m back! ft. uni was a lot, many essays, new fave books, mental health updates & ST4
God, I’m awful, but we’re used to this by now, right? Uni kept me busy hence this recap with far too many months in the title but better late than never. Semester literally started in February so you’ve missed it all, and there’s much to catch up on. I’m excited to be back, and you know the drill, let’s stop rambling and get into it! — Required Reading for The Disenfranchised Freshman by Kristen R. Lee {★★★½☆}: I read this for a blog tour and have already posted a whole review, so I won’t talk too much about it. This is a NA contemporary that deals with racism and microaggressions on modern college campuses, which I’ve never seen talked about in fiction, so I loved that. Overall, I loved the message and thought this was a solid debut, though it wasn’t as hard-hitting for me as I anticipated it. Big thanks to Crown Readers at Random House for the eARC and Turn The Pages Tours for having me on the tour. Complete review here! – It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey {★★★★☆}: Who else would have thought I’d be here telling you about how much I enjoyed this book?…
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THE FLATSHARE BY BETH O’LEARY // spoiler-free book review: splendid british adult romance debut that you NEED in your life
Hi hi hello, yes this is strange but alas, welcome to Ruby’s updated review of this book because the I,,, *cough* it was awful *cough* need to do this book better justice! Yeah so I read this book back in 2020 and just absolutely ADORED it (made it to my top 2020 list) but for some reason was incapable of writing a review? I don’t even know the reason to this so don’t ask. Anyways, I was gifted this cute new copy so here we are with an actual review, because I love this book with my whole heart and you all need to read it <3<3<3 Let’s just get into it!!! Title: The FlatshareAuthor: Beth O’LearyPage count: 329Date published: 10 April 2019Genre: Adult contemporary romance 📖 Synopsis: Tiffy and Leon share a flatTiffy and Leon share a bedTiffy and Leon have never met… Tiffy Moore needs a cheap flat, and fast. Leon Twomey works nights and needs cash. Their friends think they’re crazy, but it’s the perfect solution: Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy’s at work in the day, and she has the run of the place the rest of the time. But with obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients…
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MALIBU RISING BY TAYLOR JENKINS REID // spoiler-free book review: finally reviewing a fave read of 2021 ft. the perfect beach vibes, surfing siblings & fantastic family relationships
It’s only taken me a million years to get to this review but ‘better late than never’ is just my blogging motto at this point. Oh well, I guess get used to it *sighs* Anyways, very excited to chat about this book today, especially in light of our surpise new TJR 2022 release CARRIE SOTO IS BACK coming later this year which I’m ~of course~ ecstactic about. I shall stop rambling now and let us just commence with this ~rave~ review! Title: Malibu RisingAuthor: Taylor Jenkins ReidPage count: 384Date published: 1 June 2021Genre: Adult historical fiction 🌊 Synopsis: A lifetime holding it together.One party will bring it crashing down. Malibu: August, 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together, the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over-especially as the offspring of the legendary singer, Mick Riva. By midnight the party will be completely out of control.By morning, the Riva mansion will have…
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HAPPY NEW YEAR AKA MY DECEMBER 2021 & JANUARY 2022 RECAP // a slightly late recap but I watched a ton of movies and read only a bit oops
Um yeah so big oops. In my head, it’s definitely not nearly the end of February when I finally post this. You can pretend with me. Combining into two months because I’m terrible and I also only read one book in January welp. You came for chaos right? I have warned you in the past,,, Let’s not waste time and just get into it! — Wait For It by Mariana Zapata {★★★★☆}: Extremely chuffed at the progress I’m making in my quest to read all of Mariana Zapata’s work. Apparently this one was my longest read of last year, which I did not notice so props to MZ for making me think her romances are short. HAVE I MENTIONED HOW MUCH I LOVE HER??? The way MZ writes romance is unlike any other and I’m constantly comparing other romances to her’s. I just,,, I’m forever sad about it. Though nothing has been able to top Lukov for me, this story was so endearing and heartwarming and I loved every page. Trigger warnings for loss of a parent/sibling. I absolutely loved how this book focused on parenting and raising kids, not in the traditional way. I loved Diana when we met…
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REQUIRED READING FOR THE DISENFRANCHISED FRESHMAN BY KRISTEN R. LEE // blog tour book review: a stellar debut tackling racism on elite college campuses ft. a giveaway
Hi hello friends! And welcome to the last stop on the Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman blog tour. Very honoured to end off this tour! I’m also particularly excited about this one as I’m a college student, so this appealed by just the title. Anyways, I’ll stop blabbering and let’s get into the review <3<3 Big thanks to Turn The Pages Tours for having me, I’m so happy to be here! Title: Required Reading for the Disenfranchised FreshmanAuthor: Kristen R. LeePage count: 336Publisher: Crown Books for Young ReadersDate published: 1 February 2022Genre: New adult contemporary fiction ✎ Synopsis: A striking debut novel about racism on elite college campuses. Fans of Dear White People will embrace this activist-centered contemporary novel about a college freshman grappling with the challenges of attending an elite university with a disturbing racist history–that may not be as distant as it seems. Savannah Howard sacrificed her high school social life to make sure she got into a top college. Her sites were set on an HBCU, but when she is accepted to the ivy-covered walls of Wooddale University on a full ride, how can she say no? Wooddale is far from the perfectly manicured community it…
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2021 READING AND BLOGGING RECAP // last year in review ft. 2022 tbr, reading challenges, pie charts & new years goals
Hi hello to my first post of the year! I didn’t realise it was the first until now and in general, it’s very late. I tried to get this recap post up a lot earlier, but I’m going to cut myself some slack because last year I highlighted how I once posted this in April so… I think I deserve a pat on the back, eh? Anyways, I’m here semi on time and perhaps less enthusiastic than usual. But I’m a stats freak now and at least I’m getting out some content, right? I hope you’re okay with Ruby being slightly off-beat today. 2021 absolutely sucked and I hated it and am glad its over, but hey, the reading was good! Mostly keeping this post the same as last time, though adding a couple of sections to it. I didn’t do a mid-year check-in because,,, life. Since I didn’t get the chance to build any anticipation, here’s your chance to take your guesses on whether or not there will be a high amount of ebooks and romance in this post *hides* But anyways, let’s dive right in! READING STATS AND OVERVIEW You know, I’m actually really chuffed with reading overall…
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MY FAVOURITE BOOKS OF 2021 // a whopping bizarre top 8 ft. some honourable mentions
Life is currently a mess and I really wanted to get a lot more end of year posts out this month, but alas, 2021 will just have to close on the messy path it was already on. I have no idea what I’m writing but we’re rolling with it *nervous laughter* Apologies as I did have a fun idea for a Christmas recommendations list, but I just had no motivation to get it done. You’ll have to wait until next year folks. As usual, lowkey doing this post is stressful because I leave it till the very last day of the year JUST IN CASE a new favourite needs to squeeze on here. There hasn’t been one but it’s okay, at least I’m wrapping up all the books. Related posts: Top Books of 2020 2021 Mid Year Freak Out Tag Today I have 15 books in total to talk about, 7 are honourable mentions and 8 are the top favourites. I’m chuffed with this selection, though I’ll try and keep this post short and sweet so we can zoom through them. Very excited to talk about them, so let’s get into it! HONOURABLE MENTIONS: in no particular order (maybe least…
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MOST ANTICIPATED 2022 BOOK RELEASES // willing to sell my soul for at least 10 of these, not exaggerating aka elevating your tbr by approx 40 more books
In the innocent words of 2020 Ruby aka “manifesting that 2021 will be a better year”, I shall not be making the same mistake,,, Okay that was a tad dramatic and I’m sorry I had to take you down that dark, forsaken path, but let’s be honest: 2021 has S-U-C-K-E-D. But at least there are some good books coming out? Not as many as I thought but definitely some I’d be willing to give my future firstborn to. Let’s get into it! Also I say this every year but a sneaky few always manage to get on the list. Anyways, I have tried to keep this list fairly short and only add books I’m genuinely interested in. I’ve also cut down on the amount of sequels and books by debut authors that have a sophomore book coming out purely because I have far too many other books to get to. I’ve found there’s absolutely no fun in adding books to your anticipated releases list only to find a year later you still haven’t read them and I hate it so shall be attempting to stop that habit. Enough with the rambling, let’s jump into ’em <3<3<3 JANUARY — When You…
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YOU’LL BE THE DEATH OF ME BY KAREN M. MCMANUS // blog tour book review: I devoured this YA mystery ft. fun premise and loveable characters
Hi hello lovely friends! And welcome to my (one day late IM SO SORRY) You’ll Be The Death of Me tour stop which I’m just so so so excited to be part of. This year has been crazy lately but this book was exactly what I needed and I devoured it. Big thanks to The Write Reads for having me on this tour, I’m so happy to be here! Title: You’ll Be The Death of MeAuthor: Karen M. McManusPage count: 326Date published: 2 December 2021Genre: Young Adult mystery thriller ♢ Synopsis: From the author of One of Us Is Lying comes a brand new addictive thriller. Ivy, Mateo and Cal used to be close – best friends back in middle school. Now all they have in common is a bad day. So for old time’s sake they skip school together – one last time. But when the trio spot Brian ‘Boney’ Mahoney ditching class too, they follow him – right into a murder scene. They all have a connection to the victim. And they’re ALL hiding something. When their day of freedom turns deadly, it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out . . . It’s Ferris Bueller’s Day Off with…
