Category: 2023 Books

Book Review | Live Like a Goddess by Jean Menzies – the book I didn’t know I needed.

Posted January 7, 2024 by Emma in 2023 Books, 2024 Books, 5 Stars, Book Review, Bookish Post, UKYA, YA / 1 Comment

Hello my lovely readers. Today is the first book review of 2024 and this book was my last read of 2023. I’m excited to share this book that completely empowered and inspired me for the new year ahead.

Book Review | Live Like a Goddess by Jean Menzies – the book I didn’t know I needed.Live Like A Goddess: Legendary Life Lessons for the New Year by Jean Menzies
Published by Wren & Rook on September 28, 2023
Genres: Non-Fiction, UKYA, Young Adult Fiction
Amazon | Waterstones
Goodreads

A gift for the young goddess in your life - with life lessons for living confidently, courageously and fearlessly.
Cultures around the world celebrate tales and myths of daring and brave goddesses. These legendary ladies were tenacious, smart and strong. Meet...
· Osun, the Yoruba goddess of love who refuses to be dismissed because of her gender and stands up to those who believe women are less important than men
· Rhiannon, the Welsh queen of fairies who won't let anyone make decisions for her and instead follows her heart
· Freyja, the Norse goddess of love and death who doesn't give into pressure, sets boundaries and is comfortable with being a single independent woman
From demanding respect and recognising unhealthy relationships, to standing your ground, helping others and using words instead of violence, these rich and sometimes forgotten female stories of the ancient past teach girls and young women everything they need to know, so they can be just as fierce and fearless in the future.

What a wonderful, inspiring and empowering book. You know when you pick something up and you read it at the right time. Well that’s what happened with book. This was such a surprise of a book and I hadn’t really realised that it was Non-Fiction as well. YA doesn’t have many in this genre and I simply adored it.

Live Like a Goddess: Legendary Life Lessons this New Year is truly beautiful inside and out. The illustrations by Taylor Dolan of the book really make it unique and stand out. Jean Menzies has written a book to celebrate the stories of mythical women, goddesses, facing different challenges big or small across religions, cultures to learn how we can navigate our own life, help overcome obstacles and decisions that seem like the universe is against when sometimes we just need another way of thinking.

I tabbed quite a few goddesses throughout history and legend that really resonated with me:

  • Hina – a deity across Polynesian cultures – your entitlement to dream and shoot for the stars
  • Rhiannon – noblewoman in the Otherworld in Welsh mythology – create your own choices
  • Ame-No-Uzume – Shinto goddess of the dawn – to learn to enjoy yourself
  • Artemis – greek goddess of the hunt – taking your own path

I loved the modern interpretation that Jean added to these legendary women across mythology and cultures and how we can learn from there stories! She really puts life in perspective and the needed encouragement that you can do this, you can dream and be who you want to be.

This is the perfect YA Coffee Table Read, pick it up at any time and be uplifted and inspired to tackle the next step in your life. I know it’s something I will pick up often to remind me of that. 

Thank you to Team Bkmrk/Wren & Rook for sending me a copy in exchange for a review.

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My Top Ten Books of 2023

Posted December 30, 2023 by Emma in 2023 Books, Book List, Bookish Post, Favourite Author, UKYA, YA / 4 Comments
My Top Ten Books of 2023

Hello my lovely readers. As 2023 is drawing to a close it’s time for me to recap my year of reading and select my top ten books of 2023. For some reason this was the easiest year to select my top 10. I have found some incredible new writers this year, some very underrated YA books that need loads more love, absolutely unforgettable and a book that I will always recommend. I’ve been extremely lucky to have met these authors at YALC this year sharing my admiration and love for these incredible books. I’m excited by what 2023 has brought […]

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Cosy Sunday Reading Update – Heartstopper Volume 4 and 5

Posted December 10, 2023 by Emma in 2023 Books, Bookish Post, Heartstopper, LGBTQ+, UKYA, YA / 2 Comments
Cosy Sunday Reading Update – Heartstopper Volume 4 and 5

Hello my lovely readers, I took a bit of lengthy unintentional break from the blog. Like with everything, work got super busy. But I’m hoping as I my term comes to an end in a week and half I’ll be coming back. But today, I had a very chilled and cosy Sunday, reading and I want to record it, here on my blog. I wanted to document my feeling for Heartstopper whilst reading it. Blanket + Christmas Tree lights + Christmas fireplace ASMR + BOOKS = A Cosy Sunday Reading I’ve been unwell the last few days and today I […]

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Under the Cover #6 with Victoria Wlosok author of How to Find a Missing Girl

Posted September 22, 2023 by Emma in 2023 Books, Bookish Post, Interview, Under the Cover, YA / 1 Comment
Under the Cover #6 with Victoria Wlosok author of How to Find a Missing Girl

Happy Thursday my bookish friends. Today I am welcoming, Victoria Wlosok author of How to Find a Missing which I reviewed earlier this week AND it’s officially out in the UK today! Under the Cover is where I interview some of favourite authors and authors I’ve recently read and discovered. I’m trying to refresh my blog and I love interviewing authors and getting an insight into their storytelling, hence Under the Cover was born. Happy Publication Day yesterday Victoria! So as a way to celebrate I have an amazing interview with Victoria talking behind the scenes of her debut saphhic YA novel that […]

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ARC Book Review | How to Find a Missing Girl by Victoria Wlosok

Posted September 19, 2023 by Emma in 2023 Books, Book Review, Bookish Post, LGBTQ+, Mystery, YA / 2 Comments
ARC Book Review | How to Find a Missing Girl by Victoria Wlosok

Good evening, my wonderful readers. As I’m writing this, I’m wrapped up in a blanket, I can certainly feel that Autumn is coming. Today’s is an ARC review, I feel I haven’t read a book before publication for ages and it feels so good. I’m really excited for you to read this book and this is great for your Autumn TBRs too. I’lll also be interviewing the author on publication day about this book so welcome to How to Find a Missing Girl themed week! On to the review shall we… How to Find a Missing Girl saved my reading! […]

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Book Review | Overemotional by David Fenne – A laugh-out-loud heartfelt queer YA

Posted September 7, 2023 by Emma in 2023 Books, Book Review, Bookish Post, UKYA, YA / 0 Comments
Book Review | Overemotional by David Fenne – A laugh-out-loud heartfelt queer YA

Hello my lovely readers, it’s a hot one in the UK at the moment, wish this weather was around when I had my summer holidays and not when I’m back at work, starting a new academic year. That the British weather for you. Ha. Today I’m bring you a review of my last read of August and that of my summer holidays and what a cracker it was. It was such a good book so let me tell you a bit more. I knew I needed this book when I went to CampYA at the beginning of the summer and […]

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Book Review | How to Die Famous by Benjamin Dean – a queer Karen McManus Mystery

Posted August 18, 2023 by Emma in 2023 Books, Book Review, Bookish Post, LGBTQ+, UKYA / 1 Comment
Book Review | How to Die Famous by Benjamin Dean – a queer Karen McManus Mystery

Hello my friends, welcome to my first book review of the Summer Holidays. I have broken up for the 6 weeks and I am catching up on some amazing books I’ve read. Today I’m reviewing the new Benjamin Dean book, I also met him at CampYA this weekend which was amazing. So before I say any more I think I should save it for my review, so here is a little more about the book. The return teen TV sitcom Sunset High with a murderous curse. Abel has always wanted to be a star and to get onto the revamp […]

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Happy National Book Lovers Day with my ultimate favourite books!

Happy National Book Lovers Day with my ultimate favourite books!

Happy Book Lovers Day my fellow readers! August 9th is National Book Lovers Day celebrating our favourite books and what it means to be a reader, to be a book lover. On my bookstagram I post about my favourite books all the time but not here. They do tend to change every so often especially this year where I’ve added at least 3 new favourites. But how does it become a favourite book? I have my own criteria when it comes to favourite books that I thought I would share. Yes it may be 5 stars and the storytelling is […]

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Blog Tour: Review – The Stranded by Sarah Daniels

Posted August 7, 2023 by Emma in 2023 Books, Blog Tour, Book Review, Bookish Post, UKYA, YA / 2 Comments
Blog Tour: Review – The Stranded by Sarah Daniels

Hello my lovely bookworms, I am currently on holiday and relaxing with my book and the sea. This is the perfect time for me to catch up on my reviews starting with this one. I am really excited to be part of the Ultimate Blog Tour with The Write Reads for The Stranded and The Exiled by Sarah Daniels. My post is a little late due to end of the academic year, (sorry Dave) however, I read this book in 2 days last week and I loved every second of it. I have bought The Exiled with me on holiday […]

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