Category: Bookish Post

Book Review | This Song is About Us by Sara Barnard

Posted April 16, 2025 by Emma in 2025 Books, Blog Tour, Book Review, Bookish Post / 0 Comments

Book Review | This Song is About Us by Sara Barnard

Hello my lovely readers, it’s been a while since on the blog but I’m currently on holiday and I have just finished my first book and I loved it so much it’s inspired me to pick up the keyboard and start my blog once again.

I’m really excited to be on the blog tour for This Song is About Us by Sara Barnard. I originally posted a shorted version of this review on my instagram but I wanted to write a little bit more here. So without further ado here is my review *stretches fingers, poised on the keyboard*…

Book Review | This Song is About Us by Sara BarnardThis Song is About Us by Sara Barnard
Published by Walker Books on April 3, 2025
Amazon | Waterstones
Goodreads

Told over three summer festivals, this stunning novel from a bestselling author charts the emotional turmoil of young love and early fame.
The Kerbs are a four-piece pop rock band on the verge of breaking big the moment that frontman, Drew, turns 18. But Drew and his long-term girlfriend Ruby have a decision to make: go public right from the start or keep their relationship private, away from the intrusive lens of the tabloids and the scrutiny of the Kerbs’ fanbase. The choice seems easy. Ruby wants her life to remain her own – she's seen how fame can devour the lives of those who stand in the periphery.
But staying secret comes with a price. As Drew's star rises and rumours begin to stir, Ruby starts to wonder if love is strong enough to keep them together when Drew's fame seems destined to drive them apart.

I read this book is my version of one sitting which basically means, I unfortunately had to go to sleep to then resume it when I woke up. I couldn’t put this book down, it was a book that I needed, something lighthearted, romantic but also some many realistic layers to the book as well which I really enjoyed. I have been a reader of Sara’s books since I received my very first ARC as a blogger of Beautiful Broken Things all those years ago and every time a new novel comes out I devour it. She is an auto-buy/favourite author when it comes to UKYA and YA romance/contemporary novels.

This Song is About Us follows star-studded, hot band lead of The Kerbs from Stevenage, Drew Schafer is first love, his first girlfriend Ruby. They have been together forever and when the band goes mega, Ruby and Drew have to make the decision whether to go public or be a secret. In order to protect what they have and love, they both decide to keep it a secret, signing NDAs and Drew becoming publicly single. It’s a strain on their relationship and Drew is falling under the drink, drug and rock n’ roll lifestyle being ‘The Drew Schafer’ not the ‘real Drew’, ‘her Drew’ that she loves.

This book encapsulates a true romance that really makes your heart lift. It builds on the long distance relationship and the longing that each of them had but what I love about Sara’s book as I said there is very realistic layers to our relationship in and out of the limelight with the toxicity of celebrity world and the sacrifice it bears on the relationship, the pain of saying no and most of is making sure that both are the best of themselves. I adored Drew and Ruby without a doubt, but my favourite relationship and I personally think that Sara is the queen of friendships in her books as I adored Stel. Ruby found unlikely friendship in the people close to her with the loveable, she is quirky, a chatterbox and is 100 mph but her heart is golden, her flare and just pure love for her best friend is priceless. I wish there was more of her or maybe she could have her own book.

Sara’s writing is emotive, seamless and beautiful. In her authors bio she said she wants to write sad books that are good for the soul and happy books to lift the heart and she does that every time. I wasn’t expecting it but after being completely absorbed in the relationship of Ruby and Drew, I couldn’t help but have tears in my eyes at the end of the book. For me this book reminded me of Band version Prince and Me the film, it had those vibes and more. It’s the perfect spring/summer romance read. If you were also a fan of Chris Russell’s Songs About a Girl series then this is the perfect read.

If you haven’t picked a YA book by Sara Barnard then what are you waiting for. I would highly recommend all of her books and I similarly if you love Holly Bourne like me, then you will definitely love her books.

Thank you Walker Books for sending me copy in exchange for a review.

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My 2025 Bookish Ins and Outs

Posted January 7, 2025 by Emma in Bookish Post, Discussion Post / 3 Comments
My 2025 Bookish Ins and Outs

Hello my lovely readers, today I’m sharing my book goals of 2025 and what I’m leaving behind and what I’m doing to make it the best reading year. Since breaking up for Christmas, I have reflected a lot on my reading journey of 2024, and especially as we approached 2025 when I was completely engrossed in reading largely down to Wicked Lovely series but I missed that feeling and I want to make sure that 2025 is the best reading year. So I have made some choices to make me feel happier about reading and bookish content online. I need […]

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Best YA Books of 2024

Posted December 29, 2024 by Emma in 2024 Books, 5 Stars, Best Books, Book List, Bookish Post, YA / 1 Comment
Best YA Books of 2024

Hello, my lovely readers! As 2024 is drawing to a close, it’s time for me to recap my year of reading and select my top ten books of 2024. This year, choosing my favorites was surprisingly easy. I’ve discovered incredible new writers, stumbled upon underrated YA gems that deserve much more attention, and found books that were not only unforgettable but ones I’ll recommend forever. Best of all they are all 5 star + reads! I couldn’t keep it to 10 unfortunately, it was too hard. I feel incredibly fortunate to have met some of these authors throughout the year […]

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5 Books that are perfect gifts for every occasion

Posted December 22, 2024 by Emma in Book Gifts, Bookish Post / 0 Comments
5 Books that are perfect gifts for every occasion

Hello my lovely bookworms, we are so close to Christmas now and I’m officially off for the Christmas break. I’m so excited. Last week I published part 2 of my bookish gifts recommendations so this weekend I thought I would share 5 books that are perfect gifts. These featured books are more niche and special gifts, they are book that I felt inspired and simply adored. So I hope these will help as a last minute gifts for this festive season or for any occasion. Let me know books you recover as gifts that are perfect for book-lovers.

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Book Review | Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr – A must read for fans of The Cruel Prince

Posted December 12, 2024 by Emma in Book Review, Bookish Post, YA / 2 Comments
Book Review | Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr – A must read for fans of The Cruel Prince

Hello my lovely readers, today I have the perfect recommendation not only for The Cruel Prince lovers but also it’s perfect reading to snuggle up this season. This book gave me so many feels and I haven’t felt this way for a series since The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. That’s a big statement I know but it’s so very true. So here is my review of the first in the Wicked Lovely series. Wicked Lovely first published around the time I was reading Twilight. It was a book that completely passed me by then as I was very much […]

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These gifts are the way to a book lover’s heart – part 2

Posted December 3, 2024 by Emma in Bookish Post / 2 Comments
These gifts are the way to a book lover’s heart – part 2

Hello my lovely book lovers, it’s the season of gift giving and you might have book lover in your life or maybe a little present for yourself, so I have put together another list of my favourite gifts for book lovers. Sometimes it can be really hard buying for a book lover especially this time of the year. In May I collated some of my favourite shops and gifts in a part 1 of this post which you can view here. So today I have found some more niche book lover gifts for all book lovers. * some items I […]

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The only book light a book lover needs is a Serious Light.

Posted November 29, 2024 by Emma in Bookish Post / 0 Comments
The only book light a book lover needs is a Serious Light.

(Ad – A Serious Light was gifted to me in exchange for a honest review) Hello my lovely book lovers, today I bring you something very special to the blog and I’m excited. For the past month I have been living my best bookish life with a new reading accessory. Every reader needs the perfect reading light right? Serious Readers is the only light a booklover needs and here’s why.  So when Serious Readers reached out to me to collaborate with me on their reading lamps, I was so excited. I have been eyeing a floor lamp of theirs for […]

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Under the Cover #12 with Anna Zoe Quirke – author of Something to be Proud of

Posted October 17, 2024 by Emma in Bookish Post, Interview, Under the Cover, YA / 0 Comments
Under the Cover #12 with Anna Zoe Quirke – author of Something to be Proud of

Hello my lovely bookworms, I am back with another author interview with one of my favourite books of 2024, Something to be Proud of by Anna Zoe Quirke . I read this book back in the summer and it had such a profound effect on me, it brought such smiles, laughter and made me cry. It’s such an inspiring book that I couldn’t put it down. So I instantly asked if I could do an author interview and here we go. Under the Cover is where I interview some of favourite authors and authors I’ve recently read and discovered. I’m trying to […]

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Book Review | A Sea of Wolves by Sarah Street

Posted October 15, 2024 by Emma in 2024 Books, Book Review, Bookish Post, YA / 3 Comments
Book Review | A Sea of Wolves by Sarah Street

Hello my lovely readers. It’s been a while and I’m catching up on some overdue reviews from the Summer. Ooops. Today I’m really excited to be reviewing my most anticipated read this year. This was my holiday read and it was the perfect story to read by the sea. So lets get straight onto the review… A Sea of Wolves is one of my anticipated reads this year and it didn’t disappoint. After devouring A Curse of Salt last year and naming it one of my favourite reads of 2023. I met Sarah last year as well at YALC completely […]

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