6 Books You Will Want to Read in a Day.

As mentioned in a previous post, I am transferring my blog posts from the last year (they were on a different site) so here is number 7 of 9! Enjoy!

This was originally posted on 03/08/2017.

It's no secret that I am a bookworm. My love of books goes way back and I've had a book in my hand for as long as I can remember. So in all honesty, I'm not entirely sure why it's taken me so long to incorporate books into my blog. I have done the occasional review or book-related post, but I definitely want to start making it a more regular thing. As you have probably figured out from the title, here are 6 books that you will want to read in a day... at least I did! These are all books that I have read and couldn't put down. You may notice that they are all in the teen/young adult romance kind of genre. This genre is honestly one of my favourites. I love a lot of different genres but I often find that these are the 'I can't put it down' kind of books which I adore. So, I have waffled on enough... I give you 6 books you will want to read in a day!

1. Everything Everything

Everything, Everything

At this point, 'Everything, Everything' is a pretty well-known book and has even been made into a film. So it's apparent that I am not the only fan. I read this book last summer when I was on holiday in Egypt and let me tell you, it is the perfect sit by the pool and read a book. I was thoroughly gripped by this book and the characters and I can't wait to see the film adaption too. 

"Madeline Whittier is allergic to the outside world.

So allergic, in fact, that she has never left the house in all of her seventeen years.

But when Olly moves in next door, and wants to talk to Maddy,

tiny holes start to appear in the protective bubble her mother has built around her.

Olly writes his IM address on a piece of paper, shows it at her window,

and suddenly, a door opens.

Maddy is certainly going to fall in love with Olly.

It's almost certainly going to be a disaster."

2. If I Stay

If I Stay


This is also a pretty well-known book which got made into a film. I actually watched the film before discovering the book and honestly, I love them both. There is also a second book to this story (which hasn't been made into a film... yet *please*) and I loved seeing how the characters developed. This is such a gripping story and was just another put I simply could not put down.

"For seventeen-year-old Mia, surrounded by a wonderful family,

friends and a gorgeous boyfriend decisions might seem tough,

but they're all about a future full of music and love,

a future that's brimming with hope.

But life can change in an instant.

A cold February morning ...a snowy road ...

and suddenly all of Mia's choices are gone.

Except one.

As alone as she'll ever be, Mia must make the most difficult choice of all.

Haunting, heartrending and ultimately life-affirming,

If I Stay will make you appreciate all that you have,

all that you've lost - and all that might be."

3. Matched

 
Matched  

'Matched' is actually part of the series I am currently reading! I am on book 2/3 and loving it. If you love dystopian society books then you will love this. I know some people find dystopian society books almost repetitive but I honestly love them and I love a series even more. I often find with series you almost grow with the characters and you end up feeling attached to them, which of course makes the end of a book that much more painful... but its worth it.

"On her seventeenth birthday, Cassia meets her Match.

Society dictates he is her perfect partner for life.

Except he's not.

In Cassia's society, Officials decide who people love.

How many children they have.

Where they work. When they die.

But, as Cassia finds herself falling in love with another boy,

she is determined to make some choices of her own."

4. Eleanor & Park

Eleanor & Park

'Eleanor & Park' is actually a book I read a little while ago but I decided to include it because I remember really really liking it. Rainbow Rowell has another book that was quite popular called 'Fangirl' that I believe was in Zoella's book club. So if you ever read that then there is a good chance you'll enjoy this. I think Rainbow Rowell does a good job of writing relatable books that also delve into some more serious issues and I love her style of writing. 

"Eleanor is the new girl in town, and she's never felt more alone.

All mismatched clothes, mad red hair and chaotic home life,

 she couldn't stick out more if she tried.

Then she takes the seat on the bus next to Park.

Quiet, careful and - in Eleanor's eyes - impossibly cool,

Park's worked out that flying under the radar is the best way to get by.

Slowly, steadily, through late-night conversations and an ever-growing stack of mix tapes,

Eleanor and Park fall in love.

They fall in love the way you do the first time, when you're 16,

and you have nothing and everything to lose."

5. Holding up the universe 

Holding Up the Universe

This book is actually written by Jennifer Niven, the author of 'All the brightplaces'. Now don't kill me but I haven't actually read that yet (I know, I know I'm getting to it) but I know that it has been a massive hit, so if you loved that then you will love this for sure. I love Jennifer Nivens writing style and I adored these characters. I seriously loved this one.

"Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout, the girl once dubbed 'America's Fattest Teen'.

But no one's taken the time to look past her weight to get to see who she really is.

Since her mum's death, she's been picking up the pieces in the privacy of her home,

dealing with her heartbroken father and her own grief.

Now, Libby's ready: for high school, for new friends, for love,

and for EVERY POSSIBILITY LIFE HAS TO OFFER.

I know the part I want to play here at MVB High. I want to be the girl who can do anything.

Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin too.

Yes, he's got swagger, but he's also mastered the art of fitting in.

What no one knows is that Jack has a secret: he can't recognize faces.

Even his own brothers are strangers to him.

He's the guy who can re-engineer and rebuild anything,

but he can't understand what's going on with the inner workings of his own brain.

So he tells himself to play it cool: Be charming. Be hilarious. Don't get too close to anyone.

Until he meets Libby.

When the two get tangled up in a cruel high school game which lands them in group counseling,

Libby and Jack are both angry, and then surprised.

Because the more time they spend together, the less alone they feel. Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the world - theirs and yours. "

6. Saint Anything
 

Saint Anything

Now I love Sarah Dessen books with a passion. Every single one of her books I could (and have) read in a day. I am pretty sure they are aimed for an audience a bit younger than I am, but honestly I don't care. Sarah Dessen writes in a way that literally leaves you unable to put the book down.

"Peyton, Sydney's charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family,

receiving the lion's share of their parents' attention and - lately - concern.

When Peyton's increasingly reckless behaviour culminates in an accident,

a drunk driving conviction, and a jail sentence, Sydney is cast adrift,

searching for her place in the family and the world.

When everyone else is so worried about Peyton,

is she the only one concerned about the victim of the accident?

Enter the Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlour,

play bluegrass on weekends and pitch in to care for their mother,

who has multiple sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance.

And here she meets Mac: gentle, watchful, and protective,

who makes Sydney feel seen, really seen, for the first time."

So, there we have 6 books you will want to read in a day. As a fellow book lover, I love hearing other peoples book recommendations so feel free to leave yours in the comments.

Thanks for reading and I will speak to you soon,

Holly X

DISCLAIMER: AFFILIATE LINKS INCLUDED

Are 40s the new 20s?

Technically speaking, at the time of writing this, I have been in my 20s for 263 days. Now compared to the (God willing) 3650 days that my 20s will consist of, this is only a fraction of that time. However, those 263 days have been enough to convince me that your 20s are really not all rainbows and sunshine like so many people like to say they are. 

I mean, I think the vast majority of us can have heard the old 'Oh I wish I was in my 20s again' or 'Oh to be in your 20s'. Whether it be on TV, some other form of media or even in person, it's a pretty common phrase. So you can probably imagine my disappointment when 263 days into my 20s, I realised that actually at least 230 of those 263 days were more than a bit of a struggle. Now don't get me wrong, there have been good (even great) times but as a whole, it's been filled with anxiety, stress and a whole lot of 'what the heck am I doing?!', and the thing is, I am not alone!

A lot of my friends have also been feeling the same way, which led to me questioning... Are the 20s really all they're cracked up to be? With this in mind, the other day I was having a nice little chat with my Aunt (i.e. one of my favourite people ever) where she mentioned that the 40s were great because you just don't care what people think of you anymore. A couple of people agreed and I have definitely heard my mum say the same thing numerous times over the last few years, so there has been some pretty solid evidence. I mentioned my personal experience and thoughts about the 20s and how so far, it was pretty rough. Much to my surprise, my aunt completely agreed and said that being in your 20s really is a difficult time. You're trying to find who you are and what you want to do, all while trying to fit in. It's a mess!

A little shocked, I asked why people always wish they were in their 20s again. My Aunt told me that actually, people wish they could do their 20s again but with their 40s mindset, knowing all they know now. This was very interesting to me and I have been thinking about it all week. Are the 40s the new 20s?

Maybe they are, and I guess I won't know for sure until I reach that age. But, I am inpatient. I don't want to wait 20 years so I can look back at how rough my 20s were. I want to stop things in their path and change the outcome. Is it possible that with this new knowledge, I can make my 20s, 30s, 40s and more equally full of joy and acceptance and love? Well, I am certainly going to try. So far, I have discovered that choosing not to care about judgement and fitting in, is a massive step in the right direction, and so that is where I will begin. This has always been a massive struggle for me and I am excited to see the changes that flourish from it.

Your 20s should be full of learning, and a big part of learning is failure. I am 100% certain I will 'fail' at times, but is it really failure if you learn from your mistakes? I don't think so.

Sorry this has been such a rambly post but it's just been something on my mind lately. If you made it this far AND managed to understand what I was saying, then well done to you! 

What do you think? Are 40s the new 20s?

Thanks for reading and be sure to follow the blog!

Holly X 

P.s. How is it Auguest already!!!

Everybody needs some yellow sandals.

As mentioned in a previous post, I am transferring my blog posts from the last year (they were on a different site) so here is number 6 of 9! Enjoy!

This was originally posted on 24/06/2017.

As much as I love shoes, I'm usually the 'play it safe' kind of girl. For example, on my 17th birthday I got these really cute ankle boots... which I then went on to wear almost every day (every.single.day) for the next year and a half. I find a cute pair of shoes and then kind of forget about all the others I own until that pair breaks. It's not a good situation. So, that being said this year I have been trying to wear more than one pair of shoes, as well as looking into new styles and using shoes to add a pop of colour to an outfit (a trend that I am a big fan of by the way!) And then these came along.

In all honesty, I don't think I would have purchased these shoes if I came across them in the shop. Mainly because they were a little out my fashion comfort zone, but also because of the stretchy back which isn't really a style I wear in shoes. However, it was actually my Grandma who gave these to me! My Grandma has style. She actually got these for herself then gave them to be because they didn't fit her. Like I said, my Grandma has style. I honestly think these are the perfect summer sandal. In fact, I plan on wearing these to my Grandmas birthday party.

Not only do I love the colour and style, but they are so comfy and the stretchy back (which I wasn't too fond of at first) makes them super easy to slip on and off. All in all, I'd say these shoes are a win! I believe these were £19.50 from M&S for anybody interested. 

What do you think? Would you wear these? 

Check out the pics below!

I hope you are having a lovely day and I will speak to you very soon!

Holly Xx

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Disneyland Paris.

As mentioned in a previous post, I am transferring my blog posts from the last year (they were on a different site) so here is number 5 of 9! Enjoy!

This was originally posted on 23/06/2017.

It's no secret that I love Disney. The songs. The stories. The films. I love it all. It's all just so magical to me. So when my friend Hannah and I decided we wanted to go to Paris, we both agreed that we absolutely HAD to go to Disneyland. Hannah is also a big fan of Disney. In fact, her Disney knowledge puts my Disney knowledge to shame (as much as I try). So it probably goes without saying that we were beyond excited. 

When booking and planning our trip (only 6 weeks before we left!) we discovered that there was a '3 days for the price of 2' deal at Disneyland which worked out perfectly. Having experienced Disneyland Paris, I can definitely say that 2 days would not have been long enough. I mean, I could have stayed a week and not got bored, but that would have been hella expensive. So yes, we had 3 days to spend at the park. We stayed in air B&Bs our entire trip and during this Disneyland portion, we stayed in a beautiful area called 'Serris' (Blog post here!). We were really close to Disneyland so we were able to walk there and back, even if the walk home made me feel like my feet were about to fall off (after walking around Disney all day!) 

So for those of you that didn't know, there are two parks at Disneyland Paris. The first is the Disneyland Park. This park was bigger and had lots of areas to explore. The great thing about Disneyland is that even if you're not a roller coaster fan, there is still so much to do! Although I had seen a ton of photos and even been there before (although I was too young to remember it really,) I was blown away with the dedication to everything. Everywhere you go is themed and you really feel like you're in the movie. 

The second park is Walt Disney Studios. Now I love Disney and was so so excited to go to Disneyland but when I discovered this second park, my excitement reached a whole new level. Something people may not know about me is that I love movies. I don't mean just watching movies, although I do love that too, but everything that goes into movies. The behind the scenes, the videography, the acting, the storytelling, just the entire process! I am so deeply fascinated by it all. So this park being based around this kind of concept was amazing to me. You walked around feeling like you were on a film set and you got to see just how Disney came about and what goes into making these films. It was honestly such a cool experience and has just made me love movies even more!

There is so much more I could say about Disneyland Paris and my entire experience, but we would be here all day! However, if you are interested in hearing more, you could always check out my vlog (Check out my Youtube channel!)

So yes, it really was an amazing experience and I cannot wait to go back already. I've included a few pics from Disney before so feel free to have a little look. Unfortunately, I didn't actually take that many pics at Disney because whenever there was a free moment to take out the camera, I ended up filming for the vlog. 

I hope you are having a lovely day and I will speak to you very soon!

Holly Xx

Fashion Museum | Bath

This summer is (hopefully) my last summer before I am off to uni and so I am trying super hard to make the most of it. However, between my lack of money and the busy schedules of my friends, it is proving a little more challenging than expected. That being said, it has definietely encouraged me to explore more local areas and so came about a little outing the other week with the lovely Emma, a friend from school and a fellow blogger too!

We hopped on a train to Bath and walked on up to the Waterstones cafe. Good compant, books and coffee... what more could you want?! We had a spot of lunch, I had a mocha and we had a good long natter. Somehow I managed to leave without spending all my money on books (are you proud?) and we headed off to the fashion museum. Walking around Bath is always so lovely and there is always such a good vibe. Then just to make it even better, the weather was gorgeous! So, we mooched on over.

We managed to get the student price for the entrance fee which wasn't too shabby (my purse was very thankful) and the staff were so lovely. We walked around and took in all the beautiful clothes and interesting history behind them. I couldn't believe that I had never been before, considering how close it is to where I live. Finally, towards the end of the museum we reached the dressing up section. Now I loved dressing up as a child and I think I love it even more now! My family take our fancy dress very seriously and love a good costume party, so this was right up my street. We tried on a couple different items but the dresses were my favourite, even if it was a little big. I felt just like I could just go walk onto a movie set, it was amazing!

Once we had gathered ourselves and said goodbye to the dresses, we soon came to the end of the museum. We had a litte mosey around the gift shop and headed off. I am a sucker for any museum, gallery, e.t.c and it was the most wonderful day. I really want to visit more museums this summer and the Bath Fashion Museum was the perfect one to start it all off. A day full of sun, books, girly chats, coffee and fashion, it really was the perfect summers day.

I always forget to document little outings like this and it's something I really want to improve on. Having these little travel posts to look back on is so so nice and the more posts the merrier. 

Have you ever been to the Bath Fashion Museum? What's the best gallery/ museum you've been to? I would love to know so I can add it to my list!

Thanks so much for reading and I will speak to you soon,

Holly X