July Book Unhaul

Soooo, it’s been a while since I wrote a blog post. I’m going to lie, I’ve felt a bit shit recently and I’ve been struggling a lot with motivation and my mental health. If I can, I’ll maybe do a post about it. For now though I thought I’d kick of the return with an easy read and tell you all the books I’m getting rid of in my July Book Unhaul. Usually I wait until I have a bigger stack to donate, but I thought I could do with the space and a smaller stack meant I could take them to the charity shop on my lunch break.

“Ariadne” by Jennifer Saint

Ariadne, Princess of Crete, grows up greeting the dawn from her beautiful dancing floor and listening to her nursemaid's stories of gods and heroes. But beneath her golden palace echo the ever-present hoofbeats of her brother, the Minotaur, a monster who demands blood sacrifice. When Theseus, the Prince of Athens, arrives to vanquish the beast, Ariadne sees in his green eyes not a threat but an escape. Defying the gods, betraying her family and country, and risking everything for love, Ariadne helps Theseus kill the Minotaur. But will Ariadne's decision ensure her happy ending? And what of Phaedra, the beloved younger sister she leaves behind? (Synopsis by Publisher)

So, to be honest, I haven’t actually read “Ariadne” yet. I bought a copy of it and didn’t realise that my surprise book club book was also Ariadne that month. I don’t need two copies so off one goes!

“A Quiet Kind of Thunder” by Sara Barnard

Steffi is mute. Rhys is deaf. When Rhys joins Steffi's school she's asked to show him around as she has a basic understanding of BSL. They understand each other perfectly in a world where they both struggle to communicate.

I really liked this book, it’s an interesting to read a book where two characters don’t really speak and it’s amazing the number of ways to communicate there are. I’m not going to lie, there were bits where I was like “Yeah…that would totally happen” but I liked the little bits where you realise how some everyday things are difficult for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in a hearing world.

“Holding Up the Universe” by Jennifer Saint

“Holding Up the Universe” by Jennifer Niven tells the story of Libby, an overweight teenager who is returning to public school for the first time in five years. We also follow Rhys, a popular boy, silently suffering with prosopagnosia, a condition where he cannot recognize faces, not even his own. As they both try to negotiate high school, a cruel prank brings them together and both of their lives are changed forever.

I wasn’t massive fan of this book. The relationship felt very forced and unnatural and nothing really stood out about it. It’s great that a relatively unknown condition, to me at least and to the nurse I was talking about the book with, such as prosopagnosia (the inability to recognize faces) is brought to light but it’s a shame it was only really to give the main character a reason to stop being a dick…which he didn’t do.

“A Winter in Wonderland” by Isla Gordon

All the bad things in Mylas life happen around Christmas so she tries to avoid it at all cost. After losing a bet with her sister, however, Myla has to spend the festive season working in Lapland. Can she survive the Christmas festivities, Santa, music and elves that are always "on"? And can she get the attention of one particular elf when he gets off duty?

Yes I am only just getting rid of my Christmas books from last year! I really enjoyed this book when I read it at Christmas. It’s strange to read a book about a girl who hates Christmas and yet it makes you feel Christmassy. I actually related to Myla a lot because I’m not the biggest Christmas fan, I hate being places where the staff are in “character” all the time, especially when those characters are in your face. However, her gradual acceptance of Christmas and the reasons why others love it felt really natural and it was a well paced plot.

“Midnight in the Snow” by Karen Swan

Award winning journalist, Clover Phillips shot to fame after an interview with an ex-pro surfer who retired after a serious injury hit the screens. After a night of heartbreak and tragedy, Clover wants to meet the man who caused the accident. But will Kit Foley be the villain her original Interview painted him to be?

I’m not usually one for an enemies to lovers trope, however, this one I quite enjoyed. It was quite a slow burn which was also nice. I liked that Kit had a reason for being a bit of an arse and it wasn’t that he was just a brooding main character.

“The Merry Christmas Project” by Cathy Bramley

Newly single Merry is working on her new business and focusing on herself. So when the Christmas project needs a new leader she somehow finds herself in charge. Cole is missing his kids who are half a world away in Canada. When the cottage he rents out is flooded he meets his new tenant and distracts himself with finding her a suitable place to work.

Another great Christmassy feeling book and definitely one for the festive season. Despite the name, it doesn’t focus much on the actual Christmas project apart from a few meetings and then the day itself. It is mostly about Merry’s candle business and them flirting around each other.

“The Party Crasher” by Sophie Kinsella

A year after Effie's parents divorce, her dad and his new girlfriend are selling the family home. Refusing to attend their farewell party but desperate to save her beloved dolls, Effie decides to sneak into the house without anyone knowing. The temptation proves too much for Effie though as she decides to eavesdrop. She quickly discovers, however, why people say "eavesdroppers never hear good things about themselves". Can she stay hidden? Can she save her dolls? And can she avoid her ex who broke her heart all those years ago?

I really liked the concept of this book and found the idea of her hiding in closets and sitting under tables for the whole book hilarious. I enjoyed reading but I did kind of want to tell Effie to grow up. She spends most of the book sulking for one reason or another and it got a bit irritating after a while. I also thought she was going to be hiding from everyone, especially her ex but he’s the first person she tells that she’s there.

I donate all my books to The British Heart Foundation . They are always looking for donations and they are the one charity shop that I know of that always accepts books.