Blogtober - Day 6

Today’s been a really productive day at work - I was introduced to the world of Tinder. It sort of fascinated me so I figured it would be a perfect post for today’s Blogtober post.

I have absolutely no interest what so ever in joining tinder (or any other dating site for that matter) as I’m happy in my personal life but it was interesting to see how it worked.

From the very little I’ve seen of Tinder, it seems to be about judging someone instantly based on very little information. You decide on an age and location range then simply swipe left or right depending on if you like the look of them or not. I actually sat there and dismissed a guy for my colleague just because he was called Harvey as I decided it was too much of a dogs name to swipe yes. It was the most ridiculous reason but so many photos come up you find yourself nit picking people over the littlest things.

The messages my colleague had received on tinder were something else. Men were messaging her with just the most cringeworthy chat up lines, think of the worst chat up line you could imagine and times it by 100 and you’re at the tinder levels of messages! Then some messages she received, the man asked her out on a date within the first message then when she didn’t reply asap they unliked her. Another colleague went on a date with a guy she met through tinder and he refused to take her home, locked his car doors and drove her to his house for after date fun...needless to say she binned him off rather sharpish! So many horror stories! Call me old fashioned but this isn’t the way I’d want to start a relationship! 

The whole thing just seems false. Photos people chose to put up are the most posy photos you’ve ever seen. From topless guys who know they look good to those with pouts to those who are clearly trying too hard to look cool. I know it’s like Facebook etc where you wouldn’t put a photo up where you look rough but to me it just all seems false! 

I know I have old fashioned, hopeless romantic views on relationships but I just don’t think tinder is for me. I’d want to have more romance and less cheesy chat up lines. I completely get why people do it. I mean you could be sat watching The Chase at 8pm on a Friday evening but at the same time sat swiping through hundreds of potential love interests. In a world where social media dominates it does seem a great way to meet people but I would be interested to know if anyone has actually found the one this way.

I’d love to know others peoples experiences on tinder, as from what I’ve heard so far they’ve not all been that great! 

The Song Rising - Samantha Shannon

The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon is book number 3 in the bone series of books. This book continues as Paige Mahoney has just stepped into her role as Underqueen. However, that position has now brought her a whole host of new enemies who want rid of the clairvoyant community. Paige quickly discovers that a Senshield has been created in order to detect those with clairvoyant powers and sets off on a mission to destroy them. 

I've read all of the books in the series and I actually reread the series of books before reading The Song Rising. The worlds and the story that the author writes about is that detailed and complex that I think you need to get back into the story again to be able to fully appreciate the new books story. Things and the characters that are mentioned throughout this book are things which have been described in previous books so it is now just accepted that you know about these things. It is for this reason that I think that if you're planning on reading this book, you must read the others in the series first. I love this book series and know the world that is wrote about quite well but I think would’ve been struggling to follow without rereading first! 

Personally, I enjoyed this book a lot more than the last book in the series and that is saying something because I adore this book series. I really enjoy the fact that this book see's Paige out and about in other areas of the UK. I feel that this is the book that Paige really develops as a character and despite the fact that she's now Underqueen, she is still absolutely fearless and will do anything to help out when she can. If I had to complain about one thing in this book, its the lack of Warden that appears in the story but again that's only a little thing and more about my story preference than how good the book is. 

Paige in particular develops a lot a a character in this novel. The stakes are higher than ever now she’s the underqueen and her character adapts to this role wonderfully. The pressures of the role clearly show but I really like the actions she takes in this novel. 

This book series has such an incredible way of dragging you into the book. The descriptions are just unbelievable. It’s one of those books that you spend your day worrying about things that are happening in the book. They definitely aren’t happening in your life but you find yourself spending your day worrying about being caught by a Sensheild?! That’s how you know a book is good.

If you’ve loved the book series so far you will absolutely love The Song Rising. If you haven’t yet started reading these books you have to! They’re one of my favourite book series and I’m sure if you’re reading this you’ll love these books too!

Synopsis - 

The hotly anticipated third book in the bestselling Bone Season series – a ground-breaking, dystopian fantasy of extraordinary imagination Following a bloody battle against foes on every side, Paige Mahoney has risen to the dangerous position of Underqueen, ruling over London's criminal population.   But, having turned her back on Jaxon Hall and with vengeful enemies still at large, the task of stabilising the fractured underworld has never seemed so challenging. Little does Paige know that her reign may be cut short by the introduction of Senshield, a deadly technology that spells doom for the clairvoyant community and the world as they know it…

Don't Stop Me Now - Colleen Coleman

Every so often you discover a book which parts of it overlap with your real life so much that you wonder if the author has been secretly spying on you. Well for me, Don't Stop Me Now is that book.

Don't Stop Me Now focussed on main character Poppy Bloom. She has just finished her PhD but suddenly all her life plans have gone four of the window. Her perfect life she has at university has now shattered, unemployed and homeless she's found herself forced to move back into her mums house. One day when she's feeling sorry for her self her life changes forever as she calls into a radio station to air her opinions. This call changes her life as she's offered a job at the radio station. However, now can Poppy successfully balance her work and friends? 

Not one part of this book wasn't likeable. If I had to pinpoint one thing I really loved it's Poppy. She was such a well written and normal character which is very relatable. Poppy’s friends and family are also just delightful to read about. 

As I’ve said before I can completely and utterly relate to this book. I’m sure most graduates have that smack in the face realisation that the life doesn’t end up the way you planned. This book so wonderfully captures that bubble you’re in at university and then how horrendous it is when that bubble pops. From the high of graduating, to the sheer horror of moving back to your childhood bedroom, it’s all just so incredibly described. I loved everything in about this story. I loved the characters, I loved the storyline, I loved the friendship groups etc etc.....I just looked this book!

For me, I adore a relatable book and Don’t Stop Me Now is certainly that! I would recommend this book to everyone - I just loved it!

Synopsis - 

Poppy Bloom planned to finish her PhD and walk straight into a job at her university. But here she is, unemployed, unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend, and living back at her mum’s in her vampire-themed childhood bedroom.

Not exactly what she was hoping for.

But when Poppy sets her mind to something, nothing can stand in her way. She scores herself an internship at the hottest radio station in town, joins a netball team, and renews her friendship with her oldest friend Leanne. Spending time with Leanne’s gorgeous twin Tom is just a bonus…

But life has a way of tripping you up when you least expect it, and Poppy soon has to decide where her priorities lie… With new friends, a new career and a new romance, can Poppy keep everyone happy, or is everything about to tumble down around her?

Blogtober - Day 3

As ever when you start a challenge obstacles always get in the way - and it’s only day 3! Arghh! I knew that doing blogtober especially without doing a rough plan was already going to be tough - after all failure to plan is planning to fail. That little saying is pretty much the only thing I can remember about my 3 years at university, one of my lecturers used to say that all of the time! I do realise now that perhaps that saying was right and have started making a rough plan of posts for the upcoming weeks otherwise I am going to fail miserably.

I figured thinking of topics to write about would be the toughest thing I’d have to face and trying to fit in how on Earth I’d write said blog posts after a 45 hour working week. I figured I could just push past this with motivation? What I didn’t account for is the fact that I am deathly ill. Ok I may be the queen of over exaggeration and I’m not actually that ill but I am at that awful I’m sneezing so much I’ve gone through 2 entire boxes of tissues in a day and all I want to do is go to sleep stage. Again, I’m going back to the planning to fail point. Perhaps if I’d started writing potential future blog posts in advance if I was ill it wouldn’t have mattered as I would’ve have had things ready to go. 

My work colleagues have been great all day to be fair, in between my constant stream of sneezes I was passed over Lemsips and various tablets which just about helped me get through a 9 hour shift but when I got home today I’ve just been a bit blurghh. I admit it, I’m that pathetic person tonight who sits on the sofa, watching The Great British Bake Off complaining they feel ill after every cough/sneeze. Then whilst in the midst of drowning in my pathetic ill party it dawned on me that I needed to write day 3s blog post! 

So here I am with yet another pointless blog post. I think ultimately, the lesson I’ve learnt fast is that I should’ve planned. Blogtober isn’t something you can just decide to do on the 30th September in the hopes of winging it everyday. Am I the biggest failure of Blogtober? Probably...but I promise i’ll try write things with more point when I’m feeling tip top again.

If anyone reading this has any suggestions on how to get rid of a cold please let me know as I’d very much like to feel ok again now! 

Lorde - Melodrama World Tour

Today’s Blogtober post is a lot more exciting than the disappointment of yesterdays! Why? Well last night I headed down to the O2 Academy in Birmingham to see New Zealand singer Lorde performing on her Melodrama World Tour.

I’ve been aware of Lorde for pretty much 4 years to the day thanks to attending a Selena Gomez concert and her covering one of Lorde’s songs, Royals, which went on to be one of her biggest hits to date. However this is the first time that I’ve been to see Lorde perform a full headline concert. 

Last nights concert sold out fast and it’s clear to see why. Lorde is simply a delight to watch live. She has unique performing style which is mesmerising to watch, top that with her distinctive voice and it offered a truly enjoying performance. Lorde’s set design was simple but effective and Lorde herself even did a few outfit changes throughout her set.

I’ve listened to Lorde’s latest album, Melodrama, pretty much non stop since it was released due to a family member being obsessed with it so I was extremely familiar with the songs on her set list. She performed some of her popular songs from Melodrama such as The Louvre, Liability and Supercut. The album translates so wonderfully live, and Lorde’s vocals are incredible. As well as showcasing her latest album her set of course featured her biggest hits, Tennis Court, Royals and Green Light. 

Fans of varying ages and gender were singing (loudly!) along to every single word that Lorde sung proving the success of her UK shows. Sometimes, particularly during her popular songs you could hear the crowd singing almost as Lorde herself! Lorde seems to love every single moment of being on stage, energetically dancing to every song and she even got into the crowd towards the end of her set.

I like Lorde but I am a long way from being her biggest but their is no doubting her talent. She knows exactly how to command a stage and get the audiences loving every single moment. I actually feel quite lucky to have seen her in such a small venue as I can safety say it won’t be long before she’s headlining the biggest UK festivals. Sadly Lorde only has a couple of dates left of the UK leg of her world tour but if you like her music I can guarantee you’ll absolutely love seeing her in concert!

Blogtober - Day 1

It’s day one of blogtober and I decided a couple of days ago that I would try and take part this year. Basically for anyone who doesn’t know, blogtober is where you post a blog post every single day for the whole of October. Honestly, do I think I’ll be able to do it? I work insanely long hours so probably not, but I’m going to give it a go. I’ve not done any writing for a while so it’ll be nice to have a challenge. I know people spend weeks planning what they’re going to write for these things but I’m planning on pretty much winging it for the whole 31 days. I’ve saved a few ideas on Pinterest but other than that I’m completely just writing whatever I feel like that day. So if anyone has any suggestions on what they’d like to read about please let me know, suggestions are very much welcome!

So here we are starting the month with this post. Truthfully, i’m ill at the moment - yes I’m starting with the excuses on day one...but at least it’s only a cold so all being well that urghhh I’m dying feeling should be gone in a couple of days. Is this blog post a little bit of a cop out? Absolutely! But hey it’s my introduction to doing blogtober and I’ll try to make at least some of the other 30 days more interesting than this one! I am actually doing some pretty fun stuff in October so I’m hoping to be able to write some more interesting things at least. 

Good luck everyone else whose trying to attempt blogtober and hopefully we all manage the whole 31 days...

Undercover Princess (The Rosewood Chronicles #1) - Connie Glynn

Lottie Pumpkin (yes this is her real name!) is obsessed with the world of fairy tales. She loves the idea of being a princess, meeting Prince Charming etc etc. So when she starts her new school, Rosewood Hall, the last thing she expected was to be thrown completely into the world she fantasises about thanks to her new roommate Ellie Wolf.

It’s worth mentioning that I’m writing this completely impartial. Truthfully, I had no idea that author Connie Glynn was a YouTuber prior to writing this blog post so I didn't want to read the book based on the author. However, I've been seeing this book a lot lately, whether it’s been through a sampler at events or people posting about it on twitter so naturally after loving the sampler I read I knew this book would be exactly my cup of tea. 

I read this book insanely quickly because it just captured my attention. It was so full of twists and turns! Ok, yes some things were very predictable but then in the next breath some things happened which I certainly didn’t expect. I love the idea that the story is based in a boarding school. I actually thought the descriptions Rosewood Hall were wonderful and it was quite easy to imagine the setting. 

I really loved the characters too. Lots were introduced but it wasn’t hard to keep up with who was who and the 3 main characters were so instantly likeable which made them easy to read about. I had a few issues with certain characters, such as the villain for example whose motives I felt were a little nonexistent. Despite a few little things I thought many of the characters added something to the story. I am however hoping that some of the more minor characters will be discussed more in future novels.   

Although I really enjoyed reading this book I feel that this would’ve been one of those books I would’ve obsessed about when I was around 15 so I would highly recommend this for people around that age. However, if like me you read the blurb and like the sound of the story I think you’ll still love it as I certainly did.

I know I for one am very ready for the sequel of this book already! Ok yes I’ve read books that are better written but I enjoyed the story and its interesting characters that captured my attention from start to finish. Honestly, for a debut novel I thought it was great. What more do you want from a book really?

Synopsis - 

When fairy tale obsessed Lottie Pumpkin starts at the infamous Rosewood Hall, she is not expecting to share a room with the Crown Princess of Maradova, Ellie Wolf. Due to a series of lies and coincidences, 14-year-old Lottie finds herself pretending to be the princess so that Ellie can live a more normal teenage life. Lottie is thrust into the real world of royalty - a world filled with secrets, intrigue and betrayal. She must do everything she can to help Ellie keep her secret, but with school, the looming Maradovian ball and the mysterious new boy Jamie, she'll soon discover that reality doesn't always have the happily ever after you'd expect... A thrilling world of parties, politics and bad ass princesses, this is the first book in the brand new series THE ROSEWOOD CHRONICLES.