Throwback Thursday – Taylor Jenkins Reid. What was my first read of hers?

Throwback Thursday meme is hosted by Renee@It’s Book Talk and is a way to share some of your old favorites as well as sharing books that you’re FINALLY getting around to reading that were published over a year ago. You know, the ones waiting patiently on your TBR list while you continue to pile more titles on top of them! These older books are usually much easier than new releases to get a hold of at libraries and elsewhere. If you have your own Throwback Thursday recommendation feel free to jump on board and connect back to Renee’s blog.

So here we are at Thursday and I thought a throwback would be apt. I’m currently almost finished listening to Carrie Soto so I thought what better throwback than my first ever Taylor Jenkins Reid novel.

Which was Daisy Jones and the Six.

Have you read it? Also have you watched the series? I’m still to watch it but I’m told it’s very well done. Sometimes I hate films and series for books especially when they aren’t true to the book I loved.

My Review

I’m really loving Carrie Soto and the fact I had kind of briefly met her In Malibu Rising, has only added to my experience. Although it also proves we can easily judge a character for the wrong reasons. I love Tennis although she’s made me feel unfit ha. I will get back to my running soon. I have my running trainers with me so there will be time during my time away.

When I read Daisy Jones & the Six I said I would read the short – I didn’t. But I now have that as an audio as well as an ebook. I may listen to that next before I start the audiobook I was meant to start before Carrie Soto pinged through onto my Libby library.

Throwback Thursday – it’s been a while.

I’m not entirely sure if what I’m going to say is 100%, but this could be the very first Throwback Thursday that I penned here at Hayley Reviews back in 2020 and you can re-read that post and the links via that post here.

It’s madness to see how many of my old posts get regularly viewed like even today and this week.

Obviously you always expect the most recent post to be viewed more but it’s astounding. Sometimes I’m wondering how said post is found?. Even on my Twitter account I noticed this tweet with a link from 2020 was liked.

I know it’s been a while since I did a Throwback Thursday my apologies but do let me know what sort of content you would like to see in the comments? If I can get more organised this could come back quite regularly just like the Midweek Reading Roundup which I loved putting together the past two weeks.

Audible Review: Breathe A Musical By Jodi Picoult & Timothy Allen McDonald

Summary: A soul-stirring new musical conceived by New York Timesbest-selling novelist Jodi Picoult and playwright Timothy Allen McDonald, Breathe places listeners inside the walls of five homes during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Filled with songs and vignettes that examine new relationships, rekindling flames, parenting, racial reckoning, and grief during a pandemic, this incredibly timely world premiere—written and produced online in 2020 in real-time as events unfolded—reflects the very topics that weighed on the hearts and minds of Americans. Featuring heartwarming music from five different songwriting teams—Rebecca Murillo and Rob Rokicki, Daniel Mertzlufft and Kate Leonard, Doug Besterman and Sharon Vaughn, Douglas Lyons and Ethan Pakchar, and Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich—and mindblowing performances from Broadway’s top talent—Tony Award® winners Kelli O’Hara, Brian Stokes-Mitchell and Matt Doyle, Tony nominee Denée Benton, powerhouses Patti Murin, Colin Donnell, T. Oliver Reid, Daniel Yearwood, Max Clayton, Rubén J. Carbajal, and Josh Davis— Breathe is a powerfully touching production that shines a glimmering light on the reality of adjusting to a virtual world.

My Thoughts: I saw Jodi Picoult tweet about this and I was instantly intrigued. Jodi is an author I love ever since reading The Storyteller and Small Great Things to name two of her novels that have stayed with me. You can read some of my other thoughts on Jodi here and here.

Now the pandemic was something none of us had ever experienced and hopefully something we never go through again.

It’s mad to think that I’ve read a lockdown inspired book and now have listened to a musical based on covid 19. This audible musical was an unexpected treat – what it made me think of was how grateful certain aspects of the pandemic made us. Jodi and Co have created a new musical with fantastic music that really reminds me of a one off show or an off west end show.

We meet a number of people who are going about life and understanding the changes that covid 19 brought to us. From working from home, juggling home schooling kids, new relationships feeling strained and one night stands ending up in quarantine. It has really funny elements and elements of calm and seriousness of what the pandemic caused.

This was a diverse read that mentioned the element of Racial prejudice and I think this was handled well and with care.

Breathe is a two hour musical that is included in the Audible subscription. A rare treat even though it fully focuses on a time we would all like to forget. I must say I truly loved the music.

Throwback Thursday

Happy Thursday, I shan’t keep asking as these throwbacks seem to be popular here at Hayley Reviews. Granted as much as I’ve loved creating these posts it’s also kind of daunting working out where to go ha. I did say maybe I’ll start a few just on me but not this week ha. I’m not that brave right now…so I was looking back through the archives and last December was a bad blogging month I don’t think there was any content.

So I’m throwing it back to December 2020 thanks to the pandemic I read a whole bunch and was able to fit in a lot of buddy reading too. I honestly love reading alongside Catriona we share a lot of the same loves and there are certain authors that are go too’s for us both.

The post I’ve delved back into is about Debut authors that I discovered in 2020 and you can read that post here.

I would love to know what you would like to see from these posts.

Book Review: The Cornish Cream Tea Christmas By Cressida McLaughlin

Blurb: Hannah Swan is looking forward to Christmas for the first time in years. Her new job as an eco-consultant is taking her – and her geeky colleague, Noah – to the beautiful Cornish village of Porthgolow for the first time.
They’re are helping the Crystal Waters Hotel to ramp up its green credentials, though after a bumpy journey, Hannah can’t shake off the feeling that Porthgolow is strangely familiar. Never able to resist a mystery, her interest is piqued when the hotel’s staff and customers report odd noises and sightings, believing the hotel to be haunted.
When bad weather cuts off Porthgolow, Hannah and Noah are looking at a Cornish Christmas. It gives them plenty of time to work out what is really going on, but will their yuletide escape send shivers up their spines? Or will it be as warm and toasty as a glass of mulled wine?

Review: I’m not usually one to read Christmas books out of season but I have had this book since it was released in parts and somehow it slipped by me during the festive season. Seeing as the next Cornish instalment is a wedding I needed to read this to join up the dots before I can get onto the first part. So Christmas in April it has been and what a journey I have been on with them.

I’ve wholeheartedly loved each and every segment of the Cornish cream tea series. I would never have imagined that Charlie and Daniel’s story would be joined by a few other couples that have well and truly stole my heart. In the instalment before this one I fell for Lila and Sam and I didn’t think Cress could top them until I met Hannah and Noah.

Hannah & Noah brought me back to when I first met Daniel and Charlie and wow. It honestly felt like that first time in the Cornish seaside town and it was just the escapism I needed without realising I needed it. There story from colleagues to friends to more gave me all the feels and some. Noah is very much like Daniel in the sense he was stubborn and a little standoffish until he met Hannah. I loved seeing this tale through and they sure had some twists and turns along the way. I have to mention Noah’s mum she was adorable and I loved her Cupid’s effort it really did make me chuckle and gave me such love.

Not only has Cressida McLaughlin created a truly gorgeous Christmas story that encompasses everything you could wish for from the season. From the food to the mulled wine, mistletoe and the most perfect music alongside the stunning location of Porthgolow. This time around we’re also given a heartbreaking ghostly story and a love story to warm your heart forever more. The sense of community spirit and how each and every person who visits feels a sense of longing. It’s like Porthgolow sparks creativity and love.

I will warn you Hannah is a self obsessed foodie and my did I get hungry listening to her talk of food. I absolutely loved finding out more about Hannah and her own history with the town. I look forward to seeing how she’s doing in the next instalments.

A stunningly festive read, that is just as loveable out of season. I have until now read the segments of this tale but this one was a gorgeous audio read that gave me the added Cornish accents which really made the listening.

Just when you wonder where the story will go next there’s another couple to warm your heart. I already have part one of the Cornish Cream Tea Wedding on my kindle and I believe part two will be on its way tomorrow so will have to slot those into my reading.

Weekly Update #40

Firstly, can you believe this is the 40th weekly update, I never would have imagined it would have turned into a consistent weekly post that I adore putting together. The first one was back in May of 2020 and you can reread that very first update here.

As I’ve just said I’ve honestly loved putting this together week on week and documenting on my time whether it be running, strengthening exercises and my reading. Alongside a few other anecdotes from my life in general where applicable to share.

Last week I was feeling so so and had a few down days. Where I wasn’t feeling 100% and that’s ok and it happens – it’s best to acknowledge these thoughts and change them for the better. Thinking positively and productively is always a much better way. I mean we’re not always going to be on top of the world no matter how hard we try, or how much we would love to be.

This week I started the week with a scale victory that gave me the boost I needed, showing me my hard work was making a difference. The sun was shining and it was a glorious few days which as ever made all the difference.

Tuesday was payday so that’s always a treat, I also attended a zoom event to mark the launch of the latest Mhairi McFarlane novel Last Night. Mhairi is a go to author of mine who I am still yet to meet so I was itching to be on this zoom.

Monday feeling good and no jacket needed.

Yup it was that warm…

This day turned out warmer than originally expected.

Took myself on a long walk hunting for the white Twix egg. Also found the Biscuit tea I love and the Kylie wine that I want to try.

This week I read:

Not as much finished reading as other weeks but ace reads all the same.

Currently Reading:

I should finish The To-Do List today, haven’t opened The Thin Place yet today.

What’s been on the blog: On Sunday I shared my book stack of Blue & Green books for this weeks Six for Sunday post and you can read it here.

On Monday I shared my review on Sarah Harding’s Hear Me Out and you can read that post here.

On Tuesday I shared my review on Mike Gayle’s Wish You Were Here and you can read that post here.

On Wednesday I was able to share two gorgeous cover reveals for two authors I love. Miranda Dickinson’s The Start Of Something and you can view that post here and at 5pm I shared Victoria Walters latest Glendale book Always and Forever Glendale Hall and you can view that post here.

Thursday saw the start of April and publication day of Mhairi McFarlane Last Night and I shared my review of it and you can read it here.

Yesterday I shared my monthly wrap up of what I read in March in total 13 books and you can read that post with all the accompanying reviews here.

So all in all a great week of fitness in the form of better step days. I’ve also been doing 50 sit ups daily alongside my strengthening and mobility exercises and I’ve felt good for it.

Yesterday I went on that errand for the white Twix egg and today I set about getting a leg of lamb that we hadn’t been able to get for our dinner for tomorrow. So all in all a victorious week. As mentioned I hope to finish my audio today and tomorrow I will pen a post of what I hope to read in April. There will be a few buddy reads although at the moment it’s looking like two.

Have a brilliant Easter weekend whatever you do make sure there is some chocolate.

Monday Motivation and smiles. #1

It’s been a while since I’ve been compelled to pen one of these posts. The last one I done was back in November and you can read it here. I was intent on posting a novella review today you never know I may post a double post or it may come tomorrow.

It’s funny in having a brief look at that previous post a few things are still the same. Today just like that Monday I had stepped on the scales and not been too happy with the answer. In saying that when I looked at the numbers this morning I was like ok you got this…I haven’t properly been on the scales since Christmas and New Year and obviously during that time I wasn’t exactly caring what I ate. The past week was a right off for a number of reasons and best part of that was just being a bit lazy. As it stands I’ve got up had a decent breakfast and been on a cheeky 10k run – following a week away I will wholeheartedly take that.

It means back to the drawing board where I write down all my food I mean with a pandemic still very much around sometimes it’s hard to obtain certain things but I’m ready to make better choices.

Last night I started reading

I didn’t get as far along as I would like but today I plan to make a decent progress with this beauty. What I’ve read has had me on the edge of my seat and I’m not that far along.

What are you doing for you today? Well I got the run in and I never expected to pull out a cheeky 10k. I’ve just had a much needed bath. As mentioned I hope to get a decent chunk of The Island read it’s out on 21st and I plan to post my review on publication day. I’m also hoping to paint my nails even if I just get my toe nails done it will give me a bit of a boost after last weeks anxiousness.

I would love to know how your Monday is going and what your blogging intentions are for the week. I’m also hoping to make time to finish my audiobook before delving into another blog tour read. Get ready for a lot of Thrillers coming up on Hayley Reviews.

Six for Sunday: Books you wish you read in 2020.

It’s Sunday again and today I’m back this is three in three so far this year for me and I couldn’t be happier.

Six for Sunday is a weekly meme created by https://alittlebutalot.com each week a prompt is given and then you choose books accordingly.

Today’s prompt is Books you wish you read in 2020. As a bookworm and blogger it’s an occupational hazard that the pile of books only ever gets longer, no matter how many books you read. I mean I was impressed with my totals in 2020 and I very much used my spare time wisely – I’m also thinking of how much more I could have achieved if I hadn’t lost a week or two from headaches. Another bookish hazard right there.

I pre-ordered a gorgeous edition of this alongside Ruth Ware’s One By One but somehow I didn’t read this. I think it came just before a few commitments plus then Christmas. I’m a massive Jodi Picoult fan so I will be rectifying this soon.

I heard so many good things about this and ordered a special edition from Waterstones. It just seems to have passed me by.

Following reading On The Come Up i ordered a copy of this. Somehow it remains unread but in some ways this is good as Concrete Rose is the prequel to this so I can now read in order. That’s been ordered now 🙂

Following absolutely adoring You, Me Everything I was sent a copy of this and so far it remains on that ever expanding pile of books. Hoping to get more organised as so far January has been pretty productive.

I can’t even remember when I received this beauty of a book. I must have read a page or two but I can’t pinpoint why I didn’t continue then. I’m going to blame commitments. I saw so many gorgeous things about this book.

I was so excited for this and Midnight Sun I read Midnight Sun and I was deliberating as to whether I read or listened to this one and I’m still undecided.

I have a few blog commitments in my next two reads but where should I go with these?.

Obviously I will read Concrete Rose before The Hate You Give and I’ve just ordered that from the gorgeous Berts Books last night.

Buddy Reading…

Buddy Reading is one of my most favourite things to do. During 2020 I had the time and the pleasure to read a lot more buddy reads with Catriona. With her being in Denver and me in London it meant we were both mostly reading when the other was asleep and catching up in the interim with questions and more often than not OMG have you got to.

We read a lot of gorgeous books last year and we are now reading Love at First Swipe as our first of 2021.

Right I won’t necessarily go in order but our first buddy read of 2020 was the gripping Mr Nobody by Catherine Steadman and you can read my thoughts here.

Our last read of 2020 was This Time Next Year and we actually went live on Catriona’s You Tube to live chat that one. My review is here. Here is the you tube Link.

The Switch By Beth O’Leary review.

The Secret Seaside Escape By Heidi Swain review – Heidi is definitely one of our mutual favourites. Neither of us can remember whether we actually read The Winter Garden together or if we just overlapped it Review.

Where We Belong by Anstey Harris Review – another author whose debut we both adored so it was a given we wanted to buddy read this one.

The Liberation of Brigid Dunne was both our first Patricia Scanlan read this is being repackaged this year as Family Reunion and you can read my review here.

The High Moments By Sara Ella Ozbek was a gorgeous debut from Simon & Schuster and you can read my thoughts here.

Mhari McFarlane is another author we both adore and we decided it was high time we read one neither of us had read. It’s Not Me, It’s You is one I’ve had on my shelf for ages. As I’ve mentioned before I love the look of hardbacks but hate carrying them around. You can read my review here.

The last two Isabelle Broom books we have buddy read I really enjoyed reading Hello Again with Catriona my review is here.

Here and Now was my first Santa Montefiore novel and Catriona hadn’t read one in a while and we were both intrigued by this one so….review.

Miranda Dickinson is a go to read for us both. We read The Day We Meet Again together so it was only natural we read Our Story together you can read my review here.

I’m not going to give every link as I could be here a while but we read through Paige Toon’s back catalogue Readathon until we got to The Minute I Saw you which you can read here. There were two or three that I still need to finish due to getting mad headaches so watch this space.

Pumpkin Everything was a book I came across on Facebook and in mentioning to Catriona. We were both eager to read it. We both have a soft spot for all things coffee with a syrup so this definitely fit the season. You can read my review here.

Dash & Lily’s Book Of Dares had been on my book shelf for a while. We had wanted to watch some of the Netflix series together so naturally needed to read the first book first. You can read my review here.

I don’t know about you but I’m intrigued to see what we can accomplish this year. More often than not I’m usually behind Catriona but with our first of this year I’m a little ahead.

Book Review: Love in Lockdown By Chloe James @FionaWoodifield

Blurb: Do you believe in love before first sight?

Lockdown is putting Sophia’s life on pause – just as she planned to put herself out there and meet someone. When the first clap for the keyworkers rings out around her courtyard, she’s moved to tears for all kinds of reasons.

Jack is used to living life to the fullest. He’s going stir-crazy after just days isolating. Until the night he hears a woman crying from the balcony under his. He strikes up a conversation with the stranger and puts a smile on her face.

Soon their balcony meetings are the highlight of Jack and Sophia’s days. But even as they grow closer together, they’re always kept apart.

Can they fall in love during a lockdown?

Review: Having lived through lockdown and the extension of lockdown, I never imagined I would want to read a book about it. In saying that – when I first opened Love in Lockdown I needed a book that I could fall in love with. I started reading this following having to give up on a Thriller that on paper was perfect for me. This was just the tonic I needed.

In saying that Love in Lockdown is a hopeful story that shows during times of trouble there is still joy, kindness and compassion.

I had initially thought I would have finished this much sooner than I did. The chapters were in sections of Sophia and Jack and there were a fair few moments when I was frantically reading on to find out what happened. Although I’m glad I had this pair for a little longer – although some aspects had me wistful for the life we once knew there was lots of humour that too came of our real to life experiences.

I love how Chloe James has looked at how the lockdown has effected the young and the older generation. Also looking at those of us in between and those who have even more life threatening reasons to stay home. It’s real we didn’t see it coming and my has it changed us all in so many ways.

This is a truly gorgeous tale where a shared interaction via the balcony changed both Sophia and Jack’s day to day. I loved seeing this friendship change over the course of the book. Although I will add there sure were a few bumps in the road that had me frantically turning the pages.

A surprisingly gorgeous read that will leave you feeling hopeful and full of love and admiration.