Audiobook Review: The Woman In Me By Britney Spears

Blurb: The Woman in Me is a brave and astonishingly moving story about freedom, fame, motherhood, survival, faith, and hope.

In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice—her truth—was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. The Woman in Me reveals for the first time her incredible journey—and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history.

Written with remarkable candor and humor, Spears’s groundbreaking book illuminates the enduring power of music and love—and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last.

Review: From when this was first announced it was definitely something I wanted to read. Although, in saying that I knew it would be a novel that took over my emotions. It took me a while in deciding whether I would read or listen. I decided I would listen to it via my library, there was undoubtedly a short wait but it became available when I was off work so at the best time…I devoured her words in a few days. In each chapter I became more and more saddened how an entire family could treat a superstar in the way they did.

Britney was a child star and I still remember when I first purchased her first single Baby One More Time…she was a breath of fresh air and a welcome change. I’ve always loved a boyband but she had sass and cuteness. I hadn’t been that bothered by American stars until Britney. Being a superstar everyone knew somewhat of her struggles but in listening to her story it’s heartbreaking to think she struggled for so long, long before the conservatorship.

It’s also hard to hear the reasonings behind the shaving of her head – the ultimate cry for help. Her mum and sister should feel ashamed profiting from her downward spiral. When in all honesty Britney wanted to be a mum. It’s also sad to hear how much her Las Vegas shows made her sad. She had so many ideas that would have been amazing if only she was allowed to create her own shows rather than simply continuing the same show – which bored her and she stated was unfair on her fans.

Some of what she suffered as a child she shouldn’t have. I mean from her words she fully understands that a lot of her childhood wasn’t normal, yet she’s still a kindhearted person that wanted to live her life her way.

I’m not a mother but I cannot understand how someone who is supposed to be family – someone who loves you unconditionally could keep her apart from her children and as an adult to not be able to spend her own money. Let’s face it she earned it.

A memoir that will leave you feeling differently about the world of celebrity and what you think you know. Considering everything she went through Britney is still a kindhearted soul and as much as she may post some bizarre things from time to time. I fully understand why – she’s now living her life on her terms. I’ve always been Team Britney but even more so following listening to this.

Audiobook Review: What Fresh Hell By Lucy Vine @Lecv

Blurb: What do you get if you cross a dozen drunk hens with one shiny Butler in the Buff?

Meet Lilah Fox. She’s on the hen do from hell. Then she gets a message (44 of them, actually) from her best friend with big news: she’s getting married in six months. Oh, and Lilah’s her maid of honour. Which means she just got signed up for:

– A military schedule of wedding fairs and weekly planning meetings

– Excel spreadsheets and endless hen emails

– All the enforced, expensive fun you can imagine…

What fresh hell is this?

Review: Following reading Seven Exes which is Lucy’s latest novel which isn’t out until next year. I was left wanting more of Lucy’s trademark wit and raw entertainment. Lucy makes me feel seen but she also gives me so much in forms of entertainment and understanding. We all need to know that it’s not just us who feel like life’s turning to shit or a guy has made us doubt our own existence and self esteem.

Lilah Fox is the friend we all need and the gumption we all need a little bit more of. I loved every single second of this journey with her. From the off I adored her but seeing her grow and change was empowering. Lilah starts off being a bit of a yes person someone who is so scared of missing out she says yes to absolutely everything even though it’s not making her happy at all.

On paper Lilah has it all, a good job, a nice home that she shares with her boyfriend Will and a good friendship group who keep her busy. The majority of this novel focuses on Lilah going to a number of weddings, being that yes girl and not wanting to miss out. Yet alongside the humour at laughing at the drama of it all she starts to lose a bit of herself. This is where we see an empowered Lilah rewrite her own story, not settling with life in anyway shape or form. This turning point of change will have you thinking of your own life experiences and wondering what you can do to change it.

What I notice with Lucy Vine novels is not only are you in for a romp of a read with lots of laddette culture, which I absolutely love and the odd penis reference to name a few, you will also find a friendship group of ladies who will well and truly claim your heart.

Lilah, Lauren and Joely are the best bunch – they all have their own unique spark which is why they are friends and why the dynamic works so well. Without any actual spoilers the scene where they make peace will actually have you laughing so hard and feeling such a rush of love for the trio.

What Fresh Hell is a rollercoaster read in seeing a woman change her own story, we all need to feel empowered and this has definitely left me empowered. Lilah is a force to be reckoned with and if I can bring some of her spark to my 2023 then I’ll be flying high on all cylinders. I have one Lucy Vine left her debut novel Hot Mess which I’ve had on my kindle for forever but once that’s done I’ll be well and truly spent 😦

International Women’s Day 2021

Today is International Women’s Day and I wanted to mark the occasion it’s been a few years since I’ve penned a post dedicated to today. You can read the last one I wrote here. I was pretty sure there was a similar post but I can’t seem to locate it so it could have been before this blog took hold.

I’m fully accepting of women empowering women. This doesn’t always happen but we should be empowering each other rather than picking fault with each other every single day not just on a token day like today. We are all individuals of different shapes, sizes, colours etc but we should be embracing how wonderful we all are in our own right.

I am forever grateful to the fantastic women I have in my family past and present. I cannot and will not forget those who are no longer with us like my Nan’s and my Auntie Bina. I would like to think that the time we had with these amazing women has helped shape the women we are today.

Back in my previous post I was a work in progress and could have been happier – I’ve come a long way since 2008 yet in some ways I’m still a work in progress of a much fitter variety. I cannot wait to be back pounding the pavement but right now I’m making myself stronger and seeking more advice – watch this space. Today I have set myself a number of tasks to do and I’ve felt better for both the exercises I have done and the general list that I’m scrolling through.

We can and we will. Women empowering women. I’m missing my friends a lot right now.

I could promote so many women today but what I will say is seek out women writers, singers, actors and appreciate all they do.

Audible Review: What Happens Now By Sophia Money-Coutts

Blurb: After eight years together, Lil Bailey thought she’d already found ‘the one’ – that is, until he dumped her for a blonde twenty-something colleague. So she does what any self-respecting singleton would do: swipes right, puts on her best bra and finds herself on a first date with a handsome mountaineer called Max. What’s the worst that can happen?

Well it’s pretty bad actually. First Max ghosts her and then, after weeing on a stick (but mostly her hands), a few weeks later Lil discovers she’s pregnant. She’s single, thirty-one and living in a thimble-sized flat in London, it’s hardly the happily-ever-after she was looking for.

Lil’s ready to do the baby-thing on her own – it can’t be that hard, right? But she should probably tell Max, if she can track him down. Surely he’s not that Max, the highly eligible, headline-grabbing son of Lord and Lady Rushbrooke, currently trekking up a mountain in South Asia? Oh, maybe he wasn’t ignoring Lil after all…  

Review: I saw a tweet of a video of Sophia Money-Coutts reading the prologue of What Happens Now. I was instantly intrigued in looking into the audio and in reading that she’d read her book I instantly hit the pre-order button. I did manage to listen to a bit on publication day but as it was just before my holiday and crazy busy at work I didn’t devour it as quickly as I would have hoped. Although saying that, that wasn’t a bad thing at all as this book will keep you in good spirits whatever life’s throwing at you.

From the very start I adored Lil she’s a straight up talking gal with no airs and graces. Often thinking after she’s said the unthinkable, although saying that she’s a professional teacher who does her best for her pupils. I loved this story from start to finish it was hilarious at times but Sophia also manages to interlink amazing real life scenarios that have you thinking. I liked seeing both sides of her, at her funniest and at her lowest and the resounding message is that she’s a strong woman.

At first I got a little confused until I’d realised that some chapters were from the meet between Max and Lil and then from when she found out she was pregnant. That scene alone was one of the funniest moments even though you’re like OMG what is she going to do now? Lil’s relationship with her family is a little strained but deep down the family unit is there and she has a fabulous set of friends who really make up a lot of this novel especially when Lil is seriously stressing out. She’s oblivious to who Max really is and that also adds to the humour.

Max is a great leading man he’s not so much brooding but he’s definitely got his own share of baggage. Although Lil being Lil puts two and two together and makes five. I loved how their story shaped and I had many hours of listening to them, and constantly wanting more. As I neared the end of the novel it was hard to put it down.

This was my first Sophia Money-Coutts novel and it definitely won’t be my last if you haven’t discovered the wit and flair of Sophia look no further. For me What Happens Now was a snapshot of what she can do combining real and at times hard issues with humour sure is a skill.