Favourite Book Covers

Well hello there fellow bookworms. I hope your week is going well! In this week's blog I'm going to be looking at some of my favourite book covers and asking you about yours!

Now, we are always told not to judge a book by its cover but I'm the complete opposite; as I work in marketing, the most crucial thing is a cover, poster, leaflet images etc. If the graphics are rubbish, there's no point in me picking it up. You know the covers I mean with the people on the front like they're from a teen chick flick? Yeah... that doesn't draw me in - it makes me want to run away.

The covers I love are bright with illustrations or interesting pictures. As long as it's creative and colourful, I will pick it up, even if I'm not sure about the story line. I'm going to be sharing the covers and blurbs from some of the books I love. Let's see if you prefer the cover or story line or hopefully both!

Autoboyography by Christina Lauren

Do I really have to say it? This cover is gorgeous because of the illustration and I'm a sucker for sunsets. Plus, there's a book on the book cover! What more could you want?

Blurb:

Three years ago, Tanner Scott’s family relocated from California to Utah, a move that nudged the bisexual teen temporarily back into the closet. Now, with one semester of high school to go, and no obstacles between him and out-of-state college freedom, Tanner plans to coast through his remaining classes and clear out of Utah.

But when his best friend Autumn dares him to take Provo High’s prestigious Seminar, where honor roll students diligently toil to draft a book in a semester, Tanner can’t resist going against his better judgment and having a go, if only to prove to Autumn how silly the whole thing is. Writing a book in four months sounds simple. Four months is an eternity.

It turns out, Tanner is only partly right: four months is a long time. After all, it takes only one second for him to notice Sebastian Brother, the Mormon prodigy who sold his own Seminar novel the year before and who now mentors the class. And it takes less than a month for Tanner to fall completely in love with him.

Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst

I bought this book because of the blurb but then fell in love with the cover! Needless to say I bought it and can't wait to read about a queen falling for a princess.

Blurb:

Betrothed since childhood to the prince of Mynaria, Princess Dennaleia has always known what her future holds. Her marriage will seal the alliance between Mynaria and her homeland, protecting her people from other hostile kingdoms.

But Denna has a secret. She possesses an Affinity for fire--a dangerous gift for the future queen of a land where magic is forbidden. Now Denna has to learn the ways of her new kingdom while trying to hide her growing magic. To make matters worse, she must learn to ride Mynaria's formidable warhorses before her coronation and her teacher is the person who intimidates her most, the prickly and unconventional Princess Amaranthine, sister of her betrothed. When a shocking assassination leaves the kingdom reeling, Mare and Denna reluctantly join forces to search for the culprit.

As the two work together, they discover there is more to one another than they thought--and soon their friendship is threatening to blossom into something more. But with dangerous conflict brewing that makes the alliance more important than ever, acting on their feelings could be deadly. Forced to choose between their duty and their hearts, Mare and Denna must find a way to save their kingdoms--and each other.

The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo

I saw the cover of this book on a fellow Instagrammer's page and fell in love with it and the story. It turned out to be one of my most favourite books I've ever read! And it was outside of my comfort zone which is a big plus. 

Blurb:

Lucy and Gabe meet in New York on a day that will change their lives – and the world – forever. As the city burns behind them, they kiss for the very first time. Over the next thirteen years they are torn apart, then brought back together, time and time again. It’s a journey of dreams, of desires, of jealousy, of forgiveness – and above all, love. And as Lucy is faced with a devastating choice, she wonders whether their love is a matter of destiny or chance.

Geekerella by Ashley Poston

Obviously this was another impulse buy because of the cover... And I loved the story line too!

Blurb:

Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic sci-fi series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball, and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot.

With savings from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck (and her dad s old costume), Elle s determined to win unless her stepsisters get there first. Teen actor Darien Freeman used to live for cons before he was famous. Now they re nothing but autographs and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Carmindor is all he's ever wanted, but Starfield fandom has written him off as just another dumb heartthrob.

As ExcelsiCon draws near, Darien feels more and more like a fake until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise. But when she disappears at midnight, will he ever be able to find her again? Part romance, part love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs, Geekerella is a fairy tale for anyone who believes in the magic of fandom. You can read my blog post on Geekerella here. 

We Are Okay by Nina LaCour

Even though I haven't purchased it yet, I really can't wait to read this. The cover is so pretty and unique and I purely would love it for the photos if I'm honest! Although the story line seems quite interesting.

Blurb:

Marin hasn't spoken to anyone from her old life since the day she left everything behind. No one knows the truth about those final weeks. Not even her best friend Mabel. But even thousands of miles away from the California coast, at college in New York, Marin still feels the pull of the life and tragedy she's tried to outrun. Now, months later, alone in an emptied dorm for winter break, Marin waits. Mabel is coming to visit and Marin will be forced to face everything that's been left unsaid and finally confront the loneliness that has made a home in her heart.

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

This cover is cute and modern and everything I adore. I can't wait to get my hands on the hardcover! The story line reminds me of Fangirl and Geekerella so if you have read either of these, it might be a good idea to try this one out.

Blurb:

Eighteen-year-old Eliza Mirk is the anonymous creator of Monstrous Sea, a wildly popular webcomic, but when a new boy at school tempts her to live a life offline, everything she’s worked for begins to crumble. In the real world, Eliza Mirk is shy, weird, smart, and friendless.

Online, Eliza is LadyConstellation, the anonymous creator of a popular webcomic called  Monstrous Sea With millions of followers and fans throughout the world, Eliza’s persona is popular. Eliza can’t imagine enjoying the real world as much as she loves her digital community.

Then Wallace Warland transfers to her school, and Eliza begins to wonder if a life offline might be worthwhile. But when Eliza’s secret is accidentally shared with the world, everything she’s built—her story, her relationship with Wallace, and even her sanity—begins to fall apart.

Let me know in the comments what your favourite book covers are so I can check them out! Until next time, love Vee x

6 Powerful Poems from the witch doesn't burn in this one

Hey guys! In this week's blog I'm going to be sharing some of the most powerful poems from Amanda Lovelace's collection: the witch doesn't burn in this one. Please tell me in the comments some of your favourite and inspiring poems.

1. This has to be one of my favourites from the book because it's so damn unapologetic. Do not, I repeat, do not let anybody walk over you.

2. You have all the strength in you that you need; use it and empower others.

3. The simple line is, you need to look after yourself just like you would a small child. Treat yourself with respect, self care and love.

4. We are strong, independent women and we've got this. When our enemies intend for us to crawl up in a ball, stand up and fight back. Not because you want to but because you have to.

5. You have no idea what you are capable of until you pick up a pen and write your heart out. Inspire others just like you and not like you to stand up for themselves, fight for what they want and live their happiest life.
















6. It is not normal to go through abuse. I've learnt this throughout the years and I'm here to tell you it isn't right. Society has altered our perceptions of what a healthy relationship is.

















I hope you feel as inspired as I did when I read Lovelace's books. Be powerful, inspire and take care of yourself. Until next time, Vee x

Poetry Review: Light Filters In

Hi guys! I've recently been reading lots more poetry and one of the collections I've read is Light Filters In by Caroline Kaufman. This was also an impulse buy! I'll be reviewing and showing you some of my favourite poems from the collection.

Review

Light Filters In is about being human and how fragile we are. The book is split up into four sections: The Darkness Falls. The Night Persists, The Dawn Breaks and The Sun Rises. This collection is written with honesty and Kaufman has opened up about her life with depression, self harm and abusive relationships and much more.

I liked the fact that being human and science were the main themes of the book as I'm also an atheist and even if some of the poems are very morbid, they're true, honest. Planets, stars and light are also mentioned throughout; the contrast between light and dark is also similar to depression and happiness.

Kaufman says that the destination isn't happiness, because after all, we won't always be happy a hundred per cent of the time. It's all about the journey, and sometimes the journey is messy and sad, but other times it's happy and joyful. I think that this book is mostly about recovery and how to cope in the bad times and how to release and feel joy in the good times. It's a wonderful read and I highly recommend it for anyone recovering or perhaps even going through depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts. It does get better - Kaufman is living proof of that. And so are you!

Overall, I wasn't sure about the theme at the start of the book as it was quite dark, but, like the theme, it gets lighter, it gets better and I really loved how clever the writing was.

Now I'm going to show you some of my favourite poems from the collection. If you have read Light Filters In, let me know what you thought in the comments.

If you have any poetry recommendations, let me know! Until next time, love, Vee x

Poetry Review: Pillow Thoughts

Hey guys! I hope you're having a wonderful weekend of relaxing and reading. I recently read Pillow Thoughts by Courtney Peppernell and I instantly fell in love with the way she uses her words. It was an impulse buy from Waterstones with my birthday voucher so I took a gamble to see if I liked it, and fortunately, it paid off. In this week's blog I'm going to be reviewing Pillow Thoughts and showing you some of my favourite poems.

My Review

I bought three poetry books recently and Pillow Thoughts was one of them. Pillow Thoughts is broken down into 10 sections including 'If You Are In Love,' 'If You Are Sad,' and 'If You Need A Reason To Stay.' Therefore, you can read them for any occasion and when you are feeling different emotions. I read the entire way through and could relate to so many of the poems - especially the long distance ones. My partner and I were long distance for three years and to read about all the feelings I used to feel, was enlightening. I used to feel so alone and thought the distance would never end.

I also related strongly to the 'If You Need A Reason To Stay' section as this had encouraging poems to comfort me. The way Courtney uses metaphors is beautiful and even if some of the poems seem easy to write, you can still relate to them but you would have never thought to write in that way.

I really enjoyed reading this collection and I'm looking forward to reading Pillow Thoughts II: Healing The Heart. I love modern poetry such as Amanda Lovelace's, Rupi Kaur's and Atticus' work and I think I just found a new favourite poet.

Now I'm going to show you some of my favourite poems from Pillow Thoughts! Let me know in the comments whether you've read it and what you thought!

See you next week. Love, Vee x

Our Trip to Amsterdam

Hey guys! Last week, Oliver and I were on our way to Amsterdam! We had such an amazing time and I wanted to share where we went and what we did with you. I hope you enjoy this post and let me know in the comments if you have been or are planning to go to Amsterdam.

Day One

I booked our holiday for three days and we stayed at the Ramada Airport Schiphol hotel which was a ten minute drive from the hotel and we had a free shuttle service to and from. It was a little way out of the centre of Amsterdam but there was a supermarket close by which meant we could buy all our drinks and some food at cheaper prices. You can get the train from the airport directly to the city centre and it takes around 20 minutes.

Our flight landed at around 8am so we had a whole day and checked in to our hotel to drop off our bags. We then headed back to the airport and caught the train into the centre. On our first day, we went to the sex museum, which was funny and interesting and maybe a little embarrassing! It's only five euros each. After that we took a wander around and had some lunch at McDonald's before making our way to Jordaan and the flower markets. We did a lot of walking so I recommend catching the tram or Metro! We also purchased a three day travel card from the airport which was around twenty-eight euros each and covered us for all trains, trams, metro and ferries.

We had a look at The Cat Boat, a little boat full of stray cats and then we walked all the way back to Dam Square and went to Ripley's Believe it or Not. I recommend looking at offers before going because we made the mistake of buying a full ticket when we could have had another tour for the same price. Ripley's was quite fun and we were there for Pride week and they were allowing people to marry for one day only so it was lovely seeing all the couples getting married!

We then walked all the way back to the Anne Frank House and had dinner at Pancakes Amsterdam, which is just across from Anne Frank. We recommend using your card more than bringing cash as we ate there three times and they don't accept cash but give you the option to pay in pounds so you don't have to pay an exchange rate. The pancakes are delicious and you get a little key ring souvenir each time you go.

We booked the 6pm slot to visit the Anne Frank House and it was the most inspiring experience; you can't go to Amsterdam without visiting. There was a screaming baby which ruined the experience slightly, but seeing the attic, where she lived, was insane. The experience made me quite emotional and we must have been there for over an hour. You get to use headsets which tell you more in detail about the way the Franks lived and what happened to them.

Day Two

On day two, all rested from the day before, we made our way out into the city early and visited Noord on the ferry. We saw online that there was a place called A'dam Lookout. It's a tall building which has a swing that swings you over the edge, so of course Oliver wanted to try it. We booked our slot and for around forty euros we went upstairs and looked around as the sights from up there were incredible. We should have bought the ticket that included lunch though as we both had paninis.

The swing, Over the Edge, was scary but an experience I'm glad I didn't miss. We made our way back downstairs and onto the ferry which departs around every six minutes and it's also free.

We then made our way to the smallest pub in Amsterdam (from the TV advert), the smallest house and the smallest cafe, where we went to have a drink.

In the evening we headed over to the Red Light District and visited the Erotic Museum which was about seven euros each. It has some of John Lennon's drawings, a weird cartoon program and lots of sex toys. We also visited the Prostitution Museum which is a few buildings down and that was around eleven euros each. You get a headset to listen to a prostitute's story and you get to visit the brothel. The end was the best part because everyone writes their sex confessions and sticks them on the wall! 

We went to the Pancake place again to kill time so it would get dark so we could see the Red Light District at night. It was weird seeing prostitutes in the windows and seeing all the guilty men coming out at only 9pm. It was interesting to see and I definitely recommend going at night when it's so busy.

Day Three

We had pretty much done everything we wanted to do and see so we headed off to the airport to drop off our luggage (only six euros each on card if you're taking hand luggage). We wanted to visit Artis Zoo so we took the Metro. It was around fifty euros for both of us to get in and it was quite a large zoo. They have everything from elephants to insects, reptiles to penguins and wolves. I definitely recommend a visit if you have time and it only takes a few hours to go around, depending on what you want to see.

We then made our way to the pancake place again where I had american pancakes with bacon and maple syrup (oh my God it was so good). By the time we had finished, it was already time to go!

I think three days was enough for Oliver and I, but it depends on what you like to do. If you're an art freak or museum nut, then you might need longer, but if you're like us and want to do little museums and attractions, then you won't need long at all.

Until next time, love Vee x

Attending YALC

Hi guys! So I attended YALC at Comic Con which is basically a book lover's heaven. There were book signings, publishers, workshops, talks and more. I'll be showing you what I got up to and who I met!

So the day didn't go to plan because the trains decided to have a shit fit, but when we finally got there, we went upstairs and saw so many people dressed up in costumes and went to see all the stalls in the main section of Comic Con.

First we went to sit down and listen to the talk Lisa Williamson was hosting, called 'Real World, Real Me.' It was all about mental health books, the process of writing and what they were about. It was a great talk and I also went to see Juno Dawson talk at the end of the day. She was talking about Clean and addiction and how it's still such a taboo subject.

There was a Waterstone's pop up shop where you could buy the author's books and there were so many publishing houses, including Walker books, Penguin, Bloomsbury and Quirk books.

I managed to get Floored signed by Holly Bourne and bumped into Lisa Williamson, who I interviewed on my blog. I adore Lisa and Juno and I can't wait to read more of their work. I also loved seeing all the new authors and the author talks gave me more books to put on my to be read pile!

If you went along, let me know what you thought! Until next time, Vee x

An Author Interview with Lisa Williamson

Hey guys! So this week I have a special author interview with Lisa Williamson who kindly agreed to answer a few of my questions. I hope you enjoy her answers!

About Lisa Williamson

Lisa is the author of the book, The Art of Being Normal, which I absolutely loved because it has two transgender characters in who are so different yet so lovely in their own ways. It really reminded me of Jacqueline Wilson! She is also the author of All About Mia and her newest book, Paper Avalanche is out in January 2019.You can read more about Lisa here.

Interview Q&A

What was your inspiration for writing The Art of Being Normal and what part/character was your favourite to write?

I was initially inspired to write about trans teenagers following a two year spell as administrator for the Gender Identity Development Service (the NHS service for young people struggling with gender identity issues) between 2010 and 2012. Having noted a severe lack of transgender protagonists in YA fiction at the time (something which is slowly changing!), I wanted to have a bash at writing something that explored gender identity in a way that reflected the experiences of the young people using the service.

From the very beginning, I wanted to write a book that was about gender identity, but not defined by it, just like the dozens of young people I met. My favourite parts to write were all the horrible bits – the bullying scene and the scene in the woods. I don't know why, but writing really emotionally charged scenes is the most exciting part of writing for me. My favourite character to write was Leo. I loved how gruff yet vulnerable he is.

What made you want to be a writer? Did you know from a young age you were going to write books?

I've always loved stories and from a very early age, I'd make up stories in my head. My first ambition was to be an illustrator and I'd spend hours drawing people and coming up with back stories for them all. As I got older, I developed a love for acting and I sort of forgot about writing for a while! I rediscovered it in my late-twenties when I was temping in offices between acting jobs but it took another six years before I got a publishing deal.

Who is your favourite author/book and why?

I have lots of favourites but one that really stands out is When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. It's clever, funny, inventive and beautifully written.

What's your advice for someone going through writer's block or someone wanting to become a published author?

If you have writer's block the worst thing you can do is stare at your notebook or computer screen and wait for inspiration to hit. Go for a walk, watch a film, do a really mundane domestic task, write something totally different - anything that will take your mind off your project. More often than not, the solution to your problem will present itself when you're least expecting it.

My best advice for aspiring authors is to remind yourself it's not a race. I was 35 when I first got published and I know many authors who were significantly older than that. Writing is a craft and it takes time and hard work to figure out your voice and style. If your destiny is to be a writer, it'll happen. Just stick at it and try to have as much fun with it as possible.

Do you have any plans to write more books/series?

I do! My next book, Paper Avalanche is out in January 2019 and I'm currently working on a fourth novel.

If you had to pick a quote that you had to live by, which one would it be?

'Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today' (Jordan Peterson).

Now, this is a fun question I love. You're stranded on an island and you can only pick 3 people and 3 objects/things to take with you. Who and what would you take?

My boyfriend Dylan, the author Non Pratt and my good friend Ash. They're three of the most interesting and inventive people I know. Plus, they're positive thinkers (a handy trait on a desert island!). In terms of items, I'd go for pen and paper (can that count as one, please?), sunscreen (I'll burn to a crisp otherwise), and a hammock.


I hope you all enjoyed this author interview and I'll see you next week! Love, Vee x

An Interview With C.G. Drew

Hi guys! This week's blog is a special interview with C.G. Drew, the author of A Thousand Perfect Notes. I'm excited for this one!

About C.G. Drew

For those of you who don't know, here's a brief overview of who C.G. Drew is, taken from Goodreads.com:

C.G. Drews lives in Australia with her piano and the goal of reading every book in existence. Consequently, her brain has overflowed with words and she spends her days writing novels to make you laugh or cry (or both). She never sleeps and believes in cake for breakfast.

She blogs at paperfury.com.

Interview

A Thousand Perfect Notes was recently released in the UK last month; what gave you the idea for the story?

The very first threads I had for the story came from wanting to retell a classical composer's life! (I won't say the exact name, but you'll know when you read the book!) I also have a bit of a whisper of Cinderella in there, coupled with the want to tell a story about siblings, friendship, music, and saving yourself.

A Thousand Perfect Notes is an emotionally charged story and I was wondering what the hardest/best part to write was?

The best parts to write were the banter scenes! I love writing jokes and quips, so it made me smile! The hardest, for me, is usually the last chapters. Keeping the tension right, figuring out a satisfying ending, and then of course letting it out in the wild to see what people think after I'm done...Always nerve-wracking!
 

Where do you like to read/write; does it have to be quiet or loud, indoors or outdoors?

 
I love the quiet! I'll even wear headphones (without music haha) to block out as much white noise as possible. I usually write in bed too...or sometimes sitting on the floor (shh, I promise I'm a professional) and I do have a desk but somehow it ends up covered in books.

 

I'm sure you get asked this question a lot by writers but how do you cope with writer's block? And is there any advice you could give to someone experiencing it?

 
Oh it's the worst for sure. I actually write very intense outlines (we're talking 20,000 words!) so I won't get stuck at all while drafting. But when plotting and developing stories, I do get blocked. I don't think there's a "this works every time!" fix, but sometimes going for a walk and listening to music can help get the gears turning. I also make sure I keep my creative tank full (read lots of books, watch movies, look at art, etc.). I whinge about writer's block, but I make sure I've put aside actual time to tackle it and I don't just hope it resolves itself!

This is a hard question for any reader! Who is your favourite author or book and why?

Ahhh I can't pick one favourite!! But here are some authors who endlessly inspire me! Maggie Stiefvater, VE Schwab, Adam Silvera, K. Ancrum, and Patrick Ness.

What are your future plans; are you doing a book tour for A Thousand Perfect Notes?

No book tour! I'm just small-time author yet!

This is one of my favourite questions to ask: If you were stranded on an island and could only choose 3 people and 5 books to read, what would they be and why?

For the people, I'd chose my sisters probably! (And possibly someone else who knows how to make a raft?!?) And the 5 books would be: The Lies of Locke Lamora, Lady Midnight, The Scorpio Races, The Wicker King and Autoboyography!

Your second book, The Boy Who Steals Houses is out in 2019; How different was it writing this book compared to A Thousand Perfect Notes?

I'm so excited for everyone to meet Sam and Avery in The Boy Who Steals Houses! The writing is definitely my same style as for ATPN, but you can expect a little bit of unique formatting, some achingly short chapters in the finale, and scenes that will make you laugh....and also cry!

Thank you so much for reading and I'll see you next week! Love, Vee x

Book Review: Autoboyography

Hey guys! In this week's blog I'm going to be reviewing Christina Lauren's Autoboyography. Christina Lauren is actually the pen name for two authors called Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings who have co-written several novels together.

Overview

Autoboyography is about a teen called Tanner who lives in Provo and is finishing college. His best friend, Autumn, convinces him to join the Seminar where they have to write a book within four months. In the previous class, Sebastian, who is now the TA in Tanner's class, wrote a book the semester before and is now writing his second.

Tanner is bisexual and comes from a very accepting family (you'll be see plenty of Pride bumper stickers and PJs from his parents), but since moving from Palo Alto, Tanner's parents have sworn he keeps his sexuality to himself as everyone in the town is Mormon. This includes Sebastian, who Tanner has a crush on.

Soon, Tanner is struggling to write his story without including Sebastian in and his feelings overcome him. Will Tanner's feelings for Sebastian be reciprocated? Or will this go down in flames?

Review

I have so much to say about this book because it's been on my TBR pile for ages. I finally bought it (I'll admit the cover convinced me) and I instantly fell in love with the characters, especially Autumn, who I strongly believe needs her very own book in my opinion. She's so lovable and intriguing.

In my opinion, I didn't really warm to Sebastian but by the end I was totally smitten with the two of them! I enjoyed the plot of the book because it was centered around LGBT characters and creative writing. Although the Seminar didn't seem to play a big part at first, by the end it's the key element that makes this story beautiful. (You'll also love Fujita, the teacher.)

I was dubious about this read at first because there is so much religion within it and since I'm an atheist, I wasn't interested in reading about God or his plans for His Children. But I was pleasantly surprised that the book was written mostly about Sebastian's religion and didn't mock it in any way or try to 'recruit' people. Tanner's mum was brought up LDS and she had bad experiences with her parents and even though she absolutely hates the church, she welcomes Sebastian in with open arms. Also, everyone needs parents like Tanner's. They are so accepting and supportive, yet concerned about their children. It's the perfect balance - not overbearing but just the right amount of worried.

Also, Tanner is such a babe. That's right, I said it. He reminds me of myself (wow, smug) - creative but lacking the inspiration, falls head over heels in love and overthinks way too much. If he was any more confident or needy, he'd be annoying but he's actually the perfect amount of Tanner.

Sebastian's parents aren't open minded but this book doesn't portray them as being 'evil' or 'nasty,' but instead, they are seen as being brought up within such a tight knit, judgmental environment. Christina Lauren doesn't pass judgement on anyone in the book; but it's common sense to let people be themselves and that's what this story is trying to convey.

If you love LGBT+ novels and cheesy gestures, then you'll love this read. It's super easy to read and the characters are just so lovable.

I need to go make a petition for Christina Lauren to write a novel about Autumn Green. Go read this wonderful book now!

Until next time, love Vee x

Pride Month - My Story

Hey guys. Happy Pride Month! How are you celebrating?

This blog is going to be a little different this month as I talk about my experiences in the LGBT+ community. I will also be sharing some events that are going on in the UK this year for anyone wanting to celebrate Pride.

My LGBT+ Story

I don't like to put labels on people or myself because I don't believe I should put myself in a box. But I also like having some sort of label there so that I know who I am and can better explain it to people. I hope that makes sense! I'm pansexual which means I'm attracted to people regardless of their gender. I prefer using this label instead of bisexual as that seems to mean you are attracted to both genders. I may have got that wrong, but it makes sense for me to call myself pansexual.

I was never really exposed to the idea that my sexuality was anything but straight; I knew about gay people but it wasn't until I was in my teens and met my partner that I looked into all the different sexualities and genders. I started to experiment and found that I felt more masculine than feminine. I went for a few months buying boy's clothing, cut all my hair off and tried to hide my chest as much as possible.

After a while I started to miss my hair, missed my clothes and thought to myself, what if I'm not trans after all? I then started to think I may be genderfluid. This means that a person feels more masculine than feminine or more feminine than masculine on some days. I found this confusing at first but also read into non-binary. Non-binary means that a person feels like neither gender and dresses how they feel. I believe a part of me is still considering all these labels but for now, I'm going to go with the flow and see how I feel without putting myself in a box.

Feel free to share your LGBT+ stories below!

Pride Events

There are always Pride events going on but June and July are the best times to go - especially since it's Summer! Get your glitter on and dance like no one is watching at these fabulous events going on across the country 💗 See all events here.

If you don't feel comfortable going to Pride yet or you're not out to your family, then try hosting your own Pride event with a few friends. Have people over, order in a pizza and watch your favourite LGBT+ programme.  I hope your Pride Month is amazing, regardless of what you get up to.

That's all for now! See you next week. Love, Vee x

Poetry Review: the witch doesn't burn in this one

Hey guys! In this week's blog I'm going to be talking about and reviewing Amanda Lovelace's second installment of poetry. I have read the princess saves herself in this one and it was one of the best collections of modern poetry I have read. I'm also open to more poetry book suggestions so please feel free to comment your recommendations!

So Amanda Lovelace's idea of poetry is different to the normal, old fashioned type but in lots of ways it's so much better in getting messages across. In this second poetry collection, Lovelace explores topics such as revenge, politics, sexual assault and feminism.

When I first read the book my first impression was that it was very anti men. I haven't been through her experiences so I can't comment on that but I feel like most of the poems attacked men - maybe it was just aimed at rapists and bad men but for me, I would feel rather uneasy about reading this as a guy.

However, Lovelace explores her inner strength in this book as well as her previous one. She writes mostly about women helping women, supporting one another; knowing that we are strong. I think it's so important that she has written about this subject because we do need to stick together and change the world through art. If even one person reads your work, that might be the sign they needed. That might be the thing that they need to hear. If your art can change or empower another person, even just one person, it's still worth writing, painting, drawing, crafting.

Lovelace also explores eating disorders and how we see ourselves. Lots of young people could feel less alone just by reading her poems. A major theme in this book is having confidence and exploring how that isn't a bad thing. As long as you don't have a massive ego but you love who you are, that's all that matters.

We need to cheer each other on and that's what I have taken away from this book. I want to stand up for myself and be the happiest version of me possible. Reading Lovelace's poetry always inspires me to follow my dreams - shouldn't all writers' work have that effect?

Have you read any of her work? If you haven't I highly recommend getting down to your local bookstore or online to buy both her works! Until next week, Vee x

Book Review: Turtles All The Way Down

Hey guys! So as you may know, I'm a huge fan of John Green and have read all his books. I've been wanting to read Turtles All The Way Down for a long time and I finally finished it! I won't lie, it was hard to get into but you can definitely tell Green has put himself into his work once again, even if it isn't the masterpiece Looking For Alaska or Papertowns was. 

The book is about Aza and her struggle with OCD and I believe other mental illnesses. The book goes really in depth into this subject so it may be triggering for some.

I sympathized with Aza but I also didn't really like her personality. Her mental illness pulls her apart from her friends and family. However, there isn't much about Aza that we know.

Green didn't really give her character much build up...it was mostly about her illness and how this was her. The book is supposed to be this way but I did struggle with just reading about her thoughts and not having much background information. 
Although I know John Green's work is very trippy and quirky, it was a little bit dull for me.

I thought the descriptions and portrayal of mental illness was well thought out. But apart from that I felt like the characters weren't fully formed and the book only became exciting near the end. This book is pretty much all about reality like all his books - but with a twist. Even if it's far fetched, that's Green. He executes his work brilliantly but for me this isn't one of my favourites.

I liked the friendship between Aza and Daisy because it's real; they have arguments which is normal. Friends stick by you but they also tell you the truth. However, I think the relationships between the characters needed to be more in depth and I expected more mystery surrounding Pickett's disappearance.  It was mostly about Aza's condition, which in the general scheme of things is what Green is trying to portray. That mental illness is all consuming. This is such a powerful book so I won't spoil it for you! I was just left a little confused and disappointed with the story line.

However, books like these are so important to have for people to understand mental illness; it gets inside the mind and I must admit I have had intrusive thoughts - everyone does - so maybe that is why I struggled with the theme.

Please let me know your thoughts about the book once you've read it; I'd love to know what other's opinions are.
Well, until next time. Love, Vee x

Books That Should Be Movies

We all know on our shelf there are books we wish were movies. Obviously in a perfect world, they would represent the book exactly right. And even though this mostly doesn't happen, we all still crave our favourite book to be made into a movie. I've compiled a list of books I loved reading and therefore think would make excellent films. Thank god Every Day by David Levithan is being made - it needed to be so badly!

The Shiver Triology by Maggie Stiefvater

I know, I know, I go on about this series way too much - but there's a reason! It was the best fantasy series I've ever read and I think the whole wolf/forbidden relationship thing would make the perfect movie.

Will Grayson Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

Come on guys; it would be the gayest, happiest movie out there with Tiny Cooper running the show. I still need to read the Tiny Cooper Hold Me Closer book but I stand by my opinion that it should be a movie.

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

This is one of the first LGBT books I read and I've never looked back since; all I read are gay romance novels. David turned me into an LGBT fanatic. No joke. It would be such a cute film about love and lust and acceptance.

Geekerella by Ashley Poston

Geekerella was such a cute retelling of Cinderella with geeky twists and nerdy happy ever afters. I think it would be the perfect film to go watch with that nerd who loves Disney movies.

The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo

This book had me in floods of tears and gave me too many shivers to count. I can imagine it to be something like the Notebook and such a wonderfully sad film. This needs to happen. Anyone want to start a petition with me?!

What are some of your books that you wish could be movies? Let me know in the comments! Until next time, Vee x

Meeting David Levithan

Hey guys! So a few weeks back I had the privilege of meeting David Levithan at Waterstones Piccadilly for the YA Extravaganza panel event. I was so excited for this because I originally booked to see David at an event where we were going to watch Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and he was going to sign books. But unfortunately Oliver came down with pneumonia so we couldn't attend, which is why I was so thrilled to get a second chance to meet him!

Oliver and I went along to Waterstones and waited in line to get in. As we sat down there was a sneak peak of David's Someday, the sequel to Everyday but we aren't allowed to show anyone so we felt really exclusive. The atmosphere was amazing with so many fangirls and book nerds.

We listened to the panel which had authors Juno Dawson, Alice Oseman, Simon James Green , Lucy Christopher and Katherine Webber. And obviously David. They talked about the writing process, different types of books and the audience had a chance to ask questions about the books and the authors themselves. I realized, after the talk, that I knew some of Juno's work and I'm really interested to get my hands on Clean, her latest book.

After the talk we all had a chance to meet the authors and purchase books so obviously I had to meet David and I bought his latest release, Sam and Ilsa's Last Hurrah, which was co written with Rachel Cohn. I walked up to him and my stomach was full of butterflies. I handed him the book and told him he's my favourite author and his book, Two Boys Kissing was my absolute favourite and he told me it was his too. I asked for a photo and he agreed!

I was so thrilled and the feeling that ran through me was a mixture of pride, amazement and promise. I hope that one day I can be just like him; editing and writing stories from home, flying over the world to give talks and have discussions. I felt at home and what a wonderful feeling it was.

I can't wait for Someday to come out in October and I feel empowered by these authors to follow my own dreams. I also got to know more authors who's books I'm interested in reading and who doesn't love adding more books on to their To Be Read piles?!

Thank you for reading and I'll see you soon! Love, Vee x

Film Review: Every Day

Hey guys! So in this week's blog I'm going to be reviewing the film Every Day. The book was written by David Levithan and is one of my favourites.

However, the book is always better and in this case it certainly is. The book made sense and was reality mixed with the impossible. The ending is different from different perspectives - like in Another Day we see Rhiannon's point of view and in Every Day we see A's.

The film could have been better executed in so many ways; for instance, they could have had A and Rhiannon narrate the story so we could actually understand what was happening - unless you read the book first this would be a very disappointing film. The ending is different to the book and the overall acting was dramatized and cringy. The way they run off and have adventures is completely different from the book and the French restaurant they meet at was hardly mentioned.

For anyone thinking teen romance films are already too cringy, their opinion would be valid if they saw this movie.

The speed of which they got through the scenes made little to no sense and there was hardly any comedy or train of thought. It was as if the film was making tons of scenes and lobbing them together, regardless of whether or not they made any sense. There was no transition is what I'm trying to say.

The film had the potential to be really well done, and even though some of the scenes reminded me of the book, the ending is disheartening for anyone who hasn't read it first. I was really looking forward to seeing how they pulled this film off but the time and effort wasn't there and it certainly didn't show.

I hope Levithan will stick to the books because they are so much better than any movie could be. I hate to give a bad review but I have to be honest, even if it's a product from my favourite author.

Please let me know your thoughts in the comments and let me know if you read the book first or after! Until next time, love Vee x

Book OTPs

Hey guys! In this week's blog I want to talk about my book OTPs (One True Pairings) and I'd love to hear yours too. Mine may be a bit unusual so I apologize if you don't know what book I'm talking about!

Simon and Baz (Snowbaz)

Simon and Baz are from Rainbow Rowell's book "Carry On" and I absolutely love Snowbaz! They are adorable. Simon hasn't figured out he's gay yet and Baz is Simon's nemesis. It's very much a love/hate relationship. Very unconventional but I ship it so much. If you enjoy fantasy, LGBT books and lovable bad boys, then this is the book you've been waiting for. But I definitely recommend reading Fangirl first as it might not make as much sense.

Sam and Grace 

Sam and Grace are from Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver trilogy and it's honestly the best series I've ever read (I know, I mention this a lot). Sam is a wolf and Grace is a human who is very confused by life and she doesn't know what she wants to do; but what she does know is that she's always been drawn to the wolves in her back garden. And that's when Sam becomes human and the most whirlwind romance begins.
You can read my review of the Shiver trilogy here.

Isabel and Cole St Clair

Isabel and Cole are also from the Shiver trilogy and even have their own spin off called Sinner. Much like Snowbaz, Isabel and Cole's relationship is built on hate, envy and jealousy. Isabel's brother has died and she's looking for comfort away from her family and Cole moves to LA to be near her. From there, their relationship unravels and as it does, so does their feelings...
You can read my review on Sinner here.

Lucy and Gabe

Lucy and Gabe are from Jill Santopolo's book "The Light We Lost." This is one of the first adult books I've read since I always read YA and I can tell you there's no better book to start with than this beauty. It was heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once. The story follows the ups and downs of relationships, break ups and getting back together. Their story might not be a happy one, but it's theirs and that's what makes it beautiful.
You can read my review of The Light We Lost here.

I hope you enjoyed this week's blog and I'll see you next time. Love, Vee x