Fiction Friday: You're The One That I Want

Before I went on holiday in June I downloaded a few new books onto my Kindle to get my teeth sunk into. I just love reading new books and was really excited to just sit and read with nothing else going on. My favourite book whilst I was away had to be You're The One That I Want by Giovanna Fletcher (Tom fom McFly's wife, if you didn't already know!)

The story follows three friends, from primary school to their late twenties. You get the perspective from two different characters, Ben and Maddy. You also kind of get a perspective from Rich too, but not in the same amount of detail as the previous two. For me, that's something I really enjoy in books.

I found a lot of the things really relatable in the book, and think that Giovanna really captured what children and young adults really experience as they grow up. She shows how difficult it can be growing up and how different stages of your life bring with it knew and exciting turn.

I wouldn't say its a hard hitting book, but it definitely clutches at your heart strings and I did not want to put this book down. It also left me thinking for quite a while after, so I'm glad I left it till the end of my trip as I think I would've found it hard to get into another book after. 

Have you read this book?

Laura

Fiction Friday: Before I Go To Sleep

You may remember a previous Fiction Friday post where I informed you that I was beginning to indulge into the thriller side of fiction, and boy has the continued. When I gave my aunt back her books she lent me a couple more, and amongst them was S J Watson's Before I Go To Sleep. 

This book has been one of those that I've found myself racing home from work and staying up past my bed time to read. It just had me hooked so I knew I had to share it again.

Just like with the other books, it wasn't a scary thriller, but one that left you on edge wanting to know what happened. It's hard to find a character you can trust, and sometimes you find yourself even doubting the protagnoist too; which is what makes it such a page turner. I just found myself desperate to know what happens next.

Unlike with Gone Girl, which did have quite a few dramatic twists, the twists in this book are constant and actually 'gasp' worthy. It really shocks you at so many different points.

A little about the plot, without spoilers. It's based around a woman called Christine who has amenisa after an accident, and each morning she wakes up either thinking she's a child or in her early twenties with no current memories. She then has to be reminded each day who she is and who she lives with etc. As the book goes on you see how she tries to remember past events and comes to terms with things that have happened in her life since the accident.

Really interesting, really gripping and I highly recommend it.

Have you read this? What do you think?

Laura

Fiction Friday: Getting into Thrillers

When it comes to fiction I'm pretty much rom com central. Any story where a girl meets a guy and they fall in love and end up happily ever after pretty much makes me happy. That and a bit of teen fiction such as the Hunger games and (dare I say it) Twilight. However I'd heard such a buzz about Gone Girl that summer, two years ago, I downloaded the preview onto my Kindle to give it a go, but I just couldn't get into it.

Of course over those two years more and more people started reading it, so when I spotted it on my aunt's shelf a couple of weeks ago I asked if I could borrow it and decided to see what all the fuss was about; and now I get it!

For me, it starts off a bit slow, and whilst it is meant to be a thriller, the writing style (especially of Amy's diary) is pretty much the style I'm used to. Then you get to the middle and shit gets cray! For me, the only let down of the book was the end.

When I asked to borrow Gone Girl my aunt suggested I also read Into The Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes, as she said it's better than Gone Girl.

Again when I read the description at the back I did wonder if it was going to be my cup of tea (Green Tea with mint, if you were wondering!) but I devoured the whole book in one sitting on a lazy Saturday. For me, it was slightly more gripping from the offset than Gone Girl and whilst there is no major twist like in the previous book, the ending was much better in my opinion, although it could've been a little longer.

Into The Darkest Corner focuses on just one character and flicks between present day and the past. It's really interesting seeing how things can change in time and the effects different relationships can have on you. I definitely felt more 'tense' reading this one than Gone Girl. Whereas Gone Girl was more of a 'who done it' book, ITDC  was more of a 'when's it going to happen next'.

So now I think I quite like thrillers. Well I say thrillers, these are the psychologically scaring books that I feared they would be, and both contained a bit of the chick lit that I know and love.

So now I'm onto Fractured which was mentioned on Nouvelle Daily, and my aunt has kindly lent me a couple more too, so we know where my fiction is heading.

What do you think of these books? Have you read them? Do you like book reviews? What's your favourite

(So many questions!)

Laura xoxo

Friday Fave: Book Review - Beauty by Louise Mensch

There is nothing I love more than a good book. Something about getting lost the (electronic) pages of a book and the excitement you feel when you know you have some time to read again really appeals to me. I'd much rather read a good book than watch a film.

Beauty is written by Louise Mensch and is her first book under her real name. Previously writing under the pseudonym Louise Bagshawe, Ms Mensch has decided to write under her real name. I found out about this book as she is also a MP and came up in one of my work's Twitter feeds (random I know).

With Beauty in the name it kind of had me hooked anyway. The book follows the life of Dina Kane who after a hard start in life realises she's a bit of a beauty mogul. For us beauty bloggers it has a good few references to brands and products I wonder if non-bloggers would pick up on.

The writing leaves you on the edge of your seat, like nerve inducing music is constantly in the background. It has a good mix of good and bad characters, and although Dina has had a bad start she only feels sorry for herself once throughout the whole book. Very much under the chick-lit side of things, it has your main heroine, a few males thrown into the mix whilst also being quite inspiring. It made me want to do something more meaningful with my life.

I purchased this last Sunday and had finished it by Tuesday night. After a disappointing start book-wise to the year (I just couldn't get into Allegiant) it was nice have a book I fully enjoyed.

What books are you loving lately? What should I read next? 

Laura xoxo

p.s Do you enjoy book reviews? I know I do which is why I did this, but if lots of you don't like it I won't do it in future :)

Review: Book - You Don't Have to Say You Love Me

This book is probably my all time favourite. It follows a woman called Neve trying to get to grips with a new, smaller body and the perils of dating.

Sarra Manning writes in a way that makes you fall in love with each character, even the evil(ish) ones.

Whilst it is a love story it is a lot more than falling in and out of love. It tackles every aspect of life, and does so in a realistic and tasteful way.

Have you read this?

Laura xoxo

May Favourites

It's June tomorrow? Seriously? How did that happen? I've already had a month off of uni and have diddly squat to show for it! However, all is not lost, the month of June is the one that holds my birthday (the 29th if you were wondering! You weren't? Oh ok!)

Anyway, with the end of the month, comes the usual monthly favourites, the things I've been loving and using this last month!

Loreal True Match Mineral Foundation:

Yes it's got to be said, this is now my favourite foundation. This lovely mineral beauty has adorned my face nearly everyday this month, and I love it! It's simple and fast to use, giving me extra valuable minutes in bed!

MAC Mineralize Skinfinsih in Soft and Gentle:

It was only a couple of months ago I was declaring love for my No 7 Vital Brights highlighter, but this little guy has pipped it to the post. It is more bronze, whereas the No 7 is more gold, and it has a slight more shimmer too it! I still love the No 7 one, but I'm really enjoying this one at the moment, and this one isn't discontinued!

MAC Paint Pot in Painterly

When I first got this product I was slightly underwhelmed by it. It looked a bit like concealer really, however the fact that I've reached for it everyday this month speaks volumes! It is a great base for allowing make up to last and neutralising my eye. I now understand the fuss about this product.

Essie Cute as a Button

This colour makes me so happy! It's cute, girly and summery all rolled into one, and makes my nails look and feel so special. A smile in a bottle I think. I'm also really impressed with Essie nail varnishes in general. I can feel a collection brewing...

MAC Powersurge

I couldn't do these favourites without mentioning, the one and only Powersurge. Rachel and I found this on our first shopping trip and searched high and low to finally get it (well Rachel was kind enough to search high and low for it, thank you!) It is the most gorgeous golden eyeliner and I lurrves it. Simples!

Top Five Books:

I am a serious book worm, which I'm guessing is why I love reading blogs too! Now that Uni is over for summer I've been able to do some much needed 'reading for pleasure!' I've read about 12 books since I've finished, but thought this month I'd share with you my all time five favourite. Be warned I'm all for trashy chick lit and a bit of teen thrown in! Please don't judge me.

1) You Don't Have to Say You Love Me - I think I got this around January last year, but have read it at least five times, probably more, and can safely say, it is my favourite. It has slightly rude parts, so be weary if you're under 16 maybe. It's not just an average love story, it has twists and turns, and although bits may be predictable, it's a fun easy read, that I can pick up time and time again.

2) The Hunger Games - I'm sure you're all aware of this book series, and I honestly would recommend to everyone. I was skeptical at first, but then got through the whole series in four days! I think they are incredible. I've just finished re-reading the first again and am about to move on to the second! The second is my favorite by a margin, but I'm not such a fan of the last one! They kind of loosely remind me of The Host by Stephanie Myer.

3) Twilight - I said don't judge! I do love Twilight, I just love the whole idea around it, and the intensity of the love between Edward and Bella, I just love it. Got to say though, I'm not such a fan of all the others. This  one is my fave, followed by Eclipse, but New Moon annoys me slightly!

4) Fifty Shades of Grey - I love the whole series of these, and couldn't pick a favourite. They are so addictive, and there is something about them that means you can't put them down. Again all three were read in three days! Now these are very rude, and maybe don't lend them to your Grandma and maybe get parents to check if under eighteen, but if you can stand the blushing, these are brilliant! 

5) OK so I've failed and cannot just name one more, so I also jointly love these, Something Borrowed, The Chocolate Run, The Time Travelers Wife, P.S I Love You and One Day. Oh and I love ALL of the Georgia Nicholson Diaries, Louise Rennison is brilliant!

I'm hopefully (fingers crossed) getting a Kindle for my b'day, Insurgent is on my list, but what else do I need to read?

What have been your favourites?

Laura xoxo

Bobbi Brown Make- Up Manual

I thought I'd share with you a book I decided to read a couple of weeks ago. It is the Bobbi Brown Make-up Manual.I had seen it on someone else's blog (really sorry I can't remember whose) and decided to use my Christmas Amazon voucher to get it. Now although I pretty much have no clue what direction I want to take with my life, I'm fairly sure I don't want to be a make-up artist. (I'm not good enough at applying make-up/ don't have the patience.) So this book was mainly to gain a different perspective on how to apply make-up correctly, and just to have a little nosey into a make-up artists ideas and Bobbi Brown's thoughts behind her product.

Firstly I really want to say that the photography in this book is amazing. It is so graphic and extremely well thought out, and so lovely to look at. It's printed on glossy paper, which I think makes it more fun to read, as although it is a factual text book in a sense, it feels like I'm reading tips from a magazine.

It contains important facts about how to figure out what your skin type is (if you haven't already) and how to look after your skin type too. Although there is a section on the make-up industry with a very good approach on how to work your way into it, it is also really good for the average Joe to read to improve their make-up application and skin treatment. 

As someone who has just discovered a true love for make-up and beauty products (in-case you didn't already know,) I found this book to be such an interesting read, which is why I'm posting about it today. I don't expect you to all go out and buy it, but I do think that, if like me, you want to know a bit more about make-up, or you are looking to become a make-up artist or work in that field it is definitely worth a look at.

You can get this book from Amazon for £12.00 here.

Have you read this book or any others like it?

Laura xoox

P.S I kind off feel like I need to say that I choose to read this book all by myself, and bought it with my own money. I just really felt like sharing it with you all!