Featured blog posts
I’ll see you at the bookshop!
A Stay at Beneath the Branches - Review
Nestled in the south of West Sussex, just a stone’s throw away from the South Downs National Park, you’ll find a luxury holiday home up in the trees. Adorned with twinkling lights and furnished with not one, but two enormous bathtubs, Beyond the Branches is a unique romantic getaway that will leave you dreaming of your next visit. Just take a peek at their guest book - nearly all of the previous visitors describe the treehouse as ‘magical’ and proclaim that they ‘will be back’. In fact, I wrote the same thing just before we left after an exquisite one night stay after a busy week of work.
12 Heart Melting Quotes from The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
When did you first read The Fault in Our Stars?
I remember when I did - I was 17, the same age as the protagonist Hazel Grace Lancaster - and it was the first John Green book that I’d ever read. The beautiful language has stayed with me all of these years, and Green’s masterful writing makes it a modern classic in the young adult genre.
8 Recipe Book Holders for Your Kitchen
Calling all foodies: here’s an affordable kitchen gadget that you need for your home, and will make trying out new recipes SO much easier. No longer will you be losing your place or splashing your latest meal on the pages of your most beloved cookbook. With these stylish stands you’ll easily be able to prop up your desired recipes, making them much easier to follow, and keeping your countertops more hygienic too.
A Visit to the Chestnut Bakery in Covent Garden, London
Welcome to the Chestnut Bakery! I recently had the pleasure of visiting this gorgeous bakery and cafe that opened on Floral Street in Covent Garden this spring.
Their first branch was established in Belgravia in 2021, and I was really excited when I heard that they were due to open a second branch in a more central location. I visited early afternoon on a Sunday, and was pleasantly surprised that we were able to grab a table right away. Often these pretty, instagrammable spots can get super busy, and while it definitely was busy, we didn’t have to queue to get in or wait for a table.
Review of Aldi’s Hanging Egg Chair (2022)
Is it worth the hype?
I’ve had my eyes on Aldi’s popular hanging egg chair since they were all the rage last summer, and for good reason too. Not only is it the cheapest hanging egg chair out there (garden furniture is expensive!) but it’s also good quality and looks fab too.
13 Chilling Quotes from One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus - Now on Netflix!
Recently adapted into a hugely popular Netflix series, One of Us is Lying sucks viewers into an addictive murder mystery story featuring four high school aged suspects, after one of their classmates mysteriously dies in detention at the beginning of the semester. Based on a book that published in 2018, the series hurtles through the twists and turns of a murder investigation as we try to figure out who killed Simon, and consequently, who is lying.
Here are 13 of the best quotes from Karen M. McManus’ bestselling young adult novel, One of Us is Lying.
7 Bedtime Reading Lights for your Bedroom (2022)
In the market for a new book light? This is the post for you.
From stylish bedside lamps that emit a soft, warm glow to small clip on lights that are perfect for travelling, there’s a huge range of options out there to make your bedtime reading as comfortable as possible. Read on to find the perfect nightlight for your bedtime reading setup.
Review: Should I Buy From Patch Plants?
So you’re thinking about buying some new plants, and you’ve seen a few people mentioning Patch Plants online. Should you purchase your new blooms from them?
Patch was launched by their founder, Freddie in 2015, shortly after he began his own journey into the world of gardening. Freddie’s desire to make plant keeping an accessible activity for all really propelled Patch, and they were the first plant company that I ordered from when beginning my own journey in 2020.
Inside Krem Karamel: an Edinburgh Based Bookshop & Cafe
Here’s a sneak peek inside Edinburgh’s newest bookshop & cafe!
Book Review: Here’s to Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
Here it is, the long awaited sequel to Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli’s wonderful YA novel What If It’s Us! Let’s start with a synopsis:
‘Ben has spent his first year of college working on his fantasy manuscript with his writing partner Mario, who is a great Spanish tutor, and an even better kisser. So why can’t he stop thinking about the fact that Arthur’s back in town two years after they called it quits?
Arthur is in New York for a dream internship on Broadway, with a boyfriend back at home that he couldn't be happier with. But when he comes upon Ben cuddled up with a mystery boy, he starts to wonder if his feelings for Ben ever truly went away.
How to Get More Views on Your Blog
You don’t need a huge social following or a super fancy website, you just need a decent site, good, well written content, and to follow a few simple tricks that I will explain to you in this blog post. Unfortunately, this isn’t a scheme where I can promise you how to get lots of views really quickly, but what I can share is how I’ve increased my yearly views to 18,000 in just two years since launching.
12 Bookish Quotes from The Cat Who Saved Books
Here’s a title that combines three of a book lover’s favourite things - a ramshackle bookshop, a cute feline companion, and a bucketload of books. A short and quirky novel translated from the Japanese by Sosuke Natsukawa, The Cat Who Saved Books is a wonderful celebration of the written word, and I highly recommend reading it if you haven’t already.
Here are 12 of the best quotes that book lovers will adore. Happy reading!
How to Optimise Your Instagram Profile
25 Beautiful Quotes from The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
This is a book that truly changed my life.
I can’t remember the first time that I read The Book Thief, but I know that I was in my early to mid teens. It was the first time I’d experienced writing that felt exquisitely beautiful to read, and completely broke my heart.
Markus Zusak is a brilliant writer - here are some of the best quotes from his book.
Interview with Oh Reader Editor-in-Chief Gemma Peckham
I’ve been looking for a magazine about books for a long time, and was thrilled to discover Oh Reader at the end of last year. As a book lover I enjoy having a physical object to read in my hands, so this publication feels like a real treat.
Earlier this month I was delighted to have the chance to speak to Oh Reader Editor-in-Chief, Gemma Peckham, all about her fab publication. It’s a bit of a long read, so grab a cup of tea and settle down to hear all about your new favourite magazine.
Reviewing the Nespresso Vertuo (Plus) Coffee Machine
Our Nespresso Virtuo is the kitchen gadget that I didn’t know we needed.
I’ve always been a builder’s tea kind of girl: strong, no sugar and with a splash of milk. When it comes to coffee, I generally prefer the kind that comes from Starbucks with whipped cream and a serious sugar rush (pumpkin spice anyone?!) So when my partner turned around one day with the Nespresso Virtuo in his hands, I was sceptical to say the least.
A few weeks on, and I’m loving having my own personal coffee machine. It’s so easy to use - you just pick up your Nespresso pod of choice, pop it in the top of the machine, press start and machine will turn it into warm, delicious coffee.
Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow - Book Review
If you’re looking for a haunting young adult read about rising from the ashes when you have nothing left to live for, then this is your book.
Kathleen Glasgow has been open about her own mental health - about cutting, drinking, and being a girl with scars on her skin.
16 Six Of Crows Quotes
Leigh Bardugo is a master of the written word. Any fans of the Grishaverse will know how completely immersive and atmospheric her writing is, with characters that leap off the page and live in our hearts.
Six of Crows fans, this is for you. Here are 16 quotes that will make you want to reread the books ASAP.
Unplugged Cabin Review, Basil in West Sussex
Nestled deep in the rolling hills of West Sussex, Unplugged kindly invited me to stay in one of their off-grid cabins for 3 blissful nights.
The cabin itself is one half of a pair, and strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and luxury.
3 Beautiful Plant Shops to Visit in Edinburgh
The city of Edinburgh is paradise for any houseplant enthusiast. On top of the multitude of glorious bookshops and cosy cafes you’ll find a smattering of wonderful plant shops that will top any garden centre you’ve visited before.
Here are the three that you need to visit when you’re in Edinburgh.
Welcome to the Viking Skaga - one of Viking Cruises’ noble river ships. She takes her name from an ancient Norse myth, where the Valkyrie Skaga rode into battle and escorted the dead to Valhalla, before preparing them to fight in the epic battle of Ragnarok.
A relatively new ship, the Viking Skaga only entered the fleet in 2020. At just 410 feet and carrying 168 guests and 48 crew, she was built specifically to sail down the Seine in France, although the specific itinerary will vary depending on the time of year. I was fortunate enough to join the ship for her week long Christmas on the Seine cruise, which starts and ends in Paris, calling at Vernon, Caudebec-en-Caux, Rouen, Honflour (via an excursion) and Les Andelys along the way.