Amazon

Book Review: Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

/ / Leave a Comment
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Christmas-Shopaholic-by-Sophie-Kinsella

Don’t panic. Don’t panic.

Christmas Shopaholic is the best book in the Shopaholic Series to date.

Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) returns and it’s her turn to host Christmas.

Becky and Luke’s guests will include: Becky’s mum and dad, their neighbours Janice and Martin, Suze & Tarquin and their children, her sister Jess and her partner Tom.

Becky desperately wants her Christmas to be like a Christmas movie. Everyone getting on, following traditions and everyone to say: Do you remember that Christmas at Becky’s? Wasn’t it great.

But with the guests falling out with one another; everyone making demands around their Christmas traditions; trying to get Luke a sensational gift; and an ex-partner coming back into her life with the offer of friendship – but whom has secret motives;

making an outfit for Minnie’s school nativity; worrying about her sister Jess who won’t open up about what’s going on in her life; supporting one of the school mums whose having a rough time. Becky has a lot going on.

Can Becky pull off her dream? Well if you’ve read any or all of the Shopaholic series, you know Becky is resourceful and often solves problems in her own unique way. It is her ideas and how she pulls it off that makes this book a joy to read.

This book had plenty moments of comedy that made me laugh out loud. The ending made me cry with happiness. I thoroughly enjoyed every page of Christmas Shopaholic and was gutted when I read the last word of the last page.

I’ve always thought of Becky’s husband Luke as being a bit two dimensional, but he scored major brownie points with me and some realism points to, by swearing and holding people to account in this book.

If I could say anything to author Sophie Kinsella, it would be to make Luke a bigger part of the story. He is barely mentioned in most of the Shopaholic novels, yet is a big part of Becky’s life.

Christmas Shopaholic is available to buy on Amazon.

Blog soon,

Antony

Share on Social Media:
Amazon, Books & Authors, Reviews, , , , , , ,

A List of 56 Things To Do While Self-Isolating

/ / Leave a Comment
Reading Time: 2 minutes
self-isolation-1
Self-Isolation means no get-togethers.

More and more people are going to be self-isolating in the coming weeks. So here’s a list of Things To Do for people that are self-isolating:

  1. Read a book – if you don’t have any at home, remember that you can download them via Amazon Kindle.
  2. Go for a walk – spending time in nature is great for mental health, just remember that you should be walking alone.
  3. Watch a new series on Netflix – have a browse or message family and friends for suggestions.
  4. Spring clean / deep clean – clean those areas you have been putting off. If you can get rid of some clutter, all the better.
  5. Learn to cook a new meal – There are loads of recipes online.
  6. Play computer games – I’m currently enjoying playing Prison Architect, Stellaris and Civilization 6.
  7. Paint a landscape.
  8. Do a jigsaw – There are plenty of these that can be bought online without leaving your home.
  9. Listen to music.
  10. Dance to music.
  11. Treat yourself to something on Amazon.
  12. Enjoy a long bath or shower.
  13. Sort through the Apps on your phone, iPad/tablet and computers.
  14. Organise paperwork – We all have paperwork (bank statements, bills and the like) that could do with organising. Self-isolation is the perfect opportunity to get it all organised.
  15. Watch all the Disney films you own.
  16. Watch all the Harry Potter Films in order.
  17. Write a novel.
  18. Learn to play an instrument.
  19. Go for a drive – Just avoid places that people tend to congregate.
  20. Meditate or practice Mindfulness.
  21. Call/text/message/FaceTime others – for that essential social contact.
  22. Write out meal plans and stick to them.
  23. Read up on a topic from history.
  24. Spend some quality time with pets.
  25. Read some inspirational quotes.
  26. Write a ‘To Do’ list and then action it.
  27. Imagine being on holiday.
  28. Watch some comedy or stand-up comedy.
  29. Learn to knit then knit something.
  30. Start a gratitude journal.
  31. Take a nap.
  32. Do something you’ve been putting off.
  33. Sort through and edit photos on your phone.
  34. Create your own board game.
  35. Learn a new language.
  36. Colour in an adult colouring book.
  37. Listen to Podcasts.
  38. Create a video for YouTube.
  39. Watch videos on YouTube.
  40. Make a vision board.
  41. Rearrange furniture in a room.
  42. Do Gardening.
  43. Wash your hands.
  44. Write letters to friends and family and send them through the post. I love this idea as I love receiving any mail that isn’t bills.
  45. Decide what you’d do if you won the lottery.
  46. Decide what you’d do if there was a zombie apocalypse.
  47. Give up something non-essential such as smoking or chocolate
  48. Dress up for the evening – This could be putting on formal attire or dressing up in costumes.
  49. Do crosswords.
  50. Sort through your wardrobe .
  51. Bake cakes.
  52. Make a ‘stock list’ of all the food that you have.
  53. Learn to read Tarot.
  54. Make candles or at least burn candles with awesome fragrances. If you’re looking for candles, I sell them here.
  55. Get Take Away delivered to your door.
  56. Plan how you will celebrate when the epidemic is over.

Blog soon,

Antony

mental-health-wisdom-banner
Share on Social Media:
Amazon, Creativity, Life, Thinking, , , , , , , ,

Book Review: Twas The Nightshift Before Christmas by Adam Kay

/ / Leave a Comment
Reading Time: < 1 minute
twas-the-nightshift-before-christmas-book-cover-adam-kay

Twas The Nightshift Before Christmas is the secret diaries of a junior doctor over the festive period. It is the follow on book from This Is Going To Hurt (which I reviewed here) , both by Adam Kay.

Twas The Nightshift contains all new content, which is fantastic as I was worried they might decide to just re-hash the content in This Is Going To Hurt.

Twas The Nightshift is a much smaller book than This Is Going To Hurt and its price is smaller, aiming to be a Christmas stocking filler.

Twas The Nightshift is as funny as This Is Going To Hurt, as honest and one tale is as heartbreaking.

If you have read This Is Going To Hurt and enjoyed it, this book is a must read.

It can be bought on Amazon and at all good bookshops.

Review soon,

Antony

More Content From Antony

Here are the books that Antony has published, click any cover to learn more:

Share on Social Media:
Amazon, Books & Authors, Reviews, , , , , , , , ,

Book Review: Hero by Michael Grant

/ / Leave a Comment
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Hero-Michael-Grant-Book-Cover

Hero is the epic and thrilling third book in a trilogy that follows on from the superb and super selling Gone Series.

The first book in the trilogy was Monster which I reviewed here. The second book was Villain which I reviewed here.

The Gone Series had six books:

  1. Gone which I reviewed here.
  2. Hunger which I reviewed here.
  3. Lies which I reviewed here.
  4. Plague which I reviewed here.
  5. Fear which I reviewed here.
  6. Light which I reviewed here.

Hero starts with another asteroid falling over New York city. This leads to the introduction of two new main characters, one a hero and one a villain. These two new main characters also happen to be father and daughter.

Bob Markovic becomes bugs able to infect people with hideous diseases, yet keep them alive to suffer. These diseases are so bad that it makes suffers beg for death. Simone, Bob’s daughter, can morph turning her skin blue with tiny little wings that enables her to fly.

The book is full of exhilarating action, exciting plot twists and turns and answers to questions. Questions that include: Does Sam take to dose of rock? If he does, what power does he get second time round? Who are the dark watchers? Are they real or a simulation? Will anything ever been normal again?

My only slight disappointment was the book’s last chapter. The overall conclusion of the series was left open to the reader. This left me feeling cheated and that the unwritten contract between the writer and reader had been broken. But that is just my personal opinion, others will love that it has been left open to their imagination.

I can’t recommend the Gone Series enough. Buy it, read it, enjoy it.

Review soon,

Antony

Share on Social Media:
Amazon, Books & Authors, Reviews, , , , , ,
Scroll to Top
×