Theatrical by Maggie Harcourt

Published: 28th June 2018
Publisher: Usborne
Pages: 442

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Hope dreams of working backstage in a theatre, and she’s determined to make it without the help of her famous costume designer mum. So when she lands an internship on a major production, she tells no one. But with a stroppy Hollywood star and his hot young understudy upstaging Hope’s focus, she’s soon struggling to keep her cool… and her secret.

Rating:  

With Unconventional being one of my favourite reads of last year, I was waiting for Theatrical with bated breath. Because I'm one of those classic bookish types with no control over their TBR, I'd had it on my shelf for far too long before actually picking it up and reading. But let me tell you, it was lovely.

Wrap Up - August 2018

Well, technically I'm sulking and on hiatus from stuff. But I'm drawing myself out of the depths of self pity and weak mental stability to bring you all an update on how little I read in August. I'm hoping by the end of this post I'll feel a little more positive...

Books Read

Total books read: Three

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M Danforth - I was really looking forward to this, and was super happy to get it on NetGalley! But there's a reason I've not uploaded a review of it... I really struggled with it, the flow was off and it kind of seemed that she just mostly got high and kissed people for 500 pages which sadly wasn't enough plot for me :/ this is largely the reason for such a weak number of books read this month and I'm very sad about it...

YALC 2018

Wow can you believe it's been over a week since YALC?? I certainly cannot, although I have only just recovered from the exhaustion...

As much for my own memories as for anyone reading this, I'm just going to run through a few of my favourite moments from my time at YALC 2018 because it was a brilliant weekend and I
want to make sure I remember the best bits.

Clean by Juno Dawson

Published: 5th April 2018
Publisher: Quercus
Pages: 399

Synopsis from Goodreads:
I can feel it swimming through my veins like glitter ... it's liquid gold.
When socialite Lexi Volkov almost overdoses, she thinks she's hit rock bottom. She's wrong. 
Rock bottom is when she's forced into an exclusive rehab facility. From there, the only way is up for Lexi and her fellow inmates, including the mysterious Brady.
As she faces her demons, Lexi realises love is the most powerful drug of all ... 
It's a dirty business getting clean ...

Rating:  

Before I get into this review, it's important that I mention that the book has a lot of triggers in it. For sake of comfort I'm not going to list them all here, but if you'd like more information on what's included for your own wellbeing I'm more than happy to let you know - please dm me on Twitter (see contacts page for the link). I shan't be discussing in detail anything triggering in this review so you should be okay to read it regardless, but if you're worried just don't that's cool, your wellbeing is most crucial!

Wrap Up - July 2018

In typical Sarah style, I've not done a wrap up post for months but I've finally read an acceptable number of books and I'm feeling alright so let's go!

Books Read

Total books read: Four

Physical books: Three

Audiobooks: One

The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher - I'll admit this audiobook took me a very long time to finish, but it was really interesting and I enjoyed listening to Carrie read her own book. It was a bit emotional but also good fun.

Floored by Sara Barnard et al - I'd been waiting for this for ages and ages!! I really enjoyed it, it was a interesting premise and I loved reading a load of my fave authors in one place. If you want to see more of my thoughts then check out my review!

Floored by Sara Barnard et al.

Rating:

Published: 12th July 2018
Publisher: MacMillan Children's Books
Pages: 320
Synopsis from Goodreads: 

When they got in the lift, they were strangers (though didn't that guy used to be on TV?): Sasha, who is desperately trying to deliver a parcel; Hugo, who knows he's the best-looking guy in the lift and is eyeing up Velvet, who knows what that look means when you hear her name and it doesn't match the way she looks, or the way she talks; Dawson, who was on TV, but isn't as good-looking as he was a few years ago and is desperately hoping no one recognizes him; Kaitlyn, who's losing her sight but won't admit it, and who used to have a poster of Dawson on her bedroom wall, and Joe, who shouldn't be here at all, but who wants to be here the most.

And one more person, who will bring them together again on the same day every year.

I had been waiting expectantly for Floored since the beginning of 2017, what could be better than a load of my favourite YA authors, as well as some I'd not yet had chance to read, all coming together in one book?! Let me tell you I was not disappointed! Floored is a fresh take on a young adult contemporary with a lot of very real characters and I really enjoyed it!

How's your head?

I have many complaints.

I've always considered myself to be a high functioning depressive, but when I'm honest with myself I don't really know what that actually means. I certainly do function a lot more highly than many other people with depression but it's only recently that I've come to realise the extent to which I actually rely on the structure in order to maintain a positive and stable mental state.

Just over a month ago now I finished my degree and became wonderfully, brilliantly, unemployed. It was my fear, one which has now come into fruition, that I would struggle a huge amount with not having anything to do. Despite having achieved a first class psychology degree, and being an extremely passionate person, none of the many jobs I have applied for yet want me. And whilst that's fine, they all want people with experience etc. the lack of structure is becoming increasingly hard to deal with. I can't function without reason to function, I don't know if that makes sense, and I sure as heck have no clue if that is 'typical' of a person with mental health issues. But that is how I am.