Hey, wuu2?

In case you hadn't noticed I've not been around much lately, and what little presence online I have had has largely been grumpy and for that I apologise. I'm trying to edge myself back into things a little, particularly as I have some fabulous looking proofs that need reading and reviewing :) Anyway, I asked Twitter and generally people said they'd be interested in an update on my life so here we are.

Brief summary for those who don't know: I graduated this summer, moved home to Suffolk and basically everything got a bit difficult. Things have generally taken an upward turn in the last few weeks  as I finally started a job, it's only in a cinema and that's still enough to cause me a considerable amount of anxiety (and for me to question if the degree was worth it) but hey, I'm going outside, I'm meeting new people and eventually I'll actually get a little bit of money too! For a while I was finding it exceptionally hard to read or do anything I enjoy, while I couldn't find a job I felt unable to even begin to allow myself to do anything fun, because I wasn't employable and therefore didn't deserve it.

It's not an easy thing to explain, but that's just how things were. So now that I'm finally edging my way out  and towards a slightly better routine, I'm trying to start reading etc again. For many people, spending days doing what you enjoy when you don't have anything on is brilliant, but that's just not how I am. I'm somehow unable to even allow myself to chill in front of the TV for more than one episode a day, all I can do it walk around feeling lost and like I'm wasting my time. And even now that I'm working, getting myself out of that is surprisingly difficult.

I've still got a lot of adjusting to do, it's hard not having many friends here, not having anywhere to go or anyone to talk to about books (or anything fun for that matter). But I'm gradually making progress, and alongside that I'm finally turning pages again. I'm looking forward to what the future may bring, but it is taking a long time for that spark in the things that I'm passionate about to come back, which is why I'm not really tweeting, because I don't have that excitement at the moment and I don't want to fake things or half arse it, books and all my followers deserve better than that!

Anyway, that's where I'm at now and hopefully you'll be hearing gradually more from me throughout the coming weeks. If anyone relates to what I'm saying and has any tips about meeting people, adjusting or getting motivated again, please do leave me a comment, dm me on Twitter or send me an email.

Thanks to every single reader and follower for your patience with me and I hope to be the proper, healthy and happy me very soon.

Sar xox

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!