Coffee and my February Book Haul

After last month’s insane haul, I should not have bought any more books. And yet, here we are again. Have you got your coffee ready?

The Coffee:

This week I am drinking a Kenyan coffee, Windrush Estate, from Clifton Coffee, and after drinking instant coffee for almost a week I am enjoying it very much.

The Books:

I said last month that I was going to try to read 3 books for every book I bought. Readers, I LIED. I lied like a really bad liar from liar town. Having read one book, I kicked off this month with a small haul from my beloved Waterstone’s Newcastle, where pretty much all my books come from. So, I got the proportion right, just the wrong way around. Sigh. I probably won’t ever learn. This haul included:

Goodbye Perfect by Sara Barnard – Hello. I love Sara’s writing so much. I could not resist picking up a copy of this when I found it on the shelf a little earlier than anticipated. I have heard so many excellent things about this, and I am sure I am going to love it.

Make More Noise anthology – This is a short story collection by some seriously AMAZING authors. Short stories aren’t always my thing, but I’ve begun to enjoy them a lot more this last year, and this anthology of feminist tales commemorating 100 years of women’s suffrage sounded like essential reading.

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton – From what I’ve heard of this one, it’s dystopia with pretty dresses. Yes. Please. It’s got royalty, power and dark secrets, and a stunning cover. It was crying to be brought home. I couldn’t possibly have left it behind. *cough*

My second haul happened when I met the lovely Louise from Book Murmuration

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton – Alwyn was recently announced as an author attending Northern YA Lit Fest, so I thought it was about time I picked up this beauty and read it. It sounds utterly delightful and I don’t know why I haven’t read it sooner.

Spare and Found Parts by Sarah Maria Griffin – This one I picked because I’m just curious. In a world where people lost parts of themselves in an epidemic, Nell is the only one with a mechanical heart. As the owner of a somewhat shrivelled heart which may soon be in need of replacing, I needed to know more. That and Louise told me this was brilliant. Her book recommendations have never let me down before.

Spellslinger by Sebastien De Castell – Louise recommended this also. It has magic, spells, duels and trials. It sounds wonderful and I am pleased that Louise pointed this out to me, as I might never have picked it up otherwise.

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken– On a previous trip to my beloved Waterstone’s, I picked up the second in this series, thinking it sounded amazing and was disappointed to discover they didn’t have book one. So when I saw it this time, I knew I had to have it. It sounds like a perfect “me” book: a dark and twisted adventure.

Later that day, Louise and I stumbled into Blackwells on our way to an event at the university, where I got three books from their second hand section.

The Bombs That Brought Us Together by Brian Conaghan – Brian was one of the authors at the event Louise and I were heading to and Louise had such high praise for this book that I had to pick it up. That’s all I know about it, but sometimes I like to go into a book with no expectations.

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters – This isn’t my usual type of book at all, but it appears to have been a set text at my old university in recent years, and I sometimes like to pick these up out of curiosity. Set in the post-war era in a crumbling Georgian house, this sounds like a really atmospheric story and I have high hopes for it.

Snow by Orhan Pamuk – I read A Strangeness in my Mind by this author some time ago and loved it. I love Orhan’s style of writing, his descriptions of place and his storytelling, so I couldn’t resist grabbing this bargain. I am sure it will be another firm favourite.

Then I was the lucky winner of a giveaway hosted by the lovely Cora of Tea Party Princess and got this beauty:

Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp. I love stories about grief and friendship, and this has both. It sounds wonderful and I’m looking forward to diving into it (tucked under a blanket with a nice warm drink).

How to be Human by Ruby Wax– Ruby Wax saved a part of me. I went to her tour of Sane New World with a baby group friend in the height of my struggle with PTSD and depression. I loved the show, I picked up the book and it really changed things for me. Frazzled also had a great impact on me. I am really excited to get my hands on her latest, and more so that the lovely staff at my favourite store got it signed for me. I am only disappointed that I didn’t get to see her in person at the book talk to tell her how much her books have meant to me.

State of Sorrow by Melinda Salisbury – Did I get my hands on a copy of the new Queen Mel book? Why yes I did. LOOK AT IT. It’s my preciousssssssss. It’s SO beautiful and those ripples are raised. I have been stroking it since I got it. Shh. That’s not weird AT ALL. A new fantasy world and a new opportunity for Mel to break my heart? Bring. It. On.

Next up are my book subscriptions:

Book Box Club: Outwalkers by Fiona Shaw. How had I not heard of this? It’s a survivalist dystopia: one of my favourite genres to read. I am thrilled that this was the first book I got in my purely books subscription. I cannot wait to see what they have in store next.

Wildest Dreams: The Truth and Lies of Ella Black by Emily Barr. The One Memory of Flora Banks was an outstanding read and I have been anticipating this second novel of Emily’s since I first heard about it. The finished copy is stunning! Zoe makes the best book boxes.

I have also received some beautiful arcs this month:

Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman – a story of a half-Japanese girl trying to understand her heritage and learn how to be herself in the face of a difficult world. This came so beautifully wrapped that I didn’t want to open it. There’s a good chance I also squealed when I opened it. Thank you to Ink Road publishers for sending me this.

Tell No Lies by Lisa Hartley – I received an ecopy of this book from Canelo and I am too thrilled for words. I read, reviewed and ADORED the first book in this series here, and I cannot wait to find out what happens next in Caelen’s story.

 

 

That’s me done for February! What books did you add to your shelves this month?

Advertisement