Anti-Racist Ally: An Introduction to Action and Activism by Sophie Williams | Book Review

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Anti-Racist Ally: An Introduction to Action and Activism by Sophie Williams

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: HQ

Publication date: 15th October 2020

Blurb:

Do you want to be an anti-racist ally?

This punchy, pocket-sized guide shows you how, whether you’re using your voice for the first time, or are looking for ways to keep the momentum and make long lasting change.

Sophie Williams’ no-holds-barred posts about racism and Black Lives Matter on @officialmillennialblack have taken the online world by storm. Sharp, simple and insightful, they get to the heart of anti-racist principles and show us all how to truly be better allies.

Now, in her iconic Instagram style, this pocket-sized primer unpacks complex topics into their most important concepts, and provides a crucial starting block for every anti-racist ally.

Review:

This is a super important, bite-sized novel in how to become a better ally. Sophie Williams wrote this book in the wake of many unjust murders of Black people, hoping that people who never considered their role in anti-racism would be prompted to take action in their lives. I, as a white woman, always make a conscious effort to read books similar to this one because they are there to educate, make us feel uncomfortable and help us understand how we can do better. We need to challenge things that have been taught to us through white supremacy and question things along the way. It isn't enough to just not be racist, we need to be active anti-racists. This book will help give you the tools to be a part of the change and be confident in being an ally.

A Wedding In Provence by Katie Fforde | Blog Tour Book Review

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A Wedding in Provence by Katie Fforde

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Penguin 

Publication date: 10th November 2022

Blurb:

Late summer, 1963.

Fresh from London and a recent cookery course, Alexandra has always loved a challenge.

Which is why she now finds herself standing outside an imposing chateau in Provence.

Waiting for her inside is three silent, rather hostile children who are to be her charges for the next month.

They will soon be more friendly, she tells herself. All they need is some fun, good food and an English education.

Far more of a challenge though is their father - an impossibly good looking French count with whom she is rapidly falling in love...

Review:

I loved this book!

It is 1963 and twenty year old Londoner Alexandra is in Paris ahead of going to Switzerland where her relatives live in order to attend finishing school. After receiving a job offer in Provence, she becomes a nanny to Félicité, Henri and Stéphie, the children of French count Antoine. She has however lied to Antoine, claiming that she is five years older than she really is.

Unbeknownst to anyone, Alexandra is an heiress due to receive a fortune when she turns 25 or when she gets married, whichever comes first. Her family are trying to get her to marry her cousin Hubert so that the money stays in the family but Alexandra has fallen in love with her boss. He is older, he is rarely there and surely it is not right for them to be together.

I absolutely loved the setting of the chateau in Provence. The addition of David and Jack, Alexandra's acquaintances from London who come to tutor the children, were wonderful. They are such fabulous supporting characters.

I honestly felt like I was there in France due to the descriptions and mentions of food and I had a huge smile on my face by the end. A wonderful read!  

A Wedding in Provence is out now, published by Penguin in paperback, priced £8.99.

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A massive thank you to EDPR for having me on the blog tour. You can find information about the other bloggers taking part in the tour in the graphic below.

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover | Book Review

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Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication date: 5th August 2014

Blurb:

When Tate Collins finds airline pilot Miles Archer passed out in front of her apartment door, it is definitely not love at first sight. They wouldn't even go so far as to consider themselves friends. But what they do have is an undeniable mutual attraction.

He doesn't want love and she doesn't have time for a relationship, but their chemistry cannot be ignored. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up, as long as Tate can stick to two rules:

Never ask about the past and don't expect a future.

Tate is determined that she can handle it, but when she realises that she can't, will she be able to say no to her sexy pilot when he lives just next door?

Review:

My last foray into a Colleen Hoover book wasn't great (I gave Maybe Not a two star rating) but I said I wasn't put off and would definitely read some of the more hyped books. Ugly Love was definitely better but didn't wow me.

Tate Collins temporarily moves in with her airline pilot brother Corbin. After meeting one of his good friends, Miles Archer, the two have a mutual attraction. Miles however cannot commit. He cannot love anyone due to something that happened to him in his past.

Firstly, I loved the dual timeline. The present told from Tate's point of view was okay but I really enjoyed Miles' from six years previous. I liked hearing the backstory of why Miles is the way he is and what happened between him and Rachel. I will say though that I listened to this on audio and just did not gel with the male narrator - sorry!

I will admit that I felt a bit bored with the back and forth between Tate and Miles. I get it, we all love spice, but it became a bit repetitive for me and I did eye roll a bit.

I enjoyed the character development, of Miles especially, and I know this is a controversial opinion but the ending was a bit too clean cut for me. 

Heatwave by Victor Jestin | Book Review

[AD/Gifted: I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.]

Heatwave by Victor Jestin

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Scribner UK

Publication date: 28th July 2022

Blurb:

Oscar is dead because I watched him die and did nothing.

Seventeen-year-old Leo is sitting in an empty playground at night, listening to the sound of partying and pop music filtering in from the beach, when he sees another, more popular boy strangle himself with the ropes of the swings. Then, in a panic, Leo drags the other to the beach and buries him.

Over the next 24 hours, Leo wanders around the campsite like a sleepwalker, haunted by guilt and fear, and distracted by his desire for a girl named Luce. Meanwhile, the teenage summer rituals continue all around him—the fighting and flirting, the smell of salt and sunscreen, the tinny announcements from the loudspeaker, and above all, the crushing, relentless heat...

Review:

I love translated fiction and this little novella is really interesting. At just 104 pages long, it is easy to read in one go, it still brings all the emotions and is just as powerful as a novel three times its length. It opens with the line, "Oscar is dead because I watched him die and did nothing." I automatically knew this was going to be a good one. Our main character, 17 year old Leo (Leonard) is on holiday in a campsite in France with his family. After watching Oscar die, he makes some questionable decisions and as we get a feel for him throughout the book, I found him hard to understand. Did he do what he did on purpose? I loved the summer setting, end of August in France, his thoughts and desires as a teenage boy and exploring his psyche as much as we can in a little over 100 pages. The ending made me want more. What happened next?!