There are two main types of entertainment in this world: Books and Movies. They can be completely separate or interchangeable, but more often than not, there is always a preference, a favourite. I was having this conversation with a work friend of mine the other day and he said that he doesn't read much. To me, that seems strange when I've read one book a day before, but he isn't alone. Members of my family don't read much unless they're on holiday, then reading by the pool is a mandatory activity. This conversation got me thinking. There are millions of books out there and a lot of them have been transferred to the screen, whether it be TV shows like Nine Perfect Strangers or films like Harry Potter. As both a bookworm and an avid movie buff, it's interesting to me to see what other people prefer. It's even more fascinating when it comes to deciding whether the book or the screen adaptation of a story is better, and which order you encounter them in first. What comes first? Film series like Harry Potter came out after the first book, at least, was written. This is the same with some TV shows; the books are so good that movie directors think they'd make a great screen adaptation. But just because the books were written first, doesn't mean people read the story before watching it. For me, I always like to read the book before watching the movie. Sometimes people don't ever read the books before watching the shows on screen. I know for The 100, I never knew it was based on a book series until after I finished watching the show. With so many stories told both in print and visually on the big screen, which do you prefer to dive into first? The book or the film? What's better? One thing I like to do once I've read the book is to watch the film. I remember when Bridgerton first came out and I really wanted to watch the show, but I didn't allow myself to until I'd read the first book. However, the screen adaptations don't always live up to the book. Sometimes, and I use this word carefully, they are better than the books. Books like The Maze Runner are better than the films, in my opinion, and so is The Mortal Instruments series. It's harder for all the information to be included in screen adaptations, particularly if they're movies because having a three and a half hour movie is a bit extreme. For TV shows, it's easier as there can be several seasons with multiple episodes. In The Maze Runner, I felt that the screen adaptations weren't as good because they missed out information and altered the story to fit the screen better. The Mortal Instruments is actually rather unique. The series has a TV series based on it called Shadowhunters and a film based on the first book City of Bones. For me, the books trump both versions of screen adaptations. But there are some film/TV versions I prefer. For instance, The 100 and The Vampire Diaries are better on the screen than on the page. Whilst there are some quite big differences, for example in The Vampire Diaries, Elena has a sister, not a brother, the TV show is more entertaining, gripping and emotional. So, I have two questions for you: What do you prefer: books or movies/TV shows? What do you read/watch first? Let me know in the comments below. Until next time...

Have you ever watched a film and become so overwhelmed with emotion? Movies are made to bring us entertainment. They’re there to help us escape reality and feel emotion through the lives of fiction. They evoke emotion whether it be laughter and happiness from a comedy, fear from a horror or sadness from a drama. Feeling all these emotions is a good thing, but has there ever been that one film that just overwhelms you so much that the emotion is so strong? I love all movies, but particularly action movies. Some of my favourite films/series fall into this genre. From an action movie, I would expect lots of violence, fighting, tension, and suspense. I would not expect to watch an action film and cry so much, especially since I haven’t watched many others in the series. But this is what happened. I don’t like crying. And I’ve never really cried at TV - unless you count the season 8 finale of Grey's Anatomy or the final episode of The Originals - but they’re stories for another day. My family and I watched the new James Bond, No Time To Die for our Saturday movie night. My parents are big James Bond fans, they’ve seen every film. I, however, have not. Yet I somehow ended up being the only one who had tears streaming down my face whilst we watched it. I’m not going to spoil the film so don’t worry. But I did not expect what happened to happen. It’s Daniel Craig’s final film as 007. It’s rounding up all of his storylines. That’s understandable. I expect that to happen. But the movie wrecked me. Books normally do that, not movies. But this film did. It was the best film I’ve watched this year by far, and I've watched quite a fair amount of films. It shocked me in the best way possible. The last time a film got me so emotionally invested was Avengers: Endgame, when that finale to save the world from Thanos happened and everyone on either side of the screen was crying. I felt like I would be emotional for that because I love Marvel films. But for James Bond? Completely unexpected. The film itself was amazing with massive fight scenes and stunts in gorgeous Aston Martins. I can certainly see the appeal of the James Bond franchise. It's made me want to watch the other Daniel Craig Bond movies, but I know that they won't be as good as No Time To Die. Admittedly, things would probably make a bit more sense if I'd seen all of his movies, rather than just snippets of some, but No Time To Die was just so good, I can't bring myself to watch the others. But time will tell and I'll probably cave and force my family to rewatch the others with me. Have you seen No Time To Die? What did you think of it? And what's your favourite Bond movie of all time? Until next time...

The dictionary definition of success is: "The accomplishment of an aim or purpose". Success is usually used when people discuss their careers and their dreams in life. But everyone's idea of success can differ. If you ask a Formula 1 driver what they would consider success, it would be winning the world championship. However, if you ask a teacher, they might say seeing their students excel in school and achieve their dreams. When talking about success out of a career context, it could be defined as being truly happy in life, having a family of your own, or simply doing something you love. In the past two weeks, my life has been filled with success - or what I call success. These moments of success varied in size. Some were huge life moments that I'll never forget and others are small things in life that made me happy and feel accomplished. My moments of success might not seem like much to you. They may seem insignificant but I wanted to share them anyway. So, below are my moments of success over the past two weeks. A Legend. An Icon. A Hero. Last year I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and joined the podcast panel for FormulaNerds. Since then I've grown in confidence and have had amazing opportunities. The moment that defines success for me is when we interviewed Mario Andretti. The Mario Andretti - F1 World Champion, IndyCar Champion, Indy500 Winner, Daytona 500 Winner, 3x 12 Hours of Sebring Winner, Pikes Peak Hill Climb Winner and 1999 Driver of the Year by The Associated Press. I sat down with the podcast panel and Mario Andretti for an hour. It was one of the best hours of my life. Listening to Mario's life stories and experiences was just incredible. And he said my name!! I was ecstatic after interviewing Mario and will never forget it. So grateful to FormulaNerds for everything they've done for me. Click the photo to watch the interview on FormulaNerds YouTube or listen to it on podcast platforms such as Spotify. VMRs and Press Conferences: I'm one half of the F2 & F3 Editor for FormulaNerds - the other half being the amazing Sam. With our role as editor, we get lots of opportunities in regards to Formula 2 and Formula 3 - two of the F1 feeder series. Whilst the job can be a bit stressful, it is immensely rewarding. I can officially say that I have succeeded in life because I have attended Virtual Media Roundtables and several press conferences interviewing drivers and team principals. During pre-season testing for Formula 3, I interviewed three team principals: René Rosin for PREMA, Giacomo Ricci for Trident and Phillipe Sebastién for ART Grand Prix. To say I was nervous would be an understatement! Since then, I've also interviewed Jack Doohan, Théo Pourchaire, and Juri Vips from F2; Frederick Vesti, Calan Williams, and Ayumu Iwasa for F3; and Franco Colapinto, Roman Stanek, and Kush Maini for F3. Getting Published: One day I hope to publish my own novel. In fact, I'm currently writing it for university. Now I prefer fiction, reading, and writing. Poetry isn't something I've enjoyed much; I wasn't a fan of studying it in school. That being said, I have indulged in poetry before as I have my own poetry book published. Writing these poems was a fun experience that allowed me to convey more emotion than in some of my prose. So, when my university asked for submissions for their edge-zine on identity, I thought why not? I wrote a poem about identity, which is probably one of the most honest things I've written. I actually forgot I submitted it until the edge-zine was published and my name was in the contents. So not only have I got a published poetry book, I've also got a poem published in an edge-zine. Silverstone: FormulaNerds sponsor an incredible SuperKart racer called Samantha Hempshall. Her 2022 racing season started last weekend at the Silverstone Circuit. I had never been to a race track before, despite always wanting to go. I was lucky enough to go to Silverstone with FormulaNerds and watch Samantha race, but also to briefly interview her after her successful Sunday. That visit to Silverstone was one of the best days of my life. I finally got to meet some of my work friends in person rather than just over Zoom - still have many more to meet! I experienced watching racing in person and being at a race track and walking through the paddock. It was an incredible day! The only thing...my photo library is now full of pictures, haha! 4 Books. 4 Days. Now, this moment of success isn't what some people would necessarily call success. But for me, it is. I'm a massive bookworm, in fact this year I've already read 36 books of varying genres. Compared to some people I know, I read quite quickly. I'm forever receiving book recommendations from my bookish friends and the latest one was the Royal Hearts Academy series by Ashley Jade. It's one of those popular bookstagram series - romance in genre - but when I was reading it, I was hooked. I read the first book within eight hours and finished the rest of the series within four days. I think that's possibly the quickest I've read a series, so I feel very accomplished, haha! What's your latest success? Have you had any success in life lately? If so, what are they? Let me know in the comments, even if they're small successes. Until next time...

I recently received a promotion at work and with it came new responsibilities. Two of these were to attend press conferences and hold interviews looking for potential future team members. Confidence has always been something that I have had once I know someone really well or once I have the knowledge on a topic. For attending press conferences, holding interviews or being the interviewee, confidence is an attribute that can be admired. This week I have given several interviews and attended a virtual press conference. Whilst I was nervous - particularly with the press conference - I found ways that helped ease my nerves. And I thought that I can't be the only person who gets nervous, so why not share my advice. So, here are some tips to help prepare yourself for interviews: Know your stuff: Sometimes being spontaneous can be an advantage, but in the case of interviews, preparation is key. There is nothing worse than having an interview, whether you're the interviewer or interviewee, and being unprepared. Before an interview, I've found that it is best to make sure you know everything you possibly can. If you're the interviewer, it's best to know the applicant: who they are, what experience they have, what they're currently doing. But if you are on the other side of the table, it's always good if you know where you are applying and to who you are applying for. Brush up on what the company's about, what they do, and their general ethos. Anticipate potential questions: In an interview, questions are always going to be present. They will be asked by both parties, the interviewers and the applicants. There are typical interview questions, such as 'What do you think you can bring to the company?', but even the most common and simple of questions need some practice. I find it best to make sure I have an idea of what I could answer to potential questions. Looking at the place you've applied for could help give you an idea of potential questions. If you're the interviewer, then it's still good to anticipate some questions that applicants could ask during an interview. That way you will already have answers you can give. Don't be afraid to ask questions: Whilst anticipating questions is always useful, having some of your own can also help. When in an interview never be afraid to ask questions no matter what side of the table you're on. Obviously, it's expected from the interviewers to ask questions, but if you're the applicant it can be a good thing to ask some as well. It can show initiative, curiosity and the ability to question employers. It might just be to find out more about the company or it might not. Whatever your questions are, don't be afraid to ask them. Practice: The one thing that is almost certain to get you prepared for interviews is practice. The saying 'Practice Makes Perfect' is true. Or it is for me. I've always found that if I prepare and practice for things, anticipating possibilities, then I don't feel as nervous. Practicing your knowledge, practicing your questions, and practicing your answers will help you feel prepared for most eventualities. Have self-belief: This is probably one of the most important steps when preparing for an interview. Self-belief is a quality everyone should have. If you go into the interview, as an applicant, with little self-belief then your potential employers will wonder if they should believe in you when you don't believe in yourself. Likewise, if you are an interviewer with little self-confidence and belief, then the applicants might doubt why they should be applying for you. It's easy to say don't let the nerves get to you, but it's easier said than done. But to try and have self-belief is key. Never give up: This goes alongside the above tip in terms of importance. If you really want something, never give up. If you aren't successful in an application, never give up. Always come back fighting and stronger than before. Never give up! If you have an interview coming up, I hope these little tips help. Until next time...

I first discovered Eliah Greenwood on Instagram and read her Rules series, which I really liked. Then I discovered her book Dear Love, I Hate You (DLIHY) - book 1 of the Easton Boys series. I loved DLIHY so much that I got it in paperback and didn't think Eliah could write anything that would top it. But boy was I wrong. When I signed up to the ARC (advanced reader's copy) of Dear Heart, I Hate You (DHIHY) I didn't think I'd get it; however, I was lucky enough to receive it. I remember I looked at my kindle one evening and saw the book but it didn't really register at first - then I freaked out! DLIHY was an amazing book but DHIHY was even better! Below is my honest review of Dear Heart I Hate You by Eliah Greenwood - spoiler-free of course: Dear Heart I Hate You by Eliah Greenwood Tropes: Enemies to lovers Forced Proximity High School Lovers Summer Romance Roomates Boss's Son / Forbidden Romance My Star Rating: DHIHY is a new adult romance with mature themes that is the second book in the Easton Boys series and part one of a duet. It is set the summer before DLIHY and follows the two best friends of the DLIHY couple. Finn Richards and Diamond Mitchell. I thought Xavier and Aveena were going to be my favourite Eliah couple, but Finn and Dia may have just taken their spot. Dia needs some cash to pay for a new car after her brother (not a nuclear family) Jesse crashes it. She dog-sits/housesits for the summer, thinking she's going to be all alone with this adorable golden retriever in a big fancy house. And she is...until the son of her employer is kicked out of basketball camp and comes home for the summer. The book follows Finn and Dia, who hate each other, being forced to live in the same house, trying not to kill each other and avoiding each other's secrets and the building of chemsitry between them. Diamond Mitchell is this gorgeous woman, who has a fiery spirit. She lives life with her best friend, Aveena, and always tries to make the best out of a situation. Dia has not had an easy life but that doesn't stop her from going after what she wants. She is strong and sassy and is the only girl to get through to Finn and not fall for his charm and call him out on his egotistical, jerkish ways. I also loved the way she transformed over the course of the book into a woman who knew what she wanted - or didn't want - and wasn't afraid to go for it. Finn Richards is the typical popular bad boy, who can flash a smile and have loads of girls just waiting to kiss him. However, that is not all he is. Finn portrays himself as this rich guy who has it all, when underneath he is struggling from the trauma of his childhood. This trauma has never left him and haunts him to a scary point. His best friends are there for him but the only person who actually gets through to him is Dia. He is a broken hero. The dynamic between these two was just amazing! The way Eliah wrote their relationship with the angst, the emotion, the tension was just perfect. It's a contemporary romance that will make you feel all the feels - seriously, there are a few scenes where the sadness was tangible. I could feel Dia's pain and Finn's anguish. When they finally got together, their relationship was explosive. The ending of this book literally killed me! Eliah wrote the book in a way that the cliff-hanger was emotional, painful, angsty, and teasing. I had tears in my eyes. I cannot tell you how much I need time to hurry up for part 2 to be released - Eliah I NEED to find out what happens! Honestly, DHIHY was so so good, I loved it! And not only do I want part 2, but I also want Theo's book because his character was a highlight of DHIHY and I want to know his story. The Easton Boys series is definitely worth a read! Thank you Eliah and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for this ARC! Click my edit below to buy DHIHY on Amazon or KU: Disclaimer: Edits are mine, images are not

At the back end of last year, I stumbled upon this book called Twisted Love (TL) by Ana Huang. I'd never read anything of Ana's before and after reading TL I thought to myself 'Why?' So I went on to read the sequel to TL, which was called Twisted Games (TG). And again, I was immediately hooked by the book. There is a part of TG that hints at a potential relationship between two of the Twisted characters and I instantly knew that I needed - and I mean NEEDED - their book. And that's what I got in Twisted Hate. I signed up for an ARC (Advanced Reader's Copy) of Twisted Hate (TH) and was very lucky to be chosen by Ana's PR company - Wildfire Marketing Solutions - to receive one. I remember when the book came through on my kindle and I screamed (quietly because it was the middle of the night and my family was asleep!). Below is my honest review of Twisted Hate by Ana Huang - spoiler-free of course. Twisted Hate by Ana Huang (Twisted #3) Tropes: Enemies to Lovers Enemies with Benefits Best Friend's Brother/Sister's Best Friend Workplace Romance Forced Proximity Interracial Relationship My Star Rating: I want to start this review by saying that if y'all are not reading this book as soon as you can, you need to. Twisted Hate is and always will be one of the best books I've ever read. It is perfection times ten. I knew I would love this book as soon as I found out it would be enemies-to-lovers. It is one of my favourite tropes and whilst it isn't always written in the best way (some authors skim over the enemies and go straight to the lovers), Ana exceeded every expectation. Jules Ambrose and Josh Chen are two people who would always be in each other's lives, even if they didn't like each other. They constantly argue, firing insults back and forth, giving as good as they get. Their bickering was continuous throughout this book, which was one aspect I particularly liked because it kept true to the enemies-to-lovers trope. The banter that they share can only be described as explosive. And I mean EXPLOSIVE! Sometimes their words to each other cut deep - they do drag up negative emotions - but most of the time I was smiling and laughing. The banter between them was so genuine, it never felt forced or fake. Both characters had their individual storylines, their own backstories and challenges to overcome. But they also had obstacles to hurdle together. Jules Ambrose is officially one of my favourite heroines - if not the best. She is feisty. She is sassy. And she does not let any man tear her down or question her worth. The red-headed beauty is a spitfire of sarcasm, smarts and seduction. Jules is gorgeous and has this tenacity to never give up - including on challenges set by Josh. She has a past she isn't too proud of and has tried to escape from it, but in TH it catches up with her. In the previous books, Jules is this outlandish, party girl who is more often than not a little bit rebellious and troublesome. But in TH, you get to see the vulnerable woman inside; the woman with emotions and a guarded heart. I never really focused too much on Josh Chen in the previous books (Alex and Rhys had my attention) and after reading TH I know why. It's because I knew that he would ruin romance in real life for me. It's official, I have no hope of ever finding love because Josh has proved that fictional men - literal ink on paper - are just so much better. As an emergency medicine resident Josh looks like he has his whole life together from the outside: good job, good looks, good life. He's smart, he's cocky, great in the bedroom and he's definitely a hit with the ladies, but deep down, underneath all that charm he is tormented by past experiences. His best friend betrayed him and his father is not the man he thought he was. Josh likes to act like he's living his best life, but in reality, he needs someone to understand him and never judge him. Jules is that person. And Josh is that person for Jules. The two of them understand each other like no other and they know that if they laid themselves bare and shared all their vulnerabilities, they would be there for each other. Even when they're falling in love, crossing the fine line between love and hate - it is a very fine line in their case - they still spar verbally with each other whilst taking care of each other. One particular scene with some lavender oil made me die of sweetness :) It was great to see the other Twisted characters in TH as well and one particular friendship made me smile. Josh and Alex. The best friends whose friendship crumbled in Twisted Love. I loved seeing them slowly rebuild what they once had and the dynamic between them - the introverted grumpy Alex mixed with the extroverted confident Josh. And if everything else wasn't enough to make you love Ana's writing, confirmation of Stella's man at the end of TH will certainly do the job! When I saw his name, I screamed in excitement! I'm currently on my 9th book of 2022 and Twisted Hate will remain in my top three books of 2022 - I know it. Ana has blown me away, she made me smile, she made me laugh, she made me have tears, she made me want to punch certain characters (mainly the antagonists) and she made me fall in love with Josh and Jules. They are one of my favourite book couples! I will never stop recommending this book, even to people who aren't interested or don't want to listen...tough! You should read this! Thank you Ana and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for giving me this ARC! And a special thank you to @the_literary_indulgence for helping me with my edits and fangirling over Josh and Jules with me! Click my edit below to buy Twisted Hate by Ana Huang on Amazon or get it for free on KU ***Disclaimer: I own the edits, not the images

We’re halfway through the first month of 2022 and I have only just watched my first movie of the year. Shocker, I know. Normally by now I would have at least four in my watched list, but I just haven’t had the time. There are a lot of movies I would like to watch, for instance The 355, The Hating Game, Spider-Man: No Way Home (yes, I know I’m probably one of the only people to watch it yet) and many more. However, my first movie of 2022 has been one that I’ve looked forward to watching since it’s release. And you’ve probably guessed what it is by the title of this blog - Godzilla vs Kong. I remember when I first watched Kong: Skull Island. I loved some of the actors in it and thought it was a great movie. It was right up my street. Then I watched Godzilla: King of the Monsters. This was a bit different to Kong: Skull Island and took the more Sci-Fi, futuristic route. But nevertheless it was still an enjoyable movie. So, when it came to the alpha titans going against each other, I was excited. Godzilla vs Kong was an action-packed film with lots of destruction and heart-warming moments, mainly concerning Kong and Jia. Now the film was good. It was. However, there were some parts where I was thinking, ‘Come on, that’s even more unrealistic than two giant monsters fighting each other’. To start with, Kong is kept in a facility on Skull Island away from open water to protect him from Godzilla - everyone knows that if you have two titans living on the same planet, they’re going to fight until there’s only one alpha, right? So when they’re transporting Kong to Antartica, why do they use ships? They know that Godzilla lives in the water and will come for Kong. Even if they don’t enter his territory, travelling on the water doesn’t make any sense. Especially when after the attack, the idea of airlifting Kong is suggested. Why didn’t they do that in the first place? The second thing that I found hard to believe was the Hollow Earth. Having this world inside the Earth with backwards gravity is plausible, but having this entire structure with steps, pillars and even a throne for Kong, just didn’t seem that believable to me. I know action movies and disaster movies with the threat of the end of the world have to have a lot of destruction. Cities get flooded, buildings turn into rubble and people die. In Godzilla: King of Monsters cities were completely wiped out. Now when he faces off with Kong, it’s a few years later so it’s understandable that repairs would’ve been made. But in the final fight in Hong Kong, it’s madness. Godzilla burns a hole through the ground in the middle of the city, Kong comes through said hole and they fight. Nearly every building is completely and utterly destroyed. The burst of energy that Godzilla fires out of his mouth rips through buildings. Then when things are getting tense, the two stop fighting each other. Kong is dying. An animatronic version of Godzilla, with some of the power from the Hollow Earth, comes to life. It’s Godzilla vs Godzilla 2.0. Jia, Ilene and Andrew all help revive Kong, who then learns that Godzilla isn’t the enemy but Godzilla 2.0 is. The two title titans end the film making peace with each other. That is fine; they’re beloved creatures in our cinematic world but I was expecting more battles between the two. I thought that they would be fighting solely each other. I am glad Kong survived - he’s my favourite Titan - but I thought that the end was a bit anticlimactic as both Godzilla and Kong lived. Ultimately, Kong goes back to the Hollow Earth, where he’s originally from so technically he’s not on Earth, he’s just in it. But still. Despite my reservations about the film, it was good. If you like monster films, disaster films with lots of action, then give it a watch. Until next time...

2022 is only a couple of days away and 2021 will be in the rear view mirror. This year has gone by incredibly quickly. Lots has happened and lots of good memories, despite Covid, have been made. I’ve accomplished a lot this year and have discovered new things that I love. One thing I’m proud of is the number of books I’ve read. Now compared to other book bloggers and bookstagrammers, the number of books I’ve read isn’t really that much; but according to my family it definitely is. Starting from January 1st 2021, I have read 123 books. 123 books of different authors in varying genres. I don’t rate books as 5 stars very often and I certainly don’t get many books in paperback unless I LOVE them and know I’ll reread them. That being said there were quite a few books that I read this year that I’ve now got in paperback. And there are some books that I could have gone without reading. My first book of 2021 was The Duke and I by Julia Quinn - book 1 in the Bridgerton series. I hopped on the Bridgerton bandwagon and became obsessed with the books before even watching the tv show. My most recent read, which I received at Christmas and finished yesterday, is Underneath the Christmas Tree by Heidi Swain. Everyone has their favourite authors and their favourite book series and this year I’ve discovered more of each to add to my lists. I’ve listed below my best books of 2021. Starting off as my ultimate favourite is the Dirty Air Series by Lauren Asher. Oh my goodness, these four books are amazing. They have some of my favourite fictional characters ever, they have some of my favourite tropes and are written by one of my favourite authors. Following Lauren Asher is another author whose work I love... Sarah Morgan. Sarah’s books are pure joy. I have three books of hers that I read each year during the festive season. These books are Once Upon a Christmas, Angels in the Snow and Wish Upon a Star. These books never fail to get me into the Christmas spirit and always make me want to go to the Lake District to climb the fells and meet a mountain rescue team! As Christmas has just been, I was lucky enough to receive lots of books. Some of these books were The Boys of Jackson Harbor series by Lexi Ryan. I read this series earlier this year and immediately fell in love with Jackson Harbor. I made my sister read it too and now I’m pretty sure our parents wish we’d never read them because we fangirl way too much. These books have some of the best book boyfriends and tropes for romance books. The Off-Campus series by Elle Kennedy is one of the best sports romance series I’ve read. The girls make you want to become best friends with them and the guys make you wish they were your boyfriend. Elle has created a world you’ll never want to leave! Another new author I discovered this year is Eliah Greenwood. I read her Rules series, which I really enjoyed but then I read the first book in her Easton Boys series...Dear Love, I Hate You. DLIHY became one of my favourite books of this year the moment I read it. It is so good and I’m so glad that Eliah is releasing book 2 in Feb 2022 - I can’t wait to read Finn and Dia’s story! Penelope Douglas books were frequent on my reading list for 2021. I read quite a few but my favourites have to be the Devil’s Night series and Punk 57. They are BookTok famous and rightly so. Penelope drags you into the world of The Four Horsemen and Misha Lare. I was never a big fan of celebrating Halloween but after reading Penelope’s books, I want to celebrate Devil’s Night. Thanks to Bookstagram, I have made lots of new bookish friends and one of them persuaded me to read the Royal Elite series by Rina Kent. And boy am I glad she did! This series was so good and I loved reading all seven books (pretty sure I read them all in a week). The characters, the emotion and the friendships were just so good. Whilst I did read a lot of romance this year, I also read other genres. I read some dystopian, chick lit, thriller and more. I started the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi this year and the way in which it’s written just captivates you. It is one of the best, if not the best, dystopian series I’ve ever read. I tend to have lots of books on the go, some on the kindle and some in paperback. One book I read on the kindle was Adulting by Liz Talley. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this book but it has become one of my favourites this year. The transformation of the characters is complex yet simple and the lessons the book teaches are so important. It’s one of those books you can always refer back too! My final best book of 2021 is one that is definitely not for the faint of heart. It’s complex, it’s intriguing and it’s clever. Steve Cavanagh’s Thirteen is full of suspense and tension and kept me hooked from the get-go. It was a great read...but not if you only read at night! I have more books I could list like the Spanish Love Deception, Underneath the Christmas Tree and Jingle Wars but if I were to continue then we’d be here for ages. The books I’ve mentioned are some of the best books I’ve read this year, and a few are some of the best books I’ve read...ever! If you’re a bookworm or looking for something new to read, give them a go! Hope you all had a lovely Christmas! Happy new year! Until next time... ***Book covers are from Amazon

2021 has been a hard year for most with the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Work has been unpredictable with the uncertainty as to whether people would be going into the office or working from home, whether their jobs were secure and whether or not schools would be staying open. This year has been amazing for me in terms of work opportunities. I am grateful for everything I've achieved and accomplished. Looking back now, I could never have predicted where I am now. I am lucky enough to be studying for my degree while doing a job I love with amazing people. It hasn't been easy - it's required a lot of time and effort - but it has helped me learn many important lessons along the way. So I wanted to share some of those lessons with you. Be organised There's nothing that irritates me more than not being organised. I'm not a very spontaneous person - I like to have a plan. Every day I write a to-do list and make sure that I know what I'm doing for the day ahead. If plans are made, I need the exact information - the what, the when, the where, the who, and the why. This year with so much going on, organisation has been key for me to manage everything. Take breaks Taking breaks during work is crucial. I've never been very good at taking breaks from work. If you ask anyone who truly knows me, they will say that they have to force me to take breaks. I enjoy my degree and I enjoy my job, so I don't want to take breaks when I'm doing a task. I basically work seven days a week - sometimes till 6pm on some days - but I have come to learn of the importance of taking breaks. I have had times when I've been burnt out and have to sleep for a couple of days, doing absolutely nothing. Having breaks away from my work, away from my laptop has helped me keep my focus and engraved the mantra of 'work smarter, not harder' into my head. Set mini-goals To coin Tesco's slogan: Every little helps. Sometimes we can become overwhelmed when we have lots of tasks to complete, especially when they aren't small, manageable tasks. I've found that if that's the case, I need to break down each task into smaller tasks. I categorise each smaller task by importance, urgency and effort. Having a list with small, individual tasks is easier to deal with than a list of four or five things that encompass a whole lot more. Even if some will take you a while, you can add little things like 'Have lunch', 'Make the bed' or 'Put the bins out' to your list and once you've done them, you can tick them off. Completing mini-goals is very satisfying. Celebrate all accomplishments Everything is worth celebrating. When you have completed a set of tasks, done something you're proud of, or received results for something, you should celebrate. All accomplishments are worth celebrating. It doesn't have to be big accomplishments, like getting a promotion or getting a 1st in an exam; it can be completing all your tasks for the day or taking your medication without any fuss. I always struggle taking tablets, especially the two-coloured ones, so once I've managed to swallow it (and not throw it back up!) I reward myself with an advent calendar chocolate - a small achievement for the start of the day. Every accomplishment you achieve deserves to be celebrated. Whether you celebrate by having a nice glass of wine, or a takeaway for dinner, or treating yourself to the new book by your favourite author, it's all worth it. These are some of the important lessons that I learned this year that I think have helped me grow as a person and better my attitude towards work. What work lessons have you learnt this year? Until next time...

It's the 1st of December. Where has this year gone? There are only 31 days left of 2021 and the festive season is here. 2021 has been a whirlwind of a year with chaos continuing from the dreaded 2020. In January things were looking a bit bleak and we didn't really think things would get better. Covid was still ravaging the population and scientists were trying their hardest to make a vaccine. We had none and then three came along at once! People were getting vaccinated and the infection rate did decrease. The pandemic really made me change the way I look at life. It made me decide what I wanted to do in the future, who I wanted to be. And for that, I'm grateful for lockdown. Without the lockdowns, I would have chosen to go to university and spend time away from my family and friends, studying all the time without having space for things I love. So, for this blog, I've written a gratitude letter of some of the things I am grateful for in the past year. Dear 2021, Gratitude is a positive emotion people experience when they are thankful for something. It is a way of showing appreciation. I have a lot of things to be grateful for in my life, more so than most. I have lived a good twenty years of happiness and joy surrounded by friends and family. But I think since before the pandemic, people, I included, have learned not to take things for granted. We know death is inevitable, it's the circle of life, but we take things for granted, assuming they'll always be there. I'm grateful to Covid for giving me more time to spend with my family. Lockdown was a pain for some people, but I actually enjoyed it. I got to do more things around the house, see my family more and take time for myself, which I didn't do before. The early end of my Sixth Form studies is another thing I'm grateful for. It was a stressful time, not knowing what grades I would be awarded especially as I hadn't sat an exam and couldn't guess how well I'd done. But the extended summer gave me time to reassess what I wanted to do in life, what I wanted my future to be. If it weren't for the lockdown, and the extra free time, I would probably be at a university studying a degree I didn't want to study in a place I didn't really want to be with no time for other adventures. Thankfully, that is not the case! This year I have grown as a person and have had lots going on. Because of the degree that I'm now doing online, I have had the opportunity to explore other avenues alongside my studies. I reconnected with an old friend this year and I honestly don't know why we didn't reconnect earlier. She is a massive motorsport fan like me and because of her, I have been given an amazing opportunity. She sent me a Facebook post about this motorsport company, FormulaNerds, looking for writers. I applied and got the job, and am now a motorsport journalist and podcaster! Working for FormulaNerds is one of the best things that has happened to me. I get to write about something I love and talk about it on a podcast with fellow motorsport fans! I am incredibly grateful to the Nerds and all the lovely people I get to work with! Plus, they actually understand my love for F1 and McLaren! Social media has its drawbacks but I am so grateful for it because it has given me a way to talk to new friends who don't live anywhere near me - Canada, Spain, and India are a bit far for a coffee date! These girls have honestly made my year a whole lot better with our daily convos about life, books, F1, and everything else you could possibly talk about. Bookstagram is another thing I'm thankful for because it gave me an outlet for my love of books, as well as this blog, and made me want to create endless edits all the time! Plus, it put me in touch with some authors which is always fun for aspiring novelists. Now, I'm a person with different personalities depending on who I'm around. My family sees the real me whilst people I've just met see someone else. However, one thing that is the same is that I don't like confrontation. I will try and diffuse a situation or remove myself from it unless it's absolutely necessary. If something makes someone happy, I will do it despite me not necessarily wanting to - I tend to put others ahead of me, which can sometimes be my downfall. But one thing I'm grateful for from this past year is that I've actually started saying 'no'. We don't have an unlimited amount of time on this planet, so why should I waste time doing things I don't want to do? I've started saying no and have done things I want to do because I want to do them. I'm not a big fan of going out every weekend hitting the clubs and getting wasted. I'd rather spend the night watching a movie or chilling with friends. If someone asks if I'm free on the weekend but there's a Formula 1 race on, I have said no - although technically watching F1 is now working! I have found new confidence in doing what I want. I have spent time with my family because I want to and because I actually enjoy it. I get to see friends who live moments away but they're home for this year. I have made new friends who I absolutely love. I am building up a portfolio with a bunch of new experiences. I have become stronger, smarter, wiser and, if I do say so myself, successful! Thank you 2021 for the opportunities you've given me and the lessons you've taught me. Abby Has 2021 taught you anything new? What are you grateful for this year? Let me know in the comments :) Until next time... Image credit: georgetownpsychology.com

I love books. And I mean Love with a capital L. There are so many authors out there who create destinations of escapism and fantasy that I just want to have my nose stuck in a book forever. With the rise of BookTok and Bookstagram, more and more people are learning just how great books are. Authors have been able to utilise social media to promote their works. I am so thankful for all different kinds of socials because I can say that I wouldn't have found new books and made new bookish friends without them. My birthday was at the end of October and my list basically consisted of sports merchandise (Go Cowboys and McLaren!) and books. Lots of books. Now I have a thing where I don't want to get books in paperback unless I really like them and will reread them! I have lots of Christmas books and feel-good rom-coms from authors such as Sarah Morgan, Heidi Swain, Debbie Johnson, and Karen Clarke; as well as the Harry Potter series and two new adult standalones: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire and Chasing Red by Isabelle Ronin. I was a bit overambitious with my birthday list with how many books I added to it. I had to go through and colour-code which ones I desperately needed (yes, needed because I cannot live without books!). Some people did question the number of books because I had just bought 9 when I went shopping for the day. But if you ask bookstagrammers or booktokers then 9 is not that much...well, not compared to the amount I got for my birthday! The day I turned 20, I felt so blessed by those I love because they know me so well. Not only did I get Dallas Cowboys and McLaren F1 merchandise, I also got 21 books! Yep! 21 books! 9 doesn't seem that many now does it? So the 21 books I received are: The Dirty Air Series by Lauren Asher!! Omg! This series is *chef's kiss*. If you haven't read my reviews on previous posts, definitely give them a read! Lauren is now one of my all-time favourite authors! So much so that... The Fine Print by Lauren Asher ...I got her other book too! The first book in the Dreamland series that really made me want to go to Disneyland. The Off-Campus Series by Elle Kennedy This series is very popular and it certainly lives up to the hype! I was going to ask for the Briar U series (the spin-off) for my birthday as well, but decided I can leave that for Christmas! Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas The first book of Penelope's that I read was Punk 57 and omg! It's so good! It speaks to my inner rock chick! Devils Night Series by Penelope Douglas A dark romance set around Halloween - perfect for spooky season! I loved this series when I first read it on KU and am so glad I now have it in paperback! Dear Love, I Hate You by Eliah Greenwood Eliah I can't thank you enough for writing this book! I love the pen-pal trope and this book did it justice. Thankfully, Eliah is writing the second book in the series that I just CANNOT wait for! It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover Now, I know I said I only get paperbacks if I love the book. But technically I've never actually read this book. However, I have read snippets and extracts and instantly wanted to read Lily's story and meet Atlas Corrigan. Stay tuned for a review of It Ends With Us when I do read it all! The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang A cartoon cover for a rom-com - so cute! Definitely, one to fangirl over! Stephen King Books: I haven't read many Stephen King books but he is a great author and one who is perfect for me to read for my degree. I got three of his books for my birthday and can't wait to jump in fear when reading! Everything's Eventual The Shining Misery So my answer to the question, Can you ever have too many books, is no. I don't think anyone can ever have too many - in fact, the more books you have the better! If you've read any of these books, let me know your thoughts! Until next time...

We’re heading into the winter months and days are turning colder, darker, and all-around gloomier. It’s hard to stay motivated when you leave for work in the dark and return home in the dark. With Halloween been and gone and Christmas on the horizon, there’s much to do in November and December to get ready for the holiday season and the new year. But how can you stay motivated in these winter months? Create heat: We all know that when you wake up and it’s cold and dark, you don’t want to get out of bed. We want to stay snuggled up in our duvets all day long. Temperature and light have a direct impact on our bodies so, in order to bypass the longing to stay in bed, you need to create heat. You can adjust your thermostat to warm your home as you rise in the morning. If the temperature outside your duvet is as enjoyable as being under it then there’s no excuse to stay in bed! Or if you already have your outfit planned for the day, put it on the radiator the night before so that when you’re ready to get dressed and conquer the day, your clothes are warm and toasty. Get wet: Sometimes when you wake up, it’s nice to have breakfast and a cup of coffee. This is completely fine, but for some, it can take a bit longer than needed especially in winter. To make sure that you’re wide awake and won’t lounge lazily with your breakfast, either in bed or maybe in front of the TV, make a beeline straight to the shower. Having a shower as soon as you’re out of bed will kickstart your day. The water will instantly wake you up and make you feel refreshed for the day ahead. Once you’re showered and dressed, you’ll be less likely to take your time with things like breakfast or a morning coffee – you’ll be more eager to get started. Set goals for yourself: In winter, it is really easy to lose sight of what needs doing and give in to a cup of hot cocoa on the sofa in front of your latest binge-worthy TV show. But, when the days feel shorter and your only desire is to sit and relax, try and encourage yourself to get up and get moving. Making a to-do list or a set of goals for each day can help motivate you into completing tasks – either work or home-related. If you let the winter blues set in, then you’ll never reach the goals you want to and things will build up until the new year when you feel like there’s so much to do and not enough time. Make use of your indoor time: Being stuck inside due to rainy weather or deep snow can actually be a blessing in disguise. Whilst many hate not being able to go outside and being stuck inside four walls, there are lots that you can do to utilise your indoor time, instead of just sitting on a couch watching a movie. You can clean your house (not fun but does need doing!). You can FaceTime friends and family that you haven’t seen in a while. You could catch up on your reading list. You could even start a blog or write a book or create a podcast. The list is endless. Take care of number one: The most important thing you can do in life is to take care of yourself. Whether it’s natural to you or not, you need to make sure that your wellbeing is a priority. When you’re well-rested, well-fed, and stress-free, you will be more likely to have the energy to achieve your goals and succeed in them. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day can help develop a healthy sleeping pattern. Making sure that you unwind and relax properly is key; you can treat yourself to an indulgent dessert or a long, warm bubble bath. Takeaways may be a great idea when you’re eating them, but you need to remember to fuel your body with healthy, nutritional food as well. This winter will be especially hard to stay motivated since the world has been plagued by a deadly pandemic and there are all sorts of dangers out there – needle spiking to name one. But we can all try to stay motivated, energised, and ready for the day as much as we can. If any of you have any more tips on how to stay motivated during the seasonal blues, leave them in the comments below. Until next time…