A Life Update + Blog Changes
2/29/2016

A Life Update + Blog Changes



Also known as the one where I get personal. Don't worry, there's no clickbaiting theatrics to be found here. Some of you will probably already know that I'm going back to University this semester. While I don't have to physically go to a campus, unless I choose to it's still going to be quite a change. I've not studied (properly) in over a year now so I'm going to be adjusting to reading things that resemble novels but actually aren't and writing long pieces of writing that make some kind of sense. The coffee consumption's no doubt going to start up again soon. Long story short, I'm finishing up my Communications degree, extramurally which means I study from home. 

As a result of being back studying, working part-time and wearing all the other hats I seem to wear, this blog's going to be taking a bit of a back seat. It's not something I like to do, because I love blogging but it's kinda inevitable. There'll be two posts on the blog a week, one on a Monday and then another on a Wednesday or a Friday. Some weeks there may only be one, it's going to rest on how busy I am. I hope you all understand that. I'll still be around on social media, old habits die hard, but there won't be as many posts on the blog.

So yeah, just a PSA for y'all today. Good luck to everyone studying this semester, whether you're just starting out or continuing. You've got this. Everyone else, I'll see you all on Friday with a book post! x
Read More
February Favourites
2/26/2016

February Favourites


Another month, another lineup of favourite books and beauty goodness. There's also a candle in there which I'm really regretting not buying another one of. Seriously, the regret is super real. There's also a bunch of eye products worth writing home about as well. Here's what I've loved during February...


Aesop Resurrection Rinse-Free Hand Wash-A handwash seems like such a bizarre inclusion but y'know what, Aesop do it really well. Cult Beauty describe this as an upper class hand sanitiser and it really is. Would I say this is an essential? Not really but unlike other hand sanitisers that make your hands feel gross and are drying, this one feels really nourishing. It helps that it smells divine as well, and a little goes a long way so it's not something you'd have to repurchase tonnes, unless you are a germaphobe. 

Don't Worry, It Gets Worse by Alida Nugent-Twenty-somethings and soon to be twenty somethings, you need to read this book. Alida Nugent's collection of life essays are so relatable, it's kind of scary. At the same time though it's also reassuring to know you're not the only one who doesn't have their life all in order. Does anybody actually ever have that though? I highly recommend this book if you want something both hilarious and insightful to read.

L'Oreal Superliner Superstar*-This is the liquid liner for liner klutzes like myself. It's super easy to apply and it lasts all day. There's not much more to it than that. If you're in the market for a new liquid liner though you should definitely check this one out.


Isehan Heroine Make Mascara-There's just something about conditioning, polymer containing mascaras that I love. It lengthens, curls and makes your lashes look all kinds of fabulous. It's not the easiest to remove, which seems to be typical of waterproof mascaras but I can overlook that. 

Ecoya Sweet Fruits & Pink Champagne candle, limited edition *sobs*-I feel mean talking about this candle because as far as I know it's no longer on sale anywhere. Cue Kim Kardashian's crying face. This candle smells divine, like tropical juices or fruit smoothies. It's quite possibly my favourite candle ever, aside from Diptyque's Figuier. If Ecoya bring it back this Christmas I am definitely going to buy the largest size of this. It's amazing.

Carol by Patricia Highsmith-This was a book I don't think I expected to enjoy as much as I did but I loved it. You can read my initial thoughts here. Carol, or The Price of Salt as it was initially titled is beautifully written. It's the kind of novel that you want to read extra slowly to savour, but at the same time you won't want to put it down. It's that captivating. You should definitely check out the movie as well. It's one of the most visually stunning films I've seen in a long time.

Maybelline Color Tattoo Leather in Creamy Beige*-The color tattoo that changed my tune on color tattoos. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only blogger person on the internet that does not get the mass hysteria surrounding these cream eyeshadows. As I said in my original post, if this is a reformulation it is spot on. This applies so creamily and helps to neutralise the lids. It's one of those colours that just adds a little something extra to the eyes and I love it for that.

-What have you loved during February?

*PR Sample
Read More
A Mascara Moment
2/24/2016

A Mascara Moment





To know me is to know that I love mascaras. That sentence has probably been uttered around these parts before and it certainly won't be the last time I make that point. The eyes are the window to the soul, mascaras are the drapes and vice versa. Today I thought I'd share with you two of my latest mascara loves and they're good'uns so keep reading if you like to make your lashes look spectacular...

Isehan Heroine Make Mascara-Asian mascaras just seem to gel rather nicely with my lashes, especially once they start to dry out a bit. Side note: Who else feels like mascaras are at their best after they've had a chance to age? One of my bff's bought this mascara back for me from overseas. I know you can buy this mascara at Japan Mart though, the brown coloured version. The makeup stores in Atrium on Elliot here in Auckland may have it too, otherwise there's good ol' Amazon. Anyway, part of its amazingness is due to the fact it contains polymers which help to lengthen and hold a curl in the lashes. It also has a curved wand which cups around each of your lashes and curls them upwards. I'm quite smitten with this mascara. It's a beauty.

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Knockout Mascara*-The promotional material for this mascara features Kendall Jenner, Estee's Ambassador of choice and she always looks like a babe. I'm well aware how marketing works but hey if her or Gigi are selling me something, I'm listening. Like the Isehan mascara, this contains polymers and lash conditioners which prevent your lashes from clumping and looking less than fabulous. This one looks natural and not too intense on your lashes. It's great for adding a little something-something without going crazy, false-lash extravagant. I've heard it partners nicely with the Little Black Primer as well. 

-What's your go-to mascara?

*PR Sample
Read More
The Updated MAC Shadow Stash
2/22/2016

The Updated MAC Shadow Stash




Last year in a somewhat spur of the moment scenario, I did a makeup cull. There were countless casualties, mainly of the lipgloss variety. My Mac eyeshadow palette also received a bit of a downsize. I now own seven single shadows which cut the collection in my palette in half. Here's what survived and surprisingly they're all quite different...


Here we have some of my most-loved Mac eyeshadows and surprisingly some mattes made the cut. First up is Wedge. I'm not going to try to talk it up as some showstopper of a shade. It's really just your standard, light beige-brown shade. It's perfect in the crease or all over the lids if you want something effortless. Soba, top right on the other hand has to be one of the most underrated Mac eyeshadows. They describe it as a gold bronze with gold shimmer and it's so pretty. Unlike more yellowy/orange golds which can be unflattering on paler skintones this one leans more on the neutral side of things. If I don't know what eyeshadow to go for, this is what's usually on my lids. Next we have Tempting which I remember was an impulse buy. It's a light, coppery toned shadow and again is super gorgeous on the eyes. I feel like it complements brown eyes really nicely. Last but not least for the browns we have Bronze. Despite its original name *ahem*, this is very similar to Mac's Eclair paint pot from a couple of years back. I tend to wear this colour more in Winter but it's one of my favourite Mac shadows.


This trio may as well be called the Tanya Burr lineup. I'm pretty sure they were mainly inspired by her, and my chief enabler Anna. Sable is a rose-gold hued shade. It's absolutely beautiful and as you can see it's quite well loved. Haux is a rosy brown and works well with By Terry's Misty Rock eyeshadow crown, the main reason it's in my stash. Lastly we have Cranberry a shade I was on the fence about for ages. It's certainly very intimidating to look at in the pan but it surprisingly is a lot less daunting once it's applied. Maybe because I have a darker eye colour it doesn't give me the whole 'pink eye' effect but I love it. Again, it's another shade that I mainly reserve for Winter and Autumn but it's going to get a total thrashing in a couple of months time.

*Have you tried any of these Mac shadows? If not, what are your favourite eyeshadows?
Read More
Weekend Reads
2/19/2016

Weekend Reads




Another week, another lineup of really awesome books. Forgive my lack of original, awe-inspiring adjectives. In case you don't have a calendar nearby it is Friday and on Fridays there are no rules. It's like the Cool Mom day of the week. Okay I will stop with the Mean Girls references and let you learn about some rad reads you might want to grab for the weekend....

The Kinfolk Home-Kinfolk is such a gorgeous magazine, from its design down to its content. You can tell a lot of love and nurturing goes into each issue. The same care is given to their books as well. The latest takes us inside forty homes from around the world. They're all aesthetically pleasing and all worthy of the #goals hashtag and heart eye emojis. I highly recommend this one if you love having a nosy at well designed spaces.

Eighteen Years by Madisen Kuhn-This was a very on a whim purchase thanks to an Instagram picture. I don't think I've ever done that before for anything. Clearly it was a weird day. This is a book of poetry on life and love. You may have seen Madisen's words on tumblr. They're so raw and refreshing. She's one talented wordsmith. 

Brave Enough by Cheryl Strayed-Brave Enough is the kind of book I want to buy for everyone important in my life. It contains inspiring quotes and ideas from Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild. I went through and flagged my favourites to go back to and know this is a book I'll keep handy for a not-so-lovely day. Grab this one if you need a bit of cheering up this weekend.

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert-The subtitle of this is creative living beyond fear which really sums up what I strive for in life. I'm a creative person, maybe not on an extreme level but I would definitely consider myself creative. Based on the work I enjoy doing that seems accurate. Elizabeth Gilbert's name will ring a bell if you're an Eat Pray Love fan. While it's early days for me with this book it does seem promising and inspiring.

-What will you be reading this weekend?

*As always, have the raddest of weekends everyone! I have one weekend left before I'm back studying. I'm excited but also nervous because it's been a long time since I wrote an essay, yet alone did in-depth, academic reading. Nonetheless it's a change I am looking forward to. This weekend I'm celebrating a friend's birthday, looking after my favourite kitten and hopefully watching an episode of Parks & Rec, or four. See y'all on Monday with a beauty post x.
Read More
Pretty Honest Revisited + A Giveaway
2/17/2016

Pretty Honest Revisited + A Giveaway




There's not many beauty books that have stuck with me. I often find myself left disappointed by the lack of usefulness contained within their pages. Let's face it, they're all pretty similar. Thankfully, Sali Hughes penned Pretty Honest nearly two years back because this is the only beauty book you'll need. 

It's a hefty book but don't let that intimidate you. Sali Hughes has penned the ultimate beauty resource in her no-nonsense, no-fuss manner and it's so engaging. I even found the sections on topics that weren't as relevant to me, e.g. beauty for mature women fascinating. I'll be honest, I haven't re-read this yet but I am going to asap because revisiting my review has reminded me how much I did enjoy it. With its release in New Zealand coming up as well it's the perfect time to dip back into its beauty goodness.

Speaking of New Zealand releases, today I have a bit of a giveaway for my Kiwi readers thanks to Harper Collins. You, or a friend, if you're feeling generous, could win a copy of Sali Hughes book Pretty Honest. It is the paperback edition but it has a snazzy cover with gold detailing. You know how much I love a metallic accent.. 

As for terms & conditions, you must be following Nana Wintour and Harper Collins NZ on Instagram. All the other choices are optional. Don't forget to leave your email address as I'll need to contact you if you win. Also, if you're under 18, please get permission to enter. Harper Collins will be mailing this direct to you so I need to pass your details on to them. Other than that, good luck and I will announce the winner on my Instagram next week!



*This giveaway has been made possible thanks to Harper Collins NZ. I was in no way compensated for this post. As always all thoughts+appreciation of Sali Hughes' fabulously crafted prose are my own. 

Read More
New in Beauty: February Finds
2/15/2016

New in Beauty: February Finds




I'm in the midst of one of my makeup loving sprees. I think with Summer I tend to get a bit lazy and just apply what I like and rely on, out of ease and effortlessness. Come February though, all the new launches start coming out to play and my enthusiasm and love of makeup comes back. Today I thought I'd talk you through some new releases and products that are new to me that I think deserve a bit of attention. There's quite a bit more in my testing pile that I need to try out too so you'll probably see more of these posts in the coming months...


L'Oreal La Palette Nude in Rose*-I remember spying these palettes on Amelia's blog and got excited. L'Oreal is a brand I've only really started getting into since I've been blogging about beauty and they don't tend to disappoint me. Some people will compare these to the Naked palettes but if I'm honest, I think Urban Decay are in a league of their own, particularly with their shimmer shadows. This is the more pink-toned palette of the two released here. The matte shades are a bit disappointing but the shimmer shades more than make up for it. This colour palette would be perfect for somebody just getting into eyeshadow because they're all colours which really complement each other. At $36 this is so much more budget friendly than some of the more cult eyeshadow palettes out there. 

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in L.U.V-Sephora NZ, I think I speak for everyone when I say restock your site! Okay, rants aside. I've been wanting to try the Kat Von D liquid lipsticks for an age and while a lot of the shades aren't accessible on the Sephora site right now, this one was. I seem to really enjoy wearing purple lipstick, possibly more than reds so this one took my fancy. It's a vibrant purple, but with fuschia undertones to it. I feel like that combination of hues make it less confronting to wear. One thing about this lipstick is it's a mission to apply. The applicator is not amazing so I recommend lining your lips first with a pencil and then filling in with the lipstick. These last incredibly well though so if you want something to stay put that isn't drying, you'll like this.

L'Oreal Super Liner Superstar*-There's only one or two liquid liners that I have loved and this is one of them. If you're like me and find eyeliner a bit of a mission, you'll love this. The fact it has an elongated, pointed tip makes it so much easier to apply. I barely ever have to get the cotton buds out to tidy this up when I'm using this. My other favourite liquid liner is a lot trickier to get so when this dries out I can definitely see myself picking up another one.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer in Soft Brown-Anastasia's brow pencils are my favourite. I used to be a longtime devotee of their Dipbrow Pomade but over time I decided it was just a bit too intense for my liking. Anyway, after hearing they'd launched a new brow pencil, I was intrigued. This one has a much thicker pencil that is angled. It's similar to the Hourglass Arch Brow pencil in that sense. It is thick, but not so thick that you end up applying a block of colour to your brows. I have the colour soft brown because darker pencils never seem to look right on my already dark brows. I like this, but dare I say it, I think I prefer Brow Wiz. 


Maybelline Colorblur in I Like To Mauve It*-First things first, I'm possibly using this wrong but I didn't see the point of the white, blur side of this pencil. Maybe it'd work better with the bolder colours but for this nude it didn't seem to do the whole blurred lip thing. Aside from that, I love this colour. It's your standard, nude-pink shade and applies very creamily. It dries down to more of a satin finish so its lasting power is pretty spot on.  I have a few more of these to try so I'll let you know my thoughts on those at some stage.

MAC Pigment in Melon-This pigment has been in my stash for a while now but I'd never really used it. I know my friend Fiona is a fan of it though so I did want to revisit it. I love this colour. It looks amazing if you apply it with a slightly dampened brush. There's something about makeup mist and Mac's pigment that creates magic. I love this mini size too because Mac pigments are the kind of product you can't use up easily and it's a lot friendlier on the wallet.

L'Oreal Infallible Matte FX Lip Colours in Oops I Pink It Again, Silencio & Virgin*-These are an intriguing one. When I first got these I assumed they'd be liquid lipsticks but that couldn't be further from what they are. What you have is a sponge applicator, almost like those applicators that come with eyeshadows sometimes, but larger and 3D. The sponge absorbs the lip product from inside the lid and the idea here is you swipe the sponge onto your lips for instant colour. They sound gimmicky but they actually work. You're left with velvety smooth lips and pigmented colour payoff. You can build these up nicely as well. One thing I will say is a bit off-putting is despite their matte name they don't stick around for ages. They're easy enough to touchup but if you're picky that may be something to be mindful of. 

Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Creamy Beige*-Maybelline's colour tattoos are a cult product and I've always found them overrated, until now. I'm not sure what's different about the Leather effect ones, maybe the formula's changed but they seem so much creamier than the originals. Creamy Beige is your standard base shade. It has a hint of brown to it though which gives it more warmth but it's not overpowering. I've been applying this under my powder shadows recently to help them stay put and I love it. It reminds me a lot of Groundwork from Mac which is one of my favourite paint pots to use. 

-Have you tried these products out? What did you think of them?

*PR Sample

Read More
Emma Watson's Book Club: Part One
2/13/2016

Emma Watson's Book Club: Part One




When Emma Watson puts her name behind something, you listen. She's Emma Watson, no explanation is needed. Although I'm sure her Hermione Granger level smarts have a fair bit to do with it. I'm certain Hermione would be so proud of the #heforshe movement she initiated too. Recently she announced the formation of a book club, on Good Reads. Titled oursharedshelf, the feminist book club's  aim is to unite readers from around the world through texts that embrace equality. The first book we read was My Life On The Road by Gloria Steinem. While I am still reading it I feel like I've read enough to wax lyrical on it...

My Life On The Road is Gloria's memoirs of her early years and how they led to her life of adventure and travel, inspiring change and learning the stories of others. It starts with her recounting tales of her travels with her late father and then moves into her time as an activist, educator, supporter and storyteller. She also intertwines her stories with accounts from other men and women which make her words all the more insightful and engaging. It's such a fascinating, inspiring read and while we still have such a long way to go on the journey to equality, there's definitely been some positive progress made. I particularly have enjoyed learning about the role and representation of women in politics in the United States. Her writing on Hilary Clinton was eye-opening to me and has made me want to pick up Hilary's book now too so I can learn more about the amazing things she does and has done.

I highly recommend this book if you're interested in memoirs, the feminist movement, adventure and inspiring others. Gloria Steinem has a way of writing seamlessly and making you want to stay immersed in her writing for as long as possible. One day I'd love to hear her speak in person because I imagine it'd be extraordinary and life changing, in the best possible way. Even though I still have 100 or so pages left of this to read I know it's going to get a high rating from me once I am done.

-Have you read this book? What did you think of it?

Read More
New in from Mac: Summer '16
2/10/2016

New in from Mac: Summer '16



By now you should all know I do love a good MAC product. Their lipsticks in particular are absolute staples in my makeup bag, along with their pencil liners and paint pots. It's been a while since I've really been won over by a MAC collection but lately they've been on top of their game so I had to make a couple of splurges. It's also mandatory to let you know about some of their new, awesome, treat yo'self worthy things too. Let's be real...

Ellie Goulding Lipstick, limited edition-Before we start, well done MAC for giving Ellie a collection. Florence Welch totally deserves one now as well. Anyway, the Ellie Goulding collection has been one of my favourites from MAC recently. It consisted of several lip products, lustre drops, which I think only ever come out in limited collections, face powders and some stunning cream palettes. By the time I found a counter with this collection, most of the products had sold out but I couldn't resist the Without Your Love lipstick. It's described as a warm, seashell pink and Temptalia notes it's a lighter, less neon version of Flamingo. I love it, and being a cremesheen it's so comfortable on the lips.

 Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolours*-Liquid lipsticks are all the rage at the moment and it seems like every beauty brand is releasing one. These ones are still some of my favourites though, and part of that is down to their applicator. I'm not sure if it's the angular tip but it makes these so much easier to slick on and not create a Miranda Sings-esque situation. I was sent the shades Lady Be Good and Tailored To Tease. Lady Be Good has Kylie Jenner vibes about it. If you're paler consider pairing this with a pinkier nude to make it more flattering, but otherwise I love this one. Tailored To Tease is a vibrant, reddy-fuschia. Despite being matte, they feel velvety on the lips and the colour sticks around.

Foiled Shadow in Joy Toy, limited edition-This eyeshadow was from the Faerie Whispers collection which was released about a month back. I love this stunning, champagne-copper hue. It's such a typical 'Sophie' colour but it's absolutely beautiful. This colour's really eye brightening and I find myself reaching for it most days. I'm that smitten with it.

-Have you picked up anything new from MAC recently? What would you recommend?

*PR Sample
Read More
January Book Haul
2/08/2016

January Book Haul




Hello and Happy Monday to you all. Today we have another book haul on the blog and my channel. This one's from January and it's crammed with a bunch of rather fantastic reads, if I do say so myself. As I said in the video there's going to be a few of these books featured on the blog throughout the month so keep an eye out for those..



-Have you bought any books lately?
Read More
Blog Love
2/05/2016

Blog Love




Happy Friday, TGIF and the rest! It does feel a bit cheeky saying that, given it was a short week here in Auckland but it's just been one of those weeks, y'know what I'm saying? It's been a long time since I've shared the love for some of the many rad blogs that exist. Way too long in fact so today I decided to share with you four of the blogs I am loving at the moment. Given Bloglovin is broken, for me at least, these are some of the few I've been managing to check regularly and I recommend you go have a look at them as well..

Tea and Sage-Aside from being one of my best friends, and possessive of exquisite taste, Amy also runs a rad blog. Tea and Sage is her space for sharing all she loves, from wholesome delicious foods to stunning landscapes. She's recently moved back to Australia and is sharing some absolutely stunning photo diaries of her adventures. I'm biased, but her Instagram is pretty spectacular as well.

Chloe Larkin-Chloe's blog makes my eyes fill with heart emojis. It's so aesthetically pleasing on so many levels and for that, I take my hat off to her. She shares her love of design, photography, art and a life well lived. Her blog is beautiful, simplistic and so well put together. I love it.

Girl Lost In The City-I have fan favourite Zoella to thank for my discovery of Emma's blog. When Zoe makes a recommendation, you listen. Emma's a digital journalist, soon to be published author and all round amazing woman. She writes on everything, from film to books, pop culture to being a twenty-something woman in the internet age. Her writing is brilliant by the way. I highly recommend you take your eyes, and a hot beverage of choice over to her blog for an hour or two.

From Roses-Rebecca's blog, much like Chloe's is all kinds of aesthetic goodness. She has amazing style, and she is a book and beauty lover. She does really inspiring lifestyle posts too which are well worth looking over. Definitely go visit her blog if you like stunning pictures and top notch writing. You will not regret it.

-What blogs have you read and loved recently?
Read More
The Australasian Skincare Edit
2/03/2016

The Australasian Skincare Edit



It seems like ages since I did my last skincare post on the blog, so it's unsurprising that my skin has packed it in lately. Summer and the humidity doesn't really help my combination skin but neither does my neglectfulness, let's be real. Today I'm taking it back to basics with fuss free, almost all natural products. They're all from New Zealand and Australian brands which I like as well and hey, it doesn't help that their packaging is aesthetically pleasing too. Anyway, here's what I've been loving from Aesop and Antipodes...

Aesop Parsley Seed Facial Cleansing Masque-I remember this mask being a bit of a beauty blogger staple a few years ago. Anna was a huge fan among others. My friend grabbed this for me from Aesop in Australia last month and I've used this whenever my skin's been throwing a tantrum during January. Its scent reminds me a bit of Angels on Bare Skin from Lush-herbal and Lavender but not too intense. This clay mask is intensive and really does its magic when drawing out impurities from your skin. I can see why this is such a fan favourite.

Antipodes Kiwi Seed Oil Eye Cream*-I do love a good eye cream and this one delivers. It does take a while to work in but it's worth the effort because it's so hydrating. It contains a host of vitamin rich ingredients from avocado to carrot. You only need the smallest amount per application so it'd last you ages. I'll be honest, this eye cream isn't cheap but it is worth the money in my opinion. If you want to minimise the signs of tired eyes, you can't go wrong with this one.

Aesop Resurrection Rinse-Free Hand Wash-This was totally an impulse buy but like the face mask, I'd heard many a blogger rave about this hand wash so I had to pick it up. It is pretty inexpensive too so that's a bonus. This hand wash, or gel if you will is scented with mandarin rind, rosemary leaf and cedarwood atlas. It smells divine and it sinks in+dries so fast. Aesop, it's love. 

Antipodes Immortal SPF15 Face & Body Moisturiser*-To be honest, I tend to not moisturise in the morning which is probably a habit I should break. This moisturiser is doing the trick. It is lightweight, but thick enough to feel nourishing. Even though it contains a little bit of SPF, it doesn't feel tacky and gross like some facial moisturisers with the SPF element can. I'd say this moisturiser might not be hydrating enough for drier skin types but everyone else should find this okay. I love that it comes in a tube too. Who else finds the idea of reaching in to a pot of moisturiser a little unhygienic?

-Have you tried any of these products before?

*PR Sample
Read More
February Reading List
2/01/2016

February Reading List



February's here and with a new month, comes a new pile of books. There's actually going to be a book post a week on the blog this month which I'm excited about. My love of books probably rivals my love of makeup so it's high time that was reflected around these parts. I'm also excited that this month all the books featured are by women which is quite possibly a first. Here's what I'm hoping to read during February..

Carol by Patricia Highsmith-I'm already reading this one and am loving it. In fact, I'm making a point of reading it slowly so I can savour every last piece of prose. Carol tells the story of Therese, a nineteen year-old stuck in a retail job for the holidays and a boyfriend who she's falling out of love with. One day she meets Carol, a soon-to-be divorcee and she is mesmerised. This book was quite controversial for its time, and was actually published under a pseudonym. It'll be interesting to see how these themes progress as the novel carries forward.

The Siren* by Kiera Cass-This is Kiera Cass' first non-Selection novel, although I think it is actually a rereleased, updated version of a novel she had already published. Kahlen is a Siren, a girl with a special connection to the sea and its inhabitants. Sirens are lethal to humans but one day Kahlen meets Akinli, a human and she feels herself pulling away from the world she has known. This sounds extremely Little Mermaid-esque and quite a different world to The Selection. I'm really looking forward to reading this one

The Accidental by Ali Smith-If you saw my Christmas video you will have spied this in there. After reading Ali Smith's short story volume, Public Library and really liking it I wanted to hunt down more of her books to read. According to the descriptions online, this one explores the idea that "seemingly chance encounters irrevocably transform our understanding of ourselves." This sounds like my cup of tea and as soon as I'm done with Carol I'll be picking this up.

The Life and Death of Sophie Stark* by Anna North-This has been on my tbr for way too long so it's finally being tackled this month. It has high praise from Lena Dunham, among others and I trust Ms. Dunham's word so I'm sure this'll deliver. The summary is giving me Gone Girl vibes which ain't a bad thing by any means. I do love a crazy, wild Amy Dunne-esque protagonist. I'll keep you posted.

-Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them?

*Review copy
Read More