**Both these books were kindly sent to me for review by Bloomsbury but all thoughts and admiration for Patti Smith's word magic are my own.

2018 was the year of reading. A lot. I read 74 books-including literary magazines. After a bit of tweaking I've managed to come up with a list of my ten favourite books read in 2018. It's not ranked by preference but these are all titles I read and loved during the year...

Everything I Know About Love x Dolly Alderton: How incredibly unexpected is this inclusion? Ahem. This hardback tome of Dolly's tales and wisdom was read and read with such joy. I laughed loudly in public reading excerpts, I cried. I wanted to wallpaper my walls and notebooks with Dolly's prose. This is such a special, charming, brilliant book and I look forward to reading it again soon. 

 M Train x Patti Smith: I read and reread a few of Patti Smith's writings this year. It was M Train, her love letter to writers, writing, coffee and contemplation that has stuck with me. I read this in Spring and it made me want to plan a writerly holiday and left me yearning for more of the beauteous thing that is solo travel. Patti Smith's writing is potic and whimsical and hums with quiet, understated charm.

Normal People* x Sally Rooney: Ahem, again how unexpected. Sally Rooney's writing makes my mind turn into the heart reaction emojis on Facebook+Instagram. She dissects every nuance of character and relationships with such finesse. The way in which her stories evolve and travel forward by dialect is just brilliant. Normal People resonates because Connell and Marianne are so believable. I see fragments of them all around me in people I know. Rooney's writing is so alluring and it's not surprising to me that this tile has been flying off the shelves.

My Year of Rest and Relaxation x Ottessa Moshfegh: A darkly brilliant novel about twenty-somethings. Existential crises swirl around unlikeable characters. This book about a faceless protagonist who sleeps for a year, occasionally surfacing for the odd shopping spree and Whoopi Goldberg film session, is dark but hilarious. The ways in which it commentates on loneliness and life unravelling are so poignant. While the novel is satirical, if you are feeling a little vulnerable, perhaps venture in to this one with caution.

The Cost of Living x Deborah Levy: An introduction to Levy for me. A book of loss, relationships spanning generations, writing sheds and contemplation. It all unfolds so seamlessly and Levy's writing is intricately detailed. 

Tinderbox x Megan Dunn: A recommendation from Kiran's blog feature last year. A book about the art of adapting Farenheit 451. Also a book waxing lyrical on Megan Dunn's days as a bookseller for Borders. Addicting, hilarious reading. I loved it.

How To Be Both x Ali Smith: 2018 was the year I also read a lot of Ali Smith's words. Rather than fill this list with her books, I've gone for the one that has stayed with me. A novel that plays with the concept of fresco painting. It is multifaceted. A story set across two time periods; the present day and renaissance Italy. It looks at two teenager's perspectives on love, art, loss, the passage of time. It's cleverly done.

Bluets x Maggie Nelson: So this is a reread but it's another book I think on often. Nelson's meditations and musings on the colour blue. How she sees it in her life and the world around her. Its presence in art. Beautifully written and a book I've scribbled annotations throughout.

Call Me By Your Name x Andre Aciman: Read last Summer in frenzied bursts on my commute to and from work. Conjuring memories of Italy and its gorgeous scenery and architecture. First loves, exquisite dialogue, peaches and Summer frivolity. Every bit as rich and lush as the film.

Crudo x Olivia Laing: This book is short and punchy. Written during 2017 through the lens of Kathy Acker as a narrator. It draws parallels with events from Laing's own life. Crudo is raw and a times I found myself needing to escape the heavy all too real prose. At the same time I love the truth and timeliness contained within its pages.

/ What did you read and love in 2018?

*Review copy

'Tis almost the season for gifting and celebrating the people we love, Summer, summer fruits, summer fruit-themed drinks (ahem, frose...hello), and all that good stuff the end of the year seems to symbolise. I pride myself on my gift-giving and I'm not ashamed to admit that, however egotistical of me that may be. I do find book gifting a bit trickier but that's probably just because I am so biased and I know it. That being said, these are all books I've read in the last year or so and loved. They're all under $25 and would make perfect stocking stuffers for yourself, if you want to quite literally, treat yo'shelves or for the people in your life. Books and chocolate or books and wine or books and...whatever they fancy to accompany books. You cannot really go wrong.

devotion x patti smith: My love for Patti Smith's writing knows no bounds. She just does it so wonderfully and really evokes all I love about the nuances of day-to-day-life. The smaller details, the beauty that is art and artists and love and life. Devotion is her response to the question posed to Windham-Campbell prize recipients, that being why they write. Buy it, underline it, slip it into your pocket and wander the streets with a coffee. 

what would the spice girls do x lauren bravo: Say the words 'Spice Girls' to me and my mind instantly becomes a nostalgic, glittery, translucent accessory, yelling lyrics and "peace+pout" kind of zone. I still remember how fancy I felt with my Spice Girls Impulse spray, though I am not quite sure how I managed to wrangle that one. And not a day goes by that I don't regret getting rid of my photo collection and Spice magazines among other things. Hoarder? Pfft. Anyway, if the Spice Girls and feminism, and growing up as a woman in the years since they arrived on the scene appeals, get this. It'll make you laugh, it'll make you smile. It'll have you opening up Spice World and trying to not lip-sync along on the train. The latter definitely didn't happen, I don't know what I'm saying ahem... I loved this book so much. It's a good time.

poukahangatus x tayi tibble: Poetry is a bit more subjective but I don't know anyone who hasn't read this debut collection and not connected with it. Tayi Tibble is a force to be reckoned with and I love how she effortlessly combines pop culture with her heritage and experiences growing up. I also read and loved Hera Lindsay Bird's latest book, Pamper Me to Hell & Back as well as Indy Yelich's debut Sticky Notes. Both also by New Zealand women which I'd recommend as well for gifts.

300 arguments x sarah manguso: I was talking about this book the other day with someone and I think my enthusiasm alone was enough to convince them to go out and look for it. 300 Arguments is quite simply a spontaneous flow of ideas that read like a diary. It's a very powerful book and I found it a really clever way of writing. So much that I try to have writing sessions where I just write whatever ideas come into my head down. I don't necessarily always find nuggets of wisdom but it's a really fascinating way of writing. I'd recommend this if you like reading autobiographical essays but also books that play with the non-linear structure. 

the clothing of books x jhumpa lahiri: One for the book enthusiasts out there. An essay that looks at the way in which readers and authors connect with books and their design. It's well considered and evocative. 

ariel x sylvia plath: After The Bell Jar I feel like Ariel is probably the next most recognisable Plath title. Whether she drew inspiration from the fairy-like character in Shakespeare's The Tempest is up for debate but it's such a poignant volume. Her writing is just beautiful. I'll leave you with this line from Words; "From the bottom of the pool, fixed stars / Govern a life." 

-What books would you gift in 2018?

I'll spare the usual, end of the month, reflective prose today and instead focus on something else. This post marks 900 blog posts, written (almost) entirely by me. There's one or two guest posts lurking in the archives. 900 posts though guys, that's a mammoth number to my mind and an awful lot of words. I'm in a bit of a state of disbelief if you can't tell already. Thanks to everyone who reads and has kept me inspired to keep posting for this long. You're all amazing. Anyway, here's what I've loved in July...

Benefit Cosmetics 'ka-Brow' Buildable Brow Colour*-I've been loving a few different brow products from various brands this month but ka-Brow is the one I've been using the most. It's already been featured here this month so I'll keep things brief. This is the best when you want your brows to look a bit sharper, but not to the point of looking drawn on or fake. It comes with its own built-in brush which is actually not a gimmick, rare I know, so it is perfect for on the go touchups too. 

The First Monday in May-This was shown at the NZIFF and since I watched it I've been thinking about it almost daily. That's no exaggeration, I've already decided I'm going back to the regular cinema to watch it when it opens there. For those not in the know, this documentary charts the year (possibly longer) in the making of the Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute's annual fashion exhibit+the Met Gala they organise in collaboration with Vogue. Anna Wintour has a starring role but the true star of this is Andrew Bolton, the head curator at the Met. He is amazing and the absolute detail+devotion he has to all areas of fashion was something else. It's a really in-depth insight into the level of work that goes into a major exhibition. It also really highlights the significance of the Met Gala as well. This is such a fascinating, unmissable film. Go watch it if you can.

Zoella Beauty Le Fizz Fragranced Bath Fizzer-Zoe's expanded her bath+body product range to include this scent, inspired by French patisseries and sweet treats. Don't let that put you off because it is sweet, but with a sophisticated edge so it's not overpoweringly sickly. Her bath fizzers are shaped like chocolate bars with the idea being you break off a square or two and drop them in your water when you want a bit of a pamper. I like to combine this with the Comforter bath bar from Lush and it is heavenly. The bathroom smells like Macarons after. Blissful.

Lancome Grandiose Mascara*-Once I got past this mascara's crazy wand this became a firm favourite. I think the reason I love it so much is it has one of those brushes you can swivel in a 360 degree motion and really coat your lashes from the root to the tip. It holds a curl, even without using a eyelash curler and it makes your lashes look amazing. It's worth all the heart-eyed emojis. All of them.

Just Kids by Patti Smith-So it kinda took me a while to read this book but once I got into it properly it was rightfully devoured. I'm sure a lot of people have read, or at least heard of this book. It seems to be one that gets referenced by creative people in interviews quite a bit. It tells the story of Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe's relationship. It starts with them both as young creatives and struggling artists, making their way in New York in the late sixties through to his death in 1989. It's nostalgic, poetic and just so captivating. There's something quite mesmerising about it. I highly recommend you give it a read.

Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb, I won it on Twitter ages ago-By some sort of crazy coincidence, this was in my July Favourites last year as well. It must be my go-to Wintour Winter fragrance or something. I'm sure you're all familiar with this fragrance by now, it's such an iconic scent. A little musk, a little floral with the tiniest hint of sweetness. I love it and none of my other perfumes have had a look in this month.

*PR Sample

We're halfway through the year which is still insane to me. Today I have June's reading list for you all. You'll notice the books are a bit more on the slim side of things. June is a big month with assignment deadlines to meet and then of course the return of my all-time favourite activity, exams. Note the sarcasm, I'm not the person who does amazingly in exams so naturally I detest them. Regardless, there's a nice mix of things in here so I'm looking forward to getting into them...

Lady Susan by Jane Austen-A Jane Austen book I don't have to read. I'm trying to get over my high-school distaste for Jane Austen because while I still can't stand the idea of Mansfield Park (thanks A2 Lit), her other writing really appeals to me. Lady Susan is one of her stories that has been released as part of Penguin's Little Black Classics series. From what I've read about this book it sounds like Susan is the anti-heroine and has a bit of spark and zest to her. 

The Bees by Carol Ann Duffy-I've heard a fair bit about Carol Ann Duffy's poetry recently and last weekend I found a secondhand bookstore that had several of her poetry volumes. The Bees was the one which came home with me because it appealed to me the most. I'm not going to lie, the cover may have swayed me a bit as well. Either way, I'm expecting good things from this one.

Girls on Fire* by Robin Wasserman-Whenever I see this book title I think of this song. It can't be helped. I'm not going to do this book justice having not read it so go read the description I've linked. It sounds like it's going to be dark, a bit Mean Girls/Heathers-esque and I like the sound of it. Its being compared to The Virgin Suicides which is one of my favourite books so I am intrigued to see where this one goes. Hopefully it's not too disturbing.

M Train by Patti Smith-Continuing on my Patti Smith obsession, I have her latest book to read. M Train is a collection of Smith's musings and writings composed over her morning cup of coffee. According to its blurb; M Train is a meditation on travel, detective shows, literature and coffee. I am sure it will not disappoint.

-What are you reading during June?

*Review copy

Charlotte Olympia x MAC Cosmetics Cream Colour Base*-I've raved on about this enough this month so I'll keep this brief. This is the Sepia cream colour base which is perfect for cream contouring, although less is certainly more. I love this as a cream eyeshadow base as well, it's just a smidge more blendable than Mac's paint pots too. Gotta love that limited edition packaging too though, swoon.

Woolgathering by Patti Smith, not pictured-As well as April being the month where I discovered Caitlin Moran's writing, it was also the time where I discovered Patti Smith's writing. It's poetic and beautiful in a way that I'm not going to be able to eloquently express in a mere blog post. Woolgathering contains tales from Smith's childhood, all true and all recounted in the most mesmerising way. She has a way of writing that just makes you not want to stop reading her work, lest you miss an important detail or aesthetic. I highly recommend this one if you've not yet read it.

Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Rose*-We all know that describing scents is never going to be my forte but this, if I simplify things down is Summer cocktails in a perfume bottle. Sweet, sophisticated and fun. This will definitely appeal to a very specific kind of scent-enthusiast but I think it's absolutely divine. If you're on the hunt for a new scent, you should go have a spritz of this one.

-What have you loved during April?

*PR Sample