Category: Monthly Wraps

3 tips for reading on a savvy $15 monthly budget 💸

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Something I don’t find readers talking about online or in person often enough, is the cost of book buying and keeping up with the latest bookish trends.

Reading can be an expensive hobby and honestly, when working in the bookstore that was a real deterrent for many people coming in. Paying $30+ for a book that you may or may not enjoy is an absolute gamble and for some, that’s a big chunk of your play money for the week. I know for me, it certainly was and is, as I budget according to my needs and saving goals.

Therefore, I thought it was time I shared my personal tips and tricks to reading on a monthly budget of just $15 AUD. Let’s jump in:

👜 VISIT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY w/ A TOTE BAG

Do I need to say more than the words FREE, FREE and FREE!

Most libraries that you walk into cost you $0 to sign up and start borrowing books that day. Plus, it’s usually free to use their internet and their internal searching platforms to narrow down if they have the books you’re looking for.

Additionally, I’m lucky that my local library (which I’m certain many others function this way as well) allows you to make ‘orders’. For example, if there is a book you’re after and it’s not on the shelf or in their title listings’ – you can order it – FOR FREE! The library will then purchase it out of their next lot of available funding and notify you when it comes in. I mean, you literally have just signed up for FREE, ordered a book for FREE and will read the books you’re desperate to get your hands on for FREE.

+ the reason I suggest taking a tote bag, is that it makes your library experience feel like a book buying experience. So if you’re that kinda girly like me, find your biggest and fav tote bag for the trip!

📲 BORROWBOX, LIBBY, HOOPLA & MORE

In Australia, we’re lucky enough that our libraries have connected online borrowing platforms such as BorrowBox, Libby and Hoopla, that allow you to borrow up to 6x e-books and 6x audiobooks (+ movies and magazines) at one time for FREE. These apps are downloadable and/or accessible on your phone, laptop, iPad or tablet AND Kobo’s.

Each app has a variety of different titles, therefore if you’re a veracious reader and tech savvy, in one month you could have two books borrowed from each library app and potentially have a total of 5-6 books to read. That’s more than a book a week for FREE.

These apps do require you to be a member of your local or regional library but as we discovered above, it costs $0 to sign up and takes less than 10 minutes in person or online.

✅ KINDLE DAILY DEALS & KINDLE BOOK DEALS

Did you know that Amazon Kindle have a variety of new release, popular books or books in series on sale for $4.99 or less – daily?

If you’re a Kindle reader like me and tend to pick up your e-reader once/twice per month for a new read, something I always do before jumping into a new book is check the Kindle shop (which if you’re on your Kindle is this shopping trolley icon 🛒) to see what the Kindle Daily Deals are. I’ve picked up trending romance books, crime fiction and mystery books, as well as book club reads for $4.99, $2.99 or even $0.99.

Kindle Book Deals is another section that has over 50 e-book titles on sale from $9.99 or less. This section holds even MORE trending books and is the place to be if you’re wanting a brand new release instantly at your fingertips. The titles in this section update every month as far as I can see and hold such a great diverse range of reading material.

So there you have it, my top 3 tips for reading on a savvy $15 monthly budget 💸

If you mixed all of these tips together, you could even budget for $10 per month, having bought just 1x Kindle e-book for $9.99 + borrowed 2x e-books and 1x audiobook on BorrowBox, + borrow 3x physical books from your local library. That’s 7 books in total 😮 The savvy budget reading options are endless!

I hope some of these tips come in handy for you and that you have a go at trying them for yourself!

If you enjoyed this and would like more reading on a budget tips, comment below ⬇️ 💬

Author Interviews of 2023 🎤

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On my drive back to my family home for Christmas, I had the time to reflect on the year that was 2023 🎄

2023 has been HUGE in terms of Author interviews and they have taken place in many forms. I have conducted over 10 in person, online, written and panel interviews.

I am so incredibly grateful, feel incredibly privileged and in all honesty, speechless when I look at this collection of talented Australian Authors who have given their time, knowledge and enthusiasm on Mel Reviews Her Books (excuse me while I start getting teary writing this).

Thank you; Sulari Gentill; Zoë Coyle; Anita Heiss; Brooke Hill; Karina May; Emma Grey; Clare Fletcher; Michael Thompson; Kate Mildenhall; & Jack Heath.

Additionally, a big thank you to Sandie Docker; for your time spent in Wagga visiting me, sharing your festival knowledge and attending Collins Booksellers after years of connecting online but Covid stepping in our way!

Thank you to the stunning Maya Linnell, for featuring me on her latest novel Kookaburra Cottage! 💫 *honestly a dream come true*

Extra thankfulness to Sulari Gentill – your encouragement, support, strength and belief in me pulling together a book festival for our region. I cannot express my gratitude enough x

And lastly, thank you to all of YOU! Thank you for reading, viewing, liking, commenting, sharing and watching the book content I create and work on each and every week 💖

Now, it’s time to celebrate yourself!! ⭐️ COMMENT BELOW something you’re proud of this year 💬

She’s got BIG BIG NEWS 💥

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Hey you, yes long time reader YOU! I cannot express how grateful I am for the support you’ve shown me since 2021! That’s right, Mel Reviews Her Books is heading into her 4th year – I honestly can’t believe it 💫

I wanted to share a few new things that you’ll see on our little happy book place in the world 🌏

BIG NEWS 1: Every month of 2024, I will be interviewing Australian authors on Instagram Live 🎤

You may notice that these Instagram Live interviews have already been happening and I’d like to keep that consistency going because, 1. Interviewing authors is so much fun for me & 2. I really enjoy bringing attention to the wonderful variety of Australian authors who write magnificent work.

Instagram Live interviews will take place on Saturday mornings, at a time that suits myself and my fellow authors. During this interview we will bring you a conversation around their most recent release, their writing habits and what their writing experiences have been like at different stages of their life.

Keep an eye on here for updates as to when these are taking place & also on my Instagram which you can find by clicking here.

BIG NEWS 2: You can now subscribe to my monthly digital Newsletter 📧🥳

In this monthly digital newsletter, you can expect to find a variety of fresh and exclusive content. There will be behind the curtain interviews with Aussie authors where we will be unpacking the ins and outs of the Australian and worldwide book industry, writing tips and tricks, as well as some of the most pivotal experiences they’ve had in their writing careers. I will also be discussing those spicy scenes that are a bit too hot and heavy to discuss on common public platforms! As well as what I really thought about that book I DNF’d, why it didn’t resonate with me and what I would suggest as an alternative.

By clicking on the top right hand corner of this blog, you can subscribe to the monthly newsletters for $4 per month, or $45 per year. Additionally, you may find that some spoiler book reviews will have limited reading due to a paywall. This will ensure only those who are interested in reading book spoilery content are subscribed and have a deep burning desire to know what happens in those final chapters 😉

So there you have it – TWO brand new updates to Mel Reviews Her Books!

I wouldn’t be able to progress this blog into it’s new stages without your support, of which I’m so grateful for 💖

I’m taking part in NaNoWriMo!

~ melreviewsherbooks ~ 6 Comments

You’ve heard it here first folks – I’m taking part in NaNoWriMo this November and setting my own personal goal to work on a novel idea I’ve slowly tweaked over the past 18 months ✍🏼

National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo is a creative challenge for individuals, duos and groups to set themselves a challenge of writing and working on a novel every single day for the month of November.

I currently have just over 12,000 words and I’m aiming for a fiction average of 85,000 words.

I’m not one to share much around my creative ventures but what I will share with you is:

  • It’s set in a small town bookstore 😉
  • It’s a romantic fiction 💖
  • I will be attempting to write 500 words per day during NaNoWriMo (not the traditional amount but what I believe to be manageable for me. If I write over this daily word count, it’s a bonus 💫)
  • I will be Instagram Live-ing my writing time 📸 I want this to be motivating for all you other creatives out there setting yourself a challenge and hoping to achieve it

I’m excited, nervous and motivated to bring you all along with me on what I expect to be a wild, exhausting, thrilling and rewarding time.

Are you participating in NaNoWriMo for November? Share below and I’d love to follow along your journey as well 😊

A visit to Two Brown Cats Bookshop

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My heart sings each and every time I set foot in Two Brown Cats Bookshop 💖

Kate, owner of this hidden gem of preloved books, is one of the most knowledgeable bookaholic’s I know! Kate’s passion for preloved books started back in 2004 and her ability to source quality, perfectly curated and selective books has only grown with time.

Walking into Two Brown Cats Bookshop, located inside Little Triffads Florist, is like walking into a warm home library. As you look up towards the back of the shop, you’re greeted with the vision of timber top bookshelves, covered in plants and collectable books. The level of care and love is immediately evident, I can assure you.

As you wander down (because how can you not?!) you will find a variety of genres that are cleverly placed for your movement around the shelves. Kate’s fiction section, cooking and gardening sections cease to amaze me. It’s as if you’re looking at all the books you have on your wishlist that you’ve continually told yourself ‘one day’. Kate holds classic modern fictions from authors such as; Trent Dalton; Kate Grenville; Helen Garner; Garry Disher; Zadie Smith; and Jane Harper. She also hold beautiful children’s classics, both modern and collectable editions of; Winnie the Pooh; Peter Pan; Enid Blyton; and more.

Upon this visit, Kate recommended a gritty, rock and roll read in Lily Brett’s Lola Bensky. It was also incredibly hard not to walk away with this special edition of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaiden’s Tale. It is a hardback edition with red edges and an awesome indented dust jacket.

Kate has also encouraged me to add The Spare Room by Helen Garner to my TBR! Her recommendations are always spot on ⭐️

Make sure you visit this hidden gem sometime soon 💎

The best kind of clicheś

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So … I finished Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros last night and I don’t even have the ability to put words into a review yet – let alone how I got through the DAY without telling every second person to READ THIS BOOK!

I have not felt that kind of rushing, need to know and absolute addictive feeling for a book in a long time. If you haven’t read Fourth Wing yet, this is your sign! Pick. It. Up.

PS. There may be something exciting happening soon with a particular copy of Fourth Wing over on @melreviewherbooks INSTA & @melreviewsherbooks FB 😉 Go follow and keep your eyes peeled …

Book Autonomy

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📸 Clare Fletcher *stunning country romance author*

My confessing this may come as a shock to some people but it’s the honest truth. I finished up working in my local bookstore after near 7 years of being a bookseller … and I feel an overwhelming sense of book autonomy.

Here’s how I can explain …

Since working around books, I’ve always been given the generous opportunity to read books before they’re released (many of you would name these as ARC’s ‘advanced readers copies’) which are handed onto booksellers from Publishing House representatives. This is one of the most appealing and exciting parts of bookselling.

Yet, this comes with added pressure to always keep on top of the latest books, read the most anticipated novels before they hit shelves and recommend, recommend, recommend. I don’t mean to sound like this isn’t fantastic because it truely is – but the challenge comes when new stock is unboxed EVERY SINGLE DAY. That means, every week, I was taking home at least 3-4 new titles that NEED to be read. My book autonomy dwindled. My ability to finish books grew and my bookshelf has become an absolute MESS! Plus the added piles of books overtaking my living room, desk, bedroom, kitchen has become unbelievable!

Now, having closed the bookselling chapter, I’m pleased to revisit titles that are still new and popular like; Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid; Kookaburra Cottage by Maya Linnell; The Isles of the Gods by Amie Kaufman; Charlie, Love & Clichés by Ella Maise; I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy; Thirst for Salt by Madelaine Lucas; One for my Enemy by Olivie Blake; and so many more! (this is just SOME of my TBR books 🤓)

In summary, I’m looking forward to a little time to read for pleasure, reignite my passion for diverse genres and get planning for the July 2024 Riverina Readers Festival 📚

WWW Wednesdays

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WWW Wednesday is hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words 📚 It is a book tag to broaden the reading community and help connect avid readers!

All you have to do is answer the following three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

CR: Five Bush Weddings by Clare Fletcher is going down as one of my favourite books this year! I am laughing out loud at the conversations between Stevie-Jean (bush photographer who is yet to find love at 31) and Jen (social worker, housemate and best friend), as well as the spicy implications of Johnno (handsome farmer who is best friend of Stevie-Jean’s ex) moving back to the country after being away for years. Stevie-Jean and Johnno have a bit of a history. They promised each other drunkly one night while catching up overseas, that if they’d turned 32 and were both single, they’d marry each other … will it come true?! I DAMN WELL HOPE SO!!

RF: Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare was such a nostalgic read for me in my week off of R&R. How is it, that since starting out with the Mortal Instruments series (perfect for 15-20 year olds) when I was 16, I’m now 25 and have the same warm and cozy feeling reading Cassandra Clare. Every time a new book by her comes out, I need to buy it! I just know it will find me when the time is right. All I can tell you about Chain of Gold (as you probably do need to read the Infernal Devices series for reference) is that the children of Will & Tessa Herondale are fighting off demons and figuring out their own individual powers and abilities to help save the human race and world.

RN: The Last Love Note by Emma Grey is my next read and it is connected with an upcoming romance panel I am moderating, plus – it’s just such a sweet book!! The perfect romantic comedy to lighten ones TBR and whisk you into another fictional world.

If you’re local to Wagga Wagga, come along to this event I’m moderating: