Join Anita Heiss, author of Avoiding Mr. Right & Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray, and I over on my instagram @melreviewsherbooks for a morning discussion about romance novels and pursuing a career in writing!
INSTAGRAM LIVE w/ Anita Heiss
Tag: bookstagram
Book Review: ‘The Dangers of Female Provocation’ by Zoë Coyle
The Dangers of Female Provocation is the type of novel that will make you feel empowered with female strength, visibility and what could just be the consequence of a women/all women being pushed aside for far too long. If you’re wanting feminism and spice – this is the novel for you!
I had the pleasure of meeting Zoë in the bookstore. Her and I immediately connected over books that we love – most, if not all of them having themes of modern feminism, female empowerment and English & Australian historical fiction. I knew immediately after these discussions with Zoë that I would adore her writing and sure enough, The Dangers of Female Provocation has been one of my favourite reads this year ⭐️
Odessa is an enraged woman on a mission. Her beautiful group of female friends are surrounding her and discussing openly how much of their lives they’ve placed on hold for their husbands. Whether that be; putting the family first; diverting their career for another 2-3 years because their family just can’t manage without her being at home; limited intimate time with their husband; having a financial allowance enforced by him; and/or overlooking his affairs with younger colleagues from his workplace. Simply brushing it off as letting out steam and convincing herself it is more the female colleagues fault for tempting her husband in that sexual manner.
All of this sounding familiar? There are so many instances where conversations like this take place and a woman is continuously repressed, put down and has limitations set on her by a male figure. Some men have an ability to confidently manipulate and coercively control a woman’s autonomy and voice.
Odessa cannot let her sisterhood be repressed, ignored and persuaded like this any longer. A strong, fiery and burning female rage is growing. She is determined to teach the husbands of her sisterhood a lesson. She’s going to educate them in a way they’ve never been educated before. She will seduce, lure, tempt and manipulate these men. Her intentions are clear, yet as the pieces of her life begin to disintegrate around her, her methods become more and more extreme.
Odessa is moving through grief, reflecting on her parents relationship and her own current marriage breakdown while her ‘re-education’ is taking place. We can see how much of an influence processing these emotions are taking on her. Yet, does this excuse her actions or make them more justified?
This book was quite divisive in our book club and it encouraged deeper conversations about our own feminist perspectives and what experiences we’ve had in being disrespected, pushed aside for our thoughts and feelings, as well as what our place is in society.
❌ Why I DNF’d ‘Carrie Soto is Back’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I generally give a book 100 pages to get me in. If an author can give me the hook, have me invested in the characters, have me rooting for the journey/challenge the characters are facing and has me wanting to read, read, read – I will continue with a book. Sadly, I’ve lost that momentum with Carrie Soto is Back.
Only two nights ago I posted on my Instagram (give me a follow @melreviewsherbooks) to say how much I was enjoying this book and I was around the 60 page mark. But now, I’m sitting at 107, about to start a new chapter first thing this morning and I just find myself avoiding it!
I love tennis and the premise of this novel is fantastic. Carrie Soto is coming out of retirement after having 5 years off from a knee surgery, and she is aiming to defend her title of 12 grand slams in women’s singles. She is the greatest tennis player of all time. But the thing is, I don’t really feel connected or frankly like Carrie enough for me to keep reading her story. At the beginning, we’re learning about her Spanish heritage and how her father never made it pro and has invested his life in making Carrie a ‘tennis warrior’. Now at 100 pages, we’re in the thick of her play by play about which match is coming up, who she has to beat next, how she is training and what’s involved on her journey back to glory.
I think me DNFing this novel is a mixture of wanting deeper investment in Carrie, reminiscing on how I felt reading other Taylor Jenkins Reid books like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & the Six, and just not feeling the same buzz with Carrie. Also, having so many books to read that I can happily re-home this to a friend who may enjoy it more.
What books have you DNF’d lately?? ❌
Book Autonomy
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 📚
Book Review: ‘Five Bush Weddings’ by Clare Fletcher
My goodness, I needed to pick up my laptop and get this feeling down before it was gone! I finished Five Bush Weddings by Clare Fletcher last night (Friday) at 1.30am!! That’s right – this novel had me grinning from ear to ear and I was so invested that sleep was not in sight.
I can easily say by far, this novel has been my most fun, laugh out loud and unputdownable read so far this year.
If you’re a follower of the blog, you may remember that I DNF’d this book back in May last year (READ HERE) but I specifically pointed out that it was a funny and capturing read, just not what I was feeling at the time. Let me tell you – the time was RIGHT and this is why you should never be ashamed about keeping books that you haven’t read … like ever! … says an unashamed book buying lover 😉
Stevie-Jean is 31 and feels as if love is passing her by. She’s a trending bush wedding photographer who takes on the role of capturing everybody else’s special day. The flowers, the dancing, the speeches, the cake cutting and more. But when will it ever be her?
Feeling a little lost but pushing through with the task at hand, Stevie is snapping away at a local wedding when Johnno West strides over. Johnno is the best friend of Stevie’s old uni flame and has always had a long lasting crush on her. But that’s in the past … isn’t it 😉
Johnno is at a bit of a crossroads himself. He has finally hit the ripe age of 31 as well and is being called back to run the family farm. He is of course, the only son in the family. His job in London had his passions sufficed but something was missing and being in an office job 9-5 was not his calling.
See, Stevie and Johnno actually have a bit of history and their long line of weddings they are both attending in the year of 2019 is ever growing. It’s a given that they’re going to bump into each other and learn about the other’s life again. What’s not a given, is whether Stevie can accept that love isn’t always about grand gestures, much like the displays put on at these wedding dos, but more like the little gestures of love Johnno gives along the way.
I adored every inch of this story. I particularly LOVED that you could read the ending and it connected in sequence to the beginning of the story. The perfect circle! I actually have the privilege of moderating a panel of which Clare Fletcher is a part of, next weekend at A Romantic Evening of Books. Come along if you’re a Wagga local, you’ll be feeling cozy, loved up and chummy 💖
💫 Mini Review 💫
Ascension by Nicholas Binge NEEDS to be added to your TBR! Let me tell you why:
- It’s a stand alone fantasy & only 300 pages
- A mysterious mountain appears out of nowhere and the world’s best scientists and professionals are brought together to discover how it came to be there
- Isolated and trippy events take place
- Characters are pegged as crazy and disturbed after coming back from the top of the mountain – nobody knows what was at the top
- Time travel elements that you can ACTUALLY understand as a new time travel reader
- Clever historical and religious elements
- Unreliable narrator and told through letters back and forth
- Short chapters and regular chapter breaks to help you put down and pick back up after making a quick cup of tea … and then reading again
- Addictive scale was at HIGH
- I would reread this book! SAY WHAT?! Yes, it was that good.
This is a debut novel for UK author Nicholas Binge and I so SO hope this is adapted to screen, because it would be one heck of a movie! Pick this novel up – you will not be disappointed. Purchase your own copy via the link here CLICK ME ✅
Simple & Marshmallowy Carrot Cake 🥕🍰
Are you excited to spend your Sunday recreating this simple & marshmallowy Carrot Cake?
This is a Women’s Weekly recipe. You can find the OG recipe which I have used for the exact base and some of the topping for via this link.
What you can find right here, right now, are my suggested little tweaks and additions to the OG Carrot Cake.
INGREDIENTS:
Cake Mix
1 cup of brown sugar
1 cup of vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 cups of self raising flour, sifted
1 teaspoon for ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon of bicarbonate soda
2 cups of carrot, grated
1/2 cup of walnuts, roughly chopped
Toppings
500g cream cheese, room temperature
3/4 cup of pure icing sugar
2 Tablespoons of lemon juice
1 Tablespoon of brown sugar
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/4 cup of walnuts, roughly chopped
METHOD:
- Pre-heat a fan forced oven to 108 degrees celsius& prepare a 22cm cake tin with baking paper.
- Whisk together brown sugar & vegetable oil.
- Whisk one egg at a time into this mixture
- Sift flour, cinnamon & nutmeg into the mixture. Stir through the flour mixture well.
- Stir in grated carrot and chopped walnuts.
- Make sure you taste test the mixture at this point – key notes of deliciousness should be evident 😉
- Pour your tasty mixture in the cake tin and place in the oven for 1 hour. *tip* every oven is so different with their heat, however I have baked this cake in two different ovens and both took 1 hour exact. Be sure to skewer your cake and if it comes out clean, your cake is cooked. Another *tip* when you start to smell your cake, you should be checking if it’s cooked.
- Take a break, read a book. Then with 10 minutes to go in the oven, start making your topping.
- Beat together cream cheese, icing sugar and lemon juice. *tip* To make this marshmallowy, keep beating with the electric beaters a bit longer than you think you should. You want to aim for the look of silk. If your frosting is starting to look like shiny, smooth and soft – you’re complete!
- After letting your cake cool completely, cut your cake in half length ways – our aim is to create layers.
- Layer half of your cream cheese frosting onto the bottom half of the cake. Smooth out. Sprinkle on brown sugar and cinnamon. Close the cake with its lid.
- Now throw your flare in – for me, I like thick and high frosting. I will roughly smooth out leaving dips and curves. With a cake like this, I prefer not to frost the sides as it allows us to see what we’re about to get on the inside. Finish off with a sprinkling of walnuts and if you desire, a little pinch of cinnamon & nutmeg.
- We’ve made it to 13 and this is the most important step – EAT & SHARE! My cake was eaten over a cup of tea & a game of rummy-o with a dear friend 💖
If you enjoyed this baking post, be sure to give this post a LIKE and drop me a COMMENT 💫
I do not take any credit for the creation of this recipe.
Thursday Real Talk: A Burning Desire for Change
Do you ever get to a stage where you feel that if something doesn’t change in your life, you won’t have the space to grow? I like to call this A Burning Desire for Change.
I think I’m at that stage and sometimes it’s hard to understand where it’s come from, where it’s going and what will happen next. It’s a flow. And a somewhat terrifying flow for people (like myself as my friends and family would confirm) who do not like change.
Change is defined as; to alter or modify; an act or process in which something becomes different. Thanks Google.
I think the word that stands out to me the most here, and it could be quite different for you reading this, is process. Change is a process. Change is not linear, nor can it be sudden in some instances or can it be forever. But something about change is that once the idea has sprouted in your mind, body and soul, it can be hard to quiet it down.
Desire is defined as; strongly wishing for or wanting something. … Wanting.
So if we put together – a wanting to alter the process of things, we have A Burning Desire for Change.
My wanting the alter the process of things has come in the form of going back to study. I am currently underway in studying to become a Librarian Assistant. I love bookstores and have a want to be in them long-term. However, there is a burning desire inside of me to experience books and what we can do in the form of books and community combined. And this comes in the form of a library. I guess from the outside looking in, there is starting to be a melding of Social Work values and books.
What an exciting and nerve racking time ahead! But again, change is not linear and nothing in life goes to plan. Sometimes, as humans we just need to take one day at a time. One breathe at a time. One change at a time.
Are you a lover of change? At what stage of life did your Burning Desire for Change come around?
Mel x
A little refresh
Here she is, in all her BEAutiful glory 😍
On melreviewsherbooks, we’ve had a branding and logo change. This idea and desire came from my longtime following of @holliestartup and seeing the wonderful, warm and personal illustrations she continuously creates. An idea formed of, “Why don’t I have something a little personal of my own?”.
Hollie is the most kind, intelligent and easy creative to converse with and she has honestly created the ideal image for me. I truely believe, and those who know me personally will agree, that this wraps up all that I am.
So here you have it. This is the true Mel; book reading; coffee drinking; muffin eating; overall wearing; Peachy cat mum; and overall cosy gal.
I’m planning on a few cool things happening around here this year, so keep your eyes peeled and your emails well checked 😉💫
WWW Wednesdays
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: Ascension by Nicholas Binge is SO addictive! Imagine a mountain appears out of nowhere but it’s only brought to your attention because you are a physicist that is needed on the highly secretive mission to the top. Everyone who has come back from the top base camp (only 2 so far in its small history) has turned mad and been ‘changed’ from whatever they learnt/experiences/whatever happened up there. And one of those two is the main character’s ex-wife. The story is cleverly written from the past by letters the main character is holding onto for his niece. In the present time, the main character is found by his brother in a mental facility and he has also lost his mind. So we know what’s to come but how does it all play out. I cannot wait to finish this book!
RF: The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams was my recent fun and smutty read for my week off from bookselling. It was great and you can find my review here (click me romance go-er) 💖
RN: Death of a Book Seller by Alice Slater is a book I know nearly nothing about but have every desire to read from its title! How capturing and well, frightening … This book involves a true crime bookseller buff, a new employee who is not as they seem and a deadly friendship. It’s had pretty high reviews so I am keen to give it a whirl.
What are you all reading this week? Leave a COMMENT below 💬
Purchase or download your books via this link: BOOKTOPIA
Mel Reviews Her Books 