April 2025 reading round up

March was a hell of a reading month for me, and April hasn't been too bad either - I never really know what to say in the intro for these posts, so here are all the books I've read in April 2025 and what I thought of them!

The Wake-Up Call by Beth O'Leary

I am a big fan of Beth O'Leary's writing - I really didn't get on with The Flatshare, but all of her other books have been a win for me and this one was no exception! It's a gorgeous enemies to lovers kind of romance, set in a lovely family-friendly British hotel in the countryside, and touches on some themes around grief and loneliness. I love the found family element and the two main characters, Izzy and Lucas, were so much fun. Highly recommend! 5 stars from me.

Happy Place by Emily Henry

I've not read many Em Hen books, but I absolutely fell in love with this one. I was instantly transported to every location, from the haunted flat in New York to the gorgeous cottage in Maine (I want to go to Maine sooooo badly now), and the cast of characters were simply lovely. Again, a nice found family element and a breathtaking, heartbreaking second chance romance plot. Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. Could definitely see this as a film! Another 5 stars from me.

Nobody Would Do What The Lamberts Have Done by Sophie Hannah

(arc) Since I was about 12, Sophie Hannah has been my favourite author - and it's still a pinch me moment if I ever get an ARC for one of her new books, as I did with this one. It was *very* different to her usual style, and honestly left me feeling kind of mindblown. It's a thriller told through a manuscript left for a policeman to find, and said manuscript switches between an at-first-unknown POV and that of the Mum of the family the story centers on. The story itself is actually about a dog-obsessed family, and their actions/reaction when their dog is accused of biting someone. Honestly the whole thing is nuts and I was left with a lot of questions, but I did find it an enjoyable read which really made me think. 4 stars!

Dead To Me by Gytha Lodge

(arc) The majority of this book is told in the form of an email from a journalist to her ex - said journalist is trying to infiltrate a group at Cambridge to get to the bottom of some suspicious deaths. I love anything that examines the elite and the way they work, and this did so brilliantly while remaining self-aware and just an all-round enjoyable read. Another 4 star read for me.

The Island Escape by Jess Ryder

(arc) Labelled as 'Mamma Mia with murder', that pretty much is what it is - told through dual POVs (mother in the past, her adult daughter now) we follow the hedonistic life of backpackers on a sunny Greek island, and all the trouble and drama that comes with that. Namely secrets, lies and a dead body... This was okay, and I enjoyed the descriptions of Greece of course, but overall it fell a bit flat. 3 stars from me.

The Marriage Rule by Helen Monks Takhar

(arc) I didn't enjoy this book at all - I found the characters all just awful, even the "good" ones, and the plot was really horrible as well as just a bit triggering. Honestly such a drag to read. I gave it 1.5 stars because the writing wasn't bad, but the story itself was. Ugh.

Do You Ship It by Beth Reekles

(arc) This book was like a balm for the soul after my previous read - I absolutely adored it. YA is usually a hit for me, but this one was just gorgeous. It's a romance, but the characters are all really into a particular fantasy series, so it almost feels like you're reading a bit of fantasy too. The storyline was simply lovely, and the characters were lush. I did figure out pretty early on what the sort-of twist would be, but it didn't make it any less enjoyable. An easy 5 stars!

Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey

I'm getting married in October, so I've been adding in a few books featuring weddings, marriage, brides etc into my TBR this year - and I love Tessa Bailey, so I was excited to read this and it didn't let me down. A marriage of convenience romance between an ex-SEAL and a disgraced Wall Street finance whizz, set in Napa Valley, he falls first, spicy without being too much... I simply loved it. 4.5 stars!!

The Highland Kiss by Amy McGavin

I took advantage of a recent 'stuff your kindle day' to get some free books off Amazon, all written by indie authors - this was one of them. I really enjoy romance set in Scotland, and the setting off this one really didn't disappoint; the story was good, too, but I found the writing incredibly awkward and almost jarring to read. Overall I gave this 3 stars, because it wasn't bad, it just felt unedited...

So that's everything I read in April 2025 including arcs, indie published romances and more! Let me know if you've read any of these or plan to pick them up...

March 2025 reading round up

March has actually been a fairly good reading month for me, and I'm definitely on target to complete my Goodreads challenge which this year is 100 books! Here's everything I read in March with quickfire reviews... 

The Daughter by T M Logan

This was my first audiobook of the month, and I really enjoyed it - I love T M Logan anyway, and I do kind of wish I'd read a physical copy of this as I think it might have hit even better, but this was a great thriller about a missing young woman and a mum who will not give up. Great twists, interesting plot, heavy drama. 4 stars!

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

I read this for our book club pick in March, and enjoyed it more than I thought I would - the twist is phenomenal, but it does beg the question of does a good twist make a good book? Because the more we chatted about it at book club, the more we found flaws and realised just how much of the story is left almost unfinished. Also, all of the characters are really quite unlikeable. That being said, still an enjoyable read. I gave it 3.5 stars in the end!

The Love of my Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood

This has been sat on my shelves since my bestie bought it for my birthday last year - chosen by her because of the ombre sprayed edges, which I hugely appreciate. I'd heard that it's pretty funny so when I was feeling unwell and very sorry for myself towards the beginning of the month I decided to pick it up. And ohhh it didn't disappoint; funny, poignant, heartfelt, lovely... there are no words to describe just how much this book made me laugh and cry, and if I could give it six stars I would. Utterly charming. Favourite read of the year so far.

Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey

I am a sucker for a spicy sports romance, and even though this one was about golf (??) I still absolutely devoured it, and really enjoyed it. I'm a big fan of Tessa Bailey's writing, and this one had a genuinely nice plot as well as fun, interesting characters and good sex scenes without really too much cringe. 4.5 stars from me!!

Breakaway by Grace Reilly

Speaking of cringe, this one has bucket loads of it - I didn't hate it, but it was definitely a bit of an ick to read. I don't think this is a particularly well written book, but if you like a LOT of spice then you will enjoy it. And of course there's a nice little hockey/college storyline which is fun. I gave this 3.5 stars personally...

Stealing Home by Grace Reilly

I definitely preferred this one to Breakaway, as it was much less cringe - another college romance featuring rich kids and heartbreak. The plot of the books in this series is pretty much the same, as with most romance novels, but it was still a fun enjoyable read. 4 stars!

Heartless by Elsie Silver

My second foray into Elsie Silver's work, and of course the second in her Chestnut Springs series. As cowboy romances go, this is a good'un and I can see why everybody loves these books - they're not as good as Paisley Hope's Silver Pines series, imo, but this is a cute age-gap/single dad romance set on a ranch with a delightful slow burn situation. 4.5 stars!

Powerless by Elsie Silver

My favourite of the Chestnut Springs series so far, because childhood friends to lovers is a gorgeous trope and the FMC in this book was such a strong character - I loved seeing her internal transformation. There isn't anywhere near as much spice in this one, but what there is is well written. The book has great pacing and I really really enjoyed it. 4.75 stars for this one.

Reckless by Elsie Silver

Winter and Theo absolutely charmed me; I did feel this one was a little random as we don't know much of either character before this book, however it was a gorgeous story and I absolutely fell in love with their little family. Plus, bull riding is such a VIBE. 4 stars!

Hopeless by Elsie Silver

The final book of the series and honestly my least favourite - really she could have stopped at book 4, I didn't feel connected to either of the main characters in this one and I felt they lacked a connection to each other. It's a sweet story but honestly very 'meh' for me - a 3.5, it just doesn't live up to the rest of Chestnut Springs!

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

My final read of March and wow, what a way to close out the month. Truly, utterly, sensational - so cleverly crafted, so gutwrenchingly sad, so powerful. Haymitch has always been one of my favourite characters and to see an insight into why he is the way he is was equal parts upsetting and uplifting. A beautiful 5 stars from me.

Here's hoping April is an equally good reading month as March was!

What ways can you save money in 2025?

Looking to save money this year? Whether you are struggling to make ends meet, saving up for something specific, or simply looking to improve your financial situation, there are many ways to reduce your expenses and enhance savings throughout 2025. Keep reading to discover a few of the best strategies to consider.

Implementing Effective Budgeting Techniques

People often overspend each month because they do not control spending with a budget. Creating a detailed budget to monitor income and expenditures can help you identify areas to make savings as well as ensure that a percentage of your monthly income goes straight into savings. Digital budgeting tools and apps can simplify the process of creating and monitoring a monthly budget.

Maximising Savings with a High-Interest Account

It is important that you put the money you save to work to maximize returns. This is why you should put your savings in a high-interest account that will grow and compound over time. This could be easy access if you need to access the money or locked in a fixed-term account (which offers the best interest rates). Interest rates have remained high in recent times, so you want to compare different accounts to find the most competitive options.

Reducing Utility Bills Through Energy Efficiency

Many people in the UK have been struggling with their energy bills in recent times, particularly during the winter months. This is always an area where you can find ways to make savings, such as:

💜 Using energy-efficient appliances
💜 Using a smart thermostat
💜 Turning off unused devices
💜 Washing clothes on a cold setting
💜 Air drying clothes
💜 Bulk cooking
💜 Taking cooler and/or shorter showers

Small changes can make a big difference over the long term when it comes to energy consumption, so combining the above could make a big difference.

Exploring Cost-Effective Transportation Options

Transport is another major cost for many, especially those who commute daily. There are a number of ways to save money on transport, including:

🚴🏻 Cycling/walking
🚞 Public transport
🚙 Car-sharing schemes



Car insurance is a large and essential cost for many, but you may be able to make savings by adopting telematics insurance, which rewards safe driving with lower premiums.

Utilising Cashback & Reward Programs

Cashback offers, loyalty cards, and reward programs can lead to significant savings over time. There are many popular cashback websites in the UK, including Topcashback, Quidco, and KidStart.

Embracing DIY & Second-Hand Purchases

A do-it-yourself approach to home repairs and buying items like furniture and clothing second-hand can also help you make huge savings. The second-hand marketplace is constantly growing, which means that it is becoming easier to find high-quality second-hand goods for a fraction of the original price.

These are a few of the best ways to make savings in 2025. Combining a few of these methods together could help you make significant savings this year and improve your financial situation.

One hike a month in 2025

2025 is a big year - I'm turning 30, getting married, and also really focusing on my health. I'm currently on a slow & steady weight loss journey, having lost just over 2 stone, and I'm trying to stay on top of hydration and supplements and so on. As part of this, I am also aiming to complete one hike per month throughout 2025. I'll be adding to this blog post each month to share which hike I've done and how I found it!

January's hike: Millennium Walkway, New Mills

We drove here on a very cold Saturday, planning to do this 4 mile loop walk. We parked up and walked down to the Torrs Hydro, across the Millennium Walkway itself and through some woody areas - however, we didn't plan particularly well and definitely didn't end up doing the loop - we actually just walked back on ourselves, so we were totally off route. We still managed to get a good 5k steps in, and the views were great, it just wasn't exactly the hike we had planned!

February's hike: Helsby Hill, Cheshire

This was a nice early morning hike, only around half an hour from home. We parked up in the nature reserve car park, then headed up the (very steep) road to the bottom of Helsby Hill itself. It's not too much of a steep hill, and the views at the top across Cheshire, Wirral and Liverpool were brilliant - it was fairly windy but the sun was shining, and we did end up walking through the nature reserve too which was cool and well worth combining with the hill hike. Only around 3k steps so not a huge hike by any means, but a really enjoyable one.

March's hike: Moel Famau, Flintshire

Our biggest yet - alarms set for 4.30am, we drove into Wales to walk the Jubilee Tower circular at sunrise. We arrived at the carpark at 6am, and it was already looking super cloudy. Nevertheless, we set out on the 5.5k circular route, taking the 'less steep' option where we could. Mind you, this is still incredibly steep in a lot of places, with plenty of heather and bramble and narrow paths to navigate. The higher we got, the foggier and cloudier it became meaning we didn't actually see anything in the way of sunrise - and when we got to the tower itself, we couldn't see a thing. However, it was a great sense of achievement to complete the hike! It was also the first time we'd taken Daisy (my parents' dog who we often look after) on a hike with us, and she loved it.

April's hike: Castell Dinas Bran

The hike we originally had planned for April was cancelled, so last minute my fiancée and I decided to travel up to Llangollen to hike up to Castell Dinas Bran. We actually got engaged in Llangollen so it holds a special place in our hearts, and we've never had the chance to do this particular hike - it's a train and bus away from us, taking around 2 hours to get there, but was so worth it.

We had glorious blue skies without a cloud in sight, and we did find this hike a challenge; it's so vertical, meaning we had to stop a good few times, but it really is worth it. The views were absolutely mesmerising, and we felt so good having done it. The full hike, up to the top and back down, is around 3.5km with 214m elevation. This took us just over an hour, with a nice stop at the top to admire our surroundings. I'd highly recommend this one if you want to challenge yourself!

May's hike: the Wirral Way

May is shaping up to be a really busy month for me and my friends; as someone who sadly can't drive, I do have to rely on friends wanting/being able to go hiking, as most places aren't really accessible via public transport for me. However, I did manage to drag my mum and my bestie out for May's hike, which might actually have been more of a walk depending on how you look at it. As part of the Wirral Walking Festival, we joined a ranger-led guided walk from Thurstaston, through the Dungeon Woodlands and the Heswall Dales, along the Dee Estuary shoreline and back up to the Wirral Country Park visitor centre. The mix of terrains and nature was incredible, so many amazing views. This was a 7.85km trek and it was a hot day so felt like a nice little challenge despite not being a typical "hike"!

Stay tuned to see the rest of my 2025 hiking routes, and follow me on Strava if you're interested in seeing more!

AD | How to improve your family home

The quality of your home can make a big difference to your quality of life. A little bit of renovation, or a major extension, can often provide you and your family with the space you need to thrive. But if you’re thinking about investing in changes, it’s worth thinking about which are going to offer the greatest value. Let’s consider some popular modifications...

Embracing Open-Plan Living

For several decades, open-plan has been the default option for those wishing to create a sense of space and freedom. This has been the case for a simple reason: open plan is very effective. When you remove unnecessary dividing walls, you can see further, which is fantastic for driving out claustrophobia. It also becomes easier to adapt a given space for several purposes and create a sense of community among family members who might be occupying different parts of the space. In a kitchen diner, for example, you might have one person cooking while another does their homework at the dining table.

Enhancing Energy Efficiency

If your home is more energy efficient, then it will also be cheaper to run in the long term. New-built homes often come equipped with the latest energy-efficient technologies, setting a benchmark for sustainability. But you can bring existing homes up to standard by making the right investments.

Photo by Raul Petri

Upgrading a boiler is an obvious example. But you can also find savings by making small investments, here and there. Loft insulation, LED bulbs, and the adoption of simple energy-saving habits, like not overfilling the kettle, can make a big cumulative difference in the long run.

Creating Multi-Functional Spaces

If you want to get the most out of the space available to you, then having different spaces serve multiple purposes can be extremely powerful. If your home office can double as a guest room, and your living room can double as a gym, then you might get much better use from the space available to you. This is great when you’re catering to a growing family.

Incorporating Outdoor Living Areas

Gardens, patios and balconies are a great way to extend your indoor living space. During summer, they can be particularly powerful. You might use a well-developed patio, for example, to host family gatherings – or to host parties for children and their friends.

Photo by Vlad Bucur

Prioritising Safety and Accessibility 

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, most accidents occur in the home. This is unsurprising, since the home is where most of us spend most of our time. But it does follow that, if you want to reduce the risk for yourself and your family members, you’ll make a few choice upgrades. The installation of the right lighting, child-proofing measures like locks on cupboard doors, and stairgates, can all be effective.

Making your home family-safe is so important, and so is fun! Check out how we've made our house a bit more baby-friendly since the arrival of my niece...