Recent reads: December 2024

How are we in December already?! Here are my 11 recent reads, from mid-November up until now. I was away for work so had plenty of time in the evenings and on the train to read, and December is always a good reading month for me because it's such cosy vibes. Without further ado, here are 11 books I read recently and what I thought of them...

The Fiancée Farce by Alexandria Bellfleure

Sapphic romances are a big hit with me and when I saw this for 50p in a charity shop I couldn't pass it up - yes it's cheesy and far fetched but it was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it. It follows a girl who works in a bookshop (tick) who has lied about being in a relationship with a girl she saw on the cover of a book, who then turns out to be the cousin of someone she knows. When they meet IRL they end up fake dating (tick) and we all know what that leads to... 5 stars, loved it, would recommend!

In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren

You'll see a lot of festive reads in this blog post, and most of them I listened to as free audiobooks on YouTube while writing Christmas content for work, just to get me in the mood. I really enjoyed this one - I love Christina Lauren's writing anyway, and this had a magical realism element to it which I love. Set in an old cabin over Christmas, our main character keeps reliving the holidays over and over again... but why? A cheesy festive romance, 4 stars from me.

Christmasland by Anne-Marie Meyer

This was another one I listened to as a free audiobook on YouTube, and another one that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Bea is incredibly sceptical when her best friend wins an all inclusive trip to a festive-obsessed town called Christmasland, but when she meets Ethan she can't deny the pull she feels to him... It's a super short, super cute, Hallmark movie-style read and I genuinely enjoyed it. Another 4 star!

Billionaire Under the Mistletoe by Hannah Jo Abbott

You guessed it, another festive audiobook - honestly these have been getting me through the stress of Black Fri/Christmas/New Year working in e-comm! This is a sweet office romance between an assistant and the billionaire guy she works for - honestly there's not much to say about this one, because it's been done a hundred times, but it was an alright story and with fairly decent characters. 3 stars from me...

Cop an Attitude by Hilary Grossman

I read this on Kindle - it was one I grabbed during a 'Stuff your Kindle Day' and I wasn't expecting much but I knew it would be a fun, easy read. High flying marketing exec gets pulled over by a hot policeman en route to the small town she lives in, where said policeman also lives, and he just keeps turning up, and there's all sorts of chaos and a bit of a twist. It was good, but not great! Another 3 star read.

The Christmas Bet by Meg Easton

Another small town Christmas audiobook, this time following two single parents who's kids don't get on, but have both declared their parent to be the one who will make the best decorations for their school play. Kind-of-enemies to lovers plot, fuelled by the matchmaking skills of 6 year olds - it's cute, it's cheesy, it's really nothing groundbreaking. I gave this one 3 stars too!

The Bridesmaid by Cate Quinn

This was a thriller that I got as an ARC via NetGalley, and I had high hopes for it but it just fell a bit short for me. I found it all a bit confusing and all the characters were quite unlikeable, and sometimes it felt like the twists were added in just for the sake of it. It was an okay thriller read, mostly set on an island and with plenty of gruesome deaths, but I didn't love it. Yet another 3 star read...

Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

I hear about Abby Jimenez aaalll the time on Booktok/Booktube etc, but this was actually the first book of hers that I read - another NetGalley ARC! I absolutely, hand on heart, adored this book - once I'd started reading it I didn't want to put it down, and I just fell in love with Abby's writing. The characters were beautifully crafted, the writing so emotive, and the plot (while designed to be frustrating at times) was utterly gorgeous. Such a charming read and honestly, 5 stars!!!

Five Survive by Holly Jackson

So, if you follow me on TikTok or my booksta, you'll know my gorgeous fiancée made me a book advent calendar this year - a book a day for 24 days. She put so much effort into it and I'm so grateful, it's just amazing. Anyway, this was the book from day 1 and I finished it that day. I absolutely loved it, maybe not quite as much as much as the AGGGTM series but it was still a brilliant YA thriller with an excellent twist that I didn't guess whatsoever. 5 stars!

A Sprinkle of Christmas Magic by Laura Abbott

Another festive audiobook, this was soooo cute - city gal ends up in a small town, running her grandmother's bakery, finds herself falling for a local single dad... so many fun tropes and just a really heartwarming Christmassy book. I gave this 4 stars and I'd absolutely recommend for this time of year.

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

My first ever Freida - this was another one I got in my book advent calendar, and I wanted to read it because it's soooo popular and I wanted to know what all the hype was about. Is it the best written book in the world? No, but it's a great premise for a thriller and I didn't see the twist coming at all (jaw on the floor kinda moment). The characters were awful, though I think they were meant to be, and some parts were a bit slow for me but overall this was a 4 star read for me!

Okay, that was LONG. But they're the last 10 books I read - a mix of physical books from my book advent calendar, some audiobooks and some e-ARCs. FYI, I have a post with a whole section about how you can read for free with tips on where to get free books, so I'd definitely check that out if you're wanting to top up your TBR without spending any money.

How to hold a successful moving sale

Moving can be both overwhelming and exciting. While it represents a fresh start, the effort required can be quite exhausting. Choosing what to bring with you and what to leave behind is one of the toughest decisions. This entails sorting out your belongings in three categories–what to keep, throw away, or donate.

However, why not set up a moving sale instead of throwing things away? It can be a terrific opportunity to declutter, make some additional money, and possibly minimise your moving expenses by helping your removals company transport fewer items overall.

And how can you ensure your moving sale is a success? Let’s explore some ideas and techniques to turn your unwanted items into treasures for someone else.

Timing Is Everything

One of the most important factors in organising a moving sale is choosing the right time for the event.

Giving yourself adequate time before such an event will help you arrange everything without the added stress of packing and scheduling an appointment with a removals firm.

The ideal solution is to plan your sale a few weeks before the relocation. This allows you to clear out unnecessary clutter and avoid last-minute chaos.

Weekends are usually the greatest times for selling personal belongings as most consumers have leisure time to browse around that time. Aim for a Saturday or Sunday morning when you're likely to see the highest foot traffic.

Take the weather into consideration as well. If you're holding the sale outdoors, you should check the forecast to avoid getting wet and not end up with a soggy sale and poor attendance.

The correct timing will greatly affect the number of individuals who stop by and, hence, the success of your sale.

Organising and Categorising Your Items

You can start by sorting through every item in your house before considering their prices. This is the perfect time for a good old-fashioned clear-out.

Methodically go through each room and sort items into several categories. Group them into items to retain, sell, donate, or discard.

Remember that anything you wish to keep should be packed and transported by licensed removal companies. Therefore, be as decisive as possible when deciding what to keep and what to let go. Sorting items into categories, like homeware and furniture, will help you sell them more successfully.

This approach not only makes it easier for buyers to navigate your sale but also ensures a more organised and visually appealing presentation.

People are more inclined to stay around and explore a well-organised place than to feel overwhelmed by clutter, so an orderly sale increases your likelihood of selling more of these items!

Pricing for Profit and Quick Sales 

One of the most challenging parts of organising a moving sale is pricing everything.

You naturally want to make some money, but you also have to be reasonable about what customers are ready to pay for used materials. The goal is to strike a balance between making a profit and clearing out unwanted items.

Start by researching your products online first to get a sense of their current value. Keep in mind that people will expect to find good bargains.

Price your items reasonably and be ready to haggle prices. A decent rule of thumb is to price items around 25–30% of their original retail value.

Group smaller and less expensive items like books or clothes for a better deal. You can run offers like buy one get one free.

Attractive pricing will not only enable you to clear more clutter but also guarantee that you maximise foot traffic.

Promoting Your Sale

For a successful moving sale, people need to know about it. It won’t happen by chance!

First and foremost, effective advertising is essential. So start by telling friends and neighbours about the sale. A few fliers around the neighbourhood or a mention of the sale in your local community group will go a long way.

You can also use social media to increase your visibility. Your moving sale is ideal for social media marketplaces.

Including all the specifics, like the date, time, place, and a few highlights of what you will be offering, is crucial.

Share photos of any high-value items, like electronics, bicycles, or furniture, ahead of time to generate interest.

Good old-fashioned signs are another excellent approach to increasing interest. Hang clear, brilliant signs around your community a few days before the sale.

Add arrows pointing to your house so prospective buyers can find their way quickly. Recall that a moving sale is a local event, so focus your promotional efforts within the nearby area.

Set Up Like a Pro 

Presentation is important. Think of your moving sale as if you’re setting up a small shop. You want to create a welcoming atmosphere where customers can easily browse through your items.

First, ensure that everything is neat and in good condition. Nobody likes to purchase a stained blouse or a dirty toaster. Some cleaning can make a big impact and potentially boost the prices of items on sale.

Put great care into showcasing your items. While minor objects can be arranged on tables, big objects like furniture should be positioned in prominent places to draw attention.

Make sure you have enough tables, boxes, and hangers to appropriately display your items should you choose to host your sale outside.

Hidden items will typically be missed, so improve where you display these items as much as you can.

Make sure buyers know the cost of your goods as well. Stick price tags on everything or use coloured stickers with a chart outlining the meaning of each colour.

For instance, blue means an item is worth £5 and red means an item is worth £10. This allows customers to browse freely and saves you from constantly answering questions about prices.

Get Ready to Haggle

One thing you can expect at a moving sale is haggling. Be prepared for customers to negotiate, especially for higher-priced items.

You should be quite clear on the lowest price you will be ready to receive for any item. It's okay if some people try to push for lower rates.

Remember, the intention is to clear items before the removal companies show up to carry away your last possessions. Stay flexible but firm.

Consider accepting a reasonable offer that’s below your initial price, but don't hesitate to say no if the offer is shockingly below the average price, as someone else is likely to offer a better price by the end of the day.

What to Do With the Leftovers

Not everything will sell, but don’t let that discourage you. Instead, plan on how to use the leftovers. Many charities are happy to accept unsold items like books, clothes, and household goods.

Some organisations have donation centres across the UK and will gladly take most of your remaining items.

You should also consider listing any unsold large items on the internet for free or for a small fee. This can help you get rid of bulky furniture before the removal company arrives and reduce your moving costs.

Conclusion

In addition to reducing your burden before the move, a good moving sale will increase your moving budget. Your unwanted items will be sold, and the whole moving process will be more seamless if you plan ahead, price items carefully, and promote your sale.

Fewer items to move also means less work for your removals company, which can lead to additional savings for you. The best part is that you’re streamlining your move while giving your belongings a new life in someone else’s hands!

Christmas gift ideas | 2024

I usually do a variety of gift guides split into categories, showcasing loads of gift ideas, but I'll be honest life is *very* busy right now and I've simply not had the time! But I do have some lovely bits and bobs to show you that would make lovely Christmas gifts for your loved ones in 2024 - so without further ado, here they are!

Wicked Uncle Aqua Bluetooth Speaker*

How cool is this?! I love anything tech, and this is a really affordable way to give a gift that is really cool and one they'll get a lot of use out of. Aimed at kids, I do think it's something adults could enjoy too - the water lights up and dances along to the beat, which is just amazing. It's great quality and easy to set up, and I've already been blasting country Christmas songs through mine... Everyone should have an Aqua Bluetooth Speaker in their life and for under £30 it's a winner!

Shout out to Wicked Uncle who sent me two of these - I'm donating one to our local toy collection for kids who are less fortunate, and if you have something similar in your local area I'd highly recommend seeing if you can pick some bits up to donate.

Scaramanga Leather Saddle Bag*

If there's one thing about me, it's that I love a handbag - and Scaramanga's stunning Leather Saddle Bag is no exception. Handmade using high quality Hunter leather and natural tannins and oils as opposed to harmful chemicals, each bag is unique and incredibly well crafted. This is the 12inch satchel and it's the perfect size for a day bag - I can fit my kindle or a book as well as my phone, meds, purse, charger, snacks and more inside. Retailing for £75, this is the perfect Christmas gift for the handbag fanatic in *your* life.

Popcorn Kitchen Giant Bottle - Sweet & Salt Rainbow*

Rainbow popcorn? Sweet AND salty? The perfect combo and the most amazing Christmas gift for the person who has everything. The popcorn is so fresh and tasty, and it's such a fun concept. For £23.99 you get 550g of popcorn (which is loads, actually) and the bottle can be kept and reused as a moneybox afterwards - ideal for saving all those coins you don't know what to do with. I just love this as a Christmas present, especially for kids!

And Hope Designs Reading Journal*

As you know if you read my blog regularly, I'm a big reader - and with journaling being such a popular hobby too these days, this perfectly combines the two. This super cute and really well made reading journal allows whoever you're gifting it to to keep track of everything they've read, their thoughts on the books and so much more. It's the gift that keeps on giving as they can use it right through 2025 to jot down their thoughts on all the books they get through... This comes in a few different colours and it's £12 which I think is a great price!

Ethique Solid Haircare

Talk about perfect stocking fillers! Ethique make amazing haircare and body products, all of which are solid and come in recyclable cardboard packaging - this means they are amazing for the planet, with no plastic whatsoever. The UK website is actually being retired so everything is 60% off, and they do mini versions which would make the perfect addition to a beauty lover's stocking. What's not to love? I paid around £19 for a full sized shampoo bar, two mini shampoos, a mini conditioner, a soap and a trio of minis which is such a bargain.

Mijmoj Personalised Book Rest*

Another gift for the readers - I can't help it! This book rest is perfect if you have an untidy (ahem) reader in your life, as it sits nicely on their bedside table with space for their current read, glasses, a pen and maybe even a late night snack of some sort. Bonus points because it can be personalised! It's soooo cute and also made from solid oak, so you just know the quality is up there. 10/10 would recommend! For £40 I think this is such a lovely gift.

British Boxers Pyjamas*

Okay wow - if there's one really special gift to buy for the person who has everything, then it has to be luxury pyjamas. And British Boxers absolutely nail these! I got my hands on two pairs, the Brushed Cotton Pyjama Set in Tangerine Dream for me and the Bamboo Pyjama Set in Industrial Stripe, for my fiancée. Both are incredibly quality in stunning designs, and I know they'll last us for years. They're so soft, cosy and comfortable, fit really nicely and come in a wide range of sizes and colours too. Such a winner! I also got one of their zip up hoodies, which is the perfect oversized cosy hoody and again is really well made - it's something I can see myself getting a LOT of wear out of especially as a 'work from home' girly.

All of these products would make fantastic Christmas gifts, and I personally will be getting a lot of use out of them! Huge thanks to all the brands who have teamed up with me this year so I can share some amazing present ideas with you all.

October/November 2024 recent reads

Well, I intended to publish this post with 5 books in it towards the end of October and never did, so now there's 10 books here and it spans the first half of November too. Oops! Here's some quickfire book reviews, anyway... Also, if you're on Goodreads, I'm using it more now so let's be friends!

Influencer by Adam Cesare

This started off really weird and slow for me, but ended up giving it a 3 stars - middle of the road, not terrible but not amazing either. It's a thriller for sure, following an anonymous internet star who's generally a bit of a psychopath; when his identity is revealed, it seems he'll stop at nothing to get revenge. The characters are teenagers so it's definitely a YA book, but it's super creepy.

Star-Crossed Letters by Sarah Deeham

I absolutely loved this one - a penpals to lovers romance between a small town girl and a big famous movie star. It was just a lot of fun, a typical romance but also just super lovely with some fun tropes. The characters were charming, the banter was fantastic, the slow burn was delicious. It has some really mixed reviews but I gave it 4 stars and I'm looking forward to seeing how the series develops with the other characters...

Holding the Reins by Paisley Hope

FIVE STARS. Amazing. Delightful. Sexy. Spicy. Gorgeous. Loved loved loved this so much - hockey romance and cowboy romance are two of my favourite sub-genres, as this is a crossover between the two (!!) and honestly Paisley Hope, hats off to you because this was spectacular and I'm already desperate to read book two, which hopefully I'll get my hands on soon!

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Now I am *not* a fantasy girly, or so I tell myself and everybody else. I chose this book as part of an Autumn readathon I'm doing, as I needed a 'book with a spooky animal friend' and there's a frog sidekick in this one. Did I expect to fall in love with the book? No, but I did. I loved it so much and couldn't get enough of this - I finished it in the pub while literally ignoring my fiancée. It follows a girl who's looking. for a job to support her family, and she ends up working for 'The Villain', who her town are desperately trying to capture - and then there's a whole lot of adventure! Again, can't wait to read the second one... Five stars!

Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty

I absolutely love Liane Moriarty's writing, I just don't know how she does it every time - capturing the minutiae of family life and relationships, taking you on a journey as the plot unravels. This one is about a woman who goes missing, and the story flits between now, as the police and her family try to work out what's happened, and last year when she had a mysterious visitor come to stay. It also features tennis, and relationship breakdowns, and mental health and grief and migraines and terrible carpets, and I adored it. Another 5 star read for me.

Flawless by Elsie Silver

I've finally started the Chestnut Springs series, and woweee! The first book did not disappoint - as mentioned, a cowboy/small town romance is a bit of me and this one really is great. It wasn't quite a five star for me but I really did enjoy it - following bad boy bull rider Rhett and his agent's daughter, Summer, it's a classic contemporary romance with plenty of spice and a whole lot of fun. Excited to continue the series for sure.

Hungerstone by Kat Dunn

I'm not usually a reader of gothic literature, or literary fiction in general, but I had a Netgalley ARC of this as it really called out to me - it's a feminist retelling of Carmilla, the original sapphic vampire fiction, and I do love a sapphic read. It took me a while to get into this but honestly it was worth persevering with; it's so well written, and really delicately balances on that fine line between reality and the supernatural with some incredibly powerful themes. I gave this four stars too!

Death on the Danube by Jennifer S Alderson

I read this for fun as we were heading to Budapest, and it was actually pretty good - I got this as a free Kindle read on a recent cosy mystery themed 'stuff your Kindle day'. It definitely was a cosy mystery, and as I read it while we were in Budapest I just had a lot of fun with it. It follows Lana who has to step in as a last minute tour guide for a luxury trip to the Hungarian capital, and while she's there someone on the tour is murdered - so Lana tries to figure out what happened. Not a masterpiece by any stretch, but a decent read and one I gave 3 stars.

Our Holiday by Louise Candlish

I listened to this as an audiobook on Spotify, and it's really well done. But did I love the story? Not massively - it follows two wealthy couples who are staying in their holiday homes on the coast, and are met with anger from the local residents. We follow the duration of the holiday, as the two sides of the class division battle it out with some side plots and drama along the way. It was an interesting read but just felt like a LOT going on - I gave this 3 stars.

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

Another audiobook, this time a free one on YouTube. I've read a few Christina Lauren books and enjoyed them, and this was no exception - although I do find the spicier scenes a bit awkward to listen to as opposed to when I'm physically reading them... This is a marriage of convenience/fake dating, high stakes, billionaire romance set on a beautiful island and full of everything that makes me giggle and kick my feet in a book. I gave this 5 stars on Goodreads but it's probably more of a 4.5!

What an amazing end to October with three 5 star reads!!!! And a mixed bag so far in November, but nothing to be sniffed at. Let me know what your most recent read was in the comments if you fancy it. 

Looking for gifts for book lovers?

Gift ideas for book lovers

As you obviously know if you read my blog, I'm a huge book lover - and books, of course, make excellent gifts! But what if you want to buy a Christmas gift for a book lover but you're not in any hurry to add to their never-ending TBR? Here are some other gift ideas for the readers in your life!

Gifts for spicy book lovers

Know a spicy romance reader? Here's some of the best gifts you can get them this Christmas...

Smutty book lovers colouring book - seriously, what more could you want?

Spicy romance book club bookmark x3 - there's no need to dog ear those pages when you have a bookmark (or three) this cute!

Reading something unholy neon light - the perfect addition to a spicy romance reader's book nook...

Spicy romance 'blind date with a book' - okay, so it technically is a book but it's a SURPRISE.

Spread those pages thumb support - the perfect spicy romance stocking filler!

Spicy book club embroidered sweatshirt - a Literature Stitches classic, chef's kiss.

Gifts for general readers

Looking for some generic book lover gifts for the reader in your life this Christmas? I've got you covered right here!

Just one more chapter tote bag - perfect for storing all the books they're gonna buy in 2025...

Ex Libris knitted Christmas jumper - so they can win Christmas jumper day every year!

TBR jar prompts - so they never have to struggle to choose a book again.

Books are my happy place cold cup - because you've got to stay hydrated while reading, right?

Bookshop scented candle - this one needs no explanation, because there's just something about the smell of a bookshop.

Bookish keyring - the cutest book lover stocking filler!

Gifts for fantasy readers

I'm not a fantasy reader myself but it is absolutely one of the most popular genres out there and if you have a fantasy book lover in your life then I've got you covered for sure...

Forest fairies colouring book - to relax between books, this is full of cute fantasy-esque characters to colour.

Fantasy reader sweatshirt - helloooo this is so cute look at the dragon!!!

Purple ceramic book vase - this is giving me such fantasy vibes?!

ACOTAR themed candles - I've never read it but I had to include for the stans...

Fantasy bookmarks - just a must for the fantasy girlies.

Fae men and wingspan sticker - the cutest little stocking filler for a fantasy reader's kindle!

Gifts for cowboy romance readers

If there's one genre I would lay down and die for it's a good old cowboy romance - and I know so many bookish girlies are right there with me on that one. Here's some excellent gift ideas for cowboy romance readers!

Cowboy romance book club mug - for their 'coffee and book' time.

Cowboy romance colouring book - I want this SO much it's absolutely adorable, and the perfect present for when they're in a reading slump...

Cowboy romance book club embroidered sweatshirt - you simply have to rep the genre, and this is stunning.

Patterned book journal - so they can keep track of all the smutty cowboy romances they read!

Cowboy romance candle - their book nook is simply calling out for this.

Acrylic bookmark - again, a bookmark is such an easy but much appreciated gift for a reader.

There you have it - a bumper gift guide packed with gifts for readers no matter what genre they're into. If you do want me to update this with any other genres then feel free to leave me a comment and I'll help you out with some more bookish gifts. Happy shopping!