Acting the Part by ZR Ellor

This delightfully tropey teen romance perfect for fans of Ashley Poston and Lyla Lee follows a queer teen actor navigating their gender identity-while pretending to date their co-star.

Queer actor Lily Ashton has found fame playing lesbian warrior Morgantha on the hit TV show Galaxy Spark. Lily knows how little representation queer girls have, so when the showrunners reveal that Morgantha's on-screen love interest, Alietta, is going to be killed off, Lily orchestrates an elaborate fake-dating scheme with the standoffish actress who plays her, to generate press and ensure a happy ending for the #Morganetta ship.

But while playing a doting girlfriend on- and off-screen, Lily struggles with whether a word like "girl" applies to them at all.

Lily's always been good at playing a part. But are they ready to share their real self, even if it means throwing everything they've fought for away?

Bookpost!

We didn't receive anything this week, so we are having fun tackling our TBR piles! We're looking forward to getting caught up a bit.

Gulliver by Jonathon Swift, Mary Webb and Lauren O'Neill

New paperback edition of this modern retelling of a perennial favourite, with illustrations by Lauren O'Neill!

Gulliver’s Travels is a memorable classic that takes you into the amazing worlds travelled by Lemuel Gulliver. In Lilliput, he is a giant compared to the tiny people there, followed by the reverse in Brobdingnag, where Gulliver finds himself in a country of giants. Full of humour and adventure, these exciting stories have survived the centuries and are now retold and re-imagined with thrilling illustrations.

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday, all! Despite still being not quite all finished our Nanos (::cough::BeeJay::cough::) we managed a full week on the blog!

Come Out, Come Out, Whatever You Are by Kathryn Foxfeld

Welcome to the reality game show that'll scare you to death! Have you got what it takes to last the night?

On the reality show It's Behind You!, five contestants competing for prize money must survive the night in the dark and dangerous Umber Gorge caves, rumored to be haunted by the Puckered Maiden, a ghost who eats the hearts of her victims. But is it the malevolent spirit they should fear, or each other?

As the production crew ramps up the frights, tensions rise and the secrets of the cast member start coming to light. Each of these teenagers has hidden motives for taking part in the show. But could one of them be murder?

The Princess Bride: The Official Cookbook by Jenn Fujikawa

Few films have captured the hearts and imaginations like The Princess Bride. Based on the book by William Goldman, the 1987 film, directed by Rob Reiner and starring Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Billy Crystal, Andre the Giant, Carol Kane, Chris Sarandon, Wallace Shawn, Christopher Guest, Fred Savage, and Peter Falk is as universally beloved as it is quotable. Now, for the first time, The Princess Bride Cookbook: The Official Cookbook features more than 50 recipes for dishes seen in, and inspired by, the film, including: Buttercup Buttermilk Scones, Hash You Wish, Farm Boy Breakfast, Six-Fingered Sandwiches, Chips of Insanity, MLT, The Grandson's Soup and Sandwich, Vizzini's Sicilian Meatballs, Fezzik's Stew, The Spaniard's Paella, Bread Pirate Roberts, Twu Wove's Kiss Cookies, Iocane Powder Punch, Inigo Montoya's Taste of Revenge. Perfect for fans, families, and Brute Squads, The Princess Bride: The Official Cookbook is the ultimate way for home cooks to plate up the adventure, comedy, and romance of everyone's favorite film.

#BookBirthday! 24/11

Happy Thursday, all! This week there are TWO books from our lists publishing!

Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales

It’s been two years since Maya's ex-boyfriend cheated on her, and she still can’t escape him: his sister married the crown prince of a minor European country and he captured hearts as her charming younger brother. If the world only knew the real Jordy, the manipulative liar who broke Maya’s heart.

Skye Kaplan was always cautious with her heart until Jordy said all the right things and earned her trust. Now his face is all over the media and Skye is still wondering why he stopped calling.

When Maya and Skye are invited to star on the reality dating show Second-Chance Romance, they’re whisked away to a beautiful mansion—along with four more of Jordy’s exes— to compete for his affections while the whole world watches. Skye wonders if she and Jordy can recapture the spark she knows they had, but Maya has other plans: exposing Jordy and getting revenge. As they navigate the competition, Skye and Maya discover that their real happily ever after is nothing they could have scripted.

#Bookpost

Happy Tuesday, all! We are approaching the end of the month and should be getting back to normal very soon! We had a quiet week for new titles, which is fine, we'll soon start catching up on things. And, as is tradition, we have already read one and we even got the review done this time!

As always, you can click on each cover to learn more about each book.

A Consuming Fire by Laura E Weymouth

Weatherell girls aren't supposed to die.

Once every eighteen years, the isolated forest village of Weatherell is asked to send one girl to the god of the mountain to give a sacrifice before returning home. Twins Anya and Ilva Astraea are raised with this destiny in mind, and when their time comes, spirited Ilva volunteers to go. Her devoted sister Anya is left at home to pray for Ilva's safe return. But Anya's prayers are denied.

With her sister dead, Anya volunteers to make a journey of her own to visit the god of the mountain. But unlike her sister, sacrifice is the furthest thing from Anya's mind. Anya has no intention of giving anything more to the god, or of letting any other girl do so ever again. Anya Astraea has not set out to placate a god. She's set out to kill one.

Weekly roundup

Well, the third week of Nano is always the toughest! We are all just about hanging in there, with a lot of complaining and urging each other on. This was a very quiet week on the blog, so thanks for hanging in with us. Things should be closer to normal next week and back to normal after that!

The Sackville Street Caper by Alan Nolan

Eleven year old Bram Stoker, future author of Dracula, escapes school to 1850s Dublin City seeking adventure. There he meets Molly Malone, accomplished sneak thief and part time fishmonger. Together they must thwart the evil Count Vladimir who plans to steal the Irish Crown Jewels from Dublin Castle.

Terry Pratchett: A Life With Footnotes by Rob Wilkins

'PEOPLE THINK THAT STORIES ARE SHAPED BY PEOPLE. IN FACT, IT'S THE OTHER WAY AROUND.'

At the time of his death in 2015, award-winning and bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett was working on his finest story yet - his own.

At six years old, Terry was told by his headteacher that he would never amount to anything.

He spent the rest of his life proving that teacher wrong. At sixty-six, Terry had lived a life full of achievements: becoming one of the UK's bestselling writers, winning the Carnegie Medal and being awarded a knighthood for services to literature.

Following his untimely death from Alzheimer's disease, the mantle of completing Terry's memoir was passed to Rob Wilkins, his former assistant, friend and now head of the author's literary estate.

Drawing on his own extensive memories, along with those of Terry's family, friends, fans and colleagues, Rob recounts Terry's extraordinary story - from his early childhood to the literary phenomenon that his Discworld series became; and how he met and coped with the challenges that 'The Embuggerance' of Alzheimer's brought with it.

'Of all the dead authors in the world, Terry Pratchett is the most alive.' - John Lloyd

#Bookpost!

Happy Tuesday, all! We had a great week for new books, we'll have a lot to catch up on next month! Unlike last week, although we have read one of these we haven't got the review done yet, sorry about that.

As always you can click on each cover to learn more about the book.

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday, all! We are all still more or less on track for NaNo, and thanks to an author interview we had a practically normal week on the blog.

Author interview: Sam Thompson, The Fox's Tower

'The wolves howled, far behind, but it was not a song for her.

Night-smells of the Forest stirred.

Ferns were curling, wildflowers closing, sap retreating.

She went further in.’

Willow’s dad has disappeared: stolen by foxes in the night. To find him, Willow must enter the secret world of the Forest. There she will speak with wolves and find the magical Tower where the foxes are ruled by their silver-tongued leader, Reynard.

In the Tower, Willow sees wonders: statues walking the streets, spires reaching to the stars, and a lion who wants to be king. But disaster is near. The magic is running out and soon the Tower will fall.

Reynard has a plan that will change everything, and he needs Willow’s help. But can she trust the story he is telling? Can Willow save her dad and find a way out of the Fox’s Tower?

Happy #BookBirthday! (10/11)

Happy Thursday, all! This week there are THREE books from our various lists publishing!

Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan

After winning her mother's freedom from the Celestial Emperor, Xingyin thrives in the enchanting tranquility of her home. But her fragile peace is threatened by the discovery of a strange magic on the moon and the unsettling changes in the Celestial Kingdom as the emperor tightens his grip on power. While Xingyin is determined to keep clear of the rising danger, the discovery of a shocking truth spurs her into a perilous confrontation.

Forced to flee her home once more, Xingyin and her companions venture to unexplored lands of the Immortal Realm, encountering legendary creatures and shrewd monarchs, beloved friends and bitter adversaries. With alliances shifting quicker than the tides, Xingyin has to overcome past grudges and enmities to forge a new path forward, seeking aid where she never imagined she would. As an unspeakable terror sweeps across the realm, Xingyin must uncover the truth of her heart and claw her way through devastation--to rise against this evil before it destroys everything she holds dear, and the worlds she has grown to love... even if doing so demands the greatest price of all.

The stunning sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess delves deeper into beloved Chinese mythology, concluding the epic story of Xingyin--the daughter of Chang'e and the mortal archer, Houyi--as she battles a grave new threat to the realm, in this powerful tale of love, sacrifice, and hope.

#Bookpost!

Happy Tuesday, all! We are still mostly hanging in there with Nano, and we have read a few more books - just need to find time to write the reviews!

We did quite well for new books this week - and in a return to old habits, we've already read and reviewed one! As always you can click on the cover to learn more about each book!

The Drift by C. J. Tudor (spoilers in review)

Survival can be murder . . .

During a deadly snowstorm, Hannah awakens to carnage, all mangled metal and shattered glass. Evacuated from a secluded boarding school, her coach careered off the road, trapping her with a handful of survivors.

Meg awakens to a gentle rocking. She's in a cable car stranded high above snowy mountains, with five strangers and no memory of how they got on board.

Carter is gazing out of the window of an isolated ski chalet that he and his companions call home. As their generator begins to waver in the storm, the threat of something lurking in the chalet's depths looms larger.

Outside, the storm rages. Inside one group, a killer lurks.

But which one?

And who will make it out alive?

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday, all! At the end of the first week of Nano, we are all still on track, but as we feared the blog has suffered a little. Don't worry, we will be back on track in another couple of weeks!

#Bookbirthday! 3/11

 Happy Thursday, all! This week there are TWO books from our various lists publishing!

Look Both Ways by Linwood Barclay

They think as one. They act as one. They kill as one.

The residents of Garrett Island are part of a visionary experiment. Their cars have been sent to the mainland and for one month, they've got self-driving vehicles called Arrivals. With just a voice command, an Arrival will take you where you want to go, and as the cars are all aware of each other, road accidents should be a thing of the past.

As the world's press arrives for a glimpse of this driverless future, islander and single mom Sandra Montrose preps for the huge media event. She's ready for this new world. Her husband died when he fell asleep at the wheel, and she's relieved her two teens, Archie and Katie, may never need driver's licenses.

But as the day gets underway, there are signs all is not well. A member of the press has vanished. There are rumours of industrial sabotage.

Before long, the sleek driverless cars are no longer taking orders. They're starting to organize. They're starting to hunt. And they've got the residents of Garrett Island in their sights.

Announcement

Hi all!

If you remember from this time last year, we all three like to (attempt to) do NaNoWriMo, the 'Write a novel in a month' project. Naturally, it takes up a chunk of time, and it makes it hard to keep up with our reading schedule as well.

So, for this month, expect to see a bit less of us. We've tried to read ahead, and there are some scheduled reviews and other features that will go ahead, but it will be quieter around here for this month and a little way into December as we catch back up. Unless we fail out of NaNo, in which case we'll be back soon!