Rachel's Year of the Paperback - May Update

For paperbacks, May was a tricky month for me. Starting and giving up on two of them didn't help my feelings, and all of my original intentions for my Chances Fortnight reading and tieing in some paperbacks went out of the window, when I realised how many review books I had that fit the theme instead. 

I went to some fabulous book events this month, and in addition to some luck in competitions, I seem to have gained far more books than I read. In fact 8 new books gained in just a month, although I did read one of those while I was in Tenerife! 

As I may have mentioned somewhere on the blog, but may not have, at the beginning of August its looking increasingly likely that I will be moving house. Obviously I'm stressed at this and having to downsize completely.  

This is part of the reason for the large quantity of culled unread paperbacks in this monthly update. I am also realising that when certain books come up on my Rachel Reads Randomly vote feature, that my heart sinks and I pray they won't be picked. Given I am having that reaction to some of them, and I am trying to reduce the amount of those. I'm also becoming more aware that I am in the fortunate position of having plenty of books to review and they are exciting me more than the books I'm culling. For some reason I do tend to revise the stacks a couple of times a year, so its probably about time I started making trickier decisions. If I ever feel the urge to read these I'll just buy them again! 

So this is how May has panned out! 

Paperbacks Read (4)

Pendulum by Adam Hamdy -  4 Star Review
The Summer Seaside Kitchen by Jenny Colgan - 5 Star Review
The Vets at Hope Green by Sheila Norton - 5 Star Review
The Once in a Blue Moon Guesthouse by Cressida McLaughlin - 4.5 Star Review

Review Paperbacks Received (3)

Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan - wow can't believe I have a book due out in 2018 already! 
The Wedding Promise by Emma Hannigan
Almost A Bride by Jo Watson

Paperbacks Purchased (2)

Exquisite by Sarah Stovell
The Mountain in my Shoe by Louise Beech

Paperbacks won in Competitions (2)

Together by Julie Cohen
Our Little Secret by Claudia Carroll

Paperbacks gained from events (1)

The Once In a Blue Moon Guest House by Cressida McLaughlin

Paperbacks DNF - (2)

Unfortunately again this month I had a paperback and a hardback that for various reasons I am struggling with a lot. 

Books culled  - (13)

Well only read 4 paperbacks this month which seems low for a 31 day period, especially when 3 of them were during a holiday. I gained 8 new books which is brilliant and I am looking forward to reading those.   

So with 19 books removed from the unread stacks, and 8 gained, that is a net deduction of 11, which is encouraging even if I haven't been reading them all.  I've already started my first June paperback so at least I will definitely read one in the next couple of weeks! 

And so I can keep a track:

Start of year - 96
End of January - 94
End of February - 97
End of March - 93

End of April - 86
End of May - 75

Rachel's Year of the Paperback - April Update

I've been so busy in the past few days I haven't had a chance to finish writing this post. A combination of long days at work, and then quite a few lovely bookish events in my spare time! Actually only remembered to do this, as I received a new ARC yesterday that I need to put onto my May draft of this post that I haven't started yet! 

Me (left), Samantha Tonge (middle),
Sharon from ShazsBookBlog (right)

During April I got to meet the lovely Samantha Tonge to talk about The New Beginnings Coffee Club, received a huge goody bags of books (not listed here as I mainly have e-copies), and had a great afternoon. I also went to the Blogger'Author Shenanigans where amongst getting to chat with loads of fab people, we had an ARC swap table, and I've managed to nab for myself The Vets At Hope Green by Sheila Norton that I am really looking forward to starting.   And last night...oh wait we are in May now, I may tell you what lovely people I met at Juliet Ashton's launch party next month!

In April it was a bit of a mixed month, as I went through a couple of days where I suddenly realised that I need to start being a bit more selective with which unsolicited review copies I intend to review, so have culled a few of them (I'm sorry). 

I did manage to read 8 paperbacks though, and without receiving as many it looks like I may finally be making progress in reducing the stack. However if the various prizes I have won recently all show up during May, it will take a miracle to keep up the progress! 

Paperbacks Read (8)

Now That I've Found You by Ciara Geraghty - 3.5 Star Review
The CEO Buys In by Nancy Herkness - 4 Star Review
My Sister by Michelle Adams - 4 Star Review
The Woman Who Met Her Match by Fiona Gibson - 3 Star Review
The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes by Anna McPartlin - 5 Star Review
Daydream Believer by Lizzie Fayke - Review coming on 7th May
The Last Piece of My Heart by Paige Toon - Review coming on 18th May
The A to Z of Everything by Debbie Johnson - Review will be 27th June on the blog tour

Review Paperbacks Received (3)

The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo
The Woman Who Met Her Match by Fiona Gibson
The Second Sister by Claire Kendal

Paperbacks from events (1)

The Vets at Hope Green by Sheila Norton

Paperbacks DNF - (1)

I don't normally mention books I don't finish, and I won't mention this by name, but in the interests of keeping the maths adding up, I need to acknowledge that there was one book I just couldn't get into. 

Paperbacks Transferred to Giveaway Stacks - (2)

Occasionally as you can see I receive unsolicited books, I often if they look interesting will keep them and attempt to read them. However in the case of at least two of these books I'm coming to the conclusion that I just won't ever read them, as I have so many other books that I would rather read, so will give them away in competitions on the blog at some point in the future. 

So with 8 read, 3 others removed from the count for various reasons and only 4 gained, that works out as a new stack indentation of 7 books, which definitely sounds encouraging. I am though a bit worried that I seem to be barely buying paperbacks so far this year,, although I'd say from May to July/August all the lovely summery books will be out and I know there are many many I have my eyes on, so who knows what impulse buys I may have (especially when I hit an airport towards the end of May!). 

And so I can keep a track:

Start of year - 96
End of January - 94
End of February - 97

End of March - 93
End of April - 86

Rachel's Year of the Paperback - March Update

March started off well for me with paperbacks, after February's disappointing gain in the stacks, I figured I needed to make a concerted effort to read some more of mine. It helps that I had quite a few upcoming review paperbacks to read, for where I was scheduling and I was able to fit in a few others too. 

However I have spent a fair amount of this month with massive headaches, and in the past two weeks been told I have migraines thanks to the doctor, I appear to be currently sensitive to light (although I feel ok typing this so far), and after a trip to the opticians for what I was hoping to be an eye test for peace of mind, I have a new pair of glasses on order. 

With all of this health issues, I am finding it pretty much impossible to read a paperback at the moment, although I'm fine on my kindle. 

What this means is my lovely momentum on this challenge is starting to waver, but the second I feel as though I can focus on the words and not hurt my head in printed form, I will be back reading them, and I'm hoping that will be within the next week, or I'm doomed!!

These are also the reasons I am not as active on social media as perhaps I normally am, purely as I'm trying to stare at a screen less while I sort myself out. 

Now onto why you may have looked at this post, have I made a dent in that massive paperback stack?

Well yes, with 8 books reads and only 4 gained, that is a net dentage of 4, which makes it my best month so far this year. My favourite of those books that I have read is This Love by Dani Atkins which blew me away. 
Here is the breakdown

Paperbacks Read: (8)

A Time For Friends by Patricia Scanlan - 5 Star Review
His Sicillian Cinderella by Carol Marinelli - 4 Star Review
The Jackdaw by Luke Delaney - 4.5 Star Review
Puzzle Girl by Rachael Featherstone - 4 Star Review
This Love by Dani Atkins - 5 Star Review
The Little Teashop of Lost and Found  by Trisha Ashley - Review coming 4th April on the blog tour
A Not Quite Perfect Family by Claire Sandy - Review coming 6th April
The Marble Collector by Cecelia Ahern - Review coming 8th April

Paperbacks Bought (1)

When I Was Invisible by Dorothy Koomson 

Review Paperbacks Received (2)

 My Sister by Michelle Adams
The People at Number 9 by Felicity Everett

Paperbacks from Goody Bags (1)

Ashes to Ashes by Paul Finch

I am really looking forward to the chance to read the couple of books that were received in the post. They both on paper look great. Also looking forward to starting the new Dorothy Koomson, and if I can't find time to read it before, I'm sure it will show up on a Back Catalogue Books review in June, when her new hard back is out! 

And so I can keep a track:

Start of year - 96
End of January - 94
End of February - 97
End of March - 93

Rachel's Year of the Paperback - February Update

Well another month has passed, and February has generally been a nightmare for me. 

We are starting the process of moving house, and as a result I'm needing to downsize everything, which is painful for a collector (not hoarder!). I seem to be losing reading time which isn't helping, and at the same time seem to have the most amount of review books vying for my attention! 

As a result progress in my attempt to make a dent in my paperback stacks has halted a bit, however rest assured I'm already trying to rectify it and being the 1st March I am starting on a paperback today! 

So this is my paperback breakdown for February 2017.

Paperbacks Read (5):

Sworn Secret by Amanda Jennings - 5 Star Review
The Queen of Wishful Thinking by Milly Johnson - 5 Star Review
 Chose the Wrong Guy, Gave Him the Wrong Finger by Beth Harbison - Review on 4th March 2017
The Little Cafe of Second Chances by J. D. Barrett - Review on 5th March 2017
The Mercury Travel Club by Helen Bridgett - Review on 16th March 2017

Paperbacks from Event Goody bags (5):

The Queen of Wishful Thinking - Milly Johnson
Orange Blossom Days by Patricia Scanlan
The Last Piece of My Heart by Paige Toon
This Love by Dani Atkins
American Housewife by Helen Ellis

Review Paperbacks Received (2)

The Little Cafe of Second Chances by J. D. Barrett
The A to Z of Everything by Debbie Johnson

Paperbacks Purchased (1)

The Summer Seaside Kitchen by Jenny Colgan

So that is 5 books read, and 8 books gained from various sources. Well at least I'll never run out at this rate. A gain of three isn't exactly what I wanted, but since I knew I was going to the Simon & Schuster Spring Blogger event, I had a feeling there may be an incredible goody bag, and wow I love the look of all the books from it. 

If I had to pick, then The Queen of Wishful Thinking by Milly Johnson was definitely my paperback of the month with Sworn Secret just behind it. 

And so I can keep a track:

Start of year - 96

End of January - 94
End of February - 97

Rachel's Year of the Paperback - January Update

How on earth is it the end of January already? So one month has passed already from this New Year, so a perfect time to reflect on any reading challenges I may have agreed to take part in  at the start of the year. 

There will be an update of the Around The UK In 144 Books challenge coming very soon, Jen, Abbie and myself are working on it at the moment. 

In the mean time, let me take a look at my attempt to read and make a dent specifically in my paperback pile! 

At the start of January, my total of paperbacks stood at 96. 

I then read 11 of them, while also winning 6 and receiving 3 review paperbacks. Which gives me a net dent in the pile by 2. I now only have 94 left to read, so I am making progress. However if the pile only goes down by 2 a month, it could still take me 47 months which almost 4 years to get anywhere near the bottom! 

I was though very good and haven't bought any more yet, although I know February is going to wreck my intentions. 

On 9th February there is the new Jenny Colgan book, The Summer Seaside Kitchen is out and I have every intention of purchasing that. I'm also off to a few book events in February, and from my experience over the last year at least one of them should have a goody bag I will have to show off in next month's update. 

So this is my paperback breakdown for January 2017.

Paperbacks Read (11)

Honeymoon Suite by Wendy Holden - 5 Star Review
New York, Actually by Sarah Morgan - 5 Star Review
Perfect Remains by Helen Fields - 4.5 Star Review
French Legacy by Jennifer Bohnet - 3 Star Review
Our Tiny Useless Hearts by Toni Jordan - Review coming 2nd February
Strangers by Paul Finch - Review coming 3rd February
If Ever I Fall by S.D. Robertson - Review coming 7th February
A Song For Tomorrow by Alice Peterson - Review coming 9th February
Sunshine Over Wildflower Cottage by Milly Johnson - Review coming 16th February
My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella - Review coming 17th February
One Little Mistake by Emma Curtis - Review coming 19th February

Paperbacks Won (6)

The Killing Season by Mason Cross
The Samaritan by Mason Cross
The Time To Kill by Mason Cross
Wing Jones by Katherine Webber
One Little Mistake by Emma Curtis
One Summer in France by Bev Spicer

Review paperbacks received (3)

Eyes Like Mine by Sheena Kamal - publishing 9th February

It begins with a phone call. Fifteen years ago Nora Watts gave her newborn daughter up for adoption. Now Bonnie has vanished and when the police don't seem to care, her desperate parents turn to Nora as a last resort.

Nora knows only too well what happens to missing girls, especially when they aren't blonde or white enough. Despite herself, she sets out to find the daughter she's never known protected only by her instincts and a freakish ability to detect truth from lies.

As she plunges into her own dark past, Nora uncovers a violent conspiracy on a grand scale that will take her from the rain-soaked streets of Vancouver, to the icy mountains of the Canadian wilderness, and ultimately to a remote island where she will face her most terrifying demon. All to save a girl she wishes had never been born.

Puzzle Girl by Rachael Featherstone - publishing 16th March, and my blog tour review will be due 22nd March.

Love is a riddle waiting to be solved…

Clued-up career girl Cassy Brookes has life under control until one disastrous morning changes everything.

When she finds herself stuck in a doctor’s surgery, a cryptic message left in a crossword magazine sends her on a search to find the mysterious ‘puzzle-man’ behind it.

Cassy is soon torn between tracking down her elusive dream guy, and outwitting her nightmare workmate, the devious Martin. 

Facing a puzzling love-life, will she ever be able to fit the pieces together and discover the truth behind this enigmatic man?

My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella - Ebook and Hardcover out on 9th February, Paperback on 13th July

Katie Brenner has the perfect life: a flat in London, a glamorous job, and a super-cool Instagram feed.

OK, so the truth is that she rents a tiny room with no space for a wardrobe, has a hideous commute to a lowly admin job, and the life she shares on Instagram isn’t really hers. 

But one day her dreams are bound to come true, aren’t they?

Until her not-so-perfect life comes crashing down when her mega-successful boss Demeter gives her the sack. All Katie’s hopes are shattered. She has to move home to Somerset, where she helps her dad with his new glamping business. 

Then Demeter and her family book in for a holiday, and Katie sees her chance. But should she get revenge on the woman who ruined her dreams - or try to get her job back? Does Demeter – the woman who has everything – actually have such an idyllic life herself? Maybe they have more in common than it seems. 

And what’s wrong with not-so-perfect, anyway?

And so I can keep a track:

Start of year - 96
End of January - 94