Read in July 2019 Part 2

As mentioned in Part 1, I have been on a bit of a roll with my reading recently. I managed to read 8 books in July hence why it is split into 2 posts. I have also had a mix of fiction and non-fiction. I know straying from my grizzly murders has been a bit of a shock to me too but I have enjoyed it. Still can't beat a gruesome who done it though. 

The Last Widow by Karin Slaughter*

#9 Will Trent 

5/5

- Book 6 & 7 - Book 8 - 

A scientist from the CDC is abducted and vanishes into thin air. A month later 2 bombs are detonated in one of Atlanta's busiest neighbourhoods. Sara and Will rush off to help but are soon embroiled in a deadly conspiracy with the potential to kill thousands.

I love Karin Slaughter but after being disappointed by Pieces of Her I was a little bit wary of this one. I had no need to be though because this was absolutely incredible. I’ve followed Sara Linton since the beginning and every book is just as exciting as the last.

The Last Widow is told from Sara, Will and Faith (Wills partners) POV. The first few chapters were a bit repetitive as you read the same event from 3 different characters so there is an overlap but once things kick off the pace picks up and it gets a lot more exciting.

This book covers some important but dark topics such as racism and terrorism but it’s written extremely well. I was hooked from the get-go and had no idea where it was going. It’s packed full of tension and you never know who is going to die with Karin Slaughter. I loved getting to see more of Will and Sara’s relationship and getting to know Will even better. I now feel like I need to go and read all of the Sara and Will series again.

Happy Fat by Sofie Hagen*

5/5

Happy Fat is part memoir and part social commentary written by Danish comedian Sofie Hagen. Sofie has always been fat but began to question the relentless body shaming and internalised fatphobia. She talks about how she overcame the negative relationship with her body and gives helpful tips along the way. The book also includes information from various marginalised voices. Happy Fat covers an extremely important topic but does it with humour mixed in.

I absolutely adored this book. It was exactly what I needed. I love how it is written with an important topic and vital messages sprinkled with hilarious stories and great jokes. I just love Sofie Hagen and her humour.

I am also a huge fan of the fact that Sofie accepts that she has various privileges and is using her platform to amplify marginalised voices. There are interviews from POC, trans and disabled people which is just so important to me. We need to hear how fatphobia affects different groups of people and how everyone's experience is different.

Some of the tips etc are in every anti-diet book out there but they are so important that you need to hear them repeated for them to sink in. I also enjoyed the fact that Sofie manages to cover some important statistics etc without making them boring.

Everyone who is hoping that the next diet will be the one that works and is convinced their body needs changing for it to be lovable and worthy desperately needs to read this book.

Hashtag Authentic by Sara Tasker 

3/5

Sara Tasker is an Instagram coach, iPhoneographer and influencer. She developed her blog, Me and Orla, into a business and provides Instagram tips and e-courses. 

This book draws on the lessons Sara has learned to provide tips, advice and guidance on how to turn your personal Instagram into a profitable creative outlet. 

I was in a bit of a slump with my blog and Instagram so decided to pick this up as I had heard good things and I love Sara’s images. I have mixed feeling about it though. It is an absolutely beautiful book. The images and how it is all put together is just gorgeous. I just found some of the information a bit basic. I did take some things away from it I just found some of it a bit repetitive and boring. 

This is Going To Hurt by Adam Kay

4/5

A diary of a junior doctor which provides a no holds barred account of his time working for the NHS. It covers 97 hour weeks and many life & death decisions as well as hilarious cases and some that are just a bit gross. 

I saw this book being raved about and decided to pick it up. I was a bit wary as I have a love-hate relationship with doctors. I have seen some absolutely terrible ones so didn’t want to read a whole book written by one. Luckily I did actually really enjoy it and Adam seems like one of the good ones. There were a few fat-shaming comments and some judgement of “frequent flyers” which I didn’t agree with. Probably because I am fat and had to visit so many doctors to get a diagnosis of something other than attention-seeking. 

Apart from those few comments, the rest of the book was so good. Adam manages to make diary entries about his cases and workload so entertaining. It is a quick read, I finished it in a day, yet I felt so many emotions. It manages to be equal parts horrifying and hilarious with some heartbreaking cases as well. 

I think everyone should read it just to see the state that our NHS is in and how bloody hard the majority of the staff have to work. 

What have you been reading?

Beth...x

* This book was gifted via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review, however, it does not affect my views and the opinions expressed in this post are independent and my own

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