Bestsellers · Time travel

Before Your Memory Fades – Toshikazu Kawaguchi ★★★★

Blurb; The latest novel in the international bestselling Before the Coffee Gets Cold Series, following four new customers in a little Tokyo café where customers can travel back in time.

In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café that has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time.

From the author of Before the Coffee Gets Cold and Tales from the Cafe comes another story of four new customers, each of whom is hoping to take advantage of Café Funiculi Funicula’s time-travelling offer. Among some familiar faces from Kawaguchi’s previous novels, readers will also be introduced to a daughter, a comedian, a sister, and a lover, each with something they wish they had said differently.

With his signature heartwarming characters and immersive storytelling, Kawaguchi once again invites the reader to ask themselves: what would you change if you could travel back in time?

My Review; I have loved the previous two books, so of course, I had to grab this. I devoured it. I loved it. We get four different stories in one book. All beautiful stories. Coming back to this cafe felt like coming home with all the familiar characters. It is best if they’re read in order but can easily work as standalone reads. Is you could travel back in time who would you visit? Highly recommend. A well-deserved four stars.

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chick-lit · romance · Short Stories

*BLOG TOUR* Blinded Me With Science – Tara September ★★★★

Blurb; Opposites attract like a magnet to steel, or in this case, Emerson to Steel

Emerson Powers has been so focused on obtaining her science degree that she’s neglected the more social aspects of college life. With the new start of her junior year, she’s determined to fix that with a real hands-on lesson in biology. The assignment is simple enough—teach the rock star’s son how to be good, while he shows her how to be very bad. Two objectives, one outcome … will the lesson be love or heartbreak?

Steel is no longer the bad boy Emerson knew from prep school, and he’s set to prove it by helping Emerson complete her secret list of desired college experiences. And if he can convince her that they are meant to be together along the way, even better!

While teaming up on experiments, both in and out of the classroom, Emerson discovers a new side to Steel. Leaving her to question everything she thought she knew. Still, is it enough to forgive the past or just mere chemistry?

My Review; My first read of 2023 and a short one but a good one. This is book two in the love lessons series, but it read perfectly fine as a standalone. I’d say it’s a romance/ enemies to lovers. The story is told through Emerson and Steel, Emerson is starting over in a far new college with the hope of a new beginning. Enter Steel her high school jerk and of course, they get partnered together on an assignment which not only brings them together but also the chance to right the wrongs of the past. I really enjoyed this one, I will go back to read book one at some point. Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars.

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Magic · Non-Fiction

Beyond The Wand – Tom Felton ★★★★★

Blurb; They called for a break, and Gambon magicked up a cigarette from out of his beard. He and I were often to be found outside the stage door, having ‘a breath of fresh air’, as we referred to it. There would be painters and plasterers and chippies and sparks, and among them all would be me and Dumbledore having a crafty cigarette.

From Borrower to wizard, Tom Felton’s adolescence was anything but ordinary. His early rise to fame saw him catapulted into the limelight aged just twelve when he landed the iconic role of Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films.

Speaking with candour and his own trademark humour, Tom shares his experience of growing up on screen and as part of the wizarding world for the very first time. He tells all about his big break, what filming was really like and the lasting friendships he made during ten years as part of the franchise, as well as the highs and lows of fame and the reality of navigating adult life after filming finished.

Prepare to meet a real-life wizard.

My Review; Calling all potterheads this one is for you. But don’t worry it’s not all just about the Potter world but a large part of it is. There is a foreword by Emma Watson. Tom has included a lot of photos in the book too. It’s a fast read with a lot of behind the scenes stories and stories of Tom growing up before he found fame. What hit me the most is a few chapters at the end where Tom was very open, honest and raw about what he had to go through and I applaud him for that. It takes guts to write a book and make people laugh, tear up, learn new things behind the scenes and see the potter world in a whole new light whilst being honest about the whole thing. A must buy. A must read. Highly recommend. A well deserved five stars.

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