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Jess 🍒 | Reading & Positivity

@jescasreading

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Based in the UK.
Book I love: translated fiction, thrillers and slice of life.
Running.

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I really need to be more organised and post these updates on time and not a month later! But hey life is busy. I am slowing getting back to reading I have felt rather slumpy the past few months but I am gradually getting there. My review for "Pick a Colour" will be posted tomorrow! Have any of you got any other hobbies outside reading?

Are there any books that got you out a slump? by @jescasreading

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3 months ago

Vivi is pregnant and she should be happy... But she’s troubled by the reality that doesn't bothers anyone else: having a baby also means she needs to be part of the "Rebirth" which is birthing an identical, nearly indestructible self who will consume her and take her place. It's just nature’s way of equipping women for the challenges of motherhood. But as Vivi’s unborn child develops, so does her fear.

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I enjoyed the concept of this story! It was filled with mystery with supernatural elements. The writing is detailed and keeps you wanting to read more to find out what happened.

We follow the Journey of Vivi, we view from present day and the story backtracks to the past as we go deeper into the story. It's reflective and feels a little dystopian, and we see from Vivi's POV how she feels inferior.

It highlights motherhood, life events, immigration and feeling inferior comparing ourselves to others. I feel this story highlights the difficulty for women in motherhood, the struggles they experience with life and their anxieties, and how they compare themselves to others.

The plot twist left me shocked! It didn't go how I expected it, I'm usually really good at predicting endings but I did not predict that at all! I like how the first half we read from Vivi's POV but the second half is from Nina's POV. I feel we got a real feel for the characters.

There is more I want to say but I do not want to spoil this story! All I will say is the author is very talented, has a brilliant writing style that keeps you engaged. The storyline keeps you reading up until the early hours of the morning, and it leaves you with so many thoughts.

I feel this is perfect for those who like to read books that leave a visceral feeling, that highlights the pressures of motherhood with an emotional heavy background which leaves you questioning.

Thank you @tiffanytsao @instabooktours @harper360uk @asreadbydanielle @harperviabooks for including me in this tour 💖

[AD/PR content] by @jescasreading

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3 months ago

Bo lives a quiet existence in his small rural village in the north of Sweden. He is elderly and his days are punctuated by visits from his carers, his son and granddaughter.

He still has his memories, phone calls with his best friend Ture, and his beloved dog Sixten for company. Only now his son is insisting Sixten must be taken away. The very same son that Bo is wanting to mend his relationship with before it's too late.

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We take an emotional journey with Bo in this book, we follow him through his memories and we read snippets from his carers and his family. From someone who has seen dementia first hand through relatives this book felt like it had a personal meaning to me. I loved reading from Bo POV as he reflect on life. Some parts are very raw and sad and I feel even people with the toughest of skin will cry a tear or two. All I wanted to do was help Bo. You understand from Bo POV and also the reasoning behind why is family do the things they do.

I listen to the audiobook and read this book together and I highly recommend doing that, I feel you got more of a friendship with Bo by doing this. To know that Lisa based the carer notes on the real notes from her grandfather carers really made it feel so much more raw.

I feel this book is perfect for those who want to explore longing for atonement, understanding aging and reflection on life. It's medium paced, emotionally raw and with tender notes of memories. The main focus is family, grief and reflections on life.

Thank you @doubledayukbooks @lisaridzen @instabooktours and @asreadbydanielle for having me on this tour.

(Ad/PR product) by @jescasreading

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4 months ago

Book review: A Fall from Purpose by Mikayla D. Hornedo.

Solani was never to inherit her father’s throne. Especially when the blood of her shunned mother flowed through her veins.

An ancient relic now weighs Solani’s soul, a golden scale that measures the depth of her darkness. If she fulfills her purpose, the scale will balance, and the council will no longer deem her a risk to the earth kingdom’s legacy. She must obey in hopes that one day she will gain her freedom, including participating in the ruthless, magicless trials in the Inbetween.

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This is technically the third book in the "Elements of Iteria" series but it is also the first book in the "Sea & Stone" duology but the first two books in the series "Elements of Iteria" do not need to be read to follow and understand this book.

I relaly appreciate how Mikayla always puts a little key at the start of her book so we know the pronunciation of the character names. I find that extremely helpful. I really liked the character growth, both Solani and Niko were really interesting characters who I liked a lot. Khaya was also a very admirable character.

There is so much tension, magic and moments that left me not able to put this book down. I really liked the world building and felt it was done in a way which made me feel like I was actually there.

I feel a lot of people can see parts of themselves in Solani, her trials, her growth and her will. She is very admirable. I loved the "what are they" she has with Niko. I also loved how the story is Solani finding her purpose, something we all aspire to find.

I feel this book is perfect for those who like high stakes fantasy which is character driven, elemental magic multiple POV's, Latinx representation and mythical creatures. With "what are they" relationship, mystery and finding ones true purpose.

Mikayla is a very talented author and I always end up loving all her books! Thank you again for having me on your team. Very sorry this review is a little late!

@mikayla.hornedo.author 💖💖 I can't wait for the next instalment. by @jescasreading

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5 months ago

April update! I've also just finished two of the books I was reading in Aprils so stay tuned for those reviews soon!

April has been an intense month and I'm feeling a little deflated now. But onwards and upwards!

As we approach the half year point, do you have any goals for this year? by @jescasreading

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5 months ago

Completed it mate!!

Can you believe this time last week I completed a half marathon? With a PB TOO! such an amazing experience that I will definitely do again, maybe next year I'll do a different city?

I was blown away with the unbelievable support from everyone on the day. I'm still beyond words.

Also yes the third Tokyo Drift was on my Spotify hence the face expressions 🤪

#greatrun #birminghamgreatrun #running #girlscanrun #halfmarathon by @jescasreading

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5 months ago

We'll Prescribe you a Cat by Syou Ishida translated by E. madison Shimoda.

The mysterious centre offers a unique treatment: a prescription of.

Bee, a mixed breed helps an unhappy man as he finds unexpected joy in physical labour.

Margot, helps a middle-aged callcentre worker stay relevant at work and at home.

Koyuki, a white cat who brings closure to a young mother troubled by the memory of the rescue kitten she was forced to abandon.

Tank and Tangerine bring peace to a handbag designer, as she learns to be kinder to herself.

Mimita, the Scottish Fold helps a broken-hearted Geisha to stop blaming herself for the cat she lost years ago.

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Several stories told in a lighthearted manner detailed the difficulties people face in life and how a cat makes life so much better for them.

I really enjoyed how you could empathise with each of the main characters and felt you understood their struggles and following how their actions changed the stories. Although it shines light on serious topics it is told in a kind lighthearted way. I read this as a dual audio/physical read and really enjoyed it. I also really liked how we got little art of the cats too! A very cute addition to the story. I liked how each story was concluded well.

I believe this book is perfect for those who like to read books about magical realism, with a cozy nature it highlights the healing powers of companionship of a person and their cat. It's medium paced, lighthearted but touches on serious topics. With characters growth, development and acceptance. by @jescasreading

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5 months ago

These updates are always so late my bad!

I didn't really read a lot most my time and energy had gone to my Half Marathon training

I've entered the London Marathon ballot... Wish me luck!

I've also had a bit of a reading slump, what's the best way to get out of a reading slump? by @jescasreading

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5 months ago

Seyoon Shin knows she's not everyone's favourite person... But she's a winner, despite what her dad told her. So when Forest Feud announces a reboot, she jumps at the chance to win the prize.

On the way to the camp, she meets Dean Parker, whose hunger to prove himself rivals her own. When their competition forces them into an alliance, the producers are quick to frame them as a couple. The romantic angle makes them fast favourites on the show, but their chemistry is only for the cameras... or is it?

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I really liked Seyoon as a character I felt she was very admirable and I love her competitiveness. Dean is actually so adorable, a little awkward but a sweetheart. I really liked how they worked so well together. I also liked how we got the POV from both of them.

Also I laughed so much with Dean's obsession with biceps. I felt the writing was very easy to read and I actually finished this book in two days! Completely got me out a reading slump. I feel the events in the book have the perfect amount of humorous nature/serious notes. I will definitely be picking up more books by @sujinwitherspoon in the near future!

I feel this book is perfect for those who like cheeky rivals to... something else. With some competitive nature, laugh out loud funny moments, tension and a "what's going to happen??" theme. by @jescasreading

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10

5 months ago

Ok so this is a late update... There really wasn't much to update for the end of February. I hadn't read much or done much in general 😂 I always find February a weird month!

I really enjoyed "We'll Prescribe You A Cat" I listened to the audiobook and read the book and found it was a good book to do a dual listen/read. It was very uplifting and quite amusing at times but always very eye opening and a good book to help refection on feelings.

Holy Boy had some really interesting aspects I just wish we got more from the POV of Yosep, I feel it could have been a shorted book too.

Freezing Point was very short, and I did feel it felt like it could have been longer. But an interesting concept.

I am trying to slowly improve my Korean learning, if you see any errors please let me know... I am finding using a few different methods have actually really helped to improve my learning and confidence.

My running is improving, I'm really trying to bring my fitness up ready for this half marathon.

#februarycatchup #readingcatchup #hobbycatchup #learningkorean #halfmarathontraininginprogress by @jescasreading

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6 months ago

Aged twenty-one, fuelled by a love of K-dramas and a need to find herself, Alice Amelia moved to Seoul. She knew no one in her adopted country, didn't speak the language, and hadn't tried kimchi, let alone grilled cow intestines or Korean corn dogs. But she soon realised that real-life Seoul isn't the romanticised city she'd watched on television - and it doesn't have subtitles.
Determined to follow her dream. As she broke into the Korean entertainment industry which she had idolised from afar, her life spiralled in ways she never could have imagined.

Wanting to stay true to herself, she wondered, will she ever belong in Korea? And what price will it cost her to stay?

Happy publication day @aliceameliac I cannot wait to pick up this memoir.

Thank you to the team at @viragopress for sending me a copy of this beautiful book, with a lovely bookmark a blueberry facemask. I love the detail into wrapping this book too. (^ω^)

#howkoreancorndogschangedmylife #memoir #aliceamelia #viragopress #happypublicationday by @jescasreading

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6 months ago

Bruno, a magazine editor, lives a happy life, until he finds a growth on his neck - turns out it's an incurable cancer. But his doctor offers him a unique chance: Bruno can choose to be 'frozen' until medical science has found a cure for his condition. He makes his decision, even though he had just met and fallen in love with someone.

Decades later, he wakes up to find himself cured, but the world is now different. Freezing technology is now everywhere, the pleasures of life have been drained and society has started to fall. Bruno must decide what he really wants from his life and whether it's worth the cost.

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Firstly thank you @faberbooks for sending me a copy of this book!

This is a story that is less than 200 pages and It was originally published in the 60's but didn't have the same old time writing that a lot of older books have. I liked the inside to what they thought the future would be like.

It is quite fast paced. It gets straight to the point and makes you question if you would do what Bruno did if you were in his position? Is freezing down too good to be true? Is it worth it?

I feel this book is perfect for those readers who like to read reflective dystopian novel who like to question mortality, societal control, and the unknown cost of living longer than we should. by @jescasreading

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7 months ago