The Overflowing Library

Last August I was lucky enough to go along with my lovely blogging friend Lyndsey to Turtle Bay Norwich for their press preview event (see Lyndsey's write up here - I am pictured drinking cocktails!) and ever since then I've been very keen to go back. Luckily for me I was recently contacted when Turtle Bay were looking for people to review their summer menu and I jumped at the chance. I booked a table online using their booking system on their website for a Saturday lunchtime. Incidentally I was really impressed with their booking system. Super easy to use meaning you can book a table within minutes and they both confirm your booking by email and remind you of your booking on the day.


Turtle Bay Norwich is situated in the Norwich Lanes which is my favourite end of the city. It's in the city centre but just a little bit away from the main shopping area with all the big name shops like Next, Topshop and Primark. The streets are smaller and mostly pedestrianised with loads of…

Another month, another pile of books I'm desperately waiting for

Songs about Us by Chris Russell



Two months on from the explosive finale to book one, Charlie's life is almost back to normal again: rebuilding her relationship with her father, hanging out with best mate Melissa, and worrying about GCSEs. All the while, Gabe's revelations about her mother are never far from her mind. And neither is Gabe.

It's not long before Charlie is pulled back into the world of Fire&Lights - but the band seem different this time. But then again, so is she...

Meanwhile, tensions between Gabe and Olly continue to run high, leading to more turmoil between the band members and press than ever before. But when Gabriel and Charlie stumble upon yet another startling truth that links them together - everything they have stands to implode in front of them.

I loved Songs about a girl so I cannot wait to get my hands on this. I might have to do a reread sooner rather than later to keep me going b…

Lucy Hansson was ready for a perfect summer with her boyfriend, working at her childhood Bible camp on the lake. But when her mom’s cancer reappears, Lucy falters—in faith, in love, and in her ability to cope. When her boyfriend “pauses” their relationship and her summer job switches to a different camp—one for troubled kids—Lucy isn’t sure how much more she can handle. Attempting to accept a new normal, Lucy slowly regains footing among her vibrant, diverse coworkers, Sundays with her mom, and a crush on a fellow counselor. But when long-hidden family secrets emerge, can Lucy set aside her problems and discover what grace really means?

Emotionally-charged and unforgettable, Emery Lord’s storytelling shines with the promise of new love and true friendship, even in the face of life’s biggest challenges.


A real mixed bag for me for a variety of reasons.

I love Emery Lord's books as a rule. I like her writing style and the emotion she gets through her books and this was not exception.

I …

Deep in the Texas desert, Moonbeam lives with her Brothers and Sisters. They're safe, protected by the Fence and Father John. Because Father John knows what's right and what's wrong. But then Nate arrives from Outside, stirring doubt...and suddenly Moonbeam's world is on fire. But what happens after? What happens when you lose everything you've ever known?

Powerful, gripping, and beautifully told, bestselling author Will Hill's After the Fire is a novel about love, hope, loss and, ultimately, courage

Super intense and really chilling YA. I was hooked from the first page and didn't want to put it down until I was done.

I've come to expect a lot from Will Hill's writing after loving his Department 19 series despite not particularly being a fan of vampire stories or gore he had had me hooked. This book is completely different content wise but hooked me in much the same way with the intense writing style and an intriguing storyline. 

Moonbeam's story is…

I must confess that my bookshelves are rather a jumbled mess. Over the years, I have made half-hearted attempts to categorise them in alphabetical order, colour, genre, etc. but they never stay that way for long. I think the books must get up in the night, have a bit of a party and then collapse in an exhausted muddle when day breaks; it's the only reasonable explanation I can think of. I can't truly be cross with them for this because it's exactly how I like them and it's the way they will stay.
The bookshelves reflect me. They reflect my inability to maintain a tidy home despite my continued desperate efforts, and they reflect my reading habits and my tastes in literature. On my shelves, contemporary YA snuggles down with the Brontës, and with travel guides and books on raising children and William Wordsworth and Sylvia Plath.

The shelves are currently enjoying a bit of a rejuvenation.I flirted with the Kindle for a few years but I have found that I retain less memory …