I'm Back and Summer Reading!

I looked a bit like this a few weeks ago-
only it was a lot colder and less sunny!

Hey everyone! You may have noticed that I hadn't posted for a few weeks until yesterday and that's because I decided to take a bit of a break this summer to spend time with my friend from Italy who stayed for the month and get used to my new job. I had a really fun summer holiday in Cornwall and although I didn't get in nearly as much reading as I hoped, I did read some brilliant books. However I'm glad to say that I'm back now because I definitely missed blogging!

Here's what I read:

Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Septys

Just Listen by Sara Dessen

Daughter of Xandu by Dori Jones Yang

Velvet by Mary Hooper 

Boys Don't Cry by Malorie Blackman

Beautiful Days by Anna Godbersen (review later this week) 

In other news, I did my first ever guest post over at Rebecca Books as part of her summer themed week last month on the topic of summery covers. Rebecca has a wonderful blog and this week had a great line up of posts so if you're interested, go and check out my post here.

I've got a few reviews planned but posts might not be as regular as usual in the next few weeks as I get used to the extra school work I'll be getting from starting GCSE courses. So, things should be back to usual soon but just bear with me for the moment!

The summer holidays and summer reading!

Today I finished school for summer- yay! I know in the US schools get a longer summer holidays than the 6 weeks given in the UK so that's why it might seem a bit late. So summer means sun (if I'm lucky!) and lots of reading and I thought I'd share with you the 16 books are on my line up to read this summer:

• Eight Keys by Suzanne Le Fleur

• Daughter of Xandu by Dori Jones Yang 

• Die For Me by Amy Plum

• A Song For Summer by Eva Ibbotson ( I actually thought I'd read this one as it's been on my shelf for a few years but it turns out I haven't!)

• These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer

• Just Listen by Sarah Dessen (my first Dessen after I was recommended her books)

• Witch Child by Celia Rees

• The Keeper's Daughter by Gill Arbunthnott

• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

• Troubadour by Mary Hoffman

• The Traitor's Smile by Patricia Elliot

• Emma by Jane Austen

• The Betrayal of Maggie Blair by Elizabeth Laird

• River Secrets by Shannon Hale

• The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory (my first Philippa Gregory)

• Shadows On The Moon by Zoe Marriott

I probably won't get through them all but I want to use all the free time I have in the holidays to get through as many of the unread books that I own as possible and I'd like to read at least 10. There are some favourites I'd like to re-read too such as Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, Anne Of Green Gables by L.M Montgomery and Party Shoes by Noel Streatfield.

Also, I might not post as regularly or consistently as usual because I have an Italian friend staying with me for a month who I only get to see once a year so I want to spend time with her. There will also be one week where I won't be updating, which is about three weeks from now.

Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them? What are you planning to read this summer?

In My Mailbox and reading updates

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and explores the content of our mailboxes on a weekly basis.

This week I got:

 Frederica by Georgette Heyer, which I won in Carolyn from Book Chick City's Book Blogger Appreciation week Friday giveaway. I haven't read any Heyer's for a while so I'm looking forward to diving back into her regency world again.

The Wrong Chalet School by Elinor M Brent Dyer- My school librarian mother kindly passed this out of print book onto me. I love The Chalet School series but I haven't got very far in it yet as I have so many other books that need to be read too

Reading updates:

Last Tuesday I finished The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson (review coming soon)

Yesterday I finished Nicola and The Viscount by Meg Cabot (review coming soon)

I have now started Enna Burning by Shannon Hale, the sequel to The Goose Girl

I thought I'd also tell you that I have started reading To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee at the moment too through studying at school as I know it is a favourite of many bloggers.

Books I own/am borrowing that I plan to read soon:

• Out of Shadows by Jason Wallace 
• Angel by Zizou Corder
• Witch Child by Celia Rees
• I Coriander by Sally Gardner
• Forest Born by Shannon Hale
• River Secrets by Shannon Hale