Adults-Emma-Jane-Unsworth-review

Book Club 2020: Adults, Emma Jane Unsworth

I’m not sure there could be a more perfect, ultimately modern-day novel than Adults. I’ve worked in social media for well over a decade, and what Unsworth has done by bringing Instagram out of the closet and into the light as the ultimate narcissist starter-kit is both clever and, quite uncomfortable, if only because it’s so very familiar and recognisable. …

Book Review NZ Shakti

Book Club 2020: Shakti, Rajorshi Chakraborti

Oh my lord, where to start with this one. It took me ages to finish, and I really wanted to finish this book sooner rather than later. Shakti, by the author’s own admission, is a weird book. Its rambling narrative covers merely days but stretches on for e v e r . And ever. Here’s what I enjoyed about this …

Book Review NZ Shakti

Book Club 2020: Grown Ups – Marian Keyes

I’d only read one other Marian Keyes novel before turning page 1 of Grown Ups, so in the interest of ‘research’ and ‘diligence’ lol, I headed over to her website www.mariankeyes.com. Turns out lady has written MANY books! Which makes me excited as I adored both her brand new novel (Grown Ups in New Zealand stores February 4th, 2020) and …

Book Review NZ Shakti

Book Club 2020: Kingdomtide – Rye Curtis

I’m just going to say it – Kingdomtide is easily the best book I’ve read in the past 12 months. The synopsis on its own grabbed me on a purely superficial level; plane crash, sole elderly survivor, remote wilderness, female park ranger, a man wanted by the FBI thought to be in the area……..totally sounds like my kind of book. …

New Zealand's Top Travel Lifestyle Blog Book review

Kid’s Books: A Kaleidoscope of Butterflies by Kate Hursthouse

There are some books where everything comes together in a gorgeous package that you just want to hold and touch and look at before you’ve even turned the first page.  A Kaleidoscope of Butterflies and other such collective nouns by New Zealand artist Kate Hursthouse is definitively, one stunning book. Nixon, our 4-year-old is obsessed with Kate’s first, beautiful book.  …

New Zealand's Top Mummy Blogger Parenting Travel Blog Family Book Review The Second Child

Book Review: The Second Child by Caroline Bond

I read The Second Child a couple of months ago over summer and deliberately waited until I had finished work for 2017 before I picked it up as I had an inkling that I’d loathe to put it down once I began reading.   And I was right. This complex tale of two families is told by switching point of view …

New Zealand's Top Mummy Blogger Parenting Travel Blog Family yarns Kiwi Kids Bright Ideas for Young Minds

Parenting – Bright Ideas for Young Minds

A couple of weeks ago I attended an event that was a little bit different from those I normally go to each week.  It wasn’t a cosmetic/foodie/makeup event, it wasn’t a glamorous, heels and frock, dress-to-the-nines occasion (thank god!).  It was a book launch.  A beautiful thought-provoking, inspiring book launch that gave me all the feels and left me with an …

New Zealand's Top Mummy Blogger Parenting Travel Blog Family Travelblog book Review Woman in the Wilderness

Book Reviews: My Bali Book List

Three days before we head back to New Zealand and I’ve timed my reading perfectly!  I’m on my final book of three that I packed and I’ve loved them all. To be honest, I probably haven’t spent as much time on a lounger reading as I would have liked, I totally should have left my laptop at home ergo, I …

New Zealand's Top Mummy Blogger Parenting Travel Blog Family Kids Emily Writes Rants in the Dark Review

Book Review – Rants in the Dark by Emily Writes

Published 27/2/17, Random House NZ RRP $35, EBook also available. I read a lot of books and 99.999% of them are not about me (surprise!) or my life or anything remotely resembling my life.  They serve as the distraction needed at the end of the day, the vehicle with which to escape and be transported far, far away, to meet strangers …

New Zealand's Top Mummy Blogger Parenting Travel Blog Family Summer Reading List Book review

Summer Reading List

The past 3 weeks have felt long and luxurious.  Work has slowed after a manic end to 2016 and I’ve been rediscovering (and prioritising the things that make me happy; my family, my health, my home, travel and……..reading. I’m on my 6th book since December 19th and I’ve no plans to slow down!  I’ve read a sweeping variety of novels …