'ALL THAT GLITTERS' BY VICKY PATTISON BOOK REVIEW ❤

When I heard that Vicky Pattison was writing her first novel, I couldn't have been more excited. Her first book, which was an autobiography called Nothing But The Truth, was an entertaining read so I had high hopes for her first novel. When it was published in July 2015, I went to meet Vicky at a signing and, whilst I was in the queue, I read a few chapters. I discovered the story was set in Manchester (where I live) so I immediately fell in love with the story. When I met Vicky, I discussed the book with her and how I had been reading it in the queue and enjoying it and she was really happy. I can tell that she's worked really hard on this book. 
The story focuses on Issy Jones, a hairdresser from Manchester, who dreams of becoming famous and successful. After her father secretly sends an application in for her to appear on a reality TV show based on a hairdressing competition called Can You Cut It?, Issy finally thinks her dream is coming true. However, a week into the show and she soon learns what it's really like to be famous. She goes through betrayals, heartbreaks and shock but Issy proves to be a strong woman and overcomes each and every obstacle the show and fame throws at her. 
I really like Issy, as a character, from the beginning. The book begins with her father almost dying and we see how much she cares for him. He wants her to live her dreams which is why he sends the application. 
Another character I really liked was Lexi, a fellow contestant on the show. She and Issy bond really well throughout the show. She also has a really fierce personality and isn't afraid to stand up for herself. 
However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows for Issy. The contestants are forced to live in an apartment for the duration of the competition. Issy is happy, at first, until she meets Mia, a posh hairdresser who hates Issy the moment the two meet. To say Mia is mean is an understatement. She is downright horrible to Issy. However, Issy is a strong woman and doesn't let Mia's bitchy comments get to her.
This book was clearly inspired by Vicky's appearence on reality TV series, Geordie Shore. She uses her experiences to write about Issy and her journey from being a hairdresser from Manchester to famous celebrity. 
There is great character development, especially for Issy. She knew that, by appearing on a reality TV show, she'd become a bit famous but she had no idea how tense and dramatic it was going to be. This book shows all the highs and lows of being on a reality TV show.
This is Vicky's first novel but you wouldn't have guessed. The book is probably one of the best romance novels I've ever read. 
Overall, this is definitely one of the funniest and most romantic books I've read about the pressures of being on reality TV.
4/5

JANUARY FAVOURITES ❤

I've had a great start to 2016, I hope you all have too.

As usual, I'll be talking about what I've been loving this month.

Joy

As I've stated in previous blogposts, Jennifer Lawrence is one of my favourite actresses. She's starred as Katniss Everdeen in one of my favourite book-to-film adaptations, The Hunger Games and as Tiffany Maxwell in Silver Linings Playbook. The latter role won her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2013. She also has a really down to earth and funny personality, she's not afraid to be herself when it comes to interviews. When I found out that Jennifer was reuniting with Silver Linings Playbook director, David O. Russell, to make a film about a woman who goes from being poor and struggling for money to inventing a 'Miracle Mop' and becoming a successful business woman, I was really excited. The film was released earlier this month and I wasn't disappointed. Jennifer's performance as the title character is really inspiring and she portrays her in a positive light. The film shows both the highs and lows of Joy's career. If you'd like to read my full review on my other blog, click here.

The Ellen Degeneres Show

Despite the show running for 13 years, it was only earlier this month when the show premiered its fourteenth season on ITV2 in the UK. The only way British people could watch Ellen was by watching short clips on YouTube. Last year, when Ellen announced that her popular chat show was finally coming to the UK, everyone was so happy, including me. Whenever I watched one of Ellen's clips on YouTube, I would wish that it would be on UK TV. Fortunately, my wish (and a lot of others) came true. I think the reason why Ellen's chat show is so popular and successful is because of the host herself. She's always full of energy and her positivity radiates throughout the show. Not one episode is the same. Every day, there's a new celebrity interview and a new competition to win prizes for someone in the audience. I couldn't be more happier that Ellen's show is finally on UK TV. 

The Ellen Show is on ITV2 on weekdays at 1:45pm.

Celebrity Big Brother

I love reality TV, especially Big Brother. For years, the show has gained popularity due to the characters that appear on the show. The show is unpredictable and entertaining for its viewers. I don't really watch Big Brother but when I saw the line-up for the Celebrity version, I knew I had to watch. The line-up included: Gemma Collins (best known for being in The Only Way Is Essex, a reality show set in Essex); Angie Bowie (the late David Bowie's ex-wife); David Gest (was previously married to Liza Minnelli and friends with the late Michael Jackson); Stephanie Davis (was in Hollyoaks); John Partridge and Danniella Westbrooke (the pair were both in Eastenders). I wasn't sure if all of the housemates were going to get on or if there were going to be plenty of drama and arguments. Unfortunately, the latter was true. In the first week, whilst Angie Bowie was inside the house, her ex-husband, David Bowie, died of cancer at the age of 69. The CBB producers informed Angie of this tragic news off-camera but she remained inside the house. At first, she wasn't going to say anything, but her fellow housemate, Tiffany Pollard, could tell something was wrong with her. Angie reluctantly told her that 'David was dead' causing Tiffany to become hysterical, thinking it was David Gest who, coincidentally, had been ill that day. This was probably one of the most-watched episodes of the series, due to Tiffany's reaction. I watched this episode in shock and, to be honest, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I felt sympathy for Angie as she probably wanted some privacy to mourn her late ex-husband but then I also felt bad for Tiffany as it was a honest mistake. The celebrities had been in the house for a week so I'm not surprised that Tiffany thought that it was David Gest had died. Since then, Angie has left and so has David (both on medical grounds) and the final is this Friday (February 5th). I definitely think this has to be the best Celebrity Big Brother yet. There's been confrontations, arguments and drama which is what makes the show so entertaining. 

Celebrity Big Brother is shown everyday on Channel 5 at 9pm.

You Don't Own Me - Grace featuring G-Eazy

I first heard this song on an advert for House of Fraser, which is a department store in the UK. The lyrics were catchy ('Don't tell me what to do'/'Don't tell me what to say') and Grace's voice was amazing. The song is a modern take of Lesley Gore's song of the same name which was released in 1963. Gore's song was sung by Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton in the 1996 comedy, The First Wives Club. This is why I liked the song so much because I had watched the film and heard them sing it. However, I would never had guessed that as the two versions of the song sound completely different. It was only when I watched The First Wives Club a few weeks ago that I recognised the song. Both versions are great covers. 

The Great Sport Relief Bake Off

The Great British Bake Off has grown in popularity over the years. I think the reason why it's so popular is because of the bakers that appear on the show and the competitiveness between them to succeed and become Star Baker. Another reason why it's popular is because of what they bake on the show. It's also really entertaining, especially the celebrity version, which tries to help raise money for Sport Relief, a charity dedicated to helping the less fortunate in Africa. The first episode premiered on Wednesday 27th January and it showed the following celebrities, Samantha Cameron, Jason Manford, Maddy Hill and David James all competing to win Star Baker. It was amusing to see who was the best and worst at baking and the majority of the bakes were impressive, despite some of the celebrities saying that they'd never baked before. It was a great start to the series and I'm looking forward to the next which includes Kimberley Walsh, Chris Kamara, Victoria Coren Mitchell and Ed Balls. It's on Wednesday 3rd February, 8pm on BBC One.

Those were all of my January favourites!

I hope you had a great month and that February is even better.

Thank you for reading my blogposts, it really does mean a lot.

❤

My Top 5 Favourite Non-Fiction Books ❤

In my previous blogpost, I talked about my five favourite fiction books.

Now, in this blogpost, I shall be listing my five favourite non-fiction books in no particular order.

5. Life With A Sprinkle Of Glitter by Louise Pentland

I've been a big fan of Louise Pentland's YouTube channel, SprinkleOfGlitr, for a long time now so I was really excited when she announced she was writing her first book. I was even more excited when I discovered that it was going to be a non-fiction lifestyle guide meant to help people of all ages and both genders. Of course, if you love Louise's YouTube channel, then I'm pretty sure you're going to enjoy her book. It's full of interesting anecdotes from her life growing up, which are both humorous and emotional. She talks about her first dates and becoming a mother for the first time to her daughter, Darcy, who she refers to as 'Baby Glitter' on her channel. Louise covers a lot of topics, ranging from school & bullying to growing up and handling life. I can tell that Louise has put a lot of her heart and soul into this book and she should be proud of it. When I was reading this, it felt like Louise was speaking to me and telling me all her stories and giving me advice. I'd definitely recommend this to Louise's viewers and to people who are in need of advice and don't mind a sprinkle of glitter.

4. Storm In A C Cup by Caroline Flack

Caroline Flack has been one of my favourite presenters ever since she presented on CBBC several years ago. When I was about 8 or 9, I loved watching a show called TMi which she presented alongside Sam and Mark (CBBC's answer to Ant and Dec). This show was full of random games, exciting competitions and celebrity guests and it was one of the reasons I didn't mind getting up early on a Saturday morning. It was Caroline's personality that stood out to me, she was always up for a laugh and so funny. However, she eventually left the CBBC to present The Xtra Factor on ITV, which is the side show to singing competition, The X Factor. After The X Factor was finished, I would always switch to ITV2 and watch Caroline chat to the judges, contestants and the celebrity guests. She presented this show alongside, X Factor runner-up, Olly Murs. The two had great chemistry and always had a lot of fun together. Now, the two are currently the presenters of the main show and, in October, Caroline released her first book which was an autobiography. I love reading autobiographies as I'm always interested in their stories and how they started their career. Caroline doesn't hold back and opens up about her life growing up, how she got into presenting and her personal life. What I love most about Caroline, in this book, is that she's so honest and reveals her true feelings about certain periods in her life. For example, she talks about when she dated One Direction bandmember, Harry Styles, and the controversy the media created about the two. This is, by far, one of the best autobiographies I've read.

 3) Love, Tanya by Tanya Burr

Tanya Burr is another one of my favourite YouTubers because she's always so sweet and positive in all of her videos. In 2014, Tanya announced that she was currently writing her first book and I couldn't be more excited. In February 2015, Tanya published her first book, Love, Tanya. She explained the reason why it was called 'Love, Tanya' was because it was like a love letter to her viewers and fans. She has described the book as being close to her heart and I can understand why. Like Louise's book, this contains short anecdotes from Tanya's life growing up whilst giving advice at the same time. She covers a wide range of topics: love; relationships; beauty; fashion; YouTube and she even includes some of her favourite baking recipes. There is definitely something for everyone here. What I also loved about this book is that it includes several different lists for her readers to write on. Even if you don't like Tanya's videos, you will probably still enjoy this book as there really is something for everyone. Tanya is a really optimistic person and this book clearly shows that. Definitely one of the most heartwarming books I've ever read.

2. All I Know Now by Carrie Hope Fletcher

I think that Carrie Hope Fletcher has to be one of the most positive YouTubers I've ever watched. In all of her videos, she always has a positive attitude and is always smiling, no matter what. Last April, she published her first book and I was so excited to read it. It certainly didn't disappoint. Like with Tanya's and Louise's books, All I Know Now contains stories from Carrie's life growing up whilst giving advice at the same time. However, Carrie began writing All I Know Now as a blog on Tumblr in 2013 so she's spent a really long time working on this. She never intended her blog to become a book until a publisher read her writing on Tumblr and gave her a book deal, which Carrie accepted. I was so happy for Carrie when she announced she was making All I Know Now into a book as I knew how much she wanted to be a writer and loved reading her blog. Before All I Know Now was published, I had a small idea of what it would be like, however, I think I underestimated how good it was going to be. Despite Carrie already having two other jobs, filming, editing and uploading YouTube videos and performing as Eponine in Les Miserables in London, she still managed to write and publish her first book. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to work three different jobs but Carrie succeeded. This is why she is one of the most inspirational people I know. Like I said earlier, it contains stories from Carrie's life but she also talks about the lessons she has learnt growing up. Of course, Carrie being a performer, the book is structured out like a play. The chapters are known as 'acts', for example, 'Act 1' focuses on 'How To Make Friends Without Vomiting On Their Shoes... and Other School Stories'. The book has a contents page, known as a 'Programme' so you don't have to read the book in chronological order. And, of course, like with every play, the book has a finale. This is where Carrie concludes her book and, if I'm honest, I did cry reading this part of the book. I felt like I had been on a journey with Carrie and she made me to become a better person. I owe most of my confidence to her. She's one of the reasons I can be myself. And, like with Tanya's book, you don't have to be a fan of Carrie's YouTube channel to read the book. It's aimed at everyone. There is no target audience. If you're in need of confidence boosting or looking for something to uplift your spirits, then I'd definitely recommend reading Carrie's book. She will bring your mood up within reading one page of her book. 

1. Girl Stuff by Kaz Cooke

This book is probably the most underrated of the five on this list. Kaz Cooke isn't a YouTuber so she didn't have a huge audience to reach out to when she published this book. I first found this book in my school library when I was 14 and I became obsessed with it. So much so that I bought my own copy so I didn't have to borrow it from the library. It contained all the information I needed. Obviously, the target audience is teenage girls but I don't think this means that boy shouldn't read it too. If you're a boy and you want to understand girls better, then, go ahead, read this book. It has over 500 pages full of 'girl stuff' like the book implies. The book focuses on teenage girls going through puberty and are in need of some understanding with what's going on with their bodies. If you're currently going through puberty and you feel like you can't talk to your parents, teachers, friends or anyone else then I'd definitely recommend this book. Kaz Cooke talks about puberty in a mature way. She also covers a wide range of topics including: friends; body changes; shopping; clothes and make-up; spots; sizes; hair; embarrassment; what to eat; moods; smoking; handling love and heartbreak; exercise; guys; school stress; sex; beating bullies; your rights; drinking; cheering up; getting parents to take you seriously; why diets suck; drugs; earning money; confidence and being happy with your own true self. And that's less than half the topics she covers. If you relate to any of the aforementioned topics, please read this book. Thanks to Kaz's witty comments and hilarious cartoons, she makes this an enjoyable read instead of a boring encyclopedia. Most people are too embarrassed to talk about puberty, but, by reading Girl Stuff, I know there's no shame in what I feel or do. What I also liked about this book is that it contained comments from different girls of all ages talking about their experiences and opinions on things which really put some things into perspective for me. For example, I used to despise periods (and I still do) but a girl stated in the book that she doesn't mind having her period anymore as it proves that the body is functioning normally and that's really changed my opinion on periods. Like it says on the back on the book, Girl Stuff tells the truth and lets you make up your own mind. It will be your best friend through every change and challenge.

So those were my five favourite non-fiction books.

I'd definitely recommend them all.

However, you don't have to read them if you don't want to.

Thank you for reading my blogpost, it really does mean a lot.

Click here to read my five favourite fiction books.

❤

My Top 5 Favourite Books ❤

Hi, sorry for not posting in ages, I've had no idea what to post on this blog but then decided to write about my five favourite books. Growing up, I've always loved reading. I loved the idea of creating your own characters and choosing what happens to them. One of my aspirations is to, hopefully, become a writer. But, until then, I shall continue writing and posting on this blog.

Anyway, here are my five favourite books, in no particular order.

5. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan 
*may contain spoilers*

Like many others, I love John Green's writing and enjoyed reading his other books including Looking For Alaska and The Fault In Our Stars so I was very much looking forward to reading this. When I was looking through a list of John Green's books, this one stood out to me as it had the name 'Will Grayson' repeated twice. This is what drew me to the book as it made me wonder why someone's name would appear twice in the title of a book. I soon learnt it was because the story is about two teenage boys who have the same name but are very different in real life. They live in two different parts of Illinois in Chicago and have never met. Some people might find a problem with a book being told in two different perspectives but I think both John Green and David Levithan have succeeded in telling a really compelling story from two different perspectives. From chapter one, when we are introduced to the first Will Grayson, we are desperate for the two Wills to meet. What will their reactions be? Will they get along? Will they hate each other? This was what I kept thinking throughout the book. The reason this is one of my favourite books is because of the two characters: both Will Graysons are relatable in some ways or another. Some people may relate to the first Will Grayson as he has a unrequited crush on a girl which is one of the issues teenagers struggle with in high school. Others may relate to the second Will Grayson as he is gay but he isn't your stereotypical gay character. When we are reading his chapters, we soon learn he has been diagnosed with depression and is on anti-depressants. This is written by Levithan and I loved the way he dealth with these issues. He clearly has some understanding of what the second Will Grayson is going through and tells his story in a truly compelling way. If you're a fan of Green and Levithan's previous novels, I'd definitely recommend this. It's full of both humour and drama.

4. All That Glitters by Vicky Pattison

Watching Geordie Shore, a reality TV series set in Newcastle, you probably wouldn't have guessed that Vicky Pattison would have been able to write a novel. However, Vicky has done just that. All That Glitters is Vicky's first novel and is about the pressures of being on reality TV. Vicky is best known for appearing in the reality TV series so, of course she'd be the best person to write this book. The main character is Issy and she is a hairdresser in Manchester. When her father almost dies from a heart attack, she soon makes the decision to appear in a hairdressing competition. However, the competition is going to be televised and will be shown to thousands of people and soon Issy starts to feel the pressure. I enjoyed reading this book as Issy is a likable character and, from the beginning, we want her to succeed in her dream of leaving her hairdressing salon in Salford. Her dream does come true when she appears in the hairdressing competition but the highs don't come without its lows. Issy is in a competition with several other people and, not only is she competing with them, she has to live with them as well. Issy soon learns that being famous isn't always glitz and glamour. I loved this book as it's full of humour and relatable characters. If you love romance and reality TV, then this is the book for you.

3. The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

This is probably the most underrated book on this list. I discovered this book in my high school library and after reading a few pages, I was hooked. This is definitely the most heartbreaking story I've ever read. The story is told from Lennie Walker's perspective as she talks about dealing with the sudden loss of her older sister, Bailey. However, instead of grieving for her sister, Lennie struggles to cope with the sudden feeling of love for, not one boy, but two, one of them being her sister's boyfriend, Toby. Lennie feels guilty for this as she feels like she is meant to be grieving for her sister. The other boy is Joe, who is in Lennie's music class and they bond over their love of music. Lennie is torn about her feelings for Toby and Joe and struggles over who to be with. What I loved about this book was that it included some of Lennie's poems that she wrote in her notebooks and in random places, one of them being on a takeaway cup. This poems describe Lennie's feelings in a truly beautiful way. The book deals with a lot of issues, including love and the loss of a loved one, in a truly captivating way. It also features many themes including music and nature. Whenever Lennie is feeling depressed, she escapes outside where she uses her clarinet to express her feelings. We, obviously, never hear what Lennie is playing but we can easily imagine it's something sad and beautiful. This book is similar to John Green's book, Looking For Alaska, as it deals with similar issues and has similar themes, so if you liked his book and don't mind shedding a tear or two, then I'd definitely recommend this book.

2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

The Harry Potter series reaches its inevitable end in The Deathly Hallows. Before reading this, I had just watched the film adaptation and thought it was truly brilliant and was very excited about reading the books. By the time I had reached the final book, I didn't want it to end. I had enjoyed reading every single one of them and didn't want the magic to end. Despite knowing the conclusion to the series, as I'd just seen the film, I was still surprised by many things that weren't in the film. This book contains more depth than the film and J.K. Rowling's writing is truly flawless. I can understand why her books have become so successful ever since the release of the first book in the series, The Philosopher's Stone in 1997. We have followed Harry Potter's journey from a 11-year-old boy into a young adult as he prepares for the ultimate battle agains Lord Voldemort, the dark wizard who killed his parents when he was just a baby. Never before has a story about wizards and witches ever been so enchanting. It's hard believing that these characters aren't real as, whenever I read it, I feel like I'm in the wizarding world and with Harry and his two friends, Hermione and Ron, trying to defeat the dark lord at last. At times, my heart was filled with love and happiness and also heartbreak and sadness. I don't think any other fantasy book will ever come close to being as good as the Harry Potter series. By the time I'd reach the last chapter, I was in tears. To bring emotion to a reader is probably one of the most difficult things, but J.K. Rowling succeeds and makes us feel sad that the magic has come to an end. There's always a little bit of me that hopes, deep down, Rowling will, one day, write another story featuring Harry Potter, the boy who lived.

1. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

When I was reading The Hunger Games, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it as it features a lot of violence and action. However, the reason why I enjoyed it was because of the protagonist, Katniss Everdeen. The story is told from her point of view so we always know her feelings and opinions throughout. The 'Hunger Games' are an annual event where two tributes, between the age of 12 and 18, from each of the twelve districts must fight to the death in a televised battle in order to win money for their district. This is something I thought was atrocious and was one of the reasons why I wanted to read it. Another reason was because the main protagonist is a female and I'd not read a book series or watched a film that featured a female as the lead. In the beginning of the Hunger Games, Katniss explains why the people living in the districts are so poor and why the Hunger Games happen through her thoughts. We feel sympathy for Katniss from the beginning especially when she volunteers for her younger sister, Prim, and takes her place in the Hunger Games. This is why we root for her and want her to succeed. She is both brave and cunning and does everything she can to survive. However, it's because of the events at the end of the Hunger Games that lead to Catching Fire, the second novel in the trilogy. Katniss and, fellow tribute and ally, Peeta tried to rebel against the Games and, now, must pay for what they've done. Because, for the first time in the Games history, there have been two Victors, many Districts have started uprising. Despite all these disastrious events, Katniss and Peeta both think they're free to carry their lives on as normal but, unfortunately, this couldn't be further from the truth. The President of the Capitol announces that there is to be a special version of the Hunger Games where previous Victors are to be sent back into the arena. This is bad news for Katniss as she is the only female Victor from District 12 and has no choice but to face the dreaded arena once more. The reason why this is my favourite book out of the three is because it's full of character development and action and it's because of the events in this book that lead to the revolution in Mockingjay. 

Those were my favourite books. 

I will be doing my top 5 favourite non-fiction books soon.

Thank you so much for reading my blogposts, it really means a lot.

❤