KJK Reads

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Cookbook Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I’m not really sure about the marketing of healthy living, as if protein is the be all and end all of a healthy diet since fiber is such an essential part of a balanced diet and has more health implications than a lack of protein, it can feed into the misunderstanding of its priority in diet that is prevalent online at the moment. However, I myself sometimes struggle with getting enough protein in my diet so I thought this book would be great for meal ideas on the days where I need to prioritise protein. The book has quite a long beginning before getting into the actual recipes (over 90 pages) but it is great that they explained the importance of protein and strategies for incorporating it in the beginning (although I’m guessing most of those who pick this sort of book up already know all that). The recipes themselves are easy to follow and there’s so many di...

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Romance, Short Stories  Thoughts: I have to admit that I may have forgotten the intricacies of West Side Story so I may have been going into this a little more of a blank slate than many readers. I understood early on that Sapphire would be our FMC but it did take me a minute to accept Apollo as the MMC, but the way in which they interacted made it make more sense. The story did develop quite fast but this is a short story and they are both just 20 so whirlwind romances are much more common and acceptable in that age group. I didn’t see the way the fight scene played out coming, but it led to a great ending. I think Carty-Williams’ idea of taking the older story and applying it in a way younger people can relate to is a great idea, especially handling the topic of gangs and knives which are both horrifically prevalent at the moment. Favourite Quote: “I just want to thank you, you know. Yeah, I ended up in hospital, but the path I was on wasn't a good one. I ...

Rating: 5 Stars Themes: Graphic Novel, Young Adult Thoughts:  This is such a beautiful book. I wasn’t sure what kind of tragedy in the making could arise in such a beautiful holiday destination, especially with this book being marketed to young adults/teens but it handled some really complex and difficult topics really well. The illustrations are amazing and compliment the intricately woven stories well. I liked the contrast of the girls exploring typical things like crushes, scary movies and gossip with them learning about more mature subjects like teen pregnancies and relationship problems.  Favourite Quote: “You read articles. I know it's the most natural thing... Yes. Well. Mother Nature isn't always the nicest person in the world”

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Cookbook, Alcohol  Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a cute trendy little cocktail book. I know the cowgirl aesthetic, especially the hats, is in style at the moment and although I haven’t bought into all that (at least yet), I do quite like country music. The cocktail names were well thought out and witty but I did notice a trend of mainly really famous songs and really new ones (Austin by Dasha) too but there were a few more obscure ones showing the creator had done a little bit of research into the area. The recipes themselves were really easy to follow and the ingredients list at the top was clear so I could make sure I had everything I needed before starting. It was a good touch to add the box with the actual song being parodied at the bottom for those new to the area incase they couldn’t guess from the drink.

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Cookbook  Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Those who know me know I absolutely love Italian food, especially pastas, and am constantly on the lookout for new dishes/recipes to try. This book is absolutely perfect with so many recipes there’s bound to be something for everyone. I liked the way in which the recipes were split up with pasta having its own section, and recipes on making each type as well as complete dishes, as well as pizzas and focaccia since I also love focaccia. The dishes with meat, those with seafood and plant-based being separated is great as it makes it easier when cooking for people with dietary restrictions such as a pescetarian or a vegetarian. The recipes themselves are easy to follow and laid out well with the ingredients to one side making it easy to check you have everything before you start. I also liked that at the top of each recipe is an active time and a total time...

Rating: 5 Stars Themes: Short Story, Teen, Christmas, Mental Health  Thoughts: I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book since it was 0.5 so I read it first and the blurb doesn’t give much away but it is so worth the read. I think Charlie’s mental health was handled really well even though some family members didn’t handle it the best you can tell they’re trying. I was also impressed with how well the family dynamic, specifically between siblings, was well explained/established in such a short period of time, and even though Oliver himself only gets a few pages to show his thoughts and feelings. Favourite Quote: “When people know you're mentally ill, most people either want to ignore it completely or they treat you like you're strange, scary, or fascinating. Very few people are actually good at the middle ground The middle ground isn't hard. It's just being there. Being helpful, if help is needed. Being understanding even if they don't understand everything”

Rating: 5 Stars Themes: Graphic Novel, Teen, LGBTQ+ Thoughts:  Charlie and Nick are so cute and I could really sense the longing and confusion from the pages. I like the way the author placed the month in the story to show how slowly (and naturally) the feelings develop, especially Charlie as he is now questioning himself. I can also see the way in which Charlie felt the need to research when he started to get close as I’m sure many other teens and young adults who are figuring themselves out do. I knew going in there were 5 published books and one just being promoted but I had no clue that ending was coming and I definitely regret only borrowing the first from the library instead of bringing them all home. Favourite Quote: “You can't tell whether people are gay by what they look like And gay or Straight aren't the only two options Anyway, it's very rude to Speculate about people's sexuality”

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Romance, Short Stories  Thoughts:  So this may not be a formal book but I received a copy through Janet’s newsletter and I absolutely love anything Kringle Cousin so I had to read and share it with you all, maybe it’ll inspire you to check the series out a little. Now this installment is really short and falls in after the first three books and includes the main characters from all three while focusing on Rosie and Jack. I really enjoyed this book with the characters being touched back on, especially a hint of Nora and the furthering of the romances between them all. I especially liked the way in which the vows were handled which were soo cute and how they both used their own skills to make the day special in their own ways (flowers for Rosie and setting for Jack). Favourite Quote: “When I was a little girl, my mother told me that snowflakes were love letters from the sky. Each one was different, she said, because each one was meant for someone specific...

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Fiction, Morocco, Historical Fiction Thoughts: This was a little difficult for me to read as it is a culture unlike my own and I had to keep googling things which meant I was rereading to fix the disjointedness I created by stopping but I learnt so much and am glad that I did read it. The king is a complex character with the toughness to rule being in full view when Mohamed reflects on the past but the vulnerability of a dying man shows in stark contrast as he shares the current moments with each other. I also found the contrast of all the different personalities of people in the antechamber interesting and how they got along (or not) when it came to their days and the king's favour. Favourite Quote: “Before harming others, hatred poisons the heart of those who harbour it, and it erodes and gnaws away at you, kills you, bit by bit.”

Rating: 5 Stars Themes: Memoir, Holocaust  Thoughts:  This book is so enlightening seeing the sisters journey for so long. The first half of the book covers before the war and their experiences in the concentration camps. It’s interesting that the block leader took enough of a liking to them to ultimately save their lives but it’s such a shame they couldn’t save Sergio as we can feel the guilt and regret that left them carrying their own lives. I enjoyed learning of their time in Lingfield as a Brit I had no idea of the place but I think I’ll be looking further into it now, especially knowing of the work Anna Freud does and that it was a project of hers. It’s great that they were able to get a happy reunion despite thinking their parents dead as most of the books I’ve read there was no such luck and it was great to see the other side since I know some families did have some members survive. I think the ending was so important, especially since it was translated in 2020 so was ...

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Graphic Novel, Childrens, Middle Grade  Thoughts: I managed to get my hands on this book second hand for a steal and had to read it to check the age was appropriate for the boy I had bought it for or if I needed to keep it for a few years. Not only is it the perfect age and hopefully able to entice him into reading but it also made me smile in a few points too.

Rating: 2 Stars Themes: Short Stories  Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect going into this book as the reviews seem to either love it or find it a waste of time and after reading it I can kind of see why. The short book is made up of 25 stories each taking its own approach which gives us an insight into lots of different lives to our own. However, there is no flow through each individual one which at times felt disjointed and sometimes it took me till nearly the end of the story to figure out what/who it was about. Though I won't be reading this one again, it is no comment on the author's skill and I may look into a full story written by her instead in the future. Favourite Quote: “Your memories, your youth, your strength, your life: the factory had taken them. All it had left you was weariness, the mortal weariness of forty years of work.”

Rating: 4 Stars  Themes: Psychological Fiction, Mental Health Thoughts: I picked up this book as I thought the blurb had an interesting premise and seeing it was an award winner I thought it would be well worth a shot and I wasn’t disappointed. K tells the story of his life to the African God of stories, sharing a difficult story through honouring his heritage. K himself is such a complicated individual and as we see his difficult childhood at the beginning we can understand how the troubled child can develop into a struggling adult. I did enjoy seeing his relationship with P develop from caring for a baby brother into 2 men trying to navigate adult life and the ways in which mental health struggles can force a divide between families. This book may be short and each chapter split so that it can be jumped in and out of as needed but I absolutely devoured this one and only put it down as needed (sleep got in my way of reading it all in one sitting). Favourite Quote: “My body require...

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Non-Fiction, Holocaust Thoughts: This is something completely different to the Holocaust books I have read before but I found it in my library and it being about local history piqued my interest. The beginning of the book is mainly around the history of the war and the Holocaust itself which I mainly knew but the paragraph all about the men DLI themselves was new and interesting and set the scene perfectly for them to be at Belsen. The book is very educational and I really liked the amount of references and further reading that was provided at the end for each different thing so I can learn more about the DLI and Belsen specifically without having to go hunting for their specific resources.  Favourite Quote: “Never forget the six million who died in the Holocaust. If we forget, it may happen again.”

Rating: 5 Stars Themes: Graphic Novel  Thoughts: I have never read a fully illustrated book before now but this one absolutely amazed me. I found that the illustrations were amazingly done and absolutely stunning, so despite there being no words I didn’t feel the pages lacking. I liked that those whose reasons for migrating we saw were all for different reasons as it highlights multiple reasons why someone may feel the need to go in the real world. I also liked that the man had gone and work in order to save enough money to bring the rest of his family as that’s what I always think seeing single male migrants but hearing comments by some online shows me how rare that realisation is. I must admit I don’t think I 100% got the little animal type friends but they were soo cute I don’t mind.

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Dystopian Fiction, Young Adult Thoughts: Remember me is sweet and heartbreaking in near equal measures. At first I have to admit I had no clue what was going on and felt like I was learning what had been happening alongside Blue which is interesting. Blue has some amazing friends and their conversations make me think of the friends and banter I had at that age (especially surrounding exams and revision). I sweat chapter 14 is the longest chapter known to man (112 pages) but it makes perfect sense as it allows us to learn all that Blue had erased without it being broken up and feeling disjointed. The ending being how it is allows for a little reader interpretation as to whether it is to be a happy ending or more heartbreak for Blue but I’ll imagine that the retrieval goes like they hoped.  Favourite Quote: “Real life isn't always as shiny as the memories we wish we had, but it is real and that's the important part.”

Rating: 4 Stars  Themes: Mental Health, Graphic Novels  Thoughts: Night Shift is stunning in its simplicity. It manages to convey the feelings many with depression feel and I think when I was just becoming a teen this book would have helped me explain my feelings in a much better way than I felt able to. The illustrations are also simply done but also absolutely stunning and their staying black and white aside from the hint of fire resonated with the dark feelings often described in depression and low mood.  Favourite Quote: “Night skills: the ability to survive inside my own darkness.”

Rating: 5 Stars Themes: Short Story, Teen, Young Adult Thoughts: This book is such an emotional rollercoaster. Starting the book with the death of Aman’s dad is an emotional hit straight off and it’s sweet seeing her take Gurnam in as a paternal figure as their friendship develops, we get the feeling the hole in her life is a little smaller with him there. I also liked that there were complexities in Gurnam’s life as so often in younger books like this it’s the kids with all the problems and adults are seen as almost immune so seeing Gurnam working through his past and Aman’s dad also working through grief is great to remind young readers that adults can have things going on in their heads too. I started to have an inkling of Gurnam’s secret and I’m glad it was done as it is an often overlooked topic that everyone should consider, especially among religions other than our own. Favourite Quote: “I get low sometimes, I feel numb like there's nothing inside me. But being around your l...

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Teen, Quick Read Thoughts: This could be a good introduction to the horror/supernatural style book for teen readers. The book itself feels a little short, and I could have definitely enjoyed it being a little longer but I appreciate it's a good way to get teens back into reading with short books. The illustrations are great and really hammer home just how creepy Thing is.

Rating: 5 Stars Themes: Graphic Novel Thoughts: I’m just getting into graphic novels for human nature types of stories and with the polarity of politics around the world this one felt important to pick up. It is equal parts enlightening and heartbreaking, looking at not only Alpha’s journey but also that of those he befriends along the way. I liked that all of them were travelling for different reasons as it emphasises all the reasons for migration and helps provoke empathy to more than just those like Alpha fleeing to find his family. I especially liked that the main character was a travelling single man, as was the first friend he made, explaining why they may be sent and why the travel is important to them and their families as I have heard people comment when single men land in my country without giving thought to the reasons why they may have been chosen. Although I’m sure that those who would benefit most from the message in this book are those who are least likely to actually pi...