Hi all! 

Welcome to my July Reading Wrap-Up for 2018! Baby finally arrived this month and we moved out of our apartment, so needless to say, we were extremely busy and very exhausted. Still, I managed to read a few books in between her naps. A really great tip I picked up from a fellow mama, is to listen to audio books whilst breastfeeding. I hope you enjoy my mini reviews! 

1.) UNDERCOVER PRINCESS (BOOK #1 OF THE ROSEWOOD CHRONICLES) BY CONNIE GLYNN (PHYSICAL BOOK)

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PLOT: The first in a five book series, Undercover Princess follows Lottie Pumpkin, a girl obsessed with all things royalty. Through a bursary, she is admitted into the prestigious Rosewood Academy, where she meets the disguised princess of Maradova, Ellie Wolf. Ellie is desperate to lead a normal life, away from her regal duties. One day, a rumour spreads throughout the school, forcing Lottie and Ellie to switch identities. Does Lottie have what it takes to fool the world and who is the mysterious person threatening to reveal their deep, dark secret? 

MINI REVIEW: I bought this debut novel because I absolutely adore Connie Glynn (A.K.A Noodlerella). After scanning the reviews on Goodreads, I saw that a lot of people had the same complaints. This book was too girly, too childish, too unrealistic etc. For those that watch Connie, that is who she is. She loves Disney, the colour pink, cute things and dressing up. If you buy her book, that is what you should expect. Did I think the writing was excellent? No, but I enjoyed the story, because it reflected her personality. The setting was my favourite part. I love reading books that take place at boarding schools. I commend Connie for putting herself out there in the first place. I just know she is going to grow as a writer, with each new release. 

RATING: I gave it 3.5/5 stars. 

2.) SENSE AND SENSIBILITY BY JANE AUSTEN (E-BOOK) – MONTHLY CLASSIC PICK FOR JULY 2018 

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PLOT: This classic work of literature follows sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, the living embodiment’s of good sense and sensibility. When their father passes away, they find themselves destitute, due to his decision to leave his home, Norland Park, to their stepbrother, John. Although instructed to take good care of his sisters, John is dissuaded of his duty by his greedy wife, Fanny. The family moves to a modest home in Devonshire, where the romantic Marianne becomes infatuated with the attractive, John Willoughby, who is not as he seems. The ever prudent Elinor however, finds love with Edward Ferrars, Fanny’s older brother, leading to disastrous results.

MINI REVIEW: Unpopular opinion time! I hated this classic! I was unbelievably bored from beginning to end. In fact, I’ve already forgotten 95% of what happened. I did not engage with the story at all, nor did I connect with any of the characters. I found both sisters to be completely man-obsessed and superficial. All they did was pine and pine after their love interests, which irritated me to no end. I am sorry if this review is upsetting, but I was not a fan. I’m surprised I actually finished it. 

RATING: I gave it 1/5 stars.

3.) WHEN DIMPLE MET RISHI BY SANDHYA MENON (E-BOOK) – SASSY BOOK CLUB PICK FOR JULY 2018 

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PLOT: This was our Sassy Book Club pick for July. Meet Dimple. Her main aim in life is to escape her traditional parents, go to university and begin her plan for tech-world domination. Meet Rishi. He’s rich, good-looking and a hopeless romantic. His parents think Dimple is the perfect match for him, but she’s got other plans. Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works even harder to prove itself, in the most unexpected ways. 

MINI REVIEW: My happy little heart loved this book. It was such a feel-good read, that made me smile from ear to ear. I absolutely adored Dimple and Rishi equally. They had chemistry, spirit and fun. The story itself was engaging and unique. I thought the author did an excellent job developing her characters and giving them flaws to work through. I would highly recommend this book to anybody partial to a cute love story, with plenty of laughs along the way. 

RATING: I gave it 5/5 stars. 

4.) THE EVERYTHING VEGAN PREGNANCY BOOK (KINDLE BOOK) BY RD REED MANGELS 

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PLOT: Do I need more protein? Am I getting enough nutrients for the baby? How do I defend my decision to stay vegan? These questions and more are on the minds of vegan moms-to-be, who want to maintain their lifestyle, but still nurture a healthy baby. Well, you can breathe a sigh of relief, because a vegan pregnancy is not only possible, it’s also healthy and completely safe. With this helpful guide, you will learn about all aspects of vegan pregnancy, from conception to bringing home baby. Packed with information for both moms and dads, including 150 nutritious and healthy recipes for the whole family, this book is the ultimate resource for parents who want the best for their baby – without sacrificing the vegan life!

MINI REVIEW: This book really helped me have a healthy, vegan pregnancy; answering many of my questions along the way. It covers pre and post-natal birth, what to expect and how simple it is to be plant based and pregnant at the same time. I would highly recommend this book, as it is written by a trusted, registered dietitian. 

RATING: I gave it 5/5 stars. 

Thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed. What was your favourite book of July? Let me know down below. 

Peace & Love xoxo