You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

February 6, 2021 Kirsty Hanson

One of the things that I wanted to do in 2021 was catch up on some of the amazing books that I had on my TBR. Lately, I’ve been reading A LOT of fantasy novels, and I realised that I had been ignoring all of the brilliant contemporary novels that I had just sitting on my shelves.

I had been wanting to read You Should See Me in a Crown ever since it was released, and in January 2021… I FINALLY got around to it!

Trigger warnings: homophobia, off-page death, outing, bullying

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Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo (trans. Jamie Chang)

March 24, 2020 Kirsty Hanson

I love Korean culture and it’s very rare that you see contemporary literary fiction about Korea. Add to that that it was feminist literature and I was sold. The premise sounded so interesting and it was also a massive plus that Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 was only 176 pages! …

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Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo

March 18, 2020 Kirsty Hanson

I’d heard everyone and their neighbour talk about this book – about how important it was to be read, about how funny, real and eye-opening it was. Then, as luck would have it, I had to read it for my MA Creative Writing course, so it was the prefect opportunity to buy and it and read it straight away! …

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Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie

February 14, 2020 Kirsty Hanson

The narrative of Muslims across the world is tainted by people’s Islamophobia which is perpetuated in the media, through politicians manifestos and through group’s of people who are stuck with the notion that anyone who is not white is deemed ‘wrong.’ …

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Internment by Samira Ahmed

January 31, 2019 Kirsty Hanson

As soon as I read the blurb for Internment, I knew that I had to request an early copy of it, and I am so glad that I did. I know that I only read it two months before the release date, but it meant that I could rave about it for two months and convinced loads of my friends to pre-order or buy it when it came out in the shops.

Content warnings: death, murder, islamophobia, racism, violence, torture, internment camps. …

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She Must Be Mad by Charly Cox

January 20, 2019 Kirsty Hanson

So before you go into reading this review, I just want to point out that there are two sections: the main review, and then at the end, there’s an update. I read this poetry collection for the first time in January 2019 and my feelings about it were ‘so so’. I read it for a second time in November 2020 and found it a little bit more enjoyable to read. The ‘update’ section at the end of the review are my thoughts after reading it for a second time! …

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The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston

January 17, 2019 Kirsty Hanson

If there is anything about fandoms/comic con/geeky stuff in general, then I’m here for it. Always. I always feel like I’m reading about my own group of friends, and in a world that I can relate to. Plus, it makes me happy, and what more could you want when it comes to a summery, YA novel? …

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A Danger to Herself and Others by Alyssa Scheinmel

January 14, 2019 Kirsty Hanson

This is not a light-hearted read. I’m starting the review off like this because I wish that I had known all of the trigger warnings in this book before I started reading it. I knew it was about mental health, so I had prepared myself for that trigger, but the rest of them? I had no idea. So, here you go.

Trigger warnings: bulimia, anorexia, eating disorders, purging, self-harm, parental neglect and abandonment.

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From Twinkle, with Love by Sandhya Menon

January 11, 2019 Kirsty Hanson

Another brilliant book from Sandhya Menon! When I read When Dimple Met Rishi last year, I enjoyed it so much, and Menon became one of my favourite new authors. So, when I got the chance to have an ARC of From Twinkle, with Love, I jumped at the chance and I read it straight away (which doesn’t happen often with me.) …

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the mermaid’s voice returns in this one by Amanda Lovelace

January 9, 2019 Kirsty Hanson

the mermaid’s voice returns in this one is the third and final instalment in this poetry series. The first one being the princess saves herself in this one, and the second was being the witch doesn’t burn in this one. The series is a collection of modern poetry that explores the world of women and the difficulties that they face on a daily basis. Lovelace portrays the feelings of suppression, assault, love, and healing, feelings and experiences that I’m sure many women (and people in general) can relate to.

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The Bibliophile Girl

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Category: contemporary