Books Etc Magazine - May 2020

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MAY 2020

SPECIAL THANKS TO: CO - EDITOR Jayse @itsmejayse FRONT COVER Liz @@lizzreads CONTRIBUTORS: Tamika @paperbackandflickchick Ang @pnrbookloverreviews Blue @bluefairytales_ Liz @@lizzreads APRIL GIVEAWAY WINNERS: Mikayla (copy of Incendiary) & Sophie (Craft of Stars Prize Pack)

Copyright © 2020 Books Etc Magazine All rights reserved, material in Books Etc Magazine is protected under the Commonwealth Copyright Act 1968.

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The opinions expressed in Books Etc Magazine are those of individual contributors and not necessarily those of its editors and publishers. Every attempt is made for accuracy, however information and figures contained in this magazine have been provided to us by the advertisers and their sources. No warranty is given by Books Etc Magazine as to the accuracy of any figures or information contained in this magazine. Perspective purchases are urged to rely on their own enquiries.

A letter from the Editor Welcome to day 57,000 of quarantine! Just kidding (no, really, can I have a refund on 2020 please?). All joking aside, those of us in the southern hemisphere are currently pulling out our winter flannels and building blanket forts that are perfect for reading in and sipping hot chocolates with our furry friends.

Despite all the scary stuff happening outside our book forts, it has been a great time to be a reader as so many wonderful writers have been bringing the joy to our screens with book talks and virtual launches. I woke up early to catch the chat between Jay Kristoff & Victoria Schwab as they talked about their writing processes and their past works and was lucky enough to watch Shelby Mahurin answer fan questions about Serpent & Dove. It’s been so much fun hearing from writers directly and being able to learn more about my favourite literary characters. If subscribe to Dymocks Books on Facebook you can be sure to catch other author chats and virtual releases.

There are so many fantastic new releases this month and I hope you aren’t struggling as much as I am on deciding which one to start next. Do I go strap in and conquer Aurora Burning or do I continue the contemporary romance kick I’m on and curl up with The Switch? Please let us know what your favourite new release is on our facebook or Instagram pages. We’d love to hear from you and love sharing recommendations.

A big shout out to all the wonderful contributors this month. From book reviews to rants, I love reading and sharing all the wonderfully talented work from our team and I hope you do to. Don’t forget to check out the giveaway we are hosting thanks to the lovely ladies from The Literary Wick on page 32.

Until next time, happy reading!

- Nicky K

Editor and Creator

W W W. B O O K S E TC M A G A Z I N E . CO M . AU

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> Contents We are so excited to show you what we have in store for our May issue. Be sure to catch our interview with Aussie author Nattie Kate Mason and learn more about her brand new book, Heart Of A Crown. Make sure you check out our business spotlight on The Literary Wick and how you can go into the running to win an awesome prize pack!

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Review of Disney’s Princess; A Treasury of Enchanting Tales .

Review of The Besties Party On by Felice Arena + Tom Jellett.

We chat with Nattie Kate Mason + your chance to enter our giveaway!

CHILDRENS BOOK REVIEW

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MIDDLE GRADE REVIEW

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

YA REVIEW

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ARTICLE; OWL READATHON

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Review of Aurora Burning by Amie Kaufman + Jay Kristoff.

pnrbookloverreviews shares with us her experience + knowledge of the Harry Potter inspired readathon.

Review of The Age of Witches by Louisa Morgan.

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HISTORICAL FIC REVIEW

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FEATURE ARTICLE

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

BLUE RANTS

Tamika and friends share the best Romcom books available to read!

We sit down with the trio of lovely ladies from The Literary Wick + a giveaway!

Reduce the covid 19 curve! Blue shares her thoughts on this topic.

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BOOKSTAGRAM TIP Want to know the best camera to make your pics stand out? Read more here.

BOOKS ETC MAGAZINE MAY 2020 EDITION INSTAGRAM @booksetc_mag FACEBOOK facebook.com/booksetcmagazine

You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back & relax all you need is a book.

- Dr Seuss

REVIEW - CHILDRENS SYNOPSIS: Experience the magical adventure of being a Disney Princess with this classic collection of stories.

Be enchanted as you follow the tales of all 12 Disney Princesses.

BY JAYSE (@I TSME JAYSE)

A part sugar, a dash of pink and all the magic that is Disney makes this collection of super sweet Disney Princess stories one to grab for the little princess in your life.

Today, I have a special guest reviewer with my, my five year old daughter Macy. We have spent many nights reading and enjoying these stories together. Macy is Disney Princess obsessed, even she will tell you that.

Start singing any song from a Disney movie, she'll tell you which movie it's from. Give her the name of a character, she'll tell you which movie they're in.

So, Macy, what did you think of this book we've been reading? It's great. I like it.

Because I love Princesses.

Do you have a favourite Disney Princess?

Yeah, snow white is pretty.

Whats your favourite song from a Disney movie? Colours of the wind from Pocahontas.

This book is available now from Scholastic publishing is suitable for 4-9 year olds and for us in the Smith house they're the perfect length for bedtime, little misses eyes are rolling by the end. (Yay! Haha) /5 Other titles similar to this book:

Which story has been your favourite?

Sleeping beauty. I like her pink dress.

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hopes, dreams

and possibilities.

REVIEW - MIDDLE GRADE

The Besties Party On

BY FELICE ARENA + TOM JELLETT SYNOPSIS: Oliver and Ruby have been besties forever . . .

It’s Ruby’s birthday and she’s going to have the most amazing party. Ruby and Oliver decide to try out all the games before anyone else gets there. It’s too good! How will the real party ever compete with the besties’ practice party?

From the author and illustrator of the popular Sporty Kids books comes an exciting new beginner-reader series that celebrates the everyday adventures

BY N I C KY ( @ CR E 8 I V E. N I C KY )

The Bestie’s Party On is book four in The Besties series by Arena & Jellett and is perfect for brand new readers. Bursting with adorable illustrations and large easy to follow print, this beginner chapter book is sure to delight young minds.

The book centres on the completely endearing friendship between Ruby and Olive as they test out all the awesome games and food planned for Ruby’s birthday party later that day. Before long the two are getting into mischief and then the party starts, and the rest of Ruby’s friends show up.

how to play happy birthday on a ukulele (I now have a new skill!). There are even some G rated jokes included that will invoke giggles!

If you’re looking for a series to start your children on that is safe and entertaining, then this is a great series to start collecting. /5 Other titles in this series:

What I loved most about this book is that once the entertaining story ends the fun doesn’t stop. The last few pages are full of fantastic activities and bonus content for kids! From instructions on how to make your very own pinata (messy but fun), to learning BOOKS ETC MAGAZINE

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AUTHOR INTERVIEW:

Nattie Kate

on s a M

We caught up with the lovely independent self publisher, Nattie Kate Mason, and badgered her about writing her Crowning series, what inspires her and what we can expect from her upcoming release of HEART OF A CROWN...

What was the first scene you wrote for The Crowning?

I had thrown around ideas for The Crowning before I started writing it and had a general idea of how I wanted the plot to go but the first chapter I actually wrote was the prologue. I tend to write in chronological order and see where the characters and the plot takes me. pg.10

What has been the most surprising thing you've learnt while writing The Crowning series?

Being a pantser (A writer who goes with the creative flow and doesn't work to a plan), every day is surprising. In my wildest dreams I couldn't have imagined that my series would begin with twins separated at birth and end in a war that would determine that fate of an entire Kingdom. Sometimes I have an idea for how I think a plot line is going to play out but my characters have other plans and I have learned that I need to be flexible. For someone who is normally a big planner in everyday life, this was a really hard lesson for me to learn.

There is no right or wrong way to write. There is no perfect recipe for writing a novel or publishing a book. Even when you think you have it all figured out, life will always throw curve balls at you.

Who is your favourite character to write for in Heart of a Crown and why?

I love writing from Anastasia's point of view. She experiences so much personal growth throughout the series and in Heart of a Crown we see her transform into an incredible leader. Anastasia is such a complex character. She is both a flirt and a warrior.

Anastasia has such a kind heart but her struggles with anxiety sometimes overwhelm her. I have put a lot of my own thoughts and feelings into Anastasia's character. Some of her darkest moments and struggles are written straight from my heart which adds an extra element of authenticity to her character.

Anastasia is the character that readers tell me they can most relate to. She is the voice of teenage girls everywhere who battle through each day despite living with a mental illness.

What does an average writing day/night look like for you?

Before Covid 19, I would write most days in cafes while my daughter was at school, or I would write at home curled up in bed with a cup of tea. I would attend a writing group every Monday with fellow authors.

When hubby wasn't away for work and I wasn't looking after my daughter I would be nursing at the hospital. Since Covid 19, my writing life has become a juggle between finding moments to write and homeschooling my daughter. I have five books releasing this year so it is going to be interesting to see how it all plays out. Starting in Term 2 of this year, I plan to find a new routine that will hopefully find a better balance between continuing to write and homeschooling my daughter.

What are your must have snacks/drinks to have while you write?

I have such a sweet tooth! My guilty pleasures are apple pie and endless pots or tea.

Pictured: Author, Nattie Kate Mason

What was the writing experience like for The Crowning compared to your new series The Adventures of Lily Rose?

YA novels and chapter books are completely different.

A lot of thought and analysis goes into writing magical systems in fantasy YA novels. It all needs to make sense and you can't cut corners in your plot or your readers will know. I love the satisfaction of solving a particularly complex plot point and I love writing plot twists in YA novels.

Writing my chapter books series is fun in a completely different way. In kids books you have more creative freedom. Your wildest dreams are all possible in a kids world and so I love that creative aspect of writing my Adventures of Lily Rose series. A lot of my characters in the Lily Rose series are also based on my actual family and our little quirks which also makes it extra fun to write, for example the mum in my kids books is also a terrible cook and gardener just like me! pg.11

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What challenges did you face for Heart of a Crown compared to past books you’ve written?

A major plot point in Heart of A Crown is the war. I am used to writing one on one fight scenes, but writing battle scenes is something that is very new and challenging to me. I needed to enlist quite a bit of help with ironing out the battle scenes but my writing skills have grown because of it and I am really proud of the finished product.

What do you do to fill up your creative tank?

I love reading like most writers and when I am feeling creatively drained, I put my laptop down for a week or so and re-read my favourite novels. I especially love to re-read ACOMAF and ACOWAR by Sarah J Maas.

What inspires you to write?

I have always loved to write but like most people life gets busy and we push the things we really enjoy aside. 2018 was a particularly hard year for me and it was that year that I decided to put myself first and get back into writing. Writing The Crowning helped to heal my heart. What inspires me to keep writing, it's that high that you feel from creating something special. Its the knowledge that from the darkness, something positive can be born.

When you aren’t writing, what do you like to do?

I love to have tea parties and go for walks on the beach.

Sadly Covid 19 means we are all spending most of our time at home. I miss going outside and spending time in nature. My special "me time" treat though, once my daughter is asleep, is to read in the bath with a cup of tea and preferably a sweet treat too. I also love playing board

I love having the bookstagram girls over for board game nights.

I hope you all love Heart of A Crown as much as I do. In 2021, I will be bringing you all the first installment in my new dark fantasy series set in the After World, told from the points of view of the God's and Goddess's mentioned in Heart of a Crown. Fans of The Crowning series will be excited to hear that they have not heard the last of some of their favourite characters.

WIN A SIGNED COPY! To celebrate the new release of her third book in The Crowning series, author Nattie Kate Mason is giving away a signed copy of her new release HEART OF A CROWN to one lucky winner!

To enter, simply click the link below and tell us what the name of your fantasy kingdoms would be...

CLICK HERE Open internationally. Must be over 18yrs or have a parent or guardians consent to enter. Entires close 31st May. Winner will be contacted via email.

“Kristoff & Kaufman really do have a way with words and storytelling.�

AURORA BURNING BY AMIE KAUFMAN & JAY KRISTOFF SYNOPSIS: Our heroes are back. Kind of.

First, the bad news: an ancient evil - you know, your standard consume-all-life-in-the-galaxy deal - is about to be unleashed. The good news? Squad 312 is standing by to save the day. They've just got to take care of a few small distractions first.

Like the clan of gremps who'd like to rearrange their favourite faces. And the cadre of illegit GIA agents with creepy flowers where their eyes used to be, who'll stop at nothing to get their hands on Auri.

Then there's Kal's long-lost sister, who's not exactly happy to see her baby brother, and has a Syldrathi army at her back. With half the known galaxy on their tails, Squad 312 has never felt so wanted.

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When they learn the Hadfield has been found, it's time to come out of hiding. Two centuries ago the colony ship vanished, leaving Auri as its sole survivor.

Now, its black box might be what saves them - but time is short, and if Auri can't learn to master her powers as a Trigger, the squad and all their admirers are going to be deader than the Great Ultrasaur of Abraaxis IV. Shocking revelations, bank heists, mysterious gifts, inappropriately tight bodysuits and an epic firefight will determine the fate of the Aurora Legion's most unforgettable heroes - and maybe the rest of the galaxy as well.

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REVIEW - YA

BY LIZ @LIZZREADS

Aurora Burning is the second novel in the Aurora Cycle series by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman and son of a biscuit, is it good!

Now obviously since it has been a while since most of us have read Aurora Rising, there is a little catch up guide in the front of Aurora Burning, just before the journey continues, which gives us a refresher course on the characters we know and love.

While Aurora Burning starts off where Rising ended, it jumps straight into the action of our misfit Squad 312, continuing on their journey to find the weapon, which will aid them on their mission to save the galaxy from the Ra’haam.

And when I say action, boy do I mean action! The first chapter starts with the squad right in the thick of it, guns blazing, again, trying to get out of trouble (trouble always seems to find them doesn’t it?) while fighting to survive and navigate their way to save their people.

The Squads POVs are more in depth this time around in my opinion, which I loved! We get to see a side of them all that we never really saw in Aurora Rising, it gave a better look into what made the Squad who they are, and the growth of Tyler, Aurora, Kal, Scarlett, Finian and Zila have through out the book was wonderful and yet so heartbreaking at certain points -here’s looking at you, Zila!

The writing style and descriptive world building was done so well, the continuation on from the first book to the second was flawless. While we know that the Aurora Cycle as a whole is set in space, it really does become a backdrop to a deeper story which I enjoyed, it allows you to focus more on the Squad, and their banter is still as hilarious and loveable this time around.

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Kristoff and Kaufman really do have a way with words and storytelling. They know how to pull you in, make you fall in love with a story, the people in it and then flip it all on its head. One example: Kal’s long lost sister. Yes, you read that right! There’s new faces, secrets, lies, revelations, love, heartbreaks and an ending that will leave you in shock, and possibly in tears and most likely yelling expletives while your brain tries to figure out what exactly just happened.

And the ending! An ending of all endings, a cliffhanger of all cliffhangers, it was so action packed, fast paced, flipping between each of the Squad, all with their thoughts right before…..Will Squad 312 succeed and survive?

Only time will tell!

Overall, honestly, Aurora Burning was amazing.

It’s probably the only word that I can think of to describe it. I couldn’t fault it if I tried. I highly recommend Aurora Burning to any fantasy lover, to any fan of Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman, and even if you are someone who is wanting to try to read more fantasy but don’t know where to start? Read the Aurora Cycle. Honestly, just do it!!

/5 Other titles by these authors:

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Credit: @readingwithcake

OWL READATHON

O.W.L.S (Ordinary Wizarding Levels) are examinations Hogwarts students take at the age of fifteen. Each fifth-year student has a consultation with Professor McGonagall to discuss career paths. This prepares the student for their exams and helps them understand the results they need to proceed to N.E.W.T. level.

G, has created so much that you can print, such as the guide book to all your careers, which I recommend printing. A Letter from Professor McGonagall.

Those who ae doing the readathon aim for a wizarding carer (Herbologist, Aurologist, Seer, Wandmaker, Healer, Curse Breaker and so many more you get the drift. Which are outlined in a career guide, G has put together, just like Harry, Ron and Hermione. We must past them to be qualified for the wizarding career of our choice.

For example, Over the years I have picked Magizooilogist. (the first 2) But this year 2020 I have decided to pick a career as a Curse Breaker. As a Curse Breaker, you remove curses, hexes, jinxes from illegally bewitched objects or places.

Our OWLs are graded for total exams completed (Each “class exam� has a reading challenge prompt attached to the subject) Acceptable = 2 or more exams completed Exceeds Expectation = 6 or more exams completed Outstanding = 9 or more exams completed In our guide we can see that I have sit 6 exams

H

ello, my fellow Witches and Wizards, it is that time again!

The most magical readathon you will ever be a part of is the OWLS readathon created by a youtuber G, or you may know her as book roast a few years ago, yes, it is Harry Potter related. I have been participating since the very beginning.

There are only two readathons that I do every year, this and another one called Romanceopoly.

This is probably one of the best thought out readathons you will ever participate in, the detail into creating it is phenomenal.

For those unfamiliar with this magical readathon, this is Harry Potter/Hogwarts themed. The wizarding exams, the OWLS which take place in April and The NEWTS which are held in August. Which Hogwarts students sit in their fifth and seventh years.

You have the entire month to read all the books.

Which is perfect, if you are planning to read all the prompts.

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Not going to lie, this is probably one of the best read-a-thon's to be a part of. I just love it so much.

This year along with our Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry letter we received a newer version of the Wizarding Careers Guidebook. After much thinking and reading our guidebook thoroughly I have finally decided to be a Curse Breaker.

Requirements for the OWLs are Ancient Ruins, Arithmancy, Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Transfiguration.

Career choice = Classes = Prompts = Books Simple. Fun and I highly recommend doing this readathon, if you missed out on doing it do not worry. In August G lets you do your OWLS while others like me will be sitting out NEWTS. pg.17

PROMPTS FOR EACH CLASS: Ancient Rune: Heart Rune, Heart on the cover or title of book Arithmancy: Magical qualities of number 2, balance/opposites- Read something outside your favourite genre Astronomy: Night classes, read majority of this book when it is dark outside Care of Magical Creature: Hippogriffs, creature with a beak on the cover Charms: Lumos Maxima, White Cover Defence Against the Dark Arts: Grindylows. A book set at the sea/coast Divination: Third eye, assign numbers to your TBR and use a random number generator to pick your read Herbology: Mimbulus mimbletonia, Title starts with an M History of Magic: Witch hunt: Book featuring witches/wizards Muggle Studies: Book from a perspective of a muggle (Contemporary) Potions: Shrinking Solution, Book under 150pages Transfiguration: Anigamus lecture, Book/series that includes shapeshifting

Because I am an over achiever, I do every single prompt/ class. I do what I need to do for my chosen career and then when i am finished doing them all, I dive into the other ones as well. This is such a great way to read so many of your TBR books. I try not to buy too many new books. I utilize what I have here at home, the library and online platforms like Kindle Unlimited, Libby, Borrow Box. This year, I have loved my experience as always it is so magical. I love the interaction with all the other witches, and wizards who are sitting the OWLS as well. From the 1st year to now the readathon has EVOLVED into something truly wonderful. The first two years I kept it simple because I had other commitments with arcs and stuff, but this year I cleared my calendar and picked something with more than 4 books to read. With my Gran passing, I thought I for sure wouldn’t have finished them, but I am glade to say I read everything I planned out to read, sort of I changed my TBR to suit me.

But I read all the classes and prompts You can be as low key as you want or be really involved the first two years I was really in it all, I just this year missed out on a lot of the stuff like the 24 hour all nighters because of grieving, and you should really be on twitter a lot of get all the notifications. I think what I have done this year was good, I still checked in with a lot of the friends I had made from previous years on discord, we have a third-year chat. It is always lovely to return and chat to them all. I cannot wait to the NEWTS in August.

The magical community is at its best when we are all doing something together, and especially in today’s situation it has been that extra thing we needed to distract our selves with.

Did you participate?

How did you go?

What books did you read?

If you want to see all the books, I read for the OWLS readathon, I will have a post on my Instagram, and a mini igtv wrap-up.

- PNR Book Lover Reviews Instagram | website

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“Books give a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.�

“...a fantastic combination of Downton Abbey mixed with Practical Magic ...�

THE AGE OF WITCHES BY LOUISA MORGAN SYNOPSIS: Louisa Morgan, author of A SECRET HISTORY OF WITCHES and THE WITCH'S KIND, returns with another captivating tale of family, witchcraft and love that spans generations.

Harriet Bishop is descended from a long line of witches and uses her magic to help women in need - not only ordinary women, but also those with powers of their own.

Frances Allington has used her wiles and witch-

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craft to claw her way out of poverty and into aspectacular marriage with one of New York's wealthiest new tycoons. She is determined to secure the family's position among the city's elite by any means necessary - including a scheme involving her headstrong stepdaughter, Annis.

To save her from this dark magic, Harriet must help kindle Annis's own nascent powers. If Annis can't resist her stepmother's agenda, she could lose her freedom, and possibly her life.

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BY NICKY (@CRE8IVE_NICKY )

Add 3 x cups of intriguing characters, 1 x clipping of hate to love romance, 2 x pinches of magic, The shavings of period drama 1 x splash of female empowerment.

Now you have the makings of the incredible story that is The Age of Witches by Lousia Morgan.

I haven’t had much success with historical fiction in the past. There are only a handful of books from this genre that I have read all the way through and was left begging for more (see Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander and Philippa Gregory’s The White Queen). So let me assure you that Louisa Morgan’s writing should be considered along with these popular titles.

Morgan’s way of crafting this book is so captivating that I was hooked from the first sentence!

The Age of Witches is infused with everything I love about fantasy fiction. There is folklore, edge of the seat drama, dynamic characters who leave you enviously wishing to live their lives and of course a little romance. I’m not a super ‘instant love’ romance fan. I like a slow burn and the main character, Annis Arlington, makes it clear from the get-go that she was not born to be bred like a mare.

Set during the Gilded Age of New York, The Age of Witches takes you on female empowering journey with a focus on family, the power of choices and of course witchcraft – the good and the evil of it.

REVIEW - HISTORICAL FIC TION The Age of Witches is easily considered a standalone novel.

What I loved most about this book is that it is a fantastic combination of Downton Abbey mixed with Practical Magic. By the time I finished it I was already storming into my friends DM’s and insisting they read it. Intimate, smart and packed with detailed knowledge of herbalism, The Age of Witches has made me an instant fan of Lousia Morgan.

It should come of no surprise of course that I rated this book as a five star read. It held everything for me. From plot, to pacing, interesting characters and a desire for more.

All the hallmarks of a great story.

If you love reading books set in the 1800s and you enjoy reading about magic and the power of family, then you will love The Age of Witches. Be sure to put this one in your shopping cart today!

/5 Other titles by this author:

While this book is considered part of a series,

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Romcom recommendations to help lighten your mood...

There is no denying that the current state of the

world is a little scary, uncertain and even depressing.

Many of us are currently in isolation and this can cause many mixed feelings for everyone regardless of their situation. Because of this I think we could all use some book recommendations that are guaranteed to help us escape for a little while and even better give us a laugh and brighten our moods!

A genre I believe that can do this every time without fail is romantic comedies. In general, romantic comedies are quick, light-hearted reads that don’t require much thought to keep up with. The romantic part of a romcom means you get to live vicariously through all the great parts of a romance. There is a romance style out there for everyone from sweet fade to black courtship up to you’re going to need a whole fire brigade for the amount of steamy smut this read will throw at you. Most importantly though despite the level of romance romcoms also have that comedy aspect which means as well as getting to experience the love BOOKS ETC MAGAZINE

or lust, you generally get to have a giggle or sometimes even a full on belly laugh at what these characters say or the things they get up to.

So, because we could all use a belly laugh or two right now, I teamed up with some of my favourite romance readers to create a list of brilliant romcom recommendations. Each lovely lady provided me with some of their utter favourite romcom books and why it is they adore them. All together these recommendations make up a pretty diverse list on the romance scale so there is something here for every reader.

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Tika @mybestfriendsarefictional recommends: Our Stop by Laura Jane Williams SYNOPSIS: What if you almost missed the love of your life?

Nadia gets the 7.30 train every morning without fail.

Well, except if she oversleeps or wakes up at her friend Emma’s after too much wine.

Daniel really does get the 7.30 train every morning, which is easy because he hasn’t been able to sleep properly since his dad died.

One morning, Nadia’s eye catches sight of a post in the daily paper: To the cute girl with the coffee stains on her dress. I’m the guy who’s always standing near the doors… Drink sometime?

So begins a not-quite-romance of near-misses, true love, and the power of the written word.

Why did you love this read?

“Our Stop is absolutely fantastic. It's cute. It's sweet. It's funny. It's real. And I loved it. It's well written, the story flows consistently and I loved reading both Nadia and Daniel's point of views. Nadia is flawed, she's a real woman navigating London, working full time and trying to find that connection. Daniel is lovely, like if I wasn't married and he weren't fictional, I'd have hoped to be the cute girl with the coffee stains that he was reaching out to. All of the near misses really built up the tension and I felt that the book had a very satisfying conclusion. The addition of several side characters worked well, really bringing the story alive for me. I read it in two sittings, as I could hardly put it down. It's the perfect summer rom-com that will have you grinning from ear to ear if you're anything like me; and I'd definitely recommend it if you enjoyed The Flat Share.”

Would Like to Meet by Rachel Winters

SYNOPSIS: After seven years as an assistant, 29-year-old Evie Summers is ready to finally get the promotion she deserves. But now the TV and film agency she's been running behind the scenes is in trouble, and Evie will lose her job unless she can convince the agency's biggest and most arrogant client, Ezra Chester, to finish writing the script for a Hollywood romantic comedy. The catch? Ezra is suffering from writer's block--and he'll only put pen to paper if singleton Evie can prove to him that you can fall in love like they do in the movies. With the future of the agency in jeopardy, Evie embarks on a mission to meet a man the way Sally met Harry or Hugh Grant met Julia Roberts. But in the course of testing out the meet-cute scenes from classic romantic comedies IRL, not only will Evie encounter one humiliating situation after another, but she'll have to confront the romantic past that soured her on love. In a novel as hilarious as it is heartwarming, debut author Rachel Winters proves that sometimes real life is better than the movies--and that the best kind of meet-cutes happen when you least expect them.

Why did you love this read?

“Evie has been working as an assistant to Monty for several years by the time we enter the scene, and is feeling like the oldest assistant on the block. Networking does nothing for her, as she is meeting agents years younger than herself and this isn't doing her confidence any good. Monty sends her off to pester his star scriptwriter, the oscar winner, Ezra to deliver on his contracted rom-com script - this (shirtless) meeting results in Evie makes Ezra a deal - if she goes on your rom-com movie 'meet-cute' dates, she can provide Ezra with some much needed help to get his as yet unwritten script off the ground, that, and Evie may just get that promotion she has been after for years.

Without saying much else, what follows are some hilarious and at times heart warming meet cutes, which Evie then writes up at her local cafe, Gil's - with her sidekicks - the JEMS group chat which comprises of her best friends Jeremy, Maria and Sarah; her newfound friend Annete, and her reluctant dad, Ben - you're in for a real treat of a read - and I'm not just talking about the copious amounts of hot chocolates that were consumed both in, and out of this book.

I absolutely loved Would Like To Meet and would highly recommend it!”

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Nadia @naardsbooks recommends: Anything but Minor by Kate Stewart SYNOPSIS: “She’s a nerd.”

“Heyyyy!”

“Okay, she’s a flight instructor.”

“Better.”

“He’s a ballplayer.”

“The best that ever was.”

“Technically, you aren’t according to MLB stats.”

“See? Total nerd. She also has no filter.”

“He’s no southern gentlemen.”

“I had one last season to prove my worth.”

“I’d never seen a game.”

“He told me he was a player.”

“She told me she was a lesbian.”

“But you fell in love with me anyway.”

“Yeah, baby, I totally did.”

Why did you love this read?

“This was my first book by this popular author, and at 2am whilst working, it had my mum and I in tears laughing. The humour wasn't the only reason why I loved this, if you want a sports romance that is packed full of laughs, emotion, swoon and steam, then this is it.

Highlight from book: the way Kate Stewart portrayed the struggles and difficulties of a long distance relationship was phenomenally done and had me emotional, inspite of it being a romantic comedy.”

Bad Bear by T. S. Joyce SYNOPSIS: Matt Barns is on a mission. The goal of this mission? Find a mate before his broken bear drives him into madness. He knows exactly what he’s looking for, but when his bear finally settles for a mate, she dumps his world upside down. She’s funny, sure, but other than that, she’s not his type in any way. Or so he thought, because Willa is breaking down his walls and opening his eyes to a new life he thought he might never find.

Willamena Madden: smart-mouthed, fun-loving, loyal-to-a-fault, proud nerd and fragile human. She’s also somehow become the potential mate to a grizzly shifter. A shifter? She feels sorry for the critters and wishes humans would leave them alone, but Matt is proving he doesn’t need her pity. He’s a sexy, scarred up, growly beast-man, and she’s thinking he could be the one to finally take her V-card. But Matt’s hot and cold, and one of her friends is after a bucket-list werebear diddle with the man Willa’s falling for. And if that isn’t stressful enough, Matt’s Gray Back Crew is a loosely knit community of maniacs.

Matt feels important, but Willa has never been in more danger. If she can’t find a way to survive his people, she’ll have to go back to her safe life without her Gray Back Bad Bear.

Why did you love this read?

“This is my favourite shifter romance author, and she always includes humour in her books and will never fail to bring you loads of laughs. Bad Bear is part of a collection of my favourite shifter series, however this one in particular shares the story of one of my all time favourite heroines, Willamena Madden. If you're interested in a Feisty and Funny heroine, then you need to meet her for yourself. She turns the world of a broken crew upside down, and brings this whole series laughter and light. The steam in this one isn't near the other book, but it honestly isn't needed in this story. Lastly, it's not a big book, so for anyone looking for an easy and fun read, with the shifter aspect—then this is for you.

Highlight from this book: the deeper message shared within this story. Willamena is a complete nerd in a plaid skirt, granny panties and huge glasses, but she loves herself and never changes for anyone...including her Bad Bear.”

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Georgia @Ebookenthusiast Recommends: Playing for Keeps by R. L. Mathewson SYNOPSIS: Done with being the world's biggest pushover, Haley decides that things are going to change starting with the aggravating neighbour who has too much charm and not enough restraint. What she didn't expect was to be sucked into his world, but Haley has a game plan and she won't let herself forget just what the bad boy next door is capable of.

The last thing Jason expected was for his little shy neighbour to go Rambo on him over some ruined flowers. After he decides to take her under his wing he can't help but notice that she fits very nicely in his life. Now the only thing left is to convince her that this is anything but a game.

Why did you love this read?

“The Bradfords are hilarious and the hero is a bit arrogant but so funny and endearing. The heroine is quirky, funny and not your typical pretty girl. The banter and timing of some of the scenes makes this one of my all time favourite books.”

Sweet Addiction by J. Daniels

SYNOPSIS: Wedding hookups never amount to anything.

Those who partake in this wicked little activity know the rules. Get in. Get laid. Get out.

There's no expectation of a relationship. It is what it is.

Dylan Sparks knows the rules. She’s familiar with the protocol. And she engages in the best sex of her life with a complete stranger at her ex-boyfriend’s wedding.

Reese Carroll doesn’t care about the rules. He wants more than just one night with Dylan.

And Dylan finds him too addicting to pass up.

Sweet Addiction is the story of one woman’s struggle to keep things casual, and one man’s desire to never let her go.

Why did you love this read?

“I love Sweet Addiction by J Daniels. The hero is sexy, smart and sweet whilst the heroine is a firecracker. She is feisty, funny and has the best of friends. The secondary characters in this book are hilarious, unique and sassy.”

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Meet Cute by Helena Hunting SYNOPSIS: Talk about an embarrassing introduction. On her first day of law school, Kailyn ran—quite literally—into the actor she crushed on as a teenager, ending with him sprawled on top of her. Mortified to discover the Daxton Hughes was also a student in her class, her embarrassment over their meet-cute quickly turned into a friendship she never expected. Of course, she never saw his betrayal coming either...

Now, eight years later, Dax is in her office asking for legal advice. Despite her anger, Kailyn can't help feeling sorry for the devastated man who just became sole guardian to his thirteen-year-old sister. But when her boss gets wind of Kailyn's new celebrity client, there's even more at stake than Dax's custody issues: if she gets Dax to work at their firm, she'll be promoted to partner.

The more time Kailyn spends with Dax and his sister, the more she starts to feel like a family, and the more she realizes the chemistry they had all those years ago is as fresh as ever. But will they be able to forgive the mistakes of the past, or will one betrayal lead to another?

Why did you love this read?

“Meet Cute was an amazing read! It centres around Kailyn and Dax two people who are so perfect for each other! They met in college and instantly formed a connection but when Dax betrays her Kailyn doesn’t forget, so when they see each other years later all that resentment and angers comes back. But when a tragic accident leaves Dax with custody of his sister and needs Kailyns help this is when all the good stuff happens! Kailyn and Emme bond and become instant sisters which is amazing! Dax and Kailyn obviously fall in love and they end up being one big happy family! Full of laughs, sadness, family drama and love this book has it all!”

Tamika @paperbackandflickchick recommends: Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey SYNOPSIS: Georgette Castle’s family runs the best home renovation business in town, but she picked balloons instead of blueprints and they haven’t taken her seriously since. Frankly, she’s over it. Georgie loves planning children’s birthday parties and making people laugh, just not at her own expense. She’s determined to fix herself up into a Woman of the World... whatever that means.

Phase one: new framework for her business (a website from this decade, perhaps?)

Phase two: a gut-reno on her wardrobe (fyi, leggings are pants.)

Phase three: updates to her exterior (do people still wax?)

Phase four: put herself on the market (and stop crushing on Travis Ford!)

Living her best life means facing the truth: Georgie hasn’t been on a date since, well, ever.

Nobody’s asking the town clown out for a night of hot sex, that’s for sure. Maybe if people think she’s having a steamy love affair, they’ll acknowledge she’s not just the “little sister” who paints faces for a living. And who better to help demolish that image than the resident sports star and tabloid favorite?

Travis Ford was major league baseball’s hottest rookie when an injury ended his career. Now he’s flipping houses to keep busy and trying to forget his glory days. But he can’t even cross the street without someone recapping his greatest hits. Or making a joke about his… bat.

And then there's Georgie, his best friend’s sister, who is not a kid anymore. When she proposes a wild scheme—that they pretend to date, to shock her family and help him land a new job—he agrees. What’s the harm? It’s not like it’s real. But the girl Travis used to tease is now a funny, full-of-life woman and there’s nothing fake about how much he wants her.

Why did you love this read?

“Honestly, I literally laughed out loud and sometimes cried with laughter at some of the one liners and interactions between characters in this book. There are some amazing smut scenes honestly Tessa Bailey is the master at writing scenes you need to practically take a cold shower after reading. And did I mention that the hero is a baseballer nicked named “two batts” if that doesn’t at least make you giggle then you are clearly much more mature than me! “

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Casey @through.thepages recommends: Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston SYNOPSIS: When his mother became President of the United States, Alex Claremont-Diaz was promptly cast as the American equivalent of a young royal. Handsome, charismatic, genius—his image is pure millennial-marketing gold for the White House. There's only one problem: Alex has a beef with an actual prince, Henry, across the pond. And when the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an Alex/Henry altercation, U.S./British relations take a turn for the worse.

Heads of the family and state and other handlers devise a plan for damage control: Stage a truce between the two rivals. What at first begins as a fake, Instagrammable friendship grows deeper, and more dangerous, than either Alex or Henry could have imagined. Soon Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret romance with a surprisingly unstuffy Henry that could derail the presidential campaign and upend two nations. It raises the question: Can love save the world after all? Where do we find the courage, and the power, to be the people we are meant to ben? And how can we learn to let our true colors shine through? how will history remember you?

Why did you love this read?

“I loved the playfulness of the characters, the cheekiness and vulnerability. The male/male romance is something I really enjoy as it is interesting to see inside the kinds of men and how they navigate falling in love. This book was such a pleasure to read. It was light, not too heavy in its subject matter and the fact that there is Royal life in there too, well it had me sold. It was a 5 star read for me.”

Batter Up by Robyn Neeley SYNOPSIS: Bakeshop owner Emma Stevens has a secret. A delicious premonition she shares every Monday evening with the bachelors of Buttermilk Falls as they gather at the Sugar Spoon bakery for Batter Up night.

Investigative reporter Jason Levine just found himself as the man candy for a bachelorette party in Las Vegas. Roped into attending the Vegas nuptials, was he hearing things when the groom shares that the only reason he’s getting married is because a small town baker conjured up the name of his soulmate in her cake batter?

Sparks fly when Jason tries to expose Emma as a fraud, but reality and logic go out the window as he begins to fall under her spell.

Why did you love this read?

“Super cute, fun rom com with a little magic included. Set in a small town the main character owns a cake shop and she has the ability to stir up the first initial of your true love. Yes it is cheesy but I love a romance that is set in a bakery or something like that. It doesn’t have the depth of The Simple Wild but it is really sweet and I love it.” pg.27

Sam @samreadsromance recommends: The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren SYNOPSIS: Olive is always unlucky: in her career, in love, in…well, everything. Her identical twin sister Ami, on the other hand, is probably the luckiest person in the world. Her meet-cute with her fiancé is something out of a romantic comedy (gag) and she’s managed to finance her entire wedding by winning a series of Internet contests (double gag). Worst of all, she’s forcing Olive to spend the day with her sworn enemy, Ethan, who just happens to be the best man.

Olive braces herself to get through 24 hours of wedding hell before she can return to her comfortable, unlucky life. But when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning from eating bad shellfish, the only people who aren’t affected are Olive and Ethan. And now there’s an all-expenses-paid honeymoon in Hawaii up for grabs.

Putting their mutual hatred aside for the sake of a free vacation, Olive and Ethan head for paradise, determined to avoid each other at all costs. But when Olive runs into her future boss, the little white lie she tells him is suddenly at risk to become a whole lot bigger. She and Ethan now have to pretend to be loving newlyweds, and her luck seems worse than ever. But the weird thing is that she doesn’t mind playing pretend. In fact, she feels kind of... lucky.

Why did you love this read?

“The Unhoneymooners is my absolute favourite stand alone of Christina Lauren’s! Not only does it have the cutest cover ever it’s such a page turner and is one of my favourite books ever! It’s an enemies to lovers which is my absolute favourite genre! Two people who are polar opposites end up falling in love, Olive and Ethan aren’t the biggest fans of each other and when Olives twin sister gets married and her whole wedding party gets food poisoning besides her and Ethan there is a all expenses paid honeymoon available! So who better than the two people who hate each other to take it! Olive has some of the best one liners throughout this book! Full of laugh out loud moments this book is honestly amazing and worth the read!”

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell SYNOPSIS: Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan..

But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving. Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates.

Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?

And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

Why did you love this read?

I wanted to include another YA book to this list so that there really was something for everyone. Honestly, I adore this book its one of the first books I read where I could see many parts of myself in a main character. I think the romance is so cute and not really steamy if that’s more your speed. This at time awkward coming of age story made me feel light-hearted and smile too many times to count!

And there you have it guys a fantastic list of romantic comedies from YA to Adult, PG to steamy AF! There really should be something for everyone on this list that is sure to help you escape from current reality for a little while. This list has made my TBR expand yet again thanks to these awesome romance reader buddies. If you get through all of these recommendations definitely check out these girls feeds for even more to add to your list! Now what are you waiting for?!

Go put a smile on your dial and even have some good laughs and get reading! You can thank us later! pg.28

“ Imag in ation is the only weap on in the war again st real ity�

The Literary Wick...

Laura, Courtney and Bek makeup the lovely trio of the popular Aussie company, The Literary Wick. I managed to cup up with the girls to grill them on their successful business and about all things candles and books...

Q. What inspired you to start your business?

Rebecca and Courtney came up with the idea over a shared lunch break. We loved books and candles, purchasing them frequently, and had started receiving a lot of bookish merch through overseas book boxes.

Once the idea came to mind, we tagged Laura along for the ride. Soon enough we were down the rabbit hole, and here we are!

Q. As a creator, how do you tap into inspiration?

We get our inspiration through immersing ourselves into books that we love. Once we find a book/theme that we've fallen in love with, the ideas start rolling!

Sometimes it can be a description of a place inside a book, the cover, a badass female character. Our aim is for our customers to feel as if they are in the story them BOOKS ETC MAGAZINE

selves while burning our candles. We always tryto create labels, colouring and scents that match, and when you smell or burn them, it invites you back to read the book. Specifically for the design process, we think of images, colours, textures etc that reflect the candle.

Sometimes it might be the cover of a book, a scene or description of a character! We can get a bit stuck at times, especially when we are trying to plan multiple things at once. We are great at bouncing ideas and being honest with each other, so once there's a spark it tends to be easy from there!

Q.What are some of your favourite products to create?

We love trying out different styles and designs when creating candles. Our favourite ones to make are probably a sorting style candle. We love an element of surprise, and the sense of unknown and reveal once a candle is burnt. We are also always trying new techniques, for example with our The One Ring candles and Little Lightning Girl jars. Marbeling wax is something that took us a long time to get right, but the satisfaction of acheivment once we got the technique right makes pg.30

us want to do more! That and also the glitter, you can never have enough glitter!

Q. What do you love about the bookstagram community?

The bookstagram community has been a huge part of our business journey! Everyone is so supportive and has really made us feel welcome. We've had amazing feedback, and met some of our closest friends through the community. We all feel immensely privledged to be a part of it and provide products to such incredible individuals!

Q. What is something you are looking to explore and develop in your personal life and your business in 2020?

2020 is off to a crazy and unpredictable start! Though that doesn’t mean we can’t achieve our goals for the year! We definitely want to look at expanding our candle book boxes as well as our range of candles. We have so many ideas and fandoms we want to tap into and explore! We also are in the middle of exploring and possibly creating some non-candle products for our business so keep your eyes peeled!

Courtney personally (and as cheesy as it sounds) aims to make more time for reading! It tends to fall under the back burner of her self-care and she doesn’t do it enough! Bek aims to make more time to be creative and work on things such as photography and design for herself! And also make more time for reading!

Laura needs to learn to slow down and focus on self care a bit more. Between work, the business, family and friends it can be easy to forget to just sit down with a big mug of tea, a book and a nice slice of cake and relax!

Photo: @caffeineandcurses

“

We've had amazing feedback, and met some of our closest friends through the community.

“

Q. 2019 was a year of challenges for many people. What were some of the challenges you faced and overcame in 2019?

Our biggest challenge last year was getting our name out there. As there are so many AMAZING Aussie bookish candle companies we had to ask ourselves the tough questions such as how can we be different? How can we make ourselves stand out? We are really happy with the direction our company has gone, despite it being a newly developing business!

Q. What does a typical day look like for you business wise?

Our most fun days are our candle making days, which can be quite busy and crazy! Usually before that we spend time picking out new scents, brainstorming ideas, designing labels and then, the fun happens when it all finally comes together. On our making days (and it usually us a whoooole day) we have great tunes, snacks and good company which makes it a great day! On typical days, we are arranging/sorting stock for markets, packaging and shipping products and always planning for our next products.

Q. What are your favourite things to do when you aren’t working?

Bek enjoys watching Anime and frequents You Tube for Urban Exploration videos as she has a weird obsession with spooky, abandoned things! She also loves Baking and of course reading. Laura loves playing video games, reading and a cheeky bit of Netflix.

Courtney, when she’s not trying to squeeze in some reading time, is a lover of video games, Anime and if she can convince someone else to play, boardgames!

She has also recently been learning and trialing making cold pressed soap. So if all goes according to plan, you may see something exciting hitting the store in the coming months!

Q. What has been the biggest thing you’ve learnt about yourself as a business owner?

The biggest thing we’ve learned about ourselves as business owners is how well we are able to accept the good and bad that comes with owning a business.

You definitely learn your capabilities as well as how motivated you can be!

Q. What is your favourite product to make?

Little Lightning Girl is super fun to make as it was quite an experimental candle to produce! It allows us to try various marbling techniques to make the perfect candle. We of course also love anything with glitter (even if it gets EVERYWHERE. Luckily it's biodegradable and washes off easily!)

G i v e a w a y!

Photo: @jkbookish

Q. What is your favourite scent?

Bek’s favourite scents are a tie between Black Orchid and Ginger and Wood Sage and Sea Salt. Laura loves Black Orchid and Ginger as well and also White Lily and Persimmon. Courtney’s favourite is our Little Lightning Girls scent of Passionfruit and Papaya (anything fruity is generally her favourite though!)

We are excited to be working with The Literary Wick this month to giveaway a special prize pack to one lucky winner!

To go in the running to win this prize, simply click HERE and tell us what your signature scent would be if you were a literary character.

Open to Australian residents only (sorry). Entries close 31st May, 2020. Winner will be notified by email. pg.32

Flatten the Curve!

BY B LUE ( @BLUEFA IRYTALES_)

There is no other way to say this but what the hell are you complaining about???

I have narrowed humans into two categories while dealing with the COVID19 situation.

The first category are those that understand.

Thank you.

Not only are you protecting yourself, loved ones but also strangers as well. Thank you for isolating and making the most out of a bad situation. You are only leaving the house when it is essential. For those that are essential workers, holy crap you guys are amazing. From the nurses, doctors, police, ambos and firefighters and even to those that are working in supermarkets, if no one has told you today, you guys are amazing. I appreciate your hard work and I’m sure others do as well.

The second category are those that think they are above the isolation.

These guys are in the ‘fuckwit category.’ Clearly you don’t have the need to preserve your own life but the lives of others as well. Not only are showing your true self but you are honestly a jackass. You are putting lives at risk!! People are still hanging out in parks, having dinner parties and going out to play sport in groups. What the actual hell is wrong with you? Have you not seen the news? Have you not BOOKS ETC MAGAZINE

seen how many people are dying by the day? There is no reason to socialise in person, we have advanced technology and you can have a dinner with your friends over face-time. So stay the fuck home.

Another aspect of the ‘fuckwit’ category is those that are constantly whinging. Now I don’t mean the standard, ‘I miss seeing my family and it’s hard.’ I am talking about actual whinging.

Yes I get it, this is a hard situation to be in, but by staying home you will be safe!!! I don’t understand, how to make this any clearer for people that don’t get it. You need to stay home to preserve lives.

I know it’s hard and that the situations may vary from house to house. But… Can we stop having pity parties? Can we stop complaining that there is nothing to watch? That is sucks you can’t go to the gym? That you can’t go out for lunch?

Seriously? Harden the fuck up.

I know it hard, but don’t be a dick, STAY INSIDE TO SAVE LIVES. I am so over the people that are constantly whinging about this. There are literally people out there that don’t have a roof over their head. They cannot afford to put dinner on the table. Yet there are people who complain about not getting brunch...? pg.34

Compared to the other horrid times we have had in history, we have it pretty fucking good with the aid of technology.

What about WWII? How about the families that sat in silence with candles, waiting for the sound of an air raid. What about writing a letter to loved ones and having to wait up to months for a reply and until you get that reply that you wait anxiously to hear that they are alive. What about living off rationed food that includes one tea bag, a few pieces of bread and a potato to last you the whole week? Still want to complain about not going to the gym?

Honestly people have lost their compassion of their community and have also lost their perspective in life.

While you are stuck at home, with food in your pantry, Netflix on your TV and your friends and family only one call away, be grateful for what you have.

And when you hear those planning to break the COVID19 health laws, then dob them in to police.

If you think you have got it tough, think of others.

If you want to whinge about how bored you are, be grateful to be alive.

If you are in trouble, then ask for help.

If you see those that need help, offer it.

Stay home.

Stay safe.

Flatten the curve.

PLEASE STAY HOME!

Blue xx @bluefairytales_ | www.bluefairytales.com.au

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STAY FOCUSED! Looking to upgrade from your phone to a digital camera for you bookstagram pics but don’t know where to start?

This month we look into the best camerason the market...

While camera phones have come a long way since the blurry mess they once were in the early 2000s, there are a lot of benefits in investing in a good digital camera. No longer something that only professionals can afford, you can pick up some fantastic equipment from your local electronic store or Kmart that will really make a difference to your bookstagram pics. Plus most cameras now are great for recording top notch videos for youtube!

Following on from our Bookstagram Tips Series, we took a look at some of the best cameras on the market and what they offer, starting from the top-of-the-line expensive models, down to your every day more affordable cameras.

Be mindful as well that there are some great deals out there on lens. A good lens can make a world of difference to your shot, especially if you after strong, sharp detail in your photo.

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Nikon D750 Full Frame DSLR | RRP $3299 The Nikon D750 is a remarkable camera with a flipping LCD screen which is handy when taking bookstagram pics on the floor. The focus is crisp with an auto eye tracking which is perfect if you aren’t using a tripod.

Canon EOS 200D II DSLR | RRP $899 A fantastic camera for beginners. Lightweight and easy to switch from different modes of shooting. This is our pick as the favourite. The autofocus is brilliant on this camera and the bluetooth feature allows you to send your pics directly to your phone.

Panasonic Lumix G7 | RRP $699 Boasting razor sharp quality, this camera is all about capturing colours true to life. Panasonic is brilliant when it comes to designing cameras that deal with lighting issues. If you don’t have any professional lighting this camera will automatically adjust and account for it.

Canon IXUS 185 Digital Camera | RRP $139 With a bunch of filters to play with, this point and shoot is the easiest and quickest way to take photos. With a standard zoom you’ll have to get in close to take photos but it’s great for on the go and if you are taking photos outdoors.

What popular bookstagrammer @bookbookowl uses: I have a Sony Nex-7. It’s quite old but it has wi-fi capabilities to transfer to my phone with a press of a button - so I like it. It’s a DSLR so I also have a couple of semi expensive lenses that I use for my pictures.

OUR PICK

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