 Hello everyone! Welcome back to my channel. I hope you're all good. Now you may be able to see we're somewhere different. We are actually me and my family on holiday and I just need to show you guys how beautiful it is. So this video is gonna be like a chill reading vlog. I don't know how much I'm gonna read. I'll take you through what books I've brought later when we're actually unpacked but I wanted to like show you the house before we unpack anything because it will get messy out. This is one of the gardens that we have. There's another one on the other side. There's loads of sheep in all the fields around us. You probably can't see any of them. But there they are. That's some of them. This is the house. We should find out how stunning this is for a second. I'm gonna take you inside and I'm gonna show you around all the rooms because it's literally one of the most stunning places I've ever been. So this is the kitchen when you first walk in. Oh my god, isn't it so cute? Look at that. Well guess what people? I get excited about small things. This is the kitchen. This is one of my favorite parts. I actually haven't looked at this properly yet and seen if there's any that I've already done. I know I've got a lot with me. Isn't that so cute? Isn't that so cute? Then in terms of the bedrooms, this is one in here. This place is literally amazing. Hello. Hello. The shower. So cute. And this is like a twin room. Isn't this like the most like quaint place you've ever literally been ever? You're like, well, you guys aren't here but I am. And then we're gonna go up these stairs. A super cute like reading area. And there's this room. I'll show you what I think is going to be mine in Tom's room. Hang on. Isn't it so cute? Little piece of read up there. And then you have a shower in here as well. Hell, that's dark. You can't see anything out of there. You can sit here and read and look out at all the sheets. So yeah, that is a quick whistle stop tour of the place we're going to be staying at. We're going to pop out now to go get some food and stuff. So that's why it was a rush. But this reading vlog is just going to be like chill, more like a holiday vlog. And I might read. I'm not going to put any pressure myself to read. Okay, so good morning. It is Sunday. I know it was a bit of like a crazy start to the video. I feel like move in day is always crazy. So we literally got here. I filmed quickly. And then we went out to get food. We went to dinner at this amazing burger restaurant called the beefy boys. And I filmed in the restaurant. I like planned to have like a little bit of like a you know, on be like B roll kind of thing. But I ate the burger before I could film it. The level of unprofessionalism far too much. I like finished the burger and I was like, Oh, shit. It was so good. Let me put I'll put pictures on the Instagram in here. It was like one of the best burgers I've ever had in my entire life. It was so good. So it is Sunday. We are about to go out to like, we're gonna do like paintballing and like, I think we're doing archery. I'm good at archery archery is gonna be my round. We're doing a few things. I'm not sure how much we're gonna I'm gonna be able to film because definitely paintballing because we're gonna be running around like trying to get each other. But I thought before we went out, I would show you the books I've bought with me to read. I've limited myself. I bought six with me. Stop it. Get some help. I probably won't read all six, but I want to have a few options. And these are all new releases as well. So ones I really want to prioritize. I brought project tell Mary by Andy where this is the book I'm going to start with. This is like the number one book that I want to read. I feel like it's going to be a very good holiday book from what I've heard from people talking about it. Then I bought blackout by all of these authors, Donald York later, Nick Stone, TVD Jackson, Ashley Woodfolk, Andy Thomas, and Nicola Yoon. It's really short. It's only like 250 pages. So not long at all. And so I feel like this would be another good holiday read. I feel like it's a kind of thing you can read in one sitting. This is probably the next one I read after project tell Mary is Ace of Spades by Fruda. You became Iamede. This is like inspired by gossip girl. This is private academy secret style getting revealed. I am so excited to read this. This is like everyone who's been reviewing this has been giving it five styles and saying how fucking crazy it is. So I am so excited. Listen, I may only read two books in this video. I'm not going to put pressure on myself to read a certain number of books because I'm on holiday. I'm just here relaxing, bitch. But also on holiday, sometimes you read loads. So I'm just going to like let it be. But if I only read two books, these are the two books you're going to be seeing in this video. Then I bought The Appeal by Janice Hallett. This is a mixed media murder mystery. So it's all told through like text and emails and stuff. Then I bought another short one, like Blackout. I think short books are quite good for holiday. I bought Switch by AS King. This is about this girl where time has stopped in this world and she thinks it's to do with this switch in her house that her dad keeps building boxes around. It's going to be very strange. Almost all these books are books for my most recent haul because they're the books I'm obviously most excited to read. And then I told you in this book haul I was going to bring six crimson cranes with me because I just fell in love with this book. Like, oh my god, it is literally the most gorgeous book I own. And I really don't know the plot. I could not tell you anything about the plot, but I bought it with me because it is so beautiful and that makes me want to read it soon. So that is all the books that I've bought with me. I feel like we've got a really good selection, a good like variety of books. And I'm just so excited. We're going to have a great holiday. We're going to chill out and it's such an amazing place. I am going to go start Project Elmeri today. I am just finishing at the moment the audiobook for In the Market for Murder, which is like one of my favorite cozy mystery, historical mystery series. It's not really worth vlogging about. I'll update you probably when I finish it, but it's going to be five stars. Actually, this one I'm really, really enjoying it. It's about this like lady and her maid and they're solving these mysteries. And it's just so much fun. Like, I really enjoy the characters. I think the more I read from this series, the more I enjoy them because their relationship and their friendship is so cool. So I am about to finish that. I'll probably finish that in the car first and then I will start Project Elmeri. My dad is currently reading Six of Crows. And I said to him before he came away, I was like, don't you want to bring Cooker Kingdom with you? And he was like, no, I probably won't read like, probably won't finish Six of Crows. He's already read this morning on our first day, like 250 pages. He's really, really enjoying it. Don't come here, I'm not really thinking about that. Well done, dad, for enjoying Six of Crows. You didn't actually see the paintballing because we couldn't film it. But the paintballing, archery and clay pigeon shooting that we did yesterday was so much fun. But I finished In the Market for Murder, which is the audiobook I've been listening to. And I gave it five stars. I just loved it. If you're looking for good cozy mystery audiobooks, these audiobooks, The Lady Hardcastle Mysteries by T. E. Kinsey are like the best. They're just so much fun. I love the relationship between Lady Hardcastle and Florence. They're just like, nice historical cozy mysteries. You know, this one has like three mysteries in it that all end up being sort of linked. And I just thought it was really imaginative because I thought when reading it, they were going to solve like three separate mysteries, but they actually ended up being kind of linked, which I thought was really, really clever. So I would really recommend these audiobooks. They're not going to be everyone's cup of tea though. So I won't talk about them for too long, but they're like a fun holiday read. I am about already 70 to 80 pages into Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. I know he had to take the stickers off, but I started doing it and it started going wrong. And I was like, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. No. But I'm really enjoying this. So basically we are following this main character who wakes up on this spaceship. He can't remember who he is. His crewmates are around him as like decayed corpses. And it's basically just been him figuring out who he is and why he's on this spaceship. We've been having a lot of flashbacks to like his previous life and learning about this kind of problem that's happening in the world where there's these like microorganisms that seem to be making the sun get colder or taking some of this energy. So they think Earth is going to decrease by like 10 degrees on next 30 years, which would be catastrophic. It would like kill everyone. And he thinks he's trying to investigate that, but I don't really know. I'm really enjoying this. This is so readable, like literally you're flying through it, which I think is such a feat for sci-fi. Usually with sci-fi I'm like, I'm confused because like I wish there was someone next to me like reading the books. I could nudge them and ask them like, what does that mean? But although this is like a lot of advanced science in it, it's explained in a way where you can kind of leave what you don't understand and you understand that it will be explained to really well if you need to 100% understand it. But a lot of it is explained in like layman's terms, like really easy to understand. So I really like that aspect of it. It just reads so wow. Like I'm really enjoying it and I'm barely any other way into it. So we're about to go for a walk now. We just kind of had a chill day today. I went for a run this morning with all the sheepies. And we're just gonna go for like a chill walk now. And then this afternoon I need to plan a few things for a video I'm filming tomorrow, which you're not going to see in the vlog. It's going to come out in a couple weeks. It's like a really, really exciting video that I'm filming while I'm here. But you're not going to see that in the vlog. So I need to plan stuff to do with that. But then other than that, I am going to read this yesterday because I spent the whole day filming another video. I am just over like 300 pages into Project Hail Mary. I'm still really, really enjoying it. There's something that happens about the 30% mark that changes the course of this story. And some people I've seen have talked about it and some people haven't. Like some people have treated it like a spoiler. So I don't really know what approach to take. What I will say is that Ryland Grace, the astronaut, he stumbles across another ship in space. I will say that I will say that I said what I said and I'm not changing on it, okay? And it has changed the course of the story completely. This is like one of the only stories that I really want to spoil. That I want to talk about spoilery because of how it, I can't really talk about anything that happens now because it's hard because it kind of shifts the format of the story a lot. But I'm really enjoying the science aspects of everything still. It's very interesting. The flashbacks where we learn about how Ryland ended up being one of the people on this ship is very interesting because he was kind of one of the first scientists to discover this, what was causing Earth to cool down because of the sun. So he's kind of like a leading expert in this, but he is not supposed to be going on this ship. And so you're like, how does that end up happening? It still has that humor that the Martian has. If you read the Martian or watch the Martian, you know, it's very funny. And this still has that same humor. I think the pacing is amazing. I'm loving the audiobook as well. The audiobook doesn't really, why am I holding my sunglasses like this? The audiobook doesn't really come to life until that 30% mark. I think I read it mostly physically up until then. And after I've listened to a lot of the audiobook because it comes to life because of something that happens. I can't tell you. Yeah, I can't, I can't, I can't keep this a secret. But I have been loving that and I've read a vast majority of this with the audiobook as well. But it's just so interesting. It makes me want to read more sci-fi, but I feel like this is my level of like comprehension for sci-fi. It's like fairly digestible sci-fi. This could be a five star. I've had a lot of really good books so far this month. And this could be a five star. So like, let's hope, hey, he's alone in space, and he's having to figure out all these things to save the whole of humanity. Like that's such a big weight on someone's shoulders. And he gets such an interesting dynamic. And yeah, I'm just really enjoying it. So today we're going out to this like castle stately home kind of thing. It's about hours drive away, so I'm definitely going to finish this today, which I'm really, really excited about. And I'm excited to go out. I love a good stately home. Makes me feel a bit bougie. From the stately home, it was a bit shit, not gonna lie. If I go to a stately home, I want history. Like I want you to teach me about the horrible people who lived there and how at one point their wealth left them. And I just want to know all the history facts about it. And there wasn't anything. It was just looking around rooms. I'm like, why am I here then? What's the point? Why am I here? But I have finished Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. And I loved it. I think it's amazing. I just don't know what rating to give it. I'm tall between a 4.5 and a five, because I loved it. I think, okay, I'm going to settle on a 4.5 because part of me, here's the thing, here's the thing, I go to these stages of a one point thinking 4.5 is unnecessary because my five should be closely guarded. And I go through another stage of thinking, no, just give it a five at that point, like just give it a five. And I flick between the two. So there are some books that I've rated a 4.5 than other stages I would have rated a five, then some books have rated a five, then other mindsets I would have rated a 4.5. But I think this is a 4.5 because I don't think I loved it quite as much as The Martian. I mean, I know I shouldn't compare it to these other books, but I guess what I'm going to do, I felt like it didn't feel as high stakes as The Martian, even though it is higher stakes, like the Martian is one dude's life. This is one dude's life and the whole human race. So it's much higher stakes, but it just didn't necessarily feel it and I didn't feel as emotional, I don't think. But it was really funny, really entertaining. I loved a certain character in it that I can't get into because spoilers, but I loved that character. If you've read it, you'll know who I'm talking about. That was like the highlight of the book for me. And it makes me want to read more sci-fi. I've said how sci-fi and horror are both genres I enjoy when I read them, but I don't pick them up a lot. So I definitely want to read more. But yeah, I recommend the audiobook. I really, really enjoyed it. Listen, I'm tired. It's like having a job working 24 seven for two days on the trot. You know when you're on holiday and you reach a certain point when you've been doing stuff every day and you're just so tired, like you're holiday tired. Do you know what I mean? I'm not going to be picking up a camera, but like I'm doing it for you. Next, I am going to pick up Ace of Spades by Farida, a BKEMD. I don't know if I'll read anything else depends how quickly I fly through this. I'm going to go start this tonight. Before I fall asleep. It's not even late. I'm like about to have dinner. It's not late, but I'm just tired. And yeah, I'm just going to chill out. Am I playing some games with my family as well? So I may not read a lot. We shall see. I didn't talk to you yesterday. I didn't do a lot of reading. We went to like this water garden, which was really cute and just chilled out basically. Oh my God. I had, sorry, I'm like flashing you. I had one of the best ice creams of my life. I didn't even film it because it was melting so quick, but I had, it was profiterole flavor. So like vanilla ice cream with like chocolate sauce, like thick chocolate sauce throughout it. I will never be the same. Like I won't, I will never be the same. But wow, what a moment. I will never forget. I'm only about 55 pages through Ace of Spades. I don't know how I feel about it yet obviously because I'm only really at the start, but I don't know if I like the writing style. I don't know. Like it's obviously heavily inspired by gossip girl. Basically we're at this private school. We are following the perspective of the two only black students there. Devon, he's like a very quiet, like never really, you know, been that popular or that outspoken before. And Chia Mack is like Queen Bee. She's like that bitch. She's that bitch. And then everyone starts getting texts saying like the, instead of um, is it gossip girl and gossip girl? I don't watch it. But like this person called himself Aces and they're leaking secrets. So Devon has, uh, had a picture of him kissing another guy leaked basically. And like it's fine. But I don't know if I like the writing style yet. But like I said, I'm only 55 pages into like that means nothing. I like the idea of it. I'm hoping that the secrets that revealed and the whole like drama is going to get ridiculous and we're all going to be like screaming. But I don't know. I don't know how I feel about it yet. I'm getting older. I don't know if I can, if I want all this drama all the time, if I'm being honest. I don't know. And it feels a bit sometimes with YA mysteries, I don't connect. Like sometimes a YA mystery has to be a certain kind of vibe for me to connect. So I just don't know yet you guys. I just don't know. I just don't know. I don't know. I don't know. But I want to love it because everyone has loved it. So I feel like I am going to. I just feel like I haven't gotten into the story yet. And if you ask me in like another 60, 70 pages, I will be fully into it. So today we're going to a place called Puzzlewood. I don't really know anything about it. I don't plan our itinerary. But we're going to go there and then we're going to start packing up. Don't worry. I am going to read this on the way home tomorrow. So I'll probably end up finishing it then. So I will check in with you when I get back home tomorrow. I won't leave you like waiting on my opinion, like till the wrap up. Oh my god. I filmed this whole thing without putting lipstick on. Okay. Okay. Foundation lips. Okay. Okay. Bye. Okay. So we are leaving. It's the last day. We're last morning. We're leaving in like an hour or so. Oh my god. I look rough, please. Let's not talk about it. I'm only about 145 pages into Ace of Spades. And I still don't love it yet. And I'm not sure why. I just don't feel the writing yet. And listen, I'm not that far in. So like I could become obsessed with it. But it's just not. What was that? Okay, James. Got into a place yet where I was super interested in it. But this is like a five star prediction. So like I'm hoping we're going to get there. I feel like it just needs to take a little bit more time. But yeah, I don't really have much more to update you on. I'll update you when I get home because I will finish this on the car ride. Yeah, I don't know. I don't know. Okay, we are back home. My room is a mess. It's a mess. If you could see what I can see behind this camera right now, I finished Ace of Spades in the car ride yesterday. And I'm going to give it three stars. That feels like blasphemy. You guys, you understand how awful that makes me feel. I go on Goodreads and literally all the people I'm friends with, five stars, five stars, five stars, five stars, five stars, five stars, five stars. It feels wrong. It feels wrong. It feels like maybe I can just pretend. Maybe we can just pretend I gave this five stars because I feel guilty. I feel horrible. Like I don't like not liking this book. Well, it wasn't that I didn't like it. It was that it was disappointing. I think maybe part of the problem is that it was built up so much in my mind that it couldn't reach that. But here's the thing. My number one problem was with the style of writing. And I've often said, the writing is the first barrier for me. Like after that comes plot and characters or whatever. But if I just don't vibe with the way that the writing flows, we're not getting anywhere. I hate to say it. I hate to say it. I don't want to talk about this, but I also don't want to lie. But I feel guilty. You know, it's a debut by author of color. It's a super exciting book. So don't let me deter you from reading this because everyone else has loved it. The writing just felt a bit weird. Please do not. This is an intense request from my heart. It felt like old YA writing and his thing. I think this is quite young YA in my opinion. Like it reads quite young. It reads as something like a 13 or 14 year old with enjoy. I think I tend to read like YA that's kind of virgin on adult is what I tend to really love. So like that may be a fault with me. I'm kind of looking the wrong place. And I also feel like a lot, okay, this is a discussion we need to have because this is an important discussion. I felt like the tropes in this book were very old YA, like, you know, gossip girl, like that kind of era of books and TV. But the important thing is, is I don't think this book should be critiqued for that because authors of color have not yet had the opportunity to explore these kind of tropes because these are, you know, so much of YA was, you know, gatekeeper, no, gate kept for white people. Yeah, only white people had access to writing these kinds of stories. So now when authors of color write these kinds of stories, I don't think I should, I don't think I should be critiqued for doing that because it's like their their chance to do that. It's like time for them to explore these kind of tropes. So that isn't what this book should be critiqued for, in my opinion. My rating that I give, and this is like across the board in all books, is my personal enjoyment rating. If I was a book reviewer for like a newspaper or some shit, I would probably give this for like the importance for the core of this book's values and what it represents. I would probably give this like a four star. I think it's really important in the discussions it brings up about institutional racism and how black people are beaten down and prevented from achieving their full potential by racism in society. But my three star rating is a personal enjoyment rating, and that's like the difference. There's an element to this I really loved. I really liked Chia Makka and Devon, the main characters that we followed. I thought it was so interesting seeing Chia Makka be this really like headstrong, knows what she wants kind of girl and for that to be appreciated, particularly in a black girl, where those traits are often critiqued. I thought that was really good. I really liked Devon. He was my favorite character in this book by far, but the writing just like stopped me at the first hurdle so it was hard for me to fully get into it. I will say from about page like 300 on, like from here on, it was much better. The twist in the book, if you've read this book you'll know what I'm talking about. I think the twist was done really well. I enjoyed it more after that point slightly. I really liked the twist in this, obviously I won't spoil it, but I really liked the twist and it wasn't something I saw coming and I thought was very clever and really put a lens up to society, but yeah it just it just wasn't for me. This book just wasn't for me and I'm really sad about it and I want to love it. Like this was a book I was so so excited to read. So that was my holiday vlog. I hope you enjoyed watching it. Thank you so much for joining me and yeah I will see you very very soon in another video for more regular content. I'm back more than I know and when I tell you we've got so much exciting stuff coming up I just I just love it. I'm just so excited. Anyway I'll see you soon!