I have been in and out of reading and writing for over a year now. Post-Lockdown, I have found it quite tricky to find the balance between working and making room for hobbies and because of that, I have felt a little stretched thin. But, one 'ordinary' shopping trip changed it all.
A few months ago, I was out shopping with my boyfriend in town. It was nothing unusual, we were just after a few bits and pieces for our upcoming holiday. I was in Waterstones (that definitely isn't unusual), checking out the latest releases that could be perfect hand luggage size when I stumbled across a brightly coloured book that caught my attention. This looks fun. I thought to myself. Finally, a book that could get me out of my rut. I stood by the display taking in the cover, reading the blurb and the first few pages, when a lovely bookseller came up to me and said, "This is a wonderful book! You can meet Beth today if you like." She motioned to the author's picture on the back cover. I quickly text my boyfriend, who knows better than to join me in Waterstones as he knows we will be there a while and explained that I would be a bit late. The bookseller told me that I was just in time and would only need to wait ten minutes before I was able to meet the author.
Meeting authors always makes me feel a little giddy. My brain immediately buzzes with profound (I like to think so anyway) questions that I would like to ask them but then when I stand in front of them I resort to shakey chit chat. I held my newly purchased book in my hands and queued up with other excited fans of Beth O'Leary. I met some lovely people who were so kind and helped pass the time in the queue with their conversation.
When I got to the front of the queue I was so excited. Beth O'Leary is so natural and approachable. It was like meeting a friend and having a good chat. I complimented her on her top (I love white lacey tops) and we chatted about the rest of her book tour. I walked away from the interaction with a huge smile on my face and a bubbling desire to want to start reading again and build up the confidence to start writing. It is incredible what one interaction can do for your confidence. It was amazing to see another young woman with the career (and top) that I would love. Admittedly one of those things is easier to get than the other!
On holiday I read the Road Trip over a few days. It is a modern-day romance about a girl and her ex who are reintroduced in a less than positive way. They are then made to share an incredibly long road trip! Along with a host of unique and quirky characters, they are forced to recollect and relive their relationship, including a brutal breakup. Through their shared conversations they are finally able to see the relationship and its demise from each perspective. Will this be enough to heal old wounds?
I enjoyed this story as I could picture the characters as people I knew from my days at University too. I think every friendship group has people like it which made it incredibly relatable. The book certainly kept me entertained and questioning what would happen next. It had me smiling, crying, my heart racing, questioning people's motives and desperate to get to the next page.
I am writing this post just before another shopping trip and I am going to head to Waterstones again. I am sure that I won't be meeting any authors again today, but I know that I am going to be picking up more of Beth's books.
Find out the other books that get my Five Star seal of approval on my blog!
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