A nice, super simple rom com featuring three girls who escape the city to move down to Cornwall for the summer and find themselves, and love, while they’re at it. It’s a great read, although it takes a while to get going because you really have to wade through how annoying their lives are to start with. But once in Cornwall and things start ebbing and flowing and winding their way towards what we know will be a happy ending, then it’s all good.

Not a fan of this Doctor Who story, which is quite surprising because I usually love a story that messes about with the structure of time. But I couldn’t quite my head around this character going backwards through time while everyone else was going forward, and it didn’t read very well. I’m also not sure there was enough balance between the Doctor and his companions, did they even do anything? Not sure. Happy to have done this one, crossed it off the list, and now move on to the next.

I know this film has got some pretty negative reviews, but I really enjoyed it. I think a lot of the negativity around it is tied up in feelings towards AI generally, although I’ll admit the film is not without problems. Having your two leads basically just immobile and staring at each other for 90 minutes isn’t a great start, and having a timer for the film in the corner can be distracting - particularly if you weren’t enjoying it and were just looking at how long left you had to go! But I did like it. There are plot holes galore, but I liked the idea and getting to the bottom of the mystery was a fun ride. The end was a bit much but still it all worked. I feel like this is what that Ice Cube War of the Worlds should have been. I liked it.

This was definitely better than the previous film, although still nowhere near as good as the originals. The characters were slightly more engaging and I definitely thought the death scenes - whilst still disgustingly gory - at least managed to build the tension a bit better. There were some intriguing plot points too, having a survivor, the guy turning on his friends, and oh wow, I loved the end where it linked in to the beginning of the first film. Great stuff.

No specific classic albums jumped out this week, so back to the alphabetic list and this time we have Athlete. Oh this is such a nostalgic time jump to those early 00s albums, the Gavin & Stacey kind of music. Great tunes on here, Half Light and Wires being the standouts obviously, but the rest really lives up to it and I enjoyed listening to this a lot.

Hmm, I think in all honesty this wasn’t really my cup of tea. Tenille is clearly very talented and wanted to put that on show here with a stripped back album that is essentially just a voice and a guitar. That made it a bit too slow and sorry but dull for me, there’s not really a change of pace throughout and it made it quite hardgoing, even though it’s relatively short. If you like this kind of thing, I think it’s really well done, but not for me.

I loved this. I somehow ended up reading this at the same time as I was watching The Miniature Wife, so it was very much all about small things. It’s like a cross between Honey I Shrunk the Kids and Jurassic Park, and just a really good adventure. Some of it is more believable than other bits, but as an action adventure thriller, it’s great and has a lot of Crichton’s signature elements - great science, interesting characters, a perilous journey, and a lot of moral questions. I can already picture the film adaptation.

The way these books are written is quite irritating (which is a surprise because I usually love Simon Brett so much), but somehow I can’t stop reading them. It doesn’t help that we have a quite unique female character being written by a man, but I don’t hold that against an author - they can tell whatever story they want to tell. The mystery in this one was quite good though, with the death of a character basically predicted and then coming about so quickly. I’m not sure why, but I do still want to read the next book in the series.

Hmm, this book is a perfectly serviceable thriller style book but it just annoyed me from the start. You’re led to believe that the wife is charged with the murder of the husband even though it’s obvious that’s not the case. It’s really clear all the way through that the friend is suspicious, and although I didn’t necessarily predict the twists and turns that did lead to our protagonist being in court, I’m not sure I was too fussed what the result was going to be either way.

I was less keen on this one than the previous Grace book. The crimes were just a bit distasteful, and I could never keep it straight which timeline I was in. But as always with these long-running detective series, even if you don’t like the mystery at the heart of it, there’s plenty to enjoy with the group of characters that pop up each time. Grace is ready to move on and start a new family, but is he going to be allowed to do so peacefully? Watch this space!

The final part of the Bill Hodges’ trilogy, and I enjoyed this far more than the previous one. The premise is a little bit hit and miss, but I really enjoyed the team being more involved than they were in the last one, and ultimately that we were getting to the grand finale. Big plots and plans were unravelled, and our heroes had to save the day. But it’s not like it was a happy ending. I know there are other books featuring some of the characters, so I can’t wait to read on because I loved this.

Bit of a story behind this one - Rita Wilson popped up on the Claudia Winkleman Show to promote her latest album and I realised that she was more of a country singer than anything else. I’d previously thought her work was more jazzy so ignored it, but now I was intrigued! Her first album AM/FM is a lot of old school covers so I gave that a miss and went for the second, original works for the most part. It was okay, but it did feel a bit like someone’s first album who isn’t naturally a music artist. The lyrics could use some work and some of the songs are pretty simple. I liked Girls Night In though, and there is definitely potential for her future albums.

Scouting For Girls became a bit of a running joke in our house because most of the singles released on their first album sounded the same… I liked them, though, so it’s not really a complaint! I’ve not actually reviewed any of their albums so far on here, but this is their latest and what an optimistic piece of work it is. The title clues you in and from there, it’s just feel-good pop from start to finish and more importantly, the songs don’t sound too much like their previous work or too much like each other. Short, sweet, a lovely listen overall.

I wasn’t sure about this one to start with but gradually, I really came to love it. It’s like an origin story and so nice to read about a character who is just, basically, normal to start with and what he undergoes to then become the fit fighter that is usually the protagonist of a Baldacci novel. There are horrors underneath it all, of course, but I really enjoyed the journey - it’s definitely part one of at least a two part series, but it builds everything up really nicely to lead into the second.

I wanted to read this to finish up the early part of the Girls series because I know there’s a newer book out with a more adult view - the girls have obviously grown up and have a whole different set of issues to deal with. In this one, it’s a lot about boyfriends with the boys being annoying in different ways, and also looking at the dangers of meeting up with someone you find online. There’s also grief in different forms and plenty of other drama to contend with, all in Wilson’s trademark open style.

Brilliant, what a great film. Of course we’re starting with a fantastic cast which really helps but the quality of the film-making means you can’t look away. It’s got an old school feeling to it, many people have compared it to Heat, with two protagonists slowly facing off with each other, but it never feels like a pastiche. It’s tense and gripping and even though it takes its own time to tell the story, I loved it. You do just have to wonder why he’s still going when he quite clearly has a good amount of money already, but that’s his business, I guess!

Wow, this was objectively terrible. I stumbled across this after powering through the first three movies a few years ago. They were available on HBO Max and I’m glad I didn’t fork out anything specific for this one because oof, it’s bad. They’ve taken the great idea of Final Destination and turned it into a cartoon essentially. The graphics are bad, the gore is next level but completely unbelievable, and the characters don’t have a chance to develop at all. Other than the racist and the objectionable friend, they are bland and undefineable. I don’t know if Final Destination 5 is any better, I’m still going to watch it, obviously!

I really enjoyed this latest book in the Marlow Murders series, and this time we got to learn so much more about the ringleader and her murky past. I’ve sort of forgotten what the main murder and mystery was, although I know it was entertaining as I read it, because finding out what went on with Potts and her late husband was far more intriguing. I love this mismatch bunch of friends and how they get to the bottom of things regardless of whether they should be getting involved or not.

I wanted to watch this for two reasons - first, it seems like a fun odd couple movie and secondly, I’ve had a bit of a crush on Alan Ritchson since the third series of Reacher (physical fights with his neighbours, notwithstanding). This was great. It’s stupid and takes zero brain cells, but it’s a really enjoyable way to spend 90 minutes. There are movie references galore, not in a derivative way, more paying homage to cinema. And yea, Kevin James is great, Ritchson shows surprisingly good comic skills, and it’s all just a lot of fun.

I’m sure everyone involved in the making of this film is fed up with comparisons to The Hunger Games but it’s almost impossible not to. A young adult book turned into a movie in the early 2010s with a group of good looking young actors in a dystopian future. They’re very similar prospects. Unfortunately, this one didn’t do it for me as much as Hunger Games did - the story is okay, the concept intriguing, but the chemistry between the actors is missing.

This popped up on iPlayer to watch for free and so I gave it a go - I love a good shark movie but I’m not sure I would have paid for this one. It’s good, but not great. There’s not a lot of depth to it, even with trying to shoe-horn in the backstory about grief and medical school. It’s obvious the plot is being stretched, with an over-use of slow motion but as I mentioned above there are some good visuals - just a girl alone in a sea of danger. Entertaining enough, but not worth going out of your way for.

The second book in Michael Ball’s theatre series is very similar to the first - taking our characters, with a slightly expanded cast list, and following them through the trials and tribulations of inter-war life and love whilst also trying to keep a theatre up and running. It’s a great read to chart the ups and downs of both the theatre’s fortunes and the relationships of those within. It’s not perfect writing but there’s an enthusiasm for the subject matter that you can’t fail to enjoy.

A recommendation from my dad, I hadn’t listened to any Slade albums before, and if I’m honest, mostly knew them as that Christmas band. But hey, the album is really good! Credible 70s glam rock, with some great tunes and Noddy’s excellent vocals. I enjoyed the listen and will have to do more!

I love Robyn a lot and this is a great album from the dance pop queen. It’s short and sweet, mixing those dance beats with emotive lyrics and Robyn’s excellent vocals to creat a really good record. It’s just slightly too dominating, so it’s hard to do anything other than listen to it, but if that’s what you’re looking for, something to lose yourself in, then it’s exactly what you need.

I’ve loved Karen Carpenter for a long time, but stumbled upon this book in the library by complete accident - I didn’t realise there was a biography of the soulful but troubled singer. This is written by a superfan and comes at it entirely from the point of view of Karen, telling the story of her early life, how she and her brother became famous, the tensions that were created around the family dynamic and of course the eating disorder that eventually claimed her life. It’s heartbreaking of course, but a really great read.

I wasn’t as keen on this one as I have been others in the King and Maxwell series, mostly because the characters were just all a bit terrible. Even the supposed victims were awful and I didn’t like the twists and turns that we underwent. That being said, the writing is as always engaging and page-turning, and I did like the progression in the relationship between our two protagonists. Curious as to where we go next.

Of all the famous faces that appeared in Celebrity Traitors last year, Joe Marler seems to have had the best result - he pops up on any and every television opportunity you can think of. But not only that, he created his own podcast as well: Joe Marler Will See You Now. It definitely falls into that category of celebrities just chatting to each other, but with Marler’s deadpan humour and the vague theme of psychology, it’s a lot of fun. Initially, the guests were quite predictable - Nick Mohammed, Cat Burns, Lucy Beaument, all familiar faces from that Traitors castle. But the guest list has expanded, with recent episodes featuring Sue Perkins, Tom Allen and Michael Ball!

When I was learning how to code, one of the problems I had was no specific idea for an app to create. A vague idea cropped up since then but having done absolutely nothing about it, I’m glad to see that Apple have done the hard work for me. Their new feature Genius Browse is an interactive feature to help you pick what to watch next.

The list of films that we need to watch is outrageously long, and yet none of them were the right fit for when you need an easy going mindless bit of fun for when you’re feeling under the weather. So we look back to the early 2000s and this fab slice of feminist fun. Objectively, I don’t think this is a great film - there’s not a lot of plot, and what there is mostly comprises of characters objectifying each other (although at least it’s both men and women being objectified, so that’s a refreshing change). But it’s great to see women just out there, being slightly crazy and doing what they want, to make a fun, camp, friendship and love story. Great stuff.

I’m always annoyed at myself for getting sucked into these books that are written by already famous people, but who can resist the legendary Michael Ball? This book takes you back to the glory days of theatre and behind the scenes to uncover the mysteries and dramas behind the stage. Unique and interesting characters, plenty of storylines and threads to get stuck into, and that glorious feeling that you’re being told a story by someone who knows what they’re talking about. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel too.

Feeder are a band that don’t take up a lot of space in my memory, but when I listen to them, I love it! This is great indie rock for their second album, with Insomnia a proper tune that is very relatable. There are highs and lows through the tracks, giving you some nice space to rock out and then relax for a moment. Overall a great album, although probably not one that’s going to make the band remain in my mind!

Until I watched some of the country documentaries on the BBC last year, I hadn’t realised that Luke Combs was such a megastar in the UK. But reviewing his back catalogue, I can see why. This album is his sixth and is bumper in length with 22 tracks. They’re all good, and I never felt like the album was too long but it’s certainly taking up space. Good country songs, some deeper than others, some that you relate to more than others, and Combs’ excellent vocals layered over the top. No complaints!

This was an okay thriller, a man finding a bag of money and then having to deal with the consequences of his actions. I had hoped it might be a bit more airport-y, but I feel like this really could have taken place anywhere. And if I’m honest, none of the characters were particularly sympathetic, so even though he’d had a really bad day, I sort of thought he had what was coming to him. Oh well, definitely worth reading but maybe not as good as I’d hoped.

I had high hopes for this book as Adam Kay is a great writer and has done incredible things for raising awareness of the pressures the NHS is under whilst still remaining humourous and hilarious. The book took me a while to get into because none of the characters seemed that pleasant and certainly not relatable to me. But I’m glad I stuck with it because actually as a whodunit it was interesting, and as the characters began to twist and turn and take centre stage, it really got good. Definitely worth a read.

I watched this series thinking I’d check out a couple of episodes just to see what all the fuss was about and got hooked, like so many other people. So I thought it was worth reading the source material as well, just to cover all bases. The TV show is a pretty faithful adaptation but there’s a lot more to it than what’s in the book - as it’s a relatively short novel. The characters we know getting together for that fateful summer and everything changing. I’ll read the rest of the trilogy as well, for sure.

I’ve read this before, a long time ago, before I even started chronicling my book reads. Somehow I’ve managed to review the sequel to this book of short stories before this one, so I thought it only fair to rectify the situation. I love Jeffery Deaver’s short stories, there are always twists that you don’t see coming and this is no different. There’s a Lincoln Rhyme story in there as well, but ultimately it’s a host of different characters, lots of varying situations and plenty of twists to try and guess.

Sign me up for anything Nick Mohammed is in, and although initially you’re like, what a weird trio with BDH and Orlando Bloom as well, that’s kind of the point. This odd group are thrown in at the deep end and somehow survive various scrapes by being hilarious. It’s a silly film, there are plot holes aplenty and it’s really poking fun at the gangster organised crime scene, but switch your brain off and go with it and it’s brilliant. Nick does steal the show, but I was impressed with Orlando’s comedy take on method acting, and the three of them worked really well together. A fantastic watch.

This was a really good entry in the Doctor Who series of adventures. We’re still with the Eleventh Doctor and Amy Pond before Rory got involved, and this time we’re in New York. A mammoth was uncovered from the ice and comes to life when it is unveilved in the museum… but of course all is not as it seems. I loved the story, the interesting enemy who can deal with time and the resolution to it all. A fun adventure.

Hepburn popped up on one of the recent 1999 Top of the Pops episodes with I Quit, and I’d completely forgotten that song existed. I thought it would be fun to listen to an album of a one-hit wonder, only when I came to listen to it, I knew two other songs, particularly Bugs which was another good single at the time. Overall it’s a pretty good pop album, although you do have to get used to the strong accent that comes out occasionally. I’m surprised the band didn’t have a longer career, but they were dropped by the record label after the three singles. I guess there was a lot of other music out there at the time!

We’ve been inundated with ex-Little Mix albums recently, and of course it’s hard not to compare and contrast. I loved Jade and Perrie’s records, and this one probably didn’t quite live up to them for my tastes, but it was still very good and offered something a bit different. It’s got island vibes and reminds me a lot of early Rihanna in places - first listen through I wasn’t sure but it was growing on me second time round. Worth a listen, for sure.

I’ve been following the progress of the England Coast Path for a while now, since my obsession with long distance paths started. I love these trails, even though I have not, as yet, walked very much of any of them. There have been various coastal paths around the country, with the South West Coast Path being the most prominent, but now work has been pretty much completed on joining the dots and unveiling the new King Charles III Coast Path. The man himself opened the path today, although I’m guessing he didn’t walk very much of the almost 2,700 miles.

The second book in the Matilda Darke series, and I’d forgotten how dark this series is (no pun intended). This time, a couple who were having an affair are brutally murdered and it’s up to Matilda to figure out what happened whilst at the same time still dealing with the fallout from her previous cases and mistakes and a collection of colleagues who either support her fully or are getting in her way. A good read, interesting crime thriller, I’ll continue the series.

I’m a big fan of the TV show Death in Paradise (well, I used to love it, now I just watch it, it’s definitely not got quite the same buzz about it after so many character changes). This book is pretty much cashing in on the success of the show, but does tell the story of a real life situation where a UK police officer goes to the glorious sunny islands of the Caribbean and stays there a couple of years. It’s interesting and the stories are well told, so worth a read, but obviously nothing to do with the TV show at all.

I love Simon Brett’s writing and found this first in a new series book enjoyable… but maybe not as good as I was hoping. The main character wasn’t very gripping, and reminded me in places of Molly the Maid without the oddities that made Molly interesting. The mystery was good, although it feels a bit of a stretch that someone who declutters and deals with these challenging situations would also then solve a murder or two. Odd, not my favourite, but maybe I’ll give the second book a go just to see if it comes into its own.

I’ve heard of this film through its cultural impact, and noticed there was talk of a remake with Jenna Ortega, but I didn’t really know a lot about it. It’s painfully 90s - the apartment, the outfits, the very early computers, but as a story, it’s aged pretty well. It was good, and I enjoyed watching it, but it felt a little bit lacking and the pacing was drawn out. I don’t know if it’s just because it falls a little bit between genres - it’s not scary enough to be a horror, not quite thrilling enough to be a thriller, but with too much gore to just be a drama. It doesn’t quite hit the best of all worlds, but is an interesting and entertaining enough watch.

The lovely Pink was guest hosting the Kelly Clarkson Show recently so popped back into my attention and just asked for an album to be listened to. This is one of the older ones but it has some classic Pink songs on it - Trouble and God is a DJ kicking off the album in very familiar style. I like this era of Pink, it’s just before she got hugely famous and with absolute belting tunes, but still with some great songs to bop around to. Great stuff.

I’m not a massive fan of Harry Styles but am happy to admit that he’s a talented guy and has come out with some catchy songs in the past. He’s been away for a while so I was intrigued with what this new album would be like - unfortunately, it wasn’t my cup of tea at all. I found it really quite dull, well produced and with good vocals but just 100% background music and instantly forgotten once it was done.

Oh this was wonderful. I mean, it’s a heartbreaking thing to have happened but this book is gorgeous. Richard lost the love of his life, Joan Washington, in 2021 and this book is diary excerpts from their final year together. From the challenges of dealing with their current situation, dipping back through their forty years together and how their careers ebbed and flow, together and apart. It’s beautifully written, exceptionally candid, and just gently funny and moving in equal measure. An absolute must-read.

Back up to strength, I think, in this long-running DCI Ryan series. The underlying mystery is interesting - dead bodies and red running water - and of course there’s insight into our team, the characters we’ve grown to love. Rather than any major plot points this time, the team are mostly dealing with things that have happened in previous books, and these are the bits I like best. The gang learning, growing, falling out and making up, and solving crime along the way.

I love KJT and she’s always been such a private person this book was a great opportunity to get inside the mentality and ride that heptathlon rollercoaster with her. It’s a great read, from the early athletics days to participating in an Olympics so quickly, and that drive to keep pushing and achieve goals. We go through the various Olympics and that horror show that was Tokyo, and it’s really fascinating to read about how you can come back from that. Plus there’s insight into family life and everything that is sacrificed to get that elusive Olympic medal.