July Reads

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee (4/5*s)

To Kill A Mockingbird centres on a fictional town in the 1930s and through the eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, follows their father, Atticus, as he defends a black man accused of rape. To be honest, I don't really know how I felt about this book. Although I gave it 4 stars, there's nothing that I really loved about it - it's just a good book and one that everyone should read at some point in their lives.

A Study In Scarlet (Sherlock Holmes #1) by Arthur Conan Doyle (4/5*s)

A Study In Scarlet is the first book in the Sherlock Holmes series and details how Sherlock and Watson first met, which throws Watson into a world of criminality and violence. I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I've never read any Sherlock Holmes novels or watched any of the adaptions but I did really enjoy this. I liked following Sherlock's mind as he unravelled the murders, and I even enjoyed the very long backstory of the criminal and the reasons for his actions.

An Author's Odyssey (The Land of Stories #5) by Chris Colfer (4/5*s)

An Author's Odyssey is the 5th book in The Land of Stories and follows Connor and Alex as they enter their own short stories to find allies and take down the Masked Man. I didn't enjoy An Author's Odyssey as much as the previous four books. It followed basically the same plot line as Beyond The Kingdoms which became a bit repetitive and boring. I also found the pacing to be a bit off, with the last section feeling really rushed. However, I did love being back in this world and I can't wait to see what the next book holds!

Re-reads: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (by JK Rowling, 5/5*s)

Mid Summer Wishing

Coat / Skirt / Jeans / T-shirt / Jumper / Pinafore / Bag / Socks

It's been quite a while since I posted a little wishlist on the blog! There's a definite theme to this wishlist - blush and grey seem to be my picks at the moment. I'm still on the hunt for the perfect denim pinafore and a new backpack! I think these Primark picks should do the trick.

What are you wishing for?

June Reads

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare (5/5*s)

The final instalment of The Infernal Devices follows the London Institute as they race to save Tessa from Mortmain and his automatons. The Infernal Devices is a series that gets better with each book and Clockwork Princess was definitely my favourite. Cassandra Clare knows how to keep her readers hooked until the end! This book broke my heart but it had the most perfect epilogue of any book I've ever read.

Ruin and Rising (The Grisha #3) by Leigh Bardugo (4/5*s)

In the last book of The Grisha Trilogy, Ruin and Rising follows Alina as she hunts for the last of the amplifiers in an attempt to save Ravka from The Darkling. I didn't enjoy Ruin and Rising as much as Siege and Storm, but I still enjoyed it. It was full of twists and turns that I didn't see coming and it kept me guessing until the very end. Again, this was another book where I actually enjoyed the epilogue - although I can see why a lot of people didn't!

City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6) by Cassandra Clare (5/5*s)

City of Heavenly Fire is the last book in The Mortal Instruments series and continues the battle against Sebastian and his endarkened Shadowhunters. This is my favourite book from the series, purely because it introduced the characters from The Dark Artifices! I also loved the links to The Infernal Devices and the inclusion of Jem - my favourite character from the Shadowhunter world.

Tales From The Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare (3.5/5*s)

Tales From The Shadowhunter Academy is a series of short stories following Simon on his quest to become a Shadowhunter. To be honest, these stories were either a hit or a miss. I feel like Cassandra Clare tried to include too many characters from her series, which made it feel a bit forced and slightly like a bad fanfic.

Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices #1) by Cassandra Clare (4.5/5*s)

Lady Midnight is the third series to take place in the Shadowhunter world, focusing on Emma Carstairs as she searches to find out who killed her parents 5 years ago. There's so much I could say about this but basically I loved it. I loved all the characters, especially Julian, and I love the forbidden love arc. I can't wait to see where this series goes!

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (5/5*s)

And Then There Were None follows 10 people, each with their own secret, as they attend a dinner party on a private island and are killed off one-by-one. This was my first Agatha Christie novel and I was so impressed by it. I loved finding out about the secrets the characters had and reading about their increasing paranoia surrounding the murders. I had no clue who the murderer was until the last chapter, which made the whole book really exciting!

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Maston (5/5*s)

The Unexpected Everything is centred around Andie and the political scandal that derails her Summer. This books is the perfect Summer read and it has everything you could possibly wish for - family, friends, politics, love interests, dogs and fake fantasy novels. I really connected to Andie and I loved reading about her relationship with Clark! I also enjoyed her developing relationship with her father and how they re-connected.

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton (4/5*s)
The Miniaturist is set in Amsterdam in the 1680s and follows 18 year old Nella as she begins her new life as a wealthy merchant's wife. However, her life drastically changes when she is sent miniature items for a cabinet replica of her new home which mirrors her new life in an eerie way. This book was a strange one, but one I enjoyed nonetheless. I was hooked from the first page, and reading the first chapter back after finishing the book only added to the experience. However, it's very open to interpretation (I still don't know what happened) which can be slightly annoying!

Re-reads: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Harry Potter #1) by J.K. Rowling (5/5*s) and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter #2) by J.K. Rowling (5/5*s)

What have you read this June?

For more updates on what I'm reading see my Instagram or my Goodreads account!

June Street Style Inspiration

Another month, another street style inspiration post. This month is all about the simple, relaxed outfits that perfect for both Summer and Autumn! I'm really loving white or striped t-shirts paired with denim right now, with a leather jacker for colder days! I'm also on the hunt for the perfect striped dress and high-street equivalent of the Acne blush biker jacket!

What's inspired you this June?

For more street style inspiration check out my Pinterest board, my Tumblr or check back next month for the July instalment. 

3 Favourite Bookstagram Accounts

Lotte // @lottelikesbooks

Lotte's account has always been a favourite of mine, ever since I saw her impressive bookcase arrangement. Showcasing her love of classics, adult fiction and young adult, I never fail to add a few more books to my TBR when she posts a new picture.

Emily // @blueeyedbiblio

Emily's account was one of the first 'bookstagram' accounts I came across and is the one that inspired to start my own account. Emily shares her love of young adult books and graphic novels, as well as some adult fiction, through her wonderful photos. Not only that, Emily has also written articles for Seventeen magazine, was featured on Huffington Post and can also be found on her blog and YouTube.

Alexandra // @twirlingpages

Alexandra's account is one that I only found in the last few months, but it's one that I really love. Alexandra regularly posts her insane book hauls and her love for both Hamilton and the Percy Jackson series. Alongside her Instagram account, Alexandra also runs her own blog and regularly posts fun book tags, reviews and tips for new bloggers and bookstagrammers.

Do you have any favourite bookstagram accounts? You can follow mine at @lucyfionabooks!

5 TV Shows You Should Watch

How To Get Away With Murder

How To Get Away With Murder follows law professor and criminal defence attorney, Annalise Keating, as she and 5 of her students become involved in a murder plot. HTGAWM is one of my favourite shows on TV. Although each season only has 15 episodes, it's so gripping and I love trying to figure who is behind each murder or scandal! 

The People vs. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story

The People vs. O. J. Simpson revolves around the infamous murder trial of O. J. Simpson. The People vs. O. J. Simpson spans over 10 episodes, each looking at a different stage of the trial. The stand out in this series is Sarah Paulson as Marcia Clark. I'd looked into the O. J. trial beforehand but I hadn't payed attention to each individual in it. I had no idea the type of criticism that Marcia Clark had to face, purely because she was the only female lawyer. I'm glad she's now getting the recognition she deserves!

Girl Meets World

Girl Meets World is a sequel to 90s favourite Boy Meets World and follows Cory and Topanga's daughter, Riley. When I was younger I loved Boy Meets World so even though I'm 20 years old now I couldn't resist watching this Disney show and I'm glad I did! Although I prefer BMW, Girl Meets World is really enjoyable and unlike a lot of Disney shows, it actually teaches important lessons. I also love the guest stars from old Boy Meets World characters!

Supergirl

Supergirl is based on the DC Comic and follows Kara Zor-El, Superman's cousin, as she decides to embrace her powers rather than hide them. I already watch The Flash and Arrow so I knew I had to watch Supergirl as it's set in the same universe and it's probably my favourite show to watch out of the three. Along with Kara, there are also 4 other prominent female characters - my favourite being Cat Grant, Kara's boss who founded her own media company. Season 2 has been moved to The CW which means there will hopefully be more crossovers with The Flash and Arrow.

Pretty Little Liars

Pretty Little Liars follows a group of 5 girls as they are tormented by an unknown villain. I've stuck with PLL for 6 long seasons and waited 5 years to find out who 'A' is, only to have 'A' replaced with another villain. It's definitely not the best show on TV but it's my guilty pleasure. If you're looking for something that's easy to watch and will keep you guessing then I'd recommend it!

What have you been watching recently? Any recommendations?

My 4 Daily Essentials For Summer

There are a few different products and accessories that I've been picking up daily at the moment and I thought I'd share them with you:

Garnier Hand Cream // I'm constantly using my Garnier hand cream. This is one of the only hand creams I've found that isn't too greasy after applying. It makes my hands super soft and hydrated for the rest of day!

Lush Mint Julips Lip Scrub // The Lush lip scrubs have been around forever but I still love the Mint Julips one. Not only does it taste pretty good, it keeps my lips really soft and smooth!

Kate Spade Card Holder // I received this Kate Spade card holder for my birthday last year and I couldn't love it more! It's such a classic accessory and it keeps all my important cards together - my travel card, student ID and my bank card!

Ray-Ban Clubmasters // As someone who isn't very fond of the sun, sunglasses are a necessity for me during the Summer. I finally picked up a pair last year and they've barely left my bag since! It's always risky purchasing expensive sunglasses when you live in Scotland but I'm so glad I bought these.

What are your daily essentials for Summer?

May Reads

Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) by Marissa Meyer (5/5*s)

Winter is the final book in The Lunar Chronicles, focusing on Princess Winter and her evil step mother. I loved the introduction of Winter in this book and her relationship with Jacin. This book was an exciting finale to what is now one of my favourite series and I think Meyer managed to create a pretty satisfactory ending for all of her characters.

The Sword of Summer (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #1) by Rick Riordan (4/5*s)

This series follows Riordan's usual formula of a teenage boy discovering that he's actually a demi-god and one of his parents is a God, this time following the Norse Gods. Although I didn't enjoy this as much as the Percy Jackson series, I enjoyed learning about the Norse Gods. I also loved the introductions of Loki and Thor! The start was a little slow but once the plot became clear it was much more exciting!

The Hidden Oracle (The Trials of Apollo #1) by Rick Riordan (4/5*s)

The Hidden Oracle was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint! It follows Apollo as he is made human and cast down from Olympus. Apollo was one of my favourite Gods from the Percy Jackson series and I was so happy to get a full series about him. The overall plot was really good, although I did manage to guess a few of the twists. I also loved that old characters such as Percy and Nico were included!

A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2) by Sarah J Maas (5/5*s)

A Court of Mist and Fury centres around Feyre as she tries to overcome what happened under the mountain, and becomes immersed into Fae politics. This is one of my favourite reads of the year. I loved finding out more about Rhysand and his Inner Circle, along with Feyre's new powers. The last 50 pages were absolutely amazing!

Stars Above (The Lunar Chronicles #4.5) by Marissa Meyer (4/5*s)

Stars Above is a series of short stories about the characters of The Lunar Chronicles. This was a nice addition to the series, which filled in some gaps that had been mentioned in the main series. Out of the 9 short stories, my favourite was definitely The Princess and the Guard which focused on Winter and Jacin.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (3.5/5*s)

The Picture of Dorian Gray focuses on Dorian as he exchanges his soul for eternal youth and beauty. I did enjoy this story and the characters, but there were a few things about it that bothered me. I couldn't stand Henry's rambling speeches or the whole chapter that described every single hobby that Dorian had ever taken up.

Siege and Storm (The Grisha #2) by Leigh Bardugo (4.5/5*s)

Siege and Storm continues the story of Alina and Mal as they try to outrun the Darkling and save their country from his new power. I felt this book was much better than Shadow and Bone, although there was less action. I really liked the introduction of Nikolai and I also felt a lot more connected to the characters. Overall I think it was a good set up for the final book.

City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments #5) by Cassandra Clare (4/5*s)

City of Lost Souls is the penultimate book in the TMI series, and focuses on Jace being bound to Sebastian. This book was enjoyable but for some reason I just don't find myself loving this series. I can't help but be bored by Jace and Clary's relationship. My favourite parts of the book had nothing to do with them, which is annoying since they're the main characters. However, I did like the actual plot and the continuation of the Vampire storyline.

Rebel of the Sands (Rebel of the Sands #1) by Alwyn Hamilton (3.5/5*s)

Rebel of the Sands follows Amani as she escapes her small town of Dustwalk and becomes involved with a rebellion against the Sultan. I think the world building in Rebel of the Sands could have been better, especially because Amani goes on a journey through the country rather than staying in one place. However, after a slow start, I ended up really enjoying the plot and liking the characters. I'm sure this series will get better as it continues!

To All The Boys I've Loved Before (To All The Boys I've Loved Before #1) by Jenny Han (5/5*s)

To All The Boys I've Loved Before is centred on Lara Jean and what happens when the letters she wrote to the boys she's loved are accidentally sent out. This has quickly become one of my favourite books. I loved the Song-Covey family, particularly Kitty and Lara! I also really loved Josh and how much he cared about Lara. Although some of the situations were a bit over the top, I really connected to the characters and I found the plot really enjoyable.

P.S. I Still Love You (To All The Boys I've Loved Before #1) by Jenny Han (4/5*s)

P.S. I Still Love You is a direct continuation of To All The Boys I've Loved Before and follows Lara Jean and she struggles in her relationship with Peter and is reunited with another boy that she wrote a letter to - John Ambrose McClaren. At the end of TATBILB I was really starting to warm to Peter, but I didn't like him in this book. I feel like he completely ignored Lara Jean and her feelings. However, I loved John! I really hope Lara Jean ends up with him in the final book.

Alice's Adventures In Wonderland and Through The Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll (5/5*s)

Alice's Adventures In Wonderland follows Alice as she tumbles down a rabbit-hole into a completely different and peculiar world. I really enjoyed reading this book. Alice In Wonderland has always been one of my favourite Disney films and it was fun to piece together the different elements they took for the film!

May Street Style Inspiration

As Summer approaches, I find it hard to dress more weather appropriate. I'm definitely a Winter lover and my Summer wardrobe consists mainly of black. In an attempt to brighten up my wardrobe, I've been getting more wear out of my denim shirt and jacket and my blue jeans. Paired with a plain white t-shirt, it gives off an effortless look which isn't too far away from my Winter style!

For cooler days, I've been going to my leather jacket to keep me warm - another casual style that I love. I've also been wearing my long-line sleeveless blazer paired with a black fedora, and I'm on the hunt for a blush pink bomber jacket and hat - any recommendations are very welcome!

What have you been wearing this month?

For more street style inspiration check out my Pinterest board, my Tumblr or check back next month for the June instalment. 

April Reads

Quidditch Through The Ages by J. K. Rowling (4/5*s)

Quidditch Through The Ages is a copy of the book mentioned throughout the Harry Potter series, detailing everything you need to know about the sport. As a huge Harry Potter fan I can't believe I didn't read this sooner, especially when it's been on my bookshelf for nearly 7 years! I really enjoyed this as an addition to the series and I loved finding out more about Quidditch.

Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer (5/5*s)

The third book in The Lunar Chronicles book follows Cress as she escapes her satellite prison and joins Cinder and the others on the quest to stop Queen Levana. This is my favourite in the series so far and the first one I felt that I couldn't put down. Cress has become my favourite character and I also loved Thorne as well. I loved how everything has been brought together and all the smaller plots have linked!

City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments #4) by Cassandra Clare (4/5*s)

City of Fallen Angels is the fourth book in The Mortal Instruments series, moving on from the Valentine plot and focusing more on Simon and his story. I loved finding out more about Simon in the book. He's a character that I've never particularly liked but this book won me over! I'm really interested to see where his story goes in the final two books. City of Fallen Angels also had a huge cliffhanger which I can't stop thinking about - I need to read the next one ASAP!

Fairest (The Lunar Chronicles #3.5) by Marissa Meyer (4/5*s)

Fairest is a prequel to Cinder, following Levana's early life and her journey to becoming Queen. This wasn't my favourite in the series but I feel like it was an important read. This really built up the story for the last book in the series, explaining Winter's early life and why Levana turned out to be so evil. Although Fairest does explain Levana's actions and make you sympathise with her, it doesn't not excuse her actions which is why I really enjoyed it. It also got me really excited to read the last book!

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them by J. K. Rowling (4/5*s)

Similar to Quidditch Through The Ages, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them is based on a school book from the Harry Potter series. I didn't enjoy this as much as it's companion but I did really love the section on dragons! It's another nice edition to the series and now I can't wait for the film.

Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2) by Cassandra Clare (4/5*s)
Clockwork Prince rejoins Tessa and her Shadowhunter friends as they continue their search for the Magister. I enjoyed this more than Clockwork Angel and I loved the introduction of the Lightwoods. I definitely prefer Jem and Tessa's relationship to Will and Tessa, although I am warming to Will a bit more! I loved the cliffhanger at the end of the book and I can't wait to read Clockwork Princess to see how the series will end.

Brooklyn by Colm Toibin (3/5*s)
Brooklyn is centred around Ellis, a girl from Ireland in the 1950s, as she moves to America for a new job. I had high hopes when I started Brooklyn, but sadly it didn't live up to them. The book was very repetitive, following Ellis to work, college and back home every day. I also didn't like Ellis' love interest, and found it hard to believe that she really did love him. It picked up near the end but I was really disappointed with the ending. 

The Raven King (The Raven Cycle #4) by Maggie Stiefvater (5/5*s)
The Raven King is the final book in The Raven Cycle series, follow Blue and her Raven Boys as they try to find Glendower and save Gansey. This book was near enough perfect. From the very first page I was so sad this series was ending. Although I did find some of the new characters unnecessary, I thought this had the perfect ending. There are still some unanswered questions but I actually don't mind that. I love all of these characters and I'm happy with where the ended up. This series is so special and unique, I'd encourage everyone to give it a try.

Have you read any of these books? What did you think?

A Spring Fashion Haul

Zara Bomber // Ivy Park T-Shirt // H&M T-Shirt // Illustrated People T-Shirt

After my Spring Topshop wishlist, I decided that I would treat myself to a couple of things! First up, I finally bought a bomber jacket! Instead of going for the Topshop one I found a very similar Zara one for almost half the price at £30. It's made of a different material and it is slightly thinner, but this will probably be better for the warmer weather.

Of course, I couldn't go shopping and not pick up something from the Ivy Park range! I bought the white logo t-shirt and I think I'll be buying the pink crew neck sweatshirt as well. I'm really impressed with the quality when it was only £16 - the t-shirt is so soft and slouchy!

Next, I picked up a basic grey t-shirt from H&M. I've been after the perfect plain t-shirt for quite a while now and this one is it! It's only £8 so I'll definitely be picking up a few more. I also finally bought the Illustrated People 'You're Basic Bye' t-shirt. I've been after this t-shirt for a few months now and as soon as I saw it on the Topshop website I knew I had to have it. It's slightly more expensive at £23 but it was definitely worth it!

What do you think of my little haul?

12 Reasons Why I Love Spring

The better weather has finally appeared in Scotland (for now!) and it's got me thinking about all the reasons I love Spring:

• Daffodil season
• Walks along the Esplanade
• Milkshake trips
• Being able to wear sunglasses
• Seeing tiny lambs on the train journey to university
• Wearing lighter layers
• Being able to open the windows without being cold
• Taking Pascal for long walks in the sun without getting too hot
• Spring cleaning
• Waking up to the sun 
• Wearing a fedora without the fear that it will blow away
• Natural light to take pictures

What do you love about Spring?

Spring Topshop Wishlist

Pink Coat / Bomber Jacket / Pinafore / Necklace / Bag / Jumper / Converse

It's been a while since I've done a wishlist on the blog! I pop into Topshop probably a few times a week and this week there were a few items that caught my eye. My favourite from the above selection is the white with gold chain bag. I'm firmly a black bag kind of girl, but I feel like I need this bag! It's perfect for Summer and it seems like it would hold all of my daily essentials. I also really like the black pinafore - I think it would be quite versatile and would look great with a striped top underneath!

What's on your wishlist? Will you be purchasing any of the above items?

April Street Style Inspiration

This month I really need to pick up a black pinafore - they're so easy to style and they're also really versatile! I'm also loving bomber jackets right now. I wasn't really sure about them when they first came back into fashion but now I'm on the hunt for the perfect one. With the Spring weather coming in it's also time to bring out my Ray-Ban clubmasters and my denim jacket - two of my favourite things! And as usual, my fedora is firmly attached to my head (unless it's windy!), although I think I need to pick one up that isn't black...

What's inspiring you this month?

For more street style inspiration check out my Pinterest board, my Tumblr or check back next month for the May instalment. 

March Reads

Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell (5/5*s)

Kindred Sprits is a short story released for World Book Day, which follows Elena as she queues to see the new Stars Wars film. Rainbow Rowell is one of my favourite authors and although I haven't seen any of the Star Wars films I really loved this. It's only 60 pages long but I really enjoyed the story and getting to know the characters. I hope we get to read more about Elena and Gabe soon!

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne (4/5*s)

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas follows Bruno and his family as they move out of Germany and live close to a concentration camp, where Bruno then becomes friends with one of the prisoners. I tried reading this when the film came out but I only got half way through it. I'm so glad I gave it another chance as it really gives a unique view on the holocaust and WW2.

City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments #3) by Cassandra Clare (5/5*s)

City of Glass continues Clary story and the battle against Valentine, but this time in the setting of Idris. This is the best book in the series so far! City of Glass was full of action, unlike the previous book. I really enjoyed Simon's character in this book and I found myself liking him more and more. I also liked the change of location and finding out more about Idris and how the Clave works. A few of the plot twists were predictable, but there were also a few shocking ones that I really didn't expect!

Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2) by Marissa Meyer (4/5*s)

Scarlet follows Scarlet Benoit as she encounters mysterious street fighters and cyborg fugitives, and tries to find her Grandmother! I really enjoyed Scarlet and I loved seeing how her story fit in with the main plot line of Cinder and Queen Levana. I definitely preferred Scarlet and Wolf to Cinder and Kai! I also loved the introduction of Thorne - I can tell he'll be one of my favourite characters by the end of series.

Persuasion by Jane Austen (4/5*s)

Persuasion follows Anne Elliot as she finds herself thrown together with Captain Wentworth, 8 years after she broke of her engagement with him. This is one of the shorter Jane Austen novels, which I actually preferred as it felt more plot-driven. I also really loved Anne, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for her!

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare (4/5*s)

The Infernal Devices is the first spinoff series from The Mortal Instruments, with Clockwork Angel following Tessa Gray as she encounters the world of the Shadowhunters in Victorian London. I really loved this book and I think I'll end up liking this series more than The Mortal Instruments. Although it's set in the same universe, The Infernal Devices has a completely different feel to it. I can't wait to find out more about Tessa, Will and Jem!

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (?/5*s)
The Secret Garden centres around a 10 year old girl called Mary, as she moves to England to live with her Uncle and discovers a forgotten garden on the grounds of the manor. I actually haven't finished this yet but I only have around 100 pages left and I'm hoping to finish tonight. I'm really enjoying it so far and I love reading about Dickon and all of his animals!

What did you read in March?

Making Time To Read

Finding the time to read for pleasure can be a challenge. For some people it's a full-time job and other commitments, for me it's university and coursework that takes up my time. Although I was a complete bookworm when I was younger, for years I only read for pleasure in the Summer because I simply didn't have the time. School or university and the work to go with it left me exhausted at night, and all I wanted to do was waste my time on the Internet and watch a lot of TV.

In the last year, I've seemed to find the perfect balance between work, reading and any other interests and commitments I have. Here are my top tips to make sure you find time to read:

Take Time Before You Sleep

I usually go to sleep around 10pm to make sure that I'm rested before my early mornings for university, and in the last year I've started going to bed an hour or an hour and a half earlier so I can read before I sleep. In this time I can get around 100 pages into a book. I also find it really relaxing and discovered that I actually sleep better if I read beforehand, rather than watching TV.

Utilise Your Breaks

My university timetables have never been great and often have 2-3 hour breaks between classes. If my friends are busy and I've managed to get all my work done, I like to either go to my local bookshop or sit in the university library and read.

The Journey To Work/University

I travel to university on the train every day, with the journey taking 30-45 minutes it's the perfect time to read a few chapters of whatever book I'm reading!

Weekends

I like to try and get a lot of my university work during the week, and leave more time at the weekend to read. There's nothing better than a Sunday afternoon spent reading and drinking tea!

How do you make time to read? Do you do any of the above?

March Street Style Inspiration

This month I'm really loving wearing my pink coat again - it's the perfect pastel shade for Spring! With the weather finally brightening up, I'm also able to wear my fedora again without the fear of it blowing away. Paired with my Nike trainers and a breton top, it's the perfect every day outfit!

I also really want to get a pair of blue mom jeans - quite different from my usual black joni jeans but I think they'll be really nice in the Summer.

What's inspiring you this month?

For more street style inspiration check out my Pinterest board, my Tumblr blog or check back next month for the April instalment.

February Reads

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas (3/5*s)

ACOTAR follows Feyre, an 19 year old huntress, as she adapts to life in a new magical realm after killing a Fae. The worst thing I did before reading ACOTAR was re-read Throne of Glass. I couldn't help but compare the two books, and I just didn't enjoy A Court of Thorns of Roses as much. Firstly, I felt that the world that Feyre lived in, and the different creatures the dwelled there, could have been explained much better to the reader. Even by the end of the book I was confused about the differences between Fae, High Fae and High Lords. Secondly, I did feel particularly attached to any of the characters, unlike Throne of Glass where I was quite invested in what happened. And finally, I did not like the ending - it was way too Twilight-like for my liking. However, I did really like the majority of the storyline and I can't wait to see what happens next - I just didn't like it as much as Throne of Glass.

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare (5/5*s)

City of Bones follows Clary Fray as she encounters the world of Shadowhunters and tries to save her mother from the evil Valentine. The Mortal Instruments series has been around for nearly 10 years now and for some reason I decided that it didn't appeal to me, but I thought I'd finally give it a try since the new TV show has come out. I am so glad I did! Even though I guessed nearly all of the plot twists, and parts of it were clearly based on Harry Potter, I really loved this book. I can tell this series is going to be my new obsession and I can't wait to buy the next few books!

Shadow and Bone (The Grisha #1) by Leigh Bardugo (4/5*s)
Shadow and Bone centres around Alina - an orphan who discovers she has a unique power that throws her into the world of the Grisha and the Darkling. I didn't enjoy this as much as I enjoyed Six of Crows and I have a feeling it's one of the over-hyped series. I also would have liked more background on the Grisha as I found myself getting confused early on with the different powers and names! Overall I did like the story and the characters but I didn't think it was as brilliant as Six of Crows.

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer (4/5*s)
The Lunar Chronicles is based on four fairytale retellings, with Cinder based on Cinderella. This retelling comes with a twist - Cinder is a cyborg. Cinder follows the main character as her life becomes intertwined with Prince Kai and the evil Queen Levana. I'm surprised how much I loved this by the end because I wasn't that interested at the beginning. Once Queen Levana was introduced the story really picked up and I found myself getting invested in it. I can't wait to see where the story goes!

City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare (3/5*s)
City of Ashes picks up straight after City of Bones, and follows Clary as she tries to stop Valentine from gaining another Mortal Instrument and find a way to wake her mother up. I didn't think this was as good as City of Bones - it seemed a bit like a filler book and nothing really happened until the end battle, which was over within 20 pages. I'm hoping the next book picks up again because I am really loving this series!

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (3/5*s)
The Song of Achilles centres around an exiled Prince, Patroclus, and he becomes immersed in Prince Achilles world and fights against Troy to save Helen of Sparta. I think this has been my most disappointing read of the year so far. It's not that I didn't enjoy it - I just didn't connect with it. I loved how it was written, and spanned over 20 years of Patroclus and Achilles' lives, but I didn't connect with the characters and I wasn't invested in it. I also really disliked Achilles by the end! Not a bad book but definitely not my favourite.

Re-reads: Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J Maas (5/5*s)

What did you read in February? P.S. You can keep up-to-date my my book challenge progress over on Goodreads!

New York Fashion Week AW16 Days 2 & 3 / Fenty Puma, Alexander Wang & Monique Lhuillier

FENTY PUMA BY RIHANNA

The day after Yeezy Season 3 another famous face unveiled their new collection - Fenty x Puma by Rihanna. Compared to West's show, it was much more subdued, but still brilliant in it's own right. Rihanna's collection featured a variety of hoodie-dresses, thigh-high boots, stiletto sneakers and takes on the classic bomber jacket. The looks were shown in what has been described as an 'arctic urban forest', and came in a monochrome colour palette. Although Puma is primarily sportswear brand, it's clear that the inspiration for this collection came from the urban street style that Rihanna is known for. And with models sporting dark lips and 90's chokers, it also had a distinct gothic feel.

ALEXANDER WANG

Four months on from Wang's final collection for Balenciaga, came his FW16 collection for his own-brand label. Wang's FW16 collection couldn't have been further away from Balenciaga, taking inspiration from the late 80s and early 90s. FW16 contained plenty of slogan sweatshirts, mini dresses, skirt suits which were reminiscent of Chanel and a fur-lined jacket. With patterns varied from marijuana leaves to classic stripes and tartan, Wang's new collection wasn't exactly groundbreaking but it will definitely sell well.

MONIQUE LHUILLIER

With the inspiration for the Monique Lhuillier show coming from Talitha Getty, the FW16 collection was definitely aimed at a more eccentric woman. The collection featured an abundance of beautiful dresses, each with their own unique pattern and detailing, coming in vibrant and appealing colours.

New York Fashion Week AW16 Day 1 / Yeezy Season 3

New York Fashion week kicked off in style yesterday, with the highlight being Kanye West's new Yeezy collection at Madison Square Garden. 

Yeezy Season 3 was classic Kanye - with the signature ripped details, and a variety of bodycon and oversized pieces. There was no sign of tights as trousers disappearing, and the outerwear really stood out. It also proved to be more colourful than previous seasons, going beyond the usual nude, khaki and black colour palette. This was the first season that Kylie Jenner failed to model in, but that was more than made up for with veterans like Naomi Campbell appearing. In addition to Yeezy Season 3, West also teamed up with Balmain Creative Direction, Oliver Rousteing, to create custom Yeezy x Balmain outfits for the whole family. Yeezy x Balmain dressed the group in matching nude, blush pink and cream ensembles and took inspiration from Kanye's own line by incorporating subtle holes and rips in the fabric.

However, it wasn't just the clothes that got people talking. West went all out with his celebrity friends - Gigi and Bella Hadid, Karlie Kloss, Anna Wintour and Jay Z were just a few of the famous faces that came to lend their support. In addition, Kanye unveiled his new album - The Life of Pablo.

But of course, it wouldn't be Kanye West without a bit of controversy surrounding the lyrics in his new song, 'Famous', and the lengthy list of performance rules for the models.

Although the Yeezy collections tend to split opinions, you can't deny the hype surrounding it. Whether you love it or hate it, he's got you talking about it.

A Quick Guide To Fashion Month

Thursday 11th February officially marks the start of fashion month for the FW16 season. Over the next few weeks, the world's best designers will showcase their latest collections in New York, London, Milan, and finally, Paris. With Burberry announcing that they will no longer follow the fashion week formula, and will adopt a new buy-now wear-now formula from September, FW16 Fashion Month has the potential to be the best yet. Here's your quick guide to the collections to look out for from the fashion capitals:

New York Fashion Week, 11th-18th February 2016

SAT 13th - Rebecca Minkoff, Alexander Wang & Altuzarra

SUN 14th - Diane von Furstenberg & Prabal Gurung

MON 15th - Reem Acra & Rag & Bone

TUE 16th - Vera Wang, Alice + Olivia & Oscar De La Renta

WED 17th - DKNY

THU 18th - Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein & Marc Jacobs

London Fashion Week, 18th-23rd February 2016

FRI 19th - Felder Felder, Eudon Choi & Charlotte Olympia

SAT 20th - Julian Macdonald, J. W. Anderson & House Of Holland

SUN 21st - Anya Hindmarch, Mary Katrantzou, Topshop Unique, Mulberry, Temperley London & Alexander McQueen

MON 22nd - Sophia Webster & Erdem

Milan Fashion Week, 24th-29th February 2016

WED 24th - Gucci, Fausto Puglisi & Roberto Cavalli

THU 25th - Max Mara, Fendi, Prada & Moschino

FRI 26th - Versace

SAT 27th - Bottega Veneta, Blumarine

Paris Fashion Week, 1st-9th March 2016

THU 3rd - Chloe, Carven, Balmain, Lanvin

FRI 4th - Christian Dior, Isabel Marant

SAT 5th - Mulger, Acne Studios, Elie Saab

SUN 6th - Balenciaga, Celine, Givenchy

MON 7th - Giambattista Valli, Saint Laurent

TUE 8th - Chanel, Valentino

WED 9th - Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu

Which shows will you be looking out for?