Book Review: What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Hey There!

"Suddenly, you edge your way to the end of your second ten years and BOOM. Your choices matter. Not chocolate or vanilla, bridge or pier, Sandy Claw or Abenaki. It's your whole life. We're suddenly this close, like Nic said, to the wrong move. Or the right one. It matters now."

4/5

So this was one of the books I took on holiday this year, so I can say I finished this book within 2 days. I'm one of those people where I cannot put a book down once I start reading it, and then I have to re-read it so I can fully review if I actually enjoyed reading the book. This is one of those books I definitely enjoyed reading. It is a typical Young Adult romance so if you enjoy that genre this book is definitely for you. 

This book focuses on Guinevere (Gwen) Castle and her summer in Seashell Island. She lives in a small house, needing maintenance, along with her Mum, her younger brother Emory, Grandpa Ben, and her cousin Nic. On the other side of the island, closer to the beach, there are more expensive houses where the people are much wealthier. Gwen spends this summer, instead of working for her Dad at his restaurant, Castle's Ice Cream, working for Mrs Ellington to "keep her company." Gwen also has to deal with Cassidy Somers, who we learn she has a history with, as he works for Island maintenance. Throughout the story we learn through Gwen what their relationship status is and what her backstory is, as she is perceived to have a certain reputation among the swim team at her school. 

One of the positives I found with this book was how Gwen managed to stay strong no matter what people were saying either to her, or behind her back. She has to deal with this reputation she has, which in fairness she has created herself. But the way she did not allow this to knock her back, but instead ignore what people were saying and come out the other side is something that should inspire other girls with potentially the same problem. As a girl, it is easy for what people are saying to get you and effect you in day-to-day life, but Gwen managed to take these words and throw them back in the faces of the people that were saying them. 

This book does not just focus on this issue. There is a focus on a class divide as well through Gwen's job, and the fact that Gwen wants to get off the Island but the responsibilities she has are holding her back. But going away from Gwen, we also learn about Gwen's cousin Nic, who happens to be dating her best friend Viv. We are able learn about their "perfect" relationship, but you learn that seeing relationship from the outside can be completely different to actually being in that relationship. 

I couldn't find many faults with this book to be honest. I guess I could just say I found it rather predictable. I don't know if that is through reading so many books and watching so many different TV shows, or if it was through the writing. But this did not stop me from enjoying the book at all! I mean, who can't love an ideal teenage relationship where everything seems all rainbows and unicorns (I'm up for it if there are any takers!!). 

I would recommend this as a summer read for everyone, even if you aren't going abroad. The way Fitzpatrick writes about the beauty of the island through the beaches makes it easy to imagine yourself there at a bonfire party. Having that vision of summer really lifts the mood (especially if you live in Britain where we have ONE day of sun) and makes you want to jump on a plane as quickly as possible!

Tell me what you think and other books you recommend for reading over the summer!

Girl Without a Plan, Making Plans 

xoxo

Gym Shopping Haul (and a few other things)...

Hi There!

So yesterday I went to my local shopping centre with the idea of buying very few things. That very few however got larger and larger until I wanted to cry from looking at my bank account (you know the feeling). I thought as I'm going to start exercise classes I'd get a couple of things to get myself started, but then obviously gym gear turned to summer items and other things which were not on my list! 

(Primark, shorts)

(Primark, Workout top)

(Primark, Workout vests)

(Primark, Workout leggings)

(Primark, trainers)

(Forever 21, sports bra)

(Forever 21, top)

(Forever 21, bag)

(Forever 21, trainer socks)

(Pink, you know what they are cheeky!)

(New Look, bomber jacket)

I went out with the idea of buying a jacket and some primer, and I came back with one of these two and a whole bunch of other things! I can't be the only one that does this kind of thing?? Can I??

Girl Without a Plan, Making Plans

xoxo

Kefalonia, the Island of Peace

Hey There!

So if you read my previous blog post (sorry it's so long!) you'll know I've recently come back from Kefalonia! I went with my parents and one of my friends, where we stayed in separate apartments, but my parents had a private pool so we spent a lot of time there! There will be lots of pictures coming up so be prepared! 

We stayed in the Apostolata Island Resort and Spa in the Southern part of the Island near Skala. It was a very peaceful resort, so anyone who likes a drink or enjoys a party, this is probably not the place to be. If however you enjoy a nice peaceful holiday, where you have very few people bothering you throughout the day and spend your evening playing cards with light entertainment, this is the place to be. The views were incredible, the food was lovely, and the peace was to die for. Skala was the closest beach/town, and it was beautiful there as well. We went to the beach one day, and it may have rained and the sea may have been extremely pebbley, but it was still nice to spend the day staring at the sea. We also went to Skala for dinner one night and went to a cocktail bar, and that was lovely as well, I mean, who could say no to a strawberry daiquiri!!! 

I also went on a couple of excursions with my friend so I got to explore some of the island, and let's just say the roads may have made my life flash before my eyes a couple of times. But I survived it, and I have never seen views like it. It seemed whenever I looked out the window I would see these beautiful green mountains, or endless views of the sea. Those days I may have spent a majority of the time in a coach, but I also got to see some of the highlights of the island. I got to see Melissani Lake, the town of Fiskardo, Myrtle Bay, and the Drogarati Caves (which yes I thought was out of Game of Thrones but sadly it isn't). I also went on a boat trip which sadly was in bad weather and, honest to God, if anyone in the UK has been on the Isle of Wight ferry in a thunderstorm, it felt a heck of a lot like that! But eventually the weather did improve and we managed to have a nice BBQ on the beach and have a mud bath with a bunch of strangers. One item was also ticked off my bucket list as I managed to see dolphins and I'm pretty sure there was a tear in my eye. I have no idea why I wanted to see them so much, but I'm so glad I did!!

One of the things I love about going on holiday is escaping from problems. No matter how crap a situation is, being in a separate country makes it feel like those problems are a million miles away (which I guess is sort of true). Through this whole holiday, my Grandad was in hospital so that was on my mind the whole time, but I was still able to mostly switch off. I feel like I've said this before, and if I have I'm sorry, but seeing the sea is always calming. I don't know what it is, but watching the waves and looking out into the vast space is relaxing, and it is a feeling I cannot get enough of! But anyway, enough of that! You need to see some pictures!!!

(the Alps from the plane window)

(our private pool)

(beach view from our room)

(Chapel next to our room)

(Melissani Lake)

(one of our views from lunch)

(Skala)

They are a couple of pictures of what Kefalonia is like! And they definitely don't do it justice at all! I probably say it about all the places I have been, but it really is one of the prettiest places. It was nice and quiet, so a lot of reading was done! And a lot of relaxing was done! I couldn't recommend going there enough!!

Lots of Love

Girl Without a Plan, Making Plans 

xoxo

Sorry... I Guess...

Sooooooo Hey There!

I know it has been many, many months, but I have no reason as to why I stopped writing. I guess it just phased out, and I thought no one really reads what I'm writing about so why even bother. But then I realised I wasn't writing this blog for other people, I was writing it for myself. I needed to get thoughts and things out into the open. Thoughts and feelings were started to suffocate me, but I didn't realise this until my recent holiday (there will definitely be a separate blog post about it because it was just incredible). Getting away from everything and being able to escape was nice, but it allowed me to evaluate what I needed to do in my life, and that involved this blog. So here I am. Once again, trying to get this blog post started. And I'm waffling. As always. So enough. Let's just see what's been going on.

So I last blogged back in March, and I'm not gonna lie, I can't exactly remember everything that has gone on since then haha. I mean, I went on a long LONG train journey to Hull for my friend's birthday and that was super fun because it felt like I was going to a 'real' university. Oooooo and I also saw Marnie from Geordie Shore in Kings Cross Station so that was fun!

I also managed to finish my first year of university!! WOOOOOOO!! And I passed!! WOOOOOOO!! I have absolutely no idea how I did it. But I am super super proud of myself. Going to uni on that first day seems like such a distant memory, and being that super shy scared young girl also seems like a distant memory. That doesn't now mean I'm now like a super loud and confident person, nooooo wayyyyy, but I know I can go into situations now where I don't know anyone and get to know people. Just one more woo because why not!! WOOOOOOOOO!!

After that amazing high of finishing uni, I guess my friendship group hit an all time low. On a trip to Reading to visit another friend, I guess we can say one of my friends had one to many drinks and became unable to control. I have never seen or heard anything like it in my life! I didn't know whether to be heartbroken because she was crying so much, or angry because she ruined the night, or upset because of the stuff coming out of her mouth. I guess after the whole night (where I think I heard about 2 songs in the club and the rest from the toilet floor), I realised I was upset. The things she was saying really hurt me and are pretty much engraved in my brain now. It didn't help that this friend couldn't remember anything that had happened the night before, so hearing an apology just felt pointless. This friend then didn't really talk to the rest of the friendship group after that. She knew we were pissed, but thought the best way to handle that situation was to leave it alone. This was definitely the wrong choice to make because the more you leave it, the more it looks like you don't care. After about 2 weeks the paranoia was killing me inside, so I arranged to meet with this friend so we could talk the situation through. I have no idea if it really helped. I guess it sort of did, but I don't think I'll be forgetting anything that happened anytime soon. This friend has been away for the past couple of weeks and not much of the situation between the rest of the group has been sorted face to face, so I guess eventually that will be an interesting meeting. 

After that whole curfuffle (what a weird word to try and spell!), I went away to Southampton to visit another friend at university for her birthday and OMG it was just an amazing time! Being able to just have chill time with my friends is something I have missed soooo much while they have been away and now summer is happening it is all I'm going to be doing and I'm buzzing!!

One of the best things in my whole entire lifetime has happened, I GOT TO SEE BUSTED IN CONCERT. Oh my God I have never been so excited in my life!! It is something I thought would never happen and I was devastated when they broke up. Hearing about the concert sitting in one of my lectures freaked me out, and then hearing I got tickets made me cry. Sitting in the O2 waiting for them to come on stage was unreal, and then hearing Charlie's voice just made it all hit home, and at that moment my life was made. It was probably the best concert I have ever been to, and it will have to take something amazing to top it!

So I guess the most recent thing to happen is my holiday. I just got back from Greece, and I forgot how much I love being in a different country. Being able to lie around the pool and do nothing it just so appealing, but it's not just that. I know running away from your problems is not always the best solution, but escaping for a little while was definitely what the doctor ordered. I also forgot how much the sea calms me, but all this holiday talk is something that you will find out later. 

So over these past couple of months many different things have happened. There have been many many highs, but then extremely low points. But as I said at the beginning, I need to just talk about it (or type I guess). This has been useful. It's been fun remembering what has happened, and thinking back to the memories that have been made. Now, back to normal blogging things! You've heard enough about my life now, I guess a good break is needed.

Speak to you soon

Girl Without a Plan, Making Plans

xoxo

p.s. I also had my birthday in this time soooo wooooo!!! Being 19 and the last of my teenage years makes me sad, but lets not brew on that for too long!!

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/16558275/?claim=pf7b5gyjrpj">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>