A Recent Book Haul: Becoming, My Dark Vanessa, Dear Edward & More!

affiliate links // I honestly, hand on heart, cannot remember the last time I posted ANY sort of haul on any on my online platforms. It must have been way over 4 years ago now. Hauls were just something I fell out of step with. I never bought enough to warrant a haul and as my platforms and direction changed, I just didn’t feel aligned to think about doing hauls anymore.

But at the end of 2020, I started introducing bookish content back onto my blog once a month. And since I’ve recently bought a nice little selection of new books, I thought a haul would be the perfect choice for this month’s bookish blog post. I love reading book hauls from other people, so can only assume that other people love seeing them too.

I mean, who DOESN’T love to see what books are on other people’s bookshelves?

I’ve been doing a lot of reading this year and last. I’ve been really into reading book blogs again, shopping for books and lusting after everything on my bookish wish-list. And although I’m not going to start reviewing books again in a hurry, I’m just loving talking about them more. My new book content always does well, so I think you lot are too!

In case you’ve missed any of my more recent bookish posts, you can check them out here:

• 5 Authors On My Auto-Buy List
• 6 Binge-Worthy Fiction Books To Add To Your Summer Reading List
• 5 Non-Fiction Books To Add To Your TBR This Year

But getting onto today’s post; it’s a simple one but I’m excited to share some of the recent book purchases I’ve made with you. Every single one of these books bar one were purchased from the recommendation of a blogger. And people say we have no influence? I whole-heartedly trust other blogger’s opinions and these books have been praised for days.

So let’s take a look at 6 books in my most recent book haul!

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Goodreads | Amazon UK

Okay this book has been on everyone’s lips since it was released. Everyone and their Nan have been reviewing it. And I honestly can’t believe it’s taken me this long to even get my hands on it! At the time of writing, I haven’t read it yet, but I’m very excited.

I watched the Netflix documentary which I absolutely loved so I have no doubt that I will adore this memoir as well. Michelle is a powerhouse. I hang on her every word whenever I hear her speak and she is such a strong and inspirational woman, that I know I’m going to be engrossed in this from start to finish!

Where the Edge Is by Grainne Murphy

Goodreads | Amazon UK

This is the only book on this list that wasn’t bought based off a recommendation. This was one of those books bought on a whim because you had travelled too far into an Amazon black hole and couldn’t get out of it again. But I thought it looked pretty good.

Basically a bus falls into a sinkhole and three people’s lives are at risk. The whole incident is on the news and the people involved in the rescue must make choices and sacrifices and things of that nature. Sounds like the sort of plot which would make a good film.

Update: Since writing this post I have tried to read this but sadly I just couldn’t get into it. I also felt there were too many racist remarks and things that just made me uncomfortable to read? Idk, the writing just didn’t sit right with me.

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

Goodreads | Amazon UK

I’m a little bit in love with this beautiful cover. I’ve seen this book floating around a LOT and it’s no surprise, given the acclaim it has. My Dark Vanessa sounds like a READ. Definitely not something light-hearted and breezy to pick up on a warm Summer’s day with a cocktail.

Oh no. This sounds gritty. And uncomfortable. And disturbing. And one of those books that you know is going to rock you. I haven’t really read a book of this nature in quite some time, so I’m looking forward (if that’s the right phrase?) to dive into this one, as I’m sure I’ll be hooked.

The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris

Goodreads | Amazon UK

The Cost of Knowing was bought after reading Anika’s post about the books she read in March 2021, which featured this book and gave it a glowing 5 stars. At the mention of “gripping YA” I was in. I absolutely love a YA novel that has me hooked and thinking about it for months afterwards.

And I definitely think this one is going to be one of those unputdownable books that I think about long after I’ve turned the last page. This book sounds unique and intriguing, weaving magical realism into topics which are very much at the forefront of all of our minds. I absolutely can’t wait to start reading this.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Goodreads | Amazon UK

The annoying thing about this book is that I had a brand new copy that I was gifted in a PR parcel years ago (not from the publisher or in exchange for a review!) and I passed it on to someone else because I didn’t think it was “my sort of thing”. This was post pandemic. So absolutely hilarious that it took an ACTUAL pandemic for me to want to read a book about… the end of the world.

I’m still not entirely sure this will be for me. But I’ve heard lots of very good things about this book so I’d like to give it a try at least. It’s weird because living through this absolute disaster of COVID has made me much more interested in fictional disasters?

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano

Goodreads | Amazon UK

This is another one that I’ve heard about everywhere and people are raving about left, right and center. If you know me, you know that I love to give in to a hype. And Dear Edward certainly seems to have some hype around it.

This sounds like a really profound and beautiful read. It kinda makes me think of Castaway although I’m probably going to be proven horribly wrong once I get around to actually reading it. But this is the one I’m probably the most excited about reading out of all of these and likely the one I’ll come to first.

Update: Since writing this post I’ve read this and really enjoyed it. I feel like it could have been a bit… more? If that makes sense. But it was good and offered up a lot of questions to consider.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on any of these books you’ve read! Please let me know in the comments and let’s chat books!