Goodbye 2020

Thursday, December 31, 2020


I know, I know, when 2021 begins the world won't magically get back to normal, but I am more excited than any other year to say goodbye to 2020, as I imagine a lot of you are too. I round up what I have done every year in a blog post on the 31st December, but having read back through my previous ones, this year definitely feels different. I feel like there's a 'before' section, the first two and a half months of the year, and an 'after' section, everything since I left uni in March and lockdown was announced. Since then, all the exciting things I normally put into these posts - trips away, theatre visits, fun things with friends - have been taken away. 

Despite the fact that I would characterise 2020 with one word; 'dull', looking back I can think of a few things that have really shaped the year for me, or make me happy to look back on.

In 2020 I have...


Seen two amazing West End musicals (pre-lockdown)

I started my year off in January by seeing Hamilton, which was a truly amazing experience. As the year has gone on I have got more and more obsessed with the soundtrack - Wait For It has to be my favourite. When it finally comes back (hopefully May next year, if all goes well), I urge you to go and see it - yes, it will be worth it! Similarly, I went to see Dear Evan Hansen days before theatres closed for lockdown. It blows my mind that I saw one of the last performances of it this year without realising. 
 

Been to two incredible concerts at Manchester Arena

In a total contrast to the rest of the year, my February was characterised by coming up to see two concerts in Manchester - The Script and The 1975. The Script, as always, were amazing; I will go and see them again and again! But seeing The 1975 for the first time, in the best seats I have ever had in the arena, was possibly the highlight of my whole year. I watch videos from it back all the time and can't even believe it happened! The atmosphere was electric and I feel so lucky to have seen them live. 
 

Had several things cancelled and postponed (2021 will be my year, fingers crossed!)

2020 has truly been a year of cancellations. I may have had no concrete plans for holidays booked, but I had a few West End shows cancelled, including Hairspray and Les Mis, had my McFly concert postponed not once, but twice and had FriendsFest postponed to the following year. This is a little mention for all the things that could have happened, including all the things that weren't yet booked, if 2020 hadn't been the 2020 we knew.


Read a TON of books

Re-reading my 'Hello 2020' goals for this year, I said that one of my goals was to read more books, but commented that my goal of twelve may be a little ambitious. Well, I definitely underestimated myself (and perhaps didn't predict a pandemic would give me so much time) and ended up tripling my goal with 36 books! To say that I never really made time to read for pleasure until this year, I am really proud of it and want to keep it up - maybe not to the same extreme, but still!

Listened to a lot of The 1975 & Taylor Swift

I said the exact same line last year - despite the craziness of 2020, some things never change! Taylor has had not one, but two albums out this year so her music has definitely lifted my spirits. I was listening to The 1975 a lot around the time of their concert and soon after, their latest album Notes on a Conditional Form was released.

My Top Listened To Artists of 2020: 

(5 out of the 6 artists are the exact same as last year! I have written less music posts this year, but I think this is because I listen to the same artists on repeat...)
 

My Top 5 Songs of 2020:

1. Tonight Is The Night - McFly
2. If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know) - The 1975 (my most listened to track!)
3. Gold Rush - Taylor Swift
4. Wait For It - Hamilton soundtrack
5. The 1 - Taylor Swift

Been to a 'socially distanced' musical

In September everything seemed to be getting back to normal (how naive we were) and I managed to get another show in, although it was different to what I was used to. Sleepless at Wembley's Troubadour Theatre was a great show and the cast were sensational. But what I couldn't stop talking about was having a row all to myself - a change I could get used to. 


Found two new favourite TV shows - Gilmore Girls & Derry Girls

Like reading, I've had even more time for Netflix this year, and both Derry Girls and Gilmore Girls have found firm places in my heart this year. They are two very heartwarming, uplifting and hilarious shows and have helped get me through that everlasting lockdown period in the middle of the year. I watched a few other shows this year that I loved, including The Morning Show and Trying on Apple TV, and This Is Us on Amazon Prime that I am about halfway through so far.

Explored Covent Garden 

When I finally came back to London in September, I was really excited to be living a stone's throw away from Covent Garden. I have adored getting to know this gorgeous area of London and can't wait to do so even more next year - praying that everything reopens again very soon!
 

What have you done this year? I would love to hear what got you through the madness that was 2020!

EG x

 
Read what I did in: 2019 and 2018
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All The Books I Read in 2020

Wednesday, December 23, 2020


Here we are, at the end of the weirdest year EVER. It’s been a crazy one, but the extra time has led me to rekindle my love of reading, and read more books than I ever expected to. When setting my Good Reads reading challenge goal this year, I went for 12 books, equalling a book a month, which felt pretty ambitious at the time, bearing in mind I only read 5 books in 2019. But those 12 got read pretty quickly, and my new goal became 20, like 20 books in 2020. But then I’d achieved that by June! All in all, I ended up reading 36 books, which I consider a real achievement for me.

Most importantly, I’m happy I’ve felt inspired to get reading again, especially as 36 is such a great increase from the minimal 5 books I read the previous year. I felt out of love with reading a few years ago, when I’d grown out of the ‘young adult’ section, but didn’t feel quite right for the adult section just yet. In 2018-19 I generally just read non-fiction, and I’m glad I’ve let fiction back into my life again this year. However, I’ve still attempted to read a range of books, including non-fiction texts, ranging from historical books to memoirs. 
I’ve read some of the best books ever that I can’t stop recommending to everyone, and some I’ve been pretty disappointed by, so today I can’t wait to give you the low-down on all the books I’ve read. I tried to keep them as short as possible, in mini-review form with star ratings, but I also had to write enough to do justice to every book too. Here we go!
 

Normal People - Sally Rooney 2.5 stars

Sadly, the year began with one I was quite disappointed by. I really wanted to like Normal People, I really did. The hype was huge when I read it, and got even greater once the series came out back in April. But unfortunately, this one was not for me! I didn’t find the main characters, Marianne and Connell very likeable, and if they just communicated like, you know, ‘normal people’, they might have found things a bit easier.

A History Of The World In 21 Women - Jenni Murray 4.5 stars

Murray’s round up of 21 women who changed the path of history was both interesting and inspiring. Her choices represented a great range of both time and geography, from Joan Of Arc or Empress Dowager Cixi, to Toni Morisson or Angela Merkel. Towards the more recent figures that Murray has had a personal experience with, they feel a little more biased, but on the whole she presented their flaws as well as their achievements with great depth - this is the perfect book to dip in and out of depending on who you fancied reading about.

Home Work - Julie Andrews 4.5 stars

I was excited to read Julie Andrews’ memoir of her Hollywood years largely to read about filming two of my favourite films, Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music. Although these were over and done with in the first few chapters, I was still engrossed in the story of the rest of her work in the film industry, learning a lot about her career. She often kept us at arms-length, I feel a little more emotion would have been powerful, but nonetheless, I found this memoir to be a very enjoyable read.

Dishonesty is the Second Best Policy - David Mitchell 4 stars

As an avid fan of the show Would I Lie To You?, I decided to read team captain David Mitchell’s latest book, a collection of his columns written for The Observer. On the whole, they were very witty and well-written, personally I preferred the more popular culture-focused subjects, topics such as Christmas and Patisserie Valerie - some of the political essays towards the end were written as early as 2015, so now felt a bit irrelevant.

The German House - Annette Hess 3 stars

Hess’ novel The German House wins the award for weirdest book I read this year; I’m still struggling to get my head around it months later. Set in Frankfurt in 1963, almost twenty years after the end of WWII, young Eva Bruhns becomes a translator for trials about the war she can barely remember. The historical, Holocaust trial side of the book was incredibly insightful and heartbreaking - exploring the sentiment in Germany towards their role in the war not very long after it was a very interesting take. However, the other side of the story focuses on Eva’s family and that whole storyline was very strange and littered with plot-holes, which detracted from the trial story.

To War With the Walkers - Annabel Venning 4 stars

A true account of six siblings' experience of the Second World War, from many different lenses including a London hospital, a Japanese prisoner of war camp, and the battlegrounds of Italy. It’s a wonder all the siblings managed to survive the war as you’ll find many close encounters and near misses in this book; it’s definitely an emotional one.

The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath 4 stars

I never feel all that comfortable giving star ratings to classic novels such as The Bell Jar, because they’ve already been defined as classics for a reason, but here we are. I feel the book is very much split into two parts - the decadent, exciting life in 1950s New York, contrasts with the breakdown of mental health in the second part. I think the contrast between these almost makes you feel like it’s two different books in one, which somehow makes it such a good read.
 

The Giver of Stars - Jojo Moyes 5 stars

We come to my first 5 star book of the list, and my first Jojo Moyes read! The Giver of Stars is such a captivating read, set in 1930s Kentucky, about a female-run, horse-riding, travelling library. The English protagonist, Alice Van Cleave, is totally out of her depth when she learns married life to an American isn’t all she expected, and her character development and growth of confidence was an amazing journey.

The Five Year Plan - Carla Burgess 3.5 stars

I read this one in a day, which would suggest it was pretty good, right, because I couldn’t put it down? However, it was actually quite unforgettable - I totally forgot I read it until I went on Goodreads. An easy read with likeable characters, but it bugged me that Orla’s love interest, Aiden, was basically trying to pull her away from her dream, her ‘plan’, all the time, just to suit him. Not cool.

City of Girls - Elizabeth Gilbert 3 stars

The setting of the novel, 1940s New York, sure is decadent and gorgeous to read about. Our protagonist Vivian Morris, is age 95 and telling her story. While the chatty narration style is enjoyable, unfortunately the character is not. So self-obsessed and superficial that most of the time, she wasn’t even aware that the world was caught up in such a major war! The first page introduces a character that she doesn’t officially meet until 80% of the way through the novel, so I was impatiently waiting for a turn in the story that didn’t come until it was too late.

The Prime Ministers - Steve Richards 4 stars

Steve Richard’s reflections of the British leaders during ‘modern times’, The Prime Ministers provides a balanced insight into the ups and downs that contribute to their elections and downfalls. I have a much greater understanding of the logistics of British politics through reading this; as a history student, it really helps me to understand the present by looking at previous leaderships. He highlighted the media’s influence on politics which I found really insightful.

Everything I Know About Love - Dolly Alderton 2.5 stars

Based on reviews I’ve read, I feel like this is a bit of a love it or hate it book, and disappointedly I found myself in team ‘hate it’. While it gets better as it goes along (you could say, as Dolly matures), I struggled to see its purpose or how it is supposed to be so relatable. It seemed ironic that Dolly spoke about how excited she was to be a ‘grown-up’, yet carried on acting so annoyingly childish.

Expectation - Anna Hope 4 stars

This sat on my shelf for a while because I was so scared it wouldn’t live up to my expectations (no pun intended) but I am happy to say that it did. The three female protagonists, Cate, Hannah and Lissa, each had their flaws but Hope created her characters in a relatable, rather than annoying way. Their imperfections were what made them all into such strong characters and accompanied by the London setting, this was a very enjoyable read.
 

 

The Flatshare - Beth O’Leary 5 stars

I was so sad when I got to the end of this, because quite frankly I would have been happy if it never ended and I simply carried on reading about Tiffy and Leon’s lives forever! The two share a flat but have never met, thus through post-it notes their lives begin to intertwine in a way neither could have ever predicted. I love that Beth O’Leary doesn’t stray away from more serious subjects either, creating a story that made me both laugh and cry like crazy.

Half A World Away - Mike Gayle 4 stars

Warning - this is an incredible emotional read! I had to put the book down and take a break at one point because it was simply TOO MUCH EMOTION. TEARS EVERYWHERE! A heartfelt and well-written tale about two siblings separated as children who find their way back to each other’s lives. I loved Gayle’s technique of omitting information from the reader so we are unknowingly misled like one of the characters.

Never Greener - Ruth Jones 3.5 stars

I had high hopes for Ruth Jones’ novel debut, which I think is why I was so disappointed by Never Greener. Her incredible Gavin and Stacey is such a success because of its lovable characters, and yet the protagonist of Never Greener, Kate, is simply despicable! After reuniting with her first love, Kate begins to wonder if the grass could have been greener, exploring what it means to have a second chance at what could have been.
 

Why We Get The Wrong Politicians - Isabel Hardman 4 stars

This provides a real insight into the world of parliament, including what exactly MPs get up to on a daily basis and the logistics surrounding this. While I learnt a lot from this book, the title is very misleading. It’s more about the life of a politician, rather than why we get the wrong ones, and although Hardman goes on to explain why politicians make bad laws, they themselves aren’t exactly what is wrong with the system.

The Switch - Beth O’Leary 4 stars

Beth O’Leary’s sophomore novel, it was certainly going to be hard for this one to live up to The Flatshare! Leena and her grandmother Eileen switch lives, with Eileen moving into Leena’s London flat looking for a second chance at love, and Leena moving up to rural Yorkshire for a break from her high-pressure job. The characters of The Switch are just as lovable as those in The Flatshare and the story is fun and quirky.

 

The One Plus One - Jojo Moyes 4.5 stars

I look back on this book with such fondness! Single mum Jess is just trying to do the best for her children. She’s struggling to do it all on her own, but will never admit it. After an unfortunate mishap, Ed finds his life turned upside down, and just wants to make good. On an unlikely trip, their lives are pulled together in the most unusual ways. I absolutely love Jojo Moyes’ writing style and this was such a fun story, I loved all the characters, especially the quirky children, Tanzie and Nicky.

The Secret Barrister 3 stars

The cover describes this one as ‘stories of the law and how it is broken’, so I think I was expecting some thought-provoking and grabbing court case tales. However, this is more of an explanation of how the British legal system works, and why this is good or bad. I learnt a lot from it, but it was rather dry so took a while to get through.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - Gail Honeyman 4 stars

Gail Honeyman’s bestseller was an enjoyable read; very character, rather than plot driven, which suits me but isn’t always for everyone. Eleanor leads a simple life, with a predictable routine - go to work, get a meal deal, go home, repeat. But it’s fine, she’s happy. Or is she? I loved how Eleanor was a very quirky yet likeable character - aspects of her personality that could potentially be annoying ended up being very endearing. I loved getting to know her and I think you will too.

Such A Fun Age - Kiley Reid 4 stars

One of the most exciting releases of 2020, Such A Fun Age is an American novel about two women, career woman Alix, and her daughter’s babysitter, Emira. The two women end up shocked by their unlikely connection to the same man. Reid explores ideas of race and class in modern America with such insight and the novel is so well-written - I would never have guessed this was a debut. While I found the ending of the novel quite unfulfilling, I can’t wait for more of her work.
 

Grown Ups - Marian Keyes 4.5 stars

My first ever Marian Keyes read was her latest novel, Grown Ups and it wins the award for the longest book I read this year; it’s a LONG one. Which says even more about the fact that I read over half of it in one day, it gripped me so much! The Caseys are a big family who spend every occasion together - birthdays, anniversaries and holidays in Tuscany. However, tensions are brewing under the surface - what happens when the secrets all come tumbling out? There’s a lot of characters to get to know and remember - it’s a good job there’s a family tree at the beginning! While I didn't find most of them very likeable, I was still thinking about the story a week later, and this impact made me rate it so high.

Me Before You - Jojo Moyes 5 stars

Louisa Clark starts an unusual job, looking after Will Traynor who became paralysed after an accident. The ultimate rom-com novel, I absolutely adored this book. Because I had watched the film a few months earlier, I knew what to expect and wasn’t too emotional, but there are many moments that the film omits that give even more depth to the characters.

An Unsuitable Match - Joanna Trollope 3 stars

When Rose and Tyler get engaged as each other’s second chance at love, the reaction of their children threatens to ruin everything. Unfortunately, An Unsuitable Match was a slow and dull read - all the characters just seemed to be moaning about something, from beginning to end! It seemed like no family member was prepared for anyone else to be happy.

She Said - Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey 4.5 stars

A true account of the two New York Times journalists who broke the Harvey Weinstein scandal, Kantor & Twohey’s investigation was incredibly gripping. I was hooked and shocked from the get-go and the work they did was truly groundbreaking. The book deviates towards the end, touching on the Brett Kavanaugh case, which felt detached because it wasn’t their investigation to tell. But, overall this is a must-read.

Daisy Jones & The Six - Taylor Jenkins Reid 3.5 stars

Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel is very unusual - an interview style of a fictional seventies band, describing the rock and roll drama they experienced. In theory, it sounded like a great idea, but because it’s difficult to imagine the songs of the band, it was difficult to emotionally connect to. Despite the interesting characters, the ending fell flat, giving me mixed opinions about this one.

After You - Jojo Moyes 3.5 stars

Jojo Moyes reunites us with Louisa Clark in the second installment of the Me Before You trilogy, but sadly it did not live up to the original. After promising Will she would try new things, Louisa finds herself stuck struggling in a dead-end job. Not the exciting adventure I was expecting!

Olive - Emma Gannon 5 stars

Olive is an absolute gem, to the point I almost teared up a bit at its final page. Olive has always been in sync with her three close friends, but feels lost as they drift apart, towards marriage and motherhood without her. I loved all four of the women in the novel; despite Olive being the central character, the issues Bea, Cecily and Isla faced were equally explored and valid. Chuck in a bunch of paralleling coincidences, from them going to the same university as me, to the same Portguese village on holiday, and I couldn’t be more in love with this book.

Airhead - Emily Maitlis 3.5 stars

Presenter of BBC Newsnight, Emily Maitlis breaks down some of her most groundbreaking interviews; from the shocking to the unplanned. Airhead is an interesting and enjoyable read, but I expected more of an in-depth look at journalism, rather than simply rehashing specific interviews, making some chapters more appealing than others.

Only You - Kate Eberlen 3.5 stars

Letty, from London, and Alf, from Blackpool, meet in Rome where dance provides them with an instant connection. Split into three parts, part 1 and 3 are enjoyable, however things get a bit messy in part 2. The reason I read this was to see how the author would portray Blackpool - not very well, I must add.

Quite - Claudia Winkleman 4 stars

After being in a book reading slump (all that extra uni reading started to take its toll), Claudia Winkleman’s recent memoir, Quite, was the perfect read to raise spirits. With chapters about different aspects of her life - from strictly to eyeliner - it was funny, relatable, and very Claudia - her personality shone throughout.
 
 

Paris Echo - Sebastian Faulks 3.5 stars

Faulks alternates between the narratives of Hannah, an American academic studying women during The Occupation, and Tariq, a Moroccan teenager attempting to connect with his mother’s past life in Paris. I enjoyed the historical occupation excerpts, but felt the writing was emotionally detached from them, and there were a few confusing plot points left unexplained.

The Diary of a Bookseller - Shaun Bythell 3 stars

A day-to-day diary of life owning a bookshop in a Scottish town, The Diary of a Bookseller was fun to begin with, but became increasingly dry as it went on, because it was all a bit of the same. And when it wasn’t the same, it was about some fishing trip that I really wasn’t interested in!

Billy and Me - Giovanna Fletcher 4 stars

I reserved this on BorrowBox before it was announced Giovanna was going into the I’m A Celeb castle, but it felt even more fitting to read her debut novel while she was in there! Sophie May is a waitress in her ordinary town, but her life is turned upside down when heartthrob actor Billy comes to shoot a film there. An exciting novel but Billy’s character definitely needed more depth, sometimes it seemed like Sophie is complaining and worrying for no reason and other moments feel out of character. But overall, a great debut novel - I can’t wait to work my way through the rest of her work!

Still Me - Jojo Moyes - 4 stars

The third novel of the Me Before You series, Still Me is the final book I read in 2020, although I haven't quite finished it yet - 70% through! Louisa Clark's life has taken an exciting turn as she takes a job in glamorous New York, although struggles to leave home behind. I'm finding this one more enjoyable than After You (largely because of the setting), but it will never quite live up to the original.

The Best Books of 2020

You may have noticed that there were four five star reads this year; The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes, The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary, Me Before You by Jojo Moyes and Olive by Emma Gannon. Coincidentally, they are all novels that have been released in the past year or so, with the exception of Me Before You being written several years earlier. These were ones that made me feel emotional, made me not want to put it down, and made me want it to never end. They were all great novels that I wholeheartedly recommend - but I'd say if any I gave at least four stars to take your fancy, they are worth the read.

Looking Forward - My 2021 Reading Goals:

Reading thirty-six books this year can be owed to lockdown, and I’m very much hoping that I don’t have quite as much spare time on my hands next year! In 2021 I’m going to be setting my GoodReads goal as 21 books (21 for 2021!) but I hope to read between 21 and 24; I think two books per month isn’t too much pressure.
I have quite a few books on my shelf I am excited to be getting on with next year! I can’t wait to get stuck into all the books in my birthday book haul, and I also have the hugely raved about Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo and Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens that are sat on my shelf and ready to be read.
 

If you got this far - congrats! This year was so extraordinary, I doubt you'll ever see a book round up quite this long from me again! What was your favourite book of 2020? I would love to hear what you enjoyed, or maybe what you were disappointed by!

EG x


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McFly - Young Dumb Thrills Review

Saturday, November 28, 2020


I have been of McFly for what feels like forever, and yet until 13th November 2020, I had never had the chance to eagerly anticipate the release of their latest album. I was completely blown away when I saw them in concert at the Keep Calm and Play Louder tour in 2012 and since then have seen then have met Tom at a book launch (and have him tweet that he read my book review!), seen them as McBusted in my unheard of hometown, and more recently, been to Danny's solo concert in Manchester. That was just over a year ago and I remember then being very doubtful I would see them back together, so imagine my excitement that they were back together and making a new album. It had been a whole ten years since their last one, so of course I had very high hopes.

The album is a mixture of sounds that sum up McFly - the fun pop hits reminiscent of their early days, the pop-punk inspired tracks and the Springsteen-esque that are obviously Danny's .

The album begins with Happiness, which they released during the summer as their first proper single in goodness knows how long. It is very feel good and cheery - it could turn a bad mood around in no time! Another Song About Love and Heads Up have a very similar feeling - incredibly catchy and positive. The lyrics are fun and easily memorable. Vocals come primarily from Tom on these, although we hear more of Danny in Another Song About Love, and I enjoy Dougie's vocals on Heads Up.
 

You're Not Special is similar to those three with a catchy and infectious beat, but I find its lyrics rather disheartening - I'm sure that wasn't their aim, but the repeated 'everybody else is just like you... you're not special' led me into somewhat of an existential crisis on first listen, making the fact it's so catchy not ideal. It's a weird one, because the sound of it is very upbeat, and yet the lyrics are a bit depressing!
 
Tonight Is The Night is the second single they released before the album, accompanied with a great video. This is easily the stand out track of the album. I adore the guitar riffs, the lyrics are sensational and Danny's vocals in the chorus are incredible. This is going to be amazing live on tour.

We then come to Young Dumb Thrills and Growing Up, two tracks that I personally find myself skipping more than listening to. The pop-punk vibes are simply not my thing, although I know that Growing Up has been a lot of fans' favourite. McFly have never featured any other artists on previous albums and these two collaborations with RATBOY and Mark Hoppus were not necessary this time round. 
 

The tracks following those two constitute my favourite part of the album. Mad About You has a classic McFly feeling and the way it rises and falls really stands out. Sink Or Sing has a gorgeous ballad sound to it and really highlights Danny's amazing vocal ability. Like I Can isn't a stand out but I can't complain about hearing Danny so much! Both Sink or Sing and Like I Can have a bit of a One Direction vibe - remember how McFly wrote Don't Forget Where You Belong off Midnight Memories? These two have a very similar sound.

Wild and Young is another stand out track; it's up with Tonight Is The Night for me. It's no surprise that this was originally one of Danny's solo tracks that I saw live on his tour. It is definitely inspired by his idol Bruce Springstreen and is such a powerful track, made even better now he's accompanied by the rest of McFly for that strong beat.

Not The End brings us to the end of the album and has the most distinctive and unique intro of a McFly song ever. It's one you inevitably end up swaying to and leaving in them laughing and joking around at the end is classic McFly. It really sums up where they are as a band right now and finishes the album perfectly.

The more I have listened to Young Dumb Thrills, the more it has cemented itself as a great McFly album, alongside the rest. Perhaps I enjoy the more powerful and rockier sound of Red, Touch the Rain and Hyperion that we got from The Lost Songs last year and perhaps I was hoping for something more reminiscent of Radio:ACTIVE, but that comes down to my personal taste. McFly have experimented with their sound on some tracks of this album, but it is also very fitting with their previous music. Tonight is The Night and Wild and Young have quickly become some of my favourite McFly songs ever, which is a real testament to how great they are.
 

I can't wait to hear the album on tour - fingers crossed we'll be back in those arenas eventually! What is your favourite album right now?

EG x

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Birthday Book Haul

Wednesday, November 18, 2020


 
One of my favourite things to receive for my birthday is books - simply because I always have a never ending list of books I want to read, and it's nice to get a few ticked off! Although I love them, I rarely find myself buying hardbacks and much prefer to be gifted them. This year I received three books from my grandparents and one from my parents - four totally different books; two novels, one historical memoir and one modern non-fiction. I can't wait to get stuck into them!
 
 

Clothes and Other Things That Matter - Alexandra Schulman

Synopsis:  Alexandra Shulman delves into her own life to look at the emotions, ambitions, expectations and meanings behind the way we dress. This startlingly honest memoir from the ex-Editor of British Vogue will encourage women of all ages to consider what their own clothes mean to them, the life they live in them and the stories they tell.

Inside Vogue, Alexandra Schulman's diary as the editor-in-chief of British Vogue during its hundredth year is one of my favourite ever reads, so I can't wait to read her recent memoir. It has been described as a mix of "memoir, fashion history and social commentary" and I can't think of a better combination.
 
 

Ghosts - Dolly Alderton

Synopsis: 32-year-old Nina Dean is a successful food writer with a loyal online following, but a life that is falling apart. When she uses dating apps for the first time, she becomes a victim of ghosting, and by the most beguiling of men. Her beloved dad is vanishing in slow motion into dementia, and she's starting to think about ageing and the gendered double-standard of the biological clock. On top of this she has to deal with her mother's desire for a mid-life makeover and the fact that all her friends seem to be slipping away from her...

I can't wait to read Dolly Alderton's debut novel, Ghosts. It is a surprising choice for me, considering the fact that I am not the biggest fan of her memoir, Everything I Know About Love, but when I heard her describe the plot of Ghosts on her recent episode of the Off Menu podcast I suddenly really wanted to read it. I love that there's going to be a friendship and family storylines woven in there and I have high hopes for a great, character-driven plot.
 
 

The Choice - Edith Eger

Synopsis:  In 1944, sixteen-year-old ballerina Edith Eger was sent to Auschwitz. Separated from her parents on arrival, she endures unimaginable experiences, including being made to dance for the infamous Josef Mengele. When the camp is finally liberated, she is pulled from a pile of bodies, barely alive.
The horrors of the Holocaust didn't break Edith. In fact, they helped her learn to live again with a life-affirming strength and a truly remarkable resilience. 

Until I was writing this blog post, I genuinely thought this was a holocaust novel, on the lines of The Tattooist Of Auschwitz, rather than a true story. I now realise this is going to make it even more impactful. It has been a while since I've read a book about the Holocaust, despite the fact you can find many bestsellers in Waterstones. They are far too moving and emotional to read very often, but after hearing great things about The Choice I am looking forward to giving it a read, despite how many tears it will probably cause! 


Us Three - Ruth Jones

Synopsis: Meet Lana, Judith and Catrin. Best friends since primary school when they swore an oath on a Curly Wurly wrapper that they would always be there for each other, come what may.

After the trip of a lifetime, the three girls are closer than ever. But an unexpected turn of events shakes the foundation of their friendship to its core, leaving their future in doubt - there's simply too much to forgive, let alone forget. An innocent childhood promise they once made now seems impossible to keep . . .

I read Ruth Jones' debut novel, Never Greener, a few months ago and wasn't completely sold by it. However, this was more the fault of unlikeable protagonists rather than the writing itself and Us Three sounds more up my street. The story of three female friends is one that sounds very relatable and I can't wait to get to know the characters.


What books have you added to your collection recently, and what are you currently reading? I've almost finished a book called "The Diary of A Bookseller" and have been really enjoying it! 
 

EG x

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The 2020 Luxury Beauty Gift Guide

Sunday, November 15, 2020


A few weeks ago I posted by Boots beauty gift guide and today we are focusing on the finer things in life - luxury beauty. I am here to prove luxury gifts don't have to cost a fortune, with several on my list costing under £20! I have decided to organise them by price into three ranges to make it easier for you to narrow down the gifts by budget. There's something for everyone here - from lipstick fans to skincare lovers.
 

£10-£20

First off we start with the Benefit ‘Makeup Shakeup’ set - at £13.50 this a perfect budget friendly introduction to luxury makeup, especially for someone who has never tried it before. The set includes three of Benefit’s best-selling products in miniature size, all encased in a festive cracker.

Luxury skincare brands have some great sets this year - these are always perfect to try out a new brand. The Rituals bath and body set includes three relaxing best-sellers including a shower foam, while NEOM’s ‘Sleepy vibes’ set includes a calming pillow mist. I’ve wanted to try Fresh products for a while, so this set including their cult favourite cleanser is on my list.

It isn’t a gift guide without a palette, so while you’ll see a few of these pop up in this post, my most affordable option is from Zoeva. Their palettes are cheaper than some but still amazing quality, so they really are the best of both worlds. This Radiance eyeshadow palette at £19 includes some gorgeous rose and golden tones.

 

£20-£30

My middle price bracket, between £20-£30 is easily where I found the most products and I think these are still all really great value.

Mini lipstick sets are always ideal for any lipstick lover. Becca’s set includes a nude and a red to take you from day to night, and Charlotte Tilbury’s includes three bestsellers, including cult classic Pillow Talk, and my own favourite lipstick, Very Victoria.

There’s a couple more items from Charlotte Tilbury’s holiday collection that I am obsessed with this year. Firstly, a limited edition matte revolution lipstick in the shade Super You with gorgeous bejewelled packaging. I recently purchased this lipstick as a treat for myself (review coming soon, promise!) and it’s such a lovely shade. The mini filmstar bronze and glow also stood out to me; having seen it in store I can say that it’s still a very adequate size but half the price cheaper than the original.


 
A few more makeup brands have some great gift sets in this range, including Laura Mercier’s eye kit, which offers an eyeshadow stick and mascara duo in order to create a classic glowing look. Huda Beauty’s Nude Obsessions set features an eyeshadow palette and matching mini liquid lipstick, in three different shade varieties to suit a range of skin tones and preferences. I also love Benefit’s £28.50 “BADgal to the bone” set; including two full sized products and one mini, it really is unbeatable value.

The Floral Street perfume crackers, including a 10ml fragrance for £24 are such a gorgeous gift. I recently received the Wonderland Peony scent for my birthday and it is beautiful, but all nine of their scents are available to best suit your recipient.

My final pick in this price bracket is the body souffle trio from Origins. I absolutely adore their packaging, it screams Christmas! I can only imagine how great these must smell and how beneficial and nourishing they would be. 


£30+

These are the real treats at £30 and beyond, for someone who you really want to spoil this Christmas!

Eyeshadow palettes were the first thing that came to mind when thinking of this price range. The Too Faced Born This Way palette is my favourite palette release of 2020 and includes sixteen gorgeous natural shades. Anastasia Beverly Hill’s Soft Glam is one of the best palettes I own and this year they have released a gorgeous miniature version that is bound to be at the top of every eyeshadow lover’s Christmas list.

MAC and NARS are two of my favourite high end makeup brands so it’s no surprise that they would feature somewhere here. I love this NARS lip balm set for a splash of colour. I don’t know about you, but mask wearing has made my lips so dry, I can’t imagine anything better than these! MAC’s Christmas collection is a winner every year and their firework inspired range this year does not disappoint. I especially love the highlighting kit, including an Extra Dimension Skinfinish highlighter in a gorgeous champagne shade with a brush to apply and a pouch to keep them in.

For all the skincare essentials they could ever need, look no further than Liz Earle’s set including five products, a sponge and cloth to apply them and a wash bag to keep them all in. It’s perfect for someone who loves to travel with a bit of luxury, having a handy kit to grab and go.

My final pick is a fair bit pricier than the rest, but it is the perfect luxury treat for the makeup fan in your life. Zoeva has to be one of the best makeup brush brands around, and their rose gold set includes everything you need, from contour to brows. They are more expensive than some, but they are going to last a long time and upgrade any makeup routine.


Are you dreaming of any luxury beauty products this year? I would love to hear what is on your wishlist!

EG x

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Everything I'm Listening To In Autumn 2020

Wednesday, November 11, 2020


Let's get the Spotify out and see what I've been listening to this autumn...
 
It's been a while since I have written one of these! Today I'll be sharing with you a few music favourites and for the first time ever, a few podcasts that I have been loving this season.
 

MUSIC

 
Let's start off with a few music favourites! Unusually, I really feel like I haven't discovered anything new lately, hence why I haven't written a post like this on my blog for a while. I've tended to just stick to the same old and I'm not too bored of it! However, there are a few recent releases that I can't get enough of right now. 
 

McFly

With their first album in ten years (TEN!) finally being released on Friday, you can bet that my autumnal Spotify playlists will be dominated by McFly. So far we've had a couple of singles and I am loving their latest, Tonight is the Night, with such incredible lyrics. I can't wait to hear what the rest of the album will bring!



Taylor Swift - Folklore

Taylor Swift's latest album may have been released back in July, but I am simply still totally obsessed with it. I always felt like it was a real autumnal feeling album anyway, so in the heat of August I tried to put it aside to when I would really enjoy it, during those drizzly days of October and November.
 

Blossoms - Foolish Loving Spaces

I've recently found myself listening to a lot of the band Blossoms, especially their Foolish Loving Spaces album that came out earlier this year. They are so lighthearted and uplifting with such amazing guitar riffs - If You Think This Is Real Life and The Keeper always guarantee to put me in a good mood. It's definitely the album I have been playing the most when walking around London.

Mary Poppins West End Soundtrack

This one came out only a few days before I am posting this, but yes I am already obsessed. A year ago, for my birthday, I went to see Mary Poppins at the West End and had a truly incredible experience, it has to be one of the best shows I have ever seen. While I can't tell you all to go and see it now (thanks for that, Covid), you can get the audio experience of the show with the soundtrack featuring the amazing current cast. It has taken me right back to seeing it live, and yes, I cry at Feed The Birds on the soundtrack just as much as I did seeing it on stage.
 

PODCASTS

 
Until the past few months, I couldn't really get into podcasts; I much preferred just watching something and found them a bit awkward to fit into my life. However, I've really got into them more - I think it's just a case of finding the right ones, and I have been enjoying listening to them while on a long walk, cleaning, baking, or perhaps just when I feel too tired to watch a screen anymore (Zoom class fatigue is real!).
 

Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster

Off Menu was the first podcast I really got into - it is laugh out loud amusing and has made many a long train journey go by quick. Comedians Ed & James ask a famous guest what their dream starter, main, side, desert and drink would be in their "dream restaurant". It's a great concept that evokes hilarious conversation and controversial opinions - such as whether cheese is acceptable for dessert (my own opinion is absolutely not!).
Best Episodes: Victoria Coren Mitchell, Aisling Bea, Tom Allen, Claudia Winkleman
 

At Home With Lily and Anna

A lifestyle podcast featuring Lily Pebbles and Anna of The Anna Edit (the only YouTuber I still consistently watch these days), At Home With Lily and Anna began a few years ago as a look into other women's homes, but was revived during lockdown earlier this year in a new format. These days, they begin by discussing their lifestyle favourites of the week, including a "top of the box" section of their most recent TV watch. Then, they discuss questions from listeners on a variety of topics, from their blogging journey to music and beauty. I can easily spend an hour listening to these two, it almost feels like catching up with two friends!
Best Episodes: "Q&A: Quitting YouTube and Getting Stopped In The Street", "Off Menu: All Things Food" (recognise the inspiration there?!), "All Things Weddings".
 

The Michelle Obama Podcast

I was so excited when Spotify announced an original podcast by Michelle Obama. In many ways building on topics discussed in her book Becoming, Michelle opens up about a range of topics, from growing up in Chicago to living in the White House - which is such an otherworldly concept that I simply always want to know more about. I particularly enjoyed the discussion of these topics with her brother Craig, who offered some really interesting insights about being so closely related to the Presidential buzz while still being separate from it.
Best Episodes: "President Barack Obama", "Growing Up Robinson With Craig and Michelle", "Family Ties: On Raising Kids with Craig and Marian Robinson".  


Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicome's Lockdown Parenting Hell

My most recent podcast find is one that I am seriously addicted to right now. Comedians Rob & Josh discuss being parents of young children during lockdown, alternating between episodes with special guests, and shorter, more impromptu chats featuring stories from listeners. It is absolutely hilarious and makes me glad you have to wear masks on a train now, because it covers up how much I'm laughing! It's certainly suitable for people who aren't parents - I'm definitely not listening to it to relate, just for the incredibly amusing anecdotes!
Best Episodes: "Jump starting a tent", "Lucy Beaumont", "Rosie Ramsay" (I've still got many to work through though!)

However, all these will probably be out the window soon since Christmas is only around the corner - Michael Buble's album is dying to be played already! What are you listening to right now?

EG x
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Best Boots Beauty Gift Sets | Christmas 2020

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

 
This year, more than ever, I am so excited for Christmas - I think it's the feeling of really needing some joy and festivity in our lives! It might be only October, but it's starting to get closer and closer. So today I will be rounding up my favourite beauty gift sets on offer at Boots this year. Boots have really upped their game this year in the beauty world, with a ton of new brands to choose from, so from affordable treats to luxury gifts, there's something for every occasion and recipient.
 

The Classics

 
This year you can still find all the classic Boots Christmas brands - the ones that always have a huge shelf dedicated to them. Soap and Glory is one of my favourites of these, because their sets are always great value, especially if you know someone who has never tried them out before. For only £10, five mini bestsellers and a tin to keep them all in is a steal, as is this makeup set - the mascara is worth that much on its own!

I remember when Jack Wills Christmas sets first came to Boots, years ago when almost my entire wardrobe was from there, and still today I think they are great sets. This beanie hat and body lotion is perfect for winter time, as is this mug set which even comes with hot chocolate and marshmallows! For essential beauty at any age, this Ted Baker set is perfect.

With the mass of hand sanitiser we're currently using, a hand cream set is an ideal gift. This one from Joules is super cute, including a cream and a gentle exfoliator. I also love their foot care set including some very cosy fluffy socks - is it just me, or is one of the best things to get at Christmas fluffy socks?!
 

Nails

 
I always love the nail polish sets at Christmas because they always include the most exciting golden sparkly shades! This Nails Inc set includes a pink, a berry and a neutral which basically provides you with the perfect shades for any occasion! This No.7 set includes 5 really pretty shades too - tried and tested, No.7's nail polishes are great. I do however find it a little ironic that both these nail sets have the word 'party' in the name, which are pretty much impossible with the new distancing rules! 


Luxury Beauty

 
MAC is now at Boots! That was probably one of the only good things to come out of 2020. Yes, I know, you can find these sets in MAC's own shops / every department store, but then you couldn't earn Boots points on it, could you?! I love their firework inspired sets this year, including a lip kit which comes in two shades, blush and berry, and a highlight and brush set to achieve the perfect glow. 

I also love Too Faced's Christmas range in Boots this year - their melted lipstick set is perfect for any lipstick fan, especially if they haven't tried a Too Faced Melted Matte lipstick yet, because here you get four shades to try and choose from - spoiler, they're one of the best lipsticks around. This mini-sized palette is also super cute and the warm golden tones scream Christmas festivity!

Benefit Cosmetics' range of sets are great value and perfect for every price bracket - starting at as little as £13.50 ranging to about the £50 mark. This 'badgal to the bone' set is £28.50 and includes two full sized products and one travel size, but I also love the three miniatures for £13.50. Considering one mini sized product retails at about £12, it's fair to say this is a very good deal.

I also have to rave about Pixi Beauty's Christmas products, including a glow tonic in festive packaging, and a set of three toners to try out. Glow tonic is one of my skincare essentials, and I first tried it at Christmas a couple of years ago. This is the perfect way of trying a new skincare brand if you're not too sure if you'll love it - although, trust me, you will!


Brushes

 
Makeup brushes make a perfect gift for a beauty lover - it means they can finally get rid of those old grotty ones in time for the new year and replace them with some new ones, which, if you choose Real Techniques, will also be styled in Christmas sparkle. However, I also love Spectrum brushes' range this year, their brushes are great quality and the pale pink is so pretty.
 

Newbies

 
Time to celebrate a couple more new brands included in the Christmas shop this year! Boots released their 'Glow' range a few months back and it has been packaged into some perfect sets for Christmas. I am also excited to see cult brand Frank Body this year, there's a few different scrub sets to choose from. Christmas sets are the perfect opportunity to try out a brand new brand!  
 

The Perfect Accessories 


Skinny Dip are a great brand for beauty accessories and their ranges in Boots this Christmas are gorgeous. This navy 'cloud and stars' makeup bag is absolutely dreamy, while the bamboo travel cup is an on-the-go essential.
 

Let me know what your favourite sets at Boots are this year - which brands are you most excited about?

EG x

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Pretty In Pink: The Charlotte Tilbury Eye Quad

Wednesday, October 07, 2020


 
Charlotte Tilbury's Luxury palettes are exactly that - a luxurious package of four gorgeous complimenting eye shadows. They have now been expanded into a variety of shades, from golds, purples, or even green tones, something to suit every eye colour and skin tone. There's also a range of finishes too; some palettes include four very festive shimmery shades, while some have four mattes, and some are somewhere in between.
 
I had become a little bored of the huge, everything-you-could-ever-need eyeshadow palettes, and fancied something a little smaller and prettier in my makeup bag instead. After looking at eye quads from different brands, it is little wonder that I instantly fell in love with Charlotte Tilbury's palette range. The burgundy and rose gold packaging is stunning, and every shade combination offered something different.
 

After much deliberation, I settled on the Pillow Talk palette. Charlotte Tilbury's 'Pillow Talk' range is her best-seller,  so popular that one 'Pillow Talk' product is sold every three minutes! Starting with one gorgeous, cult-favourite lipstick, the collection has grown and includes blush, mascara, eyeliner, and of course an eyeshadow palette. The range is inspired by soft rosy-pink hues, which make up this palette.
 
As mentioned, as a quad the palette features four shades. This one has two shimmers and two mattes, which makes it perfect to create a look with this palette alone, you have everything you need! 
Unfortunately, the shades don't have names, which I may have expected from a luxury brand, but because there's only four it's very easy to differentiate.
 

The shade in the top left is a really pretty champagne-pink shimmer, a very classic and wearable shade. I consider this the highlighting shade of the palette and use it in the inner corner of the eyelid. It's not an 'in your face' shimmer, more of a satin finish which makes it really easy to blend out.

On the top right is our first matte of the two. It is a blush, rosy pink that I blend into the crease with a fluffy brush to begin a look. I am all about rosy shades like this right now so I really can't get enough of it. It's quite a light and neutral shade, for a classic everyday look this could be blended all over the lid for a really pretty rosy tint.

Underneath that one is the second matte. This is a pink with more of a dusky brown tone, perfect for adding depth to the eye. It might be my favourite out of the four, it's very pigmented and easy to blend and I simply love this sort of shade, it's really pretty in the outer corner of the eye.

The fourth and final shade in the palette is a rose gold shimmer - this one is very sparkly and effective placed all over the lid with a little flat brush. This shade really makes your eye pop! It's much more glittery than the other shimmer shade in the palette, you can tell the difference between their two finishes, and how the one above it is definitely more of a satin.
 

The four shades compliment each other so well and work perfectly together to create a classic eye look, which can be taken from day to night with the addition of a bit more of the shimmer and darker matte, to add depth. All of the shades are very pigmented - they are really a dream formula! I also found the shades very long-lasting, as long as I used an eye primer, they're good to go the entire day.

The palette retails at £40, which is rather pricey as this evens out at £10 a shade. Thinking about the fact that you get triple the amount of shades in an Urban Decay or Too Faced palette for a very similar price point, is it worth it? For a treat, I would say so - it is the perfect travel palette that looks and feels very luxurious. It is a special item to have in your collection, and all of the four shades are super wearable. If you're often overwhelmed by a bigger palette, or feel like you won't get the use out of all the shades, this is definitely suitable for you.
 

Have you ever tried Charlotte Tilbury's eyeshadows before? I have been won over by this palette and now I am eyeing up which one I want to try next - the orange toned Desert Haze is calling my name!

Purchase the Pillow Talk palette at Selfridges or John Lewis
 

EG x

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An Updated Vinyl Collection

Saturday, October 03, 2020


I wrote up a vinyl collection over two years ago, when I had only owned my record player for a few months, but today I think we are long overdue an update. My collection has more than doubled in the time since my last post - which sounds like I've added quite a lot!

You will see a theme of mostly similar artists because generally because while I love a huge variety of music, usually it's just the odd track of an artist that I can find on Spotify - these are all full albums that I truly love. You'll also notice that I love vinyls that are a little bit different - translucent, coloured, picture discs - so will be sharing with you the best ways to get a hold of these! This is definitely going to be a bumper post, so get comfortable!
 
Let's start with my first ever vinyl, The Script's Freedom Child. We ordered this from their official store, so I love that it is signed. Their latest album, Sunsets & Full Moons (I really recommend a listen, every track on this is incredible) is a picture disc and I love how unique it is. I also ordered their #3 album pretty cheap on Amazon and it sounds so good on vinyl.


I mentioned in my last collection that I really wanted Harry Styles' album on vinyl and now I have just that - twice! While I play the normal black vinyl a ton, I also have a pink version of the vinyl that my parents got me after A Level results, which was released to celebrate 2 years of his debut. It's so pretty! Speaking of funky vinyls, possibly the coolest design of my collection has to go to Fine Line, his most recent album. The black and white splatter print certainly isn't something you see everyday and I think it's amazing.
 

Speaking of One Direction members, I also have both albums by Niall Horan on vinyl. His Flicker vinyl was one of the first to enter my collection so when he recently released his new album, it only felt right to order it. The Heartbreak Weather vinyl is a limited edition green which is super cool and I have loved getting to know the album recently - his single Nice To Meet Ya is a firm favourite but I also love the title track Heartbreak Weather.

An artist I absolutely love is Taylor Swift and I have been slowly adding her albums to my collection. I finally got 1989 not so long ago, which I was really excited about because it is one of my favourite albums. I also love the translucent pink and blue of the Lover vinyl. One of my most played vinyls has to be George Ezra's Staying At Tamara's. It is still one of my favourite albums two years on; every single track on it is incredible. 


Unsurprisingly my Coldplay collection has grown a fair bit - last time I only owned A Rush Of Blood To The Head, their second album and one of my favourites. I have now added A Head Full Of Dreams which might actually be my favourite album ever? The Butterfly Package is a live vinyl from their Head Full of Dreams tour - this was a pricey one, being three gorgeous gold discs, and two dvds (concert and documentary), but I was very happy to get this at Christmas and believe it is totally worth it. While that one is gold, their latest album Everyday Life is a lovely silver which perfectly matches their black and white cover. This album feels more like a masterpiece, with my favourite tracks being Orphans, Champion of the World and Everyday Life.
 

I'm very proud of the fact I own all four of The 1975's albums on vinyl, it feels like a proper collection. I still remember how excited I was the day HMV had their first two vinyls on offer for £19.75! Their most recent album, Notes on a Conditional Form is the latest addition to my vinyl collection and I love how its sleeve is made with recycled materials. 

On the subject of The 1975, I also have to mention the 7 inch vinyls that have recently been added to my collection. Instead of the usual 12 inch vinyl, these tend to only have a couple of songs on which makes them a cute collectible. By The 1975 I own Medicine and Loving Someone; I picked both of these up at the independent record label day at Coal Drops Yard, just behind Kings Cross, for £5 each. This event happens twice a year and you can get some amazing vinyl - just be aware that for The 1975 stuff, you will have to queue!


T H E  F U L L  C O L L E C T I O N 

12 INCH 

The Script - Freedom Child
The Script - #3
The Script - Sunsets & Full Moons
Niall Horan - Flicker
Niall Horan - Heartbreak Weather
Ed Sheeran - +
Ed Sheeran - X
The Killers - Hot Fuss
Coldplay - A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Coldplay - A Head Full Of Dreams
Coldplay - The Butterfly Package
Coldplay - Everyday Life
Taylor Swift - Reputation
Taylor Swift - 1989
Taylor Swift - Lover
5 Seconds Of Summer - Youngblood
The 1975 - The 1975
The 1975 - I Like It When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It
The 1975 - A Brief Enquiry Into Online Relationships 
The 1975 - Notes On A Conditional Form
George Ezra - Wanted On Voyage
George Ezra - Staying At Tamara's
Harry Styles - Harry Styles (x2)
Harry Styles - Fine Line 
Sam Fender - Hypersonic Missiles
 
7 INCH
 
The 1975 - Medicine
The 1975 - Loving Someone
Coldplay - Orphans / Arabesque
 

  W H E R E  T O  B U Y  T H E M


Back in the day, certainly when I wrote my last vinyl collection post, I used to buy the majority of my vinyls from HMV. This was because of their loyalty card scheme which meant I could eventually earn enough points to get one for free. However, since they went into administration, ending the scheme and closing a lot of stores, they no longer became my point of call.

I am a huge fan of collecting vinyl records in fun colours and prints and the easiest way to find these is usually the artist's official store. This is where you'll find the exclusives, usually at the same price as a standard black vinyl from other retailers. Often, exclusives are saved for independent record stores too, which are worth a look in if you're in a big city. If you're more accustomed to shopping online, The Sound of Vinyl's website has a lot of deals and exclusives of a huge range of music.

H O W  I  S T O R E  T H E M


I think vinyls are too pretty to just be kept away all the time, so I love displaying them on shelves on my wall. I only had room for six vinyls up there so I change them around regularly. The rest of my vinyls are kept in a super handy rose gold storage box. They are so easy to sort through in there, and the handle means you can transport them anywhere - although because the box is nearly full, it is pretty heavy!!

W H A T  N E X T ?


As you can see my record collection has grown quite a lot now so there aren't too many gaps that need filling. George Ezra's first album Wanted On Voyage was at the top of my list for quite a while, but I picked that one up last week! One of the next vinyls to come into my collection will be Taylor Swift's Folklore that I have pre-ordered. It's a long wait, from July until late November, but the limited edition style (I got the Into The Weeds edition with dark green vinyl) will be worth it. There's still plenty of Coldplay albums I want to add, but they can be quite expensive, so that will take some time!


I'd love to hear what is in your vinyl collection!

EG x

Read my original vinyl collection here.
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