A Cottage By The Sea by Carole Matthews.

A lovely warm tale of friendship and romance.

I found this book a little slow to start and if I'm honest a little predictable but don't let that put you off, it's a brilliant book to read to cheer you up and as ever with books written by Carole Matthews the writing is warm and makes you fall in love with the characters straight away.

Books by this author always have characters that are so relateable and quite frankly you'd love to be friends with, and in this book these characters are Grace and Ella, but all the characters were strong and interesting in their own right.

I particularly loved the setting of this book.  I'm probably quite like the main character Grace, in that I love being outside by the coast, enjoying nature (if only on a lesser scale, there'd be no coasteering for me, just a nice long walk watching the wildlife) so reading about the beautiful scenery, weather and activities they enjoyed in the book made me want to rush out and check myself into my own cottage by the sea!

Definitely a book to take away on holiday with you.

Title: A Cottage By The Sea
Author: Carole Matthews

When I Fall In Love by Miranda Dickinson.

If you want a bubbly fun bit of chick-lit stuffed full of romance, family and friendship then this is the book for you.

As the cover illustration suggests this book takes the characters on a trip to Paris; a trip that turns out to be emotional for all the right reasons. But there is much more to it than that as the book takes you on a journey of new beginnings, filled with hope and a notion that you can believe in the goodness of other people.  I really enjoyed this book and sat crying more than once whilst reading it, it's full of heartwarming moments of family and friendship; despite there being several set backs for different characters, and it's crammed full of romance too.

The main character Elsie Maynard works in a retro ice cream shop that sounds amazing, you'll read it wishing you could jump into the book and try some of the crazy flavours of ice cream and delicious sounding cakes.

There characters in this book are strong and relateable and unlike other books you don't get confused when quite a few new characters are introduced together.  It's easy to recommend this book to fans of chick-lit as with romance, travel, births, deaths, relationships and new adventures there is something for everyone to relate to. 
If you've ever needed a little inspiration that there's hope in new beginnings then this book will inspire you to go ahead and jump in.

Title: When I Fall In Love
Author: Miranda Dickinson

The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris by Jenny Colgan.

This was my first Jenny Colgan book and I was definitely read another after enjoying this.  As is quite apparent from the title that this book is about a chocolate shop in Paris.  There are two main female characters, both of whom are very relateable, and each character's story is told at the same time, despite one taking place in the 1970's and one in the current day.

I started reading this book before my trip to Paris and really enjoyed it, but I could appreciate it a whole lot more after the trip as I could picture the places mentioned in the story.

I did feel the ease with which Anna picked up the French language was a little unrealistic as I know I would struggle if I moved to a foreign country, but I could forgive this having read the foreword in which Jenny explains the way she has written the book.

All in all this is a lovely romantic book that makes you feel like you want to go out into the world and have an adventure just like Anna's; totally uplifting.

Title: The Loveliest Chocolate Shop In Paris
Author: Jenny Colgan

Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick.

This book reminded me of The Perks Of Being A Wallflower, although I have to say I preferred Wallflower.  
It's a story of a Pat who has bipolar disorder and his journey as he leaves his care home 'the bad place' and returns to his family home.

There are lots of interesting characters in this book but a bit too much emphasis on the details of football matches that Pat took an interest in, because I couldn't take less of an interest in them if I tried.

I did find the plot a little predictable but it was still an okay read, and is only a short book.

There has been a film adaptation of this book which is next on my list to watch.

Title: The Silver Linings Playbook
Author: Matthew Quick

The Almost Lizard by James Higgerson.

This book tells the life story of Danny Lizard and his many attempts to reinvent himself.  When he was young he took an interest in T.V. soap operas and ever since then he immersed himself into the idea that he was the star of his own soap, his every day life making up the episodes.

The book grabs you from the start with the opening explaining that Danny will kill himself when he has finished telling his story.

The book is set in the North West of England and is packed full of strong characters.  Despite some of the things Danny does being very manipulative you stay 'on his side' through the whole book.  
Once you get into the story you'll be kept intrigued right through to the end wondering what 'plot twist' Danny will come up with next.

Title: The Almost Lizard
Author: James Higgerson

The Diving-Bell And The Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby.

This is a very short book with an interesting story.  It gives an insight into the world of Jean-Dominique following him waking from a coma suffering from Locked-In Syndrome.

I didn't read the 'extras' at the back of the book until after I'd finished the story but I would recommend reading them first to appreciate the book in full.
Bauby remarkably wrote the book by dictating each letter through a blink of an eyelid.

The book is set in France and translated from French.  The story is well worth a read, giving an insight into Bauby's life before and after his injury.

Title: The Diving Bell And The Butterfly
Author: Jean-Dominique Bauby