Bookishly Jessie

When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between by Ruth Jones & James Corden | Audiobook Review

posted on

13/2/2026

by

Jessie

in

Audiobooks, Book Reviews, James Corden, Memoir, Nonfiction, Ruth Jones

When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between by Ruth Jones & James Corden
Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir
Listening Length: 4h 53m
Published By: Transworld Digital on 9th October, 2025
Format: Audiobook
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Book Synopsis:

When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between is the story of how Ruth and James turned their little show about ordinary life into a full-on cultural phenomenon.

As they recount the highs and lows they faced along the way, Ruth and James explore the journey of their real-life friendship, the making of the show and the relationship between Nessa and Smithy that had the nation glued to their screens.

Full of revelations and anecdotes to working scripts and never-before-seen photographs including:

The story behind Nessa’s iconic look
The original treatment for the show
And maybe pictures from that fishing trip…

This one-of-a kind memoir takes you behind the scenes of one of the most iconic and beloved shows in British television history. Here are the details of what’s occurred every step of the way, from initial pitch to final day of filming, and all the love that followed.

When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between is the perfect final chapter in this incredible story. Essential reading for all Gavin and Stacey fans.

Book Review

Being a fan of Gavin and Stacey, I knew I had to get to this book eventually. However, my sister recently listened to it on Audible and highly recommended it, so I thought why not now. This review is going to be quite short because there isn’t much to say apart from the fact that I LOVED it!! I binged listened to this book in 1 day.

I need to get a physical copy as a trophy for my bookshelves. That being said, I would 100% recommend listening to this by itself or alongside reading it physically. The audio is literally listening to two best friends having an informal conversation about the Gavin and Stacey journey. It almost felt ‘podcast’ style, and I really enjoyed that element.

Alongside the narration from Ruth and James, there are parts of the book where clips from the show are played. I absolutely loved this because it broke up just listening to stories being told. It was a great element to add in because you could hear how a part that Ruth and James were explaining ended up sounding in the show.

This book made me laugh, smile and emotional at parts. Although it’s a ‘behind the scenes’ story on the creation and making of Gavin and Stacey, it actually feels like a love letter between Ruth and James and their friendship over the years. You can feel the love that they have for one another as well as for the show all the way throughout listening to this book.

It’s such a cosy and heart-warming audiobook that has immediately made me want to rewatch Gavin and Stacey again! If you’re a fan of the show, then I would HIGHLY recommend listening to/reading this book!

Cracking. Tidy. Absolutely lush.

Rating: 5 out of 5.
Maybe This Time by Cara Bastone | Audiobook Review

posted on

7/2/2026

by

Jessie

in

Audiobooks, Book Reviews, Cara Bastone, Contemporary, Romance

Maybe This Time by Cara Bastone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Listening Length: 5h 45m
Published By: Audible Originals on 2nd May, 2024
Format: Audiobook
Add to Goodreads

Book Synopsis:

Romance can be a little complicated when you get sucked into a wormhole. Just ask high school English teacher June Flint. One little solar flare happens and suddenly you find yourself 85 years in the future. Eighty-five years from your dream job. Your ailing mother whose only companion in this world is you. Your favorite stuffed-crust pizza from DeLucia’s on Sunday nights.

But when June’s cell phone inexplicably picks up a signal, she’s able to call back to the present—more specifically, four weeks before she accidentally time traveled. Problem is, the phone can only call one number: her work nemesis, gym teacher Mikey Shannon.

Now future June must help Mikey befriend present-day June to keep her from disappearing. But present-day June doesn’t even want to be in the same room as Mikey, let alone become besties. And Mikey isn’t exactly…talkie. Yet he’s spending hours a day with future June on the phone, and even more time trying to befriend present-day June. Volunteering with June at school, check. Facing his fear of roller coasters to make June smile, check. Adopting a puppy and letting her name it. Check.

But what does succeeding in the present mean for future June, and for the serious feelings she and Mikey are starting to catch for one another? Stopping time travel is one thing—but can they stop themselves from falling in love?

Book Review

I’d heard of this author from social media before but hadn’t picked up any of their books. I was looking for free audiobooks on Audible (not sure if you need a subscription already) so I thought I’d give this one a try. I will admit that I went into this book without knowing anything about it. This review is going to be quite short as I don’t have too much to say…

This is a full-cast narrated audiobook with sound effects included. I’ve never listened to an audiobook like this before so I did really enjoy this element. I felt more immersed into the story. The story is pretty much all dialogue. Again, I’ve not read a story like this before so it was an interesting change from the norm I read.

I have to be honest and say that I wasn’t really feeling the chemistry between the two main characters… They felt more like friends communicating rather than potential love interests. Out of the main characters, I much prefer the MMC. He’s like an excitable golden retriever which does compliment the shy FMC but I think romantically they weren’t doing it for me.

The plot was interesting and I liked the sci-fi element (time travel/wormhole) but it didn’t feel very well executed. There were times when it felt very repetitive and some parts felt like they had been added as filler. Due to this, I don’t think the audiobook needs to be as long as it is. I listened to it on 1.7x speed and it still felt like it was dragging in parts.

If you want a cute free romance audiobook with a sci-fi element then you may like this. Overall it was an okay/average read but I’m unsure whether I’d read from this author again. I’m glad that this was free to listen to and I didn’t have to waste an Audible credit on it… Maybe I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I thought I would because it was a lot different to my typical audiobooks. Honestly, I think I could be the problem and not the book…

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.
Birthstone Book Covers – February: Amethyst

posted on

6/2/2026

by

Jessie

in

Monthly Book Challenges
Well, we’re finally a few days into February! January felt like the longest month ever but it’s my mom’s birthday month now and what a fun way to celebrate by sharing some purple books.

Leslie at Books Are The New Black hosts this fun monthly theme and I had a look at February which I thought would be fun to take part in.

The rules are simple:
- Mention the creator (Leslie @ Books Are The New Black) and link back so she can see your post!
- Pick 5+ book covers that match the current month’s Birthstone.
- HAVE FUN!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY… to all the February babies out there!

February’s birthstone is a Amethyst and after doing a little research, I found some interesting information on this website for what it means…

“The name amethyst derives from the Greek amethystos, which means ‘a remedy against drunkenness,’ a benefit long ascribed to the purple birthstone. Because of its wine-like color, early Greek mythology associated the gem with Bacchus, the god of wine. Amethyst was also believed to keep the wearer clear headed and quick witted in battle and business affairs. Renaissance Europeans thought it calmed lovers overrun by passion.”

Right, lets get onto the book covers that I was able to find from books I’ve read (still own) and books on my TBR. This was a hard month, not because of the colour but because I didn’t have many deep purple shades. I’ve had to include some lighter purple book covers on here also.
1. Geekerella by Ashley Poston (Read – still own)
2. Powerless by Elsie Silver (Read – still own)
3. A Whole New World by Liz Braswell (TBR)
4. A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher (Read – still own)
5. Paladin’s Grace by T. Kingfisher (TBR)
6. Aladdin by Lily Murray (Read – still own)
7. What Once Was Mine by Liz Braswell (Read – still own)
8. The One We Fell in Love With by Paige Toon (Read – still own)
9. Hocus Pocus & The All-New Sequel by A W Jantha (Read – still own)
This was a lot of fun to take part in for February and I’ve already taken a sneak peak for March which I will try to take part in!

What amethyst books would you recommend? What would you add to the list?
The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez | Book Review

posted on

2/2/2026

by

Jessie

in

Abby Jimenez, Book Reviews, Contemporary, Romance

The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez
Series: Valentines Day #2
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 81
Published By: Amazon Original Stories on 1st March, 2025
Format: Ebook
Add to Goodreads
Buy on Amazon (not affiliated)

Book Synopsis:

It’s Valentine’s Day weekend, and Charlotte and Seth are not looking for romance. Armed with emotional-support bear spray, Charlotte is in self-imposed isolation and on guard from men. Having a stalker can do that to a person’s nerves. Just across the hall and giving off woodsy vibes is Seth, a recently divorced arborist. As in today recently. Heights, he’s fine with. Trust? Not so much. But when disaster traps them one flight up and no way down, an outrageously precarious predicament forces a tree-loving guy and a rattled girl next door to embrace their captivity. Soon their defences are breaking away. Considering how close they both are to the edge, Charlotte and Seth could be in danger of falling—in love.

Book Review

I was looking for books set either on or around Valentines Day for the month of February and I stumbled across this one. This is my first Abby Jimenez book and I thought I would try out her writing style with a cute little novella. Because I have Amazon Prime, the eBook is included, so I didn’t have to pay for it. Win, win!

The book’s short length makes the romance feel very insta-lovey—a trope I don’t usually enjoy—but the execution works well for the needs of the plot. The main characters are well suited to each other, and both held my interest from beginning to end. I also really liked the side characters in this book. They didn’t feel out of place and I liked seeing the glimpses of romance blossoming between them too.

The forced proximity situation was unlike anything I’d read before. It was humorous and cleverly done by Jimenez. At first, I wasn’t sure how it would all work, but everything came together in the end and fit the title perfectly.

Be mindful of stalking being a trigger warning. Since the book is so short, it handles the stalking aspect well without being overbearing. Jimenez was able to put so much depth into such a short story and I was really rooting for both main characters because of their backstories.

Overall, this was a lovely, fast-paced, and heartfelt read. I was left wanting so much more—I honestly would’ve loved a full-length version of this story. The dialogue at times was a bit corny but the romance and banter itself made up for these moments. If you’re looking for a quick romance palate cleanser with forced proximity and found family then I’d definitely suggest giving this one a read. After this, I’m definitely intrigued to try a full-length novel by Abby Jimenez. I’m just not sure which one…

Rating: 4 out of 5.
January Reading Wrap-up

posted on

1/2/2026

by

Jessie

in

Reading Wrap-Ups

January has been a really good reading month for me to kick of 2026 — I was able to read 13 books in total!

Pages read: 3,568

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas – Started: 15th December – Finished: 1st January.
This is book #2 in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series which I read physically. I absolutely loved this book and I can’t wait to continue on with the series! Team Rhysand all the way <3

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Disney Animated Classics: The Little Mermaid by Lily Murray – Started: 1st January – Finished: 1st January.
This is book is a short story of the movie with illustrated pictures straight from the making of the story/movie which I read physically. This was a cute, fun read.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Accidentally Wedded to a Werewolf by Isabelle Taylor – Started: 31st December – Finished: 4th January.
This is book #1 in the Claw Haven series which I read as an ebook on my Kindle. I read this as part of the monthly book club for Romanceopoly. It was an okay read but I don’t think I will be continuing on with the series.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher – Started: 7th January – Finished: 9th January.
This is a standalone book which I read physically. This was my first T. Kingfisher book and I really enjoyed it. Definitely can’t wait to read more from them!

Rating: 4 out of 5.

10 Things To Do Before I Go by Chantelle Mathewson – Started: 9th January – Finished: 10th January.
This is book #1 in the 10 Things series which I read as an ebook on my Kindle. I read this for the January prompt of ‘before’ or ‘after’ for BooksandLala’s Buzzword challenge. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. Really looking forward to when the next one releases!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Sons of Fenris by Lee Lightner – Started: 3rd January – Finished: 10th January.
This is book #5 in the Space Wolf series which I listened to on Audible. This was a little better than the previous one but I am excited to get to the next one to finish the series.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Delicious in Dungeon Vol 6 by Ryoko Kui – Started: 11th January – Finished: 11th January.
This is book #6 in the Delicious in Dungeon manga series which I read physically. So glad I’ve finally dived back into this series because I forgot how much fun it is. Can’t wait to get to the next one!

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris – Started: 11th January – Finished: 12th January.
This is book #1 in the The Tattooist of Auschwitz series which I read physically. This book hit me deep in my soul. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I finished it. Really need to get to the next one in the series soon!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Leman Russ: The Great Wolf by Chris Wraight – Started: 13th January – Finished: 15th January.
This is book #2 in the The Horus Heresy: Primarchs series which I listened to on Audible whilst reading physically. I will only be reading this book in the series because I wanted to learn about who is in charge of the Warhammer 40K army I am playing. This was incredible!!!!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

An Expert in Gibberish by Tiffany Schmidt – Started: 16th January – Finished: 16th January.
This book is from the Disney Twisted Tales Advent Calendar which I read physically. It was a cute read for a short novella, nothing amazing but nice to add to my collection.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams – Started: 21st January – Finished: 24th January.
This is book #1 in the Los Angeles Sharks duology which I read physically. I picked this up on a whim second-hand and was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it. Definitely want to get to the 2nd book this year hopefully.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Masquerade of Mirrors by Samantha Hartwood – Started: 24th January – Finished: 28th January.
This is a standalone book which I read as an ebook on my Kindle. I was lucky to be part of the author’s ARC team for this debut novel. This was such an enjoyable read and I am glad that she reached out to me to read it.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Maybe Tomorrow by Michael Wood – Started: 30th January – Finished: 31st January.
This is a standalone book which I listened to as an audiobook on Audible. This was a free book recommended to me by my fiancé’s mom. Very fast paced but the plot twist let me down.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

What was your best read for January? How many books have you read this month?
Maybe Tomorrow by Michael Wood | Audiobook Review

posted on

31/1/2026

by

Jessie

in

Audiobooks, Book Reviews, Crime, Michael Wood, Mystery/Thriller

Maybe Tomorrow by Michael Wood
Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Listening Length: 8h 55m
Published By: Audible Originals on 1st August, 2024
Format: Audiobook
Add to Goodreads
Buy on Amazon (not affiliated)

Book Synopsis:

Will the truth prevail or will someone get away with murder?

The morning after a ferocious storm, the body of a vulnerable teenage girl is found in the woods. The police are under pressure to find the killer and solve the tragedy but with thin evidence and no witnesses, the case is falling apart. Desperate to find this vicious murderer, they hunt high and low and eventually find their man: an outsider with no alibi. When the suspect confesses to the crime, it’s an open and shut case. But two women suspect foul play and dedicate their lives to working out what really happened, at all costs.

Will justice be served for the girl whose life was stolen from her? Will the killer face the punishment they deserve? Will the truth come to light? The answers are devastating but maybe tomorrow they will be found.

Although loosely inspired by a real case, this story and the characters portrayed are fictitious. No resemblance to any real person or organisation should be inferred.

Book Review

I haven’t reviewed an audiobook before so this will probably be a short one… I hadn’t heard of this before until my fiancé’s mother recommended it. It’s also a free audiobook on Audible (not sure if you need a subscription already) so I thought I’d give it a try.

Annabel Scholey narrates this book, and I think she did a great job telling the story. The book hooked me from beginning to end! The book moves at a fast pace (even when I listened at 1.7x speed), and I really enjoyed the short chapters. At times there are some significant jumps in time but I appreciate the author signposting each one so that I was able to keep up with when things were happening.

Throughout the book I was experiencing a lot of sadness and anger. The author does a great job of handling Anthony’s character whilst also instilling empathy and sympathy towards him. The book provokes a lot of thought by showing the injustice and how things should have been handled differently. I haven’t stopped talking to my fiancé’s mother about it since finishing it.

The only real let down for me was that I didn’t find the twist shocking enough. I will admit that I did not guess who it was until the very end and I like that in a mystery/thriller. However, the reasonings behind why they did it just didn’t feel right… The book ended on a very ‘meh’ note for me. The last 20ish seconds of the book though brought a tear to my eye.

If you are wanting a quick palate cleanser, enjoy crime/mystery/thriller books or something to listen to whilst doing other things then I would say to give it a go. Overall, the book made a solid first impression from a new author, but the twist and ending let me down.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
Masquerade of Mirrors by Samantha Hartwood | ARC Review

posted on

28/1/2026

by

Jessie

in

Book Reviews, Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Samantha Hartwood

Masquerade of Mirrors by Samantha Hartwood
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy
Pages: 592
Published: on 17th February, 2026
Format: Ebook
Source: Gifted
Add to Goodreads

Book Synopsis:

The only thing more dangerous than falling for a lie is falling for the liar.

Don’t look at the desert. Don’t think about the desert. Never step onto the sand. Taera has followed these rules her entire life—until he arrives.

Impossibly gorgeous, with a face masked in magic, Nikolai kidnaps Taera and drags her deep into the dunes. He says she’s powerful and needs to be trained…if she ever wants to see her family again.

Thrust into a deadly school of illusions and lies, Taera can’t trust anyone. Especially not her breathtaking, ruthless captor. Top student and notorious liar, his secrets run deeper than the sand. He’s her worst nightmare—and everything she craves.

The cutthroat Halls of Glass have a mind of their own. Trapped within their looping corridors, Taera is surrounded by hostile students and forced to rely on Nikolai.

Taera knows she shouldn’t fall for his illusions. But magic requires a partnership, and he’s the only mage who can handle her wild, untamed power.

And the only way he’ll help her is if she pretends to be his.

Book Review

*I received an ARC copy of this book, but all opinions are entirely my own and honest.

I’d never heard of this author before until they reached out to me asking if I wanted to be part of their ARC team for their debut novel. The cover caught my eye, the blurb drew me in, and I was immediately intrigued. I don’t normally read Dark Academia but I thought I would push myself out of my comfort zone… I’m so glad I did!

Considering this is the author’s debut, the writing is impressively strong. Hartwood does such a great job with the descriptions for the world-building of the desert, the Halls of Glass etc. The dialogue didn’t feel forced at all between the characters too. My only critique for thus book is that I would’ve liked a bit more lore regarding the desert and why people fear it…

There was good pace overall throughout the story. The opening was a little slow for me, but I was still intrigued by where the story was going. Once I reached the halfway point, the pace picked up a lot and I was even more hooked into the story. My only downside was that the ending felt a little rushed to me.

Out of the main characters, I much preferred the MMC to the FMC. I like the air or mystery and broodiness that Nikolai gave off. Although Taera is a good character, she isn’t my favourite. However, the slow-burn romance between the two of them was very enjoyable. And when I say slow-burn… I mean slooow burn (it’s so worth it though)! By the end of the book, I felt the main characters were well fleshed out. We got to uncover secrets about both of them which I did not see coming at all. The book is dual POV and I enjoyed this aspect but honestly, I would’ve more chapters from Nikolai.

The magic system is refreshingly unique and unlike anything I’ve ever read. I will admit that it was a little confusing to begin with trying to understand what the magic system is. However, as the story progressed, it started to make more sense. I think the author may have done this intentionally so that the reader is able to figure it out alongside the FMC. I personally liked trying to figure it out instead of knowing right from the beginning. It was a good choice as it helped the story to unfold.

If you are a fan of academia books with magic and a hint of spice, then I would suggest giving this one a read. This would also be great if you enjoy a good slow-burn, morally grey men and a dangerous setting!

Rating: 4 out of 5.
The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams | Book Review

posted on

24/1/2026

by

Jessie

in

Book Reviews, Contemporary, Romance, Sarah Adams

The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams
Series: Los Angeles Sharks #1
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 311
Published By: Headline Eternal on 17th August, 2021
Format: Paperback
Add to Goodreads
Buy on Amazon (not affiliated)

Book Synopsis:

Bree Camden is helplessly (and secretly) in love with her long-time best friend and NFL legend, Nathan Donelson. And that’s the least of her problems. After a car accident ended her chance of becoming a ballerina, Bree now runs her own dance studio – if she can afford the rent to keep it open, that is.

When Nathan comes to the rescue and buys the entire building, a stubborn Bree is not happy about it. Rebelling with a couple – okay, maybe more than a couple – of tequila shots, she spills her deepest, darkest secret to a TMZ reporter. One viral video later, the world thinks Nathan and Bree are the perfect couple and Nathan’s publicist has an idea that could mean financial security for Bree.

The catch? They have to pretend to be in love. For three. whole. weeks.

Is now the moment for Bree to finally act on her hidden feelings?
And is it possible that Nathan has been hiding some of his own?

Book Review

I picked this book up completely on a whim second-hand last week. I’d seen this book all over social media for the past few years, but I was never interested in picking it up. I’m really glad I did though as this is the first Sarah Adams book I’ve read!

When I saw it was fake dating, I was immediately sold, but I have to admit I don’t know how I feel about that trope being used alongside friends to lovers… The back and forth between the main characters with their feelings towards each other was a little annoying at times.

That being said, I really liked both main characters! Did they act a little bit like high schoolers sometimes? Yes. Were they a bit cringy with each other sometimes? Also yes. I’m surprised this didn’t take away from my enjoyment. I think both characters were well fleshed out, and the mental health representation was handled well. The side characters were also a great addition into the story. There wasn’t a single side character that I didn’t like… well apart from the MMCs mother.

The book does start off slow in pace but once I got to the 100 page mark I started to really get into the story. The start was okay, but I enjoyed it much more once the fake dating trope was introduced. There were times where I actually giggled which doesn’t normally happen in books for me.

The romance in this book is definitely a slow burn and there isn’t any spice. I personally don’t mind whether there’s spice included in the books I read or not. I love how the author included what the ‘cheat sheet’ looked like at the end of the book — it was great to help with visualisation. The romance isn’t anything jaw dropping but it was very cute and a lot of fun.

I haven’t read many sports romances before so I was a little apprehensive going into this one. However, I like how the author didn’t shove the sports aspect in my face. I think it complimented the story well and I enjoyed getting to see glimpses into both the ballet and the football throughout.

If you like sports romance, fake dating or friends to lovers then I would say to check this one out. Yes, the romance could be seen as cheesy, but I sometimes love a cheesy romance. If you need this type of fix then this could be the book for you!

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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