For the last couple of years, I've shared the perfect books to travel the world from your own couch (check out my other Top Holidays Reads here) so today I am bringing you a brand new list with 10 stories set all around the world. Get ready to discover some amazing new places! 

If you also love travelling through books, don't miss our route. There's a book for everyone:

Somewhere Beyond the Sea: St Ives, Cornwall (UK).

Miranda Dickinson's latest book is a gorgeous story about love, family and hope. But it is also a love letter to St Ives and its beautiful beaches. This story really reminded me how to appreciate the little things and the joy they bring and let me discover a part of the UK that I haven't had the pleasure of visiting yet (stress on the YET). 

Read my 5 stars review here | Get it now!

The Temptation of Gracie: Tuscany, Italy.

Santa Montefiore's new book is set in a stunning castle in Tuscany. With its dual time line, you get to discover this magical place both nowadays and the sixties and it is impossible not to fall in love with it. The descriptions of the stunning scenery and delicious food are generous and detailed and you can easily picture the castle and the village next to it in your mind perfectly.

Read my 4 stars review here | Get it now!

You Me Everything: the South of France.

This story by Catherine Isaac is one of my favorite books of the year so far. I loved the plot, I loved the characters and I loved the setting. Well, I loved everything. The story is about single mum Jess and her ten-year-old son William and their summer in France, where William's father has renovated a castle as a holiday resort. It's easy get lost in the stunning scenery of Château de Roussignol. A beautiful story about love, about family, about friendship, about life...

Read my 5 stars review here | Get it now!

The Hideaway: Valencia, Spain.

In her latest book, Sheila O'Flanagan takes us to Spain. Main character, Juno, is grieving the loss of a very important person for her so she decides to take some time off and stay at the family villa of a friend in Valencia. Villa Naranja is not in the coast but a bit inland and has its own swimming pool and orange grove. The highlight of this story was the setting for me. Juno got to discover the local festivities and enjoy the Spanish way of live. 

Get it now! 

One Thousand Stars and You: Sri Lanka.

I couldn't do a holiday reads list without including one of Isabelle Broom's amazing stories. In her latest book, she takes us on a stunning tour of Sri Lanka. Full of magical moments, heart-melting romance and intense emotions, One Thousand Stars and You is unmissable. I felt completely in love with this story and its characters and I am now 100 % obsessed with Sri Lanka and its food. 

Read my 5 stars review here | Get it now!

Chasing the Sun: Great Ocean Road & Sydney, Australia

This is the fourth book in The Lonely Hearts Travel Club Series and after loving Georgia's adventures all around the globe, I was really looking forwards to joining her in her new trip down under. From the worst hostel ever and a certain big Willy in her road trip to the crazy wedding in Sydney, Georgia is definitely in for the adventure of a life time. 

Get it now!

The Summer of Impossible Things: New York

Rowan Coleman makes us believe that the impossible is possible and takes us in a journey like no other. We follow Luna and her sister to Brooklyn after their mother's death. For some inexplicable reason, Luna discovers that she is able to travel to 1977, the year that changed their mother's life forever. I loved discovering the seventies through her eyes. I could easily picture a disco obsessed Brooklyn getting ready for the release of Saturday Night Fever. A truly magical novel.

Still Me: New York

And if you enjoyed discovering Brooklyn with The Summer of Impossible Things, then you will love discovering Manhattan with Jojo Moyes' latest addition to the Me Before You Series. Louisa Clark arrives in New York ready to start a new life, thanks to her job with a superrich family, she begins to mix in New York high society. I loved discovering this more glamorous part of the city and the story was full of heart. Louisa is always there to remind us to live boldly.

Get it now!

The Wonder of Us: Eurotrip 

If you don't have time to read all the books above to do some couch-traveling, then I highly recommend you pick Kim Culbertson's new book. Riya and Abby travel all around Europe to discover its hidden wonder. With stops at Milan, Zurich, Berlin, Edinburgh, Reykjavik and London, The Wonder of Us is a fun coming of age tale that will make you want to pack your suitcases and join these two in their euroadventures. 

Get it now!

When I first heard one of my favourite authors, Jane Costello, was releasing a new book under a brand new name, I was really curious to find out more about this novel. I was lucky enough to get a very early copy and I soon discovered what a special story this was. Here are my thoughts: 

Title: You Me Everything

Author: Catherine Isaac

Published: April 19th 2018 by Simon & Schuster

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: You and me, we have history.

We have a child together.

We have kept secrets from each other for far too long.

This summer, in the beautiful hills of the Dordogne, it is time for everything to change.

You Me Everything is a heartfelt and unforgettable story about the lengths we are prepared to go to for those we love. Guaranteed to make you laugh and cry, this is novel you will never forget. Rights have sold in over twenty-two countries internationally and a film is in progress with Lionsgate. 

Review: You Me Everything promises to make you both laugh and cry that is exactly what I did while reading it. What a gorgeous story this is. I loved the plot, I loved the characters and I loved the setting. Well, I loved everything. 

The story is about single mum Jess and her ten-year-old son William and their summer in France, where William's father lives. Jess thinks it's time for William to get to know his father but the man himself seems to have many other priorities in his life.

What started like quite a simple story soon developed into an amazing one with plenty of surprises, secrets and unexpected twists. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters and their back stories and I'm already missing them terribly. I felt like they all grew up during that summer and I grew up a bit with them. 

But this story is not only about a kid reconnecting with his father, it is about so much more. About love, about family, about friendship, about life... It reminds you how frail life is and how important it is to cherish both the little things and the big ones too. 

I could keep going on and on about how beautiful and amazing and heart-wrenching and up-lifting this story is but I'm gonna stop now and let you discover it for yourself. Let me tell you one last thing though, I'm quite sure I've already found a firm contender to book of the year. And I am already looking forward to what Catherine Isaac has in store for us next.

Rating: 5 stars

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

New month, new books! Spring has finally come to Munich and with it, my new bookshelves. I am so happy with them! There's enough space for all my books and so many more to come. You can check my instagram account to have a look at them, if you are curious. Now, let's talk about new releases. April is going to be a very special bookish month with some amazing books coming out this month. Have a look at the ones I am most excited about:

Clean by Juno Dawson - April 5th 

When socialite Lexi Volkov almost overdoses, she thinks she's hit rock bottom.

She's wrong. Rock bottom is when she's forced into an exclusive rehab facility.

From there, the only way is up for Lexi and her fellow inmates, including the mysterious Brady.

As she faces her demons, Lexi realises love is the most powerful drug of all... 

It's a dirty business getting clean.

Addiction and redemption, love and despair. Clean will have you hooked from the first page.

Why so excited: I only discovered Juno Dawson last year with Margot & I. I fell completely in love with that story and although Clean looks like it has a completely different style, it sounds amazing. Plus, Marian Keyes said that she loved it and it is compulsively readable and touching. 

Order it now!

The Sapphire Widow by Dinah Jefferies - April 5th 

A sweeping, breath-taking story of love and betrayal from the Number One Sunday Times bestselling author of The Tea Planter's Wife

Ceylon, 1935. Louisa Reeve, the daughter of a successful British gem trader, and her husband Elliot, a charming, thrill-seeking businessman, seem like the couple who have it all. Except what they long for more than anything: a child.

While Louisa struggles with miscarriages, Elliot is increasingly absent, spending much of his time at a nearby cinnamon plantation, overlooking the Indian ocean. After his sudden death, Louisa is left alone to solve the mystery he left behind. Revisiting the plantation at Cinnamon Hills, she finds herself unexpectedly drawn towards the owner Leo, a rugged outdoors man with a chequered past. The plantation casts a spell, but all is not as it seems. And when Elliot's shocking betrayal is revealed, Louisa has only Leo to turn to...

Why so excited: Dinah Jefferies is one of my favourite Historical Fiction authors and her stories always transport me to the most exotic locations in the most turbulent times. I cannot wait to discover this story set in Ceylon in the thirties. 

Order it now!

Our House by Louise Candlish - April 5th 

FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE.

When Fi Lawson arrives home to find strangers moving into her house, she is plunged into terror and confusion. She and her husband Bram have owned their home on Trinity Avenue for years and have no intention of selling. How can this other family possibly think the house is theirs? And why has Bram disappeared when she needs him most?

FOR RICHER, FOR POORER.

Bram has made a catastrophic mistake and now he is paying. Unable to see his wife, his children or his home, he has nothing left but to settle scores. As the nightmare takes grip, both Bram and Fi try to make sense of the events that led to a devastating crime. What has he hidden from her – and what has she hidden from him? And will either survive the chilling truth – that there are far worse things you can lose than your house? 

TILL DEATH US DO PART.

Why so excited: I've already read and reviewed this one and Our House is a really original and unique story that stretches the boundaries of a family to the limit. It's domestic noir at its best and the writing is exquisite. Read my full review here. You can also learn more about this book in the write up of the Spring Blogger Evening. 

Order it now!

Never Greener by Ruth Jones - April 5th 

The past has a habit of tracking us down. And tripping us up.

When Kate was twenty-two, she had an intense and passionate affair with a married man, Callum, which ended in heartbreak. Kate thought she’d never get over it. 

Seventeen years later, life has moved on – Kate, now a successful actress, is living in London, married to Matt and mother to little Tallulah. Meanwhile Callum and his wife Belinda are happy together, living in Edinburgh and watching their kids grow up. The past, it would seem, is well and truly behind them all. 

But then Kate meets Callum again. 

And they are faced with a choice: to walk away from each other . . . or to risk finding out what might have been.

Second chances are a rare gift in life. But that doesn’t mean they should always be taken...

Why so excited: Ruth Jones is a well-known actress and screenwriter, so I am really curious to discover her debut novel. It sounds like a touching and live-affirming story and the proof is beautiful. Plus, the early reviews have been ravishing about it.

Order it now!

The Holiday Cottage by the Sea by Holly Martin - April 12th 

The new book from the bestselling author of Summer at Buttercup Beach. Escape to Sandcastle Bay, where you’ll discover a charming little seaside village brimming with heart-warming friendships, quirky characters and plenty of sunshine.

The perfect place to fall in love this summer…

Tori Graham is in need of a holiday. Trying to piece her heart back together after losing the love of her life, she escapes to Blossom Cottage, with its picturesque views of the sea. And plans to spend the summer in gorgeous Sandcastle Bay, where her best friend Melody Rosewood lives.

Tori’s not expecting her summer by the beach to be eventful, until she meets handsome and mysterious Aidan Jackson…

Aidan looks after the holiday cottage Tori is staying in. Healing from past hurts, he wants to avoid any further chance of heartache. But could this newcomer be the breath of fresh air he needs?

Finding herself embracing life in the coastal community, Tori starts to fall in love with Sandcastle Bay and its welcoming cast of residents. But that’s not all she begins to fall for, as Tori is swept away by Aidan’s genuine heart and mischievous sense of humour. The attraction between them is undeniable, but will a simple holiday romance be enough?

As Tori’s stay in Sandcastle Bay comes to an end she has a tough decision to make…. Has her heart found a new place to call home?

Why so excited: I've lost count of how many books by Holly Martin I've read and loved. Her stories are always romantic and a little bit crazy, the perfect combination to disconnect for a few hours. 

Order it now!

You, Me, Everything by Catherine Isaac - April 19th 

You Me Everything is a heartfelt and unforgettable story about the lengths we are prepared to go to for those we love. Guaranteed to make you laugh and cry, this is novel you will never forget. 

You and me, we have history.

We have a child together.

We have kept secrets from each other for far too long.

This summer, in the beautiful hills of the Dordogne, it is time for everything to change.

Why so excited: I read this one a couple of months ago already and completely fell in love with this story. It reminds you how frail life is and how important it is to cherish both the little things and the big ones too. Don't miss my review next week! Hint, it's a 5 stars one. You can also learn more about this book in the write up of the Spring Blogger Evening. 

Order it now!

The Sunday Lunch Club by Juliet Ashton - April 5th 

The first rule of Sunday Lunch Club is… don't make any afternoon plans.

Every few Sundays, Anna and her extended family and friends get together for lunch. They talk, they laugh, they bicker, they eat too much. Sometimes the important stuff is left unsaid, other times it's said in the wrong way. 

Sitting between her ex-husband and her new lover, Anna is coming to terms with an unexpected pregnancy at the age of forty. Also at the table are her ageing grandmother, her promiscuous sister, her flamboyantly gay brother and a memory too terrible to contemplate.

Until, that is, a letter arrives from the person Anna scarred all those years ago. Can Anna reconcile her painful past with her uncertain future?

Juliet Ashton weaves a story of love, friendship and community that will move you to laughter and to tears. Think Cold Feet meets David Nicholls, with a dash of the joy of Jill Mansell added for good measure.

Why so excited: I've read this one and I can tell you that The Sunday Lunch Club is a touching and up-lifting story that will warm many hearts. A real treat that will surprise you, with both laughs and tears guaranteed. Plus, I'm quoted in the book, how cool is that! You can also learn more about this book in the write up of the Spring Blogger Evening. 

Order it now!

The Curious Heart of Ailsa Rae by Stephanie Butland - April 19th 

Ailsa Rae is learning how to live.

She's only a few months past the heart transplant that - just in time - saved her life. Life should be a joyful adventure. But...

Her relationship with her mother is at breaking point and she wants to find her father.

Have her friends left her behind?

And she's felt so helpless for so long that she's let polls on her blog make her decisions for her. She barely knows where to start on her own.

Then there's Lennox. Her best friend and one time lover. He was sick too. He didn't make it. And now she's supposed to face all of this without him.

But her new heart is a bold heart. 

She just needs to learn to listen to it...

Why so excited: Lost for Words, Stephanie Butland's previous book, was one of my top reads of last year, so as you can imagine I'm excited to discover her new story. It sounds like Ailsa Rae is a very special character and her story will surprise us. 

Order it now!

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Spring Blogger Evening, organised by Books and the City. I'd attended a couple of their events so I knew it is always a great opportunity to hear about new books, chat with authors and bloggers and of course, eat all the cupcakes, but what made this event so special was the panel of authors. There were 10 authors invited! It was amazing to hear really well-known authors talk about their new books but also discover new talents and their debuts. 

The first thing that caught my attention when I first arrived at the brand new offices of Simon & Schuster were the beautiful cupcakes. Restoration Cakes had designed a cupcake for each book and they really looked like a work or art. 

The event was chaired by editor Jo Dickinson and she had the most interesting questions for our authors. Here's a little information in each of the 10 books presented:

Random Acts of Kindness - Part 3: Crossroads by Victoria Walters 

Victoria Walkers' new book is a serialised enovel and Crossroads (the third installment) is out on April 2nd. This story is all about kindness and during her turn, Victoria shared with us how she felt when she herself experienced a random act of kindness from a stranger. It sounds like a lovely read and I am looking forward to discover more about this story. If you are curious too, you can get Part 1 for free here. 

Our House by Louise Candlish 

I've already read and reviewed this one and it left me completely speechless. What a clever and unique story (you can read my review here). It was a real treat to hear Louise talking about it. She basically wanted to write a story about a new crime, not what you usually find in books, and was inspired by an article about a house theft involving mafias. According to her, if you follow the book step by step, you can steal a house for yourself! Our House is out on April 5th and I highly recommend you get a copy of it. 

The Sunday Lunch Club by Juliet Asthon

Next, it was the turn of Juliet Ashton. I got an early review copy of her latest, The Sunday Lunch Club, and devoured it immediately. It was such a warm and funny story and I'm over the moon that they are quoting me on the final book. Juliet talked about the Piper family, the stars of the story, and their love for bickering. And the short extract she read had everyone laughing. An extraordinary story about ordinary story, The Sunday Lunch Club is out on April 19th.

You Me Everything by Catherine Isaac

Catherine Isaac might look familiar to rom-com fans, as she is also the best-selling author Jane Costello (a firm favorite of mine). Catherine talked about her new story and how the more serious and deep tone of it called for a brand new name. She also stressed that You Me Everything is not a story about an illness but a story about love, all kinds of love. I've read this one already and I can tell you that this is, indeed, a very special story, out April 19th.

Starry Skies at Castle Court by Holly Hepburn 

Starry Skies is Part 4 of Holly Hepburn's latest serialized enovel. I haven't read this one yet, but I loved Holly's previous books so it was great to learn a bit more about Castle Court. Holly talked about the research she did for this story: the main characters open a biscuit shop so she made, iced and ate biscuits herself (what hard work researching is!). Also, while writing this story Holly had in mind Kingly Court, in Carnaby Street, so I decided to go there to discover this location the following day. Following Holly's recommendation, I had some chicken and waffles in Dirty Bones, delicious! Now I cannot wait to discover Castle Court. Part 4 is out on May 1st. 

Five Years From Now by Paige Toon

I love Paige Toon's stories, so for me, hearing her talk about her new one was a highlight of the night. Five Years From Now was inspired by en event in her own life, when something went quite wrong and her dad told her that five years from then she'd look back and understand why that happened, and she did! The story follows a couple and their encounters every five years and it sounds amazing. It's out on May 17th. 

Sunshine and Sweet Peas in Nightingale Square by Heidi Swain

During her turn, Heidi talked about her inspiring story. She had always wanted to write but had never really gone for it. But when she finally decided to do so, she entered the one day submission Digital Original scheme organized by Books and the City. And 3 years later, here she is about to publish her 6th book! Sunshine and Sweet Peas in Nightingale Square sounds like a delightful story and it is out on May 31st.

Best Practice by Penny Parkes

Best Practice is the third book the Larkford series. I've loved the previous two books set in this lovely village, with the practice in its centre, and I am really looking forward to catching up with these characters and meeting the new ones. So I had so much fun listening to Penny talk about them! She sometimes forgets that they are not real and was shocked to discover that Elsie's house was being sold. Best Practice is out now in Hardback and will be released in paperback on June 28th. 

The Temptation of Gracie by Santa Montefiore 

I haven't read any books by Santa Montefiore yet, but I have heard great things about her stories. The Temptation of Gracie is her first novel after her latest series and it's set in beautiful Tuscany. Hearing her talk about the castle and the stunning area, I could already picture it in my head, so I cannot wait to be transported there! The Temptations of Gracie is out this summer on July 12th.

The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton by Anstey Harris

And last but not least, it was Anstey Harris' turn. Hers was the only name I didn't recognize when I got the invite, so I was curious to find out more about her and her novel. She was actually not allowed to share a lot about her debut but what she shared had me really excited. Her story has music at its core, so imagine her surprise when she first sat to write and through her window she saw her neighbor playing the cello! The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton isn't out until January next year, but I would definitely recommend pre-ordering it! 

What a panel, right? I am looking forward to discover this amazing stories!

Afterwards, we still had time to keep eating some more cupcakes, chat with the authors and get our booklets signed. All in all, it was a lovely bookish evening and as usual, I was left wishing I lived in London to be able to attend more events like this. But, thanks to SJV, I flew back home with a suitcase full of goodies. Thanks so much to Books and the City for yet another amazing event.