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!

The Secrets Between Us by Laura Madeleine - January 1st

Perfect for fans of Kate Morton's The Lake House and Dinah Jeffries' Before the Rains.

High in the mountains in the South of France, eighteen-year-old Ceci Corvin is trying hard to carry on as normal. But in 1943, there is no such thing as normal; especially not for a young woman in love with the wrong person. Scandal, it would seem, can be more dangerous than war.

Fifty years later, Annie is looking for her long-lost grandmother. Armed with nothing more than a sheaf of papers, she travels from England to Paris in pursuit of the truth. But as she traces her grandmother’s story, Annie uncovers something she wasn’t expecting, something that changes everything she knew about her family – and everything she thought she knew about herself…

Why so excited: I've already read this one and I can tell you that I enjoyed it immensely, a very well crafted story with lots of secrets and incredible love. I'll share my review later this month as part of the Blog Tour, don't miss it!

Order it now! 

How to Hand a Witch by Adriana Mather - January 4th

The trials of high school start to feel like a modern-day witch hunt for a teen with all the wrong connections to Salem's past in this thrilling, creepy and romantic New York Times bestseller.

"I am utterly addicted to Adriana Mather’s electric debut. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, twisting and turning with ghosts, witches, an ancient curse, and – sigh – romance." Jennifer Niven

After Sam's father is hospitalised, she has to move from New York to Salem with her stepmother, Vivian. Unfortunately, Sam is related to Cotton Mather, one of the men responsible for the Salem Witch Trials, and to say she feels unwelcome in Salem is an understatement... She is particularly unnerved by The Descendants, a mysterious and tight-knit group of girls related to those persecuted in the Trials. At the same time, she must deal with Elijah, the handsome but angry ghost who has appeared in her house, and her new neighbour Jaxon only complicates things further.

When a centuries-old curse is rekindled, Sam finds herself at the centre of it. Can she stop history repeating itself?

Why so excited: I'm very intrigued by this story. It's something completely different from what I usually read so I expect to be surprised and shocked. Plus, I've read some ravishing reviews that have really piqued my curiosity.

Order it now!

Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan - January 11th 

‘The best courtroom drama since Apple Tree Yard … sensational’ Clare Mackintosh

A high-profile marriage thrust into the spotlight. A wife, determined to keep her family safe, must face a prosecutor who believes justice has been a long time coming. A scandal that will rock Westminster. And the women caught at the heart of it. 

Anatomy of a Scandal centres on a high-profile marriage that begins to unravel when the husband is accused of a terrible crime. Sophie is sure her husband, James, is innocent and desperately hopes to protect her precious family from the lies which might ruin them. Kate is the barrister who will prosecute the case – she is equally certain that James is guilty and determined he will pay for his crimes.

‘A compelling and cautionary story about how we can never truly know someone else; how even after twelve years of marriage, a wife might not know everything about her husband. Brilliant, shocking, and gripping, once I started, I couldn't stop reading’ Claire Fuller, bestselling author of Our Endless Numbered Days

'That rare book that combines great writing, spot-on characterisation and a compulsive, page-turning narrative. I read it in one breathless day. Set against a fascinating backdrop of the Houses of Parliament, the Old Bailey and Oxford University, think House of Cards meets The Secret History. Meticulously researched, this is an outstanding read' Fiona Cummins, author of Rattle

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over there at The Broke and the Bookish. And who doesn't love a good list?

This week’s topic is movie adaptations! I do love a good movie adaption. I've been disappointed more than once with adaptations but when they manage to actually do it as you (kind of) imagined, it's just magical. I put together a list with new releases coming soon but also with some old one I haven't got around to watch yet. 

2) Me Before You (Jojo Moyes). My levels of excitement for this one are almost as high as with the previous one. Especially after reading the sequel (After You) last month. It brought it all back and made me think about Will and Louisa so much!

3) The Rosie Project (Graeme Simsion). There's not even a date for this one but I loved this book a couple of years ago. I'm sure it'll be a fantastic movie and there are rumors that Jennifer Lawrence is gonna be on it.

4) Papertowns (John Green). I loved The Fault In Our Stars, both the book and the movie so I've been meaning to watch this one for a while but I've not got around yet. Have you seen it? Did you like it?

5) Still Alice (Lisa Genova). I actually haven't read the book yet but I've had it for a long time. I really want to pick it and then watch the movie. Plus, Julianne Moore apparently aces it.

6) Pan. It's one of my favourite stories ever and I've watched all the movie adaptations. The new one is just out and I'm planning on going to the cinema really soon.

7) Beauty and the Beast. Another of my favourite stories as a child. And Emma Watson is gonna be Belle, what else can you ask for?

And that's it for today. I'm forgetting something, I'm quite sure. But if you have seen any good adaptations lately, please let me know!

Blurb: How do you move on after losing the person you loved? How do you build a life worth living?

Louisa Clark is no longer just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. After the transformative six months spent with Will Traynor, she is struggling without him. When an extraordinary accident forces Lou to return home to her family, she can’t help but feel she’s right back where she started.

Her body heals, but Lou herself knows that she needs to be kick-started back to life. Which is how she ends up in a church basement with the members of the Moving On support group, who share insights, laughter, frustrations, and terrible cookies. They will also lead her to the strong, capable Sam Fielding—the paramedic, whose business is life and death, and the one man who might be able to understand her. Then a figure from Will’s past appears and hijacks all her plans, propelling her into a very different future...

For Lou Clark, life after Will Traynor means learning to fall in love again, with all the risks that brings. But here Jojo Moyes gives us two families, as real as our own, whose joys and sorrows will touch you deeply, and where both changes and surprises await.

Review: I think I've never been so excited and afraid at the same time for the release of a sequel. Me Before You is one of my all time favourite reads and even after finishing it a couple of years ago I remember it as if I had finished it just yesterday. So when Jojo Moyes announced she was writing a sequel I was over the moon but at the same time I couldn't not think what if it doesn't live up my really high expectations? 

So to go straight to the point, is After You as good as Me Before You? For me the answer is no. But just because Me Before You is out of this world good and such a unique and powerful story that it stays with you forever. But I have to say that After You is a great book and a worthy sequel. I promised myself I wouldn't cry like a baby with this one. I think I lasted ten pages. As soon as you go back to Louisa's world, everything goes back to you and the emotions are too much. 

I soon realised that just as Louisa, I was still mourning Will. I think we all needed this book to be able to accept his death and move on too. As the beginning of the story, Will's presence was still really strong and alive and I just couldn't stop my tears just thinking about it all. I could feel Lou's pain. But as the story progresses and new characters appear, little by little you feel how Will's presence starts to fade away and it becomes Lou's story. 

It was difficult not to compare the new characters with Will, especially Lou's new love interest, basically because if you compare them, they are going to fail miserably against Will, he had a charisma and a personality so unique and his connection with Lou was just extraordinary. But, little by little I starting liking and even loving these new characters, especially a young girl who was a bit lost and needed someone to love her unconditionally. And soon I found myself so immersed in the story that hours would pass without me even realising. 

I am giving After You five stars because on its own it is an extraordinary story about moving on and finding who you want to be but also because it worked as a sequel. It probably won't be my book of the year but I will hold it close to my heart. And I'm sure that Me Before You fans will not be disappointed with Lou's after Will life. 

Rating: 

The Things We Do For Love by Alice Peterson - September 10th

Blurb: Love may hurt, but not loving hurts even more...

January Wild loves her daughter, her dog and her childhood home by the sea.

Single parenting is tough, but January has no regrets. She has a job she loves, a happy home and the support of her beloved grandfather. The arrival of a new boss, however, threatens to shake up January's safe world.

Ward Metcalfe loves great sales results and a well-run office

Everyone at her office agrees: Ward is a soulless, corporate slave driver. Even Spud, the company mascot, dislikes him.

A secret stands between them.

Yet over time January sees there is more to Ward than meets the eye. Rumours circulate. What exactly is he hiding? and is January prepared to risk everything to find out?

Why so excited: Alice Peterson's latest book, One Step Closer to You, was one of my favourite reads last year so since she announced the publications of her new one, I've been counting the days until pub day. And what a wonderful cover! 

The Santangelos by Jackie Collins - September 10th

Why so excited: I have to confess that I haven't read any books by Jackie Collins but have heard great things about them. Plus, I got send a proof copy of this one (wrapped on a very cool animal print paper) and it'll be my next read!

A Parcel For Anna Browne by Miranda Dickinson - September 24th

Why so excited: Who doesn't love a Miranda Dickinson book? I might have done a little dance when I got the proof copy some weeks ago. And I can't wait to start it, it looks and sounds amazing. 

After You by Jojo Moyes - September 24th

Why so excited: Because who isn't? 

Christmas at Lilac Cottage by Holly Martin - September 25th

Blurb: Welcome to the charming seaside town of White Cliff Bay, where Christmas is magical and love is in the air…

Why so excited: Holly Martin is spoiling us this year. We started the year with one of her fantastic and sexy Amelia Thorne's book, then we had the magical Fairytale Beginnings this summer and now Christmas is coming early with Christmas at Lilac Cottage! Oh and there's another Christmas book coming out in October!

2014 has been probably one of the best years I've ever had for reading. I am very glad that I started the blog because it was one of the best things I've ever done. I've discovered so many new authors and books and I've met the most lovely bookish people.  I'm already excited to see what 2015 is going to bring. But first, here are the books that had that something special, that have stayed with me long after reading them and that have shone during this year.

10. Desperately Ever After by Laura Kenyon
 

I am a huge fan of Disney and well, fairy tale princesses in general so when I read the blurb of this book I knew it was my kind of book. But wow! I loved it. Laura Kenyon brings the well known princesses to a contemporany fairy tale version of NYC and continues their story ten years later. A real winner.

9. Waiting for Prince Harry by Aven Ellis

8. Love Like the Movies by Victoria Van Tiem

7. One Hundred Proposals by Holly Martin

Holly writes the most romantic stories. I loved The Guestbook and I completely adored One Hundred Proposals. Her stories always have that special thing that makes you get lost in them and hug your kindle when you are done. Beautifully written and with some of the best locations of the planet, this is a story you don't want to miss.

6. What a Girl Wants by Lindsey Kelk

5. One Step Closer to You by Alice Peterson









4. The Judas Scar by Amanda Jennings

3. The Year I Met You by Cecelia Ahern

With The Year I Met You Cecelia has made me fall in love with her all over again. I might even dare to say that it is, for me, the best novel she has written so far.

She has written a thoughtful, captivating and uplifting story that captured me from the first page. I also was quite surprised to see that the second person narrative she uses when she talks about one of the characters worked so well. 

A true tale of friendship and not judging before knowing that I will be re-reading really soon.