This month, our book club chat was all about The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune.
The Turn The Page Book Chat takes place on the Friday after the podcast goes live at 7pm (UK). To join, just follow #TTPBookChat on Twitter. You can catch my review of the book here and listen to our podcast chat here. Next month, we'll be reading The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith. If you'd like to join us, read the book and tune in on December 22nd for our podcast and on December 23rd at 7pm (UK) for the next Twitter chat! Please note: This chat does contain spoilers!
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We are FINALLY back with another episode of the Turn the Page podcast.
As well as being in the middle of another lockdown, we had a few hiccups that prevented us from recording for a while. But, we're happy to say that we've now updated our tech and we are back up and running! In this episode, we're talking about; our favourite book adaptations, #NaNoWriMo, #Audiblegate, our August book club selection (The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune) and as always, we review our recent reads! Here's a little of what you can expect from episode four: Rating: 4.5 STARS!  Genre: LGBT/YA/SCI-Fi/Fantasy Series/Standalone: The Extraordinaries #1 How I got this book: Bought  In Nova City, there are people capable of feats that defy the imagination. They're called Extraordinaries. There is Shadow Star: a protector who can manipulate darkness in his quest to protect those who cannot protect themselves. His arch-nemesis is Pyro Storm: an Extraordinary capable of controlling fire who is bent on bringing Nova City to its knees. And then there's sixteen-year-old Nicholas Bell: who isn't Extraordinary in the slightest. He's Shadow Star's number one fan, writing fan fiction of their adventures together and dreaming of a day where he too dons a costume and fights crime. Too bad ADHD isn't a superpower, otherwise Nick would be golden. Instead of stopping villains and their convoluted schemes of global domination, Nick must contend with starting his junior year, a father who doesn't trust him, and a best friend named Seth, who may or may not be the love of Nick's short, uneventful life. It should be enough. And it is...until a fateful encounter with Shadow Star forces Nick to realize his true destiny. He's tired of being ordinary, and he'll do whatever it takes to become something more. Something Extraordinary. I want this book to become a TV series!
This book was our third Turn The Page book club selection. I loved this book. It was so fantastic to see, as always, the brilliant representation that you can almost guarantee from a TJ Klune book. Nick is just a brilliant character; he's smart, funny and adorably clueless about what's going on. At the same time, he's struggling with the grief of losing his mum while feeling at odds with his dad, who he thinks wishes he were normal. Nick is neurodivergent, and it was so refreshing to read a fun, sci-fi fantasy with a disabled hero. “For the most part, he'd accepted that some people were born to be Extraordinaries, and some people were born to be medicated so they didn't spin out of control. Fair? Not really, but Nick was learning that his brain could do things that others couldn't. In a way, he had his own superpower, even if it was called a disorder.” I really enjoyed following Nick's story as it takes unusual turns that are, for the most part, very funny, but sometimes much darker. Surprisingly, the action sequences in this book were also really great, and it's those, interspersed with Nick's inner monologue, his awkward banter with Seth, his annoyance with Owen, and his hilarious friends, that I feel would make a fantastic tv show. But, I did have a few issues with some aspects of the book. Nick's dad, I did not get on with. I just don't feel that he's a great parent. Yes, he worries about Nick, but he's also one of the main reasons that Nick feels so insecure about himself, and it's clear through much of what happens (no spoilers!) that he's lied to Nick a lot. Then there's the issue with the glorification of the police force to a certain extent. I understand that this wasn't intentional and that the book was written, I think, before the recent light that's been shone on police brutality in America. However, the simple fact that Nick's dad is forgiven for doing punching someone in his position of power just doesn't sit well. That being said, the author did address this in his own blog post, so you're welcome to read that here and form your own opinion. My other issue was that the plot twists were really predictable. But, saying that, I wonder if it was intentional because, while they're clear to the ready, they are not at all clear to Nick who's in the dark, meandering in all directions until he figures it out, which was actually a lot of fun to read. There were so many times where I just wanted to step into the book and help Nick, to tell him what was going on, but his cluelessness led to funny and heartbreaking scenarios that made his story all the more compelling. Overall, I really enjoyed TJ's first YA novel. Having read a lot of his adult novels, I wasn't too sure what to expect, but I was really surprised. No, this book didn't affect me the way that The House in the Cerulean Sea did, but it's a very different book; it's harsher, and it has more grit to it. But, I'd still highly recommend The Extraodinaries, and I can't wait to find out what happens to Nick and the gang in book two. “Be gay. Do crimes.” 
This month, our book club chat was all about The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow.
The Turn The Page Book Chat takes place on the Friday after the podcast goes live at 7pm (UK). To join, just follow #TTPBookChat on Twitter. You can catch Sophie's review of the book here and listen to our podcast chat here. Next month, we'll be reading The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune. If you'd like to join us, read the book and tune in on the 8th September for our podcast and on 11th September at 7pm (UK) for the next Twitter chat! 
How is it already August?!?
The second Tuesday of each month is new episode release day for the Turn The Page podcast, our monthly podcast where we talk about our latest reads, book news and bookish events. Thank you so much to everyone who's listened to Episode One and Episode Two! You can subscribe to the podcast right here! We also launched our very first Twitter Book Chat last month. We get together on the Friday after the podcast goes live to talk about the month's book club selection! You can catch our last book club chat for Hour of the Bees here and don't miss the next one on Friday 14th August! In this episode, we talk about DNFing books, #YALCathome, The StoryGraph and our July Book Club selection, The Ten Thousand Doors of January. Here's a little of what you can expect from episode three: On not finishing books:"I can't not finish a book, if that makes sense. So, I can't not finish it. I've never, ever been able to. Even to the point where I dread picking it up, and I know it sounds completely, a bit weird, but I'm always paranoid that if I don't read it, I'll still be thinking about it a week later, because I'll be like, well, I wonder what did happen? Did it get better? Have I missed out on something? So, like, that fear of the unknown and never, ever finding out where it ends, for me, it's too much." On chickens and goats:"So, if you get your own goat, you're just going to call it goat?"
Listen to the podcast below, feel free to comment and tune in again on the 2nd Tuesday of each month for the latest episode! Subscribe on your favourite podcast platform here!
Happy listening and happy reading! Listen Here:Read the transcript:
This month, our very first online book club chat was all about Hour of the Bees by Lindsay Eager.
The Turn The Page Book Chat takes place on the Friday after the podcast goes live at 7pm (UK). To join, just follow the #TTPBookChat hashtag on Twitter. You can catch my review of the book here and listen to our podcast chat here. Next month, we'll be reading The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow. If you'd like to join us, read the book and tune in on the 11th August for our podcast and 14th August for the next Twitter chat! Rating: 5 STARS  Genre: YA/Fantasy Series/Standalone: Standalone How I got this book: Birthday gift  This powerful debut novel delicately blurs the line between truth and fiction as Carol unravels the fantastical stories of her mentally ill grandfather. When she and her family move to his deserted ranch in order to transfer him to a care home, Carol struggles to cope with the suffocating heat and the effects of her grandfather's dementia. Bees seem to be following her around, but the drought means this is impossible. She must be imagining things. Yet when her grandfather chooses her as the subject for his stories – tales of a magical healing tree, a lake, and the grandmother she never knew – Carol sees glimmers of something special in what her parents dismiss as Serge's madness. As she rethinks her roots and what she thought she knew about her family, Carol comes to the realization that Serge's past is quickly catching up with her present. A stunning coming-of-age story. TW: Mental Illness (Dementia), Grief
This book was chosen as our very first Turn The Page book club read, and you can catch our chat about this book on Tuesday 14th July 2020. You can also join in our Twitter book club chat on Friday 17th July 2020 (just use #TTPBookChat) I want to start by saying that I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. I purposefully didn't find anything out about this book aside from the blurb on the back cover, and so I didn't even know what genre this book was, which I'm actually really glad for because I had no idea at all what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised. I did have some issues with this book, mainly with the parents. I mean, first of all, what parent would leave a 12-year-old child alone with a grandfather she's never met who has severe dementia and a baby? I understand that the parents were struggling with grief and pain in their own ways, but it just didn't sit well. For the first couple of chapters, I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this book, it just didn't 'click' for me until Serge began to tell his story and after that, I was hooked. I loved how, from this moment, the mystery and magic built quickly until I was fully immersed in the story. In fact, I was so lost in the story that I didn't realise how quickly I was reading it and then all of a sudden I was at the end. And for once, I was completely and 100% happy with how a story ended! No cliffhangers, just lots of possibilities. Overall, I was blown away by the quick-pace of this book and the magic-filled family history. I was fully invested in both Carol and Serge's characters and loved their dynamic. 
I can't believe it's already time for Episode Two of the Turn The Page podcast, our new, monthly podcast where we talk about our latest reads, book news and bookish events.
First of all, Sophie and I would like to thank everyone who listened to and got in touch with us about Episode One, your feedback was fantastic and we're so glad you enjoyed our first episode. We have also recently launched a YouTube channel so that you can listen to the podcast there if you prefer. In this episode, we talk about Pride Month, the Summer #ReadWithPride challenge and discuss our very first Turn The Page book club book, Hour of the Bees. Here's a little of what you can expect: On our monthly book club book:I was immersed in it and I didn't even realize how quickly I was reading it, and then all of a sudden I was at the end. On our favourite pride books:At the end of the book, I hated it. I absolutely hated it, and I almost didn't finish it, but you must finish it.
Listen to the podcast below, feel free to comment and tune in again on the 2nd Tuesday of each month for the latest episode! Subscribe on your favourite podcast platform here!
Happy listening and happy reading!
Please note:
1. We did experience a few minor technical issues while recording this podcast so we apologies for any inconsistencies. 2. At around 11-12 minutes into the podcast, I accidentally named the wrong title of a book. The book I was talking about was not Project Hero (although that book was also great), the book I'd meant to reference was Charlie Sunshine (that's what I get for not adding it to Goodreads!) Listen Here:Read the transcript:
Sophie and I are very excited to share with you Episode One of the Turn The Page book podcast, our new, monthly podcast where we talk about our latest reads, book news and bookish events.
In this episode, we introduce our new monthly book club and chat about books that have changed our lives, why we love a good plot twist, books about racism and race, and much more! Here's a little of what you can expect: On book hangovers:There are many times where I've gone to sleep at three o'clock in the morning, woke up the next day and have used the excuse, "oh, I had a really bad night's sleep", and really, it was just that I couldn't stop reading." On the life-changing power of books:I actually think this book has changed the way that I wake up every morning. It's changed the way that I live my life day to day.
Listen below, feel free to comment and tune in again on the 2nd Tuesday of each month for the latest episode! Subscribe on your favourite podcast platform here!
Happy listening and happy reading!
Please note: This podcast is intended as a way for us to chat about various books and, while we may enjoy certain books, that doesn't necessarily mean that we support, or are even aware of, all that the author(s) stand for. Having said that, this podcast episode was recorded before we became aware of the actions and comments from J.K. Rowling, and we have decided that we will not be continuing to read either The Ickabog or the Galbraith series (both mentioned in this podcast) in support of our friends in the trans community.
Listen Here:Read the transcript: |
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About Kayleigh (She/Her)
Book addict, film mad, music lover, business owner, writer and mum (not necessarily in that order), living in the UK. 
About Sophie (She/Her)
Sophie loves books (obviously). She has a passion for photography and spotting wildlife, and is interested in anything made with passion and creativity. THIS BLOG IS SPOILER FREE!
Rating system: 5 Stars - AMAZING!! 4.5 Stars - Almost perfect! 4 Stars - I really loved it 3.5 Stars - I liked it alot 3 Stars - I liked it (I don't typically review books that I rate below 3 stars) Currently Reading:
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