Hi, my name is Gabby and I’m a book addict! Or maybe a book hoarder might be a better term for that… I love reading, but sometimes wonder that maybe I love buying books even more. I can’t resist a good charity shop find and will always come back with a book or five.

I read a lot and quite wide. From non-fiction about North Korea to YA sci-fi (my soft spot). Reading for me is like an amazing escape from the daily grind and the mundane(ish) life. I tend to vividly imagine the characters, the surroundings and truly engulf myself in the book. I think that’s why I love sci-fi and fantasy so much, because if it’s well written, the story usually has incredible world building that transforms me from dreary Leeds, UK to somewhere totally different.

Some bookish facts about me:

1. I often struggle to concentrate while reading and can be easily distracted. Honestly, if my phone is anywhere near me, after 5 pages I will most likely pick it up and go on Instagram/Reddit/Facebook. I really really don’t like doing that, but find it hard to stop myself. Usually, if I want to sit down and read for a good hour, I’ll block those apps on my phone to give myself a piece of mind.
   
   
2. Whenever I travel, I try to visit a bookstore while there, even if I can’t read in that language or buy any books. I find bookstores so calming and aesthetic. Just walking around and seeing what sort of books they sell allows me to get the vibe of the place and the city better.
   
   
3. I don’t like re-reading books. The only exception is if a new book in a series comes out and I’ve totally forgotten what has happened before. There are so many good books out there that I find no time to re-read anything.
   
   
4. I cannot read if there’s people talking next to me. Again, just struggle to concentrate. I sometimes think that it might be due to reading in my second language and hearing people talk in that language. But even when reading a book in Lithuanian (my native language), if I have someone talking on the side (English or Lithuanian), I lose my train of thought.
   
   
5. I cry while reading. A LOT. Don’t think there’s any need to elaborate that. Honestly, I shed the most tears while reading “A Little Life” by Hanya Yanagihara. My boyfriend thought someone in my family must’ve died, hah.
   
   
6. I often have a few books going at a time, but prefer sticking to one and reading them one at a time. Just because I don’t want to carry around a 500+ page book with me on my commute. So I usually read that at home, carry around my kindle which has a different book and sometimes have another one going on the side as well.
   
   
7. I dream of having a library with a cosy reading nook one day. A dedicated library room, a comfy sofa/armchair/pile of pillows, coffee table and plants. So many aesthetic library rooms online, so hopefully one day I will have something of my own, even if it’s a tiny corner in a different room.
   
   
8. I cannot pick a favourite book as it’s constantly changing and depends on my mood when someone asks about it. To be honest, it’s hard to pick a favourite book anyway, because comparing books between different genres is nearly impossible. And it also really depends what I’m reading at the time, which genre I’m into and so on.
   
   
9. I really wish I could read faster. There are so many wonderful books out there and there’s new ones being released daily. I just wish I could read more and get through my to-be-read pile faster! Literally, nearly all the books I own in my bookshelf at home have not been read yet. And still, I go out and buy more…
   
   
10. I hate audio books. That’s not reading and I can’t concentrate for longer than 5 minutes. They take so much longer than actual books and I feel like they don’t provide as much benefit or reward as actual reading.  
    

Thank you for reading this far! I hope you enjoy my upcoming book reviews and posts (when I decide what else I can post about hah). I will try and post one or two times a week to start with, and once I get in the groove I might increase the number of weekly posts. My first book review post is coming out tomorrow at 4pm! Please subscribe if you’d like to get a notification about it 🙂

I’m currently reading “The Choice” by Edith Eger. Enjoying it so far!

Please let me know in the comments what you’re reading at the moment!

Happy reading!