OCTOBER FAVOURITES

 

It's been a crazy month, and I can't believe we're already nearing the end of 2022 - time, if you'd like to slow down I would really appreciate it!

I've been super busy and haven't had as much time to sit down and write something for this blog this month, but when I was thinking about what to finally write about I kept thinking about all the things I've been loving this month (and in general) and was like, 'wait, that's perfect, I want to share that'!

So here it is - all my favourites from October! I 100% recommend you check all of them out, I'm sure you'll love them as much as I do!

Book - The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

I'd seen this book when browsing the bookshelves and popping up on Instagram a fair bit, and had just finished my Colleen Hoover binge so was looking for something new and different to read. Needless to say, The Midnight Library was just that! 

*trigger warning - mental health and suicide*

I've never read anything like it before. The story follows Nora who - after it all becomes too much and she decides to end her life - enters the midnight library, a kind of purgatory in her own mind between life and death, where she is given the chance to remedy her regrets and live out all of the infiinite possible lives she could be living had she done just one thing differently. At times, I found the story quite sad because I could really relate to her emotions and regrets, but at the same time I thoroughly enjoyed witnessing her characters growth and transformation as she tried alternate life after alternate life. I won't say anything more about the book because I don't want to spoil it, but I will say this - it's an absolute must-read and seriously worth the hype!

Podcast - Do You Fucking Mind? by Alexis Fernandez

I've been listening to this podcast for a few months now, and I seriously recommend checking it out. Whether you're going through a hard time, need some no-bullshit life advice and guidance, feel stuck or need to make some changes, or just need something positive and motivating to get you on track - this podcast has all that, and more! This podcast has been a life-saver for me, helping me with my mindset, self love, confidence and assertiveness, and so much more. Alexis is like the perfect combination of a friend who's not afraid to tell it like it is, and a therapist. I'm already excited for the next episode!

TV - Emily in Paris

I mean, this technically isn't a new one but I did rewatch both seasons this month in anticipation for Season 3 coming at the end of the year, and I still love it just as much as I did before! I feel like this is a show you can rewatch continuously and not get sick of (maybe that's just me, but I rest my case). Emily is living my dream life, I would absolutely love to live and work in Paris - one of my favourite cities - working for a luxury marketing firm, falling in love, going to events, exploring beautiful Paris. Yes, it's romanticised as hell and kinda cheesy at times, but I'm obsessed!

Fragrance - Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheriosa '71 Body Fragrance Mist

This is my ultimate everyday body mist - the scent is super strong and long-lasting, and smells good enough to eat! The scent is described as 'salted caramel, toasted macadamia nut, sea salt, white chocolate, and coconut blossom', which is honestly spot on and smells as luscious as it sounds! It's creamy, nutty, sweet, intense, and I cannot get enough of it! This one is consistently sold out, and for good reason. Trust me, if you don't have this one already, you need it in your life!

Beauty - Huda Beauty Rose Gold Palette

I'm a big fan of Huda's eyeshadows, they're some of the best quality, most pigmented shadows I've used! I already own two of her palettes - the New Nude Palette and the Mercury Retrograde Palette, which I love, so when I saw the Rose Gold Palette I knew it would be a winner. This palette's actually been out for a year now, and I hadn't realised it had come out because I haven't been following makeup releases etc for a while (been on a bit of a spending detox), but I spotted it in Sephora recently and decided to treat myself, and I'm so glad I did!

This is a stunning cool-toned rosey/neutral palette, which is perfect for me as those are the colours I love to wear! It does have a little warmth thrown into the top left corner to balance things out, but it's definitely a really wearable everyday palette for me! The shimmers are, as always, stunning - my favourite is Abundance, a deep neutral bronze/lavender shimmer that looks amazing day or night!

Anyway, I highly recommend you check out any and all of these favourites - they might just become some of your new faves too! Until next time,

xx Chontelle Louise

NEW ADULT BOOKS YOU NEED TO READ

I've been an avid reader since I was a kid, there's just something about the way a book can draw you into it's world, make you connect with the characters and their lives and emotions and have you laughing, crying and reeling with every word. While I don't read as often as I used to or would like to, the growing popularity of the 'new adult' genre - which is perfect for people like myself who are in their 20's and not quite ready for classic adult novels, but have outgrown YA - has been refreshing and exciting, and has really caught my attention and made me want to read more again!

I made a resolution to myself earlier this year to start reading more, and while I didn't quite keep that resolution at first, a recent work injury that's had me holed up recovering at home was the perfect opportunity to finally get to all the books I've been wanting to read! And believe me when I tell you, you NEED to check these out (if you haven't already). 

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

While Colleen Hoover has been trending for a while now (and yes, I did end up reading her bestseller 'It Ends With Us'), I'd been umm'ing and ahh'ing about grabbing one of her novels - that is, until I saw Ugly Love. I didn't even check out any reviews or anything, I was drawn to the cover, picked it up to read the blurb, and I was sold. I don't know about you, but I love a brooding, mysterious, sexy male lead, and Miles was definitely all that! The secrecy of Tate and Miles' non-relationship and all the back and forth and indecisiveness was frustrating but exciting, and there were definitely some great saucy scenes thrown in there *wink*. This book was honestly amazing, and it's up their as one of my all-time favourite reads! 

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

I actually read this book maybe a year or two ago now for the first time, and I fell in love. Yeah, it's a little (okay, very) cheesy, but it was such a cute story with so much tension between Lucy and Joshua - which always makes for a great romance novel, in my opinion! The little games they would play, the bickering, the competition, the way they so clearly liked each other despite acting like they hated each other - I'd be constantly thinking to myself 'JUST GET TOGETHER ALREADY'! Overall, a great read - and while there's mixed opinions on the movie (and it definitely differs a lot from the book, which was of course better), I'd say it's also worth a watch!

Confess by Colleen Hoover

This was my second Colleen Hoover read (I'd gone to buy It Ends With Us but it was sold out, and I needed another fix - this one stood out)! I feel like this one is super underrated compared to her other novels, because it's honestly one of my favourites! It's got tragedy, romance, drama, mystery - as well as a major element of domestic abuse so be warned if that may trigger you - but it was just such a well-written book with an interesting storyline, loveable main characters, and I loved the ending so much! This one's definitely worth reading, trust me!

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

The bestselling novel that people can't stop talking about - I'll admit, it caught my attention, but I didn't buy into the hype until I'd finished Ugly Love and was like, 'okay, that was amazing, I need more of this author'! And she delivered! While it still doesn't compare to Ugly Love (imho), I can certainly understand the hype! I couldn't put this book down, I was so invested in Lily's story, her past, her and Ryle's relationship, and learning more about Atlas and their story along the way. There's definitely romance in this book but I'd say it's more heavily about domestic violence - so a trigger warning to readers who may not be up for that! I actually had to put the book down after a certain part towards the end as it was too much for me, but I skipped ahead (bad reader habit, I know) and will definitely be sure to finish it before the release of 'It Starts With Us' later this month. While it's an emotional AF read, I definitely recommend checking this one out!

Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren

An office romance between a well-loved, intelligent assistant and her (beautiful) bastard of a boss? It's a classic storyline, albeit cheesy as hell - but that's why I love it! Chloe and Bennett have that lust/hate, push/pull tension going on from the start, and while there isn't really much going on outside of their office antics and hot hookups, this one's definitely very steamy and x-rated, which is part of what makes it a great guilty pleasure kind of read! Plus, it's just the first in a series of steamy romance novels from the author!

xx Chontelle Louise