Janay Brazier

Hey guys! I'm back! Sorry that I've been so absent from the blog lately (minus the film reviews), I was so busy with NaNoWriMo in November and then with it coming up to Christmas I had didn't have enough time to plan and write any decent blog posts.

However, I'm scheduling my time out better now, ready for the new year so hopefully you should be seeing more posts on here, especially book related ones.

Today I saw someone post a video for the New Year's Book Tag and I was disappointed that I wouldn't have the time to film the video. Then I had a lightbulb moment (rare, I know!) and decided to write my answers as a blog post instead.

So, here are my responses to the New Year's Book Tag:

How many books are you planning to read in 2018?
I recently uploaded a video to my YouTube channel explaining my twelve reading resolutions for 2018 and resolution number one is about how many books I want to read. I've added the video below so you can see how many I'm aiming for. Plus, you can see the other eleven targets I've set myself:

I haven't posted a book review on my blog in so long. It's actually years since I posted one. As in July 2015... That long ago! So I'm back with a book review, mainly because I haven't got the time to film a book review for my YouTube channel. I do want to start putting more book reviews up on my blog though because I miss out on reviewing a lot of new books because I can't review all of them on YouTube, so I'll start posting more on here in 2018.

This review is for The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. I haven't read anything by Holly Black before but I've heard great things about her writing, so I was very excited when I was sent this book to review early by Readers First. Thank you, Readers First.

Let's get into this spoiler free review...

Again, I feel like I start all of my film reviews like this but I have been waiting for this film for so long. I was mesmerised by the trailer and I've been in love with the soundtrack ever since the first songs were released.

This is my kind of film and I did go into the cinema with the highest of expectations, already convinced that I was going to adore it.

Read on to see what I actually thought after watching it...

I was gutted that I couldn't go out and see this film on opening night, but my husband was busy and I couldn't go without him. He'd never forgive me if I did that. That would be like him going to see The Greatest Showman without me (which he won't be doing because I've already booked our tickets and I'm very excited for it!)

Anyway, back to Star Wars. This film has been a bit under the radar for me. I knew it was coming out and I wanted to see it, right back at the beginning of the year, but I didn't really start to get excited about it until a couple of months ago.

So, here's what I thought of it (without any spoilers!)

This is going to be quite a short film review for two reasons:

1. I don't want to talk about it too much because if I could say one thing it would be "Go and watch this for yourselves."

and

2. Whenever I think about this film in a deeper way so that I can write a real review for you, I tear up and have to stop writing.

So, here is a quick review for this film...

Another superhero film is finally here. No, it isn't a Marvel movie but it's as good as we're going to get until Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War are released next year. I liked Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, so I knew I needed to see this as soon as possible.

Read on for an honest review of Justice League, without spoilers...

This film is finally here! I feel like I say this at the beginning of most of my film reviews, but I have been waiting so long for this movie to come out. From the moment I watched that trailer, I was hooked in my this remake and the idea of seeing Branagh take on the iconic role of Hercule Poirot.

Unfortunately I didn't get to see this opening night as we already had plans, but we went to our local Cineworld (using our Unlimited Cards - get yours here) first thing the next day.

I will say that I was clearly so excited to see this film that I rushed out of the house and sat down in my cinema seat, only to realise I'd forgotten my glasses. Luckily I was in my favourite seat (central in the front row of the main section) and I don't desperately need them, so I could see everything just fine. 

Anyway, this is what I thought of the film...

On Monday 23rd October, only three days after it opened, I went to the British Library in London to see the Harry Potter: A History of Magic exhibition.

First of all, I'd like to start by saying that all of the pictures I've used in this blog post are from the British Library website/Twitter or the Pottermore website because you are not allowed to take photos inside the exhibit. This rule is completely understandable and I'm actually glad when places have rules like this. It makes us put away our phones and actually enjoy something in person for a change, rather than seeing it through a screen.

So, here's what I thought of the exhibition...

It's that time again. A new Marvel movie has just been released so you can bet anything that I was there for the first daytime showing. Unfortunately there was no midnight showing for us this time around as we were on our way back from London after seeing Aladdin in the West End for our first wedding anniversary, and we didn't get back home until around 12:30am, but I booked our tickets for the first screening in the morning.

So, here's what I thought of the third Thor film and the latest installment in this fantastic Marvel Cinematic Universe...

(Note: This is spoiler-free. I will only be revealing what we know from the trailers and what I thought of it)

From the moment I saw the movie trailer, I knew I had to see this film as soon as it was released. I went along on opening night last Friday to see it and here is what I thought...

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I love it when autumn comes around. I've always loved this time of year: the colours, the weather, the seasonal vegetables... But one thing I really love to do at this time of year is to decorate the house.

Most people will only decorate at Christmastime. Some people will change things around in the Spring too, maybe swap for pastel colours and Easter items, but I like to make my home feel cosy and ready for autumn from September through to the end of November.

This year I decided to buy some new items that will last for years. Things that I can pack away at the end of the season, put away in the loft and then get it all out again next year. So, here are some of the things that I've bought to make my home feel very autumnal...

I've been so excited for this movie, from the moment they announced that it was being made. I really enjoyed the first film, as far as comedic-violent action films go.

The trailer looked incredible and just had me more excited to see this, so we booked tickets as soon as we were able to. I would have loved to go on opening night, which was Wednesday, but we weren't able to go that night and I was at Book Club on the Thursday, so we went on Friday evening.

We went to quite an early showing for a Friday evening, at 6pm. When we arrived at our local Cineworld, I got myself a pumpkin spice frappuccino and headed to our screen with our tickets.

This part isn't about the film, it's about the cinema. I just want to praise my local Cineworld staff who dealt with some rather difficult people. They were teenagers, who were asked for ID as the film was a 15 and they now have to ask everyone as they go into the screen. They said that they'd been allowed to buy the tickets. The staff then tried to explain that people who are over 15 have bought tickets and then passed them on to people who are underage, so they need to see ID when tickets are purchased and when they are going through to the screen. It's also true for those who buy tickets online, because anyone of any age can do that.

So, I just want to say how well the staff dealt with those people, as they tried to explain what year they were in at school (which means nothing and is not proof of age). They had a big group of teenagers to talk to and they dealt with it really well.

Anyway, on with the review...

Tower of Dawn is finally here! Chaol Westfall has been one of my favourite characters from the beginning of the series, so I've been dying to know what he's been up to in this companion novel.

Along with the release of the book, Bloomsbury have produced a party pack. I was so excited to be a part of the release and cook some of the food on the recipes page and have a little Tower of Dawn dinner party.

So, here's what I cooked and everything else that I got up to...

• The One Memory of Flora Banks
• After the Fire
• Girlhood
• Letters to the Lost

(You can buy the complete eight-book bundle, with the exclusive WHSmith covers, here)

A couple of years ago I wrote a blog post about how to get organised for going back to school. You can see the original post here, but I was still studying with the Open University then and a few things have changed since that first post.

I may not be studying anymore, but I still work in a school and I make time for writing, blogging, reading and BookTube. So, here is an updated version that has some similarities but is more suitable for me now.

Use a timetable

I don't need this so much anymore because, as I said, I'm no longer studying. However, I like to keep up with my blogging, filming videos for my BookTube channel and writing (as I have so many ideas after doing my creative writing modules at university), so this is still a helpful tool.

A couple of years ago, I was inspired by this schedule to create my own, but combining my work hours and the slots I have for my studies. I still have a similar schedule, it has just been altered to fit to my work hours better, and the study slots has been replaced with blogging time, video editing and other similar tasks.

I have always have two copies of this schedule. One stays on my person, tucked inside my diary in my handbag, and the other stays with my notebooks for when I'm working on other stuff at home.

• Moxie
• The Start of Me and You
• Orbiting Jupiter
• History is All You Left Me

(You can buy the complete eight-book bundle here)

Remember, you can only get these exclusive book club covers at WHSmith.

Last night I went back to the cinema for a second time in a day, after watching Everything, Everything in the afternoon. This time to watch The Dark Tower with my Dad after letting him choose the film.

I've been looking forward to this film since the first time I saw the trailer. I'm a fan of Idris Elba so I knew I wanted to see it, but also that it's based on the books by Stephen King, who is a brilliant writer, so I went in with high hopes.

Here is what I thought of the adaptation...

I have been waiting for this movie for SO LONG! It came out in the US and various other countries months ago - in fact I think it's already out on DVD in some places already - but finally the UK get's this film today.

I went to the first showing at my local cinema because I couldn't wait any longer. 

This film is based on a book of the same name by Nicola Yoon and it was one of the best books I read in 2016. I heard about this film right after I'd read the book and I have basically been waiting since then to see it. It's been over a year since I read it so I've been waiting a while.

So, here it what I thought of the film adaptation...

I can't believe it has taken me this long to see this film. I'm actually ashamed of myself for not seeing it sooner but we just haven't had the chance. I've only been to the cinema once in the last month and that was to see the new Planet of the Apes film, and we would have seen Dunkirk instead but the screenings that evening were full.

Finally, I've seen it. I was always going to watch it but I'd heard some very mixed opinions of this movie. Some people said it was boring and some said it was perfectly executed. Well, here is what I thought of it...

Happy Book Lovers Day! I didn't know this was a thing but I'm very glad that it is. I wanted to share this post today with a few photos of some of my favourite books.

Here is my favourite bookshelf:


I love this Disney edition of Cinderella. It's a beautiful book and the illustrations are so lovely. Then I have these four Puffin In Bloom collection books. These classics - Heidi, Anne of Green Gables, A Little Princess and Little Women - have some of the prettiest covers and spines I have ever seen.

My favourite author:

I've been so lucky recently to have been sent a lot of new books, from proof copies of upcoming releases to the WHSmith Zoella & Friends Book Club (see my unboxing here).

As I had so many new books I needed a serious reshuffle and tidy up of my bookcase. Also, Clay had just put up two floating shelves above my armchair (my reading chair) so I needed to choose some books to go on those as well.

See the video below:

I've been so busy over the last couple of months that I didn't get the chance to post my monthly favourites for June, so I decided to join it together with my July favourites.

Here are some of my favourites for the months of June and July...

I love the scent of this Radox body wash. It kind of reminds me of Christmas (which is not what you want in July) but I really like apple-scented things so I'm sticking with it. It's very fresh but still quite a sweet smelling. Buy it here.


This tanning gel is so good for a quick tan. It's a clear gel that is easy to spread evenly across the skin and gives a deep tan after the waiting time. I tend to put it on before bed and sleep with it on. You don't need to wash it off the next day but I tend to jump in the shower in the morning to get rid of the tan smell. Just made sure you let it completely dry before getting dressed or going to bed because if it's slightly tacky it will come off and leave a white patch. Buy it here.

I'm a little bit behind on seeing films at the moment. The last couple of months have been so busy and I just haven't had the chance to get to the cinema as much as I'd like. However, I got there earlier this week to see a late night showing of War For The Planet Of The Apes. I really enjoyed the previous two films - especially the second one - so I had very high hopes for this one.

Here is my quick review of the final installment in the trilogy...

Hi everyone!

Sorry I've been a bit absent from my blog recently - and my YouTube channel - but I've been so busy. For those of you who don't know, I work in a primary school and because of this June and July are always very hectic months for me. I throw myself into my work a lot more because it's coming up to the end of the school year and it's time to start prepping the children to move on to the next stage of their schooling, so I wanted that to have my complete attention.

But yesterday was the last day of school and we've now officially broken up for the summer holidays. That means six weeks of relaxing and doing some of the things I want to do, like seeing family and friends, reading a lot and taking time to add new content to my blog and YouTube channel. Exciting times!

So, today I thought I'd share with you my most recent YouTube video, which is my WHSmith Zoella & Friends Book Club unboxing. Thank you again to WHSmith for sending me this amazing package. I've already started reading these books and I'm loving it so far.

If you want to see what books are in the book club, along with the other goodies I received from WHSmith then click play on the video below...

I always - ALWAYS - see a Marvel movie the day that it is released. I don't think I've ever missed one and if I can, I'll go to the midnight showing.

However, when this film was released earlier this week my husband was away for work and I couldn't go without him. Then, the day he came back I had a hen party to go to so my chance to see it was pushed back another day. So we booked to go and see it this weekend and I went into that screen full of excitement and anticipation... and this movie didn't let me down!


I was so happy when Tom Holland first appeared as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War and to see him in his own film was amazing. Tom is the perfect actor to play the iconic hero. I love that he's young, that he does some of his own stunts and that he's so enthusiastic and passionate about the role and the character. Seeing Tom in this film has made me even more excited to see what happens next for him in Infinity War.

The rest of the cast were great. I loved Ned's character and I really liked how Michael Keaton's character was worked into the story. Without spoiling anything, I had a feeling about the link he would have in the story. If you've seen it, you'll know what I mean.

Obviously it was amazing to see Tony Stark/Iron-Man back and I really liked that he wasn't featured too much. He was the reason that Peter Parker was trying to prove himself, to impress Mr Stark, but I'm glad that he wasn't always popping up and taking away from the story and the character building of Spider-Man. It was also great to see Happy again too because I love him!


I really enjoyed the storyline and how it tied in with the previous film. The vlog-style footage that Peter recorded for the beginning of the movie was brilliant and I liked being able to see Peter be a kid as well as a superhero.

The soundtrack was great. It's not up to the standard of Guardians of the Galaxy's soundtrack but it's still very good. 


I gave this movie:


I loved it. I think Tom Holland is a perfect Spider-Man and that this was a fantastic first film to focus on him. The cast was great, although I do wish we had seen more of Zendaya's character, Michelle, but maybe that will come in the next film.

Also, I just want to address the post credit scenes. There are two clips, the first one is related directly to the Spider-Man movie and this happens mid-credits. The second is not related to Spider-Man but if you are someone who waits for that end-of-credits scene right at the end of every Marvel movie then you need to see this. I laughed so much and it's so relatable and holds so much truth for me. If you always stay until the end, you need to do it this time.


What did you think of this film?

Which upcoming Marvel film are you most excited for?