Poppy Winterbourne

September Reading Challenge

I'm taking on a Reading Challenge in September for Teenage Cancer Trust

This September, I'm taking on my own reading challenge (to read 10 books in September! 📚) and raising funds to help ensure no young person faces cancer alone. I'm taking on the challenge for Teenage Cancer Trust, the only UK charity who provides specialised nursing care and support for young people with cancer. I'd be grateful for your support.

Your donation, big or small, makes such a difference! 

As you likely know - this is a cause very close to my heart. I was lucky enough to be well in to my 30s when I got my diagnosis, and it breaks my heart that young people are having to face this disease so early on in their lives. 

So time to put my book nerdiness to good use! 

Thank you again for your donation ❤️

Poppy 

My Achievements

Fundraising page

Reached 50% of fundraising target

Received First Donation

Updated Profile Pic

Added a Blog Post

Received 5 Donations

Reached Goal

Reached Fitness Target

Increased Target

My Updates

Mid Point Check In!

Wednesday 16th Sep
It’s officially half way through the month and Reading Challenge, so I thought I’d post an update of where I’ve got to so far 😊 

I’m on track, with 5 books, and 1914 pages read 📚❤️ 

So far I have read: 

Soul Bound and Soul Fate by Hannah Kingsley:

These were not on my original challenge list but I had just finished the 1st in this series in August and HAD to read the 2nd and 3rd. Such a great series and I met Hannah at a bookshop in Oxford and she was the loveliest so bonus points for that too!
The books centre around a strong female character who is a prominent politician in a fictional city of Halice (gives me Greece vibes), as the city is edging towards a war, we see Renza navigate her role and the additional complication of meeting her “Soul Hate” (the opposite of soulmate!) 

Great concept, really gripping and a slow burn enemy to lovers storyline 👌🏻 5/5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

There are Rivers In The Sky - Elif Shafak

This book is fantastic, I will definitely be looking for more from Elif. The books centre around follows a single drop of water through the lives of 3 main characters and their stories across 3 different timelines and their connection to Mesopotamia. Beautiful book about hardship, resilience and cultural heritage. Beautifully written. 

5/5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

Dead In The Water by John Marrs

I’ve always been a big John Marrs fan, and enjoyed his pacey, often dark, twisty thrillers. Dead in the Water was no different - lots of twists and turns and a flawed protagonist that you can’t help liking. Gripping, pacey and a really interesting concept! 

4/5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

The Lamb by Lucy Rose

Wow. Well, this book is not for the faint hearted. It’s a very gripping but VERY dark horror that I definitely couldn’t read whilst eating lunch. It is well written from the perspective of a young girl, Margot, who is growing up in a very … dysfunctional environment with her single mother who has some interesting hobbies and food choices let’s say!! You’ll know from the first page whether you can get through it 🤣 on a serious note though, the grisly shocking story is really a metaphor for a woman coming of age and the challenges faced even in today’s society. This book addresses abuse and breaking cycles of violence, mother daughter relationships, loneliness and much more. It’s a gripping horror that addresses some really serious themes. 

4/5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

Thank you for all of your support and I’ll carry on dropping updates and reviews on this page 😊 

Poppy 💜 

I’ve chosen my books!

Friday 28th Aug
I’ve chosen my books for September’s Reading Challenge and will be posting a blog review after every book so I can share recommendations with my lovely sponsors 😊💜 

I’ve updated my profile photo to include the books, but they’re also listed below (in no particular order!):

1)Guest List by Lucy Foley
2) Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
3) Cleopatra by Natasha Solomons 4)The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
5)The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden
6) The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden 
7) Dead in the Water by John Marrs
8) The Lamb by Lucy Rose 
9)There are Rivers in The Sky by Elif Shalak
10) The Muse by Jessie Burton 
Thanks again for your support! 

Poppy 💜

Thank you to my Sponsors

£55.88

Dino Sammy Tia Rocky Tank & Turbo 🥰

You got this! Super proud 🥰❤️

£42

Jenni Wigley

Good luck, let me know if you read any good ones xxx

£37.06

Jenny Oneill

Happy Reading Poppy and for a great cause x

£28.44

Poppy Winterbourne

£23.45

Paige, Daniel & Nova 🤍

£21

Tracy Mcfall

£20

Vicki Oliver

Amazing charity and very close to your heart as I know ❤️. I’ll definitely be looking for some book recommendations from you after this! Well done!

£20

Laura Delaney

Great challenge Poppy and for such an important cause- good luck!

£20

Kelly

Great cause Poppy, good luck 🥰

£20

Liz

Keep going lovely , by the end of this you will be one with the books 📚 🖤

£17.53

Helen Cannon

Keep turning those pages 😊 hope they're all making it easy to! Huge respect and admiration (as always) for doing something so positive after this year 🧡

£12.25

Amanda Foster

Good luck Poppy. Fantastic cause x

£12.25

Emma T

My reading buddy ❤️ one page at time let’s go. 📚

£12.25

Nina Miles

Good luck Poppy! Xx

£12.25

Wendy

£12.25

Teresa Meredith

£10

Nick & Sarah Davey

Enjoy the books!

£10

Alison Stone

£7

Kimberley Ashmead

£3

Helen