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Recently, I discovered that WHSmith have a scheme called “WHSmith BookCycle” and I thought it would be fun to see if I could get rid of some of the books that I don’t want in my home.
The BookCycle scheme is done through their website and you can scan in and see if the book is eligible, and how much you would receive in an e-voucher if you trade it in. I will say there were several books that I would have liked to get rid of, but they weren’t eligible because there are plenty of copies on the second-hand market…
In this post I’m going to go through the books I was able to trade in, why I chose to and what I got with my voucher!
DUPLICATES
I have the first 5 volumes of Ouran High School Host Club (by Bisco Hatori), however, only the 3rd and 5th volume were eligible to recycle. I absolutely adore this manga, all those idiots have my heart! But, as I decided to get the boxset when it was on sale on Book Depository (rip) there’s no reason for me to still have them.
I read the whole Girl From the Other Side series (by Nagabe) last year and when I was looking at purchasing volume 2 I saw that there are deluxe editions of this series which are four hardcover bind ups. Suffice to say, I bought the pretty editions, so don’t need the first paperback volume.
OHSHC Vol. 3: 86p || OHSHC Vol. 5: 60p || The Girl From the Other Side Vol. 1: Ā£1.13
NO RE-READ IN SIGHT
These three books are ones that I don’t foresee a re-read for several reasons.
Bloom (by Kevin Panetta,Ā Savanna GanucheauĀ (Illustrator)) was a coming of age love story and while I thought it was fine and cute in parts, I’ve not really thought about it since I read it in 2020. The art style is stunning though!
I bought Beyond Black (by Hilary Mantel) at a train station WHSmiths to start on my way home from a work event and it was mostly a cover buy. The plot is fine, but the character’s are so unlikeable and I get that that doesn’t make a book bad, but I can’t see myself ever reading this again because of that reason.
The Journey: Big Panda and Tiny Dragon (by James Norbury) was a Christmas gift (so don’t tell my sister!) but it’s definitely not for me. It has such a high rating on Goodreads – 4.45ā – and I don’t understand why. The art style is lovely, however, it’s self-help on such a surface level.
Bloom: Ā£1.10 || Beyond Black: Ā£1.23 || The Journey: Ā£1.59
DISLIKES (+ a 4ā)
Certain Dark Things (by Silvia Moreno-Garcia) is one that I really wanted to love as it’s about a vampire, but the writing was more dense than I was expecting and the plot wasn’t as interesting as it could have been considering the characters that Moreno-Garcia gave us.
I didn’t think that this would be one that I could BookCycle, but I was able to get Desperate Measures (by Katee Robert) off my shelves and out of my home! I hated this book. Everything is just so boring and the sex scenes were awkward – mostly because of the awful dialogue – and the ending was terrible! I think Robert’s remembered that there should actually be some plot, but still gave us nothing.
Small Pleasures (by Clare Chambers) was well written, I will give it that. However, the main character is insufferable and the amount of shame, bigotry and disgust that was thrown at the wife of the man she’s cheating with was not for me. And that ending?! Absolutely not.
The next duo by Scarlett St. Clair are a mixed bag. A Touch of Darkness started off fine, but it quickly became so boring! Persephone does nothing, but has so much to complain about. There is absolutely no plot and the romance is… fine, I guess. But, on the other hand, I really enjoyed A Game of Fate. Hades perspective on everything is really interesting and there is an intriguing plot with a host of great characters. I decided to get rid of both as it’s a series that I’m assuming I can’t just read one perspective of.
Certain Dark Things: 40p || Desperate Measures: Ā£1.29 || Small Pleasures: Ā£1.13 || A Touch of Darkness: 92p || A Game of Fate: Ā£1.18
VOUCHER
For the 11 books that were eligible to BookCycle I received an Ā£11.43 e-voucher.
I knew what book I wanted to get immediately! WHSmith’s has a great offer on the new Holly Jackson book as it’s only Ā£7.49, which is half price!! I’m very excited to get to this book as I’ve heard nothing but good things š
“18-year-old Bel has lived her whole life in the shadow of her momās mysterious disappearance. Sixteen years ago, Rachel Price vanished and young Bel was the only witness. Rachel is gone, presumed dead.
The case is dragged up from the past when the Price family agree to a true crime documentary. Bel canāt wait for filming to end, for life to go back to normal. But then Rachel Price reappears, and life will never be normal again . ..”
As I had Ā£3.94 left, I got a little Puzzle Pad of Criss Cross puzzles (Ā£2.99). They’re one of my favourite word puzzles to do and why yes, I am an old lady trapped in the body of a 29 year old~
Thanks for reading!
I hope youāre having a lovely day and staying safe ā„
DramaRambles šø 