Books: First Lines Fridays 18th July 2025

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines? 

• Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page 
• Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first 
• Finally… reveal the book!

My Pick For This Week

The first lines of the book:

And the book is...

• 
  
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CW1KBZ8Z
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 18, 2024
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 306 pages
• 
  

Book synopsis for Genius Club by N.J. Barker

They were gifted enough to be selected. Are they smart enough to survive?

PREPARE TO BE GRIPPED BY THIS INTRIGUING, PULSE-RAISING THRILLER FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE HONESTY INDEX, NJ BARKER.

Professor Matthew Stanford is a genius with numbers, but when it comes to people, he's always struggled.

As a teenager, he was offered a scholarship by the reclusive polymath, Benjamin Caesar, where he met a group of like-minded intellectuals, which became known as the Genius Club.

The now thirty-something prodigy still stays in close contact with the other participants, but when Matthew discovers his wife - also a member of the club - dead on the floor with an empty syringe by her side, his life unravels.

Authorities dismiss it as a tragic overdose, Matthew is certain something far darker is at play. When he uncovers unsettling truths about Caesar's motivation behind forming the club, Matthew realizes he and his friends have been part of a disturbing experiment all along. And now, they are being hunted down one by one.

Can Matthew outsmart a faceless enemy before he’s next?

Genius Club is a dark psychological thriller and perfect for fans of T.M. Logan and Harlen Coben.

Where to find Genius Club by N.J. Barker online: 

 

 Genius Club Amazon affiliate link

Genius Club on Goodreads

Book Spotlight: People's Choice by Litty Williams

Today I'm part of a virtual book tour organised by The Write Reads for People's Choice by Litty Williams. The tour for ‘People's Choice' will run from 15th - 21st July 2025. 

Book your own Book Spotlight post to showcase your book now!

Disclosure: The FTC Disclosure Provision is a law that requires influencers to disclose when they are being paid to promote a product or service. So please know that if I'm not making money through affiliate links/sponsored content on the post you're currently reading, it's an oversight on my part and will be corrected soon. Read the full disclosure about all the legal stuff here.

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Genre: Speculative Fiction, Dystopian Fiction

Age Category: Young Adult

Number of Pages: 312 Pages

Publication Date: April 28, 2025

New to virtual book tours? Check out my book Virtual Book Tours: Effective Online Book Promotion From The Comfort Of Your Own Home.

Book synopsis for People's Choice by Litty Williams

In near-future NewBrit, where only Winners succeed, Maz Tallis is a Loser. All she wants is the expensive medicine that could save her half-brother, Kyle.

As her final term at Albion House Academy begins, Maz enters the Manticore Challenge, a competition offering the winner 1,000 Life Chances—credits that can be exchanged for life-saving treatments. For Maz, this could be her only shot at getting the medication Kyle so desperately needs.

To improve her chances of winning, Maz comes up with a bold plan. But when Felix, a charismatic Winner, steals her idea, they become fierce rivals. To make matters worse, Kyle gets a superbug, making the need for treatment even more urgent.

As Maz uncovers a disturbing secret at the heart of the competition, she faces an agonising save her brother or expose the threat. Battling self-doubt and a corrupt system, Maz must decide if she will risk everything to reveal the truth. And will she find a way to save the people she loves without losing herself?

Where to find People's Choice by Litty Williams online: 

 

People's Choice Amazon affiliate link

People's Choice on Goodreads

About the author, 

Born in Merseyside, Litty Williams wrote her first story at the age of twelve and has been writing off and on ever since. During her early career she worked in sales and corporate finance, then retrained to become a business psychologist where she really enjoyed helping people achieve their potential.

During a Masters in Creative Writing at City University in London Litty finished her first complete novel! Hurrah! This achievement had a massive impact on her belief in herself as a writer – and she has since written several novels and movie scripts.

Litty was inspired to write People’s Choice when working at Wellcome Trust.

Litty explains: “I used to work at Wellcome Trust, a global health charity that runs the brilliant campaign #StopSuperbugs. We face a terrifying future if we can’t #StopSuperbugs, and this forms the backdrop for Maz’s story. At the same time I was (and still am) angry at how much pressure is put on school kids in terms of both exams and social pressures. I’m also concerned about the global refugee crisis, which will only get worse due to climate change. Using my fear and anger, I created Maz’s story, where there’s jeopardy, excitement, and clean teen romance – with lots of dark humour and attitude…(inspired by my own kids.)”

Having worked in the UK, Italy, Hong Kong, and Russia, Litty is now a full-time writer living in south London. In her spare time, Litty plays the violin, is a listening volunteer and wages an ongoing campaign to win the affection of her standoffish cat, Lucy.

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You might also like: Book Spotlight: Choices Meant for Gods by Sandy Lender

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The book synopsis for At the Ragtag Hotel - The Elevator Ride by Freya Novak

Introducing Dallas Dingo, the quintessential “jack of all trades” at the Ragtag Hotel.

On a sweltering, sticky afternoon, Dallas cheerfully navigates the hotel’s elevator, zipping residents up and down with a bright smile.

In this lively community, you’ll meet a diverse array of captivating residents: a cheerful capybara flashing a toothy grin, a poised ostrich strutting with grace, a faint-prone quokka, a diminutive tarsier with large, soulful eyes, a whimsical armadillo rolling around playfully, and a worried okapi anxious about fitting into the elevator.

The atmosphere brims with anticipation as more animals squeeze in. Will they all manage to fit into the crowded, bustling elevator, or will someone be left behind? And what adventures await on the mysterious fourteenth floor?

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Discussing At the Ragtag Hotel - The Elevator Ride by Freya Novak

Where to find At the Ragtag Hotel - The Elevator Ride by Freya Novak online:

 At the Ragtag Hotel - The Elevator Ride Amazon affiliate link

At the Ragtag Hotel - The Elevator Ride on Goodreads

Want to know what others thought about this book? Check out these book reviews:

• "Children will enjoy this simple, mysterious story, filled with playful intrigue and exotic creatures they have likely never encountered. The stunning illustrations will captivate readers; the rich detail and dynamic compositions will ignite imaginations." Read the full review by NBPB Reviews here 

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Are you a book blogger? Check out 101 Blog Post Ideas For Book Bloggers

A Guide To Museo delle Mura, Rome

What You Need To Know About The Aurelian Walls

What is Museo delle Mura?

The name literally means Museum of the Walls, and that’s exactly what it is. Located on the southern edge of the city, the museum gives visitors a close-up look at the impressive defensive walls built in the 3rd century AD to protect Rome from invasion.

Inside, you’ll find displays that walk you through the history of the walls, how they were constructed, and how they’ve changed over the centuries. There are models, photos, and old drawings – all neatly laid out in rooms that still echo with the sounds of ancient Rome (if you use your imagination, of course!).

Why visit?

Honestly, the best part is the walk along the walls themselves. Yes, you can actually stroll along a section of the Aurelian Walls and take in a unique perspective of Rome – high above the traffic, with views that stretch out towards the Appian Way. It’s peaceful, slightly surreal, and totally free from the chaos of the city centre.

Plus, the Porta San Sebastiano is the largest and best-preserved gate in the entire circuit of the Aurelian Walls. Walking through it feels like stepping back in time.

From the Museum, it is possible to access a long stretch, approximately 350 meters, of the patrol path along the walls, which appears as a covered gallery interspersed with ten towers, ending at the top with an uncovered walkway sheltered by battlements. 

Along the path, the walls from the Honorius era (early 5th century AD) are preserved, with arrow slits within niches, and large arches open on the opposite side towards the city, in addition to staircases inside some towers that were used to access the now non-existent upper manoeuvring chambers. - Museo delle Mura

Information

Address: Via di Porta San Sebastiano,18 - 00179 Roma 

Opening hours: From Tuesday to Sunday 10.00 - 16.00 

Last admission an hour before closing time. 

Closed: Monday, 1 May, 25 December. 

Last admission one hour before closing time.

Final thoughts

Museo delle Mura is a brilliant little detour if you fancy something historic, peaceful, and totally different from the usual tourist trail. Whether you’re a history buff, a fan of Roman architecture, or just someone looking to escape the crowds for a bit – give this one a go.

It’s a gentle reminder that Rome isn’t just about Colosseums and cathedrals – sometimes, it’s the quiet places that leave the biggest impression.

You might also like: How To Visit Rome on a Budget

Book Blogging in 2025 Survey

Book Blogger Survey Results and Statistics

For the past few years I've done an annual Book Blogging Survey to see what stats look like for book blogs. 

I wanted to be able to offer and encourage more transparency about the statistics of book bloggers by trying to get a better idea about average book blogging statistics.

Here you can find the results for 2022, 2023 and 2024.

So, welcome to the Book Blogging in 2025 Survey Results! 

As I did in previous years, I'll be comparing my findings with the results from past years to see if the same answers still apply in 2025.

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Blogging Statistics in 2025

"Updating old content is the second best way to keep up with the blogging scene. The first is, of course, posting new content." - DemandSage

"More than 90% of global searches are conducted on Google."  - Forbes

"Over 53% of all search results are organic, highlighting the importance of non-paid listings in driving website visibility and traffic." - Ahref

"97% of top-ranking Google pages include at least one image, highlighting the value of visuals in SEO." - SEO.AI

"71% of bloggers say that Search Engine Optimization is the most vital way to increase traffic to the blog."  - DemandSage

A few of my own blogging stats

In order to be completely transparent with you all here's a few of my own statistics for this blog. To give you more context, although I started blogging back in 2006, I moved my blog to Blogger in 2012. "All time" is therefore from 2012 to date. 

I should also point out that my blog is now a lifestyle blog and not exclusively limited to bookish content (although books remain my main topic). 

All time views to blog: 4,265,726 views

All time most viewed post: Things That Should Be In Every Blog Post (published August 2021) with over 157K views.

Most viewed post so far from 2025: December 2024 Book Bloggers Round Up Post (published 3 January 2025) with 647 views. 

Second most viewed book related post so far from 2025: First Line Fridays 17th January (published 17 January 2025) with 341 views.

Most viewed book review of all time: Evolving Elizah: Initiatum by CJ Hall (published 30 April 2021) with 8.4k views

Most viewed book review so far from 2025: Martin Luther King Jr. by Mary Nhin (published 5 February 2025) with 238 views

Most viewed book spotlight of all time: Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams by Victoria Williamson (published 9 June 2023) with 8.5k views

Most viewed book spotlight so far from 2025: Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton (published 2 April 2025) with 176 views.

Most viewed book tag of all time: I Love That Book's Show Tag (published 2 October 2018) with 9.45k views.

Most viewed book tag so far from 2025: I am the Reader Tag (published 8 July 2025) with 62 views.

Majority of blog traffic comes from: Google search.

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Book Blogging 2025 Survey

Now it's time to see how this years results match up with previous years. 

I set up a thread of polls on my Twitter profile, just like I did in previous years, using the same four questions.

Book Blogging in 2025 Survey Results

How long have you been book blogging?

This year shows a slight increase in the percentage of new book blogs compared to last year 4% in 2024 (It was 4.1% in 2022 and 6.3% in 2023). 

I'm happy to see that the 5-10 years category has had the highest percentage this year and that the over 10 years category has grown too. This is good news as it means a lot of those same book bloggers are still going. Experienced, dedicated book bloggers still sharing their love of reading! 

How many page views do you get per month on average?

The highest percentage remains the less than 5K category (it was 64% in 2024). 5K-10K and 10K-20K have both increased, however, the over 20K category is less than last year (16% in 2024). 

There are numerous reasons why you might experience a decrease in page views and whilst some; posting quality content, correct SEO, promotion etc... are things you'll need to work on others aren't caused by the blogger e.g. changes in search engine algorithms or evolving user behaviour.

On average, how many comments do you get on your blog each day?

0-5 86.4% 

6-10 9.1% 

11-20 0% 

Over 20 4.5%

This continues to be one of the areas where the majority continues to struggle. The 0-5 category has consistently been the majority each year (88% in 2022,  87% in 2023 and 84% in 2024).  

Where does most of your blog traffic come from?

Search engines 57.1% 

Social media links 38.1% 

Newsletter subscribers 0% 

Other 4.8%

Search engines continue to be the highest source of traffic for book blogs with social media in second place again. 

This is the second year in a row that Newsletters have got 0% (2% in 2022, 4.3% in 2023 and 0% in 2024). This could be an indication that Newsletters are no longer worth investing in. 

The Other category (14.3% in 2022, 12.8% in 2023 and 5.9% in 2024) has also been reduced yet again. 

If you know of other surveys offering statistics to do with book blogging please let me know about them in the comments section below. 

Conclusion

I hope this survey has given you some valuable insight into the world of book blogging and sparked a few new thoughts along the way. 

No matter where you are in your book blogging journey, know that you're not alone. Many of us face similar challenges, even those who’ve been at it for years. So if you’re feeling stuck or discouraged, hang in there. 

Were any of the results surprising to you? How do you compare to the average book blogger based on these stats?