The Interview:

1. When did you start blogging?

I’ve had a few (very brief) attempts at blogging in the past, starting my first lifestyle blog when I was 15, a dance blog when I was 16, and then a personal blog called ‘Letters to Myself’ when I was 18. I launched my current blog, ‘Sophie’s Reading Room’ on the 10^th April this year by resurrecting my old blog and giving it a new look as a book blog. It’s very new, but I am loving being a part of this community so far!

2. What are your favourite genres to read?

Ooh tough question: I like to try and read broadly but I am always drawn to contemporary romances or stories that explore real lives. I studied an English degree at university so also love to read classics, particularly early 1900s modernist books. But I read everything! YA, fantasy, throw in some thrillers too – any good book regardless of genre.

3. Best book you've read so far this year?

I recently finished The Switch by Beth O’Leary and that has to be at the top so far. I am a sucker for a book that can make me so happy that I cry, and that’s what the ending of this book did! All the characters felt so alive on the page, especially Eileen, who is without a doubt the coolest grandma I’ve ever met. If you’re looking for a book that will leave you feeling warm, fuzzy and ready to embark on your next adventure, I would definitely recommend this one.

4. What social media sites do you use most to spread the word about your blog posts/to network with the book blogging community?

I think Twitter is the best platform for promoting blogs and connecting with other bloggers. I see a lot of ‘Blog Threads’ where you can post links to your blog and that’s a great place to find new pages that post on a variety of interesting topics.

5. What do you wish you'd known about book blogging before you started?

I wish I’d known how useful scheduling posts was! I’ve only recently started using it to make sure I post consistently and that, if I’ve got extra time and want to write several posts in a short period of time, I give myself a safety net of scheduled posts. I also wish I had made a Twitter account earlier to start connecting with other bloggers. I only got Twitter in March and have slowly been growing my network but look forward to meeting more people.

6. What is the hardest part of being a book blogger? 

Keeping on top of your content! I’ve found that I always start off very strong but then approach a busy time with work/university that makes me lose track of time and I forget to post. It’s also quite a long process for a blog to pick up popularity and to grow a following, so it can be hard to stay motivated. But it’s worth it in the end!

7. What are your goals for your book blog? Do you have any plans for your blog in the future?

My current goal is to reach 500 followers! On a smaller scale though, I aim to keep up posting regularly and see where it goes. I would love to connect with other book bloggers/people working in publishing and expand from posting reviews to doing occasional interviews. I’m hoping to secure a job in publishing this year and would love for my page to act place to document my journey into the industry too.

8. How often do you post to your blog?

I post every Monday and then occasionally I do an extra post on Saturday depending on how busy my week has been. I post twice a week on my Bookstagram and once a week on YouTube too so it’s quite a busy schedule!

9. What's your most popular blog post?

My most popular blog post was my review of The Switch (spoiler-alert: it’s a very positive review!).

10. What are you currently reading and why did you choose to read it?

I have just started The Flat Share, Beth O’Leary’s debut novel, and am only 20 pages in so far but I already have the feeling I’m going to love it. I chose it because I had heard such glowing reviews and, having just finished her second book, thought it would be nice to read the book that launched her career and see how it compared. I picked up this copy for 99p (an absolute bargain!) from my local charity bookshop a few days after finishing The Switch, so it felt like fate.