About Kate
Reader. History enthusiast. Amateur baker. Professional book collector!
Hi! I’m Kate, a teenage bookworm with a lifelong love of stories.
Over the past few years, my interest in reading has grown beyond simply turning pages. I’ve helped out in my school library, co-hosted a book club, and even had book reviews published in a school magazine. Starting Kate’s Bookshelf felt like the natural next step.
I created this blog to develop my digital skills and, more importantly, to share the joy of reading with others. From book recommendations to character analysis articles, my aim is to help people discover books they love — whether they’re already passionate readers or just starting their reading journey. If I can help even one person discover a book they fall in love with, then Kate's Bookshelf has done exactly what I hoped it would.
Discovering new worlds, one page at a time!
More Than Just Books
I’m not just a massive book nerd (although I definitely am one). I’m also a huge history enthusiast — and I mean huge. I find history fascinating because I believe understanding the past helps us move forward.
While I love learning about all periods, some of my favourite areas include American history (especially the American Revolution, the presidents, and World War II), British history, Spanish history, and the French Revolution. Fun fact: Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes is often cited as the first modern novel!
I also co-host a podcast on Spanish history con mi brillante profesor de español — or, for those who didn’t catch that, with my brilliant Spanish teacher.
A Few More Things I Love
Outside of books and history, I’m a big fan of musicals — especially historical ones like Six and Hamilton. I love baking (lemon drizzle cake is my speciality), usually while listening to music or historical documentaries. I also enjoy writing my own stories and poetry and have even won awards for my writing. On top of that, I’m part of my school’s debate club, which I really enjoy.
A Quick Harry Potter Rant (Because I Can’t Resist)
I’m also a huge Harry Potter fan and could happily lose myself in the wizarding world for hours. I’ve read the series about nine times, with The Prisoner of Azkaban and The Order of the Phoenix being my favourites.
While I do enjoy the films, I firmly believe the books are better. My favourite movies are the first three, and every time I rewatch The Chamber of Secrets, I forget just how good it is. This may be controversial, but I’m not a huge fan of the fifth and sixth films — especially the unnecessary additions in Half-Blood Prince (the burning of the Burrow still annoys me — it never even happened in the books!).
Anyway… rant over.
And Finally… Meet Beatrix 🐾
Lastly, I have a dog who I love beyond anything else, yes, even books! This is my adorable chorkie (a cross between a Chihuahua and a Yorkshire Terrier), Beatrix (named after Beatrix Potter, of course). She’s very patient with my reading habits and has even posed for a few very serious pictures “reading” a poem about herself… well, not reading exactly, but definitely supervising.
Get to Know
Me Better
📚 Favourite book
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
🎬 Favourite movie
Titanic
📺 Favourite TV show
Heartstopper
🎵 Favourite Musical
Hamilton
🖋️ Favourite Author
Taylor Jenkins Reid
☕Favourite drink
Chocolate, vanilla or strawberry milkshake
💖 My Happy Place
Curled up in my bed with my dog, a book and a good TV show
❄ Favourite Season
Winter. It's the perfect time to stay indoors and read in front of the fire
💷 What I spend all my money on
Books, stationery, books, hair accessories. books, and...more books
🎧 Always listening to
The Hamilton soundtrack
Now that you know a little more about me, I’ll explain why I wanted to start this blog.
I’ve always loved reading, but I know that isn’t the case for everyone. While Kate’s Bookshelf is definitely for people who already love books, it’s also for those who want to enjoy reading but don’t know where to start — or don’t know what to read next. That’s something I’ve seen among my family, friends, and at school.
If you decide to stick around, you’ll find a wide variety of content here. Of course, there will be book reviews, but also book recommendations, character analysis articles, book-to-film comparisons, and plenty more.
I really hope you enjoy exploring my blog and discovering new stories along the way.
Whether you're looking for your next five-star read, wondering if a popular book is worth the hype, or simply love chatting about books as much as I do, I hope you'll find something here to enjoy. So grab a blanket, a hot drink and have a look around—you might just discover your next favourite book.
Discovering new worlds, one page at a time!
Happy reading!
Kate x
