Bell Inn, New Forest Review

Tuesday, 2 June 2026 • , , ,


 

We recently visited The Bell Inn for Sunday lunch and honestly, it was one of those roasts that instantly reminds you why pub lunches in the New Forest are so hard to beat.


We were tucked away in one of the quieter side rooms which ended up being such a lovely surprise. The atmosphere felt cosy without being stuffy and the music choice was absolutely spot on for me, more punk rock than your typical country pub playlist, which gave the whole place a bit more personality and made it feel refreshingly different.


We both opted for the beef roast and were really impressed. Everything tasted genuinely good quality, from the beef itself right down to the vegetables. The Yorkshire puddings deserve a special mention because they were exactly how I like them, delightfully spongy with substance to them, rather than the overly crispy “all air” versions you sometimes get served elsewhere.


The gravy was rich, glossy and full of flavour. They didn’t absolutely drown the plate in it, but there was enough to enjoy everything properly without the roast turning into soup, which actually felt quite balanced.


The seasonal vegetables and roast potatoes were equally delicious and it all felt well thought out rather than just piled onto a plate for the sake of it. Proper comforting Sunday food done really well. Their menu focuses heavily on seasonal British ingredients and traditional Sunday roasts, which definitely came across in the quality of the meal. 


Service was another highlight. Everything was quick, efficient and really friendly without feeling rushed. One thing I particularly appreciated was that we were asked about sauces when ordering, which sounds minor but meant there was no awkward wait once the food arrived, we could dive straight into the roast immediately, which is exactly what you want when you’re starving on a Sunday afternoon.


The only thing that genuinely caught us off guard was the wine pricing. When ordering, I originally was going to go for a large glass of wine however, our waiter said it would be more cost effective (if ordering more than one glass) to purchase the bottle. We asked the cost of one large glass of the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc to be told it was £19 which was slightly eye-watering, so I opted for a different drink. The roasts themselves, however, felt really reasonably priced for the quality coming in at £22, which felt like good value.


Overall, we’d absolutely return to The Bell Inn. Great food, genuinely lovely service, a cosy atmosphere with a bit of edge to it, and one of the better beef roasts we’ve had in a long time.


Molly


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Book Review - Fever Dream - Elsie Silver

Friday, 29 May 2026 • , , , ,

 


There are some books you enjoy while reading… and then there are books that completely consume your every waking thought until you finish them. Fever Dream very much fell into the second category for me.


Elsie Silver somehow manages to write romances that feel equally comforting and emotionally destructive at the same time, and this book absolutely delivered on both fronts. Set back in the Emerald Lake, Fever Dream gave us tension, heartbreak, chemistry and emotional yearning in a way that made it almost impossible to put down.


So, what’s it about?


Fever Dream follows Emmett and Julia, whose relationship is packed full of complicated history, unresolved feelings and an almost painful amount of chemistry.


Without spoiling too much, this is very much a story about timing, emotional baggage and two people trying to figure out whether love is enough when life has already left its scars. It’s emotional, messy and incredibly addictive in that classic Elsie Silver way where every interaction feels loaded with tension.


The emotional pull between these two characters starts almost immediately and never really lets up throughout the entire book.


Tropes & spice


We’ve got:

  • second chance romance vibes
  • emotional slow burn
  • small town romance
  • complicated history
  • intense chemistry
  • emotionally unavailable cowboy energy
  • found family undertones

The spice in this book is definitely on the hotter side, but what Elsie Silver does so well is making the emotional intimacy feel just as important as the physical relationship. The tension between Emmett and Julia absolutely simmers for huge portions of the book and when things finally happen… they really happen.


But beyond the spice, it was the emotional vulnerability that really made this stand out for me. Emmett especially felt like such a layered character beneath all the gruffness and emotional walls.


Would I recommend?


Absolutely, particularly if you already love Elsie Silver’s writing style.


If you enjoyed the emotional depth of the Chestnut Springs series, there’s a very good chance you’ll love Fever Dream too. It has that same addictive small-town atmosphere and emotionally intense romance that makes you want to ignore all responsibilities until you finish the book.


I also loved that despite the heavier emotional themes, the story still had moments of warmth and humour woven throughout. The balance felt really well done and stopped things from becoming overwhelmingly heavy.


That said, this definitely isn’t a fluffy, low-stakes rom-com. It leans far more into emotional angst, longing and complicated relationships, which personally made me love it even more.


Final thoughts


Fever Dream completely reminded me why Elsie Silver has become such an automatic buy author for so many romance readers. She writes emotional tension unbelievably well and somehow creates characters that feel deeply flawed but still impossible not to root for.


This book was emotional, addictive, spicy and full of yearning in the absolute best way.


Perfect if you love:

  • emotionally intense romances
  • small town settings
  • cowboy romance
  • complicated love stories
  • protective but emotionally damaged male leads
  • books that make you feel slightly emotionally unwell afterwards

I already know this is going to be one of those books that lingers in my brain for quite a while.


How to read


You can read Fever Dream on Kindle Unlimited, or pick up a paperback copy online or in-store depending on your preferred format.

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Pipplepen Glamping Review

Tuesday, 26 May 2026 • , , ,

 


Our stay at Pipplepen Glamping was exactly the countryside escape we’d been craving - peaceful, cosy and thoughtfully designed in a way that instantly makes you slow down and properly relax.


We stayed in Thea’s Retreat, one of three shepherd huts on site, each with their own slightly different style and personality. From the moment we arrived, it felt incredibly private and tranquil, surrounded by rolling countryside and the sounds of nature rather than traffic or campsite noise.


One of our favourite features was the covered porch area. Even when the weather wasn’t perfectly sunny, it gave us somewhere comfortable to sit outside with a drink and just soak everything in. But the real standout for us was the outdoor bath. There’s just something so ridiculously relaxing about sitting in a steaming bath surrounded by countryside views - it completely made the stay for us and felt like such a luxury touch.


 


Inside, the shepherd hut was surprisingly well equipped. The full oven and hob meant you could very easily self cater properly if you wanted to, rather than relying on makeshift camping meals. There’s also a cosy woodfired log burner which would be absolutely perfect during cooler months and made the whole space feel even more homely and inviting.


The en-suite bathroom was compact but really cleverly designed and the perfect size for the space. Everything throughout the hut felt very modern, clean and high quality, right down to the towels and finishing touches.


Speaking of touches, the welcome basket was such a lovely addition and immediately made the stay feel special. Ours included local apple juice, scones with clotted cream and jam, cookies, milk and fudge - exactly the kind of thoughtful extras that make somewhere memorable.


The only slight downside for us was the ladder leading up to the bed area. As it doesn’t properly hook over the side of the bed, it felt a little unstable climbing up and down at times. It certainly wouldn’t stop us returning, but it was probably the only feature that felt a little less polished compared to the rest of the accommodation.


 

One of the unexpected highlights of the trip were our neighbours - the lambs and sheep nearby were absolutely adorable and somehow made the whole experience feel even more peaceful and connected to nature. Waking up to countryside sounds rather than alarms or traffic was exactly what we needed.


Overall, Pipplepen Glamping gave us the calm, tranquil reset we’d been craving. Thoughtfully designed, beautifully peaceful and full of little luxury touches, it felt like the perfect blend of comfort and countryside living. We’ll definitely be back.


Molly

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Off Campus Books vs The TV Show: Which One Did I Prefer?

Friday, 22 May 2026 • , ,


I feel like if you’ve spent any amount of time on BookTok over the last few years, you’ve probably heard of the Off Campus series by Elle Kennedy. Hockey romance? College setting? Found family vibes? Sign me up. I read both the Off Campus series and the follow up, Briar U, back in 2025.


So when Prime Video announced they were adapting the series for TV, I was equal parts excited and nervous. Book to screen adaptations can either completely capture the magic of the books… or leave you wondering whether the producers even opened the original material.


Having now watched the first season and read the books, I have thoughts. A lot of thoughts.


The Books: Why Everyone Became Obsessed


The Off Campus series started with The Deal, following Hannah Wells and Garrett Graham at Briar University. Garrett is the hockey captain who struggles academically and Hannah is the music major tutoring him. Naturally a fake dating arrangement follows...


What made the books so addictive for me wasn’t just the romance. Yes, the chemistry is incredible and the banter genuinely made me laugh out loud at points, but it’s the friendships between the hockey boys that really carry the series. They feel chaotic, loyal and believable in a way that makes you want to stay in that world long after the romance storyline ends.


Each book focuses on a different couple which I absolutely loved because you still get glimpses of previous characters without feeling stuck in the same storyline for too long. Logan, Dean and Tucker all get their moments later in the series and some of those books are just as good as The Deal. In fact, in my opinion, Allie and Dean's book, The Score, is the best!


One thing I will say is that the books very much feel like products of the mid 2010s romance era. Some scenes and attitudes definitely read differently now compared to when they were first released, but the emotional side of the stories still holds up really well.


The TV Show: Better Than I Expected


Going into the show, I was fully prepared to be disappointed.


I think readers become so attached to characters that it’s almost impossible for a casting choice to perfectly match the version that exists in your head. Garrett in particular was never going to please everybody because every reader seems to picture him differently. I do think they got Dean spot on though!


But after the first couple of episodes, I actually thought the cast worked really well.


The chemistry between Hannah and Garrett was believable, the humour translated surprisingly well to screen and, most importantly, the friendship dynamic between the boys still felt like the heart of the story. Elle Kennedy apparently said preserving the friendships and "bromance" aspects of the books was really important to her when adapting the series and I genuinely think that comes across while watching it.


The show also looks exactly how I imagined Briar University while reading. The cosy autumn campus aesthetic mixed with hockey culture somehow made me want to go back to university despite the fact I definitely romanticise student life far more now than I did back in the early to mid 2010s.


The Biggest Differences Between The Books and Show


If you’re expecting a scene-for-scene adaptation, this definitely isn’t that.


The TV series makes quite a few changes to the original storylines, especially when it comes to introducing future couples earlier and overlapping certain plots. Dean and Allie’s dynamic gets more attention much earlier on compared to the books, which actually worked really well for television because it helped the wider ensemble feel important from the beginning.


Some characters have also been merged or slightly reworked to make the pacing fit into an eight-episode season. That’s probably unavoidable when adapting a romance novel because books naturally spend so much more time inside a character’s head.


I also think the show leans slightly more into the drama and steaminess straight away. The books definitely have spice, but the TV version seems very aware of the audience it’s targeting and wastes absolutely no time establishing the tone.


That said, I actually appreciated that the emotional storylines still felt grounded underneath all of the romance.


Which Did I Prefer?


This is genuinely difficult because I think they both succeed in different ways.


The books give you more emotional depth. You spend longer with the characters, understand their insecurities better and become more attached to the relationships because you’re inside their thoughts for hundreds of pages.


But the TV show made Briar U feel more alive.


Seeing the hockey games, parties, dorms and friendship groups visually on screen added something the books couldn’t quite replicate. It also helped that the pacing moved quickly enough to keep me constantly wanting just one more episode.


If I absolutely had to choose, I think the books still win for me purely because the character development feels richer. However, this might genuinely be one of the better romance adaptations I’ve watched in a long time and that’s coming from somebody who whilst watching most adaptations repeatedly says the book was better every five minutes.


What I Hope Gets Adapted Next


One thing the success of Off Campus has definitely done is make me even more excited for future romance adaptations.


I’m especially excited that Elsie Silver’s Chestnut Springs series is being adapted because I genuinely think the small-town setting, family dynamics and chemistry between characters will work so well on screen. The books already feel incredibly cinematic while reading them, so I have really high hopes for that adaptation.


I’m also really looking forward to seeing what happens with the adaptation of TL Swan’s Miles High series. If they manage to capture the same addictive chaos, emotional drama and ridiculously over-the-top billionaire energy as the books, I genuinely think it could become one of those binge-worthy romance shows everybody ends up talking about online.


I feel like romance adaptations are finally starting to get the budget and attention they deserve rather than being treated as cheesy guilty pleasures, and it’s about damn time.


Final Thoughts


Whether you start with the books or the TV show, I think Off Campus is one of those series that’s ridiculously easy to get invested in. It has romance, humour, friendship drama, emotional moments and enough tension to keep you bingeing far later into the night than intended.


If you love college romance, fake dating tropes and found family dynamics, you’ll probably enjoy both versions.


Just be prepared to suddenly develop an emotional attachment to fictional hockey players.


Molly

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Hill Cottage Farm Camping, Alderholt Review

Tuesday, 19 May 2026 • , , , ,

 


Our recent stay at Hill Cottage Farm Camping was a bit of a mixed bag - there were definitely some lovely touches, but a few frustrations stopped it from being the peaceful countryside escape we’d hoped for.


One of the biggest positives for us was the self check-in process. After a long drive, being able to arrive and get settled without any fuss was really appreciated. The staff were also incredibly friendly throughout our stay. We had a slight snafu with our electricity hookup when we first arrived, but it was sorted quickly and without any drama, which always makes a good impression.


The PAYG electricity setup was another thing we actually quite liked. It felt fair and meant you were only paying for what you used rather than having it bundled into the pitch fee. We also opted for a late checkout, which made packing away far less stressful and was well worth doing.


Facilities-wise, the toilets and showers were clean throughout our stay, although they are definitely on the more basic side. They did the job perfectly well, but you could really feel the lack of shower space. 


The pitches themselves were generously sized, but despite that, the site still felt a little cramped at times. We don’t have a particularly huge tent, but some neighbouring setups were enormous and it often felt like you were much closer to other campers than expected.


Unfortunately, the biggest downside for us was the atmosphere on the site. This may have been partly down to where our pitch was located, but we were right alongside a fairly busy road. It quietened down overnight, thankfully, but during the day there was a constant hum of traffic which took away from the peaceful countryside vibe the website promises.


The bigger issue, though, was the lack of rule enforcement. While this obviously isn’t entirely the campsite’s fault, it did feel as though some guests were allowed to do pretty much whatever they wanted. Children were frequently treating the toilet and shower blocks like a playground, and because we had a large open area in front of our pitch, a big multi-pitch family group nearby seemed to adopt it as an extension of their own space. There were constant ball games, noisy toys, and at one point repeated honking of a van horn for reasons we still can’t quite understand! It meant the “quiet escape” advertised online didn’t really materialise for us.


I think if anything, this trip taught us that in future we’ll probably stick to adults only campsites when we’re craving a genuinely quiet, slower paced break. We completely understand families wanting to enjoy themselves on holiday, but we’ve realised we personally prefer a calmer camping atmosphere.


Overall, we did enjoy the majority of our stay at Hill Cottage Farm Camping. The friendly staff, easy check-in, clean facilities and flexible checkout options were all genuine highlights. But if you’re specifically looking for a calm, peaceful campsite experience, it may depend heavily on where you’re pitched and who your neighbours happen to be.


Molly



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