Monday 28 April 2014

BOOK REVIEW: TALENTED BY SOHPIE DAVIS


Talented - Sophie Davis

Genre: YA Dystopia
My Rating: 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13466202-talented
Goodreads Summary:
When Talia Lyons was just a child, her parents were murdered before her eyes. Offered a choice between accepting their fate and exacting revenge, Talia trains to become one of the country’s deadliest assassins in order to kill the man responsible for their deaths: Ian Crane. Luckily, Talia was born with a gift- the ability to read and influence the minds of others. At sixteen, Talia is poised to graduate from the McDonough School for the Talented, where she learned to control her abilities. Now there is only one obstacle standing between her and the retribution she craves... Talia herself.
Her greatest asset may also be her undoing; while a formidable weapon in the field, Talia’s talents prevent her from both shutting off the mental connection she shares with her questionable boyfriend and blocking out the thoughts of a beguiling fellow recruit. But Talia can’t afford to have the feelings and distractions of a normal teenage girl, when her life is far from normal.
She must regain the single-minded determination that has brought her this far, or it may cost Talia her life when she finally faces Crane. And even after being molded in to a weapon of war, she’ll still have to find the strength it takes to pull the trigger.
If James Bond and Sookie Stackhouse had a love child with a yearning for vengeance, her story would be TALENTED: an adventure about powerful teenagers who aren’t afraid to embrace their fears and fight for what they believe in.

I was given a copy of Talented to review by Sophie Davis and her PA Justine so thank you so much ladies for providing me with this copy!

Firstly, I LOVED the concept of this book. A group of people born with powers after some crazy nuclear thing go to a special school to harness their talents and go on missions it was just so BADASS! Talia watched her parents being murdered at a young age and has made it her personal goal to join the hunters and kill the man responsible and this was just such a cool storyline that fans of X-Men, James Bond and dystopian YA novels will LOVE!
The writing got progressively better throughout the novel and you could see how Davis' writing has grown and developed over the course of writing this novel. I must say, it's definitely an excellent debut and I can't wait to read the rest of the series!
I really loved all of the characters (well, obviously not ALL of them), but I had grown quite attached to them after a while and I loved Talia's group of friends (Penny, Erik (swoon!) and Henri). They were all amazing side characters that added a lot of dynamic to the story and brought a lighter mood to the story which I appreciated. Definitely an excellent variety of characters, all different in their own way.
I did feel as though at times (only in the first half of the book) the narration didn't feel like it was coming from Talia's head, if that makes sense. I felt like some things that she stated in her own narration weren't the way she would actually speak, but as I mentioned before, the writing really picked up throughout the middle of the story and really TOOK OFF RUNNING. I mean, I just want to know more and I couldn't put it down once I had reached the last third of the book! Definitely an excellent ending that leaves you wanting the second book desperately! I am so glad that there were some sneak peak chapters into the next book and I can't wait to read it!
An excellent debut to an exciting series that is already completed I believe so we don't have to wait to find out what happens which is a huge plus!

Please support Sophie Davis and pick up Talented! It's free as an ebook on Amazon :D
A video review is coming soon for your chance to win some awesome prizes like a Kindle Fire and Amazon Gift Cards! Yippeeee!

Tuesday 22 April 2014

Favourite YA & NA Contemporaries of 2014! (So far...)

So far this year I've read a total of 64 books! I know, it's insane! So I just wanted to put the spotlight on my favourites of the year so far! There is no way that I'll be able to have a top 14 of 2014 at the end of the year with so many amazing books, so here we go!

1. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
           This book is so beautifully and realistically written and I am so in love with the whole idea of it.            It follows two misfits who fall in love in the 80's and it is so beautifully heartbreaking.

2. Wait for You by J. Lynn (AKA Jennifer L. Armentrout
This was pretty much the first New Adult romance book that I read and honestly it got me hooked on the genre! Everything about this book is so addicting and swoon worthy that I was just flailing all over the place! It's all about fitting in at College and getting over past traumatic experiences and letting people into your life. Loved it.

3. Burned by Ellen Hopkins
This book is written entirely in verse and it still baffles me how Ellen Hopkins gets you so attached to the characters and so engrossed in the story through this particular writing style. This follows a girl who is a part of a very strict mormon family and she begins to question her religion and begins to rebel. Her home life is awful and she does a couple of things considered to be 'evil' and when her father finds out (who is an abusive alcoholic) he sends her to live with her Aunt in the middle of nowhere, where she meets a boy who changes her life forever. This book is absolutely stunning in every way. 

4. The Too Far Trilogy by Abbi Glines
This trilogy changed my life and I can't even begin to explain why. This is a New Adult romance trilogy that is a part of the Rosemary Beach series by Abbi Glines. These books are super short (under 300 pages) but Abbi Glines manages to get you so attached to the characters within such a short amount of pages and it absolutely got me so obsessed with the story and everything else she writes. This follows a girl whose mother just passed away, so she reaches out to her father (who has remarried) as she has nowhere left to live. As soon as she arrives at his house (which is a HUGE mansion on the beach) she finds herself face to face with an extremely attractive step brother that she never knew she had who just happens to be the son of a famous rockstar. IT SOUNDS LAME BUT GUYS SRSLY. <3

5. More Than This by Jay McLean
This book, you guys. HOLY DAMN. It follows Mikayla who, on her prom night, discovers that she has been deeply betrayed. She runs into a guy she's never met before from a different school and spends the night with him and his friends, but when he drops her home, nothing can prepare her for what she will find. There were so many unexpected twists in this book that broke my heart and I can't wait to continue on with the series. This is definitely New Adult because this is really dark!

6. Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
I had such an amazing experience reading this novel. Colleen Hoover and musician, Griffin Peterson, worked together to create and record songs that are present throughout the novel so that while reading, you can listen to the songs and GAH. This is an absolutely incredible love story that I will forever love <3

7. Amy & Matthew by Cammie McGovern
I just recently posted a review of this beautiful book so if you're interested, click here to view it. 
This is an AMAZING story that is totally different to anything I've ever read before. It follows a girl called Amy who has severe Cerebral Palsy and requires a walker to get around and a special machine she can type in that speaks for her. She wants to spend her senior year actually making friends instead of always being around teacher aides so her family hires peer helpers to help her get around at school and to make new friends. One of these helpers is Matthew, a boy facing his own problems with severe OCD. They form a beautiful and life-changing bond and this is their story.

I've also posted a review of this one so you can click here to see the review!
I am obsessed with this book and everything about it. (Summary taken from my review) Lara Jean lives with her Dad, her older sister Margot, and her younger sister, Kitty. Her mother (who was Korean) passed away seven years prior to the events in this novel and it is evident from the start that family is the most important thing in Lara Jeans' life. Her older sister Margot is about to go off to college in Scotland (yes, about 4000 kilometres away!) and Margot and their next door neighbour, Josh, have been dating for years but Margot breaks it off as she leaves for college. Little does Margot know, Josh is one of the very first boys that Lara Jean ever loved, and therefore she wrote him a letter, along with 4 other boys that she has loved, and put them all in a hatbox her mother gave her in her closet. But one day, her first love, Peter, finds Lara Jean at school and asks why she sent him a letter. YEP. ALL OF HER LETTERS GOT SENT OUT TO ALL OF THE BOYS. *CRINGE* Obviously she never intended for them to see these letters so she's beside herself with anxiety at where her hatbox could be and who could have possibly sent out these letters. The main plotline from there follows Lara Jean avoiding her true feelings for her neighbour and sisters ex, Josh. Obviously he received a letter as well, so to do make him believe that she no longer has feelings for him, she goes into a fake relationship with Peter, as he wants to make his ex girlfriend jealous. This was perfect and brilliant and fun and the perfect YA contemporary! I need the next book NOW!

So that's it folks! My favourite contemporaries that I've read so far this year! What are your favourites so far? :)

BOOKSHELF TOUR! (2014)

Here's my bookshelf tour! I decided to film this instead of posting more detailed pictures because who doesn't love bookshelf tours? Hehehe


Sunday 20 April 2014

MY REARRANGED BOOKSHELVES

So I decided to rearrange my bookshelves. I used to have them organised by genre but now I've got a big bookshelf full of all of my read books (which includes two shelves of my favourites) and two smaller tbr shelves (also organised by genre). Here are the pictures!


The first of my tbr shelves

My read shelf

And my other tbr shelf.

Let me know if you want shelf by shelf pictures for more details!



BOOK REVIEW: AMY & MATTHEW BY CAMMIE MCGOVERN

Amy & Matthew - Cammie McGovern

Genre: YA Contemporary
My Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Summary:
Amy loves Matthew and he loves her back. This is their story.
Amy is unflinchingly honest about her limitations. Born with cerebral palsy, she can’t walk or talk without help. But trapped inside this uncooperative body lies a brilliant mind and a luminous spirit – a girl capable of truly loving and worthy of being loved in return.
Matthew has his own set of challenges – a mind consumed by unwanted repeated thoughts, obsessive rituals and a crippling fear that he can't explain. But underneath all of the anxiety lies a deep seed of hope for someone to come along who believes in him…
This is the story of Amy and Matthew. It may not be a fairy tale romance or set in an imagined world far from our own. But the love they share is real. And yes, there's magic in it.

This story is absolutely beautiful and I feel like there needs to be more books like this out there in the YA community! Amy has severe cerebral palsy and has to use a walker to get around and a special machine to speak for her. Amy is super intelligent and is sick of living in a shell, so for her senior year, she decides to get peer helpers instead of teacher aides in order to make friends and make the most of her final year of school. Matthew is one of her new peer helpers and they immediately have a connection. Matthew isn't your average boy. He's teased relentlessly for having severe OCD and their relationship really helps both Amy and Matthew with different fears and personal issues. 

Firstly, the writing is amazing and really brought to light a disease that people may not know about. Personally, I had a friend in primary school who had cerebral palsy and he was in a wheelchair and couldn't speak either, but he was such a lovely boy and he used to let me ride in his wheelchair. I regret not keeping in touch with him, because now I have no idea where he is or if he's alright or what he's doing, but I often think about him. 

This was a really realistic story with absolutely no instalove and it shows the progress of two people's friendship growth and also their own personal growth as individuals. The way this was done was absolutely stunning and eye opening. There were also some really unexpected twists in the book that I definitely didn't expect and it was so exciting and scary and askdfhakbh! 

The main thing that I took away from this book is to face your fears and communicate with people. TELL PEOPLE HOW YOU FEEL! The majority of the time, speaking up will solve your problem! This was one of the most beautiful and inspirational books I've ever read and I want everyone to read it and be enlightened and appreciate this beautiful work. <3

BOOK REVIEW: TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE - JENNY HAN

To all the boys I've Loved Before - Jenny Han
Genre: YA Contemporary
My Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads
Goodreads Summary:
Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control in this heartfelt novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer I Turned Pretty series.
What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them... all at once?
Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren't love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she's written. One for every boy she's ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control.
This was such a sweet book! Lara Jean has a lot of qualities that I really connected with and I thought she was quite a different protagonist in that she obviously became very attached to people (mainly her family members as she is very family orientated) and had some social anxiety issues. Lara Jean lives with her Dad, her older sister Margot, and her younger sister, Kitty. Her mother (who was Korean) passed away seven years prior to the events in this novel and it is evident from the start that family is the most important thing in Lara Jeans' life. Her older sister Margot is about to go off to college in Scotland (yes, about 4000 kilometres away!) and Margot and their next door neighbour, Josh, have been dating for years but Margot breaks it off as she leaves for college. Little does Margot know, Josh is one of the very first boys that Lara Jean ever loved, and therefore she wrote him a letter, along with 4 other boys that she has loved, and put them all in a hatbox her mother gave her in her closet. But one day, her first love, Peter, finds Lara Jean at school and asks why she sent him a letter. YEP. ALL OF HER LETTERS GOT SENT OUT TO ALL OF THE BOYS. *CRINGE* Obviously she never intended for them to see these letters so she's beside herself with anxiety at where her hatbox could be and who could have possibly sent out these letters. The main plotline from there follows Lara Jean avoiding her true feelings for her neighbour and sisters ex, Josh. Obviously he received a letter as well, so to do make him believe that she no longer has feelings for him, she goes into a fake relationship with Peter, as he wants to make his ex girlfriend jealous, so really it's a win win situation, right? Right.... 
Things go down from there and UGH THIS BOOK <3
Firstly, I LOVED the family dynamic in this book. You don't see that very often in YA anymore (not that I've read anyway) and this was a central part to the story and the protagonists life. I felt really attached to each and every character and they were all so well rounded and I felt as though they all had a purpose and a backstory and it honestly felt like they could be real people. I love how there was definitely no instalove and the dynamic between Lara Jean and Peter was absolutely fantastic! They loved to bicker and poke fun at one another when you could tell deep down that they really cared for and appreciated each other even if they had a funny way of showing it. 
Josh is beautiful <3 A very 'average' male love interest (as they state in the book), but his personality really shines through and you can just tell that he's got a beautiful soul and really cares for everyone in Lara Jean's family. 
THE CHAPTER WHERE THERE ARE ALL OF THE HARRY POTTER REFERENCES. OMG. This made the book so relatable and fun, connecting the story to something in our world which made this story feel more real! I loved how Jenny Han incorporated this! I feel as though there was an excellent balance in this book in regards to the love story, the family drama and the school drama, and the writing flowed so well and almost felt conversational sometimes. There were a couple of parts where I actually laughed out loud, which doesn't happen often for me. I just loved the humour in this book!
Honestly I feel this book is the perfect YA contemporary that has an adorable storyline with ups and downs along the way that make you want to know more! This is going to be a duology so don't be alarmed when you get to the end and are like, "UM, IS MY BOOK MISSING PAGES?" There are still so many things left unsaid and so many issues to be resolved and I just can't wait to see where Jenny will take this beautiful story! Amazing!

Saturday 12 April 2014

WHAT I'M CURRENTLY READING...

Hey guys! 
I've been in a huge slump and have only read 2 books so far this month which is so not like me AT ALL! So I've started quite a few new books just to find something that will get me out of my slump and thought I'd share all of the books that I'm currently in the middle of! 

There are 3 books that I've been in the middle of for a long time because they're chunky and for some reason, can't hold my attention for long so I just pick them up every now and again. (If you click the title it will take you to the goodreads page for that book) 
The first one is.....
A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

I'm currently on page 185 and have been for several months because this book is just SO SLOW. If you don't know, this book is the second instalment of the Song of Ice and Fire series which has been made into a T.V. show which is AMAZING! 

The second book is...
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins

I'm on page 51 of this one and plan to finish it before the end of the year! I mean no offence whatsoever by posting this, it's just something that I'm personally interested in! Richard Dawkins is an Atheist and a biologist and a fantastic public speaker and I love watching/reading anything this man has to say.

The next book is...
Cross Stitch (Outlander) by Diana Gabaldon

I'm currently on page 90 of this one and it's a huge book that is the first in a very long adult fiction/historical romance series. It's great, but just a bit slow and other books are capturing my attention a lot faster!

I'm also reading...
Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor
I'm currently on page 132 of this HUGE final instalment in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy. I feel like this trilogy is really slow and I need something fast and addicting right now to get me out of my slump so I've put this one down for now :(

Another book I've started recently...
Grim by various YA authors, edited by Christine Johnson
I'm currently on page 139 of this beauty and am absolutely loving it! It's a collection of short fairytale retellings all by Young Adult authors and it's great so far! The actual book is also one of the most beautiful ones I own, it's all leathery and dfkhjabkdfhbadf

To continue on with this theme, I'm also reading...
Whichever retelling I'm about to read in Grim, I'll read the real fairytale in this book or in the next one I'm about to show, so I've read about 5 of these stories so far!

Which brings me to...

I've obviously only read a few of these as well, but I love fairytales so much <3

WE'RE ALMOST DONE. I KNOW, IT'S RIDICULOUS HOW MANY I'M READING RIGHT NOW

I picked up this beauty from the library the other day...
I'm only about 20 pages in but the illustrations are BEAUTIFUL!

AND THE LAST ONE...
Amy & Matthew by Cammie McGovern

I just started this one this afternoon and am on page 106 and it's amazing so far! It follows a girl named Amy who has Cerebral palsy and begins to make friends with a boy called Matthew at school, as he's helping her out getting to and from classes and such, and it turns out he's facing some demons that Amy is willing to help him with and they form a beautiful friendship. I'm loving it so far and I can't wait to see where this goes!

AAAAAAAND THAT'S IT FOLKS! What are you guys reading? :)



Wednesday 9 April 2014

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY #1

I couldn't just pick one book so there are two books being released next week that I am just DYING to read and they are both YA contemporaries that are calling my name!

The first is.....
To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18051352-to-all-the-boys-i-ve-loved-before)
IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL! Here's the synopsis from goodreads:

Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control in this heartfelt novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer I Turned Pretty series.

What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them — all at once?

Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren't love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she's written. One for every boy she's ever loved— five in all. 

When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control.


IT SOUNDS AMAZEBALLS *GRABBY HANDS* 
Apparently the finished copy has a different/extended ending to the ARC copy given out so if you've read the ARC, make sure to pick up the finished copy if you want that extended ending! This one's released on the 15th April from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers!


The other book on my list is.....
Open Road Summer by Emery Lord (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16081202-open-road-summer)
I NEED THIS IN MY LIFE. Here's the synopsis from goodreads:
After breaking up with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O’Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind. . . and her best friend, country superstar Lilah Montgomery, is nursing a broken heart of her own. Fortunately, Lilah’s 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of break-up ballads and healing hearts. But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence. This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking. A fresh new voice in contemporary romance, Emery Lord’s gorgeous writing hits all the right notes.

DOESN'T THAT SOUND AMAZING AND ALMOST TAYLOR SWIFT LIKE? YAAAAAAAY! Can't wait for this one! It's also being released on the 15th April and this one's published by Walker!

What new releases are you guys looking forward to? :D

MINI REVIEW: THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER BY STEPHEN CHBOSKY

The perks of being a wallflower - Stephen Chbosky
Genre: YA Contemporary
My Rating: ★ 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22628.The_Perks_of_Being_a_Wallflower?from_search=true
Goodreads Summary:
Charlie is a freshman.

And while he’s not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it.

Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mix tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But he can’t stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.

I did not like this book…. At all. I really wanted to like it though, I really did, but I just hated it. Now before you get mad at me and start hating on me, please try and see this from my side. I felt like the story had absolutely no plot, no direction and no purpose. And isn’t that what a good story is supposed to have? I felt like I was just trudging along and then it was over and that was it. I kept reading till the end to see if something amazing and crazy happens at the end and that was why people were giving it such high ratings, but nope, that was it. Just blah blah blah and then it just ended. Ugh. I don’t know. I just felt like it was a waste of time and I could have read a better book instead. I did kind of enjoy the characters though and I thought that they were quite well developed and what not, but the rest was just boring and pointless to me. But so many people love this, so don’t just take my word for it, this is just my opinion! Give it a go and I would love to know what you guys thought of it and if you liked it, I’d love to hear your thoughts on why and maybe I can try to understand! 

BOOK REVIEW: LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR BY STEPHANIE PERKINS

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Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Genre: YA Contemporary
My Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads link:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16101168-lola-and-the-boy-next-door
Okay, so I have NEVER gotten goosebumps, butterflies and knots in my stomach while reading a book. OH MY GOD Stephanie Perkins just made my day because I have never felt this way about fictional characters before. She has a crazy amazing gift that warms my heart when I read her words.
So this story is amazing because it was so REAL and HONEST. The way her characters grew throughout the story and faced real life problems in a beautifully written way was just perfect. This novel is perfection. I LOVED Anna and the French Kiss as well but for some reason, I liked Lola just that little bit more. At first I didn’t connect with either of the characters because a) Lola was a bit crazy for me and I couldn’t really relate to her and b) at first Cricket reminded me of somebody I know that I don’t like :P but OH MY GOODNESS after the first 50 pages I fell in love with both of their characters and my previous views on both of them changed DRASTICALLY. I felt SO connected to them it blew my mind. I just wanted to sob when Lola sobbed and I felt physical pain when Cricket and Lola were emotionally pained. Stephanie Perkins, I commend you. Oh ma lord. 
Another thing that I absolutely LOVED was the fact that Lola has gay parents. This isn’t usually touched upon in contemporary novels but this just added to how real this story is and how times have changed (and I am so happy times have changed!) Lola would not be the amazing person she is without her dads. (Oh wait, I forgot she isn’t real… AGAIN). I also loved how she intwined characters from Anna and the French Kiss into this novel, because I could not get enough of Anna and Etienne in the first book. They weren’t major characters at all but just having them there and connected to this story made the connections run even deeper to all of the characters. This was absolutely genius! 
I don’t really have anything else to say except that if you haven’t read Anna and the french kiss and Lola and the boy next door, you need to. And even if you don’t like them, I hope you can appreciate the true beauty and honesty of Stephanie Perkins writing. So well done. SO well done. Thank you Stephanie Perkins. Thank you.

MINI REVIEW: THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO BY PATRICK NESS

The knife of never letting go - Patrick Ness
Genre: YA Science Fiction/Dystopia
My Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Summary: 
Todd Hewitt is the only boy in a town of men. Ever since the settlers were infected with the Noise germ, Todd can hear everything the men think, and they hear everything he thinks. Todd is just a month away from becoming a man, but in the midst of the cacophony, he knows that the town is hiding something from him — something so awful Todd is forced to flee with only his dog, whose simple, loyal voice he hears too. With hostile men from the town in pursuit, the two stumble upon a strange and eerily silent creature: a girl. Who is she? Why wasn’t she killed by the germ like all the females on New World? Propelled by Todd’s gritty narration, readers are in for a white-knuckle journey in which a boy on the cusp of manhood must unlearn everything he knows in order to figure out who he truly is.
Damn, this was good. There wasn’t a boring page in the entire thing! People were saying that the writing style put them off but I think it just made the world more real reading the way Todd would actually speak. I thought it was genius! I LOVED the characters so, so, so much especially Viola, Hildy and Ben and MANCHEE OMG MANCHEE! This book made me feel all the feels and I can’t wait to pick up the next two! This was so action packed and full of confusion and heartbreak and courage and strength and I just think that Todd and Viola are so inspiring in the way that they never give up. They never give up hope and they just keep on moving forward in the hopes of something better. The world building was also brilliantly done and the ideas such as ‘noise’ were really interesting to read about! I just loved this book and I don’t really have anything else to say other than READ IT!

SERIES REVIEW: THE INFERNAL DEVICES BY CASSANDRA CLARE

The Infernal Devices - Cassandra Clare
Genre: YA FANTASY/PARANORMAL
Series Rating: 4.5 stars

It took me a long time to get into this series, I must admit, but as soon as I did, man was it good! The first book was alright and took me longer than usual to read a book. I don’t really know why, but I felt like it was really slow moving and nothing much happened. Clockwork Prince (book two) took me SO LONG to get into. I swear it took me about 3 weeks to finish but within the last quarter it really started to pick up and when I finished that, I picked up Clockwork Princess which OH MY GOODNESS was just non-stop amazingness!
There weren’t any boring or slow bits in this one and it felt like I was taken on a rollercoaster of emotions! It was just beautiful, honestly. I LOVED how everything connects with the Mortal Instruments series and how along the way, connections are made and you go OMG THAT’S THAT PERSON, OMG THEY’RE RELATED, OR OMG THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS! So much thought went into this and I really, REALLY appreciated this. It made the story so authentic and original. I also loved how she included the family tree at the back OH MA LORD I was just fangirling so much! Tessa was such a great character, come to think of it; everyone was a great character, even the villains! I felt like they were all real and had so much backstory to them. I loved everyone at the institute and I loved how they grew as people and began to care for one another. All of the characters were just BRILLIANT.
The ONLY downfall of this series for me was that it had a VERY slow start. The only one I gave 5 stars to was Clockwork Princess. If the first two books had a faster pace and were more exciting, this series would have been 5 stars all round.
It was truly excellent though and I highly recommend you check them out if you haven’t. This world is just awesome!

BOOK REVIEW: Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

Forbidden - Tabitha Suzuma
Genre: YA Contemporary
My Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Summary: Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As defacto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives—and the way they understand each other so completely—has also also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: a love this devastating has no happy ending.
CAUTION: HUGE SPOILERS AHEAD!
WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY?
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KSFHJBSJDFSDKFGSDFKGDFSKH Finished this book yesterday and was just… GAH! I do not have words for the feelings that are being felt right now. The overwhelming feelings that Tabitha Suzuma made it possible to feel from reading words from a page is an extraordinary gift.
THE BAD
1. Both Lochan and Maya seemed to sound and think almost identically (in terms of the writing) and therefore I often found myself picturing Maya doing the things in Lochan’s chapters and vice versa and kept going oopsies that’s awkward.
2. I felt that some of it was predictable, like it was obvious that [they were going to get caught doing it by their mother and that somebody was watching them and knew about them (Kit).
THE GOOD
1. So yes, some of the story was predictable but NOT THE ENDING OMG I DID NOT EXPECT SERIOUSLY!
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yes, it’s a shocked cat, and so am I.
Even while Lochan was preparing the string from the sheets and stuff I had NO IDEA that he was going to kill himself, I seriously just thought he was planning to escape. Maybe I’m just stupid but I really thought that Maya’s happiness would mean more to him than that, even though it seemed like the only option for him to save her. So anyway, this ending blew my mind and made the book for me even though I was dying inside.
2. The emotions I felt for the other characters was just jakhbcksadhfakhdf, like I LOVED the other kids and really felt like they were real people jumping out of the pages at me. BUT THE MOTHER OMG I FEEL SO MUCH RAGE AT HER HOW COULD SHE? Somebody please restrain me while I calm myself but seriously, anyone else want to punch her in the face and shake her senseless until she realised what the HELL she was doing?
3. I liked that Lochan was different and had issues. I liked that it wasn’t your conventional couple (OBVIOUSLY DUH), no but I liked that he was a bit angsty and losing his shit sometimes. It made it different, interesting and unusual.
Favourite Quote: “At the end of the day it’s about how much you can bear, how much you can endure. Being together, we harm nobody; being apart, we extinguish ourselves.”

BOOK REVIEW: FANGIRL BY RAINBOW ROWELL

Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell
Genre: YA Contemporary
My Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Summary: In Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl, Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.
Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.
Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words … And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.
For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?
Caution: Spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk.
I went into this book with such high expectations that it fell flat a tiny bit for me in terms of the storyline and the main character. The premise was so exciting to me that I just knew I was going to love it, and don’t get me wrong, I definitely really liked it, but it just wasn’t a 5 star book for me. Here’s why:
Because everyone has been raving about this book like there’s no tomorrow, I was expecting more from the storyline. I was expecting something big to happen or a massive problem or a shocking revelation but I almost felt like nothing really happened. It was so promising for me up until the end, and I mean, sure, Cath’s sister ended up in hospital but then everything quickly turned fine and dandy. I was just expecting a huge plot twist or a massive emotional ending. Unfortunately, I did not get either of these things.
The other thing that made me take off a star was the main character, Cath. Yes, most of the time I could really relate to her but sometimes I just wanted to shake her and ask her, “What the hell are you doing? Pull yourself together!” If you’re in college or university, you don’t just not do your assignments. That shit has to get done or you’re wasting a hell of a lot of money for nothing just because you don’t feellike doing it. That annoyed me. I just didn’t get why she was being a whiny, selfish, annoying character sometimes, but most of the time, I really did like her character.
Okay, moving on to the good things:
I LOVED the fandom aspect to this and the fact that it was extremely similar to Harry Potter. I also don’t know if I’m looking to much into it, but I felt like Simon and the Humdrum, being two parts of one person (one good and one evil) could relate to Cath and Wren and how different they are, and that one doesn’t exist without the other, you know? I don’t know if that makes any sense.
Anyway, I loved Regan and Levi, they were just the best characters and I just loved Regan’s attitude and Levi’s happy vibe that just made you giggle a little (okay, a lot!) They were really well done.
I love how deeply the family aspects ran through this story. You know how you read a book and sometimes the characters parents just kind of disappear? Yeah, I love how that didn’t happen in this story. Family was very prominent and I really appreciated that. In fact, almost all of the characters had families that were mentioned now that I think about it.
Overall, I really did enjoy this book but there were just a few things that ticked me off a bit. But I definitely still recommend it if you’re in the mood for a good contemporary about fandoms!!

Book Review: Fairytales for Wilde Girls by Allyse Near

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Fairytales for Wilde Girls  - Allyse Near

Genre: YA Fantasy

My Rating: ★★★★
Summary:
A deliciously dark bubblegum-gothic fairytale from a stunning new Australian talent.

‘He’s gone the same way as those little birds that bothered me with their awful songs! And you will too, you and your horrible heart-music, because you won’t stay out of my woods!’

There’s a dead girl in a birdcage in the woods. That’s not unusual. Isola Wilde sees a lot of things other people don’t. But when the girl appears at Isola’s window, her every word a threat, Isola needs help.

Her real-life friends – Grape, James and new boy Edgar – make her forget for a while. And her brother-princes – the mermaids, faeries and magical creatures seemingly lifted from the pages of the French fairytales Isola idolises – will protect her with all the fierce love they possess.

It may not be enough.

Isola needs to uncover the truth behind the dead girl’s demise and appease her enraged spirit, before the ghost steals Isola’s last breath.
Review:
BEAUTIFULLY written, dark and light all at the same time, modern and classic, poetic and realistic. So many opposites that WORKED! I have never read anything like this, ever.
I was mind-blown by page 4, but after that I found it all a bit too much and a bit confusing, but then as I got my head around everything, it all started to make sense and I could appreciate her writing a lot more. At times, I did feel like all of the imaginative language and poetic devices got in the way of me feeling a deep connection with the characters, but after a while I really did start to connect with a few of the characters. I loved how everyone was different and had their own distinct voices and the IMAGINATION in the story is just WILDE (see what I did there?) It was just magical, to be honest. The pictures in my mind were painted so vividly by Allyse that I could feel myself in the situations, seeing everything the characters were seeing. It started to pick up a lot in the last 150 pages and I did not put it down until I read the very last words. I loved the twists and turns at the end and I especially loved how she entwined a classic, fairytale style with a modern setting. Absolutely genius!
Overall, this was a great debut novel! Really well done! 

BOOK REVIEW - ELEANOR & PARK BY RAINBOW ROWELL

Eleanor & Park - Rainbow Rowell
Genre: YA Contemporary
My rating: ★★★★★
Synopsis:
Eleanor is the new girl in town, and with her chaotic family life, her mismatched clothes and unruly red hair, she couldn’t stick out more if she tried.
Park is the boy at the back of the bus. Black T-shirts, headphones, head in a book - he thinks he’s made himself invisible. But not to Eleanor… never to Eleanor.
Slowly, steadily, through late-night conversations and an ever-growing stack of mix tapes, Eleanor and Park fall for each other. They fall in love the way you do the first time, when you’re young, and you feel as if you have nothing and everything to lose.
Review:
THIS BOOK WAS PURE PERFECTION. I was a little skeptical going into this one after being disappointed with Fangirl, but I was BLOWN AWAY. Firstly, this isn’t your typical love story. This is set in the 80’s which is so fun to read about along with the whole vibe of that decade (the clothes, the gadgets, the lifestyle). Then there comes the main characters. Eleanor was such a unique protagonist that wasn’t overly likeable and relatable, but because of this, she actually did become likeable because of her individuality that I really grew to admire (did that even make sense? haha). I loved that she wasn’t just your usual stick figure blond/brunette girl. Eleanor has really wild, red hair and is slightly on the pudgy side and has a CRAZY fashion sense. Park, on the other hand, is half Korean, which is kind of rare in the 80’s. I loved how Rainbow showed the effects of racism and how being ‘different’ affected the characters’ lives in this time period. 
This novel flowed really well. The dialogue is perfect and EXACTLY how real people talk, no lie. Going into this, you know it’s going to be sad. It follows the idea that you know that your first love is never going to last, but you’re damn well going to try! Rainbow also touched on some really important aspects that can have a HUGE impact on people’s lives such as abuse, racism and sex. These were brought about in such a strong and emotional way that I was constantly tearing up while reading this.
Keep in mind that there are a lot of things going on behind the love story that you think this is going to be. It’s a beautifully written story that anyone can relate to (everyone has had/will have a first love at some stage). I highly recommend this, it’s one of my all time favourites and will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Mini Review - Easy by Tammara Webber

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Easy by Tammara Webber
My Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads summary:
Rescued by a stranger.
Haunted by a secret
Sometimes, love isn’t easy…

He watched her, but never knew her. Until thanks to a chance encounter, he became her savior… The attraction between them was undeniable. Yet the past he’d worked so hard to overcome, and the future she’d put so much faith in, threatened to tear them apart. Only together could they fight the pain and guilt, face the truth—and find the unexpected power of love. A groundbreaking novel in the New Adult genre, Easy faces one girl’s struggle to regain the trust she’s lost, find the inner strength to fight back against an attacker, and accept the peace she finds in the arms of a secretive boy.
Review:
Okay, so I read this thinking it would be just your typical love story, and in some ways, it was, but for some reason, I read this in one sitting, completely enraptured by it. I think the main reason for this is because this story was extremely familiar in the fact that I’m considering that Tammara Webber has been following me around and writing about what happened in my life a year ago (Except for the rapey parts haha :| ). So creepy… but I think because of this I really connected with the story on a higher level than I normally would have. Anyway, this was such an enjoyable read that made me feel all happy on the inside but devastated for what some of the characters had to go through. I think this is what set it apart from your typical love story, because of some of the characters and their experiences that really tugged at my heart strings. 
Such an enjoyable read! 
“Love is not the absence of logic
but logic examined and recalculated
heated and curved to fit
inside the contours of the heart”

DELTORA QUEST - SERIES REVIEW

Deltora Quest Series 1 - Emily Rodda
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure/EPICNESS!
My rating: ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Not many people have heard of this incredible series because Emily Rodda is an Australian children’s author, but oh my goodness, this series has to get out there because it’s that good. I re-read this series almost every year and each time, I can’t believe the amount of world building, plot development and character development has gone into it. Yes, this is a children’s series, but it’s like Harry Potter, something you can read at any age and enjoy. It has 8 books in the series and has two other companion series (Deltora Shadowlands and Dragons of Deltora) which both follow the same main characters as the first series. I highly recommend all three because HOLY DAMN the first series is JUST THE BEGINNING. SO MUCH THOUGHT has gone into this world and how it was all going to pan out that it just falls together perfectly and leaves you with the most satisfying endings EVER.
A quick summary:
This story follows Lief, a sixteen year old boy, who has been sent on a journey to save the land of Deltora. Years before, the evil shadowlord managed to steal the belt of Deltora, a magical belt made up of 7 gems that together, help to rid their land of evil. The shadowlord took the seven gems and scattered them throughout the land in the most dangerous of places, places people don’t dare to go. The belt will only work if the heir to the throne wears it, so as well as finding the gems and facing terrifying places and creatures, they also have to find the heir, who has supposedly been in hiding since the shadowlord took over. Lief is accompanied by Barda, a former palace guard and they meet Jasmine along the way, a kickass character in my opinion! And together they face what nobody has faced before, all to save Deltora!
BAM! This world is so epic and so different to anything I’ve ever read before, and I just wish more people knew about it. It’s just so flipping good. The characters are so intriguing and well rounded, you feel like you know them, that you’re friends with them and you just feel all the things they feel. Emily Rodda, you are a dang genius if you ask me! The twists and turns (especially at the end holy crap) were INSANE and BRILLIANT and just… GAH! This is the series that got me into reading when I was 10 years old, and this (alongside Harry Potter of course) was what I grew up with (as did many Australian kids). At first I thought this series was just for boys (before I read it, of course) but DAMN I was wrong because this is an EPIC fantasy series for all ages and genders! I highly, HIGHLY recommend this series. Please check it out and SPREAD THE WORD! Okay, I think I’m done raving now.
You can buy all 8 books on the book depository, they’re only about $5 each!