Back from hiatus! In On My Wishlist I spotlight books that I'm really looking forward to. I know there's a meme Waiting on Wednesday and there even are others, but I'm going to rebel and do it how I want it (hehe). I'll feature the synopsis as posted on Goodreads and put a linkie to the Goodreads page of the book. This week: To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han.
To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
Expected publication date: April 22nd, 2014
Synopsis
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.
The sound of this book ZOMG give it to me now! I loved the first two books in the Summer series (I'm pretending the third book didn't exist) and I really like the sound of this book. It sounds so cute and aahhhh I just want it now *pouts*
Back from hiatus! In On My Wishlist I spotlight books that I'm really looking forward to. I know there's a meme Waiting on Wednesday and there even are others, but I'm going to rebel and do it how I want it (hehe). I'll feature the synopsis as posted on Goodreads and put a linkie to the Goodreads page of the book. This week: Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor.
Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
Publication date: November 6th, 2012
Synopsis
Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.
In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.
While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.
But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?
While Daughter of Smoke and Bone wasn't exactly as mind-blowing as I expected it to be, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and to be honest, the ending leaves me hanging a bit there. I'm curious to dive deeper into this world, because I always love a good war. I'm hoping there will be more of a connection between Akiva and Karou, because I missed that in the first book, but the whole idea behind this world and how it works makes up for that. I'm excited!
Back from hiatus! In On My Wishlist I spotlight books that I'm really looking forward to. I know there's a meme Waiting on Wednesday and there even are others, but I'm going to rebel and do it how I want it (hehe). I'll feature the synopsis as posted on Goodreads and put a linkie to the Goodreads page of the book. This week: Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan, illustrated by John Rocco.
Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan
Expected publication date: August 2014
Synopsis
Who could tell the origin stories of the gods of Olympus better than a modern-day demigod? Percy Jackson provides an insider's view with plenty of 'tude in this illustrated collection.
So begins Percy Jackson's Greek Gods, in which the son of Poseidon adds his own magic--and sarcastic asides--to the classics. He explains how the world was created, then gives readers his personal take on a who's who of ancients, from Apollo to Zeus. Percy does not hold back. "If you like horror shows, blood baths, lying, stealing, backstabbing, and cannibalism, then read on, because it definitely was a Golden Age for all that."
Dramatic full-color illustrations throughout by Caldecott Honoree John Rocco make this volume--a must for home, library, and classroom shelves--as stunning as it is entertaining.
The thing about this book that makes me most excited (besides PERCY of course) is the fact that this book will have full-colour illustrations by John Rocco. WHEEEEE! I love his cover art for the books and whoaaaa to find that inside this book will be even more amazing. I cannot wait to get my hands on this book, but unfortunately I'll have to wait until August.. Maybe make it a birthday present for myself? :)
Today marks December 15th, which means we're halfway through the month and Get Read-y -- so it's time for a check-in! Unsure of what this whole Get Read-y thing is? Check out the kick-off post for more information. Basically, we read as much as we can to get read-y for 2014. Simple!
How did you guys do? Did you manage to get some books read? Or maybe even a lot? Feel free to use the linky thing at the bottom of this post to link your progress post(s) or even reviews if you've already reviewed them :)
My progress
I've been doing pretty darn awesome if I may say so myself! I finished four books and started a new one from my TBR pile for this month.
So far I've read:
1. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
2. Missing Ellen by Natasha Mac a'Bhaird
3. The Night Itself by Zoë Marriott
4. A Dark Inheritance by Chris d'Lacey
And I've started Avalon by Mindee Arnett, but I haven't got very far into that one yet (11%).
This may not sound like a lot of books but it's already double the amount of books I read in November lol!
So how did you guys do? I'm very curious to see your progress so please let me know!
Angelfall by Susan Ee Published: May 23rd, 2013 (Hodder and Stoughton) Pages: 325 Source: bought Series:Penryn and the End of Days, #1 Buy the book:Bookdepository Rating: ★★★★☆
It's been six weeks since the angels of the apocalypse destroyed the world as we know it. Only pockets of humanity remain.
Savage street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night.
When angels fly away with a helpless girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back...
Thanks to Debby's book pushing practices my expectations for this book were sky-high*. If I'm being perfectly honest, that was the reason it was a bit of a letdown for me. As soon as I realised I was projecting impossible expectations on this book, I let it go. And I ended up enjoying Penryn's story a whole lot.
While I enjoyed the first half of the book, I felt disappointment because I was expecting so much more. So I put it aside for a couple of days so everything could settle and I adjusted my expectations from expecting something mind-blowing to expecting something enjoyable. In the end, I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome.
Let me just say that the idea of an angel apocalypse is fascinating to me. I loved this idea. Not another nuclear disaster or war or alien invasion to start the end of the world. No, I really liked this. Angels are supposed to be good and pure and it was nice to see how this was worked into the story. The different personalities in the angels we saw in this book was interesting.. I hope Susan Ee will explore that a bit more in the sequel as well.
The last 50 pages or so really made up for the first however chapters I read while I was let down a bit. I loved how action packed it was, how much was happening, and how much the characters were developing. I particularly enjoyed the development of Penryn's hate-relationship with Raffe but then again, I'm a sucker for hate-love-relationships *shrugs*.
Having said that, I probably won't have to tell you that I will definitely be reading book two, but I'm going to anyway. I've already ordered it and I'm very curious to find out what's next after THAT ENDING. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to post by the mailbox until my copy of World After arrives..
* No hard feelings, Debby ;-) Keep pushing them books!
Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris Published: April 24th, 2012 (Balzer + Bray) Narrator: Katie Schorr Source: bought Series:Unraveling, #1 Buy the book:Bookdepository Rating: ★★★★☆
Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn't possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.
But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what's right in front of her: Everything that's happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben's sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.
I'm not entirely sure how I should write my review after reading the awesomeness and agony that was the ending.. Right at the last minute, my heart was stamped on. And now I'm left hanging..
The thing with this book that really stood out to me was the way the world was built and the idea of more than one universe existing. I really liked the way this was incorporated in the story and most of all I liked the surprise elements that Norris managed to fit into the story.
The chemistry between Ben and Jenelle was fantastic. I absolutely loved their interaction, conversations and just in general how they were together. Since I've listened to this book on audiobook, it may not have been as obvious as it was when you read the book, but I think Katie Schorr did an excellent job of narrating this story. She managed to get the story across in a way that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The story is quite fast-paced, with lots of things happening. Everything entwined during the buildup of the plot and I really enjoyed that. I also liked the idea of the countdown that had been incorporated throughout all the chapters -- it really added to the haunted vibe Jenelle must have been feeling while everything was unraveling around her.
The ending led up quite nicely for the sequel, which I will be purchasing in the near future. Because honestly, does she expect me to be able to wait after that ending?! Just thinking about it makes me sad. Sigh.. But I'll definitely be picking up the next book! I need to know moar!
It is time for a book haul of epic proportions! I went on Edelweiss this week and I may or may not have gone a little crazy on there, resulting in a ton beautiful books on my Kindle. I'm very excited to read all of them and cannot wait to dig in. For more info about the book, simply click the title to go to Goodreads.
Back from hiatus! In On My Wishlist I spotlight books that I'm really looking forward to. I know there's a meme Waiting on Wednesday and there even are others, but I'm going to rebel and do it how I want it (hehe). I'll feature the synopsis as posted on Goodreads and put a linkie to the Goodreads page of the book. This week: Ask the Passengers by A.S. King.
Ask the Passengers by A.S. King
Publication date: October 23rd, 2012
Synopsis
Astrid Jones desperately wants to confide in someone, but her mother's pushiness and her father's lack of interest tell her they're the last people she can trust. Instead, Astrid spends hours lying on the backyard picnic table watching airplanes fly overhead. She doesn't know the passengers inside, but they're the only people who won't judge her when she asks them her most personal questions . . . like what it means that she's falling in love with a girl.
As her secret relationship becomes more intense and her friends demand answers, Astrid has nowhere left to turn. She can't share the truth with anyone except the people at thirty thousand feet, and they don't even know she's there. But little does Astrid know just how much even the tiniest connection will affect these strangers' lives--and her own--for the better.
A couple of months ago I picked Please Ignore Vera Dietz up off my shelf and I ended up loving it. I love these gritty, realistic and intense feeling stories and it made me hungry for more. I love the sound of this story and I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy to find out if I will like it as much as I did with my previous King book.
Welcome to the first readathon weekend of Get Read-y! Unsure of what this whole Get Read-y thing is? Check out the kick-off post for more information. Basically, we read as much as we can to get read-y for 2014. Simple! Hopefully this weekend we can make a dent in that TBR with the first out of two readathons.
There are no rules; just read and read and read! Feel free to tweet about your progress using the hasthags #readyathon for the readathon and #getready2014 for the main event.
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I'm just gonna steal this post a little bit to list my own goal for this weekend: I want to finish 3 books. One of them I've already started, so hopefully that'll be a quick goal to reach :) I'm behind on my reading and still have to read 9 books to be able to read 75 books in 2013. With December being as busy as it is and me being ill that's gonna be a challenge, but I'm determined to kick this challenge's arse!
Good luck everyone! Feel free to link your readathon posts in the comments, I'd love to check them out :)
Since I read so few books in October, I've decided to combine October and November in this wrap up. Here's what happened on the blog!
Books read Graceling by Kristin Cashore Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger More Than This by Patrick Ness Go Ask Alice by Beatrice Sparks The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
Book of the month
Sooooo this was a really hard decision. I read so many awesome books in the past two months! I know 6 books isn't much, but since 5 of them were amazing.. I'm gonna go with Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, even though Alina took the wrong ship. I want to know what happens next! So many feels! Close, very close, second is A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger because Kody once again broke my heart.
Books not yet finished Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas Missing Ellen by Natasha Mac a'Bhaird The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan (re-read) The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter Struck by Jennifer Bosworth (audio)
So this will be painful.. I already changed my Goodreads reading goal for 2013 from 90 to 75, and it's making me sad. Anyhoo, in these two months I've read 6 books and started a handful more. This equals 2,278 pages which makes a grand total of 19,895 pages read so far in 2013. I'm assuming I won't make it to 25,000 pages this year *snort* well, at least I'll definitely reach 20k pages! #glasshalffull
That's it for October and November! Have you read any of the books mentioned?
Get Read-y is on its way and even though I've been feeling ill since December has started, I managed to make a list of the books I want to read this month in between coughing fits. So here's my list of 9 books I want to read this month -- 3 of them I've already started. Here we go!
Yes, Debby, I plan to read Stormdancer this month. Perhaps I shall do that in secret.. *evil laughter*
Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King Published: April 10th, 2010 (Ember) Pages: 326 Source: bought Series: none Buy the book:Bookdepository Rating: ★★★★☆ ½
Vera’s spent her whole life secretly in love with her best friend, Charlie Kahn. And over the years she’s kept a lot of his secrets. Even after he betrayed her. Even after he ruined everything.
So when Charlie dies in dark circumstances, Vera knows a lot more than anyone—the kids at school, his family, even the police. But will she emerge to clear his name? Does she even want to?
Sometimes I just really need to read a book that is mostly or purely character driven. In terms of events in this book, there isn't that much happening. Sure, there are things hiding underneath the surface, but nothing major is witnessed during the span of this novel. Vera is trying to come to terms with her best friend's death and what happened to lead up to his passing. While this may sound a bit odd and quite possibly a bit morbid, I loved experiencing Vera's grief. It was so heart-felt and realistically and well-written that I felt like I was experiencing it with her.
Even though the rational part in your brain tells you that you should under no circumstances like Charlie, you can't help but do exactly that. Somehow, you feel what Vera feels and that is exactly the magic I felt while reading this book. It's not that Charlie is such a massive douchebag when you compare him to other male characters in books, but you know what liking him isn't right when you see how he treated Vera at points.
The writing in this book is magnificent. This was my first A.S. King book and I know that it will definitely not be my last. A.S. King does not tell you what to think or feel, you are made to actually experience those feelings and to convey that with words is difficult, but Please Ignore Vera Dietz really hit all the right buttons with that.
The book has a bit of a slow start, but it's a bit like a diesel.. Once it gets going, it really gets going. It's taking you on a rollercoaster of feels. And you're going to enjoy it.
While I was writing this review, I was looking at the rating I wrote down for it and got confused a bit. Surely I should rate it higher than four stars if it resonated this much with me? So I upped it to 4.5 stars. The reason this isn't a 5 star book for me, even though it was magnificent, is that some of Vera's decisions were so, well, stupid. While I understand that she is overtaken by grief and all other feelings, some of her decisions didn't make sense at all and that didn't sit well with me. Yes, I am aware that I am nitpicking here.
Having said all that, everything else in this book was fantastic and I really think you should read it. Right now.
Back from hiatus! In On My Wishlist I spotlight books that I'm really looking forward to. I know there's a meme Waiting on Wednesday and there even are others, but I'm going to rebel and do it how I want it (hehe). I'll feature the synopsis as posted on Goodreads and put a linkie to the Goodreads page of the book. This week: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell.
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Publication date: September 10th, 2013
Synopsis
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?
So I actually read Eleanor and Park a little while ago and Rainbow pretty much ripped my heart out, tore it to pieces and stomped on it before putting it back. All in a good way, of course. The book gave me so many feels, it was ridiculous. Rainbow has the ability to suck you in, to make you feel all the feels and live through everything the characters go through. Like, wowza. Anyhoo, this isn't about Eleanor and Park (though I still think you should definitely read it like right now), this is about how excited I am to pick up Fangirl. I need more of Rainbow's writing so I cannot wait to get my grabby little hands on this book. Soon, my precious.. Soon. *wrings hands*
Welcome to the kick-off for Get Read-y for 2014! During the month of December we read as many books as we can to get ready for 2014 and all the shiny new books the new year will bring us. For more information, please check out the Announcement post.
How it works
Read as many books as you can to clear your TBR for 2014. Easypeasy. There are no requirements for the books you can read, just that they are on your current TBR. You can track it by making a list in your kick-off post, making a shelf on Goodreads, or just tweeting about it. This is not a competition; it is a way to help you make room for more pretties, because we always want more books. This is just a way to get some of them read.. Hopefully.
If you use twitter to track your progress, please use the hashtag #getready2014 so I can see how you guys are doing and cheer you on!
The calendar
Because the focus is on reading books, there won't be many set events during the month. There will be a check-in on the 15th and the 31th so you guys can link up your progress, or maybe even reviews if you're more productive in that area than I am, LOL. Besides that, there will be two readathons, both covering an entire weekend:
December 7th - 8th -- 48 hour readathon
December 28th - 29th -- 48 hour readathon
There will be some mini challenges during the month, but I don't want the focus to be on that -- it's extra. This month isn't a competition of who reads the most, but of course you are encouraged to read a bazillion books if you want to!
The administration
Signing up for Get Read-y can be done by filling in the linky at the bottom of this post. It asks for a link -- if you don't have a blog, just use your Goodreads, Tumblr, Facebook or Twitter account, whichever you'll use to track your progress. Please use that as well to post your sign-up posts: I'd love to see what your goals are!
Feel free to share this post -- the more, the merrier!
If you have a blog, you can add a button to show you're joining in. Please save this to your computer instead of hotlinking :)
Questions?
If you have any questions, please ask me! I hope you'll join me in cleaning out the TBR a little -- 2014 looks like it'll bring us a ton of awesome books.
Feel free to leave links to your reading lists, kick-off posts and the like in the comments below!
Enough talking, let's get reading. We can do this!
Back from hiatus! In On My Wishlist I spotlight books that I'm really looking forward to. I know there's a meme Waiting on Wednesday and there even are others, but I'm going to rebel and do it how I want it (hehe). I'll feature the synopsis as posted on Goodreads and put a linkie to the Goodreads page of the book. This week: Evertrue by Brodi Ashton.
Evertrue by Brodi Ashton
Expected publication date: January 21st, 2014
Synopsis
Now that Nikki has rescued Jack, all she wants is to be with him and graduate high school. But Cole tricked Nikki into feeding off him, and she’s begun the process of turning into an Everliving herself... which means she must feed on a Forfeit soon — or die.
Terrified for her survival, Nikki and Jack begin a desperate attempt to reverse the process using any means possible. Even Cole, who they expected to fight them at every turn, has become an unlikely ally — but how long can it last? Nikki needs to feed on Cole to survive, Cole needs Nikki to gain the throne in the Everneath, Jack needs Nikki because she is everything to him — and together, they must travel back to the Underworld to undo Nikki’s fate and make her mortal once more. But Cole isn’t the only one with plans for Nikki: the Queen has not forgotten Nikki’s treachery, and she wants her destroyed for good. Will Nikki be forced to spend eternity in the Underworld, or does she have what it takes to bring down the Everneath once and for all?
It's only a few weeks of waiting until the final instalment in the Everneath series hits shelves and I'm so curious to see how it all ends. Brodi has a gorgeous writing style that sucks you right in and I cannot wait to see what's next for Nikki, Jack and Cole. I'm always a bit hesitant to read the final book in a series, but I'm just too excited for this one to wait much longer :) The wait is almost over, yay!
Back from hiatus! In On My Wishlist I spotlight books that I'm really looking forward to. I know there's a meme Waiting on Wednesday and there even are others, but I'm going to rebel and do it how I want it (hehe). I'll feature the synopsis as posted on Goodreads and put a linkie to the Goodreads page of the book. This week: On the Fence by Kasie West.
On the Fence by Kasie West
Expected publication date: July 1st, 2014
Synopsis
She's a tomboy. He's the boy next door…
Charlie Reynolds can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at a chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world. To cope with the stress of her new reality, Charlie takes to spending nights chatting with her neighbor Braden through the fence between their yards. As she grows to depend on their nightly Fence Chats, she realizes she's got a bigger problem than speeding tickets-she's falling for Braden. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.
ANOTHER KASIE WEST BOOK! Well, I'm certainly not complaining. Whee! I loved Pivot Point and the way it was written and I cannot wait to read more of her work. These Fence Chats sound absolutely adorable and I cannot wait to fall in love with Braden and On the Fence as a whole :).
The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston Published: May 14th, 2013 (Disney Hyperion) Pages: 312 Source: for review Series:The Rules for Disappearing, #1 Buy the book:Bookdepository Rating: ★★☆☆☆
She’s been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky . . . But now that she’s been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last.
Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they’ve given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do – or see – that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all the Suits’ rules — and her dad’s silence. If he won’t help, it’s time she got some answers for herself.
But Meg isn’t counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who’s too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there’s only one rule that really matters — survival.
Okay. So I really liked the idea of a story based around a character and their family in the Witness Protection Program, and I was pretty excited to get started on this one. Unfortunately, that ended up being the only thing I liked about this book.
Meg is our main character in this book and she mainly focuses on Ethan. However, every other character in this books feels so distant, so unfocused, that they were hard to tell apart. They didn't stand out from one another and I really found it hard to distinguish them. Once I realised that problem, it got on my nerves. And as I was unable to ignore it, I got more and more annoyed while I read on.
The storyline is so incredibly predictable that I had it figured out within a few chapters, but then I had to read another 250 pages to see that I was right. I *hate* it when that happens, but if the characters are awesome or if they have great chemistry, that sometimes makes up for it. In this case, not so much. For me, it had no redeeming qualities and the only reason I finished this book in the end was because I wanted to know if I was right about how the plot would unfold (I was). There were no surprises, no twists, nothing. The 'big reveal' was predictable and fell flat.
To be honest, I don't think this was a bad book. It's just the fact that it was unable to hold my attention, or to surprise me, or even come alive off the pages for the tiniest bit that annoyed me to no end. Quite frankly, I didn't give a shit about all of these characters. Personally, I wouldn't recommend it. There are way better books out there that are more worthy of your time, if you ask me.
All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill Published: August 1st, 2013 (Bloomsbury Childrens) Pages: 362 Source: bought Series:All Our Yesterdays, #1 Buy the book:Bookdepository Rating: ★★★★★
Em is locked in a bare, cold cell with no comforts. Finn is in the cell next door. The Doctor is keeping them there until they tell him what he wants to know. Trouble is, what he wants to know hasn't happened yet.
Em and Finn have a shared past, but no future unless they can find a way out. The present is torture - being kept apart, overhearing each other's anguish as the Doctor relentlessly seeks answers. There's no way back from here, to what they used to be, the world they used to know. Then Em finds a note in her cell which changes everything. It's from her future self and contains some simple but very clear instructions. Em must travel back in time to avert a tragedy that's about to unfold. Worse, she has to pursue and kill the boy she loves to change the future.
Whoa. What just happened? Holy shit.
I would happily let that be my entire review, because I'm honestly a bit lost for words. Every once in a while, if I'm lucky, I find a book that knocks my socks off. One that blows me away, that sends me on a rollercoaster of feels, one that breaks my heart in all the right ways. All Our Yesterdays is one of those books.
Terrill writes the book in a way that is enormously cinematic. I felt like I was watching a movie rather than reading a book, it was that vivid. It was so easy to visualise that I often found myself lost in my own thoughts about everything I just read and I had to shake my head a bit to be able to continue reading. It was so easy to see what was happening, what the situation was, how everything played out. I don't often have this feeling when I'm reading a book, it's quite a rare thing, but this book managed to give me everything.
I thought it was a very interesting way of incorporating time travel and I absolutely loved how it was executed. I'm not particularly drawn by time travel books, even though I usually find them fascinating when I read the synopsis, because I usually get confused quite easily. However, this was just so wonderfully done that I'm about to go on a time travel readathon because I just want more. Thankfully, All Our Yesterdays leaves enough of the story unanswered at the end that there will be a sequel. A sequel! To this goodness! I'm not sure how I will cope. If I can cope at all. Whee!
The characters really came to live on the pages and I loved that. They were so vivid, it was like I was there. They had their own little quirks, their own little habits and their own ways of talking. I didn't need to read who was talking, I could tell by the way their talking was written just who it was. I always love when authors are able to make characters so distinct from the pages, considering you can't hear or see them, though you visualise them in your mind. I loved Finn especially, but I have to say I even loved James so that's major props to Terrill!
I can go on and on about how much I loved this book. Because I loved it a whole lot. I just don't think you'd be interested in a review that is 100 pages long so I'm just going to say that I loved it and I think that you would love it, too. No matter your preference in genre, I think this book is a great pick for just about anyone. Pick it up, seriously. Embrace the goodness.
Back from hiatus! In On My Wishlist I spotlight books that I'm really looking forward to. I know there's a meme Waiting on Wednesday and there even are others, but I'm going to rebel and do it how I want it (hehe). I'll feature the synopsis as posted on Goodreads and put a linkie to the Goodreads page of the book. This week: Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins.
Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Expected publication date: May 13th, 2014
Synopsis
From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.
Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.
Wheeeee it's finally almost there! It's still another 6 months until the release of Isla and the Happily Ever After and I'm beyond excited. I love Stephanie's writing style and I cannot wait to be swept away again. I still absolutely detest the new covers, and even more so the fact that I will have a third book with a completely different look on my shelf, but I guess I need to get over that.. But wheeeeeee more Anna and Etienne!
In 2011 I hosted Get Read-y for the first time and I absolutely loved it. Last year, due to moving and everything that came along with it, I didn't have the time to host Get Read-y again. But guess what? I'm back! And Get Read-y is back with a vengeance.
Introduction
So what is this Get Read-y thing? Basically, it's a challenge to motivate you to read as many books as possible so you are ready for the awesomeness of 2014. Simple, right?
You pick what books you read -- whether it's a pile of review books you just don't get to because of a lack of time or maybe you want to re-read the first books in a series before the sequel comes out next year. You name it! I'm here to motivate you to keep going, and hopefully at the end of December, we'll have a TBR pile that is a little smaller than it was when the month started.
When & where
The challenge runs from December 1st until December 31st, right up til the minute you celebrate the arrival of 2014. So basically the entire month of December is our playfield. I'm aware that December is a really busy month with all those holidays, but I'm positive we can squeeze in some reading time somewhere, right?
All challenges run here on the blog, Loving Books. You can chat along with us on Twitter using the hashtag #getready2014. You can update on your challenge on your own blog/twitter/facebook or just leave a comment on the weekly check-ins.
Challenges
The main goal is that you read books you want to have read before the New Year. To help you complete that goal, there will be two weekend-long readathons to hopefully speed things up. You can already mark your calendar:
December 7th - 8th -- 48 hour readathon
December 28th - 29th -- 48 hour readathon
If there's any need for an emergency readathon to get to your goal(s), let me know and I'll see if I can host another (small) one!
Besides that, I'll be doing some mini-challenges during the month as well. I'll be posting weekly check-ins beside those, so I'm really there to support you all the way!
The administration
Signing up for Get Read-y can be done by filling in the linky at the bottom of this post. It asks for a link -- if you don't have a blog, just use your Goodreads, Tumblr, Facebook or Twitter account, whichever you'll use to track your progress. Please use that as well to post your sign-up posts: I'd love to see what your goals are!
Feel free to share this post -- the more, the merrier!
If you have a blog, you can add a button to show you're joining in. Please save this to your computer instead of hotlinking :)
Questions?
If you have any questions, please ask me! I hope you'll join me in cleaning out the TBR a little -- 2014 looks like it'll bring us a ton of awesome books. I hope to see you in December!
Back from hiatus! In On My Wishlist I spotlight books that I'm really looking forward to. I know there's a meme Waiting on Wednesday and there even are others, but I'm going to rebel and do it how I want it (hehe). I'll feature the synopsis as posted on Goodreads and put a linkie to the Goodreads page of the book. This week: Not A Drop To Drink by Mindy McGinnis.
Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis
Publication date: September 24th, 2013
Synopsis
Regret was for people with nothing to defend, people who had no water.
Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn't leave at all.
Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.
But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it...
This sounds so awesome. Lynn sounds fierce and feisty and amazing and I *love* this synopsis for this book. These kinds of books make me wish there was a bigger budget for books.. BUT it will make it all the more sweet when I finally get my paws on this pretty book. Meanwhile, I'll just stare at the pretty cover until I can actually hold my copy..
Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide to Getting Girls by Tellulah Darling Published: October 17th, 2012 (Te Da Media) Pages: 244 Source: for review via Netgalley Series: NA Buy the book:Bookdepository Rating: ★★★☆☆
Why the hell can’t chicks be more like guys?
That question plagues high school senior Sam Cruz. Sam is perfectly happy being a player. He just wishes girls wouldn’t change the game from sex to relationships. It makes him look like an asshole. But when Sam’s best friend, Ally Klinger, gets dumped, she begs him to transform her into someone who can screw around then screw off. No risk of heartbreak that way. It’s Sam’s chance to create the perfect female AND cheer up his best friend. Armed with Sam’s Three Step Guide to Backseat Success, Ally gets the game better than Sam thought she would and before long, Sam has his wish: the female version of himself. Too bad it’s driving him nuts. Told from Sam’s and Ally's alternating POVs, Sam Cruz’s Infallible Guide to Getting Girls is a fast-paced YA romantic comedy that follows these teens as they navigate the minefield of sex, love, and friendship.
This contemporary teen romance contains strong language, drinking, euphemisms, and lots of “bow chicka wow wow".
To be honest, I don't think I would have picked up this book by myself. I can't even say why not -- there's no particular reason. Sometimes you just have a feeling. But I'm glad I decided to pick this one up because it was a very enjoyable read.
Warning beforehand: this review is going to be very black and white. I can't nuance things with this book, and it might be because the book itself is quite black and white when it comes to things. Anyhoo. I quite liked that the storyline was pretty realistic. The characters were pretty harsh at times but their dialogue sounded real and flowed well. It was funny at times and that really carried the story.
Having said that, I seriously disliked both Sam and Alley half of the time. They were arseholes. They were so annoying and that really bothered me, though I can see how that fits into the story. It just doesn't mean I should like it.. Which I didn't.
The storyline was predictable, but because of the way it was written it didn't really bother me most of the time. I enjoyed the humor and the bickering between Sam and Ally and I really think that is why I enjoyed the book as much as I did.
Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide to Getting Girls is indeed filled with strong language and the like, but I never felt like that went over the top. It really worked in this book and I quite enjoyed the harsh reality in it. I just felt like Sam and Ally could have been smaller arseholes, though I think it's part of why they'd make such a good couple.
The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick Published: September 2nd, 2008 (Sarah Chrichton Books) Pages: 289 Age group: Adult Source: bought Series: NA Buy the book:Bookdepository Rating: ★★★☆☆
Meet Pat. Pat has a theory: his life is a movie produced by God. And his God-given mission is to become physically fit and emotionally literate, whereupon God will ensure a happy ending for him -- the return of his estranged wife Nikki. (It might not come as a surprise to learn that Pat has spent time in a mental health facility.) The problem is, Pat's now home, and everything feels off. No one will talk to him about Nikki; his beloved Philadelphia Eagles keep losing; he's being pursued by the deeply odd Tiffany; his new therapist seems to recommend adultery as a form of therapy. Plus, he's being hunted by Kenny G!
It has been several weeks since I've read The Silver Linings Playbook and I still have no idea how to rate this book. I still don't know what to do with this review. While the book didn't blow my mind, it definitely got me thinking.
Pat is a bit of a weird character for me. I don't think I've ever come across a character like Pat. On one side, I found him really engaging and sweet, but on the other side I didn't quite know what to make of him. This might have to do with me not having read any books like this before, but still. Reader Pat was really easy to relate to -- but I absolutely detested all the spoilers for books I haven't read yet. While he reads for a different reason than I do, almost everything was so familiar and I absolutely loved that.
While it was obvious that Tiffany had some serious mental issues, I found her endearing in some of the scenes. The 'big reveal' fell a bit flat since I figured that out immediately, but I don't think that took away from the book. It was meant to play out this way and eventually, it all worked out.
So what do I think of this book? I enjoyed reading it, but I don't think it will be among my favourites. I will definitely watch the movie (which was the reason I picked up the book in the first place) so there's that. I'm pretty sure I'll still be thinking about this book in several months, and that is definitely worth mentioning.
Back from hiatus! In On My Wishlist I spotlight books that I'm really looking forward to. I know there's a meme Waiting on Wednesday and there even are others, but I'm going to rebel and do it how I want it (hehe). I'll feature the synopsis as posted on Goodreads and put a linkie to the Goodreads page of the book. This week: The 100 by Kass Morgan.
The 100 by Kass Morgan
Publication date: September 3rd, 2013
Synopsis
In the future, humans live in city-like spaceships orbiting far above Earth's toxic atmosphere. No one knows when, or even if, the long-abandoned planet will be habitable again. But faced with dwindling resources and a growing populace, government leaders know they must reclaim their homeland... before it's too late.
Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents are being sent on a high-stakes mission to recolonize Earth. After a brutal crash landing, the teens arrive on a savagely beautiful planet they've only seen from space. Confronting the dangers of this rugged new world, they struggle to form a tentative community. But they're haunted by their past and uncertain about the future. To survive, they must learn to trust - and even love - again.
This sounds so amazing. I know the early reviews haven't been exactly raving about it, but I can't help myself wanting this book. It sounds right up my street and I love the idea for their mission. Yes please!
My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody Published: June 7th, 2011 (Square Fish) Pages: 336 Source: bought Series: NA Buy the book:Bookdepository Rating: ★★★★☆
PLEASE READ THIS! MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!
Okay, maybe that was a bit melodramatic, but I’m sorry, I’m feeling a bit melodramatic at the moment.
Here’s the deal. My name is Brooklyn Pierce, I’m fifteen years old, and I am decisionally challenged. Seriously, I can’t remember the last good decision I made. I can remember plenty of crappy ones though. Including that party I threw when my parents were out of town that accidentally burned down a model home. Yeah, not my finest moment, for sure.
But see, that’s why I started a blog. To enlist readers to make my decisions for me. That’s right. I gave up. Threw in the towel. I let someone else decide which book I read for English. And whether or not I accepted an invitation to join the debate team from that cute-in-a-dorky-sort-of-way guy who gave me the Heimlich maneuver in the cafeteria. (Note to self: chew the melon before swallowing it.) I even let them decide who I dated!
Well, it turns out there are some things in life you simply can’t choose or have chosen for you—like who you fall in love with. And now everything’s more screwed up than ever.
But don’t take my word for it. Read the book and decide for yourself. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll scream in frustration. Or maybe that’s just me. After all, it’s my life.
When this book was pitched to me by a fellow reader and reviewer, I knew I had to have it. She really sold me on this book and even though it took me a while to finally get it and read it, it was so worth it. She was right. My Life Undecided delivers.
Seriously, I love love love the idea for this book. Setting up a blog so other people can decide stuff for you? Hell yes! It does remind me a bit of Amber, Debby and Judith pushing their favourite books when I ask what I should read next on Twitter, so I guess you could call me an expert on the matter. I'm terrible at making decisions.
Brooklyn is a fantastic character. She was so easy to identify with and she reminded me a bit of me when I was 15 (hiya, Grandma Daph! Here to tell a story?). I've been too active on the interwebz since I was young and I remember myself asking the same kind of questions Brooklyn asks her followers - though it would never have occured to me to create a poll to decide which boy I should date. That was a little too much for me -- but I really got the sentiment.
The storyline was awesome. It was heartfelt, funny and honest and I absolutely adored it. While Brooklyn starts her blog to not have to make her own decisions, she actually develops as a character and learns how to pick her own path.
I would definitely recommend this book. Especially if you liked Adorkable by Sarra Manning, I think you will appreciate this story. I know I absolutely adored this book and I will probably end up forcing people to read this when they ask for book recommendations. Or, you know, vote for it in a poll.
Fractured by Teri Terry Published: April 4th, 2013 (Orchard Books) Pages: 432 Source: for review Series:Slated, #2 Buy the book:Bookdepository Rating: ★★★☆☆ ½
Note: this is not the first book in a series, and can therefore contain (minor) spoilers for the previous book(s) in the series. Reading of this review is at your own risk.
How do you know where to go when you don't remember where you came from?
Kyla's memory has been erased,
her personality wiped blank,
her memories lost for ever.
Or so she thought.
Kyla shouldn't be able to remember anything. But she can - and she's beginning to realise that there are a lot of dark secrets locked away in her memories. When a mysterious man from her past comes back into her life, she thinks she's on her way to finding the truth. But the more she learns about her history, the more confusing her future becomes...
I loved Slated, the first book in this series. While it built on the existing view of dystopians worlds, it brought something new. While Fractured didn't quite deliver the same punch as Slated did for me, it's a good book that will leave you wanting more when you finish.
The first half of the book I was a bit disconnected from Kyla while she was trying to get everything together and figure out what was going on. It was necessary to build the story, but I missed that connection. Thankfully, that was fixed in the second half and I must say that the last 15-20% of the book was the best ending to a book that I've read in a long time. Yes!
The thing with the books in the Slated series is that while you know it's fiction, and you know it's a dystopian society, it's kind of creepy how realistic it all is. With all the things they can already do with technology, who knows what they'll come up with in the future? I wouldn't be surprised if such a thing as memory erasing would be actually possible. And that is what makes it so gripping and so eerily realistic.
During the story I felt myself constantly wondering who was setting Kyla up. Every time I was pretty sure who was the culprit, Terry would throw something my way that would made me doubt myself and at a certain point I basically suspected everyone. I loved that.
Fractured is a great sequel to Slated and it's an awesome buildup to Shattered, which I think will be pretty much epic. I cannot wait to find out what happens next and how it will all end -- I'm a fan! Now give me book 3, pretty please?
Back from hiatus! In On My Wishlist I spotlight books that I'm really looking forward to. I know there's a meme Waiting on Wednesday and there even are others, but I'm going to rebel and do it how I want it (hehe). I'll feature the synopsis as posted on Goodreads and put a linkie to the Goodreads page of the book. This week: Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson.
Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
Expected publication date: May 13th, 2014
Synopsis
The Pre-Sloane Emily didn’t go to parties, she barely talked to guys, she didn’t do anything crazy. Enter Sloane, social tornado and the best kind of best friend—the one who yanks you out of your shell. But right before what should have been an epic summer, Sloane just… disappears. No note. No calls. No texts. No Sloane. There’s just a random to-do list. On it, thirteen Sloane-selected-definitely-bizarre-tasks that Emily would never try… unless they could lead back to her best friend. Apple Picking at Night? Ok, easy enough. Dance until Dawn? Sure. Why not? Kiss a Stranger? Wait… what?
Getting through Sloane’s list would mean a lot of firsts. But Emily has this whole unexpected summer ahead of her, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected) to check things off. Who knows what she’ll find?
A NEW MORGAN MATSON BOOK!! EXCLAMATION POINTS!! I think I love it already! I think I will wait for the UK cover though, since my copies of Second Chance Summer and Amy & Roger's Epic Detour both have pretty illustrated covers.. But nevertheless, I'm beyond excited for this book to come out. I mean.. That synopsis sounds amazing! Eek!
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor Published: September 27th, 2011 (Little, Brown Books FYR) Pages: 418 Source: won Series:Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #1 Buy the book:Bookdepository Rating: ★★★☆☆ ½
Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands", she speaks many languages - not all of them human - and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.
When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?
I had this book on my shelves for nearly two years when I finally read it. And to be honest, if Debby hadn't recommended it, I'm pretty sure it would still be on my shelf, unread. But not because it didn't look good -- I just never felt like I was in the right mood to pick it up. But I finally did, and now I want to read book 2!
What I loved most about this book was Karou. She's feisty and awesome but also almost morbidly curious. She's vulnerable and slightly naive and the combination of all those things made her an interesting character. I liked hanging out with her; she made reasonable decisions most of the time and she was pretty straightforward, something that I can really appreciate.
However, I didn't like Akiva. Karou and Akiva didn't really have (great) chemistry in my opinion, but despite that you could tell they had some sort of connection, even though you don't know what that is.
The "big reveal" was a major letdown for me. I found it confusing and not making sense at all. I spent several chapters confused, flipping the pages back to see if there was anything that I missed (nope). That really took away from my reading pleasure and I would have liked that to be different. Now I just felt confused and after that I felt stupid because I didn't understand it. I understood it near the end, and it made sense, but at the time of the 'reveal'.. Nope. That just didn't work for me. Finding out about Akiva also didn't really surprise me as much as it probably should have.
Having said that, I really liked the world building and the teeth business, even though that was really kind of creepy. It fascinated me and I wanted to find out more.
All in all, I really enjoyed myself while reading this book. It didn't blow me away like I expected, but it was an enjoyable story and it has me curious for Days of Blood and Starlight, so I'll be reading that as well sometime. I'm pretty sure fantasy fans will adore this book, so don't hesitate to pick it up!
Back from hiatus! In On My Wishlist I spotlight books that I'm really looking forward to. I know there's a meme Waiting on Wednesday and there even are others, but I'm going to rebel and do it how I want it (hehe). I'll feature the synopsis as posted on Goodreads and put a linkie to the Goodreads page of the book. This week: Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill.
Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill
Expected publication date: January 7th, 2014
Synopsis
Meet Sloane Emily Jacobs: a seriously stressed-out figure-skater from Washington, D.C., who choked during junior nationals and isn’t sure she’s ready for a comeback. What she does know is that she’d give anything to escape the mass of misery that is her life.
Now meet Sloane Devon Jacobs, a spunky ice hockey player from Philly who’s been suspended from her team for too many aggressive hip checks. Her punishment? Hockey camp, now, when she’s playing the worst she’s ever played. If she messes up? Her life will be over.
When the two Sloanes meet by chance in Montreal and decide to trade places for the summer, each girl thinks she’s the lucky one: no strangers to judge or laugh at Sloane Emily, no scouts expecting Sloane Devon to be a hero. But it didn’t occur to Sloane E. that while avoiding sequins and axels she might meet a hockey hottie—and Sloane D. never expected to run into a familiar (and very good-looking) face from home. It’s not long before the Sloanes discover that convincing people you’re someone else might be more difficult than being yourself.
I absolutely adored Lauren Morrill's debut novel, Meant To Be. It was cute and awesome and her writing made me relive my time in London. So when I saw this book up on Goodreads, I knew I *had* to read it. I love the idea of these girls switching places and I cannot wait to read it! Unfortunately, this book won't come out until 2014.. So I guess my patience is about to be tested, big time!
What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen Published: May 10th, 2011 (Speak) Pages: 402 Source: bought Series: NA Buy the book:Bookdepository Rating: ★★★☆☆
Who is the real McLean?
Since her parents' bitter divorce, McLean and her dad, a restaurant consultant, have been on the move-four towns in two years. Estranged from her mother and her mother's new family, McLean has followed her dad in leaving the unhappy past behind. And each new place gives her a chance to try out a new persona: from cheerleader to drama diva. But now, for the first time, McLean discovers a desire to stay in one place and just be herself, whoever that is. Perhaps Dave, the guy next door, can help her find out.
The latest arrival in my Sarah Dessen collection looked very promising. I'm starting to get used to the new covers, and this one is quite pretty, if I'm honest. However, I didn't like the inside as much as I was expecting.
McLean is a difficult character to relate to. She has moved around a lot, trying to start over every single time, and she has had to deal with a difficult family situation on top of that, so I guess that is what made her a bit distant. Because that was what she was. I couldn't relate to her, she felt so far away. While I can understand this being part of her situation, which made her into the McLean we see in this book, I never had this problem with any other Sarah Dessen protagonist before. And I don't like it.
The first 125 pages or so were very difficult to get into. Honestly, I was on the verge of putting the book away and DNF'ing it, but somehow I managed to push through and read it. After the first third of the book, the story picked up a bit, but it still didn't blow my mind. The storyline was predictable and that bothered me.
I think my main problem is that I've read so many Sarah Dessen books I loved, that one I don't love immediately feels like a disappointment. I know I'm not supposed to compare this book to her other novels, but I can't help myself. I really feel like she can write a better story than this one.
While that all sounds really negative, I actually enjoyed myself while I was reading this book. In terms of the other books, it feels a bit off because I didn't love it, but it won't keep me from reading any more SD books. I just hope she won't bring me any more characters like McLean, because I didn't like her so much.. But I'm sure other contemporary fans will enjoy this book :)
