4.5 stars

ARC Review: All the Rage

08:00

All the Rage
By Courtney Summers

 Source: Netgalley
Release date: 28th January 2016
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery,

Kellan Turner is not the golden boy everyone thinks he is and Romy Grey knows that for a fact. But when she speaks up, she is branded a liar. Telling the truth has cost her everything, because no one wants to believe a girl from the wrong side of town.

But when news of Kellan assaulting another girl gets out, the cost of staying silent might be more than Romy can bear. All The Rage examines the shame and silence inflicted upon young women in a culture that refuses to protect them.


**I received a free ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion**

 When I began reading this book, I knew it was going to be a heavy read by reading the synopsis, but I never realised just how greatly this book was going to affect me. It covered so many important topics, and dealt with them so well. It’s a book I’d recommend to so many people, because it’s brutally honest, and I think so many people would really benefit from reading it.

This might be the hardest book I’ve ever read. I wasn’t addicted, and in places, I didn’t want to read on. Some of the themes horrified me, and it was a struggle to read on in places, because of how harshly it’s written. It’s relentlessly miserable, with shocks around every corner - there was never time for a breather, which is one of the reasons it was a really tough read. I’d recommend having a light, easy contemporary for after this one!

I didn’t like the writing style, but it didn’t bother me too much. I didn’t really like Romy as a lead - of course, I felt bad for her, but I felt she wasn’t shown as likeable. This might have been intentional, but I just wasn’t feeling it! I know she was going through a horrific time, but I had trouble connecting with her and some of the other characters.

So much happens in this book, so I don’t want too say much in case of spoilers! One thing I will say: you need to read this book. It is excellent, and I’d highly recommend - there’s so many important themes, and I think it’s so worth it. This is one of the rare books that I think have actually changed me, so it’s a must read! 

13 Minutes

ARC Review: 13 Minutes

20:57

13 Minutes
By Sarah Pinborough

 Source: Netgalley
Release date: 18th February 2015
Genres: Young Adult, Thriller, Mystery, 

I was dead for 13 minutes. I don't remember how I ended up in the icy water but I do know this - it wasn't an accident and I wasn't suicidal. They say you should keep your friends close and your enemies closer, but when you're a teenage girl, it's hard to tell them apart. My friends love me, I'm sure of it. But that doesn't mean they didn't try to kill me. Does it?


I’ve read one of the author’s other books - The Death House - and I really enjoyed it, so when I saw this up for request on Netgalley, I knew I had to read it. The cover is so intriguing too, so it really caught my attention! Thankfully, I wasn’t disappointed - this was a really good book, and I enjoyed it so much! I’d really recommend it to fans of thrillers, when it comes out in February next year.

There were so many plot twists, it was unreal. Every chapter, I thought things might finally settle down for a while, but nope! Each page held something as equally shocking and sinister, so I was never bored. It never went the way I thought it would, so was relentlessly entertaining, which me even more hooked. I'd recommend going in knowing as little as possible too, because then the twists are even more surprising.

I also thought the characters were really well developed. I knew from the start that we couldn’t trust anyone, but even while knowing this, I was constantly surprised on the direction all of the characters went in! I really liked Becca (the protagonist) throughout, and although she wasn’t always the ‘hero’, and the strongest, she made the right decisions, and I really cared about her story.

The ending really shocked me. I definitely wasn’t expecting that! Though, I was really happy with the way it turned out, and I’m glad we were given full closure. It made me really satisfied to finish the book - any longer and it would have felt dragged, but any shorter I would have felt that things were wrapped up too quickly. Overall, this is a really good book, that I enjoyed immensely.

3 Stars

ARC Review: Dangerous Lies

11:28

Dangerous Lies
By Becca Fitzpatrick

 Source: Gift from Anna @ Enchanted by YA - thank-you! (YALC), ARC
Genres: Young Adult, Thriller, Mystery, Romance, Contemporary

Goodreads Synopsis:
Stella Gordon's life is a lie.
She does not belong in Thunder Basin, Nebraska. As the key witness in a murder trial, Stella is under witness protection, living a life she doesn't want. No one can know who she really is. Not even Chet Falconer, her hot, enigmatic neighbour. But against her better judgement, Stella finds herself falling under Chet's spell ...
A storm is brewing. Is Stella really safe in Thunder Basin? And will Chet be her shelter, or her downfall ...? 

I went into this book a little nervous. I binge-read all of Becca Fitzpatrick’s books around this time last year, and while I really enjoyed them then, I’m not sure that I would feel the same way now. Though, I was pleasantly surprised, because I ended up really enjoying Dangerous Lies! It was in no way a perfect book, and was greatly flawed, but it was a really fun, quick read. I think it’s definitely her best book to date!

My favourite thing about this book was all of the family themes. The book explored the importance of family, and the unconditional love within families. I haven’t found this in Fitzpatrick’s other books, but it was done really well in this one. It could get quite sad at times, but Carmina - Stella’s foster Mum - was always there, which I thought was really important. The book would have been pretty miserable without the constant love of Carmina!

I really liked the direction the book went in. It could have been stuck in the past, trying to build up tension, but the unknown was sometimes forgotten so we could just enjoy what was happening. I liked how fast paced it was, because it meant I was never bored. There was always something happening, and if it wasn’t major, I wanted to read on to solve the mystery about Stella’s past. It made Dangerous Lies a really fun and quick read.

My main problem with this book was Stella, the protagonist. At the start, she was bratty, spoiled, and hideously stupid. Under the circumstances, she was extremely lucky to be in the position she was in, but seemed to be completely taking it for granted. I hated the way she was slut-shaming and putting down complete strangers and just being really rude. This was a bad setup, because it meant I really didn’t care about her at all! Though thankfully, she changed drastically throughout the book.

By the end, I had grown to like her. She had grown out of her immature behavior from the start, and was actually really likeable. She noticed her stupid decisions, and didn’t make them any more. I was actually very surprised, because in Fitzpatrick’s other books (and YA in general), this amount of character growth is rare! She had turned into a very likeable character, which meant I was really invested in what was to happen to her in the ending.

I was disappointed in the way the book ended. With about 20 pages to go, everything wasn’t rounded off at all, and we were no better for answers than we were about 100 pages ago! I was really worried that things wouldn’t be tied up well enough, so I was a little disappointed with the way it ended. It felt very rushed, and I think it needed longer so everything wasn’t just happening at the same time. An epilogue would have been nice too, because I would have liked to see a bit more of Stella’s life and what to come for her.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable read! I know that fans of Fitzpatrick’s other books will love this too, because the style is exactly the same, and in my opinion, this one is the best. There were a few things that bothered me, but I liked how everything came together at the end. I’ll definitely be reading more by Fitzpatrick in the future.

Dystopian

Recommended Summer Reads

22:12

Summer is well on it’s way here in the UK, with it being the hottest July day (for the UK) on record! I know I’m ‘feeling summery’ (although I am sat inside right now, with a fan and ice water), but I can’t feel truly in the season without some perfect books! In this mega list, I will do different genres which I think are ‘summery’ (I don’t really know how a Fantasy novel can be summery, so I guess you can just read it all year round), or that you should just read right now.

Paranormal Mystery
1. Vampire Academy - Please don’t let the title put you off this book. It’s about a bad-ass heroine being loyal, courageous, and hilarious in an unusual high school.
2. The Raven Boys - This book is perfect for the beach because you can spend time getting through the world-building and discovering this unusual yet lovable world.
3. Don’t Look Back by - It’s so addictive, perfect for long days spent doing nothing. You’ll be able to race through it, because it’s impossible to put down!
4. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - This is one of my favourite books of all time. It’s so readable, and I flew through it. I wish I was able to read it in the sun, in one sitting!
Romance
1. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe - I loved this book. I read it while under the camping sun, and it’s so fluffy and enjoyable it makes a perfect summer read.
2. I’ll Give You the Sun - This book is so amazing. I love Jandy’s writing style, and it even has the word ‘sun’ in the title. Need I say more?
3. Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda - This is another book of pure joy and fluff. I think I was smiling for the whole way through it because it’s just so enjoyable.

Fantasy
1. Half Bad - I really enjoyed this book, and wish I could forget everything about it, and just read it again. It has a really original concept, and a unique world too.
2. The Mortal Instruments - If you haven’t read these books yet, where have you been?! I’d suggest marathoning all 10 books in the Shadowhunter Chronicles before the TV show comes out in January!
3. A Court of Thorns and Roses - This is another book that I really love. It’s based around Beauty and the Beast, so has a really badass protagonist who - like all of Sarah J. Maas’ characters - completely slays.
Dystopian
1. Only Ever Yours - Although it’s not exactly an enjoyable read, it’s very addictive, and a very important book. It really appeals to my feminist side (which is all of my sides), so I would recommend it to all genders too. Please don’t be put off by the cover!
2. Enclave - I’m yet to continue with the series, but I really want to. It has zombies and a flawed-yet-lovable protagonist. And it has no romance. Yes please!
3. Shatter Me - This is one of my all-time favourite series. The writing style is so beautiful, I completely flew through them all. Perfect for when you have a lot of time to read!

What would you recommend for summer?

4 stars

Review: Don't Look Back

17:21

Don't Look Back
By Jennifer L. Armentrout

 Source: Gift, e-book
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Romance

 Goodreads Synopsis:
Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend. 
Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash. 
But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?


I’ve heard so many great things about Jennifer L. Armentrout’s writing, so I knew that I definitely had to read one of her books soon. I’m really glad this was my first because I really enjoyed it as it was really well written, and I was hooked until the very last page. I know it definitely won’t be the last book I read by her!
The thing I enjoyed the most was the mystery. For the whole book I was left wanting more, so for the whole story I was gripped. Although the plot and concept wasn’t the most original, Armentrout made it her own so I didn’t just feel it was a copy of other mystery thriller books. I was really invested in the story because it was so exciting.


My least favourite element was the romance. It was really cringey, and I would have much preferred it if there were more clues and less kissing. Also, Sam - the protagonist - was quite irritating at times. She always missed see the obvious, and made ridiculous decisions. Her choices definitely made me cringe at times!
The ending was really good. I didn’t see it coming, it made sense, and gave me closure. I was really impressed with how well Jennifer L. Armentrout rounded everything off and the last chapter finished everything nicely. The last part of the book was much better than the others because much more happened (nothing really happened for the majority of the story!), and most of the book was quite predictable.

Overall, this was an amazing book. It was really quick, and made me want to read on - I read it in under a day! I would recommend it to fans of the Mara Dyer Trilogy, Pretty Little Liars (I haven’t read the books, but it reminded me of the TV series), or Silence (Hush Hush #3).

 My reaction:

Rating: 


3.5 stars

Review: A Thousand Pieces of You

18:32

A Thousand Pieces of You
By Claudia Gray

 Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance, Mystery, 
Page count: 368

 Goodreads Synopsis:

 Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their radical scientific achievements. Their most astonishing invention: the Firebird, which allows users to jump into parallel universes, some vastly altered from our own. But when Marguerite’s father is murdered, the killer—her parent’s handsome and enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.

Marguerite can’t let the man who destroyed her family go free, and she races after Paul through different universes, where their lives entangle in increasingly familiar ways. With each encounter she begins to question Paul’s guilt—and her own heart. Soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is more sinister than she ever could have imagined.

A Thousand Pieces of You explores a reality where we witness the countless other lives we might lead in an amazingly intricate multiverse, and ask whether, amid infinite possibilities, one love can endure.

 My Review:
The concept of this book was so cool. A book with a stunning cover and about time-travel? What's not to love! So, I bought the book. I don't regret it (because that cover just looks so pretty on my shelf I just don't even care!), but I wish I didn't buy it in such a rush, or maybe bought some other books instead.
The plot of this book was quite bad. I loved the bit about dimension-hopping, but it had too much romance and not enough dimension-travel. Nothing much happened - at the end it tried to be dystopian, but it didn't really work that well. I was pretty bored on all the romance bits, and this book would have been a much higher rating if there was less romance.


I hated the love triangle. She was in love with the wrong guy (in my opinion), which made me hate all of the romance - I really didn't ship them at all, so I was just rolling my eyes, and trying not to skim over them, which I did end up doing. They fell in ‘love’ too quickly for me - I would have liked them to get to know each other more before they slept together!


Marguerite annoyed me quite a lot. She didn't realise things that I got really quickly, and was really shallow. All her decisions were not thought through - if she thought about what she was going to do more, the story would have gone a whole different way.

Overall, I enjoyed this book because it was so original, but I would have enjoyed the book much more if there was less romance.

My reaction:

Rating:


Favourite Quotes:

“Every form of art is another way of seeing the world. Another perspective, another window. And science –that’s the most spectacular window of all. You can see the entire universe from there.” 

"We look into each other's eyes, and I feel something I've only ever felt once before - this dizzying sense like being at the edge of a cliff, both scared to death and yet feeling this inexplicable, insane urge to fling yourself into the sky"




5 Stars

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

21:19

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
By Michelle Hodkin

Source: Personal purchase, paperback,
Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Mystery, Horror, Supernatural, Romance, 

 Goodreads Synopsis:

 Mara Dyer believes life can't get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can. 

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her strangely unharmed. 
There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love. 
She's wrong.

 My Review:

 I loved this book so much. The beginning, middle, and end were all fantastic - I enjoyed all parts of the story, and was truly hooked throughout. 

 The beginning captured school life really well. Being a school student, I can safely say that this is really similar to real life! If only we all had a friend as funny as Jamie... The awkwardness was spot on too. I am really clumsy, just like Mara, so I could really relate to when she tripped!

 I was disappointed in the ending because I guessed the plot. To me, it was really obvious from the start of the book, but I didn't mind - the story was still really enjoyable. The only problem was that when it was the build up to the ending, I didn't feel at all excited because I knew what was coming. I think in this sense we should have been kept in the dark a little to make it feel like a more dramatic plot twist.

 The book was perfectly paced, keeping me gripped during the whole book. Although the plot didn't progress much, I didn't mind (there is slow burning romance!). Michelle Hodkin definitely knows which scenes to perfectly describe, and which to leave out so we don't get bored. I was interested because I cared about the characters, and I was genuinely concerned for them (which doesn't normally happen in books like this!). 

 Mara Dyer was a great lead. Although she wasn't very strong-minded, which I usually look for in characters, she was witty and sharp, and more like a real person. Because this story is set in the current world, she fitted perfectly, and was a surprisingly accurate portrayal of teenages today. 

 Noah was a bit too boring for me. Although his character alone wasn't dull, he has been done so many times before in YA books, I just knew what was coming with him. I felt that the author should have made him more original here, by maybe making have a weaker side, or being considerably different around Mara. I did like him, I just didn't feel like he was different, which he was intended to be. 

 Overall, this book was beautiful. I know it will linger in my mind for a while yet (or until the next book arrives, which I have ordered!), and the characters will stay with me forever. I know this is going to be one of my new favourite series: I would have read it in one sitting if I could. Hopefully the rest of the trilogy lives up to the greatness of the first book!

 My reaction:

Rating: