Book Tags

Reader Problems Tag

16:00

Anna @ Enchanted by YA did this on her blog (she tagged everyone), and it looks loads of fun, so today I’m going to give it a go and do something a little different.

1. You have 20,000 books on your TBR. How in the world do you decide what to read next?

This barely ever happens to me - I usually only have a few unread books on my shelf, so I’ve never really had to deal with this problem before. I would probably ask a few friends which they have enjoyed, and make a decision on that. Or, look at some reviews on Goodreads and see which one intrigues me the most.

2. You’re halfway through a book and you’re just not loving it. Do you quit or are you committed?

It really depends for me. Usually I will persevere through a book (because I can always write a review on how I didn’t like it!), but if I’ve borrowed it from somewhere, I’ll probably just return it. If I own the book I’m definitely more dedicated to it.

3. The end of the year is coming and you’re so close, yet so far from your Goodreads reading challenge. Do you try and catch up and how?

If I was really close, I’d probably just try and read quickly, but if I still have a fair way to go, I’d just read normally. We’ve all got to remember that reading is for fun, so we definitely shouldn’t put pressure on ourselves just because of a reading challenge.

4. The covers of a series you love does not match. How do you cope?

I don’t know! This has happened to me with the Divergent series and I hate it. They are still together on my shelf (looking rather ugly), but I just try to not look at them by putting them in the corner of my shelf. I’m thinking of arranging my shelf in colour-order, so it wouldn’t be as noticeable then.



5. Everyone and their mother loves a book you really don’t like. Who do you bond with overshared feelings?

One of my favourite things about being a book blogger is that you can almost always find someone who shares the same opinion as you. I’d probably hunt for that person, and then we can rant to each other!

6. You’re reading a book and you’re about to start crying in public. How do you deal?

This has never happened to me, so I don’t really know for this one. I’d probably just shamelessly cry! Or make an excuse to go to the bathroom, and sob until my heart’s content there.

7. A sequel of a book you loved just came out, but you’ve forgotten a lot from the prior novel. Will you re-read the book? Skip the sequel? Try to find a summary on goodreads? Cry in frustration?!

I’d probably just read the sequel, and hope for the best! Hopefully it would come back to me as I was reading, otherwise I’d probably just google the answer, or look on Goodreads.

8. You do not want anyone - ANYONE - borrowing your books. How do you politely tell people nope when they ask?

I’d usually agree, but then just ‘forget the book’. Or just say I’ve lost it / can’t find it, which we all know is a lie because I’d never lose a book.

9. Reading ADD. You’ve picked up 5 books in the last month. How do you get over your reading slump?

I usually just re-read a few of my favourite chapters from some happy books that I’d loved previously, and that gets me out of the reading slump. If that doesn’t work, I’d read a book that looks really light and fluffy - it’s practically impossible to be in a reading slump with a fluffy contemporary!

10. There are so many books coming out that you’re dying to read! How many do you actually buy?

I’d usually buy the sequels to books I’ve already read, or if they’re by an author that I’ve read and loved before. If it’s just a new release that looks good, I probably wouldn’t buy it straight away. If I’m in the book shop again and I see it, I might buy it then, but usually I will wait until it comes out in paperback because they’re so much cheaper.

11. After you’ve bought the new books you can’t wait to get to, how long do they sit on your shelf before you get to read them?


Not long! If I was so excited to read them and bought them straight away, I will probably read them pretty quickly. So, they will be sat on my shelf for an absolute maximum of 2 weeks, but probably shorter.

I tag:
Cody-Leigh @ Literary-ly Obsessed
Emily @ Lit Wit Reads
If you want to do this tag, consider yourself tagged by me!


4 stars

Review: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

19:40

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
By Becky Albertalli

 Source: Borrowed from a friend
Page count: 303
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance, Coming of Age,

 Goodreads Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.
With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.
This was such a cute book! It was really light, short, and generally just a big fluffy ball of loveliness. I enjoyed it greatly because the characters were so loveable and the writing was so addictive. I was smiling throughout the whole book as it was just so adorable! I just need to give this book a massive hug.
Simon was a really cute character. I cared about him from the first page, and he was such an interesting person so I wanted to read about him. I just need him to be real so we can be best friends. He also really reminded me of Alec Lightwood, which is always a bonus! His family were also really interesting to read about - they were so loving and supportive which is something we all love to see in YA.
The plot was a little predictable. I guessed who Blue was really quickly, which was a bit disappointing when I found out that I was right, but I wasn’t really that bothered because there were other storylines going on at the same time. I wasn’t bored in any of them because Simon was such a loveable protagonist.


Another great thing about this book was the way it captured being a teenager so well. I even felt emotional many times in the book - it was written so well! This is one of those books that everyone should read. It’s about being accepted for who you are, which I think is really important. Even if you aren’t a teenager you should read this book.


I usually find the ending to be disappointing in books like this, but in this story I really didn’t. It didn’t feel rushed, and rounded the book off really well. Everything happened like I wanted it to, and I finished this book with a massive grin on my face! It was really happy, and - for once - I wasn’t left wanting more. It was the perfect length.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It was super cute, and the characters were adorable. Although many of the internet references were a bit off (the Tumblr, really?), I recommend this book to everyone, but I think you’ll like it if you liked Fangirl, Solitaire, or The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

Me after finishing this book:

My rating:

5 to 1

Top Five Friday #9: Books I'm Dying to Read

21:21


Top Five Friday is a meme hosted at Katieemay which lists my top 5 choices based on a bookish theme of my choice

*****

So when I saw this topic come up, I was so excited! I always have loads of books that I’m dying to read, so these are some of my favourites at the moment.

1. 5 to 1 by Holly Bodger

I first found out about this book when I was browsing Netgalley - the cover is so beautiful, and really struck my attention. When I went to see what it was about, it really caught my attention, and I have been wanting to read it ever since (and it’s a feminist book which I always love to see!).

Synopsis:
In the year 2054, after decades of gender selection, India now has a ratio of five boys for every girl, making women an incredibly valuable commodity. Tired of marrying off their daughters to the highest bidder and determined to finally make marriage fair, the women who form the country of Koyanagar have instituted a series of tests so that every boy has the chance to win a wife.

Sudasa, though, doesn't want to be a wife, and Kiran, a boy forced to compete in the test to become her husband, has other plans as well. As the tests advance, Sudasa and Kiran thwart each other at every turn until they slowly realize that they just might want the same thing.

2. Landline by Rainbow Rowell

I can’t believe I haven’t read this already! I’ve been hunting for it for what seems like years because it’s by one of my favourite authors, and the cover is just so pretty, especially the grey and pink spine.

Synopsis:
Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble; it has been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems beside the point now. Maybe that was always beside the point.

Two days before they’re supposed to visit Neal’s family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can’t go. She’s a TV writer, and something’s come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her — Neal is always a little upset with Georgie — but she doesn't expect him to pack up the kids and go home without her.

When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she’s finally done it. If she’s ruined everything.

That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts...

Is that what she’s supposed to do?
Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened?

3. Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld

I originally found out about this book through booktube, and ever since I’ve been dying to read it. The idea sounds really original - it’s about a girl trying to be published, which really appeals to me. Although I have heard a few bad reviews, I’m really optimistic about it.

Synopsis:
Darcy Patel has put college and everything else on hold to publish her teen novel, Afterworlds. Arriving in New York with no apartment or friends she wonders whether she's made the right decision until she falls in with a crowd of other seasoned and fledgling writers who take her under their wings…

Told in alternating chapters is Darcy's novel, a suspenseful thriller about Lizzie, a teen who slips into the 'Afterworld' to survive a terrorist attack. But the Afterworld is a place between the living and the dead and as Lizzie drifts between our world and that of the Afterworld, she discovers that many unsolved - and terrifying - stories need to be reconciled. And when a new threat resurfaces, Lizzie learns her special gifts may not be enough to protect those she loves and cares about most.

4. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

I have wanted this book for so long! It sounds so good, and exactly like the thing I love. I have been hunting for it forever, yet it never seems to be on sale in bookshops *sad face*. Hopefully I will get round to reading it some time soon!

Synopsis:
Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

5. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

So many people have loved this book! There have been so many good things circulating, and I know I just need to read this. It seems right up my street, as it is exactly the sort of book I absolutely love.

Synopsis:
Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.
Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.
It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.
But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.
There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

Which books are you dying to read? Let me know below!

4.5 stars

Review: Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3)

19:16

Ignite Me
By Tahereh Mafi

 Source: Personal purchase, paperback
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Romance

 Goodreads Synopsis:
The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, called “a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love.”
With Omega Point destroyed, Juliette doesn’t know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But that won’t keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world . . . but that’s not all he wants with her.
The Shatter Me series is perfect for fans who crave action-packed young adult novels with tantalizing romance like Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Legend by Marie Lu. Tahereh Mafi has created a captivating and original story that combines the best of dystopian and paranormal, and was praised by Publishers Weekly as “a gripping read from an author who’s not afraid to take risks.” Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and satisfying end.


Wow! I am still breathless from my book. It was so beautiful that it left me utterly speechless, and I enjoyed it so much. I will definitely miss the Shatter Me series so much - Tahereh’s writing is so lyrical and was my favourite element of the series. I was swooning throughout the entire book: it was purely stunning.


One of the things I enjoyed so much was the characters. Although Juliette was still a little annoying at the start, she changed so much through the book. By the end, she was strong and independent, and could finally make decisions for herself. I was really impressed with the way she changed in such a short amount of time.
Warner was definitely my favourite character. He had so much depth and backstory, meaning he was incredibly interesting to read about. I loved how we found out a little more of him in sections - I was constantly waiting for more Warner scenes! Seeing his relationship develop with Juliette was also one of my favourite elements.
The things that made this book not as good were the ending and the action scenes. The action was very rushed, and we didn’t get to see much of Juliette finally turning badass. The book ended on an action scene which meant the ending was rushed. I would have been much more content if even just an epilogue had been added because I felt the story ended so suddenly.


Another of the things that I loved so much about this series is that it’s so addictive. I read this entire book in 2 sittings, and under 12 hours (which must be some sort of record for me!). I was constantly hooked because it was so exciting. I know that I will read anything Tahereh Mafi ever writes because her style is so addictive.

Overall, this was a really good book. I was disappointed with the ending, yet still deeply loved it.

 My reaction:

My rating:



4 stars

Review: Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2)

17:00

Unravel Me 
By Tahereh Mafi

 Source: Personal purchase, paperback
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Romance

 Goodreads Synopsis:
tickticktickticktickit's almosttime for war.
Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.
She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.
Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.
I think this book suffered from second-book-syndrome. You could tell it was the middle book in the series, and it felt like a filler for the series. Nothing really happened, and it was mainly about character development and the character’s relationships with each other changing. I found it interesting, and enjoyed it greatly, but it just lacked something special to make it stand out.

The thing that I disliked most about the book was Juliette. She was still as equally as annoying as she was in Shatter Me. Although she didn’t cross out almost every word, she was still very emotional all the time, and in my opinion, over sensitive. She was interesting to read about, but just irritated me quite a lot.

Another problem I had with this book was that nothing really happened. This is the same with the whole series - it’s a lot of talking about what they’re going to do, though they never really do it. Also, a lot of the action is rushed or skimmed over because Juliette is never there. Everyone protects her, so she is never in any of the fight scenes. This is a shame because it would have made the book a bit different and made me more interested.

Nevertheless, I still really enjoyed the book. My favourite element was definitely the writing style. Everyone I know raves about Tahereh Mafi’s lyrical writing style - it’s so vivid so I can really picture the world clearly. I know I will read any future work of hers - no matter what the genre - because I am so in love with her poetic style.

Overall, this is a great book. I highly enjoyed it, yet would have prefered more action and less romance and character focus. I would recommend this series if you are looking to read a dystopian, but don’t want too much of the world building, defeating the government, or action scenes (basically all the good bits!), and would prefer mainly romance.
My reaction:

My rating: