Wednesday 31 December 2014

BOOK REVIEW

A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU
Claudia Gray

PUBLISHER: Harper Teen
GENRE: SciFi/Fantasy
PAGES: 368
GET A COPY: BookDepository/Amazon

"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.


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I'm just going to start this review by saying how much I loved this book. It was such a gripping read from start to finish and I felt like I was engrossed from the very beginning. I think this may have something to do with the fact that you are literally thrown straight into the story then things are explained as the book progresses, which I really liked.

The world building in this book was incredible, from dimension to dimension each world she entred was so beautifully described, I could picture each world so vividly in my head. This made it so easy to follow which dimension she was in as well as being able to follow the characters and decipher which version of the character it was in each world.

Credit definitely needs to be given to Gray in weaving a love story so perfectly into the main plot of the book, I feel in so many books the love story is so overpowering and takes away from what the book is meant to be about. In this book however, in was prevalent throughout but it was done in a way that was just kind of a side note to the main plot.

The ending of this book was also superbly done. This book is going to be a trilogy but it could have almost been a standalone, I wasn't left with any unanswered questions at the end and think that the sequels will just add more to the series rather than making the first book make sense like in some series. Overall, I loved this book and think I NEED the second and third book now.

Have you read this book?
If so, what did you think?


Tuesday 30 December 2014

TOP TEN TUESDAY - My 2015 Goals


This weeks Top Ten Tuesday is coming to from a one handed blogger (my hand is in a cast. ouch!). The Broke & The Bookish's meme this week is all about my goals and resolutions for the upcoming year. These are both personal goals and book/blog related goal.

  1.  Be more organised - This includes both with my blog and with my personal life.
  2.  Read more - I want to make it a goal of 2015 to read at least one book a week.
  3.  Review! - I want to try review every book I read.
  4.  Re-read more - Re-reading books I already own before buying more.
  5.  Blog more - I want to have more blog posts up each week than I currently do.
  6.  Interact - Whether that be commenting, tweeting or on instagram!
  7.  Do more good deeds - It's the little things. Helping those who need it.
  8.  Complete/Pass my second year - Getting through second year of university would be great.
  9.  Spend Less - I am such an impulse buyer, especially when it comes to books. 
  10.  Get healthy! - Yes. I had to include the obligatory goal that I make every year.

What are some of your goals for 2015?

Thursday 25 December 2014

TBTB SECRET SANTA


I want to first start of this post by saying a huge MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Whilst you're reading this I'm sure I'll be tucking into my Christmas dinner or asleep on the sofa, either or is perfectly fine by me, I hope you're all enjoying or have enjoyed the day and are enjoying family and the gifts you received.

So, this year I partook in The Broke & The Bookish over on their blog. I decided to join as I thought it would be a good opportunity to find new blogs and new books that I'd never think to buy myself. So I went out and bought my own package to send to Amber and then I received my own.

My Secret Santa was from the lovely Hannah and I thought I'd show you the books and gifts that she bought me this Christmas as I am in love with the package that she sent me so much!

Firstly the books. I was so happy to receive these books, I feel like Hannah really hit the nails on the head with this one in picking me the best ones. My favourite author is John Green so Let It Snow is something I've been wanting to read for a while and I've been wanting to read Everyday for so long as I really enjoyed Will Grayson, Will Grayson and Dash & Lily's Book of Dares. 


 Secondly, how cute is this handmade stocking tree decoration? I honestly think, apart from the books. This was my favourite thing in the whole package. Its cute. It's personalised AND HANDMADE. I also really likes the little "Happily Ever After" decoration too, which I believe is also handmade.

Hannah also sent me a whole box fully of other goodies which I loved. I thought it was such a thoughtful gift that I'd said I loved make-up and chocolate and she bought both of those things.
(the box was also filled with chocolate coins, mini chocolate santas and penguin but I ate those before I managed to take these pictures). 

I was so giddy with excitement when I opened my package and I am so grateful for everything Hannah has sent and all the time and effort she has put into making it such a thoughtful gift.












Tuesday 23 December 2014

TOP TEN TUESDAY - Top Ten Books I wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing This Year


Dear Santa, 

This year I have been an exceptionally good girl (well, most of the time) and for Christmas this year there are many books that I would appreciate finding under my tree and The Broke and The Bookish said I should do a top 10...




Cassandra Clare



Andrew Smith


Marissa Myers



A.G. Howard





Andrew Smith



Gabrielle Zevin




Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner



Jennifer L. Armentrout



Lauren Oliver



Chelsey Philpot






So, what books are you hoping to find waiting under your tree this year?




Tuesday 16 December 2014

TOP TEN TUESDAY - Top Ten Books I Read In 2014


This weeks Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke & The Bookish is all about my top ten books of 2014. This year has been the year that I've really got into reading; in previous years I'd just read the odd book that was really popular at a certain time but this year I've ventured out, discovered booktube, book blogs and by book buying and reading has accelerated. With that, comes lots of good books being read and my top eight are...

LANDLINE - Rainbow Rowell

This is without fail my favourite Rainbow Rowell book, I just love books that make me feel warm and fuzzy inside when I finish them and this definitely did that for me.

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 THIS SONG WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE - Leila Sales

This book was such a feel good book. I bought this on a whim when it came up as a suggestion when buying other books and I'm so glad it did. It was one of those books that you read not expecting much but really exceeds your expectations.

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 EVERYTHING LEADS TO YOU - Nina La Cour

This was without doubt one of, if not my favourite book of year. I read it in one sitting I was just so engrossed in it the whole way through and just couldn't put it down until it was finished and couldn't help but smile when I'd finished it.

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FANGIRL - Rainbow Rowell

This is the first Rainbow Rowell book I'd read and really enjoyed it, it was a light-hearted, easy read with very likeable characters. 

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ALIENATED - Melissa Landers

I thought this story was quite unique, I haven't read a book about an exchange programme before let alone an intergalactic exchange programme. I thought the story was quite easy and quick to read. I'm definitely excited for book two to come out in a few months.

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ATTACHMENTS - Rainbow Rowell 

I really enjoyed this book. It was an easy read and I was gripped to the story the whole way through and couldn't wait to see how things played out. The ending so cute, it again left me with the warm, fuzzy happiness I feel when a cute love story ends how I want it to.

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THE FAULT IN OUR STARS - John Green

I don't think I can do a top ten of 2014 without given this book at least a mention. I love it. I originally read it over a year ago but re-read it for about the fourth time prior to the film again and fell back in love with Hazel and Gus.

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REBEL BELLE - Rachel Hawkins

I really liked how badass this book was. I think Rachel Hawkins did really well in balancing out the girliness and the badass action scenes without making it to much of either. It was a really enjoyable read and I can't wait for the sequel.

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What have your favourite books been this year?

Thursday 11 December 2014

RE-READ CHALLENGE


This year I am participating in The Re-Read Challenge hosted by Belle of the Literati and So Obsessed With as there are some books that I've already got in my head that I want to re-read this year. I'm going to give myself a goal of re-reading AT LEAST one book a month in 2015 (if I re-read more than wooop) as there are so many books that I've read this year or last that I loved at the time and feel that I need to enjoy them all over again. I feel that most of my re-reads will be either in anticipation for a sequel or the book to movie adaptation being released. 


I want to re-read this purely for how much I enjoyed reading it the first time around.

Again with the joy!! I loved this book so much I read it in one sitting with building work going on in my house. I need to relive that enjoyment and love!


DIVERGENT
I re-read Divergent in anticipation for the film to come out so I want to do the same for Insurgent by re-reading the whole series again.

PAPER TOWNS
I want to re-read Paper Towns for a few reasons, 1) I love John Green. 2) I really enjoyed it the first time and 3) THE MOVIE COMES OUT SOON!!!!!!

THE HUNGER GAMES
I need this in my life. I originally read the trilogy before the first film was released and before each film after I kept wanting to re-read the whole series but never got around to it BUT IN 2015 I WILL!

I need to re-read this in anticipation for the sequel coming out at the start of 2015 so I'll probably marathon both at the start of the year!


Are you going to participate in this re-read challenge?

Keep an eye out for monthly updates I'll be doing throughout 2015!


Wednesday 10 December 2014

BOOK REVIEW

DASH & LILY'S BOOK OF DARES
Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

PUBLISHER: Random House
GENRE: Contemporary
PAGES: 260
GET A COPY: BookDepository/Amazon

“I’ve left some clues for you.If you want them, turn the page.If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the bestselling authors ofNick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?"

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My initial feeling when I finished this book was "What? How can it end like that?" because I feel the whole book was leading up to a pinnacle point in the book then just ends, like "errm where's the last few chapters? I need more." I did really enjoy this book. It was such fun to read throughout. I thought the plot of the book was a really fun idea and felt like I was involved in the story as much as Dash & Lily were and was rooting for them the whole way through despite it taking me a good while to get into it.

I felt that in some parts of the book both characters displayed certain attributes that I wanted to scream at them or throw my book at them such as Lily being really naive and Dash being just outright annoying. What I loved about this book through was how developed the other characters were, they weren't just side characters, they were as much a part of the story as Dash and Lily.

This book made me want to go to New York at Christmas. It made me want to browse the aisles of the Stand. It made me want to find love through the use of a Red Moleskin book found on the shelf of my favourite book store. This was such a feel good story!

I couldn't decide between giving this book a 3 stars or a 4 stars so I think my true rating would be somewhere in between.

Has one else read this book? If so, what did you think?

Tuesday 9 December 2014

TOP TEN TUESDAY - Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2014


This weeks Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke & The Bookish is all about top 10 new-to-me authors of 2014. This year is the year I really got into reading, rather than just reading the odd book here and there like other years. With my new found love for reading came new authors to discover and to fall in love with their books. My top ten (or eight) new-to-me authors this year were...

  1. Rainbow Rowell - I only discovered Rainbow Rowell in April when I read Fangirl and instantly fell in love with her writing and had to read all of her book. Which is exactly what I did, and despite Eleanor and Park (unpopular opinion I know) all of her book were some of my favourites of the year,
  2. Stephanie Perkins - I read all 3 of the Anna/Lola/Isla books one after the other and really enjoyed them.
  3. Melissa Landers - I read Alienated in August and really enjoyed it. I have been anticipating the 2nd series; Invaded as soon as I finished Alienated. Much to my dismay I am still patiently waiting for it's February release. 
  4. Nina La Cour - I have only read one of Nina La Cour's books which was Everything Leads To You and that's all I needed to have read to make her automatically one of my favourite authors of the year. I loved that book so much. 
  5. Huntley Fitzpatrick - I read My Life Next Door over the summer and really liked it, it was a fun, summer read. I really want to read her other book; What I Thought Was True.
  6. Ransom Riggs - Author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and it's sequel; Hollow City, both of which I really liked and can't wait for more in the series. 
  7. Rachel Hawkins - I really enjoyed Rebel Belle when I read it earlier this year and I can't wait for book 2; Miss Mayhem to come out next year. 
  8. Leila Sales - This Song Will Save My Life was one of my favourite books of the year; I bought it on a whim and unexpectedly loved it. So it goes without saying I will read whatever Leila Sales writes and plan to read her other books soon!


Who are some of your favourite authors?


Thursday 4 December 2014

BOOK HAUL: The Birthday Edition


Last week I celebrated my 20th birthday and as friends and family know I love books so much, I received a few giftcards to treat myself.  Of course it only took me all of 3 days to have used them, so I thought I'd share the books that I bought using the gift cards (and treated myself too).




MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME - Various Authors

Having a birthday less than a month before Christmas it goes without saying that one of the books I buy is going to be a festive book and what better festive book than one that contains 12 short stories written by some of my favourite authors. I might even do a whole "12 Days of Christmas" read with this one and slowly enjoy is over the festive period.

DASH & LILY'S BOOK OF DARES - Rachel Cohn & David Levithan 

Buying this I didn't even realise until I'd looked at other blog posts about it that this is also in fact another winter book, perfect for this time of year and let's be honest, who wouldn't love spending winter in New York? I know I would. Maybe I'll have to read this to live vicariously through them instead.

I AM THE MESSENGER - Markus Zusak

I am yet to read any of Markus Zusak's books however I have only ever heard amazing things about his writing so I feel like I need to get reading. Along with The Book Thief I now have this book to sink my teeth into and with christmas break just around the corner I'll be able to get to it!

AMY & ROGER'S EPIC DETOUR - Morgan Matson

I have heard so many good things about this book and have wanted to read it for so long so I finally took the plunge and bought it. I have always wanted to go on a road trip and I think this book will increase that want, I think it sounds like such a fun read.

THIS STAR WON'T GO OUT - EstherLori and Wayne Earl and John Green

It's no secret that I love The Fault In Our Stars and as soon as I saw the book about Esther; a girl who John Green dedicated the book to and who sadly fought and lost her fight with cancer, I knew I wanted to read it. This book is an account of her life written by her and the family and friends around her. It's a true story and I think it's going to be such a good read.

WONDER - R.J. Palacio

I'm adding this book on the end of my birthday book haul despite it actually being a gift to myself before hand which just so happen to arrive on my birthday so it's going in this haul. I have heard so many good things about this book and I'm so excited to read it!

ALL THE TRUTH THAT'S IN ME - Julie Berry

This is another one that I'm adding to the birthday book haul purely for the fact it arrived just after my birthday so I thought I'd feature it. This book sounds really creepy and weird so I'm really intrigued to read it soon.

So I didn't get many books but I'm excited about the ones I did get!!

What books have you hauled recently?





Wednesday 3 December 2014

BOOK REVIEW

                     Zoe Sugg

PUBLISHER: Penguin Books
GENRE: Contemporary
PAGES: 352
GET A COPY: Waterstones/Amazon

"I had no idea GirlOnline would take off the way it has - I can't believe I now have 5432 followers, thanks so much! - and the thought of opening up to you all about this is terrifying, but here goes...

Penny has a secret.

Under the alias GirlOnline, she blogs about school dramas, boys, her mad, whirlwind family - and the panic attacks she's suffered from lately. When things go from bad to worse, her family whisks her away to New York, where she meets the gorgeous, guitar-strumming Noah. Suddenly Penny is falling in love - and capturing every moment of it on her blog.

But Noah has a secret too. One that threatens to ruin Penny's cover - and her closest friendship - forever"

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I did have some faults with this book. Firstly, I just felt that the whole plot was a little bit cliché ; going to New York, falling in love in a matter of days with some mysterious guy. I just felt that the romance happened so quick and was so predictable. 

However, I did like the book. The story was cute and I did like how Zoe wrote about Anxiety within the book, from what seems a way that will actually help people reading. I personally don't suffer with anxiety but I know there are many people who the tips she wrote about and the things she mentioned about anxiety may actually help others who do suffer and offer them some comfort and certain things she'd wrote, I've seen her speak about before

"Everytime you post something online you have a choice. You can either make it something that adds to the happiness levels in the world or takes it away from them"

I also liked the characters, they were relatable. I know when I was 15/16 I was always having friend issues and silly fallings out that mean nothing and I can probably remember the falling out more than the actual reason for the falling out.

The ending. I feel that the last few chapters just finished off the story perfectly and it made me happy!

Have you read Girl Online?
If so, what did you think?


Tuesday 2 December 2014

TOP TEN TUESDAY - Top Ten Books I'm Looking Forward To In 2015



This weeks Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke & The Bookish is all about my most anticipated books as the new year and new releases approach, and my excitement builds. Some of the books will have already been featured in my "Pre-order Excitement" post but here's the top ten books I'm most looking forward to reading in 2015.




1. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN LOST AND FOUND
Kathryn Holmes
Release date - 17th February, 2015
2. INVADED
Melissa Landers
 Release date -  3rd February, 2015



3. NO PLACE TO FALL
Jaye Robin Brown
Release date - 15th January, 2015


4. PROOF OF FOREVER 
Lexa Hillyer
Release date - 2nd June, 2015

 5. FINDING PARIS

Joy Preble
Release date - 21st April, 2015 


6. NONE OF THE ABOVE
I. W. Gregorio 
Release date - 28th April, 2015


 7. MAGONIA

Maria Dahvana Headley 
Release date - 28th April, 2015


8. MISS MAYHEM
Rachel Hawkins
Release date - 7th April, 2015



9. NO PARKING AT THE END TIMES
Bryan Bliss
Release date - 24th February, 2015


10. 99 Days 
Katie Cotugno

Release date - 21st April, 2015



What book are you most looking forward to in 2015?