Category: Books

Fiction Friday- Book Review: Without Merit by Colleen Hoover

Without MeritWithout Merit by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Why are you even reading this review? This a Colleen Hoover book. You don’t need to read reviews of Colleen Hoover books. They’re published with a seal of excellence. This book in particular is well-written and very moving. It has romance, some plot twists and some angst. Go get yourself a copy ASAP.
(I notice that you are still here reading this review. Fine then. I’ll share my thoughts on this book with you. But you really should get yourself a copy).
Merit is pretty much ignored by her entire oddball family. She is known as the troublemaker, the one who always seems to have issues with everyone else. What no one realizes is that the reason why Merit is so miserable is because she is forced to keep all of her family member’s secrets. Merit buries her feelings with an unusual hobby of buying trophies that once belonged to other people.
One day while looking for a trophy, Merit runs into the gorgeous Sagan. They share a passionate moment but Merit quickly discovers that Sagan is taken. When he reappears in her life, Merit becomes even more isolated.
This book was like a combination of the romance in “Hopeless” and the serious issues raised in “It Ends With Us” (which explains that cover that look so much like IEWU).
This book retains Colleen Hoover’s wit and beautiful romance but also tackles real-life issues which I appreciated. This was an amazing read that I recommend to anyone who know hows to read. Trust me, you’ll enjoy this book.
(Now PLEASE go and get yourself a damn copy already).

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Fiction Friday- Book Review: The Divine Heart by Danielle R Mani

The Divine HeartThe Divine Heart by Danielle R. Mani
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
“The Divine Heart” tells the story of Elle who is waiting for a heart transplant. When the operation does take place, Elle is left with unusual side-effects. Convinced that her donor is trying to tell her something, Elle decides to track her down. But on her journey to discover the truth, Elle realises that everyone around her seems to be hiding something and no one can be trusted.
This book was spooky and thrilling and I loved every second of it. I had my guesses about what was going on (they were mostly correct) but the ending was still surprising. I loved the character of Robbie as well as Elle’s (gorgeous) doctor. This book had me second-guessing everything and everyone.
“The Divine Heart” is a beautifully written, heart-wrenching book that I recommend to anyone who enjoys a mystery or paranormal fiction. This is a read that draw you in and grips you till the very last page.

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Fiction Friday- Book Review: Shadow Faerie by Rachel Morgan (Creepy Hollow #8)

Shadow Faerie (Creepy Hollow, #8)Shadow Faerie by Rachel Morgan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Shadow Faerie deals with the aftermath of Emerson’s decision in “Glass Faerie”. She is now about to be engaged to a possibly evil prince in return for his help in curing her mother. But no matter how much Em wants Roarke to help her, she is determined to escape the Unseelie Court and cure her mother. Em is convinced that there is no way that the Unseelies can keep her forever but they seem to be several steps ahead of her. The Unseelies are a wonderfully dark lot and I loved and hated them in equal measure. They were dark and twisted but incredibly intelligent. I loved the character of Aurora and look forward to seeing more of her. I also enjoyed how this novel showed a completely different part of the Creepy Hollow world. We finally get to see the Unseelie court that is mentioned so often in the other books. I also enjoyed the many plot twists in this book. I had no idea what was going to happen which made trusting any and all of the characters difficult.
My favourite part of this novel was the ending- Rachel Morgan always has the best and worst cliffhangers in her books but this book has an ending that I can live with until the sequel releases.
This book was impossible to put down and has incredible world-building. I can’t wait to read the sequel (or more books set in the Unseelie Court). This is a must-read for all fans of fantasy.

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Book Review: Final Girls by Riley Sager

Final GirlsFinal Girls by Riley Sager
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. And oh, what a read this has been. It has been about a month since I finished this book and I am still not over it.
Quincy, Lisa and Sam have been dubbed “Final Girls” by the press. Each of the girls were the only remaining survivor of three different massacres. It’s been a decade since Quincy and her friends were attacked at a cabin in the wood and she has put the past behind her. She has a great life, a great career and an amazing boyfriend. Her life is pretty perfect… Until she finds out that Lisa has killed herself. Lisa was a motivational speaker and possibly the most upbeat of the Final Girls. Her death leads to Sam showing up to meet Quincy in person. As the remaining Final Girls bond, two things quickly become clear- 1) Quincy is not as okay as she thought she was and 2) Sam can’t be trusted. Quincy may be done with her past but her past is certainly not done with her.
This novel had me glued to my seat. The plot was compelling and the writing was great. I also enjoyed the many plot twists. This novel was unexpected but so enjoyable. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future. If you enjoy mystery novels and thrillers, you will love this book.

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October Book Haul

My October book haul is pretty sad. I bought fewer books than usual. This was partially because I fell in love with a box of Archie comics and wanted them all. This was also because there were no YA Books at the sale. This is my haul:


Even though I wanted all the comics, I needed to be an adult and budget. If I took the comics, I needed to buy less books. Eventually my mother and I compromised and divided the cost of our books equally. We just bought the comics with a large collection of Nora Roberts books. This is my complete SPCA book haul:

I was really sad that I didn’t find any YA so I went to Bargain Books. Still no YA that I didn’t own. I went home really sad.

And then I went back to Bargain Books the next day because my dad was in the area. Don’t judge me! This is my haul:

With the exception of “Traitor to the Throne”, all these books were on sale. I’m incredibly proud of my budget-book-buying skills. Feel free to hire me to help you treat yo shelf at discount prices.

What books did you buy most recently? What are you excited to read this month? I’d love to know below. 

Life Update: Me, My Shelf and I

There’s been lots of exciting things happening for me recently so I thought I’d do a blog post about some of them. 

First of all, I’ve finally gotten a permanent contract at work. This made me really happy since from the second I started work about six months ago, I knew that I loved my job. It’s kinda scary since it feels like I’m finally a serious working adult and I don’t know how to deal with that. I’m not equipped to be an adult. 

If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen my new bookshelf. It’s black and red and absolutely gorgeous! 

Lastly I’ve been debating whether or not I should continue reviewing books. I’ve got about 10 or so review books that I still need to read but my regular print books are getting neglected which makes me sad. I miss reading just for fun and not because I need to have a review done before a certain date. I’m still not sure if I am going to still accept review books (it’ll kill me to miss out on all the great days) but it’s definitely something I need to think about.

That’s all for my life update. I’m hoping to have regular blog posts in the future but things never work out the way I want them to when it comes to the blog. 

10 Book to Screen Adaptations That Don’t Suck

Is there anything better than seeing your favourite characters brought to life? Except maybe adaptations that don’t totally suck. Here are my list of 10 book to screen adaptations that don’t mess up the characters and world that we know and love so much.

 

  1. The Harry Potter series: While the Harry Potter series misses out a few details from the book, it still tells enough of the story to entertain and entrance viewers. I have watched it over and over again and I can probably quote it line for line.
  2. Great Expectations (2012): Great Expectations was a painful book for me to read but I absolutely adored the adaptation. Helena Bonam Carter was born to play Miss Havisham. The casting is brilliant and the acting is moving. The gorgeous outfits don’t hurt either.
  3. Beauty and the Beast: Is there a female bookworm who has watched the Disney version and not fallen in love with the library? Is there a bookworm who cannot relate to Belle and her love of reading? The 2017 version with Emma Watson features gorgeous sets, comedy and romance. If you haven’t watched it yet, definitely give it a try.
  4. Twilight: Twilight definitely stayed true to the books (I think). It was one of the first book to screen adaptations that I watched and I enjoyed it immensely. Mainly because I was in love with Robert Pattinson.
  5. Vampire Academy: Vampire Academy carried all the sass, bad-ass-ness and romance found in the series. While only the first book was made into a movie, it was still great fun to watch. Especially to see Rose and Dimitri in reel life.
  6. Divergent: The Divergent film is just as action-packed as the book. It’s impossible to read the book and not want to watch the movie or vice versa.
  7. The Hunger Games: Just as action-packed as Divergent with more twisted killings. It’s a game where you KILL PEOPLE. The horror fan in me is delighted while the human in me is appalled.
  8. Me Before You: The Me Before You adaptation is romantic, moving and heart-wrenching. I cried during it and after it. While the movie leaves out a few small details from the book, it still retains the heart and emotion.
  9. The Vampire Diaries: The Vampire Diaries, while not totally accurate to the book, manages to stand on it’s own. Fans of fantasy will love the plot twists, schemes and the gorgeous cast.
  10. Once Upon a Time: Once Upon a Time is the mother of all adaptations. All the fairytale characters are thrown into the real world where there is no happy ending for them. This show has six seasons and it is still going strong. Definitely watch this if you enjoy fairytale retellings.

Fiction Friday: Book Review- Christmas at Mistletoe Cove by Holly Martin 

Christmas at Mistletoe CoveChristmas at Mistletoe Cove by Holly Martin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Eden and Dougie have been best friends since they were kids. Eden has always been in love with Dougie while his feelings for her seem to just be platonic. Now Dougie has moved back home and he is Eden’s neighbour. Desperate to find the girl who once believed in magic, Dougie takes Eden to a magical spot in town where you can have any three wishes granted. Eden doesn’t believe in magic and the only thing she has ever wished for is the one thing she can’t have- Dougie.
As much I was looking forward to this book, I found it pretty predictable. I loved the chemistry between Dougie and Eden. They are undoubtedly my favourite couple in this series. The only flaw in this book is the predictable plot. The character’s are entertaining and funny, the romance is beautiful. This is a great Christmas read that I recommend to anyone who is looking for something sweet and light-hearted.

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Fiction Friday: The Law of Tall Girls by Joanne Macgregor

The Law of Tall GirlsThe Law of Tall Girls by Joanne Macgregor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Peyton is a very tall girl who makes a bet that she can get a guy who is even taller than her to take her on three dates and the prom. However finding a guy who is taller than her, interesting and single turns out to be a challenge. The number one person on Peyton’s “Tall Guy” list is Jay. But while Jay is taller than Peyton, gorgeous and charming, he is also taken. But when Peyton and Jay are both cast as the leads in the school play (an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet), things might turn a turn in Peyton’s favor. If she can keep all her secrets locked safely away from Jay, that is.
The whole idea of a romance between characters playing Romeo and Juliet in their school play seemed incredibly cliched but Joanne Macgregor carries this out in a wonderfully real way. I loved seeing all the effort that went into the play and the romance happened naturally. Instead of the play driving the romance, both the play and the romance seemed to happen at the same time which was great. As a tall girl, I found this book difficult to get into at first. It just reminded me of my awkward teen years (which I honestly didn’t want to be reminded of now. I’m an adult now. Being tall doesn’t bother me anymore but reading this book brought back alot of those old feelings of inadequacy). However which I got through my tall girl issues, I devoured this book. I loved Peyton and Jay’s character and I loved that their families had such interesting backstories (especially since so few YA novels mention parents and other relatives). This book was funny, entertaining and dealt with real-life issues. I definitely recommend this book to fans of YA contemporary fiction.

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Fiction Friday: My Most Anticipated September Book Releases

For some reason, September has incredible book releases. I love when all of my anticipated reads release close to one another (I’m less likely to forget a book) however I run a high risk of spending all my money and/or not reading any of the books because I can’t pick a book to read. Here are some of my most anticipated September reads:

2017 september reads

 

1) One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake( Three Dark Crowns #2):

The battle for the Crown has begun, but which of the three sisters will prevail?

With the unforgettable events of the Quickening behind them and the Ascension Year underway, all bets are off. Katharine, once the weak and feeble sister, is stronger than ever before. Arsinoe, after discovering the truth about her powers, must figure out how to make her secret talent work in her favor without anyone finding out. And Mirabella, once thought to be the strongest sister of all and the certain Queen Crowned, faces attacks like never before—ones that put those around her in danger she can’t seem to prevent.

In this enthralling sequel to Kendare Blake’s New York Times bestselling Three Dark Crowns, Fennbirn’s deadliest queens must face the one thing standing in their way of the crown: each other.

Release Date: 19 September 2017

 

2) Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas (Throne of Glass #6):

Chaol Westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since the glass castle shattered, since his men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken.

His only shot at recovery lies with the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme in Antica—the stronghold of the southern continent’s mighty empire. And with war looming over Dorian and Aelin back home, their survival might lie with Chaol and Nesryn convincing its rulers to ally with them.

But what they discover in Antica will change them both—and be more vital to saving Erilea than they could have imagined.

Release Date: 5 September 2017

 

3) Christmas at Mistletoe Cove by Holly Martin (Hope Island #3):

Growing up on Hope Island, Eden Lancaster always believed that if you wished hard enough for something, dreams really could come true. But Eden’s greatest wish is also her biggest secret: she has been completely in love with her childhood friend, the charming and attractive Dougie Harrison, for as long as she can remember. And he has no idea.

When Dougie leaves his successful life in New York to return home to Hope Island for good, Eden can’t escape her feelings. Her heart is full of hope that her romantic dreams are finally, at long last, going to come true…

This Christmas could change everything. But can a lifelong friendship really turn into the perfect romance? And will Eden get the happily ever after she’s always wished for?

Release Date: 22 September

 

4) Tarnished City (Dark Gifts #2) by Vic James:

In a modern Britain where magic users control wealth, politics—and you—an uprising has been crushed. In its aftermath, two families will determine the country’s fate. The ruthless Jardines make a play for ultimate power. And the Hadleys, once an ordinary family, must find the extraordinary strength to fight back.

Abi Hadley is a fugitive. Her brother Luke, a prisoner. Both will discover that in the darkest places, the human spirit shines brightest.

While amid his family’s intrigues, Silyen Jardine dreams of lost powers from an earlier age. As blood runs in the streets of London, they will all discover whether love and courage can ever be stronger than tyranny.

How do you choose when you can’t save everyone…?

 

Release Date: 5 September 2017

 

What book are you most excited for in September? I’d love to know below.

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