Category: Reviews


Jan
2019

Fiction Friday: Book Review- Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

categories: Books, Reviews

Monday's Not ComingMonday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Told in two (very confusing) timelines, “Monday’s Not Coming” follows the story of Monday and her best friend, Claudia.
Claudia returns from a vacation worried about Monday since she has not replied to any of Claudia’s letters. Claudia gets even more worried when Monday does not show up for school. Monday ALWAYS shows up for school.
No one seems to notice or even care that Monday is not around any more. Monday’s family are being evasive about her location, the teachers assume that she was pulled out of school but no one is investigating where she is. No one besides Claudia. However as Claudia tries to locate her best friend, she is warned away by Monday’s family members who all start to act very suspicious. They all say that Monday is not coming. But where IS Monday???
This was a well-written read that I enjoyed. The timelines were confusing and seemed to make no sense until the very end of the book.
*SPOILER*I thought that the plot twist at the end was overdone *END SPOILER* but this was an amazing read that simply cemented Tiffany D. Jackson as one of my new favourite authors.
Definitely give this a try if you are looking for a book that will draw you in and not let go.

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Dec
2018

Fiction Friday: Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3) by Sarah J Maas

categories: Books, Reviews

Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, #3)Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I cannot believe that it took me so many years and so many attempts to finally finish this book. I enjoyed it immensely and cannot wait for the next book in the series.
“Heir of Fire” follows Celaena as she travels to a new land in an attempt to figure out precisely what the King is plannng. Instead she is given a task- she can have an answer to all of her questions if she unleases her Fae side and her full Fae potential.
Meanwhile Chaol and Dorian are both mourning over Celaena’s departure and they are barely speaking. Chaol does not want to involved himself in magic while Dorian is finding it increasingly difficult to hold back his magic. It isn’t long before both of them are forced to choose a side in the upcoming war.
This was a really intriguing read and I could not get enough. “Heir of Fire” introduces new characters, new plotlines and new worlds. It was well-written with great world-building and I cannot wait to finish this series! If you haven’t started this series yet and you’re a fan of fantasy books, definitely give this a go!

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Nov
2018

4 Non-fiction Books Every College Student Should Read

categories: Books, College, Reviews

1) Anything by Cal Newport- if you haven’t noticed already, I’m a bit obsessed with Cal Newport’s books. He makes college so much easier with his advice. While reading his books I saw my grades pick up instantly.

2) Leave Your Mark by Aliza Licht- this book is described as a “mentorship” and I cannot agree more. Aliza Licht has great advice. This is a book that you need to have highlighted or stick in post-its. From internships to starting a job, this book has it all.

3) All Work, No Pay by Lauren Berger – this book is an invaluable asset to anyone looking for an internship. Personally I found this book to be excellent help when dealing with cover letters and resumes.

4) Leadership and Soft Skills for Students by Cary Green- I like to think of this book as a how-to guide to success. Cary Green presents real solutions that work. I’m not going to lie- I believe in this book because several of the points covered here are things I believe in for my daily life. College students and high school students will both greatly benefit from this book.


Nov
2018

Fiction Friday: Book Review- The Opposite of Innocent by Sonya Sones

categories: Books, Reviews

The Opposite of InnocentThe Opposite of Innocent by Sonya Sones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lily has had a crush on Luke for years. Sure he’s almost twice her age and has seen her in diapers but no relationship is perfect and lots of girls get involved with older guys.
Here’s the thing, once upon a time I was a young girl with a crush on a much older guy. So I didn’t expect this novel to go down the way that it did.
When Luke returns from a visit to Africa, Lily is overjoyed. She is especially excited when she learns that Luke will be staying with her family. And when it appears that Luke might return her feelings, Lily is ecstatic.
Then he kisses her. Repeatedly.
Everyone who knows about Lily’s crush finds it harmless. However Lily’s friends are disturbed that a twenty-year-old would get involved with a fourteen-year-old. So Lily hides her new relationship from them.
But it isn’t long before kissing moves on to something more and Lily does not want more. She also does not want to lose Luke.
I read this book in one sitting and practically flew through the pages. I have never read a novel in verse before but I really enjoyed this one. This book had me heartbroken, horrified and in tears. It was an amazing rollercoaster of emotions which I loved immensely.
Definitely read this book.

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Oct
2018

Fiction Friday: Book Review- The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton (The Belles #1)

categories: Books, Reviews

The Belles (The Belles #1)The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In the world of Orleans, people are born gray and colourless. Belles are the only ones who can add colour and beauty to the people of Oreleans. Camellia does not want to be just any Belle- she wants to be the Favourite. The Favourite is the most important of the Belles. She is the one chosen by the Queen to beautify the royal family.
However once it is time for the Belles to take over their new roles, it becomes clear that something very strange is going on in Orleans.
The people are obsessed with their looks-almost to the point of insanity. There is odd noises in the middle of the night and something is not right with the Princess of Orleans.
This was a really interesting read with incredible world-building. I felt like the first half of the book had very little in terms of plot but I found the world of the Belles interesting so I was happy to keep reading.
This is a well-written book with unexpected plot twists. I definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy.

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Sep
2018

Fiction Friday: Book Review- To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han (To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before #1)

categories: Books, Reviews

To All the Boys I've Loved Before (To All the Boys I've Loved Before, #1)To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I chose to read this book just so I could watch the movie when I was done. I was certainly not expecting to enjoy this so much.
Lara Jean writes letters to every guy she has ever had a crush on. She doesn’t send them to the guys or even speak to the guys about her feelings. She just writes her letters and keep them in a box. But one day Lara’s love letters are mailed out and Lara has to deal with the consequences- one of which leads to her dating the hottest guy in school. At first Peter seems like a flat character with absolutely no other quality besides being popular but this is quickly proved wrong.
I am not a huge fan of contemporary YA but I absolutely loved this story. Lara Jean and her family were colourful and it almost felt like they were welcoming me to their kooky world. This is a light-hearted fun read that I strongly suggest every fan of YA picks up. I just finished it today and I have already picked up the next book in the series. This book may have hooked me in to contemporary YA.

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Sep
2018

Fiction Friday: Book Review- The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher (Love Me with Lies #1)

categories: Books, Reviews

The Opportunist (Love Me with Lies, #1)The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When Olivia discovers that her ex-boyfriend (and the love of her life), Caleb has lost his memory, she takes advantage of the situation to wriggle her way back in his life. However it isn’t long before Caleb’s girlfriend, Leah finds out about Olivia’s plans and decides to wreck them.
It took me over a month to read this book because the emotions were just too intense. This is a book about severely flawed characters who do bad things just to get their way. This was a pretty long read but I was really interested to see where Caleb and Olivia went wrong (and where Caleb and Leah went right). If you are looking for a compelling read with an intriguing plot and unforgettable characters, this is the book for you.

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Aug
2018

Fiction Friday: Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart (Grace and Fury #1)

categories: Books, Reviews

Grace and Fury (Grace and Fury, #1)Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review. I tried reading a few pages a day but was unable to focus. It took about a month for me to carve out time to read this nicely and I am so glad that I did. Once I got into this book, it was impossible to put down and I couldn’t read fast enough.
Nomi and Serina are two sisters who are very close but totally opposite in personality. Serina was raised to be a Grace, the perfect example of a gentle, subdued woman. Nomi, on the other hand, is defiant and has taught herself to read- something that is illegal for women.
When a twist of fate leaves Nomi as a Grace and Serina trapped on an island, both sisters have to fight for survival in two very different prisons.
This was an incredibly well-written book with characters you cannot trust (which is one of my favourite things in a book) and numerous plot twists. This book left me reeling and I absolutely CANNOT WAIT for the sequel. If you’re a fan of YA fantasy, definitely give this a go. You will not regret it.

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Aug
2018

Fiction Friday: Book Review- Elemental Thief by Rachel Morgan (Ridley Kayne Chronicles #1)

categories: Books, Reviews

Elemental Thief (Ridley Kayne Chronicles, #1)Elemental Thief by Rachel Morgan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
Magic was once a common part of life until a global magical event went wrong, ruining cities and killing people. Ridley Kayne was one of those affected- she lost her mother and her family had to give up their luxurious lifestyle. Magic was banned and several people lost their livelihood. Now Ridley spends her spare time stealing from those who have too much and giving to those in need.
When Ridley steals a figurine from one of the richest families, she is drawn into a web of danger. A stranger follows her home and is then killed allegedly by Ridley’s best friend. Ridley is soon tracked down by Archer, the son of the family she stole from, to get the stolen figurine back or lives will be in danger.
I had doubts going into this book as I am not a huge fan of Urban Fantasy. I actually thought this was a Robin Hood retelling. However I enjoyed this book and look forward to seeing where this series goes. I wish there was more romance because I ABSOLUTELY ADORE ARCHER. This book has really rich world-building and I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy 0r anyone who has read Rachel Morgan’s books before. This may not be Creepy Hollow but it is definitely an intriguing read.

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Aug
2018

Fiction Friday: Book Review- The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert (The Hazel Wood #1)

categories: Books, Reviews

The Hazel Wood (The Hazel Wood, #1)The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alice has a pretty unusual life. She and her mother are constantly haunted by “bad luck” which follows them around wrecking havoc in their life. Alice’s grandmother is a famous author whose book about the creepy Hinterland had only one print run but gained fans with an almost obsessive interest in Alice and her family. When Alice learns that her grandmother has died, it seems like the obsessive fans will finally leave her alone. But it seems like more of them appear in Alice’s daily lives and it isn’t long before Alice’s mother is kidnapped. The only lead Alice has comes from the Hinterland itself, the supposed made-up world of her grandmother’s stories. Alice has to find her way into this magical land and find her mother.
I have been intrigued by this book ever since it first came out and was really excited to read it. However a large chunk of this book is basically just a road trip. I was close to giving up completely when the road trip finally ended and things got really interesting.
I loved the Hinterland tales. They were spooky, compelling and creepy. I would love to own a copy of my own.
“The Hazel Wood” was a really interesting read even with the excruciatingly long road trip. This was a great read with amazing world-building that I definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys their fairytales with a twist.

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