Amy Powis's Blog, page 16

Favourite Books Of The Year (2018)

As it is now 2019 I think it is time to share my favourite books of 2019. I read over 120 books last year, 125 to be exact so there is a lot to choose from so I will be doing a top 10 with 7 honourable mentions so let's get started...

Honourable Mentions:

















Number 10: Theatrical by Maggie Harcourt 


Theatrical was just so fun. I feel in love with everything in the book and loved the romance. I really enjoyed the whole idea of going backstage in the theatre so I would definitely recommend. 
















Number 9: Lord Of Shadows by Cassandra Clare



I am more than happy to say that I was a massive fan of Lady Midnight but there was something about Lord of Shadows that I devoured and loved. That ending also broke me so I hope that I can read Queen of Air And Darkness in 2019.  













Number 8: Are We All Lemmings And Snowflakes? by Holly Bourne 

I did really enjoy this book and thought that it was an interesting look at mental illness. I love Holly Bourne anyway so of course, I was going to love this book. I want everyone to read this and every single one of Holly's books.













Number 7: Ascension by Victor Dixen 

I devoured this book in one sitting. It was a perfect blend of sci-fi, thriller and romance and I loved every second of it. I also read the second book in this series and can't wait for the Collison!














Number 6: Giant Days by Non Pratt


There is just so much to love about this book and I thought that Non captured the humour and the characters of the series so well. I also loved the fact that it was set at university and we need more books set here!













Number 5: Floored by Various Authors


Floored was a book that I was highly anticipating this year and it so delivered. I just love everything about the story and the characters and the friendship just everything. 












Number 4: Turtles All The Way Down by John Green


I love John Green and always have so I was saving this until I was really and I didn't want to wait for the next one again. I feel like this was his most personable story and I really loved every single page.













Number 3: I Was Born For This by Alice Oseman 


I love Alice's book all the time so of course, when I knew that I Was Born For This was going to be released I knew I was going to love it. I was right I adored the characters and the story and Alice just knows how to write a YA book.












Number 2: The Gentlemen's Guide To Vice And Virtue by Mackenzi Lee


I loved this book so much! On reflection, there was no way that I couldn't include this book on my list. Ever since I finished the book I haven't stopped thinking about it. I loved Monty and Percy and every single character. The character development I the book was so great. I just loved it!











Number 1: The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth


This book guys. This book. It's just so good. Like so good. I loved Cameron as a character and the writing of this book was just so good. It was the best and I loved reading it. The plot of this book is also really important and I loved reading it. It is definitely a new favourite!












So there are my favourites!

See you soon, 

Amy


What are your favourite books of the year? Let me know in the comments below. 

2018 New Year Resolutions Updates and What I Am Doing In 2019

In January I made some resolutions that I wanted to complete by the end of the year and I haven't seen them since last year so I thought I would do a reaction post to them. In terms of next year, I don't want to set myself goals but I know that I need to look after myself mentally and physically. I just it to be a year of self-care which will hopefully do me some good. So let's get started...

1. Continue to Learn French/German
This is something that I did in my first year of university and would love to continue to do. I would like to do this at least 3 or 4 times a week so...

So I haven't really done this. I think I started at the beginning of the year but DuoLingo which I was using changed its way of learning and I think that I kind of gave up. 

2. Take better care of myself
For this one I would like to just eat better, exercise more and drink more water but also give myself self-care when I need it. 

Yeah. Again. This is something that I need to do this year. I think I have been drinking more water but that it is it. I think I have also given myself self-care when I need it. So not going out when I want to and giving myself space. 

3. Read as much as possible and read more diversely 
This one is kind of self-explanatory but I would like to read as much as possible reading something at least once a day. I would like to read diverse books but also to read more classics and adult books. 

I haven't really done this but I think I really care about reading diversely. I like YA and I don't care what other people think. The reading once a day thing yes definitely next year.4. Review books after I read them don't wait months to do so 
Again quite explanatory but I would like to write reviews at least two days after I read them and not leave them for months or even a year to review them better.

YES! One that I have done. After about August when I did ARCAugust I became quite up to date. As of now, I have three books that I have read and need to review which is so much better than last year. 

5. Write more 
I have a current Work In Progress that I would like to finish this year but I would also love to write something every day, whether this is something for my degree, for this blog or creative writing I would love to do this!

Wow did I say this! Em yeah. I have definitely written more this year but every day. No chance. My WIP is at 50,000 words so we are getting there. Slowly...

6. Watch 100 Films
I did this in 2017 and would love to do this again!

I have seen 150 films. *drops mic*

7. Finish my Wreck This Journal
I have had this on the go for almost three years now and I didn't do anything this year so I would now like to change this.

Right so I haven't done this but I did do some of it. I will get there.

8. Tweet more and interact with fellow bloggers This is quite self-explanatory again but I don't really tweet that much and would love to and therefore I would also love to read more blogs and put myself out there more. 

Right so again I haven't done this but this is an anxiety and I have a job thing. I have work on Friday and Sunday when #ukyachat and #SundayYA happen so I often can't take part but I want to make an effort to put myself out there. 

9. Finish or work towards finishing my WIP
This is a pipe dream but I can hope but I will hopefully do NaNoWriMo twice this year which should help.

50,000 words. I'm getting there.

10. Upload and update my blog 
I would like to add a review section to my blog and update the book reviews sections on my blog. I would also love to cross-post all my reviews to Amazon and Goodreads. I feel like this would take at least a day but I want to do it! 

I have done it. Mostly again I'm about 5-10 behind but compared to what it was I'm happy. 

11. Be up-to-date with book reviews
I have some books that I have to review for ages and would love all the reviews to be out and to be on top of them all. This is a hopeful one but I can dream.

Again I have around 3 reviews to write and 10 physical books that I have to review which is quite good. I will get there!

So as you can see I am not really going to do resolutions in 2019 but I think that I would like to continue this list. I just think it is stupid to think that we have got loads of stuff done in one year when we have our whole life to do it. We are all work in progress so let's take life one day at a time...

See you soon,

Amy


How did you do on your resolutions? Are you doing them next year? Let me know in the comments!

Popsugar Reading Challenge 2018 Wrap Up

For the last few years, I have been doing the Popsugar Reading Challenge which aims to diversify your reading but this year I decided to keep it on the down low and see if I can complete it while just reading whatever. I already know the result but shall we see how I did. Let's get started... 


1. A book made into a movie you’ve already seen: The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth2. True crime3. The next book in a series you started: No Mercy Volume 2 by Alex de Campi4. A book involving a heist5. Nordic noir6. A novel based on a real person: The Best That We Can Do by Thi Bui7. A book set in a country that fascinates you: Black Water by Cormac O'Keefe8. A book with a time of day in the title: Giant Days by Non Pratt9. A book about a villain or antihero: As I Descended by Robin Talley10. A book about death or grief: Scythe by Neal Shusterman 11. A book with a female author who uses a male pseudonym12. A book with an LGBTQ+ protagonist: Leah On The Offbeat by Becky Albertalli13. A book that is also a stage play or musical: Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich 14. A book by an author of a different ethnicity than you: The Belles by Dhionelle Clayton 15. A book about feminism: Bygone, Badass Broads by Mackenzie Lee16. A book about mental health: Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman17. A book you borrowed or that was given to you as a gift18. A book by two authors: Obisido by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff19. A book about or involving a sport: Heartstopper by Alice Oseman20. A book by a local author: Travel & Change by Multiple Authors21. A book with your favourite colour in the title: Purple Hearts by Michael Grant22. A book with alliteration in the title: Dark Days by James Baldwin23. A book about time travel: Paper Girls Volume 4 by Brian K. Vaughan 24. A book with a weather element in the title: A Shiver of Snow and Sky by Lisa Lueddecke 25. A book set at sea: Gentleman Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee 26. A book with an animal in the title: Turtles All The Way Down by John Green27. A book set on a different planet: The Planetsider by G. J. Odgen 28. A book with song lyrics in the title: Nowhere Else But Here by Rachel Cotton29. A book about or set on Halloween: The Price Guide of the Occult by Leslye Walton 30. A book with characters who are twins31. A book mentioned in another book: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell32. A book from a celebrity book club: Why I Am No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Remi Eddo-Lodge33. A childhood classic you’ve never read34. A book that’s published in 2018: Final Draft by Riley Redgate35. A past Goodreads Choice Awards winner: The Witch Doesn't Burn In This One by Amanda Lovelace36. A book set in the decade you were born37. A book you meant to read in 2017 but didn’t get to: The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo38. A book with an ugly cover: Morning Glories Volume 1 by Nick Spencer39. A book that involves a bookstore or library40. Your favourite prompt from 2015 2016, or 2017 POPSUGAR Reading Challenges: A book by or about a person with a disability: Truly, Wildly, Deeply by Jenny Mclachlan End Of The Year Total: 30/40

So that's really not that bad considering I didn't try. I do think that next year is going to be tougher and I am going to have to try harder so we will shall see how it goes.

See you soon, 

Amy

Have you taken part in the Popsugar Reading Challenge? Do you want to? Let me know in the comments!

Three Hallows Book Club December: Dear Amy Powis (A Dear Evan Hansen Inspired Post)

This post is part of the Three Hallows Book Club that I do with Rachel from RacheLeanne and Alex from Alex Chappell. This month we all buddy read Dear Evan Hansen and are all creating posts surrounding it. For mine, I choose to write an open letter to myself which is what Evan does in the book and gets the plot rolling. So let's get started...



Dear Amy Powis,

This is really weird to say but we are going to do it anyway but today is going to be a good day.

Maybe this is quite weird because it's already 2pm in the day which means that much of it has already happened but I hope that today will still be OK. Not just OK but good. Great? No just good. I can take good for now. 

So this is weird right? It's Christmas. Boxing day when I am writing this but I have just been a mess lately. I mean there is the idea that Christmas is the perfect time of the year but for me this year? This is far from the case. 

I've been anxious for the last couple of weeks and I wish that it would just stop. I have been worrying about so many things that I don't even know where to start. Everything for health-related things to remembering and replaying that one conversation that I had that one time that I regret. Replaying itself over and over and over in my mind barely giving myself a relief. 

I am meant to say that today is going to be the day that is good and I think for the most part it is but I don't know if that's the case. 

I know that I feel better than I did a couple of weeks where I was on the verge of tears over a missed bus but I'm far from perfect. 

I've written loads of these to myself though and I can say that it is going to get better because it always does. It ALWAYS does. That might not be today. It might not even be tomorrow but it will. I know it will. 

So hang on it there. 

Sincerely Me



Here is a summary of the book...

From the show's creators comes the groundbreaking novel inspired by the Broadway smash hit Dear Evan Hansen.

Dear Evan Hansen,

Today's going to be an amazing day and here's why...

When a letter that was never meant to be seen by anyone draws high school senior Evan Hansen into a family's grief over the loss of their son, he is given the chance of a lifetime: to belong. He just has to stick to a lie he never meant to tell, that the notoriously troubled Connor Murphy was his secret best friend.

Suddenly, Evan isn't invisible anymore--even to the girl of his dreams. And Connor Murphy's parents, with their beautiful home on the other side of town, have taken him in like he was their own, desperate to know more about their enigmatic son from his closest friend. As Evan gets pulled deeper into their swirl of anger, regret, and confusion, he knows that what he's doing can't be right, but if he's helping people, how wrong can it be?

No longer tangled in his once-incapacitating anxiety, this new Evan has a purpose. And a website. He's confident. He's a viral phenomenon. Every day is amazing. Until everything is in danger of unraveling and he comes face to face with his greatest obstacle: himself.

A simple lie leads to complicated truths in this big-hearted coming-of-age story of grief, authenticity and the struggle to belong in an age of instant connectivity and profound isolation.
Thank you for reading and don't forget to check out Alex and Rachel's post. Don't forget to check out next month's theme which I will release next week. 
See you soon,
Amy
Have you read Dear Evan Hansen? Do you want to? Let me know in the comments below!

Announcement: The Three Hallows Book Club December Pick

A couple of months ago, a couple of friends and I created a book club which we called the Three Hallows Book Club. Last month we took part in the Ho Ho Ho readathon which I blogged about and this month we are reading a book altogether. 

And That Book is...
Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich 

Here is a summary of the book...
From the show's creators comes the groundbreaking novel inspired by the Broadway smash hit Dear Evan Hansen.

Dear Evan Hansen,

Today's going to be an amazing day and here's why...

When a letter that was never meant to be seen by anyone draws high school senior Evan Hansen into a family's grief over the loss of their son, he is given the chance of a lifetime: to belong. He just has to stick to a lie he never meant to tell, that the notoriously troubled Connor Murphy was his secret best friend.

Suddenly, Evan isn't invisible anymore--even to the girl of his dreams. And Connor Murphy's parents, with their beautiful home on the other side of town, have taken him in like he was their own, desperate to know more about their enigmatic son from his closest friend. As Evan gets pulled deeper into their swirl of anger, regret, and confusion, he knows that what he's doing can't be right, but if he's helping people, how wrong can it be?

No longer tangled in his once-incapacitating anxiety, this new Evan has a purpose. And a website. He's confident. He's a viral phenomenon. Every day is amazing. Until everything is in danger of unraveling and he comes face to face with his greatest obstacle: himself.

A simple lie leads to complicated truths in this big-hearted coming-of-age story of grief, authenticity and the struggle to belong in an age of instant connectivity and profound isolation.
I have started to read this and I really love it so I am excited to see what I think about it in the end.
I should have a post about it at the end of the month so I will let you know what I think. 
Check out the other members of The Three Hallows here:

Rachel

Alex

Have you read Dear Evan Hansen? Let me know in the comments below. 
See you soon,
Amy

Blog Tour: Distortion by Victor Dixen Book Review

*I am reviewing this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. *

Title: DistortionAuthor: Victor DixenPublisher: Hot Key BooksSource: Readers First/ Hot Key BooksRating: 4.5/5 stars
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Book Summary:
After a speed-dating show that is literally out of this world, twelve young astronauts are set to become the first humans to colonise Mars. They are also the victims of the cruellest of plots.

Léonor thought she was a pioneer on an extraordinary mission. She thought she had left all regrets behind her on Earth. But when memories are this painful, there can be no forgetting . . .
Book Review:
I really enjoyed Ascension when I first read it. It was by far one of my favourite books of the year and I was eagerly awaiting the sequel, Distortion, to released. Distortion was, therefore, a book that I loved from start to finish and devoured in a couple of hours. It was that good.
I think that although I love this series so much, the book can take a while to get into. This is because of the different POVs that the book takes as it can be a very jarring experience at first but this is always something that I get into a love as it is a very interesting way to tell a story. I also think that it works so well to tell a novel that has so many characters, in different places and planets. 
I also really loved the characters in this book especially those in the twelve that are on Mars. I think it would be so easy to not develop the characters in the book but Victor did it so well. I think that all of them all have a quality that you can tie to them and I do not think that you ever mix up the characters at all and I really did like them. 
I think that although the last one focused a lot on romance which I guess it had to be with the aim of the book and I loved this when I read it and still would if I read it now, I liked the turn that this book went. I do like hard sci-fi things and I definitely wanted to see and know all of the science things that happened due to the plot twist that happened at the end of Ascension. 
There is romance in this book but it definitely took a back seat in this one but the romance that does take part I really loved. This is also what is involved in the cliffhanger at the end which really shook me up. 
Finally, I think that Victor Dixen just knows how to write a good cliffhanger. Like the ending of this book is just so great that I had to read it twice to make sure that I knew what I was reading. I just need to find out what happens next! 
The Verdict:
Distortion is a sequel that lives up to the hype and love that I had with Ascension. Now I have to wait until April to read Book 3.

Blog Avalanche: Paper Avalanche by Lisa Williamson Book Review

* I am reviewing this book that I received from the author but this in no way affects my review *

Title: Paper AvalancheAuthors: Lisa WilliamsonSource: PublisherPublisher: David Fickling BooksRating: 4.5/5 stars

( Goodreads |Amazon)

Book Summary:
'Bonnie. Never Mum or Mummy or Mother. Just Bonnie.'

When it comes to flying under the radar, Ro Snow is an expert.

No friends.

No boys.

No parties.

And strictly NO VISITORS.

It may be lonely, but at least this way the truth remains where it should – hidden.

Then Tanvi Shah, the girl who almost died, comes tumbling back into her life, and Ro finds herself losing control of her carefully constructed lies.

But if Ro’s walls come crumbling down, who’s going to take care of Bonnie… 
Book Review:
I had been interested to read one of Lisa Williamson's novels a long time before but when I was asked to join the Blog Avalanche I was super excited as this one seemed super interesting to me. I was completely in love with the story and fully related to the character's journeys especially Ro's. 
I have to admit that I had no idea what the story was when I first started it but when I read that it was about hoarding and the daughter's reaction to this I was definitely interested in this as this was something that I had no idea about. Although I don't know about hoarding I think that it was dealt with correctly but it might be good to check other reviews to see if this is the case. In fairness, I had not really thought of the effects that hoarding can have on children so I think that I enjoyed reading this. Enjoying is probably the wrong word but I did find it interesting reading about something that I didn't know about before. 

With the hoarding comes the relationship with Ro and her Mum, Bonnie. This was definitely the best part of the book for me. Seeing the complexities of the relationship throughout and seeing it grow and change was just so good. I think that it is the most emotional part of the story for me as Lisa Williamson conveys the emotions of Ro so much and this just pulled on my heartstrings. By the end, this is so developed and I just loved it. 
In response to the plot, I definitely did not see the final twist coming but I would be lying if I didn't predict some hardships coming Ro's way but this is the case of all books that follow the three-act structure so I can't really criticise this that much. 

Another of the strong points of the book was definitely Tanvi. I love her as a character and this definitely fleshed and pulled out traits from Ro which I really loved. I just loved all of her and she was just so good. I also liked the relationship with Noah but I would really love to see more of this throughout but this was just because of the character's story which I also enjoyed. 

Basically I loved a lot about Paper Avalanche and I'm a bit sad that many of you won't read it until January but trust me it is worth the wait.

The Verdict:
Paper Avalanche is a moving and touching storying detailing a teenager's struggle through adolescence and her Mum's hoarding disorder. It is a must read when released and I could not put it down. 

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Ho Ho Ho Readathon Wrap Up

So Sunday marked the end of the Ho Ho Ho Readathon which I am taking part in. The readathon was hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer with the aim of reading as many Winter or Christmas reads as possible. The readathon started on the 9th November and ended on the 18th November, As it is only November I was planning to read three Winter themed books so let's get started with the Wrap Up to see how many I read...


Book 1: Blankets by Craig Thompson 
The first book that I completed for the readathon was Blankets which is a graphic novel which tells the story of Craig's first love set mainly over a Winter and the winters of his childhood. I was really excited about this one as it was hyped up so much and truth be told I really enjoyed it. It was a truly quite moving read and I didn't expect it to be about what it was about. It was also almost 600 pages and when I was into the book, it was so great and I do recommend it. I gave it 4 stars. 
Book 2: A Shiver of Snow and Sky by Lisa Luedecke
The second and final book that I read was A Shiver Of Snow and Sky which I gave 3.5/5 stars. I had had this one for the longest time to read as I had an ARC of this from 2017 (I know but I did win it in a giveaway so I feel less guilty about it) but finally wanted to read it. I really did like this one too. I felt like the plot and the world was so well done and really enjoyed the characters too. I did get a little confused as this book was told in third and first person but I do wonder if this was changed after. I also liked the pacing of the book and overall it was a good read which I read rather quickly. I can't wait to read more from this author!
So that is the wrap-up!
I took part in this readathon with my friends Alex and Rachel who also have posted about their progress so check out their posts!
This is part of The Three Hallows Book Club and for December we are reading...
Dear Evan Hansen which I am really excited about!

Did you take part in Ho Ho Ho Readathon? What have you read recently? Let me know!
See you soon,
Amy

Ho Ho Ho Readthon TBR and Announcement!

So today marks the start of the Ho Ho Ho Readathon which I am taking part in. The readathon is hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer with the aim of reading as many Winter or Christmas reads as possible. The readathon starts today (9th November) and ends on the 18th November, As it is only November I am planning to read Winter themed books so let's get started in the TBR...


Physical Book: A Shiver of Snow and Sky by Lisa Lueddecke  




Graphic Novel: Blankets by Craig Thompson
Audiobook: A Clash Of Kings by George R. R. Martin 

So this is my TBR hopefully I will do a Wrap-Up post to do my progress.
Announcement!
So for the announcement, I can reveal that I am part of a book club which is called...
The Three Hallows Book Club

This is with my two friends Alex Chappell and Rachel so please check out their blogs if you can. This is our first venture as a book club but we are staying our first book in December. I am super excited about this and where it will go so stay tuned...
Are you taking part in the readathon? Are you looking forward to Christmas? Let me know!
See you soon, 
Amy

Book Review: The Price Guide To The Occult by Leslye Walton

* I am reviewing this book that I received from the author but this in no way affects my review *

Title: The Price Guide To The OccultAuthors: Leslye WaltonSource: PublisherPublisher: WalkerRating: 3/5 stars

( Goodreads |Amazon)

Book Summary:
When Rona Blackburn landed on Anathema Island more than a century ago, her otherworldly skills might have benefited friendlier neighbors. Instead, guilt and fear led the island’s original eight settlers to burn “the witch” out of her home. So Rona invoked the privileges of a witch; she cursed them. But such a spell always comes with a terrible price, and in punishing the island's residents, Rona also bound her family ever tighter to them.

Fast-forward to the present day and all Nor Blackburn wants is to live an unremarkable teenage life. And she has reason to hope that she may have escaped the thorny side-effects of the family matriach's curse. But then a mysterious book comes out, promising to cast any spell for the right price. The author – Nor’s own mother – seems capable of performing magic that should be far beyond her capabilities. And such magic always requires a sacrifice.

A storm is coming. It's coming for Nor.
Book Review:
I think that one of the reasons why I really wanted to read The Price Guide To The Occult was because everyone was obsessed with The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender when it came out and I was interested in it but I just didn't get a chance to read it. Although there were elements of the book that I did enjoy the things that I didn't click with overwhelmed me and I struggled through the less than 300-page book. 
I think I will start with the negatives because there was just one element that I didn't click with at all and that was the magic system. This bugged me as the magic was harnessed by the use of self-harm and as you can imagine is quite hard to read about at times and there are graphic descriptions throughout the book. I personally just felt that there are other ways that this could have been handled and did not need to be included. 
The other element that I suffered when reading was the end which I felt like it was YA territory and I have seen that other reviewers have said there may have been interventions to make the book more mainstream YA and I could say that this came through for me a little as the romance took centre and it became quite wild by the end. Although I didn't like some of the turns that the story took, I was kept captivated by the ending was quite surprised by it.  
Although there were parts that I didn't like, Walton's writing is really lyrical and was a part of the story that I really did connect with. The descriptions in the beginning were beautiful and made the worldbuilding of the story a highlight. The setting was also really well done and it was one of the best parts of the book. 
I do think that the idea itself was really unique and I did really love the first like third or half of the book and had it not taken the turn at the end then I might have rated it higher. I also did like the characters and felt that the family relationships in the book were great and I did really love that part. 
The Verdict:
The Price Guide To The Occult is a unique witchcraft book that will cover your obsession when The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is over. Perfect for when you want a scare just after Halloween. 
Have you read The Price Guide To The Occult? Do you want to? Leave it in the comments below.