Amy Powis's Blog, page 20
June 25, 2018
BLOG TOUR: No Sad Songs by Frank Morelli
*I am reviewing this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. *
Title: No Sad SongsAuthor: Frank MorelliPublisher: Fish Out Of Water BooksSource: PublisherRating: 4/5 stars
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Book Summary:
Following a family tragedy, 18-year-old Gabe LoScuda suddenly finds himself thrust into the role of caregiver for his ailing grandfather. Between the shopping trips and the doctor visits with Grandpa, Gabe and his friend John try to salvage their senior year, meet girls, and make the varsity baseball team. It doesn’t take long for Gabe to realize that going to school and looking after a grandfather with Alzheimer’s is more work than he ever imagined. And when long-lost Uncle Nick appears on the scene, Gabe soon finds that living with Nick and Grandpa is like babysitting two grown men. Aside from John, the only person who truly understands Gabe is Sofia, a punk-rocking rebel he meets at the veteran’s hospital. When these three unlikely friends are faced with a serious dilemma, will they do what it takes to save Grandpa? If there’s a chance of preserving the final shreds of Grandpa’s dignity, Gabe may have to make the most gut-wrenching decision of his life—and there’s no way out.
Book Review:
When I first was offered to read a copy of No Sad Songs I was excited. I didn't really know what it was about except that it was a YA with a male protagonist set it in the 1990s. I, therefore, went in with low expectations, after all, I didn't know what it was about but No Sad Songs was an example of how to write an amazing YA book that everyone should read.
So one of the high points of this book is definitely the writing, it was very well written and there were elements that just really added to the overall story. This was especially well illustrated with the personal essays in the book which were a great touch and allowed the reader to explore Gabe's character even more than we previously would have. As someone who really loves reading essays, Gabe's were really good at exploring his history. Thi book is also really short so to fit a story of this length and for it to be amazing is great in itself.
I think that this is definitely a great thing about Gabe. As someone who reads a lot of YA, the male characters are normally real douchebags and don't tend to be good characters but this was completely the opposite with No Sad Songs. Gabe wears his heart on his sleeve and is a character that you want to root for as his past is rocky and you want him to do well in life. He came alive from the page and I just wanted to give him a massive hug.
Gabe's story is based on his family which is so well done in this book. Morelli does an amazing job of exploring the family relationship between Gabe and his grandfather in this book that is heartbreaking and so great. This is especially fantastic in the grand scheme of the book as Gabe gives everything to his grandfather so seen his evolve in the plot is heartwrenching. The book also focuses on Alzheimer's and was done really well and I would love to see his being tackled in the book. With this family relationship being the core this was different to most other YAs and I want to see this done more. This book was just so good!
The Verdict:
No Sad Songs is an excellent YA book that will have you hooked emotionally on the characters and the journeys that they take.
Title: No Sad SongsAuthor: Frank MorelliPublisher: Fish Out Of Water BooksSource: PublisherRating: 4/5 stars
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Book Summary:
Following a family tragedy, 18-year-old Gabe LoScuda suddenly finds himself thrust into the role of caregiver for his ailing grandfather. Between the shopping trips and the doctor visits with Grandpa, Gabe and his friend John try to salvage their senior year, meet girls, and make the varsity baseball team. It doesn’t take long for Gabe to realize that going to school and looking after a grandfather with Alzheimer’s is more work than he ever imagined. And when long-lost Uncle Nick appears on the scene, Gabe soon finds that living with Nick and Grandpa is like babysitting two grown men. Aside from John, the only person who truly understands Gabe is Sofia, a punk-rocking rebel he meets at the veteran’s hospital. When these three unlikely friends are faced with a serious dilemma, will they do what it takes to save Grandpa? If there’s a chance of preserving the final shreds of Grandpa’s dignity, Gabe may have to make the most gut-wrenching decision of his life—and there’s no way out.
Book Review:
When I first was offered to read a copy of No Sad Songs I was excited. I didn't really know what it was about except that it was a YA with a male protagonist set it in the 1990s. I, therefore, went in with low expectations, after all, I didn't know what it was about but No Sad Songs was an example of how to write an amazing YA book that everyone should read.
So one of the high points of this book is definitely the writing, it was very well written and there were elements that just really added to the overall story. This was especially well illustrated with the personal essays in the book which were a great touch and allowed the reader to explore Gabe's character even more than we previously would have. As someone who really loves reading essays, Gabe's were really good at exploring his history. Thi book is also really short so to fit a story of this length and for it to be amazing is great in itself.
I think that this is definitely a great thing about Gabe. As someone who reads a lot of YA, the male characters are normally real douchebags and don't tend to be good characters but this was completely the opposite with No Sad Songs. Gabe wears his heart on his sleeve and is a character that you want to root for as his past is rocky and you want him to do well in life. He came alive from the page and I just wanted to give him a massive hug.
Gabe's story is based on his family which is so well done in this book. Morelli does an amazing job of exploring the family relationship between Gabe and his grandfather in this book that is heartbreaking and so great. This is especially fantastic in the grand scheme of the book as Gabe gives everything to his grandfather so seen his evolve in the plot is heartwrenching. The book also focuses on Alzheimer's and was done really well and I would love to see his being tackled in the book. With this family relationship being the core this was different to most other YAs and I want to see this done more. This book was just so good!
The Verdict:
No Sad Songs is an excellent YA book that will have you hooked emotionally on the characters and the journeys that they take.
June 21, 2018
Blog Tour: Five Reasons to read Just Don't Mention it by Estelle Maskame
*I am reviewing this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. *
Today Just Don't Mention It by Estelle Maskame is released and it is a wonderful book. It is a companion novel to Did I Mention I Love You? series but it can be read without reading this previous series. Although a great book, I have been really busy so have not managed to finish it I love it so far so instead of a review, I am going to give you five reasons why you should read this book! So let's get started...
Title: Just Don't Mention ItAuthor: Estelle Maskame Publisher: Ink RoadSource: PublisherRating: 4/5 stars
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Number 1: The characters
So this is mainly for Tyler who is just a great character who is well developed and is someone that you can see grows throughout the novel. This may not be a good thing for Tyler's character but seeing the consequences of the actions is just so interesting to see. This is partly because it is set over two periods, one set in 5 years in the past, the other in present day and it makes for character growth. I also really liked Eden and the relationship she has with Tyler.
Number 2: The Relationships
The main thing that I love about this book is the romance. The romance is such a slow burn and I liked that. It was definitely more realistic than many other YA books and Eden and Tyler are a great couple.
Number 3: The Male Protagonist
Tyler, as I have said, is such a good character but it is also really great to see a YA book from a male perspective. We don't get to see this often so the fact that we get to read from one and it is so good is a bonus.
Number 4: The Sensitive Subjects
The sensitive subjects in this book are obviously heartwrenching in the book but I want to commend Estelle for tackling these issues straight one and doing it in such a delicate way. Trigger Warning for abuse is needed for this book but this was done well in my opinion but I would seek out Own Voices reviews if they are available.
Number 5: The Writing
For such a young writer Estelle is so talented! Her writing is so good that I definitely wish that I can write this well especially as she is younger than me. It definitely keeps me hooked and the balance between the main story and the flashbacks are so well balanced that it really was great.
The Verdict: JDMI is a great read that will transport to LA feeling devastated by Tyler's position but love the story away. It has heart and is a must-read.
Do you want to read Just Don't Mention It?
See you soon,
Amy
June 19, 2018
Two Reviews: Scythe by Neal Shusterman and The Wonder Of Us by Kim Culbertson
*I am reviewing this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. *
Title: ScytheAuthor: Neal Shusterman Publisher: Walker BooksSource: PublisherRating: 4.5/5 stars
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Book Summary:
A dark, gripping and witty thriller in which the only thing humanity has control over is death.
In a world where disease, war and crime have been eliminated, the only way to die is to be randomly killed ("gleaned") by professional scythes. Citra and Rowan are teenagers who have been selected to be scythes' apprentices, and despite wanting nothing to do with the vocation, they must learn the art of killing and understand the necessity of what they do.
Only one of them will be chosen as a scythe's apprentice and as Citra and Rowan come up against a terrifyingly corrupt Scythedom, it becomes clear that the winning apprentice's first task will be to glean the loser.
Book Review:
Being a massive fan of Neal Shusterman, I was therefore extremely excited to see that Scythe was being published in the UK and even more excited to get it for review. Scythe is one of Neal Shusterman's best, with twisting turns that no one will see coming and leave you hanging for the sequel.
Scythe follows Citra and Rowan who by two different reasons become Scythe's apprentices who are made to kill the other. This in itself is a great plot detail but is even more significant as we get to know both characters so well over the course of the book as it is told in duel perspective. The characters are also developed through the story so of course, as the reader, we don't want any of them to die.
Except for Citra and Rowan, we get to know a lot about the Scythes in the book which was so interesting especially Scythe Curie who was an interesting character due to the motives that she has. This was developed especially through her entries that were littered through the book and was definitely a nice touch and something that I had also seen in the Unwind series.
Talking of the Unwind series, I knew two things, that Neal Shusterman was great at plot and those twists and that he knows how to create a good dystopian world. These, of course, are much the same in Scythe. The worlds he creates seem so perfect on the surface and it this case, it is a world without death but as you peel the layers away it highlights something so sinister but so capturing to read which makes this world so unique and something that I would love to see develop in Thunderhead.
Of course, Shusterman knows how to write a good plot and my God is Scythe not an except to this rule. As the book progresses, it gets darker and darker that was a surprise on the next page. No spoiler but stuff goes down in this book. I mean STUFF GOES DOWN. It was just so good to read about and the end is just so good. I need to get my hands on Thunderhead and it would be no surprise it that one is as good or even better than Scythe.
The Verdict:
Scythe is an action-packed, thrilling read which is Neal Shusterman at his best which is always.
Title: The Wonder of UsAuthor: Kim Culbertson Publisher: Walker BooksSource: PublisherRating: 4/5 stars
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Book Summary:
Riya and Abby are:
Best friends.
Complete opposites.
Living on different continents.
Currently mad at each other.
About to travel around Europe.
Riya moved to Berlin, Germany, with her family for junior year, while Abby stayed behind in their small California town. They thought it would be easy to keep up their friendship-it's only a year and they've been best friends since preschool. But instead, they ended up fighting and not being there for the other. So Riya proposes an epic adventure to fix their friendship. Two weeks, six countries, unimaginable fun. But two small catches:
They haven't talked in weeks.
They've both been keeping secrets.
Can Riya and Abby find their way back to each other among lush countrysides and dazzling cities, or does growing up mean growing apart?
Book Review:
I was really excited to read The Wonder of Us not only because it sounded like a great summer read but also because the focus was on female relationships. Both of these together was, therefore, a match made in heaven and it was a great read. The Wonder of Us was a great contemporary that is perfect for the summer.
Being the focus of the book, the relationship between Riya and Abby is the best part of the novel. Their friendship is complicated which is what a book should show. I have seen some opinions saying that this may be overdone with their relationships being too dramatic but at the end of the day no relationship is perfect and you do need to move the plot forward. I do agree with some parts where they do withhold information from each other and this but create drama that doesn't need to happen but this did not affect the overall book.
I also had some problem with the writing between the two narratives of Riya and Abby. I don't think they were separate as people and their voices were not completely different. This was a slight problem but I did get over this once I was into the story. I also think they had different roles in the story which was good and made them separate in that respect. There was also a lack of romance for the main two protagonists which was nice to see and did make the book a focus on their relationship. This is something that I am always trying to find in YA so this was a massive plus for me.
The book also takes us to many different cities and countries around the world. I found that this was really interesting as most YA books are centred in America and although this is the case with this book too. It took the reader to many other places mainly Europe but especially Iceland. This was definitely something that I loved reading about as it is a place that really interests me and was so interesting to read about as a unique place for a YA book.
The Verdict:
The Wonder of Us is a wonderful summer read celebrating friendship and what it means to treasure the world around you.
Title: ScytheAuthor: Neal Shusterman Publisher: Walker BooksSource: PublisherRating: 4.5/5 stars
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Book Summary:
A dark, gripping and witty thriller in which the only thing humanity has control over is death.
In a world where disease, war and crime have been eliminated, the only way to die is to be randomly killed ("gleaned") by professional scythes. Citra and Rowan are teenagers who have been selected to be scythes' apprentices, and despite wanting nothing to do with the vocation, they must learn the art of killing and understand the necessity of what they do.
Only one of them will be chosen as a scythe's apprentice and as Citra and Rowan come up against a terrifyingly corrupt Scythedom, it becomes clear that the winning apprentice's first task will be to glean the loser.
Book Review:
Being a massive fan of Neal Shusterman, I was therefore extremely excited to see that Scythe was being published in the UK and even more excited to get it for review. Scythe is one of Neal Shusterman's best, with twisting turns that no one will see coming and leave you hanging for the sequel.
Scythe follows Citra and Rowan who by two different reasons become Scythe's apprentices who are made to kill the other. This in itself is a great plot detail but is even more significant as we get to know both characters so well over the course of the book as it is told in duel perspective. The characters are also developed through the story so of course, as the reader, we don't want any of them to die.
Except for Citra and Rowan, we get to know a lot about the Scythes in the book which was so interesting especially Scythe Curie who was an interesting character due to the motives that she has. This was developed especially through her entries that were littered through the book and was definitely a nice touch and something that I had also seen in the Unwind series.
Talking of the Unwind series, I knew two things, that Neal Shusterman was great at plot and those twists and that he knows how to create a good dystopian world. These, of course, are much the same in Scythe. The worlds he creates seem so perfect on the surface and it this case, it is a world without death but as you peel the layers away it highlights something so sinister but so capturing to read which makes this world so unique and something that I would love to see develop in Thunderhead.
Of course, Shusterman knows how to write a good plot and my God is Scythe not an except to this rule. As the book progresses, it gets darker and darker that was a surprise on the next page. No spoiler but stuff goes down in this book. I mean STUFF GOES DOWN. It was just so good to read about and the end is just so good. I need to get my hands on Thunderhead and it would be no surprise it that one is as good or even better than Scythe.
The Verdict:
Scythe is an action-packed, thrilling read which is Neal Shusterman at his best which is always.
Title: The Wonder of UsAuthor: Kim Culbertson Publisher: Walker BooksSource: PublisherRating: 4/5 stars
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Book Summary:
Riya and Abby are:
Best friends.
Complete opposites.
Living on different continents.
Currently mad at each other.
About to travel around Europe.
Riya moved to Berlin, Germany, with her family for junior year, while Abby stayed behind in their small California town. They thought it would be easy to keep up their friendship-it's only a year and they've been best friends since preschool. But instead, they ended up fighting and not being there for the other. So Riya proposes an epic adventure to fix their friendship. Two weeks, six countries, unimaginable fun. But two small catches:
They haven't talked in weeks.
They've both been keeping secrets.
Can Riya and Abby find their way back to each other among lush countrysides and dazzling cities, or does growing up mean growing apart?
Book Review:
I was really excited to read The Wonder of Us not only because it sounded like a great summer read but also because the focus was on female relationships. Both of these together was, therefore, a match made in heaven and it was a great read. The Wonder of Us was a great contemporary that is perfect for the summer.
Being the focus of the book, the relationship between Riya and Abby is the best part of the novel. Their friendship is complicated which is what a book should show. I have seen some opinions saying that this may be overdone with their relationships being too dramatic but at the end of the day no relationship is perfect and you do need to move the plot forward. I do agree with some parts where they do withhold information from each other and this but create drama that doesn't need to happen but this did not affect the overall book.
I also had some problem with the writing between the two narratives of Riya and Abby. I don't think they were separate as people and their voices were not completely different. This was a slight problem but I did get over this once I was into the story. I also think they had different roles in the story which was good and made them separate in that respect. There was also a lack of romance for the main two protagonists which was nice to see and did make the book a focus on their relationship. This is something that I am always trying to find in YA so this was a massive plus for me.
The book also takes us to many different cities and countries around the world. I found that this was really interesting as most YA books are centred in America and although this is the case with this book too. It took the reader to many other places mainly Europe but especially Iceland. This was definitely something that I loved reading about as it is a place that really interests me and was so interesting to read about as a unique place for a YA book.
The Verdict:
The Wonder of Us is a wonderful summer read celebrating friendship and what it means to treasure the world around you.
June 15, 2018
Three Year Blogging Anniversary and GIVEAWAY (OPEN)
So if you could not see by the title of the blog post, it has been three years since I posted my first blog post. I can happily say that this blog has changed a lot in three years, We have gone through different layouts, different content posts. Quite a bit has changed but I am still here! This blog has increased my passion for reading and has been a way that I can spread this with everyone in this community. This has led me to read some incredible books and interact with some great people and I can happily say that I feel part of the community.
Since my first year, I hoped to track the changes in my blogging life especially in terms of my reading life. So let's get started...
Q1) Favourite Book
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak- OK so this one hasn't changed. A book still has not beaten how I feel about this book. Let the hunt continue...
Q2) What book do you hope to read in the next year?
Northern Lights by Phillip Pullman- This was my answer last year and let's face it I need to read this one!
Q3) Most anticipated read?
Floored by Various Authors- I already have an e-ARC from Netgalley so hopefully, I can read this one soon...
Q4) Which topic would you most like to write about on the blog within the next year?
I mentioned in the last two that I would like to write about the concept of strong female characters in general and this is something that I would love to do. This needs to happen
Q5) Favourite Blog Post?
I really do like my Turning 21 post.
Q6) Book you hate?
I dislike a lot of negative things about books but I can not support a book that has Holocaust jokes and this is the November Criminals by Sam Munson so you can guess why I hate this book...
Q7) Which author do you want to meet and why?
John Green- I love John Green. I will probably never meet him but I really want to.
Q8) Current read?
Just Don't Mention It by Estelle Maskame- I am really enjoying it so far.
Q9) Next on your TBR?
Invisible Ghosts by Robyn Schneider- I really love Robyn Schneider so I am really excited to read this one!
Q10) What is next for your blog?
Onwards and Upwards I hope!!
OK now on to the giveaway! So as a celebration of this blog is 3 years old, I thought I would do a giveaway. This is not going to be your average giveaway as I am going to give a book to a winner that has been my favourite which I have read in the last year.
The winner will be able to select from the following:
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver Panther by David Owen A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares by Krystal Sutherland It Only Happens In The Movies by Holly Bourne Giant Days Vol 1 by John Allison Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs The Museum of Heartbreak by Meg Leder Geekerella by Ashley Poston Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia The Good Immigrant Edited by Nikesh Shukla Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart Things A Bright Girl Can Do by Sally Nicholls Street Song by Sheena Wilkinson Everless by Sara Holland Scythe by Neal Shusterman
The competition is for those over the age of 18 or those with consent from their parents. The winner will be contacted by Twitter and the giveaway with close on the 15th July. Due to privacy laws, I will delete any trace of your address after the giveaway has taken place. By entering this giveaway, you are consenting that you are allowing me to use your data, your twitter, email and address. As I am using Gleam for the giveaway, you can find out more about GDPR here.
Now on to the real giveaway...
3rd Anniversary Blog Giveaway
Good luck and here is to three more years!
See you soon,
Amy
Since my first year, I hoped to track the changes in my blogging life especially in terms of my reading life. So let's get started...
Q1) Favourite Book
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak- OK so this one hasn't changed. A book still has not beaten how I feel about this book. Let the hunt continue...Q2) What book do you hope to read in the next year?
Northern Lights by Phillip Pullman- This was my answer last year and let's face it I need to read this one!
Q3) Most anticipated read?
Floored by Various Authors- I already have an e-ARC from Netgalley so hopefully, I can read this one soon...Q4) Which topic would you most like to write about on the blog within the next year?
I mentioned in the last two that I would like to write about the concept of strong female characters in general and this is something that I would love to do. This needs to happen
Q5) Favourite Blog Post?
I really do like my Turning 21 post.
Q6) Book you hate?I dislike a lot of negative things about books but I can not support a book that has Holocaust jokes and this is the November Criminals by Sam Munson so you can guess why I hate this book...
Q7) Which author do you want to meet and why?
John Green- I love John Green. I will probably never meet him but I really want to.
Q8) Current read?Just Don't Mention It by Estelle Maskame- I am really enjoying it so far.
Q9) Next on your TBR?Invisible Ghosts by Robyn Schneider- I really love Robyn Schneider so I am really excited to read this one!
Q10) What is next for your blog?
Onwards and Upwards I hope!!
OK now on to the giveaway! So as a celebration of this blog is 3 years old, I thought I would do a giveaway. This is not going to be your average giveaway as I am going to give a book to a winner that has been my favourite which I have read in the last year.
The winner will be able to select from the following:
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver Panther by David Owen A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares by Krystal Sutherland It Only Happens In The Movies by Holly Bourne Giant Days Vol 1 by John Allison Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs The Museum of Heartbreak by Meg Leder Geekerella by Ashley Poston Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia The Good Immigrant Edited by Nikesh Shukla Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart Things A Bright Girl Can Do by Sally Nicholls Street Song by Sheena Wilkinson Everless by Sara Holland Scythe by Neal Shusterman
The competition is for those over the age of 18 or those with consent from their parents. The winner will be contacted by Twitter and the giveaway with close on the 15th July. Due to privacy laws, I will delete any trace of your address after the giveaway has taken place. By entering this giveaway, you are consenting that you are allowing me to use your data, your twitter, email and address. As I am using Gleam for the giveaway, you can find out more about GDPR here.
Now on to the real giveaway...
3rd Anniversary Blog Giveaway
Good luck and here is to three more years!
See you soon,
Amy
May 29, 2018
Book Review: The Illumination of Ursula Flight by Anna Marie Crowhurst
*I am reviewing this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. *
Title: The Illumination of Ursula FlightAuthor: Anna Marie CrowhurstPublisher: Allen & UnwinSource: ReadersFirstRating: 3.5/5 stars
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Book Summary:
Born on the night of an ill-auguring comet just before Charles II's Restoration, Ursula Flight has a difficult future written in the stars.
Against the custom of the age she begins an education with her father, who fosters in her a love of reading, writing and astrology.
Following a surprise meeting with an actress, Ursula yearns for the theatre and thus begins her quest to become a playwright despite scoundrels, bounders, bad luck and heartbreak.
Book Review:
I was extremely excited to read this book partly due to the cover because let's face it is really amazing. This book did not disappoint being an entertaining and heartfelt story which was a great debut.
I really adored Ursula as a character. She is core to this story and if you could not connect with her then this would be a massive problem. Seeing her grow through the book was great as she matures into an amazing adult who really holds her own and I think in that sense it is at its core a coming of age story. She was also deeply funny and I loved how we got a sense of her character through diary entries and plays which do play for to her interesting.
Including this allowed me to see where the plot would go and I did love where the plot went but I do feel like this occurred much later in the book than I expected. I therefore definitely loved the first part and last part of this book a lot. The writing was good, it was so well developed but I did feel like the book dragged a little in the middle. This was, therefore, a little problem but it didn't affect my overall experience of the book.
I also really loved the historical aspect of this book. It is basically as a historical fiction book and a coming of age together which makes a great combo. I often don't reach for historical fiction but I really loved this one and I think this means that I should reach for more. It also covers issues at the time, some of which I literally had no idea about so this was interesting to read about.
The Verdict:
Overall, there is a lot to love in this book. Ursula is amazing, the plot is well executed but a little slow at time and the characters that she interacts with are also good and well developed. The Illumination of Ursula Flight is just a good time.
Title: The Illumination of Ursula FlightAuthor: Anna Marie CrowhurstPublisher: Allen & UnwinSource: ReadersFirstRating: 3.5/5 stars
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Book Summary:
Born on the night of an ill-auguring comet just before Charles II's Restoration, Ursula Flight has a difficult future written in the stars.
Against the custom of the age she begins an education with her father, who fosters in her a love of reading, writing and astrology.
Following a surprise meeting with an actress, Ursula yearns for the theatre and thus begins her quest to become a playwright despite scoundrels, bounders, bad luck and heartbreak.
Book Review:
I was extremely excited to read this book partly due to the cover because let's face it is really amazing. This book did not disappoint being an entertaining and heartfelt story which was a great debut.
I really adored Ursula as a character. She is core to this story and if you could not connect with her then this would be a massive problem. Seeing her grow through the book was great as she matures into an amazing adult who really holds her own and I think in that sense it is at its core a coming of age story. She was also deeply funny and I loved how we got a sense of her character through diary entries and plays which do play for to her interesting.
Including this allowed me to see where the plot would go and I did love where the plot went but I do feel like this occurred much later in the book than I expected. I therefore definitely loved the first part and last part of this book a lot. The writing was good, it was so well developed but I did feel like the book dragged a little in the middle. This was, therefore, a little problem but it didn't affect my overall experience of the book.
I also really loved the historical aspect of this book. It is basically as a historical fiction book and a coming of age together which makes a great combo. I often don't reach for historical fiction but I really loved this one and I think this means that I should reach for more. It also covers issues at the time, some of which I literally had no idea about so this was interesting to read about.
The Verdict:
Overall, there is a lot to love in this book. Ursula is amazing, the plot is well executed but a little slow at time and the characters that she interacts with are also good and well developed. The Illumination of Ursula Flight is just a good time.
May 22, 2018
A-Z of YA Mental Health Reads #3
I have done two of these posts in the past and with a new year means new books that feature mental health. So it's time for an update! So let's get started...
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
All Of the ABove by Juno Dawson
Hold Still by Nina La Cour
Daris the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
BEfore I Let Go by Marieke Nijikamp
Learning To Fall by Marcella Pixley
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
Are We All Lemmings & Snowflakes? by Holly Bourne
I Way Lost My Way by Gayle Foreman
Clean by Juno Dawson
We are Young by Cat ClarKe
The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson
Bad RoMance by Heather Demetrios
Release by Patrick Ness
I Was Born For This by Alice Oseman
SParrow by Sarah Moon
MosQuitoland by Davi Arnold
WoRries Go Away by Kes Gray
Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Top Ten by Katie Cotugno
Don't ToUch by Rachel M. Wilson
Reasons To Stay AliVe by Matt Haig
White Rabbit, Red Wolf by Tom Pollock
The Astonishing Colour of After by Emily X. R. Pan
See You In The Cosmos by Jack Cheung
CraZy by Amy Reed
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
All Of the ABove by Juno Dawson
Hold Still by Nina La Cour
Daris the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
BEfore I Let Go by Marieke Nijikamp
Learning To Fall by Marcella Pixley
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
Are We All Lemmings & Snowflakes? by Holly Bourne
I Way Lost My Way by Gayle Foreman
Clean by Juno Dawson
We are Young by Cat ClarKe
The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson
Bad RoMance by Heather Demetrios
Release by Patrick Ness
I Was Born For This by Alice Oseman
SParrow by Sarah Moon
MosQuitoland by Davi Arnold
WoRries Go Away by Kes Gray
Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Top Ten by Katie Cotugno
Don't ToUch by Rachel M. Wilson
Reasons To Stay AliVe by Matt Haig
White Rabbit, Red Wolf by Tom Pollock
The Astonishing Colour of After by Emily X. R. Pan
See You In The Cosmos by Jack Cheung
CraZy by Amy Reed
May 14, 2018
The Works of Neal Shusterman
So over the last couple of months, everyone has been loving Scythe by Neal Shusterman. While I agreed that Scythe is a great book, Shusterman has a wonderful back catalogue of books that people just don't know about, partly because they are not published in the UK, partly because they have not been as hyped as Scythe has.
So this blog post is designed to introduce you the reader to some of my favourite books of Neal Shusterman. So let's get started...
The Unwind Series
After Scythe, this is probably Shusterman's most famous series. This is because of how wonderful it is. Set in a dystopian world the Unwind series follows Connor who is about to get unwinded which is a process where your whole body will become parts and can be donated to other humans. It's thrilling, creeping, action-packed and everything anyone will want from a dystopian series. It is definitely worth the read.
Bruiser
So arguably Shusterman is most notably known for his dystopian reads but he writes so many different types of books so there is something for everyone. Bruiser is a completely unique story about friendship and love and it is so interesting to read about. The book is also told partly in verse so if anyone wants to read a book in this format I highly recommend it!
Challenger Deep
Challenger Deep is also another unique contemporary story following a character dealing with schizophrenia and it is so harrowing and beautiful. In my review of this book, I said that it was one of the best books that I have read that have dealt with mental illness and I still agree. With the help of his son who has schizophrenia, illustrates are used throughout, conveying what it is like to deal with the illness and make it a must-read.
Scythe
So the book that everyone knows about is Scythe and it's sequel Thunderhead but this doesn't come out until August in the UK so we can leave this for now. This follows Rowan and Citara who live in a world where death is impossible and you can only be killed by gleaning. It is an intense and thrilling book that will leave you on the edge of your seat throughout. Once you finish the book you will want to have the next one in your hands as soon as possible. It is Neal Shusterman at his best!
What is your favourite Neal Shusterman book? Are you excited to read any of these?
See you soon,
Amy
May 10, 2018
Blog Tour: Nowhere Else But Here by Rachel Cotton Book Review
* I am reviewing this book for a blog tour but this in no way affects my review *
Title: Nowhere Else But HereAuthor: Rachel CottonSource: PublisherPublisher: Ink RoadRating: 3.5/5 stars
(Goodreads|Amazon)
Book Review Summary:
He was reckless. He was exciting. He was Theo.
And he was a breath of fresh air in my otherwise extremely dull life”
What if the missing person is your missing piece?
Rose has always played by the rules – now it’s time to break them.
Life’s easier when you stay away from other people. Rose Valentine knows that. But some people are impossible to ignore. Take Theo Lockhart. He’s handsome, funny and beyond intriguing. He’s a mystery; one that Rose dreams of solving.
Then one night the mystery deepens. Theo turns up on Rose’s doorstep, desperate to hide out at her house. He’s keeping secrets, and Rose has a million questions. Not least – why did he choose to run to her?
If Rose lets him in, she’ll be going against everything she holds true. It’s reckless, risky – and definitely not in the rulebook. But Theo makes Rose long to break the rules After a whirlwind week of brat-pack movies, midnight snacks and non-stop chat, where do Rose and Theo go from here?
Book Review:
I was definitely interested to read Nowhere Else But Here as I love a good contemporary read and with Rachel Cotton being so young that definitely upped the intrigue. Nowhere Else But Here was a wonderfully, cute read with a romance to die for.
I was definitely in the mood for this book when I read it, I mean I love contemporary but I was definitely in the mood for a really cute contemporary with a romance which is something that Nowhere Else But Here offers.
I definitely think that for someone of her age, Rachel Cotton should be so happy with this book. She has so much talent that I wish I could have when I was 17 and shows so much promise for someone so young. She has a great writing style and creates great characters that you can definitely connect with which is essential for the plot of the novel. The romance ties the whole book together and with the relationship between the two characters being so great this makes the book so much better.
I definitely liked Rose and Theo as characters, I feel like they were fleshed out and developed and their relationship was a slow build so seeing it progress through the novel was great. I also did like Rose's relationship with her parents in the book although a small part it was nice to see this relationship as it is being seen more in YA now.
Although there was a lot to love with the book especially the romance and the characters, I would have still liked more from the story. I don't think the storyline with her brother was really developed throughout and I would have loved to see this developed more. The characters also called themselves by their full names and I did just find this quite weird. I also feel like what Theo goes through at the beginning of the book is so mundane that it felt a bit much for him to run away but I guess that as a teenager every action can feel massive so I do understand it.
Although I had some problems with this book, I still enjoyed it and I know many people will devour it.
The Verdict:
Nowhere Else But Here is the perfect summer read which will have you falling in love with romance believing anything is possible.
Title: Nowhere Else But HereAuthor: Rachel CottonSource: PublisherPublisher: Ink RoadRating: 3.5/5 stars(Goodreads|Amazon)
Book Review Summary:
He was reckless. He was exciting. He was Theo.
And he was a breath of fresh air in my otherwise extremely dull life”
What if the missing person is your missing piece?
Rose has always played by the rules – now it’s time to break them.
Life’s easier when you stay away from other people. Rose Valentine knows that. But some people are impossible to ignore. Take Theo Lockhart. He’s handsome, funny and beyond intriguing. He’s a mystery; one that Rose dreams of solving.
Then one night the mystery deepens. Theo turns up on Rose’s doorstep, desperate to hide out at her house. He’s keeping secrets, and Rose has a million questions. Not least – why did he choose to run to her?
If Rose lets him in, she’ll be going against everything she holds true. It’s reckless, risky – and definitely not in the rulebook. But Theo makes Rose long to break the rules After a whirlwind week of brat-pack movies, midnight snacks and non-stop chat, where do Rose and Theo go from here?
Book Review:
I was definitely interested to read Nowhere Else But Here as I love a good contemporary read and with Rachel Cotton being so young that definitely upped the intrigue. Nowhere Else But Here was a wonderfully, cute read with a romance to die for.
I was definitely in the mood for this book when I read it, I mean I love contemporary but I was definitely in the mood for a really cute contemporary with a romance which is something that Nowhere Else But Here offers.
I definitely think that for someone of her age, Rachel Cotton should be so happy with this book. She has so much talent that I wish I could have when I was 17 and shows so much promise for someone so young. She has a great writing style and creates great characters that you can definitely connect with which is essential for the plot of the novel. The romance ties the whole book together and with the relationship between the two characters being so great this makes the book so much better.
I definitely liked Rose and Theo as characters, I feel like they were fleshed out and developed and their relationship was a slow build so seeing it progress through the novel was great. I also did like Rose's relationship with her parents in the book although a small part it was nice to see this relationship as it is being seen more in YA now.
Although there was a lot to love with the book especially the romance and the characters, I would have still liked more from the story. I don't think the storyline with her brother was really developed throughout and I would have loved to see this developed more. The characters also called themselves by their full names and I did just find this quite weird. I also feel like what Theo goes through at the beginning of the book is so mundane that it felt a bit much for him to run away but I guess that as a teenager every action can feel massive so I do understand it.
Although I had some problems with this book, I still enjoyed it and I know many people will devour it.
The Verdict:
Nowhere Else But Here is the perfect summer read which will have you falling in love with romance believing anything is possible.
May 8, 2018
Fireworks: A Short Story
Fireworks
Tonight, would bring a new year and a new start but right now it was all about these two people before the clock was to strike midnight. This is the story of a boy and a girl and how they would start to fall in love. Holly had been forced to the party by her friend. It was the Christmas holidays and they were both home from university. It’s not that Holly didn’t like parties, it was just that she didn’t want to be at this one. With people that she didn’t know and where her friend, Jess would inevitably leave her to mingle with others. Leaving also was not an option, Jess had asked her to stay the night and there was no way that she would leave London. At night. On New Years Eve. That seemed like her worst nightmare and something that she would not think about. Instead, she had gathered all the snacks in the flat, mainly cheesy Wotsits and had locked herself in the only quiet room in the house, Jess’s room. The only room that was free and locked after she had given strict instructions not to let anyone in.“I am not letting anyone have sex in my room,” was her response and Holly could understand why. No one wanted anyone to have sex in their bed. New Years got crazy so who knows what would happen. It was half 11 and Holly had had enough, people were getting drunk, too touchy and not something that a sober person would like. The music was pounding although the room was sealed, and no one could get inside but people tried. Jess must have had too much fun, Holly hadn’t seen her since 11 but she had blocked her out of her mind. “HI, IS THIS THE TOILET.” Someone shouted from outside the hall, trying to be heard over the music.“Keep going down the hall. It’s on your left.” She replied. “IT’S LOCKED. IM GOING TO BE SICK.” The voice responds.“Not my problem,” Holly answered, hearing the gradual person be sick in the corridor outside. Holly was slightly disgusted, this was giving her more reason to not leave the room. Holly checked her phone, went on Instagram and saw all the people taking pictures. Everyone looked so happy and many respects she was, she had Wotsits and that was all a girl needed. Another knock on the door jumped her.“Hello,” a voice echoed through the thumping music. “Toilet is down the hall, on your left,” Holly replied. “Em, I’m not looking for the toilet, I’m looking for somewhere quiet.” The voice responded. “Not my problem. This room is taken.” “Please. It looks like someone was sick out here.” He stuttered. “I have anxiety, please, I can’t really take much more of this.”“Fine. You can come in.” Holly got up and opened the door. Outside she saw a nerdy looking guy, he was wearing glasses and a Star Wars t-shirt. It wasn’t exactly New Year's attire, compared to her purple sparkly dress.“Before you come in, what’s your name?” She said munching on some Wotsits. “T-Tom.” He stammered a little. She wasn’t an amazingly attractive girl, but he was still taken back a little even though she had Wotsits around her mouth. “I’m a friend of Molly’s. At Uni. She said you might be in here.”“OK Tom, come in. She mentioned me?” She patted on the bed suggesting for him to sit next to her. Instead of sitting next to her on the bed. He went to sit at Jess’s desk instead. Holly wasn’t offended. He looked quite flustered so it was understandable. “Yes, all the time. She said I would like you. We have the same interests apparently.”“Like what?” She waved her hand, gesturing for him to speak, trying to make him feel somewhat comfortable. “Doctor Who? I'm guessing that you are excited about the new doctor?” He asked, hesitantly as he was really unsure, afraid as she seems quite standoffish. “Yes. Doctor Who. Figures.” She was trying to gage him. “Always down for a female doctor. It’s about time.”He laughed softly. “Yeah, true.” He didn’t really know what to say. His comment hung in the air. Clearly having things in common was not the key to a new relationship, platonic or otherwise. Holly didn’t care. I mean why would she. This was her space whatever this boy might want. He was there because he had anxiety which was fair. She wasn’t going to let him suffer outside. It was by this time that they had just accepted the silence. It was a party and they were together. Talking or not.Holly was normally asleep by now. She watched the rerun of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that ITV play every year and then slept. She was one of those people that dreamt of the movie screen kiss that surrounded all the Hollywood films on New Year’s Eve regardless of how cringey they would be. Too that she would tell anyone about it though. She had to keep up the hard exterior somehow. She was a softie really. She looked at her phone. 10 minutes until the countdown. She could go to sleep but Tom was in the room so that was out of the question. She was very aware that he was still in the room. Looking slyly at her phone she could see that he was looking at his phone, scrolling through some social media. Not that she could tell what it was. She was trying to be discrete. She was worried about him. Surely if you had anxiety and felt uncomfortable, you should go home. “You know you can go home right?” Holly asked. “I mean, I could but I don’t think that I’m going to get back to Kent on New Year's Eve.” He said so quickly that he stopped. Why had he spoken to her so casually? This was so unlike him. “You are staying over then?” Holly asked. This had to be the only explanation. “Yes.” He replied not wanting to overstep his welcome. “I’m guessing you are too?”“Yes. If not, there is no way that I would still be here.” She replied. “You know I’m not even into parties. I just did it because I haven’t seen her in since starting university and I haven’t even seen her.” She laughed. “What’s the point? I didn’t imagine that I would be stuck in a room with a boy I met 10 minutes ago eating Wotsits.”He laughed, “Yeah I didn’t think this would happen either.”They both laughed. It’s funny how faith can drag two people together.Tom got up and sat on the bed. He started to feel more comfortable around her. She wasn’t as scary as he had first thought. “You have Wotsits on your face.” He pulled some tissues out of his pocket. “Here.”“Oh.” She said, taking the tissue from him. “You see this wouldn’t happen if women’s clothing had pockets.” She giggled nervously and tucked a piece of hair that was loose behind her ear. She always did this when she liked someone. Distracting herself from that moment, she looked at the time on her phone. 5 minutes to Midnight. She got up and opened the curtains to the room. Tom followed. Fireworks had started going off. “A bit early.” She said. “Five minutes to go. They're pretty.”“Yeah, I’ve always liked Fireworks,” Tom replied. “Cool,” Holly replied, not really knowing what to say. It was weird although they were not in Central London. They could still see all the landmarks that made London well London. Canary Wharf. The Orbit of the Olympic Stadium. It was nice seeing it like this. It always reminded Holly of home. “So how’s the view?” Holly asked. “It’s good. You don’t get to see this in Kent.” Tom replied.“Isn’t Kent called the Garden of England? Must be some good views there?” Holly cautiously responded. “I mean, Yeah. But there’s just something about London.” Tom said. “Yeah, there definitely is,” Holly replied. “OK. So this might seem rash. Like really fucking rash. But it’s almost midnight and we are here. Together. Do you see where I am going with this?”“Yes?” Tom replied. “Look. I am never normally this forward. But in two minutes it is going Midnight. A new year. New ideas and I kind of like you.”“OK, Holly. This is extremely sudden. I mean. I’ve known you for what 30 minutes.”“I’m not saying I love you. That’s mental. I have literally known you 30 minutes. I don’t want your babies. I just want to kiss you.”“OK. Just so we are clear.”“So you will do it?”“Yeah, why not.” The countdown started playing in the background. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…“Happy New Year, Tom.”“Happy New Year, Holly.”Holly kissed Tom. Their lips touching but no one going the full way. They hadn’t really discussed tongues. There were faint echoes of fireworks in the background. It was obvious that this wasn’t the kiss that Holly had dreamt it would be. But when was it ever? It was a girl kissing a boy she liked on New Year’s Day. It was a new day. A new year. A new beginning and they didn’t know where it was going to go.
To Be Continued….
Tonight, would bring a new year and a new start but right now it was all about these two people before the clock was to strike midnight. This is the story of a boy and a girl and how they would start to fall in love. Holly had been forced to the party by her friend. It was the Christmas holidays and they were both home from university. It’s not that Holly didn’t like parties, it was just that she didn’t want to be at this one. With people that she didn’t know and where her friend, Jess would inevitably leave her to mingle with others. Leaving also was not an option, Jess had asked her to stay the night and there was no way that she would leave London. At night. On New Years Eve. That seemed like her worst nightmare and something that she would not think about. Instead, she had gathered all the snacks in the flat, mainly cheesy Wotsits and had locked herself in the only quiet room in the house, Jess’s room. The only room that was free and locked after she had given strict instructions not to let anyone in.“I am not letting anyone have sex in my room,” was her response and Holly could understand why. No one wanted anyone to have sex in their bed. New Years got crazy so who knows what would happen. It was half 11 and Holly had had enough, people were getting drunk, too touchy and not something that a sober person would like. The music was pounding although the room was sealed, and no one could get inside but people tried. Jess must have had too much fun, Holly hadn’t seen her since 11 but she had blocked her out of her mind. “HI, IS THIS THE TOILET.” Someone shouted from outside the hall, trying to be heard over the music.“Keep going down the hall. It’s on your left.” She replied. “IT’S LOCKED. IM GOING TO BE SICK.” The voice responds.“Not my problem,” Holly answered, hearing the gradual person be sick in the corridor outside. Holly was slightly disgusted, this was giving her more reason to not leave the room. Holly checked her phone, went on Instagram and saw all the people taking pictures. Everyone looked so happy and many respects she was, she had Wotsits and that was all a girl needed. Another knock on the door jumped her.“Hello,” a voice echoed through the thumping music. “Toilet is down the hall, on your left,” Holly replied. “Em, I’m not looking for the toilet, I’m looking for somewhere quiet.” The voice responded. “Not my problem. This room is taken.” “Please. It looks like someone was sick out here.” He stuttered. “I have anxiety, please, I can’t really take much more of this.”“Fine. You can come in.” Holly got up and opened the door. Outside she saw a nerdy looking guy, he was wearing glasses and a Star Wars t-shirt. It wasn’t exactly New Year's attire, compared to her purple sparkly dress.“Before you come in, what’s your name?” She said munching on some Wotsits. “T-Tom.” He stammered a little. She wasn’t an amazingly attractive girl, but he was still taken back a little even though she had Wotsits around her mouth. “I’m a friend of Molly’s. At Uni. She said you might be in here.”“OK Tom, come in. She mentioned me?” She patted on the bed suggesting for him to sit next to her. Instead of sitting next to her on the bed. He went to sit at Jess’s desk instead. Holly wasn’t offended. He looked quite flustered so it was understandable. “Yes, all the time. She said I would like you. We have the same interests apparently.”“Like what?” She waved her hand, gesturing for him to speak, trying to make him feel somewhat comfortable. “Doctor Who? I'm guessing that you are excited about the new doctor?” He asked, hesitantly as he was really unsure, afraid as she seems quite standoffish. “Yes. Doctor Who. Figures.” She was trying to gage him. “Always down for a female doctor. It’s about time.”He laughed softly. “Yeah, true.” He didn’t really know what to say. His comment hung in the air. Clearly having things in common was not the key to a new relationship, platonic or otherwise. Holly didn’t care. I mean why would she. This was her space whatever this boy might want. He was there because he had anxiety which was fair. She wasn’t going to let him suffer outside. It was by this time that they had just accepted the silence. It was a party and they were together. Talking or not.Holly was normally asleep by now. She watched the rerun of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that ITV play every year and then slept. She was one of those people that dreamt of the movie screen kiss that surrounded all the Hollywood films on New Year’s Eve regardless of how cringey they would be. Too that she would tell anyone about it though. She had to keep up the hard exterior somehow. She was a softie really. She looked at her phone. 10 minutes until the countdown. She could go to sleep but Tom was in the room so that was out of the question. She was very aware that he was still in the room. Looking slyly at her phone she could see that he was looking at his phone, scrolling through some social media. Not that she could tell what it was. She was trying to be discrete. She was worried about him. Surely if you had anxiety and felt uncomfortable, you should go home. “You know you can go home right?” Holly asked. “I mean, I could but I don’t think that I’m going to get back to Kent on New Year's Eve.” He said so quickly that he stopped. Why had he spoken to her so casually? This was so unlike him. “You are staying over then?” Holly asked. This had to be the only explanation. “Yes.” He replied not wanting to overstep his welcome. “I’m guessing you are too?”“Yes. If not, there is no way that I would still be here.” She replied. “You know I’m not even into parties. I just did it because I haven’t seen her in since starting university and I haven’t even seen her.” She laughed. “What’s the point? I didn’t imagine that I would be stuck in a room with a boy I met 10 minutes ago eating Wotsits.”He laughed, “Yeah I didn’t think this would happen either.”They both laughed. It’s funny how faith can drag two people together.Tom got up and sat on the bed. He started to feel more comfortable around her. She wasn’t as scary as he had first thought. “You have Wotsits on your face.” He pulled some tissues out of his pocket. “Here.”“Oh.” She said, taking the tissue from him. “You see this wouldn’t happen if women’s clothing had pockets.” She giggled nervously and tucked a piece of hair that was loose behind her ear. She always did this when she liked someone. Distracting herself from that moment, she looked at the time on her phone. 5 minutes to Midnight. She got up and opened the curtains to the room. Tom followed. Fireworks had started going off. “A bit early.” She said. “Five minutes to go. They're pretty.”“Yeah, I’ve always liked Fireworks,” Tom replied. “Cool,” Holly replied, not really knowing what to say. It was weird although they were not in Central London. They could still see all the landmarks that made London well London. Canary Wharf. The Orbit of the Olympic Stadium. It was nice seeing it like this. It always reminded Holly of home. “So how’s the view?” Holly asked. “It’s good. You don’t get to see this in Kent.” Tom replied.“Isn’t Kent called the Garden of England? Must be some good views there?” Holly cautiously responded. “I mean, Yeah. But there’s just something about London.” Tom said. “Yeah, there definitely is,” Holly replied. “OK. So this might seem rash. Like really fucking rash. But it’s almost midnight and we are here. Together. Do you see where I am going with this?”“Yes?” Tom replied. “Look. I am never normally this forward. But in two minutes it is going Midnight. A new year. New ideas and I kind of like you.”“OK, Holly. This is extremely sudden. I mean. I’ve known you for what 30 minutes.”“I’m not saying I love you. That’s mental. I have literally known you 30 minutes. I don’t want your babies. I just want to kiss you.”“OK. Just so we are clear.”“So you will do it?”“Yeah, why not.” The countdown started playing in the background. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…“Happy New Year, Tom.”“Happy New Year, Holly.”Holly kissed Tom. Their lips touching but no one going the full way. They hadn’t really discussed tongues. There were faint echoes of fireworks in the background. It was obvious that this wasn’t the kiss that Holly had dreamt it would be. But when was it ever? It was a girl kissing a boy she liked on New Year’s Day. It was a new day. A new year. A new beginning and they didn’t know where it was going to go.
To Be Continued….
May 3, 2018
Book Review: Leah On The Offbeat by Becky Albertalli
* I am reviewing this book but this in no way affects my review *
Title: Leah On The OffbeatAuthor: Becky Albertalli Source: NetGalleyPublisher: PenguinRating: 5/5 stars
( Goodreads |Amazon)
Book Summary:
Leah Burke - girl-band drummer, master of deadpan, and Simon Spier's best friend from the award-winning Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda - takes centre stage in this novel of first love and senior-year angst.
When it comes to drumming, Leah Burke is usually on beat - but real life isn't always so rhythmic. An anomaly in her friend group, she's the only child of a young, single mum, and her life is decidedly less privileged. And even though her mom knows she's bisexual, she hasn't mustered the courage to tell her friends - not even her openly gay BFF, Simon.
So Leah really doesn't know what to do when her rock-solid friend group starts to fracture in unexpected ways. With prom and college on the horizon, tensions are running high. It's hard for Leah to strike the right note while the people she loves are fighting-especially when she realizes she might love one of them more than she ever intended.
Book Review:
Like everyone else who loves YA, I read Simon Vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda and fell head over heels in love with it. Therefore I was quite scared when I discovered that there was a sequel but it did not disappoint. Leah On the Offbeat is a wonderfully YA that I love and wish that I could push into the hands of everyone. Definitely one of my favourites of the year! I wish I could give it all the stars!!
I think that one of the best parts of the book obviously the fact that it is told through the eyes of characters we know and love. Of course, this is Leah who I love throughout the book. She is fun, interesting and lovely to read about. I especially like the fact that her Mum is from a lower economic background as this is something that you see in YA and definitely explores those troubles. I also loved the way that her weight was dealt with in the book especially from someone who is overweight themselves it was great to see myself represented in a book that way. Also, I loved Leah's Mum to death and she too was a great character which is nice to see as many of them YA parents are not developed in this way.
You, of course, have the gang back together and it is interesting to read about the different dynamics that are seen in the book that are different to Simon Vs. I especially loved reading out the relationship between Simon and Blue seeing it develop of the course of the story because obviously, not everything goes to plan. There is of course also Abby and Nick and I really love how Abby developed through the book and developed in her relationship with Leah. I had all the feels. Although I love the book to pieces I did find that Nick was slightly off in the book. It was completely understandable to the plot but it was a little weird but did not prevent the overall plot for me.
There were many things that I also really loved about the book. Leah having a hobby for a start which she was passionate and good at. It's the little things. There is also a couple of Love Simon references which were a nice touch and definitely made me laugh. I also adored the fact that there are also references to YA books throughout which was meta but also great! The book also tackles rascism in a small way which was nice to read about especially with Leah calling out another character in the book. The relationships were definitely the thing that I loved seeing develop in the book and were the best but it was also lovely seeing the struggles and trials of school and university being tackled in the book. I just loved everything about it and it was so damn cute. Just read it!
The Verdict:
Leah On The Offbeat is everything that a sequel to Simon Vs. needs to be. It's cute, it's funny, it's heartwarming, it's the book that everyone needs to read. Like now.
Title: Leah On The OffbeatAuthor: Becky Albertalli Source: NetGalleyPublisher: PenguinRating: 5/5 stars( Goodreads |Amazon)
Book Summary:
Leah Burke - girl-band drummer, master of deadpan, and Simon Spier's best friend from the award-winning Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda - takes centre stage in this novel of first love and senior-year angst.
When it comes to drumming, Leah Burke is usually on beat - but real life isn't always so rhythmic. An anomaly in her friend group, she's the only child of a young, single mum, and her life is decidedly less privileged. And even though her mom knows she's bisexual, she hasn't mustered the courage to tell her friends - not even her openly gay BFF, Simon.
So Leah really doesn't know what to do when her rock-solid friend group starts to fracture in unexpected ways. With prom and college on the horizon, tensions are running high. It's hard for Leah to strike the right note while the people she loves are fighting-especially when she realizes she might love one of them more than she ever intended.
Book Review:
Like everyone else who loves YA, I read Simon Vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda and fell head over heels in love with it. Therefore I was quite scared when I discovered that there was a sequel but it did not disappoint. Leah On the Offbeat is a wonderfully YA that I love and wish that I could push into the hands of everyone. Definitely one of my favourites of the year! I wish I could give it all the stars!!
I think that one of the best parts of the book obviously the fact that it is told through the eyes of characters we know and love. Of course, this is Leah who I love throughout the book. She is fun, interesting and lovely to read about. I especially like the fact that her Mum is from a lower economic background as this is something that you see in YA and definitely explores those troubles. I also loved the way that her weight was dealt with in the book especially from someone who is overweight themselves it was great to see myself represented in a book that way. Also, I loved Leah's Mum to death and she too was a great character which is nice to see as many of them YA parents are not developed in this way.
You, of course, have the gang back together and it is interesting to read about the different dynamics that are seen in the book that are different to Simon Vs. I especially loved reading out the relationship between Simon and Blue seeing it develop of the course of the story because obviously, not everything goes to plan. There is of course also Abby and Nick and I really love how Abby developed through the book and developed in her relationship with Leah. I had all the feels. Although I love the book to pieces I did find that Nick was slightly off in the book. It was completely understandable to the plot but it was a little weird but did not prevent the overall plot for me.
There were many things that I also really loved about the book. Leah having a hobby for a start which she was passionate and good at. It's the little things. There is also a couple of Love Simon references which were a nice touch and definitely made me laugh. I also adored the fact that there are also references to YA books throughout which was meta but also great! The book also tackles rascism in a small way which was nice to read about especially with Leah calling out another character in the book. The relationships were definitely the thing that I loved seeing develop in the book and were the best but it was also lovely seeing the struggles and trials of school and university being tackled in the book. I just loved everything about it and it was so damn cute. Just read it!
The Verdict:
Leah On The Offbeat is everything that a sequel to Simon Vs. needs to be. It's cute, it's funny, it's heartwarming, it's the book that everyone needs to read. Like now.
