Amy Powis's Blog, page 6

Anti-TBR Tag

Book Tags have always been a staple in the book community, but sometimes there are not a lot of them about, or they just are not as popular. Over the last couple of months, I have seen the Anti-TBR Tag going around Booktube so I thought I would give it ago. The tag was created by Nicole & Her Books so feel free to check out her channel. Let's get started with the tag...

1. A popular book EVERYONE loves that you have no interest in reading? 

Any romance book, but the one that I am really think about is A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. I am just not interested in anything that mentions sex and I just don't want to read about this type of fey. 

2. A classic book (or author) you don't have an interest in reading?

I own books by Jane Austen but after reading Pride & Prejudice, I don't really have any interest in reading any more of her books. I just think that Jane Austen is for me and that's OK. 

3. An author whose book you have no interest in reading? 

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie who has also been a transphobe in  her views. Her books are also really long and I am just never really want to pick them up. But mainly we don't support transphobes on this blog. 

3.2 A problematic author whose books you have no interest in reading? 

The author that must not be named. (The way that I have written it can give you who it is.) We support trans rights on this blog, not transphobes. 

4. An author you have read a couple of books from & have decided their books are not for you?

So I grew up on Holly Bourne's books and every time she had a new release I got really excited and now I don't as much. I think that I am just growing out of her YA books but I will definitely try to read her adult stuff. 

5. A genre you have no interest in OR a genre you tried to get into & couldn't?

So I'm not that interested in romance book, especially like smutty books. I am not interest in sex in real life and am not interest to read about it in books too. I have tried a couple of books but I can't get past some of the language. I understand why people like it but it is just not for me.

6. A book you have bought but will never read?

The Lord Of The Rings trilogy. I have bought it on multiple occasions. I have tried to read it on a couple of times but I just can't get into it. I do have an audiobook so I think the only way that I will read it is if I am forced. 

7. A series you have no interest in reading OR a series you started & have dnf'ed?

I have really liked the original Miss Peregrine's series but I just don't think that I will read the new series. This might change when I finally get to Library Of Souls but for now I am not interested. 

8. A new release you have no interest in reading?  

Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi as I know that it has to do with a cancer diagnosis which I don't feel comfortable reading about now. The book so seem like a good premise so hopefully I will feel comfortable reading it soon. 

What books are on your Anti-TBR? Let me know in the comments. 

See you soon, 

Amy

Book Review: Burn by Patrick Ness

 * I am reviewing this book which I was gifted for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. *

Title: BurnAuthor: Patrick NessPublisher: Walker Books
Source: From Netgalley

(Bookshop UK| Hive| Goodreads | Storygraph)

Book Summary:
On a cold Sunday evening in early 1957, Sarah Dewhurst waited with her father in the parking lot of the Chevron Gas Station for the dragon he’d hired to help on the farm.

This dragon, Kazimir, has more to him than meets the eye. Sarah can’t help but be curious about him, an animal who supposedly doesn’t have a soul but is seemingly intent on keeping her safe from the brutal attentions of Deputy Sheriff Emmett Kelby.

Kazimir knows something she doesn’t. He has arrived at the farm because of a prophecy. A prophecy that involves a deadly assassin, a cult of dragon worshippers, two FBI agents – and somehow, Sarah Dewhurst herself. 
Book Review:

I have been a massive fan of Patrick Ness for years, since the release of The Rest Of Us Just Live Here so whenever he puts out a new book, I have my preorder ready. One of my favourite things about Patrick Ness is that he is not afraid to write stories that you don't quite expect and that is Burn. Burn is a story that kept me guessing until the end which features lovable characters to keep you reading.

It is fair to say that Burn was nothing like I was expecting but that is not a bad thing. In fact, it is all but a good thing. 
Like most people I knew the basics, the fact that it was set in the 1950s and that there were dragons, but Burn is so much more than that. Once you get past the first act, the whole world shifts and I was not imagining that it would go that way. 
I will say that it does quite weird but for me, this is a good thing. I love how Patrick Ness takes an idea that has been done in YA and flips it on its head. All this kept me really invested in the story and I finished it really quickly in about one or days. This is a credit to Patrick Ness's writing of course!
With this, I did like the setting, as I have always wanted to read about books in the 1950s and I think that the time period is utilised well. As a time in the Cold War era, ideas such as race and sexuality are discussed. They are key ideas with the main protagonist, Sarah being BIPOC and one of the side characters being gay. I also liked how dragons were placed in the plot as there is a way that you expect dragons to be in the story but this was shifted around. 

I really connected to the characters and they were the main draw point of the story. We see them all go on journeys and change just as the story does. Although I really liked Sarah as a character, I really loved Malcolm and seeing his progression throughout the story made my heart melt.
I want to recommend the audiobook as the narrator, Joniece Abbott-Pratt because I loved listening to her bring the story to life.  
Like a lot of Patrick Ness stories, I always think about revisiting them so I will have to revisit this weird story soon.

The Verdict:
Patrick Ness has created a wholly imaginative and exciting world in Burn where you consistently guess what happens is going to happen next. 
Have you read Burn? Do you want to? Let me know in the comments. 

Social Fatigue: Is it the pandemic?

One thing that has really been on my mind lately is my lack of social energy or as I have mentioned in the title, social fatigue. I mean this in the fact that I am that person who has to be in the right frame of mind to answer back to engage with messages and conservation. I rarely engage in conversations myself and I am the epitome of the will answer in 30 seconds or 28 days meme. 

There is no in-between.

I will just say it. It is the one thing that I really dislike about myself because I generally feel like an awful human being most of the time and that I am being a bad person and a bad friend. 

I always say to myself whenever someone messages me that I am going to reply straight away and this is finally the time. 

But something always happens. 

I'm working. I don't feel up to it. I generally forget. The possibility feels endless but those are the main ones. 

As I have tried to fix it, I have often wondered what it is about me that makes it happen. There seems to be too many reasons for these two and looking through my social media accounts, I don't seem to be the only one with this problem. 

So I just want to talk about it because if this helps someone else then I've done my blog right. 

So one of the first reasons is that I have social anxiety and talking to people, in general, makes me so scared. On some occasions, I literally want to scream if I have said something wrong or hit my head multiple times to make it stop. (My head was going in a different direction but I stopped myself.) 

So you can see why it takes me so long because thinking that I have said the wrong thing is massive and I feel like I am going to wreck everything. I don't but it makes me feel bad. Even the late replying makes me think the same thing and that I have destroyed everything. 

The second thing is that I know I am an introvert. An introvert who works in a front-facing fast-food position where I can speak to between 100 and 300 people a day. As you can imagine the last thing that I want to do when I get home is socially active. I like everyone who I am friends with but I do need quiet time and tend to watch TV or read but sometimes that is hard. 

Don't get me wrong I have tried but I do find it hard. I am also disabled and often do just want to sleep after I have finished a 9 to 5/5.30. I just have no energy left and try to do the bare minimum e.g. reading or watching TV. 

As you can imagine all of this one it's own is a lot but this is failing to mention that we are currently in a pandemic. (You have probably read the title but let's be real who forgot.) It is here that mental health is being spoken about. Because I am not the only one who is struggling. 

When I have thought about this idea, I don't think it is coincident that I started exploring this idea in my head in the last year. I had always been bad at starting messages but replying to them is different. This is a change. 

Being away from people, I do think that the pandemic has had an impact. I am not speaking to people outside of work, I'm often with customers and am by myself. I have lost how to communicate with people. Including in digital form. And I think that a lot of others are finding it hard to. 

Because if you are alone or if you are with family, you are comfortable. Lockdown One was the best mentally I have felt in a long time. And do you know why? Because I wasn't pushing myself socially. My social bubble became smaller and to break out of was difficult. As I am finding out now.

When people think about mental health is the pandemic, I think they imagine people worrying about money and businesses closing but it is having other impacts that you are only just touching the surface of. 

As it kind of feels like we are coming out of the tunnel, maybe soon will find what the real impacts are. Because I think they run deeper than we could ever know. 

See you soon, 

Amy

Book Review: The Extraordinaries by T J Klune

 * I am reviewing this book which I was gifted for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. *

Title: The ExtraordinariesAuthor: T J KlunePublisher: Hodder/ Hodderscape
Source: From Netgalley

(Bookshop UK| Hive| Goodreads | Storygraph)

Book Summary:
In Nova City, there are extraordinary people, capable of feats that defy the imagination. Shadow Star protects the city and manipulates darkness, and Pyro Storm is determined to bring the city to its knees using his power over fire.

And then there's Nick who . . . well, being the most popular fanfiction writer in the Extraordinaries fandom is a superpower, right?

Instead of fighting crime, Nick contends with a new year at school, a father who doesn't trust him, and a best friend named Seth, who may or may not be the love of Nick's short, uneventful life.

It should be enough. But after a chance encounter with Shadow Star, Nova City's mightiest hero (and Nick's biggest crush), Nick sets out to make himself extraordinary. And he'll do it with or without Seth's reluctant help . . .

Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl meets Brandon Sanderson's Steelheart in TJ Klune's YA debut: a queer coming-of-age story about a fanboy with ADHD and the heroes he loves. 
Book Review:
T J Klune has been one of those authors that everyone has been raving about over the last couple of years. Even though I wanted to read House Of The Cerulean Sea, there was something about The Extraordinaries that captured my attention. It was everything I wanted it to be, and I am sad that I read a great book at the start of the year. 
I have to admit that when I first started to read it, there was a disconnect with the story, and I did not love it. I left it alone a bit and came back to the story again, and it was like something clicked. The writing style and T J Klune's voice is so distinct and funny that it draws you in. Once I was immersed in the story, I found it so hard to leave. This especially happened towards the end of the book, as I just had to know what happened.  
One of the majors draws to the story has to be the audiobook. The narrator, Michael Lesley, does a great job of bringing the characters and the story to life. So scenes were so well-done that I was laughing out loud. This is also a credit to T J Klune's writing of course. 
I am a major fan of superhero stories which was a big plus point for me, and I think justice is done to the genre. The story is really grounded. Even though it is set in Nova City, Nick is really relatable and is basically a massive ball of chaotic gay energy. I also think that it is at its heart a superhero story but still manages to keep the stakes quite low. No mythic alien came down in the final acts, and all the tension is built up previously. 
I loved seeing the plot evolve and progress over the story, and I think it has to be one of the only superhero stories that wanted you to know the secrets before the characters. I managed to guess a couple of reveals quite early on, and I think this was there to reinforce Nick as a character. 
The story also focuses on family and friendship, and all of these are so well-developed throughout. I loved the relationship with Nick and his Dad and how it evolved over the book through some events. The friendship was also great, and I especially loved Gibby and their involvement in the plotline. 
It is also less common to get gay characters at the focus of the story, and The Extraordinaries does that which I loved. Nick also has ADHD, which was really great to see although I can't speak for the representation. Also, Nick goes on a journey throughout, and I loved how flawed he was. I think we can see the main protagonists perfect, but Nick develops so much over the course of the novel and makes so many mistakes that were great to read about. 
Basically, I loved this book and the epilogue/ post-credits scene, left some answers open, and I can't wait to see what happens in Flash Fire!
The Verdict:
The Extraordinaries is a fun and entertaining superhero story featuring chaotic gay vibes with a lot of heart. 
Have you read The Extraordinaries? Do you want to? Let me know in the comments!

Expect the Unexpected: Turning 24

Since I turned 21, I have written a piece about the current year and what to expect in the coming year. After last year I told myself to expect the unexpected because I had a really crappy mental health year in 2019 and did not know that it would happen.

If only I had known.

It's weird because at the time of writing it COVID was a thing. I remember seeing a news article about it before I went to sleep on the 31st December and thought it will probably be nothing. That it wouldn't affect the West. 

Of course, I was wrong. I told myself to expect the unexpected, and I may have jinxed it.

As I write this, I am officially 24. Birthday plans out the window as we are in a third lockdown. Trust me when I say that I would rather be in lockdown than be open, but as someone who works in fast food, it doesn't feel like lockdown because I served over 250 people yesterday. 

Like most people in their 20s, I do feel like I have lost some time. I'm still living at home. I'm working in a job that I don't see as permanent, but I know how grateful I am to have it. I have a dream and feel anxious to peruse it, but I think the pandemic has told us anything. It might be to just go for it because anything can happen. 

I just have to tell myself that.

It's weird to say that the last year, I did do something. I read most books, watched the most films and completed my degree. Compared to the previous year, my mental health was good. It was bad ar some times, but things got really blurry in 2019. The thing is that we never know what is going to happen. Some things are not imaginable, and others can come in complete surprise.

But let's be real, we can never know.

I want to be a realist. I know that like last year, this is not going to be my year. We are still in the thick of it, and it's going to be a while to change.

It has made me miss the smallest things, but that has only made me want them back even more. We all want something we can't have and want to do everything to get it back.

I can't predict this year. I know that I am now 24 and I'm going to try to do the best with what I have. 
Whatever may happen. 

Gut Feelings by C.G. Moore Book Review

  * I am reviewing this book which I was gifted for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. *

Title: Gut FeelingsAuthor: C.G. MoorePublisher: uclanpublishing
Source: From Netgalley and Publisher

(Bookshop UK| Hive| Goodreads | Storygraph)

Book Summary:
At school, I learned that words,
More than weapons,
Could destroy bodies,
Could break hearts
More than fists or fury.

This is the story of Chris, what happened to him at age eleven and how that would change the rest of his life. A life-affirming and powerful coming of age verse novel that shines a light on chronic illness, who we are and how we live.

Book Review:

After reading and loving Fall Out by C.G. Moore, I was really excited to read Gut Feelings when it was announced. Having read it in under 24 hours, I can say that Gut Feelings in a worthy successor to Fall Out and everyone should read a copy.

The word, “raw” gets thrown around a lot with books, and I would admit that I do it through, but there is something about Gut Feelings that know it was made for that word. After reading the first section, something inside of me was transported to his emotions at that moment. This rarely happens to me anymore, so when it did, I was shocked because it really took me off guard.

At this moment, I knew it was good.

When I say that the book was raw, I literally felt every moment come off the page. The verse is definitely his medium, and I allowed me to feel every emotion, even how hard it could be. His voice came off the page, and from that moment, I was in for the rest of the story. Listening to Chris talk at his book launch, I know that he wrote a lot of it really quickly, but you couldn’t tell at all. If anything, that made it better as it definitely came from a special place.

Even though this book can stand alone, it is heightened by the illustrations and some of the page’s choices. Everything from some places where the text blurs when he is going under anaesthetic, to different word placements of the page all came together to enhance the story.

Even with more YA books are being published featuring characters with disabilities, hidden disabilities are less common, and even though this is a true story, I hope this continues in the future. As someone who has a disability, all be in a physical one, I still connected to C. G’s progression with his disability and how he learns to accept it. Some of the poems did affect me, and this book will help so many people in the future.

As well as this, there is going to be greater awareness given to hidden disabilities and the discourse that happens when people are seen as able-bodied as they have invisible disabilities. If this can break down stigma and help others emphasise with their own conditions, then it is for the better.

As someone who did not know anything about Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), this book allowed me to learn more, and the condition and I hope that this book gets into the hands of everyone who needs it. C.G. writes about his condition so honestly and frankly and I am sure that so many people will connect with his words on a personal level. Even though I could connect with some elements, some people will need it so much more.

As it is a true story, it seems so weird to comment on those in the book, but I think by sharing his family’s story, C.G. will help so many people so thank you for writing it.

You can tell the love and care that uclanpublishing put into the book because the attention to detail and the small things make a world of difference. It shows that these are supported for books that focus on disabilities, mostly hidden ones.

This has further cemented C.G. Moore to be one of my favourites, and I can’t wait to read more of his books. He is definitely one to watch!

The Verdict:

Gut Feelings is a raw and lyrical look at life with a disability that hits readers to the core. It is a must-read for all YA readers alike.  

Books I Wanted To Read In 2020 But Didn't Get To

There were many great books released in 2020, and I didn't get to all of them, which was really disappointing as some of those that I missed were from my favourite authors. Hopefully, I will get to these ten this year, but we will see. So let's see the books...

1. Grief Angels by David Owen

I have loved many David Owen's books, and I was really looking forward to his new book that released in 2020, but I didn't really get to it. Being a pandemic, my mental health has been quite rocky this whole time so when I feel like I am in a good state of mind to read about grief, I will definitely pick this one up! 

2. Boy Queen by George Lester

I have been following George online for a couple of years and watched his writing vlogs when he was writing this book. This made me really excited to get to this one, but it just didn't happen. This book follows Robin, who discovers drag culture, and I am sure it will be great when I finally get to it!

3. You Don't Live Here by Robyn Schneider

I really do like the last three books that Robyn Schneider has released, so I was really excited to read her next book, but I just didn't get to it which I was really disappointed about. I don't really know much about it apart from it having a bisexual character, but it's Robyn Schneider, so I am sure that I will love it when I finally get to it!

4. The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker by Lauren James

I have loved Lauren James's books, and I really wanted to read The Reckless Afterlife Of Harriet Stoker as I wanted to read more outside my original genre. Although I didn't get to it in 2020, I am eager to read it this year as I wanted to read more of antihero characters and find a new favourite by Lauren James. 

5. The Pieces of Ourselves by Maggie Harcourt

Again, like the others on the list, I love all of Maggie Harcourt's books, and this one was right up my street. It has some historical elements and a focus on mental health, so I was so excited, but I didn't get to it again. I have put this on my Popsugar Reading Challenge, so hopefully, I finally have a chance to read it. 

6. Early Departures by Jason A. Reynolds

I thought that the Opposite Of Always was one of the most interesting books that I read in 2021 and when I discovered that Jason a. Reynolds had a new book out, I was so excited that I preordered the book even though it is published in the UK this year. I was really excited to find out how he made the book unique and interesting so like the rest of them, hopefully, I get to this one soon. 

7. Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett

Full Disclosure was a book that everyone was talking about last year, and although I had a copy and was going to pick up on multiple occasions, the time was never there. I was really interested in the HIV plot, and the fact that it was queer so wanted to get to it. I also have this as part of my Popsugar Challenge so fully it will be read then.

8. Eight Pieces of Silva by Patrice Lawrence

I read Orangeboy when it first came out and read the World Book Day, Snap a couple of days ago which made me really want to read this. I think that Patrice Lawrence can write thriller scenes really well and this is a full-blown thriller, so I want to see if I love it. I will hopefully get to this one soon!

9. Every Little Piece Of My Heart by Non Pratt

I had read so many of Non Pratt's books and was so excited when she was releasing a new one in 2020, and I bought it as soon as I can, but it has been unread on my shelf. Again I think this has some thrilling elements, so I am ready to read it as I am sure that it will be great!

10. Pet by Akwaeke Emezi 

Akwaeke Emezi has been an author that everyone on the internet has been talking about over the past year, and after I got Pet in a subscription box, I have been eager to read it. I keep looking over at Pet on multiple occasions thinking I would pick it up, but it never happened. Hopefully, I will get to it soon!

Did you have any books that you wanted to read but didn't get to? Let me know in the comments!
See you soon, 

Amy

Book Review: Renegades by Marissa Meyer

 * I am reviewing this book which I was gifted for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. *

Title: Renegades Author: Marissa MeyerPublisher: MyKindaBook
Source: From Publisher

(Bookshop UK| Hive| Goodreads | Storygraph)

Book Summary:
Secret identities. Extraordinary powers.
She wants vengeance. He wants justice.

The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies―humans with extraordinary abilities―who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone . . . except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice―and in Nova. But Nova’s allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.

New from Marissa Meyer, author of the #1 New York Times–bestselling Heartless, comes a high-stakes world of adventure, passion, danger, and betrayal. 
Book Review:
I have loved many Marissa Meyer's books during my reading experience, especially The Lunar Chronicles. When I saw that this was coming out, I was really excited for someone who really enjoys comic books films and superheroes. So when I finally read this, I was surprised as I did enjoy it, but I did have some problems with it. 
I should probably say that I tried so many times to read this, but I just couldn't get into it. I feel like it was just prolonged even though I did really connect with the prologue. I just couldn't get past the prologue on so many times, and I just gave up. I finally told myself that I wanted to finish it because of the good reviews, and I was still interested. 
Even though I did have some problems with the pacing and the beginning, I was sold once the book got going. I did like the setting, and I think it was well developed and I hope that this is something that we can see more in the sequel books. It does get to the point where some comic book TV series and films have got to where they are critiquing the world they live in. 
Marissa Meyer went did go there with the whole black and white comic book ideas. She plays with nuances so well as Nova is trying to navigate this world and doing what she believes is right, which is a common thread throughout the book with all of the characters. This was something that I really connected to and really enjoyed seeing throughout the book. 
I also loved most of the characters, including Nova and Adrian, both the characters themselves and their relationship. I like Adrian and his background in the story, which does have, which does contain some spoilers. I also enjoyed the different types of powers they had as it was more unique than what you normally see. I did like the world and would like to see where the story progresses. 
So even though I had so many problems getting into the book, I do want to continue with the series, whenever that may be. 

The Verdict:
Renegades is a book designed for anyone who loves anything comic related and like their stories complex and not black and white. 
Have you read Renegades? If so, did you like it? Do you want to? Let me know in the comments.

Popsugar Reading Challenge 2021

Like every year since 2015, I have the Popsugar Reading Challenge to diversify my reading. Over the course of the last year, I would like to think that I have done this and looking at the prompts for next year, I was shocked. Normally I find the challenge hard because I have no idea what to read for each prompt did this year differently as I basically have an idea what to read for each one, from my shelves. THIS NEVER HAPPENS! So I actually have a plan of a book to read for almost all of the prompts which is great for me as I normally just wing it. So let's see what I will (hopefully) be reading...

A book that’s published in 2021  Book I Want To Read: Gut Feelings by C. G. Moore
Book I Actually Read:
An Afrofuturist bookBook I Want To Read: The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin 
Book I Actually Read:
A book that has a heart, diamond, club, or spade on the cover Book I Want To Read: Heartbreak Boys by Simon James Green
Book I Actually Read:
A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign (Aquarius)Book I Want To Read: Knife Edge by Malorie Blackman 
Book I Actually Read: 
A dark academia bookBook I Want To Read: The Secret History by Donna Tartt 
Book I Actually Read:
A book with a gem, mineral, or rock in the titleBook I Want To Read: Salt To The Sea by Ruta Sepetys
Book I Actually Read:
A book where the main character works at your current or dream job Book I Want To Read: The Pieces Of Ourselves by Maggie Harcourt
Book I Actually Read:
A book that has won the Women’s Prize For Fiction Book I Want To Read: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Book I Actually Read:A book with a family treeBook I Want To Read: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Book I Actually Read:
A bestseller from the 1990s Book I Want To Read: Holes by Louis Sachar
Book I Actually Read:
A book about forgetting Book I Want To Read: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab 
Book I Actually Read:
A book you have seen on someone’s bookshelf (in real life, on a Zoom call, in a TV show, etc.) Book I Want To Read: Cemetry Boys by Aiden Thomas
Book I Actually Read:
A locked-room mystery Book I Want To Read: The Guest List by Lucy Foley 
Book I Actually Read:
A book set in a restaurant Book I Want To Read: Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Book I Actually Read:
A book with a black-and-white coverBook I Want To Read: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Book I Actually Read:
A book by an Indigenous authorBook I Want To Read: There, There by Tommy Orange
Book I Actually Read:
A book that has the same title as a song Book I Want To Read: The Sky Is Mine by Amy Beashel 
Book I Actually Read:
A book about a subject you are passionate aboutBook I Want To Read: Good As You by Paul Flynn
Book I Actually Read:
A book that discusses body positivityBook I Want To Read: Body Positive Power by Megan Crabbe
Book I Actually Read:
A book found on a Black Lives Matter reading listBook I Want To Read: The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin 
Book I Actually Read:
A genre hybrid Book I Want To Read: The Last of August by Britanny Cavallaro
Book I Actually Read:
A book set mostly or entirely outdoors Book I Want To Read: I Am Still Alive by Kate Alice Marshall
Book I Actually Read:
A book with something broken on the cover Book I Want To Read: Eight Pieces of Silva by Patrice Lawrence
Book I Actually Read:
A book by a Muslim American author Book I Want To Read: Internment by Samira Ahmed
Book I Actually Read:
A book that was published anonymously Book I Want To Read: The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-tongue (It's short)
Book I Actually Read:
A book with an oxymoron in the title Book I Want To Read: Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett
Book I Actually Read:
A book about do-overs or fresh starts Book I Want To Read: Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys
Book I Actually Read:
A magical realism book Book I Want To Read: Ask The Passengers by A.S. King
Book I Actually Read:
A book set in multiple countries Book I Want To Read: Conversations With Friends by Sally Rooney
Book I Actually Read:
A book set somewhere you’d like to visit in 2021 Book I Want To Read: Last Bus To Everland by Sophie Cameron 
Book I Actually Read:
A book by a blogger, vlogger, YouTube creator, or other online personality Book I Want To Read: A Beautiful Foolish Endeavour
Book I Actually Read:
A book whose title starts with “Q,” “X,” or “Z”Book I Want To Read: Quiet by Susan Cain
Book I Actually Read:
A book featuring three generations (grandparent, parent, child)Book I Want To Read: On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong 
Book I Actually Read:
A book about a social justice issue Book I Want To Read: Natives by Akala
Book I Actually Read:
A book in a different format than what you normally read (audiobooks, ebooks, graphic novels) Book I Want To Read: Dear Haiti With Love by Maika & Maritza Moulite 
Book I Actually Read:
A book that has fewer than 1,000 reviews on Amazon or Goodreads Book I Want To Read: My Heart Goes Bang by Keris Stainton 
Book I Actually Read:
A book you think your best friend would like Book I Want To Read: Percy Jackon & the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan 
Book I Actually Read:
A book about art or an artist Book I Want To Read: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Book I Actually Read:
A book everyone seems to have read but you Book I Want To Read: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Book I Actually Read:
Your favourite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge: Book With the Same Title As A Film  Book I Want To Read: Summerland by Lucy Adlington 
Book I Actually Read:
Advanced:
The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list Book I Want To Read: Complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
Book I Actually Read:
The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list Book I Want To Read: A Chaos Walking Novella by Patrick Ness
Book I Actually Read:
The book on your TBR list with the prettiest coverBook I Want To Read: Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
Book I Actually Read:
The book on your TBR list with the ugliest cover Book I Want To Read: Would You Rather by Katie Heaney 
Book I Actually Read:
The book that’s been on your TBR list for the longest amount of time Book I Want To Read: Daughter Of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Book I Actually Read:
A book from your TBR list you meant to read last year but didn’t Book I Want To Read: The Diviners by Libba Bray
Book I Actually Read:
A book from your TBR list you associate with a favourite person, place, or thing Book I Want To Read: Franny & Zooey by J.D. Salinger 
Book I Actually Read:
A book from your TBR list chosen at random Book I Want To Read: Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe 
Book I Actually Read:
A DNF book from your TBR list Book I Want To Read: Dune by Frank Herbert
Book I Actually Read:
A free book from your TBR list (gifted, borrowed, library)Book I Want To Read: After The Fire by Will Hill
Book I Actually Read:
Are you doing any reading challenges this year? If so, what are they? Let me know in the comments.
See you soon, 
Amy

Favourite Books of 2020

It is that time of the year again when we all go over our favourite books of the year. For me, books have definitely been an escape and as I have mentioned before I have read more books this year, 222, more than any other year that I have been recording my reading. I have so many favourites, and it was tough to cut down on the list. As a result, I have 15 favourites and some honourable mentions. So let's get started...

Honourable Mentions:

1. The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness
As you may have seen, I have two other Patrick Ness books on this list, but this is my favourite after careful consideration. I love all of the books by him that I read this year, but this one was on another level. I loved Todd and Viola's relationship, and the world's expansion adds so much dimension to the story and to Todd especially. I loved the themes explored, and there was a part of the story that just captured me, and I was along for the ride. Patrick Ness had me, and I was captured until the end of the book. 


2. The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman 
I know that many people dislike this one and I can definitely see why but I did think it was quite a satisfying end to the series. The ending itself was quite bittersweet, and I really did feel for both Lyra and Will. A scene in the middle reminded me of Avengers Endgame as it felt like everything was coming together and made me super happy. I did quite like it, hence why it is on the list. 

3. Deeplight by Frances Hardinge 
All I can say is that I am so happy that I finally got to this one! I had heard so much about Frances Hardinge that I was excited to get into this. It was a great story that was so lyrically written and had interesting relationships between the two main characters, dealing with toxic relationships ideas. Deafness was a major part of the book, and I think it was placed in the plot so well. Also, the worldbuilding was so interesting and unique and progressed the story. I loved it so much and want to see what else Frances Hardinge has written. 


4. A Throne of Swans by Katharine & Elizabeth Corr
Considering I just finished this one last night, it has to be said that this is probably the latest addition to a favourites list ever! I think at the beginning, I was not the biggest fan as I don't love court politics in fantasy, but as the book continued, I was hooked. I loved the characters, especially Lucien and Aderyn and their growing relationship. Once the plot got going, it didn't stop, and I was down for the whole ride. I loved it so much and preordered the sequel as soon as I could. 


5. The Great Godden by Meg Rosoff 
So if you saw my graphic novel list, you know that I love a good quiet summer book. This is what this is, so it was just my cup of tea. First I'm going to say that the audiobook for this is so well done by Andrew Scott and I loved every moment of it. The book is just so lyrically written that I was captivated by the whole thing, and I did want to saviour every minute of the book. The book also does not give the protagonist a name or gender, so it is up to the reader, which was interesting and unique. I would love to reread it as I don't think I can just leave it at one read.  

6. Meat Market by Juno Dawson 
It has been a while since I read a Juno Dawson book so when I saw an opportunity to read one of her books I did. Meat Market was just a really raw and emotional read which I was just quite flawed by. Juno Dawson is such a great writer and tackles some weighty topics from Me Too to drug and alcohol problems in the modelling industry. While some of it was hard to get through, I couldn't stop reading, and it was one of my favourites of the year. 

7. Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles
I picked this up on a whim one day and was so happy as I found something I really loved. It was a fast read, and I loved the discussion of toxic masculinity and sexuality. There was also a lot of discussion of religion, which I haven't really read about before. The main character also worked at a drive-thru, and as someone who works in one, it was accurate. I hope more people do pick this one up as it was a really great read!

8. With The Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo 
I have read the other two books by Elizabeth Acevedo, and while I enjoyed them, they never made my favourites list. From the first chapter, I knew that this was going to be a new favourite. I loved the cooking element and the Emoni's family and the trip to Spain. Elizabeth Acevedo's prose was just so poetic and easy to listen to and read, and I just loved every second of it. I normally stay away from books where the main character had a family, but this just proved me wrong. I will obviously read more from Elizabeth Acevedo in the future. 

9. You Should See Me In A Crown by Leah Johnson 
This book has been talked about non-stop this year and for a good reason, because it is YA at its finest. I started this, and I did have some high expectations, but this book definitely met them. I liked seeing the inclusion of family and friends in this book, and they were all well-developed. The whole prom storyline was great, and I loved reading about it. It was just such good YA, and I think it will become a new classic.

10. F.O.X.E.S. by M.A. Bennett
Even though it is a sequel, I have put it on this list because I feel like with every book in this series, M.A. Bennett's writing has been improving and this is her best book to date. I feel like I was quite scared when I saw this book was a five-book series because I didn't know where it would go. Still, M.A. Bennett manages to expand the world and the characters to make a really great addition in the series. I enjoyed the way that it tackled race and the Boxing Day hunts and left on a cliffhanger. I am excited for the next book as I have no idea where it is going to go.  

11. Fall Out by C.G. Moore 
I definitely did enjoy this one when I read it, and it is such an important read, so I had to include it on the list. Fall Out does not shy away from the more sensitive topics that LGBTQ+ people face and was surprisingly dark, but I still enjoyed my time reading it. It is well-written and focuses a lot on homophobia and Cal goes through so much over the course of the novel. The book still offers a lot of hope which completes the whole thing. I can't wait to read Gut Feelings which comes out later this month!

12. Read With Pride by Lucy Powrie
I loved the first book in this series, and this one was no different. I loved the characters in this book, introducing new characters and the return of the old ones. The focus on LGBTQ+ books was great as there should no be limits on them, and I loved seeing burnout throughout this book. I have not seen burnout featured so much in a book, and it would have been great to see if I had it as a teenager. I can't wait for the final book in the series. Lucy can do no wrong in these books full of bookish fun!


13. Sweet Sorrow by David Nicholls
I was really interested in this one as it had a YA feel and it definitely did pay off as it was one of my favourites of the year. Sweet Sorrow was again another one of those nostalgic, summer reads which just captured my heart. I liked the Shakespeare elements, the discussion of mental health and the relationship between Charlie and Fran. It was just great, and the audiobook is so good too.  

14. Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo 
I wasn't completely in love with Six Of Crows when I read and reread it, but Crooked Kingdom just hit differently. I actually got the characters, and I was laughing and felt for the characters so much. I raced through the book and felt so much throughout the course of the story. I had all of the emotions. Leigh Bardugo knows how to write a great story and all the reviews of this books were obviously right. 

15. The Starlight Watchmaker by Lauren James 
I have loved all of Lauren's books, and The Starlight Watchmaker is no exception. Even though this one is a smaller book made for Barrington Stoke, it still packed a punch. I fell in love with the world that was created and the relationship between Dorian and Hugo. It was a book that I immediately checked if there was a sequel which comes out this year. I have it preordered and cannot wait to read the next one when it comes out. 
What are some of your favourite books of the year? Let me know in the comments!
See you soon,
Amy