10 Awful Villains I Love to Hate | Top Ten Tuesday

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt was a villain freebie, meaning we get to talk all about bookish villains! When thinking of villains to include in this list, I was surprised at how difficult it was to find 10. One, because my most read genre is contemporary where the villain is usually internal. And two, because I don’t really have that many villains I hate. Of course, I can’t stand most villains but I’m not that affected by them because they’re usually interesting and help the plot exist essentially. However I was eventually able to come up with 10 villains that have really made an impact on me; be it rage or intrigue. I haven’t included descriptions this time because I feel like the title is self-explanatory enough and it would be very repetitive! Without further ado:

P.S – I’m sorry I haven’t posted anything in 2 weeks. University has taken quite a toll on me as I expected it to and my blogging schedule suffered as a result. I have been reading a lot of uni books, meaning I haven’t had time to read YA in the last month. My half-term break is coming up soon so hopefully I’ll use that time to get my shit together and schedule some blog posts haha. Thanks for understanding ♥

10 Villains I Love to Hate

1. Queen Levana from The Lunar Chronicles

2. Maram from Mirage

3. Valentine Morgenstern from The Mortal Instruments 

4. Jack Randall from Outlander

5. President Snow from The Hunger Games 

6. The Other Mother from Coraline

7. Nathaniel from The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender 

8. Julian’s uncle from A List of Cages

9. Prince Balekin from The Cruel Prince

10. The Darkling from The Grisha Trilogy

Are any of the above your favourite villains? If not, who are yours? Do you prefer villains you can love or ones you just hate? What’s makes a perfect book villain for you? Let’s chat in the comments ♥

As always, if you did this week’s prompt, feel free to link it and I’ll check it out!

I Hate Long Books, But I Really Want to Read These | Top Ten Tuesday

Ok, “hate” might be a strong word to use. I just prefer books that are shorter because they’re way less intimidating and I’m able to move on to a new book fairly quickly. Anything that’s over 500 pages, I consider loooong. However when I do muster up the time and courage to read a very long book, I’m always left extremely satisfied, and weirdly enough, wanting more. This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt has to do with the longest books we’ve read but since I honestly don’t have enough of those to share, I though I’d break down the longest books on my TBR instead. Sound good? Let’s start.

Longest Books on My TBR

1. Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

No matter how much I adored Outlander, I still get intimidated when I look over and see Dragonfly in Amber on my shelf. I’ve been wanting to pick it up for a while now, but since I didn’t read it this summer when I had a lot of free time I don’t think I’ll be picking it up until winter or next summer. I’m really looking forward to reading it though because I’ll finally be able to watch Season 2 of the TV show adaption (it’s the best thing ever, go watch it!).

2. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray

It is in moments like these that I question my sanity when I chose to study English Literature at university. I have to read this almost-1000-page book by Friday next week. The audiobook is around 36 hours long but if I read it on triple speed it’s only 12 hours, right??? I did buy a really pretty edition that has illustrations to help distract me from the fact it’s 1000 PAGES LONG.

3. The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

I began this book years ago but for some reason I just never finished it? I completely forgot what it is about but if I was once interested in it I’m sure it’s worth to try and read it again. This is going to be a 7 book series so I feel like I have pretty good odds of catching up before they’re all published (probably not but I can dream).

4. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

I mean doesn’t everyone need to read this at least once before they die? It’s such a big classic but even so I cannot begin to imagine what it’s about. Like does anyone really know the plot because I’ve never heard the synopsis anywhere (conspiracy theory: War and Peace is just 1300 pages of blank space).

5. The Diviners by Libba Bray

I’ve been hearing about this series again after such a long time. I don’t have the clearest idea of what it’s about but I do know it’s set in the 1920s in New York and has great representation + supernatural elements and what more could I want? The only thing that drives me crazy is that they changed the covers so many times! The UK covers were absolutely atrocious but now we’ve got slightly better ones. I’d just like a word with the person who decided to throw the beautiful cover above out the window :)))

6.Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Tolstoy makes a reappearance! This is actually the book I’m more likely to read by him. I’ve watched the trailer for the movie adaptation with Keira Knightley years ago but it made me want to read the book really badly. Can Keira Knightley just star in all classic adaptations please? But I seriously want to try and read more classic Russian authors like Tolstoy and Dostoevsky because I’ve heard they’re some of the best.

7. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

I was never interested in reading this book until one day I just was? I’ve been hearing good things about this series non-stop lately and I’m just intrigued by the unique storytelling method.  I’ve read a book by Amie Kaufman before and I just recently bought Nevernight by Jay Kristoff so I have no doubt I’ll enjoy Illuminae no matter how daunting it currently seems.

8. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

I love historical fiction novels that merge politics with literature and this family epic of a South Korean family living in Japan seems like something I would immediately devour. I actually met the author today and hearing her talk about the book made me want to read it even more. I have a feeling it might become a new favourite of mine once I get to it and I am so excited.

9. The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

I don’t think I’ve ever picked up an adult fantasy series but if I ever chose to, the Mistborn series will be my first choice. I think this might be one of the more “mainstream” fantasy series that even non-fans like me would know and enjoy. My sister is currently reading this one so she’ll probably be able to tell me if this 7 book series is worth the commitment.

10. Middlemarch by George Eliot

Again, why did I do this to myself? Kids, don’t do English Lit at university. I’m excited to finally read something by George Eliot but I’ve heard this book is quite overwhelming and pretentious so I’m a bit apprehensive. However, I’ll be discussing and dissecting it in class so I think I’ll be able to get the hang of it…otherwise I don’t know how I hope to graduate lol.

What’s the longest book you’ve read? What’s the longest book on your TBR? Have you read any of the books I mentioned? Do you prefer shorter or longer books? Let’s chat in the comments ♥ 

As always, if you did this week’s prompt, feel free to link it and I’ll check it out!

P.S- Sorry if this post is kind of incoherent, I wrote it at 4am when I was a complete discombobulated mess. #unilife

10 Amazing Authors I’m Excited to Meet This Year | Top Ten Tuesday

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is “Authors I’d Love to Meet”, but I thought it would be fun to talk about authors I’m really looking forward to meet this year. I’ve never attended a book signing event before so over the summer I booked to go to a bunch of them and I couldn’t be more excited! Some of these authors I’ve read books from while for others I’ve just heard amazing things and I’m really intrigued to hear more about them in person. Let’s begin!

10 Amazing Authors I’m Excited to Meet This Year

1. Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

It’s no secret that Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda has been my favourite YA contemporary read of the year. So when I saw Becky and Adam were doing a book tour for their upcoming collaboration What If It’s Us (which I’m currently reading!), I had to sign up. I also read Adam Silvera’s They Both Die at the End earlier this year and have been following him on Twitter since his debut came out, so it’s safe to say I’m pretty excited to meet them and get my books signed!

2. David Levithan and Patrick Ness

I’ve heard so many good things about both these authors’ books and I’m hoping that attending this event will motivate me to finally read them! I’ve owned Patrick Ness’s Chaos Walking trilogy since 2013 and it’s really about time I got to them.

3. E. Lockhart, Emily Barr and S.K. Wright

One of the most hyped book releases of 2014 I remember was E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars. It seemed like everyone had read that book, and of course I did too. I still think about it sometimes so I’m really looking forward to Meet E. Lockhart and hearing what her book Genuine Fraud is all about. I haven’t read any books by Emily Barr or S.K. Wright but I’ve seen the covers around so I guess I’ll find out what they’re about soon.

4. Markus Zusak

I think most people can say they’ve read and loved The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and he is finally releasing a new book after 12 YEARS. I loved The Book Thief and I am really eager to get my hands on his new novel and hear all he has to say about it!

5. Jodi Picoult

I’ve been wanting to read a Jodi Picoult book for such a long time now and seeing as she was having an event to promote her new book, A Spark of Light, it seemed like the perfect time to give her books a try! I’m hoping I’ll fall in love with this book and Jodi Picoult’s writing as so many other did so that I can then read some of her more famous works.

6. Min Jin Lee

Over the course of the last few months I’ve heard such fantastic things about Pachinko. It’s a historical fictional family epic and it’s size and density makes it a bit intimidating at first glance. However, I love books that merge literature with politics so I’m excited to hear about this book of a South Korean family living in Japan in the 20th century (and hopefully read it by the end of the year!).

Have you read any books by these authors? Are some of them your favourites? Have you ever attended a book signing? Who’s would you die to attend to? Let’s chat in the comments ♥

As always, if you did this week’s prompt, feel free to link it and I’ll check it out!

 

 

Obsidian- A Rant Review Led By Quotes and GIFs

Title: Obsidian (Lux #1)

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Published: 29th November 2011 by Entangled Publishing

Goodreads Synopsis: Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something… unexpected happens. The hot alien living next door marks me. You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. If I don’t kill him first, that is. 

I went into this book expecting a fun and lighthearted read about aliens. I wasn’t expecting award winning writing or plot, just a fun and quick read. But I couldn’t even get that. Finishing the book was a real struggle. There were so many times I wanted to DNF it but I pushed through only for it to get worse as the book progressed. Great. Now if you enjoyed this book, that’s amazing and I honestly wish I had as well. I totally understand why someone would enjoy it, but it just wasn’t for me. At all.

Although I’m mostly going to focus on the two main characters in this “review”, the writing in this book wasn’t great either. It wasn’t anything special and was very easy to read since it was dominated by dialogue and little to no descriptions. Also NOTHING HAPPENED. Seriously, the book is entirely made up of character interaction and a smidge of action, nothing else. I feel like it would have been a pretty boring book regardless of how much I hated the characters. This review will be led by quotes and GIFs as words are simply not enough to describe my feelings towards this book. Let’s start!

I was really excited to read about a MC who’s a book blogger. I mean how cool and relatable is that? But unfortunately Katy managed to annoy me from the get go.

Even in scrubs she made me look dull with my grey eyes and plain brown hair. And somehow I needed up more…round than her. Curvy hips,  puffy lips, and huge eyes that Mom loved but made me look like a demented kewpie doll.

I’m sorry are we supposed to feel bad for her? Curvy hips, big eyes and lips? Yeah really ugly characteristic you got there Katy. I just can’t handle when female characters are self-deprecating, especially when they’re obviously freaking gorgeous. No shade, but Katy reminds me of a female MC a male writer would write. If this wasn’t bad enough she mentions how dull she looks yet AGAIN, in case we forgot between those 100 pages.

Light brown hair fell to the middle of my back and I was nervous of ever cutting it. My eyes were a plain grey-not magnetic or compelling like Dee’s. My lips were full but not expressive as my mom’s.

So she also has GREY EYES. Oh I’m sorry, “plain” grey eyes. Of course, she acts all shocked when the love interest, Daemon, tells her she’s beautiful.

Speaking of Daemon, I’ve never encountered a love interest that is so arrogant and rude. He seriously has no redeeming qualities except his care towards his sister and his 6-pack-abs (which Katy never fails to mention).

I found the relationship between the two to be very…umh…annoying, problematic, cringey; everything along those lines. He treats and talks to Katy like she’s literal garbage. He belittles her, embarrasses her on purpose and is a straight up jackass towards her but she still ends up falling for him. HOW? I get the whole bad boy thing, but he still has to be likeable to some extent, no?? Apparently not.

Even though I couldn’t stand him and I actually think he might be the first person I ever hated, he was…he was a god

I was caught between wanting to crawl into my locker and crawl into him.

I was big enough to admit there was a part of me that wanted him to want me.

Very brave of you to admit that Katy, as if it wasn’t obvious from the FIRST FREAKING CHAPTER.

But maybe they actually deserve each other because Katy is very judgemental and undermining of other girls.

I forced myself to smile at the girl. I had no reason to be jealous or care, but damn this girl was pretty.

Yes be threatened and jealous of a girl just because she’s pretty and hangs out with the guy you supposedly hate. Makes sense.

They were cheerleaders. Yawn.

Yeah and you’re way more interesting than them wearing a shirt that says “My Blog is Better than Your Vlog”

She’s also really hypocritical because whenever Daemon is an ass to her she forgives him even though he doesn’t apologise (God, he was such a jerk, but my anger eased off) but when someone else makes a mistake they profusely apologise for she says “I wasn’t forgiving him anytime soon. Drunk or not, it wasn’t an excuse for being an overbearing ass” Fantastic.

Daemon treats Katy like crap but is somehow all up in her business when someone tries to ask her out. He’s also very controlling.

Dee is taking you home. And I swear if I have to show you over my shoulder and carrycot out of here, I will.

And the worse thing is Katy knows all this, she gets it but she STILL wants to be with him.

“Arrogant. Controlling.” I took another step back, but he was still in my personal space and then some. “And you’re…you’re a jerk.”

Oh great you’re telling him off! Are we finally gonna be done with his ass? Oh you’re just going to make-out with him now instead? Fabulous.

And there was the real Daemon, Still a total badass, but there was a pain in him, a vulnerability in the lines of his face that I doubted anyone ever got to see.

Hey guys, it’s all good because Daemon is a total softie on the inside. He just had some bad things happen to him that excuse his really disgusting behaviour.

At the end Katy manages to sort of ends things.

No. Sorry. You have spent months being the biggest jerk to me, you don’t get to decide to like me one day and think I will forget all that.

But she isn’t really able to keep it up.

Even though deep down, I did want to be with him.

So I’ll just assume Daemon manages to win her over with his killer smile in the second book. I’m assuming because there’s no way in hell I’m putting myself through that again.

Because this was absolutely insane- the craziest thing I’d ever done. Worse than giving a one-star review.

On that note.

Have you read Obsidian? Did you love it, hate it or was it just meh? Is it on your TBR? Tell me anything and everything and let’s chat in the comments ♥

10 Amazing Series That I Need to Finish in This Lifetime | Top Ten Tuesday

This week’s TTT prompt is “Books By My Favourite Authors That I Still Haven’t Read”, but I thought it’d be fun to switch it up a bit and make it “Series I Still Haven’t Finished Yet”. Although some of these authors aren’t my favourites I still loved their writing and would really want to finish their series in the near future.

P.S- I’ve really been wanting to connect with more bloggers outside of the blogosphere so if you have a Twitter/Instagram please leave it in the comments so I can add you!

10 Amazing Series I Really Need to Finish

1. The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski

I read the first two books of this series right when they were released and I loved them so much. Unfortunately, the last book came out while I was on my reading hiatus so I have forgotten almost all the details which means this series is long overdue for a re-read. I love the whole concept of this book as it centres around the concept of the winner’s curse, which basically states that the winner of an auction has also lost, because he/she has won by paying more than what the majority of other bidders thought the item is worth. These books are definitely on my priority list.

2. Wayward Children by Seanan McGuire

I read the first two books in this companion series earlier this year and was completely blown away. They’re books that pack a punch in less than 200 pages, and give off a way creepier vibe than I originally thought. I’m really excited to get to the third book and hopefully finish it before the release of the fourth one in January!

 

3. The Trials of Apollo by Rick Riordan

Rick Riodan is my hero and I vowed to read everything he writes so I’m very upset I have not caught up to this series yet. The first book was amazing (how can a book with Apollo as the MC not be?) and I’m sure the sequels are even better because that’s how it usually is with Rick Riordan’s books. It’s a five books series so I hope I can catch up to the series before the release of the fourth book next year.

4. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

This is a very ambitious one. I absolutely loved Outlander but man are the books long. And they just keep getting longer! The only thing that’s really motivating me to continue the series is that I want to watch Season 2 of the Starz Outlander adaption but don’t want to be spoiled for the books. The series is currently at 8 books and it takes Diana Gabaldon 4-5 years to write a new one, so I should be caught up on the series by the time I’m 50 :)))))

5. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

I read Six of Crows last year and of course loved it like everyone else. I began the sequel and I honestly don’t know what happened from there because I never finished it. I read about 100 pages before I stopped for whatever reason life threw at me at the time. I’ve heard from multiple people that the Crooked Kingdom is even better than SoC so I just need to convince myself to start from the beginning again. Since Leigh Bardugo announced she’ll write a third book “many years down the line”, I’ll have to finish it at some point.

6. The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater

Unpopular opinion incoming but I’m not a big fan of The Raven Cycle series (I know I’m horrible). I read the first three books and honestly they were quite boring in my opinion. I loved the characters (although they could be obnoxiously pretentious sometimes) but the storyline just didn’t interest me one bit. I kept reading them because of the hype and then swore I wouldn’t read the last book but fml Blue Lily, Lily Blue ended on a massive cliffhanger. I tried looking up a detailed spoilery summary of The Raven King but to no avail. And so I am strongly considering picking up the final book because for the first time in this series, my curiosity is peaked.

7. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Taherah Mafi had the whole bookish community in shock when she announced she was adding three more books to the Shatter Me series. THREE. Shatter Me was one of the first YA books I had ever read so it holds a lot of nostalgia and emotional value for me. I’m a bit scared to read Restore Me because I quite liked how the trilogy originally ended and because I’m afraid I won’t like it as much as when I was 14 (for obvious reasons). Nevertheless I’ll have to take the plunge soon because I miss all the characters and I’m excited to see the story unfold from where it left off last time.

8. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Yikes, I know. I mentioned in a previous post but growing up Percy Jackson was my Harry Potter and Rick Riordan was my J.K. Rowling. I read the first book of HP in 2014 and it just wasn’t the same as it would have been if I had read it when I was younger. I’m still adamant to finish this series eventually; whether it be when I’m 25 or reading it to my kids in the future.

9. Penryn and the End of Days by Susan Ee

I read this series when the final book wasn’t out yet and just kind of momentarily forgot about it when it finally did come out. It’s really a shame because this series is such an epic and dark YA urban fantasy about an angel apocalypse with a kick-ass female heroine and witty banter between the characters. I did forget a lot of details about the characters and storyline so I’d really need a refresher before diving back into the world.

10. The Iron Trial by Cassandra Clare and Holly Black

I haven’t been reading a lot of middle grade lately so I feel like continuing this series would be the perfect opportunity to do so. I read the first book way back when and I actually remember quite a lot of what happens. Since all the books are out now and they’re really easy reads it’d make for a great binge reading session.

 

What are some series you need to finish? What are some you’ve just given up on? Have you read some of the series I mentioned above? Which one do I really need to continue? Let’s chat in the comments ♥

As always, if you did this week’s prompt, feel free to link it!

 

Bookish A-Z Survey Tag

I was recently tagged by the lovely Siobhan to do this tag! I truly suck at keeping up with tags so if you’ve tagged me in one I promise I’ll get to it (eventually!). Let’s get to it!

A- Author you’ve read the most books from

Definitely Cassandra Clare. Having read all the Shadowhunter books along with The Iron Trial, it comes down to a total of 12 books! As long as she keeps putting out books, I’ll be there to buy them.

B- Best sequel ever

Hands down Lord of Shadows, can I please just have Queen of Air and Darkness in my hands already??

C- Currently reading

I’m currently in the middle of The Cruel Prince, I’m only 100 pages away from the end and I’m feeling so many emotions!!

D- Drink of choice while reading

I can’t multitask to save my life so I don’t drink anything whilst reading. But if I had to choose I’d pick hot chocolate over anything any day, it’s the superior and very underrated warm beverage.

E- E-reader or physical book

I love physical copies, they’re beautiful to look at and I adore the feeling of flipping through the pages. However, e-readers are so much more convenient and I can read them sprawled out in my bed in any weird position. So both!

G- Glad you gave this book a chance

I almost passed on Dangerous Girls because YA thrillers aren’t my thing but when I saw my favourite Goodreads reviewer gave it 5 stars I decided to give it a try. Thank god for that.

H- Hidden gem book

I have a whole post about 10 Amazing Underrated Books, but to name one from my list: Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock. READ IT.

I- Important moment in your reading life

Reading Percy Jackson. That series seriously cemented my love for reading when I was growing up. The way most people feel about Harry Potter and J.K Rowling, I feel towards Percy Jackson and Rick Riordan.

J- Just finished

I just recently finished reading Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout and I’m amazed I actually managed to finish it considering how many times I thought about ending my suffering by just DNFing it. Needless to say a review is coming soon 😉

K- Kinds of books I won’t read

Any adult crime, mystery, or thriller fiction. Just not my cup of tea hot chocolate.

L- Longest book you’ve read

Outlander. I really dislike long books so I’m surprised I even gave this a shot but I am so glad I did because it was 850 pages of pure beauty. I just have to get up the nerve to read the second book already but it’s so long.

M- Major book hangover because of

See above.

N- Number of bookcases you own

Just one, my room can’t fit another one in so it means I regularly have to take down and give away books to make room for new ones. Which is both sad and really helpful!

O- One book you have read multiple times

I am not the type to ever re-read books but this summer I re-read Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, P.S- I Still Love You and The Summer I Turned Pretty. And it was a grand time.

P- Preferred place to read

My bed. Nothing can beat it’s comfort; n.o.t.h.i.n.g.

Q- Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you have read

To quote a recent read of mine, The Hate U Give: “At an early age I learned that people make mistakes, and you have to decide if their mistakes are bigger than your love for them“

R- Reading regret

Taking a 2 year reading hiatus and never having read Harry Potter beyond the first book.

S- Series you started and need to finish

Too many my god: The Winner’s Curse, Six of Crows, Wayward Children, The Trials of Apollo, Penryn & the End of Days, and Grisha Verse.

T- Three of your all-time favourite books

How is this allowed to be a question? Since I can’t choose I’ll pick my favourite three of the year so far: Everything I Never Told You, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and Winter.

U- Unapologetic fangirl for

YA. Seriously, people like to be such snobs about reading sometimes. Since I major in English literature where we study classics and very obscure books, I noticed people love to look down on books that are easy to read. Not reading YA doesn’t make you any worse or any better that people who do. Period.

V- Very excited for this release more than all the others

Once I get Queen of Air and Darkness in my hands you’ll know, because you’ll able to hear me screaming all the way from London.

W- Worst Bookish habit

Using receipts as bookmarks?

X- X marks the spot: start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book

Heartless. I’ve yet to read that one!

Y- Your latest book purchase

I just got My Plain Jane yesterday and I’m so excited about it! I haven’t yet read My Lady Jane but I already know I’ll love it so I thought I’d go ahead and buy the companion sequel too.

Z- ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up way too late)

The Cruel Prince kept me up until 4am last night and will probably do the same tonight since I plan on finishing it today.

What do you think of my answers? Where do you agree/disagree? Tell me an answer to one of the questions above! I love tags because you can learn a lot more about a person in a quick post! If you have an Instagram or Twitter please tell me in the comments so I can add you ♥

It’s your turn! For this one I tag Brianna | Lois | Erin | May | Raven | Sammie  

No pressure to do it and if you’ve already done it, feel free to link it in the comments so I can still see your answers!

10 Amazing Books I Want to Read this Fall | TOP TEN TUESDAY

I haven’t posted a blog post in a week and I apologise but I start university next week and all the moving and preparation has kept me pretty busy! I do plan on posting two reviews this week and scheduling some posts so I don’t run out of content once uni begins. If you have some tips on how you balance school/work and blogging, please let me know!

This week’s TTT prompt revolves around Fall TBRs. I suck at sticking to TBRs however since this TBR is for the whole of autumn I feel like it will be more flexible and realistic. Last week’s prompt, Hidden Gems, was really fun and helped me find a lot of underrated books I’m interested in, some of which I’ve included in this TBR list!

Books I Want to Read This Fall

1. Beartown by Fredrik Backman

This one has been on my TBR for a few months now and I think fall would be the perfect season to finally read it. I haven’t read the synopsis of this book but it was recommended to me when I was looking for a book with a similar vibe to Little Fires Everywhere. Although I don’t know what it’s about, I’ve heard amazing things about the author and the first line of the book already has me hooked.

2. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

I originally wasn’t going to read this book because I’ve heard some really mixed things about it, but in the end my curiosity got the better of me and I ended up buying it yesterday. Oops. Yet again, I have no clue what it’s about just that people either absolutely love it or hate it (and I really hope I’ll be the former). Either way I’m excited to be reading my first Holly Black book!

3. Vicious or A Darker Shade of Magic or just any V.E. Schwab book

I feel extremely late to the party. I don’t know why I haven’t read these books yet, I own both of them and have been following V.E. Schwab on Twitter for years. I feel like the hype surrounding her books is huge so my expectations are really high and I just don’t want to be disappointed. I definitely want to read one of her books by the end of the year, so do let me know which one I should start with!

4. Scythe by Neil Schusterman

I’ve always heard great things about Neil Schusterman’s books and this series seems to be the most loved. My sister just recently finished reading it along with the sequel and although she’s not big on YA, she massively enjoyed it so I can only imagine how good it is!

5. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Confession time: I am not a fan of The Raven Cycle series. I’ve read the first three books and although I loved the characters, I found the storyline really dull and boring. However, I really do enjoy Maggie Stiefvater’s writing and the premise of The Scorpio Races sounds so intriguing. It centres around the Scorpio Races, a yearly competition where riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses until the finish line; most of them dying in the process. The MC Puck Connolly accidentally enters the competition, the first girl to do so, and I’m guessing suspense and action ensue!

6. Renegades by Marissa Meyer

Earlier this year I finally finished reading The Lunar Chronicles and it has since become one of my favourite series. I am now wanting to read anything Marissa Meyer publishes, which means reading her new sci-fi/fantasy trilogy. Yesterday I stumbled across the book with the US cover and immediately went to buy it because the UK cover isn’t nearly as pretty. The sequel comes out in November so I should be able to get to it before then!

7. Invisible Ghosts by Robyn Schneider

Most of the YA contemporary books I’ve read this year have been really disappointing so I’ve been looking for ones that I think I’d really enjoy. I read Robyn Schneider’s The Beginning of Everything years back and really enjoyed it so I’m hoping I’ll like her newest release just as much!

8. Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes? by Holly Bourne

For last week’s prompt, Jo from Book Lovers Blog, highlighted some underrated books by UK authors and it really inspired me to pick up more UKYA books. It made me realise that even though I live in London, I mostly read and talk about books by American authors. I decided to change that by purchasing Holly Bourne’s newest book. It’s been getting amazing reviews and it seems like it has great mental health representation so I’m very excited to get to it.

9. A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

I’ve never read a Jodi Picoult book even though I’ve been meaning to for ages. All her books seem to explore controversial topics and start interesting discussions and this one is no exception. A Spark of Light follows a hostage situation at a women’s reproductive health services clinic that tackles the complicated issue of abortion and what it means to be a good parent. It comes out in October and I am so ready.

10. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

I’ve been seeing this book everywhere on the blogosphere recently and it looks like such a fun and quick read! I don’t know much about the storyline only that’s it enemies to lovers, and honestly that’s all I really need to know. I don’t read a lot of adult romance books but this one sounds too good to pass up on.

Have you read any of the books on my list? Are any on your TBR? What book are you looking forward to reading the most this fall? Do you have any books by UK authors to recommend? Let’s chat in the comments ♥

If you did this week’s prompt, feel free to link it!

 

10 Amazing Underrated Books That Are Worth the Read | Top Ten Tuesday

A few weeks ago I did two blog posts talking about amazing books that lived up to the hype and disappointing books that didn’t. I was planning on doing a blog post that goes along with those two where I would talk about books that deserve a lot of hype, but are unfortunately very underrated. However when I saw that that was exactly a prompt for a future Top Ten Tuesday, I decided to wait and do it then. So here we are today! I’m really excited to share the books on my list because people seriously need to have these books in their lives. Some of these books are really underrated, while others were talked about during their release but have since disappeared from the face of the earth.

Underrated Books That Deserve More Hype

1. The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavander by Leslye Walton

Much like the title says, this book is a strange and beautiful story about Ava Lavander, a girl born with wings. Ava’s wings are more of a curse than blessing since her unusual disposition prevents her from fitting in with her peers and makes her the focus of a man’s escalating obsession. It’s a breathtaking tale that tackles family, desire, and the ugly truth of wasted youth. Even though it’s magical realism, it unravels truths about human nature in a devastating and bittersweet way. It’s a quick but powerful book so you have no excuse to not pick it up!

2. A List of Cages by Robin Roe

When former foster brothers Adam and Julian reunite after years apart, Adam is ecstatic until he realises Julian is keeping dark secrets about what goes on inside his uncle’s house. Secrets that could cost both boys their life. This book has an amazing group of friends and the sweetest brotherly relationship I’ve read about. Make sure to prepare your tissues though because it is such a fast-paced read that you don’t realise you’re crying until a good chunk of the page is wet and you’re having a hard time reading the words through the film of tears. This book handles really difficult and heartbreaking topics and was very hard to read at times, but it’s such an incredible read.

3. Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

Although Matthew Quick is famous for The Silver Lining’s Playbook, this book deserves as much hype. This book is the strangest mix of depressing, funny and hopeful. And that’s one of the reasons why it’s amazing; it’s wholly unique. Leonard Peacock plans to kill himself and his former best friend on his birthday, but not before saying goodbye to the only four people that matter to him. Leonard Peacock is such a vibrant and peculiar teenager, but most of it feels like a facade he puts on in order to hide the loneliness and neglect that eats him up on the inside. While there are a lot of funny moments, they are paralleled with very depressing undertones that build up through the book as more backstory into Leonard Peacock’s life is revealed. I’m gonna tear up if I keep thinking about it, so just please do yourself a favour and read it.

4. Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas

Spring Break gone wrong…very wrong. It follows a group of friends as they take a trip to Aruba only to have one of their friends brutally murdered and two of them accused of the crime. When I hear people talking about YA thrillers I rarely see this book mentioned which is such a shame because it’s such a mind fuck. The ending left me shocked and staring at my ceiling for what felt like hours. Besides the main reveal, the book is satisfying as a whole as it tackles the psychology of female friendship, the slippery nature of truth and the hardships of young love. While I read it in one sitting, the ending has stuck with me for a long time.

5. On the Island by Tracey Gravis Graves

Survival story of a 30 year old tutor and her student as they crash land on a deserted island after the pilot of their seaplane en route to the Maldives suffers a heart attack. Your classic story of survival and love, it really is a quick and easy read perfect for summer. I love how complete the story arc is, as it follows the characters before, during and after the crash and gives a very satisfactory ending with an epilogue. The progress of time is very realistic and the character growth are really well done. Having to hunt your own food and survive violent tropical storms does make you mature faster, I should think. Pick it up before summer ends!

6. Elefant by Martin Suter

This is a story of a tiny glow-in-the-dark pink elephant. Seriously. For Schoch, an alcoholic who has taken to living on the streets after a bitter divorce, the tiny pink elephant is a symbol of hope and second chances. While taking care of the tiny pink elephant he names Sabu, Schoch comes to realise he should give life another shot. The book is a morality tale that tackles a lot of controversial topics like genetic engineering, alcoholism, homelessness, faith and others. You should definitely give it a try if you’re looking for something different and unique to read!

7. Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

Story of a web designer who gets a job at a little odd bookstore, where nothing is quite what it seems. Clay Jannon embarks on a journey to uncover the meaning behind the shop’s existence and the mysterious codes written inside certain books. It’s a very quirky and internet savvy book that packs a big punch in less than 300 pages. If you love books about books, where you can learn a thing or two about coding while reading something that is uplifting, this book is for you!

8. Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

A funny, enlightening and heart-warming story about a girl named Audrey who suffers from severe social anxiety. She has such bad social anxiety that she can’t speak to anyone outside her family and wears dark glasses 24/7 to avoid eye contact. The book follows Audrey as she takes small steps in order to overcome her anxiety and the friends and family that help her along on her journey. Her character was so likeable and real that I easily began to cheer her on from the comfort of my bed. Things that may seem easy to us, like walking into a Starbucks, are terrifying for her. Although she stumbles a bit on the way, Audrey grows tremendously over the course of this short book. Her story is very uplifting and is a good pick me up if you’re in a slump!

9. Angelfall by Susan Ee

Epic and dark YA urban fantasy about an angel apocalypse with a kick-ass female heroine and witty banter between the characters. I feel like there was a lot of hype around this trilogy when it was releasing but I rarely see it nowadays. However, everyone that has read it can vouch for how amazing and unique this book is. It is seriously an addictive page-turner!

 

10. The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Another case where there was a lot of hype when these books were coming out, but hardly anyone talks about them anymore. Which is such a shame because this book is a whole lot of betrayal, mystery and romance, which is a perfect mix for a YA fantasy. The book is centred around the concept of the “winner’s curse”, which basically states that the winner of an auction has also lost, because he/she has won by paying more than what the majority of other bidders think the item is worth. If that intrigues you, as it should, give it a try.

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I wonder how many times I’ve said the word “unique” in this post lol, but honestly all these books are and I wish they got the recognition they deserve.

Have you read any of the books I mentioned? If not, are you intrigued by any of them? What are some of your favourite books that you think are seriously underrated? Let’s chat in the comments ♥

If you did this week’s prompt, feel free to link it!

 

 

10 Amazing Books with a Compelling First Line

Recently I’ve noticed that when I browse through books in the bookstore, the first thing I do when I pick up a book (after noticing the pretty cover) is read the first sentence. I usually don’t look at a book’s synopsis if I can help it because I like to go in without knowing much about the plot. Because of this I find that a book’s first really does play a big role if I buy a book on the spot or not. If I pick up a book I don’t know much about but the first sentence is unique and compelling enough, there’s a high chance I’ll still buy it. I feel like a lot of books are known for their famous last lines but I think the same importance should be placed on the opening line as well. An opening line sets the tone for the rest of the book and what you can expect from the plot to a certain extent. So today I have compiled a list of 10 amazing books on my shelf with a compelling first line/sentence.

10 Books With a Compelling First Line

1. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Everyone in Shaker Heights was talking about it that summer: how Isabelle, the last of the Richardson children, had finally gone around the bend and burned the house down.

2. Beartown by Fredrik Backman

Late one evening towards the end of March, a teenager picked up a double-barrelled shotgun, walked into the forest, put the gun to someone else’s forehead, and pulled the trigger.

3. Circe by Madeline Miller

When I was born, the name for what I was did not exist. 

4. The Leavers by Lisa Ko

The day before Deming Guo saw his mother for the last time, she surprised him at school, 

5. The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

Ten days after the war ended, my sister Laura drove a car off a bridge. 

6. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

If I have learned anything in this long life of mine, it is this: In love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are. 

7. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The circus arrives without warning. 

8. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

The first thing you find out when yer dog learns to talk is that dogs don’t got nothing much to say, about anything. 

9. Angelfall by Susan Ee

Ironically, since the attacks, the sunsets have been glorious. 

10. We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson

Life is bullshit. 

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Ending on a positive note.

What is your favourite opening line of a book? Did you find any of the above first lines compelling? How do you choose to buy a book; from the cover, synopsis, hype or maybe first line? Let’s chat in the comments ♥

10 Amazing Book to Screen Adaptions Worth Your Time | Top Ten Tuesday

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is to recommend amazing TV shows and movies people should watch then they’re not reading. I thought it’d be fun to narrow down the list to just book to screen adaptations as that it fits the theme of my blog better, plus there’s so many to choose from!

All readers know the combination of excitement and dread when they hear one of their favourite books is being adapted to the screen. That’s because for every amazing book adaption, there are probably 5 not so amazing adaptations (I’m looking at you Percy Jackson and City of Bones). However when adaptions are done right, they are a thing of beauty. So today I’m going to break down 5 TV show and 5 movie adaptions that I think live up to the source material and are perfect for binge-watching when you’re taking a break from reading!

5 Amazing Binge-worthy TV Shows

1. Outlander

My love for this book and TV show cannot be properly expressed in words. Watching it is an adventure, one that is full of twists and turns that make you high on happiness one second only to have it crushed in the next scene. The actors playing Claire and Jamie have such fantastic chemistry, it is hard not to love them as individuals and together. I don’t believe a period drama about a 20th century woman being transported back in time to 1743 Scotland can be anything less of amazing. As a reviewer pointed out, “Outlander has the most peculiar mix of gothic horror, swashbuckling adventure, magical fantasy” and I love that about it. Try it for the beautiful scenery and storyline, and stay for Jamie’s Scottish accent. All three seasons are on Netflix, just saying. (trigger warning: rape, sexual assault, torture)

2. Big Little Lies

I binge-watched this show in July and finished all 7 episodes in one day. It was such an addictive and thrilling ride. It’s entertaining while also shining light on human nature, and the intricate relationships in marriage and motherhood. The casting is phenomenal. I mean come on, the TV show stars Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon! There’s definitely a good reason why it won big at the Golden Globes and Emmys. Season 2 is coming early next year, so now is the perfect time to catch up on the show. (trigger warning: domestic abuse, rape)

3. Sherlock

A modern day Sherlock Holmes series full of gripping crime-solving and hilarious banter between Sherlock and Watson. Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock is entirely eccentric and indifferent to human emotions, making him the master of serious and comedic relief scenes. The cases being solved are entertaining and educational while the main plot is more than engaging.  Kinda makes you want to put on a detective hat and become a forensic criminologist yourself. Each season has around 3 episodes that are one and a half hour long, so it feels like you’re watching a mini movie marathon! (trigger warning: suicide, assault)

4. Thirteen Reasons Why

While not without its flaws, I think this show conveys a strong message about bullying in an engrossing and honest way. It explores the deep rotted insecurities of teenagers and the challenges of surviving high school. It’s raw and unblinking in the way it explores how teenagers unintentionally, or intentionally, hurt each other and the dire consequences that result from it. While the topic being dealt with is heavy, the plot’s mystery makes it an engaging binge-worthy show. (trigger warning: self-harm, rape, suicide, sexual assault)

5. The 100

A sci-fi adventure about a group of juvenile young adults exiled to Earth where decades prior a deadly nuclear war rendered it unliveable. It’s highly suspenseful, action packed and fast-paced, while also holding an air of mystery throughout the seasons. It’s a lot of fun to watch, and it only gets better with each season. The characters are all phenomenally fleshed out, while the plot is ambitious and ruthless in its undertaking. The storyline thickens with each season, making sure there is not a single dull moment in the show. The show currently has 5 seasons so it’s perfect for a binge-watch session!

5 Amazing Movies Done Right

1. Love, Simon

I was planning on mentioning Netflix’s adaption of TATBILB again but then I remembered that I don’t really mention Love, Simon often which is a shame because it’s just as adorable. It’s funny and heartwarming, and made me relive all the emotions I had when I read the book. The characters are all charming and the humorous banter between them is great. The movie has a perfect balance of lightheartedness and emotional depth, plus it’s a super important movie, so go support it!

2. Pride and Prejudice

A classic! I’ve probably seen this movie more than 5 times but there’s always something new to see in it. Jane Austen’s dialogue is adapted perfectly and all the actors do a fantastic job in their role. All the scenes make you feel engaged and the romance is a slow burn to die for. A tale as old as time, it’s a movie you’re able to re-watch forever.

 

3. Call Me By Your Name

You will rarely hear me say a movie is better than a book, if ever. However, Call Me By Your Name was made to be a movie. It is visually stunning, the cinematography and soundtrack are breathtaking and engross you into the story. The actors give such an authentic performance that makes you feel like you are there in the moment. It is a coming of age love story that’s both beautiful and melancholic and you need to see it if you haven’t already.

 

4. The Great Gatsby

Another classic turned into a movie wonder! The Great Gatsby is probably my favourite classic and the movie is nothing less of amazing. It’s visually stunning and captures the essence of the book perfectly. The cinematography and soundtrack play a big role in telling the story and creating a certain atmosphere, while the actors give a stellar performance in individual but especially group scenes. Leonardo DiCaprio’s Gatsby is straight out of the book, there couldn’t have been a better casting than this one . The intricate relationship between the characters builds up anticipation and momentum throughout the film so when the credits roll it, it’s though not to think about it long afterwards.

5. The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Talking about classics, this is probably one of the, if not the best YA adaption I’ve ever seen. The themes of the book are expressed so well in this movie, it really does a great job to make you feel a weird yearning and nostalgia for high school. An amazing coming of age story that is as charming as it gets. I love the portrayal of friendship in this movie, and the message that with the right friends anyone is able to get out of their shell and live their best life. (trigger warning: sexual assault, abuse)

 

I hope you’re ready for all the incredible binge-worthy content if you decide to watch any of the TV shows/movies on my list!

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Have you seen any of the TV shows/movies on my list? Are you a fan? If not, do you think you’re interested to try any of them? What is your favourite book to screen adaptation? Let’s chat in the comments! ♥