The Deviants by C.J. Skuse
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery
Published by: Mira Ink
Pages: 320
Format: ARC e-book
Rating: ★★★★
Note: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Now, I have read a LOT of YA mystery/thriller kinds of stories, but when I read the blurb for this one, I just couldn’t resist; the mystery pulled me in! Although, I wouldn’t recommend reading the Goodreads blurb, because I think it gives a little too much away, so here’s mine instead: The Deviants follows five teenagers who used to be best friends until everyone’s favourite older sister Jessica died. Years later the fearless five find themselves back together, playing their old tricks and seeking revenge. But Ella, the narrator, is hiding something from the rest of her friends, including her boyfriend Max. If they knew the truth it would surely rip them apart, because it seems like she has an explanation for Jess’s death, and no one is going to like it.
Review: We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen
We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen
Genre: Contemporary, Family-Orientated
Published by: Anderson Press
Pages: 336
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★★★★
Note: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
We Are All Made of Molecules is a two perspectives story. There’s Stewart, who recently lost his mum and whose dad is moving in with his new partner, Ashley’s mum. Ashley is struggling with her own new situation as her dad came out as gay and is now living in the annex at the bottom of the garden. It’s a beautiful story of a blended family, full of rich characters and really touching moments.
Continue reading “Review: We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen”
Review: The Boyfriend List and The Boy Book by E. Lockhart
The Boyfriend List and The Boy Book by E.
Lockhart
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Published by: Hot Key Books
Pages: 256 | 224
Format: e-book
Ratings: ★★
Note: We received these books from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve been seeing this series floating around Goodreads with a ceramic frog on the cover, and since then, I’ve been intrigued. After writing about such strange teenagers in We Were Liars, I wanted to see how E. Lockhart portrayed an average teenage girl.
The answer?
Extremely stereotypically. Continue reading “Review: The Boyfriend List and The Boy Book by E. Lockhart”
Spoiler Review: Half Lost by Sally Green
Half Lost by Sally Green
Genre: Paranormal, UKYA
Published by: Penguin
Pages: 335
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★★
Series: Half Bad (#1) | Half Wild (#2)
OPINIONS. I have them. This is the last book in the Half Bad trilogy, and since I’ve reviewed all of the others it seemed only right that I reviewed the finale. (Also, I was in too deep to stop) I supposed this book lived by to my expectations considering I’d already been spoiled on a major character death thanks to a Twitter rampage that after the initial release. A list of questions seemed like the only way to approach this review, so here we go.
- Why did nothing happen in the first half?
- Basically, Nathan and the crew spend the first half of the book roaming around different campsites trying to find Hunters and, more importantly, Annalise. Other than that, I have nothing to report. It was slow paced and super boring.
- In fact, the beginning was very reminiscent of Mockingjay. I mean, a group of people trying not to trigger booby traps with some death thrown into the mix.
- Was The BIG Death necessary?
- Simple answer? No. It was emotionally manipulating to the audience, I felt, and severely damaged the character development steps made in previous books.
- Gabriel is a sweet child and did not deserve this fate.
- ARE YOU TRYING TO TELL ME THAT THE IMAGES ON THE FRONT OF THE BOOKS ARE ALL NATHAN?!?!
- He’s a boy in the first. In the second he discovers he can turn himself into a wild animal to feel more in control. AT THE END OF HALF LOST HE TURNS HIMSELF INTO A TREE. The tree is Nathan. Nathan and the tree are one.
- It’s genius, but I’m still a little mad at it.
- What other gifts does Nathan have?
- He’s in possession of so many, but he managed to control so few? He still had so much potential but the ending was so rushed we didn’t get any of it.
- Nathan is just so hellbent on his stupid revenge plot he gets himself stuck in a bundle. He was literally invincible at the time, as well.
I honestly wasn’t the biggest fan of this story but three main factors pulled me in from the beginning: 1) Male witch. 2) UKYA 3) morally grey (erring on bad) MC. If those things pique your interest too then I would recommend reading the first book. Then you can battle with writing style and characterisation when you decide if it’s worth continuing. Half Wild although more vulgar than any of the other books was my favourite of the series (against popular opinion), so maybe my dislike of this end was inevitable. I’m just glad I have something else to tick off my series list.
Review: Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Genre: Paranormal
Published by: Quercus
Pages: 329
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★★★
I was really excited to find another book by Jennifer Lynn Barnes after reading and loving both books in her The Naturals series. Although the cover is kind of horrific, I didn’t let that deter me from exploring more books by this author, and although I didn’t love it as much as FBI teen agents, it was still an exciting read with a really unique plot! Continue reading “Review: Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes”
Review: My Favourite Manson Girl by Alison Umminger
My Favourite Manson Girl by Alison Umminger
Genre: Contemporary, Coming of Age
Published by: Atom
Pages: 288
Format: ARC e-book
Rating: ★★★
Note: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Somehow, this book was so much more and so much less than I was expecting, which seems like a bit of a weird statement to begin with, but bare with me. I was expecting the ‘researching the Manson murders’ to be a bigger thing that it was. I was constantly expecting a new murder to take place, which just shows how I’ve come to expect things from this genre, when what I should actually be doing is expecting surprises. So, although My Favourite Manson Girl was not the books I was expecting, I really enjoyed the gritty realism and conflicting emotions of Anna’s life. In America the book is titled American Girls and I think all the images that come that are a lot more accurate than My Favourite Manson Girl, because I was constantly expecting some Nancy Drew mystery to pop up.
Continue reading “Review: My Favourite Manson Girl by Alison Umminger”
Review: George by Alex Gino
George by Alex Gino
Genre: Contemporary, LGBT+
Published by: Scholastic Children’s Books
Pages: 215
Format: Hardback
Rating: ★★★★
Another book with a LGBT protagonist! Yippee! I’ve really been seeking them out lately and I’m so pleased that everyone’s voices can be heard in Middle Grade and YA fiction.
For a short book, this one packs a might punch, so let’s go! Continue reading “Review: George by Alex Gino”
Review: Rebel, Bully, Geek, Pariah by Erin Lange
Rebel, Bully, Geek, Pariah by Erin Lange
Genre: Contemporary, Adventure, Thriller
Published by: Faber & Faber
Pages: 359
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★★★
I’m pretty much a sucker for anything that tries to be The Breakfast Club. TBC is one of my favourite movies and The Breakfast Bunch episode of Victorious is probably one of the most beautiful episodes of any TV show ever. So, four kids whose personalities you don’t think will mix end up running for their lives together? Sounds like my jam. But here are couple of reasons why it failed to live up to my expectations, even thought it was still a fun and exciting read.
Continue reading “Review: Rebel, Bully, Geek, Pariah by Erin Lange”
Review: Me Being Me Is Exactly As Insane As You Being You by Todd Hasak-Lowy
Me Being Me Is Exactly As Insane As You Being You by Todd Hasak-Lowy
Genre: Contemporary
Published by: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 656
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★.5
I picked this book up after seeing it on a list of YA LGBTQ+ books over at Maximum Pop Books. I thought you can never read too many LGBTQ+ books, so I’ve made it my mission to try and read as many on this list as physically possible. Another selling point with this book was the note that it was ‘a novel in lists’. Now, that’s an interesting story-telling method. So, as a list-lover, and an aspiring LGBTQYA reader, I had high hopes for this one. But, you know what they say about high hopes. You’re bound to be disappointed. Continue reading “Review: Me Being Me Is Exactly As Insane As You Being You by Todd Hasak-Lowy”
Review: Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead
Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead
Genre: Contemporary, Coming-of-Age
Published by: Anderson Press
Pages: 281
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★★★★
Note: We received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
After first hearing about this book it sounded like exactly the type of thing I love to read. Recently, I’ve been wanting to give middle grade more of a chance, and coming-of-age is one of my favourite sub-genres. So, Goodbye Stranger definitely ticked boxes on paper. I’m pleased to say, once I’d finished it, it continued to tick boxes…and make me want to eat cinnamon toast. Continue reading “Review: Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead”
Heart Full of Books 