Review: This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

18114890This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales
Genre: Contemporary, Coming-Of-Age
Published by: Macmillan’s Children’s Books
Pages: 288
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★★★.5

I decided I needed to read everything by Leila Sales practically as soon as I finished Tonight The Streets Are OursIt was an instant decision, and one of the best I made in 2015. Although I didn’t like TSWSYL and much, as indicated by the star rating, it was still an amazing eye-opening read. It starts with Elise who feels like she is completely alone and doesn’t fit in so she decides the next logical step is to kill herself. Heavy, right?

Continue reading “Review: This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales”

2015: Reading Reflection

M  A  D  D  I  E

Total Number of Books Read: 191
Number of Books Re-read: 12
Number of Series Completed: 35
Favourite Reads: Solitaire by Alice Oseman, Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon and Remix by Non Pratt
Favourite Series: Pivot Point by Kasie West, The Selection by Keira Cass, The Perfectionists by Sara Shepard
An Unexpected Favourite: Sweet Reckoning by Wendy Higgins
Most Disappointing Read: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
Smallest Book: Glitches and The Queen’s Army by Marissa Meyer
Largest Book: Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin
Average Rating for Books: 3.3 stars

B  E  E

Total Number of Books Read: 178
Number of Books Re-read: 1
Number of Series Completed: 32
Favourite Reads: Solitaire by Alice Oseman, Emmy and Oliver by Robin Benway, Simon Versus the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Favourite Series: Legend by Marie Lu, Top 8 by Katie Finn, The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
An Unexpected Favourite: The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West
Most Disappointing Read: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J Maas
Smallest Book: The Sleeper And The Spindle by Neil Gaiman
Largest Book: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J Maas
Average Rating for Books: 2.9 stars

 

Review: Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher

16112830Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher
Genre: 
Romance
Published by: Penguin
Pages: 397
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★★.5

I’ve been looking for Billy and Me in stores ever since I read You’re The One That I Want in December 2014. When I finally saw it, I literally jumped to get it, and read it the same day, in one sitting. I love Gi, her videos on YouTube are so quirky and chatty, and she seems like a really lovely person. After reading her debut, I was a little disappointed… Continue reading “Review: Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher”

Review: See How They Run by Ally Carter

See How They Run by Ally Carter24644814Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Published by: Orchard Books
Pages: 320
Format: ARC e-book
Rating: ★★

I received a copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

After placing All Fall Down in my Top 15 Books of 2015 list, See How They Run has been one of my most anticipated reads of 2016. Because of this, I partly put the blame on myself for hyping this book up so much. The reality was bound not to meet my expectations. Normally, Ally Carter’s books are a definite fave for me, but See How They Run wasn’t what I thought, or wanted, it to be. Here’s why…

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Review: The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson

25290956The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson
Genre: Fairy-tale retelling
Published by: Thomas Nelson (HarperCollins)
Pages: 320
Format: e-book
Rating: ★★★

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I was immediately drawn to The Golden Braid because of its genre. Fairy tale retellings are some of my favourite things, and Rapunzel has such a great story to adapt. As this was set in 15th century Germany, rather than a contemporary or futuristic setting, it reminded me a lot of Shannon Hale’s The Goose Girl. I really like seeing fairy tales in their natural habitat, and I think understanding the context of the time really helped make this retelling special.  Continue reading “Review: The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson”

2016 Resolutions!

We made a video last year talking about all the things we wanted to start and maintain, and we managed to achieve quite a lot of them. Let’s make it a tradition to make resolutions and stick to them!

  1. T H E   T B R   J A R
    We did have one last year but it kind of…died. This year we made a new jar with coloured paper, pink for me, blue for Bee and yellow for series we want tor read together. The idea is to pick one separate and one joint series a month!
  2. K I N D L E
    Over Christmas, we each bought five books on our Kindles, but that’s the reading format we neglect the most. In 2016, we want to have read everything we have on our Kindles, and endeavour to use them more often!
  3. B L O G G I N G
    Last year, we managed to post on our blog for FIFTY SIX consecutive days and we want to keep being consistent with how much we post. Each year we have bigger and better plans for the direction of our blog, and this year is no different. From now on, there’ll be more series and spoiler reviews and more non-review posts too!
  4. W R I T I N G
    So, this is the one that’s easiest to break. We said we wanted to write everyday, and that just didn’t happen. This year, the goal is more relaxed, but still with a deadline. By December 2016, we want to have written the first draft of our collaborative novel, and we may do blog posts about our progress for motivation!
  5. V I D E O S
    Our final goal is to continue to post regularly on our YouTube channel, hopefully two videos a week! Fingers crossed!

 

Fracture by Megan Miranda

9548964Fracture by Megan MirandaMegan Miranda
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery
Published by: Bloomsbury
Pages: 262
Format: Paperback
Rating:

I picked this book up on a whim because it sounded similar to the movie ‘Age of Adeline’, however what I got instead was a weird mix of Mara Dyer and a high school thriller.

Fracture did not leave a lasting impression. As soon as I put the book down I practically forgot it. It follows Delaney Maxwell who falls into a frozen lake and almost dies. After her recovery she gets a strange twinge in her head that means someone in the local area is going to die.

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Review: Truly, Madly, Famously by Rebecca Serle

25859289Truly, Madly, Famously by Rebecca Serle
Genre: Romance
Published by: Macmillan Children’s Books
Pages: 294
Format: Paperback
Series: Famous in Love (#1)
Rating: ★★

After reading Famous in Love, I definitely wasn’t expecting a sequel. After reading the sequel, I can’t believe this is going to be a trilogy! Where can it go from here?? I’m literally confused at how another book is going to be written when the love triangle has been sorted, Paige has chosen who she prefers and there’s no more scandal. Truly, Madly, Famously was a cute end to the books, so to think there’s another to come makes me roll my eyes. Love triangles officially need to be put to rest. Not all of them are worthy of a trilogy! Argh, love triangle rant, here I come.  Continue reading “Review: Truly, Madly, Famously by Rebecca Serle”

Review: Cruel Summer by James Dawson

16275049Cruel Summer by James Dawson
Genre:
Murder Mystery
Published by: Indigo
Pages: 320
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★★★.5

2016, I’ve decided, is going to be the year of James Dawson. I don’t care how I get hold of his books, but I must read them all. Like, immediately. I don’t know how I haven’t picked something of his up before. Over the last year, I’ve become much more open to the genres of his first novels, and after the release of All of the Above, a coming of age (my fave) I feel the need to chart his writing genesis. My local library had his second book, Cruel Summer, and so, here are my thoughts! Continue reading “Review: Cruel Summer by James Dawson”

Review: Unmarked by Kami Garcia

12371865Unmarked by Kami Garcia
Genre: Paranormal
Published by: Little, Brown
Pages: 384
Format: Library Book
Rating: ★★

The title pretty much gives away the plot twist if you’ve read the first book, Unbreakable, and are aware what needs to happen for you to become part of the Legion. BUT, aside from that, this book was…well, maybe I should have just re-read The Mortal Instruments? Continue reading “Review: Unmarked by Kami Garcia”