Books We’re Taking on Holiday!

Published on May 28, 2017June 18, 2017 by Heart Full Of Books1 Comment

It’s going to be a holiday of tomes! Since we’re going to be spending 85% of this holiday reading, we decided that the physical books we took had to be over 400 pages, and preferably a book we both haven’t read (there are two exceptions, though!) I mean, isn’t that the best thing about going on holiday when your sister has the exact same bookish taste as you? Sharing books!

A lot of these books have been on our shelves unread for a seriously long time, and what better time to read them than practically stranding yourself on a desert island with them? Okay, so maybe substitute ‘stranding yourself’ with ‘going willingly’ and desert island with ‘really nice hotel.’ Continue reading “Books We’re Taking on Holiday!” →

♡ Maddie’s Picks ♡

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

This is one of our favourite book-to-movie adaptations, and Bee’s been recommending it to me every time I’m stuck for something to read but it’s so long and I don’t want to feel like I have to rush through it, so 2017 will be the year I finally sit down and soak up The Host, at a leisurely pace!

Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld

Everyone was talking about this book when it first came out because it was about writing and a teenage girl publishing a book, and that sounded awesome. I bought it straight away, read the first 50 pages, loved it and then put it down. Why? Who knows. Not next year though.

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

Another book that I started reading and couldn’t get into, 2017 is like the year of second chances. I couldn’t keep the world straight in my head, but I really want to like this series because it’s slightly more adult and the author is from the UK, and I already own the second book!

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

I’m so hyped for the movie to come out in 2017, starring Zoey Deutch, that I need to read the book to satisfy my need to see the movie right this second. I’ve loved all the Lauren Oliver I’ve read so far, and I’m really excited to go back to her debut novel and see how far she’s come!

Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

It’s been a while since I read my last Rick book, and I’d say I’m far enough away from the Heroes of Olympus series to not just dislike the new kid on the principle that he is not Percy or Annabeth or any of the other demigods I fell in love with. I know he’s also written The Trials of Apollo and I need to catch up with my old fave middle grade author before I fall completely out of the loop.

♡ Bee’s Picks ♡

https://heartfullofbooks.com/2014/05/07/review-slated-by-teri-terry/

https://heartfullofbooks.com/2015/06/25/review-one-by-sarah-crossan/

Trial By Fire by Josephine Angelini

First of, I would recommend you check out the Goodreads page for this book and look at all the different covers, because each one seems to market the book in a slightly different way, and now I have no idea what to expect from it! All I know is that the characters share surnames with the characters of The Crucible by Arthur Miller, and it’s about witches and that was intriguing enough for me to buy the whole series!

The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski

I’m really excited to read this trilogy now that the final book The Winner’s Kiss came out this year! I’ve been waiting so I can binge them without any wait in between and from the reviews Maddie has already given the series, I think I was right to do so. The covers for this series are just outstanding and I’ve heard SO many good things, it’s about time I finally read them.

Slated by Terri Terry

This is another trilogy that Maddie has raved about, so I think you can see a pattern emerging. This list could’ve been made entirely from series that Maddie has completed and loved, but I limited myself to just the two. Maddie’s read quite a few of my series recommendations now, so I think I should take some of her recommendations seriously in return! Slated was actually one of the first books that she reviewed on this blog too, so the wait has been long enough!

One by Sarah Crossan

Sarah Crossan is such a diverse author. This year we both read the Breathe duology and loved it, and One has been nominated and won a few awards for being just so brilliant! It’s the story of conjoined twins, so I know it’s probably going to be a very emotional read for me, but Maddie and I are actually going to a reading and signing that Sarah Crossan is doing with the co-author of her next book We Come Apart, Brian Conaghan, so I definitely want to get it done by then, but I might even sneak it in before the end of this year, who knows!

Everything Leads to You by Nina Lacour

I have had this book on my TBR for what feels like forever, and I know it’s had some mixed reviews, but I’ve only been reading the positive ones! It’s the story of Emi and Ava who fall in love and that’s enough to make me desperate to read it!

Time Travelling Through Books

Published on March 24, 2016 by Heart Full Of Books1 Comment

For a lot of people, books offer an escape. It takes seconds to pick up a book and become immersed between the pages. But it’s not only the book’s world you’re transported to! Whenever I reread a book, I find myself flooded with memories of the first time I read it. Books don’t just stay with you, you stay with books.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

I bought my first copy of this book when I was in France. We were visiting a fortress in this tiny, cobble-streeted village. After a little bit of exploring, we discovered an English book shop. It was one of those stores that didn’t really organise the books into genres. I was just scanning the shelves when I came across a used edition of Inkheart with the movie cover. That day, I went back to where we were staying and immediately started reading. Once I’d read the book, I realised the town we were in was a lot like Capricorn’s village! Now, every time I pick up Inkheart, I’m back in that converted French barn with a flagstone floor.

The Host by Stephanie Meyer

This book means summer. Despite the subject matter not being all that summery, I read it during the holidays, when a lot of our friends were reading it too. The movie was scheduled to come out the following year. I can practically feel the sun warming my skin whenever I glace at the spine on my shelf. Maybe it’s all those hot desert scenes?

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

This book was at the bottom of my suitcase for a holiday to Germany and, if I remember correctly, I started to read it quite late in the trip. I read it super quickly and was so annoyed with myself that I’d left the sequels at home. How I managed to survive another week without continuing with the story I don’t know! At the same time, I read Destined by Aprilynne Pike, which was the last book in a series that I loved with all my heart. I was deeply affected by the death of a main character and experienced my first ever reading slump – led face down on the hotel bed, sobbing uncontrollably. Not the best holiday experience, but certainly memorable!

https://heartfullofbooks.com/2015/03/21/review-poison-study-by-maria-v-snyder/

The Clearwater Crossing Series by Laura Peyton Roberts

We’re pretty sure we read every one of these books sat on Bee’s bed, flipping through the pages like there was no tomorrow. The year that it took us to complete this 20 book series was pretty great. The characters were there for us just as much as we were there for them. Because the series was so episodic, it was like we were watching a cute teen sitcom. When we look back to the summer that we finished this series, it’s hard to imagine us sat on a bed because we truly were transported to Missouri.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Although it’s not one of my favourite books by far, I remember reading it with Sarah in her back garden. It was a really hot day, and I’d forgot to wear suncream, so my shoulders got a little burned by the time I’d finished the book, but it was worth it. Sharing a bench with a best friend is a great way to read, no matter what the potential health risks!

Tag: The Host