Tag: young adult

Review: As I Descended by Robin Talley

Published on by Heart Full Of Books2 Comments

28218948As I Descended by Robin Talley
Genre: Retelling, Mystery
Publisher: HQ
Pages: 370
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★★★

As Our Own Private Universe was one of the most disappointing reads…ever, I thought that I’d try and place my faith in Robin Talley once again with the only book of hers I haven’t read. Advertises as a retelling of Macbeth set in a boarding school, I was ready to go. Retellings are my fave, no matter what’s being retold, and a better setting doesn’t exist.

I have read Macbeth, which was a big plus as I could appreciate the arc of each character, and which threads were specific nods to the Shakespeare, but a grasp of the original play isn’t necessary to appreciate how spooky this is! Continue reading “Review: As I Descended by Robin Talley” →

Review: Close Your Eyes by Nicci Cloke

Published on by Heart Full Of Books1 Comment

33765805Close Your Eyes by Nicci Cloke
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Pages: 304
Format: ARC e-book
Rating: ★★★.5
Note: We received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

We were initially drawn to Close Your Eyes because Bee was desperate to read a YA about a school shooting after missing the opportunity to get This Is Where It Ends for 99p, and the fact that this is UKYA made it all the more enticing. We’ve all heard about shootings in America, that are more likely because of the gun laws, but in the UK, they’re as unlikely as a dragon crashing into the science block. Close Your Eyes did not disappoint in its capability to build suspense and intrigue and freaking out everyone who reads it!
Continue reading “Review: Close Your Eyes by Nicci Cloke” →

Review: Following Ophelia by Sophia Bennett

Published on by Heart Full Of Books2 Comments

33256865Following Ophelia by Sophia Bennett
Genre: Historical, Romance
Publisher: Stripes Books
Pages: 403
Format: ARC e-book
Rating: ★★★★

I was really drawn to this book because Bee and  I just did a module on Victorian literature, and the week on the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was my absolute favourite. We learnt all about the poets, the artists, and the muses, most importantly, Lizzie Siddal, who was the model for Millais’ Ophelia.

So, I saw this book and knew instantly that I had to read it and I was so glad I did. It surprised me, it delighted and I was completely absorbed by the 19th century London setting. If you need more reason to pick this up, beyond the cover, let me list some for you! Continue reading “Review: Following Ophelia by Sophia Bennett” →

Our First Book Unhaul!

Published on by Heart Full Of Books2 Comments

As the new year has rolled around, and we got plenty of new books for Christmas, it was about time to re-evaluate some of the books on our shelves, and which ones were itching to find new homes via our local charity shop. We wanted to go through some of the reasons we decided to get rid of these books, and questions we’ll now ask ourselves when considering whether a book is worth keeping or not! Continue reading “Our First Book Unhaul!” →

Review: The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr

Published on by Heart Full Of BooksLeave a comment

30849412The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr
Genre: Contemporary
Published by: Penguin
Pages: 320
Format: ARC e-book
Rating: ★★★★
Note: We received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

On the cover of a sampler I received of this book, is the little sticker ‘The YA Debut of 2017′. That’s a big claim to make and a lot to live up to, but I definitely see how The One Memory of Flora Banks lives up to that claim, after finishing the whole thing and needing to sit in silence for a second to absorb what I’d just read. It was powerful, it was special and one I can’t wait for other people to read! Continue reading “Review: The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr” →

A Quiet Kind of Thunder’s Release Day!

Published on by Heart Full Of BooksLeave a comment

301972011 Today’s the day that the beautiful, wonderful A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard is released to the world! 🎉🎉 and to celebrate, Pan Macmillan contacted early readers to attempt to imagine what it would be like to be silent for a day and struggle the same way Steffi does with her selective mutism.

Here’s a list of Steffi’s worst scenarios to be mute for:

5. When you need the toilet
4. When you’re bleeding
3. When you need a new pencil
2. When you look a bit suspicious
1. When your best friend needs you

I don’t think there’s any arguing that those are the worst scenarios to be in (although, I can’t help but giggle that needing a new pencil is a higher priority than when you’re bleeding, so I’ll assume these aren’t in a particular order!) But it really got me thinking, what would be my worst scenarios? So, here goes… Continue reading “A Quiet Kind of Thunder’s Release Day!” →

Review: The Memory Book by Lara Avery

Published on by Heart Full Of BooksLeave a comment

30316954The Memory Book by Lara Avery
Genre: Contemporary
Publisher: Hachette
Pages: 357
Format: ARC e-book
Rating: ★★★.5
Note: We received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of the books that everyone was hauling at YALC, so when it came up on Netgalley, it was an instant request! The premise sounded so intriguing but somehow it both exceeded and didn’t meet our expectations.

Continue reading “Review: The Memory Book by Lara Avery” →

Review: The Witch’s Tears by Katharine and Elizabeth Corr

Published on by Heart Full Of BooksLeave a comment

30796767The Witch’s Tears by Katharine and Elizabeth Corr
Genre: Fairy tale, Fantasy
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 320
Format: ARC e-b00k
Rating: ★★★★
Note: We received this book from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. 

After loving The Witch’s Kiss, and getting to meet the Corr sisters, the sequel was something I was dying to get my hands on, and I’m happy to report that I loved it just as much as the first book! While the fairy tale theme that drew me to the first book isn’t as prominent, there are lots of things that bubble to the surface in its absence and I really loved. Please tell me there’s a third book coming?

Continue reading “Review: The Witch’s Tears by Katharine and Elizabeth Corr” →

(Spoiler) Review: Take the Key and Lock Her Up by Ally Carter

Published on by Heart Full Of Books3 Comments

30336923Take the Key and Lock Her Up by Ally Carter
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Orchard Books
Pages: 320
Format: ARC e-book
Rating: ★★★

After not loving the sequel to the Embassy Row series, See How They Run, I was a little nervous to how I’d take the final book! But, it was still one of my most anticipated books, because I feel like Ally Carter will always have my loyalty, no matter what. So, with rocky expectations, I dived into The the Key and Lock Her Up, but was pleasantly surprised to have a solid conclusion to a series that started with a bang and ended with a knotted bow. Be warned, I’m going to be talking about the ending, so if you haven’t read the series yet, or are just interested, there will be spoilers!

Continue reading “(Spoiler) Review: Take the Key and Lock Her Up by Ally Carter” →

Review: A Tragic Kind of Wonderful by Eric Lindstrom

Published on by Heart Full Of Books1 Comment

31279174A Tragic Kind of Wonderful by Eric Lindstrom
Genre: Contemporary
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 400
Format: ARC e-book
Rating: ★★.5
Note: We received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

After quite liking Eric Lindstrom’s debut Not If I See You First, I was really intrigued when his second book came up on NetGalley. The premise sounded so interesting, and I’m always geared up to add another book about mental health to my TBR. But, it turned out that Mel’s bipolar disorder was the only thing that kept me reading the book, and there were a few other things that almost caused me to DNF…for the first time ever. Continue reading “Review: A Tragic Kind of Wonderful by Eric Lindstrom” →