Goodreads summary:
If you could read my mind, you wouldn't be smiling.
Samantha McAllister looks just like the rest of the popular girls in her junior class. But hidden beneath the straightened hair and expertly applied makeup is a secret that her friends would never understand: Sam has Purely-Obsessional OCD and is consumed by a stream of dark thoughts and worries that she can't turn off.
Second-guessing every move, thought, and word makes daily life a struggle, and it doesn't help that her lifelong friends will turn toxic at the first sign of a wrong outfit, wrong lunch, or wrong crush. Yet Sam knows she'd be truly crazy to leave the protection of the most popular girls in school. So when Sam meets Caroline, she has to keep her new friend with a refreshing sense of humor and no style a secret, right up there with Sam's weekly visits to her psychiatrist.
Caroline introduces Sam to Poet's Corner, a hidden room and a tight-knit group of misfits who have been ignored by the school at large. Sam is drawn to them immediately, especially a guitar-playing guy with a talent for verse, and starts to discover a whole new side of herself. Slowly, she begins to feel more "normal" than she ever has as part of the popular crowd . . . until she finds a new reason to question her sanity and all she holds dear.
My review:
5/5
I really, really, really liked this novel. It completely sucked me in. Wow.
I didn't know much about OCD before reading this book. Sure, my dad and me have a coupel of OCD-like habits, but it's not like we're ever going to need medication about it, because it's not OCD, it's just quirks. When I started reading about Sam, I found it really hard to imagine living like her and having such a mind. I think it's the first thing that really drew me to the story, because I wanted to know more about how she deals with everything. With her talks with her mom and her psychiatrist, I felt like I could see her evolve and understand her better. I think the author did a really good job with that.
I really liked how Sam distanced herself from her friends, because she realized she would be better without them, but then she realized she didn't have to stop being their friend altogether. Even thought their friendship is evidently not the way it used to be, they can still be good together and I feel like it would've been too much if their friendship had been completely ruined by it. I think realizing that about her friends made Sam grow a lot as a person and with her OCD.
I absolutely loved Poet's Corner. I thought it was so intimate, relaxing and interesting that I immediately wished there had been such a place at my school. I liked how no one judges in there, how you can read something if you feel like it, but you're never pressured and how everyone seemed to be comfortable with each other. I read the poems and songs out loud, just like they do, and it brought them to life, making me feel like I was in Poet's Corner, too.
Andrew is such a sweet character. I enjoyed seeing the differences he made in Sam's character, even though he's clearly not the only reason why she evolved. Their relationship is adorable and I loved seeing them interact with each other. I'm glad it was done realistically, especially since he didn't magically "cure" her, like relationships do in unrealistic novels. It was clear to me that everything, from going to the pool to making new friends, helped Sam with her OCD.
I really wasn't expecting what happened at the end. I was confused, hurt and I even felt betrayed, because it was such a big plot twist. I really liked it, though. I think it turned this novel into a much different one, deeper than what it looked like at first, but I like being surprised. I found it hard to read about such a thing, though, especially since I had found no warning sign.
I absolutely loved this novel and I would recommend it to every living person. In fact, I've already talked about it to so many people that it's hard to believe it's only been a couple of days since I read it. Seriously, go read it.
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mercredi 2 septembre 2015
Every Last Word - Tamara Ireland Stone
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lundi 31 août 2015
Inherit the Stars - Tessa Elwood
Goodreads summary:
Three royal houses ruling three interplanetary systems are on the brink of collapse, and they must either ally together or tear each other apart in order for their people to survive.
Asa is the youngest daughter of the house of Fane, which has been fighting a devastating food and energy crisis for far too long. She thinks she can save her family’s livelihood by posing as her oldest sister in an arranged marriage with Eagle, the heir to the throne of the house of Westlet. The appearance of her mother, a traitor who defected to the house of Galton, adds fuel to the fire, while Asa also tries to save her sister Wren's life . . . possibly from the hands of their own father.
But as Asa and Eagle forge a genuine bond, will secrets from the past and the urgent needs of their people in the present keep them divided?
Author Tessa Elwood's debut series is an epic romance at heart, set against a mine field of political machinations, space adventure, and deep-seeded family loyalties.
My review:
4.5/5
Fast-paced, intriguing and romantic. The perfect kind of book!
I loved everything from this novel: the characters, the world, the plot, the romance, etc. While there is in fact a lack of description concerning the world where this story is set, it is undeniably very interesting. There are many different planets and they can fly from one to another pretty much whenever they can, which sounds awesome. The story is quite surprising and kept me anxious to know what would happen next, which is why this could perfectly be read in a single sitting. Then there's the romance. I have found another OTP, that's for sure. It is SO. DAMN. CUTE. I swear. The way Asa loves her sister and would do anything for her family is also very touching, especially since most of the book is based around it. I liked how important family is in this novel, because sometimes we don't even get to know the main character's family in other books, which is thankfully not the case here. Really, this book is a perfect mix of sci-fi, action and romance, all in one.
The only thing I would've changed would be the end, because it felt really rushed and abrupt to me. I was seriously expecting a sequel when there were about two pages left, because I thought it would be impossible to conclude everything in such a small number of pages. Unfortunately, I was wrong and I'm not even sure there's a sequel planned. Let's hope 11:11 helps me with this situation, or I might die waiting for the sequel I will never have gotten - very sad.
Overall, this is a great novel. I can't wait for it to come out so everyone can read it and hopefully love it as much as I did. Also, fingers crossed for the cover, because it better be a good one!
(Inherit the Stars is out on December 8th, 2015. Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
Three royal houses ruling three interplanetary systems are on the brink of collapse, and they must either ally together or tear each other apart in order for their people to survive.
Asa is the youngest daughter of the house of Fane, which has been fighting a devastating food and energy crisis for far too long. She thinks she can save her family’s livelihood by posing as her oldest sister in an arranged marriage with Eagle, the heir to the throne of the house of Westlet. The appearance of her mother, a traitor who defected to the house of Galton, adds fuel to the fire, while Asa also tries to save her sister Wren's life . . . possibly from the hands of their own father.
But as Asa and Eagle forge a genuine bond, will secrets from the past and the urgent needs of their people in the present keep them divided?
Author Tessa Elwood's debut series is an epic romance at heart, set against a mine field of political machinations, space adventure, and deep-seeded family loyalties.
My review:
4.5/5
Fast-paced, intriguing and romantic. The perfect kind of book!
I loved everything from this novel: the characters, the world, the plot, the romance, etc. While there is in fact a lack of description concerning the world where this story is set, it is undeniably very interesting. There are many different planets and they can fly from one to another pretty much whenever they can, which sounds awesome. The story is quite surprising and kept me anxious to know what would happen next, which is why this could perfectly be read in a single sitting. Then there's the romance. I have found another OTP, that's for sure. It is SO. DAMN. CUTE. I swear. The way Asa loves her sister and would do anything for her family is also very touching, especially since most of the book is based around it. I liked how important family is in this novel, because sometimes we don't even get to know the main character's family in other books, which is thankfully not the case here. Really, this book is a perfect mix of sci-fi, action and romance, all in one.
The only thing I would've changed would be the end, because it felt really rushed and abrupt to me. I was seriously expecting a sequel when there were about two pages left, because I thought it would be impossible to conclude everything in such a small number of pages. Unfortunately, I was wrong and I'm not even sure there's a sequel planned. Let's hope 11:11 helps me with this situation, or I might die waiting for the sequel I will never have gotten - very sad.
Overall, this is a great novel. I can't wait for it to come out so everyone can read it and hopefully love it as much as I did. Also, fingers crossed for the cover, because it better be a good one!
(Inherit the Stars is out on December 8th, 2015. Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
I did an interview with the author, Tessa Elwood. She's such a nice person! If you haven't read it yet, you can find it here.
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vendredi 28 août 2015
The Summer of Good Intentions - Wendy Francis
Goodreads summary:
Cape Cod summers are supposed to remain reassuringly the same, but everything falls apart when three sisters and their families come together for their annual summer vacation—and they are carrying more secrets than suitcases.
Maggie is the oldest. She feels responsible for managing the summer house and making sure everything is as it always has been. But she’s hurt that her parents’ recent divorce has destroyed the family’s comfortable summer routines, and her own kids seem to be growing up at high speed. Is it too late to have another baby?
Jess is the middle sister. She loves her job but isn’t as passionate about her marriage. She’s not sure she can find the courage to tell Maggie what she’s done—much less talk to her husband about it.
Virgie is the youngest, her dad’s favorite. She’s always been the career girl, but now there’s a man in her life. Her television job on the west coast is beyond stressful, and it’s taking its toll on her—emotionally and physically. She’s counting on this vacation to erase the symptoms she’s not talking about.
The Herington girls are together again, with their husbands and kids, for another summer in the family’s old Cape Cod house. When their mother, Gloria, announces she’s coming for an unscheduled visit—with her new boyfriend—no one is more surprised than their father, Arthur, who has not quite gotten over his divorce. Still, everyone manages to navigate the challenges of living grown-up lives in close quarters, until an accident reveals a new secret that brings everyone together in heartbreak… and then healing.
My review:
4/5
Awww, this book leaves me with such a contented feeling. I love it.
Although I'm convinced these types of books are written for people way older than me, I absolutely love reading them. When there's a nice ending, they give me hope for my future, concerning my career and love life when I'm older. This one, although it was quite depressing and sad at some point, really did the trick!
I loved how each chapter focuses on alternated characters. It helped me vizualize them in a more complete way than I would've it the story had been focused on one of them, because I could see what image the characters have of themselves as well as how the others see them. It doesn't happen often, but I love it.
The family in this book is such a nice one. Everyone has their flaw, but in the end, they love each other and so did I. My favorite character was probably Maggie, because she's incredible. Basically, everyone worships her, which is why it's weird that she's my favorite character, but the fact is that they have a good reason to do so. She's so kind, organized and nice to everyone that she inspired me a lot. Sure, she goes through hell while doing so, which sucks for her, but in the end she's loved and appreciated by her friends and family. I loved her relationship with Mac.
This book approaches many touchy subjects, which I'm not going to mention to keep this spoiler-free. However, I'm going to say how well described and explained they are, which I really liked. I cried more than once towards the end, because the family goes through hard times, but I loved the ending. There's no question left, there's no sadness, there's only happiness and contentment.
I highlt recommend this book. It's amazing and definitely one of my favorite summery novels.
(Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
Cape Cod summers are supposed to remain reassuringly the same, but everything falls apart when three sisters and their families come together for their annual summer vacation—and they are carrying more secrets than suitcases.
Maggie is the oldest. She feels responsible for managing the summer house and making sure everything is as it always has been. But she’s hurt that her parents’ recent divorce has destroyed the family’s comfortable summer routines, and her own kids seem to be growing up at high speed. Is it too late to have another baby?
Jess is the middle sister. She loves her job but isn’t as passionate about her marriage. She’s not sure she can find the courage to tell Maggie what she’s done—much less talk to her husband about it.
Virgie is the youngest, her dad’s favorite. She’s always been the career girl, but now there’s a man in her life. Her television job on the west coast is beyond stressful, and it’s taking its toll on her—emotionally and physically. She’s counting on this vacation to erase the symptoms she’s not talking about.
The Herington girls are together again, with their husbands and kids, for another summer in the family’s old Cape Cod house. When their mother, Gloria, announces she’s coming for an unscheduled visit—with her new boyfriend—no one is more surprised than their father, Arthur, who has not quite gotten over his divorce. Still, everyone manages to navigate the challenges of living grown-up lives in close quarters, until an accident reveals a new secret that brings everyone together in heartbreak… and then healing.
My review:
4/5
Awww, this book leaves me with such a contented feeling. I love it.
Although I'm convinced these types of books are written for people way older than me, I absolutely love reading them. When there's a nice ending, they give me hope for my future, concerning my career and love life when I'm older. This one, although it was quite depressing and sad at some point, really did the trick!
I loved how each chapter focuses on alternated characters. It helped me vizualize them in a more complete way than I would've it the story had been focused on one of them, because I could see what image the characters have of themselves as well as how the others see them. It doesn't happen often, but I love it.
The family in this book is such a nice one. Everyone has their flaw, but in the end, they love each other and so did I. My favorite character was probably Maggie, because she's incredible. Basically, everyone worships her, which is why it's weird that she's my favorite character, but the fact is that they have a good reason to do so. She's so kind, organized and nice to everyone that she inspired me a lot. Sure, she goes through hell while doing so, which sucks for her, but in the end she's loved and appreciated by her friends and family. I loved her relationship with Mac.
This book approaches many touchy subjects, which I'm not going to mention to keep this spoiler-free. However, I'm going to say how well described and explained they are, which I really liked. I cried more than once towards the end, because the family goes through hard times, but I loved the ending. There's no question left, there's no sadness, there's only happiness and contentment.
I highlt recommend this book. It's amazing and definitely one of my favorite summery novels.
(Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
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vendredi 21 août 2015
The Lake Season - Hannah Roberts McKinnon
Goodreads summary:
Set in the weeks leading up to an idyllic New England wedding, this “enticing and refreshing” (Nancy Thayer, New York Times bestselling author) novel sparkles with wry wit, sweet romance, and long-kept family secrets.
Iris Standish has always been the responsible sister: the one who studied hard, settled down, and always made the right choices—even when they came at the expense of her passions. Meanwhile, her sister Leah dropped out of college to “find herself” by hiking through Yellowstone and switches jobs nearly as often as she switches lovers, leaving Iris to pick up the pieces in her wake.
But now Iris’s life is coming apart at the seams, and when Leah calls her back to their childhood home with a desperate cry for help, she is thrust headfirst into preparations for her sister’s wedding to a man their New Hampshire clan has never met…with her own marriage and family on the brink.
Still, despite the rush of dress fittings, floral arrangements, and rehearsal dinners, Iris is learning to put herself first. And amid a backdrop of late-night swims and a soul-restoring barn renovation comes Cooper Woods, a high school crush who beckons with the promise of a new start.
While Leah faces a past that has finally caught up to her, Iris prepares to say goodbye to a future that is suddenly far from certain. As Hampstead Lake shimmers in the background, Iris must decide when to wade in cautiously and when to dive—and, ultimately, how to ferry herself to safe harbors in this “glittering…memorable” novel of second chances and the ties that bind (Michelle Gable, nationally bestselling author of A Paris Apartment).
My review:
4/5
This is your perfect summer novel. If you're going anywhere near a lake or any kind of beach, this novel is what you need.
I liked how this novel made me feel. Going to her parents' house is a way to take a break from her life for Iris, and I felt like I was on a break, too. This novel made me escape from my life and if that doesn't mean it's a good novel, then I don't know what does.
I found it hard to like all of the characters in this novel, first because I didn't feel very invested in the story (but that might be because the main character is my mother's age, so it's not exactly a book for someone my age), but also because I found some characters pretty annoying. Sometimes, I wished I could shake some of the characters, because I hated what they were doing. Also, since the novel starts when Paul has just told Iris that he wants them to get a divorce, I didn't understand what she could see in him, because I felt like I didn't know a thing about their relationship, except from their fallout. It made it hard for me to understand her feelings. However, I really liked many other characters, like Trish, Iris's best friend, Bill, Iris's father, Cooper and Iris's children. I loved the relationships between all of those characters, because their love is clear and deep.
I really liked how selfless Iris is. It also bugged me a little, because I wished she would do something for herself, but mostly, I was impressed. I thought it was very brave of her and I wished I could be more like that. I was really happy to see her grow and to realize how much of a difference this summer has on her, because there is a lot of character development in this book, as well as relationship development.
I read this book outside, on my patio on sunbathing, and it was exactly what I needed. I recommend it.
(Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
Set in the weeks leading up to an idyllic New England wedding, this “enticing and refreshing” (Nancy Thayer, New York Times bestselling author) novel sparkles with wry wit, sweet romance, and long-kept family secrets.
Iris Standish has always been the responsible sister: the one who studied hard, settled down, and always made the right choices—even when they came at the expense of her passions. Meanwhile, her sister Leah dropped out of college to “find herself” by hiking through Yellowstone and switches jobs nearly as often as she switches lovers, leaving Iris to pick up the pieces in her wake.
But now Iris’s life is coming apart at the seams, and when Leah calls her back to their childhood home with a desperate cry for help, she is thrust headfirst into preparations for her sister’s wedding to a man their New Hampshire clan has never met…with her own marriage and family on the brink.
Still, despite the rush of dress fittings, floral arrangements, and rehearsal dinners, Iris is learning to put herself first. And amid a backdrop of late-night swims and a soul-restoring barn renovation comes Cooper Woods, a high school crush who beckons with the promise of a new start.
While Leah faces a past that has finally caught up to her, Iris prepares to say goodbye to a future that is suddenly far from certain. As Hampstead Lake shimmers in the background, Iris must decide when to wade in cautiously and when to dive—and, ultimately, how to ferry herself to safe harbors in this “glittering…memorable” novel of second chances and the ties that bind (Michelle Gable, nationally bestselling author of A Paris Apartment).
My review:
4/5
This is your perfect summer novel. If you're going anywhere near a lake or any kind of beach, this novel is what you need.
I liked how this novel made me feel. Going to her parents' house is a way to take a break from her life for Iris, and I felt like I was on a break, too. This novel made me escape from my life and if that doesn't mean it's a good novel, then I don't know what does.
I found it hard to like all of the characters in this novel, first because I didn't feel very invested in the story (but that might be because the main character is my mother's age, so it's not exactly a book for someone my age), but also because I found some characters pretty annoying. Sometimes, I wished I could shake some of the characters, because I hated what they were doing. Also, since the novel starts when Paul has just told Iris that he wants them to get a divorce, I didn't understand what she could see in him, because I felt like I didn't know a thing about their relationship, except from their fallout. It made it hard for me to understand her feelings. However, I really liked many other characters, like Trish, Iris's best friend, Bill, Iris's father, Cooper and Iris's children. I loved the relationships between all of those characters, because their love is clear and deep.
I really liked how selfless Iris is. It also bugged me a little, because I wished she would do something for herself, but mostly, I was impressed. I thought it was very brave of her and I wished I could be more like that. I was really happy to see her grow and to realize how much of a difference this summer has on her, because there is a lot of character development in this book, as well as relationship development.
I read this book outside, on my patio on sunbathing, and it was exactly what I needed. I recommend it.
(Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
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mercredi 19 août 2015
Beauty Queens - Libba Bray
Goodreads summary:
When a plane crash strands thirteen teen beauty contestants on a mysterious island, they struggle to survive, to get along with one another, to combat the island's other diabolical occupants, and to learn their dance numbers in case they are rescued in time for the competition.Written by Libba Bray, the hilarious, sensational, Printz Award-winning author of A Great and Terrible Beauty and Going Bovine. The result is a novel that will make you laugh, make you think, and make you never see beauty the same way again.
My review:
4/5
It's so much better than it looks! I had been looking at it ever since my library got it, but it didn't seem like something I would read at all, so I only picked it up because I heard good things about it. I'm glad I did, because it was really funny!
The writing style itself is pretty funny. I loved the "A Word From Your Sponsor" chapters, although I was confused by them at first, and the footnotes had so many interesting details that I couldn't stop myself from reading them. I really like the fact that the author created movies, TV shows, celebrities, products and events simply to include them in this book. Some were so incongruous that they made me laugh out loud, especially since I could picture them on some channels. I think this novel really made me realize how stupid our society can be to enjoy watching such things, because even though the movies and TV shows are fictional and improbable, they reflect some that actually exist.
I really enjoyed discovering the girls' personalities. There are a couple of them, but I feel like I got to know most of them pretty well and they're all interesting and different from the others. They all have different reasons to participate in the competition, as well as different pasts and passions, and I liked understanding them better and knowing why they all act like they do. The friendships they created while being on the island are fantastic and their character development made me really happy.
The thing I enjoyed the most about this book is probably how it changes the notion of "damsel in distress". The girls wish for princes to sweep them off their feet at first, but they quickly realize how amazing they can be on their own. They discover talents about themselves and stop depending on men so much. I really liked that aspect, since it's different from most YA novels.
The only reasons why I'm giving this four stars instead of five are that, while I enjoyed reading this book, it's not really my type and that a lot of the footnotes were boring instead of funny like the other ones. I wish they had all been hilarious and crazy, but I guess you can't always get what you want!
I recommend this book, even though it might not look like everyone's type.
When a plane crash strands thirteen teen beauty contestants on a mysterious island, they struggle to survive, to get along with one another, to combat the island's other diabolical occupants, and to learn their dance numbers in case they are rescued in time for the competition.Written by Libba Bray, the hilarious, sensational, Printz Award-winning author of A Great and Terrible Beauty and Going Bovine. The result is a novel that will make you laugh, make you think, and make you never see beauty the same way again.
My review:
4/5
It's so much better than it looks! I had been looking at it ever since my library got it, but it didn't seem like something I would read at all, so I only picked it up because I heard good things about it. I'm glad I did, because it was really funny!
The writing style itself is pretty funny. I loved the "A Word From Your Sponsor" chapters, although I was confused by them at first, and the footnotes had so many interesting details that I couldn't stop myself from reading them. I really like the fact that the author created movies, TV shows, celebrities, products and events simply to include them in this book. Some were so incongruous that they made me laugh out loud, especially since I could picture them on some channels. I think this novel really made me realize how stupid our society can be to enjoy watching such things, because even though the movies and TV shows are fictional and improbable, they reflect some that actually exist.
I really enjoyed discovering the girls' personalities. There are a couple of them, but I feel like I got to know most of them pretty well and they're all interesting and different from the others. They all have different reasons to participate in the competition, as well as different pasts and passions, and I liked understanding them better and knowing why they all act like they do. The friendships they created while being on the island are fantastic and their character development made me really happy.
The thing I enjoyed the most about this book is probably how it changes the notion of "damsel in distress". The girls wish for princes to sweep them off their feet at first, but they quickly realize how amazing they can be on their own. They discover talents about themselves and stop depending on men so much. I really liked that aspect, since it's different from most YA novels.
The only reasons why I'm giving this four stars instead of five are that, while I enjoyed reading this book, it's not really my type and that a lot of the footnotes were boring instead of funny like the other ones. I wish they had all been hilarious and crazy, but I guess you can't always get what you want!
I recommend this book, even though it might not look like everyone's type.
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samedi 15 août 2015
Courtship Book Tag
The Courtship Book Tag is a tag comparing books to dating steps, which I find really funny and interesting. I've seen many videos of it on BookTube, so I'm glad to see that bloggers do it, too! The Glitter Aficionado recently did it and tagged everyone who felt like doing it, so thank you! It's really nice, so keep on reading!
You can click on the book covers to go to their Goodreads page.
Initial Attraction: A book you bought because of the cover.
You can click on the book covers to go to their Goodreads page.
Initial Attraction: A book you bought because of the cover.
You have to admit it: this book is gorgeous. I couldn't resist it, especially since I thought it sounded awesome. Sadly, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. Don't judge a book by its cover!
First Impressions: A book you bought because of the summary.
If you haven't read this novel's summary, here it is: "Lucy is in love with Shadow, a mysterious graffiti artist. Ed thought he was in love with Lucy, until she broke his nose. Dylan loves Daisy, but throwing eggs at her probably wasn't the best way to show it. Jazz and Leo are slowly encircling each other. An intense and exhilarating 24 hours in the lives of four teenagers on the verge: of adulthood, of HSC, of finding out just who they are, and who they want to be. A lyrical new YA novel from the award-winning author of Chasing Charlie Duskin and the Gracie Faltrain series." When I read this summary, my only thought was: "what?" I couldn't help needing to know what would happen, so I read it as soon as I got it. It was a good decision, because I ended up really liking it!
Sweet Talk: A book with great writing.
If, for some reason, you haven't heard me rave about Lucy Maud Montgomery, you might not know that she has been my favorite author since I was eight and that this novel is my all-time favorite. Although it's supposed to be a children's book, I consider this as a novel for everyone, because its writing style is gorgeous and captivating. You'll want nothing more than to walk Prince Edward Island's red roads and see every single flower and tree described in this novel. You'll fall in love with Anne, Gilbert and Matthew and you'll dream of experiencing such a love story as there is later in this series. Please, read it, if only for its poetic writing.
First Date: A first book in the series that made you want to read the rest.
I highly recommend this series. I read it when I was about thirteen and I can't even count how many times I re-read it. It has great romance, time traveling and awesome characters and I swear it'll suck you in from the very first page.
Late Night Phone Calls: A book that kept you up all night.
This book kept me up very late for two reasons: 1) It was making me very paranoid about every noise in my house, and 2) I was incredibly intrigued and I couldn't stop reading. I know many people love the TV show Pretty Little Liars but dislike the books that inspired them, but I think that this series is so much better than the one Sara Shepard is known for. I read it incredibly fast and I loved every single page of it.
Always on my Mind: A book you cannot stop thinking about.
If you're an animal lover like me, you'll adore this book. It made me cry a lot, but it also made me think about what dogs really think and feel. It's really sweet and adorable, so you better pick it up as soon as possible if you haven't yet!
Getting Physical: A book which you love the way it feels.
I don't know about everyone else's editions of this book, but mine is paperback and has a matte cover with shiny textured writing, so I love to touch it. I loved reading it, too! I highly recommend it, even if most of you have probably already read it.
Meeting the Parents: A book that you would recommend to your friends and family.
THIS BOOK. It's amazing. It's really interesting, what with its scientifical détails and the fact that it's, after all, set on Mars, and it's so. incredibly. funny. It kept cracking me up, even when I would've been crying (or simply dead) if I were in Mark's place. I think it's a book everyone would love and I'm really happy they're making a movie of it, because even my friends who don't read will be able to know how incredible it is!
Thinking About the Future: A book or series that you know you'll re-read in the future.
Just yesterday, I had to force myself not to re-read this book, which was the first one I read in 2015. This book, as well as the other ones by Morgan Matson, are books that I will need to re-read someday, because I loved them to death. I you haven't read anything by her yet, stop everything and start any of her books, because I don't know a single person who regretted it.
Spread the Love: Who would you like to tag?
Simply anyone who wants to! It's a really fun tag and I want everyone to do it if they haven't yet. Let me know if you do!
vendredi 14 août 2015
A History of Glitter and Blood - Hannah Moskowitz
Goodreads summary
Sixteen-year-old Beckan and her friends are the only fairies brave enough to stay in Ferrum when war breaks out. Now there is tension between the immortal fairies, the subterranean gnomes, and the mysterious tightropers who arrived to liberate the fairies.
But when Beckan's clan is forced to venture into the gnome underworld to survive, they find themselves tentatively forming unlikely friendships and making sacrifices they couldn't have imagined. As danger mounts, Beckan finds herself caught between her loyalty to her friends, her desire for peace, and a love she never expected.
This stunning, lyrical fantasy is a powerful exploration of what makes a family, what justifies a war, and what it means to truly love.
My review:
3/5
It's definitely a weird book, but I still liked it! It wasn't what I was expecting, but that isn't always bad.
I was confused when I started reading because of the narrator. There are parts like "this sucks, to change in the final draft" that took my interest off, because it was out of place and confusing. I realized later that this book is actually an attempt at a novel from a fictional character - I know, confusing - and that those are the fictional narrator's words. While I didn't get it at first, I came to love this part of the novel, because it makes the narrator unreliable and it had me questionning everything that happened when he wasn't there, since it could be complete bullsh*t.
I had trouble understanding the characters, because there is a lack of background for some of them. Also, since they're young, there's a lot of swearing, which I found weird sometimes. It felt out of place, especially when they were out of Beckan's mouth. I think the characters I liked the most were Rig and Tier, because of their relationship issues and how realistic they are, but, for them as well as for the other characters, I hated the fact that the narrator is unreliable, since it made me wonder which part of what's written is true and which one isn't. It was fun to wonder, but when you're trying to get to know characters and everything you read about them might be completely false, it's confusing and irritating.
One part of this book that I liked was understanding the relationships between fairies, tightropers and gnomes. I liked how interesting fairies are and how rare it is for them to be whole, as weird as it sounds, because I found that to be very peculiar. The way they start to accept each other in Ferrum is amazing and I liked how they used each other's abilities. I wish the ending was better for the population in general though, but I gess you can't always get what you want.
I found it really weird how everyone seems obsessed with the idea of love in this book. I know part of it is because of the unreliable narrator, but I felt like the l-word is pronounced a billion times in this book, in platonic or non-platonic ways, although it's almost never clear. I was always confused by who is in love with who because of that. Also, sex is a big part of this book, since Cricket, Beckan and Scrap are prostitutes, which is something I was really not expecting when I picked this book up. There's a lot of mentions about sex, although they're not really explicit.
The story itself is good, but it's a bit slow. I liked how the war changed aspects of their lives and how the main characters reacted to them, but sometimes Josha and Scrap seemed to react too much.
Beckan is strong and she leads her pack very well, which I liked to see. I was suprised by plot twists towards the end of the book, because I was absolutely not expecting them. The story's interesting and it kept me wanting to know what would happen, but I feel like a big part of it is about the past and not much actually happens. I liked the pictures and excerpts included in the pages, but some of them were unnecessary, in my opinion.
I enjoyed reading this book, my only problem with it is that I have a long list of "but" sentences to add to this.
(Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
Sixteen-year-old Beckan and her friends are the only fairies brave enough to stay in Ferrum when war breaks out. Now there is tension between the immortal fairies, the subterranean gnomes, and the mysterious tightropers who arrived to liberate the fairies.
But when Beckan's clan is forced to venture into the gnome underworld to survive, they find themselves tentatively forming unlikely friendships and making sacrifices they couldn't have imagined. As danger mounts, Beckan finds herself caught between her loyalty to her friends, her desire for peace, and a love she never expected.
This stunning, lyrical fantasy is a powerful exploration of what makes a family, what justifies a war, and what it means to truly love.
My review:
3/5
It's definitely a weird book, but I still liked it! It wasn't what I was expecting, but that isn't always bad.
I was confused when I started reading because of the narrator. There are parts like "this sucks, to change in the final draft" that took my interest off, because it was out of place and confusing. I realized later that this book is actually an attempt at a novel from a fictional character - I know, confusing - and that those are the fictional narrator's words. While I didn't get it at first, I came to love this part of the novel, because it makes the narrator unreliable and it had me questionning everything that happened when he wasn't there, since it could be complete bullsh*t.
I had trouble understanding the characters, because there is a lack of background for some of them. Also, since they're young, there's a lot of swearing, which I found weird sometimes. It felt out of place, especially when they were out of Beckan's mouth. I think the characters I liked the most were Rig and Tier, because of their relationship issues and how realistic they are, but, for them as well as for the other characters, I hated the fact that the narrator is unreliable, since it made me wonder which part of what's written is true and which one isn't. It was fun to wonder, but when you're trying to get to know characters and everything you read about them might be completely false, it's confusing and irritating.
One part of this book that I liked was understanding the relationships between fairies, tightropers and gnomes. I liked how interesting fairies are and how rare it is for them to be whole, as weird as it sounds, because I found that to be very peculiar. The way they start to accept each other in Ferrum is amazing and I liked how they used each other's abilities. I wish the ending was better for the population in general though, but I gess you can't always get what you want.
I found it really weird how everyone seems obsessed with the idea of love in this book. I know part of it is because of the unreliable narrator, but I felt like the l-word is pronounced a billion times in this book, in platonic or non-platonic ways, although it's almost never clear. I was always confused by who is in love with who because of that. Also, sex is a big part of this book, since Cricket, Beckan and Scrap are prostitutes, which is something I was really not expecting when I picked this book up. There's a lot of mentions about sex, although they're not really explicit.
The story itself is good, but it's a bit slow. I liked how the war changed aspects of their lives and how the main characters reacted to them, but sometimes Josha and Scrap seemed to react too much.
Beckan is strong and she leads her pack very well, which I liked to see. I was suprised by plot twists towards the end of the book, because I was absolutely not expecting them. The story's interesting and it kept me wanting to know what would happen, but I feel like a big part of it is about the past and not much actually happens. I liked the pictures and excerpts included in the pages, but some of them were unnecessary, in my opinion.
I enjoyed reading this book, my only problem with it is that I have a long list of "but" sentences to add to this.
(Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

mercredi 12 août 2015
Destroy Me (Shatter Me, #1.5) - Tahereh Mafi
Goodreads summary:
Perfect for the fans of Shatter Me who are desperately awaiting the release of Unravel Me, this novella-length digital original will bridge the gap between these two novels from the perspective of the villain we all love to hate, Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.
In Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me, Juliette escaped from The Reestablishment by seducing Warner—and then putting a bullet in his shoulder. But as she’ll learn in Destroy Me, Warner is not that easy to get rid of. . .
Back at the base and recovering from his near-fatal wound, Warner must do everything in his power to keep his soldiers in check and suppress any mention of a rebellion in the sector. Still as obsessed with Juliette as ever, his first priority is to find her, bring her back, and dispose of Adam and Kenji, the two traitors who helped her escape. But when Warner’s father, The Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment, arrives to correct his son’s mistakes, it’s clear that he has much different plans for Juliette. Plans Warner simply cannot allow.
Set after Shatter Me and before its forthcoming sequel, Unravel Me, Destroy Me is a novella told from the perspective of Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.
My review:
4.5/5
I really liked it! I couldn't really understand Warner before, so reading something in his point of view made all the difference. I loved the last scene, especially since I have already read Unravel Me and I was wondering if it would be in Destroy Me, too. It's short, but I think it contains all that needed to be told. I can't wait to finish this series now!
Perfect for the fans of Shatter Me who are desperately awaiting the release of Unravel Me, this novella-length digital original will bridge the gap between these two novels from the perspective of the villain we all love to hate, Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.
In Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me, Juliette escaped from The Reestablishment by seducing Warner—and then putting a bullet in his shoulder. But as she’ll learn in Destroy Me, Warner is not that easy to get rid of. . .
Back at the base and recovering from his near-fatal wound, Warner must do everything in his power to keep his soldiers in check and suppress any mention of a rebellion in the sector. Still as obsessed with Juliette as ever, his first priority is to find her, bring her back, and dispose of Adam and Kenji, the two traitors who helped her escape. But when Warner’s father, The Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment, arrives to correct his son’s mistakes, it’s clear that he has much different plans for Juliette. Plans Warner simply cannot allow.
Set after Shatter Me and before its forthcoming sequel, Unravel Me, Destroy Me is a novella told from the perspective of Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.
My review:
4.5/5
I really liked it! I couldn't really understand Warner before, so reading something in his point of view made all the difference. I loved the last scene, especially since I have already read Unravel Me and I was wondering if it would be in Destroy Me, too. It's short, but I think it contains all that needed to be told. I can't wait to finish this series now!

The review's short, but so is the book. It's short and sweet!
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lundi 6 juillet 2015
Attachments - Rainbow Rowell
4/5
Are you looking for a super adorable romance that's going to get your expectations of love so high that it'll be impossible for you to have a relationship a tiny bit like that? If so, this is the book you should read. It's a quick, cute read and the love story is so perfect that it might be a little bit too much if you're not expecting a sickly cute book. It's not exactly a bad thing, but I do think that the ending was a bit too much like a "happily ever after" for a non-Disney story. I did love it, but I would have loved it a little bit more if it hadn't been that way. I still think Rainbow Rowell is incredible and that her characters are really interesting, so I want to read more from her!
Are you looking for a super adorable romance that's going to get your expectations of love so high that it'll be impossible for you to have a relationship a tiny bit like that? If so, this is the book you should read. It's a quick, cute read and the love story is so perfect that it might be a little bit too much if you're not expecting a sickly cute book. It's not exactly a bad thing, but I do think that the ending was a bit too much like a "happily ever after" for a non-Disney story. I did love it, but I would have loved it a little bit more if it hadn't been that way. I still think Rainbow Rowell is incredible and that her characters are really interesting, so I want to read more from her!

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Libraries
As a book lover myself, I've often heard fellow book lovers talk about how much they dislike renting books from the library because of how many other people read them. It's always been a mystery to me why this would be a problem to anyone, but I decided to explain why I love libraries, especially my local one, to death.
First of all, whether you like them or not, you can't help but be excited when you walk into a library if you only slightly like books. There's just so many of them, everywhere, and you feel like there are endless reading possibilities. Your eye might catch a great fantasy book, but then you'll find the most interesting sci-fi novel that want to start right away. Just like bookstores, libraries hold thousands of stories within their walls and you're happy as long as you're surrounded by them.
I personally love wandering between the rows of full and constantly surprising bookshelves, letting my eyes go from one cover to another, one title to another, one author to another. It's all about inspiration, whether it's from a colourful spine, a catchy title or a well-known author. Sometimes, I find myself renting the most unexpected book, simply because something in it caught my attention. I don't even care if the novels I picked out are going to be bad, because I still have to return them in the end, and I like to believe they attracted me for a particular reason. When you're doing some online shopping on eBay, Amazon or any other website, you can never get that amazing feeling of reading the back of a book simply because you were attracted to it. While I do try to find some books I've heard great things about and I'm excited to read, I prefer letting unread books find me.
The next reason might not be a good one for everyone: money. I am a teenager who's still desperately trying to get herself a job, so money is an issue for me. With what little money I get from babysitting once in a while and presents, I have a very limited choice of books to purchase. My worst fear when I'm thinking about buying a book is that I would end up really not liking it and having spent money for nothing. For this particular reason, I only buy books I've already read and loved. I'll still end up with a small collection of amazing books, but I would never expect to have rows and rows of books myself. I also ask for iTunes gift cards as presents to purchase ebooks I've been dying to read for a long time, like new releases or sequels that my library doesn't have yet. I need to be very careful when I'm spending money, so being able to read books for free is an amazing privilege.
The main reason where there's a debate is the fact that someone probably rented a book before you did, just like someone else will after you did. Some people hate not knowing what's going to happen with the book they're reading, afraid the next reader might alter the book's state. Although I do think it's important to take care of books so they stay in a good state, I love the idea of someone else imagining the story while holding the same exact book I held while reading. I think reading is sharing, from recommending a book to your friends to lenting it to others. While the next readers might not be friends of mine, they're readers just like I am, which brings us closer already, and the fact that we shared a book unknowingly is wonderful. It's like having hundreds of friends who don't even need to speak to stay connected with you, and I love it. I hate seeing my brand-new books stand on my bookshelf unread for years because I have no one to share them with, but libraries allow me to believe in the "reading is sharing" motto I've now had for years.
In the end, those facts about libraries, along with some more, are the reason why I would never want libraries to disappear. Go visit your local one, you might find a new favourite place, just like I did!
First of all, whether you like them or not, you can't help but be excited when you walk into a library if you only slightly like books. There's just so many of them, everywhere, and you feel like there are endless reading possibilities. Your eye might catch a great fantasy book, but then you'll find the most interesting sci-fi novel that want to start right away. Just like bookstores, libraries hold thousands of stories within their walls and you're happy as long as you're surrounded by them.
I personally love wandering between the rows of full and constantly surprising bookshelves, letting my eyes go from one cover to another, one title to another, one author to another. It's all about inspiration, whether it's from a colourful spine, a catchy title or a well-known author. Sometimes, I find myself renting the most unexpected book, simply because something in it caught my attention. I don't even care if the novels I picked out are going to be bad, because I still have to return them in the end, and I like to believe they attracted me for a particular reason. When you're doing some online shopping on eBay, Amazon or any other website, you can never get that amazing feeling of reading the back of a book simply because you were attracted to it. While I do try to find some books I've heard great things about and I'm excited to read, I prefer letting unread books find me.
The next reason might not be a good one for everyone: money. I am a teenager who's still desperately trying to get herself a job, so money is an issue for me. With what little money I get from babysitting once in a while and presents, I have a very limited choice of books to purchase. My worst fear when I'm thinking about buying a book is that I would end up really not liking it and having spent money for nothing. For this particular reason, I only buy books I've already read and loved. I'll still end up with a small collection of amazing books, but I would never expect to have rows and rows of books myself. I also ask for iTunes gift cards as presents to purchase ebooks I've been dying to read for a long time, like new releases or sequels that my library doesn't have yet. I need to be very careful when I'm spending money, so being able to read books for free is an amazing privilege.
The main reason where there's a debate is the fact that someone probably rented a book before you did, just like someone else will after you did. Some people hate not knowing what's going to happen with the book they're reading, afraid the next reader might alter the book's state. Although I do think it's important to take care of books so they stay in a good state, I love the idea of someone else imagining the story while holding the same exact book I held while reading. I think reading is sharing, from recommending a book to your friends to lenting it to others. While the next readers might not be friends of mine, they're readers just like I am, which brings us closer already, and the fact that we shared a book unknowingly is wonderful. It's like having hundreds of friends who don't even need to speak to stay connected with you, and I love it. I hate seeing my brand-new books stand on my bookshelf unread for years because I have no one to share them with, but libraries allow me to believe in the "reading is sharing" motto I've now had for years.
In the end, those facts about libraries, along with some more, are the reason why I would never want libraries to disappear. Go visit your local one, you might find a new favourite place, just like I did!
Reading is sharing.
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