My Summer TBR

I've had a reading slump for my entire first month of summer vacation, so I really haven't been reading as much as I hoped to. Now that I'm getting back into it (slowly, so we're not going to get too excited in case it's a fail), I hope to read a lot more this summer, because it's definitely the best time for me to tackle my TBR pile. I'm going to make a list of books I want to read this summer to help myself whenever I'm looking for a new book to read, but this could also help some of you guys who want to know what to read next! I'm also open to recommendations, as always. Like all of my blog posts, the pictures will take you to the books' Goodreads page. 

YA

Summer in the Invisible City by Juliana Romano

This book is a new release that intrigued me a lot from the very beginning, so I couldn't resist buying it. It's set in NYC, where I've never been, and a lot of it is about photography, which is an awesome passion. I'm actually already reading this, because I simply couldn't wait.

When We Collided by Emery Lord

I've loved both of Emery Lord's first novels, so her newest one is definitely on my TBR. It doesn't seem as light-hearted as her other books, but her writing feels like summer and her romances are always great, so now's the perfect time for me to read it!

Shuffle, Repeat by Jen Klein

I was desperate to find a cure for my reading slump, so I started browsing new YA releases that sounded light and adorable. This one popped up and it intrigued me, even though it sounds predictable. I'll let you know what I think of it!

P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

Being away from Goodreads and blogs, I forgot that this novel was coming out this summer, which I wasn't proud of. If you didn't know, I'm the biggest Kasie West fan, because she's my go-to when it comes to light-hearted YAs. She writes the cutest stories and her love interests are always so swoony, so I cannot wait to pick this up. Also, it comes out only a few days before I go on vacation, so I know it'll be part of the entire library I'm bringing there!

The Cinderella Pact by Sarah Strohmeyer

This book came out about ten years ago, so it's not a new release, but I've been dying to read it for a really long time. In fact, even before I started reading Strohmeyer's novels, I watched the movie adaptation for this book and I loved it. Since then, I've probably watched it 5 more times, so I was really happy when I found out it was actually a book. I finally got my hands on it, so I can't wait to read this.

Wrecked by Maria Padian

I received this in exchange for a review and I think it sounds really interesting and different from the other YAs I mentionned, so I'm excited to read it!

Classics

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

I've always wanted to read this novel, but when my teachers started talking about it non-stop last semester, I knew I had to read it as soon as possible, so I'm hoping to get to it this summer!

1984 by George Orwell

I've started this book last fall, but I stopped reading and never got back to it. Since I loved Animal Farm and I've heard so many great things about this classic, I just have to read it this summer.

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

I'm going to be honest here: I've never read a thing Hemingway has written, so I have no idea what to expect with this book, However, I'd really like to have an opinion for myself, so that's what I'll be doing this summer.



Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

I've read quite a few of Austen's books and I've loved all of them, so I want to keep going and this novel is the next one on my list. I downloaded the audiobook for it, so I might listen to it when I'm in the car.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn  by Mark Twain

I'm not sure if I'll be able to read it this summer, but I plan on doing it in the future because it'll be part of the season three of Crash Course Literature, which I love. Also, this will be my first Mark Twain book!

Romeo and Juliet  by Shakespeare

Since I have yet to read one of Shakespeare's plays, I decided on this one, because someone lent the book to me ages ago and I want to be able to give it back to that person (I'm the annoying person who has tons of books lent by other people, but it's simply because I didn't ask for them and I never feel like reading them. Also, I think everyone forgets about the books they lent to me). I'm actually really excited to read this!

Series

City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6) by Cassandra Clare

It must have been three years since I started reading this series and I still haven't finished it, so it's about time I read this. I think I'll bring it with me on vacation to motivate me.

Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices #1) by Cassandra Clare

Okay, so I won't lie, this book is pretty much the biggest reason why I'm finally going to finish TMI, because it sounds amazing and I really want to read it. Since I've heard that it's better to have read CoHF before reading it, I've been trying to refrain myself from picking it up, but it's a big struggle for me.

The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines #4) by Richelle Mead

I really want to read this novel, since I loved the first three books in the series, which I read this year. It's only a matter of time before I pick it up!

The Last Star (The 5th Wave #3) by Rick Yancey

I'm one of the only ones who liked the movie adaptation for The 5th Wave, so I really want to keep on reading this series, especially since it's the final book and it recently came out. It's one of the ebooks I always have on my phone and e-reader, so I'll pick it up whenever I'm somewhere I can read and I have one of those with me instead of a physical book.

Destined for Doon (Doon #2) by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon

I've had this book for months and I always want to read it, so I think it's finally time for me to do it. I really liked the first book, so I'm hoping that this will be just as good!

Hearts, Fingers, and Other Things to Cross (Broken Hearts & Revenge #3) by Katie Finn (also known as Morgan Matson, if you didn't know)

As a big Morgan Matson fan, I had to read this series, and I really enjoy it so far. This is literally the perfect summer book, so I can't wait to continue with this series!

Shattered (Slated #3) by Teri Terry

I have honestly loved the first two books in this series, so I bought the third one pretty much as soon as it came out, but I never read it (which is really stupid, I know). Since I own it, I should read it this summer, because I have to know what happens with the story (even though I admittedly don't remember much of it now).

Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) by Sarah J. Maas

I love this series more with every new book I read, so I am dying to pick this one up. It's been out for quite some time now, so I really have no excuse not to pick it up!

Re-reads

Sapphire Blue & Emerald Green(Precious Stone Trilogy #2 & 3) by Kerstin Gier

This is one of my favourite series of all time and I recently re-read Ruby Red, which got me out of my reading slump, so I just have to continue reading the series.

Rainbow Valley (Anne of Green Gables #7) by Lucy Maud Montgomery

LMM is my favourite author, and this is my favourite series, so I'm almost always reading one of the eight novels in it. I don't remember much about the last two, since I didn't read them as many times as the others, so I'd love to do it this summer.

Out of my Comfort Zone

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkings

I don't usually read thrillers, but I've heard great things about this one. Also, there's going to be a movie adaptation of it, so when I saw it on sale for one dollar, I had to pick it up. Again, it'll probably be part of my vacation library!

The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman

I would read this book simply because of its gorgeous cover and title, but I also think that the summary is incredibly intriguing. It's not really my usual genre, but I think I'll love it anyways, and since they're doing a movie of it, too, I can't wait to read it.

What Lies Within by James Morris

This is a book I received to review and I still haven't read it, which I feel really bad about. The only reason for that is that I'm not a huge fan of thrillers, so I never have the urge to pick one of them when I'm looking for a book to read, but I'll push myself to do it this summer, I swear.

The Choices We Make by Karma Brown

This is a little bit more like something my mom would read, but for some reason, it really intrigues me. I've also received it from its publisher, so it's one more reason for me to read it this summer!

There are a lot of books on this list, but I know I can easily read that many if I don't get any more reading slumps. I can't promise I'll only read these books though, especially since I already have some that I know aren't on this list but that I want to read, so I'm not sure if I'll tackle this entire TBR, but I'll try to! I'll make a readathon of my entire summer if I have to. Good luck on your summer TBR, everyone!

Signs of Love (Series) - Melody James

Hi everyone! I'm doing a series review for once, because these books are so small that it was pointless to write huge reviews. If you think they look too childish, don't judge them too quickly! I personally loved this series so much that I finished it in less than a (busy) week, so I highly recommend it. It's perfect for readers looking for a light-hearted series and aspiring journalists, since it's the main character's dream, too. 

Signs of Love: Love Match (#1)

Goodreads summary:

For as long as 13-year-old Gemma Stone can remember she has dreamed of becoming an award-winning journalist. Unfortunately, as the youngest member of the Green Park High student e-zine editorial team, she's given the job of writing the horoscopes, under the pen name 'Jessica Jupiter'.


My review:

3/5

Ah, cute little books, what an amazing distraction you are. 

This book is sweetness times ten. It's adorable, funny and interesting, which is why I read it so quickly and decided to continue with the series. I'm not going to pretend it's the best book I've ever read, but it definitly is a nice distraction. It might be the book I read in the shortest amount of time this year, but it made it even better. If you're looking for a story to make you forget about school, work or life in general, this book would be amazing for you. Also, I love how it's about journalism, since that's what I'm studying right now.

Signs of Love: Stupid Cupid (#2)

Goodreads summary:

The path of true love never runs smoothly, and when Gemma is involved it can get exceedingly bumpy!

For as long as thirteen-year-old Gemma Stone can remember she has dreamed of becoming an award-winning journalist. Unfortunately, as the youngest member of the editorial team on the Green Park High student web-zine, she is given the job of writing the horoscopes, under the pen name 'Jessica Jupiter'. Not knowing the first thing about astrology, Gemma decides to make the most of her unexpected situation by using her new position to play Cupid with her friends, writing fictional forecasts to help their romantic dreams come true. But is Gemma to busy with her friends love lives to notice signs of love closer to home?

My review:

4/5

In this book, I feel like the romance started building up. While there were hints of it in the first book, this one had the confirmation that there was indeed some romance to be expected in the future, even though nothing really happened in it. If anything, this book made me desperately want to read the next one, because I knew I could expect more from it and I couldn't wait. It created an addiction (an innocent one, so it's alright), and I ended up going to the library the next day to find the next one... Pretending it was for my little sister (Sorry, Sis)! If I can get addicted to this at 18, I gess everyone can!

Signs of Love: Paris Crush (#3)

Goodreads summary:

The path of true love never runs smoothly, and when Gemma is involved it can get exceedingly bumpy! 
For as long as thirteen-year-old Gemma Stone can remember she has dreamed of becoming an award-winning journalist. Unfortunately, as the youngest member of the editorial team on the Green Park High student web-zine, she is given the job of writing the horoscopes, under the pen name 'Jessica Jupiter'. Not knowing the first thing about astrology, Gemma decides to make the most of her unexpected situation by using her new position to play Cupid with her friends, writing fictional forecasts to help their romantic dreams come true. But is Gemma to busy with her friends love lives to notice signs of love closer to home?

My review:

4/5

This book made me ache for the main characters. I could feel their emotions and all I wanted was to be thrown into the story to knock some sense into their heads. It was evident that the love story was bound to happen at some point, but it kept being pushed away and I hated it (in a somewhat good way). I ached to find some hints of the romance I knew there was and I probably felt way too much for such a book, but it was absolutely delightful. Also, I love the fact that it's in Paris, because I would LOVE to go there someday and seeing it through Gemma's eyes was really cool!

Signs of Love: Destiny Date (#4)

Goodreads summary:

It's the end of the school year and the prom is fast approaching. Gemma's friends all have dates and Gemma is destined to go alone. Gemma convinces herself that she doesn't care - it's great being single and free to mingle. But there's one boy who she secretly wishes would ask her - Sam. But Sam's dating Cindy - isn't he?
Meanwhile, when Gemma is asked to assist the school webzine's editor, Cindy, to review a top fashion show, Gemma somehow finds herself on the catwalk modelling for one of the nation's most talked-about designers. But strutting her stuff on the catwalk isn't exactly a breeze!
When the school invite Gemma's alter ego, astrologist "Jessica Jupiter", to be a guest speaker at the End of Year Assembly, Gemma has no choice but to agree. But Jessica's horrescopes have played cupid for half the school - if they discover she's not real then everything will be shattered. How will she dupe the entire school into believeing that Jessica Jupiter is for real?

My review:

5/5

Ahhhh, the end. I feel like everything that needed to happen finally happened in this, which made me very happy. I feel like the journalism part finally made its comeback and I couldn't have been happier, especially with the romance I had been waiting for so long (even though it only appeared so: I think I read this series in three days). I'm very glad with this finale and I would definitely recommend this series!

Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) - Sarah J. Maas

Goodreads summary:

"A line that should never be crossed is about to be breached.

It puts this entire castle in jeopardy—and the life of your friend."

From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie... and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.


My review:

5/5

Holy. Crap. 

You know when I read Throne of Glass and really liked it, but didn't understand how obsessed people got over this series? Well, that time is over. I am officially obsessed and crazy about this story. 

The very second I started this book, I knew there was no going back. I started discovering more and more details that intrigued me and made me want to know more about the story, which is why I ended up reading both the second and the third book in such a short time, especially considering I had to study and work during that time. This book has so much more secrets, plot twists and romance that I couldn't resist it. I felt every possible emotion and even more. I think that's what creates the addiction: the fact that you're feeling so much more than you should. Anyways, I'm not complaining (at least not until I get my grades for this term). 

This book starts off as romantic, light and adorable, but it gets darker and darker, until all you want to do is curl up and sob for hours. The whole process was too quick for me to understand it and when it was over, all I could think was "WHAT?!" for hours and hours. It's a lot more heartbreaking and dramatic than the first book, which is why I started loving the characters so much. At this point, I'd kill anyone who touches them. 

I cannot wait to see what this series has to offer (although I'll have to, because the entire series isn't out yet... Sigh.) and I would recommend to anyone, even to those who couldn't see its spark from the first book.

Dream a Little Dream (Silber #1) - Kerstin Gier

Goodreads summary:

Mysterious doors with lizard-head knobs. Talking stone statues. A crazy girl with a hatchet. Yes, Liv's dreams have been pretty weird lately. Especially the one where she's in a graveyard at night, watching four boys conduct dark magic rituals.

The strangest part is that Liv recognizes the boys in her dream. They're classmates from her new school in London, the school where she's starting over because her mom has moved them to a new country (again). But what's really scaring Liv is that the dream boys seem to know things about her in real life, things they couldn't possibly know--unless they actually are in her dreams? Luckily, Liv never could resist a good mystery, and all four of those boys are pretty cute....

My review:

4/5

Oh, I can't wait to read more of this series! 

While I didn't know that it was about such a young character, especially since I wanted to read this book because of Ruby Red, I really enjoyed my time reading. I wouldn't say it's as good as the Precious Stones trilogy (because this one is incredible and one of my all-time favourites), but it had potential, so I'm really excited to know what happens next. 

I was surprised by the theme of this book, because I only expected something magical or fantastic, not demoniac. It was really interesting and different from what I usually read, so that was a nice surprise. I liked the doors in people's dreams and all the story created within them, because it's such an awesome idea. 

I do wish the characters were older, because it's a bit hard for me to relate. Also, sometimes, they feel mature to me, but then they do something that reminds me of their age, so that's really confusing. It was a bit hard for me to see them as they really are and it had an impact on my reading experience, as much as I wanted to ignore their age. I don't know if it's simply because of that, but I also couldn't understand the main characters really well and like them as I normally would, because I wasn't always sure of their motives. I spent most of my time trying to get past everyone's barriers and it annoyed me quite a bit. 

Overall, the plot interests me enough to make me want to continue reading this series, especially since I love this author, but this book didn't quite reach my expectations.

Web Series Wednesday - Carmilla (Guest Post)

Hi everyone! Today, I've got something a little different from what I usually post. It's another one Web Series Wednesday, but this time, it's written by my wonderful Internet friend Macklin, who's a fan of this series and has been trying to get me to start watching it. Since I'm too busy with school stuff to start a new web series and I still wanted to talk about it, she offered to write this as a guest post, so here it is!

The literary web series (LWS) this Wednesday is Carmilla. This is my favourite LWS, and I am so happy that Laurie has allowed me to share it with you.

Originally, Carmilla is a 19^th century Gothic novella written by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. It is one of the earliest pieces of vampire fiction, written 26 years before the famous Dracula and greatly influenced the genre-defining novel.  After a carriage accident, a lonely girl, Laura, finds herself housemates with the mysterious and beautiful, Carmilla. The novella is beautifully written and highly recommended to vampire fans. However, the web series, in my opinion, is way more enjoyable. (Whaaaat?!)

The web series diverges from the novel quite a bit. As with all book to web adaptations, Carmilla has been updated to the 21^st century.  Laura is now a first year university student doing a journalism project via vlogs akin to The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. After the disappearance of her roommate and best friend, Betty, this project becomes an investigation with the help of Danny, a TA; Perry; the floor don; and Lafontaine, Perry’s best friend and a bio major. The prime suspect soon becomes Laura’s new roommate, Carmilla.  

Carmilla is a trans media piece. The two main characters have tumblr and twitter accounts, as well as Lafontaine.

The cast for this web series is fantastic. Elise Bauman plays Laura, and the title lead is played Natasha Negovanlis.  Both actors are very good and have great chemistry. Elise has the very hard task of carrying the production by being the person that narrates all the videos. There is one camera angle, and most of it is Laura speaking to the camera, relaying events that have happened off screen, though there is a lot of on camera action.  It is very funny and full of pop-culture references including modern vampire shout outs. The co-creator and writer of the show, Jordan Hall, is very much a descendant of Joss Whedon.

The stand out feature of this web series is its treatment of LGBT+ characters and gender representation. For example, Lafontaine is the first non-binary character I have encountered in popular media. This is mostly a female driven show with a majority of the cast and crew being female. Most of the characters are queer as well. Also, there is no “coming out.” Being queer is not a defining characteristic, and the story does not discuss sexual identity, for it is not important. Refreshing isn’t it?

I love this series! I hope that those who haven’t already go and check it out. So far, there are two seasons, each 36 episodes. There is also a Christmas episode set between the two seasons. 

Season 1 |  Chrismas episode |  Season 2

A Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J. Maas

Goodreads summary:

A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it... or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!


My review:

5/5

IT WAS SO SO SO SO GOOD!!! I'm incredibly happy to have finally read this book. I totally get the hype, so if you're one of the only ones who haven't read this novel yet, please do.

I love Sarah J. Maas, but I can't pretend I'm her most loyal fan. In fact, even though I have watched and read many of her interviews and I know many things about her, I hadn't read anything else from her than Throne of Glass. I do plan on reading the rest of the series, especially after finishing this novel, but as much as I enjoyed reading TOG, I didn't get addicted to it or anything. I've heard that this series keeps getting better, so I'm really excited, but the difference with ACOTAR is that I was hooked from the very first page. There's something about retellings that's very addicting and exciting, so I loved the story from the beginning and I kept marvelling at how amazing it is.

I started by loving the characters. Feyre is extraordinarily kind, which usually annoys me because of how impossible some characters seem, but it seemed honest and real from her. She made me want to cry when she acted so selflessly and got absolutely nothing in return, which made me hope things would get better for her. I also loved all the little details we learn about her family, from the way they lost all their money to their passions and hopes. Every character is different and they're easy to imagine. Then came the hot guys. Seriously, I don't know if Maas has an incredible imagination or if she's been enough to have sexy, kind and funny men in her life, but there's something about her male characters that makes me wish I lived in a fictional world like hers. I thought Tamlin was a mysterious, complicated yet understandable character that I grew to love, while Lucien made me smile and laugh (and wish I had him for myself). There are also very hot scenes in this novel, which I can't say I didn't enjoy. I didn't know Maas could write such sexy and explicit scenes without actually going into many details, because it's something I had never seen before. I thought they were perfectly described, since they're not telling too much or too little.

This world is also a very interesting one. I do have difficulties imagining faeries, but it's always been like that for me, so it's not Maas's fault. I loved the descriptions about art, houses and landscapes, which made my artsy self very happy. Every historical detail intrigued me and kind of made me wish there could be a novel set during the War so that I could see it through different eyes and understand it even more. The fact that faeries are immortal is also very weird to think about, because I've always wondered what immortal people do with their lives and how weird it must be to age so slowly. I hope there will be more about that in the next books, because it's always nice to see one's opinion of immortality.

I found the storyline gripping. I couldn't wait for Feyre to stop thinking about ways to escape when she first got to Tamlin's place, because I wanted to see more of the place and the characters. The mystery about the world and the characters, especially Tamlin, made me want to read further and further, only to find more intriguing details. I was surprised by the way this book turned out, because until halfway through the book I was really not expecting something like that to happen. I love how it's getting more and more different from Beauty and the Beast, because it would be boring if everything was the same. I can find so many differences between the two stories that it's hardly a retelling, just a story inspired by another. Also, Beauty and the Beast is my favourite fairytale, so the fact that some parts of the story are inspired by it makes me really happy.

There's something about the writing and the general looks of the book that made me immediately get into the story and appreciate every second I spent reading it. Feyre's feelings are very well described throughout the entire story and I always felt like I understood where she came from and why she took her decisions. I analysed many actions, since I knew some of them might give me answers, and I loved getting back to them when I discovered the reasons behing them.

I'm very happy about this book. I would absolutely recommend it and I think that for once, I have found a novel that's worth the hype.

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan (Shopaholic #2) - Sophie Kinsella

Goodreads summary:

The irresistible heroine of Confessions of a Shopaholic and Shopaholic Ties the Knot is back! And this time Becky Bloomwood and her credit cards are headed across the Atlantic....
With her shopping excesses (somewhat) in check and her career as a TV financial guru thriving, Becky's biggest problem seems to be tearing her entrepreneur boyfriend, Luke, away from work for a romantic country weekend. And worse, figuring out how to pack light. But packing takes on a whole new meaning when Luke announces he's moving to New York for business--and he asks Becky to go with him! Before you can say "Prada sample sale," Becky has landed in the Big Apple, home of Park Avenue penthouses and luxury boutiques.
Surely it's only a matter of time until she becomes an American TV celebrity, and she and Luke are the toast of Gotham society. Nothing can stand in their way, especially with Becky's bills miles away in London. But then an unexpected disaster threatens her career prospects, her relationship with Luke, and her available credit line! Shopaholic Takes Manhattan--but will she have to return it?


My review:

4.5/5

Once again, Sophie Kinsella does it: she creates a funny, romantic and original novel.

I loved the first book in this series. Its idea is so original, so well-thought and so addicting that I know that, no matter how long it takes me, I'm going to read this series to its end, because it's really amazing. The continuation of the story in this book is just great. Becky is more aware of her tendencies, even though that doesn't mean she doesn't make mistakes again ('cause she makes A LOT of them in this book). I loved how she tried, in vain sometimes, to refrain herself from buying something. Her pride in doing so made me laugh so much sometimes, because I know how it feels to be proud of doing something that people don't even need to think about and we've got to support each other.

Becky's character is incredible. While she isn't perfect at all and she gets on my nerves (and on most readers') when she's so wrapped up in shopping that she spends way too much on clothes, accessories, makeup or simply random stuff, she's a character I absolutely love. We've all got our own faults and Becky's are pretty inoffensive, to anyone but her, if you think about it. She just gets herself in bad situations, but little by little, she learns.

I loved how Becky and Luke's situation progressed in this book, because I have to admit I was scared when I learned that they got in a relationship in the first book of a series and I'm always scared of reading more about some characters' relationship when I'm already satisfied by it. However, I feel like everything that happens in this book was necessary and I'm definitely happy with the way it ends.

There's just something about Sophie Kinsella's writing that's SO DAMN FUNNY! I swear, she's probably the author who cracks me up the most, and that's saying a lot. Whether it's what Becky's saying or doing or simply the way it's described, it's hilarious and I love this series for making me decompress. In this book, I felt a lot more sadness than in the first one, because there's some injustice that made me really angry and sad at the same time. I wasn't expecting to tear up while reading this, but a person's life can't always be great, even when it's a fictional character's. I absolutely loved the ending, though, and I'm so happy and proud of Becky. I feel like she grew up a lot in this book, maybe even more than in the first, no matter how subtle it is.

If you haven't started this series yet, please do.

Web Series Wednesday - Emma Approved

Hello everyone and welcome to a new Web Series Wednesday post! Hope you enjoy this one.

Okay, so I'm perfectly aware that some people might not agree with me this week. I know Emma, as a character or as a novel, isn't everyone's favorite Jane Austen book, but I have to say that I enjoyed this web series, as well as the novel that inspired it, very much.

My experience watching this series was very different than what I'm used to. Instead of watching the series after having read and loved the novel, like I usually do, I watched the series while reading the novel for the first time. I know it might sound weird and scary, but I made sure to be a couple of épisodes behind what I was reading so that I wouldn't be spoiled. I really enjoyed doing it this way, because I could see this behind the writing, such as the romance, which isn't developed that much in the novel because of when it was written. I could still see hints ofit in the novel, but the web series was absolutely swoon-worthy, which got me addicted to the series. I fell in love with Knightley (and the actor who plays him, actually) and I started seeing him in a completely different way because of the episodes I was watching. My suspicions were also confirmed in video when I wasn't sure if actions meant more than they seemed like, so overall, I had a very nice time reading and watching the same story unroll before me.

After LBD, I was afraid that I would have excessively high hopes and be deceived. However, I ended up liking this as much, or maybe even more, than the series that drew me into this fantastic world of adaptations. I quickly became addicted to the music of this web series (don't judge me) and I fell in love with so many characters that it's actually crazy. It's a funny, light-hearted and well-played series that made its way into my heart.

I really liked Emma, first in the novel, but then in the web series. I think many people take her on the wrong side, but I personally think she's hilarious. Sure, she has her flaws. She's self-centered and tends to go overboard, she's vain and nosy, but in the end, she only wants what's best for the people she loves and her biggest dream is to help as many people as she can. She can be clumsy while doing so, but she's so caring and entertaining that I can't help but love her. I think that people must stop seeing all her faults and see behind them, where amazing qualities show themselves. If you've ever started this web series or novel and couldn't stand her, please try again with that in mind, because you could discover an amazing human being who is admittedly annoying sometimes. But aren't we all?

The settings in the web series are great. I love how they transposed the story into Emma's company, because it truly makes sense. Filming in the office is a really nice touch, even though sometimes it seemed a little bit nosy to be watching all of that (still loved it though, because it would've sucked NOT to see everything). As with LBD, I'm convinced the writers of this web series are geniuses, because I could see how tiny details were adjusted to make the story work as a whole in modern world.

In my opinion, the true reason why this web series is so good is the way they used the secondary characters and made them more important on the screen. Harriet and Martin are absolutely adorable and so are Harriet's videos, which are a nice addition to the series. Knightley makes tiny appearances that kill the fangirls, because there's so much that's not said but that we readers understand and it's sweet torture. Reading the comments is also really nice, because you'll find some obsessing over sentences and looks that you hadn't even realized meant something. I find the web series experience much more fun than regular TV for this reason, because there are true discussions that you can be a part of if you want to. Or you can just read and like hundreds of comments like I did, which is just fine and makes you laugh and obsess over characters (Knightley).

Here's a Knightley for you. Not too bad on the eyes, right?

To sum it up, I'd like all of you to give this book and this web series a chance, because I think the story truly deserves it.



The Death Cure (Maze Runner #3) - James Dashner

Goodreads summary:

It’s the end of the line.

WICKED has taken everything from Thomas: his life, his memories, and now his only friends—the Gladers. But it’s finally over. The trials are complete, after one final test.

Will anyone survive?

What WICKED doesn’t know is that Thomas remembers far more than they think. And it’s enough to prove that he can’t believe a word of what they say.

The truth will be terrifying.

Thomas beat the Maze. He survived the Scorch. He’ll risk anything to save his friends. But the truth might be what ends it all. 

The time for lies is over.


My review:

3/5

I liked this, but for some reason, the second book in this series was my favorite one, which is why I didn't think this one was more extraordinary than the other books. 

Because this trilogy is set in different places in every book, it doesn't feel like a series to me, because every book is so different. I liked how many answers I got in The Scorch Trials and how fast-paced it was, but The Death Cure was incredibly different. For one, it seemed as though the rest of the world, which simply didn't seem to exist in the two first novels, finally showed itself and it felt way too modern and normal for me to actually believe it. I had this idea of the Earth being completely destroyed, except for the teenagers they put in the Mazes, but finding out that there were still healthy people was surprising. Also, I thought that not much really happens in this book, which disappointed me after loving the second book for its action-packed story. 

I really like how the characters interact in this book, though. They're all desperate to get out of this alive and they work so hard together to make it work, which was heartwarming. However, I don't think any relationship in this series ever sounded realistic to me, because I never rooted for one of the characters to end up with another one. I still don't understand Teresa's character and I don't think I ever will, but that might just be because of WICKED, since I thought she was alright after the first book. 

While I loved how complicated WICKED sounded it the second book, I was disappointed with what I learned in this one. The characters working for them don't seem to have any personality, or intelligence, for that matter, and it's really confusing to read about them. I was really skeptical about every character's motives because of how WICKED manipulates everyone, so the fact that everyone ended up being exactly what they said they were in this book was unsettling and unrealistic, because it's like everyone was lying in the first two books, but they all became nice and honest characters between the second and third book. 

Come to think of it, I didn't like this book as much as I thought I did. Thanks to this review, i realized this and I'm now lowering my review to three stars. I'n still excited for the movies (DYLAN O'BRIEN) though.

Web Series Wednesday - Green Gables Fables

Hi everyone! I just thought of a new series of blog posts I could do once in a while called, as you probably saw in the title, Web Series Wednesday. As an avid fan of YouTube videos, I was delighted when I discovered, less than a year ago, that web series inspired of popular books actually exist. Since my blog is all about books, I thought some of you might be interested in web series, just like I am, so I wanted to share them with you through this series of blog posts. The first show is still updating at the moment and I absolutely love it, so here it is!

My initial reaction was complete shock when I found out that there is a YouTube adaptation of my favorite book ever, Anne of Green Gables. On the first video of Season 1 of Green Gables Fables, you can probably see my comment, describing my schock at discovering that there is something about Lucy Maud Montgomery's works that I didn't know of, especially a web series. I flew through the first season, crying and giggling at times, and I must admit there are many videos I watched twice, three times or even four times. I absolutely love Anne's actress, Mandy Harmon, and her chemistry (or lack of, for a big part of it) with Gilbert in the show is incredibly good and accurate. The cast is great and I follow most of them everywhere now, because I'm really glad I discovered such talented people through a web series. I would recommend having read the books before watching the web series (or even if you don't plan on watching the web series - the book series is plenty enough, it's awesome), but I think it would still be a good web series to watch without knowing what it's about.

The show portrays the first book of the popular Anne of Green Gables series, by Lucy Maud Montgomery, in the 21st century. If you're a fan of the series, you'll see all the little details the production worked on to make the story work in our era instead of one that was over a year ago. Anne (with an E!) is an orphan going from one foster family to another until she meets Matthew and Marilla, two siblings who welcome her in their family. Going to Avonlea, she meets new people, makes friends and enemies, starts a video blog and experiences many beautiful and not-so-beautiful things. With her imaginative mind and love for beauty and poetry, she makes her way in the world, never ceasing to make herself remembered to everyone soul she touches, including the viewer's.

I love how it's filmed, how it's cut, how it's created and how it's divided. Every episode has its load of content and drama, since Anne can be very dramatic, but it's only making you want to watch more and more of it. There are also other videos than the ones from Anne, such as videos from Gilbert, Ruby, Jane, etc. I loved this part, because it made me see the characters in a different way than I do when they are with Anne or simply in the novel. Anne's energy is contagious and the biggest fans and most attentive viewers will quickly realize things about herself and the people around her that she could never imagine, creating the perfect amount of anticipation for the future.

Right now, the first season is completely finished, but the second one is planned to begin on September 2nd. There are already videos about it, such as trailers, Q&As and videos from Anne, all very exciting. It's supposed to be about the third book, I believe, which is Anne of the Island. In this season, Anne is starting her first year of university, which means she'll meet plenty of new kindred spirits while staying in touch with her oldest ones.

You can also donate money to the production on Kickstarter to help them with the web series, which I encourage you to do, since they all work so hard to come to this result. You can click on this link to get to their Kickstarter page for Season 2.



Four: A Divergent Story Collection - Veronica Roth

4/5

This book made me understand Tobias so much more than I did before. I decided to read it quite a long time after I finished Allegiant, so I would have time to think about the trilogy and the characters. It was a good choice, and even months later, I felt as if I had just finished the trilogy.

It was hard to read about Tobias's feelings towards his father, because no one should experience such things. I felt insanely sad for him and desperate to help him, even more than I did while reading the trilogy. I can now say that I love Tobias with all my heart, because I now know every motive behind his actions and completely understand them.

The only thing that I disliked was the kind of summary of everything that happened at the beginning of each part, because it really felt repetitive, since I had just read about everything. I know it's because every part is a different story, but I would have liked not to have it in a collection of those stories. I pretty much forgot about it after reading another page, so it was fine.

Overall, I think that everyone who has read the Divergent trilogy should read Four, because I felt like this was a part of the trilogy as well as the other books, not just an extra. I loved it!

 

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Geek Girl - Holly Smale

5/5

Yes, this book is probably aimed for 13 year-olds. No, I am not a 13 year-old, but I did like this book. A lot. A huge lot.

Its characters are amazing. First of all, Harriet is funny, honest and, well, geeky. It made me love her very quickly, even though I didn't approve all of her decisions. Her dad is absolutely hilarious and he made me laugh so hard that my own parents probably think I'm crazy by now. Her stepmother is strong, serious and loving, which is why she's perfect for Harriet's dad. Seriously, they're adorable. Then there's Nick. Oh, Nick. You may be a tad bit younger than I am, I still think you're very, very, very hot. The descriptions worked really well for me, and my imagination took care of EVERYTHING else. Literally. And when he turned out to be amazingly cute at the end, I wanted to dance, cry and sing, all at once. Toby, the creepy stalker/geek, was a better character than I expected him to be, even though I think he enbodices every prejudice against Geeks. My favorite character was probably Wilbur, from the agency, because you juste CAN'T dislike him. He's adorable, hilarious and I just loved the way he talks in general. I want one for myself! I feel like I didn't get to understand Nat's character that much throughout the story, which is sad, because a big part of it is based around her.

I think the storyline is interesting, even though it's a bit cliché. Harriet's evolution is great and I think she's mature for her age, except when she's hiding under tables, obviously. However, I know I would too, if I could find there what she found...

I highly recommend this book, no matter how childish you might think it looks. I know I did, but it proved me wrong and I'm more than pleased! I can't wait to read the second book now...

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Obsidian - Jennifer L. Armentrout

5/5

I LOVED this book! I had heard so many great things about this series that I was dying to start reading it as soon as possible. However, for some reason, I couldn't find it anywhere in Quebec. My library doesn't have a single book from Jennifer L. Armentrout ( even if I requested some) and everywhere I looked, it looked as if this series didn't even exist. After a very long time, I was finally able to start reading it, and even during an incredibly busy week, I read it in three days. I just loved everything about it and all I wanted to do was jump into my bed and read it in one sit.

The main character is very relatable for a book lover like me, because she's reviewing books (just like me) and she has a blog (just like me). We also have the same kind of personality and I was proud of her every time she snapped at Daemon. She really evolved through the book and I liked her even more at the end than at the beginning.

Daemon is basically the definition of sexy. Seriously. I don't need Fifty Shades of Grey, all I need is Daemon in this book. He's a jerk, yes, but there's so much more to his character and I was drooling over the descriptions of him. Can I purchase one somewhere? No? Dammit.

The storyline is really intriguing and it was hard to put the book down when I had to, because I all I wanted was to find out what would happen. I was not expecting any of this to happen, which I loved even more. Surprise me!

I would recommend this book to anyone. It has everything I could ask for, and I'll start the second book right now. Thank God I don't have to wait as long as I had to for the first one, because that would be the end of me. I'm already putting the rest of the series on my Christmas list (pleeeeeeeaaaase, Grandpa!) and I'm hoping it'll be as good as this one.  

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