The Great Catsby

Title: The Great Catsby
Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Type: Hardback
Read: 24th September 2017
Rating: 4/5
Published: 21st September 2017 by Wildfire

• Millionaire Jay Catsby is a mystery. All alone in his moggy mansion, he throws extravagant parties attended by all the great and the good of the feline world. What nobody knows is that this is a kitty haunted by love - the love of a beautiful pussycat called Daisy, whom he lost to another long ago - and Catsby's great wish is that one day she, too, might be drawn to join the festivities.
  
  When Daisy's cousin Nick moves in next door, it seems like Catsby is a whisker away from winning back his beloved. But Daisy's husband Tomcat has other ideas...

I loved 'The Great Gatsby' and when I seen this take on bookbridgr i knew i had to request a copy. It's such a lovely book. Kind of like the ladybird ones. There are stunning pictures throughout. It's a cute take on the story. Cat lovers will really appreciate it.  

Go Get it From: Amazon UK | Book Depository | Waterstones | Wordery 

 

Caraval

Title: Caraval
Author: Stephanie Garber
Type: Hardback
Read: 20th August - 23rd August 2017
Rating: 5/5
Published: 31st January 2017 by Hodder & Stauton

Whatever you've heard about Caraval, it doesn't compare to the reality. It's more than just a game or a performance. It's the closest you'll ever find to magic in this world . . . 

Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.
But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.
Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.

I have no idea how you even pronounce Caraval. But I wanted to be a part of it. It sounds so magical and amazing. The deathly part is a little freaky but I guess I could deal with it if I had to. This book had such amazing hype when it came out. I got so caught up in it. When released in hardback, the book has a hidden cover under the dust jacket. But then they decided to release like five different covers all hidden. So unless your super cheeky and looking through them, its a surprise at what you got. Mine was a tophat. It's pretty awesome.
 
Scarlett and Tella are two sisters who live on a remote island with their abusive father. Tella would do anything to escape and Scarlett believes marrying a count of whom she's never met will be their ticket out of there. Scarlett has been writing to Master Legend begging for his performers and Caraval to come to their island for years. Sending one final letter informing him that she is geting married and therefore doesn't belive in Caraval she finally gets a reply with three tickets included. But to go would surely mean the wrath of her father. Tella doesn't care. With a salior who has recently ported on the island, they manage to kidnap Scarlett and take her to the Legends private island where the game truely begins.

Not everything you see or hear is real. People are always out to trick you. But what happens when the game suddenly feels and becomes too real. Tella is kidnaped and Scarlett has a duty to find her along with many other people for the prize of a life time. A wish.

I loved the whole attention to detail in this book. I loved the feel of the magic floating around the story and Scarletts desire to find her sister. But is her mind playing tricks. How has her father managed to get onto the island as well. And can she really trust Julian. It's all so very exciting.

There are only five days to the game. Everything comes alive at night and you must be in your room when the sun comes up. Trying to work out the clues makes the book so much more fun. Caraval seems like a magical game with many twists and turns. Once you start thinking you get it, something changes your mind.

I am still confused on the ending and I hope this is cleared up in the next book. But Caraval is truely an enchanting fantasy to be told. 

Go Get it From: Amazon UK | Book Depository | Waterstones | Wordery
Follow @SGarberGirl

 

 

Unicorns: Believe in Magic

Title: Unicorns: Believe in Magic
Author: Summersdale
Type: Hardback
Read: 3rd June 2017
Rating: 5/5
Published: 9th June 2016 by Summersdale

Who says unicorns aren’t real?
Life’s never dull when you have a unicorn by your side. These sparkly friends bring magic into our lives, from the tips of their magical horns to the swishy ends of their rainbow tails. Enter the awesomely cute world of unicorns, and whatever anyone says – don’t stop believing!

Who doesn't love unicorns? Take a look at that cover and then tell me its not worth buying this book. Its pretty much just full of pictures of unicorns with cute sayings. Will take you a matter of minutes to read.

BUT, its unicorns and its wonderful. The pictures are rainbow and adorable, the writing equally amusing and go well with the pictures. It's a light hearted book that just screams at you to pick up and buy because its unicorns and if you dont' you are wrong.  

Go Get it From Amazon UK | Book Depository | Waterstones | Wordery
Follow@Summersdale 

 

The Little Book of Hygge

Title: The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well
Author: Meik Wiking
Type: Hardback
Read: 16th January - 17th January 2017
Rating: 5/5
Published: 16th November 2016 by Penguin UK

You know hygge when you feel it. It is when you are cuddled up on a sofa with a loved one, or sharing comfort food with your closest friends. It is those crisp blue mornings when the light through your window is just right.

Who better than Meik Wiking to be your guide to all things hygge? Meik is CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen and has spent years studying the magic of Danish life. In this beautiful, inspiring book he will help you be more hygge: from picking the right lighting and planning a dinner party through to creating an emergency hygge kit and even how to dress.

Meik Wiking is the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen. He is committed to finding out what makes people happy and has concluded that hygge is the magic ingredient that makes Danes the happiest nation in the world.

You know when you read a book and it makes you feel all happy and cozy and just all round great? Well this is that kind of book. Hygge is kind of getting to be heard about alot now. Or at least it feels that way to me. So out of pure curiosity I brought this book, without knowing anything about what it acutally meant.

The one thing i enjoyed about this book so much is its simplicity. It flowed great. It was the perfect size. Enough information and picutres and geeky graphs to please. Hygge is such a simple thing to achieve that to some extent people outside of Denmark are already doing it without realising.

Hygge is something so perfect for me. It's a breath of fresh air. It's cosy, its friendship and families. It's taking away the computers, the televisions (to some extent) and just enjoy the moment, the being together. I'm going to try and get more Hygge in my life.

I also want to very much visit Copenhagen. This book is just perfection

Go Get it From: Book Depository | Amazon UK | Waterstones | Wordery
Follow @MeikWiking

Demon Dentist

Title: Demon Dentist
Author: David Walliams
Type: Hardback
Read: 14th January - 15th January 2017
Rating: 4/5
Published: 26th September 2013 by Harper Collins Chilrens Books

Darkness had come to the town. Strange things were happening in the dead of night. Children would put a tooth under their pillow for the tooth fairy, but in the morning they would wake up to find… a dead slug; a live spider; hundreds of earwigs creeping and crawling beneath their pillow.

Evil was at work. But who or what was behind it…?

This book had me hooked from the start. It's captive, gruesome and fun.
Probably darker than most of David's other books, but just as interesting.

We have Alfie, who is a young boy who not only goes to school, but has to look after his poorly father as well. Their home is in dissarry and they really have nothing but each other and their imaginations. Their story is touching.

Then we have the dentist, who visits the school, aptly named Mrs Root and who is new in town. She's evil. Strange looking and gives out candy to children. Totally not what a dentist would really do without other motives. Then we have Gabz, who is a feisty girl who quickly makes an unlikely friendship with Alife. Together, they're going to work out why children are being left vile gifts instead of money after loosing their teeth.

It's a fun story, like i said, much darker than previous books by David. It's a quick read with pretty drawings throught. I liked the two friends and enjoyed their little tug of war against each other. I even, in an oddway enjoyed the dentist. Although, I probably wouldn't read this story to children who are frightened of going. It will certainly put them off.

My favourite line in this book "we are going to have one hell of a story to tell our children" - its the cutest thing ever. Really recommend this for both adults and children.

Go Get it From: Book Depository | Amazon UK | Waterstones | Wordery
Follow @davidwalliams 

 

2016 Review

I'm not sure how, but I managed to complete my 2016 reading challenge. I decided to up the challenge this year to 60 books. It was a stretch. I've never read so many before and I struggled to read that many this year. Work became very hetic and I got many reading slumps along the way. But i eventually did it. I somehow managed to read 60.

Books Read: 60

Pages: 19,214
Shortest Book: There's a Wocket in my Pocket : Dr Seuss : 30 pages
Longest Book: Carry On : Rainbow Rowell : 522 pages

Average Length of Book: 320 pages
Average Rating of Books: 4.1

---

1. This Raging Light - Esetelle Laure

2. Carry On - Rainbow Rowell

3. Paperweight - Meg Haston

4. Die Again - Tess Gerritsen

5. The Deep - Nick Cutter
6. The Girls - Lisa Jewell
7. The Rain - Virginia Bergin
8. The Trouble With Goats & Sheep - Joanna Cannon

9. You, Me & Other People - Fionnula Kearnery
10. Her - Harriet Lane

11. Do Not Disturb - A.R. Torre

12. You Sent Me A Letter - Lucy Dawson

13. Animal Farm - George Orwell

14. The Lie - C.L. Taylor

15. Gangsta Granny - David Walliams 

16. Kindred Spirits - Rainbow Rowell

17. The Teacher - Katerina Diamond

18. The Shadow Year - Hannah Ritchell

19. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll

20. Faceless - Alyssa B. Sheinmell 

21. The Missing - C.L. Taylor

22. Love Letters to The Dead - Ava Dellaira

23. The Other Child - Lucy Atkins

24. Reasons to Stay Alive - Matt Haig

25. Wolf by Wolf - Ryan Graudin 

26. Stranded - Alex Kava

27. How to Find Your (First) Husband - Rosie Blake

28. The 9th Girl - Tami Hoag

29. The Sisters - Claire Douglas 

30. The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

31. Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

32. Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins

33. How to Build A Girl - Caitlin Moran

34. The Marble Collector - Cecelia Ahern

35. The Accident - C.L.Taylor

36. Here's Looking At You - Mhari McFarlane

37. Five Children & It - E. Nesbit

38. A Streetcar Named Desire - Tennessee Williams

39. Always The Bridesmaid - Lindsey Kelk

40. Nymphs - Sari Luhtanen 

41. An Autumn Crush - Milly Johnson

42. How To Fall In Love - Cecelia Ahern

43. First Comes Love - Emily Giffin

44. Every Fifteen Minutes - Lisa Scottoline 

45. The BFG - Roald Dahl 

46. Frozen Book of the Film - Sarah Nathan

47. Through The Woods - Emily Carroll

48. The Silent Hours - Cesca Major

49. The Art of Being Normal - Lisa Williamson

50. Dumplin' - Julie Murphy

51. A Wizard of Earthsea - Ursula K. Le Guin

52. Pretty Is - Maggie Mitchell

53. The Beast Within: A Tale of Beauty's Prince - Serna Valentino

54. A Room With A View - E.M Forster

55. Day Four - Sarah Lotz 

56. A Boy Called Christmas - Matt Haig

57. Wacky Wednesday - Dr Seuss

58. There's A Wocket In My Pocket - Dr Seuss

59. Green Eggs & Ham - Dr Seuss

60. The Cat In The Hat Comes Back - Dr Suess

I did try to challenge myself to read a variety of books. I succeeded with some but not all. Work was a little just too much. I've highlighted those that i enjoyed the most. 

It wasn't a bad book year.

Dumplin'

Title: Dumplin'
Author: Julie Murphy
Type: Hardback
Read: 14th October - 16th October 2016
Rating: 4/5
Published: 15th September 2015 by Balzer + Bray

Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked…until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back.

Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all.

I loved this book. Dumplin, or Willowdean (love the name btw!), is a girl who's big. She knows she doesnt fit in with societys view on normal, but she's happy. Her best friend is her polar opposite, but they work well together. So what happens when Willows crush, actually likes her back? What happens, when her best friend doesn't speak to her and her mums set on clearing out aunty Lucy's things before Dumplin has even gotten her head around it all.

She sets out to take part in the Miss Clover City beauty pageant. And because of her "new" found confidence, three other girls tag along with her.

Okay, so what i loved about the story, besides the name Willowdean. The main character knows she's not perfect. Willow loves Dolly Parton. And she learns that you don't have to follow the crowd. It's okay to be slightly behind your friends in all departments of life. It's okay to not be the first to be kissed, its okay to be jealous of your best friend. It's good to find new friends.

What I didn't like, sometimes i felt Willow was a little selfish, espeically when Millie and co are also trying out for the pagent because Willow is. I think at times when they relied on her for support and guidance, she seemd very into herself and didn't think of how serious she should be taking it.

But i do love the message of this book. It's confident, its positive. Society tries to put us all into a category, big, little, tall, short, etc... but really we're just human. We're all alike and different at the same time. Being ourselves is more important than what society wants us to be.

Go Get it From: Amazon UK | Book Depository | Waterstones | Wordery
Follow @andimJULIE 

 

The Art of Being Normal

Title: The Art of Being Normal
Author: Lisa Williamson
Type: Hardback
Read: 10th October - 13th October 2016
Rating: 5/5
Published: 1st January 2015 by David Flicking Books

Two boys. Two secrets.
David Piper has always been an outsider. His parents think he’s gay. The school bully thinks he’s a freak. Only his two best friends know the real truth – David wants to be a girl.
On the first day at his new school Leo Denton has one goal – to be invisible. Attracting the attention of the most beautiful girl in year eleven is definitely not part of that plan.
When Leo stands up for David in a fight, an unlikely friendship forms. But things are about to get messy. Because at Eden Park School secrets have a funny habit of not staying secret for long…

I won this book forever ago. I went into it, without knowing a lot, except one boy wanted to be a girl and the other was keeping a big secret. Now for the life of me, i never clocked onto said secret till it was revealed. Either i'm slow or the book handled the reveal great.

I adored David as a character, he's innocence was wonderful and he's friends were great. I loved when he became Kate and the difference in the two people were mindblowing. Kate was confident, and reveled in the attention, in actually being someone who she wanted to be.

Leo was everything David wasn't. He was fierce, didnt' take prisoners but had a kind heart when you broke through that tough guy exterior.

Together David & Leo seemed a very unlikely pair and i enjoyed reading their change in friendship. I loved how they both understood one another and how eventually Leo gave David the confidence to tell he's family and be true to himself.

The ending of the book, with the prom and Kate and Olivia dancing was the best bit for me. I just loved the whole idea of Kate's sister slowly accepting what was going on.

Go Get it From: Amazon UK | Book Depository | Waterstones | Wordery
Follow @lisa_letters 

 

How to Fall in Love

Title: How to Fall in Love
Author: Cecelia Ahern
Type: Hardback
Read: 1st September - 6th September 2016
Rating: 3/5
Published: 24th October 2013 by Harper Collins Publishers Ltd

She has just two weeks. Two weeks to teach him how to fall in love – with his own life. Adam Basil and Christine Rose are thrown together late one night, when Christine is crossing the Halfpenny Bridge in Dublin. Adam is there, poised, threatening to jump. Adam is desperate – but Christine makes a crazy deal with him. His 35th birthday is looming and she bets him she can show him that life is worth living before then.

Despite her determination, Christine knows what a dangerous promise she’s made. Against the ticking of the clock, the two of them embark on wild escapades, grand romantic gestures and some unlikely late-night outings. Slowly, Christine thinks Adam is starting to fall back in love with his life.

But has she done enough to change his mind for good? And is that all that’s starting to happen?

Cecelia Ahern, is without a doubt one of my all time favourite authors. I couldn't remember if I ever read this book so picked it off the shelf. I'm sad to say, this book was a so-so for me. Which for this author, is a first. I'm actually gutted because I usually love everything Cecelia writes.

I'm not sure what it was about the book really. Parts kept niggling at me and I could enjoy it. Part of me thinks it was to do with the topic; suicide. However whilst I have no issues in books writing about such thing, I do think that the idea of someone possibly saving another person from attempting to kill themselves in under two weeks, is a little unrealistic.

Christine, is our main character who witnesses a man shoot himself, then a day or two later manages to prevent Adam, from killing himself on a bridge. Christine makes a promise to Adam that she will teach him how to love life again. Now this is a complete stranger, promising another what inevitably is the impossible. Especially when said person, is also going through the breakup for her own marriage.

I just don't know. There were parts in the story that I did enjoy but then there were parts, where Christine was falling in love with Adam, that I sometimes wanted to her slow down.

Like i said, I adore all books written by Cecelia, I just wasn't a huge fan of this one.

Go Get it From: Amazon UK | Book Depository | Waterstones | Wordery
Follow @Cecelia_Ahern

 

Illumicrate - Unboxed #4

So it's been a full quarter since the last Illumicrate box and this means its' been out for a whole year. This month to make it more fun, we were surprised with two books! I'm really always very lucky, that I've not brought any book to date, so was very excited to see what these were. I held off looking at anyones and it has taken me a while to post this because I wanted to ensure everyone who requested them, got it.

Included this quarter was:

1. Nevernight - Jay Kristoff 

a. & Signed book plate, art card & bookmark

2. The Graces - Laure Eve

b. & Signed book plate, temporary tattoos & a letter from the author

3. Trio Coasters by Taratjah Art

4. Drink Me Strawberry Tea by Post Tea

5. In Omnia Paratus Tote Bag by Colourful Geekiness 

6. Colouring Quotes by Ashley Poston 

7. Extras from Red Rising, A Torch Against the Night & Unboxed

Close Ups..

 

 I'm currently in two minds as to if i stop after this box, as i've done a full year and my TBR pile is ever increasing. I'll wait another week or two. It's certainly worth getting though!

www.illumicrate.com

The Marble Collector

Title: The Marble Collector
Author: Cecelia Ahern
Type: Hardback
Read: 16th July - 17th July 2016
Rating: 4/5
Published: 5th November 2015 by Harper Collins

The Marble Collector tells the story of a woman who discovers a collection of marbles in her father's belongings. On learning that part of the collection is missing, she embarks on a quest to relocate the missing marbles to complete the collection and also to understand and complete the picture of a man she realises she never fully knew. As she uncovers the story of a damaged childhood, she also comes to understand what is missing in herself.

I recieved this book as a gift at christmas, I just adore Cecelia Ahern and will buy all that she writes. This is told from both Fergus and Sabrinas view point, switching between the past and recent, but at the start its not obvious how the two characters are linked.

Sabrina recieves a gift of boxes which contain marbles, her fathers. Whilst she is unsure of their connection to her dad, she goes through the box to discover what they mean. Sabrinas father is recovering slowly from a stroke.

The marbles give Sabrina a chance to discover who her father truely was. Because the one she grew up with, doesn't quiet fit the image she is being told. It's a journey of discovery, of understanding the past and accepting that some hobbies are just a bit of fun.

I loved the tale of the two characters, i loved hearing of Fergus past and his growing up with his brothers. I loved the humor and banter between them. I did enjoy reading of Sabrinas struggle to understand, to not realise how much a like she is of her father.

Its a truely lovely tale. I'd recommend this book, but i do adore cecelia.

Go Get it From: Amazon UK | Book Depository | Waterstones | Wordery
Follow @Cecelia_Ahern

Illumicrate - Unboxed #2

February finally brought the second issue of Illumicrate. I recieved my box early last week and wanted to hold off putting anything online except the box to avoid others who'd not yet recieved theirs being spoilt. 

What i like most about Illumicrate is that you never know what to expect. I avoid or miss any tweets that may provide hints of which supplier is adding items. I love the element of surprise, especially when its mixed with books. This quarters box didn't dissapoint. It kinda beat the first one.

So what was inside...

1. Truthwitch - Susan Dennard
1. & Signed Bookplate and Postcard
2. Bookcase Pouch by Elena Illustration
3. Love Boat bookmarks by BeeDoo
4. A Darker Scent of Magic Candle by Simple Candle Co.
5. Bookish Quote Pencils by Pobble and Ping
6. Threadsisters Book Mark by Day Dream Designs
7. Extras from: The It Girl & Dark Days Club

I've not read TruthWitch at all, although I have heard plently of good things about it. So it should be a great read. I'm a huge fan of book marks and candles so it was a win-win for me. This box certianly made me glad i stayed signed up for it. I'll be leaving it for the full year so i can see what the next two boxes are like. 

It's not a subscription box to be missed!

January Wrap Up & Book Haul

I've had such a good reading month in January. As much as I set out to read a certain number of books a year, the geek who works in accounts within me, works out how many books I then should read a month. To hit the target of 60, it worked out to be five a month. Now I know come summer, thats going to reduce and there is one book I am holding out to read this year, if i have the courage to do so.

But this month I'm well on my way to hitting that target of 60 with 8 books read. I made a teeny dent in my TBR pile, with only one book which wasn't a part of that originally.

Eight books. No author duplicated, four paperbacks and four hardbacks. The newest eddition was 'The Trouble with Goats & Sheep' - it arrived early and I wanted to read it badly!

Total pages read: 3,123 

My favourite was Carry On & Goats & Sheep. Both books matched the hype surrounding them. I want more from both authors.. although Rainbow Rowell does have a mini book out for World Book Day. I shall be on the search for it!

I did also buy books.. but I'm sorting out my shelves to donate those I know I won't read again.

- Nymphs - Sari Luhtanen - Rec'd from BookBridgr

- The Art of Being Normal - Lisa Williamson - Signed from Maximumpopbooks

- The Good Luck of Rigth Now - Matthew Quick

- The Trouble with Goats & Sheep - Joanna Cannon

I loved Goats & Sheep and I really do recommend this book. Its just amazing. I've heard alot of great things about The Art of Being Normal so thats going to be read soon and Nymphs just caught my attention. It probably isn't my normal read but sometimes its great to branch out to new genres. So i'm looking forward to reading it in February.

Finally...

Today i got some interesting book mail...

#yousentmealetter

Watch this space.

The Trouble with Goats & Sheep

Title: The Trouble with Goats & Sheep
Author: Joanna Cannon
Type: Hardback
Read: 24th January - 27th January 2016
Rating: 5/5
Published: 28th January 2016 by Borough Press

England,1976.

Mrs Creasy is missing and The Avenue is alive with whispers. As the summer shimmers endlessly on, ten-year-olds Grace and Tilly decide to take matters into their own hands.

And as the cul-de-sac starts giving up its secrets, the amateur detectives will find much more than they imagined…

I try so hard to avoid books that have a massive hype. But this one really caught my attention. So much so, june last year i asked Borough Press if i can have an ARC copy and even tried to pre-order on various book sites before a date of release got annouced. Somethin about this book really made me want to read it. And these past few weeks theres been Goats & Sheep everywhere over twitter! But yay for Waterstones sending out early i finished this just before release date. And it matched the hype!

Firstly i have to say i adore the cover, the whole design is just stunning. I love that the cover doesn't give anything away about what is inside. Is a book on farm-yard animals? No. It a tale set in the heatwave of 1976 and told through Grace and Tilly, ten year old best friends. I adored these two. I loved Tilly a teeny tiny bit more - but together they're awesome. Grace is just a little mini grown up who has an older head on her shoulders. We also discover Mrs Creasy has disappeared and Grace & Tilly take it upon themselves to find out where she has gone and after a visit to church, decide to find god along the way.

Once Grace & Tilly are back on the Avenue they decide to talk to all their neighbours in the hope of finding god in someones house. If they find god, then he will keep everyone safe and bring back Mrs Creasy. Through their innocent questions you begin to realise not everything is as it seems within the Avenue and that secrets are hidden waiting to escape. Through their questioning, they make the adults being to rethink the past and the parts they've played in situations.

The chapters do change from the girls view and then we get the adults side to understand the mysteries they are unraveling. It's addicting. I really couldn't put this book down. You get drawn to all the characters, you can't help but adore Grace & Tilly and you just want to help them every step of the way.

I have lots of favourite parts, but i'm very geeky when it comes to places i can very much relate to. When Birmingham was mentioned i had a goofy smile and then just a teeny mention of a drink, makde me giggle and tweet Joanna. The drink was a mention of a place I work at and i just loved that reference, so much so i've told the company I work for!

This is a stunning debut, it really does match all the hype surrounding it. Joanna is an excellent story teller. I really can't wait to see what comes next!

Go Get it From: Amazon UK | Book Depository | Waterstones | Wordery
Follow @JoannaCannon
 

The Girls

Title: The Girls
Author: Lisa Jewell
Type: Hardback
Read: 16th January - 21st January 2016
Rating: 4/5
Published: 2nd July 2015 by Century

You live on a picturesque communal garden square, an oasis in urban London where your children run free, in and out of other people’s houses.

You’ve known your neighbours for years and you trust them. Implicitly.

You think your children are safe.
But are they really?

Midsummer night: a thirteen-year-old girl is found unconscious in a dark corner of the garden square. What really happened to her? And who is responsible?

Lisa Jewell is one of my favourite authors, that i will buy any book she releases. I got this on release day and its sat on my shelf for too long. It was a brilliant read.

The story is of Pip, Grace and their mother Clare who move to a flat which shares a communal garden. This part kinda reminded me of Notting Hill. As the new girls, Pip and Grace are ignored pretty much at first, they're noticed but ignored. Then gradaully they're intwined in the lives of the communal gardens residents. Grace more so than Pip.

Pip seems the more mature one of the two although she was the younger sister. She was so aware of everything and didn't trust many people at all. Grace being thirteen was just trying to find her own space, to distance herself from the past and get in with the new people in this garden. It caused a lot of drama especially between Tyler and Grace. When boys are thrown in the mix its every girl for themselves.

A night of a party and also Grace's thriteenth birthday, Grace is discovered lying motionless by Pip. Who has attacked her sister and why. This book then looks at what happend before that night, what came to it and why.

I loved the mystery part of it all. With Grace in a coma we only have Pip who is trying to figure evrything out and also the Police. Plus we also have resident Adele who's three daughters are known out in the garden. Adele is also known for her open door, anyone can come and she'll look after them.

But once Grace is hurt, secrets come out that are meant to stay hidden and everyone is suspect. Relationships are tested and boundries pushed.

It's a great story, I'm sorry i never read it sooner. I adore everything Lisa does and this is certainly one of the yes you must read books. I won't give out if we find out who has harmed Grace. Theres so many people you think have done it that as a reader we'll question everything.

Go Get it From: Amazon UK | Book Depository | Waterstones | Wordery
Follow @LisaJewellUK

 

Die Again

Title: Die Again (Rizzoli & Isles #11)
Author: Tess Gerritsen
Type: Hardback
Read: 9th January - 10th January 2016
Rating: 5/5
Published: 30th December 2014 by Ballantine Books

Boston Detective Jane Rizzoli is on the case of a big game hunter found dead in his apartment, alone with the body of a beautiful white snow leopard he had recently been commissioned to procure and stuff for a high-profile museum in the area.

Medical examiner Maura Isles connects the case to a number of seemingly unrelated deaths where the victims have all been found hanging upside down, the hallmark of a leopard's kill.

Rizzoli follows the puzzling trail of clues all the way to Botswana, where she uncovers the unsolved mystery of a deadly camping safari six years prior. When she realizes the two cases are connected, Rizzoli must track down the sole survivor of the tragic trip to discover who - or what - is behind these gruesome deaths.

This is the 11th book in the Rizzoli and Isles series. I've never read them in order, i does help witht he back story but its not essential. I much prefer the crime and resolving it. Die Again has been on my shelf since the week it came out. I tend to freak myself out reading Tess' books, they can give me nightmares. So i put this one off and for some reason i just wanted to read it. I got through it in just about a day. Sometimes i feel bad doing so, as so much research goes into these books, that it seems like i'm rushing it. But i really enjoyed this one. It was addictive.

The stroy is split between Botswana and Boston. Africa and the US. We are first introduced to Millie who goes on a safari trip with her annoying and down right rude boyfriend Richard. They are there with five others and two guides. All is well until one of the guides is killed, at first it seems a tragic accident, eaten by animals. But then when one of the tourist is killed, it seems un-nerving and to top it off the truck won't start to get them out of the wild. So grouped together with just one clever leader, they decide to wait it out. Gradually more strange things begin to happen and Millie is caught between the rest of the party and the guide. Until everything gets even more crazy and it seems Millie is the only survivor.

Fast forward 6 years and a double murder in Boston of a taxidermist and a seemily unknown bring the case to light for Rizzoli. But how do these cases link with that of what happened to Millie six years prior.

Tess has a good way of writing, I honestly thought half way through the book i worked out who was behind all the murders. But alas I was totally wrong. It's a good twist and I dont' think anyone will see it coming. Tess leads you down lots of guess who routes and thats a damn good author.

The more I read about Jane Rizzoli the more I just adore her. She's fiesty, independant yet beneath it all at times is also scared. She fights for everything she truely believes in. I want to be a bad as her!

This is a fast action book, its full of drama, suspense and lots of big cats.
I'm keeping everything crossed that this isn't the last for the R&I series!  

Go Get it From: Amazon UK | Book Depository | Waterstones | Wordery
Follow @TessGerritsen

 

Carry On

Title: Carry On
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Type: Hardback
Read: 2nd January 2016 - 6th January 2016
Rating: 5/5
Published: 8th October 2015 by Macmillan Childrens Books (UK)

Simon Snow just wants to relax and savour his last year at the Watford School of Magicks, but no one will let him. His girlfriend broke up with him, his best friend is a pest and his mentor keeps trying to hide him away in the mountains where maybe he'll be safe. Simon can't even enjoy the fact that his room-mate and longtime nemesis is missing, because he can't stop worrying about the evil git. Plus there are ghosts. And vampires. And actual evil things trying to shut Simon down. When you're the most powerful magician the world has ever known, you never get to relax and savour anything.

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you'd expect from a Rainbow Rowell story - but far, far more monsters.

This Book. Is. Amazing.
Rainbow Rowell first introduced us to Simon and Baz in the book 'Fangirl'. The main character Cath wrote Carry On fanfiction about the two characters. In that book, i was so-so about the story. I loved the fangirl story, but I was also so torn on the Simon & Baz stuff. It was so Harry Potter.

Admitedly like everyone else, when we found out Rainbow was actually going to write her own version of Carry On, i was excited. Like crazily slow. I just didnt' really have a clue what to expected. Which was good. I pre-ordered the book and was super excited when it arrived. I just kinda never got around to reading it, partly because I was in a reading slump and secondly, the hype. I was scared. What if it didnt' live up to such. I feel bad when that happens.

But alas. I picked it as my second read of 2016 and I don't regret waiting either. This is Rainbows take on the two characters. It's nothing 'additional' to the story in Fangirl. Its completly seperate.

So the story, its fantasy, it's magical and its so not Harry Potter. It's also very british! I loved that so much. Simon Snow is the chosen one, the one who will save the world of Mages, cept he is pretty terrible at controlling his magic. Baz, is his arch enemy, but they have to put up with each other, they share a room. The story takes place in Watford, and the final year at their for both Simon and Baz. When the start of the new school year comes, Simon cant' wait to get back, but when Baz doesnt' appear back at school for well over six weeks, Simon gets worried. But he cant' work out why, is it because Baz is working on ways to distroy him.

The story is told via Baz, Simon, Penny, Agatha and a few other main characters. I liked that alot, it was great to see things from everyones view point. The magic side of the story was great, not eveyone had the same level of power, and it was set in the "normal" world, and the spells were very fun. It was hard to read them without a sing-song voice in your head. The magic spells were your everyday nursery rhymes. And you think by just saying these words, how easy it was to understand what the spells meant.

I loved Penny as a character, she was so there. Just saying it as it was, being all geeky and yet smart and clever. She and Simon together were pure gold. I did love Baz as well. He's sensitive side came out at times and you realise he is just like everyone else. The main draw of this book, which i'm sure the hype was all for is how Baz and Simon getogether. It's a cute romance, its gradual and confuses Simon more than Baz at first. It's addictive. I wanted more of them.

The book moves on fast after the first "book" and you find out the story, who killed Baz' mum and how can the student get justice and why does Simon get caught up in so much trouble. Simon as a character was sometimes annoying. He seemed immature at times and always thought the Mage would be his go to person. The twist is good. I loved it.

However this book is very british, i think i loved it more so because of that. There has been alot of research go into how us Brits are on a day-to-day basis and the things we say. Who our british icons are (yay for the Ant & Dec part) and our swearing (tut-tut!).

I'm glad i went into this book, cautious and without expectation. It exceeded everything I thought it would. Rainbow doesnt' write fantasy books and with this being her first, she got it right. I truely loved the book and would tell everyone worried about it being a HP rip off, to just read it, forget HP as this isn't anything to do with it. The likeness ends pretty quickly!

I want more!!!  

Go Get it From: Amazon UK | Book Depository | Waterstones | Wordery
Follow @RainbowRowell

2015 Review

So my reading goal has finally been met with the completion of "365 days of Wonder" a book i read throughout the year. I hit a reading slump around October time, so surprised I completed this really. But again i beat my standard 50, reading the same number of books as in 2014. However I read more pages, which is pretty awesome.

 Books Read: 58

Pages: 20,317

Shortest Book: The Great Fire of London : Samuel Pepys : 55 pages

Longest Book: Tess of the D'Urbervilles : Thomas Hardy : 574pages

Average lenght of books: 350 pages

Average rating of books: 4.0

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1. My True Love Gave to Me: 12 Festive Favourites - Stephanie Perkins

2. Thirteen - Tom Hoyle

3. Spiders - Tom Hoyle

4. The House We Grew Up In - Lisa Jewell

5. See How Small - Scott Blackwood

6. Body Double - Tess Gerritsen 

7. Boy Meets Boy - David Levithan 

8. Little White Lies - Lesley Lokko

9. A Single Breath - Lucy Clarke

10. The Best of Me - Nicholas Sparks

11. Frozen: Stories from Arendelle - Landy Walker Quin

12. The Red Notebook - Antoine Laurain

13. The Maze Runner - James Dashner

14. The Scortch Trials - James Dashner

15. The Death Cure - James Dashner

16. The Kill Order - James Dashner

17. The Great Fire Of London - Samuel Pepys

18. A Girl Called Summer - Lucy Lord

19. Unspeakable - Abbie Rushton 

20. The Dying Place - Luca Vesta

21. Ratburger - David Walliams

22. Penelope - Rebecca Harrington

23. The Girl on the Train - Paula Hawkins

24. The Girl in 6E - A.R. Torre

25. The Third Wife - Lisa Jewell

26. Gravity - Tess Gerritsen

27. Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy

28. Hidden Treasures - Fern Britton

29. Killing the Dead - Marcus Sedgwick

30. Wild - Cheryl Strayed

31. The Longest Ride - Nicholas Sparks

32. It Started With A Kiss - Miranda Dickinson

33. When I Fall in Love - Miranda Dickinson

34. War Horse - Michael Morpurgo

35. Son of a Witch - Gregrory Maguire

36. Daughter - Jane Shemilt

37. Americanah - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

38. Very Good Lives - J.K Rowling

39. The Last Honeytrap - Louise Lee

40. The Dish - Stella Newman

41. Survivor - Tom Hoyle

42. The Life I Left Behind - Collett McBeth

43. Fifty, Is Not A Four Letter Word - Linda Kelsey

44. The Rosie Effect - Graeme Simsion

45. The Three - Sarah Lotz

46. Dancing Shoes - Noel Streatfield

47. A Parcel for Anna Browne - Miranda Dickinson

48. I'll Give You The Sun - Jandy Nelson

49. Mosquitoland - David Arnold

50. Awful Auntie - David Walliams

51. Just A Girl, Standing In Front of a Boy - Lucy-Anne Holmes

52. Still Alice - Lisa Genova

53. Dream a Little Dream - Giovanna Fletcher

54. How to Stuff Up Christmas - Rosie Blake

55. Dream a Little Christmas Dream - Giovanna Fletcher

56. All Wrapped Up - Holly Smale

57. Christmas At the Cupcake Cafe - Jenny Colgan

58. 365 Days of Wonder - R.J Palacio
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I've highlighted those I truely loved reading, I did love them all (except Penelope, that was just B.A.D) but for me, these stood out more. Most of them aren't new, they aren't even 2015 releases, but I enjoyed them all. I'm terrible at reading new books. I have them, but then pick up some other stuff.

Well 2015 has been great. Lets see what 2016 has to offer!!