April Book Haul

This month I promised myself I wouldn't buy so many books. However, that did not happen. I found some great deals, so that's a bonus, but still, I need to calm down. Well, after May I will.

All I Know Now by Carrie Hope Fletcher // Waterstones // £6.49

 

All I Know Now is a non-fiction book about teenage life and the mistake Carrie made and how she learned from them. I've only read through Act 1, but I already love it! It's filled with insightful advice and Harry Potter references.

 

 

The Coincidence Series & The Breaking Nova Series by Jessica Sorensen // Book Depository and Amazon // £15

 

Jessica Sorensen writes incredibly dark New Adult books and The Coincidence Series is now different. It follows two main characters who have broken souls, but only seem to feel fixable when they're with each other. I'm currently reading the second book, and am loving it!

 

 

Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens & Crash by Nicole Williams // Book Depository and Amazon // £9

 

Crash is described as a YA novel, but I've heard incredible things about it, and it was so cheap for a US edition. I picked up Thoughtless for £3.14 from Amazon and I cannot wait to read it soon. Apparently it features a person cheating on their partner, so I am a little weary.

 

 

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas & The Last Summer of Us by Maggie Harcourt // Waterstones and Book Depository // £11.50

 

I received both of these books early. I've already read ACOTAR by Sarah J Maas and loved it, so I had to order a finished copy. My friend, Sarah reviewed The Last Summer of Us and loved it. It's about three friends who take a road trip through Wales (Which is where I live).

 

 

Alienated by Melissa Landers // Wordery via Amazon // £5.80

 

Alienated finally came out in Paperback and I couldn't resist it. Apparently it's quite similar to the TV (which is now cancelled) Starcrossed. The main character has to host an Alien, but finds out that he's keeping a secret that could destroy both worlds.

 

 

REVIEW BOOKS

 

 

Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman & Skin by Ilka Tampke // Headline and Hodder & Stoughton // Sent for a honest review

 

Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke is the sequel to Prisoner of Night and Fog, which was released last year and I loved it! I'm so excited to continue on. I'm not sure what Skin is about since I received it unsolicited. The synopsis sounds...unique.

 

 

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon, Awake by Natasha Preston & The Heartbreakers by Ali Novak // Netgalley // E-ARC's

 

I've already read Everything, Everything and I loved it. My review should be up pretty soon. Natasha Preston is actually a friend of mine, so when I saw this up on the site I had to request. It reminds me a little of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, which is such an incredible series! The Heartbreakers sounds like a quick, cheesy read and I wanted to have some of that!

 

 

 

These are all I got this month.

What did you buy?

 

Buy the books (Waterstones) // Buy the books (Book Depository) // Buy the Books (Amazon)

Book Recommendations | New Adult

I sadly don't read a lot of New Adult, but lately that's all I am favouring, so I thought I'd recommend you guys some of my favourites.

The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen

This was actually my most recent read and I really loved it. The story is dark and dramatic, and sometimes just a little too much, but the development between Callie and Kayden was so nice to read. Their connection wasn't an instant thing, it simmered lightly and then bubbled up at the right moment. I will warn you though, the book deals with a lot of heavy topics: Self-harm, depression, abuse and rape.

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Despite what I think of the author, I actually love this book. It was actually the first New Adult book I read and it instantly inspired me to write New Adult. The story is very dramatic, but it kept up its pace. The romance, however, was a little extreme. Travis and Abby have a very intense and possessive relationship, but it entertained me.

Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie McGuire

This is the first book in the Maddox Brother's Series and I really enjoyed it. Trenton and Cami's relationship was probably my favourite thing about it. It started out nicely, a little flirty and then over time it develops into a realistic relationship. My only issue was that the side characters were a little annoying.

Wait For You by J Lynn aka Jennifer L Armentrout

This is what I call 'Tame New Adult'. The book focuses more of the development of the characters rather than using sex, and I think that's what has everyone sucked up. Cam has to be one of the best New Adult characters I've ever read about. He's hilarious and just a complete and utter charmer.

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Colleen Hoover is the Queen of Feels, she is without a doubt the best New Adult author around. Maybe Someday follows Sydney and Ridge, after finding out that Sydney's boyfriend has been having sex with her best friend, Sydney moves in with Ridge where they start writing lyrics together. And while I'm not a fan of books where people cheat on their partner, this one was so well done that I didn't even care. It's just a serious, fun novel.


Have you read any of these books?
Let me know in the comments.

Review: Confess by Colleen Hoover

"Colleen Hoover is the Queen of Feels, I was crying within 10 pages of opening the book."

Title: Confess

Author: Colleen Hoover
Genre: New Adult
Publisher: Atria Books
Published: March 10th
Page Number: 320
Rating: 5/5

 

Summary:

 

Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there’s no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a risk and puts her heart in control, only to discover Owen is keeping major secrets from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.

The last thing Owen wants is to lose Auburn, but he can’t seem to convince her that truth is sometimes as subjective as art. All he would have to do to save their relationship is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin…

 

REVIEW

 

I'll say it once, I'll say it twice, and I'll say it a third time. Colleen Hoover is without a doubt one of the best New Adult writers around. Each and every book packs a punch to the gut and leaves you wanting more, more, more.

 

 

As soon as the package arrived, I ripped into the book and had to put it down after 10 pages. Because I was crying. There were no tears in my eyes, I was actually crying, like my-heart-is-breaking crying. I couldn't stop. And while that's a good thing, it's also a negative. I had no idea if the rest of the book was going to live up to Prologue. But like I said, Colleen Hoover has a way with words and the final outcome was perfectly satisfying.

 

This isn't a happy love story. It's sad, almost depressing. Each chapter gave Auburn and Owen new problems and while it could be seen as frustrating, I was rooting for them completely, even when they weren't rooting for themselves.

 

And I also have to mention the fact that the book included beautiful artwork created by the talented Danny O'Connor. He has a freaking rare talent and what better way to be introduced to his work than through a favourite authors new book. Each little detail in the paintings only added to the reading experience.

 

I love this painting above. It's beautiful.

 

 

His talent is endless. I'm seriously jealous.

 

Overall, this book was a heart breaker. As soon as I finished, I went to the freezer, pulled out a pint of Ben and Jerries Ice Cream, and guiltily ate all of my feelings away. And through out the novel there was one quote that kept giving me shivers, because despite being so simple, it was also so beautiful and true.

 

 

 

 

Buy the book (Waterstones) | Buy the Book (Book Depository)

ARC Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas

"A Court of Thorns and Roses was grippingly addictive!"

 

Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses

Author: Sarah J Maas
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: May 7th 2015
Page Number: 432
Rating: 4.5/5

Summary:

 

Feyre’s survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price.

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre’s presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.

 

REVIEW

 

“I was as unburdened as a piece of dandelion fluff, and he was the wind that stirred me about the world.” Most people know that I was not a fan of Throne of Glass, it was interesting, but there was so much work that needed to be done. However, A Court of Thorns and Roses is sensational. It's very true to the retelling of Beauty and the Beast and the elements of masks were.....different, but good. The world building is phenomenal, the details to the characters are so refined that you know exacI was actually a bit wary going into this one because I wasn't the biggest fan of Throne of Glass, but this book actually blew my mind. I'm not a High Fantasy reader, it's actually the one genre that I'm uncomfortable reading, but A Court of Thorns and Roses had me addicted from Page 1. It was so vivid and Feyre as a main character was everything that I wanted Celaena to be like in Throne of Glass. While Throne of Glass follows multiple POV's, A Court of Thorns and Roses just follows Feyre's and that really helped me get into the book. Her narrative voice was spot on and I knew she'd be a character I'd come to love. She knew about hardship and loss, yet always had hope. It was so fresh to see that, it also helps that Feyre has a loose tongue that gets her in quite a bit of trouble. World building has to be well done, but I don't just think the world building was well done, I think it was exceptionally done. While reading I could imagine the places, like I was going on a journey with Tamlin and Feyre. And while I wouldn't want to go into the Faery Land, just the fact that it was vivid shows just how well Sarah J Maas knew this world. However, despite myself loving this book there was one problem: pacing. About 3/4 into the book the story became slow and dragged on for quite a bit. The action scenes should have made it fast-paced, but it just was not happening. I didn't actually mind the slow pace of it, but I think other people will. Overall, I can't really say anything else about the book other than I'm super duper excited for the sequel. I'm also hoping I get to say a few things to Sarah J Maas about it when I meet her next month, but who knows.   Physical ARC provided by Bloomsbury for an honest review Buy the book (Waterstones) | Buy the book (Book Depository)

Most Anticipated Releases of 2015 | Part Two

We're a few months into 2015, and already some incredible books have been published. So here is the second - and last - part in my Most Anticipated Releases of 2015. However, there is three books on this list that I am dying to own RIGHT NOW! Those are The Last Summer of Us, Until Friday Night and November 9.

 

The Last Summer of Us by Maggie Harcourt - Publishes May 1st

 

PS, I Still Love You by Jenny Han - Publishes June 4th

 

Not After Everything by Michelle Levy - Publishes August 4th

 

Never Always Sometimes by Adi Alsaid - Publishes August 13th

 

Awake by Natasha Preston  -  Publishes August 4th

 

 

 

Until Friday Night by Abbi Glines - Publishes September 25th

 

The Land of Stories: beyond the Kingdoms by Chris Colfer - July 7th

 

All Played Out by Cora Carmack - Publishes May 12th

 

A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis - Publishes October 6th 

 

November 9 by Colleen Hoover - Publishes November 10th

Do you plan to read any of these?
Let me know in the comments

5 Books to Read this Spring

Reading styles change. And so does the seasons, so I thought I'd recommend 5 books that I think would be perfect reading for Spring.

Along For the Ride by Sarah Dessen

This book follows Auden, who wants to escape her boring life for the summer. She stays with her father and her new step-mother (Who are expecting a baby). There, at this seaside town, she makes new friends and finds love with a mysterious guy with a harbouring secret. I completely fell in love with this book. It was a cute, fluffy read that left me wanting more.

Angelfall by Susan EE

Angelfall is a YA post-apocalyptic novel that follows Penryn. Her disabled sister has been kidnapped by a group of Angels and her schizophrenic mother has gone off somewhere. All alone and needing to find her sister, she uses Raffe, a fallen angel who's injured to find where they're keeping her. But trust me, this book isn't what you think it is. It's dark, creepy and intense with a kick-ass protagonist!

Just One Day by Gayle Forman

I don't know what it is about Spring that makes me want to travel and visit the beaches, I just do. But Just One Day is literally perfect! We visit England, Paris, Boston and Amsterdam -  which are all amazingly described - and we have an earth shattering romance to compete with August and Hazel (without the cancer and death). I seriously couldn't put Just One Day down.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

No one really want to read about school when it's sunny and warm, but Fangirl is a hilarious novel with Boy x Boy Fan Fiction. It follows Cath who's starting college with her twin sister, Wren. However, Wren wants to move on, be her own person, while Cath doesn't want anything to change. And then she meets her roommate and her best friend, Levi. And so starts their slightly awkward relationship.

Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott

Fire and Flood is probably one of the most unusual books I've read in a while. It's basically The Hunger Games meets Pokémon. The book focuses on Tella who's older brother has Cancer. She then gets the chance to enter the Brimstone Bleed: A 4 terrain competition. The winner receives the cure to any disease. I literally loved it. And the romantic interest is so......charming.


Have you read any of these books?
Let me know in the comments.