Underrated New Adult Books

I cannot believe that this is my fourth post of the week. I've been away from blogging for so long that I actually thought I couldn't get a post up each day of the week but I'm doing so well so far. Now todays post wasn't going to be a recommendation post, in fact it was meant to have been my ARC Review of 'The Names They Gave Us' by Emery Lord. However, I'm struggling to write up a review good enough for a book so fantastic. Anyway, today I'm talking about a few New Adult series that I feel are underrated and definitely deserve more positive attention.



A POUND OF FLESH BY SOPHIE JACKSON

When I first read 'A Pound of Flesh' I was unaware that it was actually a hugely popular Twilight Fan Fiction and honestly I don't think anyone could tell. A Pound of Flesh tells the story of Kat and Carter who find love through the prison system and have to face the struggles of outside life. The honest truth is that I loved every single page of this novel. It's romantic, luscious and dark. Exactly how I like my romances to be like. This series really left a lasting impression on my heart and hit me right in the feels. And if like me you enjoy this novel then you can dive straight into Book 2, An Ounce of Hope and Book 3, A Measure of Love.




IDOL BY KRISTEN CALLIHAN

I had already read the first two books in the 'Game On' series by Kristen Callihan when she announced this new series and I'm being honest when I say I did a little (nothing about me is little, neither was this) squeal. I'm a huge lover of Rock Star Romances and this one hit it out of the park. Literally. Idol tells the story of shy girl, Libby who finds a very drunk, yet stark naked Killian in her front yard. And their story goes from there. Idol was down right dirty and fun, just like a normal Friday night in the clubs for myself. Honestly I just love anything this author writes and Book 2, Managed is even better!



MR. PRESIDENT BY KATY EVANS

I've always had a rocky relationship with Katy Evans' books. Some I love, others not so much but I have to be honest by saying that Mr. President is definitely my favourite of hers. Now at the time I read this the US election was taking place so I found it weird, however, I absolutely loved Matt and Charlotte's story, despite the age gap between the couple. It was a beautiful, raw, stripped back and honest romance story that shows the price of what you pay when you want your cake and try to eat it too. Simply beautiful, even better that their story continues in Book 2, Commander in Chief.




STIPPED BARE BY EMMA HART

I've read a few Emma Hart novels now and I'm always torn on how I feel about them. Some of her earlier works truly feel naively written, however, over the last two years I have seen such a growth in her character development, story telling and writing. Especially with her 'Holly Woods Files' series and now her 'Stripped' Duology. Stripped Bare pulled me in with the love story of Mia and West. Set in the back drop of Las Vegas and filled with the Vegas strip I couldn't be any more enamoured with the story. I couldn't put the book down until I finished it in one sitting. I don't know what it is about forbidden romance but all I can say is that it's one of my favourite tropes. Incredible.



ALL LINED UP BY CORA CARMACK

I had first heard of Cora Carmack when her self-published novel, Losing It had been picked up by a major publisher and while that series didn't have any appeal for me the 'Rusk University' series definitely did. The entire series takes place in and around Rusk University and follows a friendship group while they deal with college, family life and falling in love. All Lined Up is the first book in this series and I can only praise Cora for making me fall in love with a good guy because Carson is the true definition of a Gentleman. His story with Dallas was a total meet-cute and I loved how Cora really pushed boundaries and made this one feel a little more mature in dynamics. This is a favourite of mine and Book 2, All Broke Down and Book 3, All Played Out are super great follow on as well. Now I just need Book 4, All Closed off in my hands when it releases in July.



I hope any of you guys reading this post will pick at least one of these series up because they're so, so, so good. All of them drew me in from page 1 and left me wanting more. And while New Adult is a somewhat controversial genre, I honestly believe that these books represent the genre so well.

Favorite LGBTQ+ Reads

So I'm finally back from my time away where I've done nothing but work and catch up on some of my favourite TV series (and discovered new ones). With my comeback I thought I'd decide to recommend you guys some of my favourite LGBTQ+ reads. Being a gay guy myself, I'm ashamed to say I don't read much LGBTQ+ books but I am making it a priority from now on. In this list we do have a mix of both Middle Grade, Young Adult and New Adult books so there's something for everyone.

SIMON VS THE HOMOSAPIENS AGENDA BY BECKY ALBERTALLI

Definitely a more cute LGBT novel about a closet gay called Simon Spier who is blacked mailed by another student; either Simon helps the guy get with his friend or Simon's sexuality will be spilled to the entire school. Simon VS the Homosapien Agenda is a total meet-cute with relatable friendships and a love of Oreo's that goes beyond galaxies. Simon VS the Homosapiens Agenda is also currently being made into a movie starring Nick Robinson (The 5th Wave), Jennifer Garner (Juno) and Katherine Langford (13 Reasons Why).


THE ART OF BEING NORMAL BY LISA WILLIAMSON

I wasn't too sure how I'd feel going into The Art of Being Normal, however, I quickly fell in love with both David and Leo and their character journey's. Being a UKYA novel I found it very easy to relate to the writing style and felt this is a coming of age novel that everyone can get behind. Not too heavy on romance but a great book that deals with Transgender issues, family and true friendship.


HIM & US BY SARINA BOWEN AND ELLE KENNEDY

Him and Us are by far some of my all time favourite books. They're brilliantly written with likable characters and a butterfly inducing romance. But my favourite thing about the novels are the fact both Sarina and Elle wrote Jamie and Wes as just two guys who love playing Hockey. And that was that. They never played up to stereotypes and I really appreciated that.


GEORGE BY ALEX GINO

You don't often find LGBTQ+ Middle Grade novels by George is by far one that I want to give to every child I know. It's a book that educates, not preaches about what it's like as a child to be born into the wrong body. George was a sweet book from beginning to end with a beautiful message. I'll never forget how it made me feel, especially as George and Kelly used their school play of Charlotte's Web to show to the world that George truly is a girl.




Have any LGBTQ+ Recommendations for me?
Let me know in the comments.

Books That Deal With Mental Illness

Back when I originally started to write this I was feeling very down. I was feeling more and more depressed over a sort period of time and I was having suicidal thoughts. I was struggling with life. My parents were noticing a change but I would just ignore it all and hope it'd go away with time. I was speaking to a friend online who made me see sense and  instead I raised the issues and decided to work on them. I'm feeling a lot better now. I'm happy as I could be, working hard to earn money to save for possibly going to University next year in 2017.

So with the feelings I had at the time, I wanted to visit some of the books that gave me a more positive view on mental health. So that's why I want to recommend some books to you guys. And in case any of you guys are having any negative thoughts, please tell someone. A friend, a family member or you can even speak to online forums: a place where I made so many amazing friends.

Now all of these books are amazing and I highly recommend them but I'm going to put these in order of how they affected me. Both personally and emotionally....



WHERE SHE WENT BY GAYLE FORMAN (IF I STAY #2)

A lot of people who's seen the 'If I Stay' movie don't know that there's actually a sequel in book form. 'If I Stay' is a good book and the movie is just as book, but 'Where She Went' really did something to be. I never connected to Adam in 'If I Stay' but him having grown up by 3 years and sadly dealing with depression in 'Where She Went' made me connect to him so much. I felt his emotions and I understood him completely, it's one of those novels that stay with you for a long time. And to this date I'm still very much in love with it. So much so that I have a necklace with a quote from the novel inside.

"You were trying so hard to be my saviour that you left me all alone."

 

 

I WAS HERE BY GAYLE FORMAN

 

Another Gayle Forman book that absolutely left me a sobbing wreck. This book is a YA Standalone that doesn't just deal with depression but also suicide and while the main character has nothing to do with those mental illness the importance of those factors isn't taken away from the novel. Gayle Forman did her research and wrote a book that everyone could connect to. The last page of 'I Was Here' isn't just a memorial but it's also a celebration of those who have lost their lives to suicide. We don't always get to have out voices but it doesn't mean that it's the end of us. Beautifully written with so much emotion and drama.

 

"I was here."

 

 

 

THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER BY MICHELLE HODKIN

 

It's unusual to have a YA Paranormal Romance series on this list but this is one of my favourite series because of how well Michelle Hodkin splits them both up but makes them the same. The series follows an incredibly insane narrator, she's someone you

can't trust. While the book has supernatural things going on, it also stays realistic in the mental health side. It's beautifully romantic but a complete and utter mind fuck. That's what keeps you going with this series.

 

"Thinking something does not make it true. Wanting something does not make it real."

 

 

 

PUSHING THE LIMITS BY KATIE MCGARRY

 

'Pushing the Limits' deals with a lot of different mental illnesses but the main one it deals with is grief. Our main character, Echo is still trying to get over her older brother's death. The one person who she knew she could trust on. However, it also dealt with other issues that were very well written and researched. Its one of the things I love about Katie McGarry, she does physical research into her stories. She goes that extra mile. 'Pushing the Limits' is emotional and brave. It's beautiful and realistic. It's a book that everyone can relate to.

 

“I've already lost a piece of my mind. I can't trust you with what's left.” 

 

 

 

AM I NORMAL YET? BY HOLLY BOURNE

 

I, myself didn't rate this book highly but it wasn't due to it being badly written or the parts dealing with mental illness were not realistic. I had other reasons. But Am I Normal Yet? is possibly one of the best book to read about Anxiety. The way Holly depicts the feelings is so realistic. You feel exactly what the character is feeling and it was nice being able to find a story that I related to so well. The book follows a college student called Evie who's just trying to live a normal life, making friends and dating boys. But the issue is, Evie has anxiety and also suffers with OCD.

 

“Everyone's on the cliff edge of normal. Everyone finds life an utter nightmare sometimes, and there's no 'normal' way of dealing with it... There is no normal, Evelyn.”  

 

 

 

 

What books would you recommend that deal with mental illness?

Let me know in the comments!

5 Books To Read If You Love 'Stranger Things'.

Stranger Things is a Netflix Original series that blew up instantaneously. The day it released I started watching it and didn't finish until I watched every episode. I'm obsessed. It's honestly one of the best shows on TV at the moment leaving you in constant suspense. Now for those that aren't sure what Stranger Things is about it follows the story of a young boy who goes missing in 1980's Indiana and his friends and family have to tackle terrifying forces to get him back. The series is 8 episodes long and a second season has been confirmed.

So today's post is going to be in celebration not only of one of my new favourite TV shows but also in celebration that we will be getting a 2nd series. So just in case you are having withdrawal symptoms from the series, here are 5 books that I'd recommend if you loved Stranger Things.



1. THE TAKING BY KIMBERLEY DERTING

Just like in Stranger Things our main character, Kyra goes mysteriously missing after she runs off from an argument with her father. A flash of white light is seen and *poof* she's gone. She then wakes up in the dumpster of her local gas station and goes home, however, it turns out she's been missing for 5 years and hasn't seemed to age a day. Her father believes it was Aliens that took his daughter but no one will believe him, including Kyra. Until evidence shows otherwise. This book will have you hooked, I read it in under 24 hours and couldn't wait to find out what happened.




2. MONSTER BY C J SKUSE

Six girls trying to survive spending Christmas locked up inside their boarding school all the while something -  The Beast of Bathory - seems to be stalking the school grounds and is intent on killing off the girls one by one. The only way they can get out alive is if they stick together, but nothing is as easy as it seems. Now there's no Sci Fi in this novel but C J Skuse really has you on the edge of your seat in suspense.





3. REPLICA BY LAUREN OLIVER

So Stranger Things is circulated around government conspiracy theories, which was one of my favourite aspects. Just like Stranger Things, Replica tells the story of two teenage girls who are both connected via a dark past, however. Lyra, also known as #24 is a human model who was raised in a research facility. Once she escapes she meets Gemma and the entire world around them crashes and burns. And what's really cool about this book is that it's essentially two books in one. You can either read Gemma and Lyra's story separately or you can read them both together as one continuous novel.




4. DON'T LOOK BACK BY JENNIFER. L ARMENTROUT

Mystery is one of the biggest elements in Stanger Things and when I thought about that mystery concept my mind and soul went straight to Don't Look Back. Samantha and Cassie are best "frenemy's" who seemingly have it all. They're rich, popular and everyone wanted to be them. That is until the night they both go missing and Samantha resurfaces without a recollection of anything that has happened. She's a stranger in her own life. Samantha starts receiving mysterious letters telling her bit by bit on what happened on that night, but finding out the truth could very well be sinister.





5. THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS BY M. R CAREY

Melanie's a little girl trapped in a facility with doctors who call her special. And every morning she's strapped to a wheelchair with a gun pointed at her head while she's making jokes that she won't bite. But in this world, Melanie has no idea what or who she's going to be when she grows up. Because Melanie is special. Melanie is unique. Melanie also happens to be dangerous. The Girl With All The Gifts is an incredible read that captures the readers attention with it's incredible action and pace. Oh, and it's also soon to be coming out in cinemas. *Trailer here*






What's your favourite thing about Stranger Things?
Also what other books would you recommend for us Stranger Things fans?
Let me know in the comments!

Recommending Summer Reads | Top 5 Wednesday

So I'm back doing a Top 5 Wednesday post. As you all know I used to do these all the time and absolutely LOVED taking part since the topics were always so diverse. Now, I don't know if I'll be posting one every week, but if I see a topic that I really love then I certainly will. Since the last time I posted about T5W there has been a major change and that is that Lainey no longer hosts it. As most would know, Lainey created Top 5 Wednesday but has decided to take a break from hosting T5W and the hosting job has been handed over to Sam over at Thoughts on Tomes

TOPIC: SUMMER READS

 

 

ALONG FOR THE RIDE BY SARAH DESSEN

Sarah Dessen doesn't seem to be as well known in the UK as she is in the US, but I was so happy I got persuaded to read Along for the Ride, it's a fantastic contemporary book that deals with real life issues. Not only that but the romance was so adorable.


MY LIFE NEXT DOOR BY HUNTLEY FITSPATRICK

Recently published in the UK, I decided to reread the book and it's just as good as the first time I read it. Sam and Jace are one of my favourite book couple of all time and I love the family orientation in this novel. My Life Next Door is dramatic as much as it is romantic and funny.


DID I MENTION I LOVE YOU? BY ESTELLE MASKAME

Step-sibling romance is certainly not something I'm comfortable with, however, Estelle just knows how to craft a well done YA book. It may help that she happens to be a teenager herself. What's great is that she captures everything so well and leaves you wanting more. And the best thing about this? It's a 3 book series, so always more Tyler.


NOWHERE BUT HERE BY KATIE MCGARRY

Nowhere but Here is basically a YA version of 'Sons of Anarchy' but in book form and with a hot romance to boot. I love the grittiness of this series and I can't wait for book 3 to be published next year.

 

 

LORALI BY LAURA DOCKRILL

 

Lorali is one of the most beautiful, enigmatic novels I have ever had the pleasure of reading. It's deep and haunting and a complete summer read. A boy finds a naked girl on the beach who may not seem so human.

 

 

 

 

What books would you recommend for summer reading?

Let me know in the comments!

5 Books to Read This Autumn

So I did a '5 Books to Read This Summer' post and everyone loved the idea, and so did I. I really enjoy recommending books that I think are perfectly fit for the season. For this one, I really was inspired mainly by Halloween, but I also wanted to show that you haven't got to read Horror and Paranormal for Autumn. Not that there is anything wrong with Horror or Paranormal.

These 5 books I completely recommend. I've read and adored/loved everyone of them. Do I think you'll like them? Hell to the Yes! They're fun, amazingly written and serve the perfect Autumn vibe. And PS. Sorry for the not so amazing photograph but as you can see down below, I took them in a wall in a Graveyard.

Until Friday Night by Abbi Glines

This is a recent release and I can honestly say that this is the perfect autumn book. It's YA Contemporary mixed with Football players, secrets and a girl who doesn't speak. I honestly couldn't find a fault with this book. Every page is utterly brilliant and so relatable.


A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

This is one of my all time favourite series and I know that I will be re-reading this series this Autumn. It's the perfect blend of everything that makes for great reading. We have Witches, Vampires and Daemons. But we also have romance filled with mystery and intrigue. You'll want to pack up and move to Oxford after reading this book. Trust me!


The Enemy by Charlie Higson

Everyone likes a little bit of Action and Horror during Autumn. It's why we all love Halloween. Well it's why I love Halloween anyway. This book is perfect for teenagers and adults alike. It's action packed with Zombie attacks and the characters are so great. You have likeable characters and dislikeable characters, which is what makes it so real. I cannot recommend this book enough!


Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

Okay, so not everyone is a New Adult fan and not everyone is going to want to read a book about 2 men getting together but I recently read and loved this book. It's perfect from first page to last and I only hope you guys check it out. The sexual scenes are all fresh and exciting, the transition from friendship to relationship was so thorough. I want a Jamie Canning and Wes in my life.


Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

I read this book last year and really adored it. It's a story about a teenager called Jacob whose Grandfather has died, so him and his father go to this fictional island in Wales where things are like nothing you'll ever see before. This book really delivers on entertainment. Who doesn't love books with unusual, creepy photographs?



What books would you recommend people read in the Autumn?Let me know in the comments.

5 Books to Read This Summer

The days are slowing counting down to summer. That means we'll want to listen to music on loud, hang out on the beach with a chilled drink and try your hardest to get a tan, and celebrate most weekends with garden parties and barbeques. And possibly getting drunk, if you're of age.

However, like most people, you struggle on which books to take on holiday with you. Summery books are not hard to find, but books that put you in the mood are definitely hard to come by. So here are 5 books that I completely recommend!

Simon VS the Homosapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

This is a very sweet, quick read about a boy, Simon who's emailing some guy from her school called Blue. However, a guy gets hand of it and blackmails Simon into helping him, if not then his secret will be exposed. As a gay teenager, myself I truly felt that Becky did a very good job at portraying not only a realistic gay relationship, but also at portraying a realistic blackmailing situation.


The Selection by Kiera Cass // Review //

Not everyone wants a contemporary in the summer, so why not go for a book that's basically The Bachelor set in a slightly Dystopian setting. It's fun, flirty and will have you falling heads over heels for Prince Maxon.


A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas // Review //

This book was so freaking good, I simply ate it up! It's a YA Fantasy re-telling of Beauty and the Beast, where our main protagonist, Feyre kills a wolf and ends up having to repay for her crime by staying at the manor of a Beast. An incredibly charming beast.


Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell // Review //

Okay, so no one really wants to read about school (College in this situation) during the summer, but Fangirl is the ultimate read. It will have you gushing not only after Cath and Levi, but her fan fiction relationship of Simon and Baz. I wish my life were as cute as Caths.


All Lined Up by Cora Carmack

I wanted a New Adult book in this list since not everyone is a fan of YA, so I opted for All Lined Up. It's the first book in the Rusk University series and follows a Football hating girl called Dallas, who meets a football player called Carson. The problem? She's the coaches daughter and he's on the football team.




What books would you recommend people read in the summer?
Let me know in the comments.

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.

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.

New Adult Recommendations

New Adult was never really a huge genre before, but now it's one of the biggest and most loved. I started reading New Adult after I found Erotica (50 shades) to be too much sex for me. I wanted something sexy, but fun, with great storylines as well. So here are 5 of my favourite New Adult books.

 

 

 

 

After by Anna Todd - Anna Todd became famous after 'After' become one of Wattpad's most read books. It may have been a 1D Fan Fiction originally, but everyone fell in love with it. I haven't read the published version, but I have read the Wattpad version. It was good.

 

Breathe by Abbi Glines - This is a big series, so you may want to make sure you have a lot of time on hand to read these. Not only is there the Sea Breeze series, but there's also the Rosemary Beach, and the Too Far series. That is a lot of sexy New Adult.

 

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire - Jamie is one of my favourites. Her books are so addictive with incredible characters and a lot of drama. The relationship in Beautiful Disaster is a little intense, but Travis 'Mad-Dog' Maddox is sexy-as-sin and so are his brothers.

 

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover - Colleen Hoover is the Queen of New Adult. There isn't one book I've read by her that I haven't loved, and what makes Maybe Someday the perfect New Adult is that it's more up-beat and comes with a side track. Also, Maybe Not was recently released, so it's definitely the right time to read it!

 

Slammed by Colleen Hoover - Like I said, QUEEN! Slammed is even better than Maybe Someday. It's filled with three beautiful, intense, heart-breaking storylines. And it's also got incredible slam poetry. Everything about this book was beautiful and I guess it's why she's been quotes as the 'female version of Nicholas Sparks'

 

 

What are some of your favourite New Adult books?