Review: Beast by Brie Spangler

Title: Beast
Author: Brie Spangler
Genre: YA Contemporary / Retelling
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Published: October 11th 2016
Page Number: 336
Rating: 3.5/5

Summary:

Tall, meaty, muscle-bound, and hairier than most throw rugs, Dylan doesn’t look like your average fifteen-year-old, so, naturally, high school has not been kind to him. To make matters worse, on the day his school bans the two things that let him hide, his hat and his long hair, Dylan goes up on his roof, only to fall and wake up in the hospital with a broken leg—and a mandate to attend group therapy for self-harmers.

Dylan vows to say nothing and zones out during therapy—until he meets Jamie. She’s funny, smart, and so stunning, even his womanizing best friend, JP, would be jealous. She’s also the first person to ever call Dylan out on his superficiality. As Jamie’s humanity and wisdom begin to rub off on Dylan, they become more than just friends. But there is something Dylan doesn’t know about Jamie, something she shared with the group the day he wasn’t listening. Something that shouldn’t change a thing. She is who she’s always been—an amazing photographer, a true romantic hidden inside a realist, and a devoted friend, who is also transgender. Will Dylan’s hang-ups about himself cause him to lose the best girl he’s ever known?

REVIEW

 

I've had my eye on Beast for quite some time now and when I finally sat down to read it I was left feeling a little deflated. My goal for 2017 is to read more books that feature diversity. Whether that be in sexuality, religion, ethnicity. I just want to be more open minded that I am. I was hoping Beast was going to educate myself and other people on what it means to be transgender and transgender issues in regards to dating, however, I felt like the way the author portrayed the issues was in a way that felt under valued and not all there.

 

At least it did to me.

 

Dylan and Jamie should be seen as a guy and girl in love but it's continuously brought up, even by Dylan that she's just a girl with a penis and it left me feeling uncomfortable. I wanted to see acceptance even though I know not everyone is. I just thought Dylan would have had a more positive attitude towards it even after he accepted it the first time. Two steps forward and a hundred steps back is how you'd describe their relationship. So naïve.

 

However, what I really enjoyed about the book was the loving support from Dylan's mother. She embraced it, knowing all the hardship Dylan would go through and went and educated herself on gender and sexual identity. That warmed my hard as I know so few LGBT people get that in their life times. I also really loved how passionate Jamie was about life. She never let anything get in her way, she stood open and proud, which paired with Dylan's strong personality despite his insecurities really endearing.

 

I know my review is slightly negative but I'm trying to get the point out there that transgender issues are so important to portray correctly. I'm passionate about gender identity, always will be. I want people out there who want to educate themselves a little by reading fictional works to be a little educated with each book they read.

 

 

 

 

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Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

 
 
 
Title: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: Penguin
Published: January 3rd 2013
Page Number: 318
Rating: 4/5

Summary:
Despite the tumour-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

 

 

 

 

REVIEW

 

I'm not sure what to really say about The Fault in Our Stars. It's a world-wide phenomenon, everyone has either read the book or at least watched the movie (Not going to talk about that). When I first read the book I absolutely loved it. I didn't know anything about it, I hadn't watched booktube videos where it was talked about on every channel - good and bad - and I certainly hadn't known that it was loved by everyone. I just picked it up because the cover was simple and cute.

 

What John Green manages to do well is create really relatable characters that you fall in love with. Hazel is honest, despite the fact that she has cancer. Augustus is completely full of himself and really witty. He's the type of person who'd do completely embarrassing things just to make the other person smile. And together they make a great team. However, I have my problems.

 

John Green has romanticised a terminal illness and I don't agree with it. Cancer is not something that should be romanticised. At all. It's a serious illness - which was very well researched - that changes lives. It can destroy not just a person, but that persons entire family. That doesn't mean that I think people with terminal illness can't find or fall in love, because they can. It's me saying that I am not a fan of it.

 

But despite all that, I actually did enjoy the book. I've read it twice, (The first time I didn't know about the hype) the second time I did know about it and it affected my views. John Green's writing isn't phenomenal; it's simple and fast-paced but enjoyable. The conclusion of the book was very predictable. It's a story about 2 teenagers with terminal illnesses, what else do you expect to happen?

 

Would I recommend the book? Yes. It's a quick, fun read with a sad ending. But that's it. It's not life changing, nor is it eye-opening. It's just an okay read.

 

 

 

 

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Review: Until Friday Night by Abbi Glines

Title: Until Friday Night (The Field Party #1)
Author: Abbi Glines
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: August 25th 2015
Page Number: 320
Rating: 4.5/5

Summary:

To everyone who knows him, West Ashby has always been that guy: the cocky, popular, way-too-handsome-for-his-own-good football god who led Lawton High to the state championships. But while West may be Big Man on Campus on the outside, on the inside he’s battling the grief that comes with watching his father slowly die of cancer.

Two years ago, Maggie Carleton’s life fell apart when her father murdered her mother. And after she told the police what happened, she stopped speaking and hasn’t spoken since. Even the move to Lawton, Alabama, couldn’t draw Maggie back out. So she stayed quiet, keeping her sorrow and her fractured heart hidden away.

As West’s pain becomes too much to handle, he knows he needs to talk to someone about his father—so in the dark shadows of a post-game party, he opens up to the one girl who he knows won’t tell anyone else.

West expected that talking about his dad would bring some relief, or at least a flood of emotions he couldn’t control. But he never expected the quiet new girl to reply, to reveal a pain even deeper than his own—or for them to form a connection so strong that he couldn’t ever let her go…  

 

REVIEW

 

Some people may think I am biased because lately I've been reading Abbi Glines's books like they're chocolate, but that is nowhere near the case. I've only been reading her steamy New Adult books, so I was slightly nervous that her YA books wasn't going to be as good. But I was so wrong.

 

Until Friday Night is easily one of the most realistic YA Contemporary books I've ever read. The characters were incredibly relatable, yet still going through their own terrors in life. Anyone who has ever lost a loved one will completely relate to West and the pain he is going through. He's got no one to rely on because his mother is going through the exact same thing, his friends don't know and I know from past experiences that keeping secrets becomes impossible until you have to tell someone before you crack.

 

I've never experienced anything like Maggie has and I've certainly not stopped speaking (I can talk for Wales, apparently. I think it's a Welsh thing; we're all chatter box's.) however, that didn't refrain me from connecting to her. She has her fears, but I saw so much of my former self in Maggie. She's quiet, loyal, compassionate and selfless. She cares about everyone else rather than herself, because at least she hasn't got to confront what she's going through.

 

West and Maggie's relationship did confuse me a little. Their chemistry was...off the scales. Like in any Abbi Glines book, but Abbi really did something that I've not seen in any YA or NA book; she called out the guy being possessive. And I'm so happy that Maggie's character did that because I think it's something that needs to be done. You're meant to love her, not own her. She's not a trophy you can keep on the mantelpiece of your living room, she's a human being with feelings.

 

This is definitely one of my favourite Abbi Glines book and I'm super excited to see what's going to happen in Book 2 (It follows Maggie's cousin, Brady.) I love these small town romances too much. I may need to go to rehab.

 

A finished copy was provided by the publishers for a honest review

 

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Review: Fallen Too Far by Abbi Glines

Title: Fallen Too Far
Author: Abbi Glines
Genre: New Adult
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: July 4th 2013
Page Number: 247
Rating: 4/5

Summary:

When Blaire Wynn's mother passed away, Blaire's life changed in an instant. Having cared for her sick mother for the last three years, suddenly Blaire has to leave the small farmhouse in Alabama they shared, to move in with her father and his new wife in their sprawling beach house along the Florida gulf coast. But what she isn't prepared for is the lifestyle change that comes with the move, and she knows she'll never fit into the new world of luxury and extravagance that suddenly surrounds her.
Even worse, her father has run off to Paris for the summer with his wife, leaving her stranded with Rush, her new stepbrother, who's irritating, arrogant and… seriously sexy. Rush is as spoiled as he is gorgeous; his famous father's guilt money, his mother's desperation to win his love, and his charm are the three reasons he has never been told no. Blaire knows he is anything but good for her, but somehow she can't fight the attraction she's feeling, especially when she starts to think the attraction might be mutual… Rush is jaded and has secrets Blaire knows she may never uncover but even knowing all of that Blaire just may have fallen too far.  

REVIEW

I'm going to be honest and tell it to you straight. I'm not a fan of step-brother (or any other sibling) romance. I find it a little uncomfortable, however, I absolutely adored this book. Abbi Glines created some amazing characters that I fell in love with.

From the beginning, Blaire is a character you find yourself rooting for. She's young, independent and had an incredibly hard life. She lost her twin sister when she was 14, and then her father walked out on her a few weeks later, leaving her to look after her sick mother. There wasn't any character growth from Blaire because she had already grown up too quickly, but what we did see was Blaire learning to have fun and just be a normal nineteen year old.

If I'm still being honest, Rush was a generic male character in New Adult. He was rich, spoiled and a complete and utter dick. But I think that's part of the "Rush Finlay Charm". He's a difficult character to get to know because he doesn't know what he's meant to do in the situation he is in, but I think he was mature enough about it all and made the right decision.

Abbi Glines' writing is so easy to follow. Her writing is no masterpiece, but it's simple and fun, kinda reminds me of Jennifer L Armentrout's writing. The only thing I would say needed to be improved would be the editing of the book. There were so many editing errors that needs to be fixed. The editors had one job and they couldn't do that properly.

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Books I Read in One Sitting | Top 5 Wednesday

Top 5 Wednesday was created by GingerReadsLainey

 

 

 

Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Shiobhan Vivian

 

This book is 350 pages long and I read it within Two hours. It's a very fun, fast-paced read that tells the story of Three high school girls who are out for revenge on the people who have done them wrong. Despite being a YA Contemporary there is a hint of supernatural in the trilogy as well, which is very well done.

 

 

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

 

This is one of those books that capture your attention from the first page, not because it's amazingly well written, but because it's seriously entertaining and filled with drama. Abby and Travis' relationship is seriously intense!

 

 

Make You Mine by Macy Beckett

 

Back last year I had a serious case of a reading slump that lasted 3 entire months. In that time I read One book, and that was Make You Mine. I read it all within Four hours and I had such a fun time while reading it. It's definitely a unique take on the adult romance book.

 

 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

 

I'm pretty sure everybody read this book in One entire sitting. The story hooks on to your heart and doesn't let go until the last page, when you then realise that you can't see anything out of your eyes because you're crying do damn hard. Or if you're like me, then you're throwing the book down onto the bed and crying into your pillow like you have no idea how to live. For Three WHOLE days!

 

 

Confess by Colleen Hoover

 

It was impossible not to read this book in One sitting. I was crying within Ten pages and wanted to know what was going to happen for Auburn, within 5 hours I had completed the book, placed it onto my shelf and continued sobbing my too-big-of-a-heart out. It's a heartbreaker that's for sure!

 

 

 

 

What books have you read in One sitting?

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.

 

 

 

 

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Top 13 Books of 2013

This is based on books I read this year and not ones that were published this year. Some of these books will be self-published as well. Also if a series got rated all the same then I count them as 1 book. If not then I'll just put my favourite book in the list.


13. Silence by Natasha Preston - 3.5/5

This book follows Oakley, who happens to be mute due to something that happened to her as a child. She's been best friends with Cole through-out her entire life and he knows what she's thinking just by looking at her expressions. The book 'Silence' dealt with some serious issues that not many authors would take on and the reason I gave it a 3.5 stars is because there were quite a few spelling mistakes and typos. This book is also self-published.


12. Broken Silence by Natasha Preston - 4/5

This book follows on with Silence, but this time it's fast forward four years. Oakley left for Australia and now she's back for the trial. However, she's not sure how to deal with Cole and the whole 'I still love him' phase. However, this book really closed the book up and made you think just how blessed you are. I only knocked it down because of the spelling mistakes and typo's. Natasha will also be having a book published next year, 'The Cellar' which will be published by Source Books.


11. The Selection by Kiera Cass - 4/5

At first I thought this book would've been terrible. However, it was written beautifully and the characters with brilliant. But the one character that I absolutely could not stand was Aspen. He couldn't decide if he wanted America or not and it happened on more than one occasion
through out the book. I wanted to give it a 5, but I felt like there was something missing.







10. Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone by J.K. Rowling - 4/5

I first read Harry Potter when I was 11 years old. And I loved it. I thought it was full of action, but now as an 18 year old boy, I felt differently about the book. In some parts it was slow and boring, but nearer to the end it got better. However, the character and world development had me hooked. I couldn't believe how brilliant it was.


9. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - 4/5

I can see why everybody loved this book. But I have read a lot of cliché and predictable books in the past years and this is included with them. Yes, the characters were great and the descriptions or Paris were amazing. But the book lacked something for me. I wanted more from the characters and the premise. However, it was still a great quick read.






8. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - 5/5

This book was amazing and at the beginning of the year I would've said that it was my absolute favourite. But then all the other books took over. Yes, this book made me laugh, smile and shed a few tears and it wasn't because it was just about cancer and love. The way it was written was beautiful and I loved John Greens take on Cancer. Overall an outstanding book!




7. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - 5/5

For me this book was brilliant. Not only that, but it was full of action and had some amazing new characters. I also loved the development of both characters and world because we could see that Harry, Ron and Hermione had matured a bit. We also got to know about the chamber and the girls toilet which, even though isn't relevant, it kind of is. Best book in the series so far! (Only on the 4th book.)



6. Before I Die by Jenny Downham - 5/5

This book is about cancer, love and a girl so desperate to make her last few months left the best and trust me this book was amazing. There were parts where I hated it, but I think that was because I had watched the film (without knowing) before I read the book. The characters we ok and the premise was cliché. I did shed a tear though. One tear that is.





5. Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices) by Cassandra Clare - 5/5

Best book in the trilogy. I liked Clockwork Angel and I enjoyed Clockwork Princess, but for me this one was the best out of the lot. There was loads of action that kept me wanting to read more and through out this book we got to know the characters a lot more as well as the new ones. My favourite couple out of the series was Gideon and Sophie they're perfect for each other and seeing them develop was the right thing for Miss Clare to do.

4. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey - 4.5/5


If you're wondering why this has a rating of 4.5 but is 4th on my list then it is because the book was amazing. However, I knocked it down by .5 because of the insta-love. Insta-love is my bookish pet peeve and as soon as I saw him say "I love you" after like 3 days I knew I had to knock it down. If this book didn't have the insta-love then it would've been 2nd or 3rd on my list.







3. Slated and Fractured by Teri Terry - 5/5

Both of these books were incredible. Not a lot of action happens, but where there is no action (Fighting, etc.) there is a lot of tense scenes which just made the book so much better. Also with the way it was written I felt like I was in Kyla's dreams. I was in the book. One thing that shocked me thought that in 40 years 'Slating' could happen.


2. The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare - 5/5


Yes, this one is every single book of the series. I started it thinking I'd hate it, but came out of it obsessed with the series. The world. The characters. It's just mind blowing and I really want to be a shadow-hunter and one day I will. For me, Cassandra Clare is my favourite author of 2013. If you haven't read the series then I suggest you do because once you enter it you won't come back out!





1. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell - 5/5 (If I could give it 10, I would.)

My original list had The Mortal Instruments as No.1. But I read Eleanor and Park and it was clear that this one had to had the first spot. It was quirky, cute and just amazing written. But what I loved most was the fact that Rainbow took us on a journey of high school, love and the Eighties. This book will probably be my all time favourite book without a doubt!