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.

 

 

 

 

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

Review: Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider

Title: Extraordinary Means
Author: Robyn Schneider
Genre: YA Contemporary / Illness
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: June 4th 2015
Page Number: 336
Rating: 3.5/5

Summary:

When he's sent to Latham House, a boarding school for sick teens, Lane thinks his life may as well be over.
But when he meets Sadie and her friends - a group of eccentric troublemakers - he realises that maybe getting sick is just the beginning. That illness doesn't have to define you, and that falling in love is its own cure.

REVIEW

 

This book started off so good. I was completely hooked by the idea of a boarding school for the ill as it was something that has not been done before, so I was interested in how Robyn was going to make it seem like real life. Most authors would have stuck with the general boarding school clichés, but Robyn shied away from them and made me feel like I was also on "Vacation" at Latham House.

 

Lane and Sadie were great characters. At first Lane was this tense character who cared only for getting better and leaving so he could go back to high school and graduate onto college. But then we saw this change in him after he became friends with Sadie. And it only added to my likeability of his character. He opened up and took what life had to through at him with a pinch of salt.

 

Sadie was a great character from the beginning. Her and her group of friend really had a positive outlook on life, and I loved that because there is always someone out there in the world in a worse off situation than yourself. The things they got up too were just your typical teenager things: annoying the teacher, going off school ground, being weird all together.

 

Things started to slowly sink after page 250. The plot of the story moved slowly and Sadie started to act impulsively. I didn't know why, but she was beginning to act like a 12 year old. I understood the situation she was in, but I felt like the change was too quick. Same with the relationship between Lane and Sadie. At first, it was nice and content. The next it was fiery and passionate (they hadn't even said I love you).

 

Honestly, I knew exactly what was going to happen, same as everyone else. There is no surprise in the novel, because it's like every other book with an illness. And that disappointed me. Why did the book have to have a main character die? It took me back to The Fault in Our Stars, which I also felt the same about. I'd love to see a book about a character beating their illness and going on to live their life.

 

Overall, this book was just average. It's cute, fun and then gets too depressing for you to really care.  

 

 

 

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My 5 Most Disappointing Books of 2014

2014 was the year of extremely good books, but it was also the year for some terrible literature.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas - 3/5

I really liked the idea of this book, an Assassin who has to fight for the Prince to become the Kings Champion. However, I felt like this one was a little over-hyped for me. My goal for 2015 is to catch up with this series and read Crown of Midnight and Heir of Fire.


The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey - 3/5

This sequel really angered me. The 5th Wave was one of my favourite books of 2013 and then this one came along and ruined it all. Despite being so short compared to the first book, this one was dragged out and extremely boring. Plus all the new characters felt like bad, annoying versions of Cassie and Evan.


Legend by Marie Lu - 3/5

There is no doubt that Marie Lu can write, but what she fails to do is create great relationships that make sense. Day and June's relationship was so forced that I just could not enjoy the book. It was also a little predictable and will not be continuing on with the Trilogy.


We Were Liars by E. Lockhart - 2/5

Everyone was talking about how amazing this book was, but I have zero idea what they're on about. The writing style was awful, the characters were bland and in no way realistic. I also guessed the "twist" after reading 5 pages.


Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira - 1/5

I thought I was going to be reading a good book, but what I got was a book filled with boring characters, an unrealistic lesbian friends with benefits situation and just plain awful writing. Ooh, and the blurb has BIASED written all over it. I seriously would not recommend this book to anyone.

 

 

 

What were your most disappointing reads of 2014?

Waiting on Wednesday: I Was Here by Gayle Forman

Waiting on Wednesday: Episode Two

 

 

I Was Here by Gayle Forman

 

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

 

Release Date: 29th January 2015

 

Pages: 270

 

Goodreads Summary:

 

When her best friend Meg drinks a bottle of industrial-strength cleaner alone in a motel room, Cody is understandably shocked and devastated. She and Meg shared everything - so how was there no warning?

But when Cody travels to Meg’s college town to pack up the belongings left behind, she discovers that there’s a lot that Meg never told her. About her old roommates, the sort of people Cody never would have met in her dead-end small town in Washington.

About Ben McAllister, the boy with a guitar and a sneer, who broke Meg’s heart. And about an encrypted computer file that Cody can’t open - until she does, and suddenly everything Cody thought she knew about her best friend’s death gets thrown into question.

 

Thoughts:

 

THAT COVER?! OMG! It's so beautiful and it'll match both my If I Stay and Where She Went covers. Gayle Forman has become one of my favourite authors of all time this year and I need more and more of her writing. What I love most is that her books are never all that long, but they're full of depth and emotion. I'm desperate to get my hands on an ARC copy (Simon and Schuster, if you are seeing this then please consider sending me one. It's my birthday this month.) because I MUST read this book.

 

 

What book are you impatiently waiting for?

Review: Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Title: Where She Went (If I Stay #2)
Author: Gayle Forman
Genre: Contemporary
Publisher: Definitions (Random House)
Published: April 26th 2012
Page Number: 288

Summary:
It's been three years since Adam's love saved Mia after the accident that annihilated life as she knew it ...and three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever. Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Julliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future - and each other. Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, powerful prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

Review:

 

I must say that I am pretty nervous reviewing this, because this book was amazing and my words will not give it justice, so just pretend I'm a younger, Welsh version of William Shakespeare who uses modern language and we will all be okay.

 

 

Where She Went isn't a sequel as such, it's a companion. It takes place three years after the events of If I Stay, where Mia had to decide where she wanted to live or die. She chose to live. Adam Wilde is a huge celebrity after Shooting Star's first album Collateral Damage went to number one. However, things aren't as they seem, because Shooting Star are no longer friends, well the other three are just not Adam.

 

Adam is completely different from If I Stay, which is what I loved most because in If I Stay he was a little creepy. Look at the scene where he stares at Mia when she's clearly in a world of her own. And damn, those eyes are giving me the chills, not good ones.

 

 

As well as being a bit of a stalker, Adam was also very gentle. I don't even think he flirted with her and that was weird. He likes her, thinks she's cute, but doesn't flirt with her. Why? With Adam though I think that's what makes him likable. Both Mia and Adam have this passion for music that everyone can relate too.

 

In Where She Went there is a clear growth in Adam. He's a man in this one and not because he's older by three years. He acts like he is gods gift and everyone should bow down to him, while wishing that he never had fame in the first place. He's also very depressive, which once again, I related too since I suffer with severe depression.

 

Mia and Adams love story is definitely an unusual one.

 

“And then Adam Wilde shows up at Carnegie Hall on the biggest night of my career, and it felt like more than a coincidence. It felt like a gift. From them. For my first recital ever, they gave me a cello. And for this one, they gave me you.”   

 

I think we all knew that Adam and Mia would meet up again, I agree with what Mia has said. It's like her parents did give her Adam three years later after everything had changed. From this moment where Adam goes into her performance and they see each other, everything changes. The awkwardness between them both is very raw and real. You feel it and kind of feel sorry for them both. You just want to push them into each other. KISS AND MAKE UP PLEASE!

 

 

One of the weird things about Mia is that she hated Adam. We argue with the ones we love most, so does that mean we hate them without reason as well? My answer would be, yes. Mia had no one left and Adam changed around her. What he wanted to say, he couldn't and Mia saw that. She needed some normalcy and she had none, even from her Grandparents.

 

“I needed to hate someone and you’re the one I love the most, so it fell on you.”  

 

 

One of my favourite thing in Where She Went was....actually I'm lying. There wasn't just one thing I loved because I loved everything about this book. From the depression that is Adam to the shit life of the music industry. I even loved the side characters that you never met *Cough* Ernesto *Cough*. Everything was perfect. The songs, the relationship, the feels. I will definitely say that I babbled like a baby. Mia hits you hard with her words and next thing you know you're needing a box of the Feels. Here are some Feels that will hit you hard.

 

 

I mean, who didn't had tears in their eyes at this part. Her life came crashing down around her.

 

 

Too cute. He wrote her a song and begged her to stay, which is kind of the reason why she hated him. She had no one and he made her stay. Adam can you write me a song please? Thanks.

 

If you want to read this book then make sure you're comfortable. Have a cup of tea or coffee, a blanket and a box of tissues because this book will make you laugh, smile and cry. Okay I'm lying. It'll make you cry, cry, cry.

 

Like I said, this is an amazing book. In fact it's my favourite read of 2014 so far and I'm hoping no book can top it. I would compare this book to Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowel (who happened to love both If I Stay and Where She Went). Both books are heartbreakingly beautiful, but at least this one had a happy ending.

 

A MILLION OUT OF FIVE STARS!

 

 

 

Ps, don't forget that If I Stay is in all Cinemas, starring Chloe Grace Moretz.

 

 



 

 

 

Blog Tour: Second Chance by Natasha Preston

Second Chance

 

By: Natasha Preston

Release Date: June 10, 2014

Genre: New Adult/Romance

Synopsis

 

Everyone deserves a second chance at happiness, and three years after Chloe Holland's boyfriend dies in a bomb attack in London, she's ready to move on. That is until the one person she can see her moving forward with is the worst person she could have ever imagined.

Logan Scott was the one Chloe turned to when Jace died, but she never imagined that becoming close to him would leave her with the biggest dilemma she could ever face. He makes her question everything. She makes him a better person. They push the limit of right and wrong.

Unfortunately, Chloe and Logan are perfect for each other.

About The Author

 

 

UK native Natasha Preston grew up in small villages and towns. She discovered her love of writing when she stumbled across an amateur writing site and uploaded her first story and hasn't looked back since. She enjoys writing NA romance, thrillers, gritty YA and the occasional serial killer.

Facebook | Twitter | Wattpad | Website

 

Excerpt 1

 

She looked up, eyes locking with mine, and stilled. She looked wild and panicked. Then she straightened her back, gave me a smile and stepped closer to the bar. What the fuck? I stopped on the other side and sat on a stool. Don't get ahead of yourself. I wanted so bad to believe that her avoidance of me was because she wanted more but I couldn't let myself run with it. That was a fall I didn't ever want to experience again. "Did you contract a highly contagious disease?" She frowned. "No…" "Murder someone?" "No." "Get amnesia?" "What're you doing, Logan?" "Just listing the only reasons I'll accept for you avoiding me." "Murder is a reason I can avoid you?" "Hey, if you've snapped I don't wanna be next." She rolled her eyes, fighting a smile. "Can I get you something, Scott?" "Yeah, Holland, you can get me you." Now there was a sentence with a double meaning. "What's going on?"

 

Excerpt 2

 

My body burst to life. Blood scorched in my veins. Longing pooled between my legs. I was going to kiss him. I wanted him. I was going to fucking kiss my dead boyfriend's brother and as his eyes rooted me to the spot I didn't even want to attempt to stop it. Logan lowered his head a fraction. This was it. I shouldn't want this. My body shouldn't be screaming for his lips on mine and hands all over my body. I knew it was wrong but it didn't feel wrong. It felt like coming home, like we should have been doing this all along. He didn't look torn, not at all. He was one hundred per cent in this. I wanted him even more. The rain came down harder, not enough to soak us but enough that we should probably move. We didn't. Logan's other hand pulled me closer, fingers slightly digging into the small of my back while his maddening fingers trailed down my neck.

 

Excerpt 3

 

Against everything my body was screaming for, I put my hands on his chest and pushed him away. My fingers gripped his shirt as I put some distance between us, not really wanting to let go. I wanted to cry. He could crush me in a second. Not even Jace could do that. He looked devastated as he let go of my arms. Fear gripped me by the throat. I wasn't just scared of how I felt about Logan; I was outright terrified. "I need… time. I don't know." Not time, that wouldn't help. I didn't know what I needed, but I definitely needed something. He stroked my cheek and my heart stuttered. "No more time." "Why are you doing this, Logan?" "Why?" His eyes lost their tenderness. "Seriously, why? How blind can you be? I fucking love you, Chloe!"

 

Buy Links

Amazon UK | Amazon US | B&N | iBooks

 

Review:

I sadly can only review 10 chapters of this book because my Kindle was being a pain and wouldn't accept the email address to receive an e-arc of Second chance. However, I read the 10 chapters sample off Wattpad.

I found the book to be very well written and detailed. You learn all about Chloe's life, how she came over the death of her boyfriend at such a young age. We also get to really know her from this and I feel like Natasha knew he characters very well. I connected with both Logan and Chloe, could even see the attraction between the pair. One of my favourite things about Natasha as an author is that she's one of them authors that everything she writes you enjoy. And what makes everything ten times better is that when she writes a male character you feel like a man has written it. It's spot on, which most authors struggle with. Overall, I loved what I read and I'm sure you guys are as well. It's completely recommended!

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