Top 5 Wednesday: Favourite Re-Reads

Top 5 Wednesday was set up by Lainey over at GingerReadsLainey. Every week you have a new topic and you pick your top 5 choices for each topic. This is done in Vlogs, but I think it will be great for Bloggers to do as well. Today's topic is our Favourite books to re-read. I don't know if it's books you like to re-read over Christmas or just favourite books to re-read, so I'm going with the one that makes sense to me.

 

So, there are actually only two books that I re-read because I use them for writing inspiration. Beautiful Disaster is the book that got me wanting to write New Adult Fiction and going back to it inspires me with my male characters, because I sometimes write them a little too feminine. Pushing the Limits is used for the emotions and relationship. Katie McGarry knows how to punch someone in the gut with feelings!

 

These are 3 books that I am hoping to re-read in the year of 2015. the Divergent trilogy because the Insurgent movie comes out in March, Angelfall and World After so I can prepare for the third and final book, and Prisoner of Night and Fog because I was in a high reading slump when I read it.

 

 

What books have to re-read the most? Which ones do you plan on re-reading?

Top 5 Wednesday: Books Over 500 Pages

Top 5 Wednesday was set up by Lainey over at GingerReadsLainey. Every week you have a new topic and you pick your top 5 choices for each topic. This is done in Vlogs, but I think it will be great for Bloggers to do as well. Today's topic is Big Books Don't Lie. Well, now I'm lying. It's Favourite books over 500 pages long!

Christmas time is the perfect time for big books because we get more time to ourselves, that is if you've already finished your shopping, like me.

 

A Game of Thrones by George R R Martin - I haven't read this series, but I know everyone either loves the books or the TV show, so I know it'd be perfect to recommend and take my 5th place. It's a high fantasy with a lot of death. Enjoy!

 

50 Shades of Grey by E. L James - This isn't the best written trilogy ever, but it's a very quick read. I read all three books in three days and really enjoyed them. Plus I've met E L James and she's super nice! Also you get to read them before the movie comes out. (I'm going to see it with some friends)

 

The Dark Heroine by Abigail Gibbs -  I officially read three chapters on Wattpad, but bought the book when it came out. This book is an amazing, sexy novel about kidnappings and Vampires. It's brilliant!

 

The Host by Stephenie Meyer - This Dystopian is incredible. I loved the movie, but when I read the book I was blown away. It was...unique. Great writing, great editing and an amazing storyline. It is over 600 pages long, but totally worth it.

 

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness -  This is my all time favourite series and the first book clocks up an epic 680 pages long. It's an adult fantasy that includes Witches, Vampires and Daemons. I was 14/15 when I read this and even faked that I was ill to finish reading it!

 

 

What are some of your favourite books that are over 500 pages long?

Top 5 Wednesday: Favourite Book Couples

Top 5 Wednesday was set up by Lainey over at GingerReadsLainey. Every week you have a new topic and you pick your top 5 choices for each topic. This is done in Vlogs, but I think it will be great for Bloggers to do as well. This week's topic is Favourite Book Couples (main or side). I've had a hard time selecting my top 5 because I knew only three couples that were my top 3, but the other two are ones I had to really think about.

Without further a do...

 

 

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick - I absolutely love Samantha and Jase together. Their relationship starts off very awkward and cute, but then it develops into something a lot more deeper. Their connection is great and I love that Jase isn't what Samantha expected him to be.

 

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness - Mathew and Diana are complete different people - literally - She's a witch and he's a vampire. She's into History and he's into Science. She's in her thirties and he's over 1500 years old. They should never work, but they do.

Slammed by Colleen Hoover - Will and Layken start off with a great connection that gets ruined by the fact that he's her teacher, but that connection is something that cannot - and will not - be broken. They're perfect for each other and every obstacle they went through, they came out together.

Where She Went by Gayle Forman - In If I Stay, I didn't like Adam and Mia so much. They were cute, but had a very immature relationship. However, in Where She Went I felt like everything had been a lot more mature. Plus it showed the awkwardness of the situation, I loved that.

The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare - Everyone loves Tessa and Jem or Tessa and Will, but not me. I love Sophie and Gideon. He's a Shadowhunter and high maintenance, she's a maid and mundane. Despite their clear difference they work. Their connection and relationship is both beautiful and awkward. I need more of their relationship.

 

 

Who are your favourite book couples?

Top 5 Wednesday: Red Covers!

Top 5 Wednesday was set up by Lainey over at GingerReadsLainey. Every week you have a new topic and you pick your top 5 choices for each topic. This is done in Vlogs, but I think it will be great for Bloggers to do as well. This week's topic is Red Covers, which if I'm honest I don't own many red covers, so most of these will be books with red on the cover. I hope you like the new format. Anyway, lets get this going.....

The Suitcase Kid by Jacqueline Wilson - This was a childhood favourite of mine, but I just love the cover. It's eye-catching and shows what the book is all about without giving away any important details.

Half Bad by Sally Green - I've yet to read this book, but the cover is absolutely beautiful. And it's double sided, which means it has one design on the front (black with red face) and on the back it has the same design, but it's white with a red face.

Red at Midnight by Katie McGarry - I love Katie McGarry, but this short story is beautiful and so is that cover. It's very autumnal, which is perfect because we are currently in Autumn. The mix of red and brown leaves and the grave yard just sets the perfect tone for the book.

Talon by Julie Kagawa - I'm not a big fantasy fan, but look at that cover! It's beautiful, simple and unique. I love the colour of the red and the scales. Just......gawd! I cannot say anything bad about this cover. It's gorgeous.

A Grimm Warning by Chris Colfer - I've yet to read this series as well, but I want to start it soon. The thing with middle grade is that all the covers are gorgeous, but none are better than The Land of Stories. Every single cover is beautiful and detailed. Once again, this cover is very autumnal with the mixture of red, brown, green and yellow. I also happen to be a huge Gleek.

What are your favourite books with red covers?

Top 5 Wednesday: Halloween Recommendations

Top 5 Wednesday was set up by Lainey over at GingerReadsLainey. Every week you have a new topic and you pick your top 5 choices for each topic. This is done in Vlogs, but I think it will be great for Bloggers to do as well. Today's topic is Top 5 Halloween Book Recommendations. This week is the official day that Halloween takes place, so it seems fitting that I get to recommend some creepy reads.

Are you prepared for all the creepiness?



FIFTH PLACE: The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey.

This isn't so much of a scary read, but it's definitely a bit creepy and it's all about an Alien invasion. When I was reading this book I just could not put it down and I continued to read even though I was a little freaked out. The pacing of the book matches the pace of Halloween and it's turning into a movie, so it's also the perfect time to read the book before the movie gets released in 2016.





FOURTH PLACE: Angelfall by Susan EE.

Once again, we are joined by the end of the world. Only this time it's being taken over by fallen angels. Angellfall is an intense and quite short apocalypse book that features a crazy-ass character who you'll be shocked by what she does. You're also drawn into the world that is nothing like ours. It's short sentenced and intense. The absolute perfect Halloween read.



THIRD PLACE: Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter.

I've mentioned this so many times already, but it is seriously
one of my absolute favourite trilogies ever. It's fast-paced, action-packed and has a unique take on Zombies. What you'll be interested in hearing is that this isn't a Zombie-fied retelling of Alice in Wonderland, but it's actually an interpretation. Also Kat is one hell of a hilarious character. The stuff she comes out with is so weird.





SECOND PLACE: Under the Dome by Stephen King.

This is one hell of a book, it's also incredibly big. Over 800 pages in fact. The premise is basically very simple: a dome covers a town and supernatural things are happening. It also features a lot of crazy in the head characters. This is also a TV show, but they're completely different. I will say, I prefer the TV show, but that's because of Barbie and his beautiful face.




FIRST PLACE: The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare.

You're probably thinking, The Mortal Instruments? Really? Well my answer would be, yes I am serious. The Mortal Instruments is a blend of Fantasy, Paranormal, Action and Adventure. In this delicate world there's Demon hunters, Vampires, Werewolves, Faeries and some scary-as-hell characters. The thing about this series is that it has one of the best conclusions ever. Plus Jace is gorgeous.

Halloween is the time to read a lot of Horror and Paranormal books and I hopefully will do the same, but I'm more of a Horror movies person, because it's better to visual it. Also, nothing scares me, so reading a book would be pointless.

 

What books would you recommend me to read for Halloween?

Top 5 Wednesday: Favourite Book Titles

Top 5 Wednesday was set up by Lainey over at GingerReadsLainey. Every week you have a new topic and you pick your top 5 choices for each topic. This is done in Vlogs, but I think it will be great for Bloggers to do as well. Today's topic is Top 5 Favourite Book Titles. If I'm being honest, I'm not a huge fan of book titles. Some are generic with one words and some just follow a specific pattern like the 50 Shades Trilogy. However, despite my dislike in most titles I did manage to form a list of my 5 favourite.

So...Lets get started!


FIFTH PLACE: To All The Boys I've Love Before by Jenny Han.

The title basically describes the book. It's about Lara Jean who after finishing with a boy, instead of going through that cannot-stop-crying-need-ice-cream phase, she just writes them a letter, places them in an envelope and leaves them in an old box. Until one day they're accidently sent out. I've not read it myself, but I do own it and it's what attracted me to buying it. Plus I really like how the font is handwritten, it makes it seem more real.






FOURTH PLACE: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.

I think a fourteen year old could have came up with the title of Gone Girl, but I think that is what makes it a brilliant title. It's simple, but it tells the story perfectly without giving anything away. (Apart from the fact that someone goes missing.) What I also like about it is that Gillian seems to follow a theme: Gone Girl, Sharp Objects and Dark Places. Two word titles are perfect for her and her readers.


THIRD PLACE: The Story of Tracy Beaker.

This isn't exactly a favourite title, but it's one of nostalgia. My childhood was basically full of Tracy Beaker and not just the books, but the TV Show as well (they did kind of milk it a bit). If you never experienced Tracy Beaker then you definitely did not live. Back then it was the cocaine of children's TV and the books did just as good. I have to say that I definitely miss it. Ps, if none of you know what it's about then I'll tell you. It follows a slightly angry girl called Tracy who grows up in a foster home.





SECOND PLACE: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell.

If I had to come up with a title for this book, it would've been something like Falling For Someone Online or Stalked, but if anything I think this is one of my favourite titles because it makes so much sense. Lincoln becomes attached to someone online. The thing with Mrs Rowell is that all her titles are perfect: Attachments, Eleanor and Park, Fangirl and Landline. They all link to something in the book.




FIRST PLACE: Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman.

Noughts and Crosses is a game we've all played and in this incredible novel that's one of the themes. Whites vs Blacks. The things with games is that we've all cheated and that's how the book goes. Who can you trust? I have to say though, that this is the only title in this series that I like. The other's make no sense (I've not read the others).

 

What are your favourite titles? Comment down below.

Top 5 Wednesday: Books I thought I'd hate, but loved

Top 5 Wednesday was set up by Lainey over at GingerReadsLainey. Every week you have a new topic and you pick your top 5 choices for each topic. This is done in Vlogs, but I think it will be great for Bloggers to do as well. Today's topic is Top 5 Books you thought you'd hate, but ended up loving. There's not many books that I really thought I'd hate, but loved, so this week was easy. If anything it would've been harder if the topic was books you think you'd love, but hated. 

HERE ARE MY TOP 5:




FIFTH PLACE: Angelfall by Susan EE.

There's actually a reason as to why I thought I'd hate this book, and that's because I tried reading it twice before and could not get into it. I'd manage one chapter and would give up, so when I tried reading it for the third time I was surprised by how much I started to like the book. Once it was over I needed to get my hands on the next book, luckily for me World After was released about two weeks later.




FOURTH PLACE: The Selection by Kiera Cass.

I was judging the book by it's cover, which is very girly, but pretty. It's a girl in a dress and it looked more like a middle grade princess book, rather than a Young Adult Dystopian. However, the book was really good. I loved America Singer and the whole idea of a Dystopian that's a mix of The Bachelor and Big Brother. The best thing about the book is that it took me about three hours to read. I will admit that I've yet to read the sequel, The Elite. But I will do one day.





THIRD PLACE: Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell.

I had never read a Rainbow Rowell book at this point, but I had heard a lot about her. Every Booktube video I watched; Haul videos or tag videos included a Rainbow Rowell book, so when I started it I wasn't entirely sold on the idea. However, Eleanor and Park attached themselves to my heart and clung to it, never letting go. Their story is one that I recommend to everyone because it is one of the best pieces of Young Adult fiction. In fact I think it'll be a classic in a hundred years time.




SECOND PLACE: Divergent by Veronica Roth.

This book has been mentioned in a lot of my T5W posts, but this one has to be in it because I was that surprised by the book. I HATE The Hunger Games so much, so when my friend pitched this idea of Divergent to me I was bored. It seemed so similar and I knew I was going to hate it, but boy was I wrong. So wrong! The book had me hooked from page one and I stayed up until four am reading it, even though I had an exam that morning.






FIRST PLACE: Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.

I did not like Beautiful Creatures one bit. It was too dragged out and it took me about two weeks to finish, even though I know that a book that size can take me about three days. So when I decided to start Beautiful Darkness I thought it'd be the same, but once again I was so wrong. I read it in two days and couldn't stop flipping the pages. This book was and is the best one out of all four books.

 

I really liked this topic because it makes you realise that you really can't judge a book by it's cover or it's synopsis. You have to judge the book purely on what's on the inside and each and every one of these books have proved that. I told you guys my top 5, but what are yours?

 

Comment in the comment sections and lets discuss!

Top 5 Wednesday: Favourite Female Characters

Top 5 Wednesday was set up by Lainey over at GingerReadsLainey. Every week you have a new topic and you pick your top 5 choices for each topic. This is done in Vlogs, but I think it will be great for Bloggers to do as well. Today's topic is Top 5 Favourite Female Characters, which is a topic I'm having a struggle with because I love a lot of female characters, like most of anyone does. But I've tried my best to name my top five.

So without further ado......



FIFTH PLACE: Clary Fray from The Mortal Instruments.

The reason why I like Clary so much is because she shows both sides of being weak and strong. She's not perfect and kick-ass in the first book, like some female characters are that it makes it realistic. Plus Clary is a character that everyone can relate too, she's a normal teenage girl who's got a somewhat hard life and struggling to make a choice between boys. (I also like Maia from this series, but she was only in the last few of them, not from the beginning.)





FOURTH PLACE: Luna Lovegood from the Harry Potter Series.

Luna is one of those characters that would be my best friend if I was in those novels. She's weird, which I like, but she's mysterious and kind, and has a gentle soul. Plus she can be a different person with a wand. My only dislike to her is her father because he is all kinds of creepy, but she, herself is a pretty cool chick. I still hate that she ended up with Neville, I thought her and Ron would've made a cute couple.






THIRD PLACE: Kat from the Burn for Burn Trilogy.

In the first book I wasn't so fussed on Kat. I liked her, but not enough for her to be my favourite character. In the second book, Fire with Fire she's so much better. She's a loyal friend, who deserved a lot more chapters. Plus I liked the fact she was a tomboy who kind of flirted with everyone. But please the lord, can she get with Alex. They're super adorable together and her whining is kind of getting on my nerves. In a good way.





SECOND PLACE: Christina from the Divergent Trilogy.

Everyone knows that I never really connected with Tris and Four in the whole trilogy, but I did with Christina. She's another person I'd be friends with and not because she tells the truth, but because she's got attitude and sass, something Tris doesn't possess. She also shows herself to be a worthy friend and I like that. I still have a question for Veronica Roth though. What happened to Tris' personality?





FIRST PLACE: Eleanor from Eleanor and Park.

I connect with Eleanor in so many ways. She's a character that I want to see more of in Young Adult fiction because it's real life. Not every girl happens to be stick thin and perfect, some stick out in society and it should be celebrated. For me, Eleanor is the character you can relate to in some way, but she's also very lovable. You connect with her and her life and then.....BAM! She stabs you in the heart and kind of ruins the whole story (in a good way). I would like to know what Eleanor would look like as an Adult.

 

So who are some of your favourite female characters? Let me know in the comments, so we can discuss them!

Top 5 Wednesday: Ugly Book Covers!

Top 5 Wednesday was set up by Lainey over at GingerReadsLainey. Every week you have a new topic and you pick your top 5 choices for each topic. This is done in Vlogs, but I think it will be great for Bloggers to do as well. Today's topic is Top 5 Ugly Book Covers. The shame is that most book covers published in America are gorgeous, but then the UK publishers change them for other here and they suck!

For this T5W I will be using books I own, so that it's fair.

Anyway, here are my Top 5 Ugly Book Covers.


FIFTH PLACE: 50 Shades of Grey by EL James.

I met EL James back in July at The Book of Life publication event in London and she was super lovely, so open and welcome. The covers do represent the books, which I have read and somewhat enjoyed, but they're not interesting. It's a tie with a grey background, so fancy, not! These covers even started a trend in publishers using covers like this for other books for them to boost sales, but they just do not work. These aren't the worst covers ever, but they're not the best.




FOURTH PLACE: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead.

Okay, so this is technically me cheating since I don't own this book, but I must include it because these covers are so so so bad! The whole face thing is normally an American trend, so I have no idea why they followed it, but these covers are a mess! Her face is light white (By light I mean actual photo editing light effects, so poorly done.) and what is with the font? It's terrible. These are books I'd rather own on Kindle or iBooks, so that I won't have the covers on my shelf. Hideous.





THIRD PLACE: Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen.

Shoot me. Literally. These covers are some of the worst in the Young Adult genre. The US editions are pretty nice, simple, but they wor
k. These covers look like the book is aimed for a Barbie obsessed eight year old. Not cool! There are so many cool things they could've done for the cover, but they went with cartoonised objects made to look like a dress. Were the designers high? because it looks like they were to me. The shameful thing is that I own this edition on my shelf, good thing is that it'd hidden. However, the content inside is really good, it's just a pity about the lame-ass cover!




SECOND PLACE: Divergent by Veronica Roth.

Okay. The US publishers had everything right all the way down to the smallest details and then the UK publishers come along and mess with everything. They took away the bright colours and bold cover and replace it with something that doesn't even look decent. The model in the cover looks completely awkward and all she is doing is sitting down and the birds? The birds are too big. But it's not just that, the awesome font has been replaced with something less grand and the color is murky. The book sold well, but it would've sold so much better if we had the US cover. It's basically the story of The Ugly Duckling...expect this ugly duckling stays ugly.



FIRST PLACE: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

WHAT. THE. HELL?! What even are these? These are worse than the first editions published in the UK. I understand that these are the new rebel editions, but nothing in them works. I'm happy slating these because the books are terrible and the covers match what I feel. The color is all off and the font (which looked decent on Mockingjay) is terrible. It's too big and too much and just a mess. They would've been better just sticking to the nice plain editions with the black background and the pin in different colors. Would I say these are the worst edition ever? Yes. A very big, fat yes! I feel sorry to the people who have them on their bookcase because if I had these then they'd be locked up in a wardrobe so no one could see them. Period.


So......do you agree with me? Do you disagree? Let me know and tell me what your top 5 ugly book covers are.

Top 5 Wednesday: Author Blurbs

Top 5 Wednesday was set up by Lainey over at GingerReadsLainey. Every week you have a new topic and you pick your top 5 choices for each topic. This is done in Vlogs, but I think it will be great for Bloggers to do as well. Today's topic is Top Author Blurbs. I have a great selection ranging from Dystopia and Contemporary.

So here are my top 5 picks for Author Blurbs.



FIFTH PLACE: Irish Independent for If I Stay by Gayle Forman

"Sometimes painful, other times funny but always touching, If I Stay is a remarkably fresh and compelling piece of work. It's a book with a real heart, a book that makes you feel truly grateful to be alive."  I chose this one because I agreed with everything that was said. If I Stay is a book that makes you feel grateful to be alive, but not only that, it makes you cherish everything you have.



FOURTH PLACE: James Dashner for Divergent by Veronica Roth

"Divergent is a captivating, fascinating book that kept me in constant suspense and was never short on surprises. It will be long time before I quit thinking about this haunting vision of the future." James Dashner wraps everything I would've said in two sentences. It's been six months since I first read it and it's always on my mind. The world building. The characters. The fact that being separated after a war. It's very realistic. Ps, if it does happen let me be in Dauntless.



THIRD PLACE: Jennifer Echols for Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

"McGarry details the sexy highs, the devastating lows and the real work it takes to build true love." Love is something that needs to be worked on every day. There is always something that challenges you and in this book Echo and Noah defied the odds and showed everyone what a real relationship is. It's not about popularity or sex. It's about overcoming each and every challenge together.




SECOND PLACE: John Green for Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

"Reminded me not just what it's like to be young and in love with a girl, but what it's like to be young and in love with a book." Everything is perfect with this blurb apart from the girl part - it'd be boy for me - Eleanor and Park is a book you can fall in love over and over again with. It's beautifully written with flawed, diverse characters. It's exactly what the YA community needed. Two people are aren't afraid to stand out.




FIRST PLACE: Lindsay Cummings for Slated by Teri Terry

"Everything I have been looking for in a book: suspense, mind-bending mystery, romance and just the right amount of Science-Fiction." We all know that Lindsay Cummings likes the darker side of books. But I have to completely agree with her on this one. This book had me on the edge of my seat. I was turning the pages faster than I would eating a bar of chocolate. I was addicted.





I'm always asked what my favourite quote is from Divergent and I always reply with that I have too many because the book is so addictive. But I do have a favourite from it and I'm going to show you it in the form of a GIF. A Theo James shirtless GIF. Enjoy!

 

 

Now let me know down below in the comment section what your favourite author blurbs are. They can be blurbs your blog friends have done, one a newspaper have done or ones that an author has done. Any blurb is more or less a good blurb.