Beth: My Favourite Book of 2015

My Favourite Book of 2015 | All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

 

On this very special day, the first of many Christmases I will hopefully be spending on this blog, I am here to write about my favourite book of the year 2015.

All The Bright Places.

Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.

This. Book. Is. Outstanding.

There is no other way to describe it simply.

An amazing contemporary romance, this book combines well written romance and contemporary, creating some beautiful quotes. And I cannot go without telling you some of these beauties. Because sometimes, it's best to let the book tell the story, rather than the fan.

WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW!

“You are all the colors in one, at full brightness.”

“You make me lovely, and it’s so lovely to be lovely to the one I love.…”
 
“You have been in every way all that anyone could be.… If anybody could have saved me it would have been you.”

“sometimes there’s beauty in the tough words—it’s all in how you read them.”

“I learned that there is good in this world, if you look hard enough for it. I learned that not everyone is disappointing, including me, and that a 1,257-foot bump in the ground can feel higher than a bell tower if you’re standing next to the right person.”

“She is oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus. The same elements that are inside the rest of us, but I can’t help thinking she’s more than that and she’s got other elements going on that no one’s ever heard of, ones that make her stand apart from everybody else. I feel this brief panic as I think, What would happen if one of those elements malfunctioned or just stopped working altogether? I make myself push this aside and concentrate on the feel of her skin until I no longer see molecules but Violet.”

“No more winter at all. Finch, you brought me spring.”

“Stars in the sky, stars on the ground. It’s hard to tell where the sky ends and the earth begins. I feel the need to say something grand and poetic, but the only thing I come up with is “It’s lovely.”

“I am on the highest branch.
We are written in paint.
I believe in signs.
The glow of Ultraviolet.
A lake. A prayer. It's so lovely to be lovely in Private.”

Honestly...I could go on forever.

-Beth
May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

One of the Guys

Hi, again! We're gearing up for Christmas, how about you? I think I love the food the best (other than the company of course!). Some of my favorite foods are made, like my mom's amazing pecan pie! So this post will be a review for On the Fence by Kasie West. I love Kasie West's writing and a previous review for The Fill-In Boyfriend is right here if you were curious about that one.

Here's a general description:
Charlotte, better known as Charlie, is the youngest of four. Her three older brothers are there to support and protect her, not to mention her fourth honorary brother Braden. Growing up with all four of the guys, Charlie's learned to fight for herself and how to tear up any kind of sport you can think of. After her 4th (or 5th?) ticket, her dad makes her get a job to pay it off. The worst part is that she works in the girliest store - and she has no idea how to handle it. This is new territory for her. She even meets a cute guy who has never seen her be the tough, sporty girl she knows she is. To destress, she has nightly chats with Braden between the fence that separates their backyards. What she doesn't expect are the sudden feeling she has for him. How can she pull off her double life? Or can she reconcile the girl she was and the girl she's becoming?

Alrighty, now for my opinion! This was a really quick read. I read it when I needed something light and quick to pick up my spirits. I was trying to destress myself and what better way to do that than read?! Charlie is pretty funny and her inner struggle is relatable. A lot of us find that we're becoming people that are new and different from the people we used to be. Sometimes that can be really scary and I felt like I could understand her best on this point. I liked her relationships with her brothers. Each of them seem to be pretty in-tune with what she needs and they go to great lengths to protect her. There was a bit of a twist toward the end that I wasn't expecting. It is really surprising and I like how it takes what you thought you knew was going on and turns it on its head. It was a little bit of depth that I wasn't expecting from a little bit of literary fluff. Kasie West's books are great for sitting on the beach or dreaming about that in these cold winter months ahead!

I hope this review helped you on your literary adventure! Happy reading!
Sophie

Getting By

Hello!! I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season! I know I am. I recently have picked up more hours at the bookstore so I can help out with all the shoppers. It's been a great season so far! This is a review for The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness. So Patrick Ness is a big name author and this is his most recently released book. I really enjoyed it and I hope this review helps you choose your next read.

An overview:
What if you aren't the chosen one, the one who is supposed to fight the zombies and vampires? What if you're just ordinary and are just trying to get on with your life. Mikey just wants to live his life. He wants to go to prom and wants to confess his undying love for his best girl friend. How can he do it when these extraordinary things just keep happening? Sometimes you just need to find your own magic in life.

This book was hilarious. I really enjoyed the sub-plot going along with it that was at the beginning of each chapter. At first I was kind of weirded out by it, but then everything came together full-circle. It was a very enjoyable read. My overview didn't quite do it justice. I had started it before, but put it down for another and I'm glad I picked it back up. Mikey has to deal with a lot of stress and his friends Henna and Jared and his sisters are all there to help him get through it. It's such an interesting dynamic throughout the novel and I love how it just works and that they're always so supportive of each other. Mel's strength and her ability to stand on her own makes me smile. At one point she even tells Mikey to back off because she can take care of herself. It was pretty awesome.

Okay so the cool thing about this one is that the jacket (on the US edition) is glow in the dark! I was just walking with it in the dark and I thought "I shouldn't be able to see this right now," but then I realized it was glow in the dark. That was super cool. It's also a really awesome cover. Under it there, the cover is this really pretty teal with a deer on it of course :) I highly recommend this for anyone who is up for something a little different.



Happy reading!
Sophie :)

Fitting In

Hey! I'm on winter break so I'm trying catch up all my book reviews. There are so many I'm behind on! So this one is for Anatomy of a Misfit by Andrea Portes. I had ordered this off The Book Depository's website (which I love due to their wide variety of paperback and free world-wide shipping) and finally got to it last month.

Okay, here's a synopsis:
Anika Dragomir is third-most popular girl at Pound High School. With a name like that, she knows that she is lucky to be so high in the pecking order. On the outside, she is pretty and a bit European looking thanks to her Romanian father. On the inside though, she's spider stew and she knows it. It's only a matter of time before the others find out too and she's working hard to prevent it. Then on the first day of sophomore year, Logan McDonough the former-freak shows up hotter, bolder, and oh-so off-limits. Anika can't stop thinking about him, but she knows that if popular girl number one sees her with him that her life is over. She must decide - embrace her inner freak, or ignore someone who might truly get her.

I really enjoyed this! At first I was a bit skeptical in the opening chapters, but after a while I really loved it. Anika's narration is a bit juvenile, but I had to say to myself that she needed flaws to fix in the end and it all ended really amazingly. Okay, well there is a plot twist, but there is so much foreshadowing. I kept telling myself it wouldn't happen. I thought something else would happen, but what did kind of blew me away. I was so surprised and not at the same time. I could have cried, but I didn't. Still the ending was very good. I loved the development of Anika and her realizations. Her quirkiness is so lovable I just wanted to hug her and tell her everything would be okay. I also liked all her siblings. They were kind of awesome haha and her sisters were there for her in the end when she needed it. I really hope you give this one a chance. The cover is nice and pretty; look at it! Isn't it beautiful?!?!?! Ahh! There's a hardcover copy at The Bookman (in good old, Grand Haven, MI.) You should definitely check it out.

So stop reading this review and get it already!! Happy reading!
Sophie:)

What If...

Hi! For this post, I'm going to review Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin, which I received in my subscription box from Uppercase (see previous post for a review on that). I have to say that this was super exciting to get. It was my first one and I couldn't wait to see what was inside. This is one of the best books I've read all year, definitely up there with All the Bright Places and Mosquitoland (look under my name for respective reviews).

So this was an alternate history book. It's set in the early 1950s and written as if the Axis powers had won World War II. Each year Hitler and Hirohito hold a cross-continental motorcycle race. It starts in what was previously known as Berlin and winds down through northern Africa and eventually ends in Tokyo. Ten of the best racers from each empire compete to win this harrowing race and the winner gets to attend the Victor's Ball and has a private audience with Hitler himself. It's told from the perspective of a death camp survivor, Yael. Yael was relentlessly experimented on and can now skinshift which allows her to take on the features of any other female she sees. The resistance wants her to enter the race under the charming and ruthless Adele Wolf. Adele raced under her twin brother's name and won - revealing her true identity at the finish line. Yael must masquerade as Adele and win the race - ultimately to kill Hitler and allow the resistance to grow and overthrow his regime. A few curveballs enter when Adele's brother Felix enters and a former love interest of Adele's also competes.

This was an extremely gripping story. Right off the bat, the story opens with Yael entering the concentration camp with her mother. I love all the action and Yael's fierce character. She has to navigate her way through Adele's life without anyone suspecting her true identity. This is tough especially because Adele's brother knows Adele so well. Yael herself struggles to find who she truly is. It has been years since she has seen her own face because of the years of skinshifting that has helped her survive. The whole idea of a motorcycle race was very unique and fun. I like how they have to rough it in between check in spots and that anything goes out in the open. Honestly, Yael is awesome. She's extremely independent and strong but also isn't afraid to show her soft side. I love her. I also liked the idea of Felix and Luka (the love interest) entering the mix. It just made the tension 10x higher. They also proved to be very dynamic characters, too. I also liked Adele herself. Adele is the fearless girl that seems like she's up for any and every thing. Her spunk is something that is truly captivating. I couldn't put this down (I finished in 2 days - oops!) it was super good. I can't wait for the second book to come out!!

Alright, this is a pretty long-winded review so I'll finish where I am. I've said my piece and I'm pretty satisfied with it.

Happy reading!
Sophie :)

Bookish Box Review: Uppercase Box

Hello, all! For those of you who like subscription boxes or would like to start to receive one but have not decided which to choose, I have recently found one called Uppercase Box. This is a monthly box that contains a signed hardcover young adult book or signed book plate and 3-5 bookish items. All this for $23 a month plus shipping. Before this, I had been searching for one that met my expectations but wasn't as expensive as $30 a month (plus extra for shipping) like others. I stumbled upon this by a post from Fierce Reads on Instagram and am very happy that I did.

I recently received my first box from them for the month of October. That month was Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin with a signed book plate. In addition to that, there was a custom made key chain that says, "Certified Book Addict,"  a pin for the book, and a small quote poster. Let me just say that this was the best first box I could have gotten. I am very impressed with it all - from the email with a tracking code to the very book itself (there will be a review of it up soon!). I am in love with Uppercase and can't wait for the next box to come, hopefully this week!

So a little more about the process, they bill on the first of the month and then ship it on the 15th. Each time they send you an email letting you know that it's in the mail along with a tracking number of your package. You should get the box within the week. Every book is recently released so don't worry that you will have already bought it. It's also not as publicized as some others compared to that month, but don't worry - they won't send you a book that isn't good.

There are two other subscription plans. I'm not sure exactly which they are, but you can check them out further in the link I will include at the bottom. I know that they're a bit cheaper, but they don't have all the perks of the $23 plan.

So, if you'd like to subscribe to Uppercase yourself, click the link here. I hope this review helped you in your search!

Happy reading,
Sophie :)

Mango Cheese

Hello!! Wow, so sorry for being so behind on posts! I am trying my best to get them all caught up, I even have a list! Don't worry, I will get them all done over Christmas break. I have a few to go after this, and I'm thinking about doing a weekly posting at least, even if it's just some bookish chat. Okay, so here's a review for Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan. I read the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series as well as the follow up and have loved that whole 10 book series, so of course I had to give Magnus a chance. (Side note, I have also read book one of the Kane Chronicles.)

So here's an overview:
Magnus is a bit of a troubled kid. He's had a rough life - mother murdered when he was 12 and he's been living on the streets since then. He's had to find a way to survive along with trying to mourn her death. Don't worry, he can take care of himself. One day, he's tracked down by his estranged Uncle Randolph who tells him his father is a Norse god. He doesn't know what to think and suddenly his whole life is turned upside down.


Okay, so this was a good one. I didn't particularly love it - Percy has my heart forever and always - but it wasn't poorly written either. Rick you're a writing god or something, I love his writing every time. It's funny and sweet. (I'm kind of into slapstick humor.) Anyway, while it wasn't awful, it wasn't my favorite from him. I like that he's tied in Annabeth in the mix with Magnus, too.
"What you say, there's ANNABETH?!"
Yes, I do say, there is a few Annabeth cameos. (Let's be real, Annabeth is Annabae.) I love her and it was so cool to see how the stories are intertwining. I don't know how much you keep up with Riordan or the fandom that follows him, but I definitely vote for him to tie in all his characters. I would love that.
Anyway, back to Magnus! The plot is a bit surprising, especially that first chapter, but it was cool to learn all the new Norse myths. I think it'd be awesome to live in that sort of world. One where the myths are real and to be a demigod that would be FREAKING AWESOME. Personally, I'd like to be one of Athena's children. I feel like my personality fits the best with hers. I also think it would be neat to be a Hunter of Artemis. Artemis is an awesome goddess, too.

Okay, all in all, Magnus Chase was a good book. I'd read it if you like any of his other works or if you're a newbie dipping your toes into the world of Rick Riordan. (Welcome, we've been expecting you ;)

Happy reading!
Sophie :)

Bookish Problems (and how we deal with them)

Okay so I found this tag on WordPress about problems we have as bookworms, and I decided I should post about it here!

I'm going to be listing 10 bookish problems and how I, personally, deal with them.

1.You have 20,000 books on your TBR! How on Earth do you decide which one to read next?

I use a TBR jar. They're cute and it's a really fun way to find your next book!

2. You're halfway through a book but not enjoying it that much. Do you stop or force yourself through it?

Unless I really, really don't like it, I carry on. If I've started reading a book, even when I don't really like it, I tend to want to find out what happens, and have an overall opinion. Throughout my entire life, I've only ever not finished two books.

3. The end of the year is approaching but you're no where near your Goodreads target. Do you attempt to pick up the pace or give up?

I try and pick up the pace. I joined Goodreads about 3 months ago, so I did a measly target of 15 books before the end of the year. I've done over that, but I think I'd try and finish it regardless.

4. The covers of a series you love do not match. How do you cope?

I actually haven't come across this yet. But if I do, I will give the un-matching book(s) away and purchase the matching ones.

5. Everyone and their mother loves a book you really don't like. Who do you bond with over shared feelings?

Sophie, my friend Emma or my mum. She usually understand my hate for books that are way too over-hyped

6. You're reading a book and you are about to start crying in public. How do you deal with it?

I can usually hold back the tears if forced, and just do an awkward choked cough and hope it goes away.

7. A sequel of a book you loved just came out, but you've forgetten a lot from the prior novel. Will you re-read, skip the sequel or just hope you remember?

I would re-read. If I really can't remember what happens, then I'd like to have it fresh in my mind.

8. You do not want anyone, ANYONE, borrowing your books. When they ask, how do politely decline?

I would either 1) force them (in a joking way) to look after them, or just flat out decline. After all, if they can't understand my love for books, how can we be friends?

9. You've picked up and put down 5 books in the last month. How do you get out of your reading slump?

I don't often get into them. Normally, I force myself through them and I end up loving the next book just as much as the past one.

10. There are so many new books coming out that you're dying to get and read! How many do you buy?

I normally don't buy many. I just simply don't have the money. Unless I find books really cheap that I've wanted for a long time, then I have no choice but to be controlled.

-Beth

A New Me

Hello, guys!! So this book I read in two days. I didn't even realize it only took that amount of time, it felt like a week! Ah, it was super good, too! This review is for Every Day by David Levithan. Previous to this I had read Will Grayson, Will Grayson co-authored with John Green, but I don't think I've read anything else by him. Anywho, I had picked this book up after having a bad day so I bought it 'cause I wanted to treat myself.

Here's a summary:
Every day a new person. Every day A must learn how to adjust to the new body it is placed in. A's soul travels body to body every day. One day A spends a day in the body of a boy named Justin. This day A finds her. A finds Rhiannon. And nothing is the same again. It's hard because A knows but she doesn't know. A wants to put roots down now. It's hard travelling day by day, nothing constant.

Okay, I don't know what else to say in the overview without giving too much away so I'm going to leave it there. This was super interesting to read. It is hard to describe A because the soul travels to a new body irregardless of gender but always around the same age. I flew through this though and it was well written. I enjoyed the many bits of wisdom A had to offer because of it's unique point of view on life. I felt that although A kept moving around in different situations I could still relate to some of the things A felt.

One thing I always wondered was how Rhiannon felt the entire time. It must have been odd to have someone come up to you and say that they change bodies every day. I suppose I won't have to wonder too much because good ol' David Levithan wrote Another Day which is a companion to it written in her point of view. I want to read it but I don't know what I'll think. I hope it's as good.

Okay, I'll keep it short and sweet! Happy reading!
Sophie :)

Beth: TBR Jars - The Joys & Horrors

Today's post is going to be about TBR jars: the joys and the horrors!
Before I got Goodreads, I had no idea about 'TBR' in general.
If you didn't know, TBR stands for To Be Read, and it is basically books you'd like to read in the future, whether that be next week or next year.
You may be thinking "if I can have it all on Goodreads, why on earth do I need a jar too?"
Well, firstly, let me explain what a TBR jar is.
It's basically a jar filled with slips of paper which have the names of books you want to read on them.
I've had a TBR jar for quite a while now, and I can definitely see the benefits and the downsides of having one. I'm going to list them below!
Benefits

• Being controlled with your spending. It is pretty hard to resist purchasing books, but having the excitement of picking a book from your TBR jar helps you do this.
• The excitement. Whenver you need to buy a new book (if you haven't got one to read next), then you dig in to pick a new read.
• They look so pretty, and they're really creative.
• There's loads of great ideas for them, some of which I'll tell you about below.

Downsides

• They're not very portable. It would be slightly weird to carry around a glass jar full of your favorite book names.
• You have to find a jar. Okay, this isn't the hardest, but it does require some effort.
• It takes a while to write them all out, especially if you have a long TBR list.

Ideas

• Plain paper or lined paper: Best if you want to be quick!
• Patterened & colored paper: To be extra pretty.
• Oragami: Specifically paper stars, can be really nice.
• Watercolor or painted paper, also really pretty!
• Decorate your jar, with either stickers, paper cut outs or glass paint.

As you can see from the featured photo in this post, my massive TBR jar is no where near full. I'm going to be filling it with watercolor and plain paper strips.
Thanks for reading!
-Beth
May your shelves (and TBR jar) overflow with books! ☽

Olly

Hi! Almost caught up on all my reviews! I've been a very busy reader lately. I read Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon recently. Yeah that took about two days to get through. Honestly it was soo good that I ripped through it like it was confetti. I won this book through a giveaway on Instagram, thanks to @tarks_books. (She is a wonderful user, go check her out!) This book is also nominated as one of the best YA books of the year on Goodreads as well as best debut author.

Here's a summary:
Madeline Wittier is sick. Not actually sick but she could be at any second. Anything could trigger it. She has a rare disease which basically makes her allergic. To the entire world. And she's perfectly happy. It's all she's known for the seventeen years of her life that has gone by as she listlessly lives life in her pristine, white house with her mother and her day nurse, Carla. Madeline is content with life - there is nothing she can do to change it, until she sees the moving truck next door. One look is all it took. Oliver and Madeline click. He shows her the world from his perspective. There is no turning back.

This book was wonderful. It is full of literary references and awesome drawings and sketches and diagrams. They are honestly so cool. I love how Madeline challenges her world. Okay I don't mind that it took Oliver to show her what it was like but I think it would've been equally as cool if she befriended a girl. I mean, who doesn't love a kick-a female character, am I right? Anyway, I flew through the pages. This was an especially quick read after I finished Mosquitoland (there's review for that one, check two previous posts). I know this probably sounds repetitive but honestly Madeline is super funny and poignant. I loved Carla. She was so sweet and she wasn't afraid to do the right thing.

I would be lying if I said there wasn't a plot twist though. It definitely takes you by surprise but I'm especially glad it happened. My only real kind of beef I had with this book was toward the end. I didn't really see how feasible that what happened would actually happen. The plot twist was super out of the blue. You don't really see it coming until the two or three pages before it happens. I had a slight inkling it would happen but I still had that bit of doubt in me.

Since I talked about the cover art in the three previous posts, I figured why not for this one, too. It truly catches the eye and is extremely detailed. Yoon's husband, David, drew all of the art for the novel and it truly is intricate and well representative of the novel. The design enhances the novel and I loved the drawings that were in the novel. It made me relate to Madeline more. I could definitely see myself doing things that she did if I was bored and couldn't leave the house. Ever.

This was one of those books I would read over and over again. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes a surprise and a quick read!

Happy reading!
Sophie

Beauty Queens and Red Lollipops

Hi, guys! Going for a third post of the night. I have been super behind on these, but I promise I will do my best trying to keep up in the following months. It has been and continues to be super busy with school and work so bear with me here! This review is for Dumplin' by Julie Murphy. I had heard a lot about how fabulous this book is and it was even chosen as a book for the September OwlCrate box dubbed Leading Ladies. Intrigued and very trusting of the world of Bookstagram, I picked this up whilst in Chicago on a college tour. (How could I not stop by a book store while visiting? There are so many I couldn't pass up the opportunity to support locally!!) Anyway, I just finished the last few words in that hilarious, sweet book.

Here's my version of an overview:
Willowdean Dickson is a fierce fat girl and she doesn't give a hoot what others think of her. Sure she may be a heavy girl but hey, that doesn't mean she should not be one single bit proud of who she is. Her mother, former Miss Blue Bonnet in her tiny town of Clover City, is thin and still fits in the dress she won in years ago. Willowdean is compatriots with the wonderful and sassy Ellen Dryver and it seems that nothing could really go wrong. Until Willowdean meets the gorgeous Bo from Holy Cross. They work together at the local fast food restaurant and it seems that maybe Bo may be looking for more than just friends. This turns Will's life upside down and causes her to question who she really is. Her insecurities rise to the surface and in a defiant act to prove - to whom, she isn't sure - that she is Willowdean and she is fabulous, she enters the coveted pageant with an unlikely gang to stir up the twiggy so-called perfect images of beauty.

I loved Willowdean. She was hilarious and her insecurities are something that everyone can relate to. Okay that being said, she did frustrate me a little bit at the beginning but she was such a good character overall that I can't help but root for her. I love that she wasn't afraid to be who she was and that s=nothing seemed to stop her. But the version of herself that she thought she was turns out to be someone completely different but that's okay. We must accept our true selves for others to want to accept them too. Her story is funny like Mim's but not in the same way. In Mim's story, it's a bit of a cynical outlook but I like how Willowdean tries so hard to be positive but knows that we can't always be happy with ourselves. We all look at ourselves in the mirror and what we see is totally different than what others perceive. One of my favorite quotes from the book is about faking confidence. She acknowledges how hard it is to put on that facade and that it's okay not to fake it. Sometimes asking for help is the best we can do for ourselves.

I also was in love with this cover design, too.  It was perfect for what the whole story was about and I loved the back of it even more (I snapped a pic of it and posted it on our Instagram. You can check it out there if you'd like. I love the Dumplin' pose too. It's sassy but also very sweet and it fills you with confidence. At least that's how I feel about it. There's something to be said for those who work it and can command a room just by walking in. It's kind of enchanting and whatever they do, they do it with so much confidence that those around them just are enraptured with them.

Anyway, it was a very lovely read from Julie Murphy. I hope to read her first novel Side Effects May Very soon! I need to get my hands on a copy!

Happy reading and enjoy your weekend!
Sophie

I am Mim Malone

Hello! I was recently asked to read Mosqitoland by David Arnold by my boss and I FREAKING LOVE IT. It was one of the best books I have read in all of my reading career. I could not help but laugh and cry and smile the entire time I read this.

A quick synopsis here:
Mary Iris Malone, better known as Mim, has been dragged from her beloved Ashland, Ohio to Mississippi by her father and his new-found wife. Her parents recently split and her father dropped Breaking News on her head then dragged her to Mississippi to start a new, "perfect" family. Her mom remains in Ohio but moves to Cleveland. When Mim catches word that her beautiful, Brit mother is sick someone and in need she hops a Greyhound bus north, toward her mom and toward her past. Through the detours and the odd ball characters that board the bus, Mim rides anxiously, awaiting the moment for her reunion with her mother so that she can be there when it is most needed.

First off, Mim is HILARIOUS. Oh my gosh, she made me laugh so hard sometimes. The way she perceives life and the way she analogizes it is hilarious. The story is splashed with letters to an Isabel, providing an outlet for Mim to tell her story to another person and as a sort of journal/stress reliever. I love the way everything comes full circle in the end. There are definitely some moments that horrified me but I loved the way Mim's character was sassy and didn't take crap from anyone. She is Mim Malone and she is not okay. But that's okay. Admitting that we're not okay is the first step toward trying to get better. We need to acknowledge that we can't do it all on our own sometimes and that we need help. There are many life lessons that I learned from Mim, too. This was a very quotable book.

Like this right here. I mean, she is so funny but she finds herself throughout this trip. I'm just going to have to let this book marinate a little bit. (Yeah that was a reference, read the book if you want to understand it!!)

David Arnold is some sort of writing god I swear. He is already one of my favorite authors. I hope he continues to write because honestly, this is definitely one of my favorites. It has you on edge the entire time. This book is also nominated to be one of the best YA books of the year on Goodreads. So if you're have an account there, you should definitely check it out.

Happy reading!
Sophie

Becoming a Chameleon

Hi!! I also forgot to blog about this one too. I read this over the summer and I loved it and it was super cute. Sophie Kinsella's Finding Audrey was a beautiful read and super sweet. It was a very cute premise and I'm glad I had picked it up at Costco.

What the book was about:
Audrey used to be in school. She used to have a few close friends. She used to go out and go to the store with her mum and hang out with her friends. But now, she can't even make eye contact with other people. She wears dark sunglasses that cover her eyes and make her feel safe and she lets people see her when she wants them to. She stays at home and sometimes if she has an episode, she has to hide away in  her room. Then one day, her brother brings his friend, Linus, over for a gaming team. And Audrey kind of freaks out. Okay, really freaks out. But that's okay because she can only let him in if she wants to. Linus starts to become something more than just a gaming teammate to Audrey's brother and more of a friend to Audrey. With him, she feels almost... normal.

So I picked this book up at a Costco because I felt like I couldn't possibly leave without purchasing a cheap book. I mean, come on - 40% discount? Yes, please! Anyway, the cover was beautiful, too. (Hey, you can't tell me you haven't judged a book by its cover before, can you? If you say yes, you're lying.)

Is that not the cutest cover design? It's very fitting for it, too! Anyway, I loved the character development of Audrey and of her brother. At first her brother (bless him, I can't remember his name) seems like a typical teenage guy but he eventually develops into a nice young man. Audrey's own tendencies reminded me of how it's hard to open up to new people in our lives, especially after we've been hurt so badly by those we thought we were our friends. From what we as readers get from Kinsella, all we know is that she was bullied so badly by her "friends" that she got social anxiety so bad that she doesn't leave her flat much. At first I was a bit irked that we didn't know exactly what happened, but in the end I realized that not know made the book stronger. It doesn't matter what happened, it matters that it happened and now Audrey has to deal with the consequences of other people's actions. We need to remember that people are fragile and that we need to be kind like Linus and extend our hands to those struggling with things like this.

Okay, I'll get off my soap box. Happy reading!

Sophie

I've never been a binge-reader...until now...

Hey y'all!

So, a few days ago, I contently finished Room by Emma Donoghue. I've been wanting to read it for a while, hearing the news of the upcoming film adaptation of the book starring Brie Larson as Ma. I can't watch the trailer without getting choked up!

So, how was this book? Is it really worth seeing the movie?

The answer is yes. Yes yes yes yes.

A quick synopsis of Room: The story is told by Jack, a five year old boy and his mother, whom we only know as Ma. Jack and Ma are confined to a eleven-by-eleven shed they call "Room". Room is all Jack knows, all because he's never stepped foot outside of it. The story takes a dramatic turn when Ma makes a proposal- and Jack doesn't know how he feels about it.

Oh my sprinkles. This book was impossible to put down. I read it in less than three days. I'm in love with Room beyond words. Donoghue portrays life through a five year old's eyes fabulously. I'm currently writing a novel told from the perspective of a nine year old girl, and even that's hard! She makes it seem as though a little boy sat down at the computer and wrote it. She gives Jack such personality- it's impossible not to fall in love with him.

Donoghue shows the unbreakable bond between Ma and Jack without even saying it. Ma never once tells Jack that she loves him- and it's not necessary. Donoghue vividly shows the immense amount of love Ma has for Jack between the lines. Room is merely centered around the bond the pair holds, and it's tear jerking.

In conclusion, Room is a masterpiece of it's own, flecked with it's own originality and character. Donoghue is a literary saint when it comes to writing a novel in a tricky perspective. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good drama with suspense, and not to mention a book that will hit you right in the feels.

Yours,
Rylie

NaNoWriMo: How To Write a Novel

Hey guys!

I would firstly like to say a massive sorry to Sophie for not being around more. Yes, we're all busy, but that's no excuse.

So, I'm back! With a post about NaNoWriMo, which I'm sure many of you have heard of.

NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, and it's an online based November project, for anyone to join.

The overall goal is to write 50,000 words in 30 days, or 30,000 words if you're in the YA NaNoWriMo.

Now, writing is not for every person, but it's not for every bookworm either...yes, we all love reading, and I'm sure many of us have written a little something at some point, but it takes a LOT to write 50,000 words in a month, that equals 1.6k every day.

But sometimes, it's a challenge that we need. And in the end, it doesn't matter if you don't finish on time, because YOU have still achieved something massive, something amazing. You have written a 250 page novel. And that is certainly something to boast about.

And if you think your novel is a load of crap? That's fine! There's no one there to read or judge your book, unless you want them to. Plus, if it really IS crap (which I'm sure it isn't) it's all practice. There are many years of NaNoWriMo to come, so if you don't manage to write a full novel this year, it's fine. If you do, you deserve an enormous pat on the back! Congrats!

Before I finish off, I want you all to know, this is my first year participating in NaNoWriMo, so I am a complete greenie. But from what I've gathered, all we need to complete this challenge is coffee (or tea, tea drinkers, we can DO THIS.), comfy clothes, a hell of a lot of stamina and just enough time (doesn't have to be a lot, but having a lot can definitely help).

At the end of this, guys, at the end of this torture. We are going to be authors. Remember that. Let it sink in.

And write.

-Beth

Points of View

Hey, there! I forgot I hadn't written a review for one of the books that I read over the summer. So I started this at band camp. I had gotten it used off Amazon and I had heard only a little about this but it sounded really good. The title is A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall. This was published Swoon Reads which is a site that allows people submit their manuscripts to their  website.

So here's my overview:
Gabe is a little shy. He sees this cute girl Lea in his creative writing class but he's too bashful to make a move. Lea is a college freshman in an upperclassman creative writing class. She's nervous but she knows she's good. She meets Gabe in that class. Both are a bit too hesitant to make anything happen.

Told from multiple different perspectives, Gabe and Lea's awkwardness is pieced together.

I wasn't sure about this book at first. I didn't know how well it would come together because of all the perspectives but it was fun to get to be part of the band that helped them get together. Although we don't get Gabe and Lea's point of view, we get a pretty good idea of their thoughts through other people. I think my favorite piece was Inga, the professor of the writing course. Inga was kind of hilarious and I liked that she wasn't very conventional. If I was a college professor I would definitely do meddling things like that. She was also pretty BA and different. I also like Pam, her wife. The bus driver was a nice guy too. The only weird things I thought were the squirrel and the bench. Those threw off the story a little I'd say, but they did give good conversations between Lea and Gabe and Lea and her friend.

Okay, happy reading!
Sophie

Horror or bore?

Here's my only negative review ever-

Recently, I finished The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson. This true story tells the terrifying tale of the most infamous haunting of all time: Amityville, New York in 1975. This novel follows the all too true tale about a young family who moves into a new house that's seemingly perfect and fits all their needs. But that's until the discover that mysterious, horrible murders had taken place there before they moved in. The family then discovers that their once perfect house is now infested by ghosts. They remain in denial that it's just their imaginations; that's until the supernatural phenomenons worsen.

I, frankly, was a bit disappointed by Amityville. The true story itself is incredibly fascinating, but the way Anson describes it almost takes away from the story. I dove into Amityville expecting to be scared sockless, but I ended the book with a sense of "Really? That's it?". A major problem with the book is one word- Fluff. Anson drowns the story in irrelevant fluff and boring content that takes away from the story. Anson constantly stuffed unneeded content between the margins that just only stretched the story longer and added no emphasis. I was also disappointed by the important parts, like the major happenings in the haunting. I'm a chicken. I hate horror movies and ghosts. But Amityville didn't scare me. Anson could've exaggerated those parts a little more. This may sound cruel, but I honestly think Anson used the exclamation point to it's death. That's the only emphasis he ever used. Wrong kind of emphasis, if you ask me!

In conclusion, Amityville neither horrified nor haunted me, unlike the unfortunate family's home in the story. Even the recent film adaptation starring dreamy Ryan Reynolds butchered the story line (I believe the director only threw in shirtless scene just to liven up the plot. Who said I was complaining?), which doesn't make my saltiness for the story lessen.  I honestly believe that Anson could have defined the ever-so intriguing story more. I might say that the story didn't scare me, but I didn't mention that a few parts shudder their way through my mind in the middle of the night, like the horrifying fact that this wasn't made up. Needless to say, the overall idea of the Amityville haunting still leaves me questioning whether my home was built on a ancient Indian site for torture and if my house is infested with pig-faced demons. Well, looks like I'll be sleeping fabulously tonight!

Yours,
Rylie

Rylie's review for "The Road"

So, I recently finished The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Here's my input;

The Road is a critically acclaimed, multi award winning novel that follows the story of an unnamed father and son wandering through what the reader can only assume is post-apocalyptic America. McCarthy stresses on multiple levels that the world is "ashen and grey" from what we can only guess was the aftermath of a nuclear war. McCarthy demonstrates the micro family's struggle to survive in the wasteland that is now America.

I was left stunned, horrified, but mainly captivated by this novel. McCarthy is a phenomenal writer beyond words, and his descriptions of what this father and son must endure leave you gritting your teeth. McCarthy has a particular writing style, one that gives this novel an eerie essence to the story line. He lacks the typically essential quotation marks in his writing, which usually would be a writing sin. In this case, it only adds to vibe he's giving off.

Overall, I loved this novel, as dark and as gloomy as it is. I highly recommend this book to anyone with a love for Dystopian  based novels. This one, however, holds a deep sense of reality that leaves you with lingering thoughts about it even after you finish it. Five stars, for sure!

Hi guys, I'm Rylie!

I'm a lover and appreciator of good works. Being an avid writer myself, I love a good book! A good book inspires to improve my writings!

I'm kind of playing copycat and using Beth's introductory format. Here's a little about me!

Favorite novel?

I have a lot of those, as does any book lover! I'd have to say, one of my all time favorites is The Underneath by Kathi Appelt. It's just phenomenal! I also adore By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters, Define "Normal" by Julie Anne Peters and Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh.

Book quote?

I'm going to stick to the classics;

"When he shall die, take him and cut him out into little stars. And he he shall make the face of heaven so fine, that all the world will be in love with night and pay no worship to the garish sun."

-Romeo & Juliet, William Shakespeare

Broke your heart?

The one that takes home the cake would definitely be Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. My soul is still recovering from that ending!

Bookish best friend?

Tough one. I'd have to say Jazz from Define "Normal".

Bookish boyfriend?

Oooh. Santana Gerard from By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead. He's so delightfully quirky.

Favorite series?

The Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children series by Ransom Riggs, who needs to get his act together and write a third book!

Favorite classic?

Definitely To Kill a Mockingbird. By far!

What can you expect from me on this blog?

Book reviews from a book lover! I can also give perspectives on the reading world as a young author and how books can really make a difference!

Bringing Humanity Back

Hey, again! I have also recently finished Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. She was selected as a finalist for the Pen Faulkner Award and as the Michigan read by the Michigan Humanities Council (or something like that, I can't remember the exact names). I also had the chance to meet her in person and go to a reading for this book. It was wonderful and I was super awkward but she was the first author I met in person and I got my first book signed!

Here's my overview:
Jeevan Chaudhary is a EMT in training. He has his whole life ahead of him with his cranky girlfriend and a quiet life in Toronto, Canada. He is quietly sitting in the audience of a performance of King Lear when the famous actor Arthur Leander collapses on stage of a heart attack. Wanting to help, Jeevan rushes on stage and attempts to save Arthur's life but to no avail. That night the flu swept through the city and the rest of the world, causing civilization to come to a grinding halt within a matter of weeks.

Twenty-six years later, pockets of humanity remain alive and functioning. A troupe of musicians and actors move through what was formerly northern Michigan and Canada performing Shakespeare's treasured works. They are called the Traveling Symphony and they bring happiness and distraction to the cities they visit, providing a brief respite from the harsh world they now live in. When the Symphony arrives in St. Deborah by the Water, a city they had been hitting in their route for years, they find that it has changed drastically. A man who claims he is a prophet runs the city now and threatens the way of life for the small band of travelers.

Alright! I really liked this novel and am glad I got to experience so much along with it. Unlike other dystopian novels, Station Eleven focuses more on the recuperation of civilization and the factor of the live/performing arts. It's a great twist on something that has been quite hot in the past couple of years (oh, hey, The Hunger Games and Divergent). There are three different stories that go on within the novel; one takes place pre-plague and two post-plague. I really liked Jeevan's story though I wish I had gotten more of it to read about it. I also liked all that had to do with the Symphony. I love the idea that someone would keep going on with music and acting and that not everything would die out. I do wonder what would stay and what would go in the event that humans were pretty much wiped out. Another good aspect of this novel is that Mandel doesn't dive into any political theories or environmental stances, I think that would take a lot away from what the main focus of the novel. It is a very hopeful novel, especially the ending. I thought it was an okay ending, but many other people that I've spoken with thought it fit it perfectly. I can definitely see that because it's an extremely positive note it ends on. Overall, it was well written and I loved seeing how all three stories intertwined. That was my favorite part, I think.

Okay, happy reading!
Sophie

Failure to Compute

Hello, bookworms! Sophie here blogging about my latest read. I recently finished A Step Toward Falling by Cammie McGovern. I got it as an ARC from my work but I unfortunately didn't finish it by the release date. However, I loved it anyway. A really great new read you should check out.

Here is my summary:

Emily is a good person. She works hard, does things for her parents, she even started a youth action committee at her school to help raise awareness on certain topics that go unnoticed. But then how did she fail to act when she saw a special-needs classmate being attacked brutally under the bleachers at a football game? Feeling guilty and like a terrible human being, Emily gets in trouble for her hand in this attack. She is forced to do community service through volunteering at a local center that holds classes for special-needs adults. She is not alone in this act, though. A fellow student and football player, Lucas, witnesses what happens to the student, but he too turns away. 

Yay, it was a wonderful novel!! You should read it. Okay, my opinion on this now. I thought it was very well written. I read McGovern's debut YA novel Say What You Will earlier this summer (you can find the review under my name on the left) and that impressed me a lot. When I heard she was coming out with another book I just had to read it. I'm happy to report that it is an amazing novel too. 

This book is told from alternate perspectives: one from the special-needs girl, Belinda; the other from Emily's point of view. I like how we get both sides of the story with this. Belinda is hilarious. I love that she loves Pride and Prejudice and the movie adaption just as much (the Colin Firth one, of course). Emily felt and did things I could definitely relate to. She means well but she sometimes comes off as pretentious and rude but she recognizes her mistakes and works hard to reconcile them. I liked how strong of a female character she was and that she was okay with being single. Sometimes it seems like the female characters are always looking for a boyfriend or that they are always going to end up with the main guy in the novel. It gets a little annoying and predictable after a while, so this was refreshing.

Alright, guys, I'll try writing again soon! Happy reading!

Sophie 

Hi there, I'm Beth! And here's some book chat!

Hi everyone!

I suppose I should start with an introduction about myself, and, as I saw Megan do, answer a few bookish questions.

So, I've been reading since I can remember, but it's only been this year when I really got into YA novels. The book that really got me out of my at least months-and-months reading slump? All The Bright Places. Ever since then, I've been completely book and reading obsessed, once again. Anyway, here's some bookish questions about me:

Favorite novel?
Oh gosh, obviously this is a hard one for most people. But as you probably know, it's even harder for us bookworms. I (obviously) don't have an absolute favorite, there are so many. But a few of them are: Paper Towns, Eleanor & Park (and anything from Rainbow) and Amy & Roger's Epic Detour.

Favorite genre?
I don't know. I'm up for any, but I have to say I'm a sucker for a good romance. But overall, probably contemporary with a bit of romance thrown in.

Book quote?
Ah, there are so many good ones! But one of my favorites has to be this one:
“It’s not because I want to make out with her.”
“Hold on.” He grabbed a pencil and scrawled excitedly at the paper as if he’d just made a mathematical breakthrough and then looked back up at me.
“I just did some calculations, and I’ve been able to determine that you’re full of shit.”
-Looking For Alaska, John Green

Broke your heart?
There are many. All The Bright Places is one that really touched me, though.

Bookish best friend?
Cath from Fangirl! I looooove her.

Bookish boyfriend?
Probably Levi xD Or Quentin from Paper Towns, you've just got to love him.

Favorite series?
THE HUNGER GAMES. I have to say, sometimes I HATE when I like a book/series that I think it overhyped, but I don't know how to not love THG?

Favorite classic?
Jane Eyre. As I say, I'm a sucker for romance. (And I haven't read many/any other classics, but hopefully I will soon!)

With that over, let's have some book chat!

As I do reviews on my own blog, I thought it would be best to post something a little different here. I know Sophie doesn't always have the time to post about book hauls, or just talk about books, as school is pretty busy for her, so I feel like it'd be good to just have a chat with you guys.

I want to talk about how dangerous being a bookworm can be. For a start, books aren't always that cheap. Especially when you add up all of the books we want to own or read.

The other thing is, is if you're a hardcore bookworm like me, you fall in love by just glancing at a cover. This is the most dangerous love of all. Piles and piles of TBR books stack up, and now I have over 200 TBR books on goodreads. But, because of how much I love physical books, I want to own them all. And I don't have a Kindle, and would actually prefer not to.

I can easily see the benefits of having Kindles and e-readers. But I just don't like reading on a screen. Blogs and forums, yes, but books, no. I am extremely traditional when it comes to books. I would even pay a small cost to have the paperback rather than the e-book for free.

But, even when sometimes the paperback is soft and beautiful (you know that soft, cloth like feeling when you stroke it?), I fall for the hardback edition. And here comes another chance to spend my money, because as you all know, hardbacks are expensive. But how, how, could anyone purchase a paperback edition of ATPB when this exists? (Sorry for tagging a random blog there, it was the best photo I could find.)

One of my favorite tags on Instagram is #ditchthatjacket, because what is more beautiful than a hardback book without its cover? I would even go as far to say that printed hardcovers (you know when the same picture is printed on the actual cover undearneath the jacket) are just ugh. Because what is a hardback without the soft actual cloth covers? That are just so nice to stroke and stroke and stroke?

Anyway. I need to stop ranting about my bookish peeves. I'll be back soon, with more book talk, probably. Meanwhile, you can find me on my blog and Instagram!

Also, a massive thank you to Sophie for inviting me to join her and the team♥

Beth || @illgiveyouthebooks || www.illgiveyouthebooks.wordpress.com

Hey, I'm Megan!

Hello! My Name is Megan!

I go to school with Sophie and Maiya and I was asked to blog with them on this account!

Hopefully I can live up to the standards that they have already set. Here are a few things so you can get to know more about me:

What is the first book you read by your self?

Duck for President? Don't quote me on that!

Did your parents read to you before bed? If so, what did they read you?

Yes! Every night! They would mainly read me those "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" books.

Name a movie that is better then the book. Doesn’t happen often.

The Maze Runner. I could never get into the book but I loved the movie!

What was the worst movie adaptation of a book?

City Of Bones... Don't even get me started

Outdoor or indoor reading? 

Indoor, I can never find myself comfortable outside.

Book you’re most embarrassed to have never read?

Anne Frank. It's sitting on my shelf but I haven't gotten to it yet.

What is the most embarrassing book you have ever read? 

I'd have to say, The Infinite Moment Of Us.

What was the worst book you ever read or stopped reading?

I really don't know... maybe An Abundance Of Kathrines

Would you rather read digital or paper books? 

Paper!!!

What character in a book would you like to sucker punch in the face?

Jeanine from Divergent or Umbridge 

What character in a book would you like to be best friends with? 

Kelsey Hayes from Tiger's Curse

How many physical books do you own?

About 50. I clean out my shelves and donate books often.

What book do you want to make sure you read to your children?

Harry Potter 100%

What book describes you best?

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

What are you reading right now? 

I actually just finished my current book about 2 weeks ago. So I'm looking for a new one. The last book I read was The Red Queen. 

Those are just a few facts about me! Hope you enjoy!

Love, 

Megan 

Check out my bookstagram here

Saying Hello to New Faces and New Places

Hi, all!

Sophie here with Maiya in spirit. I wanted to announce the exciting expansion of our blog! We now have two new bloggers here with us. Beth is from the UK, whom I met through our bookstagram account. Megan is a girl we both know through our school. Both have wonderful accounts on instagram (Beth is @illgiveyouthebooks and Megan is @book.lovers.galore) so if you'd like to keep up with them go give them a follow!

We hope you enjoy the new bloggers and get to know them through their posts!

Happy reading,
Sophie and Maiya

Post-Its and Prismacolors

Hi, bookworms! How have you been? School has been super busy, made it through the first month! I haven't had much time to blog but I have been reading  After Let's Get Lost I read All the Bright Places and wow was it beautiful. I'm just going to take a moment here and compose myself. It was beautifully written.

Here's an overview:
Violet Markey should not have been on the bell tower. Theodore Finch is there contemplating the possible ways of death. Somehow they seem to save each other that day on the edge. From that day forward, they develop a sort of relationship. Finch helps Violet rebuild her life. He shows her how to move on without forgetting. She teaches him the beauty of life and gives him reasons to stay. But then one day something snaps and Violet's world is shattered for the second time. She must carry herself and be her own best friend.

My opinion:
I LOVE THIS BOOK IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. I got so drawn in by the characters. Though I haven't felt the same exact way they have, Niven brought them to me. Violet is a beautiful character. I love how strong and independent she is. Her guilt is palpable but we learn a lot from her second tragedy. Finch reminded me of a mix of two people I know. (They don't exactly match up but his general disposition is on point.) I loved their little quirks and have began to take some of them on (post it notes on the walls? Yes please!) I highly recommend this. I regret waiting so long to actually read it and it definitely deserves all the hype it gets. I love how Niven advocates for the teen in this novel. Beautifully written and heart wrenching.

Happy reading!
Sophie