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