Just Add Dragons

Eternal Darkness by J.F Johns - SPOILER FREE REVIEW

2016-04-13T11:00:00.000+01:00

Book Title: Eternal Darkness
Author: J.F Johns
Series: Eternal Darkness
Genres: Y.A, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Romance
Trigger Warning: This novel does contain small scenes of physical abuse and attempted sexual assault.
Reviewers Note: I received an e-book copy of this novel by the wonderful J.F Johns via Twitter. Thank you so much Jazmin!

The world is divided between humans and cyborgs.
Scarlet Lock is neither.

She is a soldier created to kill on command. But her memory has been erased and when she awakens in a government facility she soon discovers that this new world is a dangerous place, full of government secrets and cruel experiments performed in the name of progress.

With the help of a group of cyborgs, Scarlet will fight to uncover the truth and transform the future of the new world she now lives in.

Eternal Darkness is full of suspense, action and romance and will make readers question what it means to be human.

My Thoughts:

I became friends with the lovely J.F Johns a few weeks ago on Twitter, and she very sweetly sent me a copy of her debut novel, Eternal Darkness! I was very excited to read it, but I wasn't expecting for this book to make me into a huge J.F Johns fangirl, but here we are!

Eternal Darkness is about a young woman named Scarlet Lock who wakes up in a hospital, 20 years after she "fell asleep". Still in her 17 year body, Scarlet escapes the hospital only to be hit by a car on the way out. The two cyborgs who hit her take her home, and with her help she begins to discover the truth about herself and what really happened during her two decade nap.

Just from the blurb alone I knew that this book was going to be my cup of tea, and boy was I right! This book, this damn book is everything you could hope for in a science fiction Y.A: dystopian future, cyborgs, mystery, suspense, action, hot guys, and of course, romance. It really is a jam-packed book that will keep you guessing and turning the pages!

The best thing about this book, though, is Eric Thorn. I immediately fell in love with him, he had a bad boy bravado but as the book and Scarlet's relationship with Eric developed, you realise that Eric is just a softie that needs plenty of love and attention. He had a great backstory as well, which really gave his character depth. Reading reviews and tweets of others who read this book, I found that pretty much everybody loved Eric too! Well done to Jaz for creating such a well loved character! I'm really excited to see how Eric and Scarlet's relationship blossoms over the series.

Eric wasn't the only well developed character in this novel, in fact every single one of the charcters in the book were 100% believable and lovable (in their own special way). Although she was a pain in the arse sometimes, I really did love Madeleine. I was always left giggling like a Japanese school girl everytime she would turn up in a scene with a new snack. She's a girl after my own heart! Madeleine and the rest of the characters in the book had brilliantly constructed backstories, you could really see how their backgrounds and experiences had shaped their personalities.

Another thing I loved about the book was the fact that the relationships in the book were very true to life, there was no "insta-love" or unbelievable friendships. The relationships resembled those of real life family relationships and I found that really refreshing and enjoyable.

Now, let's focus on the storyline for a moment. Although it lost it's pace at times, I really enjoyed the action in the book! There was a nice mix of world-building, kicking ass, romance and mystery. I loved the cyborg vs humans plot line, and it was handled in a really nice way. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am very excited to read the rest of the series. Especially after that last cliffhanger!!!

How I Choose What to Read Next...

2016-04-12T11:00:00.000+01:00

One of the biggest and oldest questions asked by bookworms around the world is, "What should I read next?" We can only read so many books in our lifetime, so choosing what to read next is an incredibly important decision. After all, we wouldn't want to waste our precious time by reading something we wouldn't like! Also, as any true bookworm will admit, when we finish one book, another 4 get added to our TBR, so after a while our TBR list can be so long that it's almost exhausting trying to go through it. So, I thought I would share my tips on tricks on how I choose what to read next. Hopefully you'll find it helpful!

Firstly, I love to be organised, especially in regards to my blogging. I review at least 2 books a week, so if I want to keep to that schedule I have to be organised. For example, if I get sent an ARC and the publisher wants the review to be published on the books release date, I have to have that book read well in advance so that I can get the review published on time. Doing this has not only stopped me from always wondering what to read next, but it's really helped keep my blogging regular, as well as motivated me to finish books quickly. If you'd like to have a go at reviewing ARCs, then join NetGalley! I've been sent some great books via that site, such as Passenger and The Other Side of Gravity. I highly recommend it!

Another way I like to organise my TBR is through Goodreads. At the moment I am trying to sort out my shelves (which is taking a little while, as I have over 400 books on there!), and I have finally worked out a system that helps me choose what to read next. Basically I have 5 to-read shelves:

The Basic To-Read Shelf is where all my TBRs are stored
The To-Be-Read A.S.A.P Shelf is where books I am desperate to read are kept
The To-Be-Read Soon Shelf is where I keep all the books I'm excited to read
The To-Be-Read One Day Shelf is where books I'd like to read, but am in no rush to, are kept
The To-Be-Read Eventually is where I keep books I feel like I should read one day in my life

I try to pick one book from each of the lists, that way I'm always working through them. I highly recommend this process, although it is a bit of effort it's definitely worth it!

My final way of choosing what to read is by simply looking at my bookshelves. My Mum always drilled into my head that I have to read what I've bought first, so it's something I try to stick to. The only exception is if I find a book online and get the overwhelming urge to read it right now, so I'll just download it onto my iPad! Other than that, though, I do try to read books I've bought first!

So, that's my rather haphazard way of choosing what to read next... how do you decide? Let me know in the comments below, I'd love to hear about it! Until tomorrow, my little chickens.

The #RockMyTBR Song and Book Tag

2016-04-11T11:00:00.000+01:00

I was scrolling through Spines and Covers this morning and I came across Jessie's #RockMyTBR list. I realised that although I have a set goal to read 60 books this year, I didn't really have any particular TBR list, so I thought it was time I finally made one! The #RockMyTBR tag was created by the lovely Sarah from The Y.A Book Traveler (you can read the original post here) with the help of Rachel from (Bargain)BookBliss and Mikayla from Bookmarks. Basically you have to choose one or more books from the song-titled categories, and read them during the course of the year. Here we go!

1. SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT (Nirvana)
- A Contemporary I Want to Read

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven is a book that my bookstagram friends kept badgering me to read, so I finally gave into the peer pressure and bought myself a copy! To be perfectly honest, I'm not too sure what it's about, which is why I haven't bothered to read it yet. Hopefully it'll live up to all the hype!

2. SHUT UP AND DANCE (Walk to the Moon)
- Most Anticipated Book You Have

I wasn't aware of The Danish Girl by Daivd Evershoff until last summer, when I saw the trailer for the film. I was absolutely blown away by it! Although I own the book I still haven't gotten round to reading it, but I am determined to read before the film is out on DVD! The Danish Girl was nominated for 4 oscars this year, so I am very very excited to see what all the fuss is about!

3. CENTURIES (REMIX) (Fall Out Boy)
- A Twist on a Classic or Fairy Tale

I've been wanting to read Cinder by Marissa Meyer for a few years now, but for some reason I always put off reading it. Cinderella is my favourite classic fairy tale, so I'm really excited to read this cyborg twist! Hopefully I'll really love it so I can buy the rest of the Lunar Chronicles series!

4. YOSHIMI BATTLES THE PINK ROBOT (The Flaming Lips) - A Science Fiction Book or a Book Set in the Future

I went to see The Force Awakens the day after it was released, & I absolutely loved it (despite getting given the biggest spoiler in the film - thanks Internet)! I started the Star Wars books last year, and I really enjoyed them, so I thought the latest novel - The Force Awakens by Alan Dean Foster - would be a good addition to my collection!

5. SHE LOOKS SO PERFECT (5 Seconds of Summer)
- A Book with a Girl on the Cover

I saw the BBC adaption of War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy a month or two ago, and I absolutely loved it! It didn't take much convincing for me to buy the book, especially since Lily James is on the cover, who (in my humble opinion) is one of the most beautiful women in the world. I'm going to try and tackle this 999pg epic this year, so wish me luck!

6. AFRICA (Toto)
- A Book Set in a Foreign Country

My best friend, Brenna (from Because It Has To Be So Lonely), has been urging me to read The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen for a good 6 months. Last month I finally caved and bought myself a copy! Unfortunately I've read a lot of really bad reviews for this book, which put me off reading it for a while. Now it's on this list I'll definitely get it read, though!

7. ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST (Queen)
- A Book or Books That Will Complete a Series

The Crown by Kiera Cass is the fifth and final book in The Selection series, and is set to be released on the 3rd of May 2016. I am really excited, but also sad, for it. I'm looking forward to seeing how it's going to be wrapped up, but I also don't want to say goodbye to this wonderful story. It's going to be an emotional read, that's for sure!

8. SOMEONE NEW (Hozier)
- A Book by an Author You Haven't Read Yet

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard is a book I've been excited to read for a little while now. My copy finally arrived a week or two ago, so this weekend I'll be reading it! I am very excited, but also nervous that it won't live up to the hype. Hopefully I'll love it!

9. HELLO (Adele)
- A Book You DNF or Weren't in the Mood for at the Time

I've been watching Zoella's videos for about 4 years now. When she announced her book I was excited, as a fiction book was a nice change from all the biographies YouTuber's throw at us these days. Then... the news broke that Girl Online by Zoe Sugg had been ghostwritten. As an aspiring author, this put a rather sour taste in my mouth, so I've held off from reading the book. However, Brenna says it's really good, and as she is my best friend I have to trust her opinion. Hopefully I enjoy it as much as Brenna did!

10. LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT (Kylie Minogue)
- A Book You Bought Because of the Cover

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it on the blog before, but I love Cinderella. She's easily my favourite fictional character! I relate to so many of the things she went through, and her story has always given me hope that good things will happen to you, as long as you have courage, and be kind. As I'm such a huge fan, especially of the new film, I splurged & bought this beautiful edition of Have Courage, Be Kind: The Tale of Cinderella by Brittany Candau. The cover, and the illustrations inside, are gorgeous! I'm very, very excited to read it!

Ta-dah! That was my #RockMyTBR list! It's never too late for you to join in, too! If you do your own #RockMyTBR list, please leave a link in the comments, I'd love to check it out!

Me Before You by JoJo Moyes - SPOILER FREE REVIEW!

2016-04-10T13:30:00.000+01:00

Book Title: Me Before You
Author: JoJo Moyes
Series: Me Before You
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Drama
Trigger Warning: This novel does contain discussions of rape.

Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.

My Thoughts:

I am not a huge fan of contemporary romances. I'm not sure why... but the only way I can be tempted to read one is if I know that it's about to become a movie (I grew up in an all-girl household... so romantic comedies are a staple!). So, when I discovered that Me Before You was going to be a blockbuster movie starring two of my favourites, Emilia Clarke and Sam Clafin, I knew I had to give it a read!

Me Before You is about a young English woman called Lou, who has the perfect job at The Buttered Bun in town, that is until it has to close down. Now unemployed, she is facing a lot of pressure from her family to find more work so that they can afford to put food on the table. She flip-flops from job to job, desperate to find the right fit. The Job Centre gives her one last chance, and she is offered a very well paid job to care for a young quadriplegic. She begrudgingly accepts, unaware that she isn't just "caring" for Will... she has to convince him that life is worth living.

I don't say it often, but this is a truly beautiful story. JoJo has not only crafted an incredible story that will have you crying happy, angry and sad tears, but she's also created some of the most wonderful fictional characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading. It's actually been pretty hard for me to sum up my opinion of this book, because all I want to do is shout:

However... I'm going to try and be professional about this and explain to you why I love this book so much. Firstly, the story is so strong and well designed. It ebbs and flows; I never once felt a lull in the pace of it. I really like that we got P.O.V chapters from Will, Camilla, Steven and Treena in addition to the normal narration from Lou. It really helped the story and characters become more real to me, and it was nice to get into the head of these minor characters and understand their thinking for some of their actions, as well as to get an outside perspective of Lou. The actual storyline was nothing short of perfect in my opinion. You have a young woman with no purpose and direction in life, who is suddenly thrust into the job of trying to find a purpose and direction for a man considering assisted suicide. The story throws up all such of moral and ethical questions, but it's done so in a very tactful manner. I never felt like JoJo was forcing one "correct" opinion on me, as every single character had a different viewpoint on the situation. Not only are these difficult yet important conversations considered in a delicate manner, but it's also done with a lot of humour. This book just radiates warmth, both from its humour and the romance that is so gently threaded into it. It really is a superb example of what chick lit should be.

Secondly, Will & Lou are such wonderful and colourful characters! In fact I would describe all of the characters in Me Before You as colourful. It's nice to see realistic strengths and weaknesses in characters, and to see them conversing in a realistic manner as well. The genuine dialog was another brilliant layer in the book, as well as the authentic living situation of the Clark family. The whole book just felt very real and honest, in fact it felt so real that by the end of the book that I had to remind myself that it was "just a story, Charlotte", as I got myself so worked up over the ending!

Long story short, I honestly can't find any flaws with this novel, except that it made me cry more than I want to admit! So, if you're looking for a funny, romantic, moving and compelling read this weekend, then you must check out Me Before You!

(PS, if you want to see what you're missing, check out the trailer for the film! I watched it before reading the book, and not only did it help get me excited for the book, but it also helped me imagine the characters as I read it (they really have cast it perfectly!).)

My Favourite Bookstagrammers of March 2016

2016-04-09T11:00:00.000+01:00

This March, I joined the bookstagram community! Yay! I initially joined as a way to advertise my blog, but I ended up falling in love with the whole platform! The bookish side of Instagram is home to some of the loveliest Internet dwellers you will ever meet. I've already made so many lovely friends over there, and I'm really excited to see who else I meet over the next few months!

As there are soooo many lovely bookstagram accounts out there, I thought I would share with you some of my favourites that I discovered over the course of March! I highly recommend you go follow all of these accounts, and don't forget to tell them that @justadddragonsblog sent you!

@bookish_voice

Miri is one of the first friends I ever made on bookstagram, and she is a lovely example of a human being! Not only is she a sweetie, but she takes pretty photographs that will really pop on your feed!

@music.books.and.me

I absolutely love this account! It's always a delight to see these pretty pictures in my feed, they have such a vintage feel to them, I love it!

@adoreading_

Sanne is one of the first big accounts I became mutuals with, and not only is she a fellow bookworm, fangirl and nerd, she is also a lovely human bean. She posts very aesthetically pleasing photographs, that are a pleasure to have in your feed! I highly suggest you give her a little follow!

@bookscupsandcandles

Sally takes some of the prettiest shelfies I have ever seen! Her feed is chock full of beautiful photographs, that it's hard not to smile when you see them pop up in your feed!

@hastobesolonely

I couldn't write a list about bookstagrammers and not include my best friend! If you pretty books, disney and flamingoes, than you will loooooove Brenna! It would mean the world to be that you go follow her! It'd definitely score me some best friend points hehe!

So... that is a little list of some of my favourite bookstagrammers of March 2016. It was hard to whittle it down like that, but I hope you've found some lovely new accounts to follow! Let me know in the comments what your Instagram username is, and who are your favourite bookstagrammers to follow, as I'd love to follow some new people! And, don't forget to follow me on Instagram! You can find me as @justadddragonsblog! 😄

Spring Showers

2016-04-08T11:00:00.000+01:00

I have to admit, I'm not a crier. I have to find something pretty upsetting to burst into tears. So, when I had the idea for this post, I thought it would be a really easy one to write, as I wouldn't have many books to mention. However, I jotted down all the books that have made me cry over the past few years, and it's actually a bit of a chunky list! So, grab your kleenex, because we're about to re-live some of the most depressing books of all time!

The first book that I remember making me cry was Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. When I was about 8 or 9, my cousin Verity, who lives on a farm in Australia, sent me a VHS of the film and I loved it. I come from a long line of animal lovers, most of my Mum's family have lived on farms, owned, bred and shown horses (as well as dogs!), so a love of horses is in my blood. I remember sobbing the first time I watched the film, I thought it was so beautifully told. Fast-forward 6 years later, and I bought a copy of the book. I thought that over the years I had desensitised myself enough that the book wouldn't affect me too much, but boy was I wrong! By the time I finished it, I was sobbing like the little girl I was the first time I saw the film. If you love animals as much as I do, then Black Beauty is a classic that you must read at least once in your life!

Sticking to the theme of horses, the next book that made me blub like a baby was War Horse by Michael Morpurgo. I saw the film while on holiday in Penzance, and I went into the cinema with a huge grin on my face, then came out with thick streaks of mascara and eyeliner down my cheeks. That movie seriously messed me up. I cried in the car for about 20 minutes afterwards! I've never been so upset by in a film in my life. So, because I was so affected by the film I was a little hesitant to read the book, but I went for it anyway. Turns out, that's not true! The book is so much worse! I must have burst into tears four or five times while reading it. I know the book is in a series, but I just couldn't put myself through it again. I'd definitely recommend animal lovers to read this book, but make sure you do it over a weekend, so you can cry in the comfort of your own home!

Another Michael Morpurgo book that made me into a blubbering mess was Born to Run. I received this book as going away present from my Nana M when I moved back to England when my obsession with dogs was at it's peak. It took me two days to read it, and I was so upset by the end my Mum had to make me promise that I'd never read it again! I cannot stand animals being sad or in pain, just the thought of it makes me want to cry, so you can imagine how upset I got when I had to read an entire book about the misfortunes of my favourite animal. It really is a hard read, and I personally wouldn't recommend it to anyone under the age of 13, especially if they love dogs as much as I do! But, I definitely think every dog lover should read this book at least once. It is a beautifully heart-breaking story, which will make you see dogs in a whole new light.

The Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness is the only trilogy I've ever read that made me cry in each of the books. I won't tell you why it kept making me cry, as it would spoil some key moments in the series, but they do include a dog (again with the animals, I hope I'm not giving you the impression that I cry over every animal I come across)! If you haven't read this series, GO READ IT NOW! Seriously, this series is a m a z i n g ! If you love Y.A, then this is a must-have in your collection!

Cecilia Ahern is one of my auto-buy authors, one of the main reasons for that is because she writes such emotionally powerful character driven stories that I can completely lose myself in. P.S I Love You and Love, Rosie are two such books. They are both so incredibly romantic and well written that I ended up sad, angry and happy crying during both of them. If you love a good romance, then these books are must-haves! You will not regret having them in your life, I promise!

Other books that made me cry are: The Help by Kathyrn Stockett, Room by Emma Donoghue and The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. These novels cover Racism, Abuse, and Cancer - three topics that guarantee you'll find me in the corner wailing. Room is probably one of the only books that I regret reading, it just hit a little too close to home to me, it really is a difficult read. TFIOS is beautifully told, and I tell everyone to read it and watch the film. I'm seriously obsessed with Hazel & Augustus' love story! The Help, now that book was quite difficult for me to read. I get myself very upset over racism, the fact that people can be treated differently because of their appearance or heritage is truly disgusting to me. So, I did find The Help quite upsetting at times, but all the tears were really worth it. It's such a wonderful story, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone!

The book that has affected me the most though, is a little known book called The Girl With Glass Feet by Ali Shaw. I borrowed it from the library when I was going through a very difficult time, and it truly transported me to another world. It's a beautiful read about a young girl who visits a magical island in search of a cure for a life-threatening condition - she's slowly turning into glass! Although it is quite a sad book, I absolutely love it! I think it's such a wonderfully told story, and it really distracted me from the sad things that were going on in my own life. If you enjoy quirky and magical reads, then I highly suggest you check out The Girl With Glass Feet, just get plenty of tissues ready for the ending!

So, those are some of the books that have made me cry over the years. Did you cry during any of these books? And what are your top 5 tear jerker reads? Let me know in the comments below, I'm always looking for new books to read!

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken - SPOILER FREE REVIEW!

2016-04-07T11:00:00.000+01:00

Book Title: Passenger
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Series: Passenger
Genres: Y.A, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Time Travel
Reviewers Note: I received this book for free from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Passage, n.
i. A brief section of music composed of a series of notes and flourishes.
ii. A journey by water; a voyage.
iii. The transition from one place to another, across space and time.

In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.

Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them—whether she wants to or not.

Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are playing, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home... forever.

My Thoughts:

I've been seeing Passenger all over bookstagram for weeks now, and everyone who reads it seems to absolutely love it! So when NetGalley gave me the chance to review it, I snatched it and ran! Due to all the hype my expectations were really high, so I was quite disappointed when I didn't enjoy it as much as I was hoping I would.

For me, the book didn't really start until about 150 pages in. That's not to say the story was boring, but it just felt slow. At times it even felt like hard work to read. I just didn't connect with the characters, or really understand what was going on (this could have been because I didn't bother to read the blurb before starting the book...). However, when the first plot twist happened I finally allowed myself to enter this fantastic world that Alexandra has created.

Once it got going, the story was really captivating. This alternate universe that Alexandra has created, where the ability to time travel runs in the family, is so intriguing and detailed that it's hard to not enjoy learning more about it. Alexandra uses thick descriptions, so it's very easy to completely immerse yourself in the book. The only time that I didn't enjoy these rich descriptions, was when Alexandra was describing life on the pirate ship - for the only reason that I am afraid of water, and she made me feel like I was really experiencing the treacherous waters, LOL.

I thought Etta is such a strong female character. I'm so pleased that she didn't allow the rules of the era's she was living in to dictate how she was treated by men. She expected respect at all times, and I think that's such a strong and important message for young girls to hear. I really loved learning more about her background, Alexandra has created such colourful histories for each of her characters that it's hard to not be interested in how things turn out.

One of my favourite aspects of the book is that Alexandra has made her male lead black. It shouldn't be such a big deal, but even though we live in 2016, black main characters are still severely lacking. I also loved that Alexandra made sure his ethnicity was an important thread in the book. Nicholas is a freed black slave living life as a pirate in the 1800s, so he is obviously going to experience a lot of racism in his day-to-day life. Although at times it was very hard to read (the fact that people used to cross the road when they saw a black person makes my stomach turn), but Alexandra handled all these difficult situations in a very tactful manner. At no time did I feel like Nicholas' reactions to certain situations were over-dramatic or cliché, which was a relief, because it could have been so easy for Alexandra to write this sloppily. I also loved the inter-racial relationship that blossomed between Etta & Nicholas, it did feel very fast at first, but once I warmed up to the idea of them as a couple I really enjoyed watching them fall in love.

The final plot-twist and cliffhanger at the end of the book is what secured my four star rating. I really wasn't expecting it to end that way, so I am really looking forward to the next book, Wayfarer, to be released next January!

The Other Side of Gravity by Shelly Crane - SPOILER FREE REVIEW

2016-04-06T11:00:00.000+01:00

Book Title: The Other Side of Gravity
Author: Shelly Crane
Series: Oxygen
Genres: Y.A, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Romance
Reviewers Note: I received a copy of this e-book for free via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

My name is Maxton and I’m a trader.

I live on a soulless planet where gravity, oxygen, and everything else are sold to the highest bidder on the black market. People are sold on the black market, too. You have to work really hard not to become one of those people. Pay your taxes, keep your friends and family close, and more than anything else—don’t get caught by the Militia. But all the rules changed for me the day I found her.

My name is Sophelia and I’m a stowaway.

I’ve been a slave for almost as long as I can remember. Waiting for the one day, one second, for my proprietor to turn his head so I could run and never look back. Now I'm on the run. And on a planet where no one is on your side and people would turn you in for a good meal or a piece of a silver, being on the run on Landu is the last place you want to be. Until he found me.

I won't survive without him.

I can't breathe without her.

My Thoughts:

After the Hunger Games, Divergent, and Matched series were over, I've been desperate to find a new Y.A dystopian series that I can truly fall in love with - and I seem to have found that in the Oxygen series by Shelly Crane.

The Other Side of Gravity is a new twist on the Y.A format, combining elements from In Time, The Hunger Games, and Inside Out. The book takes place in a dystopian society on the planet Landu, and follows two main characters: Sophelia & Maxton. It's written in a first-person narrative, and the chapters switch between Sophelia & Maxton's P.O.V. I love that element of the book, it worked so well! I connected with Sophelia & Maxton very quickly, and having both of their perspectives of events in the book really me imagine what was going on.

Sophelia & Maxton are both wonderful characters. They each have strong and colourful backstories that are thoroughly enjoyable to learn about, and Shelly has done a really good job of making sure their backgrounds affect the decisions they make now. Sophelia is such a strong, sweet, brave and adorable young woman, I really loved reading her chapters, she had such a unique and intriguing outlook on the world. Maxton, although he appears to be a bit of a dodgy bloke at first, he really is one of the loveliest men around. His background was really interesting, and so was his P.O.V. Shelly has done a fantastic job on making sure that Sophelia and Maxton's chapters are different, I never had to look at who was narrating as it was instantly recognisable by the writing style.

The world that Shelly has created, Landu, is seriously fascinating. Although we get answers to a couple of questions throughout the book, I still have so many that have been left unanswered. I have to admit that for certain questions I am nervous for the answer, as it could spell (even more) trouble for my beloved Sophelia & Maxton.

So, if you love Y.A science-fiction/fantasy with strong female characters, dashing young men, gripping storylines, romance, and political undertones, then this is the perfect book for you! I am so excited to read the rest of the series, and I will definitely be checking out more of Shelly Crane's novels. Yay!

Why Are Duologies So Rare?

2016-04-05T11:00:00.000+01:00

Over the past few years, it feels like the only books I've read have been sequels. Trilogies seem to be the standard format for storytelling now, and for the most part, it works! Occasionally though I'll finish a series and wonder why it was a three part series when 2 books could have told the story so much better.

My understanding of trilogies is this:

Book 1: Beginning
Book 2: Middle
Book 3: End

For the most part, they stick to this format. But as I mentioned earlier, there are some series that really don't work as a trilogy. Matched for example, could have easily been told in 2 slightly longer books. Unfortunately, though, trilogies are more common now because they make more money! Which is why I think that sometimes quantity is chosen over quality.

Don't get me wrong, I love trilogies. Some of my favourite books are from trilogies (The Hunger Games, The Selection, etc)! I love longer series (ex. TimeRiders by Alex Scarrow - seriously if you haven't read the TimeRiders series, GO READ THEM NOW! Those books are awesome fun!), standalone books, and I also love duologies.

I've always found duologies to be the rarer breed of books. When I was planning this post (yes, I do plan these posts, would you believe it lol!) I desperately tried to remember all of the duologies I've read, and I could honestly only think of a couple: The Inside Series by Maria V. Snyder and The Don Tillman Series by Graeme Simsion. I have started a couple of new series recently which are part of duologies - Me Before You by JoJo Moyes and Passenger by Alexandra Bracken.

With the exception of the second Rosie Project book (The Rosie Effect), I absolutely loved those duologies! It was so refreshing to read a series that didn't feel watered down or over-dramatised. There were no filler scenes, everything in those books helped the story in some way. I just really, really loved it!

Now, obviously I am not saying that every trilogy is full of filler scenes and dragged out moments, but recently I've been finding that happening more and more. I thought the Matched series by Ally Condie, the Delirium series by Lauren Oliver and The Declaration series by Gemma Malley were good, but I feel like if they had been slightly compressed into two longer books, they would have been far more enjoyable! There are also some duologies that should have been left as stand alone books. But, on the whole, my experience with duologies has been a positive one!

So, what do you think? Why do you think duologies are so rare? And do you prefer them over trilogies or standalone books? Please, let me know in the comments below! If like me you'd like to check out a few more duologies, I found this amazing list on Goodreads that lists pretty much every popular duology out there!

My Favourite Book Quotes

2016-04-04T11:00:00.000+01:00

I am that annoying friend who is always quoting something. Whether it be from films, tv, music, books, or my other friends, I can't go a couple of hours without uttering a quote. One of my favourite things to quote, are (you guessed it!) books. So, in a Buzzfeed type style (please don't hate me), here are some of my favourite book quotes!

#5 - Okay? Okay - The Fault in Our Stars

I say this all the dang time! When my family tell me to stop, I just reply with "Okay? Okay."

#4 - "The best people all have some kind of scar" - The One

I love this quote so much, as I grew up believing that you're broken if you have scars. So to be told in my early twenties that "no, you're not broken if you have scars, you're amazing", has really helped my self-esteem. Thank you Kiera Cass 💖

#3 - "You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire & love you" - Pride & Prejudice

You may have discovered by now that I am a huge Pride & Prejudice fan, in fact, it's my favourite book! I quote it on a daily basis, and one of my favourite quotes is this one from Mr. Darcy. It is now on my bucket list to say this to the person I love - hopefully he'll have a better reaction than Elizabeth, though!

#2 - "Oh, I wouldn't mind, Hazel Grace. It would be a pleasure to have my heart broken by you." - The Fault in Our Stars

When I read this quote in the book, I burst into tears. Augustus Waters is my fictional true love, and I was dying (maybe that was the wrong word to use...) to be Hazel Grace in that moment. SO, CUTE!

#1 - "My bed is very ill tonight." - Pride & Prejudice

You may or may not know this by now, but I am chronically ill. I've been pretty much housebound for the past 5 years, actually! If I'm really not feeling well, and my Mum comes to say goodnight to me, in the most dramatic voice I can muster I will say to her, "my bed is very ill tonight." Mum always giggles her way back to her room!

So, those are just some of my favourite book quotes! What are yours? Let me know in the comments!

Reached by Ally Condie - Review

2016-04-03T13:30:00.000+01:00

Book Title: Reached
Author: Ally Condie
Series: Matched
Genres: Y.A, Dystopian, Romance,
Reviewers Note: This review may contain mild spoilers, so please be warned. I read the first two books in the series when they were both released, but it took me 3 years to get round to reading Reached. Whoops!

The final thrilling part of the New York Times bestselling trilogy, REACHED is the sequel to MATCHED and CROSSED by Ally Condie. After leaving the Society and desperately searching for each other - and the Rising - Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, but at the cost of losing each other yet again.

But nothing is as predicted, and all too soon the veil lifts and things shift once again . . .

In the gripping conclusion to the bestselling MATCHED trilogy Cassia, Ky, and Xander return to the Society to save the one thing they have been denied for so long: the power to choose.

My Thoughts:

I've always been a mild fan of the Matched series. I absolutely loved Matched (I believe it was my first dystopian novel, so I was blown away by the concept), but I didn't really enjoyed Crossed. It felt like a filler book before we got to the grand finale - Reached. As I didn't enjoyed Crossed, it took me a couple of years after Reached's release to finally get around to read it, but I'm so pleased I did!

The book kicks off a couple of months after the ending of Crossed. Our three main characters are now working: Cassia is a sorter, Xander is a Society Official, and Ky is a pilot for The Rebellion. Despite the fact Cassia and Xander are working for the Society, they are secretly involved in The Rebellion, doing everything they can to help overthrow the Society and leading the lives they've always wanted.

I really enjoyed having each of the character's tell the story from their P.O.Vs. I don't think it was done very well in Crossed, but now in Reached I feel like Ally Condie has greatly improved. At just over 500 pages long, I was expecting to the book to an action-packed adventure, but Ally has kept the pace of the book slow, so at times it does get quite boring. Cassia is moping around for Ky, and Xander & Ky are both moping around for Cassia. It did feel like Ally was trying to distract us with the love triangle so that we wouldn't notice the biggest plot hole in the book - the overthrowing of the Society.

It was very obvious in the first two books that one of the big moments in the series would be the overthrowing of the Society. With the build up during Crossed and the first act of Reached, I was expecting a huge war. I assumed Ky would be fighting for his life and the Rebellion as a pilot, that there would be bombs, risings - I was basically expecting a Mockingjay style novel. However, it was a complete anti-climax. The Rebellion released a disease, infecting thousands of people. They used this as a way to blackmail the Society, and within a couple of sentences the fight was over. I was really blown away by this, and for that moment alone I knocked off a star for my review.

So, why did I give this 4 stars? Well, despite the huge plot hole, I still really enjoyed the book. I loved the characters, the new romances, and the small plot-twists that were threaded into the rest of the book. I feel like it wrapped up the series really well, and the ending left me feeling all warm and fuzzy. In a few years time I might even re-visit the series, who knows!

Why I Love Second-Hand Books...

2016-04-03T11:00:00.000+01:00

A lot of my bookworm friends are surprised when I make the confession that I prefer second-hand books. Why would you want an old book when you could have a new, shiny edition? I understand why people are always confused by it, as who doesn't love to have new things? But please, indulge me while I explain why second-hand copies are the superior species.

I grew up in a single-parent family with almost no money to our name. New things were a rarity - a treat to treasure. But as I mentioned in yesterday's post, my Mum wanted me to have all the books I wanted. As a child, reading was the only thing I enjoyed. I was always reading. I'd read before school, on the way there, during school (I was known to finish my lessons as quickly as possible so I could read), afterwards, and every other spare moment I had during the day. My Year 6 teacher even dubbed me as Matilda, as I would read everything she gave me in a day. I was seriously obsessed!

Because I would consume books within a matter of hours, it wasn't really financially sensible for my Mum to buy me every book I wanted to read, so she introduced me to the library. But as the only decent library was on the other end of the Island that we once resided, I didn't get to visit too often. Then it became apparent that I'd read so many of the titles before that it wasn't worth visiting, so my Mum had to think of a new plan. Charity shops.

And that is where my love of second-hand books was born. I love being able to walk in there with a £1 coin, and then walk out with two books in my hands. But, it's not just the fact that they're cheap that I like second-hand books. No, I have a much soppier reason for loving them.

Call me a romantic, but I've always thought that every book tells two stories: the one written inside, and then there's a story of the book itself.

Who owned it? Was this a treasured book of theirs? Did they take it on holiday? Was it left somewhere by accident, and then picked up by a passer-by? Did the original owner miss their copy? Did the new owner love the book as much as their predecessor? Why did they end up giving the book away?

I love the fact that every book tells a story. I love that someone was once reading these same pages, getting lost in the same world that I am now exploring. I love that someone once took this book on holiday, on the train to work, or read it at the hospital as they nervously waited to see the doctor. I love that they would talk about this very copy to their friends and family, perhaps even passing it on for others to read.

I am a huge sop for dreaming up such fanciful stories for every second-hand book I come across, but I just can't help it. I suppose it is the writer in me, I just have to know or imagine the backstory for every person, creature or object I come into contact with. I would much prefer an older copy of a book that came with a colourful history, than buy a new edition at the shop.

So, that's why I love second-hand books. What do you think of my reason? Do you agree, or do you think it's fanciful nonsense? And, do you prefer second-hand books, or new copies? Please let me know in the comments below, I'd love to hear what you think!

My Favourite Childhood Book

2016-04-02T11:00:00.000+01:00

The first novel I read on my own was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl at the age of 5. It took me weeks (I would read 2 or 3 pages a day), but I did it, and I was so proud of myself. I really enjoyed the book, and my Mum went on a mission to buy me more Roald Dahl books. Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, The BFG, The Twits, Esio Trot, George's Marvellous Medicine - I read them all. The book that made me fall in love with Roald Dahl and books in general, though, was Fantastic Mr. Fox.

I read Fantastic Mr. Fox for the first time when I was about 7. At this point I was starting to branch off into Enid Blyton (The Secret Seven series & Malory Towers in particular, man did I love those books!), and other books for "older" children. However, on one trip to the bookshop with my Mum, she very kindly treated me to Fantastic Mr. Fox (she was more determined for me to finish my Roald Dahl collection than I was!) and I was over the moon.

As soon as we got home, I kicked my little sister out of our room, closed the door, threw myself onto the bed and started reading. I didn't appear again 'til teatime, and I brought with me a whole new perspective on books and writing.

Up until that point I had viewed books as simply entertainment. When I read books I didn't enter worlds, or feel moved by a character, I just read to pass the time. Reading was something I was good at, and I enjoyed, so I carried on doing it. But when I read Fantastic Mr. Fox, it's as if something clicked in my brain, and I was seeing colour for the first time. The characters were alive, and moving on the page. I could see what they were doing, and hear what they said. It was as if I had been given a door to a whole new world, and I'd finally found the key. It was a truly magical experience.

Now, I'm not sure what it was about Fantastic Mr. Fox that unlocked this new world for me. Perhaps it was the colourful characters, the sizzling dialog or the fun story. It might have been that I was finally mature enough to become a true bookworm, or it might have been none of these things. Nevertheless, it happened, and I am so grateful. That one book gave me a whole new world to inhabit and get lost in, when the real world was crashing down around me. Almost 15 years later, I can still open a book and forget about everything that is happening in my life. I can disappear and visit Wonderland, or survive the Hunger Games with Katniss, I can be whatever and whoever I want to be for however long I like.

Not only did Fantastic Mr. Fox help me discover the incredible world of reading, but it also lit a fire under me. A fire to write and share my own stories.

Ever since then it has been my dream to become a writer. At the age of 7 I was writing novellas, and then I moved onto short stories and poetry. Now I am in my twenties, and I am trying to write my first novel. I am no Roald Dahl by any means, but I enjoy it. I love how it feels to create a world out of nothing, to make someone feel strong emotions with just a couple of words. I think writing is one of the most beautiful and wonderful things that a person could do, and it's all thanks to that little book - Fantastic Mr. Fox.

So, I want to say thank you to Roald Dahl for giving me these amazing gifts. I will forever cherish the ability to read and write a story, and though I will never be what some may consider well-read, or a talented writer, I can still improve these gifts and hopefully pass them onto future generations.

What book was your childhood favourite? And which book made you into the bookworm you are today? I would love to hear your stories in the comments below!

The Intimidating TBR Tag!

2016-04-01T11:00:00.001+01:00

Ever since the age of 5, I have had a TBR pile miles high. I am one of those book lovers that will read anything & everything. Novels, Memoirs, History books, Fantasy, Classics, you name it, I'll read it. This is probably the reason I have such a huge TBR list, I just want to read every book I'm introduced to! My family always laugh at me, as I'll read one book then buy another 5 to read later. I don't know if I'll ever read everything on TBR list, but I'm going to give it a bloomin' good go! So, when I saw Sarah's TBR Tag post on her blog, I just had to give it a go!

#1. What book have you been unable to finish?

I bought The Host by Stephenie Meyer in 2013, a couple of months before it was released at the cinema. I was very excited, as it seemed like a perfect book for me! A science-fiction take on a modern dystopian Y.A - brilliant! I managed to get to about page 200, but it was terrible. I couldn't connect with any of the characters, and I just didn't believe the world that Stephenie had created. I did try to read again at the end of the year, but I quickly gave up! I ended up giving my copy to one of my best friend's, Abi, when I went to stay with her for a couple of weeks. We watched the movie together that night (both absolutely hated it) and vowed to never touch the book again! Sorry Ms Meyer!

What book have you yet to read because...

#2. ...you just haven't had the time?

I saw the BBC adaption of War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy a few weeks ago, and completely fell in love with it. I'm very, very excited to read it, but at almost 1,000 pages long, it's going to be a bit of a time investment. At the moment I have a lot of ARCs to review, so as soon as I get the chance I will be diving into this classic epic!

#3. ...it's a sequel?

I read Delirium by Lauren Oliver and it's sequel, Pandemonium, when they were first released. Sadly, I read the Delirium series when I was quite poorly, so I have no clue what happened in either of them! I'd really love to read the last book in the trilogy, Requiem, but I feel like I need to re-read the series before I can try and finish it. At the moment I'm too distracted with new, shiny books, but when I've gotten through a chunk of my TBR list I would like to revisit the series & finally find out how it ends!

#4. ...it's brand new?

I am a huuuuge fan of The Selection series by Kiera Cass. It's one of the few series that I can truly get lost in and forget about all my pains and anxieties. The fifth book in the series, The Crown, is going to be released on the 3rd of May 2016, and I am so excited.

#5. ...you read a book by the same author and didn't enjoy it?

This was a really hard question to answer, because it's very rare for me to not enjoy a book (as I said earlier... I love everything!), but after a long think I remembered Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. From what I remember, I didn't particularly enjoy Pandemonium, so I have always been hesitant to read anymore of Lauren's novels. I hear that Before I Fall is really good, though, so I might give it a go one day. We'll see!

#6. ...you're just not in the mood for it?

I've been wanting to read To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee for a really long time. My friend, Faye, recently recommended I give it a read, especially since the sequel was released. I know that the book has some... difficult themes, and at the moment I don't think I can cope with anything very upsetting, so for now I will stick to light reads! But, I really would like to give it a read next year. I desperately need to read more classics!

#7. ...it's humongous?

As I mentioned earlier, War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy is something I would like to read soon, but at 1,000 pages it's going to be a real-time investment. Another epic I would like to read soon, though, is The Pillar's of the Earth by Ken Follett. If you read my March 2016 Book Haul post yesterday, you will know it's a book my best friend, Brenna, recently recommended to me. At 973 pages, it's a real epic read! I can normally read 300 pages in a day, so it shouldn't take too long to read... but the problem is, I get distracted so easily, I'm not sure if I'll be able to finish it quickly!

#8. ...because it was a cover buy that turned out to have bad reviews?

I never pay for a book I wouldn't enjoy, so before I shell out money for a book I do plenty of research to see if I'd like it & that it has strong reviews. So sorry, I'm going to have to pass this question!

#9. What is the most intimidating book in your TBR pile?

I'd have to say, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. I've never really enjoyed Mr. Dicken's writing style, but in my attempt to become a well read individual, I'm going to try and read at least one of his books. Great Expectations is regarded as one of his best books, so I thought I would start with it! However, I saw the film a couple of years ago, and I hated it. So I have a feeling I won't be reading Great Expectations for a while...

#10. Who do you tag?

I tag my best friend, Brenna, and anybody else who's reading this! If you do have a go at this tag, please leave a link to your post in the comments below so I can check it out!

Is your TBR pile as long & crazy as mine? What's the most intimidating book in your TBR pile? Let me know!

March 2016 Book Haul

2016-03-31T11:47:00.000+01:00

This year my mental health was at an all-time low, and since I wasn't getting the help I needed, I decided to help myself. I threw myself into something I love - books. I setup a bookstagram, a blog, and a twitter dedicated to my love of books, and tried to treat it like a new job. I read, wrote reviews, tweeted, had book photo shoots, and made new book friends, all in hopes that my mental health would improve. It's now the 31st of March, and I am very pleased to say that it has worked. Although I am not cured, I have gotten more confidence in myself, as well as a more positive outlook on life. I'm so happy that I decided to start this project, and I am definitely going to be continuing on with it! In fact, during April I will be blogging everyday! Yay!

During this turn-around month, I have bought my fair share of books. I think I bought more books during March than I did for the entirety of last year! My purse isn't happy, but my bookshelves are certainly looking better for it! So, without further ado, here is my March 2016 book haul!

This month I joined NetGalley, a website where you can receive free books from authors in return for an honest review. I am in love with this site! It's been so nice to find new authors, read books pre-release (including highly anticipated ones), and of course, get lovely books without having to spend a penny. I received Passenger by Alexandra Bracken, The Alpha Drive by Kristen Martin (you can read my review here), Presidential Pets by Julia Moberg, Unrivalled by Alyson Noel, My Name is Leon by Kit de Waal, Elizabeth Taylor: A Private Life for Public Consumption by Ellis Cashmore, True Born by L.E Sterling, and finally, The Other Side of Gravity by Shelly Crane. You can expect the reviews of all these books on the blog over the next couple of months, so stay tuned!

The first books I bought during March were The Danish Girl by David Ebershoff and Me Before You by JoJo Moyes. I've been desperate to read these before I saw the films, as I've heard so many good things about both of them (The Danish Girl won 27 awards for goodness sake, including an Oscar!). I recently read Me Before You, and if you're following me on Twitter you'll know that it caused me to have a bit of breakdown (I've still not recovered!).

Then, I went on an online book haul. Most of the books I buy are second-hand (I'll be writing a post about why I love second-hand books on the 3rd of April, so stay tuned for that!), so it doesn't hurt my bank account as much as buying them new. The first batch of books I bought were: Hey, Let's Make a Band by 5 Seconds of Summer (I am seeing the boys in concert with my best friend, Brenna, on the 15th. So, I thought it was time I finally read their book!), Girl Online by Zoë Sugg (Brenna has been telling me to read this book since we became friends, so I finally took the plunge and bought a copy!), War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy (I completely fell in love with the BBC series of the book, so I'm very excited to read the book!) and "Who Could That Be at This Hour?" by Lemony Snicket (I am a huge Lemony Snicket fan, but I was completely in the dark about this series, so I am very, very, very excited to start reading them!).

A week later it was time to buy my next batch of books (I suffer with insomnia, so I tend to make a lot of late-night purchases...), and I settled on The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen (another book that Brenna has been begging me to read since we became friends, sorry it's taken me so long boo!), and All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. I've been seeing the hype for both of these books on Instagram, and I'm kicking myself that I didn't read them sooner!

My last batch of books was again done during those quiet twilight hours, but this time I had a mix of e-books & physical books. I was texting Brenna one afternoon and she told me that I should read The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet, and as she is my best friend I took her advice and ordered myself a copy (unfortunately it arrived with one page loose, but that's the problem with buying second-hand, it can be very hit and miss). I ordered a couple of other books, but as they won't be arriving 'til next week I am going to include them in my April Haul. The final purchase of the month was The 5th Wave by Rich Yancey (e-book), which I got for 99p on Amazon - bargain! I've been hearing great things about that book, so I'm really looking forward to finding out if it lives up to the hype!

So, that is my book haul for March 2016! In total I got sent/bought 18 books. Which is perfect, as I'm building new shelves for my room this weekend, so I'll finally have something to put on them! Have you read any of the books I bought this month, if so, what did you think of them? And what did you buy this month? Let me know in the comments below! ^-^

If you'd like to keep up-to-date with my book purchases, then please follow me on Instagram & Twitter. As I mentioned earlier, I will be ~~attempting~~ blogging during April, so please check in regularly to read all those posts. Until tomorrow, then, my lovelies. I hope you a have a wonderful day!

BINGE by Tyler Oakley - SPOILER FREE REVIEW

2016-03-30T11:00:00.000+01:00

Book Title: Binge
Author: Tyler Oakley
Genres: Non-fiction, Memoir, Humour
Trigger Warning: This book has a short chapter about physical abuse.
Reviewers Note: I received a signed hardback copy of Binge when I met Tyler Oakley in Cardiff during his UK book tour of Binge. I had the incredible opportunity to meet him, and man was I nervous. I went with my sister, and we both got selfies with him (here are the links to my selfie, Katy's selfie, and our Tyler Oakley "Instagram" photo). I was so nervous & star-struck I could barely speak. I just mumbled a "hi!", and grinned like the Cheshire Cat. When I leaned in for our selfies (after he tried to say Hi! How are you? and I literally couldn't open my mouth to speak, so I just smiled & nodded, and tried to look calm in my photo) I ended up bumping him on the head with my head. I, being incredibly English, apologised profusely. His reply? "Oh no, don't worry. It was all I ever wanted." He then shouted, "great to meet you! Bye Queens!!" as Katy & I walked away. I was so overwhelmed I just giggled & waved goodbye. Not only did I meet him, get a signed book & a tour poster, he also liked all of my selfies with him. And, he also liked my tweet about reading the book! I have been truly blessed. (PS, follow my Twitter & Instagram for this blog - I update every day!)

Pop culture phenomenon, social rights advocate, and the most prominent LGBTQ+ voice on YouTube, Tyler Oakley brings you his first collection of witty, personal, and hilarious essays written in the voice that’s earned him more than 10 million followers across social media.

My Thoughts:

I have been watching Tyler's videos on YouTube regularly since 2013. I've seen him go from eating 50 chicken nuggets in 20 minutes with his best friend, to interviewing famous celebs on the red carpet, having a stadium of people chanting his name, and of course, meeting President Obama. It's a natural progression, then, for him to write an auto-biography. What I found amazing is that after so many years on YouTube he has managed to keep so many hilarious & cringe-worthy stories secret!

Now, when I say "hilarious" & "cringe-worthy", I mean it. There were times that this book had me in stitches, and other times that I was so embarrassed for Tyler that I had to read the book with one eye closed (the foot chapter, for example). There were also moments in the book that truly broke my heart (and, to be honest, I am still broken up by it all). Tyler's fast & excitable energy starts to fade as the book draws to a close, and we are presented with the real Tyler. Mathew Tyler Oakley. The man who has 8 million subscribers on YouTube, a chart-topping podcast, a sell-out tour, and a hit documentary. But he's also the man who is from a broken home, who was outed as a gay man, who endured physical abuse from his partner, who is the face of The Trevor Project, and who struggles with being a worldwide phenomenon. After reading this book, I no longer see Tyler as this two-dimensional character on my computer screen. I see him as a complex human being (as we all are), who has endured so many difficulties, but still manages to bring joy to millions of people around the world.

I thoroughly enjoyed Tyler's writing style. Sometimes I find auto-biographies difficult to read, as the author hasn't had any previous writing experience, but with Binge, it was a dream to read. I finished the book in one sitting! His personality perfectly translated onto the page, so much so that at times it felt as if I was just having a deep conversation with him. He obviously has a knack for writing, and I feel like he would make a brilliant fiction writer!

YouTuber's books can be hit and miss, but Tyler has definitely hit a homerun with this one (he's a New York Times Bestselling Author for goodness sake)! If you are a fan of Tyler's, then please read Binge. Not only will you be entertained with hilarious, shocking, and cringe-worthy stories that have never been told before, but you'll also learn what makes Tyler, Tyler. Once you've finished this book, you'll see him in a new light, taking your love and respect for this bubbly character to a completely new level.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell - SPOILER FREE REVIEW

2016-03-27T13:30:00.000+01:00

Book Title: Fangirl
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Genres: Y.A, Contemporary, Romance, Fiction,
Reviewer's Note: Thank you to my best friend, Brenna, for letting me borrow her lovely copy. I looked after it as if it was a newborn baby - I promise!

CATH IS A SIMON SNOW FAN. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan... But for Cath, being a fan is her life--and she's really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it's what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fanfiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath's sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can't let go. She doesn't want to.

Now that they're going to college, Wren has told Cath that she doesn't want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She's got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend; a fiction-writing professor who thinks fanfiction is the end of the civilized world; a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words...and she can't stop worrying about her dad, who's loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

My Thoughts:

I discovered this book a couple of years ago on Amazon, but I always put off reading it. Then, when visiting my best friend, I discovered that it was her favourite book. She thrust her beautiful hardcover copy into my hands and whispered, read it.

At first, the book starts off quite slowly. We are introduced to Cath & Wren (like Catherine, gettit?), a set of identical twins who have made the big move to a university hours away from their home, where they leave their single Dad, Art, lives. Very quickly we learn that Cath & Wren are huge fans of a series of books called Simon Snow (very similar to Harry Potter), and they're not just casual fans, these girls are full out fangirls. They know the books inside out, they go to events dressed like the characters and, most importantly, they write fanfiction. Specifically, gay fanfiction about Simon Snow and his arch nemesis, Baz. But now they are in college, and Wren appears to have grown out of her fangirling days, whereas Cath is more obsessed than ever. She's determined to please her thousands of fans on fanfixx (like wattpad) with her biggest fanfiction yet - Carry On. She feeds all her stress and anxiety about her new school, living separately from her twin, new "friends", and studying for her Literature classes, into writing about Simon and Baz.

I really love Cath's character. At first I was hesitant to invest her, as her anxiety disorder & fangirl tendencies seemed to be overplayed, but once I was a few chapters in and I began to understand her character more (in a single-parent family, etc), I realised that Rainbow's portrayal of anxiety disorder and fangirl culture was actually really well done. Now that I've had time to reflect on the book, I realise that the reason I didn't like Cather initially was because I saw so much of myself in her. I also come from a very difficult family background, which has made me an incredibly anxious person, who would rather read a book and fangirl over celebrities and fictional characters on Tumblr, than spend time with friends in the outside world. What I like about Rainbow's writing is she never once makes Cath look over-sensitive or silly because of her anxiety, everything she does makes sense. There's always logic behind Cath's actions, so although on the surface some of her actions seem silly, to someone with General Anxiety it makes perfect sense. In fact, Rainbow manages to pull this off with every character in the book (which is where a lot of authors fall short, in my opinion. Whether it's tapping their fingers or drinking excessively, every character has solid reasons for their actions. They are all beautifully flawed. So, rather than just falling in love with one or two of the characters, you end up deeply caring about every character that makes an appearance, and itching to find out more about their background. For me, these characters were so well rounded that I could easily see them as a living, breathing person. Well done Rainbow!

The plot is also really strong. I love the rhythm the story had, it felt like a waltz. There were highs and lows, but in a very gentle way. On the surface it may seem like nothing is going to really happen, perhaps Cath will fall in love and that's about it, but this book is so much more than a love story. There are really strong and powerful family problems that Cath has to deal with, and they are all dealt with in a very respectful and gentle manner. It's also a story of self-discovery, and friendship. Not just for Cath, but for many of the characters in the book. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the story, and I was wishing for it to carry on for another hundred pages or so.

The only thing I didn't enjoy about the book was the snippets of the Simon & Baz stories. I'm not into magic & vampires, so I didn't love their pages. However, it was nice to see Cath's "writing", and to understand her obsession a bit more.

In conclusion, then, I loved this book. As soon as I had finished reading it, I got the urge to read it again, and almost a week later that urge still hasn't gone. I can see this becoming my go-to book when I'm sad or stressed, and in the need for a warm hug (the best books feel like a hug, don't you think?). If you are a fan of romance novels than this book is definitely for you!

The Amazing Book is Not on Fire by Dan Howell & Phil Lester - SPOILER FREE REVIEW!

2016-03-23T11:00:00.000+00:00

Book Title: The Amazing Book is Not on Fire
Authors: Dan Howell & Phil Lester
Genres: Humour, Non-Fiction, Auto-Biography
Reviewer's Note: I received this copy as a gift from my youngest sister - thanks Katy!

Hello reader,

This book is a world. A world created by two awkward guys who share their lives on the internet!

We are Dan and Phil and we invite you on a journey inside our minds! From the stories of our actual births, to exploring Phil's teenage diary and all the reasons why Dan's a fail.

Learn how to draw the perfect cat whiskers, get advice on what to do in an awkward situation and discover which of our dining chairs represents you emotionally. With everything from what we text each other, to the time we met One Direction and what really happened in Vegas...

My Thoughts:

I feel like at the outset, I should explain to you that I am a big phangirl of Dan & Phil (A.K.A danisnotonfire & AmazingPhil on YouTube). In fact, Phil was the first person I ever subscribed to on YouTube! It's thanks to him I discovered Dan (my second subscription), and a whole other side of YouTube - the vloggers. Since that cloudy day in 2012, I have been obsessed with these two! I've seen them move to London together, get a radio show, host the Brit Awards Stream, start a craft & gaming channel, and I even had the good fortune to see their "Amazing Tour Is Not on Fire" in Plymouth last October. So, as you can tell, I am a self-diagnosed phangirl, which means that this review is completely biased, but please, read on anyway.

The blurb of the book explains that this isn't just a book, it's a world, and honestly, it is. I've always considered Dan & Phil to be a separate entity - there's YouTube, and then there's Dan & Phil. The boys, and the phandom, have managed to create an entire new side of the internet that makes every awkward fanboy/girl, every fail, every piece of meme trash, shibes, and every ray of sunshine, feel welcome. Not only have Dan & Phil managed to do that in a digital way, they've also created a physical world. A place you can enter despite your online status. And it's awesome.

First off, the book is illustrated by Dave Brown (of Mighty Boosh fame). If that's not enough for you to at least flick through the book, then I don't know what is! Secondly, this book answers all the questions that phangirls and boys all over the world have been desperate to have the answers to. Such as: How did Phil become an infamous hamster breeder? Why is Dan such a fail? What ever happened to Becca & Jessica? How do you draw the perfect cat whiskers? And, most importantly, what happened in Vegas?

I don't want to spoil the book, but what I will tell you is that this book is a phangirl's dream. No, seriously, it's as if I have stepped into the dreams of every single Dan & Phil fan. There's crazy anecdotes, quizzes, fanfiction, memes (so. many. memes.), and amazing artwork. It encapsulates Dan & Phil's whole world, making it a hilariously awkward and fun way of learning more about our favourite meme & ray of sunshine - Dan & Phil. If you are a phan of the boys, then this book is a must have on your bookshelf! I will definitely be treasuring this book for many years to come.

Happily Ever After by Kiera Cass - SPOILER FREE REVIEW!

2016-03-20T13:00:00.000+00:00

Book Title: Happily Ever After
Author: Kiera Cass
Series: The Selection
Genres: Y.A, Dystopian, Romance, Fantasy, Novella
Reviewer's Notes: I bought this book for myself.

A companion volume to the bestselling The Selection series – extra stories and never-before-seen material. Fans should prepare to swoon!

The achingly romantic and stylish four The Selection enovellas – The Prince, The Guard, The Queen and The Favorite – together in one irresistible volume. Plus exclusive extra content – Art for each of the novellas, a new intro for each of the novellas and 3 brand new scenes from each of the first 3 novels.

My Thoughts:

I am a H U G E fan of The Selection series. Kiera has completely entranced me with these books. I'm completely invested in every single one of her characters, and the story constantly has me on tenterhooks. America, Maxon, Marlee & Aspen have a very special place in my heart, and I will always treasure these books and the happiness they bring me.

So, as you can already tell, my opinion of this collection of novellas is a rather biased one. As I mentioned before, this is an enchanting collection of novellas that serve as a complement to The Selection series. If you had read The Prince, The Guard, and The Queen, then you might be hesitant to buy this collection, but if you're a big fan like myself, it is completely worth it! As well as those three novellas, this collection contains:

2 bonus chapters of Maxon's novella - The Prince
The Favorite (Marlee's novella)
3 scenes from Celeste's P.O.V
Lucy's scene (this is a bonus scene from The One),
An epilogue
A few pages entitled "Where Are They Now?" which focus on Kriss, Natalie & Elise.
A Map
Charming Illustrations in each of the novellas/scenes.

Kiera also introduces each of the novellas, giving her perspective on the writing process, as well as her opinion on characters & the storylines. I thought it was a wonderful addition to the book, it was really lovely to learn more about Kiera and how deeply invested she is in her characters - just like me!

It was wonderful to see Maxon (The Prince), Aspen (The Guard) & Marlee's (The Favorite) perspective of the events in books 1-3, although I was already emotionally attached to each of these characters, I felt like I was falling in love with them all over again while I was reading their P.O.V of things. The Queen was probably my favourite to read. Amberly is just a kind, compassionate & gentle soul, that you instantly fall in her love with her. It was wonderful to learn about her Selection process, and how she won the heart of her husband, King Clarkson.

I wont comment on the rest of the scenes in this collection, as I'm afraid of giving anything away. However, I will tell you that they were fantastic! Celeste's scenes are my favourite (maybe in the whole book!), it was wonderful to understand her character more and how she felt about certain events in the books. The illustrations that accompany all of these stories are beautiful! I felt like I was a little kid reading a fairy tale book! They really complemented the stories, and I am secretly hoping that there will be illustrations in The Crown!

All in all, I absolutely loved this book, and when I revisit the series I'll definitely be re-reading this collection! If you are a big fan of The Selection series, this is an absolute must-have! It'll really wet your appetite for The Crown (which is a sequel to The Heir) which is going to be in May 2016.

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner - SPOILER FREE REVIEW!

2016-03-16T11:00:00.000+00:00

Book Title: The Scorch Trials
Author: James Dashner
Series: The Maze Runner
Genres: Y.A, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Mystery
Reviewer's Note: I bought this book for my sister as a gift, and am borrowing it to review.

Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end.

Thomas was sure that escape from the Maze would mean freedom for him and the Gladers. But WICKED isn’t done yet. Phase Two has just begun. The Scorch.

There are no rules. There is no help. You either make it or you die.

The Gladers have two weeks to cross through the Scorch—the most burned-out section of the world. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Friendships will be tested. Loyalties will be broken. All bets are off.

There are others now. Their survival depends on the Gladers’ destruction—and they’re determined to survive.

My Thoughts:

I read The Maze Runner when it was first released, and although I really enjoyed it, I wasn't dying to read the rest of the series. But, now I've seen both The Maze Runner & The Scorch Trials at the cinema, I thought it was time to knuckle down & finish reading the series.

I always find the beginning of Y.A sequels boring to read, as the first chapter is basically a recap of what happened previously in the series. James Dashner, however, immediately throws you into the action. Thomas & the rest of the Gladers have been rescued from the maze, filled with relief that things are finally over. But as always, WICKED have something in store for them. This time, its the scorch trials.

One thing I love about this series of books is that the action never slows down. There are twists and turns, betrayals. deaths and a slight hint of romance across every single page. At times though, I did wish that it would slow down so that Thomas could have more time to think about, and remember, the answers to not only the questions from this book, but also from book 1. Although we did find out one or two valuable pieces of information, it looks like we'll have to wait until The Death Cure (book 3) to learn more.

As I mentioned before, I'd seen the The Scorch Trials film before reading the book, so I assumed I knew what was going to happen (which is why it has taken me about 6 months to finish it...), but oh boy was I wrong! Although there are common factors in both the book & the film, on the whole they are entirely different works. So many exciting and shocking events take place in the book, and we also get to learn more about Thomas and his memories of his life before the maze. I highly recommend reading the book whether you've seen the film or not!

In conclusion, then, I really enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to reading book 3 before the series prequel is released. If you enjoy exciting, mysterious and action-packed Y.A's in a dystopian world, then you will love The Scorch Trials!

The Alpha Drive by Kristen Martin - SPOILER FREE REVIEW!

2016-03-13T00:03:00.000+00:00

Book Title: The Alpha Drive

Author: Kristen Martin

Series: The Alpha Drive

Genres: Y.A, Dystopian

Reviewer's Note: I received this e-book for free from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

It's the year 2055 and an anarchist organization has taken control with the aim to create a world-class society. Half of humankind is unknowingly living in an alternate reality called Dormance . . . and there are no plans to wake them up.

Sixteen-year-old introvert Emery Parker is one such dormant. An academic scholar who avoids ruffling feathers at all costs, Emery finds herself being transferred to a boarding school on the outskirts of Arizona. Little does she know, a family secret has the power to change the course of the future. When she's approached with an opportunity to free the dormants, she sees no other choice but to accept, even though failure could mean having her memory wiped clean.

But when tech-savvy Torin Porter reaches out to her from the other side, Emery begins to question everything she was told about Dormance. If her family's secret falls into the wrong hands, the world as she knows it will be faced with irreversible consequences. Now Emery must play both sides to uncover the truth about her family's past or risk leaving mankind to live in an unconscious reality.

My Thoughts:

I spotted this book as I was trawling through the Y.A section of NetGalley, and to be honest, the moment I read the blurb I knew I'd struck gold. Those short three paragraphs promised me everything I ever hope for in the perfect Y.A - a female lead, dystopian future, action-filled plot, family secrets, and most importantly, no love triangles. It looked p e r f e c t. Fortunately for me, it was available in the "read now" section of NetGalley, so I immediately downloaded it, cuddled up in bed with my dog, and started reading.

From the very first sentence, I knew it was going to be a fast ride. Information flew past me at incredible speed, I had to stop occasionally to go back & re-read important tidbits of information before I could carry on reading. Despite this, however, the captivating storyline left me lusting after more. The pages kept turning faster and faster, almost leaving me cross-eyed. Just as the suspense was reaching its peak, Emery (the M.C) arrived at her boarding school. It was at this very moment that the story came crashing down into a shallow pool of character development.

Each of the characters in this book are great, they really are. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about each of them, and having the main four characters (Emery, Rhea, Theo & Torin) tell the story from their own P.O.V was a brilliant idea, and it really helped the story and the development of the characters. However, that being said, I also felt that a great opportunity had been missed. This world that Kristen has created is so intriguing, that I could sit and read thick descriptions of every single atom of it with incredible ease. Unfortunately though, we are left with a couple of main bullet points of what this world really is, and who the characters are. It left me feeling rather disappointed, to be honest, as I knew that Kristen could have easily added an extra 30 pages to the book just from descriptions & explanations alone. Having those written illustrations would have really helped shape out the characters, as well as answer some questions about the world they inhabit (for example, why is Emery's mother so scared? Why are people being left behind in the dormance? if science hasn't moved forward in 28 years, are there new diseases they don't have cures for? why is Anthony so obsessed with Emery? ) I really hope that in book 2 all of these questions will be answered, but we'll have to wait and see I suppose!

The plot of the novel is brilliant, and is also very well executed. The dream and training scenes were some of the best, and it definitely gave me a "Divergent" vibe, especially during the last couple of chapters. After a very quick start, the story did slow down a little, but in the third act of the book it really picked up the pace again. As I was reading it I felt like I had been thrown into an action movie! Kirsten really made those last few chapters feel completely real, and to be honest I was enjoying it so much I was wishing for some hidden chapters so that it didn't have to end!

For me, this book was a mix of "Divergent" and "Matched", with small aspects of "TimeRiders" & "The Declaration" thrown in for good measure. I really, really enjoyed it, and although there were some problems with character development and descriptions, I will definitely be reading the rest of the series, and I highly recommend you do the same!

Just Add Dragons

Eternal Darkness by J.F Johns - SPOILER FREE REVIEW

How I Choose What to Read Next...

The #RockMyTBR Song and Book Tag

1. SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT (Nirvana) - A Contemporary I Want to Read

2. SHUT UP AND DANCE (Walk to the Moon)- Most Anticipated Book You Have

3. CENTURIES (REMIX) (Fall Out Boy)- A Twist on a Classic or Fairy Tale

4. YOSHIMI BATTLES THE PINK ROBOT (The Flaming Lips) - A Science Fiction Book or a Book Set in the Future

5. SHE LOOKS SO PERFECT (5 Seconds of Summer)- A Book with a Girl on the Cover

6. AFRICA (Toto)- A Book Set in a Foreign Country

7. ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST (Queen)- A Book or Books That Will Complete a Series

8. SOMEONE NEW (Hozier)- A Book by an Author You Haven't Read Yet

9. HELLO (Adele)- A Book You DNF or Weren't in the Mood for at the Time

10. LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT (Kylie Minogue)- A Book You Bought Because of the Cover

Me Before You by JoJo Moyes - SPOILER FREE REVIEW!

My Favourite Bookstagrammers of March 2016

@bookish_voice

@music.books.and.me

@adoreading_

@bookscupsandcandles

@hastobesolonely

Spring Showers

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken - SPOILER FREE REVIEW!

The Other Side of Gravity by Shelly Crane - SPOILER FREE REVIEW

Why Are Duologies So Rare?

My Favourite Book Quotes

Reached by Ally Condie - Review

Why I Love Second-Hand Books...

My Favourite Childhood Book

The Intimidating TBR Tag!

#1. What book have you been unable to finish?

What book have you yet to read because...

#2. ...you just haven't had the time?

#3. ...it's a sequel?

#4. ...it's brand new?

#5. ...you read a book by the same author and didn't enjoy it?

#6. ...you're just not in the mood for it?

#7. ...it's humongous?

#8. ...because it was a cover buy that turned out to have bad reviews?

#9. What is the most intimidating book in your TBR pile?

#10. Who do you tag?

Is your TBR pile as long & crazy as mine? What's the most intimidating book in your TBR pile? Let me know!

March 2016 Book Haul

BINGE by Tyler Oakley - SPOILER FREE REVIEW

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell - SPOILER FREE REVIEW

The Amazing Book is Not on Fire by Dan Howell & Phil Lester - SPOILER FREE REVIEW!

Happily Ever After by Kiera Cass - SPOILER FREE REVIEW!

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner - SPOILER FREE REVIEW!

The Alpha Drive by Kristen Martin - SPOILER FREE REVIEW!

1. SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT (Nirvana)
- A Contemporary I Want to Read

2. SHUT UP AND DANCE (Walk to the Moon)
- Most Anticipated Book You Have

3. CENTURIES (REMIX) (Fall Out Boy)
- A Twist on a Classic or Fairy Tale

5. SHE LOOKS SO PERFECT (5 Seconds of Summer)
- A Book with a Girl on the Cover

6. AFRICA (Toto)
- A Book Set in a Foreign Country

7. ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST (Queen)
- A Book or Books That Will Complete a Series

8. SOMEONE NEW (Hozier)
- A Book by an Author You Haven't Read Yet

9. HELLO (Adele)
- A Book You DNF or Weren't in the Mood for at the Time

10. LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT (Kylie Minogue)
- A Book You Bought Because of the Cover