Saturday, February 23, 2019

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Image result for macbeth bookMacbeth by William Shakespeare
Pages: 103
Release Date: 1606
Rating: 💜💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Macbeth himself, a brave warrior, is fatally impelled by supernatural forces, by his proud wife, and by his own burgeoning ambition. As he embarks on his murderous course to gain and retain the crown of Scotland, we see the appalling emotional and psychological effects on both Lady Macbeth and himself. The cruel ironies of their destiny are conveyed in poetry of unsurpassed power.


In an attempt to read more old/classic books I decided to read another play by Shakespeare because why step out of comfort zones if you don't want to. Right?

I love Macbeth. I've read it before, but that was 5 years ago, so I felt it was time to revisit this world of turmoil and see what does down. I  hadn't forgotten as much as I thought I had, which isn't that surprising when you realise that the play is only 103 pages long.

My favourite fact about this play is that it is so short because James 1 didn't like long plays and Shakespeare wanted to make sure he paid attention for the entire duration of the play, because we all know that Shakespeare is the Queen of Sass. As a result this play is short and full of jokes, although there is just the right of murder in here to balance the play out. The way that Shakespeare showed the characters' slow descent into madness was almost poetic, as with each act you could see more and more of their sanity disappear.

In a way this play is very similar to Hamlet: people hung up on power eventually kill everyone before conveniently dying themselves. Plus, female suicide! But all jokes aside there are clear parallels, from the language used to the characters involved, that made this play seem oddly familiar to me. I think Shakespeare had a thing for corrupt countries that needed saving.

In conclusion, I still love Macbeth. I think it is a great book to read if you are just starting off with Shakespeare, as it is short and has iconic lines such as 'You egg!' The English in this play isn't hard to understand and you can fall into the story quite fast. With all the action and adventure that takes place, it is easy to forget that this play was written 500 years ago.

Friday, February 22, 2019

Netflix Book Tag!

I watch a lot of Netflix (naturally, it is 2019). In fact the only thing I do more than watching Netflix is reading, so this book tag is perfect for displaying my love for both my methods of procrastination to everyone. I had a lot of fun thinking of which books fit under these categories, and also looking at what was under each of these categories on my Netflix account!

This tag was created by A Darker Shade Of Whitney over on Youtube, so go check her out!


Recently watched: what was the last book you finished?

The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James, which was an adorable and thought provoking sci-fi. Think Cress mixed with Passengers (the film). I don't usually read sci-fi books but this one captivated me from page one.

Top picks: Recommended to you based on another book you'd read

I was recommended Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin because I loved The Messenger of Fear by Michael Grant so much. I'm actually reading Elsewhere at the moment and I'm enjoying it (but definitely not as much as The Messenger of Fear). It talks about a similar concept (life after death) but the writing style is completely different and it isn't as scary as Michael Grant's book.

Recently Added: the last book you bought

I recently went on a mad charity shopping haul where I went around Canterbury (the big town near me) and grabbed all the books I wanted from each charity shop. Part of that haul included a really pretty edition of The Princess Bride by William Goldman that has an absolutely gorgeous black and white cover. Honestly, it is gorgeous and 100% the cover is the only reason why I bought the book.

Popular on Netflix: pick two books you've read and two you haven't which are getting the hype

Books I have read: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
Books I haven't read:  The Cruel Prince by Holly Black and Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Comedies: A funny book

I usually laugh at anything John Green writes because his characters' sense of humour is very similar to mine. My personal favourite is Turtles All the Way Down, because it is absolutely ridiculous and very sarcastic.

Dramas: A character who is a drama queen/king

Doesn't every single character in a YA novel count? They're all so pumped up with teen angst that it is hard to find a character that isn't dramatic. However, if I had to pick one character that beats all the other characters I'd have to go with Belly from The Summer I Turned Pretty series because she is far more dramatic than most.

Animated: A book with cartoons on the cover

Is it weird that I can't think of a single book for this prompt? I guess the closest thing to a comic would be the new cover of Carry On, but I'm not sure if it actually counts. Does it?

Watch It Again: A book that you want to re-read

I really want to read the Infernal Devices series again, partially because I love Tessa and Will and partially because those books feel like home to me.

Documentaries: A non-fiction book you'd recommend to everyone

I rarely read nonfiction books; I think I've four or five in my entire life. I am trying to read more nonfiction this year and the next on my list is Hidden Figures, which was turned into a film recently. (I know this doesn't really answer the question but hey ho).

Action and adventure: A book that is action packed

The Enemy series by Charlie Higgins. This whole series is packed with action, which can only be expected from a zombie series. I love this series and am hoping to re-read it in the near future.

New releases: A new release that you are excited to read

I'm kinda pumped to read Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen. M. McManus, especially as its been announced as the Booksplosion book of the month for February. The blurb for this book gave me Riverdale vibes, so hopefully it will be a fun read.

What is one book you'd recommend to everyone? And what are you watching on Netflix?
Let me know in the comments below!

And until next time, keep reading!

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Books that definitely deserve more hype

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I LOVED with Fewer than 2,000 Ratings on Goodreads

I never check Goodreads before I start reading a book. Some people find that weird because they can't imagine reading without looking at all the different stats and reviews that come along with the book, but for it ruins the experience of reading. And even after I've read a book, I'll only look at my friends' reviews of the book before moving on to the next novel.

When I read this topic my first thought was 'there are books with less than 2000 ratings?' And then I thought 'how on earth am I going to find out which books have less than 2000 ratings?' Luckily, thanks to the power of Google, I figured out how to look at the number of ratings a book has. So here is a list of my top 7 books that definitely deserve more hype.

1- More of Me by Kathryn Evans
(Goodreads ratings: 633)

To be totally honest, I wouldn't have read this book if it hadn't have been sent to me but I'm glad I did. Before this book I hadn't read many sci-fi novels, so this was a perfect transition from contemporaries into the sci-fi. Although I don't read many sci-fis even now, I will always appreciate this book, and the genre it introduced me to.

2- Countless by Karen Gregory
(Goodreads ratings: 477)

This book really hit home for me. It was a beautifully representative book about eating disorders and how hard it is to recover from them. It is a shame that Countless didn't get more hype because I think it was gave great representation for what it is like to live with an eating disorder and would be able to teach people more about this mental illness.

3- Forbidden Friends by Annie-Marie Conway
(Goodreads ratings: 401)

This book was cheesy to the next level, but sometimes you need that in your life. I did enjoy Butterfly Summer a lot more than this one, but the cheesiness of this book makes me want to re-read it over and over again. There are a few twists and turns in this book which caught me by surprise, but it was mostly just a fun book to read when you're feeling down.

4- The Children Who Lived in a Barn by Eleanor Graham
(Goodreads ratings: 190)

This is my mum's favourite book and I loved it too when I read it a couple of years ago. It is basically a sweeter and more innocent version of Lord of the Flies; a novelisation of everyone's dream to stake out on their own. It is a sweet family novel that shows the power of sibling ties, and makes you question what you would do in their situation.

5- The Yellow Room
(Goodreads ratings: 166)

This book was incredibly dark novel about obsession, trust and revenge. There was so much about this book that was totally unexpected that it completely strayed away from the traditional YA story line which I was expecting. I barely saw this book anywhere though, so I'm not too surprised that it has so few ratings.

6- The Inventors by Alexander Gordon Smith
(Goodreads ratings: 150)

I love this book. I remember reading it about six years ago when the author came to my school to talk about how cool his books were. Admittedly, I like his other book series a lot more than this one, but there is something quite sentimental for me about this book. I really wish he'd been able to publish this book worldwide, rather than just the UK, because it is a gripping children's book.

7- The Sign of One by Eugene Lambert 
(Goodreads ratings: 142)

I was so shocked to see that this book had so few ratings, especially as it is one of my favourite books of all time. Sci-fi, mystery, action and romance all tied up into one book, literally anyone could pick this up and enjoy. Of all the books on this list, this is the one I would most highly recommend.

Which books do you love that need more hype? Are any of them on this list?
Let me know in the comments below!

And until next time, keep reading!

Saturday, February 16, 2019

Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle

Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle
Release Date: October 2, 2008
Pages: 354
Rating: 💜💜💜

An ill-timed storm on Christmas Eve buries the residents of Gracetown under multiple feet of snow. One brave soul ventures out into the storm from her stranded train and sets off a chain of events that will change quite a few lives. Over the next three days one girl takes a risky shortcut with an adorable stranger, three friends set out to win a race to the Waffle House, and the fate of a teacup pig falls into the hands of a lovesick barista.


I read this book on Christmas Eve to get myself in the Christmassy mood, as this book is set on Christmas Eve through to Christmas Day. Honestly, I wouldn't have been able to tell that it was Christmas from this book if the authors hadn't explicitly said it at the start of each of their stories. I didn't necessarily have a problem with this, I just wanted to feel more Christmassy, rather than wintery.  

As this book is split into three different stories I'm going to split my review into three different parts so that I can talk in depth about my feelings towards each story.

The Jubilee Express by Maureen Johnson
Pages: 119
Rating: 💜💜💜💜

I actually really enjoyed this story. I thought Jubilee was a well-developed character for the 119 pages that she appeared for. She was funny and I always knew where she stood with people. Her boyfriend, Noah, wasn't a villain in this story, which tends to happen in contemporary books, but you could see that he was highly motivated to do well in school. On the other end of the spectrum, Stuart seemed well-balanced and level-headed, focusing on maintaining relationships rather than having the perfect personal record. 

I loved the addition of Flobie Santa Village, with Jubilee's parents getting so invested in the world that they had built, especially when you saw how it had influenced Jubilee. She knew what she was talking about with each piece, and could easily value any item from the village just by looking at it. I felt like this is true for any child who is forced to take an interest in their parent's hobbies, as they slowly pick up the information about it without even realising what is happening. 

This story was by far my favourite of the three; I found  the characters sweet and funny, I loved the family dynamic that we were introduced to and the romance in this section was super cute. A strong start to an otherwise weak book.

A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle by John Green
Pages: 94
Rating:💜💜💜

This story had John Green written all over it. The high-school characters who speak like college graduates, the quirky girl who isn't like those who like stereotypical girl things and the pair of boys who have been friends since birth. Every single John Green book has the same makeup and this story was no exception.

That isn't to say I didn't like it. I enjoyed the high speed race through Gracetown as they tried to get to the Waffle House, with the car slipping and sliding everywhere on the 6-foot high snow. I loved the banter between the three friends; a clear display of John Green's ability to write good relationships. It followed on quite nicely from Maureen Johnson's story especially with the links that he made to her story (the most obvious being the cheerleaders), showing that they had worked together to create this book instead of writing a story each and then putting them into a book. 

The reason why I rated this story lower than the first one is because I didn't enjoy the cheerleader part of it. Not only were the boys willing to brave the worst snowstorm in FIFTY YEARS for the chance to stare at some cheerleaders, but they didn't actually end up talking to them when they got there. All of the boys in this book acted like sex-obsessed shells who only wanted to be around the girls with short skirts on, which made reading it less enjoyable. 

So yes, overall this story was good, the characters were fun to read but the obsession with the cheerleaders pulled it down for me a little. I'm actually on the fence about giving this book three or four stars because the more I think about it, the more I remember enjoying this story (I'll leave it at three for now).

The Patron Saint of Pigs by Lauren Myracle
Pages: 141
Rating:💜

I'm deliberating between giving this story one or two stars, but I think it deserves one right now.

I didn't enjoy this story at all. I hated the main character who was whiny, narrow minded and annoying. She had no depth, she just complained about her life and she was always blaming other people for things that she did wrong. She cheats on her boyfriend and them makes up 101 different excuses about why it wasn't such a bad thing and how she still loves her boyfriend (who she practically begs to forgive her) and then she gets her happy ending! Honestly, the fact that she got her happy ending was the most infuriating part of this story because she didn't deserve it (I'm not saying she doesn't deserve to be happy, I'm saying she doesn't deserve the happiness that she got). 

I almost DNF'ed this book because of how annoying I found Addie but I decided to push through and read to the end. I'm glad I did because the reappearance of John Green and Maureen Johnson's characters made this story more bearable (even if their dialogue was stilted).

If you do read Let It Snow maybe give the last story a miss, or only the last three or four chapters of it to save yourself of the horror that is Addie. I enjoyed the other two stories, and it was a shame that his one almost ruined it for me.

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Couples that make me realise how lonely I am

Top Ten Tuesday:  Favourite Couples In Books

Valentine's Day is coming up this week and as much as I joke about it being a commercial waste of time I am jealous of all the couples who can spend the day together. I am a hopeless romantic at heart, lapping up any chance of consuming more love (especially as my life seem to be severely lacking). As a result, when I'm not watching romantic films or listening to love songs I read as many cheesy romance novels as possible, falling in love with the love that these characters are sharing.

Today I'm going to share some of my favourite couples that make me feel all the feels and believe that love does exist (also, are you proud of me? there are adult books on this list!)

Lennie and Joe
(The Sky is Everywhere)

These two will forever be my OTP, no couple can be cuter than them and nobody can change my mind. This book is one of my favourites, especially with the poetry interludes that we get between each chapter, and the romance in this book is just as fantastic.


Tessa and Will (Infernal Devices)

Everyone is love with this trilogy and I will happily jump on that bandwagon. I personally love this love this triangle more than the Jace/Clary romance in TMI, but that might just be because I relate with the characters more in this novel. I aspire to have the romance that Tessa and Will have because you can feel their love pouring out of the book.

Karou and Akiva (Daughter of Smoke and Bone)

Any romance intense enough to survive a war is a good romance, and this romance is the perfect example of that. Karou and Akiva have such a sweet but intense love story and I couldn't stop reading about them.


Clare and Henry (Time Traveller's Wife)

So there are some major flaws with this love story, but the amount of love that they shared was just incredible. Clare was willing to spend her life waiting for Henry to come back again, just that she could spend another day with the man she loved. Imagine having a love so strong that you would spend days alone just so that you could see them again.

Dexter and Emma (One Day)

This has a similar premise to Time Traveller's Wife, with their love spanning over 40 years. I loved the film version of this book as well, especially as Anne Hathaway played the role of Emma. I've read this book three times, and every time I am still destroyed by the ending and the love that they share. 

Rosie and Alex (Love, Rosie)

One of my favourite romance tropes is childhood friends turned lovers and this book delivered on so many levels. Every time I read this book I feel overwhelming happiness and have a sense of cosiness inside me. I wish I could end up in this kind of relationship, one that lasts years and years.

Ismae and Duval (Grave Mercy)

I loved this book and the romance that formed between these two. It was so subtle that you barely noticed the romance developing, but somehow you always knew you wanted it to happen. After the past that Ismae had I'm so glad t hat she found love in the form of Duval.

Which fictional couples are your favourites? Are any of them on this list?
Let me know in the comments below!

And until next time, keep reading!

Sunday, February 10, 2019

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski
Release date: March 4, 2014
Pages: 359
Rating:💜💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

As a general's daughter Kestrel has two choices: join the military or get married. Kestrel has other ideas. One day she finds a kindred spirit in Arin, a young slave up for auction. Following her instinct Kestrel buys him, and soon has to hide her growing love for him. But little does she know, she is not the only one with secrets.

I actually had no idea what to expect going into this book. I managed to avoid any spoilers when the hype around this book was massive and the premise never interested me, so I didn't look into it. However, I saw the cover the other day when I was charity shopping and I knew I had to have a copy of this book on my bookshelf. So this book is 100% a cover buy for me.

(But can you blame me? It is gorgeous.)

As the result of not anything about the book before I read it, I was confused when I read the first few chapters. I had got it into my head that Kestrel was an assassin who was training to kill people (when she is the complete opposite). When I realised that she wasn't an assassin I began to enjoy the book a lot more. I thought the fact that Kestrel was a brilliant strategist was very unique (in a good way) as most books these days have the brave female hero fighting for her rights. By placing her in the commander's shoes we got to see a whole different way to take down regimes. Kestrel was smart and calculating, which created more action than if she had just been a cold-blooded killer. It also meant that we got to see what life is like for those behind the battlefield, those who plot and mark out where the next move should be.

The romance that is hinted at in the blurb barely made it into the novel, but I think that was for the best. There were hints here and there, but it was so rare that you could see that their feelings were genuine instead of the stereotypical insta-love that comes in novels like this. Kestrel refuses to face her feelings, ignoring Arin at all costs and  searching for reasons why she shouldn't fall in love with him. Arin is naturally oblivious to any feelings she might have for him, making all the moments they share together far more special and exciting than if they had been upfront about their feelings.

This book made several interesting comments on colonisation and the effects it has on the people who used to live there. As there are two different communities living on the same land we get to see quite personally how each community has developed since the invasion happened. The results are similar to that of the Native Americans, with them being treated as lesser beings by the settlers. This was interesting to see in this novel, especially as the Valorian managed to take over and destroy everything without a flicker of guilt.

I always say this when I read a fantasy or dystopian novel, but I am a sucker for a world with good politics. This book didn't fail me on that front, so that may be part of the reason why I loved this book so much. However, I do think this book is generally very good with strong characters and even an even stronger plot that is clearly going to continue through into the two other novels very effectively. I have no clue what genre this novel would fit into but I think that fantasy lovers would like it because it has all the feelings of a fantasy novel. I would especially recommend it to people who love strong female characters, politics and gory battles.

Saturday, February 9, 2019

The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher

Image result for the princess diaristThe Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher
Release Date: October 18, 2016
Pages: 272
Rating: 💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

When Carrie Fisher discovered the journals she kept during the filming of the first Star Wars movie, she was astonished to see what they had preserved - plaintive love poems, unbridled musings, and a vulnerability that she barely recognised. Now her fame as an author, actress, and pop-culture icon is indisputable, but in 1977, Carrie Fisher was just a teenager with an all-consuming crush on her co-star, Harrison Ford. 

Before I start getting into the nitty-gritty of my review I would just like to say on record that I adore Carrie Fisher. I think her sense of humour is incredible, I relate to her self-deprecation as a defense mechanism and her efforts to normalise mental health were incredible for me. I wouldn't necessarily say she is a role model of mine, but I wouldn't be disappointed if I ended up like her. And now, into the review.

Carrie's personality shines through in this book. It's hard to avoid, mainly because it is written by her, but also because there is no escape from her humour. Normally she is on stage or on a talk show with at least one other person, but here it is all her and I lived for it. She was apologetically rude about people she didn't like, she spoke truthfully about the whole film industry, and she wasn't afraid to call herself out for things that she did 40+ years ago. I was genuinely laughing out loud at certain parts of this book, because the way she talked about her experiences were so blunt and startling that you just couldn't help but laugh. My favourite part was when she was talking about going to conventions or talk shows and kept referring to them as 'lap dances'. No joke there is a section of the book which about 20 pages long where she just talks about giving lap dances and I lived for it.

My problem with this book, and the only reason why I rated it so low, was the fact that there was very little Star Wars in this book. I know Carrie opens the book with a statement about how she isn't Princess Leia and this book is about her, but I would have liked to know more about the dynamic between the actors on set, rather than her relationship with Harrison Ford. The main portion of this book was based around her obsession (?) for her older married co-star, although there are no details. Carrie Fisher plays coy about the whole, talking of their passionate weekend and their intense feelings. It was interesting reading this book and wondering what Harrison Ford's response was going to be, because I felt like Carrie Fisher painted him in a rather poor light. He seemed cold-hearted and distant, rather than the American granddad everyone knows him as. As I didn't really enjoy reading about their relationship, especially when it switched to Carrie's diaries my enjoyment of the book dropped dramatically.

The redemptive quality of this book was that is is a honest, raw example of unrequited love. Everyone can relate to this story, even if they aren't having an affair with a far older famous man. No matter what age you are (although probably older than 15) you will have liked someone who doesn't like you back. When reading Carrie's story I could see elements of myself in her story, with her hatred for the other person's lack of love to the blind optimism that comes with a crush, the hope that this person might like you back.

Carrie Fisher may have been a princess but she was our Queen. She knows how to entertain, which may come from years of practice, and she knows how to be relatable. It felt like listening to the advice of an older student, one who has given up on school but wants to leave a legacy. And that is exactly what Carrie Fisher has done. She has left the greatest legacy of all time.

Friday, February 8, 2019

The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West

The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West
Release Date: May 5, 2015
Pages: 343
Rating: 💜💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository
When Gia boyfriend dumps her in the parking lot of her  prom, she decides to do the unthinkable...convince the guy waiting to pick up his sister to pretend to be her boyfriend for the night. The task is simple: two hours, zero commitment, a few white lies. 
The problem is that she can't stop thinking about her fill-in boyfriend. But can Gia turn her fake boyfriend into a real one without exposing her lie and possibly destroying her friendships? 


I was casually browsing Goodreads before I sat down to review this book and I noticed that a lot of people had only given it 1 or 2 stars. Usually when I've given a book 4 stars any review that displayed it negatively makes me rather annoyed, not because they didn't enjoy the book but because I've got response to everything that they thought was wrong. I can look at the person's review and go,'ahhh but you forgot this part of the book which says this'.

However, when reading the negative reviews for this book I couldn't do that, because I agreed with the reviews. People found Gia annoying and so did I. She made decisions so that she could stay the alpha of her group, rather doing what was right. She was shallow and mean and a little bratty. She definitely acted younger than her age and she appeared to have no redeeming qualities. Quite honestly, I was planning on giving up on this book quite early on, but I decided to give it one final push.

And I'm glad I did.

I thought I was going to hate this book, which was a shame as it is the first (and only) Kasie West book I've ever read and I've heard great things about her. However, once I'd pushed through I began to see the character development and plot line that I wanted to see. Although Gia was still slightly unlikable she was marginally different from the start of the novel. She had stopped caring about her status at school so much and had started to focus on other people for once. Hayden seemed to have a calming effect on everyone in the novel, and it was good to see that not only Gia had changed but that her friends also seemed to learn something from her situation.

The ending was a cutesy way to wrap everything up neatly, but I did feel like Gia got off very easily. By the end she had the boy she wanted, her friend group stocking by her side and a new group of friends to look out for her. I almost wish that she had had to sacrifice something to get the boy, but instead she got everything given to her on a plate by the end. However, this is a cute romantic contemporary, so what else was to be expected?

If you want to read a summery contemporary I do think you should pick this book up. There are parties, beaches and friendships that will make you wish summer would never end. I will warn you that it takes a little bit of effort to get through the first few chapters, because all you to do is tell Gia to stop being so self-centred, but once you work through that it is a fun and contemporary for any romance lovers.

Sunday, February 3, 2019

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

Image result for elsewhereElsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
Release Date: September 9, 2005
Pages: 271
Rating:💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Elsewhere is where 15-year-old Liz Hall ends up, after she has died. Here Liz will age backwards from the day of her death until she becomes a baby and is returned to Earth.  Liz spends her hours mourning for what, and who she has lost. But is it possible that a life lived in reverse is no different from a life lived forward? And can Liz ever find peace in a world so different, yet so similar to her own?


This book wasn't what I was expecting, and I'm still not sure if that is a good thing or not. I am a big fan of books about life after death, with one of my favourite books being The Messenger of Fear by Michael Grant, so I was very excited for this one. I think I went in with a strong pre-conceived idea about what the content of the book was going to be, because I read this book feeling let down.

The premise of this book was actually really interesting. The idea put forward in this book was like a mixture of the Catholic and Muslim belief system, with people getting to experience both Heaven and reincarnation. The idea that humans are recycled throughout the years is genuinely a very interesting thing and it fascinated me. Imagine being friends with someone who used to be Marie Curie or Charles Darwin; even if you didn't know it would be so cool.

However, the plot of overshadowed by several romance plots and a lot of teenage drama. Even the romance was questionable when you consider the fact that much older people end up falling in love with much younger people, because they have aged backwards to be the same age. It is the standard Benjamin-Button phenomenon, which makes you question what love actually is. (For reference, this a 15 year old girl who ends up with a 35 year old boy (who was married) because he looks 17).  Although the romance was sweet, it felt uncomfortable to me in a way that it might not for a younger reader. On that note, a lot of the jokes fell flat or just weren't recognisable as jokes. I didn't actually realise some of the passages were meant to be jokes until I read them in people's Goodreads reviews.

I don't want to seem like a Debby-downer, but another thing I didn't like about the book was the fact that animals could talk. I thought it could have been a cool concept, especially as it seemed that the animal languages were actually things that you could learn, rather than just generic English for all(!). However, any talking down by an animal was jarring and actually seemed to take away from the plot, rather than add anything important, especially as the animals were constantly talking in broken English. I think this concept would have flowed better if they could construct complete sentences and speak English, rather than the broken tongue they were given in this book.

It felt almost like a book for 10 year olds, with talking animals and mermaids that swam in the oceans, rather than the Young Adult book it is advertised as.  The ideas were all presented in a young way, as if it was a simple book to introduce children to the concept of philosophy. I'm kind-of upset that I din't read it when I was younger, because this book actually had quite a few gems in it, and had a interesting perception of mortality. Definitely give it to you child or younger cousin because it was quite lovely and is a good introduction into the concept of death.

"A life isn't measured in hours and minutes. It's the quality, not the length.”

Saturday, February 2, 2019

The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James

The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James 
Release Date: July 3, 2018
Pages: 290
Rating:💜💜💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Romy Silvers is the only surviving crew-member of a spaceship travelling to a new planet, on a mission to establish a second home for humanity. Alone in space, she is the loneliest girl in the universe until she hears about a new ship which has launched from Earth - with a single passenger on board. A boy called J. But as their relationship grows, mysteries about who J is start to arise. Sometimes, there's something worse than being alone...

This book was something else. I went into it a little wary, because I very rarely read sci-fi, and the last one I read was absolutely awful. However, this one far exceeded my expectations (as you can see by my rating). It was quite literally out of this world.

This book is about learning to be yourself by yourself, about learning not to be lonely, and about being absolutely terrified with no one to help you. It plays on your worst fears, creating feelings of pure loneliness just by placing the right words on the page. I read this at night whilst on a road trip, and the fear that I felt reading this book was almost crippling (I didn't talk for about 2 hours because I was so hooked by this book, which is quite an achievement for me!)

The problem with trying to review this book is that it is best if you going into it knowing as little as possible. I actually bought this book over the summer, and forgot about it until I was going through my bookshelves and looking for books to get rid of. I thought it was a shame to get rid of it without at least trying the first chapter, so I picked up there and then to try out the first chapter. And boy was I shocked by what went down. This book is packed with so many twists, turns and the most mysterious story line I've read in a while.  Therefore, I recommend that you go into the book having only read the blurb (and this review, obviously!)

What I will say is that this is a sweet and representative book. Romy is one of the most relatable characters I've ever met, with her anxiety being the best written disorder I've ever read about. She appears in control of her anxiety, and you can't believe that she suffers from anxiety, and then the next second she is on the floor unable to breathe because the universe seems to big. I also loved that she was this nerdy little girl who wrote fan-fiction and seen her favourite TV show so many times she had memorised the lines, because it once again made her more relatable. Romy could have been a completely unrelatable character, as she literally lives in space and is trying to re-establish humanity on a different planet, but this familiarity of a nerdy girl made me realise the amount of trauma she is going. Also, Romy is the biggest romantic in the world and I adored the romance throughout the novel. I don't think I've shipped two characters as hard as these ones.

In conclusion, I loved this book and it has fuelled a new urge in me to read more sci-fi books. The book is just as gorgeous as the cover, and I think Lauren James has really developed as a writer. I think this book is perfect for people who are trying to move from young adult contemporaries to sci-fi books because it acts a mash-up of both the genres. As someone who didn't particularly like sci-fi you can trust me when I say that this was a great introductory sci-fi novel.