Vincent by Barbara Stok | Review

Vincent by Barbara Stok 
Pages: 142
Release Date: 2012
Rating: 💜💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository
Away from Paris, Van Gogh falls in love with the landscape of the south of France and dreams of setting up an artists' studio for him and his friends to paint together. But attacks of mental illness leave the painter confused and disorientated. When his friend and fellow artist Paul Gauguin refuses to reside permanently at the Yellow House, Van Gogh's dreams are left in tatters. However, throughout this period of intense emotion and hardship, Vincent's brother Theo stands by him, offering constant support.


Read to complete the Magical Readathon 2020 prompt: read a book under 150 pages

I love Vincent Van Gogh. When I was 5 my mum took me to a museum in London where I saw one of his many Sunflower paintings and I was absolutely mesmerised. Something about his art just caught my attention and now I have become slightly obsessive about his life and all the work that he has produced.

When I saw this book I knew that I had to read it, but I wasn't sure if I was willing to spend €15 on a book I was going to read very fast and probably only once. Luckily, this pandemic kicked off so I had the very valid excuse of avoiding boredom whilst everything around us shuts down. And I'm so glad that I decided to pick it up.

First of all, the story. The story is a mixture of plain picture boxes, conversations Vincent had with people and letters that he sent to Theo (his younger brother) which created a very interesting narrative. This biography tells the reader the story of Vincent from when he moves to France for his health, all the way through his manic breakdown, and ends with him moving back North. Of course there is some artistic license taken, as the conversations Vincent had with people can't be truly known by us these days, but the general story sticks very close to the knowledge we have of Vincent today. The interspersion of his letters to Theo added context to his life, and it was interesting to see how his relationship with his brother shifted as his mental health declined.

The art style of this book is gorgeous. Barbara Stok's art style was an excellent choice for Vincent's life story as she perfectly captured the whimsical nature of his artwork and even used it to portray Vincent's own life. My favourite part of her style was how she displayed Vincent's breakdown, as the panels become more vivid and manic the further he falls.

I don't think you have to be a fan of Vincent's work to enjoy this book. Obviously you'd be more inclined to pick up the novel if you have an interest in him, but this graphic novel is just so beautiful that I think anyone could enjoy it. The artwork is gorgeous, the story is fun and it is short enough that it wouldn't take long to get through. I'm so happy to have added it to my collection and I know for certain that I will be picking it up again in the near future.

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

On The Come Up by Angie Thomas
Release Date: February 5, 2019
Pages: 435
Rating: 💜💜💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon |  Book Depository

As the daughter of an underground hip hop legend who died right before he hit big, Bri's got massive shoes to fill. But Bri soon finds herself at the centre of controversy and portrayed by the media as more menace than MC. And with an eviction notice staring her family down, Bri no longer just wants to make it - she has to. Even if it means becoming the very thing the public has made her out to be.

I know you shouldn't compare an author's books, especially two stories that are so important. However, I feel the only way I can truly talk about how many emotions this book made me feel is by relating it to how many emotions THUG made me feel.

This story felt so different from THUG, and yet so similar. I felt like we got to see more of Garden Heights in this book, from the gang life to the drug problems that held the Heights in its grips. I know THUG showed police brutality and the whole black rights movement, but this book felt more gritty... and scary. For some reason I felt more connected to Bri than I did to Starr, maybe because her story was more rooted in family dynamics and trying to overcome other people's perceptions of you (even if it has terrible consequences).

Bri wasn't as instantly likeable as Starr (she was more argumentative for one) and I spent a lot of the book mentally trying to telepathically make her shut up, but you can't help but love her by the end of the book. She stands up for herself when she feels that people are trying to push her into a certain box and doesn't let anyone control her. This is especially evident when she starts to rap more, as she wants to be successful but doesn't want to lose her identity as a rapper. She is especially strong when everyone starts trying to tell her what to rap about, and decides it is best if she decides what goes into her raps, rather than listen to other people. Talking about her raps, they were incredible (you can tell Angie Thomas used to be a rapper), and I honestly think that those raps would have the power to reach out to hundreds of unrepresented people if they were actually released. You could feel the pain behind her lyrics, and I found myself cheering along at some of the burns that she created during her battles.

My favourite part of this book was the fact that Bri didn't want to be used as a symbol of hope. She didn't want people to use her story as a story to inspire her movement; she just wanted people to forget what happened and leave her alone. She wanted her family to have money. She wanted her dad back. It was so different from what Starr went through in THUG and it was nice to see that side of humanity that doesn't want to make a deal out of things (especially if they think it will make things worse for themselves). There are even scenes in the book where Bri argues with people who want her to use her story to promote black rights in her school, and she straight up refuses, which I think is important for people to see.

I also loved that Bri didn't end the story with her ideal happy ending. Much like the ending of any Pixar film, everything went the opposite way from what was expected. But by writing it this way Angie Thomas made the story feel more realistic, because even though Bri didn't get what she wanted she ended up with a happy ending. This story was as much about black rights as it was about Bri's journey to figure out what was right for her

So all in all, a very moving book with plenty of fun moments meshed into the story line. Angie Thomas has once again shown her pure talent as an author, and I can't wait to read more stories from her (no matter how much they break my heart).

Happiness for Beginners by Carole Matthews

Happiness for Beginners by Carole Matthews
Pages: 464
Release Date: February 21, 2019 
Rating:💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Molly runs her farm as an alternative school for kids who haven't thrived in mainstream education. It's full on, but she wouldn't have it any other way. So when Shelby Dacre turns up asking to enrol his son Lucas, Molly isn't fazed. But Lucas is distant and soon Molly realises he might be more of a handful than she anticipated. And there's the problem that his dad is distractingly handsome. With all this excitement can she find her happy ending?

This book wasn't my cup of tea. I went into the book expecting a sweet romance about a woman trying to find her way in life and also get her man. And ultimately I did get that out of this book, give or take a few expectations, so really I should be satisfied.

But the writing style! Oh my god this writing style. I want to say that I'm sure it isn't Carole Matthews fault (at least not entirely) but this book was awful. There were spelling mistakes and typos and sentences that made no sense and it. drove. me. mad. I know I am in no place to comment critically on adult books, being a teenager who is in her first year of university, but man alive, the editor for this book sucked. I spent so much time mentally correcting mistakes in the book that I think I actually managed to miss sections of the book

Let's talk about characters. For the most part I liked the characters the appropriate amount; it was obvious who we were meant to dislike, who we were meant to like and who was going to go through some character growth. I did spend a lot of time being annoyed at Molly because she was made too perfect and I really needed her to be a little more selfish to be more likeable. (Weird criticism but just let me have it). All the children she looked after were charmingly broken in their own ways, and her friend (yes singular) was your stereotypical party friend that you find in all books like this.

So why give it three stars? It was a fun read, I enjoyed the story and I think that if the writing style was better I might have given it a higher rating. It's a same that the publishers decided to pull the publication date forward a year because if they'd taken that time to check through the book a little more they would have been able to edit it in a more successful way.

From Twinkle, with Love by Sandhya Menon

From Twinkle, with Love by Sandhya Menon
Pages: 330
Release Date: May 22, 2018
Rating: 💜💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Aspiring filmmaker Twinkle Mehra has stories she wants to tell and universes she wants to explore, if only the world would listen. So when fellow film geek Sahil Roy approaches her to direct a movie, Twinkle is all over it. The chance to publicly showcase her voice as a director? Dream come true. The fact that it gets her closer to her longtime crush, Neil Roy-a.k.a. Sahil's twin brother? Dream come true x 2.


I've been reading a lot of fantasy books lately (which is weird for me because I used to hate fantasy stories) but with summer coming to an end I decided to pick up a couple of cute romances to see off the sun once and for all. I was lucky enough to get this book in an Owlcrate box so not only is it gorgeous, but it's also signed!

The story follows a girl called Twinkle as she films her debut film, whilst navigating her way through high school. There was plenty of drama, romance and film stuff which filled my heart with so much joy. It was nice to see that even with all the drama that was going on in her life she stuck to her dream of becoming a famous director, but it is too commonly in books like these for the main character to 'forget' about their passion for the boy drama that is going on (*cough* Anna and the French Kiss *cough*). Luckily Twinkle was so hopeless at seeing the signs from the boys in her love square (?) that she didn't get too distracted by the boys who were clearly pining after her.

The writing style of this book is quite unique as it is told through diary entries, emails, letters and text messages. I LOVED that we got to see what other characters were talking about, so we had other people's perspectives on everything that was happening. The mixed-media approach was fun to read (although the handwriting of the letters was a little hard to read) and I really enjoyed the fact that Twinkle's diary was written to various different famous female directors. It gave an extra layer to her personality that, although it didn't add too much to the story, reinforced the fact that she truly loves film and everything surrounding it.

The representation in this book was quietly magnificent, with all different races and sexualities getting a spotlight in this novel. Apart from the Indian-American representation all of the  other representation was quietly bubbling along in the background, much like it does in real life. There were several black characters, a gay couple, a healthy look at grief and many, many looks at feminism and the need for women in certain fields. All of these topics, races and sexualities were given their moments in the book, but none of it felt forced. Too often representation like this feels forced (*cough* Marvel Endgame *cough*) but this felt natural. So good job, Sandhya Menon!

Overall, I loved this book. I'd been hesitant about reading it because I'd heard some negative things about When Dimple met Rishi and wasn't sure if this book had the same problems. I wish that I hadn't been so worried about other people's negative reviews and just read it as soon as I'd got it because it is such a happy and inspiring book.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Pages: 370
Release Date: January 2, 2018
Rating: 💜💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Jude was seven when she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. To win a place at the Court, she must defy him—and face the consequences.

I have been in a bit of a fantasy kick at the moment, which may or may not have been caused by reading the entire TDA trilogy in two months, but I've decided to just ride it out and read as many of my backlist fantasy books as possible. I got this book in an Owlcrate box a couple of months ago, so I've definitely taken my time getting round to reading this, but I'm glad I waited until now because I don't think I'd have enjoyed it as much as I did.

This book had a lot of classic YA fantasy tropes in it so be warned! I'd recently read A Court of Thorns and Roses, and it there were definitely aspects of this book that was very similar to this book. There was a young girl who was taken to the land of the Faerie, a ruthless hunter figure, a mysterious faerie prince and a challenge that to be completed. However (!!), don't let that put you off. Holly Black has a way of twisting the expected into something completely unexpected, and this book was no exception.

Jude was the most likeable unlikable character I have ever seen, but I LIVED for it.  She was so focused on protecting those she cared about that she didn't stop to think about what impacts her actions would have. I feel like I have to go back and read the book again, knowing how it ended, to see if  Jude is actually likeable. You could tell that she is the kind of person who would do well in politics, because she does seem to be constantly scheming against people, and collecting information about all the people around her. Surprisingly, I actually quite liked her for most of the book because there didn't seem to be anything inherently wrong about her. Sure, she was a little grouchy and didn't always think about her sisters and what they felt, but overall she didn't seem too bad. And then everything went down.

The book is quite slow, so if you prefer your fantasy to be completely action-packed you may have troubles getting into this story. The main action scenes probably happen in the last 10 chapters of the book, but what really drew me in was the focus on constructing a court that would interest the reader. There were so many different rules and regulations that thrown at us in the first half of the story, and with all the different princes each getting a mention it was easy to see how complicated the court dynamics truly are. Luckily, there was no point in the story where I felt lost or intimidated by all the information that was getting thrown at me because Holly Black was able to construct a world that was simple enough for anyone to understand, but complex enough to be interesting.

Maybe it's because I'm new to the fantasy genre, or maybe it's genuinely because this book is so good but I had such a great time reading. I'd have to say that it is in my top 5 fantasy books (which isn't saying much but still) and I'm actually really excited to read the next two books in the trilogy!

It Only Happens in the Movies by Holly Bourne

It Only Happens in the Movies by Holly Bourne
Pages: 411
Release Date: 2017
Rating: 💜💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Audrey is over romance. Since her parents' relationship imploded her mother's been catatonic, so she takes a cinema job to get out of the house. But there she meets wannabe film-maker Harry. Nobody expects Audrey and Harry to fall in love as hard and fast as they do. But that doesn't mean things are easy. Because real love isn't like the movies...


I love the film (500) days of Summer. The way it examines love in our world and how our expectations don't always match up to our reality fascinates me. As someone who falls in love easily but rarely acts I have been known to build up a daydream of the life I could have with the person, only for it to all come crashing down around me. In many ways I am like Tom from the film, because I want more than the person I like can give to me.

And that's exactly what this book was like. The main character, Audrey, falls hard for a boy she meets working at a movie theatre and is willing to do almost anything to stay in a relationship with Harry (the bad boy of the novel). It was interesting going into this book because you knew it wasn't a love story from the get go. Audrey has sworn off love, and announces this several times at the start of the novel, so you know that we aren't being shown a love story. But holy cow does Holly Bourne take us for a ride.

If you have ever read any of Holly Bourne's books before you have learnt that nothing is ever as it seems. Every single one of her novels has had at least 3 major plot twists that each serve a different purpose. The first one is the one you see coming, the second one is the one that changes the entire dynamic of the story and the third one leaves you in tears. This book was no exception, with each one of these living up to and crushing all of my expectations for the novel. The characters were so well written that it felt like this story was happening to your closest friends, and you just wanted Holly Bourne to LET THEM HAVE A HAPPY ENDING!

One thing I've always admired about Holly Bourne's books is the fact that the side characters aren't neglected, no matter how little time they spend actually appearing on page. From the neurotic cinema manager to Harry's group of friends I really felt like I connected to each character and got to see the deeper parts of their character. No one was a perfect person, with no flaws. Everyone had multiple sides to them, and you could understand their motives for all of their actions (even if you didn't enjoy them). Like all of Holly Bourne books I've read, this book made me feel like I'd lost a friendship group the moment I turned over the last page, which is the beauty of a well-written novel.

Possibly my favourite part about this book was all the pop culture references that were made between the characters. This has become an increasing trend in YA books, with some people falling flat but Holly Bourne has always had a way of interweaving her world with world that seems so effortless. The references to Kill Bill,  the Marvel universe, and literally every romance movie worth watching added so much to this book as you got to get inside the brain of the characters and understand the connections they are making as they are making them.

The ending made me sob for a good two or three minutes with how perfect it was. You get to see just how much Audrey has grown as a character, and also the influence she has had on Harry as a person. It was one of the most beautiful endings to a YA romance I have ever read and exceeded my expectations on so many levels. And even though I knew what was coming the second time I read this book, it still made me weep like a Disney princess (dramatically throws self on bed).

Overall this book is well worth the read, even if you aren't the biggest fan of romance, because it is so much more than a love story. It has a feminist take on the typical romance novel that takes down all your expectations and rebuilds them into the story you didn't realise you needed (plus it has zombies, which is pretty awesome).

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Release Date: May 6, 2014
Pages: 531
Rating:💜💜💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository
For Marie-Laure, blind since the age of six, the world is full of mazes. The miniature of a Paris neighbourhood, made by her father to teach her the way home. The microscopic layers within the invaluable diamond that her father guards in the Museum of Natural History. The city by the sea, where she takes refuge from the Nazis, drawing her ever closer to Werner, a German orphan, destined to labour in the mines until a broken radio fills his life with possibility and brings him to the notice of the Hitler Youth.

I remember when this book was getting all the hype and I thought 'I am never going to read this book'. I had no interest in reading this book, I though I wouldn't enjoy it and I was convinced that it wasn't going to be that great.

It wasn't until I had to make up an excuse for who I wasn't writing my history coursework in the lessons set aside for the specific purpose of writing my history coursework (I know, I'm a good student) that I decided to read this book. Considering I was writing my history coursework on World War Two I somehow managed to convince my teacher that me reading a book about WW2 was me doing work. I think he just liked the fact that I got all my work done the night of getting given it. Whatever his reason was it gave me the chance to read this book, and boy was it one heck of a ride.

I'd started reading this book before but never got into the story (mainly because I hated any book that wasn't standard text, but hey ho). But this time something had clearly change because I was addicted to the story and couldn't put the book done. I could only read it in snatches of time that grabbed throughout my school days but I lived for these moments, desperately wanting to find out what happened next.

All of the characters in this book were so incredibly complicated, with each chapter revealing a new layer to their story. There was the blind girl who could see with her fingers, the Nazi boy who loved to invent, his little sister who hated him for being a Nazi, and the eccentric uncle who loved his family with all his heart. Even these little descriptions of the characters aren't enough; the characters you see at the start of this book aren't the ones you are left with at the end because Anthony Doerr really knows how to develop a character.

I loved the grime of this story; the fact that society felt tainted by the war, that you could see the devastation within each chapter. So many YA war novels miss out the fact that everyone was affected by the war, and not just because of the loss of lives. Throughout the novel we see relationships fall apart, new ones build up and see how families change and evolve due to the strain of the war. The realistic nature of this story was similar to that of The Book Thief, proving that no one is truly safe from the nature of the war.

This book is the kind of book where you have to sit down and think about it, rather than just rushing from this book to another one. The beauty of the prose, the nature of the character's relationships, and the deep historical connections gave this book a place in my heart that it will keep for years to come.

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Macbeth 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.

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: 💜💜💜

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

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.

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.

The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher

The 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.

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
Release Date: September 9, 2005
Pages: 271
Rating:💜💜💜
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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.”

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:💜💜💜💜💜
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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.

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Release Date: May 4, 2010

Pages: 344

Rating: 💜💜💜💜💜

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Amy is not looking forward to her summer. Her mother decided to move across the country and now it's her responsibility to get their car from California to Connecticut. The only problem is, since her father died in a car accident, she isn't ready to get behind the wheel. Enter Roger. An old family friend, he also has to make the cross-country trip - and has plenty of baggage of his own. The road home may be unfamiliar but together, Amy and Roger will figure out how to map their way.

This book was a really cute way to start the year. Although it's set in Summer, and therefore was a complete juxtaposition to the weather outside, it was a lovely read. I think I read this in about 5 hours because I couldn't bring myself to put it down; the writing was captivating and the characters were fun to read about.

I think my favourite think about this book was the fact that it stuck to the fact that it was a book about a road trip. Some road trip books I've read seem to forget this, focusing on the romance and placing the road trip in places that were convenient. But Morgan Matson did a fantastic job at making the road trip take the front seat and the romance happening around it. Even better, she related the different locations in the novels to different developments in their relationship. With each location they ended up in Amy and Roger left closer together, whether it was from dealing with an ex or visiting a childhood holiday destination. Not only did Matson push the road trip aspect of the book through the adventures they had, she also included playlists and scrapbook-y items throughout the book to make you feel more immersed throughout the novel. (I'll include the playlist here (I didn't put it together but I did listen to it whilst reading the book)). I love it when books do this because it adds that little bit extra to the general reading experience, as you get to actually look at the places which Amy and Roger pass through.

Speaking of Amy and Roger, I was delighted to see that they were both beautifully flawed people who are forced to work through their problems, using each other as their motivation to let go and move on from previous experiences. Watching them grow closer together and begin to understand each other in ways that no one else could was beautiful, making for a very cute read as they grew to trust and rely upon the other throughout the road trip from California to Connecticut, with their chemistry growing at a similar rate.  Naturally, Amy and Roger weren't the only characters in the book (although the focus was obviously placed on them). I think this rings true in every single Matson book I've read, but the secondary characters were well developed and felt just as important as the main characters. It is so common for the side characters to feel 2D and boring, but I can honestly say that it felt like all the characters in the novel were alive and breathing. It was weird, but when I got to the end of the book I was wishing that I could get another novel that just told me about what the other characters were getting up to. Matson's talent for writing characters meant that the book felt like it was alive, breathing, and had a life of its own.

Overall, I loved this book. It was a warm, summer read that kept me out of the January slump that everyone appears to suffer from. The characters were lovely, the general story was sweet and there was enough hard hitting content that I was engrossed. This was the best fictional trip I've ever read about, and am now planning a road trip of my own!

Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland

Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland
Release Date: October 4, 2016
Pages: 313
Rating: 💜💜💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

First love is an epic disaster Henry has never been in love. Then he meets Grace Town, the elusive new girl in school, who wears oversized boys' clothing, walks with a cane, rarely seems to shower, and is hiding crushing secrets. She's hardly who Henry expected his dream girl to be, but when the two have to edit the paper together, sparks fly. After all this time, Henry's about to learn just how disastrous the road to first love can be-and that sometimes it's the detours that end up mattering more.

I honestly wasn't expecting to like this book. I picked it up on a whim because I'd heard about it online and thought I needed to read every book that booktubers like to be a good reader (I now know that is 100% false and I should just read what I like). After I picked it up I put it straight on to my TBR shelf and then promptly forgot about it. Until this month.

I was expecting something like Me, Earl and the Dying Girl, with dark humour and a predictable love story, but it was so much more. 

This is an anti-love story. The whole story is based around Henry and Grace's relationship but it is the biggest pile of anti-love to have ever been written. It is a poisonous love story that shows everything that is wrong with young love and I adored it. YA contemporaries tend to idealise romance, making first love seem unrealistically brilliant and perfect whereas it is actually a big mess of both people trying to figure out what they want from the relationship and inevitably getting it wrong. This book showed the raw, emotional side of love, the side that isn't always perfect, the side that needs alcohol to make it better. And it was glorious.

It was also the biggest compilation of pop culture ever. I thought nothing could top Simon when it came to popular references but I was proven wrong when reading this book. Both of these characters are geeky and reference heavy. It is always nice when you're reading a book and then the characters randomly start talking about a Pixar film because you feel like you can...relate. Every time a reference came up that I knew I felt a little burst of excitement because it made me feel like these characters weren't so different from me. There weren't an overwhelming amount of references in the book, with the author going 'look at me I'm quirky and relatable', but there were enough that it felt like an integral part of the novel.

Overall, this book was incredible and well worth a read. the characters were flawed and real, the plot took enough twists that it kept you hooked and the ending was shocking enough that it will stick in your mind. If you want a romantic contemporary with  a twist I would recommend having a go at this book because it ticks all those boxes.

The Haunting by Alex Bell

The Haunting by Alex Bell
Release date: February 11, 2016
Pages: 352
Rating: 💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Emma is permanently confined to a wheelchair after an accident at the Waterwitch when she was ten. Seven ears later, she decides to return to the place where the awful event occurs. But the ancient inn still has its ghosts,
and one particular spirit is more vengeful than ever...


Trigger Warning: Abuse

This book has been on my TBR for two years now and I was finally ready to read it this month. I'm a bit of a wuss when it comes to horror, even though I love watching and reading scary things. I willing sacrifice my sleep to scary myself silly, and that was the risk I took going into the book.

I was disappointed by this book. The scariest thing about the whole book is definitely the front cover, and even that isn't too disturbing. There were a couple of scenes which had graphic descriptions of the curses that had been placed on the various characters but none of it made me lose any sleep. It was clear which parts of the book were meant to be scary and although they didn't terrify me, they definitely made me cringe from how disgusting the description was.

Something the book did do well was the disability representation. Emma is a wheelchair user who has a guide dog, and the book didn't forget that. At no point during the novel was she miraculously cured, she didn't pull herself across the floor to save the day, and she didn't go anywhere without her guide dog. Alex Bell even made to address the fact that Emma would have to have a specially adapted car to suit her needs, although she didn't overplay the disability. It was prominent, and affected Emma's daily life, but it didn't inhibit her from leaving the house or having fun. As a teen book I think this was vital, as there are children who are disabled but can still live their life. Hopefully, this will show some children that they can still do things, even if they have to use a wheelchair.

Another thing that this book did was create good family dynamics. Although we barely see Emma's family we do get to see how Jem looks after Shell, protecting her from a world that hasn't been friendly to her. This book has heavy references to the abuse that they have had to go through, and a few scenes where the abusive parent shows up, so if that would be in any way triggering give this book a miss. However, Alex Bell was sensitive when writing this book and demonstrated the children's relationships beautiful. As someone who knows siblings who have suffered an abusive household it was eerie to read this book as I could see them reflected in the novel. Jem and Shell's love for each other, as well as Emma, is so strong that it gave you hope that they would all survive the book.

If I'm perfectly honest, this book was a good read and left me with nothing but happy memories of it. the only reason why I've rated it a 3/5 is because I was expecting something very different from what I got. I was finally ready to read a scary book and I didn't get that (maybe it's a sign)!