Thanks to Penguin for sending me a copy to review. I read 'All the Bright Places' by Jennifer Niven last year and loved it, and so I couldn't wait to read this new release. Here is what I thought;

'Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout, the girl once dubbed “America’s Fattest Teen.” But no one’s taken the time to look past her weight to get to know who she really is. Following her mom’s death, she’s been picking up the pieces in the privacy of her home, dealing with her heartbroken father and her own grief. Now, Libby’s ready: for high school, for new friends, for love, and for every possibility life has to offer. In that moment, I know the part I want to play here at MVB High. I want to be the girl who can do anything. 

Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin, too. Yes, he’s got swagger, but he’s also mastered the impossible art of giving people what they want, of fitting in. What no one knows is that Jack has a newly acquired secret: he can’t recognize faces. Even his own brothers are strangers to him. He’s the guy who can re-engineer and rebuild anything, but he can’t understand what’s going on with the inner workings of his brain. So he tells himself to play it cool: Be charming. Be hilarious. Don’t get too close to anyone.

Until he meets Libby. When the two get tangled up in a cruel high school game—which lands them in group counseling and community service—Libby and Jack are both pissed, and then surprised. Because the more time they spend together, the less alone they feel. Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the world, theirs and yours. ' - Goodreads

CHARACTERS: Niven is always able to write her characters with such creativity and each of them are always so differently. Libby has had an eventful life, and when she goes back to school, this only gets worse. Libby's character development from the beginning to the end of the book was noticeable and I think Niven did a great job at that. Libby starts of insecure and shy, however when as time goes on she makes friends and learns to love herself.

Jack also develops a lot throughout the book, but in a different way to Libby. Jack starts off as a complete douche who has no respect for other people, including Libby. However, by the end of the book Jack has not only learnt more about himself and Libby, but others around him as well. Jack also grows the courage to tell his parents and friends the truth, and learns not to care what others think of him.

PLOT/ STORY LINE: Overall, I really enjoyed the story line. I found it a bit slow at first as the first half of the book was dedicated to developing the story and the characters. However, the second half of the book was really entertaining and the plot began to take off. I liked how the story wasn't overly plot driven with multiple story lines and things happening all at once. I was able to focus on the two characters and how their separate stories intertwined. I was constantly intrigued in the story and managed to finish it in less than two days because I couldn't put it down. 

I also really enjoyed the diverse range of characters, and the different issues that were talked about in the book. We had different races, body images, mental health disorders, and health issues in general. I have read and heard a few different opinions about this, but I personally think that Niven did a great job at incorporating these into her story,

ENDING: I really enjoyed the ending and how the story was wrapped up nicely. I feel like this book would teach a lot to people about confidence and being true to yourself, and that's probably a lesson that everyone needs to learn at some point in their lives. Although the ending may have been to "perfect" to be realistic, I think that sometimes it's nice to read a book where everything ends up the way it should!

RATING: Overall, I decided to give this book 5 stars. I haven't given a 5 star rating to a book in a while, and although it isn't perfect, I felt that it was better than a 4.5. I recommend picking this up if you're a fan of Niven's writing or want to learn more about these diverse range of characters and disorders.

CHECK THE BOOK OUT ON:

Goodreads; https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28686840-holding-up-the-universe?ac=1&from_search=true

Dymocks; https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/holding-up-the-universe-by-jennifer-niven-9780141357058/Amazon; https://www.amazon.com.au/Holding-Up-Universe-Jennifer-Niven-ebook/dp/B01BFGIYIC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1476077673&sr=8-1&keywords=holding+up+the+universe

Thanks to Pan Macmillan for sending me all three books in the series to read and review. The trilogy consists of Trial by Fire, Firewalker, and Witch's Pyre and I can say that I enjoyed all three books. I'm going to split this review up into three parts and I'll talk about each book separately. All reviews will be spoiler free.

TRIAL BY FIRE

"This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying experiences that others in her hometown of Salem take for granted, which is why she is determined to enjoy her first high school party with her best friend and longtime crush, Tristan. But after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class, Lily wishes she could just disappear.
Suddenly, Lily is in a different Salem—one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruelest of them all is Lillian . . . Lily's other self in this alternate universe.
What makes Lily weak at home is what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. In this confusing world, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone and a love she never expected. " - Goodreads

I would have to say that this book was my favourite out of all three and I just felt the most intrigues in this story line. I loved getting to know the characters in both worlds; Lily and Lilliana, Tristian and Rowan and loved seeing how different they all are from each other. I read The Crucible play in high school, and this prior knowledge of Salem definitely helped me understand the witch world better. I haven't read many fantasy books about witch's before and so this was a new experience for me, and one that I really enjoyed.

FIREWALKER

'Lily Proctor has made it back to her own universe, and it's finally time for her and Rowan to be happy and relax. True, she almost died in the Pyre that fueled their escape, and they must hide her new magic for the safety of the world, but compared to fighting the monstrous Woven and leading armies in the alternate Salem, life is looking good.
'You think I'm a monster, but my choices, as ruthless as they seem, are justified.'
Unfortunately, Lillian, ruthless ruler of the 13 Cities, is not willing to let Lily go that easily. Lily is the closest version of herself she's ever seen in all her worldwalking, and Lillian's running out of time. If she can't persuade Lily and Rowan to return to her world, she'll have to find a way to make them come back.' - Goodreads

Although I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first one, I still really enjoyed it and thought that it was a great follow up. In the last book, we explored the other universe, and in Firewalker we learnt more about Lily's original universe (the normal world). I also liked how we learnt more about the characters, especially the original Tristian who would have to be my favourite character. The ending was emotional and tragic in this one, and left me wanting to pick the next one up straight away.

WITCH'S PYRE

'Lily Proctor has come a long way from the weak, sickly girl she used to be. She has gained power as a witch and a leader, found her way home, chosen to face battle again, and (after losing her first love and being betrayed by her new love) she has learned more about loss and grief than she ever wanted to know.

Thrust once again into a society different from anything they have ever seen, Lily and her coven are determined to find answers―to find a new path to victory, a way to defeat the monstrous Woven without resorting to nuclear weapons or becoming a tyrannical mass murderer like her alternate self, Lillian. But sometimes winning requires sacrifices . . . and when the only clear path to victory lies at Lillian's side, what price will Lily be willing to pay?' - Goodreads

The final book to this amazing, action filled and dramatic series. One of my favourite aspects of this series is the amount of character growth and development that each of the characters went through. Lily especially, who started off as a regular teenager who suffered from seizures for no apparent reason, to one of the most powerful witches after discovering this alternate universe. Such a great ending to a great series.

SUMMARY:

Overall, I really enjoyed this series and loved getting into the universe and discovering more about Salem and witches. I decided to give this trilogy 4 stars out of 5. If you like fantasy books, or want to read more about witches, I highly recommend picking this series up!

Thanks to Penguin for sending me this to review because I don't think I would have picked it up otherwise. I'm not usually a massive fan of books told by a male perspective, I just don't usually find the book relatable, however this is a big exception. I found this book to be not only beautifully written, but also realistic as any first love is.

"John Green meets Rainbow Rowell in this irresistible story of first love, broken hearts, and the golden seams that put them back together again.
 
Henry Page has never been in love. He fancies himself a hopeless romantic, but the slo-mo, heart palpitating, can't-eat-can't-sleep kind of love that he's been hoping for just hasn't been in the cards for him—at least not yet. Instead, he's been happy to focus on his grades, on getting into a semi-decent college and finally becoming editor of his school newspaper. Then Grace Town walks into his first period class on the third Tuesday of senior year and he knows everything's about to change.
 
Grace isn't who Henry pictured as his dream girl—she walks with a cane, wears oversized boys' clothes, and rarely seems to shower. But when Grace and Henry are both chosen to edit the school paper, he quickly finds himself falling for her. It's obvious there's something broken about Grace, but it seems to make her even more beautiful to Henry, and he wants nothing more than to help her put the pieces back together again. And yet, this isn't your average story of boy meets girl. Krystal Sutherland's brilliant debut is equal parts wit and heartbreak, a potent reminder of the bittersweet bliss that is first love." - Goodreads


CHARACTERS: The main character, and narrator, Henry is a great perspective to read from and I found him quite relatable. He is young and falling in love for the first time and I found it beautiful to read his words during what is a tough time for him. I love Henry's open mind and willingness to let anyone into his world, including Grace who can be difficult at times.
Grace is an interesting character to read about, yet I loved how we found out more about her and her past as the story unfolded. She has obviously been through a lot over the last year as we learn, and although this has affected her a lot, she still acts as a fun and bubbly character, especially when she is around Henry. Henry allows Grace to open up and I loved reading about their relationship and it's ups and downs throughout the book. It was a realistic romance and that's what I loved about it.

PLOT/STORY LINE: Although there were a lot of ups and downs in the story line such as Henry and Grace's relationship, discovering Grace's past, and Henry growing up and falling in love for the first time, the overall story line was pretty simple. It was easy to follow and I didn't feel bombarded with a whole lot of drama and story. Sutherland did a beautiful job telling the story of Henry both in her writing style, character development, and the events that occurred throughout the book. I didn't find anything predictable and the book was such a page turner - I managed to finish it in two days which surprised me considering I've been in a bit of a reading slump for a few weeks. Our Chemical Hearts definitely brought me out of that and I am back in the reading world once again.

ENDING: Yes... the ending was emotional and somewhat tragic, but it was realistic and that's what I loved most about it. I read the very last page of the book and felt shivers up my spine and goose bumps on my arms. It was sad and beautiful and relatable and realistic and everything it should have been. It wrapped up the book perfectly and represented the story of real first loves.

RATING: I have decided to give this book a perfect 5 stars. The characters were beautifully written and I loved reading from Henry's perspective, the plot kept me on my toes, and the ending gave me chills. I didn't expect such a great reading experience considering it was an arc that was sent to me that I have never heard about before. But I am so glad that I picked it up and I hope that everyone else decides to do the same.

I will be meeting the author at a Dymock's event on Wednesday and I cannot wait! A blog post will be up soon.

Thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me a copy to review! If you're subscribed to my YouTube channel (youtube.com/readbooksread), then you probably know my feelings towards the Throne of Glass series. I marathoned the first four books and the novella in January this year; I loved ToG, liked CoM, but HoF and QoS were a bit of a let down for me. I had tor read a summary of QoS before starting EoS because I was completely confused with how it ended. After briefly refreshing my mind I picked the new release up and managed to finish it in five days!

"The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don't.

As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

Aelin's journey from assassin to queen has entranced millions across the globe, and this fifth installment will leave fans breathless. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?" - Goodreads


CHARACTERS: 
Despite my minor disliking towards Celaena/Aelin in the past, she began to grow on me throughout EoS which was good. I think one of the reasons I found it so hard to read HoF and QoS was because she started to annoy me a bit. But this definitely changed throughout the book which made it a lot more enjoyable to read.
Dorian has been my favourite character throughout the whole series. ToG is my favourite from the series because he was with Celaena and they are my OTP in the series. Even though they didn't get together like I hoped they would in the book, I loved how we still got a lot from his character in this book. I enjoyed his story line with Manon and seeing where that went, and also his connection with Aelin and Rowan.
I could not stand Rowan in the last book because he was getting in the way of my OTP. However, as I began to accept the fact that Dorian and Aelin are not getting together anytime soon, I grew to like Rowan and his relationship with Aelin.

STORY LINE:
I'm going to say this now; I'm still not 100% sure what actually went down in the book or the last two books either. I found myself confused a lot, and maybe that's because I found the last two books boring that I didn't pay complete attention to them. So yeah...
However, I did manage to pick up on a majority of the main story lines and mostly understood them. I found EoS a lot more interesting and intense than I found the previous two books. There was so much happening and so many characters dealing with different things that I was always excited to pick up the book each day.
I've read through a lot of reviews of people saying they cried, but the book didn't have that emotional impact on me. I enjoyed it and preferred it a lot more than HoF especially. However, for me personally it doesn't beat Throne of Glass.

ENDING:
I found the ending really intense, and I actually enjoyed it. I'm not a massive fan of cliff hangers and I hate how I have to wait another year to find out what's going to happen. But I did like that the pace of the book picked up and I couldn't wait to see how it ends. I also can't wait to read the next book!

RATING:
Overall, I decided to give this book 4 stars out of 5. Like I said, I loved reading about the three characters I mentioned and I enjoyed the ending. However, I still haven't been able to wrap my head around the plot. If I ever have some spare time (which will probably be never) I would love to reread the series to see if I could understand them better a second time around.


Comment below what your thoughts are on Empire of Storms :)

Thanks to Hoddler for sending me this to review. The concept of this book sounded really interesting and I couldn't wait to pick it up. A month later I finally got around to it, and I found it absolutely beautiful. Here's what I thought;

"Seventeen-year-old Maddie O'Neill Levine's grandmother is a young-at-heart socialite who has always been Maddie's go-to confidante. Although Maddie and the rest of her family have learned to expect the unexpected from their matriarch, Gram still manages to shock them all when she announces that she has booked the O'Neill clan on a secret death-with-dignity ship called the Wishwell; Gram has terminal cancer and is determined to leave the world in her own way--and give her family an unforgettable summer of dreams-come-true in the process.

Soon, Maddie is on the trip of a lifetime with her wacky family. Aboard the ship, Maddie bonds with other Wishwellians and falls for Enzo, the son of the ship's owner, as they travel the globe. But despite the copious laugher, headiness of first love, and wonder of the glamorous destinations, Maddie knows she is on the brink of losing Gram, and she struggles to find the strength to let go in a whirlwind summer shaped by love, grief, and the power of forgiveness" - Goodreads


CHARACTERS: There was such a wide range of different characters in this book which I loved. The main character, Maddie, went through a lot of ups and downs and I loved reading about how she handled each situation. She is young and free and I love reading about characters this age. She is dealing with the news her grandmother gave her, falling in love for the first time, and all the usual 'going on eighteen' stuff.
Enzo is an absolute babe! He was charming and funny and really brought out the best in Maddie. I would read a book that was just about him.
Gram is hilarious and would have to be my favourite character in the book. She is old on the outside, but still young at heart. I found myself laughing out loud while reading this on the bus because some of the things she said or ways she acted was hilarious.

STORY LINE / PLOT: Like I said at the beginning, I found the story concept really interesting and different, and I don't think I've ever heard about a book with a story line like this before. Although it may be a bit controversial, I found it really interesting. I also loved how there was always something exciting happening which kept me on my toes and made it a really interesting read. I've been on a slight reading slump lately, but I managed to finish this book in just over two days. I had to force myself to shut the book at night so I could get some sleep!
I loved how it focused not only on Maddie's romantic relationship with Enzo, but also her relationship with her Gram, other passengers on the ship, her other family members, and the life she left behind for the summer.

ENDING: Although the ending was emotional along with other parts throughout the book, I also found it beautiful. It finished with an open ending left to the readers interpretation, which I don't usually like, however I found that Firestone did an good job at it. I closed the book feeling satisfied with how the events concluded - and I think that can sometimes be the most important aspect of a good book.

RATING: I decided to give this book 4.5 stars out of 5 and I highly recommend picking this up if it interest you. I can guarantee you that you won't be dissapointed.


CHECK 'THE LOOSE ENDS LIST' OUT ON:
Goodreads; https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29756048-the-loose-ends-list
Dymocks: https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/loose-ends-list-by-carrie-firestone-9781444929362/#.V9Iudfl97IU
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com.au/Loose-Ends-List-Carrie-Firestone-ebook/dp/B014SVDSCS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473392268&sr=8-1&keywords=the+loose+ends+list

Thanks to Pan Macmillan for sending me a copy for review. I don't often read adult fiction/ chick lit, but when I do I usually enjoy it (i.e. Nicholas Sparks). Even though I was looking forward to see what this book was about, I didn't have high expectations.

'When Emma Montague left the strict confines of upper-crust British life for New York, she felt sure it would make her happy. Away from her parents and expectations, she felt liberated, throwing herself into Manhattan life replete with a high-paying job, a gorgeous apartment, and a string of successful boyfriends. But the cutthroat world of finance and relentless pursuit of more began to take its toll. This wasn’t the life she wanted either. 
 On the move again, Emma settles in the picturesque waterfront town of Westport, Connecticut, a world apart from both England and Manhattan. It is here that she begins to confront what it is she really wants from her life. With no job, and knowing only one person in town, she channels her passion for creating beautiful spaces into remaking the dilapidated cottage she rents from Dominic, a local handyman who lives next door with his six-year-old son. 
 Unlike any man Emma has ever known, Dominic is confident, grounded, and committed to being present for his son whose mother fled shortly after he was born. They become friends, and slowly much more, as Emma finds herself feeling at home in a way she never has before.
 But just as they start to imagine a life together as a family, fate intervenes in the most shocking of ways. For the first time, Emma has to stay and fight for what she loves, for the truth she has discovered about herself, or risk losing it all. ' - Goodreads

CHARACTERS: The main character, Emma, I actually enjoyed reading about and learning her story from her perspective. She goes through a lot of transitions in her life before the book begins and throughout and I loved reading about her. She is a likeable person and character which made the book easier to read. Emma's love interest and landlord, Dominic, is also a great guy. He is a hard worker and a single father, and seeing his relationship with his son is quite touching. I liked the relationship between these two characters and seeing it transition and develop throughout the book.

PLOT / STORY LINE: The overall plot was a bit of a down fall for me. I felt like nothing much really happened throughout the book. Things happened in the beginning, and there was a major rise in the plot at the end of the book, but the middle I found a little bit boring. I felt like we as the readers were simply going through the motions of Emma and Dominic's relationship but nothing exciting was happening. At the beginning I was really intrigued with the story line and expected dramatic and exciting things to happen, but I was disappointed to find that nothing changed until the last 50 pages.

ENDING: I liked the emotion that the ending brought. It was sad and a complete comparison to the mood that I felt throughout the rest of the book. I also liked how the epilogue wrapped up everything nicely so that the readers weren't left hanging. However, I felt like the big thing that happened in the end (no spoilers) happened so suddenly that I wasn't able to process it. I felt like it could have happened earlier and the aftermath of the event could have been lengthened slightly.

RATING: Overall I decided to give this book 3 stars out of 5. I liked the characters and enjoyed reading from their perspective, however the overall story line was a bit of a let down. If you are a fan of adult fiction romance and chick lit, maybe pick it up for yourself and see what you think.

Thanks to Harper Collins for sending me a copy of the book for review. Considering it is a YA contemporary, it's a bit on the lengthy side so it took me over a week to read, however I still enjoyed it as a whole. Here are my thoughts.

'Willa Parker, 646th and least popular resident of What Cheer, Iowa, is headed east to start a new life.
Did she choose this new life? No, because that would be too easy—and nothing in Willa’s life is easy. It’s her famous genius mother’s idea to send her to ultra-expensive, ultra-exclusive Pembroke Prep, and it’s only the strength of her name that got Willa accepted in the first place.
But Willa has no intentions of fitting in at Pembroke. She’s not staying long, she decides. Not at this school—and not on this planet. But when she meets peculiar, glittering Remy Taft, the richest, most mysterious girl on campus, she starts to see a foothold in this foreign world—a place where she could maybe, possibly, sort of fit.
When Willa looks at Remy, she sees a girl who has everything. But for Remy, having everything comes at a price. And as she spirals out of control, Willa can feel her spinning right out of her grasp.
In Willa’s secret heart, all she’s ever wanted is to belong. But if Remy, the girl who gave her this world, is slip-sliding away, is Willa meant to follow her down?' - Goodreads

CHARACTERS: Willa's character and reading the book from her perspective would probably have to be my favourite aspect of the book. I think that she is one of the most relateable characters I've read about in a YA contemporary, not just to myself but I think a lot of teenage girls. She goes through a lot of ups-and-downs throughout the book and I loved being able to witness her development by the end of the story.

Remy is almost the opposite to Willa, and I loved being able to see the comparisons between the two. They balance eachother out and I think that is a great quality in a friendship. I loved the connection between Remy and Willa, and a majority of the book revolved around their friendship and how they were both able to influence each other in different ways. 

PLOT / STORY LINE: I found the story line okay. It was simple, included a different range of emotions, and focused on friendship as it's main point. I also liked that it was realistic which can sometimes be difficult to find in YA books. However, I didn't find the plot exciting and at times I was a little bit bored. I think that maybe it was longer than it needed to be. Although I think that the characters made up for it.

ENDING: Although I think the ending was quite abrupt, I liked the realness of it. It wasn't your typical YA contemporary ending, and instead it was realistic which I liked.

RATING: Overall I decided to rate this book 3 stars out of 5. I recommend this book to readers who love realistic contemporaries.

Check this book out on;

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26116452-the-fall-of-butterflies

Dymocks: https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/the-fall-of-butterflies-by-andrea-portes-9780062313676/

Amazon; https://www.amazon.com.au/The-Fall-of-Butterflies/dp/B01BACAHRC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470891217&sr=8-1&keywords=the+fall+of+butterflies

Thanks to Walker Books for sending me a copy of Girl Out Of Water for review. I picked it up over the weekend and read it in a few days. Here's what I thought;

'A thoroughly British teen comedy starring a hilariously flawed heroine with a quip for every occasion - perfect for fans of Holly Smale, Rae Earl and Jenny MacLachlan. Lou Brown's life is going down the pan. Best friend Hannah sailed through the Olympic time trials and is off to her fancy-pants new swim training school, while Lou's own failure to qualify leaves her without a hobby - or a friend. As Lou tries to navigate her post-swim world, a chance encounter with three boys with stars in their eyes takes her life in a surprising new direction. One that leads to a crazy world of underwater somersaults, talent show auditions, bitchy girls and one great big load of awkward boy chat.' - Goodreads


CHARACTERS: The characters in this book would have to probably be my favourite part of the story. The main character, Lou, is a bit of an outcast, and when her only friend leaves her school, Lou realises this for the first time and feels like more of a loner than ever. However, this doesn't stop her from being true to herself. She is full of life, laughter, fun, and energy, and that's what I love most about her.
The boys; Gabe, Pete and Roman were also really great characters and definitely affected how the readers viewed Lou. All three of them are all about having fun and having a good laugh. The way that they didn't care about Lou's 'status' also made them really sweet.
Lou's family, her mum, dad and sister Lavender, were really interesting. I liked the family relations aspect of the book as it was very different. Lou's parents are divorced yet still live together since her dad lost his job. Lou and her sister are complete opposites, yet they still get along and love each other.

PLOT / STORY LINE: The plot overall was easy to follow, light hearted, and overall a cute read. Although the simplicity of the story was nice as it made the book a quick read, it made the story not as satisfying or exciting. Not too much happened in the book which meant that I was not able to feel overall interested in the story line, However, if you are looking for a quick and simple read, then this is the perfect book for it. The story may be more interesting to younger readers.

ENDING: I really enjoyed the ending, and it definitely made up for the plot. Everything that I wanted to happen happened, yet not all of it was predictable. The humour of the book remained until the end, and so did Lou's clumsiness. I was satisfied with how the book ended as it wrapped up everything nicely, and I was left happy with the overall book.

RATING: Overall, I decided to give the book 4 stars out of 5. I really loved the characters and I enjoyed the ending. However, me being an older reader of YA, the story line was maybe a bit too simple for my liking. I recommend picking this book up if you are looking for a simple and funny YA read.

CHECK THE BOOK OUT:
Goodreads; https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28513482-girl-out-of-water?ac=1&from_search=true
Dymocks: https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/girl-out-of-water-9781406371406/#.V6BNNPl97IU
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com.au/Girl-Out-Water-Nat-Luurtsema-ebook/dp/B01CNWXHUW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470123331&sr=8-1&keywords=girl+out+of+water

Bloomsbury sent me a copy of Burning in exchange for an honest review. It sounded really interesting and I couldn't wait to read it. The blurb states that it is a mix of Orange is the New Black and Stephen King, and I love both of them. Here's what I thought;

'After three years in juvie, Angela Davis is just a few months shy of release, and she'll finally be free from the hole that is Brunesfield Correctional Facility. Then Jessica arrives. Only ten years old and under the highest security possible, this girl has to be dangerous, even if no one knows what she did to land in juvie. As strange things begin happening to Angela and her friends that can only be traced to the new girl's arrival, it becomes clear that Brunesfield is no longer safe. They must find a way to get out, but how can they save themselves when the world has forgotten them?' - Goodreads


CHARACTERS: Dealing with characters in juvie meant that there was a diverse range of characters. Angela was interesting to read about, yet I loved gaining her perspective of the story. She is strong minded and doesn't let others get in the way of what she wants. As Angela's story unfolds and I began to like her even more. I felt sorry for her and all I wanted was for her to be released.
Jessica is another really interesting character and she definitely added to the overall story line. Her character added suspense, mystery and thrill to the story which I really enjoyed.
Other characters such as Ben and Angela's prison friends also help bring out who Angela really is. I didn't expect the slight romance between Ben and Angela. Nothing major ever happened but I really liked it. It was unusual which added to the unusualness of the book.


PLOT / STORY LINE: The plot was good, but it didn't amaze me as much as a thriller usually does. I feel like it could have been a lot creepier and maybe even more interesting. However, there were aspects and different parts of the story that I really liked, and others that I found confusing or hard to follow. The plot definitely made me realise that I would never survive in prison though! From watching OITNB and reading Burning, there are a lot of aspects that freak me out. I know Burning is a work of fiction, but there are prisons that work in ridiculous ways and it makes you realise that there are a lot more things in the world that need to be fixed which we are not aware of.


ENDING: I'm not big on endings with cliff hangers, and unfortunately for me this one ended on a big cliff hanger. I feel like there's going to be a sequel because the ending was left very open. I liked that it adds to the suspense of the book, but now I'm left wondering what happened and what's going to happen next.


RATING: Overall I decided to rate Burning 4.5 stars out of 5. It had similar themes and aspects as 'Carrie' and 'OITNB' which I love, and I recommend reading Burning if you are a fan of either of these.


Check out 'Burning';
Goodreads; https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21525975-burning
Dymocks; https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/burning-by-danielle-rollins-9781408869956/#.V48LiPl97IU
Amazon; https://www.amazon.com.au/Burning-Danielle-Rollins-ebook/dp/B01AXY1KC4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468992409&sr=8-1&keywords=burning+danielle+rollins

Funny story about me receiving this book. I was browsing through the Bloomsbury website when I came across the cover for Whisper to Me (which is gorgeous!) and when I read the synopsis I was really interested in reading it. When I emailed Bloomsbury, they said they don't send review copies out after the release date (since it was released in May), but it was my lucky day since they just received a box in the mail with review copies. It must have been fate - because if it wasn't for that box I probably never would have read this amazing book!

"Cassie is writing a letter to the boy whose heart she broke. She’s trying to explain why. Why she pushed him away. Why her father got so angry when he saw them together. Why she disappears some nights. Why she won’t let herself remember what happened that long-ago night on the boardwalk. Why she fell apart so completely.

Desperate for his forgiveness, she’s telling the whole story of the summer she nearly lost herself. She’s hoping he’ll understand as well as she now does how love—love for your family, love for that person who makes your heart beat faster, and love for yourself—can save you after all." - Goodreads


CHARACTERS: Cassie obviously goes through a lot of highs and lows (mostly lows) in the book. She's not only hearing a voice in her head, but this voice is making her do some pretty insane things. At the beginning I was kind of scared for Cassie and felt like I was reading a thriller! However, I loved reading about Cassie's development and transitions throughout. I loved Cassie and she is probably one of my favourite book characters ever! She isn't your 'typical' YA character, and this isn't your 'typical' YA book. She goes through a lot, just like any real human, and this made her feel like a real person as opposed to a book character.
And can we talk about the boy that the letter is written to (I just read some reviews on Goodreads because I couldn't remember his name, and I realised for the first time that we never learn his name!). Because the letter is written to 'you', Cassie only ever refers to him as 'you'. I LOVED him. He was sweet, patient, and really added to the story line. Plus their romance was adorable.
Cassie is friendless at the beginning of the book and the readers are able to witness Cassie making new friends throughout the book. There's the boy and his friend Shane who are renting Cassie's father's apartment, Paris who gets herself into a bit of trouble, and another girl who starts with a J (I'm really good at remembering the names of characters) and she is the first person that makes an effort with Cassie.
I also want to talk quickly about Cassie's dad who is still suffering from PTSD after being a SEAL in the army. He has anger issues and I found myself confused with how I felt about him. When he lost his temper and was acting lick a **** I wanted to throw the book at a wall, but sometimes he would open up and was really nice.

STORY LINE/ PLOT: The story line specifically is what drew me in the most. Whisper to Me would have to be the best book about mental illness that I've ever read. Nick Lake covered the topic really well and the entire story was really eye opening. However, it covered more topics such as romance (without romanticising mental illness), mystery, and family relationships. It was different to anything I've read before and I love that in a book.
I also loved how the book was written as a letter to the boy. The format was different and I enjoyed reading it in this way. Although this lead to certain limitations, it added a sense of mystery and creativity to the other characters.
The book is long (almost 600 pages) so it took me a few days to read. But I was hooked on the story from beginning to end. There was never a point where I was bored or thought that it was slow paced. I honestly cannot fault any part of the plot.

ENDING: Although I liked the ending as it continued on with the theme of mystery and allowed the readers to interpret and decide for themselves what would happen after the letter is sent. But I just wanted to read about Cassie and the boy meeting after he reads the letter. But I liked how the letter ended with wrapping up a majority of the events that occurred throughout the book.


RATING: As you can probably tell from this review, I'm giving this book 5 stars. This would have to be one of the best books I've read EVER! I want everyone to read this - and I highly recommend you reading it if you haven't already. If you have read it, comment below what you thought!

Check the book out on;

Goodreads; https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/26030238-whisper-to-me

Dymocks; https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/whisper-to-me-9781619634565/#.V4id1vl97IU

Amazon; https://www.amazon.com.au/Whisper-Me-Nick-Lake-ebook/dp/B01DB0GURW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1468571067&sr=8-3&keywords=whisper+to+me

I received this books from Pan MacMillan Publishing as part of the authors blog tour. I will also be interviewing the author in a few days (Friday 15th) so stay tuned for that!

"A marked man. A damaged cop. A town full of secrets.

After her abduction and near death at the hands of a sadistic killer, Constable Samantha Willis is back in the uniform. Despite being on desk duty, rumours reach Sammi that someone in Angel's Crossing has been hurting little girls, and before long a mob is gathering to make sure justice is served.

So when a man is found hanging in his shed, the locals assume the pedophile has finally given into his guilt. That is, until Sammi delves further into the death and uncovers a dark family secret, an unsolved crime and a town desperate for vengeance." -Goodreads Summary


'The Twisted Knot' is full of so much suspense, that I struggled to put the book down at the end of the night. I ended up finishing it in two days because I couldn't put it down! Not only was it a nice and quick read, but it was enjoyable to read as well which really helped me to finish it. I love psychological thrillers, murder mystery, and crime books, however sometimes I find that they drag on a bit (especially the adult ones). However, The Twisted Knot was a good length and so I didn't find myself frustrated in a long story line. The mystery was resolved at the perfect time, and came at complete shock to me - I did not see it coming!

The characters in the book also helped to add to the overall story line. The main character, Sammi, is just getting back into working on the streets and it was great to see her transition in the process. She handles the situation well and is good and what she does. I also loved getting an insight into her home life with her husband. However, I would have loved to get more of Sammi's perspectives on things such as the murder case and it would have been great to hear her thoughts.

The story didn't just follow a typical 'murder' crime case and the resolution wasn't just about finding the 'bad guy'. It talked about serious topics such as rape and child molestation. It was hard to read at times as it was confronting, but this only added more emotion to the story which I found a great technique. It also showed that this is real life; things like this happen in the real world and it isn't just a work of fiction.

I also really enjoyed the ending. The murderer was discovered by the readers, however the overall ending was not expected. I really liked the ending (especially the epilogue) as it as kind of bitter sweet. It wrapped up everything nicely and I was satisfied with how everything concluded.


I decided to give this book 4.5 stars out of 5. The Twisted Knot has a great story line with aspects of mystery and suspense, great character development, realistic story lines, and a satisfying ending. I highly recommend this book to readers of crime and murder mystery. If that is your kind of thing, you will definitely be a fan of J.M. Peace's work!


Thanks to MacMillan for sending me The Twisted Knot! Keep your eyes open for my interview with the author on Friday,

Bloomsbury sent me a copy of The Last Good Day of the Year in exchange for an honest review. I haven't been in the mood for a mystery lately, but as part of the Biannual Bibliothon I decided to pick it up. I finished it in one sitting (I NEVER do that!) so it was a nice and quick read. Here's what I thought;

'Ten years ago, in the early hours of New Year’s Day, seven-year-old Samantha and her next door neighbor, Remy, watched as a man broke into Sam’s home and took her younger sister, Turtle, from her sleeping bag. Remy and Sam, too afraid to intervene at the time, later identified the man as Sam’s sister Gretchen’s much older ex-boyfriend, Steven, who was sent to prison for Turtle’s murder.

Now, Sam’s shattered family is returning to her childhood home in an effort to heal. As long-buried memories begin to surface, Sam wonders if she and Remy accurately registered everything they saw. The more they re-examine the events of that fateful night, the more questions they discover about what really happened to Turtle.; -Goodreads Summary


CHARACTERS; There was such a wide variety of different characters in the book and I found that really interesting to read about. Sam and her family have been through a lot over the last ten years, and this shaped each of them differently. Sam stays as the 'good girl' yet ventures out of her comfort zone, her sister Gretchen stays the bad girl, and their mum hasn't been the same since Turtle was taken. I really didn't like the mum, I found her quite bitchy even though I understand she was going through a lot. I LOVE Remy! He was great to read about and I loved learning more about he and Sam's friendship.

PLOT / STORY LINE; I found the overall story line really interesting. I read it in a few hours and I was constantly intrigued with what was going on. I also loved how the perspective of the story changed from the present time (90's) and the past when Turtle was taken (80's). This way the readers were able to gain a lot more understanding of what happened that night and how it affected the characters in the present time. The fact that it went back and forth between the two different times wasn't confusing and instead added more suspense to the story.

ENDING; I liked the ending to the book, however it wasn't my favourite aspect of it. Everything wrapped up nicely as the readers and characters discovered what actually happened that night. Although I found it unexpected and didn't see it coming at all, I felt like it wasn't as satisfying or shocking as I would have liked. The ending was also a little bit emotional but I liked that the book drew a whole range of different emotions from me.

Overall, I decided to give this book 4.5 stars out of 5. I highly recommend to readers of YA mystery or if you are looking for a quick and easy read :)

Check out the book;
Goodreads; https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20613800-the-last-good-day-of-the-year
Bloomsbury; http://www.bloomsbury.com/us/the-last-good-day-of-the-year-9780802736628/
Dymocks: https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/the-last-good-day-of-the-year-by-jessica-warman-9780802736628/#.V4BvJPl97IU
Amazon; https://www.amazon.com.au/Last-Good-Day-Year/dp/B00WKDN8MC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468034875&sr=8-1&keywords=the+last+good+day+of+the+year