On The Other Side

By Carrie Hope Fletcher

2.5/5

I really struggled to get my thoughts together after I’d finished this book. I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style, I thought the story was utterly bizarre in places but I also did have a good cry at certain parts and usually when a book makes me cry, it instantly becomes one of my favourites. This wasn’t the case with On The Other Side.

If you have read any of my reviews before, you will know that I am not a fan of a third person narrative; I don’t think you can truly connect with the characters. This was the case with On The Other Side; I feel like we learnt very little about the protagonist Evie or any of the other characters. This book was nothing like I was expecting and not in a good way.

I did cry at certain parts of this book but honestly that could have been down to me just feeling emotional on the day I read it. The key thing I really didn’t like about this book was the bits of ‘magic.’ I think if this book was just a story about an old lady who had died who was going back to the real world through dreams to get closure with her family I would have enjoyed it a lot more. But there was scenes of ‘magic’ in this book that I really didn’t understand their relevance. For example, the bird who let Evie and Vincent write on his wings who wanted their love to last forever, I thought was totally bizarre but I persevered with the book and found myself enjoying it a little more. This was until near the end of the book when Evie takes out her heart and plants it in the ground because she doesn’t want to give her heart away to anyone other than Vincent and her heart grows into a tree and oh my goodness, this was the final straw for me and I only carried on reading the book just so I could say I finished it.

I will definitely not be reading this book again and I honestly wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. However I do understand that some people will love this book and I can see how they would but unfortunately, it just really wasn’t for me.

What’s A Girl Gotta Do?

By Holly Bourne

5/5

This is the final book in the Normal series and it follows the last of the three girls, Lottie, as she stands up for what she believes in and takes over the world with her stance on feminism.

If you have read my reviews for Am I Normal Yet? and How Hard Can Love Be? You will know how much I adore this series. I wasn’t too sure I was going to like this book as much as the other two because Lottie’s character is a little too boisterous and outgoing for my liking but I really enjoyed it. The book was so modern, covering topics that are spoken about all over social media today such as catcalling, feminism and cyber-bullying. I couldn’t put this book down!

I actually really liked Lottie’s character and this book showed a more vulnerable and honest side to her which was lovely to see. I enjoyed her interactions with Evie and Amber and it was nice to catch up with their lives as well as learning more about Lottie. Lottie’s character is an inspiration and someone I think everyone should look up to as she stands up for what she believes in, despite facing a lot of criticism and hate from family, people at school and the world. But despite having a few emotional breakdowns, she doesn’t stop fighting and I really admire that! It was lovely to be introduced to some new characters; I love Megan, she was so sweet and vulnerable but also incredibly strong and a true friend; I also really liked Will by the end of the novel, despite disliking him at the beginning when he was a bit rude and cocky. Jane also made a reappearance and it was nice to see that she had mellowed from the first book and had become quite a close friend to the girls.

I think what I like most about these books, as well as them dealing with current and relevant topics, is that the girls are the same age as me and are going through what I’ve been through. Reading about Lottie applying for university brought back so many good and bad memories of me applying late last year and going for interviews earlier this year and knowing how much pleasing your parents is a part of the experience but also achieving goals for yourself. My only wish is to have a group of friends as supportive as the Spinster Club!

I highly recommend this series of books to everyone! They’re incredibly funny, witty, poignant and heart-warming and I really believe they are a must read for every teenager girl today! I cannot fault these books!

The Boy Most Likely To

By Huntley Fitzpatrick

3.5/5

The Boy Most Likely To is the sequel to Fitzpatrick’s My Life Next Door and it follows Tim, Jase and Sam’s best friend, and Alice, Jase’s brother and the second oldest of the Garrett siblings. At the end of My Life Next Door, Tim was trying to turn his life around by stopping taking drugs and alcohol. The Boy Most Likely To picks up a few weeks after My Life Next Door ends.

I enjoyed this book a lot more than My Life Next Door because I feel as though a lot more happened. In My Life Next Door we just followed Jase and Sam as they got to know each other and develop their relationship which, although is enjoyable to some extent as it is a YA contemporary it can get quite repetitive. I thought The Boy Most Likely To was considerably more interesting and I enjoyed the experience of reading it a lot more. I loved seeing how Tim’s character developed as he was one of my favourites from My Life Next Door and after finishing TBMLT, he is definitely my favourite character. I really liked how much he matured throughout the book but it was a realistic transition that many teenagers will go through in their life. I really liked Alice’s character; she is incredibly fiery and independent but would do anything for her family. She is a character I would love to be friends with but we would definitely have more than our fair share of arguments because we are so similar! I enjoyed seeing Jase and Sam again and the rest of the Garrett family; I don’t read many books with a strong family dynamic and so the Garrett family are one of the main reasons why I enjoyed these books so much.

There is so much more I could say about this book but I don’t want to reveal anymore as it would really spoil the book for those who haven’t read it. However, despite greatly enjoying this book, I did only give it a 3.5/5 because it isn’t the best contemporary I’ve ever read and although I will probably read it again next summer, I’m not in any rush to read it again so soon.

Always With Love

By Giovanna Fletcher

3.5/5

Always With Love is the long-awaited sequel to the beloved Billy and Me, Giovanna’s first book. Billy and Me follows Sophie who works at a little tea shop in the village of Rosefont Hill as she meets world famous actor, Billy Buskin, and discovers the highs and lows of dating an actor. Always With Love begins with a trip to LA for the pair to meet Billy’s family, but shortly after the couple face many bumps and struggles as Sophie travels back to England alone.

I really enjoy Giovanna’s work; she has a very honest style of writing that is both humorous and sensitive. I really enjoyed Billy and Me when I first read it though it wasn’t my favourite of hers so I was really excited when I learned there would be a sequel. However, I didn’t love Always With Love as much as I loved Billy and Me. I feel the book could have been considerably longer and gone into a bit more depth in some areas. I did like Sophie’s character development as we often caught her alone and not attached to boyfriend Billy. She really questioned her choices and made some decisions for herself which was nice to see. I wasn’t as keen on Billy in this book; I thought he was rather selfish at times and was purposely trying to cause tension and make things harder for the pair. It was lovely to be introduced to Billy’s family as we got to know Sophie’s family quite well in Billy and Me. I really loved Lauren’s character, she is the sort of person I would love to be friends with and I enjoyed how much she admired Sophie despite only knowing her a short while.

I would really recommend Giovanna Fletcher’s book, especially Dream A Little Dream! They’re really fun, romantic reads with a slight edge as they are Adult Fiction not YA. Her characters are relatable and as Giovanna is an English writer, her books are set in the UK which I really like.

Isla and the Happily Ever After

By Stephanie Perkins

5/5

We first met Isla in Anna and the French Kiss when Anna realised that Isla had feelings for Josh. Flash forward a few months and Isla is home for the summer in New York when she bumps into Josh at a coffee shop. Isla has been in love with Josh since they were both Freshmen but they do not see each other again until school starts. They both attend School of America, Paris, where Etienne and St Clair attended, and Josh is St Clair’s best friend from Anna and the French Kiss.

I loved this book. I adored Josh’s character in Anna and the French Kiss and it was so lovely to see him again in the book and get to know him a bit better. As much I adore St Clair, I think Josh may be my favourite boy from the series. He’s so unsure of himself but you can see that he has a heart of gold and would do anything for his friends. I think him and Isla are perfectly suited and I really liked how they challenged each other and made each other question themselves and their choices. Of course, the characters from the previous two book appeared and it was lovely to see them all interact and come together. Also, a certain scene near the end of the novel made me smile so hard that my cheeks hurt. This book also took us somewhere a bit different, Barcelona, and I loved seeing a city so well loved by many, through Isla and Josh's eyes. I have loved travelling the world with these three books.

What I really liked about these books was that the characters weren’t perfect. Although every girl at school has a crush on St Clair in the first book, he isn’t your typical contemporary love interest who is perfect in every way. St Clair is described as having crooked teeth and is only 5’4, Josh is described as having a few less than perfect physical features, and Cricket is lanky and awkward. I think this is what makes the books more personal and enjoyable; you know the characters aren’t perfect but you love them anyway.

I would recommend this book and the rest of the trilogy to anyone; absolutely stunning!

Lola and the Boy Next Door

By Stephanie Perkins

4.5/5

Although Anna and the French Kiss can be read as a standalone novel, Lola and the Boy Next Door is its sequel. Set in San Francisco, the story follows Lola as a boy from her past comes back to complicate her life (in the best possible way). Anna and St Clair also appear in this book, though they do not have a prominent role in the story.

I gave this book a 4.5 purely because I didn’t like it as much as Anna and the French Kiss. However, that isn’t to say I didn’t like, I loved it but not as much. I found Lola to be rather irritating and immature at times and I really didn’t like how she led Cricket on. Yet she was a fun character, very different from Anna but also similar in some aspects too. Speaking of Anna, I loved how she and St Clair made an appearance in this book and I really enjoyed seeing how their relationship had developed and how it was developing. Cricket was utterly adorable and the complete opposite of his twin sister, Calliope, a character I really did not like. I loved Lola’s dads and her relationship with them, and also her relationship with her biological mother as this answered some questions about Lola’s personality and why she thinks the way she does. Again, the writing was honest and simple, portraying the story beautifully.

I am a huge fan of this trilogy and I only wish that the books were a little longer as I read each one in only a few hours.

Anna and the French Kiss

By Stephanie Perkins

5/5

I have seen this book floating around Bookstagram for quite some time now and as I came to the end of my Summer TBR pile, I thought it was time to give this and its companion two novels a go. And I am so glad that I did. The story follows Anna who has been sent to School of America, Paris, by her father and it is where she befriends a close knit group of friends, and mostly importantly, the darling Etienne St Clair.

I am completely obsessed with this book and I devoured it in about 3 hours because I just could not put it down. From start to finish I was hooked and this book now has a very special place in my heart and is without a doubt one of my favourite books. This book is the perfect contemporary with its Parisian setting, incredibly cliché love story and gorgeous love interest. The characters are fantastic and I loved every single one; Josh and St Clair’s friendship was hilarious, Anna and St Clair’s friendship was endearing and as their friendship blossomed into more, I found myself getting butterflies and smiling as I read because it was just so beautiful. The writing was simple and honest and really brought Anna and St Clair’s relationship to life.  The cover of this book is also stunning and was originally what drew me to the book in the first place.

I honestly have no complaints about this book. I thought it was absolutely breath-taking and despite only finishing it a few days ago, I cannot wait to read it again!

A Court of Mist and Fury

By Sarah J Maas

5/5

I absolutely adored A Court of Thorns and Roses and somehow, I adored this book even more. All of my opinions towards characters changed and I am now firmly Team Rhysand. This book was everything I hoped it would be and more and I loved it from start to finish. The plotline was fast-paced and tense and so many details were revealed that I could barely keep up. I thoroughly enjoyed Feyre’s character development as she familiarised herself with her change to High Fae and discovered the powers she possessed. My knees went weak at how supportive Rhysand was of her whilst also giving her independence, letting her make her own choices and mistakes. My high opinion of Tamlin and Lucien was completely shattered which is disappointing because I was a huge fan of Lucien’s character in the first book but maybe my opinion of him will change in the last.

As I mentioned in my review of A Court of Thorns and Roses, one of things I like most about Fantasy novels is that the author can really explore the world they create as we readers have nothing to compare it to. Sarah J Maas created a world I would love to live in with her description of the Night Court, especially Velaris. I also liked how a place could really enhance a characters development and them as a character.

As I also said in my ACOTAR review, I find it really difficult to write 5/5 reviews so I’m just going to highly recommend this book to everyone. If you’ve read ACOTAR and didn’t really like it or are unsure whether to continue with the series, I insist that you do as ACOMAF is absolutely incredible and I am highly anticipating the third and final book in this trilogy.

Walk The Edge

By Katie McGarry

3.5/5

This is very cliché romance novel where good girl meets bad boy and chaos ensues so if you don’t like cliché books, this isn’t for you. Razor is your stereotypical bad boy; he’s part of a gang, rides a motorcycle and wears a leather jacket and Breanna is your stereotypical good girl who cares about her grades. But when the two get caught in a compromising position it throws them together and of course, they fall in love.

I really enjoyed this book, despite it being incredibly cliché. It was a quick and easy read with loveable characters and a swoon-worthy love interest. I didn’t really like Breanna’s family and I especially didn’t like Clara but they could be easily overlooked to enjoy the rest of the story. I adored Breanna and Razor and how they pushed and challenged each other whilst also complimenting each other; the perfect couple. I also liked how this book spoke of the issue of cyber-bullying and how it effects the victim but also the reasons behind why an individual can become a bully. Kyle was a really interesting character who I didn’t like at the start but I really pitied towards the end. This book also grazed over the topics of suicide and domestic abuse which I felt was dealt with consideration.

The plotline was interesting and fast-paced, keeping me hooked from start to finish. I enjoyed the two POV narrative and I liked how their individual problems and stories overlapped to become one. This isn’t the best book I’ve ever read nor is it anywhere near my favourite but it was very enjoyable and I will definitely be reading more of Katie McGarry’s books in the future.

A Court of Thorns and Roses

By Sarah J Maas

5/5

This book is all over Bookstagram and has been given glowing reviews by all so as expected, I was a bit hesitant going into this book that I wouldn’t like it as much as everyone else appears to. It is also a loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast which is my favourite Disney film so this is also added to my nerves as I wanted the book to do the story justice. As it was, I had nothing to worry about as I absolutely adored this book from start to finish.

I’ve strayed away from fantasy novels in the past because I feel they can sometimes be a bit childish and I’ve just found that I prefer reading contemporaries more. But I saw how hyped up this book was and thought I’d give it a go. The story follows Feyre who goes to live with Tamlin, a High Lord fae, as a debt to pay after killing one of his subjects, and as in most YA novels, you can probably guess what happens. But their relationship is definitely not without complications and I really enjoyed seeing the two very different characters react. I loved the character of Lucien and I enjoyed watching his friendship with Feyre develop. I also really liked how much of the Beauty and the Beast story was explored throughout.  What I like most about fantasy novels is how the author can really divulge and explore the world the characters live in and make it as vibrant as possible because we readers have nothing to compare the world to. I like how Prythian has several different ‘Courts’ and I really enjoyed picturing what each one would be like.

I find it really difficult to write reviews that I give 5/5 to because I find it much easier to write about what I don’t like than what I do so I’m just going to end by recommending this book to everyone because it honestly fantastic. I’m also going to end with a question; Tamlin or Rhysand? Please leave your answer in the comments!

My Life Next Door

By Huntley Fitzpatrick

3/5

This is a really fun, summer read that follows Samantha and her “life next door” with Jase Garrett and the rest of the Garrett family. Samantha’s mother is very strict and has very conservative views and so forbids her daughters from befriending the Garrett family. But one night, the third eldest of the siblings, 17 year old Jase, hops onto Samantha’s balcony and they form a very quick friendship.

I really enjoyed seeing Samantha interact with the Garrett siblings, especially the younger ones as she has never had to communicate with and look after children before but she steps right into the role of another big sister for them to look after. I adored Jase Garrett and I would love if every boy could be like him; thoughtful, caring and a perfect gentlemen. He really pushes Sam to question what her mother has always told her. A character I really didn’t like was Nan, Sam’s best friend, who decides towards the end of the novel that she no longer wants to be friends with Sam after years of friendship. I think Nan is utterly selfish and unnecessarily cruel. However, I did like Nan’s brother, Tim, towards the end of the novel as he becomes a good friend to both Sam and Jase. I despised Sam’s mother; she lacks any maternal instincts and only thinks about herself. I didn’t mind her until a certain occurrence in the book which really made me hate her, and as a result I lost faith in Sam.

I only gave this book a 3/5 because although it was a fun, easy summer read, I expected to enjoy it a lot more than I did because of such positive comments I had seen on Bookstagram. To be honest, the book really didn’t live up to my expectations and I expected a lot more to happen when nothing really did. However, I will probably read this book again next summer and I do recommend it to anyone who loves cheesy contemporary YA.

The Unexpected Everything

By Morgan Matson

4/5

I surprisingly really enjoyed this book. I’ve read two of Morgan Matson’s books before (Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour and Since You’ve Been Gone) and I really didn’t rate them. I found them really boring and I finished them with no intention of picking them up again. As a result, I was very sceptical about buying this book so I bought it in the supermarket (which I don’t usually like to do because I get points when I buy from Waterstones) where it was considerably cheaper. This book was very hyped up on Bookstagram and I was expecting to be disappointed. I wasn’t. While I didn’t love this book, I did really enjoy it.

It was a really fun summer read with cute boys, sunny days, the beach and whole lot of dogs (I’m a cat person but I became a dog person for the duration of this book). I feel as though the characters lacked a little depth; we didn’t really learn that much about them, except for Clark because we were learning about him through Andie due to the first person narrative. I thought Clark was utterly adorable and the perfect boyfriend and I loved the little snippets of his story that popped up every so often. I wasn’t a huge fan of Andie but not so much that she ruined the book for me. I loved the friendship dynamic; I love books with close groups of friends who do really fun and spontaneous things together. I also really liked Andie’s dad as I could see how hard he was trying and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop through the course of the book.

I will definitely be picking this book up again next summer and I recommend it to any fans of Contemporary YA. I also have a question; for those of you who have read The Unexpected Everything, what is your opinion on what Bri did? I would love it if you could leave your opinion in the comments (but please try not to spoil the book for those who haven’t read it) and if you have stumbled across this post from following me on Bookstagram, leave your opinion in my last picture of The Unexpected Everything.

How Hard Can Love Be?

By Holly Bourne

4.5/5

How Hard Can Love Be? Is the second book in the Normal trilogy and it follows Amber as she goes to work at an American Summer Camp to spend time with her mum.

I didn’t enjoy this book as much as Am I Normal Yet? and to be honest, I’m not really sure why because it was brilliantly written, hilarious yet also thought-provoking and a little heart-breaking. It has taken me a couple of days to read which is very unlike me as I can usually read a book this size in a day. I feel I wasn’t as engrained in the story so I found it easier to stop reading and put down for a few hours and then pick back up again. My other issue with this book is that I feel it ended a bit abruptly, I was expecting to follow Kyle and Amber on their road trip but this didn’t happen. However, I did like how the book ended, especially Kyle’s love letter.

I adore Amber’s character; she is incredibly funny and her passion for feminism is really uplifting. Despite all her crying in the book, which is understandable considering her relationship with her mum and her situation with her parents, she is incredibly brave and she has a positive outlook of the world. I also really love Whinnie, Russ and Kyle, even though we don’t see as much of Russ as I would like. Whinnie is so endearing and the kind of friend anyone would want to have. Kyle is utterly perfect and I would really like it if he could just step out of the pages of the book and become my boyfriend. He’s the perfect gentlemen; kind, understanding and chivalrous but he also deals with some self-esteem issues which I think is really nice to see because boys are often stereotyped as never having these feelings.

The setting of the American Summer Camp has really made me want to hop on a plane and fly to America to participate in camp activities despite having the biggest fear of flying. This is a perfect summer contemporary that I will definitely be picking up again next year.

Am I Normal Yet?

By Holly Bourne

5/5

The first thing that I loved about this book is that a tackled a mental illness that is often overlooked and that no one but the sufferer truly knows the extent of. I haven’t read many books on mental health but those that I have read have discussed depression and anxiety, which are no less important than any other mental illness, but I feel as though people are more aware of them and understand them better than other illnesses. I think many of us will be guilty, at some point, of dismissing OCD as just wanting things to be clean and tidy, and even saying things such as, “oh, my bedroom always has to be clean. I’m so OCD!” I’ll admit that I am guilty of this, despite knowing that OCD is so much more, and reading this book has really opened my eyes to what those with OCD suffer with and I’ve come to realise that they are incredibly brave people.

While this book is incredibly sad as you watch Evie’s illness spiral out of control, it is also very uplifting as she has true friends that make her laugh and feel “normal.” Evie, Amber and Lottie calls themselves “The Spinster Club” and they discuss feminism and how boys do not know how to treat girls properly, something which Evie experiences first-hand as she goes on a couple of dates in an effort to make herself “normal.” The family dynamic is also really important in this book as it shows how mental illness affects those around you. My favourite character in the book is Rose, Evie’s younger sister, how is incredibly wise for her age and the sort of person you would want fighting your corner. Rose also goes through her own problems throughout the book and I feel this is what makes her a better sister to Evie because, to some extent, she understands what Evie has gone through.

I would highly recommend this book to everyone and I honestly believe it should be a mandatory read as so many people are dismissive of OCD and I think it would really change people’s perceptions if they read this book to understand what people who suffer with OCD really go through.

The Raven Cycle

(The Raven Boys, The Dream Thieves, Blue Lily, Lily Blue, and The Raven King)

By Maggie Stiefvater

5/5

As I have mentioned in a previous post, Maggie Steifvater is one of, if not, my favourite author. Her books are incredibly poetic and despite being fantasy novels, are so realistic that you believe that magic and the supernatural is possible, if not the norm. I began reading this series around this time last year and I purchased the final book in the series, The Raven King, as it came out and this past week I have been re-reading this first three in preparation for the final book which I read today.

This series is incredible and so unlike anything I have ever read before. I love every single character and my favourite Raven Boy changes with each book (my heart currently belongs to Ronan Lynch). Every single couple in this book is perfect but I love a certain couple that little bit more (not to give too much away but the pairing does involve my love, Ronan).  I honestly don’t know how to review these books without just gushing about how brilliant they are. The characters are vibrant and alive, the story is unique and imaginative and the setting is magical and mysterious. There is a third person narrative throughout which I don’t usually like but each chapter tends to focus on a particular character or characters so you get to understand and really know them as individuals. I think my favourite of the four books is Blue Lily, Lily Blue as I believe the characters go through the most development and we really get to know them in this book.

I don’t have anything negative to say about this series and so I recommend for everyone to read it, no matter what genre of book you’re usually interested in.

Flawed

By Cecelia Ahern

3/5

I am a big fan of dystopian fiction so I knew I was going to enjoy this book before I even started to read it. I also knew I would enjoy it because I am a big fan of Cecelia Ahern and Where Rainbows End (Love, Rosie) is one of my favourite books. I read this book in one sitting as the suspense made it pretty impossible to put down. The ending also left me highly anticipating the sequel, Perfect, which comes out next year.

Unfortunately, this book had a lot of things I didn’t like. Firstly, it threw you straight into the story with very little backstory and I actually found myself skipping back a few pages because I felt as if I’d missed pages. Despite this very fast-paced introduction, the story itself actually took place over a very small time period and again, I felt as if I must have missed pages. As it took place over such a small time period, there were many chapters about the same day or same moment which I felt was a bit excessive. For example, if I remember correctly, there were three chapters just on the bus and I understand that this was a pivotal moment in the book but the actual event took place in the third of these three chapters and I felt as though the others were a bit unnecessary.

Despite this, I am very much looking forward to the sequel and will be purchasing it shortly after it comes out.