Angel, Angel Fire, Angel Fever

By LA Weatherly

2.5/5

When I first read this series a couple of years ago, I absolutely loved it. The romance was epic, the plotline was intense and the characters were moving. However, after a recent reread (in which I only managed to get through the first book, Angel, before I gave up) my opinion has completely changed. Maybe it’s because I’m older now but ‘angels’ just seem really immature now.

As I have mentioned before, if I am reading a fantasy novel, I like for a new world to be created in which the fantasy creatures can exist. For example, Prythian in A Court of Thorns and Roses or the Shadow World in The Mortal Instruments series (I know it is set in New York but there is a fantasy world within the mortal world). When fantasy creatures exist just in the real world, I don’t connect to the story as well because it just seems so far-fetched. This is a reason why I no longer like this trilogy.

The writing style and the characters aren’t terrible. Willow irritates me a little but I can cope with her; Alex is totally gorgeous as are most boys in YA novels, but I really couldn’t connect with them. I don’t remember much about the second and third book but I know that Willow kisses someone who isn’t Alex and Alex kisses someone who isn’t Willow and this really doesn’t sit well with me as they spend the last part of the first book telling each other how much they love each other on every other line so why would you cheat?

This review is turning into a bit of a rant so I’m just going to end by saying if you like books about angels, the series is probably for you but if you don’t like books about angels, don’t read it. (Also, these covers are truly awful).

Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour

By Morgan Matson

3.5/5

I recently reread this book as I was in a bit of a reading slump and needed a short book to get me out of it and this was the shortest book on my shelf. I didn’t have high hopes for my reread as this book fell flat for me the first time I read it; I didn’t understand the hype as I found it rather boring and a bit dull. However, my opinion has completely changed with my second read and I am really glad that I picked this book back up.

What I really love about this book is that on every 10 or so pages, there is a playlist that Amy or Roger’s characters created and this helps the reader to really get involved with their journey. There is also pictures and notes made my Amy that she documents in her scrapbook so as a reader, it almost feels like we are there with them. There were also flashbacks to a time when Amy’s dad was alive and it was nice to get to know his character even though he was no longer there.

For the most part the story is quite light-hearted but Amy is struggling with the death of her father so we follow her journey to accepting his death, as well as her journey across the country. I really like Amy’s character and I feel as though she grows and develops a lot throughout the book. I also liked Roger’s character and it was interesting to see him accept his own issues, whilst unknowingly helping Amy with hers. There are some many characters that pop up along the way such as Bron and Drew, friends of Roger’s, who are characters that I also really liked as they too helped Amy along her journey. I don’t think there was a character in this book that I didn’t like (except Hadley).

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It is a super fun, light-hearted read that has given me major wanderlust! I will definitely be picking it up again.

The Scorpio Races

By Maggie Stiefvater

4/5

As many of you may know, Maggie Stiefvater is my favourite author and The Scorpio Races was the one book of hers that I hadn’t read due to it being quite difficult to get a hold of in the UK. After a few failed attempts at trying to get it from Waterstones, I made an Amazon order and I finally had it in my hands.

This book is so incredibly magical and I honestly wonder sometimes where Maggie comes up with her ideas for books because they are so unique. The story is written from the dual narrative of Puck and Sean, who have both entered ‘The Scorpio Races’ for different reasons but find themselves drawn together so of course, there is a little bit of romance. The ‘water horses’ fascinated  me greatly and even by the end of the book I still do not truly know what they are but that is the beauty of this book. I adored most of the characters; Finn, Puck’s little brother, was utterly adorable but it was also heart-breaking at times to read about him; George Holly was an interesting character and I liked seeing how someone so wealthy and so business orientated could find a little peace and pleasure on a small island run by wild horses. I of course loved Puck and Sean and their dynamic, I think they complimented each other really well. The end of the book was semi-predictable but not enough so that you knew what would happen; there was also going to be a disaster just waiting to happen.

The only reason I gave this book a 4/5 is because I didn’t like it as much as The Raven Cycle or my absolute favourite book, Shiver. However, I feel that if I had read this book a few years ago when I was a horse rider myself and a little obsessed, it definitely would have gained a 5/5.

The Manifesto On How To Be Interesting

By Holly Bourne

3.5/5

Anyone who has read my reviews before, follows me on Bookstagram or is a personal friend of mine knows how much I love Holly Bourne’s books. Her characters are really relatable, incredibly witty and, to some extent, experience the things that all teenagers go through.

Unfortunately, The Manifesto On How To Be Interesting really did not live up to my expectations. As I much mentioned before, I dislike third person narratives and this had one throughout so I couldn’t really relate to the characters. I thought the plot was very far-fetched in places also; Bree infiltrated the popular group so quickly and easily which would never happen, and I really didn’t like the student-teacher relationship but I understand why it was put in there. Honestly, I just really didn’t like any of these characters.

I liked the acknowledgment to mental health and how Bree wasn’t judged when her ‘friend’ found out. I also liked watching how Bree’s relationship with her parents grew and developed, especially with her mum who was a character that I did quite like. This book was rather sad, as it shows the lengths that people will go to to prove they’re worth something, or to gain popularity/be liked, and I did really like this.

I did enjoy this book yet I don’t think I will be in a rush to reread it. However, it has definitely not put me off Holly Bourne’s work and I will be the first in line to pick up a new book of hers when one is next released.