History Is All You Left Me

By Adam Silvera

5/5

“Griffin has lost his first love in a drowning accident. Theo was his best friend, his ex-boyfriend and the one he believed he would end up with. Now, reeling from grief and worsening OCD, Griffin turns to an unexpected person for help. Theo’s new boyfriend. But as their relationship becomes increasingly complicated, dangerous truths begin to surface Griffin must make a choice: confront the past, or miss out on his future.”

This book is absolutely beautiful from start to finish. It made me cry a lot and it is a story that will stick with me for a very long time. The story is written in alternating chapters of ‘History’, which explores Theo and Griffin’s relationship from start to finish, and ‘Today’, which explores the friendship between Jackson and Griffin.

I think grief is portrayed excellently in this book. No character is being judged for grieving differently than others and Griffin’s parents really understand and support what he is going through. His grief was unique to him which is an important message – no one grieves the same and this is ok! Griffin and Jackson’s (Theo’s ex-boyfriend) friendship was really special and I liked how it developed throughout the book as they started off really disliking each other. I liked Jackson’s character a lot despite disliking him at the start of the book as I was purely ‘Team Griffin.’ Wade is definitely my favourite character, as although we didn’t see too much of him, he was a really integral part to the story. I did also like Griffin’s character but he acted very selfishly at times. Theo was a character that I grew to really hate – I loved him at the start of his and Griffin’s relationship but he grew to be incredibly selfish and manipulative. I think what was the most upsetting was Griffin losing his best friend rather than him losing the love of his life.

Mental health is also a key component to this book but it is not the main focus. I myself don’t suffer from OCD so I can’t comment on how well it is represented but Griffin did see therapy in a positive light which I thought was brilliant. The other characters took Griffin’s illness really seriously and tried to make life as easy as possible for him in regards to his compulsions which was excellent to see.

I highly recommend this book to everyone – it will definitely make you cry but I think it’s a really important story in regards to grief, mental illness and also healthy relationships.

We Were Liars

By E. Lockhart

2.5/5

“We are liars. We are beautiful and privileged. We are cracked and broken. A tale of love and romance. A tale of tragedy. Which are lies? Which is truth? You decide.”

I’ve heard so many wonderful things about this book over the past few years but unfortunately it did not live up to the high expectations I had. It is by no means the worst book I have ever read – it was a quick and easy contemporary read.

I knew there was going to be a plot twist at the end but when it came it really didn’t shock me. Perhaps because I knew there was going to be a plot twist or because I felt indifferent towards the characters, it didn’t really bother me. I can see why this may be a surprise ending and I feel that if I had been shocked by the twist I may have rated this book a little more highly. However, this book really fell flat for me and I unfortunately do not understand the hype surrounding it. The characters were irritating and the family dynamic was really unhealthy. On the other hand, I did like the island setting of the book and I think it created a really unique backdrop for the story.

I do recommend this book if you have heard nothing about it and are looking for a quick and easy contemporary read but if you want a book where you can really immerse yourself in the story and connect with the characters, I don’t think this would be the book for you. I’m really glad I only picked this book up for 80p from a charity shop.

Caraval

By Stephanie Garber

4/5

“Scarlett and Tella have never left the tiny isle of Trisda, pining from afar for the wonder of Caraval, a once-a-year week-long performance where the audience participates in the show. Caraval is Magic. Mystery. Adventure. When the sisters’ long-awaited invitations finally arrive, it seems their dreams have come true. But no sooner have they arrived than Tella vanishes, kidnapped by the show’s mastermind organiser, Legend. Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is an elaborate performance. But she quickly becomes entangled in a dangerous game of love, magic and heartbreak. And real or not, she must find Tella before the game is over, and her sister disappears forever.”

This one of my most anticipated reads for this year. It sounded a lot like The Night Circus which is one my favourite books so I was really excited to get stuck in and it did not disappoint. The idea of Caraval is really unique – I got a Wonderland vibe from the setting, especially at the beginning when Scarlett and Julian first arrive on the island. I think this would make a really vibrant and interesting film.

I didn’t find this book as magical as The Night Circus but I did still really enjoy it. The writing was excellent and the characters were vibrant – I really liked Julian (despite never really knowing who he was) and Scarlett grew on me as a character. It was interesting to see their relationship develop and blossom, as well as Scarlett’s relationship with Tella and how this changes throughout the book. This book constantly surprised me and I could never guess what would happen next.

Unfortunately, I found it a little difficult to imagine the world that Stephanie Garber created. The magic wasn’t as spectacular as I thought it was going to be and the abuse the sisters’ face from their father made me a little uncomfortable, especially when he turned up at Caraval.. I understand that the abuse is an incentive for the sisters to leave Trisda but it did make me a little uncomfortable, especially when the father gives Scarlett to the count and basically tells him to "take what is his".
I do recommend this book for fans of The Night Circus and fantasy in general (although do be warned that some of the themes may be uncomfortable for some readers). I would love to read a sequel to this book and I will definitely read more from Stephanie Garber in the future.(Also, the UK hardback cover is absolutely stunning!)

TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY

By Jay Asher

4/5

“Clay Jenson returns home to find a strange package with his name on it. Inside hie discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker – his classmate and his first love – who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah’s voice explains there are thirteen reasons why she killed herself. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out why. All through the night, Clay keeps listening – and what he discovers changes his life… Forever.”

I reread this book recently after I heard there would be a Netflix series coming out in March based on the book. I hadn’t read the book in well over a year and could barely remember what happened but I thought it best I pick it back up to refresh my memory before I watched the show.

I really did enjoy this book. I don’t see any obvious flaws and I found it to be a really quick and easy read. The story is poignant and gripping and really gets you thinking about how your words and actions can affect others which is really important. I feel I learnt a lot from reading this book and I hope others did to.

Clay’s character was really enjoyable – he was sweet, kind and considerate and I think he was the best character for us to follow through Hannah’s journey. Hannah’s voice was really unique and it was really interesting to hear how such little things really affected her life and her ultimate decision to end it. She was a really wonderful character. We don’t really meet many other characters, apart from Tony who seemed a little irrelevant but came to have an integral part to the story and to how Clay coped with Hannah’s death. The characters we do meet, we are introduced to through Hannah’s story as she reveals the 13 people who affected her life. We are introduced to them in a biased way through Hannah’s experience of them but I feel Asher presents them in a way that we are also free to make our mind up about them.

This book really is wonderful and I urge everyone to read it.

Crooked Kingdom

By Leigh Bardugo

4.5/5

“Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off the most daring heist imaginable. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they’re fighting for their lives. Doubled-crossed and badly weakened, they’re low on resources, allies and hope. While a war rages on the city’s streets, the team’s fragile loyalties are stretched to breaking point. Kaz and his crew will have to make sure they’re on the winning side… no matter what the cost.”

I adore this duology! I was unsure as to whether I would like it as the story really didn’t seem like something I would be interested in but I loved it! Six of Crows was magnificent and Crooked Kingdom was equally as wonderful.

I was constantly on edge throughout the whole book as I knew there would be lots of plot twists based on Six of Crows and I wasn’t disappointed. I never knew what was going to happen and was kept in constant suspense which I really liked. The setting of Ketterdam was explored in even more depth in this book and I found myself becoming familiar with the places the characters visited. This is a world that I really enjoyed as despite being fantasy, it felt very realistic and I could imagine it very vividly.

The characters were just as wonderful as they were in Six of Crows and it was great to learn even more about them. They were all developed beautifully, especially Wylan who I utterly adored in this book (although Jesper is still my favourite character). We were introduced to some new characters which was interesting and some familiar faces appeared again. I really did enjoy all of our six main characters which is unusual because in a book with so many characters, it is likely that you will not like one but I found them all to be brilliant. They were all so humorous despite the challenges they faced and this humour really made this book special.

Although I adored this book, I did enjoy Six of Crows more. This may be because I got myself into a bit of a reading slump halfway through this book and so it took me much longer to read than normal but I still really enjoyed it. This duology is a must read for all fantasy fans and it is filled to the brim with diverse characters which is wonderful. I highly recommend this series and I can’t wait to read more from Leigh Bardugo.

Ignite Me

By Tahereh Mafi

5/5

“With Omega Point destroyed, Juliette doesn’t know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But that won’t keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world . . . but that’s not all he wants with her.”

Oh my goodness! This book was incredible and the best conclusion to one of the most wonderful trilogies I’ve ever read. I read this book in a matter of hours because I just could not put it down!

I had a very strong feeling, even when I began Shatter Me, that I was going to like Warner by the end of this series and I was right in my assumption – I am in love. His character has developed so much and I am 100% ‘Team Warner.’ Juliette’s character development was also incredible – we saw glimpses of her strength in the first two novels but she was amazing in this final instalment. She is definitely one of my favourite female characters ever. The rest of the characters also had amazing development; Kenji was his usual charming self but we saw a more honest side to him in this novel which I really liked. Unfortunately, I am no longer a fan of Adam (which I guess was Mafi’s intention so that we all fall in love with Warner instead). Adam was cruel and spiteful but he was overcoming this towards the end of the novel and I would have loved to see how his relationship with Warner develops.

The writing style of this trilogy is so raw and honest and I can’t wait to read more of Mafi’s work. This trilogy is now one of my favourites and I already cannot wait to read it again! I highly recommend it!

Unravel Me + Fracture Me (novella)

By Tahereh Mafi

5/5

“Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance. She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch. Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.”

I am absolutely loving this trilogy. There was so much character development in this book which I loved and I enjoyed it even more than Shatter Me which I didn’t think was possible.

Juliette is such a wonderful character. I think we saw her at her absolute weakest in this novel but we also saw moments of strength which shows how much her character is developing. Her and Adam’s relationship was so heartbreaking but I can’t wait to see what it means for the final instalment. Warner is still so utterly confusing but his character is developing so nicely that I can see myself falling in love with him. James was adorable and I am glad we got to see more of him and his relationship with Adam and Kenji (who I think may be my favourite character).

This book was intense and fast-paced, the perfect dystopian read. I can’t wait to read the final instalment! I love Mafi’s writing style as I feel you can really get into Juliette’s head but also really embrace the other characters as well.

Fracture Me

“In Fracture Me, Adam, Juliette’s first love, will do anything to get her back.”

I love these little novellas as we get to see inside the head of a character other than Juliette. I adored Warner’s novella because we saw a whole new side to his character but I didn’t feel the same way about Adam’s novella. Don’t get me wrong, this is still a 5/5 novella for writing style, I just no longer feel the same way about Adam’s character that I did in Shatter Me. I think he is weak and dragging Juliette down but I hope we see a different side to him in the final instalment as I loved his character in this first book and would like to love him again.

Shatter Me + Destroy Me (novella)

By Tahereh Mafi

4.5/5

“I have a curse. I have a gift. I’m a monster. I’m more than human. My touch is lethal. My touch is power. I am their weapon. I will fight back. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal, but the Reestablishment has plans for her. Plans to use her as a weapon. But Juliette has plans of her own. After a lifetimes without freedom, she’s finally discovering a strength to fight back for the very first time – and to find a future with the one boy she thought she’d lost forever.”

I have been waiting to read this trilogy for so long and the time has finally arrived. I started Shatter Me and had to force myself to put it down so I could go to sleep but I picked up straight back up again as soon as I woke up the following day. The hype around this series has not disappointed me.

This is so unlike any dystopian series I have read which is good because I often find them to be incredibly predictable. This book was fast-paced from start to finish and I never knew what was going to happen on the next page. The characters were vibrant and alive – I adore Juliette, she is such a strong female lead despite being utterly vulnerable, and I fell in love with Adam as soon as we met him (I really hope he doesn’t disappoint me as the trilogy progresses). Warner was a wonderful villain - I loathed him but was entirely curious about him and I’m looking forward to learning more about him in the following books.

The world created is so realistic which what makes this book so wonderful and frightening. The ‘power’ that Juliette has reminds me a lot of the Mara Dyer trilogy which is one of my favourite trilogies and I’m excited to learn more about this world as I feel I am going to be kept on the edge of my seat throughout reading the next two books.

It is so hard to review this book without spoiling it so I’m just going to highly recommend that you pick up this book if you are a fan of dystopian novels.

Destroy Me

“In Destroy Me, Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45, refuses to let her go.”

Destroy Me is the first novella that bridges Shatter Me with its sequel Unite Me. The story is written from Warner’s point of view after Juliette has escaped with Adam.

It was really interesting to read from Warner’s perspective as he was such an interesting character in Shatter Me – I loathed him but at the same time, I was intrigued by him and wanted to learn more about why he is the way he is. This novella was the perfect way to learn more about him though it has left me with more questions than answers, which is not entirely a bad thing.

I can’t wait to read the next novella which is from Adam’s perspective in between the second and final book.

The One Memory of Flora Banks

By Emily Barr

3.5/5

“Flora has amnesia. She can’t remember anything day-to-day: the joke her friend made, the instructions her parents gave her, how old she is. Then she kisses someone she shouldn’t – and the next day she remembers it. It’s the first time she’s remembered anything since she was ten. But the boy is gone.”

This book is incredible. It was so gripping making it unbelievably difficult to put down. The story follows Flora who has Anterograde Amnesia after she kisses her best friend Paige’s boyfriend on the beach after his going-away party. Flora remembers this kiss the next day despite not even remembering simple things like how old she is and as a result, when her parents go to France to visit her sick brother, she jets off on a wild goose chase to the Arctic to find this boy.

The reason I gave this book a 3.5 is purely because of how repetitive it gets due to the first person narrative meaning we are constantly reminded of things as Flora reads her notes and remembers who she is and what she is doing. I understand that this is a key feature in understanding Flora and I like how honest it makes the novel but it does get rather repetitive. Flora was a wonderful character who I was rooting for the whole way through the book. I was rather indifferent towards most of the other characters but Jacob, Flora’s brother, was brilliant and I found myself liking Paige at the end of the book as she redeemed herself by helping Flora. On the other hand, Flora’s mother was a character I really could not like, especially as the events unfolded and don’t even get me started on Drake!

I loved the Arctic setting of this novel as I have never read a book set here before – I love the cold and winter and I found myself experiencing Norway along with Flora and wishing I was right there beside her. I feel as though the unusual setting really added to the suspense of this novel.

This book was one of those where I thought I knew what was going to happen at the end yet the reality was so different and that’s what makes this novel so special. If, like me, you find yourself getting a little bored with the repetitiveness, keep going because the end of this book makes it so worth it! I highly recommend this book and I already know I am going to be reading it again!

Uprooted

By Naomi Novik

3/5

“A dark enchantment blights the land. Agnieszka loves her village, set deep in a peaceful valley. But the nearby enchanted forest cast a shadow over her home. Many have been lost to the Wood and none return unchanged. The villagers depend on an ageless wizard, the Dragon, to protect them from the forest’s dark magic. However, his help comes at a terrible price. A young village woman must serve him for ten years, leaving all she values behind. Agnieszka fears her dearest friend Kasia will be picked at the next choosing, for she’s everything Agnieszka is not – beautiful, graceful and brave. Yet when the Dragon comes, it’s not Kasia he takes.”

Prior to reading, I had heard great things about this book but sadly, I was disappointed. A loose-retelling of Beauty and the Beast sounded right up my street and I was sensing some major acotar / acomaf vibes that sadly didn’t come through.

Don’t get me wrong, this book is utterly magical - the world created is breath-taking and how Novik creates a character in the Wood is amazing. However, I don’t know if I just wasn’t in the mood for a fantasy novel when I read this but I found it really difficult to read and multiple times I wanted to just give up and pick up another book. I couldn’t really connect with any of the characters and none of them really stood out for me; I thought Agnieszka was rather irritating and the Dragon was too broody and really didn’t impress me. I was expecting a little more romance which I didn’t get as this book mainly focussed on war and the battle with the Wood which, while it was incredible in itself, got rather repetitive after a while and I was just waiting for the end for it to be over with.

Perhaps I’ll pick this book up again when I’m really in the mood for a fantasy novel and enjoy it but sadly this time round, it really didn’t impress me. However, if you’re a fan of high fantasy I am sure that you will love this book and I do recommend it for the world Novik created. 

The Song of Achilles

By Madeline Miller

5/5

“Had she really thought I would not know him? I could recognise him by touch alone, by smell, I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world.”

This book is absolutely breath-taking. Not many people know this but I am a huge fan of Greek mythology and so when I spotted this vibrant front cover in Waterstones I knew I had to read it. I did not have any knowledge of the story of Achilles and Patroclus before reading this book but I know that no matter what I learn or read about them next, it will not compare to this book.

The story is told from Patroclus’ point of view and the story spans around 20 years. Patroclus is exiled to live with King Peleus after accidentally killing a boy and it is there he meets Achilles, beginning their epic story of friendship and love. I was a bit unsure about Patroclus’ character at first as he appears weak but he flourishes within his relationship with Achilles and by the end of the book I utterly adored him. Achilles, on the other hand, had my heart from the very beginning – he is brave and beautiful, and his love for music and Patroclus is inspiring. There are many other important characters within this book but they are overshadowed by the intense relationship between Achilles and Patroclus. This is a story about them and all the other goings on come second to their story.

This book take my breath away; it made me smile, laugh and cry, and it has made its way into my favourite books. This story will stay with me for a very long time and I know I will go back to this book time and time again as this is a love story that I will never get tired of. I highly recommend this book to everyone, even if you do not know anything about Greek mythology. 

How to Fall in Love

By Cecelia Ahern

4.5/5

I have been a big fan of Cecelia Ahern’s for a while; I read Where Rainbows End around 6 years ago on holiday and it has remained one of my favourite books to this day. I had been debating buying How to Fall in Love for some time but every time I was in a bookshop, there was always a YA book that caught my eye instead. After receiving a Waterstones voucher for my birthday I was finally able to purchase this book and I am so glad that I did.

The story follows Christine and Adam, a man she saved from jumping off a bridge, and their two weeks together as Christine tries to make him fall back in love with life before his 35^th birthday. Just from reading the blurb I knew I would like this book as it was guaranteed to make me cry and if you have read my reviews before, you will know that I love books that make me cry. Of course, this book did not disappoint. It was romantic and heart-breaking, a real roller-coaster book to read. I thought the characters were brilliant, especially Adam and Christine’s sisters. They were vibrant and alive and I feel that I really connected with them. There were humorous parts which broke up the heartbreak and added to the beauty of this book. The gorgeous Irish setting completed this book and made me crave a visit to Ireland even more.

I will most definitely be reading this book again and I highly recommend it to everyone. I can’t wait to read more of Cecelia Ahern’s work.

I’ll Give You The Sun

By Jandy Nelson

4.5/5

This book. Wow. I finished this book about 20 minutes ago and I am still speechless. I can’t stop thinking about it and I don’t think I’ll be able to stop for a very long time.

I was a bit unsure of this book when I first began reading and for a good 100 pages I wasn’t sure if I was going to like which is the reason I gave it 4.5/5. There’s lots of imagery and flowery language and if you’ve read some of my other reviews you will know this isn’t really my thing. However, when the story got going I could not put this book down. This story is breath-taking and relatable and so incredibly wonderful. Jude and Noah are so gorgeous and though I hated them both at different times, I still love them both wholeheartedly. I really liked how Noah’s chapters are from his younger perspective and Jude’s from their present age because it really enables you to see how they have grown and developed. Their relationship is so heart-breaking but is what makes the book so special. Noah and Jude will forever be in my heart.

The romance in this book is incredible. Noah and Brian made me laugh and cry and I felt every emotion they went through. Jude and Oscar are so perfect and their relationship is so special. I adore all of the characters in this book and it was wonderful to see how they all intertwine.

I could go on about this book forever but I don’t want to spoil its magic. You really must go and pick up this book – it’s one of a kind and a story that will stay with me for a very long time.

Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda

By Becky Albertalli

4.5/5

This book has been hyped so much on Bookstagram and I knew, no matter what, I had to read it. Yesterday was that day. I’d been hesitant about purchasing this book because of its length; I am a really fast reader and I knew it would only take me a couple of hours at the most to read so I felt it was a bit of a waste of money. However, I received a Waterstones voucher for my birthday and so was able to purchase the book without paying for it myself and now I am so happy to have this book in my life. It’s a really easy read that made me smile and laugh and even gave me butterflies with how utterly adorable it was. I read it one sitting because I just couldn’t put it down.

The characters are wonderful and vibrant; I am a big fan of Abby and Nick. Friendship is so important throughout this book which I love; Simon’s group of friends are as random as they come, with soccer players and those from the drama club but they fit together like a family and each individual character helps the others to grow. Family is also very important in this book and Simon’s family are as crazy as they come; his sisters are fantastic! You can’t help but smile at the romance in this book. The emails exchanged between Blue and Jacques (Simon) are endearing and are exactly what you would expect of two 16 year old boys getting to know each other. I was incredibly happy when Blue was revealed and the relationship that developed between the pair was beautiful.

I could gush about this book forever so instead of listening to me waffle on about how amazing it is, go and read it for yourself. You won’t regret it.

The One We Fell In Love With

By Paige Toon

3/5

I picked this book up from the supermarket with no expectations of what it was going to be like; I just needed a quick read to last until I went to my local bookstore. This book did the trick. The story follows triplets, Phoebe, Rose and Eliza, who all fell in love with the same boy, Angus. However, the story is more than just a romance, it is more importantly about the relationship between the sisters after a tragedy.

I found this book to be a really quick and easy read. It made me smile and was just the sort of book I needed to get me out of a reading slump. However, the story was difficult to follow at times as I couldn’t really figure out what was happening in the present and what had happened in the past. This became clearer towards the middle of the book when the tragedy was revealed but as such, it is one of the reasons this book only got 3/5. A second reason is because I found the characters really hard to relate to; usually in a book there will be at least one character who I see some of myself in but I found it really difficult to get to know these characters. Perhaps it’s because the sisters are much older than myself but being unable to relate to them created a barrier between myself and the story and so I could not fully immerse myself into the book.

On the other hand, this book was really easy to read and I would probably read it again if I had nothing else on my shelf. 

Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

By Cassandra Clare

4/5

If you are a fan of The Mortal Instruments series, you must read this book which follows Simon as he ascends to become a Shadowhunter. Our favourite characters also make an appearance but it was nice to see Simon’s character develop without the help of the others as he made some new friends and learned more about his past.

Simon was one of my favourite characters in the TMI series so I was really looking forward to being reacquainted with him in this spin-off and he did not disappoint. He was the same charming, witty, awkward Simon that we all know and love but he grew as a character which was lovely to see. I also fell in love with the character of George Lovelace and the witty banter the two shared made me smile. Catarina Loss was another favourite of mine and her relationship with Simon was so special.

My favourite stories in this book were definitely the final two; Born to Endless Nights made me smile so much as we were reunited with our favourite couple, Malec, and Angels Twice Descending made me smile and cry in equal measures.

I will most definitely read this book again and I believe it to be a must read for all Cassandra Clare fans. However, I am now impatiently waiting for Lord of Shadows, the second book in The Dark Artifices trilogy, as I have missed this beautiful world that Cassie created.

and a Happy New Year?

By Holly Bourne

3.5/5

I have been highly anticipating this little novella since I finished reading What’s A Girl Gotta Do? I love Holly Bourne’s writing and I was very exciting to see Evie, Amber and Lottie again.

The story is written in hourly sections as the countdown to midnight begins and in each section there are three chapters, one for each of the girls, which I enjoyed because the story is about how they’ve all drifted apart from another so it was interesting to see each girls reasons for this and how they individually felt about things. I especially liked Amber’s chapters as I feel she really matured as a character in the time between the books. However, I found that I really did not get along with Lottie’s character anymore, which is a shame because I really liked how outspoken and confident she was but in this book she just seemed too confident and a little cocky. I loved the chapters from Evie’s perspective, they tugged on the heartstrings as we watched her internal struggle with how she feels about Oli’s relapse.

This is a really fun, but emotional, book about friendship and relationships set at one of the most magical times of the year. I highly recommend if you are a fan of Holly Bourne and The Spinster Club, or if you just want something quick and easy to read.

I’ll Be Home for Christmas

Various authors

3/5

This is a collection of short stories about Christmas written by various YA authors to support the charity Crisis. The stories are all completely separate so it is a really good book to read if you have a spare 20 minutes or so every day as you can read one story and not have to worry about forgetting the plot as they are all individual. To be truthful, I hadn’t heard of most of the authors who have stories in this book and I only purchased it because there is a story by Holly Bourne and she is one of my favourite authors. However, I will definitely be looking into some of the authors as I really enjoyed most of the other stories.

This is quite a difficult book to review because it would take me a long time to review every single story so I’m just going to list a few of my favourites. Of course, The Afterschool Club by Holly Bourne was one of my favourites, but I also really enjoyed Ghosts of Christmas Past by Non Pratt, Family You Choose by Cat Clarke and Homo for Christmas by Juno Dawson.

I would definitely recommend this book if you are looking for something to get you into the festive spirit and if you just want a quick and easy read. This book also supports a really great cause so you know your money is being used well.

How to Find Love in a Bookshop

By Veronica Henry

4/5

This book is utterly gorgeous. It made me laugh and cry in equal measures and it has definitely enhanced by dream to open up my own bookshop. The story follows a number of characters who are all linked by Nightingale Books, a lovely bookshop owned by Julius Nightingale before he died (if you have seen the films Valentine’s Day or New Year’s Eve, this book is kind of like those films in that all the characters know each other in some way).

I adored all of the characters in this book, especially Dillon and Jackson. However, due to this following different characters perspectives, the author only scratches the surface with her characters; we do not really find out too much about them. Despite this, the book is still romantic and endearing and I will most definitely be reading it again.

What I liked most about this book is how much it understood me as a reader. I could pick out many quotes that stand out for me in this book but this is one of my favourites; “So that was why people read. Because books explained things: how you thought, and how you behaved, and made you realise you were not alone in doing what you did or feeling what you felt.” I think this quite perfectly captures what it is to be a fan of literature, whether that be children or YA fiction, adult fiction or even non-fiction to an extent, and how understanding this book is of us as readers is what really made it so special. A definite must-read!

Whisper To Me

By Nick Lake

3.5/5

This book was absolutely nothing like I was expecting. I thought it was going to be a fluffy, cheesy chick-flick but instead I got a rare story about mental illness, in particular Schizophrenia. Most YA books that cover the topic of mental health deal with anxiety and depression so it was really interesting to read about a different illness.

When I first started reading this book and Cassie was hearing a voice, I thought it was a supernatural/paranormal book due to Cassie believing the voice was real, meaning myself as a reader thought the voice was real. This is what made the book so gripping; for some time I thought the voice was real and that all threats it made were going to come true. However, when Cassie realised that the voice was all in her head, this did not make the story any less thrilling. It opened my eyes to what someone suffering with Schizophrenia really goes through and it is utterly heartbreaking.

I love the format of this book as Cassie is writing an email to her ex-boyfriend apologising for all the things she put him through when she was struggling with her mental illness, so we get a first-hand experience with the ‘voice.’ Unfortunately, we never find out of the boyfriend reads this email and agrees to meet Cassie but from hearing about his character through Cassie’s narrative, I think (and hope) that he does agree to meet. I love the whole ‘murder mystery’ element of this book also; there is a ‘Houdini Killer’ who is killing girls who are, what Cassie’s voice describes as, ‘whores’ (I really hate this word and I don’t condone the use of it). What is most interesting is how the men and women react differently to this killer, with some men believing it is the girls’ fault for dressing so provocatively (a major topic in the media today).

I liked most of the characters in this book but one I really did not like is Cassie’s father. I understand that he has some issues of his own but he was a really nasty, vile man and it would have been nice to see him also get some help at the end.

Overall I did really enjoy this book but I feel it is one of those that if you read it again, it wouldn’t hold the same suspense or excitement as it did the first time which is why I only gave it a 3.5/5 as I can’t see myself reaching for it again.