The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

A couple years ago I wrote a post on why you should be reading Morgan Matson. Since that post, I've read Since You've Been Gone and her latest, The Unexpected Everything, and I can 100% say that everything I said in that post still holds true today.

In The Unexpected Everything, we meet Andie who has always been the girl with the plan. Until she was the girl with no plans. As you can imagine, this completely throws her off and leaves her disheveled. To top it all off  her congressman father, whom she's not really close with anymore, is being investigated and is home for the entire summer.

I loved the relationship between Andie and her father. It developed perfectly and really left me feeling good. Matson always has positive family relationships in her books and that's something I really like. It's easy to write about the dysfunctional family, but it's important to write about the realistic family. Mind you, Andie and her dad go through their fair share of dysfunction but they end up becoming much closer because of it. I loved seeing her dad really own up to being a good father figure for Andie.

Since Andie has no summer plan, she ends up walking dogs for the summer, which sounds like the perfect summer job to me. Who doesn't want to spend time outside in the sunshine with happy dogs? Add in the adorable guy she meets, Clark, and hello, perfect summer. Except it's not a perfect summer because there is no such thing. Clark is fantastic. He is absolutely everything that Andie needs and he's her complete opposite. I think Clark may be my favourite Matson guy so far. He's mature but super nerdy. Sweet, but not afraid to be tough if he needs to, and what he does for a living is super impressive.

Another thing I love about Matson's books are the friendships. She always seems to write about positive friendships, which is sometimes rare in YA. There are no frenemies here, and I love that. Andie has three best friends, Palmer, Toby, and Bri and I loved them all. They each had their own thing going on, but they were always there for each other. Like every friendship, they do have their issues but they aren't catty and mean to each other. I loved trying to decipher Toby's emoji conversations. They were pretty hilarious!

Andie ends up having the absolute perfectly unplanned summer and it's everything she never knew she needed.

This is the perfect summer book to completely lose yourself in on a beautiful day. Cute boys, friends, dogs, ice cream, and an awesome scavenger hunt. This book made me want to go back to being 16, and that doesn't happen very often. Definitely go and pick this one up. It's on sale today!

SimonTeen (Simon and Schuster Canada) provided me with a copy of this book for review, but that didn't sway my opinion at all.

Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree This Year

 

 Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish.

 

Christmas is rapidly approaching and all I've heard from the last month or so is, "what do you want for Christmas?" My answer is usually always books, which earns me 'that look' from my husband. Those with significant others probably know which 'look' I'm referring to.

I started this last year sometime, but I was not in a fantasy mood at that time, so I returned it to the library. I really do want to read it because I was enjoying it, so I'd love to own the box set.

I keep hearing about this series, so I really want to check it out for myself. I'm definitely in a fantasy mood.

 

Me Before You killed me earlier this year, and I need to read this one. ASAP.

I have a love/hate relationship with Hoover's books, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to read them all.

 

I NEED THIS BOOK. I read all the others in eBook or got them from the library, so I'm currently waiting for my library to process this book. I'm first in line and I want it immediately.



This isn't out yet, and I haven't read anything by Bracken, but I really like the sound of this book.

 

This is apparently out in the UK, but not here yet and this is another book that I NEED. I loved The Seven Sisters and I can't wait for this.

 

I've heard mixed reviews about this book/series, so I want to check it out for myself.

I need this in paperback to complete my set. I also need to read Clockwork Princess (which I own) and then I can finally read this one.

 

I own all of these in hardcover, but I absolutely love these covers and have started buying them. I own 5-7, so I'd love for Santa to bring me 1-4.

Those are all the books I'd love for Santa to leave under my tree this year. Some of them aren't even out yet, but we all know that Santa is magical. Are there any on here that you'd like to find underneath your tree on Christmas morning?

 

Top Ten Best Books I Read In 2015

As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish.

Narrowing down my favourite books of the year is next to impossible. In order to do so, I went to Goodreads and these 13 books are the only books to receive the coveted 5 star rating from me this year.

All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven - This book killed me and broke my heart.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah - If you like historical fiction, this HAS to be on your list. It was fantastic!

I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios - I loved this one. It felt very authentic and real.

The Lost Girls: Three Friends. Four Continents. One Unconventional Detour Around the World by Jennifer Baggett, Holly C. Corbett, and Amanda Pressner - This made me want to quit my job and travel even more than I already do.

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen - I was starting to wonder if I was outgrowing Dessen, but after this book, I definitely think I'm not.

Before The Storm and Secrets She Left Behind by Diane Chamberlain - Such a fun duology with an awesome main character.

The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley - Another historical fiction, but this one takes place in the past and present. Can't wait to read the rest!

The Blue by Lucy Clarke - Clarke's books have the best settings and always make me long to travel. This one had a bit of a mystery, too.

Those Girls by Chevy Stevens - If you're looking for a thrilling mystery, this is the book you want.

Always The Bridesmaid by Lindsey Kelk - Kelk is hilarious and this one had me laughing out loud.

Me Before You by JoJo Moyes - Another one that broke my heart into a million pieces.

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson - Lawson is a brilliant advocate for mental illness, but she is also hilarious.

Top Ten New-to-Me Authors I Read in 2015

 

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish.

Creating this list, I found I didn't actually read a lot of new authors. There was only about a handful more that I could have added to this list. I should make a goal to change that in 2016. Who knows how many other fantastic authors I'm missing out on.

This is not in any particular order, just the order they showed up in my Goodreads.

Some of these authors are debut authors, like Sabaa Tahir and Susan Philpott so I've only obviously read their debuts. You should check them out if you're looking for a new author. Sabaa Tahir wrote An Ember in the Ashes, which I absolutely loved and was one of my favourite fantasy novels this year. Philpott wrote an exciting cross-Canada story about an underground railway system that helps women in trouble. It's called Blown Red and I have an arc of the second one, Dark Territory, which is set to come out in January.

The others on the list all have multiple books out and some are very well-known. I wrote yesterday about my complicated relationship with Colleen Hoover. My favourite of her books so far is Maybe Someday.

Morgan Rhodes is releasing the fourth book in her Falling Kingdoms series next week and I cannot wait to get my hands on it! Check it out if you're missing Game of Thrones, like I always am.

Lucinda Riley writes historical fiction novels and I read the first book in her newest series called The Seven Sisters and I loved it. I'm impatiently waiting for the next one, The Storm Sister, to come out in the spring.

Emery Lord is a master at writing female friendships and I fell in love with her love of female friendships.

Marissa Meyer writes the Lunar Chronicles series and I should be ashamed that I only read them this year, but I actually loved being able to mostly marathon the series. Winter was an incredible end to the series.

Jennifer Niven wrote All The Bright Places which killed me and I think it's an important book for everyone. It's, of course, being made into a movie so that should be interesting.

Harlan Coben is the author of many suburban thrillers and I love me a good thriller. I seem to get instantly addicted to his books and fly through them.

I've only read one JoJo Moyes books so far, Me Before You, and that book left me a weeping mess. I seriously need to pick up her other books asap.

Mini-Reviews: Ink and Bone and Off The Page

The last two months have not been very good reading months for me. I always seem to get a bit slumpy during the beginning of fall, which makes no sense as fall is such a good reading time. I think I'm finally getting out of the slump, as it's only November 9th and I've already read 3.5 books. In an effort to make this blog more active, I have two mini-reviews today.

 



 

First off, this cover is gorgeous! The spine looks like an old leather bound hardcover, and I just love it. The reason I was so drawn to this book was because it's about books, and because it had a lot of Harry Potter comparisons. It is definitely nothing like Harry Potter. They both take place in a learning environment, but there is no awesome school like Hogwarts in this book. The only real similar thing was a chess set that moves itself, which to be honest, kind of bugged me. Oh, and there's a train that transports them, but it's much more fancy than the Hogwarts Express.

 

I spent the first half of this book not really caring about it. I was liking it enough, but it wasn't completely holding my attention. The premise is really interesting. Real books are kept controlled by the Library and to be in possession of them is a crime. There's a group of students who are being trained to work for the Library (there are different job titles), and then they are sent to war-torn England to try and smuggle out some books. Naturally, people are trying to kill the students. This was when the story got really interesting.

 

At times I found it hard to care about the characters. I thought they were well-written and such, but I just didn't care that much until about the middle of the book. It probably sounds like I didn't enjoy this book, and that's not true. I did like it, but I did have some issues. I didn't really like/care about the romance . It felt forced and rushed and just off. I do plan to read the next one because once I finally became invested in the story, I really needed to know what happens.

 

I gave this a 3 out of 5 stars because it was a bit slow at first, but it ending up picking up in the latter half.

 

 

If you've been reading my blog for any length of time then you know that Jodi Picoult is one of my favourite authors, and I will basically try anything that she writes. Off The Page is the companion book to her book Between The Lines, which was co-written with her daughter Samantha van Leer. I read Between The Lines back in 2012 and really liked it.

 

Between The Lines is about a girl who falls in love with a prince from a book, and about how they try to get him out of the book. Off The Page is about the boy, Oliver, out of the book and living in the real world. I'll mention right away that you do need to suspend your beliefs in order to read this book, but I really loved it. I had such a good time reading this book. It's fun, and cute, and maybe a bit cheesy, but there are also some serious undertones to it.

 

In order for Oliver to leave the book, someone had to take his place. The authors son, Edgar, happened to be the one who took Oliver's place.  The author doesn't know that the boy living with her is the character she created, and most definitely not her son.

 

Watching Oliver try to navigate modern life/high school was funny and sweet, until something happens to the author and it's decided that Oliver needs to go back to the book so that Edgar can come out and be with his mom. Problems arise when they try to get Edgar back out and Oliver back in. I loved the cast of characters, both in the book and in the real world. I will never forgive Picoult and van Leer for a particular THING that happened, though. I just don't think IT had to happen.

 

Like I said before, I had a lot of fun reading this book. It's almost like a modern day fairy tale, and is perfect for anyone who hasn't read a good old fairy tale in a long time. After all, who hasn't fallen for a book character and wished they could be a real person?

 

 



Top Ten Tuesday: Fall TBR

 

I'm not the greatest at sticking to TBRs because I like to read whatever I'm in the mood for, but I'll try my best. I love fall and everything about it, except that it leads to winter. I hate winter.

My husband loves Halloween and horror, so come October horror movies are constantly on our TV. October always makes me want to read some darker books, so there will be some of those on here.

The Green Mile by Stephen King - I've never read Stephen King (I know), and a co-worker lent me The Green Mile awhile ago, so I should probably get to it. The Green Mile was originally released as a serial. I thought that was really cool, and I'd love to see another book release that way.

Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning - I read Darkfever earlier this month and liked it. It wasn't super amazing or anything, but it kept my interest and I want to know what happens next.

 

Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine - I'm really interested in checking out the book that has received some Harry Potter comparisons. It sounds good, but nothing will ever live up to Harry Potter.

 

Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman - This is a historical fiction YA, which I haven't read much of, so I'm really looking forward to it. Plus, it's beautiful. Look at that cover!

 

Pretending to Dance by Diane Chamberlain - Chamberlain is one of my favourite authors, so I'm definitely excited to check out her new release out on October 6th.

 

The Illegal by Lawrence Hill - I absolutely loved The Book of Negroes (loved so much that I read it in two days), so I cannot wait to get to this. I'm currently #30 in line at the library for this, which means I'll probably end up just buying it.

 

Frozen Tides by Morgan Rhodes - This comes out in December and may end up being a winter TBR book, but who knows. I recently fell in love with the Falling Kingdoms series and think everyone should check it out! This is book 4.

 

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy - I've been hearing nothing but great things about this book, so I definitely need to check it out soon.

 

The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon - I've been feeling the urge to jump back into Jamie and Claire's world, and fall is the perfect time to settle in with this series.

 

The last slot is reserved for the mystery/thrillers that I love so much.

 My mom and I both love them, so we pass them back and forth between us, which is something I really love. The above are just a few that I have waiting for me.

 

What do you plan on reading this season? Are you horrible at sticking to TBRs, too?

 

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Of My Auto-Buy Authors

Top Ten Of Your Auto-buy Authors (no matter the genre or what it's about...you'll buy it from these authors!) Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish.

I feel like a broken record with many of these, but what can I say? I like to support my favourites. Some of these authors I still have unread books by, but I intend to get to them.

Jodi Picoult - I don't think I could rave about Picoult any more than I already do. Leaving Time blew me away, as do all of her books.

Kristin Hannah - Hannah is an author that I think just keeps getting better the more she writes. I absolutely adored The Nightingale. It's a historical fiction set during WW2, and shows the struggles that the women had to go through. It also shows had amazing they were, and how integral to the war effort they were.

Chevy Stevens - If you like thrillers, Stevens' has to be on your TBR. She is fantastic at writing thrillers that get into your head. Her latest release, Those Girls, left me an emotional wreck by the end.

Lucy Clarke - She only as three books out so far, but I have absolutely loved each one. Her newest, The Blue, just came out this month and it was a 5 star read for me. She is a master at writing breathtaking settings. Random bonus: her covers are always gorgeous.

Emery Lord - Lord is a new addition to my auto-buys, as I just read both of her books, Open Road Summer and The Start of Me and You, this year. She writes YA contemporary fiction, and celebrates female friendship, which is a nice change.

Sarah Dessen - I've been reading Dessen's novels for about 10 years now, and I don't see myself ever stopping. They're YA, but they always make me nostalgic and understand my past a little bit more. Saint Anything was released earlier this year, and it's Dessen at her finest.

Kimberly McCreight - Her latest, Where They Found Her, as well as her previous book, Reconstructing Amelia, kept me guessing the entire time. Her characters are very relatable, and you may find yourself in one of them. Perhaps even the 'bad guy'.

Morgan Matson - She is another contemporary YA writer who writes realistic characters. I wrote a Why You Should be Reading Morgan Matson post last year that better explains my love for her books.

Lindsey Kelk - Her books are just so much fun to read. I always turn to her when I need something light and fun. I don't consider 'light and fun' to be a negative thing at all. I recently started her I Heart series and loved the first book. I also really loved The Single Girls' To-Do List.

Diane Chamberlain - She is an author whose back list I still need to finish (I have Summer's Child sitting right next to me), and is someone I turn to when I need a book that I know I'll love.

I know I've mentioned all of these authors in previous posts, buy they're all just so good! Who is your #1 MUST BUY author?

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Authors I've Read The Most From

Thought I'd try something new and put some text on one of my photos. Do you like?

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish.

I used Goodreads for this, and I wasn't really all that surprised by my results.

Jodi Picoult - 19 books
Not surprised by this at all because Picoult is one of my most favourite authors. Her books just keep getting better and better! I'd recommend Leaving Time, 19 Minutes, Handle with Care, and The Pact. I always know to expect some sort of twist in her books, but it still usually manages to catch me off guard.

Kristin Hannah - 15 books
Also not surprised at all. You must check out her most recent release, The Nightingale. I loved it so freaking much. Also Firefly Lane (though it's sequel Fly Away was just okay), Night Road, Home Front, and Winter Garden. Her books are all quite different and I just really enjoy her writing.

Sarah Dessen - 12 books
I've read every single Dessen book, and will continue to do so until she stops writing. I hope to one day have a daughter that I can pass these books onto.

Jane Green - 9 books
One summer a few years ago (2010? holy crap that was 5 years ago) I went through a big Jane Green phase. I still enjoy her books, especially when I want something light and fun. Favourites include The Beach House, Family Pictures, and Another Piece of My Heart.

Nicholas Sparks - 9 books
I feel like some people are ashamed that they read Sparks books. I'm not. I like his books, though I hate that he seems to be writing books just to get them made into movies. My favourite is The Last Song. The movie was pretty terrible, but I flew through this book and still randomly think about it.

Diane Chamberlain - 7 books
I thought this number would be higher because I freaking love Chamberlain. I'm still slowly working on her back list, but so far there's only been one book that I thought was just okay. I really recommend Before The Storm, Secrets She Left Behind (don't read the synopsis before reading Before the Storm!), Necessary Lies, and The Midwife's Confession.

Cassandra Clare - 6 books
I was really into The Moral Instruments series late last year/early this year. I still need to read City of Heavenly Fire, but I want to read the last two Infernal Devices books first. I think I kind of burned myself out on this world a bit, so I'm taking a break.

J.K. Rowling - 6 books
This is actually 7 books because I've read all 7 Harry Potter books multiple times, but I'm currently re-reading the 5th, so I think Goodreads is confused. I've also read The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith and want to pick up The Silkworm.

Chevy Stevens - 5 books
I've read all of her books and absolutely love them. I can't even recommend one over the other because I loved them all, but definitely read her latest Those Girls and Still Missing.

Diana Gabaldon - 5 books
I really love the Outlander series and am slowly working my way through it. The books are so long, so it's taking a while because I can't read them back to back. I love Jamie and Claire, though. My favourite book in the series after Outlander is Drums of Autumn.

Have you read any of these authors? Who was your #1 read author?

The Falling Kingdoms Series by Morgan Rhodes

I've found myself getting into fantasy series this year. It's not a big surprise, considering my huge love for all things Harry Potter, but it had been awhile since I had been really into reading fantasy. I've been all about the contemporaries for a few years, which I still love.

I don't always love really high fantasy stories, though, so when I heard that Morgan Rhodes Falling Kingdoms series is not as high fantasy as other series, I decided to check it out. I had heard a lot of Game of Thrones comparisons, which made me a little skeptical, but I found myself really enjoying this series.

Falling Kingdoms synopsis:
In the three kingdoms of Mytica, magic has long been forgotten. And while hard-won peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest now simmers below the surface.

As the rulers of each kingdom grapple for power, the lives of their subjects are brutally transformed... and four key players, royals and rebels alike, find their fates forever intertwined. Cleo, Jonas, Lucia, and Magnus are caught in a dizzying world of treacherous betrayals, shocking murders, secret alliances, and even unforeseen love.

The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

It's the eve of war.... Choose your side.

Princess: Raised in pampered luxury, Cleo must now embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of magic long thought extinct.

Rebel: Jonas, enraged at injustice, lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country cruelly impoverished. To his shock, he finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.

Sorceress: Lucia, adopted at birth into the royal family, discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Heir: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, firstborn son Magnus begins to realise that the heart can be more lethal than the sword....

While I don't think the GoT comparisons are entirely accurate/fair (and I'm not saying one is better than the other), one thing that is somewhat similar is how ruthless Rhodes is with her characters! Do not get attached to anyone because you may find yourself mourning them. I'm liking the ruthlessness, though, because it definitely kept me on my toes.

One reason I'm enjoying this series so much is because of the writing. Rhodes is an excellent writer and the books draw you in immediately. The writing is easy to read, and I found myself reading these quickly. In fact, I read the second book Rebel Spring in one sitting!

Each book is told through four perspectives, which works really well. I love that we get a deep look into each characters thoughts and actions. It makes the book so much more readable and enjoyable. The characters are really great, too. I find myself really liking Cleo, especially since she's evolving so much in each book. Don't think this princess is a weak little girl, because she is one of the strongest characters. I also love Jonas. He's the underdog that you really want to win because of the crappiness that has been his life.

The magic system in these books is really interesting. There are four Kindred, which are magical elemental crystals, that when used together make their owner the most powerful person in the universe. Naturally, everyone wants them, but they're not as easy to find and use as one may think.

These books definitely keep me guessing. Alliances may not be as strong as you think, characters aren't always who you think they are, and the enemy may not always be the bad guy. It's not a series that you can figure out easily.

Rhodes also has a spin-off series that has just released this year called A Book of Spirits and Thieves. I've also read this one, and it's really fun. This series takes place in the world of Mytica, but also in present-day Toronto, which is really cool. It's a series that can be read on its own, but I would recommend at least reading Falling Kingdoms before picking up ABoSaT.

One final reason I love this series is because Morgan Rhodes is Canadian. As a Canadian, I am always super excited to find books written by Canadians that I love. There are Tim Horton's references in A Book of Spirits and Thieves!

I definitely recommend this series as each book just keeps getting better and better. The more layers that are revealed in the story, the more hooked I become. I definitely need book 4, Frozen Tides, asap!

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

I discovered Sarah Dessen about 10 years ago. I had just graduated high school, and my family had rented a cottage for a week. I was a reader back then, but definitely not like I am now, so I wasn't up on all the popular authors. I was browsing my local bookstore because I wanted a book to take to the cottage when I spotted the gorgeous covers that could only belong to Sarah Dessen. I can't remember if I grabbed The Truth About Forever or This Lullaby (I think it was TTAF), but after I read it, I was hooked.

I've always been disappointed that I didn't discover her books until after high school because they would have helped me a lot during that time. Sarah Dessen just gets it, you know? I can always relate to at least one of her characters and her books always make me feel super nostalgic.

That being said, I was starting to worry that I was growing out of her books. I enjoyed The Moon & More, but didn't feel the same way about it that I had with her other books. And that's okay, but I was worried that perhaps I was just too old to identify with her characters.

Enter Saint Anything, Dessen's newest release. Oh, how I loved this book! I identified with Sydney so much, even as a 28 year old married woman. There have been times when I've felt like the outsider of my family, the one who is a little different. I have two older brothers, and sometimes my personality is a little more quiet than theirs, which again, is okay. It can be hard to feel invisible, though.

I loved the Chathams so much. Layla, Mac, and their parents. I even found an appreciation for their sister by the end. Ames was deeply disturbing, and I felt creeped out every time there was a scene about him.

Sydney was a fantastic main character. She was flawed, but she knew that. She never claimed to be perfect in any way, but that just made her more appealing. Layla was definitely reminiscent of a lot of girls I knew in high school. Quick to fall in love (with the wrong person) and perhaps a tad naïve about love (who isn't?), but deep down, a sweet and smart girl. I always finish a Dessen book wondering where these people were when I was in high school. I'm sure they were there, and I would have loved to have been friends with them.

This book reminded me that I'm not too old to be reading Sarah Dessen. This book reminded me that it's okay to be invisible, because there is always someone who will see you. Those are the people that you should focus on. Those are the people that matter.

I'll be 50 and still reading Sarah Dessen novels, and I'm so happy about that.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Look at how pretty this cover is! It shines in the sun!

This book has been so hyped for the last few months, which automatically makes me nervous. You want it to live up to all the hype, and when it doesn't, it always feels more disappointing. This book definitely lived up to all the hype for me. I loved it, and I need a sequel asap. I'm so glad it's been selling well, because that means the odds of the publisher wanting to buy another book are much greater.

From Goodreads: AN EMBER IN THE ASHES is a thought-provoking, heart-wrenching and pulse-pounding read. Set in a rich, high-fantasy world with echoes of ancient Rome, it tells the story of a slave fighting for her family and a young soldier fighting for his freedom.

Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

Sounds crazy, right? This book is not for the faint of heart. There is lots of violence and rape threats, which can make it a difficult read, but that's the entire premise of the Empire.

The characters are varied and so interesting. Laia isn't the super brave heroine that we've come to see in YA fantasy lately. She is strong in her own ways, and does what she does in order to save her brother. She grows a lot throughout the book, and doesn't let any of her hardships sway her from her mission.

The Commandant is absolutely insane, but also fascinating. I liked that we got to see a bit of her back story, because while it didn't make me sympathetic towards her, it did leave me more intrigued.

Elias is more the hero we're used to, but like everyone in the book, he has secrets. I really liked his character because he seems to be one of the only people in the Empire (the actual military part of it) with any sort of brain. He has compassion, wit, and the guts to do what's right. He stands up to his best friend(s), which is never an easy thing.

I did have a few slight issues with the love triangle, but honestly, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. I'm interested to see how that plays out if there's a second book.

I'm probably not doing a great job of reviewing this, but I did really, really like it. The world building was gradual, but sufficient in that there wasn't an overload of information, but you understand the world and its ways. You hate some of the characters and the world, but you also cheer for them. I can't say enough good things about this book. I need a sequel!

Definitely pick this one up if you're in fantasy with a diverse set of characters, and a world that is equally horrible and fascinating.

 

**Photos belong to me, please do not take them without permission

The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige

Last year I read Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige (review here) and fell in love. When I heard that it was going to be a series, I was pretty excited and started the countdown until the second book.

Goodreads Synopsis: To make Oz a free land again, Amy Gumm was given a mission: remove the Tin Woodman’s heart, steal the Scarecrow’s brain, take the Lion’s courage, and then Dorothy must die....

But Dorothy still lives. Now the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked has vanished, and mysterious Princess Ozma might be Amy’s only ally. As Amy learns the truth about her mission, she realizes that she’s only just scratched the surface of Oz’s past—and that Kansas, the home she couldn't wait to leave behind, may also be in danger. In a place where the line between good and evil shifts with just a strong gust of wind, who can Amy trust—and who is really Wicked?

My thoughts: This was nothing like Dorothy Must Die. I feel like nothing really happened. Yes, there was one big issue dealt with (not going to spoil it), but beyond that there was a lot of Amy questioning herself. Am I good, or am I evil? Where do I belong? I got tired of her questions. We get it, you're angsty.

We did learn more about Ozma, and I'm starting to like her character, but there wasn't a lot of character development for anyone else. I was definitely let down by this book, which is unfortunate. I expected more after the action-packed first book, but I didn't get that.

I was also disappointed by the length. Dorothy Must Die was 452 pages and this one was 293 pages. That was probably a good thing, considering that nothing really happened, but still.

It wasn't all bad. I did like some of the new characters we were introduced to and I loved the monkey lair. The ending did leave me wanting to read the next book, so it's not like I'm going to abandon the series, but I think this was suffered from second book syndrome majorly. Here's hoping that the third book is more reminiscent of Dorothy Must Die.

I rated this 3 out of 5, but it's probably more like 2.5.

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Every so often a book comes out that is so important, and beautifully written, and I just want to shove it into everyone's hands. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven is that book for me right now. I don't even think I'm going to able to properly put my feelings into words, but I'll try.

From Goodreads: Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.

My thoughts: What I loved most about this book was that there wasn't a huge focus on labels. There was a short piece about Finch possibly being bipolar, but that was not the focus. This is important because people need to realize that depression is an illness. It's not a character flaw, it's not someone just being sad because they got a bad grade, it's a sickness. I hate hearing about people dismissing feelings because they assume the person is just sad or looking for attention. Mental illness is much more than that.

This book has the potential to start a discussion. I'm not sure how I feel about it becoming a movie, however, I do feel like (if done correctly), the book could start a discussion about teen mental illness that is so needed and important. Mental illness is often suffered in silence, and it doesn't have to be.

I hope people will read this book. While marketed as a young adult novel, it should be read by everyone. Yes, it's sad and heartbreaking and will knock you down, but it will make you think and reassess your thinking process. Perhaps you'll look at those "sad people" differently, of if you're suffering from a mental illness, I hope you realize that you're not alone.

All the Bright Places is about mental illness and suicide, but ultimately, it's about hope and life, and making the most of the time we're given; even if it's just a short time.

what I've read lately.

I am a terrible blogger, and I have no excuses other than the usual (work, husband time, etc.). I am still constantly reading, though, so I guess there's that. There's a difference between reading and blogging about reading, and blogging is where I suck.

Anyway, I thought I'd talk a bit about the books I've read since my last post. There have been some good ones lately!

 

This was an emotional book written by what I expect will be a future bestselling author. This book makes you reflect on what you would do if you found out you were dying. Would you pull your loved ones closer, or push them away and retreat into yourself? 

 

I felt myself getting teary eyed, frustrated, downright angry, and then happy. I felt emotionally spent reading this book, but in a good way. Oftentimes, I almost forgot I wasn't reading a fiction book. It reads as a non-fiction, which I think makes it better. 

 

The characters are frustrating and real, and flawed. Pamela annoyed me, and I kind of wish we'd gotten more of her story. I won't say much, but I couldn't help but be suspicious of Pamela's motivations. I would have been just as suspicious, if not more, as Daisy was. 

 

 I loved the Jack part at the end. I really liked learning how it ended, and getting to read some of his perspective.

A must-read for fans of beautifully written fiction - not JUST woman's fiction, but fiction.

 

 

 

If you know me really well, you know I love a good psychological thriller, and Chevy Stevens never disappoints. I discovered her last summer when I won a copy of Always Watching and I've been hooked ever since, devouring all her books in a matter of weeks. I even got my mom hooked! For months all I heard was, "when is the new Chevy book coming out?" (my mom doesn't do the internet).

Toni and her boyfriend, Ryan, have been accused of murdering Toni's younger sister, Nicole, because they were the last to be seen with her. One thing I loved (among many) about this book was that it shifted time frames. It switched between when Toni was in high school (when the murder occurred), when Toni was in jail, and after she's out of jail. I loved feeling like I was in Toni's head throughout the entire story.

You can always expect a twist in Steven's novels, and this one was no exception. Around the middle of the book, I had my suspicions about whodunit, and I was right, however, I had no idea what the motive was and it blew me away.

This book has characters you'll love, and many that you'll hate. At times, I found myself loving and hating the exact same character, which plays with your head and makes the story even more compelling.

The Canadian in me appreciates that her stories take place in Canada, and I love the Canadian references in it (Tim Hortons!).

 

 



Diane Chamberlain is another of my favourite authors, but this was not my favourite. It was definitely engrossing, but I just felt like something was off. Riley and Lisa both annoyed me for different reasons, and I think that affected my perspective. I have a hard time enjoying a book when I feel absolutely no connection to any of the characters.

 

Another issue I had was that some things seemed too perfect, such as the ending. Everything was wrapped up in a pretty little bow, and nothing was left for me to imagine on my own.

 

I did enjoy the book, and think it will do very well when it's released (October 7th), and I would recommend it to people who like a good dysfunctional family thriller.

 

This was a cute read, and one I've been hearing about for years. I especially loved reading about Anna exploring Paris, as (like many) I would love to go to Paris one day.

I liked Anna, but at times I felt a little annoyed at her. Some of her 'problems' didn't seem like problems at all. Also, St. Clair annoyed me a bit, too. If you're unhappy, end your relationship, don't just stay in it because you don't want to be alone. I didn't really like what Anna and St. Clair did to Meredith. Anna seemed to try and justify her actions a lot throughout the book, and I felt myself sympathising with Mere, rather than Anna.

That being said, I did enjoy the book. I was looking for a sweet, quick read and that's what I got. I enjoyed the friendship between the 5 of them, and felt like their conflicts were pretty accurate (albeit, a bit predictable).

 

I didn't LOVE it like many others did (perhaps I would have if I was younger?), but I do intend to read about Lola and Isla soon.

 

I've also read Outlander lately, but it deserves its very own entry soon because I loved it so much!

 

Let's chat! What has been your favourite book you've read lately?



Why You Should Be Reading Morgan Matson

I'm a mood reader. I have to be in a certain mood to be able to enjoy certain books. I find that this helps me read different genres because I can't just read one genre over and over without getting tired of it. If I'm not in the right mood, it won't matter how good the book is. The poor thing will probably get abandoned without any fault of its own. Good thing I'm not like this with people!

 

That being said, this weekend I found myself craving a good summer read, and something with a road trip. My fiancé and I are taking a road trip to the Canadian east coast this summer for our honeymoon, so road trips have been on my mind for months. Add in the nicer weather, and BAM! I needed a road trip fix.

 

 

Enter Amy and Roger's Epic Detour, which I devoured in two days. Amy's family is moving from California to Connecticut and Amy is responsible for getting the family car there, along with the help of the son of her mom's friend, Roger. The thing is, Amy is not driving for reasons, so Roger drives. When you're stuck in a small space with a stranger for a long time, you become acquainted pretty quickly.

 

This is not a review because the book is a few years old, but more why you should read it.

 

1.) The format. It's told from Amy's POV, but what I loved even more was that it had a small scrapbook style. There were play lists, postcards, and other little things you collect on a road trip. LOVED this aspect of the book.

 

2.) The romance. It wasn't cheesy. Sometimes I find YA romance to be cheesy and unbelievable. This was believable and sweet, and right for the book. It was nostalgic.

 

3.) The reason why the Curry's are moving. It will break your heart.

 

4.) The characters. I loved them all, except for Hadley. They all seemed like real people, and people I'd want to be friends with. It made me excited for the people we could meet on our upcoming trip.

 

5.) Wanderlust. It will definitely make you want to just pack up the car and take off. It made me even more excited for our honeymoon! Hurry up, July!

 

Once I finished Amy and Roger's Epic Detour, I knew I had to read Morgan Matson's second book Second Chance Summer.

 

I loved this book, too. This one was devoured in less than a day, as I spent most of last night reading it. This one broke my heart into a million pieces, and kept me up well past midnight. When I finally finished it, I had tears rolling down my face. Taylor and her family head up to their lake house because her dad is sick and the family wants to spend one last summer together. Once there, Taylor runs into her ex boyfriend, Henry, and ex best friend, Lucy.

 

You should read this one because:

 

1.) The lake house. I had vivid pictures in my head of what it may have looked like, and I spent much of the book wishing I was laying on a dock reading it with the water beneath me.

 

2.) Again, the characters. I loved them all. Taylor's dad has to be one of my favourite father's in YA books. He is what I think a good father should be.

 

3.) Both books had really great father-daughter relationships. I find with a lot of books, there's a bad relationship between the father and daughter, but not in these books. The relationship is secure, and celebrated. It was a refreshing change.

 

4.) The reconnection between Taylor and Henry and Taylor and Lucy. It wasn't immediate, or corny. Taylor was forced to confront what she did to her former friends, and it wasn't an easy road back to being friends. It was believable, and I appreciated that.

 

5.) The flashbacks. I'm a big fan of flashbacks in novels, as I find they give you perspective you may not have otherwise. You get to know the characters in a different way, and I love it.

 

In a matter of four days, Morgan Matson has become one of my new favourite authors. Not YA author, as while she may write for young adults, I think anyone could enjoy her books. I would recommend her for fans of Sarah Dessen, John Green, Jane Green, and Kristin Hannah.

 

Matson has her third book, Since You've Been Gone, set to release in May and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

 

 

Definitely check out Morgan Matson if you're a fan of well-written contemporary stories!

 

Book Review: Dorothy Must Die

 

I'm going to start by saying something that may not make me the most popular person: I am not a fan of The Wizard of Oz. I'm just not and never have been. Sure, I've seen the movie a few times, but was never really into it. I haven't read the books, and have no desire to. When I first started hearing about Dorothy Must Die, I was 'meh' about it. The premise sounded interesting, but not interesting enough for me to add it to my TBR pile. But then I saw a tweet with a link to the first few chapters and decided to read it. Awesome decision, self! I loved it! Then I eagerly awaited the rest of the chapter releases and found myself needing more, so I pre-ordered it. I haven't pre-ordered a book since Harry Potter, so you know this was a huge book in my mind.

If you haven't read a synopsis yet, here's one from Goodreads:
I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.
But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still the yellow brick road, though—but even that's crumbling.

What happened?
Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.
I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.
I've been trained to fight.
And I have a mission:
Remove the Tin Woodman's heart.
Steal the Scarecrow's brain.
Take the Lion's courage.
Then and only then—Dorothy must die!

Intriguing, right? Definitely not the Oz we all know from the movie/books. I loved this version of Oz. It's not sparkly or colourful. It's dark, and gritty, and full of dark magic. Magic that is literally being sucked from the ground for Dorothy's own personal use. People have moving tattoos, the flying monkey's talk, and some have cut off their own wings so they can't be controlled by Dorothy.

Enter Amy Gumm, the other girl from Kansas who arrives the exact same way as Dorothy, but who finds herself in not quite the same predicament. Amy was a bit annoying at first, but she eventually grew on me. She started off very whiney and kind of bratty, but I found myself liking her as the story went on.

There are a lot of characters in this book. The ones we all know are there, but there are lots of new ones, some of whom make up the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked. Gert is a seemingly crazy old witch, Glamora is Glinda's twin sister (Glinda is part of Dorothy's entourage), Mombi is another witch who seems to be hiding things, and Nox is a mysterious orphan and one of the only male members of the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked, and therefore, Amy's love interest.

I don't even really know how to review this book without giving anything away. The Order is badass, Dorothy is super evil and creepy, walking around in tight dresses and forcing her minions to wear PermaSmile (aka Oz's botox?) and changing night and day to suit her needs. She is the worst kind of crazy because I think she genuinely thinks what she does is normal. She sees herself as a princess after all.

The Order has given Amy one mission - to kill Dorothy, so Amy enters Dorothy's palace as an undercover maid and of course, all sorts of things happen. Not limited to a moving picture that can show you whatever you want to see, the Scarecrow's terrifying lab where he literally reconfigures people, and the weird maze in the garden. Oh, and Pete who Amy meets when she first gets to Oz who seems to show up in not-so random situations and has more to him than what we find out in this book.

I'm so glad that there's at least two more books planned because I need more. More action, more answers, and more Oz. This book will appeal to those hardcore Wizard of Oz fans and those like me who aren't really fans. Just don't go expecting the Oz we all know. Though, with a title like Dorothy Must Die, I don't know how you can expect to find the Oz from The Wizard of Oz.

If you're not convinced, go here to read the first twelve chapters. I bet you'll be hooked after.

5 out of 5 stars based on Goodreads rating system.

Review: The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

From Goodreads: Everyone has a lot to say about Alice Franklin, and it’s stopped mattering whether it’s true. The rumors started at a party when Alice supposedly had sex with two guys in one night. When school starts everyone almost forgets about Alice until one of those guys, super-popular Brandon, dies in a car wreck that was allegedly all Alice’s fault. Now the only friend she has is a boy who may be the only other person who knows the truth, but is too afraid to admit it. Told from the perspectives of popular girl Elaine, football star Josh, former outcast Kelsie, and shy genius Kurt, we see how everyone has a motive to bring – and keep – Alice down.
My thoughts: This was such a fast read and one I really enjoyed. This book shows what happens when a rumour rapidly flies through a high school - what it does to those involved directly, and even those who are not directly involved. Everyone knows that there's usually only a smattering of truth in rumours, but when you're in high school and your popularity is on the line, truth doesn't seem to matter. Even when someone gets hurt.

Each chapter is told from a different characters perspective (something I really love), and each chapter reveals more about that fateful night. It also reveals more about the different types of people in high school, from the popular people, to the not so popular people. I really liked Kurt, the quiet genius who doesn't have a lot of friends, but who knows what happened that night. Kurt befriends Alice while the whole school turns away, and while his intentions may not be as pure as you'd think, it all works out for him.

I liked the way the story unfolded. It was a short read, but that worked well in this story because too many more details or more characters might have made the story too jumbled. Instead, it read at the perfect pace with details being released at the right times.

The ending was what made the story for me. I was hoping that Mathieu would throw in an Alice chapter, and was happy when I finally got there. Having the story told from everyone but Alice's perspective made it a unique way to read the story because you have to form your opinion about Alice without actually hearing from her until the very end. I liked Alice before I read her chapter, but I really liked her afterwards.

I rated this four out of five stars based on Goodreads rating system, and I think that teens and people who enjoy YA will really like it.

Me Since You by Laura Wiess: Book Review

Are there any answers when someone you love makes a tragic choice?

Before and After. That’s how Rowan Areno sees her life now. Before: she was a normal sixteen-year-old—a little too sheltered by her police officer father and her mother. After: everything she once believed has been destroyed in the wake of a shattering tragedy, and every day is there to be survived.

If she had known, on that Friday in March when she cut school, that a random stranger’s shocking crime would have traumatic consequences, she never would have left campus. If the crime video never went viral, maybe she could have saved her mother, grandmother — and herself — from the endless replay of heartache and grief.

Finding a soul mate in Eli, a witness to the crime who is haunted by losses of his own, Rowan begins to see there is no simple, straightforward path to healing wounded hearts. Can she learn to trust, hope, and believe in happiness again?

My thoughts: This book will rip you apart and tear your heart into pieces. There is so much grief and sadness in this book, but there are tiny glimpses of hope throughout.  If you're looking for a feel good book this is not the book you want to read; however, it is a great book and worth a read.

Rowan skips school not realizing what is about to happen after a stranger makes a decision that changes his life, but also the life of Rowan's entire family. The tragic event that occurs is not at all what I was expecting, and I'm glad the book synopsis doesn't give it away. It's not something that you think would have consequences for strangers, but it definitely does.

While I liked this book, it seemed to take a while for the other big event to occur. I had already figured out what was going to happen, so I kind of feel like I spent half of the book waiting for it to happen. That may be fine if you don't see it coming, but if you've figured it out, you just want it to happen so you can read the after.

Eli is such a great character. He's a teenager still reeling from the death of his soldier father, and he is so good for Rowan in the before and after. He's one of those guys that if he were a real person, he probably wouldn't have a lot of friends because teenagers wouldn't be able to appreciate him.

Rowan, at times, is a bit hard to like, but I guess that's what extreme grief does to a person. She is frustrating, but at the same time, I just want to hug her and tell her that life won't always be hard. It seems silly, but sometimes reading her was exhausting. There was so much sadness in this book. I kept waiting for something really good to happen to break up all the sadness, but it never really happened.

I would recommend this to those who are looking for a good book to make them cry, but I would definitely recommend having something happy to read afterwards because you'll need it. And tissues. Lots of tissues.

4 out of 5 stars based on Goodreads rating system.

Book Review: The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson

I picked this book up because it said it dealt with post-traumatic stress disorder. Being a psychology major in University, I have a huge fascination with mental illness. Perhaps 'fascination' is a poor choice of word, but mental illnesses interest me.

Hayley's dad, Andy, is a war vet with severe PTSD. Since his return from Iraq, they've spent years driving around in a rig trying desperately to escape Andy's memories. Unfortunately, PTSD is not an illness that lets you run away from it.

Andy and Hayley finally settle in their hometown so that Hayley can attend school for her senior year of high school. Being home schooled by her ill father hasn't exactly left Hayley with the best school skills, but she has found friends in Gracie, Topher, and the adorably strange Finn.

When I finished this book, I honestly didn't know how I felt. At times while reading, I just wanted to be finished because the PTSD issue was so strong, it was sometimes hard to read. I found myself wanting to curl up with the happiest book on the planet to recover from this. It was raw, heartbreaking, and honest. Halse Anderson really did a great job in portraying the pain both Andy and Hayley were dealing with.

I really just wanted to hug all of the characters. Almost all of them had some big issue to deal with, and I just wanted to hug them and tell them that life won't always be this hard. That, or give them a chocolate bar the size of their fictional heads.

I did have a slight issue with the ending. The build up to the end was so large, and when the big thing happened (no spoilers here), and was over, everything was suddenly great. Too great for a family that had struggled for so long. It just felt like the author was in a hurry to finish the book.

I would recommend this to those who like to read the hard stuff. Those who are okay with heartbreaking emotions, and drama, but keep something light on hand for when you're finished.

My Rating (since this is now the month of all things hearts, I thought I'd use hearts as a rating system):

 

3 out of 5 hearts based on Goodreads rating system.