June Wrap Up (2016)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And since this is my last opportunity to do a post in the month of June, I thought I would do a wrap up!

So here's the post!


June Wrap Up (2016)

Okay, so I read a total of 9 books this month!
That's still a lot, even considering two of the books I read were re-reads.
Here's the list:

1. City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6), by Cassandra Clare
2. Never Always Sometimes, by Adi Alsaid
3. Cross My Heart, Hope To Die (The Lying Game #5), by Sara Shephard
4. Tempest (Tempest #1), by Julie Cross
5. Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #1), by Ransom Riggs
6. Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline
7. All of the Above, by James Dawson
8. Boys Don't Cry, by Malorie Blackman (Re-read)
9. Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell (Re-read)

I still read a lot more than last month, which I think makes up for last month when I only read 3 books. For the record I finished City of Heavenly Fire on the 31st, but at least I finished The Mortal Instruments series!

So that is all I have for you all today, and I will be back on Friday with my July TBR!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

Books 21-30 of 2016

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And since I finished my Goodreads Reading Goal for 2016, I need to talk about my 21-30 books that I read!

So here's the post!


21-30 Books of 2016



21. City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2), by Cassandra Clare

Okay, this is the second book in the Mortal Instruments, and this one, I have to say, it is definitely better than the first. Just a heads-up, the majority of this post is going to be the Mortal Instruments series because I did marathon them. 

Okay, what I'm gonna do is just list the titles and the author, and then the picture. Okay? Okay. (It's been a while since I've done that). 

22. City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments #3), by Cassandra Clare

23. City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments #4), by Cassandra Clare

24. City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments #5), by Cassandra Clare

25. City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6), by Cassandra Clare

Okay, half of them are this series. 

But here are the rest!

26. Never Always Sometimes, by Adi Alsaid 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Okay, I thought I'd fly through this, because that is normally the case for contemporaries like this, but I just didn't. The book was good, don't get me wrong, it was, but it just wasn't everything I thought it would be. Saying that I really liked it, because it was about cliches, plus it had romance and crazy fun stuff in it. Recommend it to someone who wants an easy reading contemporary!

27. Cross My Heart, Hope To Die (The Lying Game #5), by Sara Shephard

I think with this series, each book has just got better. This one is my favourite so far because as I said it keeps getting better. There's only one book left, so it's pretty close to the end, and I really can't wait to see how Sara Shephard raps it all up, because honestly, I can't see how she's going to do it, I really can't. I'm super cautious though, and I hope I get to read it soon (it's the book I chose for my TBR jar challenge "Read a series finale"). 

28. Tempest (Tempest #1), by Julie Cross

Okay, this was my first time-travelling book, ever, and it made me want to read more. It is the first book in a (trilogy, I wanna say????) and I can't wait to see what happens next, because it surprised me on how good it is in terms of the plot, and the characters. It just had the whole package, and I recommend it to people who like time-travel books, or for those that want to get into time-travelling books and don't know where to start. Read this in 2-3 days.   

29. Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #1), by Ransom Riggs

Don't really have any thoughts on this book. Just don't think it lived up to the height.  All my thoughts are on my review somewhere on my blog. 

30. Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline 

Yeah, I liked it. It was good. It was different to anything I've ever read at least, and I don't regret reading it. It actuallly surprised me how quickly I finished it, because the plot was kind of all over the place. I recommend this book to Sci-fi loves, seocifically to those who request something different to what they normally like to read. Also to gamers who want to get into reading. 

So those are my 20-30 books of 2016! There are reviews up for every single one of these books, so your free to check them out if you want to know my opinions in greater detail! 

So that is all I have for you all today! On Wednesday I will be doing my June Wrap Up for 2016, so watch out for that! I will see you all then, and I hope you enjoyed the post!

Byeeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx 

All of the Above, by James Dawson

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I can't believe I'm saying this, but I've read 4 books this week!
Since I've read more books, that means more reviews!
But first, All of the Above, by James Dawson!

So here's the review!


All of the Above, by James Dawson 

Title: All of the above

Author: James Dawson

Genre: Contemporary 

Release date: 1st September, 2015 (this one is recent! Compared how long books have normally been released by that I end up reading). 

Pages: 319

Blurb: "It would be neater, wouldn't it, if this was a story about self-harm or sexuality or eating disorders or ridiculously hot bass players, but it's a story about all of them. 

Yeah, it's a mess. 

And it's about to get messier... 

When sixteen-year old Toria moves to the faded seaside town of Brompton-on-Sea, she doesn't expect to fall in love once- let alone twice. But life has a habit of pulling you in strange directions, and when it comes to matters of the heart, sometimes you just have to let go, be free, snd let love choose you."

My Thoughts

Okay, this book had some mixed reviews, but before I read it, I didn't get what seemed so wrong with it. I mean, yeah, some of the characters said things that teenagers generally wouldn't say, but why rate it so low just for that. 

I say that I didn't get it then, and now, I still don't. 

l mean, I get that normal teenagers don't say "penis virginity" for example, (not that these teenagers aren't normal, and I must stress that as much as I can), but just because they say some things like that shouldn't impact the whole feeling of the book. That's all I'm saying. 

Now on to the actual book! It was pretty much what I needed after Ready Player One. Something with a good plot line, but didn't have too much either. Like, it wasn't a tearjerker contemporary, but there were definitely a couple of major parts where I was at a loss for words, because it wasn't what I was expecting to happen. 

One thing I will say was that it definitely doesn't shy away from the sensitive subjects, but it kind of tells you that in the blurb. What I did like about that though was that Dawson didn't just address each subject at one point and then drop it completely and move onto the next one. These issues were there the entire time, and then they'd use these different issues to create a web so Toria (the protagonist) would be juggling all of these things at once. It was all very carefully done, which I really liked. 

The characters surprised me. I liked them a whole lot more than I thought I would. I think it was mostly the dialogue that made me like them so much, but that doesn't make me like them any less, to be honest. I liked the characters because I cared when things happened to them in the story. 

So overall, I found this to be an enjoyable book, and definitely something I needed to read. I'd recommend this book to a more mature YA reader  because it does have some subjects that I don't think younger readers should read about. (Though if you are say 13 or 14 and you can deal  with things like self harm and eating disorders, then by all means read it, if you think you can handle it). I'd recommend it for 15-16+, I think. 

So those are all my thoughts on All of the Above, by James Dawson! I will see you all tomorrow, when I will ve talking about my 20-30 books of 2016, so look out for that! So I'll see you all tomorrow, bye!

-Abi xxxxx

June Book Haul (2016)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And today I am doing my June Book Haul!
I don't have anything else to say, so let's get on to the books!


June Book Haul (2016)
So I bought a total of 6 books this month, and I think, for someone on a budget, that that is pretty good! Here is the list:

1. Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline

                                                                                                                       Okay, I figured you guys already knew I had this book because I had a review up for it on Wednesday, but I still have to include it. Don't really have much to say about this because my review for it is already up, so if you want some more details for it, I recommend you read my review which is below this post.                                                                                                                                Will say that it is about video-games, and it is unlike any other book that I've read and if you have a dream about living in a virtual world, then I highly recommend you read it. 

2. Last Star (The 5th Wave), by Rick Yansey 

I figured, why not? I actually had like no reason to buy this except for the fact that I want to finish another series. Also, at the time, it was going to be one of the options for my "Finish a finale" for my TBR jar challenge, but I decided on something else (Seven Minutes in Heaven, the last book in the Lying Game series). Also, the last two books in the trilogy are so tiny, it would take me no time at all to finish them, so it makes sense. Hope to read this soon (after the Infinite Sea, of course). 

3. Boys Don't Cry, by Malorie Blackman 

Okay, I literally got this yesterday and I've already re-read it again, just because I love it so much. This book is seriously one of my favourites and I've lost count the amount of times I've read it. It's about a boy called Dante who is waiting for his exam results, but when he goes to answer the door, it isn't the postman. It's his ex girlfriend Melanie, and she's holding a baby. His baby. Then she leaves, and he's left looking after Emma (his baby). This book is about his journey as he learns to be a father. Definitely one of my favourites ever, especially as it doesn't shy away from the series subjects in this book, it goes straight into it. Love this book so much, and I highly recommend it. 

4. Passenger, by Alexandra Bracken 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            I wasn't too keen on this book to start with, but now I can't wait to read it. For 1) The cover just looks so smooth and professional colour wise, it just makes me want to read it. And 2) I've heard nothing but good reviews for it. Plus I haven't read many time traveller stories (or read an Alexandra Bracken book come to that) so why not?

5. The Wall of Ascension (Mistborn Book Two), by Brandon Sanderson 

I must be doing a lot of impulse buys this month because, yet again, I bought this on an impulse. One of the reasons that I bought this though was because other than Ready Player One, the Mistborn trilogy was what got picked for my "Read a book that someone else picks", but I chose to read Ready Player One because it was less of a time commitment than this trilogy, but when I saw this book I knew I had to have it. (Plus I got it from Air Ambulance, and it was like £1.49, so it was a win win situation). Also, I'd been really wanting to read the trilogy because, again, the trilogy has got nothing than incredible reviews.         Not going to read this trilogy until I own the entire trilogy though, so it may be a while before I review them, but I'll read it eventually, mark my words. 

6. Life and Death, by Stephenie Meyer

Okay, I'm so glad I've finally got this book! Okay, every time I went to Tesco in Corby I'd see the beautiful hardback copy for half the price, and it killed me every time to not own one yet. But on Monday, I just thought what the heck, and I bought it. And now I'm so satisfied, and I am honestly really truly (scrumptious) sorry, really looking forward to reading it. To be honest, this book is the one that I am most looking forward to reading out of all of them!      If you don't know, this book is Twilight, but all the genders are reversed. All the things are the same, but the story plays out different because it's what would have happened if the genders were switched. Seriously can't wait to read this!

So those are all the books that I bought this month, and no doubt I'll probably buy a whole lot more once I post this, but for now these are the only books that I have to haul! I will see you all on Sunday, when I will be doing my review of "All of the Above", by James Dawson, so look out for that. 

So that is all that I have for you guys today, if you have any thoughts on any of these books, please let me know in the comments below, it really makes my day!

So, byeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

Ready Player One, by Ernest Clive

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I wasn't sure whether I was going to be doing this review today, because I still had 150 pages left this morning, but funny enough I (somehow) managed to finish it in super quick time!
So without further ado, here's the review!

Ready Player One, by Ernest Clive

Title: Ready Player One

Author: Ernest Cline

Genre: Science Fiction

Release date: 16th August, 2011

Pages: 372

Blurb:                                          THE BREAKOUT SENSATION 

OF THE YEAR.

                       

                                                     Imagine the 

WORLD AT STAKE.

                                                    

                                                      An EPIC STRUGGLE between 

good and evil. 

                                                     The GREATEST QUEST in History.

                                                     The FATE OF HUMANITY

               resting in your hands.

ARE YOU READY?"

My Thoughts

To be honest, this book was kind of all over the place. I mean, it was a decent book, better than average, and there were points when I couldn't stop reading, but I guess I just wanted a bit more. 

I mean, this book was exactly what I thought it was going to be, which was techy, and it was completely unlike anything I've read before, but I just got bored at some points. 

I guess it was a bit too technical. 

Saying that, there were a lot of things about the book that I did like. Like the fact that it all surrounds the 80s. I don't know much about 80s films and video-games, but I can tell you that the music is the best that's been released (of all time! At least, that's what I think). 

Also, despite the fact that the craze is the 80s, the book is set not too far in the future, so you can relate to it, but also far enough in the future that it seems entirely new at the same time. 

In terms of the structure, I really did feel like it was all over the place. It went from being really good to being fairly boring in the space of approximately 10 pages. I think it might have been because it was a bit too technical, and there was too much description, but that's just my personal opinion.  

I liked the characters well enough, but they seemed a bit two dimensional. 

So overall, I did like this book, but it had a couple of faults. It was still really good, though! Completely different to anything I've read before at least. 

And that is all my thoughts on Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline. Sorry this review was kind of vague, but I don't really have that man thoughts on this book. 

So I will see you all on Friday, when I will be doing my June Book Haul- got a fair amount of books to show you all! So, that is all I have, and... bye!

-Abi xxxxxx

Fangirl/ Mind Games/ If I Stay TBR Jar Discussion

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I admit, up until now, I had no clue as to what I wanted to post today! But I decided (literally just now) that I want to talk about whether I want to read Fangirl, Mind Games, or If I Stay for my "Re-read a favourite book" for my TBR jar challenge.

So here's the post!


Fangirl/ Mind Games/ If I Stay TBR Jar Discussion 

    

Three very different books, yet I love them all, but for very different reasons. It's been quite hard to choose from to be honest, specifically between two of them.
Now what I'm going to be doing in this post is talk about reasons for and against each one, and (eventually) decide what book I'm going to read. (To be honest, I'll probably end up choosing all of them, but if that is the case, I'll list them in the number that I'm going to read them).

In fact, why don't I just do that from the start?

Okay, so... Mind Games.

Okay, so I kind of wrote this book off, especially after some time had passed because out of all of the books, I knew that I was most likely to re-read this book out of all of them, so I think I'll be skipping this one, and just reading the other two, because mark my words, I will definitely be re-reading it. (After the "Slated" trilogy, also by Teri Terry).  

Next... If I Stay, by Gayle Forman, and Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell. 

  

I thought I'd put these two together because my train of thought involved both of them. 

On one hand, more people wanted me to read Fangirl, and I can see why. Fangirl is a cute contemporary romance with characters that anyone can relate to. Plus I read it in one day. I honestly think any teenager would be able to relate to some theme in this book, or even a character. 

On the other hand, Fangirl is the book that I read most recently out of all three, and I don't really tend to enjoy books that I've previously read unless it's been a while since I read it. The last time I read it was November 2015 which, although it isn't that recent, I still feel like I can go a bit longer without re-reading it again. 

Also, the majority of people that I've asked have said that I should read this one.

Now, If I Stay, by Gayle Forman 

I've only read this book once, but I actually loved it so so much. I flew through it in a couple of days. Plus I read it in September of 2014, so the length of time has definitely been long enough. I dunno why, because the story is quite heartbreaking, but it's also hopeful, especially as you can see the relationships. But saying that, it just makes it so much more heartbreaking. 

Right, so back to this. The timing of the book is completely wrong for the timing of the year, but that's really the only thing that I can come up with. (Other than the fact that pretty much everyone else wants me to read Fangirl first). 

Okay, so the decision. Hmmmm... 

...

...

...

Okay, so I have to go with Fangirl, with Rainbow Rowell. Just, the characters are just so relatable. The story is easy going, and I know it won't take me long to finish. 

So that is all that I have for you guys today. Sorry that the posts have been quite late the past couple of days, but hopefully they'll be a little earlier in the days now. 

Did I pick what you expected me to? Tell me in the comments below. 

So I'll see you all on Wednesday, when I'll (hopefully) be posting my review of Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline. So, I'll see you all then! 

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx 

Top 5 Father Characters

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And since it is Father's day, I thought I'd list some of the top fathers in YA books! I mean, I did it for Mother's day, so I think it makes sense that I do it for Father's day too.
Because if it weren't for our dads, we wouldn't be here would we? Also, dads are great, so why not?
So let's get on with the list!


Top 5 Father Characters
Now, I've been searching my bookshelves for some father characters, and I can barely think of three to be honest. WE NEED MORE FATHER CHARACTERS. But I did manage to find a couple, so these are the ones I did get to find:

1. Charlie Swan, from the "Twilight Saga", by Stephenie Meyer

Charlie. What can I say about Charlie? Hmmmm... Well, you can tell that he loves Bella very much, so he is incredibly caring and sweet, but also awkward. I think what I really love about Charlie Swan is that he is real. I mean like, he doesn't appear to be the perfect dad. He isn't perfect, but he's caring and you can tell he feels things quite deeply.                                        Also, he's a cop, so he cares about doing what's right and finding out the truth, and it also shows that he wants to protect people from harm, and in extension, Bella. (That may seem like some psychobabble, but that's what I think). Love this character so much!

2. Mr Weasley, from the "Harry Potter" series, by J K Rowling 

I feel like Mr Weasley is a must when I do a list like this, just like Mrs Weasley was. He has a cool fascination with muggle things, he's incredibly loyal of his family, and their friends (Harry and Hermione).      He is also a protector, and a genuinely good person. He always treated Harry like one of his own, and he raised a bunch of decent wizards (along with Mrs Weasley, of course). Mr Weasley is just awesome.  

3. Art, from "Fangirl", by Rainbow Rowell 

This guy may be a bit unpredictable, but he is a loving and caring. Plus, I think the fact that he is more unpredictable means that we see him in a more vulnerable light. This is both a good and bad thing, because on one hand, you got to see a side of him that you don't normally get to see in fathers, (at least in real life ones) but that is also something that you don't want to think about. But it's there. And I love that Rainbow Rowell included this in Fangirl, because just because people don't often see what Art is struggling with, doesn't mean that it isn't there. Because it is. 

4. Hans Hubermann, from "The Book Thief", by Markus Zusak

Hans. OMG, Hans. This character just makes me want to cry. So sweet and sympathetic. He is consistent until the very end. His relationship with Liesel is so special. Generous, kind and patient, he is one of my favourite characters in this book. That is basically all I can say that won't spoil the book for those that haven't read it. (Get on it immediately). 

5. Dervish, from the "Demonata" series, by Darren Shan 

Okay, I know this one is technically an uncle, but he really was like a dad to Grubbs, from the time of the first book to the tenth one. He was there for Grubbs through all the stuff he went through. He was his teacher, teaching him about magic, lycanthrophy, Lord Loss; he was the warrior, fighting demons and using magic himself; but mostly he was the father to Grubbs, the security that was always there when he needed it. I put this character in the list because it shows that a father doesn't have to be flesh and blood to be a father. And I think Dervish is a massive representative of that. 

So that is my top 5 Father Characters! If any of you have some thoughts on anything that I have talked about in this post, let me know! Your comments make my day! I'll see you all tomorrow, and at this point I have no idea what I'm going to post, but I'll see you all tomorrow anyway! So, bye!

-Abi xxxxx 

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #1), by Ransom Riggs

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And it looks like I'm back to reviews! But don't worry this is a popular one- Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children!
I thought I should read it sometime soon because the film is coming out in September, plus it is 2016 and it came out in 2011... yeah...

So here's the review! Enjoy!


Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #1), by Ransom Riggs

Title: Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

Author: Ransom Riggs

Genre: Fantasy 

Release date: 7th June, 2011

Pages: 352

Blurb: "A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of peculiar photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling remains of Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores it's decaying bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that Miss Peregrine's children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow- impossible though it may seems- they may still be alive."

My Thoughts

They way everyone talked about this book gave me impossibly high expectations. I was hoping to love this book, but I just didn't. It was okay, I mean, I did enjoy it, but not as much as I hoping to. So I have it 3.65 stars. 

It took a while for the plot to get going. I just wanted Jacob to meet the peculiars, and to get the plot going, but saying that, I did really like the backstory, and I liked the way Jacob found out about it all. I just thought it took a while for Jacob to meet the other characters, that's all. 

One thing I did like was the slow and slightly creepy element to the novel, which I think part of it comes from the photos, (which by the way, were perfectly woven into the story). The fact that they looked so real made it better (okay, I  know that they were probably not real because I just looked through them). But they just gave it that bit more. It definitely made it stand out, at least. 

It picked up a bit towards the end, when there were actually some events that kept me interested. It was also quite a quick and straightforward read, so that helped. 

Saying that, if it weren't for the ending I probably would have stopped reading it, because even thought the hype was massive, I just wasn't feeling it. (Might not have though, because this book is only 352 pages). 

But honestly, I was expecting so much more than what I got, so sorry those that seem to love it, I just... didn't. 

Will I be continuing the trilogy? Odds are, yes I will because 1) These books are so incredibly tiny, why not? And 2) The hype. 

So that is all that I have for you guys today! Ill see you tomorrow, bye!

Oh before I forget! I'm thinking of stopping my TBR jar challenge. I mean like, stopping just picking one out each month, and whenever I read a book that is tied to a category, just crossing it out like that, and getting them all out the way so I can focus on re-reading my favourites before the end of 2016. I'm thinking of doing this because right now I have a lot of books in my TBR pile that are tied to categories for my TBR jar challenge, and I just think it'll be a lot more satisfying if I finish them all at once, when I decide that I want to read them. So, let me know in the comments what you guys think I should do, okay?

Okay, bye (for real now)!

-Abi xxxxx

Library Lovers Book Tag

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I thought today I'd do a book tag! (It's around the time that I normally do one, and it's already halfway through June, so why not?)
So, here's the tag!



Library Lovers Book Tag 
I love libraries. I really do. They were my childhood, before I started wanted to keep books (it's too hard to give them back now). But if I hadn't discovered my local library, then odds are I wouldn't have carried on reading, and I wouldn't have this book blog. So I owe a lot to libraries!
Here are the questions!

1. How often do you visit the local library?

Whenever I'm in town, really. (Which isn't often, but I normally end up in town like every fortnight or so). I have a couple of places I make sure I go to every time I'm in town (this literally consists of Waterstones, the library, sometimes Oxfam book shop, and the Air Ambulance charity shop because they also sell books), but by that logic I visit the library every fortnight, or there about. 

2. Are you the type of person who checks out more books than you know you can read or are you someone who only checks out the exact amount of books you intend to read before they are due?

I'm quite time conscious, so my worst fear is having my library books for more than three weeks and having to pay something. Also, if I don't finish all my books I feel like I haven't done that well and I feel bad. So what that translates to is that I check out the amount of books that I can read before they are due. 

3. How old were you when you got your first library card?

Oh god, years ago! I don't remember exactly, but I reckon I was quite young. I'm pretty sure I was 5-7 when I got my first library card. And I still use it today! (It's the same one). 

4. Do you go to the library for a specific book or do do you check out anything that peaks your interest?

There have been a couple of times when I've gone to the library to see if a specific book was there (The Infinite Sea, for example), but I normally just go to the library to see if there's anything new there that looks interesting.

5. Do you use your library to check out just books or do you also check dvds, audiobooks etc?

I normally just go to the library to check out books, but I have rented some dvds there too (Love, Rosie, and If I Stay), but I've only rented out dvds, nothing else. 

6. From what section do you check out the majority of your books? (YA, middle grade, adult, non-fiction). 

Oh definitely YA! Saying that, I do like to take out some middle-grade books out sometimes when I want to relieve childhood favourites, for example, Black Beauty by Anna Sewell or the Malorie Towers books by Enid Blyton (love those books, their so easy reading, and they're so much fun too. Those books made me wish I could go to boarding school, can anyone else relate?)

7. What is your favourite part of using your local library? 

I actually don't know! I can't really say "Because I like the feeling of  growing up there", because they re-decorated it when I was 14, and it just doesn't feel the same. Might be the fact that I can find books there that I don't necessarily think I'll like, but I end up loving. Plus, the books are free, and I don't have to worry about keeping them in pristine condition, especially if I can see that a lot of people have taken them out. Yeah, that's why!

So that is the Library Lovers Book Tag! I think the point of this tag was to try and convince someone that there is a point to libraries! So guys, if you don't already, go to the library and pick out a book! 

So that is all that I have for you all today, and I will see you all on Friday, when I will be doing my review of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children! (I haven't finished it yet, but I have four more bus journeys in the next two days, plus I only have 80 pages left, so it's only a matter of time). 

Okay, so I'll see you all on Friday! Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

Re-Reading Books and My Go To Books

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And today I wanted to talk about re-reading books and why I like to.
This may be a short post, by the way. (Just letting you know now).

So let's get on with the post!


Re-Reading Books and My Go To Books 

When people ask me "Why do you re-read books so much?" I'm never quite sure how to answer.
To avoid a reading slump (when I've been reading a book for like two weeks, and can't finish it); to go back to something I know I'll enjoy when I've finished a big series? Or just because I love it so much?
I never know which one to say, to be honest, because truthfully, it's a combination of all of them.

I re-read books because sometimes I just want to read through the plot again, or because I want to see the characters again. Do I need another reason? I don't think so.

There is a method to my madness for re-reading for me though (most of the time). I have a specific list of what books I want to re-read depending on my mood, and today I will share that with you guys!

Here is a list of the books that I like to re-read mostly! (Down below).

1. Any Teri Terry Sci-fi book (Mind Games, the "Slated" trilogy)

I've only read Mind Games once, but it is now my go to book if I want something that isn't too big a commitment, but I'm in the Sci-fi mood. Saying that, the "Slated" trilogy doesn't take that long either. At one point I was able to finish the entire series in approximately 5 days, which still isn't that long. But odds are I'll most likely be re-reading both of these at some point because I love them so much. (You guys must be totally sick of me talking about these books, but I seriously can't stop :D )

2. "Noughts and Crosses" series, or Boys Don't Cry, by Malorie Blackman

If I'm not really in the Sci-fi mood, but I still want something a bit more intense, then I'll pick up the "Noughts and Crosses" series, because it covers so many issues, but it's still incredibly sad, yet hopeful. It just covers a bunch of stuff, but it shouldn't be put into category because it has amazing characters, amazing plots, and amazing writing. Seriously can't fault it!               Boys Don't Cry is kind of different. It's kind of the same, as in it shows a situation that's happening a lot (teen pregnancy), but the mother is the one to leave the child with the father, and he has to deal with looking after a daughter that he didn't even know he had. It's incredibly interesting, and the first time I read it I read it in one. sitting. First time. Highly recommend both of these. 

3. The "Twilight Saga", by Stephanie Meyer

Okay, yeah I know. But this is a series that I know I can go back to it doesn't matter how many times, but I can still love it. I've re-read it so many times that I can want to go to a specific part, and be able to go to that part, at random. I may not have read it since 2014, but I can still read it and love it. 

4. Sister's Red, by Jackson Pearce (back when I only owned this one, not Sweetly & Fathomless)

Sister's Red was the book that I would re-read if I wanted something that wasn't too big, but I wanted kick-ass characters that had more beneath the surface than just that. I'd be able to read it in one sitting, and then be able to go to something I hadn't read.                                                                               Sister's Red is a fairytale retelling, and at this point, one of my favourites because it isn't too heavy, but there is a bit of depth. It isn't a cliche either, and I can read it in super quick time. Not that Sweetly doesn't do that too, but Sweetly is more about mystery, and also it was Sister's Red that got me fairytale retellings. 

5. Contemporaries/ Cute Romances

Now this is more of a category, rather than a specific book/ series. There are a number of books that fit this description. I'm not going to talk about these books specifically, but I will list them. Here's the list: 

1. Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell 

2. All the Bright Places, by Jennifer Niven 

3. Before I Die, by Jenny Downham 

4. Chris Higgins books (I know this is more specific than the others, but whatever, here are some examples: Pride and Penulties, Love Ya Babe, The Perfect Ten, The Day I Met Suzie)

Okay, so that is why I love re-reading my books, and some of my go to books that I love to re-read! I know that I said that it may be a short post and it turned into an INCREDIBLY LONG post, but sometimes I just can't seem to help myself! 

Okay, so I will be deciding on what book I want to re-read soon (Mind Games, Fangirl or If I Stay). Odds are I'll end up doing a post on it at some point, but I will have made my mind up by the end of the week! Feel free to post some comments on what you want me to read! 

So that is all that I have for you guys today, and I will see you all on Wednesday! 

Byeeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

Tempest (Tempest #1), by Julie Cross

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And even though I read this book on the 9th, I was kind of doing reviews left and right at that point, so I thought I'd review the book now!

So here's the post!

Tempest (Tempest #1), by Julie Cross

Title: Tempest 

Author: Julie Cross

Genre: Science Fiction

Release date: 30th August, 2012

Pages: 413

Blurb: "                                                         TODAY

Jackson and Holly are in love. 

TOMORROW

she will lie bleeding in his arms.

YESTERDAY

Jackson must undo it all. 

Jackson has a secret- he can jump into his own past. But when a shocking event propels him further back in time than he has ever been before, he finds he can't return. 

Now Jackson has to find a way to save the girl he loves before they even met, and time is not on his side. 

My Thoughts

Okay, the reason that I bought this was because of the cover, plus I hadn't read any time-traveller books before, and it looked really interesting. I was kind of on other the fence as to whether I should buy this book for a long time before I did, which for why, I have no idea. I mean, the cover looked great, the book looked interesting, so why not? Also, it was in Oxfam, so there was that as well. 

But now that I've read Tempest, I am so glad that I did. Tempest wasn't what I thought it would be in terms of the characters, but I still loved it. 

One of the things that I love about this book (it's a trilogy, I think. It's at least a duology), but it's by a male perspective, which is a breath of fresh air, since most YA books have a female protagonist. 

Plus, the whole time-travelling thing is pretty easy to understand. I picked it up fairly easily. This was actually the case with the entire book. I got engrossed in the plot and the characters fairly easily. Plus the writing was the sort of writing that anyone is able to pick up. 

The plot was actually really interesting. Like there were little twists  (good twists, for once, because they were about a good guy) that impacted the plot, and gave it more of an action twist (a Sci-fi twist too, but time-travellers were introduced at that point, so it turned more Sci-fiy if that makes sense- probably not though...). But yeah, the plot had me engrossed in it from like 35 pages in. I mean, I liked it from the start, but from that point onwards it just had me engrossed in the whole thing.  

(I feel like I'm rambling a lot, so I apologise if I have). 

The characters were really easy to like. Saying that, I don't think had I not liked the characters that it would have made any difference, but it helped that I liked them. 

I was actually surprised how good the writing was, and how quickly I read this book (3 days). The writing was that good. Seriously, anyone can read this book because the writing was that good. Not kidding.

So those are my thoughts on Tempest, by Julie Cross! I have no idea what I'm going to be posting tomorrow, but I'll post something tomorrow anyway! So I'll see you all tomorrow, and... bye!

-Abi xxxxx

Top Sci-fi Books

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And even though I did finish another book, I'm going to save that review for another day, because literally all I've done since my June TBR this month is reviews. (Seriously, check the posts, all I've done is reviews).

So today I thought I'd list my top Sci-fi books! (I bought a Sci-fi book today and I'm kind of in the Sci-fi mode).

So, let's get on with the post!


Top Sci-fi Books
Okay, this is going to be fun! (Even though I haven't read a great deal of Sci-fi books, it is one of my most favourite genres to read). So this'll be fun.

Teri Terry Books
1. Mind Games

Okay, this was the first book that came to mind when I decided to do this post. I've only read it once, but it's one of my favourites. Not kidding.
This book is set in a world that is all virtual. Like everyone is constantly plugged into a computer. Here is the blurb: Luna (the protagonist) is a refuser (it means that she can tell what is real and what isn't), and that is a secret that she has to guard with her life. Then she gets sent for testing, and she knows that she can hide the secret no longer. It would be easier to fail, to return to her old house, and her former life, but Luna has started to hope, and hope is a dangerous game...  To be honest, it's my favourite Teri Terry book.
I just love the world, and the protagonist Luna is just incredible. It is totally unlike anything I've read. If you like Sci-fi and haven't read this yet, GET ON IT.


2. The "Slated" Trilogy

Okay, I had to put this trilogy on the list. Just had to. Because Teri Terry's Sci-fi books are just that good. Kyla (the protagonist) has been slated. Her memories wiped blank. This is her second chance, because the Government claim she was a terrorist. She isn't supposed to remember anything from her former life, but memories are re-surfacing, and that is dangerous. Someone is also lying to her, and nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust in the search for the truth? Actually can't wait to re-read this trilogy at some point in the very near future! These are the books in the trilogy: 1. Slated

2. Fractured 

3. Shattered

3.   The Girl With All the Gifts

Okay, I've got a review up for this, (which is spoiler-free. At least I think so), so you can check that out without reading the book. But if your lazy, like me, you can just see me describe how good this book actually is, plus here's the blurb: "Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite. But they don't laugh." This book went somewhere else entirely to where I thought it was going, and that turned out to be an extremely good thing. Totally recommend. 

4. Tempest, by Julie Cross

I am yet to review this book yet, but odds are I will be reviewing it on Sunday. This is actually the first time-travellers book that I have read, and after reading this book, I'm ready to go on a time-travellers spree. And it's also got me excited to read Passanger, which is currently upstairs, waiting to be read. Tempest is about a boy called Jackson, who can time-travel (duh). When he and his girlfriend Holly get attacked, he suddenly time-jumps back two years. And he can't get back again. Now he has to find a way to save Holly from a time before they even met. This is the first book in a trilogy (I think), and I actually can't wait to read the next one because I flew through Tempest, meanwhile, loving the characters, loving the plot, and just loving every minute. 

5. The Lunar Chronicles, by Merissa Meyer

I only read this series at the beginning of the year, and they combined fairytales, and Sci-fi. That was all I needed to know before I went head-first into the series. I didn't love the entire series, like there were parts that I didn't love but it was fairly consistent throughout the entire series, in how much I liked it at least. Recommend this series if you like fairytales and Sci-fi. 

So those are my top Sci-fi Books! I will see you guys on Sunday, when I will be posting my review of Tempest, by Julie Cross. So, have a great day guys, and... bye!

-Abi xxxxx

Cross My Heart, Hope To Die (The Lying Game #5), by Sara Shephard

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I can't belive how quickly I read this book!

So here's the review!

Cross My Heart, Hope To Die (The Lying Game #5), by Sara Shephard. 

Title: Cross My Heart, Hope To Die

Author: Sara Shephard 

Genre: Murder Mystery 

Release date: 5th February, 2013

Pages: 231

Blurb:                                         "IT'S NOT EASY BEING ME.

BUT MY SISTER HAS NO CHOICE.

After I died, my killer forced my twin sister to take my place- or else. Now Emma is an expert at being me. She tosses her hair with the signature Sutton Mercer flip and can lead a Lying Game prank with the best of them. She's even repairing my relationship with my adoptive family. The only thing she hasn't done is solve my murder. 

Then our birth mother, the woman who abandoned us, shows up in Tucson. Emma hasn't seen Becky in twelve years, but Becky recognises Emma immediately- as Emma. Is it mother's intuition... or does Becky know I'm already gone?

My Thoughts 

Okay, I really didn't expect to read this book as quickly as I did! I mean, I know I say that at pretty much review (probably), but I do really mean that! 

I feel like literally everything happened in this book. Some new characters were introduced, and one of them said something that could (potentially) impact the plot for the final book, which I am actually really looking forward to. 

Just... the plot went haywire: like a domino effect. One things after another. A character gets introduced, and that character makes the plot take a turn that you weren't expecting, and then you find something out about a character that could have you questioning their legitimacy, and then the plot progresses... 

Oh, there was just one thing after another. To be honest, I'm really glad I picked up this series, this book was that good. 

I really loved that Sara Shepard showed a different side to several different characters in this book, they've become completely different characters compared to the first book, which is another thing that I really liked. 

There really wasn't anything that I didn't like about this book. I enjoyed the plot, the characters, and I really can't wait to see how Sara Shephard wraps this series up! I can't see how she's going to do it, but if it's half as good as this book was, it's sure to be quite a finale!

See you guys on friday, and ...bye!

-Abi xxxxx