February Wrap Up (2017)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And in one aspect I feel like this month has dragged, but in another, it's totally flown by.
And since it is the end of February, I am going to be posting my February Wrap Up (2017)!
Enjoy!

February Wrap Up (2017)

In the month of February I read a total of 8 books! Here they are:

1. The One Memory of Flora Banks, by Emily Barr

2. Between Shades of Gray, by Ruta Sepetys

3. Boys Don't Cry, by Malorie Blackman

4. Would You Rather, by Chris Higgins

5. Caraval (Caraval #1), by Stephanie Garber

6. The Hate List, by Jennifer Brown 

7. Not If I See You First, by Eric Lindstrom

8. It's a 50/50 thing, by Chris Higgins

So those are the books I read in the month of February! I hope you enjoyed it, and if you want to read about my thoughts on these books, I have reviews on most of them (the rest I will review in March).

So I will see you all on Wednesday, and I hope you all have an amazing day!

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

Caraval (Caraval #1), by Stephanie Garber

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And this review is one I'm actually looking forward to!
So this is my review for Caraval, enjoy!

Caraval (Caraval #1), by Stephanie Garber

Title: Caraval

Author: Stephanie Garber

Genre: Mystery

Release date: 31st January, 2017

Pages: 402

Blurb: "WELCOME TO Caraval,

WHERE NOTHING IS

QUITE WHAT IT SEEMS.

Scarlet and Tella have never left the

tiny isle of Trisda, pining from afar for

the wonder of Caraval, a once-a-year

week-long performance where the

audience participates in the show.

Caraval is Magic. Mystery. Adventure.

When the sisters' long-awaited invitations

finally arrive, it seems their dreams have

come true. But no sooner have they

arrived than Tella vanishes, kidnapped by

the show's mastermind organiser, Legend.

Scarlett has been told that everything

that happens during Caraval is an

elaborate performance. But she quickly

becomes entangled in a dangerous game

of love, magic and heartbreak.

And real or not, she must find Tella

before the game is over, and her sister

disappears forever."

My Thoughts

I was always going to be anticipating the new mysterious carnival story that promised to take you on a 'Is it real or not?' journey. And then I saw it in Asda for the minuscule price of £5, and I knew I had to get it and read it and enjoy it that same day.

Can I just take a moment to devour over this magnificent cover! It's certainly a cover to remember. It kind of explodes on the page, which makes sense because it's a firework behind the title, but it just looks so exciting and cool and amazing, it draws you into the idea of reading the books. It just looks so smooth and amazing, it stands out anyway it would be sold.

Now, moment over, and on to the actual book. What should I say first?

I really enjoyed Caraval. It surprised me how much I enjoyed it. Like I knew I was going to enjoy it, but I wasn't expecting it to be so addicting. I started reading this book, and next thing I knew, I was 50 pages in.

And on the back of the dust jacket, it reads: "Whatever you've heard of Caraval, it doesn't compare to the reality. It's more than just a game or a performance. It's the closest you'll ever find to magic in this world."

Not surprising that I couldn't stop reading with a back like that.

One thing that I really liked about this book was that you were constantly guessing what was real and what wasn't. There were characters telling you to believe what you saw, and others who were trying to contradict them. You were pulled away on an impossibly magical adventure, and then they showed you the truth of what happens if you lean too far off the edge. You descend into madness.

This book was dark and that was the truth of it. It was nitty and gritty, and I loved it, it had been so long since I'd read something so dark and mysterious and so, dark.

Now the premise. This book is about two sisters: Scarlett and Tella who, ever since they were girls and their grandma told them stories about the great Caraval, a place where magic is achieved, have dreamed of escaping to this place, away from their abusive father. Then, when Scarlett is deemed to marry someone, a letter arrives, inviting them both to Caraval. What follows is a worldwind of darkness and adventure, in a place where the events and people are not what they seem.

The characters were good. Like I didn't completely fall in love with them, but the point of this book was for you to become invested with the mystery of the whole Caraval, not the characters, though I did relate to them, and was able to fall into their story as much as the Caraval mystery, which was good. Tella was the character that didn't really care for the consequences, she wouldn't let anyone stop her from doing what she wanted. Scarlett was the complete opposite- she was the worrier. I don't think I need to say more than that.

But what I did like about these two characters was that it was really easy to see how they changed throughout the course of the book. At the start, they were willing to blame the other to get out of a beating from their father, but as they made the journey to Caraval, and a whole lot of craziness happened, they really bonded together as sisters, and by the end, they would walk to the ends of the earth for each-other, and that was really evident in this book.

There was a sprinkling of romance in this book too. It wasn't flirting, but learning to trust each-other bit by bit, and I liked that the romance wasn't the beginning, middle and end, though through most of the book that romantic chemistry was there, but never the main focus, which I definitely liked.

I don't want to say too much about the plot because I want you to read it so I'm going to leave it there. But overall, if you are in the mood to read something dark and mysterious, yet also impossible wonderful, and above all magical, I highly recommend you consider picking this one up.

I haven't read many dark circus books, but this book makes me want to pick a whole clump of them up!

So, and I feel like I've said this a ton of times already, I totally recommend this book because it's SO GOOD!

So that was my review for Caraval, by Stephanie Garber! I hope you enjoyed it, and feel free to let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

I hope you all have a wonderful day and I will see you on Monday!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

February Book Haul (2017)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And (somehow) it's approaching the end of the month! (How, I don't know- even though this month is shorter than the typical month...)
So I figured that it was time for my monthly book haul!
I bought a total of four books this month, and they're all pretty well-known!
So take a seat, if your not sat already, since this is on the internet, and read about the books I bought this month!

February Book Haul (2017)

So even though I only bought 4 books this month, they are all pretty well-known, and I think you'll like what I bought!

1. Hero of Ages (Mistborn #3), by Brandon Sanderson

I finally found another book from the Mistborn trilogy! I now have the last two, and I only need the first one (The Last Empire) to marathon this trilogy! I'm so close. And who doesn't love the cover! I sure do. But seriously, I've waited the longest to read this Sci-fi infested trilogy, that I just know I'm going to love! If I haven't found The Last Empire by my birthday, I'm gonna buy it then, because I just know that I'm going to love this epic Sci-fi trilogy!

2. Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2), by Leigh Bardugo

I wasn't altogether sure if I was going to get the final book to the Six of Crows duology when I finished the first one. But, there was another book that I'm going to mention in a minute that I wanted in Waterstones that turned out to be Buy One Get One Half Price, so I decided to get this too, because there's nothing more satisfying than finished a series! I hope to get to this in the next couple of months, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the duology comes to a close!

3. King's Cage (Red Queen #3), by Victoria Aveyard

This was the book that I went to get in Waterstones. This was actually on the 2nd, and I was surprised to see it on the shelf, let alone with Buy One Get One Half Price on it (they normally wait a week or so before putting the deal on it). But I just love this series so much, with the princes, the powers, and the oh so twisty plot that leave you shocked to pieces! Also, take a look at this cover! They just keep getting better, and I can't wait to see what happens next in this explosive series! I should also get to this one within the next couple of months too!

4. Caraval (Caraval #1), by Stephanie Garber



I saw this at the phenomenal price of £5 in Asda a couple of weeks ago and I just had to have it! The next day, I finished the book. I don't want to tell you too much about how I loved it, because I want to post a review in the next week or so, but this book was mysterious and exciting, and that was part of what I loved, and you were never quite sure what was real and what wasn't. Review up in the next week or so.

So that was my February Book Haul (2017)! I know it wasn't very long, but I'm really looking forward to reading all of the ones that I haven't already read!

I will see you all on Friday, when I hope to review something or other.

But I hope you all have a wonderful day and I will see you then!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx



Books 1-10 of 2017

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And today I am doing the first Books of 2017 list, because I've already read 13 this year, and I need to get on this!
So without further ado, here is my Books 1-10 of 2017!

Books 1-10 of 2017

1. Desolation (Demon Road #2), by Derek Landy

 It seems like ages ago that I read this, but was really only 7 weeks. This is the second book in the Demon Road trilogy, by my beloved Derek Landy (who also wrote the kick-ass Skulduggery Pleasant series!) I liked this book because we got to meet a ton of lovable characters, as well as reading about a creepy and mysterious town that is not what it seems, as well as seeing some familiar characters from the first book.

2. American Monsters (Demon Road #3), by Derek Landy

This is the third and final book in the Demon Road trilogy, and this was primarily, the build-up to the parents that want to kill- and eat Amber, because their demons- this is the build up to the final face off. There is a deadline, Amber does have to do something for her parents, or they will kill her love, so it's fast paced, and there are a lot of loyalty ties and memories that do actually make the book more interesting. This book is tiny, so it won't take you long at all to read through it. At all.

3. Frost Blood (Frost Blood #1), by Elly Blake

These are the two copies that you can get, and I have the fire copy. Let me tell you about this book. I loved it. The description was so intricate, the plot was so brutal and interesting, the characters were bigger than life, and the writing made what the characters went through, absolutely brutal. Also, Elly Blake knows how to build tension! I loved everything in this book and I totally recommend this one.

4. Everything Everything, by Nicola Yoon

This book was everything everything! (Excuse the pun haha). But seriously, I read this book in like two days, and I can say with some certainty that it is going to make my favourites list! And I read this in January! But I am so glad that the trailer for the movie is out (on YouTube), so go and watch it because Amandla Stenberg (she played Rue in Hunger Games) is starring in it!

5. Baby Doll, by Hollie Overton

I don't even know what to say about this book except that it had me hooked from start to finish. I read this in 12 hours, it's about the aftermath of a girl and her family after she was kidnapped for 8 years. This book has multiple personalities, so we can see what everybody thinks, and I'm telling you now, it gives it twice the impact. Again, I recommend this because once you start this book, you won't be able to stop.

6. Passenger (Passenger #1), by Alexandra Bracken

7. Wayfarer (Passenger #2), by Alexandra Bracken

This is the time traveller duology that everybody was talking about. The first one came out at the start of last year, and Wayfarer just recently came out. I read the first one and immediately wanted the second. The only thing I will say is that if you want a story about time travelling pirates that you won't want to put down, then this is the duology for you.

8. The One Memory of Flora Banks, by Emily Barr

This is the story of a girl with amnesia. She has to write things on her arms to remember them. Then she kisses a boy and she remembers it. This story is heartwarming, and surprising, and beautiful and amazing. It gives off a message that it doesn't matter who you are, or what you're up against, you can do anything you set you're mind to. And this book has a killer ending. So... read it.

9. Between Shades of Gray, by Ruta Sepetys

This is one of those books that I think everyone- not has to read- needs to read. Because it's raw, and realistic, and has the best story every. Even though it isn't pleasant... But that's the beauty in it. I cried A TON whilst reading this book, because it was so amazing. And I think everybody should read this book, because it's so amazing.

10. Boys Don't Cry, by Malorie Blackman

I read this book years and years ago. And it's one of those books that you can just read over and over without getting bored of it. This is one of my go to books when I'm on the verge of a reading slump (or smack bang in the middle of one). It's about a boy that is awaiting his A Levels results, when his ex-girlfriend arrives on the doorstep, with a baby. His baby. This book deals and addresses a ton of different issues. This book is hopeful, hard-hitting, wonderful, and unexpected. And I love it!

So that is my Books 1-10 of 2017! I hope you enjoyed it, and I will see you soon!

And as always, feel free to let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

Between Shades of Gray, by Ruta Sepetys

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And it's been a while since I've posted a review, so I thought I would! (Also I've now got three reviews that I need to do, so I think it's time I post a review!)
Today's review is Between Shades of Grey, and I hope you enjoy it!

Between Shades of Grey, by Ruta Sepetys

Title: Between Shades of Gray

Author: Ruta Sepetys

Genre: Historical fiction 

Release date: 22nd March, 2011

Pages: 338

Blurb: " That morning, my brother's life

was worth a pocket watch...

One night fifteen-year-old Lina, her mother and

young brother are hauled from their home by

Soviet guards, thrown into cattle cars and sent away.

They are being deported to Siberia.

An unimaginable and harrowing journey has begun.

Lina doesn't know if she'll ever see her father or

her friends again. But she refused to give up hope.

Lina hopes for her family.

For her country.

For her future.

For love- first love, with the boy she barely knows

but knows she does not want to lose...

Will hope keep Lina alive?"

My Thoughts

In the past year or so I've been increasingly interested in this book. I knew it gave you a new side to a war that took place in 1941, but what I didn't know was how powerful it was. Until I read the book itself. And I was blown away by how powerful, and hopeful it was.

The first line from this book is "They too me in my nightgown." Now when I was reading this line, it surprised me how quickly it got into the thick of it. And it didn't let me go, (which I know I say a lot, but this one truly didn't.)

The story starts the night that Lina, her mother, and her brother are taken by the Soviets army. Now, this book is set in the time when there was the Soviets Army was head of everything. And if you weren't for the Soviets, you were taken, along with your family, and transported to a concentration camp.

And that is basically what happens in this story. And what I loved, but also hated, was that Sepetys really didn't hold back on the almost brutal reality of what happens on the journey to the concentration camps, like just imagine being held in a pitch black room for days on end without washing or even eating. I hated that the survivors went through that, but the way that Sepetys wrote it was so powerful and so gripping, you'd look up from the book and two hours would have passed. So what I'm saying by this point is, DON'T read this if you're having a bad day, or you can't deal with the monstrosity of this story.  

And to make the story even more brutal, we get to see some of Lina's (the main character), memories from before she was taken. It was good for character development, because we got to see who she was before this horrific event that nobody thinks they'll ever survive.

Now, on to the characters. The main character is Lina, a teenager with a gift for drawing, who I loved as a character almost immediately. She is strong and resistant, (which is dangerous in a place where the Soviets are killing off people daily) but she does not give up. You really get to see her go from being a scared little girl, to a person who is strong for her family, for her friends, and her country.

There are also Lina's parents and her brother. As her father wasn't with his family at the time they were taken, we don't get to see a lot of him, though he is in the story some of the time. Her mother is in the story though. She often takes a leadership role, and she was one of my favourite characters, because she was like a beacon of hope for not just her family, but also the rest of the people stuck in captivity.

To make sure the whole story wasn't totally depressing, there was also a love interest that was sweet and cute, to the point that you were rooting for them to somehow get out of this situation alive.

As for Sepetys' writing, it was simple, and it flowed really well. I wasn't bored by the writing for even one second throughout this novel, and that was down to the writing.

Overall, I am so glad I read this. It was heartfelt, and raw, and by the time the end came around, I was sobbing with despair about... just about everything. I loved this book, just for the characters, and the hope that was evident from the start, and how realistic the story was. I look forward to reading more by Sepetys in the future, I can assure you. This book made me take a look at what my life is like, and made me feel really fortunate for what I have. I'm glad I read this and, and I cannot stress this enough, I highly recommend you read this!

So that was my review of Between Shades of Gray! I feel like it was kind of all over the place, but if you have any thought yourself on the book, or my review, let me know in the comments!

I hope you have an amazing day, and I will see you all on Monday!

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

   

Valentine's Day Book Tag

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And since yesterday was Valentine's Day, I thought I'd be soppy and do the Valentine's Day Book Tag!
Enjoy!

Valentine's Day Book Tag

1. First book crush

I don't remember exactly who, but most likely Edward because when I was younger I was a twi-hard through and through. I mean, well spoken, gentle, and oh so mysterious, who wouldn't even be a little bit intrigued?

2. What book would you want as your Valentine?

Well, any book I want at the time, really. I'd probably say that I'd like The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas- A book about a girl that goes to an upper class school, but lives in a lower class society. And then her whole world is shattered when she is the only witness to the fatal shooting of her unarmed best friend, by a police officer.

But since The Hate U Give is not out until the 28th, I think I'll go with A List of Cages, by Robin Roe. This book came out last month, it's all over Booktube and I really want to read it as soon as possible!

3. Candy hearts or chocolate?

We don't have candy hearts in the UK (that I've seen), so chocolate, hands down.

4. What book would you gift to your true love?

I don't have a true love, but probably the first book in the Skulduggery Pleasant trilogy if I had to guess. The first book is short, snappy, makes me laugh, and has a bunch of kick-ass scenes and characters. Plus it's the perfect book as a stepping stone to get into reading.

5. Favourite rom-com

Bridget Jones probably. It shows that the road to love doesn't have to be classy or go perfectly and without a hitch. Plus the punch up between Colin Firth and Hugh Grant is a scene I look forward to in both films. You just can't beat them in my opinion.

6. Best Valentine's gift you've ever received (or want to receive)

Never received a gift (because I just spend all of my day in books and never talk to anyone), but I guess I'd like to receive some flowers and chocolates, because if you can't do it on Valentine's Day, when can you?

7. Favourite thing about Valentine's day (if you love it) OR favourite thing to do on Valentine's day (if you hate it) 

I don't really have a favourite thing to do on Valentine's Day. It's just another day to me.

So that was the Valentine's Day Book Tag! I hope you enjoyed it, and I will see you all on Friday!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

The One Memory of Flora Banks, by Emily Barr

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And it's been a while since I posted a review, which is strange, because I finished a book a while ago (but not that strange, because last month I literally posted nothing but reviews, so it would make sense that I would want a break from reviews!)
But today I feel like I need to, so here is my review!

The One Memory of Flora Banks, by Emily Barr

Title: The One Memory of Flora Banks

Author: Emily Barr

Genre: Contemporary

Release date: 12th December, 2016

Pages: 303

Blurb: "How do you know who to trust

when you can't even trust yourself...?

Flora has amnesia.

She can't remember anything day-to-day:

the joke her friend made, the instructions

the parents gave her, how old she is.

Then she kisses someone she shouldn't-

and the next day she remembers it.

It's the first time she's remembered

anything since she was ten.

I look at my hands. One of them says

FLORA Be Brave."

My Thoughts

Okay, so when I heard about this book (on Booktube, funnily enough), it sounded interesting. I didn't know if I would get to read it, but it looked short, and it had an interesting premise, and I wanted to see whether the book itself, matched the synopsis (sometimes you think a book is about something from the synopsis, and then it turns out completely different.) But I can tell you, even before you read it, it is exactly as it says on the synopsis. The book is actually that blunt, that forward. And it never once lost that throughout the book, which is one thing that I really liked about it.

This book is about Flora, a girl with amnesia. She has had amnesia from when she was 10, after she had a brain tumour, and part of her brain had to be operated on. But from that operation onwards, Flora's ability to remember day-to-day things is gone. She writes things on her arms, so she can remember, but at the start of the novel, she kisses a boy, and she remembers it.

And from then, the repercussions start.

I thought this book was going to be kind of like Everything Everything, for some reason. The main characters both start off as naïve and incredibly inexperienced, and there is a boy in the scenario in pretty much the first chapter. It was totally and completely unlike Everything Everything, but even though it turned out to have absolutely nothing in common with Everything Everything, I still really enjoyed it.

Because even though the writing was blunt and honest, and my interest level dwindled at times, and the pacing was kind of slow at times, you become invested in Flora, and her interesting way of thinking. I mean the fact that she couldn't remember anything, even how old she is, you start to think of her as a child, as someone you need to protect. And Flora is also really stubborn and determined, and mix that with the adult things she tried to do in this book, with the goal of finding the boy she kissed, who is hundreds of miles away, you just become so invested in Flora's character, because you're constantly worrying about her, and thinking if she'll be okay. But if you're reading this book, be prepared to feel frustrated, angry, or intrigued with wonder. Because all though not a lot happens in this book, and the pacing is slo at the beginning, this is a book worth reading.

Even now, when I'm just reviewing it, the way I felt at certain points in the book are so fresh in my brain, it's scary.

This story isn't just about Flora though. There are other characters, though the centre is on Flora most of the time. Saying that though, the other characters and their plotlines are written very well into the book. Here's the whole picture:

• There's Flora, who doesn't remember anything, except the things she writes on her arms. She has amnesia after a brain tumour. She kissed a boy and remembered it, which never happens.
• There are her parents, who are gone for most of the story, because they have to go to Paris to take care of her sick brother who left when Flora was 11. They leave her with Paige, her friend.
• But what her parents don't know is that Paige isn't with her, because the boy that Flora kissed is her ex boyfriend, who just broke up with her.

But those are the main plots throughout the story. But there are little questions behind these plots, that are the reason I enjoyed this book so much. I'm not going to tell you any more because that would ruin some of the later plot-lines, and I want you all to read it.

As for the writing, Barr totally embodied the personality of Emily, and the writing didn't feel like words at all. It felt like Flora's story, like she was telling the story, because it was so truthful, and almost brutal in the honesty of the writing. I can't fault the writing.

But overall, I really enjoyed this book and I urge anyone who thinks they might be vaguely interested in reading it, to pick it up because, it may be short, but it definitely packs a punch. It teaches you to not let anything stand in your way if you are determined to do it, and that you should trust your own judgement by what you saw, and try to find things out for yourself.

I highly recommend this book.

So that was my review on The One Memory of Flora Banks, by Emily Barr! I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope you pick it up yourself, because it is amazing!

I hope you have a wonderful day and I will see you all on Wednesday!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

My Favourite Contemporaries!

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And since I wasn't in the mood to do a review, I thought I'd do one a list!
(Because I was stuck and I didn't know what to do).
But I love reading contemporaries, so I thought I'd list my favourites!
So here's the post. Enjoy!

My Favourite Contemporaries!

1. Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon

For those that have read my review shouldn't be so surprised that this book made the list. But it was one of those books that surprised me by how good it is. Like I knew it was interesting, but I just didn't know how it would pull you in with the unique characters, and the romance (the romance is quirky and funny and hopeful, which is another good thing). Seriously recommend if you haven't read this yet.

2. Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell

This has been one of my favourites for a couple of years now, and this is probably one of the most popular contemporaries on this list. Fangirl is about a shy girl called Cath, and up until the point when they went to University, did everything with her twin sister Wren. But then, when they get to University, Wren wants to do her own things- without Cath. This story is a cutesy, funny and amazing story about Cath, as she tries to get over her anxiety, and experiences the world of University.

3. Before I Die, by Jenny Downham

This story is depressing, I'm not gonna lie. Of course it is, it's about a girl dying of cancer. But it's also beautiful, and raw, and so damn hopeful, which is why I love it so much. But seriously, it's one of my favourite books in the whole wide world, and I highly recommend it, because it will make you cry.

4. Songs About A Girl (Songs About A Girl #1), by Chris Russell

I've got a review up for this one as well. So check that out if your interested in how much I LOVED THIS BOOK. I cant even explain how much I loved it. Loved the characters, because they felt like real people. They had ambitions they were aspiring towards, they each had quirks and things that made them feel like the most relatable people in the world. I don't want to say what this is about, because I think it's better to go into this book with no clue what it's about, as I did, but I will say that there is romance in it, and the romances were as free and light as air. Totally recommend this book, and the sequel is out on the 13th July.

5. All the Chris Higgins books

I actually have all these books. I'm actually reading one at the moment! (I'm in a reading slump, and my favourite way to overcome one is to read one of my favourites). But that's what I love about these books: they're really short, so they're not time consuming, but they deal with different issues in a way that isn't depressing, and that's hard to do. I've been a fan of Chris Higgins since secondary school, and I still find them interesting today, because these issues that are in her books never lose relevance. I recommend these for younger readers that want to get into reading, but don't want to tackle the bigger books yet.

So those are my favourite contemporaries! I hope you enjoyed the post, and I will see you all on Monday! If you have any comments or thoughts on the books in this list, let me know in the comments!

I hope you have a wonderful day, and I will see you soon!

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

Upcoming Films I Am Looking Forward To!

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I really wasn't sure what I wanted to post today! All I knew was that I did not want to do a review...
Yeah. So I figured I would do a post on upcoming films I am looking forward to!
Notice that the title isn't Anticipating Book to Movies Adaptions, because not every upcoming film is from a book... Literally one...
But here are the films that I am looking forward to watching, and most likely reviewing!

Upcoming Films I Am Looking Forward To!

1. Beauty and the Beast

Have you seen the trailer for this? I actually can't wait! Belle has always always always been one of my favourite Disney princesses ever, because she is headstrong, curious, and intuitive. Plus she loves BOOKS. And her songs are amazing...But I cannot wait for this film, especially as Emma Watson is playing Belle.

The release date is 10th March, so it's only a matter of weeks until it is released! I can't wait to watch this iconic film, and you should expect a review around that same time!

2. Dance Academy The Movie

I know this film is completely unrelated to books, but I can't wait for this film so much that I just had to include it in the list! This film takes place after a tv series (called Dance Academy, if you didn't know), that aired around like 2010-2013, to my knowledge. The tv show is on Youtube, so you can still watch them, and I totally recommend that you do (if you have any interest in dance, particularly ballet, which I wish I could do, but can't). But this series is amazing and hopeful, the plot is interesting and cool and unique, and has the ability to grip you from the first episode of season one to the final episode of season 3. The characters are also just incredible. TRUST ME.

I'm not sure if this film will be showing in UK cinemas, as the show is set in Australia, but I hope it is, because the trailer makes it look AMAZING and INTENSE and just as incredible as the show was, all those years ago. But the release date for Australia is: 6th April, 2017.

3. Everything Everything

I read this book a couple of months ago, and it is one of those books that still sticks with you. I still remember every single detail from that books, even 8 weeks later. And if the film is half as good as what the book was, then it ought to be quite a film. Can I just say that I am ecstatic that this book is being made into a film, because even though the synopsis is not that different to some other books I've read, the writing and the way the story just runs is totally and completely different to any other contemporary book I've ever read. Release date: 19th May, 2017 (USA).

4. It

Yes, I am aware that this poster is super creepy. But what I am also aware of is that it perfectly captures the essence of the film/book. I am ashamed to say that I have not read It, nor any Stephen King film, but I'm in the mood to be creeped out of my skin, and this film looks dark and twisted, and I really hope I have the guts to actually going to watch it. The release date for It is 8th September, 2017 (USA).

5. Red Queen

I'm not sure if this is the actual film poster or not, but it isn't the book cover, and that's good enough for me. Those of you that have been following this blog a while know that I am in love with this series, and I am also really interested to see how they adapt this book into a film. I really hope it's good because I do have high expectations, because the book series is amazing and unique and magical and just totally bad-ass, so I hope that follows through when they adapt it into a film! Not sure what the release date for this one is at the moment, but I'll ley you all know when I find out! 

So that was my Upcoming Films I Am Looking Forward To! I will probably think of more the second I post this, but for now, this is all I got! (I could always add them to the post later without you all knowing, hehe). But I hope you all have a wonderful day and I will see you on Friday!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

Writing Update #1 (February 2017)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And since NaNoWriMo I haven't written a whole lot about my novel.
Which is why I thought it might be time to tell you what I've been up to.
So this is my Writing Update #1 (February 2017)!

Writing Update #1 (February 2017)

Just sort of think of this as Polandbananasbooks' Writing Chronicles, but on a blog instead! Because that's kind of how I got the idea for it.

So I am happy to tell you guys that I have reached 50,000! Well, 54,000 words actually, but still.

50,000! 

I'm in that point of the book where everything is so vital, so important to the plot-line, that every time I go to write, I'm sat as still as stone, except for my fingers, that are typing and typing, as fast as lightning.

I still have some parts left, and I think my first draft is going to be well inside the word count range for YA (50,000 to 80,000), but it also means that I won't be able to add much as I think it'll end up around the 70,000 word mark.

But then, I can also take off some words in editing at some point.

In terms of layout, I have none. I'm using Word, and using single spacing. I'm not worrying about the spacing between the words, or how many lines in a page, I'm just focusing on finishing the novel. I'll focus on that later, but for now I just want the novel down on paper.  

As for what kind of deadline I want to give myself, (deadlines keep me motivated) I want to have finished the first draft by the end of February. (Because it is half term next week, and I have nothing else to occupy my attention, so why not?).

NOW IS THE TIME TO WRITE.

So... Let's write!

That is more or less everything I wanted to say about my writing update, and if you have any thoughts or stories about your own writing, whether they are inspirational, or something you learned whilst failing miraculously (we all have those days that we feel like failures- trust me), comment them down below!

Also, if you have any questions about my novel itself, ask me those in the comments too!

I hope you have an amazing day, and you reach for your dreams!

... With reckless abandon.

So I will see you all on Wednesday, okay? Okay!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

Wayfarer (Passenger #2), by Alexandra Bracken

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I since I've read a butt ton of books within the last week or so, it means I have to more reviews.
The last review I posted was Passenger. Which means that the next book I will be reviewing is Wayfarer, the second and last book in the series.
So here is my review!

Wayfarer (Passenger #2), by Alexandra Bracken

Title: Wayfarer

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Genre: Fantasy

Release date: 3rd January, 2017

Pages: 532

Blurb: "I'm coming. Stay alive. I'll find you."

TEXAS, 1905

Etta Spencer didn't know she was a traveller until the day

she found herself just miles, but years from home.

Now, Etta is stranded in time and separated from the boy

she loves. At the time of mercy of a family she once thought her

enemy, Etta learns of a new Ironwood plot, more dangerous

than she could have imagined: to destroy the future she

longs to belong to.

THE BAHAMAS, 1776

Devastated by Etta's disappearance, Nicholas enlists the

help of Sophia Ironwood. But after a deadly mistake derails

their search, an ancient power emerges, more frightening

than the Ironwood plot- a power that threatens to

eradicate time altogether.

INTO THE UNKNOWN

From New York to San Francisco, Imperial Russia

to the Vatican catacombs, Etta and Nicholas must

desperately fight to reach each other..."

My Thoughts

What can I say about this book? It was definitely the perfect book to finish the Passenger duology, that's for sure. What else? You met more characters, and learnt more about the existing ones.

In summary: absolutely amazing.

And it was. What I liked in particular was that this book told us more about the world, and we got to see more of what the side characters thought about each-other, apart from Etta and Nicholas. Most of learning about the world came from the new characters we met along the way to be honest.

And to be honest, I liked the characters we got introduced to in this book than most of the others we met in Passenger to be honest.

Saying that, the character development for the people we met in Passenger (Nicholas, Etta, and Sophia in particular) meant that I really enjoyed that aspect of the story.

But what I really liked was that the story wasn't just about the two main characters this time. Yes, the goal was to meet and be with each-other again, but there were a ton of different things that were started in Passenger, but then were formed and developed into something new.

And during all that, the time travelling wasn't lost either. Because our two main characters were in different places, jumping from time to time, trying to find each-other. Which also meant that we got two perspectives.

The two perspectives thing was both good and bad. At least in my opinion. In some parts, I was kind of lost. It was hard to keep track of who we were following at any given time, and they also felt really rushed. But what was good about them was that they added to the feeling that we found out more about the world, because we knew exactly what the main characters were doing. (If that makes sense).

This book was also chock-a-block with action and violence, which is always a good thing is this type of book. And I will say that not one scene was boring in this book like, at least one interesting thing happened in every single scene, whether it be, a character did something life threatening, they jumped to a different location, or we found out something interesting about a character.

Also, THIS BOOK WAS SO UNPREDICTABLE. There were scenes where I literally read something, I had to close the book and just take a minute to grasp what had happened. And then carry on reading. Because it was amazing.

Now the plot. I hate to say it, but I'm going to. I definitely thought it was better than Passenger. I did enjoy Passenger, but the plot was just amazing in this one. I liked that it wasn't completely focused on the two main characters, (even though that was always the main goal), but that wasn't the only focus, which made for an overall more well-rounded book. Also, this plot was a lot more spaced out. I mean, there was still the action and the violence, but there were gentle and fun scenes as well, which we didn't get a whole lot of in Passenger.

Which made the book a lot better in my opinion because, even though the whole book wasn't FIGHTING AND VIOLENCE, it wasn't boring either. There were scenes where the characters struggled, scenes where the main focus seemed to the characters, and then the action came.

Those action scenes were absolutely incredible though, don't doubt that, because they were.

Overall, I thought this was a really good book to end the duology on, because it ,essentially, wrapped everything and everybody up. I did feel satisfied with the ending, and I'm glad I read it.

If anyone is on the fence as to read these or not, I totally recommend it, because it is worth the read, even if it's a big time commitment.

Because it was so good.

So that was my review of Wayfarer, by Alexandra Bracken! I hope you enjoyed it, and if you have any thoughts, let me know in the comments below!

So, I hope you have a wonderful day and I will see you all on Monday!

Byeeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

February TBR (2017)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And as it is now February, it is now time for my February TBR (2017)!

Febraury TBR (2017)

Today I am posting the books that I will be reading in February! I read a lot more than I was expecting to in January, and all I want to do this month is continue to do that, which is why I have a couple more books on my list this month!

The books that I am reading this month, I guess you are could say are the runt of the pile. They are the books I still want to read, but not too much. So this month is going to be dedicated to those books (these are the ones that have been in my TBR for the longest time!

1. The One Memory of Flora Banks, by Emily Barr

I have already finished this book, (I finished it like 5 minutes ago, and I'm just talking about it now). I read this in two days, because it isn't too big, but I did have some problems with it. The ending pulled my rating up though, because it was really good. This book is about a girl called Flora Banks (duhhh, Abi) who has amnesia, so she can't remember anything. Like within three or four hours of experiencing something, she forgets it. But then she remembers something. And ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE. No, I'm totally kidding. But things do escalade from there. This book is short and sweet, and I will be reviewing it at some point in the next week.

2. The Uncommoners The Crooked Sixpence, by Jennifer Bell

I don't know much about this, except for the fact that it was recommended by someone who I trust (we like a lot of the same books), and that's good enough for me! But I did actually read like the first ten pages when I first got it, and I grabbed me straight away. It just sounds so quirky and fun, which makes sense because it is a middle grade book. But this looks like a cool and easy read, and I am really looking forward to read it!

3. The Hate List, by Jennifer Brown

I do actually know a fair amount this book (I should do, it's been on my TBR long enough). This is about a couple called Valerie & Nick. Now Valerie and Nick's lives have been made a misery from the time that they were really young. So naturally, they make a Hate List of all the people that have made their lives a misery. The same list that Nick uses to pick his targets the day he goes into school with a gun. That's all I'm going to say about the book, but what I think this book is mostly about is the aftermath of the shooting. It's set from Valerie's perspective, and I think it will be interesting to see what her thoughts are. Also really looking to reading this one!

4. Harvesting the Heart, by Jodi Picoult

I HAVE ANOTHER JODI PICOULT BOOK. My Nan gave me this. THANK-YOU NAN! I don't know much about it, to be honest. Need to do some more research. But it'll probably have a plot twist that blows everything out of proportion; it'll probably have a court case, because most Jodi Picoult books do. I just know that it's about a person called Paige, who when she was 5, her mother left. Now, 20 years later, she finds herself married and with a child of her own. But her mother's behaviour makes her wonder about whether she will ever be a good Mother. I'm kind of hesitant to pick this up, to be honest, because it sounds kind of strange. But this month is about reading books that I am hesitant to read. And it's by Jodi Picoult, so I definitely know I'll enjoy it. So, it sounds okay, and I hope I like it.

5. The Casual Vacancy, by J K Rowling

I think out of all of the books in this list, this one has been on my TBR the longest. I got given this last summer, and somehow I still haven't read this. What I think is holding me back, is that this book has been given a lot of mixed reviews (at least what I've heard). But I need to read this and review it, just so I can finish it, and put it up on my bookshelf.

6. Not If I See You First, by Eric Lindstrom

I really don't think I am going to get to this book this month, but I thought I might just stick it in at the end of the list, just in case, because I said the last thing last month, and look how that turned out! But this book isn't too big or time consuming, and it looks really interesting and cool, so I might try and read this this month. This hasn't been on my TBR for too long, but it is one of those books that I want to read before it becomes a problem. But I am really looking forward to reading this!

So that was my February TBR (2017)! I doubt I'll get to every book on this list, but just in case, I have done a fairly large list for this month! Anyway, if you guys have any thoughts on anything on this post, let me know in the comments!

I hope you have a wonderful day, and I will see you on Friday, when I will be posting my review of Wayfarer, the concluding book in the Passengers duology!

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxx