May Wrap Up (2017)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And today I am posting my may wrap up!
This is the first time I am actually talking about what I thought about these books- because I don't want to do a separate review for each book- so let me know what you think about that!
Also! Total achievement- I actually stuck to my TBR this month! I read every single book on my May TBR, which I feel super accomplished for!
So this is my May Wrap Up!
Enjoy!

May Wrap Up (2017)

So I read a total of 6 books this month, which to be honest, I'm pretty happy about. (Especially considering I read the last three books in the past 6 days). These books were:

1. The Sudden Appearance of Hope, by Claire North

This book was one of those that was okay, but I was expecting more from it in some aspects, but I got more than I was expecting in others. The book took a kind of roundabout direction, and it took it's time explaining how the things that were happening, were relevant to the story. This is a story about a thief, and from the time that she was 16, her family, and everyone she knew, started to forget her. From that point on, Hope (who takes on multiple personalities and names), is out to destroy a company called Perfection, whilst also finding a way to finally be remembered. Despite the roundabout way that the story that the story was told, I did enjoy this book. The pacing was off in a few places, but overall it was an enjoyable read, purely because you get the feeling that you never know what is going to happen next. If you're in the mood for an unpredictable, unique read, I recommend picking this one up.

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

I read this one purely because I wanted to continue the series (I got Vortex, the sequel, a while ago), and I had forgotten most of the bigger plot points (I read it about a year ago). If you want to know more about my thoughts on this book, you can check out my review here. 

3. Vortex (Tempest #2), by Julie Cross

I also read the second book in the series. And I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I thought it was the perfect lead on from the first one because what we got introduced to at the end of the first book, was carried on throughout the second book. And although the first book had a nice ending, I'm glad I read the second one, because so many things were turned on it's head in this one, and I have to say it was done really well. In Vortex, after saying goodbye to the life that Jackson used to have, he is currently training as a CIA agent, though he is still keeping his time travelling a secret. And even though this wasn't the main point, we got to learn more about Jackson's family, and we got to learn more about Jackson himself, which was nice to see, and it actually made me relate to him more, to see outside the spy-time-traveller person that we've seen so far. This is turning out to be a decent trilogy, and I can't wait to see how it wraps up.

4. The Crooked Sixpence (The Uncommoners #1), by Jennifer Bell

So, I put this on my TBR purely because I was sick of it gathering dust on my bookshelf. And that stuck with me throughout reading this book. I don't know whether it was the fact that I read this in one day (I literally had nothing else to do), or whether it was recommended to me, but the whole thing just dragged. Admittedly, there were a couple of times when I was like "Wow!" moments that I wasn't expecting, but for the most point, I was kind of confused and disappointed about the story, and I doubt I will be carrying on with the series.

5. The Edge of Everything (The Edge of Everything #1), by Jeff Giles

This was another that I read in a day, but for a different reason. I could not put it down! The whole time I was thinking that I need to slow down, because I did not want to finish another book in the day, but I kind of needed to, because it was SO GOOD! This book, actually really surprised me! I will definitely be reviewing this book, and I will definitely be reading the next book in the series, so more detail on those then.

6. After You (Me Before You #2), by JoJo Moyes

Yet another book that I read because I just wanted to finish. But I also wanted to read this just to see how some of my favourite characters doing after the events of the first book. And even though it wasn't as good as the first book, it was still a decent ending to a traumatic duology. This book takes place about a year and a half after Will... yeah. And it's basically about Louisa, getting her life back together after everything that happened with Will. It's about her coming to grips with life once again, and learning to let go of her love to Will. And when his daughter comes in search of Louisa, wanting to know about her Dad, she has two choices: close the door and life continues, simple, safe. Or open the door and risk everything. The story carries on from there, and let me tell you, this book was beautiful. Like not happy cry beautiful, but still hopeful. Recommend to anyone who wants a story about learning to love after someone has passed.  

So that is my May Wrap Up (2017)! I hope you enjoyed it, and if you have any thoughts about any of these books, let me know in the comments!

I will see you all on Friday, and until then, goodbye!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxxx

Perfect (Flawed #2), by Cecelia Ahern

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And it's time I get caught up on all the reviews that I've wanted to review- just because I'm choosing what books I want to review, doesn't mean I can ignore them altogether!
So today I will be reviewing Perfect, the concluding book in the Flawed duology- enjoy!

Perfect (Flawed #2), by Cecelia Ahern

Title: Flawed

Author: Cecelia Ahern

Genre: Sci-fi and Dystopian

Release date: 6th April

Pages: 428

Blurb: "Celestine North lives in a society that

demands perfection. After she was

branded flawed, Celestine's life has

fractured completely- all her

freedoms gone.

Since Judge Crevan declared her

the number-one threat to the public,

she has been on the run with the

complicated, powerfully attractive

Carrick, the only person she can trust.

But Celestine has a secret- one that

could bring the entire Flawed system

crumbling to the ground.

Judge Crevan is gaining the upper hand,

and time is running out for Celestine.

With tensions building, she must make

a choice: save only herself, or risk her

life to save all the FLAWED..."

My Thoughts

Going into this book, I was kind of nervous to find out how the story would go. Ending on such high expectations from the masterpiece that was the first book, I wasn't sure where the story was going to go, and whether I was going to be happy with how it ended. Turns out, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even though I had a few problems with it.

PERFECT starts a couple of months after Flawed ends, on the run from her whistle-blower, and Judge Crevan, after he branded her number-one threat to the public. From the word go, she is thrown into deep water, and we are catapulted into the world where being immorally kind makes you an outcast for all eternity.

In the second book, the story has moved past the message from the first book, yet it takes it a step further in Perfect: will Celestine stand up for what is right, or will she hide in the shadows and protect herself and her family? It's really interesting to see how, when seeing the effect she has on the people around her, how she grows as a person and a leader as she makes this terrifying choice. This was one of my favourite parts of the book.

Saying that, I did have a couple of problems with this book. The pacing was kind of slow in a couple of chapters, when I wasn't sure where they where going with what was happening, and I didn't get the significance to the story.

But even though there were a couple of times when this happened, Ahern always managed to bring it back, and keep me interested in the direction the story was taking.

 There was also a little bit of a triangle thing going on in this book which, even though I kind of guessed that that was where the story was going in the first book, I didn't expect the way this sub-plot was headed. Let's just say that the betrayal was absolutely amazing in this book. Not saying any more, you'll have to read the book.

As for the plot, as I said before, the heart of what the book was the ultimate choice: will Celestine stand up for the flawed and say, this is wrong! Or will she protect those she loves, and let Crevan win? This is a high intensity and fast paced (mostly) book that anyone who reads it will agree: it is worth reading.

There isn't much else I can say about this without giving away a bunch of spoilers, so I'm going to end it there. Overall, I thought this was a wonderful end to the Flawed duology and I am satisfied with how it went. If you are a fan of any Cecelia Ahern book, I urge you to pick this up because I promise, it is as captivating and intriguing as any other (maybe a bit more, because it is YA). I thoroughly enjoyed this duology, and I highly recommend this to anyone who likes stories with interesting premises'.

So that is my review of Perfect (Flawed #2)! I hope you enjoyed the review, and if you have any thoughts, let me know in the comments below!

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

Goodbye!

-Abi xxxxxxx

Beauty and the Beast Film Review

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I can't believe I haven't reviewed this yet!
Saying that, I did go to see the film on like the last week it was in cinemas, but that should be no reason to not post it sooner!
But there is no reason to not... post it any more.
So here it is! Enjoy!

Beauty and the Beast Film Review

Okay, so everyone (at least anyone that has an interest in Disney) has seen Beauty and the Beast. It tells a story about how you can learn to love not with your eyes, but with you're heart, and frankly, when the idea for a live-action version was released, people were wondering, "When something is so perfect, why go near it?"

The answer: "Technology has caught up to the ideas that were introduced in that movie."

I just love this shot!

And let me tell you, they certainly did it well. Because the whole film was absolutely magical and beautiful and just all round amazing. I don't know whether it was the cinematography that just made the setting look impossibly beautiful, or whether it was how the film perfectly combined the era and what was real in that era, but somehow also related it to ideas that wouldn't have been allowed in that era, but is in this era, or the fact that the must was just so simple and hopeful and perfectly fitted the story they were trying to portray, I don't know what it was. But I am so glad that I went to see this movie.

At the moment, all these things are running through my head- its so hard to find faults with this classically beautiful, amazingly intricate and special film. Although the story stayed intact, there was a lot more added to the film. The characters were more realistic, I guess you could say, and you found out more about Belle's backstory (though I'm not giving any more info than that).

To be honest, when I found out who was directing the film (Bill Condon- directed Breaking Dawn part 1, Dreamgirls), I wasn't really sure whether he would do the film justice- of course, Breaking Dawn did have some beautiful moments in terms of shots and cinematography, I still didn't know whether he was up to it.

He totally was. He was able to capture the era, as well as the story that we all know and love.

Also, you can imagine that I was super excited to hear that Emma Watson was playing well, and she did even better than I thought. The perfect choice for Belle, particularly with the scenes with Maurice. You could really tell that the bond between father and daughter was strong between the two of them (particularly as the rest of the era don't really take them seriously). But you can see how close they are, and that was lovely to see.

I would like a moment to talk about the era that the film took part in. The film took somewhere in France in 1740, when women stayed out home, washing and cleaning  men went out hunting, and went out to earn a living. And it wasn't right for women to read or invent (which is basically the only reason why Belle and her father are outsiders- because they push and rebel, I guess you could say, against what is the done thing), which, I thought, is part of the reason that I love this film so much.

There is also the fact that it brings up the theory that magic is real, which makes the question of magic much more interesting.

And finally, I wanted to talk about the music. Now, being the musical fanatic that I am, if the music is good, then I'm more than willing to give a film a shot, regardless of the plot. But this music, it just... blew me away. There are no words for how I felt when I heard this beautiful music that perfectly matched the story and the mood of the scenes.

So overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this film, and if you went to see it, I hope you did too. And if you didn't, I hope this review has encouraged you to buy the film when I comes out, because I most certainly will!

So that was my review of Beauty and the Beast! I hope you enjoyed it and if you saw the film, let me know what you thought of it in the comments!

So I will see you all on Friday!

Byeeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

Writing Update #2 (May 2017)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And my writing has kind of been taking a backseat in the past couple of months on this blog.
So, I thought it's time I change that. (Especially as I love writing and talking about it so much!)
So here is my second Writing Update (May 2017).
Enjoy!

Writing Update #2 (May 2017)

So, first things first. I FINISHED THE BOOK. Well... the first draft. But at least that's something solid. But the way things are going, your gonna bet that I'll be way over the word count that's recommended for the final project. The recommended word count for YA Contemporary (even though YA isn't technically a genre... but we're going with it) is 50,000- 80,000 words.

My draft is currently standing at 77,291 words... and even though I've already written the majority (from what I've seen so far), I'm bound to write a couple more thousand.

As for what I'm doing now, I'm going through the story, editing, and making sure it all makes sense, as well as listing the plot points that I want to include consistently in the book. I'm thinking about printing each chapter as I go so I can annotate it, but at the moment I'm still thinking about it.  

As much as I want to say I'm working on it consistently, the story has taken a backseat since I finished the first draft. Saying that, I want to take the rest of the year to perfect my book and get it to the best that it can be, and then maybe attempt to approach literary agencies next year, or even get just a couple of people to read it and see what they think.

Also, just for peace of mind, I've updated the formatting that I'm writing the book, to give me even a vague idea of how long the book is going to be. I've made the book double space, but it's still on a word document, at A4 size paper, at 11 font. Translated to the most that I can, I think the book will end up at approximately 320 pages, which is the size I think is just right for a YA Contemporary.

So that's pretty much all I have to update you all on for my novel (scary, calling it a novel!) for now. I hope you enjoyed the post, and let me know in the comments if you want more of these writing updates, and if so, what you would like them to be about (for example, overcoming writing slumps, how to stop micro-editing in your brain, and how to let yourself write badly, so you can edit it later, because it does help!)

But do let me know in the comments, because I love it when somebody takes the time to comment on a post!

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

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxxx

May Book Haul (2017)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And even though it isn't the usual time to do a book haul, why the hell not?
I love talking about new books, and at this point my TBR is through the roof, but I just love buying new books.
So enough mindless babbling, let's get to the book haul!

May Book Haul (2017)

1. Mister Pip, by Lloyd Jones

I read this book in Year 11, for my English assignment. And it was one of the most shocking and heart-breaking stories my eyes have ever read. This is a story about a girl Matilda, who after meeting Mr Dickens, and a certain Mr Pip, gets taken on a whimsical and fascinating journey. But on an island at war, nobody is safe. This book is informative, imaginative, and unique. And it packs a punch. I swear to god, this is one of the best English books I've read, so if you get the chance to pick it up, don't hesitate!

2. The Miserable Mill (Series of Unfortunate Events #4), by Lemony Snicket

I found another one! JUST ONE MORE LEFT! (Can you believe I found them all in charity shops??????)

3. Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty

This is one of the many books that had been on my radar for some time. I've already tweeted a pic about this book and other (which is on this list also), so go check it out! (My Twitter is @TheWorldIsBooks). But I hope to read this soon, because I want to watch the TV show (My brother is watching it, and he says it's fantastic!)

4. The Circle, by Dave Eggers

Now, I don't know much except for this book except for the fact that they are creating a movie that is starring Emma Watson in it (she is starring in everything at the moment), and that this story is about the circle- which controls everything. All your internet data in one place: and people can watch every moment of you're life as well. When Mae joins the Circle, she immediately does well, and she becomes noticed inside. But the more her ideals and ambitions start to become scrutinised by those inside the circle, the closer she comes to discovering a sinister truth at the heart of the organisation that is seeking to remake the entire world of it's image.

And I can't wait to read it!

5. CONTAGION, BY TERI TERRY

I GOT THE BOOK!!!!!!! (And the pages are red too!!!!) You do not believe how excited I am to read the book, you don't understand. I will definitely be reviewing this, because Teri Terry is my all time favourite authors! This is the first book in the Dark Matter trilogy, and I cannot wait to start it!!!!!

6. The Girls, by Emma Cline

Even though this wasn't on my immediate list for what I wanted to read, I bought this because it is the JUNE BOOK CLUB BOOK FOR MY LOCAL WATERSTONES, and it looked like a book of interest. Now what do I know about this book? From what I know, this is a book from multiple perspectives. It's also pretty short, about 350 pages. But from the blurb, I know that it's about a girl called Evie, who is desperate to be noticed, by Suzanne, a girl at the heart of the cliché she is desperate to be noticed by. Intoxicated by her promises, she agrees to go back to thr rotting ranch where they live. But before she knows it, her life is in deep water- and she does not know how to get out. No matter how short this book, this already sounds intense. And that intensity increases when I find out that there, in fact, murder in this book. More thoughts on this when I actually read it.  

So that was my May Book Haul (2017)! I hope you enjoyed it, and at least I finally posted something! Comment your thoughts below!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

Netflix Book Tag

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And today I thought it would be fun to do a tag!
So, over the course of the past year or so, Netflix has dominated more than a few screens, and so, I decided it was time I do the Netflix Book Tag!
Enjoy!

Netflix Book Tag

1. Recently watched

The last book you finished reading

The Sudden Appearance of Hope, by Clair North. Bit slow at the start, but once it hit maybe the 200 page mark, it picked up, and it stayed that way for the rest of the book. More on the book in my May Wrap Up. Currently I'm about to start Tempest, by Julie Cross, a re-read.

2. Top picks

A book/books that have been recommended to you based on books you have previously read

After thinking this over (trying to think of something to put for this category because I couldn't think of anything,) but after thinking this through, I'm going to go with the Mistborn trilogy. A bunch of people have told me that because one of my favourites genres is Sci-fi, that I should try the Mistborn trilogy. If anyone has read the Mistborn trilogy, feel free to let me know what you thought of them in the comments!

3. Recently added

The last book you bought

You guys already know this one! (At least you do if you follow my twitter @TheWorldIsBooks) because there's a picture!

I bought two books last time, and they were The Circle, by Dave Eggers, and Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty! One has been developed into a film that is due to come out soon, and another is a popular TV show!

4. Popular on Netflix

Books that everyone knows about (2 you've read and 2 you have no interest in reading)

The two that everyone knows about are: -The Hunger Games, and

Harry Potter, duh!

The two that I have no interest in reading have to be: -Anna and the French Kiss, by Stephanie Perkins, and Miss Peregrine Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs.

I admit I tried the first Miss Peregrine's book, but never again.

5. Comedies

A funny book

Derek Landy is the king of sarcastic, witty humour in his books, and I laugh whilst reading his Skulduggery Pleasant unlike what I laugh about in other books. So I'm picking the Skulduggery Pleasant collection for this one.

6. Dramas

A character that is a drama king/queen

I... don't.... know....

Think I'll skip this one.

7. Animated

A book with cartoons on the cover

Even though this technically isn't a book, it is a graphic novel, which I'm counting.

It's Saga, a series I've been meaning to start for a while now. I don't know much about it, but I hope to read it in the near future (after finishing all the books already on my TBR!).

8. Watch It Again

A book/ book series that you want to re-read

Okay, even though I've already read this a million times, I always want to re-read the Noughts and Crosses series, by Malorie Blackman. It was one of the first series I completed, and it still is, even 5 years later! This is a series that does not shy away from the tough subjects, but discussing them in an explosive and addicting way! Totally recommend (seriously, go read this series, it's GENIUS).

9. Documentaries

A non-fiction book you'd recommend to everyone 

Even though I don't read many non-fiction books, to all my writers out there, I can recommend "The Essential Guide to getting your book Published." It's straight and to the point, and full of information about publishing. 

10. Action and Adventure

An action packed book 

The first trilogy that springs to mind is the Divergent trilogy, so I'll go with that. 

11. New releases

A book that just came out or will be coming out soon that you can't wait to read

Contagion, by Teri Terry! If you've been here a while, you will know that Teri Terry is my absolute favourite author, and this book comes out 18th May, which I am so excited about! 

12. Max

Tag people!

I'm going to be lazy (once again) and let anyone that wants to do the tag, they are free to do it! 

But let me know in the comments!

So that is all that I have for you all today. I hope you enjoyed the tag, and I will see you all on Monday! 

I hope you all have a wonderful day, and keep reading!

Byeee!

- Abi xxxxxx

MUSICAL SOUNDTRACKS

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I'm sorry I haven't been posting as frequently as I used to. I mean, it seems that I've been missing Fridays in particular...
But sometimes responsibilities kind of get in the way, which is why I haven't been posting as much!
But it still means a lot to me that you guys are still sticking around to read what I post!
Now, enough of the sensible part, on to the post!

MUSICAL SOUNDTRACKS

This post is going to be a bit different than what I normally post, but musicals have always been a big part of my life, (even before books at one point!)

And there's nothing better than hearing about a new musical that you knew nothing about, checking out the story and the soundtrack, and (inevitably) falling in love with it!

There's just something about musicals that makes it so easy to relate to a character, to a journey, the world that they're trying to convey and show you.

And a big part of what makes musicals so good and relatable is the music, which is the soundtrack.

There might be a little melody in the chorus, or a chord, or the lyrics that just seems to suit you, to the point where the song could actually be your song, your story. (Or they could just be the big show-stoppers that everybody loves to listen to).
(Or just my random favourites).

So this is why I am going to be listing my favourite songs from the specific musicals that I am just crazy about at the moment. And if you guys have any specific songs that you feel could be your song, let me know about them in the comments!

1. Waving Through A Window- Dear Even Hansen the Muscial

This song has been playing constantly in my headphones ever since I heard the soundtrack about a week ago. (I'm actually listening to it now on repeat). This song is by far the best in the soundtrack, and the lyrics are so easily relatable. I can't say anymore, but show you the lyrics that I feel perfectly represent this song, and the entire character that is Evan Hansen. This is his introductory song, and it's the perfect introduction to the main character: 

On the outside, always looking in

Will I ever be mire than I've always been?

Cause I'm tap, tap, tapping' on the glass

I'm waving through a window

I try to speak, but nobody can hear

So I wait around for an answer to appear

While I'm watch, watch, watching people pass

I'm waving through a window, oh

Can anybody see, is anybody waving back at me?

These lyrics perfectly symbolise what sort of character Evan Hansen is: introverted, lonely, hoping against hope that he'll become who he's always been. Just wants to be noticed. I love this soundtrack, and the story, it's officially one of my favourites. Oh, and Evan Hansen is currently being portrayed by Ben Platt, who played Benji in Pitch Perfect 1 & 2.

2. THE ENTIRE RENT SOUNDTRACK (specifically Halloween- Goodbye Love, Out Tonight, La Vie Boheme, I Should Tell You, Seasons of Love, Will I?, I'll Cover You (Reprise), TAKE ME OR LEAVE ME... so pretty much all of them).

Okay, so I went to see this like a month or so ago, and again, I have no control, somehow I keep finding my way to the soundtrack. I'm serious, every time I relive the soundtrack, I get so close to excusing myself to the bathroom because the soundtrack is so much of why I love the story, that the pain and suffering that the characters went through all comes flooding back. I'm so close to losing all chill and following them to wherever they are now, because I loved the show that much. And if you call yourself a Musical Geek and have yet to hear the RENT soundtrack... you're not one. Sorry.

3. No Good Deed, Wicked

Okay, I listed No Good Deed, but I may as well add Defying Gravity and For Good too, as it hurts me not to. And of course I had to add something from Wicked, because Wicked. But the reason that I put No Good Deed, is because you really get to see how Elphaba has changed throughout the musical. Like at the start, for example The Wizard and I, Elphaba is ready to take on the world, she's ready to work her way up to the top, where she'll finally be respected by the people around her. But by the time she gets to No Good Deed, she has changed and seen so much, that she no longer feels hopeful, and like she'll be respected. And after only being seen as the Green Girl, she kind of finds a darker side, and becomes the girl (still the misunderstood girl) that people think she has been this whole time. We get to see a darker side, that is trying anything she can to save the man she loves, and that is why I put this song on my list.

4. Congratulations, Hamilton

I've kind of begrudgingly ignored this musical- until I found out Renee Elise Goldsberry was the original Angelica, (she played Mimi in Rent: Filmed on Broadway), so then after searching the two together, I found Congratulations- and I cannot stop listening to it. It's a sort of sarcastic congratulations, and I love that it's a song congratulating a character on doing something incredibly stupid- I just love it. So that is why it's on this list!

5. Candy Store, Freeze My Brain, Dead Girl Walking, Seventeen, Lifeboat, Kindergarten Boyfriend, Dead Girl Walking (Reprise)- Heathers

These songs are kind of on a loop for me. I like most of them, but these are pretty much the ones that I listen to day-to-day. Some of them are sad, and are songs that I love to sing in my bedroom when I'm bored. Others are the songs that I listen to when I want to feel killer and confident (candy store!) But this is the musical of the 80s classic movie, and even though I am yet to watch it, I still feel like I know the characters, and the general story. The musical is everything that is in the movie: the humour, the darkness, except with the musical, the songs are just as dark and twisted!

6. Pulled- The Addams Family

Okay, I'll admit it... never seen a single Addams Family episode... but when I heard that Carrie Hope Fletcher (author of On The Other Side, check out my review here!, but also played Eponine for two years in the West End) was going to be playing Wednesday Addams in the musical version, I downloaded her cover onto my phone that minute, and I just love it. What's funny about her character in the musical is that Wednesday is now all grown up, and get this: she's fallen in love... with a human boy! This solo (Pulled) is quirky, dark, and I just love the contrast of her character now, side by side with the Wednesday we've all grown to love from the tv show!

So that was my post on Musical Soundtracks! I may have gotten a bit distracted about talking about these songs, but they are such a passion of mine I couldn't help it- sorry!

But maybe I'm not alone in this love of musical soundtracks? Comment down below some of your favourites- whether they be about the characters, the music, or because they're just a big showstopper!

So that's all I have for you guys today, I hope you enjoyed the post, and I will see you all on Wednesday!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And even though I said in my wrap up that I wouldn't be reviewing books unless I had a bunch of thoughts and opinions on it, but luckily for this one, I do!
So here is my review of The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas.
Enjoy!

The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas

Title: The Hate U Give

Author: Angie Thomas

Genre: Contemporary

Release date: 6th April

Pages: 438

Blurb: "What's the point of having a voice

if you're gonna be silent

in those moments when you shouldn't be?

Sixteen year old Starr lives in two worlds:

the poor neighbourhood where she was

born and raised and her posh high school

in the suburbs. The uneasy balance between

them is shattered when Starr is the only

witness to fatal shooting of her unarmed

best friend, Khalil, by a police officer. Now

what Starr says could destroy her community.

It could also get her killed. "

My Thoughts

This book was always going to be one that I would read as soon as I got it. And doubled by the fact that I had to wait an extra month to read this book made me want to start it all the more.

The premise alone was enough to get me interested. The story is about a girl called Starr, who is the sole witness to her oldest friend Khalil being shot and killed by a police officer- whilst being completely unarmed. Soon afterwards, his death is a national headline, and while some are calling him a thug, others are taking to the streets, trying to get people to notice what has happened. Starr is caught between hiding and saving her and her family's life and business, and speaking out for what is right.

I adore this book. Every point raised in this story was well thought out, and Angie Thomas, despite this being her debut novel, she did not hold back, which I'm glad for because the story she gave us was so realistic, and so truthful, that I flew straight through it.

I love Starr's character so much. She's honestly the perfect role model for young girls trying to find their voice and their identity. She is authentic, brave and knowledgeable, she considers both sides and tries to consider every angle before making a decision. She isn't completely fearless, but over the course of this book you get to see her grow into the resilient and brave character you see at the end of the book.

I also love the family dynamic in this book. This family is so close-knit, so strong, they always have each-other's back. They may argue, or they may not agree on everything, but when it matters they always follow through with them. It was so nice to see a family just doing normal family stuff, and it was such a refreshing aspect to this book.

The strongest element to this book was the opposing political views in this book, which started with the shooting of Khalil (Starr's best friend), and then the repercussions were enormous. I left this book with an entirely new perspective than when I came in. It raised a bunch of new questions about racism, police brutality, discrimination, and prejudice, and answered them in a comprehensive and interesting way, which I really enjoyed.

Although this is a perfect sync into what is happening now, the main message of this book is about using your voice, and standing up for what you believe in. Throughout this book Starr learns how crucial it is to stand up for what you think is right, no matter the consequences.

All in all, I cannot recommend this book enough. It's absolutely my favourite book so far this year, and I hope you guys read it too!

So that was my review of The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas! I hope you enjoyed it, and if you have any thoughts on this book, let me know in the comments below!

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

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

April Wrap Up & May TBR (2017)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And since I didn't read that many books in April I have decided to post both my April Wrap Up and my May TBR (2017) together!
Enjoy!

April Wrap Up & May TBR (2017)

April Wrap Up (2017)

So in the month of April I read a total of (after checking Goodreads) 6 books! (Wow, more than I thought...). They were all physical books, and one of them was a re-read. Here are the books I read!

1. The Lie Tree, by Frances Hardringe 

2. Salt to the Sea, by Ruta Sepeteys

3. The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas

4. The Wolf Wilder, by Katherine Rundell

5. Flawed (Flawed #1), by Cecelia Ahern (Re-read)

6. Perfect (Flawed #2), by Cecelia Ahern

So there is something I wanted to talk to you guys about my reviews and wrap-ups. When I go to review to books, I used to enjoy them. But lately I seem to be thinking about them like they're a chore, which isn't really how I should be approaching reviews, I know. And I also feel the responsibility to review every book I read, because most books I tend to love and I feel like it's my responsibility to share my thoughts on each and every book. So for the time being, I'm only going to be reviewing books that I actually have a lot of thoughts on (whether good or bad).

And I'm also really behind in terms of reviewing the books I read this month, which I found out when writing my wrap up and I go to link the reviews of the books I've read. (I've only reviewed one so far this month, though I swear I've reviewed Salt to the Sea: guess not).

But that's just something I wanted to say, and I hope you guys enjoy the reviews that I write!

Okay, on to the TBR!

May TBR (2017)

1. The Sudden Appearance of Hope, by Claire North

Though it was on my radar for some time, I didn't specifically search for it either. I'm putting this first on my list because I found it in the library and I want to read it now before I forget about it again (I started the Flawed duology and then realised I had a library book to read). I don't know much about this book except that it's about a girl called Hope and from the time she was sixteen she is the girl the world forgets. A father forgetting to drive her to school, a mother laying the table for three, not four. And then the story escalades from there. I don't know much about this book, but it looks intriguing, and I can't wait to read this. Whether I review this or not, I'll let you guys know soon.

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

This one is a re-read, and the first book in a time-traveller trilogy. Since it's a re-read, I'm not going to review about it, but I'll talk about it in my May Wrap Up. I read this about a year and a half ago, and I'm re-reading it so I can refresh my memory over what happened. I remember the finer points, but not all of it, which is why I'm re-reading it. This book is about Jackson, who after seeing his girlfriend Holly, die in his arm, he accidentally jumps back three years, to before the two of them even met. The rest of the book is him trying to find his way back to that time, so he can stop her from dying. But here's the thing: he's stuck in that time, and he can't find his way back. I'll talk more about this book in my May Wrap Up.

3. Vortex (Tempest #2), by Julie Cross

4. The Uncommoners The Crooked Sixpence, by Jennifer Bell

This book has been on my TBR list for so long its a joke. I'll give it one more try before tossing it to the DNF pile, but the funny thing is that I actually liked the idea of this book to start with. From what I know, this is a kooky, funny and quirky story about people with uncommon powers. Yes, it does sound cheesy, but I also feel like this is a book that is going to stand out from all the other middle-grade books I've read so far. Looking forward to reading this.

5. The Edge of Everything, by Jeff Giles

I didn't get to this book last month, so I want to try and read it again. I've only had this a couple of months, so I'm not going to put it on the DNF pile yet, but I really hope to get to it this month purely because of the hype and the amazing reviews everyone seems to be giving.

So that is my April Wrap Up & May TBR! I hope you enjoyed it and let me know what's on your TBR for the month in the comments!

So that is all I have for today! I hope you have a wonderful day and I will see you all on Wednesday with my The Hate U Give review!

Byeeeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx