2019 Wrap Up

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And with just one day and a bit left until 2020, I figured it was time to do the yearly wrap up!

(Especially as people seemed to enjoy it last year.)

So I'm back with the 2019 version.

Enjoy!

~Books Read in December~

I managed one book more than last year this month. Truth be told, my Goodreads reading challenge was almost won anyway, so I only needed to read two books to achieve it anyway.

1. Wildcard (Warcross #2), by Marie Lu

This went in such a different direction to the first book, but somehow it seemed to work. It got much darker, the characters (a couple in particular) did too, but I was very satisfied with the ending of this duology.

2. Finale (Caraval #3), by Stepahanie Garber

I put this novel off for longer than I should have, because I didn't enjoy Legendary all that much. But, I'm happy to report, that I enjoyed it a lot more than Caraval & Legendary. I never got bored of reading from one sister's perspective because I was reading just long enough, never too much.

~Films & TV Shows Watched in December~

Films

1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 1

4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 2

5. Hannibal

6. Red Dragon

7. P.S. I Love You (currently watching)

TV Shows

1. A Series of Unfortunate Events Series 1-3 (though not finished yet.)

2. Bad Education (Season 1/2)

~Series Completed in 2019~

1. The "Me Before You" trilogy, by JoJo Moyes

2. The "Strange the Dreamer" duology, by Laini Taylor

3. The "Dark Artifices" trilogy, by Cassandra Clare

4. The "Three Dark Crowns" series, by Kendare Blake

5. The "Kingdom on Fire" trilogy, by Jessica Cluess

6. The "Warcross" duology, by Marie Lu

7. The "Caraval" trilogy, by Stephanie Garber

Hey! The same number as last year! Pure coincidence!

~All the Things I Did in 2019~

1. Started Automatic Driving lessons.

2. Passed my theory test.

3. Hit 100,000 views.

4. Ran my first half marathon.

5. I ran my 100th parkrun.

6. I went to Madrid.

7. Got to blog and talk to you all!

~Goals for 2020-2025~

1. Pass driving test.

2. Get a car.

3. Publish debut novel.

4. Get my first mortgage.

5. Reach 200,000 views

6. Run a marathon.

Okay! So that is my wrap up for 2019! It has been quite a year, but that year is nearly over, and I'm looking forward for the future even more!

Right! I hope you have a wonderful last day tomorrow, and I'll see you on the flip side... 2020!

I hope you enjoyed this post, and let me know in the comments what you achieved this year, and I'll see you soon.

Byeeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxxx

Favourite Books of 2019!!!!!!

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And today I'm writing about my favourite books of 2019! I've really enjoyed the books I've picked up in the past year, but I've narrowed it down to 8 books in total!

I hope you enjoy my favourite list!

1. The Light Between Worlds, by Laura Weymouth

I really enjoyed this book because not only does it balance historical fiction and magical realism, it discusses a lot of very real and difficult themes. It reads from the POV of two of four siblings, Evie and Phillipa, during their escape to the fantasy land as WWII wages around them. Time stops whilst they're at the fantasy land, and they eventually have to go back and live their lives from the point that they left them. But whilst Phillipa is ready to leave, Evie grows depressed as, with each passing day, she longs more and more for the world that they once used to live in. But the question is, did Evie ever make it back, or did she die in the attempt? It was very realistic to be in Evie's brain when she longed for that other land so if reading that kind of thing triggers you, I recommend being cautious if this book interests you.

2. The Girl in Red, by Christina Henry

I picked this up with knowing the minimum amount of information on what this book contained, and even though it wasn't what I was expecting it to be, I probably enjoyed it more because it wasn't what I was expecting. Even though I tend to like it when female heroines seem fearless and brave, it was so much easier to relate to Red because she thought things through, and she wasn't at her peak fitness (especially where her leg was concerned.) She has one goal throughout the course of the book, and she will make it there, no matter what stands in her way. I very much enjoyed The Girl in Red and am eager to pick up some of Christina Henry's other works in the upcoming year.

3. Eliza and her Monsters, by Francesca Zappia

This is probably my favourite out of this list. Eliza and her Monsters took my emotions on a rollercoaster. I had no idea how this was going to tie up, what shit was going to hit the fan, and when it did, whether I was going to survive because I was this hooked on the story. I would explain what this story is all about, but I think it's better to go into this book without knowing much about the story. But, if you like space, and tv shows, and fandoms, then I suggest you pick this book up soon.

4. Heartstopper. Volume 1 (Heartstopper #1), by Alice Oseman

5. Heartstopper. Volume 2 (Heartstopper #2), by Alice Oseman

THESE BOOKS ARE THE CUTEST THING EVER. My heart was beating inside my chest the entire time (first book) just wanting Nick to tell Charlie how he feels, and for Charlie not to get hurt in the process. Such a fast and wonderful read, it leaves me wanting more whenever I pick up one of these! Volume 3 comes out in February, and I can't wait to see these two lovebirds take on Paris and learn more about the way their story leads. Also, I love how on each of the characters profiles, you get to find out what Hogwarts' house they are!

6. Pumpkin Heads, by Rainbow Rowell & Faith Erin Hicks

This was the perfect Autumn read. It contains everything that I love about autumn and Halloween. Pumpkin, food (sweets and chocolate were substituted with the food stalls in the patch), hanging out with friends at night. Add a little bit of cuteness, fudge jokes and cuteness, and you could be describing this book. And it's an LGBT graphic novel on top of that. Anxiously awaiting a Christmas or an Easter version of this!  

7. Lord of Shadows (The Dark Artifices #2), by Cassandra Clare

Even though the other two counterparts to this trilogy didn't do much to keep me engaged, Lord of Shadows, I flew through in approximately a week. This book might have well have taken me by the scruff of the neck and banged my head against the wall because there were so many wonderful plots and subplots that my head was turning with theories and possibilities. And then, just when I thought everything was going to turn out alright for Emma, the Blackthorns and the other characters, that ending just knocked me clear out. (P.S. Some of the jokes are just so funny, I swear I bust a gut laughing.)

8. Becoming, by Michelle Obama

Somehow or other, I've found a way to sneak how much I love this book into a conversation recently. To my family, my colleagues, total strangers that I serve at work. I listened to the audiobook a couple of months ago and it was so wonderful to be taken on the journey by Michelle herself of what her life was, from her childhood, teenage years, university, working afterwards, meeting Obama, and finally becoming the first lady of USA. I don't think I understood how much our past can impact our future until I read this book, and I'm excited to pick up yet more autobiographies in the upcoming year.

Okay! That's my Favourite List of 2019! I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope to see what your favourite books of the year are, in the comments below!

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas & New Year, spending time with the people you love! Cherish those with you, because you never know how much time you have with them.

I will see you all soon, with my 2019 Wrap Up!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx  

41-52 Books of 2019

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And since I thought that it would be rather silly to do one of these books for two books, I thought I would extend it to when I completed my Goodreads Reading Challenge!

Here are the last books that I've read in 2019!

41. Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery

Having loved the first season on Anne With an E, I was intrigued as for what inspired such a unique, well-written tv show. Anne of Green Gables is about a young girl, who is eager to be adopted and is on her way to Green Gables, unaware of the fact that the Cuthberts desire a boy. From that point onwards, we read about how she grows, with the Cuthberts (not without the occasional kerfuffle) and take us on a journey in the wonderful green gables.

42. Faceless, by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

This was a hard book to get into, because it throws you into the story straight away, without warning. This is the story of a girl whose face is burned off in a terrible fire. Due to the severity of the burns, she has to have another person's face crafted onto her own. What makes this book stand out is the character development, watching this girl come to terms with what has happened to her and learning to look forward to the future. I highly recommend if you're looking for a hard-hitting contemporary with some important themes.  

43. The Girl in Red, by Christina Henry

I actually picked this book up on a whim. It was the book that I picked up in London, as my book for marking a place. It looked interesting, especially as I hadn't read a little red riding book in a couple of years. And I have to say, I loved it. It wasn't what I was expecting, but I think it was something that I needed to read, versus what I thought I was going to be reading. I'm hoping I'll get to some of Christina Henry's other works in 2020.

44. Eliza and Her Monsters, by Francesca Zappia

I was aware of the hype for this book long before I picked it up myself. But when I eventually did, I was (bigger shocker) pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel. This was so well-written, I fell straight into the story. It was exactly what I needed when I picked it up. A protagonist that I could relate to immensely, in a story that's all about fanfiction. I might even say that I enjoyed it more than Famgirl (maybe.)  

45. A Sorrow Fierce and Falling (Kingdom on Fire #3), by Jessica Cluess

I've been reading this series for near enough two years now, and I finally got to the third and final book in the Kingdom on Fire trilogy. A Poison Dark and Drowning was one of my TBR Jar Challenges for the year and I thought I may as well find out how it all wraps up by picking this one up. All in all I'm satisfied with the ending, and I'm pleased to report that it didn't end just like every other YA fantasy trilogy, so if your a fan of Jane Austen, politics and Fantasy, then I recommend picking up the Kingdom on Fire trilogy.

46. Pumpkin Heads, by Rainbow Rowell & Faith Erin Hicks

I had my eye on this for a while before I bought it. I bought it because I was eager to read another graphic novel after loving Heartstopper. Vol 2 so much, and this one fit the bill just right. It also happened to be Halloween. But, to nobody's surprise, I flew through this in one day, and I absolutely loved the illustrations. To sum Pumpkin Heads up, it was a very fun and fast-paced book that anybody could fly through. I can't wait to read more of these in 2020!

47. Four: A Divergent Collection (Divergent 0.1-0.4), by Veronica Roth

I got this book in the summer from my friend, and it was just sitting on my shelf collection dust. Aside from that, it's the spin-off novel to the Divergent trilogy, which I had been considering picking up anyway. Four consists of five short stories, written from the point of Four. It starts when he is an initiate, and also contains chapters two years later, when Tris joins Dauntless. It's a decent story, where you can see what happened to get to where the Divergent trilogy starts, and it's also interesting to read from a different POV.

48. With the Fire on High, by Elizabeth Acevedo

Another book that I had my eye on for a while before purchasing. The protagonist, high-schooler Emoni Santiago, is a single mother, who lived with her grandmother, and also works on the weekend. But none of that matters when she turns the stove on. When she starts to cook, magic flows. But when she starts a cooking class that is due to take a trip to Spain the following year, is it right to keep dreaming when she knows she'll never be able to afford the trip? This is such a realistic read, one that teaches you to dream, regardless of the boundaries because, the only thing stopping you of achieving your dream is you.

49. Girls of Storm and Shadow (Girls of Paper and Fire #2), by Natasha Ngan

I very much enjoyed the second book in the Girls of Paper and Fire series. After an explosive conclusion to the first book, the second consists of Lei and Wren fleeing the castle to find allies in order to overthrow the kingdom. With some characters from the 1st book, and some new ones that you get to meet, they explore the kingdom, giving you a chance to find out more about the different people and places in the country. Although it took me a while to get through it, I am still invested in the story and am eagerly anticipating book 3.  

50. Warcross (Warcross #1), by Marie Lu

51. Wildcard (Warcross #2), by Marie Lu

Having not read Warcross since 2016 (check review in title), I decided to re-read the first book to re-emerge myself in the world and the story, so I could fully understand the events of Wildcard. Although the two books go in two completely different directions, you still get an inkling as for how dark Wildcard becomes. I wish there had been more clues for what Hideo had planned, but then I greatly enjoyed the surprise the first time around. All in all, some of the loose ends were tied up, and I was quite satisfied in how they were. If I have to say which was my favourite, I would probably say Wildcard, because of the surprising direction it took.

52. Finale (Caraval #3), by Stephanie Garber

This is the third and final book in the Caraval trilogy and honestly, it was my favourite out of all three. The characters have formed so many new relationships over the last two books that a new web of plots have formed. I wish I had got to this sooner but the thing that stopped me reaching for Finale was because Legendary was so underwhelming for me. (Unpopular opinion, I know.) But although the second book felt more like a filler, a way of setting the foundation for an unforgettable finale, the third and final book had me on tenterhooks, constantly wondering which way the fates were going to turn, and what ending the Dragna sister were going to get. Highly recommend for magical realism readers.  

Okay! And that were the books I've read recently! I hope you enjoyed it, as well as the other ____ books of 2019 that I've posted this year.

I hope you have a wonderful day and I'll see you all soon!

(Don't hesitate to comment on any of the books mentioned in this post, if you despise them, loved them, have just started one, or just finished!)

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxx

Jingle Bell Book Tag

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And I've finally deemed it late enough in the month to do a book tag (good thing really, I don't really have many post ideas at the moment apart from favourite list of 2019 and the wrap up- and I can't post those yet)

So today I'm doing the Jingle Bell Book Tag, a Christmas tag I've yet to do.

As always, feel free to participate, whether it be on Instagram, YouTube or your own blog.

Enjoy!

1. All I Want For Christmas is you~ What book do you want to find under the Christmas tree?

I already know that I'm receiving this for Christmas. It's actually the only book I'm getting, because my family believes in letting me make the decision on what book I would look- probably for fear that they'd pick something I won't read or already own. Goblet of Fire Illustrated Edition is the only edition that I don't currently own, and I'm really looking forward to leafing through the pages, especially as Goblet of Fire happens to be my favourite HP book.

2. Simply having a Wonderful Christmas Time~ What book that you've read this year have you enjoyed the most?
I feel like this would be giving a sneak peek of my favourites list of 2019 but the book that I've enjoyed the most this year is probably Eliza and her Monsters because I fell into the story so naturally that I can't help but love this novel.

3. Elf~ What book unleashes your inner child?

I first read these books when I was 13 years old. Nearly 10 years later, I still can't help but pick this series up every so often. Reading this series brings back memories like nothing else does from my early teenage years.

4. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas~ What book has the most festive look to it?

This feel like an obvious one, but this is set on Christmas Eve, and it consists of three short stories, made from three famous authors. They all entwine into one big story, over the course of the day and even though I didn't enjoy them all a whole lot (I have one favourite), it's by far the most festive book I own.

5. The Holiday~ Name your favourite two couples

 

These two. (No spoilers from the show please, I haven't seen a single episode. I'm talking about from the books.)

6. What book would you like to give as a present to your followers?

I'm going to end this tag with a present of, you guessed it: "Noughts & Crosses" by Malorie Blackman.

That's the last question, and that's the end of the tag! I hope you enjoyed it, and once again, feel free to participate! (Whether that's on Instagram, YouTube, or your own blog!)

I hope you have a wonderful day, and I'll see you all soon!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxx

December TBR (2019)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And we're into the last month of 2019! And so, with the start of another month, the last of the decade, comes another monthly TBR!

This is what I'm reading this month!

Enjoy!

1. Wildcard (Warcross #2), by Marie Lu

This book has probably been on my unread shelf the longest and I'm so excited to finally be reading it! I'm about 150 pages into this book and it's honestly getting better by the chapter. This is the second and final book in the Warcross duology and it pretty much starts straight after the end of the first book. In this second book, everything has turned on it's head and I'm so interested to see where this book leads.

2. Finale (Caraval #3), by Stephanie Garber

This is the book in my unread pile that I've been putting off the most. Having not particularly liked the second book Legendary, I'm quite hesitant to start it. But, I'm looking forward to reading from both sisters perspectives, as well as finding out how it all wraps up! Let me know in the comments what you thought of the final book in this trilogy!

3. The Priory of the Orange Tree, by Samantha Shannon

I currently need to read two books to complete my Goodreads goal, so I've been saving The Priory of the Orange Tree for when I've achieved that goal for the year and I have the time to get through this INCREDIBLY INTIMIDATING hunk of a book. Aside from that, I want it to be my full attention so I can fully emerge myself into the world and the characters. Because I really want to read this book and something tells me that it's going to a 5 star read.

4. Children of Virtue and Vengeance (Children of Orisha #2), by Tomi Adeyemi

This book isn't even out yet. It's out tomorrow. And I've been waiting for it for about... 6 months. I honestly haven't seen that much hype for this release, especially after Children of Blood and Bone won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize last year. I would have got this book by now but it's actually not allowed out until the release date. But, I will be picking this book up as soon as I can because I can't wait to see what happens next in the second instalment!

5. A Darker Shade of Magic (A Darker Shade of Magic #1), by V.E. Schwab

I want to leave this until last because I don't really want to start another series when everything else I have to read is either the latest book in a series, or a finale, or a standalone. I want to have read everything else before I start this trilogy because I want the opportunity to continue on with the other two books if I want to. The hype for this book is huge, and even though I'm a bit intimidated by it, I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone is talking about.

Okay! That is my December TBR (2019)! It's the last TBR of the year, and I hope you enjoyed it!

Let me know in the comments what you plan to read this month, and we can talk about it!

I hope you have a wonderful day, and I'll see you all soon!

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxx