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

November Wrap Up (2019)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And it seems like only yesterday it was Halloween. But, yet again, another month has rolled towards the end and it's time for another wrap up!

-BOOKS-

I read a total of 5 books this month. Going into December, I'm ahead of my goal, and I only have to read 2 books to achieve my Goodreads reading goal. My current count of unread books that I own is at 4, so hopefully I'll get to read all of those before December is up.

Here are all the books I read in November:

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

Pumpkin Heads takes place on Halloween, the last night of the season. Every season, Deja and Josiah have worked at the pumpkin patch since they were freshman. But now they are seniors, and this is their last night before heading off to Uni next year. What happens is fast-paced and funny, and it's definitely made me want to reach for more graphic novels in the upcoming year.

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

Previous to picking up this book, I'd been thinking about Divergent a lot. This seemed like the perfect pick. Aside from that, because this book is made up of short stories, I knew I'd be able to fly through it, having already known the story. Although it doesn't add a lot to the overall story, it was interesting to read from a different perspective.

3. With the Fire on High, by Elizabeth Acevedo

Having been interested in this novel for quite some time, I finally bought it. My overall thoughts on this novel are that there isn't loads of plot, but what makes this novel great is the writing and the description. Honestly, every recipe had my mouth watering. Aside from that, even the representation of a single mother, who lives with her grandmother, is a perspective that I haven't read from. Ever, I don't think.

4. Girl of Stone and Shadow (Girl of Paper and Fire #2), by Natasha Ngan

Even though it took me longer than it should have to finish the second novel in the series, I have to say that I rather enjoyed Girls of Storm and Shadow. I got to meet some new characters, read from the point of views of some of the characters from the first book. I also got to explore more of the world, as the crew of warriors travelled across the land to secure the alliance of different clans for the war. Highly recommend this series if you haven't picked it up yet.

5. Warcross (Warcross #1), by Marie Lu (Re-read)

I finished Warcross just yesterday. I decided to re-read it so I could refresh my memory on what happened, so I was up to date for when I pick up Wildcard (my next read.) Wildcard is the book that I've had the longest on my unread shelf, so I was definitely looking forward to picking this up again and emerging myself in the world of Warcross. Looking forward to adding another completed series to my list as well.

-FILMS-

I watched a fair amount of films in November. Because my partner and I didn't really get much into the Halloween spirit in October, we decided to carry it on into November.

1. Saw II          2. Saw III

3. Saw IV       4. Saw V

5. Saw VI          6. Saw VII

7. Jigsaw             8. Fast Girls

9. Coraline 

10. Kick-ass 2

11. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

12. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets  

13.  My Sister's Keeper

14. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

15. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (we'll most likely watch on Saturday, which is still technically November.)

-TV SHOWS-

1. Pokémon~ Season 1

2. The Next Step~ Season 1 & 2

3. Anne With An E- Season 2 (Finished)

4. Fawlty Towers~ Couple of episodes

Other than that, I haven't really got up to much this month. I've been working, and I've been writing and preparing for a half marathon, which I will run next Sunday (wish me luck!)

Oh! And I reached 100,000 views on here!

Thank-you everyone who has been on here, even just once.

I couldn't have got to this point without you!

(Also, I managed it before my 4 year anniversary of starting up this blog!)

So that's that! I hope you have a wonderful day, and I'll see you all next week, when it will officially be December!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxx

Events I'm Looking Forward to in 2020

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And with just 5 weeks left until 2020, I thought it might be fun to post a list of events I'm looking forward to in the upcoming year: both bookish and personal.

Enjoy!

1. Getting my driving licence and first car.

Having passed my theory test on the 13th, I'm looking forward to getting my driving licence, hopefully in the next year. Only at that point can I stop taking the bus to work and back.

2. Going to York, London and Cyprus.

These are the places my boyfriend and I are planning to visit in the upcoming year. I'll make sure I'll work on some posts before I'm away on holiday, but York and Cyprus are places I've never seen, and I can't wait to visit them both!

3. Naseby 16.45

Naseby 16.45 is basically it's title. It's a 16.45 mile run in Naseby, inspired by The Battle of Naseby on 14th June, 1645. It takes place in February every year and this year, a number of my runner friends, myself included, will be participating. It's the longest distance I'll do to date, and a necessary step if I want to do a marathon in 2021. The only part I'm not looking forward to is the 3 mile hill at the end of the course!

4. "Everybody's Talking About Jamie the Musical"

This isn't until the 2nd July, but I'm really excited to see Layton Williams play Jamie in "Everybody's Talking About Jamie". So far I've seen Layton play Seaweed in "Hairspray" and Angel in "Rent" and he's been fabulous in both. Not to mention, I'm obsessed with the soundtrack and I can't wait to see this incredible show.

Bookish Releases

1. Heartstopper. Volume 3, by Alice Oseman- 6th February 2020 

2. This Vicious Cure (This Mortal Coil #3), by Emily Suvada- 21st January 2020

3. One of Us Is Next (One of Us Is Lying #2), by Karen McManus- 7th January 2020

Okay! I hope you enjoyed this post, and I hope you enjoyed reading about all the events and dates that I'm eagerly anticipating!

What book releases are you awaiting in the upcoming year? Let me know in the comments!

Right, that's it! I hope you have a wonderful day and I'll see all of you soon!

Byeeeeee!

-Abi xxxx

Musical Theatre Book Tag

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And today I'm doing another tag; honestly I have no ideas at this point, so I'm just going to keep doing tags until I do!

So enjoy!

Because this is the Musical Theatre Book Tag!

1. Wicked- Favourite Fictional Friendship

This is actually harder than what I thought because, aside from Harry Potter, there aren't a whole lot of friendships that I've read about. But I love the chemistry that Leah and Simon have in Becki Albertalli's books. They're just so amazing when they're together, I love both of these characters separately, but more when they're together.

2. Sweeney Todd- Favourite Villain
You know, I've never really loved to hate the villains. I've always been the one rooting for the good guys, hoping the villains fall. Call me minority.

I'm just going to skip this one. But let me know what your favourite villains are!

3. Phantom of the Opera- Favourite Love Triangle

This. This love triangle shouldn't work but it just fits neatly in place with everything else going on in this series. I'm not saying that it isn't tough reading about this trio, but it's definitely the most well-written one to date. If you haven't read this trilogy, I highly suggest you do.

4. The Lion King- Favourite Side-kick

I usually end up liking the side characters more than the protagonists, so this is going to be hard. My favourite side character has to be Meggie from the Noughts and Crosses series. She didn't make an appearance in the latest book, Crossfire, but hopefully she will in the next book.

5. Grease- Least Favourite Ending

The ending to this book was so frustrating. I honestly wish I'd never picked the book up! I was desperately hoping May would change her mind or at least show a bit of a character arc towards the end, but the ending left me frustrated and unfulfilled.

6. Matilda: The Musical- Favourite Adaptation of a book

This is probably a popular one, but the casting was absolutely perfect. The book is one of my favourites, as is the film. Also, the chemistry between the actors was just right. Recommend both the film and the book, because they're both fantastic.

Okay! That was the Musical Theatre Book Tag! I hope you enjoyed it, and I'll see you all soon!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

The End of the Year Book Tag

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And it seems, everywhere I look, everybody seems to be doing this tag. With 50 days left of the year, it seems like the perfect time to do this tag, with the end of 2019 looming.

So, enjoy! And feel free to comment some of your answers down below!

1. Are there any books you started this year you need to finish?

Other than the book that I'm currently reading, I don't have any books that I've started but have yet to finish. I'm currently reading Girls of Storm and Shadow, the second book in the Girls of Paper and Fire series, which I got on Saturday.

2. Do you have an autumnal book to transition through to the end of the year?

Other than reaching for more fantasy and sci-fi than contemporary in the autumn/winter months, there isn't really anything specific that I like to do.

3. Is there a new release you're still waiting for?

It's like they're saving the best releases until the end of the year! I remember when the first book came out, and everybody just loved it. The characters, the POVs, the plot. And even though I haven't seen many people talking about it recently, hyping it up, I know that I wont be the only one desperate to find out what happens next to Zelie, and the other characters on release day.  

4. What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?

My main goal is to read the books that I own but haven't read yet:

-Girls of Storm and Shadow, by Natasha Ngan

-Finale, by Stephanie Garber

-Wildcard, by Marie Lu (and reread Warcross)

-A Darker Shade of Magic, by V.E. Schwab

-The Priory of the Orange Tree, by Samantha Shannon

5. Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favourite book of the year?

Out of all of the above, I believe that the one that could shock me the most would have to be A Darker Shade of Magic, by V.E. Schwab, but I'm anticipating all of them, so you never know!

6. Have you already started making reading plans for 2020?

I definitely have a couple of ideas for plans in 2020, particularly for my TBR Jar Challenges. I won't disclose those just yet, because that'll ruin the surprise!

I'd also like to re-read some old favourites, maybe read some more adult fiction, reach outside of YA.

Okay! That's it for the End of the Year Book Tag! I hope you enjoyed it, and feel free to comment down below: what you're hoping to do with what we have left of 2019!

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

Byeeeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

Doctor Sleep Film Review

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And I went to see Doctor Sleep in the cinema on Saturday.

That's all I'm going to say on it, you'll have to read this review.

Enjoy!

When I heard this was going to be remade, I wasn't sure what to think. I'd seen The Shining and really enjoyed it. I saw why every horror fanatic was drawn to it and why it made sense to make a sequel. I just wasn't sure whether I'd make it through 2 1/2 hours of horrors, especially on a big screen with louder sound.

Honestly though? This film isn't worth the title of a horror. For the most part.

I mean, it wasn't all bad. There were a couple of moments that my heart rate started to rise, but mostly this film was a... disappointment.

The protagonist of Doctor Sleep is Danny, the child from The Shining. It takes place at certain points over the course of his life, starting when he's a child, in the hotel, and then for a brief point a couple of months later. Most of the film takes place in his adult life, overcoming an addiction with alcohol, and his friendship with a young woman with a stronger shining gift than his own. Aside from them there are some very strange and creepy characters that are also introduced in this film. It's basically a battle between good and evil, over whose supernatural gift will win out.

You see why I didn't think this much of a horror?

I think what it was that there wasn't much horror. Some gore and blood, but I've seen a lot worse. And aside from that, Doctor Sleep is meant to be a horror film, not a gore.

I have to say that, for the most part, I was sat, bored in my seat, waiting for something that would make me jump out of my skin, or clench my fists in fear, and that thrill rarely came.

On the other hand, it wasn't that bad. There some creepy moments where I wanted to look away but I couldn't at the same time, and scenes where characters were shooting at each-other; and also scenes where I was intrigued as for what would happen next. So it was a fairly good film, in places.

I just think it was too long winded. A lot of what was included in the film wasn't needed, wasn't really relevant to the plot.

I mean, if they wanted to make a 7 hour Harry Potter film with all the details and character developments contained within the film, I'd watch it. But with a Stephen King story, where I'm only just becoming invested in the genre, it was a struggle to sit through.

But then, it really is just my opinion. Maybe a die-hard Stephen King fan would call it the best film they've seen this year.

Overall, I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more if some of it was cut out. As much as I enjoy character development, there was too much in this film.

My rating for this film is a 5/10 because even though there wasn't much horror, the plotline was engaging and fast paced.

Okay! I hope you enjoyed the post and let me know what you thought of the film, if you've been to see it. If not, let me know what you thought of my review, and if you've been reading anything spooky lately!

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

Byeeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

November TBR (2019)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And with a new month comes a new TBR! This month I want to read as much as I can so I'm in a good condition to complete my Goodreads goal in December.

Here's my TBR for the month. Enjoy!

1. The Librarian of Auschwitz, by Dita Kraus

I'm going to try and read this book gradually over the course of the month. Nothing against it, but I'm more excited to pick up the other books that I plan to read this month. This book takes place in Auschwitz (obviously), from the point of view of fourteen-year-old Dita, who is the librarian, hiding books away from the Nazis, and risking certain death while she wordlessly hides the books away, day after day, away in plain sight. I've been trying to read more historical fiction, and that's fallen by the wayside. Well I'm bringing it back.

2. Four, by Veronica Roth

Somehow, even though I got this in the summer from my friend in exchange for Wild Child, I still have yet to read it. To sum it up, it's a collection of short stories that take place during Four's time as an Initiate, and then when Tris joins, two years later. I should be able to soar through this in a couple of days because it's under 300 pages long. I've been thinking about the Divergent trilogy a bit recently, so I'm looking forward to reading this and getting more of an insight into Four's personality.

3. With the Fire on High, by Elizabeth Acevedo

If it hasn't been in my hands at Waterstones, it's been in the back of my mind, reaching out, making me guilty for not having already bought this. Well, I've finally bought it, and I'm putting it on this month's TBR. I think what drew me into this was the representation. The main character is a teenage mother at school, with a passion for cooking. I honestly don't think I've read a book from the POV of a teen mum and I'm eager to see how I'll like it.

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

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

I read Warcross way back in 2016, and to this day it's been one of my favourites. I love the concept, the setting, and the characters. Then, last September, Wildcard was released. I gave it to my boyfriend to read, because he was reading Warcross at the time. And I have still yet to pick it up. Since it's been a while since I picked up Warcross I figured I'd read them both, the entire duology, straight through. I'm looking forward to emerging myself back into the world of the immense videogame once more.

Okay! That's my November TBR (2019)! I hope you enjoyed it, and feel free to comment what you're playing on reading down below!

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

I wish you the best weekend!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx