October Wrap Up (2020)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here,  

And finally the end of October has come, and even though I haven't posted a lot, I've certainly read a lot! 

Here's what I read in the month of October, enjoy! 

1. The House on the Cerulean Sea, by T.J. Klune 

(Finished 2/10/20)

This book was so damn cute! Everything about it was wonderful- the characters, who were endearing, and you could love instantly- I just enjoyed every minute of this book. I listened to the audiobook of this- because I wasn't able to get the physical copy- and although I wish I could hold the physical copy in my hands, I feel like the audiobook made the characters take on a life in a way they couldn't from words on a page. Highly recommend for middle grade lovers who want a heart-warming and unique story about children. 

2. Saga, Vol 1 by Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples- (Finished 4/10/20)

3. Saga, Vol 2 by Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples-(Finished 4/10/20)

4. Saga, Vol 3 by Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples - (Finished 5/10/20)

The time that it took me to get through these issues speaks for itself. I opened the first page, and the rest is history. I became so invested in this series, that it took me a week to get through the next book, even though it shouldn't have taken me even half that time. I liked each volume more and more the further in I got, and it solidified my love for the graphic novel genre (in the fantasy and sci-fi genre). One thing I will say however is that, the story is so fast paced (at least these three issues) that it took me a second to grasp what had happened, before the next event was taken place. I know that's seemingly the done thing with graphic novels- they're so short, that's usually the case, but sometimes I was just left feeling a bit confuddled. 

5. Beach Read, by Emily Henry- (Finished 5/10/20)

This was the first book I picked up on my 24 hour readathon that I participated in on the 5th, and even though I started it just shy of 1am, I was surprised by how much I was able to take in, and how much I enjoyed it. Prior to delving into Beach Read, adult romance (not the erotica genre, mind you) was a genre I wanted to get acquainted with for a while, and I wasn't sure what to try. On a spur of the moment decision, I saw this in my local Waterstones, and having heard some positive reviews of it on Booktube, I picked it up. I'm so happy I did, and I'm looking for more adult romances for next year (recommend me some in the comments below, especially if they're about authors who fall in love.) 

6. Alice (The Chronicles of Alice #1), by Christina Henry-(Finished 5/10/20)

7. Red Queen (The Chronicles of Alice #2), by Christina Henry- (Finished 5/10/20)

I've been wanting to pick up this duology as soon as I heard about it- which was after I finished The Girl in Red exactly a year ago. I knew this was a darker tale, with more adult themes, and I knew I wanted to read it. If the covers and the title don't give it away, it's an Alice retelling, but not just any old retelling. It's compelling and addictive, and even though I read them both in a 24 hour retelling, I doubt it would have taken me more than a week to finish them both anyway. I highly recommend, but make sure you do your research on whether this is the duology for you, because there are some trigger warnings such as sexual assault, amongst other things. 

8. Saga, Vol 4 by Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples- (Finished 9/10/20)

9. Saga Vol 5 by Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples- (Finished 10/10/20)

If it took me a little while to get into the fast paced- structure of the series, it was volumes 4 & 5 that solidified my love for it. Although I've seen that some people prefer the earlier volumes, because the direction the story took, which took away from the action that made people reach for this series so eagerly, I found that I started to care for a lot of the character in these two. Eager to see where the story takes me next. 

10. Misery, by Stephen King- (Finished 17/10/20)

After reading so many Saga volumes, I honestly didn't want to stop, which is why it took me a while to finish Misery. But that doesn't mean I did love it. There was just enough of everything- you could feel Paul's pain like it was your own, feel the tension when he's close to being caught by his captor, but you so desperately don't want him to get caught, but you also want to know what will happen if he does. Misery is currently my favourite Stephen King novel to date. 

11. Grown, by Tiffany D. Jackson- (Finished 17/10/20)

I finished this the same day as Misery... And I don't regret it at all. Grown is an interpretation, based on the accusation and allegations of R. Kelly, and it follows Enchanted Jones, an aspiring singer, struggling with her family's move to the suburbs, as well as being the only black girl in her school. So when world famous singer Korey Fields notices her at an audition, it feels like a dream come true. Enchanted becomes entranced by Korey's luxurious lifestyle, but her dreams of recording turn into nightmares, when she discovers that Korey has a dark side, one that wants to control her every move. So when she discovers Korey lying dead one morning, she's full of questions. And she's the main suspect. This was so good! The chapters were so short, it was no trouble at all to keep going past 100 pages, 200, and then the book was finished, and there was nothing left. 

Trigger warnings: sexual abuse, rape, assault, child abuse, kidnapping, addiction. 

12. Letters from the Lighthouse, by Emma Carroll- (Finished 21/10/20)

I'd had this book for over a month before I finally picked it up. Although I had a hard time finding the motivation to pick it up, once I did, I couldn't put it down. Letters from the Lighthouse is a historical fiction middle-grade novel that follows siblings Cliff and Olive. When they are shipped off to Devon after the disappearance of their sister Suki, all they have to discover what happened to her is a coat, and a coded note. Everyone around her has secrets, but Olive is determined to find out what happened to her, and why she may be linked to Devon. This was both light-hearted and addictive, because you desperately want to find out what it is that everyone is hiding, and also where Suki is. It's fantastic to see Olive never giving up, always wanting to find out what in fact has happened. Recommend if you want something light-hearted, set in 1941. 

13. Good Omens, by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman 

I didn't know if I was going to get to add this book to the list for this month, especially as I finished it this morning. Now, if you haven't read the book, then you most likely will have heard about the TV show. If you didn't know, Good Omens is about the end of the world. It has humour (it was bloody hilarious) and the narration was excellent (I listened to the audiobook- and frankly I think that's how it should be read), but I feel like I should have been more excited to listen more each day, which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of five. I will continue to read more of Neil Gaiman's books (and maybe Terry Pratchett's) but I felt like it was a book that I should read, instead of want to read. 

Okay! Those are all the books I read this month! Feel free to comment your thoughts on any of them down below, I love a chat! 

That's all I have for you today, but I'll see you all next week with my November TBR (2020)! I hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

Byeeeee! 

-Abi xxxx

Halloween Song Book Tag

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And since it's October, I'm doing another Halloween Book Tag! 

This time it's the Halloween Song Book Tag, I found it on Zezee With Books but it was originally created by booktuber A Beautiful Chaos of Books, so go and check those out when you've seen this! 

Enjoy! 

Thriller ~ A book that was an absolute page turner 

Even if this book hadn't been a part of my Reading Rush TBR, I still think I would have finished it in 2 days. Dark Blue Rising is about Tammy who, after her visit to the hospital after a car accident, finds out her mother is anything but. With the warning to beware the circle, Tammy is thrust into a new world with new parents, a new house. To get used to all that it new around her, she enrols in a summer swimming school. But all is not what it seems... Dark Blue Rising feels like Teri Terry when she was writing the Slated trilogy and Mind Games- which are my favourites of hers, so it was no wonder I got sucked straight in. Highly recommend as a starter Teri Terry book. 

Somebody's watching me ~ A book that gave you the serious creeps 

I only finished Alice this month, and because I haven't had a chance to chat about it yet, I won't go into much detail. All I will say is, it's dark and gruesome in the way it tells the story. I doubt I'll find a more chilling rendition of Alice in Wonderland any time soon. A perfect reason for someone looking for an Alice retelling that errs on the side of disturbing. Because that's exactly what it was. 

Vampire ~ A book you hated so much it was soul sucking, I.E. incredibly tedious to get through. 

I didn't dislike this, (because my next read is Good Omens), but this was definitely tedious to get through. I've said this a few times in the last month, but even though I like most of the aspects that made up the story (the characters, the writing, the world) there was just something missing for me. I did enjoy this, but I couldn't give it more than 3 stars. Let's see what I think of Gaiman's other works. 

I put a spell on you ~ A book featuring witchcraft or magic 

Loved this. Read it in one day (24 hour readathon pick, but I doubt it would have taken me much longer than that normally anyway.) Marie Lu's first historical fiction, following the sister of Mozart, but with a fantastic element to it. So easy to fall into, and after I did that, I physically couldn't put it down again. I loved the world building, the characters, how realistic they felt, but what I loved probably the most was the relationship between Nannerl and her brother Wolfgang, despite the double standards that are placed upon Nannerl because of her gender. The book is as beautiful as the cover, and it's one I'll definitely be picking up again soon. (Also it contains witchcraft.)

This is Halloween ~ Your favourite treat/snack to eat while reading 

Erm... anything sweet that's residing in the kitchen? 

I don't usually divulge in snacks, but I tend to have a hot cup of tea on my bedside. 

Time Warp: "Let's do the time warp again" ~ What book/books do you like to return to at this time of year?

I don't really have a specific book that I like to go back to, but I like to read the same kind of genre, which is atmospheric, creepy, Halloween-ish books in October. 

Hungry like the wolf ~ A book you loved so much, you devoured it. 

Another book I finished in 2 days. Incredibly addictive, intense, and a premise that could actually happen in real life. (Parts of it.) If you didn't know, All Your Twisted Secrets is basically a hostage situation. The six students that are trapped in a room at their school have to choose which one of them will die... or they all do. It jumps from that room, to replaying the past events leading up to it, and what I love the most is that none of it feels rushed, none of it feels unnecessary to the plot, or any of the characters. The whole story fits in perfectly, like a puzzle. It was the worth the extra two months I had to wait before it was released in the UK, definitely. Highly recommend. 

The Addams Family ~ A book featuring a dysfunctional family 

I was actually having trouble thinking of a book until I thought of Educated. Tara's family was actually the main antagonist of the book for the most part, so it seemed perfect to place Educated in for this question. Educated tells the story (true story) of Tara, who didn't set foot in school until she was 17. It tells the story of fierce family loyalty, the struggle of self-invention and evolution, the fight to be educated when doing so would mean cutting ties with the closest of family bonds. It's not an easy book to read, but it's a severely realistic one that you'll feel better about picking up once you've done so. Fantastic account of a book. 

Scary monsters (and super creeps) ~ A book genre that you are scared or intimidated to pick up 

There isn't a genre really. There are a couple books/ series in the Fantasy genre that I'm intimidated for (Robin Hobb's 10 book series & most Brandon Sanderson books) but there isn't a genre that I'm intimidated for.)

Twilight Zone ~ A book with completely different and unique premise 

Most books ever. 

Like that was genuinely my first thought when I saw this question. 

But honestly, even if every author wrote the exact same plot, same characters, each and every one of them would find a new and interesting take on it, because they all have their own style, their own way of telling a story. 

Which is why I'm not going to pick a book for this one. 

Okay! That was the Halloween Book Tag! 

As always, I tag anyone who wants to partake in this wonderful Halloween-ish tag, they're welcome to! 

That's it for me! I hope you have a wonderful day, and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx

51-60 Books of 2020

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And today I will be looking at the books that I have read recently (basically the ten books leading up to when I completed my Goodreads Reading Challenge- I'm aware I've read another ten since then.)

Enjoy! 

51. The Prince and the Dressmaker, by Jen Wang 

Set in France, with incredibly likeable characters you immediately start to love, I love that this book exists, because it's a book that wouldn't have been allowed to exist before the most recent years. I flew through this (not hard as it's a graphic novel) but even before I was through the first chapter I knew that. The Prince and the Dressmaker will make your heart flutter (because the book is just so damn cute), but will also make it flutter with panic because you want the best for these characters. Highly recommend. 

52. Loveless, by Alice Oseman 

This book was a new one for a number of reasons. For one, most of it's set in University, which is rare for a YA novel. Even rarer, it features the protagonist discovering that she is in actual fact, an asexual aromantic, and a big part of Loveless is Georgia coming to terms with that. I'm a big fan of Oseman's books, and Loveless certainly solidified that for me. Looking forward to reading more of her work in the future. 

53. The Lucky Ones, by Liz Lawson 

I didn't know what to expect, going into this. I knew the premise (May is going back to school eleven months after the school shooting that killed her twin brother; Zach's mother is representing that killer), but what I wasn't prepared for was the emotional turmoil I was going to experience. As May and Zach grow closer, you just want them to work out, even though you the statistics is close to impossible. Highly recommend. (Though there is a trigger warning- if you've lost a sibling, this might not be the book for you.)

54. Vicious (Villains #1), by V.E. Schwab 

55. Vengeful (Villains #2), by V.E. Schwab 

Not my favourite series by V.E. Schwab by any means, but it definitely holds it's own. I don't regret picking this series (and I'm excited for the third book, if there is one- I swear, I'm not sure whether there's going to be one or not at this point.) What I love about these is that none of the characters are good (except maybe Sidney.) But it's literally just terrible people doing worse acts of deed, and it's a breath of fresh air. I'm not going to forget about these characters for a while yet. 

56. Cinderella Is Dead, by Kalynn Bayron 

This was an interesting one. Again, not my favourite fairytale retelling, but it's a decent one, and worth reading if you would like a compelling story where the protagonist is the only one with her head screwed on straight. Cinderella is Dead takes place 200 years after the original tale took place, and now, young girls have just one chance to meet a suitable gentleman to wed, or they disappear... well Sophia would rather marry her childhood friend, Erin, but on the night of the ball, she flees the castle, and with the last remaining descendant of Cinderella and her stepsisters, leave to find a way to bring about the end of the ball as they know it- and the story just rolls from there. This was a fresh take on a classic story, and I'm glad I read it. Although I only rated it 3.5 stars, I definitely don't regret picking it up. 

57. Stardust, by Neil Gaiman 

My first Neil Gaiman novel, and not my last, because I'm reading Good Omens this month, despite having difficulty getting into this. I don't know what it was about this! For whatever reason, I had a hard time being motivated to pick this up. It wasn't the writing, or the world-building, and the characters were fleshed out enough, but there was just something that didn't sit right. But, I enjoyed it enough to give it an average 3 stars, and I'm excited to see what I think of his other work. (By the way, it's about a man that travels to find a star, so his love will marry him, and a whole bunch of crazy events start happening- it's honestly a better book that I'm making it sound.) 

58. Hunted, by Megan Spooner 

Hunted was a book I decided to stick on my monthly TBR as something to read at the end of the month, after I've finished everything else. It did not end like that- because I got sucked in straight away. Hunted sells itself as a Beauty and the Beast retelling- where Beauty is the one hunting the beast after her father goes missing. But it turned out to be so much more than that. You jump from Beauty's POV to the Beast's every other chapter, and honestly it lends so much more to the story. If you're a fan of mysterious, thrilling fairytale retellings, then I urge you all to pick this up. It's not too huge either, so you can fly through the audiobook in a couple of days. 

59. Rooftoppers, by Katherine Rundell 

Rooftoppers. I really enjoyed this. After loving Evernight, by Ross Mackenzie, I had been searching for another short middle-grade that I knew I would enjoy. Having loved The Wolf Wilder by Kathering Rundell a couple of years back, I decided on Rooftoppers, which is about Sophie, a girl that was told that she was an orphan, since she lost her mother when they were shipwrecked when she was just an orphan. Now, 10 years later, Sophie and her guardian run from authority, in the hope that Sophie will find a clue for her mother's whereabouts, with the help of the boy that runs the rooftops. What I liked about this was how realistic the characters were, even in the backwards ways of the 1940s. I recommend if you're looking for a quick, engaging middle-grade set in Paris. 

60. The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig 

To say that The Midnight Library blew me away would be an understatement. It took me completely by surprise by how quickly I fell into Nora's life, in her one day where she slowly lost everything she found near and dear to her, and makes a decision that means she will go to the Midnight Library. The Midnight Library is the place you go to when between life and death, and it gives you a chance to see which direction your life would take, had you made a different decision at one point. It was certainly an interesting read, and it shows you that you have a million possibilities waiting for you, whichever direction you decide to go on. Truly inspiring book. 5 stars. 

Okay! Those are all the books that I have to talk about today, so that'll be it! I hope you have a wonderful day, and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeeee! 

Abi xxxx

October TBR (2020)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And it's finally October! Which means cozy jumpers, pumpkin spice and best of all- all the atmospheric, spooky and autumnal books! 

This month I've constructed together a spooky and atmospheric list of books I want to attempt- and I've been waiting ages for this month, so I'm quite excited! 

1. Letters from the Lighthouse, by Emma Carroll 

I picked this up randomly at the Walkers Bookshop in Stamford the other day, and because I'm fresh out of books from the 24 hour readathon I partook in on Monday, it's now the only book I have in my possession at the moment, Letters from the Lighthouse is my current read. It's quite a rare find, as it's a historical fiction middle-grade. It's won a few awards, so I'm quite excited by it. It's about twelve-year-old Olive, who can't remember anything other than a bomb blast, a chance encounter and her mother's coat- the day her sister Sukie went missing. With London unsafe, Olive and her brother are evacuated to the Devonshire coast to stay. But Olive has a mystery to solve: she finds a strange coded note with seems to link Sukie to Devon, and something dark and dangerous. But what? I've become quite intrigued by this, and the font is quite large. I'm looking forward to getting to this. 

2. Misery, by Stephen King 

This sounds like a Stephen King novel that's right up my street. A hostage situation between a best-selling author and a crazed fan that didn't like the way he concluded the series. I don't know anything more than that, but the synopsis is so simple, yet so compelling that I can't help but feel entranced. Misery was the first Stephen King novel that came to mind when I was thinking about which one I wanted to try first from my Stephen King TBR that I posted a couple of months ago. I might try and pick up more Stephen King in the upcoming months, but this one has my full attention at the moment. 

3. Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman 

Well, I'd say that the title just about explains it! Good Omens is a collaboration between authors Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, two authors that I've read little by. I read Stardust just last month, and I've never read anything by Terry Pratchett, so I'm excited to see what I think! Knowing me, if I like this enough, I'll start to watch the show afterwards. As far as I'm aware, Good Omens is what happens when the end of the world is actually about to happen. It follows an angel and a demon that are trying to stop that very event, and from what I've seen, it's meant to be really funny, so let's see what I think about it!  

4. Saga, by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples - As many volumes as I can

I started this series on Sunday, and 24 hours later, I've finished the first three volumes. I'm aware how difficult it'll be to collect the whole series, especially as the authors are taking a hiatus at the moment, but that just means I have a chance to catch up on the series! If you didn't know, Saga is an adult fantasy graphic novel series, and I've been meaning to start the series for the past couple of years now, so I'm very happy that I've been pursing it in the way that I have recently. Saga can be very blunt about it's imagery (and by that I mean, there has been nudity in each of the last volumes that I've picked up), so if you're not okay with seeing random naked bodies every so often, maybe give this one a miss! 

5. Nevernight (The Nevernight Chronicle #1), by Jay Kristoff

Another series I've been wanting to read for a couple of years now. And I'm determined to finish it this year. All I know is, it's dark and violent and full of fantasy. I don't know much else, but I do know that it's perfect for this time of year. There is also an assassin school, and I am very much looking forward to reading about that. This series has quite the hype, so I can't wait to sink my teeth into it!

Okay! That's it for my TBR for the month! I would have added something extra- but I don't know how many Saga volumes I'll be able to get through! 

I hope you have a wonderful day, and I'll see you all (maybe Friday- if not Monday!)

Byeeeeee! 

-Abi xxxx

September Wrap Up (2020)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And somehow, we've come to the end of September! I have no idea how it's gone by so fast, but here's what I read! 

I hope you enjoy it! 

~BOOKS~

I read a total of 8 books this month, and I am very happy with that number, especially as it's one more than I thought I was going to be able to finish. Without further ado, here's what I read! 

1. Cinderella is Dead, by Kalynn Bayron 

I was very excited to read this, because of the hype. It was showing up in every book haul I was seeing around it's release, and I was intrigued about the premise. But although it was an enjoyable read, one full of secrets and adventure, I didn't love it as much as I thought I would. If you didn't know, Cinderella is Dead takes place 200 years after the fairytale takes place. Now, once all the young women reach the age of 16, they have to attend the royal ball to find a gentleman to marry. They have 3 chances to find a suitor, or they disappear, never to be seen again. This was an enjoyable read, but it could have been better. 3.5 stars. 

2. Stardust, by Neil Gaiman 

At 194 pages, I thought I'd be able to finish this in 2 days at the most. It took me 5 days to finish. I don't know if it was the writing, or what, but I found it really difficult to get through. This won't be the last Neil Gaiman book I attempt, but it was definitely discouraging for the rest of his work. Average for me unfortunately. 3 stars. 

3. Hunted, by Meagan Spooner 

I listened to this on the way to Boston, Lincolnshire halfway through the month. Hunted had been on my Audible TBR for over a year, so I decided to stick it on the end for the list in September. It had been a while since I'd read a retelling (other than Cinderella is Dead) so I was excited to see if this was what the premise described, (where Beauty is a hunter, looking to find her father and kill the beast), and it turned out that it was so much more than that. The characters were fleshed out, you could feel the mystery beneath the words, and it only made me want to keep reading more. If you're in the mood for a compelling Beauty and the Beast retelling, I recommend this. 

4. Rooftoppers, by Katherine Rundell 

Having read The Wolf Wilder, a middle-grade novel by Katherine Rundell a couple of years previously, when I saw Rooftoppers, I couldn't resist. It tells the story of young Sophie, a child who was told her mother died when she was a baby, sets foot upon the rooftops with a boy who can walk the chimneys with ease, to prove everyone wrong. Rooftoppers is a wayward story that will have your heart in your mouth at some point, and smiling in adoration in others. Highly recommend for a quick middle-grade. 3.5 stars. 

5. The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig 

My 60th Goodreads book! I bought this on my birthday, and I'd already finished it 3 days later. The Midnight Library resides between life and death, and it gives people the chance to see where their life would have gone if they'd made different choices. It was both an interesting concept, and book, and very easy to fall into. If you think you'll find this interesting at all, I highly recommend it. It's a fantastic story, full of surprises and twist directions. 5 stars.  

6. Midnight Sun (Twilight #5), by Stephenie Meyer 

After how long it took me to read Stardust, I was dredding picking this up, because I thought it would take me ages. But as it turns out, I managed to complete it in 6 days, despite it being over 750 pages long. Although I know that the relationship that is the centre of this book is not in any way healthy, I found that I preferred reading about Edward's perspective more so than Bella's. I liked finding out more about the cullen family in this, particularly Emmett, because he definitely seemed to kind of fade into the background in the original Twilight. 4.5 stars. 

7. Nick and Charlie (Solitaire #1.5), by Alice Oseman 

Nick and Charlie didn't take me long at all, which wasn't surprising, as it's only 159 pages, and I'm always eager to revisit Nick and Charlie's relationship. It takes place two years after Heartstopper Volume Three, and it follows my favourite couple during the summer before Nick leaves for University. One thing I will say is that, even in under 200 pages, Alice Oseman can still create a wonderful story, with a plot-line, and all my favourite characters. Very quick, but well-written story that leaves me eager for Heartstopper Volume Four next year. 

8. Punching the Air, by Ibi Zoboi 

I read Punching the Air in basically the same amount of time as Nick and Charlie, but it's a completely different book. Saying that this book is devastatingly powerful wouldn't even cover a snippet for how emotional it is behind the words. This is a book that needs to be read by the world because it's the real life events of Yusef Salaam of the Exonerated Five, who was wrongfully accused and set to prison for a crime he didn't commit. I was close to sobbing when reading this, and I will shout to the rooftops, every opportunity I have, that the world needs to read this book. I'm so happy it's out in the world. 

Okay! That's my September TBR (2020)! I hope you enjoy it, and let me know in the comments, what you all read in September! 

I will be back with my TBR next week, so I hope you have a good weekend full of reading! 

Byeee!

-Abi xxxxx