2021 Wrap Up

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And once more, the year has come to a close. There have been ups and down, but the end is near, and now's the time to look back on all the stuff we managed to accomplish in 2021! 

Without further ado, enjoy! 

~Books Read in December~

1. Double Cross (Noughts and Crosses #4), by Malorie Blackman 

2. Nought Forever (Noughts and Crosses 4.5), by Malorie Blackman 

3. Crossfire (Noughts and Crosses #5), by Malorie Blackman 

4. Endgame (Noughts and Crosses #6), by Malorie Blackman

It was bitersweet going into the last book knowing it was the last one ever, but at the same time, I almost feel relief that it's over. I won't lie, I don't think that this series needed any more books after Double Cross, I thought it wrapped up nicely there, but there is no way I'm going to say no to more Malorie Blackman books, especially from this series. 

As always, Endgame came with so many twists and turns, I could barely keep up with what was going on at any given moment. My eyes were glued to the page throughout the book, always wanting to know what was happening in the next sentence, page, chapter. 

Malorie Blackman has outdone herself with this series. I have had years of heartache, joy and happiness reading this series and although I am relieved it's over, this series will remain in my heart for evermore. Thankyou Malorie Blackman. 

5. Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating, by Adiba Jaigirdar

After the heavy subject matters of the Noughts and Crosses series, I needed something light-hearted and fun, which was exactly what this was. A romance between two bengali girls, with all the tropes and humour you could hope for, with an exploration of biphobia and racism thrown in as well. Having read both this and The Henna Wars I think I can now say that I will read anything that Adiba Jaigirdar releases. She writes wonderfully humourous and lovable stories with a number of serious themes in them as well, so go and read her books if you're looking for something like that. 

6. Life is Strange: Dust (Life is Strange Comics #1-4), by Emma Vieceli, Claudia Leonardi & Andrea Izzo 

I received this for Christmas from Jordan and I was absolutely elated. I had no idea this existed, I'm a huge fan of the Life is Strange games so of course I had to read this as soon as I could. Unfortunately, you do have to have played the game for this to make sense, but for fans of LiS, this feels exactly like the characters from the game, it's not too different to feel like it's a completely different story, it feels exactly like a continuation from the game. Highly recommend if you're a fan of LiS. 

~Series Completed in 2021~

1. The "Throne of Glass" series, by Sarah J Maas

I'm not sure why it took me as long as it did to finally pick up this series, but I'm so glad I've finally read these. A long, exciting and complex fantasy series full of magic, action and incredibly well-written characters that will stay with you long after you've read the final page. I read the Throne of Glass series at the start of the year, and even now, every so often, a certain chapter or character will just pop into my head. 

I don't know when I'll be reading them again, or even if it'll be soon. But I do know that I will, and they'll sit proudly on my bookshelf until then. 

2. The "Percy Jackson" series, by Rick Riordan 

The first of many Rick Riordan series' I've attempted this year. Without this one, we couldn't have had any of the others. This was the series that, for many, started their interest in Greek mythology, mine included. These books are like a lesson and an adventure rolled into one. I love these books, because they're short, snappy and unpredictable, just full of chaos and seemingly impossible tasks that children actually end up completing. These books were, very entertaining to say the least. 

3. The "Heroes of Olympus" series, by Rick Riordan 

Oh, jesus. These books. I should have enjoyed these more than I did, let's just say that. These are like the YA version of the Percy Jackson books. Same characters, (but some are added), with a different prophecy, looking to stop another force of evil. In this instance it's Gaia, the mother of all the Gods. For some reason I wasn't into them as much as in the Percy Jackson books, maybe because they just felt like they went on forever and I never seemed to be able to focus on them for more than 20 minutes at a time? I don't know. But one thing's for sure, if I didn't own all of Rick Riordan's other series, I would seriously be considering donating these. 

4. The "Kane Chronicles" trilogy, by Rick Riordan 

A series I was considering skipping. Ended up being my favourite of the lot. Might it have something to do with the fact that I finished them all in 24 hours (mostly). Maybe. But if that means that I was able to swallow the whole story in one gulp, then that's perfectly fine with me. 

I loved the whole sibling thing that went on with Sadie and Carter, who started off as complete strangers (after being raised by different people) but ended up trusting eachother as equals as they went on this crazy adventure to stop a whacking great snack. Wonderful characters, high stakes and a time limit. Just what you want for a trilogy about Norse mythology. 

5. The "Magnus Chase" trilogy, by Rick Riordan 

Not as much as The Heroes of Olympus, but again, was relieved to finish this. It was nice to see Annabeth pop up every so often though. 

Basically, I enjoyed this enough to finish this, but for most of the time, I was in conflict with myself- do I skip to the 2nd Trials of Apollo book, do I give up on the series altogether? But I soldiered on, and actually found myself invested in the story. You know, for some of the time. 

Decent trilogy, but I'm relieved I'm finished. 

6. The "Paper Girls" series, by Brian K. Vaughan, Cliff Chiang, Matt Wilson & Jared K. Fletcher

 

I started this off as a bit of a relief from the Magnus Chase trilogy, and it just took on a life of it's own. As soon as I finished that series, I jumped straight into this one and kept reading until I'd finished this too. I've had my eye on these for a while and I'm so happy that I've finally got to pick them up. Frankly, I've been wanting to read these since I caught up on the Saga graphic novel last november, and it's bad that I'm only now getting to them now. But no matter, I'm on the train. 

Paper Girls is about first girls that witness something they shouldn't, the morning after Halloween of 1988. Then everyone else seems to just vanish out of thin air and creatures from another world are stalking the streets. What comes next is a futuristic journey about different dimensions, new species and four girls just trying to find their way home. 

This was a slow burner for me, I wasn't sure where it was going to go after the first novel, but I'm so glad I stuck with it, because I really enjoyed them. 

7. The "Noughts and Crosses" series, by Malorie Blackman 

I've already talked about this series at the top of the post but I genuinely can't believe that this series is over. I've cried, I've laughed and I've grinned over these books, the characters are faultless, the plot is dynamic and unexpected and it doesn't matter how many times I've read these books, I know I'll continue to read these until the end of my days. 

~Series I Started & Caught Up on~ 

1. The "Skulduggery Pleasant" series~ Finished Dead or Alive, the penultimate book in the series. 

2. The "Heartstopper" series- Finished Volume Four. 

3. The "Thursday Murder Club" duology- Started the series, waiting for the paperback of The Man Who Died Twice to be released. 

4. The "Supernatural Investigators" trilogy, by B.B. Alston- Finished Amari and the Night Brothers, book 1. 

5. The "Circle trilogy" by Teri Terry- Finished Red Sky Burning, book 2. 

6. The "The Trials of Apollo" series, by Rick Riordan- Was meant to finish this series in 2021, but will be waiting until 2022 to re-read book 1 and complete the series. 

7. The "Life is Strange Comics" series, by Emma Vieceli, Claudia Leonardi & Andrea Izzo- Started this series this month. 

~What I Achieved in 2021~ 

I'm so happy with everything that I managed to achieve this year! I ticked off a couple on my list of things to do in the next five years (I demised that list going into 2020 so you can check that out here). 
But the main achievements this year are as follows: 

1. I passed my driving test (and thank God I did, or else I would have had to re-take my theory because of lack of test dates- something else to thank Covid for). 

2. I ran a marathon! Horrible conditions, absolutely scorching day- plus the distance was over measured meaning we had to run 26.70 miles instead of 26.25, but who cares? I'm now a marathoner! 

3. I got a Parkrun PB! I wasn't actually planning this one, but I'm including it anyway. This was on the tail end of the year, and honestly, it was the cherry on top of the cake. 

~What I'm Looking Forward to in 2022~

1. Finishing saving for a house (and maybe moving out)? 

2. Reaching new PB's in running! 

3. Reading new and exciting books, writing on here and talking to you guys!

Okay! That's my 2021 Wrap Up- done! 

I hope you enjoyed reading about what I've been up to this past year, and if you want to, you're always free to comment anything about what you've been up to down below! (Whether it's what you've read, visited, accomplished- anything at all!)

I hope you have a wonderful new year's and I'll see you in 2022! 

Another year- signing out! 

Byeeee guys!

-Abi xxxxx

Favourite Books of 2021!

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm back with my Favourite Books of the year! 

I don't have anything else to say, so with further ado, enjoy!

1. Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4), by Sarah J Maas

I read the entire Throne of Glass at the start of the year, but Queen of Shadows was the standout book of the series. It felt like everything that had been bubbling underneath for the past three books finally rose to the surface in this book. If the series had ended there, I would have been okay with it. Of course I loved the other books, the characters I met in the second half of the series, but I just fell right into Queen of Shadows and stayed there. 

2. The FlatShare, by Beth O' Leary 

This was my first Beth O'Leary book and although I've thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of them, The FlatShare is definitely my favourite. I'm actually considering reading this again, because of how much I enjoyed it. 

So basically, it's about two people that share a flat, but who have never actually met. They communicate through post it notes, and it's too adorable. Plus there are more serious issues mixed in with both characters, and what I love the most is how seamlessly the issues and the cute moments are mixed in together. 

3. Instructions for Dancing, by Nicola Yoon 

Such a quick read, but so much was packed in. And it didn't feel rushed, at all. Nicola Yoon is known for her wonderful YA contemporaries, Everything Everything and The Sun is Also A Star. I was surprised to find that I hadn't heard even a whisper about this until I stumbled upon it on Goodreads at the end of last year. But I will say that out of all three Nicola Yoon books that I've read, this one is by far my favourite. As a summary, Instructions for Dancing is about a girl that can see how and when a relationship ends when she sees that couple kiss. It's a great premise, and an amazing book. 

4. Amari and the Night Brothers (Supernatural Investigators #1), by B.B. Alston 

The standout middle-grade of the year! Fantastic main character, who feels original and genuine, but just an echo of all the protagonist's I've read in the past, a compelling plot, an easy magic system and an explosive ending! 

I picked this up at exactly the right time, and I am counting down the days until book two comes out in February, so I can see what happens to Amari as she navigates through the events of the second book. 

5. The Ghosts We Keep, by Mason Deaver

Going into this, I knew this was going to be an emotional book. Any book with the subject matter of losing your brother will be, but one thing I didn't expect was that I would finish it in as little as two days. 

Sensitive and beautifully written, my heart was simultaneously broken and put back together as I read this book because, while this book is about having to deal with the loss of a loved one, it's also about two people finding love and coming together to help eachother deal with their grief. Highly recommend this. 

6. The Ocean at the End of the Lane, by Neil Gaiman 

Over the past couple of years I've been reading Neil Gaiman's books, one every few months or so, and I've been loath to find one I like. Now, I'm not sure why, and I'm not sure how. But as soon as I heard about this one, merely heard the title, I sort of knew that I was going to love this. If you've read the title, then you'll know how I feel about it. 

If you haven't read the title then here you go. It was one of my favourites of the year. 

This genuinely felt like it was told by a child. Not like in the way that there's a bunch of spelling mistakes or things didn't make sense. In fact, the story was told in such a way that, I had to read a couple of sentences a second time, just to make sure I had read it right. No, it genuinely felt like I was in the mind of a child whilst reading, I was able to fall into that mindset so easily. The POV fit into the story so easily, I don't believe it would have worked half as well if I hadn't been reading from a child's POV.

All in all, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, was a whimsical, surreal, beautifully written read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I honestly doubt I'll enjoy a Neil Gaiman book as much again. 

7. The Kane Chronicles trilogy, by Rick Riordan 

And finally, the Kane Chronicles. I was seriously considering skipping past these three when I finished The Heroes of Olympus series, because of how much I thought that series dragged. But I decided to at least give them a try, and that somehow manifested into, why not try and read them all in 24 hours?

And the rest is history. It's currently my favourite Rick Riordan series to date and although it might be a while before I re-read these, I will have those wonderful memories of digesting this trilogy until that time comes. 

Not only was the relationship between Sadie and Carter absolutely precious (with them jumping in with random dialogue during eachother's chapters) but this trilogy just hit differently to the other three I've read of Rick Riordan.

Such a wonderful trilogy. Highly recommend. 

Okay! Those are my Favourite Books of 2021! Let me know in the comments what yours are, and we'll talk about them! 

I hope you have a wonderful day, and I'll see you all soon with my 2021 Wrap Up! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx

Anticipated Releases (Jan-March 2022)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And after a slight break with the anticipated releases' posts, I'm back with a whole heap of books for the next three months! 

Enjoy! 

January Releases

1. Love, Decoded, by Jennifer Yen- 1/1/2022

Honestly, I'm not sure what drew me to this. There's literally one review on Goodreads, and it's a three star, but when I read the premise, I thought it looked interesting. Just the combination of a contest, coding which, even though I know absolutely nothing about still appeals to me, and an all Asian- cast just seems like the full package. Full blurb below: 

"For fans of Jenny Han and Jane Austen, a rom-com that’s equal parts hilarious and heartfelt about the unexpected consequences of one teen’s quest to help her friends find love, from the author of A Taste for Love.

High school junior Gigi Wong strives to be the best: the top student, the perfect friend, and the ideal daughter. But it’s tough when there’s always someone who is just a little bit better. With college applications looming, she can’t help but worry that she won’t make the cut. Thankfully, her best friend Kyle never fails to find the right words- and the perfect bowl of Ramen—to cheer her up.

After her teacher, Ms. Harris, announces she’ll be nominating students for an app writing contest, Gigi is determined to be picked. After all, first price is an exclusive tech internship, sure to make her application stand out. There’s only one problem: she doesn’t have a winning program. It isn’t until transfer student Etta admits she’s struggling to fit in at Superbia that Gigi stumbles on an idea. She’ll use her coding skills—and the matchmaking experience she’s gotten from weekends with Auntie Rose – to create a friend matching app! Etta will meet new people, and Gigi will guarantee her acceptance into college. It’s foolproof.

What Gigi doesn’t expect is for her app to go viral around school. Soon, she finds herself at the centre of a scandal- and at odds with both Etta and Kyle. Can Gigi fix what went wrong, or will her desire to be perfect cost her the people she cares about most?" 

2. Waking Romeo, by Kathryn Barker- 4/1/2022

When I found out that this was a romeo and Juliet, time-travel, what would have happened if they hadn't died story, I put this on my list straight away. Basically, it's 2058, people can time travel, but only forwards, and most people have done so. Juliet and Romeo, who is currently in a coma, are said people. But when a time traveller, named Ellis, impossibly appears and offers Juliet a mission, it causes her to question everything she thinks she knows about life and love. Only one question remains: can Jules wake Romeo and rewrite her future? 

It's been a while since I've read a book set in the future, that's changed some historical event, or well-known situation, so I'm looking forward to picking this up. Should be a good read. 

3. Lawless Spaces, by Corey Ann Haydu- 18/1/2022

This book sounds like everything. This book is the kind of book that I would like to write one day. Such a simple premise, but so powerful. If just a blurb has conjured this strong a reaction in me, I can't wait to see what the actual novel is like. A book about generations, of women through the ages, expressed in journals. About nothing but the world around them and how they see it. Here's the blurb guys:

"Mimi’s relationship with her mother has always been difficult. But lately, her mother has been acting more withdrawn than usual, leaving Mimi to navigate the tricky world of turning sixteen alone. What she doesn’t expect is her mother’s advice to start journaling- just like all the women in her family before her. It’s a tradition, she says. Expected.

But Mimi takes to poetry and with it, a way to write down the realities of growing into a woman, the pains of online bullying, and the new experiences of having a boyfriend. And all in the shadows of a sexual assault case that is everywhere on the news- a case that seems to specifically rattle her mother.

Trying to understand her place in the world, Mimi dives into the uncovered journals of her grandmother, great-grandmother, and beyond. She immerses herself in each of their lives, learns of their painful stories and their beautiful spirits. And as Mimi grows closer to each of these women, she starts to forge her own path. But it isn’t until her mother’s story comes to light that Mimi learns about unyielding bonds of family and the relentless spirit of womanhood." 

4. The Temperature of Me and You, by Brian Zepka- 25/1/2022

Temperature! (A boy too hot to handle- becuase he runs 110 degrees fahrenheit/ 43 celsius). 

Romance! 

Dairy Queen (which I think is an ice-cream place). 

That's really all you need to know. 

Also, perfect time to pick up is winter, so I hope I get to it soon. 

Please let me pick it up soon. 

February Releases

1. These Deadly Games, by Diana Urban- 1/2/2022

After thoroughly enjoying All Your Twisted Secrets last year (I read the entire 300 page book in two days) there was no doubt in my mind that I would be sticking this book on this list for next year. 

Once more, Diana Urban's book contains a time limit: 24 hours. Basically, Crystal Donovan's (protagonist) sister has been kidnapped, and if she doesn't follow the rules, her sister will die. She can't tell anyone, or call the police. All she can do is anything and everything the kidnapper tells her to do, or her sister will pay. Simple premise, incredibly high stakes. And if All Your Twisted Secrets is anything to go by, there'll be a number of twists and turns that I won't be expecting. I'm reading and gunning for this book to be released so I can devour it with my eyes. 

2. Amari and the Great Game (Supernatural Investigations #2), by B.B. Alston- 1/2/2022

Book 2! Absolutely loved the first one, and I loved the cover even more! I couldn't find the cover match for the second book but I don't think it's been added yet. 

The Supernatural Investigators trilogy is a middle grade trilogy, following Amari as she gets into this magical academy she never even knew existed, in the hope to find her brother, who disappeared after going on a super-secret mission for the academy. The first book was explosive and gripping and I have high expectations going into the second book. I have high hopes for the cover to be as beautiful too (silver sprayed edges)! 

3. You Truly Assumed, by Laila Sabreen- 8/2/2022

I was debating whether to put this on the list because, even though I'm interested in certain books when I first come across them, I rarely actually get around to reading them. But there's no question. I have to add this to the list because this shit is powerful. Read the synopsis and you'll see. 

"In this compelling and thought-provoking debut novel, after a terrorist attack rocks the country and anti-Islamic sentiment stirs, three Black Muslim girls create a space where they can shatter assumptions and share truths.

Sabriya has her whole summer planned out in colour-coded glory, but those plans go out the window after a terrorist attack near her home. When the terrorist is assumed to be Muslim and Islamophobia grows, Sabriya turns to her online journal for comfort. You Truly Assumed was never meant to be anything more than an outlet, but the blog goes viral as fellow Muslim teens around the country flock to it and find solace and a sense of community.

Soon two more teens, Zakat and Farah, join Bri to run You Truly Assumed and the three quickly form a strong friendship. But as the blog’s popularity grows, so do the pushback and hateful comments. When one of them is threatened, the search to find out who is behind it all begins, and their friendship is put to the test when all three must decide whether to shut down the blog and lose what they’ve worked for… or take a stand and risk everything to make their voices heard." 

I'm not sure when I'll get to this, but rest assured I will. This sounds like it's a book that is right up my alley. So excited for a book like this to be released. 

4. Cold, by Mariko Tamaki- 8/2/2022

This sounds like a very clever, chilling book. It tells the story of a boy, Todd Mayer, who was found dead, in a snow covered park, completely naked and frozen. As detectives investigate the people they believe linked to his death, Todd relays the choice that to his end. The protagonist, Georgia, wasn't Todd's friend. She didn't even know him. But for some reason, she can't keep his death out of her head. Maybe because they were both branded outcasts at school, or maybe because they were both queer. Plus, she has a feeling, that she's seen him somewhere before, somewhere he was never supposed to be.

I'm not sure what to make of this, but Cold is definitely up there on one of the books I want to get to in the next couple of months. Not only because it's the perfect season, but because I feel like there might be more to this than meets the eye (from the premise I mean.) 

March Releases

1. Gallant, by V.E. Schwab- 1/3/2022

A new V.E. Schwab book! Honestly, at this point, I'd happily read her shopping list. From the looks of it, this is a standalone, which I'm 100% happy with. Gallant seems creepy, and intriguing and I am here for it. I love the direction that V.E. Schwab seems to be taking with her books, and I'm excited to see what this one will be like. 

"Everything casts a shadow. Even the world we live in. And as with every shadow, there is a place where it must touch. A seam, where the shadow meets its source.

Olivia Prior has grown up in Merilance School for girls, and all she has of her past is her mother’s journal- which seems to unravel into madness. Then, a letter invites Olivia to come home- to Gallant. Yet when Olivia arrives, no one is expecting her. But Olivia is not about to leave the first place that feels like home, it doesn’t matter if her cousin Matthew is hostile or if she sees half-formed ghouls haunting the hallways.

Olivia knows that Gallant is hiding secrets, and she is determined to uncover them. When she crosses a ruined wall at just the right moment, Olivia finds herself in a place that is Gallant- but not. The manor is crumbling, the ghouls are solid, and a mysterious figure rules over all. Now Olivia sees what has unravelled generations of her family, and where her father may have come from.

Olivia has always wanted to belong somewhere, but will she take her place as a Prior, protecting our world against the Master of the House? Or will she take her place beside them?" 

This reminds me vaguely of Tim Burton's Corpse Bride and The Nightmare Before Christmas, two homes that I hold near and dear, and although it feels weird for this sort of book to be released in March, I honestly feel like I could read V.E. Schwab whatever month it is. Eagerly anticipating this release.  

Okay! Those are all the books I'm anticipating in the next couple of months! Let me know in the comments what books you guys are looking forward to being released and we'll chat about them! 

I hope you have a fantastic afternoon and I'll be back soon with my Favourite Books of 2021! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx