Books 11-20 of 2022

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm back, having a look at some of the books I've read recently. 

I figured it was best I got to this now, before I'm halfway to the next one. 

Without further ado, enjoy! 

11. These Deadly Games, by Diana Urban 

Another twisty-turny book by Diana Urban. Every chapter there's a new rule or plot twist and just when you think you've got some idea of what's going on, she pulls the rug out from under you again. In this one, we follow Crystal Donovan in a deadly game of follow these instructions, and her sister, who the mysterious person has captive, will survive. At first the instructions are seemingly harmless- steal some tests, bake brownies, until they turn out to have horrific consequences. Was not surprised at all how much I enjoyed this one, Diana Urban is fast becoming an auto-buy author. 

12. Girls of Paper and Fire (Girls of Paper and Fire #1), by Natasha Nyan 

13. Girls of Shadow and Storm (Girls of Paper and Fire #2), by Natasha Nyan 

14. Girls of Fate and Fury (Girls of Paper and Fire #3), by Natasha Nyan 

After remembering very little about books 1 & 2, I wanted to re-read them before diving head first into Girls of Fate and Fury, and realising that I had no idea who any of the characters were. Honestly, I don't regret it one bit. As history has shown, I tend to enjoy the last book a whole lot more after re-emerging into a series from the start and this was no different. There was lots of fighting, characters I loved unfortunately killed off, (which was like bits of my heart being torn off) but honestly, I'm satisfied with the end. Absolutely outstanding series overall. 

15. The Good Thieves, by Katherine Rundell 

After an epic fantasty series finished, I needed a change in pace. The Good Thieves is a fun, light-hearted read about a bunch of misfit kids, trying to get back Vita's grandfather's emereld after a businessman scammed him. The relationship between Vita, her mother and her grandfather are the sweetest and heartfelt relationships, and I love the humour and the adventures that these quick-witted friends get up to. Another solid book by Katherine Rundell. 

16. Paperweight, by Meg Haston 

Paperweight, one of the books on my "Want to read" shelf. Until I read it last month, that is. It follows Stevie, who has been checked into an eating disorder institution in New Mexico. The first thing I will say is that it's an incredibly heavy book. There are a lot of trigger warnings attatched, such as: anorexia, bulimia, suicide, survivor's guilt, self halm, toxic relationships, mental health problems, family issues. But if you are able to read about all of those things, then this book is incredibly freeing. You'll feel lighter than air when you finish. Very blunt and raw novel (that's negative in the beginning, but turns good as the book progresses). 

17. Still Alice, by Lisa Genova 

Yep, another "Want to Read" shelf book. Although it's very sad, as it was always going to be when it's about a Harvard professor that's diagnosed with early onset alzheimers'; it's also inspiring. (More one particular scene is inspiring, and the rest is very sad, but still.) It's going to be my mission to get my family members to read this book now because although it's the most read book on Goodreads so far this year, nobody I know in real life has read this. 

It makes me want them to read it, because it's so well-written, feels very realistic, and now that I've read the book I will definitely be watching the film soon. 

18. Pride and Penulties, by Chris Higgins

This was just something to read between finishing Still Alice, and my next read arriving in the post. Chris Higgins' books were my comfort reads in my teens, I have a selection of six that I like to read when I'm stuck in a reading slump, or I'm waiting for a book to arrive in the post. Pride and Penulties was what I just felt like reading the most. It's about a girl Charlotte, and all she wants is to make her dad take her seriously as a female rugby player. I love some of the ideas introduced in this book: that you can be a boy that likes theatre, that you can be a girl who plays rugby, but can also be feminine at the same time, that if you have a goal, and no matter what other people might think, if you work hard for it, you can achieve it. 

That's just one of the reasons why I keep coming back to it I guess. But whatever, Chris Higgins' books are always fantastic.  

19. The Exact Opposite of Okay (The Exact Opposite of Okay #1), by Laura Steven 

20. A Girl Called Shameless (The Exact Opposite of Okay #2), by Laura Steven 

I have a series review for these two books, which you can check out here (for all my in-depth thoughts) but the first word that I would use to describe these two is phenomenal. I have no idea why I waited so long to read them but alas, I finally have, and they'll most certainly make my Favourites list for the end of 2022. 

Okay! Those are the books that I've read recently! I hope you enjoyed reading the post, and feel free to comment what you've been reading, down below! 

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

Byeeeee! 

-Abi xxxx

The Exact Opposite of Okay Duology, by Laura Steven

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

So, I finished the Exact Opposite of Okay duology and I had so many thoughts on it, I just had to do a series review on it! 

Enjoy! 

Titles: The Exact Opposite of Okay & A Girl Called Shameless

Author: Laura Steven

Genre: Contemporary 

Status: Duology 

Pages: 337 & 334 (671 altogether). 

Blurb: (I'll only give the first books blurb for this, so as not to spoil those that haven't read these.) 

"Izzy O' Neill 

Impoverised orphan 

Aspiring comedian 

Slut extroadinare- apparently...

Izzy never expected to be eighteen and emotionally reviled. 

But when photos involving her, a poilitian's son and a garden 

bench emerge, the trolls set to take her apart. 

Armed with best friend Ajita and a metric ton of nachos, 

she must figure out who's behind the vicious website- while 

keeping her sanity intact. 

Izzy is about to find out that the way the world treats girls 

is not okay. 

It's the Exact Opposite of Okay." 

My Thoughts

First of all, I will start with how proud I am of myself for actually following through and reading these after nearly four years of having the first book on my "Want to Read" shelf. I'm even more proud to say that this one actually turned out to be something that I absolutely loved, four years later. 

Okay, surprise over. Now on to the actual thoughts. 

*Happy sigh*. This book was wonderful. 

I went through the full range of emotions. I laughed out loud in some parts, I felt the anger rage inside me like a storm of fire, I felt incredibly sad and sorry for these characters in a few places too. It discussed the themes in this book because of this, and make no mistake, there were plenty of serious issues in this duology, but because of how perfectly paced and structured everything was, I never felt like this book was a downer for me, and that was one of the things I loved most about this tale. 

So, some background. 

Izzy is your average eighteen-year-old. Goes to parties, drinks, has sex. Until photos of her and the senator's son doing the dirty on a park bench are revealed on a hate website. Not only does she have to figure out whose behind this horrible website, she has to keep her head above water while the whole world is calling her a slut and worse, which might just be the hardest thing she's ever done. 

I knew I loved Izzy's character right from the first page. She never seemed anything less than 100% authentic to me. She was a teenager, who had suffered a lot in the past, with the death of her parents in a car accident when she was young, but she got through the day with her friends, and an outlet of humour and writing. Then something as disasterous as this happens to her, and obviously she has no way to know which way is up. That's her at the start. But the part that made this duology for me, is the insane amount of character growth I saw from her. She turns a horrific event into something inspiring, a website and a following, and an attempt to change a law about revenge porn. 

Although she does a lot in these books, don't think for a second that it's all in hand. I read a quote the other day, not sure who said it, or when, but the saying was "Feel the fear and do it anyway", and that's Izzy to a tea.  Over the two she's basically scared shitless of everything that's happening around her. I mean, I would be too, if nudes were leaked of my body, I was worrying about my career, how my one remaining family member will cope when I fly off to Uni, that's enough to stress anyone out, to be honest! 

She doesn't do all of this alone though. Introducing Ajita and in book two, Meg! These girls are always there, in her corner, ready to knock out any privileged white boy that thinks he can say what they like. I love these characters so much, with their unique skills, and wits, and ready smiles. Honestly, a teenager's girlfriends are everything to you when you're that age, and I love that there was never any drama between any of them. It was girl love and support through and through. 

I'm just going to add a quick note about the writing. Like nothing I've read before, most of the book was written through blog posts (written by Izzy), so in present tense, with the occasional footnote from Izzy in present day- looking back over past blogpost updates. At the start of the book I thought I might have a problem with this back and forth, but I was pleasantly surprised by how smooth the transition was. 

Also, the pacing was just as good. It rarely felt like it stalled, very smooth in the subplot, even with jokes/ serious/ romantic chemisty sections- and there was a lot of back and forth to different subplots- so no complaints whatsoever on that!

Overall, such a wonderful duology. If you're looking for books that have a huge theme in feminism, then these are the books for you. Such a powerful, yet funny and light-hearted read. Is a solid contender for my favourite series of the year. I'm not kidding.

I'm so glad I finally got to this. 

Fucking amazing. Well done Laura Steven. 

Okay! That's my review on The Exact Opposite of Okay duology. 

I hope you enjoyed it, and if you've read it, or even if not, let me know what you think in the comments below! 

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

Byeeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx

April TBR (2022)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And it's April (spring is here at last, and with that comes snow), and honestly, I have a few books lined up for the month but I have a very big re-read that might last me a couple of months to say the least. 

Here's what I plan to read this month. I hope you enjoy it. 

1. The Exact Opposite of Okay (Izzy O' Neill #1), by Laura Steven 

2. A Girl Called Shameless (Izzy O' Neill #2), by Laura Steven 

Never mind it's been on my "Want to read" shelf for years, it's the first book I put on said list. I just finished book 1 this afternoon, but I'm still including it in this post because I genuinely didn't think I'd finish it this quickly. 

The Exact Opposite of Okay is about Izzy- budding screenwriter, and slut-extroadinare, apparently. When a hate blog with photos of her and a politician's song doing the dirty, her life suddenly becomes one huge scandal. Izzy's never been ashamed of herself, but keeping her head above it all will take everything she has. 

I loved the first book and can't wait to delve into the second!

3. All Boys Aren't Blue, by George M. Johnson 

I figured, before starting my re-read, and with no books that I haven't read, I'd pick up another "Want to Read" book, because why not? 

All Boys Aren't Blue is a memoir that got a lot of hype around the time of it's release. It's about George M. Johnson as he shares his memories of what it's like to grow up black and queer in the US. I love the cover, it's beautiful, it's a literal painting, and it's a memoir which I don't think I've read before in my life. 

4. Skulduggery Pleasant (Skulduggery Pleasant #1), by Derek Landy 

5. Playing With Fire (Skulduggery Pleasant #2), by Derek Landy 

6. The Faceless Ones (Skulduggery Pleasant #3), by Derek Landy 

7. Dark Days (Skulduggery Pleasant #4), by Derek Landy 

 


As shown in my Anticipated Releases (April- June 2022) post, the 15th and final Skulduggery Pleasant book came out 0n 01/04/22, and as it's the last book that will ever be released, I thought it fitting to give the series I've loved for over a decade a proper send off. I've met Derek Landy, the man is an absolute gem, and so are his books. 

It'll be wonderful to go back to this world, especially these earlier ones: they're short, fast-paced, and it doesn't matter how many times I've re-read them, or how long it's been, it feels like home to return to this world I love so much. 

Okay! Those are the books that I'm going to be reading this month! 

As always, feel free to comment what you're reading this month, and we can chat about them in the comments below! 

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

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxx