May Wrap Up (2023)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm here with my May Wrap Up (2023)! 

I've been looking forward to this all day, so let's get down to it. 

I hope you enjoy it. 

1. Get A Life, Chloe Brown (The Brown Sisters #1), by Talia Hibbert 

If I were to calculate the time it took to read this book, I reckon it would be less than half a day. A couple of bus rides, a morning at the beach and the about 2/3 of a plane ride is all it took to get through it. Basically, it was always wanting to see what came next, with Chloe, as she took on a list she never thought she would, and achieved things she never thought she could. I loved how she grew as a character, as her relationship with Red also grew. The younger brown sisters made an appearance every so often, and honestly, I wish there was more with just the three of them together. Wonderful first book of the series. 

2. Long Way Down, by Jason Reynolds (Graphic novel)

I didn't plan to pick this up. I simply walked into one of my local bookshops, glanced at the graphic novels (which was literally the first shelf you saw, walking in), read the blurb and picked it up. I finished it that night. 

Long Way Down was brutal. It tells the story of a neighbourhood where, if blood is spilled, you always get even. When fifteen-year-old Will's brother Sean is murdered, that's what Will sets out to do. Gun in his back pocket, he makes his way to Sean's killer's building, gets into the elevator. 

6 floors.

6 minutes. 

Absolutely amazing book. Gripping, emotional. Exceptional. That's all I'm gonna say. 

3. Take A Hint, Dani Brown (The Brown Sisters #2), by Talia Hibbert 

After finishing Get A Life, Chloe Brown so quickly, I feel like I thought I was going to fly through this too. It's not like the story was bad, not at all. But going back to normality took it's toll (I was in Malta when reading the first book) and for some reason, this (engaging, funny and entertaining) book took me over two weeks to complete. 

And the fact of the matter is, I did enjoy this. Really, honestly did. I loved the banter that Dani and Raj had, the way certain issues and themes were discussed, like Raj's anxiety, or Danika's lets say, obsessive habits, the sex scenes were something else, let me tell you. Honestly, I genuinely enjoyed this! 

Anybody had this happen to you before? Comment down below if it has! 

4. Act Your Age, Eve Brown (The Brown Sisters #3), by Talia Hibbert 

Somehow I always knew this would be the one that I'd connect with the most. You follow Eve, the youngest of the three Brown sisters, and after ruining a very extravant wedding, she's completely cut off from all of her accounts, forced to find a job and keep it for at least a year before getting her funding back. I loved Eve's chaoticness, the way she seemed to just wing a situation and own it anyway- even if she had no idea what she was doing. The two older Brown sisters made an appearance every so often of course, but the past I loved the most was the way Eve never sat down and gave up. There was a romance too of course, but the main part of enjoyment for me was seeing Eve learn about herself and grow from a spoilt child to a capable woman. It was truly amazing to see- a solid end to The Brown Sisters trilogy. 

5. Hell Breaks Loose (Skulduggery Pleasant #0?), by Derek Landy 

Of course this was always going to be a priority. When have I been able to leave a Skulduggery Pleasant book unread for longer than a couple weeks?

Okay... it was enough. Enough to miss all the characters from the earlier books, for sure. You read from the POV of Ghastly, guys. Ghastly. If you've read past the first few books, you'll know how wonderful that is. Not just him, Hopeless, from the Dead Men group. All the original villains. 

Let's just say it was an amazing read. And it was enough to want to read the first 9 books all over again. 

6. Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell 

Finally! I've been wanting to read this for the longest time, and I finally got to re-read it! Fangirl is 100% a comfort read for me. Much like HP is for a lot of people (haha, funny). I will never get tired of even, probably not even when I'm fifty. I guess we'll see. If you do't know what this book is, it's about Cath and her sister Wren, on their first day at Uni/ College. Wren wants some independence, so for the first time, Cath and Wren are rooming seperately. It kind of just stems from there, telling a coming of age story of fanfiction, family and first love. 

Fangirl is, and always will be, Rainbow Rowell's best book, in my opinion. And it will always hold a special piece in my heart. 

Okay! Those are all the books I've read this month! 

I've actually got to a few. Yay! 

That's all that I have for you today, don't hesitate to comment what you guys read this month, and we can chat about them! 

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

Byeeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx

XO Kitty

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And originally I was going to post a review for Hell Breaks Loose. 

And then it was going to be a tag. 

But now, I can't help but be engrossed by this tv show, which I genuinely thought was going to be a film. 

So, even though I havem't finished the series quite yet, I'm still going to share my thoughts. 

Enjoy guys. 

I'm going to list these in points, because these are just thoughts at the moment, and not fully fleshed out paragraphs. 

1. First things first, this is such an addictive series. I put this on at about 2pm, maybe just before. As I write these words, it's currently half four, I'm on episode 6, and although I know I won't be finishing this series in one fell swoop, I really don't want to stop watching. It doesn't matter that it's heavily in korean (subtitles, of course), I just want to keep watching. 

2. Like all of the To All the Boys I've Loved Before franchise, it's got this lovely aesthetic to it. There are these wonderful scenic shots, the music for these wonderful scenes, and everything is all so crystal clear, everything is just so gorgeous. 

3. I love how detailed the series is. I'm now in the last three episodes and I don't want to leave these characters, this setting, this story. Ten episodes will not be enough. Speaking of the characters, I love them all. I love how well-rounded they are, how amazing their characters arcs are, and I love the way I'm rooting for them all to find their happy endings. 

4. It's extremely well written. The script allows for these beautiful conversations, (and also heartbreaking moments) that make you smile ear-to-ear, send you spiralling in panic when two people are so close to working things out and it gets whisked away in a second, or leave you crying for days. 

Okay, I know these are thoughts, but there was no way I would be able to post about anything else today; I'm too invested in the series. 

If these thoughts have given any kind of message, it should be this: watch this. It helps to have watched the To All the Boys Before franchise, but you don't have to. It stands well by itself. 

I highly recommend this series, I'm heartbroken that I won't get to watch the last episode until another time but I will eventually so, oh well. 

Okay! That's all that I have for you guys today! I hope you have a wonderful evening and I'll see you soon! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx

Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

When I started this post up, I was under the impression that today's post was going to be a tag. 

But when I saw how little reviews I had up, and how many great books I'd read recently, I quickly changed tact. 

I hope you enjoy my review for Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens. 

Title: Where the Crawdads Sing 

Author: Delia Owens 

Genre: Contemporary 

Release date: 14/08/2018

Status: Standalone 

Pages: 368

Blurb: "Fir years, rumours of the 'Marsh girl' have

haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the 

    North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when 

handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the 

locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the 

so-called Marsh girl. But Kya is not what they 

say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived 

for years alibe in the marsh that she calls home, 

finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the 

sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be 

loved. When two young men from town become 

intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself 

to a new life- until the unthinkable happens." 

My Thoughts 

Originally, I'd bought this to set it aside until a rainy day, to read before I watched the film. But then I mentioned to a couple people that I had it, and surprised at their eagerness, decided to pick it up early. 

And immediately, I was completely invested in this gorgeous, descriptive, flowy writing. It's like your whole body goes still, and the only thing that exists in the world is this wonderful piece of writing before you. 

That aweness never really goes away throughout the book. You feel it in the description of the marsh, so well-written that you swear you can actually hear the gulls, see the mesmerising sunsets, and feel the sand beneath your feet. You're there, from the very first paragraph. 

You feel it in Kya herself; when she's a young child, learning to survive, cautious and afraid, all alone and facing the ever-expanding marsh. 

For me, there was another part to my thinking during the first part of the book, which was: How is there no adult present during any of this? No parent figure to help her, clothe her, feed or teach her? It was this kind of thought process that made Kya's childhood all that much more of a marvel. 

That's the first part of the book. Eventually Kya works out what she needs to, to be able to survive, she works out a system. In no way is it perfect, but it works for her, especially when she figures out that her father isn't coming back anytime soon. 

From this point, Kya basically becomes the book. You see her grow from a child, figuring out the marsh, whilst avoiding the occasional social worker, to a blossoming young woman. You see her learning to interact with more than just a shopkeeper and his wife, getting her heart broken. You see her as an adult, with her extensive knowledge of the marsh, an expert with skills that rival a fully qualified scientist. You are constantly rooting for her, longing for the town people to give her a chance to prove herself. 

And then of course, Chase Andrews is found dead in the marsh, and all hope of acceptance is thrown out the window. 

Once thing I will mention is the order with which the story is told. One part of the story starts when Kya is a child, and you're slowly covering everything that happened during her childhood, eventually reaching present day. The other part of the story starts when Chase Andrews is found dead in the Marsh, and you're working through the investigation, while the other part catches up. I love how well crafted it is, how it reads seamlessly. I never had any trouble remembering where the end of each chapter had finished, and I never got confused as for which timeline I was on. Absolutely flawless! 

Other notes I have. 

1. I was totally and completely hooked from the first chapter. 

2. I hate the townspeople for never giving Kya a chance. 

3. This book absolutely deserves the Goodreads award. 

4. And the hype it has. 

5. And the film that was produced. 

6. I will be watching the film. Soon. 

Overall, I am absolutely, 100% obsessed with this book. If you haven't read it, what are you doing with your life? 

Though honestly, it's fine if you don't think the book is for you. We all have our opinions after all. 

Even though it's wrong. 

Just kidding. 

Maybe. 

Okay, now I'm done. This book was bloody amazing! 

Okay! Those are my thoughts on Where the Crawdads Sing! I hope you enjoyed it, and as always, feel free to comment your thoughts down below! 

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

Bye guys! 

-Abi xxxxxx

April Wrap Up & May TBR (2023)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

Apologies about the extended period of silence on here, after that mid-month post I was busy packing and planning, then off on holiday. 

But I have a number of posts lined up in the upcoming weeks. 

Thanks for your patience. 

And with that, on to my April Wrap Up & May TBR! 

I hope you enjoy it. 

~April Wrap Up~

1. Dark Blue Rising (The Circle Trilogy #1), by Teri Terry 

I've read this a couple of times, and this time around it was or a refresher, so I was in the right frame of mind, going into the second and third book in the series. In the past I've always loved this one, wasn't so keen on the second. Nothing changed with this one, finished it in 5 days or so. This will always feel like the sort of Teri Terry book that made me fall in love with her writing. 

2. Red Sky Burning (The Circle Trilogy #2), by Teri Terry 

When going back to books I haven't previously loved (like for when I'm rereading to finish the series- like now, basically) in the past, I've (most of the time) found that I've actually enjoyed them a heck of a lot more the second time around, which was 100% the situation with this one. 

Basically, re-reading the first book and then this one was because I remembered very little about Red Sky Burning, so it was almost like reading it with fresh eyes, but remembering that the stakes were higher, and other characters got a lot more important, which was the best way to get into this. Red Sky Burning goes a lot further than Tabby finding out something terrible about The Circle and fleeing swim school. It goes from that to nearly total earthly destruction, due to the Government ignoring environmentalist warnings. Total worldly destruction, if I'm honest. I won't spoil anything more than that, but on the scale of largness, book 1 doesn't even rate a 2, compared to this. 

3. Black Night Falling (The Circle Trilogy #3), by Teri Terry 

And then I finished book 3. Really, really enjoyed it, and although it didn't have the big lead up I was expecting it to have, there was a complete and utter change in direction, which I loved, and I was satisfied with the ending too. Solid four star for the conclusion. If you're after a sort of science-fiction trilogy about the environment, then this is the one for you. 

~May TBR~ 

1. Take A Hint, Dani Brown (The Brown Sisters #2), by Talia Hibbert 

2. Act Your Age, Eve Brown (The Brown Sisters #3), by Talia Hibbert 

I'm not including Get A Life, Chloe Brown because I've actually already finished that. 

I'm currently about 130 pages into Take A Hint, Dani Brown and of course, thoroughly enjoying it. 

I'm so happy I'm finally getting to these books! I'm far enough into Dani's book that I can see that they're completely different in terms of character and story, but I love them both equally. 

Also can't wait to see what's to come in the rest of Danika and Eve's books! 

3. Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell 

Fangirl. One of my favourite standalones of all time. Probably the first book on my list of books I want to re-read this year, Give me a weekend with nothing else to do, and I'll finish it. Unfortunately, I doubt I'll get that, but I know I'm probably gonna fly through it anyway. Fangirl follows Cath, on her first year at university, and when her sister Wren wants more independance, Cath has to learn how to navigate the world on her own. Cath was one of the first characters I related to growing up, and although that's a big part of why I keep coming back to this book, it's not the only reason. Can't wait to start this re-read.  

4. The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, by Stuart Turton

Okay. Even though it was a bit of a long drag trying to finish this the first time around, I am determined to give this another go. Basically, you're reading from the POV of several different characters that are residing in the house the day of Evelyn's death. You have to figure out who killed her, while embodying the POV you're in. I'm aware that doesn't make sense, but you'll get it if you read the book. You're in the body of I think, 7 characters, and if the person hasn't figured it out by the end of the week, you start over again, with none of the knowledge you have from the previous week. Very mysterious, very gripping, I've never read another book like this and I'm eager to pick this up again. 

5. Hell Breaks Loose (Skulduggery Pleasant #0.5), by Derek Landy 

Yes! Finally, a SP prequel! This takes place 300 years before SP and Valkyrie meet for the first time, when Skulduggery is a new skeleton, all the Dead Men are around, on a mission, and Nefarian Serpine is there too! 

To be honest, I completely forgot about this until I walked into Waterstones and saw it on the shelves a couple weeks ago. But of course, as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to have it (especially as it's signed). 

Not going to lie, just a tiny bit nervous that I'm not going to enjoy it as much as the original series, but nevertheless, I'm gonna read it anyway. (The printing is huge too.) 

Okay! Those are the books I read last month, and the books I plan to pick up this month! 

As always, comment down below what it is that you guys are planning on picking up this month! 

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

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxxxxx