2023 Wrap Up

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm back with what should be my last post of the year (not sure when I'll get my Anticipated Releases post out, cos I completely forgot about it until now, so bear with me on that). 

This is the post where I look over the past year, what series I've finished and caught up on, and what I've achieved, as well as my usual wrap up, so I hope you enjoy it. 

~Books Read in December~

Not an amazing month of reading, I'll admit, but I'll definitely be finishing my CR this month- which is why I'll be including it today.(And hopefully one other? If there's no way it'll happen I'll switch to graphic novels in the last couple of days so I end on a high note). 

1. The Missing Sister (The Seven Sisters #7), by Lucinda Riley 

After loving the first six books in the series, I was expecting to love this one just as much. I was aware that it was going to be a little different than it's predecessors, because the first six were about each sister finding out about their heritage and themselves, and in this, they were all banding together to find someone based on a name and a necklace, but I didn't expect it to be as different as it was. The sisters were led on a wild goose chase that had me quickly losing interest in certain sections. I found myself longing for Merry's chapters above characters I'd known and loved reading about. 

I was always going to finish The Missing Sister, I've come too far with this series to bow out now, but I just wish the turn of events had happened differently. 

2. Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt (The Seven Sisters #8), by Lucinda Riley & Harry Whittaker 

I'm just over 3/4 of the way through this, and I know, without question, that I will be finishing this before the year is out! 

Atlas is the eighth and final book of The Seven Sisters series that I have been reading over the past few months, and as I have known from the start, it holds all the answers as for how Maya, Ally, Star, CeCe, Tiggy and Electra all came to be adopted by Pa Salt, as well as to how he grew up. 

I'm extremely nervous about how it all wraps up, because I desperately want to find out, but also want it all to last just that little bit longer. 

I've loved reading all of their individual stories (that have just gotten bigger and bigger with each book, to my delight) and I'm so glad I'm get to find out how it all ties together. 

Those are all the books I have read so far this month, which is fine (I keep telling myself this) but with the time remaining of the year, I will either be reading: 

1. I Invited Her In, by Adele Parks- psychological thriller that has been on my TBR for LITERAL MONTHS. 

2. Heartstopper Vol.1-Vol.5- due to book buying ban I have yet to read the most recent volume so will be prioritising it soon. 

3. Clementime Vol. 2- the same as the Heartstopper. 

~Series Completed in 2023~ 

1. The "Life is Strange" Graphic Novel series, by Emma Vieceli & Claudia Leonardi 

I got this for Christmas last year from my boyfriend, and I jumped straight into it in January, souring through 6 volumes in about 5 days. The first novel takes place a year after the events of the game, when Chloe and Max make their first return back to Arcadia Bay for the official memorial, and follows a series of events that lead to Max being lost in alternate dimensions, trying to find her way back. Gripping and thought-provoking, thoroughly enjoyed. 

2. "The Circle Trilogy" Trilogy, by Teri Terry 

Every time I start a new Teri Terry book, I have no expectations as for what's going to happen in them, and this was no different. The Circle trilogy is basically a Sci-fi, environmentallist war between two sides, that might just end up destroying the world is Tabby and her friends don't stop a company called 'The Circle'. 

Extremely tense and exciting conclusion, which I have been anticipating since the first book came out, approximately three years prior. Glad it finally reached it's end, really enjoyed the way it all wrapped up. 

3. "The Brown Sisters" Trilogy, by Talia Hibbert 

I have been wanting to get to this trilogy since I first heard about it in, I think 2019. As expected, because I put Get A Life, Chloe Brown on my Favourite Books of 2023, I really enjoyed these. Chloe Brown was definitely my favourite POV to read from, but I saw myself in a lot of Dani and Eve too. 

Going into these, I was expecting fun, well-written books that discussed issues with a light-hearted tone. That was what I wanted from these, and that's exactly what I got. 

It was a pleasure to read about these characters and I very much hope I come across them in more Talia Hibbert books (like Morgan Matson does sometimes). 

4. "The Seven Sisters" series, by Lucinda Riley 

*Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt also written by Harry Whittaker 

I really don't think I need to talk about how much I love these books, when you can find out my thoughts about them in these posts:

1. August Wrap Up (2023)

2. September Wrap Up & October TBR (2023)

3. October Wrap Up (2023)

4. November Wrap Up (2023)

5. Seven Sister Review Pt. 1

Not as many series' as I was hoping, but that's only because of a certain series of books below. *cough cough*. 

Now, on to the series I've started and caught up on. 

~Series I Started and Caught Up On~

1."Clementine" Graphic Novel Series, by Tillie Walden 

On 28/12/23- Finished Vol. 1

I found out about this graphic novel series upon completing the Life is Strange one in January, and after that, there was no way I wasn't going to be picking this up as soon as it was released. I mean, come on! Another game turned graphic novel series, much less from a choice based game I had previously loved. 

Honestly, it was better than average, your standard four star, but I didn't love it as much as I thought I would. 

Will probably re-read this before picking up Vol. 2, cos I've forgotten half of it- but Vol. 2 is in my possession and I might even get to it before the end of the year. 

2. "Supernatural Investigations" trilogy, by B.B. Alston 

Finished Amari and the Great Game. 

Okay, I'm glad I managed to keep up with ONE series this year, and I actually remember most of it! 

Of course, I can't disclose that sort of information here because *spoilers* but I will tell you, the Amari series by B.B. Alston has a very Harry Potter-ish feel to it, so if you're looking for something that reminds you of HP, but something that holds it's own, and isn't as dark, then I'd recommend picking it up. They're also fast paced, don't feel rushed, with very likeable characters. 

And honestly, if that hasn't sold you, I don't know what will. 

~What I Achieved in 2023~

1. Raised enough solicitor fees, though didn't actually move out (literally will be in the next month though). 

2. Walked 13.1 miles for Alzheimer's Society with my partner- and raised enough to get a t-shirt too! 

3. Read at least one huge ass series this series- even if it wasn't fantasy. 

4. Actually read a poetry book! 

~What I'm Looking Forward to in 2024~

1. Actually moving out! 

2. Running more- eying up another marathon. 

3. Talking to you all! 

Okay! That is my wrap-up on the year! 

I'm happy with everything I accomplished this year and I hope you are too! 

Let me know in the comments what you're proud of- even if that's just getting through the day. 

I hope you all have a wonderful end to the year, and I'll see you on the flip side! 

Byeeeee! 

-Abi xxxxxx

Favourite Books of 2023

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm back with a yearly tradition, which is talking about my Favourite Books of the year! 

Some of these might be completely expected, but a couple others you might be surprised! 

There's a whole lot to get through, so without further ado, let's get into it. 

I hope you enjoy this list. 

1. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin 

I always knew this was a book I was going to like, because it tells the story of two video game developers reuniting again, after years apart. I knew I was going to like it because it gave me a feel for a culture and lifestyle completely different to my own. 

I was not expecting to love it as much as I did- which was mostly due to the turmoil and heartache that I was feeling- due to two characters never being able to say what they were truly feeling. 

I was not expecting to cry whilst reading a book about video game developers- but cry I did. 

And now, several months later, to my delight, I see this book cropping up everywhere- because it's now available in paperback. 

This book is so amazing, I wish everyone would go and read it. 

2. Grown Ups, by Marian Keyes

Where do I find the words to describe this book? Where do I find the words to describe how I feel about this book?

It was so good... all the main characters were engaging and fleshed-out- I loved most of them, hated a couple, and honestly, in a story this good, that just means that the character must have been extremely well-written for me to hate them as much as I did. 

So many nuances, so many plotlines, side-plots or main plots, they all felt equally as good. No chapter was boring, no relationship was badly written- this book was everything that I was looking for and more. I will definitely be picking up more of Marian Keyes in the future. 

3. Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens

I have all my in-depth thoughts on this book linked into the title, but long story short- I can see why this was winning all the bookish categories on Goodreads and online. It's so beautiful, descriptive but not too much, and the story is mysterious and compelling but oh, so gorgeous at the same time. The language is stunning, Kyla's character is the only one I want to read about. 

Just, an amazing story. 

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

I have always been about reading books that give minority groups representation, and when I heard about Get A Life, Chloe Brown, I knew this was a book for me. There are so few books about young people living with a chronic pain disorder, so that was an interest point, but the main thing for me was this: it's a book about challenging yourself, about trying new things, even when scared to do so. 

Chloe Brown was the perfect protagonist: sensible, caring, but wanting to throw caution to the wind to try the things she wants, but also doesn't, want to do. I was gripped by her POV straight away, and all the way through as well. Thoroughly enjoyed this and so happy I managed to get to it (it had been on my Want to Read shelf for several years). 

5. Long Way Down, by Jason Reynolds 

Basically, I bought this book in a "spur of a moment" moment. 

I walked into a local bookshop, saw the book, read the blurb, picked it up and bought it. 

Not even a few pages in, and I was bawling my eyes out. 

Long Way Down tells the story of Will, on his way to kill the man that killed his brother. 

Because where he's from, there are three rules:

No crying.

No snitching. 

Revenge. 

But as each floor of the lift he's on descends, Will learns a part of the story he never knew. 

The only question at the end is: will this turmoil ever end if Will doesn't get off the elevator?

Bloody emotional, this book. Told in verse, perfectly written, absolutely heart-wrenching. 

The most heart-breaking part is that this can and will still happen in parts of the UK, the US even. 

Wonderful read. 

6. A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman 

Sad and uplifting are the words I would use to describe this. In depth thoughts linked into the title of course, but honestly, this book is perfection. I could be laughing at the start of one chapter and be crying in a single sentence. It's fair to say that this book tugged at my heart-strings A LOT. Arguably my favourite book of the year. How I wish I could go back and read it for the first time again. 

I can't really tell you anything about this book other than it's about a man called Ove but honestly, it's probably better you go into this book blind if you haven't read it yet. And you should. 

Okay, with these last two books, I want to say something first. It's not that I didn't like the other books, honestly I did. It's just that these are the stand-outs in my eyes, the books I still think about the most, even after finishing them a while back (especially with The Storm Sister, which I finished in August)!

7. The Storm Sister (The Seven Sisters #2), by Lucinda Riley

8. The Sun Sister (The Seven Sisters #6), by Lucinda Riley 

So, when you're reading a series on and off for four months, it's easy to merge each novel into one very long story, and forget what parts came from what book. Not with this series. Each book had a new protagonist, a new journey, and a new heritage to seek. I loved every single book in this series, but these two are serious standouts. 

I chose The Storm Sister as a favourite because I just adore Ally as a character. She goes through so much, not only losing Pa Salt, but someone else close to her. But through the storm, she still manages to keep her head, even when everything she knows about herself is gone and make it through. 

I love her passion, her loyalty, and her kindness- she never makes the selfish decision, no matter what she might be going through. If there was one story I wish I could read again, with fresh eyes, it would hands down be this one- I was desperate to read the next book after finishing this. 

As for Electra, her story is so inspiring, I just had to include her. She's very much the modern sister, living with the same pressures that young people face on social media everyday- the need to be perfect, to not have imperfections- or they risk losing everything they've worked for. 

We meet her at a very low point, dealing with everyday stresses with the abuse of drugs and alcohol- and in need of help. But she eventually faces up to her issues and even though it isn't an easy road, you start to see the character you always know she is capable of being- but couldn't before. I love her character arc, and I wish I could read about her forever. 

Okay! Those are my Favourite Books of 2023! 

I hope you enjoyed reading about them, and feel free to let me know in the comments what your favourite books of the year are! 

I hope you have a wonderful evening, wherever in the world you are, and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx

December TBR (2023)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And we're officially going into the final month of 2023! I can hardly believe it! 

And with it, comes the final TBR of the year! 

No xmas books this month, but I do have a few books that I desperately want to finish, so fingers crossed I can! 

I hope you enjoy the TBR, before a new year! 

1. The Missing Sister (The Seven Sisters #7), by Lucinda Riley 

I'm currently 300/800 pages into this, and I'm enjoying it. It's a different story compared to the previous six since those were all character focused, and on this one they're all working together to find something, but I'm liking it. I'm not sure where it'll lead, but it's not taking long to fall back into the story whenever I go to read more, which is a good sign. 

If you didn't know, The Missing Sister is about the six D' Apliése sisters pursuing a ring that will hopefully lead to the seven sister (from the seven star constellation that their names were formed from), but there are things they don't know about Pa Salt, what his relationship is with this missing sister, or why she's determined to stear well clear of it all. 

I'm excited to find out where it all leads, what this girl is hiding, and whether the sisters will catch up to her before their trip together, a year after Pa Salt's death. 

2. Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt (The Seven Sisters #8), by Lucinda Riley & Harry Whittaker

I've been reading these on and off since August, if you can believe it, and honestly, I've loved every single one of them. I'm sad that the series is coming to an end (to be fair, I'm glad it's all getting wrapped up to be honest) but I'm relieved I get to find out all the answers concerning Pa Salt and what it was he was doing all those years. 

I've thoroughly enjoyed these books, they've been a huge part of my life for a good portion of the year and I can't wait to see how it all wraps up. 

3. I Invited Her In, by Adele Parks 

I swear, this has been on so many of my TBR's this year, it's beyond a joke. But I really do need to get to it as it isn't mine, and I want to read it before the year's out. 

I Invited Her In is about Mel, a girl who, out of the blue, receives an email from her oldest friend Abi, telling her she's in trouble, and asking for a place to stay, while she sorts things out. Mel says yes of course, because, you know, it's the least she can do. After all, friends look out for eachother, don't they?

 

I honestly don't know anything else other than that, that's basically the gist of the blurb on the back. But I know it's good; because they made a film for it, and I've heard good things. I'm thinking they'll be some deceit and mystery, and I'm hoping I can be engrossed right from the start, the blurb is engaging enough. 

4. The Alfoxden and Grasmere Journals, by Dorothy Wordsworth

I didn't get to this last month, so it's being added on for my December TBR too. (I really do need to start finishing the books I plan to read, because I keep having to repeat what they're about.) 

From a glance through this, these are basically diary entries of her time in Alfoxden and Grasmere. There are ordinary days, days of leisure, of walks around the countryside, as well as usual cooking and cleaning. 

Let's just say I'm looking forward to finally picking it up. 

Okay! Those are all the books I'm hoping to pick up this month! As always, comment down below what you're hoping to read this month and we can chat about it! 

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

Byeeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx