August TBR (2017)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And it's August! I can't believe there's only 5 months left from the year!

But with another month comes another TBR.

So here's my TBR for the month of August!

1. Songs About Us (Songs About A Girl #2), by Chris Russell

Even though I finished this book yesterday, I'm still including it because it is still on the August TBR. This is the sequel to Songs About A Girl, and it takes place a couple of months after Songs About A Girl has ended in terms of times. I can't disclose too much about the plot because it's the second book in the series but when Charlie returns, she notices something that something has changed. But she's changed as well.

Because I wrote a review on the first book in the trilogy, I will also be reviewing this one too, because I have a lot of thoughts on it!

Pages: 419

2. Aaru (The Aaru Cycle #1), by David Meredith

If you've been here since the beginning, last February I received a free copy of The Reflections of Queen Snow White, and I received a free copy for an honest review.

This is what I'm doing now, reading the book and giving an honest review.

And I have high hopes for this, considering how much I enjoyed The Reflections of Queen Snow White.

All I know about this book is that it's about a girl that has cancer and her family. She dies, but not before she leaves an imprint of her brain, memories, happy feelings, and when she dies, she is able to come back alive, though how, I don't know yet.

I'll be reviewing this at some point this month.

3. All That She Can See, by Carrie Hope Fletcher

This was one of the books that I planned to read for the readathon, but I didn't get to it due to lack of time. But I'm hoping to get to it fairly soon so I can read about magic, and romance, and a lot of description about baking, which I am really looking forward to. Pages: 351

4. Us (One Day #2), by David Nicholls  

Although this is the sequel to the well-known book One Day, as far as I know, there are no previous links to the first book, which is why I'm not re-reading that one. But this seems like a short but sweet read, and a good ending to One Day. (By the way, since this is the sequel, I'm counting it as a duology, like I did with the Me Before You duology- I'M COUNTING IT). This is about a couple- an artist and a scientist- that have been married for more than twenty years. They are all set to go on a holiday with their only son. When their marriage ends, out of nowhere. So in a last ditch attempt to save his marriage, Douglas decides to take them anyway. What could possibly go wrong?               Pages: 397

5. The Circle, by Dave Eggers

This was a book that was on last month's TBR, and for some reason I did not get to it. Maybe because I just wasn't in the mood? But I am determined to finish all of my TBR by the end of the year, and that means reading this. It doesn't actually seem that bad, it's got a lot of mystery and intrigue and sneaking around, which sounds really exciting! More on the wrap up (when I eventually finish this). Looking forward to reading this and sharing my thoughts (either in a review or my august wrap up). Pages: 491

6. The Chemist, by Stephenie Meyer

This was also on my TBR for July, and it was yet another book that I did not get to last month. But I am determined to complete it, because 1) Stephenie Meyer, for one thing, and 2) It's a crime novel that promises to be super intense and fast paced. This is the story of an ex agent, that is on the run from her agency company, and she must take on one final mission, which could clear her name and save her life. And the information she has recently acquired makes this mission all the more dangerous. This sounds gripping and exciting and I can't wait to read it!

So that is my August TBR (2017)! I chose these books because next month is my birthday and I want to be able to get the final books that will finish the Mistborn trilogy (so I can finish those), and the INFERNAL DEVICES (finally)!

So if you guys have read any of these and have any thoughts, or you will be reading one of these this month, let me know in the comments!

I hope you have a wonderful day, and I will see you all on Friday, with my review of Crooked Kingdom!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

July Wrap Up (2017)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And as it is the last day in July, it's time for my monthly wrap up!

I read 12 books this month (mostly re-reads), so let's get into that!

BOOKS

Here are the books I read this month:

1. Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty

This was an interesting read, to say the least. It centres around three mums, and their children, ready to start school that following September. Pushed together by a friendship formed because one of the mums is under fire because of something nobody has any evidence of (single mum Jane's child Ziggy was accused of something by one of the most influential mum's and she didn't step down. This takes place in a high society estate, so you can imagine how that went down.) Even though that was big, nobody ever thought that this would result in murder. And everyone has secrets. What matters is how far you'd go to protect them.

When I say this was an interesting read, I don't mean the plot or the characters. What I mean is that this wasn't a particularly fast paced book, but you were intrigued enough that you just didn't want to put the book down. Just the group dynamic, the different relationships within this story. Wives and husbands, mums and other mums, the mums and their children, and the whole group together. If you want an infectious, slightly pulse-raising book (the intensity was something else entirely) with mystery and good character dynamic, I recommend this book in a second.

2. Nerve, by Jeanne Ryan (Re-read)

As I've already read this book, the review is on the title, and you can click that if you want to.

What I like most about this book is that this is an insanely quick read. So if you want to read something that going to make you glad your just reading a book and not doing all the crazy things in the book your reading, then I highly recommend this.

Because the dares in this game are insane. And it hits you hard, because it's so easy to picture yourself doing all these things.

But they just get bigger and bigger.

I have not seen the film yet, even though I badly want to.

But I really do like the book a lot.

3. Noughts and Crosses (Noughts and Crosses #1), by Malorie Blackman

4. Knife-edge (Noughts and Crosses #2), by Malorie Blackman

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

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

It wasn't a complete choice to marathon this series until I started Northern Lights and just- didn't get too into it. (I'll get into Northern Lights when I'm talking about that book- because I did end up finishing it.) But it had been ages since I'd re-read the series and this is one of those series where I just remember a certain quote or relationship which I particularly loved, and I just felt an urge to re-read the series. (Mixed in with the fact that I didn't want to waste the days when I was attempting Northern Lights). But, and I can't stress this enough, but if your someone who enjoys reading about two people that are determined to be together, even if the odds are stacked against them- even if the only problem is that one of them is a nought and the other a cross- then I urge you to pick up this series. This is a series that deals with racism, class, crime, freedom, love, hate, hope and territory, and I swear, this series has made me cry more than ANY OTHER. I kid you not. And it takes a lot to make me cry.

**************************

(Booktube-a-thon books read from here)

7. Northern Lights (His Dark Materials #1), by Philip Pullman

Having attempted to read this a couple of times, I was less than enthusiastic to pick it up when it was assigned to my book club for this month. But after picking it up and finishing it, I enjoyed it, though I had a few problems with it.

I mean, when I picked up the book, I became invested in the story, the detail of the world that the story took place in. And it raised some interesting ideas about the world that I don't think any book has suggested.

But the book was so slow.

Don't get me wrong, the world was detailed, and the story was super interesting, which I reckon is why this trilogy is considered a masterpiece, but there wasn't much in this book that just made me jump out my chair, eyes glued to the page. It was good enough, and I suppose I would attempt the Subtle Knife if I had nothing else to read, but I don't think I'm going to carrying on with the trilogy any time soon.

8. Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1), by Leigh Bardugo

Even though my review is slightly less than positive (I wrote it just under a year ago), I definitely enjoyed this book a lot more the second time around. Maybe because I had too high expectations, and I wasn't yet familiar with Leigh Bradugo's writing style. But when I read it this time around, I definitely slowed down, concentrated on what was happening, and thought about it, and I have to say, I connected with the characters a lot better this time around.

9. One of Us Is Lying, by Karen M. McManus

From the moment I heard about this, I was super intrigued. It tells the story of five people, all from different socials circles, that share detention. But only four leave detention alive. But the death was no accident. And the other four are suspects. Because Simon had secrets he would expose after about the other four.

Even if this challenge wasn't "Finish a book in one day", I'm still willing to bet that I would have finished it that day. Because the characters were so real, even though they were living a bunch of tropes (the stereotypes for what their social groups were.) But it was so good to see the whole group dynamic. And you never got the characters mixed up, which is a hard thing to do with a multi perspective book like this one.

Definitely reviewing this at some point this week.

10. Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2), by Leigh Bardugo

#intimidated. I'm just going to say that. Do you know how big this book is, and how small the print is????

But once I got over that, and got into the book itself, I was so blown away, I fell out of my chair!

(Not really, but THIS BOOK, OMG).

There are no words. Just read it.

Because it's amazing.

Just the emotions you feel when your reading this book. You become so angry, you want to hit something, just because you hate a certain character so much. Then you're just lost, the impact of the shock hits and it sends you reeling backwards, then you're sobbing your heart out because something irreversible has happened and it'll never be right again.

Just, read it.

DEFINITE review coming up.

11. Before I Die, by Jenny Downham

Before I start, you can probably tell, just by the title that this book is sad and depressing.

But it's also so god damn beautiful.

Here's the summary: Tessa Scott has leukemia. She's going to die, and there's no getting past that. But before she does, she has a list of ten things she wants to do. And she's not going to die until they're all done. This book is raw and gripping. But it's also hard to read, even though it's so easy to read through.

With this book, there are both sad and beautiful moments. And sometimes they seem sad, and beautiful, and it's all caught in a whirlwind, so you don't know which way is up sometimes! I've given this to some of my teachers, my mum, even my friends.

They all cried and loved it.

I cannot recommend this enough.

12. Songs About A Girl (Songs About A Girl #1), by Chris Russell

I re-read this because I wanted to relieve the love I had for this book, before I continue on with the trilogy next (I obtained the second book, which I talked about it in my july book haul , you can check that out too) and it was the last book I read for the booktube-a-thon that finished last night. For my full thoughts on the book you can click the review!

TELEVISION SHOWS AND FILMS

1. Waterloo Road (Series 3)

Although I haven't watched as much as last month, I have still continued to watch the first tv show that I watched as I grew up- and it still continues to excel and do amazing.

The amount that school has to deal with, I'm surprised it isn't closed (yes, I am aware that it's a fictional school and isn't real).

WRITING

... As for writing, I've done like literally nothing, because I've been reading so much.

But writing is my priority this month, and I'm hoping to get to page 100 for my second draft (I'm currently on Page 37).

So that is my July Wrap Up (2017)! I know it was rather a long wrap up, considering the amount of books I've read this month, but thank-you for reading it!

I hope you have a wonderful day, and an even better reading week, and I will be back on Wednesday with my August TBR (2017)!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxxx

July Book Haul (2017)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And since it's nearing the end of the month, I think It's time I post a July Book Haul. (Especially as I've actually bought enough books to do a haul, and some of them are quite popular at the moment).

And I've even read one of them!

So let's get to it!

1. All That She Can See, by Carrie Hope Fletcher

From what I know, this is about a girl called Cherry, who from some sort of power, uses her baking skills to make people happy, and she's the only one that has this gift that she meets. And then she meets somebody else (not certain of his name) that has the same gift, but uses it in the opposite way. It's Carrie Hope Fletcher's second novel, and it has baking, love and a little bit of magic, and is sure to be an absolute winner in the charts apparently, from what I hear of the reviews.

2. Songs About Us (Songs About A Girl #2), by Chris Russell

This is the second book of the Songs About A Girl trilogy, and let me tell you, I cannot wait to see how Charlie Bloom's career in photography intertwined with Fire & Lights. It sounds cheesy, but it is anything but. There's a love triangle, which I normally don't like, but the first book, was the exception for some reason. I'm actually sort of nervous to see the direction that the story will take, though I hope it's as good as the first book was. No doubt I will be reading this soon, so more in a review or wrap up soon.

3. One of Us Is Lying, by Karen M. McManus

I only bought this the other day, and those that follow my Instagram (you can click it on the side, there's a section) know that I have already read it! It was one of the books for the booktube-a-thon, and I have to say, if you think you might like this book, PICK IT UP. Putting a daunting new spin on the Breakfast Club, five people enter detention, and only four leave it alive. When the police conclude that this death was no accident, the four remaining students are now the four main suspects, because Simon is all set to reveal their deepest secrets. How far would you go to conceal the truth?

4. Resurrection, by Derek Landy

I finally got it! As much as the cover change sticks out like a sore thumb against the rest of the series, I am so excited to see yet more adventures that Valkyrie and Skulduggery might try to overcome. This is basically my childhood, but in a much more epic way, and I am so excited, you cannot UNDERSTAND. Skulduggery, Valkyrie, Ghastly, maybe Tanith, I don't know! I know absolutely nothing, yet I know there will be sarcasm, sarcastic wit, action, and unity, and a butt full of ACTION AND LAUGHTER from us as readers!

5. Lady Midnight (Dark Artifices #1), by Cassandra Clare

Even though I haven't read the Infernal Devices yet, I do plan to read them later this year, and buying this means that I can jump right in with the Dark Artifices series. I do not know squat about this series at the moment, and that's the way I want it to stay. (Don't want any spoilers). But, I know that I will love this book, because... Cassandra Clare.

6. Oblivion (Power of Five #5), by Anthony Horowitz

I have already loved and completed this series, and let me just comment on the cover for a second: it perfectly grasps the feeling of the place where this fifth and final book in the series is set: Alaska. This book is harsh, and will take your affections on a journey, that will take you by surprise, by how much you will come to care for these characters. This is the story of five children, all with supernatural gifts, and ten thousand years ago, they defeated and banished the Ancient Ones. But ten thousand years later, the Ancient Ones are back. But so are the children. And they are the same children. (They're not actually children, they're 14-15 years old.) But this series is slit-through, and almost cruel, what they have to do during this series. It is one of my favourite childhood series, and I love it so much.

So that is my July Book Haul (2017)! I hope you enjoyed it, and let me know what you thought in the comments!

I hope you have a wonderful day and a great reading day!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx