April Wrap Up (2018)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And as it is May tomorrow, that means a new TBR!

But first, the April Wrap Up (2018)!

Enjoy!

BOOKS

I read a total of 4 books this month! Although that is nowhere near the amount that I read last month, all but one were above 450 pages, which I was very proud of myself for! What's more, they kept on getting bigger!

Here are the books that I read in the month of April!

1. Always and Forever Lara Jean (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #3), by Jenny Han

This was the third and final book in the Lara Jean trilogy. And starved of the want of a fluffy contemporary, I picked up the last remaining one on my TBR. You can click on the title for more of my in-depth thoughts, but overall, I thought this was a wonderful conclusion to the trilogy, full of all the characters that I have grown to love, and an ending to one of my favourite contemporary stories. I thoroughly enjoyed this trilogy, and even though it wasn't my absolute favourite, it was a close second.

2. One Dark Throne (Three Dark Crowns #2), by Kendare Blake

This one was a bit iffy, which is why I'm still on the fence on as for whether I should post a review about it. On one hand, I want to be able to post a review for every book in the series, but on the other hand, I don't really have that many thoughts on it. Saying that, once you got to maybe 100-150 pages into the book, it finally gelled, and the plotline started to weave, which was when it became interesting. I have to say, I did not think it was going to end the way it did. But, rest assured, there are two more books to add to the original duology that Kendare Blake had planned, which means it's not over yet (yay!)

3. King's Cage (Red Queen #3), by Victoria Aveyard

I will definitely be posting a review for this because, because of this book, I am now anxiously waiting for War Storm to see how the whole story wraps up. King's Cage is my favourite story of the three by far, and I flew through it, because I completed the entire 507 pages in four days. Obviously I can't disclose any details regarding the plot because it's the third book in the series, but the start takes place a few months after the second book ends. King's Cage was so good, that I'm actually considering putting it on my favourites for this year, if I don't read much that is good for the rest of the year.

4. The Host, by Stephenie Meyer

I wanted to finish this before I posted this wrap up today, so I could include it. I finished it yesterday morning, and I'm so happy that I've finally made my way through all of it! (This was attempt number three.) I'm so glad I made it through eventually though, because it surprised me how much I enjoyed The Host. Let's just say that I can see why they made it into a film. It's completely different to anything that I've read by Stephenie Meyer, and it certainly has the ability to make me want to keep reading after every chapter I finish. I recommend this to anyone that isn't intimidated by large books and are looking for an easy descent into sci-fi and aliens.  

FILMS AND TV SHOWS

FILMS

-Peter Rabbit (Cinema)- Review on that on Friday.

-Ready Player One (Cinema)- Review on that soon.

-Knocked Up (Netflix)- An easy watching comedy.

Haven't watched much else this month.

WRITING

I've done some writing, though because my college course (I have maybe a month left) has taken priority, I haven't done much.

I've had a serious look over maybe the first 15 pages of the novel, and once I get all my work done for my course, the time that I'm committing to my novel should become much more than it has been recently.

So overall, it's been a decent month. I'm getting back on top of my reviews (though you should expect a bucket ton of film reviews in the next month), and I'm getting a fair amount of reading done too! I'm doing okay!

So that was my April Wrap Up! I hope you enjoyed it, and I will see you all on Wednesday with my May TBR! I hope you have a wonderful day and I will see you then!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

Always and Forever Lara Jean (To All the Boys That I've Loved Before), by Jenny Han

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And with my string of overdue book reviews, I bring you my thoughts on the third and final Lara Jean book!

Enjoy!

Title: Always and Forever Lara Jean

Author: Jenny Han

Genre: Contemporary romance

Release date: 2nd May, 2017

Status: Book 3 in the To All the Boys I've Loved Before trilogy

Pages: 325

Blurb: "Life is good for Lara Jean.

She is head over heels in love,

her Dad's finally getting remarried

and her sister Margot is coming

home for the summer.

But change is looming. And Lara

Jean can't ignore the big life decisions

she has to make- where she goes to

college for one. Because that would

mean leaving her family- and

possibly the boy she loves- behind.

When your heart and your head

are saying two different things,

which one should you listen to?"

My Thoughts

Starting this review, I'm not actually sitting staring, thinking what to write. I know exactly what I want to talk about.

This trilogy has been an absolute delight. Every single one of them has made me laugh, has made me close to tears, some times because of the frustrations that these characters bring, but often the cuteness, the humour that each of the trio bring.

At the end of sixth form, Year 13 have one thing on their minds- where they are going to study- what university. That is also when this third and final book takes place, and at the start of the book, Lara Jean- and everyone around her- has her heart set on her going to the university of her dreams, UVA. What happens from that point on is crazy and amazing and whimsical, and to be honest, I can't fault Lara Jean for it because it's exactly what I would have done. And she's 18, she should be allowed to live and love and live her life exactly the way she, Lara Jean, wants to.

And writing this review, I can completely relate to Lara Jean and her anxiety about what she wants to do, what university to go to, because I am just about to finish my course and go off to look for a job after earning my degree, so I feel completely the same.

What I felt was different about this book was that some of it felt like saying goodbye, preparing readers for the end of the trilogy, and hoping against hope that there wouldn't be too much heartbreak. Like there was no way to go back, like every decision was final.

And for those parts, Jenny Han took it to another level. It changed from cuteness to mature, and it went from I love you to I will always love you. And those scenes were so wonderful that they made my heart melt.

Those were the scenes are why Always and Forever Lara Jean is my favourite of the three.

All of that applies except for a couple of chapters. And if you've read it, you know which ones I'm talking about. Because there were some parts that made me want to sad cry, because of the shock of when those chapters come about.

Because you're never expecting them when they come.

And those shocks are such emotion, like pure emotion.

Forgive me if I'm not talking sense anymore.

But that's actually the whole novel, to be honest. Each chapter is like their own little story.

And it all just fits so well together.

So overall, this trilogy and this book in particular pretty much killed me with cuteness. I'm never going to be able to read a cute story without comparing it to these three. And I'm okay with that.

I'm not okay with it ending though. I doubt I ever will be.

But goodbye Lara Jean, and all of your wonderful sisters, and PETER and Stormy.

And your dad, who tries so wonderfully hard.

And the WHOLE CAST of characters in this book.

It was a pleasure to know you.

Okay, I'm done.

Bye, guys.

-Abi xxxxxx

Recommending Fluffy Contemporaries!

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And it's been what? Half a year since I've done a recommendation post?

So I reckon it's time for another one!

So these are going to be fluffy recommendations!

There are hard hitting ones, and there are fluffy contemporaries, the ones that are so cute that you want to cry!

(These are those.)

Just clarifying.

1. To All the Boys I've Loved Before trilogy, by Jenny Han

This is basically what I was describing at the start. This trilogy has been out for a while so it shouldn't be any surprise that it made this list. The first book starts with a girl named Lara Jean, who has over the past few years, has written a love letter to ever boy that she's ever loved, and then one day, they're mailed out! And all hell breaks loose! This trilogy has baking, the characters are adorable, and the sisters all work together and get along! (I swear to god, that is so rare.) But I finished the last remaining book at the start of the month, and it was the sweetest trilogy I have laid my eyes on in the longest time.

2. Love Simon, by Becky Albertalli

The cast of characters in this book! Simon in particular, that scene when he's in the bar! Sweeter than candy, this guy! The romance is also super sweet and I just cannot! Everything just screams cuteness, and it's one of my favourites, on both my normal list, and my favourite contemporaries!

3. The Start of Me and You, by Emery Lord

This book just made my heart squeeze! It's about a girl wanting to start to live her life after her boyfriends drowns, scaring her mercilessly. She comes up with a list of things she has to accomplish over a period of time, and it is the cutest book that I read last year. By far. And it thoroughly surprised me how much I enjoyed this book! There isn't even anything in particular that stands out for the cuteness. Just the way the MC starts to find her way back to the surface after a huge knock- in the quirkiest way possible! The characters are super geeky and quirky that it's so easy to fully relate and understand the way they are and oh, it's just the cutest!

4. Everything Everything, by Nicola Yoon

The main reason that this book has made the list was because of the relationship between Maddy and Olly. Their chemistry and Olly's determination to give Maddy as much as she can muster, and how you're almost not expecting what they're going to say next, and it ends up being really cute, that is the reason that it's made the list! I don't know if those conversations got carried through to the film because I haven't seen it, but that's what I love about the book.

5. Songs About A Girl trilogy, by Chris Russell

The reason that these books are on this list is that the characters are so cute, and whenever you think you have them down, like you know what they're going to do, they do something completely different and impossibly cute. And they go overboard, especially when they're trying to make up for something! Another thing, the couples and the love triangles in these two books! I'm not usually interested in love triangles, but I'm making an exception for this trilogy, because they're all just so cute! Last book in the trilogy is out in August and I cannot wait!

So those are my recommendations for cute, fluffy contemporaries! If you have read any of these, please let me know in the comments, and if you end up picking up these and loved it because of me, then let me know that too!

I hope you have a wonderful day and I will see you all on Wednesday!

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx