1-10 Books of 2018

Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I've finally reached 10 books this year! I'm 1/6 of my way to completing my Goodreads goal, and even though that doesn't seem like much, I'm right on schedule apparently! 

Here are the books I've read so far this year!

1. This Mortal Coil (This Mortal Coil #1), by Emily Suvada

I have a review linked up at the title if you want to check out my more in-depth thoughts on this book but if you can get past the info-dumping at the start, you become invested in this book not long after. I can also excuse the info-dumping because it's relevant to the story, and necessary so you fully grasp the world and the plot that you are reading about. But if you are a fan of sci-fi this is a must read. Each ending to each chapter left me wanting more and I couldn't stop reading! A must read for sci-fi junkees!

2. Unbecoming, by Jenny Downham

This review is from a couple of years back, (linked in the title), but all the thoughts are still relevant to what I thought when I was re-reading this, after my mind was blown by the ending of Mortal Coil. I needed time to process what I was reading with This Mortal Coil, and this was the perfect read for that. If you haven't read it yet, pick it up if you're in the mind for a contemporary that includes LGBT issues, being true to yourself, mental health issues, Alzheimer's, in a real and truthful way, then pick this up, because let's face it, I talk about this book often enough.

3. Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer #1), by Laini Taylor

Yet another book that expresses my full thoughts in a review. Though unlike the others, I am unable to tell you my overall thoughts with this book, because it's everything. The writing, flawless. The characters, flawless. Perfection, and I can't wait for the second and final book,  in this duology (Muse of Nightmares) to be released on 2nd October. That isn't even the full extent of how much I am anticipating this book, but that's all I can say. 

4. The Diary of Anne Frank

I literally can't fault this. It was real life, this physically happened. So hard-hitting, when I was reading it, I'd be reading it, and then you realise that it was real life, and it just hits you that much harder, the hardships that they all went through, every single one of them. I feel like this should be a book that everybody should experience at some time in their life. 

5. Fireblood (Frostblood #2), by Elly Blake

This was the book that above all, surprised me the most for the books that I read in January. I flew through it in a couple of days and frankly, the third and final book in the trilogy can't come fast enough. I don't have to wait too long though, because Nightblood is released on 5th June. In truth, I honestly think that Fireblood was better than the first, which is hard to top, because Frostblood was a pretty amazing book. The story starts with Ruby and Arceus, ruling the Frostblood kingdom, although the Frost Court don't approve of Ruby. The Minax is creating havoc elsewhere, possessing and killing. Ruby believes the only way to stop the Minax is to catch an opposing Minax- and so she begins her journey to the Fireblood kingdom and our story begins. 

6. My Husband's Son, by Deborah O' Connor

This was a quick read. Not particularly rememberable, though I wasn't expecting the ending. Some of it. The rest I saw a mile coming. Similar to Baby Doll, by Hollie Overton. So, if you enjoyed Baby Doll, I recommend picking this one up too. I just feel like I could have gotten more from this book, but it was still enjoyable.

7. Stealing Snow (Stealing Snow #1), by Danielle Paige

Although it doesn't come as a surprise, considering my blogging funk last month, but I can't believe I don't have a review for this yet! There's one coming this month, I promise! To be honest, I was sort of hesitant coming into this, because I'd tried it before and I didn't like it at all! But second time round, with lower expectations, I was surprised to discover I actually enjoyed this! Although it wasn't perfect, it was a decent read and I'm looking forward to next year, when the sequel comes out!

8. All the Boys I've Loved Before (All the Boys I've Loved Before #1), by Jenny Han

My god, the favourite of February for sure! I read this in less than 24 hours, I'm about to start the sequel but I've got high expectations because this one was so amazing. If you haven't picked this up, what are you doing? It's so cute, so funny, it's family orientated, and it's a contender for not just one of my favourites, but my top five list. I actually can't believe how long I waited until I picked this up. But I have now, and I can't wait for the second.

9. Handle with Care, by Jodi Picoult

This was a surprisingly easy book to fly through. I mean, I didn't read it any quicker than I would any other book, but since it's 500+ pages, I figured that was pretty good! It shared some similarities to My Sister's Keeper, but the case was different, and it was something I was interested in, for some odd reason. So overall, it was a book I enjoyed, though it's not one of my favourites. I recommend this for people who enjoy books that bring court cases and medical ideology within the book.

10. Contagion (Dark Matter #1), by Teri Terry

This was a re-read, to recap on what I'd read before I picked Contagion, which I have just recently finished a few hours back. Contagion is the start of a trilogy, and it's a sci-fi book, but it reads like a bit of a Dystopian. It's a story about an epidemic that is spreading throughout the country, killing 95% of the population. Nobody is safe, but Shay and Kai are searching for Callie, Kai's little sister. My brain is in knots from the second book's ending, but I highly recommend this to any reader, really because Teri Terry is one of my absolute favourite authors!

So those are the first 10 books that I've read in 2018! Hopefully I'll be able to read more amazing books like these in the future!

So that is all I have for you guys today!

I hope you have a good book to read, because I am all set with P.S. I Still Love You!

I will see you all on Friday, with my Greatest Showman Film Review!

Byeeeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

   

March TBR (2018)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And it's a new month! Great way to start spring- with a heap of snow in my town!

But with a new month comes a new TBR- and I can't wait to get to this one!

Enjoy!

1. Deception (Dark Matter #2), by Teri Terry

I am currently about 100 pages into this book at present, and although it's a slow going, something about this book is super intriguing. I'm worried because it's the second book in the trilogy, and often the second book in the trilogy is not up to the standard of the first. I can't give much away about the plot because it is the second book, but it's basically a search for the truth of what started an epidemic that has wiped out 95% of the population. The survivors are hunted, believed to have the powers to control the population. The first book was fast paced and gripping and I can't wait to see what the next one has to bring!

2. P.S. I Still Love You (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #2), by Jenny Han

I read the first book about midway through February, and I'm eager to pick up the next. I've heard somewhat mixed reviews of this one, that it's not up to the hype of the first one, but I'm excited to pick this up all the same. I don't know as much about this one as I did the first, but I'm holding back the urge to pick this book up right this second because I have to read something else first! Fingers crossed I don't give in! Wish me luck!

3. The Hazel Wood (The Hazel Wood #1), by Melissa Albert

I know precisely zilch about this book, but it was on for a deal in the Tesco near my college, and this has gotten so much hype and so many fantastic reviews, and I was intrigued. It's the second shortest read in my TBR this month and I'm hoping that I'll be able to fly through it. From what I know of the genre, it's meant to be fantasy, and It's been a while since I've read a fantasy, so I'm looking forward to picking it up.

4. Love, Simon by Becky Albertralli

First things first: this is the same story as "Simon vs the Homosapien's Agenda". It just has a different title and cover. And do I wish I had the original design? Definitely. But I saw this book (this was the other for the deal in Tesco, by the way) and I want to read it. And so, I got the book with the other title and the new cover. Okay, now that's over. I can't to read this. I will for sure be going to see the film and I will also definitely be reviewing it! The book however, I know like nothing about. I know it's meant to be light-hearted and adorable, and I'm pretty fine with just knowing that to be honest.

5. This Savage Song (Monsters of Verity #1), by V.E Schwab

6. Our Dark Duet (Monsters of Verity #2), by V.E Schwab

Finally, I have this duology on my TBR! I don't know what it is, but something about this duology just keeps making me think about it! There's a select group of trilogies and series' and duologies that I cannot get out of my brain. Series' like this one, the Nevenight trilogy, or the Shiny Pretty Things duology. This is one of them! And I can't wait to pick them up and just marathon straight through them.

So that is my March TBR (2018)! I hope you enjoyed it, and let me know what books you'll be reading this month!

So that is all I have for you guys this month! I will see you all on Monday with my Greatest Showman film review, so look out for that!

I will see you then, goodbye!

-Abi xxxxxx

February Wrap Up (2018)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

Long time no see! I have to say, other things that I consider to be more of a priority (like my future career and work) kind of came before blogging. I don't really regret that to be honest, because it's how it should be.

But that means I have a ton of exciting post ideas for next month!

(For example The Greatest Showman review, which I went to see on Monday :), so that'll be up soon.)

But so suddenly, another month is at it's end, and so another Wrap Up post!

Enjoy!

BOOKS

I read a total of five books this month (well four, because I finished My Husband's Son after I posted my January Wrap Up last month, but it still counts as January.)

But here's the list:

1. My Husband's Son, by Deborah O' Connor

This was an easy read. That was the first thing that popped into my head when I thought of this book. It wasn't truly captivating like one of my favourites, but it was an easy book to fly through. If you've read Baby Doll, by Hollie Overton, and was a fan of that book, I'd suggest picking this one up too. I have to say it had a surprising ending, but the rest was something I saw coming a mile away. A decent read.

2. Stealing Snow (Stealing Snow #1), by Danielle Paige

I have to say, I did enjoy this more than I thought I would. There were definitely some noticeable problems, I won't deny that. But the base of the story was quite interesting, I have to admit. I got a good look at the world, which I loved the different types of characters I got to meet along the way. Snow was a good enough character, though there wasn't much that was original about her to be honest. And the story tended to jump from love interest to interest, without really much depth to any of them. It was a dark book, and that was something that I thought that was done well. Overall, it was okay. I'll have to wait a while for the sequel though because it doesn't come out until 2019, but I'm willing to wait.

3. To All the Boys I've Loved Before (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #1), by Jenny Han

OMG THIS BOOK WAS SO CUTE I CANNOT. I finally get the hype. And when I finished this, I wanted to pick the next one up! But I was just like NO. I WILL PROLONG THIS TRILOGY AS IF MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT. And March is tomorrow. Which means, I get to pick the next one up. As soon as I read my current read, which I'll get to in a bit. By the way, I will be posting a review for the book sometime in March. P.S. I loved this book so much, if you couldn't tell.

4. Handle With Care, by Jodi Picoult

Not unlike My Sister's Keeper, by the same author, this book read as something super familiar. But it was still an enjoyable read. (huge shocker there! Not.) The premise was that a woman with a child with osteogenesis imperfecta is suing her best friend. It means that if she had known that said child had this condition sooner, she would have terminated the pregnancy. It jumps from perspective to perspective. And reading it from a childcare student perspective was really interesting.

5. Contagion (Dark Matter #1), by Teri Terry

I just recently finished this, i.e. today. This was primarily a re-read to read emerge myself in my love of the new trilogy that Teri Terry created last year. The sequel came out this month and I am ready to pick up Deception starting tomorrow. This did nothing more than remind me why I love Teri Terry's storytelling as much as I do. I recommend this to sci-fi fans and anybody that thinks they might be interested in starting to read sci-fi.

FILMS

For this month I am just titling this section films as I have watched no tv shows (literally) this month.

I've pretty much watched only one film, and that was at the cinema.

The Greatest Showman

This film! I'm obsessed with the soundtrack! They're all amazing, all the songs and I want to see it again! For sure I want to see it again.

Full review coming soon.

So that is all I have for you today.

Man, it's good to be back! Missed you guys!

I will be back on Friday with my March TBR! (Is it just me or do you guys also love picking out the books that you want to read at the start at the month? Comment down below!)

I love all of you, and I will see you then!

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxx