All Time Low Book Tag

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I was searching through the internet, looking for a book tag (I knew I needed to do one, just not sure which one), and I stumbled upon this little tag! 

If you didn't know, All Time Low is one of my favourite bands, and it's all I listen to when I'm reading, I have been a fan for years, so it seemed fitting to do the All Time Low book tag! 

I hope you enjoy it! 

Time Bomb~ A book that broke your heart. 

I'm not kidding, this book ripped me to shreds. How would it feel like have the last people you call family die suddenly? How to Make Friends with the Dark does not shy away the difficult subjects, let me tell you. When Tiger's mother is taken from her, she honestly doesn't know which way is up. Tossed from home to home, she has to make sense of the world without the only person she has spent her whole life with- the person she can be with no longer- her mother. Everybody deals with grief in their own way, and this book was amazing in showing you this. Highly recommend if you want a book that will make you cry. 

Somewhere in Neverland ~A fictional place you want to visit. 

Honestly, there are a lot of fictional worlds I'd like to visit-

1. Hogwarts (despite not agreeing with JK Rowling's views on trans people)

2. OASIS (Ready Player One)

3. Caraval (honestly, as much as the writing made it hard for me through the second book, I would still like to go.) 

There are so many places I want to go!

I Feel Like Dancing ~ A book that made you dance for joy. 

When I heard about this, I was honestly so excited. Not only was it a book about competition (between school businesses- I love when there's friendly competition in books), but they're both girls that may or may not have feelings for each-other. Also, Nishat is Bengali, and I know that I've never read a book from a Bengali girl's perspective before, so hopefully, this should be a game-changer for what publishing companies decide to publish. This one certainly made me jump for joy. 

For Baltimore ~ A saga you would have like not to say goodbye to. 

I was just thinking the other day how I wish this book wasn't over. Although I was satisfied with how Evernight ended, I wish it had been longer, or there were more books that take place in this world. But although, there aren't any more tales with these characters, Ross Mackenzie has plenty of other books for me to enjoy. 

My Paradise ~ A cover you consider exotic. 

I wouldn't necessarily call this exotic, but it certainly is beautiful. More book covers I like the look of, but The Kingdom of Back is just electrifying, and luminous. I don't know what else to say, the cover is simply beautiful. 

(As is the book. If you're a fan of classical musical, a story about the relationship between Wolfgang Mozart and his older sister, and historical fiction/ fantasy novels, then this is the book for you.)

Kids in the Dark ~ Your favourite protagonist(s). 

 

Honestly, the list would be a whole lot longer if I wanted to include books with multiple POV's, but the list would be too long if I did that. 

Valkyrie Cain- I've been following Valkyrie Cain since I was 13, and she never bores me when I'm reading the Skulduggery Pleasant books. She's not the only POV I read from in the later books, but she's gone through so much in the series, I can't help but love her and want to root for her. She's also incredibly human, she has her flaws, and she's made mistakes, but she's a phenomenal character. 

Starr Carter- Do I really need to say why?

Remembering Sunday ~ A sad love story. 

First off- Remembering Sunday is not just a sad love story- it's so much more than that. 

But a sad love story, I'll go with a classic- The Fault In Our Stars, by John Green. Can't get more than that. Honestly, it's been years since I've read it, and I need to re-read it. The book is beautiful, the film is amazing, and anyone who hasn't read it, definitely needs to, because it's a classic. 

Dancing with a Wolf ~ Your favourite villain. 

I always like my villains to be conflicting and interesting, so that's why I went with Mavis, because of this. At least at the start, he appeared to be charming and misunderstood. He was ruthless and crazy, but there was certainly more to him than that. I want more villains like him. 

Okay! That's the All Time Low Book Tag!

As always, feel free to do this tag if you so fit! I love this band, and although they might not be very well known in the book community, I just feel like their music gets increasingly amazing (although most of my favourites have been around for years.) 

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

Byeeeeeee! 

-Abi xxxx

41-50 Books of 2020

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And even though it's been like 5 minutes since the last time I posted one of these, I need to do another one, because I've been reading faster. 

Enjoy, and as always, feel free to comment on any of these books! 

41. Thunderhead (Arc of A Scythe #2), by Neil Shustermann 

By far my favourite book of the three. But then again, that didn't take much. It felt like things finally got started, and each new character that I met filled me with intrigue, rather than rolling my eyes at another character I felt I could have done without. Thunderhead takes place a couple of months after the events of Scythe, and it takes off from the get-go. The writing was a slow burn, but I could feel that the direction the book was taking was intriguing, that it could add up to something potentially good. The end was the best part, and it left me to wonder where the final book would take me. 

42. The Toll (Arc of A Scythe #3), by Neil Shustermann 

And then I read it. And I just didn't believe it. Kind of disappointing honestly. The plot just went too far off the edge for me, outside of what was believable for me. If it wasn't for the fact that I'd bought the whole trilogy in a box set, and I'd already stumbled through the first two, (and it was a book that counted towards my Reading Rush TBR), I probably would have DNF'ed by now. 

Look, I'm sorry. I really wanted to love this trilogy. But it just wasn't for me. I don't regret reading it, because I now know what not to read, but this trilogy is one, where I just don't understand the hype. 

43. Come Tumbling Down (Wayward Children #5), by Seanen McGuire 

As much as I enjoyed this more than some of the other books in the Wayward Children series, (because it involves characters I've met before) I can't say I absolutely loved it- because I've already forgotten a fair amount of what goes on. I might have to give it a re-listen in preparation for the 6th book in the series (which is out in January 2021, I believe), just so I can refresh, and be up to date for the next release. But I still highly recommend this series if you want an imaginative series that will be nothing like you expect. 

44. Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen 

This book felt like such a drag, I'm currently debating whether I want to pick up more Jane Austen books. This book has changed my mind that much about it (it was going to be a TBR Jar Challenge for next year before I read this), and now I'm wondering whether I want to pick something else. 

Honestly, I thought I'd be able to fly through this, because I'd seen the film and knew what it was about. I was completely wrong. I didn't take into account the fact that it was written in 1810. Take that into account if you want to read this guys. Other than the language though, and the fact that I had to read each page multiple times to understand it, it was a good book for it's time. 

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

Loved this. Probably one of my favourite Teri Terry books to date. This had everything that I love about her books within the plot, and it didn't feel rushed at all. Everything just felt like it fell flawlessly into place, and I mean this when I say I can't wait for the 2nd book to be released July next year. Dark Blue Rising throws you in from the get-go. It starts when Tabby is in an accident- she flees the hospital with her mother- who she finds out is actually anything but. Thrown into her new life, Tabby finds herself drawn to the ocean- and enrolls at a swimming summer school to help her heal. But all is not what it seems. There's a symbol that follows her everywhere- what does it mean? As Tabby starts to learn more about what the circles mean, she uncovers a dark secret in her DNA... 

Anyway, rating this book wasn't hard, despite how cheesy the premise sounds. 5 stars. 

46. 19 Love Songs, by David Levithan 

19 Love Songs was just what I needed whilst struggling through Sense and Sensibility and being entranced by Dark Blue Rising throughout Reading Rush week. It's got some cutesy stories, some serious, realistic stories, some written in poem, it was just an amazing book to fly through. I didn't feel like I needed to set a page count for this, because I knew I'd be able to finish this over the course of the week. Because it's a combination of short stories, you don't have to commit to anything, because it's perfect to read alongside maybe an audiobook, or a thick epic fantasy. 19 Love Songs is wonderful, and it definitely won't be my last David Levithan novel. 

47. The Last Children of Tokyo, by Yoko Tawada 

I'm kind of on the fence about this one. On one side, it has a very interesting premise. It follows an old man and his grandson. It's set years after today's day and age, when a certain part of Japan is cut off from the rest of the world. The grandfather's generation is living decades past age one hundred, when his grandson will be lucky to make it to manhood. It sounds interesting, like it could even have potentially made my favourites list this year. But honestly, nothing much happened, in my opinion. Too much time was taken focusing on the description, the world, the concepts. When it felt like the plot was finally going places, the book had 20 pages left, which is nowhere near enough time to turn the story around. 3 stars. 

48. White Fragility, by Robin Diagelo 

White Fragility is one of the many books that I plan to read in the upcoming months because, even though the retweets on Twitter have stopped, we have a duty to keep educating ourselves on White Fragility. The language was difficult for me to comprehend, but I tried. But if someone could recommend me a book with this subject matter that I don't have to read twice to understand, it would be much appreciated. As difficult as I found the language, I finished it because it's an important novel, and one that I think everyone should at least try to read. 

49. Evernight, by Ross Mackenzie 

This packed so much in, I want more! This story was absolutely amazing. So amazing in fact, that I rated it 4.5 stars. Evernight has induced my love of middle-grade, and I cannot wait to get my hands on 1) more of his work, 2) more middle-grade. From what it looks like, he's written a number of books, so I will be pursuing more of his work in the new year, for sure. I went into detail on what Evernight is about in my wrap up , so if you want to see what it's about, click on that. But this book was phenomenal, and I highly recommend it. Even if you're not in the target demographic. Because people can read whatever they choose. 

50. Under A Dancing Star, by Laura Wood 

I have no idea how the idea for this book came to the mind of Laura Wood, but I am so glad it did. Under A Dancing Star somehow combines a Shakespeare comedy, a time period I wish made an appearance in books more, and the beautiful sight of Italy, without photographs and actual images. I've been to Italy, and this story perfectly captures the feel of it. Aside from that, the cover is beautiful (though the picture over this doesn't accurately portray this.) Seriously though, if you want a historical fiction, summer romance book that takes place in Italy, then this is the book for you. I had no idea I needed this novel until I read this. 5 stars. 

Okay! That's my Books 40-50 of 2020! I hope you enjoyed, as I did- reminicing of some of the books I've loved- and hated- recently! 

That's it for today, but I hope to see you all soon! Have a lovely day guys! 

Byeeeeeee! 

-Abi xxxx

August Wrap Up & September TBR (2020)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And August is over! I don't say this often, but this month has really flown by! So, because of that, I'll be including my TBR for September in this post as well! 

Here's everything I did this month! 

Enjoy! 

August Wrap Up (2020) 

1. White Fragility, by Robin Diangelo 

This was very difficult to get through honestly. I felt like I had to read each page twice to grasp the concept. I wanted to DNF this at points, but because of what this book is about, and because I was determined to keep going and find out more about white fragility. The language was very hard to wrap my head around, which is why I found it so hard to get through. This won't be the last book I read on this subject hopefully, because you can't read one book and state that you are educated on this subject. 

2. Evernight, by Ross Mackenzie 

I'm usually very picky when it comes to picking up middle grade novels, mostly because I don't read them often (which is something I'm trying to change), but I saw the cover, read the blurb, and knew I had to have it. I'm so happy I picked it up. It was exactly what I was looking for, and the cover is gorgeous. Evernight is about Lara, an orphan who makes a living finding treasures in the sewers. When she stumbles upon a wooden box, she has no idea the adventures that await her, including a man with no shadow. I was blown away by how fleshed out the characters were, how fast-paced the story felt, yet how it didn't feel rushed at all. It's a standalone, so there aren't any more releases, but I'm eager to see what Ross Mackenzie does next. 

3. Under A Dancing Star, by Laura Wood

Honestly it was the beautiful cover that drew me in to this. It was on display in Waterstones, and all it took was for me to find out it's a Much Ado About Nothing interpretation story, and I was sold. Its also set in 1930s Italy, and Historical Fiction is always a genre that I like to delve into (I'm trying to read more from the genre). Under A Dancing Star is about Bea, who is being sent to Italy, in the hope that a summer there will straighten her out. Italy opens up a whole new world to Bea, including a charming young man named Ben, and when sparks fly, the two of them are issued a challenge: can they put aside their teasing and have the perfect summer romance? On one condition- they absolutely cannot fall in love. Under A Dancing Star was fantastic- fleshed out characters, the setting felt very authentic, and although the time period didn't feel that different from now, other times it was my favourite part. I loved this book so much, and even though it wrapped up pretty flawlessly, I wish I could have spent more time in this world.

4. The Prince and the Dressmaker, by Jen Wung

As I always do with these kind of cutesy LGBT graphic novels, I flew through this in one day. The Prince and the Dressmaker caught my eye during Kalyn Abridged's vlog on YouTube, and I couldn't stop thinking about it since then, so of course I had to order it. The graphics are excellent, the story is addictive, and it's perfect for when you're looking for a story that you'll love (and won't take you long at all. Highly recommend. 

5. Loveless, by Alice Oseman

As predicted by the whole world, myself included, I thoroughly enjoyed Loveless. Not only is there aromantic asexual representation, but it takes place in University, which is rare in YA. This felt like a breath of fresh air honestly, because I don't think I've read another book set in University for a while, and I don't think I've ever read a book with aromantic asexual representation, so this was a nice change. I hope they'll be more books with aro ace rep in the future. If you know any, let me know in the comments! 

6. The Lucky Ones, by Liz Lawson 

The Lucky Ones was in my anticipated releases post for April- June, and I was determined to get to it, if it took me a year. I hadn't read a book surrounding a school shooting since The Hate List a few years back, and because it's still relevant today, I decided to pick it up. And my god, this book hit me hard. It's a multi-perspective book about May, a girl that's about to go back to school, 11 months after the shooting that killed her twin brother; and Zach, whose mother is representing the killer in the trial. This book centers around their relationship, with May's survival guilt, and a whole bunch of other things that had me nearly weeping into my pillow at every chapter. Highly recommend. 

7. Vicious (Villains #1), by V.E. Schwab

8. Vengeful (Villains #2), by V.E. Schwab 

 
Okay, don't hate me: I preferred Vengeful a lot more than Vicious. I read the second book in less time, despite it being nearly double the page count. Vicious just felt really slow for me, except for the ending. I had the urge to put it down like every 10 pages, but Vengeful felt completely different. My one critique for book 2 is that I wish I'd had more of the original three, I genuinely forgot what they were doing because the book followed all the new characters for as long as it did. I do wish it was only a duology, but at the end, I could see some potential plot points that could be carried on to the third book. Other than that critique, Vengeful restored my faith in this series, and I will be continuing on to the next book. 

September TBR (2020)

1. Cinderella Is Dead, by Kalynn Bayron 

I'm currently about 100 pages into Cinderella is Dead, and I already know I'm going to love it. It's a really easy book to get into, and Sophia is a very like-able protagonist, because it seems like she's the only one with her head screwed on straight! Cinderella Is Dead starts two days before Sophia goes to the ball- where she will either be chosen to be married, or she will be forfeit- sent off to work for, basically nothing- or she will mysteriously disappear. This came out last month, and I really hope it gets the hype it deserves, because it doesn't feel rushed, everything is explained exactly right, the writing is decent, and the story is certainly compelling. Love it already. 

2. Stardust, by Neil Gaiman 

My book to mark a place from St Neots, (I went there on Saturday- they didn't have Nevernight). I was due to read Coraline or American Gods in September, so I decided to get acquainted with his books beforehand. Stardust is 194 pages long, and even though it's got mixed reviews on Goodreads, I'm intrigued as for whether I'm going to love or hate this. Aside from that, hopefully it should be a nice placeholder, for my Goodreads Reading Challenge (I'm 5 books away from my target at time of writing this.) I knew basically nothing about this book, and I want to keep it that way. I might write a review about this if I have enough thoughts, so keep an eye out.  

3. Rooftoppers, by Katherine Rundell 

I also traveled to St Ives (Cambridgeshire, not Cornwall) on that Saturday, and Rooftoppers caught my eye. I read The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell in 2017, and absolutely loved it. I think it made my favourite books of 2017 and when I saw this, I immediately reached for it. Rooftoppers is about Sophie, who is on a task- to prove that her mother did not die in shipwreck, but is still alive. On the run with the authorities, Sophie finds Matteo- a boy who walks tightropes and lives in the sky. In a race across the rooftops, will they be able to find her mother, before it's too late? I'm excited for this, and I feel like I could finish it in 2 days, if it's as good as I think it will be (it's 277 pages long.) 

4. Midnight Sun (Twilight #5), by Stephenie Meyer 

Because of my excessive book buying, I didn't get to this last month. But, I only have 4 books in possession that I haven't read yet. So I kind of don't have a choice- it's back on the TBR! Aside from that, I think it'll make a good book for my trip to Boston from 11th-14th, (if I don't have a problem with any of the other three reads ahead of it.) I'm excited to pick this up because from what I've heard, it's not bad. 

5. Hunted, by Megan Spooner 

I honestly didn't know what to do for this fifth book. But I have Hunted as an audiobook on Audible, and it's been on there for a while. So I thought, why not stick it on with this month's TBR? It's a standalone, and on my Want to Read shelf on Goodreads, so that's a good enough reason for me. All I know about this is that it's a Beauty and the Beast retelling, and that's all I need to know. Hunted has been on my radar for a couple of years now, and it's high time I pick it up. 

Okay! That was a very long post, but I certainly enjoyed it! I hope you did too! 

That's all for today and I will see you all soon! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxx