Pretty Little Liars: Pilot (Rewatch Reaction)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I was scrolling through Netflix, trying to find something to watch while I wrote this post, when I stumbled upon PLL (Pretty Little Liars). I'd been eyeing it up for a while, thinking about re-starting the series. 

And theIn inspiration! Why not do a reaction for the pilot? 

Now, let me know if this is terrible, and I should stop doing this, but if you guys like it, then I'll consider doing more of them. 

Premise

PLL started back in 2010, went on for seven seasons, and was a huge hit worldwide. I mean, it's set in America, and here's me, re-watching in the UK. 

It tells the story of four girls: Aria, Spencer, Emily and Hannah, who start receiving threatening texts from a mysterious cyberbully called A... a year after their friend Alison went missing. 

I watched this show during my teenage years (maybe aged 17-19) and at the time, it was captivating and engaging, I went through a series in a really short space of time, and waited with unwavering loyalty for each season to be released in the UK. 

But this time around, I had some different thoughts. 

1. Everyone looks so young. 

It feels weird to know that the actors in this show, are nowhere near the age of the character they were playing. The main protagonists ranged from age 20 to 24 when they were playing high-schoolers. Now I'm not against that when they're the right actors for the part, it was just weird to know that these actors were my age when they were playing these parts. 

2. Toby, and Mrs. DiLaurentis.

 

Since it was the pilot, some of the characters hadn't yet been cast, which was the case for Toby and Mrs. DiLaurentis. So no Keegan Allen in this unfortunately. 

Speaking of characters...

3. Melissa.

After so many years following Chicago Med, it was weird to see Torrey DeVitto playing the spiteful and malicious Melissa, constantly making Spencer's life harder. 

4. Reminiscing!

One of the best parts about this episode for me was hearing a piece of music, or even a conversation, or a look, and getting that feeling of nostalgia. They remind me of all the plot lines that take place in this show, and all the characters I've yet to meet, and it's a nice feeling. 

Overall, despite the flip phones, the shall we say 'unique' clothing choices, this episode holds it's own. Honestly, even if I hadn't already seen the rest of the episodes, I would still carry on watching it. 

Which is exactly what I'm doing now. 

Okay! That's my review on the pilot episode for Pretty Little Liars! I hope you enjoyed it, and if you want me to keep doing this for tv shows, or films, let me know in the comments! 

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

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxx

January Wrap Up and February TBR (2022)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And February is upon us! But we can't have the TBR without the wrap up, which I am just about to do (both, because why not)?

I read a total of five books this month, and although I was hoping to read a bit more, I'm happy with how it picked up towards the end. 

Here are the books I read, I hope you enjoy it. 

January Wrap Up

1. All Time Low Presents: Young Renegades, by Tres Dean (Writer), Ryan Cady (Editor), Rober Wilson IV (Illustrator) & Megan Huang (Illustrator)

I ordered this some time in July and, although I wanted to read it straight away when I received it in December, I figured it would make more sense to read this at the start of January, to get a headstart on the reading goal for 2022. 

It was a decent read. Good as a standalone, and as always a fast read, as grahpic novels always are. It wasn't the best graphic novel I've read in my life, but it was a nice little placeholder. Enjoyed it a fair bit. 

2. One Last Stop, by Casey McQuiston

After hearing about the mountainous hype that this book had on Goodreads, I was a bit nervous going into it. It won a Goodreads award despite only being out a couple of months, and although it was a solid four star read, everytime I went to pick it up, I felt my attention wane even after 20 pages or so. When I went to write a review on it, I had little to no thoughts on it. 

I don't regret picking this up, because I'd have spent months wanting to read this otherwise, but after reading this, I'm not sure that Casey McQuiston's books are for me. 

3. The Hidden Oracle (The Trials of Apollo #1), by Rick Riordan (Re-read)

4. The Dark Prophecy (The Trials of Apollo #2), by Rick Riordan 

5. The Burning Maze (The Trials of Apollo #3), by Rick Riordan 

My main plan for the month was to complete this series, but with less than half of the month left when I started book 2, I wasn't sure how far in I was going to get with this. But I'm happy with my progress, (I read book two and three by audiobook) and I'm due to finish book four in a couple of days. I'm really enjoying the series so far, and although I'm gearing up for to finally be done with Rick Riordan series' (whilst also wanting to see what happens at the end) it's bitter sweet because I know it'll be hard to get past once I'm finally done. 

~February TBR~

1. The Tyrant's Tomb (The Trials of Apollo #4), by Rick Riordan 

2. The Tower of Nero (The Trials of Apollo #5), by Rick Riordan 

I'm aiming for the tenth to finish both of these, and if I manage to finish book four at some time tomorrow, it may even be earlier. At times, catching up on all of Rick Riordan's series' seemed like an overwhelming and daunting task. It often seemed like I'd never get to all of them, and here I am reading the second to last book. The penultimate. And it's been a pleasure. To know these characters, follow them on all these dangerous missions and survive. I don't know how I'm going to feel after finishing these, but I do know that it's been wonderful reading these. 

Thank you Rick Riordan, for allowing me to go on these wonderful journeys, and relive my dreams again. 

3. You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone, by Rachel Lynn Soloman 

I'm determined to get to this in February. I'm putting it right after the Trials of Apollo books to ensure I read it, because I so desperately want to. Long summary short, You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone is about twins, that find out that one of them has inherited a gene that'll turn into Huntington's disease when they get older. It'll be upsetting no doubt, but it's been so long since I've read a really sad book, that I'm wondering how I'll be with it. Also, I don't think I've read a book about Huntington's disease ever, so I'm interested in that aspect. I love reading a book that introduces a new representation so I'm looking forward to really getting into this one. 

4. What If It's Us (What If It's Us #1), by Becki Albertalli & Adam Silvera 

5. Here's To Us (What If It's Us #2), by Becki Albertalli & Adam Silvera

I read book 1 at the end of February 2020 and absolutely loved it. It made my Favourite Books of the year if I recall and I am ecstatic that the sequel has finally been released. 

This is pretty much my bread and butter of Valentines, and I fully expect to get as much cuteness from these two books, to make up for the full month (because they're the only fully romance novels that I'll be picking up). I'm genuinely excited to pick these two and I fully expect to love book 2 just as much as book 1. (Please *fingers & toes crossed*.) 

6. Girls of Paper and Fire (Girls of Paper & Fire #1), by Natasha Nyan 

7. Girls of Storm & Shadow (Girls of Paper & Fire #2), by Natasha Nyan 

I recently obtained Girls of Fate and Fury and I remember exactly zilch of book two and only the main plot of book 1, so methinks it's time to re-read these, before I jump into the concluding novel of this bone-crushing series. Most of the reasons why I enjoyed these books is gone, so hopefully this re-read should reimburse my love for this series, becuase I know it's there. 

Because both of these are re-reads, I've put them at the end of the TBR, so I can start them (and finish them hopefully) for the end of the month, so I can start book 3 at the beginning of March. Looking forward to fully emerging myself back into the world of Lei and Wren and their plans to overthrow the King. 

Okay! That was my January Wrap Up & February TBR (2022)! I hope you enjoyed it, and as always, feel free to comment down below, to tell me what you'll be reading this month! 

I hope you have a wonderful evening and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx

Standalone Sad Books- For When You Want A Real Weeper

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I've been toying with the idea of writing another list for a while, and I was going to start a list of new adult romances, but then I started thinking about the opposite side of the genre, the books where you just, can't stop bawling. 

So here's a list of books I've accumilated, which I couldn't stop crying whilst reading them. 

I hope you like it. 

1. Before I Die, by Jenny Downham 

I didn't even have to scroll down to find this photo- that's how long ago I first read this. The fact that I still consider this one of my biggest tear-jerker's, still-says something. 

As you can probably tell from the cover, this is a book about a girl with cancer. But before she dies, she has a list of things she has to do. And we get to go on that journey with her. And the inevitable deterioration and the emotional punch at the ending. 

Honestly, just thinking about the ending makes me start to tear up. 

Honestly guys, I cannot recommend this book enough- just read it. 

2. My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult 

I feel like most people, if they haven't read the book, they've seen the film. Yeah, it's another cancer book, but at the same time, it also isn't. There are so many strands of plot, that all weave to make one very sad and sensational story. It jumps from POV to POV over the course of the book and although it's just 400 pages, the emotional impact that's threaded into each and every chapter will just make you weep, because in the matter of family, there's no black and white.

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

When I heard about this, it didn't seem like there was a whole lot to premise. A year after Paige lost her boyfriend in a horrific accident, Paige is finally ready for a shot at normalicy- it go back to high school. She has a list of things she needs to do. 1) Find a boyfriend- to convince everyone she's fine, 2) join a school club and 3) swim (her boyfriend died from drowning). The Start of Me and You, although it's sad, didn't think I was going to be bawling. 

I was so wrong. About as wrong as I could be. You guys, this book packs a punch. Before reading this, Paige just seemed like another protagonist who had suffered a traumatic event, but because of how real she felt, everything she felt, you also feel. You feel her pain, her hope, and you see this messy, vulnerable journey she goes on, to rebuild her life again. 

An absolute marvel, I could not stop crying. 

4. Five Feet Apart, by Rachel Lippincott, Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Laconis

I read this in one night, it was that gripping. You live the life of Stella and Will who, because they both have cystitic fibrosis, have only ever been inside a hospital room. And when they want to be together, but can't even be within six feet, your heart cries out for them. It's more than a want with these two, it's a need for, just a simple hug. But when your life rests on you keeping your distance from the one you want to be close to the most, how can you not cry? Sob fest, constantly.

5. The Light Between Oceans, by M.L. Stedman

Going into this, I knew precisely zero about what this was about. I went into it completely blind and that is how I believe you should go into it. It tore my heart and my tear ducts to absolute shreds. 

Out of all of these books, this has the most mature themes to them. Trigger warning for miscarriages, stillbirths, isolation, and having a child taken, so stay away from this if those kinds of themes are upsetting for you. It remains one of my favourite standalones to this day, and I know that the second I want an emotional read, that this will be the book I reach for. 

Heart-shatteringly good, you'll barely be able to see the words on the page, I guarantee you'll be crying that much. 

6. How to Make Friends With the Dark, by Kathleen Glasgow

I've been lucky enough to not have been through the turmoil of losing a loved one yet, but one of the people I dread losing the most is my Mum. Imagine the last thing you ever said to your mum being spiteful and mean? That's what Tiger has to go through in How to Make Friends with the Dark. Now, this is a sad book. You know that from the premise. But what made this a real weaper above the rest is that the grief process that Tiger experiences isn't glamourised in the slightest. There are upsetting themes within this book, but it's written in the highest amount of sensitivity. This book is real, raw and so bloody emotional and although no book can ever prepare a person of the crushing pain of losing a loved one, this feels like a pretty realistic interpretation.

7. The Ghosts We Keep, by Mason Deaver

My final book on this list. Pretty similar to the book above- it's about losing a brother, also suddenly and without warning. I have a twin, I don't think I could imagine life without him, and him me. You have a different relationship with your siblings than with anyone else in the entire world. Sometimes you hate eachother's guts, like when they tell tales when you're children, and vise versa. But then you grow up, they move away, but in those gatherings when you're together again, it's like no time has passed. I can't even imagine what it's like to know you'll never squabble or play fight again. The Ghosts We Keep follows Liam, who has lost his brother in a hit and run and now must figure out a way to deal with life without Ethan, and also learn to navigate their identity without the one person they could have confided in. 

Not that the speed with which I read a book is any measure on how sad or good the book was, but I finished this in two days. This starts of as a sad book, and it stays sad throughout, but this book is hopeful too. It's a book about brothers, new love, acceptance and grief, and it's phenomenally written. Highly recommend this if you want a sad book, but also a book about hope. 

Okay! Those are my sad book recommendations! I hope you enjoyed them, and if you have any recommendations for me, I'd love to hear about them in the comments! 

I hope you have a wonderful day and I'll see you all with my wrap up! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxxxx