Top 5 Books That Aren't YA

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I thought I'd do something a bit different on my blog today other than the reviews that I usually do (I still need to review The Hate U Give and The Wolf Wilder, but no worries, they'll be up soon!)
Most of the books I read tend to be YA. And I'm okay with that, but I feel like books that aren't YA don't get enough recognition on this blog, so I thought I'd do a post on all the Adult/ Children books that I've read and enjoyed.
Enjoy!

Top 5 Books That Aren't YA

1. The Harry Potter series, by J K Rowling

I feel like this one is kind of given. There's a lot more darker stuff than what should be okay for the younger audience, but Harry Potter is just one of those stories that parents love to read to their children when they're going to bed, and Harry Potter is often the story that introduces children to reading, and that is one of the reasons that I love Harry Potter.

2. Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell

This isn't just a children's book, it's also a classic. And surprisingly enough, it was one of my absolute favourites when I was a kid. Told from the perspective of the horse, it really opens your eyes about what the horses went through back in the Victorian era. This is a tale about a horse that had an unfortunate, yet hopeful life, and for whatever reason, I easily read this ten times as a child, and I totally recommend this to anybody who thinks they might enjoy reading about a horse.

3. Me Before You, by JoJo Moyes

If you haven't read or seen the film, you need to. This book discusses issues that no book I'd previously read had discussed. I cried at both the book and the film (though admittedly more at the film), and all I can say is that this books hits you right in the FEELS.

4. My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult

I love this book so much that I even wrote an essay on it for college! It doesn't matter how many times I read this, I connect with the characters and the story and don't hesitate to get invested in the story ever. Since I read this all those years ago I've read a bunch of Jodi Picoult books (four at last count), and this story still remains my favourite after all these years. Both the film and the book are amazing, so check them out (but read the book, it's amazing!)

5. Heidi, by Johanna Spyri

This is yet another book that I read over and over as a child, and I still love now. It's been a while since I've read this, but this is one of those classics that I think everybody should read. It describes Switzerland so perfectly, and to this day I've always thought that if I could go anywhere in the world it would be up a hill in Switzerland, just so I can admire the view.

So that was my Top 5 Books That Aren't YA! I hope you enjoyed it, and if you have any favourite books that aren't YA, let me know in the comments!

So that is all I have for today! I hope you have a wonderful day, and I will see you on Friday!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

April Book Haul (2017)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And since it's nearing the end of the month, I thought it only fitting that I post an April Book Haul (2017)! Even though there are only four books this month, I'm super excited about all of them, and I wish to share them with you all!
Enjoy!

April Book Haul (2017)

1. The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas

The amount of times I've talked about this book, if you don't love it as much as me, you're probably getting sick of it by now! Well I have already read this book and loved it, and unless I read a bunch of OUT OF THIS WORLD books between now and the end of the year, it will definitely be making my favourite books of 2017 list! This book is about a case that is a result of a white man shooting an unarmed black boy, but it is so much more than that. Expect a review before the month is out.

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

To be honest, I didn't even know the book One Day (it's a film as well), had a sequel? This book was kind of an impulse (and the pressure from a book seller that personally recommended this book to me) to buy and read. I haven't read it yet, and I don't know when I'll get to it (hopefully within the year, as my goal for this year is to finish my TBR list), but hopefully I'll enjoy this as much as the first one! Let me know in the comments if you've read it, and if you enjoyed it or not!

3. Perfect (Flawed #2), by Cecelia Ahern

Yet another book I've been waiting for since I finished the first one back into December. I loved the first one, and I hope to love the second just as much. I've also got the hardcopy for this one, and even though I don't love the cover as much as I love it for the first one, I can't wait to read the second and final book in the Flawed duology. Highly HIGHLY recommend the first book in this duology, you truly can't tell that this is her debut YA novel, such brilliance.

4. The Chemist, by Stephanie Meyer

Yet another book that's been on my radar for quite a while. Intrigued by the mystery décor, and the obviously high intensity, and the fact that it was written by Stephenie Meyer, of course it drew me in! I haven't heard much about this on booktube, but what I have heard, I've liked. And no joke, I got this at pretty much mint condition in a charity shop! Don't underestimate charity shops! (And yes, hardback!) I am so excited to read this, it is unbelievable! Let me know your thoughts on this book in the comments!

So that was my April Book Haul (2017)! I hope you enjoyed it, even if it does just have four books in it... But they are all books I am really looking forward to reading, and hopefully you are too (let me know in the comments!)

So I hope you have a wonderful day, wherever you are in the world, and I will see you all on Wednesday!

Byeeeeeeeee!

-Abi xxxx

The Lie Tree, by Frances Hardrindge

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And since it's been a long time since I reviewed a book, and I seem to have a pile of books I've finished but haven't yet reviewed, I think it's time I start reviewing them, starting with my review of The Lie Tree, by Frances Hardringe!
Enjoy!

The Lie Tree, by Frances Hardringe

Title: The Lie Tree

Author: Frances Hardringe

Genre: Historical fiction and mystery

Release date: 7th May, 2015

Pages: 410

Blurb: "Faith has a thirst for science and secrets that the rigid confines

of her class cannot suppress. And so it is that she discovers her

disgraced father's journals, filled with 

the scribbled notes and theories of a man 

driven close to madness. Tales of a 

strange tree which, when told a lie, will

uncover the truth: the greater the lie, the

greater the truth revealed to the liar.

Faith's search for the tree leads her into 

great danger- for where lies seduce, 

truths shatter..."

My Thoughts

I don't know what I was expecting when I started this book, but that wasn't what I got (that's a good thing). 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can honestly say I was super surprised how much I enjoyed it! 

The Lie Tree is set in Victorian England, and a big part of this book was the stigma that women and girls should not be Scientists, and what I liked about Faith's character was that she refused to let that stop her from discovering and learning about what she wants to do, which is become a scientist.

At the start of the novel, Faith and her family are moving hastily from Kent to an island, Vale, which is pretty much isolated from the rest of the world. The story starts to unfold when Val finds out that the reason for the move is one of her father scientific experiments. And then when her father dies under mysterious circumstances is when the story unfolds.

But what is so great about this book is that it brings the belief of magic and mystery, and a tree that thrives on lies, and brings them together in an enthralling, interesting and captivating story that will stay with you way beyond the last page.

Another thing that I loved about the book was that the description of the time period that the book was set felt so realistic, yet Hardringe was able to convey mystery and darkness into the story as well.

And all though this though-provoking, eccentric story, the story just seems to flow, paying enough detail to description and character development. The writing went from strength to strength, and it all fit so well together that I couldn't help but love it.

There wasn't much to say for the characters, they were just part of the mystery, on opposing sides as for whether magic can exist in Science, and the beliefs that a women should not be a scientist.

They were interesting, and I enjoyed reading about them, and they fit nicely into the story that centred around the Lie Tree.

So overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this read. It did an amazing job at seeping mystery and darkness into the presence of The Lie Tree, whilst also accurately conveying the reality of what it was like for a 14 year old trying to become a scientist in Victorian England.

The writing was amazing, and the plot was creepy.

And I'm so glad I read it.

I recommend this for readers who like reading about creepiness and darkness and characters that challenge the time that they're in.

So that was my review for The Lie Tree! I hope you enjoyed it (sorry it took me so long to finish it!).

But if you have any thoughts about the review, or the book itself, let me know in the comments!

I hope you have a wonderful day and I will see you tomorrow!

Byeeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx