August Wrap Up (2017)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And even though I only read six books this month, none of them have been re-reads.

So let's get into the Wrap Up, enjoy!

BOOKS

Here are the books I read this month:

1. Songs About Us (Songs About A Girl #2), by Chris Russell

I already have a review up, which I posted last week, and you can check it out by clicking on the title!

This is the second book in the songs about a girl trilogy, and I have to say, I was blown away by how good it was. Going into it, at the start I was kind of nervous, just because of the usual stigma of maybe the second book won't be as good as the first, but I was totally surprised by how much I enjoyed it! This was the book where we got to know yet more about the characters we got introduced to in the first book, and it was absolutely amazing.

Totally recommend this trilogy to anyone who might be interested in reading it.

2. Aaru (The Aaru Cycle #1), by David Meredith

I received this book in exchange for an honest review at the end of last month, and again, if you want to read about my more in-depth thoughts, you can check out the review. All in all, even though there were a few problems with the book, such as the pacing, and the heavy info- dumping at the start, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I will definitely be continuing the series when they are released.

Recommend this to older readers, just because there are some graphic scenes.

3. All That She Can See, by Carrie Hope Fletcher

I was so excited to read this book once I bought it, and I was not disappointed! This book screamed Carrie Hope Fletcher in the writing- just goodness and happiness and bursting with glitter. Carrie's books just flow so well, and the characters are just so well-crafted that I flew straight through this, and read it in a single day!

This is the story of Cherry who, spreads happiness and solves people's personal demons with her baking, as well as a bit of magic; until she meets the person who does the opposite.

This book was so clever and magical, and just so wonderful that I urge people to pick it up because this is a contender for my favourite books of 2017!

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

Right off the bat, I'm going to say, this wasn't my favourite book of the month. Let's just say, it left a lot for improvement. The pacing was slow, I wasn't particularly interested in what the story was about, and I didn't connect with any of the characters. There were times when I questioned whether I should just put down the book and choose something else. But the message, behind the book: Not to give up, and even if the situation seems hopeless, don't lose hope. Although the characters were never more than characters on a page to me, I couldn't help but admire what the main character was trying to do throughout the course of the book.

5. The Circle, by Dave Eggers

This book. When I think about this book, my first reaction is to groan: "URGGHHHH". Just because it was so frustrating. I'm not giving out spoilers, but the people that have read this will understand which part I'm talking about.

URGGHHHH.

I was emotionally invested in this book, and I didn't even realise it! I wouldn't say that Mae herself is easy to relate to, because I didn't particularly like Mae all that much, but the situation was easy to relate to, because she works at the Circle, which is basically an entire world of social media.

This book wasn't exactly what I expected it to be, which threw me off a bit, but I was more than happy with what I got. If you like social media, I recommend this, just because of the debates that this book sparks up.

6. History Is All You Left Me, by Adam Silvera

I finished this a couple of days ago, and even though I didn't fly through it like I thought it would, this book threw an arrow at my heart and did not let go. It went in a different direction to what I thought it would, but like *tears*.

This book is truly what everybody says it is! It goes from being super cute and laughing out loud, to reading something really sad that the contrast sis like you've been stripped emotionally. The pacing is perfect, the characters are amazing, and they all play their part to make the amazingness that is History Is All You Left Me! Recommend this if you are in the mood for a tear-jerker.

TELEVISION SHOWS AND FILMS

TV Shows

1. Pretty Little Liars Season 6

At the start of the month, this was the show. I still need to purchase Season 7 (watching them on DVD), but I still need to watch Season 6 first. I can't disclose much about the plot, because it's Season 6, but this season, they took the intensity up a notch!

I didn't read too much of it in the second half of the month, but hopefully I will be able to finish season 6 by the end of this month!

Films

1. Girls' Trip

This film! What a blast, I was rolling in my seat laughing at everything in this film! (If you didn't know, this is a 15 Comedy). Totally crude but also super funny, you won't regret going to see it! I became interested in it because Queen Latifa is starring in it, but when I went to see it, it wasn't just her, I love all of the characters! And the surprising part: IT HAS AN AMAZING PLOT LINE, IT ISN'T JUST A COMEDY! This was the icing on the cake, because I often find that comedies don't always have the best storylines, but I was over the moon when I went to see it and realised that it had a plot line.

GO AND SEE IT, PLEASE DO!

(It's amazing!)

WRITING

Even though I didn't do as much as I wanted to (though I doubt I'll ever reach that, due to other responsibilities, *sigh*) I did still do quite a bit this month. I'm currently at page 60, so I've nearly doubled the page I was on last month, which I'm happy about. By the end of September, I'm hoping to be on page 80-85 in terms of editing.

Let's hope!

So that is my August Wrap Up! But I want to hear what you lot have been up to! What have you been writing and reading? Let me know in the comments, because I love to hear from you guys!

So that is all I have for you guys today! I hope you have a wonderful day and I will see you on Friday with my September TBR!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

Introducing... STRANGE THE DREAMER

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And after getting this book yesterday, the first post that sprung to mind was an introduction, because I truly want to share how much I love this!

Enjoy!

Strange the Dreamer... where do I begin?

This was a book that was released...

*checks release date on the internet*

THE 29TH SEPTEMBER?!?!

(How long did I wait to buy this thing?)

just under a year ago.

And for some reason, after finding out that Laini Taylor was releasing a new book, I was immediately drawn to it, even though I'd never even attempted to read the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy.

But something about this book just seemed to draw me in.

Also, can I just talk about the cover? It's just so beautiful that I couldn't help getting the hardcover, instead of waiting for the paperback next year.

Aside from that, this book has been getting nothing but fantastic reviews since it was released, and even though this means that I have high expectations, the fact that I'm going into this book knowing absolutely nothing other than what the blurb tells me, hopefully that'll help me not to expect too much from a book by an author that I haven't attempted yet.

Here's all I know about the book at the moment, as well as the cover:

"THE DREAM CHOOSES THE DREAMER,

NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUUND- and

Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian,

has always feared that his dream chose poorly.

Since he was five years old he's been obsessed with

the mystic lost city of Weep, but it would take

someone bolder than he to cross half the world in

search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.

What happened in Weep two hundred years ago

to cut it off the rest of the world? What

exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the

name of God? And what is the mysterious problem

he now seeks help in solving?

The answers await in Weep, but so do more

mysteries- including the blue-skinned goddess

who appears in Lazlo's dreams. How did he dream

her before he knew she existed? And if all the gods

are dead, why does she seem so real?"

That's pretty much all I know about the book, but one thing I can't WAIT for is to divulge myself into this mysterious, fantasy filled world that Laimi Taylor had created.

Let me know in the comments if you have any thoughts about Strange the Dreamer, or if your just as excited to read it as I am!

If not, I hope you have a lovely day and I will see you all on Wednesday, with my August Wrap Up!
Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxx

Songs About Us (Songs About A Girl #2), by Chris Russell

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And this review has kind of been thrown to the wayside next to everything else that I've posted this month.

So I think it's time that I post this review so I can share my thoughts!

With further ado, here's the review!

Enjoy!

Title: Songs About Us

Author: Chris Russell

Genre: Contemporary

Release date: 13th July, 2017

Status: Book 2/3 in trilogy

Pages: 441

Blurb: "From where I

stood, cracks were

appearing in

The Biggest

Boy Band On The

Face Of The Earth. But for the

next ten minutes, none of that

would matter. Because when

those four boys hit the

stage, they lit a fire

inside your soul...

Charlie Bloom is

just an ordinary girl.

Who happened to spend last

winter hanging out with the hottest

boy band in the world. No biggie.

But that's all ancient history. And now

Charlie doesn't have time to even think

about Fire&Lights. Or what went down with

Gabe... Until she's pulled into their world

of glamour and paparazzi once again.

As old feelings are rekindled, Charlie

notices that the band seems different

this time. But then again, so is she..."

My Thoughts

After the roaring success of Songs About A Girl, I was both very excited, and a little nervous about what the sequel would be like. Because surely, it couldn't be just as good as the first one?

Could it?

It totally was.

There was the normal amazingness, and then add another level.

It was that good.

And the reason?

The plot.

Taking place a few months after the events of the first book, Charlie Bloom has returned back into the anonymously of her normal life. Although it doesn't take much for her to delve back into that band crazy world with Fire&Lights.

But anyway, what I loved about the plot was that this time around, when Charlie when back into that world, something was different. The unity of the band members, just wasn't there, which gave everything an edge. There was a wonderful undertone to the store and, along with the added tension on this strain that was so clearly in the band, my heart was beating with each confrontation. There was so much tension in each of the chapters, that the anxiety for these characters was there constantly.

Which brings me to the characters. There wasn't just the, confrontations between Olly & Gabriel, there was some character development between the other band members too, as the connection between Charlie and the band grew ever stronger. It put the dynamic between Fire&Lights into perspective, getting to know that there was more to the others than just a backing for the sound-off between Olly and Gabriel. 

Along with that, a lead that was introduced at the end of the first book became sort of a minor focus in the story which, I have to say, was a fine way to create conflict between the characters.

 Contrary to popular belief, what I loved most about this book was that it when far deeper than the "girl with a passion whilst also fangirling about popular boy band". Because Chris Russell grew up in a boy band, this was nothing like it seems to be, which is something that became a part in the first book, and it went a lot deeper in this one. It was like having a backstage pass to a sold out concert. It was so realistic that the situation seemed normal, which adds up to quite an inspiring book that gives the message that "you can achieve anything you set your mind to."

So overall, this was an inspiring, wonderful, yet tension filled (but still AMAZING) book that will have you on the edge of your seat from the first page and leaving you desperate for more. (The twists and turns will leave you scolded, but scouring the pages with your eyes, wanting to know what happens next, trust me). Another fantastic book, and I can't wait for the conclusion of the trilogy next year!

So that is all I have for you today! Let me know in the comments if you have any thoughts and I will be sure to reply, because this is now one of my favourite books of 2017!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and I will see you all on Monday!

Byeeeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx