June Wrap Up (2022)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm back! After posting before going to Whitby, I thought I'd be back on posting as soon as I got back, but it's been a week and I still haven't! 

So it's time to get back to that! I said I would be posting my June Wrap Up and although it's halfway July at the moment, I said I'd deliver, and here it is! 

Enjoy! 

1. I Was Born For This, by Alice Oseman 

For some reason, I've always put off this one Alice Oseman book. Maybe I thought I might not enjoy this as much as the others. But, as much as I wish I'd got to it before, I'm glad I had it as a buffer, or when I needed a change of pacing when faced with a reading slump. 

I Was Born For This follows Angel, the ultimate fan of a band that has become one of her main focuses in life: The Ark. And also Jimmy, one of the members of the Ark. You jump from POV to POV every chapter, as they take place. It starts on the eve of when these two characters meet, and it just carries on in an uncontrollable whirlwind of events. As always, loved the story, I could relate to the characters on a personal level, just as flawless as all of Alice Oseman's books are. Amazing. 

2. Book Lovers, by Emily Henry 

Another auto-buy author. Emily Henry is known for her romances, and this one was between a literary agent and an editor. Hate to love, which is a trope that I always love to read about (even though it's not realistic at all, especially in this kind of time frame). But still, was lovely to delve back into one of one of Emily Henry's well-written romances. I can genuinely say that she's one of the best at what she does. Solid 4 stars. 

3. Gallant, by V.E. Schwab

I was really, really hyped up for this one, but honestly it just, fell short for me. I've loved all of V.E. Schwab's books up until now. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy it. I enjoyed the writing, the description and the detail, I just feel like not a lot happened. Of course V.E. Schwab will still be an auto-buy author, but this book just disappointed me. That's all I'll say about it. 

4. Life is Strange: Dust, by Emma Vieceli 

I knew I would be receiving the second volume of this series for my anniversary, so I re-read the first volume so the story was fresh in my mind. If you didn't know, the graphic novels starts one year after the events of the game, and takes place like you saved Chloe. Max and Chloe are returning to Arcadia Bay, to face the place that destroyed the town, and as soon as they do, things start to go weird! I liked how loyal the artists and writers were to the game, how believable Chloe and Max were, and how it had some heavy parts, as well as light and funny ones. It'll be nice to see where the series leads (there are five or six volumes, I think). 

Okay! Those are all the books I read in the month of June! Admittedly there weren't that many, but I had a ton of events in June (but I've already read a lot more in July anyway, to make up)! 

As always, let me know in the comments what you read last month! 

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

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxx

Anticipated Releases (July- September 2022)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm back with my anticipated releases for the next few months! 

I don't have as many as usual, but hopefully that means that I'll get to them all at some point. 

Enjoy! 

July

N/A.

Funny enough, I don't have any anticipated releases for July. A free month to catch up on all the others! (As if I'll actually catch up hahaha). 

August

1. The Drowned Woods, by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Release date: 16/8/22

"Once upon a time, the kingdomd of Wales were rife with magic and conflic, and eighteen-year-old Mererid "Mer" is well-acquainted wih both. She is the last living water diviner and has spent years running from the prince who bound her into his service. Under the prince's orders. she located the wells of his enemies, and he poisoned them without her knowledge, causing hundreds of deaths. After discovering what he had done, Mer went to great lengths to disappear from his reach. Then Mer's old handler returns with a proposition: use her powers to bring down the very prince that abused them both. 

The best way to do that is to destory the magical well that keeps the prince's lands safe. With a motley crew of allies, including a fae-cursed young man, a lady of thieves, and a corgi that may or may not be a spy, Mer may finally be able to steal precious freedom and peace for herself. After all, a person with a knife us one thing... but a person with a cause can topple kingdoms."

I know this sounds like just another fantasy standalone, but I couldn't help sticking it on the list for some reason. The cover is gorgeous, it sounds like the protagonist's motivation is actually the environment, and it's also a revenge story, and I love a good revenge story, which I'm hoping this one is, based on the thoroughly detailed synopsis you see before you. Can't wait to have this lovely hardback brightening up my shelves. 

2. Nothing More To Tell, by Karen M. McManus

Release date: 30/8/22

Another Karen M. McManus book to add! Does this woman ever sleep? Methinks not. I hope this is as good as the others, but I honestly think that Karen M. McManus' books just get better and better. 

Four years ago, Brynn left Saint Ambrose School following the shocking murder of her favourite teacher- a story that made headlines after the teacher's body was found by three Saint Ambrose students in the woods behind their school. The case was never solved. Now that Brynn is moving home and starting her dream internship at a true-crime show, she's determined to find out what really happened. 

The kids who found Mr. Larkin are her way in, and her ex-best friend, Tripp Talbot, was one of them. 

Without his account of events, the other two kids might have gone down for Mr. Larkin's murder. They've never forgotten what Tripp did for them that day. Just like he hasn't forgotten that everything he told the police was a lie. 

Digging into the past is bound to shake up the present, and as Brynn begins to investigate what happened in

the woods that day, she begins to uncover secrets that might change everything- about Saint Ambrose, about Mr. Larkin and about her ex-best friend, Tripp Talbot. 

Four years ago, someone got away with murder. The most terrifying part is that they never left."

At this point, I believe I would read Karen M. McManus' shopping lists, she is one of the few auto-buy authors I have, but what I like about this premise, is that it's a teacher that's been murdered. This intrigues me because, what could have possibly happened that would drive someone to murder a teacher. Can't wait to find out. 

3. Carrie Soto Is Back, by Taylor Jenkins- Reid

Release date: 30/8/22

As mentioned in my Mid- Year Freak Out Book Tag post, Carrie Soto is Back is probably my most anticipated release for the second half of the year, so I had to tack this release on the list. I've never heard of a tennis book being released before (fiction), especially one written by the infamous Taylor Jenkins Reid. With Wimbledon currently on for the next couple of weeks, I'll need something for when it's over so I'm highly excited to pick this up soon. (Might read Malibu Rising first though as I'm aware that Carrie Soto makes an appearance in that too.) 

"Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular. But by the time she retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Grand Slam titles. And if you ask Carrie, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father, Javier, as her coach. A former champion himself, Javier has trained her since the age of two. 

But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning player named Nicki Chan. 

At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if the sports media says that they never like "the Battle-Axe" anyway. Even if her body doesn't move as fast as it did. Anf even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever. 

In spite of it all, Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season. In this riveting and unforgettable novek, Taylor Jenkins Reid tells her most vulnerable, emotional story yet."

September

1. The Bullet That Missed (Thursday Murder Club #3), by Richard Osman 

Release date: 13/9/22

The third book in the Thursday Murder Club series! I'm not going to add the synopsis to this one because I haven't yet read the 2nd book in the series, and I don't want to spoil the third book, but you can check out the synopsis here.

Honestly, I had no idea there was going to be a third book, I thought this series was going to be a duology (though of course I'm thrilled that the series will be continuing). 

Okay! Those are my anticipated releases for the next few months! I know they are few, but they are a selected few and I want to get to all of them! 

Right! That is all I have for you today, as always, let me know what books you guys are counting down the days for (in the comments, of course). 

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

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxx

The Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm back with my first official post, and what better way to kick things off than with the Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag? 

I look forward to this particular tag every year and this one was no different. 

I hope you enjoy it. 

~Best Book You've Read So Far~

Honestly, I don't have a favourite at this point. I have a few that are on my list for favourite books for the year. This is the list so far: 

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

2. Girls of Fate and Fury (Girls of Paper and Fire #3), by Natasha Ngan 

3. The Good Thieves, by Katherine Rundell 

4. The Exact Opposite of Okay duology, by Laura Steven 

~Best sequel you’ve read so far~

Last book in the series, but still counts as a sequel.  I read this whole series straight through, and it was exactly what I needed to because the impact was so much more (you know, when things happened). Such an explosive ending to a wonderful series! Awesome characters, unpredictable plot twists, horrific deaths (of characrers that have become very near and dear to me) but ultimate success! Wonderful series, totally underrated. Highly recommend. 

~New release you haven’t read yet, but want to~

The No-Show, by Beth O' Leary! A ton of wedding chaos in a book! I have a few weddings that I'm attending this year and I know I'm going to need something as a sort of pick me up when in down (after they're over). So I will definitely be reading this after my next one (in July). 

~Most anticipated release for the rest of the year~

At this point, there aren't a lot of anticipated releases I'm looking out for because I haven't done any research regarding anticipated releases yet. But one that I've got my eye on is Carrie Soto Is Back, by Taylor Jenkins-Reid. I have only read one of her books, but I can say that I will be making a solid effort to catch up on the rest of her books, as well as this. 

In a nutshell, this is about a last ditch attempt for Carrie Soto to reclaim her tennis record, once and for, even seven years after she retired from tennis for good. I've read literally no tennis books and I am desperately on the lookout for intense books that incorporate sports because of how rare they are. Release date is end of august. 

~Biggest disappointment~

I was expecting to love this just as much as everyone else. Goodreads Choice Awards nominee, everyone was reading and adoring this book. Honestly, I was ready to fly through this in 3 days or so, which is why I chose to read this in January. 

It took me nearly half the month to get through this. When I picked it up, I was unable to get through 20 pages at a time. I just couldn't keep it up for longer than a few minutes. This one just didn't gel well. 

~Biggest surprise~

Honestly, every book that I thought I would love, I have. No surprises as of yet, but who knows about the rest of the year? We're only halfway yet. 

~Favourite new author (debut or new to you)~

RACHEL LYNN SOLOMAN. 

Author of You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone, which I have a review for just here. Story about twin girls being tested for Huntington's disease. Incredibly hard hitting, so addictive, I genuinely didn't have a favourite twin to read, which is why I flew through it so quickly. 

Will definitely be reading more of her work in the future. 

~Newest fictional crush~

I genuinely don't have a new one. Every year? That's unrealistic. Pass. 

~Newest favourite character~

Vita, from The Good Thieves- such a courageous and determined character, who will stop at nothing to make sure that the man that scammed her grandfather into losing his house, gets what's coming to him. A wonderful example of, if you put your mind to something, if you want it bad enough, you can achieve it- even if the odds are stacked against you. 

~Book that made you cry~

The only book that has made me come close to crying this year has been Still Alice, by Lisa Genova. About a Harvard professor who is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's, this was such a sad book to read. Reading about the downfall of such a brilliant mind is enough of a reminder that it can occur to anybody. I still haven't seen the film yet but I plan to in the immediate future. 

~Book that made you happy~

I'm going with a duology for this. These books are just so unique, so inspiring, and not once do they sugarcoat the issues that are discussed in this duology. I'm so glad I was able to get to these this year, cos they've been on my "Want to read shelf" for far too long. 

Even though these came out several years ago, they are still relevant today. They're the rawest, most sensitively written stories I've read this year and will probably be for the second half too. Highly recommend if you haven't read these. 

~The most beautiful book you’ve bought so far (or received)~

This year has probably got to be All Boys Aren't Blue, by George M. Johnson, both cover wise and story wise. The story is beautiful, about a young boy, growing up both queer and black, finding his place in society, and who he is. Wonderful memoir that everyone should read. Cover is the best one so far too. 

~What books do you need to read by the end of the year?~

Well, I would like to finish the Skulduggery Pleasant series by the end of the year. I've taken a short break to reinburse some motivation to read (hey, there's a time gap of about five years between parts 1 & 2 so I figured I was due a break) but that break has been longer than expected. Honestly I think it's because the first book & 1/2 are a bit of a slow start! 

 But those are a definite for the next couple of months. 

Aren't the covers gorgeous?

~Favourite book to movie adaptation you’ve seen this year~

It's not a book to movie adaptation that I'm picking this year, but this book was adapted into a tv show, and just like the rest of the world, I've fallen head over heels for it. 

It's Heartstopper, you guys. It's such a sweet, lovable, wonderful tv show that I couldn't not choose this. 

Eagerly anticipating the release of season two (and the final graphic novel to come out next year). 

Okay! That was the Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag for the year 2022! 

Anyone is free to do this if they so please, but let me know in the comments if you do! 

That is everything that I have for you all today, so I hope you have a wonderful day and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx

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