December Wrap Up

I’m going to join the masses in saying I CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S ALMOST 2016!?! I’ve had a great year, not just with books and blogging, but in my studies and with friends and family.
Anyway, onward to the wrap up!Page Break

What I read this month…

Queen of ShadowsQueen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

I’m still loving this series. There were a few characterisation things that I didn’t agree with, but overall, this was a great book. I’m really looking forward to the fifth book next year! You can find my full review here.


The Adoration of Jenna FoxThe Fox InheritanceFox ForeverThe Jenna Fox Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson

This was a pretty decent series. It posed a lot of interesting ethical questions regarding science, medicine, and humanity. I haven’t written reviews for the second and third books, but I posted a brief review for the first one on Goodreads if you want to check that out here.


The Rest of Us Just Live HereThe Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

This was the first Ness book I’ve read, and it was pretty good. I’ve heard his others are better, though, so I’m really looking forward to reading those! You can find my full review here.


24 Hours24 Hours by Claire Seeber

I got this book through Netgalley. It was the first thriller that I’ve read, so it was quite an interesting experience. It was a pretty good book, though I didn’t really connect with the characters at all. You can find my review here.


Ready Player OneReady Player One by Ernest Cline

I loved this book! I saw a lot of hype around it earlier in the year, but I wasn’t too sure if it would be my kind of story. Man, I’m so glad I gave it a shot. If you haven’t picked it up yet, I’d definitely recommend it. You can find my full review here.


My True Love Gave To MeMy True Love Gave To Me edited by Stephanie Perkins

As a whole, this collection was good. There were a few stories that I absolutely loved, but there were more that were fairly average. Still, it was a nice holiday read. You can find my rating of each short story here.

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What I posted this month…

I posted fairly regularly this month (excluding the last few days (oops)). I put out a total of 23 posts this month (woo!).

Weekly memes:
Top Ten Tuesday: 2016 Debuts2015 New-To-Me AuthorsFavourite 2015 ReadsBookish Wishlist
WWW Wednesday: #10#11#12#13
Friday Finds: #12#13#14

Reviews:
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
24 Hours by Claire Seeber
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
My True Love Gave To Me edited by Stephanie Perkins

Other:
Queen of Shadows ramblings
Real Neat Blogger Award
Tis the Season Book Tag
100 followers?!
Dashing Through the Snow Book Tag
Update | I finally bought some books!

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What happened with my blog this month…

I big thank you to everyone who has visited my blog, and liked or commented on any of my posts! I’d also like to thank every who has nominated me for awards this month 🙂

Views: 557

Visitors: 210

Likes: 392

Comments: 117

Follower Count: 120

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What I did with my life this month…

I graduated! …kind of. Well, I finished my course – I have to wait a whole year for graduation >.< I was stoked to complete my Diploma in Audio Engineering with a High Distinction/92% 🙂 Now I must venture out into the real world…

Of course, there was Christmas! I had a great Christmas with my extended family this year (on my dad’s side). It was a very relaxed and happy get-together, as it always is.

Other than that, I haven’t done a whole lot this month, to be honest. Oh well, I had a crazy busy year, so I’m glad to have gotten a relaxing December.

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Once again, thank you all so much for joining me on my blogging adventure this year! I hope you all have a safe and happy new year!

Update | I finally bought some books!

It’s been so, so long since I’ve bought any books! I don’t normally buy books because they’re expensive(ish) in New Zealand, and I don’t have a credit/debit card, so buying stuff online is a major hassle. And I don’t have much money to begin with…

Anyway, I was determined to buy some books today! I ended up getting A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, and Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. I read Fangirl earlier in the year, and loved it, so I really want to re-read it. I’m super excited to read ACOTAR, hopefully in the next couple of weeks! I really wanted to get Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, but the store didn’t have it >.< Next time! Also, there was a ‘buy 1, get 1 half price’ deal on, so that was a bonus.

My ACOTAR

ACOTAR is one of the few books I’ve bought before reading. I can’t even remember the last time I bought a new (not second hand or whatever) book that I’m yet to read. I’m really worried about spending $20+ on a book I don’t end up liking, so that’s why I normally buy books that I love and want to re-read. However, I love SJM’s writing style and I’ve seen only great reviews about this book, so I’m fairly confident I’ll enjoy it *fingers crossed!*
My Fangirl

I was a little surprised to see that the store only had the fan art edition of Fangirl. I’m definitely not complaining, though! It included a couple of pieces of artwork on the inside covers, which I love.

Fangirl incover 01Fangirl incover 02

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aren’t they gorgeous?!

So, that’s my mini book haul! Since I don’t buy books very often, I always get super excited when I do 🙂


Just a side note, I won’t be posting a WWW Wednesday this week. Also, I might not be posting much over the next few weeks, but I’ll make a full post on that tomorrow.

I hope you’re all enjoying your holidays!

 

 

 

Review | My True Love Gave To Me edited by Stephanie Perkins

My True Love Gave To MeTitle: My True Love Gave To Me
Authors: Multiple (edited by Stephanie Perkins)
Release Date: October 14th, 2014
Publisher:
 St. Martin’s Press
Genre:
 YA, Contemporary, Holiday, Short Stories
Pages: 336 (Hardcover)
Rating:
 3/5

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… This beautiful collection features twelve gorgeously romantic stories set during the festive period, by some of the most talented and exciting YA authors writing today. The stories are filled with the magic of first love and the magic of the holidays.


Overall, this book was decent. It did help me to get into the holiday spirit, at least. There were some stories that I loved, but there were also others that I just didn’t get into at all.

  • Midnights by Rainbow Rowell – 5/5
  • The Lady and the Fox by Kelly Link – 2.5/5
  • Angels in the Snow by Matt de la Peña – 2/5
  • Polaris Is Where You’ll Find Me by Jenny Han – 1.5/5
  • It’s a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown by Stephanie Perkins – 5/5
  • Your Temporary Santa by David Levithan – 3/5
  • Krampuslauf by Holly Black – 4/5
  • What the Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth? by Gayle Forman – 4.5/5
  • Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus by Myra McEntire – 3.5/5
  • Welcome to Christmas, CA by Kiersten White – 3.5/5
  • Star of Bethlehem by Ally Carter – 3/5
  • The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer by Laini Taylor – 2/5

So, yeah… There were a few that I really liked, but there were also many that I found really boring and uninteresting. I will admit, though, it quite a few of the cases, the short story format let it down. Like, there was potential with the characters, but the story was just too short for me to get into.

This is a really nice holiday read, though, so I would recommend it if you haven’t picked it up yet. You may very well enjoy it more than me!

Amazon
Buy it on Amazon
Book Depository
Buy it on Book Depository

 

Review | Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Ready Player OneTitle: Ready Player One
Author: Ernest Cline
Release Date: November 16th, 2011
Publisher:
Random House
Genre:
 YA, Dystopia, Sci-Fi
Pages: 374 (Paperback)
Rating:
 4.5/5

It’s the year 2044, and the real world has become an ugly place. We’re out of oil. We’ve wrecked the climate. Famine, poverty, and disease are widespread. Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes this depressing reality by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia where you can be anything you want to be, where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets. And like most of humanity, Wade is obsessed by the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this alternate reality: OASIS founder James Halliday, who dies with no heir, has promised that control of the OASIS – and his massive fortune – will go to the person who can solve the riddles he has left scattered throughout his creation. For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that the riddles are based in the culture of the late twentieth century. And then Wade stumbles onto the key to the first puzzle. Suddenly, he finds himself pitted against thousands of competitors in a desperate race to claim the ultimate prize, a chase that soon takes on terrifying real-world dimensions – and that will leave both Wade and his world profoundly changed.


I ended up enjoying this book much more than I thought I would! I’m not a gamer, so I wasn’t sure if I would ‘get’ the story. While I may have gotten more out of the story if I was a little more into video games and 80’s pop culture, I certainly loved it regardless of my naivety.

I loved the complexity of the contest and how it was paced throughout the book. The info-dump of the contest at the beginning didn’t feel excessive because it was told in context – through Halliday explaining it to the world. I loved all the details we were given regarding OASIS but, again, it wasn’t excessive or pointless.

I thought that it would be another ‘Chosen One’ type of story when we found out that Wade was the first person to get the first clue in the five years since the contest began, but the reasoning for almost no one else finding it made total sense. However, I did think that after the location of the first key became known, some other ‘gunters’ would’ve been able to find the second one, instead of just the original group. I think that would’ve been a great way to introduce another character or two.

I quite liked Wade as a narrator. He wasn’t an amazing character, but he was decent. He was loyal, honest, respectful, and kind to those who deserved it. All the other main ‘gunters’ were great, too. I loved when we found out who the people behind these avatars were, particularly Aech.

I though Wade and Art3mis’s relationship was really nice. In particular, I liked that it was a side plot and didn’t take too much focus away from the main story. It suited Wade’s character to not have it take precedence over the contest.

Overall, this is a really intense and entertaining story. I was kept on the edge of my seat for a lot of the book – it was incredibly hard to put down. I’d definitely recommend it!

Book Depository
Buy it on Book Depository
Amazon
Buy it on Amazon

WWW Wednesday #13

WWW Wednesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.

WWW Wednesday

To join in, just answer the following three questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?


Currently Reading…

My True Love Gave To MeMy True Love Gave To Me edited by Stephanie Perkins

I’m about halfway through this and I’m pretty disappointed, to be honest. There’s only be a couple of stories that I really liked, and the others have just been a bit dull.

Blurb:
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me …This beautiful collection features twelve gorgeously romantic stories set during the festive period, by some of the most talented and exciting YA authors writing today. The stories are filled with the magic of first love and the magic of the holidays.

A Wrinkle in TimeA Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

This is the first audiobook that I’ve ever listened to, so it’s quite a strange experience for me. It’s taking quite awhile to get through, because I can only listen to it when I’m doing something that doesn’t require much thinking. It’s quite a nice story, though.

Blurb:
It was a dark and stormy night; Meg Murry, her small brother Charles Wallace, and her mother had come down to the kitchen for a midnight snack when they were upset by the arrival of a most disturbing stranger.

“Wild nights are my glory,” the unearthly stranger told them. “I just got caught in a downdraft and blown off course. Let me be on my way. Speaking of way, by the way, there is such a thing as a tesseract”.

Meg’s father had been experimenting with this fifth dimension of time travel when he mysteriously disappeared. Now the time has come for Meg, her friend Calvin, and Charles Wallace to rescue him. But can they outwit the forces of evil they will encounter on their heart-stopping journey through space?


Recently Finished…

Ready Player OneReady Player One by Ernest Cline

I loved this book! I wasn’t too sure how much I would like it, as I’m not a gamer, but I still really enjoyed it. I’ll be posting a full review tomorrow (hopefully…), so keep and eye out for that!

Blurb:
In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the virtual utopia known as the  OASIS. Wade’s devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world’s digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator’s obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade’s going to survive, he’ll have to win—and confront the real world he’s always been so desperate to escape.


Reading Next…

The Fox InheritanceThe Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearson

This is the second book in the Jenna Fox Chronicles. I also have the third book out from the library, so they’ll be my next reads.

Blurb:
Once there were three. Three friends who loved each other—Jenna, Locke, and Kara. And after a terrible accident destroyed their bodies, their three minds were kept alive, spinning in a digital netherworld. Even in that disembodied nightmare, they were still together. At least at first. When Jenna disappeared, Locke and Kara had to go on without her. Decades passed, and then centuries.

Two-hundred-and-sixty years later, they have been released at last. Given new, perfect bodies, Locke and Kara awaken to a world they know nothing about, where everyone they once knew and loved is long dead.

Everyone except Jenna Fox.


Have you read any of these books, and what have you been reading? Let me know in the comments!

 

Top Ten Tuesday | Bookish Wishlist

TTT

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by the lovely folks over at The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s theme is ‘Top Ten Books I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree This Year’

I’m going to break up my list with books I’ve read, and ones I’m yet to read.


Read…

Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

I’m sure it’s no secret that I’ve fallen in love with this series over the past few months. I borrowed them from the library to read them, but I need my own copies so I can re-read them over and over again >.<Throne of Glass series

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

This is one of my favourite contemporary books, and I’ve been dying to re-read it for the last couple of months, so I’d love to see this under the tree!Fangirl

Unwind Dystology by Neal Shusterman

This such a great series that I’d love to own. A collection of short stories was just published, so what a perfect time to re-read the whole series.Unwind Dystology

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

As soon as I had finished reading this book, I immediately wanted to read it again (and I would have had it not been nearly due back at the library). When I get my hands on my own copy of Aristotle and Dante, I will be dropping whatever else I’m reading to re-read this book.Aristotle and Dante


To Read…

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

I’ve heard only great things about this book, and I’m almost positive that I’ll love it, so this is definitely a book I’d love to see under the tree!All the Light We Cannot See

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

I’m sure all of you have heard of this book (and most have probably read it, too), so I don’t need to tell you about all the praise for it. I haven’t seen a negative review for this book yet, so I’m sure I’ll enjoy it.Six of Crows

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

I love Maas’s writing style, so I really want to read this book before the second one in the series is released. What better way to do that than to get a copy of it for Christmas!ACOTAR

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

This is another book that’s had a lot of buzz over the past few months. It sounds like a great contemporary, so I’m sure it’ll become one of my favourites.Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Another extremely popular story! I really want to read this book before the movie comes out later next year, so I would be stoked to get it for Christmas.A Monster Calls

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

I feel like one of the last people on the plant (of YA book readers…) to read this book! I promise I’ll get around to it soon! (If it was under the tree this year, I’d get around to it a lot sooner;) )Cinder


So that’s my TTT for the week! Though I don’t think I’ll be getting any of these books for Christmas… I’d love to see what books are on your Christmas wishlist, so feel free to leave links to your TTT’s in the comments 🙂

Dashing Through the Snow Book Tag

This lovely tag was created by Astra @ A Stranger’s Guide to Novels. A big thank you to Joey @ Thoughts and Afterthoughts for tagging me!

Rules:

  • Thank the curator
  • Tag 5 people to spread the Christmas joy
  • Have fun!

A few of my answers will be repeats of what I said in the Tis the Season Book Tag, simply because I’m too lazy to come up with more original answers >.<


1. Name a book you would like to see under your Christmas tree

I’m gonna answer different from what I did in the other tag and say Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. I read this book earlier in the year, and I loooooved it! I really really want to read it again, so I would love to get it for Christmas 🙂Fangirl

2. A book you’ll be reading during the Christmas Season

My True Love Gave To Me edited by Stephanie Perkins. I have this from the library, so I plan to pick it up soon!My True Love Gave To Me

3. Favourite Christmas movie

I don’t really watch many Christmas movies, to be honest… I watched Arthur Christmas last year, and that was really good, so I’ll say that >.<Arthur_Christmas_Poster

4. Do you like snow?

I love it! It doesn’t snow where I live though, which makes me endlessly sad.

5. Name a character you would like to spend your Christmas day with

Hagrid! He’s so jolly and happy, and would make a great Santa replacement!hagrid

6. To give or to receive?

I love getting stuff! I do like giving when it’s someone I’m close to, like family and close friends, because then you can get them something meaningful(ish). But I’m a shameful materialistic person, so I love receiving.

7. What fictional place would you like to spend Christmas at?

Even though I said this in the other tag, I’m gonna have to go with Hogwarts again. There’s just nowhere like it at Christmas time!Harry Potter Christmas

8. Fondest Christmas memory?

There’s nothing that really jumps out at me… I always love my NZ family Christmases. They’re always just so casual and fun.

9. Can you say Christmas tree ten times FAST in a row (pronouncing it correctly!)

Hell yeah, I can!


I tag…

Calliope the Book Goddess 
Sky @ Bookish Night
Michelle @ Book Adventures
Emily @ Emily Talks About Books
A Literary Mind

Friday Finds #14

Friday Finds is a weekly meme hosted by A Daily Rhythm and showcases the books you’ve found during the week and added to your TBR list.

I really need to stop finding new books – my TBR is really getting out of hand at this point…


Me Before YouMe Before You by Jojo Moyes

This book, and the sequel After You have been floating around my Goodreads feed for awhile now. I’ve seen a lot of great reviews, so I thought it was time to formally add it to my TBR!

Blurb:
Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn’t know is she’s about to lose her job or that knowing what’s coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he’s going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn’t know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they’re going to change the other for all time.


The Bronze HorsemanThe Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

This series is a favourite of my best friend, so she convinced me to read it, even though romance isn’t a genre I normally read. I do like historical fiction, though, particularly WWII books, so hopefully I’ll enjoy it!

Blurb:
The golden skies, the translucent twilight, the white nights, all hold the promise of youth, of love, of eternal renewal. The war has not yet touched this city of fallen grandeur, or the lives of two sisters, Tatiana and Dasha Metanova, who share a single room in a cramped apartment with their brother and parents. Their world is turned upside down when Hitler’s armies attack Russia and begin their unstoppable blitz to Leningrad.

Yet there is light in the darkness. Tatiana meets Alexander, a brave young officer in the Red Army. Strong and self-confident, yet guarding a mysterious and troubled past, he is drawn to Tatiana—and she to him. Starvation, desperation, and fear soon grip their city during the terrible winter of the merciless German siege. Tatiana and Alexander’s impossible love threatens to tear the Metanova family apart and expose the dangerous secret Alexander so carefully protects—a secret as devastating as the war itself—as the lovers are swept up in the brutal tides that will change the world and their lives forever.


PointePointe by Brandy Colbert

I found this through Chrissi Reads’ TTT. It looks like a really intriguing contemporary YA book.

Blurb:
Theo is better now.

She’s eating again, dating guys who are almost appropriate, and well on her way to becoming an elite ballet dancer. But when her oldest friend, Donovan, returns home after spending four long years with his kidnapper, Theo starts reliving memories about his abduction—and his abductor.

Donovan isn’t talking about what happened, and even though Theo knows she didn’t do anything wrong, telling the truth would put everything she’s been living for at risk. But keeping quiet might be worse.


The Art of Being NormalThe Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson

I saw Pretty Books’ fabulous review of this book, and I am now really interested in this book! I’ve never read a book with a trans MC, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how the character is written.

Blurb:
Two boys. Two secrets.

David Piper has always been an outsider. His parents think he’s gay. The school bully thinks he’s a freak. Only his two best friends know the real truth – David wants to be a girl.

On the first day at his new school Leo Denton has one goal – to be invisible. Attracting the attention of the most beautiful girl in year eleven is definitely not part of that plan.

When Leo stands up for David in a fight, an unlikely friendship forms. But things are about to get messy. Because at Eden Park School secrets have a funny habit of not staying secret for long…


The Young ElitesThe Young Elites by Marie Lu

This is another book that has been floating around, particularly with the recent release of the sequel. I’d never actually read the synopsis, but now that I have, I’m really looking forward to reading the book!

Blurb:
Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.


I Was HereI Was Here by Gayle Forman

I’ve never read a book by Forman, but I’ve heard great things about her writing. Hopefully I’ll enjoy this one!

Blurb:
When her best friend Meg drinks a bottle of industrial-strength cleaner alone in a motel room, Cody is understandably shocked and devastated. She and Meg shared everything—so how was there no warning? But when Cody travels to Meg’s college town to pack up the belongings left behind, she discovers that there’s a lot that Meg never told her. About her old roommates, the sort of people Cody never would have met in her dead-end small town in Washington. About Ben McAllister, the boy with a guitar and a sneer, who broke Meg’s heart. And about an encrypted computer file that Cody can’t open—until she does, and suddenly everything Cody thought she knew about her best friend’s death gets thrown into question.


PassengerPassenger by Alexandra Bracken

This is an upcoming book that I’ve seen floating around a lot over the past month or so. I’ve seen so much praise, so I’m looking forward to reading it!

Blurb:
In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.

Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them— whether she wants to or not.

Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are playing, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home . . . forever.


So those are my finds for the week. Have you read any of these books? Are there any books you added to you TBR this week that you’re really excited to read?

Review | 24 Hours by Claire Seeber

24 HoursTitle: 24 Hours
Author: Claire Seeber
Release Date: October 9th, 2015
Publisher:
Bookouture
Genre:
Psychological Thriller
Pages: 304 (Kindle)
Rating:
3/5

Here today. Dead tomorrow?
My best friend, Emily, is dead – killed last night in a hotel fire.
But it was meant to be me.
Now I have 24 hours to find my daughter.
Before he finds out I’m still alive.

24 Hours is a fast-paced, intelligent psychological thriller that will leave you breathless.


This was quite a captivating story that was really enjoyable in parts. However, I didn’t really feel any connection to the characters, so it can’t say I loved it. The story was well written, though, so I was still interested in what was happening.

The story is told in alternating chapters, switching between ‘now’ and ‘then’. The ‘now’ part of the story tells of what happened after the fire that killed the main character, Laurie’s, best friend. I really liked some of the characters that were introduced in the later parts of these chapters, and I was glad to see them pop up in the epilogue. These chapters were high-tension and very exciting to read. The ‘then’ chapters, however, were often slow and dull in comparison.

It took me awhile to get into the story, and it was really only the last third that truly engaged me. Throughout the story, the main character, Laurie, had a whole lot going on in her life, so she was a bit of a mess. I just couldn’t relate to any of it, so I couldn’t connect with her. It was only when events started to ramp up, and the different parts of the story started coming together, that I felt truly drawn in.

There are quite a few important topics discussed in this book. Laurie is going through a divorce, with her young daughter, Polly, stuck in the middle. There main issue in here is domestic violence, and there is quite a bit of great discussion of it throughout. I found this to be a really strong point for the book, and it made me strongly sympathetic towards Laurie and all she was going through.

I think this book would be really enjoyable for many. However, as I didn’t feel invested in the characters, I struggled to love it. It was definitely a strong psychological thriller that was filled with enough of red herrings to make it exciting, but not tiresome. Overall, a really solid story that many would enjoy.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon
Buy it on Amazon

WWW Wednesday #12

WWW Wednesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.

WWW Wednesday

To join in, just answer the following three questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?


Currently Reading…

Ready Player OneReady Player One by Ernest Cline

I’ve seen so much praise for this book, so I was really excited to pick it up. I’m not very far in yet, but it’s been pretty good.

Blurb:
In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the virtual utopia known as the  OASIS. Wade’s devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world’s digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator’s obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade’s going to survive, he’ll have to win—and confront the real world he’s always been so desperate to escape.


Recently Finished…

The Rest of Us Just Live HereThe Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

This was a pretty good book. It wasn’t amazing, but it didn’t take long to read, so I was happy with it being just good. Check out my review here.

Blurb:
What if you aren’t the Chosen One?

The one who’s supposed to fight the zombies, or the soul-eating ghosts, or whatever the heck this new thing is, with the blue lights and the death?

What if you’re like Mikey? Who just wants to graduate and go to prom and maybe finally work up the courage to ask Henna out before someone goes and blows up the high school. Again.

Because sometimes there are problems bigger than this week’s end of the world, and sometimes you just have to find the extraordinary in your ordinary life.

Even if your best friend is worshipped by mountain lions.

24 Hours24 Hours by Claire Seeber

This was quite an interesting psychological thriller book. Again, it wasn’t amazing, but it was still good. I’ll be posting a review tomorrow!

Blurb:
Here today. Dead tomorrow?
My best friend, Emily, is dead – killed last night in a hotel fire.
But it was meant to be me.
Now I have 24 hours to find my daughter.
Before he finds out I’m still alive.

24 Hours is a fast-paced, intelligent psychological thriller that will leave you breathless.


Reading Next…

My True Love Gave To MeMy True Love Gave To Me edited by Stephanie Perkins

I’m so excited to read this! I love holiday stories, so this is sure to be amazing.

Blurb:
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me …This beautiful collection features twelve gorgeously romantic stories set during the festive period, by some of the most talented and exciting YA authors writing today. The stories are filled with the magic of first love and the magic of the holidays.

A Wrinkle in TimeA Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

This will be my first audiobook! I’m not used to being read to, so I hope I enjoy it.

Blurb:
It was a dark and stormy night; Meg Murry, her small brother Charles Wallace, and her mother had come down to the kitchen for a midnight snack when they were upset by the arrival of a most disturbing stranger.

“Wild nights are my glory,” the unearthly stranger told them. “I just got caught in a downdraft and blown off course. Let me be on my way. Speaking of way, by the way, there is such a thing as a tesseract”.

Meg’s father had been experimenting with this fifth dimension of time travel when he mysteriously disappeared. Now the time has come for Meg, her friend Calvin, and Charles Wallace to rescue him. But can they outwit the forces of evil they will encounter on their heart-stopping journey through space?


Have you read any of these books, and what have you been reading? Let me know in the comments!