WWW Wednesday #15

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…

All the Light We Cannot SeeAll the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

I haven’t started this yet, but I will be very soon. I’ve heard so many amazing things about this book, so I can’t wait to get into it!

Blurb:
Marie-Laure lives with her father in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where he works as the master of its thousands of locks. When she is six, Marie-Laure goes blind and her father builds a perfect miniature of their neighborhood so she can memorize it by touch and navigate her way home. When she is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure’s reclusive great-uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. With them they carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel.

In a mining town in Germany, the orphan Werner grows up with his younger sister, enchanted by a crude radio they find. Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing these crucial new instruments, a talent that wins him a place at a brutal academy for Hitler Youth, then a special assignment to track the resistance. More and more aware of the human cost of his intelligence, Werner travels through the heart of the war and, finally, into Saint-Malo, where his story and Marie-Laure’s converge.


Recently Finished…

UnboundUnbound by Neal Shusterman

I’ll really enjoyed being back in the Unwind world. It was great to find out a few more things that took place prior to the events of the series. There were also a couple of stories that were set after the last book, so it was nice to see a bit of continuation from that.

Blurb:
In the
New York Times bestselling Unwind Dystology—Unwind, UnWholly, UnSouled, and UnDivided—Neal Shusterman thrilled readers with the story of a society that deals with its out-of-control teens by “unwinding” them—transplanting more than 99% of their bodies into other people.

In the latest installment of this sequence, Shusterman—along with collaborators Terry Black, Michelle Knowlden, Brendan Shusterman, and Jarrod Shusterman—explores even more aspects of a world that has accepted the unacceptable. These short stories examine the world of unwinding in a way we haven’t seen before, providing a fresh framework, new characters, and a different take on some events.

This Is Where It EndsThis Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

I loved this book so much. It was very fast-paced, and it all felt so real and terrifying. The whole story was just so unpredictable, which reflected the volatile situation that was being described. I’m yet to write a full review, but hopefully I’ll get one up soon!

Blurb:
10:00 a.m.
The principal of Opportunity, Alabama’s high school finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.

10:02 a.m.
The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.

10:03
The auditorium doors won’t open.

10:05
Someone starts shooting.

Told over the span of 54 harrowing minutes from four different perspectives, terror reigns as one student’s calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival.

Never Mind My Thigh GapNever Mind My Thigh Gap by Sarah Newton and Bronte Huskinson

I was approached by the assistant of one of the authors to read and review this book. For the most part, this was a good book. It had a great message, but I feel like it wasn’t told in the most effective way.

Blurb:
There are three things everyone notices about Alice. 1. Her super-hot rugby boyfriend. 2. Her sophisticated, totally gorgeous best friend. 3. Her very noticeable 38-inch long legs.

Alice is tall – just under six feet to be exact – but her self-esteem couldn’t be smaller. When her relationship starts wavering, Alice’s perfectly beautiful best friend somehow convinces her to join a modelling completion, “for a confidence boost.” But Alice is just a normal girl; she loves ice cream too much, has an unhealthy addiction to American TV and lusts after the elusive thigh gap. She can’t even walk in heels, let alone in a bikini, but she finds herself joining Runway Models anyway.

The finale is only a few months away.

Will Alice catwalk her way to self-confidence or fail, proving everyone right? People can surprise you.


Reading Next…

The MartianThe Martian by Andy Weir

I absolutely loved the movie version, so I’m pretty sure the book will be great, too. I’m interested to see the different information we get in the book, as there were undoubtedly some things that had to be taken out for the film.

Blurb:
Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there.

After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate the planet while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded on Mars’ surface, completely alone, with no way to signal Earth that he’s alive — and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone years before a rescue could arrive.

Chances are, though, he won’t have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment or plain-old “human error” are much more likely to kill him first. But Mark’s not ready to quit. Armed with nothing but his ingenuity and his engineering skills — and a gallows sense of humor that proves to be his greatest source of strength – he embarks on a dogged quest to stay alive, using his botany expertise to grow food and even hatching a mad plan to contact NASA back on Earth.

As he overcomes one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next, Mark begins to let himself believe he might make it off the planet alive – but Mars has plenty of surprises in store for him yet.


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

Top Ten Tuesday | OTPs and Bromances

TTT

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by the lovely folks over at The Broke and the Bookish. This week is a Valentine’s Day freebie, and I’ve chosen to do ‘Top Ten OTPs and Bromances’.


OTPs

Cath & Levi from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell 

Cath & Levi art

(art credit)

Adrian & Sydney from Bloodlines series by Richelle Mead

Adrian & Sydney art

(art credit)

Alec & Magnus from The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

Magnus & Alec art

(art credit)

Ron & Hermione from Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Ron & Hermione art

(unable to find credit)

Hazel & Augustus from The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Hazel & Gus art

(art credit)

Jem & Tessa from The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare

Jem & Tessa art

(art credit)

Eleanor & Park from Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor & Park art

(unable to find credit)

Bromances

Celaena & Rowan from Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

Celaena & Rowan art

(unable to find credit)

Dorian & Chaol from Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

Dorian & Chaol art

(art credit)

Jace & Alec from The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

Alec & Jace art

(art credit)

 

WWW Wednesday #14

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…

UnboundUnbound by Neal Shusterman

Well, technically, I haven’t started this yet, but I definitely will in the next couple of hours. I’m really looking forward to reading more about the world of Unwind.

Blurb:
In the
New York Times bestselling Unwind Dystology—Unwind, UnWholly, UnSouled, and UnDivided—Neal Shusterman thrilled readers with the story of a society that deals with its out-of-control teens by “unwinding” them—transplanting more than 99% of their bodies into other people.

In the latest installment of this sequence, Shusterman—along with collaborators Terry Black, Michelle Knowlden, Brendan Shusterman, and Jarrod Shusterman—explores even more aspects of a world that has accepted the unacceptable. These short stories examine the world of unwinding in a way we haven’t seen before, providing a fresh framework, new characters, and a different take on some events.


Recently Finished…

PassengerPassenger by Alexandra Bracken

This was a pretty good book. There were a couple of things I wasn’t really a fan of (that insta-love tho), but it was still an entertaining read. I’ll hopefully have a full review up in the next week or so.

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.


Reading Next…

This Is Where It EndsThis Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

I’m really looking forward to reading this book. It deals with the serious issue of school shootings, so it’ll be interesting to see how this story plays out. It has a lot of mixed ratings on Goodreads, so I hope I still enjoy it.

Blurb:
10:00 a.m.
The principal of Opportunity, Alabama’s high school finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.

10:02 a.m.
The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.

10:03
The auditorium doors won’t open.

10:05
Someone starts shooting.

Told over the span of 54 harrowing minutes from four different perspectives, terror reigns as one student’s calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival.


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

 

 

Top Ten Tuesday | 2015 Releases I Didn’t Get To

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 2015 Releases I Meant To Get To But Didn’t’


Six of CrowsSix of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

I really, really want to read this, but I want to read the Grisha trilogy first so I have that knowledge of the universe.

Blurb:
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone.

Kaz’s crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

Simon vs the Homo Sapiens AgendaSimon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

This has been high on my TBR for quite some time now. Hopefully I’ll get to it soon!

Blurb:
Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

An Ember in the AshesAn Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

This book sounds really exciting, and I’ve heard only good things, so hopefully it lives up to the hype!

Blurb:
Laia is a slave.
Elias is a soldier.
Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

Everything, EverythingEverything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

I’m really looking forward to reading this unique-sounding contemporary book.

Blurb:
My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

My Heart and Other Black HolesMy Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga

Another really interesting contemporary that, while serious, sounds like a great book.

Blurb:
Sixteen-year-old physics nerd Aysel is obsessed with plotting her own death. With a mother who can barely look at her without wincing, classmates who whisper behind her back, and a father whose violent crime rocked her small town, Aysel is ready to turn her potential energy into nothingness.

There’s only one problem: she’s not sure she has the courage to do it alone. But once she discovers a website with a section called Suicide Partners, Aysel’s convinced she’s found her solution: a teen boy with the username FrozenRobot (aka Roman) who’s haunted by a family tragedy is looking for a partner.

Even though Aysel and Roman have nothing in common, they slowly start to fill in each other’s broken lives. But as their suicide pact becomes more concrete, Aysel begins to question whether she really wants to go through with it. Ultimately, she must choose between wanting to die or trying to convince Roman to live so they can discover the potential of their energy together. Except that Roman may not be so easy to convince.

A Darker Shade final for IreneA Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

I love parallel universes, and I’ve been dying to read this book since I heard about it!

Blurb:
Kell is one of the last Travelers—rare magicians who choose a parallel universe to visit.

Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once there was Black London—but no one speaks of that now.

Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to another world for her ‘proper adventure’.

But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive—trickier than they hoped.

All The Bright PlacesAll the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

I’ve heard so many amazing things about this book, so it must be good!

Blurb:
Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.

Red QueenRed Queen by Victoria Aveyard

This book is another one that’s been on my TBR for ages, so I hope to get to it soon.

Blurb:
This is a world divided by blood – red or silver.

The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.

That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.

But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance – Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart …

The Wrath and the DawnThe Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

I’m really intrigued by this retelling. It sounds great, so hopefully it is!

Blurb:
One Life to One Dawn.

In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad’s dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph’s reign of terror once and for all.

Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she’d imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. Incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It’s an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid’s life as retribution for the many lives he’s stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?

IlluminaeIlluminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

I’m pretty excited to read this book because of the unique formatting, with the emails, documents, interviews, and such.

Blurb:
This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do.

This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it’s clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she’d never speak to again.


So that’s some 2015 releases that I wish I had gotten around to earlier. Hopefully I’ll get around to reading all the books that are the first in a series before the next one comes out this year!

What are some 2015 releases that you didn’t get around to? Feel free to leave a link to your TTT in the comments, and I’ll try to take a look!

 

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 🙂

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?

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!

Top Ten Tuesday | Favourite 2015 Reads

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 Best Books I Read In 2015.’


Throne of Glass seriesThrone of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

I’m kind of cheating with this one, but these four books were just so incredible that I had to include all of them! Check out my reviews: Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows.


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

This book was just so moving and lyrical, and so gorgeous to read. You can find my review here, where I attempt to articulate my feelings!


PoisonPoison by Lan Chan

This was my first NetGalley book and, boy, did I hit the jackpot! This was such an exciting story, and I can’t wait for the sequel. I’d definitely recommend it! Check out my review here.


The Casquette GirlsThe Casquette Girls by Alys Arden

This was another NetGalley book that I adored. The writing in this book is so amazing and immersive, that it was hard not to fall in love. It’s a really exciting story, so another one to check out! You can find my review here.


FangirlFangirl by Rainbow Rowell

I loved this book! It was such a fun contemporary story, and the characters and relationships were great. I love how Rowell does romance, so this was definitely one of my favourite reads.


Thirteen Reasons WhyThirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

I thought this was a really unique book. The way the story was told was really interesting, and there was a quick pace that kept me gripped. I found it really powerful and moving.


More Happy Than NotMore Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

This book was not what I expected. I thought it would just be a cute contemporary, and while it was at some points, there were a lot of darker moments, as well as some major plot twists that I did not see coming. Check out my review here.


The Night CircusThe Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

This story was so magical and beautiful! I really want to buy it so I can read it again! I really loved the amazing world that was created in this book, and the characters were all so beautiful.


It's Kind of a Funny StoryIt’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

I loved that this wasn’t a sad story about depression. It was hopeful and exciting, and I loved the casual writing style. I really want to read more of Vizzini’s books. You can find my mini review here.


Made You UpMade You Up by Francesca Zappia

This was a really great book that’s narrated by a girl with schizophrenia. I loved the way the main character dealt with her illness and lived her life despite it. You can find me review here.


So those are my favourite reads of the year. Are any of these books on your list? I’d love to see your TTT’s, so feel free to leave a link in the comments!

 

 

 

Friday Finds #13

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.

Okay, so I added like 10 books to my TBR this week and I don’t have the time to do a full post, so I’m just gonna pick a few favourites to write a bit about, then I’ll put the others in a list at the bottom 🙂


The Wrath and the DawnThe Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

I’ve seen this book floating around the past few months so, once again, I gave in to the hype and added it to my TBR. It actually does look really good, though.

Blurb:
One Life to One Dawn.

In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad’s dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph’s reign of terror once and for all.

Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she’d imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. Incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It’s an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid’s life as retribution for the many lives he’s stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?

Inspired by A Thousand and One Nights, The Wrath and the Dawn is a sumptuous and enthralling read from beginning to end.


I'll Give You the SunI’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

I totally thought I had added this to my Goodreads TBR ages ago, but apparently I didn’t… I’m looking forward to reading it!

Blurb:
Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways . . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as someone else—an even more unpredictable new force in her life. The early years are Noah’s story to tell. The later years are Jude’s. What the twins don’t realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one another, they’d have a chance to remake their world.


A Monster CallsA Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

I’ve heard only great things about this novel. I understand that a movie adaptation of it is coming out next year, so hopefully I’ll get around to it before it’s released!

Blurb:
The monster showed up after midnight. As they do.

But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting. He’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming…

This monster is something different, though. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.

It wants the truth.


Other adds…

The Fox Inheritance and Fox Forever by Mary E. Pearson

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

Reasons to Love a Nerd Like Me by Becky Jerams

On the Fence by Kasie West

Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy

Olivia, On the Brink by Tessa Palmeri


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?