bookbeforeuleap's Reviews (863)

 This is the story of Mack, he is openly out at school and has a crush on K, the most popular guy.

I absolutely adored the Black Flamingo by this author and so this was one of my most anticipated reads this year. I loved that it was again in free verse and the story just flowed off the page. The Scottish setting for the second half was just perfect and I adored Finlay.

And yet I didn’t love it. Don’t get me wrong I liked it and it’s a great ya story but it didn’t feel like it had the same power as the Black Flamingo. That book knew what it wanted to say, you could feel the anger simmering under the surface. This felt a little tame in comparison. I think the main problem for me was that I was a little to old for this book, the teenage drama, the spoilt rich boy, the miscommunication, all just felt a little annoying to me but I can imagine teenage me would have loved it!

I will still buy anything this author writes and I’m glad that this story is out there for teenagers now. 

 Poe Markham takes a job as a Librarian at Thornchapel, a place that has haunted her dreams for the past 12 years. She wants to find out what happened to her mother 12 years ago and keep away from the owner, Auden Guest. As she works away in the library she gets drawn into the world of Auden, his friends and his worst enemy, St.Sebastian and none of them will be the same again…

This is an erotic, gothic mystery and the writing is mesmerising. It has several different story lines all unfolding at once, all just as tense and all woven together to take you on a journey through Thornchapel and it’s history.

I bought this one on a whim as I loved the cover and I love a bit of spice but I got so much more from this book. It covered themes I would never had thought I would enjoy reading about but I devoured it in one day. I liked how the author was respectful of the practises she was using in the book instead of just using them as a plot line without care for the damage that could be caused.

This book won’t be for everyone, the sex scenes are very graphic and detailed and the plot line a little far fetched and there are one or two bits that just don’t work but if you enjoy some smut with an actual storyline and getting lost in a book then this is one for you.
 

 Jamie and Andrew are strangers, two of the last people left on earth after a super-flu wipes out most of the population. The end up navigating this new world together during an epic road trip and learn who the are along the way.

So many people have raved about this book and I can see why. I adored this book. It was a brilliant coming of age romance set against the back drop of a broken down society and desolate world. It had the endearing romance of Heartstopper, the gripping end of the world survival, fast paced plot line and some cracking movie references!

If you liked this one then you absolutely need to grab yourself a copy of Wranglestone by Darren Charlton…

Thank you @teambkmrk for my review copy, I will keep my fingers crossed for a sequel!!!! 

 Set in 1974, Abel is a maker of clocks destined to raise his son alone. Zachary is a highly intelligent a curious child and Abel feels his son will be safer raised away from the dangers of his workshop and so sends him to live with his eccentric Aunt. While Zachary is living with his Aunt, Able must travel to Constantinople. When he doesn’t return the world assumes him dead but Zachary doesn’t believe this and with the first chance he gets, he makes his way across the globe to search for his father.

I was already excited to read this from the blurb and from @zubscovered early review but then the legend that is @bonnie_garmus_author recommended it as one of her top reads and I knew I had to push it to the top of my TBR.

I really enjoyed the depth of the characters this author created and the different settings we got to explore as readers in a time period that I haven’t read much about. There were beautiful moments of tenderness combined with humour and a firm set of adventure throughout.

I love the descriptions of the automata, they really added a layer of magic to the story and reminded me a night circus. There was also trans and gay rep with some great conversations around this which means I kicked of pages of pride successfully!

Thank you @doubledayukbooks for my review copy.
 

 Stop what your doing. Go pre-order this book immediately! I loved everything about this book and I need you all to get it and gush over it with me.

Set in 2030, this is the story of Indiana Dylan and how she falls in love but it is so much more than that. We meet Peggy, Indianas AI assistant, Lina, a working mum who has only ever known working all hours, Jack who is still grieving the loss of his wife, Frank, the homeless man who lives in front of Indiana’s building and (possibly my favourite) Alan the dog. Indianas character was brilliant, she was smart, funny, honest and I loved seeing her develop. All of these characters perfectly balance out this story of where technology could be heading, human connections and love.

I loved last one at the party by this author so I went in with high hopes and it did not disappoint. This is book is worlds apart from the author’s previous book but just as brilliant, I always think that just shows what incredible talent an author has.
 

 I was so excited for this one as the back of this book makes some bold claims:

* enemies to lovers
* opposites attract
* slow burn
* grumpy/sunshine
* inconvenient attraction
* belligerent sexual tension
* force proximity
* sexy pen pals
* talking animals
* rugged cowboy
* small town drama

This was a fun read, it moved quickly and I liked the characters. This was essentially a romance so if your not a fantasy reader then don’t be put off this one as really the only fantasy element was some zombie-ish characters. I enjoyed the use of letters to build the narrative (although the weren’t sexy so don’t get too excited about sexy pen pals 🤣) and I liked how the characters opened up to strangers but I didn’t feel much chemistry between them until they were actually together.

I adored her brother and his boyfriend, they really stole the show for me and I would absolutely read their story 🤣I think the second half of this book is much stronger than the first and I’m glad I kept reading.

This is out in August so if this sounds up your street then definitely preorder. Thank you @orbitbooks_uk for my review copy.