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mybestfriendsarefictional
Where She Went is the sequel to Gayle Forman's If I Stay. This offering follows Adam, Mia's boyfriend from the first book, three years after the events of If I Stay. Adam, now the lead guitarist in Shooting Star, a worldwide phenomenon is feeling the pressure, a chance 24hrs alone and he miraculously reconnect with Mia who, upon leaving for Juliard some three years before, broke off all contact him. I love the themes of this book and that the music still plays such a big role as it is a huge part of both Adam and Mia's lives.
Where She Went follows the same vein, with Adam's past intermingling with the present. I really felt for Adam, his obvious anxiety issues were hard to read at times but this is a fantastic sequel - and actually my favourite of the two.
Where She Went follows the same vein, with Adam's past intermingling with the present. I really felt for Adam, his obvious anxiety issues were hard to read at times but this is a fantastic sequel - and actually my favourite of the two.
Review
I really enjoyed this YA fantasy novel, the first in the Witching Academy series. Basically Sera is an outcast, only accepted into the Academy because of an 'outreach' program of sorts, which is trying to reinforce that seventhborns aren't quite the cursed witches as they were perceived years ago. Sera was found two years prior to the events in the book, having escaped from a year of abuse at the hands of an evil Warlock who held her captive - she knew nothing other than her name and age and doesn't know where she came from. Her only friend, a friendly witch named Mary, brings joy into her otherwise lonely life, until a chance encounter with the mysterious Professor Barrington *swoon* brings some intrigue too.
And so Sera and Barrington begin to work together to try to discover who is using seventhborns to raise the dead, and Sera may just discover a bit more about herself in the process...
Age Range
I’d say that this book is marketed at the YA category; so would suit ages 13+
Summary
This YA fantasy novel is well written, I found the characters very likeable and the story engaging. Whilst I was reading it, the one thing I thought to compare it as would be Sherlock with witches - which is great because I love Sherlock, and witches.
Also can we just take a minute to talk about Barrington? Aside from the fact that he shares the name of a character in The Raven Boys which is only one of my favourite series ever (though TRC Barrington isn't...well...very nice); I just loved the character!
Finally – Would I Recommend It?
Yes definitely – my only issue is that it isn't even out yet so I have a while to wait for the sequel!
4/5 ✰
I really enjoyed this YA fantasy novel, the first in the Witching Academy series. Basically Sera is an outcast, only accepted into the Academy because of an 'outreach' program of sorts, which is trying to reinforce that seventhborns aren't quite the cursed witches as they were perceived years ago. Sera was found two years prior to the events in the book, having escaped from a year of abuse at the hands of an evil Warlock who held her captive - she knew nothing other than her name and age and doesn't know where she came from. Her only friend, a friendly witch named Mary, brings joy into her otherwise lonely life, until a chance encounter with the mysterious Professor Barrington *swoon* brings some intrigue too.
And so Sera and Barrington begin to work together to try to discover who is using seventhborns to raise the dead, and Sera may just discover a bit more about herself in the process...
Age Range
I’d say that this book is marketed at the YA category; so would suit ages 13+
Summary
This YA fantasy novel is well written, I found the characters very likeable and the story engaging. Whilst I was reading it, the one thing I thought to compare it as would be Sherlock with witches - which is great because I love Sherlock, and witches.
Also can we just take a minute to talk about Barrington? Aside from the fact that he shares the name of a character in The Raven Boys which is only one of my favourite series ever (though TRC Barrington isn't...well...very nice); I just loved the character!
Finally – Would I Recommend It?
Yes definitely – my only issue is that it isn't even out yet so I have a while to wait for the sequel!
4/5 ✰
★★★★★/★★★★★ Book Review: Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody
Positives
🃏 Engaging and interesting storyline
🃏 Likeable characters and setting
🃏 Wasn't predictable
🃏 Grey characters, I love a grey character
This wild romp through the so called City of Sin was fantastic and I really enjoyed it. We get two third person points of view through Enne, a seventeen year old who has spent years learning to be a lady at finishing school but who is often overlooked due to her low level status, who is looking for her mother who has vanished in the City of Sin; and Levi, the dashing bisexual Iron Lord and con man who is in well over his head in a con not entirely of his making.
The talent system is one that I really liked and it was well explained at various points through the book. I really loved how Enne grew as a person and really came out of her shell both with Levi's help and in finding herself as she discovered all was not as it seemed in regards to her mother. The side characters of Jac and Lola were welcome additions and I really felt that they brought to the story; the villains were also well executed, I really hated a few of them, that's for sure. I really liked the gang war aspect of the story too.
This YA fantasy novel is well written, I found the characters very likeable and the story engaging. I've heard a few people liken it to Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows duology and I can see why, but it is definitely different enough that it makes it own space in the market and rightly so and I can't wait to read the sequel.
Positives
🃏 Engaging and interesting storyline
🃏 Likeable characters and setting
🃏 Wasn't predictable
🃏 Grey characters, I love a grey character
This wild romp through the so called City of Sin was fantastic and I really enjoyed it. We get two third person points of view through Enne, a seventeen year old who has spent years learning to be a lady at finishing school but who is often overlooked due to her low level status, who is looking for her mother who has vanished in the City of Sin; and Levi, the dashing bisexual Iron Lord and con man who is in well over his head in a con not entirely of his making.
The talent system is one that I really liked and it was well explained at various points through the book. I really loved how Enne grew as a person and really came out of her shell both with Levi's help and in finding herself as she discovered all was not as it seemed in regards to her mother. The side characters of Jac and Lola were welcome additions and I really felt that they brought to the story; the villains were also well executed, I really hated a few of them, that's for sure. I really liked the gang war aspect of the story too.
This YA fantasy novel is well written, I found the characters very likeable and the story engaging. I've heard a few people liken it to Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows duology and I can see why, but it is definitely different enough that it makes it own space in the market and rightly so and I can't wait to read the sequel.
***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of ME AND ME by Alice Kuipers in exchange for my honest review.***
Review
This YA contemporary read deals with the 'what if's' in the aftermath of an accident on the lake. It begins with our main character, Lark is on a date with Alec, a boy from school whom she has liked for a while. They are canoeing in the lake where they come across Lark's former babysitting charge, Annabelle, who has fallen overboard of her parents' canoe. Lark and Alec jump into the water where Alec then hits his head, and Lark has to decide to save the unconscious Annabelle or Alec - effectively Lark then begins to live parallel lives based on the two choices she could have made...
The book is written in the first person, with a dual same person narrative which was confusing, so much so that I actually made a list so that I could tell which was which when I was reading each one. The chapters weren't well laid out and it always took me a few paragraphs to see who it was about. The secondary characters were a welcome addition and brought in some much needed humour to the story, I really liked Lark's Dad and her bandmates, especially Nifty.
The story was fairly slow paced, finally picking up somewhat in the second half of the book, but overall it fell flat for me unfortunately and left me feeling deflated.
Age Range
I’d say that this book is marketed at the YA category; so would suit ages 13+
Summary
This contemporary YA is a quick read at just 248 pages; in all honestly had it been much longer I very well may not have finished it as I just wasn't invested. For me it draw parallels to Before I Sleep by Lauren Oliver; though unfortunately it was much more confusing to read.
I don't think it helped that I found both versions of Lark irritating for entirely different reasons.
Finally – Would I Recommend It?
Personally, this book wasn't for me and I wouldn't recommend it.
2.5/5 ✰
Review
This YA contemporary read deals with the 'what if's' in the aftermath of an accident on the lake. It begins with our main character, Lark is on a date with Alec, a boy from school whom she has liked for a while. They are canoeing in the lake where they come across Lark's former babysitting charge, Annabelle, who has fallen overboard of her parents' canoe. Lark and Alec jump into the water where Alec then hits his head, and Lark has to decide to save the unconscious Annabelle or Alec - effectively Lark then begins to live parallel lives based on the two choices she could have made...
The book is written in the first person, with a dual same person narrative which was confusing, so much so that I actually made a list so that I could tell which was which when I was reading each one. The chapters weren't well laid out and it always took me a few paragraphs to see who it was about. The secondary characters were a welcome addition and brought in some much needed humour to the story, I really liked Lark's Dad and her bandmates, especially Nifty.
The story was fairly slow paced, finally picking up somewhat in the second half of the book, but overall it fell flat for me unfortunately and left me feeling deflated.
Age Range
I’d say that this book is marketed at the YA category; so would suit ages 13+
Summary
This contemporary YA is a quick read at just 248 pages; in all honestly had it been much longer I very well may not have finished it as I just wasn't invested. For me it draw parallels to Before I Sleep by Lauren Oliver; though unfortunately it was much more confusing to read.
I don't think it helped that I found both versions of Lark irritating for entirely different reasons.
Finally – Would I Recommend It?
Personally, this book wasn't for me and I wouldn't recommend it.
2.5/5 ✰
★★★☆☆/★★★★★
Book Review: Jack of Hearts (And Other Parts) by L C Rosen
Positives
✂️Likeable main character and supporting cast
💌Very funny
Negatives
💌Rude - like an x-rated version of Love, Simon
✂️I guessed 'whodunit' early on
I enjoyed this LGBT YA contemporary. Jack is a very likeable main character though he seems to have more sex than I have hot drinks in a week 😂 the stalker aspect was a good addition though I did guess fairly early on.
Jack Rothman is out and proud. He is something of a sexlebrity at his school, and his apparent sexcapades are discussed in great detail in the girls bathrooms each week.
When Jack's best friend Jenna asks him to write a sex advice column where readers can send in anonymous questions for Jack to answer, he is initially wary but then agrees when he sees a chance to show that he isn't quite the player that his peers believe him to be. As his 'Jack of Hearts' column gains more readers, Jack himself gains a stalker and we follow Jack and his two best friends as they attempt to untangle this escalating situation.
As I mentioned in my negatives above, I do think this one should be marketed at the older end of YA, so 16+, as it's pretty graphic and sexually explicit at times. I'd recommend if you liked Love, Simon and don't kind a bit of rude and graphic language.
Book Review: Jack of Hearts (And Other Parts) by L C Rosen
Positives
✂️Likeable main character and supporting cast
💌Very funny
Negatives
💌Rude - like an x-rated version of Love, Simon
✂️I guessed 'whodunit' early on
I enjoyed this LGBT YA contemporary. Jack is a very likeable main character though he seems to have more sex than I have hot drinks in a week 😂 the stalker aspect was a good addition though I did guess fairly early on.
Jack Rothman is out and proud. He is something of a sexlebrity at his school, and his apparent sexcapades are discussed in great detail in the girls bathrooms each week.
When Jack's best friend Jenna asks him to write a sex advice column where readers can send in anonymous questions for Jack to answer, he is initially wary but then agrees when he sees a chance to show that he isn't quite the player that his peers believe him to be. As his 'Jack of Hearts' column gains more readers, Jack himself gains a stalker and we follow Jack and his two best friends as they attempt to untangle this escalating situation.
As I mentioned in my negatives above, I do think this one should be marketed at the older end of YA, so 16+, as it's pretty graphic and sexually explicit at times. I'd recommend if you liked Love, Simon and don't kind a bit of rude and graphic language.
★★★★★/★★★★★
Book Review: Unnatural Causes by Dr Richard Shepherd
Positives
🔬Absolutely fascinating subject matter
🔬Written in a sensitive, but no nonsense way
The non fiction novel was written by Dr Richard Shepherd, arguably one of the UK's top and most well known forensic pathologists. This is a well-written, informative and captivating book which I devoured; in part due to my fascination with the subject matter but also because of how well written the book is.
Initially we meet Dr Shepherd as a young man starting out, and we see everything from his first post mortem, to his first time giving evidence at Court, to his first child being born. The book is set out almost on a case by case basis; where Dr Shepherd takes us through a very small selection of the approximate 23,000 post-mortems that he has carried out.
I found the evolution of the profession fascinating; so much has changed over what is a relatively short period of time and Dr Shepherd definitely comes across as someone who wants to move ahead with the times; his forward thinking within the novel can be seen in processes that are we now consider the norm; including his research into the restraining of prisoners.
I have read numerous novels based around forensic pathology, both as works of fiction and non-fiction, and I have to say that this is definitely one of my favourites. His writing style comes across as sensitive but factual; and I would highly recommend this book with an interest in the subject matter.
Book Review: Unnatural Causes by Dr Richard Shepherd
Positives
🔬Absolutely fascinating subject matter
🔬Written in a sensitive, but no nonsense way
The non fiction novel was written by Dr Richard Shepherd, arguably one of the UK's top and most well known forensic pathologists. This is a well-written, informative and captivating book which I devoured; in part due to my fascination with the subject matter but also because of how well written the book is.
Initially we meet Dr Shepherd as a young man starting out, and we see everything from his first post mortem, to his first time giving evidence at Court, to his first child being born. The book is set out almost on a case by case basis; where Dr Shepherd takes us through a very small selection of the approximate 23,000 post-mortems that he has carried out.
I found the evolution of the profession fascinating; so much has changed over what is a relatively short period of time and Dr Shepherd definitely comes across as someone who wants to move ahead with the times; his forward thinking within the novel can be seen in processes that are we now consider the norm; including his research into the restraining of prisoners.
I have read numerous novels based around forensic pathology, both as works of fiction and non-fiction, and I have to say that this is definitely one of my favourites. His writing style comes across as sensitive but factual; and I would highly recommend this book with an interest in the subject matter.
Victor Vale was not a fucking sidekick
A vicious tale indeed. After falling in love with Schwab's writing style when I read her Shades of Magic series, I couldn't wait to get stuck into Vicious.
A twisted tale of ambition, desire and super powers - I absolutely loved this book. There are no heroes, just the lesser evil of two villains hellbent on destroying each other after a ten year hiatus; Victor Vale plays his part very well, I also loved the addition of his band of strays.
The flashbacks were a very welcome addition to the story, both from Victor and Eli's points of view - you can really see how warped Eli's version of events is; and how he tries to give himself permission for the atrocities that he carries out.
I can't wait to see how the story continues forward with Vengeful.
A vicious tale indeed. After falling in love with Schwab's writing style when I read her Shades of Magic series, I couldn't wait to get stuck into Vicious.
A twisted tale of ambition, desire and super powers - I absolutely loved this book. There are no heroes, just the lesser evil of two villains hellbent on destroying each other after a ten year hiatus; Victor Vale plays his part very well, I also loved the addition of his band of strays.
The flashbacks were a very welcome addition to the story, both from Victor and Eli's points of view - you can really see how warped Eli's version of events is; and how he tries to give himself permission for the atrocities that he carries out.
I can't wait to see how the story continues forward with Vengeful.