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odettebrethouwer's Reviews (1.95k)
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Second day of the month, second book from my TBR finished. Yes, I started with the quick and easy reads XD
I've won this book on the Dutch blog Serendipity Books. I was really glad I'd won this book. A while ago, i was looking for books with a male-female friendship in it where there is no love, just friendship (still looking BTW, recommend to me if you know anything!!) and multiple people said they heard great friendshipthings about this book. I was a bit suprised because it is a YA book and usually there is love in those. And it didn;t even took 50 pages in this book for the word 'love' to appear. So that was a bit of a bummer.
But then I got over it and decided I wanted to enjoy this book, whether it was about friendship or about love, and I succeded in that. It is a lovely, touching and heartwarming story with meaning and messages in it and I really like that. But this book aims at younger readers than I am, so I think that is why it didn't ffelt like a 4* book to be. I am highly aware that this is me, not the book, so I highly recomment this book if you want a cute story with some depth!
I've won this book on the Dutch blog Serendipity Books. I was really glad I'd won this book. A while ago, i was looking for books with a male-female friendship in it where there is no love, just friendship (still looking BTW, recommend to me if you know anything!!) and multiple people said they heard great friendshipthings about this book. I was a bit suprised because it is a YA book and usually there is love in those. And it didn;t even took 50 pages in this book for the word 'love' to appear. So that was a bit of a bummer.
But then I got over it and decided I wanted to enjoy this book, whether it was about friendship or about love, and I succeded in that. It is a lovely, touching and heartwarming story with meaning and messages in it and I really like that. But this book aims at younger readers than I am, so I think that is why it didn't ffelt like a 4* book to be. I am highly aware that this is me, not the book, so I highly recomment this book if you want a cute story with some depth!
This is a lovely fluffy story, with a very original storyline. of course, some parts of the plot are predictable, but others aren't. When is she going to tell him? The sunflower, the bottle.. Those little things made me close this book in my heart :) But after a couple of months, this books feels rather average because it is so predictable, hence rated it 3* now in stead of 4.
So, this is one of the books I've read as a manuscript for the Dutch publisher BlossomBooks, to see if it was something to translate and publish. I love this book, so I've campainged a bit for it, but the decision has been made that they will not publish it :( But, not my job, not my call :P But I'm only reviewing it now, when it is published, because that was the deal with BB. (So, 2 more manuscript-reviews will follow, some will take a long time, but they will come. Hold on.)
I knew this book was being published around know, but when I was in the bookstore today and I saw it, I gasped for a breath. I loved this book so much! I decided to buy this, as a physical reminder of the amazing and awesome experience of reading a manuscript. And to be ably to loan it.
And to read it again before THE SECOND BOOK COMES OUT! OMG there is going to be a second book! I've just found out today because it is on the last page of this book! I'm so excited! It did feel like a stand alone, so that makes it a bit less hard to wait untill the next one comes out, and I have no idea when that will be, but YAY!
Let's get down to business, my review of this book.
I;ve grabbed my notes from when I've read this book and my email to the publisher to be able to give you guys an review with content, and not just OMG this book is amazing go read it :)
This book is really different from other YA fantasy books I've read, although I admit I haven't read something close to everything yet. But it feels really different from the big series and stuff. I really like the setting of this book: our time, witches still exist. You get really funny stuff like her grandma contacting her witchfriends via Facebook, I really like this kind of stuff!
The book is really fast paced. This is partly because of some answergiving solution in the book (you will understand what I mean when you read it). Some people might say this is a weak point in the plot, I say it is a strong one. It makes sure the story keeps it's speed. it does not have to slow down for stuff that doesn't really contribute to the plot, and I like that a lot. The world comes together piece by piece, a bit like in the [b:Ruby Red|8835379|Ruby Red (Precious Stone Trilogy, #1)|Kerstin Gier|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312036605s/8835379.jpg|6510846]-series (which I LOVE! Published in Dutch by this publisher and I highly recommend them!)
A lot of stuff is happening in this book. Not to much talking (an other manuscript I've read had A LOT of explaining in talking and it was really boring because of that, hence I noticed in this one). And I really really really liked the ending ;) So that is a good thing to look forward to while reading this!
I really like the main character, Merry, because she is very realistic. I really like that detail because it makes me able to identify with her and to like her, to see her as a real person.
Another really nice and realistic detail: at a certain point in the book, she wants to overthink some things. She is looking for a good place to do that. She goes to the trainstation and sits on a bench. I really like this, because it is really hard in our world to find a good thinking spot outside of your bed, especially in the city, and this is a great sollution.
Wow this review had gotten really long. But I really like to think so deeply about a book and figure out what it is that made me love it (or not). I should do long reviews more often I think. Agree?
I knew this book was being published around know, but when I was in the bookstore today and I saw it, I gasped for a breath. I loved this book so much! I decided to buy this, as a physical reminder of the amazing and awesome experience of reading a manuscript. And to be ably to loan it.
And to read it again before THE SECOND BOOK COMES OUT! OMG there is going to be a second book! I've just found out today because it is on the last page of this book! I'm so excited! It did feel like a stand alone, so that makes it a bit less hard to wait untill the next one comes out, and I have no idea when that will be, but YAY!
Let's get down to business, my review of this book.
I;ve grabbed my notes from when I've read this book and my email to the publisher to be able to give you guys an review with content, and not just OMG this book is amazing go read it :)
This book is really different from other YA fantasy books I've read, although I admit I haven't read something close to everything yet. But it feels really different from the big series and stuff. I really like the setting of this book: our time, witches still exist. You get really funny stuff like her grandma contacting her witchfriends via Facebook, I really like this kind of stuff!
The book is really fast paced. This is partly because of some answergiving solution in the book (you will understand what I mean when you read it). Some people might say this is a weak point in the plot, I say it is a strong one. It makes sure the story keeps it's speed. it does not have to slow down for stuff that doesn't really contribute to the plot, and I like that a lot. The world comes together piece by piece, a bit like in the [b:Ruby Red|8835379|Ruby Red (Precious Stone Trilogy, #1)|Kerstin Gier|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312036605s/8835379.jpg|6510846]-series (which I LOVE! Published in Dutch by this publisher and I highly recommend them!)
A lot of stuff is happening in this book. Not to much talking (an other manuscript I've read had A LOT of explaining in talking and it was really boring because of that, hence I noticed in this one). And I really really really liked the ending ;) So that is a good thing to look forward to while reading this!
I really like the main character, Merry, because she is very realistic.
Spoiler
At 2/3 of the book, she no longer wants to save the world for free. I can really imagine you want to be normal again, and have a little peace and quit around you for a moment.Another really nice and realistic detail: at a certain point in the book, she wants to overthink some things. She is looking for a good place to do that. She goes to the trainstation and sits on a bench. I really like this, because it is really hard in our world to find a good thinking spot outside of your bed, especially in the city, and this is a great sollution.
Wow this review had gotten really long. But I really like to think so deeply about a book and figure out what it is that made me love it (or not). I should do long reviews more often I think. Agree?
I started the month with this book because I thought it was a quick read. I was right, I've read it in a day. I also started the month with it do just be done with it. This might sounds a bit weird, but I did not really enjoyed similar books like [b:The Fault in Our Stars|11870085|The Fault in Our Stars|John Green|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1360206420s/11870085.jpg|16827462] and [b:Zac & Mia|20452478|Zac & Mia|A.J. Betts|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1389021559s/20452478.jpg|21455857], zo I was not expecting to love this.
But this story is very well written. I cared almost immediatly about both characters, and the story is very touching and has some beautiful elements in it. I like the thing with the colored pages for the moods as well,.
I have to buy new tissues.
I think the book ends on a really good point, on a beautiful moment when the story is closed, not some forced closure with the funeral, but when it was closure for Nadia.
I highly recommend this book!!
But this story is very well written. I cared almost immediatly about both characters, and the story is very touching and has some beautiful elements in it. I like the thing with the colored pages for the moods as well,
Spoiler
although I don't understand why Nadia's pages on the end aren't less white. Yes, she is not suicidal anymore, but I cannot say she is as happy as Daan a the beginning of the book.. Or are the colours about health? I saw them as mood, and thus it was a bit weird I thinkI have to buy new tissues.
Spoiler
I cried when Daan was on stage, that was so touching! And of course I've cried the whole last 20 pages or so.I think the book ends on a really good point, on a beautiful moment when the story is closed, not some forced closure with the funeral, but when it was closure for Nadia.
I highly recommend this book!!
I first heard about this book when all the Bookstagrammers from The Netherlands I follow posted this book and it looks so amazing! I wanted to know what it was about, and I really liked the blurb. I got excited, I love SciFi-ish books!
But by now a lot of those people have read this book and were a bit dissapointed. It was more of a lovestory than the SciFi-story they (and I) expected. So now I don't know what to expect anymore, but at least I'm a bit prepared :)
I really liked the Sci-Fi idea of this book, but it is kind of average, the between-generation and the problem of finding meaning in your life, and how to deal with the rules on the spaceship. The lovestory was a bit to goody-goody for my taste.
I really liked how everything turned out! There was some more technical stuff at the end, which really pleased me. I am curious for the sequel!
If you like this, you should definitely go and read [b:The 100|17332969|The 100 (The 100, #1)|Kass Morgan|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1377012321s/17332969.jpg|24065011] series!
I noticed I really liked the SciFi-ish parts in this, and really disliked the emphasis on the love story. Maybe I should go and read more non-YA SciFi. Any recommendations?
But by now a lot of those people have read this book and were a bit dissapointed. It was more of a lovestory than the SciFi-story they (and I) expected. So now I don't know what to expect anymore, but at least I'm a bit prepared :)
I really liked the Sci-Fi idea of this book, but it is kind of average, the between-generation and the problem of finding meaning in your life, and how to deal with the rules on the spaceship. The lovestory was a bit to goody-goody for my taste.
Spoiler
I had hopes for the story when she broke up with Dom, and than that hope dissappeared when he came back. Then they found out about the planet, and the hopes for more SciFi flared up, but died soon after because it was more feelings again, and again, and again.I really liked how everything turned out! There was some more technical stuff at the end, which really pleased me. I am curious for the sequel!
If you like this, you should definitely go and read [b:The 100|17332969|The 100 (The 100, #1)|Kass Morgan|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1377012321s/17332969.jpg|24065011] series!
I noticed I really liked the SciFi-ish parts in this, and really disliked the emphasis on the love story. Maybe I should go and read more non-YA SciFi. Any recommendations?
This series is very addictive, and it surprises me. The storyline is usually not my cup of tea, and the same with sex in a book. But these books.. I don;t know what it is but I like them!
I really like Tessa and her development, but I do hope it will be more.
It was a bit too much of the same for me while reading this book, hence the 3*, but I've read it right after book 1, so yeah. I will not read book 3 next month, but I will definitely read it! I want to know what happens to everybody.
Andddd I REALLY like how she is friends with Landon without one of them being gay of in love with the other!!! (or them being family :P) I hope they stay away from kissing in book 3 or 4 XD
Teamtalk:
I really like Tessa and her development, but I do hope it will be more.
Spoiler
I really want her to dump Hardin, but I think I'll have to wait for book 4 in order for that to happen. I don;t like how dependent she is.It was a bit too much of the same for me while reading this book, hence the 3*, but I've read it right after book 1, so yeah. I will not read book 3 next month, but I will definitely read it! I want to know what happens to everybody.
Andddd I REALLY like how she is friends with Landon without one of them being gay of in love with the other!!! (or them being family :P) I hope they stay away from kissing in book 3 or 4 XD
Teamtalk:
Spoiler
I'm no #TeamHardin, but no #TeamZed either. I'm #TeamTrevor :P
This is how books with a fantasy element should be: unique, like nothing you've ever read before. I've enjoyed reading this book a lot, happy to be continuing this story with book 2 and 3!
This is a really good thriller! A lot of suspence, a lot of people, a lot of connections, a lot of motives, a lot of secrets, a lot of weirdness and a whole lot of big time mess. Great read, highly recommend it!
I ended up really liking this!
This book sounds like a book full of cute summer stories, but because of some reviews I already knew before I started that it was not the case. The only common factor for these stories is that they take place in the summer.
But in the first stories, there was a bit too much I didn't liked at each story. Not just the not-summery-fluffy-plotline, but also writing I didn't really liked. Every story I read, really disappointed me. Every story. And that is quite a bad thing. Even Stepahnie Perkins' story! So, I decided to quit this book after reading that story. With pain in my heart, but this was not giving me a nice reading vibe and I hate that. I haven't rated them not low but I just did not felt it.
But then, my friends Rowie and Evelyn were talking so positive about the other stories in the book, I decided to continue reading. And I'm really glad I did because the stories got better towards the end of the book.
Head, Scales, Tongue, Tail by Leigh Bardugo: 3/5
I called the plottwist XD But I love her writing and I do like the plottwist. This is a Bardugo-worthy story, so if you like this you should defenitly read more of her work! I do think this is not the best story to start the book with, because it is not the summer read you might my expecting..
The End of Love by Nina Lacour: 3/5
This was a nice and cute coming-of-age and love-story, but that's all. More of what I expected from this book than the Bardugo story to be honest.
Last Stand at the Cinegore by Libba Bray: 2/5
This is one little weird story. I knew before starting this book to not expect fluffy stories only so that is not the issue, this love/horror combination is just not my cup of tea. This proves to me that I don't like horror unless it is written by [a:Darren Shan|5816|Darren Shan|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1305767857p2/5816.jpg], whoops.
Sick Pleasure by Francesca Lia Block: 3/5
I like the idea of this story and I like motorcycles, but the namething is a bit weird and it feels like it is written really fast. I liked the ending, but it felt a bit ruffled.
In Ninety Minutes, Turn North by Stephanie Perkins: 3/5
It took me a long time to get into this story! That is a) a bad thing for a short story b) a bad thing for something written by Perkins. I had high expectations of this story. I loved that it were the characters from her story in [b:My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories|20309175|My True Love Gave to Me Twelve Holiday Stories|Stephanie Perkins|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1459353572s/20309175.jpg|28143699]! But frankly, that was the only thing I liked about this story.. It is well-written, but I just don't like the setting and the storyline that much..
Souvenirs by Tim Federle: 4/5
This was really cute! Glad I picked this book back up again. Really like how the coming-of-age happens in a short story!
Inertia by Veronica Roth: 5/5
Sorry, I cannot talk about this outside the spoiler tag.. All I can say is that I love it and I'm really thankfull for continuing this book XD
Love is the Last Resort by Jon Skovron: 5/5
This story is so sarcastic, I love it! The tone of voice is just that bit over the top that somehow makes it perfect.
Other books by this author doesn't appeal to me if I look at the blurbs, which disappoints me because the writing is so briljant.
Good Luck and Farewell by Brandy Colbert: 3/5
This was really cute burlt not special or anything.
Brand new Attraction by Cassandra Clare: 2/5
Not bad, but I didn't enjoyed reading it or something.
A Thousand Ways This Could All Go Wrong by Jennifer E. Smith: 5/5
This was so cute and summery fluffy perfect!
The Map of Tiny Perfect Things by Lev Grossman: 5/5
And this as well!
Because I put this book dnf first, I just cannot rate it 5*, but I really enjoyed a big part of it after that, so 4*.
This book sounds like a book full of cute summer stories, but because of some reviews I already knew before I started that it was not the case. The only common factor for these stories is that they take place in the summer.
But in the first stories, there was a bit too much I didn't liked at each story. Not just the not-summery-fluffy-plotline, but also writing I didn't really liked. Every story I read, really disappointed me. Every story. And that is quite a bad thing. Even Stepahnie Perkins' story! So, I decided to quit this book after reading that story. With pain in my heart, but this was not giving me a nice reading vibe and I hate that. I haven't rated them not low but I just did not felt it.
But then, my friends Rowie and Evelyn were talking so positive about the other stories in the book, I decided to continue reading. And I'm really glad I did because the stories got better towards the end of the book.
Head, Scales, Tongue, Tail by Leigh Bardugo: 3/5
I called the plottwist XD But I love her writing and I do like the plottwist. This is a Bardugo-worthy story, so if you like this you should defenitly read more of her work! I do think this is not the best story to start the book with, because it is not the summer read you might my expecting..
The End of Love by Nina Lacour: 3/5
This was a nice and cute coming-of-age and love-story, but that's all. More of what I expected from this book than the Bardugo story to be honest.
Last Stand at the Cinegore by Libba Bray: 2/5
This is one little weird story. I knew before starting this book to not expect fluffy stories only so that is not the issue, this love/horror combination is just not my cup of tea. This proves to me that I don't like horror unless it is written by [a:Darren Shan|5816|Darren Shan|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1305767857p2/5816.jpg], whoops.
Sick Pleasure by Francesca Lia Block: 3/5
I like the idea of this story and I like motorcycles, but the namething is a bit weird and it feels like it is written really fast. I liked the ending, but it felt a bit ruffled.
In Ninety Minutes, Turn North by Stephanie Perkins: 3/5
It took me a long time to get into this story! That is a) a bad thing for a short story b) a bad thing for something written by Perkins. I had high expectations of this story. I loved that it were the characters from her story in [b:My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories|20309175|My True Love Gave to Me Twelve Holiday Stories|Stephanie Perkins|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1459353572s/20309175.jpg|28143699]! But frankly, that was the only thing I liked about this story.. It is well-written, but I just don't like the setting and the storyline that much..
Souvenirs by Tim Federle: 4/5
This was really cute! Glad I picked this book back up again. Really like how the coming-of-age happens in a short story!
Inertia by Veronica Roth: 5/5
Sorry, I cannot talk about this outside the spoiler tag.. All I can say is that I love it and I'm really thankfull for continuing this book XD
Spoiler
I was loving the friendship-storyline, so I uttered an deep frustrationscreem when he said he loved her. Usually, this makes me hate a story I've loved before. I have an issue with boy-girl friendships, how they always turn into love or include a gay person. But this story had one hell of a cute ending so all is forgiven and I love this story SO MUCH!Love is the Last Resort by Jon Skovron: 5/5
This story is so sarcastic, I love it! The tone of voice is just that bit over the top that somehow makes it perfect.
Other books by this author doesn't appeal to me if I look at the blurbs, which disappoints me because the writing is so briljant.
Good Luck and Farewell by Brandy Colbert: 3/5
This was really cute burlt not special or anything.
Brand new Attraction by Cassandra Clare: 2/5
Not bad, but I didn't enjoyed reading it or something.
A Thousand Ways This Could All Go Wrong by Jennifer E. Smith: 5/5
This was so cute and summery fluffy perfect!
The Map of Tiny Perfect Things by Lev Grossman: 5/5
And this as well!
Because I put this book dnf first, I just cannot rate it 5*, but I really enjoyed a big part of it after that, so 4*.
Oh this was another perfect fluffy book by the queen of contemporary. I've been looking forward to reading this and it has been a great read! I love this story and I love the other characters from the previous books to be showing up sometimes and seeing their story continuing.
This book was Perkinsworthy again, but I did surprise me at one point. But of course, this is Perkins, so this is just perfect :)
I was hooked to this book from page one until the last, just like with the others, and that is just amazing writing. Why have I rated the other books 4*? I'm going to edit :)
This book was Perkinsworthy again, but I did surprise me at one point.
Spoiler
They were broken up! OMG! I didn't knew what to do with myself, I had no idea how it would all turn out. of course, it is Perkins, so they will probably end up together I was thinking, but some books can have beautiful endings when the people do not end up together, and that could have been beautiful in this book as well.I was hooked to this book from page one until the last, just like with the others, and that is just amazing writing. Why have I rated the other books 4*? I'm going to edit :)