Her by Garry Disher | ARC Review

Disclosure: Please note that links to merchants mentioned within this post might be using an affiliate link which means that – at zero cost to you – I might earn a commission if you buy something through that affiliate link.

Cover of Her by Garry Dishner on a glass table with a potted chive plant

3 stars.

“Out in that country the sun smeared the sky and nothing ever altered, except that one day a scrap man came by with his wife, who had cost him twelve shillings once upon a time, and a wispy girl, who had cost him ten.”

THANK YOU TO TEXT PUBLISHING & NETGALLEY FOR GIVING ME AN EGALLEY OF THIS BOOK IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW

Her is definitely not my usual genre of reading, so it took me some time to get into it. That being said it was also a very quick read and I finished in a couple of days.

“Out in that country the sun smeared the sky and nothing ever altered, except that one day a scrap man came by . . .

Her name is scarcely known or remembered. All in all, she is worth less than the nine shillings and sixpence counted into her father’s hand. She bides her time. She does her work.

Way back in the corner of her mind is a thought she is almost too frightened to shine a light on: one day she will run away.” – Summary from Goodreads

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Dating You/Hating You by Christina Lauren | ARC Review

Disclosure: Please note that links to merchants mentioned within this post might be using an affiliate link which means that – at zero cost to you – I might earn a commission if you buy something through that affiliate link.

Cover of Dating You Hating You by Christina Lauren next to a vase of fake blue flowers

5 stars

 

“I think I’m only now realizing how hard it must be to be a woman. Too thin or not thin enough. Do your job flawlessly, but don’t show up any of the men. Speak up, but don’t be bitchy. Smile. And then you have people like Brad totally playing into it.” 

THANK YOU TO HACHETTE AUSTRALIA & NETGALLEY FOR GIVING ME AN EGALLEY OF THIS BOOK IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW

I absolutely adored Dating You/ Hating You! I had read a few reviews and all of them had been positive, but I would not have expected how much I devoured this book. This is probably my first official New Adult genre novel, and I am definitely going to be looking into the genre in the future, (so if anyone has any good suggestions please leave them below!), the romance had me swooning.

“Despite the odds against them from an embarrassing meet-awkward at a mutual friend’s Halloween party, Carter and Evie immediately hit it off. Even the realization that they’re both high-powered agents at competing firms in Hollywood isn’t enough to squash the fire.

But when their two agencies merge—causing the pair to vie for the same position—all bets are off. What could have been a beautiful, blossoming romance turns into an all-out war of sabotage. Carter and Evie are both thirty-something professionals—so why can’t they act like it?

Whether these two Hollywood love/hate birds get the storybook Hollywood ending or just a dramedy of epic proportions, you will get to enjoy Christina Lauren’s heartfelt, raucous, and hilarious romance style at its finest.” – Summary from Goodreads. 

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Only Dead On The Inside by James Breakwell | ARC Review

Disclosure: Please note that links to merchants mentioned within this post might be using an affiliate link which means that – at zero cost to you – I might earn a commission if you buy something through that affiliate link.

Only Dead On The Inside by James Breakwell, on my iPad with a first aid kit, torch and skulls.

3.5 Stars

I RECEIVED AN ADVANCED COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.

Only Dead On The Inside: A Parent’s Guide To Surviving The Zombie Apocalypse is written by comedy writer James Breakwell, who became internet famous through his Twitter @XplodingUnicorn where he posts about his family. He became well known when one of his tweets went viral after being shared in a Buzzfeed article. Which is probably when I discovered James’s writing. I am definitely a fan of his Twitter, it is always amusing reading about the antics of his family, even if its been exaggerated.

So for anyone familiar with James Breakwell’s social media, this book is exactly what you would expect.

‘There are plenty of guides out there about how to survive the zombie apocalypse. All of them assume readers are young, fit, and unencumbered by children. In that scenario, the only living humans left will be smug, outdoorsy Millennials. That’s hell on earth, even without the zombies. Only Dead on the Inside is the answer for the rest of us.

Only Dead on the Inside blends traditional parenting advice with zombie survival tips, bringing together two totally unrelated genres in a book no one asked for but everyone needs.

If you want to make sure your family is apocalypse-ready, Only Dead on the Inside is your best–and only–chance at survival. No pressure, but if you don’t read this book, your children will die.’ – Summary from Goodreads.

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Heartless by Marissa Meyer | Review

Disclosure: Please note that links to merchants mentioned within this post might be using an affiliate link which means that – at zero cost to you – I might earn a commission if you buy something through that affiliate link.

Photo of Heartless by Marissa Meyer on a scattered desk of cards with Queen of Hearts and Cheshire Cat magnetic bookmarks from the etsy Read and Wonder store

4 stars

“But hoping, is how the impossible can be possible after all, sometimes your heart is the only thing worth listening to.”

I absolutely adored this book, I tore through it faster than I expected. I knew I would love it based on the premise alone. An origin story for the Queen of Hearts, yes please. Marissa Meyer did a superb job capturing the essence of Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland in this retelling.

“Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland and a favourite of the unmarried King, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, she wants to open a shop and create delectable pastries. But for her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for a woman who could be a queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the King’s marriage proposal, she meets handsome and mysterious Jest. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into a secret courtship.

Cath is determined to choose her own destiny. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.” – Summary from Goodreads

“These things do not happen in dreams, dear girl,’ he said, vanishing up to his neck. ‘They happen only in nightmares.’ His head spiralled and he was gone.”

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The YA Chronicles September ‘Squad Goals’ | Unboxing

The YA Chronicles 'Squad Goals' September box

This was my first book box for this year, because money has been tight.
But, I had to get this one because I had a feeling what the book would be, and I was very happy to be correct. So without further ado here is what was inside The YA Chronicles ‘Squad Goals’ box.

The YA Chronicles 'Squad Goals' September Unboxing

The YA Chronicles is an Australian subscription box company. They release a monthly box, which contains: one newly released YA (Young Adult) book, and about three to five amazing items (that are usually book related).

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Top Ten Tuesday: Book Boyfriends

Top Ten Tuesday banner made by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly book meme created by The Broke and The Bookish. This week’s theme is book boyfriends, and oh boy where to start, its impossible not to fall hopelessly in love with the characters in books.

Therefore, it was very difficult to narrow the list down to just ten, but here are ten book boyfriends that I adore.

  • Levi (Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell)
    Levi is just amazing, and completely swoon worthy, because he is just so real. He’s not magical; he’s just a great guy, who Cath can easily depend on. He also reminds me of my current boyfriend so much, so there is also that. But I just love his calm demeanor and the way he would be there to walk Cath home from the library at midnight. Such a gentleman.
  • Will Herondale (Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare)
    I was absolutely in love with Will from The Clockwork Prince onwards, once it was revealed the reason why he pushed everyone anyway. I loved the way he quoted books to Tess and his smile and eyes, which feels weird to say about a character but in my mind, he is drop dead gorgeous. I loved his character arc.
  • Jem Carstairs (Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare)
    I really felt for Tessa in the series, because I wouldn’t be able to make the choice between Jem and Will, they are both just completely beautiful people inside and out. Jem is just an absolute sweetheart, the way he cares for Tessa and 
  • Jest (Heartless by Marissa Meyer)
    I can’t even fully go into how much I loved Jest whilst reading Heartless. He is just kind, funny and completely swoon worthy. He is also a great friend, when he realised that he was developing feelings for the same woman as the King he tries to stay away. He was just amazing. 
  • Adam (If I Stay by Gayle Forman)
    Adam is here because of how he stays with Mia, during the tragedy that occurs in If I Stay. I know they had some rocky moments in the book, when he realised Mia might go away to Julliard. However, I think overall he was there when she needed him, which we see more about in Where She Went. 
  • Tamlin (A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas)
    I just finished reading ACOTAR and I have fallen completely in love with Tamlin. Therefore, I have no idea why the biggest ship of the series is Rhysand (although I think maybe I will in the next book), but he was just so kind to Feyre. He gave her an art studio, which was a nice twist on the library. He set her family up for life after he took her away to Prythian. I fell for him completely during the book and look forward to seeing what happens in the sequel. 
  • Magnus Bane (The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare)
    Magnus is just the best character of the series, and I love that he is also in The Infernal Devices. He is a bisexual (or pansexual) character; he is just wonderful and cares fiercely for those who are important to him. Putting him in danger if it means protecting the ones, he loves, and who wouldn’t want to be loved like this.
  • Clark (The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson)
    Who wouldn’t want to date an author, although writing is hard and I guess to be with an author requires knowing that they will be distant at times whilst concentrating on their work. However, he was also just so kind and lovely that I loved him immediately. Also the characters laugh at the fact his name is Clark, but I personally love his name. It just really suits him.
  • Percy Jackson (Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan)
    I shipped Percabeth so hard whilst reading the Percy Jackson series, whilst Percy can be such an idiot 
  • W. Hale the fifth (Heist Society series by Ally Carter)
    He’s gorgeous, funny and kind. He is always there for the gang and well; he has his own private jet that can take you away to anywhere in the world at a moment’s notice. Yes, these are selfish reasons I know, but I would love to see the world!

So, who are your favourite book boyfriends/girlfriends? Who is your biggest literary crush? I’d love to know.

September Wrap Up & October TBR

 

Wrap Up

In September I got through three of the four books I had set out to read, so I am really pleased with my effort overall. I did not expect to read four books, I was really hoping to get through at least two when it was getting close to the end of the month and I hadn’t completed any. However, in the last couple weeks I was bit by the reading bug and just devoured these books. I will get to Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give another month (probably November), as it was not meant to be this month.

The books I completed were:

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Top Ten Tuesday: Characters With Mental Illness

Top Ten Tuesday banner made by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly book meme created by The Broke and The Bookish. This week is a freebie week, where we got to select what kind of character traits to highlight. So since I have recently been reading more books that feature characters with mental illness, and I myself am battling depression and anxiety. So here are 10 characters with mental illness, and books that I believe actually show a realistic view on mental health.

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Graphic Novel Mini Reviews | Andrews McMeel Publishing

Disclosure: Please note that links to merchants mentioned within this post might be using an affiliate link which means that – at zero cost to you – I might earn a commission if you buy something through that affiliate link.

So I have decided instead of having my graphic novel reviews solely on Goodreads, I might start doing little batches of mini reviews here. I might try and have them all linked to a similar theme or series in the future (what do you guys think, leave any thoughts or suggestions in the comments below).

The theme for this batch of mini reviews, are that these are all graphic novels I received from Andrews McNeel Publishing through Netgalley, in exchange for my honest opinion. I thoroughly enjoyed all of them, and would highly recommend reading any of these.They all brought a smile to my face.

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August Wrap Up & September TBR

Wrap Up

In August, I decided to partake in ARC August. To get through some of the Advanced Reader Copies I had recently acquired through Netgalley, and I did a lot better than I anticipated. I got through an insane seven books! Three of which were graphic novels but nonetheless this was my best month, and all books were ARC’s from Netgalley.
So now I am at 37/50 books in my Goodreads challenge, so I have already read more books than I did last year.

The seven books I read were:

August Wrap Up photo

• Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody. 4 stars. This was different to what I was expecting but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The mystery, the magic, the crazily diverse cast of characters. I highly recommend it. Read my full review here.

• An Uncertain Grace by Krissy Kneen. 3 stars. This novel is unlike anything I’ve read before, the different POVs and how they reveal the life of Liv was very interesting. Read my initial thoughts here.

• Her by Garry Disher. 3 stars. This was an unusual novel, although it was definitely a book out of my reading comfort zone. I just wanted more from it, it just felt lacking in certain areas. Read my initial thoughts here.

• Lady Stuff: Secrets to Being a Woman by Loryn Brantz. 4 stars. This was amazing, perfectly relatable and just a lovely light and easy read. Highly recommend to all fans of Sarah Scribbles. Read review here.

• The Little Red Wolf by Amèlie Flèchais. 4 stars. The illustrations within this book are breathtaking, such detail, it just immediately draws you in. I love the twist of a fairytale classic. Brilliant. Read my review here.

• Anne of Green Gables: A graphic novel by Mariah Marsden. 4 stars. I had to read this when I saw it listed on Netgalley. A couple of months ago I watched the Netflix adaptation, and having never read the original book I was looking forward to seeing how similar they were. Read full review here.

• Dating You/ Hating You by Christina Lauren. 5 stars. I absolutely loved this book. It was my first official NA novel, and it was just perfect. I loved the switching POVs getting to see events from both Carter and Eve’s perspectives. The romance and workplace rivalry was excellent and I swooned so often. Highly recommend. Read initial thoughts here.

TBR

With the success of last month, I decided to try to take it easy with the expectations for this month. Especially since my anxiety is rearing its ugly head which means more time knitting to help keep it at bay.

September TBR photos

• A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. This series is one I found out about through bookstagram. It comes so highly recommended that I was intimidated to start it with such hype and acclaim to its name. But I am already halfway through and I love it, I am completely sucked into the story, and the characters and will have to get the second novel in the series before I finish this because I want to start it immediately after.

• Editing Emma: The Secret Blog of a Nearly Proper Person by Chloe Seager. This is an ARC gifted through Netgalley, at first from reading the summary it reminded me of Zoella’s Girl Online, except more grown up. There are references to masturbation, sex and more grown up topics that Zoella’s very tame G-rated books. I am enjoying it so far.

• Friend Request by Laura Marshall. This is another Netgalley ARC, and I can’t wait to read it. Its premise is so intriguing. Louise opens Facebook one day and has a friend request from her old school friend Maria Weston, except Maria died 25 years ago.

• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. This is being touted as the best and most important book of the year. Based on the Black Lives Matter movement, Starr witnesses her best friend being shot by a police officer for no reason, and she is torn about what to do. I cannot wait to read this.

Let me know what books are on your TBR, or thought on the books above.

I have also done a wrap up for February, March, April, May, June, and July so please feel free to check those out too.

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