I know it is a bit late in the month to be posting this. However, I made a promise to myself to post a wrap up each month this year, and I want to keep it.
I seem to have hit my stride, reading wise, so to say. In April, I did really well, and the streak continues. Last month I read four book, which isn’t as good as April’s five but still better than the one book in March.
Considering I’m still on low shifts and minimal work, I have more time to myself to read, though currently reading has been battling for my attention ever since I took up knitting again. I wish I could do both, and maybe there is a way, it would just require some balancing. So, if anyone knows any tips to knit and read simultaneously please let me know.
I was extremely pleased and honored when the wonderful Emily from A Bookish Adventurer, nominated me for this award. She is such a genuinely nice person; check out her Instagram, her pictures are phenomenal (@abookishadventurer).
Thank you for considering me for this; please make sure to check her blog out, as she is amazing.
What is the Liebster Award?
The Liebster Award is all about building out the book blogging community. Specifically, it’s a way to highlight newer blogs that don’t necessarily have a large following (less than 200). You get to discover hidden gems of blogs, make new book blog friends, and learn more about the bloggers you already follow.
Rules:
Thank the person who nominated you and post a link to their site on your blog
Display the award on your blog
Answer 10 question about yourself, which will be provided to you by the person who nominated you
Nominate 5-10 bloggers for the award
Create a new list of questions for your nominees to answer
List these rules in your post
Inform the people/blogs that they have been nominated for the Liebster award and provide a link for them to your post, so they can learn about it.
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.
4 Stars
“Three dark queens, are born in a glen, Sweet little triplets will never be friends. Three dark sisters, all fair to be seen, Two to devour, and one to be Queen.”
“In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born: three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.
But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose . . . its life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins.
The last queen standing gets the crown.” (Summary from Goodreads)
I received two copies of Three Dark Crowns in October last year. The black hardcover was a part of Owlcrate’s ‘Darkness’ box and the paperback came in The YA Chronicles ‘You Win Or You Die’ box. This was the first time I purchased two book subscription boxes in a month, and was surprised to get the same book, although I know realise how common that is. However, since the covers are different, I don’t really mind. Plus Owlcrate’s came with a signed book plate and letter from the author so that was really cool. However, I prefer to read paperbacks, as they are lighter to carry around so I am quite happy to have both editions.
Owlcrate October ‘Darkness’ Unboxing
I had no expectations going into Three Dark Crowns, I’d never heard of the book, but after reading the blurb on the book I was incredibly intrigued by the book’s premise. I was completely drawn into the world where three sisters are born with incredible gifts (or so we initially think) and are destined to kill each other. That part just breaks my heart, sisters having to kill each other; in fact, they are encouraged to do so.
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.
3.5 stars
“I could do this. If whole galaxies could change, so could I.”
“Andie has a plan. And she always sticks to her plan.
So it’s no surprise that Andie’s got her summer all planned out too.
Until a political scandal costs Andie her summer pre-med internship, and lands both she and Dad back in the same house together for the first time in years. Suddenly she’s doing things that aren’t Andie at all—working as a dog walker, doing an epic scavenger hunt with her dad, and maybe, just maybe, letting the super cute Clark get closer than she expected. Palmer, Bri, and Toby tell her to embrace all the chaos, but can she really let go of her control?” (Summary from Goodreads)
The Unexpected Everything is a light, enjoyable, and easy read. The perfect book to read whilst laying in the sunshine, while at the beach or beside a pool. It is just a lot of fun.
“The idea that you could rethink the thing you’d always thought you wanted and change your plan – it was almost a revolutionary concept. That you could choose what would make you happy, not successful.”
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.
4 Stars
“I was taught that being myself was not only okay, but encouraged—and by being unapologetically yourself, you thrive and inspire others to thrive.”
“Pop culture phenomenon, social rights advocate, and the most prominent LGBTQ+ voice on YouTube, Tyler Oakley brings you his first collection of witty, personal, and hilarious essays written in the voice that’s earned him more than 10 million followers across social media.” (Summary from Goodreads)
Tyler Oakley posted his first YouTube video in 2007, never expecting much to come from it. He definitely never thought that one day he would amass a following of over eight million subscribers on YouTube. Tyler has taken the online world by storm with successes including interviews with Michelle Obama and One Direction (both of which each have a chapter in the book, and one of them really pulls at the ole heartstrings), a worldwide live tour, a chart-topping podcast Psychobabble and a documentary titled Snervous. It’s crazy to think that all this started because a boy decided to film videos in his living room and upload them to YouTube.
As today is the official last day of summer (for the Southern Hemisphere at least), I wanted to do this tag in honour of that. Although the heat will probably stick around for most of March. I was inadvertently tagged by AlwaysandForeverReading who tagged everyone in the Southern Hemisphere, so as an Australian I was tagged.
“When Jacob discovers clues to a mystery that spans different worlds and times, he finds a magical place known as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. But the mystery and danger deepen as he gets to know the residents and learns about their special powers… and their powerful enemies. Ultimately, Jacob discovers that only his own special “peculiarity” can save his new friends.” (Source: IMDB.com)
Earlier this year I read Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Childrenby Ransom Riggs and I quite enjoyed it. So, when I heard they were adapting it to a film I knew I had to see it. However, the trailer alone had already filled me with quite a bit of doubt. Unfortunately, I’m one of those moviegoers who if I’ve read the book previously can’t help but mentally notice all the differences, and sometimes outwardly display my displeasure at the changes. So, when I saw this I made sure to go with a group of friends who had all read the book, so we could all air our grievances together.
This review is going to be spoiler heavy, so please don’t read any further if you have not read the book or seen the movie.
This month’s unboxing is from one of the most popular book subscription boxes ever, they are practically infamous among the online book community. This month I’ll be posting a review on Owlcrate’s December Epic box, which I know is late since it’s already January, however, I didn’t receive my box until the new year.
Owlcrate is an American based subscription box company. They are a monthly subscription service that delivers newly released Young Adult novels and a variety of bookish treats.
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.
5 stars
“A day might be just twenty-four hours but sometimes getting through just one seems as impossible as scaling Everest.”
I was quite intrigued when I heard there was a sequel to If I Stay, titled Where She Went, because I considered the ending of If I Stay fairly satisfying. Sure there were some questions about how she would react to her life and if she would remember her out of body experiences. However, I didn’t entirely require those answers to think the book was great.
Where She Went proved that yes, yes I did need those answers, because this book is phenomenal. Better than the original which isn’t something that happens often. The great thing about this book is that it isn’t a rehash of the first book, its entirely different and very original. This book is told from Adam’s perspective after Mia leaves for Juilliard and never comes back, and the whirlwind his life becomes. By focusing on Adam, we get more character development, plus a fresh perspective on the events from If I Stay.
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.
3.5 – 4 stars
Let It Snow reminds me of Love Actually, where it tells a few stories about incredibly different characters, but in the end, you realise that they are all connected in some way. It’s a trend Hollywood loves these days. That was this book, though I hope that isn’t a deterrent, because it’s an enjoyable light hearted read.
Let it Snow is split into three short stories, each written by a different author: ‘The Jubilee Express’ by Maureen Johnson, ‘A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle’ by John Green, and ‘The Patron Saint of Pigs’ by Lauren Myracle.