YA fiction

Book Review – Five Survive by Holly Jackson

books, reviews

Rating: 3 out of 5.

I wasn’t exactly a big fan of Holly Jackson’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder when I read it a few years ago. So, I never bothered to read its sequels. In fact, I could happily have missed reading any more of Holly Jackson’s books. However, her latest book captured my attention, not just because of the stencilled edge on the Waterstones special edition. I thought the premise sounded like it would be quite captivating. I also liked the fact that the setting didn’t really allow for too much complication in terms of the narrative. If everyone is stuck in one place then Jackson couldn’t add too many characters this time. Or that was the theory. It’s entirely possible that all o the things that I didn’t like about her earlier work would also be present here. The least I could do was give it a chance.

READ MORE

Book Review – Secret Rules to Being a Rockstar by Jessamyn Violet

books, reviews

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Some books just sound like they’re going to be your kind of thing. I was offered a copy of this book and it just seemed like it would be right up my street. A YA novel with LGBTQ+ representation set in the glitzy music world and written by a musician. It had the potential to be something really interesting. I admit that YA isn’t my usual kind of thing but I’m always willing to give it a chance when it sounds good enough. As I’ve mentioned, it’s been taking me longer to finish books recently but I got a fair chunk of it finished on a train ride this weekend. Not in time for my usual Monday review but close enough.

READ MORE

Bookish Post – October 2022 Reading Wrap-Up

books, wrap-up
Teacup on top of vintage books.

Number of books read: 10
Number of rereads: 0
Number of physical books: 4
Number of ebooks: 0
Number of audiobooks: 6
Number of ARCS: 0

I had a few books on my October TBR that I wanted to get through. All linked to Halloween in some way. I didn’t get through all of them but I did manage to get a few finished. I also crossed off a few of the books at the top of my general TBR and an anticipated sequel. Who knows what November brings but I feel like I’m ending the month in a good place.

5* reviews: 0
4.5* reviews: 0
4* reviews: 1

Continue reading →

Book Review – Let Down Your Hair by Bryony Gordon

books, reviews

Rating: 3 out of 5.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that I’m terrible at sticking to a TBR. This is why I don’t really set one each month. The closest that I get is possibly aiming to read a certain book. The less I commit the more likely it is that I’ll do it. Any hint of pressure and I lose all interest to pick the book up. This is one of the books that I should have got to earlier. It was meant to be a September read because that was Alopecia awareness in the UK. This is the first novel not aimed at children with alopecia representation, so I was interested to read it.

READ MORE

Bookish Post – September 2022 Reading Wrap-Up

books, wrap-up
Teacup on top of vintage books.

Number of books read: 7
Number of rereads: 0
Number of physical books: 1
Number of ebooks: 1
Number of audiobooks: 6
Number of ARCS: 0

I don’t have much memory if September. I don’t know how we’ve reached the end of it if I’m honest. I certainly didn’t remember any of the books I’d read. It doesn’t feel as though I’ve read anything. Certainly not in the past few weeks. Apparently I just beat last month’s count, so I’m pretty happy with that.

5* reviews: 0
4.5* reviews: 0
4* reviews: 1

Continue reading →

Book Review – And the Ocean Was Our Sky by Patrick Ness

books, reviews

Rating: 3 out of 5.

I’ve only ever read 3 books by Patrick Ness before. I liked A Monster Calls but really didn’t like The Rest of Us Just Live Here or Burn. Still, a lot of people seem to really like him. When this happens, I always wonder if I’m missing something. So, when this came up on my library’s online catalogue I decided to give it a go.

READ MORE

Book Review – You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

books, reviews

Rating: 3 out of 5.

I think I’ve made it pretty clear that I’m not a big fan of YA. Not only am I way beyond the age where I want to read about non-stop teenage drama but I also find it a bit basic for my tastes. I always just wish the book went further or the author went deeper. I so often get bored by the unoriginality of the plots. I’ve very rarely read a YA novel when I didn’t know how it would end after the first few chapters. However, I’m also not the kind of person that will completely write off a genre. I’m sure there must be a bunch of YA books out there that really speak to me. So, I won’t stop trying. I’ve seen this book around and heard so much praise for it. I had to give it a go.

READ MORE

Book Review – Heartstopper Volume 3 and 4 by Alice Oseman

books, reviews

Rating: 4 out of 5.

After reading the first two volumes of this series back in June, I knew that I had to finish it as soon as possible. So, at the end of August, I got copies of volumes 3 and 4 to finish before the end of the month. I’ve read Solitaire, so already knew that things were going to get a lot less fun for Charlie and Nick. I just hoped that it wouldn’t get too bad. All I could do was find out for myself.

Continue reading →

Book Review – Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

books, reviews

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

It’s been an odd week and I always knew that I wasn’t going to get much reading done. So, I had to turn to this trilogy in order to get a second review up this week. I listened to it over the last couple of days once the heat had calmed down a bit. I don’t think I could have concentrated on it at the start of the week. I know this book isn’t universally loved like the previous 2. I also know that a lot of people have a problem with the ending. So, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel. I really had to find out for myself.

Continue reading →

Book Review – Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

books, reviews

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

I’m not the kind of person who demands that people read the book before seeing the film. I’m also the kind of reader who rereads books all the time. So, I believe that it’s possible to enjoy a book even when you know the ending. However, I don’t think it always works out. As we know, film adaptations take liberties with the narrative for time and storytelling. They don’t have to wade through all of the context and exposition. I knew this was a divisive read, so I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it. Especially when I’m just waiting for a bunch of stuff to happen.

Continue reading →