November Wrap-Up & December TBR

I actually only read one book in November and that's deppressing. I've been so busy with school I've had no time for reading at all. I won't reach my Goodreads goal but oh well. 

1- Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things (4/5)
I really wanna write a full review on this book but I know I probably won't have time 😢
I absolutely loved the characters. I really needed a supernatural book to read during Halloween, and although this wasn't a scary read, it was just what I wanted. I've been obsessed with werewolves for the past few years and the pack of wolves in this book is probably my favourite. I love how there are many different supernatural creatures (and some of them are quite unusual) and it was super interesting and entertaining to read about. I really recommend this book if it's the kind of read you're into. 

DECEMBER TBR

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

HP always feels like a Winter read. So I decided to reread the first one then keep going with the whole series. 



 When a letter arrives for unhappy but ordinary Harry Potter, a decade-old secret is revealed to him that apparently he's the last to know. His parents were wizards, killed by a Dark Lord's curse when Harry was just a baby, and which he somehow survived. Leaving his unsympathetic aunt and uncle for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry stumbles upon a sinister mystery when he finds a three-headed dog guarding a room on the third floor. Then he hears of a missing stone with astonishing powers, which could be valuable, dangerous – or both. An incredible adventure is about to begin!

A Christmas Carol

I got a beautiful illustrated version and I can't wait to read it!



 A Christmas Carol tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an old miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. After their visits Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man.








Well, hopefully I'll read another book before the year is over. But it's okay if not. It's not about how many I've read, but about how many I've loved. 

Merry Christmas everyone ❤️

Book Review: A Bollywood Affair

Mili Rathod hasn’t seen her husband in twenty years—not since she was promised to him at the age of four. Yet marriage has allowed Mili a freedom rarely given to girls in her village. Her grandmother has even allowed her to leave India and study in America for eight months, all to make her the perfect modern wife. Which is exactly what Mili longs to be—if her husband would just come and claim her. 

Bollywood’s favorite director, Samir Rathod, has come to Michigan to secure a divorce for his older brother. Persuading a naïve village girl to sign the papers should be easy for someone with Samir’s tabloid-famous charm. But Mili is neither a fool nor a gold-digger. Open-hearted yet complex, she’s trying to reconcile her independence with cherished traditions. And before he can stop himself, Samir is immersed in Mili’s life—cooking her dal and rotis, escorting her to her roommate’s elaborate Indian wedding, and wondering where his loyalties and happiness lie.

Rating: ★★★★

      Last year I went to a Writing Conference, where I met authors and got some books signed. One of these books was A Bollywood Affair, by Sonali Dev. I know. It's been a year and only now you read the book?? Well, as you know, I own quite a lot of books that I haven't read yet. This one, unfortunately, was not on top of the list. But then, last month I was really craving a romance novel, so I picked this one up. 

     A Bollywood Affair is about Mili, a young woman from a small village in India, who travels to the US to go to university and ultimately be a better-educated wife for the husband she only met once, on their wedding day, when she was merely a kid. Despite him never coming to get her, she still hopes to one day be with him, her one true love, or so she thinks. Samir is not Mili's husband. He's completely different from her. But once they meet, both their worlds change. And what they thought they wanted might not stay the same. 

     Not gonna lie, I love romance novels. I can't stay away from the prospect of happy endings and true love. This book did not disappoint. It was adorable, and the characters were so great! I've always been fascinated with the religions and cultures of India, but I never really knew much about it. Reading it in this book was so interesting and I'm so excited to learn more by reading Sonali's other books. 

       There were so many ups and downs, and the characters, particularly Mili, felt so real. I could really relate to her in some aspects, and she was definitely my favourite character. Samir was great as well. (For some reason he really reminded me of Rafael, from the show Jane the Virgin). He was the typical dreamy guy, but was still flawed and had interesting qualities. Although the story was focused on the two, the rest of the characters, like Samir's family and Mili's friend, made the story even more fun to read. I couldn't stop reading the book because reading about Mili and Samir's story kept me craving for more.

        Since I read the book last month, and have read two books since then, I can't really remember as much detail as I would like. So I don't know what criticism I had about it. Although I love romance novels, I know that I definitely need some variety of genres, because if you read many in a row, it's easy to get sick of them. Since, although the stories are different, they are all very similarly constructed. 

       Anyways, I definitely recommend this book if you're looking for a story with more diverse characters, and obviously if you like romance. I really enjoyed Sonali Dev's writing and can't wait to pick up her other books.
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September Wrap Up & October TBR

 

        I'm a little late, but to be honest, uni has been keeping me so busy I didn't even realize it was October and that I hadn't posted this yet until today. Unfortunately, I had to change my Reading Goal on Goodreads from 50 to 40 books. I'm upset but it is what it is. I literally have almost no free time anymore so I've been reading fewer books than usual.

1- As You Wish (3/5)
Check out my review of As You Wish by clicking here.

2- A Bollywood Affair (4/5)
I'm planning on writing a review for this one soon!


OCTOBER TBR

The Glass Castle
     Saw the movie recently and loved it. A family friend lent me the book and I'm already halfway through it. Might do a book + movie review once I'm done.

Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an "excitement addict." Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever. 

Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town -- and the family -- Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents' betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home. 

What is so astonishing about Jeannette Walls is not just that she had the guts and tenacity and intelligence to get out, but that she describes her parents with such deep affection and generosity. Hers is a story of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that despite its profound flaws gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms. 

The Death Cure
    The trailer came out and I've been putting off reading this book for far too long. Let's just say I got spoiled (if you've read the book, you know which spoiler I'm talking about) for something I really wish didn't happen. But oh well, here I go.

It’s the end of the line.

WICKED has taken everything from Thomas: his life, his memories, and now his only friends—the Gladers. But it’s finally over. The trials are complete, after one final test.

Will anyone survive?

What WICKED doesn’t know is that Thomas remembers far more than they think. And it’s enough to prove that he can’t believe a word of what they say.

The truth will be terrifying.

Thomas beat the Maze. He survived the Scorch. He’ll risk anything to save his friends. But the truth might be what ends it all.

The time for lies is over. 

Kinda wanted to read something Halloween like since it's almost upon us but I don't know what. If you have any recommendations, let me know in the comments below!
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August Wrap-Up and September TBR

 

         As you all know, I read this wonderful series in August. I had one more book in my TBR and I ended up reading half of it, but I didn't have it finished by end of the month but hopefully you'll see it in the next post.

1- The Dream Thieves (4.5/5)

You can check out my review of the Raven Cycle series by clicking on this link.

2- Blue Lily, Lily Blue (4/5)

 You can check out my review of the Raven Cycle series by clicking on this link.

3- The Raven King (4/5)

You can check out my review of the Raven Cycle series by clicking on this link.

SEPTEMBER TBR

As You Wish

       Gonna try to finish As You Wish this month. University just started and I already have so much homework. I know I won't be able to read much this month.

In the sandy Mojave Desert, Madison is a small town on the road between nothing and nowhere. But Eldon wouldn’t want to live anywhere else, because in Madison, everyone gets one wish—and that wish always comes true.

Some people wish for money, some people wish for love, but Eldon has seen how wishes have broken the people around him. And with the lives of his family and friends in chaos, he’s left with more questions than answers. Can he make their lives better? How can he be happy if the people around him aren’t? And what hope is there for any of them if happiness isn’t an achievable dream? Doubts build, leading Eldon to a more outlandish and scary thought: maybe you can’t wish for happiness…maybe, just maybe, you have to make it for yourself.

A Bollywood Affair

         Not sure if this is the one I'll be reading but I don't have any other book planned so I might as well read it.

Mili Rathod hasn’t seen her husband in twenty years—not since she was promised to him at the age of four. Yet marriage has allowed Mili a freedom rarely given to girls in her village. Her grandmother has even allowed her to leave India and study in America for eight months, all to make her the perfect modern wife. Which is exactly what Mili longs to be—if her husband would just come and claim her. 

Bollywood’s favorite director, Samir Rathod, has come to Michigan to secure a divorce for his older brother. Persuading a naïve village girl to sign the papers should be easy for someone with Samir’s tabloid-famous charm. But Mili is neither a fool nor a gold-digger. Open-hearted yet complex, she’s trying to reconcile her independence with cherished traditions. And before he can stop himself, Samir is immersed in Mili’s life—cooking her dal and rotis, escorting her to her roommate’s elaborate Indian wedding, and wondering where his loyalties and happiness lie.

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June Wrap Up & July TBR

                              

                                  
          Well, this is bad... Just a little bit. I have an excuse though! So much happened this last month: There were finals, I graduated high school, went on a trip with my best friends... I had other things to worry about, not that reading isn't important, but still. 

1- Dragonsong (4/5)
         I read this book for my book club and I really enjoyed it! I rarely read fantasy books like this, so I can't really compare to others... But this book was so easy to read and I quite liked the author's writing style. The story brings out that desire to see actual dragons and to own one. The main character was a likeable girl. I recommend it if your looking for a small fantasy book, particularly if you, like me, aren't very familiar with the genre.
        This book was on my June TBR so √

2- She Myself and I (4/5)
       You can check out my review of She Myself and I here.
       

JULY TBR

The Trials of Apollo: The Dark Prophecy
         I actually started reading this last month, and got half way through it. So I'm gonna count it as a wrap up for this month. Anyways, super excited to dive back in this awesome world and see what awaits for Apollo this time.

Zeus has punished his son Apollo—god of the sun, music, archery, poetry, and more—by casting him down to earth in the form of a gawky, acne-covered sixteen-year-old mortal named Lester. The only way Apollo can reclaim his rightful place on Mount Olympus is by restoring several Oracles that have gone dark. What is affecting the Oracles, and how can Apollo do anything about them without his powers?

After experiencing a series of dangerous—and frankly, humiliating—trials at Camp Half-Blood, Apollo must now leave the relative safety of the demigod training ground and embark on a hair-raising journey across North America. Fortunately, what he lacks in godly graces he's gaining in new friendships—with heroes who will be very familiar to fans of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Heroes of Olympus series. Come along for what promises to be a harrowing, hilarious, and haiku-filled ride. . . .

Autonomous 
      Yet another book I got from a publisher. This story sounds so freaking cool. I can't wait to read it.

William Mackler is about to go on the road trip of a lifetime. After winning a contest-and nearly dying in the process-he becomes the proud owner of Autonomous, a driverless car that knows where you want to go before you do. #Worthit! To sweeten the deal he gets to pick three friends to go with him on a cross-country trip. For William, a reckless adrenaline junkie, this is the perfect last hurrah before he and his friends go their separate ways after graduation. But Autonomous is more than just a car without a steering wheel. It's capable of downloading all of the passengers' digital history-from the good, to the bad, to the humiliating. The information is customized into an itinerary that will expose a few well-kept secrets, but it will also force William to face some inner demons of his own. Think you know Autonomous? The real question is, how much does Autonomous know about you?

The Raven Boys 
       Didn't get to read it last month even though it was on my TBR for June. Hopefully I'll get to it in July.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue never sees them--until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks to her.

His name is Gansey, a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can't entirely explain. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul whose emotions range from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She doesn't believe in true love, and never thought this would be a problem. But as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore.

Book Review: She Myself and I

 
Title: She Myself and I
Author: Emma Young
Publisher: ABRAMS Kids - Amulet Books
Publication Date: September 5, 2017

Rating: ★★★★


Ever since Rosa’s nerve disease rendered her quadriplegic, she’s depended on her handsome, confident older brother to be her rock and her mirror. But when a doctor from Boston chooses her to be a candidate for an experimental brain transplant, she and her family move from London in search of a miracle. Sylvia—a girl from a small town in Massachusetts—is brain dead, and her parents have agreed to donate her body to give Rosa a new life. But when Rosa wakes from surgery, she can’t help but wonder, with increasing obsession, who Sylvia was and what her life was like. Her fascination with her new body and her desire to understand Sylvia prompt a road trip based on self-discovery... and a surprising new romance. But will Rosa be able to solve the dilemma of her identity?

          Hello, everyone! I've got a pretty exciting review for you today. I decided to contact a few publication houses to see if I could get ARCs (Advanced Reader's Copy) to review, and ABRAMS Kids was the first to respond, sending me an ebook copy of She Myself and I. 

         This novel follows the story of Rosa, a young woman who becomes a quadriplegic after being diagnosed with a nerve disease, as she gets a brain transplant. In her new body, Rosa has to now deal with the struggle of finding out about who Sylvia, the girl whose body was donated to save her life, was; but most importantly, she has to decide whether she's still herself or if she's a mere intruder in someone else's body.

         At first, I wasn't sure if this book would be for me. The synopsis really caught my attention, but as I started reading it, I became afraid that it would turn out to be more of a middle-grade story. I'm going to be honest and say that besides reading the synopsis, I knew nothing else about the book. Not about the author, the genre, what the expected audience is... Instead, I decided to dive into it as soon as I got it. And I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by the turns the author took with this story. 

         Rosa definitely goes through an incredibly hard situation, and her actions and thoughts were, for the most part, completely realistic. In the terms of what her life is like, I can't relate at all. But Emma Young was able to bring this character to life in a way that was believable, and she managed to accomplish the seemingly impossible task of making our protagonist relatable. I know that, if I was in Rosa's place, I would have struggled with the same things she was struggling. And I dare say, would probably have had the same exact thoughts at times. 

          I really enjoyed Rosa and Joe's relationship. They were both such great characters, and their interactions always moved the story forward. There were very few times where I felt that a scene was being dragged on. And it was mostly at the beginning, where the back story and medical procedures were being described. I love how sweet and understanding Joe was. He's definitely one of my, if not the one, favourite characters in this novel. I also really liked the twists and turns the story took. It was really interesting to follow Rosa on this journey to discover her true self.

         However, there were a few things that I didn't like; hence why I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5. First of all, some of the descriptions were... too descriptive; particularly at the beginning. I don't want to give a specific example, but sometimes there would be two or three adjectives/adverbs describing something that was even that crucial to the scene. some of the descriptions could've definitely been shortened. 

        I would also have liked to hear more about Rosa's life before. And how she felt towards her nerve disease, and how her life was like. There were bits and pieces of information, but nothing too concrete on her feelings about it. It would have also been good to hear about her adjustment to her new body. Not in the sense of being in another person's body, since that was what the whole plot was basically about, but in the sense of being able to walk again, of being healthy again. It wasn't addressed as much but I believe it is a pretty important thing in her life, the whole reason that she had surgery in the first place, but instead we only got a few scenes from the months that she was in the hospital. I'm not saying I wanted the hospital period of the story to be longer (I actually think it could've been shorter since things only started to get going once Rosa met Joe), but I wanted to know more about her adjustment in that sense. 

           Also, another little thing that bothered me. Rosa repeatedly mentions that she wasn't pretty, but the blond girl on the cover is definitely pretty and some might say that she's even prettier than the brunette, who is Sylvia. So that kind of contradicts the story a little bit.
              
          She Myself and I was a very entertaining read and I definitely recommend for you guys to pick it up once it is published (September 5, 2017 - North America). I am really glad ABRAMS Kids - Amulet Books allowed me to read this really cool story to review for you guys. 

        Also, fun fact: Rosa's surgery happened on the same day as my birthday! You're going to have to read the book to find out when it is ;)

Disclaimer: this book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

May Wrap Up & June TBR

              

    Goodreads is saying that I'm two books behind schedule for my reading challenge but I've been reading a good amount of books so Goodreads can't you just be happy for me??

1- Everything, Everything (4.5/5)

         You can check out my review of Everything, Everything here. 

         This book was on my May TBR so √

2- Revealed (2/5)

        This was a reread. I love the House of Night series and the worldbuilding; however, the last few books were just dragging on the series and ended up not being good. (This is book number 11!) Zoey was incredibly annoying the whole time and I just wanted it to be over. 

3- Redeemed (3/5)

         Finally the end of the series. It was nice finally getting a closure, but it could definitely have been better. I just heard that there will be a new series, following months after the events of this last book. I'm not sure how I feel about it. It's nice getting to see the characters doing other things besides fighting Neferet but also I think 12 books and a bunch of companion novellas is enough.

4- The Warrior Heir (2/5)

         I remember when this came out and everyone on Booktube was talking about it. This was on my book club list and I suggested that we read it and now I kinda regret it. It was really boring, and pretty much nothing happened until the end. The characters were annoying and a lot of things were predictable. I heard that second book is way better so I might give it a shot one day...

JUNE TBR

Dragonsong

         My book club decided to read 2 books this month and this is one of them. I haven't read many books with dragons in it and I have a friend that absolutely adores dragons, so I should probably read more of them. They must be good since she loves them so! I just started it and I'm actually quite enjoying it. 

For centuries, the world of Pern has faced a destructive force known as Thread. But the number of magnificent dragons who have protected this world and the men and women who ride them are dwindling.

As fewer dragons ride the winds and destruction falls from the sky, Menolly has only one dream: to sing, play, and weave the music that comes to her so easily—she wishes to become a Harper. But despite her great talents, her father believes that a young girl is unworthy of such a respected position and forbids her to pursue her dreams. So Menolly runs away, taking shelter in a cave by the sea. Miraculously, she happens upon nine fire lizards that could possibly save her world...and change her life forever.

The Dark Prophecy

       I'm so excited to read this!! I really liked The Hidden Oracle and I can't wait to see what Apollo will confront next!

Zeus has punished his son Apollo—god of the sun, music, archery, poetry, and more—by casting him down to earth in the form of a gawky, acne-covered sixteen-year-old mortal named Lester. The only way Apollo can reclaim his rightful place on Mount Olympus is by restoring several Oracles that have gone dark. What is affecting the Oracles, and how can Apollo do anything about them without his powers?

After experiencing a series of dangerous—and frankly, humiliating—trials at Camp Half-Blood, Apollo must now leave the relative safety of the demigod training ground and embark on a hair-raising journey across North America. Fortunately, what he lacks in godly graces he's gaining in new friendships—with heroes who will be very familiar to fans of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Heroes of Olympus series. Come along for what promises to be a harrowing, hilarious, and haiku-filled ride. . . .

The Raven Boys

       My friend gave me this book for my birthday, and I've been wanting to read it for a really long time so I'm finally going to!

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue never sees them--until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks to her.

His name is Gansey, a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can't entirely explain. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul whose emotions range from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She doesn't believe in true love, and never thought this would be a problem. But as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore.SaveSaveSaveSave

Book Review: Everything, Everything

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

Rating: ★★★★.5

        I love this cover. I mean, it's hard not to, right? It has these beautiful colourful doodles and it's just so pleasing to the eye. Well, I picked up this book because the movie is coming out this month and I wanted to read it before seeing it. 
        This book follows the main character, Maddy, who has SCID, which is a deficiency in the immune system which makes the person susceptible to severe infections and diseases. Maddy has never been outside her extremely protected house, at least since she was a baby; but now a new family has moved to the house in front of hers and as she meets Olly, the new boy next door, she begins to really yearn for a life out there. 
        This book was really cute. And it honestly was different than what I thought it would be. I watched the movie trailer before and it looks a little bit cheesy. (Not that I don't love cheesy romantic books). But it was actually really nice and entertaining. It is one of those books that aren't super fantastic but that are enough to make you happy. It's a simple story that is perfect for those days when you just want to read something fast-paced, good, and relaxing (is that the right adjective? I don't really know how to explain the feel of it but you get me right?). 
          But anyways, my favourite thing about this novel is the author's style. The short chapters, the doodles, the text messages, it was all really cool and just really beautiful. I love it! The characters were likable and I was really rooting for Maddie to get a happy ending. Because not being able to go outside for 18 years really sucks. 
        So this is pretty much it. I don't have anything negative to say about this, to be honest...  That's good! So yeah, I super recommend it if you are into contemporary books or if you're looking for a book that has a style that I don't see much anywhere else. 
        Have any of you guys read it? If so, what did you think of it? I would love to know!

Here's the movie trailer (Also Amandla Stenberg and Nick Robinson are perfect for these roles 💗)

               

April Wrap-Up & May TBR

 
  
                               


     GUYS IT'S ALREADY MAY WHAT THE HECK
     
1- Thirteen Reasons Why (4/5)
         I think I'll definitely do a review of book+show sometime soon. So keep an eye out for that!
         This was on my April TBR so √

2- Book of a Thousand Days (4.5/5)
       Very sweet book! I love Dashti (the protagonist) and how strong she is! This is more of a middle grade book but it's still worth reading if you're looking for a simple fairy-tale-retelling-feel book.
           This was on my April TBR so √

3- Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (3/5)
     Kinda relatable in some aspects. Definitely was expecting more. The story was a bit boring but I guess it's more realistic than some. 

4- Carry On (5/5)
    I loved this book so much!!! I have to write a full review on this because I just have so much to say!

5- Near + Far (1.5/5)
    I read this book for my Creative Writing class book club and I honesly did not like it at all. This is a short stories book, and I'm not a big fan of books like these (probably because I've never read one where all/most of the stories were good). Some of the stories were okay but overall they were super confusing and had potential to be better, I actually started this in March but I read most of it last month so here it is. 

MAY TBR

Everything, Everything 
    
   Ended up reading this on the first two days of this month. A review will be coming out on Sunday!


My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

Revealed 
     I'll be rereading this 11th book in The House of Night series so that I can refresh my mind as to what happened in the book so that I can read the final book.


Drastically altered after her fall at the end of Hidden, Neferet is now more dangerous than ever—and her quest for vengeance will wreak havoc on humans, as well as Zoey and her friends. Chaos is loosed in Tulsa and the House of Night is blamed. Can Zoey stop Neferet in time to keep her anger from escalating to full-on war? Or will someone else have to step in to take the fall?





Redeemed
    Finally, hopefully, definitely gonna finish this series this month!


In the final electrifying novel in the HoN series, Neferet has finally made herself known to mortals. A Dark Goddess is loose on Tulsa and the world. No single vampyre is strong enough to vanquish her - unless that creature has the power to summon the elements as well as the ability to wield Old Magick. Only Zoey Redbird is heir to such power…but because of the consequences of using Old Magick, she is unable to help. Find out who will win and who will lose in this epic battle of Light versus Darkness.

Book Review: Anna and the French Kiss

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend. 

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?

Rating: ★★★★★

     Look who was apologizing for not posting much at the beginning of the month and now if finally posting something when April is almost over. It's a shame. 
     I have to apologize once again, not only for that but also because I read Anna and the French Kiss in February. And although I obviously remember what happened in the story and stuff, writing a review so late does affect the quality of it and is definitely different than if I had written it right after I finished reading the book. 
     But anyways, here we go!

     Since I have so many unread books on my shelves, I finally made a TBR jar. I ended up picking out the name of Anna and the French Kiss and was so excited because I've been wanting to read it for so long, I just never got around to doing so. The story follows a girl named Anna as she begins her senior year in a boarding school in Paris. There she makes friends and one of these friends is the charming Étienne St. Clair, with whom Anna quickly finds herself attracted to. The problem is that he has a girlfriend. As the school year goes by, we learn a lot about the characters and it's hard not getting attached to them.

     So what did I think of this book? I absolutely loved it. I was sure I would, since I've heard dozens of good reviews on it. And it's just up my alley! I love contemporary books, particularly romance ones. What can I say? I'm a romantic at heart. The plot flowed really well. I read it all in only two days! I couldn't put it down and might have stayed up till three am reading it... There are so many good things about it. Anna is such a relatable character! The book, written in first person, really allows us to connect with her on a deeper level. I truly think she is one of the most relatable characters I've ever read (but that obviously isn't true for everyone since we're all different from each other, this is just a person opinion). All the characters are so unique and they felt so real. I was afraid St. Clair would end up being this perfect dreamy guy, but he had flaws and was human like all of us. 

     The story was very entertaining throughout. The setting was awesome. Paris! I've been there before and could definitely relate to some of the things she was experiencing, but it was also cool to learn new things about the city through Anna's eyes. And the boarding school was really cool. I haven't read many books that take place in boarding schools, but every time I do I love it. They fascinate me and make me want to experience it myself (although I never will. But that's why it's good that I can read books and at least "live" in them for a bit).  

     The relationship with the characters, and their relationships with their own families was really nice to see. I loved how the romance between Anna and Étienne played out. Although, I have to admit that at times their obstacles were quite frustrating and repetitive. This is one of those books where you get all warm and fuzzy inside, and where you ship the characters so hard that you're almost begging them to kiss and be together from the first chapter. It's adorable.

     I'll definitely reread this book in the future and I can't wait to read Lola and the Boy Next Door! What about you guys? Have you read the book? What did you think of it? Comment down below!
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