Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell Review

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

I was so excited to finally get my hands on this book, and had such high expectations for it. I had already read Landline by her, and thought that I should finally give Fangirl a try. As soon as I started the novel, I instantly connected with Cath, the main character. I too am a twin and love to read, so it made relating with the character very easy for me. The storyline did not go where I thought it was going to go, but maybe that was because I didn’t know much about the novel when I first received a copy. The only real problems I had with this novel was the fact that there was a decent about of cursing, but what else could you expect from college students. There were some characters that I couldn’t really picture in my head from their descriptions, but that didn’t affect the way that I read or interpreted the novel. I suggest that when considering reading this novel, be considerate of your age - anyone who is below the age of 16/17 should be warned that the language and situations may be a little mature for you. The overall impression that I got from this novel that it was a fun, quick read that anyone who is planning to go to college, is in college, or wants a cute read will enjoy this story. Fans of contemporary novels should definitely check this book out as well, it’ll fit right into that classic contemporary feel.

“To really be a nerd, she'd decided, you had to prefer fictional worlds to the real one.” 
― Rainbow Rowell, Fangirl

The Rose and The Dagger by Renée Ahdieh

The Rose and The Dagger by Renée Ahdieh

Oh. My. God. This book was everything that I had wanted and more. I absolutely love Renee’s writing, and this series is one of my favorite fantasy/romances that is published. The world of The Wrath and The Dawn is truly exceptional, from the beautifully written characters to the breath-catching plot and setting, it draws the reader into the story. Never once did I become bored with the storyline or have to force myself to read through certain parts of the book - everything flowed so smoothly and effortlessly that it allows the reader to completely immerse themselves into the story and connect with the characters. Speaking of characters, the author did a masterful job in writing the character development from The Wrath and The Dawn to this sequel as well as the development in this novel as well. You will fall in love with the story of these characters as they live through the hardships of their world as well as they discover who they are inside. I suggest reading the three novellas that go alongside this series (read in order) so that you will have a better understanding of who the characters are and how their minds work, as well as having that extra background information on them before you advance any further in the story. I highly recommend this series to fans of A Thousand Nights by E.K. Jonston and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, as all three of these series capture the essence of a beautifully told retelling.

“Love is a force unto itself, sayyidi. For love, people consider the unthinkable...and often achieve the impossible. I would not sneer at its power.” 
― Renee Ahdieh, The Wrath & the Dawn

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Review

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 

 I absolutely adored this book! Jane Austen was able to create characters that draw you into their lives and make the reader committed to their every move. The plot never dropped - I was always turning the pages and only set it down when I had to. The writing was beautiful, even though it’s been said that this style of writing is hard to understand, I understood every word and was completely immersed into the story. You’ll fall in love with the relationships between the characters and root for their success and cringe in their downfall. I laughed, I cried. People who are already fans of Austen’s work will thoroughly enjoy this story, and will definitely appreciate the novel. These are some of my favorite characters in the literature world, and hold a dear place in my heart. The romance is not overplayed, and isn’t the center of the entire novel, which is refreshing to see. I only had a few problems while reading it, which were that only at one point that the story seemed to drag out a bit, and that it seemed that Elizabeth was allowing people to control her life and what she did. Overall, this book left a huge impression on me, and I highly recommend this novel to anyone who wants to start reading classic novels that are full of intrigue and choices.

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! -- When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” 
― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick Review

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

This book had a very interesting premise, and I have to say that Matthew Quick did a very good job displaying the main character’s inner thoughts and feelings throughout the book. The concept of having the footnotes really intrigued me and I have to say that at times, while they did get excessive at points, were very insightful to the plot. However, I felt that the main character was worked up over small things that normally wouldn’t bother anyone. While I understand why he was upset throughout the book, it felt as if he directed all of his rage on one single thought that didn’t hold as much significance in his life. I completely understand why Leonard was angry at Asher and his mother, and feel for him. Though at some points, it felt as if he was rambling on about useless things in life, which caused me to have to make myself read through long passages of him talking about random topics. I really wanted to love this book, but it had those little things that did not meet my expectations. I do, however, look forward to reading more of his novels, and see how they flow as well.

“You're different. And I'm different too. Different is good. But different is hard. Believe me, I know.” 
― Matthew Quick, Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardguo Review

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

This. Was. Amazing. There was action and adventure, with just a twinge of romance that didn’t take over the entire plot line, which was refreshing to see. The characters were each their entirely own person and proceeded throughout the story as individuals who were joined together in this miraculous group of thieves. As usual, Leigh Bardugo’s writing was flawless, and captured the image of the story so beautifully through words and the vocabulary from the world of the Grisha. The story moved with such rhythm that it was so easy to read large portions in a single sitting, and with the world being so captivating, it was easy to get lost into the story. There were only a few times that I felt that the story began to slow down and that I had to make myself continue on, but they picked up after a few pages and carried on with the fantastic tale that our thieves were living. I highly recommend reading the Grisha Trilogy before reading Six of Crows, for that way the reader will have background in the world and understand what events took place before Six of Crows begins, however, it is not necessary to read the trilogy in order to understand the world of this novel. These characters are lovable, even though at sometimes you don’t understand why they do the things they do, they just always bring humor and sass into the storyline. The twists and turns throughout the novel made it even more intriguing than it is made out to be. I can’t wait until Crooked Kingdom, the final installment in this series, comes out!

“No mourners. No funerals. Among them, it passed for 'good luck.” 

― Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows

The Good Girls by Sara Shepard Review

The Good Girls by Sara Shepard

HOLY. MOLY. THE TWISTS. THE TURNS. This book went above and beyond my expectations for the conclusion of The Perfectionists series, and I can honestly say that this book deserves the five star rating that I gave it. The character development was flawless, each time the book changed POV, I felt as if I was truly in the mind of each different character, and they each had their own voice and attitude to contribute to the story. Sara Shepard has been a long time favorite author of mine, every since six years ago when I picked up Pretty Little Liars when I heard there was going to be a show based on the book. The writing in this book made it truly feel as if a teenager was telling a story, and the plot line flowed very well, there was no choppiness to the story or how it progressed, and I was on the edge of my seat during the second half of the book, dying to know who the killer was. Speaking of - THAT PLOT TWIST - I never, in a million years, expected the reveal of a killer to be done so in this fashion, and I must say - it was fantastic. I loved this book so much and I absolutely will continue reading Sara’s books, and highly recommend this series, and any of Sara’s series, to anyone who loves a good mystery. I’m still in shock after finishing this book, and that hasn’t happened to me in a long time :)

“You want to throw your life away for some stupid conversation we had? Like we're the first people ever who talk about people we want dead.” 
― Sara Shepard, The Good Girls

Lord of the Flies by William Golding Review

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

This book was insane. You’re thrown straight into the situation of being stranded on an island after a plane crash with a bunch of young school boys, and have to guide yourself through the details that come up immediately in the first chapter. The character development was extreme, to say the least, and the way that all the boys had evolved while they were on the island was truly horrifying. They became something that was unrecognizable as a child, and turned into savages that prayed on each other and fought for the power over all. The author did a fantastic job showing us how the bid adapted to the island at first, but it began to become hard to follow as the story progresses and had me struggling to distinguish between characters at some points. The novel did not go in the direction that I had expected it to go in, but I was also surprised how it turned out in the end. It was refreshing to read a book that was from the perspective of young boys rather than the usual point of view of a teenage girl, which made this book so much more of a read than a simple skim through as many people do. I definitely recommend this novel to those who are fans of classic novels as well as adventure tales and survival books.

“He found himself understanding the wearisomeness of this life, where every path was an improvisation and a considerable part of one's waking life was spent watching one's feet.” 
― William Golding, Lord of the Flies

The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas Review

The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas

This was such an amazing collection of novellas to compliment the Throne of Glass series, it really took my breathe away. I laughed, I cried. My heart broke into a million pieces, was put back together again, and broke once more. I truly loved seeing Celaena before the events of the Throne of Glass series, and to her relationship with her master and Sam grow and evolve, making her into the assassin she is now. The writing was amazing and flowed so gracefully, that it felt as if all five novellas were an entire prequel novel instead of individual stories to be told. Celaena’s character development was extraordinary to see come to life in the months before we meet her before Throne of Glass, and to see her form relationships with the characters that appear in the series before we get to meet them was so nice to establish the relationships with these characters and have Celaena’s perspective on them. Reading these novellas just makes me even more excited for Empire of Storms, the fifth installment in the Throne of Glass series, coming this fall.

“There was no way in hell she was going to move to the southern continent without all of her books.” 
― Sarah J. Maas, The Assassin's Blade

Every Exquisite Thing by Matthew Quick Review

Every Exquisite Thing by Matthew Quick

I would first like to thank Little Brown for sending me an ARC of this novel along with three other novels by Matthew Quick. This book was so inspiring and eye-opening to me in retrospect to how people feel when they think that no one cares and how sometimes families and people appear to be something when they’re really not. This was my first Matthew Quick novel, and it’s safe to say that I will definitely be reading more of his work very soon. The characters in Every Exquisite Thing are relatable to a wide spectrum of readers and develop beautifully into people who are aware of what they what from the world and what they want from themselves. I loved how we are immersed into Nanette’s life and her mind. This really allowed me as a reader to understand Nanette and her feelings throughout the novel and help me form an idea of who she was in my head. I highly recommend this novel to fans of All The Bright Places, it truly captures the same feel and essence that All The Bright Places brings to the table and goes even further than I imagined. This novel will truly change your perspective on life and how you will see the world.

"And then one day you will look for you in the mirror and you’ll no longer be able to identify yourself - you’ll only see everyone else. You’ll know that you did what they wanted you to do. You will have assimilated. And you will hate yourself for it, because it will be too late."

- Matthew Quick, Every Exquisite Thing

I, Ripper by Stephen Hunter Review

I, Ripper by Stephen Hunter

This book had me pulled in as soon as I read the summary, but did not live up to the expectations that I had for it, which is unfortunate. I really wanted to enjoy this book from cover to cover, but there were parts of the story that slowed down so much that I had to push myself to continue reading. However, that was only two or three times, and the rest of the novel rolled through smoothly and had me sitting on the edge of my seat, awaiting the characters to find clues about Jack the Ripper. Speaking of our dear antagonist, the reveal of the killer was not what I had expected, and I hate to say that I was not as surprised as I had hoped I would’ve been, and had predicted who it was chapters before we were told. The character development throughout the novel flowed very nicely, and the writing was amazing, it truly draws the reader into the storyline. It had an elegance that is hard to find in books these days, and allows the reader to create the scenes of the book inside their minds very vividly. If you’re a fan of anything about Jack the Ripper or are looking for a good mystery, I would definitely recommend reading this novel :)

“I’m far too intelligent to be brave, thank you very much.” 
― Stephen Hunter, I, Ripper: A Novel

The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker Review

The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker

This book was absolutely amazing. The story was rich with character development and a plot line that never ceased to become anything less that fantastic. I started reading this novel, and then almost 5 hours later I was finished and wanting more. The main characters never become tiresome to read about and have emotions that are easy to understand and do not cause the reader any confusion or have them asking why the character feels a certain way without probable cause. I loved the plot line, especially since I went into this novel not knowing much about it other than the blurb on the back of my ARC copy that I received last year. I’m so glad that I finally got around to reading The Witch Hunter in time for The King Slayer to be released in the next few months, giving me time to bask in the glory that is Virginia Boecker’s writing. This is definitely a book that I would recommend for fans of Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas and Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. The Witch Hunter is full of suspense, action, and of course - romance. However, the romance involved is very well thought out and does not become obvious to you once the novel introduces the potential bachelors for our main protagonist, Elizabeth Grey. The romance is slowly integrated into the novel as their relationship progresses, making it all the more believable for the reader as well as in the story. There isn’t one bad thing I can say about this novel, only that I wish it was longer! The next installment seems so far away, but it is only a few short months until we can travel along side Elizabeth and her newfound gang of friends and companions that she meets along the way.

“I understand the need for deception. I should; I live a life of it. Distasteful, perhaps. But necessary.” 

― Virginia Boecker, The Witch Hunter

The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo Review

The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

This is one of my favorite trilogies that I’ve read! The characters are amazing and the world that they live in truly is magical. I really loved the way Alina, the main character, dealt with her problems and evolved as a character. Our villain was fantastic, and I can’t even begin to describe how much I loved to hate him; he was one of a kind. The writing flowed smoothly, however at some points there were small sections that I felt stalled the plot. The first book, Shadow and Bone did an extremely well job in establishing the world and how the characters formed their relationships with one another. The magical aspect of the novel made it very enjoyable to read and made it a quick read as well. The second installment, Siege and Storm, was even better than the first and held the plot together nicely. It transitioned from the first book very well and established a clear goal for our protagonist. The final book, Ruin and Rising, ending thins on a very good note and wrapped up the series in a way that answered all the questions and resolved all the problems. The only problem I had with this book was that one of my ships didn’t get together, but that’s totally okay! I respect the outcome and very much enjoyed the conclusion of this tale. This series would be great for fans of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin, Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige, and The Host by Stephanie Meyer. I can’t wait to read Six of Crows, the first installment of Leigh Bardugo’s new series, set in the same world as the Grisha Trilogy!

Overall Rating: 9.6/10

“The problem with wanting," he whispered, his mouth trailing along my jaw until it hovered over my lips, "is that it makes us weak.” 
― Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone