August Wrap-Up | September TBR

Unfortunately, August has come to an end and school is around the corner. This month, I barely had the time to read. I had a long list of TBR books for August and I’m going to be honest and say I didn’t get to any of them. However, I did get the chance to read two books and I talk about them a lot on here so, no surprise  they are:

4 stars:

3 Stars:

Book that I started, but never finished (hopefully I will): 

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Since my August reading was terrible, I plan on reading more books in September to help me relax from school work and help keep me busy. Hopefully, I will have the chance to read all the books on my September TBR list and I warn you it isn’t a lot so I won’t stress myself out.

September TBR list:

1. Speechless by Hannah Harrington
2. Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
3. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

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Have you read any of these books?

Cover Wars: Harry Potter Series

Harry Potter, a series that is well-known and loved by many from all ages, has been published multiple times with different, but unique covers. Which one do you prefer?

Scholastic US Originals                                                                                      

Scholastic Limited Editions

Bloomsbury UK Originals                                                                                 

Bloomsbury UK Adult

Bloomsbury Adult (latest)                                                                                 

Bloomsbury Kid (White)

Bloomsbury Kids UK (latest)

Some of these have pretty impressive covers. Let’s see which one’s are the top favorites! Go Vote and Share!

Love Letters to The Dead | Book Review

Love Letters to The Dead by Ava Dellaira

Publication: April 1st, 2014 by Farrar

Summary:

Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain because her sister, May, loved him. And he died young, just like May. Soon, Laurel has a notebook full of letters to the dead—to people like Janis Joplin, Heath Ledger, Amelia Earhart, and Amy Winehouse—though she never gives a single one of them to her teacher. She writes about starting high school, navigating the choppy waters of new friendships, learning to live with her splintering family, falling in love for the first time, and, most important, trying to grieve for May. But how do you mourn for someone you haven’t forgiven?

It’s not until Laurel has written the truth about what happened to herself that she can finally accept what happened to May. And only when Laurel has begun to see her sister as the person she was—lovely and amazing and deeply flawed—can she truly start to discover her own path.

In a voice that’s as lyrical and as true as a favorite song, Ava Dellaira writes about one girl’s journey through life’s challenges with a haunting and often heartbreaking beauty.

Goodreads Page

My Thoughts:

I don’t really know how I feel about this book… It’s bad, but it’s not too bad. It’s good, but it’s not too good.

Plot:

“I think a lot of people want to be someone, but we are scared that if we try, we won’t be as good as everyone imagines we could be.”

The plot is very diverse and so are the characters. This book tells a tale of loss and how to deal with it. Ava brings up a lot of situations throughout the book that deals with real world problems like suicide, child abuse, rape, and substance abuse. It was absolutely heart wrenching reading what the characters had to deal with throughout their lives.

Characters:

“And maybe what growing up really means is knowing that you don’t have to be just a character, going whichever way the story says. It’s knowing you could be the author instead.”

I found the characters very immature. Laurel, the protagonist, being one of them. Laurel recently just started Freshman year of High school, I believe, and she thinks that if she doesn’t make friends or fit in, it will be the end of the world for her. She is one of those people who will do stupid things to fit in with a group of people like smoke, drink, or have sex. Throughout the novel, she keeps her sister being dead sort of like a “secret” and to me I think that’s plain stupid! holding in grief is not the smartest idea, it just makes you more upset! I’ve gone through that and believe me it makes your life 100 times more terrible. She thinks that she’s basically the only one going through this and I find her selfish in a way. Although she has a lot of flaws there are some traits that you can adore about her.

Her friends are exactly the same like Laurel, Immature.

Writing:

I found the writing style of this novel very unique. It is written in letters from the main character and what she feels or what has been going on in her life at the moment. Very well thought out.

Cover:

Not going to lie, the cover is what got me to read this book. I loved the ombre look of the sky and how there is a girl writing or reading a journal!

OTP:

NONE. The characters are like what? 12? 13?

Overall:

This was a hard rating for me. I disliked most of the book, but I also loved some parts.

Rate:

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What do you think? agree or disagree? read it? want to read it?

WWW Wednesday #4 | August 26, 2015

Originally featured at Should Be Reading and now hosted by Sam at Taking On A World Of Words, WWW WEDNESDAYS is still about answering the following three questions:

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

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Currently Reading:

The Program by Suzanne Young: Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

Recently Finished Reading:

The One by Kiera Cass:

The time has come for one winner to be crowned.

When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon’s heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she’ll have to fight for the future she wants.

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Read Next:

The Heir by Kiera Cass: Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she’d put off marriage for as long as possible.But a princess’s life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can’t escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests. Eadlyn doesn’t expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn’s heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn’t as impossible as she’s always thought.

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Definitely didn’t have enough time to read in August.

Yay, I’m finishing up The Selection series {The books that are currently out now}!!

What do you think? want to read any? Let me Know!

The One | Book Review

The One #3 by Kiera Cass

Publication: May 6th, 2014 by HarperTeen

Series: The Selection

Summary:

The time has come for one winner to be crowned.

When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon’s heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she’ll have to fight for the future she wants.

Goodreads Page

My Thoughts:

I thought I wasn’t going to like this book because after I read The Elite I couldn’t stand America anymore and knowing how annoying she was near the end, I thought it would just be her complaining over and over again in the next book. I can’t say that she didn’t annoy me in The One because she did. Immensely. But like I said the plot was what made me continue the story, even though we know who America chooses and who the prince chooses. It’s pretty obvious, you wouldn’t even need to read the book to guess.

Plot:

Finally, the selection ends and Prince Maxon chooses his wife! WOOHOO.

Even though the plot continues from book one and two, I found that in this book, there was something more daring and different than the first two books. There is a lot of friendship and romance in this book oh and some deaths 🙂

Characters:

Okay, the characters get better, {not America, in my opinion}

Aspen on the other hand, changes, he realizes that he no longer feels what he felt for America before and lets go. ABOUT TIME.

Don’t even get me started on America. She’s probably the top of my most hated characters. Something about her makes me dislike her so much. I have a lot of reasons to hate her, but I literally cannot put them into words.

Cover:

The white dress is so pretty. Wait. Is that America in her wedding dress?

OTP:

Besides Prince Maxon and you know who…

There’s another couple that I am quite fond of 🙂 {I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN}

Extra:

< Aspen in the beginning with America

< America in the beginning with Aspen

< Aspen in the middle with America

< America with Maxon in the end

< Maxon with America in the end

Overall:

I liked this book the most out of the Selection and The Elite. I would recommend anyone who didn’t want to finish the series to continue till The One. Trust me, I understand why you didn’t continue, but I think this book will make you want to read more because *SPOILER* a lot of people die!!!!

Rate:

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What do you think? agree or disagree? Let me Know!

Friday Finds #2 | August 21, 2015

FRIDAY FINDS showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list… whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library — wherever! (they aren’t necessarily books you purchased).

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My Finds:

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles: Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk, got behind the wheel, and hit Maggie Armstrong. Even after months of painful physical therapy, Maggie walks with a limp. Her social life is nil and a scholarship to study abroad—her chance to escape everyone and their pitying stares—has been canceled. After a year in juvenile jail, Caleb’s free . . . if freedom means endless nagging from a transition coach and the prying eyes of the entire town. Coming home should feel good, but his family and ex-girlfriend seem like strangers.Caleb and Maggie are outsiders, pigeon-holed as “criminal” and “freak.” Then the truth emerges about what really happened the night of the accident and, once again, everything changes. It’s a bleak and tortuous journey for Caleb and Maggie, yet they end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other.

The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg: Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning…. Welcome to forever. Brie’s life ends at sixteen: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn’t love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally. But now that she’s D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there’s Patrick, Brie’s mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after. With Patrick’s help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she’s ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?

Speechless by Hannah Harrington: Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can’t keep a secret
Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed. Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she’s ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse. But there’s strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she’s done. If only she can forgive herself.

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Well, Those are my Friday finds 🙂 What do you think? want to read any? Let me Know!

The Elite | Book Review

The Elite #2 by Kiera Cass

Publication: April 23rd, 2013 by HarperTeen

Series: The Selection

Summary:

The Selection began with thirty-five girls.
Now with the group narrowed down to the six Elite, the competition to win Prince Maxon’s heart is fiercer than ever—and America is still struggling to decide where her heart truly lies. Is it with Maxon, who could make her life a fairy tale? Or with her first love, Aspen?

America is desperate for more time. But the rest of the Elite know exactly what they want—and America’s chance to choose is about to slip away.

Goodreads Page

My Thoughts:

The first book was better than the second book. Not going to lie, this book is so slow! I feel like everything is so repetitive and America is just as annoying as ever!

Plot:

“It turns out I’m absolutely terrible at staying away from you. It’s a very serious problem.”

Same plot, same story. Just a continuation of The Selection. This time instead of the 35 girls, it is down to 6. However, in The Elite, you see more romance and drama.

Characters:

“You’ve changed me forever. And I’ll never forget you.”

A character that I will forever love from this series. Maxon. He seems so down to earth and very understanding. On the other hand, America and Aspen: they have their flaws. Very very annoying flaws. They are both so similar, that it gets me on my nerves. {You will understand when you read this series}

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< Me every single time America says something

< Me when Aspen shows up

< Me whenever America and Maxon fight

< Me whenever Aspen and America are together.

Cover:

It’s America wearing a red dress! She looks stunning. While you’re reading the novel(s), it is going to explain the dress and the occasion.

Overall: 

Like I said before, I liked the first book more. Even though the characters got on my nerves and made me want to put the book down. The plot is what made me read the book.

Rate:

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What do you think? agree or disagree? Read it? want to read it? Let me Know!

Teaser Tuesday #3 | August 18, 2015

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teasers:

“I felt his hand snake around my back, and I brought my face down.”

“There he was, eyes looking into mine, our lips millimeters apart”

-Kiera Cass, The One, Page 12

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The teasers got me like:

What do you think? want to read? already read? Let me know!

Since You’ve Been Gone | Book Review

Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Publication: May 6, 2014 by Simon & Schuster

Summary:

It was Sloane who yanked Emily out of her shell and made life 100% interesting. But right before what should have been the most epic summer, Sloane just…disappears. All she leaves behind is a to-do list.

On it, thirteen Sloane-inspired tasks that Emily would normally never try. But what if they could bring her best friend back?

Apple picking at night? Okay, easy enough.

Dance until dawn? Sure. Why not?

Kiss a stranger? Um…

Emily now has this unexpected summer, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected), to check things off Sloane’s list. Who knows what she’ll find?

Go skinny-dipping? Wait…what?

Goodreads Page

My Thoughts:

Since You’ve Been Gone is the first book that I have read by Morgan Matson and let me tell you, I will definitely be reading more of her books. I seriously thought I wasn’t going to like it because the description on the back of the book did not seem interesting. However, when I read the first page I was instantly hooked.

Is it just me or do you also get the Kelly Clarkson song running through your head every time you see this book?

Plot:

“All the stuff you can’t wait to get away from, until it’s not there anymore, and then you miss it like crazy.”

I truly enjoyed the plot of the story. It was fun and very adventurous. I have to say though… the beginning was sort of slow, but it eventually gets really good.

Characters:

“I don’t think you have to do something so big to be brave. And it’s the little things that are harder anyway.”

If I had to choose a character from any book that describes me the best it would be Emily from Since You’ve Been Gone. I cannot tell you how much she resembles me. From being the girl who is super awkward whenever she talks to anyone to the girl who has a best friend that is super outgoing and does all the talking. She is very reserved and shy. On the other hand, Emily’s best friend, Sloane, is very dynamic and charismatic. She basically is the girl that all guys turns their head to.

There are many other characters in this book and I have to say, I didn’t hate most of them. Matson did a really wonderful job at creating the characters.

Writing:

One of my favorite things about this book is the writing style. I LOVED how each chapter was about the “dares”  that Sloane left for Emily to do. Very creative and very original. Props.

OTP:

“And it was a kiss that felt like it could stop time.”

I’m not going to reveal who I ship so hard with who. But Let me tell you:

1. I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WHO HE APPEARED
2. ME. SHIP. HARD.

Cover:

One thing that came to my mind when I saw the cover: TUMBLR.

Overall:

The book was thick, but it was a fast read. You honestly will not be able to put down the book, every chapter is so fascinating. It was a great summer read, and while you’re reading it maybe you can do the dares 🙂 [I really fell for this book because of the characters and the writing style.]

Rate:

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What do you think? agree or disagree? read it? want to read it? Let me Know!

5 Popular Series That I Have Never Read

5 popular series that I have never read… can anyone guess it?

Okay, please don’t judge me when I name them. Yes, I am pretty ashamed of myself, but I just don’t know why I haven’t picked them up.

Here I go…

1. Harry Potter Series by J.K Rowling

Not gonna lie… but I haven’t watched the movies either. I DON’T KNOW WHY, BUT I JUST NEVER FOUND HARRY POTTER APPEALING. Give me a reason why I should read it or watch the movie 🙂

2. Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer

Okay, I tried reading the first book once, but I gave up… I watched the movie though and was a hardcore Team Edward fan, whose with me?

3. The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare

I picked up the first book at my local library and only read around 40 pages. This was during school year so I never got the chance to actually continue the book.

4. Percy Jackson & The Olympians by Rick Riordan

I have the first and second book somewhere in my house, I swear. Okay, I’m pretty sure I actually read the first book, but I don’t remember. But the movie though… LOGAN LERMAN ❤

5. The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins

Yup… I know… How can I have not read this? I tried. I tried. The movie was good. I watched the second one before the first one.. How dare I?

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Wow… This is actually quite embarrassing. I just never got around to these series. Please tell me I’m not the only one. SUCH A SHAME

What do you think of these series? read it? haven’t read one of them yet? Let me Know!