We Awaken by Calista Lynne

Title; We Awaken
Author; Calista Lynne
Publisher; Harmony Ink Press
Publication Date; 14th July 2016
Source; Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review
My Rating; 2*s
Description;  Victoria Dinham doesn’t have much left to look forward to. Since her father died in a car accident, she lives only to fulfill her dream of being accepted into the Manhattan Dance Conservatory. But soon she finds another reason to look forward to dreams when she encounters an otherworldly girl named Ashlinn, who bears a message from Victoria’s comatose brother. Ashlinn is tasked with conjuring pleasant dreams for humans, and through the course of their nightly meetings in Victoria’s mind, the two become close. Ashlinn also helps Victoria understand asexuality and realize that she, too, is asexual.

But then Victoria needs Ashlinn’s aid outside the realm of dreams, and Ashlinn assumes human form to help Victoria make it to her dance audition. They take the opportunity to explore New York City, their feelings for each other, and the nature of their shared asexuality. But like any dream, it’s too good to last. Ashlinn must shrug off her human guise and resume her duties creating pleasant nighttime visions—or all of humanity will pay the price.



My Review: My thoughts about this book mostly centre around the word "meh." I feel like it was kind of...boring. It may have only been 180 pages but I struggled a little to get through it

There were also things I did not agree with at all, especially with Reeves, it was too easy, too simple. This book wasn't for me but I would give Calista's other books a try.

The characters did have much going for them... Ellie could have been way more understanding and I just...feel like the book fell short. It has a great premise, I was hoping for a wonderfully magic story...but it wasn't what I got this time..

It was also just so fast, so so fast. Days and you're in love? No. Not at all.

Clancy of the Undertow by Christopher Currie

Title; Clancy of the Undertow
Author; Christopher Currie
Series; Stand Alone
Source/Format; eBook, from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher; Text Publishing
Publication Date; November 16th 2015
Goodreads Average Rating; 3.92*s
My Rating; 3*s
Description; We’re sitting there with matching milkshakes, Sasha and me, and somehow, things aren’t going like I always thought they would. We’re face to face under 24-hour fluorescents with the thoroughly unromantic buzz of aircon in our ears and endless flabby wedges of seated trucker’s arsecrack as our only visual stimulus.

In a dead-end town like Barwen a girl has only got to be a little different to feel like a freak. And Clancy, a typical sixteen-year-old misfit with a moderately dysfunctional family, a genuine interest in Nature Club and a major crush on the local hot girl, is packing a capital F.

As the summer begins, Clancy’s dad is involved in a road smash that kills two local teenagers. While the family is dealing with the reaction of a hostile town, Clancy meets someone who could possibly—at last—become a friend. Not only that, the unattainable Sasha starts to show what may be a romantic interest.

In short, this is the summer when Clancy has to figure out who the hell she is.



Review: I have no idea what to say about this book. I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. The word meh kind of encompasses my feelings about the entire book...

It was rather...predictable at times. You average lesbian novel written by a seemingly straight white man. With words such as queer used as a slur. Not so happy about that... Also, don't really expect a happy ending, or any kind of ending really. I feel like it was just a bunch of different plot lines leading to an open non ending...

Like I said it wasn't a bad book, it just felt a little...predictable at times for me. And nothing really felt resolved for me. It definitely kept my attention, it's the first time I've read a single book in just over a day in little while, but I'm just entirely unsure whether I would personally recommend it. There has been a lot of love for it over on goodreads, maybe it's just me, but I feel like it's a book you need to form your own opinion on.

All of the characters were flawed, but Clancy feels sort of like an unreliable protagonist because she at times can be a little dramatic... I didn't hate her character though.

It is set in Australia which I did enjoy...

Review: The Color of Love by Radclyffe

Title: The Color of Love
Author: Radclyffe
Series: Stand alone
Source: Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher: Bold Stroke Books
Publication Date: July 12th 2016
My Rating: 4.75*s
Description: Literary agent Emily May is in danger of losing everything she’s worked for—her job, her home, her friends, and the security she provides her older sister back in Singapore—all because she doesn’t have a green card. Racecar enthusiast, high-flying, fast-living Derian Winfield is called home when the only family member she still cares about falls ill. Forced into assuming a role in her father’s dynasty she’s spent years avoiding, Derian needs to rehabilitate her black sheep reputation in a hurry or the agency will likely end up being lost in a takeover. Together, she and Emily take on Derian’s father and his hatchet woman, and in the process, Derian comes up with a plan to solve both their problems. Now she only needs to convince Emily to marry her, a perfectly reasonable solution to all their troubles, or so she thinks. She just hadn’t counted on falling in love.

Review: This is the first ever book I have read written by Radclyffe...which I find surprising considering how much femslash fiction I have been reading over the past few months. Radclyffe's name appears a lot in the lesbian fiction categories on both amazon and goodreads so when the opportunity to review one of her books arose I couldn't wait to dive in.

Granted, this review is a few months late as I did have an advanced copy.

This book felt like a quick read and it was always very easy to fall back into the next day after putting down the night before, even though I didn't really want to put it down.
I loved the characters and that although at first the story, and their romance, seemed a little fast the characters themselves were slightly self aware of this and kind of fought it. It wasn't all rainbow and sunshine and lollipops. It made the story have more depth.

Emily and Dere were sweet together and I like that they came together because of someone else they both love. It is easy to form quick bonds in the face of an almost tragedy.
The supporting characters were great. I love Ron and HW and I even found myself liking Aud, who I wasn't too sure of at first. I also found it great that the problems and the tasks they had to overcome were more based in life than within the actual relationships.
I would have liked Derian to meet Pam though...just a little bit.

If you are looking for a sweet, kind of fast, romance with great characters I would recommend this book, and I absolutely cannot wait to try more of Radclyffe's books. If her other books are anything like this one I can see her quickly climbing up my favourite author's list.

If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan

Title: If You Could Be Mine
Author: Sara Farizan
Series: Stand Alone
Source: Netgalley and a second hand shop
Format: eBook and Hardback, I read the hardback version
Publisher: Alqonquin Young Readers
Publication date: August 20th 2013 (happy 3rd birthday)
Goodreads Average Rating: 3.74*s
My Rating: 5*s
Description: In this stunning debut, a young Iranian American writer pulls back the curtain on one of the most hidden corners of a much-talked-about culture.

Seventeen-year-old Sahar has been in love with her best friend, Nasrin, since they were six. They’ve shared stolen kisses and romantic promises. But Iran is a dangerous place for two girls in love—Sahar and Nasrin could be beaten, imprisoned, even executed if their relationship came to light.

So they carry on in secret—until Nasrin’s parents announce that they’ve arranged for her marriage. Nasrin tries to persuade Sahar that they can go on as they have been, only now with new comforts provided by the decent, well-to-do doctor Nasrin will marry. But Sahar dreams of loving Nasrin exclusively—and openly.

Then Sahar discovers what seems like the perfect solution. In Iran, homosexuality may be a crime, but to be a man trapped in a woman’s body is seen as nature’s mistake, and sex reassignment is legal and accessible. As a man, Sahar could be the one to marry Nasrin. Sahar will never be able to love the one she wants, in the body she wants to be loved in, without risking her life. Is saving her love worth sacrificing her true self?

Review: This book in one word for me is; heartbreaking. As a WLW who suffers discrimination as it is the place I live where being a lesbian is legal I can scarcely imagine my love being illegal. It doesn't seem possible. It definitely isn't right. At all.
Nasrin is a spoiled brat. In the end, and even a little bit through the book Sahar does see this. There are definitely some things I don't like when it comes to what the characters do. But...the reason I love this book so much is that I understand their desperation. I understand why they would do these things. For life, or for love.
It is honestly hard to put into words the reasons why I love this book. Although at times it was hard to continue reading because of the pain. Even though it made me cry more than it made me laugh. I love this book and I would recommend it to all of you, wlw or not.

Review: Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead (Georgina Kincaid, #1)

This Book is intended for Adults only. 

Title: Succubus Blues
Author: Richelle Mead
Series: Georgina Kincaid, Book 1
Publisher: Kensington
Publication Date: Feb 27th 2007
Source: Christmas Present
Format: Paperback (Mass Market version)
Description: When it comes to jobs in hell, being a succubus seems pretty glamorous. A girl can be anything she wants, the wardrobe is killer, and mortal men will do anything just for a touch. Granted, they often pay with their souls, but why get technical?

But Seattle succubus Georgina Kincaid's life is far less exotic. At least there's her day job at a local bookstore--free books; all the white chocolate mochas she can drink; and easy access to bestselling, sexy writer, Seth Mortensen, aka He Whom She Would Give Anything to Touch but Can't.

But dreaming about Seth will have to wait. Something wicked is at work in Seattle's demon underground. And for once, all of her hot charms and drop-dead one-liners won't help because Georgina's about to discover there are some creatures out there that both heaven and hell want to deny. . .

My Rating:  5*s
My Review: I am a sucker (pun not intended) for paranormal/urban fantasy. While it is a category I only discovered in recent year I just can't seem to get enough of it. I love almost every PNF/UF book I have read so far, and this one had an extra thing to make me love it. Richelle Mead.
I have devoured both the Vampire Academy and Bloodline series and I just needed more. I didn't regret it.

Georgina Kincaid is a pretty down to earth character, considering she's a succubus and all. She leads a fairly normal life, she works, she reads, she dances. There isn't much about her that screams creature of seduction. Except for when she shape shifts, which, yeah, I'm totally jealous of. I like how at times she seems to struggle with her immortality, at least that's how it felt to me. She's very cautious about things because of that I think. Georgina is a good character, and I love her friends too.

The writing style was very easy to get along with and if I didn't spend so much time online I would have read this book in one sitting. It's also not a book too heavily steeped in emotional stuff (which is something I needed in a book this week.)

I will say that I had no trouble figuring out who the bad "guy" was going to be. I worked it out a fair few chapter before Georgina did, but I didn't mind that. Plus, I still questioned it.

Overall a good and easy read, quick without distraction. Something I would recommend, but not gush about. I would recommend Richelle's other books first, but still one to be added to my 5 star shelf.

(As a side note this book can be found pretty cheap online secondhand too. I picked up the second book in the series from AbeBooks for £2.80...)

Review: The Diviners by Libba Bray

A/N: Sorry I've been so MIA. The last few months of the year are always busy for me and last year...I went through a MAJOR reading slump, but I'm (hopefully) back and (hopefully) better than ever!

Title: The Diviners
Author; Libba Bray
Series: The Diviners (#1) (Currently an incomplete series)
Source: Christmas Present
Format: Hardback
Description: Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult.

Evie worries he’ll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer.

As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho hides a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened.

My Rating: 5*s
My Review: In my opinion Libba Bray is a great world builder. I was there, in the 1920's with Evie and Memphis, and Theta. When they were scared, I was scared. When they laughed, I laughed.

I was introduced to the works of Libba Bray through random booktube hopping. Everybody was raving for Beauty Queens, so I took the dive, and I too fell in love. I knew from then I had to see what else she could offer me, and thus far she has not disappointed.

The Diviners shows me a different side of Libba Bray, one with monsters and several intricate lives woven into one story. With plotlines that keep you guessing and wanting more. I can't wait to get the next book in the series, I have so many unanswered question. And (kind of a spoiler here, but nothing to do with the storyline itself) it didn't even end in a cliffhanger, which is what usually keeps me coming back to a series.

If I was disappointed with anything...it would have the be the ending... It felt so anticlimactic. I mean, I know there are more books in the series, but the ending was just a little dull for me. It could have probably done without the last chapter, but then that's just my opinion.

This one is a definite recommendation.

New Laptop...Finally

So, I was away for a very long time...AGAIN! I am so sorry, but this time my reason is more legit than reader's block. I didn't have a frigging laptop!!! Mine decided to completely delete all software from itself... I was just using a phone for a while but well, it wasn't enough so...I got myself a new laptop. Could've fixed the old one, but I didn't like that one much anyway...

So hopefully I can start posting more reviews again! Hip Hip Hooray! :)

All Fall Down by Ally Carter

Title: All Fall Down
Author :Ally Carter
Series: Embassy Row, book 1
Publication date: Jan 20th 2015, by scholastic
 Source: Netgalley, I exchange for an homeest review
Format: kindle
My rating: 5*s


My Review:  So far, I have read every single one of Ally Carter's books. I have not been disappointed by a single one, they have each kept my attention and I loved each one. She writes great charters, she has great story lines, she writes well. It is safe to say she is one of my favourite authors.

Grace, poor, poor Grace. You know those characters that you just want to wrap in a trauma blanket and cuddle for about a year? That's Grace. Sure, she's strong, she's adventurous, but she is also frail in a way.

I loved all of the characters, I loved the story line and I loved every twist. Most of which were unexpected. 10\10 would recommend. And would totally read again.

If you haven't picked up an Ally Carter book yet, what are you waiting for?

Can't wait for the next book.

One of the Guys by Lisa Aldin

Title; One of the Guys
Author; Lisa Aldin
Source; Netgalley
Publisher; Spencer Hill Press
Publication Date; Feb 10th 2015
Rating; 5*s
Description; Tomboy to the core, Toni Valentine understands guys. She'll take horror movies, monster hunts and burping contests over manicures. So Toni is horrified when she's sent to the Winston Academy for Girls, where she has to wear a skirt and learn to be alady while the guys move on without her.

Then Toni meets Emma Elizabeth, a girl at school with boy troubles, and she volunteers one of her friends as a pretend date. Word spreads of Toni’s connections with boys, and she discovers that her new wealthy female classmates will pay big money for fake dates. Looking for a way to connect her old best friends with her new life at school, Toni and Emma start up Toni Valentine’s Rent-A-Gent Service. 

But the business meets a scandal when Toni falls for one of her friends--the same guy who happens to be the most sought-after date. With everything she's built on the line, Toni has to decide if she wants to save the business and her old life, or let go of being one of the guys for a chance at love.

Review; What a perfect ending.

Toni Valentine was a perfect character for me. Flawed and uncertain of herself, real.  A tomboy that discovers it is okay to have more than one side of yourself.
I liked every one of Toni's friends , and though I knew the love interest quickly I was happy about because that character was another of my favourites.

The girls within the book were not bitchy. There were no competitions or fighting over boys as there so often is in books of this type. I am so so so glad about that.

Every boy in the book had different personalities and they weren't just 'typical' guys. It made everything more realistic. Gosh I could rave about this book for hours. This book definitely deserves recommendation. This is Lisa Aldin's first title, I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

dr.a.g by Christopher Logan

Title; Dr.a.g.
Author; Christopher Logan
Source; Netgalley
Publisher; bookthefilm edition
Publication Date; 12th May 2012
Rating; 5*s
Description;Drag has become a diverse form of expression that challenges, entertains, and educates by pushing boundaries, while embracing beauty, comedy and glamour. The performers in this book are evidence of that diversity, captured by some of the top photographers working in today's world.

Review; I love the confidence that men in drag have, they are unafraid to shw who they are, unafraid to show their beautiful selves. I admire that. I really do. In many pictures this book shows that confidence.
This book is also very diverse. Men and women of all colours and cultures are appreciated here and I feel that is very important.
This book is mostly pictures, but I'd still recommend it. Seriously a beautiful book.

For the Love of Cake by Erin Dutton

Title; For the Love of Cake
Author; Erin Dutton
Publisher; Bold Strokes Books
Publication Date; 17th Feb 2015
Source; Netgalley
Rating; 5*s
Description; 

1 of 5 stars

4.0

Maya Vaughn, the hottest young pastry chef to emerge from the reality television machine, enjoys spending time with men and women alike. When she takes a turn as a judge on the very show that launched her career, she expects to find a nice change of scenery and a little diversion.

A late-bloomer at forty-two years old, Shannon Hayes is finally on the precipice of achieving her dreams. She has one shot to prove she can compete with chefs half her age with much more experience. Engaging in a fling with a judge fourteen years her junior would almost certainly kill that chance.

Review; This was my first book by Erin Dutton, but I highly doubt it will be my last. Having been in a major, and I mean major, reading slump lately when I picked up this , though I loved the idea of it, I doubted I would get awfully far. Well I was wrong, I finished the book with in a matter of days and I loved it.
I am a sucker for romance books and so called chick lit, I can't get enough. Now when that romance book is LGBTQIA plus, especially when it involves lady love, well colour me smitten. Of course, I don't just fall for any queer romance. This one however was perfect for me.
I love baking and decorating baked goods. And having recently started a diet, I miss. This book made me nostalgic, it made me want to bake so bad, even though I know I can't. So baking being a part of the book, especially it being centred around a baking comp, well, that just made the book better for me.
The characters were great and the book was an easy read that kept me coming back. I would love to read more about any of these characters and can't wait to read more by this author. Any author that can get me out of a reading slump is a good author in my books. Definitely recommend.

Soppy: A Love Story by Philippa Rice

Title; Soppy

Author; Philippa Rice

Publisher; Andrews McMeel Publishing

Publication Date; Dec 2nd 2014

Description;  "The next hot ticket could be British artist Philippa Rice, whose marvelously inventive blogs My Cardboard Life and Soppy have won her fans across the world."

 --Anna Baddeley, The Observer

 The wildly popular web comic SOPPY--with more than half a million notes on Tumblr--is the illustrated love story of author Philippa Rice and her real-life boyfriend. True love isn't always about the big romantic gestures. Sometimes it's about sympathizing with someone whose tea has gone cold or reading together and sharing a quilt. When two people move in together, it soon becomes apparent that the little things mean an awful lot. The throwaway moments in life become meaningful when you spend them in the company of someone you love.

SOPPY is Philippa Rice's collection of comics and illustrations based on real-life moments with her boyfriend. From grocery shopping to silly arguments and snuggling in front of the television, SOPPY captures the universal experience of sharing a life together, and celebrates the beauty of finding romance all around us

My Rating; 4*s

My Review; I do not have much to say about this comic. It was sweet and it was quite short. It is about 100 pages long, but there are a lot of words.

A very sweet comic that I would recommend to someone. If I thought it was their kind of thing. 

I had never heard of Philippa Rice before this. Which is quite surprising considering how often I am on Tumblr. (See: All the time.)

I am glad I found this actually. I was looking for something different. This something was different, and short, which is what I seem to need lately. So, it's perfect for when you're in a kind of reading slump or are having readers' block but actually still want to read something. 

So, so cute. Made cuter by the fact that it is based on truth. 

Love doesn't have to be about grand gestures and confessions. There are other ways to show love. 

Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky

(Cover Not Final)

Title; Gracefully Grayson
Author; Ami Polonsky
Source; Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Format; Kindle
Publisher; Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date; November 4th 2014

Description; Alone at home, twelve-year-old Grayson Sender glows, immersed in beautiful thoughts and dreams. But at school, Grayson grasps at shadows, determined to fly under the radar. Because Grayson has been holding onto a secret for what seems like forever: “he” is a girl on the inside, stuck in the wrong gender’s body.

The weight of this secret is crushing, but leaving it behind would mean facing ridicule, scorn, and rejection. Despite these dangers, Grayson’s true self itches to break free. Strengthened by an unexpected friendship and a caring teacher who gives her a chance to step into the spotlight, Grayson might finally have the tools to let her inner light shine.

Debut author Ami Polonsky’s moving, beautifully-written novel shines with the strength of a young person’s spirit and the enduring power of acceptance.

My Rating; 4.5*s

Review; This must have been a hard book to write. A twelve year old boy who hasn't grown up feeling accepted isn't going understand that it's normal to not be the gender you were born as. That is such a shame, and this book brings that to life a little bit.

Grayson is such a likeable character. His struggles were so tough and so real. Kids like Grayson are the reason I believe children should be taught about being transgendered and gay, and so on and so forth. Because then people would begin to see it as normal, which is what it is. And real children that are just like Grayson won't have struggle as much.

I want things to work out for Grayson so bad. I want things to work out with school, with his family. Bless Uncle Evan. Seriously. That man was just amazing. As was Finn. Paige and pretty much all of the theatre kids.

This book is so beautiful, and so sad. Kids shouldn't have to be bullied because of who they are or how they look. Grayson is so brave. So, so brave.

I definitely recommend this book. And I would read it again.

Such a tough life led already for a 12 year old... It gets better though. It always gets better.

The Isobel Journal by Isobel Harrop

Title; The Isobel Journal
Author; Isobel Harrop
Source; Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review
Format; eBook
Publisher; Hot Key Books
Publication Date; November 7th 2013

Description; THE ISOBEL JOURNAL is no ordinary snapshot of a contemporary teenage life. A charming and vivid narrative scrapbook of the eighteen-year-old author's sketches, mini-graphic novels, photographs and captions, it captures her wit, her observations and her creative talent as she takes us through the three central themes in her life: 'Love', 'Friends, Art and Otters' and 'Me'.

Resonant of Laura Dockrill's MISTAKES IN THE BACKGROUND and with the powerful naïve illustrative style of cult Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara, this is a collector's gift for teenagers and all who have the teenage experience still in their hearts. Readers will emphasise with this witty and honest journal of a girl getting to grips with impending adulthood. A must-have for all hipster teenagers and anyone who appreciates the raw creativity of youth. Enchanting and poignant.

My Rating; 3.5*s

Review; Though this book is a little strange, considering it is pretty much a journal, but with more pictures than words, I still enjoyed it.

It is a very quick read. I enjoyed the pictures, and the little bits of writing. I would pick up another book by Isobel no problem.

Cute and I would recommend it to those who are interested in the description and to nosy people. The kind that like to read journals.

Made me smile and could definitely relate to some of the things said. I do like books that are written differently and in different formats.

Also, the otter and other animal drawings were so cute.

Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan

Title; Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel
Author; Sara Farizan
Source; Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review
Format; eBook
Publisher; Algonquin
Publication Date; October 17th 2014

Description; High-school junior Leila has made it most of the way through Armstead Academy without having a crush on anyone, which is something of a relief. Her Persian heritage already makes her different from her classmates; if word got out that she liked girls, life would be twice as hard. But when a sophisticated, beautiful new girl, Saskia, shows up, Leila starts to take risks she never thought she would, especially when it looks as if the attraction between them is mutual. Struggling to sort out her growing feelings and Saskia's confusing signals, Leila confides in her old friend, Lisa, and grows closer to her fellow drama tech-crew members, especially Tomas, whose comments about his own sexuality are frank, funny, wise, and sometimes painful. Gradually, Leila begins to see that almost all her classmates are more complicated than they first appear to be, and many are keeping fascinating secrets of their own.

My Rating; 4.5*s

Review; As soon as I read the description for this book I just knew I had to have it. It was exactly what I was looking to read. I could not wait to start reading it as soon as I got approved on netgalley.

Then I started reading it and I just go so absorbed in the story, in the characters. Whilst I must admit that I wasn't really surprised by many of the things that happened, it was still a good read for me. A relaxing kind of read.

It is also nice to read a book that is not only LGBTQIA+, but a book that features a main gay character that isn't white. Too often main characters are white, or ethnical backgrounds aren't explored as much. In this book they were. I liked that. (I am white, but even I get fed up).

Leila, oh how I love Leila. Her struggles are so real. Her problems so real. Sibling jealousy and rivalry, coming out, figuring out who you are, telling your parents about it all. Whilst some of the scenes and characters were a little unrealistic Leila was not.

I would have liked to learn a little bit more about some of the other characters, but I guess then we wouldn't have had as much information about Leila. I mean, I know hardly anything about Greg or Tess. Or the tech girls. Or Lisa.

I really enjoyed this story. It was quite fast paced for me. It didn't feel like 300 pages. I could definitely read more from these characters, but considering the book is not part of a series I will just have to read Sara's other work and keep and eye out for anything new.

I definitely recommend this book. I can't wait till it comes out so I can get physical copy of my own!

Confessions of an Angry Girl (Confessions, #1) by Louise Rozett

Title; Confessions of an Angry Girl
Author; Louise Rozett
Series; Confessions, book one
Source; Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review
Format; Kindle
Publisher; Harlequin Teen
Publication Date; August 28th 2012

Description; Rose Zarelli, self-proclaimed word geek and angry girl, has some confessions to make…

1. I'm livid all the time. Why? My dad died. My mom barely talks. My brother abandoned us. I think I'm allowed to be irate, don't you?

2. I make people furious regularly. Want an example? I kissed Jamie Forta, a badass guy who might be dating a cheerleader. She is now enraged and out for blood. Mine.

3. High school might as well be Mars. My best friend has been replaced by an alien, and I see red all the time. (Mars is red and "seeing red" means being angry—get it?)

Here are some other vocab words that describe my life: Inadequate. Insufferable. Intolerable.

(Don't know what they mean? Look them up yourself.)

(Sorry. That was rude.)

My Rating; 4*s

Review; Before I started this book I wasn't sure whether I was going to like it or not. It had been a while since I read the description (I am so terribly behind on reviews, sorry!). I wasn't sure if I would find that the main character was angry for no apparent reason. I wasn't sure if I would connect with her or understand her reasons.

But I did.

I connected with her. I understand her hurt and how that turns into anger. Personally, both of my parents, and all of my grandparents (though I don't know one) are all still alive, but that doesn't mean I can't understand that pain.
I understood that pain of starting high school.

Rose is not a bad person, she is just a person that has bad things happening to her.

All I want to do is wrap Rose Zarelli in a blanket and give her a well deserved hug. It also seems like Jamie needs one of those hugs.

I liked Rose, her mum, Jamie, and Peter. Felt kind of bad for Robert. Truly disliked Regina and all the things she did and there were a few "oh no she didn't" moments in there. Ugh. Rose's best friend, Tracy, I didn't like her much, but I feel like she might be able to redeem herself.
So I liked the characters.

I liked the writing, the way Louise Rozett described that opera, there wasn't much detail, but I felt like I was there and I almost cried.

It is such a great story and I can't wait to read the rest of the series. I definitely recommend it.

Ask the Passengers by A. S. King

Title; Ask the Passengers
Author; A. S. King
Source; Amazon
Format; Kindle
Publisher; Little Brown
Publication Date; 23rd Oct 2012

Description; Astrid Jones desperately wants to confide in someone, but her mother's pushiness and her father's lack of interest tell her they're the last people she can trust. Instead, Astrid spends hours lying on the backyard picnic table watching airplanes fly overhead. She doesn't know the passengers inside, but they're the only people who won't judge her when she asks them her most personal questions--like what it means that she's falling in love with a girl.

As her secret relationship becomes more intense and her friends demand answers, Astrid has nowhere left to turn. She can't share the truth with anyone except the people at thirty thousand feet, and they don't even know she's there. But little does Astrid know just how much even the tiniest connection will affect these strangers' lives--and her own--for the better.

In this truly original portrayal of a girl struggling to break free of society's definitions, Printz Honor author A.S. King asks readers to question everything--and offers hope to those who will never stop seeking real love

My Rating; 4*s

Review; Whilst Ask the Passengers was quite what I was expecting, I loved it. I never seem to get what I expect when I read a book by A. S. King, as I found out when I read Please Ignore Vera Dietz. This is a good thing.

Usually when you read a lot of books...they become a little predictable. Person A gets with Person B then realises they love Person C. That or they live happily ever after... Blah, blah, blah.
Whilst I love these kinds of books, the predictable ones, it is so good to have something different come along.

I loved all of the philosophies. I loved Astrid sending her love to people 30,000 ft in the air so that she felt it had a use (though it already had use down here.) Helping people through a thought. Seeing snippets of these peoples lives, short passages from characters Astrid may never meet. Everything about Astrid's relationship with the passengers was perfect to me.
When we feel we have no one to turn to, we all find an outlet. Be it writing, be it pain, be it singing. Or talking to stranger. Or someone who can't hear you. Talking to the passengers, that's Astrid's outlet.

As you may, or may not, be able to tell Astrid is my favourite character in this book. Flawed, unsure, feeling unloved. She is the perfect representation of a teenager for me. Those three characteristics that barely scratch the surface of her character...they are how I felt as a teen. Sometimes, even now. She is a character I can relate to, even though our lives are completely different.

The other characters; Dee, Kristina, her family, I found I couldn't like them as much as I did Astrid.
I really disliked Dee at first, she seemed pushy and I was afraid she would hurt Astrid with her push-y-ness. I didn't like it at all. But, she grew on me, as she changed throughout the book, becoming a bit of a better person, I began to like her a little. Though that doesn't exclude her earlier behaviour.

Kristina didn't seem like a very supportive friend at all. She seemed selfish, she didn't seem to care about Astrid or anyone else. I couldn't find much in me that liked her.

Astrid's family, her mother, her father, and Ellis. Everyone in the family so different from one another. It almost seemed as if they were four strangers thrown together sometimes. But then you'd see the familiarity, the love hidden behind the pain. The few things they had in common.
I didn't like the family much at times, the parents could seem a little distant from the children, the mother seemed way too irresponsible. Mummy-and-Me nights were so spiteful.
Her mother didn't redeem herself to me in the end. At all. I could not stand her character.

Ellis, I grew to like. Even when she seemed like a pain in the ass.

Her father I also liked. A strange man, but one who seemed loving, and kind, and maybe a little stuck.

There was representation of L, G, and Q of LGBTQIA+. Something I was glad for. There were probably more LGBTQIA+ main characters than not.

I would recommend this book. Definitely. It's beautiful, and new, and different. It's refreshing.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Title; The Language of Flowers
Author; Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Pages; 402
Source; Store Bought
Format; Paperback
Publisher; Pan Publishing
Publication Date; August 23rd 2011

Description; A "NEW YORK TIMES" BESTSELLER

The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey romantic expressions: honeysuckle for devotion, asters for patience, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it's been more useful in communicating mistrust and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster-care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings. Now eighteen and emancipated from the system with nowhere to go, Victoria realizes she has a gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But an unexpected encounter with a mysterious stranger has her questioning what's been missing in her life. And when she's forced to confront a painful secret from her past, she must decide whether it's worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness.

Rating; 3.5*s

Review; Surprise, surprise; it's another book that I am confused about. Currently I have rated this book 4 stars on Goodreads, but I just don't know if that feels right to me.

I mean, I liked the book, connected with the character, I just feel it could have been a little better, maybe? Some things were just too predictable for me. There were things I had seen before, but there were things I hadn't. Honestly, I like it a lot more than I thought I would.

Whilst I liked the main character, Victoria, there were times when I just couldn't understand her decisions. Times when I was damn shocked at how she acted or something she did. Some things I could forgive, even understand, but some things were just too much for me. Although I did like her, I feel she could have been a bit better, understood more and maybe not have done some of things she did.

The other main characters, Elizabeth, Renata, Grant, I loved them all. They were all wonderful and they all tried. And I just...loved them all.

One of the main reasons I wanted to read this book is because I have been wanting to learn the language of flowers for many years now, ever since I found out some of the meanings for roses a few years back. And this book did teach me more whilst also giving me a good story to read. I wanted to know what was going to happen and I wished for a happy ending.

You know, I loved the ending. It was not a typical "everything is fine" ending, but it didn't leave you hopeless either. The perfect in between.

I will read more by Vanessa and I would recommend this book. You know, I think it deserves 3.5*s.

I also quite like the cover.

Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher

Title; Almost Perfect
Author; Brian Katcher
Source; Amazon
Format; Second hand paperback
Publisher; Delacorte
Publication Date; October 13th 2009

Description; You only hurt the ones you love.

Logan Witherspoon recently discovered that his girlfriend of three years cheated on him. But things start to look up when a new student breezes through the halls of his small-town high school. Sage Hendricks befriends Logan at a time when he no longer trusts or believes in people. Sage has been homeschooled for a number of years and her parents have forbidden her to date anyone, but she won’t tell Logan why. One day, Logan acts on his growing feelings for Sage. Moments later, he wishes he never had. Sage finally discloses her big secret: she’s actually a boy. Enraged, frightened, and feeling betrayed, Logan lashes out at Sage and disowns her. But once Logan comes to terms with what happened, he reaches out to Sage in an attempt to understand her situation. But Logan has no idea how rocky the road back to friendship will be.

Rating; 3.5*s

Review; There were times when I loved this book and times when I hated it.

Let us start with Logan, our main dude. Now his character was so real to me. I could picture him as an actual person, living in a small town, worried about what everyone thinks. That's why I really did not like him sometimes. He is such a real character, with quite realistic reactions (though I hate them, but quite real reactions for someone uneducated) and, in the end I just could decide whether or not to like him. His character made me so conflicted. I wanted to feel sorry for him, but at the same time he just seemed like such an asshole and all I wanted to do was hit him! He can be such fool.

Now, Sage Hendricks. My lord, I could not love this girl more! She has been through way more than someone should have to at her age, and still life keeps piling more and more on her. If her parents were my parents...I would not be able to handle that. She is a lot stronger that she realises. I wonder what the book would have been like from her point of view. I just...I want more Sage Hendricks. I want more characters like her. And I want more transgendered characters, both male and female.

In this book, a perfectly normal person - Sage - is made to feel different, when she is a perfectly normal person. It makes you think, it makes you see how bad things can be for LGBTQIA+ youth, and LGBTQIA+ people in general. I think everyone should read this book. Because of the issues it deals with, just to make you think.

There needs to be more LGBTQIA+ fiction out there. But for now, this is what I have found.

I have no idea what it feels like to be a transgendered person personally, I have never met a transgendered person in real life either, but this felt quite real to me.

The thing that I was most disappointed with, the thing that ruined the book a little was the ending.

Other than that there are some great supporting characters, and some not so great. There's just so much to love. And some to hate. But I'd still recommend it in a heartbeat. Though it may be slightly triggering for transgendered folks. If you have had to deal with (stupid) bullying and things. Just a warning.

Zeus Grants Stupid Wishes: A No-Bullshit Guide to World Mythology by Cory O'Brien

Title; Zeus Grants Stupid Wishes
Author; Cory O'Brien
Format; eBook
Publisher; Perigee
Publication Date; March 5th 2013
Description; All our lives, we’ve been fed watered-down, PC versions of the classic myths. In reality, mythology is more screwed up than a schizophrenic shaman doing hits of unidentified…wait, it all makes sense now. In Zeus Grants Stupid Wishes, Cory O’Brien, creator of Myths RETOLD!, sets the stories straight. These are rude, crude, totally sacred texts told the way they were meant to be told: loudly, and with lots of four-letter words. Skeptical? Here are just a few gems to consider:

• Zeus once stuffed an unborn fetus inside his thigh to save its life after he exploded its mother by being too good in bed.

• The entire Egyptian universe was saved because Sekhmet just got too hammered to keep murdering everyone.

• The Hindu universe is run by a married couple who only stop murdering in order to throw sweet dance parties…on the corpses of their enemies.

• The Norse goddess Freyja once consented to a four-dwarf gangbang in exchange for one shiny necklace.


And there’s more dysfunctional goodness where that came from.

My Rating; 4*s



My Review; I had been seeing this book around for a few months. A lot of people recommended it, a lot of people thought it was hilarious. So, naturally I had to read it.

I will be the first to admit that I don't know a lot of mythology. I don't know any of my own country's myths. None. I do know a few Greek ones, that's about it.

I did not love this book, but I did like it quite a lot. It was interesting to find out some more myths, even with the way they were written. It had its funny moments. Which, you know, is good for a book in the humour category.

There is a wide range of myths from a wide range of countries. Also, a lot of asshole Gods and Goddesses.

I would recommend this book to people who enjoy myths and people who don't mind a little dirty humour. Will I be checking out anymore of Cory's work? Probably.