Welcome to my stop on the To Be Honest blog tour!
I'm so excited to share my review with you all! I've had my eye on this book for ages because I'm always looking for more body positive rep and I was thrilled at the chance to read it, so huge thanks to Xpresso Book Tours for allowing me to participate in the tour!
Rating: 5 STARS!
Genre: Contemporary YA
Standalone/Series: Standalone How I got this book: ARC from Xpresso Book Tours
Savannah is dreading being home alone with her overbearing mother after her sister goes off to college. But if she can just get through senior year, she’ll be able to escape to college, too. What she doesn’t count on is that her mother’s obsession with weight has only grown deeper since her appearance on an extreme weight-loss show, and now Savvy’s mom is pressuring her even harder to be constantly mindful of what she eats.
Between her mom’s diet-helicoptering, missing her sister, and worrying about her collegiate future, Savvy has enough to worry about. And then she meets George, the cute new kid at school who has insecurities of his own. As Savvy and George grow closer, they help each other discover how to live in the moment and enjoy the here and now before it disappears.
I just want to jump up and down and rave about this amazing book, so you'll have to bear with me here! First of all, here's a quick summary of what I LOVE most about this book:
This book was impossible to put down from the moment I started reading, and I flew through it so quickly that I could honestly read it again. I love Savannah, I love her confidence, her positive outlook and attitude, her loyalty and her compassion. "News flash: fat isn't a bad word, Mom." I also love that she's completely relatable. She has principles that she stands by, she has her own insecurities, and she has anxiety (something I feel is portrayed exceptionally well by the author, especially since not one single person treats it as a problem or a burden they have to deal with or as something that she should just 'get over'). "It suddenly felt like all the air had been pushed out of my lungs. I swayed on my feet as the ringing in my ears began. No matter how many panic attacks I had, my body always believed that it was dying." I also found Savannah likeable and truly funny, this book had me chuckling so many times, especially when she's around George and her thoughts take a turn for the amusing. "My mouth watered (for multiple reasons, mostly the pizza, though, to be honest) and I invited him inside." Parts of this book were a little tough for me personally. I've "struggled" with my body image my entire life, and truthfully, a lot of that stems from people close to me telling me that they're worried for me, that I should try to be more healthy to the point where I no longer felt comfortable in my own skin. The way Savannah's mum treats her perfectly illustrates the things I've gone through in my own life and honestly, there were moments that were so real they had me close to tears. "You'd be a lot happier if you could just make the choice to lead a healthier life." One thing that Savannah has that I didn't is an amazing, supportive friend. I absolutely adore Grace, Savannah's best friend, who is always in Savannah's corner. Then there's George; sweet, naive, blushing George. The romance in this book is completely adorable, especially as both George and Savannah are a little clueless when it comes to expressing their feelings. If you're looking for more body positivity in your life, if you're sick and tired of body shaming and reading books with toxic friendships, I urge you to read To Be Honest. I especially recommend to fans of Becky Albertalli who I think will adore Maggie Ann Martin's writing style! I'm so thankful to Maggie Ann Martin for writing this fantastic book and to Swoon Reads for publishing it! We need more body positive YA. I feel certain that if I'd read more books like this when I was younger, I wouldn't have spent most of my teenage life feeling so insecure. "There's no expiration date on acceptance."
What do you think? Remember that you can click on the cover photo above to add To Be Honest to your Goodreads TBR!
Thanks again for stopping by and joining me on my leg of the tour! Click here to follow the rest of the tour! You can also enter below for your chance to win a print copy of To Be Honest (US/CAN only - giveaway hosted by Xpresso Book Tours)! Rating: 5 STARS!! Genre: Fantasy Standalone/Series: The Nevernight Chronicle #1 How I got this book: Bought Mia Covere is only ten years old when she is given her first lesson in death. Destined to destroy empires, the child raised in shadows made a promise on the day she lost everything: to avenge herself on those that shattered her world. But the chance to strike against such powerful enemies will be fleeting, and Mia must become a weapon without equal. Before she seeks vengeance, she must seek training among the infamous assassins of the Red Church of Itreya. Inside the Church's halls, mia must prove herself against the deadliest of opponents and survive the tutelage of murderers, liars and demons at the heart of a murder cult. The Church is no ordinary school, but Mia is no ordinary student. I'm going to start by pointing out that I've marked this book as a Fantasy novel, not a YA Fantasy (as shown on Goodreads) because there is no way in hell that this book is a YA...and by no means is that a bad thing!
I absolutely LOVE it when books live up to their hype, and I admit that I was a little sceptical over Nevernight, because I'd tried to read this book about three times over the past year, and I just kept re-reading the first two chapters and then stopping. My biggest issue was with the footnotes which I struggled with to begin with, I just felt that they detracted from the story a bit and pulled me out of the 'zone'. You might be wondering why then that I decided to rate this as a 5 star read. Simply put, some of the footnotes aside, this is one of the most incredible books I've ever had the pleasure of reading. This is my second Jay Kristoff novel, Illuminae being the first, and I can only say that the man is both ingenious and insane. He clearly hates standard formatting, but it works so well that I honestly can't complain, and his character and world development are phenomenal! Mia is a fantastic character, I love her strength, her pain, her courage and her fear. Nevernight surprised me by having a really fantastic feminist undertone, alongside some brilliant quotes. "Beauty you are born with, but brains you earn." After struggling with the first three chapters, I suddenly fell face first into the story during chapter 4 and it dragged me along for an amazing ride. To be honest, I'm not sure what to talk about first and I really don't want to give much away, but here's a quick run-down of some of my favourite things: Mia (and her shadows), Mr. Kindly (and his sass), the sand krackens, the librarian, the bookworms, the library itself, the blood walk, Naev, Adonaii, Marielle, Hush, Tric (and his impressive skills 😉), Lord Cassius, Mouser, Spiderkiller, AAlea...aaand there's so much more that I can't think of right now. Surprisingly, this book is packed full of witty humour which comes through in the footnotes, the characters (mostly the 'teachers') and Mr. Kindly. "She crushed what was left of her smoke out, grimacing. 'Maw's teeth, I've got to cut down.' '....there are more dangerous things around here to put in your mouth...' Mister Kindly peered at her through the grey pall. '....dweymeri boys, for example....'" 😂😂😂 The Red Church made me think of a cross between the house of black and white and Hogwarts, if run by Death Eaters, and I'm really sorry, but I think I've found my new favourite potions master because Spiderkiller is incredible and terrifying! It's bloody, brutal, graphic and I loved every bit of it. The characters, the plot twists, the shock moments (yeah, I'm looking at you Solis!! 😱😱😱), the violence, the 'romance' - arrrggh! I can't get over how perfect it was!! I am so ready for book two, and if you haven't read Nevernight yet, I'd highly recommend that you do! Rating: 5 STARS!! Genre: Sci-Fi/Romance/YA Standalone/Series: The Xenith Trilogy #1 How I got this book: Bought Delaney’s entire world is thrown into chaos after she is mistaken for Lissa Olena, an alien princess hiding out on Earth in order to escape an arranged marriage. Kidnapped by the princess’s head bodyguard, Ruckus, and imprisoned in an alien palace, Delaney is forced to impersonate the princess until Olena can be found. If she fails, it will lead to an alien war and the eventual enslavement of the entire human race. No pressure or anything. Factor in Trystan, the princess’s terrifying betrothed who is intent on unraveling all her secrets, and her own growing feelings for Ruckus, and Delaney is in way over her head. Get lost Amid Stars and Darkness, in this YA sci-fi romance from debut author Chani Lynn Feener. I've been a HUGE fan of Chani Lynn Feener ever since I discovered her Underworld series last year - if you love Greek mythology, strong heroines, swoon-worthy boys and three-headed dogs, go check it out!
When I read Amid Stars and Darkness for the first time it was the first sci-fi I'd ever actually made it through, let alone enjoyed. It was so much fun and definitely a 5-star read! Book two, Between Frost and Fury, is coming out next month and it's one of my most anticipated reads this year, that's why I decided to re-read book one to refresh my memory. Side note: I have a shocking long-term memory. It really is awful and in all aspects of life it really bothers me, except when it comes to reading books. Forgetting the details helps to make a re-read much more special. This story is so easy to fall into, one second you're on page one, meeting Delaney and Olena, and the next you're almost finished. The pace is fantastic and I read the entire book in just a few short sittings. I just couldn't put it down and was hooked from the very beginning. I instantly loved Delaney who's an amazingly strong, resilient and witty character whilst still handling her situation realistically, she's definitely braver than me, I'd have been curled up in a corner panicking the entire time! The imagery and world-building in this book are fantastic, I love the comparisons between Earth and the aliens, especially the pool room which is simply magical. I hope there's more of this amazing world to explore in book 2. What I love most is that this book isn't just a typical romance, it's full of action and dastardly plots that keep your eyes glued to the page. I won't say too much about the other characters in this book as I really don't want to give too much away. Just know that I had so much fun with all of the characters. Ruckus is strong, loyal, sweet and HOT. Trystan is big, brooding and pretty malicious for the most part, so why is he my favourite?!? Prepare yourself for one hell of a cliffhanger ending! That ending has had me hanging on so long for the sequel. I luckily managed to snag an ARC of Between Frost and Fury from the lovely team at Swoon Reads, so I'm reading it next!! I can't wait! I'm desperate to get jump back into this fantastic world! If you're a fan of 'enemies/friends to lovers', strong-willed heroines, drop-dead gorgeous heroes & villains, and action-filled plots, you'll love Amid Stars and Darkness! Rating: 5 STARS!! Genre: Fantasy/Romance Standalone/Series: Caraval #2 How I got this book: Bought A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win. After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister Scarlett from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name. The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister's. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice. But now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about—maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever. Welcome, welcome to Caraval...the games have only just begun. I can't tell you how EXCITED I've been for Legendary!! If you haven't read book one in the series, feel free to check out my review of Caraval! This book is 😍🤯😱 - it's EVERYTHING!! The most amazing thing about Stephanie Garber's writing is that it completely sweeps me away. I get so lost in her incredible world that I never want to leave. The magic, deception and mystery of Legendary drew me in so fully that I became fully immersed in it. Legendary, like Caraval, is one of those rare books that you find yourself flying through whilst at the same time wishing that it could last forever. I absolutely loved Tella in this book. In Caraval, I wasn't too sure how I felt about her as a character, but in Legendary, she really comes into her own. She's fierce, brave, loyal, committed and bursting with conviction, seeing things from her point of view completely flipped my original opinion of her....I can't get enough of her sass and her propensity to tell things as they are. "Tella had kissed enough young men to know that anything said by a boy right before or directly after she kissed him could not be believed at all." There's a fantastic undercurrent of feminism in this book and I'm so glad of it! "Tella might have been many things, but she was far from silly or worthless or whatever labels people liked to affix because a person was young and female." The romance in Legendary, for me at least, felt much bigger and more swoon-worthy than in Caraval. Whilst I loved the slow-burn between Scarlett and Julian, I absolutely loved the back and forth between two certain characters in Legendary and often found myself grinning madly whilst reading their scenes, and I love that Stephanie Garber completely changed my opinion of these two characters in the course of just a few chapters. Legendary contains some truly fantastic characters, most of whom we already met in Caraval, but there's also the introduction of some new faces, my favourites being The Fates. The Fates are incredible, I love how dark and twisted they are! This book sees Tella swept away in a completely new game, one that seems vividly more real than the last. She faces difficult paths, dark temptations and it's a joy to travel with her as she discovers more about who she is, and who she wants to be. To me, Legendary feels a touch darker than Caraval, and I love that about this book. There's danger, trials, mystery and so much confusion that I'm tempted to re-read it again even now! I honestly cannot wait for the final book in the series, the aptly named Finale as my jaw was hanging wide as the ending of Legendary played out! I was so drawn in by the glorious imagery and magic of Legendary that I sped through this book without realising it and at times even tried to slow myself down to make it last longer. I will most definitely be re-reading this series before Finale is released. 5/5 shimmering stars for what's shaping up to be one of my favourite book series' of all time! This book is so beautiful! Here's a quick photo I took of my hidden cover for the Fairy Loot 'May' challenge!
Which of the four secret covers is your favourite? Rating: 5 STARS! Genre: Fantasy/Romance/LGBT/Comedy Standalone/Series: Tales from Verania #1 How I got this book: Bought Once upon a time, in an alleyway in the slums of the City of Lockes, a young and somewhat lonely boy named Sam Haversford turns a group of teenage douchebags into stone completely by accident. Of course, this catches the attention of a higher power, and Sam's pulled from the only world he knows to become an apprentice to the King's Wizard, Morgan of Shadows. When Sam is fourteen, he enters the Dark Woods and returns with Gary, the hornless gay unicorn, and a half-giant named Tiggy, earning the moniker Sam of Wilds. At fifteen, Sam learns what love truly is when a new knight arrives at the castle. Sir Ryan Foxheart, the dreamiest dream to have ever been dreamed. Naturally, it all goes to hell through the years when Ryan dates the reprehensible Prince Justin, Sam can't control his magic, a sexually aggressive dragon kidnaps the prince, and the King sends them on an epic quest to save Ryan's boyfriend, all while Sam falls more in love with someone he can never have. Or so he thinks. Disclosure: Due to the explicit nature of this book, this review includes some mature content and is intended for readers aged 18+. You have been warned.
I’m gonna be honest, it was the prospect of the ‘gay, hornless unicorn’ that really made me click ‘buy’ when I read the synopsis, and Gary does not disappoint. He’s overflowing with glitter, sass and a serious case of potty mouth, and he’s fantastic! I want to start by saying how disappointed in myself I am that I’d never heard of T.J. Klune, or read any of his books until stumbling across this one on BookBub, and so on that note, I want to thank BookBub (check them out for discounted and free ebooks!) for making me aware of one of the most outrageously funny books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I really don’t know where to start with this book, I finished it last night (read: early hours this morning) and I can’t get over how AMAZING it was. I don’t even have the right words to sum up how amazing this book is, I’m still so overwhelmed by it all, so I hope this review makes some sense. From the moment I started reading, I fell in love with Sam, his friends and his world, and I was never once bored along the way. I was fully immersed in the world of Verania and its colourful characters from the very first page. Sam is an incredible narrator, he’s sweet, caring, loyal to a fault, sincere, good, helplessly naïve and hysterically funny. Oh, he also does some pretty cool magic! Even amongst all the sass, I found myself tearing up in certain parts for my beautiful, sweet Sam. I love that this book isn’t a regular historical romance. It’s an epic fantasy adventure filled with magic, wizards (both good and bad), castles, knights, giants and dragons. It has literally everything you could want from an epic fantasy whilst also featuring a slow-burn, sizzling, pining M/M romance and more LGBT characters than I’ve ever seen in a single book. There’s even a fairy drag mother, yeah, you heard me! “Once upon a time in the Kingdom of Verania, there was a kickass boy born in the slums of the City of Lockes. His parents were hardworking, and at times, life could be difficult, but they were alive and had all their teeth. Which was important.” Even more so, beneath all of that, this is a story with emotional depth spanning friendships, family bonds and true love. Reading ‘The Lightning Struck Heart’ was no easy feat since I was reading mostly at night and having to smother my laughter at the sheer amount of sass and bitching from all the characters. “’Horse?’ Gary snarled. The pretty unicorn act dropped immediately. Red sparks shot from his nose. ‘Did you just call me a horse? Listen here, you two-legged bag of shit. I’m not a motherfucking horse. I am a unicorn, and I am magic and a beautiful creature made of fucking sunshine and rainbows and good feelings.’” **** “’Nicole,’ Tina hissed. ‘Keep your comments to yourself! Be a respectable fucking lady, for fuck’s sake!’” **** “’Don’t marry Dimitri,’ he said. ‘You’re not meant to be a fairy queen. Not in the literal sense, anyway.’” Somebody, stop me! Sam of Wilds is such a fantastic protagonist. His inner monologue is perfect and from the very beginning, all I wanted was for him to succeed, to get what he wants, especially since he always puts everyone else first. He wears his heart on his sleeve and hides behind his words and I have everything crossed that he’s just as amazing in book two! So, if you’re looking to be swept away on a magical, epic adventure with a love struck, oblivious wizard in training, a dashingly stupid night, a vengeful prince, a kind-hearted King, a loving family, a sassy, fabulous unicorn with a penchant for bondage, a half-giant trying to learn sarcasm, an overly sexual dragon-god, a bemused wizard, dick noses, almost gay fairy marriage, boys with ‘ears’, dark wizards, monologuing, fairy drag mothers, a corn cult, and cheesy dicks and candlesticks, then this is the book for you! Phew! Recommended for anyone with a love for the ridiculous and preferably a room you can read in that's far away from people so that you won't startle anyone with your hysterical outbursts. P.S: HaveHeart forever! Rating: 5 STARS! Genre: Fantasy/YA/Romance Standalone/Series: Caraval #1 How I got this book: Bought Remember, it’s only a game… Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over. But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner. Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever. Welcome, welcome to Caraval…beware of getting swept too far away. Whilst I am normally a one book at a time kind of girl, this past week I found myself reading four books; the most I’ve ever attempted at once. My sister (hi Sophie!) was horrified by the idea of reading more than one book at a time, but since all four are so different and unique, I was really pleased that I didn’t get the storylines confused. One of the books that I read this week was Caraval by Stephanie Garber. It’s the second time that I’ve read this book, I desperately wanted to refresh my memory before Legendary arrives later this month, so I teamed up with my pal Craig on Goodreads for a buddy read. I previously rated this book 5 stars and unlike some of the other re-read reviews of this book, my star rating is staying the same. Caraval is an incredible work of fantasy, magic, mystery, and mind-bending deception that blew me away on this re-read maybe more than it did the first time. Before starting my re-read I remembered falling in love with the storytelling and imagery that Stephanie Garber executes perfectly through her use of colour when illuminating Scarlett’s feelings and to reveal certain aspects of the game. I was also really intrigued by the tunnels and their very unique magic. I’d already read, and loved, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern a few years back and I felt the same glorious wonder and awe whilst exploring the world of Caraval. The characters in Caraval are fantastic. Scarlett is brilliant. She’s compelling, fierce, protective, and driven, but at the same time she’s terribly confused, hurt and we see so much from her; so many colours of emotions from fear, horror and grief to wonder, hope and love. I love her utter devotion to her sister, and that they are both willing to do whatever it takes to protect the other. My sympathy for Scarlett just continued to grow as I travelled through this book due to the cruelty and torment that she is subjected to throughout the entirety of her story. I won’t say anything about any of the other characters (although I really, really want to), for fear of giving anything away, so I’ll just leave you with this little snippet from two of the central characters. “Don’t look at me like that,” Scarlett said. “It doesn’t work on me.” “That’s why it’s so fun.” Every step through this book feels like a magical adventure, right from the first page. Entering Caraval is truly a wondrous experience. Whilst this book does contain a fair amount of 'romance', although it's not as simple as it sounds, I love how dark and twisted the story gets and how that creates a much deeper story and connection with the characters. What I loved the most about reading Caraval again was that, even though it was a re-read, it was so fresh and mysterious, it honestly felt as though I was reading it again for the first time, and unravelling an entirely new mystery, (and isn’t that every book lovers’ desire? To read a book for the second time and have it feel like it’s the first time…) it made me love it even more. On a side note, the ‘dress shopping’ scene in this book really fortifies my deeply rooted loathing for clothes shopping. You’ll understand what I mean when/if you’ve read it. The chapters in this book flew by so quickly, I found myself at the end wondering if I’d gotten so lost in the story that time itself really had been affected by the magic of Caraval. Overall, this book is one of my absolute favourites and I would highly recommend it to everyone. I am now even more excited for Legendary!! I have so many questions that need to be answered!! Prepare yourself for unsolvable mystery, repugnant villains, sisters willing to risk it all for a new life and a world filled with characters who are never what they seem. “Remember, it’s only a game.” Trigger warning: this book does contain forms of physical and mental abuse/torment. Can I also just highlight how gorgeous the shiny gold foiling is both on the dust jacket and the hidden rose image beneath?!?
You can't see in the photo but the dust jacket is double toned, with a white back and split toned spine, making it even more stunning to look at! Rating: 5 STARS! Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Comedy Standalone/Series: Standalone How I got this book: Bought NEMESIS (n) 1) An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome 2) A person's undoing 3) Joshua Templeman Lucy Hutton has always been certain that the nice girl can get the corner office. She prides herself on being loved by everyone at work - except for imposing, impeccably attired Joshua Templeman. Trapped in a shared office, they've become entrenched in an addictive game of one-upmanship. There's the Staring Game, The Mirror Game, The HR Game. Lucy can't let Joshua beat her at anything - especially when a huge promotion is on offer. If Lucy wins, she'll be Joshua's boss. If she loses, she'll resign. So why is she questioning herself? Maybe she doesn't hate him. And just maybe, he doesn't hate her either. Or is this just another game . . . ? I added this book to my TBR last September and then promptly forgot all about it until I saw someone raving about it on Goodreads. Their review was so good (sadly I can't remember whose it was) that I just had to read it, and I'm so glad I did.
This book is amazing. It's an enemies to lovers style trope with a guaranteed HEA and it's laugh out loud funny throughout. "They’re brothers in arms. Comrades who’ve seen some seriously painty shit go down in this barren wasteland." I literally read this book in 6 hours straight. I started it and could not put it down, I honestly don't even think I went to the bathroom. It was cute, sweet, downright hilarious and super steamy! Brace yourselves for a few cold showers with this read, and some ridiculously high expectations in men once you're finished. I also love the characters. Lucy is a book-nerd; she's sweet, she has a hilarious inner monologue and is so relatable it hurts. "Josh watches ER and yawns, not at all suspecting I’m trying to estimate how big his rib cage is like a meat-eating predator." Josh is the ultimate book boyfriend. He's sexy, sweet and drives Lucy crazy in all the best ways. There were amazing laugh out loud moments in this book and I loved Lucy's rants and revelations. “I want to know what’s going on in your brain. I want to juice your head like a lemon.” The story is heartwarming, the development is perfect (a fantastic pace) and the love story comes together beautifully. This is the author's debut novel and it's so good, I just can't get it out of my head. Fans of Tara Sivec's romantic comedies will absolutely love The Hating Game! 5 big, soppy, strawberry flavour stars from me. Rating: 5 STARS! Genre: Romantic Comedy Standalone/Series: Naughty Princess Club #2 How I got this book: ARC from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley A tale as old as time: she needs a place to stay, he's a grump with a secret and an extra room...can love find a way? Meet the Naughty Princess Club, a series from USA Today bestselling author Tara Sivec that brings readers to Fairytale Lane and the hilarity—and romance—that three women fall into once they decide to strut their stuff and bring on their own happily ever after. Living in her overprotective dad’s basement, shy Belle lives her life through books. Being a part of the Naughty Princess Club is the first adventure she’s ever had, plus she desperately needs the money to save one of her favorite places - the local library. But when her new friends and new business gets her kicked out of her dad’s house, Belle is rescued by the surly Vincent “Beast” Adams who invites her to be his house guest until she gets back on her feet. Despite his attitude problem and long list of rules, Belle finds herself warming to the muscled man with a penchant for growling and starts seeing a gentle side to him that wasn’t there before. Yet there’s a room that Beast keeps locked and Belle keeps getting hints that Beast is hiding something…can a nerdy librarian tame the beast or will their romance be over before it has a chance to blossom? I only meant to make a start on this book last night because it was quite late when I got started, but I'd clearly forgotten the unputdownable power of Tara Sivec because once I'd started I could not stop.
So, bear with me because I have a massive book hangover after the few hours I spent devouring this story last night into the early hours of this morning. This book is the second story in the Naughty Princess Club series, and whilst I would highly recommend the first book in the series, At The Stroke of Midnight, this book can be read as a standalone. So, I'm listening to the Beauty and the Beast soundtrack whilst writing this review, because this is my favourite fairytale of all time and I cannot ever get enough! But be warned, this isn't your typical Beauty and the Beast re-telling. Be prepared for a 21st century, smart-mouthed, sassy firecracker who isn't afraid to fight for what she wants, even if that means strutting her sexy stuff and showing that stripper pole, and the Beast, who's boss. Beast emulates his nickname perfectly. He's big, brutish, and a man of few words, or at least that's what Belle thinks before she finds herself kicked out of her dad's basement, crashing at the library where she works only to be 'rescued' by none other than the Beast himself. Maybe he isn't such a brute after all? I love the butterfly inducing chemistry between these two - *swoon*! "Sweet mother of pearl, he's got the V." In true Tara Sivec style, this book is an absolute riot. Filled with plenty of laugh out loud moments (warning: reading one of Tara's rom-coms is almost impossible in the middle of the night when other people are trying to sleep - I may have laughed a little too loudly a few times). Belle has quite the transformation in this book, which becomes more evident if you also read At the Stroke of Midnight in which she starts off very shy, nervous and demure. As time goes on, and as the Beast continues to push her buttons, Belle discovers her feisty 'anti-pushover' side and really comes into her own. There are a couple of hilarious scenes (and new characters) that help to make this book truly hysterical. I won't give too much away, but look out for the scene where Belle gets a flirting lesson. Her fact-spouting quirk really ramps up when she's nervous and provides plenty of comedy. In addition to this, we meet the wonderful Mrs. Potter who works with Belle at the library. This little old lady is seriously funny and has absolutely no filter. Look out for her in a particularly amazing "surprise" lap-dance scene. "YOLO, bitches! If I had a wad of singles I'd be making it rain!" Belle's two friends Ariel and Cindy are the cause of much trouble and fun for Belle and wherever they appear in the book, hilarity ensues. This is the second book in the Naughty Princess Club series by Tara Sivec and I cannot wait for Ariel's story later this year! If you're looking for a hilarious, modern, tongue-in-cheek, fairytale with an unconventional happy ever after, this series is 100% for you! 5 glittering gold stars! Rating: 5 STARS! Genre: YA/LGBT Standalone/Series: Standalone How I got this book: Bought Adam Silvera reminds us that there’s no life without death and no love without loss in this devastating yet uplifting story about two people whose lives change over the course of one unforgettable day. On September 5, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: They’re going to die today. Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they’re both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: There’s an app for that. It’s called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure—to live a lifetime in a single day. They Both Die at the End is one of the first books I've ever read where I literally knew what was going to happen at the end but I still wasn't prepared!!
If you're a big ol' softy like yours truly, be sure to have a box of tissues handy to catch all those bittersweet tears. I love the concept of Death-Cast, as terrifying as it is, that you get notice on the day you're supposed to die (I think a minimum of 24 hours notice would be nice, otherwise that kinda sucks even more), so that you can do things you never thought to do or spend time saying goodbye. No, I would not actually want this service. I think counting down the time until you die is probably worse than not expecting it, but then I guess, for the people you're leaving behind, Death-Cast would be better for them....since it involves death it's pretty much a no-win situation all round. Anyway, I digress. I really, really enjoyed the storytelling in this book, I loved the format and that we are able to connect with Mateo and Rufus through their first person POV chapters whilst also getting snippets from other characters who are all connected to, and impact, Mateo and Rufus's last day. Mateo is sweet, completely innocent and so wrapped in bubble wrap that it's lovely to see him finally break out of his comfort zone thanks to Rufus. Rufus is a bad boy with a soft center who isn't afraid to go after what he wants, is struggling with loss and yet is still willing to make sure Mateo (a complete stranger when they meet) has the best last day of his life. The friendship that blooms between these two characters is real, genuine and beautiful. Together they are sweet, they push each other's limits and they both grow into new people. The whole time reading, and getting to know Mateo and Rufus (and falling for them both), I just wanted to skip to the end and find out what happens...well, how it happens at least. Warning: It was a shock and it really threw me - *tissues at the ready* One thing I love, really love about this book is that their respective sexualities aren't made into a huge deal. It's nice that they're just who they are and that's it. No explanation needed. Throughout this heartbreaking story of friendship, love, missed opportunities, second chances, loss and regret is a positive message that we should all do everything we can to live each day like it's our last. To not be afraid to do the things that scare us, to meet new people, experience new things and above all, live. There's a line in this book that really, really made me laugh. First, a bit of background: Did you know that there's a company that when you die, will turn your ashes into a bio urn, which when planted, grows a tree. I know right!! How amazing is that? Well, when I first saw this a while back I thought it was a great environmentally friendly idea and I will be a tree when I die! Maybe even one day I'll be turned into books which would be surreal. Although, I hope not for a while, we need oxygen guys!! So, back on track, this whole concept is discussed briefly in the books and Rufus (I think) delivers my favourite line, "You can't go around telling people you wanna be a tree and expect them to take you seriously." I guess no one's going to take me seriously from now on! I'm wrapping this review up with a solid 5 bittersweet stars! I can't wait for Adam Silvera's next book with Becky Albertalli - What If It's Us!! Rating: 4.5 STARS & 5 STARS! Genre: YA/Fantasy Standalone/Series: Six of Crows Duology How I got this book: Bought
So, I finally got my head out of the sand and picked up these two books. Holy crap! Why did it take me so long to read these?!? I'm reviewing both books together because: 1 - I literally read them back to back with barely time to breathe between them. 2 - These two books belong together. So, let's start with Six of Crows! I finished this book a lot quicker than I expected to when I started. It's the first book I've read with quite so many POV's (there's 8 in total I think, although 2 are fleeting) and so at first, I found myself longing for more time to get to know each character. However, I think this flitting POV gives the book a fantastic pace, I was half-way through and wondering how I'd got there so quickly and after a short while, I'd really started to bond with the characters. I love them all, some more than others 💓INEJ💓JESPER💓!! I also love the pairings, the ships in this book are some of my favourite - EVER!! "I have beguiled you with my Grisha wiles!" 😂❤️" The characters are fantastic: Kaz, Inej, Jesper, Wylan, Nina and Mathias. They each have fantastic personalities, wit, drive, passion and fears they need to overcome and work through. “They're all survivors. They adapt.” The world building here is amazing. The character building is even better. Six of Crows has intrigue, mystery, danger, friendship, misdirection and a whole hell of a lot of badass! This really was like a much better, more fantastical and cooler teen version of Ocean's 11 crossed with the Breakfast Club - some of the plot twists were great and I loved the character development and backstory behind each character. I'm slightly annoyed that EVERYTHING I've read lately ends on a cliffhanger...I need the next book, like yesterday! So, I immediately picked up Crooked Kingdom after finishing Six of Crows because my love for this gang was burning and I needed more.
This book has destroyed me. The ending was so damn bittersweet it hurts. Six of Crows was amazing, but Crooked Kingdom was everything, and in my opinion it made the first book so much better. I love these characters. I love their skills, talents, flaws, secrets and most of all their fiercely beating hearts. I have favourites (Inej and Jesper) but it's a close call as each character is fantastic in their own way. The world building continues to be brilliant and the way the author (and Kaz) keep you guessing until the very last minute is sheer perfection. There were some truly joyous moments in this book that built from the last and were all the better for the buildup. I love that you literally never know what to expect from the plot and the characters (particularly Kaz who is a phenomenal character). The ending literally made me cry with both sadness and joy, and whilst I won't spoil it for anyone, just make sure you have tissues close by, and plenty of waffles! The book ended in a place that made me think there should surely be more. A few things were left in a place that I'm just not happy to leave but then maybe that was the intention as I can now stress dream over what happens next!!! If you haven't read Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom yet, just do it, you won't be disappointed. Leigh Bardugo is incredible and I NEED more! I guess it's only a matter of time now before I pick up the Shadow and Bone trilogy! "No mourners, no funerals." |
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About Kay (She/Her)
Book addict, film mad, music lover, business owner, writer and mum (not necessarily in that order), living in the UK. About Sophie (She/Her)
Sophie loves books (obviously). She has a passion for photography and spotting wildlife, and is interested in anything made with passion and creativity. THIS BLOG IS SPOILER FREE!
Rating system: 5 Stars - AMAZING!! 4.5 Stars - Almost perfect! 4 Stars - I really loved it 3.5 Stars - I liked it alot 3 Stars - I liked it (I don't typically review books that I rate below 3 stars)
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