Ten Bookish Settings I’d Love To Visit

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the wonderful The Broke and The Bookish. This week’s list are the Top Ten Bookish Settings I’d Love To Visit. I decided to go for some books that have places that I really would love to go to!

Paris- Anna and The French Kiss

I’ve been to Disney Land Paris but never proper Paris.

Indiana- The Start Of Me And You

This book made me want to visit Indiana!

San Francisco- Lola and The Boy Next Door

I’ve always wanted to go to San Francisco. Something about it really appeals to me.

New York City- Dash and Lily’s Book Of Dares

I love the look of New York.

Tuscany- Love & Gelato

Italy is just so beautiful. I’d love to see more of it.

Mississippi- The Help

I’m totally intrigued by Southern America

Miami- The Mara Dyer trilogy

🙂 Beautiful weather… it looks stunning too.

Some fictional settings I’d love to visit…

Hogwarts- Harry Potter

Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory- Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

Neverland- Peter Pan

Who wouldn’t want to visit these places?

What have you done for your list this week? Feel free to leave a link to your post and I’ll stop by!

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Top Ten Book Covers That Make Me Hungry!

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the wonderful The Broke and The Bookish. This week’s list is a food related prompt. I was stuck with what to do with this one, but I’ve come up with covers that make me particularly hungry! So here we are…

I haven’t necessarily read all of these books, but I have read most of them. Either way, the covers made me hungry.

Click on the book image to get to the Goodreads page for that book!

I want to read this book and eat the yumminess on the cover!

This may just have food in the title, but its cover reminds me of Neapolitan ice cream which is a favourite. Mmm.

I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I love lemon cake!

I’m sensing a ‘sweet’ theme to my list this week. I do love a sweet treat. This book isn’t an easy read though. It’s about a battle with anorexia.

I haven’t read this book, but I adore the cover!

The cover looks good enough to eat! I loved the story too.

I adore Tudor stories and this one was no exception. The fruit on the cover makes me crave a pomegranate!

I wanted gelato and wanted to go to Italy after this!

This makes me want to eat Lovehearts!

I’ve heard great things about this book which I really want to read. I love this cover.

What did you put on your foody list this week? Let me know! Feel free to leave a link to your post and I’ll stop by.

Ten Books I Liked Less Than I Thought

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. For this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, it’s all about books we loved or disliked more than we thought. Now, for most of these books I did like them, just not as much as I had first thought I would. You may enjoy them! Each to their own they say…

For the Goodreads page, please click on the book image!

More Of Me- Kathryn Evans

I wasn’t that impressed with this book unfortunately. I wanted to love it because the synopsis sounded incredible, but for me, it didn’t work.

Another Day- David Levithan

I LOVED Every Day but I don’t think this book was necessary. I felt a little let down by it.

What We Left Behind- Robin Talley

I loved Robin’s debut, so I was sad to be disappointed by this.

After You- Jojo Moyes

It was always a gamble to read a sequel to one of my favourite books. This book didn’t work for me, unfortunately.

Ballet Shoes- Noel Streatfeild

I wanted to love this book! 😦

The Fault In Our Stars- John Green

I know, I know. Most people love it. I liked it but wasn’t blown away.

The Coldest Girl In Coldtown- Holly Black

I thought I’d love this book, but it wasn’t quite what I thought it would be.

Me & Earl & The Dying Girl- Jesse Andrews

This book was okay, but I thought it was going to be WOW!

Everything I Never Told You- Celeste Ng

I feel like so many people would love this book but it didn’t quite work for me.

Those Girls- Lauren Saft

I thought this would be a fun book but sadly it wasn’t. It really irritated me at points.

I’m really intrigued to see what you’ve posted this week, so feel free to leave a link to your post and I’ll stop by!

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

How did I get it?:
I bought it!

Previously read by the same authors:

John Green:

• An Abundance of Katherines
• Paper Towns
• Let It Snow
• The Fault In Our Stars

David Levithan:

• Boy Meets Boy
• Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares
• Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist
• Two Boys Kissing
• Marly’s Ghost
• You Know Me Well

Synopsis:

One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two strangers cross paths. Two teens with the same name, running in two very different circles, suddenly find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, culminating in heroic turns-of-heart and the most epic musical ever to grace the high-school stage.

Thoughts:

I have had this book for the longest time, but if I’m honest, I was a little put off from reading it. This is mainly because I’ve had some problems with John Green books. Now, don’t get me wrong, I think he’s a decent enough writer. I just don’t get all of the hype surrounding his books. I’ve read a lot of them now and I think they’re okay- just not outstanding like many other readers seem to feel. It’s just personal preference I guess. Each to their own. David Levithan is what pulled me to this book. I absolutely adore David Levithan’s writing and I’m working my way through his books. There’s something about David’s writing that pulls me in.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson is narrated by two different boys named Will Grayson. Our first Will Grayson (narrated by John Green) is best friends with a guy named Tiny Cooper. He may be called Tiny, but he’s anything but tiny. He’s a bigger guy and definitely has a larger than life personaility. John’s Will Grayson has all kinds of girl drama because he’s trying to avoid girl drama…consquently making quite the drama over drama. I could tell from the start that this Will Grayson was written by John Green as his writing style is incredibly identifiable. I have to admit, that I actually really enjoyed John Green’s Will Grayson!

Now for the other Will Grayson. Ahhh David Levithan!<3 I thought I was going to hate David’s Will Grayson because it was all written in lowercase. The teacher in me was screaming about using capital letters and capitalising ‘I’. I quickly got over it though… because you know… David Levithan’s writing is delicious. Can writing be delicious? Yes. Yes it can. After finishing the book, I read the interview that both authors gave and David explains that Will writes in lowercase because that’s how he sees himself. I totally got that. This Will Grayson is a darker character. He’s depressed. One day, Will Grayson comes across the other Will Grayson (*cough* in a porn shop *cough*) and this leads to him meeting Tiny Cooper. They later become a couple.

There is a great deal of romance throughout this book. It’s full of relationship drama which I’m not usually a fan of, but it works so well in this story. The relationships feel real with relatable struggles. I also really enjoyed how this book was about friendship as well. It’s a wonderfully witty story and I’m pleased I finally gave it a chance. This was certainly my favourite John Green book.

Would I recommend it?:
Of course!

A witty, engrossing read! I loved this book!

This Week In Books #41

I am joining in with the lovely Lipsy from Lipsy’s Lost and Found’s feature which highlights our week in books. I shall be sharing what I’m reading now, then and next! I won’t be showcasing my new books as I do that on a Saturday. I’m really excited by this feature as I loved sharing my recent reads. My book reviews published on my blog are often WAY behind what I’m actually reading, so this is a good feature to keep you up to date!

Click on the book title to get to Goodreads!

  

NOW– A Boy Made Of Blocks– Keith Stuart– I have only just started A Boy Made of Blocks which is a debut novel out on 1st September. It’s a story of a family with a boy with autism. I’m only a few chapters in but it’s very promising so far.

THEN– Strange Star– Emma Carroll– I absolutely adore Emma Carroll’s writing and was very late in reading Strange Star. I’m so glad I made time for it, this summer holiday as it was a beautiful read.

NEXT– Will Grayson, Will Grayson– John Green and David Levithan– I have to admit that I’m nervous to read this book. I’m not a huge John Green fan. Not at all. But I do like David Levithan. I’ve had this book way over a year (possibly 2!) so it’s time to see if I like it.

What are you reading this week? Feel free to leave a link to a similar post that you do and I’ll stop by! Happy Reading!

I have had some problems with leaving comments on WordPress for the past day or so, so I shall do my best to comment on your blog! I will have definitely read it, if you leave a link!

Top Ten 2016 Releases So Far

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the wonderful The Broke and The Bookish. This week’s list are my Top Ten 2016 releases so far! Most of the books I’ve read this year have been previous releases, so this list was somewhat tricky for me.

Click on the book image to get to Goodreads!

Highly Illogical Behaviour- John Corey Whaley

I read this book in early June and absolutely fell in love. It is one of my favourite books of 2016 so far. I highly recommend it, if you are interested in reading books about mental illness.

Orangeboy- Patrice Lawrence

I didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. I really loved the story. It involves drugs, gangs and drama. Not my usual sort of read, but I’m glad that I read it!

This Where It Ends- Marieke Nijkamp

I had been anticipating this book for a while now. Marieke is an old friend of mine and I was so ever so proud of her after reading this book.

When We Collided- Emery Lord

Even though this isn’t my favourite read by Emery Lord, I really enjoy her writing style, so it earns itself a place on my list!

Flawed- Cecelia Ahern

I have loved Cecelia’s adult books, so was excited to see what her YA book brought. I have to admit to being very impressed! I didn’t think I would be.

Radio Silence- Alice Oseman

I preferred this book to Alice’s debut novel. I was really impressed by this story!

When I Was Invisible- Dorothy Koomson

Again, not my favourite from the author, but it’s still a fantastic piece of women’s fiction!

Walk The Edge- Katie McGarry

I always enjoy reading about the characters in a Katie McGarry story! This book was no exception.

You Know Me Well- Nina LaCour and David Levithan

I thought this was cute and easy to read. Just what you need sometimes!

The Unexpected Everything- Morgan Matson

Again, not my favourite Morgan Matson book ever, but still a good contemporary YA release for 2016!

As you can see, a lot of my favourites haven’t been 2016 releases. Nevertheless, these 10 books have been decent reads! What are your favourite 2016 releases so far? Feel free to leave a link to your post!

You Know Me Well

How did I get it?:
NetGalley- thanks to St Martin’s Press

Previously reviewed by Nina LaCour
The Disechantments
Everything Leads To You

Previously reviewed by David Levithan
Boy Meets Boy
Dash and Lily’s Book Of Dares
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist
Two Boys Kissing
Marly’s Ghost
Every Day
Another Day

Synopsis:

Who knows you well? Your best friend? Your boyfriend or girlfriend? A stranger you meet on a crazy night? No one, really?

Mark and Kate have sat next to each other for an entire year, but have never spoken. For whatever reason, their paths outside of class have never crossed.

That is until Kate spots Mark miles away from home, out in the city for a wild, unexpected night. Kate is lost, having just run away from a chance to finally meet the girl she has been in love with from afar. Mark, meanwhile, is in love with his best friend Ryan, who may or may not feel the same way.

When Kate and Mark meet up, little do they know how important they will become to each other — and how, in a very short time, they will know each other better than any of the people who are supposed to know them more.

Thoughts:

 I have enjoyed reading books from both authors, as you can see above, so when I heard they were co-writing this book, I was very excited to read it. I thought You Know Me Well was an easy to read, cute book which didn’t take me long to tear through. The reason why I haven’t rated it any higher was because I thought some of the friendships didn’t feel authentic enough.

You Know Me Well tells stories from both Kate and Mark’s point of view. I really enjoy dual narration and thought it worked particularly well with this story. It follows their stories of relationships. It also follows their friendship. Kate and Mark met one night, even though they’d be sitting next to each other for a while at school. Kate and Mark instantly got on which felt a little unbelievable, but it was definitely something I could get past. I felt particularly touched by Mark and Ryan’s storyline.

I thought You Know Me Well was a refreshing story. There wasn’t any angst about the characters coming out (even though I don’t mind reading about this!) They were already out and comfortable within themselves. It was lovely to read about LGBT characters that were just having normal teenager struggles with relationships.

Would I recommend it?:
Yes! 3.5 stars

A wonderful story of love and heartache!