Mini Reviews: YA books #2

Hello, world! I’m back with another edition of the Mini Reviews and, this time, our theme is Young Adult books! YAAAY!

Just remembering that the mini reviews deal is a combination of inspirations from Cait, of The Paper Fury, and from Lindsey, of @thepagemistress, and that I do those with books that: a) were good, but weren’t unforgettable; b) were too short for a complete review; c) I really liked, but the book didn’t change my life.

In this post, you’ll find mini reviews for:

• Madeleine Roux – The Scarlets (The Asylum #1.5)

• Madeleine Roux – Catacomb (The Asylum #3)

• Rainbow Rowell – Kindred Spirits

• Sarah J. Maas – A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1)

• Sara Shepard – The Perfectionists (The Perfectionists #1)

November’s Wrap Up + Book Haul + December’s TBR!

Hello, beautiful people! Welcome to my November Wrap Up and thanks for being here today ❤ All in all, November was pretty good for me, being my first month where I felt in control of my life since I started the new job and since I lost my beautiful darling Lady. The month flew off the window and I can’t believe we have just 23 days now until Christmas ❤ I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE MY FAMILY AGAIN! ❤ ❤

Soo, November was a so-so month for my standards. I’ve read 10 books, 22 volumes of manga and a comic book. I should have known I wouldn’t be able to beat my records of September (book-wise, haha!) and October (pages-wise, haha!). Maybe my reading slumped a little exactly because of all the intensity of the other months… #mystery

Massive Wrap Up for September and October + November’s TBR!

Good day to you! It is I, the urban legend of book bloggers back once again from the hiatus sea. I’ve realized I never got to do a wrap up for September and we are totally still in schedule for an October one, so why not do both in the same post, right? =D It will save time for everyone, yay!

September

Wrap Up

*titles with links are already reviewed, isn’t this a miracle?!! =O*

So, September was a crazy reading month for me. I do promise I kept my life on its regular tracks and that I didn’t skip work to read as I say that I’ve read 26 books that month.

I’ve broken another reading record, haha!

• The Talented Mr. Rivers, by HelenKay Dimon (Tough Love #2) – read from Aug 31th to Sept 3^rd | 5 stars
• The Deeper He Hurts, by Lynda Aicher (Kick #2) – read on Sept 3^rd | 4 stars
• The Merchant and the Clergyman, by Bonnie Dee & Summer Devon – read on Sept. 6^th | 5 stars
• Never Been Bitten, by Tavia Lark (Vampire Delivery Service Book 1) – read on Sept. 9^th | 4 stars
• Wild Pitch, by Sloan Johnson (Homeruns #1) – read from Sept. 9^th to 11^th | 5 stars
• The Dream Protocol, by Adara Quick (Descent #1) – read from Sept. 11^th to 14^th | 4 stars
• Eros, by Helen Harper (Olympiana #1) – read from Sept. 14^th to 16^th | 5 stars
• Omega’s Touch, by Wolf Specter & Jacklyn Black (Anima Sanator #1) – read on Sept. 17^th | 3 stars
• The Baby Pact, Wolf Specter & Rosa Swann (The Baby Pact Trilogy #1) – read on Sept. 17^th | 4 stars
• The Siren, by Kiera Cass – read from Sept. 13^th to 18^th | 3 stars
• Entered on the Bayou, by Lilah K. Broussard (Steamy Swamp Werewolves #1) – read on Sept. 18^th | 2 stars
• Gay and Pregnant – The Spy Who Seduced Me series, by Andrew Burns – read on Sept. 18^th | 1 star
• Why Love Matters, by Jay Northcote – read on Sept. 18^th | 5 stars
• Winterball, by Holley Trent (Den of Sin #10) – read on Sept. 18^th | 5 stars
• Taboo Graduation Night, by Jack Woolf – read on Sept. 19^th | 3 stars
• Jumping In, by Cardeno C. (ALPHAS #6) – read on Sept. 19^th | 4 stars
• Police Force, by Jack Woolf – read on Sept. 19^th | 4 stars
• Lucas e Nicolas, by Gabriel Spits [BR book] – read from Sept. 19^th to 20^th | 5 stars
• Bad Boy, by Jamie Lake (Naughty at Night #1) – read on Sept. 20^th | 1 star
• Attracting Anthony, by Amber Kell (Moon Pack #1) – read on Sept. 22^th | 4 stars
• Only For You, by Chad Lane (Only For You #1) – read on Sept. 22^th | 5 stars
• Behind His Artist, by Lisa Newman – read on Sept. 22^th | 1 star
• More Than Friends, by Aria Grace (More Than Friends #1) – read on Sept. 23^th | 4 stars
• Drunk in Love, by Aria Grace (More Than Friends #2) – read from Sept. 23^th to 24^th | 5 stars
• The Lost Hero, by Rick Riordan (The Heroes of Olympus #1) – read from Sept. 21^th to 26^th | 5 stars
• Kindred Spirits, by Rainbow Rowell – read on Sept. 26^th | 5 stars

 

Unfortunately, I can’t remember if I bought any books that particular month or if I bought something in October, so no Book Hauls =( Sorry, my memory sucks! I used to document each book bought on a word doc, but oh well. I think I’ll go back to it on December, haha!

October

Wrap Up

In October, I didn’t manage to read so many books as in September because of my Game of Thrones Challenge, but I read all the mangas I hadn’t in the previous month in between the bloody pages of GOT, oops! So I’ve read only 6 books… But also 26 volumes of manga, haha!

 

the reacion of all my off-line friends to this info

 

I have been asked where in all seven hells I have managed to squeeze in so many mangas in the middle of a Game of Thrones challenge, but I’m not really allowed to talk about my time turning abilities? Hahaha! No, seriously, I don’t have a good explanation, sorry =/

Books

• A Game of Thrones, by George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire #1) – read from Sept. 27^th to Oct. 4^th | 4 stars
• A Clash of Kings, by George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire #2) – read from Oct. 4^th to 10^th | 4 stars
• A Storm of Swords, by George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire #3) – read from Oct. 10^th to 17^th | 4 stars
• A Feast for Crows, by George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire #4) – read from Oct. 18^th to 24^th | 2 stars
• A Dance with Dragons, by George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire #5) – read from Oct. 24^th to 27^th | 5 stars
• Nobody’s Goddess, by Amy McNulty (Never Veil #1) – read from Oct. 16^th to 29^th | 5 stars

 

Mangas

*I forgone the reading dates because I usually read a manga volume in 20 minutes =)

• Not Equal, by Reibun Ike (2 volumes) | 4 stars
• Kiss Blue, by Keiko Kinoshita (2 volumes) | 3 stars
• Amayakana Toge, by Kano Miyamoto | 3 stars
• Sweet Chapel, by Junta Mio | 5 stars
• 3-manen no Kareshi, by Junta Mio | 5 stars
• Uwasa No Oujisama, by Junta Mio | 5 stars
• Sweet Tears, by Junta Mio | 4 stars
• Love Monster, by Junta Mio | 5 stars
• Sugar Pain, by Junta Mio | 4 stars
• Smile Kudasai, by Junta Mio | 4 stars
• Best Ending?, by Junta Mio | 5 stars
• Kuroneko Kareshi no Aishikata, by Aya Sakyo (2 volumes) | 4 stars
• Kami-sama Onegai!, by Junta Mio | 4 stars
• Oboreru Hitomi, by Garasu Hino | 4 stars
• Houkago no Love Call, by Kyou Kitazawa | 4 stars
• Eroman – Kami to Pen to Sex to!!, by Delico Psyche | 2 stars
• Kuroneko Kareshi no Afurekata, by Aya Sakyo (2 volumes) | 4 stars
• Kuroneko Kareshi no Ouji Sama, by Aya Sakyo | 4 stars
• Fukigen Kareshi no Nadamekata, by Aya Sakyo | 5 stars
• Roman Gousha, by Kyou Kitazawa | 4 stars
• Hanazono no Kioku, by Garasu Hino | 4 stars
• Seinen wa Ai o Kou, by Garasu Hino | 4 stars

 

I promise I slowed myself down on November – we are on the 12^th and I’ve only finished three books and no mangas! I’m behaving… For now? Hahaha!

I don’t have anything fancy planned to November yet, but in my TBR you’ll definitely find…

November TBR

• Last Wish, by Helen Harper (Highland Magic #4) – currently-reading
• The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde – currently-reading
• Fall Far from the Tree, by Amy McNulty
• Josie’s Coat, by Amy McNulty
• The Farther He Runs, by Lynda Aicher

After I knock these down, I’ll just be a rebel and fish all the lovely books I’ve received this year from authors and publishers that remain unread for a reason or another and start a slow and steady process of reading and reviewing them all. #ambitious

BONUS: The next reviews you can expect to see here are for the Never Veil series =D

That’s it, guys! Once again, thanks so much for sticking around until the end of the post, I know I have been writing too much, oops! Love you all!

Top 10 Tuesday: Books that made me cry

Hi, there! Good AFTERNOON! I DID IT, IT IS ON TIME AND EARLIER! I DESERVE A BIG HIGH FIVE!

Ahem.

It’s Tuesday, so it’s Top 10 Tuesday day! This meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and my theme today is Books that Made me Cry because I can’t seem to follow everyone else and do the right theme of the week lol

So, I’d like to start this post by saying that I usually don’t cry reading. No, I haven’t got an heart of ice or anything like that. I just purposefully avoid reading books that I’m sure that will leave me utterly miserable and struggling to keep breathing between my sobs.

You see, when I was 14, I had a severe case of depression due family problems. One of the things that helped me going back on track and learning how to cope with my mind was reading – a pastime that has accompanied me since my birth, may I add. Ever since, I started to avoid obviously sad books like The Fault on Our Stars and such. It’s nothing personal, it is just one of the things I had to do to keep myself sane at the time and it is a habit that stuck up. I can deal with some depressing parts in a book, sad moments and deaths. But downward tragedy all the time hits too close to home, so no, thanks 🙂

All that being said, I still cry in books, a lot! And not only tears of sorrow, so I divided by ten books by type of crying – because I’m that much of an organizer freak 🙂

Sad tears

 1) The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak

This was the only purposeful sad book that I read knowing that it may end badly and I don’t regret it. I read it on 2007, when I was 12 or 13, and it was a recommendation of a sales’ guy from one of my favorite bookstores at the time, so I loved it. I don’t see myself re-reading it, though.

 2) The Last Olympian, by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson #5)

You know, the series was ending, one of the most awesome characters died and I was feeling too overwhelmed by all the twists and awesomeness. And I still didn’t know that The Lost Hero was a kind of sequel to Percy Jackson series lol

 3) Daughter of Darkness, by L. J. Smith (Nightworld #2) [REVIEW HERE!]

Again, the fault is on the twist in the end. There isn’t anything downward sad about this book, but I thought the choice of the protagonists so tragic, brave and beautiful that it got me tearing up a bit for their destiny. Again, no deaths, no tragedy. I JUST FELT LIKE CRYING, I’M A REBEL!

Agony tears

Since I watched Into The Woods, I was DYING to use this gif, haha!

4) All In With The Duke, by Ava March (Gambling On Love #1) [REVIEW HERE!]

Yes, you have read it correctly. My diva, my muse, made me cry. I just couldn’t see a happy ending for Max and Tristan in the first time that I read this book and I WAS DYING. Sometimes, I still cry near the end, haha!

5) Cambridge Fellows series, by Charlie Cochrane

Honestly? I don’t even know why I kept reading this series for so long. Despite being an historical gay romance series, the writing style wasn’t my cup of tea, the characters were pretty shallow and the drama got heavier and heavier. I lost count of how many times I was reading this as I was on my way to college and I started to weep in pure agony for the main couple. I just wanted to grab Charlie by her shoulders and shake her until she came back to her senses and stopped that madness, haha!

Frustration tears

Fun fact about me: when I’m very sad, I grow quiet and simply won’t speak or do anything. I become numb. When I’m angry or frustrated to hell, I cry like there is no tomorrow. Therefore, these next books got more tears than the sad books did, haha!

 6) What Lies Within, by James Morrison [REVIEW HERE!]

I really liked this book, but I was so overwhelmed when I got to the end and there were some mysterious lose ends that I broke. I started crying and screaming and swearing, haha! After a calming shower, I couldn’t stop saying to whoever wanted to hear how good and awesome and badass this book is, haha! Strong emotions lol

7) The Heir, by Kiera Cass (The Selection #4) [REVIEW HERE!]

I almost began crying in frustration in the middle of chapter one, when I realized how Eadlyn and I wouldn’t get along. AT. ALL. And yet, Kiera Cass was forcing me to put up with the brat using my love for The Selection and for America as an excuse. Eadlyn drove me so mad that there were a lot of scenes that I read while tearing up in pure and simple frustration. I can’t wait for the nightmare to be over in The Crown…

Beauty tears

8) Chasing Rainbows, by Linda Oaks (The Chasing Series #1) [REVIEW HERE!]

This book was Linda’s debut and my first from her. I was so surprised to see her beautiful writing style, so impressed to see how much Linda seemed to understand me and how much I connected with Addie, the main character, that I found myself emotional in like 60% of my reading time. I took notes of quotes and felt tears down my cheeks. Super cheesy and super true. Just read this book – or any of Linda’s works, really – and you will understand.

9) After Death, by Jacqueline E. Smith (Cemetery Tours #3) [REVIEW HERE!]

Jacqueline’s writing is a piece of art by itself, but there was a scene near the end of this book that was my undoing. It was so emotional, beautiful and meaningful that I started crying and wouldn’t stop, haha! I just wanted to hug my iPad and never let go 🙂

Last, but not least…

PERFECTION TEARS

I searched my brain aka my goodreads read shelf for another case of perfection tears, but I think it only happened once so far.

And the Oscar goes to…

10) CARRY ON, by Rainbow Rowell! [REVIEW HERE!]

This was the first and only time that I cried because of over perfection. And I’ve read my fair of books for someone of only 21. I scared my best friend, her maid and her mom with my crying crisis and book hangover after Carry On was over. I simply couldn’t, I needed more, that was too perfect to end. AND I SWEAR THAT THE END IS SWEET AND HAPPY AND CUTE! I’m the weird one that cries over… Perfection, as it seems.

I know, I know. That’s why I’ll just thank you for reading and stop writing now, haha!

Do you also categorize your types of crying over books? 🙂

Top 10 Tuesday: Favorite Heroine

Hi, there! Good morning ❤ I hope you’re hanging there on this beginning of week 🙂 It’s Tuesday, so it’s Top 10 Tuesday day! This meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and my theme today is Favorite Heroines!

I won’t deny, that one was hard. I hardly like female main characters enough for that, haha! But I could gather 10 from my last five year reads, so let’s go!

In no particular order:

1. Integrity Taylor Aidar, from Gifted Thief and Honour Bound

My favorite ❤

2. June, from A Love for the Pages

3. Cath, from Fangirl

Obviously.

4. Kate, from Cemetery Tours, Between Worlds and After Death

5. Jane, from Austenland

6. Isabel, from Goddess of Legend

7. America Singer, from The Selection

8. Suzannah, from The Mediator series

9. Jocelyn, from The Vanishing Game

10. Violet, from All Men of Genius

Well, those are my latest favorite heroines, haha! What are yours? 😀

Thanks for reading!

Top 10 Tuesday: All Time Favorites!

Good morning and welcome to an edition of Top 10 Tuesday that I won’t cheat! 😀 As you may be aware, the meme is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. My theme for today is All Time Favorites 😀

Let’s do this ❤

1. Carry On, from Rainbow Rowell

You can read the review here ❤

2. Highland Magic series, from Helen Harper

Gifted Thief review (book one)

Honour Bound review (book two)

3. Cemetery Tours series, from Jacqueline E. Smith

Cemetery Tours review (book one)

Between Worlds review (book two)

After Death (book three)

4. All In With The Duke, from Ava March

You can read the review here ❤

5. The Vampire Diaries series

6.The Truth About Cassandra, from Laurie Brown

7. The Mediator series, from Meg Cabot

8. Deltora Quest series, from Emily Rodda

9. Harry Potter series, from J. K. Rowling

10. Fairy tales in general

 

That’s it! Thank you for reading! Which are some of your all time favorites??

Carry On, from Rainbow Rowell

Hello, my dears. Today I’m finally talking about Carry On, from Rainbow Rowell. I know this review is so late, but honestly, it will be one of the most difficult ones that I have ever wrote. Brace yourselves and tighten your seatbelts. Let the emotional rollercoaster begin.

from my Instagram

The Story

Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One of the entire history of Chosen Ones. Wizard with awesome powers? Check. Ass kick fighting techniques? Check. Decent looks? Check. Total control over his actions, words and powers? Not at all. And his problems ironically only increase when his arch-enemy (and roommate) Baz doesn’t show up at Watford after the Summer break. Why can’t Baz just end his suffering by coming back to their freaking last year at school?

Baz is the worst vampire of the entire history of vampires. Blood thirst? Check. Handsome as hell? Check. Intelligent and high-cultured? Check. Big bag fangs? Check. Total knowledge about his powers, nature and destiny? Not at all. And sharing the room with his arch-enemy Simon Snow only increases his problems, as Baz can’t take his thoughts of Simon. Why couldn’t Simon just shut up and kiss him already?

Heated feelings, old grudges, first loves and magic. So much magic. That’s Carry On.

The Analysis

Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader 🙂

This book.

If you follow me for a while, you may know that I have been on Jen’s place at my hometown and that I finished Carry On in the beginning of last week. You even may know how much I freaked out about Gifted Thief (and I still do, Honour Bound is my next read after The Dark Cycle series!). But nothing prepared me for what Carry On was really about. Since I’ve read Fangirl, I was dreaming of reading Carry On, to be a part of Simon and Baz’s world. I make no secret of how much I enjoy gay romances and Carry On had everything to be the most perfect book ever.

And it was.

And I think I’ll never recover from its perfection.

I seriously can’t remember when was the last time that a book grabbed my heart and squeezed so hard that I couldn’t even breath without it on my hands (okay, I’m lying, it was on 2013 when Ava sent me an ARC of All In With The Duke and I almost died). I actually hugged Carry On every time I got to read it.

I never wanted to let it go after finishing.

I’m so sorry this review is being overly melodramatic, but I was a mess. I couldn’t believe that I had reached the end and that this was such a perfect book. It was my first time crying over a perfect and happy end and I scared the hell out of my friends and family, to the point that my dad had to say that I would meet other books that would make me fall in love again. My rating? Infinite stars.

Okay, five because Goodreads won’t allow me to rate any higher.

The narrative style is first person with switching points of view. Seriously, almost every relevant character gets their time at narrating and you could always tell who was speaking even without Rowell’s labels – yes, there are labels, don’t worry. Needless to say that my favorite narrators were Simon and Baz, right? Hahaha. Other nice thing is that Rowell would do a chapter with some lines, then switch narrators in the middle of the chapter just to write one sentence or simply throw pieces of points of view from random characters that we would understand only at the end of the book. I’m not the biggest fan of first person narrated books, but this is how you KICK ASS doing it. I didn’t care at all for Agatha and I still had not a single problem reading her parts. Seriously. This is perfection.

Okay, I’m okay. Moving on.

The plot was awesome. Simple and involving, with the right amount of romance, mystery, magic, friendship and drama. I missed more adventurous moves on Baz’s part regarding Simon and the fact that they shared a room at Baz’s manor, but I’ll survive. This is one of that boring kinds of review, in which you are so besotted with the book that you just can’t see its flaws.

Okay, I see them. There are many loose ends. Seriously. Not for the reader, but for the characters. We discover things, they don’t. As I’m a really selfish person (?), I’m okay with the characters not knowing it all if I do, so I’m cool with it. Hm, maybe that’s the problem. I fell so hard in love with Carry On that I love even its flaws.

Now the characters. As I may have already said on Fangirl’s review, Rowell’s characters are all girls and boys next door. Even if they are heroes, vampires, ghosts or anything else. I saw myself in Penny, Baz, Simon and even a little on Agatha, who I still don’t care about. This is witchcraft, Rowell. How do you make me like even the characters that I hate? Hahaha

I guess what pleased me the most were Baz and Simon’s flaws, to be honest. They made them too real. I remember when we fell too deep to feel, I remember when the real became too real, I remember when it hurt too much to heal and everything.

Hilary Duff feelings, yes.

I don’t think I have anything really useful to say beyond this. They are real people living a romance and I was a crazy fangirl all the while. I’m sorry, I know I’m being really lame and lengthy on this review.

I saw many people complain about how Carry On was overly inspired on Harry Potter, among other young adult books, but this also didn’t bother me. I actually smiled every time I got a reference in the air. I felt like Rowell was writing Carry On just for me and those were our secrets, you know? And that was one of the stupidest things that I have ever admitted. Along with my hugging book habits above.

The strongest point on Carry On is its feelings. It’s all too real, too beautiful. I seriously have not enough words to describe everything that I felt reading it, just that I was thrown on a rollercoaster and ended it hopelessly lovesick.

Bonus point: the book’s illustrations to divide the story in parts. So cute.

Now, I’d like to share some of my favorite quotes from the book with you. And sorry if you’re my friend on Goodreads, I may have liked a million Carry On quotes today while doing this review.

Simon

“He’s looking at me as like I’m a complete freak. (Which we both already knew it was true.)”

Baz

“It’s 6A.M. and he’s [Simon] already banging around our room like a cow who accidentally wandered up here.”

“(Because I’m disturbed. Ask anyone.)”

“I’m thinking violent thoughts at you constantly.”

And this dialogue:

“What you are is a fucking tragedy, Simon Snow. You literally couldn’t be a bigger mess.”

He tries to kiss me, but I pull back- “And you like that?”

“I love it.” He says.

“Why?”

“Because we match.”

I don’t think I can endure another book hangover this strong ever again.

Thank you for humoring me this far and enduring my interior and very depressed fangirl. I’m pinning badly for another Simon & Baz romance. Also, a special thank you to Jess, of the Mud and Stars, for not blocking me on Twitter after I finished Carry On; to Jenny and her mom, who had to endure a very crying me for at least two days; to Mandy, from The Reading Diaries, that had to hear me whining over this book hangover; to Lindsey from @thepagemistress, that is always there for me; and to my dad, that reminded me that I can always meet another book that will sweep me off my feet.

 

 

Ps: I also would like to share this moment of my life:

TBR of the Week: Carry On, from Rainbow Rowell

Hello, there! Nice Sunday to you! We have lots of sun on my town and I think I’ll burst into flames – or so says my mom, that truly believes that I became a vampire sometime during college, haha!

Anyway, talking about vampires, it’s TBR of the Week day!

I have to stop taking pictures without wearing my glasses, sorry D:

The Book Courtship Tag

Hi, there! It’s Saturday and I couldn’t be happier! Besides eating my uncle’s famous barbecue today, this means that I’m going home tomorrow! Yay ❤

Today’s tag I saw at my friend Kim’s blog, The Spines Breaker. She didn’t tag me, but I liked this tag a lot and decided to do anyway 😀

Phase 1 – Initial Attraction: A book that you bought because of the cover?

The Awakening (Darkest Powers #2), by Kelley Armstrong. The hardcover volume was 7 dollars when I found it and I couldn’t resist, haha! Only later at home, I saw it was the second volume of the series and had to buy the ebook for the first one, haha!

Phase 2 – First Impressions: A book that you got because of the summary?

Angel Time (The Songs of the Seraphim #1), by Anne Rice. I found it highly interesting 😀 Let’s see if it will meet my expectations, as my last book from Anne Rice was a huge fiasco.

Phase 3 – Sweet Talk: A book with great writing?

The Night World series, from L. J. Smith. Seriously, I love this woman’s writing style! You can check my reviews for books one, two and three 😀

Phase 4 – First Date: A first book of a series which made you want to pick up the rest of the series?

Cemetery Tours, from Jacqueline E. Smith! It was so good and the end had such a cliffhanger that I almost cried in relief because I already had all three published books with me, haha!

Phase 5 – Late Night Phone Calls: A book that kept you up all night?

My last one was Shearwater, from dear Derek Murphy ❤ Such a wonderful book!

Phase 6 – Always on my mind: A book you could not stop thinking about?

Fangirl, from Rainbow Rowell. Even now, it still fills my head, as I’m dying to read Carry On!

Phase 7 – Getting Physical: A book which you love the way it feels?

Widdershins, from Jordan L. Hawk. All the feels, all over the place, haha!

Phase 8 – Meeting the parents: A book which you would recommend to your family and friends?

Pride and Prejudice, from marvelous Jane Austen. So far, I convinced 4 people including my mom to read it, haha!

Phase 9 – Thinking about the future: A book or series you know you will re read many times in the future?

All In With The Duke, from my loved Ava March. I can’t breath without this book in my life, seriously.

 

That’s it! Thanks for reading 😀 If you find this tag as fun as I did, don’t hesitate on doing it! You can say that I tagged you 😉

Fangirl, from Rainbow Rowell

Hi, there! Hope you’re having a wonderful Sunday so far – I am, haha! Today’s book is one of the most talked of pretty much everywhere: Fangirl, from Rainbow Rowell.

from my Instagram 😀

 The Story

Cath is the kind of person that doesn’t deal well with changes. She’s already stressed out enough for going to college, she didn’t need her twin sister Wren shooing her off and announcing that she doesn’t want to share her room with Cath.

Cath also didn’t need a scary roommate or her weird almost boyfriend that doesn’t seem to have a room of his own – if he had, maybe he would spend less time in Cath’s. Cath didn’t need a classmate that only cares about himself and his writing to tag along with her on their assignments as well. Or even the worry that her father may have a nervous collapse any minute without her at home to keep an eye on him.

But Cath had all those things on her life, while trying to finish her Simon Snow fanfiction, Carry On. Her real life seemed to insist on pulling her away from her own world, no matter how hard she fought it.

As the year goes and Cath realizes how people aren’t always what they seem, her offline life starts to show some appeal. Will Cath abandon her Simon Snow fixation or can she balance it with her new self that actually has friends that are not inherited from Wren?

The Analysis

Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader 🙂

I loved this book far more than I imagined I would. Despite not being socially awkward as Cath, sometimes I have some difficulties in living my own life. Books, mangas and fanfictions are way more appealing almost all the time. I thank every day for all my friends, for all the people that I love and that I know that love me back, but sometimes, Anneliseland just wins me over. (A good example is that I’m writing this review while my relatives are all in the pool, on a beautiful summer day.)

That said, I understand very well how Cath feels about the real world. Sometimes, it can be so scaring that we want to just run away. It has been a while since I felt this level of connection with a character. Even so, I couldn’t bring myself to give this book a big five stars because I felt the end was so lacking. Don’t worry, no spoilers, but my impression was that Rainbow was writing on her computer, looked at the words counter and said: “I guess this is enough, I’m tired. Hey publisher, you can send it to the world now!”. 😦

A friend of mine on Instagram (yes, I’m talking about you dear @writerahart! <3) pointed out that maybe this is Rainbow’s way to leave her reader wanting more. I hate when authors do that on standalone books, it’s too frustrating for me. You can leave some loose ends and it can be awesome, but this was just lacking. Still, four stars! 🙂

The narrative pace was slow, but not in a bad way. Rainbow presents us with lots of details, as Cath is very perceptive of everything. The narrative style was third person from Cath’s point of view only. It worked for me and I loved Cath, so I can’t complain, haha!

The plot was simple and so well executed that filled my heart with warm. Fangirl is the kind of book that shows the reader that it is okay to like “children’s things” and still grow up. Simon Snow was their Harry Potter and did not stop Cath’s life, not even when she made us believe that it had. There were some cool twists, but nothing out of this world and, honestly? Fangirl didn’t need to impress with twists. A young adult’s life can be a plot twisting itself and Rainbow was brilliant at capturing that.

Now, the characters. I loved Cath, but she got on my nerves sometimes. She was too stubborn, haha! The funny thing is that, even knowing that she and Wren were identical twins, I imagined them as being totally different. Not the kind “looking in the twisted mirror” different, but physically different. I guess that’s the after effects of both personalities, haha! Also, I hated Wren, even after the twists. I understand Cath for wanting to be with her and I think that she’s right, you have to try to always be your sister/brother’s best friend, but Wren just… She went too far. Same thing with Cath’s mother. She also went too far and I hated her, haha! Cath’s dad was really cute and huggable, I loved every scene he was on and my heart almost broke when he got sick 😦

And then there was Levi.

Ok, I’m kidding, haha! But oh boy, he had guts to like and stick with Cath. She was a difficult person and too afraid of people in general, but Levi never minded it. He was always there, always smiling and caring. Being flawed and real. In my head, he started as an okay boy and evolved as Cath’s feelings did. In the end, I thought him the most amazing and beautiful guy in the world. Like a blonde version of Ian Somerhalder.

sorry to bother you, handsome

Love is a powerful beauty tool.

I won’t even bother to mention Courtney and Nick because they simple don’t deserve to be featured in here, but I will say this: all of Rainbow’s characters could be your neighbors. It is awesome.

Also, we can’t forget about Carry On! Almost a character itself inside the story, it’s Cath’s personal private paradise. The only place where she controls everything and can do and say the right things all the time. Carry On has the power to unite people though something and it is a beautiful metaphor for reading. Besides, a story about a girl who writes gay fanfiction is badass by itself. Golden star for Rainbow! ❤ I can’t wait to actually read Carry On in February ❤ ❤

Overall, this is one of the best books I’ve read in my life, lacking end and everything. If you like contemporary romance and young adult, you just have to read Fangirl ❤

That’s it! Thanks for reading ❤ Do we have any Rainbow Rowell’s fans around??