Book Review: Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Book: Isla and the Happily Ever After
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Rating: 5/5 stars- MY PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED
Synopsis (as found on Goodreads):

From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.

Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.



Review:

*NOTE: There will be a spoiler free section and a spoiler section of this review.YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

SPOILER FREE SECTION












Um yeah. I had to restrain myself on the gifs a bit.

People who have read Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door will understand why I'm so happy, excited, sobbing with joy etc. (If you haven't read them... why are you still here GO FUCKING READ THEM I PROMISE YOU I HAVE CHANGED YOUR LIFE FOR THE BETTER NOW GO AND COME BACK WHEN YOU'RE DONE.)

Three years. That is how long I've waited for this book. It was worth it. To give Stephanie Perkins the time to craft something so beautiful, so heartwarming, something that gave me the feeling I had reading Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door, and just ah.

Isla and Josh relationship took a different turn than how Anna and Lola's relationships happened in the previous two books. To me, Isla had a sharper sense of what it was, it was fun because it was real, and it represents the two characters very very well. Though I would say it's a little different from Anna and Lola (certainly a little steamier :P), it's very obvious it's Stephanie Perkins novel. There is the same feeling of wistfulness and sweetness and a romance to die for, set in gorgeous city settings that are seemly enhanced by some kind of magical Instagram filter.

I don't know how Stephanie Perkins does it, but it's like somehow her books stab you with sweetness so subtly, that you don't realize it until you're drowning in it. But it's like happy drowning. It just makes you so happy, and smiley and it seems like it should be sappy and cheesy but somehow it does what sappy cheesy clichés do without it actually being sappy cheesy and cliché. It's like Stephanie Perkins is a witch or god or whatever, working some kind of amazing magic.

Of Anna, Lola, and Isla, I connected with Isla the most. I think personally she's the most like me, and I would just totally do and say the things she does. Isla and Josh aren't my favourite couple (I have a certain love for Anna and St. Clair since they were what set me off on this journey) but they are a cute and a "fit together like a puzzle piece" couple. I loved getting to know Isla, seeing that faint glimpse of her in Anna made me excited to get to know this girl. And this girl feels easy and comfortable to be around. Her voice made her a comfortable presence as a protagonist. While Anna was kind of a pure adrenaline-y teenager, Lola the wild carefree outburst like a star, Isla was the quiet reassuring presence. 

Josh. Oh, I think personally I loved Josh the most of the three guys. While St. Clair was basically mouthwatering (there I said it. DON'T JUDGE ME) and Cricket was this geeky kind of awkward cutie (which is my type technically... this is starting to get awkward) Josh had this charisma, this vulnerableness that made him so open with Isla, and he is so loyal to St.Clair and ahhh so cute. He's kind of the complex artistic almost poetic guy. He and Isla worked really well together as characters, and they are perfect for each other in a weird way.

Enough embarrassing fangirl babble, GO READ IT. READ ANNA FIRST THOUGH. JUST READ THESE BOOKS. Please?

SPOILER-Y SECTION

click away now.
now.
any time now.
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DON'T BLAME ME IF YOU GET SPOILED YOU HAD FAIR WARNING
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HOLY SHIT WHEN ST. CLAIR PROPOSED TO ANNA

I FREAKED. OUT. I screamed at the top of my lungs as if the world had suddenly turned into cheese, and I kept chanting OMG OMG OMG OMG over and over and over again



The fact he proposed on Point Zero. The fact that he worked at that theater in Lola was to buy Anna a ring.

IT'S ALL TOO MUCH FOR ME

And how Cricket and Lola came as well was so cute, and Calliope just added the cherry on top :)

JUST SEEING THEM MADE EVERYTHING BETTER. It helped my momentary depression from Isla and Josh being apart. :((((((

I kind of wish we got someone to illustrate a little of Isla, just to kind of emphasize Josh's artistic skills. But ahhh reading Isla reading Josh's book was kind of amazing, especially when she was summarizing everything that happened in Anna and the French Kiss from Josh's point of view and calling it a soap opera. I loved the fact that Stephanie Perkins kind of poked fun at herself.

And I was squealing through most of the first part (and the fact that Isla got a blood nose on their first kiss XD) and then bawling through the most of the last parts. I was just wanted them to be happy and cute and then everything gets lost to the wind and I'm like "STEPHANIE FIX THIS" and I kept telling myself, "it'll be OK, it says happily ever after on the cover, it's got to be a happy ending" but despite that it still hurt and it still gave me all the feels. And even though they were apart, there were worthwhile moments in there.

And what I loved also was the fact that Stephanie's books are never just about the romance. True, it's focused on the romance, but some of it is always about self-discovery and growth. Isla learning that it's OK to not know where your future leads, Anna learning to mend things between Bridget and her family, Lola about who she is as a person, they are all important aspects of the book. The guys equally go through their own journeys, with St.Clair coping with his family, Cricket going for his dreams for once and Josh coming to terms with who his family is and what he really wants, whether who he is or where he wants to be.

And the line where Isla's telling Josh it's okay to be a blank canvas to be inspired by artists and Josh telling her blank canvas inspire artists as well because of the unlimited possibilities- SLAYED. SLAYED. I lost it.

So yeah. Um that's my fangirling review for the day. Go read this book guys, you really won't regret it. Of all the books I recommend people, these ones are always ones I can safely say that if you have human emotions, if you have a heart and you enjoy contemporary (actually even if you don't), you will love it.

Haulin' It (Day #7 of Summer Blog Craze)

Let's end the this with some gorgeous pictures.

Emma by Jane Austen
Jane Eyre bu Charlotte Bronte
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
The Fiery Heart bu Richelle Mead
Landline by Rainbow Rowell

(The three classics were a 3 for $10 deal. I couldn't resist.)

I also might have gone a little crazy with Isla.

(For those of you wondering, the Paris bookmark was a gift from my friend from when she visited Paris.) 

Also, the three classics looked like this if you were wondering:

(I would've gotten Pride and Prejudice if they had it... but sadly they did not. I picked Jane Eyre over Sense and Sensibility in the end because I wanted to read that first.)

Thanks to everyone who's been reading this entire Summer Blog Craze! I'm sorry that it ended somewhat anticlimactically, but I think rather prettily. (Although EVERYONE ON TUMBLR IS BETTER AT PICTURE TAKING THAN ME)

I will have some reviews come up soon including a review of Isla SO FOLLOW ME OR STALK ME (no don't stalk me I'm kidding) but make sure you watch for that because man. the feels. ooooooooh the feels.

LOVE Y'ALL.

The Debate: Ebooks vs Physical Books (Day #6 of Summer Blog Craze)

Day 6! I actually really love this topic for some reason. I love to hear people's opinions about it and what they prefer. As technology continues to evolve, the ways people read and experience stories and the written word continue to expand and change and I think it's really cool that we have more and more options to enjoy a story. Audiobooks too, are becoming really popular.

Let's do what Cammie Morgan loves best: a pros and cons list.
(to those who got that reference, I LOVE YOU)
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EBOOKS

Pros:

1) Convenience. Instead of stuffing 5 books into my suitcase/bag, I could pack 1 iPad/kobo/nook/electronic reading device.

2) Easy access. Simply click and buy, and it'll download into your device. No need to wait for the physical copy to ship or go pick it up.

3) There's no way the "bookstore" will ever run out of copies of the book you want.

4) You could probably find any book you want. There is no need to worry if your bookstore has the physical copy or not.

5) It is much cheaper than a physical copy of a book.

Cons:

1) IF IT RUNS OUT OF BATTERY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BOOK IT IS THE WORSE THING EVER

ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS NO CHARGER AROUND



2) If you lose it, or it breaks down or anything electrical-y goes wrong, there goes all your books.

3) PLUS, you'd have to replace it.

4) The author could never sign your books.

5) It isn't as pretty as a physical book.

TANGIBLE BOOKS

Pros:

1) It will always, ALWAYS be more impressive to own physical copies of books.

2) Nothing beats the feeling of reading with paper books. There's just something about it.

3) It's prettier. You can pet it. You can make giant Christmas trees with it.

4) The author can sign your book.

5) You can own different covers of one book.


Cons:

1) IT IS MORE FLAMMABLE. IN THE CASE OF OF A FIRE YOU'RE FUCKED.



2) THERE'S NO BACKUP EITHER. YOU CAN'T JUST REDOWNLOAD IT.

3) They are much much more expensive.

4) Very heavy to lug around. Requires much room in your purse.

5) It is hard to keep them in pristine condition.
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Personally, my preference is paper books. There's something that can't replace that feeling, the smell of paper, and the feeling of smooth paper underneath your fingertips. I grew up on that, so I just can't imagine reading all my books through a screen.

That's Day 6! Sorry it's late again... heh. But let me know your thoughts. Ebooks or paper books? Or maybe Audiobooks? Love y'all.

Thoughts: "Never Ending Series" (Day #5 of Summer Blog Craze)

So today I wanted to just justify my thoughts through words on a screen. If that made sense.

*Warning: this is another personal opinion fest. If you think you're just going to be offend by what I say ... too bad?

Okay first of all I want to clarify on my definition(s) of "Never Ending Series".

I consider it as two subcategories:

a) The Never Ending Series of Novels
noun; singular. a series where there are way too many fucking books in one series about the main character(s).
e.g. Pretty Little Liars, Morganville Vampires, etc.

b) The Never Ending Series of the Same World
noun; plural. a series of series that are set in the same realm or world. Series are often spinoffs of each other, where each series focuses on a different main character(s). Can be set in different time periods.
e.g. Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunter Chronicles, Tamora Pierce's Tortall Chronicles

My feelings on both:

a) I am so done with you all.
b) It's either a yay or nay.

Look, whether we like it or not, there's always going to be someone criticizing an author writing too many books on something as a way to milk a franchise, whether that is true or not. I will say I'm equally guilty. I'm human, I react in the way every other person will. If I dislike something, of course I'd be more judgement, and more loose with the things I like.

Personally, I am so fed up with the first example. I get it, every fan wants more episodes of TV show, or more books, YES. I UNDERSTAND. But at some point, there needs to be an end. IT SUCKS. I get it. I didn't want Harry Potter to end, but would it make sense to continue? And that's my problem- if you're going to start making up random stuff to hash out a series to a unnecessary length. A reasonable extension, fine. But at some point, enough is enough. I don't even care about the money aspect. What I care is that by writing random irrelevant issues completely destroys the integrity and how a series is woven together.


I'm not saying I'm against expansions. (Look at The Mortal Instruments as an example) But the ones I see tends to be wildly spinning out of control and just not well written at all. I love if something gets an expansion but I don't want that expansion to be the thing to bring down the series.

However, spin off series I think have a little more room to play with and possibly expand. As long as it's not the same characters, using the same world and principles in another time period or place or whatever seems reasonable to me. I think those ones really depend on a) the author and b) the actual spin off series. If the series sucks... well shit. Is it because the author was trying to cling on the train of fame? I don't know and I don't particularly care. I critique the work, the intentions and goals of what that novel was trying to achieve. In my opinion spin off series are the bomb. It's a great way to experience something new in familiar place, and see old faces with new. (Granted if the series, is actually good.)

If your argument is because "omg can this author stop using this same like idea and place and like race/species" it's really lame of an excuse, because basically everyone who's writing contemporary are "milking it" then because they're using humans as their species and the earth as a setting.

Just saying.





Honestly the people who judge a book because it's a spin off from something before they see the premise kind of piss me off.

I guess that's kinda it. I just wanted to let this out because I had been "inspired" when my review that I wrote on Goodreads for Lady Midnight (The third series Cassandra Clare is writing in the Shadowhunter world) started picking up... And no guys, I'm not bragging about that review. I'm actually a little ashamed of it, and to be honest, I cringe a little every time I get a notification on it. I wrote at a younger age, at a time where I don't think I understood everything as well. I haven't taken it down (believe me, I've debated) because I'm proud of where I am now, compared to then. So I made mistakes, and I'm going to live with them and not hide by deleting them. I'll have the review linked up there if you're really curious. (but it's not relevant really)

That's the end of Day 5! If I offended anyone... (like the PLL fandom...) I'm sorry. But this is my opinion, and this is how I feel and I'm not going to change it, or admit that I'm "wrong". (I mean, factual things aside.) We're almost done this blog fest! AHHH. Love y'all!

Top 5 Middle Grade Recommendations! (Day #4 of Summer Blog Craze)

DAY 4!
EHHH sorry this is kinda late cause shit happened
This list is complied assuming you have read Harry Potter AND Percy Jackson. IF not go read those first cause you're idiot for not reading them yet seriously

Middle Grade was what I grew up on, so my knowledge of books in that area is somwhat outdated technically, but I think the ones I'm recommending are timeless classics. Well maybe not timeless classics. That's a little much. But really good despite how old it might be. (*minor spoilers)
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1. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

When I read The Mysterious Benedict Society in grade five I was mesmerized. I could not let the book down. I came home from school and read for a good four hours before I set the book down for dinner, and picked it right back up to finish it off. Somehow so ordinary yet extraordinary at the same time. It's simple, it's not completely realistic, but realistic enough that it's exciting and it's so much fun. The style of how it's written, the puzzles, a great plot with four equally great children that have a fantastic friendship, The Mysterious Benedict Society is a book that I think is perfect for all ages.

2. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

If you guys read my post yesterday, then you know that Stargirl has a really meaningful place in my heart. I think it's great novel to read, I think it has a great meaning behind it that you start to understand as you get older, and the story is simply beautiful. It's enchanting in the best way.

3. Zen and the Art of Faking It by Jordan Sonnenblick

I think this book is funny in the best way possible. I love the fact that this guy, San, is considered a Zen master just because he took a course on World History and knew all about it, and answered too many questions about it by accident. I love how it becomes his armour almost, to the point where he believes it. It's funny watching him engage other students, try to catch the eye of the girl he likes. It's a roaring fest of fun and just good times.

4. Schooled by Gordon Korman

Words cannot describe how good Schooled is. I find in Middle Grade that the best novels are the ones with spunky and quirky characters who are unafraid to be themselves. Like the novels above, Schooled featured a lovable protagonist, Cap who is just so out there, but in the best way. It's just fun fun fun fun. Seriously, it takes a lot to live up to driving THE SCHOOL BUS to save your bus driver from a heart attack UNDERAGE.

5. Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

There were so many other books I wanted to put as well, but eventually I chose Flipped. Like Stargirl, if you read my post yesterday, you'll know that Flipped was super important to me, and I loved it in the best way possible. I think it's just funny, heartbreaking, and perfectly cute. It's like introducing chick-lit in the best way possible, in a very fresh and innocent sense but with meaning.







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DAY 4 COMPLETE. AHH SORRY KINDA LATE TODAY

Let me know what are you guys' favourite middle grade reads! Love y'all.

Top Ten Influential Books Tag: Blog Styled! (Day #3 of Summer Blog Craze)

Day 3! I kinda stole this tag from Booktubers... heh NO ONE TAGGED ME BUT I DON'T CARE HEHEHE

*awkward silence

You might find a lot of middle grade because that's where I kinda of started. I don't think there's much to explain. In no particular order...
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1. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

This probably is on everyone's list. I don't really think an explanation should be needed. Harry Potter is what made me fall in with fantasy, to the possiblity of magic around us and I will never forget the feelings I have when I experienced winning The Quidditch House Cup, getting the Philosopher's Stone, stealing a golden dragon egg, riding Buckbeak and Dobby's death alongside with Harry. There's nostalgia and a freedom every time I return to the Wizarding World.

(I guess those are spoilers. Oops. BUT I MEAN YOU SHOULD'VE READ THESE BOOKS BY NOW?? The books has been out for like over decade, really.)

2. The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

I think part of why this book is so important and had such an impact on me is because I read it at a crucial and perfect age. I grew up in a community where bullying is rare, and any kind of racism and sexualism was highly discouraged. We were taught to be open minded, and to me, I grew up around people of all colour and people of different sexuality, so it was a normality to me. While this was perfect growing up, it was also a bubble kind of trapping me from seeing what was outside. And I was reaching the age where I was starting to see what was on the outside, and this book further emphasized that. It gave me a new outlook on racism and I actually couldn't shut up for a week about how much of a changed person I was.. heh.  I still have really fond memories of it to this day, although I might have to go back and reread it for a refresher.

3. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli 

I love Stargirl. My memories for it... *sigh Stargirl is a beautiful tale about growing up, fitting in, and staying true to yourself. It's heartbreaking in the simplest way (especially once you read Love, Stargirl), and there's something so magical about it, when it's really nothing more than real life. It touched on the fact that life itself is magical and it's all about how you choose to live your life, how you choose to represent who you are, your actions, and your outlook on life.  So rarely can contemporary authors make a contemporary novel seem as if it's pure magic, and Stargirl is one of those rare ones.

4. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

It is the purest example of friendship in the simplest form. It's handled with care, and it is a masterpiece of storytelling. It uses animals and it's so perfect for children. Again, I read this (or rather my teacher read it to me the first time) when I was very young (like 7 years old young) so I fell in love with the idea of a pig and a spider being friends.

5.  The Conch Bearer by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni 

The Conch Bearer was probably one of my first books that I read that had exposure to other countries and culture. Combined with magic, this novel was an amazing ride. The richness of experience things through a different culture combined with magic aspects inspired by the culture is crazy. It made me fall in love with fantasy even more, and I think that this book is one of the couple ones that got me interested in the mythology and beliefs in other cultures. (Not Percy Jackson believe it or not... I was on that bandwagon before I read those books)

6. Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanan

Like Stargirl, Flipped is very much about individuality and being who you are. It has one of the cutest "romances" ever, and the characters are incredibly loveable. Juli is fearless, she is someone you wish you could be, with a fiery passion. Bryce is hilarious because he's so scared of her, but at the same time you just want to yell at him and be like HEY BE YOURSELF IT'S OKAY BE LIKE JULI.

I still remember Juli climbing a tree to stop people from cutting it down. SAVE THE TREES!

7. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

As if I wasn't insanely obsessed with fairy tales enough, The Goose Girl kicked it up a notch. It showed me how fairy tales could be retold with more detail, plot, and creativity. It was an idea that could be expanded and become your own. It got me so addicted to that genre. To this day, it's still one of my favourite genres. The Goose Girl was so artfully told, true to the original, but Shannon Hale added her own twists and magical elements... it was a fusion I could never forget. This was the beginning, and over the years, I've found more and more favourites. I would not be surprised to find one on my Top Ten list at the end of the year. (*cough cough, CRUEL BEAUTY *cough cough)

8. I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

SPIES.
ok no, more than that. As a child, I was always more of a heavier fantasy reader, so rarely did I read contemporary (despite that I have like three on this list), and the ones I did read were more on the serious side. This was kind of my kick into chick-lit but with more sassiness and fun. I'd always loved spy movies, spy dramas, SPIES. PERIOD. So I read this, I loved it, I read the ones that were out, I loved it, then I basically cried for the next ones. I blame my small addiction to chick-lit to this.

9. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins 

I blame this for my dystopian addiction. Although I technically read dystopian before this, I didn't know what dystopian was until this book, and then the addiction was real.

Also THUS BEGAN THE FANGIRL JOURNEY. Oh man... this was when I started getting into fandoms, and maybe cause I started getting emotional at that point...

10. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Uh City of Bones is a weird pick. I love Cassandra Clare, but City of Bones is not my favourite for sure. But it did introduce me to the YA genre in every way possible pretty much. I really started getting addicted to YA around this point, and it was around here when I made the transition to Middle Grade to fully YA obsessed. This book is influential to me, because it made me fall in love with a genre that I think I'll be reading until I die.





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DAY 3 COMPLETE. EHHHHH. (Canadian phrase if you didn't know.) Let me know what books have influenced you and in what way? Doesn't necessarily have to be a good way LOL. Love y'all.

Top Five Overhyped Books (Day #2 of Summer Blog Craze)

WELCOME TO DAY 2! Today is a special today. Um so, today is my rant day. (Actually there's probably more rants coming) I'm really sorry if I listed your favourite book on this list, but that's just my opinion, I don't mean to offend anyone. These books to me are ridiculously overhyped and I COULD TALK AND TALK AND TALK about why it's bizarre to me. Some of them I didn't even finish. Without further ado, in no particular order, here are my top five overhyped YA books. (minor spoilers below, take caution)

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1. Fallen by Lauren Kate 

(read. sadly.)

Oh Fallen. If there is a book that can give YA a bad rep about heroines who are completely useless, Fallen is one of the nominees. Lucinda Price is literally one of the most useless heroines I have come across. From what I can tell (which isn't much) the backstory and ideology could be interesting, about a Fallen angel and like the true love who can never know about it or she dies blah blah, like it could be cool. But a) annoying love interest, b) equally annoying other love interest, c) oh wait right there's another one HEY THAT MAKES A LOVE TRIANGLE, d) Lucinda Price is again, I stress, useless.
This book also attempts to be like dark and poetic and gothic and in my opinion it completely fails at being that. They're making a movie now, so I'm expecting a bunch of merchandise hitting the bookstores, and when that happens, you'll see me face palming in the corner.

2.  I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore 

(dnf at 85%. I normally would've just finished it but yeah.)

This book. IT IS BEYOND ME TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS BOOK GOT SO POPULAR. I don't get it. I just don't get why. I love the ideology of this book, and I actually mean it when I say I love it. But the execution is mucky, boring, plain and unoriginal. The plot (at least in the first one that I could barely read) is predictable, the characters are about as flat as a coffee table, and on top of that they're named JOHN and SARAH. IS THERE A CHANCE YOU COULD'VE USED A COOLER NAME AT LEAST FOR AN ALIEN? (no offense to anyone named John and Sarah) It's like boring on top of boring. The writing is plain and feels so straightforward that I'm pretty sure the "show don't tell" rule went way out of the window. And his pen name kind of pisses me off too. I just really don't like this book. Sigh.

3. Matched/Crossed by Ally Condie 

(somewhat cheating with this one) (read)

Matched. Oh Matched. When I read Matched I thought it was pretty good. Somewhat average in terms of characters but I thought it had potential. Then I got to Crossed. AND CROSSED. HA CROSSED. I WANT MY THREE HOURS OF LIFE BACK. The storyline was flat, I wanted to hit something, and *spoiler, Cassia and Ky were reunited in the most anticlimactic way possible. It's like nothing moved in the plot. I was so bored, I almost told myself halfway to read this book before bed so I could sleep better.  I GET IT. THE SOCIETY SUCKS. THEY WANT YOU TO BE MINDLESS BREEDING MINIONS. GET TO THE FUCKING POINT.

4. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl 

(dnf at like 20% ish)

1) The book is entirely too thick and long
2) It's slower than a snail
3) Lena is annoying
4) Just no.

5. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

(read)

This is the most reluctant one I probably have on my list. I'm really torned with this one actually. Maggie Stiefvater is an amazing writer. I love her writing. Sometimes it gets a little too poetic and slow for me (i.e. why I stopped on The Raven Boys) but it's beautiful nevertheless. But Shiver was so slow, and the subject wasn't original. The only thing that held this book together in my opinion is the writing. I probably would've chucked it into dnf if it was not for that. The characters are boring to me, the plot unoriginal (*I'm kind of cringing as I write that) and I just. I really just didn't like Shiver. I thought The Scorpio Races was OK, and I sorta gave up The Raven Boys (I will get back to it though, I heard it picks up after you drag yourself through it), but Shiver is just meeeeh. It was beautiful, but it was long and boring. It's kind of like one of those classics you read in school and you know it's superior writing, but you can't help but kind of sleep through most of it.

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Day 2 complete! I'm sorry if these are any of your favourite books. They just didn't work with me. And releasing all that made me feel really good. I think ranting is good every now and then. Let me know what book you think is overhyped! Love y'all.

Top Ten Need to Reads! (Day 1 of Summer Blog Craze)

(The name for this blog-a-thon is weird, I apologize but I came up with it and it stuck and now my head won't let me change it.)
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So needless to say, I'm actually really crappy at reading... popular reads. I find that I tend to read bizarre reads that most people haven't heard of, but that's also because I tend to find that popular reads can tend to be a miss with me. (hint hint, Day 2 might mention something about that :P)

SO I will be counting backwards from 10, and let the shamefest begin. (You guys are going to chuck a tomato at me at number 1, I PROMISE YOU)

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10. Code Name Verity

I've been putting it off because it's historical fiction which usually isn't my thing. But everyone keeps screaming at me to read it and it's EVERYWHERE I GO. I will get to it. Someday.

9. Warm Bodies

Okay so Warm Bodies is not actually one that's been highly recommended to me. (Although I did know about the book before it became a movie) but it's a personal want to read. I surprisingly liked the movie, so I really want to give the book a try.

8. The Entire Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Really guys. I shouldn't need to explain this one. (I have read The Hobbit though. Give me credit for that one.)

7.  A Ned Vizzini book

I have been meaning to read one of his books for years now, and then when he passed away not long ago, it only solidify my resolve to read one of his books. Any one of them. Although very likely that I will start with It's Kind of a Funny Story.

6. Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac

AGAIN, frequently recommended to me but I just haven't read it. It sounds great though, I just haven't gotten around to it. I will though.

5. An Ellen Hopkins book

Despite contemporary being one of my favourite genres, I actually don't read a lot "heavy" contemporary. I consider contemporary as my "light hearted happiness" genre, with the occasional side of a self discovery journey, but as I get older, I am looking to get into more deeper contemporary, and Ellen Hopkins just comes up again and again on that side of things. I really hope to read one of her books one day.

4.  The new J.K. Rowling books

I haven't read them. (*flinches in fear of a slap) Adult fiction isn't particularly my thing so I didn't buy The Casual Vacancy or The Cuckoo's Calling OR The Silkworm when they came out. I will now cause I kinda regret it. Also I broke my rule about adult fiction buying when I bought Landline SO YEAH SUCK IT MY STUPID IDIOTIC RULE THAT I STUCK WITH FOR SOME REASON.

3. The Night Circus

Honestly so many people have told me to read this but I just haven't... I would really love to own a copy of it though, it's so beautiful. I hope I can get to it this year if not, within next year.

2. A Neil Gaiman book

If you guys haven't like yelled at me yet, this one might just get you started.
I haven't read a single book by Neil Gaiman.
IN MY DEFENCE: I own a book by him though. Which actually now that I think about it, that's even worse...

I own The Graveyard Book, but I just haven't gotten to it. However, I really want to read The Ocean at The End of the Lane, but again, that stupid adult fiction rule that I followed. Maybe I should do a small adult fiction haul at some point.

1. The Book Thief

*bows head in shame
*begs for forgiveness

I HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK THIEF. LET THE TOMATOES FLY. (Honestly, I want to kick myself for not reading it yet too)
I love the idea of The Book Thief but somehow I just never got to it despite the glowing reviews. My mission is to read it within this year FOR SURE. I've been avoiding the movie because of that. But honestly I think it's kind of a crime I haven't read it yet...



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Day 1 complete! I hope you guys don't hate me too much for this... because Day 2 might just make you hate me more... heh. Let me know what book that like EVERYONE has read but you haven't read. Come join the cool kids club. Love y'all.

Series Review: Mythos Academy by Jennifer Estep

Series: Mythos Academy
Author: Jennifer Estep
Books: Touch of Frost, Kiss of Frost, Dark Frost, Crimson Frost, Midnight Frost, Killer Frost
Series' Rating: 3.75/5 stars- worth going through if you are a urban fantasy/mythology fan
Book #1's Rating: 5/5 stars- wtf man I am so in love with this!
Book #2's Rating: 5/5 stars- I hunger for the next book
Book #3's Rating: 4.5/5 stars- balancing between a 5 and 4... somewhat rushed and strained
Book #4's Rating: 5/5 stars- WHY DO YOU DO THIS SUDDENLY
Book #5's Rating: 4.5/5 stars- this series is starting to be dragged out far too long
Book #6's Rating: 5/5 stars- impressive wrap up and conclusion
Synopsis for Touch of Frost (as found on Goodreads):

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy; a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest. But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why; especially since I should have been the one who died...

Review:

*Some clarification on the rating: as the series stretched over quite a bit of time, I rated each book as I went so most of the ratings are pretty high. However, as a series altogether, I would consider it a little lower. I'll explain why further in the review, but yeah my numbers are a little crazy.

I tried with the covers guys. Really. But formatting is not my thing. -.-

Mythos Academy is a weird series to review. Just because it's spanned over a quite a bit of time and I've read it as the series was being written. I started Touch of Frost and Kiss of Frost back when I wasn't as experienced with YA and I was at the tender age of "freshman" years. (I'm Canadian... I have no idea why I used freshman years as an example. Let's roll with it.)

I have fond memories of it, but looking back at the books, I don't think I would've been as fond of it if I read the series now. I would say the series is very rocky at the beginning, the characters don't come off the most original, the relationships are weird and it's filled with cliches, and ridiculous high school drama, etc. (*that is a whole another talk that I will not get into)


Am I ashamed to admit I was totally biased? A little. But I'm showing that rating because that was what I thought. To me at that moment, how much I enjoyed the book completely outweighed the execution and mistakes in the book. And to me that is what is most important- the fact that you enjoyed the book, not picking it apart because "oh she's so stupid yada yada" or "OMG he's a cliche she's a cliche the author used this trope" whatever. Those things are important but it's you in the end that is what matters.

And if I didn't read books because "I hate anything sexist, representing females in the wrong light, etc." girl, sadly I would have... little next to nothing to read. (*which again is a whole another rant about more things that I feel very strongly about that I will not get into)

But I came to my senses around the fifth book. At this point, I think it was almost 2 years since I started the series. The rational side of me finally kicked myself and said "look it's being too long and blah and blah and UNNECESSARY SHIT." And when I reached the end I was like "WAIT HOW THE FLIPPITY FLIP WILL IT END THIS MOVED THE PLOT BY ABOUT 0.1%"



Needless to say, I walked in the sixth book with lowered expectations...
and maybe it was because of those expectations but holy crap. It reminded me why I continued with the series in the first place.

Like holy shit I thought the sixth book was going to just be a bunch of deus ex machinas for the sake of the series ending and like it wasn't somehow a bunch of maybe irrelevant clues came together and everything just happened and it worked without a bunch of crazy plot holes and it was exciting and it was tense and Gwen was actually badass ohmygosh.

And I was just screaming NO at my mom even thought we needed to go to the vet for my dog and I was like DON'T MAKE ME LEAVE MY BOOK 

It just worked. The entire plot came together and.. worked.

*brain explosion

I think if you read the first and second book and you liked them and you have the heart to go through another 3 that aren't as plot heavy for the FINAAALE and if you really love mythology based novels, I really think you should stick through this series. It is quite good once you can look aside a couple things.

(P.S. I didn't do a fangirl reaction because I couldn't reaallly remember some of them. heh. but you can tell at certain parts there was fangirling. LIKE THE GODDAMN ENDING FOR THE FOURTH BOOK OMG WHY)