Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon- Review

Publication date:
September 1st 2015

Publisher:
Delacorte Books

Goodreads synopsis:
My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I'm allergic to the world. I don't leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He's tall, lean and wearing all black- black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking, and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can't predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It's almost certainly going to be a disaster.

REVIEW:

Cover- I think this cover is absolutely beautiful. It's a very clean white and crisp but then there is just an explosion of colour and patterns and images around the bottom word of the title which just looks so lovely and is very powerful. It's a simple cover but I feel like it works really well. 

Plot- I'd heard a lot of hype surrounding this book and it definitely did not disappoint. The idea of this book is so unique and fresh, I've never heard of a story like it which is one of the main things that intrigued me. It was interesting to see how Maddy's life was with this illness that didn't allow her to even leave her own house, and how she coped with being stuck inside all day. It was a very well developed plot line and it was good to see how meeting Olly changed everything she'd known for so long. 

Characters- I really liked the character development of Maddy within this book. She was already such a strong and determined character and I really liked how upbeat she was about her life, even though she didn't get to do things other teenagers do, she was appreciative of her life and the people close to her which I think is really important. She did annoy me at times though, I feel she made some rash decisions and let her emotions take over too much- although this is relatable. When she meets Olly, she becomes more wild and reckless but in a lovely way which shows how life is a gift and you need to do things that make you happy. There are so many important messages behind this book. Olly was a really great character too, he was dealing with a lot but still managed to stay happy and he was very understanding of Maddy's condition and the limitations that would have on their relationship. I didn't really like how quickly their relationship developed, it seemed very rushed and unrealistic with the way some events panned out. Carla was definitely my favourite character, she was always there for Maddy, was loyal and caring and always did the right thing.

Writing- The writing was my favourite thing about the book. I absolutely flew through this book, I read it in one sitting which is so unusual for me. I adored how short the chapters were and how there were text messages and emails and illustrations allowing us to get more depth from the characters and understand more than one perspective. It helped me to connect with Maddy a lot. This was such a fun, easy Spring read and I will be picking up Nicola's other book very soon.

Overall- This was a cute read, the writing style was something I really enjoyed and the plot was very unique. The character development was really good and I would definitely recommend picking this book up if you're in a reading slump or just want a quick and easy contemporary read.

Geekerella by Ashley Poston- Review

Publication date:
April 4th 2017

Publisher:
Quirk Books

Goodreads synopsis:
Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic sci-fi series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for the new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball, and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. With savings from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck (and her dad's old costume), Elle's determined to win...unless her stepsisters get there first.

Teen actor Darien Freeman used to live for cons- before he was famous. Now they're nothing but autographs and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Carmindor is all he's ever wanted, but Starfield fandom has written him off as just another dumb heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, Darien feels more like a fake- until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise. But when she disappears at midnight, will he ever be able to find her again?

Part romance, part love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs, Geekerella is a fairy tale for anyone who believes in the magic of fandom.

REVIEW:

* I received a copy from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*  

Cover- I actually really like the cover for this book, despite the fact I find the title cringey. I think the colours are beautiful, the purple night sky is such a lovely touch against the pumpkin truck and it fits with the story really well.

Plot- I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. It is of course a modern day retelling of the Cinderella fairytale and it's almost identical to the original. There aren't really any plot twists because it sticks to the story so well, so it is very predictable at times but was still a really enjoyable read for me. I found that the entire story was very relatable and just a really fun read. I did find the first 20 pages very slow and quite difficult to get into for some read and I was expecting not to like it because of this, but it really picked up and I'm so happy with the way everything happened. I really liked the fandom element of this story and how it shows how important fandoms are and how they can be a support network for people and like a family to them. I also liked the subtle LGBTQ aspects within and how it wasn't a primary focus of the story, it was just seen as normal.

Characters- I think this book did a really good job with the characters. I loved all the characters you're supposed to love, and hated those you're supposed to hate. Without a doubt my favourite character was Sage. She was just so sassy and confident. She didn't care about what anyone thought but she was such a loyal and caring friend at the same time, she's just the perfect character. Elle was so broken and lived such a hard and unfair life but she stayed so strong throughout and her relationship with Darien was just the best. I love those romances that start out with the two characters hating each other and then they end up falling in love, I find it so cute and this was kind of like that. Darien was amazing, he was so judged and stereotyped by everyone which was so sad because he was a true fan of Starfield and was just seen as a fake. It was so lovely seeing him be himself. The stepsister Chloe was honestly awful I hated her but that was the point.

Writing- This was told in dual POV which was really lovely because it allowed us to see Darien in his true self rather than how he was portrayed by the media. We got to realise how he was controlled by his father and that he was so caring. 

Overall- I would definitely recommend this book if you like retellings of fairytales and quick, cute easy reads. This was such a good contemporary and I really enjoyed it.

The Upside Of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli- Review

Publication Date:
April 11th 2017

Publisher:
Penguin Random House

Goodreads synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso knows all about unrequited love. No matter how many times her twin sister, Cassie, tells her to woman up, Molly can't stand the idea of rejection. So she's careful. Fat girls always have to be careful.

Then a cute new girl enters Cassie's orbit, and for the first time ever, Molly's cynical twin is a lovesick mess. Meanwhile, Molly's totally not dying of loneliness- except for the part where she is. Luckily, Cassie's new girlfriend comes with a cute hipster-boy sidekick. If Molly can win him over, she'll get her first kiss and she'll get her twin back.

There's only one problem. Molly's co-worker, Reid. He's a chubby Tolkein superfan with a season pass to the Ren Faire, and there's absolutely no way Molly could fall for him.

Right?

REVIEW:

*I received a copy from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Cover- I don't really like this cover in all honesty. I like the font of the title and the background colour but other than that, I'm not really into it. I think the emoji type thing just makes it look quite tacky and the colour of the text doesn't really fit together.

Plot- I had such high expectations for this book because I absolutely adored Becky's first book Simon vs the Homosapien's Agenda and this book did not disappoint! I adored how diverse this was and the LGBTQ representation within it, it felt so real and easy to imagine yourself within this story. The story surrounds a bigger than average sized girl who has a lot of crushes but never pursues any of them for fear of rejection. When her sister gets a girlfriend, she feels her drifting from her and decides to do anything she can to keep the bond close- even if that means letting herself get heartbroken. It was just so cute. The importance of family played a huge role in this book too which is something I always like. It was just an easy read with no huge depth to it.

Characters- I had very mixed feelings about the characters in this book and I'm really not sure why. I absolutely loved Molly. I thought she was very down-to-earth and a realistic character. I could really relate to her with all her crushes for random reasons and I liked the sarcastic witty banter she brought to the book. My favourite character without a doubt was Reid. Reid is my new boyfriend I've decided. He was just so adorable and completely comfortable being himself, despite the fact it might not be what other people like. Him and Molly were so dorky and fit each other so well. I really didn't like the twin sister Cassie, or her girlfriend Mina. I found them both to be incredibly selfish and immature in regards to their relationship and just relationships in general. They were practically forcing Molly to talk to Will despite the fact it was very obvious she didn't want to. It really irritated me that they felt like it was essential to be in a relationship and that's the only way to be happy. Will also annoyed me, having a 'flirty personality' isn't an excuse for leading a girl on the way he so clearly did to Molly. 

Writing- I already knew I'd love the writing in this as I loved it in Simon. She just writes so beautifully in a way that makes you connect with the characters and feel like you're a part of the story. Although this was only told from Molly's perspective, it was done in a way that didn't make it feel as though you were missing anything.

Overall- I didn't enjoy this book as much as Simon vs The Homosapien's Agenda but I still absolutely adored it and would definitely recommend picking this up if you want a cute easy LQBTQ read that is really relatable.

The Last Thing You Said by Sara Biren Review

Publication Date:
April 4th 2017

Publisher:
Amulet Books

Goodreads synopsis:
 Last summer, Lucy’s and Ben’s lives changed in an instant. One moment, they were shyly flirting on a lake raft, finally about to admit their feelings to each other after years of yearning. In the next, Trixie—Lucy’s best friend and Ben’s sister—was gone, her heart giving out during a routine swim. And just like that, the idyllic world they knew turned upside down, and the would-be couple drifted apart, swallowed up by their grief. Now it’s a year later in their small lake town, and as the anniversary of Trixie’s death looms, Lucy and Ben’s undeniable connection pulls them back together. They can’t change what happened the day they lost Trixie, but the summer might finally bring them closer to healing—and to each other.

REVIEW:

Cover- I don't hate this cover but I don't love it either. I like the background with the lake and the woods, it's pretty much exactly how I pictured it in the book but I really don't like the colours chosen. The bright gradient just looks really tacky and reminds me of the gradient fill on Microsoft Powerpoint. I do quite like the font used for the title but the colouring just ruins it for me.

Plot- This book was so bloody amazing. It was a perfect representation of grief and how everybody deals with it in different ways. It was summery and cute but at times so devastating and makes you feel truly grateful and appreciate everything you have in your life. It was one of those books that really got to me and really made me think. It has a lot of important messages and a lot of depth to it. I loved how the two characters were struggling with learning how to cope with Trixie's death while also showing us that friendships stay with you always, whether the person is alive or not. One of the things I adored about this book was how Lucy and Ben learnt to come together and share their grief instead of pushing each other away.

Characters- Ben was probably my favourite character in this book. At times he was angry and withdrawn but that just made him feel all the more real, and it shows how truly heartbroken he was at the loss of his sister. It was evident that while he pushed Lucy away, he cared for her greatly and their love was slow burning and passionate which I loved. I always like relationships where they have a background and a history from before the book starts, rather than meeting in the book. Lucy did annoy me at times but I loved her loyalty to Trixie and how much she developed as a person throughout the book. Her best friend Hannah kind of felt like a replacement of Trixie though and although I loved her as a person (she was bright and bubbly and constantly there for Lucy smiling and cheering her up) she did just feel like a Trixie 2.0 and kind of a friendship rebound which made me feel sorry for her. There is one character I just absolutely hated for no reason at all, and that is Simon. I couldn't stand him. There wasn't a certain thing he said or did that made me feel this way, there was just something about him I really hated. I hated his and Lucy's relationship and just everything about him. Ugh. He was too possessive over Lucy too.

Writing- I liked the writing in this. It wasn't too advanced or complicated, but the simple writing style worked really well for this book. It was told from dual POV which I absolutely love because it allows us to further understand what both characters are thinking and why they make the decisions they do. It made me emotional and the little flashback stories about Trixie's life scattered throughout add depth and make it more interesting. They are lovely as they allow you to connect with a character who you otherwise wouldn't be able to properly connect with and to see what she was like as a person. It also shows that you can still remember someone in a positive light without being distraught and that grief does get easier over time. It might never fully go away, but it does get easier.

Overall- This was a devastating but eye-opening read with a really great romance brought together by the need to deal with grief and true friendship.