Category: Uncategorized

A very large expanse of sea – Tahereh Mafi

4.25 stars

TW : Islamophobia, xenophobia, racism, bullying

this book is set in 2002 the year after 9/11 and is about Shirin a muslim hijabi teenager girl who just wants to get on with her life without everyone giving her dirty looks, nasty remarks and calling her names when she is out in the streets and all through school every day by her peers, strangers and even teachers.

Shirin deals with everything by herself and keeps everything bottled inside her, feeling alone and no one to talk to because her parents just shrug off everything that she says if she has/had a incident at school with a pupil so because of that doesn’t feel like she needs to tell her parents and goes down a spiral of locking everything up and just struggle on her own. soon though her brother tells her of a breakdancing group he has put together and wants her to join and also meet the other guys. when she meets the guys she feels like she belongs and doesn’t feel alone anymore which surprises her. I really enjoyed the breakdancing aspect of this book because I have never read a book with breakdancing as a hobby before and I really wanted even more scenes with that and the crew.

Shirin then meets Ocean one of the popular boys around school when they are paired together in a science class and from their we see a connection start to brew from the first time they meet and start chatting to the final page. this relationship definitely has an abundance of ups and downs with Shirin second guessing their relationship and wondering about why Ocean would want to be with her and so many other aspects to the story.

This story is such an emotional and important story that on one page could be happy to the next page where ur moved to tears just in a few seconds, Tahereh Mafi’s writing is just so magical and just from reading this book you can just tell how much this story is so important and close to Tahereh Mafi.

this book is 4.25/5 stars overall was just an amazing book, one thing I would loved to seen more would of been the breakdancing aspect as never read anything about that in a book before and also at times I just thought the romantic relationship went a little quick at points but apart from that it was a beautifully emotional read.

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Reading Rush TBR

Who else is participating in the reading rush this year ? Hosted by @arielbissett and @raeleenlemay and it will be from July 22 – July 28 👍🏻👍🏻 This is my TBR for the week of the readathon ☺️☺️ 1. Purple on the cover – Wicked Fox 
2. Read in one sitting in the same place – Heartstopper Volume Two
3. Read a book meant to last year – Everything Leads to You 
4. Read a authors first book – A Girl Like That 
5. Non human main character – Sea Witch 
6. Book that has five or more words In the title – The Girl the Sea Gave Back  (EARC) 
7. Read and watch a book to movie adaptation – Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (reread and rewatch)

No Ivy League – Hazel Newlevant

This book was for review from netgalley

Firstly would like to thank netgalley for a arc of this graphic novel In exchange for a honest review.

This graphic novel follows Hazel who all their life has been homeschooled and sheltered from the real world, so doesn’t really understand much about how much white privilege they has.

So when they get a summer job to work with a bunch of other teenagers around their age who are not homeschooled as they are and sees the diverse group of people with different backgrounds,races and so on. This really wakes up Hazel to a world they has never really seen or endured so is very interested to educate themselves.

Through this book we do see Hazel come into situations where they really do see their white privilege when one point of this book we see one of Hazel’s co workers who is black says something disrespectful about Hazel, they report it and he gets punished and chucked out of the job. But when someone else said something to a black girl It was pushed u set the rug and went unpunished.

This book definitely delved a little into a topic that is very major problem and has been a problem in society for years and years and which continue to keep happening everyday.

I really enjoyed the illustrations in this book I liked the images and because I read a arc copy a few pages were missing fully drawn art but was still great to see/ read and will be cool to see how it has been drawn in the finished copies.

Overall this graphic novel was a 3 stars for me, it’s definitely has important issues raised all through this that everyone should read but some parts of this graphic novel were a little bit like meh.

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This time will be different – Misa Sugiura

This book Follows Cj a seventeen year old Japanese- American woman, who through life always feels like she is a let down and doesn’t live up to her mother’s ambitions for her. everything CJ applies for she feels like she doesn’t belong or doesn’t like the job. Until now where she is currently the apprentice to her auntie with helping her with the family run flower shop which has been passed on down through the family tree. This is where Cj feels best when she is helping out and becoming a florist with her Auntie Hannah who loves the flower shop so much.

so one day when her mother says she is going to sell the flower shop because it isn’t doing very well like it used to but not only that, Cj’s mother is selling it too a family who took everything from Cj’s grandparents in World War II in a time when Japanese-Americans were being took into camps. When Cj hears of this she isn’t going to back down without a fight to keep the flower shop still in their family and continue the business. It’s also he first Time where Cj has founds something she wants to fight for, not just for herself but for also her auntie and the family legacy.

I loved so much of this book and one interesting part of this book was learning so much about the Japanese history and so many being stripped of everything and having to go through so many tragic times throughout WWII and after from being in camps to Japanese culture not being accepted in America. still to this day we still see Racial slurs being spoken and in this book we definitely saw that even though its getting better we do still have people who are very disrespectful to Japanese/all asian countries in general.

overall this book was such a interesting and beautiful written story of if u actually believe In something u go out and try your hardest to succeed in either trying to keeping something open or either your dreams and just chasing them and never give up.

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Please send help – Gaby Dunn and Alison Raskin

Arc provided by Netgalley

firstly I would like to say thank you to net galley fo approving my request of this book. very grateful 

this book is a sequel to Gaby Dunn’s and Alison Raskin’s book I hate everyone but you, I really enjoyed that book and the format of the story that it is in, which The form of writing is in texts and emails back and forth between two friends who have been best friends since forever and they are called Ava and Genevieve. sadly for me this second book wasn’t as good as the first book and I just wasn’t really connecting to this story as much as the first book. for me at points throughout this book I just didn’t like some of the things both of the characters were saying in some parts and I just wasn’t really feeling the story aswell which is a shame because I was very excited to read this book .

in this story I just found the characters not likeable at all yes at points I did enjoy but most of the time they both just seemed to be really petty at points and even though they were both in college they both acted way younger in some aspects definitely in the romantic relationships they go through in this book, I definitely was more fond of Ava than Gen because I could understand Ava’s issues but most of the time she just didn’t listen to Get when she was given her advice aswell. 

one part I did like is that even though this friendship is definitely not the best in many ways with how Ava and Gen treat each other I did like that in the end the friendship overided the romantic interests because there is nothing worse when the character has been friends with someone for so many years and then once a guy comes into there lives they ditch the friend, I’m so happy that that didn’t happen and the friendship ruled in the end.

overall this book is a 3 stars it was a okay quick read that was a bit disappointing aswell.

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Heir of Fire – Sarah J Maas

Oooo Sarah j Maas has done it once again with another amazing read of the series yes this is not one of my faves of the series but damn I can for sure tell u that the characters in this book we get introduced are some of my new faves *cough* Manon *cough* Rowan hehe. 

Even though it wasn’t my fav book so far I loved it so much, I just loved of course the world and I enjoyed where the story is going to be heading because damn Caelena/Aelin ain’t here to play and ness around she’s ready to take that throne and make the world a better place once and for all. 

Out of all the book I always looked forward to Rowan’s and caelena’s scenes the most especially once I started liking Rowan. Don’t get me started on how one minute I don’t like Rowan at all then all of a sudden after one action he does He’s my new fav character in this series. Manon is the ultimate queen aswell I really enjoyed reading about her and how she is very courageous,deadly and doesn’t stand for no BS. I’m very excited to see how she grows as a character in the next books and see her on her adventures with her Gang of witches. 

Yes I think the reason why this wasn’t my fav was because of how much this was like a kind off book that was definitely meant to build up the hype for the next book (I’m very excited to read it I must add 😉 ) and you could see that this was really about the information given In this and very heavy on the political side. I think to bump this up to a full 5 stars would of been if there was more action and if of course a little bit less of it being lots of information being written so much. 

Overall with any Sarah j Maas it was amazing, loved it and so excited for the next book which will either get read next month or maybe later on this month. I don’t know why it’s took me so long to carry on with the series 🙈. 

JULY TBR

This is my July TBR. But this is only a small part of my TBR… yes there Is more on the way/I have quite a few ebooks and EARCS that I want to get to this month. Along with that about 40 minutes ago I got a very exciting approval of one of my most anticipated books of the year, The thousand doors of January. when I saw the message I had been approved for this book I was freaking out and so excited, it will probably be one of my first reads of the year aswell.

hope u all love the books you read this month 🙂

Mid Year Book Freak Out Tag

Question 1 – the best book read so far this year. (of course going to go for more than one)

Question 2 – what is the best sequel you have read this year

I havent read many novels sequels this year but this book right here Wow I Just loved this book so much.

Question 3 – what book do u want to read that you haven’t read yet

I really need to get this book, I can’t believe I haven’t yet I have been anticipating this book for a while but still not picked it up haha

Question 4 – what books are you anticipating for the rest of the year

I am so excited for all of these

Question 5 – what book was your biggest disappointment

sadly its got to be this book right here, I was so looking forward to reading this book but as I was reading this I just kept not wanting to Carry on every time picked it up and also I didn’t like one of the main characters at all.

Question 6 – your biggest surprise of the year

I had a incline I would like this but after I finished this book I was like wow I didn’t think I was gonna like it this much. I loved everything from the story, to the writing and the characters and even learning about the culture aswell.

Question 7 – your favourite new author

my favourite had got to be Casey Mcquiston like wow what a debut and im so excited for more books from this author to be released.

Question 8 – your new fictional crush

  • Alex Claremont-diaz – Red,White and Royal blue
  • Nathaniel – Sorcery of thorns
  • Nina – six of crows/crooked kingdom/King of scars

Question 9 – your new favourite characters

  • Silas – sorcery of thorns
  • olive – the unhoneymooners
  • Ethan – the unhoneymooners
  • jay – Patron saints of nothing
  • Emoni – with the fire on high

Question 10 – book that made you cry

wow this book right here there is one scene in this book where I just couldn’t stop crying because I just felt so much for these characters and I just wanted to hug them both and say its okay.

Question 11 – books that made you happy

this just made me smile from ear to ear the tropes in this book and the characters and just loved the romance in this book so much

Question 12 – the most beautiful book brought this year

This cover has the best cover of the year hands down

Question 13 – what books do u need to get to by the end of the years

wow now there is a lot/too many I need to get to but just going to say a few

  • Birthday – Meredith russo
  • The rest of the ToG series from Heir of fire
  • Finale – Stephanie Garber
  • strange the dreamer – Laini Taylor
  • I wish you all the best – Mason Deaver

There you have it my Mid year book freakout tag in blog form. hope you enjoyed.

I wanna be where you are by Kristina Forest

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Review below/spoiler warning

this book was such a cute and sweet summer story that I enjoyed and was really fast paced and I flew through it really quickly. I’ve got to say that the cover of this book is one of my faves of the year in my opinion I just love how bright and vibrant it is.

so lets talk about this book, this book follows Chloe pierce who’s dream is to become a ballet dancer so when the opportunity to go to a audition in D.C, she takes it in both of her hands and decides to chase after her dreams. But a problem with this is that her mother doesn’t know that’s she going and when Chloe said about the audition before she said she is not allowed to go. a opportunity arises though because Chloe’s mother is getting sent on holiday with her boyfriend Jean-Marc and its on the same week as the audition, so Chloe comes up with a plan for her best friend Reina to act like Reina’s mother so she can make out that Chloe with be living with Reina at their house for the week. 

Chloe’s mother believes the lie so she is off and on her way. the boy who lives across the road Eli, who Chloe hasn’t spoke to for a year because of a incident what happened between them two the year before askes Chloe to see if he can travel with her all the way to DC because its on the way to his dads house who he going to see for a few days, Chloe is very against it at first but because she doesn’t want to be late she just gives in (after some blackmail which is a little mhm) so then they are on their way, and of course because you can’t have a smooth sailing road tripping novel lots of many problems occur but on the way we get introduced to both their friends they haven’t seen for a while and also to Larissa, Eli’s sister who by far my fav character out of them all .

so anyways you probably might already be catching on to what happened between Chloe and Eli while on their roadtrip (I did quite like it to be honest) and overall it was an enjoyable read but the reason I  am giving it a 3 stars is because it wasn’t amazing and it definitely wasn’t bad it was just a good novel/in between and also for the first 50 or so pages I want feeling it at all but then it did get better. Finally I will definitely be checking out all Kristina’s new book when she brings more out.

With the fire on high by Elizabeth Acevedo

“I think you should write about the one that scares you most.Taking risks and making choices in spite of fear – it’s what makes our life story compelling”

This book was such a beautiful,important and compelling read that while your reading, you just get swept up into the life of such a amazing young woman called Emoni Santiago. 

Emoni Santiago at such a young age has had to make some decisions about many things in her life. Such as Emoni being a teenage mother and caring for her daughter who she just loves with every fibre of herself and would do anything for her. Emoni never knew her mother because sadly she died while giving birth to her,so she tries to connect to her mum through her recipes which she used to make and because Emoni’s passion is cooking and what she want to do for the rest of her life and So she can feel close to her mum through cooking. Her whole life she has been cared by her grandma who has always wanted to see the best for her granddaughter,and always tries to help with the baby so she Emoni hasn’t Got everything on her shoulders. Emoni isn’t with the baby’s father called Tyrone but we see them connect a little in this book when Tyrone has the baby on certain weekends.

Throughout this book we see Emoni embark on trying to go for her dreams which she has her ups and down with thinking about wether she can do it because she has a daughter now, and also trying to figure out if college is the best decision for her as she is set to leave school. Along the way she has such an amazing support system around who try and always push Emoni to do the thing that makes her happy which is cooking and becoming a chef. Which include Angelica her best friend, Malachi the love interest, her grandma and also her teachers Ms Fuentes and chef Ayden. 

The characters in the book I loved so much I just loved how most of them were really supportive for Emoni and just loved and cared for her, but as u guessed there were people in here that just wasn’t nice to Emoni such as Mrs Palmer,Tyrone’s mother who always has bad stuff to say about her and calling her horrible things, and also (even though she had a little redemption) pretty Lesley who was very jealous character at times. 

I loved the diversity in this book from colour and also sexuality which is always great to see in books especially even more with the side characters like that we are starting to use many more sexuality’s now which is a plus.

Overall this book was just a wonderful story that everyone needs to read and  so many books need to touch on more subjects like teenage pregnancy and so many more important subject matter aswel. This is one of my fav books of the year and also Elizabeth Acevedo is the queen Writer  and will always be seen  as a auto-buy author now .

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