Review: Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Genre: Contemporary
Publication: 4/7/2015 by Balzer + Bray
Pages: 320 Pages
Format: eBook
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
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Summary
Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.


With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

My Thoughts
I have heard so much about this book over the last 2 years, so it was finally time that I picked it up. I did enjoy this book, but it followed the same kind of story line as a lot of YA contemporaries that I have read. This book is diverse in that it is a M/M romance, which is awesome for someone who is looking for a story that represents them. But for me, it was still pretty predictable. I was much more invested once Blue and Simon met in real life. They were very adorable and I was really rooting for them.

One thing that did throw me off about this book was the description on masturbation. I like that it was normalized (because let's me real we all do it) but I felt uncomfortable reading about a 16 year old doing it. I am much older than 16 and it just felt uncomfortable. However, it was nice to see it normalized, so I am still conflicted about it.

In the end, this was an enjoyable read. I read it on vacation by the pool and I just flew through it. I would recommend if you are looking for a cute contemporary. It was pretty predictable but if you want a book that represents you better, check this out.

Review: The Heir by Keira Cass

Genre: Romance, Dystopian
Series: The Selection #4
Publication: 5/5/2015 by HarperTeen
Pages: 342 Pages
Format: Paperback
Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary
Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.

But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.


Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought.

My Thoughts
I went into this book with pretty low expectations. Everybody was saying that Eadlyn was an annoying character and the story should have stopped at The One. I do agree that Eadlyn was not the most likeable character. She doesn't accept that she's privileged, when she clearly is. I feel like she is doing the "nobody understands me" thing which is a trope that I am sick of. It's also annoying that she trying to essentially sabotage The Selection by being a bitch. Her decisions made no sense to me. At one point, she had to get advice from her brother and he just told her to compromise. A future leader should know how to compromise without asking someone else.

I just find that this story feels forced. It's like watching a season of The Bachelor were you don't actually like the bachelor, but are curious enough to know who they end up with. It's guilty pleasure enough to get some enjoyment out of but I felt the story rubbed me the wrong way many times. I think I enjoyed the POV of America in the first books better because you didn't really know who were the true frontrunners in the Selection. Which made me turn the pages to find out if Maxon was going to pick her. This time I got board of Eadlyn faking boring dates and hating love.

I am curious enough to read The Crown. I am waiting of it on audiobook and then I can finally put this series on my read list. I really wish that these were 2 companion series, instead of one big one. I really hope that Eadlyn has some character growth in the next book. I can see why her country doesn't like her very much...

Review: Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore

Genre: Paranormal, Humour
Publication: 09/25/2015 by William Marrow
Series: Grim Reaper #2
Pages: 335 Pages
Format: Hardback
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary
In San Francisco, the souls of the dead are mysteriously disappearing—and you know that can't be good—in New York Times bestselling author Christopher Moore's delightfully funny sequel to A Dirty Job.

Something really strange is happening in the City by the Bay. People are dying, but their souls are not being collected. Someone—or something—is stealing them and no one knows where they are going, or why, but it has something to do with that big orange bridge. Death Merchant Charlie Asher is just as flummoxed as everyone else. He's trapped in the body of a fourteen-inch-tall "meat" waiting for his Buddhist nun girlfriend, Audrey, to find him a suitable new body to play host.


To get to the bottom of this abomination, a motley crew of heroes will band together: the seven-foot-tall death merchant Minty Fresh; retired policeman turned bookseller Alphonse Rivera; the Emperor of San Francisco and his dogs, Bummer and Lazarus; and Lily, the former Goth girl. Now if only they can get little Sophie to stop babbling about the coming battle for the very soul of humankind...

My Thoughts
I have been a fan of Christopher Moore for quite a few years now, so naturally when the sequel of one of my favourite books ever comes out I had to have it. Then somehow a year and a half went by, before I picked it up. I was super excited to go back into the lives of Sophie, Charlie and the other Death Merchants. The characters are the reason I feel in love with A Dirty Job, so naturally they were also the best part of Secondhand Souls.

However, I didn't love it as much A Dirty Job. I missed some of the magic from learning about who the Death Merchants are and falling in love with the characters for the first time. There also wasn't enough Sophie and her goggies. She may only be 7 years old, but I still love her the most. I also thought that the story wrapped up really quickly, and I wish some more time was spent flushing out the ending.

All-in-all, I really enjoyed myself. Sequels can be hard when the first book is one of your all time favourite books. I think if you are a Christopher Moore fan and you liked A Dirty Job, you'll also enjoy this one. I may have had some criticism but I loved getting to be back with some of my favourite characters. 2-thumbs up for Secondhand Souls.

Review: The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson

Genre: Fantasy
Publication: 07/07/2015 by Henry Holt and Co.
Series: The Remnant Chronicles #2
Pages: 470 Pages
Format: Library Hardback
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary:

Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape. Desperate to save Lia's life, her erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komizar that she has the gift, and the Komizar's interest in Lia is greater than anyone could have foreseen.

Meanwhile, nothing is straightforward: There's Rafe, who lied to Lia but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her; Kaden, who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life; and the Vendans, whom Lia always believed to be savages. Now that she lives among them, however, she realizes that may be far from the truth. Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her sense of self, Lia must make powerful choices that will affect her country... and her own destiny. 

My Thoughts:
This book brought some serious game. I enjoyed this much better than the first book. It didn't depend on the love triangle trope like the first one did. I am not going to lie it did play a part, but the whole plot wasn't revolved around it. This sequel took a very political turn which was refreshing and exciting in a different way than the fantasy I normally read. I find that now we are in the world and familiar with the characters this series can really shine.

One thing that confuses me about this story is the different religions in the world. I think that each different kingdom had a slightly different religion that did plan a part. I did get a bit confused and didn't really know what was important to remember. It does play an important part in the plot and I got a bit lost there.

What I did really like was the introduction of new characters and well as the setting in Venda. We meet the Komizar, who I can easily see as becoming a fan favourite villain. He's powerful, he's charming and he's very frightening. He was everything you want out of the king of a rival mysterious kingdom. You also meet a lot of other people in this kingdom, who really work their way into your heart. 

This was an awesome sequel. I think it was more enjoyable than the first one and if you weren't a fan of the 2 boys chasing one princess plot, you might enjoy the sequel more. Lia knows who she wants in this book and this book definitely goes in a different direction than the first. I can't wait to read the next book!

Review: Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir
Publication: 09/22/2015 by Flatiron Books
Pages: 329 Pages
Format: Overdrive Audiobook
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary
According to Jenny: "Some people might think that being 'furiously happy' is just an excuse to be stupid and irresponsible and invite a herd of kangaroos over to your house without telling your husband first because you suspect he would say no since he's never particularly liked kangaroos. And that would be ridiculous because no one would invite a herd of kangaroos into their house. Two is the limit. I speak from personal experience. My husband says that none is the new limit. I say he should have been clearer about that before I rented all those kangaroos."

"Most of my favorite people are dangerously fucked-up but you'd never guess because we've learned to bare it so honestly that it becomes the new normal. Like John Hughes wrote in The Breakfast Club, 'We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it.' Except go back and cross out the word 'hiding.'"

My Thoughts
This book is absolutely hilarious and for me it was incredibly relatable. I have anxiety and I couldn't help but laugh at Jenny's insights. I feel like I fit into her family of weridos who live on the internet. This book is written in essay format, which is common in memoirs. I do really like this format, it gives you really interesting insights into people without necessarily knowing their whole life story. 

I also highly recommend the audiobook. Jenny Lawson tells her stories with such humour. I always try to listen to memoirs on audiobook, I love to hear the actual writer tell their own story. I know a lot of people are thinking "How can a book about mental illness be funny?", but it is. I am someone who looks for the humour in life, so I appreciate someone who can as well. 

This book isn't just funny, it has a lot of heart too. I touches on some of the hardest and darkest parts of mental illness. It's nice to be reminded you are not alone in this. I highly recommend this book! It's everything I needed in a book. All the thumbs up. 

Review: Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy
Publication: 05/12/2015 by Harper Collins
Pages: 272 Pages
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary:
Nemeses! Dragons! Science! Symbolism! All these and more await in this brilliantly subversive, sharply irreverent epic from Noelle Stevenson. Featuring an exclusive epilogue not seen in the web comic, along with bonus conceptual sketches and revised pages throughout, this gorgeous full-color graphic novel is perfect for the legions of fans of the web comic and is sure to win Noelle many new ones.

Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are.


But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit.

My Thoughts:
I just fell in love with this book. So far this year, graphic novels are the only things that have stolen my heart, maybe I even need to read more. Nimona is a fantastic, funny and surprising book. It look turns that I never expected it to take, darker more heartbreaking turns.

The setting of this book is very interesting. It takes place in what seems to be a medieval time with knights and jousting but then they also have advanced technology. It's a super interesting world, the technology is subtle but adds a lot to the story.

The winning part of this book is the characters. They are endearing, funny and just perfect in this story. Blackheart is a villain, but he is a villain with morals and rules. It's an interesting take, which I adored. Nimona is funny and powerful. She can be relatable but she also has secrets. I love the relationships between all the characters. Blackheart and Goldenloin have a complicated history and I was rotting for them the entire time.

I am a huge fan of this book. I highly recommend this to anyone, especially those who like graphic novels and fantasy. This is definitely a surprising book and it went a different way than I anticipated. The characters are stellar and everyone should at least give this book a try.

Review: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Genre: Science Fiction
Publication: 10/20/2015 by Knopf Books
Series: The Illuminae Files #1
Pages: 599 Pages
Format: Hardback
Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary:
This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do.

This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

My Thoughts:
I thought I was going to really like Illuminae, I really did. I am a SciFi and Fantasy girl so I thought this would be right up my alley. Unfortunately, I was really disappointed with Illuminae. There a few things that just didn't gel with me, many of these things are what others loved about Illuminae. Not everyone can love every popular book. 

I picked up Illuminae because of it's beautiful set up. The story is told through documents and IM conversations, which seems super cool and original. However, once I actually started to read the book I didn't find this method of story telling engaging. I wasn't drawn into the story and I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters. I considered putting this book down more than once, because I felt like I was just slogging through it. 

In addition, I felt like there was a lot going on for one story. Too much at certain times. I think with the method of story telling, less would have been more. This book was an intergalactic space chase and battle with elements of the walking dead. It was a lot. I also have biological questions regarding the infection that was spreading. Viruses definitely don't mutate that quickly, the biology nerd inside me was very bothered by that element. 

Illuminae just wasn't for me. I was bored for a good part of it and just wanted to read a book with real words. I do think this would make a good movie, and I really appreciate how dark the story went. I was just underwhelmed by the story telling. I feel in the minority for not liking this book but there always has to be some of us who don't like it. 

Have you read Illuminae? What were your thoughts on the book? 

Review: A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

Genre: Fantasy
Publication: 02/24/2015 by Tor Books
Series: Shades of Magic #1
Pages: 400 Pages
Format: Audiobook
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary:
Kell is one of the last Antari, a rare magician who can travel between parallel worlds: hopping from Grey London — dirty, boring, lacking magic, and ruled by mad King George — to Red London — where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire — to White London — ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne, where people fight to control magic, and the magic fights back — and back, but never Black London, because traveling to Black London is forbidden and no one speaks of it now.

Officially, Kell is the personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see, and it is this dangerous hobby that sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to take her with him for her proper adventure.

But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save both his London and the others, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive — a feat trickier than they hoped.

My Thoughts
This was the kind of book I have been looking for. I have been craving some really good fantasy and this did the trick. It's in a rich and exciting fantasy world with some serious adventure. I really enjoyed my time listening to this story, it kept me interested the whole time. 

One thing that was a bit confusing (especially in the audiobook) was keeping track of the different worlds and who was the monarchy of each. Each different London has different levels of magic which is easy to confuse. But it was less confusing than I anticipated, especially where alternatives world are involved.

What I really enjoyed was the cast of characters in the this book. Kell and Lila were fantastic leads. I often have a hard time connecting with characters but I didn't have an issue with this book. Even the side characters were fantastic. I really enjoyed this book, and if you are looking for a good high fantasy book check this one out!

DNF Review: The Movie Game by Michael Edner

I received this book for honest review from Netgalley

Genre: Mystery? (I'm not 100% sure)
Publication: 09/10/2105 by Pen and Picture
Pages: 302 Pages
Format: eArc
Rating: DNF
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Goodreads Summary:
It’s been three years since Joe’s father vanished. Now seventeen, he is unaware that government agents are watching him in case his dad makes contact. Joe is too distracted by his secret girlfriend, midnight swims in the pools of strangers, free drinks from his buddies at the movie game and the glamorous college student, Felicity. But his movie-esque existence and addiction to fiction is set to collide with a heavy dose of reality this summer when he discovers everything is not what it seems: his secret girlfriend wants to be the real thing. His college fling may have ulterior motives. And the government agents want co-operation to catch his missing father. All this and the three year old death of Joe’s first girlfriend Alice are going to cause him to face some dark truths.

My Thoughts: 
I put this book down at about 50%, and that is not because it was bad but it was because I was loosing interest. This book sounded right up my alley. I absolutely love movies, and I totally understand Joe's love for movies. There are so many things that I relate to Joe about. The biggest reason that I am putting this one down for now is because I don't understand the plot. I have read half this book so far and I can't figure out what the plot is about. Goodreads says that's it's a mystery but I don't know what that mystery is yet. It's a really slow developing story and at this moment I just can't get into it. I did enjoy what I read and I might come back to this book at another time when I am more in the mood for this kind of story. What is really interesting about this book is the movie game that they play, I would LOVE to play that game with the characters. I think I could kick their butts! 

Review: Firewalker by Josephine Angelini

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication: 09/01/2015 by Feiwel & Friends
Series: The Worldwalker Trilogy #2
Pages: 352 Pages
Source: Library Hardback
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary:
Lily Proctor has made it back to her own universe, and she’s ready to start a new life with Rowan by her side. True, she almost died in the pyre that fueled their escape, and they must hide her new magic or risk endangering the world, but compared to fighting the monstrous Woven and leading armies in the alternate Salem, life is looking good.

“You think I’m a monster, but…my choices, as ruthless as they seem, are justified.”

Unfortunately, Lillian, malevolent ruler of the 13 Cities, is not willing to let Lily go that easily. Lily is the closest version of herself she’s ever seen in all her worldwalking, and Lillian’s running out of time. If she can’t persuade Lily and Rowan to return to her world, she’ll have to find a way to make them come back.

My Thoughts:
This series is kind of addictive. It's not great but I enjoy it while I'm reading it. I think the concept is unique and I haven't read anything else like it. However, I also find the world somewhat confusing. Especially, since the book jumped right back into the story right from where Trial by Fire left off. It took me some time to remember what happened in the first book but once I did I was good to go. 

These books are fast paced and they are pretty quick to get through. What I don't really enjoy as much about the story is that Lily is essentially helpless without her coven with her. I prefer my leading ladies to be strong in their own right. To make up for it, at least Lily is smart and can make logical decisions. I also have a weird love/hate relationship with the romance at this point. Rowan made some seriously harsh decisions and that hurt my ship. But I did like that this book approached sex, and didn't hold back because it was "young adult". 

I am excited to see how this series ends, the story ended on an emotional cliff hanger and it's time to get some closure. This is a fun series but not going to make any of my top lists. I would recommend this to people who are into witch books because this is an interesting take on a witch story. 

Review: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication: 09/01/2015 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 320 Pages
Source: Library Hardback
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary: 
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.

My Thoughts: 
I have heard a lot about this book ever since it was released last year. I hesitated to pick it up because I am not typically a huge fan of YA contemporary. However, I read a sampler for it a few weeks ago and fell in love. This book really surprised me and I loved it 

I really connected with the characters and felt for them especially Maddie. I think she had appropriate feelings about her illness and it's impossible to imagine living a life where you are never allowed to leave or see anybody besides your mother and your nurse. I also really enjoyed Olly's character. He seemed like he could be a real person. Sometimes I fell like in contemporary books the romantic interests are too perfect or too mature to be real. Olly however wasn't too perfect. 

I also really like that this book approached the topic of sex in a real way. Normally, YA books only imply to sex or even avoid it all together. This one didn't do that. It didn't describe it in any great detail but you clearly knew that it happened. They also were open about protection which is important for readers to see. We all know teenagers have sex, so I like when book don't avoid the topic. 

All in all, this book was fantastic. It takes some serious turns and the ending fully surprised me. I highly recommend this book to contemporary or YA readers. It's fun, addictive and super easy to flow through. I almost read it in one sitting, which I never do. All the thumbs up.

Review: Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

Genre: Memoir
Publication: 09/15/2015 by Crown Archetype
Pages: 228 Pages
Source: Overdrive Audiobook
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary:
n Why Not Me?, Kaling shares her ongoing journey to find contentment and excitement in her adult life, whether it’s falling in love at work, seeking new friendships in lonely places, attempting to be the first person in history to lose weight without any behavior modification whatsoever, or most important, believing that you have a place in Hollywood when you’re constantly reminded that no one looks like you.

In “How to Look Spectacular: A Starlet’s Confessions,” Kaling gives her tongue-in-cheek secrets for surefire on-camera beauty, (“Your natural hair color may be appropriate for your skin tone, but this isn’t the land of appropriate–this is Hollywood, baby. Out here, a dark-skinned woman’s traditional hair color is honey blonde.”) “Player” tells the story of Kaling being seduced and dumped by a female friend in L.A. (“I had been replaced by a younger model. And now they had matching bangs.”) In “Unlikely Leading Lady,” she muses on America’s fixation with the weight of actresses, (“Most women we see onscreen are either so thin that they’re walking clavicles or so huge that their only scenes involve them breaking furniture.”) And in “Soup Snakes,” Kaling spills some secrets on her relationship with her ex-boyfriend and close friend, B.J. Novak (“I will freely admit: my relationship with B.J. Novak is weird as hell.”)

Mindy turns the anxieties, the glamour, and the celebrations of her second coming-of-age into a laugh-out-loud funny collection of essays that anyone who’s ever been at a turning point in their life or career can relate to. And those who’ve never been at a turning point can skip to the parts where she talks about meeting Bradley Cooper.

My Thoughts: 
I love Mindy Kaling and her books are always really fun to listen to. I always listen to her books on audiobook because hearing her stories in her voice makes the reading experience 100 times better. I really connect with Mindy and I love her outlook on the world. She freely admits she isn't perfect which is something that's awesome for other girls to see. Just because you are on TV doesn't make you perfect by any means and Mindy definitely tells it like it is. 

One thing about this book is that it is very similar to her first book "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?". They could easily have been the same book and I wouldn't have known the difference. However, I don't mind listening to more Mindy. The stories in this book are very typical of a comedy writers book. It's similar to Amy Poehler's and Tina Fey's, which is probably because they are all female comedy writers/actors. 

Why Not Me? is certainly a funny book and if your a Mindy Kaling fan, I suggest you check this one out. I really enjoyed listening to it and found myself giggling in public again. 2 thumbs up. 

Review: Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari

Genre: Non-fiction
Publication: 06/15/2015 by Penguin Press
Pages: 277 Pages
Source: Library Audiobook
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary
At some point, every one of us embarks on a journey to find love. We meet people, date, get into and out of relationships, all with the hope of finding someone with whom we share a deep connection. This seems standard now, but it’s wildly different from what people did even just decades ago. Single people today have more romantic options than at any point in human history. With technology, our abilities to connect with and sort through these options are staggering. So why are so many people frustrated?

Some of our problems are unique to our time. “Why did this guy just text me an emoji of a pizza?” “Should I go out with this girl even though she listed Combos as one of her favorite snack foods? Combos?!” “My girlfriend just got a message from some dude named Nathan. Who’s Nathan? Did he just send her a photo of his penis? Should I check just to be sure?” 

But the transformation of our romantic lives can’t be explained by technology alone. In a short period of time, the whole culture of finding love has changed dramatically. A few decades ago, people would find a decent person who lived in their neighborhood. Their families would meet and, after deciding neither party seemed like a murderer, they would get married and soon have a kid, all by the time they were twenty-four. Today, people marry later than ever and spend years of their lives on a quest to find the perfect person, a soul mate.

My Thoughts:
I am a Parks and Recreation fan so naturally I needed to pick up this book. I may be biased but I loved it. I listened to it on audio which is the only way that I read memoirs. I absolutely love when someone reads me their own story, especially when they are hilarious like Aziz. 

I am really interested in relationships and I loved the academic approach to this book. In addition, Aziz's insights on relationships were on point and hilarious. I am apart of the generation where dating seems to have changed so drastically. However, I've missed the online dating obsession because I've been in a relationship since Tinder has been popular. My favourite part of the book was that it was still hopeful about this generations take on love. Aziz could have easily taken the popular opinion and have been very cynical about relationships. He addresses the fact that there are cons in our quest for love but there were also cons in relationships in the past. 

I honestly loved this book and if you are interested in relationships I highly recommend. It doesn't matter if your single, dating or married I think there is something for everyone. Modern Romance gives hope that technology isn't the end of romance and it can actually help to bring us together. 

Review: Seed by Lisa Heathfield

Genre: Contemporary, YA
Publication: 03/10/2015 by Running Press Kids
Pages: 336 Pages
Source: Library Hardback
Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary
All that Pearl knows can be encapsulated in one word: Seed. It is the isolated community that she was born into. It is the land that she sows and reaps. It is the center of her family and everything that means home. And it is all kept under the watchful eye of Papa S.

At fifteen years old, Pearl is finally old enough to be chosen as Papa S’s companion. She feels excitement... and surprising trepidation that she cannot explain. The arrival of a new family into the Seed community — particularly the teenage son, Ellis — only complicates the life and lifestyle that Pearl has depended upon as safe and constant. 

Ellis is compelling, charming, and worldly, and he seems to have a lot of answers to questions Pearl has never thought to ask. But as Pearl digs to the roots of the truth, only she can decide what she will allow to come to the surface.

My Thoughts:
This book kind of bored me. I picked this up because I find cults extremely interesting and this seemed up my ally. However, it never grabbed me and I considered putting it down a few times. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the story progressed really slowly. It wasn't a bad story by any means. It had some good aspects and a good build up that was quite unsettling at times. 

I also found that the ending was very rushed. The conclusion was only about 15-20 pages long and I wanted so much more. The ending was also kind of opened ended and I wish we had a little about what happened after these events. Especially since the characters were so sheltered/brainwashed by this cult. Another thing that I wished happened was that Pearl, the main character, would have showed more character growth quicker. It look a long time for her to even question their way of life. I understand that in these situations that it's extremely difficult to question what's going on but in the book I wanted to see her thought process more.

All in all, this wasn't a terrible book but I just wasn't hooked. It took more over a week to read this, even though it isn't a very long book and the margins are HUGE. If you are really into YA fiction and you want a kind of dark contemporary, check this one out.

Review: Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

Genre: YA, Dystopian
Publication: 02/04/2015 by HarperCollins
Series: Shatter Me #3
Pages: 409 Pages
Source: Hardcover
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Goodreads Summary
With Omega Point destroyed, Juliette doesn’t know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But that won’t keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world . . . but that’s not all he wants with her.

The Shatter Me series is perfect for fans who crave action-packed young adult novels with tantalizing romance like Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Legend by Marie Lu. Tahereh Mafi has created a captivating and original story that combines the best of dystopian and paranormal, and was praised by Publishers Weekly as “a gripping read from an author who’s not afraid to take risks.” Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and satisfying end.

My Thoughts
I finally read this book! How long have I been saying I was going to read this book? Months! I did it, another series done. High fives for me. And surprisingly, I really enjoyed this book. If you have been following my reviews, then you know that I didn't overly enjoy the first 2 books in this series. I only found Shatter Me and Unravel Me to be just okay and problematic so I was very surprised on how much I enjoyed Ignite Me. 

Now, I still don't think Ignite Me is perfect. I still find the romance to be quite problematic. Warner did grow on me but I do still think the whole relationship isn't the healthiest. However, I can look past all of that if I am enjoying the story. This book is about 75% romance love triangle drama and I couldn't get enough. I felt like I was reading a soap opera. I can see why so many people are into this series now.  I am a sucker from romance, what can I say?

I did find that this book wrapped up very quickly. The action at the end only consisted of a few short chapters. I wish that some more attention was put on how they were going to overthrow the Resistance and some of the aftermath from what occurred. It all just seemed too easy. However, I am still in shock that I actually really enjoyed his book and I am excited to pick up other this the Tahereh Mafi writes. 

DNF Review: Snowflakes on Silver Cove by Holly Martin

I received a copy of the this novel for an honest review from Netgalley. 

Genre: Holiday Romance
Publication: 10/30/2015 by Bookouture
Series: White Cliff Bay #2
Pages: 294 Pages
Source: e-ARC
Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars (DNF)
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

Goodreads Summary:
Libby Joseph is famous for her romantic Christmas stories. Every December, readers devour her books of falling in love against the magical backdrop of the Christmas season. If only Libby believed in the magic herself…  

Struggling to finish her current novel, Libby turns to her best friend and neighbour George Donaldson to cheer her up. But George also needs a bit of support himself. Nervous about getting back into the dating saddle after splitting from his wife, he and Libby strike a deal. She will teach George how to win over the ladies, and Libby will in turn be inspired to inject her novel with a good dose of romance.  As Libby and George explore the beautiful White Cliff Bay on a series of romantic Christmas-themed dates, Libby finds herself having more fun than she’s had in ages and…discovers feelings that she never knew she had for George. But is it too late? Will George win someone else’s heart or can Libby act like the heroine in one of her stories and reach for her own love under the mistletoe this Christmas? Snuggle up with a piece of Christmas cake and mulled wine, and spend the festive season at White Cliff Bay. You won’t want to leave! Christmas at Lilac Cottage also out now.

My Thoughts: 
After some deliberation, I decided to put this book down. I am just not interested in finishing it at this current moment. Why may you ask? Well, this story just isn't for me right now. I requested it back when I was craving romance but when I actually got around to reading it, I just wasn't in the mood. There is nothing wrong with this book but there also isn't anything that makes it unique. It's a classic holiday romance and if that is what you're looking for this is definitely your book. 

I made it 50% of the way through this book and I think I have a good feel for the story. The biggest reason that this book isn't holding my attention is that every time I put it down I just don't have the desire to pick it back up. I enjoy my time while reading but once I set it down I never feel like going back to it. I would really have to push myself to pick it up to finish and I don't want to have to push myself when there are numerous other books I am interested in reading right now. 

I do enjoy the characters in this book and there is a lot of humorous dialogue between our love interests. It also follows a friends to lovers plot which is one of my favourite romance tropes. However, I think I can figure out what is going to happen so I don't feel bad setting this book aside. I do honestly recommend this to people who are a fan of romances. This is cute and not too in your face (as far as I have read anyway). I guess I have learned my lesson, don't try and read cutesy holiday romances when you are in a serious fantasy mood. 

Review: End of Days by Susan Ee

Genre: YA, Apocalyptic
Publication: 02/12/2015 by Skyscape
Series: Penryn and The End of Days #3
Pages: 344 Pages
Source: Library
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Goodreads Summary
After a daring escape from the angels, Penryn and Raffe are on the run. They’re both desperate to find a doctor who can reverse the twisted changes inflicted by the angels on Raffe and Penryn’s sister. As they set off in search of answers, a startling revelation about Raffe’s past unleashes dark forces that threaten them all.
When the angels release an apocalyptic nightmare onto humans, both sides are set on a path toward war. As unlikely alliances form and strategies shift, who will emerge victorious? Forced to pick sides in the fight for control of the earthly realm, Raffe and Penryn must choose: Their own kind, or each other?

My Thoughts
Look, I actually finished a series! It's definitely an accomplishment because I have only finished about 10 series in my life. Thumbs up for me. 

End of Days was a pretty solid series ending in my opinion. I wasn't left with too many unanswered questions and I felt pretty satisfied. I do think that there could have been more explanation and flushing out of characters and plot. I also wish that this series was going to be long as it was originally planned to be. I think so many things could have been addressed if there were more books but I wasn't disappointed with what I got. 

Penryn and Raffe were perfectly angsty and swoon worthy during the whole novel. I love how they both save each others butts a million times during this series. Penryn isn't helpless on her own, she saved Raffe as many times as he saved her. The action was also great and this book is just as gory as the last 2 were. This series is quite dark which is a nice to see in YA. I did find that the pace slowed down in the middle of the book and I felt like I was pushing to make it through a certain section but after that it picked up and I was back on the bandwagon. 

I do recommend this series to people who are fans of apocalyptic novels. It's fast paced and dark with an awesome forbidden romance. Just go check it out, it may not be my favourite series of all time but I think it is definitely a solid finish. 

Review: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

Genre: Mythology, Fantasy, YA, Middle Grade
Publication: 10/06/2015 by Hyperion Books
Series: Magnus Chase and the God's of Asgard
Pages: 507 Pages
Format: eBook
Rating: 3.75 out of 5 Stars

Goodreads Summary:
Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother’s mysterious death, he’s lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers.

One day, he’s tracked down by a man he’s never met—a man his mother claimed was dangerous. The man tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god.

The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years.

When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision.

Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die . . .

My Thoughts: 
If you are looking for action and adventure, Rick Riordan is your man. In his usual style, boy finds out he is the son of a god and madness ensues. I do enjoy Rick Riordan's books, I have read The Percy Jackson series. I haven't read any of his other series yet but I am planning on starting Hero's of Olympus soon.  However, I do find them to be intended for a younger audience than myself. I'm not old by any means but I do enjoy some adult content. But if you are looking for an awesome book for a young audience, Rick is your man.

Something I really enjoyed about Magnus Chase was that the characters were very diverse. There was Sam who is Muslim and wears a magical hijab; Then Hearthstone is a deaf elf, which is also really cool. Magnus himself is even homeless, so there is a lot of elements that you never see in other novels. I was really awesome to read from people with all kinds of different experiences.

However, what detracted from the book was that I found Magnus Chase to be very similar to Percy Jackson. They are different characters and they are put into different situations but if someone told me that Magnus was Percy, I would believe them. I am not sure if this is because Riordan's style of writing is very similar in both books but I think this is something that only I have noticed.

All-in-all, I had a good time reading The Sword of Summer and I will be continuing on with Magnus Chase. It's a fun action filled adventure and I really do enjoy Rick's take on all the different Gods. I do however want to read Hero's of Olympus before I continue on in Magnus' world. I think I'll need to know what happened with Annabeth in those books before I keep going.

Conclusions: If you love Rick Riordan, I definitely recommend Magnus Chase. It was not too shabby.                                                                                                                                                               

  
                                                                                                         

Review: Weightless by Sarah Bannan

I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Genre: YA Contemporary 
Publication: 06/30/15 by St. Martin's Griffin 
Pages: 336 pages
Format: e-ARC
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Indigo

Goodread's Summary:
When 15-year-old Carolyn moves from New Jersey to Alabama with her mother, she rattles the status quo of the junior class at Adams High School. A good student and natural athlete, she’s immediately welcomed by the school’s cliques. She’s even nominated to the homecoming court and begins dating a senior, Shane, whose on again/off again girlfriend Brooke becomes Carolyn’s bitter romantic rival. When a video of Carolyn and Shane making out is sent to everyone, Carolyn goes from golden girl to slut, as Brooke and her best friend Gemma try to restore their popularity. Gossip and bullying hound Carolyn, who becomes increasingly private and isolated. When Shane and Brooke—now back together—confront Carolyn in the student parking lot, injuring her, it’s the last attack she can take.

My Thoughts:
Teenagers are just awful, so awful. Girls are awful, boys are awful. Bullying is awful. 

I am normally not a contemporary person, especially YA contemporary so I am the ideal audience for this book. However, if you are into contemporary about bullying go pick this book up. It is told by an un-named narrator which was interesting. She was just a regular girl, looking up to the popular clique, telling the story of what happened between Carolyn and the other girls. There is a lot of foreshadowing in this book, which builds and builds till the end. 

This book wasn't exactly my cup of tea. I just don't like to read about bullying. I don't like thinking that these kind of situations really happen in real life. Nothing crazy like this ever happened at my high school, so I never understand how these kinds of situations snowball to such awful proportions. The thing that really bothered me while reading this book is that the girls said such horrible things about each other. It bothers me so much, I am essentially this person:

I just have a lot of feelings OK. This book had a good message. Bullying really does hurt people and just standing aside and not doing anything is almost as bad. Contemporary isn't my genre so I wasn't completely engaged in this story but I can see it being popular in it's niche. If you are sensitive to topics like bullying, self harm or depression avoid this book. The characters in this book are awful too. I wanted to know more about the motives behind what happened. Why was Brooke so mean? Why is she so threatened by Carolyn? I don't get that, and I wish it went into more detail there. But that's difficult with the narration that it was told in. 

Conclusions: Definitely not a fun read, it covers some dark topics so be prepared. The narration is different which was interesting but also kind of hard to get into. The story was believable even if you don't want it to be. It really doesn't shy over any of the awful things people where saying. If you like contemporary that follows mental illness and bullying check this one out.