Boy, Everywhere by A.M. Dassu

Book: Boy, Everywhere by A.M. Dassu

Read From: 19th August - 26th August 2021

Rating: 4/5 stars 

Summary: Sami is a typical 13 year old; he loves his friends, football, PlayStation and iPad. But a bombing in a mall changes his life. Sami and his family flee their comfortable home in Damascus to make the perilous and painful journey towards a new life in the UK. Leaving everything behind, Sami discovers a world he'd never encountered - harsh, dangerous but also at times unexpectedly kind and hopeful.

I genuinely think that this book should be required reading for everybody, particularly now when the discussions surrounding refugees, asylum seeking and xenophobia are so topical at the moment with what's going on in Afghanistan. It will open your eyes (and your heart) to the extremities people are forced into taking just for the price of safety, despite having good lives and not wanting to leave. There are some links at the bottom of this review where you can make a donation to Afghanistan and/or Syrian refugees. Alternatively, if you are unable to financially support refugees, here is a helpful article detailing other ways you can help.

This book is a middle grade, which I think makes it all the more heat-breaking as you are inside the mind of a thirteen year old during his journey from Syria to the UK. His thoughts are so raw and his experiences are so harrowing and the book depicts how the lives of refugees aren't simply on an upwards trajectory once arriving in the UK. A lot of (extremely xenophobic) people assume that refugees 'have it made' once they come to England - this book will show you that this is not the case at all. Whilst no two experiences are the same, SO much research was undertaken by Dassu in creating this story (which is all detailed in the authors note) and so, if anything, provides an upsetting baseline that will disprove such prejudicial assumptions.

Boy, Everywhere is a beautifully written novel showing the importance of empathy and understanding but most of all it's also about friendship. It's about the friends you leave behind and the friends you make along the way. It's about finding the light in even the darkest of times, which is truly inspiring given the situation. The most important message of all is to be grateful for what you have, which was my biggest takeaway from this book.

It says in the author's bio at the back of the book that Dassu used her publishing advances for this book to assist Syrian refugees in her city! Such a heart-warming and lovely gesture so please make sure to support this debut author and her incredibly well-researched story.

"In a world where we are told to see refugees as the 'other', I hope you will also agree that 'they' are 'us'". - A.M. Dassu.

Donate to Afghanistan

Donate to Syria

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Book: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang 

Read From: 14th August - 16th August 2021

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Stella Lane is a data analyst with Aspergers who has had next to no experience in the dating world. Consequently, she hires local escort Michael to help her become well-versed in all things relationships and sex so she can finally settle down and give her parents the grand-babies they have been longing after.

Whilst this isn’t my favourite romance story of all time, it was still such an enjoyable read nonetheless. This was a book that came highly recommended to me after loving Talia Hibbert’s Brown Sisters series and I can clearly see why! Whilst you expect a cute and fluffy romance from the cover, the inside of this book is packed with spice and even the exploration of deeper topics such as living with autism and the impacts of a not-so-great parental figure.

Stella is an absolute angel and is one of the most real and raw characters I’ve ever read about. Hoang mentions in the authors note that she has poured her heart into writing Stella’s character and this is so evident in just how loveable she really is. I felt like I could really connect to her and she is the type of character you feel like you know personally after finishing the book. Every time Stella’s POV was introduced I really felt transported into her mind and whilst at times it wasn’t the happiest place to be, it only made me love her even more!

Michael on the other hand… eh. Whilst his upsetting backstory helped me to understand some of his decisions and actions, I couldn’t help but feel like he was frustratingly possessive throughout the course of this book and I really didn’t like that. I think it would have been a different story if this were a book that suited that type of trope, but in this instance it really was not it. Being in his head was sometimes uncomfortable for me and this definitely impacted the reading experience, particularly when I desperately wanted to connect with him as the love interest.

That is literally my only complaint about this book and it’s a shame for me to have to reflect it in my star rating, as this definitely had the potential to be a 5 star read! Regardless, I definitely have the romance bug now (who wound have thought!?) and The Kiss Quotient has only fuelled my desire to read MORE! I’ll definitely be getting to the second book in this series, whilst I desperately want more Stella I’m intrigued to follow some new protagonists who I will hopefully get on with more than Michael. This is a definite recommend from me, although as always please do check the trigger warnings before going in.

The Near Witch by V.E. Schwab

 

Book: The Near Witch by V.E. Schwab

Read From: 31st July - 2nd August 2021

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Lexi has been told all her life the stories about The Near Witch, as well as there never being any strangers in Near. However, one night a stranger appears outside Lexi's bedroom window - a stranger who seems to disappear like smoke. The next night, children begin vanishing and the stranger immediately falls under suspicion. As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi's need to know-about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

As my favourite author ever, I'm slowly but surely making my way through V.E. Schwab's backlist. Admittedly, I did go into this book with slightly lower expectations - after loving a lot of her other books it was inevitable to me that her debut novel would not match up to the likes of Vengeful, Shades of Magic and The Invisible Life of Addie Larue. I was definitely correct in my assumption, by all means this is not my favourite from Schwab by a long shot. However, I did end up being pleasantly surprised by just how fun this little book was, where Schwab once again proves she can write brilliant books for a big range of audiences.

This is a very atmospheric and quiet book which at times was very eerie. The setting was just PERFECT; it's set on the moors which I think fit the story very well. The characters were interesting enough, particularly Cole (the stranger) and local witches Magda and Dreska. Lexi herself was quite boring in my opinion but maybe that's because I'm subconsciously associating Schwab's work with fierce and dedicated female heroines such as Lila Bard.

Overall though, this was a strong debut. Would I recommend this over any of her other books? No, I'd say that if you want to give Schwab a try maybe start with the Shades of Magic trilogy or, if you want a middle grade alternative, the Cassidy Blake series. But did I enjoy reading this? Yes. And do I regret reading this? Absolutely not. Especially now I am one step closer to having read her full collection!

All The Lonely People by Mike Gayle

Book: All The Lonely People by Mike Gayle

Read From: 24th July - 26th July 2021

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: In weekly phone calls to his daughter in Australia, widower Hubert Bird paints a picture of the perfect retirement, packed with fun, friendship and fulfilment. But Hubert Bird is lying. The truth is day after day drags by without him seeing a single soul. Until, that is, he receives some good news - good news that in one way turns out to be the worst news ever, news that will force him out again, into a world he has long since turned his back on. Now Hubert faces a seemingly impossible task: to make his real life resemble his fake life before the truth comes out.

This book was ADORABLE! I saw a lot of similarities to A Man Called Ove which is one of my favourite books of all time, so it's completely unsurprising that I really enjoyed this book as well and became completely enamoured with Hubert.

I really appreciated how Gayle went into so much depth with Hubert's character too. Of course he would have been so easy to love regardless, but this novel has a dual timeline where we follow Hubert's journey from Jamaica to England during the Windrush generation. As a result, we see Hubert's difficulties of trying to secure a job, the racism he experienced and the prejudice and discrimination he and his partner endured as a mixed-race couple. This book is not short of heart-break and there are so many upsetting parts of Hubert's story that are guaranteed to be a tear-jerker. 

However, rest assured that there is plenty of joy and heart-warming moments too. Hubert and single-mum Ashleigh have the most unlikely friendship, but it is also the most wholesome one. There are also so many other characters Hubert meets along the way who you can't help but love too. After reading (and loving) Half a World Away, it became clear that Gayle's forte is writing such loveable and real characters and All The Lonely People definitely solidified my assumption. It's books like this that remind me why I love character-focused novels so much - even reading in general - because what is a book without characters you can fall in love with and become attached to?

I laughed, I cried, I smiled and I sobbed. This book is truly a roller-coaster of emotions and I have no idea why it took me so long to pick it up of my shelf. I'm so excited to read more from Gayle in future - both his new releases and his backlist. I would definitely recommend reading this book - especially if you are a fan of A Man Called Ove and/or Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Book: Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Read From: 16th July - 19th July 2021

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Malibu, 1983. Nina Riva and her siblings are preparing for Nina’s annual end of summer party, an exclusive event renowned for being hosted by the offspring of famous singer Mick Riva. By midnight, the party will be out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will be up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come bubbling to the surface.

I think at this point it's universally known that no one writes incredible characters quite like Taylor Jenkins Reid. I really loved The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and Daisy Jones and The Six is a firm favourite of mine simply because the characters are so real it feels like you actually know them. Malibu Rising was no exception and whilst its not my favourite book by TJR, there's no denying that its an AMAZING book where the Riva family don't feel fictional whatsoever.

The book is split up into hourly snippets over the 24-hour timespan, and in between this we also get flashbacks from the past that depict Nina, Jay, Hud and Kit's childhood years as well as an insight to Mick and June - their parents' - love story. I absolutely adore all kinds of stories with a family dynamic (bonus points if drama is involved). Malibu Rising definitely delivered on that, so it's no surprise I got on with this book so well. In the 'present' timeline, you are thrown straight into the deep end from the get-go: Nina is recovering from her pro athlete husband suddenly abandoning her, Hud is attempting to navigate the correct way of confessing a betrayal to Jay despite the two being joined at the hip their whole lives, and Kit has some secrets of her own. The 'past' timeline is one that will completely pull on your heartstrings as you witness how Mick Riva's rise to fame massively impacts those around him.

The Riva family is by no means relatable in terms of their popularity and success, from both being Mick's children and from their own famous and lucrative careers. Instead, the relatable aspect is their struggles and their familial bond and this enables the story to be so raw and realistic. I mean it when I say that I connect to Reid's characters like no other. You simply have no choice - they are always written so exceptionally well. Malibu Rising is the ultimate hot girl summer book and although summer will soon be ending, its still 100% worth a read. The aesthetics and atmosphere in this book are unmatched and EVERYBODY needs to read it!

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

 

Book: Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

Read From: 27th July - 30th July 2021

Rating: 5/5 stars 

Summary: Seventeen-year-old Lily Hu can’t remember exactly when the question took root, but the answer was in full bloom the moment she and Kathleen Miller walked under the flashing neon sign of a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club. America in 1954 is not a safe place for two girls to fall in love, especially not in Chinatown. Red-Scare paranoia threatens everyone, including Chinese Americans like Lily. With deportation looming over her father—despite his hard-won citizenship—Lily and Kath risk everything to let their love see the light of day.

My favourite book of July? I THINK SO. This book was absolutely amazing and I adored every single page. I didn't want it to end! You can tell that Lo has done SO much research in order to craft this story and all of those efforts 100% paid off because this was a beautiful book that I have not been able to stop thinking about since I finished reading it.

Lily and Kath are characters that will have my heart forever - particularly Lily. Her self-discovery journey of exploring her identity will tug on your heartstrings and causes you to reflect on why the need for representation is so important.

The writing style was impeccable. You all know by now that I love a good character-driven novel and when this is accompanied by a writing style I get on with from the first page, a glowing review is inevitable. There were so many annotate-worthy quotes and scenes, I can't wait to reread this and overflow this book with tabs.

This is a short and sweet review because half of my thoughts are actually just feelings - all of them extremely positive, of course. Please, please read this! What's not to love about a slow-burn historical romance!? I will be recommending this to everybody!

In Order To Live by Yeonmi Park

Book: In Order To Live by Yeonmi Park 

Read From: 22nd July - 23rd July 2021

Rating: No Rating (memoir)

Summary: This book is the story of Park's struggle to survive in the darkest, most repressive country on earth; her harrowing escape through China's underworld of smugglers and human traffickers; and then her escape from China across the Gobi desert to Mongolia, with only the stars to guide her way, and from there to South Korea and at last to freedom; and finally her emergence as a leading human rights activist - all before her 21st birthday.

EVERYBODY SHOULD READ THIS BOOK. Non-fiction is always such a hard one to review, as who am I to give thoughts on someone's life and experiences - particularly when they are as harrowing as this? Nobody should ever have to experience any of what Yeonmi Park had to endure and this book sheds so much light on what an oppressive country North Korea actually is. I feel like many people, myself included before reading In Order to Live, have the complete wrong end of the stick when thinking about North Korea and I am so grateful that this book was able to dispel my ignorance and really open my eyes to the horrors and heartbreak going on in that horrible country.

In Order to Live should be required reading. For everybody. It's raw, heart-breaking and inspiring all at once. Yeonmi Park has packed a huge (and traumatic) period of her life into less than 300 heart-wrenching pages and I truly believe that nothing anyone can say about this book will do it the justice it deserves. You just need to read it and experience for yourself. This is a memoir that will stick with me forever and one I will recommend to everyone. 

Please check the trigger warnings before reading this book.

Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-Iyimide

 

Book: Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-Iyimide

Read On: 21st July 2021

Rating: 4//5 stars

Summary: Welcome to Niveus Private Academy, where money paves the hallways, and the students are never less than perfect. Until now. Because anonymous texter, Aces, is bringing two students' dark secrets to light. Talented musician Devon buries himself in rehearsals, but he can't escape the spotlight when his private photos go public. Head girl Chiamaka isn't afraid to get what she wants, but soon everyone will know the price she has paid for power. Someone is out to get them both. Someone who holds all the aces. And they're planning much more than a high-school game...

Okay, this book was amazing! I definitely have a soft spot for YA mystery/thriller books and Ace of Spades only solidified that. It’s marketed as Gossip Girl meets Get Out and it definitely delivered on that premise… not only that, make it black and queer. You’re in for such a treat with this book! If that’s already not enough to convince you, I’ll let my glowing review do the rest.

Devon and Chiamaka are great leads. It did take me a while to fully warm up to Chiamaka (very much Mean Girls vibes at the beginning of the book) but she soon redeemed herself and became an extremely likeable and very driven character. Devon is the purest soul, I absolutely loved him throughout. An unlikely friendship, but the two characters worked so well together and were so fun to read about.

The social commentary in this book is incredible but is extremely heavy too so please check the trigger warnings before going in, as there are plenty. There is a heavy focus on classism, racism and white privilege which is incredibly eye-opening and it's so important that these discussions are made accessible for younger readers which is exactly what Abike-Iyimide does. The big reveal is extremely shocking, and the events leading up to it are frightening, chilling and creepy. It's incredibly sad and uncomfortable to know that despite being exaggerated for the sake of the story, this book is STILL real life for a lot of young Black people. It is so haunting to recognise that the novel is not so far removed from what has happened, and what could happen.

I don't normally have any negative things to say about books I rate 4 stars but there are a few niggly bits with Ace of Spades I haven't been able to shake thinking about since finishing. Firstly, the beginning of this book felt very cringe and at first, I couldn't understand the hype. It read like a very stereotypical YA novel and at times I did feel like it was trying way too hard to be Gossip Girl. However, I can safely say that this feeling soon went, the writing style did a complete 180 and is now definitely one of my favourite YA thrillers - it's just a shame this incredible writing wasn't there from the very start and instead took a while to get to. I also found the VERY ending to be slightly unrealistic - without spoiling anything, those of you who have read the book should know which drastic event I am referring to. It just seemed as though everything wrapped up a little too perfectly and even then, I still have some unanswered questions about some of the characters.

However, you can see those are extremely minor issues. As I said, this book is up there with my favourite young adult mysteries and it's undoubtedly a very clever and very well thought out novel. It's also extremely addictive and the fact I read this 400+ page book in less than 24 hours is only testament to that. Obviously I would recommend this, and I would even go so far as to say that this should be recommended reading for all young people. Definitely give this one a read if you haven't already!

Reputation by Lex Croucher

Book: Reputation by Lex Croucher 

Read From: 18th August - 25th August 2021

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Abandoned by her parents in favour of a sea view, middle class Georgiana Ellers has moved to a new town to live with her dreary aunt and uncle. At a particularly dull dinner party, she meets the enigmatic Frances Campbell, a wealthy socialite and enchanting member of the in-crowd. Through Frances and her friends, Georgiana is introduced to a new world or wild parties, drunken debauchery, mysterious young men and the sparkling upper echelons of Regency society. But high society isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and the price of entry might be more than Georgiana is willing to pay.

This was the first book club pick for the Anti Social Book Club - I really loved it and thought it was so well done. The language and setting were both extremely classic-esque (and I normally hate classics!) yet it read like a contemporary which made for such an interesting and unique reading experience.

I found Georgiana, the protagonist, to be really loveable and I thought that all of the side characters were also really well developed - Croucher did a fantastic job of creating their personalities and bringing them to life. Whilst some were not always the most likeable due to their air of superiority (cough cough Frances), this aided in the undertones of classism within the book which was just as alive in this time period as it shockingly is today. Much to think about. Cecily and Betty have my whole heart, they are the purest souls who deserve the world. I also really liked Jane and would have liked to see more of her, however she was a very quiet character and I think that was definitely reflected in the narrative. So I can definitely understand why there was less focus on her character.

There were a lot of aspects that felt modern but were kept appropriate to the societal attitudes and standards of the Regency period, which was yet another factor in bringing this book and its setting to life. From things like stolen kisses all the way up to pre-marital sex, it's eye opening to know that these things were once frowned upon, and to see how much society has changed. Another example is the subtle hints of a blossoming Sapphic relationship, as well as a brief discussion between characters outlining that one of the men in their friendship group is gay. These aspects of the story barely begin to scratch the surface which some may say is disappointing, but I feel is entirely appropriate given how this would fit the tone and historical setting of the novel and the attitudes during this period of time. However, you are definitely able to read between the lines and see that the developing relationship is 100% there!

Be sure to check the trigger warnings before going into this book - there are several so make sure to have a look for yourself but I will definitely flag up rape and sexual assault. Overall, this book was a delight to read and I am looking forward to the release of Croucher's next book which sounds like it will be written in a very similar style to Reputation, with more queerness! It goes without saying at this point that I would definitely recommend, and I can fully understand why so many people are hyping up this book at the moment.

As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson

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Book: As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson

Read From: 12th August - 19th August

Rating: 5/5 stars

Thank you so much Electric Monkey for the review copy & goodies!

Summary: Pip Fitz-Amobi is haunted by her last investigation. But soon a new case finds her and this time it's all about Pip. She has a stalker, one who keeps asking: who will look for you when you're the one who disappears? Pip soon discovers a connection between her stalker and a local serial killer, but the police refuse to act. As the dangerous game plays out, its clear that if Pip doesn't find the answers she's as good as dead.

I did NOT want this book to end… AT ALL. It breaks my heart having to say goodbye to Pip, Ravi and everybody else in between, I feel like I’ve come on such a journey with these characters over these three books and I can’t believe it’s now come to an end! Holly Jackson has done such a good job of bringing her characters to life because I rarely get this attached to a group of fictional friends - even in a series!

But what a way to bring this series to an end! I massively underestimated everybody who told me this final book was a lot darker and more disturbing than the first two… so please don’t be like me and be sure to check the trigger warnings beforehand. I’m aware not everyone has read the first two books so I will keep it spoiler-free by saying that Pip’s head isn’t very pleasant to be in. She is dealing with a LOT of trauma following the events of the second book, and yet her character stays exactly the same which I loved. She embraces and at times even succumbs to her demons, but she does not let it define her. She is still the same Pip and I think there is a lot of value in seeing that shown in fiction for those in real life who could be going through the same.

I’ve seen a few reviews saying that the plot was predictable, and whilst there was a major plot twist I did see coming, I think the value of this story extends far beyond how predictable it is. It’s so much more than a plot-twisty thriller. It’s a book that marks the end of our journey with characters we have come to love, as well as how they’ve developed over this journey. It’s just as much a story about unconditional love and friendship and a community coming together as it is a fast paced thriller.

I am hoping and praying that there is a spin off potentially in the works because there is definitely scope for one. Although the ending isn’t ambiguous per se, I NEED MORE! Even if it would be set years in the future, I cannot express how much I want and need it. I refuse to believe this is the end of these characters, I don’t WANT to believe it. Holly Jackson, if by any chance you’re reading this, PLEASE!

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

 

Book: These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

Read From: 9th August - 12th August 2021

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Shanghai, 1926. A blood feud between the Scarlet gang and the White Flower gang has the city divided. That is, until, a river monster plaguing the city forces Scarlet heir Juliette and White Flower heir Roma to set aside gang politics and work together to save Shanghai.

Wow WHAT A BOOK to kick off our first monthly book club pick over at @fantasyfriendsbookclub! These Violent Delights is relatively popular within the book community and from reading reviews, definitely seems to be a ‘love it or hate it’ marmite book. I can definitely understand the negative reviews, but I absolutely loved it… for the reason most disliked it!

I loved the slow burn, both in terms of the unfolding plot and relationship. Yes, the beginning could be considered slow but I was fully immersed into 1920s Shanghai, the atmosphere was *chefs kiss* and it was so fascinating to learn about the gang culture and politics which were developed so well and revised an amazing set up for the book.

Don’t even get me started on Juliette and Roma, my absolute FAVES serving knife to the throat realness🥵 this was such an awesome enemies to lovers book with the most amazing tension. It was also super interesting to see how much of a role they played in the gangs and how, unlike the original text, it wasn’t a separate story. But it also wasn’t needless! Their relationship and character storylines tied in so well to the plot and I was fully invested.

I could write an essay on this book, I enjoyed it that much. Such a good pick to kick off book club - I will forever be in debt to all of our lovely members for giving me the kick up the butt I needed to buy this and read it because for some unknown reason I just kept putting it off! The wait until November is going to be LONG but I can’t wait to see what goes down in the sequel!

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

 

Book: Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Read From: 11th July - 16th July 2021

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: In a perfect world, the only way to die is to be gleaned by a professional Scythe. When Citra and Rowan are chosen to be apprentice scythes, they have no option but to learn the art of killing. However, corruption is the order of the day and Citra and Rowan need to stick together to fight it, until they're told that one of them will have to glean the other.

This book was so much fun. The concept was interesting and unique, and there’s just something about a dystopian world that will suck you in and leave you hooked - which is exactly what this book did. The utopia that Shusterman created not only felt extremely real (which was largely helped by the fascinating journal entries alongside extensive and detailed world building) but also paves the way for interesting discussions about society and population growth and control.

However, I found the characters really difficult to connect with and were this not the case, I genuinely think this could have been a 4 or even 5 star read for me. Whilst I enjoyed seeing how a rise in power can impact a character's thoughts and actions, I simply just did not care about them - even though I desperately wanted to! Citra was undoubtedly a strong and fierce heroine and you all know by now that I love a badass female character. I genuinely cannot put my finger on what was missing from her - or even if anything was missing at all! Rowan on the other hand… I was pretty impartial to. I liked his involvement in the story, I just didn’t like him. And again, I don’t quite know why! Perhaps a lot of my dislike for these characters stemmed from the completely unnecessary romantic sub-plot which felt like it was only included because of convenience? I really didn’t gel with it, but maybe this is explored better in the following books which I’m definitely still keen to read!

I would definitely recommend this all the same. I think the novel goes a lot deeper than it’s characters and, for me, a lack of connection to them didn’t completely hinder my reading experience. This is a young adult dystopian book that goes a lot further than your typical Hunger Games or Maze Runner, giving you the opportunity to delve deeper into a lot of the themes it explores. I'm so intrigued about the sequel, particularly as it seems like we get to know more about the Thunderhead which was definitely one of the most interesting aspects about this world in the first book. Super excited to see where this series goes!

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

 

Book: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

Read From: 9th July - 11th July 2021

Rating: 4/5 stars 

Summary: When Lily moves from Maine to Boston, she does not expect to meet handsome neurosurgeon Ryle. What she expects even less is for her first love Atlas to reappear as soon as Ryle makes an exception to his “no relationships” rule - just for Lily.

I need to have words with Colleen Hoover because this book absolutely ripped my heart into a million pieces. This is NOT an easy book to read. It explores some hard hitting topics that aren't discernible from the cover or synopsis - HUGE TRIGGER WARNING FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. Do not go into this expecting a cute little love story, it’s very difficult to read. But despite that, there are some heart-warming moments and so I was crying both out of sadness and happiness throughout the course of this book.

This is an extremely difficult review to write because this book really impacted me and I can't even find the words to describe my feelings towards it, let alone do the book justice. Lily is a character you can't help but love. Her backstory, particularly with Atlas, only reinforces this. I loved being in Lily’s head while we relived her past life through her diary entries and the special connection the two characters had was so heart-warming to read about. Ryle is a unique character, never have I ever felt so conflicted over my feelings. He's written in such a way where you can fully understand Lily's mixed emotions towards him because you are literally going through those emotions yourself as the reader.

This is such a terrible review but I’m genuinely at a loss for how I’m able to do this incredible book justice, and what glowing thoughts can possibly be said that hasn’t already? If you haven’t already, read this yourself (bearing the triggers in mind though of course!!) and see what all the hype is about because I can safely say that it is WORTH every ounce. It Ends With Us is a book that will stay with me for a long time, and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to see Ellen DeGeneres/Dory the fish again without thinking of this book. Not a bad thing of course - until I get the urge to reread despite my never-ending TBR!

Afterlove by Tanya Byrne

 

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Book: Afterlove by Tanya Byrne 

Read From: 22nd July - 27th July 2021

Rating: 4/5 stars 

Summary: Car headlights. The last thing Ash hears is the snap of breaking glass as the windscreen hits her and breaks into a million pieces. But she made it, she’s still here. Or is she? This New Years Eve, Ash gets an RSVP from the Afterlife he can’t decline: to join a fearless clan of girl reapers who take the souls of the city’s dead to await their fate. But Ash can’t forget her first love, Poppy, and she will do anything to see her again… not even death can tear them apart.

I’m not usually a massive fan of the insta-love trope but oh myyyy, this book is definitely a worthy exception! This is a brilliant lesbian love story where you can’t help but fall in love with everything about the characters. This book will take you on an emotional rollercoaster - from the heart-warming moments to heart-breaking ones, from joy, to love, to grief alongside friendship, family and everything in between. 

This is such a readable novel and it’s so easy to get lost in the pages. Even though it’s on the chunkier side at around 400 pages it could easily be read in a single day simply because of how immersive it is. Byrne’s writing style is easy to read, yet doesn’t fall into a stereotypical ‘YA’ style - it’s beautiful and lyrical throughout. Not to mention the incredible and unique concept that keeps you absolutely hooked. Think Scythe meets They Both Die at the End, and then make it sapphic.😍

There is a special place in my heart reserved for books that I come away from having learned a lesson. Afterlove will make you realise that life is too short and to appreciate everything you have, whilst you still have it because you never know what could happen. “If you love someone, tell them. If you already have, tell them again”, is a quote that will stick with me for a very long time.

OBVIOUSLY I recommend. This book is truly gorgeous and I can definitely see it becoming a popular novel within the book community - which would totally be deserved! If you haven’t already, read this!

Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Oseman

 Book: Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Oseman

Read On: 14th July 2021

Rating: 5/5 stars

Series Summary: Charlie, a highly-strung, openly gay over-thinker and Nick, a cheerful soft-hearted rugby player, meet at a British all-boys Grammar school. Friendship blooms quickly, but could there be something more?

This series has my whole heart! Seriously, the entirety of it. These books are SO stinking cute and I absolutely adore Nick and Charlie’s relationship, as well as their other relationships with their friends and families. Being a series of graphic novels, Oseman is really able to bring their extremely diverse cast of characters to life which allows you to become fully immersed in their lives, you just can’t help but love them!

The Heartstopper series really makes you realise that popular books are definitely popular for a reason. These are such well-loved graphic novels within the book community and they are so worthy of that. Not only do they warm your heart and make you feel fuzzy inside like any good romance story, there are also a lot of deeper and complex topics explored throughout - particularly as the series progresses. Whilst Oseman incorporates discussions of identity into the narrative, this is not all there is. On top of this, the books also sensitively show the impacts of mental illness, both directly and indirectly, and also bullying and homophobic abuse.

Whilst these books have the potential to be extremely triggering to some, it’s clear that the topics are handled with such care and compassion and this is something I appreciated. This series fills me with so much happiness and each read and re-read feels like the biggest warm hug. After all the (worthy) praise these books have received, I’m sure my recommendation won’t be needed... but you’re getting it anyway! If you haven’t already read this series, you NEED to! But of course, be mindful of the triggers before going in and ensure to check all content warnings - these can be found on Alice Oseman’s website. 

She Who Became The Sun by Shelley Parker Chan

 

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Book: She Who Became The Sun by Shelley Parker Chan

Read From: 10th July - 20th July 2021

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: In this Ming Dynasty reimagining we follow Zhu, a peasant rebel, who after the death of her brother uses his identity in order to fulfil his destiny of greatness for herself. Can Zhu claim her own future, burn all the rules and rise as high as she can dream?

This book was an absolute delight to read. It was unlike anything I’ve read before - landing somewhere in the middle of a slow-burn character focused novel and a high fantasy filled with epic battles. Usually, I tend to find that it’s one or the other but She Who Became The Sun had the perfect mixture of both. The characters were incredibly well developed you couldn’t help but become attached to them yet at the same time, the book is filled with plenty of action to also appease readers who dislike character-focused books and prefer an eventful plot line.

Zhu is the most perfect protagonist and takes ‘strong female character’ to another level. Forget the ‘Mulan meets Song of Achilles’ pitch and think The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang. Zhu is badass, dedicated and contrary to her destiny at the beginning of the novel, 100% destined for greatness. She is a character you can’t help but love and admire.

Overall, this was a super fun and exciting read. Whilst at times it could be a little difficult to keep up with all of the different names and places, I think this is just testament to how rich the history was within this story (and maybe also the fact that I tend to reach for YA fantasy which requires a lot less concentration)! I’d definitely recommend this book - particularly to lovers of The Poppy War!