Book Review: Falling into Place by Amy Zhang

Goodreads synopsis: 

On the day Liz Emerson tries to die, they had reviewed Newton’s laws of motion in physics class. Then, after school, she put them into practice by running her Mercedes off the road. 

Why? Why did Liz Emerson decide that the world would be better off without her? Why did she give up? Vividly told by an unexpected and surprising narrator, this heartbreaking and nonlinear novel pieces together the short and devastating life of Meridian High’s most popular junior girl. Mass, acceleration, momentum, force—Liz didn’t understand it in physics, and even as her Mercedes hurtles toward the tree, she doesn’t understand it now. How do we impact one another? How do our actions reverberate? What does it mean to be a friend? To love someone? To be a daughter? Or a mother? Is life truly more than cause and effect? Amy Zhang’s haunting and universal story will appeal to fans of Lauren Oliver, Gayle Forman, and Jay Asher.

I plainly state that this book will probably be one of my favorites of 2015. Maybe because it reminds me (somehow) of Looking for Alaska by John Green which is one of my favorite books? Maybe.  

I have picked this book out on a whim, I was in the mood for something sad and something that I will cherish forever and I thought, hey, I've just bought this book today and it fits my needs and maybe I'll just read it right away. And here I am, 24 hours later, done with it and in tears. AMAZING. 

This was one heck of an eye-opener. Falling into Place dealt with mental illness, family issues, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, eating disorders, etc. This book made me see behind the popularity, behind the facade that people put on and it makes me devastated that there are people out there who are suffering from so much and carrying the burden of depression and refusing to seek help or do not know how. It breaks my heart in every way possible that human beings believe what they see. Human beings do not dig deeper, they do not judge a person upon personality anymore. A person is nothing but what his outer appearance indicates and what he chooses to portray to others.. it surprises me how shallow, cruel and merciless us human beings have become. 

All the sadness and rawness of this book aside, I loved loved the characters. I related to most of them and I grew a strange connection to each and every one. Liz, Julia, Kennie and Liam; each carry a load that drowns ME in sorrow. This book had me in tears just because all the characters were so REAL. This is a perfect portrayal of life in general, as a teenager or even as an adult.

Can I mention that Amy Zhang, the author, is actually sixteen? She is two years younger than I am and she managed to write something so beautiful that had me experience the awesomeness of simply falling in love with a book and it captivating your whole being. Yes, that's how I feel towards Falling into Place. The plot twists, the serious issues addressed, and the characters added to the stunning cover and design of this book. Amy's writing is simple and captivating; you can't help but love it.

Throughout this book, I didn't quite understand who the mysterious narrator is. It is told from a perspective of an outsider and not Liz's. I finally pieced the bits and pieces together at the end and it made me fall in love with this book again and again. 

I flew through this; it was really fast-paced. The characters intrigued me and their stories were exciting to read. It is my most marked book and here is a quote that I really liked and memorized: 

"He believed in broken things."

It may not hit you as much as it hit me, but you'll understand me more if you read this book (which you totally should).

I will NOT include spoilers in this one, because I'm too heartbroken and engulfed in misery to even talk about it, but I'd love to discuss it with you if you have read it! Comment down below your thoughts or tweet me @BooksByJayy so we can cry together, haha. 

Have a great day or night! :) 

Top Ten Tuesday #1 - Most Anticipated Books of 2015

Hello wonderful readers and welcome to my first top ten Tuesday post! 

1. Never Never by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

Best friends since they could walk. In love since the age of fourteen. Complete strangers since this morning.

He'll do anything to remember. She'll do anything to forget.





Expected publication: 11th of January by Hoover Ink

2. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard  (Red Queen Trilogy #1)

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

Expected publication: February 10th by Orion

3. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park in this exhilarating and heart-wrenching love story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who intends to die.

Soon to be a major motion picture starring Elle Fanning!

Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.

This is an intense, gripping novel perfect for fans of Jay Asher, Rainbow Rowell, John Green, Gayle Forman, and Jenny Downham from a talented new voice in YA, Jennifer Niven.

Expected publication: 6th of January by Knopf

4. Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver

New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver delivers a gripping story about two sisters inexorably altered by a terrible accident.

Dara and Nick used to be inseparable, but that was before the accident that left Dara's beautiful face scarred and the two sisters totally estranged. When Dara vanishes on her birthday, Nick thinks Dara is just playing around. But another girl, nine-year-old Madeline Snow, has vanished, too, and Nick becomes increasingly convinced that the two disappearances are linked. Now Nick has to find her sister, before it's too late.

In this edgy and compelling novel, Lauren Oliver creates a world of intrigue, loss, and suspicion as two sisters search to find themselves, and each other.

"Alarming and uplifting, a rare psychological thriller that has a kind heart at its center. Read it with all the lights on." --E. Lockhart, author of We Were Liars

Expected publication: March 10th by HarperCollins

5. A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1) by Sarah J. Maas

A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!

Expected Publication: May 5th by Bloomsbury's Children's

6. The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice.

Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for.

Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once.

At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking.

Until one day, he does…

As the world turns upside down, Hazel tries to remember her years pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough?

Expected publication: January 13th by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

 7.  I Was Here by Gayle Forman

Cody and Meg were inseparable.
Two peas in a pod.
Until . . . they weren’t anymore.

When her best friend Meg drinks a bottle of industrial-strength cleaner alone in a motel room, Cody is understandably shocked and devastated. She and Meg shared everything—so how was there no warning? But when Cody travels to Meg’s college town to pack up the belongings left behind, she discovers that there’s a lot that Meg never told her. About her old roommates, the sort of people Cody never would have met in her dead-end small town in Washington. About Ben McAllister, the boy with a guitar and a sneer, who broke Meg’s heart. And about an encrypted computer file that Cody can’t open—until she does, and suddenly everything Cody thought she knew about her best friend’s death gets thrown into question.


I Was Here is Gayle Forman at her finest, a taut, emotional, and ultimately redemptive story about redefining the meaning of family and finding a way to move forward even in the face of unspeakable loss.

Expected publication: January 27th by Viking Juvenile

8. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins 

A debut psychological thriller that will forever change the way you look at other people's lives.

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

A compulsively readable, emotionally immersive, Hitchcockian thriller that draws comparisons to Gone Girl, The Silent Wife, or Before I Go to Sleep, this is an electrifying debut embraced by readers across markets and categories.

Expected publication: January 13th by Riverhead

9. A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab 

Kell is one of the last Travelers—rare magicians who choose a parallel universe to visit. 

Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once there was Black London - but no one speaks of that now.

Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby 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 another world for her 'proper adventure'.


But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive — trickier than they hoped.

Expected publication: February 24th by Tor Books

10. Becoming Jinn (Becoming Jinn #1) by Lori Goldstein 

Forget everything you thought you knew about genies!

Azra has just turned sixteen, and overnight her body lengthens, her olive skin deepens, and her eyes glisten gold thanks to the brand-new silver bangle that locks around her wrist. As she always knew it would, her Jinn ancestry brings not just magical powers but the reality of a life of servitude, as her wish granting is controlled by a remote ruling class of Jinn known as the Afrit. 

To the humans she lives among, she’s just the girl working at the snack bar at the beach, navigating the fryer and her first crush. But behind closed doors, she’s learning how to harness her powers and fulfill the obligations of her destiny. 

Mentored by her mother and her Zar “sisters”, Azra discovers she may not be quite like the rest of her circle of female Jinn . . . and that her powers could endanger them all. As Azra uncovers the darker world of becoming Jinn, she realizes when genies and wishes are involved, there’s always a trick.

Expected publication: April 21st by Feiwel & Friends

If you're excited for any of the books above, comment down below and let me know! :)

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

Goodreads: 

From V.E. Schwab, the critically acclaimed author of Vicious, comes a new universe of daring adventure, thrilling power, and parallel Londons, beginning with A Darker Shade of Magic.

Kell is one of the last Travelers—magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel universes—as such, he can choose where he lands.

There’s Grey London, dirty and boring, without any magic, ruled by a mad King George. Then there’s Red London, where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London, ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne—a place where people fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. And once upon a time, there was Black London...but no one speaks of that now.

Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they’ll never see—a dangerous hobby, and one that has set him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations, who first robs him, then saves him from a dangerous enemy, and then forces him to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure.


But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive—and that is proving trickier than they hoped.

I received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Reading this book, I felt super confused and overwhelmed with emotions, I blamed myself for not focusing and kept rereading the sentences but to no avail. The information of the 3 Londons was thrown at me like daggers from everywhere and I couldn't quite keep up.. 

About 20 pages in, I got the hang of the action and I was immersed into the world. I was hooked from the very first page though, and it was my first time ever reading anything by the eloquent Victoria Schwab and she fascinated me in every way possible. Her writing is addictive, beautiful and you just cannot not admire it. 

This whole preview is mostly from Kell's point of view; Kell is a great protagonist, he is kick-ass and witty with a smart sense of humor. We also get to see a sneak peek of Lila's life. A thief who dresses up like a man and is an aspiring pirate. I also loved the idea of different Londons (Black, Gray, White and Red.) The idea that the inhabitants of Grey London don't even admit to the presence of magic contrasting with Red London's lively use of magic just blew me away. 

I loved the details of which the author added of Kell and his many sided coat (also added to the synopsis). The aspect of parallel Londons intertwined with magic and awesomeness is unique and completely new to me! 

About Prince Rhy, I can't wait to see more of him, I also want to know more about Lila and her life. I need to get my hands on the whole book so I can conquer it. It's definitely high on my TBR list in 2015. 

Let's just admire the cover for a bit now, it blends in with the story and I love covers that do that!! It's not just random, it actually makes you guess what the story is about. 

Overall, I gave this 150 page preview a 4/5 stars solely because I was a bit confused..  I'm super pumped for this one. 

Are you excited to read this book? Tell me in the comments below! 

-Jay

THOUGHTS: The Maze Runner by James Dashner - The MOVIE

Hello guys!

I'm sorry I haven't blogged in a while, I'm doing NaNoWriMo 2014 :)

I recently seen the Maze Runner movie and I LOVED IT, so I thought I'd fill you in on my thoughts.

 

This book is a great adaptation, they made us feel the characters and understand the plot; you can easily fall in love with the movie even if you haven't read the book. 

Teresa and Thomas were greatly portrayed, Alby, Chuck and even Minho look just like how I envisioned them. They picked out great actors to play the characters, and they did well.

One thing I disliked was that they didn't show the Tomas and Teresa connection more, like the mind telepathy thing. That would've been interesting, they only gave a hint when Thomas was reminiscing on the past when he got stung; therefore only the ones who read the book would understand. 

I agree that some scenes were different from the book, but I loved it. I'm ashamed to say that I loved it even more than the book; it got me more excited to read The Scorch Trials and The Death Cure :) 

I would totally recommend reading the book first though, and giving it a chance and to be patient with it, it's boring at first but then it's a good book! 

Have YOU seen the Maze Runner? Comment down below what you thought!

Have an amazing day! :)

-Jay 

Book Review: Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

 Goodreads:

At twenty-two years old, aspiring musician Sydney Blake has a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her good friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers Hunter cheating on her with Tori—and she is left trying to decide what to do next.

Sydney becomes captivated by her mysterious neighbor, Ridge Lawson. She can’t take her eyes off him or stop listening to the daily guitar playing he does out on his balcony. She can feel the harmony and vibrations in his music. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either: He seems to have finally found his muse. When their inevitable encounter happens, they soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one…


From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance—and the enchanting music that inspires one young woman to put her life back together.

Includes a free original soundtrack by musician Griffin Peterson.

Hello bookworms, sorry I haven’t been posting, I currently barely have any access to the internet because I’m not home. I hope you understand :) .

Maybe someday by Colleen Hoover is a truly compelling story, I couldn’t put it down. It tells a story that fate is inevitable and you cannot deny the inevitable. Sydney and Ridge met through the love of music, he used to play the guitar on his balcony and opposite to him, she would sit and listen. Sydney had a boyfriend (Hunter) and so did Ridge (Maggie), but with Hunter being a jerk of a boyfriend, she ended up breaking up with him and leaving her slut of a roommate Tori because they were both cheating on her for two years. She found herself homeless and in the mercy of Ridge, her cute neighbor with amazing guitar playing skills. She didn’t realize then that they were both falling in love..

This is a perfect story of forbidden love, trying to avoid something such as fate is definitely impossible. I’ve never read anything by Colleen Hoover before, but I felt her words in my heart; her beautiful combination of words makes you understand the characters and feel for them. The descriptions are accurate, it makes you have a clear image of them in your head even more than any author does. The two characters’ point of views were corresponding , the similar POVs (since it’s the same author) was perfect, but I guess she intentionally made them more compatible by creating similar POVs. Ridge completed Sydney’s words most of the time and they both had similar mindsets which made them even more perfect for each other.

I recommend this book to EVERYONE! It’s truly an amazing love story. So cute and will make your heart swell besides, it definitely made me cry.

Have you read Maybe Someday? Comment below your thoughts and continue reading this post for a discussion of the book aka SPOILERS.

-J

SPOILERS START HERE. Continue ONLY if you've read the book. Highlight the paragraph below to read spoilers.

Okay everything about this book was perfect, the way they both feel about music, the fact that they appreciated music and felt it, even though Ridge was DEAF. They both realized the severe attraction they felt for each other and tried to deny it and fight every urge they had not to surrender to themselves and to their feelings. They had to remind themselves of the routine.. Ridge kept reminding himself of Maggie, that he loved her because his heart cannot belong to two. They tried to find flaws to repel them from each other, but failed.

 The feelings development in this book is super cute; you could tell that the love story will be a great one from the very beginning. Ridge and Sydney cannot help but fall in love with one another, their chemistry is great and the intimacy they feel is natural. They were meant for each other.
They felt the pain of desire, wanting someone but even the thought of being with them is wrong. They both tried their very bests not to turn into another Tori and Hunter, they didn’twant to do that to Maggie too because she was sweet and no one deserves that.

 The way both of them described their kiss as relief was beyond me, this is another technique Colleen used to emphasis on them being soul mates. Their trail of thoughts followed one another and they think alike throughout the book.

The difficulty of keeping yourself focused and not straying away with your thoughts and feelings towards someone is shown in both Ridge and Sydney, they are good people and they feel guilty by even thinking about each other inappropriately, thinking and NOT even acting on the thoughts.
When I knew that Maggie was sick, everything in me collapsed, in Sydney too. We now know what Ridge is going through and how much of a terrible person he would be if he left her for Sydney. The realization hit me instantly-even before it hit Maggie-, Ridge was hanging on due to her disease, he loved her disease and loved being her hero and he didn’t love HER. Life wasn’t fair to both of them. Love isn’t fair.

I loved Maggie’s character, she was a strong independent woman and she loved Ridge too much that she wanted him to be happy. Her reaction to their betrayal just proves how big her heart is. If I was in her place and saw Sydney after kissing my boyfriend, I would’ve punched her right in the face, but Maggie collected her anger and went. She was the bigger, more mature person. Maggie actually gave up Ridge because she knew deep inside that he loved Sydney as much as he loved her.
As much as I knew what Ridge and Sydney were doing was wrong but I couldn’t help but support it, their love is real and genuine and once you find something as amazing as that, you simply can’t let it go.

Ridge is a great guy, he made me believe that good guys really do exist, he kept his faithfulness towards Maggie even though he was torn and tortured, his heart broke into two and so did he. He also gave Sydney up for Maggie, he did the right thing even though everything inside him told him not to let her go.

I can shamelessly say I cried when he was letting Sydney go, he SPOKE for the very first time in 15 years so he could properly say goodbye.. this is incredible and if that’s not true love, I don’t know what is. Syd loved his voice, she loved him and she compensated his father’s love with her own.. She loved his voice and I loved the way she described his voice, even though his dad hated it and hated him for speaking. It was enough for him, she made him happy and so did he. She learned how to sign so she would communicate with him and he worked on his talking so he would be better at it.
In the end, I was taught that sometimes the moment of epiphany comes late. As late as five years.. it’s okay to realize you don’t love someone even after being with them for 5 complete years. It’s okay to wait for love and you should accept that things change, even if you don’t plan for them to. Love always finds its way of reuniting those who should be reunited even with something as simple as music.

Book Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Goodreads:

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan...

But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?

Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?

And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

Let’s just start off by saying that I really hated the fanfiction in this book, I skipped all the fanfiction parts and I know that I shouldn’t have, but I did. It really annoyed me more than anything else. I can’t tolerate the idea of fanfiction and it’s totally not my thing. I haven’t read HP yet (I’m ashamed, yes.) and some reviewers mentioned that the fanfiction in the book [Simon and Baz] represents HP in real life, and I tried to read it but I honestly don’t get it. I guess that the fanfiction part can either make or break the book and for me it totally downgraded it to 4 stars instead of 5.

It was a slow-paced book; it took me around 200 pages to really get into it. Dear Levi, thank you for being the main factor that made me fall in love with Fangirl. Another factor was Rainbow Rowell’s writing, it’s so easy and light. 

On a personal note, I related to the characters and the situations, I felt like this is a real story, and not fiction. Wren and Cath remind me of my sister and I, we fight A Lot and she’s out of control most of the times and I’m the one who gets to talk some sense into her. 

This book branches into many things; relationships, friendships and family relationships. Rainbow Rowell  conveys the beauty of loving someone and loving what they love and trying to better yourself for them. I loved it so much and I recommend it to anyone!

Did the fanfiction make or break the book for you? Comment down below your thoughts, I’d love to discuss this with you all and if you HAVE READ the book, continue reading the post for spoilers.

Have a great day guys. x

-J 

SPOILERS START HERE. Continue ONLY if you've read the book. Highlight the paragraph below to read spoilers.

Cath’s character developed from the start of the novel till the end, she was the shy one, the antisocial, the one who had a guy-friend boyfriend and also the one who never liked partying. With Levi, she stepped out of her comfort zone; she went to a party for his sake. She liked him and he changed her, he made her a more courageous character and their love story blossomed into something beautiful... with their love for fanfiction, something he never thought he’d like.  

I loved that Levi always smiled “like it cost him nothing”, I’m an always smiling person and it annoys people sometimes, but I’d rather be happy and spread positivity than become a grumpy source of negativity. It made me smile just by thinking of Levi’s smile.

I disliked Wren throughout the book, I thought she was a total bitch.  I understand that she’s trying to be someone different and experiment with new things, but her past and not what she is right now is what she’ll always be. That is proof that one can’t change even if they wanted to. Rainbow Rowell juxtaposes Cath and Wren, fraternal twins but completely opposite mentalities.  I loved that in the end, they both came to terms that they’ll never act like frenemies again. I loved that Wren still read Carry On and kept that part of her intact and untouched even when she thought she was changing.

I loved loved loved Cath and Levi.  Their relationship just clicks, they remind me of a lock and a key. They both were made for each other, he accepts her and loves her even though people think she’s weird.. He saw the beauty in her weirdness.

Another thing I’ve loved is when the book started with Cath sitting in her dorm room and said “there’s a guy in my room.”  which was Levi.. Later on in the book, Cath also said “there’s a guy in my room”. When she and Levi were a couple. I LOVED THAT DETAIL, it made me nostalgic and it linked everything together beautifully. 

THOUGHTS: Delirium Pilot (The TV Show)

Hello bookworms, I'm sorry I haven't posted in so long, I'm having a reading slump lately.. I don't know why. It's annoying and I hate it. I've been taking baby steps with my reading since I've read 9 books last month, which is crazy to even think about. I've been watching some TV shows lately and I've discovered something horrendous. A DELIRIUM TV SHOW.

At first I was extremely excited and I had extremely high expectations of it, I've only found the pilot so I thought I'd give it a try. You know that Delirium is actually my favorite trilogy of all time, so I thought that the show would be as amazing.. I've also heard that the TV show has been cancelled.

I KNOW WHY. It sucked, they literally crammed up the whole delirium book in one episode and they introduced us to Julian and I've only seen 3 or 4 Alex and Lena scenes. COME ON, I want to see more of their romance (it's the reason why Delirium is my favorite book out of the 3). I hated it so much omg, such a disappointment.

I saw NOTHING of Lena and Hana's friendship. Only at the begining of the episode when they were running, the party and when they fought over Alex. Seriously?

Apart from the terrible showcasing of the book, THE CHARACTERS?! They absolutely ruined the characters.

Julian, Lena and Alex

That's Hana, yes, sorry guys

Alex is fine (Daren Kagskoff) .. Julian (Gregg Sulkin) is okay. LENA AS EMMA ROBERTS? No.
Hana as whatever her name is? NOOOOO. Hana is a blonde for God's sake.

I give Delirium the TV show half a star for how hot Alex was, only. (Daren Kagskoff)

Have you guys seen Delirium? What was your opinion on it? And who do you think should play the characters? :) I'd love to discuss this with you.

Much love,
-J 

Book TAG: The Doctor Who Tag

I was tagged to do this tag by Glora Lo @ Gloria The Violinist . Thank you for tagging me <3
I really don't get what exactly is "Doctor Who" I think it's a TV show of some sort. I'll be doing this tag anyways.. hahaha

First doctor : what is your favorite first book in a series ?

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Surely.. or Delirium because I simply love Alex and Lena beyond words

Second doctor : What is your favorite sequel ? 

Insurgent by Veronica Roth.

Third doctor : What is your favorite trilogy ?

DELIRIUM. Hands down.

Fourth doctor : What is your most colourful book ?

I'm thinking Arms and the Man by Bernard Shaw. This one's a classic and I've read it for school 3 years ago. LOVED IT.

Fifth doctor : What is a book about sports that you've read ?

I couldn't think of anything since I actually despise sports, but something came to mind. In Nicholas Sparks' The Last Song, Will played volley ball. that counts right? haha

Sixth doctor : What is a book with a really powerfull villain that you've read ?

PRESIDENT SNOW from The Hunger Games. I hate him omg

Seventh doctor : What is your favorite adult or dark book ?

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. It's an amazing thriller.

Eighth doctor : What is your favorite romance novel ?

That's very weird, I know, but I used to be a huge Nicholas Sparks fan, I've read most of his books and my favorite was Safe Haven. I'm sorry all you romance fanatics out there.. I'm just blank and I can't think of anything.

War doctor : What is a book you wish you could forget you've ever read ?

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I hated that book.

Ninth doctor : What is a book that made you pick up a genre again ?

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey, it made me fall in love with Sci-fi/ fantasy.

Tenth : What is your favourite super-hyped book ?

Sorry guys, it's The Fault in our Stars by John Green. I know this is SUPER-HYPED, but I loved it before everyone on Earth loved it. It's so unfair, I know people who read it before it was famous can relate..

Eleventh doctor : What is your favorite children's or middle grade book ?

This is easy. Matilda by Roald Dahl. My ultimate favorite childhood book. Next to that is The Witches, also by Roald Dahl.

Twelfth doctor : what new release are you anticipating ? 

This book has already been released, but I'm dying to get my hands on The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey, which is the 5th Wave book #2. Aghh can't wait for it to hit Egypt already..

I hope you liked that tag everyone :)
Have an awesome day

-J 

Book Review: Doctor Mars (Mindcop Dossiers #1) by T.A Uner

Goodreads:

In the early 22nd century, Mars has been fully colonized and terraformed by humans. On this new Earth colony the members of the MCPF (Mars Colonial Police Force) keep the peace. Liberty Rise is a gifted mutant with the power to manipulate time using her "mind-shifting" technique. As a member of the Mindcop division, she must use her skill to solve paranormal crimes.

When a recluse scientist named Dr. Andreas Hitzig threatens the safety of Mars, Liberty and the MCPF must intervene.





I received this book as a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Everything about this book I loved [except for one thing and I'll mention this later on], I loved Liberty and her boyfriend even though I wanted to see more of their romance. I LOVED THE MUTANT IDEA, so original and creative, I've never read anything like that before.. especially that they live on MARS. I know, cool right?

This book was seriously the best, one thing I didn't like though was the shortness of it, I didn't feel like the ending was abrupt or anything like that - which surprised me - and I think the author did an amazing job with that, but I love huge books so that I can connect with the characters. I feel like I say that every time I read a short book, but I just hate it when a good book ends quickly.

The action in this book started very quickly, and I liked the idea of "the defiance of the one in charge", because it just proves that anyone can turn against you, and once you read it you'll get my point.

Doctor Mars is a great YA novel, It's was different genre than my preference (Sci-fi/fantasy) but overall, I was impressed with the book.

To sum it up, I will simply say that I just can't wait for I, Mars which is the second book in the series.





Can I just add that I really love the covers too? ..




If you read these books comment below what you thought of them.

Have a great day bookworms! :)

-J

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Book Review: Since You've Been Gone by Mary Jennifer Payne

Goodreads:

Is it possible to outrun your past? Fifteen-year-old Edie Fraser and her mother, Sydney, have been trying to do just that for five years. Now, things have gone from bad to worse. Not only has Edie had to move to another new school she's in a different country. 
Sydney promises her that that this is their chance at a fresh start, and Edie does her best to adjust to life in London, England, despite being targeted by the school bully. But when Sydney goes out to work the night shift and doesn't come home, Edie is terrified that the past has finally caught up with them. Alone in a strange country, Edie is afraid to call the police for fear that she ll be sent back to her abusive father. Determined to find her mother, but with no idea where to start, she must now face the most difficult decision of her life."

I would start of this review by mentioning that I was given this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

I hurt while reading this book, I hurt for Edie and her mother. I hurt for Jermaine who you get to encounter later on in the book. It was a beautiful tragedy.

This book is about a girl who is living with her mother and they're on the run because her abusive father is on the hunt for them. She gets to go to a new school in London, a new city and everything is just so new to get used to. She starts her first day by being terribly bullied and what really annoyed me was that she was a bully herself to another 10th grader in her homeroom.. Imogen.

It's a good book, I love experiencing characters' pain and struggle, Edie suffers a lot and there was one person she actually opened up to and it makes me feel so warm inside to actually witness her opening up to someone, which actually proves a theory of mine; if you love someone beyond boundaries you automatically feel attached to them and your wall will immediately be knocked out so you can let them in. It's beautiful.

One thing I didn't like about this book is that it was too short, I really wanted to live in Edie's world more and experience it, I wanted to feel her mom's character more and to see Edie and her mom bond on another level. That is a very minor step-back that not everyone will experience though. I just love getting deeply connected to a character.

Since You've Been Gone is an extremely fast-paced book, I've conquered it in a day or even less. Mary Jennifer Payne's writing is so beautiful and you will just fly through it..

I recommend this book to everybody, I guarantee that you'll love it! :)x

Have a great day bookworms.

- J

Book Review: Requiem by Lauren Oliver (Delirium #3)

Warning: I don't recommend you read this 
review if you haven't read Delirium and Pandemonium as this review contains spoilers of the first two books.



Goodreads: 

 Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight. Of Pandemonium, ALA Booklist noted that "like all successful second volumes, this expands the world and ups the stakes, setting us up for the big finale." After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven-pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fianc e of the young mayor. Requiem is told from both Lena's and Hana's points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.

I will simply start out by saying that this is the ending to my favorite trilogy. The suffering is real..

You get to witness the story from two point of views, Hana's and Lena's in this book, I liked that because you got to see the how the life of Lena, the invalid develops in the Wilds vs. Hana, the cured, how her life turns out to be in Portland. Lauren Oliver does a perfect job in juxtaposing the two characters so that we could see the difference between Hana and Lena; who were former best friends.

As you all know, Alex supposedly re-appeared from the dead (in Pandemonium) and his voice had a bitter tone in it. I know some people would have mixed views about Alex and Julian, but I'm actually team Alex ALL THE WAY. It sucked that he didn't make any appearances in Pandemonium, but Lauren Oliver makes us experience Lena with Alex in Delirium and Julian in Pandemonium, so that she can put us (especially me) in agony in Requiem. It was a hard task watching Julian and Lena together.

If you have been on my blog for a while, you'd know that I'm a strong believer in love, I think it's a beautiful and a powerful emotion so I really took this trilogy as a challenge at first. I thought that a book that convinces me that love is a disease is a must read. I soon came to the realization that Delirium wasn't about proving that love is a disease, but the total opposite, it tries to prove that the world is diseased without love and that's what really got me hooked on the series, it echoes my views on love. Of course, my words don't simply apply to the love of a spouse or a bf/gf, my words apply to every one you love, whether it's a cousin, a sister, your parents, a friend.. anyone. The urge that you must sacrifice your being to save someone is just beyond me. Love is the reason they survive in this book. Look closely at the characters and you'll realize that the only shield that is protecting them isn't their weapons, not their skills to fight.. it's love.

I love Lauren Oliver's writing, it flows beautifully, the book is fast paced, it took me a day to get through it. I love how Lena develops from a girl who is afraid of a prickle and a drop of blood [As Hana described her] to such a bad-ass character. Same goes to Julian, he has developed and grown so much stronger by the help of Lena and it simply amazes me how people change under tough circumstances such as surviving and fighting for your life.

Unfortunately, I didn't feel like I've got full closure to the trilogy, I still feel that there's something missing. The ending is abrupt .. only because of one thing, the thing that I've been waiting to know throughout the whole book.

CONTINUE TO READ IF YOU'VE READ REQUIEM ONLY. SPOILERS.

PS: Highlight the black sentences below to view spoilers. Do this at your own responsibility.

It really pissed me off that Lena didn't get to properly choose who she will end up with.

It killed me that she and Alex were treating each other that way and I held back the tears at the end and was waiting for another Delirium moment, but the freaking book ended. Just like that. IT REALLY PISSED ME OFF. Who did she choose? I'm guessing Alex since she confessed her love towards him, but what about Julian? I still like him, he's a sweet character. Another thing that annoyed me, I've done to myself, I've read the last sentence in the book by mistake and I knew that they would bring down the walls, all throughout the book I was trying to convince myself that they won't and there will be a plot twist so I don't spoil it for myself, but it didn't help. 

I was really bummed when Raven died too, unless they honored her death by conquering the system and making the world a better place filled with love. The ending was tooo happy for my taste, but it's a good ending. No one died, thankfully. 

Please comment below if you've read the book and feel my frustration. I'd love to discuss the book with you guys :)! 

Have a lovely day everyone x

- J