July 2018 Wrap-Up

Hello everyone!

This month I read a total of 11 books and enjoyed most of them. This month I really tried working on finishing/continuing some series/trilogies I'd previously started.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

⭐⭐⭐

Review here.

The Assassin Game by Kirsty McKay

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review here.

The Black Key by Amy Ewing

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham (Audiobook)

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tangled by Christine Peymani
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Parable of the Princesses by Jenny Phillips
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
⭐⭐⭐

Lodestar by Shannon Messenger
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cress by Marissa Meyer

⭐⭐⭐

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review here.

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
Review here.

Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel
⭐⭐⭐ .5

What books did you read in July? What are you planning on reading in August?

Thanks for stopping by. Have an awesome day.

~Abby

Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Hello everyone!
A couple days ago I finished reading Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins. I liked this book a whole lot better than Anna and the French Kiss, and I also think it was cuter. This book follows Lola who is dating a boy who is five years older than she and her parents disapprove. Lola has a very adventurous style and would one day like to go into the costume industry. One day, her next door neighbors move back and she has dreaded this day for years, ever since her fallout with Cricket Bell. Lola has to face her neighbor while deciding who she is and if her boyfriend is really 'the one'.  

Like I previously mentioned, this book was way cuter than Anna and the French Kiss (which was still cute). I felt like the characters in this story were far more relatable. I really liked getting to know Cricket as a character. He was the perfect boyfriend material. Max, I didn't like from the beginning, but I was still giving him a chance. I also really liked seeing Lola develop as a character and learn that you can't depend on someone to become yourself. There wasn't anything in this book that I didn't like. 

I rated this book 5/5 stars. I really enjoyed it. If you didn't particularly care for Anna and the French Kiss, or you liked it, I highly recommend giving Lola and the Boy Next Door a try. Anna and St. Clair are also featured in this book which I thought was cool. I can't wait to read Isla and the Happily Ever After to see how I enjoy that one.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a fantastic day.

~Abby

Review: Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

Hello everyone!
I recently just finished Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han which is the conclusion of the To All the Boys I've Loved Before trilogy. This trilogy is about Lara Jean who sends writes letters to all the boys she's ever loved. These letters one day get mailed by accident and she has to deal with the consequences.

I thought this was the perfect conclusion to this trilogy. It left tears in my eyes once it was finished, but don't worry, they were tears of joy. Lara Jean goes through so much development in this book alone (as well as the previous books). Her character is so real and relatable. I connected to this book because she was in her last year of high school and was deciding which direction to take her life in. I will be completing high school this coming year and will have to decide what I'm doing with the rest of my life. I just felt this book was very relatable in that aspect. 

I love Peter's character to pieces. He is the perfect and sweetest boyfriend for Lara Jean. They did have their ups and downs in this book, but it just showed how real the characters are. Relationships aren't going to be easy (like a lot of other books show) and they need work. This trilogy really shows what life is like and I think that's why I like it so much. There isn't a character that I disliked. 

Overall, I rated this book 5/5 stars. If you have not picked this trilogy up yet, I highly recommend you do. It's definitely worth your time and will give you all the feels. I want a relationship like Lara Jean and Peter have.

Have you read the books? If so, what did you think of them?

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day.

~Abby

Phantom of the Opera Book Tag

Hello everyone!

I found this tag over at The Moonlight Library a while back and don't know why I haven't done it yet. Phantom of the Opera is one of my favorite books/musicals.

1. Phantom of the Opera - What is a book so good it kept you reading all night?

2. Think of Me - What book could you never stop thinking about while reading and still can't stop thinking about?

3. Angel of Music - What fictional character have you learned a lot of valuable lessons from?

Kahlen from The Siren by Kiera Cass. She taught me to be happy with what you have and to follow your heart no matter what.

4. Music of the Night - What book has such lyrical, beautiful writing like a song?

5. Prima Donna - What book has a character who is the biggest brat?

I'm going to go with Stina from the KOTLC series by Shannon Messenger.

6. All I Ask of You - What is your number 1 favorite OTP?

Michael and Taylor from the Michael Vey series by Richard Paul Evans.

7. Masquerade - What book has a character with a secret identity?

8. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again - Which character's dead parents would you bring back to life?

Harry's parents from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. It would have been cool to get to see them and their personalities, but the whole series would be different if they were alive.

9. The Point of No Return - What is the best-written love triangle you have ever read?

The love triangle between Laurel, Tamani, and David is one of the best I've ever read. 

10. Track Down This Murderer - What book has a misunderstood character?

The main character in this book is very misunderstood, but it's also kinda her fault because she doesn't tell anyone who she really is or what she's capable of.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a fantastic day.

~Abby

July 2018 Book Haul

Hello everyone! 

I recently acquired a good chunk of books I thought I'd share with you. Most of them came from a book swap at my library and a couple came from a trip to Barnes & Noble.

Book Swap - Total: 14

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Brother - Total: 6

Barnes & Noble - Total: 2

 

Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful day.

~Abby

Disney Book Tag

Hello everyone!

This tag was created by Kat from Katytastic. You can check her video out here.

1. The Little Mermaid - A character who is out of their element ("a fish out of water").

Mare from Red Queen. She starts out as a thief and is later taken to the palace which is very out of her element and takes adjusting.

2. Cinderella - A character who goes through a major transformation.

Michael from the Michael Vey series. Not only does he develop as a character throughout the series, but by book 7 he's also taken on a physical transformation.

3. Snow White - A book with an eclectic cast of characters.

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger has a very eclectic cast of characters. They are all so very different.

4. Sleeping Beauty - A book that put you to sleep.

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I had to read this for school and I found it really boring. It moved so slow and I couldn't get into the book at all. I think I fell asleep reading multiple times.

5. The Lion King - A character who had something traumatic happen to them in childhood.

Jude from The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. She and her sisters experienced something really traumatizing early in their childhood that shapes the story.

6. Beauty and the Beast - A beast of a book (a big book) that you were intimidated by but found the story to be beautiful.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. It took me a while to be motivated to read this book, but when I finally finished it I felt so satisfied. This story is amazing!

7. Aladdin - A character who gets their wish granted for better or worse.

Kahlen from The Siren by Kiera Cass. I won't say what her wish is so I don't spoil the book, but it ultimately gets granted and it's for the better.

8. Mulan - A character who pretends to be someone or something they are not.

Sage from The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen. We'll leave it there.

9. Toy Story - A book with characters you wish could come to life.

Michael Vey by Richard Paul Evans. I'm going to use this series again because I just love this cast of characters so much. (Just don't let the Elgen come to life.)

10. Disney Descendants - Your favorite villain or morally ambiguous character.

I've said this many times, but my favorite "villain" is Maven from the Red Queen series. There's just something about him that makes me admire him even though he's done some pretty awful things.

What's your favorite Disney movie/character?

Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful day.

~Abby

Harry Potter Spells Book Tag

Hello everyone!

Since I finished reading the Harry Potter books this year, I figured it would be perfect to do the Harry Potter spells tag. I saw this tag over at Dreamland Book Blog.

1. Flagrate (Writing Charm) - A book you found interesting but would like to rewrite.

I really disliked the ending to this book, so I'd rewrite the ending. I feel like if it had a different ending, I would've enjoyed this series a lot more.

2. Alohomora (Unlocking Charm) - A first book in a series that got you hooked.

Not only did this book get me hooked for the rest of the series, but it's also the book that got me reading young adult novels. I still really enjoy reading this series.

3. Accio (Summoning Spell) - A book you wish you could have right now.

I'm fully invested in this series now and I need this book!

4. Avada Kedavra (Killing Curse) - A killer book.

Nobody actually dies in this book, but there is a "killer".

5. Confundo (Confusion Charm) - A book you found confusing.

6. Expecto Patronum (Guarding Spell) - Your spirit animal book.

7. Sectumsempra (Dark Curse) - A dark, twisted book.

I know I previously mentioned this book, but it's the only one that comes to mind for this question. It was more twisted than I was expecting, but I still really enjoyed it.

8. Expelliarmus (Disarming Spell) - A book that took you by surprise.

I really enjoyed this book when I read it and didn't expect a lot of the twists that occurred. This book is one of my new favorites.

9. Prior Incantato (Reverse Spell) - The last book you read.

This only took me like ten minutes to read, but it's the last book I read.

10. Riddikulus (Boggart Banishing Spell) - A funny book you've read.

Mark Watney was a very entertaining character to read about.

11. Sonorus (Amplifying Charm) - A book you think everybody should know about.

This book was so good and I feel like it's one everyone should read.

12. Obliviate (Memory Charm) - A book or spoiler you would like to forget having read.

No books come to mind for this question.

13. Imperio (Controlling Curse) - A book you had to read for school.

I actually really enjoyed reading this book for school. It took me by surprise.

14. Crucio (Torture Curse) - A book that was painful to read.

This book was so hard to get into and I don't know how I finished it. Also, a lot of it was hard to understand. I didn't see the point to this book.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day.

~Abby