The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Release Date: January 13, 2015
Publisher: Riverhead Books
Rated: Adult
Format: Hardcover
Source: Borrowed from my sister
Buy: AmazonThe Book Depository
Goodreads Website

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

EVERY DAY THE SAME

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning and night. 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.

UNTIL TODAY

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 goes to the police. But is she really as unreliable as they say? Soon she is deeply entangled not only in the investigation but in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

Oh man. Oh man, oh man, oh man. This one was stellar. Like, mind-blowing levels of fantastic. I've wanted to read The Girl on the Train ever since I watched the thrilling trailer for the upcoming film, and thankfully my sister owned a copy. I finally dove into the book one night and could not stop reading until the very end. I tend not to read books aimed for an adult audience, because I've never gotten into them, but I'm glad that this was the exception, because, oh man–it's good. Really, really good.

It's really weird, because I actually hated most–if not all–the characters. It's basically the same reaction I had to watching Gone Girl: I loved the story but absolutely hated the characters. But hey, it's because of all these characters being so unlikeable and unrelatable that made this a fascinating read. The story drove the novel for me, but it's all the characters' flaws that made this book twist and turn as much as it did. I literally would change my mind about what happened to Megan every chapter or so just because I couldn't trust anyone or anything that was going on, like when character would suddenly show a different side to them that threw all previous theories away. The three alternating perspectives–Rachel, Megan, and Anna–all added to the story, and created this rich web of motives, plagued with secrets.

I am not the girl I used to be. I am no longer desirable, I'm off-putting in some way. It's not just that I've put on weight, or that my face is puffy from the drinking and the lack of sleep; it's as if people can see the damage written all over me, can see it in my face, the way I hold myself, the way I move.
–p. 11

I actually figured out the mystery before the end of the novel, because there was a detail or two from maybe a third into the book that stuck out for me, and actually puzzled me until I made the connection. It made more sense the more I thought about it, and I was glad to see I was right. Nonetheless, the reveal was THRILLING. Absolutely spine-tingling. The reveal did not fall flat and was worth staying up late to finish the book.

The Girl on the Train was phenomenal. Not only was it well-crafted, it was executed excellently. Paula Hawkins spins a bone-chilling story that will keep you up all night. I'm really looking forward to watching the film, and I hope that it'll capture the magnificently creepy atmosphere that Hawkins has created with this unputdownable novel.

If you like this, try...


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The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin

The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin

Release Date: March 10, 2016
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Rated: MG 12+
Format: Hardcover
Source: Pansing
Buy: Available at all good bookstores!
GoodreadsWebsite

It's peculiar how no-words can be better than words. How silence can say more than noise, or a person's absence can occupy even more space than their presence did.

Suzy is twelve when her best friend, Franny, drowns one summer at the beach. It takes two days for the news to reach Suzy, and it's not something that she can accept: Franny has always been a strong swimmer, from the day they met in swim class when they were just 5. How can someone all of a sudden, just no longer be there?


Suzy realizes that they must have got it wrong: Franny didn't just drown - she was stung by a poisonous jellyfish. This makes a lot more sense to Suzy's logical mind than a random drowning - cause: a jellyfish sting; effect: death.


Suzy's journey to acceptance is quiet - she resolves to either say something important, or say nothing at all. But it's also bursting with bittersweet humour, heart-breaking honesty, big ideas and small details.

While I do tend to stick to young adult books, every now and then I'll read a middle grade novel. That being said, it has been a while since I've read one, and I'm so glad that I got the chance to read The Thing About Jellyfish. From the title alone I knew that this was going to be a powerful read. I love how I was able to delve into it and just enjoy the story, understanding our young main character as she tries to come to terms with the death of her best friend.

The funny thing is, I actually learned so much about jellyfish from this book. It's chockfull of jellyfish facts, and, of course, it has a lot to do with the story at hand, especially when it comes to how Suzy tries to cope with Franny's death. A ton of experts in the jellyfish field are alluded to in this book, and it was pretty interesting to learn about them and what they do, as well as their experiences with jellies.

I couldn't help but feel bad for Suzy. Reading the flashback chapters were really sad, especially about the transition from elementary school to middle school. Franny didn't deserve a friend as good as her. Also, while some of her actions seem a little less "mature" for her age–I'm not talking about the no-talking thing, because that is totally understandable and excusable for a character of ANY age dealing with loss–she really knew a lot of information for someone her age. I would have totally loved knowing her at that age because she knew SO MUCH. All the facts her character knows? Amazing. I definitely wasn't that smart at her age.

Bittersweet and poignant, The Thing About Jellyfish is a fantastic novel for readers of all ages. Ali Benjamin's award-winning middle grade debut was wonderfully written, and thankfully had some sweet and light moments amongst the melancholic ones. I'm looking forward to reading more from Benjamin in the (hopefully near) future.


▪ ▪ ▪ Thank you so much to Sasha at Pansing for sending me a copy for review! ▪ ▪ ▪

If you like this, try...

A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis

A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis

Release Date: October 6, 2015
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Rated: YA 14+
Format: eGalley
Source: Edelweiss
Buy: AmazonThe Book Depository
Goodreads Website

Grace Mae knows madness.

She keeps it locked away, along with her voice, trapped deep inside a brilliant mind that cannot forget horrific family secrets. Those secrets, along with the bulge in her belly, land her in a Boston insane asylum.


When her voice returns in a burst of violence, Grace is banished to the dark cellars, where her mind is discovered by a visiting doctor who dabbles in the new study of criminal psychology. With her keen eyes and sharp memory, Grace will make the perfect assistant at crime scenes. Escaping from Boston to the safety of an ethical Ohio asylum, Grace finds friendship and hope, hints of a life she should have had. But gruesome nights bring Grace and the doctor into the circle of a killer who stalks young women. Grace, continuing to operate under the cloak of madness, must hunt a murderer while she confronts the demons in her own past.

Oh my gosh, you guys: A Madness So Discreet was FANTASTIC. I really enjoyed Mindy McGinnis's Not a Drop to Drink a lot, and this one was as amazing...well, actually, I'm a bigger fan of historical fiction than dystopian, so this one was even MORE amazing. I'm just super mad at myself for putting off reading this one. I mean, I had plenty of chances to do so before, but nooooo...I just had to be super lazy and not pick up this magnificent novel.

If you know me, you'll know that I love, love, love the gothic genre. This one was so thrilling! I've read a lot about contemporary rehabilitation facilities and the like, but nothing set in history, aside from a few moments in The Madman's Daughter. It's interesting to see how science and pseudoscience is explained in this time period, with the new methods that came out and the discoveries made in medicine during this time. Like I said, I love historical fiction, and looking at this particular time period through this lens was fascinating. It was also set in Boston! Well, for a bit at least, but it still got me excited because I go to university there, and it's cool to get a glimpse of the historical atmosphere.

Grace, our heroine, was a total badass. Man, that ending! Serving it out LIKE A BOSS. I felt so bad for her though–what happened to her character was terrible. I do love though how she starts this new life when she joins Thornhollow and helps him with his investigations. I LOVE him by the way. He had a Dupin-y or Shelock-y vibe to him. There's not too much emotion and he's totally bent on his work most of the time. This book actually had quite a classic detective-story-vibe to it, because there's quite a lot of deduction involved, and somewhat paralleled Holmes and Watson trying to solve a case.

Speaking of detectives, this book has a slight mystery element to it! It was pretty great, but it actually wasn't presented too much–the mystery definitely didn't take the forefront of the action in this novel. It was more about Grace's journey, but the mystery and murders definitely play a part in it. I also liked how McGinnis put in a few happy moments here and there for Grace's character, whether it was with her friends, when she receives letters, or when she meets the little girl. It totally balanced out the depressing, not-so-nice stuff, and it's always good to see your main character in a completely different situation.

I seriously cannot recommend this book enough: A Madness So Discreet was all kinds of wonderful. Mindy McGinnis's gothic thriller had me clinging onto every word, captivated by the gorgeous dark imagery and the enthralling mystery. Please, please, please–go forth and get yourself a copy NOW.

If you like this, try...


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Waiting on Wednesday – Week 167

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It's to spotlight upcoming books that I'm DYING to get my hands on!

This week's WoW is:
Nemesis by Anna Banks

The princess didn't expect to fall in love--with her nemesis.

Princess Sepora of Serubel is the last Forger in all the five kingdoms. The spectorium she creates provides energy for all, but now her father has found a way to weaponize it, and his intentions to incite war force her to flee from his grasp. She escapes across enemy lines into the kingdom of Theoria, but her plans to hide are thwarted when she is captured and placed in the young king's servitude.

Tarik has just taken over rulership of Theoria, and must now face a new plague sweeping through his kingdom and killing his citizens. The last thing he needs is a troublesome servant vying for his attention. But mistress Sepora will not be ignored. When the two finally meet face-to-face, they form an unlikely bond that complicates life in ways neither of them could have imagined.

Sepora's gift could save Tarik's kingdom from the Quiet Plague. But should she trust her growing feelings for her nemesis, or should she hide her gifts at all costs?

October 4, 2016 ● Goodreads

I got to meet the very lovely Anna Banks at the Boston Teen Author Festival last year. I read and absolutely LOVED Of Poseidon, but unfortunately never got around to reading the rest of the series for some odd reason. Anyway, I love the sound of this one–I'm a sucker for a good fantasy, and will admit that reading about someone falling for the enemy is always a guilty pleasure. Can't wait for this one! Also, THAT COVER IS GORGE.

What are you waiting on?

Summer Reading #5

It's summer again! Which means...more time to read! Here are all the books I've read in the past week and a half:

All the reviews for the physical books have been posted! I love reading and blogging again...it's so good to be back :)

Kill the Boy Band by Goldy Moldavsky ••• Goodreads
The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig ••• Goodreads
The Square Root of Summer by Harriet Reuter Hapgood ••• Goodreads
Summer of Supernovas by Darcy Woods ••• Goodreads

And here's the book I read on my Kindle:

A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis ••• Goodreads

My review for A Madness So Discreet (which, by the way, was AMAZING) comes out tomorrow, so be sure to check that out! In the mean time, tell me:

What books have you been reading?

Kill the Boy Band by Goldy Moldavsky

Kill the Boy Band by Goldy Moldavsky

Release Date: May 19, 2016
Publisher: Macmillan
Rated: YA 14+
Format: ARC
Source: Pansing
Buy: Available at all good bookstores!
GoodreadsWebsite

From debut author Goldy Moldavsky, the story of four superfan friends whose devotion to their favorite boy band has darkly comical and murderous results.

Okay, so just know from the start that it wasn't supposed to go like this. All we wanted was to get near The Ruperts, our favorite boy band.


We didn't mean to kidnap one of the guys. It kind of, sort of happened that way. But now he's tied up in our hotel room. And the worst part of all, it's Rupert P. All four members of The Ruperts might have the same first name, but they couldn't be more different. And Rupert P. is the biggest flop out of the whole group.


We didn't mean to hold hostage a member of The Ruperts, I swear. At least, I didn't. We are fans. Okay, superfans who spend all of our free time tweeting about the boys and updating our fan tumblrs. But so what, that's what you do when you love a group so much it hurts.



How did it get this far? Who knows. I mean midterms are coming up. I really do not have time to go to hell.

Um, I don't even know where to start.

I really wanted to read Kill the Boy Band for several reasons. First of all, it sounded downright hilarious. The kind of dark humour I would appreciate. It makes fun of fangirls! Who doesn't want to read a book making fun of today's society? Secondly, having been in a throng of Beliebers once, I know fangirls are crazy and trés dangerous. I was at the front of the standing pit right by the stage at a Justin Bieber concert, and trust me, I DID NOT WANT TO BE THERE. Girls were slamming into me and it took me all my will power to not turn around and start swearing at middle school and high school girls. So much for just wanting the concert experience and seeing Owl City. Anyway, my point is that having known fangirls up close, it would be interesting to see this action going absolutely haywire. But sadly, it didn't work for me. Kill the Boy Band was a bit of a mess. Some of it was good, don't get me wrong, but most of it...just nope. Nope, nope, nope-ity nope.

What I did like about the novel was how darkly funny it was. It was only after I'd finished reading it that I was able to take a step back and enjoy it. While I was reading this book I really didn't enjoy pretty much ANYTHING that was going on, but only after I was done I realised how this was a caricature of the fangirls in our society today. Otherwise, I kinda found the book a little bit off for my taste, because I thought the events that occured were WAY too extreme...and I'm not just talking about the kidnapping-one-of-the-Ruperts members bit. I tend to get dark humour most of the time, but for some reason, at times this wasn't hitting it on the nail for me.

I was just annoyed at the events in this book in general. Again–I'm a pretty big fan of dark humour, but this brand I just did NOT understand. The twist towards the end didn't make much sense and didn't seem to have much weight to it either. Whether it was supposed to be light-hearted or not confused me, just because some of the stuff earlier on in the book was pretty heavy-handed. It was a bit of a up and down book, because there were quite a few laughable moments in there too, especially describing how desperate some of the fangirls are, some of the shenanigans that the four girls get up to with the singer they kidnap, and the cheesiness of the story.

The Ruperts are very clearly based on One Direction! The talent show they debuted on, some of the audition details, they're effing BRITISH, how they became a band...it's all very clearly mirroring how One Direction came to be. It was kinda funny actually, because from that point on I was trying to picture which Rupert represented which 1D member. I liked that they were modelled after them, as it truly brought out the satirical nature of this novel.

The four girls though–UGH. I mean...these are FIFTEEN YEAR OLDS?! How in hell do they have this much freedom? It's absolutely ridiculous what they all get up to. Especially Erin. Oh gods, how I loathed that girl. I felt kinda angry at parts because of the fat-shaming that went on with Apple. Isabel just had major anger management issues? I don't even know. I felt a little bit bad for the protagonist though because she's stuck with a bunch of people even crazier than she is. The characters felt really two-dimensional, but I don't know whether or not that was intentional, as this is supposed to be making fun of fangirls.

Maybe it was me who just didn't get it because there are several great reviews for Kill the Boy Band. I would recommend giving this one a try, because it does poke fun at one of the biggest phenomenons in our society today, blows a situation WAY out of proportion, and presents this over-the-top story that does provide some giggles along the way. I just wish that I'd had a better standing with this novel, because it does scream "YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK!" and I just...I dunno, came out with mixed feelings. Definitely give this one a try though!


▪ ▪ ▪ Thank you so much to Sasha at Pansing for sending me a copy for review! ▪ ▪ 


If you like this, try...


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Summer of Supernovas by Darcy Woods

Summer of Supernovas by Darcy Woods

Release Date: May 10, 2016
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Rated: YA 14+
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Buy: AmazonThe Book Depository
Goodreads Website

Fans of Jennifer E. Smith and Jenny Han will fall in love with this heartfelt and humor-laced debut following one girl’s race to find the guy of her cosmic dreams.

When zodiac-obsessed teen Wilamena Carlisle discovers a planetary alignment that won’t repeat for a decade, she’s forced to tackle her greatest astrological fear: The Fifth House—relationships and love. 

But when Wil falls for a sensitive guitar player hailing from the wrong side of the astrology chart, she must decide whether a cosmically doomed love is worth rejecting her dead mother’s legacy and the very system she’s faithfully followed through a lifetime of unfailing belief.

I don't really believe the astrological signs. Sure, it's a fun thing to check out–y'know, your daily horoscope, learning about who you are or what your sign prescribes you to be, and sure, there are actually a ton of similarities that I find. All in all, though, I don't believe it too much. Well, despite my somewhat skeptical nature toward the subject, I thought that Summer of Supernovas would be a cute contemporary to read this summer because firstly, I don't think I've read about astrology in a young adult contemporary setting, and secondly, it's interesting to see how one who follows the charts religiously is so determined to find a perfect match based on the signs. And it was! This book was adorable, and there were so many things that worked well that made this an enjoyable read.

Wil and I are both Aquarii (that's plural of Aquarius, just FYI)! I really liked the quirky edge she has. However, I did have a problem with her–and it was just for one part of the book majorly, but kinda carried out(ish) throughout the rest of the novel. I mean, okay, I get that astrology is a big part of your life, but you don't need to have a flipping panic attack when you find out that a guy is potentially a Pieces (aka the sign she wants to avoid), right in the middle of hitting it off with him. I get it, especially since she follows this lifestyle pretty much to the T, but a sign doesn't make a person. I mean, if everyone was like their sign, we'd have a world of pretty similar people. Anyway, enough of me rambling against her philosophy. She was a great character otherwise! I just wish she'd take more initiative for her own feelings and try to focus more on herself rather than what the signs tell her.

OMG, YOU GUYS: the romance was so cute!! ARGH, it was so intense and so frustrating (in a good way). It really keeps you on your toes throughout the whole book. There was so much swoon and so much tension! Usually, I'm not too big a fan of love triangles, but this was just so entertaining. The conflict! The DRAMA. Seth and Grant–choices, choices, choices, and a twist to top it all off! I'm glad the romance aspect was so well done, because if it wasn't this book wouldn't have been as amazing as it was.

Absolutely adorable, Summer of Supernovas is a book you need to kick back and relax with this summer. Darcy Woods's cute contemporary is a worthwhile read: two cute boys, one astrologically-crazed girl, and a whole lot of drama that ensues...what's not to like?


▪ ▪ ▪ Thank you so much to Cassie at Random House Children's Books for sending me a copy for review! ▪ ▪ ▪

If you like this, try...

The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

Release Date: March 3, 2016
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Series: The Girl from Everywhere, Book 1
Rated: YA 14+
Format: Paperback
Source: Pansing
Buy: Available at all good bookstores!
GoodreadsWebsite

It was the kind of August day that hinted at monsoons, and the year was 1774, though not for very much longer.

Sixteen-year-old Nix Song is a time-traveller. She, her father and their crew of time refugees travel the world aboard The Temptation, a glorious pirate ship stuffed with treasures both typical and mythical. Old maps allow Nix and her father to navigate not just to distant lands, but distant times - although a map will only take you somewhere once. And Nix's father is only interested in one time, and one place: Honolulu 1868. A time before Nix was born, and her mother was alive. Something that puts Nix's existence rather dangerously in question...


Nix has grown used to her father's obsession, but only because she's convinced it can't work. But then a map falls into her father's lap that changes everything. And when Nix refuses to help, her father threatens to maroon Kashmir, her only friend (and perhaps, only love) in a time where Nix will never be able to find him. And if Nix has learned one thing, it's that losing the person you love is a torment that no one can withstand. Nix must work out what she wants, who she is, and where she really belongs before time runs out on her forever.

Wow, honestly, I don't think I'll be able to make it through this review without gushing about how AWESOME it is. Seriously, though, I went into The Girl from Everywhere with pretty high expectations, and I'm glad I got something absolutely fantastic in return. This book is a gorgeous blend of history, mythology, time travelling, romance, pirates...it's amazing. I mean, you can look at the tags on goodreads and it's mind blowing how many genres are attributed to this book: adventure, romance, science fiction and time travel, historical fiction, fantasy–this book truly had it all.

Partially why I'm so excited about this book is the fact that it's SO diverse! A biracial main character, a Persian best friend, North African and Chinese crew mates, AND it's set in Hawaii?? Damn, this book just blows my mind thinking about it. The characters you meet along the way, as well as the various mythologies included and settings this book is placed in made this such a wonderful experience. Nix was such a strong main character–she's a total badass. I LOVED Kashmir and Blake (both truly deserve all the swoons!), and Slate was such a complex character. All characters were so well written, and it was a treat to read such an enthralling story featuring this wonderful cast.

Speaking of the story, just...WOAH. I mean, I don't think I've read about time-travel in such a compelling manner. Heidi Heilig is amazing with words, and I was completely sucked into this incredible world that she has created. The end totally paid off, and while some of the plot points on the way were a little bit confusing, they all straightened out by the conclusion. The romance was also developed really well. I liked that it wasn't too much of the focus of the story (well, at least Nix's developing romance...s), and didn't take away from the story, but added to it richly.

As you can hopefully tell from my fangirly thoughts above, I'm head over heels in love with this book. It's definitely one of my favourites this year! The Girl from Everywhere was a mesmerising adventure that hooked me in from page one. I'm desperate for the sequel now, and I'm sure it'll be as spellbinding as this one.


▪ ▪ ▪ Thank you so much to Sasha at Pansing for sending me a copy for review! ▪ ▪ 

If you like this, try...


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Waiting on Wednesday – Week 166

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It's to spotlight upcoming reads that I'm DYING to get my hands on!

This week's WoW is:
Ivory and Bone by Julie Eshbaugh

A prehistoric fantasy—with allusions to Pride and Prejudice.

Hunting, gathering, and keeping his family safe—that’s the life seventeen-year-old Kol knows. Then bold, enigmatic Mya arrives from the south with her family, and Kol is captivated. He wants her to like and trust him, but any hopes of impressing her are ruined when he makes a careless—and nearly grave—mistake. However, there’s something more to Mya’s cool disdain…a history wrought with loss that comes to light when another clan arrives. With them is Lo, an enemy from Mya’s past who Mya swears has ulterior motives.


As Kol gets to know Lo, tensions between Mya and Lo escalate until violence erupts. Faced with shattering losses, Kol is forced to question every person he’s trusted. One thing is for sure: this was a war that Mya or Lo—Kol doesn’t know which—had been planning all along.

June 7, 2016 ● Goodreads

While I haven't read Pride and Prejudice, I've seen the TV series and the movie (the latter several, SEVERAL times), and I kinda do see the connection in the synopsis. Anyway, I'm really looking forward to reading this one, and not just because there's an absolutely GORGEOUS cover. I mean, look at it! If that doesn't make you wanna go grab a copy immediately (or pre-order one)... Can't wait to start this one!

What are you waiting on?

The Square Root of Summer by Harriet Reuter Hapgood

The Square Root of Summer by Harriet Reuter Hapgood

Release Date: May 5, 2016
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Rated: YA 14+
Format: ARC
Source: Pansing
Buy: Available at all good bookstores!
GoodreadsWebsite

My heart is a kaleidoscope, and when we kiss it makes my world unravel . . .

Last summer, Gottie's life fell apart. Her beloved grandfather Grey died and Jason left her–the boy to whom she lost her virginity (and her heart)–and he wouldn't even hold her hand at the funeral! This summer, still reeling from twin heartbreaks, Gottie is lost and alone and burying herself in equations. Until, after five years absence, Thomas comes home: former boy next door. Former best friend. Former everything. And as life turns upside down again she starts to experience strange blips in time - back to last summer, back to what she should have seen then . . .


During one long, hazy summer, Gottie navigates grief, world-stopping kisses and rips in the space-time continuum, as she tries to reconcile her first heartbreak with her last.

O! How I am torn with this book! The Square Root of Summer is the first book I've read this summer, and it's got me all confused. On one hand, I loved so much about it. Harriet Reuter Hapgood is a terrific writer. But on the other hand, I WAS SO BLOODY CONFUSED. Not only did the physics mentioned in it confuse me, but the story just took a turn at some point, and, at least for me, went downhill from that point.

First, let me talk about the good. The writing flowed, people, it flowed. It felt like something out a very well done indie film; it had that little electric zap to it. It was absolutely beautiful, this meld of science, and future and past, with romance and the thoughts of a 17 year old girl. I loved the characters as well! Gottie was a great main character, I loved how quirky she was–it reminded me of who I wanted to be growing up, but could never really pull off. Thomas was fantastic too, and Ned was ma absolute FAVE. All the characters were flushed out so well, and you could actually picture them in this fantastic setting, with their wonderful German mannerisms in England, and it was lovely to read about. 

However (and how I hate that it has to come to this), there were several things that didn't sit with me, as I mentioned before, because this book confused me a lot. I'm not a physics person, or any type of science person in general, so reading about physics left me befuddled. Some of it was interesting, don't get me wrong, but the explanations frustrated me from time to time. Because of this, the story at some point just took on this weird turn, and I was left standing in the dust. There was a twist somewhere? Maybe? See, I was so confused by the end, I wasn't even sure what had just happened. I wasn't sure if there was magical realism present in this book, although I'm leaning more towards that there was, but I seriously did not know how this story ended and what exactly had transpired.

Hopefully you all are smarter than I am, because I really feel like you should give this book a try. Maybe it's just me who's super confused about this one, because it feels like I should have enjoyed this book a whole lot more, but because of how perplexed I was by the end, I came out of it with mixed feelings. Hapgood has an amazing way with words, I'll definitely say that. I'm looking forward to reading more from her, but I'm just hoping, for my sake, it doesn't include physics. 


▪ ▪ ▪ Thank you so much to Sasha from Pansing for sending me a copy for review! ▪ ▪ 

If you like this, try...


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An Apology and the New Status Quo

Hey guys!

It’s been a while, hasn’t it?

I’d like to apologise for disappearing for a few months...nothing major has happened, it's just been super busy. Second year at uni is definitely a lot easier than the first, but it's taken up a lot of my time with classes, coursework and other activities, of course.

BUT NOW–I'm back! Because...

Yeah, that's right! I'm back home for four(ish) glorious months, which means I HAVE TIME TO BLOG AGAIN!!!!

Which prompts me to the second part of what this post is all about: the new status quo. I've decided to become a "seasonal" blogger. "Seasonal" meaning that I'll only be blogging during when I'm back home for the holidays–so that means summer and the one month I get off school in the winter. I mean, it makes sense because that's when I have time to read and actually get into the zone with writing reviews and such. I'll try to carry them on into the school semester, but in case posts start slowing down around then, now you'll know why!

Anyway, hope you guys had a great first half of 2016... I've missed you all! I'm super excited to start reading and reviewing again. It's gonna be great :)

--Rabiah

Waiting on Wednesday – Week 165

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It’s to spotlight upcoming books that I’m DYING to get my hands on!

This week’s WoW is:
As I Descended by Robin Talley

Maria Lyon and Lily Boiten are their school’s ultimate power couple—even if no one knows it but them.

Only one thing stands between them and their perfect future: campus superstar Delilah Dufrey.


Golden child Delilah is a legend at the exclusive Acheron Academy, and the presumptive winner of the distinguished Cawdor Kingsley Prize. She runs the school, and if she chose, she could blow up Maria and Lily’s whole world with a pointed look, or a carefully placed word.


But what Delilah doesn’t know is that Lily and Maria are willing to do anything—absolutely anything—to make their dreams come true. And the first step is unseating Delilah for the Kingsley Prize. The full scholarship, awarded to Maria, will lock in her attendance at Stanford―and four more years in a shared dorm room with Lily.


Maria and Lily will stop at nothing to ensure their victory—including harnessing the dark power long rumored to be present on the former plantation that houses their school.


But when feuds turn to fatalities, and madness begins to blur the distinction between what’s real and what is imagined, the girls must decide where they draw the line.


From acclaimed author Robin Talley comes a Shakespeare-inspired story of revenge and redemption, where fair is foul, and foul is fair.

September 6, 2016 ● Goodreads

I would have picked this one up regardless of what the story was about–I really loved Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley (read my review HERE), and while I haven’t read her other novel, this one really caught my eye, and not only because of the absolutely gorgeous cover. I mean, guys–a retelling of Macbeth?? IM SO READY.

What are you waiting on?