Four by Veronica Roth

Four by Veronica Roth

Release Date: July 8, 2014
Pages: 285

Rating:💜💜💜💜

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Two years before Beatrice Prior makes her choice, the 16-year-old son of Abnegation's faction leader does the same. Tobias's transfer to Dauntless is his chance to begin again. Newly renamed 'Four' he discovers that initiation is only the beginning...


When I was reading the Divergent series, especially Allegiant, I thought Four was a little whiny and 2-D. I still loved him (so no hate comments!), but I was really disappointed with how Veronica Roth portrayed him in the final book.

However this book turned things around! Four was no longer a whining child who wasn't getting his way, but a kick-ass character with plenty of potential. We get to see him go behind the scenes in Dauntless to try and figure out what is going on, whilst slowly building his way up the social ladder. Four suddenly has different levels of personality and I am so grateful. Honestly this book is the only thing that has redeemed Four from a terrible fate!

I loved that we get to see Four before he even became Four in The Transfer. We get to have a short sneak peek into his life in Abnegation, even if it is just for his Choosing Ceremony. I also loved that we get to see Tobias interact with his father, and we finally get to learn why he hates his father so much. It was a beautiful backstory to such a messed up character!

In the other three stories we get to see Four climb his way up the social ladder in Dauntless, whilst keeping his identity a secret. The best thing about this collection of novellas is that we get to see how Dauntless works and how they keep control over everything. We get to see the other side of Dauntless, the side that uses computers and coding and cameras, which was absolutely awesome.

Honestly, this book could be 5/5; it was a fun, fast, world-building collection of novellas and was highly enjoyable. The only reason I marked it down is because I don't like Four as a character. If this book had come out earlier, between Insurgent and Allegiant, I may have enjoyed it more. Unfortunately Allegiant spoilt Four for me, and I ended up finding him a whiny little brat. Therefore my enjoyment of this book was massively affected, but I still like it in the end.

This book is perfect for readers who are missing the Divergent universe, and need to get immersed in it again. Like most novellas you don't need to have read the Divergent series to understand this book, but there is one major spoiler that you may want to avoid. No matter what, it is the perfect book for Divergent lovers and I enjoyed it!

Top Five Most Anticipated Books For 2017

I can't believe almost half of 2017 has just...vanished. It feels like just yesterday that I was standing in my garden yelling Happy New Year and making all sorts of crazy resolutions! One of the good things about the year going so fast is that we are closer to all the  awesome new releases that are happening at the end of the year. So here are my most anticipated books for June to December 2017.

The D.B. List by Rebekah L. Purdy. 

Release Date: June 13

Seventeen-year-old Ellie Gebhardt has spent the last three years of high school in psychotherapy, trying to fix a very broken her. And her shrink (or therapist as she likes to be called) seems to think that in order to totally heal, she needs to recognise all the good and bad things that have led her to this point. As if a trip down memory lane will suddenly make her better.  So begins Ellie’s Douche Bag list (or D.B. List for short). And once she gets started, it’s hard to stop remembering all the jerks, the petty crap, the times she’d been bullied or the main focus of the rumour mill. 

The Grave Keepers by Elizabeth Byrne
Release Date: September 12

Lately, Athena Windham has been spending all her spare time in her grave.
Her parents—owners of a cemetery in Upstate New York—are proud of her devoutness, but her younger sister, Laurel, would rather spend her time exploring the forest that surrounds the Windham’s’ property than in her own grave.  As the new school year begins, the outside world comes creeping in through encounters with mean girls, a new friend, and a runaway boy hiding out in the cemetery. Meanwhile, a ghost hangs around the Windham property—the only grave keeper never to cross over—plotting how to keep the sisters close to home and close to her . . . forever.

Speak Easy, Speak Love by McKelle George
Release Date: September 17

Six teenagers’ lives intertwine during one thrilling summer full of romantic misunderstandings and dangerous deals in this sparkling retelling of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. 
(That's all you need to know really. If you do want to know more, you can look for it on Goodreads.)


It Only Happens in the Movies by Holly Bourne. 

Release Date: October 1

Audrey is over romance. Since her parents' relationship imploded her mother's been catatonic, so she takes a cinema job to get out of the house. But there she meets wannabe film-maker Harry. Nobody expects Audrey and Harry to fall in love as hard and fast as they do. But that doesn't mean things are easy. Because real love isn't like the movies...


Sparrow by Sarah Moon
Release Date: October 10

Sparrow has always had a difficult time making friends. She would always rather have stayed home on the weekends with her mother, an affluent IT Executive at a Brooklyn bank, reading, or watching the birds, than playing with other kids. And that's made school a lonely experience for her. It's made LIFE a lonely experience. But when Mrs. Wexler, the school librarian, a woman who let her eat her lunch in the library office rather than hide in a bathroom stall, who shared her passion for novels and knew just the ones she'd love -- is killed in a freak car accident, Sparrow's world unravels and she's found on the roof of her school in an apparent suicide attempt.
With the help of an insightful therapist, Sparrow finally reveals the truth of her inner life. And it's here that she discovers an outlet in Rock & Roll music..


As you can see my list is full of young adult books, but there is no specific genre. At the moment all my excitement for new releases is spread across a multitude of genres, although I am more interested in shrinking my TBR, not growing it! Are any of your most anticipated books on this list? Are there any other books you think I should know about? Please let me know in the comments!

And until next time, keep reading!

Buying Books

I buy a lot of books. When I say this I don't mean 5 or 6 a month, I mean 10-20 books a month. Obviously buying all these books full price would lead to me being broke very quickly, so I have come up with strategies to buy all the books I want for a cheap price. Of course living in Belgium, but only reading English books, comes with added difficulties but I think I manage pretty well. So here is the list of places where I buy books!

1. Charity shops: All the charity shops that I've been to sell books for a ridiculously cheap price. At least half of the books on my bookshelf are charity shop books, and all of them are sold for below £2 ( €2.32 | $2.60). Of course prices vary depending on the charity that is selling the books, but you will never have to buy a book full price.
2. Second Hand Bookshop: These shops are basically exactly the same as charity shops, but they make a living off of selling books. I rarely go into second-hand bookshops and when I do it tends to be looking for old annuals. They can sometimes charge more than the original price, especially if the book is a collectable, but the prices are very reasonable for a normal book.
3. Supermarkets: Okay, this may sound strange but supermarkets are great places to go and get cheap, hardback, new-releases. Living in England my go to shop for this was Tesco because they always seemed to have hard-covers for £5 (€5.80 |$6.50), even new-releases! I am yet to find a similar shop in Belgium, but I know that Target or Walmart is a good place to head to in America.
4. Online Websites: The most obvious website, and the one everyone knows, is Amazon. However most of their books are full price and you have to pay the cost of shipping, which can end up costing much more than you're willing to pay. Two great alternatives are Wordery and Book Depository as they ship worldwide for free, and they usually have discounts on a large selection of books. I used both websites multiple times, and have literally nothing bad to say about them.
5. And of course, Bookshops: Some of my fondest memories are sitting in bookshops, stroking the spines, and picking out a brand new book. Of all the places I go this is the most expensive (obviously!), but they usually have great deals going on where you can get several books for a cheaper price. In England my favourite places to go were Waterstones and WHSmith and in Belgium I tend to go to Fnac (because they have quite a big English section!). I'm not sure where to go in America, but from what I've heard Barnes & Nobles is a good place to pick up books. 

So there you are; all the places I go and shop for books. Of course I am always looking for new and exciting places to buy books, so if you have any suggestions please leave them down below! Also I would love to know where you buy the majority of your books! For me I think it is a tie between Wordery and various charity shops.

And until next time, keep reading!

Day 21 by Kass Morgan

Day 21 by Kass Morgan
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Pages: 311
Rating: 💜💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

It's been 21 days since The 100 landed on Earth. They're the only humans to set foot on the planet in centuries... or so they thought. Facing an unknown enemy, Wells attempts to keep the group together. Clarke strikes out for Mount Weather, in search of other Colonists, while Bellamy is determined to rescue his sister, no matter the cost. And back on the ship, Glass faces an unthinkable choice between the love of her life and life itself.


I really loved this book, much more than the first book! It was also better than the TV series in some aspects, and had lots of adorable scenes between certain characters. *Bellamy and Clarke*

This book felt more like a book than the first one, rather than a companion novel to a TV series. It may have been because the world was already built, and I could see the change in characters from the first book to this book. It was faster paced than the other book, and held my attention much better. There were also less flash backs, which I enjoyed because it made the book more plot based than character based.

My only problem with this book is that Kass Morgan kept on recapping the previous book. It felt like you didn't actually have to read the first  book to be able to understand this book because if something big happened Morgan would mention the events leading up to it in the previous book. It broke up the story and made me a little annoyed because I already knew what had happened. 

This book, as heavy as it sounds, is a light and easy read. There is very little depth to the story, it is literally what you read on the page. On reflection I don't think I would continue reading this series if I hadn't watched the TV show. However that plot twist at the end blew everything up for me, so I kind of have to find out what happens next!

To all the boys I've loved before by Jenny Han

To all the boys I've loved before by Jenny Han
Release Date: April 15, 2014
Pages: 355
Rating: 💜💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Lara Jean keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. One for every boy she's ever loved. When she writes, she can pour out her heart and soul and say all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

I adored this book; I can't believe I put off reading it for so long! It was funny and heartwarming, with super adorable characters. It is a sweet, action-packed contemporary, with good vibes all the way through it.

The narrator, Lara Jean, is sweet and quirky in the usual contemporary way. She is awkward and funny and a Potterhead and I adore her. I also love that her family is Korean as it is a nationality that doesn't get a large representation in YA literature  and added a little extra to the story. The only thing that annoyed me about Lara Jean, and the whole book, was how young her tone sounded. It really confused me at times as it felt like she was 10 instead of 16. This took away from the story at times because what could have been a beautiful and interesting section ended up sounding childish.

Even though there was a major love triangle in this story, which was basically the premise of the story, it wasn't frustrating or cliche like most love triangles are. Both boys were interesting and complex characters that were easy to like, and weren't there for the sole purpose of being a love interest. Another difference was that Lara Jean wasn't in love with both boys at the same time, so it was clear who she wanted to end up with. This love triangle was more complex than any other love triangle I've read, and it was kind of adorable.

I can't get enough of Jenny Han's writing and I am so excited for the next book. The ending of this book was so sudden and open-ended that I just want to start reading the next book now!

Thirteen by Tom Hoyle

Thirteen by Tom Hoyle
Release Date: February 13, 2014
Pages: 336
Rating: 💜💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository


Born at midnight in London, on the stroke of the new millennium, Adam is the target of a cult that believes boys born on this date must die before the end of their thirteenth year. Twelve boys have been killed so far. Coron, the crazy cult leader, will stop at nothing to bring in his new kingdom. And now he is preparing the sacrifice of his final victim: Adam.

This book was very different from any other action/ adventure book I've read before, and I loved it. Each chapter was filled with action, so there was never a time when you could feel bored or want to put the book down.

Each chapter had so much action it was easy to be swept along with the story. It felt like reading an action movie, which was Tom Hoyle's aim. There was just so much happening in this book that it was surprising that there was a definite ending to this book. Everything was rounded off cleanly in the end, with only a few loose ends that will probably be brought up in the second book.

The only problem I had with this book was the lack of character development. Although there was some character development throughout this book, I felt like Tom Hoyle skipped over it to focus on the action. We also never get to go inside the characters' heads and find out what they are thinking. Although the book is action-packed and full of suspense I wish there was a little bit more character development.

I can't wait to read the sequel, Spiders, because this book was just so much fun. Even though this book is a middle grad I think it can be enjoyed by anyone who loved action novels! 

The 100 by Kass Morgan

The 100 by Kass Morgan
Release Date: September 3, 2013
Pages: 323
Rating: 💜💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Ever since a devastating nuclear war, humanity has lived on spaceships far above Earth's radioactive surface. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents are being sent on a dangerous mission: to recolonise the planet. It could be their second chance at life or it could be a suicide mission. Confronted with a savage land and haunted by their pasts, the hundred must fight to survive. They were never meant to be heroes, but they may be mankind's last hope.

Personally, I loved this book despite the bad reviews it has. I read it faster than I expected because I couldn't bear to put it down. It is full of action and had plenty of mystery for the reader to get caught up in. 

The writing style was quite simplistic at times but I felt like it didn't take away from the story for me. Most of  times the writing style was simple when the characters were taking to each other which was understandable because they are teenagers trying to survive on a nuclear planet. The descriptive language in this book was beautiful and made me want to go outside and walk through a forest. Kass Morgan managed to capture a sunset in words and place it on a page in a beautiful way.

The book is split into four different POVs which showed the reader more of the world that we are in. Surprisingly the large amount of perspectives din't get confusing because each character had a different way of reacting to what was happening in the world. It was also nice to see the same situation from several different people who had different way of looking at the world.

I think this book would be more enjoyable as an companion novel to the TV series. As I was reading this book, I was thinking back to the TV series a lot during this book which may have enhanced my reading experience a little. This book could almost be an AU book for the TV series because it is similar to the TV series but different things become canon. 

I loved this book. The 100 is one of my favourite TV series at the moment so I really enjoyed this book. However I feel like there is a chance you may not enjoy this book if you don't watch the TV show as well. It adds to the characters in the book, because you don't actually learn about the characters' past through the book. Apart from that I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick and fun read, with a more sinister undertone.  

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Release Date: May 5, 2011
Pages: 216
Rating: 💜💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

12:07. 
There's a monster at Conor's window. It's not the one from his nightmare. But it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.
It wants the truth.




I really enjoyed this book and I'm so glad I finally got round to reading it. Even if I was 5 years late. It is a heart-breaking and life-changing book that makes you think whilst enjoying the story that is in front of you. I flew through the chapters and couldn't believe that it wasn't longer.


Patrick Ness has an exciting yet bizarre writing style that you can't help but love. He pulls you into the book within a few chapters and leaves you wishing for more. As soon as I put the book down I wanted to read more about Conor and his family. The writing style was also so eerie that it makes you feel like you are in the middle of a horror film. Don't read this book at night!

I loved that we get to read stories inside the book because it adds another level to the characters' development. When the monster tells Conor another story we see him react to this new information, which helped speed up character development. It was also nice to react to the story, and then see how Conor's reaction relates to yours.

The only reason why I didn't give this book 5/5 stars is because I had the ending spoilt to me whilst I was reading the book. It didn't stop me getting wrapped up in the book, but it definitely took away from my reaction in to the ending!

Despite knowing what was going to happen, I really liked this book and am so glad I finally got round to reading it. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who hasn't red it yet because it is such a beautiful book and very enjoyable!

April Book Haul

This month was a crazy one for buying books. I went nuts and somehow ended up with 20 new books to add to my collection! However before you go crazy I would just like to say that I got all 20 books (3 hardcovers | 17 paperbacks) for a grand total of £20 ($25 | €23) so I don't feel too bad. I've also managed to read a significant portion of these books, ticking off three of the new buys. And now the moment you've been waiting for; the books!


Into the No Zone by Eugene Lambert
The Epic Sequel to The Sign of One.
So much for being a hero. Kyle's on the run again. Caught between Slayers and Rebels, there's only one place left to hide- in the lair of the Reapers.

I loved this book, having dreamt about it since I finished the first book last year. This book was released this month and I bought and read it all on the same day. It was phenomenal and I can't wait for the last book to be released next year!

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Every year Isabel spends a perfect summer at her family friends' house. There's the swimming pool at night, the private stretch of beach- and the two boys.
Conrad- unavailable, aloof- who she's been in love with forever.
Jeremiah- friendly, relaxed- the only one who's paid her any attention.
But this year something is different. They seem to have noticed her for the first time. It's going to be an amazing summer...and one she'll never forget.
This book cover is gorgeous; I'm so glad I found this one instead of the original one. I flew through this book, so naturally I also had to buy...

It's Not Summer Without You also by Jenny Han
When something is perfect, you hope it never ends...
Isabel's lazy, long hot summers at her family friends' beach house are over.
Conrad- sexy and unavailable- is the only boy she's ever loved. He's left for college, taking her heart with him. Jeremiah, his gorgeous brother, is still Isabel's best friend- but maybe friendship isn't enough for him.
Isabel wants everything to stay the same, because change means moving on. But if she stops looking back, will he find a future she never knew she wanted?

I read this book the same day as the first one, and enjoyed i just as much as the first one. And of course this cover is just as beautiful.

The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman
Sally Lockhart is 16, an orphan, and she's just struck a man  dead. Not with a weapon, though she has a pistol, and probably the heart to use it. Sally killed Mr Higgs with just 3 words- The Seven Blessings. Unfortunately, she still has no idea what they mean, and why her drowned father's colleague died of fear when he heard them. Sally only knows that she'll do anything, say anything, be anything to find out... I've been craving murder mysteries recently, so when I found this I knew I had to pick it up. Admittedly I've never read His Dark Materials, but I do own the first book in the series. Maybe this book will be a good introduction to Philip Pullman's writing.

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. The police have closed her case. The only person Scarlet can turn to is Wolf, a street fighter she does not trust, but they are drawn to each other.
Meanwhile, in New Beijing, Cinder will become the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive- when she breaks out of prison to stay one step ahead of vicious Queen Levana.
As Scarlet and Wolf expose one mystery, they encounter Cinder and a new one unravels. Together they must challenge the evil queen, who will stop at nothing to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner...I'm so excited to read this, especially after the cliffhanger in Cinder!

The House At The End Of Hope Street by Menna Van Praag

When tragedy strikes Alba Ashby, she finds herself at the door of a house she's never noticed before. Number Eleven, Hope Street in Cambridge is no ordinary house. Its walls are steeped in the wisdom of past residents: Virginia Woolf, Dorothy Parker and Agatha Christie to name a few. Alba accepts an invitation to stay, offered to her under the condition she has 99 nights, and no more to turn her life around.
Guided by the energy of the house, where portraits come alive, bookcases refill themselves and hot chocolate has healing properties, the enchanting experience Alba and her new friends share will change their lives forever.

A book about a house full of authors and refilling bookcases...Need I say more?

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Every year, the Scorpio Races are run on the beaches of Skarmouth. Every year, the sea washes blood from the sand. To race the savage water horses can mean death, but the danger is irresistible.
When Puck enter the races to save her family, she is drawn to the mysterious Sean, the only person on the island capable of taming the beasts.

Honestly, I didn't like The wolves of Mercy Falls series, and I did
n't even finish the last book. However I've heard amazing things about this book so I'm willing to give Maggie Stiefvater a second chance because I loved her writing style, just not her plot line.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy that takes over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact. But Wanderer, the invading"soul" who occupies Melanie's body, finds is former tenant refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.
As Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of Jared, a human who has avoided invasion and lives in hiding, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she's never met. Soon Wanderer and Melanie set off to to search for the man they love.

I've tried to read this book once before, but didn't manage to get through it before I had to return it to the library. However what I did read I enjoyed so now that I have a copy I'll be able to read it in my own time. 

The Power of Five series by Anthony Horowitz

When Matt Freeman gets into trouble with the police, he's sent to be fostered in Yorkshire. It's not long before he senses there's something wrong with his guardian, and the entire village.

Then Matt learns about the Old Ones and begins to understand just how he is different. But no one will believe him,and no one can help.

I've actually already read the first book in this series, in graphic novel form. So when I saw the whole series for less than £10 I knew I had to buy them all. Surprisingly the first 4 books are all less than  400 pages so I should be able to finish them pretty quickly.



The Adventure Series by Enid Blyton (last 4 books)
For Philip, Dinah, Lucy-Ann and Jack, the holiday in Cornwall is everything they'd hoped for - until they begin to realise that something very sinister is taking place on the mysterious Isle of Gloom. But they're not prepared for the dangerous adventure that awaits them in the abandoned copper mines and secret tunnels beneath the sea.

As I've said before, all English book lovers have read at least one Enid Blyton book, and I'm no exception. This is the only Enid Blyton series I haven't read so I'm super excited to have the last four books in my possession. Hopefully I'll be able to read these books soon to finish another series.  

The Black Magician Trilogy by Trudi Canavan
This year, like every other, the magicians of Imardin gather to purge the city of undesirables. Cloaked in the protection of their sorcery, they move with no fear of the vagrants and miscreants who despise them and their work-—until one enraged girl, barely more than a child, hurls a stone at the hated invaders...and effortlessly penetrates their magical shield.
What the Magicians' Guild has long dreaded has finally come to pass. There is someone outside their ranks who possesses a raw power beyond imagining, an untrained mage who must be found and schooled before she destroys herself and her city with a force she cannot yet control.

I know literally nothing about this trilogy, except for the blurb on the back. However, one of my goals for this year is to read more fantasy novels, so when I saw the entire trilogy in hardback for £5/€6 I had to pick it up.

So that wraps up all the books I've bought this month. My bookshelf is now bulging and my TBR is sky-high, but I regret nothing. I'm now going to be seriously studying and exam-taking so hopefully (fingers crossed) I won't buy more than 5 books throughout May and June. I'd love to know how many books you bought this month, or if any of these books sound interesting to you. And if you've read of any of these books tell me your thoughts about them down below! 
Until next time, keep reading!

May TBR

I had my first two exams yesterday, I have another one on Friday and another 30 from now until June. I'm stressed, tired and have no spare time. Yet I still managed to find a reading challenge that could fit into my busy schedule. To bring a little magic into an otherwise stressful time I decided to take part in the Harry Potter readathon.

This challenge doesn't actually start until May 15, so I have plenty of time to study and stress out about exams before the readathon starts. There is an official website, which has updates about what is going on as well as fun activities to take part in and earn house points. There is also a schedule so that everyone reads the same book at the same time, making discussions about each book much easier. This month I'll be reading:

1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

These books are all very short, so I should be able to finish them on time. I don't plan on reading any other books this month, but I'll see how that goes! 

If any of you are taking part in this readathon, let me now! I'd love to be able to chat with you and share the magical feels. Until then, keep reading!