Top 10 books I've read this year

This meme was created by the lovely people over at The Broke and Bookish.

I honestly can't believe that the first half of the year has gone already. It seems like just yesterday that New Year happened and now it's the middle of summer!

This year I've read a ton of great books (and a few bad books), so it was really hard to narrow my favourites down. I choose  books that I would recommend to anyone and that I haven't been able to stop thinking about.

There isn't really any order to my list of books but the first book is definitely my favourite book that I read this year (and maybe of all time!)

 1- Faceless by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This book is by far my favourite book on this list. Since reading it I haven't been able to stop thinking about and might actually be re-reading it this summer! It is such a heart-warming and inspiring book which will make you think about how you define your identity.

2- The List by Siobhan Vivian

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This book has a very different concept, and has 8 different POVs to read.Although it was confusing at times I adored this book and felt it had such an important message behind it.

3- Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Review

I finally read this book this year and I loved it, as I was sure I would. It had awesome characters and a compelling plot line which made me want to read this book as fast as I could.

4- This is where it ends by Marieke Nijkamp

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Review

I'm fortunate enough that school shootings aren't a thing near me, but it was really interesting to read about a shooting and how it affects the people involved. It was also interesting because the entire story takes place over 54 minutes but so much happens that you can't believe it ends so quickly!

5- Into the No-zone by Eugene Lambert

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This was my most anticipated book of 2017 and I was lucky enough to get it the day it came out. I read it in a day, flying through it so fast. It is the second book in the Sign of One trilogy which is quickly becoming my favourite trilogy of all time. I love this book and can't wait for the final instalment which is coming out next year!

6- The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon 

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Review

This is book is so important right now because it deals with refugees and the camps they have to stay in. I loved it because it has the feel of a modern day Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, which is book I have re-read multiple times.

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

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Review

Another book I finally got to this year and I actually managed to finished both books before the finale came out in May! I loved this cutesy contemporary book and it would be perfect to read in the summer.

8- Holding up the universe by Jennifer Niven

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Review

I loved this book so much! It opened my eyes up to new perspectives on life that I'd never considered before. It was educational and fun at the same time; I think it may be one of my favourite reads of 2017.

9- The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This book was one of the few that has left me in a slump. I read this in a day when I was procrastinating reading books for school, which led to me not being able to pick up another book for 2 weeks. I got so invested in the characters and the story line that I just wanted more.

10- Wing Jones by Katherine Webber

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Review

This book was inspiring and educational. I loved reading about Wing's journey and her constant determination inspired me to try harder with everything I was doing. It was also interesting to see a story with so many different cultures mixed up together.


What are your favourite reads from this year? Do you want to read any of these books? Tell in the comments below (as well as leaving a link to your TTT so I can check it out)!

And until next time, keep reading! 

Monkeys on the Mountain by Lucy Daniel

Monkeys on the Mountain by Lucy Daniel

Release Date: September 17, 1997

Pages: 149

Rating: 💜💜💜💜

Buy it: Amazon | Abe Books

Mandy and James find a sick baby monkey, abandoned near the beach. They manage to nurse her back to health, but without a family to return to, the monkey is destined for a life of captivity on the mainland. Can they find her parents before they lose their baby for ever?

I read this book as part of the Emmie's B-day Readathon to complete the challenge of reading a book under 200 pages long.

This year one of my reading goals is to re-read book series I loved in my childhood. So far I've read some Rainbow Magic Fairy books, I'm going to read a Roman mysteries book and now I've read an Animal Ark book. And quite surprisingly I loved this book just as much the second time round.

This book is obviously written for young children so the writing is simplistic and gets straight to the point. There is no complex world-building, no similes or metaphors; you are just reading the book for the plot. This writing style made the book much quicker to read as you weren't getting caught up in the little details.

Honestly this is the only Animal Ark book where I didn't like Mandy. She seemed whiny, complaining when a person talked about harming a fly. I understand that she cares about animals, but seriously, get a grip!

This was a fun and highly enjoyable book, with some educational aspects It would be good as a filler book, for when you need to reach your Goodreads goal. I would recommend it to young children (7-12) or anyone who wants a simple read.  

Reading slumps for days

I have so much free time. Too much free time. I have nothing to do at all. I'll have nothing to do for the next 3-ish months. Loads of time for reading right?

Nope. Literally the day after I finished my exams I lost the will to read. Never has a Harry Potter book seemed so long, but I'm only on page 5 after almost four days of reading Order of the Phoenix.

I've been reading hundreds of guides (not an exaggeration) on how to break the reading slump, and even tried following my own tips. Even after doing all this I was still stuck in this dreaded reading slump with no hope of escape. 

And then I realised something. It doesn't matter. I can be in a reading slump but the world doesn't have to end. I very rarely get stuck in a slump, so when I do it means I've been reading too much and I need to take a break for a while.  

I've stopped forcing myself to read books and have decided to other bookish things. I've started writing a story, I've spent hours and hours on Goodreads and I've sat in my local library just to be surrounded by books.

Another thing I've done is discover new Booktubers and book bloggers. Even though I'm not reading any books I love watching other people enthuse about books. They have the nicest bookshelves, met all the famous authors and seem to have all the most exciting ARCs sent to their doorsteps every month. I'm living vicariously through them until my reading slump disappears.

How do you deal with your reading slumps? Do you even get reading slumps? I'd love to hear your opinions in the comments below.

And until next time, keep reading!

Top five series I own but haven't read

I'm usually very good at keeping up with series. I'll buy the first book and read it straight away, then go out and get the next books. But recently I've been falling behind as I read more and more stand alones. And I hate it.

This topic actually came at a perfect time; I've just reorganised my bookshelf and rediscovered old series that I'd lost on my bookshelf. Fresh, new series that I haven't even picked up the first book of. Series that I'm going to share with you.

Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard

Reason for procrastination: Scared of the hype

I have no excuses except that I'm scared of the hype. Everyone went crazy about this book when it was released and I'm scared it won't live up to my expectations and that I'll hate it...

The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare

  

Reason for procrastination: Haven't finished TMI

I looked online for the right order to read all of Cassandra Clare's books, to avoid the spoilers, and I finally came across Emma Books video that explains which order you should read them in. I'll be reading this series after I finish City of Glass and then I'll finally catch up with everyone else!

Matched series by Ally Condie

Reason for procrastination: Bad reviews

So when I saw this book in a cheap bookshop I was super excited. I'd heard about this series everywhere and wanted to be part of the dystopian clan. And then I went on Goodreads. 3.6 isn't a bad rating but you do have to scroll for a while before you find a review higher than 2 stars. Now I'm worried that I'll hate a book I used to love. Which is stupid!

The Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness

Reason for procrastination: Intimidation

I actually remember this book coming out and taking over every single bookshop possible. My teacher kept on pushing this book on the class but, being the Divergent I am, I refused to read it. Last year I got sent the book and now I'm forced to read it. And I'll get to it...one day.

His Dark Materials series by Phillip Pullman

Reason for procrastination: Ummm *hides*

I have literally no excuse for not reading this book series. I've watched the film, I own the books, I've even started reading it...but somehow I just can't read it. I have no idea why but I've never got past the first chapter. Maybe it's because the book is high fantasy and that intimidates me a little. 

I need to pull on my big girl boots and just get on with reading these series. They've all been on my bookshelves for at least a year and they're books that I really badly want to read so I have literally no excuse (except for the ones I made up!) If you've read any of these books I'd love to now your opinions, and which series you recommend I read first. Are there any series you've been putting off reading? Let me know in the comments!

And until the next time, keep reading!

Wing Jones by Katherine Webber

Wing Jones by Katherine Webber
Release Date: January 5, 2017
Pages: 378
Rating: 💜💜💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

With a grandmother from China and another from Ghana, fifteen-year-old Wing Jones is often caught between worlds. But when tragedy strikes, Wing discovers a talent for running she never knew she had. Wing's speed could bring her family everything it needs. It could also stop Wing getting the one thing she wants.


Before I even start this review can we take a moment to appreciate the book cover...


Okay, onto the review.

This book was a beautiful coming of age story that touched my heart. The main character, Wing Jones, is such a role model throughout the book and copes with everything thrown at her. At the start of the book she was a little whiny and I was worried the book was just going to be a romance story. By the end she was an intelligent and kind girl who cared about others emotions, not just hers. She sacrifices everything to save her family and it was awesome!

I glad that there was such a high level of diversity in this book, and that Katherine Webber didn't shy away from everyday racism. There are no obvious racism but there are small comments that show a race boundary. I loved that Wing Jones was American, Ghanaian and Chinese because it is so a unique and different mix. It was especially interesting to see the three different cultures intertwine and interact with each other throughout the book.

The writing style was simplistic but effective. There were times when I forgot how old Wing is, and was wondering how a 12 year old was doing these things. It didn't take away from the story at all though, because the further in you get the more wrapped up you become in the book. It felt like I had a personal insight in to Wing's head as a little ghost, following her every action. This perspective made the story more gripping because it felt like it was happening to you.

I would recommend this book to literally anyone. Seriously. It was so awesome and definitely one of my favourite books I've read this year. It is inspiring, gripping and uplifting; everything you need in a book!

A-Z Book Tag

To round off my last week of exams I thought I'd do a nice and easy book tag.This tag was originally created by Jamie (link here), and I'm going to try to answer it to the best of my abilities!

Author you've read the most books from:

According to Goodreads this author is Enid Blyton, which isn't too surprising. I spent my childhood flying through all of her series, but I never realised I've read 64 of her books!

Best sequel ever:

There are so many sequels to choose! I think I'll have to go with Lies by Michael Grant because that book is amazing.

Currently reading:

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Drink of choice while drinking:
This depends on my mood and the time of the year: tea in winter, ice cold water in summer.

E-reader or physical books:

Physical Books! I don't even own an e-reader but I do own 600+ physical books.

Fictional character you would have dated in high school:

Joe from The Sky is Everywhere. He is a total sweetheart and I have a massive crush on him. If he'd even been in my social group I would have been over the moon.

Glad you gave this book a chance:

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Hidden Book Gem:

The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker

Important moment in your reading life:

Starting this blog. It didn't happen very long ago but I've become so much happier with my reading life since I started it.

Just finished:

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass

Kinds of books you won't read:
I usually read all types of books, but erotica is one genre I will never reach for. It is just too...sexy.

Longest book I've read:

Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix by the literal queen of literature.

Major book  hangover because of:

I'm one of those lucky few who doesn't suffer from book hangovers, no matter how much I loved it. I guess the only time I really suffered from one was when I finished the Gone series because it took up about two years of my life.

Number of bookcases you own:

Officially I own 5 bookshelves but I also have piles of books in my closet and under my desk, so really it's more like 7.

One book you've read multiple times:

Any Enid Blyton book. Yes, she somehow managed to make it on my list a second time but I studied her books back in prep school. Seriously, studied.

Preferred place to read:
Anywhere with a book. Although the bus is a perfect place to read.

Quote from a book that gives you all the feels:

"I didn't need to die for him to kill me"
from This Is Where It Ends

Reading Regret:

Not reading TMI when it was being released. I would have loved to have been there from the start.

Series you started and need to finish (only complete series):

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer and The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare.

Three of your all time favourite books:

Night Owls by Jenn Bennett, The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon, and Faceless by Alyssa B. Sheinmel.

Unapologetic fangirl for:

Holly Bourne. She is one of my only auto-buy authors and I will shout about her greatness until the day I die.

Very excited for this release:

2017- It only happens in the movies by Holly Bourne

2018- The Long Forever by Eugene Lambert

Worst bookish habit:

I think this would have to be that I have to finish a book after I've started it. In the last 5 years I've only DNFed 2 books and that was only after one of my friends literally forced the book out of my hand.

X marks the spot: Find the 27th book on your shelf:

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (which I haven't read yet)

Your latest book purchase:

I usually buy books in batches but the last book I added to my book notebook (say book one more time!) was Countless by Karen Gregory.

Zzz-snatcher book (last book to keep you up late):

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

Have you read any of the books on my list? Do you want to read any of the books on my list? If you do this tag please leave your link below so I can read it!

And until next time, keep reading!

Top 5 father figures in books

This post was inspired by the lovely ladies over at The Broke and Bookish!

Happy Father's Day! Or not... I checked a list of Father's days around the world and it looks like no one can agree when it is. Here in Belgium Father's Day has already passed, but for the UK Father's Day isn't until next week. Crazy, huh?

Anyway, to celebrate Father's Day I am picking my top 5 father figures in books.I feel like fathers don't get enough attention in the book community, so today I have decided to show off my favourite father figures. Notice how I say father figures, because not all the people on my list are actually fathers.

Atticus Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird

Even if you haven't read To Kill A Mockingbird, you've probably heard of what a great father Atticus is. He cares for both his children and sticks up for what he thinks is right. He also teaches Jem and Scout how to read an write, as well as other more important lessons like caring for everyone, no matter what. Let's be honest, he makes all of our top 5s.

Hans Hubermann from The Book Thief

Even though he wasn't Liesel's real father, Hans was definitely a good substitute father. Where Mama was harsh and strict, Hans was kind and compassionate. He was patient with her, giving her midnight lessons on how to read and write (a theme on this list!) when he discovers she can't do it herself.

Grandpa Joe Bucket from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

So he is technically a grandfather but Grandpa Joe is an amazing father figure to both his son and his grandson. Apparently a whole load of people actually hate Grandpa Joe, but I think he was very sweet. He cares about everyone in the family and saves his money to give to Charlie.

Mr Lancaster from The Fault In Our Stars

He doesn't get much love from the TIFOS fandom, because he isn't one of the main characters. But if you concentrate on him whilst reading the book you see that he is a considerate and caring father who looks after Hazel when she is upset.

Hagrid from the Harry Potter Series

Say what?! My choice from Harry Potter isn't Sirius Black? Yes, Sirius was a good father figure for a couple of books and taught Harry more about his parent's life. But Hagrid was there for Harry from the start. He was the one to collect Harry from Godric's Hollow, he contacted all Harry's parent's friends to create a scrapbook for him, he made him a birthday cake, he gave him hints about the Triwizard Tournament; honestly the list goes on forever. For these reasons Hagrid is the best father figure there is.

Everyone knows boys in books are better, but we can all agree that our dads are the best. So this Father's Day put down your book, and go spend some time with your family instead.
  I would love to know who your favourite father figures are and why, so leave a comment down below!

And until next time, keep reading!

Rebellion by Kass Morgan

Rebellion by Kass Morgan
Release Date: December 6, 2016
Pages: 352
Rating: 💜💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository
The Colonists and the Earthborns are celebrating their first holiday together when, to everyone’s horror, they’re attacked by a group of strangers whose unusual battle cries fill the air. When Bellamy and Clarke discover that Wells, Octavia and Glass have been captured, they vow to get them back at all costs. But as they go after their new enemies, Bellamy and Clarke find themselves increasingly at odds, unable to agree on a plan to save their friends. 
Meanwhile, Wells, Octavia, and Glass are being slowly brainwashed by their captors with one goal: to grow their ranks and “heal” the war-ravaged planet.


Another story with a cult in it. Honestly it has become a bit of an obsession of mine, which could be unhealthy (possibly...) All cults aside I enjoyed this book much more than the previous two books, and managed to remember what happened in this one!

We get to see how the four main characters cope in stressful situations, having to react quickly to what is attacking them. We finally get to see them being strong, independent characters instead of whiny children. The evolution of all the characters from book one to this book is really incredible; maybe the best character development I've ever read.

The writing was once again astounding. Even though my journey with this book series was rocky I will always be in awe of Kass Morgan's writing style. She spun this world perfectly and captivated me; so much so that I almost missed my bus stop. Almost.

The ending was all I could have dreamed of and more. I won't spoil anything but Bellarke shippers will love the ending; I know I did! There were a lot of twists and turns, ups and downs but the book finally settled down in a way that surprising but not unpredictable. And yes, I cried like a little baby.

Overall it was a well-written conclusion to the 100 series. It wasn't an intense work of literature but it was an enjoyable read. I don't think this book is for everyone at all but if you love the T.V show you should give the series a try.

The Lonely Life of Biddy Weir by Lesley Allen

The Lonely Life of Biddy Weir by Lesley Allen
Release Date: April 14, 2016
Pages: 400
Rating: 💜💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Almost too terrified to grip the phone, Biddy Weir calls a daytime television show. Biddy has a story to tell.
Abandoned by her mother as a baby, Biddy lives in her own little world, happy to pass her time watching the birds - until Alison Fleming joins her school.
Popular and beautiful, but with a dangerous, malevolent streak, Alison quickly secures the admiration of her fellow students. All except one. And Alison doesn't take kindly to people who don't fit her mould...


This book was so good yet so bad. It was beautifully written yet truly horrific. It was so mid-blowing and upsetting and I loved it.

Honestly it is very hard to review this book without giving anything away. Every single little detail in this book is important for the story progression. Your journey as a reader is intense, slowly watching Biddy grow up and learning to hate herself. She has so little happiness in her life that at times throughout the book I had to put it down to recover.

The only thing I feel is my duty to say is that the story could trigger some people. Biddy is mercilessly bullied by everyone in her school, and any glimpse of happiness is taken away from her. She turns to self harm to let out her anger and sadness, using pins to scar herself. I felt uncomfortable reading it, and actually had to skip over a couple sections.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested because it is a beautiful and fascinating book. If you do have triggers you might want to give this book a miss because it can be quite horrific at times.

Homecoming by Kass Morgan

Homecoming by Kass Morgan
Release Date: February 24, 2016
Pages: 340
Rating: 💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

The new arrivals are the lucky- back on the colony, oxygen has almost run out- but Glass's luck seems to be running out. Clarke leads a rescue party to the crash site, but she can't stop thinking about her parents. Meanwhile, Wells struggles to maintain his authority, and Bellamy must decide whether to face or flee the crimes he committed.

If you look at my Goodreads review you'll see I rated this 5/5.  So why did I mark it 2/5 here? Good question. The answer is I don't remember the book. As I'm writing this review 3 weeks has passed since I read this book and I don't remember a thing. Okay that's a slight lie; I do remember a few things, but only if I read the Goodreads synopsis.

When I read the synopsis I remember the story, and I'm happy with it. It filled my little fangirl heart with all the feels and makes me happy. But if I don't I can't remember a thing. So make of that what you will.

Sorry this review is so short, but I sat at my computer for 10 minutes, desperately trying to search my brain for any memory of this book. I'm usually a very positive reviewer, But I couldn't find the positives this time.

Holding up the Universe by Jennifer Niven

Holding up the Universe by Jennifer Niven
Release Date: April 4, 2016
Pages: 388
Rating: 💜💜💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Everybody thinks they know Libby Strout, but no one looks past her weight.
Everybody thinks they know Jack Masselin, but his confidence hides a secret.
Then Jack meets Libby. And their worlds change.




This book reminded me of The Sun Is Also A Star, although that might be because I read it just before this one. It may also be because Jennifer Niven and Nicola Yoon seem to best friends, so their writing styles may be similar. All the same I loved this book for its own reasons.

Holding up the Universe focuses on two rather unique characters; Libby Strout who is the America's Fattest Teen and Jack Masselin who suffers from face blindness. I felt like both characters were well written and that their entire personality wasn't based off of their defining features. Libby loves to dance and read, Jack loves to invent things, and these are the main features in their stories.

It was also nice to see the confusion and prejudice that comes from these conditions. People ignore Libby because she's fat, and anyone who sees her knows her as "America's Fattest Teen". However Libby is full of so much self-love that it is really uplifting, even if you aren't facing the same hate. It was also nice to see her entire journey from being overweight to losing weight. And the thing is is that she doesn't lose weight by starving herself. She eats healthy food and sees a therapist and exercises and dances and doesn't hide anything from her dad. By showing her journey this way, Jennifer Niven does something many YA writers don't: tell you that your illness doesn't define you. And I found that beautiful.

Jack's face blindness was interesting. I have never read a book with anything like this before, so it was out of my comfort zone for reading. One of my problems with this book came from Jack's face blindness and how it seemed inconsistent at times. Obviously I know nothing about face blindness at all, but I feel like you would be able to tell who a family member is by the way they walk up the stairs. (If you know more than me, please let me know below!). Apart from that Jack was adorable and by far my favourite character of the book.

All in all, I loved this book. It was fun and heart warming, as well as educational. I would recommend this to literally anyone who wants to read it because it is amazing. And if you love Supernatural, you should read this book (you'll find out why...)

Five books from the historical genre I've recently brought

This post was inspired by the TTT topic by the ladies over at The Broke and The Bookish.

Without meaning to I've collected a lot of historical fiction recently. I've always loved history and I love books (obviously) so this genre is sort of perfect for me. Surprisingly I don't have many historical books so over the moth of may I decided to collect a few more historical books. For this post I gave myself the challenge of finding five books from five different eras in history!

The Sirens of Surrentum by Caroline Lawrence

Set in AD 80, this book has the oldest setting on my bookshelf. There aren't many books set this far back in time, but this by far one of my favourite book series. It was the first  book series I read that had over 200 pages so for that reason Romans will always be one of my favourite eras to study.


The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory

I've never read a book from the time period this book is set in. This entire series spans from 1416 to 1499, but this book is set in 1430. I know very little about this time period, and even less about the royalty at the time. Hopefully I'll learn a little more when reading this book, whilst having fun reading it.

Cogheart by Peter Bunzl

This book is set in 1896, one of the newest settings on this list. I love Victorian England, it was the first era I learnt about at school. For that reason Victorian books will always have a special place in my heart (and my bookshelf)!


The Shopkeeper's Daughter by Lily Baxter

My favourite era to read about is World War Two. I have no idea why but I just love reading about how everyone comes together to fight the bad guys and win the day. The Shopkeeper's Daughter is set in 1944, right at the end of the war, and sounds right up my street.


Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

Everyone knows about this story, either from the book or the film. Set in 1961 it is the newest book on my list, and also the only non-fiction book on my list. I haven't read this book or watched the film, but I'm so excited to read it and feel empowered.


What's your favourite genre? Have you read any of the books on my list? Also leave a link to your TTT the comments and I'll check it out!

And until next time, keep reading!

The Sun is also a Star by Nicola Yoon

The Sun is also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Release Date: November 1, 2016
Pages: 344
Rating: 💜💜💜💜💜
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Daniel- the son of Korean shopkeepers- and Natasha- the daughter of illegal Jamaican immigrants- cross paths in New York on an eventful day in their lives. However all their worries vanish when they decide to go on the perfect day trip around New York City.


I loved this book with all my heart. I had been a little wary going into this book because of all the hype that's surrounding it. But I'm glad to say that it deserves that hype because I absolutely adored it.

The book isn't just written from the two main perspectives but from all the perspectives of all the people Natasha and Daniel interact with. There are also other characters, like fate and hair and eyes, which adds to the world that they are in. It was a little hard to get into to begin with, but as the book progressed it was easier to read and understand. Each of these chapters are well-written and add to the book, but you don't need to read them if you just prefer to read the main character's POV.

I was worried that this would be an intense case of insta-love, which it was a little, but it was actually quite a developed love story. Neither of the characters fall in love with each other immediately, and the whole point of their friendship is that they are trying to fall in love. There is something about the way Nicola Yoon writes that makes this relationship growth not seem ridiculous.  It might be because Natasha and Daniel are polar opposites so they balance each other out, complementing each other in a comfortable way.

This was great to see two very different, unrepresented cultures in this story; the Jamaican immigrants and the traditional Korean. Their ethnicity plays a huge role in the story and becomes a driving point in certain situations. It all felt very well written (although I can't really be the true judge of that!), and I enjoyed learning a little more about their separate cultures.

I loved The Sun Is Also A Star, and am so glad I picked it when I did. I feel like if I left it too long I wouldn't have been so motivated to pick it up, but because of all the hype online I felt compelled to read it. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone and everyone because it is just so awesome!

Spiders by Tom Hoyle

Spiders by Tom Hoyle

Release Date: November 1, 2014

Pages: 304
Rating: 💜💜💜💜

Buy it: Amazon | Abe Books
Adam may have survived once, but a cult still has him in its sight. And this time he may not escape with his life...
Abbie's dad is an agent, tasked with exposing cults. He's normally able to keep his distance, But this time he may be in too deep.
Megan was sure they were safe, but now Adam's missing in Scotland with no one but Megan to help.

This book is so disturbing. Seriously. This book has affected me, and not entirely in a good way. It was so messed up, with so many psychological impacts on the reader. Tom Hoyle can write an impressive horror if he wants, and he definitely wanted to in this book.

The main characters are the same as in his last book, Thirteen, with the addition of one new girl, Abbie. I loved that you could see the character development from the first book to the second book; a factor the first book was lacking. It was strange watching such young children be put in such unusual positions, but it added to the story. We see them battle with the fear of breaking rules, and the trust teenagers have in their friends. The friend group that was established in the first book seems to have become a thriving family, with each character bringing their own special something to the table.

Honestly, there isn't much more to say. It was a disturbing, yet enjoyable book with plenty of strong characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a younger thriller to read. The recommended age is 7 years plus but I wouldn't want my younger brother reading this. Therefore I would say that the book would be better for people 10 years and above, depending on reading maturity.

May Book Haul!

This month I managed to collect a surprising amount of books. Living in Belgium but only reading English means I've learned to grab every single opportunity I have to buy more English books. So when a book fair comes to town you know I'm going to be at the front of the queue buying all the books. In total this month I gathered 21 books (I know, I'm awful) but I don't regret anything.

Cogheart by Peter Bunzl

Lily’s life is in mortal peril. Her father is missing and now silver-eyed men stalk her through the shadows. What could they want from her?

With her friends—Robert, the clock maker's son, and Malkin, her mechanical fox—Lily is plunged into a murky and menacing world. Too soon Lily realises that those she holds dear may be the very ones to break her heart.

I'm a sucker for books set in Victorian England, so I just had to pick this up. Also the inside is beautiful, with  drawings and sketches all over the pages.

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

Lara Jean is having the best senior year a girl could ever hope for. She is head over heels in love with her boyfriend, Peter; her dad’s finally getting remarried to their next door neighbour, Ms. Rothschild; and Margot’s coming home for the summer just in time for the wedding. But change is looming on the horizon. When your heart and your head are saying two different things, which one should you listen to?

Obviously I had to get this book. If you saw my last book haul you'll see I'm a little bit obsessed with Jenny Han at the moment, so I needed to get her new release. I'm so excited to read this, but because I'm so backed up with required reading and things like that I probably won't get to it for a while.

Little Bones by Janette Jenkins

It's 1899. London. A young girl is abandoned by her feckless family and finds lodging and work assisting a doctor. But Jane Stretch is no ordinary girl, and Mr. Swift is no ordinary doctor.

I told you I'm a sucker for Victorian England. And blue books. And pretty covers.

The Night Rainbow by Claire King

During one hot summer, five-year-old Pea and her sister Margot play alone in the meadow behind their house, in Southern France. Her mother is too sad to take care of them; she left her happiness in the hospital, along with the baby. Pea's father has died in an accident and Maman, burdened by her double grief, has retreated to a place where Pea cannot reach her - although she tries desperately to do so.

Then Pea meets Claude, a man who loves the meadow as she does and who always has time to play. Pea believes that she and Margot have found a friend, and maybe even a new papa. But why do the villagers view Claude with suspicion? And what secret is he keeping in his strange, empty house?

This book sounds creepy and exciting and I love it!

One of us by Jeannie Waudby

When K narrowly survives a bomb attack, she agrees to go undercover to spy on the Brotherhood, the radical young group held responsible, and whom she’s determined to bring to justice. But whilst living among them, soon even enemies become real people. And when she falls in love, K discovers that some things are not black and white ...
What's right – and who's wrong? Someone's always to blame.

I've been really into researching cults recently (I know, strange hobby), and this book sounds like it has a freaky cult in it. I've loved other books I've read about cults, so maybe this one will be just as good...

The Bloodline Cipher by Stephen Cole

Jonah and the rest of the elite team of teenage thieves have been sent on a mission by Coldhardt to retrieve an ancient grimoire. He believes it to be a magical book of the law of the dead. But when they go in to get it, they discover another team of thieves has beaten them to it.

Okay, confession. This is the third book in the Thieves Like Us trilogy. I've owned the first book for two years, but have never started reading. I don't even own the second book. But I guess it's good to be prepared... Right?

Plague by Michael Grant 

It's been eight months since all the adults disappeared. GONE.

Despite the simmering unrest left behind by so many battles, power struggles, and angry divides, there is a momentary calm in Perdido Beach.

But enemies in the FAYZ don't just fade away and a highly contagious, fatal illness spreads at an alarming rate. Sinister, predatory insects terrorise Perdido Beach. And Sam, Astrid, Diana, and Caine are plagued by a growing doubt that they'll escape - or even survive - life in the FAYZ. With so much turmoil surrounding them, what desperate choices will they make when it comes to saving themselves and those they love?

I love the gone series, and am desperately trying to collect all the books. So voila!

Knightley and Sons by Rohan Gavin

The once highly in-demand detective Alan Knightley has just woken up after an unexplained incident kept him asleep for four years. While he was out cold, his son, Darkus, took it upon himself to read of all his dad's old cases, and he's learned a lot about the art of detection. It's a good thing too—because suddenly the duo find themselves caught up in a crazy conspiracy that involves a group of villainous masterminds (who keep appearing and then vanishing).

There seems to be a black and red theme in this book haul, which I didn't mean to happen. I was attracted to this book because it had the same feeling as Confessions of a Murder Suspect which I loved.

The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

Honestly, if  you're a book lover you already know all about the Mortal Instruments series. I actually already have a set of these books, but I when I found the books with the pretty spines I had to buy them (especially as they weren't full price!)



The Plantagenet and Tudor series by Philippa Gregory

Jacquetta, daughter of the Count of Luxembourg and kinswoman to half the royalty of Europe, was married to the great Englishman John, Duke of Bedford, uncle to Henry VI. Widowed at the age of 19, she took the extraordinary risk of marrying a gentleman of her household for love, and then carved out a new life for herself.

The synopsis is for The Lady of Rivers, the first book in the series, although I'm not sure if it matters what order you read it in. I brought books 1,2 and 4 this month when I went on a bit of a historical fiction frenzy.

Angels at the Table by Debbie Macomber

Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy know that an angel’s work is never done, especially during a time as wondrous as New Year’s Eve. With an apprentice angel, Will, under their wings, they descend upon Times Square in New York City eager to join in the festivities. And when Will spies two lonely strangers in the crowd, he decides midnight is the perfect time to lend a heavenly helping hand.    

Although it's quite some time until Christmas comes around you need to have a couple of cosy books on your bookshelf for when you are missing the holiday season. This book sounds like the perfect cosy book for a rainy day!

Fire Spell by Laura Amy Schlitz

Clara disappears on her birthday. Exceptionally wealthy and exceptionally lonely, she requested that a puppeteer and his two orphan helpers stage a spellbinding show for her in the vast empty house. But then the curtains close and darkness falls...

This was definitely a cover buy. If the cover was anything else I wouldn't have picked up this. However I did then read the synopsis, and I was intrigued. It sounds like an interesting premise, and although it sounds like a middle-grad it doesn't have the usual feel of a middle-grad.

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

The year is 2059. Nineteen-year-old Paige Mahoney is working in the criminal underworld of Scion London, based at Seven Dials, employed by a man named Jaxon Hall. Her job: to scout for information by breaking into people's minds. For Paige is a dreamwalker, a clairvoyant and, in the world of Scion, she commits treason simply by breathing.

I know, I'm super late on this band wagon. I have wanted to read this book for ages, but whenever I have a chance to read it there is always a new shiny book. When I saw this book for cheap I decided to pick it up so I have to read it.

The Sirens of Surrentum by Caroline Lawrence 

It's June A.D. 80. Everyone is thinking about love at the lavish Villa Limona, where friends Flavia, Jonathan, Lupus, and Nubia have come to visit for the summer. But their host suspects that there's a poisoner among the house guests, and the friends are asked to investigate. Faced with many distractions, including the arrival of Flavia's betrothed, can they set a trap to catch the culprit?

Who else remembers this book series from their childhood? This was probably the first major book series that I read, spending hours and hours reading all 17 books. Being a sentimental person I decided to start collecting the series...

The Charioteer of Delphi by Caroline Lawrence 

September AD 80. Flavia and her friends go to Rome to celebrate the Festival of Jupiter at Senator Cornix's town house. They befriend the young charioteer Scopas and quickly find themselves embroiled in a campaign to sabotage one of the rival racing factions.

I also bought this book to add to my growing collection. The only problem is this one is hardback and my other ones are paperback.

The Shopkeeper's Daughter by Lily Baxter

June 1944. Eighteen-year-old Ginnie Travis works in her father's furniture shop in the suburbs of East London when the continued bombing raids and her sister Shirley's untimely pregnancy force the two girls to go and stay with their aunt in Shropshire. With the family left almost penniless and Shirley and her child to provide for, Ginnie is responsible for them all. And when the shop comes under threat, she is even more determined to make it succeed and build a life for herself and her family.

A World War Two story that will be both uplifting and harrowing? Yes please!

If you've read any of these books please let me know your opinions in the comments! Also I'd love to know which books you are interested in from this list.

And until next time, keep reading!