Reading Roundup

I was very disappointed in myself last month and I made a promise that April would be better. It had to be if I wanted to keep on track with my Goodreads challenge. April has been a fantastic month for reading, despite having more deadlines looming, people visiting and starting a new job. So, here it is, my roundup for April, a record breaking month (for me, at least).

 My Life Next Door

Rating: ★★★★

I was expecting some Sarah Dessen-esque vibes, and I definitely got that. It was summer, it was romance, it was dramatic. It was everything I love in a book, with a gorgeous cover to match. 



Peter Pan

Rating: ★★★★★

I completely understand why my friend is so enchanted by this book. It's the kind of magic that isn't in your face. It's easy to accept and it pulls you in to a world that holds so much potential. It's an adventure you want to go on time and time again. I really enjoyed it, and can't believe I've only just got around to reading it properly.


Think Twice

Rating: ★★★★

I waited so. Long. For this book. And it snuck ahead of the next books in my TBR list. It was always going to be hard for Think Twice to live up to Don't Even Think About It. The initial experience of the unusual point of view and intriguing premise was gone, lowering the impact of this sequel. Despite that, I still thoroughly enjoyed revisiting all the characters. 




Am I Normal Yet?

Rating: ★★★★★

I'd heard very good things about this book, and can honestly say that it really deserves every good review it gets. If you're a fan of YA fiction this is a must-read. 





Those are all the books that got reviews this month, but for uni, I also got through Millions by Frank Cottrell Boyce, and Coraline by Neil Gaiman, both in one day I might add *beams with self pride*. And the quickest read of the month was The Sleeper and the Spindle, also by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Chris Riddell (who, fun fact, I've been told is the first Children's Laureate to be both a writer and an illustrator). It's a beautiful little fairytale, a very subtle retelling of Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. 

So that brings my total this month to seven. SEVEN books in a month...not to mention the quarter I've already read of How Hard Can Love Be? 

Review: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Title: My Life Next Door
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Edition: Electric Monkey (Egmont), 2016

Rating: ★★★★

Synopsis

Addictive, dreamy and contemporary YA romance at its very best! It is perfect for fans of Morgan Matson, Stephanie Perkins and Rainbow Rowell. The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them...until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs the trellis to sit by her and changes everything.

Review

April is off to a flying start; book one done in 5 days. And I totally called it on this one. My Life Next Door definitely channels some Sarah Dessen vibes, but it reminds me of Morgan Matson and Stephanie Perkins too. All of whom, I LOVE. 

I'm going to start with the Garretts, because, wow, I love them all. I've always wanted to write a story that involved a big family, and I almost did. But I ended up feeling like there were too many unnecessary characters. Having read about the Garretts though, I'm thinking I should try again. Each member of this family is so distinctive and I didn't lose track of who was who. I think it worked so well because some of them played bigger roles than others but still all had a purpose. I think my favourite Garrett was probably George. He was adorable and I loved his interactions with Samantha. 

Jase. I loved how down to earth he was, and how hard he worked. The way that he and Samantha got to know one another felt really easy and seamless; they felt like friends as well as more than that. I thought the scenes that handled the sex part of their relationship were written so well. They were realistic and honest, with just the right amount of detail. 

I loved the summery feel of the whole book, the descriptions, the summer jobs, the romance, and, to a point, the slow sort of pace. However, the last third or so was full to the brim with emotion and intensity, which was great, and kept me up half the night reading, and I wish there'd been a little more of that a bit sooner. 

There were also a few strings that weren't really tied up for me. Like, Nan? (I don't want to spoil it so I won't say anymore) I would have liked a bit more of a wrap up at the end in terms of what happens to Sam's mum and Jase's dad. 

This book was so close to getting 5 stars, but those few things brought it down. Having said that, I would definitely read this book again and look forward to picking up more of Huntley Fitzpatrick books in the future, and not just because of the pretty, stripy spines.

Favourite Quote
"All around me are summer voices. The lap of the shore far away, the roar of a motorcycle coming up the street, the shhhh of the wind in the dogwood trees."

April TBR

1st of April is here. Which means, obviously, a new TBR! Well, half a new one anyway. Since March didn't go as planned, the last two books of my March TBR are now the first two books of my April TBR. Does that make sense? Well, take a look and maybe it'll be a little clearer. 

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

I've actually already started this one – see? Didn't I say April would be better? – and it's going pretty much as I expected. It feels a little Sarah Dessen, which is great, because she's my all-time favourite author. I have a feeling it'll remind me of the sort of stories I want to write, and hopefully inspire me.

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

On my March TBR I said not to google Peter Pan book covers. But, I did it again. And found this one. Fun Fact: since then, the friend in last months TBR has purchased this edition. I don't even know how many copies she has now. Fun Fact #2: A different friend has also received a fancy edition of Peter Pan. I really need to read this. 

Am I Normal Yet? by Holly Bourne

Because I am weak and have no self control, I bought more books which means my TBR pile is getting bigger, rather than smaller. This was one of them. I have a good reason though. I bought How Hard Can Love Be? a while ago without realising it was the second book in a series of sorts. I couldn't bring myself to read it before the first. 

How Hard Can Love Be? by Holly Bourne

And here it is! That 'second book in a series of sorts'. And I shall be reading it in the appropriate order. I've seen so much about this book online, I'm excited to read it and find out what the fuss is about. 

March TBR

March is here! 2016 sure isn't waiting around, and the pile of unread books currently in my room is slowly getting smaller. And on that note, here are the books that will finally be opened and, hopefully, enjoyed this month.

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

FINALLY. I thought it took a long time to get a hold of The Dream Thieves but that wait was nowhere near as long as the wait for this one. But it's okay because I have it now and I am looking forward to every single page. *grins*

Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard

You'd think after spending months on a project solely focused on Red Queen I'd be sick of the series but I am NOT! I am so unbelievably excited to read this monster of a book (seriously, it's ridiculous...the size of a hardback, but with a paperback...paperback, but huge. Just huge). I might even try something new with the review for this so stay tuned!

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

I'm going to get myself back to what I really, really LOVE. A bit of good old romance. *sighs happily*. I'm so excited because this book is so pretty and summery and, you can't see it here, but the spine has stripes, and for some reason it makes me really happy.

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

Firstly, do not google 'Peter Pan book cover'. There are SO MANY. Maybe half of which my friend owns. Speaking of who, her obsession with Peter Pan seems to be rubbing off on me. It's not like I don't know the story, I think most people do, but I want to read the original version, the one that's inspired said friend to write THREE (edit: FOUR) different adaptations.