Review: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne || When the Game of Hating becomes more that just a Game

Title: The Hating Game
Author: Sally Thorne
Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, [Adult]
Heat Rating: Pretty warm
Page Count and Format: 387, Ebook
Published: August 9th, 2016 by William Morrow
Source: Purchased
My Rating:

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Nemesis (n.)
1) An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome;
2) A person’s undoing;
3) Joshua Templeman.

Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman hate each other. Not dislike. Not begrudgingly tolerate. Hate. And they have no problem displaying their feelings through a series of ritualistic passive-aggressive manoeuvres as they sit across from each other, executive assistants to co-CEOs of a publishing company. Lucy can’t understand Joshua’s joyless, uptight, meticulous approach to his job. Joshua is clearly baffled by Lucy’s overly bright clothes, quirkiness, and Pollyanna attitude.

Now up for the same promotion, their battle of wills has come to a head and Lucy refuses to back down when their latest game could cost her her dream job… But the tension between Lucy and Joshua has also reached its boiling point, and Lucy is discovering that maybe she doesn’t hate Joshua. And maybe, he doesn’t hate her either. Or maybe this is just another game.

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Oooo why didn’t I read this earlier!!! My fault, my fault! (The cover might be at a little fault too!) I took ages to pick this one up and oh gosh, I was sooo not expecting how it all turned out. This book was right up my alley, and exactly what I needed after so many fantasy books. Honestly, I wouldn’t have picked it up if Raven @ Dreamy Addictions hadn’t recommended this to me.

Lucy and Joshua have always hated each other. Since the very first day, they started working face to face. And now they are up for the biggest fight in their working career and the one who loses has to leave the company for good. But this cat and mouse game is on the edge of something else, and they slowly begin to realise what they feel for each other maybe something more than hate.

Oh, my dear gosh!! What a beautiful angsty feel read and hilarious at the same time! I haven’t read this kind for quite some time now and I quite enjoyed it! Lucy and Joshua are at each other’s throat every day and they have no problem in showing that. They are quite well known in the whole office because of that. They absolutely hate each other’s guts. And I loved the continuous banter between the two! Sometimes they were too much, sometimes hilarious. The banter, sassy and witty remarks kept this book pretty interesting throughout its course.

“The trick is to find that one person who can give it back as good as they can take it.”

Lucy and Joshua both were amazing characters! Lucy was a cute furball of brightness and Joshua although was quite strict on the front and a jerk, but behind that facade was a caring and such a sweet guy. The tension between them was quite visible even though they were not aware of it from the very first. Although they couldn’t tolerate one another, they couldn’t stop helping each other at the time of their crisis either and with that began the understanding of new emotions and never had they faced any other who challenged them so much.

“He taught me things in the space of two minutes that the span of my lifetime did not.”

Honestly, it was such a fun ride! They figured each other out so perfectly and their chemistry was off the charts! It was like although they hated each other, they could absolutely complete each other’s sentences. It took a looot of time for them to catch up but I looooved the slow build up. It was absolutely perfect how everything was executed in the end and Lucy’s epic face off with Joshua’s father was the very best thing in this book!! Loved it so freaking much. It was bloodydamn hilarious and quirky! And I respected her even more for that.

Overall, The Hating Game was a quick and fun read, full of angst. The plot was executed neatly and I wasn’t bored for a second. The characters were amazing and managed to win my heart and I loved Joshua and Lucy together. They were like fire and ice but hella perfect for each other! The writing was smooth and easy to read and the pace was even throughout the book. I am definitely looking forward to reading The Comfort Zone by this author.

Recommend it?

Yes!

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So guys, have you read this book yet? What did you think about it? And if you haven’t, is it in your tbr? Are you looking forward to it?

Review: Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo || Girl Power at its Peek!

Title: Wonder Woman: Warbringer
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Series: DC Icons, book 1
Genre: Fantasy, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Page Count & Format: 369 pages, Paperback
Published: August 31st, 2017 by Penguin Books Ltd
Source: Purchased
My Rating:

Blurb (from Goodreads):

She will become a legend but first, she is Diana, Princess of the Amazons. And her fight is just beginning…

Diana is desperate to prove herself to her warrior sisters. But when the opportunity comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks Amazon law to save a mere mortal, Alia Keralis. With this single heroic act, Diana may have just doomed the world.

Alia is a Warbringer – a descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery. Diana and Alia will face an army of enemies, mortal and divine, determined to destroy or possess the Warbringer.

To save the world, they must stand side by side against the tide of war.

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Soooo, this is the first book I have read by this author. I know, I know… I am one of that 1 % of the bookish population who hasn’t picked up the Six of Crows duology yet but fear not mortals!! I intend to do that very soon. Veeeeery, very soon. Anyway, after reading this book, my expectations are a lot higher for that duology and of course, there’s still the hype.

I had read quite a lot of mixed reviews about this book due to which I kinda delayed reading this book. I was afraid and I soooo grateful to be proved wrong. I was relieved when I found myself enjoying the book.

Diana is the princess of the Amazons but no one considers her to be a true Amazon due to her being born on the island, because of her mother’s want for a child. Desperate to prove herself, Diana takes part in a competition but when she sees a shipwreck, she can’t help herself and saves the only victim alive, Alia who she learns from the Oracle is actually a Warbringer, aka, wherever she goes war will follow. But the Oracle gave her a time and destiny, but if she can’t complete the mission in time, the world would be essentially doomed due to her.

Predictable Plot but Amazing Execution!

I found the plot of Wonder Woman: Warbringer to be a bit predictable. Not totally though. Of course, there was a certain element of surprise that kept me wanting to turn the pages over and over again but overall, as a whole book I kind of understood how this would eventually end, so there was not a big wow factor but nonetheless, the execution of this book was absolutely wonderful! I loved it soooo freaking much.

“We can’t help the way we’re born. We can’t help what we are, only what life we choose to make for ourselves.”

Alia belongs to the Keralis family whose bloodline goes back to Helen of Troy and there was only one way to break the Warbringer lineage was to complete a quest before the time ran out. I was totally hooked from the first page.

Diverse Characters!

We have our two main protagonists Diana and Alia and I absolutely loved them! Diana is fierce yet she yearns to be a true Amazon, she wants to earn a place among her people and not just be recognised as the Queen’s daughter. She was strong and brave but I appreciated her vulnerable side too.

“Sisters in battle, I am shield and blade to you. As I breathe, your enemies will know no sanctuary. While I live, your cause is mine.”

Alia was another amazing character. At first, I thought I wouldn’t like her but I found that she was kind of hilarious at times. She was the Warbringer, it took her a loooot of time to grasp the reality of the situation and it felt more realistic due to that. Usually, I have seen that when something happens like this the character is shocked and is okay in the next chapter and ready to take the burden and this was so not the case but I loved how equally brave she was. I also loved how her brother Jason was protective of her but sometimes too overly protective though but they were two diverse characters who I enjoyed very much.

“It’s the people who never learn the word impossible who make history, because they’re the ones who keep trying.”

Nim, who belongs to the LGBTQ community, plus is an Indian (probably a Bong like me!) was the heart of the story! She was creative and totally hilarious at times. I enjoyed the continuous banter between him and Theo, who started off as an irritating character but won my heart in the end. There were do-or-die situations but sometimes their banter made it so funny but equally engaging!

The Action!

I am a huuuge fan of action and I really loved how all the action sequence were executed in this book. I hoped there were more but the one we had were pretty amazing! Diana was mostly the centre of attraction whenever a fight took place and damn she was EPIC!

Kinda Weird Plot Twist!

Okay, this was one of the factors that were kind of not exactly a letdown but weird. I mean, when the Big Bad Guy is revealed, I didn’t feel a chill through my spine (okay I’m exaggerating now…) but I felt that the build-up wasn’t enough. It was going one way, then BAM! Plot twist out of nowhere. Instead of feeling shocked I was just sitting thinking what the heck just happened. You have to read the book to understand what I actually mean.

Anyway, how things were executed after the big reveal was pretty intriguing. It was full of suspense and nail-biting moments and Diana was the one who had to face the toughest choice and I loved the decision she finally took. I loved her loyalty.

Overall,

Wonder Woman: Warbringer despite having a predictable plotline turned out to be an incredibly enjoyable read! The pace was a little slow in the beginning but it caught up soon enough, so it wasn’t that big of a problem. I enjoyed the execution and the writing style and I’m definitely looking forward to picking up more books by this author.

Recommend it?

Yes!

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So guys, what did you think about this book? Did Wonder Woman: Warbringer reach your expectations or did it fall flat for you? What did you love the most about this book?

Review: Depression & Other Magic Tricks by Sabrina Benaim || Poetry

Title:  Depression & Other Magic Tricks
Author: Sabrina Benaim
Genre: Poetry
Page Count and Format: 96 pages, Ebook
Published: August 18th, 2017 by Button Poetry
Source: I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating: 

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Depression & Other Magic Tricks is the debut book by Sabrina Benaim, one of the most-viewed performance poets of all time, whose poem “Explaining My Depression to My Mother” has become a cultural phenomenon with over 50,000,000 views. Depression & Other Magic Tricks explores themes of mental health, love, and family. It is a documentation of struggle and triumph, a celebration of daily life and of living. Benaim’s wit, empathy, and gift for language produce a work of endless wonder.

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First of all, reviewing poetry books are hard because I always find myself clueless on where to begin with…

Anyway, let’s try.

I had pretty high expectations for this book after reading a few reviews, although this book didn’t disappoint totally but it didn’t manage to touch my heart either. This collection discusses themes related to mental health, family, relationships, and self-care.

As much as I didn’t fall in love with this book, there were some parts which I could totally relate to. Especially the one- “Explaining My Depression to My Mother“. It took my mother more than 6 months to understand, or at least comprehend some of it and it took me more than 6 months to gather the courage to get help, so this poem did hit hard home.

if I am holding you without hands,
how am i supposed to let go?
(gravity speaks)

 

But there were some poems which were rather confusing. I also didn’t know that she did slam poetry, listening to her (link given above) felt like a totally different experience than reading this book and I understood that it was that particular emotion I felt lacking while reading this book. Hearing her was a rather powerful and wow experience which I didn’t exactly feel while reading this.

Anyway, my favourite poems from this collection including the above were the loneliest sweet potato, dear Beyonce (I), how to fold a memory, unrequited in nine acts among the few.

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So what do you guys think about this book? Do you want to read it?

Review: Nevernight by Jay Kristoff || When you shake up Hogwarts + Assassin’s Creed!

Title: Nevernight
Author: Jay Kristoff
Series: The Nevernight Chronicle, book 1
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Warm
Page Count and Format: 429 pages, Hardcover
Published: August 11th, 2016 by Harper Collins
Source: Purchased
My Rating:

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Destined to destroy empires, Mia Covere is only ten years old when she is given her first lesson in death.

Six years later, the child raised in shadows takes her first steps towards keeping the promise she made on the day that she lost everything.

But the chance to strike against such powerful enemies will be fleeting, so if she is to have her revenge, Mia must become a weapon without equal. She must prove herself against the deadliest of friends and enemies, and survive the tutelage of murderers, liars and demons at the heart of a murder cult.

The Red Church is no Hogwarts, but Mia is no ordinary student.

The shadows love her. And they drink her fear.

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This book was seriously SO. FREAKING. AWESOME!! I finally picked it up in July because the release of Godsgrave was coming near and I couldn’t wait to see what the fuss was all about. Oh, damn, I sooo understood because this book took me in for such a ride that I’ll never forget in this lifetime! But my order of Godsgrave got delayed and I’m dyiiiiing!! I need to know what happens next so bad!

“Never Flinch.’ A cold whisper in her ear. ‘Never fear. And never, ever forget.’ The girl nodded slowly. Exhaled the hope inside.

Mia Covere moves forward with only one aim in her mind. Her need to avenge her family keeps her going and there’s only one place which can train her for the mission she wants to accomplish, that is the Red Church. But reaching there is a big hurdle to begin with and being a student there is a whole other nightmare. Mia realises the ultimate challenge when not only she has to use her her mind but her heart comes on the line as well.

A Kickass Plot!

Nevernight was an awesome combination of assassination, kickassery and romance! Although I had read a number of reviews for this book, the overall idea for this book was still very vague to me, so I mostly went in knowing nothing. This book definitely had a slow beginning and the pace slowly picks up (at the rate that you’ll not be able to breathe during the last couple of chapters!) once she arrives at the Red Church. And once the actual journey starts, you know you are in for the ride. Mia has always wanted to learn the art of assassination and who could better teach her than the Red Church, she has heard various tales from her master and yearned to be a part of it because it would be the only be she would be finally able to take back what she lost long ago.

“The brighter the light, the deeper the shadow.”

This book was such an interesting read. The plot was unique and it never failed to surprise me throughout the book. Mia had an usual ability to manipulate shadows which was a pretty interesting aspect and as a character, she was neither perfect nor strong but she did not fail to make her mark. She was seriously so god damn awesome! And I really freaking enjoyed Mister Kindly though sometimes it gave me off vibes, well we’ll get to see more of that in the next book.

Intriguing Characters!

“If her face were a puzzle, most would put it back in the box, unfinished.”

This book had an abundant of characters which provided more layers to the plot. I enjoyed Mia’s friendship Tric, Ash and Charlotta though I didn’t like Jessamine and her brother much. The romance between Tric and Mia developed a little all of a sudden but I had no complaints. None at all. And most of all, I loved the fact that each and every one of these characters were unpredictable as hell and it kept me guessing throughout the book.

Mind-boggling twists and turns!

Things really sped up once the actual competition began at the Red Church. The masters were pretty creative, especially Aalea was cunning as hell and it was clear that each of them assigned their task after putting many thoughts to it, they were creative like them but dangerous as well and my heart was really beating fast whenever one of my beloved characters stood in the face of grave danger because that was available in abundance. The twists and turns never stopped coming! I also enjoyed the character of Lord Cassius and I really wished I had got to see more of him.

“Sometimes weakness is a weapon. If you’re smart enough to use it.”

I think I was a bit reluctant to pick up Nevernight in the first place because one thing was common in multiple reviews I had read, the writing style. And when I started this book, I could relate. The writing was really hard to get into, sometimes I had to stop and clear my head before I proceeded but I only had this problem in the beginning, as I read along, I didn’t realise when this problem had gone away and I was breezing through the book in no time. In the end, I ended up loving pretty much everything, including the writing style.

Overall

Nevernight was a fantastic read! The plot was intriguing as well as the characters which kept my interest throughout the book. I couldn’t keep this book down. I enjoyed the action and the romance and I sooo can’t wait for Godgrave!! I seriously hope my copy arrives soon. My patience is wearing veeery thin!!!

Recommend it?

Yes!

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So guys, what are your thoughts on this book? Did you love it or did it felt flat for you? Or are you still waiting to read this book?

Review: The Irish Getaway by Siobhan Davis || A quick and sweet read!

Title: The Irish Getaway
Author: Siobhan Davis
Series: The Kennedy Boys, book 3.5
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, [New-Adult]
Heat Rating: Warm
Page Count and Format: 269 pages, Ebook
Expected Publication: August 31st, 2017
Source: I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating:

Blurb (from Goodreads):

The Kennedy Boys go wild on vacation in Ireland!

It’s the summer before they start college, and Faye and Ky are visiting her home turf together—it’s Ky’s first time in Ireland, and her first trip home since her parent’s tragic death.

After a blissful three weeks on their own, they welcome the rest of the Kennedy clan when they arrive on Irish soil for the vacation of a lifetime.

Watch the sparks fly as family emotions run high and the Kennedy boys’ party up a storm, creating mayhem and madness wherever they go.

This dual POV short novel should only be read after Keeping Kyler.

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After all the chaos, the Kennedys along with Faye head out for a much-needed vacation. But wherever they go, trouble follows. Will they be able to enjoy a normal holiday like any other people or will chaos break loose again?

*A Little Spoilerish!*

This book wonderfully fills the gap between Keeping Kyler and Loving Kalvin. All our favourite characters are present in this book and it was indeed a fun ride. Kyler and Faye, as usual, were inseparable from each other and we also got to see a bit of a mature side of their relationship. They were in the stage of their relationship that despite everything jealousy had no place and I seriously loved their trust in each other.

All the other Kennedy boys were pretty fun to read about. Kent was notorious as usual and the other didn’t back out of mischief if they got any chance. Faye and Whitney’s relationship was pretty rocky, though we did get a glimpse of how their relationship could be, I really hope Whitney is able to overcome whatever’s holding her back from fully embracing Faye as her sister. And it was great to see Faye with her people, after all she went through, she deserved this happiness.

Overall, The Irish Getaway was a pretty good and engaging read. Though I felt the much-needed punch was missing, the characters made up for it. The plot was executed neatly and I fell in love with the characters all over again. I loved the romance between Kyler and Faye. The writing was smooth and the pace was even throughout the book. This book was a pretty fast read and I easily finished it in two sittings. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series! I’m so freaking excited for Brad’s story!

Recommend it?

Yes!

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So guys, what do you think about this book? Have you read any previous book in this series?

Review: Fallen Heir by Erin Watt || Where my expectations crash landed

Title: Fallen Heir
Author: Erin Watt
Series: The Royals, book 4
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, [New-Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Page Count and Format: 295 pages, Ebook
Expected Publication: August 28th, 2017
Source: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating:

 

Blurb (from Goodreads):

These Royals will ruin you.

Easton Royal has it all: looks, money, intelligence. His goal in life is to have as much fun as possible. He never thinks about the consequences because he doesn’t have to.

Until Hartley Wright appears, shaking up his easy life. She’s the one girl who’s said no, despite being attracted to him. Easton can’t figure her out and that makes her all the more irresistible.

Hartley doesn’t want him. She says he needs to grow up.

She might be right.

Rivals. Rules. Regrets. For the first time in Easton’s life, wearing a Royal crown isn’t enough. He’s about to learn that the higher you start, the harder you fall.

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Guys, I’m going to say this straight out, this book didn’t meet my expectations. 😦 I fell in love with Paper Princess, which made my expectation level go way up and beyond and Easton is my favourite character, so I was eagerly waiting for his book but damn… this book had its moments, that’s why I’m giving it a three instead of two but overall I am disappointed.

Easton Royal has it all, money, fame and a long list of conquests and all his attention shifts to Hartley, a.k.a the new girl in town. Hartley has too much on her plate right now and she can’t avoid any more distractions but Easton is not someone to give up easily. Despite the attraction, Easton settles on being friends with her but he wants her, can he woo someone like Hartley who doesn’t even want him back?

The plot of Fallen Heir was intriguing enough to keep me reading but at the same time, there was nothing new. Easton is a notorious playboy and all his attention shifts to Hartley when she accidentally catches Easton in a compromising situation. Despite her promise of not saying anything, Easton doesn’t leave her alone. At first, she’s just a conquest to him when she keeps on saying no but slowly he discovers a friend in her as well and I loved that. He was not willing to let go and he really came to care about her. I enjoyed the chemistry between Easton and Hartley though they didn’t act upon it until the very last.

I fell in love with Easton so bad in the previous books. There was a reason he stood out among all the Royal boys and why most of us readers adore him the most. But I felt that Easton was missing, he was still the same person, the most charming and notorious Royal but something was different about his personality. I understood his issues but he seriously irritated me sometimes, especially his impulsive decisions. I wish we got Hartley’s POV too because sometimes it got monotonous. But that ending though!!! I don’t think anybody saw it coming, it was like BAMN! Straight in the face! I sooo need to know what happens next!

Overall, Fallen Heir was a good read. The plot although cliched was executed neatly. I wanted more character growth and I really hope I get that in the next book. The writing flowed smoothly and the pace was even throughout the book. I am definitely going to be picking up the next book in this series!

Recommend it?

Yes.

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So, guys what do you think about this book? Are you eagerly waiting for it? have you read the previous books in this series?

Review: Am I Normal Yet? by Holly Bourne || Feminism, mental health and positive female friendship!

Title: Am I Normal Yet?
Author: Holly Bourne
Series: The Spinster Club, book 1 [Can be read as a standalone]
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Mental-Health, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Page Count and Format: 434, Paperback
Published: August 1st, 2015 by Usborne Publishing Ltd
Source: Purchased
My Rating:

Blurb (from Goodreads):

All Evie wants is to be normal. She’s almost off her meds and at a new college where no one knows her as the girl-who-went-crazy. She’s even going to parties and making friends. There’s only one thing left to tick off her list…

But relationships are messy – especially relationships with teenage guys. They can make any girl feel like they’re going mad. And if Evie can’t even tell her new friends Amber and Lottie the truth about herself, how will she cope when she falls in love?

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This book was such an epic read!! I breezed through it in no time. Though the beginning was a little slow and I was kinda afraid because of the hype surrounding it but then I understood why everybody loves this book so much!

Am I Normal Yet? follows Evie’s journey as she tries to live a normal life while struggling with her OCD and anxiety. But she is finally taking a step forward, she is ticking off all the things that she has always wanted to do in high school except one, being in a relationship. She wants to tick that off her list too but she can’t even tell her best friends about her condition, will she be able to handle love?

“Mental illnesses grab you by the leg, screaming, and chow you down whole.They make you selfish. They make you irrational. They make you irrational. They make you self-absorbed. They make you needy. They make you cancel plans last minute. They make you not very fun to spend time with. They make you exhausting to be near.”

This book was sooo freaking good. It dealt with so many important topics and it was so relatable! Evie is finally trying to get back to a normal life and be just like the other kids her age but she can’t completely erase anxiety and OCD out of her life. They take a toll on her every day and it’s a daily battle she has to fight. This book dealt with the importance of spreading mental health awareness and the aspect of mental health was handled realistically in this book. Not only that, I LOVED the perfect blend of feminism in this book too.

“Do you ever wonder,” he asked, “how we decide what’s mad and what isn’t? There’s so much crazy stuff in the world – everything’s a mess most of the time – but then people who can’t handle it are called mental and have films made about them… But what if they’re just reacting to the weirdness of the universe? Isn’t it more weird to just think everything’s okay, when it clearly isn’t?” 

Despite making two great friends like Amber and Lottie, Evie is reluctant to share that part of her life, afraid that they might turn her back on her and think her as a freak. As much as I wanted Evie to be open to them, I could understand where she was coming from. But yes, if she was more open to them, facing her problems might have been a little easier but try telling that you to heart. Damn you, heart! There were plenty of situations where it broke my heart, I just wanted to be there for Evie, I wanted to hug her and be there for her, it completely shattered me how she had to face those situations all alone.

From the moment she met Guy (what a weird name! seriously!!), she felt something towards him. Their attraction was visible but damn you, Evie! She deserved so much better than someone named Guy. From the beginning, that boy was anything but trouble and I guess, Evie was attracted towards the bad boy image more than him. The thing between them never felt right to me and it was kinda proved rightly so. I seriously hated Evie for how she treated Oli. I understood, I goddamn understood but she lied to hide more lies and that bothered me very much. She should have at least spoken up about it without taking sides. But I was soooo glad to read the last page of that book and I seriously wanted more.

Anyway, I loved the friendship between the trio. I envied their friendship, it was kind of a friendship that lasted forever. Evie, Lottie and Amber made quite an epic team and their idea to start a spinster club was damn awesome. I wish I could be a part of that team too. Jane was the only friend who knew about Evie but she now has to deal with their friendship falling apart due to Jane’s new found relationship as well. I could so much relate to her feeling overwhelmed and don’t even get me started on anxiety. Despite her daily struggles, despite everything, she was indeed a brave soul.

“Everyone’s on the cliff edge of normal. Everyone finds life an utter nightmare sometimes, and there’s no ‘normal’ way of dealing with it… There is no normal, Evelyn.”

Overall, Am I Normal Yet? was a great eye-opening read. The plot was executed in a realistic way and I fell in love with the characters despite their flaws. It dealt with so many issues which were treated in a sensitive and compassionate way. The writing was beautiful, smooth and easy to read and the pace was even throughout the book. I already have book 2 and I can’t wait to dive into it.

Recommend it?

Yes!

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So guys, have you read this book yet? What did you think about it? And if you haven’t, is it in your tbr?

Review: Omega by Jus Accardo || Where things become a whole new level of crazy

Title: Omega
Author: Jus Accardo
Series: The Infinity Division, book 2
Genre: Science-fiction, Romance, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Page Count and Format: 320 pages, Ebook
Published: August 1st, 2017 by Entangled: Teen
Source: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating:

Blurb (from Goodreads):

One mistake can change everything. Ashlyn Calvert finds that out the hard way when a bad decision leads to the death of her best friend, Noah Anderson.

Only Noah isn’t really gone. Thanks to his parents’ company, the Infinity Division, there is a version of him skipping from one dimension to another, set on revenge for the death of his sister, Kori. When a chance encounter brings him face-to-face with Ash, he’s determined to resist the magnetic pull he’s felt for her time and time again. Because falling for Ash puts his mission in danger.

But there’s more going on in Ash’s alternate universe than either of them knows: a mysterious project called Omega. A conspiracy spanning multiple Earths and revolving around none other than Ash. Its creators would do anything to keep Omega secret…

Anything.

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I usually forget most details about a first book in a series till the 2nd one comes out but for this series, I remember pretty much everything. And like the first one, this book didn’t disappoint and I had a hard time putting this book down. You can read my review of book 1: Infinity, here.

After the incident which left Kori’s cuff linked to Dylan, Cade and Noah join the ride to catch Dylan who won’t stop killing every Kori he finds in every dimension and gets his revenge and won’t stop until he finds Ava. They need to find her before he does. During these journeys, Noah has noticed one thing, in every dimension, he is with someone named Ash and when they get stuck on a particular one, the Ash from that planet is something else, their chemistry is explosive from the very start and getting involved with someone means inviting more danger but when they learn about a mysterious project known as Omega, things are about to get more tricky for them.

The first book in this series, Infinity was narrated from Cade and Kori’s perspective but this book is narrated from Noah, Kori’s brother and from Ash’s perspective which was a refreshing change though I loved Cade And Kori! Cade, Kori and Noah have only one target in mind, that is to catch Dylan before he kills more Koris but he can’t shake off the fact that one girl is his constant in every dimension. The plot was interesting from the very start. One thing or the other kept happening due to which I wasn’t bored for even a second. More characters are introduced in this book and my main curiosity was about the mysterious project Omega. And when we finally get to know the truth about Omega, it blew my mind! I mean seriously, the Cora of the dimension was seriously so evil and mean but I couldn’t believe she could get down to that level!

I loved to see the whole gang present in this book. Although I definitely wanted more of Cade and Kori, I wasn’t complaining because the chemistry between Noah and Ash was undeniable! Whatever little moments they shared, their chemistry was crystal clear. I wanted moooore of them but the situations they got into were highly unsuitable for romance so yeah, I understand. Ash was blamed for killing this dimension’s Noah when actually that wasn’t the case and of course, Omega had to be involved. I definitely enjoyed the mysterious aspect of this book and it was maintained well throughout the book.

Overall, Omega was a great read! The plot was pretty enjoyable and executed neatly. The characters were fun and witty and I loved reading about them. I especially loved the romance between Noah and Ash. The writing was smooth and easy to read and it was fast paced. After how everything ended in this book, I sooo can’t wait to see what happens next!

Recommend it?

Yes!

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So guys are looking forward to reading this book? Have you read any other books by this author? How has been your experience so far? Share your thoughts with me!

Review: Just Friends by Tiffany Pitcock || Blog Tour || Where my heart struggled to be only friends

Welcome to my tour stop of Just Friends by Tiffany Pitcock hosted by Xpresso Book Tours. You can view the full tour schedule here.

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Title: Just Friends
Author: Tiffany Pitcock
Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, [Young-Adult]
Page Count and Format: 320 pages, Ebook
Published: August 1st 2017 by Swoon Reads
Source: I received an eARC of this book for the blog tour in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating: 

Blurb (from Goodreads):

A new spin on the classic smart-girl-and-bad-boy setup, this witty contemporary romance shows how easily a friendship – even one built on an elaborate lie – can become so much more.

Jenny meets Chance for the very first time when she is assigned as his partner in their Junior Oral Communications class. But after they rescue a doomed assignment with one clever lie, the whole school is suddenly convinced that Little-Miss-Really-Likes-Having-A’s and the most scandalous heartbreaker in school have been best friends forever. It’s amazing how quickly a lie can grow―especially when you really, really want it to be the truth.

With Jenny, Chance can live the normal life he’s always kind of wanted. And with Chance, Jenny can have the exciting teen experiences that TV shows and movies have always promised. Through it all, they hold on to the fact that they are “just friends.” But that might be the biggest lie of all.

Debut author Tiffany Pitcock delivers a spot-on depiction of first love and the high school rumor mill in Just Friends, chosen by readers like you for Macmillan’s young adult imprint Swoon Reads.

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Just Friends was one of my most anticipated books for this year. Although I was terrified at the first 5% and thought it wouldn’t meet my expectations but surprisingly in the end it did. I ended up falling in love with this book and Chance and Jenny’s story.

When a class assignment brings Chance and Jenny together, they are both surprised how they are able to create a fake story about both of them in minutes to ace that class. And with the fake story starts their fake friendship which doesn’t take much time to turn into something more. But Chance doesn’t do relationships and Jenny is altogether new to these growing feelings. When fake starts to turn real, what will they do?

The story starts off with Chance and Jenny paired off in a class assignment where they quickly take a different turn and surprisingly their fake story comes out flawlessly. The plot although slightly clichéd was definitely enjoyable. Though I have to admit I did not quite enjoy the first 5-10% of the story because I didn’t like how their friendship started with a fake past when in reality that was the first day they actually talked to each other. But soon enough I found myself falling in love with their story. Their fake friendship slowly turns into a real and strong one which I adored so much. It was clear how much they cared for each other. But the thing that felt off was how everybody believed their fake story so easily, I mean those two characters interact all of a sudden and they tell everybody they have been bffs for life and nobody even bats an eyelash, it was damn unrealistic.

Anyway, both Chance and Jenny were genuine characters but not devoid of flaws. I seriously loooved Chance so freaking much. He went through a lot at home, his parents were constantly fighting and his big brother left him in their mercy. But he didn’t show that part of his life to anyone except Jenny. I loved how much he trusted her to show her that vulnerable part of his life and I loved how Jenny welcomed him to hers. I loved how their story started off as best friends before that feeling turned into something much more. I loved their chemistry together and I sooo wish they would have confessed their actually feelings instead of going round and round about it. Some parts were seriously hilarious and I enjoyed it so much!

But there were a few things I didn’t like about Jenny, she was a great character but sometimes her decision were simply too bad. Somewhere deep down in her heart she knew having a relationship with Drake wasn’t something she wanted but she still went for it when she heard Chance didn’t do relationships. I especially hated the moment when she realised she was in love Chance but instead of talking it out with him, she decided to do the deed the very next moment with Drake (who I didn’t like for a single moment) to get over it. I mean seriously?!! And another thing was how she completely forgot about her actual best friend, Kelsey who had been there for her for years. Kelsey knew how much reserved Jenny was and although she didn’t mind much, I hated the fact that she stopped hanging out with her since Drake and Chance stepped into her life. I seriously loved Kelsey, she was such a great friend and defended Jenny when the whole thing blew up, I seriously need a book about her!

Overall, Just Friends was a great read. The plot was executed neatly and although there were ups and downs in the story, I fell in love with it. I loved Chance and Jenny together so much. But the ending felt rushed, another chapter or an epilogue would definitely had been a great addition. Nonetheless, the writing was smooth and easy to read and the pace was even throughout the whole book. I am definitely looking forward to read more by this author.

Recommend it?

Yes.

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Author Bio:

23. Writer. Reader. Sarcastic.

I was born and raised in Arkansas, which isn’t terribly exciting. I’ve wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember. I used to sit in class and write stories in my notebooks, thinking that everyone did. It turns out, everyone didn’t. I love writing because it means I’m putting my thoughts, feelings, and soul out there for someone else to read – for someone else to feel. The fact that someone can read my words, and empathize with my characters – characters that wouldn’t exist with out me, that I created from my mind – is such a wonderful concept to me. I could happily write for the rest of my life as long as there was one person out there who was affected by my words.

Author Links:

Goodreads || Facebook || Twitter

Purchase Links:

Amazon || B&N || iBooks || Kobo

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Giveaway!

Tour-wide giveaway (US/CAN), ends August 10th: Print copy of Just Friends by Tiffany Pitcock.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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So guys, have you picked this up yet? What are your thoughts on this book? Is it in your tbr?

Dual Review: Geekerella and Words in Deep Blue || (A Little) Unpopular Opinion alert!

Title: Geekerella
Author: Ashley Poston
Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Page Count and Format: 320 pages, Ebook
Published: April 4th, 2017 by Quirk Books
Source: Purchased
My Rating:

 

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Cinderella goes to the con in this fandom-fueled twist on the classic fairy tale.

Part romance, part love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs, Geekerella is a fairy tale for anyone who believes in the magic of fandom. Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic sci-fi series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball, and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. With savings from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck (and her dad’s old costume), Elle’s determined to win…unless her stepsisters get there first.

Teen actor Darien Freeman used to live for cons—before he was famous. Now they’re nothing but autographs and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Carmindor is all he’s ever wanted, but the Starfield fandom has written him off as just another dumb heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, Darien feels more and more like a fake—until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise.

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When Elle’s favourite fandom, Starfield is getting a brand new movie, she is over the top excited but it quickly dies down because her favourite character is going to be played by none other than Darien, the rich and spoiled teen star. Despite the fact, she still wants to visit ExcelsiCon where the price money of the cosplay competition might be her way out from her evil stepmother. And on top of that, she can’t stop thinking about the mysterious stranger she has been texting lately. When all goes up in flames, what will Elle finally do?

I really, really enjoyed this book but ultimately there was nothing new. This book was too similar with my all time favourite book Cinder and Ella by Kelly Oram (which was soooo good, it even had a sequel which released a couple of months ago) which follows the same theme and even the execution and frankly, it had more depth. That’s why I was kinda disappointed with this book because of the so freaking similarity! That’s why I cut off one star. Anyway, the writing was the saving grace of this book, I loved the voice and the humour in this story and the characters definitely lived up to my expectations. Starfield had a great role in Elle’s childhood, it was her and her dad’s thing and her mother was quite involved too. So, when they announced a new major movie for the franchise, she was over the moon but she didn’t trust Darien to do justice to her favourite character.

“Look to the stars. Aim. Ignite.”

Elle and Darien were both so different from each other yet kind of similar. Elle had to face the wrath of her step-mom and step-sisters every single day while Darien struggled every moment to prove himself he was worthy of the role he got and not because of his family background. He was seriously dedicated to his work and he wanted to bring the character of Prince Carmindor to life so that the whole would finally believe he was a different person than what the press led on. Anyway, the actual adventure began on ExcelsiCon which was such a fun adventure. My favourite scene was the entry one where the guard was like get out and then she walked in with the free pass and stuff and he was what the… That was a freaking awesome scene!!

“I’ve met my doom, and it isn’t even breakfast yet.”

The texting between Elle and Darien started accidentally but they continued texting even when they resolved the initial confusion of texting the wrong person. Somehow, they felt connected over their shared love of Starfield. Their first face-to-face interaction started off as hate which slowly melted into something much more. I loved these two together but I wanted more. The ending was a bit (well a lot) unrealistic but I did enjoy it. The grand gesture was indeed really sweet. Among the minor characters, I did enjoy Cal, Elle’s step-sister but Chloe (the other step-sister) was a nightmare along with the step-mother. Elle’s friend (whose name for the love of God, I can’t remember right now) was a major support for her and yay for diversity!

Overall, Geekerella was a fun read. I enjoyed the plot although it was too predictable though the characters won my heart. I enjoyed the banter between Elle and Darien. The writing was beautiful and laced with wit and humour and the pace was even throughout the book. I definitely hope to read more by this author.

Recommend it?

Yes.

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Title: Words in Deep Blue
Author:  Cath Crowley
Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Page Count and Format: 254 pages, Ebook
Published: August 30th, 2016 by Macmillan Australia
Source: Purchased
My Rating:

 

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Love lives between the lines.

Years ago, Rachel had a crush on Henry Jones. The day before she moved away, she tucked a love letter into his favorite book in his family’s bookshop. She waited. But Henry never came.

Now Rachel has returned to the city—and to the bookshop—to work alongside the boy she’d rather not see, if at all possible, for the rest of her life. But Rachel needs the distraction, and the escape. Her brother drowned months ago, and she can’t feel anything anymore. She can’t see her future.

Henry’s future isn’t looking too promising, either. His girlfriend dumped him. The bookstore is slipping away. And his family is breaking apart.

As Henry and Rachel work side by side—surrounded by books, watching love stories unfold, exchanging letters between the pages—they find hope in each other. Because life may be uncontrollable, even unbearable sometimes. But it’s possible that words, and love, and second chances are enough.

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Rachel and Henry used to be best friends before she moved away and broke off all contacts with him. She tried to confess her feelings towards him once but when she got no response, she gave up hope. Now, after a few years, she’s back in town but she’s not the same person anymore after she lost her brother. Seeing Henry brings up old memories which Rachel wants to forget but Henry is not ready to let her go again. What will happen when the truth about everything comes out?

“The past is with me; the present is here. The future is unmapped and changeable. Ours for the imagining: spreading out before us. Sunlight filled, deep blue, and the darkness.” 

I had seen mostly glorious reviews of this book everywhere and this book was about books!! So obviously, I didn’t hesitate to pick it up. I LOVED the books part of this book but the romance was where it all went down. Henry had always fancied Amy and they always had an on and off relationship, despite this fact Rachel decides to confess her feelings for him but when her confession letter goes unanswered, she doesn’t try again. I loved Rachel but I honestly didn’t care for Henry, even a bit. I mean, he put Amy first before everything else, even his family’s bookshop when it was pretty clear to the whole world that Amy just cared for herself but his obsession with Amy knew no bounds. I seriously hated how he wined for Amy throughout the entire book and just clearly ignored what was in front of him.

“Words do matter. They’re not pointless. If they were pointless then they couldn’t start revolutions and they wouldn’t change history and they wouldn’t be the things that you think about every night before you go to sleep. If they were just words we wouldn’t listen to songs.” 

Now, onto the good parts. The letter library!! It was seriously such an epic thing. I so wished something like that existed where I lived because it just sounds so intriguing and mysterious. All the different and unique stories conveyed through the letters were just so beautiful. Another part that I loved was the letters between George, Henry’s sister and Cal which was really heartbreaking since we understand from the very beginning that their love story is doomed. Despite everything, Henry had redeeming qualities but it was already too late for me to completely care about him but I was glad he was there when Rachel needed him. I enjoyed the other minor characters too. I also enjoyed the family aspect of this book.

Overall, Words in Deep Blue is a story about love, loss and grief. This book has its moments but it majorly falls short where the romance comes in. Nonetheless, the writing was beautiful and easy to read and the pace was even throughout the book.

Recommend it?

Yes.

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So guys, what are your opinions on these two books? Have you read them yet or are they still in your tbr? What were the best thing and the worst thing you felt about these two books?