Some Kind of Wonderland by Tara St. Pierre: Book Review // A trip to the land of melancholy

Title: Some Kind of Wonderland
Author: Tara St. Pierre
Standalone
Genre:  Contemporary, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Page Count and Format: 175 pages, Ebook
Published: June 10th 2021
Source: I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger warning: Divorce

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Sometimes we all need an escape down a rabbit hole.

Since her parents’ divorce, Allyson’s only source of comfort and refuge has been within the pages of Alice in Wonderland, which her father used to read to her every night. Now a quiet and shy teenager, she auditions for her school’s production of the story, despite having no previous acting experience. But no one knows Alice like she does—she’s memorized every word—and she believes that getting the part is the only way her father will return for her.

Instead, she is enlisted as an assistant to the stage manager, and she runs afoul of the drama queen cast in the role she desires. Shuffling between a full deck of actors, a fidgety time-obsessed director, and an over-caffeinated costume crew, can Allyson navigate the bizarre world of high school theater? And how will her mother feel when she finds out it’s that story?

As fiction merges with fact and her present reality uncovers past memories, what curious things will Allyson discover—and how much will she grow—along the journey through her own kind of Wonderland?

---

Some Kind of Wonderland was such a good read. Allyson has always been daddy’s girl, but after her parent’s divorce, her father moved far away after remarrying. Allyson’s refuge has always been Alice in Wonderland, of which she shared special memories with her father since it was always her go-to bedtime story as a kid.

When her school announces the drama of Alice in Wonderland, she tries out for the main character in the hopes of bagging the role so that her father would finally come to visit her. Luck doesn’t seem to be on her side since she ends up as a production assistant rather than the main role. Allyson’s character development was one of the aspects I really liked. She develops from a shy girl to someone learning to take opportunities. She tries to be an understudy in hopes of getting the chance to play Alice, a character she has really immersed herself into.

Her desperation and longing for her father broke my heart. She missed the hell out of him and just wanted a chance to see him again. She also matured throughout the book. Her belief about her father coming to her show if she only plays Alice to understanding what she is currently missing out on. It was heartbreaking when she finally realised the relationship with her father was never going to the same again.

Since this book narrates Allyson’s point of view, I was also wary of her mother initially. She had never been close with her mother and after the divorce, she had somewhat distanced herself. I would have loved it if the mother-daughter relationship was given more focus, but both of them trying to understand each other better was portrayed beautifully.

The story alternates between the past and present; however, the flow was seamless. I actually liked how the past was incorporated in each chapter as it gave a little more detail about the character’s past and didn’t feel like an info dump. Overall, I loved taking this journey with Allyson, which was full of friendship and family values.

You can also check out my reviews for the author’s previous books- Just a Few Inches and Mirror Me!

Recommend it?

Yes.

---

So guys, what do you think about this book? Have you read it yet?

Verity and Regretting You by Colleen Hoover: Book Review // Co-Ho: The Intense Shock Edition

Title: Verity
Author: Colleen Hoover
Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Thriller, [New-Adult]
Heat Rating: Warm
Page Count and Format: 324 pages, Ebook
Published: December 7th 2018 by Hoover Ink, Inc.
Source: Purchased
Trigger Alert: Death, Betrayal

Blurb (from Goodreads):

*I would recommend blindly going into this book*

Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.

Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity’s notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn’t expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity’s recollection of what really happened the day her daughter died.

Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen’s feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife’s words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue to love her.

---

This book is a complete mindfuck. I don’t think I will ever forget the feeling when I read the last few pages and closed the book.

Utterly mindblowing!

The plot twist was completely off the curve. Colleen Hoover has a habit of randomly throwing a plot twist when you least expect her to and it’s one of her elements I love. It’s always a knee jerk reaction. And this book completely blew the roof. To this day, the last chapter haunts me.

Lowen is the main protagonist of this book who is a struggling writer. She finally gets a break when she is offered to write Verity Crawford’s, a successful author’s remaining books since the author is in a coma for years after an accident where her daughter died. Lowen’s discovery of an unfinished biography of Verity changes her perspective about a lot of things. CoHo managed to develop such an utterly disturbing and layered character with Verity. This book has an alternative chapter of Lowen and Verity’s journal and ohmygod, it was, very much troublesome.

The novel takes place in Crawford residence where she slowly begins to develop feelings for Jeremy, Verity’s husband. The feeling is quite mutual and I enjoyed the chemistry between them. The build-up between the characters to a slow-burn romance was is definitely one of my favourites part of the book. The suspense throughout the book kept me on my toes. There’s always this lurking feeling and the author managed to create a creepy environment that matched the tone of the book. And there are bread crumbs throughout the book which further adds to the mystery.

I believe I finished this book in one sitting, so if you haven’t read this book yet, I highly recommend you to!

---

Title: Regretting You
Author: Colleen Hoover
Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, [New-Adult]
Heat Rating: Warm
Page Count and Format: 363 pages, Ebook
Published: December 10th 2019 by Montlake Romance
Source: Purchased
Trigger Alert: Accident, Death, Betrayal

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Morgan Grant and her sixteen-year-old daughter, Clara, would like nothing more than to be nothing alike.

Morgan is determined to prevent her daughter from making the same mistakes she did. By getting pregnant and married way too young, Morgan put her own dreams on hold. Clara doesn’t want to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Her predictable mother doesn’t have a spontaneous bone in her body.

With warring personalities and conflicting goals, Morgan and Clara find it increasingly difficult to coexist. The only person who can bring peace to the household is Chris—Morgan’s husband, Clara’s father, and the family anchor. But that peace is shattered when Chris is involved in a tragic and questionable accident. The heartbreaking and long-lasting consequences will reach far beyond just Morgan and Clara.

While struggling to rebuild everything that crashed around them, Morgan finds comfort in the last person she expects to, and Clara turns to the one boy she’s been forbidden to see. With each passing day, new secrets, resentment, and misunderstandings make mother and daughter fall further apart. So far apart, it might be impossible for them to ever fall back together.

---

This book broke my heart. This is what Colleen Hoover does every time and I go back to her because of it. I was putting off this book since I thought I wouldn’t enjoy it like the rest of her books but boy, oh boy was I wrong.

The story introduces us to Morgan and her three friends. One is her boyfriend Chris who becomes her husband, the second is her sister and best friend, Jenny and her boyfriend, Jonah. The story takes a time leap of 17 years where we see Morgan as a stay-at-home mom and Jonah almost out of the story since he went (read: ran) away after Morgan’s pregnancy news.

From the initial first chapters, the chemistry between Morgan and Jonah was palpable, however, when it came to their significant others, not so much. The two meet again when Morgan’s sister Jenny announces her pregnancy.

When the two met again, my heart broke again! Their connection was something else, yet they stuck with someone, out of duty/comfort? Though, I kinda get it. Missed timings. 😦

The story takes a tragic turn with Chris and Jenny’s accident. It spins off Morgan and creates a further rift between her and her daughter. Clara is going through her own turmoil after losing her father and her aunt (who I was not a fan of from the very first introduction despite her being described as a loving sister) who she adored. Morgan was trying to prevent her daughter from making the same mistake and the chaos between the two spiralled out of control. Miller was her only comfort and I loved the slow-budding romance between the two.

I loved Clara and Miller, however, for me, it was Morgan and Jonah who stole the show. The plot twist broke my heart. The secrets broke my heart. I don’t know how Morgan handled the heartbreak, I was a blubbering mess while reading this. I could feel what was coming but I was not ready for the impact. However, the development arc of Morgan and Clara’s relationship was one of my favourite aspect of the book. I really loved how the ending connected everything, so yes please go read this book!

---

So, on my last review, I said that I would do a K-pop match vibe for my reviews. Do give this a listen! 

For this edition, I feel there are a lot of elements in both the books with resonated with Red Velvet’s song. Also, it’s one of my absolute favourites. 

---

Have you read any of these books? Do you usually pick up contemporary romance? Any recommendations?

Review: American Panda by Gloria Chao // A combo of refreshing and realistic

Title: American Panda
Author: Gloria Chao
Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Page Count and Format: 320 pages, Ebook
Published: February 6th, 2018 by Simon Pulse
Source: Purchased
My Rating:

Blurb (from Goodreads):

At seventeen, Mei should be in high school, but skipping fourth grade was part of her parents’ master plan. Now a freshman at MIT, she is on track to fulfil the rest of this predetermined future: become a doctor, marry a preapproved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, produce a litter of babies.

With everything her parents have sacrificed to make her cushy life a reality, Mei can’t bring herself to tell them the truth—that she (1) hates germs, (2) falls asleep in biology lectures, and (3) has a crush on her classmate Darren Takahashi, who is decidedly not Taiwanese.

But when Mei reconnects with her brother, Xing, who is estranged from the family for dating the wrong woman, Mei starts to wonder if all the secrets are truly worth it. Can she find a way to be herself, whoever that is, before her web of lies unravels?

From debut author Gloria Chao comes to a hilarious, heartfelt tale of how unlike the panda, life isn’t always so black and white.

---

American Panda was such a heartfelt read! There were some aspects I could really relate and Mei is bae! ❤

She is an early college student aiming for a doctorate degree when all she wants to do in dance. But she doesn’t have the heart to tell her parents about it as her brother already walked on their family. She develops a crush on Darren Takahashi who is actually Japanese. Another no go from their parents who only want Mei to marry someone of their choice who is also specifically Taiwanese. A breaking point comes into Mei’s life when she is forced to make a choice about how to live her life, according to her own will or her parent’s.

The plot of this book was refreshing and relatable. American Panda is a more of a character-centric novel which focuses on the life of Mei. Mei is a hard working above average students who are working towards a career path to be a doctor. Apart from being a germophobe, she manages to fall asleep in the core subject of medicine, a.k.a biology. She goes by the rule of her parents as she does not want to disappoint them at all cost. A chance encounter with his brother changes her aspect of living life. Her opinion finally clashes when she sees her brother’s life through her own eyes rather than their parents’ words.

“If I lied, the real me would disappear.” 

Her rebellion starts in a slow process but it takes a turn as she experiences a whole new world. Her crush towards Darren slowly intensifies. Mei actually tried to do everything possible to do that she had been taught. She really tried but the heart wants what it wants. Of course, Darren is by her side but she gathers the courage to stand up for herself. And on boy, she does! The most surprising as well as beautiful moment was Mei’s reuinon with her mom. I wish her dad felt the same but well things take time. Sometimes the broken pieces can be mend together and sometimes it’s just better left alone. Mei felt like whole different person when she danced. She truly felt like herself. I can totally get this point. All parents want their children to have a stable career but that doesn’t only come from money. Happiness is the other factor which goes hand in hand.

“I couldn’t go through life as a shadow.” 

Overall, American Panda was a beautiful lesson that one should learn about both sides of the coin before judging. The plot was fresh and kept me engaged. Although I couldn’t identify it but I felt something was missing but the characters made up for it. This book was not only diverse but also shone light on various cultural aspects. The pace was kinda slow and steady in different portions of the book an the words flowed smoothly. I will definitely be anticipating her next book.

---

Sooo guys, have you read this one? If yes, what are your thoughts on it? And if that’s still a no, are you think of picking it up anytime soon?

Also, yeeeeeah. I have no excuse of abandoning my beloved blog for so long. I am just too lazy and tired after coming back from work. But that’s a lame excuse. I am tryiiiiiiiing guys! Hopefully September will show its magic!

Review: To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo // Gorgeous action and stabby stuff!

Title: To Kill a Kingdom
Author: Alexandra Christo
Standalone
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Format: 368 pages, Paperback
Published: March 6th, 2018 by Hot Key Books
Source: Purchased
My Rating:

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.

The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?

---

This was one gorgeously stabby book.

“In my heart, I’m as wild as the ocean that raised me.”

Princess Lira is the heir siren throne, also known as the Prince’s bane because of speciality in stealing the hearts of princess rather than normal sailors like the other sirens. But when she performs a deed against her mother, she is cursed to become something she hates the most. A human. Meanwhile, Prince Elian is a pirate who specialises in killing sirens and is more interested in spending his life at the sea rather than become the next ruler after his father. Prince Elian sole aim is to hunt down Prince’s bane while Lira gets the order to bring Elian’s heart if she wants to return to her kingdom. Both of them start out in the same direction but when Lira gets the opportunity to bring justice against the unfair decision taken by her mother, a.k.a the Sea Queen, she changes her path in reaching the desired goal but along the way things start to change as they get to know each other.

Refreshing plot

The plot of To Kill a Kingdom was really unique. The twists and turns continuously surprised me The only thing that didn’t make it a 5 star read was the pace at the beginning.

“And the ocean, calling out to us both. A song of freedom and longing.”

I felt that the beginning of the ultimate journey of the plot took too much time. I mean, I wanted the protagonists to met a lot earlier than it happened in the book. Other than this fact, I have no other complaints. When the characters finally meet, it’s with a BAM! It felt like world war 3 was about to break out but as the book proceeded, so the did the plot in a neat manner.

Stabby book in a neat manner! Ha!

World-building

Oooh also the world-building was pretty good. I loved how the author eased us into this whole new crazy world. I have seen and read sirens as malicious creatures who lure their prey with this voices.

“Everyone is a blank canvas, waiting to be filled with the colour of discovery.”

But this was on another level. It was like, they enjoyed killing for fun. Which was very disturbing indeed. But somehow I could never hate Lira for her actions. Of course, she did a lot of wrong stuff but she still had humanity left in her.

Character Development

One of the main factors that worried me from the starting of the book was how would the romance develop in the book since both the protagonists had one goal in mind, that is to kill one another. But the character development in this book really surprised me. The characters were complex and they were fleshed out in such a thorough and detailed way that left me speechless.

“How strange that instead of taking his heart, I’m hoping he takes mine.”

I was like, how could those two ever fall in love with one another but surprisingly they did and wow, boy did I love it! Lira’s redemption was portrayed pretty well too. Well, if you can call it that. Also, the sea queen aka Lira’s mother was a straight up *********!! She sooo deserved what she got served in the end.

Action! Stabby stuff!

The action was one of the aspects which I enjoyed thoroughly. One thing or the other was constantly happening. There were numerous other characters who contributed equally to the story. The politics was also kind of intriguing but the last battle was the one which was spectacular. It didn’t end in a second which I have seen in many other books. The build-up was steady before the stuff went down. In a good way!

Overall, To Kill a Kingdom was pretty fantastic. Although I think the beginning took up more time than necessary but it was still engaging. The characters were the ones who kept me glued to the book and the pace was somewhat fast. The writing flowed smoothly as well and I was satisfied with how everything wrapped up in the end!

Recommend it?

Yes!

---

Soooooo guys, have you read this yet? If yes, then what did you think about it?

Review: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys || Poignant and Heartbreaking…

Title: Salt to the Sea
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Standalone
Genre: Historical, [Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Format: 391 pages, Paperback
Published: February 4th, 2016 by Puffin
Source: Borrowed
My Rating:

Blurb (from Goodreads):

It’s early 1945 and a group of people trek across East Prussia, bound together by their desperation to reach the ship that can take them away from the war-ravaged land. Four young people, each haunted by their own dark secret, narrate their unforgettable stories. 

This inspirational novel is based on a true story from the Second World War. When the German ship the Wilhelm Gustloff was sunk in port in early 1945 it had over 9000 civilian refugees, including children, on board. Nearly all were drowned. Ruta Sepetys, acclaimed author of Between Shades of Grey, brilliantly imagines their story.

---

Salt to the Sea had a predictable ending yet the whole story was unpredictable as hell. I spent the whole afternoon crying after finishing this book. It was raw and realistic and knowing that this actually happened made it more heartbreaking.

“Guilt is a hunter.
Fate is a hunter.
Shame is a hunter.
Fear is a hunter.” 

The book is narrated in 4 POVs of Joana, Florian, Emilia, and Alfred as we follow their journey during World War II to the German ship, Wilhelm Gustloff that would take the refugees to a safe land. We see a world torn in war and the people who suffer the most are the innocent ones. It was not an exception here as well.

“What had human beings become? Did war make us evil or just activate an evil already lurking within us?”

The book started off slowly, letting us sink into the war-sicken world where everyone was ready to do anything for their survival. Florian was a soldier on the run with a secret, Joana a nurse threatened by guilt and Emilia, the youngest of the three but pregnant and Polish, if anybody found out about her real identity, she would be dead in seconds. The three of them along with a few others make their journey to their only ray of hope, the Wilhelm Gustloff not knowing about the terrible fate they were going towards. It’s a no-brainer how this book was going to end, but it still hurt like hell!

“War had bled color from everything, leaving nothing but a storm of gray.”

There were various other characters but the shoe-poet left an impression even after I turned the final pages. His words of wisdom were something that should never be forgotten. But Alfred was a character I detested, I didn’t like his chapters but his role becomes prominent in the last quarter of the book. He lived in his own world, he was dumb and self-centred and he got what he deserved in the end.

The war was described vividly through the eyes of the common people and what they had to face. People were being killed mercilessly and there was danger in each step. Everyone had a heartbreaking story, but Emilia’s just broke my heart. Even though that wound was something never to be healed but Joana made her realise the importance of life.

“When the survivors are gone we must not let the truth disappear with them. Please, give them a voice.”

And I will be eternally grateful to the author for giving them a voice.

Everything speeds up in the last quarter of the book. I was actually pretty afraid to move forward because I was dreading the ending. Everything just turns upside down. Every single thing. The sinking of Wilhelm Gustloff just broke my heart, I had to stop so many times because I just couldn’t stop crying. The Germans had done terrible things to the Russians but killing a shipload of innocent people, in turn, was not the answer. Actually, war is never the answer. It only takes, it doesn’t give anything back and you are left with a hollow and emptiness forever. And it’s the 21st century now, people still don’t get it.

Overall, Salt to the Sea was an eye-opening experience since I was unaware of the incident which was the most disastrous in maritime history. What made this book a fast read was because each of the POVs was pretty short, rarely 1 to 2 pages and we got to see the 4 characters and the things going around them from their respective point of views which made the story progress with an equal flow. I think this is a book everyone should read in their lifetime.

P.S. The sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff is the deadliest disaster in maritime history, with losses dwarfing the death tolls of the famous ships Titanic and Lusitania. On January 30, 1945, four torpedoes waited in the belly of Soviet submarine S-13 which ultimately led to the demise of more than over 9000 civilian refugees, including children, on board.

Recommend it?

Yes.

---

So guys, have you read this yet?Is it in your tbr?

Review: We Are Okay by Nina LaCour || Where I felt only Okaysh…

Title: We Are Okay
Author: Nina LaCour
Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, LGBTQ, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Page Count and Format: 240 pages, Ebook
Published: February 14th, 2017 by Dutton Books for Young Readers
Source: Purchased
My Rating:

Blurb (from Goodreads):

You go through life thinking there’s so much you need…

Until you leave with only your phone, your wallet, and a picture of your mother.

Marin hasn’t spoken to anyone from her old life since the day she left everything behind. No one knows the truth about those final weeks. Not even her best friend, Mabel. But even thousands of miles away from the California coast, at college in New York, Marin still feels the pull of the life and tragedy she’s tried to outrun. Now, months later, alone in an emptied dorm for winter break, Marin waits. Mabel is coming to visit, and Marin will be forced to face everything that’s been left unsaid and finally confront the loneliness that has made a home in her heart.

---

First of all, the cover is beeeeeautiful!

Second of all, I have no idea how to write a review for this book.

But imma gonna try.

Marin hasn’t spoken to anybody since her grandfather passed away. She is angry at the world, angry at herself, she hasn’t even spoken to her best friend Mabel who had sent her endless messages. When Mabel finally comes for a visit during the holidays, would Marin be finally able to open up and move forward?

That’s basically it.

This book didn’t have any solid plot, it was basically character-centric. Marin isolated herself from the world after her only companion since childhood, her grandfather passed away. This book mainly dealt with grief and how every individual handles it differently. But a certain fact about the grandfather part was a bit confusing… (if anybody knows please tell me what that was. -_-) Anyways, I wish there was some kind of plot development because the whole thing kind of stayed at once place throughout the whole book.

“The trouble with denial is that when the truth comes, you aren’t ready.”

This book was diverse. Marin is a lesbian and in the course of time, we get to know that Mabel is a bisexual. The two had a lot of history together since they were best friends since childhood. I would have enjoyed if there were more interactions instead of inner monologues. But this book was kind of peaceful? I don’t know exactly how to convey this feeling but I felt at peace after finishing this one.

“I was okay just a moment ago. I will learn how to be okay again.”

I enjoyed the flashback parts of this book where the actual romance takes place and I definitely loved the friendship between Mabel and Marin. Even without communication and a past history, some things never change. Although Marin had a hard time confronting her present, she finally did open up her heart, slowly.

“I learn that I am a tiny piece of a miraculous world.”

Overall, We Are Okay was a different kind of read. This book is not for everybody, especially because of the writing style which may not suit everyone’s taste. The pacing was slow due to which I felt bored at sometimes.But I am glad I could make it to the end!

Recommend it?

Yes.

---

Sooo guys, what do you think about this book? Have you read it yet? How was the experience for you??

Review: Saving Me by Sadie Allen || Where the Beautiful Message Was Worth Saving

Title: Saving Me
Author: Sadie Allen
Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Mental Health, [Young-Adult]
Trigger Warning: Depression, Attempted suicide
Heat Rating: Cool
Page Count and Format: 290 pages, Ebook
Published: February 22nd, 2018
Source: I received an eARC of this book from Enticing Journey Book Promotions in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating:

Blurb (from Goodreads):

On the outside, Ally has everything any teenager could want. She’s beautiful, popular, and athletic. She has the right friends, an adoring boyfriend, and the picture-perfect family.

Too bad it’s all a lie.

Every day she’s dying a little on the inside, drowning in everyone’s expectations and opinions, the weight of it all pulling her under.

She wants to do the unthinkable … until a boy with shaggy hair, unusual eyes, and a lip ring changes her plans.

---

This book was beautiful. First of all, I loved the fact that the author acknowledged that love is not the solution for curing mental illness but it definitely helps in the process. That love doesn’t always have to be romantic, it can be any kind of love and when you have a strong support system, your will to get better definitely increases. At least that much I can say from my personal experience.

Ally lives the life of a puppet. Although it might seem that she has everything, a perfectly planned future, a boyfriend and a gang of girlfriends but in reality, each and every one of her decisions are made by her father. Overwhelmed by everything, when she finally decides to give up, a ray of hope appears in the form of Sterling, a guy she has always considered way above her level but he shows her that there are things that are still worth fighting for.

Saving Me is seriously a beautiful book which touched my heart. The narrative flowed smoothly giving us a vivid picture of Ally’s life. Ally’s father is the dictator of her life who wants to fulfil his dream of becoming an athlete through her. I have seen real-life examples of these kinds of pressures and the endings are almost always not positive. This breaks my heart. Whatever happens, a person should have the whole liberty to live his/her life in a certain way they want. Of course, it’s the duty of the parents to guide their children when they are growing up or if they are making a mistake but when it crosses that level, it becomes controlling instead of caring.

On top of her father’s pressure, her cheating boyfriend was a cherry on top. That guy, oh my god!! I wanted to bash his head with a frying pan. Like seriously?!! How can someone be that dumb and shallow!! Anyway, I could feel Ally’s depression. I could empathize when she felt the world was closing down on her, choking her in every possible way. She didn’t have the luxury to share her troubles with the kind of parents and friends she had in her life. That’s where the importance of the support system comes in. When you have people cheering for you, it is a little easier to hold on to the hope. And seriously, every freaking one needs to understand what a mental illness can do to a person, and like very fast because even its the 21st-century, the world is still narrow-minded and we are losing way more people that way.

Ally’s support system came through Sterling and the friends whom she met in the theatre. I seriously loved that guy!! He was the ray of hope that Ally needed in her life and with him, she started finding a way out. Also, she had been an athlete her whole life but in the theatre, she gets to do something different, she discovers a whole new side of herself. Finding oneself is as important as loving oneself and that message was beautifully described in this book.

The only part which I didn’t like was the cliched jealous ex-girlfriend trope who cause unnecessary troubles. I would have loved if the book focused more on Ally and her new non-toxic new friendships and more of that instead of the drama. Nonetheless, I loved the faith that Ally and Sterling had in each other, despite everything their faith never wavered which I absolutely loved!

Overall, Saving Me was a great read! I enjoyed the plot and the character development throughout the book. The writing was smooth and easy to read and the pace was even throughout the book. I am definitely looking forward to reading more of Allen’s works.

Recommend it?

Yes!

---

Author Bio:

Sadie Allen lives in Texas with her husband and three young children. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, catching up on her favorite shows, or chasing her family around the house.

Author Links:

Amazon || Facebook || Facebook Group || Twitter || Website || Pinterest || Instagram || Newsletter

Purchase Links:

Amazon || Barnes & Noble || Kobo || iTunes

 

---

Soo guys have you read this?? Is it on your tbr? Have you read any other book by this author?

Review: The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli || Where Every “Side” was Relatable!!

Title: The Upside of Unrequited
Author: Becky Albertalli
Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, LGBTQ, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Page Count and Format: Paperback
Published: April 11th, 2017 by PUFFIN
Source: Purchased
My Rating:

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Seventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso knows all about unrequited love- she’s lived through it twenty-six times. She crushes hard and crushes often, but always in secret. Because no matter how many times her twin sister, Cassie, tells her to woman up, Molly can’t stomach the idea of rejection. So she’s careful. Fat girls always have to be careful.

Then a cute new girl enters Cassie’s orbit, and for the first time ever, Molly’s cynical twin is a lovesick mess. Meanwhile, Molly’s totally not dying of loneliness-except for the part where she is.
Luckily, Cassie’s new girlfriend comes with a cute hipster-boy sidekick. Will is funny, flirtatious, and just might be perfect crush material. Maybe more than crush material. And if Molly can win him over, she’ll get her first kiss and she’ll get her twin back.

There’s only one problem: Molly’s coworker, Reid. He’s an awkward Tolkien superfan, and there’s absolutely no way Molly could fall for him. Right?

---

Can I tell you guys how much this book was relatable? Like on a cosmic level, surpassing the intergalactic milky way and crash landing on my heart.

Okaaaaay, that was too much but it’s the truth.

I think I am the probably the last person on this planet to pick this book up so late. Being an International blogger plus being broke sucks. Big time.

Anyways, onto this beautiful, relatable unrequited book. Uh… I literally felt I was in Molly’s shoes. Except for the twin sister part (which I had always wanted… ask my mom if you don’t believe me) and the romance part. Anyway, you get the point. I don’t know what Molly would say if she knew about my life. I dunno whether to laugh or cry at that but I’m okay guys. I’ll live. 😂😂

The Upside of Unrequited is a character-centric book which revolves around Molly along with her family and friends. There are so many things that I loved about this book and it really made me want to feel more comfortable in my own skin.

The Family Rep!

There are sooo rare YA books that mention parents and a good one at that. Molly and her sister, Cassie has the two best freaking moms in the whole universe along with their little brother, Xavier (who’s sooo cute!!). I loved the bonding between the moms and Molly and Cassie, it was filled with genuine warmth, love and care. I mean you could literally feel the vibe radiating from the pages dude…

And I adooooooored the relationship between the two sisters, God knows how much I long for that but I really loved that they were sister cum best friends. Of course, they had to go through up and downs in their twiny relationship but in the end, they mattered to each other the most and that was enough. And that brings me to the character growth was which tremendous and I absolutely loved it! The readers can see how Molly grows throughout the whole book and finally finds a firm place to stand on.

Body Positivity!

One of the things that I loved the most about Molly was that she was comfortable in her own skin. She calls herself fat (I PREFER THE WORLD FLUFFY THOUGH) in the book, but she doesn’t have a problem with that. But when other people body shame you, how much you’re okay with yourself, it’s still going to hurt a little bit. I know from my own experience (See! I told you I related with this on a cosmic level). There are so many body positivity movements but there are still people who body shame, when will they understand how much they lower the self-confidence of the other people. Do they even care? I dunno.

But I am proud to say I finally have a group of friends (ARMYs) who love and support me for who I am. But yes, I’m trying to lose my weight as I earlier said in another post because of my health-related issues, not because society thinks I do not fit in their norms. God! I told you I hate society! Anyway, I digress.

But one thing I can’t help but agree is that Molly’s thinking process is quite similar to mine. She sometimes overthinks simple things, is awkward at times and seriously bad at taking things anywhere with boys (I am living example of that) but her thoughts about guys never liking her back because she was fat, I somewhat agreed with it. I know, I know, I don’t believe that because I have plenty of beautiful examples of couples but I think there’s still that 1% doubt because I haven’t come across a guy like that till now. Even for a friend, and that is seriously disappointing.

This world needs more feminist boys too.

The Romance!

It was kind of exciting to see Molly finally admitting she actually liked a guy instead of just keeping it on her crush list. Cassie’s personality was the total opposite Molly and when she met Mina, they just clicked though I could feel what Molly was feeling, she wanted something like that but she didn’t want to float away from her sister too. I loved the fact how maturely, in the end, they talked it out. Anyway back onto the adorable romance.

Reid was such a goofball. It was definitely hard not to fall for him. (Why are there no goofballs here? Moi needs some goofballs in life.) I guess when you like the person and finally feel comfortable with the other, it’s easier to be open with them. That’s how Molly and Reid’s friendship started out. Goooood, I wanted them together from the first moment they met but it took some time. A loooot of time but I was perfectly okay with it. Those two are one adorably beany couple I love to death!!

Overall,

The Upside of Unrequited was a beautiful and relatable book which touched my heart. I fell in love with the characters, they were layered and dynamic and I loved how each of them was there for the other. I was seriously beautiful. Although there were some cliched moments that didn’t matter much because the sweetness of this book consumes you (on a cosmic level yo!). The writing flowed smoothly and was easy to read and the pace was even throughout the book. I am definitely, eagerly wait for Becky’s next book!

Recommend it?

Yes!!

---

So guys, have you read this book yet? What did you think about it? Is it in your tbr?

Review: Fade to Us by Julia Day || Where the Moments Faded Away into Nothingness

Title: Fade to Us
Author: Julia Day
Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Page Count and Format: 320 pages, Ebook
Published: February 6th, 2018 by Wednesday Books
Source: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating: 

Blurb:

Julia Day’s Fade to Us is a story about found families, the bond of sisterhood, and the agony and awe of first love.

Brooke’s summer is going to be EPIC— having fun with her friends and a job that lets her buy a car. Then her new stepfather announces his daughter is moving in. Brooke has always longed for a sibling, so she’s excited about spending more time with her stepsister. But she worries, too. Natalie has Asperger’s–and Brooke’s not sure how to be the big sister that Natalie needs.

After Natalie joins a musical theatre program, Brooke sacrifices her job to volunteer for the backstage crew. She’s mostly there for Natalie, but Brooke soon discovers how much she enjoys being part of the show. Especially sweet is the chance to work closely with charming and fascinating Micah–the production’s stage manager. If only he wasn’t Natalie’s mentor…

When her summer comes to an end, will Brooke finally have the family she so desperately wants–and the love she’s only dreamed about?

---

This book was somewhat okay. It’s kinda actually between 2.5 and 3 stars. I loved Day’s The Possibility of Somewhere, so I wanted to read this one too. Unfortunately, it didn’t manage to meet my expectations.

Brooke had her whole summer planned out, working as much as possible so that she can finally buy her own car. But when her step-sister Natalie who suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome comes to stay with them for the summer. And when Natalie ends up getting a role in a play, her plans take another route. She decides to stay with her sister in the rehearsals so that she can come to the rescue her sister whenever needs her and there she also meets Micah whom she develops feelings for.

Sooo, I didn’t know what I was going into but I’m glad I learned about Asperger’s Syndrome. I felt that this book had a lot of potentials but it fell flat for me. This book is essentially character-centric and that’s what saved it from completely drowning. One of the things that I loved this book was how caring Brooke was towards her step-sister, Natalie. Although she unintentionally hurt Brooke a number of times but I loved the fact that she was protective of her and stood up for her whenever anyone badmouthed her, even to her best friend (who was really shitty btw). But it was a little weird that she never spoke her mind even when the lines crossed.

The thing that I did not like about the book was the romance. It was out of nowhere and a little insta-e. I understand they met during the rehearsals and Brooke also started working as an assistant there but I felt there was no chemistry between her and Micah. Not at all. It kinda felt forced. I would have loved if this book solely focused on Brooke and Natalie’s relationship and the growing bond between them. I wanted to see more of it. That simply would have been enough but oh well.

Also, I wanted to see more of their family together. It was clear that Brooke did not have the same kind of relationship with her step-father like Natalie and although it came to a conclusion, I felt it was rushed as well.

Aaaand as per following the cliched norm, Brooke makes the most foolish decision in the last part of this book before realising her mistake. Brooke felt like a mature character and this part kinda seemed out of her character because there were other ways to deal with that particular matter.

Overall, Fade to Us was an okay read. I liked the characters but this book didn’t leave much of an impression on me. I just wish a few things were executed in a different manner. Anyway, the writing was smooth and the pace was even throughout the book. I really hope I enjoy her next book!!

Recommend it?

Maybe.

---

Soo guys have you read this?? Is it on your tbr? Have you read any other book by this author?

Review: Noteworthy by Riley Redgate // Where the Notes somewhat touched my Heart

Title: Noteworthy
Author: Riley Redgate
Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, LGBTQ, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Warm
Page Count and Format: 336, Ebook
Published: May 2nd, 2017 by Amulet Books
Source: Purchased
My Rating:

Blurb (from Goodreads):

It’s the start of Jordan Sun’s junior year at the Kensington-Blaine Boarding School for the Performing Arts. Unfortunately, she’s an Alto 2, which—in the musical theatre world—is sort of like being a vulture in the wild: She has a spot in the ecosystem, but nobody’s falling over themselves to express their appreciation. So it’s no surprise when she gets shut out of the fall musical for the third year straight.

Then the school gets a mass email: A spot has opened up in the Sharpshooters, Kensington’s elite a cappella octet. Worshiped … revered … all male. Desperate to prove herself, Jordan auditions in her most convincing drag, and it turns out that Jordan Sun, Tenor 1, is exactly what the Sharps are looking for.

---

Sooooo, yes I am that 1% of the population on this galaxy who didn’t enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. I have mostly read rave reviews of this book but this book just did not click with me. It’s the classic case of it’s me, not you I guess. Like, I do not completely dislike this book but there are simply stuff that I found lacking. 😦

Anyhoooo, this is going to be a smol list post review!

When Jordan’s parents decide to pull her out of her school due to the lack of funds and her not getting on any show due to her different voice, she asks for one last chance. And that chance comes in the form of a group known as Sharpshooters. But here’s the catch. It’s an all boy band. The fun begins when she auditions in the disguise of a male and gets into the band!

What I Enjoyed:

• The gender bender aspect. This kind of plot is always fun to read about although it was a bit cliched (Or maybe I’ve simply watched too many K-Dramas like this!). A woman dressing up like a man in order to pursue her passion. The thrill of hiding, despite everything trudging through to achieve one’s dream, I really loved this aspect in this book.

“Sometimes, good intentions couldn’t do a thing except make you feel less alone, and sometimes that was enough.”

• It was diverse. Our main protagonist Jordan is a bisexual Chinese-American girl who slowly discovers her sexuality throughout the book.

• The characters. Each one of them was unique, I enjoyed the Sharpshooters as a whole, they were fun as well as serious about their music. I especially enjoyed Issac and Jordan’s friendship.

“Life’s not a Greek tragedy.’
After a long second, I shrugged. ‘I mean, if you didn’t sleep with your mom by mistake, that’s fine, but don’t go around acting all superior to the rest of us.”

• It was humorous. This book definitely had its funny moments and I found myself laughing out loud during those particular scenes.

What I didn’t Enjoy:

• It was boring at times. Sometimes I felt that the plot was moving nowhere. It was the same stuff all over again.

• The romance. Although it’s an M/F romance, I wanted more depth in the relationship between the two characters which we didn’t get to see much. More development, more feelings and stuff ya know…

“It’s too simple to hate the people who have doorways where you have walls”

• We didn’t get enough of Trav. Why Oh Why?? I didn’t exactly dislike the guy, no far from that, I actually thought he was going to be the main lead since he was brooding intense guy and he was the first one to capture my attention. Anyway, I wanted to know more about him, his backstory, what happened in the future but unfortunately, I didn’t get that. I wanted that soooo badly!! 😦

Overall, Noteworthy was a good read, it just didn’t leave any long-lasting impression on me. I just couldn’t connect with it but it’s definitely a book worth giving a try. I do not regret reading this book by any means, Jordan was a beautiful character and I loved her journey of how she discovers and accepts herself. The writing was smooth and the pace was even throughout the book.

Recommend it?

Yes.

---

Sooooo guys, have you read this book? If yes, how was your experience? Or is it in your tbr??