It’s Not Me, It’s You by Mhairi McFarlane | #Sassybooks February

Hi, I'm back with another #Sassybooks review, I missed last month's so it's great to be back taking part. This month we read a book from the chick lit genre because it's the month of love. This was a nice read that didn't take too long. I was reading a hard back copy from the library and I forget how heavy they can be, don't forget to check out Charlotte's and Hayley's blogs for next month's book choice.

 It’s Not Me, It’s You

Author - Mhairi McFarlane
Page Count - 544
First Published - 2014

The general story is based around Delia's relationship with long standing boyfriend Paul. Delia has everything she wants in life but just wants things to move a little faster than they are and so sets about planning to propose to Paul. She has everything ready and goes ahead with her proposal and everything is great until Delia gets a text meant for someone else. As you might have guessed things suddenly don't go as planned.

The story then goes onto Delia's misadventures in London meeting new people and making a life for herself, something she felt she could no longer do. There are a few intertwined story lines about her work and social life mixed with a fun twist that Delia has a comic series which she revives during this time. The illustrates run within the book displaying her take on the goings on in her life.

I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it, it's a great story about empowerment and self belief and shows how important friends are. It has a nice balance of highs and lows and some genuinely funny points. I think it's also quite topical at the moment with the proposal role switch, as it's a leap year and traditional for woman to propose on the 29th of February.

Have you read 'It's Not Me, It's You'?
Sam

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July Reading Roundup | Book Reviews

Hi, I would normally do a single book review but as I have four books to review I decided it was best for everyone if I grouped them all together in one post. In total I have read five books this month, the fifth which is missing from this post was 'Only Ever Yours' which I reviewed as part of the #SassyBooks book club, read my review here. This is a crazy amount of books for me to have read and I'm a little in shock that I have read all of these in such a short amount of time.

A Flash of Blue

Author - Maria Farrer

Page Count - 344

First Published -2015

A young adult book, the story is told from the perspective of Amber a teenage girl who's brother Liam suddenly dies. The story is about how she copes with the loss and the effect it has on her life and the others around her. Amber has guilt attached to her brothers death, she feels it's in some way her doing because she took something of his on the day he died. There's a element of a hanging question as he was going to tell her something but never got the chance. Liam's best friend Tyler was with him when he died and their father blames him. Tyler moves away and it isn't until the anniversary of Liam's death that Amber sees him again. I don't want to give too much away, the story kicks off from there and becomes a journey of been caught up with the wrong people, secrets and misunderstood feelings.

This was a super easy read and a quick one too, I finished this book within just two nights of starting it. Even though it is a quick read it's a fully formed story which feels nice and finished at the end. The characters are well written, I could feel myself getting annoyed and worried for characters at points.

The Broken

Author - Tamar Cohen

Page Count - 398

First Published - 2014

 

This is the story of two couples and how their relationships are tested when one couple separates. The other couple try to stay out of the mess which the break up has become, but they inevitably get caught up in it. There as split loyalties between the couple as they are both still friends with the now separated couple. Their four year old daughter is like a sister to the other couples four year old, which creates it's own problems. It doesn't help the situation that the man from the relationship who broke it up is now living with a 25 year old model, only weeks after he left. 

There are some really real issues brought up in this story and I really enjoyed seeing how the characters reacted to all the different situations. This is a pretty grown up subject different from the young adult novels I normally read and quite mundane because of it. There are these weird diary entries at the end of the chapters which don't relate to any of the named characters, these end up explaining a lot when you get to the end and things become more apparent, it was a nice little twist to the book which made it more than just a break up story.

The Murder Wall

Author - Mari Hannah

Page Count - 457

First Published - 2012

A story of Murder, the first page of the book is a shocker with the rather brutal rape and murder of a teenage girl but the rest of the book is quite toned down in comparison, althow there are other moments of adult content which isn't appropriate for younger readers. The main character is Chief Inspector Kate Daniels, she stumbles upon the murdered teenage girl and vicar at her childhood hometown while visiting the church her mother used to go too. The story picks up a year after the murder which remains unsolved. Daniels is put on a murder case as the Senior Investigating Officer. When she visits the crime scene she recognizes the victim but fails to disclose the fact, risking her job. She is too emotionally involved in the case because of this but it's too late.

There is an element of who done it, but then the book quite quickly points the finger at the murderer. I found the ending to be rather anti climatic as well, but I did enjoy the story. This book has 100 chapters in total some only two pages long, I really like a book with short chapters it just makes me feel like I've accomplished something when I can read ten chapters in one night, must have helped me to read the book quicker as well.

Ways to Live Forever

Author - Sally Nicholls

Page Count - 205

First Published - 2008

This is a really simple little read, the book really isn't that thick. It is classed as a children's book and won the Waterstones Children's book of the year among other awards. It is about Sam a boy who has Leukemia. The book is made up of diary entries about Sam's day to day life with a mixture of lists and questions from the perspective of a dying eleven year old boy. The book touches on some real issues regarding his family and the mental state of a child with Cancer. 

The book ends in such a way that I felt genuinely sad, but I really recommend this book if you want something short to past the time. The book is beautifully put together as if it is Sam's own work book where he has been writing his story, it just adds to the overall feel of the book.

Thanks for reading. Hope I have inspired you to do some reading of your own. If you have any recommendations please let me know. What is your favourite book genre?

Sam

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Book Review | Ready Player One

Hi! I've done a review of a book I finished reading a little while ago now, I'm still thinking about it. Ready Player One is set at a time when resources are running out. People have abandoned reality and spend most of their lives playing on the Oasis, a virtual reality network. Energy resources started to run out and everyone headed to the nearest large city where power was still available so they can get a connection. Due to condensed population and deterioration of living standards most people now live in trailers stacked 50 high.

Ready Player One

Author - Ernest Cline
First Published  - August 2011

Page Count - 374

The story really takes off when James Halliday the creator of the oasis dies. A game is launched to look for a hidden Easter egg within the fantasy world, the person to find the egg inherits the Oasis. Wade the central character through who's eye the story is told and the other main characters are underdogs all trying to find somewhere they fit in, the oasis is that place. Having the chance to create alternative persona's gives them all a chance at living life to the full, finding the Easter egg becomes their goal. There are others out there known as the Sixers also playing the game with the motive of winning to destroy everything the oasis stands for.

This is a good geeky read but also easily relate-able for non-gamers, it references lost of old 80's pop culture. It's a fast paced story which keeps you guessing. Worth a read if you like to read books to then compare the film adaptation as the book is due to be made into a film directed by Steven Spielberg. I really enjoyed this book and managed to finished it rather quickly considering I'm a slow reader as the story drew me in and I couldn't put the book down.

Have you read Ready Player One?

Sam

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Summer Reading List

Hi, with summer just around the corner I decided to put together a small list of books I would like to read over the coming months (I'm a slow reader so I doubt I'll read them all). Some of these are old books that I've seen around and not had the time to read yet or new books which I don't want to miss out on. During the summer months I can get some devoted reading time in, hopefully while sat in the summer sunshine.

One Day By David Nicholls

£2.00 - Amazon

A book that has always been quite high on my reading wishlist but I just haven't had the time. I am yet too see the film because of this as I feel it spoils the book, so once I've finished reading it I can finally watch the film adaptation. A story about two people who meet up for one day every year for 20 years.

Station Eleven By Emily St. John Mandel

£3.85 - Amazon

I was introduced to this book via a blog review. I love apocalypse stories so this is right up my street and look at the cover it's such a pretty deer image. A story about preserving what is precious once a deadly virus hits.

The Broken By Tamar Cohen

£5.24 - Amazon

I'm not really a reader of psychological stories but I figured I'd give this one a chance. It is based around the relationship of two married couples and what happens when their relationships break down.

How to Build a Girl By Caitlin Moran

£3.85 - Amazon

This book doesn't have the best reviews but I'm drawn too it regardless, who knows what's behind the cover of a book until you open it and read it. I don't like to take other peoples opinions on books too seriously. This is the story about a 14 year old girl with the intention of killing herself.

A Storm of Swords - George RR Marten
7 Book Box Set £32.50 - Amazon

The third book in the series I'm so far behind on the story and I was very late into the whole Game of Thrones thing. I only started watching the TV series after the first two series had aired and finished but I joined the masses on the release of the third series to get my weekly Game of Thrones fix and have been hooked since. As there are a few differences between the books and TV version there's no harm in reading as well as watching this epic story.

What will you be reading this summer?

Sam

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