2017 in Books | What I Read

Hi, I managed to finish my Goodreads challenge and as per normal it was down to the last few days before I completed my pledge of 35 books. That doesn't sound like much but when I look back I'm in awe of just how many stories and worlds that I've been able to explore. Doing the math it works out at 10 and a half days per book, based on how slow I know I read some of these books, I'm really surprised I hit my goal this year.

 2017 Pledged Books

1. Riot - Sarah Mussi ★★★★☆
2. Seed - Lisa Heathfield ★★★★☆
3. Radio Silence - Alice Oseman ★★★☆☆
4. The Lonely Life of Biddy Weir - Lesley Allen ★★★★☆
5. Nerve - Jeanne Ryan ★★★☆☆
 

6. Solitaire - Alice Oseman ★★★☆☆
7. Beautiful Broken Things - Sara Barnard ★★★☆☆
8. The Girl on the Train - Paula Hawkins ★★★★☆
9. The Silver Linings Playbook - Matthew Quick ★★★☆☆
10. Feed - Mira Grant ★★★☆☆

11. The Potion Diaries - Amy Alward ★★★★☆
12. Royal Tour - Amy Alward ★★★★☆
13. Monster - C.J. Skuse ★★★☆☆
14. The Sky Is Everywhere - Jandy Nelson ★★★★★
15. The Shock of the Fall - Nathan Filer ★★★★☆

16. Paper Butterflies - Lisa Heathfield ★★★★☆
17. If I Was Your Girl - Meredith Russo ★★★★★
18. ...And a Happy New Year? - Holly Bourne ★★★☆☆
19. This Savage Song - Victoria Schwab ★★★★☆
20. Luckiest Girl Alive - Jessica Knoll ★★★☆☆

21. A Quiet Kind of Thunder - Sara Barnard ★★★☆☆
22. Who Runs the World? - Virginia Bergin ★★★☆☆
23. How to Love - Katie Cotugno ★★★★☆
24. Elizabeth Is Missing - Emma Healey ★★★☆☆
25. How Hard Can Love Be? - Holly Bourne ★★★★★

26. Nina is Not OK - Shappi Khorsandi ★★★★☆
27. The Apple Tart of Hope - Sarah Moore Fitzgerald ★★★★☆
28. The Rosie Project - Graeme Simsion ★★★★☆
29. It Only Happens in the Movies - Holly Bourne ★★★★★
30. The Bone Dragon - Alexia Casale ★★★☆☆

31. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves - Karen Joy Fowler ★★★☆☆
32. Damage - Eve Ainsworth ★★★★☆
33. The Young Elites - Marie Lu ★★★★☆
34. The Rose Society - Marie Lu ★★★☆☆
35. The Midnight Star - Marie Lu ★★★★☆

This year I only gave four books five stars. I feel a bit mean about this as looking back there were so many books I really enjoyed but at the time of reading can't have blown me away. The four books that I awarded five stars where; If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo, The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson, How Hard Can Love Be? and It Only Happens in the Movies by Holly Bourne.

What where your favorite book this year?
Sam 

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Reading Roundup | October

Hi, Last month I struggled to find the time to read which looking back is annoying but means I had a very social month. I have every hope I can read more in the months to come and I have the Goodreads challenge to push me to do more reading. I've been lazy on making notes on these books and pre-writing these reviews so they are a little lacking, I still want to document what I've been reading and I hope that I'll introduce you to some books you didn't know about.

Reading Challenge 27/35

Nina is Not OK

Author - Shappi Khorsandi
Page Count - 352
First Published - 2017

I picked this book up on a whim in my local library, I popped in to return a book just before closing so I picked a book I'd marked as available in my library on goodreads and I couldn't remember the synopsis.

The book starts on a night out where seventeen year old Nina thinks her drinking is normal but ends with her not remembering why she's holding her knickers in her hand. She has first hand experience of alcoholism growing up with her father, who eventually died from his addiction. While she doesn't openly use this as an excuse for her own reliance on alcohol she can't deny that it might be a contributing factor. She thinks she has control over her drinking but who's really controlling who?
 
This was an interesting book as I haven't read anything about alcoholism before. It was a hard read to see how alcohol can effect someones life so subtly but so destructively. I always find it so hard to write these posts without giving spoilers. This book maybe triggering as it does cover rape.
 

How Hard Can Love Be?

Author - Holly Bourne
Page Count - 480
First Published - 2016

I enjoyed reading this book so much but I knew I would because I haven't not liked anything by Holly Bourne. This is the middle book in the spinster club story but you can read them out of sequence (as I have). Honestly if you haven't read anything by Holly Bourne go correct that as soon as possible.

Amber is finally going to see her mum for the first time in two years since she left Amber behind to start a new life in America. From the start Amber's reunion with her mother doesn't go as well as she'd hoped and a lot has changed in two years. The plan is to help out at Summer camp and spend time with her mum in the evenings but that soon becomes apparent it isn't going to happen. The redeeming factor of being so far away from home is the friends she makes and the fact that she can still take part in the spinster club from across the globe.

Amber is a lovely character who just wants to be loved, her mother is a recovered (no relapse) alcoholic. As a result Amber has a very weird relationship with her mother as she's seen her at her worst. This plays a big part in this story and it's weird that I've read two books about alcoholism this month.

The Apple Tart of Hope

Author - Sarah Moore Fitzgerald
Page Count - 209
First Published - 2015

I read this book in a day, one day, that never happens. This was a smaller book but I really enjoyed it. I actually got my sister to pick me out a short looking book and this is what she picked. I now want to go and read more of Sarah's titles.
 
Meg and Oscar have grown up living next door to each other and sharing everything while chatting from there bedroom windows. Megs parents plan a six month trip to move them from Ireland to New Zealand, which makes Meg realised she's going to miss Oscar as more than just a friend. The book starts on Megs arrival back in Ireland to attend a remembrance service for Oscar who is missing presumed dead. Meg seeks out Oscar's younger brother Stevie to try and piece together what happened in her absence and hopefully find him.
 
This is such a good little read, there's elements of misunderstandings, bullying and untold feelings. It was such a great short story and I think everyone should try this book.

What have you been reading?

Sam

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Reading Roundup | September

Hi, It's been a while since I've done one of these monthly book reviews and to be honest I want to go back and post the previous books I've missed for my own reference. I'm really behind on my Goodreads challenge but I'm not surprised because I've been slow/lazy with reading. I really need to plan what I want to read during the rest of year to stay on track so keep an eye out for a TBR for the rest of 2017. Both the books I read this month where finds at my favourite charity shop for books because they are only 50p each.

Reading Challenge 24/35

How to Love

Author - Katie Cotugno

Page Count - 389

First Published - 2013

I bought this book about a year ago and finally got round to reading it. As there was such a long time from picking this book out I'd forgotten what it was about, but it's obviously a romance book of sorts. 

Reena has loved Sawyer LeGrande since she can remember. The son of her parents friends they have grown up together but Sawyer has never shown Reena any attention until one day they fall in messy love. Sawyer leaves without an explanation, leaving Reena behind. Time passes and Reena has a new love of her life, her daughter Hannah. One day Sawyer arrives back in their lives and Renna has to work out where he fits in her new life.

This book was such a fun read because of the writing style of telling both the before and present story in alternative chapters. I overall wasn't blown away by this book but I did enjoy reading it and seeing how the story developed. I don't want to give spoilers but there's so much more to this story than I've explained above. I really enjoyed how as the reader was giving little bits of information from the past that then made the present situation make more sense.

 

Elizabeth is Missing

Author - Emma Healey

Page Count - 275

First Published - 2015

I've had this book on my radar as one I've wanted to pick up and it finally turned up at 50p. I hadn't realised until writing this post but this is another book that moves from past to present. This book does it more creatively through the main character getting confused and transitioning from present to past via memory triggers.

Maud is elderly and losing her memory to dementia. She writes notes to remind herself of things but doesn't remember what they mean. There's one note however that keeps resurfacing which is that her best friend Elizabeth is missing. The present story interlinks with the disappearance of Mauds sister
Sukey when she was a little girl. Maud is trying to solve one disappearance while getting confused and trying to solve the mystery behind her sisters disappearance.

I found this book a little long winded because I didn't have the time to sit down and totally indulge. I find this is a massive issue I have with my overall reading experience, it's me not the book. Again no spoilers, there's so much more to this story and if you only read it for one reason read it because it's an insight into dementia and how it affects people.

Any short story recommendations (I've got a lot of catching up to do on Goodreads)?

Sam

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Reading Roundup | May

Hi, Last month was a slow one for reading, I only finished two books, I'm really hoping to find the time in June to catch up on my Goodreads goal (currently one book behind). Both the books I read last month where ones I knew nothing about because I picked them up from my local charity shop for just 50p each.

Reading Challenge 14/35

The Sky Is Everywhere

Author - Jandy Nelson

Page Count - 320

First Published - 2010
 

Seventeen year old Lennie Walker is an avid clarinet player and content with living life in the slow lane shadowed by her older sister Bailey. The story starts just after Bailey's sudden death and covers Lennie’s feelings and how she handles the sudden loss of her sister. Lennie is forced to take center stage in her own life and suddenly boys are very much a part of her life. She is stuck between Toby her sister’s boyfriend who she finds a connection with because of their joint grief and the new boy who causes Lennie immense happiness. I was reading this book waiting for the inevitable to happen.

I read 'I'll give you the sun' another book by Jandy Nelson and loved her writing style, it’s very similar in this book, very honest and funny at times. A classic YA of self discovery with some romance thrown in, also covering grief and guilt. One of my favourite parts about this book is the illustrated pages littered throughout the book with these poems/stories that Lennie writes and then hides.

Monster

Author – C.J. Skuse
Page Count - 318
First Published - 2015

Nash is sixteen and thinks her biggest struggle is the fight for head girl at her prestigious boarding school Bathory. Her brother goes missing while traveling and her parents are forced to leave Nash at the school over the Christmas holidays to try and locate him. There have been reports of sightings of the Beast of Bathory (an old town legend) and people are going missing or been found dead. A blizzard rages outside the school and things start to get weird. The girls left behind over the holidays have to work together to survive until help arrives.

I believe this book would be classed as a thriller but with a YA setting, I'm not the biggest fan of thrillers as I feel a lot of the book tends to be filler to hold the suspense. I didn't dislike this book but I do think it's one that needs to be devoured and read in a few sittings to truly make the most of it. I struggled with the book because I didn't have the time to truly get into it.

Is there a genre of book you struggle to enjoy?

Sam

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Reading Roundup | April

Hi, I read two very different genres this month one about zombies the other was whimsical. According to Goodreads I'm a book ahead of my goal at the moment which makes me very happy. I've no idea what I want to read next (I've got a few books waiting for me, I just can't pick). 

Reading Challenge 12/35

Feed (Newsflesh Trilogy 1)

Author - Mira Grant

Page Count - 599

First Published - 2010
 

I wanted to read a book about Zombies and with the end of the walking dead looming I decided to pick up the first book in the Newsflesh Trilogy. I don't think I'd done too much research into this story line as I didn't want spoilers but it's not the kind of Zombie book I was really after but it was interesting in it's own way.

The book features a brother sister duo (who are both adopted and not related) living in the aftermath of a zombie uprising 20 years after the event. Society has found a way to continue by living along side zombies and things like the internet are still going strong. Georgia and Shaun alongside friend Buffy run a successful blog documenting and keeping the public knowledgeable about the zombies. They get an invite to be the personal team to document a presidential candidates campaign and that's where the story begins.

This was a lengthy book and I think that's why I'm not rushing to finish the series as the other books are just as big. The story looks at a zombie outbreak in some interesting way that I'm not sure I've seen so far (like the fact that everyone basically becomes vegetarian). If you're after a the dead are rising type book then this isn't for you, but if you're interested to see a world after then it was pretty interesting.

The Potion Diaries

Author - Amy Alward

Page Count - 356

First Published - 2015
 

Would it be weird if I said I wanted to read this book because the lead character is called Samantha? I wanted to read something lighthearted and that I knew I could finish relatively quickly after previously reading such a long book.

Samantha Kemi comes from a family of previously famous alchemists, who have a little potions store in Kingstown. The story is centered around the fact that the Princess of Nova accidentally administers a love potion to herself and this puts the whole kingdom in danger. A hunt is then called to all alchemist to find the cure before it's too late. There's an interesting mix of modern and magical which brings this book right up to date.

This book was kinda cheesy but I honestly loved how easy it was to get drawn into the story which had everything from young love, danger, trails of friendship and Unicorns. If you fancy a quick read that's not all that serious I'd really recommend, I think this would be a great book for younger readers as it's so innocent.

The Potion Diaries - Royal Tour

Author - Amy Alward

Page Count - 372

First Published - 2016
 

Obviously I had to read the follow up book as it was sat on my shelf. I always find writing about sequels hard as I'm scared of giving anything away from the previous story.

It contains a lot of the same elements as the first book but this time Samantha Kemi is searching for her great-grandmothers lost journal. It's believed that she created the most powerful potion for healing and now there's a rush on to find it first before anyone with sinister intentions finds it.

I think you could quite easily read this book as a stand alone as anything you might have missed is referenced again to fill in missed information or refresh your mind to the previous plot. I worried that this book might be a little repetitive but it's fast pace and descriptive scene setting makes it a really pleasant read.

What have you been reading? Are you working on a Goodreads goal?

Sam

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Reading Roundup | March

Hi, I've got my book reviews for the last month to share today. I feel like my reading has slowed down a lot but I'm still keeping on target with my reading challenge so it's not all bad. I've got some bulky books lined up I want to read so I'll have to try and make more time to keep on track.
 

Reading Challenge 9/35

Beautiful Broken Things

Author - Sara Barnard

Page Count - 322

First Published - 2016
 

This book marks the end of me reading YA for a little while. I don't remember why I choose to read this book as the blurb doesn't really say much but I think sometimes it's best to go into a book blind. The book features depression which seems to be a very common theme within YA at the moment. I don't think this is a bad thing as it's a subject that need to be talked about.

Beautiful broken things is the story of friendship between teenage girls. In this case what happens when two life long friends gain a third friend and the pressure it can put on the original friendship. The story is set from the perspective of Caddy, showing her changing feelings towards her life long friendship with Rosie and her uncertainty of the new arrival Suzanne.

I'm on the fence with this book, I neither loved or hated it. It's so hard to explain why without giving away the story but as with most books that are set in the mundane something crazy happens that just makes the story unrealistic, either that or I was a really boring teenager.

The Girl On The Train

Author - Paula Hawkins

Page Count - 316

First Published - 2015

I'm not a big fan of psychological thrillers and that is probably the reason why books such as this one I still haven't been tempted to pick up. I was gifted this book for my Birthday and so I had no reason not to finally read it.

Rachel catches the same train every day, it stops at the same signal where she can look in on a family. She fantasizes about their perfect life and wishes that she could be that happy. Until one day when she sees something that changes everything. She is then given the opportunity to emerge herself in their reality.

This is a story about depression, loss, jealousy and ownership. The book is written from the perspectives of three different woman Rachel the alcoholic, Anna the liar and Megan the cheat. Chapters change from perspective and time throughout the story. I'm happy to say that while the ending was a little predictable I hadn't guessed it so that was refreshing.

The Silver Linings Playbook

Author - Matthew Quick

Page Count - 289

First Published - 2012

This is one of those I want to watch the film but want to read the book first situations. I'm a big fan of Jennifer Lawrence as an actress so I was instantly drawn to the story. It's another book that features mental health.

Pat Peoples has just returned home from a stay in a psychiatric hospital. How long and why he went there in the first place are things Pat has forgotten. Pat believes in silver linings and that one day soon apart time with his wife Nikki will end. He meets Tiffany a women with her own problems who befriends Pat.

The book is set from Pat's perspective and written in an almost diary entry way. The book overall is a bit repetitive in theme with a few moments where there are advancements in Pats memory triggered by finding items or through conversations with his family and friends. I'm really looking forward to watching the film adaptation as I feel that the chemistry between the characters will be better portrayed from a different perspective.
 

What have you been reading?

Sam

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Reading Roundup | February

Hi, This month was a bit of a slow one for reading. I've got two reviews for you today, both books I got out of my local library hence the protective covers in the photo. I'm hoping to get more reading done in March but we'll see. I'm sure to get a brand new selection of books to choose from for my Birthday.
 

Reading Challenge 6/35

Nerve

Author - Jeanna Ryan

Page Count - 320

First Published - 2016
 

Nerve is one of the books on my to read list this year. I was introduced to this story when I saw the trailer for the film and wanted to know more. Me being me I wanted to read the book before watching the film and that is what I did.

The story is about Vee a teenage girl who is seen by her friends as very predictable. She's not one to do anything daring or risky until Nerve. Nerve is a dare game run via the interenet by anonymous hosts. The idea is you're either a player or a watcher, if you're a player you do ever increasingly difficult/dangerous dares to get better and better prizes. Vee decided to show her friends that she's not the character profile they think she is and starts playing.

The book while fast paced for me was a little over the top. Vee's response to what was happening wasn't very logical and as such annoyed me. I think the dares where pretty pants at times too which only made me dislike this book more. I watched the film as soon as I finished the book and apart from the general plot the film is totally different. I preferred the film because it held the time frame better and the dares seemed more realistic.

Solitaire

Author - Alice Oseman

Page Count - 392

First Published - 2014
 

I read 'Radio Silence' Alice's second novel last month and I wanted to read her debut novel to compare her writing style. Like her previous book I was left feeling like the point of the story had gone over my head but I don't know if this was me or the book.

Tory is portrayed as a depressed teenager with no interests or motivation. She has a few friends within her all girls school education that she goes through the motions with but overall she doesn't care. When she starts her sixth form year and some boys join her year group she's forced to question her idea of friendship new and old. The underlying story of the book is based around Solitaire a blog which is causing trouble, which in general didn't really aid the main point of the story being Tory's depression.

I think this book was clique and while I don't want to pass judgement on the portrayal of depression this book just annoyed me a lot. I found it quite boring, nothing really happened and the most exciting bits where unnecessary.

What have you been reading?

Sam

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Reading Roundup | January

Hi, Okay so is it just me or did January like disappear. I can't believe it's already February and yeah it's a total clique but this last month for me pasted in a blur. With that said I do think I did well with my reading completing more than was required to stay on target for the year. I've managed to finish four books which where all so different and equally interesting.

Reading Challenge 4/35

Riot

Author - Sarah Mussi

Page Count - 352

First Published - 2014
 

I seem to be opting for a lot of YA that ask questions and gets you thinking and Riot is no exception. I read the blurb and wanted to read it straight away and I managed to read this book in just two days which is a bit of a record for me. I wanted to keep reading and see what was going to happen next. It’s got short chapters which moves the story on quickly and made it a really enjoyable read.

Riot starts from the perspective of Tia Thomson as she takes part in a protest against the ‘no more children in need’ bill also known as the snip bill. The welfare system is at breaking point and the government want to take action before it’s too late by curving the ongoing need for benefits. Teenagers from unprivileged backgrounds are going to be sterilised if the bill is passed by the government because of the twisted logic of those in charge.

The story makes you question who you should trust and that not everything written in black and white is necessarily true. As always I'm finding it hard to say why I enjoyed this book so much without giving away the whole plot. It contains violence and reflected on how peaceful protests can easily become riots.

Seed

Author - Lisa Heathfield

Page Count - 335

First Published - 2015

This is a book I've wanted to read for a long time, I'm glad I finally got around to reading it. This is not a book you should go into lightly as the subject matter is rather dark and it's not an easy read, but it's one that I would recommend.

Pearl is an innocent 15 year old girl who lives at Seed, a secluded place where a big family all live together. They worship nature and their leader Papa S. Seed is all Pearl has ever known of the world and she is happy. One day a family from the outside come to live at Seed and forces Pearl to question the world she knows when a boy called Ellis tells her of the realities which contradict her teachings.

It was scary to read about life in a cult because it shows how easy it is to brainwash people and then to condition the younger generations by keeping them secluded and under educated. I'm looking forward to reading Lisa Heathfield's other book Paper Butterflies.

Radio Silence

Author - Alice Oseman

Page Count - 410

First Published - 2016

I have mixed feelings about Radio Silence as on some levels I really connected with the story but then on other issues it just seemed drawn out and missed the point it was trying to make. It might be the classic maybe I'm too old for YA fiction now but overall I enjoyed this book.

The main character Frances is an A star pupil and that is what she's known for within her school. At home she's a super fan of a podcast called Radio Silence for which she spends her time creating secret fan art. Her two personalities never mix until she becomes friends with Aled the boy who lives across the street.

The story looks into the idea that you don't need to get amazing grades to have a future in this world. That being true to what you really want is after all more important than the ideas that people might have for your future. I think it would be a great book to read if you feel pressured about going into further educations.

The Lonely Life of Biddy Weir*

Author - Lesley Allen
Page Count - 352
First Published - 2016

This book was rather heart breaking, it's the story of Biddy Weirs childhood and it was a pretty terrible one, all because of one girl and an unfortunate start in life. Biddy was bullied for the age of 10 when the new girl Alison started at her school and decided to make it her mission to make Biddy pay because she didn't swoon at her like everyone else, she singled her out from the start as a weirdo.

Biddy lived alone with her older than average father after her mother left shortly after her birth. With no female role models Biddy was left behind in the way of fashion and many things a girl her age would find totally normal. This caused her to look and act differently and so she was an easy target.

I loved this book because it felt so real and the bullying was written so well that you couldn't help but want to reach out to biddy and help her. I loved the way the book was written as it starts at the end then goes back to the beginning to tell you the story of how she came to be in that situation. While the book is sad the ending left me feeling satisfied that there's such a thing as karma.

What have you been reading?

Sam

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*This book was won in Goodreads giveaway