Advent Readathon TBR

Hello! Welcome to the last of three December Readathon TBR’s. I can’t wait to get some reading done. If you want to take part in this readathon, I’ll leave the link here. It goes from the 1st of December to the 24th.

Now, the challenges:

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Oh Christmas Tree: Read a green book

There are bits of green on the cover of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – J K Rowling so I’m counting it.

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Deck the Halls: Read a red book

I meant to read this last year but I didn’t get around to finishing my TBR. So here is my pick for this challenge, The Afterlife of Holly Chase – Cynthia Hand. I’ve heard it particularly Christmassy

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Silent Night: Read a book solely at night
– Well, I work nights so this will be easy. I’ll be reading Let it Snow – John Green. It isn’t a long book and work allowing I should be able to read it in a few days.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Read a book featuring an animal
– Shiver – Maggie Stiefvater is about a wolf. It’s set around Christmas and I’ve been waiting for this time of the year to read it. It’s one of my series to read before 2022 so hopefully, I’ll be able to knock it out of the park.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town: Read a book that will get you in the holiday spirit
– A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens. I’ve been meaning to read this for years. Pretty self-explanatory. I want to watch the Micky Mouse adaptation again as well.

Jingle Bell Rock: Rock that TBR – Read a book that has been on your TBR for way too long
– Little Women – Louisa May Alcott. I’ve been meaning to read this for years as well. Classics just get away from me.

Away in a Manger: Read a Christmas Classic
– The Snow Queen – Hans Christian Anderson. I hadn’t heard of this one before but as I’m lead to believe this is the book that Stealing Snow is based off and since I have Stealing Snow out from the Library. Why not read this one as well?

 I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus: Read a book with romance
Dash and Lily’s book of Dares – Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. I’ve had this book recommended to be so many times and I’ve finally got it out from the library and I’m ready to read it and possibly the sequel. Time affording.

We Wish You A Merry Christmas: Read a book that gives you all the feels
My True Love Gave To Me – edited by Stephanie Perkins. This is a Christmassy bind up of short stories and I am so there. I love short stories at Christmas.

Six White Boomers: Read a summery book
A Bad Boy Stole My Bra – Lauren Price. I took this out from the library recently and as you can guess I’m curious to see what it’s about.

All I Want For Christmas: Read a book that has been gifted to you
People don’t often buy me books, I’m really picky so they just give me a gift card to get my own. So, a book I got with someone else’s money for my birthday would be Bittersweet – Sarah Ockler. I’m lead to believe this is quite Christmassy as well. Double Score.

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday: Read a book that will give you holiday nostalgia
There was only ever one book I would have chosen for this challenge and that was The Night Before Christmas – Clement C Moore. This is the ultimate Christmas Nostalgia book!

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And that’s my Christmas TBR complete! What are you reading?

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Christmas At Hogwarts TBR! #MagicalReadathon

I’m finally getting around to writing down my TBR for this readathon. I am so excited to be taking part in this Harry Potter themed readathon! It’s hosted by the lovely lady at Book Roast and goes from the 17th of December to the 26th!. Without further ado here are the challenges and my TBR!

So, as pure usual, I’ve gotten a little excited and decided to read a book for every challenge instead of following a particular course. But I’m fairly confident in my TBR so here goes:

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Finish your coursework – finish your current read

My current read for the 1st of December will probably be the same book I’m reading now which is Ella Enchanted – Gail Carson Levine. I recently watched the film and noticed the book at the library and just had to borrow it out. If I’ve finished this book then I’ll update it with a different book.

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Help Hagrid decorate the trees – book with a golden detail

This edition of The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus – L. Frank Baum is utterly stunning and particularly festive. I don’t actually own this edition but I’ll be reading this book for the challenge. I can’t wait to read more classics.

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Have a snowball fight with the Weasley twins – a book you think will be humorous

How the Grinch Stole Christmas – Dr Seuss. I have always wanted to read this book but I’ve never gotten around to it. I want to see the film as well. The new one and the old one. I’m not well versed in The Grinch but I’m hoping that changes this Christmas. The Grinch just sounds funny.

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Visit 3 Broomsticks for muller pixie wine – a read that should only take you a day/evening

The Nutcracker – E. T. A Hoffman. I remember watching the Barbie and the Nutcracker film as a kid and I adored it. I can’t wait to read the book that inspired it. I want to watch The Nutcracker and the Four Realms as well. I’m fairly certain this book will be really short and I’ll probably read it during a night shift.

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Exchange presents at your Common Room – read featuring/about friendship

The Snowman – Raymond Briggs. I can’t wait to finally watch this film and read this book. It’s a staple of Christmas and I haven’t bothered reading it yet but this year will be different.

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Sneak into the kitchen to gift dobby odd socks – read that has an item of clothing on the cover

My New Crush Gave To Me – Shani Petroff. The entire cover of this book is a Christmas jumper so I figured it worked for the challenge. It’s one of the only YA Christmas books on my TBR so I’m working it into the challenge somehow.

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Attend a Yule Ball – a book you’ve been preparing yourself for

A Monster Calls – Patrick Ness. I recently bought this book from a library sale. It’s the Special Hardcover edition that has information on how they made the film in it. It was only 50p because it’s particularly banged up but I can still read it and I’m ready and prepared. I’ve been putting it off because I’ve heard its really emotional but I’m powering through.

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Fly around snowy Hogwarts grounds – building on the cover

Snowed in – Rachel Hawthorne. I saw the audiobook of this on Scribd and I’m excited to give it a read. There aren’t too many YA Christmas books and this is another that I’m going in blind for. But I still can’t wait to find out what happens.

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Put on your knitted sweater from Molly Weasley – read with present parents or a focus on family

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – J K Rowling. Hoping to read this towards the end of the readathon. I’ve never read the last two books so this will be a momentous occasion. This book series has a high focus on friends and family.

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Use your Invisibility Cloak to get to the Restricted Section of the Hogwarts Library – read a banned book

The Witches – Roald Dahl. Not the most Christmassy of books but I adore this book so much. It’s one of my favourite Roald Dahl books and once again once I read the book again I can watch the film! I can’t believe this is a banned book. What garbage. It’s a hilarious read.

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Bring a festive treat to Hedwig at the Owlery – animal on the cover/title/series name

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe – CS Lewis. I read this last year and I’m so excited to read it again. Will I continue with the series? Who knows? I might.

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Attend the Christmas Feast – watch a Harry Potter movie (optional)

An excuse to watch a Harry Potter Film? Heaven Forbid. Well. I want to watch A History of Magic. I know it isn’t a Harry Potter films but it’s about Harry Potter and I really want to watch it.

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And there is my TBR, what are you reading?

Tis the Season-A-Thon TBR

Hello! and Welcome to the first of three December TBR Posts! I’m taking part in the Tis the Season-a-thon. It’s running from the 3rd to the 9th of December and I am so excited to get some reading done after the huge slump I’ve been in.

So, if you want to take part as well. Here’s the link.

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Let’s get into the challenges! Because I am so ready to knock this out of the park!

Read a book with red/green on the cover
There’s red on the cover and I’ve been told that it’s set around Christmas so I will be reading Girl Online – Zoe Sugg. I’ve owned this entire series since it came out and I haven’t gotten around to reading it yet. It’s on my list of series to read before 2022 so double whammy.

Read a book whilst listening to holiday music
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl. Short and Sweet. This is one of my favourite Roald Dahl books and I’m extremely excited to read the audiobook this year.

Read a warm and fuzzy book

Well, I don’t know about this particular book being warm and fuzzy but Harry Potter itself makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside so I’m counting it. I’ll be reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – J K Rowling

Read a short book (under 250 Pages)
Almost Midnight – Rainbow Rowell. This little book is definitely under 250 pages and I forgot to read it last year so this time I’m knocking it out of the park early.

Read a holiday-themed book
Love on the Lifts – Rachel Hawthorne. I’ve never heard of this book before but I’ve been scouring the internet for days for YA Christmas books and this is one of the ones I’ve found. They’re in such short supply. But I’ll let you know what I think with a review later.

Read the group book – Snow in Love – Melissa de la Cruz, Nic Stone, Aimee Friedman, and Kasie West
I’m so glad this is the group book, I’m so excited to read it. Kasie West is so cute and I’ve really got a thing for Melissa De La Cruz.

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And there is my TBR for this readathon! What are you reading? Are we reading any of the same?

Book Review: Always and Forever, Lara Jean

Paperback Cover for Always and Forever, Lara Jean

Title: Always and Forever, Lara Jean.
Author: Jenny Han
Publication Date: 2nd May 2017
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Series / Stand Alone: Book #3 in the To All The Boy’s I’ve Loved Before Series
Genre: Romance, Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 325 pages
The Format I read: Audiobook
Amazon
Goodreads 
Rating: 

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Lara Jean is having the best senior year.

And there’s still so much to look forward to: a class trip to New York City, prom with her boyfriend Peter, Beach Week after graduation, and her dad’s wedding to Ms. Rothschild. Then she’ll be off to college with Peter, at a school close enough for her to come home and bake chocolate chip cookies on the weekends.

Life couldn’t be more perfect!

At least, that’s what Lara Jean thinks . . . until she gets some unexpected news.

Now the girl who dreads change must rethink all her plans—but when your heart and your head are saying two different things, which one should you listen to?

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This was the finale that I was waiting for, I flew through this book in a day because I couldn’t put it down. This book broke me and then fixed me in 325 pages. It was both the worse and the best and I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried my eyes out during this book.

Hardcover Cover for Always and Forever, Lara Jean

Lara Jean and Peter spent the majority of this book asking themselves the question of whether or not they’ll manage to stay together when they go away to college considering nobody else wants them together. Josh makes a handful of appearances in this book where he, much like Margot has moved on and is now dating someone else. John Ambrose McClaren makes two appearances towards the end of the book and his appearances does nothing but serve as one of the reasons that Lara and Peter break up AGAIN! Honestly, at this point, I was getting tired of their constant up and downs.

One of the most heartbreaking moments of this book was when Stormy died. I wasn’t prepared for this book to take that turning. I didn’t see it coming and that shock factor was the worst. Stormy was without a doubt my favourite character in this whole series and it was heartbreaking to lose her. It is a fitting tribute to wear Stormy’s ring to the prom though, that made me smile.
It’s also rather sweet that Lara Jean doesn’t really go back to the nursing home again after Stormy dies. Only the once for her memorial. I like that the last words that Stormy says in the book are the most important towards the storyline.

“Never say no when you really want to say yes” 

This quote embodies the entire struggle of the book, about college about relationships and indeed in true Lara Jean fashion, worrying about sex. One of the main issues that Lara Jean faces is whether or not her and Peter are going to have sex before they leave for college and that’s so topical its unreal. So many people are facing these same issues as they leave school and it’s important that the topic broached during the book.
One of the other main issues that Lara Jean faces is pleasing everyone else or pleasing herself. She’s got to choose whether or not to go to the college she doesn’t want and then transfer after a year to be with Peter or to go to an amazing college that she got in to but risk the idea of breaking up with Peter because she doesn’t know if it will work.

It’s the same issue that Margot faced before she left for Scotland and seeing as the sisters

are vastly different in personalities, I’m glad they made different choices towards their love lives. I’m annoyed that the took until the last couple of pages for Peter to decide that he does want to be with Lara Jean and to come and tell her. In my opinion that should have been Lara Jean. She should have apologised that time. Even though everyone seems to have an opinion on their relationship. Everyone seems to have an opinion on what they should do in the future and it doesn’t seem like the opinions of Lara Jean or Peter matter. Which whilst stereotypical of teenage relationships was still incredibly frustrating to read.

I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to finish the series, wants to see how it all panned out. Anyone who wants to have a good cry and read a good book series. This is a short summery read and it’s perfect for pulling anyone out of a reading slump and I couldn’t recommend the audiobooks enough.

Book Review: P.S. I Still Love You – Jenny Han

Paperback Cover of P.S. I Still Love You.

Title: P.S. I Still Love You
Author: Jenny Han
Publication Date: 26th May 2015
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Series / Stand Alone: Book #2 in the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before Series
Genre: Romance, Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 337 pages
The Format I read: Audiobook
Amazon
Goodreads 
Rating: 

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Synopsis From Goodreads:

Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter.
She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever.
When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

In this charming and heartfelt sequel to the New York Times bestseller To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, we see first love through the eyes of the unforgettable Lara Jean. Love is never easy, but maybe that’s part of what makes it so amazing. 

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I liked this sequel. I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as the first book but I liked it all the same. I couldn’t help but feel like this entire book could have been skipped. It didn’t need to happen. All that really happened, in a nutshell, was Lara Jean and Peter broke up and she explored the option of John Ambrose McClaren and then Lara Jean and Peter got

Paperback Cover for P.S. I Still Love You – Jenny Han

back together within the last 50ish pages.

So, we’re back exactly where we were before the book started. We’ve just aged a year and Lara Jean’s dad has a girlfriend who is the woman that Lara Jean and Kitty make fun of throughout the first film. Oh and Gen admitted that the whole reason that Lara Jean and herself aren’t friends is because of that kiss with Peter from Middle School.

I can’t even begin to talk about the tackiness of that reason, I wanted more. I really did. I wanted more of a reason. I wanted this well thought out reason like … I know it was you that ran over my cat with your bike. Morbid I know but I wanted a shock factor and all I ended up learning was something I already knew just added on that fact that Gen was watching around the corner the whole time. She then proceeded to stay friends with Lara Jean for a while after just to make sure that Lara Jean understood that Peter belonged to her. Now.

What?

How spiteful do you have to be to film two people kissing in a hot tub, make it look like a sex tape and then share it around the internet for everyone to see, just because you saw your ex-boyfriend kiss her when they were in middle school? That is some other level pettiness and I just didn’t understand it. I didn’t think the reason was strong enough to hold up for the rest of the series. Which is probably why Gen only made a handful of appearances in the last book. Her story arc was complete.

Now that’s out of the way,

I liked the scenes between Lara Jean and Stormy, that was the best part of this book by far, that scene where they stay over at the retirement home and play in the snow during the night is my favourite and shockingly they’re when she’s with John Ambrose

Audiobook for P.S. I Still Love You – Jenny Han. 

McClaren and not Peter. Stormy was such a vivid and eccentric character and I completely fell in love with her. Working in care myself, I come across people all the time and it made me feel really nostalgic.

Speaking of this, when I finished this book and did my Goodreads review. I wrote about how it felt very Twilight: New Moon. This was obviously a hell of a lot better but it did feel like the entire point of this book was to show that Lara Jean had options. To show that she could have been with someone else and to really hammer home the point that Lara Jean and Peter are end game. But it’s essentially a 337-page whirlwind that leaves you right back where you started.

 

Book Review: To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before – Jenny Han

Paperback Cover for To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before.

Title: To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before
Author: Jenny Han
Publication Date: 15th April 2014
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Series / Stand Alone: Book #1 in the To All The Boy’s I’ve Loved Before Series
Genre: Romance, Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 355 pages
The Format I read: Audiobook
Amazon
Goodreads 
Rating: 

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Synopsis From Goodreads:

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister’s ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.

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Finally, I have managed to break out of my three-month-long slump in which I didn’t read a single book. Yesterday I decided to deep clean the house and listen to an audiobook whilst doing it. At first, I chose to listen to Mary Poppins by PL Travers. This didn’t last long and after aimlessly scrolling through Scribd for a while I chose To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. Like many of the people before me,  I’d seen the Netflix original film and I adored it. The book wasn’t any different. I loved it. I thought it was the cutest book that I’d read in a while and I’m so glad that there are another two books in the series because I’m not ready to let go of these characters yet.

Netflix Tie in Book Cover for To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before.

Book Peter wasn’t the same as film Peter, which I wasn’t overly expecting but it’s odd all the same. I didn’t enjoy Book Peter as much. He was incredibly douchey for 60% of the book and he was overly cocky all the time. Instead of coming across as dorky and cute like he did in the film. The scene where they go to the furniture auction and have to race the other people to get the chairs for his mom’s shop didn’t make it into the film and I was upset by that because as far as character moments go that was one of my favourites.

Lara Jean was my favourite character. She’s so cool. For being so young she has so many complex emotions. Being inside her head and reading the book from her point of view was the best possible point of view. I didn’t thoroughly enjoy Margot as a character, I found her so annoying. She’s so self-righteous and acts like she’s the best and she really isn’t. There’s zero chemistry between Margot and Josh, and even less chemistry between Lara Jean and Josh. I’m happy that Peter and Lara Jean ended up together because if Josh and Lara Jean had ended up together I wouldn’t have been as impressed with the book.

The narrator of the audiobook was amazing, she was insane. I was enthralled the entire

The Netflix poster for To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before.

time I was cleaning. It was sweet and I’m glad that I finally read it. I was impressed with the book as much as I was with the film. It wasn’t too long or too short and the plot line was so well thought out that I was amazed by it even though it’s the typical fake relationship turns real storyline. I wish I’d read it sooner when people told me to read it. The audiobook was a really good way to get out of a book slump without actually reading the book. It was amazing for my slump. Getting out of the slump was hard but this was the perfect book for it. So if you’re ever in a slump, read this. In fact, read this entire trilogy.

The adaptation of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before on Netflix was the most anticipated release of this year and I watched it as soon as it came out. I really enjoyed Noah’s acting and like I’ve said before I enjoyed the film Peter more than book Peter. It’s so precious. The best Netflix original that I’ve watched recently. I really enjoyed The Kissing Booth before but this one was better. Series wise it’s Atypical. In case you wondered.

I really recommend this book to anyone that enjoyed the film or anyone that enjoys YA Contemporary. It’s pretty good.

It’s Monday, what are you reading? IM BACK FROM MY SLUMP! (19/11/18)

Hello and Welcome again to It’s Monday, What are you reading? It’s been a while. Three months to be exact.

I loved doing this meme every Monday, it really helped to shape my week once I knew what I was reading so when I was considering what to do when I come back to blogging this was one of the memes I was sure I was going to continue to do. This week is pretty cool for me. I’m working three nights this week so I’ve got four days/nights off. So here are my reading plans for the week:

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I want to finish the audiobooks for the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before series. I can’t wait to see where it goes. They’re amazing and I can’t wait to review them on this blog once I’ve got myself back into the spring of things.

What if Its Us – Becky Albertalli. I’ve been putting off reading this for a while and I’m so ready to read this book. Becky Albertalli is a God in my opinion and I can’t wait to read her latest book!

I would usually be reading four books a week but since I haven’t read anything since August I figured that I’d try and take it easy. Two of these are audiobooks and one was written by the same person that wrote Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda so I’ll fly through it. I can’t wait to read this week and get back to readathons and tweeting and loving books again. Wish me LUCK!