Book Review: The Wrong Girl - Zoë Foster

Pub. Date- 26th Feb 2014 Publisher- Penguin Aus Pages- 302   
Genre- Adult Contemporary Rating- 3 Stars

I received this courtesy of Penguin Books Australia

 through Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Goodreads - Amazon

"Lily is a producer on a successful cooking segment for a daily morning show. The new chef has just arrived on set and he is drop dead gorgeous. And despite everything – the sabbatical that Lily and her flatmate Simone are taking from men, the fact that Jack is a work colleague – Lily falls head over heels for him.And while Lily battles her feelings, her flatmate Simone breaks their pact and starts dating some guy from her wholefoods shop. That guy turns out to be Jack. Up close, Lily bravely watches on as romance blossoms between Simone and Jack. Or does it? They don't seem to have much in common, apart from their striking good looks. And Lily and Jack just seem to get each other. Is that the same thing as falling in love? And could she ever dream of betraying a friendship? Lily has to make some difficult decisions about work and home, and realises that if she doesn't take life by the scruff of the neck, she is the one who'll be picked up, shaken and dumped."

The Wrong Girl and I didn't get off on the best start the day I first started reading it, it got put down without really being given it a chance. I honestly didn't get past 8 percent of the book. Then by chance I watched a live show by author John Green and he spoke about reading generously, setting out to read a book as if you’re certain that you'll enjoy it. So with this in mind, I picked up The Wrong Girl again and I'm glad I did. 

The story follows Lily who is hitting the big 30, dealing with a new chef she instantly dislikes all the while, living with a crazy flatmate whom she's on a man ban with after some major fails when it comes to the opposite sex. Lily is the type of girl to put up with something for a while she fumes inside which gets her in trouble. This book features a host of cool characters, some hard out partying and an ending that could be the best or worst thing depending on your preference...  

Having an interesting way of expressing its time order often skipping time periods such as evenings that would be theoretically boring with nothing happening, is something done really well in this book. It gave the plot a nice feel to it, not to fast with everything rushed but not dragging along either. The only time the plot felt slow was when things became repetitive in their descriptions of character or things. After hearing it a few times, we get that a certain character dresses odd.  

This story felt very much divided, the first quarter was pretty bland I felt, mostly due to it being a very character dependent plot-line. I didn't really care about any of the characters so there was no reason for me to care that a new chef came or that Simone was on a bender. Now to the dreaded ending it, no spoilers I promise. The ending left me in two minds as I'm review an ARC copy so I have hope the end just isn't finished in mine because it’s every open ended and that just isn't my thing. If this doesn't bother you go forth and enjoy this book.

My 3 star rating is due to the ending, some repetition and slow points but I'm glad in the I finished reading this, and I would be interested in reading another of Zoë Foster's books when I get the chance.

Have you ever got off to a bad start with a book?

Will you give this a read when it's released ?

Book Review: A Monster Calls - Patrick Ness

Pub. Date- 2013 Publisher- Candlewick Press Pages- 206 

Genre- Fantasy/Contemporary YA Rating- 5 Stars

Goodreads - Book Depository 

The monster showed up just after midnight.As they do. But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting, the one from the nightmare he's had nearly every night since his mother started treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming....This monster is something different, something ancient , something wild. And it wants the truth.
Costa Award winner Patrick Ness spins a tale from the final idea of much-loved Carnegie Medal winner Siobhan Dowd, whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself. Darkly mischievous and painfully funny, A Monster Calls is an extraordinarily moving novel of coming to terms with loss from two of the finest writers for young adults.

How do you describe a book that is nothing like anything you've read before? I have no idea how to do this book justice but I'm going to try. Patrick Ness has long been one of my favourite authors since the day I first picked up The Knife of Never Letting Go, but with this book he knocked every expectation I had out of the park. If someone asked to recommend a book that made them feel everything without a second thought, I'd reply A Monster Calls.This the kind of book that leaves you thinking about it for weeks in advance..

The first spectacular thing about this book is it beautiful illustrations by Jim Kay. That add so much depth and ambiance, to give the story a whole new dimension. The images really help to set the stage for everything that's happening even its just leaves on the side of the page like they are scattered on the floor or full page spreads illustrating the monsters stories in frightening detail.

The illustrations perfectly match the eerily beautiful writing style that seemed to flow effortlessly creating a seamless transition between the fantastical elements and the contemporary more serious moments. The way sentence are structured in this brilliant tale isn't like anything I've read before and I really enjoyed it. The short punchy sentences felt very to Conor an angry kid who is just trying to keep everything under control. When the monster  is speaking the writing changes just enough to give the feeling that the Monster is ancient and all knowing without changing the rhythm and pace that rest of the book has.

With a book so packed full of emotions and events it would be to hard to give a summary of Conor or the monster without giving away spoilers so I'm just going to leave it at this has fast become one of my favourite books of all time and I've already brought it for 2 of my friends. And finally here's my favourite quote just to give you a teaser.

“You do not write your life with words...You write it with actions. What you think is not important. It is only important what you do.”   

Have you read this, what did you think? If you haven't will you add it to your tbr?

Book review: Violet is Blue - Tawny Stokes

Pub. Date- Jan 13th 2014 Publisher- Indie Ink Pages- 106 

Series- Hothouse series  Genre- Contemporary/New Adult  Rating- 4 Stars

I received this courtesy of Indie Ink through Netgalley

 in return for an honest review.  

Goodreads - Amazon

For the past four years, 18 year old, Violet Taylor has lived her life like her deceased father would've wanted. Perfect grades, perfect friends, the perfect boyfriend from the right family. Except now at the end of high school, she realizes that she’s never fully lived, has never taken risks, has always taken the safe and secure road. That all changes when she breaks up with her boyfriend, takes notice of the bad boy who she once shared a kiss with, and starts receiving gifts and phone calls from a mystery guy who makes her quiver with a need she never knew she possessed…
But what started as innocent turns dark and twisted, and Violet finds herself faced with a horrible secret that could destroy everything she once knew and loved.

Recommend for readers 17+ contains adult content.

 Feel like reading something intriguing, a little bit nuts, short but still a interesting, then this could be the book for you. Violet is Blue is the first book in Tawny Stokes new adult 'Hothouse series'. Its follows Violet an 18 year old girl who is struggling with what to do next in her life. Her father pasted away four years earlier and her Mother remarried his business partner Mark who is someone Violet has come to rely on.

The story centres around Violets struggle with a secret admirer come stalker who starts messing with her life causing her to be terrified all the time. Violet is a very refreshing lead character, she follow's none of the common cliché that when reading New Adult you come across all the time, she isn't amazingly beautiful, the super smart ugly girl that's so beautiful on the inside it hurts. She is absolutely none of those, she is just an average girl that makes so stupid choices. And lets face it who doesn't do dumb things when trying not to disappoint their parents, while being completely terrified. Violet is also never whinny which makes her an A+ character, there's nothing worse then trying to get past a character that is all 'woe is me' when its a situation of their own making.

For a book with intrigue and mystery elements to it, I for once found myself not really knowing who was the bad guy right up until the climax. There where so many character's who could fit the stalker character arc that it made it really complex and interesting each time one got shot down to try and pin the blame on the next. My only criticisms on the whole book were that the editing could have been better, some of the sentences could of had better structure or a smoother flow to them. Also just a few minor cliché that could have been avoided would have put the cherry on top of the cake.

All in all this was a really good read, that I found really interesting. I continue the series when the sequels are published.

Have you read this? Or will you be adding it to your tbr?

     

WWW Wednesdays #2

To play along, just answer the following three questions…

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish?

What do you think you'll read next?

Here is a meme hosted by Shouldbereading that is really fun and easy to do. All you have to do is answer the 3 questions above. Each photo will take you to the goodreads link for the book to get a synopsis if your interested in reading one of these books.

What are you currently reading?

I'm currently reading Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher and I think I'm going to really love this series. I'm excited to finish this soon I have about a days reading left and will be definitely buy the second book Academ's Fury soon. 

What did you recently finish?

Today I finished Storm Shells, the third book in the Saving Wishes Series by G.J Walker-Smith. I have really enjoyed reading this book. It is partly set in Australia and just had some really cool characters even if I did want to murder them at times.  I will be soon reading the 4th book as well as the companion novel that fits in as the 2.5 book.

What do you think you'll read next?

I'm going to be reading The Pact by Jodi Picoult over the next few weeks with the lovely Ebony from The Book Bee. She has read some of Jodi Picoult's books before and has assured me that they aren't as scary as I have been thinking they are in my head. It should hopefully take us about 3 weeks of planned reading to finish this and then I'll be putting up a review.

Will you be adding any of these to your tbr? Or have you read them already?

WWW Wednesdays

To play along, just answer the following three questions…

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish?

What do you think you'll read next?

Here is a meme hosted by Shouldbereading that is really fun and easy to do. All you have to do is answer the 3 questions above.

Each photo will take you to the goodreads link for the book to get a synopsis if your interested in reading one of these books.

What are you currently reading?

I'm currently reading A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin George, I've been reading this for a week now and am slowly making my way through it. I'm really enjoying it so far and I think I'll end up liking it better than A Game of Thrones.

What did you recently finish?

This morning I started and finished Princess Academy by Shannon Hale. I brought this on a whim in kindles summer sale and I'm really glad I did, it was a really sweet middle-grade fairy-tale like story that had an interesting plot line. I just have to add as well, how beautiful is this cover?

What do you think you'll read next?

I want to read The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey next when I feel like I need a break for A Clash of Kings i'll pick this up. This is the first book in The Monstrumologist series and to say I've heard great things about this is an understatement.

Will you be adding any of these to your tbr? Or have you read them already?

Book Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs

Pub. Date- 2011 Publisher- Quirk Pages- 352 Readership- Young Adult 

Series- Miss Peregrine (Book 1) Genre- Fantasy Rating- 3 Stars

Goodreads - Book Depository

A mysterious island.

An abandoned orphanage.

A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive. A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

When I read the synopsis of this story I was so excited it sounded creepy, slightly scary and like nothing I had ever read before. I was tricked, these faults may sound silly but I feel like the synopsis was to a different book. First off the mysterious island isn't very mysterious is in Wales. Yes it may be a little behind the times in many aspects but that makes it antiquated not mysterious. Next abandoned orphanage I can't fully explain my annoyance with this without giving spoilers but don't be expecting a lot or for it to be anything like the synopsis describes.

Ransom Riggs does write beautifully throughout the book, but it is sometimes very choppy and disconnected with the placing of some of the photos. In certain parts it felt to much as though story was written around the photos, rather then the photo fitting in and flowing nicely throughout it. The book starts out perfectly, creating a mysterious creepy feeling that soon gets killed by a whiny protagonist and a loss of momentum by over explanations of the photos.

The major redeeming factors were it's original idea's that were wonderful and unique, but not written to full potential. With a decent climax that ended to soon and to many undeveloped side characters I was left wanting. Now for my favourite part of the whole book how was amazingly beautiful the cover, dust jacket, title pages, and even the page numbers. Everything  was lavish and just has a vintage feel to it.

With all this I could still get into the story so it wasn't a total loss and I'm not sorry I picked this up and will be buying the second book Hollow City just to see where everything goes.

Is this on your tbr? Have you already read it?

Book Review: The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy - Douglas Adams

Pub. Date- 2009 Publisher- Pan Books Pages- 199  
Series- Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy(1) Genre- Science Fiction Rating- 5 Stars

Goodreads - Book Depository

"Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker's Guide ("A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have") and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox--the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod's girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years."

I'd heard a lot about The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy by the time I picked it up, be it random quotes that never quiet made sense, or people telling this is a amazing book that will make me laugh continuously. This is the type of book that you have to set into with the right mind frame, be prepaid for things to not fully make sense the first time through.

This book is very British with satirical and concise humour spread throughout, there were the jokes that have been scattered around the internet for years that made this book feel like a much loved friend with a personality all its own. Douglas Adams must of been mad to write this yet it makes him amazing. I know now I will be a fan for life.

For such a short book you'll never feel like you missing anything, its such a fast paced narrative that some times I had to go back and reread just to figure out what was really going on.  The characters are what makes this book, the plot is second to them. There are a lot of social comments throughout the book that is very humourous without feeling like your being bogged down by it. 

All in all i enjoyed this book it was a fun read but can feel like it ends suddenly if you don't carry on with the second book. But that's understandable as they parts of a whole instead of different books in a series.

Will you add this to your tbr? Or have you already read it?

Book Review: Imaginary Girls - Nova Ren Suma

Pub. Date- 2011 Publisher- Murdoch Books Pty Limited Pages- 348  
Readership- Young Adult Genre- Contemporary/Suspense Rating- 4 Stars

Goodreads - Book Depository

"Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be captured or caged. When a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the dead body of her classmate London Hayes left floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby.
But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns to town two years later, deadly surprises await. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has hidden deeply away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood."

This story had me hooked from the first page be it from the chapter names, eerie beautiful settings or the way nothing is ever as it seemed at first. I expected this book to maybe take a few days but that was never going to happen once i started it. Within the first 10 pages I was caught in the trap Nova Ren Suma set.

The suspenseful nature had me on the edge of my teeth the whole way through I needed to know what would happen next, all along the way things were hinted and clues dropped to leave you begging for more. At some points in this book I was frightened but not in a 'monster in the cupboard' sense, it was a fear of what Ruby would do next or how Chloe would be affected.

The changes Chloe goes throughout are all very dramatic but quiet normal things when you think of them in a normal teenage girls situation, she tries to step out of her sisters shadow, get the boy she's always liked and figure out whats going on in the town.

This book had a very different ending then most people would expect of a contemporary novel, it is very open ended but still feels quiet rounded out in most of the plot points. I was left with a shell shocked feeling that was quiet unsettling but it was very thought provoking. If open ending plot lines aren't your thing then I don't think you'll enjoy this it does end with a massive climax.

I would recommend this to everyone even if it's just to try something different.

Will you add this to your tbr? Or have you read it?

Bout of Books 9.0 - Book Spines Challenge

Today's challenge for day 5 was deceptively fun yet super challenging! Its called the Book Spines Challenge as a head nod to its creator The Book Spines. For this challenge all you had to do was create a poem using books spines. Poetry has never been my thing but it seemed like a good laugh to try.

My poem is the world was perfect would have some added words but you give and take when you make terrible poetry. In my head I read it as The indelible perks of being a wallflower across the universe and under the never sky cause a fragile eternity. I have doubts this is poetry, maybe a very short narrative but don't tell anyone. 

What would your book spine poem say?

Bout of Books 9.0 - Reading Tactics Challenge

Todays first Bout of Books challenge is something I love! Reading tactics! Ways to cram more pages into a day. Todays challenge is hosted by Sarah Says Read who seems awesome. Anyone that has a nice simple challenge is my friend.  Todays challenge is to answer a simply question.

How do you fit in as much reading as possible during Bout of Books? How do you squeeze in those extra pages?

I do lots of small things to try and cram in more pages. If I have to go out anywhere I take my books with me in my bag, when I'm in the car I read as well (only when I'm not driving) I also take baths instead of showers so I can sneak in more pages. All in all I usually just spend the week with a book in my hand.

Bout of Books 9.0 Updates

To make things a little bit easier to read and follow I've decided to put all my updates on a separate page with a slightly edited template from Bout of Books, each day my goal is going to be to read 143 pages so by the end of the week I've read over 1000 pages. I also want to try and finished all my books but who know if that will happen. 

6/1

Books I’I've read today: An Abundance of Katherines - John Green 
Total number of books I've read: 1 

Pages read: 226 
Things I learned on Twitter: People are wonderful! 
Final Tally: One Book, 226 pages.

7/1

Books I've read today: Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident - Eoin Colfer

Total number of books I've read: 2

Pages read: 288
Things I learned on Twitter: People have good taste in books

Final Tally: 2 Books, 514 pages.

8/1

Books I've read today: Imaginary Girls - Nova Ren Suma

Total number of books I've read: 3

Pages read: 346
Things I learned on Twitter: Yarn groups exist

Final Tally: 3 Books, 860 pages.

9/1

Books I've read today: Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children
- Ransom Riggs

Total number of books I've read: 3

Pages read: 146

Things I learned on Twitter: Its a wonderful distraction

Final Tally: 3  Books, 1006 pages!
(I reached my page goal for the week)

10/1

Books I've read today: Miss Peregrines Home For Peculiar Children
- Ransom Riggs

Total number of books I've read: 4

Pages read: 206

Things I learned on Twitter: People share my hate for Cersei 

Final Tally: 4 Books, 1,212 pages

11/1

Books I've read today: The Darkest Minds - Alexandra Bracken

Total number of books I've read: 4

Pages read: 163

Things I learned on Twitter: I didn't really check twitter (opps)

Final Tally: 4 Books, 1,375 pages

12/1

Books I've read today: The Darkest Minds - Alexandra Bracken

Total number of books I've read: 5

Pages read: 365

Things I learned on Twitter: People are so incredibly kind and helpful

Final Tally: 5 Books, 1,740 pages

The stats for the last 2 updates might not be 100% correct I had a little bit of a situation with saving this post I did read and finish the books but I didn't write down the exact pages other than on the original post.

All in all I'm so happy with everything I accomplished in over the week, I completed my goal of finishing 1,000 pages! I did go off my TBR but i read 3 of the 5 books on it so I'm giving myself a pass. I did some of the challenges set each day and most importantly had so much fun and met a bunch of great bloggers.

How'd you do during the week ?

Bout of Books - Book Buying Spree Challenge

Each day of the read-a-thon Bout of Books has challenges hosted by wonderful people. Today's challenge is a great one something that every book lover does frequently(I know I do)! It's the Book Buying Spree hosted by Bookish Comforts

The Challenge

Imagine if you will: you’ve just received some FANTASTIC news! You have won a $100 book buying spree! Now comes the hard part though: what books will you buy?! For this challenge, you’ll be creating your book buying spree wishlist, and sharing it in the comments.

The List

My list has a lot of pre-orders I'm dying to have, as well as some fantasy that looks amazing. What's would you pick if you had $100 guilt free dollars to go nuts with?

Bout of Books 9.0

As a kick in the bum to officially start my book blog and start my reading year off properly I've decided to join the Bout of Books 9.0

I'd never heard of this great event before, so if your a bit like me here is some information.
The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 6th and runs through Sunday, January 12th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 9.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Time devoted to reading

I plan on trying to read for the whole week with the exception of the middle of Monday. Being that we are having a heat wave in Brisbane at the moment I can think of nothing better than sitting in air con and binge reading. I'm also currently on holidays so hopefully I'll be able to achieve my goals.

Reading goals

My goals for the week are not to crazy but they are slightly more than what I would normally read so I'm going to try and read 4 books and possible finish 2 others if I have time.

Books to read

• Stand alone novels

          An Abundance of Katherines - John Green

          Imaginary Girls - Nova Ren Suma

• Continuing series

          Artemis Fowl; The Arctic Incident - Eoin Colfer

          The Hero of Ages; Mistborn Book Three - Brandon Sanderson

• Extra just in case

         A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin 

 I'm going to try and stick to these but I have a tendency to go off topic on random reading sessions when the mood takes me.

I'll post my updates daily here and on twitter.
Thanks for reading xxx