Tag: young adult

Books I Want to Read in December!
Wrap-Ups/TBRs

Books I Want to Read in December!

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Hi everyone! I’ve been in a major reading and blogging slump for the second half of this year and I don’t know whether I blame work or my animal crossing addiction more. I want to get back into it more so I’m easing myself in with a broad end of year TBR. I won’t read all of these, but I’d like to at least read 4 of them.

  1. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardobe – C.S. Lewis (yearly Narnia re-read)
  2. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue – V.E. Schwab
  3. The Afterlife of Holly Chase – Cynthia Hand
  4. Ready Player Two – Ernest Cline
  5. The Love Curse of Melody McIntyre – Robin Talley
  6. Phoenix Flame – Sara Holland
  7. The Priory of the Orange Tree – Samantha Shannon
  8. Crooked Kingdom – Leigh Bardugo
  9. House in the Cerulean Sea – T.J. Klune

10. Bonus: Not Quite Out – Louise Willingham (hopefully… if my ARC arrives soon… *manifesting*)

What books do you want to read before the end of the year?

Fall Out Blog Tour!
Blog Tours

Fall Out Blog Tour!

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I’m delighted to join the Fall Out blog tour today with a guest post from debut author, C.G. Moore, as he brings us some book recommendations for each letter of Fall Out!

Fall Out

 

Fall Out is a beautiful book about coming out, dealing with homophobia and mental illness, and having hope.

It came out on 18th June and you can find it at the links below!

Goodreads | Amazon | Waterstones

 

 

FALL OUT Recommendations

Flour Babies by Anne Fine

Winner of the Carnegie Medal in 1992, Flour Babies should be a staple for all readers. A story of self-discovery, it follows Simon Martin as he and a class of underachievers take part in a science experiment to take care of a flour baby for three weeks, chronicling their findings in a journey. Powerful, poignant and touching, the story shows how the experiment teaches Simon greater self-awareness and leads him to discover more about himself and his family.


And the Stars Were Shining Brightly by Danielle Jawando

A devastating story of loss and grief, Jawando’s debut is a stunning exploration of family dynamics and loss in the aftermath of suicide. This book broke me. I can’t put it anymore eloquently than that. It’s such a powerful story and I really hope we see this reflected in book award shortlists next year.


Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Lord of the Flies is a classic. There’s so many layers and nuances to the book and it’s a grisly, fascinating read that looks at group mentality versus individuality and most interesting to me, the question of morality and immorality. If you haven’t read it yet, I would highly recommend it.


Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Fifteen-year-old Will’s brother, Shawn, was just murdered. Determined to exact revenge, he gets into the lift, a gun shoved in his jeans, and every floor the lift stops on, Will hears from someone close to Shawn and discovers another piece of the story. It’s no wonder Long Way Down was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal in 2019. It’s a remarkable story, told in staccato verse that flows across the pages. Reynolds immerses readers in the story while touching on one of the biggest issues currently facing the US: gun violence. I’ve honestly never read anything quite like it. A must-read for all.


Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse

One of the most powerful novels I’ve ever read, Karen Hesse’s verse novel offers a vivid insight into 1930s America and gives readers and writers a masterclass in storytelling. Hesse shows the power of words and story; how every word counts to convey the conflicting emotion Billie Jo experiences against the backdrop of a community desperate to survive. It was the first time I realised the power of the verse and how few words can truly cut up a heart, and the tender and evocative imagery can conjure up devastation in our hearts.


Undone by Cat Clarke

Undone was one of the first LGBT+ UK YA novels I ever read. Devastatingly raw, it’s a story that’s sure to stick with you long after you read it. I enjoy novels that challenge our views and incorporate themes in a way we haven’t seen them done before. I read a lot of LGBT US YA where the focus was on “coming out” and not to discredit any of those authors, but it all felt very similar. Clarke’s story is as gripping as it is emotional and is sure to leave the reader in tears.


The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

Dean Atta raises a fundamental question for readers that is universally recognisable: who I am? Michael struggles to find where he belongs in terms of his race (half-Jamaican, half-British-Cypriot), his sexuality (gay) and his gender (male).  Readers, like me, will not doubt be immersed from the first page and find themselves turning the pages long into the summer nights. Identity is a complicated and complex issue that needs to be discussed and I thank Atta for his weaving important themes into his immersive and insightful story, that pleased this reader as much as it made me think.


About C. G. Moore:

C. G. is a freelance editor and marketer who has written for GCN Magazine, Writing.ie and many more. He runs the #YAtakeover, an online festival dedicated to bringing readers and writers together. He has hosted physical and online events as part of Litfest, and the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway medals. When C. G. is not reading or writing, he can be found wrapped up in aerial silks, baking or getting lost in nature with his sassy Jack Russell, Ruby. He has previously lecturered on the MA in Publishing program at the University of Central Lancashire where he shares his love of the written word. You can find out more about his debut, Fall Out, on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50407963-fallout) or pre-order from Amazon (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fall-Out-C-G-Moore/dp/1912979187).

 

Review: Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit – Jaye Robin Brown
Reviews

Review: Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit – Jaye Robin Brown

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Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Press
Release Date: 30 August 2016
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, LGBT+

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Joanna Gordon has been out and proud for years, but when her popular radio evangelist father remarries and decides to move all three of them from Atlanta to the more conservative Rome, Georgia, he asks Jo to do the impossible: to lie low for the rest of her senior year. And Jo reluctantly agrees. Although it is (mostly) much easier for Jo to fit in as a straight girl, things get complicated when she meets Mary Carlson, the oh-so-tempting sister of her new friend at school. But Jo couldn’t possibly think of breaking her promise to her dad. Even if she’s starting to fall for the girl. Even if there’s a chance Mary Carlson might be interested in her, too. Right? ~ Goodreads

Though this book was quite long for a contemporary, I loved reading it. I was a little unsure for the first few chapters, but I really liked the rest of the book.

First of all, the characters in this book were all amazing and I found myself loving each of them, even the ones that I didn’t expect to. I loved Joanna, despite her terrible lack of communication. I loved Mary Carlson for her brightness and determination. I loved B.T.B. for his humour and caring attitude. I loved George for his instance acceptance. Gemma for always being such a wonderful and supportive friend. Elizabeth for her openness and growth. They were brilliant.

I’ve read a few f/f contemporary romances, but something about them has never fully clicked with me. Georgia Peaches is a book all about accepting your queer identity and being able to be open with it, something that I feel is lacking in other f/f contemporaries. It felt very realistic.

I’m not religious, but I also really liked how comfortable Joanna was with being a gay Christian and how open many of the other religious characters were. It showed how homophobia is sometimes present in religious communities, but that many religious people don’t take this view. I think this message is really important to people who may be struggling with their sexuality and their faith.

Overall, this was a lovely, though very frustrating, contemporary romance about two girls and I think everyone should read it.

Wrap-Ups/TBRs

20 Books I Want to Read Before 2020!

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I was originally planning to make a list of just 10 books that I want to read by 2020, but 20 books just has a better ring to it and I figured I should try to finish my reading year with a bang.

Without further ado and in no particular order, here is my overly ambitious December TBR!

1/ Radio Silence – Alice Oseman

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2/ Wayward Son – Rainbow Rowell

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3/ Ready Player One – Ernest Cline

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4/ A Conjuring of Light – V.E. Schwab

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5/ Truly Devious – Maureen Johnson

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6/ The Kingdom – Jess Rothenberg

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7/ Artemis Fowl – Eoin Colfer

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8/ A Curse So Dark and Lonely – Brigid Kemmerer

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9/ Vengeful – V.E. Schwab

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10/ Not Your Sidekick – C.B. Lee

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11/ Always and Forever, Lara Jean – Jenny Han

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12/ The Gentleman’s Guide to Getting Lucky – Mackenzi Lee

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13/ The Storm Keeper’s Island – Catherine Doyle

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14/ Tunnel of Bones – V.E. Schwab

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15/ The Dream Thieves – Maggie Stiefvater

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16/ Blue Lily, Lily Blue – Maggie Stiefvater

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17/ The Raven King – Maggie Stiefvater

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18/ The Magicians – Lev Grossman

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19/ The Chronicles of Narnia – C.S. Lewis (any book)

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20/ Prisoner of Azkaban (Illustrated) – J.K. Rowling

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What books do you want to read by the end of the year? Have you met your 2019 reading goals?

Reviews

ARC Review: The Kingdom – Jess Rothenberg

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Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with a copy for review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: 11 July 2019
Genres:  YA, Fantasy, Science Fiction

The Kingdom is a fairytale theme park where wishes come true and anything is possible, but chaos ensues when one of the performing Fantastists, Ana, is accused of murder and put on trial. The Fantastists are half human, half android princesses that live to perform at The Kingdom and are programmed to behave is certain ways, but Ana has begun to show signs of emotions and feelings, something she is not programmed for.

This is a fantastic book that pulls you in right from the beginning. It is fast-paced and constantly leaves you wanting to read more to find out about the strange world that the characters live in and to learn more about Ana’s trial. It jumps around and gives you little snippets of information that build up the tension and the intrigue.

One of the things that I like most about this book is that many of the chapters are written in different formats, from interviews to transcripts to general prose. It jumps around in time based around the trial. The chapters are short. It makes it an incredibly quick and easy read.

I really love this book and the way it was written and am so glad that I was given the opportunity to read it.

Reviews

ARC Review: Kingdom of Souls – Rena Barron

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Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for providing me with a copy for review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: 3 September 2019
Genres:  YA, Fantasy

Kingdom of Souls follows Arrah, a young girl who is the descendant of two powerful and magical lines, but who thus far has not presented any sign of possessing magic herself. The older that she gets, the less likely it is that she will demonstrate her power and the more desperate she begins to feel to prove herself. There is another way that she can gain this power and help the people in her kingdom, but it is dangerous and involves selling years of her life.

This is a great story about finding yourself and the lengths that people will go to in order to protect those around them. Arrah fights to have everything that she wants and needs and life and her relationship with magic is no different. She works hard and goes to great lengths to get magic, refusing to take it for granted and fully understanding the power it holds and the price it has.

It is brilliantly written and has you hooked right from the beginning by throwing you into the action and building the world around you on the journey. It begins with a prologue that gives you some grounding, but it weaves a lot of the intricate detail of the world into the story, slowly revealing it to you as you read.

It is a great first installment of a series that I’m sure is going to go very far.

Reviews

ARC Review: King of Fools – Amanda Foody

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Thank you NetGalley and HQ for providing me with a copy for review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: 2 May 2019
Genres:  YA, Fantasy, LGBT

The Shadow Game series centres on the characters Enne Salta and Levi Glaisyer who form an unlikely alliance and must work together in order to find Enne’s mother, Lordes, who left only the message that Levi would help should she not return. The first novel, Ace of Shades, sends them on many adventures as they navigate the City of Sin and all its dangers, and this sequel delves us even further into the story and the chaos.

I love the fantasy elements and how they easily slot into the story, making it feel as though magic is real and just an ordinary part of everyday life that people are interpreted by and judged on. Different groups have different magical abilities in these books and each of them are treated differently because of this, it establishes a class system within the magic system that makes it feel all the more mundane to this world.

This sequel goes even deeper into the story and gives us more details about the characters, their motives, and their relationships with each other. I love that we get to read from different perspectives because it gives a biased insight into their thoughts and feelings whilst also giving us the same treatment for other characters, making it much easier to understand their actions and their views.

The characters themselves continue to be well-written and I particularly love the LGBT+ aspects of the story, as I always enjoy with any story. It is nice to read books where LGBT+ characters are there and important to the story, even when their sexuality or gender is totally unimportant. It makes people feel seen and present.

ARC Review: An Absolutely Remarkable Thing – Hank Green
Reviews

ARC Review: An Absolutely Remarkable Thing – Hank Green

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Thank you NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for providing me with a copy for review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: 25 September 2018
Genres:  YA/NA, Science Fiction

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing follows a young protagonist, April, who is fresh out of college and trying to find her place in the world. One day she discovers a giant robotic statue in her city and makes a video about it with her friend, Andy, that blows up overnight when it appears that this statue is not the only one to suddenly appear around the world, but April and Andy are the first ones to take notice and break the news. April nicknames the statue Carl, a name that takes off around the world as she becomes a figurehead for the mysterious story of the Carls.

I really enjoyed reading this book and actually read it in one day when I finally got around to reading it. It is incredibly intriguing and makes you want to keep reading to find out more about the Carls and the mysterious circumstances that surround them. It is never boring and every line and moment feels important.

I really liked and appreciated that the central character was bisexual and that it was established early on and referred to many times throughout the story. It felt like incredibly natural representation, something that more books should have. It was also nice to read a good science fiction book about characters in their early 20’s too. I really liked the characters, but I wish that they had been fleshed out a little bit more so that you could understand their feelings and intentions a little better. Hopefully this is something that will be done in the sequel now that the plot and storyline are well established.

Overall, I thought it was brilliant and I’m definitely looking forward to reading the sequel to find out what happens next.

ARC Review: The Life Siphon – Kathryn Sommerlot
Reviews

ARC Review: The Life Siphon – Kathryn Sommerlot

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Thank you NetGalley and Nine Star Press for providing me with a copy for review. I apologise for such a late review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: 20 May 2019
Genres:  YA, Fantasy

The Life Siphon is the first part of a duology about a magical kingdom in which a magical force is draining life from the land and leaving everything a wasteland. The main character, Tatsu, is arrested and tasked with discovering the source of this drain on a dangerous quest.

This is a very typical fantasy story with all the usual magical elements and mystery. It is very plot-driven and it does a great job of building up the unique magical world and introducing its characters to the reader.

I would have liked to have continued the story as the prologue set it out, rather than switching to a different main character for the rest of the story, but it was still well written and interesting. I especially appreciated the LGBT+ elements of the story and how they were easily slotted in right from the beginning.

 

ARC Review: Infinity Son – Adam Silvera
Reviews

ARC Review: Infinity Son – Adam Silvera

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Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for providing me with a copy for review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: 14 January 2020
Genres:  YA, Fantasy, LGBT

I have never been so excited to receive an ARC as I was to receive an ARC for Infinity Son, my most anticipated upcoming release. I’ve read every one of Adam Silvera’s novels and I have never been disappointed, he has such beautiful writing that pulls you totally into the world he weaves and makes you feel so connected to the characters that it feels as though you are a part of the story yourself.

Infinity Son follows a group of celestials (known as the Spell Walkers) who possess natural powers that manifested at some point in their lives as they face off against a group of specters, people who crave power so deeply that they violently take the powers from magical creatures for themselves. The twin brothers at the center of the novel, Emil and Brighton, who have always admired the Spell Walkers and longed to discover they too possess power, are thrown deeply into this chaos after their own run-in with a specter.

This is Adam Silvera’s first fantasy novel and I hope it is the first of many because he writes fantasy so well. It is a totally unique story, that feels like it perfectly blends the typical aspects of a fantasy novel with elements of superheroes and vigilantes and modernity. The world building introduces the reader to the different parts of this world and the events that have taken place beforehand without being overwhelming or confusing. I never felt like I didn’t understand what was happening. It embraces the modern world and social media plays a huge roll throughout the novel, something that is often ignored in fantasy.

It does all of this whilst still feeling very character focused, something that I always love about Adam Silvera’s writing style. There are a lot of central characters in this book, but each one is well developed and distinctive. He did a brilliant job of introducing them all, portraying their personalities and feelings, giving some background details about them, working in their relationships with the other characters, and so much more. I cannot wait to see them again and learn more about them all in the sequel.

It is the book I have always dreamed about. A fantasy with powers, magical creatures, wands, unexpected plot twists, and more. A fantasy that gives me vibes of Charmed, Harry Potter, Buffy, superheroes, and everything else that defined my childhood. A fantasy that understands the importance of family and friendship in connection with independence. A fantasy full of queer characters who fully embrace their sexuality and no one is ever questioned.

It is everything and I can’t wait for it to come out so everyone can experience this book too.