angelreads, Author at Angel Reads

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Favourite Books Set in University/College | Discussion

Feb 25, 2018

So you all know that I’ve been reading more and more New Adult books over the last year or so. And that I’m falling more in love with romance books than ever. So today I thought I would share some of my favourite books that have a university/college setting.

I really enjoy reading books that are set in University for many reasons. The first being, that I’m currently at uni. About to start my fourth and final year. Whoop. But it’s also interesting to see the different takes and views that people do have of University. While nearly all the books have been set in America it’s really interesting to see.

Nevertheless, here we go. Like always these are in no real order.

The Ivy Years series by Sarina Bowen: I seriously love this series. Each book is different from one another and follows the lives of students of Harkness College. These books take you on an emotional journey that tends to kill me. But I love falling in love with these characters and then see their journey beyond their book. Plus it’s set around an Ice Hockey team!

Flight and Glory series by Rebecca Yarros: So this series shifts between university and flight school. Which is really intriguing. I liked seeing the contrast of both. While those that are at University have a wider range of classes, the boys at flight school have that mix of practical (flying) and studying for tests and exams. These books have left me emotional a wreak. I am series, I cried the first chapter of book 1.

Renegades series by Rebecca Yarros: Okay this is a little different. Because it isn’t just university, it’s Study at Sea. Yes, that means University at sea. It’s such a different take on that classic NA University novel and it’s so intriguing. There are still classes and exams but then they get to go on some amazing on-shore experiences. Plus some of the protagonists are extreme sports stars.

Summer Skin by Kirsty Eagar: One of the only NA that I’ve read set in Australia. It’s refreshing to see something that I can slightly relate more too. Summer Skin is not for the faint-hearted, be prepared for a sexy, slow-burning love full of passion and secrets. Summer Skin deals not only with young men taking advantage of women but how women can act differently to it. It shows us that people hide behind fronts not only to keep themselves safe but others as well.

Off-Campus Series by Elle Kennedy: Now these books are fun. Some things are crazy, but that’s also what makes them such great reads. These books show a wide range of uni life from classes, to parties and sport. I like that our characters study different things, but also have different experiences. Some are cruising through uni, they are acing classes and doing everything right. And then there are others that are struggling and just need some help and guidance.

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon. While this isn’t really University, it’s just before it and the way that the program is run is much like uni. When Dimple Met Rishi was an entertaining read. It’s a rom-com to the core, but it explores the notion of family and culture. It’s about first love and believing in yourself. The reader is able to explore arrange marriage in a totally different way. They fall in love with the characters and cheer for them along the way. When Dimple Met Rishi also explores that life is up and down.

Taking Shots series by Cindi Madsen. This series is a little bit sexier. It’s hot but again looks at the life of a college student in the US. Like other series, the protagonists have different majors and it isn’t just in the arts. Plus they are also sports romances. I also like this series because there are different types of romance, from best-friends to lovers and love to hate. It’s got a little romance for everyone.

And that is it! Wow. Have you read any of these? Do you have any recommendations for me for books set in University/College? Let’s Chat!

Book Review: The Season of You & Me by Robin Constantine

Feb 22, 2018

The Season of You & Me by Robin Constantine

Pages: 352
Publish date: May 10, 2016
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
ISBN: 9780062438843
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

Cassidy Emmerich is determined to make this summer—the last before her boyfriend heads off to college—unforgettable. What she doesn’t count on is her boyfriend breaking up with her. Now, instead of being poolside with him, Cass is over a hundred miles away, spending the summer with her estranged father and his family at their bed-and-breakfast at the Jersey Shore and working as the newest counselor at Camp Manatee.

Bryan Lakewood is sick of nevers. You’ll never walk. You’ll never surf and you’ll never slow dance with your date at prom. One miscalculated step and Bryan’s life changed forever—now he’s paralyzed and needs to use a wheelchair. This is the first summer he’s back at his former position at Camp Manatee and ready to reclaim some of his independence, in spite of those who question if he’s up for the job.

Cass is expecting two months dealing with heartbreak.
Bryan is expecting a summer of tough adjustments.
Neither of them is expecting to fall in love.

The Season of You & Me:

I’ve wanted to read The Season of You & Me since it came out. It features a recently disabled character and it’s a fun summer romance. What’s not for me to like? It took me ages to pick it up as the paperback wasn’t published until recently, but I finally did and gosh did I love it.

The Season of You & Me follows protagonists Cassidy and Bryan two people who have been hurt in different ways but find each other in this summer romance. Cassidy has had her heart broke, torn apart and when she has the opportunity to spend the summer with her father, she takes the chance. Bryan will never walk again. And it’s hurting, he will never walk, he will never surf. And that is hard to live with. When they both begin to work at Camp Manatee, things change. But can they both risk their already fractured hearts?

I adored Cassidy in The Season of You & Me. She is definitely a flawed character, but that is what makes her such a great YA protagonist. After her boyfriend cheated on her, Cass felt like she needs to get away. So instead of spending a couple of weeks with her father, she wants to spend the whole summer there. Cass has many doubts about staying with her father for such a long time, and it was nice to see that yes she loved him and his family, but it was hard to be there. It was hard to see Cass struggle with herself and who she is. She feels humiliated and hurt all at the same time. So this summer was a real experience for her.

And then Cass meets Bryan and at first his a new friend, but slowly as they spend more and more time together it turns into something more. It was nice to see Cass find not only herself but Bryan, new friends, and family in a place that she thought she would never call home.

Ahh, Bryan. My heart breaks but is also filled with warmth with I think about him. His life has changed forever. Bryan has gone from surfing and hanging out at the skate park to being confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. At the start of The Season of You & Me Bryan is trying to come to terms that he is paralysed, he feels lost with who he is, but like Cass, he finds himself as the novel goes on. Bryan has a lot of support but doesn’t necessarily believe he does, until Cass.

The romance in The Season of You & Me was perfect. It’s that nice balance of slowly building a friendship and then turning into something more. Cass and Bryan were very careful with each other at first, for different by understandable reasons. But as the novel went on the reader is able to see them slowly fall for each other. They slowly start to trust each other and come together. And gosh they were adorable together. And one of the main reason why I loved Cass and Bryan together; they didn’t say ‘I love you’.

Family was a major theme of The Season of You & Me and it was really nice to see. There were many different dynamics, but it all seemed to work. In YA you normally only see one good family, but both Bryan’s and Cass’ were great. Bryan’s are still struggling with their life-changing, but they all worked together. They care and love for one another and that was great to see. Cass’ family was just so great. I adored her half-brother, so much. You could see through The Season of You & Me that he adored Cass and wanted her to love him and care for him. Both Cass’ mum and her father and step-mum were also fantastic.

Friendship was another massive theme in The Season of You & Me. We see Cass make new friends, Bryan has a deeper relationship with his. And it all comes together.

Disability played a major part in The Season of You & Me and from what I can tell it was done really well. It’s been a little bit since Bryan landed himself in a wheelchair, but he is still struggling with life. And that is totally understandable. The reader is able to see that his life isn’t the same and that is hard to get on with. But one of the positives spins that the author did be Bryan has it #wheelchairperks. It was a theme throughout the novel where Byran would note something as a #wheelchairperk and it was cool to see it presented as that. As normally something being in a wheelchair was a bad and horrible thing.

Overall, I loved The Season of You & Me. It’s an emotional rollercoaster that really pulls at your heart. The Season of You & Me explores family, friendship and finding yourself. It’s a fantastic coming of age novel that explores disability, love and being okay with who you are. Cass and Bryan and beautiful characters on their own, but when they come together they light up the page.

Have you read The Season of You & Me? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it? Let’s Chat!

Books I’ve Decided I’m No Longer Interested In Reading

Feb 20, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. Each week they post a new Top Ten list that members at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone join as you please. This week’s topic is Books I’ve Decided I’m No Longer Interested In Reading.

There are countless books out there in the wild and there are many on my TBR – you can check out some of them here. But there are some that over time, I’m no longer interested in reading. There are different reasons why I’m choosing not to read them anymore. Sometimes it’s because it’s no longer something I’m interested in, or I’ve heard things that have turned me off. So today I thought I would share some of the books I’ve decided I’m no longer going to read.

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Mass: I have to admit, I loved the first book. I loved the world, the characters, and the plot. It was a very close 5 star read for me. Then I let it all settle in and I wasn’t really enjoying the foreshadowing that was present. And then the reviews starting to trickle in, and I knew the book wasn’t going to be for me.

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J Mass: Much like A Court of Mist and Fury, I enjoyed the first book in this series and then I found out what happened. Personally, I am not a massive fan of what Sarah does with her characters. I don’t like where their arcs go and how things end up between characters. I just think her writing and novels aren’t for me.

The Crown’s Fate by Evelyn Skye: I wasn’t a massive fan of the first book. There were many things that happened that I wasn’t a fan of. I didn’t really like the magic of the world or the romance. I felt that there was so much leading up until the end – and then it faded.

The Harper Effect by Taryn Bashford: I think I would have liked this books, it’s a YA sports romance. And if you know me well, then you know I love sports romance books. However, after the author had altercations with another blogger on social media, I can’t support the book. There was a lot going on and things were said and done that I didn’t agree with.

Legendary by Stephanie Garber: I am still not sure how I feel about this book. I didn’t love Caraval, but I also didn’t hate it. It’s one of those books that I can easily forget. So I’m not too sure if I am going to continue with the series. I want to know what and how things happen. So maybe one day.

A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi: I really didn’t want to put this one on my list, however there is a high chance I won’t read it. I liked the first book enough, but I didn’t love it. I really enjoyed the world and writing, and it was so beautiful. But I wasn’t a massive fan of the plot and the characters. So I’m not to sure if I want to continue.

Desolation by Derek Landy: I read the first book in this series a couple of years ago now and really enjoyed it. However, I just don’t think I would be into it now. The main protagonist is on the younger side and I just don’t think we will click.

Royal Bastards by Andrew Shvarts: This was on my TBR before it even came out. It sounded just like something that I would love. But, then it took ages for it to come out, and the reviews weren’t that great. So I just never picked it up, maybe one day I will.

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller: This is another one that was on my TBR before it even came out. And then I just never picked it up. It’s another one of those books that got mixed reviews and I could not decided if it was for me. So at the moment I am not going to be reading it any time soon.

Before She Ignites by Jodi Meadows: This is probably on the top of this list that I would pick up. I love the cover, the story sounds interesting. I just haven’t heard much about it and I am hesitate to pick it up.

And that is it! What are some of the books that you have decided that you are no longer going to read? Do we share any that’s the same? Let’s Chat!