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Slow Start to the Year | January Wrap Up

Feb 5, 2019

January was a strange month for me. I went into a little reading slump – which wasn’t the way that I wanted to start the year, but by the end of the month, I was finally reading more again.

I read 13 books in January, and that is on the lower end for me. But like I said I’m getting back into the groove. I also read mostly contemporary, which didn’t surprise me at all. In summer, I always feel like reading more contemporary books. Anyway time for the wrap-up.

Unearthly (Unearthly #1) by Cynthia Hand: I don’t know why I waited so long to pick this series up, but I adored it. Unearthly was a really great start to a new series. There wasn’t much info dumping, but the world building was spread throughout the novel. This really helped with the pacing of the book and just moved things along nicely. Plus the romance was amazing!

Hallowed (Unearthly #2) by Cynthia Hand: The tension between Clara and the Angel world is intensifying and that just adds to the novel so well. A really good middle book to a series. It didn’t suffer from being boring or not adding anything to the series, it just worked really well.

Boundless (Unearthly #3) by Cynthia Hand: A fantastic way to finish this series. The world building was great, the romance was adorable, the characters engaging. I read this whole series in about 4 days and I have no regrets. You can check out my full series review as well.

Real Deal (Single Dads Club #1) by Piper Rayne: I couldn’t really decide what to read, so I thought a re-read would be nice. This is a good romance read, that doesn’t really wow me. But I needed just to go away for a little. I did enjoy the romance though.

Dirty Talker (Single Dads Club #2) by Piper Rayne: This is probably my favourite of this trilogy. I think both the plot and the protagonist really capture me. I loved Ava’s relationship with not only Dane but also his daughter.

Sexy Beast (Single Dads Club #3) by Piper Rayne: I have a love/hate relationship with this one. I love parts of the novel, but then there are some parts that I loathe. It’s a strange mix. It was a great way to finish this series though. Loved seeing all the men in the dads club finally happy.

Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi: This isn’t one of my favourite books out there. While I did struggle a lot reading the first half, I really enjoyed the second half. The protagonist became more real and I was able to connect with them a lot. The plot also started to move forward in the second half and things started to come together. I also really enjoy the slow-burning relationship of Penny and Sam. Throughout the whole novel, Sam and Penny were able to confide in each other and as the novel goes on their relationship changes. Emergency Contact explores the notion of finding yourself and those around it. It’s about family, friends and finding new paths | Full Review.

Full Measures (Flight & Glory #1) by Rebecca Yarros: I really needed to do a re-read of these books. Rebecca Yarros always makes me feel great and I love Full Measures so much.

Eyes Turned Skyward (Flight & Glory #2) by Rebecca Yarros: This one gets me every time. It just makes me cry and smile and everything in between. The romance is amazing, the friendships are great and I just love reading about these boys.

Overnight Sensation (Brooklyn Bruisers #5) by Sarina Bowen: I loved Overnight Sensation. Sarina knows how to write a fantastic sports romance that isn’t just about the sport or the romance. It’s about relationships, finding out who you are and learning about not only yourself but those around you. Jason and Heidi were fantastic, I couldn’t get enough of them. Alone there were pretty good, but together, they just blew up. Full Review

Him (Him #1) by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy: I think I have talked about this book enough. I love this duo and I will re-read as many times as I can.

Us (Him #2) by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy: This one gets me every time. I can’t read it without crying and wanting everything to be alright. If you love hockey romance and wanting a queer romance, then pick this up. It’s steamy and just breaks my heart.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer: I adored A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer. I was captivated by the characters, world, and the plot from the very first chapter. Rhen and Harper are fantastic characters on their own, with brilliant character arcs. But together they are like fire and it’s one that I want to keep on spreading. I loved that Harper’s disability wasn’t shoved aside, the reader is also able to see Rhen come to terms with the things that he has done when the monster. Full Review

And that is it for January! What are the books you read last month? What did you love and what did you hate? Did you read anything that I did? What was your favourite January read? Let’s Chat!

Book To Movie/TV Adapations That I Want To Watch in 2019

Jan 23, 2019

I love watching movies. Seriously one of my favourite things to do is go to the cinema and watch something. So today I thought I would share some of my most anticipated books to movie or TV adaptations in 2019. I’ve got a mix of YA and adult books here. As well as some that I have read and some that I haven’t. But here we go, like always these aren’t in any order.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: You may be thinking, what is this doing on your list? Well, it doesn’t come out in Australian until the end of January. But you bet that I will be seeing it more than once when it does come out. I adored reading THUG and I recommend it as much as I can. Plus I haven’t heard anything bad about the movie as of yet. I think I will be there opening night.

Ashes of Snow based on Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys: Set during WWII, this movie will follow 15-year-old Lina as her life is turned upside town when Soviet officers barge into her home. Separated from her father, Lina, her mother and brother are sent to a work camp in Siberia. And while in this horrible place, Lina takes comfort in her art, and puts pencil to paper. I have yet to read this one, but I can tell you that I’ll be reading it in the couple months. I adored Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys, so I can’t wait to watch this one.

Chaos Walking based on The Choas Walking series by Patrick Ness: This is another series that I haven’t picked up yet but can’t wait to read. While I have yet to see a trailer for this one, the stills look pretty cool. Todd is the only boy in a town full of men, where they can hear each other’s voices. Just shy of a month before Todd turns into a man, he knows the town is hiding something. So he runs. And then that’s when he meets a girl. This one is starring Daisy Ridley and Tom Holland, so yes, please!

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicole Yoon: I wasn’t a massive fan of Nicole’s first book that became a movie, but this one seems more up my alley. This one looks like it’s going to be heartbreaking, but also breathtaking all at the same time. This one follows Natasha who is facing deportation along with her family as she falls in love with Daniel, who tries to live up to his family’s expectations.

The Aftermath by Rhidian Brook: This one follows Rachael Morgan as she is reunited with her husband after WWII in Hamburg. Where she will be sharing her new house now only with her husband, but with the previous owner and his daughter. This one, I am either going to love or hate. Let’s just wait and see.

The Umbrella Academy by Gerard Way: While this may be a graphic novel, I still thought I would share it here. I had never heard about this one until I came upon the trailer a couple of weeks ago and now I can’t wait to see this one. This one follows seven kids who were adopted by a millionaire who creates an academy to save the world. Later then come together when their adoptive father dies.

And that is it for this post? What are some of the adaptations that you can’t wait to see? Are any of them the same as mine? What are some of your favourite book to movie or TV adaptations? Let’s chat!

2019 YA Releases Featuring Disability TBR | Part 1

Jan 17, 2019

If you have known me for a while now, you would know that I try to read and promote disability in young adult novels as much as I can. So today I thought I would share some of those on my TBR for this year. And you know what is sad? There isn’t many coming out, that I know of so far. Ely over at Oh Wonderland has put together a full list of disability releases this year. And it’s an ongoing list as well, where she will be updating constantly.

But today, I’m sharing 4 titles that I cannot wait to get my hands on this year. I hope to do another one of these lists when I find more books featuring disability that I want to read. Like always these are in no order.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely (A Curse So Dark and Lonely #1) by Brigid Kemmerer: From the Brigid Kemmerer books that I have read, I’ve adored. So when I heard she was bringing out a new fantasy, I knew that I needed to get my hands on it. This one is a beauty and the beast retelling with the female protagonist also having cerebral palsy.

Um yes, please! I mean there aren’t many fantasy books with what sounds like a badass, disabled, female heroine. Plus the concept of the ‘beast’ in this one is oh so intriguing.

Impossible Music by Sean Williams: I found this one the other day when I checking NetGalley. And let me tell you, I need it now. This one features protagonist Simon whose life is turned upside down after he has a stroke and loses his hearing. Before the stroke, music was his life, it was everything to him, and now he refuses everything that could assist him with this new way of life.

And then he meets G, who has also newly experienced deafness. Now Simon’s quest is to experience music in a different way. Impossible Music also explores Simon’s connection to the hearing world as well as the girl he meets along the way.

Our Year of Maybe by Rachel Lynn Solomon: This one sounds like it’s going to break my heart into so many little pieces. Sophie would do anything for Peter, even if it meant giving up one of her kidneys. He means everything to Sophie from best friend to secret crush. So when Sophie finds out she’s a match, there isn’t much to think about. Before the transplant, Peter wasn’t living life to the fullest, and now after his life has changed.

But it isn’t what Sophie or Peter expected. Peter has become more distant, his drawn to guitarist Chase and he is pulling away from Sophie. And when one event changes everything again and is their friendship worth saving.

The Great Unknowable End by Kathryn Ormsbee: I hadn’t heard about this one until I saw it on Ely’s post and now I need it. When Stella’s mum dies and her brother runs off to join the local hippie group Red Sun, she has to drop everything and care for her sister. Galliard has always lived his life with the Red Sun. They accept him for his tics and everything that comes with it. But then he is denied the resident artist role and for the first time starts to think of his life out of the compound.

Then Stella and Galliard met, what follows is something very strange. Red rain, storms out of nowhere and a countdown clock. But no one knows what will happen when the clock hits zero. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that includes a protagonist that has Tourette’s and that makes me so so excited.

And that is it! These are the some of the books that feature YA protagonists with disabilities that I can’t wait to read. I like that there is a range of genre’s here as well. What are some of the books that feature disability that you can’t wait to read? Let’s Chat!