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Books I’ve Love in 2017…So Far

May 14, 2017

Today, I thought I would share some of my favourite reads of 2017 so far. We may already be in May, but I’ve read over 90 books already and cannot wait to read more. There have been some ups and some downs, that is for sure. However, today is all about those up’s.

I’ve read a range of books already this year from contemporary to fantasy, and young adult to new adult. So there is a range of books on this list and I cannot wait to share, so let’s go! These are in no particular order.

Frostblood by Elly Blake: This was the first book that I read this year and I just feel it in love. Frostblood explores the notion of family, finding out who you are, where you belong and to fight for what you believe. I loved the romance and the world. This debut author has done an excellent job and I cannot wait to see what comes from her next | Full Review

This Beats Perfect by Rebecca Denton: I was so surprised with This Beats Perfect. It was fun, addicting and put a smile on my face. It explores the notions of finding yourself, loving what you do and finding those who will stand by you. It’s about family, friendship and those you love | Full Review
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor: It was addicting. It explores the notion of family, friendship and finding out who you are. With a world that is built with layer upon layer, you will be begging to find out more. With its beautiful writing and characters that will take you by storm, it’s an adventure you want to be on. Strange the Dreamer is poignant, heart-stopping and you will not be able to put it down | Full Review

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: iIf I could give this more stars I would. The Hate U Give is a brilliant and powerful story. It’s heartbreaking, poignant and so so true. It’s a book that everyone should read, and understand. The Hate U Give explores family, friendship and what is right. I wanted to cry, scream and hurt. So I beg you please pick up this book, read it, take it in and understand | Full Review

Him/Us by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy: I have talked about this duology quite a lot recently, but it’s because I enjoyed both of these books just so much. It’s the first NA that I have read that had LGBTIQ+ themes, and it just made me smile so much.
A Darker Shade of Magic/A Gathering of Shadows by V.E Schwab: I had been meaning to read this book for quite some time and I am so glad that I picked it up. It’s everything that I love in a fantasy book. I feel in love with the world, the characters and everything in between.

The Ship Beyond Time by Heidi Heilig: This was a fantastic read. I was taken from the first page and didn’t want to stop there. It explores family and love. It’s about coming of age and discovering who you are. Nevertheless, with its poignant writing and characters that are just fabulous, you want to be on their journey.

Avenged by Amy Tintera: It kept me on the edge of my seat and I didn’t know what was going to happen next. Avenged explores the notion of family, friends, and love. It’s about standing up for what you believe in and what you think is the right thing to do. I love the fierceness, the weakness, the plot.

And that is it for the first half or so of 2017! Wow, what a list already, I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings with some of my most anticipated reads coming out in the next couple of months.

Nevertheless, what have been some highlights for you already in 2017? What are some books that you are looking forward to reading?

Recommendations: Books on Ice

Apr 26, 2017

If you didn’t know already I love sports novel. I don’t play, but I love watching different sports. I’ve been watching and going to AFL (Australian Football League) from before I can remember.

But today isn’t about footy, it’s all about ice hockey. Over the past couple of years as I’ve been ready more New Adult, I’ve started to read lots of books about Ice Hockey and I love it.

On Sunday I went to my very first ice hockey along with Ely and Michelle. You can check out how our day went over at Tea and Titles.

So today I thought I would share some of my favourite books that I’ve read that feature Ice Hockey. Most of these books are NA. But I would love to find some YA that features ice hockey. These are in no particular order, but here are some of my ice hockey recommendations.

Him/Us by Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen: I’ve spoken about this series quite a lot recently. Him and Us features a Gay and Bi protagonist and I adored it. It was so beautiful and I love how their relationship grows throughout both books. But the main thing I loved about this series was how it dealt with the LGBTQI+ community in Sport. It’s rare that you see this in real life in sports, let alone in a novel and I adored it.

Good Boy by Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen: This is the companion series to Him and Us and it’s just as good. While it’s a female and male relationship. It’s still as amazing and fun as the Him duo. I love that we get to see old characters that we know and love. Ice Hockey was again the focus on this one. Blake Riley is totally a fun protagonist and just made the novel great. I loved the relationship between him and Jess and how throughout the novel that both grow.

Taking Shots Series by Cindi Marsden: I found this series last year and I was taken by it. While it’s not the best series out there it’s still really fun to read. I love that throughout the series we get to see all different types of characters. They all have different personalities and traits. We get to see different love stories from friends to lovers, and to the one you promised you would never fall for. This is currently a 4 part series following a different couple each book. But, all the stories intertwine and you see those who have fallen in love again.

I am not going to lie it is very cliche at times, but sometimes I feel like those types of novels. Where I don’t care too much and I just want to fall in love with these character as they go on a journey to fall in love.

The Ivy Years Series by Sarina Bowen: This has only been a recent discovery of mine. Well, I had heard about it last year, but only managed to pick it up last month and well I loved it for so many reasons. One of the main reasons I like this series so much is that it deals with diversity that is rare in NA sports novels. The Year We Feel Down deals with a permanently disabled protagonist, while the other is temporary. The Understatement of the Year centres LGBTQI+ characters – which I find rare in sport. While the Shameless hour has diversity in race.

I also really enjoy the romance side of things. Yes, there is a lot of angst and trouble for each couple, but each story is different and you want to follow their journey.

I love the hockey in this one, however, I wish there was more of a focus on it in selected novels. But it was still fun. This is one that is high on my recommendations list espeically those just starting NA and ice hockey novels.

Off the Ice by Julie Cross: This is a good one if you don’t want to dive straight into NA. Sometimes that can scare some people especially those who haven’t read many NA novels. So this is a great way to start. It’s that border between YA and NA. And while I didn’t love it as much as the other books on this list, I would still recommend it.

The romance was cute and there is a big theme of family in this one. Both characters don’t have the best family life and when they come together, they have a release from it all. I liked the ice hockey elements in this one. Which is different to college ice hockey – but I enjoy it.

You can read my full review here.

Off-Campus by Elle Kennedy: This was one of my first ice hockey series that I read and I still really enjoying now. Yes, it’s very cliche at times, but it’s also very fun. There are times where you might want to cry and wrap the characters in a hug. I really enjoy Elle Kennedy as a writer and while I’ve read a number of her books, this has to be one of my favourite series. Apart from Him and Us.

The romances in this series are fun and heartbreaking. But you cannot help but love it. The first deals with a deal, then there is the one that starts with a mistake. Don’t forget about the one with the couple that no one saw coming, oh and don’t forget about the baby.

This series is fun but also deals with heart cutting issues. It’s about finding yourself, trusting in others and that family is not always by blood.

Cold Fury Hockey by Sawyer Bennett: This one is for people like their protagonists a little but older. While most of the series mentioned are college aged, this one deals with those who are on the professional level. I don’t read much adult, but I still enjoyed this series so far quite a bit. I thought after sharing some NA some adult recommendations would be great.

These books deal with some more hard-hitting issues, but I liked that it did. The romances were much more grow up in a way. And while these was still angst it was like NA novels.

Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them? Are you planning on reading them? Do you have any ice hockey recommendations for me? Let’s Chat! Don’t forget to check out Tea and Titles.

Discussion: Disability on Covers

Apr 20, 2017

If you’ve followed me for a while you might know that I am very vocal about disability in YA. I want it front and centre. I want people to read about it, to understand, to gain something and take it with them. A couple of months ago I wrote about living with chronic pain and shared posts through Disability Diaries. You may also know that Ely over at Tea and Titles also has a passion for disability in novels. And as well as being my best friend we love to share our passion together.

So today we thought we would share our thoughts on a few covers of books that delve into disability. This may be the protagonist or even someone very close to them. We wanted to see how publishers present disability on the book cover or even at all. We’ve split this one up so don’t forget to check out Tea and Titles for more.

Welcome Ely! Thank you so much for coming here and chatting with me about this. Do you want to talk quickly about yourself and why you are passionate about disability representation in literature?

As Angel said, I’m Ely and I blog over at Tea & Titles. I was born with a mobility disability that affects me almost every day, and I also have diabetes and anxiety. Growing up, the only fictional character who I could connect to was Nemo from Finding Nemo because he had a bad fin/leg like I did. Because of that, I’m very passionate about getting more disability into literature, especially YA. I’m currently writing my thesis on the representation of disability in YA so it’s all I think about at the moment.

Thank you for sharing Ely. If you couldn’t tell already a lot of our talks do end about disability in YA. So let’s get started.

The Year We Fell Down by Sarina Bowen

Let’s get started with this one. Both of us have read it and really enjoyed it, however the cover doesn’t tell us about about the book in a disability sense. The female protagonist has recently been confined to a wheelchair after an accident and while can use crutches, she will have a mobility disability for the rest of her life. However, that isn’t portrayed here on the cover. What do you think Ely?

I have to agree with you. When I saw the cover, I had no idea that the book was about disability at all. To me, it just looked like a cute summery contemporary and it was only when I read the blurb that I found out about that aspect. It’s such a huge part of the book that I’m actually really disappointed that it’s not on the cover at all, especially because I feel like disability is portrayed really well in the book.

Totally agree with you. And also that the disability plays such a big part in the novel itself with the protagonist coming to terms with everything that has happened. Also check out Ely’s review on The Year We Fell Down.

Aw, thanks Angel <3 I think it’s important to note that both main characters are disabled—one permanently and the other temporarily, so you’d think there would be even the smallest nod to it.

Tone Deaf by Olivia Rivers

Now this is an interesting one. Just by the title you have an understanding that this book is going to focus on deafness and well it does. And I love that the cover incorporates it without really trying. The contrast of the concert scene with the noise recognition. It’s smart. I haven’t read this one yet, but I’ve read This is What Goodbye Looks Like by this author and that makes me excited. What do you think of this cover Ely?

Having never heard of this book before, I have to say that I don’t hate the cover. Usually I wouldn’t pick it up because of the pretty stereotypical concert picture going on there, but the title draws me in. Even more than that, the soundwaves between the two words makes me feel pretty exciting for it actually. I can’t think of another book that looks at deafness with a cover like this, can you Angel?

As you said it’s a pretty generic concert image, but no I can’t think of once that also has to do with deafness. It’s small and if you didn’t know about the book you might miss it, but it works in way.

Highly Illogical Behaviour by John Corey Whaley

This one is a difficult one to talk about. While it’s not in your face, I can see how it would work to represent agoraphobia. All the different colours and how the lines are going different ways. All over the place – It’s like how you could feel. Being throw from one side to the other. Your mind everywhere all at once. Is that how you see it Ely?

Yes, but I also see it as connections—kind of like one of those crime things you see in TV where they have string going across the room, but in someone’s brain. As in, it’s like your brain is making all these connections to things. The way I see it is in anxieties and fears, if you do this thing then this is what could happen, or if you don’t do this thing and so on. Does that make any sense?

Totally makes sense and totally agree. It’s a way of connecting the dots and how your brain works in a way. How it makes sense of everything that is thrown at it.

***

As you can see from this post disability isn’t represented a whole lot on YA covers. Which is upsetting to say the less. You have to really and make your own interpretation of what is being presented. I don’t know why publishers don’t have disability front and center, but I do wish it was there more. What would you love to see more of Ely?

Personally, I’d love to just see more disability in all aspects of publishing. It’s still very rare that a book that features disability, and even when they do they are often pushed aside by bestsellers. I think everyone can think of a few bestsellers with little to no diversity in at all. I hadn’t realise before this post, but I’m sad that disability is featured so little on covers. We need disability on covers of disability books!

Could not agree with you more. Over the past year or so I have seen it more, but not nearly enough and it’s frustrating at times. There are so many disabilities in the world and so many people suffer – so why not have a good representation in the YA world.

Thank you Ely for joining me here on Angel Reads and don’t forget to check out Ely’s post where we talk more about disability on covers. I hope that you enjoyed this post and feel as passionate as we do about more disability on YA covers.

Thanks for always letting me rant about disability, Angel. I can’t wait for our next hundred conversations about it!

Have you seen a cover where disability is presented well? Can you think of any where it’s not even there or showed in a horrible way? Let’s Chat!