Features Archives - Page 27 of 77

Books I Struggled To Read

Sep 6, 2017

I’ve always been big on trying to finish a book. I don’t know what it was, but I just couldn’t do it, I couldn’t leave it unfinished. For a long time, I knew what I liked and I didn’t stray much. But, this year I am testing the waters. Some are paying off and other times… And if you gave me this topic a year ago, I would have struggled a lot more than I did today picking books.

So today, I thought I would share some of the books that I’ve really struggled to finish and pushed through, but really didn’t like it.

Paper Princess by Erin Watt: Paper Princess is a story of survival, rags to riches and how money can’t buy you everything. I was really looking forward to this one. I really enjoyed When It’s Real when I read it a couple of weeks okay. But I was utterly disappointed with Paper Princess. I wasn’t a massive fan of the writing, nor the characters. I felt at times that all I wanted to do was give up. In saying all that, I will read more into this series as the ending did give me hope.

The Long Ride Home by Tawni Waters: The Long Ride Home is a heartbreaking tale of survival, teen pregnancy, and grief. However, I was unable to connect with the story like I wanted it and I wasn’t a massive fan of the protagonist. I just felt very disconnected with her. The writing style also really wasn’t for me and I struggled to get through.

Charisma by Jeanne Ryan: This one explores changing yourself to fit it and how that can tear you apart. It was slightly instalovey, and I felt that it was hard to connect with the protagonist as she was whiny and standoffish. The writing was crash hot and I hated that they ‘fixed’ shyness. Again, I did finish it.

Lisette’s Paris Notebook by Catherine Bateson: Overall, Lisette’s Paris Notebook was not for me. It explores family, friendship, and romance. It had a protagonist that felt too young to be eighteen and a plot that dragged on. I was expecting and wanting more from Lisette’s Paris Notebook.

Assassin’s Heart by Sarah Ahiers: Firstly I was intrigued by the end, I felt like a fish out of water. I felt there was no arc in both the protagonist and the plot. There was so much potential to make such a good read, but it didn’t reach that for me.

The Leaving by Tara Altebrando: The Leaving explores what happens when people return having no memories of where they have been. I didn’t like most of the characters and the writing style hindered my reading, however, the plot kept me reading.

And that is it for this post? What are some books that you struggled to read? Do we share any that’s the same? Let’s Chat!

Books That Hit The ‘Feels’ | #LoveOzYABloggers

Jul 31, 2017

Today is the second time for #LoveOzYA’s, #LoveOzYABloggers meme. It’s a fortnightly feature that promotes Aussie YA, with a new theme every time. This week’s theme is Feels.

I am a very emotional person, there is no denying it. It doesn’t take much to make me cry, really nothing at all. But, here are some of those books that hit me all in the right places with feels. For good and sometimes for bad.

No Limits by Ellie Marney: Wow, I just finished this one a couple of days ago and holy did it tear me apart. It’s emotional as hell and because we already know one of the protagonist we just fall back in so easy. Nevertheless, you will be hit with all types of feels.

A companion novel to her ‘Every’ trilogy, No Limits follows Harris Derwent who isn’t exactly the good guy.

After his unsuccessful attempt to help Rachel Watts, Harris has landed himself in hospital and unemployed. He is still stuck in the country and at his father’s peril. He needs to make money fast and being a runner for a drug cartel is where Harris lands himself.

Amita Blunt is the police sergeant’s daughter. Getting involved in Harris’s case was never part of the plan. But working at the hospital, she’s invisible – which makes her the ideal contact for a boy feeding information back to the police…

Backed into a corner, with everything at stake, it’s time for Harris and Amie to find out if love really has no limits…

Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde: I connected with this book on so many levels and it was because of that it was so heartbreaking and uplifting and hit me with feels.

Queens of Geek follows three friends as they go to their very first convention SupaCon. Charlie likes to stand out. And SupaCon is her chance to show fans she’s over her public breakup with co-star, Reese Ryan.

While, Taylor likes to blend in. Her brain is wired differently, making her fear change. And then there is Jamie, and she knows their friendship will never change – even though she wants it to.

While Charlie dodges questions about her personal life, Taylor starts asking questions about her own.

Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley: It’s a poignant, beautiful story with fleshed out characters, gorgeous writing and a concept that is for every book lover. This book was full of feels.

Words in Deep Blue follows protagonist Rachel Sweetie as she returns home, is faced with her best friend, a secret crush and to a place where everything seemed to be better.

It’s about Henry, who doesn’t know what he wants, thinks that he loves his on and off girlfriend and wants things can go back to what they use to be.

It’s about Howling Books, where letters between lovers, friends and strangers are marked forever in the pages of the books that live on its shelves.

Have you read any of these books? Nevertheless, are you planning on reading them? What are books that hit you right in the feels? Let’s Chat!

#LoveOzYABloggers is hosted by #LoveOzYA, a community-led organisation dedicated to promoting Australian young adult literature. Keep up to date with all new Aussie YA releases with their monthly newsletter, or find out what’s happening with News and Events, or submit your own!

YA Fantasy that I Want To Read | #LoveOzYABloggers

Jul 17, 2017

Today is the second time for #LoveOzYA’s, #LoveOzYABloggers meme. It’s a fortnightly feature that promotes Aussie YA, with a new theme every time. This week’s theme is Fantasy.

I realised today that I haven’t read much Aussie Fantasy and I don’t even know why! Fantasy is one of my favourite genres. It’s what I read for so many years on end. So today I thought I would share 3 #LoveOzYA Fantasy books that are on my TBR and I cannot wait to read.

Shadows by Paula Weston: This is more along the lines of Paranormal Fantasy, but it still will hit the right spots.

Shadows is book one in the Rephaim series and follows protagonist Gaby Winters. It’s been a year since she was in a car crash that killed her twin brother. She may be healed on the outside – but inside she is full of grief. It doesn’t help that every night in her dreams she kills demons.

Then Rafa comes to town and he looks like the guy who’s been appearing in Gaby’s dreams. Gaby is forced to accept that what she thought she knew about herself . And her life is only a shadow of the truth—and that the truth is more likely to be found in the shadows of her nightmares.

Embrace by Jessica Shirvington: I’ve read quite a few of Shirvingtons books before and adored them. So I really have no idea why I haven’t picked this one up.

Embrace is book one in The Violet Eden Chapters and follows protagonist Violet Eden. When Violet is having strange dreams that leave her with very real injuries and a tattoo that is weaving its way up her arm, she knows something is different.

And then the guy she thought she could fall in love with just told her he’s only half-human – oh, and the same goes for her. And she keeps hearing a distant fluttering of wings. But if angels seek vengeance and humans are warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden.

Akarnae by Lynette Noni: So many of my friends have picked this series up and really enjoyed it, including my cousin – so I think I should soon too.

Book one in The Medoran Chronicles follows protagonist Alex as she begins at a new school. Alex is stunned when she walks through a doorway and finds herself stranded in Medora, a fantasy world full of impossibilities. Desperate to return home, she learns that only a man named Professor Marselle can help her… but he’s missing.

While waiting for him to reappear, Alex attends Akarnae Academy, Medora’s boarding school for teenagers with extraordinary gifts. She soon starts to enjoy her bizarre new world and the friends who embrace her as one of their own. But strange things are happening at Akarnae.

Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Are you planning to? What is your favourite #LoveOzYA fantasy book? Let’s Chat!