Recommendations Archives - Page 14 of 18

Books Angel Made Me Read (And You Should Too!)

Dec 19, 2019

Hello there everyone! I’m Ely from Of Wonderland, and I’m Angel’s best friend. I’m here to do a little guest post today talking about all the books Angel has made me read, and why you should pick them up too!

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

I had given up on Cassandra Clare after City of Heavenly Fire and vowed that I’d never pick up her books again. And then Lady Midnight came around, and Angel spoke about it non-stop for an entire week before I caved and picked it up. As it turns out, I wasn’t done with Cassandra Clare at all.

Without a doubt, The Dark Artifices series is the best thing Clare has done. It’s full of diverse, lifelike characters with all the best parts of the Shadowhuter world. It’s well worth the read.

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

I was super excited by the premise of Serpent & Dove until I suddenly started seeing a bunch of mixed and low ratings. Then, again, Angel started talking about how much she enjoyed it and how much she thought I would. She gifted me a copy for my birthday, and I was immediately sucked in.

If you also love a good fake dating and/or enemies to lovers trope like Angel and I do, then you should absolutely pick this one up.

Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas

I’ve never been a big romance reader. Like a lot of people, I had a (completely fake) idea of what the genre was. But then Angel started reading primarily romance books and constantly telling me how happy they made her, and I started to cave.

This one by Lisa Kleypas is my favourite so far, though I now suddenly have a romance TBR a mile long. This is the first in a historical romance series called The Wallflowers, and if you follow Angel anywhere, you’ve probably already heard her gush about Kleypas a million times over. Take her word for it, Kleypas is great fun!

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

I’ve got to admit that I have a soft spot for a good YA contemporary. Over the years, I’ve become fussier about what I like, but they still hold a special place in my heart. Just like everything else, I listened to Angel talk about Jenn Bennett’s books for a good couple of months before I finally picked one up.

Alex, Approximately is the only one I’ve read so far but it made me immeasurably happy. If you’re looking for something sweet, look no further!

So there we are! Just a couple of the books that Angel has made me read over the years of us being best friends.

Has Angel convinced you to read anything in particular?

Books I’ve Loved Reading So Far in 2019

Sep 19, 2019

Today I thought I would share with you, all the books that I’ve loved reading so far this year. While we only have a few months left of 2019, (what the hell???) I think it’s about time that I showed a little more love for the books that have made my year.

I’ve had a strange year for reading for me. I’ve been reading a lot of romance books, a lot. And I don’t even know why. It’s just really what I’ve been in the mood to read. If I haven’t said already, I am a massive mood reader. Anyway, here are the books that I’ve been loving so far this year.

Unearthly series by Cynthia Hand: I’ve been wanting to pick up this series for some time, and I finally did it at the start of the year. And I just loved it. It had so much that I really loved. The romance was great, the world was fantastic and everything in between made it better. You can check out my full series review now as well.

Flight & Glory series by Rebecca Yarros: So I did a re-read of this series at the start of the year and I feel in love with the characters all over again. This series just gets me every time I read it. I feel every emotion, every heartbreak. And I will feel it, over and over again.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely (Cursebreakers #1) by Brigid Kemmerer: I don’t think there should be any surprise that this one is on my list. I will shout to the world about how much I love this book. I was captivated by the characters, world, and the plot from the very first chapter. With fantastic world-building, character arcs and a plot that just keeps giving. Full Review

Appetites & Vices (The Truitts #1) by Felicia Grossman: This is one of the first historical romance novels I read and I’ve fallen in love. It was engaging, heartwarming and heartbreaking. The romance was great and the writing was fantastic. This fulled my love for reading historical romances this year for sure. Full Review.

More Than We Can Tell (Letters to the Lost #2) by Brigid Kemmerer: I never understand why I put off reading books from my favourite authors, and this was one of those books. I adored Letters to the Lost, and while I didn’t love More Than We Can Tell as much. It was still a fantastic read, that warmed my heart so damn much.

The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros: Again no one should be surprised that this one has made my list. This book broke me. I cried so much while reading, and after finishing it. But it was also so beautiful. If you like emotional reads, that deals with hard issues, but it also incredibly beautiful then this is for you. You can also check out my full review.

Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte: As one of my most anticipated reads this year, I was really looking forward to picking up Four Dead Queens, and I wasn’t disappointed. It has so many elements that just make the story even better. I loved the world, the characters, and I adored the storyline. Full Review.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston: I love this book so damn much. It’s perfect. I love the romance, the protagonists, the plot. Everything. If you haven’t picked this book up – please, please do. You can also check out my discussion with Ely, where we talk a lot about this one.

The French Photographer by Natasha Lester: This one was a ‘Book of the Month,’ at work, and I simply fell in love. It shows the effects the war had on not only the lives of people but also their relationships and how trying to move on from the war. If you are looking for a historical fiction that embodies feminism, strength and seeing the war from the female perspective then this is for you. Full Review.

Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett: It’s a Jenn Bennett, of course, I was going to love it. It’s a great combination of mystery and contemporary that captures real characters. With writing that is easy to read, the characters float off the page. Jenn Bennett is able to create a story that is easy to follow and to fall in love with. Full Review.

The Wallflowers, The Hathaways and the Ravenels series by Lisa Kleypas: I have read them all this year and have fallen in love with each and every one. I can’t really pick my favourite, they all have their highlights that just work for me. If you are looking for some historical romance – then pick any of Lisa’s up.

Dalliances & Devotion (The Truitts #2) by Felicia Grossman: While I didn’t love this one as book 1, I still really enjoyed everything about it. It was fun,intense and full of romance. It’s a great second chance romance in a historical setting. With a female character that is strong and willing to do what it takes for herself. Full review.

Serpent & Dove (Serpent & Dove #1) by Shelby Mahurin: I finished this one last night and I need to start talking about it. This book is fantastic and brilliant and perfect. And omg. More people need to read this! It’s a great new fantasy series that I cannot wait to devour. I’m hoping to post my full review in the coming week.

And that is it! That’s all the books I’ve loved so far in 2019. It’s a lot, I know. But I’ve also over 130 books so far this year, so it’s a good balance. What are some of the books that you’ve loved reading so far this year? Do we share any that’s the same? Let’s Chat!

Romance Tropes That I Love | Part 1

Mar 28, 2019

I was talking with Ely from Of Wonderland, about some of the romance tropes that I love. And I thought that today I should share some of them with you. I realised while getting this post together that I like a lot of different tropes. So breaking it in up in parts was the best option.

Over the past couple of years, I have been reading romance more and more. It was rare that I read a book without some sort of romance even before.

Friends to Lovers: This has to be one of my favourite romance tropes ever. There is something about it that just makes me all warm inside. I love that there is already a relationship that the romance is built on. And how the reader is able to see feelings change both characters becoming aware of the changes. Some of my recent favourite friends to lovers romances are Emma and Julian from The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare and Maggie and Levi from Coming up For Air by Miranda Kenneally.

These two and very different books, but they still share the same essence. The romance is between two characters that have been friends with for a long. So, it looks at them finally coming to terms with their feelings.

Enemies to lovers: This one hasn’t always been one I loved. But over the years I’ve come to love it even more. Sometimes if it isn’t done right it doesn’t work. If the extent of them being enemies is too harsh – I struggle to like it. But if it’s done in a way where no one really gets hurt physically or mentally because of the other – I am all for it. A recent favourite of mine that includes enemies to lovers are; Prince Rhen and Harper from A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer and Lily and Rowan from Worldwalker Series by Josephine Angelini.

The romance in this A Curse So Dark and Lonely is so good! I love that it takes some time before they are even friends, but the reader is able to see them turning into something more. While Lily and Rowan from the Worldwalker series aren’t so much as enemies, as people who didn’t particularly like each other at first.

Siblings Friend/Best Friends Siblings: This one has always been one of my favourite romance tropes. I don’t know what it is, but when I hear about this in a book – I am always happy. I really like the tension that causes and how everything is put on the line. And I like that it shows that the characters would do anything for one another, even if it means upsetting some people that they love. Some of my recent favourites are Ella and Beckett from The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros and Jess and Blake from Good Boy (WAGs #1) by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy.

Again these two and totally different but they work so well. But I just love them both so much. Ella and Beckett’s relationship is quite different, but I love how it works. While Jess and Blake are crazy and daring, but again it works.

Second Chance Romances: One of the most popular romance tropes I think that is out there – but it’s also one that I adore. It’s something about them already knowing each other well that makes this trope stand out for me. I love how both characters have to work through things before they can fall for each other again and it makes for a story that is whole. Some of my recent favourites are Zorie and Lennon from Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett as well as Jamie and Ryan from Him and Us by Sarina Bowen

These two again show the diverse nature of the second chance romance trope. While Zroie and Lennon have a much more best friends, to enemies, to lovers story. Jamie and Ryan have a much more emotional story that looks into sexuality and finding out who you are.

And that is it for this post! What are some of your favourite romance tropes? Why are they your favourite? Do we share any that is the same? I can’t wait to share some more of my favourites. Let’s Chat!