Angel Reads

09 Jan

Books I Meant To Read In 2017 But Didn’t

Posted by angelreads Discussions 12 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. 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 Top Ten Books I Meant To Read In 2017 But Didn’t.

2017 was a crazy year for me and I read over 170 books. But there was still plenty that I never got around to reading. Today I thought I would share some of the books that I really wanted to read in 2017, but it just didn’t happen. Some of these are 2017 releases, some are older. And like always these are in no particular order.

This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab: I read the Shades of Magic books this and really enjoyed them. So I really wanted to give more of her books a read, but just never got around to it. I love Schwab’s writing style and I adore her world building. I cannot wait to read more of her books.

Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo: I seriously don’t know why I haven’t read this one yet. I don’t know why. I am a massive superhero fan and while I don’t love DC. Women Woman is one of my favourite superheroes of all time. I mean look at her. So I cannot wait to finally pick it up.

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff: Yes I have had this since it came out. Yes, I went to the launch. And yes I haven’t read. I do have a reason though. The hype scares me. I’ve been hesitant to pick Nevernight up because of all the hype that surrounds it. I want to love it, I really do.

Take Three Girls by Cath Crowley Fiona Wood and Simmone Howell: I just want to read a good Aussie book, by some amazing Aussie authors. #LoveOzYA

Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend: Said to be like Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter. This middle grade seems perfect for me. I’ve had so many young kids came and pick this one up at work and I cannot wait to read it for myself. I actually bought it for 2 of my cousins at Christmas too.

Dear Martin by Nic Stone: This was on the top of my TBR at the end of last year. But it never got picked up here in Australia, so I haven’t been able to buy it. So know I need to go online and try and find it. I am pretty sure it’s going to tear me apart, but I need to read it!

Girl Out of Water by Laura Silverman: Another one that I’ve wanted to read since the start of the year. It just sounds like my type of read. And that cover!

One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake: Not too sure why I haven’t read this one yet. Real confused. I loved Three Dark Crowns and I was so meant to read this as soon as it came out.

And that is it. There are probably heaps more – but I can’t think of them at the moment? What are the books that you were meant to read last year? Have you read any of these. Let’s Chat!

07 Jan

Book Review: The Last Days of Us by Beck Nicholas

Posted by angelreads Book Reviews 1 Comment

The Last Days of Us by Beck Nicholas

Pages: 260
Publish date: January 1st 2018
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN: 9781489220493
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

Five teens, one derelict Kombi and an unforgettable road trip…

Six months ago, Zoey’s life went off the rails. After the tragic loss of her brother, she partied her way to oblivion, estranged her best friend, Cass, and pushed away her now ex, Finn. But when her destructive behaviour reaches dangerous heights, Zoey realises she needs to pull herself together and get her old life back, including her ex. There’s just one complication: Finn is now dating Cass.

Now, it’s the last week of summer and Zoey, Cass and Finn are setting out on the road trip of a lifetime to see their favourite musician, Gray, perform live, joined by Finn’s infuriatingly attractive bad-boy cousin Luc and his vibrant younger sister Jolie. Zoey thinks this is her chance to put things to rights and convince Finn they should get back together. But she wasn’t counting on her friends’ lingering resentment, Luc’s disarming sincerity, and Jolie’s infectious love for life to turn her plans upside down.

This emotional coming-of-age story will resonate with anyone who’s ever messed up, fallen in love, or taken off on an adventure.

The Last Days of Us:

I received an arc The Last Days of Us by Beck Nicholas from Harlequin Teen Australia for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

When I picked The Last Days of Us up I was expecting it to be a fun summer read. What I wasn’t expecting was to be pulled on an adventure, have my heart torn to threads and really enjoy this #LoveOzYA.

Six months before the book started, Zoey’s life was turned upside down. With the sudden death of her brother, she pulled away from her friend Cass, and now ex Finn. Zoey let alcohol and parties take over her life. But when she finally hits the point of no going back – Zoey knows she needs to stop. She needs to pull herself and her life together.

But now Cass and Finn are dating and all three are about to go on a road trip of a lifetime. Along with Finn’s cousin Luc and Jolie, well it’s about to get interesting.

Overall, I enjoyed Zoey as a protagonist in The Last Days of Us. She has been through a lot and I understood why she let alcohol and parties take over. She just lost her brother and hell that would hurt. But, I also liked how she is now trying to fix her mistakes. But sometimes that can’t happen.

Seeing Zoey try so hard to fix things and it just not work out really did break my heart. However, I didn’t like Zoey’s attitude towards a lot of this. I felt that she thought she was entitled to be forgiven and that just didn’t sit right with me. Also at times, Zoey’s voice felt much younger than she was and again that made her sound winey and like she was complaining all the time.

Cass and Finn – were pretty crap friends. I know that Zoey pushed them away, but she had just lost her brother. And the fact that her best friend and boyfriend found comfort in one another instead of trying to help her as much as they could. It wasn’t just then though. Throughout the whole of The Last Days of Us, I felt that they just resented Zoey and put so much pressure on her.

While her friendship with Cass and Finn weren’t partially great. I loved the friendships that she does build between Luc and Jolie. While the book wasn’t set over a great amount of time – I really enjoyed seeing the bond between Jolie and Zoey. But then it was also heartbreaking.

While there were aspects of characters that I didn’t really like – the emotions that The Last Days of Us carries was wow. While the whole book was emotional, the last half or so really torn at me. It was heartbreaking, heartwrenching and made me cry like a baby. I loved the raw emotions that The Last Days of Us and Beck Nicholas brought to the table.

Although I really enjoyed the book as a whole. I felt that the ending was kind of rushed and wrapped up too quickly.

Overall, The Last Days of Us was a raw and emotional read. It tells a story of death and grief. What it’s like to lose someone at a young age and have your whole life change. It’s about friendship, family, and the good and bad. The Last Days of Us explores life at it’s best and worse.

Have you read The Last Days of Us by Beck Nicholas? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it? Have you read anything else by Beck Nicholas? Let’s Chat!

04 Jan

I Read 171+ Books in 2017 | Part 3

Posted by angelreads Discussions 3 Comments

Over the past week, I’ve shared the books that I read in 2017 over 2 posts. And like I’ve said in those my reading habits in 2017 changed. I read more books that I normally would and I read more romance books.

So here is the final post of the books that I read in 2017. Nevertheless, don’t forget to check out part 1 and part 2 of the books that I read last year.

Royally Endowed, Royally Matched and Royally Raised by Emma Chase. | The Long Ride Home by Tawni Waters. | Stay by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy | The Scars Between Us by M.K. Schiller | Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K Rowling (Audiobook). | Bittersweet, Steadfast and Keepsake by Sarina Bowen.

Just One of the Boys by Leah and Kate Ropper. | Bountiful by Sarina Bowen – Review. | Endurance, Challenge, and Keeper by Amy Daws. | Paper Princess by Erin Watt. | Fireblood by Elly Blake – Review. | The Perfect Gentleman by Delaney Foster | Temporary by Saria Bowen and Sarah Mayberry. | If There’s No Tomorrow by Jennifer L. Armentrout.

Angel by L.A Weatherly. | Hard Ink Series by Laura Kaye. | Ride Hard, Ride Rough, Rid e Wild by Laura Kaye. – Review 1 | 2.

Tarnished Crown by Erin Watt. | Hard to Let Go by Laura Kaye. | Dirty by Kylie Scott | The Ship of the Dead. (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard) by Rick Riordan – Review.| Broken Prince and Twisted Palace by Erin Watt.| Lick, Play and Lead by Kylie Scott.

Downed, Jock Blocked and Sacked by Jen Frederick. | The Bad Boy’s Baby by Cindi Madsen. | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K Rowling (Audio). | The Last Days of Us by Beck Nicholas. | Man Hands by Sarina Bowena nd Tayna Eby. | Rookie Move, Hard Hitter and Pipe Dreams by Sarina Bowen. | Fallen Heir by Erin Watt.

Undressed, Undeclared, Unspoken, Unraveled by Jen Frederick. | Played by Jem Frederick.

And that is it! Wow. I read a lot of books in 2017. I think the most I’ve ever read. It was really great. I had some good reads, some bad ones. Some that stood right now. It was an adventure.

Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Are you planning on reading them? Nevertheless, lets chat!