Just One day by Gayle Foreman ~ A Sentimental Read

Rating: 5 Stars

Recommend to everyone, especially Contemporary lovers! =)

A story about how the smallest things can impact someone immensely

This book was a journey. A journey of self-discovery. Reading this you're literally in Allyson's mind. You're in her mindset- thinking the way that she does, it feelsthat real. 

First of all, the pacing of this novel was perfect. The first half is one whirlwind of a day- Just One Day in Paris and the second half is how the main character copes with that one day and how it affected her. 

The description of all the different locations- I felt was spot-on. I've never been to these places but the descriptions were so vivid. It was beautiful learning about different cultures and experiencing different places. 

Basically, this story centres around a girl named Allyson who makes the biggest, impulsive decision ever and decides to spend just one day- her last day in Europe in Paris with (I guess you could say) a complete strange. It's about Allyson shedding her good girl image and finally being someone different, someone that she likes. 

However, the day doesn't end great and then we find her coping with this day an entire year later. We see her learning from past experiences, changing her ways, being who she wants to be and not what she's being pressured to be. 

I really loved the main character. I loved how everyone supported her and the atmosphere that it brought on to the story. I loved the decisions she would make and her character development. I literally felt like a mother reading about her experiences because I was just so touched and so proud of what she was doing. And I think it's great to have that strong of a connection to the lead character. 

Some problems (because there always is)- They're more like nuisances rather than problems. Things that ticked me off but probably didn't tick you off.

- Willem: I really didn't like him which was strange because usually I adore male leads. I just didn't see much of his character or back story. Maybe if I did I might sympathise with him and like him a bit more. 

- The end: I want to know what happens next. I need some closure. Even just a conversation and I would be fine. I just need something


Overall, a beautiful book which really broadened my horizons and changed the way I look at things. It was a very sentimental read ... and I liked it. I definitely recommend it!

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness ~ Rich, Dark, Touching, Beautiful, Emotional and Heart-breaking!!!

Rating: 5+ Stars!!!

Recommend to EVERYONE!!!

9:52pm December 10th 2013

Read last page, shed a tear, closed the book and bawled my eyes out

If you're looking for a super-rich beautiful story with gorgeous illustrations, beautiful symbolism & a heartfelt message.

Then this is the story for you. Seriously.

Confessions of an Angry Girlfriend by Louise Rozett ~ An Awesome Sequel

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Recommend to Chick-lit/ Contemporary/ Coming of Age novel lovers.

This is a story about finding yourself and so much more

What I have learned from this book
1. There are times to speak up and times to shut up and you need to know that.
2. You need to respect others decisions. If someone doesn't want you to get involved then you need to respect their decision. Don't go tattle-taling especially when it's none of your business.
3. You need to know when something is worth it or not.
4. Success and finding oneself comes from failures in life.


That's literally all you need to know. =)

Richard Yancey's The 5th Wave ~ A Chilling Sci-fi Novel

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Recommend to Sci-fi lovers.

This book is all about the questioning. It's a sci-fi novel about an alien invasion. It's all about these aliens who are trying to wipe out humanity, to then take Earth for themselves. They do this through different stages called 'waves'. The first wave was an electro-magnetic pulse that shut down everything. TV, computer, cars, none of it worked anymore. Then throughout the next 3 waves, 97% of the world's population is decimated. 

This novel is mainly centered around 17yr old kick-ass Cassie short for Cassiopeia who survived the first 3/4 waves and is still surviving. This novel is told from various POV's and then all these different perspectives mold together perfectly to create a well-written and executed novel that keeps you on your toes wondering if what you know is right or not. 

Throughout this entire book, all these hints are dropped about the plot twist and you notice them, you second-guess it. You keep on thinking "There's something more to this, this is too obvious." But Rick Yancey puts a sort of block on that second-guessing. You only second-guess to an extent before it kind of falls to the back of your head as another fact. The whole way through, you're filled with paranoia, alongside Cassie wondering "Who can we trust, who can't we trust? Who's human, who isn't?" 

This goes perfectly with one of the major concepts of this novel which is 'trust'. Knowing who to trust and who not to, and sometimes you have no choice but to trust. 

Overall, this book was fantastic! The writing style was a bit off-putting for me, so I don't feel like it deserves 5 stars. But it was REALLY REALLY good!! I definitely recommend you pick this up!

Confessions of an Angry Girl by Louise Rozett ~ A nice, fun read

Rating: 4 Stars

Recommend to fans of Coming of Age novels/ Contemporary lovers.

Rose Zarelli
How to describe her? She's me basically. She doesn't believe she fits in. She says things without thinking and lets her past clog up her life. Okay, so she isn't exactly me. But we share similar traits so I guess that is why I can relate to her. 

Rose is a girl who I have realised seems to wallow in her misery. She doesn't really try to fix it. She's one of those annoying people who purposely wants to feel depressed. Now I understand that she's been affected by her fathers death at such a young age. I mean there are few of these books that I have read with a protagonist of the age fourteen. I really liked a lot of her morals. She had strong morals, values and mindsets. However, speaking your mind seemed to be one of them.

I hated the fact that she wasn't social or she didn't try to socialise and converse with people. I also didn't like the fact that she wasn't supportive. Friends are there for each other, you trust them, you support them, you advise them and they return the same deeds. That's how friendship works. You can't ride a canoe with only one person doing the work. 

This book is a story of a fourteen year old girl, Rose Zarelli who has just started High School. This is a story of not just surviving but coming to terms with your many flaws and trying to become a better person. It's about letting go of the past and not letting it clog up your life and implementing values and morals into everyday life. It's about not letting yourself rot in the pit that is misery. 

Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover ~ A Brilliant Sequel

Rating: 5 Stars!!!

Recommend to those who have read the first book/ New Adult Contemporary Lovers/ Fans of the author/ those with a brave heart.

Do not recommend to those under the age of fourteen.

The word Hopeless has so many meanings when it comes to this book.

Hopeless is Holder's way of reminding himself that he let down the two people he loved most in his life.

Hopeless symbolises the bond between the girl Hope and the Girl Les (Lesslie) 

Hopeless captures the emotions and the feelings of the characters in this book. Especially Dean Holder. He is completely and utterly hopeless. He is hopeless and he feels Hopeless.

The phrase Losing Hope doesn't just symbolise the loss of will in Holder but it conveys many other messages. It's not just Holder Losing Hope but it is about other characters Losing Hope. Les lost hope. And that led to something tragic. That was the reason why Holder suddenly became Hopeless.

As well as this, he lost his Childhood friend Hope and that also connects to Losing Hope. 

These words/phrases have so many different meanings that are so cleverly conveyed in this book. Colleen Hoover was able to make this book magical even though it was just from another perspective. It was still unique and it uncovered so much information that we were not given in the first book. 

We were able to see both sides of the arguments and the experiences and realise just how perfect the two characters Sky and Holder are for each other. They are/were both Hopeless but together they 'love' and 'like'.

They live.

This book will make you live.

And you will live this book! 

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover ~ A Chilling Read

Rating:  5+ Stars!!!

Recommend to those with a strong heart/ lovers of New Adult Contemporary/ Lovers of the author.

Do not recommend to those under the age of fourteen.

Why do we choose to forget things? Things so horrifying they must be known. Why do we choose to forget and never remember why or what or how?

Sky was always a strange girl. I could tell from the very beginning that there was something more to her. She was completely and utterly hopeless and she didn't seem to know why.

She participated in activities because it felt good not to feel. And if you take the time to think about that. It's pretty smart. If you can't feel than you don't feel the loss or the pain or the sadness.

Sky doesn't even know about her past but she does in a way. Because you can never forget. You're not allowed to forget. 

But the past catches up with you eventually. And you have to face it soon enough which is exactly what this book is about. Holder, one of the main characters being the beginning of the past catching up with her. 

From the very beginning the past was happening all around her but she still pushed it away and she didn't even know. 

This is the story about a girl Sky who never knew her biological parents. A girl who is completely and utterly hopeless 

Let's see if that can change in this emotionally traumatizing book. One of the best books ever written.

The Scorpio Races ~ Not my cup of tea

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Recommend to Fantasy Lovers, Horse Lovers and fans of the author.

So, you're looking at the cover of this book. It looks really intriguing doesn't it? You look at the tagline Today is the first day of November and so, today, someone will die This book looks AMAZING doesn't it. 

To be honest, this book was sort of disappointing. Then why did you give it 3.5 stars? The reason for that was because although I had so many problems with the novel, there were aspects that I really enjoyed. 

Those aspects include:
- The characters: I came to really like the two main characters (the story is told in dual POV from Puck & Sean's perspective) even though I didn't like them or connect with them much in the beginning. Majority of the time I didn't even agree with the decisions they made. 
- The premise/world: The premise and world was SO COOL and SO ORIGINAL! It was dark & mysterious, cool & creepy and honestly just a big bucket of fun! =D
- THE CLIMAX: I didn't care much for the plot but the Climax was SO COOL! I was completely immersed in this one part of the novel. =D
- The Originality: This book was so unlike anything I'd ever read before and that was cool. 

The other reason why I enjoyed this novel was because I read it as a buddy read with Lady Poppy- one of my GR friends. It was really cool to discuss our differentopinions on the several aspects of the novel. It gave me more of an open mind and caused me to enjoy the novel more. I'm interested to see what she thinks of the novel overall. =) =D

However, as I said I had problems with this novel. 

Problems included:

1. The writing style: I can never get into Maggie Stiefvater's writing style. I have tried her other books Shiver & The Raven Boys and I just find it really hard to enjoy her writing style. I'm not bagging on the author as she is awesome and writes really unique novels. I just feel that the writing style really stopped from becoming fully immersed in the story, plot, world and characters. 

2. The plot: Although it was really original, the plot just didn't appeal to me. I didn't like the way it unfolded. It went in a completely different direction and didn't work for me. 

3. The end: I feel that as a fantasy stand-alone this novel did great but I didn't get enough closure on the characters and the relationships and that angered me a bit. 

4. The pacing: I felt that the quite slow pacing made the entire storyline really weak and caused much disinterest for me in the story. 

Overall, this is a great solid fantasy read. Horse & Fantasy lovers would enjoy it. It just wasn't amazing is all. I had too many problems to really be invested in this story. 

Divergent ~ Fast-paced & thrilling

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Recommend to Action & Dystopian Lovers. Anyone looking for a fast-paced read and who loved The Hunger Games.

Before reading 

I had my doubts about this book. I wasn't sure if I should read it or not. It didn't seem like my type of book. So for a couple of months I kept on putting it on my to-read list and then deleting it. Finally I picked it up and from the first page I was captivated.

During the book 

I cannot express how much this book reminded me of The Hunger Games. It was SO similar yet it was unique in its own way. It was a Dystopian book with a whole different concept. During the book, I didn't know what to make of any of the characters, except Tris. I could tell straight away she was different to the others. Her mind seemed more free. It didn't seem set in one direction like everyone else. 

I found it AMAZING how Veronica Roth represented the divergence in Tris. 

My thoughts on the characters.

Peter and Drew reminded me eerily of Cato and Marvel. And Lynn was just plain annoying. Four and Tris didn't remind me of anyone. They were extremely unique and had a personality that I hadn't seen in any other book. 

After finishing this rollercoaster of a ride 

Five Factions. Those who are honest (Candor), Those with knowledge (Erudite), Those who are selfless (Abnegation), Those with Courage (Dauntless) and those who strive for peace and fairness (Amity). 

When one turns 16 they must make the choice that can change everything. They must choose a faction. Whichever path they choose will change their mind set forever. 

For Tris her journey to find who she was in this world and what her role was, is truly magnificent. She realised she was not fit for Erudite or Abnegation. She was told that Amity and Candor were out of the question. Which left only one faction. 

When Tris made her decision she didn't know what to expect. She believed that she could fit into Dauntless and that she belonged there. She believed her choice was right .. but she didn't know what it meant to be Divergent. 

Her mind didn't follow one path. It wasn't just brave. It wasn't just honest. It wasn't just striving for peace. It wasn't just selfless and it wasn't just intelligent. Her mind followed more than one path. She followed more than one direction and could see that which others could not. She was Divergent. 

But Tris didn't realise that her choice could mean so much. What followed Tris was unexpected romance and the quest to find out who she was. 

So my question for this book.

What does it mean to be human? 

Because a human mind doesn't work in just one way.

The Fault in Our Stars ~ Touching & heart-breaking

Rating: 5 Stars!!!

Recommend to everyone!!!

The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars/ But in ourselves.- William Shakespeare 

Everyone has a hamartia- a fatal flaw. Hazel Grace Lancasters is Stage IV Thyroid Cancer. Augustus (Gus) Waters hamartia is ... well .... lets not spoil it for you. 

This book is not a romance.
This book is not your typical Nicholas Sparks cancer love story.
This book is not about a girl *fighting* cancer.

Because that description is incorrect. Hazel is not a girl *fighting* cancer. She is a girlliving with it. She is a side effect. A grenade, as she refers to herself. Someone that could explode at any moment and cause havoc to those around her. She'd rather keep to herself than leave a path of havoc behind her trail.

But then she meets Augustus. Her ray of Sunshine. A guy who loves his metaphors, is quite optimistic, sucks at driving and puts the killing thing to his lips but doesn't let it kill him.

Hazel just can't help her feelings for Augustus. And she knows that he feels the same way. But she doesn't want to put him through the pain if she happens to die when she dies. But Augustus is willing to have his heart broken for her. And Hazel doesn't know the whole story. 

Then again no-one really does 

But maybe Shakespeare's saying is wrong. What if the fault IS in our stars. Because that's how it is for Hazel and Gus. They are star-crossed lovers ... if you want to put it that way. And their stars are crossed. But there's a fault in their stars. One both Hazel and Augustus have to live with. 

It's easy to see where this book is going. That it's a book about a girl *fighting* cancer who falls in love but then there's a tragic spin of events blah blah blah.

But is that what REALLY happens.

Think again, because John Green is not your typical author. He's ... unpredictable. If you thought that that was what the book would be like, then pick up TFIOS and start reading. I guarantee you will smile, laugh, cry, giggle and have your heart broken. 

And it'll be worth it.

You never know what could happen.

:) ;) :D

Making Faces by Amy Harmon

Rating: 5 Stars!!!

This book is definitely worth it's wonderful ratings! :) :D

I highly recommend this to everyone!!!

A story told in third person, about life taken for granted and the repercussions it holds.

... But are the repercussions really that bad, if they bring you face to face with something better. 

This is the story of a boy named Ambrose Young who heads off to War in Iraq ... only to come back physically scarred. His disfigurement brings him much sorrow for himself, a constant reminder of what he took for granted and what that did to him. 

However, this is not just a story about Ambrose Young. It is so much more. This story is written in third person. I don't read many books written in this manner. Majority of the books I consume are first person. I never realised how much more detail and information could be shown to you through third person.

I honestly felt like I was an invisible camera man and this book was my documentary. That's what the narration style did to me. I was in the world, but not completely part of it ... and it was amazing! =) =D 

The third person narration style not only gave me insight into Ambrose's life but it gave me insight into several other wonderful characters such as Fern Taylor, Bailey Sheen, Rita and many more. Most of all, it gave me insight into the development of a simple town and how it progressed throughout the years as this book does have a large timespan throughout.

The town is defined by the characters. Their thoughts & actions changed so much about the town. 

This is the story of learning about life, dealing with your own grief and sorrows, understanding oneself and others and most of all, learning to look past it all and see the light. 

Because nothing is as it seems on the surface. The surface is just the tip of the iceberg

1st Review ~ Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Rating: 5 stars!!!


“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”- Dumbledore as written by J.K Rowling

I honestly don't know how else to explain this book other than with this quote. When I look at this quote I automatically link it to this book. That's how good this book is! I can't even explain it in any other way and I have been sitting here wondering how to structure this review. 

The quote also kind of contradicts the whole book because even if one turns on the light, it still might not turn on. It's not as simple as flicking a switch to make everything okay. Does that make sense?

So honestly this review is literally just going to be a list of quotes from the book. None of them are spoilery ... they're just really beautiful sentences. I shivered inside when I came across these. 

Now don't worry, when you read this book if you choose to do so, it won't deter from the experience of reading it because the sentences will be even more beautiful when they're put into their context. 

“Another secret of the universe: Sometimes pain was like a storm that came out of nowhere. The clearest summer could end in a downpour. Could end in lightning and thunder.” 

“Sometimes, all you have to do is tell people the truth. They won't believe you. After that, they'll leave you alone.” 

“It felt like there was a whole world living inside her. I didn't know anything about that world.”

“Words were different when they lived inside you.” 

“From what we cannot hold the stars are made.” 

“I like the old words better. They’re like old friends.”

The best thing about this book was the beautiful imagery! It made everything soworthwhile. 

Some songs to listen to whilst reading this 
- Friend in Me (from Toy Story)
- Journey to the Past (from the Anastasia movie)
- I'll make a Man out of You (from the Mulan movie