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.