Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Fangirlistic Playlist #1: THE FEELS!!

(photography skills! ⬆⬆⬆)
 
So recently, this past month, I've been experiencing some major feels when it comes to a few stand out books that I've read. Some caused me heartache while others plainly left me crying in the corner. Others made me feel empowered while others left me wondering what the heck I'm doing with my life. We all have these feelings whenever we read a book that effects us in an emotional way and that's just the life of fangirls and fanboys all around the world. Once you're in, there's no going back. So without further ado, here are some of my favorite tracks that I have turned to time and again for comfort when dealing with THE FEELS:
 
1. When your OTP goes down in flames.
 


 
2. When the ending has you like ". . . . ."
 

 
3. When your OTP realizes too late they're meant to be
 

 
4. When a character starts falling in love with the wrong person in the love triangle and it's too late for you to begin liking them because you can see right through them . . .
 

 
5. When there's so much going wrong it's not even funny
 

 
BONUS: 6. When you desperately want your fictional boyfriend/girlfriend to exist
 

 
So what other feelings do you have after finishing a book? Leave your feelings down below and maybe I'll make a playlist inspired by it! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

Monday, June 29, 2015

Music Matching Monday: The Last Time We Say Goodbye


For this book, it has a bit more of a depressing subject which is why I kind of saved this one for a while after reading it. This book deals a lot about suicide and a girl named Lex who has so many unanswered questions as to why her brother committed suicide and what she could've done to stop it from happening. If you read my review of this book, then you might know just how much of an impact this book had on me. I really wanted to find the perfect song for this book so after some research, I ended up finding one beautiful song that I think fits so well with this book for many reasons. One is that the song talks about playing along with life and pretending that you're fine when really, you want nothing more than peace and quiet which was exactly the case with Lex and her brother Ty. Lex had so many questions about her brother's suicide and no matter how much she tried to move on, she couldn't find closure. She needed to know what happened the day Ty took his life and what his final message to her was. She didn't think the last time she said goodbye to her brother would be just that. I hope you guys enjoy this one!
 
SAY GOODBYE by Katherine McPhee

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Review: The Adventures Of Superhero Girl by Faith Erin Hicks

The Adventures Of Superhero Girl by Faith Erin Hicks
Rating: PG
Genre: Graphic Novel
Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Page Count: 112
Stand Alone
Publisher: Dark Horse Books
Published: February 26, 2013
 
What if you can leap tall buildings and defeat alien monsters with your bare hands, but you buy your capes at secondhand stores, and have a weakness for kittens, and a snarky comment from Skeptical Guy can ruin a whole afternoon? Cartoonist Faith Erin Hicks brings her skills in character design and sharp, charming humor to the trials and tribulations of a young, superhero battling monsters both supernatural and mundane in an all-too-ordinary world.  
 
Review:
PROS:
1. So this is yet another graphic novel that I stumbled upon while perusing the shelves at my library and I honestly picked this one up because of the author. I absolutely loved Faith Erin Hicks' Friends With Boys so when I saw this cute book, I couldn't just leave it there! Anyway, here's my review:
 
2. This time, I'll be starting with the characters to change things up a bit for you. I really loved all the characters in this book! I thought they were all really entertaining and goofy and witty. They had me laughing out loud and I really loved that. I also really loved our main character of course, Superhero Girl. I thought she was a fun character that had to struggle with being in a town with the lamest super villains you could imagine. She wanted so badly to be a great superhero but didn't exactly have it easy. What with her very own brother stealing the spotlight from her, she didn't exactly live up to her own fantasies of being the best superhero the city's ever had. The characters were just a lot of fun and I really enjoyed them.
 
 
3.Now I'm getting into the art! As always. I really loved the art in this book for many reasons. One was that it had a really fun color pallet with bright colors and fun hues. It wasn't too much for the eye to handle which I very much appreciated. Second was that it was really simple art just like in Faith's previous graphic novel that I talked about and I really liked that as well. I liked all the detail with this graphic novel as well and I also loved the varying character signatures such as this gal's green hair and Superhero Girl's mask. Obviously, you could easily tell them apart from each other.
 
4. Last but not least, I just thought it was a really fun and quick read that you could pick up in one sitting or if you need to kill some time, this one took me a little less than an hour to finish. I definitely recommend this book if you want a fun read or if you're looking for some new graphic novels to check out! This one I really loved and I kind of wish there was a sequel.
 
 
 
 
I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! If you have any other book requests you would like me to review, just leave a comment or send me an email! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!
 


Friday, June 26, 2015

Book Talk #4: Boy vs. Girl POV

So recently I was going through my books on my shelf and realized two things: (1) I own a lot of Dystopian books (2) and most of the books I own are from girl POVs. It's not strange to own more of one POV than the other but I decided that this could be a chance for me to list my reasons for reading more books from a female POV than from a male's and which one I prefer at certain times and what exactly comes into play when I feel like reading from a boy's POV more than a girl's. Now that I've rambled enough, it's girls vs. boys time! Let the showdown begin!
 
1. Relativity
Obviously, being able to relate to a character is important for enjoying the story. When it comes to POVs, however, I always tend to relate to female characters more when the story is told by them. I can relate more by not just gender wise but also some of the insecurities and "girl problems" they face. Such as crushes, self-consciousness, friendships, way of thinking etc. Most times I enjoy the story more when I can relate to the character that's telling the story because of those things. I definitely think that's one of the reasons I tend to be a little more iffy if a story is told from a guy's POV. However . . .
 
Sometimes you need to get away from the drama. I love having a few books on the side that are told by a guy's perspective when I've just finished a book with a really annoying storyline or female protagonist. Sometimes I can actually relate to the guy characters more than others. For example, one book I loved was The Maze Runner for multiple reasons. One was that I related to the fact that Thomas was in an environment that surprisingly had nothing but boys living in it. My life has always been full of boys at my side what with a brother, nephews, cousins, uncles. The majority of my friends are boys and the characters reminded me of them because of their leadership habits, funny jokes, sarcastic personalities and even loyalty.
 
2. Storytelling
When it comes to storytelling, it really does all come down to which you're in the mood for. Lately I've been in the mood for more action-packed and fast-paced books. Something sci-fi or futuristic. It's a bit more difficult to find a book- in my own personal experience- that has those factors without it being from a girl's POV. Now, I love a kick-butt female protagonist but sometimes, I just want the book to focus on the action and world, which tends to be the trend with books told from guy POVs.
 
When it comes to contemporaries, however, a girl's POV is preferred. Considering the fact that I'm a teenage girl with issues (we all have them) I love reading a nice and fun contemporary told from a girl's perspective because I can imagine the feelings she might be having towards a cute guy she wants to be with. I can also relate to her way of thinking more than I can if I read a contemporary told by a guy's perspective. I can relate more to the things she says, does, or thinks when it comes to her wanting a guy to notice her or get the message.
 
3. Writing
Finally, the last reason just comes down to the option of whether or not I like an author. Now, female authors can write a really good book told from a guy's perspective (Asylum by Madeline Roux) and a male author can sometimes write a great book told from a girl's perspective (The Fault In Our Stars by John Green) but sometimes books can fall short.
 
Not to be sexist or anything, but I sometimes gravitate to buying books by male authors when I want a book told from a male POV and gravitate towards buying books written by female authors when I want a book told from a girl's POV because of one reason: authors of the same gender as their character POV can sometimes understand their ways of thinking a little better and thus create a more realistic character. Even though I'm a writer myself, I know for a fact that I could never write a story from a guy's perspective because I don't think like a guy and couldn't even begin to understand what a guy would do in certain situations. Not only that, but it just connects back to the second reason. Boys tend to skip the drama which can be really refreshing and girls tend to have a little drama and more complications with friends and boys.
 
Everything really comes down to personal taste of genres, characters, storytelling, world building etc. Some people only read girl POVs, some read only boy POVs, some read an equal amount of both or read more of one than the other. I fall into the latter one sadly. I would love to read an equal amount of both POVs because both are entertaining and can be really interesting and a lot of fun to read. Once again, these are my personal reasons when picking whether to read a girl or guy's perspective. So what falls into your reasoning when it comes to choosing? Do you look more for world building, amount of action, romance, relativity or something else entirely? Or does it even matter what perspective you read? Please let me know what your thoughts are and if you have an awesome book written from a boy POV, leave your suggestions in the comments! I want to stock up!


Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Mean Girls Book Tag!

I wasn't tagged by anybody but I thought this was such a fun new tag! This tag was originally created by Sarah Jane @ TheBookLife on YouTube!
Mean Girls is pretty much the epitome of the teenage years in high school and has become somewhat of a phenomenon amongst teens both then and now in present time. Let's face it, we've all seen the movie and for some it's a guilty pleasure. Nonetheless, there is an undeniable love for this movie for so many people that I just had to put my two cents in for this tag! Let's get started!
 
1.  "It’s pronounced like Cady” - Which fictional character’s names did you get completely wrong? 
 
There have been countless times when I've pronounced names in books completely wrong, mainly in fantasy novels such as Throne Of Glass and The Young Elites but luckily it wasn't as bad with those two books. Partly because the first one has an actual pronunciation guide. Anyway, one name I just couldn't wrap my brain around was Matias from Legend by Marie Lu. I pronounced it as Ma-tie-as when really, it's pronounced Ma-tay-as. Too bad I had to learn that from my brother who was listening to the audiobook. I still sometimes mess up his name every now and then but at least I'm learning, right?
2. She doesn’t even go here!” - Which character would you like to place in a fictional world from another book or series?
 
I seriously think that Juliette would make a very fitting member to the world of The Young Elites by Marie Lu. Not only do the main characters have some really cool powers, but they're also very kick-butt and actually are the good guys despite how much hate they get from the people. I think Juliette would fit in very well because of her unique power and the group might even welcome her with open arms. Well, maybe not so open . . .
3. On Wednesdays we wear pink!” - Repetition. Repetition. Which book gave you dejavu of another book whilst reading it?
 
I feel like this book is pretty much going to be the default answer for this question. Red Queen didn't really stand out as it's own thing. The elements that were involved in this book were reminiscent to other YA Dystopian books such as Divergent, The Hunger Games, Throne Of Glass, The Young Elites, Shatter Me and many others. This book had potential but it reminded me of so many other books while reading it.
4. "You all have got to stop calling each other sluts and wh****. It just makes it okay for guys to call you sluts and wh***." - Which book gave you the complete opposite of girl power feels?
 
Not to be repetitive with this book, but even though I loved this book very much, I couldn't get over an aspect of Juliette's character that I just didn't enjoy. I was expecting her to be more of a powerful and determined character but I was disappointed to see her turn into more of a weak and almost self-pitting female protagonist. It was different to see that type of character in a dystopian book but I just didn't get many girl-power moments with her.
5. You go Glen Coco!” - Name a character you felt like you wanted to cheer on whilst reading.
 
One of my top fictional heroes is Cinder, hands down! I loved her from the very beginning of this series and I LOVE her character development throughout the rest of the books, especially in Cress! There were so many times when I just wanted to throw a parade for Cinder and I was literally cheering her on in a certain scene when the odds were not looking good at all. All her friends were in danger, including Cinder and they thought they were all going to die but then Cinder stepped up and was like "Denied!" Anyway, as you can see, I think Cinder freaking rocks!
6. Get in loser, we’re going shopping!” How long do you typically spend at a book shop?
 
Typically it depends on what bookstore I'm in. If I'm in say Barnes & Noble, I can spend anywhere between 1-2 hours in there. I just love looking at all the thousands of books they have there and just bask in their beauty! Although if I'm in Half Price Books, I can only spend 30-45 minutes in there otherwise one of two things happen: (1) I end up buying way more books than I planned (discounts, man) or (2) I get sucked in by all the great titles if I'm in there for too long, which causes the first problem to occur. Regardless, there's just something about seeing all the beautiful books in one place that's just so magical!
7. It’s not my fault you’re like in love with me or something!” - Which character would have to get out a restraining order on you, if they were real?
 
This sums it up pretty well:
 
 
8. I can’t help it that I’m popular.” - Which overhyped book were you cautious about reading?
 
I've actually had so many books that I've been nervous to check out because of hype and things of that nature. Two books I was nervous to check out were Throne Of Glass and The Hunger Games. Even though I enjoyed them, they didn't live up to my expectations. They were both a little bit of a flop for me but I'm still glad I finally gave them a go.
 
9. She’s a life ruiner. She ruins peoples lives.” - We all love Regina George. Name a villian you just love to hate.
 
Now I've read a good selection of villains in my past but none amount to the one and only Queen Levana from The Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer. When it comes to my favorite villians, Queen Levana is probably my favorite of all time! I actually have a post where I talk about my top five favorite villains which you can check out HERE! When it comes to villains, I have yet to find another that tops this evil queen. I honestly don't think I'll ever find one for that matter and I'm okay with that!
10. I’m not like a regular Mom, I’m a cool Mom.” - Your favourite fictional parents.
 
I haven't read a lot of books that have really great parents- either the character doesn't remember their parents, doesn't have any, or hates them- but these two stood out. Both sets of parents in both books were really fun to read about. They had an equal balance between being really fun and kind of goofy but also being good parents that actually "laid down the law".
11.  “That is so Fetch!” - Which book or series would you love to catch on?
 
One series I seriously needs to be hyped more is the Theodore Boone series by John Grisham. I read these books a few years ago and I seriously fell in love with this middle-grade mystery series! With the recent release of the fifth book in this series, I feel like this is the perfect time for new readers to check it out and experience the awesomeness that is Theodore Boone! The books are really entertaining and even nail-biting at times! I really love this series and if you haven't read it yet, I definitely recommend you try it.
12. How do I even begin to explain Regina George?” - Describe your ideal character to read about.
 
I feel like I have somewhat of a typical character love but here are my preferences: When I'm reading about a female protagonist, I love a kick-butt, strong and independent character that doesn't give up easily such as Cinder or Tris. When it's a guy, I love a sarcastic, witty and even goofy character such as Captain Thorne from Cress by Marissa Meyer. I don't know what it is about those types of characters that gets to me but I can't help it!
13. I just have a lot of feelings.” - What do you do when a book gives you a bad case of ‘the feels’?
 
Usually when I have a bad case of the feels after reading a book, I usually go straight to Netflix or YouTube for comfort. I don't have friends that read the same books I read. The books that they read I usually have never heard of at all. Because I don't have friends to fangirl with, music and videos help to comfort me. Usually I watch some booktube but most times I listen to "Natural Disaster" by Pentatonix, for whatever reason, that's my go-to song when I'm feeling the feels. Sometimes I go on Goodreads or stalk the hashtag for the book on Instagram or Tumblr. We all deal differently, right?
14. Nice wig Janice, what’s it made of?” "Your Mom’s chest hair!” - Which characters one liners would you love to claim for your own?
 
There are so many great one-liners out there in the world but some of the ones I wish I could claim are those said by Captain Thorne and Lemony Snicket. They're so clever with the things they say and most times I'm jealous I didn't think of them myself.
15. Boo, you wh***.” - Name a time a characters decision has made you roll your eyes


In case you haven't been following my blog for very long, you might not know how I felt about Janie from the Dream Catchers trilogy by Lisa McMann, more specifically, the sequel, Fade. There were so many times when I wanted to shake the crap out of Janie and she annoyed me to no end. She was just a really dumb female protagonist in the sequel and I honestly didn't like the book because of her. It makes me feel bad to say these things because Lisa McMann is one of my favorite authors. Janie was a character I just couldn't deal with.

 
 
I tried to keep my answers short for this one since there were quite a few questions. If you read the entire post, comment "Grool" in the comments! I hope you guys enjoyed this tag! If you want to do this tag, please do and feel free to say I tagged you! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

Monday, June 22, 2015

Music Matching Monday: Vanishing Girls


This week's music match is for none other than Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver! In case you haven't read this book and don't know what it's about, this book is about two sisters who are estranged and are struggling to become their own person. Nick desperately wants to figure out what's bothering her younger sister Dara but just can't seem to get to her without their conversation blowing up in an argument. Dara wants nothing more than to just be left alone but Nick can't seem to just give up on her sister. When Dara goes missing on her birthday, Nick can't help but want her sister to come home safe and takes it upon herself to search for Dara and find out what happened to her. This book is a very touching and exciting read that will leave you surprised.

 
 ALL YOU WANTED by Michelle Branch


Saturday, June 20, 2015

Cover Reveal: Designed With A Destiny by Elle Davis (The Designer Chronicles #3)

 
I don't know if you guys have ever heard of this series but for fans of Elle Davis and her books, this is an exciting day for you guys! The cover is here for her newest book "Designed With A Destiny" and is available for purchase now! I've been just drooling over this cover for the past couple of days and I've been dying to show it to you guys since then! The day is here and I have to say, the cover is just so beautiful and magical! I hope some of you are excited for this third book in the series and be sure to pick it up now!
 
If you haven't heard of this series, feel free to check out the synopsis for the first book below!
 
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Messing with Mother Nature can have unexpected consequences... Having a genius level IQ, model good looks, and supernatural physical traits, almost guarantees seventeen year old Ronan Callahan a life of success. He is a genetically engineered human, custom designed by scientists and his wealthy parents, who paid a hefty price for his perfect designer qualities. But, being a Designer Baby doesn't guarantee happiness for Ronan. In fact, his superior traits leave him bored, unchallenged and a social misfit. Cat McCullough, is orphaned, raising her little sister Claire, and struggling to survive. The last thing she's looking for is romance. In a high school full of girls swooning over Ronan Callahan, she's the only one who rejects his arrogant, cold, and indifferent behavior towards others. And yet, she's the only girl to ever capture his attention for more than a minute. When Ronan falls for Cat, he falls hard. For the first time ever, he looks forward to the traditional high school experience that now includes a budding romance. But when his life is threatened by a deadly virus, he is forced to abandon the simplicity of tradition and unite with five other Designer's, whom he shares a secret Designer trait so powerful, that it has the potential to influence world events.
 
Follow Elle!


Friday, June 19, 2015

Book Talk #3: Books That Need To Be Movies!


Recently in the past few months, book-to-movie adaptions have become a very popular thing in Hollywood what with the success of movies such as The Hunger Games, Divergent, Harry Potter and countless others. Almost every movie that comes out, you can almost be sure that there's a book to go along with the movie. So many great books have been adapted to the big screen but there are so many other books I wish would get their chance to shine! So here are the books I want to see in theaters ASAP!

8. To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

 
When it comes to contemporary movies/books, I love the funny and quirky factor for both. I think this book would be an interesting book to adapt into a movie because of it's quirky characters and storyline. I would love to see this hit the big screen because it's a really fun and entertaining summer read. Yes, Lara Jean isn't the most mature teenage girl but I think we've all had our moments that weren't very prime examples of maturity. I should know because, well, I'm a teenage girl myself . . . Anyhoo, I think this would be a really fun movie!
 
 
 
 
7. I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter
Obviously, this title is a little bit of a mouthful but nonetheless, I would love to see this book be turned into a movie. For years, us Gallagher Girl fans have been hearing rumors and announcements of movie companies and screen writers trying to get the process moving on getting this first book adapted and I have to say, I don't think I can wait any longer! It's not clear whether this book will ever be adapted but I really hope it does. I mean, come on now, bad-ass girl spies battling enemies from other countries while also balancing boys and homework? I'd buy a ticket to see that for sure!
 
 
 
 
 
6. The Young Elites by Marie Lu
 
Now this book has actually already been bought by 20th Century Fox and Temple Hill for adaptation but there still isn't anything locked in other than a couple of producers and a writer for the screenplay. Together, the two companies have brought YA fans movies such as The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, The Fault In Our Stars and Paper Towns. Right now, the companies are still optioning the book for adaptation and I'm beyond excited for this news! I really loved this book so much and I might be a little obsessed with it. This is my favorite book by Marie Lu and I really hope the adaptation comes soon!
 
 
 
5. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Uglies book.jpg
 
This book has also been bought by 20th Century Fox as well but development has been very slow-going over the years. The rights to this book were bought back in 2006 and the company said the movie was set to come out back in 2011 but was pushed back. Since then, the company has announced that the movie was back in production as of July 3 2013 but still no word has been said since then as for casting or directing. I'm not so sure if we'll ever get an Uglies movie but I would love to see one in near future! I think it would be so cool form a society to see in theaters because of it's bizarre world and even characters.
 
 
 
4. Throne Of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
 
So far, there has been tons of hype surrounding the Throne Of Glass series partly due to the fifth book's release coming in September of this year. I didn't exactly love this book as much as every human being on this planet but I did get really into the world and characters enough to want a movie for this book. This book has tons of fantasy elements that I would love to see on the big screen and I think would be see come to life. Surprisingly, there has yet to be a movie company to show interest in this series for adaptation. A kick-butt female protagonist who's also an assassin? What more could you want in a book-to-movie adaptation?
 
 
 
3. Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
 
If you've ever read a book by Stephanie Perkins, then you'd know this book is probably the most loved book by her and the one every fan wants a movie for, including me. I really want to see this be adapted into a movie because it's such a cute, sweet, and quirky romance that's perfect for the summer time! I really want to see a movie for this in the future for so many reasons but we'll leave it up to my number one reason for now. So far, this book also hasn't had any attention from any movie company but let's hope that changes sometime in the future.
 
 
 
 
2. Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, Lauren Myracle
 
This is more of a seasonal book but I still would love to see this book become a movie. I really loved all the characters and stories and I think this following three different stories would be so cool to see come to life. I think this would be a great movie for the holidays more directed towards teens and YA lovers like the majority of us. With the witty, sarcastic and sweet moments in this book, I think it would be a very happy and heartwarming movie that'd be perfect for the Christmas season and really awesome for fans for the book and authors obviously!
 
 
 
 
1. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
 
The number one book I want to see be adapted is hands down this book! The rights to this book have also already been bought by a top-secret movie company that Marissa Meyer is keeping under lock and key for the time being. Apparently, a director is still being sought out for this potential book-to-movie adaptation and I really hope more news about this comes sooner that soon. It would be so awesome to see a cyborg Cinderella hit theaters since it's such an interesting twist on the story and this series is not exactly dying down with the release of the fifth and final book coming in October/Novmber later this year. Pretty much everyone has read this series and if you haven't yet, what are you waiting for?
 
 
So which YA novels do YOU want to see be adapted?


 

Monday, June 15, 2015

Music Matching Monday: Divergent


Obviously I had to pair one of my favorite books with a song! I felt kind of weird only pairing the second book in this trilogy with a song so here's one for the first book! Honestly, when I first heard this song when it was first released, the first thing that popped into my mind was Divergent. I mean, the song talks about having a secret and trusting someone to keep it. It also talks about running away and catching the train to get away from everything. In this first book, even though I'm pretty sure you already know what it's about, Tris has to prove herself to those who don't exactly believe in her strength and in the process meets some new friends and falls in love with you-know-who. She also has to fight not only against herself but also fight against those who are threatening to turn her world upside down. This book is very fast-paced and I can't help but think of this book whenever I hear this song! Enjoy!

RUNAWAY by Charity Vance
 


Sunday, June 14, 2015

Review: The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand

The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand
Rating: PG
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction, Mental Health
Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Page Count: 386
Stand Alone
Publisher: Harper Teen
Published: February 10, 2015
 
There's death all around us.
We just don't pay attention.
Until we do.


The last time Lex was happy, it was before. When she had a family that was whole. A boyfriend she loved. Friends who didn't look at her like she might break down at any moment.
Now she's just the girl whose brother killed himself. And it feels like that's all she'll ever be.
As Lex starts to put her life back together, she tries to block out what happened the night Tyler died. But there's a secret she hasn't told anyone-a text Tyler sent, that could have changed everything.
Lex's brother is gone. But Lex is about to discover that a ghost doesn't have to be real to keep you from moving on.
From New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Hand, The Last Time We Say Goodbye is a gorgeous and heart-wrenching story of love, loss, and letting go
.
 
Review:
PROS:
1. I was really excited when I first heard about this book's release back in December because I'm a sucker for books dealing with mental health. I just think they can be very inspiring and eye-opening stories and something many people can relate too. This book deals with suicide which, again, I love those types of books, movies, documentaries, etc. because it's an issue that I strongly support putting an end too. I wasn't sure how this book would affect me but I'm happy to say it ended up being one of my all-time favorite books. Here's my review:
 
2. The characters were some of my favorite ones so far this year! Our main character, Lex, is a character in which we follow her process of grieving her brother and trying to move on with her life as best she can. Her friends are there to support her but she still feels alone and lost. I think she's a very relatable character because of the feelings of loneliness and pain she has towards both herself and her brother. She's also trying to piece together why her brother Ty would want to put an end to his life which leaves Lex with more than one question as she starts finding clues here and there. I loved that she wanted only what was best for her family and didn't really know how to move on from her brother's suicide. Her friends were very supportive and her family was broken from everything that happened. I also liked that the side characters such as her friends and even her brother's friends, all had a small part in telling the story.
 
3. This book was part mystery and part grieving which I really enjoyed. The writing was so beautiful and thought-provoking and I really had a strong connection to the book for those reasons. I really liked that you as the reader are also trying to understand along with Lex why her brother committed suicide and how everything fell into place and what played a factor in that outcome. As Lex found clues and started piecing them together to answer her questions about Ty's suicide, she ended up trying to move past everything and started learning that sometimes you don't always get the answers you want.
 
4. Overall, this book now has a special place not only on my shelf but in my heart. This book left me asking my own questions and I still can't stop thinking about the very last page in this book. Having a brother myself, I felt very connected with Lex because of how close her and her own brother were. The feelings she had were also ones I have towards my own brother, the similarities and joking habits they both shared. It really struck a cord with me on a personal level and left me crying well after I closed the book and went to sleep. Never have I run into a book that has ever touched me in that way and I will forever treasure this book.
 
5. I recommend this book to anyone who loves mental health stories like I do or even knows someone who has been a victim of suicide or if suicide is somehow a part of your life. It was a beautiful story that taught me this very valuable lesson: We all lose people we love, ask questions that will never be answered and feel a pain that we can't always put into words. But time goes on whether we want it to or not and we just have to be ready to accept whatever the future holds. Your life is more precious than you'll ever know.
 
Follow Cynthia!
 
I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! If you have any more book requests you would like me to review, just leave a comment or send me an email! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!
 
Other books by Cynthia Hand:
The Unearthly trilogy


Saturday, June 13, 2015

Beautiful Blogger Award

 
I'm so excited to say that I've been nominated for my second blogger award by the lovely Ellie from EllesBelles Bookshelf for the Beautiful Blogger Award! Please be sure to check out her blog because it's pretty cool! Now without further ado, here are the official rules as listed on Ellie's blog:
 
1. List 7 random facts about yourself
2. Nominate 7 creative, beautiful bloggers
3. Nominate the people you nominated
 
 
Random Facts:
1. I love to edit photos! Whether they're ones I've taken myself or just finding an image online, I love to get creative and reinvent the photo in some way and let my creativity flow. I find it to be therapeutic at times and really fun when I feel like creating something but just not in the mood to draw or sketch.
 
2. I'm a HUGE music addict! I'm constantly looking for new songs online and in videos that really sound pleasing to the ear. I listen to everything but it's still hard to please my tastes so my friends are always challenging me with a new song they think I'll like. I'm picky and know exactly which elements a song has to have in order to make it onto my list of favorite songs!
3. I love to bake! I started baking with my mom when I was little and ever since then, I've always loved going into the kitchen and whipping something up to sooth my sweet tooth when I get a craving. I'm very serious about my baking as well. If one cookie or cake doesn't turn out the way I expect it to, I won't let anyone taste it until I figure out why it's not perfect in my mind, that way I know what to do or not to do next time I bake it. I also get creative with my recipes, like Dr. Pepper cake and Drop Cookies.
4. I love horror movies! I'm not sure if that's really unknown or not but it's true. Almost everyday I pop in one of my favorite horror movies or decide to venture out and find a different one that I haven't seen yet. My favorite of all time is Jeepers Creepers but I'm also a sucker for found-footage movies such as The Blair Which Project and Amber Alert.
Friends With Boys by Faith Erin Hicks

5. I've never known what it's like to have more girls than boys in my life. In my family, I'm surrounded by nothing but boys who talk about the newest video game that just came out and Dragon Ball Z. Ever since I was little, I've always been in the company of my brother, nephews, their friends, my cousins, who are all boys. I've never really known what's it's like to have a gal pal all my life until I was about eight years old and befriended my next door neighbor whom I've been friends with since then! Even now, most of my friends are of the male variety but because of that, they kind of taught me to be myself and speak my mind. They made me more independent than I already am and even though I have my girls to talk to now, I'll always be "one of the guys".

6. I've never had a boyfriend. Yes, I swear I'm a normal teenage girl with caffeine issues and sleep deprivation! Everyone says that I'm too independent for a boyfriend which I actually agree with them about that. Every since I was little, I was always a go-getter and what my parents called a "wild heart". I was always looking for something exciting to do, an adventure if you will. Even now when I read a book set in a different world, it makes me want to go out and find an amazing adventure either filled with fairies and talking lions or a drive around town with my own imagination to guide me. Yes, I've never had a boyfriend (the non-fictional kind that is) but I have a lot of reading to do so he can wait a little longer.
 




7. I LOVE pizza! For whatever reason, only recently have I taken an obsession towards the delicious and beautiful food that is pizza. Whenever I smell it or even imagine it, I just want to curl up on the couch and watch a really good movie! There's just something so comforting and relaxing about pizza that makes you just want to chill for an hour or two before going back to reality. Now I'm hungry . . .

 So those are my random facts! Here the blogs I nominate!