March Wrap Up and April TBR

Hello,

This month has been crazy in terms of getting work handed in for school. I've found myself with little to no time to read, so I'm surprised I managed to finish the books I actually did read. If any of you have noticed from my Wattpad/Radish pages, my writing has suffered because of this and the small lack of updates have me tearing out my hair. I hope you all had a good reading month despite I haven't! Here is what I read this month and what I am planning to read next month.

Denton's Little Deathdate by Lance Rubin
At first, I thought this book was ridiculous, like to the point where I didn't want to carry on reading. (This was purely because I didn't get it). But two chapters in, I changed my mind. This book is hilarious. Like so funny I spent the whole time wiping tears from my eyes. I looved this book. I thought the mystery element towards Denton's soon to be death gripped the story. I thought Denton as a character was hilarious, relatable and just like any other teenage boy. I think the writing style fitted the character which isn't something I always come across. Lance is able to write as if he is Denton and it fits. It's written as somebody my age would write. This was useful to me as it added something to the story.
I feel as if this book included so many messages I didn't realise were there until the book had finished. I won't spoil these for you as I think it's different for everybody. What I did find was that the mystery element was intriguing and exciting. The whole thing seemed real, as if people right now did have death dates. I felt as if this was gripping throughout the story. I will definitely be reading on (THAT ENDING THO).

RATING OUT OF /5: 4.5
LINK TO THE BOOK: click me

We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach
Well everybody, did this book make me wanna cry or did it not? I one hundred and ten percent loved this book. I connected with all of the characters, I felt for them in all situation and I am so aware of how this book is supposed to make you feel. There's something about Tommy's writing that makes me want to understand the world differently, in a way I haven't seen it before. I think that's important to remember when reading this.
So this book focuses on four teenagers with different personality types in high school who don't ever meet. Then an asteroid is destined to hit and shatter the earth and pretty much wipe out everyone there and then these teens have got to sum up basically what the hell have they been living for - and then make sure that they start living for the reasons that they should be. All in all, I adored this book. I thought Eliza was my favourite character and Andy was relatable and funny. Anita made me consider things more differently than I would normally and Peter was so charismatic.

RATING OUT OF /5: 5
LINK TO THE BOOK: click me

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
This was the first book I read this month and the first book this year I have fallen head over heels in love with. It's great, like really really great. I adored the writing, I think the characters were honest and funny, relatable and interesting and the plot line was unique. I really considered how every aspect of this novel changed my life and it did - it really did.
This novel centres around Finch and Violet who meet on the bell tower at school, both for different reasons, both there to jump off. The story centres around Violet realising how much she wants to live from a boy who really, really wants to die.
It's phenomenal. I loved it. It made me cry, laugh, scream and smile so hard throughout the duration of this book. I am so overwhelmed by how much I love it that if I could, I'd write it a billion. This is definitely going to be on my favourite (ever) book list. I'd a hundred and billion percent recommend, especially if you're a fan of Rainbow Rowell, John Green or David Levithan.
I am planning on doing a full in depth review of this book, so look out for that. I will be making it half spoiler free and half spoilers as there are aspects of the book I need to write about. I have so many feelings and not enough time to deal with all of them!

RATING OUT OF /5: 5!!! 
LINK TO THE BOOK: click me

Embarrassingly, that's it folks. I'm not going to lie to you, my reading month was awful. But I'm planning to read some pretty great books next month so hopefully there will be more. Let me know what you read this month!

April TBR (to be read):

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

The Piano Man Project by Kat French

Run by Jeff Abbott

Thanks Lovelies!

Radish - What is it?

Hello Lovelies,

So in big response - and I mean (no joke) fifty private messages on my Wattpad page about it - I am here today to let you all know about Radish, what the app is and how you can use it. If you have any more questions, then let me know in the comments section or contact me using any of my social media. I'd be happy to help at the best of my ability. 

What is Radish?

In simple terms: it's a reading/writing app. Users (such as yourselves) will download the Radish app (currently it's only available on iOS, but is coming to Android in the summer), and you can browse loads and loads of fantastic authors novels. The difference with Radish is that the creators select the authors that are featured on the site. This means that you can be assured that the writing is quality over quantity of writers. Unlike Wattpad, their is a choice when uploading your novel to have the story set as Premium (which is what I have done) where the readers are able to use coins they have purchased (I believe 6 coins are £0.79, which is roughly over a dollar). These coins unlock chapters so you can read them.
So yes, this does mean that us authors are gaining literally the tiniest profit from our loyal readers purchasing our chapters. If you think about it this way: writers get known when their work is out there, and perspective publishers can see if a novel is worth publishing if people are already paying to read it.

How can I become a writer on the site?

I don't know all the ins and outs of how this happens, but I believe the creators are already sifting through a ton of suggestions, applications and other cool things like that and looking for unique writers to join their site. I think you may have to email the creators of Radish for this to happen, but I am unsure of the actual answer.

What does this mean for you?

This for me, is big. Like really big. I've always been super insecure about my writing. I have struggled with things academically when it comes to things that people may overlook as being a problem, i.e: my pen can't catch up with my brain. For me, this means that my writing, my inner ramblings and characters are being seen by someone. This to me means that somebody has seen something inside what I am writing that they think is worthy - which is ridiculously humbling and overwhelming at the same time.
Radish is giving me the opportunity to put my work out into a brand new platform where I can show my writing to others and possibly people pay for my chapters. I want people to be excited by what I'm writing, as if my chapter was a next episode of a TV show.

I want to support you, but I can't afford to.

That's fine! Honestly, I'm so totally cool with this. This is primarily the reason while I will always have Wattpad, so I can still share my work with others that can't pay for my work. I understand, I'm seventeen. I get it. I am just lucky enough to even have some of you who wouldn't mind spending a tiny bit of money on some coins for my chapters.
I love Wattpad for the reason that it is free. I won't stop posting (definitely not in the near future).

List some differences between Wattpad and Radish

• Wattpad is free, parts of Radish are not.
• Radish work is edited. This means what is being put out is gaurnteed to be of high standard. 
• Radish only selects certain authors, so the writing you will find will be of all different genres and styles, but will be again, at a high standard.
• You are supporting your favourite authors by using coins to purchase chapters. This is step further you can do for your favourite amatuer writers in order to encourage future publishing.

My story

My story is something that has been floating around my laptop for a while, and it's the Radish opportunity that has allowed me to develop it. Here is everything you need to know plus a teaser to the fourth and paid for chapter of the novel. (The first 3 CHAPTERS are free, the rest will need coins to unlock).

I have also made a trailer for the novel if you care to check it out, it's based loosely off of the type of actors I could see Aubrey and Alex looking like:

Teaser for chapter four:

The competition for FREE coins

I am going to be giving away to 10 people free coins to use on Radish. These coins can be used on any story. You can support mine, or switch between mine and someone else's or don't look at my novel at all. You can choose what you want! 

Info:

50 coins each for 10 people. I will pick the winners randomly and send off your usernames to the Radish creators to add it to your account. This means you need to download the app and actually make an account or you will not win the coins.

The way you enter is to follow this Rafflecopter link and enter in all the info asked for. I will be picking the ten winners in less than a month.

click me

REMEMBER:

You must download the app, follow all the rules on the competition in order to win. 

Thanks guys!

Hollie xo

Mass Shout Out to Undiscovered Authors (Pt. 1)

Hey there,

So I would apologise for not updating this website, but I think this post will be long enough without it. The purpose of this post is that over a couple of months, lots of #holliehannahreads and other sneaky little things I have been doing on my account have contributed to the pile of people and their brilliant stories I wish to feature for you all to check out. All of these people at the time of this post have under 5k followers, reads etc and this post is something I really want to do to spread awareness to some of these talented undiscovered writers!

Part one will have romance and mystery writers featured! 

There will be lots of parts to this as I am planning to do one every month with a couple of my faves.

Romance Section:

These romance, teen fiction writers literally write similar themes/topics as I do, meaning if you enjoy any of my work, you're bond to enjoy there's too!

wohnderwall - Brewed Hearts

Blurb: ❝So maybe she had the kind of smile that made you feel happy to be alive and just that little bit more human. And maybe her smile shined like the stars in the sky, with no bright city lights to dim them. It was like the sun opened its eager light to shine about her, only brightening her perfectly aligned teeth. Maybe, It was the reason I gave her a smile that wasn't so lit with sadness.❞
Link: click me

My opinion: what the hell, if you haven't read this book or its been sitting in your library for too long, read it. I love it. I just do. You will too.

misconstrued - Gravity

Blurb: Because the galaxy loses its stars the day Max loses Wendy.
Then everything's just empty, and Max is left struggling for gravity
Link: click me

My opinion: there is something about this book that makes me think I am really excited to love. I don't know what it is, its just there.

Mystery/Thriller:

I love mystery and thriller books. It's my new thing.  I really enjoy the odd dabble in writing mystery too, (shameless plug to check out my co-written book, Melancholia). I think the following authors have nailed it, and they really are an inspiration.


confiance_ - Things You'll Never Know

Blurb: In which she learns that no one is ever as they seem.
Link: click me

My opinion: massive fan of this book so far. I find the characters to be complex and interesting and I really enjoy the perspectives. I think there is so much this author can do with the book and this makes me really excited.




stereohearted  - Fault Lines


Blurb: It's been almost three years since Astrid Rosewood's best friend died, yet she can't seem to shake off the idea that it was not a suicide. Moreover, when a boy moves in next door, things start to spiral out of control.
Link: click me

My opinion: so the book hasn't began yet, but doesn't the blurb just make you want to read it all in one sitting, cry and scream, love and laugh and all of that other crap that happens when reading a fantastic book? I just find this author to be incredible with words and I can't wait for the next chapters. I really recommend saving it to your library. Based off the other books, I'm looking forward to this one!

Thanks lovelies!