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!

February Wrap Up and March TBR

Hello!

So this month I have been crazy busy with launches of new stories on new, cool apps (cough, cough Radish) - another blog post coming on that soon! I have been drowned in coursework for my A Levels and I have been busy with other personal bits and bobs. But nevertheless, I've seemed to do pretty well on the reading front this month, reading 6 books when I only thought I'd get through 3. As usual, I will let you know what I have thought about each individual novel and give my star rating out of 5. Hope you all had a good reading month, what are your to be read books? I'd love some recommendations!

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

This book killed me. Killed me once, twice, three times I read it this month. I literally have no words to describe to you the 320 page wonder of this book. I loved it. This novel centres on our protagonist who is seemingly allergic to everything. Yep, everything. She lives at home with her mother and has a really nice nurse who takes care of her and understands her needs and what she wants. She's just like any other teenage girl, but with crap loads of time. So when handsome, wonderful (all around lovely) Olly moves back in next door, things go up a notch. 

I honestly loved this novel. It is a beautiful, heartwarming coming of age story that focuses on a girl having something that would honestly be life stopping. Though the climax of the story was predictable, I didn't mind as I was sooooo invested into these characters and Maddy's life that I was happy with what happened. Definitely, definitely, definitely recommend!

STAR RATING OUT OF /5: 5, duh :-)

WHERE TO BUY IT: click me

Did I Mention I Need You? by Estelle Maskame

Ah, so there is this thing about sequels not being quite as good as the first book. I haven't experienced this much before, but there was something about the second book in the DIMLY trilogy that made me find Eden (our main character), really annoying. 

SPOILER: I don't know about you, but she seemed to pine wayyyyy too much for Tyler in this book as if she was a puppy asking for treats at his feet. She felt untrue to herself (or what I felt for her in the first book). I'm not sure how to put it, she was just off.

On the other hand, I did enjoy this book. I do like where its set and the descriptions Estelle gives makes me excited as if I'm there with her. I loved Tyler's roommate and I do think I will purchase the third novel.

Okay, so this book focuses on Eden's summer trip to visit her stepbrother Tyler in New York where he is now living. Old memories and feelings and torn up and it's about Eden trying to sift through these whilst being a girlfriend to his best friend.

Maybe it was because I had such high expectations going into this novel, I just found it to be lacking.

Let me know if you have similar (or different opinions) below!

This was on my TBR list for last month.

STAR RATING OUT OF /5: 3

WHERE TO BUY IT: click me

Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski

Another love of the month. My favourite thing about this book was that it wasn't set in anyone in particular's point of view, it was set in ALL of the characters points of view, all at the same time. It was incredibly written and I felt as if I could understand the fact that these characters all were able to read minds.

As you may have gathered, this book is about a group of students (the majority of their homeroom 10B) have received a flu shot that is sort of dodgy. Now, it's only happened to 10B, (as far as they know), and suddenly the students find themselves being able to read each other's minds and suddenly the idea of privacy is out the window quicker than a cat being pinged out of a catapult. 

I really, really, really enjoyed this book and finished it in one sitting. I thought the characters were diverse and the problems they faced were ones that everyday people do, theirs were just magnified by the fact everyone knows about it. 

I thought the idea was original, particularly as we got everyone's perspective pretty much at the same time and the book is written as they have all sat around a table and written it together. For example: we all felt sad for Chuck because he was going through a rough time. (Made that up, but you get the idea).

I definitely will be continuing with the story and will be on my next TBR this month!

STAR RATING OUT OF /5: 4
WHERE TO BUY IT: click me

Never, Never Part Two by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher
I don't know if it's getting more confusing or not, but everytime I read another book in this series, I'm left like 'whuuttt' and not sure if it's the good or bad way? I do enjoy this series and I do like the characters, I'm just not sure where the hell this plot is going.
This book focuses on a girl and guy who have completely lost their memories (they forget everything after a day) and are trying to figure out why and what is happening to them. The ultimate question is: who took them? If so, why?
I will read the final book in this series because I'm curious to what the answer is, however, I have a feeling it may be farfetched.
I'm not sure, what do you guys think?

STAR RATING OUT OF /5: 2.5
WHERE TO BUY IT: click me

Davy Harwood by Tijan
Another big love of mine this month. I am a big fan of Tijan's books, ever since I got my Kindle. I have read pretty much all of her work which is usually young adult romance or new adult, but this one is a nice new fantasy novel that I really, really did enjoy.
This novel focuses on a girl who knows that she is able to sense people's emotions and feelings (emphatic) but she realises that it may be more than that when things start happening. She's aware of vampires, so in walks gorgeously frustrating vampire who sheds some light onto Davy's darkness. Basically, the book is a predictable vamp romance, but I have a weakness for these type of books.
I really, really, really did enjoy the characters. Davy is levelheaded and kind and I felt as if she cared about everyone because she could literally feel everything they are feeling. I did find her choices irritating sometimes though, they were slightly selfish.

STAR RATING OUT OF /5: 4
WHERE TO BUY IT: click me

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski
God. I really really really really didn't like this book, and I love books with this genre. I don't know what it was, I guess after the massive hype about how good it was, I picked it up and only got round to reading it now, but I felt like it was seriously lacking in many areas. I hated the main character. She is obnoxious and annoying and off the bat I didn't care for her (this never happens for me in a book). I didn't like how she treated people, she just seems like someone who would step on you to get to what she wants and not apologise for it afterwards.
I didn't enjoy the story line or when it was set, it felt forced and I'm not sure why - I can't exactly pinpoint it. I did like Arin's character - he was relatable and I did like him.
I'm unsure if I'm going to continue with the series, I felt the whole thing was badly done. The writing was enticing or intriguing to me and I didn't have any emotional connection to the characters. Ugh. Let me know if you guys enjoyed it. 

STAR RATING OUT OF /5: 2 (pushing it)
WHERE TO BUY IT: click me

March TBR (to be read):

Servant of the Crown by Melissa McShane

Specials by Scott Westerfeld

The Innocence Game by Michael Harvey

Denton's Little Death Date by Lance Rubin

Thanks Lovelies!

- Hollie x

January Wrap Up and February TBR

Hey lovelies,

So this month I have actually found the time to read some books whilst juggling just about the busiest month I have every year. Since I have been on the go this month, most of the books I have read were brought (by me) on my Kindle Paperwhite which I love, (a previous kindle fire girl), and I have found that some of these books I should have gotten down to reading ages ago, and some of them I feel that I wouldn't really pick the book up again. Either way, this is my January wrap up for what I have read this month. 

Did I Mention I Love You? By Estelle Maskame

A fellow wattpader! I had heard from one of my favourite booktubers that Estelle had come out with her trilogy of books and I jumped at the opportunity to purchase the first one. I must admit, I was reluctant as the synopsis of the novel is much like the popular themed books on Wattpad, but I am obsessed with Estelle's writing (I always have been), so I gave it a go and ten pages in I was in love. I really appreciate and support writers who have come from a platform such as Wattpad, and will continue purchasing their work. I loved this story. It focuses on Eden who spends the summer at her Dad's house in L.A where he has recently remarried. Eden has a new step mom and along with that, comes new siblings. One of which is particularly irresistible. 

Without it sounding cliche, the book is actually really good. I found myself laughing, crying and enjoying every minute of the story. I finished it in one sitting. It's a good book if you're looking for a contemporary, young adult romance that makes you feel just about everything. 

The only thing I will say about this book, is that the plot is very predictable and although this can be seen as a 'yawn, I'll pass' sort of thing, I believe that people wouldn't use these plots and story lines if they didn't sell or made people feel something.
I have already purchased the sequel, Did I Mention I Need You?

STAR RATING OUT OF /5: 3.5

WHERE TO BUY IT: click me

Only Ever Yours By Louise O'Neill
This is literally one of my favourite books I have ever read. Like honestly, definitely in my top 10. This book is basically everything that shouldn't happen in a dystopian, romantic, modern day telling. But it's everything more. This book literally opened my eyes to how corrupt our society is, just by noticing there's. This book follows freida (with a lowercase 'f') who, with the rest of her 'sisters' at their school has turned sixteen which means that they will be ranked and placed into three different roles. The top, chosen girls are picked by men to be companions (their wives), and the ones who aren't picked are chosen to become concubines (which isn't good basically). The third role barely happens and these girls will become chastity's, the teachers of the girls. This is a life nobody would want. The story is so rare. It follows how the girls starve themselves to become their target weight, how they have to fight with the outside struggles of not being pretty enough, skinny enough or liked enough. It's basically everything the modern day girl has to go through, expect their teachers at this school force it on them, making each other point out their flaws and given them pills to stop 'disgusting' things such as their periods.
It makes me feel angry and sad that this society is happening in this book, and they are so focused on these wealthy men choosing them to be their wives at the end of their school time that I couldn't help but read it. It's phenomenally done, the writing is excellent and the use of lower casing the girls names highlights how they are nothing more than bred for men. It's makes me seethe in anger, but it shows me just how easy this could happen now. Louise O'Neill writes this brilliantly and if I ever could recommend a book to you that you must read, it would be this. I loved it.

STAR RATING OUT OF /5: 5!
WHERE TO BUY IT: click me

Side Effects May Vary By Julie Murphy
So I started this book loving it. I really did. It's my sort of young adult novel, but maybe it's because I have come off too very good highs on these superb books beforehand that when I got half way through the middle of the book, I found it tiring. I'm someone who has to finish a book, I can't bare leaving it unfinished as I believe that it could get better towards the ending, but this one just didn't do it for me. It focuses on Alice who is diagnosed with cancer. Before this point in her life, she seemingly has it all, but being diagnosed with cancer changes all of that, as it most likely would. Alice has a lifelong best friend, who, until this point, they have become distant called Harvey. The story basically focuses on their developing relationship and Alice and Harvey's dynamic with Alice being diagnosed with cancer, then be deemed in remission.
As I said, I started off loving it. I loved Alice's character and the flashbacks from her having cancer and her experience of now being in remission after thinking she was terminally ill. (This isn't a spoiler as it is in the blurb). I found that through the middle Harvey was just annoying. He was like a three year old wanting to be with his parents. I don't know, it just irked me. He was far too clingy to Alice and although I tried to emphasise with him and put myself in his shoes, I just couldn't see his perspective on his whole demeanor. Then Alice started annoying me as a character, so as the MC, I found myself skipping pages and chapters and reading quickly to get it over and done with. I just think the beginning started off very good, but the middle and end was stuck in the same place the beginning started off with. I just think so much more could have been done with it. I did enjoy the plot line so to speak. I loved the idea of the novel, and I thought some of the secondary characters were stronger than the protagonists.
I will try and pick up something from this author again as I do like her writing and her ideas, but I just think there was something missing in this story.

STAR RATING OUT OF /5: 2
WHERE TO BUY IT: click me

The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith
This was another 'I think I am really going to enjoy this book, but half way through I got bored' sort of deal. I love, love, love the premise of this novel. It's based on two teenagers, Lucy and Owen who live in the same building and one day they both meet whilst stuck in an elevator. Their friendship/relationship all takes off from there really and it focuses on all the different, interesting places they visit and how they communicate being far a part. In general, it's a really interesting, my type of thing to read book and although I did enjoy it, I found some places dragged and the page length didn't need to be as long as it was (311). I feel like Jennifer could have completed the book at even 200-250 pages and the extra 60 or so were just fill in's.
In other words, I thought that the characters were strong. I liked both Lucy and Owen as people and appreciated the alternative points of view to get a more varied understanding of each character. I had a strong liking for Owen's Dad throughout the whole book which took me by surprise because I'm not one to like the secondary characters so much. It terms of the plot, the concept was interesting and refreshing and I did think as a whole Jennifer delivered with a consistent plot line. My only issues were with the irrelevant chapters that, if taken out, wouldn't affect the book so much as an inch.

I will be reading more of Jennifer E. Smith's work as I do admire her writing and find her to be a funny, contemporary novelist.

STAR RATING OUT OF /5: 3
WHERE TO BUY IT: click me

February TBR (to be read):

Never, Never Part Two by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

Did I Mention I Need You? by Estelle Maskame
Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski
The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkosi

Davy Hardwood by Tijan

Thanks lovelies!

What have you been reading?

Disclaimer: all the links to where you can buy the books are from Amazon, however I have no affiliation with the company at all. I read a lot on my Kindle and purchase the books I read here, this is why I am suggesting this website. 

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!

The Writing Basics FAQ

Hey there,

So, by request from ask.fm, I am here to give you the ins and outs about writing, how, where, apps etc that help me write. I think this idea is great because it can (hopefully) give you all some insight to the basics of writing. I'm not an expert, this is just what I do/use.

The first question I got was where do I write and if I write in a notebook or laptop?
I suppose it depends on where I am/what I'm doing. Sometimes I get random bursts of inspiration and I type a paragraph or two on my phone. But mostly, I write on my laptop. I am someone who can't write a chapter is one sitting because I find it tedious and I just can't think. I start a chapter at the beginning of the week and I gradually leave the Word document up and write some paragraphs when I feel like it. However, recently, I have just been writing in massive bulks.
I hate writing in notebooks. I hate my handwriting generally, and my hand hurts because I write super fast. I plan in notebooks and refer to it all the time, but I hate writing things in it.

What apps do you use to write?
I don't use any apps, is there any apps?
All I use is word.

How do I edit my chapters?
I don't really. I only begin editing when I have finished the whole story. Wattpad is where I write my rough drafts. I will usually proof read the chapter, but I usually glance over paragraphs as I write.

How many hours does it take for you to write?
Eh, it depends on the book to be honest. I mean Neverland takes maybe an hour, because I sit here and make an outline of what I want to happen in the chapter, but because I leave my chapter up for a week for most other novels, it can range from something like half an hour to 3/4 hours.

Chapter Outline?
This is the basic thing I like to follow, this example is great: http://www.wikihow.com/Sample/Novel-Outline

Character Appearance? 
This is also another great example: https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20130626195657AAhBuY3

I really hoped this helped.

- Hollie

My Wattpad Pet Peeves.

Hey there,

So occasionally, okay, all the time, I come across something that makes me really irritated. I get annoyed at certain things and now it's coming to an extent where I want to share, I hope I am not the only one.

1. NUMBER ONE: When a writer puts at the end of the their blurb, read to find out! But I mean, what else are we going to do, eat the book? Fart on it? Can you not state the obvious please, of course we are going to 'read to find out'.

2. NUMBER TWO: When writers write their book in lower case because it's trending. No, stop before I blow your brains out. It's fine for everywhere else but when you are actually writing. WRITE IN SENTENCES/CAPITAL LETTERS AND IN NORMAL FORMAT. I don't care how good your synopsis is, but if you start writing like 'lucy plucked ellie from her barn, cuddling the dog to her chest as she smiled down at samatha, the mommy dog.' I'm just like, 'okay dead.'

3. NUMBER THREE: When you sit down to read a book and the first page is on the lines of, 'hello my name is sophie, I am seventeen with brown hair and green eyes. I live in london with my dog and my mum is a vet' sorry are we watching some theatre performance, a movie? Why, for dear lord are you introducing your character like that? Who even sits down and writes, 'hello my name is sophie...' I want to bang my head against a wall and cry, it's painful.

4. NUMBER FOUR: When writers put at the end of the synopsis, 'I'm shit at blurbs but the story is great I promise.' But how can you write a 200 page book and not manage to conjure up a four line blurb. Uh, u ok.

5. NUMBER FIVE: When readers post on stories, 'check out my story'. This is a personal pet peeve for me, but it really irritates me. Does my story have a sign saying, 'welcome aboard, don't forget to leave your story suggestion down below', no I think not. It's just one of those things that really tickle my nerves.

These are just some of my pet peeves, do you want anymore? What are your pet peeves?

-Hollie.