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!

It Comes to an End - The Deletion of the Vibes Series

Quite recently I had thought of the many ways to explain this to you. I started off creating a video though the sound quality was awful - and well, I was wearing my pyjamas. So I thought about writing it down and explaining - though this seemed a little weird and not very emotional. But here I am - stuck with typing this onto my notes of my phone as I travel home on the train. I suppose this is going to have to do. It's all I've got right now.

I started writing on here over 3 years ago. I've recently turned seventeen and I was around my late thirteens into aged fourteen when I began writing BBV, and fifteen when I wrote he sequel. Typically, at the time I thought my writing was something worth talking about. I was proud of what I was doing back then. I liked how the story was unfolding and I liked how I was in control of my characters.

But I hate the story now. In fact now it makes me cringe and I honestly avoid looking at it when I scroll down my page. This isn't because I'm not proud of the 12+ million reads I've somehow seemed to have gathered over 3 YEARS, it's not over the lovely comments you have put. It's over self worth and knowing that this story is my worst work. I have improved as a writer so much. I believe in my writing now more than ever.

I know many of you followed me due to the popularity of Bad Boy Vibes. I know you must be angry, disappointed and sad to see me hating the story I wrote so many years ago and deciding to delete it. I understand that you might not want to be a fan of me anymore or you decide that my other stories aren't your cup of tea. But I'm not going to ask you to sick around. In fact I'm going to tell you to make your own judgements over the 'vibes' series, over my other stories and let you comprehend a decision independently.

Although I have deleted the story, I do not know if I will still carry on with the rewritten version posted. I suppose it's there to tell me that, yes Hollie - it's okay you deleted it but you can still complete me. I suppose it's alright in that sense that I'm happy with my decision and proud that I have finally built the courage to do it.

Bad Boy Vibes and Good Girl Vibes were my babies. But now I'm old enough to see that I don't need them anymore, I can live without this story.

Despite unpopular belief - I promise that in the long run, you will equally enjoy one of my other novels as you did with these two.
Please express your thoughts to me in the kindest way possible.

Much love, and good luck with your writing gorgeous,

Hollie x

City of Fallen Angels By Cassandra Clare [ r e v i e w ]

Hello lovelies,

I apologise for taking so long to update this blog. I have been all over the place recently and haven't had the time to write or do much in the terms of blogging. Nevertheless, I thought I'd switch it up a bit by reviewing the fourth book in Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series: City of Fallen Angels.

I started this book the beginning of this month and finished it in under two days. I always seem to tear through this authors novels as the story line is always so captive. I am sure most of you know the story line surrounding this series - whether you have read the books or have watched the movie, so I feel like I don't need to get into too much detail.

On goodreads, I have this book 4/5 stars as I feel like this book wasn't as interesting as the previous three, but still held some good moments. I feel the character development towards Simon was great. I love how the alternative chapters were in his point of view and how we got to explore his vampire side a little more. I found Clary a little irritating in this novel. I think this is because she spends far to much time pining after Jace and not taking more on with the action side of things.

I really liked how we got to learn some more history with the vampires and explore traditions and rules they have. What I would have liked to see more of is the werewolf side of things and other downworlders. I am intrigued for the fifth book and how Cassandra can elaborate more on some issues raised in this book.

Until next time,
Happy reading!

- Hollie x

Unremembered by Jessica Brody [ r e v i e w ]

my picture // my edit // my version of the book.

Hi lovelies,

So I thought I would start a series where I would do some random book reviews to some novels I have enjoyed reading. The first one I am going to do is from the book that I have read most recently called Unremembered by the talented Jessica Brody.

The novel starts in mid action, a girl has supposedly been a part of a plane crash and she's the only survivor. She doesn't remember anything, (from who she is to what a supermarket is.) This becomes a problem for her when she is taken to a hospital and doctors constantly prod and poke at her to see if they can get anything out of her, or make her remember but they can't. But when a mysterious boy starts showing up wherever Violet/Sera is, there seems to be more to the story than what seems. Questions start arising and the ending left me utterly gobsmacked.

The books synopsis is here if you want a better summary.

So I went into this story blind, I didn't even look up any reviews. I didn't want to know anything about the novel. All I knew was that it was a science fiction/teen fic romance novel that people have either loved or hated. So as I began reading, I was amazed to see how thought out this book was. The plot line is incredibly detailed and the book has some really enticing turns. I read this book in one sitting, so I was clearly very indulged into the book. As this part of the review is going to be spoiler free, I want to finish with saying that the reasoning behind everything is so thought out and planned that is completely made sense. I was so amazed and shell shocked to find out some of the answers, that I found myself re-reading some pages to make sure I had got it right. The only problem I came across this book was that everything was paced very fast. The chapters were short and quick and the story moved a little too quickly.

If you are interested in buying the book, you can here.

[ s p o i l e r s ]

01: Oh my god, can we just take a moment to love Sera and Zen? They are seriously the definition of forbidden romance.
02: Maxxer is a girl? Eh, what? When she began explaining everything to Sera, I found myself clinging on to every word.
03: I really liked how Rio was actually good. I liked the fact that although he literally created her, he felt as if he was her father even though he wasn't. He had made someone so perfect and although through the duration of the book until the end I thought he was bad, I realize that Brody uses hints here and there to guess that he's not.
04: I really liked Cody, I thought he was hilarious and such a predictable thirteen year old.
05: I think the locket was a good symbolic representative of Zen and Sera's love. I thought the 1609 thing was really unique too.

Overall, I will give this book 4 stars out of 5. 

If you guys liked this review, tell me below or PM me with ideas on what to review next.

- Hollie xo

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.