Before I Let Go by Marieke Niejkamp

Before I Let Go by Marieke Niejkamp

Expected Publication: January 23rd 2018 by Sourcebooks Fire

Days before Corey is to return home to the snow and ice of Lost Creek, Alaska, to visit her best friend, Kyra dies. Corey is devastated―and confused. The entire Lost community speaks in hushed tones about the town’s lost daughter, saying her death was meant to be. And they push Corey away like she’s a stranger.

Corey knows something is wrong. Lost is keeping secrets―chilling secrets. But piecing together the truth about what happened to her best friend may prove as difficult as lighting the sky in an Alaskan winter…

Note: I received an ARC of this via Netgalley. This in no way influences my opinion.

I have extremely mixed opinions about this book. I felt constantly compelled to carry on reading, but at the same time, I was left with more questions than answers and I often felt like the book didn’t flow as well as it could have done. The book felt choppy and I feel like things could have been explained a little better.

One of the things I both liked and disliked about the book was the flashbacks. It often went back in time and then came back to present day etc. Whilst I usually like this style of writing when used well, I don’t feel like it added anything extra to the story. It gave us snippets of the past between the two characters, but I don’t feel like it was entirely useful in understanding what happened. If it had been used better and given us more of an insight, rather than the snippets we were given, I feel like it could have really helped the readers and we could’ve gotten a better idea of the bigger picture.

Another issue I had with this book was the fact that I didn’t feel that much empathy for the characters. I feel like the chopping and changing between past and present stopped me from really connecting to the characters. Also, the author used a variety of different minority groups, to the point where I felt like she was using them to try and be different rather than actually representing them as they are. Corey was Asexual whilst Kyra was pansexual and bipolar at the same time. Whilst the bipolar was represented (as far as I know – I don’t understand a lot about the disorder, but some), I feel like it could have been represented more, rather than becoming the side issue. What I did like was the fact that no one really understood Kyra or what she was going through. I feel like this is so true to society because a lot of people misunderstand illnesses such as these and that leads to the sufferers feeling lonely and like an outsider – which is exactly what Kyra was feeling.

What I did like about this book was the creep factor. The town, the people and history of Lost Creek was completely eerie and it definitely had me wanting more. I had to know what was going to happen next and where it was going to go. I loved the spa and the feeling of abandonment that it had because I feel like it added something to the state of mind Kyra had before her death. The people were also completely creepy. I can definitely understand how the two MC’s felt like outsiders because it was a completely close knit community with secrets.

Another issue I had with this book was the ending. I felt like I had more questions about the characters and the events that led up to Kyra’s death than I did answers. There was some issues with the plot that confused me and which were never actually addressed. I also felt like the ending was a bit anti climatic considering the things that had happened before hand – I almost felt like there was something/a certain event that was missing that I would have liked to have seen, but it never happened. (I don’t want to say too much because spoilers).

All in all, I have completely mixed reviews about this book. I felt completely hooked by it and I had to know what was going to happen next, but at the same time I feel like it had its issues and could have been better. This book definitely has a lot of potential! Also, I just want to mention that I absolutely love the cover! I gave this book 3.5/5 stars.

Never Never: Part Three by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

Never Never: Part Three by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

Published: January 19th 2016

Together, Silas Nash and Charlize Wynwood must look deeper into the past to find out who they were and who they want to be. With time ticking down, the couple are in a race to find the answers they need before they lose everything.

Can they regain what they once had? And will it restore who they once were?

After the first two books, I knew that I had to read this book. The need for answers and explanations was too much, even with my monster headache! I have to say, thought, I was disappointed with the explanation that was given. I think the ending was anticlimactic and I sort of just sat there after closing the book and thought to myself “Is that really it? After all that, that is the explanation they went for? Really?”

I love the way this book carried on directly from the last sentence of the last book. I think it made things more authentic and it flowed nicely. Of course, I was left (as a reader) wondering why Silas had his memories from the last 48 hours, but Charlie lost hers all over again). Pretty sure Silas was wondering the same thing. I definitely enjoyed the way we got to learn a little bit more about Charlie’s back story (in connection with Silas’ family) because I feel like it gave a bit more depth into her character. I wasn’t expecting her dad to be the way he was because the entire series made it sound like it was a frame job. I obviously don’t want to give too much away, but it was a little shocking.

Of course, as mentioned above, I was left pondering why Silas had his memories from the last 48 hours and why he didn’t lose them all over again like Charlie did. It left me confused, until they decided to try out a particular theory. A theory that explained everything about the end and why these events were happening to them. When Silas mentioned said theory, I knew that this was what the authors were going to use to explain away everything that had happened to the characters. I still hoped that they wouldn’t, though!

I think this was probably the weakest ending to a series that I loved, ever. I didn’t (and still don’t) understand what they had to use an ending like that. It was definitely a roll your eyes and sick in a bucket moment and I was left disappointed. I wanted something extreme and exciting – something to do with the families, or someone around them doing something without them realising… but no. I get that! It was a weak ending and I just… ugh. Rant over.

What I did love about this book, though, was that (in the previous book, we watched Silas), we watched Charlie fall in love with Silas all over again! I loved the fact that he used old jokes that he managed to pick up from journal entries and letters that they wrote to each other, to make her fall in love with him again (it was all part of their theory and the theory that ultimately ruined the book!). It was really cute to watch and it definitely had me girly giggling in certain places!

I really wanted to love this ending, but it was a huge disappointment! I loved most of the other factors of this book, but with a weak ending, it amounts to nothing. I gave this book 3.5/5 stars.

Have you read this book/series? What did you think of the end theory?

Distraction by Laura Clark

Seventeen-near-old, Laila Patterson, would never describe her heart as fickle. She understands the difference between reality and fantasy, which is why Sam Woodson is not realistic boyfriend material. After all, he is in college, and college boys simply do not date high school girls. Plus, he is Laila’s older brother’s best friend. According to the unspoken bro-code, messing around with your friend’s little sister is pretty high on the list of forbidden taboos. 

What happens when Laila discovers that her secret crush on Sam isn’t quite so one-sided? What if the only way to keep him is to keep their relationship hush-hush? Is Sam worth all of the lying and sneaking around? 

As if things weren’t confusing enough with Sam, an old family friend suddenly shows up after being gone for more than three years. She isn’t expecting Trevor Maddox to move back to Westbrook. She isn’t expecting him to attend her high school, and she certainly isn’t expecting him to be so damned gorgeous. 

Laila doesn’t want or need this unexpected distraction. . . or does she? (Goodreads)

Note: I was approached by the author, who offered me a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.

When Laura Clark offered me a copy of this book, I had never heard of it before. After reading the synopsis on Goodreads, I decided to spring on the opportunity that I had, and was given a copy of this book. My relationship was pretty much a love hate relationship. There were things that I adored and there were things that I detested. At some points this book really bugged me, but, for some reason, there was just something compelling me to carry on reading – in short, I couldn’t stop reading, even though I wanted to at times! In short, I am going to list my loves and hates.

As always, bad stuff first:

Grammatical errors: considering this is a book that has actually been published and isn’t an ARC copy, I was disappointed to find a couple of grammatical errors and, what I assume is, typo’s. The publishers and the author should’ve had a better look!

Laila’s indecisiveness: Whilst this works to a certain extent, it bugged the … out of me after a certain amount of time. It was grating, I was cringing and this is where I started to struggle with this book. While I mostly liked both guy characters, Laila bugged me!

The love hexagon: We ended up going from a love triangle to a love hexagon – which is almost kind of confusing. While it was fairly easy to keep up with, it probably would have been better with two separate triangles..- if we really need that many love problems!!

Cliche’s: I am all for cliche’s, this book was, however, too full of them!! It seemed like every page had some form of cliche on it which was just cringeworthy!

Italics: Every other word was put into italics!! They are supposed to be used to emphasise something important, but it seemed like the author was emphasising the least important words in the sentence!! It made me want to retype the entire book!

Onto the good news!!

Chemistry: I loved the chemistry between multiple characters! I think my favourite feely – creating chemistry was between Laila and Trevor! I adored them together, and they are the official couple that I ship in this book!

The ‘rents: Most times, the parents within book are old fashioned and annoying. What I loved about this book was the fact that Laila’s parents are hip and in the 21st century! They like music that their kids like and they act younger than they really should whilst still acting like a typical parent!

Cliche’s: I know, I know! I literally just said that I disliked the cliche’s!n Well, having said that, there were a couple within the book that had me feeling the feels! It was just so cute!!

Sam and Laila’s first date: Can I just say awwwwww!!! It is the kind of date that only ever happens in movies and books and leaves the audience jealous because they want that for themselves… at least the women do!

Reality: This book was almost like jumping into someone’s reality! It wasn’t difficult to imagine that this could actually happen in real life, which made the book more enjoyable. I think that, with books like these, it is vital for it to be imaginable as a real life situation because there is no fantasy or supernatural side to it!

These are all my loves and hates! I am sorta, kinda looking forward to the next book – it is definitely on my TBR list 🙂 I am giving this book 3.5/5 stars.