June Wrap Up

Hey guys! So, this is going to be the first ever wrap up that I have done, so you’re going to have to hang in there! I am doing this post on a whim, and if I like doing it, then it will become a regular feature here – hooray!! 😀

Read:

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas. June 12th, 5 stars

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas. June 18th, 5 stars

One Was Lost by Natalie D. Richards. ARC provided by the publisher – June 19th, 4 stars

Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig. ARC provided through Netgalley, June 23rd, 4 stars.

Schism by Britt Holewinski, June 24th, DNFed

Valley of the Moon by Bronwyn Archer, Review copy provided by the author, DNFed, June 24th

Unnatural Deeds by Cyn Balog, ARC provided by the publisher, June 25th, 5 stars

If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin, June 28th, 4 stars

Never Never by Colleen Hoover and Tarry Fisher, June 30th, 5 stars

Started Reading:

Air Awakens by Elise Kova, I started reading this today, but since I won’t finish it today, I am going to include it in my July wrap up!

I am a mood reader, so there is really no point in putting down what I hope to read in July, because it will most likely change!

So thats me! What did you guys get up to this month?

 

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the Broke and Bookish

Hey guys! Firstly, I just want to say happy blogoversary to the Broke and Bookish! 6 years is a long time! This weeks TTT is top ten favourite releases of 2016 so far. A couple of these books haven’t been released this year yet and some of the books were released last year because I haven’t read 10 books that have been released this year so far! I’m a rebel, what can I say? In no particular order:

10.  The Crown by Kiera Cass. Published May 3rd by HarperTeen. I loved the entirety of The Selection series! So, you can imagine my relief when my wait for this book was finally over!

9.  A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas Published May 3rd by Bloomsbury USA Children’s. This was the book of the year for me! I bought this book the day it came out on my kindle, I read it, and then went and bought a physical copy of the book – I am that much in love!

8.  Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard. Published February 9th by HarperTeen. Again, another book I bought myself a physical copy of for myself, because it is another series that I love! Plus, the title for the third book is being released tomorrow by Epic Reads – if anyone is interested!

7.  Wink Poppy Midnight by April Genevieve Tucholke. Published March 22nd by Dial Books. If your looking for a book that isn’t all that it seems that is full of a bunch of whacked out teenagers… then this book is perfect for you!

6.  This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp. Published January 5th by Sourcebooks Fire. I hyped this book up to myself long before its release date and it didn’t disappoint! i had been looking for a book that took place during the shooting for quite some time and this book delivered in every way!

5.  Wrecked by Maria Padian. Publish date October 4th 2016 by Algonquin Young Readers. ok, so technically, this book doesn’t belong on this list because it has yet to be released. However, I am a rebel. I read an ARC copy of this book and I loved it! Such a unique take on sexual assault!

4.  One Was Lost by Natalie D. Richards. Publish Date October 4th 2016 by Sourcebooks Fire. Another book that technically shouldn’t make this list. However, I read an ARC over the weekend and it was an amazing read!

3.  Endure by Sara B. Larson. Published December 29th 2015 by Scholastic Press. This was the third and final instalment in the Defy series and I was sorry to see it end!

2.  Spelled by Betsy Schow. Published June 2nd 2015 by Sourcebooks Fire. This book had me laughing out loud – in a pretty unladylike manner – and I had stitches in places I didn’t even know existed! Definitely worth the read!

1.  What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler. Published September 22nd 2015 by HarperTeen. This book was based on a true story (The Steubenville High School Rape Case) and I think it represented the controversy of the case well. It deals with some really tough issues and highlights important ones too!

That’s me! I loved all of these books! What books have been your favourites so far this year? Feel free to leave links and comments and I will check them all out!

One was Lost by Natalie D. Richards

Damaged. Deceptive. Dangerous. Darling. Are they labels or a warning? The answer could cost Sera everything.

Murder, justice, and revenge were so not a part of the plan when Sera set out on her senior camping trip. After all, hiking through the woods is supposed to be safe and uneventful.

Then one morning the group wakes up groggy, confused, and with words scrawled on their wrists: Damaged. Deceptive. Dangerous. Darling. Their supplies? Destroyed. Half their group? Gone. Their chaperone? Unconscious. Worst of all, they find four dolls acting out a murder—dolls dressed just like them.

Suddenly it’s clear; they’re being hunted. And with the only positive word on her wrist, Sera falls under suspicion… (Goodreads)

Note: I was given an ARC copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review. This in no way influences my opinion. Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with this ARC!

To say I was buzzing to read this book is an understatement. I read the premise and I knew I just had to read the book. I enjoyed the book… to a point, but it wasn’t absolutely everything I hoped it would be. Let me elaborate…

The Good:

• I was stumped. Literally throughout the entire book, I had no idea who to trust, what was going on – I was just stuck. The mystery element of this book just had me – it is basically everything I would hope a mystery would be! Even at the end of the book, I still managed to guess wrong!! So, kudos for the mystery.
• The setting was unique. I mean, I know the forest is almost like a typical setting for a mystery of this kind, but the way it was written was unique. I felt like I could have been there with them if I wanted to be.
• I wasn’t expecting the storyline to go in the way that it went. I had a completely different theory to what was going to happen… and I was completely wrong! Like, 100% wrong.
• I felt connected to some of the characters (not all – but I will come to that in a minute). I felt like I could relate with Sera and Emily. I especially liked the way that Emily came out of herself once everything started going, rather than staying the way that she was right at the beginning of the book. She showed a side to herself which I didn’t think she had. I also enjoyed watching Sera grow as a character. She sort of grated on my nerves at the beginning of the book, because we didn’t really understand her as a character. As I got to know her more throughout the book and she began to change throughout based on what was happening, I began to respect her more.

The Bad:

• The book felt a tad slow?I felt like the characters spent a lot of time arguing and not really doing much to get out of the situation they were suddenly stuck in. It was almost like it took them a while to understand just what was going on and for them to finally try and do something about it.
• I felt like the voices of Lucas and Jude blended too much – to the point where I was confused sometimes as to who was speaking and I had to go back to read the name again. They just seemed a little too similar for my tastes…
• I feel like the book may have moved a bit faster if the author had done this book from multiple POV’s. I really wanted to get into the heads of the other characters, to find out what they were really thinking, but obviously I couldn’t. I also feel like the story would have maybe flowed a little bit mroe if it had been written in this way.
• I feel like the ending happened a little too quickly. It was all explained so fast and I was left with some unanswered questions. I hate feeling like there should be more to a book because I feel like I haven’t gotten the full story!
• There was one part of the book that really sort of confused me. I mean, if I was stuck in the forest with some crazy stalker after me – well, lets just say I would not be focusing on my love life any time soon!

I enjoyed this book, but I felt that there were a few points that maybe could have been improved on for my particular tastes! It is still a book that I would recommend, though, and I look forward to buying myself a physical copy in October! I gave this book 4/5 stars.

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the Broke and Bookish

Hey guys! This weeks theme for TTT is top ten most anticipated releases for the second half of 2016. Can you actually believe we are halfway through June already?!? Where is this year going?? Without further ado, and in nor particular order:

10.  Heartless by Marissa Meyer. Despite the fact that I still need to read Winter (I know, I am so behind!) I absolutely love the Lunar Chronicles!! So, I obviously cannot wait to see what this author is going to do with Alice in Wonderland! Publication Date: 8th November 2016.

9.  Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas. I am currently reading Queen of Shadows and, whilst I am not that far into it, I am still loving it! Sarah J. Maas is an automatic buy for me! Besides, who can resist a cover like that??? Publication Date: 6th September 2016

8.  One was Lost by Natalie D. Richards. I have never actually read a book by this author, although I have at least one more on my TBR! This book likes the perfect mystery thriller to keep me turning the pages at night! Publication Date: 4th October 2016

7.  Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi. I adored the Shatter Me series by this author and I have been waiting for something new from her ever since!! I literally cannot wait to get my hands on this book! Plus, the cover is gorgeous! Publication Date: 30th August 2016

6.  Last Stand by Rachel E. Carter. This book sadly has no cover yet and also no definitive release date. I do, however, love this series and I cannot wait to see what Carter does with our characters in this final instalment! Publication Date: 2016 (May be a hit or miss…)

5.  A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir. Whilst I was a tad bit disappointed with An Ember in the Ashes, I am still intrigued to see what comes next for our characters!! Publication Date: 30th August 2016

4.  Winning by Lara Deloza. I saw a review of this by Khanh (The Grinch) on Goodreads and for anyone who has ever seen one of her reviews, she is difficult to please. She seemed to enjoy this book, though, plus it looks like such  fun read! Publication Date: 28th June 2016

3.  Shiny Broken Pieces by Sona Charapoitra and Dhonielle Clayton. I was addicted to Tiny Pretty Things and couldn’t put the book down! I literally cannot wait for this book because I need to carry on my addiction! Publication Date: 12th July 2016

2.  Nice Girls Endure by Chris Struyk – Bonn. This book tackles a really difficult subject and I am interested to see what the author has done with it. I have never seen this author before, so there is a first time for everything! Publication Date: 1st August 2016

1.  Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst. I think this book is pretty self explanatory because I do not know a single blogger or reader who doesn’t want to read this book! Publication Date: 22nd November 2016

So, thats it! I cannot wait for all of these books! #Problemsofabooknerd! What books are you guys all anticipating? Are you waiting for the same books, or are there others you are waiting for? Feel free to let me know and leave links!