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theawkwardbookw's reviews
2189 reviews
The Heir by Kiera Cass
3.0
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3.5 Stars
20 years after The Selection where America Singer won the heart of Prince Maxon, Princess Eadlyn is the heir to the throne of Illéa. The caste system has been eliminated and there has been some hesitation from the people of Illéa. When her parents suggest Eadlyn have her own Selection to distract the people, she refuses. Eventually, she accepts that as part of her duty as the next Queen, she must find a husband and agrees with the pretence that she only has to host it for three months. If she does not find love at the end, she can call the whole thing off. For the first few weeks, Eadlyn put very little effort into the competition, but as time went on, these 35 candidates found a way into her heart and the competition becomes serious to her.
I didn't enjoy this as much as the first three books in the series, but it was still a fun read! I found Eadlyn to be mean, self-centred and bitchy. She was so full of herself and some of the things she said out loud were absolutely ridiculous. By the end of the book she had definitely seemed to develop slightly out of this attitude, but I still didn't like her much. I'm going to guess she will grow on me during the next book though. I did like how independent she was though! I loved how there were characters from the first 3 books in this addition to the series and I loved seeing where they all ended up. I definitely did not see the ending of the book coming and I will pick up the next for sure! The boys of Selection were not explored very much, in my opinion. There were many we never got to really know. Honestly.... I'm rooting for Erick, I don't even care that he's technically not apart of The Selection.
3.5 Stars
20 years after The Selection where America Singer won the heart of Prince Maxon, Princess Eadlyn is the heir to the throne of Illéa. The caste system has been eliminated and there has been some hesitation from the people of Illéa. When her parents suggest Eadlyn have her own Selection to distract the people, she refuses. Eventually, she accepts that as part of her duty as the next Queen, she must find a husband and agrees with the pretence that she only has to host it for three months. If she does not find love at the end, she can call the whole thing off. For the first few weeks, Eadlyn put very little effort into the competition, but as time went on, these 35 candidates found a way into her heart and the competition becomes serious to her.
I didn't enjoy this as much as the first three books in the series, but it was still a fun read! I found Eadlyn to be mean, self-centred and bitchy. She was so full of herself and some of the things she said out loud were absolutely ridiculous. By the end of the book she had definitely seemed to develop slightly out of this attitude, but I still didn't like her much. I'm going to guess she will grow on me during the next book though. I did like how independent she was though! I loved how there were characters from the first 3 books in this addition to the series and I loved seeing where they all ended up. I definitely did not see the ending of the book coming and I will pick up the next for sure! The boys of Selection were not explored very much, in my opinion. There were many we never got to really know. Honestly.... I'm rooting for Erick, I don't even care that he's technically not apart of The Selection.
Dark Horses by Cecily Von Ziegesar
3.0
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*I received this book as part of Booktube Tours in exchange for my honest review*
VIDEO REVIEW TO COME SEPT 30th:
Dark Horses is told from two perspectives, Merritt a self destructive teenaged girl and an ex race horse named Red. After the death of her grandmother and horse, Merritt walks out in the middle of her SAT test after a night of drinking. Her parents opt to send her to Good Fences, an equestrian based rehab facility, where she meets Red. Red belongs to the owner's daughter Beatrice who also attends Good Fences. Red has been unable to bond with anyone and hasn't allowed anyone to ride him for years, until he meets Merritt. Their bond quickly catches the attention of Beatrice's owner, a very wealthy business man who decides to fund Merritt and Red to compete in horse races around the United States. Merritt develops a friendship with Beatrice and also a possible love interest in her competition, a rider named Carvin. Red does not take lightly to Merritt's new found friendships, anyone who comes between himself and Merritt poses a threat and he will stop at nothing to keep the two of them together forever.
The book was extremely easy to read, fast paced and fun to read. I really enjoyed the changing POV between Merritt and Red. I loved Red's point of view, he was such a jerk and I was laughing at most of the things he thought about. I still don't know how I feel about Merritt... at times I found her very bland and boring but other times I really liked her as a character. The insta-love between Carvin and Merritt was a bit of a bummer to me, although it took awhile for their relationship to actually develop, the initial onset came way to quickly in my opinion. You could really tell that the author has an extensive knowledge about horses and equestrian lifestyle based off of the vocabulary she uses and her writing in general on the topic. The writing did occasionally go off on tangents that I didn't find relevant to the plot development, it was still an enjoyable read! I did feel like the plot was a bit too far-fetched and convenient at times though. I also found the ending to be unresolved, I really want to know what happens next with Merritt and Carvin! Overall, I enjoyed the story!
*I received this book as part of Booktube Tours in exchange for my honest review*
VIDEO REVIEW TO COME SEPT 30th:
Dark Horses is told from two perspectives, Merritt a self destructive teenaged girl and an ex race horse named Red. After the death of her grandmother and horse, Merritt walks out in the middle of her SAT test after a night of drinking. Her parents opt to send her to Good Fences, an equestrian based rehab facility, where she meets Red. Red belongs to the owner's daughter Beatrice who also attends Good Fences. Red has been unable to bond with anyone and hasn't allowed anyone to ride him for years, until he meets Merritt. Their bond quickly catches the attention of Beatrice's owner, a very wealthy business man who decides to fund Merritt and Red to compete in horse races around the United States. Merritt develops a friendship with Beatrice and also a possible love interest in her competition, a rider named Carvin. Red does not take lightly to Merritt's new found friendships, anyone who comes between himself and Merritt poses a threat and he will stop at nothing to keep the two of them together forever.
The book was extremely easy to read, fast paced and fun to read. I really enjoyed the changing POV between Merritt and Red. I loved Red's point of view, he was such a jerk and I was laughing at most of the things he thought about. I still don't know how I feel about Merritt... at times I found her very bland and boring but other times I really liked her as a character. The insta-love between Carvin and Merritt was a bit of a bummer to me, although it took awhile for their relationship to actually develop, the initial onset came way to quickly in my opinion. You could really tell that the author has an extensive knowledge about horses and equestrian lifestyle based off of the vocabulary she uses and her writing in general on the topic. The writing did occasionally go off on tangents that I didn't find relevant to the plot development, it was still an enjoyable read! I did feel like the plot was a bit too far-fetched and convenient at times though. I also found the ending to be unresolved, I really want to know what happens next with Merritt and Carvin! Overall, I enjoyed the story!
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
4.0
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4.5 Stars
Cather has been writing fanfiction about Simon Snow for 2 years now and she has quite the following. When Cath starts college this year, she always assumed she would be sharing a room with her twin sister, Wren. But when Wren suddenly proclaims that this is not the case, Cath's social anxiety goes into full swing and she hides behind her laptop and alter ego, MagiCath. When she meets her new roommate, Reagan, she soon realises that she is a package deal with a very cute boy named Levi. As the school year progresses, Cath learns to open herself up to new experiences and may even find love along the way.
I loved this story! All the characters are so well rounded and loveable. I loved the cute and fluffy parts of the book regarding Levi and Cath's relationship. But I also loved how there were some deeper more emotional parts such as the Cath's relationship with both her parents as well as her sister. I LOVED Levi's character because he ACTUALLY had flaws, unlike a lot of love interests in books. He was just the right amount of charming without being overly annoying. I loved how he always told Cath what he was thinking and feeling and wasn't afraid to show her how he felt about her. I loved Reagan WAY too much, she's hilarious and so sarcastic. I only gave the book 4.5 stars instead of 5 because I didn't really enjoy the fan fiction very much. It's never really been my thing so I often found myself skimming those sections of the book.
4.5 Stars
Cather has been writing fanfiction about Simon Snow for 2 years now and she has quite the following. When Cath starts college this year, she always assumed she would be sharing a room with her twin sister, Wren. But when Wren suddenly proclaims that this is not the case, Cath's social anxiety goes into full swing and she hides behind her laptop and alter ego, MagiCath. When she meets her new roommate, Reagan, she soon realises that she is a package deal with a very cute boy named Levi. As the school year progresses, Cath learns to open herself up to new experiences and may even find love along the way.
I loved this story! All the characters are so well rounded and loveable. I loved the cute and fluffy parts of the book regarding Levi and Cath's relationship. But I also loved how there were some deeper more emotional parts such as the Cath's relationship with both her parents as well as her sister. I LOVED Levi's character because he ACTUALLY had flaws, unlike a lot of love interests in books. He was just the right amount of charming without being overly annoying. I loved how he always told Cath what he was thinking and feeling and wasn't afraid to show her how he felt about her. I loved Reagan WAY too much, she's hilarious and so sarcastic. I only gave the book 4.5 stars instead of 5 because I didn't really enjoy the fan fiction very much. It's never really been my thing so I often found myself skimming those sections of the book.
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
4.0
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4.5/5 Stars
After a brief stay at a psychiatric hospital, Camille Preaker, a newspaper journalist in Chicago is assigned a case in her home town of Wind Gap covering the murder of two local girls. Camille finds herself at her Mother's home, who she hasn't talked to in several years. The longer she stays in Wind Gap, the more she relates to these two dead preteens and remembers certain events from her childhood. As Camille tries to navigate between her mother, the half-sister she barely knows and the investigation, she soon realises that Wind Gap may not be good for her mental health.
I was able to call who the murderer was, which is the reason I dropped half a star. Although I still really enjoyed the story. I also dropped the half star because the book was very gruesome and I have a very weak stomach with gore so at times it was hard to read. Gillian's writing style is so unique and eerie, I loved every second of it and was instantly hooked right from the first page. Each character was more disturbed than the next and made the story one that was impossible to put down
4.5/5 Stars
After a brief stay at a psychiatric hospital, Camille Preaker, a newspaper journalist in Chicago is assigned a case in her home town of Wind Gap covering the murder of two local girls. Camille finds herself at her Mother's home, who she hasn't talked to in several years. The longer she stays in Wind Gap, the more she relates to these two dead preteens and remembers certain events from her childhood. As Camille tries to navigate between her mother, the half-sister she barely knows and the investigation, she soon realises that Wind Gap may not be good for her mental health.
I was able to call who the murderer was, which is the reason I dropped half a star. Although I still really enjoyed the story. I also dropped the half star because the book was very gruesome and I have a very weak stomach with gore so at times it was hard to read. Gillian's writing style is so unique and eerie, I loved every second of it and was instantly hooked right from the first page. Each character was more disturbed than the next and made the story one that was impossible to put down
Smoke by Ellen Hopkins
3.0
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This is the squeal to Burned, which I ADORED, but I think this book fll a bit short for me. There were a lot of important issues addressed such as rape, homophobia, homicide and illegal immigration which I'm glad were brought up. I really enjoyed the dual perspective in this, but I feel like everything wrapped up a little too well. Everything seemed far too convenient. The love in the book bothered me, it seemed to come out of nowhere and everything was resolved only because these boys came into Pattyn and Jackie's life.
I usually devour Ellen Hopkin's books in a day, but it took me awhile to finish this one.
This is the squeal to Burned, which I ADORED, but I think this book fll a bit short for me. There were a lot of important issues addressed such as rape, homophobia, homicide and illegal immigration which I'm glad were brought up. I really enjoyed the dual perspective in this, but I feel like everything wrapped up a little too well. Everything seemed far too convenient. The love in the book bothered me, it seemed to come out of nowhere and everything was resolved only because these boys came into Pattyn and Jackie's life.
I usually devour Ellen Hopkin's books in a day, but it took me awhile to finish this one.
Shadow of a Girl by Shannon Greenland
4.0
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VIDEO REVIEW TO COME FEB 14th:
*I received this book as part of a tour in exchange for my honest review*
For her entire life, Eve has lived in constant fear. Forced to be "the perfect girl" Eve is constantly on guard and wanting to please Gideon to avoid punishment. Given the chance to flee, Eve becomes a roadie for a band called Bus Stop where she meets West Wolf, lead guitarist. As she travels the world with the band, she finally begins to think she has a chance at being normal. But with Gideon close on her tail, she realises she is always going to be on the run.
I loved the characters. They were so well developed and felt very real to me. I loved watching Eve grow into a confident young woman as the story progressed and she became more comfortable with herself and her past. The friendship between Eve and Anne was also a great addition to the story. You could tell that they both truly cared for each other and it was amazing to read about a strong female friendship. I loved how the relationship wasn't insta-love, although the initial attraction was there. I loved the slow-burn of it all. WEST IS THE SWEETEST MOST GENUINE GUY OMG I NEED A WEST IN MY LIFE PLEASE!!! He was so caring, supportive and patient with Eve. AND THAT ENDING - SUCH A SWEETHEART. I loved how West was flawed as well though, it made him seem like a real human instead of the typical YA boys you usually read about.
I feel like there was a great mixture of both light-hearted and dark moments that balanced the story well. There are some hard topics covered such as abuse, but I liked the way it was done in the book. The abuse scenes weren't too in your face, which made it easier to read about the topic without getting overwhelmed. I think that the writing was very well done and made it very easy to visualize what was going on. I really loved how bits and pieces of Eve's past were uncovered as the story progressed and we didn't know exactly what it was until the plot developed and you were emotionally invested into her story. I think that made a much more interesting story because I really wanted to know all the details and secrets that she was hiding. Right from the beginning sentence you are pulled into her narrative and need to know everything about her life. I loved the underlying tension you felt through out the entire book wondering if Gideon would find Eve and what would happen if he did.
Overall, super addictive read!
VIDEO REVIEW TO COME FEB 14th:
*I received this book as part of a tour in exchange for my honest review*
For her entire life, Eve has lived in constant fear. Forced to be "the perfect girl" Eve is constantly on guard and wanting to please Gideon to avoid punishment. Given the chance to flee, Eve becomes a roadie for a band called Bus Stop where she meets West Wolf, lead guitarist. As she travels the world with the band, she finally begins to think she has a chance at being normal. But with Gideon close on her tail, she realises she is always going to be on the run.
I loved the characters. They were so well developed and felt very real to me. I loved watching Eve grow into a confident young woman as the story progressed and she became more comfortable with herself and her past. The friendship between Eve and Anne was also a great addition to the story. You could tell that they both truly cared for each other and it was amazing to read about a strong female friendship. I loved how the relationship wasn't insta-love, although the initial attraction was there. I loved the slow-burn of it all. WEST IS THE SWEETEST MOST GENUINE GUY OMG I NEED A WEST IN MY LIFE PLEASE!!! He was so caring, supportive and patient with Eve. AND THAT ENDING - SUCH A SWEETHEART. I loved how West was flawed as well though, it made him seem like a real human instead of the typical YA boys you usually read about.
I feel like there was a great mixture of both light-hearted and dark moments that balanced the story well. There are some hard topics covered such as abuse, but I liked the way it was done in the book. The abuse scenes weren't too in your face, which made it easier to read about the topic without getting overwhelmed. I think that the writing was very well done and made it very easy to visualize what was going on. I really loved how bits and pieces of Eve's past were uncovered as the story progressed and we didn't know exactly what it was until the plot developed and you were emotionally invested into her story. I think that made a much more interesting story because I really wanted to know all the details and secrets that she was hiding. Right from the beginning sentence you are pulled into her narrative and need to know everything about her life. I loved the underlying tension you felt through out the entire book wondering if Gideon would find Eve and what would happen if he did.
Overall, super addictive read!
So Shelly by Ty Roth
2.0
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2.5 Stars
This book is a loose retelling of three dead poets lives if they were teens in modern day society. Shelly has died and her final wish was for Keats and Gordon to spread her ashes on a beach while playing her REM CD from her old boom box. While travelling to the beach, Keats and Gordon get to know each other and reminisce on the times spent with Shelly.
I found all the characters to be lack lustre and a bit boring to me. Gordon was extremely self-centred and Shelly's obsession with him was a bit pathetic. The book started off great and I thought I was really going to enjoy it. Unfortunately no real plot developed and what did come of the story was very slow.
2.5 Stars
This book is a loose retelling of three dead poets lives if they were teens in modern day society. Shelly has died and her final wish was for Keats and Gordon to spread her ashes on a beach while playing her REM CD from her old boom box. While travelling to the beach, Keats and Gordon get to know each other and reminisce on the times spent with Shelly.
I found all the characters to be lack lustre and a bit boring to me. Gordon was extremely self-centred and Shelly's obsession with him was a bit pathetic. The book started off great and I thought I was really going to enjoy it. Unfortunately no real plot developed and what did come of the story was very slow.
Dreamland by Sarah Dessen
3.0
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3.5 Stars
One morning, Caitlin wakes up to her older sister, Cass, missing. She's always been in her sister's perfect shadow and although she misses her, she is glad she can find her own path now. When Caitlin meets Rogerson, her whole life is turned upside down. He's everything she's ever wanted in a boyfriend.... until he's not.
I think this is the first Sarah Dessen book I thoroughly enjoyed. It's heartbreaking and enlightening all at once. I hated the path Caitlin was taking and wanted to shake her at times. I would have gotten the heck out of there as soon as possible, but I understand that being in the situation she was in is a lot different when you're actually in it. The book is an extremely fast read and has an amazing flow to it. It was hard to put down because I NEEDED to know what was going to happen next. I'm glad that Sarah Dessen chose to portray this story the way that she did, I thought it was a very real take on the topic and thought it was very well done.
3.5 Stars
One morning, Caitlin wakes up to her older sister, Cass, missing. She's always been in her sister's perfect shadow and although she misses her, she is glad she can find her own path now. When Caitlin meets Rogerson, her whole life is turned upside down. He's everything she's ever wanted in a boyfriend.... until he's not.
I think this is the first Sarah Dessen book I thoroughly enjoyed. It's heartbreaking and enlightening all at once. I hated the path Caitlin was taking and wanted to shake her at times. I would have gotten the heck out of there as soon as possible, but I understand that being in the situation she was in is a lot different when you're actually in it. The book is an extremely fast read and has an amazing flow to it. It was hard to put down because I NEEDED to know what was going to happen next. I'm glad that Sarah Dessen chose to portray this story the way that she did, I thought it was a very real take on the topic and thought it was very well done.
Spill Zone by Scott Westerfeld
3.0
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*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review*
Addie and her younger sister Lexa lost their parents in the Spill. Lacking the funds to provide for them both, Addie constantly travels down to the Spill Zone to take pictures for clients of the various creatures and buildings that now habitat the restricted area. After a buyer comes forward and offers her something she can't refuse, Addie must break all the rules she's so carefully placed for herself in order to obtain what the buyer wants.
The graphic novel is mostly focuses on world building at this point and explaining the rules in which Addie has created when she goes into the Spill Zone to take her pictures. The art and colours used really sold the 'creppy-ness' effect of the story. Vespertine, Lexa's doll is honestly so creepy... You're left with a lot of unanswered and open-ended questions so I'm definitely excited to see how the story progresses.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review*
Addie and her younger sister Lexa lost their parents in the Spill. Lacking the funds to provide for them both, Addie constantly travels down to the Spill Zone to take pictures for clients of the various creatures and buildings that now habitat the restricted area. After a buyer comes forward and offers her something she can't refuse, Addie must break all the rules she's so carefully placed for herself in order to obtain what the buyer wants.
The graphic novel is mostly focuses on world building at this point and explaining the rules in which Addie has created when she goes into the Spill Zone to take her pictures. The art and colours used really sold the 'creppy-ness' effect of the story. Vespertine, Lexa's doll is honestly so creepy... You're left with a lot of unanswered and open-ended questions so I'm definitely excited to see how the story progresses.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
5.0
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MY EXPERIENCE READING HP #2 FOR THE FIRST TIME AT 21 YEARS OLD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6zQClNHTjk
God, I love these books so far!!
MY EXPERIENCE READING HP #2 FOR THE FIRST TIME AT 21 YEARS OLD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6zQClNHTjk
God, I love these books so far!!