#ARCAugust 2017 Update [Week 2]

I totally forgot to post this over the weekend so I’m a little late but better late than never I guess. 

I only read one ARC this week. Well I did finish one and read another so one and a half I guess.

I finished Darien: Empire of Salt. It took me a little longer than I thought it would but I wasn’t really in the mood to read when I picked it up and it wasn’t the books fault. I was just more interested in social media and YouTube… Which is really annoying when I need to read.

Anyway, I liked this book. I’m not sure when the sequel is coming out but I’ll be keeping an eye out for it. I’ll be reviewing this soon,

The second book I read last week was I Have No Secrets and I really liked this. I didn’t want to put it down. I felt really bad for Jemma with the way some people treated her but she was such an amazing person.

This book follows Jemma, who has cerebral palsy and relies on her family and carer for everything. Jemma can’t move or talk. Someone tells Jemma a secret – one the person knows Jemma can’t tell anyone. But things may be about to change…

I’d definitely recommend this book! It was a really fast read for me, I didn’t want to put it down. I’ll also be reviewing this soon so if you want to see what I thought of the book keep an eye out. 

I started A Stranger in the House yesterday. This was sent to me from Penguin Random House New Zealand and I wasn’t expecting it at all but I’m really liking it so far. This is a psychological thriller and I think fans of Gone Girl and Girl on the Train will enjoy this.

I’m not really that far in so I’m still trying to figure what’s going on but if you like psychological thrillers then I’d recommend this book.

So far I’ve read three ARCs for ARC August. How many have you read so far?

– Aimee.

 

#ARCAugust 2017 Update [Week 1]

I’m a bit late with my first ARC August update. I planned on posting this morning but I wasn’t feeling 100% (I’m still not) but I wanted to post this before Monday so here we are.

I managed to read one and a bit books for my first week of ARC August. The first book wasn’t actually on my TBR but it’s an ARC and I really needed to get it read so I’m still counting it.

I read The Student in one day. I didn’t really know what to expect with this because it had been a while since I’d read the synopsis and I decided not to read it again.

But I did like the book. It was a bit slow in places but overall I like it. I can’t remember if I had to review all the books I read for ARC August before the end of the month. I’m really behind on my reviews so I’m not sure if I’ll have it up by the end of the month or not.

The second book I picked up for ARC August was Darien: Empire of Salt. This is the first book in a new YA fantasy trilogy/series. I can’t remember which. I didn’t get much read yesterday, like 89 pages. And I haven’t read much today because I feel like crap but I do like what I’ve read so far.

I’m hoping to finish this in the next couple of days. Depending on how I feel tomorrow…

Anyway, if you’re participating in ARC August this year then I hope you did better than me this week. Let me know how many books you’ve read so far in the comments.

– Aimee.

#ARCAugust 2017 TBR.

This is the fifth annual ARC August and the third one I’ve participated in. This is held by Read.Sleep.Eat. You can click the link to find out more and sign up. Also the image is theirs too. I just thought it was amazing and cannot do this myself but credit goes to them.

So for this post I’m just going to talk about my TBR for this year. Last year I think I had five books on my TBR and only read three… But I was reading other books at the same time so I wasn’t really that bothered. 

This year I have five books on my TBR again but this time I need to read all of them. I think. I’m not 100% sure when City of Circles comes out but I know I need to read the others.

Anyway I think the first one I’ll read, which comes out on August 1st, is Empire of Salt (the bottom book). This is the first book in a new fantasy series. I think its YA but I’m not really sure. It kind of reminded me of A Song of Ice and Fire – there are twelve families and one throne. Apparently there’s some kind of plan to kill the current king. I’m really looking forward to reading this. I love fantasy books.

After that I don’t really have an order that I want to read the other books in. So I’ll just go up the list from Empire of Salt.

The Taste of Blue Light doesn’t come out until September so I think I’ll read this last. I think this is about a girl who was in a coma and now all her dreams are in red? Or nightmares. I could be completely wrong about the coma. But something happened and now her nightmares are all red. When this book arrived my brother picked it up and was really confused because the title of the book is on the back cover and the title has the word ‘blue’ but the book is red… It even has sprayed edges and I just remembered he was like “but the pages aren’t red…?” Anyway, moving on.

The next book, A Stranger in the House was a complete surprise from Penguin Random House New Zealand. But this also sounds good. It’s a thriller I think. So this woman (I don’t know her name yet) is making dinner in her home and then wakes up in hospital with no idea how she got there or what happened. The police and her best friend think she was doing something she shouldn’t but her husband doesn’t believe it. But this woman doesn’t know what, or who, to believe… Sounds pretty good right? So I’m looking forward to reading this as well. I think this was released in July so I’m a little behind with it.

Next is City of Circles. This is apparently kind of like Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus (which I haven’t read so I won’t be able to compare them). So I think one of the characters parents have died and she wants to know why? She works in the circus. I can’t actually remember anything about this other than it has a tightrope walker and a circus.

And lastly is I Have No Secrets which only arrived yesterday so that was nicely timed. So this follows Jemma, she’s fourteen and has cerebral palsy. She’s not able to communicate and relies on her family and a carer for everything. Jemma has an inquisitive nature and a sharp mind and knows all kinds of things about the people around her. When she’s confronted with a terrible secret, she’s powerless to do anything about it. Although, that may be about to change…

All five books sound really good and I cannot wait to read them all. Hopefully this year I’ll be able to fit them all in but if I don’t then I’m not going to stress about it. Unlike last year…

If you’re also participating in ARC August leave me a comment and let me know what’s on you TBR.

– Aimee.

ARC August 2016 Update [Week 4] & Wrap Up.

So I’ve decided to wrap up my ARC August a few days early. I don’t think I’m going to get the last two books I had on my TBR read in the next three days  because I decided to read Winter instead. I needed a break from review books and wanted to read a book just for me, although I’ll probably end up reviewing it anyway. 

I had planned on reading five books during ARC August but I failed and only managed three, On the Other Side, The Sword of Summer and The Regulars. But I am glad I finally got them off my TBR.

Last year I did so much better so I am kind of disappointed in myself but I’ve read 12 books this month. I probably could have put Who’s That Girl? and The Moonlight Dreamers in there somewhere but it’s too late now. I’ll get to them eventually.

I plan on taking part in ARC August next year if I have any ARCs for it next year. Hopefully I’ll do a lot better then.

Of the three books I read this year my favourite was definitely The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan. I cannot wait to read The Hammer of Thor!

How did you do with ARC August this year?

– Aimee.

ARC August 2016 Update [Week 3].

I read two books for ARC August this week. Well, I read one and finished another. But I’m going to count it as two. 

The first book I read was The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan. I think I mentioned in my last update that I received an ARC of this recently from Penguin Random House NZ. It hasn’t been sitting on my shelf for almost a year. I think the ARCs of The Sword of Summer were sent out around this time last year… I’m not sure.

Anyway, I can’t remember when I finished this… Monday or Tuesday last week I think. I loved it and I cannot wait to read The Hammer of Thor when it comes out in October. Magnus is a great character, kind of funny and sarcastic but I still think Percy is better.

And the second book I read last week for ARC August was The Regulars by Georgia Clark. I received a copy of this from Simon and Schuster Australia to review.

I didn’t really know what to expect with this when I started it but I actually liked it. It’s about three twenty-something woman in New York who are all struggling with something in their lives. Then they come across Pretty, a magic potion type thing and will one drop they turn jaw-droppingly gorgeous for a week and with their new body comes new opportunities… But is Pretty as good as it seems?

I wasn’t really sure if I’d like this but I did. Some parts were boring-ish and annoying. But I’ll get to those in my review.

So that’s three books down, two to go. Hopefully I can get them read by the end of the month.. But I’m not sure it will happen.

How’s ARC August going for you?

– Aimee.

ARC August 2016 Update [Week 2].

I’ve finally started my ARC August books. Last weeks I didn’t read any books on my TBR, I don’t even know why but last year I didn’t read any books for it in the first week as well. 

Anyway, I’ve read On the Other Side by Carrie Hope Fletcher, which I received from Hachette New Zealand to review.

It wasn’t exactly what I was expecting but I liked it. It has a magical twist to it. I think you’d call it magical… I’m not really sure. I kept forgetting that it had these weird things and think the book was normal again and then, boom!, another weird/magical things.

Like I said, I liked it but it wasn’t what I was expecting. And I’m not really sure I liked the “love story” either. But then I’m not really one for romance anyway.

I’m halfway through Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer now and I am loving it. I know this came out last year but Penguin Random House New Zealand recently sent me an ARC of the book so I decided to put it in my ARC August TBR.

I wanted to read this closer to the release of the second book and I think it’s out in October so close enough.

I’ll admit that the only Norse mythology I know of is from the Thor movies and they aren’t accurate so I knew basically nothing before starting this. I do miss Sif though, she’s my favourite after Thor and Loki. Not that Thor has been in it either. So far anyway.

I’m hoping to finish this in the next few days and The Regulars will be my next read for ARC August.

How are you doing with your ARC August TBR so far?

– Aimee.

ARC August 2016 TBR

I participated in ARC August last year and read six ARCs, mostly off NetGalley. I don’t use that site anymore though. So this year I don’t have a lot of ARCs to read but I do have a lot of review books. I’m only including the ARCs though. 

So I have five ARCs on my shelves at the moment. I’m hoping I won’t get any more but I won’t say no to them.

I know Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer came out last year but one of the lovely publicists at Penguin Random House New Zealand sent me a copy this week to review and it’s the ARC. I can read it before Magnus Chase and the Hammer of Thor comes out in October.

I’d never heard of Who’s That Girl? by Mhairi McFarlane before HarperCollins New Zealand sent me a copy to review. I’m still not sure what it’s about but I want to go into it with no expectations and just see what happens. I don’t think this is a YA book though…

I requested the other three (The Regulars, On the Other Side and The Moonlight Dreamers) to review a few months ago and just haven’t got to them yet. Thanks to ARC August they are now at the top (ish) of my TBR.

I won’t be doing a week one update because I haven’t actually started yet but better late than never. I’m hoping to start this week.

Let me know if you’re taking part in ARC August this year and how many books are on your TBR.

Happy reading,
– Aimee.

ARC August 2015 [Week 4] Wrap Up.

All up I did read six ARCs this month. I don’t think one is technically an ARC but I was sent it for review so I decided to include it anyway.

I was going to read something else for the last ARC but when I got to it I really wasn’t in the mood so swapped it with The Gemstone.

I really liked The Gemstone, which I’ve now said in three separate posts. I’m sorry to be repetitive but I forgot to do this earlier.

So that’s my last book for ARC August. 6/6 for me with another five books read this month.

Sorry for the short update but there’s not much I can say about The Gemstone that I haven’t already put in my blog.

If you haven’t read it yet, find a copy and read it!

Aimee

Review: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon.

Title – Everything, Everything
Author – Nicola Yoon
Publication Date – September 1st 2015 by Delacorte Press
ISBN – 9780553496666

Madeline has a rare disease, she’s allergic to the world. Madeline hasn’t left her house in seventeen years. The only people she sees are her mother, her nurse, Carla, and her teachers. But most of the time she only sees her teachers over Skype.

When a moving truck arrives across the road Madeline’s drawn to a tall, slender boy all in black – just like the angel of death. When he catches her looking he stares back. His name is Olly.

The future is unpredictable and uncertain. But one thing Madeline is certain of, she’s going to fall in love with Olly and it will probably end in disaster.

I received a copy of Everything, Everything from NetGalley for review. I can’t remember why I requested it but I has heard good things about it.

I saw Bubble Boy years ago and that’s the first thing that came to mind when I started the book. I’ve heard people being allergic to the sun but not to the world before. It would be a very isolating life. Seeing the same walls everyday and never getting to go outside. Or even open a window. I can’t imagine the strain that would put on a family. I get why Madeline escaped into books. As a reader you can live infinite lives even when you’re stuck in the same crappy one.

Halfway through the book I started to suspect there was something else going on. When Madeline’s mother fired Carla, that’s when I figured out what it was. I was really hoping I’d gotten it wrong because if I was right it was so messed up. I mean, I can understand what happened now that I’ve read the book but at the same time I can’t help thinking of everything Madeline lost.

I couldn’t put this book down. It was beautifully written and I loved all the IM’s and illustrations. Nicola Yoon has written one of my favourite books of 2015. I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of it.

Have you read this? Let me know what you thought in the comments.

– Aimee.

Review: More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera.

Title – More Happy Than Not
Author – Adam Silvera
Publication Date – June 2nd 2015 by Soho Teen
ISBN – 9781616955601

Sixteen year old Aaron Soto is still finding life difficult three months after his father killed himself. But with the help of his mum and girlfriend, Genevieve, he’s trying to find happiness again. But his grief and a smile shaped scar on his wrist are holding him back.

When Genevieve goes away for three weeks Aaron starts spending most of his time with Thomas, his new best friend. Aaron’s other friends start to notice how much time he’s spending with Thomas, and they’re not happy about it.

But Aaron finds it hard to stay away from Thomas, even when it creates a problem with his girlfriend and friends. Thomas has made him happier than he’s been in months and he can be himself. While trying to fight his growing feelings for Thomas, Aaron decides to get help from the Leteo Institute’s memory-altering procedure to ‘straighten’ him out, even if it means forgetting who he really is.

Why does finding true happiness have to be so hard?

I received a copy for More Happy Than Not from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I had seen it on Instagram before I requested it.

I went into this book blind, I had no idea what it was about when I started reading it, which was probably a stupid thing to do. I had no idea what was going on and it took me more than half the book for me to get into the book. I don’t think the story was the problem, I was the idiot who didn’t look up what the book was about first.

I was confused why Aaron would want the memory-altering procedure from Leteo. I don’t think being gay is a bad thing and you shouldn’t want to change who you are just because some idiots don’t agree. There were people in his life who loved and supported him just for being himself. The people who tore him down and made him feel like who he was attracted to was wrong weren’t the kind of people he needed in his life.

Okay, Aaron is sixteen. What  sixteen year old hasn’t had their heart-broken by someone they thought they loved? That’s life. Not everyone finds their ‘true love’ or whatever in high school. You grow up, move on and meet someone new. Who hopefully feels the same way you do. Taking away his memory of someone and trying to ‘turn himself straight’ to fix a problem that isn’t there seemed really drastic to me.

I was really shocked with what happened to Aaron in the end. His life had barely started and his future was basically taken away from him. I’m not 100% on what caused it, the procedure or what his so-called “friends” did to him but either way, Aaron really couldn’t catch a break.

Even halfway through this book, I wasn’t sure if I liked it or not. But in the end I did like it. Probably not as much as other people who have read it but I did like it. I think the problem I had with is was not knowing what the book was about and by the time I had figured out what was going on, I had almost finished it.

Have you read More Happy Than Not? Let me know what you thought of it in the comments.

– Aimee.