Review: Heartstopper: Volume Two by Alice Oseman

Title: Heartstopper Volume 2

Author: Alice Oseman

Series/Standalone: Heartstopper Series (Volume 2)

Genre: LGBT, Contemporary, Graphic Novel, Young Adult

Pages: 320

Publisher: Hodder Children's Books

Year Published: 2019

Format: Paperback Copy

"Nick and Charlie are best friends. Nick knows Charlie's gay, and Charlie is sure that Nick isn't.

But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is discovering all kinds of things about his friends, his family... and himself."

My Rating: 5/5

These are so incredibly touching and the characters are so heartwarming. I've really been enjoying the cute art style and the storyline. I think this is a great story if you are looking for something cute to read or wanting to feel the warm and fuzzies. It also touches on the idea of coming out and the different ways people feel about speaking about their sexuality. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Title: The Scorch Trials

Author: James Dashner

Series/Standalone: The Maze Runner Series (Book #2)

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, Science Fiction

Pages: 362

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Year Published: 2010

Format: Audiobook (Library Copy)

"Solving the maze was supposed to be the end.

Thomas was sure that escape from the Maze would mean freedom for him and the Gladers. But WICKED isn't done yet. Phase Two has just begun. The Scorch.

There are no rules. There is no help. You either make it or you die.

The Gladers have two weeks to cross through the Scorch- the most burned-out section of the world. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Friendships will be tested. Loyalties will be broken. All bets are off.

There are others no. Their survival depends on the Gladers' destruction- and they're determined to survive."

My Rating: 3.75/5

This book held a lot of intrigue for me as I was curious about where the story was going after the plot twists in the last book. This book was better for me and I do plan to continue on. The atmosphere was better for me, and I love a journey book. The characters just aren't what I hoped they would be. Thomas is not my favourite character to read from, and I find it hard to believe that women are throwing themselves at him. I'm still curious about what WICKED is working on and the backstory so I will be continuing with the series, but I doubt they will be new favourites.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: Awakening by Majorie M. Liu

Title: Awakening

Author: Majorie M. Liu

Artist: Sana Takeda

Series/Standalone: Monstress Series (Volume 1)

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Graphic Novel

Pages: 202

Publisher: Image Comics

Year Published: 2016

Format: Paperback Copy (Library)

"Set in an alternate matriarchal 1900's Asia, in a richly imagined world of art deco-inflected steam punk, Monstress tells the story of a teenage girl who is struggling to survive the trauma of war, and who shares a mysterious psychic link with a monster of tremendous power, a connection that will transform them both and make them the target of both human and otherworldly powers."

My Rating: 3.5/5

This is such a different graphic novel than the previous ones I've been reading (I'm currently rereading Giant Days, very different energy). The art in this graphic novel is absolutely stunning and I loved admiring the thoughtfulness to details. That being said the world is extremely confusing. It takes most of the book to catch an idea of what is going on, or what has happened in the world. It was helpful that there are little filler pages about the world and how it got to the point of how it looks now. I am planning to continue the series, I'm curious to say the least about where the plot is going.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: Shiver

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Series/Standalone: The Wolves of Mercy Falls (Book #1)

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance

Pages: 392

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Year Published: 2009

Format: Audiobook

"For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf- her world- is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without.

Meanwhile, Sam has lived two livers: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human... until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her world. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human- or risk losing himself, and Grace forever."

My Rating: 4/5

This was exactly the nostalgic throwback to the 2010s I needed this past little while. It had all the tropes to my old reading style that really reminded me of why I love reading. As much as this is very stereotypical of the time period. I did really enjoy the writing and have had many other books by Maggie Stiefvater on my TBR, but was glad to start with this one as I've heard so much about it. The characters were typical of the time period, the atmosphere was well written and the plot was fun to follow. I look forward to continuing the series and reliving the fun paranormal romance that was so popular in my high school years.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: Heartstopper: Volume One by Alice Oseman

Title: Heartstopper: Volume One

Author: Alice Oseman

Series/Standalone: Heartstopper Series (Volume 1)

Genre: Graphic Novel, Young Adult, LGBT, Contemporary

Pages: 278

Publisher: Scholastic

Year Published: 2016

Format: Paperback Copy (Library Copy)

"Charlie, a highly-strung, openly gay over-thinker, and Nick, a cheerful, soft-hearted rugby player, meet at a British all-boys grammar school. Friendship blooms quickly, but could there be something more...?

Charlie Spring is in Year 10 at Tuham Grammar School for Boys. The past year hasn't been too great, but at least he's not being bullied anymore. Nick Nelson is in Year 11 and on the school rugby team. He's heard a little about Charlie- the kid who was outed last year and bullied for a few months- but he's never had the opportunity to talk to him.

They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn't think he has a chance. But love works in surprising ways, and sometimes good things are waiting just around the corner..."

My Rating: 5/5

This graphic novel was exactly what I needed right now. It has the sweetness of a high school self-discovery, two boys finding themselves, and romance. The best way to describe this story was cute and heart-warming. I would highly recommend if you are looking for a quick sweet read, there is a change of pace near the end, but I liked that it kept the intrigue of the story. I look forward to reading the next installment as soon as possible.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Duke & I by Julia Quinn

 Title: The Duke & I

Author: Julia Quinn

Series/Standalone: Bridgerton Series (Book #1)

Genre: Historical Romance, Adult

Pages: 384

Publisher: Avon Books

Year Published: 2000

Format: Audiobook

"The Duke and I is a romance set in the Regency era.

In the ballrooms and drawing rooms of Regency London, rules abound. From their earliest days, children of aristocrats learn how to address an earl and curtsey before a prince- while other dictates of the ton are unspoken yet universally understood. A proper duke should be imperious and aloof. A young, marriageable lady should be amiable... but not too amiable.

Daphne Bridgerton has always failed at the latter. The fourth of eight siblings in her close-knit family, she has formed friendships with the most eligible young men in London. Everyone likes Daphne for her kindness and wit. But no one truly desires her. She is simply too deduced honest for that, too unwilling to play the romantic games that captivate gentlemen.

Amiability is not a characteristic shared by Simon Basset, Duke of Hasting. Recently returned to England from abroad, eh intends to shun both marriage and society- just as his callous father shunned Simon throughout his painful childhood. Yet an encounter with his best friend's sister offers another option. If  Daphne agrees to a fake courtship, Simon can deter the mamas who parade their daughters before him. Daphne, meanwhile, will see her prospects and her reputation soar.

The plan works like a charm- at first. But amid the glittering, gossipy, cut-throat world of London's elite, there is only one certainty: love ignores every rule."

My Rating: 3.5/5

The same as the rest of the planet I have watched the first season of Bridgerton and to bridge the gap (see what I did there) between seasons I've decided to read the books after the coinciding season. This one was just ok for me. I really enjoyed seeing the characters in their original work, but I will say that I loved the antics in the show just a little bit more. I understand that there are many who find this book problematic and I won't argue with that. I will say that it was explained to me in a way that I thought that the scene would be more graphic than it was. But if you didn't like the conflicts in the show, I doubt you will enjoy that in the book.

I plan to continue the series on audio after finishing each coinciding season of the show.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Forgotten Orphan by Glynis Peters

Title: The Forgotten Orphan

Author: Glynis Peters

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Historical Fiction,, Adult

Pages: 400

Publisher: One More Chapter

Year Published: 2020

Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)

First Line: "Maisie Reynolds peered through the grubby windows of the Holly Bush Orphanage."

"A world at war

A secret from her past

A chance to be together...

A moving and compelling historical novel about love, second chances and resilience in the darkest of times.

Southampton 1940

Abandoned when she was tiny, Maisie Reynolds was separated from her twin brother and forced to grow up in Holly Bush orphanage- a place where she has never known love or kindness.

But with the world at war and Hitler's devastating bombs coming ever closer, fate has other plans for Maisie and a secret from her past changes everything.

When she meets handsome Canadian paratrooper, Cam, Maisie learns that love might not be lost to her after all- but not before her past life and D Day bring a tragic twist to her happiness."

My Rating: 1.5/5

This didn't have enough going for me to rate it highly. I didn't enjoy the writing, I found that it was basic, and seemed to have no natural flow to it. The only exception to that was the poetry but there wasn't enough of it to make up for the lack of plot. The characters were not relatable or interesting enough to hold my focus. They were very two-dimensional and didn't have the factor that brought me to the next level. I did enjoy moments with Cam, but they were also stagnant. I don't plan to read more by the author.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

 

Title: Get a Life, Chloe Brown

Author: Talia Hibbert

Series/Standalone: The Brown Sisters Trilogy (Book #1)

Genre: Adult, Romance

Pages: 373

Publisher: Avon

Year Published: 2019

Format: Audiobook

"Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek with a goal, a plan and a list. After almost- but not quite- dying, she's come up with seven directives to help her "Get a Life", and she's already completed the first: finally moving out of her glamorous family's mansion. The next items?

- Enjoy a drunken night out.

- Ride a motorcycle

- Go camping

- Having meaningless but thoroughly enjoyable sex.

- Travel the world with nothing but hand luggage.

- And... do something bad.

But it's not easy being bad, even when you've written step-by-step guidelines on how to do it correctly. What Chloe needs is a teacher, and she knows just the man for the job. 

Redford 'Red' Morgan is a handyman with tattoos, a motorcycle, and more sex appeal than ten-thousand Hollywood heartthrobs. He's also an artist who paints at night and hides his work in the light of day, which Chloe knows because she spies on him occasionally. Jus the teeniest, tiniest bit.

But when she enlists Red in her mission to rebel, she learns things about him that no spy session could teach her. Like why he clearly resents Chloe's wealthy background. And why he never shows his art to anyone. And what really lies beneath his rough exterior...."

My Rating: 4/5

I've really been in the mood for romance this last little while, and luckily my hold on this book came up and I was able to binge it. Talia Hibbert does a great job of really composing out our two main characters and giving us an idea of who they are as people. I can't speak to the rep for chronic pain, but I have heard from some others who have experienced it that this is a fair representation of their lives (as much as any work of fiction ever can be). I loved the romance and the sex scenes leaned a little over the top for me, but enjoyable none the less. I will say that I didn't expect how explicit the sex scenes to be just based on the cover, so if that's not something you are into I'd steer clear. I plan on reading the next book in the series (I think it follows the sister named Dani).

Thanks for reading,

Sidny