GUEST REVIEW: All The Bright Places - Jennifer Niven

GENRE: YA

PAGES: 400
PUBLISHER: Penguin
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

All the Bright Places is a compelling and beautiful story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who intends to die. Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him. Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister's recent death. When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it's unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the 'natural wonders' of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It's only with Violet that Finch can be himself - a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who's not such a freak after all. And it's only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet's world grows, Finch's begins to shrink. How far will Violet go to save the boy she has come to love?

REVIEW

I have been thinking about how to write this review for a while. I finished this book last night and it has not left my mind since then. I loved this book so much. It was so amazing and it just completely blew me away. People are probably going to kill me for saying this but this book, for me anyway, was like a much better version of The Fault In Our Stars. Don’t kill me just yet. I know that everyone love The Fault In Our Stars, and I do too but you’ve probably never read All The Bright Places so you don’t know that this book isn’t better than it.

The reason I loved this book so much is probably because it affected me so much. I don’t know why but something about this book just changed me. I know that sounds weird but it’s true. As well as breaking my heart into millions of little pieces, it also taught me so much about everything such as life.

Okay, I’m going to try write a normal review now. The characters in this book were honestly the best part about it. Finch was an unusual character that was amazingly portrayed. Despite not being like him, I understood why he was the way he was. I understood the things that he did and why he did them. I wouldn’t say he was one of my favourite male characters but I did really love him in a different way to how I love everyone else. He specifically taught me a lot about life and how we should live life. Violet was unique and different. After going through something so tragic, she is obviously quite scared of living but I loved her because of that. I loved seeing her grow out of her fear and start living her life. Both of the characters felt so real and it’s hard to believe that they are only characters in a book. The romance between them was amazing. It did feel quite insta lovey at the start and slightly stalkerish but I loved it so much despite that.

The writing in this book was just exquisite. The writing in this book just made me fall even more in love with it because it was breathtaking. The writing was stunning. Any sentences I can form will not do the writing in this book justice. You’ll just need to read the book.

The ending of this book broke me. The last 100 pages were just amazing and fabulous, as was the whole book but the last 100 pages were even more so. I just can’t believe that it ended that way. It was just so amazing and fabulous. Everyone needs to read this book now. Stop reading this review and go buy the book so that you can read it. I cannot recommend this book enough. This review definitely did not do it justice. Just go read it now and you’ll see what I mean.

- Sofia.

GUEST REVIEW: I Was Here - Gayle Forman

GENRE: YA

PAGES: 288
PUBLISHER: Simon and Schuster
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars
 

SUMMARY

This characteristically powerful novel follows eighteen-year-old Cody Reynolds in the months following her best friend's shocking suicide. As Cody numbly searches for answers as to why Meg took her own life, she begins a journey of self-discovery which takes her to a terrifying precipice, and forces her to question not only her relationship with the Meg she thought she knew, but her own understanding of life, love, death and forgiveness.

 

REVIEW

Let me just start by saying that the blurb I have just given to you is not the blurb that I had previously read. In fact my blurb does not mention anything that happens in the book but instead it just has the note that Meg wrote to Cody. Due to this, I went into the book expecting it to be a YA contemporary novel about a girl trying to find herself after her best friend commits suicide however while this is what it was about, this wasn't the whole book.

One thing I would like to say before I start talking about my feelings towards this book is that I don't think it is suitable for younger readers. It includes quite a few swear words and a very small amount of sexual content. However, the main reason I would not recommend this to younger readers is because of what it is about. It is obviously a book dealing with the subject of suicide. Some of the things in this book are quite eye opening and they could potentially affect people on a deeper level. I cannot tell you what they are because it will slightly spoil a part of the book but only read this book if you are mature enough to be able to deal with a difficult subject.

Cody was a peculiar main character. Obviously having just recently lost her best friend, she was slightly emotionally detached from the reader and because of this you didn't really connect with her as much. At the start she was this angry girl who was being forced to face a life without her best friend. However, as the story went on, she became more real and we got to know her a bit more. We started to feel for her a lot more because we understood why she was feeling the way she was. Her many flaws became more clear but we understood why she did certain things even if they were slightly crazy. As she starts to decrypt the file, we see a different side to Cody and I felt as if we were seeing parts of Meg come out. We were seeing how Meg felt before through what Cody felt then. This also meant that I felt that I knew Meg despite not actually meeting her. I felt an emotional connection to her and I could see why they were so close. This made the story a lot more realistic and it meant that I could feel like I was actually part of the novel and not just reading it.

One thing I need to mention about this book is the romance. Having gone into this book not knowing about a romance, I felt that it was quite natural. Even though as soon as we met Ben, I knew he would be a potential love interest I kept questioning this because of what was revealed. I could not figure out how a relationship between them would work but I loved it. It wasn't a rushed relationship. It felt real and it felt as if it had happened the right way. She did see him as attractive but she never wanted to be with him because of Meg and I loved that. It wasn't any form of love at first sight and they did actually become friends first. The book mainly focuses on the loss of Meg and everything Cody does in order to deal with that and I liked the fact that the romance didn't overshadow this.

Gayle Forman has a lovely way of writing stories that I just adore. Having previously read and loved her If I Stay duology, I had high expectations despite reading Just One Day and not liking it as much. This book definitely did not disappoint. From start to finish, I was engaged and even though I wasn't reading it all the time, I was constantly thinking about what was happening because I wanted to know. There was a slight mystery aspect in this novel because of the encrypted file and that's what I loved. I wanted to know what was in this file. Once we did find out what was in it, I was shocked and I just kept reading. At times, I felt myself getting sucked in like Cody was and when you read the book ,you'll find out why that is really scary. Every part of this novel was full of symbols and hidden meanings and I loved it. Gayle Forman has this way of writing that just completely transforms something ordinary into something that holds a lot of meaning and I absolutely loved that. At times, I was a bit worried about how people would react to what was in the file because it is alarming and it did make me wonder what it can do to people however as you read on, this changes and Gayle Forman dealt with this subject so incredibly well. Forman did what she does best; she wrote about a depressing subject yet also somehow managed to stop you from becoming completely and utterly depressed.

In the end, I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars because it was full of emotion, mystery and intrigue. I needed to know what was going to happen next. I was completely and emotionally involved with the characters and the story as a whole. This book comes out in January 2015 and I strongly suggest that you pick this book up if you feel that you can deal with this subject because it will change you slightly. If you haven't picked up If I Stay by Gayle Forman, I also suggest you do that. Thank you for reading this slightly odd review. I just don't know how to put how I feel about this book into words.

 

- Sofia.

GUEST REVIEW: The Mara Dyer Series - Michelle Hodkin

  

 

Summary

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger. She wakes from a coma in hospital with no memory of how she got there or of the bizarre accident that caused the deaths of her best friends and her boyfriend, yet left her mysteriously unharmed. The doctors suggest that starting over in a new city, a new school, would be good for her and just to let the memories gradually come back on their own. But Mara's new start is anything but comforting. She sees the faces of her dead friends everywhere, and when she suddenly begins to see other people's deaths right before they happen, Mara wonders whether she's going crazy! And if dealing with all this wasn't enough, Noah Shaw, the most beautiful boy she has ever seen can't seem to leave her alone...but as her life unravels around her, Mara can't help but wonder if Noah has another agenda altogether...

 

This book trilogy is one of my favourites purely because I fell in love with three things:

• The Plot
• The Characters
• The Endings (even though the second one wanted me to cry for ages)

 

The plot:

 The plot of the three books of course are an after effect of what happened in the previous book (except for Unbecoming as it was the beginning which caused the after effects). The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is about a 16 year old girl called Mara who discovers she is an only survivor a terrible accident. And she is terrified. To make this even harder for Mara she cannot remember anything from the accident, which killed her three closest friends is very traumatic for her. To try and escape from the relentless guilt, she convinces her family to move the Florida. However, Mara’s misfortunes soon catch up to her and she finds herself finding it hard to run away from her problems. In the midst of all of her problems…she falls in love. What eventually happens to Mara? Does she defeat all the odds and comes standing tall with her lover by her side? Or does she have a reoccurring person from her past who is set in destroying everything she loves?

 

GUEST REVIEW: The Bone Dragon - Alexia Casale

GENRE: Fantasy
PAGES: 320
PUBLISHER: Faber
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

Evie's shattered ribs have been a secret for the last four years. Now she has found the strength to tell her adoptive parents, and the physical traces of her past are fixed - the only remaining signs a scar on her side and a fragment of bone taken home from the hospital, which her uncle Ben helps her to carve into a dragon as a sign of her strength. Soon this ivory talisman begins to come to life at night, offering wisdom and encouragement in roaming dreams of smoke and moonlight that come to feel ever more real. As Evie grows stronger there remains one problem her new parents can't fix for her: a revenge that must be taken. And it seems that the Dragon is the one to take it. This subtly unsettling novel is told from the viewpoint of a fourteen-year-old girl damaged by a past she can't talk about, in a hypnotic narrative that, while giving increasing insight, also becomes increasingly unreliable.

REVIEW

This will be a short review to avoid spoilersg. You’ll see in the review-at-a-glance graphic above that I avoided declaring a genre for this one. If pushed, I’d have to go for magic realist thriller (which I realise isn’t an official genre, but it’s the closest fit I can come up with). It’s more magic realist than full-on fantasy, dragon notwithstanding, as it clearly takes place in our world and the dragon is the only fantasy element. The thriller aspect is achieved by means of very close first-person narration by Evie, who is clearly hiding many things. The reader is left to tease out the fragments of information and decide where the half-truths and omissions lie.

This is a gorgeous treat of a read – which is an odd thing to say about such a trauma-filled book – due to its dark beauty and the lyricism of its prose. If the premise intrigues you at all, you should absolutely give it a go.

This is my initial comment on closing the book:

Beautiful, startling and tense. A real struggle to classify by genre, with magic realism elements within a coming-of-age narrative which, at times, feels like a psychological thriller. Evie’s anxieties, fears and development are conveyed perfectly; I have rarely felt I’ve known a character so thoroughly (especially given all the gaps in her narrative).

- Beth.

GUEST REVIEW: This Book Is Gay - James Dawson

GENRE: Non-Fiction
PAGES: 272
PUBLISHER: Hot Key
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

A funny and pertinent book about being lesbian, bisexual, gay, queer, transgender or just curious - for everybody, no matter their gender or sexualityFormer PSHCE teacher and acclaimed YA author James Dawson gives an uncensored look at what it's like to grow up as LGBT. Including testimonials from people across the gender and sexual spectrums, this frank, funny, fully inclusive book explores everything anyone who ever dared to wonder wants to know - from sex to politics, how to pull, stereotypes, how to come-out and more. Spike Gerrell's hilarious illustrations combined with funny and factual text make this a must-read.

REVIEW

I didn't really know what this book was about really, well I had a general idea, but I was so happy with what I got. This is such a great book that I think it should be required reading at all schools. It would help any young people that are wondering about their sexuality and also it could help other people to understand people from the LGBT community. 

Not only is it helpful it was also quite funny. Yes at times it had to get serious because some of the issues in this book are very serious and it wouldn't have been the same if it didn't. One example is the chapter on HIV. I obviously had my prejudices about this and I thought I knew all about it but this book told me otherwise and now I know better. I really loved that it was illustrated too because that always just adds more to the book and makes it a little more special especially after the seriousness. 

Honestly I feel like this is such a helpful book to anyone who feels like they are unsure about their sexuality and/or gender which makes its a total 5 star book. Also even if you aren't unsure or curious about your sexuality/gender you should still pick this up and give it a read because there is nothing wrong with understanding other people a little better.

- Hannah.

GUEST REVIEW: Every Day - David Levithan

GENRE: Contemporary/Fantasy
PAGES: 384
PUBLISHER: Electric Monkey
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

Every day I am someone else. I am myself - I know I am myself - but I am also someone else. It has always been like this. Each morning, A wakes up in a different body. There's never any warning about who it will be, but A is used to that. Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere. And that's fine - until A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin's girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with - every day...

REVIEW

I personally enjoyed this book and thought that the idea was original because I haven’t read a book similar to this. The only book I’ve read by this other is Will Grayson, Will Grayson which is co-authored by John Green- an author I really enjoy reading the books of.

THIS WILL HAVE SOME SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!

This book is about a being who has named themselves A who borrows other peoples’ bodies for a day. This being goes to sleep and wakes up in a different body and this happens every day. A has no gender and no own physical body. 

Click through to read more.

GUEST REVIEW: The Jewel - Amy Ewing

GENRE: Dark Fantasy
PAGES: 400
PUBLISHER: Penguin
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 4 Stars

This review refers to an uncorrected proof edition.

SUMMARY

The Handmaid's Tale meets The Other Boleyn Girl in a world where beauty and brutality collide. Violet Lasting is no longer a human being. Tomorrow she becomes Lot 197, auctioned to the highest royal bidder in the Jewel of the Lone City. Tomorrow she becomes the Surrogate of the House of the Lake, her sole purpose to produce a healthy heir for the Duchess. Imprisoned in the opulent cage of the palace, Violet learns the brutal ways of the Jewel, where the royal women compete to secure their bloodline and the surrogates are treated as disposable commodities. Destined to carry the child of a woman she despises, Violet enters a living death of captivity - until she sets eyes on Ash Lockwood, the royal Companion. Compelled towards each other by a reckless, clandestine passion, Violet and Ash dance like puppets in a deadly game of court politics, until they become each other's jeopardy - and salvation.

REVIEW

One fatal blood test and Violet's future was determined forever. Being a surrogate mother comes at a price, and a price that Violet has no choice but to pay.

Brought up in the Marsh, Violet is a country girl with a stubborn flair and the most unusual eye color. Living in the South gate foundling house, she meets Raven, with her quick remarks and a tendency to disobey, Raven and Violet become dear friends over their four years at the founding house, but that friendship cant last forever. Each surrogate must be sold, at the annual auction. Every girl must be sold,and Violet is no exception. 

Violet is sold to the House of the Lake, it comes with it's privileges and things that Violet has never experienced before become normal daily routine for her. However,the lady she is sold to is somewhat strange and unpredictable. Her time in the castle as the surrogate is fairly pleasant and she becomes good friends with her Lady In Waiting Annabelle and a member of the preparation team, Lucien. Violet has her own tea parlor,drawing room and other luxuries. This does not change her desire to get out of the palace and away from being a surrogate mother. 

This book will certaintly leave every reader wanting more. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I believe it is one of the best books I have ever read. Everything is described in such detail and it is so different to any other book I have ever read. I lost myself in this book, once I started to read the first few pages I couldn't put it down.I got so involved in the book that I can imagine clearly in my head what each of the characters look like. It is in some chapters, quick a dark book as it can be quite sad however there must be a happy ending and everyone loves a happy ending. With Violet being a strong and determined character, I believe this book trilogy could be as popular as The Hunger Games and Divergent as they both have such strong female leads and I believe Violet has the same Characteristics as Katniss (Hunger Games) and Tris (Divergent). I really recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure, romance and believes that things can change for the better.

- Lauren

@_itslauren_JLS

GUEST REVIEW: Cracks - Caroline Green

GENRE: Dystopia
PAGES: 224
PUBLISHER: Piccadilly Press
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 3 Stars

SUMMARY

Cal Conway thinks it's his mind that's breaking when cracks start appearing that no one else can see. He discovers that, far from leading an ordinary life in a northern town in 2010 as he thought, he has spent his whole life so far in a research facility, suspended in a deliberately induced coma state.

REVIEW

I received a free copy of this book from Piccadilly Press in exchange for a honest review. This does not affect my review/opinions in any way. Thank you Piccadilly Press!

Cracks is one of those books I'm in the middle with. I didn't really love it, but I didn't hate it by any stretch of the imagination.

The blurb doesn't give too much away (the Goodreads one does, so I've used the book one here) so I didn't know what to expect from this. I requested it on a recommendation from Jack, who loves it. So, I'm not going to talk about what happens in this book because I think it ruins the story.

The plotline was interesting and I had questions from the start. However, as it went on, I found it became kind of complicated. I thought the original live was good but then a huge plot twist came in, and I think that that is what put me off this book.

As a character, Cal was okay. I had no particular interest in him, nor a hate of him (much like the entire book, in fact).

Also, the ending annoyed me. Now, I know there is a sequel, but I saw no need for the cliffhanger. Just another couple of sentences would have done it for me.

I can't really comment on the romance, because of the plotline twists. But, it was really sweet and I did like it as a sub-plot within the book.

So overall, I am quite indifferent about this book. It was neither good or bad, and the aspect that really decided my rating was definitely the plotline.

- Charli.

GUEST REVIEW: Lola and the Boy Next Door - Stephanie Perkins

GENRE: Contemporary/Romance
PAGES: 384
PUBLISHER: Usborne
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 3 Stars

SUMMARY

Budding designer Lola has an outrageous sense of style, a hot rocker boyfriend and big plans for the future. Everything is perfect - until Cricket Bell returns to the neighbourhood. When he steps back into her world, Lola must reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door. And perhaps discover that true love can be closer than you think.

REVIEW

So Lola. Strange but cool. When I say I love this book, I seriously mean it. This book is beautiful.

I love how Anna and Étienne feature in this. I adore the fact that Anna has taken a big sister role over Lola. But I have to be honest. I love Étienne way more than I do Cricket Bell.

Cricket Bell is adorable in all aspects but he is no Étienne. Let’s be real now. No-one can be as beautiful as Étienne is.

Serious question though. How do you get from Delores to Lola? This is the one thing that bothered me throughout the whole book. I love the name Lola because it’s one of my own but how do you get such a drastic name change?

Anyway back to the point.

I like Lola because she is strange and cool. The issues she has with Calliope Bell are certainly interesting and the young romance with Cricket are some of the aspects that I love the most about this book.

Cricket is cute. I definitely imagine him as tall and quietly handsome. He is a very quiet character and I love him for it but I think that this is one of the reasons I prefer Étienne- he shows his affection more openly.

I like the fierceness that Calliope shows and she reminds me of Isabelle Lightwood (The Mortal Instruments, Cassandra Clare) in that sense. Calliope is one of those characters you don’t expect to change but you hope for it to happen.

My favourite line in this book would have to be the last but you can read that for yourself. When you read the whole book and the get to that last line, it just made me smile so I am hoping to share the joy.

- Makayla

GUEST REVIEW: Solitaire - Alice Oseman

GENRE: Contemporary

PAGES: 400
PUBLISHER: HarperCollins
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

This book is released in July and can be preordered in store now for a £3 deposit.

Find out details for the Solitaire launch party in Birmingham here.

SUMMARY

In case you're wondering, this is not a love story. My name is Tori Spring. I like to sleep and I like to blog. Last year - before all that stuff with Charlie and before I had to face the harsh realities of A-Levels and university applications and the fact that one day I really will have to start talking to people - I had friends. Things were very different, I guess, but that's all over now. Now there's Solitaire. And Michael Holden. I don't know what Solitaire are trying to do, and I don't care about Michael Holden. I really don't.

REVIEW

Oh God, I don’t even know where to start. I’ll begin with saying that this book is definitely a ten out of ten, and that I couldn’t fault it even if I tried. 

The protagonist, Victoria Spring (or Tori as she prefers to be called) is not a brave, out of this world character. But rather a real teenager that suffers through the days the same ways we do. I found that this was the main message of the book, not love or bravery or being above average, but being a teenager in this screwed up world, and how Tori grew as a person. She was so easy to relate to and I found myself on multiple occasions thinking to myself “That is literally me” or “THANK YOU for expressing my thoughts so perfectly!” The fact that she is so pessimistic and hates pretty much everyone, and simply can’t care makes it so easy for me to just relate to her. I also dislike many people at my school, I generally don’t get along with many people and just like Tori, I’d rather just sleep and blog. 

Michael Holden. Michael is one of those boys that you are likely to encounter at some point in your life. He’s not a strong, cool dude who everyone seems to love (I hate people who everyone loves), he’s a boy who is also trying to figure himself out, and figure the world around him. He’s real and honest. He’s also crazy and a bit weird, but that’s what made me love him. Lucas, Becky, Charlie and Nick are also very interesting side characters who make the book all that more interesting (and can I please have Becky’s hair??)

I loved that no one in this book seemed to be completely fine; no one seemed to have a perfect life either. Everyone had something going on, they all made mistakes, and that reflected life so perfectly. Even Solitaire, a blog that everyone suddenly started following and loving, made silly mistakes (like almost killing some people)- showing that even a strong figure that people look up to will make mistakes, and this reflected life so perfectly. 

The fandom mentions and school references (like PEE, ugh.), made the book even more real and agh, I love this book so much.

I did guess who was behind Solitaire quite early on (and got it right, whoop!), but the element of mystery was always there, and I was always second guessing myself and wondering whether I was just an idiot ha!

The ending of the book was not perfect, there was no real closure. But that’s what I loved most, the sheer honesty of it. Problems don’t get solved when you find romance or when you make up with your friends, some problems take years to go away, and some never do. 

I cannot recommend this book enough, go and preorder it ASAP if you haven’t already. Alice Oseman is going to be famous, I just know it. 

Also, follow Alice’s blog ( http://chronicintrovert.tumblr.com/ ) and her twitter. ( https://twitter.com/AliceOseman )

Thank you to Harper Collins for sending me the book, follow them on twitter too!( https://twitter.com/HarperCollinsCh )

- Maryam

GUEST REVIEW: Not A Drop To Drink - Mindy McGinnis

GENRE: Dystopa/Futuristic
PAGES: 352
PUBLISHER: Harper360
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 4 Stars

This book will be published 25/09/14. Preorder now in store.

SUMMARY

Teenage Lynn has been taught to defend her pond against every threat: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and most important, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty--or doesn't leave at all. Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. But when strangers appear, the mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won't stop until they get it. . . .

REVIEW

Recently, I received a copy of Not A Drop to Drink and I couldn’t have been more excited to read it. Ever since I heard about this book last year, I was so excited to read it but I never ending up getting my hands on it. But now I have one and I’ve read it. I absolutely did adore this book.

This is a great dystopian novel that is just simply a story of survival. What I did love about this story was that it was just about a girl who was doing whatever she can to survive. When I first started reading this book, it took me a while to get into it but once I got into it, I couldn’t stop reading because it was a fast paced dystopian novel. I have missed reading fast paced dystopians so this one was amazing.

I think Lynn was a great main character. She was strong and she knew what she had to do in order to survive. She did grow throughout that book as she started off as a very lonely and isolated character but she grew to let people in. However she didn’t lose her essential desire to survive. She didn’t let people do things for her, even at the end as she is a very independant person who likes to be in control. However, when she first comes across the other characters and starts talking to them you realize just how much she doesn’t know. Living with her mother in an isolated house for her whole life meant that she wasn’t aware of things that we all know such as flirting or sarcasm. This made her a very weird person around others as she didn’t understand fully. I still did really enjoy Lynn as a character and I think in the second book, I will like her more.

Whenever Lynn would talk to anyone throughout the book this gif ran through my mind(and not just because it has Dylan O’Brien)

Most of the side characters were good too. I loved Stebbs, Lucy and Eli. I feel like they all bought out a new side to Lynn and they did change her quite a lot. Stebbs made her open up and let people in because he convinced her that she needs to start talking to other people. Lucy made her realise just how much she enjoys the company of others and how she can still take care of others while protecting herself. Eli just changed her and made her better because he helped teach her new things that she wasn’t aware of and he taught her how to love. I really didn’t understand Neva and I didn’t like her character at all.Even after what she did at the end, I didn’t like her. The final side character that appeared was Vera. However, she only appeared about 80% through the book and I hardly got to know her but for now I like her.

This is only a four star read because at the start, I found it to be quite slow until the thing happened that completely changed the book as a whole as well as the pacing of the book. It is also only four stars because I felt as if the ending of this book was too rushed. If this book was slightly longer and the ending was spread out over possibly 100 more pages, I would have enjoyed it a lot more and possibly have given it 5 stars. I also really didn’t like the thing that happened to a character at the end. Why did that have to happen? I felt as if it was unnecessary and the response to what happened was too quick to really appreciate why it happened.

When that thing happened at the end, I didn’t feel overwhelmed with sadness. This was basically me when it happened.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. I am very excited to get my hands on the second one and read it as soon as possible. Thank you for reading and see you soon with another post.

- Sofia.

GUEST REVIEW: Pandemonium - Lauren Oliver

GENRE: YA/Dystopian

PAGES: 336
PUBLISHER: Hodder
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 4 Stars

SUMMARY

Unflinching, heartbreaking and totally addictive, this novel will push your emotions to the limit. Lena's been to the very edge. She's questioned love and the life-changing and agonising choices that come with it. She's made her decision. But can she survive the consequences?

REVIEW

Pandemonium is the second book in the Delirium series by Lauren Oliver, so if you haven’t read the first book, I advise that you do not read this review before you have read Delirium as there are SPOLIERS FOR THE FIRST BOOK. (My previous review is about Delirium go check it out). This book was very unexpecting and Lauren writes this book in a very interesting way.

At the end Delirium, Lena has runaway to Wilds whilst Alex is caught and possibly dead. At the beginning of Pandemonium she is in The Wilds alone, however soon after she meets a group of Invalids and they become a family. One girl she encounters with is Raven. Raven is the leader of her family in the Wilds and Raven orders Lena to complete a mission in the outside world. Lena was warned by Raven to look out for the ‘Watch the DFA. Observe. Blend.’ She is supposed to blend into the society that she left when she ran away to the Wilds. The DFA stands for Deliria – Free America and this is what Lena and the Invalids are against. Raven also tells Lena to keep on the DFA’s son; Julian Fineman. Lena doesn’t know why she must keep on eye on Julian however she goes along with Raven’s orders. The family is then attacked and Lena and Julian are both captured as prisoners. Her and Julian find a way to escape and she develops unexpected feelings for Julian but will this turn into a romance after Alex or is someone/something going to shake up her feelings?

Main Characters

Lena Halloway: Lena’s character development from Delirium to Pandemonium is exceptional. The way she handles with the grief and heartbreak of Alex to getting thrown back into the real world is amazing and Lauren really shows what a true woman can do and that women are strong human beings. Lena’s character also develops romantically with Julian, however you feel that she still has a connection with Alex therefore her relationship with Julian is bit more strict due to her feelings for Alex.

Julian Fineman: Julian is absolutely adorable however I find his character very confusing. One minute, he doesn’t want to know Lena, the next he is pouring his deep and dark secrets out to her and then is back to not wanting to know her. I did fall in love with Julian however I didn’t agree with some of the choices he makes during the book because I feel they are harsh to Lena and also I personally wouldn’t make those decisions.

Lauren writes the series from Lena’s perspective and this book jumps from the present time to the past and then back again, which means you have to concentrate on the book but I think that this gives the book a whole new depth because you get to feel Lena’s emotions from past and present. I love the direction that the book turns to with the insanely annoying (yet amazing) cliffhanger at the end, with big reveals and emotions flying everywhere.

This book is second in the trilogy and the third Requiem. There are also short stories. For me the order you should read this series, including the short stories is; Annabel, Delirium, Hana, Pandemonium, Raven, Requiem, Alex.

- Ambi
(http://anahal.wordpress.com)

GUEST REVIEW: The Witch of Salt and Storm - Kendall Kulper

PAGES: 384

PUBLISHER: Orchard
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 4 Stars

SUMMARY

Sixteen-year-old Avery Roe wants only to take her rightful place as the sea witch of Prince Island, making the charms that keep the island's whalers safe and prosperous at sea. But before she could learn how to control her power, her mother - the first Roe woman in centuries to turn her back on magic - steals Avery away from her grandmother. Avery must escape before her grandmother dies, taking with her the secrets of the Roe's power. The one magical remnant left to Avery is the ability to read dreams, and one night she foresees her own murder. Time is running short, both for her and for the people of her island who need the witches' help to thrive. Avery has never read a dream that hasn't come true, but a tattooed harpoon boy named Tane tells her he can help her change her fate. Becoming a witch may prevent her murder and save her island from ruin, but Avery discovers it will also require a sacrifice she never expected. And as she falls in love with Tane, she learns it is his life and hers that hang in the balance.

REVIEW

The Witch of Salt and Storm is all about Avery Roe, a girl descended from a long line of Witches. Due to her mother’s reluctance to take on the position, she is set to become the witch of Prince Island after her Grandmother dies. But first Avery has to unlock her powers which is no easy task as her mother is intent upon keeping her away from magic (and her Grandmother) so Avery has no way to learn about her magic!

It was really interesting to follow Avery’s journey through the book. Avery has the ability to interpret dreams and she is never wrong. When Avery foresees her death she realises her fate is inevitable and that her future can’t be changed (or can it? ;) )

As a fan of historical literature, I enjoyed the setting of this book and it was a big change from the normal books I read centred around modern teenagers or warped dystopian futures!

So this book already has the interesting elements of magic. secrecy, a historical setting and complicated family dynamics but it really gets interesting when love is added to the mix! Avery meets Tane (a tattooed harpoon boy) and you can probably guess what happens between them. I don’t come across many YA books without love triangles any more and I was happy to see that there wasn’t one in this book (as they often infuriate me!)

This book made me see witches in a new way (rather than as old green-skinned women leaning over cauldrons or British school girls from Hogwarts) and it shows the pain and sacrifice involved in being a witch!

Overall I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to fans of fantasy and historical books!

- Priya.

(http://priyapiggle.wordpress.com)

GUEST REVIEW: Boy21 - Matthew Quick

PAGES: 288
PUBLISHER: Headline
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

Basketball has always been an escape for Finley. He lives in gray, broken Bellmont, a town ruled by the Irish Mob, drugs, violence, and racially charged rivalries. At home, he takes care of his disabled grandfather, and at school he’s called “White Rabbit”, the only white kid on the varsity basketball team. He’s always dreamed of getting out somehow with his girlfriend, Erin. But until then, when he puts on his number 21, everything seems to make sense.

Russ has just moved to the neighborhood. A former teen basketball phenom from a privileged home, his life has been turned upside down by tragedy. Cut off from everyone he knows, he now answers only to the name Boy21—his former jersey number—and has an unusual obsession with outer space.

As their final year of high school brings these two boys together, “Boy21” may turn out to be the answer they both need.

REVIEW

Recently, I was lucky enough to read Boy21 by Matthew Quick and I loved it. This book is set to be released on the 19th June and I recieved it via headline and bookbridgr so thank you very much. This book follows Finley, who doesn’t live a perfect life. His home life and his past aren’t the best and he lives in a terrible neighbourhood. But he keeps going because of his girlfriend Erin and his love for basketball. Then a guy called Russ arrives in his life and he’s a bit strange. He answers only to Boy21 and he claims to be from outer space. Russ is also one of the best high-school basketball players in the country and could easily take Finley’s place on the team. However against the odds, Russ and Finley become friends and they help each other out when dealing with their pasts and their futures. I honestly really loved this book as a whole and I really recommend it.

This is the second Matthew Quick novel I’ve read, the first being Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock (click here to read my review of it) and I absolutely love his writing. Matthew Quick deals with a lot of big issues in his novels and even though they are dark and intense subjects, he still makes you laugh a lot. His writing makes you want to keep reading, which hardly happens for me when it comes to contemporary novels. I really want to read his other books now and there is a chance he could make it on to my list of favourite authors.

Finley was a great main character. He had issues yet I loved that about him. He never annoyed me or irritated me. I understood all of his decisions and I really sympathized with him. Russ was also a great character. He was odd and unusual and I didn’t understand him at first but as we got to know more about him, I really did care for him a lot. Their friendship was absolutely beautiful and reminded me a lot of Sam and Davey’s friendship in Cloud Busting by Malorie Blackman, which was my favourite book when I was younger. I also really loved most of the secondary characters including Erin, Coach and Wes.

I loved the whole Harry Potter book club thing that Wes, Russ and Finley started. They mentioned Harry Potter in the second half of the novel to compare their lives and I loved that. When they talked about escaping, they said that they were going to Hogwarts. Hogwarts had always been some what of an escape for me and I loved that a lot.

As I said earlier, Matthew Quick touches on a lot of dark subjects and issues in this book but I won’t tell you what they are because it’s best to not know what they are. Even though they were dark subjects, I still felt myself laughing and smiling throughout the book which is a unique thing that Matthew Quick can do. I honestly recommend this book to everyone as well as Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock because the writing is superb. This book is a solid 4.5 stars for me and the only thing that stopped me from giving it 5 stars was the ending. I really did love the ending, but I wanted more! I wanted to know what happens afterwards! This is a definitely a book that you should all be going out and buying on the 19th June because its fabulous. I’m going to leave you with one of my favourite quotes from this book because I don’t know why but this quote really stuck out for me:

“You don’t always get to pick the role you’e going to play in life, but it’s good to play whatever role you got the best way you can.”

Thanks for reading and definitely go get this book as soon as possible.

- Sofia.
(fifisofa.wordpress.com)

GUEST REVIEW: The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender - Leslye Walton

PAGES: 320
PUBLISHER: Walker Books
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

Foolish love appears to be a Roux family birthright. And for Ava Lavender, a girl born with the wings of a bird, it is an ominous thing to inherit. In her quest to understand her peculiar disposition and a growing desire to join her peers, sixteen-year-old Ava ventures into the wider world. But it is a dangerous world for a naive girl - a world which may view her as girl or angel. On the night of the summer solstice celebration, the skies open up, rain and feathers fill the air and Ava's journey and her family's saga reaches a devastating crescendo.

REVIEW

I went into this book knowing absolutely nothing about it (I didn’t even read the blurb!) and I strongly suggest you do the same!

I picked up this book because I was drawn to the title “The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender” which sums up the book pretty well. The book was strange, odd and unique but also beautiful, tragic and haunting.

I’d definitely give this book five stars and add it to my favourites list! I would recommend it to YA fans who love fantasy/supernatural elements in books or to people who are looking for something fresh and unique!

I strongly suggest you read this book without looking at any other info but here is my short review anyway in case you choose to rebel and ignore my advice :P

Ava Lavender was born with wings. Yes, wings. The world doesn’t know what to think of her, is she an angel? Is she a bird? Or is she a freak of nature?

The book tells the story of Ava’s family tree starting from her great grandparents and every member of her family has a fascinating yet tragic story that will keep you constantly gripped throughout the book. Ava is no different! All the characters were incredibly compelling!

I absolutely adored Leslye Walton’s writing style! I have very little in common with Ava (especially as I don’t have wings!) but I found her incredibly relatable! One quote that particularly struck me was:

“I found it ironic that I should be blessed with wings and yet feel so constrained, so trapped. It was because of my condition, I believe, that I noticed life’s ironies a bit more often than the average person. I collected them: how love arrived when you least expected it, how someone who said he didn’t want to hurt you eventually would.”

This book also had one of the most beautiful endings I have ever read.

Seriously, READ IT! Read it now!

Photo by Priya

- Priya.

(http://priyapiggle.wordpress.com)

GUEST REVIEW: Never Ending - Martyn Bedford

PAGES: 320
PUBLISHER: Walker Books
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

How can she live with what she did? Shiv's best mate, her younger brother, Declan, died while their family were on holiday in Greece. Shiv doesn't know how to live any more - she can only feel self-hatred; she is tormented by guilt. Now she finds herself at the Korsakoff Clinic, with five other teens and young adults who are undergoing a most unorthodox therapy, which is often painful. But this is Shiv's last chance - the clinic must help her find a way to live again. But first, their methods will make her face what really happened to her brother.

REVIEW

Recently, I was lucky enough to read Never Ending by Martyn Bedford and I’ve already finished it even though I only started it on Saturday. This book follows our main character called Shiv who is tormented by her brother’s death on their family holiday to Greece. She believes that she was the cause of his death so she is checked into the Korsakoff Clinic which has unconventional therapy techniques. This book was absolutely amazing and I just loved it. Let’s get into the review.

Shiv was a good main character. She is tormented by guilt and she does a lot of crazy things throughout the whole book. I felt a lot of sympathy towards her because she had experienced such a traumatic events. The things she had to deal with at the clinic were very tough. I honestly wouldn’t be able to deal with that if I was in her circumstances.

We were learning about her brother’s death and the events that were leading up to along the novel as some chapters were set during the trip. I loved these chapters but I got slightly frustrated. When something slightly cliffhangery happened at these chapters then we would jump back to her time at the clinic and I would want to know what happened next in the other chapters. Also, we had to wait until about three quarters into the book to find out how the brother actually died and it was very annoying but it made me keep reading.

All the characters in this novel were very well developed even the ones we weren’t meant to like. I loved Declan, Caron, Nikos, Mikey and even Dr Pollard. I really loved all of them and the development that each of these go through throughout the whole book was fabulous.

The settings of this book were fabulous. Kryritos and the Korsakoff were both so interesting to read about and I found myself wanting to read both. Sometimes in the book, I wanted to go back to the other setting but for most of it I loved the setttings we were in. The way that Bedford writes it keeps you intrigued even though not much really happens for quite a lot of the start, since she is just starting at the clinic.

The readers get to know Shiv before and after her brother’s death and we all get to know Declan as a character as well which was amazing. I really learned to love him as a character and when we actually read his death I felt very sad about it even though I knew it was coming. It was great to see a teenager who had a very close relationship with her brother because in YA you don’t see that much. Their relationship was great and at times it actually reminded me of my relationship with my brother.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone especially teenagers because you don’t find a book about this topic in YA much. I think most teenagers need to know how to live with grief and guilt and this book can help you to understand them. I gave this book 4.75 stars and I really do recommend it to you all. You all need to read this book, seriously.

- Sofia.

(https://fifisofa.wordpress.com/2014/0)

GUEST REVIEW: City of Heavenly Fire - Cassandra Clare

PAGES:
PUBLISHER: Walker Books
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

Darkness has descended on the Shadowhunter world. Chaos and destruction overwhelm the Nephilim as Clary, Jace, Simon, and their friends band together to fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary's own brother. Nothing in this world can defeat Sebastian - but if they journey to the realm of demons, they just might have a chance - Lives will be lost, love sacrificed, and the whole world will change. Who will survive the explosive sixth and final instalment of the Mortal Instruments series?

REVIEW

Yes, it’s a review for City of Heavenly Fire. The book is finally here. I’ve waited so long for this day and I’ve read it all. I have so much to say about this book and honestly I can’t write a non-spoilery review for this book because I need to discuss everything in this book. So if you haven’t read the whole Mortal Instruments series and the whole Infernal Devices trilogy, here’s where you leave. But seriously read Cassandra Clares’ books because they are absolutely fabulous and they improve a lot. Don’t give up after City of Bones, they improved so much. Now go if you haven’t read it because so many spoilers. This review is going to be all over the place because there is so much to talk about.

If you’re here, I’m guessing you’ve survived City of Heavenly Fire. Honestly, it wasn’t too bad. It wasn’t a bloodbath as she had let on. I had waited so long for this book as I read City of Lost Souls back in 2012 and honestly it was a big wait. This isn’t one of my favourite series and it does really annoy me but I really wanted to know what happened. I had to wait an extra day as it came out an extra day in the UK and then when I went to go pick it up first thing, the order hadn’t come and I had to wait an extra 3 hours! Having to waste time in town for 3 hours and wait for the book was just painful. Then when I came home, I couldn’t read it because my brother became ill and I had to look after him. I read it slowly but I got through it. Now lets start with the review because I have a lot to discuss.

BE WARNED, THERE ARE SPOILERS! Click through if you've already finished the book.

- Sofia.

(http://fifisofa.wordpress.com/)

GUEST REVIEW: Lobsters by Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison

PAGES: 320
PUBLISHER: Chicken House
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

This review refers to an uncorrected advance proof edition.

SUMMARY

Sam and Hannah only have the holidays to find 'The One'. Their lobster. But instead of being epic, their summer is looking awkward. They must navigate social misunderstandings, the plotting of well-meaning friends, and their own fears of being virgins for ever to find happiness. But fate is at work to bring them together. And in the end, it all boils down to love.

REVIEW

So I had the pleasure of reading an advanced copy of Lobsters by Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivision which is due to be released on June 5th. Here is my review!

So for the first few pages I was very worried about this book. How could I relate to a girl whose to-do list included “Fall in love and lose virginity” “Get good at fake tanning” and “Practice having slow mannerisms to appear more enigmatic”? My to-do list would probably look more like “Try not to buy any more books unnecessarily” or “Revise for my end of year exams”. I prayed “Please tell me these characters will find something other than their sexual desires to discuss!”

And then BAM

Sam and Hannah meet

*CUTENESS EXPLOSION*

In a sudden chance encounter in a bathroom, Hannah and Sam meet and they both realise that they have found their ‘Lobster’! Their romantic journey begins. But of course there are a good 270 pages to go. So I sat back and prepared for the emotional roller-coaster I would soon embark on as “Toilet Boy” and “Ribena Girl” search for each other.

This book definitely taught me not to judge books by the first chapter (something I am sometimes guilty of) as it definitely proved me wrong!

One really fascinating thing about this book is the way Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison compare emotional romance to physical romance. Sam and Hannah both begin on a quest to lose their virginity so they can be like everyone else and not be left out, however Lobsters shows that they don’t need physical intimacy to be happy and in fact just talking to each other can be a lot more enjoyable and valuable, which reminded me of Looking for Alaska by John Green. They immediately click during their first encounter and engage in a funny conversation and are obviously meant to be, bonding over hot Ribena and high-tens. This contrasts to the physical romance in the book as these situations are awkward and unpleasant.

Despite originally struggling to connect with each character, over the course of the book as I learnt more about them, they became increasingly relatable. The tagline for this book is “a socially awkward love story” which relates to Hannah and Sam pretty well as the book follows a lot of their social struggles. For example Hannah struggles with always being second best to her seemingly perfect friend Stella (which many girls have surely experienced in there lives, I know I have!)

One character I particularly loved was Robin, friend of Sam, Harry Potter lover and (fellow) Romione shipper. When advising Sam to persevere in his love life he said:

“Look at Ron and Hermione. Obstacles everywhere. But did Hermione give up on Ron when he was dating Lavender Brown? Did Ron give up on Hermione when he was knocking about with that Bulgarian Quidditch bloke? Did they let the pressure of tracking down the final few Horcruxes tear them apart? No. All the drama they went through made it all the more poignant when they finally got together.”

He quickly added

“At least…I think that’s what happened. That’s what my sister said, anyway. I don’t know.”

Just in case I haven’t persuaded you to buy a copy yet, I’ll mention that the cover is beautiful and there are little pictures of lobsters at the start of each new chapter! How cute!

The one thing I didn’t like about this book was that Ham (Hannah and Sam) didn’t get together sooner because they are such a perfect couple!!! In true chick-lit fashion, Sam and Hannah are constantly brought together (is it fate?) and have to overcome obstacles (such as Freddie and Erin) to try and reach each other.

I would definitely give this book 5 stars! I often struggle with contemporary novels but Lobsters was easy to read and really enjoyable. I’d recommend it to fans of romance novels and to a mature YA audience (due to slightly sexual content.)

- Priya.

(http://priyapiggle.wordpress.com)

GUEST REVIEW: Divergent - Veronica Roth

PAGES: 496
PUBLISHER: Harpercollins
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 4 Stars

SUMMARY

For sixteen-year-old Tris, the world changes in a heartbeat when she is forced to make a terrible choice. Turning her back on her family, Tris ventures out, alone, determined to find out where she truly belongs. Shocked by the brutality of her new life, Tris can trust no one. And yet she is drawn to a boy who seems to both threaten and protect her. The hardest choices may yet lie ahead..

REVIEW

Desperate to read this before the I saw the film, I frantically searched for a copy of Veronica Roth's Divergent. The prestigious and reputable Waterstones came to the rescue and fuelled my YA book craving! It certainly wasn't difficult to find, as Divergentfinds itself in the dystopian sci-fi category (and it's not like this category is popular or anything!) I approached the story with an open mind, having read a mixture of reviews - some quite negative and too busy comparing it to The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins), but most were positive and highly-engaged with the main character Beatrice, as she finds herself choosing her future, torn between family and what is right.

Set in a future divided into factions, each representative of 'the best' human traits, Beatrice belongs to Abnegation, a community dedicated to human kindness and selflessness, but she finds herself torn when labelled 'Divergent'. Will she leave her family to find her 'real' self? Can selflessness and bravery go hand-in-hand? You can read it to find out!

Beatrice, in her journey of self-discovery, comes across a whole host of characters, some stronger than others. I found Four a little bit unrealistic, but I guess there needs to be a love interest that isn't the cliche of Edward Cullen (sparkly vampire fromTwilight fame). I was glad that he had flaws and was, at times, a little rude to his 'Tris'. However, don't let the idea of a love interest put you off, as the main storyline is very effective. Beatrice not only has to contend with, at times, an ignorant love interest; she has to contend with her own survival! This is where the action begins and does not end. The novel is action-packed from start to finish and made breathing at a normal rate difficult!

As you read on through the novel, Beatrice becomes more confident and about as kick-ass as it gets. She jumps off buildings, climbs Ferris wheels and faces her fears. But the main plot-line of the trilogy doesn't come into focus until the end of the novel; I felt like too much of the time was spent developing her character in this one, but this was necessary to build to the main storyline of the trilogy. It definitely left me wanting to see the film and read the next two rather urgently!

- Ami 

(@mama_roach)

GUEST REVIEW: The Selection Stories - Kiera Cass

PAGES: 272
PUBLISHER: Harpercollins
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 3.5 Stars

SUMMARY

It's swoon meets the Hunger Games in THE SELECTION series! Two captivating Selection stories - 'The Prince' and 'The Guard' plus an early sneak peek at 'The One', Q&A with Kiera Cass and more...'The Prince': Before America arrived at the palace to compete in the Selection, there was another girl in Prince Maxon's life. A captivating view into the heart of Prince Maxon before he fights to win America Singer's love. 'The Guard': Raised as a Six, Aspen Leger never dreamed that he would find himself living in the palace as a member of the royal guard. An inside look at Aspen's life within the palace walls - and the truth about a guard's world that America will never know.

REVIEW

The Prince and The Guard are two novellas in the perspective of the two main love interests Maxon and Aspen (BOO.) The Prince is set near the beginning of the selection and in the novella, Maxon meets the selected girls for the first time. The Guard is set around the time of an emotional event in The Elite (that I don’t want to spoil)

If you haven’t read The Selection, I thoroughly recommend that you do so! It’s probably best if you avoid reading my review if you don’t want to be spoiled! This review will contain spoilers for The Selection, The Elite, The Prince and The Guard… you have been warned! ;)

So here it goes: 

As a big fan of The Selection and The Elite (Check out my thoughts on The Selection and The Elite) and a devoted member of the Prince Maxon fanclub, I had high hopes for this book.

It did not disappoint!

Click through to read more!