WRAP UP: JULY

Hello everyone! First of all, I just want to apologise for the blog being so silent in July, but it's going to be silent through most of August too. I'm still trying to balance reading and working full time, which has led to me reading a lot more audiobooks, but I'd rather spend the next month getting into a routine than posting the odd review when I get around to writing them. So apologies, but it'll most likely be September before I get into the swing of things.

Anyways, onto what happened in July! I started my new job at the beginning of July and I'm loving it just now, but I'm dying to get on the counter an start serving - which will hopefully be soon! I saw 5 movies in the cinema this month. Knock Knock which I enjoyed even though it was a bit odd and the ending could've been better. Magic Mike XXL which I loved! I learned a bit more about the male stripping profession, and also the dancing was really hot. The Gallows which I found pretty scary, but it wasn't bad, just a bit predictable. Ant-Man which was fantastic! Paul Rudd was a brilliant choice for the lead character. He's funny, charming and had me cracking up. Definitely one of the better Marvel movies. And lastly, Inside Out which I obviously loved because it's Pixar. Pixar movies generally never fail to make me cry and this one was no exception. Also, the Lava short at the beginning was amazing!

Bookwise, I only managed to finish 8 books this month (one of which was a re-read).

None of the books I read in July were 5 star reads (minus ToG), but Lying Out Loud by Kody Keplinger was definitely my favourite. I listened to it on audio, and I found it so hard not to laugh when I was on the bus. Sonny is such a hilarious and extremely flawed main character, and I just completely adored the story.

So, that's it for July! I'm in the middle of a few books just now - The Pledge by Kimberly Derting, Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne, Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo and Crown of Midnight by Sarah J Maas - which I'm hoping to finish this month along with a few other books.

What was the best book you read in June?

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Series: No
Publisher: Corgi Childrens
Publication Date: September 3rd 2015
Source: Publisher [Netgalley]

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

I hadn't planned on picking up Everything, Everything for another month at least, but there's been so much buzz surrounding this book lately that I caved and read it a lot sooner than I'd planned to. Everything, Everything follows Madeline Whittier who has SCID which basically means she's allergic to a lot of things, and can't leave the house in case of a severe allergic reaction. But then a new family moves in next door, and Madeline catches Olly's eye and their relationship goes from there. They communicate through IM until Madeline finally convinces Carla to allow them to meet face to face.

Maddy is a very sheltered character. She's been stuck inside all of her life because of SCID, and the only people she has contact with are her mother and her nurse, Carla. But Maddy was a brilliant main character. She's impulsive when she wants to be, but she's also very reserved and naive at times due to her upbringing. But she's a very likeable and relatable character.

Everything, Everything revolves around Maddy and her illness. It was a major part of the book because she constantly had to be monitored and have tests done to make sure she hadn't gotten ill. Maddy hates that she can't go outside or experience things that normal teenagers do. That is, until Olly moves in next door.

Olly is a breath of fresh air in Maddy's life. After a bit of instant messaging, Maddy finally convinces Carla to allow Olly into the house. Their interactions were super adorable, and I found myself feeling so bad for Maddy because she couldn't experience a proper relationship. But Olly was adorable and funny, but he had family problems going on that he couldn't control, no matter how much he wanted to. 

The storyline of Everything, Everything takes a very dramatic turn around 50-60% of the way through and it added so much more to the story. There are a lot of tough subjects dealt with in Everything, Everything, but Nicola Yoon does a fantastic job with them. The ending was left open, but it's kind of obvious how everything is going to play out and I adored it.

Overall, Everything, Everything was a brilliant book that definitely lives up to the hype. It's an emotional and stunning read that I would recommend to everyone. 

Wrap Up: JUNE

It's July, which means we are officially half way through the year already! This year is going by so fast! June has been a pretty great month for me. I finished up working at the library and I got a new job. I'll be starting at Thomas Cook on Monday and I honestly can't wait. I'm really looking forward to it. I went out for dinner quite a bit this month, with my fiancé, my family and someone I used to work with. 

I saw 6 movies in the cinema this month (technically 7, but one of those was a second watch). Spy was pretty funny, I've kind of gone off of McCarthy movies, but it was alright. Jason Statham really made it for me. Insidious Chapter 3 was terrifying. I couldn't even look at the screen for most of the movie. Jurassic World was the best movie I saw this month, so much so I actually saw it twice. The dinosaurs, the park, the fight scenes... everything was amazing. It was everything I could have asked for. The wait was worth it, The Longest Ride was super cute and reduced me to tears more than once. Also, Scott Eastwood is super hot. The Minions Movie was actually a bit of a let down. It was funny and I enjoyed it, but it just wasn't as good as the Despicable Me movies. Entourage was my second favourite movie this month. I binge watched the TV series this month and I loved it, and the movie was a perfect way to wrap things up, but I already miss Vince, Turtle, Drama, E, and especially Ari!

I also met E. Lockhart this month. She did a book signing at Waterstones in Glasgow and I had to go. She's such a lovely person, really funny, and she had some pretty great advice for aspiring writers. I also loved the story of how her, Myracle and Mylnowski came to write a book together.

Bookwise, in June I read 12 books (one re-read). Honestly, I'm surprised I even made it to 12. I hit such a terrible slump in June and I just couldn't be bothered reading. I've honestly spent most of the month re-watching Pretty Little Liars or watching Entourage. TV seemed more appealing than reading. But anyways, I'm happy that I managed to make it into double digits.

My favourite in June was Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson. It was such an emotional read, and I just adored the characters and their story - no matter how much it made me cry. It was an amazing book.

What was your favourite book you read in June?

Because You'll Never Meet Me by Leah Thomas

Because You'll Never Meet Me by Leah Thomas
Series: No
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication Date: July 2nd 2015
Source: Publisher [Netgalley]

Ollie and Moritz are best friends, but they can never meet. Ollie has a life-threatening allergy to electricity, and Moritz's weak heart requires a pacemaker. If they ever did meet, they could both die.

Living as recluses from society, the boys develop a fierce bond through letters that become a lifeline during dark times-as Ollie loses his only friend, Liz, to the normalcy of high school and Moritz deals with a bully set on destroying him. But when Moritz reveals the key to their shared, sinister past that began years ago in a mysterious German laboratory, their friendship faces a test neither one of them expected. 

Narrated in letter form by Ollie and Moritz-two extraordinary new voices-this story of impossible friendship and hope under strange circumstances blends elements of science fiction with coming of age themes, in a humorous, dark, and ultimately inspiring tale is completely unforgettable.

Because You'll Never Meet Me was an... odd read. Very, very different and strange. It follows two boys - Ollie and Moritz - who are both recluses due to their differences. I went into this book expecting a contemporary about two boys who find a friend in each other, but it was so much more.

The book is told in letters. Ollie and Moritz begin writing to each other after Ollie's doctor - Auburn-Stache - gives Ollie Moritz's address, hoping that they'll be able to help each other. Ollie lives out in the middle of the woods with his mother because he has an allergy to electricity. Being in the presence of something electrical causes him to have severe fits. Moritz has a weak heart and requires a pacemaker, along with something else that's unique about him that I don't want to mention because it'd spoil the book. The boys cannot meet each other because there's a chance both of them would die.

Because You'll Never Meet Me took me a while to get into. It took me almost a week to read, and most of that time was spent getting to the 50% mark. Honestly, to begin with, I had no idea what to think about the story. I wasn't particularly invested in either of the boys and the only reason I kept reading was to find out what had happened to the both of them. Around the 50% mark I finally felt myself being drawn in and starting to care about the characters. Their stories started to inter-twine and become more interesting, and I was looking forward to finding out what was really going on.

Parts of the story were hard to believe. Moritz uses echolocation to "see" things and people, and honestly, it was pretty hard to wrap my head around how much he could "see" just by clicking his tongue. But there was a pretty big plot twist that Mortiz was keeping back from Ollie, and I was pretty shocked when it was revealed. There'd been talk of labs and whatnot, but when Moritz revealed the truth, I was actually pretty shocked.

Both Ollie and Moritz go through a lot throughout the book, and they both help each other. They grew and changed with each letter, and it was lovely to see. The ending - even though it was kind of sad - was my favourite part. I had so much hope for Ollie at the end and I hope that one day he and Moritz will finally meet.

Overall, Because You'll Never Meet Me was a strange and unique read that I ended up enjoying by the end. It took me a while to get into, but I'd say it was worth it because I've never read a story quite like this before.

Heart & Soul by Nicole Williams

Heart & Soul by Nicole Williams
Series: Lost and Found #5
Publisher: 
Publication Date: June 15th 2015
Source: Bought

Love is what makes us. It’s also what breaks us.

If this is true, Rowen just became the proverbial wrecking ball to Jesse’s life.

Upon discovering Rowen is pregnant after taking every precaution to ensure otherwise due to a life-threatening heart condition, Jesse is forced to face too many harsh realities and they send him into a desperate, dark place. To consider the possibility that he might lose his wife and unborn child is too much for Jesse to bear.

The situation is out of his control, so he gloms on to the few things he can control. Like noting Rowen’s every move, or dialing the doctor whenever her face goes a shade pale, or even acknowledging the fact he’d be willing to make a deal with the devil in exchange for his wife’s and child’s lives. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do or give or sacrifice to keep them from harm.

But what happens when the devil takes that deal Jesse struck, and the tables turn? A life for a life. A soul for a soul. A heart for a heart. His life for theirs.

Love is what makes us. It’s also what breaks us.

Love’s made Jesse and Rowen. Love’s about to break them too.

I binge read the first four books in Nicole William's Lost and Found series back in February not realizing that there was a fifth book that hadn't been released yet. So I was super upset when I finished Losers Weepers and had to wait four months for Heart & Soul to be released. 

Heart & Soul is the final book in the Lost and Found series and it wraps up Jesse and Rowen's story. Jesse and Rowen have been through a lot since the beginning of their relationship, but life isn't done with them yet. Rowen has a heart condition and her and Jesse have been taking every precaution possible to prevent her from straining herself. But when Rowen finds out she's pregnant, Jesse doesn't know what to do. He can't feel happy about the pregnancy because he's scared he'll lost both Rowen and the baby. 

Jesse & Rowen are still my favourite couple in this series (even though Losers Weepers was my favourite book and it was about Garth & Josie). Jesse and Rowen are just so in love with each other. They make a perfect team even though they're really different, but that's what makes them perfect for each other.

Rowen is a super strong character. She's feisty and stubborn. She always fights for what she wants and doesn't give in very easily. Rowen tries to cover up when she's feeling weak because she likes to put on a strong front. 

Jesse is generally an easy going character. He works hard, but he's usually pretty laid back. But because of Rowen's situation, Jesse is extremely wound up. He's having trouble sleeping; he isn't eating and he's constantly worrying about Rowen. 

Heart & Soul was an emotional read. Seeing the way Rowen's pregnancy was affecting both her and Jesse was heartbreaking. They were so different from the couple I was used to because of all the added pressure. Garth and Josie were a big part this book. They helped Jesse & Rowen a lot and they were always there for them. I also really loved getting to see Jesse's sister Lily and Colt again. 

Nicole William's had a double whammy of an emotional punch towards the end of the book where I had no idea what was going to happened to Jesse, Rowen or the baby. I was so close to tears because the future of the characters was uncertain, and I didn't know what I would do if anything had happened to them. 

Heart & Soul was a brilliant wrap up to the Lost and Found series. It was emotional and heartbreaking, but I adored every minute of it and I'm sad to say goodbye to these character. It's been a fantastic series and I can't recommend it enough.

Showcase Sunday #101

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea. This meme allows book bloggers to show off the books they collected over the last week!

Hello everyone! This week has been a very busy week. I did my last shifts at the library, which was pretty sad; I also went out with one of the girls who used to work in the library with me to see Jurassic World (which was even more awesome the second time!); I went out for lunch with my fiancé (the food wasn't that great) and I also went out to dinner on Friday with my family. 

Bookwise, I bought a few kindle books this week and I also got approved for a book on Netgalley!

Bought

• kindle

Scorched (Frigid #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Heart & Soul (Lost & Found #5) by Nicole Williams

Return to Bluebell Hill by Rebecca Pugh

Netgalley

Dark Vision (Dark Vision #1) by Debbie Johnson

What books did you get this week?

How to Be Bad by E. Lockhart, Lauren Myracle & Sarah Mlynowski

How to Be Bad by E. Lockhart, Lauren Myracle & Sarah Mlynowski
Series: No
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Publication Date: June 4th 2015
Source: Bought

When you're tired of being good, sometimes you gotta be a little bad...

Jesse, Vicks and Mel couldn't be more different. Jesse, a righteous Southern gal who's as thoughtful as she is uptight, is keeping a secret that she knows will change her life forever. Vicks is a wild child: seemingly cool, calm and collected on the outside, but inside she's furious at herself for being so anxious about her neglectful boyfriend. And Mel is the new girl in town. She's already been dismissed as just another rich kid, but all she wants is to get over some of her fears and find some true friends.

But for all their differences, the girls discover they've got one thing in common - they're desperate to escape. Desperate to get the heck out of Niceville and discover their true 'badass' selves! Even if it's just for the weekend ... One 'borrowed' car later, it's time to hit the road and head for Miami. Hearts will be broken, friendships will be tested, and a ridiculously hot stranger could change the course of everything.

How to Be Bad follows three girls - Jesse, Vicks and Mel - who jump in the car one weekend and decided to take a road trip out of Niceville to Miami.

How to Be Bad was a good summery road trip book, I enjoyed it. The characters weren't all that great, which was kind of a let down. Jesse was my least favourite character, mainly because of how over-exaggerated she was. Jesse is a Christian and I just couldn't like her character because she was constantly ramming her beliefs down everyone else's throats. Honestly, Mel and Vicks couldn't do anything without her screaming at them that it was a sin. She really got on my nerves. Also, I didn't like the way she treated Mel to begin with. Vicks is the wild one and she's always up for an adventure, but ever since her boyfriend moved away to go to school, Vicks has been furious because he's basically been ignoring her. Mel is the new girl in town. She's lonely and wants to make some friends, and she gets friendly with Vicks. So when Jesse suggests a road trip, Mel agrees to go and Jesse says she can come if she pays for everything (just because her family is rich). None of the characters were really fleshed out, so it was kind of hard to get attached to any of them.

Other than the less than great character, the story wasn't that bad. I really enjoyed the girls road trip. They visited the worlds smallest police station; broke into a museum to visit an alligator; let loose at a party; almost got eaten by an alligator and eventually wound up at Disneyland after driving through a hurricane. They definitely had an adventure! But I loved the bonding between the girls. Sure, each of them had their own problems to overcome and sometimes lashed out at each other, but they grew so close over that weekend and they really helped each other.

Overall, How to Be Bad was an enjoyable summer read about friendship. I did enjoy it and I'd recommend it if you're looking for something quick to read.

Top Ten Books On My TBR For Summer 2015

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This weeks topic is:

Top Ten Books On My TBR For Summer 2015

So, these first 5 books are definitely on my Summer TBR because I'll hopefully be going to events/signing for them. E. Lockhart is signing in Glasgow next Monday, and the other 4 authors have events at the Edinburgh Book Festival, which I hope to be able to go to.

1. How to Be Bad by E. Lockhart, Lauren Myracle & Sarah Mlynowski

2. Blackfin Sky by Kat Ellis

3. The Lost and the Found by Cat Clarke

4. Unspeakable by Abbie Rushton

5. One by Sarah Crossan

And these last 5 are just books that I love the sound of and want to read ASAP.

6. Dream a Little Dream by Giovanna Fletcher

7. Scorched (Frigid #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

8. Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

9. Between Us and the Moon by Rebecca Maizel

10. I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

What books are on your Summer TBR?

Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry

Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry
Series: Thunder Road #1
Publisher: MIRA Ink
Publication Date: May 26th 2015
Source: Publisher [Netgalley]

Seventeen-year-old Emily likes her life the way it is: doting parents, good friends, good school in a safe neighborhood. Sure, she's curious about her biological father—the one who chose life in a motorcycle club, the Reign of Terror, over being a parent—but that doesn't mean she wants to be a part of his world. But when a reluctant visit turns to an extended summer vacation among relatives she never knew she had, one thing becomes clear: nothing is what it seems. Not the club, not her secret-keeping father and not Oz, a guy with suck-me-in blue eyes who can help her understand them both.

Oz wants one thing: to join the Reign of Terror. They're the good guys. They protect people. They're…family. And while Emily—the gorgeous and sheltered daughter of the club's most respected member—is in town, he's gonna prove it to her. So when her father asks him to keep her safe from a rival club with a score to settle, Oz knows it's his shot at his dream. What he doesn't count on is that Emily just might turn that dream upside down.

No one wants them to be together. But sometimes the right person is the one you least expect, and the road you fear the most is the one that leads you home.

Katie McGarry is one of my all time favourite authors. Her 'Pushing the Limits' series is one of my favourites, so when I saw she had a new book coming out, I jumped at the chance to read it early.

Nowhere But Here follows seventeen year old Emily who has the perfect life. Parents that love her, great friends and everything is just perfect. She's curious about her biological father who's in a motorcycle gang, but she doesn't see him often. Until her attendance at a funeral leads to her spending the summer with family she never knew she had. Emily soon discovers that her family are hiding something from her and she turns to Oz - the gorgeous, soon to be member of the Reign of Terror - to help her discover the truth.

The main thing I loved about Nowhere But Here was the family aspect. To begin with, Emily is reluctant to get to know this side of her family and refuses to even speak to them. But I loved getting to see her gradually come out of her shell and grow close to her family - especially her Grandmother. It was lovely to see.

Emily is definitely a tough main character. She's feisty and determined which makes her amazing and she doesn't take shit from anyone. I loved her.

Oz is sexy and mysterious. He clearly knows about Emily's past, but he refuses to tell her out of respect for her father. He's a decent and lovely guy who really helps Emily.

I adored the romance between Emily and Oz. Oz was the only person Emily felt comfortable around and a strong bond formed between them. Oz helped bring Emily out of her shell and it was very clear they both had feelings for each other which Emily's (biological) father wasn't going to be too happy about.

I loved the portrayal of motorcycle gangs in Nowhere But Here. Generally when you think about them, you think about a group of outlaws riding motorbikes going around stealing and shooting people. But that's not Reign of Terror. They're a legit club that earns money the legal way. They offer protection to people bringing in expensive and extremely sought after products to ensure they aren't stolen. McGarry definitely did her research well!

The twist at the end of Nowhere But Here was EXTREMELY unexpected. I honestly may have gasped when I read it because it was such a shock, but it added so much to the story and I understood why Emily's past was such a secret.

Overall, Nowhere But Here was a fantastic beginning to McGarry's new series. I can't wait to read Walk the Edge to find out more about Razor! Definitely recommend!

Showcase Sunday #100

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea. This meme allows book bloggers to show off the books they collected over the last week!

Hello everyone! This week has been a pretty great week for me. Back in March, I took a blogging breaking because I was stressing about finding a new job due to the lack of hours I was getting at the library. 3 months later, and I finally have a new job! I applied for a Modern Apprenticeship at Thomas Cook back in April and I had an interview on Wednesday. The apprenticeship basically consisted of working for 2 years and also studying to get a travel qualification before getting a full time job, and I was happy to do that. But, they phoned me back yesterday and said that I'd scored extremely highly during both of the interviews (telephone and face to face) that they wanted to offer me a full time position straight away, which I accepted! I'm super excited because this is my first full time job and I'll actually have a steady wage! And I can start planning to move out and planning my wedding!

Anyways, since I got a new job I decided to treat myself to some new books which led to me spending about £35 in Watersones and £6 in WHSmith. Oops. I also bought a couple of kindle books; got a couple of books from Netgalley; a book from Edelweiss and a book for review from an author.

Bought

• physical

The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes

The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks

The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

Dream a Little Dream by Giovanna Fletcher

How to Be Bad by E. Lockhart, Lauren Myracle & Sarah Mlynowski

Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti

Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley

• kindle

Fear No Evil by Debbie Johnson

Moonlight on Nightingale Way (On Dublin Street #6) by Samantha Young

Netgalley

Lick (Stage Dive #1) by Kylie Scott

Play (Stage Dive #2) by Kylie Scott

Thanks to Pan Macmillan!

Edelweiss

The Lies About Truth by Courtney C. Stevens

Thanks to Harper Teen!

Review

Pippa's Cornish Dream by Debbie Johnson

The lovely Debbie contacted me during the week about reviewing her newest book, and since I enjoyed Cold Feet at Christmas, I decided 'Why not?' since Pippa also sounds hilarious! Thank you Debbie!

What books did you get this week?

All That Glitters by Holly Smale

All That Glitters by Holly Smale
Series: Geek Girl #4
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication Date: February 26th 2015
Source: Publisher [Netgalley]

“My name is Harriet Manners, and I am still a geek.”

The fourth book in the award-winning GEEK GIRL series.

Harriet Manners has high hopes for the new school year: she’s a Sixth Former now, and things are going to be different. But with Nat busy falling in love at college and Toby preoccupied with a Top Secret project, Harriet soon discovers that’s not necessarily a good thing…

Harriet Manners is back in another hilarious installment in the Geek Girl series!

Harriet is going into Sixth Form and everything is going to be different this year because her best friend Nat is starting college and her stalker Toby has found something else to occupy his time, so Harriet is basically on her own. 

I was slightly heartbroken beginning All That Glitters because of everything that had happened with Nick and Harriet in the previous book, but I was clinging onto hope for dear life throughout the whole book. But the main thing I completely adored about this book was getting to see Harriet develop as a character. As she was on her own, Harriet became a very strong main character. She's grown into her geeky self and she's proud of it, but I just loved how amazing she was in All That Glitters. She really started to come out of her shell and even ventured into making some new friends.

There was a slight bit of romance in this one with the introduction of a new love interest - Jasper. Jasper is intriguing and I honestly had no idea how to take him to begin with. He's snarky and brings Harriet back down to Earth - which is good. I did really like Jasper, but I think Lion Boy will always have my heart.

All That Glitters is by far my favourite book of the series (so far)! It was hilarious and I loved getting to see Harriet develop on her own. It was a brilliant follow up and I can't wait for the next book!

It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han
Series: Summer #1
Publisher: Recorded Books
Publication Date: September 10th 2010
Source: Audible

Belly was ecstatic when Conrad, the son of her mom's best friend and the boy she'd loved for years, finally kissed her. But when Conrad's mom dies, he withdraws from everyone and eventually disappears completely. Not sure where to start looking, Belly and Conrad's brother Jeremiah figure Conrad's college is a good place to start—but they soon learn he's actually at the family beach house.

When Belly and Jeremiah find Conrad, they realize he wasn't running away—he'd come to keep the house from being sold. Belly's romantic feelings for Conrad begin to resurface even as she's growing closer to Jeremiah, and as emotions run high, it's unclear if things will ever go back to normal—especially when a real estate agent shows up.

It's Not Summer Without You is the follow up to The Summer I Turned Pretty. The Fisher's boys mother has died and Conrad withdraws from everything. Jeremiah phones Belly to tell her Conrad has disappeared and asks if she'll help find him. So Belly and Jeremiah head off to Conrad's college but soon realise that Conrad has headed to the summer house. Conrad ran away to the summer house to try to prevent his father from selling it. It was the one place his mother loved and Conrad can't bear to part with it. He tries to protect Jeremiah from finding out.

Belly is still pretty immature, but I really like her. She's just a normal teenager with normal teenage worries. Belly has been in love with Conrad for as long as she can remember, but Conrad broke her heart and Belly is determined to get over him. I wasn't a huge fan of her attitude towards her mother. Her mother is grieving too and sometimes Belly came across extremely spoiled.

Jeremiah is the light-hearted Fisher brother. He's always laughing and joking, and always has a smile on his face. Jeremiah is extremely sweet and I loved getting a few chapters from his POV in this one.

Conrad is complicated. He keeps his feelings bottled up and doesn't really talk about them much. He's always looking out for Jeremiah even if it seems like he isn't.

It's Not Summer Without You revolves around the three of them trying to find a way to prevent the summer house from being sold; trying to get Conrad back to college and Belly trying to get over Conrad. 

It was a fantastic follow up to The Summer I Turned Pretty and I'm loving listening to this series on audio. Jessica Almasy is a fantastic narrator and she definitely hooks me into the story. I'm moving straight onto We'll Always Have Summer because I'm intrigued by the sneak peek into Belly's adult life that was at the end of It's Not Summer Without You, and I'm dying to know which Fisher boy she ends up with.

The Cage by Megan Shepherd

The Cage by Megan Shepherd
Series: The Cage #1
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: May 26th 2015
Source: Publisher [Edelweiss]

When Cora Mason wakes in a desert, she doesn't know where she is or who put her there. As she explores, she finds an impossible mix of environments—tundra next to desert, farm next to jungle, and a strangely empty town cobbled together from different cultures—all watched over by eerie black windows. And she isn't alone.

Four other teenagers have also been taken: a beautiful model, a tattooed smuggler, a secretive genius, and an army brat who seems to know too much about Cora's past. None of them have a clue as to what happened, and all of them have secrets. As the unlikely group struggles for leadership, they slowly start to trust each other. But when their mysterious jailer—a handsome young guard called Cassian—appears, they realize that their captivity is more terrifying than they could ever imagine: Their captors aren't from Earth. And they have taken the five teenagers for an otherworldly zoo—where the exhibits are humans.

As a forbidden attraction develops between Cora and Cassian, she realizes that her best chance of escape might be in the arms of her own jailer—though that would mean leaving the others behind. Can Cora manage to save herself and her companions? And if so . . . what world lies beyond the walls of their cage?

As soon as I heard the synopsis for The Cage I was instantly intrigued. Teenagers that have been taken from Earth and put into some kind of Alien zoo where they're being monitored? Yes, please!

The Cage started off pretty good. It follows Cora and four other teenagers (Nok, Lucky, Leon and Rolf) who wake up in an extremely strange place with different kinds of environments like deserts, jungles, tundra, etc. They have to work together to complete the challenges in each environment to earn tokens, but that's got it's own problems. When Cassian - their alien caretakers - appears, Cora starts to develop feelings for him that cause even more problems for her.

The plot wasn't great. I was intrigued to begin with because the premise was interesting and I really wanted to know why the five of them had been taken, but it started to get boring. The plot became extremely predictable and it became so easy to see what the next twist was going to be. But, that being said, The Cage did have some pretty good twist that I didn't expect. And the rules that the teenagers had to live by caused a few arguments and fights. I can't remember them exactly, but they were basically: 1. Solve the puzzles in the different environments 2. Stay healthy and lastly, 3. Reproduce. Obviously the reproduction rule caused the most problems because I think (if I remember correctly) they only had 21 days to do it.

I also wasn't a major fan of any of the characters. Cora was determined to find a way out of the prison and get back to Earth, but honestly, she didn't really do much other than air her thoughts for most of the book. She was kind of a boring main character. Lucky was obsessed with Cora because he was involved in something in her past and he's trying to find a way to tell her and make up for it. Leon is the macho man of the group and he lives up to that. He flies of the handle very easily and ends up spending his time alone. Rolf and Nox were both really forgettable. I don't remember much about them at all.

The romance that developed between Cora and Cassian was... weird. Extremely weird. It was basically a case of Stockholm Syndrome. His species had kidnapped her and she fell in love with one of them. I just didn't get it. It never felt like there was actually anything between them. I wasn't a fan. 

The ending did provide a good twist however that has definitely left me intrigued about how the next book is going to go.

Overall, The Cage was an entertaining read but the plot was predictable and I didn't find any of the characters likeable. The twists kept me interested and I may pick up the next book.

A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab

A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab
Series: A Darker Shade of Magic #1
Publisher: Titan Books
Publication Date: February 27th 2015
Source: Bought

Kell is one of the last Travelers—rare magicians who choose a parallel universe to visit.

Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once there was Black London - but no one speaks of that now.

Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to another world for her 'proper adventure'.

But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive — trickier than they hoped.

An epic fantasy involving multiple London's, captivating characters and dangerous magic that kept me reading into the early hours of the morning. The story and the world were both enchanting and I couldn't wait to find out more about the characters and each of the different version of London.

Kell is a mysterious character. I was unsure of what to think of him to begin with. Kell is a Traveler which means he can travel through special doors to different Londons. He keeps trinkets from other London's - which is against the law - but he can't help himself. He's an intriguing and powerful character. Rhy is the spoiled Prince of Red London and Kell's adoptive brother. Rhy tries to get Kell to indulge his wants, but Kell doesn't give into him. Holland is very mysterious, dark and powerful. He could also be extremely creepy and scary. But everything Holland does is against his will. He's been bound and he must serve his masters. Lila is impulsive and reckless She doesn't think about anything before she acts which gets her into a bit of bother. She wants something more from life and she's determined to get it.

Magic took over Black London like a plague so all of the other worlds sealed their walls to prevent the plague from spreading and destroying everything. All trinkets found from Black London were destroyed - or so they thought. Red London is the powerful London where blood runs through the city in the form of a river. Grey London is basically normal. All magic has disappeared. In White London, magic is scarce, so people are always fighting over the little power that remains. Black London has been destroyed as far as anyone knows. No one has returned since they sealed their worlds.

Kell and Holland are Antari and are the only people that can travel between worlds. They travel to bring messages from the rulers of each world, but they aren't supposed to bring anything back with them. Kell can't help himself and he has become a trader and a collector. A woman asks him to bring a message to her only living relative in Grey London, but Kell soon finds out he's been tricked and he's in possession of a stone from Black London with immense power. Kell knows he needs to get rid of it, but he's robbed by a young girl while he's weak. He tracks her down and that's how Lila and Kell meet properly. After an encounter with Holland where he tortured Lila and tried to hurt Kell for the stone, Kell and Lila team up to travel to Black London to get rid of it.

I got completely drawn in by the world Schwab created in A Darker Shade of Magic. I wanted to know more about each of the Londons - especially Black London - and more about the mysterious, intriguing characters. 

A Darker Shade of Magic was a fantastic beginning to what is probably going to be an amazing series, and after the ending, I'm definitely intrigued to see where A Gathering of Shadows is going to pick up. The synopsis for the next book is making me desperate to have it in my hands.

Prodigy by Marie Lu

Prodigy by Marie Lu
Series: Legend #2
Publisher: Penguin
Publication Date: January 29th 2013
Source: Bought

June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector. It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.  

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

Prodigy picks up right after Legend. June and Day have escaped to Las Vegas and trying to find the Patriots to get them to help them. Day is injured, and just as they're about to give up, Kaede finds them and brings them to The Patriots. The Elector Primo has died and his son, Anden, takes his place. The Patriots make a deal with Day and June, they'll help them get Day's brother if they help assassinate the new Elector Primo.

Razor isn't what he seems and June has her suspicions about him. June also isn't entirely sure that Anden is like his father and she believes that he genuinely wants to change everything. After spending time with Anden, she realises that she can't go through with the assassination because she believes in Anden.

June is a very strong character and she sticks to her guns. She's got great instincts and knows when something isn't right.

Day is determined to get his brother back that he's willing to do anything, even becoming the poster boy for The Patriots and committing murder (which he's supposedly against).

The romance in this one wasn't as bad as it was in Legend. June and Day had been through so much, but I still wasn't entirely feeling it. And then there was Tess. URGH TESS. Enough already! She's super jealous of June because she's in love with Day and she wants him for herself. It also becomes apparent that Anden has feelings for June which leaves June very confused.

June botches the assassination attempt and her and Day escape to the Colonies where they find out that there's a hell of a lot more going on than they both realised. We find out a bit more about the Colonies and it turns out that they're not as perfect as Day's always imagined. June finally realises why she had a bad feeling about Razor and his assassination plan and she's determined to do whatever she can to stop him and save Anden.

The action in Prodigy was pretty good and I found myself flying through the book because I just couldn't stop reading. I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen.

Prodigy was a fantastic follow up to Legend and I'm going to be moving straight onto Champion because I can't wait to see how this series ends.