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?