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Posts Tagged ‘friendship’

The Inexplicable Logic of my Life by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Posted in reviews, tagged , , , , , , , , on February 25, 2017| Leave a Comment »

The Inexplicable Logic of My LifeThe Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh wow! Reading this was like being on a rollercoaster of emotions. Such beautiful writing that had me connected and a part of the story and loving the characters, and then all of sudden having that feeling of a block of cement in my stomach while my heart broke a little with the tragedies that were unfolding.
I absolutely loved Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s ‘Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe’ and I had high expectations of this one. And while the writing was beautiful, it did take me a little while to get right into the story and realise what it was all about.
Sally (Salvador) was a strong character who just about always did the right thing and because of this, it was a little heartbreaking to see him struggle with his identity and where he fit in.
Samantha and Frito, Sally’s two friends were fantastic characters, each having their own demons to battle but in the end, this group of three friends had such a strong relationship it was hard to think of anything stopping them.
And the basis of their strong relationship was Sally’s father, Vicente. Yes, he wasn’t perfect but he came damn near close to being. How could anyone not be positively impacted by him.
Overall, this was a perfect read, it left me feeling differently about the world and also left me feeling love and hope.

Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s Book Group for the ARC via NetGalley

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The Sun is also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Posted in reviews, tagged , , , , , , , on September 27, 2016| Leave a Comment »

The Sun Is Also a StarThe Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

***Loved Loved Loved.***
As with many people, I loved Nicola Yoon’s first book Everything Everything and had very high expectations for The Sun is also a Star. I am happy to say those expectations were exceeded. After I started this story it didn’t take me very long to realise that I had fallen in love with both characters, and the story, and was reading something that I suspected would end up on my best books list! Natasha, who started the day with a final attempt at finding a way for her family to not have to be deported back to Jamaica that night and Daniel, who was on the way to his father’s shop and contemplating if he could crush his parent’s hopes by not going to college to become the expected ‘reliable, stable and successful Korean doctor,’ but instead to follow his dreams of being a poet.
They somehow run into each other and the rest of the day is spent following them around and discovering if two people really can fall in love in one day.
The writing was fantastic and for the few hours that I was reading this, I felt like I was right there in the story with Natasha and Daniel. These two characters certainly clicked and had the perfect amount of sass and cheekiness, combined with kindness and hope. (Have I mentioned I fell in love with both of them!)
The extra little thing that I absolutely adored about the story was all of the short reflections of the minor interactions with other characters, whether it was Irene the security guard, or the lawyer. Natasha’s dad or Daniel’s dad. Simply including a paragraph or two from their point of view had such a great impact. I also loved the two endings…. when I reread, which I definitely will be doing many times, I can choose which ending to read depending on my mood!
I recommend this book for anyone who wants to read a story about love – falling in love, love for your family, love for your dreams.

There were many beautiful words and sentences in this story that made my heart crinkle with love and happiness….here are two examples:
‘he kisses the corner of my palm again, and I sigh. Touching him is order and chaos, like being assembled and disassembled at the same time.’

‘He thinks my hair smells like spring rain. I’m really trying to remain stoic and unaffected. I remind myself that I don’t like poetry. I don’t even like people who like poetry. but I’m not dead inside either.’

Review copy received from Penguin Random House UK Children’s via Netgalley.

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Because You’ll Never Meet Me by Leah Thomas

Posted in reviews, tagged , , , , , , , on December 28, 2015| 3 Comments »

Because You'll Never Meet MeBecause You’ll Never Meet Me by Leah Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love books that are written as letters, I love books about friendship, I love books that are a bit quirky and lead me into the unknown, and this book ticked all of those boxes.
When I read the blurb I couldn’t even imagine a story with one boy who is allergic to electricity, who is pen pals with another boy who not only has a pacemaker but also has no eyes, but the story was very easy to read and the characters were real and I believed every thing that happened. Watching their friendship grow through their letters was heartwarming and at times a little heart breaking. There was a small mystery that, when partly solved at the end was satisfying but I didn’t get a ‘OMG, WTF’ feeling. I finished the book feeling hopeful and even happy, keen to follow both boys to see what they get up to next.
Not at all what I was expecting when I started, but by the end, I firmly believe that anyone can be a superhero!

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Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone

Posted in reviews, tagged , , , , , on June 6, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Every Last WordEvery Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a book that I read quite quickly and was written in the style that connected with me straight away. I really liked the main character and lived the story through her eyes, which I am glad I did because when things started to become clearer at the end of the story, I was as surprised as Samantha was. I fell in love with Poet’s corner and what happened in this room was great – I wanted to go there myself.
I don’t have any in depth experience with OCD but I found this story was a thoughtful and honest representation of living a life with OCD. There was definitely some intense stuff to work through but also enough positive situations and moments to balance it out.

Review based on free digital copy from NetGalley with thanks to Disney Book Group.

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Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Posted in reviews, tagged , , , , , , on October 23, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, #3)Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG. This book was amazing and I am going through a roller coaster of emotions right now!

Updated.
I really loved the first two books in this series, but this one, I absolutely, without a doubt, can claim as one of my best books for 2014.
*spoilers*
I didn’t know what to expect with Celaena leaving at the beginning of the book, I had the thought, ‘what kind of story can it be without Dorian and Chaol’, but, OMG what a story it was. Dorian and Chaol still played a role in the story – and I loved the introduction of the new characters who interacted with them (but that ending – brutal).
There was a fair amount of focus on the witches and their war games and at the beginning I wasn’t quite interested in this part of the story but as soon as the Wyverns were on the scene, I got very interested. While the witches are evil, unfeeling, soulless creatures, I have this small hope that Manon, one of the key witches, ends up being a hero in the next book!
And then moving onto the main story of Celaena, taken to her Aunt Maeve looking for answers, and then having to learn how to use her magic before she can get the answers. And Rowan, just Rowan….. Rowan, who has to train her. Watching Celaena and Rowan’s relationship develop was fantastic. It was not about swoony-times but about friendship and trust and allowing yourself to be vulnerable…. and also about using your fighting skills and magic to kick some evil monster butt.
This book held the answers to so many questions, about Celaena and her past, about the King of Adarlan, about the fey, and even now, reading the last sentence of the book, it gives me tingles.

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Hold Still by Nina LaCour

Posted in reviews, tagged , , , , on July 12, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Hold StillHold Still by Nina LaCour
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book grabbed me with its pain and sadness, I felt the grief and gut wrenching guilt deep inside and then the peace and hope slowly brought it to its end. Nina LaCour writes beautifully and there were so many passages that I copied from this book to look back on. I read this in two sittings and both times, I was captivated and totally inside the story, I felt like I was part of Caitlin and that I was actually feeling everything that she felt. Grieving for her best friend is one thing but then finding her best friends diary and reading it brought Caitlin to a whole other level of guilt and while part of me wanted to scream at Caitlin to stop pushing people away, another part of me just wanted to let Caitlin be by herself, in her treehouse.
I think I cried more in the end part of the story, reflecting on everything that had happened, acknowledging that things don’t remain the same and looking forward to things that are still to happen.
Caitlin was such a believable character who I connected with in every way and then don’t get me started on Dylan, Maddy, Jayson and Taylor…..exactly the kind of people I wanted around Caitlin.
Death, sadness, coffee, kissing and friendship – this book had it all. And now I think i might stick it under my mattress, just to have close.

‘My best friend is dead, and I could have saved her. It’s so wrong, so completely and painfully wrong, that I walked through my front door tonight smiling.’ – pg. 91

‘This is how it feels to have friends. It isn’t something fleeting. It won’t end when I walk out the door.’ – pg. 198

‘It isn’t the happy ending that Ingrid and I had dreamed up, but it’s all a part of what I’m working through. The way life changes. The way people and things disappear. Then appear, unexpectedly, and hold you close.’ – pg. 228

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