Rose & Thorn by Sarah Prineas Book Review

Title: Rose and Thorn

Author: Sarah Prineas

Publisher: HarperTeen; HarperCollins

Publication Date: October 2016

Genre: Retelling

Rate: 4/5

Synopsis:

           

After the spell protecting her is destroyed, Rose seeks safety in the world outside the valley she had called home. She’s been kept hidden all her life to delay the three curses she was born with—curses that will put her into her own fairy tale and a century-long slumber. Accompanied by Griff, the handsome and mysterious Watcher, and Quirk, his witty and warmhearted partner, Rose tries to escape from the ties that bind her to her story. But will the path they take lead them to freedom, or will it bring them straight into the fairy tale they are trying to avoid?

I received an advanced review copy (arc) of this book from HarperCollins International. So much thanks for giving me the chance to read it before it can be released to the public. As I always love and cherish their books to the deepest parts of my heart.

            I’ve not yet read enough retellings (of the fairytales) to say I’m really into retellings. I’ve probably have read a two or more. This particular book is about a retelling of Sleeping Beauty in the most exact and realistic events possible that we could relate to this modern times. As it has been said it retells the story in a “big, bold way.”

            Yes, it does in fact. I’ve loved fairytales all my life but after reading this book I think I kind of understand something that I wasn’t able to before not yet reading this book. It is basically a story of a girl who had been protected and is now fighting against the default tale we know. Here the Stories (Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the beast, etc.) is meant to happen again and again and again in an unending cycle experienced by different persons.

            Rose, our main character (MC) is trying and fighting to escape her destiny or might as well say it her enemy(the Story itself). She wants to make her own choices, make use of her will and love who she wants. She doesn’t want to be another girl who will sleep for another hundred years. The love interest here is my favourite kind; the guy who shuts people out because they think of him as unfeeling and is not capable of love. Find out how these two will find their way to each other.

            This book is just of the medium pace but I find myself wanting to read the following chapter after the next just because. This book has all the most significant and topics of this present time, abuse, sexuality, love. And yes I’ve never read a fairytale come to life retelling as bold as this one. Might as well grab one if you see it in a bookstore somewhere.

The Secret Heart of A Note by Stacey Lee ARC Review

Title: The Secret Heart of a Note

Author: Stacey Lee

Publisher: Katherine Tegen; HarperCollins

Publication Date: December 2016

Genre: Cute Contemporary

Rate: 4.5/5

Synopsis:

Sometimes love is right under your nose. As one of only two aromateurs left on the planet, sixteen-year-old Mimosa knows what her future holds: a lifetime of weeding, mixing love elixirs, and matchmaking—all while remaining incurably alone. For Mim, the rules are clear: falling in love would render her nose useless, taking away her one great talent. Still, Mimosa doesn’t want to spend her life elbow-deep in soil and begonias. She dreams of a normal high school experience with friends, sports practices, debate club, and even a boyfriend. But when she accidentally gives an elixir to the wrong woman and has to rely on the lovesick woman’s son, the school soccer star, to help fix the situation, Mim quickly begins to realize that falling in love isn’t always a choice you can make.

           

I received an advanced review copy (arc) of this book from HarperCollins International. So much thanks for giving me the chance to read it before it can be released to the public. As I always love and cherish their books to the deepest parts of my heart.

Did you know that heartbreak smells like Blue Berries and love smells something sweet and cold (but I won’t yet tell what it is) you’ll know it when you read it.

I never really thought the sense of smell and plants could be very, very interesting. That is just what Miss Stacey Lee did with her book. She put in the sense of smell as the top sense of a person (to be specific; an aromateur) and made the scents of plants as an indication of someone’s feelings and personality. I’ve read books in which the MCs (main characters) can see colors or auras of people and associated them with how they feel, but I’ve never really encountered a book like this one on the sense of smell except a bit on werewolves and some characters that could turn into some animal form. I adored this book because it was extraordinary and because I’m partial to reading very original concepts.

            So Mim here is like the girl in which the future generations are dependent to and their spider web-thread-aromateur linage. She’s her mother’s apprentice while having high school. She could smell your unique scent or notes (as called in this book). Their nose is like a thousand times more powerful than the ordinary noses. She’s fighting for the life she wants and what her mother and basically the whole universe is expecting her to live. It’s either fall in love or lose your power in her case her extraordinary sense of smell). I’ll leave it there for you guys to figure out. I wouldn’t want to spoil anything.

            This book has the perfect blend of fluffiness, lightness, romance and so much interesting facts about plants. This is another book you could read in one sitting if you’re industrious enough or no other stuff to do. It is also one of the most adorable books I’ve ever read in the history of YA. And right now I just so badly want to know what my scent is and what my heart notes are. Let me guess I probably smell like despair, broken dreams, and hopes and it could be like antiseptic or some banana or coconut lol. Anyway read this book when it comes out (on December!) You’ll love it as much as I did. I just know.

A Season for Fireflies ARC Review

Title: A Season for Fireflies

Author: Rebecca Maizel

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication Date: June 16, 2016

Rate: 4/5 stars

This advance reader’s copy is generously given by HarperCollins International and Epic Reads. All the thanks, book shimmy and publisher love for my favorite publisher ever!

I think this book has the best setting in the history of all contemporary books I’ve read. What I’d give to see all those fireflies. At my place you even barely see a single one, on fields on a damp dusk.

At first I thought I could finish reading this in a short time but I got distracted but as I went with the story I found it good. I hated that Penny disregarded Kylie as if she wasn’t there when it was her worst but I cannot blame her because it’s not her fault. I like her litchensomething in her skin looks pretty cool in my imagination.

Also it’s good to know that hierarchies in high school can be broken by a person who by some circumstances can like the queen bees and the theater geeks in this book. I adored Wes and Penny’s love story. The love story that is meant to be first love, and how to act on it and feel it. People tend to block things and feelings out which I often do an also tend to ignore people without anything as much as an explanation, I tend to shut people out, like Penny but this book woke me. Now I’m thinking it’s not as bad to show people how you feel rather than hiding it for yourself because it’s—should I say deadly in the case of Penny so might as well.

And look at that dreamy orange cover. That’s like the color of falling in love or first love or a love so radiant it would feel like making a terrarium of fireflies. This is one gem of a love story you shouldn’t miss. It’s sweet and on point. I hope you get to read it.

The Fall of Butterflies ARC REview

Title: The Fall of Butterflies

Author: Andrea Portes

Publisher: Harper Collins

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Publication Date: May 16, 2016

This advance reader’s copy is generously given by HarperCollins International and Epic Reads. All the thanks, book shimmy and publisher love for my favourite publisher ever! 

All thoughts in this review are my own.

You know with every Andrea Portes’s novel that from the first page you read you would not expect a happy ending with rainbows and unicorns and stuff like that nope. She straightforwardly tells you it’s not like this in this book. Change your perspective. This is what I love in every book she writes because it’s very authentic and original. Unlike any book you’ve ever read.

Willa’s narration is a very witty one. Her thoughts are very smart and even if not well thought she manages to think straight connecting those things up. And even if it isn’t very organized, that is how people think, like, in real life. If you put your literally exact thoughts in a book this is what it will look like or (read like). She’s this girl-a misfit (like in most of Andrea’s books) in a new town-searching for the right place and people to fit in. And thank God, she found it for herself. Because that’s what people do in life, get lost and the maybe by any chance find their way back.

What’s better than a book full of feels? Books which have the characters you relate to the most. It’s like really scary. Like this thing really happens to you sometimes and you’re scared because you think you are the only person experiencing it or doing it but somewhere even in a fantasy world there may be someone like you. And there’s no such a great thing than a book that can put your thoughts in the exact words you can never string together.

Remy is the kind of person I only allow myself to get attached to be honest. I’m like Willa, in some significant ways. Willa is the person in the background and Remy is the "thing", that expensive painting and Willa is the wall she hangs in. Remy takes things to make her feel like she’s in love with everything and everyone but it come with a cost and that is, her slowly slipping away from everything. If this book didn’t make me think of things to try because of Remy I would be kidding you. But thank God again I’m not like her nor I’m like the guy in this book. I’d take this pretty ordinary life of mine, thank you. But it’s tempting though but I’m not giving in.

I had been wondering what the title means as I read page by page and now I think I get it. Sometimes butterflies aren’t meant to always fly or flutter or sip nectar in the garden. Some get pinned in science experiments, some fall to the ground unnoticed. Butterflies can never fly as high as an eagle because if they do they would fall to the ground and die. Better be content in the garden they are right now.

Another excellent book by Andrea! And look at that gorgeous cover. Just stare at it for a moment. I know you're tempted. Give in. You got to get yours.

Pre-order your copy here: Amazon\B&N

Lost in Love ARC Review

Title: Lost in Love

Author: Susane Colasanti

Series: City Love #2

Publication Date: May 16, 2016

Rating: 5/5 stars

This advance reader’s copy is generously given by HarperCollins International and Epic Reads. All the thanks, book shimmy and publisher love for my favourite publisher ever!

I can’t tell you how much I love this series and all its warm fuzzies and random acts of kindness things. This book makes me want to be a nicer, kinder and a better people person. I guess that’s what good books do they make you want to change because of the how you relate to what the characters do and their personalities.

I love Sadie, Rosanna, Darcy all the same and equally, because they’re three different girls who have different stories, lives, and beliefs about love. The only thing they have in common is they’re city love for New York. The place feels beautiful and all majestic as told in their different point of views and it makes you want to reach that place someday even if you’re from the other side of the world. I love how the girls deal distinctly about their relationships, especially heartbreaks. It actually gives you an idea how to deal with it even if you’ve never been into a relationship. All the boys in this book are boyfriend goals but Donovan is my favourite. I can relate to all of the girls but I’m more of the Rosanna of the three.

I adore books about girl power and amazing sisterhood goals so much. They’re not just focused on a love triangle or saving the world but on minimal events that really happen in real life.

You gotta get this book if you love fluffy, light, and super adorable contemporaries. Even if you don’t you gotta get it still. Susane now is my second favourite contemporary author next to Kasie West. I love love love love this series so much it hurts.

Pre-order your copy here: TBD

The Crown ARC Review

Title: The Crown

Author: Kiera Cass

Series: The Selection #5

Publication Date: May 3, 2016

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Read first: The Heir Book Review

           

Heads up. It wasn’t as good as the Section Series, not enough to compare to Maxon and America but it’s good enough to get me over my months of book slump.

I love how Kiera makes her plot and the light and fast flow of every book she writes. It’s not dragy or anything but it lacks the magic. I didn’t recognize this Eadlyn in this book because she’s the exact opposite of the Eady I’ve read on The Heir. She’s not super bitchy anymore and she’s forgivable, understandable and a mental cry baby. Well I would suppose it’s because of what happened to her mother. But it’s a good change though it was a super fast transition I would say.

I am just happy it did not end how a lot of people thought it was going to end. A bit cliché still but I’m good with it. I’ll have you also know that I’ve only read The Heir and The Crown because of my love for Henri, Maxon and America. I’m not a big fan of Eadlyn but I am for her parents. I love them til I get 90 and forget who I am. And I’m the founder of #TeamHenri. He’s just so precious and so sweetly joyous. I am happy that I got to know him. I’d marry him first hand even if I don’t understand any single word he says. I love him forever and ever and ever.

I can’t wait for you guys to read it and tell or tweet me what you think.

Pre-order your copy here: TBD

The Capture by Tom Isbell ARC Review

The Capture

The Prey #2

Tom Isbell

HarperTeen

4/5 Stars

How often do you get to read a heartbreakingly beautiful book? This book are one of those. A book that so utterly heartbreaking you keep on questioning yourself why you keep on turning and turning the pages.

So this is the second book of The Prey trilogy. A dystopian post-apocalyptic series that should make your heart race faster on how these characters survive and try to continue to live. It's also a book full of suspense you'd be at the edge of your seats.

I almost had no time to read this because of the upcoming midterm exams for the uni but if you want something you'd definitely find a way, right? I finished this book in just 2 nights, started reading past 12 and stopping at half past 3 am. I wouldn't have put it down if I could still help it but I needed sleep too. 

The story on this one is different from the first one. The first book is about escaping those heartless people who wanted them dead and finding a safe haven. But now it's plot is about salvation. How only 8 teens try to save their comrades-the remaining LTs and Sisters. A few people would be willing to sacrifice their lives for people they hardly know but these teens just have the right heart to do so even if the odds to beat their enemies are hardly on their side. Lost, revenge and love all fuels their desire to save which was lost and battered. No matter how many times they're on the verge of death they keep on holding on to some hope that they will succeed.

Book and Hope&s relationship in this one is too frustrating I keep on reacting too openly while I was reading. Hope just don't want to let herself get attached to Book because of the huge possibility, enormous even that he wouldn&t be able to save him and the heartbreak would literally kill her through grief so she keeps on pushing and pushing and pushing him away. Book on the other hand is too stubborn to keep his feelings to himself and to let her push him away, like he doesn't understand. It may be frustrating but I understood, when you've been through so much it's hard to trust even if you&ve come to love that person and the world is ending love is just but a distraction and weakness. I love that no matter how these two push each other away, they keep on coming back to each other, they keep on saving one another. And I think that's what love is all about: saving and sacrificing for the person over and over again even if it go unnoticed and even if may cost him his life.

My favorite dystopian books are the post-apocalyptic ones because I learn a lot about surviving. Who knows when they'll come in handy one day. I like that this book is both alternating told in first and third persons ànd I'd like for authors to write the way Tom does. Like the first book, this is full of suspense that readers shouldn't miss. It's all about courage, and doing what's right no matter how hard and whatever the cost. And you know what else is right? Read this book.

ARC Review: What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler

Title: What We Saw

Author: Aaron Hartzler

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication Date: September 22, 2015

Rating: 5/5 stars

I received a copy of this book for review from HarperCollins International. Many thanks to them for entrusting me the advanced readers copies (ARCs) of the books they publish and believing in me that I will make a good book review to encourage more readers and share the book love to people. All thoughts on this review are my own.

Let me start this book review by telling you that this is a very, very important book and that it made me cry in the middle of the day.

I started reading the book when I went to bed. I thought the book will be published by Sept. 15 as printed on the release date of my ARC copy, so I had to read and draft a review by today. Turns out when I googled it and checked it on twitter, It’ll be out by the 22^nd instead. But I don’t regret reading this book earlier than what I intended, in fact I want you to pre-order the book now because this book is seriously one of the most important releases of 2015 and it shouldn’t just go unread. I read this book in only one sitting and I don’t regret it.

Amazing how some few words printed on a paper can make your heart break, can change how you feel about things, can make you cry tears. It had been a long time since a book made me cry. I can’t even remember the last time. But amazingly this book did. Kate is an amazing character. I don’t even know how I should describe her. She is not the naïve girl. She figures out the truth, no matter how much the truth would hurt her and still does the right thing. She’ll make you laugh, she’ll make you cry and most of all she’ll make you have trust issues to people. But then again things nothing is exactly how they see, the closer you look, the more you’ll see. It’s just so amazing and so overwhelming that there are still people like Kate and her family that knows to do the right thing. Morally acceptable and humane.

This book is such a brilliant comparison to reality. After all it’s based on true-to-life events. Maybe that’s why. The friendship on this book is actually friendship and squad goals. Rachael was so funny I loved her, but in the end they didn’t stick with her until the end. And I loved Ben, the love-interest; the relationship was perfect, from childhood friends to lover. And yet, one single lie, one small seismic shift like Kate is always saying-can change everything-can even ruin what most people think as perfect. I don’t know what to feel about Ben about abandoned friendships and ruined lives and after I’ve read this book. There are just too many emotions.

This book gives a specific lesson to the guys, and the girls. This is why it is so important. Rape shouldn’t be taken lightly. Girls don’t deserve anything such. Guys always have an option. It goes on. But the most important thing is sometimes we don’t have to keep things we saw only for ourselves. If we see people being abused we have the right to go against it. We don’t cower in fear from people who has influence in such things and just let them go on continually abusing and stepping on rights of other people. We have to see past the storm. We have to see ourselves in the victim’s shoes and do certain precautions. We don’t shut up about all things wrong, we speak up, we fight for what’s right, we fight back.

Now get going and pre-order the book or mark your calendars. Out September 22. What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler. Once again this book is so important you need it in your life. Afterwards share it to people.

ARC Book Review: Dreamland by Robert Anderson

Title: Dreamland

Author: Robert L. Anderson

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publishing Date: September 15, 2015

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

 

I received an advance copy of this book for review from HarperCollins International. I thank them a lot for entrusting me the advanced readers copies (ARCs) of the books they publish and believing in me that I will make a good book review to encourage more readers and share the book love to people. All thoughts and words on this review are my own.

Synopsis:

            Odea Donahue has been able to travel thorough people’s dreams since she was six years old. Her mother taught her three rules of walking: Never interfere. Never be seen. Never walk the same person’s dreams. Dea has never broken the rules.

          Then a mysterious new boy, Connor, comes to town. For the first time in her life, Dea feels normal. But as she is increasingly drawn to Connor’s dreams-and nightmares-the boundary between worlds begins to deteriorate, putting everyone she loves in danger.

Favored Quote:  “Maybe everyone was carrying ugly monsters and dark little corners, nightmares and broken pasts.”

This wasn’t really a new concept of a book that I’ve read. It is kind of the same with Sleep No More by Aprilynne Pike. Though not as much. But walking in people’s dreams to find out the killers and to solve the mystery it is like that.

Dea may be weird, yes. Her life is. Her mom is. Her friend-Gollum-is too. Good kind of weird, with a huge reason behind it. She had spent her life running from something she doesn’t exactly know what they’re running from. She was tired of running and everything and decided she wants to experience what are real teenager was supposed to be like, to be doing, to be experiencing. I’ve decided that Dea is one of the characters in books where she’ll do everything to find out the truth, no matter how hard and brutal it is. She’s also the kind that does everything for the few people she loves. No matter what comes the cost.

Connor is the boy next door, and the love interest that in the first seems to be like freaked out and detached of the girl’s secrets once she’d revealed them already to him but deep inside he doesn’t care because why? He had getting a hang of loving her. Also Gollum is the perfect book sidekick best friend.

Aeri, though is the character I sought after the most. I’m rooting for him. He’s the literal dreamboy from the literal dream world. The kind guy who makes the girl confused and wonder if she had liked a guy in default. The kind that makes the girl, have no control of her heart, mind and body. These are my kind of fictional guys.

So, the plot was steady and really intriguing. You have to read, and try not to stop for the anticipation of what’s coming next. Robert did his trick to-slowly but surely unfold and reveal what comes next. It won’t be a shock on the plot twists because everything will just fit and click in to place. Its theme is fiction, suspense, mystery and love rolled into one dream, one book. It’s been a while since I’ve read a happy ending from a book, even if it’s only in a dream. If you’re a very much reader on mystery I insist that you read this book. You’ll like it like I did.

ARC Review: Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

Title: Illuminae

                                            Author: Jay Kristoff & Amie Kauffman

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: October 20, 2015

Rating 4/5 stars

I received an advance copy of this book for review from the publisher.  Many thanks to them for entrusting me an e-ARC of this book and believing in me that I will make a good book review to encourage more readers and share the book love to people. All thoughts and words on this review are solely my own.

This book review had been long due, I’ve read Illuminae about a month ago but because I want to chill out of the world right now, well I think this is now a good time to write it. I may be mad and a hundred shades of stressed writing this but I promise I’m in the right mind enough to write this book review. This is also my post-hiatus book review.

Illuminae is a genre and life changing kind of read. It’s a kind of Sci-Fi that is also Dystopian. It’s a break from your typical and normal reads. The writing is different, also the conversations and there are badass illustrations. It is a funny and quirky read and a lot more. It’s saving the whole fleet from danger of genocide without losing its strong characters, flow, and plot of the story.

I can’t say I haven’t read a book like Illuminae because I can, not as closely but a bit, associate it to Across the Universe by Beth Revis and also the other books by her. But it doesn’t mean that they have neither entirely the same plot nor the same theme. Illuminae is a very entertaining read; it’s by far witty and unpredictable. You may not have read any book like this yet but as Marie Lu had said it’s one of the most extraordinary read you will have this year.

I love that the character development in the story is quite complicated since the build-up of the relationship of Ezra and Kady started off as break-up couples. They interacted not physically but through technology from far two different battleships. They had to hold on to each other even if they’re miles apart in space and gradually fixed their broken-relationship. Kady is one genius girl and a fighter, she fights for what she loves and she too is a hard-headed, bad-tempered girl, I usually am most fond of. AIDAN though is my favorite character of the story. No, he [it] is not on the love triangle, as you were thinking but he or [It] I honestly don’t know what pronoun I should use on him but he is not human and what we know is that what isn’t human may never feel, but AIDAN is the exemption of it.

Overall, Illuminae is the book that’ll blast you off your seat. You might as well have it.

Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon ARC Book Review

Title: Everything Everything

Author: Nicola Yoon

Publisher: Random House Kids

Publishing Date: September 1, 2015
Rating: 5/5 stars

I received an advance copy of this book for review from the publisher. Many thanks to them for entrusting me the advanced readers copies (ARCs) of the books they publish and believing in me that I will make a good book review to encourage more readers and share the book love to people. All thoughts and words on this review are my own.

I was just done reading another contemporary book before this so I was thinking of reading a fantasy one but something about this book made me want to read it. I’m thinking it’s probably about the beautiful cover or the fact that bloggers and authors alike are raving good stuff about it.

Let me start by saying that this book is beautiful beyond words. The kind of beautiful that you want to read when you wake up, the kind of beautiful that makes you sigh. It’s the kind of book that makes you speechless and the opposite of it all at once. It makes you feel all the feels all at once.

Maddy is not the typical white girl you read mostly on YA contemporaries. She’s half African-American and half Japanese, so basically she’s African Asian. She has brown skin and curly puffy hair. But she is sick and that is kind of mainstream but well not really for her case, not like Hazel Grace sick but like prisoner sick, she can’t leave outside of her house because literally anything in the outside world can kill her in an instant. She had been depraved of physical contact with people ever since she can remember. But when she met Olly, she wanted everything she can never have. I just love how fierce she is spending her days even with all the risk and uncertainty with Olly. I love the way she loves fiercely.

Olly on the other hand is the weird-emo-angel-of-death boy next door. He’d been through a lot with his family being depraved of love and has his own issues but that doesn’t stop him from loving Maddy. He does everything for her even if he knows she might be taken away from him in any moment.

The content of this book will in no way get you bored because the words, the phrases are artistically written with world theories from medicine to life to love and to everything everything. There are also artworks on this book drawn by Nicola’s husband, David that is too beautiful to even describe. The illustrations are everything everything as well.

The plot of the book is utterly compelling and moving and it’s the kind of book that makes you choke while sighing, and laugh while sobbing, and cry while smiling. You must have this book. It is simply beautiful. And we all need Nicola to write more beautiful books for all of us. 

(c) art by @iceybooks

The Wrath and The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh ARC Book Review

Title: The Wrath and The Dawn

Author: Renee Ahdieh

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Date Published: May 5, 2015

I received a copy of this book for review from Harlequin Teen because of Mr. Dante Cassius.  Many thanks to them for entrusting me the advanced readers copy (ARC) of this book and believing in me that I will make a good book review to encourage more readers and share the book love to people. All thoughts and words on this review are solely my own.

I always have a hard time starting to draft a review for a book I am so lost for words. YA Fantasy is the ever growing genre of YA that is so vast and diverse you have a thousand worlds to choose from. Amidst all those worlds nothing pulls me stronger than royal reads, I have just have a strong compulsion to read them.

So did you know that I have regrets, seriously, in not reading the books sooner. I mean I got this on my shelf since last April from the publisher, and I just read it because Lauren DeStefano keeps on tweeting about it and also Kiera Cass, so I actually decided to read this book and see for myself what the vibe is all about. And you should totally know what I found out.

The prologue and first two or three chapters are a bit confusing at first because apparently you need to read until the very last chapters to really know or unearth what happened in the prologue. The build-up of the story is so good, like so so good you can’t even. Also the character development is pretty powerful and absolutely meaningful at the same time.

Shazi, the heroine in the story is not the damsel in distress kind of girl she is the kind of girl who takes charge, takes the lead over guys and I adore this kind of girls above all. She’s acts as a fierce queen and proves to the world that even if she’s just a woman she is capable of anything, even killing a king. God knows we’re all drawn to what’s beautiful and broken. The protagonist-villain on the story is a monster, someone who people thinks is not capable of loving and being loved. Something about villainy guys and angelic guys charms me I don’t know but there is no in between. Khalid is every bit the imperfectly perfect lead male protagonist-antagonist in this story. You will probably hate him at first or loathe him but then things may change as the way things changed for Shazi.

I simply love the suspense, tension, romance, feels, literally the beauty this book contains. These good books are rare and must be read by all. These are the underrated books and unmainstream books that could honestly be your next favorite book. Here’s a screencap of my tweets on #TWATD and how hard I ship KHAZI and how I love Shazi and Khalid. 

I’d be prank with you if you haven’t read this book you will never get to know we deeper it means we can’t be friends so I advise you to run along now to your nearest bookstore and ask for a copy of the book or buy a nook edition on amazon or get the audiobook, it doesn’t matter as long as you get either one because I totally got them all. READ THIS BOOK. PLEASE READ IT. IT’S SO AWESOME IT SHOULDN’T JUST GO UNREAD.

PS: Book Rec after you’ve read this is An Ember in The Ashes by Sabaa Tahir, The Kiss of Deception by Mary Pearson and The Winner’s curse by Marie Rutkoski

Rate: 5/5 stars

The Revenge Playbook by Rachel Allen ARC Review

Title: The Revenge Playbook

Author: Rachael Allen

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication Date: June 15, 2015

I received a copy of this book for review from HarperCollins International. Many thanks to them for entrusting me the advanced readers copies (ARCs) of the books they publish and believing in me that I will make a good book review to encourage more readers and share the book love to people. All thoughts on this review are my own.

I’ve always wanted to read 17 First Kisses also by Rachael, I think it was her debut novel. I’ve been meaning to read it since forever and it has been sitting in my TBR list for so long. I had a feeling it was an awesome book so I added it on my TBR. And of course I wasn’t wrong. Not that I have read the book but I have read a book by Rachael Allen, thanks to Harper!

The Revenge Playbook revolves around revenge but not your ordinary kind of revenge. A revenge where you could get kicked out of school, disowned by your parents kind of thing. We have MelJay, Ana, Liv and Peyton. Four extremely different kinds of girls, in different status and high school hierarchy and they have one single enemy: The football players. How far could these girls go in seeking their cold revenge? And how far would these girls go for their newly formed friendship?

The characters/girls in this book are so empowering and fierce. They may not be friends at the beginning only focusing on their mission but their friendship developed into something stronger, like a sisterhood, girl-power group. Melanie is a Baptist. (And can you believe it? I am one too!) Melanie’s principles and mine are so alike we take proudness and boldness that were not doing anything with a boy until marriage. (But we’re not alike on pretty side because I am not lol) Ana stands as the leader; she has lost her BFF just because of a guy from the football team that is not even worth their friendship. She is the bravest of all the girls. Liv is the clown of the group, the sexiest and the straight-forward of them all. She cheers everyone up and she is firm believer of true love and knows who is she is more than all people. Then there’s Peyton, the sweetest of the four probably also the cutest. She is that kind person who helps kids in an outreach program, that kind of friend that can settle everything down. With all their different personalities and attitudes they are destined to be friends, to be there for each other when no one else is. Honestly this book is basically friendship goals.

One thing I also loved so much about this book is these foreign words where the English language doesn’t have a word for.

Backpfeifengesicht (German) - a face that desperately needs to get punched.

Saudade (Portugese)- the longing that comes with losing something you love

Mamihlapinatapaithe – the look that passes between two people when they’re desperate to make something happen, but neither knows where to begin

And whole lot more. You need these words. Trust me. You need this book. It is paced very well that you will read this in one sitting. It’s a very promising book. The friendship, the bond, the girl-power. We need more books just like this. Love triangles and love stories are now clichés. We need more girl-power, adventure, friendship books with just a pint of romance. This is all what we need in YA, especially contemporaries. The book comes out on June 6^th! Be sure to grab it! I dare you to.

5/5 stars

ARC Review: The Prey by Tom Isbell

Title: The Prey

Author: Tom Isbell

Publisher: HarperTeen

Date published: January, 2015

Source: HarperCollins International

            I received a copy of this book as an ARC (Advanced Readers Copy) from Harpercollins International. I wish to review this book not because I’m compelled to do but I wanted to. All words in this review are solely my own.

             For the record, this post-apocalyptic dystopian novel made me feel a lot of feelings for a debut novel, from fear, to pain, to anger, to love. As I took a break from another book (my e-reader), I picked up this book and started reading. And I didn’t put it down until I was done with it. Like at 3 am in the morning.

            I loved how this book is kind of a mixture of the Hunger Games and The Maze Runner as it offered. You’ll get the combined thrill of reading those two books. Also reminded me of Pawn by Aimee Carter, Chaos Walking by Patrick Ness and Stolen by Melissa Dela Cruz, but this book is original, I promise.

And man, Tom knows how to name his characters. Hope, Book, Cat, Faith. Now that is what I call a genius. Also no book had ever made me want something so much from a book, and what I wanted here was a twin sister. I so wish I’d had a twin sister. “H and FT.” *Sob-fest* Thank you for splitting my soul into two Tom Isbell. Also I found here my new Annabeth and Percy. Hope and Book!

           

            I can’t further explain how good this book is, just trust me. Trust me that it’s worth the read and you won’t regret it. I bet you would even thank me for recommending it. A lot of dystopian books are out on the market now, but if you want a great read. Grab a copy of this book right now. Just remember what makes you different gets you in danger and at the same time makes you dangerous.

Rate: 5/5 Stars

ARC Review: A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas

Title: A Wicked Thing

Author: Rhiannon Thomas

Publisher: HarperTeen

Date published: February 15, 2015

Source: HarperCollins International

            I received a copy of this book as an ARC (Advanced Readers Copy) from Harpercollins International. I wish to review this book not because I’m compelled to do but I wanted to. All words in this review are solely my own.

            I’ve always loved retellings, especially retellings of childhood fairytales, because who knows they might be the real possibility instead of a happy ever after, which seems pretty more realistic.

My favorite fairytale I think is Beauty and the Beast but I haven’t read any retellings of it. If you happen to know please recommend me that book. Sleeping Beauty was good too, I think. It’s just I don’t think Aurora did more than that be a bit of a rebel and strong-willed but I like my girls that way.

            This retelling by Shannon Thomas was pretty convincing. To be honest I think it’s more realistic than what Disney portrayed. If I was Aurora, I wouldn’t marry a man I just met; after all we’re not like Anna from Frozen. If you wake up after a decade and your family is dead and some Prince claims you, wouldn’t you as a person feel like you have to make yourself your own and move on first? That isn’t pretty realistic even in fiction.

            In this version, Aurora is forced to do what the people want her to do but then, instead of doing what she’s wanted to do, a strong-willed girl that she is, does exactly the opposite. It is what a real princess should do, fight for what she believes in. And then there is this boy here who Aurora seemed to like instead of the Prince who kissed her awake. He’s a rebel and a worker but he has that determination to have revenge for his family. But honestly though, I kind of like the Prince better for her. He’s humble, shy, sweet and very loyal to the Princess, but Aurora seems to think of it like it’s rather a weakness. I just wish that in the next book, hopefully they’ll be developed.

            Overall, it was a thrilling ride for a fantasy book, with all the plot twists and reality that overflows out of it. I finished it in one night, so if you are looking for a good retelling this should be it.

Rate: 4/5 Stars