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4 star

Book Review: “Coven Deception” by D. H. Davis

Coven Deception 

Author:  D. H. Davis

Published by: Austin Macauley Publishers on August 30th, 2019

Rating: ★★★★

Genre: Young Adult // Supernatural // Fantasy

Similar Books I’ve Read: Sunkissed, The Rise, Dead Until Dark


Disclosure: I received this book from the Publisher/Author in exchange for an impartial review. This is an unpaid/unsponsored post.

Forbidden romance. Secrets and lies. Supernatural species. The town of Arcane Grove has a lot going on! Meet Brooke Lesley, a seventeen-year-old witch attempting to balance having a normal teenage life with having the impending responsibility of taking over as head of her coven.
One day, when an unfortunate incident reveals to Brooke that she’s been at school with a vampire for the last year, the sworn enemy of witches, things get a little complicated. Brooke finds herself feeling an intense, uncontrollable desire she’s never felt before; and ignoring friends, family and history, she embarks on a forbidden relationship that could jeopardise everything and ignite a centuries-old feud.
While Brooke battles with her coven and her conscience, she must also find a way to face an evil that threatens not only witches, but the entire town of Arcane Grove. Can she defend her coven, her town and her heart?

First Thoughts  

I have been longing for a witchy meets vamps read to slip into my TBR, so when D messaged me on instagram to connect, I knew that Coven Deception was going to be a great read. Under 150 pages and giving me all the Halloween vibes, I started reading late Saturday evening and literally couldn’t stop, finishing it in one.



My Review

Although I love some slow-burn types of romances and friends-to-lovers, you’ve got to give it up for the brilliance of forbidden romances. They have been the highlight of many a vampire-human book over the years, but when it comes to Coven Deception, the rules are a little different. This is a witch-vampire situation that gets complex and dangerous and oh-so-enthralling as the pages turn. Despite a slow start of trying to get into the swing of things and learn the ins and outs of how the world in Coven Deception works, as soon as I got into the groove of the story world, I was hooked. And being that it’s under 150 pages and I ate this up in one bite, as I got closer to finishing Brooke’s novel – and loving her counterpart in Jessie – I didn’t want it to end.

See, Brooke – our main character – is going to someday very soon take over as Coven leader. She’s seventeen at the moment, but when you’re eighteen, you’re at your most powerful and that means everything. But despite having that weighing on her, she still wants to be a regular ol’ person with a teenage life that doesn’t involve so many rules and Coven responsibilities. The balance is quite the central axis of the novel, where Brooke is trying to balance her life, her Coven, love life, school and even more that piles on her plate when it’s revealed that she’s actually been at school with a Vampire for the last year. It wouldn’t be so awful if they weren’t the literal sworn enemy of her kind, witches. But that doesn’t stop her from feeling things and crossing lines that she should never. 

Overall, Coven Deception was one of those novels that despite being short, is very mighty in its power. I loved the character development of Brooke over the span of the story and even though I loved her, Jessie was such a magnetic character and his personality really shone. I’ve always been a sucker for a novel with Vampires and this is no exception. I’d recommend this novel highly to pre-YA and early YA readers that love supernatural books that are easy reads with perfect pace. Loved highly! (And can’t wait for book two!)




D. H. Davis grew up in Coventry and has always had a love for fantasy fiction. After leaving school, she gained a degree in Occupational Therapy and worked in children’s mental health services. In recent years, she has turned to teaching both, Health and Social Care and English, combining her two passions.

Huge thank you to D. H. Davis for sending me her amazing book!

Have you read Coven Deception? What did you think?

Would you be a vampire or witch if you could pick? Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs!

happy reading!

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Blog Tour & Review: Mera: Tidebreaker by Danielle Paige





Mera: Tidebreaker


Author: Danielle Paige (Illustrated by Stephen Byrne)


Published by: DC INK on April 2nd, 2019


Rating: ★★★★


Genre: Young Adult // Graphic Novel – Comic


Similar Books I’ve Read: Deep Blue, The Siren



Disclosure: I received this book from the Publisher/Author in exchange for an impartial review. This is an unpaid/unsponsored post.



From Danielle Paige, the New York Times best-selling author of Stealing Snow, comes a Mera and Aquaman origin story that explores Mera’s first steps on land as well as her first steps as a hero or a villain, forcing her to choose to follow her heart or her mission to kill.
Mera is teenage royalty, heir to the throne of Xebel, the other not-so-lost colony under the sea. But Mera is destined to wear a different crown, that of Atlantis. When the inhabitants of Xebel plot to overthrow their homeland of Atlantis, Mera is sent to kill the heir to the throne, Arthur Curry. As the unrest between their colonies grows, Mera and Arthur unexpectedly fall in love…will Arthur Curry be the king at Mera’s side in Atlantis, or will he die under her blade?
Mera by Danielle Paige is an astonishing story that explores themes of duty, love, heroism and freedom, all through the eyes of readers’ favorite undersea royalty.



First Thoughts  

If you know me well, you’ll know I’ve devoured all of Danielle Paige’s novels to date. Her Dorothy Must Die series and Stealing Snow books have always held a special place in my heart (and bookshelf). So it’s no surprise I jumped on the Blog Tour for Mera: Tidebreaker. I’ve always been a huge DC Fan (sorry Marvel fans!) and I have a few Comics (The Flash, Arrow, Supergirl, etc) so getting to add a Graphic novel to my TBR was so refreshing!




My Review

If you’re familiar with Aquaman, you might know of Mera. I sadly didn’t know who she was until around a year ago when they brought her to the big screen with the DC Franchise. I’m all about Girl Power™, so getting to see Mera shine in her own light and not underneath the shadow of Aquaman (although this is a sort of origin of them both) in her own Graphic Novel was amazing. 

Mera is a teenager (around sixteen I believe) and already royalty, an heir to the throne of Xebel, a colony underwater. But her destiny isn’t so straight forward under the sea, and now on land. Mera is thrown when the people of Xebel want her to wreck havoc in the homeland of Atlantis (I’ve always associated this with The Little Mermaid, somehow) and kill the heir to the throne, one Arthur Curry, aka Aquaman as we’ll come to know him. But between the colonies, a different kind of feeling brews: love. Mera and Arthur fall head over heels for each other, quite quickly inside the pages. But the question of whether he’ll come to demise under her demands to have him killed, or rule alongside him, begs the ultimate finale of under-the-sea war, love and stripping free.

Overall, I’m surprised at how much I utterly loved Mera. Whether it was her strikingly red hair that vividly gathered my eye-line every page, the fast-paced action-meets-backstory or underlying love aspect, it blew me away with every turn of the page. The colours and palettes of Mera are cool, blues, greens and reds, unique in every way. Although I did feel that the plot moved very quickly, sometimes too quickly, I know this is the way that comic books tend to reel on as they’re differently written and planned out to regular novels. Despite this, I was still blown away with how much I completely loved Mera. Danielle Paige has outdone herself with the captivating story and brilliance behind Mera’s and Arthur’s backstory. Four amazing stars!




About the Author

Danielle Paige is the author of the New York Times bestseller Stealing Snow and its prequel novellas Before the Snow and Queen Rising, as well as the New York Times best-selling Dorothy Must Die series: Dorothy Must Die, The Wicked Will Rise, Yellow Brick War, The End of Oz, and seven prequel novellas. Before turning to young adult literature, she worked in the television industry, where she received a Writers Guild of America Award and was nominated for several Daytime Emmys. She is a graduate of Columbia University and currently lives in New York City. Visit her online at www.daniellepaigebooks.com and on Twitter at @daniellempaige.




Have you read Mera: Tidebreaker?


What are your thoughts on Graphic Novels?


Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs using the tag #MERATidebreaker! Don’t forget to check out the other Blog Dates above on the tour!


happy reading!

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Blog Tour: The Lost Man by Jane Harper

Welcome to Day 7 of THE LOST MAN tour by Jane Harper! Today, you’re welcomed by me (and a few others) to some more amazing reviews!


The Lost Man  

Author: Jane Harper

Published by: Little Brown on February 7th, 2019

Rating: ★★★★

Genre: Adult // Mystery – Thriller – Crime

Similar Books I’ve Read: The Dry, Force of Nature

Disclosure: I received this book from the Publisher/Author in exchange for an impartial review. This is an unpaid/unsponsored post.

He had started to remove his clothes as logic had deserted him and his skin was cracked. Whatever had been going through Cameron’s mind when he was alive, he didn’t look peaceful in death. Two brothers meet at the remote fence line separating their cattle farms under the relenting sun of the remote outback. In an isolated part of Western Australia, they are each other’s nearest neighbour, their homes three hours’ drive apart. They are at the stockman’s grave, a landmark so old that no one can remember who is buried there. But today, the scant shadow it casts was the last hope for their middle brother, Cameron, who lies dead at their feet. Something had been on Cam’s mind. Did he choose to walk to his death? Because if he didn’t, the isolation of the outback leaves few suspects…The Lost Man is the highly anticipated new book from the bestselling and award-winning Jane Harper, author of The Dry and Force of Nature.

First Thoughts  

As someone who has already read The Dry and Force of Nature, Jane’s other books, I’m pretty much hooked to her style of writing and the sheer gripping notion of starting one of her novels. So when I had the chance to participate in the blog tour for her newest release, there was no other answer than yes. I was definitely ready to dive back into the feeling of being immersed in one of Jane’s books.

My Review 

I fell head over heels for Jane’s writing way back when I first began reading her books with The Dry a few years ago. Getting immersed back into the thickly-cut heat of Western Australia, imagining the pealing sun, the sticky-summer landscape of the Outback, we get the setting for another of Jane’s novels with The Lost Man. In the beginning, we’re thrown into another mystery in the first of her standalone books that don’t follow the same path as her other books. Cameron is dead, and authority has come to assume that it’s a suicide. But Cam’s older brother Nathan doesn’t think so – he knows this wasn’t what they think. 

Nathan sets out to find out what really happened to his brother. He remains fixated on what happened, sifting through suspects and deciding which path his younger brother took to his ultimately, last night. In the Outback, there’s few suspects to choose from. Finding someone with a motive in the sheer isolation is thrilling, following Nathan’s footsteps to the conclusion. The clues are there, and like most readers who have read The Lost Man alike me, will have put together the pieces as Nathan was, and maybe, like me, discovered more lying between the lines. 

Overall, Jane has truly outdone herself. Whilst nothing will beat The Dry for me, The Lost Man was such a close contender toward the end. I was hooked on this hotly anticipated read, following these intense steps of another killer novel by Jane Harper. Four amazing stars for my first read of 2019!




Jane Harper is international bestselling author of The Dry and Force of Nature. Her third book, The Lost Man, will be realised in October 2018.Jane has won numerous top awards including the Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year, the Australian Indie Awards Book of the Year, the CWA Gold Dagger Award for Best Crime Novel, and the British Book Awards Crime and Thriller Book of the Year. Her books are published in more than 36 territories worldwide, with film rights sold to Reese Witherspoon and Bruna Papandrea. Jane worked as a print journalist for thirteen years both in Australia and the UK, and now lives in Melbourne.

You can buy The Lost Man here:

Amazon | Book Depository 

Have you read The Lost Man?


Let me know your thoughts in the comments!


happy reading!

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Blog Tour & Review: A Storm of Ice and Stars by Lisa Lueddecke

Title: A Storm Of Ice And Stars
Author: Lisa Lueddecke
Published: October 4th, 2018
Publisher: Scholastic
Rating: ★★★★
Find the Authors: Goodreads

Disclosure: I was sent this ARC by the publisher, reviewing it as an impartial review. This does not sway my opinion of the book. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.


Ice, myth, magic and danger in this bone-chilling, page-turning, beautifully written fantasy novel set in the same world as A SHIVER OF SNOW AND SKY. Blood-red lights have appeared in the sky over the frozen island of Skane, causing a cloak of fear and suspicion to fall over the village like a blanket of snow. In a desperate attempt to keep out the plague, the village elders barricade its borders – no-one, no matter how in need of help, will be permitted to enter in case they bring infection with them. 

Teenager Janna refuses to turn her back on people seeking refuge and is banished to the swirling snow and lurking darkness beyond the village. Can she survive? 

First Thoughts…

It’s no secret that I love a good story within a pretty cover, and A Shiver Of Snow and Sky and now A Storm of Ice and Stars have both of those incredible attributes. When I was asked to review this lovely little book and be on the tour, I couldn’t say no. I love Lisa’s style of writing so much so I was eager to get into this fast with the aesthetic being fitting for these colder months!

My Review…

In Skane, if you weren’t already aware of the fictional island where the books (which are stand-alone but you can read them as a series) take place, is a frozen wonderland where the sky talks in colours. Maybe not the wonderland part, though. Not since red lights have danced across the skyline, wreaking havoc and panic over the villages. They know it means that the plague is coming, and forced with immediate dangers, they shut the borders and permit no one to enter for fear of bringing in the illness. 
But Janna, our focal character, is a fighter. A true fictional heroine type. She refuses to give up and just turn away people who need the villages help. Making her decision rules against the others and she’s banished to the snowy darkness of nothingness. Survival is key, but in a twisted and icy backdrop where nothing is safe and magic is lurking, Janna finds herself fighting for her own safety. 
I just loved this book. Everything about it just screams winter and enticingly icy backdrops are that breath of fresh air once we step into the colder months. I’ve been in a bit of a book-rut lately and A Storm of Ice and Stars has totally just reignited my love for YA Fiction all over again. Although I did love the previous book, A Shiver of Snow and Sky a little more than this one, this is equally as steadily-paced and beautifully written. There’s something in the way that Lisa writes that is so deeply graceful and I can never look away from the pages for a second. 
Overall, A Storm of Ice and Stars is a must read this Autumn/Winter season. I read this delicious slice of snowy story-time by a few winter-y candles, scooped up a blanket and made it a full “reading spot” to set the scene for it, and I definitely recommend! You’ll feel transported to Skane, swept up in this iridescent icy tale and fall in love just as much as I did. Incredible four star read! 




Born into an Air Force family which gave her a love for travel, Lisa Lueddecke has spent her life moving between four countries and five states. She currently resides in England, is one of five girls, and is a former book blogger and publishing intern turned writer.


A STORM OF ICE AND STARS by Lisa Lueddecke out now in paperback (£7.99, Scholastic)
@LisaLueddecke        www.lisalueddecke.com
#ICEandSTARS

Have you read the incredible A Storm of Ice and Stars?


What do you think?


Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs! 


Be sure to share your thoughts using the above hashtag and add the book to your Goodreads to read! You won’t regret a single page of this magic!


happy reading!

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Blog Tour & Review: The Woolgrower’s Companion by Joy Rhoades
Title: The Woolgrower’s Companion
Author: Joy Rhoades
Published: June 28th, 2018
Publisher: Vintage Books
Rating: ★★★★
Find the Author: Goodreads 

Disclosure: I received this ARC in exchange for an impartial review. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.

As the war draws to a close, one woman faces her greatest battle . . . 
Australia 1945. Until now Kate Dowd has led a sheltered life on Amiens, her family’s sprawling sheep station in northern New South Wales. The horrors of war have for the most part left her untouched. But with her father succumbing to wounds he’s borne since the Great War, the management of the farm is increasingly falling on Kate’s shoulders.
With only the sheep-rearing book The Woolgrower’s Companion to guide her, Kate rises to the challenge. However the arrival of two Italian POW labourers unsettles not only the other workers, but Kate too – especially when she finds herself drawn to the enigmatic Luca Canali.
Then she receives devastating news. The farm is near bankrupt and the bank is set to repossess. Given just eight weeks to pay the debt, Kate is now in a race to save everything she holds dear.
‘A heart-breaking tale beautifully told . . . This compelling story of war and love, of family and prejudice is magical’ Kathryn Stockett, author of The Help

First Thoughts…

I usually stray from any type of Historical Adult Fiction, but there was something about The Woolgrower’s Companion that enticed me from the get-go. It had this simplicity-meets-heartbreak kind of feel and I was so delighted when offered to be on Joy’s tour!

My Review…

Kate has always led more or less a sheltered life in Australia, on her family’s sheep farm. We’re introduced to her life in 1945, wavering the line of the second World War. Her father, a veteran of the first war, has been struggling. From the despair of his wife’s passing and from age, and now with the farm, it’s been difficult. So the responsibility falls to Kate, her only helping hand the sheep-rearing book called The Woolgrower’s Companion, hence the title.
She’s thrown into the grueling everyday tasks of taking charge, but when some Italian POW laborers arrive and she finds out her Father has been hiding things from her to do with the Farm, it all comes crashing down around her. So when she finds herself drawn to the Italian Luca, she doesn’t know how to deal with the newfound ways her life is changing. With the Farm almost bankrupt, it’s a race against time. She loves the Farm and everything it’s provided for her, but losing it is only a blink away.
Overall, The Woolgrower’s Companion really did surprise me. There was of course the beauty of the story, the landscape and the romance aspect. The plot – and some of the choices the characters chose – did keep me on edge and despite not agreeing with everything Kate chose or did, I couldn’t help but be hypnotized by the ways the story kept me reeled in and turning pages faster and faster. It’s heart-breaking and moving to-the-max and despite not being a huge Historical-Lit fan, I thoroughly devoured the book in just a few sittings. If you’re like me, and need a break from reality and a change of pace, The Woolgrower’s Companion will be the breath of fresh air you need. Truly such a beauty of a story! 4 stars.

I grew up in a small town in the bush in Queensland, Australia. I spent my time with my head in a book, or outdoors – climbing trees, playing in dry creek beds, or fishing for yabbies in the railway dam under the big sky. Some of my favourite memories were visiting my grandmother’s sheep farm in rural New South Wales where my father had grown up. She was a fifth generation grazier, a lover of history, and a great and gentle teller of stories. My childhood gave me two passions: a love of the Australian landscape and a fascination with words and stories.
I left the bush at 13 when I went to boarding school in Brisbane. I stayed on there to study law and literature at the University of Queensland. After, my work as a lawyer took me first to Sydney and then all over the world, to London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo and New York. But I always carried in my head a strong sense of my childhood: the people, the history, the light and the landscape. Those images have never left me and they would eventually become The Woolgrower’s Companion. It’s a story I’ve felt I had to tell.
I currently live in London with my husband and our two young children. But I miss the Australian sky.

Have you read The Woolgrower’s Companion?


Let me know in the comments, on twitter @LittleMemoirs or using the hashtag #TheWoolgrowersCompanion!



happy reading!

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Blog Tour & Review: Jiddy Vardy by Ruth Estevez

Title: Jiddy Vardy
Author: Ruth Estevez
Published: June 21st, 2018
Publisher: Zuntold
Rating: ★★★★
Find the Author: Goodreads 

Disclosure: I received this ARC in exchange for an impartial review. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.

1779. On tumultuous waters a girl is born as pirates board the ship . . .
Jiddy Vardy is a survivor.
Rescued at birth, she grows up in Robin Hood’s Bay, a community which harbours a dangerous secret, one that could get you killed.
Always the outsider, with her dark skin and hair, at sixteen Jiddy is clever, brave and headstrong, soon risking her life and freedom to play her part in the Bay’s clandestine activities.
Then, just as romance blossoms and Jiddy finally feels like she belongs, figures from the past threaten to tear her world apart, and she has to decide where her loyalties truly lie.
A thrilling tale of one girl’s search for identity and love, set against a backdrop of wild seas, smuggling and violence. 

First Thoughts…

The synopsis of Jiddy Vardy reeled me in from the start. Not only did words like Robin Hood’s Bay and romance stand out, but this slice of YA is intertwined with pirates and set in 1779! I’ve never quite picked up a book like this, so I was eager to start! 

My Review…

There’s something so enticing about Jiddy Vardy from the very beginning. We’re pulled into this deeply surprising, cut-throat story with Jiddy at the forefront. We soon learn that the stature of the plot rests on Jiddy and the role that she plays among pirates involved in a sort of smuggling opperation. It’s never shy of action, even during the slower parts of Jiddy’s story, and it’s hard to crawl out once the plot anchors it’s hook into your mind. 
I was surprised at the love-triangle, because I really had my sights on Jiddy and Jonas being the only ones for each other, because of their bond already established and it seemed unlike Jiddy’s character. But we have to remember her age and that the torn-love-interests echo her passionate thought of idealistic choices. But nevertheless, Ruth blends the romance, search of Jiddy’s identity and the action, perfectly, still. Jiddy is extremely wise for her age, and has one of the smartest heads on her shoulders. It’s because of this that we can understand her more and the reasons she does things, or the way that she can be so loving but never turn her back, too wise and loyal to underestimate. 
Overall, Jiddy Vardy has knocked me off my feet. It’s so clear that this is more than a search for identity, violence and love, but an epic YA adventure that was phenomenal from mighty start to heroic end. There’s so much emotion, character and in-depth detail in Ruth’s writing style and Jiddy’s tale never failed to keep me entertained throughout. I never thought I’d love a story with Pirates in as much as I absolutely loved Jiddy Vardy. Thank you, Ruth, for writing one of the best books I’ve read in a long while! Amazing four-stars! 

by Ruth Estevez
I don’t play music when I’m writing, so I’ve made a playlist of music from when I was between 17 – early 20s with a few extras thrown in.
They are chosen because ….the singer is passionate and I believe them. I like the tune. They are from a time in my life where they meant something. I love guitars and drums. Some just make me happy. Some may be a bit cheesy but cheese can be good. I love Ella Fitzgerald, and gutsy singing. And some of these just make me laugh!
 Songs:

Have you read Jiddy Vardy? It’s out TODAY!


What do you think of the book’s theme?


Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs! Be sure to check out the rest of the tour dates above on the banner!


happy reading!

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Blog Tour & Review: The Leavers by Lisa Ko

Title: The Leavers

Author: Lisa Ko

Published: April 26th, 2018

Publisher: Dialogue Books

Rating: 🐱🐱🐱🐱

Find the Author: Goodreads 


Disclosure: I received this ARC in exchange for an impartial review. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.


Add To Goodreads

Winner of the 2016 PEN/Bellwether Prize for Fiction.
One morning, Deming Guo’s mother, Polly, an undocumented Chinese immigrant, goes to her job at a nail salon – and never comes home. No one can find any trace of her. With his mother gone, eleven-year-old Deming is left mystified and bereft. Eventually adopted by a pair of well-meaning white professors, Deming is moved from the Bronx to a small town upstate and renamed Daniel Wilkinson. But far from all he’s ever known, Daniel struggles to reconcile his adoptive parents’ desire that he assimilate with his memories of his mother and the community he left behind.Set in New York and China, The Leavers is a vivid examination of borders and belonging. It’s a moving story of how a boy comes into his own when everything he loves is taken away, and how a mother learns to live with the mistakes of the past.

First Thoughts…

I don’t typically read books in the same genre as The Leavers, but lately I’ve been loving testing out different genres within the Adult and YA world and getting to have a fresh perspective on a new favourite or maybe, stumble upon something I wouldn’t have read in the first place. When I was offered the chance to be on the tour, I jumped at the chance. I love getting to celebrate an authors hard work and spread the word when I’ve loved a book. And did I love The Leavers? Read below to find out… (hint: it’s good news)

My Review…

One morning, when Deming Guo’s mother, who is a Chinese immigrant and also happens to be undocumented, goes to work, she never returns and can’t be found anywhere. He feels lost in a world where his Mother isn’t in it. She’s the only person he’s been that close to, and without her, the pang of loneliness kicks in from the get-go. He doesn’t understand why she’s left, so he tries to change himself, hoping she’ll return…but she never does. In her absence when the people that Deming and Polly, his mother, lived with, can’t look after him anymore, he is renamed Daniel Wilkinson and adopted by two white-American professors, moving from the Bronx to a town upstate. He’s only human, but he understands the world around him far better than his Mother, Polly. She was alone when she came to America with her son, and in a world where he understands it more than her, she’s lost as well. Deming thrives in a way that she struggles to in a new country, and the two stories that The Leavers weaves for us couldn’t be more different and alike at the same time.
I was stunned by just how fast I turned the pages of The Leavers. I didn’t think I’d connect with the characters because of our vast differences in age and upbringing, but somehow, I felt a part of myself resonate with them so clearly through the pages. The pain of not fitting in, of having to sacrifice a part of yourself and the sense of trying to find a place you belong in a big world…I nodded so many times and felt myself feel for the characters.
Overall, The Leavers is more than a novel. It’s a gem. It’s a story of loss, love, belonging, loneliness, family and borders. There’s so much beneath the surface of pain and love, from the backstory of Polly to the current day of Daniel. Lisa has written a rare find that I absolutely loved. This will tug at your heartstrings all day long. Huge four stars!

Have you read The Leavers?

 What did you think?

 Let me know in the comments or on twitter using the hashtag #TheLeaversTour! 

 happy reading!

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Book Review: The Unpredictability of Being Human by Linni Ingemundsen

Title: The Unpredictability of Being Human

Author:  Linni Ingemundsen

Published: December 28th, 2017

Publisher: Usborne Publishing

Find the Author: Goodreads 


Disclosure: I was sent this ARC from the Publisher in exchange for a review. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.


Add To Goodreads

Meet Malin, a fifteen-year-old who sees the world differently. Malin knows she couldn’t change much about her life, even if she got to play God. Her dad would still yell all the time – especially as Malin is still friends with Hanna, the girl she met shoplifting. Her mum would still say a glass of wine is good for her heart – and Mum needs it, with Malin’s brother, Sigve, getting into trouble all the time. And Malin would still be Malin. Because she can’t be anybody else. 


In a voice bursting with immediacy and truth, Malin shares the absurdities of growing up and fitting in as her family struggles with the buried pain of mistakes made and secrets kept.


Profound, compassionate and as funny as it is dark, Malin’s story is an offbeat examination and celebration of the brutal, bizarre and beautiful unpredictability of being human.


If you love the freshness and honesty of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, the emotional depth of John Green, and the irreverent wit of Little Miss Sunshine, push this to the top of your TBR pile. 

First Thoughts…

The first thing that crossed my mind when The Unpredictability of Being Human appeared in my lap was that it had that certain je ne sais quoi. It reminded me of something John Green might write, but with a spirited twist. I was so eager to get into this but I was swarmed with TBR books around the holidays that I didn’t get a chance to read this until early February! 

My Review…

Malin, straight away, is quite an unusual main character. Her point of view and inner monologue on the world is striking, bordering on painfully honest. She sounds much older than her age, fifteen, throughout her POV. Malin’s family are a huge part of her troubles and bigger picture on life. There’s the situation surrounding her Mom’s drinking, her Father’s temper and brother’s troublesome behaviour. These things make Malin overwhelmed by these trusting, innocent ways to cope with not being able to change what her life is. 
What’s different about The Unpredictability of Being Human is that there is no solid plot. But in that way, it’s even more interesting, if that makes sense. It’s a crack into the universe inside Malin’s mind and a teenage life. And just a glimpse into her world is bittersweet, relateable and addictive. She’s to-the-point and there’s no messing about with her thoughts on everyday life, so there’s that same, definite maturity to her point of view that definitely made me feel like I was reading about someone a few years older (but not in a bad way). 
Overall, I flew through the pages SO FAST. I think it was over three nights that I read this before bed and it was such a refreshing, slice-of-heaven that I think it’s one of those books I could pick up again in months time and re-read. The writing does take some time to get used to in Malin’s ways of talking to us as readers, but it’s honestly such a great read that I can’t think of anything that was negative about The Unpredictability of Being Human. If you love feel-good YA or similar to the John Green demographic, you’ll adore this book. Amazing read – four stars!

Have you read The Unpredictability of Being Human?

Let me know what you thought in the comments, on Twitter or Facebook!

happy reading!
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Book Review: Zenith by Sasha Alsberg & Lindsay Cummings

Title: Zenith (The Androma Saga #1)

Author: Sasha Alsberg & Lindsay Cummings

Published: January 11th, 2018

Publisher: HQ

Rating: 🐱🐱🐱🐱

Find the Author: Goodreads and Goodreads

Disclosure: I was sent this book for review. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.


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From #1 New York Times bestselling author duo Sasha Alsberg and Lindsay Cummings comes the first book in The Androma Saga, full of action, fantastical intrigue and steamy star-crossed romance. 

Most know Androma Racella as the Bloody Baroness, a powerful mercenary whose reign of terror stretches across the Mirabel Galaxy. To those aboard her glass starship, Marauder, however, she’s just Andi, their friend and fearless leader. But when a routine mission goes awry, the Marauder‘s all-girl crew is tested as they find themselves in a treacherous situation—and at the mercy of a sadistic bounty hunter from Andi’s past.  

Meanwhile, across the galaxy, a ruthless ruler waits in the shadows of the planet Xen Ptera, biding her time to exact revenge for the destruction of her people. The pieces of her deadly plan are about to fall into place, unleashing a plot that will tear Mirabel in two. Andi and her crew embark on a dangerous, soul-testing journey that could restore order to their ship—or just as easily start a war that will devour worlds. As the Marauder hurtles toward the unknown, and Mirabel hangs in the balance, the only certainty is that in a galaxy run on lies and illusion, no one can be trusted.

First Thoughts…When I first heard of Zenith, it was from the sneak-peek and I just KNEW I wanted to read it. Lindsay is highly regarded as an incredible author (I own around 2 of her books from The Murder Complex series, but haven’t read them yet) and Sasha is a famous booktuber. They both have this cool connection where they’ve wrote this book together and you can definitely see that they’ve bounced ideas off each other for this extremely interesting novel series. I actually asked for an advance copy of Zenith because of my connections to HQ (you’re all amazing!!) and that I was metaphorically dying to read it. Luckily, I was lucky to read it late last year!

My Review…I went into Zenith with the hopes that it might be a The 100 type of book, but it’s actually pretty hardcore. The main-main (you’ll get what I mean soon) character is Andi, a.k.a. Androma, and she’s also known as the Bloody Baroness. She doesn’t spare anyone (as her name tells) and her mercenary skill reeks terror throughout the Mirabel Galaxy. But there’s another side to Andi. She’s not always serious and brooding, but part of the Marauder starship as their leader. But then disaster strikes, and they find themselves thrown into the wave of chaos and at the hands of a familiar face to Andi – a bounty hunter from her illusive past. 
But that’s not even where the excitement ends. Among the Galaxy, there are other planets with cruel, merciless leaders that we get the chance to delve into the minds of, hell-bent on retribution. The characters – a skillful, at times underdeveloped (some of the characters I didn’t care much for, but there are others I loved) and tightly-knitted bunch, are what drives Zenith to a glorious and intergalactic adventure. 
I had heard mixed reviews on Goodreads about Zenith, but you know, like I always say: always give a book a chance. I’ve got to say, I really liked Zenith! And I love these authors! They have a certain something when they write together and I can see this becoming a huge hit with YA Science Fiction readers. It has a definite Star Wars outline and pacing, so fans of the movies will most likely love reading Zenith, for it’s suspense and action. 
Overall, Zenith is an imaginative novel to start the Saga and I’d definitely pick up the next in the series! It’s ingenious and well-paced and if you’re a fan of Lindsay’s other books, you’ll be picking this up as soon as it’s out in stores. 4 stars!


Have you had the chance to read Zenith?

Let me know what you thought on Twitter, Facebook, or by commenting below!

happy reading!

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Book Review: Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone

Title: Every Last Word

Author: Tamara Ireland Stone

Published: June 6th, 2017

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Find the Author: Goodreads 


Disclosure: TRIGGER WARNING* (read below). I was sent this book for review. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.

A New York Times Best Seller


If you could read my mind, you wouldn’t be smiling.


Samantha McAllister looks just like the rest of the popular girls in her junior class. But hidden beneath the straightened hair and expertly applied makeup is a secret that her friends would never understand: Sam has Purely-Obsessional OCD and is consumed by a stream of dark thoughts and worries that she can’t turn off. 


Second-guessing every move, thought, and word makes daily life a struggle, and it doesn’t help that her lifelong friends will turn toxic at the first sign of a wrong outfit, wrong lunch, or wrong crush. Yet Sam knows she’d be truly crazy to leave the protection of the most popular girls in school. So when Sam meets Caroline, she has to keep her new friend with a refreshing sense of humor and no style a secret, right up there with Sam’s weekly visits to her psychiatrist.


Caroline introduces Sam to Poet’s Corner, a hidden room and a tight-knit group of misfits who have been ignored by the school at large. Sam is drawn to them immediately, especially a guitar-playing guy with a talent for verse, and starts to discover a whole new side of herself. Slowly, she begins to feel more “normal” than she ever has as part of the popular crowd . . . until she finds a new reason to question her sanity and all she holds dear.

First Thoughts

*Firstly, if you are triggered by any kind of talk about OCD and Anxiety or Depression, please be cautioned that this review talks about all three of these things, because they relate to the theme of the book.*

Review

The thing about books that touch upon OCD and other illnesses alike, is that they tend to be very hit-and-miss. Nowadays, it’s very much required that an author does very thorough research into the illness before writing about it, because otherwise it’s not portrayed as lifelike as it should be. In Every Last Word, Tamara does capture what it’s like inside the mind of someone with purely-obsessional OCD. There are many kinds of OCD that vary from mind-to-mind, so it’s always an intricate thing to get just right. As someone who suffers with a few of the types of OCD (Intrusive Thoughts related), Social Anxiety and previous Depression, I was reeled into Sam’s story. 

She’s different from other main characters I’ve read about in typical High School books. Although she is popular and has tons of friends, she hides behind the facade of her popularity to mask her pain. She reminded me of Lydia Martin from Teen Wolf, pretending to be someone else to be loved, out of fear of not being understood. Her popular friends will never understand her OCD, she knows this for sure, because one wrong move and she would be kicked off her pedestal. But when she meets Caroline and is introduced to everyone in Poet’s Corner, Sam finally starts to feel normal (even though having OCD doesn’t make her not-normal). They understand her and make her heart sing. But things take a turn, deeply rooted into everything to do with Sam’s newfound happiness, and she’s left hanging by the moment in a fight or flight reaction.

Overall, Every Last Word is a refreshing and welcomed read. Although I would have liked it to be a little more realistic, it did hit the perfect note and captured what it’s like to live with a certain type of OCD. But of course, in real life there isn’t a true happy ending to having this illness and having that reflected would have been a great addition. But that said, this novel truly was a breathtaking read, dealing with complex issues that were handled with grace. Tamara has always been one of the best voices in YA and it took me so long to get around to reading Every Last Word, but now I wish I had picked it up a little sooner. Four stars!

Rating & Recs

For fans of Contemporary YA. 


Have you read Every Last Word?


What did you think?


Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs!


happy reading!

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Book Review: There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins (Halloween Week of Horrors: Day One)

Title: There’s Someone Inside Your House

Author: Stephanie Perkins

Published: September 26th, 2017

Publisher: Dutton Books For Young Readers

Find the Author: Goodreads 


Disclosure: I bought this book myself and this is NOT a sponsored post. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.


Scream meets YA in this hotly-anticipated new novel from the bestselling author of Anna and the French Kiss.


One-by-one, the students of Osborne High are dying in a series of gruesome murders, each with increasing and grotesque flair. As the terror grows closer and the hunt intensifies for the killer, the dark secrets among them must finally be confronted.


International bestselling author Stephanie Perkins returns with a fresh take on the classic teen slasher story that’s fun, quick-witted, and completely impossible to put down. 


First Thoughts

Everyone: the queen of YA is back! I seriously couldn’t wait to have this book in my hands! After the Anna, Lola and Isla books ended, I was crushed and to this day, there still hasn’t been a young adult book series that’s made me feel the same way. So when I heard about There’s Someone Inside Your House, I was dubious. But then the synopsis! Oh my goodness. It went on my TBR faster than I could breathe and when it got here, I had to painfully wait to read it until it was closer to Halloween time (you know, perfect Horror weather). In related news, WELCOME TO THE HALLOWEEN WEEK OF HORRORS DAY ONE!


Review

Young Adult Horrors have always been hit and miss for me. I either really love it or it’s just not my kind of read (but the latter very rarely happens). Luckily for my own sanity and love of Stephanie Perkins’ writing, this was one of the YA Horrors that I loved. 

Makani is completely different to those Stephanie’s written before. She’s got this secret that adds to her character in a complex, borderline mysterious way and I can already tell from the first few pages that it’s going to be a darker novel than I’m used to from her, too. It doesn’t take long for Makani to gel with new people after moving from Hawaii to a new small town and attending Osborne High, but she doesn’t expect to be footsteps away from a killer with bloody motives. In between the heavy make-out sessions (she’s the queen of romance in YA, what did you expect?!), people are dropping dead in gory and blood-ridden ways. With every new death, Makani doesn’t know what to do but try to stay alive now that the hunt is on to find out who the killer is and what their motive continues to be. But the closer that people get to finding out the truth, the more deaths that follow. And with every horror-filled night, comes another spree of deaths that keep the mystery going. 

I was totally expecting to be scared by There’s Someone Inside Your House, but I wasn’t. It wasn’t that kind of scary, but more thrilling and nail-biting. But don’t get me wrong, this isn’t for the fainthearted. There’s still a lot of blood and gore, and the deaths are slasher-movie worthy. This is still one of the best YA horrors I’ve read in a long time. It’s not my favourite book that Stephanie has written (I’m looking at you, Isla!), but it’s deserving and a solid gold novel by one of my favourite authors. The writing was sharp and cut-throat mixed with snarky, it had a lot of diversity (just YES!) and Scream had better watch it’s back! It’s a total contender for being the next CW Horror show. Can you just imagine that kind of magic?! Sign me up!

Overall, There’s Someone Inside Your House rings true and cuts a four-star shape in the YA Horror genre. Stephanie Perkins at one of her best, and I’m so excited for every new thing she does! She can never go wrong. 

If your interested in winning a copy of THERE’S SOMEONE INSIDE YOUR HOUSE, look no further!

Rating & Recs

For fans of Stephanie’s writing, YA Readers and Horror/Thriller fans!


Have you read There’s Someone Inside Your House?


Let me know what you thought in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs!


happy reading!

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Book Review: “Cat and Mouse” by Jacquelyn Phillips

Title: Cat and Mouse (The Games We Play #1)

Author: Jacquelyn Phillips

Published: March 19th, 2017

Publisher: A Lady And Her Pen

Find the Author: Goodreads 


Disclosure: I was sent this book for review. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.

My name is Roxanne Vaughn. Most people just call me Roxy. My parents call me a disappointment. I’m not gonna lie—I hate how much they detest me, but I’ve learned to embrace their scepticism. What better way to write poetry than to feel like an outcast? Insecure. Ugly. Stupid. Even writing about my failure in pre-med has earned me some notoriety in my creative writing classes. Although, some people believe I should write fiction, I don’t know if I could do that. It would probably end up being some distorted version of my own sick reality. I’m originally from San Diego, the daughter of two well-known doctors, and the younger sister to the perfect God-send of an offspring. I moved to Rohnert Park to attend Sonoma State, to escape the pressures related to living with my parents and in the hope of creating some friendships along the way.
I just so happened to meet two extremely different boys—one in San Diego, one in Rohnert Park—on this journey to self-discovery.
I just so happened to fall in love with the wrong one.
I’m not one of those “typical” party girls. Well, at least I wasn’t. My three best girlfriends converted me to their religion of drinking and bad decisions every Thursday through Saturday night. I guess you could say I live two lives. Possibly three, if you count hiding in my bedroom from societal pressures one of them. I’m just a normal girl who puts her pants on one leg at a time. Except I’m sleeping with two different guys every time I put on said pants.
Life could be worse.
I could be striving to live the life of a penniless poet, bussing tables to afford an education my parents refuse to pay for. I could also be in a relationship built off of a foundation of lies. But who am I to judge? I’m just a simple twenty-something year old girl looking for her place in life.
Maybe you’re in the same position as me. But if you’ve already found out who you are—all that soul searching crap—don’t rub it in my face. I’m working on it. It’s just taking me longer than expected.
I’m a poet. I’m a bad daughter. I’m a good lover. I’m a loyal friend. I’m a hot mess. But is there more to life than just that?


First Thoughts

So, as you all may know, my Blogger dash has been acting seriously weird lately. Every post takes forever to load and then on top of that, several of my reviews (old and fairy new) have been deleted! Every trace of them, except the links on twitter, directing to nowhere, have vanished. Silly me writes everything here and I didn’t have a back-up, which I really should have done. But, with that said, I’m slowly starting to find out which book reviews were deleted and put them right back up. Cat and Mouse is one of them – one of the best, lesser-known novels I’ve read this year! 

Review

My first thought when I started reading Cat and Mouse was that I knew some part of me would resonate with Roxy, our main character. She’s a college student, kind of lost in the midst of growing up and it sucks – and that, I totally get. She was like one of my best friends, I could just feel myself thinking, “Yes, a thousand times yes” when she would say something, or think something, about being a twenty-something girl trying to live up to her siblings image and find a place in her Parents – who refused to pay for her education – hearts, no matter how small. 

But, Roxy’s life is a little more complex than my own. For one, she’s dating two people. At the same time. So, ultimately things are up in the air where her own heart is concerned. Her friends are there for her, but more so on the party scene. I thought that Jacquelyn wrote these college experiences and lifestyles with the feelings about going out with your friends and the pressures, so well written and thought out. In fact, her writing didn’t feel forced or unnatural at all and it was just like reading something from Gemma Burgess, a twinge of New Adult mixed with the remnants of leaving YA behind and Adult ahead. 

Overall, I can’t fault Cat and Mouse for anything. I don’t get to read a lot of lesser-known novels, because I get so many requests for them, but I am so thankful that I got to read this book. Roxy is a poet (and so am I), she was strong and wise (even if she didn’t know it) and I can’t wait to read more in the series (soon, I hope!). Jacquelyn – you have something epic to be proud of! For fans of New Adult, Roxy’s story about finding your place in the world (or faking your way there) will be your new favourite book. Highly recommended, four star read. Amazing!

Rating & Recs

For fans of New Adult, but Adult readers will love this too! 

Have you read Cat and Mouse?


Let me know what you thought in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs!


happy reading!

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