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kass morgan

Book Review: Meet Cute: Some People Are Destined to Meet by Jennifer L. Armentrout & Various Authors

Title: Meet Cute

Authors:  

Published: January 2nd, 2018

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Find the Author: Goodreads 


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


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Whether or not you believe in fate, or luck, or love at first sight, every romance has to start somewhere. MEET CUTE is an anthology of original short stories featuring tales of “how they first met” from some of today’s most popular YA authors. 
Readers will experience Nina LaCour’s beautifully written piece about two Bay Area girls meeting via a cranky customer service Tweet, Sara Shepard’s glossy tale about a magazine intern and a young rock star, Nicola Yoon’s imaginative take on break-ups and make-ups, Katie Cotugno’s story of two teens hiding out from the police at a house party, and Huntley Fitzpatrick’s charming love story that begins over iced teas at a diner. There’s futuristic flirting from Kass Morgan and Katharine McGee, a riveting transgender heroine from Meredith Russo, a subway missed connection moment from Jocelyn Davies, and a girl determined to get out of her small town from Ibi Zoboi. Jennifer Armentrout writes a sweet story about finding love from a missing library book, Emery Lord has a heartwarming and funny tale of two girls stuck in an airport, Dhonielle Clayton takes a thoughtful, speculate approach to pre-destined love, and Julie Murphy dreams up a fun twist on reality dating show contestants. 
This incredibly talented group of authors brings us a collection of stories that are at turns romantic and witty, epic and everyday, heartbreaking and real.

First Thoughts…When I saw that these authors – these AMAZING writers – were coming out with a book together, not only that, but it was called Meet Cute (one of my favourite plot devices and all-round words), I flipped! I was lucky enough to get a copy on NetGalley and ordered my hardback copy alongside it to support these incredible authors. 

My Review...In the mood for a feel-good story (so, always) I picked up my iPad to read Meet Cute early this year, immersed in the New Year of books ahead. It’s clear from the beginning that these stories are full of whip-smart, lovable characters who are discovering something new and magical in the world with someone else: love. I won’t do a mini-review of every book in the anthology (gosh, can you imagine how long that review would be?!) but I will be saying my favourite things about the book as a whole, of which there were many. 

The stories, depicted as the beginnings of how they met, are the stories of YA dreams. Not only are they achingly beautiful – in particular Nina LaCour, Huntley Fitzpatrick, Emery Lord and Jennifer Armentrout’s stories – but they’re meaningful, frank and oh-so-realistic. I’m also super proud that Meredith Russo wrote a trans heroine for her story in Meet Cute, and that the authors showed the ups-and-downs of breaking up, that love had no bounds in futuristic tales and humorous romances that will make your heart swell. Now, because these stories are short and involve an “instant connection” meaning a Meet Cute, there is the dreaded insta-love. But you know what? It’s the good kind of insta-love. The kind that is really believable. I could honestly imagine this is how some people – soulmates and true love – actually meet and fall in love in an instant, fleeting moment.

Overall, Meet Cute is as magical as it sounds. Each story holds something momentous and epic, a love story for the ages. I couldn’t fault any of the unique spins on Meet Cute’s, or any of the ways that they panned out. This is truly such a breath of fresh air, the perfect weekend read and equally welcome book for fans of sweet YA romances with sparkling beginnings. A huge five stars!

Have you read Meet Cute?

What did you think?

Let me know on Twitter, Facebook or in the Comments!

happy reading!

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Book Review: “Day 21 (The 100 #2)” by Kass Morgan

Title: Day 21 (The 100 #2)

Author: Kass Morgan
Genre: Young Adult – Science Fiction / Dystopia
Release Date: September 25th, 2014
Published by: Hodder Paperbacks


I received this from Hodder in exchange for an honest review. As always, my reviews are fair and non-bias. 
                                                                       

In this pulse-pounding sequel to Kass Morgan’s The 100, secrets are revealed, beliefs are challenged, and relationships are tested. And the hundred will struggle to survive the only way they can – together.

Now a major TV series on E4. In this pulse-pounding sequel to Kass Morgan’s The 100, secrets are revealed, beliefs are challenged, and relationships are tested. And the hundred will struggle to survive the only way they can – together.


It’s been 21 days since The 100 landed on Earth. They’re the only humans to set foot on the planet in centuries… or so they thought. Facing an unknown enemy, Wells attempts to keep the group together. Clarke strikes out for Mount Weather, in search of other Colonists, while Bellamy is determined to rescue his sister, no matter the cost. And back on the ship, Glass faces an unthinkable choice between the love of her life and life itself.

Kass Morgan’s name is on my favourite YA Authors list and I don’t see it moving anytime soon. I was won over by the amazing The 100 when I read it in August last year and it quickly crept up as being one of my favourite TV show adaptions, too! I was enthralled by everything The 100 and with the arrival of Day 21, it was a happy day for a girl who loves to read. 


I thought The 100 couldn’t be beaten in this series – but Day 21 went and did it, knocking it right off the shelf (pun intended). In The 100, it set the scene for the second book to swiftly pick back up on all the chaos and heart-racing action.
It’s been Day 21 days (like the book title) since the Hundred stepped onto the unknown surfaces of Earth. But the drama doesn’t just happen on Earth, there’s still a ton of anarchic things happening on the ship. We get the story through the eyes of the narrators from the last novel; Clarke (my favourite), Bellamy, Wells and Glass, and it’s actually refreshing to get to see everything in a panoramic style, so that none of the action with each different character goes missed. Even when the POV’s changed, I was still gripped to the increasingly action packed storyline that became hard to put down. 
The plot picks up right from where The 100 ended, but before long, wars with a new unfamiliar enemy stir up and the Hundred are faced with more dilemmas and commotion than previously. Their loyalties are tested, Bellamy for his sister’s safety, Glass for the love of her life; Luke, whereas Wells is the foundation of keeping the group stable and Clarke is the determined and courageous girl she has been from the first book, trying to find Mount Weather at what ever the cost. 
Overall, Day 21 is an addition to The 100 series that is unmissable, breathtaking and out of this world. The rollercoaster of the ship, the newfound land of Earth and characters that burst out of the pages with lively and electrifying personalities, make this series a 5 star one by far. If you haven’t started The 100 series, you’re missing out on something heart-stopping and thrilling on your bookshelf. Kass Morgan has written yet another stunning dystopian novel that’s sure to be on everyone’s shelf this year. 5 stars and more. 
And with that ending – I can’t wait for book three! 



Clarke’s POV moments have always stolen the book for me, but I loved getting to see the action on the ship in Day 21, and the incredible POV of Glass really crept up on me as a new favourite.


YA Dystopia and Science Fiction fans! And of course, for fans of the show!


Have you read Day 21?


What did you think?


Tell me in the comments, on twitter or by using the hashtag #Day21 or #the100



happy reading!

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The 100: Giveaway!

If you’ve been watching TV recently (particularly E4) then you might have come across an amazing, spectacular new show based on the phenomenal book that fueled the series, called “The 100”. 



Seen as I just reached 400 followers on Bloglovin’ and 1.2K on Twitter, I thought I’d do a little giveaway and give a copy of The 100 away! 

I adored The 100 back last year when I read it, saying:

 “As soon as I started reading…me and this book hit it off straight away. The plot was addictive, especially toward the end…because that ending! I was literally reading this for a few hours and when I saw how far I’d gotten through the book, and how long I’d been reading for, I realised that The 100 was the perfect transition between what I was reading in the pages, to what I saw in a sort of 3D vision in my mind. The TV Show is going to be out of this world, quite literally. I rely on a novel to completely hold my attention throughout, and The 100 lived up to it with ease.”

So, if you live in the UK and want to get a chance to read The 100 for yourselves before the release of the second in the series; Day 21 this September, then get entering!


*If you’re tweeting every day for the extra points, please remember to include the link to the giveaway, otherwise it doesn’t count as an entry!*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! 


Don’t forget, you can catch The 100 on E4, Mondays at 9pm! 


happy reading!

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Review: “The 100” by Kass Morgan

 
 
 
 
 
Title: The 100
Author: Kass Morgan
Genre: Young Adult – Dystopian/Sci-Fi
Release Date: August 29, 2013
Published by: Hodder (UK) Little Brown (USA)
Format: Paperback ARC
 

 

Many
thanks to Hodder for the copy
of this novel! My opinions are all non-bias and I received this from
the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 In the future, humans
live in city-like spaceships orbiting far above Earth’s toxic
atmosphere. No one knows when, or even if, the long-abandoned planet
will be habitable again. But faced with dwindling resources and a
growing populace, government leaders know they must reclaim their
homeland… before it’s too late.

Now, one hundred juvenile
delinquents are being sent on a high-stakes mission to recolonize Earth.
After a brutal crash landing, the teens arrive on a savagely beautiful
planet they’ve only seen from space. Confronting the dangers of this
rugged new world, they struggle to form a tentative community. But
they’re haunted by their past and uncertain about the future. To
survive, they must learn to trust – and even love – again.

 

 

I first heard about The 100 by some friends of mine who said it was an upcoming book that was already being picked up as a TV show by The CW (USA Channel). I knew straight away that I had to see what this incredibly raved about dystopian up-and-coming novel had that was so amazing! Luckily, the lovely people at Hodder sent me a copy for review, which I was so happy about; that I got to read early, YAY!

 

 The 100 has A LOT to rave about; believe me. From the startlingly eerie and striking cover, to the weaving conversation of the changing point-of-view’s, and not to mention the incomparable and thrilling plot.

There’s Clarke; who lost her parents, was arrested for treason and was betrayed by someone she loved a lot and wrongly convicted. Then there’s Wells; the chancellor’s son, who was the boy who Clarke was betrayed by, though he is still desperately in love with her and would do anything to make her forgive him, (think; limitless love, someone who would do anything for the person they loved, and you’ve got how Wells feels for Clarke). Bellamy started out as quite the rule breaker, but he was one half of the only pair of siblings left…in the universe. He fights his way onto the transport pod to Earth for his sister, and would do anything to help her and had to be there with her for the flight to Earth if it meant breaking all the rules. Glass was put on the transport pod for the exact same reason she got off it at the last possible minute she could. But what she didn’t expect, was that the ship above is just as dangerous as it would’ve been on Earth.

They are just FOUR of the hundred juvenile delinquents put on the transport pod to Earth where no one has stepped foot on for centuries. 

As soon as I started reading…me and this book hit it off straight away. The plot was addictive, especially toward the end…because that ending! I was literally reading this for a few hours and when I saw how far I’d gotten through the book, and how long I’d been reading for, I realised that The 100 was the perfect transition between what I was reading in the pages, to what I saw in a sort of 3D vision in my mind. The TV Show is going to be out of this world, quite literally. I rely on a novel to completely hold my attention throughout, and The 100 lived up to it with ease. 

The corners of his mouth twitched into a smirk. “You’re going to Earth.”

Even with the changing POV’s, I still felt like I connected with the characters, though some more than others. I felt more of a connection to Clarke, maybe because her personality was the most striking to me as a reader, or because she was introduced first, maybe? Anyhow, she was probably my favourite character, if I had one. There was drama, action, a little romance…I felt like the dystopian-esque scenes were my favourite to read about. Those scenes where it’s so futuristic and unlike I’d read before, that it just became un-put-down-able.

Kass recently told me on Twitter that she’s starting work on Book 2! Seriously excited for another dose of The 100, because if you read just one sci-fi/dystopian book this year…pick this one. It’s incomparable to any other book alike, but for fans of Divergent and the classic The Hunger Games, you will adore this.

 

Don’t let the changing POV’s put you off this novel, because if anything, that added to the depth I could read into The 100. I had more than one character’s world that the story could revolve around, which gave me added bonus time with all the characters and a more widespread outlook on the plot itself. Seriously loved this one, and although I’m more of a Paranormal type of girl, this book was the perfect change up.


I would love it if you could  Follow on Bloglovin  on bloglovin’! I love getting new followers and I promise there will always be a book here that you love.

 

Happy reading!

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