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Young Adult Books With Plus-Size Characters


Hello lovely readers! I’m back with another topic post that’s close to my reader heart. As a Plus Sized avid reader, I love reading about people who look just like me. There’s absolutely no shame in being any shape, any weight, any version of yourself – and that’s definitely what this post’s intentions are, to love yourself regardless of physical appearance and attributes – and today, I’ll be sharing a highlight of what my favourite (or want-to-reads) books with Plus Sized characters are! Read on. . .


Big Bones by 

The latest teen novel from the sparkling Laura Dockrill, introducing Bluebelle, and her moving, hilarious take on food, body image and how we look after ourselves and others
A heart-warming teen story from the unique voice of Laura Dockrill, about Bluebelle, aka BB, aka Big Bones – a sixteen-year-old girl encouraged to tackle her weight even though she’s perfectly happy, thank you, and getting on with her life and in love with food. Then a tragedy in the family forces BB to find a new relationship with her body and herself. Moving, memorable and hilarious.


Why I want to read: Already a staple on my TBR shelf, Big Bones is the exact mesh of tropes that I adore in YA fiction. Even though I tend to read the higher teen level of books (with characters older than the characters in Big Bones) this is exactly what I would’ve loved to read especially when I was in my early teen years. I can’t wait to delve into this beauty!

If It Makes You Happy by 

High school finally behind her, Winnie is all set to attend college in the fall. But first she’s spending her summer days working at her granny’s diner and begins spending her midnights with Dallas—the boy she loves to hate and hates that she likes. Winnie lives in Misty Haven, a small town where secrets are impossible to keep—like when Winnie allegedly snaps on Dr. Skinner, which results in everyone feeling compelled to give her weight loss advice for her own good. Because they care that’s she’s “too fat.”
Winnie dreams of someday inheriting the diner—but it’ll go away if they can’t make money, and fast. Winnie has a solution—win a televised cooking competition and make bank. But Granny doesn’t want her to enter—so Winnie has to find a way around her formidable grandmother. Can she come out on top?


Why I Want To Read: If It Makes You Happy doesn’t focus solely on the fact that Winnie, the main character, is Plus Size. It focuses on her shooting for her dreams, striving to be more than just “the fat girl” trope that has been giving us eye-rolls for days. I can’t wait to get this book – it’s highly on my to-get list soon! I can already feel like just from the blurb that I’m gonna love Winnie so much.

No Big Deal by 

‘It’s not my body that’s holding me back. I think it’s more of a problem that people tell me my body should hold me back.’
Meet Emily Daly, a stylish, cute, intelligent and hilarious seventeen-year-old about to start her last year at school. Emily is also fat. She likes herself and her body. When she meets Joe at a house party, he instantly becomes The Crush of Her Life. Everything changes. At first he seems perfect. But as they spend more time together, doubts start to creep in.
With her mum trying new fad diets every week, and increasing pressure to change, Emily faces a constant battle to stay strong, be her true self and not change for anyone.
A warm, funny inspiring debut YA novel from Bethany Rutter: influencer, editor and a fierce UK voice in the debate around body positivity.


Why I Want To Read: No Big Deal has only been on my radar very recently and I’m already kicking myself that I haven’t read it yet! I took a little sneak peek inside on Amazon with the look inside this book feature and I didn’t wanna stop reading. So on my next trip to Waterstones, I’ll definitely be popping this lovely in my basket. Emily is a character that I wish I had written: facing an inner battle between what the world sees her as and how she feels inside. With huge body positive vibes, this one is not to be missed!


There’s Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon

Ashish Patel didn’t know love could be so…sucky. After he’s dumped by his ex-girlfriend, his mojo goes AWOL. Even worse, his parents are annoyingly, smugly confident they could find him a better match. So, in a moment of weakness, Ash challenges them to set him up.
The Patels insist that Ashish date an Indian-American girl—under contract. Per subclause 1(a), he’ll be taking his date on “fun” excursions like visiting the Hindu temple and his eccentric Gita Auntie. Kill him now. How is this ever going to work?
Sweetie Nair is many things: a formidable track athlete who can outrun most people in California, a loyal friend, a shower-singing champion. Oh, and she’s also fat. To Sweetie’s traditional parents, this last detail is the kiss of death.
Sweetie loves her parents, but she’s so tired of being told she’s lacking because she’s fat. She decides it’s time to kick off the Sassy Sweetie Project, where she’ll show the world (and herself) what she’s really made of.
Ashish and Sweetie both have something to prove. But with each date they realize there’s an unexpected magic growing between them. Can they find their true selves without losing each other?


Why I Want To Read: Sandhya is one of my favourite YA authors. After reading When Dimple Met Rishi, I knew that anything that followed was going to be incredible. And then Sandhya made one of her leads, the beautiful Sweetie Nair, Plus Size. The novel touches on her being “fat” and that this is a breaking point of her ever finding someone to love her, according to her Parents. So, ultimately, even though we all know Sweetie is gorgeous – and that others find her beautiful – someone else’s opinion on beauty can be so detrimental to us, especially those closest to us. 

The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger


Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face.
But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.


Why I Read This: This was one (maybe even the first) book I read with a character who was described as “fat” or bigger than the other girls. And despite feeling like this (the DUFF) in my own life growing up, with thin friends, reading Bianca’s story and the journey of self-love that she goes on, was so incredible, cementing The Duff as one of my favourite books (and books into movies) in YA lit.

Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy


Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked…until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back.
Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all.
With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, Dolly Parton songs, and a wildly unforgettable heroine—Dumplin’ is guaranteed to steal your heart.

Why I Read This: there was no stopping me when I was offered the chance to be on the blog tour for Dumplin’ when it first came out. I received a big box of Dolly Parton-esque things and a beauty queen crown and felt like the luckiest girl ever. Then I read the book – flicking pages faster and faster, falling in love with Willowdean’s personality and her friends and love for Dolly – and for a second, I forgot that being fat had anything to do with someone’s quality of being beautiful. Willowdean is a character that is beautiful inside and out, and as she grows closer to finding love, feeling pretty and singing songs loudly, I just couldn’t wait until the day they’d make a movie of it. And then they did – and it was incredible!



To Be Honest by Maggie Ann Martin


Savannah is dreading being home alone with her overbearing mother after her sister goes off to college. But if she can just get through senior year, she’ll be able to escape to college, too. What she doesn’t count on is that her mother’s obsession with weight has only grown deeper since her appearance on an extreme weight-loss show, and now Savvy’s mom is pressuring her even harder to be constantly mindful of what she eats.
Between her mom’s diet-helicoptering, missing her sister, and worrying about her collegiate future, Savvy has enough to worry about. And then she meets George, the cute new kid at school who has insecurities of his own. As Savvy and George grow closer, they help each other discover how to live in the moment and enjoy the here and now before it disappears.

Why I Read This Book: Savannah is one of those characters that stand out as someone who you’d love as your best friend. And the pressure from her mother to diet – to the extremes – because she is fat, is a highlight of the novel that personally I have never had to deal with, but I have definitely felt the pressure from society to “get thin fast” and have a “bikini body”. But as with most YA Contemporary books, Savannah finds love – and because they both have insecurities, they bond over their shared fears and grow closer, reminding each other to live in the moment, because after all, if we’re always worrying about the way we look, act, talk, etc, we’ll never remember the things that we’ve done. 



So that’s my list of favourite YA Books with Plus-Size Characters!


Did you read any of these books? What are your thoughts?


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


happy reading!

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Family, Easter & Ancestry: Finding Out Where I’m Really From & Giveaway!


As my long-time readers will know, family means everything to me. I’m very close to my own, and when I read about siblings as best friends, supportive Parents and close bonds in literature, it makes my reading experience that much greater. So when I had the idea for making an Easter post – a holiday a lot of people spend with their families – and delve into some of the best Family relationships in literature, plus getting to know where I’m from*, everything came together amazingly! 


*with thanks to 23AndMe, I’m showing you my DNA Genes and what parts of the world my DNA is from!


My Favourite YA to Adult Books with family themes






Published August 14th 2012 by Little, Brown and Company

I don’t know how many of you remember this, but Where’d You Go, Bernadette was one of the books that started my Blogging career! I had the amazing chance to review it with LoveReading, where I’m a Reading Ambassador Review Panel Member. It’s been years since I read this stunning read about a daughter’s love for her Mother and how connections and tethers are unbreakable across the continents. 

That’s why Where’d You Go, Bernadette gets my starred approval as one of the most raw, honest and whip-smart books about the love of family. 




Published April 15th 2014 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers



Okay, so you know how much I love To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and Jenny Han in general, so it’s no surprise that the Boys series is on my list. The bond of Lara Jean, Kitty, Margot and their Dad is so strong and unwavering. They have an instant, believable and oh so honest relationship that echos brightly throughout the entire series. Actually, it’s a matter of fact that Jenny’s other series, The Summer I Turned Pretty, also has family connections and bonds that are key. 


That’s why Jenny Han is my favourite author for writing the most realistic families in YA. 






Published May 13th 2014 by Delacorte Press


You know how much We Were Liars shocked the YA Community when it first came out. The families – Aunts and Cousins and Families – vacation every Summer to their privately owned island, Beechwood. But there’s more than just glamour, riches and lies, as the title proceeds. The family units are messy, raw and grow rocky – then knit together – over the courses of seasons. E. Lockhart shows that family isn’t always plain-sailing and that’s why We Were Liars is one of the smartest, most unforgettable family-centered YA books. 






Published April 7th 2015 by Balzer + Bray


Haven’t read Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda or watched Love, Simon? You are hugely missing out on one of the most valid, important and strikingly beautiful character, family and friendship dynamics. Simon, who hasn’t told his family that he’s gay, or that he’s met someone with a connection online, struggles to come to terms with his life changing. His relationship with his Parents, friends and the one he has with Blue, was just a breath of fresh air. Becky’s writing is brilliant, fierce and beautiful, and a strong Parent-Child dynamic. 




Some other noteworthy titles with family dynamics are:

Shadowhunters, various Sarah Dessen books, the Caraval series and I Was Here.


– – – – – – –





When I got the idea for my family oriented post, I knew that 23andMe was the company I wanted to work with. Not only do they test your DNA to pin-point where you came from, but they also offer Health insights (package costs vary) but for this process, I wanted Ancestry, namely to find out the burning question: Where Did I Come From?



Now I know what you’re thinking, just ask my Parents. But the thing is, just because my Parents know where they came from, and we go back a generation or two, some information starts to fizzle out and then pin-pointing my DNA origins sort of deflates. So, 23andMe offers this incredible package that I was kindly gifted, which entails:


On 23andMe, our DNA tells the story of who you are and how you’re connected to populations around the world. Trace your heritage through the centuries and uncover clues about where your ancestors lived and when.


Drumroll. . . .






Now, I was quite shocked when I read that I’m only 70.3% British. I really thought I’d be more! I’ve lived in Wales since I was born and my family is from here, too, so I thought that perhaps there would be some ties to England – Ireland at a stretch – but seeing how my Ancestors have migrated from across Northern Europe? That was a massive discovery for me. 



I’m 100% European, which I figured from the get-go. But delving in further, I’m 13.0% French and German, mainly on the Northern side. Isn’t that fascinating? I’ve never been out of this country, but finding out that I have Ancestors that have left DNA in me that’s from as far as Europe is awe-worthy. I’m also 1.0% Scandinavian, which is actually really telling because I do love the colder climates (Iceland, Norway, etc) rather than Warmer ones. I was expecting to see some Greek in my DNA because I do have Greek heritage, but it seems to have lessened in my DNA throughout the course of the evolution of my family. 





This is a breakdown of where I have ties to and where my family is from throughout the United Kingdom. I know that I have family spotted across South, South West and West Wales – so the Pembrokeshire one and Bristol makes quite a bit of sense – but seeing all of these locations blew my mind. I love going to Cornwall – and hey! Now I know that my DNA can be traced back to there! And Yorkshire. Now, I don’t actually know anyone up North, but seeing all these places that I have DNA traced to is magnificent. Now I know why I love London so much – it’s the strongest place that my DNA traces back to! I’m partial to a train-trip to the big city, so it’s no surprise. 


Also, seeing the places that I more than likely have ties to in Ireland is so amazing. So many counties, including Cork and Galway. How incredible is that?!



The nitty-gritty:


Yeah, I’m related to King Richard the third, on my Mum’s side. Like, seriously!



For all this information and more, including 23andMe showing you through your DNA where your ancestors lived more than 500 years ago. Explore your ancestry’s breakdown by region, including East Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe! Find other people who share your DNA and ancestors from close family to distant relatives and make new connections through messages. You can always choose to opt in or out of this tool, too, in case you don’t want to. 




It’s £79.00 for a standard DNA kit and then in as little as a few weeks, you’ll get an email with all your DNA profiles!


But, if you want to know even more than this, including Health insights like learning if you’re a carrier for certain diseases, your risks for developing future illnesses and in-depth information about the way your body works, you can buy the DNA + Health kit for £149.00 and you’ll get a DNA kit for the exact same thing, but get more information at the end. And if you buy the initial kit, but want to Upgrade, it’s super easy and simple, and no extra spit needed. 


The entire process was fast, easy and so simple! I can’t have asked for a better experience. I was always wary about what my DNA would be used for afterwards, but you have total control. You can tick boxes, uncheck them and read all the simple and easy controls for what you want and when you want. I’m so happy to have had the chance to do this once in a lifetime experience. I’ll definitely be gifting kits to friends and family as presents! How amazing is it that you can gift the chance to find out where your DNA is from, tracing back thousands of years?! 


My birthday is coming up on the 17th of April and I’m really thinking about buying myself (with my own money) an Upgrade to Health. As you all know, I do suffer from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), commonly known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) or ME/CFS. It’s a devastating multi-system disease that causes dysfunction of the neurological, immune, endocrine and energy metabolism systems. So, finding out if there’s anything else happening in my body (especially in the future) would take a lot of weight off my mind. 


You can find out more here and buy your test here.



*I received a free Ancestry DNA kit for an impartial review.




To win your choice of ANY Book Depository book (up to £10) enter here:


a Rafflecopter giveaway


*Open to countries that Book Depository ships to only 



And I’ll also be giving away some Easter Chocolates and Stationery goodies over on my Twitter page all week! 



Are you curious where your DNA is from?



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



Hoppy Easter! (pun intended)

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YA Romance Books to read in February 2019

Well, hello there book lovers! How long has it been? Over a month it seems (I can’t believe it’s been so long since I’ve sat down and blogged, let alone thought about books. It’s been such a busy start of the month and with so much going on, I’ve barely had enough time to read or open up my dashboard to write a review.) But here we are, and I’m definitely feeling February’s theme to the max for this post:

YA Romance Books to read in February 2019!


Buy this book | Add on Goodreads

First up, we have this S T U N N I N G novel by Emma Mills that looks (and sounds) like the perfect start to love month. It’s out on the first of February (so perfect timing) and if the downright gorgeous cover alone doesn’t make you want to dive straight in, read the blurb below to get more info:


For Sophie, small-town life has never felt small. She has the Yum Yum Shoppe, with its famous fourteen flavors of ice cream; her beloved marching band, the pride and joy of Acadia High (even if the football team disagrees); and her four best friends, loving and infuriating, wonderfully weird and all she could ever ask for. 
Then August moves in next door. A quiet guy with a magnetic smile, August seems determined to keep everyone at arm’s length. Sophie in particular. 
Country stars, revenge plots, and a few fake kisses (along with some excellent real ones) await Sophie in this hilarious, heartfelt story.


Buy this Book | Add on Goodreads 

Now, if super lovey-dovey-light-hearted books aren’t your cup of tea and you much prefer curses and breaking the spell by falling in love, A Curse So Dark and Lonely might just be the slice of heaven you’re looking for next month. So, we’ve all heard of Beauty and the Beast. And in this stunning new release (that I just snagged myself the day I’m typing this!) it’s a retelling of sorts. . .


Fall in love, break the curse.
It once seemed so easy to Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall. Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over, he knew he could be saved if a girl fell for him. But that was before he learned that at the end of each autumn, he would turn into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. That was before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.
Nothing has ever been easy for Harper Lacy. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother barely holding their family together while constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, she learned to be tough enough to survive. But when she tries to save someone else on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s instead somehow sucked into Rhen’s cursed world.
Break the curse, save the kingdom.
A prince? A monster? A curse? Harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. But as she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what’s at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.


Buy this Book | Add to Goodreads

Now, Katie McGarry is one of my ALL TIME favourite Authors out there. So you best believe I’ve been counting the days until Only A Breath Apart was due out, and now, it’s finally here! I haven’t got around to ordering it just yet (I’m way behind on literally everything) but it’ll be making it’s way to me very soon. A little about this book and why it’s perfect for love month:

Bestselling author Katie McGarry’s trademark wrong-side-of-the-tracks romance is given a new twist in the gritty YA contemporary novel, Only a Breath Apart. 
Jesse Lachlin is cursed. 
So the town folklore says, but while Jesse’s had his fair share of tragedy, the only curse he believes is in his grandmother’s will: in order to inherit his family farm he must win the approval of his childhood best friend, the girl he froze out his freshman year, Scarlett Copeland.
Scarlett Copeland is psychic.
Glory Gardner tells Scarlett she has hidden psychic abilities, but Scarlett thinks Glory is delusional. What is real is Scarlett’s father’s irrational fears, controlling attitude, and the dark secrets at home. Scarlett may have a way to escape, but there’s a hitch: she’ll have to rely on the one person she used to trust, the same boy who broke her heart, Jesse Lachlin.
Each midnight meeting pushes Jesse and Scarlett to confront their secrets and their feelings for each other. But as love blooms, the curse rears its ugly head… 

Buy this Book | Add to Goodreads 

When I was doing research for this little post, I stumbled upon Our Year of Maybe by absolute mistake. But it fits here in this post like a glove. It’s got heartbreak, love, friendship, the WORKS. And as a child, I loved dandelions and the cover just feels super reminiscent of those days and it’s beyond pretty. Cover envy!

Aspiring choreographer Sophie Orenstein would do anything for Peter Rosenthal-Porter, who’s been on the kidney transplant list as long as she’s known him. Peter, a gifted pianist, is everything to Sophie: best friend, musical collaborator, secret crush. When she learns she’s a match, donating a kidney is an easy, obvious choice. She can’t help wondering if after the transplant, he’ll love her back the way she’s always wanted.
But Peter’s life post-transplant isn’t what either of them expected. Though he once had feelings for Sophie too, he’s now drawn to Chase, the guitarist in a band that happens to be looking for a keyboardist. And while neglected parts of Sophie’s world are calling to her—dance opportunities, new friends, a sister and niece she barely knows—she longs for a now-distant Peter more than ever, growing increasingly bitter he doesn’t seem to feel the same connection.
Peter fears he’ll forever be indebted to her. Sophie isn’t sure who she is without him. Then one blurry, heartbreaking night twists their relationship into something neither of them recognizes, leading them to question their past, their future, and whether their friendship is even worth fighting for. 

Buy this Book | Add to Goodreads

Do you follow those lists on Goodreads that give you recommendations for the month? Well, because I read What If It’s Us (an epic LGBT love story of 2018), it recommended me The Music of What Happens which is coming out at the end of January. And despite the cover not reeling me in too much, as soon as I read the synopsis, I was DEFINITELY changed. I did the ~okay, cool, let’s just add it to my TBR like right now~ dance. 

Max: Chill. Sports. Video games. Gay and not a big deal, not to him, not to his mom, not to his buddies. And a secret: An encounter with an older kid that makes it hard to breathe, one that he doesn’t want to think about, ever.
Jordan: The opposite of chill. Poetry. His “wives” and the Chandler Mall. Never been kissed and searching for Mr. Right, who probably won’t like him anyway. And a secret: A spiraling out of control mother, and the knowledge that he’s the only one who can keep the family from falling apart.
Throw in a rickety, 1980s-era food truck called Coq Au Vinny. Add in prickly pears, cloud eggs, and a murky idea of what’s considered locally sourced and organic. Place it all in Mesa, Arizona, in June, where the temp regularly hits 114. And top it off with a touch of undeniable chemistry between utter opposites.
Over the course of one summer, two boys will have to face their biggest fears and decide what they’re willing to risk — to get the thing they want the most. 

Buy this Book | Add to Goodreads

Is it really a year if there’s not a Kasie West book released? Queen of Summer romances is back with Fame, Fate and the First Kiss, which sounds like an absolute dream. I am counting the days until it’s in my hands. I think I have every single book she’s ever released and I regret nothing. 

Lacey Barnes has dreamt of being in a movie for as long as she can remember. However, while her dream did include working alongside the hottest actor in Hollywood, it didn’t involve having to finish up her senior year of high school at the same time she was getting her big break. Although that is nothing compared to Donavan, the straight-laced student her father hires to tutor her, who is a full-on nightmare.
As Lacey struggles to juggle her burgeoning career, some on-set sabotage, and an off-screen romance with the unlikeliest of leading men, she quickly learns that sometimes the best stories happen when you go off script.

So, did you find anything you might like to delve into this love month? Or are you totally Galentine-ing this one with some friendship books? Or maybe, ditching the whole contemporary feel and going straight for Horror to make a very bloody Valentine’s month?! The choices are totally up to you, but I hope that you found something that you might like to add to your Goodreads, buy for yourself as a little gift or grab from the Library.

happy reading, loves!

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Book Review: “We Were Liars” by E. Lockhart

Title: We Were Liars

Author: E. Lockhart

Published: May 13th, 2014

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Find the Author: Goodreads


I bought this myself and is in no way affiliated with any publisher. As always, my reviews are fair and un-bias.



A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.
We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart.
Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

Let me start off by saying that We Were Liars was one of the best books I read last year and probably one of the best I’ve ever read. It took me a while to get the words of just exactly how I felt before I could contemplate understanding the book itself. Anyone who’s read We Were Liars will know it’s one of those rare gems that just knock you off your feet in amazement – from the plot to the characters to the gorgeous setting – it was an all around spectacular that still has me in a little daze. 

Candace Sinclair Eastman is the narrator of the book. Every summer, she vacations to Beechwood, a private island that her Granddad owns. Her Aunts and Cousins all stay there, the whole summer a cool breeze of friendship, fun and times without a care. Candace’s family is rich to say the least, so each Aunt – daughters of Candace’s Grandfather – had their own house on Beechwood. Mirren, Johnny, Gat and Candace called themselves the liars, a theme that fitted each moment I witnessed how beautifully broken their friendship truly was. Gat was the only liar not related to Candace, the nephew of her Aunt Carrie’s boyfriend, which added the twisted, cracked and sweet love story that weaved it’s way into the novel. 

It’s true what everyone is saying – you’ll never guess how We Were Liars will end, no matter how you pick apart the chapters. The twist is brilliant and genius, and I’m pretty sure every other want-to-be writer out there wishes they had written this – just like I wish. Even as the summers pass between the chapters, the characters still drift from exciting to suspicious to broken and subsequently the story unfolds into something bigger than ever. We Were Liars never failed to keep my attention fixed on it’s wonderment and beautifully tragic ways. It’s hard to say much about the novel without giving away the twists and secrets you’ll so desperately want to keep to yourself and like E. Lockhart wrote in my signed copy my sister got me for Christmas (thank you, Sophie!), please lie about this book. So I’ll keep it short and sweet – mystery and alluringly fractured characters spin our simple summertime memories into something worth lying about and lying for. 

Five stars will never be enough. 

EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS.

 What did you think of We Were Liars?

Did you think it was one of the best books of 2014?

Let me know in the comments!

Happy Reading!
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Ally Carter Giveaway! (Closed)

To celebrate the newly jacketed (and amazing-looking!) covers of the Gallagher Girls series Ally Carter a.k.a one of the best YA Authors I have ever read AND the brand new ALL FALL DOWN (seen in the pretty red and blue cover below), Hachette Childrens Group have been incredible to offer me THREE sets of: one newly jacketed Gallagher Girls novel AND a Miss Sporty Nail Polish to my blog followers!
Isn’t that amazing?! 
Take a look at what you could win below and find out how…

(Please bear in mind that the items above may differ from the actual prize)

To enter you must live in the UK and all you have to do is:

1. Be a follower of Pretty Little Memoirs here or here.

2. Leave a comment below telling me what your favourite thing about Ally Carter’s Gallagher Girls series is AND leave your twitter @ so I can contact you if you’re a winner!

3. Like Books With Bite’s Facebook page here.

If you haven’t heard of Ally’s Gallagher Girls series, you can read the first chapter here!

Happy Reading & Good Luck!

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Spotlight: “Hotwire (a Christy novel)” by Cindy M. Hogan (+Giveaway)

HotwireBlogTourBanner


Tour: Hotwire by Cindy HoganHotwire
by Cindy M. Hogan
A Christy Novel #2
Publication Date: October 21, 2014
Genres: Action / Adventure, Contemporary, Young Adult



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Synopsis

Division spy Christy Hadden can’t wait for her latest assignment posing as a student at a prestigious New York City academy and car thief extraordinaire.

The best part of the mission is her attractive handler, Jeremy, and her new team. The worst part? The sociopath masquerading as the academy’s most popular guy.

But soon she realizes the car thieves are much more than they seem. Her simple spying mission becomes more dangerous than anyone imagined. If the organization discovers her true identity, they won’t hesitate to kill her, and if she fails, others will suffer the same fate.

Young Adults, teens and adults will love this exciting suspenseful adventure with a dash of romance. You won’t want to put it down.


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About Cindy M. Hogan

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Cindy M Hogan is the bestselling and award winning author of the Watched trilogy, a YA suspense series with a dash of romance. She has since branched off to write a mystery, Gravediggers, that won Best YA novel of 2013, a contemporary romance, Confessions of a 16-Year-Old Virgin Lips, and the first in a spy series, Adrenaline Rush, the 2nd of which, Hotwire, is due out in Oct. 2014.

She graduated with a BA in education and is inspired by the unpredictable teenagers she teaches. More than anything she loves the time she has with her own teenage daughters and wishes she could freeze them at this fun age. If she’s not reading or writing, you’ll find her snuggled up with the love of her life watching a great movie or planning their next party. Most of all, she loves to laugh.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads

I was about ready to yank my arm away from his grasp when I heard Carson’s voice.
“There you are. I was starting to wonder if you fell in.”I chuckled quietly as Viktor let go of my arm. Carson deserved a huge kiss.
“Shouldn’t you be worrying about your own date?” Viktor snarled.
“I couldn’t find her. I’ve been waiting for Amber to get back from the bathroom so I could see Wind kick her butt in the race for the can.”
I took a step toward him. “I think you might be in for the shock of  your life.” I took advantage of being free of Viktor’s hold and walked  quickly toward Carson.
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Book Blitz: “Breaking The Rules” by Katie McGarry {+Giveaway!}

Breaking the Rules (Pushing the Limits #1.5) by Katie McGarry 
Release Date: 12/08/14
Harlequin Teen

Summary from Goodreads:
A summer road trip changes
everything in this unforgettable new tale from acclaimed author Katie McGarry.

For new high school graduate Echo Emerson, a summer road trip out west with her
boyfriend means getting away and forgetting what makes her so… different. It
means seeing cool sights while selling her art at galleries along the way. And
most of all, it means almost three months alone with Noah Hutchins, the hot,
smart, soul-battered guy who’s never judged her. Echo and Noah share everything
— except the one thing Echo’s just not ready for.

But when the source of Echo’s constant nightmares comes back into her life, she has to make some tough decisions about what she really wants — even as foster kid Noah’s search for his last remaining relatives forces them both to confront some serious truths about life, love, and themselves.

Now, with one week left before college orientation, jobs and real life, Echo must decide if Noah’s more than the bad-boy fling everyone warned her he’d be. And the last leg of an amazing road trip will turn… seriously epic.

Available for Pre-Order:

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 Books in the series:

 (covers linked to Goodreads)

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KATIE MCGARRY was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, and reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Katie would love to hear from her readers. Contact her via her website, katielmcgarry.com, follow her on Twitter @KatieMcGarry, or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads.


Author Links:

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From Echo’s Point of View
It’s like watching a horror film in slow motion. She tucks her hair behind her ears, gives Noah a hesitant smile and speaks. The girl is pretty—very pretty. I run my hand over the scars on my left arm. Sometimes I don’t understand why Noah’s with me. Especially when I’m so…

Noah answers the girl then motions at me with his chin. Both girls turn, and their faces fall. Noah waves. I wave back. Butterflies tumble in my stomach when he flashes his wicked grin.


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Book Review: “The Perfectionists” by Sara Shepard

Title: The Perfectionists

Author: Sara Shepard
Genre: Young Adult – Mystery/Thriller
Release Date: October 2nd, 2014
Published by: Hot Key Books 


I bought this book myself! As always, my reviews are fair and non-bias. 



In Beacon Heights High, Nolan Hotchkiss is king. His charm, wealth and good looks are deceptively seductive, and many are the students whose lives and reputations have been ruined by it. 

All while Nolan continues to reign, unquestioned and undisrupted. Until now, that is.

Mackenzie, Ava, Julie, Caitlin and Parker seemingly don’t have much in common. Each has their own friends, dramas and goals. But one thing they do share: they all have a deep hatred of Nolan Hotchkiss. And they all think it’s about time he paid for what he’s done. They come up with the perfect murder – a hypothetical murder, of course. It’s all wishful thinking … until they wake up one morning to find that their wish has come true. Nolan has been killed – in exactly the way they planned. The thing is, they didn’t do it. So who did?
Give me a Sara Shepard book and I’ll tell you a thousand amazing things about it. So when I saw The Perfectionists on Twitter, I went right to Amazon and pre-ordered. And the day it arrived, I read the WHOLE THING in a few hours. So, if that doesn’t tell you how much I loved it, I’m not sure what will!
Nolan Hotchkiss is your answer to everything egotistical and idolized for all the wrong reasons at Beacon Heights High. He’s loved for reasons he shouldn’t be, from bullying students to sending explicit pictures of girls to his friends. It’s for those reasons and so many more that Mackenzie, Ava, Caitlin, Parker and Julie, hate Nolan Hotchkiss more than life itself. Nolan is pretty much the only thing that glues them all together if they weren’t friends before, so when they’re paired together for a project, they plan his “hypothetical” and completely imagined murder as a talking subject. 
So when Nolan actually is murdered, exactly like they planned down to the small details, they’re all struggling to take the spotlight off themselves from the Cops when they come knocking. Now these five girls that couldn’t have more complicated personal lives if they tried, have another thing to add to their list: get away with the murder they never committed. Even if all the evidence points to them. 
I thought I loved Pretty Little Liars the most of all Sara Shepard’s novels – now, I am totally torn. The Perfectionists, whilst giving me that Little-Liar feel, is in a completely different world of secrets, lies and suspects. There’s no “-A” but there is a killer – one that is determined to pin everything on the five girls who didn’t even commit the murder – a sneaky, but not completely undetectable killer. It left on a pretty heart-racing cliffhanger that totally knocked the killer I thought was framing the girls, off the radar. 
Overall, The Perfectionists is a compelling, electrifying and chaos-filled read that took my breath away.  I loved the girls’ friendships and how Sara wrote the strong, female characters realistically. It’s part of what makes me love her writing, that no character is flawless, alike real life, we all have our flaws. I can’t wait to see what book two has in store for all the readers and how everyone else will adore it. You MUST add this to your to-read immediately – you won’t regret it.

It’s got to be the beginning of the book – the calm before the almighty storm – the part that reeled me in!



YA Contemporary/Mystery/Thriller readers to Adult readers alike. If you loved Pretty Little Liars, you’ll love this no doubt.



Have you read The Perfectionists?


What did you think?


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


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Waiting on Wednesday: “The One” (The Selection #3) by Kiera Cass

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that shines a spotlight on upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating. 

The Selection changed the lives of thirty-five girls forever.  And now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen.

America
never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to
Prince Maxon’s heart. But as the competition approaches its end and the
threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes
just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she’ll have to fight for
the future she wants.

From the very first page of The Selection,
this #1 New York Times bestselling series has captured readers’ hearts
and swept them away on a captivating journey… Now, in The One, Kiera
Cass delivers a satisfying and unforgettable conclusion that will keep
readers sighing over this electrifying fairy-tale long after the final
page is turned.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15844362-the-one

I am a huge fan of The Selection, and The Elite is high on my TBR list to read before the end of the year! Kiera is such an awesome author, and with a different kind of spin on a Dystopian novel with, um, the BEST and most beautiful covers I’ve ever seen, I can’t get enough of this series and can’t wait to have all three in my collection. Not to mention that it comes to an epic conclusion in a few months time with The One‘s release!

 

The One by Kiera Cass is out May 6th (2014) by Harper Teen.

 

 Are you waiting on “The One”, like me?


If not, what are YOU waiting on? Tell me in the comments or at @LittleMemoirs on Twitter!

 

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