Me Before You - A Book Review

ME BEFORE YOU
- Author: Jojo Moyes 
- Publication date: 30 July, 2013
- Tags: Fiction, Contemporary, Romance 

ME BEFORE YOU was an astoundingly, heart-stopping, heart-warming and heart-breaking novel. You come across so many romance novels in the contemporary genre these days, but there are so few that touch your heart quite like this one.

Now I was brought into this world because I'm always combing the internet for good reads through the various forms of social media. A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon the trailer for the upcoming release of the the ME BEFORE YOU film, that is set to come out in June of this year. As a result of what seemed to be an amazing story, as well as amazing casting (HELLO - it's Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin!), I found myself in my car and heading for the local bookstore, so I could read the book before the film came out. Mind you, I had months to do that, and I bought and consumed within days.

Now that I have told the story of how I came across it, I'll tell you what I thought about the story --- it was a stunning story. Literally stunning. I was stunned when I turned the final page and put it down. Like I flipped the last cover over, set it down in front me and sat cross-legged and stared at the wall for full minutes. Am I alone in this?

The story is set in England and told about 90% from the point of view of Louisa (Lou) Clark, a quirky young-adult who has recently lost her job, which is a problem in her household as she lives with her grandfather, parents, sister and her nephew. Money is hard to come by, so her family somewhat relies on her wages to keep afloat. With this pressure, Lou feels obligated to find employment as quickly as possible, to help provide for her family. At the job center, she stumbles across a job opening as a carer for a quadriplegic man, and after some hesitation, applies for the position. I won't pretend like this is a spoiler, cause you obviously know she would get the job, as there would be no story if she didn't - so yeah, she gets it, and the story truly begins.

The young man she is set to care of, Will Traynor, was in a dreadful accident, which left him paralyzed from his upper chest down - a quadriplegic. Meaning he has no use of his lower limbs, torso and has very limited use of his upper limbs. Lou is 'hired' to basically keep Will company, and keep him out of trouble. What I found super hilarious when starting this book, was Will's manner toward not only Lou, but everyone - he is a sarcastic and narcissistic asshole. Mind my language.

The story is truly so wonderful mainly because it makes you think, really think, about the struggles that people go through every day, and it helps your appreciate that and what you have in your life. The struggles, hardship, and depression that encapsulates Will as a character is heart-breaking to say the least while reading about it, and it was truly a gem of a book. Lou makes it her mission throughout this story, to show Will that life still has meaning, and that just because something so life-altering has happened to him, that his life isn't over. That there is still many opportunities for him, and that he can still be happy.

The transition that Will has as his relationship develops with Lou has to be the most amazing part of this book, because I ship them so hard. To the very end, I ship them. I won't say much more, because if want to read this book, you need to go in only knowing the basics, and read it from a fresh perspective, but keep your tissues handy - because it gets real.

FAVORITE QUOTE

"I thought, briefly, that I would never feel as intensely connected to another human being, as I did in that moment" - #tears

MY RATING 

- 4/5 - it was a beautiful story. There were only a few things I wish could have been done differently. I would certainly recommend this book to others.

WATCH THE TRAILER (release date US June 3, 2016)




DESCRIPTION (as at Amazon.com)

They had nothing in common until love gave them everything to lose . . .

Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has barely been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex–Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life—big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel—and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.

Will is acerbic, moody, bossy—but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.

A Love Story for this generation, Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn’t have less in common—a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?

Pick up your own copy here

The Kiss of Deception - A Book Review

THE KISS OF DECEPTION
- Author: Mary E. Pearson
- Publication date: July 8, 2014
- Tags: YA, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Dystopian

THE KISS OF DECEPTION, I read this book back in 2015 while I was away on holiday, and I absolutely gobbled it up. The story was very unique, and there were plot twists galore -- the kind that has you set down the book for a solid 5 minutes and reevaluate your entire life... you know those kinds?

For starters, I'll tell you about Lia, the main protagonist of this story. I think Lia is the exact type of protagonist that I love to read about, and this is for many reasons. In this book, you get to know that Lia is just a good person through and through. Sometimes with YA characters, you get the good and bad traits, and they tend to (hopefully) overcome those bad traits / decisions at the cessation of the novel. In THE KISS OF DECEPTION, I think the only selfish decision Lia ever makes is the one at the very beginning of the story.

So Lia is the Princess of the Morrighan Kingdom, and as a means to an end, she is offered for marriage to a Prince she has never met, for the sole purpose of forming an alliance between their kingdoms. In the first chapter, the inner turmoil is clear at the prospect of marrying a man she doesn't know, and ultimately giving her life away. So we soon see she had plotted to flee her kingdom on the day of her wedding, with her best friend and then settles in a small, humble village where she starts to make a new life for herself. Now this is the greatest thing about Lia -- she has grown up as a wealthy, learned, doted upon Princess, and now she has put herself into this situation where no one knows who she is, what her true title is, and she becomes a tavern matron. And ya know what? She freaking loves it. She works hard, is grateful to be where she is, and doesn't complain an inch for what she gave up. She's my freaking idol.

Now - the other more interesting plot in this book is the fact that she is not as inconspicuous as she would like to believe. Lia happens across two strangers in the small fishing village she settles in - and these two strangers happen to know exactly who she is. One is an assassin, set upon Princess Lia to kill her and destroy any chance of her marrying the aforementioned prince to form the alliance. The other is the Prince himself, scorned and wondering why his bride never showed on his wedding day, he follows Lia to the small town and settles in himself, pretending to be someone he isn't, in order to better understand the woman who left him standing at the alter. Intriguing, yes?

Not only do we see the story unfold from Lia's POV, but we also have alternating chapters of the Assassin and the Prince, so we not only understand their motivations for tracking the Princess down, but we also get to see Lia through each of their eyes, which is super interesting, and one of my favorite aspects of this book.

And my oh my. The plot twist? Just you wait.

FAVORITE QUOTE

.... And I'm sure that it did. *SWOON*










MY RATING

- THE KISS OF DECEPTION is a solid 4.5/5 stars. I adored this book. I rarely give out 5/5, so 4.5 is AMAZING. Would I recommend this book? YESSSSSS.

DESCRIPTION (as at Amazon.com)

In a society steeped in tradition, Princess Lia's life follows a preordained course. As First Daughter, she is expected to have the revered gift of sight―but she doesn't―and she knows her parents are perpetrating a sham when they arrange her marriage to secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom―to a prince she has never met.

On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive―and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets―even as she finds herself falling in love.

Pick up your own copy here

January Wrap-Up 2016

THE BOOKS I READ IN JANUARY 2016 

My insta wrap up shot: (@infinitybooks)

Clockwork Angel - Cassandra Clare

The 5th Wave - Rick Yancey

Confess - Colleen Hoover

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - JK Rowling (via audiobook)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - JK Rowling (via audiobook)


I tend to read 4-5 books per month, this month was a little slow for me, as I actually only read 3, since the Harry Potter novels were read via audiobook while I've been travelling (which I do a lot of for my job). I have a very ambitious TBR for the month of February, which will be posted shortly. But by golly... there are a LOT of books I want to read. It's a little overwhelming!

FAVORITE BOOK IN JANUARY

The 5th Wave was such a crazy amazing book. I really sincerely enjoyed reading this book and all the different dynamic characters that it beheld. I was entranced by the story and I quickly added The Infinite Sea (the 5th Wave, book 2) to my February To Be Read pile. See my book review here








FAVORITE JANUARY COVER

This cover is just absolutely gorgeous, specifically because of the books content as well. I'm ashamed to admit it took me a few looks to see the face in the artwork at the ESS of CONFESS. But hey, when I did see it, I relished in the beauty of it. Better late than never, amiright?








WHAT I DIDN'T MANAGE TO READ

I have been waiting and waiting to read these books for a while, ever since I read Throne of Glass last year. I stupidly purchased Heir of Fire, some reason thinking this was the second book, before I realized oh, wait a minute, it's the third DOI! So I waited another few weeks for this baby to arrive on my doorstep from Amazon. I've had for a week or so now, but had other books I was reading, so it's the first book I'm bumping from my January TBR straight to my February TBR!






DENT IN MY TBR SHELF

3/52 (Harry Potter were re-reads....)
Current books TBR: 49 (inclusive of January book haul - to be revealed!)

The 5th Wave - A Book Review

THE 5TH WAVE
- Author: Rick Yancy 
- Publishing date: May 7, 2013
- Tags: YA, Dystopian, Science Fiction and Fantasy

THE 5TH WAVE for me was a wildly entertaining read that I couldn't seem to put down. I first picked it up off the shelves because the movie was coming out, and I love love love going to see book to film adaptations. So it was a week before the film was released, and I thought Oh dear, I'm never going to find the time to finish it before it comes out. Well lo and behold, picked it up... didn't put it down. Over in a day. It was that good.

THE 5TH WAVE commenced with following a teenage girl, Cassie, who recites her experience of the"Others", an unknown alien species, arriving and laying waste to the humans of earth. In a journal-like monologue, Cassie (for Cassiopeia) tells us her story, how she lost her little brother in a whirlwind of chaos as humans are dying off left right and center, and of her astonishing stubbornness to find Sammy and be reunited with him.

All the while, the first 4 waves the "Others" unleashed upon the earth, was basically eradicating the humans to a bottleneck of survivors. As seen on the covers, and movie trailers the waves that have occurred when Cassie starts her story of current events and memories are as follows:
WAVE 1: Black out - no electronics, no engines, nothing that runs on batteries or power.
WAVE 2: Earthquakes and Tsunamis - eradicating all island and coastal countries and cities.
WAVE 3: The plague - a mutation of the bird flu that kills the majority of the population.
WAVE 4: The silencers - the "Others" positioned in zones around the world, with sniper rifles, to pick off the human survivors.

So of course, the book is titles, THE 5TH WAVE, so the question you ask yourself for the majority of the book.... is what the heck is the 5th wave going to be, what form it will take, how ruthless it's going to be, and... will there be any humans left once it's over? All good questions, and this is the reason why I was so intent on reading this book, and let me tell you, it was incredible.

Cassie's section of the book was very interesting, mainly because she is a feisty and witty protagonist, and what more can you ask for? But what I really enjoyed about this story, was that we get to see from multiple points of view. For the purpose on no spoilers, I won't say more than this, but each story told from different perspectives was interesting, fast-paced, dynamic and incredibly entertaining. One of my current favorite reads so far of 2016. Which is only like 5, but hey, still a great start to a new year of reading!!

FAVORITE QUOTE 

MY RATING

- 4.5/5 stars - it was a great read, entertaining, dynamic and lovable characters. Would I recommend this book to others? Heck to the yes - I already have!

DESCRIPTION - (as at Amazon.com)

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it's the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing her brother--or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

Pick up your own copy here

These Broken Stars - A Book Review

THESE BROKEN STARS
- Authors: Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner 
- Publishing date: November 25, 2014
- Tags: YA, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Dystopian

These Broken Stars... well, I went in to this novel completely blind as to what it was about, as I avoided spoilers like the plague. Someone had previously said that this was basically like Titanic in space. While this is semi-accurate, it does not entirely describe what this book brings to it's readers.

These Broken Stares is a dual-point YA novel, set in a futuristic world where space travel is very normal, and space ships are as big and grand as your luxury cruise ships. I'll be honest - that's pretty much what I envisioned, except floating around in space...

The story follows Lilac, a rich daughter of one of the most powerful men in the 'galaxy', and Tarver, an 'war' hero, whose worlds come crashing together (lol) in an unexpected way. The story is rather unique and interesting, and it did capture my attention enough to have me read it in a few days, and as always with honest reviews, I will let you know that it was up and down in tempo of the story and so I struggled, though only a little.

Lilac and Tarver are both interesting characters, as they both come from entirely different backgrounds and each have very different motivating factors throughout the story. They interacted well at some times, where the dialogue was quite cute and witty, but at others I felt like rolling my eyes and giving them both a good talking to. You know how you do that sometimes with YA protagonists? Like: COME ONE, stop being so silly. READ THE ROOM! Well, I do...

Anyway, the story goes to places you would never expect, with a bit of paranormal mystery woven into what I expected to be sci-fi. This aspect I actually really enjoyed, as it was rather unique and I hadn't really read anything like that before. Some of the settings are also really cool and I enjoyed they way it was described as it really brought it to life for me.

Another interesting part of this book was the beginnings of each chapter, where you see Tarver being interviewed after everything has happened, so small bits of information is divulged to you slowly, which I greatly enjoyed!

FAVORITE QUOTE

MY RATING

- 3.5/5 stars - it was a good read, it entertained me, had interesting characters, and I would pick up the next book for sure. Would I recommend this? YES. :)

DESCRIPTION (as at Amazon.com)
It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone. 

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they're worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Pick up your own copy here: These Broken Stars 

Popular Book Releases of January 2016

Woah woah, shut the front door... it's the end of January already?? 
Well it is, and January had a LOT of stunning book releases. So if you're looking for something great to read, well look no further - here are some of releases from January 2016:

Passenger
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Release date: January 5, 2016
Tags: YA, Science Fiction and Fantasy 
Relevant books: N/A 

In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles, but years from home. And she's inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she's never heard of. Until now.

Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods-a powerful family in the Colonies-and the servitude he's known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can't escape and the family that won't let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, his passenger, can find. In order to protect her, Nick must ensure she brings it back to them-whether she wants to or not. 


Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods' grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are playing, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home forever.

Truthwitch
Author: Susan Dennard 
Release date: January 5, 2016
Tags: YA, Romance, Science Fiction and Dystopian 
Relevant books: This is the first book of the Witchlands series 

On a continent ruled by three empires, some are born with a "witchery," a magical skill that sets them apart from others.

In the Witchlands, there are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble--as two desperate young women know all too well.

Safiya is a Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lie. It's a powerful magic that many would kill to have on their side, especially amongst the nobility to which Safi was born. So Safi must keep her gift hidden, lest she be used as a pawn in the struggle between empires.

Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the invisible ties that bind and entangle the lives around her--but she cannot see the bonds that touch her own heart. Her unlikely friendship with Safi has taken her from life as an outcast into one of of reckless adventure, where she is a cool, wary balance to Safi's hotheaded impulsiveness.

Safi and Iseult just want to be free to live their own lives, but war is coming to the Witchlands. With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a Windwitch and ship's captain) and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must fight emperors, princes, and mercenaries alike, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

Never Never (part 3 of 3)
Author: Tarryn Fisher and Colleen Hoover
Release date: 16 January, 2016
Tags: YA, Romance, Suspense 
Relevant books: Never never parts one and two

Together, Silas Nash and Charlie Wynwood must look deeper into the past to find out who they were and who they want to be. With time ticking down, the couple are in a race to find the answers they need before they lose everything. Can they regain what they once had? And will it restore who they once were?






Night Study
Author: Maria V. Snyder 
Release date: January 26, 2016 
Tags: YA, Science Fiction and Fantasy 
Relevant books: The study series by Maria V. Snyder 

Ever since being kidnapped from the Illiais Jungle as a child, Yelena Zaltana's life has been fraught with peril. But the recent loss of her Soulfinding abilities has endangered her more than ever before. As she desperately searches for a way to reclaim her magic, her enemies are closing in, and neither Ixia nor Sitia is safe for her anymore. Especially since the growing discord between the two countries and the possibility of a war threatens everything Yelena holds dear.  

Valek is determined to protect Yelena, but he's quickly running out of options. The Commander suspects that his loyalties are divided, and he's been keeping secrets from Valek…secrets that put him, Yelena and all their friends in terrible danger. As they uncover the various layers of the Commander's mysterious plans, they realize it's far more sinister than they could have ever imagined.

The Siren
Author: Kiera Cass
Release date: 26 January, 2016
Tags: YA, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Romance, Fairytales and Folklore
Relevant books: Standalone - author of the Selection series 

Kahlen is a Siren, bound to serve the Ocean by luring humans to watery graves with her voice, which is deadly to any human who hears it. Akinli is human—a kind, handsome boy who's everything Kahlen ever dreamed of. Falling in love puts them both in danger . . . but Kahlen can't bear to stay away. Will she risk everything to follow her heart?

The Siren was previously self-published; this brand-new edition has been completely rewritten and redesigned.

Cruel Crown

Author: Victoria Aveyard
Release date: January 5, 2016
Tags:
Relevant books: This is a novella for the Red Queen series 

Two women on either side of the Silver-Red divide tell the stories no one else knows.

Discover the truth of Norta's bloody past in these two revealing prequels to #1 New York Timesbestseller Red Queen.

Also includes an exclusive excerpt of the hotly anticipated second book in the Red Queen series! Glass Sword transports readers to the world of Silver tyranny, a Red dawn rising, and one girl's resolve to break down the system that will hold her back no longer.

Queen Song
Queen Coriane, first wife of King Tiberias, keeps a secret diary—how else can she ensure that no one at the palace will use her thoughts against her? Coriane recounts her heady courtship with the crown prince, the birth of a new prince, Cal, and the potentially deadly challenges that lay ahead for her in royal life.

Steel Scars
Captain Farley exchanges coded transmissions with the resistance as she travels the land recruiting black market traders, smugglers, and extremists for her first attempt at an attack on the capital. She was raised to be strong, but planting the seeds of rebellion in Norta is a tougher job than expected—until she stumbles upon a connection that may prove to be the key to the entire operation: Mare Barrow.

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SO, I hope you were able to find something that looked like something you might enjoy. I will be posting reviews on each of these books in February for more information! 

Don't Look Back - A Book Review

DON'T LOOK BACK
- Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publishing date: March 17, 2015

Don't look back - this is one of few stand-a-alone novels that has been brought to us by the one and only amazing JLA. If I don't say it enough, I'll say it again - I love everything this woman writes, including this book.

Don't look back is mystery YA novel which follows the story of a young teenager, Samantha, who loses her memory after a traumatic accident, where her best friend Cassie goes missing. She doesn't know what happened, so the readers also don't know. What makes her story so interesting is that she doesn't know who she is, who her family is, and most importantly who her real friends are.

This idea of following a character who is struggling so much with her identity because of her memory loss is a super interesting characteristic of this book, and melds in really well with the mysterious story that unfolds throughout.

Another great aspect, as JLA does so well in all her novels, are the other characters present. Sam has a lot of interaction with her brother's best friend, Carson. These interactions are very interesting to say the least, specifically because of the nature of their relationship prior to her memory loss - which IMO is one of the most fascinating parts of this novel.

As the story of "the night" unfolds for Sam, we learn how she lost her memory, what happened to her missing friend Cassie, and who is responsible for this. Sam starts to think it was her fault, so is she right or wrong? Will she get her memories back? Is she the same person she was before she lost her memories? Read to find out, because it is totally worth the read!

A very easy 4/5 stars to give - keeps you interested, there are laughs and tears right to the very end, and Sam's story is a mystery you can't wait to unravel!

Let me know what you though if you've read it, or after you go away and read it, because why wouldn't you?

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Read the synoposis (as at Amazon)

"Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all - popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend. 

Same has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece back together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Oritz, a boy who has always looked out for her - even if the old Sam treated him like trash. 

But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that aren't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory - someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Same wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?


Pick up your own copy here: Don't Look Back