Exams have been hogging me for a while (and torturing me) but I have escaped their grasp and am finally back! 

I had some pretty uber cool post this week! *I think that the word 'uber' should be a real word, it's so cute! And I really want to say 'mail' but I'm English so I guess I'll stick with 'post' aha!*

Just LOOK at this package of goodies I received yesterday! :O

A 'Geek Girl' MANUSCRIPT along with badges! And also a review copy of 'Shadows' and a Bitterblue postcard!

                           

                   And then today's post! I almost cried I was so happy when this arrived!

My review copy of 'Fractured' the sequel to the AMAZING 'Slated'! I am sooooooo happy! Eeeeeeek!

And then I also had these come through the post this week! :D

My pre-ordered paperback of 'Incarnate' FINALLY arrived! Along with my two review copies of 'The lost prince' and 'The essence'.

I have more books on their way and shall be kissing the postman when he delivers my babies! :D

I'll be back with more reviews soon! <3

The day I met Suzie - Chris Higgins - ARC Review

'Suzie has taken over her home, her friends, her work, her boyfriend - and her life.'

I didn't know what to expect when I accepted 'The day I met Suzie' for review, I didn't even know what genre it fell into, but I can honestly say that I was pleasantly surprised. And I know I've said that about a fair few books lately, but it's true.

   The blurb was unique and didn't give any hints about where the story was going to go. My first thought was 'OMG! She's killed someone...' (you'll probably see why when you read the blurb). The plot was like a mystery to be solved, you had to piece together the puzzle pieces to figure it all out. 

   I admit that a few of the twists were unexpected but then some of them were predictable (to me, but maybe not to you, you'll have to read and see). Even when I predicted one of the big twists I was still like 'Ahhhhhhhhh!' because it was just... I don't even know what I'm trying to say, but yeh, it was still good!  I think the plot was delivered at the right pace and was altogether very clever.

   The characterisation was strong which issomething I found that helped you engage with the characters - no matter who they were. I really liked how Suzie was presented but I must admit that although I always agreed with the main character 'Indie' and stood by her side the whole way through the book, I didn't like her personality. She loved herself WAY too much but I suppose that was part of the story. 

   There was romance in the novel, it was handled well (sex included but so mild you could probably miss it) as it was casual. Having a boyfriend was a part of Indie's lifestyle and it all added to the story.

   As a whole I actually really enjoyed 'The day I met Suzie' and I might read more by Chris Higgins in the future as this was my first taste of her work. :)

4 Stars ****

Monument 14 - Emmy Laybourne - ARC Review

Lord of the flies meets The day after tomorrow.

I must admit I was worried that this would be a typical 'no adults around - kids go wild' novel when I accepted it for review but I was surprised at how much I actually enjoyed this book and at how deeply I was engrossed in the story.

   Monument 14 is about fourteen children/teenagers who end up stranded together in Monument with no adults around after a disaster devastates the United States of America and the story unfolds from there. 

   They take refuge in a supermarket where they have everything to cater their needs from clean clothes to food, toys and even TVs to keep themselves as up to date as possible with their situation. Although this is highly convenient for the teens, managing the health and happiness of the other 13 around them is not so easy. 

   Imagine you're stuck in your local supermarket with kids ranging from Kindergarten to Senior year. They're irritating, arrogant, crying and howling, demanding what they can't have - how would you cope? Who should be in charge, if anyone? Should you stick together? Is rationing food a smart thing to do? All of these decisions rest on indecisive teens who can't agree on anything.

   We follow Dean, one of the 14 survivors as he endures the harsh situation they have all been thrown into. I don't really know what to say about the plot without spoiling it; I'm sure you can guess what it'd be like (but you won't guess all of the twists! I liked the 'cliffhanger' at the end!)

   I think I mainly enjoyed this novel because of the characterisation. Normally if there's so many main characters, I get confused and frustrated and the book tends not to be a hit with me, but all fourteen of the children/teens had unique personalities so I found them easy to identify and I always knew who everyone was/why they'd chosen to do whatever it is they did.

   As a whole this was an enjoyable post-apocalyptic novel and I do recommend it to fans of the genre. Make of it what you wish but I enjoyed it and think that Laybourne managed to add her own unique spin on a very common genre amongst teenagers.

   The sequel sounds to be promising after the events that unfolded throughout, and the knots left untied at the end of, this novel!

4 Stars ****

Confessions of an angry girl - Louise Rozett -Review

"About the occasional panic attack and being fourteen in the suburbs without a mobile phone. Read It And Weep."

                                                                                                    
Rose is my new best friend and she doesn't even know it! I loved how down to earth she was - how real she seemed and how extremely easy to relate to she was in more ways than one. 

   I originally only accepted this book for review when I read 'panic attack' on the blurb because I wondered how an author would portray a character who suffered from something which I also endured; I was impressed with how Rozett handled Rose's anger issues and was surprised (in a good way) about how Rose wasn't this 'hot under the collar' brute who threw her weight about when she didn't get her own way, but whose anger was mostly silent and only made itself known when she was pushed over the edge - the thin line between being angry and being upset is shown very clearly in this book. I always found myself experiencing the same emotions as Rose in each situation she was in. The guilt, the betrayal, the anger stirring in the pit of her stomach, I felt it all. I suppose I expected an aggressive protagonist, but instead I was presented with Rose.

   The plot moved at a good pace, never was I bored, even despite not that much happening. The story is driven forward by emotions and characters and everything was necessary, nothing was just thrown in for the sake of it. 

   I'd sum the book up to be about a young teenage girl struggling to smother her anger at life (and what it can take away from you) while trying to survive high school with boys, cheerleaders, friends and a whole bunch of personal boundaries thrown in there. 

   The sparks of romance in this novel are awaiting to be ignited in the sequel! Being just fourteen, Rose isn't 'experienced' so you follow her as she learns all these new feelings, both emotional and physical. The realism of Rose's situations and her reactions made this book all the more enjoyable. 

   I loved this book! There's not really much more I can say without spoiling it but I loved Rose and I can't wait to read the sequel! I recommend it to all!

5 Stars *****