There are books that keep me up all night. You know that feeling when you want to read faster than light, eager to see how things end, but in the same time you want to keep a very slow pacing such that you can savour each word, each character, each turnaround?
“One of Us is Lying” was all that and more, because I got attached to these 4 characters and with every switch of point of view I hoped for each narrator not to be ‘the one’. I dreaded the moment when all would be revealed… at least until I saw where the story was headed. Then I was curious to see how exactly it would come to that.
Though the characters seemed a bit cliché at first sight (you know, the usual American cast: the nerd, the ‘criminal’, the popular, the athlete; and in fact, the same applies for the victim – the outcast) somehow they won me over with their stories, their fears, their secrets.
All through the story I asked myself the same questions over and over again: was that secret big enough, would have been worth killing someone for such a thing? Was the character driven enough to risk everything? Was Simon annoying enough that I would want to virtually kill him myself? (oh, such a dark thought, but I absolutely despised him!)
There is also growth when it comes down to these four, at the beginning they were like some cardboard characters, but they started to become more and more three-dimensional, adding more layers to their backbones until I fell for them, I cared for them, I feared for them.
This story is insane, Kaz comes up with terrific plans with unpredictable outcomes, and if I thought the first book was incredible, this one was even This story is insane, Kaz comes up with terrific plans with unpredictable outcomes, and if I thought the first book was incredible, this one was even more so. I also love all these characters to pieces, I want to take them all home to keep them safe.
On a side note, I was tempted to give it 4.5 stars, because if you want to end it with a bang make it a big one, not a tiny angry, brainwashed bang - I am talking about a particular tiny part of the story, though I won't spoil it. But this is indeed an amazing story, actually mindblowing, so I will let that pass.
Wonderful series! Highly recommended! I want mooooore!
Sooo GOOD!! Amazingly good.. Victoria-Schwab-ly good, if you know what I mean ^_^
I love the fact that this author stays away from the usual
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Sooo GOOD!! Amazingly good.. Victoria-Schwab-ly good, if you know what I mean ^_^
I love the fact that this author stays away from the usual YA recipes, her characters stand out, they don't follow a certain path, they have plenty of flaws too, so they stick to the gray zone and damn, I love them so much for that alone. And I loved the world itself, the creatures - not sure if they are original or not, didn't read much in the genre, but they surely seemed to me.
This one deserves so much praise! Loved loved loved it!
FULL REVIEW:
Be careful, this song might get right to your soul!
It’s hard to put into words all the emotions I felt while and after reading this book. So, let’s do this instead… Think of your top favourite song, listen to it in your mind, let it fill your heart with passion, let it vibrate through your veins. Is your skin humming? Do you feel like floating yet? Is a smile tattooed on your lips even though the notes are heartbreaking? Well, that’s close enough! That will do for now..
The first thing I loved is the world – so vividly cruel, chaotic and dark. I am not actually into night creatures, but every now and then there is an author who makes me reconsider this, who brings something new into the story, an author who makes even the darkest things shine bright. And this story is like a lighthouse in the middle of a moonless night.
Then there are the characters – drawn in so many shades of gray, not just good or bad.. strong but also vulnerable, scared but also determined, truthful but also driven by hidden motivations. I loved both Kate and August, I liked how they met, I understood why they decided to stick together, I was excited to see the tides turn with each step, and I can’t wait to see where their paths will lead them next.
(Btw, one of my favourite movies is August Rush. Hint: it involves music. ^_^ Thinking about this aspect, well.. music might be a good way to go, so August’s “power” is as enchanting as it sounds – though in quite a dark way.)
They are opposites in so many ways – August longs for control, Kate has it in her bones; he tries to hide, she likes to step into the spotlight; he wants to be “real”, she fakes all of herself; he’s a monster, she’s a real girl.. But what does “monster” mean anyways? And how do you actually become one?
This reminds me of how twisted the story is. And action packed, with so many turnarounds, and an ending that makes the reader scream for more.
As for the writing.. How can I define something that feels so right? It’s like Victoria’s words are my own thoughts – they flow in such a natural way that it doesn’t actually feel like reading, but imagining or dreaming. Brilliant! The thing is.. Victoria Schwab is a hell of a writer!
So, yeah.. I deeply recommend this book. It’s one of my top favourite already and I hope that it will make your heart beat in the rhythm of my own enthusiasm.
There are books that seem to live in the depths of my heart. Books that I breathe in and never breathe out, books that seem to take control
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There are books that seem to live in the depths of my heart. Books that I breathe in and never breathe out, books that seem to take control over my emotions entirely, books that get tattooed on the edges of my soul because I never want to let them go.
And I never want to let go of this story... I want to get lost in it once more like in the sweetest dream.. a dream that feels so real, so raw, so beautiful even in its darkest corners. Don't let me wake up, just let me live in it forever!
Wow, wow... I have no more words yet, just... wow. This is Laini at her best - her writing impeccable, her world-building incredible!
FULL REVIEW: I did not read The Grisha trilogy. Are you ok with that? Then I'm going to say that I loved this book from the bottom of my heart to the edge of yours and back.
Long story short, because my young bundle of joy doesn't let me stay away from him for too long, the Six of Crows is unique, vivid, unpredictable, and the characters are notorious young criminals, with six different perspectives and as many complex reasonings for what they did and/or choose to do.
"A gambler, a convict, a wayward son, a lost Grisha, a Suli girl who had become a killer, a boy from the Barrel who had become something worse."
As much as I adored the storyline I loved the back stories, as I found so much depth in them all, and if you think that six main characters seems like too much for one book... just trust me, it is not. You'll get the difference between them in no time (as distinctive as their voices are) and you will cherish the moments spent with each one of them, because they are a team and the story seems to be a teamwork on its own.
Kaz - the ruthless group leader or to whom my heart belongs to. He is deeply - emotionally and also physically - scarred, with a daunting past. He's built wall upon wall surrounding him and his heart, and we watched some of them break down step by step.
Inej - or his right hand, has a bit of contradictory traits. She is the wraith, silent as a shadow and she still shines so bright. She is soft but also tough. You should never underestimate her. Also, it was enlightening to see Kaz (to whom she owes her freedom) through her eyes, though at times also a bit frustrating but in a delicious way.
Nina - or the Grisha. If you read the other series you might know more about her kind. I was delighted by how rich this fantastic world actually is and I loved every element from it. Back to Nina, she is haunted by her past mistakes, but what takes a second to break, takes a life to build back again.
Matthias - the honorable one. He's been wronged by one of the above and that's a back story that keeps pushing through the pages wanting to be told and be made right again. Passionately seeking revenge he tries to keep his head straight, but now we can focus only on the first word and cross our fingers, shall we?
Jesper - the adventurous or the hilarious one. His guns don't miss the target and he has a bit of a gabling problem, but his layers reveal someone that we want to know more about.
Wylan - is he the soft one? Well I am not sure if that's the case. He is still under development, but some moments that involved him and Jesper put some big smiles on my lips.
Each character is fleshed out and one can't help rooting for them, even with their dark sides. The dynamic between them is also incredibly well crafted. There is friendship, camaraderie and there are snippets of romantic gestures, of shivering chemistry. Yes, I loved the subtle romances (if I can even call them that.. yet) with the fire of a thousand suns. It's been a while and I'm filled with longing, but my own flame still burns hot and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book and know more about these guys. Their diversity and their backgrounds, along with their trust as well as their mistrust, makes for a wonderful journey, one I can't wait to dive into again someday.
Last, but not the least important, there is nothing as rewarding as having a good villain in a story. In fact, our heroes are not pure and innocent (not at all), but extremely flawed and walking on a thin edge between good and bad - they are OUR heroes, but if you go asking around plenty will mark them as villains in their own stories (they cheat and steal and do whatever it takes to survive a rough life, there is no black and white for them, not in such magical world), and so it was fitting to have a layered villain. Will see what surprises might come with the sequel.
Conclusion...
In an ocean of twists, banter, humour and excitement (not to mention the beautiful prose and the incredible world building and character development), there is nothing I felt lacking when it comes to this book. I can only complain about having to wait for the next one, with the shadow of that mean cliffhanger still hovering over my heart. Everything else was perfect.
Let’s make things clear from the beginning. I loved The Art of Lainey, it was romantic and cute and so much fun.. but this one here, this is
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Let’s make things clear from the beginning. I loved The Art of Lainey, it was romantic and cute and so much fun.. but this one here, this is even better. So dark, so twisted, so amazing! Such a fantastic read, I can’t wait for book two and I can’t recommend it enough! I love, love, love it!!
In the beginning I felt a bit of confusion, there was a point when I started wondering if this wasn’t in fact the second book in the series, because there was so much talk about past events I wasn’t yet aware of, but that might’ve been only my tired brain trying to sabotage me (I’m in desperate need of sleep), as I got over it soon after and I simply couldn’t let go of this book until the very ending (and long after as I kept thinking about it).
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT IT…
The revelation and the steps the reader has to take in order to reach it. It was twisted, it kept me on the edge of my seat, it made me wonder, contemplate; finding new pieces in the puzzle was both frustrating and exciting, and the bigger picture amazed me, though also filled me with dread.
The romance. It is subtle, but sweet. It is not demanding, though it is always there, at the reach of their fingertips, one kiss away from flourishing.
The VISE (Vicarious Sensory Experiences,) technology. In Romanian ‘vise’ means ‘dreams’, and I guess it’s only fitting for this virtual reality concept. I liked what Winter and Jesse had to do for a living (yes, I am aware it’s not quite legal), all that adrenaline rush, how their experiences translated to other people. I liked what these VISEs also meant for the reader, like a door to the past, how they helped uncover the mystery, how they revealed other mysteries in the process.
The impact those old, horrible experiences Winter (and Rose) had to get trough left on her mind. The deep wounds. Her mental struggles. The physical struggles even. Again her relationship with Jesse seen from this particular point of view. The ties between Winter and her sister. There are some other things I loved, I just can’t explain them to you as they might imply minor or major spoilers too, so I guess I will leave them to you to discover.
CONCLUSION…
I loved everything about VICARIOUS. It is dark, enigmatic, action-filled, insanely beautiful to top it all off. I’ve had a blast reading this book and I can’t recommend it enough!
I don't know what to say about this book, I am at a loss for words.
It was pretty disturbing, though not necessarily in a graphic way. It felt sad and I don't know what to say about this book, I am at a loss for words.
It was pretty disturbing, though not necessarily in a graphic way. It felt sad and helpless and it left me with a bitter taste in my mouth, for all the hurt I wanted to take away, for all the wrongs I wanted to make right again.
The book is good, the story strong, the characters broken, maybe that's the problem, it felt too real, at times it felt like I couldn't handle such a raw story without feeling a terrible frustration over the situations described.
4.5 stars. Highly recommended. Full review soon....more
I’ve been staring at my laptop for a long time, trying to catch my breath, hoping to be able to put into words my love for this book and this author. But when she writes with such passion and cuts so deep with her words, how can I express all my astonishment if I can barely wrap my own mind around it?
This might be one of the most challenging themes so far, as “Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil” is a very powerful piece of art with roots sunk deep into the reality – it is a story about tolerance, about what humankind is made of, about heartbreak and longing; and it’s such a realistic portrayal of our modern society, here in Europe – with all the bombing and all the tremendous hate. *sigh*
I’ve been both awed and horrified by the authenticity of it.
It’s true, my heart is bleeding for all those characters, my soul feels crushed under the weight of so much pain and misfortune. But you know what’s the best part about all of Marchetta’s stories? There is always hope creeping in through all that darkness. There is always a smile playing on my lips, there is always the side of wonder that makes me believe in the impossible. That’s what Marchetta excels at: breaking things (usually people; her characters or her readers) into so many pieces that you won’t even remember the shape of them, and then bringing them back to life with just a few simple (but meaningful) words. [...]
As much as Marchetta plays with emotions, she also creates fabulous characters that haunt your dreams. And the storyline is incredible and full of coincidences (some happy, most sad). There are so many shadows, so many wounds… It’s a never-ending carousel of emotions you simply can’t get enough of.
Maybe I didn’t sell my soul to the devil for this book, but I sold so many tears for a slice of happiness.
Full review on the blog. -- Let me catch my breath... What a ride! Loved, loved, loved it! Review soon... -- Pre-reading thoughts: Oh heavens, I might consider selling my soul to the devil for this one... I want it so damn badly!!
To be honest, I feel that the synopsis doesn't make this story justice. It makes it seem quite shallow, though instead it is a deeply emotional story, beautifully written and full of hope. This is not Anna's story (as much as Dean's), though she is part of it and she gets her own most needed healing.
But maybe that's a good thing, as it took me by surprise, and what a lovely surprise that was!
"Home is Where You Are" is a story about struggle, about how unfair life can be, but how it can change if you work hard for it (and yeah, if you have a lucky star too). This is a story about broken families and broken hearts, about the process of healing, about how small gestures might feel like they have the power to take the pain away, about how love (in every form, from pure friendship to actual 'love', even simple kindness) can give you the force to move on, defy all odds and just be better.
This is such a powerful story, emotional and sweet, and the characters were absolutely lovely. I rooted for them, I wanted to reach to them and take them in my arms, I laughed with them and felt like crying with them. I cringed at how defeating some situations were, I giggled at their wittiness, because life could bring them down, but they still had the will to get up.
It's like that saying: When life knocks you down, calmly get back up, smile, and very politely say "you hit like a bitch".
Also, it pains me to think that this is fiction - I would love for all the people in Dean's (similar) situation to get the opportunity to change their lives for better. To find good people that would give them a hand or at least care a tiny bit. I would love to think that there are happy endings left in this world for people in need of them, my heart is breaking for people like a particular someone in this story that didn't get the chance to make the dreams come true.
I tell you, this is a powerful story. I hope that you will feel the same, because there is so much beauty in such powerful feelings.
Thank you, Tessa Marie, thank you for making this book part of my life. It really left an imprint on my heart!
Happy midnight reading!
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Read the full review here. I'll have it updated here soon.
PS: I loved this so much that I attached a personal picture to it. That's me playing with leaves.. and I think that it relates to the story pretty well :)
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The wonderful prose, the emotional story, the great characters.. It touched my heart, really. This book is absolutelySuch a beautiful book!
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The wonderful prose, the emotional story, the great characters.. It touched my heart, really. This book is absolutely incredible and I feel honoured to have it on my 'favourite' shelf.
The story is dark, but also hopeful, it is a triller but also with a psychological touch, it talks about trauma but also about healing, it is hopeless and hopeful all at once, I found it to be brilliant and the perfect story for me.
I haven't read a book quite like this in a while. And I don't know exactly what to tell you about it because emotional can be felt not explained. If this is a debut novel I simply can't wait for what's to come next.
Lily is a broken girl with a broken soul. Watching her mother being killed affected her deeply and you could actually feel it in your bones. Her pain is almost palpable, you can watch her tear under its pressure, under the weight of her regrets, lost in the hollow that threatens to overtake her.
For a broken character, her mind is just as shattered as you’d expect it, so Lily comes by as an incredibly unreliable character.
With each page the compelling writing is making you wonder what is real and what not, the confusion draws you in, Lily’s need to be whole again becomes your own.. I will be honest here, the pacing is slow, but the suspense is always there and it makes you want to breathe in each and every word.
And then comes the emotion.. The way she misses her mother, the way she remembers that year of bliss when they were on their own, the way she lets the regrets set in, the way she takes the blame for so many things she thinks she could have done.. ‘Touching’ is such a small word compared to what I felt towards this book and Lily.
I tell you.. I loved it and I recommend it from the bottom of my heart.
I am unwinding in the inside. My thoughts are in a divided state and I can't make myself rewind them.
This story is too powerful for words.
I just know that I LOVE this series. I know that I love... I... I know that... I... I... ... ...
Full review:
There are very few books so powerful that can follow you into your dreams. That leave an imprint on your soul. That are so dreadful and horrifying, but in the same time so beautiful and completely mesmerising.
And this time around it was true, it was not a wish of sorts, not a simple thought that just comes and goes. After reading it (this whole series), I had the more horrifying night ever – dreaming of unwinds and AWOLs, leaping back into consciousness only to be swept away into another desperate dream, where someone would be divided to pieces and I would endlessly run for my life.
It’s no wonder actually, as I’ve been spending around 4-5 days with the series, so my mind was pretty much overfilled with this story, but still.. I confirm that (indeed) this book has the power to haunt you even in your sleep.
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It’s hard to get to the end of a series when you love it as much as I loved this one. It pains me to be over with it.
But truth being told, it was exhausting, emotionally draining! My heart wouldn’t have been able to take any more pain or suspense, and I think that the characters felt just the same.
Everything came into place. Everything made complete sense. All their small fights had an impact on the world around, but the way it resonated – well, that seemed to be a lot greater than the sum of its parts. They probably never dreamed of achieving this much. They just wanted a chance to… be.
If the first book was created as a standalone, the last 3 books come hand in hand. You can’t have one without the others, you can’t see the big picture without reading them all. It started as the story of Risa, Lev and Connor. It ended as the story of so many more.
All those people who didn’t believe in unwinding (/anymore), all those people who needed and wanted things to change, all those people who were guilty in a way or another, all those people that had a handful of letters written in blood, even the world itself was there to watch them take the last steps in this journey – and it was marvellous.
Without any of them, the story wouldn’t have been the same, the ending wouldn’t have been as great. Their individual fights, their sacrifices, their strength and hope for a better world was what drove them on this path.
There are not enough words in this world to express the immensity and the beauty of it all.
I will miss these characters dearly, I feel like knowing them better than I know my own friends and I cared for them so much through this story. They are part of my life now and I refuse to say goodbye.
Conclusion:
I wish I could unwind time so I could experience this book from every possible angle, not passing through the moment, but living it. [adapted from a book quote from Connor]
Happy midnight reading!
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* Read the full review here.
I loved it! I really-really loved it! That was my last coherent thought before drifting off to sleep after finishing reading it, late into the night. AI loved it! I really-really loved it! That was my last coherent thought before drifting off to sleep after finishing reading it, late into the night. And I really recommend this story from the bottom of my heart!
Beautiful. Heartwarming. Funny. Romantic. Crazily cute. Emotional. Perfect. That’s all He+She is… and more.
Why is it that, you ask? Because of the quality of the writing. The fleshed-out, full of life characters. The open and funny conversations. The freshness of the plot even. The cuteness surrounding the couple. The heartbreak in their past and the hope for their future..
Taken piece by piece or as a whole, it is absolutely perfect!
I know a story is good when I keep trying to corner my husband and tell him all about it. Poor Mike, he was trying to sleep and I was talking his ears off, all enthusiastic and giggly. But, oh… how wonderful this tangled mess was; how beautifully their stories got to entwine; how full of fun and crazy cuteness their adventures were; how undeniable and tangible the chemistry between them really was.
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To be honest I was expecting some fluff summer-story, silly me, but He+She is a lot more than that. Even though it borrows a few common elements from the genre it belongs to, with the optimism of Shea + the honesty of Hew + the freshness of the plot itself, this book shines on its own. Not to mention that the ‘dark past’ element had an actual purpose – I bet you’ve noticed that it is usually used just to grab the attention, but in this particular case it had full depth, it actually defined the characters, the contours of their souls and the reasons behind their actions.
There were things that left me with my mouth hanging wide open in surprise. In fact there were even some mouth watering scenes. Also there was this ‘giggleness’, this deep feeling of rightness you only get when you read a complex story that’s been broken into tiny little pieces that slowly start to fit together.
This is the best NA I've ever read and probably one of the very best contemporary stories on my list!
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Michelle has become suddenly one of my top favourite authors. I can’t wait to read more from her! And I can’t wait too for He+She to be officially released, because I want it on my shelf really-really badly!
Do you know the feeling you get while and after you hold your breath for long? How time seems to stop for a while, how your heart beats faster and faster, how sharp everything becomes after the fuzziness washes over?
This is how this book feels like. And it is wonderful, and dangerously heartbreaking.
There is nothing in this world quite like the feeling of true happiness, or deep sadness, or shattering grief. There is nothing like the words that can really get to you, or the stories that you feel like wanting to take them into your arms, hugging them breathless and never wanting to let them go.
There is nothing quite like reading a book that makes you laugh - a true, deep laugh from the very center of your being.. Or the ones that can shatter you into thousands of pieces, leaving you with a mind full of what ifs.
“The Last Time We Say Goodbye” is a sad book. A beautiful, wonderful story about grief, about the pain of losing someone dear, about all the things you could have done to keep your loved ones safe. And I hate sad books. I really do. They can make my eyes leak this stupid warm, salty water, running down my face. And if not, they still make my heart ache.
But there’s beauty in them too, isn’t it?
In the fact that without being ‘hopeless’ you wouldn’t ever know what ‘hopeful’ feels like. In the fact that words have the power to create – to create emotions, to create new worlds and make you into new people. Words have the power to shut down the world around you or to make you really see it. Words can be as powerful as regrets.
So, you know.. Sad books are not for sad people. But maybe they are, because there is so much beauty in this world, so much love, so much everything, that people should NEVER be this sad.
I knew Cynthia can write about grief with a passion, I loved Hallowed the best because of that, but I think I might not do grief that well these days. I hate death, I hate feeling scared of it, I hate the people that have died in my life and have left me with this hollow in my heart that I can’t seem to be able to fill even years later.
But the truth is that this story is wonderful, it is filled with sorrow but it also has moments of happiness, of cuteness. It is bitter-sweet in a way that breaks your heart and some times puts it back together.
This is not a story about death, as much as one about forgiveness – Alexis (or Lex) needs to forgive her father for walking away, her mother for being so weak, her ex-boyfriend for giving her everything, her friends for feeling her despair, her brother for being so selfishly depressed, herself for not being there to save him. And she feels like she needs forgiveness to… For all the words left unspoken, for all the things that she could have done, for all the life her brother could have lived, for all the tears that have dried up.
The cover-art is perfect, the tagline hits a soft spot, the title is spot on, the story inside is beautiful. I think that every detail is perfect. Even perfectly sad. All in one this book here is absolutely great, not only for fans of Cynthia Hand, but for everyone who likes to read emotional stories.
So, down the road to Cinder(ella) is the beauty in red – my mistake, Red Riding Hood. No, I mean Scarlet, like the hair (and yeah, dear, I know you’ve heard that before).
And maybe not quite down the road, as between New Beijing and France there might be more than just one road (in fact we might need a shiny spaceship to help as travel light), but what goes around comes around and we need to get back to the very beginning of this all. Confusing much? I am glad to hear that.
Let’s start with something less confusing: SCARLET is just as awesome as CINDER. I meant the books, but the characters are just as great.
We follow again the path of Cinder who tries to survive in that crazy life of hers. Prince Kai might hate her (or maybe he might not), Queen Levana wants her head and now Cinder has a new partner in crime, one pretty much funny – Carswell Thorne.
But then we have 2 new POVs and a new love story to gush over. This Scarlet girl is tough, determined and she won’t take no for an answer. And (the) Wolf: dark, dangerous and out of place. You don’t know why is he there, why does he care, if to trust him or not with Scarlet’s heart.
Between all these lovely characters and the ones from the first book we get an amazing storyline with great action, a lot of fun and quite a few turnarounds that will leave you begging for more. February could never come soon enough.
For me this book was perfect: perfectly-awesome dynamics, perfectly-sweet romance and just a perfectly-bit of sadness to make up for the perfectly-amazing ‘giggleness’. Yes, I am a also a ‘perfect’ dork in love with romantic stories, but what can I say? I just loved this story so very much!
And you shouldn’t simply take my words for it, so I will give you the reasons why those items on the list were so great to begin with: 1. fantastic family dynamics - from honest punishments, to love, teasing, comforting, helping.. everything was relatable, realistic and just as beautiful as any family should be. 2. best friendships – they are all so great together as friends, having fun, playing sports or just being themselves and nothing more. 3. cutest love story – I simply loved the fence scenes – their game was cute and honest :D and there were sparks, and beauty and so much fun.
Not to mention that: - I had FUN! Tons of it! - I laughed out loud. I giggled like a kid. I smiled until my face hurt. - I highlighted half the book (it involved funny moments, and teasing, and some meaningful words and pretty much a lot of awesomeness). It was this great and more!
The romance is slow.. And sweet.. And it has that confusing vibe that only first loves (teenage loves) can ever give. It also happened during the entire story and it was based on friendship and trust and history – all ingredients for a great realistic and fun romance.
There is talk at some point about ‘love’ which might seem a bit too early (even though it happens near the end of the story), but it felt somehow right when I thought of it – because she loved him as a brother, as a neighbor, and afterwards she realised that her feelings were about more than just that – she loved him as a guy too. The transition was sweet, with her discovering all the different ways she might get to act around him – noticing new things about him, blushing at times, actually making a completely fool of herself too.. And it’s true, I wanted the author to take the time and put an “I love you” line in the first pages just to enforce what I am saying here – that there was ‘love’ first in their friendship, but it worked nicely anyways. It’s just a statement, not a problem at all.
Also, there is a bit of drama, no wonder the comparison I made way up there, but it’s not gut wrenching – it’s in there more for the character’s sake than for ours. It shows how strong she becomes, how vulnerable she might be deep down, it shows how much love there is between the characters, it’s a missing piece in Charlie’s life that she needs to find in order to be complete again.
After all, “On the Fence” is a self-discovery kind of story. Charlie lived in this bubble created by ‘the safeness of brotherhood’ (my words) and she knows that there is more to her, so she makes new (girl) friends, she goes out to meet new people, she takes a job and in time becomes more responsible (or at least she finds out that even small actions can have consequences).
CONCLUSION:
One of the very best romantic stories out there. Keep an eye on it when it comes out this summer!
*Find this and more at: ReadingAfterMidnight.com ** ARC received from the publisher for review. Thank you!
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Pre-reading: While waiting like crazy for 'Split Second' I will enjoy this beauty here. Oh well.. Seems like a fair trade :D [image] ____________________________________________
Aaaaarh, such a wonderful frustration! I must confess that this series is killing me slowly, because how in the world am I going to wait for god-knows-how-long until the last one comes out?
It’s not like this is a more cruel ending compared to the last one (you know the drill: heart-breaking, gut-wrenching, hair-pulling), but the thing is that it left me with the most important question unanswered.. Why?! Yep, forget I have a heart here (in so much need of mending), just turn my world upside-down and leave it at that *sigh*
Truth being told, I can never have enough of Paula’s world – so rich and not-so-easily predictable. It’s not a secret that I love (and I mean LOVE!) the series as a whole or that I think that the characters are absolutely amazing, so that I want to befriend them all.
Just imagine my happiness when I got this beauty in my hands (as I was highly anticipating it and it also happens to have one of the most beautiful covers in the world); just imagine the river of emotions floating through my veins at spending more time with my favourite characters (Gaby, Jude and even Rafa - one of the best trio out there) and all the others – as Shimmer is even more character-driven than Haze.
I feel like the happiest girl alive! And I am in so much need of a time-machine. *sigh* Any genius out there to build me one, please?
Back to the story, I won’t be able to tell you much, as I don’t want to spoil anything for you, but there are so many great things about this story, I’ll just try to name a few.
- The pacing is slow, yes, but it builds up page by page and it creates a great connection between the reader and the (so many) characters.
- There is plenty of action too, there is a lot of fear growing page after page while still not knowing much about Rafa and Taya, nor how will the two groups manage to save them without killing each other in the process.
- And there’s also a truly emotional side of this book. It is in Gaby’s fears regarding Rafa, in her feeling like an outcast, in the strong friendships that never died, in how close she and her brother are..
- One last thing, you can rest assured that the book is filled with turnarounds that throw things off course every now and then, making the readers question even the things they thought they knew.
Conclusion:
Though I felt Rafa’s temporary absence with every cell in my being, Shimmer is a great addition to a even greater series. The writing is beautiful, the world.. well, I still can’t quite wrap my head around it all, but the puzzle starts to take shape and it’s funny because I feel a lot more ‘puzzled’ than before.
When it comes out (25 June AU, 3 July UK), pick it up folks!
Happy midnight reading!
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*Find the complete review at: ReadingAfterMidnight.com ** Book source: Copy received from the publisher – I might just die of happiness any moment now ^_^ ____________________________________________
...How trilling it is to dive into a new story, a new world, new lives and new adventures that leave me breathless every time!
This was such an unusual & original story! I have nothing to measure it against. It was nothing like I thought it would be. The world building is awesome, the action is trilling, the characters are strong and determined, the turnarounds made me tear a bit and the ending left me full of hope.
THESE BROKEN STARS tells a story about survival, about love, about deadly secrets and hope that can make a heart beat again. I fell for this book from the beginning and, as the story progressed, I simply couldn’t stop reading.
To put it simple, we have our sweet couple (the rich girl and the famous -but poor- soldier) thrown into an unknown & mostly unwelcome world, surviving a deadly accident (that might or might not have left other survivors) and being forced to cooperate in order to keep alive, which turns out to be hard when they each of them is as stubborn as a mule. ... But to be honest, this story is anything but ‘simple’.
So, we find a bit about the society in which our characters live, with the ups and downs on both sides. We find about their fears and hopes. We find about the mysteries of this new planet. We watch our characters struggle to move on and find a way back home. And yes, slowly they start to also fall in love, and it’s a bitter-sweet story because there is a lot of pride in the middle and some secrets to fear of. Not to mention that there’s a world of a problem that could tear them apart.
Still, what I really loved in this book is watching these broken characters start healing through what they’re forced to survive together – they grow stronger, more defined with each page and they start to see this world and the freedom it offers with different eyes.
I am glad that the next book won’t be about the same couple (or so I heard) as they’ve been through too much, through hell and back and I want to keep hoping.
Well, I am no fool here, I know that this will not be the end of their story, someone that has built such an empire won’t so easily be set off track, not with the secrets Lilac and Tarver share, not with the truth about her. But I’d like to be left guessing, I love this feeling of closure & hope and I am gonna stick with it for as long as I can.
Conclusion: From the fabulous cover, the magical world and the beautiful characters to the terrible turnarounds and fantastic plot, this story is absolutely great. My kind of book. No... my kind of favourite book and I recommend it from the bottom of my heart!
* Read the full review at: ReadingAfterMidnight.com ** ARC received from the publisher for review. Thank you! ____________________________________________
This is one of the best conclusions to a series! The very best.
Seriously! And it felt so ..right, you know? Not all butterflies and cheers and happiness, but right and real and beautiful and raw. The action, the suspense, the dramatic romance, the bittersweet ending… every moment and every page, every single word in this book.. EVERYTHING was perfect. I couldn’t have imagined a better ending for this series, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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Without emotion, what’s the point of being human?
June and Day’s journey has been filled with so much heartbreak over these 3 books and I sobbed a bit near the ending for all that they’ve been trough, for the injustice of life, for how much they have lost (especially Day because -as I’ve said a million times already- June has had it so much easier than him). But I have hope, there’s a bittersweet taste in their new beginning and I loved those last few pages for giving me some sort of peace of mind, for leaving my heart feeling this light. I also loved the ending for the lack of selfishness, for taking its time such that those souls could heal, for filling me with so many emotions.
I am definitely giving away more than I want to, but for once I don’t care because I’ve been holding my breath the whole time waiting for Day and June to meet again, hoping for them to find a way back together, crying inside for all the things that have put a world of a wall between them, dropping my eyes into my mouth at some mind-blowing turnarounds and crying like a baby when things went terribly wrong. What more do you want from me? How much a heart can take without breaking?
So this is me, falling in love again with a breathtaking series. This is me saying again my goodbyes (and oh, my poor heart! This year will be full of book-goodbyes, I should get used to the heartbreak). This is me telling you once more: Go read this book and then come back to talk about it ;)
Happy midnight reading!
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Later edit (Dec 2018): It’s been a while, but the tears in my eyes tell me that this is still the best ending to a series. Of course, we now know that this is not the actual ending, that soon a 4th book will come out, but it doesn’t make it less emotional or perfect. (And please, please, please, let the next book be just as good as the previous ones!)
Champion is my favourite book in the series, hands down, and I trully wish to see what comes next. My heart is broken, but through those cracks there is so much hope spilling. I’ve loved this series because of Day, but in the end there’s this chance for June to shine just as brightly. Her ache was my ache, her longing was mine... Oh Day, aren’t you one of the best fictional crush ever? Let’s hope for some long summer days now, shall we?
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Read this and more at: ReadingAfterMidnight.com * Also, the images sources can be found on the blog. ___________________________________________
I can hardly explain it, can barely describe the amount of happiness I felt bursting from my heart when I picked up this book, but know that this story is totally and utterly beautiful, sometimes in such an aching way, sometimes filling one's heart with so much delight.
There is grieve, there is love, there is hope, there is happiness. Jessi can create the most romantic and lovely moments ever, also the deepest and the most heartbreaking, leaving you truly breathless and making your heart skip quite a few beats on the way.
If you fell in love with her other stories you will simply adore this one! It was all that I wanted.. everything I hoped for, and my expectations were actually sky-high. Her best so far!
Without knowing it, Jessi has created in this story scenes that I dreamt about, or things that I hold close to my heart, or places I would love to visit and things I’d like to do or see for myself. She has created characters I would love to meet someday and beautiful, intense love(s) that could never die. “Things We Know by Heart” was emotional, but also romantic and fun!
Also, Quinn and Colton are sensational. I loved how crazy and clumsy their first meeting was, I loved how they couldn’t stay away from each other from that point on (though Quinn struggled and the truth was killing her inside), I loved how they used every opportunity to have the best days ever, together. The sweetest even.
I won’t say anything about the storyline because it’s way too early and I am not much into that anyways. For me what counts is what a book makes me feel, and this one managed to make me feel plenty and all soooo very good!
The writing is beautiful and lyrical and I have tons of quotes that I love from the bottom of my heart. As Quinn says, I wish I would be able to keep these feelings in a bottle, to have them and remember them forever. It is perfect, guys, this book is absolutely perfect!
Edit 1#: We have a cover, which is simple - and simple is good. We have a book description, which is already breaking my heart.
Dear Jessi, I gave my heart to all your other books, take care of it in this one.
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Edit #0 - My reaction to finding about a new book from Jessi Kirby:
I have no idea what this story will be about, but if the author is Jessi I simply don't care - I'm pretty sure I'll end up loving it like all the others :D
And it comes out near my birthday, which is pretty cool!...more
The suspense, the confusion, the puzzled pieces that start to fit together, the world building, the character development (both in the past and the future)… Should I really tell you how much I loved this story? It was absolutely AMAZING! It blew my mind, of course I loved it!
I’d spend all my yesterdays reading this book only to feel this joy with which it filled my heart, because there’s nothing better than finding a new favorite book – and this one here is a keeper.
TIME TRAVEL:
I love the concept of time traveling, still it’s usually hard to find a good book that touches this subject. So, why “All Our Yesterdays” worked for me you wonder?
Well, it doesn’t spend a lot of time explaining how things work, but the details it gives seem believable. Also, the connection between present and past is really strong – the characters are completely different now, you see how time has changed them, but you also feel the need to see why is it that they changed so much, how wrong did things turn out for them in the time between, and how the future selves might make things better.
The decisions are hard to make, the plans go wrong more than right, there are turnarounds after turnarounds and even though you might feel that things don’t add up, in the end you will see that they actually do. Did I tell you how much I loved this story?! Oh, my!
PLOT:
My incoherent book description (also called ‘babbling in my new love language’): Run before the future catches up with you; Hide between your yesterdays until you make it right; Fight for a version of yourself that might chase to exist. … It’s all worth it, because when the past and the future collide and you’re running out of time there is only one thing holding it all up: hope! And maybe, just maybe, that will be enough.
I’ll keep it at that, not wanting to spoil anything for you, but be assured that the action keeps you on the edge of your seat at ALL times, switching back and forth between time perspectives, only making you want more from both of them.
CHARACTERS:
I liked how all the characters developed over the time. They kept consistent, even though there is this innocence that has been lost in the past years. You see how strong they are now, how weak and naive they’ve been in the past and you wish to find more about the things that made them change that much. But at heart, they are just the same; they wish for the same things, they fight for the same reasons, only at a different level.
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Time is coming for us, and coming fast.
What I loved the most is that the characters are flawed, they make mistakes, but they have also depth; they fight for the right things, but they still have a heart to lead them. They seem real and they question the things they need to do, they fear the possibility failure (they can even accept it) and they simply want to make things better for each of them. I loved them all and it pained me to see how unfair life can be sometimes, and how easily some beautiful things can break into thousands of pieces just in an instant.
CONCLUSION:
Where do I preorder this? Because I want it on my bedstand next to a few other beloved stories.
Think Unraveling (with the fast pacing and the mind-blowing turnarounds), Pivot Point (because of the two perspectives) and Across the Universe (sorry, but I will keep this to myself) – all in one.
If I were to be really honest with myself I would give this book 4.5 stars because the future didn’t change as quickly as the characters interacted with the present and I wasn’t really sure why was that (it gave me some sort of unsettling feeling). The theory might work even so, but I feel like the future could have been altered just a bit by some events.. maybe. And also, once or twice the characters’ reactions were a bit slow, they made the connections between facts really slow and I even felt smarter then them (not that I complain, but I wanted to yell at them to just open their eyes, LOL).
But these are some very minor things, I loved this book to pieces – loved the action, the suspense, the romance.. everything. And guess what, this is a debut novel – and if the first one is this good, I am keeping my eyes on you, dear Cristin!
Happy midnight reading!
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* This review can also be found at ReadingAfterMidnight.com ** ARC received from the publisher for review - Thank you! ____________________________________________
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