Kingdom Cold - Brittni Chenelle

Synopsis:

Attempted murder, that's how sixteen-year-old Princess Charlotte's engagement starts. It seems like the only thing she has in common with Prince Young of Vires is their mutual discontent.

When her kingdom's attacked, Charlotte's parents renegotiate her hand in marriage to a handsome stranger with a sinister plan. With the people Charlotte loves dying around her, and her kingdom's future at stake, the only person she can turn to is the prince she betrayed. But, should she save her kingdom or her heart? One must fall.

Review:

This book suprised me, I must admit that much at least. Part of me was expecting some cliche teenage romance story with a love hate start and all the usuals but I was knocked back when reading it as in fact it isnt that at all!

The story itself differs in perspectives, switching between several characters POV's at one point. Mainly it switches between Pricness Charlotte's and Prince Young's POV which you would expect as the story is primarily theirs. It follows the teenagers as they meet for the frist time since they were practically toddlers, this time it is for their wedding prepared by their families. Charlotte has no filter when it comes to Young, in the sense she has no issue in telling him how she really feels even if it may take a pinch of alcohol to losen her tongue.

Soon enought events happen which are written so perfectly, I was imersed and in love. We meet so many characters throughout the book all but one are really likeable for me just because I know what the other character is like. There is something truly compelling about each of the characters, all the way from our main characters Charlotte and Young all the way through to the secondary characters scattered throughout the book. Each characters plays their part and adds a certain note of realism to the story even though it doesnt follow the typical structure of a book. This element alone makes it my cup of tea and in the end i was bound to love the story anyway.  

Charlotte is young but she knows what she wants, she is protective and selfish and all of these things that are just natural to a girl in such circumstances but she if fierce and wonderful, I wish I knew her. Young is just a little older than Charlotte and hes brave and loyal, protective and kind, nothing like what people know him to be which is that he never smiles, like he's never happy but with Charlotte even though I'd hate to admit it if i were him, he is happy around her. Minseo is one of Young's older brother who accompanies him throughout the book is exactly like Young but theres something different to how he does it all that makes him nothing like his brother at all. 

The one thing I absolutely adore about this book is the journey and growth the characters show but that isn't the only best quality of Kingdom Cold and theres no chance of me choosing the best one. 

With each page you are subjected to the cruetly of being both a royal and human, Kingdom Cold is bound to build you up and break your heart and you wont even see it coming. Following the end of the book the only thing I could truly want, is one more very long moment within it,  it became somewhat of a natural feeling and a new home to me. Take me back. Brittni has crafted a wonderful story within 300 pages and I can not wait to see what else Brittni has in store for us. A definite 5/5 from me and a must read for any YA reader in need of another heart break. 

Style (The OTP Series) - Chelsea M. Cameron

Synopsis:

Kyle Blake likes plans. So far, they’re pretty simple: Finish her senior year of high school, head off to a good college, find a cute boyfriend, graduate, get a good job, get married, the whole heterosexual shebang. Nothing is going to stand in the way of that plan. Not even Stella Lewis.

Stella Lewis also has a plan: Finish her senior year as cheer captain, go to college, finally let herself flirt with (and maybe even date) a girl for the first time and go from there.

Fate has other plans for Kyle and Stella when they’re paired up in their AP English class and something between them ignites. It’s confusing and overwhelming and neither of them know what to do about it. One thing they do know is that their connection can’t be ignored. The timing just isn’t right.

But is there ever a good time for falling in love?

Review:

So a little while ago Chelsea was looking for people to review this lovely book and I just couldn't say no. Although I wont be releasing what she was looking for specifically as I don't feel its very important, I am releasing that I have no regrets enquiring about getting a copy of the book.

We follow 2 beautiful characters, both very different but extraordinary to me. Kyle is all about getting through high school and heading off to a good college where she'll date boys and then graduate, get a job, get married and all of the heterosexual stereotyped things, she loves hr plans so when Stella Lewis comes into the picture starting to rip up Kyles plans she has no idea what to do or how to act. Stella is the cheer captain and she cant wait to finish high school and head off to college where she can finally be herself and date a girl and go on from there. These characters are truly beautiful, very different from each other but the forces just pull them together.

The plot is as amazing as the characters alone, it develops at such a perfect rate I couldn't put it down, page after page I'm begging for the characters to just get together and as a reader you're begging for it to just happen and get it over with and I'm just internally screaming throughout because the characters are perfect for each other, meant for each other I just couldn't cope. I'm sucker for love like this when its so accurately portrayed like it was, the love didn't suddenly happen or instantaneous love it was developed from 2 people just not wanting to be around each other to them never wanting to be apart from one another.

Throughout the story we get to see all sides of the characters, there are no secrets or information we don't know about them it's just a fully open and well portrayed tale of 2 girls discovering themselves and falling in love. It's all so realistic and true that I can't cope, people don't tend to understand that in a same sex relationship or discovering yourself and coming to terms with what you find out that its not as simple as it sounds, its nerve wrecking and confusing but its beautiful and a weight off of your shoulders.

As a whole this book blew me away, I was so happy and full of joy when the end of the book came, I'd love to see more of both of these characters because of just how great and real they were. It's LGBTQ+ and it's completely beautiful, its a 5/5 from me and although there's a lot of swearing within the book and there is some sexual content it still makes for a great read and is quite easy to get through in a single day if you have the time. I recommend this book for literally anyone who feels as though they are alone in trying to figure themselves out and literally everyone else.

Something Beautiful - Amanda Gernentz Hanson

Synopsis:

Cordelia and Declan have been best friends since they were three years old. By the time they hit middle school, Cordelia—Cord, to Declan—is already feeling the blackness in her life as depression takes hold. Their mutual attraction to each other leads to a serious high school relationship, one with their foundation of friendship at the forefront. Cordelia seems to have her mental health under control. All appears to be well.

However, when Declan starts to accept his own fluid sexuality, it sets something in motion in their lives that is both beautiful and tragic as they learn to love each other for who they are.

Review:

I received this book as an e arc from Insta freebies, the synopsis just made me want to read it so I couldn't resist getting a copy.

In the book we follow Cordelia and Declan who have been friends since they were 3 years old and they are the best of friends, sticking with each other through thick and thin through the hard times and the good. You can easily see that their bond is unbreakable. I fell in love with both character instantly and so easily, they were innocent and adorable and its beyond adorable.

We follow the couple through time switching from the present to the past to present and so on until we reach the future. It's a perfect mix of past and present which helps you as a reader understand the characters and their lives and actions. We see Cordelia through breaking her arm, moving to England for months leaving Declan behind, then coming back and rekindling her friendship with him and then fall in love, there are so many more moments we witness all of which are beautiful. It was hard to stay dry eyed throughout this book it just poked so many times at my heart I could just about manage it.

The plot is beautiful, showing how fluid love and acceptance can truly be. Everything was incredibly hard to see coming, I was so emotionally attached to the characters I just wanted everything to be okay in the end. The plot was well thought out and written, the switches between times helped you as a reader understand what was happening at the present time and it was just a perfect read. I guarantee you as a reader will not be able to stay calm or dry eyed throughout the story, even as I finished I had burst into tears and just had to lie down for 5 minutes to collect myself.

I can't give this book anything less that 5/5 it was just perfect in everyway and a true representation of so many things. I recommend this book to anyone who can handle it, any YA lovers, anyone who wants a LGBTQ+ to read and pretty much anyone else. You experience happiness, love, acceptance and tragedy and to put it simply this book is exactly what the title says, Something Beautiful.         

Chasing Eveline - Leslie Hauser

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Ivy Higgins is the only student at Carmel Heights High School who listens to cassettes. And her binder is the only one decorated with album artwork by 80s band Chasing Eveline. Despite being broken-up since 1989, this rock band out of Ireland means everything to Ivy. They’re a reminder of her mom, who abandoned Ivy and her dad two years ago. Now the music of her mom’s favorite band is the only connection she has left.

Even though Ivy wavers between anger and a yearning to reconnect, she’s one-hundred percent certain she’s not ready to lose her mom forever. But the only surefire way to locate her would be at a Chasing Eveline concert. So with help from her lone friend Matt—an equally abandoned soul and indie music enthusiast—Ivy hatches a plan to reunite the band.

The road to Ireland won’t be easy, though. And not just because there is no road. Along the way they’ll have to win over their Lady Gaga-loving peers, tangle with some frisky meerkats, and oh yeah, somehow find and persuade the four members to play a reunion gig. It’s a near-impossible task, but Ivy has to try. If she can’t let go of the past, she’ll never be able to find joy in the present.

Review:

Chasing Eveline is the story of a 16 year old girl named Ivy, one day her mother got up and just left her, leaving her to be raised by her father even though he himself is dealing with the loss and abandonment.

Ivy has only 1 connection  with her mom and that is through her mom's favourite band from the 80s called Chasing Eveline. All of the songs take her to a place with her mother where the memories are fresh and they are happy.

Together with her friend Matt who himself is struggling with a break up, try to get Chasing Eveline back together and they try to get the band new love from teenagers in creative ways and it made my heart melt how determined they both are in these activities because it was just that important to them. In the end they meet a boy named Sean who they quickly become friends with due to his love for the band too. Up to this point as a reader you really don't know which way this book is going and let me tell you there's plot twists in there.

The best part of this entire book to me was that it was a realistic story told about a teen girl dealing with pain and grief. She was strong in her broken heartedness. She was strong and determined and so real. The ending of the book was perfect, I mean they struggle hard throughout so any sort of reward at the end was going to be worth it but the end was such a great reward for them. Its a story of friendship and love, family and acknowledgment and acceptance. Just pure brilliance.

I feel as though this is YA novel that anyone can read no matter their age. Its heart warming and heart breaking, food for the soul, sewn together with love and written so perfectly. I cried and laughed, I experienced emotions with these characters and their lives, a great book does this and Leslie has done an amazing job here.

For all of this alone it is a 5/5 from me and a recommendation to anyone, I believe there is so much more for me to say but I can't quite put it into perfect enough words to express it. I really hope that I can read more of Leslies work in the future because Chasing Eveline with stay with me.

The Eye of Nefertiti: A Pharaoh's Cat Novel - Maria Luisa Lang

Synopsis:

The Eye of Nefertiti is both a stand-alone novel and a sequel to The Pharaoh’s Cat. The time-traveling ancient Egyptian feline with human powers returns together with his beloved Pharaoh and his close friends, the High Priest of Amun-Ra and Elena, an Egyptologist’s daughter.

The cat is quick-witted, wise-cracking narrator as well as free-spirited, ever-curious protagonist, and the story he tells is an exotic, imaginative, spell-binding tragicomedy. The cat travels from present-day New York City to England, both ancient and modern, then to ancient Egypt, where he confronts a horrible demon and experiences a sublime emotion. Once back in England, he descends into a psychological abyss so deep only the Pharaoh can save him.

The Eye of Nefertiti interweaves feline and human, past and present, natural and supernatural. It contains numerous surprises, twists and turns, intriguing characters, both human and animal, fascinating revelations about ancient Egyptian history and culture, and an ingenious application of the Tarot and an Italian opera.

Review

I must first of all thank Maria for supplying me with a free copy of the book in return I am to truthfully review it.

The Eye of Nefertiti is a stand alone novel but is also a follow on from the first book A Pharaoh's Cat. Having read the first book I felt it easy to transition into this book but I know that having read this book that even if you haven't read the first book, everything is pretty much in here for you to catch up on anyway so it isn't really too necessary to read the first unless you want the detail.

After the ending of the last book, we are in New York and its been a few months and there is now a new addition who is very much an adorable little fella. As it was with the first book, its a quick read and easily completed in a sitting or 2 depending on the time you have, and it still isn't a simple book about a cat, it looks at the deep meanings of connections, mixing emotions with historical fiction and magic. We see more than just ancient Egypt and modern day New York this time, we also get to see both modern and ancient England which made me smile because I love it when books are based in my country for some reason. Throughout the book there is a mystery that must be solved and we’re left very curious as to how things will play out. Although it is easy to work out a couple of bits and bobs as I say, as a whole the way things play out was just a big surprise for me.

We once again have a number of amusing moments to play audience to; we once again get to explore ancient Egypt and have a mystery to solve as well as having interesting characters and have scenes that pull at a variety of emotions. It gives us all we could expect from the story.

I simply just loved this book, having already fell in love with and attached myself emotionally and mentally to all of the characters in the last book I just simply moved into this book and with each page turn I was finding more and more reason to stay connected and laugh and cry or a mix of the both. The plot was very interesting and unique and I just couldn't put it down. With all of the new messages and lessons I finished the book with a sense of something, I'm not even sure what but I was kind of refreshed and seeing the world ever so slightly different. It opened my eyes in some way and I'm pretty sure I cried for a little while but no one needs to know that.

Leaving this the very same way I left the first book, its an easy 5/5 and if any of you check this out, come back tell me how you felt about it all and lets see how different or same our experiences were.

The Pharaoh's Cat - Maria Luisa Lang

Synopsis:

The Pharaoh’s Cat, a tragicomic fantasy narrated in the present tense by the cat himself, tells of a free-spirited, wise-cracking stray in ancient Egypt who suddenly acquires human powers and immediately captivates the young Pharaoh, making him laugh for the first time since his parents’ death.

The cat becomes the Pharaoh’s constant companion and, at the royal palace and on a tour of Egypt, participates in the festivities, developing an insatiable appetite for good food, wine, and gossip. Gradually, he renews the Pharaoh’s ability to enjoy life and inspires him to become a stronger leader. The bond of selfless love they share will change Egypt’s destiny.

The cat has a good friend in the High Priest of the god Amun-Ra and seeks his help in solving the mystery of his human powers and the supernatural manifestations that plague him. He has a mortal enemy in the Vizier—the second most powerful man in Egypt--who hates him for his close relationship with the Pharaoh. The Vizier’s persecution of the cat ultimately results in his fleeing with the High Priest to present-day New York City, where they find an ally in an Egyptologist’s daughter.

Review:

First of all I want to thank Maria for providing me a copy of The Pharaoh's Cat in return for a honest review, I hope you enjoy.

The Pharaoh's Cat is such a lovely read, you can pretty much get through it in a day or 2 if you have some time to kill. I didn't really know what to expect from such a book with all the aspects of it combining bits of several genres but it was such a great read that I'm pretty attached to now. Its not simply a story about a cat, it is so much more, of love and friendship the repercussions of actions and most noticeably Egyptian history I suppose and even more messages about how actions can effect lives. These lessons and messages are not plainly put to you, they are so delicately woven into the storyline that is sweet and spans thousands of years.

The story told from the perspective of the cat, The Pharaoh’s Cat is made up of amusing moments. In both ancient Egypt and modern day New York, we get to play audience as the mystery surrounding the walking talking cat is unrolled and solved. Throughout, we encounter several interesting characters and watch as many wonderful and uplifting scenes unfold. It really does pull you in and I found myself simply unable or unwilling to put the book down for hours on end.

With the characters and the scenes I completely fell in love, to keep the story short some scenes that I wished had been plumped out more were short but still very adorable and vibrant. I got attached to everyone and thing, it was just too hard not to. Characters shown on the negative side had my bad emotions whilst every other character shown on the positive side got all of my great emotions and when plot twists came I'm sure both loads of emotions clashed and fought with each other for a long time. Although short and simple The Pharaoh's Cat made me laugh, cry, curse and simply just forget the real world for a while. I love the information about Egypt and how well it all fitted into the story.

Once finishing the story I moved right onto the second book and simply fell further in love. Short, sweet and simple this book gets a 5/5 from me. Even though some people saw parts as negatives which bumped down their ratings I simply just loved this book to much to not give it a 5/5. if you need a short book to fill in a hole, something to laugh at and love definitely check out this book and I hope it has the same effect on you as it did me.

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Things I'd Love To See More Of

More PoC characters

More representation of the LOGBTQ+ community including those after the +

More gender neutral activities

More depictions of religions and history

More education on politics to inform readers of any age in an engaging and easy to understand way.

More showings of day to day struggles

Inclusion of the worlds problems

More acceptance between characters; no fat shaming, slut shaming, height shaming? Less discrimination.

More characters with all of their quirks no matter how unusual or uncommon they may be.

Even more love  💕 and friendship

The Broke and The Bookish hosts Top Ten Tuesday Weekly

The Academy Introductions (The Ghost Bird #1) - C.L.Stone

Synopsis:

With an agoraphobic mother and a barely-there father, Sang abhors the isolation keeping her in the shadows. The only thing Sang craves is a fresh start and to be accepted as ordinary by her peers, because for her being different meant being cast out alone.

When her family moves to a new school district, Sang infiltrates a group of boys nearly perfect in every way. Grateful for an influence outside of her parents’ negativity, she quickly bonds with the boys, hoping to blend in and learn from them what it means to have a natural relationship with friends.

Only the boys have secrets of their own and they’ll do anything to keep her safe from the knowledge of the mysterious Academy that they've sworn allegiance to. Bit by bit, Sang discovers that her friends are far from the normalcy she expected. Will her loyalty change when she's forced to remain in the dark, or will she accept that she's traded one house of secrets for another?

Meet Kota, Victor, Silas, Nathan, Gabriel, Luke and North in a story about differences and loyalty, truth and mystery, friendships and heart-throbbing intimacy.

The Academy, ever vigilant.

Review:

So I actually read this book as the first book for the All We Know Book Club that I  created late last year.

Automatically I was drawn into Sang' world, I really fell for all of the characters, like I really felt like they were all genuine and kind and everything we all need in someone nowadays. (I'm jealous don't judge.) For some reason I automatically connected with Sang, she's been taught all of her life that strangers are out to harm you but as she soon discovers, that is wrong for the most part. She first meets Kota who I automatically fell in love with, he seemed like a real gentlemen, much like the rest of friends that Sang later meets.

I know quite a few people had a lot of bad things to say about this book. really it was just them saying the same thing over and over. C.L Stone wrote 'I usually write about cute boys and uncomfortable situations' EVERYONE IN THE MAJORITY OF THE BOOK WERE CUTE! people hated the amount of mushy love sort of things going on but for some really odd reason, I loved it nearly too much, it made me smile and laugh and internally cry. (is my jealousy still showing?)

Throughout the story, there are obvious signs of secrets between the boys that Sang cant know about and it really intrigued me because of how they were acting about it all. In the end we do get a little of information about it, just enough and in time to make you want, or more like need to read the next instalment. Stone definitely created an awing bunch of characters and atmosphere and everything else like as you can probably tell, I'm finding it extremely hard to explain everything. I loved how the story unravelled and how the boys basically cared for Sang, the way her parents should, showing how friendships should go.

I must declare that the book is called introductions and it really is just that! each character is bought in and explored, then just as the end of the book comes, they're all shovelled into the beginning of what I hope to be an good plot that is yet for me to read about? In all honestly I'm not even sure what to expect from any of the next books but I really need them in my life. Trust me this review makes zero sense and I'm sorry for that, but I cant explain the book without ruining the book and I don't want to do that and secondly I'm so addicted that I could actually bounce off every wall right now and third of all I'm in need of a very large chill pill to calm down the tingling of jealousy.

Its a 5 out of 5 for what it was but I crave more, like really, I do. I loved the integrations between characters and see I'm babbling again. but yes 5/5 from me and I cant wait to read more and

Life And Other Near Death Experiences - Camille Pagan

Synopsis:

Libby Miller has always been an unwavering optimist—but when her husband drops a bomb on their marriage the same day a doctor delivers devastating news, she realizes her rose-coloured glasses have actually been blinding her.

With nothing left to lose, she abandons her life in Chicago for the clear waters and bright beaches of the Caribbean for what might be her last hurrah. Despite her new sunny locale, her plans go awry when she finds that she can’t quite outrun the past or bring herself to face an unknowable future.

Every day of tropical bliss may be an invitation to disaster, but with her twin brother on her trail and a new relationship on the horizon, Libby is determined to forget about fate. Will she risk it all to live—and love—a little longer?

From critically acclaimed author Camille Pagán comes a hilarious and hopeful story about a woman choosing between a “perfect” life and actually living.


Review:

I was hooked 20 pages in, even less than that if I have to be honest. It kicked off right away, the emotions and surprises came out of the woodwork instantly.

Libby is or point of view, she's middle ages and has a personal vow to herself to stay away from funerals and has done so until her mothers which she attended as a small child. I instantly fell in love with her as instantly as possible. She is a very truthful person, and maintains that part of her personality all the way through. I also loved how blunt she was with people about how she's feeling etc..

Curving the balls thrown her way, after finding out two critical pieces of information, A) Her Health B) Her husband isn't who she thought he was, Libby abandons Colorado and heads to the Caribbean in hopes she can forget Colorado and everything that happened there. Once set on the Caribbean and forgetting and living, she meets Sihloh. The pair grow close and you can probably guess what happens there.

The storyline is somewhat grim, though about a failing marriage and the big C, Libby and her eye opening journey have a sense of humour to it and a sense of hope. Libby's character and her twin Paul and all of the other characters within the story were well written and perfectly crafted, their behaviour and their reactions to were not far fetched. the characters were a great combination, unique and diverse.

I adored the great happenings throughout and my heart dropped at the bad times in the story. it was a well paced progression of storyline and I managed to finish it within a day. I fell in love within 20 pages even more so after 200. I'm pleased that there were no loose ends and had a well written ending.

A truly addictive read, a mix of humour and the harsh reality of cancer. 5/5 and I will definitely be looking into reading more of Camille's work.



I got this book for free on my Amazon Kindle 7 day free trial

Club Dead - Charlaine Harris

 *I MUST SAY THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SMALL SPOILERS IN ORDER TO WRITE AN UNDERSTANDABLE REVIEW.*

Club Dead is the third book in the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. Early on in the book Sookie realises that Bill is distant with her, spending more time on the computer than alone with her investing himself in their relationship. He drops a bombshell that he's going away for a while and then pushes Sookie away further. Once Bill is gone Sookie goes on with her life, before Bill is kidnapped and to find him it requires Sookie to once again dive into the other half of her life that has only existed since she dated Bill, the life threatening, extreme side of her life.

Throughout the book Sookie seems to of matured and become more intelligent and more efficient with her telepathy and seems to know more ways of using to help her in situations she's in. Alongside Sookie we get to experience the heartache she suffers from being away from Bill and now introduced to a werewolf who is trusted to keep her safe.

In the story we learn more about the Vampire world and the world of Werewolves and shifters as Sookie travels with a Werewolf named Alcide to Mississippi to find Bill who is in danger. Of course, Sookie is having to enter dangerous waters as it is most likely that the Vampire King of Missippi that has Bill. Louisana vampires cannot help as they are tied with the Vampire Queen of Lousiana and a war would break out.

There is a large amount of sexual tension throughout the book, Sookie lusts for Bill but finds herself attracted to Alcide and his animal magnetism, and even then she shows signs of being attracted to the good old boss of Bill, Eric.

I love how Charlaine managed to create such a bond between both a telepathic human and a werewolf and bring both worlds together whilst working together to save a man from a separate kind. I have to admit this book was a little more intense than the others so far, it seemed to be more action packed and at parts I'd be hit in the face by surprise.

Once again I have to award the book a 5/5 so far the series has been a great one and for all three so far to of scored 5/5 each time is a great start. I recommend this series to anyone who's into vampires and such kinds. 

Dead To The World is the 4th book in the series and it will also be the next review on this blog. I hope you'll come back to visit. 

Breakaway - Kat Spears

Title: Breakaway
Author: Kat Spears
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: September 15th 2015
Available Editions: Hardcover and for review, EBook

Netgalley Synopsis:

When Jason Marshall's younger sister passes away, he knows he can count on his three best friends and soccer teammates--Mario, Jordie, and Chick--to be there for him. With a grief-crippled mother and a father who's not in the picture, he needs them more than ever. But when Mario starts hanging out with a rough group of friends and Jordie finally lands the girl of his dreams, Jason is left to fend for himself while maintaining a strained relationship with troubled and quiet Chick. Then Jason meets Raine, a girl he thinks is out of his league but who sees him for everything he wants to be, and he finds himself pulled between building a healthy and stable relationship with a girl he might be falling in love with, grieving for his sister, and trying to hold onto the friendships he has always relied on.

A witty and emotionally moving tale of friendship, first love, and loss, Breakaway is Kat Spears at her finest.

Review:

Well where do I begin? Yet another book in a whole day and let me tell you this, I was utterly surprised with how it ended and that's being very vague with how strong my feelings were. In this review, like most of my reviews I have to be honest, so sticking to that rule I must admit I liked the cover and was interested by the synopsis but after reading the book and looking back at the cover, thought to cover could of been more related to the story. This is my opinion and I admit the cover is nice but I think it could relate more to the story than it does.

I loved several parts of this book, mostly how it wasn't like other books I had read, it wasn't all based around a relationship between two teenagers, it was much, much more than that. I also loved how the book was based around one situation and then there were several mentions of several taboo subjects, it felt like the books was one step towards being somewhat, more open about these subjects. To keep this section short my last loved part of the story is the story progression, you were automatically into the story and always fully aware of what was happening.

Bringing up the characters I have to admit I was quite happy with the few characters there were, based around Jason, who's 17 and at the beginning of his book its becomes clear his sister has passed away, and is dealing with his mourning mother without support from his father. He is soon joined by his close friends Mario, Jordie, and Chick. Once you know all of them, you find it odd that they would be friends but the friendship works. The characters clash a few times but also have moments filled with jokes and laughter. When Raine comes into the main frame of the story, there are many moments of sarcasm and laughter.

Each character helps bring the story together, taking the reader on a journey through the eyes and mind of a teenager in a worn down house, dealing with love and loss. I have to admit I was hooked on the book within a few pages, and I was unable to put it down (the proof of this is sitting on wet grass for 45 minutes reading and getting hit with a basketball that was kicked for my dog to chase) I was expecting the story to last for more pages than it did and that was really my only problem with the book/story, it ended so soon just as I had gotten my ticket to get on the emotional roller coaster. If ever possible I would love a follow up book or two just to show their lives in the future maybe months or a year later than when this story ended.

I give the book a rating of 4.7/5 and recommend it to anyone who's up for a quick read or wants to see taboo subjects put into a new light to see from another perspective.

The Heartbreakers - Ali Novak

Title: The Heartbreakers
Author: Ali Novak
Publisher: SOURCEBOOKS Fire
Publication Date: 1st August 2015
Available Editions: Paperback and for review, Ebook.


Netgalley Synopsis:

"When I met Oliver Perry, I had no clue he was the lead singer for The Heartbreakers. And he had no idea that I was the only girl in the world who hated his music."

Stella will do anything for her sick sister, Cara—even stand in line for an autographed Heartbreakers CD…for four hours. She’s totally winning best birthday gift this year. At least she met a cute boy with soft brown hair and gorgeous blue eyes while getting her caffeine fix. Too bad she’ll never see him again.

Except, Stella’s life has suddenly turned into a cheesy love song. Because Starbucks Boy is Oliver Perry – lead singer for the Heartbreakers. And even after she calls his music crap, Oliver still gives Stella his phone number. And whispers quotes from her favourite Disney movie in her ear. OMG, what is her life?

But how can Stella even think about being with Oliver – dating and laughing and pulling pranks with the band – when her sister could be dying of cancer?

Ali Novak wrote her debut novel My Life with the Walter Boys when she was just 15 years old, and has since penned her next book, The Heartbreakers. First a hit on the online community Wattpad, her second novel has over 38 million reads and is loved by readers around the world.



Review:

this book caught my attention as I scrolled through the YA section of Netgalley. It caught my eye because of the description, I'm not quite sure why it caught my attention, it was just one of those 'this this sounds quite interesting' things, but I went ahead and requested for the right to read the book for a review, thankfully I got an email to say I had the right to read for review and I soon got down to reading it. It took me around 6 or 7 hours to read the book in total, event though it usually only take me half of that I had to keep re reading parts just in case I missed anything.


There were so many great parts to the book, I'm not even sure where to start. To keep this section short I had to pick the following three. The story had a great progression rate like the story never lingered on a day for half of the book, but just around enough time so that you were hooked on the book. There were equal amounts of time spent on each 'factor' of the main characters life so that one factor wasn't bought up and never shown again. The character number was small enough to keep track of each of them but not too high to get confused with who was who.

Keeping with the topic of The characters, the book is mainly focussed on the unfolding life of Stella, one of the 17 year old triplets alongside her bother Drew and ill sister Cara.  They story also focuses on the 4 members of a boy band called The Heartbreakers. Both groups of characters paths soon intertwined and begun a somewhat cheesy yet lovely story. Stella is a character who has moments of humour and up front truth, much like her, her sister is always up front and supportive of her siblings and a huge fan of the Heartbreakers, which many readers can relate too when it comes to bands and other things. Drew is the only boy of the triplets and is protective of his sisters and always supportive. Oliver is the lead singer of the boy band and the more spoken of character in the book, there are also other characters like JJ and Xander who happen to be other members of the band but their parts in the story but the story is focused mainly on Cara, Oliver and Stella.

Each characters has a part in the book but to keep the story on track they were very short but frequent so that we knew they were still somewhat important in the stories progression.


Much like other times, I read this book page after page, very few breaks and all in one, I was so hooked on where the story could go I couldn't put the book down. I had no problems with any part of the book, not miss understanding or confusion it was a great read and I'm so thankful for getting the right to read for review and I'm looking forward to more book from Ali Novak in the future.

I give this book a rating of 5 out of 5 and I highly recommend this book to anyone who is really into YA and somewhat cheesy love, any fellow book blogger reading this, I suggest you request this book to be read for review if you are into this sort of thing and fit the requirements for acceptance.