Book of the Month: December

This month it was a close call between two YA contemporary reads: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, and This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales. However, TSWSYL has got to take the crown.

This is one of those books that somehow manages to change your life. I knew it'd be good, and I knew for certain I'd enjoy it - however, I didn't realise quite the extent of my adoration. Sales manages to dive into the minds of every teen, plucking out their hopes and dreams and fears and mashes it all together in this breathtaking piece. If there's one book you need to pick up this year, it's this.

Book of the Month: November

I feel quite proud of myself this month, as I managed to get through - wait for it - ten books! Sure I've read more before, but considering I've just started my A-Levels, I'm pretty chuffed. I have to say, I've read a variety of books this months; some really good, and some...well...some really bad (I'm looking at you, Bitter Like Orange Peel). However, the winner this month to me is obvious.

Fireblood by Trisha Wolfe took my breath away. You know when you read an absolutely amazing book, and everything else dims in comparison? Yeah. That. It combined two of my favourite genres and made it into one amazing read that I don't think I will ever get over. If you've read it, good. If you haven't, read it.

Book of the Month: October

This month - wait for it - I've given out no fives! Admittedly I haven't read as much as I would have liked, but I've read quite a few. Although I gave Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Requiem by Lauren Oliver, Escape from Eden by Elisa Nader, and Lover Eternal by J. R. Ward the same score, this month the winner has got to be Requiem.

I adore Oliver's writing style. She is perhaps one of the best and most consistent YA authors I have ever come across, and I know that her next novel, Panic, will be just as amazing. The Delirium trilogy was fantastic, one of my favourites by far, and although I was sad to see it end, it got a good send off. One hundred percent recommend!

Book of the Month: September

Between July and August, I read a heck of a lot of books! I stormed through them as if 100 pages was merely 10 - most of my life was taken up by the blog. Then I started my A-Levels. Over the past few weeks, I've barely read anything (which I blame solely on Tess of the D'Urbervilles, my first English Literature required reading) However, now that I've finished Tess (yay!) I'll actually have time to - gasp! - pleasure read again!

However, despite not reading much, I still did come across some amazing books. Although I rated both Crewel and Tess of the D'Urbervilles five stars, my favourite read this month just has to be Crewel by Gennifer Albin. I love the dystopian form, but since I've read so much of it, I'm starting to see the same ideas repeated over and over again. Crewel was new and completely unique; it refreshed my love for this genre, and I cannot praise it enough. I've got my fingers crossed that the sequel, Altered, will be just as good!

Book of the Month: August

I was actually quite worried this month, because for the majority of it, I hadn't rated any book five stars! Wanting to read at least one book that I knew I would enjoy, I fell back onto my safety series: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. Naturally, I adored Shadow Kiss and predicted that it would be my book of the month. However, what I hadn't been banking on was Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick. Although I love the VA series, this book left room for no contest.

You know those books that change the reader as a person? Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock is definitely one of them. Sure, I was intrigued by the synopsis, but I didn't realise how much Leonard's story would actually affect me, fictional or otherwise. There are people out there who experience feelings similar to his, and my heart really goes out to them. So if you're looking for a book that will tear your heart out, go for this. It is one of my favourite reads this year.

Book of the Month: July

Eighteen books read this month, and a total of seven of them got five-star ratings! I like to think of myself as a fair-to-harsh reviewer, so giving out high ratings isn't something I do unless a book is utterly breathtaking - which seven of these were, but for good reason.

I read quite a range of books really, going from the fantastical Daughter of Smoke and Bone, to realistic fiction with Saving June. But whilst I think all of these reads were unique and appealing, the winner this month has got to be Prep School Confidential by Kara Taylor.

I don't think I can really put across how amazing this book was. There's just something refreshing about going into a book thinking Eh, this will be alright, to coming out from it thinking Well, I wasn't expecting that. Taylor proved the point that some authors can just get it right on their very first try. I've read other good debuts, but most of them only just hit the mark, whereas Prep School Confidential rips that mark to shreds.

I've said it once, and I'll say it again: Taylor is an author to look out for, and I hope I'll be seeing more of Anne Dowling very soon.

Book of the Month: June

It's been a long month, especially for me as I've just done a bunch of exams for my GCSEs. Surprisingly, I still managed to read quite a few different books. Some were disappointing, but most were brilliant. Despite me loving A Monster Calls and A Game of Thrones, the winner this month is clear: Crown of Midnight, you beaut, you.

I adored Throne of Glass - the synopsis drew me in, and Maas delivered on her promises. I waited ages for Crown of Midnight to come out, so when I got my hands on an ARC? I was kind of screaming the house down. I started it immediately, and although at first I was a bit worried, it soon turned into the story I
knew and loved.

An assassin’s loyalties are always in doubt.
But her heart never wavers.

After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new royal assassin. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown – a secret she hides from even her most intimate confidantes.

Keeping up the deadly charade—while pretending to do the king's bidding—will test her in frightening new ways, especially when she's given a task that could jeopardize everything she's come to care for. And there are far more dangerous forces gathering on the horizon -- forces that threaten to destroy her entire world, and will surely force Celaena to make a choice. 

Where do the assassin’s loyalties lie, and who is she most willing to fight for?

It is released August 27th, so go and pre-order yourself one asap! You don't want to be missing this.

Book of the Month: May

Although I'm deep into my exam season, I actually managed to read 13 books this month! Unfortunately, there were quite a few 2 and 3 star ratings, and in the end there were only three books that really blew me away; Goddess by Josephine Angelini was the final instalment of the Starcrossed trilogy, and everything I wanted to happen did, and more; Speechless by Hannah Harrington completely captured my imagination, and I was engrossed from start to finish; and Fever by Lauren DeStefano, the sequel to the Chemical Gardens trilogy, where the author yet again drew me in with her gorgeous descriptions and ability to build realistic worlds.

Although I really enjoyed the other two, Speechless was the book for me. I've never read Saving June, so I didn't have any pre-existing expectations - but Speechless proved all the great reviews right; Harrington is an amazing writer, with an incredible ability to work her way into the mind of teenagers. This is one of the few books that once I've finished, I still think about weeks later. Harrington tackled some very modern, difficult issues, and I thought that altogether it was a brilliant read. Now all I've got to do is get my hands on Saving June.

Book of the Month: April

The books I've reviewed this month have varied; one 4-star, five 3-stars, three 2-stars - and then *gasp* - four 5-star-ratings! Can you believe it? Am I losing my harshness or something? Nah, I'm just joking - each of these four books deserved the rating they got, because they were utterly amazing. Clockwork Princess, the final book to one of my favourite trilogies, was breathtaking; it had everything I had hoped for, and so much more. The Truth About You and Me that brought tears to my eyes. Anna and the French Kiss, of a genre I despise - yet this book made me love it, because it was so hilarious and relatable. However, I still think there is a clear winner.

Wonder by R.J.Palacio took me a day to read. I've been hearing about it from others for months - everyone raving on and on about how it's an eye-opening, heartfelt tale, meant for adults, teens and children alike. When I got the opportunity to review it, well of course I went ahead and said yes - but oh my days, I have since bought myself a hardback copy. It is one of those books that every single person must read at some point or another. It made me cry tears of anger and hatred and happiness and everything else in between. It really is eye-opening, as it shows you humanity at its most brutal and at its best.


I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?

Book of the Month: March

This month, I read a heck of a lot of request books - and I adored the majority of them! But for the first time ever (I think) nothing sparks a 5-star rating! Three came awfully close; Anna Dressed In Blood, Just One Day, and The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, and I'm genuinely finding it difficult to choose! But I think it has got to be...

Just One Day. I was rereading my reviews, and I really was incredibly close to rating this one five stars. Forman has such a great talent for writing, and I think she's one of my favourite contemporary authors. Her characters, both male and female, are so easy to fall in love with, and her tales pick you up and don't let you back down - there is always a cliffhanger, always another question needing to be answered, but never in a bad way. With Forman's stories, I can always imagine the characters having a future and continuing on with their lives - they are never just letters on a page. If you live contemporary, you've really got to pick this up someday soon - I promise that you won't regret it! Here's to waiting for the sequel, Just One Year.

Book of the Month: February

This month, it feels as if I have barely read anything at all! Unfortunately, my exams are looming, and I'm beginning to spend more time revising and less time reading, much to my displeasure. However, I did come across some very good novels this month, but the winner is obvious: The Maze Runner by James Dashner.

Although I ended the review by saying I didn't want to continuing reading the series as it doesn't sound as good, this book kicked the whole saga off to an amazing start. The concept was completely unique, and just the way Dashner stylized and characterised it made it perfect! If you love dystopian novels with a science-fiction twist, then you've got to read this - even if you don't like male POV's, I really think this is a novel that all should read.

Book of the Month: January

This month I have read ten books, and compared with December, they weren't as great as I had hoped. Four 3 stars, five 4 stars, and one 5 star - I suppose it's not that difficult to guess which one would be my book of the month!

I'd had my eye on Under the Never Sky for a while, due to the blurb and the major hype surrounding it. And after finishing it two days ago, I can safely say that the hype is there for a very good reason. With amazing characters, a steady and good plot, and believable relationships, this is definitely a series I'd recommend to dystopian lovers - and if you haven't tried dystopian fiction yet, then this is probably one of the best books to start with. Now to get my hands on Through the Ever Night!

Book of the Month: December

This month has been really good, rating-wise - I rated every single read a four or above, which is a major rarity for me! I like to give honest reviews, including honest ratings, even if it goes against the flow of what most other reviewers believe. And all these reads deserved their four or five-star ratings, because they were brilliant. However, only two really really stuck out to me.

First of all, The Hobbit. In anticipation for the film, I decided to read the novel, and I was so pleasantly surprised. I have heard that whilst good, The Lord of the Rings is quite slow, and me and slow books do not go together. Luckily, I didn't find The Hobbit anything like that, and I was engaged in it right from the beginning. It is definitely a book I plan to reread in the future.

However, the novel that has to be book of the month is Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout. There was a lot of hype surrounding this read, and I was worried that I'd built myself up so much that I could only be disappointed. However, I loved it - is loved it even the right word? In my review, the only description I could use to sum up my feelings was 'amazeballs'. And it was amazeballs, totally - the characterization was fab, Daemon was great, the plot was thick, Daemon was great, the backstory was well pieced together, Daemon was great, it was aimed at book bloggers, and Daemon was great. What more do you want in a novel? I definitely recommend this book, especially for book reviewers - it will blow your socks off.

Book of the Month: November

I read a lot of brilliant novels this month, but only two really stood out for me, and both for very different reasons. I rated both Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas and The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath five stars because although nothing alike, they were both interesting and excellently written. But although I did thoroughly enjoy both of them, there is still a clear winner to me.

Throne of Glass was the first novel I read this month, but it has stuck with me all this time. The concept was so unique that Maas had me hooked right from the beginning. I loved all of the characters, the descriptions were fabulous, and the whole world she created was so well thought-out, it may as well have been real. If you haven't read Throne of Glass, you must add it to your TBR list immediately! It is definitely worth it.

Book of the Month: October

So at the beginning of the month, I'd read some good books...but nothing that I absolutely fell in love with. And then, all at once, I read The Iron King by Julie Kagawa, Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black, and Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. I rated all of them five stars - and if I'm honest, I would have given them a lot more if the scale went any higher! Each of them had a very different plot; The Iron King was about Fae living in the Nevernever, an alternative, magical Universe to our own; Dance of Shadows was about ballet, demons, and dark magic; Water for Elephants followed a young man as he ran away and joined a circus. Although they are all so different, I loved them all equally. However, there can only be one book of the month, so I think my final choice will have to be...

Water for Elephants. Why? Well, firstly Dance of Shadows is going to be released in 2013, so is it really fair for it to be my book of the month although it isn't even published yet? And although I rated The Iron King five stars, it just didn't grip me as much as this. And secondly, aside from this being an absolutely amazing novel, today marks the first day of NaNoWriMo 2012 - and Gruen first began writing Water for Elephants for a previous NaNoWriMo, so it seems perfect to include it here.

Although this is an adult novel - and has some pretty sexy scenes - I think it is aimed at people of all ages (well, 14+). I adore circuses anyway, but I think even for people who don't have that connection to the novel, they will still find a way to relate to it. As I said in my review, it isn't just a novel about some circus - or even about the main character, Jacob. For me, it taught me a lot about life, and it did change my perception of things ever so slightly - which is a pretty powerful thing for a book to do. But it did, and I really think this is one of those modern novels that is a must-read for at least once in your lifetime. It is utterly breathtaking.

Book of the Month: September

Unfortunately, a few of the books I've read this month were quite disappointing. But there were some books that definitely stood out for me - particularly To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I rated both five stars, but for me, it is clear who the winner is.

The Book Thief was utterly amazing. It's just one of those novels that takes your breath away, and leaves you reeling for days after with a book hangover. There isn't anything else out there quite like it - it's definitely one of those books that you have got to read at least once in your lifetime. The writing style was excellent, the characterization was amazing, and frankly, it had everything I look for in a good book. If you haven't read it yet, you must; trust me when I say you won't regret it.

Book of the Month: August

This month, like always, I have read a range of different books, and I have enjoyed many of them. But only two really stood out for me - and for very different reasons. Firstly, Delirium by Lauren Oliver, which is a dystopian novel based around the idea that love - amor deliria nervosa - is a disease, and needs to be cured. The other is I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore, which is based around the Lorien Nine, a race of aliens who came to Earth to grow up when their own planet was destroyed by Mogadorian's.

It is a very close call, but I know it's got to be I Am Number Four. I read a lot of dystopian novels and I love them all, but IANF was my first ever alien novel, and I absolutely adored it. The two authors completely created two new worlds, and did it so convincingly that I felt as if I was watching it all unfold right in from of me. I cannot give it enough praise, really. I'd definitely say that it is just one of those novels that every teenager should at least give a try, no matter what their genre preference may be. Luckily, I have The Power of Six sitting on my shelf, which is the sequel and I will be reading sometime this month - and I honestly cannot wait. My hopes are set high.

Book of the Month: July

This month I have read so many great books, I honestly can't decide. I like to think of myself as a fair critic, and to give books a review and rating they deserve. So I'm pretty surprised that I've read a lot of books I've rated 5 stars - Vampire Academy, Starters, The Night Circus, All These Things I've Done, and Wither. Each of the books are completely different, ranging from vampires to criminals to magicians to dystopian futures. But even though I rated them all the same, the two that really stuck out for me were Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead, and The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. However, after consideration, I think I'm going to choose Vampire Academy - The Night Circus was amazing, but it did have it's slightly slow moments.

Although Vampire Academy has been out for years, I have only just recently come around to reading it, and I can't believe that it has taken me so long. The plot is imaginative and addictive, and the background story is so well thought through that it seems pretty realistic. I mean, after reading it, I could imagine that vampire's actually exist in the present world - we're just all too oblivious to notice it - and that is a pretty awesome skill for a writer to have. Whether you do or don't like vampires, I really recommend that you give this a series a try - if only this installment. I'm pretty certain that you will not regret it.

Book of the Month: June

This month, it is a really close call between two novels: Insurgent by Veronica Roth, and Dreamless by Josephine Angelini. But I think it has to go to Dreamless!

Why? Because it is so freaking-awesome! I loved Starcrossed, and I knew Dreamless was going to be awesome - but 'awesome' is a complete understatement. The book had everything a good novel needs: realistic characters, an epic plot, a page-turning mystery, and an author with a brilliant writing quality.

Although technically this novel is being published in the UK on 5th July, I read it this month, thanks to MKB, so that's why I'm putting it as this months BOTM rather than July's. As soon as it is released, I really recommend that you read it; you will be hooked right from the beginning. And if you're not? I will eat broccoli. (just a note: I strongly dislike broccoli.)

Book of the Month: May

Throughout this month, I have been complaining over the fact that I don't seem to be a harsh enough critic, and seemed to be handing out five stars left right and center. But heck - I read some good books who each deserved those fives.

But despite feeling that four of these books deserved the full rating, the book of the month has to be Divergent by Veronica Roth. It blew me away, it really did, and I know that I will read it again many times because heck, it is utterly amazing. If you haven't read it yet, you must must must read it soon, because it is utterly fantastic. I cannot give this book any more praise, so I'm gonna shut up. 

Here's to June's books being as good as May's, if not better!