October: A Review!

October has been my first month of placement! I was in school in Year 6 for two weeks which included two trips, no pens day and a lot of World War I! I then went back to Uni for 3 days and started working on my first assignment. So all in all October has been jammed packed hence the poor blogging and reading!

 

October in Numbers!

Total posts= 3

Books read= 3

Reviews Posted= 0

 

What I read in October! 

 

October posts!

Cover Love: 2015 covers!
Top Ten Tuesday: New Series!
September: A Review!

 

October Goals...

Pre-Schedule, Reviews and Reading...

Well.... These goals kind of fell to the wayside this month as I mentioned above!  

 

November blogging goals!
Pre-schedule- This is key to my successful blogging and teaching I think. I need to get back on top of it this month.
Reviewing- I now have a big backlog of reviews so fingers crossed I get them out this month. I'm going for aim for a low 4 just in case!

Well November will see some pretty exciting changes on the blog! So be sure to keep a look out!

Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

Cover Love: 2015 covers!

I've been looking through my TBR and realised a lot of 2015 books have released their gorgeous covers!

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.
I love how vivid this cover is! Especially the red and the detail on the girl which I feel will be explained in the book. I've been waiting for this series to be published for ages so I'm looking forward to finally reading it!
The Heir by Kiera Cass.
The only thing better than the news of more Selection books is how gorgeous the cover for Heir is. I did a whole post on how much I love The Selection covers and The Heir fits in perfectly. The crown has remained and the dress has slightly altered signalling the change of protagonist. So excited to add this to my shelf!
The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski.
I don't think I've mentioned how much I love The Winner's Curse but it is definitely one of my favourites of 2014 and I love the connection between the titles. This cover follows the theme of Winner's Curse which is also beautiful. The dress is stunning and I love the inclusion of a sword because I feel Kestrel will need to fight! The typography is slightly altered but it all goes together so well

So excited by these covers!
What covers have you excited for 2015?

Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

Top Ten Tuesday: New Series!

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by: The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's topic: New Series I Want To Start

I have a serious series problem! However I'm always on the lookout for new ones.

Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson.

Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Steifvater.

These series are almost finished so there will be no agonising wait for the next instalment. I just need to get started....
 

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman.

The Diviners by Libba Bray.

These two I already own but the second books haven't been published so I'm justifying putting them off until it's published.
 

2015 Releases!

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.

The Dregs by Leigh Bardugo.

The Gift of Power by Tamora Pierce.

Thunder Road by Katie McGarry.

The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows.

Most of these are by some of my favourite authors so I'm super excited to explore their new worlds. The Orphan Queen has a beautiful cover and a great blurb. A Court of Thorns and Roses has been on my radar for years so thrilled it's getting published.

 

What series are you looking to start?

Much Love!

Lettie

Xxx

September: A Review!

Monthly Feature- rounds up all the books I've read, progress on challenges and monthly blogging goals!
 
I'm keeping up with my monthly reviews! September's been a pretty successful month for this year!

September in Numbers!

Total posts= 12

Books read= 6

Reviews Posted= 4

 

What I read in September!

 

September reviews!

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick.

Biggest Flirt by Jennifer Echols
Nantucket Red by Leila Howland.
Right of Way by Lauren Barnholdt

September posts!

Cover Love: UK vs US Comparisons.

Top Ten Tuesday: Autumn TBR!

Goodbye Summer!

Summer Bingo Wrap Up!

Fantasy Flashback Friday: Tamora Pierce
Cover Love: Stunning Series So Far!
Sneak Peeks!
August: A Review.
Challenge Update 3

 

September Goals...

Pre-Schedule- Yay! My prescheduling has worked this month! I think my blog has actually been better than August....

Social Media~ Whoops! Not so good. Mainly because I can only connect my phone and netbook to the Uni internet and my blog social media is on my tablet...

Reviews~ More reviews! Not quite 6 but that was an ambitious goal!

 
October blogging goals!

• Pre-Schedule- I just want to keep this up and hopefully make it a routine.
• Reviews- I'm hoping for a realistic 4 as I'm starting my first placement!
• Reading- I need to make a conscious effort to read more. Without my morning bus journey and solo lunch break (downside of a small office!) I've lost my reading time! Plus I have so many PGCE readings that my evenings are taken up. So I'm going to aim to read 6 books again!

How was your September?

Looking forward to Autumn?

Much Love!

Lettie.

Xxx

Mini Reviews: Summer Edition!

Two great books that just screamed summer read to me!

Biggest Flirts by Jennifer Echols

Tia and Will’s lives get flipped upside down when they’re voted Yearbook’s Biggest Flirts.Tia just wants to have fun. She’s worked hard to earn her reputation as the life of the party, and she’s ready for a carefree senior year of hanging out with friends and hooking up with cute boys. And her first order of business? New guy Will. She can’t get enough of his Midwestern accent and laidback swagger.
As the sparks start to fly, Will wants to get serious. Tia’s seen how caring too much has left her sisters heartbroken, and she isn’t interested in commitment. But pushing Will away drives him into the arms of another girl. Tia tells herself it’s no big deal…until the yearbook elections are announced. Getting voted Biggest Flirts with Will is, well, awkward. They may just be friends, but their chemistry is beginning to jeopardize Will’s new relationship—and causing Tia to reconsider her true feelings. What started as a light hearted fling is about to get very complicated…

Thoughts

I really enjoyed Dirty Little Secret so I was intrigued by this Superlative series. I loved this book actually started before they were named Biggest Flirts. Tia was loud, confident and quite flirty. I liked how she contacted with Will straight away even if she'd completely misread him. Tia's family backstory explored a lot of her more abrasive personality traits like her aversion to love and relationships and her intense dislike of responsibility. I would have loved to see more interaction with her Dad as he remained a mystery! I loved how everyone in her life was aware of her little tricks to avoid responsibility despite the fact she thought she was hiding it so well. Will was an exciting character from the start, I loved that Tia misread him so we learnt about him slowly. I felt for him moving for senior year especially as all the positions he wanted/needed for College applications were taken up. Will was however a little desperate to have a relationship as soon as he arrived in Florida and made some questionable choices! I absolutely loved the dynamic and chemistry between Tia and Will, it made the whole book for me. Their chemistry seemed effortless and they just feel quite naturally into an almost couple like state. Their responses to their titles was funny as they were so blatant all the time! I felt like Will's straitlaced and open personality went well with Tia's free and complex one. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series!

Right of Way by Lauren Barnholdt

Here are Peyton and Jace, meeting on vacation. Click! It’s awesome, it’s easy, it’s romantic. This is the real deal.

Unless it isn’t. Because when you’re in love, you don’t just stop calling one day. And you don’t keep secrets. Or lie. And when your life starts falling apart, you’re supposed to have the other person to lean on.

Here are Peyton and Jace again, broken up but thrown together on a road trip. One of them is lying about the destination. One of them is pretending not to be leaving something behind. And neither of them is prepared for what’s coming on the road ahead…

Thoughts

Two Way Street was the first Lauren Barnholdt book I read so when I heard this was a vague companion book I knew I wanted to read it! I love a good road trip contemporary romance! Peyton surprised me, I usually dislike overly emotional leads but I loved Peyton. Sure she was whiny and dramatic but she was funny with it. Her family life had changed and when you're a teenager that is the worst thing that can happen to you especially what we learnt about her Mum. Peyton wasn't afraid to chase and commit to big abstract dreams even when they seemed to be falling apart, I admired that about her if it was a bit naïve. I loved the history between Jace and Peyton, it was realistic and sweet at the same time. I loved Jace especially the chapters from his point of view. He was witty and sharp. I liked how he begrudgingly took care of Peyton was necessary and pointed out her flawed plans. His best friend Evan was hilarious with his wild ideas, I would have loved to see more of him. It was great to get a look at how Courtney and Jordon were getting on and even BJ! I loved their side roles as advisers and examples. Right of Way was a great young adult contemporary summer book! I loved how the issues facing Jace and  Peyton were realistic and not too extreme. I always enjoy Lauren's books so looking forward to Through to You to come out in paperback next summer!

 

Do you feel these books are quintessentially summer books?

Let me know!

Much Love!

Colette

Xxx

Nantucket Red by Leila Howland.

Cricket Thompson's lifetime of overachieving has paid off: she's headed to Brown University in the fall, with a spot on the lacrosse team and a scholarship that covers almost everything. Who knew living in the dorm cost money? An Ivy League education seems to mean living at home for the next four years.
When Cricket is offered the chance to earn enough cash to afford a real college experience, she heads back to Nantucket for the summer. But the faraway island challenges Cricket in ways she hadn't anticipated. It's hard to focus on earning money for next year, when she finds her world opening up in entirely new ways-to art, to travel, and, most unexpectedly, to a future completely different from the one she has been working toward her whole life. A friendship blossoms with Ben, the gorgeous surfer and bartender who encourages Cricket to be free, even as she smarts at the pain of seeing Zack, her first love, falling for her worst enemy.
But one night, when Cricket finally lets herself break all her own rules, she realizes she may have ruined her carefully constructed future with one impulsive decision. Cricket must dig deep to fight for her future, discovering that success isn't just about reaching goals, but also about listening to what she's been trying to ignore-her own heart.

Thoughts!

I was initially unsure about a sequel to Nantucket Blue as I loved the book but I did want more resolution which Nantucket Red provided and more!
I loved that we got a sweeping overview of Cricket's year so the book was mainly set during the summer.
Cricket was the same great character. I loved her determination to equal the money offered to her so she could go to her dream college. I liked seeing her and Jules on better terms although I'm still not a fan of Jules! Nantucket had barely changed in a year so Cricket just slotted back in. I loved Liz returning and the way her character had developed and matured. I even liked Ben, because he was honest and almost a male version of Cricket, relationship wise. Zac was really frustrating this book! The way their relationship petered out initially was annoying but Zac's reaction and subsequent actions were just... I did enjoy the fact this book seemed less heavy with painful drama and more coming of age complete with the confusing love life!
I loved the ending the choices Cricket made. She really proved to be mature self sufficient and independent, secure in her goals and relationships. Overall Nantucket Red is a lovely positive summer read about a girl growing into herself and a fun summer community.

Rating

Nantucket Red is a brilliant companion to Nantucket Blue. It adds depth to the characters, expands on their background as well as being strong enough to standalone.

 Have you read the Nantucket books?
Much love!
Lettie
Xxx

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick.

"One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.
As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?
A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another.

Thoughts!

Why didn't I read this earlier?? It's been on my tbr since it released in 2012- it was so worth the wait!
     My Life Next Door is a layered traditional contemporary summer book with twists and well written characters. It wasn't cliché as I'd anticipated.
    Samantha Reid was a great lead. I found her sweet and hard working if a little naïve. I love how she slotted into her life next door as she seemed to be a bit neglected at home especially with her sister gone and her Mum otherwise occupied. Jase was such a welcoming and generous male lead. He wasn't a cliché good or bad guy he was simply a well rounded mature teenager. I loved how he took on responsibilities for his family but would occasionally complain. I liked how he treated Samantha and how easy going he was.
    My Life Next Door has a well written individual side cast with all their own issues and personalities. The Garretts were such a vibrant family with so many different personalities. It was easy to see how and why Samantha was attracted and intrigued by them as they were so different to her family. I loved how all of them had positive attitudes and were well adjusted enough to rise above other's prejudices. I could probably write a detailed profile of each of them so I'll curtail my love of the siblings. Dad was a steady and pragmatic man with his approach to providing for his family, I loved how he was honest with Tim but still trusted him as an employee.
    Which brings me to Nan and Tim. Nan was a more complex character than she seemed. Initially I took her for a good friend if a little snobby but as the book progressed it became clear that she was exceedingly rude, cruel and entitled. Her apparent concern for Tim masked a deep jealously and I defiantly think she's heading for a breakdown. Tim was my breakout character, I loved him. Tim really developed and grew over the course of the book. I liked how he flourished under the positive encourage of the Garretts and Sam. Sam and Tim's friendship was resurrected and it was clear to see how they had grown apart and refreshing to see a platonic strong friendship which developed. I also loved his interactions with the Garretts, how he stepped up when needed and his banter with Alice.
    Samantha's Mum was another surprisingly complex character. She projected the image of career driven and confident involved Mum but it became clear that she wasn't as confident in herself as she seemed. I couldn't believe how her plot twisted and turned especially her sudden disregard for Samantha despite her initial concerns over how and where she spent her summer.
    My Life Next Door was primarily character driven, the plot itself was a clever manipulation of prominent clichés such as boy next door, rich/poor divide.
I loved the summery setting the town was big enough for the whole story to largely stay in one place. I loved the positioning of the summer jobs, the country club etc. It was like a storybook American summer town which was the perfect setting for My Life Next Door.

Rating!

My Life Next Door is the perfect summer read full of well crafted unique characters and a interesting original plot.

 

Are you a long time fan of My Life Next Door?

Are you excited for Tim to get his own book?

Much Love!

Lettie

Xxx