7/12

June has been a pretty hectic month for me, or at least it feels that way. The last week of June was probably my busiest week of the year so far. Right at the end of May, I started two new jobs – one permanent, one temporary for over the summer, so this month has involved a lot of learning about new things which I don’t mind particularly. My temporary job is actually at the University I attend and worked at during my gap year, but in mid-June, my department was holding a conference which I basically took over organisation for. It was extremely stressful for me the day before it, like I don’t think I’ve been so stressed in my life but it all turned out to be ok, thank god!

1.     I saw Taylor Swift (pic above) in June for the 3^rd time. I’ve seen Taylor play on 3 tours (Speak Now, Red and 1989) and I swear she gets better every time. She even spotted me and my sister as we just so happened to be one of the only people in our block with lights, and actually the only people in our block with the lights wrapped round us! We’re pretty sure her mum spotted us too as we were dancing crazy and her mum saw us so that was fun! I just wish I could see her again. My love for T-Sweezy knows no bounds.

2.     My boyfriend and I hit 3 years on the 23^rd! We celebrated by going out for a meal in the evening which was Thai food and it was sooo so good. We didn’t do presents as it’s only 3 years, but at the same time, 3 years! It feels like longer than that, but then it’s such a short time in comparison to how long some people have been together. Still, I think it’s an achievement seeing as I’m not even 20 yet!

3.     My little sister’s prom. My little sister had her prom in the last week of June, and she looked so cute! It’s so weird to think she’s leaving school already especially as I only left 4 years ago. It makes me feel so old!

4.     THE HEAT. Oh my gosh, so this post is like a day late, because I was going to put it up yesterday but holy crap, the heat last Wednesday (1^st July) was insane. I try not to complain when it’s sunny because we don’t get it all that much in rainy England, but it was just so hot and humid yesterday. I was sat outside for probably 2-3 hours and I don’t think I even got that much of a tan!

5.     My modules for the second year of my History degree have been confirmed and I’m so excited! I’m taking 6 modules in total, two last the whole year, and then the rest are either taught in the first semester or the second!

I read a total of 6 books this month which isn’t so bad! I realised that although my reading goal this year is 52, I have over 50 books on my tbr list, which I want to get through this year, and about 4 of the 6 I read this month weren’t included on my TBR so panic mode struck which led me to write a list of books I would like to read for each month. I probably won’t, I’ve already gone against the list, but ah well! 

This month I read..

I’m aiming to read 7-8 books this month! I’m going on holiday so hopefully a lot of beach/pool reading shall be done. I was only going to take one book but honestly, what bookworm takes only one book when going on holiday? I swiftly realised that the book I was intending to take (The Fill-In Boyfriend) would probably be read within about a day which has now led me to question which other books to take. I’m thinking of taking maybe 3 or 4,, two in hand luggage and maybe 1 or 2 in my suitcase. I think I’m going to ask the brains of Instagram to help me out with this one. If you want to chip in your suggestion, follow me at @alittlesomethingbookish !

I’m going on holiday on the 11^th so don’t expect any updates from me, although it’s not like I update my blog all that much anyway recently, oops.. I get back on the 18^th, but then it’s my birthday on the 19^th! After that, I’m coming back and going straight into work again, both at my temporary job and my permanent role! In my temporary job, I’ll be taking on the role of editorial assistant for a journal made up of journals! Sounds funny! I’m a bit nervous as I’m not entirely sure about type facing and all that, but we’ll see how it goes!

The Great Gatsby

Title: The Great Gatsby

Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Pages: 180

Publisher: Scribner 

Source: Bought

Rating: 3/5

Good Reads // Amazon

Summary (from Good Reads): 

A portrait of the Jazz Age in all of its decadence and excess, The Great Gatsby captured the spirit of the author's generation and earned itself a permanent place in American mythology. Self-made, self-invented millionaire Jay Gatsby embodies some of Fitzgerald's--and his country's--most abiding obsessions: money, ambition, greed, and the promise of new beginnings. "Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter--tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther.... And one fine morning--"Gatsby's rise to glory and eventual fall from grace becomes a kind of cautionary tale about the American Dream.

The Great Gatsby is one of those classic books that is on every ‘books you must read’ list. I’ve personally had it on my shelf since the movie came out, but knew about it before I bought it. I’ll admit I’m not a big classic reader, but I decided I’d try this one out. The problem is, I have mixed feelings towards this book.

I won’t lie I did struggle with this book a bit. It took me about a month to read it, but I was not giving up on it. I was so determined to finish it that no matter how much I struggled, I carried on with it anyway just so I could finally say I’ve read it. I have to say, I think I struggled with how formal it was, but I did also struggle slightly with the story. It wasn’t as interesting to me as I thought it would be. I felt that it lacked something, and I found that the narrator, Nick, seemed to have confused feelings towards Gatsby. I was also expecting there to be more of a glitz and glam lifestyle in the book, but I felt that this was emphasised a bit too much as I didn’t find that there was much. I felt that this book mainly just focused on the rich characters.

The parts I most enjoyed of The Great Gatsby were the dialogue. I felt that all the wording in between was a bit waffly at times. My liking of the dialogue in this book was probably why I significantly enjoyed the second part of this book as there was a lot more speech. The fact that the first part of the book was full of hardly any dialogue is more than likely why I struggled with the book as it demotivated me to continue reading it, hence why it took me a month to get through it. 

I did think the book was interesting, and I do see why it is a classic but personally I don’t think it’s for me, or at least the first read wasn’t. I’m not sure if I’ll ever re-read it again, although I do think I will have to revisit the ending soon as I am not entirely sure what really happened to Gatsby, other than the obvious (if you’ve read it, you’ll know what I mean). I won’t deny, this book is a classic but personally for me, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I’m not sure if that’s because there’s such a big hype surrounding the book that it didn’t live up to expectations for me or just because me and classic books have a complicated relationship. This doesn't mean I wouldn't recommend it if someone asked me for a classic book to read though!

Fangirl

Title: Fangirl
Author: Rainbow Rowell

Pages: 461

Publisher: Macmillan

Source: Bought

Rating: 4/5

Good Reads // Amazon

Summary (from Good Reads): 
Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan...

But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to. Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

I have been putting off reading Fangirl for such a long time, despite the glowing reviews for this book. Fangirl is the second book I have read by Rainbow Rowell with the first being Eleanor and Park, which I enjoyed. I've found that I thought I do enjoy Rowell's book, I have the same kind of relationship with her books that I do with John Green's, and I know that a lot of people compare the two, but both of their books feel kind of the same to me, although I can't quite put my finger on why.

I felt that Cath was an interesting character and I enjoyed getting to know her and the way she thought and I loved her determination for what she wanted to do. For me, it was interesting to see how Cath was without her sister. Cath and I are kind of different in the way that I think for Cath, being out of her comfort zone was difficult and a bit scary, whereas for me I don't mind it so much, but I think it was good with the way that she dealt with things. 

Something that I thought was cool was the relationship that Cath had with her Dad. I haven't really read many books where the only parental figure in the characters life is the Dad, and to see that Cath had such a positive relationship with her father was really nice to read. The relationship between Cath and her sister Wren wasn't too overdone as Wren wasn't in the book all the time, but it was interesting to read how both of them coped with moving to University and not always being together. 

To me, Fangirl was quite a light read with a topic that wasn't too heavy. I didn't love it like a lot of people have but I did enjoy it and like it, plus I thought it was a good read. 

Would you Recommend?
If someone asked me for a light read, something that involved being at University, new experiences or family relationships then I would definitely recommend this.

5/12

April has been quite a busy month for me and I think it's only going to get busier with May coming up. As mentioned in my March look back (which I posted extremely late), I actually repainted my room at the beginning of April which I am totally in love with. It's so much more grown up and pretty! Plus with clearing out my room in the process, I cleared a shelf so I can have more books, woohoo!

May is going to be busy for me as I have 2 exams and two assignment deadlines, although one of the assignments is a portfolio of four pieces of work! So far I haven't started any of my assignments and I'm really struggling to revise for my exams as I feel that my course is a bit flimsy in comparison to other subjects such as Science or Math.

This month I read a total of 5 books which, in comparison to March when I read 10 books, is a little disappointing but I know that it's because this month has been fairly busy what with University coming to end meaning deadlines and exams coming up! Two of my favourite books that I read this month was The Start of Me and You and Ugly Love. I read both of these in a day each which is a bit crazy, I surprised myself if I'm honest! I also completed the Ruby Red trilogy. My reading goal for April was 6 books so I was almost there. I'm reading The Great Gatsby at the moment but I think it's dragged me into a reading slump..

My reading goal for this month is 4 books. It's low but it's because I have exams and deadlines so I'm not too bothered about only reading 4 books in May! In my March look back, I said I wanted to read some Fantasy books for the Flights of Fantasy challenge however that never happened, so hopefully once I've finished my exams, I can really throw myself into reading some Fantasy!

This month I'm hoping to get some more posts written and published, more than likely this will be done after my exams, although I have a lot of reviews to get through! Hope you all have a lovely May!

4/12

This post is long overdue, considering it's the middle of April but last month and the beginning of April was very busy. I had plenty of assignments due in March and at the beginning of April I redecorated my room which I am in love with! I'm now preparing for 3 exams that are coming up in May, and to say I'm nervous would be a bit of an understatement!

Despite this, I read plenty of books in March and totally shocked myself by reading 10 books this month. 10!! I think it's fair to say that I smashed my reading goal for March! I couldn't believe it when I counted them all up especially since it's probably been my busiest month with University so far. I don't think I'll be reading as many in April as I'm busy prepping for exams now!

My reading goal for the month is 6 books which is fairly reasonable I think especially with exams and things coming up. I'm hoping to try and get reading some more fantasy books within the next few months and I'm really slacking on the Flights of Fantasy reading challenge, having read just one book! I'm hoping to start Throne of Glass, Snow Like Ashes and Red Queen, as well as starting The Winner's Crime!

I hope you're all having a good month so far. I promise my April look back won't be published in the middle of May next time. I'm hoping that once my exams are out of the way, I can sit down and properly make a blog plan of action, as I feel like I'm a bit all over the place and some months I post loads and other months, there's nothing! If you'd like more frequent updates of what I'm reading, head on over to my instagram at alittlesomethingbookish, where I post which books I've bought/am reading!

A Mad, Wicked Folly

Title: A Mad, Wicked Folly

Author: Sharon Biggs Waller
Pages: 406

Publisher: Viking

Source: Bought

Rating: 5/5

Good Reads // Amazon

Summary (from Good Reads): 

Welcome to the world of the fabulously wealthy in London, 1909, where dresses and houses are overwhelmingly opulent, social class means everything, and women are taught to be nothing more than wives and mothers. Into this world comes seventeen-year-old Victoria Darling, who wants only to be an artist—a nearly impossible dream for a girl.

      

After Vicky poses nude for her illicit art class, she is expelled from her French finishing school. Shamed and scandalized, her parents try to marry her off to the wealthy Edmund Carrick-Humphrey. But Vicky has other things on her mind: her clandestine application to the Royal College of Art; her participation in the suffragette movement; and her growing attraction to a working-class boy who may be her muse—or may be the love of her life. As the world of debutante balls, corsets, and high society obligations closes in around her, Vicky must figure out: just how much is she willing to sacrifice to pursue her dreams?

A Mad, Wicked Folly was on my list of books that I really, really wanted in 2014, but never got round to buying until January came around this year when I finally bought it (thank you Christmas money!) and honestly, I could not think of a better book to spend my money on. As someone who loves YA, particularly Contemporary, I haven't read any historical fiction despite the fact that I study History at University, so this was an introduction to the genre and I wasn't disappointed. 

One of the things I loved about this book was a big focus on the Suffragette movement and how a young, upper class girl fits into this. Although fiction, you could tell a lot of research had been done on the period and the Suffragettes and that's not just because there was a bibliography at the back. As someone who really enjoys learning about the Suffragette movement, there are things that I leant when reading this that made me go and look into things further. 

Another thing I loved was our main character Vicky, and that's not just because we share the same name! Vicky was a unique character, in which she was different from her mother, who I felt was a bit 'all about the image', whereas Vicky was a lot more focused on what she wanted out of life and how to get there. I think that having Vicky as the main character, who was such an empowering figure, was such a good move for this story, and I loved seeing her progression from where the book started to where we saw her at the end of it, if that makes sense!

Obviously as a fictional book, you can't guarantee that it'll be entirely factual, however I think Sharon Biggs Waller has done a really good job of making it as factual but interesting as it can be! Although I haven't read historical fiction before, I get the vibe that sometimes the information can be overwhelming at times whereas I didn't feel overwhelmed at all reading this. 

There are so many reasons I gave this book 5 stars, but mainly it's because the writing was great, the characters stood for something and I learnt something! I love learning new things and this provided that for me.

Just to add something else to my experience of this book, I recently got in touch with Sharon  to tell her how much I loved it and Sharon, being ever so kind, sent me a signed bookmark and poem sheet which was so lovely. Sharon is so nice as well and such a nice lady to talk too!

If there's one thing I can add, it's that you should most definitely give A Mad, Wicked Folly a read, like, right now!

All the Bright Places

Title: All the Bright Places
Author: Jennifer Niven

Pages: 378

Publisher: Penguin

Source: Bought

Rating: 4/5

Good Reads // Amazon

Summary (from Good Reads): 

Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.
 
Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.
 
When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.

I hadn't really head too much about this book, other than reading the summary so I went into this book with a clear mind. When the book started off, I wasn't too sure about how much I'd like it, it was interesting and I'd read that it was a bit of a cross between Rainbow Rowell and John Green, both being authors that I enjoy, but I didn't know if it'd be my thing due to the topic that the book kind of focuses on. I kept on with it anyway and I am so glad I did. It really picked up and became even more interesting. 

I thought that the story was interesting and dealt with the subject of suicide well, particularly as the topic is quite a sensitive and touchy subject. I felt that after reading this I had actually developed a bit more of a better understanding. 

I found the characters to be interesting and compelling. I enjoyed reading about the characters and getting to know them better. I particularly liked the relationship that formed between Finch and Violet and was so rooting for them pretty much the whole way through the book. It was interesting to see them develop, both in different ways, but together. I thought that this added something else to the book as it was plain to see that both characters were each others coping mechanism. This book doesn't just focus on the characters and their relationship. It also focuses on her things, including bits of adventure along the way.

The ending was a bit of a knock in the face. This is where the book kicks it up a notch, but ultimately, it ties up and makes for a 'good' ending to the book. I really enjoyed this book and was taken by surprise by it. Again, I wasn't really sure about it as I hadn't heard much but I found it interesting and a good read and would definitely recommend it!

My Life Next Door

Title: My Life Next Door

Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Pages: 394

Publisher: Speak

Source: Bought

Rating: 3.5/5

Good Reads // Amazon

Summary (from Good Reads): 
"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?

My Life Next Door was a book that I was drawn to mainly because of the book spine..please don't ask me why, but I absolutely loved the stripy spine. Because of that, I obviously looked to see what the book was about and I was sold pretty much straight away. I bought this book back at the end of January (after a good few months of wanting it) and pretty much demolished it within a few days which shows positive things for Huntley Fitzpatrick's writing and stories, both of which I thought were great! I will be sure to visit another book of hers soon.

This book was so fun and so sweet. I absolutely loved the Garrett family, and Jase sounds so swoony! Definitely in the line up for top book boyfriends. Set over the Summer break in Stony Bay (sounds so cute!), this is where our main character Samantha really comes into herself, I think. It was interesting to read about her mother and political campaigns - I basically have no idea when it comes to politics and what goes on behind the scenes in the UK, let alone anywhere else, so this was really interesting to read about.

This book did so well in exploring real, first love. I was excited to see what would happen to Samantha and Jase throughout the story and what would happen to them as the story progressed. It was nice to read a bit of a summer romance, particularly this one as it was so sugar sweet!

I definitely did not see the ending coming at all. You know how pretty much every contemporary typically goes well and then takes a turn for the worst? I really did not see this one coming..at all. But in a way, I think that this makes the book even better as it's not just a typical turn for the worst. Plus I was intrigued to see what would happen! 

Despite the fact that I did love this book, there was one thing that got me and that's just how quick the end was. I felt like it was a little rushed and all these things just happened at once, which is great but I just found that the perhaps 50 pages were a bit rushed!

My Life Next Door seriously made me wish for summer as it's such a perfect book for that season. It also made me wish that I had my own balcony to sit out on and gaze at the starts at night..a girl can dream!

The Winner's Curse

Title: The Winner's Curse

Author: Marie Rutkoski
Pages: 355

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Source: Bought

Rating: 4/5

Good Reads // Amazon

Summary (from Good Reads): 
Winning what you want may cost you everything you love 

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. 

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. 

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined. 

One thing I loved about this book is how different it was to anything else I'd ever read. Yes, it was all romantic and about love and two people getting together, but the one thing that was different about it, is that it was told from several people's perspectives, but never the couples. For example, a teacher, a barista and a delivery guy as well as the couples friends. We even saw the view points of a bench and a squirrel! It is definitely a unique book in that respect, which is something I definitely enjoyed. I think it was particularly refreshing actually, having a story told but never by the main characters in the story. I thought it was an interesting idea that Sandy Hall did really well. 

Other than the unique aspect of the different view points, the book was fairly good but I think it was very predictable, not that this is a problem - it means you don't have to concentrate on it too much at all, making it light read that you can breeze through! It had an adorable but dorky romance which the book was centred around, which was made good by having the different perspectives of it. It is short, but sweet. I got through it fairly quickly so would definitely say that it is a nice, quick read, if that's something that you're looking for. 

Oh, and can we just talk about the cover? I know I don't usually talk about book covers in reviews, but I just love this one. I think it's so pretty and I just love the colours and how well they go together. I also like how different parts of the book are featured on the cover!