Summer TBR

Summer TBR :)

Here are just some of the books I am really hoping to read this Summer!

-The Raven Cycle Quartet

I read The Raven Boys about two years ago and really enjoyed it! I don’t why I haven’t continued this series considering how much I loved the first book, but I’m hoping to rectify this over the summer. Plus my library has all the audiobook, so I have no excuse not to get to them! 

-The Merciful Crow

I received an early copy from a friend who works at a bookstore and I still haven’t gotten to it :) I hope to read it before it comes out, which is like a couple weeks, so I better get a move not it! 

-The Poet X

I recently acquired this book, and I’m hoping to read it soon. I’m pretty sure it will be a quick read since it is told in verse. I also might check out the audiobook since Elizabeth Acevedo narrates it herself!

-The Last True Poets of the Sea

Same as The Merciful Crow, I received an early copy and I really want to get to it before it releases! But this one doesn’t come out until October, so I still have some time :) (Plus it is blurbed by Madeline Miler! How can I not read it now?)

-Looking for Alaska

Since I am so excited for the 8 episode Hulu mini series adaptation of this book, it is only fair that I read the book first! Also, I have the Penguin mini edition, and it is so darn cute and pocket sized, so I can bring it anywhere ;)

-Bright We Burn

After finishing Now I rise about a month ago, I am in desperate need to pick up the conclusion of this trilogy! And I Darken and Now I Rise are two of my favorite books of this year, and I have no doubt that I will absolutely love this one as well!

-Aurora Rising

The Illuminae Files are some of my favorite books of all time, and I was super sad when the series came to an end last year. When Amie and Jay announced their new book together, I immediately preordered it! So this is at the top of my TBR haha :)

-We Hunt the Flame

This is the July pick for the Barnes and Noble YA book club (that meets every second Thursday of the month), and I have to read it by the 11th of July

Review: Heretics Anonymous 😃

Heretics Anonymous: Review

“I believe in love. I believe in the love Lucy shows me, the kind I'll try hard to give back to her in full. I believe in things I can't put into words, but things I know to be true. 

I believe in us. I believe in this. 

Amen.” 

Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry follows 17 year old Michael who begins at a catholic school as an atheist. His father’s job made his family relocate, moving again, and Michael desperately needs friends. So when a girl named Lucy in his theology class stands up against their teacher, he thinks she might be the perfect no-catholic friend. However,, Lucy isn’t an athirst, she’s an aspiring priest. Instead, she introduces Michael to the outcasts of St.Clare, and together they can all be themselves, forming a secret (vigilante-ish) club they call Heretics Anonymous.  

This book was unexpectedly funny. While listening to the audiobook, I found myself laughing out loud multiple times. Michael was snarky and sarcastic, but the book was still respectful of other’s religion. While the topic of religion was consistently challenged, it wasn’t anti religion, and the underlying theme and core message was acceptance and tolerance. It shows that everyone’s beliefs can be (and are) different, but we should all be able to coexist peacefully and respect others beliefs. Michael, the main character has many flaws, like being extremely stubborn, a bit obnoxious, and impulsive , but it adds to the overall narrative when you see how much he grows from the beginning to the end. His relationship with his father is very strained, as he blames his fathers job for moving for moving their family around so much and uprooting him from friends that he continues to make over and over again. As they tiptoe around each other until Michael has enough and drama ensues. Their relationship grows so much by the end, and it made me really happy to see them understand and eventually forgive one another. 

In addition, I loved the whole Heretics Anonymous gang! Lucy is a fierce feminist, aspiring to be a priest, and who does not take shit from anyone, including Michael. She challenges unjust and prejudiced aspects of her religion, but still learns a great deal from Heretics Anonymous, especially Eden. Lucy is a loyal Catholic that recognizes its faults, yet still remains adamant in her faith. Ari was so fun to read about, and was fiercely protective of his friends. Max was super quirky and so damn precious, and Eden was totally badass!

All together, the group enlightened one another and introduced them to new perspectives, creating an amazing, healthy friendship that was an absolute pleasure to read! 4 stars, I recommend this book to anyone looking to learn, laugh, or just read about really good friends :)

"I don’t believe in God, but that doesn’t mean I believe in nothing."

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Review: Again, But Better ♡

Review: Again, But Better ♡

I inhale sharply. “I might like you more than the shawarma.” 

"Damn. Shawarma was basically why you wanted to come back and study abroad again in the first place."

I went into Again, But Better with pretty low expectations. There were many, many mixed reviews and I didn’t know what to expect. I knew that this book had a magical element in the second half and that the main character, Shane, was heavily based on Christine herself. I think knowing to expect these things before starting to read this heightened my enjoyment of this book.

Again, But Better follows Shane, who has been doing college all wrong, and is determined to reinvent herself by deciding to study abroad in London. There she meets a slew of new friends and a cute boy named Pilot (like the pen). Along her journey of self discovery, she travels to new countries and experiences everything from first kisses to finding her passion in life.

This book is as much of a romance between Shane and Pilot as it is Shane discovering what she wants to do with her life. The first half followers her breaking out of her shell and putting herself out in the world, like spending a semester abroad in London, and exploring cities like Rome and Paris. The travel aspect of this story was authentic and a joy to read, as you could clearly tell Christine drew from her own abroad experiences. While this book received some backlash of how similar Shane is to Christine, I didn’t mind the similarities. The constant references to things in 2011 did get a little excessive at some points, and I can definitely see why many people did not enjoy that aspect. 

The jump from 2011 to 2017 was a surprise for me, and I find the approach that Shane took to find closure a little strange. While the character growth was obvious, I just found it unbelievable she was “stuck” in the situation she was in with her life a couple years later. Why did it take her six years to suddenly realize she was unhappy in her current relationship and still hung over Pilot? Why didn’t she reach out to him beforehand if she was still not over him? Also the whole subplot with Amy was really messy. (spoiler) I don’t understand why the cheating that was included in this book because it doesn’t really add anything other than the driving force that keeps them apart. The force that could have kept them apart could have been Shane trying to balance boys and her passion like it did in the latter half. Instead the cheating just made me extremely frustrated and dislike Pilot.

Overall this was a 2.5 star read (rounded to 3 stars) since there were many aspects I enjoyed, like the travel and the parts about Shane’s internship, but also parts I couldn’t stand like the whole Amy situation. 

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