Happily Ever After by Kiera Cass

Happily Ever After 

by Kiera Cass

Released: October 13, 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Amount: 416, US Hardback
POV: 1st Person 
Series: Companion to The Selection
Buy it here: Barnes & Noble•Amazon

OVERALL:

Plot-18/20
Characters-18/20

Creativity-16/20

Writing-18/20

Pace-9/10

Ending-8/10

= 87/100 B

★★★★/5

REViEW:
Happily Ever After contains the novellas The Queen, The Prince, The Guard, The Favorite, and The Maid as well as some scenes about Celeste and other girls from the Selection. Like many super fans of Kiera Cass' work, I had already purchased The Prince and The Guard when they were both released in 2014, so I wasn't too thrilled with them being repackaged into this fancy new hardback. I really had no intention of buying this book until I saw a signed copy, making me need to have it. I'm glad I did buy it because this book had so many really neat exclusives. I loved the illustrations scattered throughout the book as well as the detailed maps that make up the inside cover. They were really beautiful and added a special charm to the stories. The stories did not really add that much to The Selection Series but it was fun to find out some more about secondary characters like Aspen, Maxon, Amberly, Lucy, and Marlee. I felt very indifferent about most of the stories because not much happened in the novellas. I wish Cass would have focused more on the background of these characters instead of re-narrating events that we already know from the main series. All in all, this book wasn't special, but it was a nice way to go back into the palace.

My Favorite Part: Celeste's scenes.


ALL iN ALL:
Do I recommend this book? Only if you really want to spend some more time with the characters of The Selection.

It's a Book Thing
Review by Macy ♥

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

More Happy Than Not 

by Adam Silvera

Released: June 2, 2015
Publisher: Soho Teen
Page Amount: 293, US Hardback
POV: 1st Person (Aaron)
Buy it here: Barnes & Noble•Amazon

OVERALL:

Plot-18/20
Characters-19/20

Creativity-20/20

Writing-20/20

Pace-9/10

Ending-9/10

= 95/100 A

★★★★★/5

SUMMARY:

In the months after his father's suicide, it's been tough for 16-year-old Aaron Soto to find happiness again--but he's still gunning for it. With the support of his girlfriend Genevieve and his overworked mom, he's slowly remembering what that might feel like. But grief and the smile-shaped scar on his wrist prevent him from forgetting completely. When Genevieve leaves for a couple of weeks, Aaron spends all his time hanging out with this new guy, Thomas. Aaron's crew notices, and they're not exactly thrilled. But Aaron can't deny the happiness Thomas brings or how Thomas makes him feel safe from himself, despite the tensions their friendship is stirring with his girlfriend and friends. Since Aaron can't stay away from Thomas or turn off his newfound feelings for him, he considers turning to the Leteo Institute's revolutionary memory-alteration procedure to straighten himself out, even if it means forgetting who he truly is. Why does happiness have to be so hard?-Goodreads.com

REViEW:
This book has been on my wishlist ever since I first heard of this book. I was immediately intrigued by the plot because although the book is almost entirely realistic fiction, it still has a sci-fi element to it because of the Leteo Institute's memory removing procedures. I loved the fact that that element did not detract from the realism of the novel but rather enhanced its meaning on sexuality. I do not want to explain too much of the plot because I believe this is one of the books that you just have to experience for yourself. I can say, however, that this book's plot shifts throughout the novel as more revelations occur to Aaron. I absolutely loved this because it kept me guessing throughout the novel. Just when I thought I had figured it all out, I turned the page and realized I was wrong on absolutely everything, and I love that! Not only was I shocked at some of the turns this novel took, but I also was completely sucked into the characters, writing, and plot of this book. I couldn't help but stay up all night to finish it because I had to know what was going to happen to Aaron and all of the fleshed out secondary characters. 

All of the characters in this book were amazing. I loved how Silvera really developed an entire community of characters within less than 300 pages. The main character and narrator, Aaron, had to be my favorite because his voice was distinct, raw, and honest. Aaron is an interesting character because he doesn't always see things as they really are, which lets the reader have some fun figuring out what's true and what's not. I was also blown away by how much I could identify with and get to know so many of the supporting characters. I loved reading about Tyler, Genevieve, and Aaron's mother. Each of them brought an entirely new perspective to Aaron and his situation, which was nice because it allowed me to sympathize with an array of different characters. These characters challenged me to think like a friend as well as a mother about sexuality and memory. The many perspectives that this book explores really made this novel something unique and truly special

The ending of this book was also terrific. I really don't think that Silvera could have ended this novel any other way because this ending was so fitting for the plot and the characters that were developed throughout the book. I, for one, was very happy with the ending and was left speechless and in awe once I closed the book. I am absolutely blown away by Silvera's debut novel, and I cannot wait to read more of his books in to future. 

My Favorite Part: I loved being shocked by the twists and turns and seeing how the sci-fi elements intertwined with the realistic to create deeper meaning. I also really enjoyed how tastefully the issue of sexuality was handled.


ALL iN ALL:
Do I recommend this book? Yes, I really truly do! I especially recommend it to people who are searching for a great LGBTQ+ read! This book has become one of my all-time favorites.

It's a Book Thing
Review by Macy ♥

December and January Wrap-Up

I apologize that this video is so late, but better late than never! I will have many more videos and reviews posted in the next couple of weeks so stay tuned! Be sure to subscribe and follow so that you don't miss any of the bookish fun!

2016 Resolutions

New Year, New Plans!

 To ring in the new year, I decided to make some bookish resolutions! One of them is to post on this blog at least once a week. Ideally, I will be posting much more than just once a week though. My followers mean a lot to me so I would like to become more active for all of them. Additionally, I'm really falling in love with the booktubing community so expect a ton more video reviews, tags, and hauls! 

Here's a sneak peak of the posts that will be scattered throughout the next couple months

UPCOMiNG REViEWS
1. Life and Death [Video]
2. Rumble
3. Cinder
4. Scarlet
5. We Were Liars
6. Days Of Blood and Starlight
7. Soundless [Written and Video]
8. Attachments

So many reviews, so little time. I have a lot of work ahead of me.

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

Attachments 

by Rainbow Rowell

Released: April 14, 2011
Publisher: Plume 
Page Amount: 323, US Paperback
POV: 3rd Person
Buy it here: Barnes & Noble•Amazon

OVERALL:

Plot-19/20
Characters-18/20

Creativity-20/20

Writing-18/20

Pace-9/10

Ending-9/10

=93/100 A

★★★★★/5

SUMMARY:

Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It's company policy.) But they can't quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives. Meanwhile, Lincoln O'Neill can't believe this is his job now- reading other people's e-mail. When he applied to be "internet security officer," he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers- not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke. When Lincoln comes across Beth's and Jennifer's messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can't help being entertained-and captivated-by their stories. By the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late to introduce himself. What would he say . . . ? -Goodreads.com

REViEW:
I am on a Rainbow Rowell kick and I have no regrets. After reading Eleanor and Park and loving it, I now feel the urge to read all of her books right this second! However, seeing that I am in the midst of finals and papers, I figured I needed a quick, easy read, and Attachments was just that. I must say I was intrigued from the very start because of the unique plot and captivating characters. This book follows Lincoln, who has a job reading people's emails, when all of a sudden he begins to fall for one of the girls from her emails. How clever is that? I really enjoyed being able to read a book that was new and fresh. The plot was so quirky and unexpected at times. However, the main force of this novel is the characters.

Rowell's characters are incredibly realistic. They feel like they could be people you know or people that you actually know. For instance, I feel like Jennifer is almost exactly like me. Her naivety and innocence really made me feel like I was reading my own text messages when reading the text of her emails. Similarly, Jennifer's best friend, Beth, seemed to be an incarnation of my best friend. That being said, reading Jennifer and Beth's messages were hilarious and totally relatable. Their drama was pretty typical but infused with wit. This made ordinary events appear to be worth reading. On the contrary, this was one of my issues with the main character, Lincoln. Don't get me wrong, I loved utterly adorable Lincoln, but because he was an ordinary guy his narrative was a bit slow at times. This book is so close to reality that it made some parts of this book a little slow, but it was still nonetheless enjoyable. Additionally, the romance in this book was just enough. This book is not solely focused on love, which I appreciated even though I am a hardcore romantic. This book worked because it focused on friendship, life, growing up, as well as just a sprinkle of gush worthy romance.

The ending was cute. I don't want to say that much, but I loved it. It filled my heart with such warmth. Cute is the big word with this book. From the start, I loved the fun plot with the normal yet intriguing characters. Although this book may not be my favorite Rainbow Rowell book (Eleanor and Park is...as of now), that doesn't meant that this book isn't fantastic in and of itself. This is exactly the kind of book that it seems: fun, quirky, and cute. I highly recommend it if that is something that you are looking for.

My Favorite Part: Jennifer and Beth's friendship and daily banter.

ALL iN ALL:
Do I recommend this book? Yes, it's so cute!

It's a Book Thing
Review by Macy ♥

Life and Death by Stephenie Meyer

Life and Death 

by Stephenie Meyer

Released: October 6, 2015
Publisher: Little, Brown
Page Amount: 389, US Hardback
POV: 1st Person (Beau)
Buy it here: Barnes & Noble•Amazon

OVERALL:

Plot-16/20
Characters-16/20

Creativity-18/20

Writing-15/20

Pace-8/10

Ending-8/10

= 81/100 B

★★★★/5

REViEW:
I am a huge Twilight fan, which you probably already know if you have been following me for awhile.  The Twilight Saga is the series which originally got me into reading, so it will always hold a special spot in my heart.  Therefore, I was super excited once I heard that Stephenie Meyer stated that she was releasing a gender swapped version of Twilight.  Of course, I had my reservations about this strange, albeit interesting, concept.  Nevertheless, I gave this book a shot.  I'm truly glad I did.  This book has almost an identical plot to Twilight, seeing as though just the genders are swapped around.  However, I did not feel like I was reading the same story, which was both good and bad.  

The characters were the driving force of this novel.  The gender swap affected all of the characters of Twilight except Charlie and Renee.  The swaps for Bella, Edward, and Bella's friends did not bother me.  They were really fun.  However, I did not really like the Cullens all being gender swapped.  I found those swaps very confusing and really ridiculous, because unlike the other swaps, the Cullens kept their original personalities despite having a different gender.  I believe that Meyer's main problem with this novel is inconsistencies with gender.  For example, Beau, who is the narrator, seemed like a guy for the first hundred or so pages of this novel, which was good because, ya know, Beau is a guy.  But for the following 300 pages, he became more feminine and weak, which was disappointing.  At points, Meyer just kept the identical narrations of Bella, which did not fit with Beau being male.  I just don't understand why she didn't just change all of narrations because she was so good at it at the start of the novel.  It had far more potential than this end result.

Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the characters of Beau and Edythe.  They were different from Bella and Edward yet were still lovable.  To be honest, I loved Beau from the beginning of this novel.  He seemed like a nerdy, likable guy, and if you know me at all, you know I like me some nerdy boys.  On the other hand, Edythe was a kick butt, strong, independent, sassy female.  I loved Edythe.  She snide remarks were hilarious and perfect.  However, I was sad that Meyer did not carry through with her tough attitude.  As soon as Edythe starts falling for Beau, she becomes soft and not in a good way.  A 150 pages in, Edythe began to be indecisive, which was really annoying.  For example, as soon as Beau and Edythe start getting closer, Edythe keeps changing her mind concerning whether he is worth it or not.  If this only happened once, it would have been fine, but this happened at least six times.  By the end of this novel, I just wanted to scream "Make up your mind already!!!"  But they didn't.  Even in one of the last scenes of this novel, Beau was still in disbelief that Edythe would love him.  I cannot say much about that scene because I do not want to spoil it, but if you are curious, I'll be posting a spoiler review on YouTube on Wednesday! 

That being said, the ending was different from Twilight.  I really enjoyed this change, and it gave me greater insight into a certain component of vampirism.  I'm really glad that Meyer changed the ending because Beau and Edythe's story was different from Bella and Edward's.  Although I did not enjoy this books as much as Twilight, I believe it was a fun book for dedicated Twilight fans.  If you are still leery to read this book, then just read the beginning and the ending because, let's be real, those were the only good parts of this book.  Nevertheless, I did enjoy this book.  I did not love it, but it still was an amazing story to include as bonus content to the 10th Anniversary edition of Twilight.  Readers should be thankful that instead of getting a short interview, random short story, or some other bland bonus content, Meyer included a nearly 400 page novel for her readers.  That shows that she really cares about her readers, which is awesome.

My Favorite Part: Being able to go on another journey in Forks!


ALL iN ALL:
Do I recommend this book? If you love Twilight as much as I do, then yes.

It's a Book Thing
Review by Macy ♥

How Grey's Anatomy Ruined My Reading Life

HOW GREY'S ANATOMY RUiNED MY READiNG LiFE!

As the title implies, Grey's Anatomy has indeed ruined my reading life. I started watching this series back in the middle of June and have never looked back since. From the first episode, I fell in love with the amazing characters and started to really care about them. That being said, every time Sondra Rhimes felt the need to kill any of them, I was left heartbroken. This show has made me cry more than any book or TV show ever has before because it is just that good. 

Anyway, since I started watching the show, my reading life has suffered drastically. There have been many months where I haven't read a single book because every free moment was spent watching this addicting show. However, it pains me to say that this week I finally  finished all the episodes that have been released. Now I must wait in suspense until February to find out what happens next. But my reading life is thankful because now I have time to read. I can finally devote all the hours I spent watching Grey's Anatomy to my TBR shelf. 

MY FAVORiTE THiNGS ABOUT GREY'S ANATOMY
1. The crazy, lovable characters
2. McDreamy
3. The unique medical cases that are utterly disturbing but still so intriguing
4. Cristina and Meredith's friendship
5. How relatable this show is to everyday life
6. The romance
7. The eye-candy male doctors (especially McDreamy, oh wait did I already say that?)
8. Literally everything, just watch the show

Please let me know in the comments if you love this show as much as I do! And tell me what your favorite character is/was! No spoilers though please!