Hey guys!
I managed to read a grand total of 7 books this month, and I don't even know how! I guess I chose fairly short books, that I could get through in a few days. I read Everything, Everything, Entangled, Solace of the Road, Allegiant, The Duff, Untamed, and Every Day. Yep, they're all YA novels...I was hoping to read Emma this month but didn't really have time :( Depending on how much work I manage to complete this term, I'll hopefully be reading Emma during the Xmas hols. I do love a bit of Jane Austen. Anywayyy, below are my reviews of the books I've been reading in September (and I do apologise if some of them are a little long, got a bit carried away while I was writing them!):
1. Everything, Everything
Although I received an ARC copy of Everything, Everything from Netgallery, I wasn't actually planning to read it for a while. However, I heard amazing things about this book on Goodreads, and couldn't put it off any longer. I am so so so glad I read Everything, Everything - it's such a beautifully written book. I like the illustrations too. If you want to read my full review, head over to my book blog. But, for those of you in a hurry, I'd just like to tell you that I urge you to read Everything, Everything. Nicola Yoon has done an incredible job and I hope she releases more books soon!
2. Entangled
Entangled is the second book I've read by Cat Clarke, Torn being the first. Yet again, I was impressed with her writing; Cat Clarke has this way of capturing the reader's attention right from the start and making them want to read until the very end. This was definitely true for me, when I read Entangled. It's a fast-paced novel and I found myself aching to find out why Grace (the protagonist) was in the white room, separated from all her friends and family. I will point out that there is a twist near the end, and if you're anything like me, you'll be thinking "damn! I knew it!" I could just see it coming! Grace isn't a very likeable main character (she's a bit obsessed with boys and partying), but the twist is guaranteed to make you feel sorry for her. I'll also mention that the ending of the book isn't very clear - you're left to your own interpretation. I kind of feel like there should be a sequel, though maybe that's just me? Nevertheless, I think I do prefer Entangled to Torn!
3. Solace of the Road
I've also done a longer review of Solace of the Road over on A Secret Book Lover, but I'll write a brief summery of the book here. Solace of the Road is by Siobhan Dowd, who sadly passed away a while ago. I'd heard of Siobhan Dowd years ago, but I had no idea she was no longer alive until fairly recently. Anyway, Solace of the Road is a beautifully written novel (yeh, I said the exact same thing about Everything, Everything, but it's true!). The author has done a fantastic job at drawing in her reader and making them want to read on and find out whether Holly ends up being reunited with her mother or not. Holly may not be the most likeable character, but I was able to sympathise with her and I did understand why she was so desperate to see her mother again. I love how Holly stumbled upon a wig in her new foster parents' house and uses it as a way of reinventing herself when she goes on her journey across England. I've added A Swift Pure Cry to my reading list as I want to see what else Siobhan Dowd has to offer.
4. Allegiant
I actually managed to successfully complete the Divergent trilogy before the first part of the final book is released in cinemas early next year. Woo! Although I did enjoy Allegiant as a whole, I was a bit disappointed with the ending. I know I'm not the only one. Ok, so I did already know what would happen (yay for spoilers!) but I did still have this tiny glimmer of hope that it was all just lies. Unfortunately, the truly devastating thing did happen. Veronica Roth, how could you do that to your readers?! I trusted you! Anyway, if you haven't already done so, go read the Divergent trilogy. Just be prepared for violence, death and heartbreak.
5. The DUFF
I always try to read the book before seeing the film, but this completely failed with The Duff. But now, almost four months after watching the film, I finally got round to reading the book. As with the film adaptation, Kody Keplinger's book is hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. Having already seen the film, I was shocked at how different it is to the book - there are so many changes (though I won't reveal what those are). However, Bianca remains her cynical self, and Wesley is still a total douchebag. I did find Bianca to be somewhat excruciating at first, what with all her pessimism, but I did end up liking her as the story progressed, and I could connect with her. Bianca's home life is pretty terrible, and it's understandable why she would turn to Wesley as an escape, even though the very thought of his name infuriates her. The Duff is a light-hearted read and I'll definitely be reading some of Kody Keplinger's books in the future.
6. Untamed
I've actually gone over the number of books on my summer reading list, but that's probably because I've received quite a few ebooks and ARCs recently, Untamed being one. Untamed is Madeline Dyer's debut novel, and it was released fairly recently, so don't worry if you haven't heard of it (I probably wouldn't know the book existed either, if it weren't for the fact that it had cropped up on my newsfeed earlier this summer). Untamed is a dystopian novel that focuses on Seven, a young girl whose mother has just disappeared. Seven has to decide between betraying her family and joining the Enhanced, the group she believes her mother is now a part of, or staying with the Untamed, the group she's been brought up it. The story follows Seven as she tries to make the right decision, encountering her enemies and first love along the way. Seven is a brave and strong protagonist, as YA Dystopian heroines should be. She's had a tough upbringing, but doesn't let it affect her too much. Although gripping and fast-paced, Untamed is very dark and violent. It can get a bit uncomfortable at times. However, Untamed is a well-thought out novel, and it's hard to believe that it is a first novel. Untamed is a great book for anyone who is a fan of the dystopian genre but wants something unique and different.
7. Every Day
Every Day is a very unique book. I've never read anything like it. Every day is sort of the same for A, the protagonist - he / she wakes up in someone else's body, but it's a different person each time. In a way, this does make the book feel a little repetitive, but it is interesting to find out the stories of the various people whose lives A borrows. There was one part that was particularly moving, when A wakes up as a girl who is about to commit suicide. A is a very difficult character to talk about since he / she doesn't have a gender or body. However, it is clear that A is kind and sweet. Despite this, I didn't like the fact that A tried to split Rhiannon and Justin up - a selfish move on A's part. Nevertheless, Justin is a complete jerk, so it's understandable that A thinks Rhiannon can do better. I also thought that the ending was a bit of a let down - it does seem quite rushed. Every Day is such a quotable book - my copy was literally full of post-it notes with phrases and paragraphs that I loved. I wish I could share them all with you, but this post is already getting rather long. There is, however, a quote that sums up A, and his / her life quite well, so I'll insert it here: "I am a drifter, and as lonely as that can be, it is also remarkably freeing. I will never feel the pressure of peers or the burden of parental expectation. I can view everyone as pieces of a whole, and focus on the whole, not the pieces. I have learned to observe, far better than most people observe. I am not blinding by the past or motivated by the future. I focus on the present because that is where I am destined to live." So beautiful, isn't it?!
In summary, Every Day is a book about identity, and above all, acceptance. It shows that we all fall in love at some point, no matter what shape, size, gender or orientation we may be. Every Day is heart-warming, captivating, original and thought-provoking. I'd highly recommend it.
So there are my mini book reviews for September! What books have you been reading lately? Have you read any of the same books as me?! What is on your TBR list for October? I'm going back to uni on the weekend, so unfortunately I'll be back to a few months of absolutely no fiction reading :(
Hasta luego!
Serena
