Can't wait to read

Just three books this month that are on my radar

Apparently I'm boring. A nobody. But that's all about to change. Because I am starting a project. Here. Now. For myself. And if you want to come along for the ride then you're very welcome.

Bree is a loser, a wannabe author who hides behind words. Most of the time she hates her life, her school, her never-there parents. So she writes.

But when she’s told she needs to start living a life worth writing about, The Manifesto on How to Be Interesting is born. Six steps on how to be interesting. Six steps that will see her infiltrate the popular set, fall in love with someone forbidden and make the biggest mistake of her life.

I really enjoyed Holly's first book. Non Pratt has already said she is enjoying it which is enough of an endorsement as I'll ever need

Eleven-year-old Pea and her wonderfully wacky family are back for their second adventure in this fabulously funny series.

After securing herself a best friend and settling into London life, Pea is now contemplating her future and what exactly she should be when she grows up. Should she be a writer (like Mum)? An artist (like their crazy new au pair Klaudia)? A footballer? A pet therapist? Join Pea as she attempts to find out the answers - with hilarious results!

I only just discovered this series in the last week after receiving the first book as a present. It is just the best and I cannot wait to carry on with the series

"My name is Harriet Manners, and I'll always be a geek."

It's the hilarious third book in the No.1 bestselling, award winning GEEK GIRL series!

Harriet Manners knows more facts that most. She knows that New York is the most populous city in the United States. She knows that its official motto is "Ever Upward". She knows that 28% of Americans believe we never landed on the moon.

But she knows nothing about modelling in the Big Apple, and how her family will cope with life stateside. Or how to "become a brand", as the models in New York put it. And, even more importantly, what to do when the big romantic gestures aren't coming from your boyfriend...

Does geek girl go too far this time?

Yes I know this has been out a while but my copies of book 1 and 2 are paperback so I am not going to buy this is hardback as it won't match and I hate reading on kindle so not going down that route either. Counting down the days to the paperback release 

Come back to me by Mia Gray

Home on leave in sunny California, Marine and local lothario Kit Ryan finds himself dangerously drawn to his best friend's sister, Jessa - the one girl he can't have.

But Kit's not about to let a few obstacles stand in his way and soon Jessa's falling for his irresistible charms.

What starts out as a summer romance of secret hook-ups and magical first times quickly develops into a passionate love affair that turns both their worlds upside down.

When summer's over and it's time for Kit to redeploy, neither Kit nor Jessa are ready to say goodbye. Jessa's finally following her dreams and Kit's discovered there's someone he'd sacrifice everything for.

Jessa's prepared to wait for Kit no matter what. But when something more than distance and time rips them apart they're forced to decide whether what they have is really worth fighting for.

A breathtaking, scorchingly hot story about love, friendship, family and finding your way back from the edge of heartbreak

My thoughts
Come back to me is a brilliant novel which I thoroughly enjoyed.

I must admit I swore myself off NA novels a whilst back after getting fed up with them having no depth. However this was so much better than the majority of NA novels I have read over the past few years

Firstly it is hot and steamy throughout. Hot Marines in uniform? Yes Please! I loved the relationship that develops throughout this novel and was rooting for them from the beginning to get it sorted. Kit is definitely a book hottie to swoon over.

Aside from the hot and steaminess I also loved the more tender side of the relationship that develops over the course of the book and I think this is why I liked it more than other NA titles because the was that depth

All in all definitely a title I will happily recommend

My Summer Holiday Reading Pile

Dear all

You might have noticed things around here have been slow of late and that my reviews have been very much on the short side. This year has been the toughest I have ever had since I started teaching for a variety of reasons and it has really taken a toll on both the volume of reading I've managed to get through and the amount of time I've had (or lack of it) to review anything *shakes fist at Michael Gove*

Today however is the day when I start to get back on top of things because the school holidays are finally here!! I have the following books to work through over the next six weeks, all the time in the world to review and get myself scheduled up to share with you all for September when things start getting busy again.

This is a picture of all the books I have on my TBR pile that I want to get through* The pile on the left are mostly books I bought myself, mostly all UKYA authors and all books I am excited to read. The exceptions to that are Insignia and Shadow and bone which are there because I now have the final two books in the series and want to reread those both reading the entire series back to back. The pile on the right are all review books and again all titles I am so so so excited to read.

*not including a rather large pile of adult books I have to read (have to be in the right mood) and several kindle books I have to read (I am never in the right mood ... I hate my Kindle)


My question to you dear readers is which of these fine titles should I start with. I have literally no idea where to begin because I want to read them all now. Any recommendations?

Review: Every Second Counts by Sophie McKenzie

The heart-stopping sequel to Split Second. Nat and Charlie are on the run, and in more danger than ever . . .
Nowhere is safe for Charlie and Nat. They have each other, but Roman Riley's networks could reach them at any time. Charlie believes the only option is to go undercover in Riley's team, and sneaks away from Nat to pursue her plan alone. Nat is desperate to find Charlie, but his family are in danger and Riley is coming ever closer. Even if Nat and Charlie can find each other again, could being together be even more dangerous than being apart . . .?

My thoughts
A fast paced and exciting sequel to Split Second frighteningly realistic and insightful throughout. I must admit I suck at sequels on the whole and rarely get round to reading them but I found this series really easy to slip back into. Where it is particularly insight is where it looks at a future political system which has been radicalised by the poor economic circumstances a not too distant future Britain is facing. Definitely a series I would happily recommend

Review: Since you've been gone by Morgan Matson

The Pre-Sloane Emily didn't go to parties, she barely talked to guys, she didn't do anything crazy. Enter Sloane, social tornado and the best kind of best friend—the one who yanks you out of your shell.But right before what should have been an epic summer, Sloane just... disappears. No note. No calls. No texts. No Sloane. There’s just a random to-do list. On it, thirteen Sloane-selected-definitely-bizarre-tasks that Emily would never try... unless they could lead back to her best friend. Apple Picking at Night? Ok, easy enough.Dance until Dawn? Sure. Why not? Kiss a Stranger? Wait... what?

Getting through Sloane’s list would mean a lot of firsts. But Emily has this whole unexpected summer ahead of her, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected) to check things off. Who knows what she’ll find?

Go Skinny Dipping? Um....

My thoughts

I can't look at this book without singing its title Kelly Clarkson style. I was so excited to read this book and for me it was a fabulous summery read which is perfect for the beach. It was a fabulous story about friendship and I loved the romance that develops over the course of the book.

Review: Shut out by Kody Keplinger

Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part, Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention.

Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming.

My thoughts
I think I liked this book but there were parts that didn't quite sit right with me.

I love Kody's characterisation and I love that books sound brilliantly authentic. I enjoyed seeing how the story played out and I swooned over Cash like nobody's business. I liked its frank discussion of teenage sex but at the same time to way it was used as a weapon just didn't sit right with me at all and I just don't know why.

Definitely an author I wouldn't hesitate to recommend but I think I'd suggest one of her other titles first.

The best thing that never happened to me by Jimmy Rice and Laura Tait

 

Everyone remembers their first love.
Holly has learnt that life isn't about seizing the moment. She might have harboured dreams about travelling the world as a teenager, but she let go of those - just as she let go of Alex.

But what if the feelings never really went away?
Alex wants to make every moment of his new job count. It's a fresh start in a new city, and he knows that moving to London has nothing to do with Holly. Well, probably.

How do you know if it was meant to be. or never meant to happen at all?
A brilliantly funny, feel-good story of first love, second chances and everything inbetween, perfect for fans of romantic comedies like Love Actually, Notting Hill and Bridget Jones

My thoughts
Not a review today as such because I left it too long before thinking about reading it so more a heads up that this fabulous little book has been released in paperback and that it is fab. I adored it all and couldn't read it fast enough. Perfect if you love Paige Toon's books