4 Book Recommendations to add to your TBR!!

 "A reader lives a thousand lives before he die... 

The man who never reads lives only one" - George R.R. Martin

Minor Spoilers may be found but nothing revealing:

4 book recommendations that you should definitely check out, in no particular order:

1. Inheritance Games Trilogy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes:

(#1 Inheritance Games, #2 Hawthorne Legacy, #3 The Final Gambit)

This is a massive MUST READ!! It is a mystery that is meticulous, exciting and well written out. The books can be understood as a standalone, with each book having its own core mystery although the series itself interconnects. It is written beautifully. When each book ended, the ending made sense but when the next book came along, that also made sense too. It was such a good series that it is definitely worth the read!! A love triangle is also found in this book between heiress, Avery, older brother, Grayson and younger brother, Jameson. I am firmly Team Grayson, although Team Jameson wasn't too bad... Inheritance Games is a well written and interconnecting mystery series that you need to read!

Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why -- or even who Tobias Hawthorne is.
To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man's touch -- and his love of puzzles, riddles, and codes. Unfortunately for Avery, Hawthorne House is also occupied by the family that Tobias Hawthorne just dispossessed. This includes the four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation that one day, they would inherit billions. Heir apparent Grayson Hawthorne is convinced that Avery must be a conwoman, and he's determined to take her down. His brother, Jameson, views her as their grandfather's last hurrah: a twisted riddle, a puzzle to be solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every turn, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive.

2. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard:

(#1 Red Queen, #2 Glass Sword, #3 Kings Cage, #4 War Storm. #5 Broken Throne is a collection of short stories but is necessary to understand the conclusion)

This is among the first ever YA series I read and still remains among my favourites. I can not repeat this enough but for those who like to read the ending before the beginning (no shame, I am included in that group of people), I would advise against it. There is a heartbreaking twist in it that I assure you, you will NOT see coming and it is better to experience the full shock of it. Another love triangle can be found here between Mare, Cal and Maven. Red Queen is a fantasy-dystopian series that really pushes the boundaries of the imagination. Incredibly invested in it and well worth the read!

This is a world divided by blood—red or silver.
The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.
That is until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.
Fearful of Mare's potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.
But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance—Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart.

3. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

(#1 Shatter Me, #1.5 Destroy Me, #2 Unravel Me, #2.5 Fracture Me, #3 Ignite Me, #4 Restore Me, #4.5 Shadow Me, #5 Defy Me, #5.5 Reveal Me, #6 Imagine Me, #6.5 Believe Me. #1.5, #2.5, #4.5 #5.5, #6.5 are all shorter novels, NOT written in Juliette's POV and are significantly shorter than the novels. Although I believe they are necessary, you do not need to read them to follow the story)

You really think I wouldn't put this series in? I must admit, this is not my favourite. I did not love this series as most people suggest. I will say that the relationships found in this book are unlike any found in the real world. Another love triangle (this is a mere coincidence, believe it or not, I don't entirely like love triangles) is found between Juliette, Warner and Adam. It is another fantasy-dystopian series and it is perfect for those who enjoy long series, with many books in the Shatter Me-world. 

I have a curse
I have a gift
I am a monster
I'm more than human
My touch is lethal
My touch is power
I am their weapon
I will fight back
Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.
The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.
The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war—and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.
Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

4. The Selection Series by Kiera Cass

(#1 The Selection, #2 The Elite, #3 The One. #4 The Heir and #4 The Crown follow the story of America's daughter)

The Selection Series is a dystopian-romance series focused around America (the main character, not the country). Perfect for those in a reading slump as it is easy to read! A love triangle is also found (again, a coincidence) between America, Maxon and Aspen. The love triangle takes a larger part of the book as the series is romance-focused, unlike the others, which is fantasy-focused. The romance is a plot whereas in the other series, they are more of a sub-plot. Worth the read and if you enjoy it, it is worth reading Eadlyn's story (America's daughter) as she follows a similar path to her mothers. 

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Review: Better Than The Movies

In honor of Nothing Like The Movies being announced for 2024, I have decided to review my favourite standalone novel (currently, although I'm sure this book will remain in the top five for a while), Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter! This review may contain spoilers. 

Liz Buxbaum has always known that Wes Bennett was not boyfriend material. You would think that her next-door neighbor would be a prince candidate for her romantic comedy fantasies, but Wes has only proven himself to be a pain in the butt, ever since they were little. Wes was the kid who put a frog in her Barbie Dreamhouse, the monster who hid a lawn gnome's severed head in her little homemade neighborhood book exchange.

Flashforward ten years from the Great Gnome Decapitation. It's Liz's senior year, a time meant to be rife with milestones perfect for any big screen, and she needs Wes's help. See, Liz's forever crush, Michael, has just moved back to town, and-horribly, annoyingly-he's hitting it off with Wes. Meaning that if Liz wants Michael to finally notice her, and hopefully be her prom date, she needs Wes. He's her in.

But as Liz and Wes scheme to get Liz her magical prom moment, she's shocked to discover that she actually likes being around Wes. And as they continue to grow closer, she must reexamine everything she really thought she knew about love-and rethink her own perception of what Happily Ever After should really look like. (Lynn Painter)

I walk a fine line between cliché stories. Some are too ditzy, some are too predictable but some can execute the magic of a good story. Better Than The Movies is the latter. The dialogue rolled of the tongue easily, the main characters weren't clueless and character development is written well. I was too caught up in the excitement of the story to notice any obvious flaws which means that as a reader, the book is an enjoyment, instead of reading something horrible and being aware of it every time you open it. The book wasn't all cute and flirty. Liz's mother died when she was young, leaving most of Liz's memories with her when they were watching rom-coms together, causing her to believe she must act like the main character of one in order to keep her memory alive. Her father remarried and Liz feels uncomfortable allowing Helena into her senior memories, when it should have been her mother instead. It had many pop culture references, which can be quite off putting, especially for me but Painter managed to write them across easily, always managing to make them fit, instead of forcing them in. Something that drew me in first were the quotes seen at the start of every chapter from certain rom-coms. Upon further reading, these quotes were placed at the start of the chapter to foreshadow the chapter itself. 

"Love is patient, love is kind, love means slowly losing your mind" - 27 Dresses in Chapter 9. In Chapter 9, Liz and Helena, her stepmum who she shares a complicated relationship with, go to Starbucks and Liz reveals her thoughts about her growing alliance with Wes. Later, they go dress shopping with her best friend, Jocelyn and her mother. This chapter represents the growing switch in Liz's mind about how she is starting to enjoy Wes's attention more than Michael's. She is becoming confused and ponders the what if's. This reflects the quote itself as she's slowly losing her mind trying to figure out where her feelings stand in all of this. 

"But mostly I hate the way I don't hate you. Not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all" - 10 Things I Hate About You in Chapter 10. In Chapter 10, Wes and Liz decide to see a meteor shower together. The next day, they go to a diner, before going to Michael's house for a movie. Both these events; the meteor shower and diner are not Michael-related. Wes invited her personally and Liz is having a good time. As an enemies-to-lovers book, this quote from an enemies-to-lovers movie which is an excellent choice. In fact, this quote can be used for the whole book but for a chapter quote, Painter selected it quite well. 

"But you know, the thing about romance is, people only get together right at the very end" - Love Actually in Chapter 18. This is The Chapter and the one worth the journey. This quote summarises every romance film or book. The book is the journey and they only truly get together at the end. Of course, we never know what happens after but we like to think it all went smooth sailing. 

Liz and Wes's love story was one that made us laugh and gasp and it was written beautifully. It had moments that made us wish we were the main character and it created hope for those who were in Liz's position. Those who didn't go to keg parties. Those who considered a movie for Friday night entertaining. Those who didn't enjoy playing basketball. Those who decided to live their life like a rom com (which looks like it might just be Liz). It is executed well and I look forward to reading the sequel. 

Review- Kensy and Max: Disappearing Act

The second book of Kensy and Max, written by Jacqueline Harvey, was exciting because they got to go on their very first mission with Autumn and Carlos. I wish I had a watch like them. Every time they decode a new message, I'm always so excited about what it's going to say! I think Max's is right about Uncle Rupert. He's uncanny. At the start of the book when they did that maze competition, I would not want to get hit by those bullets. I love all the gadgets that they use. The most useful one for me would probably be the hairclip that Kensy wears. Useful for picking locks. The most exciting moment would be the chasing and running away from the people in the orphanage. I still can't believe that they met their mum and dad again even if it was for a few minutes. I still don't understand how Lola's mother doesn't know that Lola's father is a... Diavolo. Wait, does she know? Out of Kensy and Max's gifts, I like Max's better. I love code-cracking. I don't have a photographic memory for anything, but I have an uncanny thing where I can remember book conversations. Like out of nowhere, I can remember things from other books that I've read like 2 months ago.

A thing I didn't like was on Chapter 2 when they were split in 2's and had to find their own way to Dame Spencer's country estate in North Yorkshire, it didn't say anything about how they managed to get there.

When Mr Nutting said 'Your lucky I'm not in the mood for blood tonight, girls,' did he actually mean blood? When Misha left Lola, it said Lola attached herself to Hattie. Is Hattie, Harriet? Are all the next books going to have that case note that Fitz wrote? In the case note it said Kensy and Max were admitted Agents-In-Training at eleven years and one month. Does that mean they had their birthday one month ago? Did their parents disappear in that one month? It said they they were entered in formal training on 17 November, how long was that before they were admitted agents in training?

Overall, I think this book is Awesome and a great book for kids to read. I think it would be suitable for kids age 9+. I love this book so much, I give it ⭐⭐⭐🌟/ 5 stars.

Review: The 104-Storey Treehouse

The 104-Storey Treehouse was really funny. I loved reading the jokes at the bottom. My favourite joke is that there is a one-Storey house where everything is red. I was so caught up reading that joke that I didn't even read that part of the story, where they climb the never-ending staircase! It was sort of annoying and funny when they climb it because it takes up 27 pages! That part is just a chapter. I also can't believe that the fairies didn't realize Terry was in Fairyland. He's so big compared to them. If I lived in that Treehouse I would go to the money making machine, get like a billion two-dollar coins and then go to the two-dollar shop, then I could buy everything I want! Then I'd just go back to the money making machine get two-million-dollars and buy something from the two-million-dollar shop. Easy Peasy. Well, unless I'm like Terry and I bump into the machine and switch it to honey. That thing should have like, flashing lights to warn the person that they switched it. I would NEVER climb the never-ending staircase because I can't even climb a thousand stairs let alone a never-ending one. I think that relaxing field of Buttercups, Butterflies and Bluebirds would be a perfect place for Jill. The burp bank sounds disgusting though. What if you don't have any burps? The tangled up level sounds cool and scary. What if you never get un-tangled? I'd give this book ⭐⭐⭐⭐/ 5 stars. I've read lots of your Treehouse Books since the first one, The 13-Storey Treehouse. Keep on writing those Treehouse books Andy and Terry!

Review: Alice-Miranda in Scotland

I love the Alice-Miranda series, especially this book! This was the one I only needed to read to finish off my collection. I have a lot of favourite parts. One of them was when they were kidnapped. It was mysterious in a way and kind of fun reading. Judging how the bunker was described, if they wouldn't be kidnapped, I would've stayed there. It sounded nice ( Well maybe I would buy more sensible food, just to be on the safe side 😄)  I also liked the creational Scottish group names, especially Clan Mac. My favourite funny part was when that old man/ pensioner sneaked into the back row and demanded the volume to be turned up. That was hilarious, and when Maddie ( Madagascar) was wedged into that suit, serves her right for being a brat and a bully. Too bad she got out of the suit. Anyway, why did Davina Stuart want to make Barclay Ferguson sick? I mean she wanted to make Nessie's monster group parents, suffer and she said at the end she wouldn't care if the children die down there but not Mr Ferguson. He's her boss! My favourite character is Alethea because she's much nicer in this book then her previous appearances and she is a good friend. Anyway, I'll give this book ⭐⭐⭐⭐/ 5 stars. I hope Jacqueline Harvey keeps on writing more Alice-Miranda books and good luck with her other series. 👍

Review- KENSY and MAX, Book 1: Breaking News

I really loved Kensy and Max because it was so exciting with the kidnapping and the missing parents. My 3 favourite characters are Autumn, Harper and Kensy. Autumn because she's always there for Kensy and she's very brave. Harper because I love how she's always saying 'school is never dull', she also has lovely blonde hair and pale blue eyes. Kensy because she's 1 out of the 2 main characters and she's an awesome bossy leader ( mainly to Max ). Another thing I liked about it was how in every corner there was a new adventure, a new excitement for Kensy and Max. I mean cracking that Britain Diamond Theft was an amazing accomplishment. I also liked how on every chapter heading, there was a set of jumbled letters and then at the back there was the Caesar Cipher to crack them, it was like we were now going to crack the codes instead of Kensy and Max! My favourite bit ( Okay I have a lot of favourite bits ) is when they get a message on Max's watch from there parents. Unreal! Kensy and Max are very quick to see through things and crack the case. So I guess that was why Max decoded the Morse code so fast ( Or maybe it was because his sister was being so impatient ). This book is the best book ever! I give it ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/ 5 stars. I hope everyone enjoys this book. 👍