[NA Blog Tour] Guest Post: Lola from Lola's Reviews talks New Adult!

Today I'm excited to host Lola from Lola's Reviews as part of the New Adult Blog Tour hosted by A Daydreamer's Thoughts. A huge thank you to Lola for this wonderful post! Read on for a great giveaway and your scavenger hunt clue.

  New Adult:
Why I love it, some of my favourite New Adult books and my hopes for the future

Thanks Sarah for hosting me! In this guest post I start with a short intro about what I think about the New Adult genre and why I love it. Then I’ll tell you about a few of my favourite New Adult books/series and I end with a few things I would like to see in New Adult in the future.

For me a book is New Adult when it takes place after high school, when someone is going to college or in the case they don’t go to college when characters are around that age they normally are when you are at that stage in life. Actually I think calling New Adult a genre is a bit misleading, I think more of it as an age category.

I read a few New Adult books before it was called New Adult and I love seeing this genre grow and get more attention. Some people think New Adult is temporarily, but I think this age category has a future. It bridges the gap between being a young adult and being an adult. Sure you could just label it adult, but New Adult is so much more. It’s that stage where you go to college, get more freedom and spread your own wings. It’s finding out what you really want and having to stand on your own legs and not always being able to depend on your parents anymore. It’s often the first time when you are going to live on your own, without your parents or adults and it’s such a big and important period. I still think it’s an important age category in itself and I think New Adult is filling a gap there was in the age categories and makes it easier for readers to find books that take place at that age.

I really like the New Adult genre. The books are different than Young Adult. The characters are older, the books can be a bit darker and there is the possibility of sex. I don’t think every New Adult books needs to have sex, actually I have read some great New Adult books without it, but in Young Adult it sometimes feels like sex is a barrier that won’t be crossed, while I like that in New Adult there is that possibility. But what I like most is that the characters are now of college age and all the challenges that go along with it. Also as I am only 23 myself, most character in New Adult books are closer to my age and sometimes that makes it easier to relate to them.

A few of the best New Adult book/series I have read so far are: - The Rook and Ronin series by JA Huss. Tragic the first book in this series is a book I picked up when I was still fairly new to New Adult. This series has everything a good Contemporary Romance New Adult book needs: a heroine with a tragic past, a great love interest and a hot romance. It’s got mixed with some suspense elements and originality, with some great and likeable characters thrown in. This series contains 3 books and each of those are the kind of books that you want to read in one sitting, because they have the keep-reading-feel.

- Anywhere by J Meyers. While most New Adult books are a bit dark, this one is happy and light. While it still deals with some heavy issues, the overall feeling of this book is happy. Also it takes place in Europe, which is rare in books. The romance is perfect and sweet and I finished this book with a happy feeling. It’s standalone and everything get’s wrapped up nicely in this book, but I can’t help but hope the author will write another contemporary romance book.

- Losing it (Losing It #1) by Cora Cormack. I really enjoyed Losing It, it’s the kind of book that get’s named often when talking about New Adult, but it’s a good one. I love how awkward the main character is and this book is full with funny scenes.

- The Nogiku series by SJ Pajonas. This is one of the most original New Adult series I have come across so far. It’s sci-fi, post-apocalyptic romance and while I am not a big fan of sci-fi, this book totally changed my opinion of the scif-fi genre and showed how New Adult can be combined really well with a different genre than Contemporary Romance. I fell completely in love with this series and the second book in this series Released gave me a mayor book hangover (I almost never get those) and had me dreaming and thinking about this series for days to follow. I am now eagerly awaiting the
next book in this series and whatever else this author decides to write next.

What I wish for the New Adult genre in the future is for it to grow more into a real genre/ age category, at first New Adult basically only was Contemporary Romance and I want to see more other genres. I think it would be great to read more books in different genres than Contemporary romance that pick up this age category. How about New Adult Fantasy, New Adult sci-fi, New Adult Dystopia or New Adult Historical Romance? There are so many possibilities and while I see more and more New Adult books in different genres, I hope to see even more in the future.

Another thing I would like to see in New Adult books is focus on that period in life right after the main character has finished college. I am at that stage now and it’s a really difficult period in life. I would like to read about characters that struggle with getting their first job and starting their working life and all the other things that go along with. I think this is a stage in life that is vastly underrepresented in books and if someone knows a book that takes place in this stage of life, please let me know, I would love to read it!

And lastly I would like to see more New Adult books that take place in Europe. I live in Europe myself and while I love learning more about America, it’s the setting for most books and I would love to read some more books that take place in Europe for a chance.

What do you love about New Adult? What are some of your favourite New Adult books and series? And what do you wish for future of New Adult?


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[NA Blog Tour] Review and Author Interview: After Math by Denise Grover Swank

Today I'm super excited to be part of the New Adult Blog Tour, hosted by A Daydreamer's Thoughts. Be sure to check out the full schedule and visit the other tour stops! Read on for my review of After Math and an interview with the Denise Grover Swank, plus a giveaway and your scavenger hunt clue!

After Math Review

Author: Denise Grover Swank Website|Twitter
Published: 12 March 2013 (CreateSpace)
Format: Kindle e-book
Pages: 250
Buy the paperback: Amazon
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo

Source: Received free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review as part of the NA blog tour


Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Scarlett Goodwin’s world is divided into Before and After.

Before she agreed to tutor Tucker price, college junior Scarlett was introvert, struggling with her social anxiety and determined to not end up living in a trailer park like her mother and her younger sister. A mathematics major, she goes to her classes, to her job in the tutoring lab, and then hides in the apartment she shares with her friend, Caroline.

After junior Tucker Price, Southern University’s star soccer player enters the equation, her carefully plotted life is thrown off its axis. Tucker’s failing his required College Algebra class. With his eligibility is at risk, the university chancellor dangles an expensive piece of computer software for the math department if Scarlett agrees to privately tutor him.Tucker’s bad boy, womanizer reputation makes Scarlett wary of any contact, let alone spending several hours a week in close proximity.

But from her first encounter, she realizes Tucker isn’t the person everyone else sees. He carries a mountain of secrets which she suspects hold the reason to his self-destructive behavior. But the deeper she delves into the cause of his pain, the deeper she gets sucked into his chaos. Will Scarlett find the happiness she’s looking for, or will she be caught in Tucker’s aftermath?

My Review:
After Math tells the story of Scarlett, a high flying maths student at Southern University, who is called in to tutor the university's star soccer player Tucker Price.

Firstly, I have to say how much I loved the focus on education in After Math. One of the things I love about NA is that it gives the chance to explore the pressures eighteen to twenty-five-year-old adults face, and college is probably the biggest one. It felt so refreshing to see Scarlett, an academic character, really valuing her studies and seeing her ambitions of where they will take her, as well as juggling the pressures of student life.

I also loved how different the romance felt. Scarlett and Tucker's journey is a slow one, and they spend a lot of time getting to know each other. It was refreshing to see time dedicated to that early part in a relationship and I enjoyed seeing the gradual development of feelings for each other. I think people have perceptions that NA is all about sex, so when I saw that I was 50% into the book and there'd been no steamy sex scene yet I was pleasantly surprised!

I adored Scarlett as a main character because I could relate to her. She's shy and anxious and would rather stay at home studying than go out partying like her friends. Whilst she goes on a journey throughout the book and does push herself out of her comfort zone, she never does anything reckless or out of character, and I loved that she stayed true to herself and proved you don't have to go wild!

I also really fell for Tucker. I think popular guys (and girls for that matter!) get a bad rep in books, and Tucker was just a really nice genuine character. He has a reputation and Scarlett starts out sceptical, but as they get to know each other, his vulnerability comes out and I loved delving into his character more. There's a lot that isn't revealed about him straight away which made for some great plot twists towards the end of the book. What I loved most was how it just seemed to be a healthy, genuine relationship between him and Scarlett. They're two really nice people who fall for each other!

I think my favourite part of the book was the first half where Scarlett is falling for Tucker and deciding what to do about it, but the second half has some really sweet and gripping moments.

This is definitely a book I'll be recommending to NA fans new and old, and especially those new to the category who need a taster! I think captures the trials of being a twenty year old brilliantly, it's a cute love story and it has some fantastic characters.

Rating: 4*
What to read next: Redesigned by Denise Grover Swank, book two in the Off the Subject series
Books like this: Suddenly Royal by Nicole Chase, Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Author Interview with Denise Grover Swank

Hi Denise! Thank you for answering my questions. I loved After Math! I thought it was so exciting to read a NA novel that really focused on college and education, as that's such a huge part of life at that age. Scarlett, the main character in After Math, is quite academic. How much research did you have to do to get inside her head and understand the subjects she studies?

I know nothing about advanced math. I barely got a C in high school Algebra 2. (Although that can be attributed to a bad teacher. I got an A in College Algebra.) My family thought it was hilarious that I would attempt to get into the head of a mathematics major. So I interviewed a couple of female math majors. One was a junior and the other was a sophomore. I wanted to know why they chose their majors and what their courses were like. I also studied the UMKC course catalogue to get an idea what other courses Scarlett would take concurrently.

I absolutely loved Tucker! (Scarlett's love interest in After Math). Who was your favourite character to write?

In hindsight, I wish I had included Tucker’s POV in After Math. He’s a very complex character. It never would have worked to write Reed’s in Redesigned because I really liked the reader finding out his secrets along with Caroline. I’m currently writing Business as Usual, the third book in the Off the Subject series and I’m including Ben’s POV, which is so fun to write.

But my favorite character of all time? That’s hard. I guess I’d have to pick Rose from my Rose Gardner series.

I found myself relating a lot to Scarlett as she'd rather stay in and study than go out and party. Are you more of a staying in or going out person?

I like to go out from time to time, but mostly I’m a stay at home girl.

How would you define New Adult as a category?

I classify New Adult as that in between stage between high school when you’re living under your parents’ roof and rules, and full-fledged adulthood. Although I could argue that many of us never reach the later.

For those new to New Adult, what books or authors would you recommend? Who are your favourite NA authors?

I’m a fan of Lyla Payne, Alessandra Thomas, and J. Lynn.

What inspires you when it comes to your writing?

Everything. I literally get ideas from everything and everywhere. Sometimes an off-hand statement can spark an entire series. My Rose Gardner series sprang from me telling my son it would be fun to have a character who worked at a DMV.

What projects are you currently working on? Do you have more NA novels in the pipeline?

I’m working on Business as Usual, the third Off the Subject book. Then I start the third Curse Keepers book, a new adult urban fantasy series.

Thank you so much for answering my questions!

Thank you for having me!

                                      

About the Denise Grover Swank: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Denise Grover Swank was born in Kansas City, Missouri and lived in the area until she was nineteen. Then she became a nomadic gypsy, living in five cities, four states and ten houses over the course of ten years before she moved back to her roots. She speaks English and smattering of Spanish and Chinese which she learned through an intensive Nick Jr. immersion period. Her hobbies include witty Facebook comments (in own her mind) and dancing in her kitchen with her children. (Quite badly if you believe her offspring.) Hidden talents include the gift of justification and the ability to drink massive amounts of caffeine and still fall asleep within two minutes. Her lack of the sense of smell allows her to perform many unspeakable tasks. She has six children and hasn’t lost her sanity. Or so she leads you to believe.

You can find out more about Denise and her other books at: www.denisegroverswank.com.

Blog | Website | Author Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Author Goodreads
 

 

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Review: Curve by Nicola Hudson

Note: This is a New Adult book and is aimed at readers over the age of 15 due to mature content. For more information about New Adult books and my policy on reviewing them, please visit this post. Thank you!

Curve by Nicola Hudson

Author: Nicola Hudson Website|Twitter
Published: 25 October 2013
Format: Kindle e-book (ARC)
Buy the e-book: Kindle|KindleUS

Source: Received free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thanks Nicola!

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Cass is seventeen and never been kissed, let alone touched, when two boys become interested in her. Flynn is the older brother of her best friend, yet Cass has never considered him as anything other than that. Rob is the school sports star and becomes obsessed with Cass when he loses a bet because of her. As the relationship between Cass and Flynn develops, Rob's interest becomes increasingly malevolent. One night changes Cass's life and threatens to destroy her relationship with Flynn, as well as her future

My Review:
Curve tells the story of seventeen year old Cass who does the unthinkable and falls for her best friend's brother. With working in her stepdad's shop, applying for university and dealing with incidents of bullying, can she and Flynn ever be happy?

There was a lot to like about Curve, so I'm going to start out with the positives. This is one of the few British NA books I've read and that was wonderful and refreshing. I think it made a lot of what Cass goes through even more recognisable. I loved seeing her juggle her life at sixth form with a job in her family's shop, because I think that work/college battle is something a lot of people are struggling with right now. I think the author has managed to sum up that time of life perfectly, and that a lot of people will be able to relate to it.

I really enjoyed the friendship between Cass and her best friend Neve. It was just so nice to see two girls getting on so well and not being bitchy and horrible too each other. They were so natural around each other I loved that they always had each other's backs. I think everyone wants a friendship like theirs!

The central relationship between Cass and Flynn is one I did enjoy. It took me a while to decide whether or not I liked them together, as Flynn is quite protective of Cass. I think you can take it one of two ways, and I chose to take it that he was genuinely caring about her and was sort of her knight in shining armour.

The book deals with some very dark issues which I mention in this review in case they are trigger warnings for anyone planning to read the book. There is a scene of sexual assault which is then followed through with a police investigation. I found the whole thing to be handled extremely well and I think it was really encouraging to see a character seeking out help and talking about her ordeal.

I did have a few niggles with Curve. The dialogue was a bit of a struggle for me because one of my biggest pet peeves whilst reading is clunky dialogue. Unfortunately this book falls into the trap of characters using each other's names far too frequently, which is something that just doesn't happen in every day speech. In this case it was done almost every sentence so it just jumped out for me.

I also had a dilemma when it came to Cass's guilt when things are going wrong with Flynn. She takes responsibility for things I don't think are really her fault, and sometimes the fact she feels she has to apologise for things made me uncomfortable. I say this is a dilemma because while this is an attitude I don't like to see promoted in relationships, I know it is very realistic for girls to feel like this, so in that sense the book is being true to life. I think you have to really get inside the head of Cass as a naïve and inexperienced teenager to see things from her point of view to understand those feelings she has.

I think there's real potential in this book and that it will really appeal to NA fans looking for something a little bit different. I applaud the author for taking on the subject of sexual assault and doing it so well, and also for capturing that time of life where university is looming in the distance and suddenly your whole life is about to change so well. Cass goes on a real journey and I did enjoy taking it with her.

Rating: 3*
Books like this: The Edge of Never by J. A. Redmerski, Falling Fast by Sophie McKenzie

Review: Between Friends by Amanda Cowen

Between Friends by Amanda Cowen

Author: Amanda Cowen Website
Published: 21 March 2013
Format: Kindle e-book
Pages: 233
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Smashwords

Source: Kindle freebie

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
The only way to have a friend is to be one…especially between the sheets…

When neurotically challenged and unlucky in love Megan Daniels, is propositioned by her life-long friend Ben Romano with a coin toss (heads, they sleep together, tails they don’t) the night before they are about to attend a destination wedding, she drunkenly accepts his challenge. But when Megan wakes up the next morning with a bad hang-over and Ben in her bed, she is more than mortified. It isn’t until the tropical heat begins to ignite emotions Megan never ever believed she could possibly have, that she starts to question if risking their friendship is the answer to finding true love

My Review:
I've had this book on my Kindle for a while and was so pleased to get round to it during the NA readathon! Between Friends tells the story of Megan and Ben, who finally cross that line of friends to more than friends after a one night stand. But can they keep their relationship casual? Or has sleeping with each other destroyed their friendship for good?

The characters in this book are in their early-to-mid twenties with Megan, the main character, being twenty four. Whilst it's billed as New Adult, and it does fit that age category, it also fits the bill for adult chick-lit. I'm a fan of that genre so I easily fell into the story and the style of writing. As soon as I started reading it I could picture it in my head as a film so if you love your rom-coms then this book is for you!

When I started this book I instantly loved the relationship between Megan and Ben. They have this undeniable chemistry and more importantly they share a brilliant sense of humour. Instantly I was invested in their relationship and I couldn't wait to see their story play out. It's a pretty intense and passionate relationship at times and there were plenty of steamy scenes to get your teeth stuck into and a fair few heated arguments. Not once did I feel it was an unhealthy relationship though which made such a nice change. These guys are just in a really challenging situation. They've been friends for years and crossing that boundary has thrown their feelings all over the place.

I really loved the two of them as characters as well. Megan has always been quite sensible when it comes to previous relationships and has always had steady boyfriends. Her relationship with Ben sees her being a bit more laid back and relaxed, but I loved that she sticks to her principles. Ben has a history of being a bit of a womaniser which usually would probably put me off, but I actually really liked him. I think everyone has a turning point in their life and this was Ben's.

The plot revolves around Megan and Ben's friends getting married, and it made for a great backdrop to their own problems. There was romance in the air and you could see how everyone was taking a look at their own love lives and comparing it to the soon-to-be husband and wife.  The wedding is taking place in Costa Rica and that made a fantastic setting for the book. It made me want to be reading Between Friends out on a beach somewhere in the sun! I'd definitely recommend it as a holiday read.

There was the perfect mix of humour and drama throughout the story. I loved how much of a bridezilla Jessica was as she prepares for her big day. I was giggling away at some of her crazy demands! And there were plenty of friendship crises and secrets coming out to keep me on the edge of my seat. I really loved the group of friends that take centre stage and how there's all these different dramas going on with each of them.

There were only a few niggles for me with Between Friends and that was mainly grammatical errors dotted throughout the book. I have no idea whether these have been corrected since I downloaded my copy. I hope they have! But things like "eww" being spelt as "ewe" and "aww" as "awe" just kept popping up and distracting me a little bit.

Overall Between Friends was a sweet, fun read that I'd recommend to chick-lit fans as the perfect read for the summer months. I shall carry on dreaming of there being a film of it one day because I know it would be exactly my kind of thing!

Rating: 4*
Books like this: The Edge of Never by J. A. Redmerski, Bridget Jones' Diary by Helen Fielding

Review: Anywhere by J. Meyers

Anywhere by J. Meyers 

Author: J. Meyers Website|Twitter
Published: 25 August 2013
Format: Kindle e-book
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo|Smashwords

Source: Received free copy from author in exchange for an honest review

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Skye Whitcomb is running from her troubles, and where better to run than Europe? Fresh out of college, she makes quick plans with her best friend Paige and hops on a plane.

Of course, nothing ever goes as planned—at least not for her. First, Paige has to bail, and Skye’s left to travel alone. Then she meets sweet and sexy Asher Benedict in Paris, and sparks fly after a night together on the train to Rome. He’s all kinds of perfect for her, but the timing couldn’t be worse since she was running from the altar when she left—so the last thing she wants right now is a relationship.

But Skye’s about to discover that no matter how far you run, love can find you anywhere.

My Review:
I absolutely loved J. Meyers' other books Intangible and Imaginable, so when I heard about Anywhere - which is a completely different genre to the Intangible series - I was really excited to dive in! Anywhere follows Skye as she embarks on her travels across Europe. When her plans with best friend Paige end up falling through, she finds herself in the company of the oh-so-lovely Asher.

It is so rare that I read a book with a constant smile on my face, but that is what happened with Anywhere. Like I'm writing this review straight away after finishing the book and I still have this ridiculous grin on my face. I adored this book. Completely and utterly adored it.

Firstly, I love a good road trip novel. Anything that involves travelling has me interested, and Skye's travels in Anywhere made for the most beautiful backdrop to her story. Along the way she visits, Paris, Rome, Venice, Bern and so many more gorgeous places. It was the perfect bit of escapism! The writing had me itching to be in Skye's place and be the one visiting all these incredible cities, because the descriptions of the places were so exciting! I read large parts of this book on my train journey to and from the beach, which was probably one of the most perfect places to read it.

The plot in Anywhere follows Skye and Asher, who meet at a train station in Paris and suddenly wind up heading off together to Rome. Skye's best friend has disappeared back home after some life-changing news, but Skye knows she needs to stay and finish her travels, as it's something she's so longed to do. I adored the way Skye had to spread her wings and find some independence. You could really feel that as a theme throughout the book. She's just narrowly escaped being tied down to a man she doesn't really love, and so the freedom to explore the world on her own terms is exactly what she needs.

And now we have to talk about the chemistry between Skye and Asher, which was just incredible! They hit it off straight away, but it never felt rushed or forced. The relationship between them just felt so natural and they fit together perfectly. They have the same sense of humour and the same outlook on life and thirst for exploration. As the relationship develops you get some pretty steamy scenes, but unlike other NA novels I've read, they never felt overdone or tacky. The tone was spot on, and I just swooned throughout the whole thing. I love Asher, okay? Can I have him?

I thought the two of them were wonderful characters, and I loved their individual back stories and how you get to learn more about them as the story went on. I think the relationship between Skye and her brother Julian was one of my favourite parts, and I particularly loved their text conversations. In fact, the use of text conversations between both Julian and Skye, and Skye and Paige really added a little something to the story. They were so fun. I thought the phone calls between Skye and her mother were a nice touch, too, even if their relationship is somewhat strained!

I devoured Anywhere in the space of a day, and it's a perfect summery read that will sweep you away. I got so carried away in Skye and Asher's story and their wonderful adventures that I just didn't want the book to end. And the ending - well, that had me practically jumping up and down! I really hope Meyers writes more books in this genre, because her writing is phenomenal and Anywhere just reinforced that for me. Now excuse me whilst I got and plan my travels around Europe and dream of finding my own Asher...

Rating: 5*
Books like this: One Week by Nikki Van De Car, 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

Review: The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

Author: Samantha Shannon Website|Twitter
Published: 20 August 2013 (Bloomsbury)
Format: Hardback
Pages: 480
Buy the hardback: Amazon|BookDepository
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo

Source: Bought

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
It is the year 2059. Several major world cities are under the control of a security force called Scion. Paige Mahoney works in the criminal underworld of Scion London, part of a secret cell known as the Seven Seals. The work she does is unusual: scouting for information by breaking into others’ minds. Paige is a dreamwalker, a rare kind of clairvoyant, and in this world, the voyants commit treason simply by breathing.

But when Paige is captured and arrested, she encounters a power more sinister even than Scion. The voyant prison is a separate city—Oxford, erased from the map two centuries ago and now controlled by a powerful, otherworldly race. These creatures, the Rephaim, value the voyants highly—as soldiers in their army.

Paige is assigned to a Rephaite keeper, Warden, who will be in charge of her care and training. He is her master. Her natural enemy. But if she wants to regain her freedom, Paige will have to learn something of his mind and his own mysterious motives.

My Review:
I've been hearing buzz about The Bone Season for a while, long before it was released. When the author was announced as a guest at Leakycon I was ecstatic, and even happier when they had copies available to buy at the con! The Bone Season tells the story of Paige Mahoney, a clairvoyant living in a world where people with her abilities are deemed "unnatural". Suddenly she is whisked from the criminal underworld of London to the lost city of Oxford, where she must live amongst a her fellow clairvoyants and the race of the Rephaim, and do her best to survive.

This is a pretty intense read. The opening fifty pages bring a wealth of information and terminology to gets to grips with. The book is set in an alternative version of London controlled by Scion - a republic built to quash clairvoyance - and features a whole load of clairvoyants like Paige with different abilities. In the front of the book is a sort of overview of the different types and their categories and I found that really helpful to refer back to. It took me a while to get my head around all these new words and phrases involved with the world. Suddenly there's all these words like aether and dreamscape, and all these districts of London with coded names. But I can understand why it is crammed into such a short space, because after about fifty pages the plot really steps up a gear and it's all action from then on in. I appreciated that set up, even if it was a lot to take in, because it meant you got to the plot quickly.

The book is told from Paige's perspective, and I found her really fascinating as a character. She's had to accept her place in life and thrives on her work in the criminal syndicate. It was interesting to see the moral dilemmas she faces when she does things she doesn't think herself capable of. Her clairvoyant abilities gives her the power to separate her spirit from her body, a power which is feared and admired in equal measure. I loved how much detail has gone into the way her abilities work and that you get to see the fear and danger associated with such power.

I adored the way you get to learn Paige's story through the things happening in the present, and the memories from her past which are included throughout the story. Everything flowed together so well, and it felt like the book was layered up with all these brilliant little pieces of information that all come together to build this incredible world.

The writing in The Bone Season is stunning, and it's honestly one of those novels where you just can't fathom how somebody has dreamt it all up. The attention to detail is incredible, and the world is so rich and wonderful. I loved losing myself in the futuristic city of London (the book is set in 2059 in an alternative universe - the course of history differing from our own) as well as the setting for the majority of the book, Sheol I. The descriptions of the places and spiritual elements were so vivid and visual. I can't wait to see this book on screen one day, because I can see it lending itself to that medium so well.

The characters were some of my absolute highlights of The Bone Season. From the tricksy Jaxon, to the lovable Nick, vulnerable Seb and the intriguing Warden - I loved the range and variety of characters Shannon has conjured up. Seeing Paige's relationships with all these people was what really drew me in to the story. The history between her and Nick was one of my favourite things and I loved discovering more about their past throughout the story. The connection between her and Warden and that growing intensity had me hooked. I was so invested in that relationship. I also loved seeing her interact with other people in her new home of Sheol I, like when she meets Liss and Julian. She comes across as so caring and really looks out for other people.

The Bone Season ticks so many boxes and hits so many spots. It has that perfect blend of fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal and dystopia, with an action-packed plot, yet manages to feel completely unique and stand out from the crowd. The main character, Paige, is nineteen, so whilst it does fall outside of the YA category, it will definitely appeal to YA fans. I think this is the perfect crossover book that will appeal to all ages, much like Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. In fact genre wise, too, if you liked that book then I think you will adore The Bone Season too!

It's not a light read, and it takes a while to get your head around everything. I think you probably have to be in the right frame of mind to read this kind of intense fantasy and I hope people won't be put off by the opening few chapters where everything seems quite daunting. Trust me, the pay off is definitely worth it in the end. I was utterly captivated by the world and hooked to the pages of the story. I didn't want to put it down. I wanted to completely lose myself in that world. The climax was incredible and I can't wait to read to return to Paige's story!

Rating: 4*
What to read next: This is the first book in The Bone Season series.
Books like this: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, Northern Lights by Phillip Pullman

Review: Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Note: This book is New Adult and will contain themes that may not be suitable for younger readers. For more information on New Adult and my policy on reviewing it, please read this post. Thank you!

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Author: Colleen Hoover Website|Twitter
Published: 17th December 2012
Format: Kindle e-book
Pages: 486
Buy the paperback: Amazon
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo

Source: Bought

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…

That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

My Review:
I bought this book a while ago when it was on sale for Kindle, and when I decided to take part in the NA readathon this was the book that was top of my list! Hopeless follows Sky as she starts public school for the first time. There she must deal with her dubious reputation and the attentions of Dean Holder.

So here we go*sigh*. I didn't like this book. This review is going to be hard to write because Hopeless got me really fired up, but for all the wrong reasons. I'd heard really good things and the Goodreads ratings I'd seen were great, but even within a few chapters of this book it was really starting to go wrong for me.

The problem was the love story between Sky and Holder. They first meet in a supermarket where they then have a thirty second interaction in a car park. This is the spark of things and, for me, it was ridiculous. It was already hard enough for me to believe in this instant attraction Sky has to Holder, but it's pointed out repeatedly that Sky has real problems when it comes to liking guys. In the past she's always felt "numb" when making out with guys and apparently even questioned her sexuality because of it. But then apparently thirty seconds with Holder is enough to cure of her of that?! I didn't buy it. It wasn't until a third of the way into the book when the two of them actually sit down and have a conversation to get to know each other. It needed to be wayyy earlier for me to be able to buy into their relationship.

Then there's Holder himself. I did not like him. One bit. Sky quickly finds out he has a bad reputation, something which doesn't appear to but her off. But what really killed it for me was how much time Holder spends stalking Sky. He reads her ID and then shows up her house, then asks to go running with her in a situation where she can't really say no. Oh and he goes from bunking off school to turning up just to see Sky. This is all when the two of them barely know each other and when Sky is clearly uncomfortable around him.

That wasn't the only thing about Holder that rang major alarm bells for me. At one point Sky admits to being scared of him which is just a no-no. Why is she still with him?! It's not a good example and it's not the type of relationship that should be glamourised in books. Hopeless makes it seem like it's a perfectly acceptable way to be treated, when in fact Sky should be running in the opposite direction to Holder as fast as she possibly can.

There's all these flashbacks throughout Hopeless that hint at some things in Sky's past that she can't fully remember. Even when this information was revealed, it wasn't enough to win me around. I actually disliked large parts of these plot twists. The stuff from Sky's past is pretty dark, and she's been through a lot of abusive situations. I don't have a problem generally with books that tackle abuse and it's not a subject matter that puts me off, but there were parts I just could not take seriously because of all the other stuff going on in the book that was making me rage. The problem for me was that the book has been set out as this intense romance from the beginning and the bits in the second half could probably have potential if the romance with Holder hadn't taken centre stage. I could probably have gotten on board if the story solely focused on the relationship between Sky and her adoptive mother Karen. There's a good story there but it's clouded by everything else.

I also had issues with the twists and the way information was revealed, because Holder ends up with all this knowledge about certain things and then uses it to hold power over Sky - another thing I found horribly unhealthy about their relationship. As the relationship continues there were more red flags. Holder becomes jealous and possessive and then Sky starts becoming completely dependent on him. He's making her miserable yet she's convinced herself that he is the only good thing and he's the one thing that makes her happy etc. It worried me and made Sky come across as this weak little thing who will do anything Holder wishes. I wanted to scream.

The only character I really liked - Sky's new friend Breckin - barely got any notice or development. And Sky's best friend Six spends practically the whole book out of the country so we don't get much from that friendship. (What we did get bugged me because the two girls spend the whole time calling each other slut, and then complain when they get taunted at school for being called sluts.)

What I can say about Hopeless is that the writing wasn't bad. If the author wrote a book that wasn't romance based I might consider reading it. The way the book was set out with flashbacks from Sky's past would have worked if I wasn't so enraged by everything else. It's not often a book makes me angry and sadly Hopeless did just that. It wasn't for me.

Rating: 1.5*
What to read next: Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover

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Review: Stitch by Samantha Durante

 Stitch by Samantha Durante

Author: Samantha Durante Website|Twitter
Published: 30 July 2012
Format: Kindle e-book
Pages: 326
Buy the paperback: Amazon
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Smashwords

Source: Kindle freebie

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Her heart races, her muscles coil, and every impulse in Alessa's body screams at her to run... but yet she's powerless to move.

Still struggling to find her footing after the sudden death of her parents, the last thing college freshman Alessa has the strength to deal with is the inexplicable visceral pull drawing her to a handsome ghostly presence. In between grappling with exams and sorority soirees - and disturbing recurring dreams of being captive in a futuristic prison hell - Alessa is determined to unravel the mystery of the apparition who leaves her breathless. But the terrifying secret she uncovers will find her groping desperately through her nightmares for answers.

My Review:
This was another book I'd had on my Kindle for a while and ended up saving for the NA readathon. I was particularly interested in this one because it was billed as dystopia which is one of my favourite genres! And a lot of NA seems to be contemporary. Stitch follows Alessa, a college student struggling to focus on her studies because of the presence of a ghost who keeps appearing around her. Determined to get to the bottom of things, she starts researching the house she lives in and discovers more than she bargained for.

The start of Stitch certainly intrigued me. I liked the college setting and seeing how Alessa is adapting to life as a college student. She's living in her sorority house which I thought was a great environment for the story to take place in. It felt very much like a paranormal story during the beginning of the book. The only out-of-the-ordinary thing you see going on is this ghost that keeps popping up around Alessa. I was definitely grabbed by the concept, and how she seemed to be having feelings projected onto her by the ghost.

I felt the writing was a little clunky at first and so I struggled a bit with that. I think it was a case of a bit too much telling and not enough showing. In the opening chapters I thought there could have been more dialogue. There was a lot of exposition about Alessa and her life which went on for a while and I found my attention wandering slightly and hoping something exciting was coming up. I soon got used to the style and found the writing definitely improved throughout the book.

Stitch is mainly told from Alessa's POV but a little way into the story it shifts to Isaac's perpective; the mysterious ghost Alessa has been witnessing. I really enjoyed seeing the story from his angle as it certainly added more mystery to the whole thing! This is where the book took a bit of a genre twist and started feeling a bit more sci-fi. There's talk of time travel which I found really interesting and those bits of the story had me hooked.

It's about two thirds of the way into Stitch, however, when things take a huge turn. Talk about a plot twist! It's going to make the rest of the review very hard to write because I couldn't possibly give anything away, but that's when the book started to feel like the dystopia I was expecting. The second half of the book was definitely my favourite and had some brilliant ideas and great twists and conspiracies.

The problem I had with that plot twist was that it made Stitch feel like two books rather than one. The first and second half are so different that at times they just felt like completely separate stories. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if the first half had been cut down significantly and you'd got to the twist sooner, because once you got there, a lot of the beginning became insignificant, or so I felt.

It's tough to talk about the characters without giving too much away, but I really liked Alessa as a main character, and I enjoyed learning more about Isaac and her friend Janie. Getting all of their backstory in the second half of the book was really enjoyable. I think the only problem I had in their development was that there were several moments where things were explained too quickly, through regained memories that were a little bit convenient. As a reader I found it hard to jump on board with things the characters were so fast to accept.

Stitch is definitely like no book I've read, and if you're looking for a different approach to NA (i.e not a contemporary romance and no sex!) then this is the perfect book to try out the category. It was a fascinating concept and the plot twist still has me reeling! I think because this was the first book in the series there's a lot of potential for future books. Now the world has been established it's certainly one I'm intrigued to know more about. There are a lot of things that were just touched upon in Stitch that I look forward to discovering more of in future books. The cliffhanger ending really had me wanting to carry on. I think there are some great ideas there, I just struggled with the way they were executed sometimes.

Rating: 3*
What to read next: Shudder by Samantha Durante is the next book in the trilogy
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NA Readathon Mini-Challenge: Cover Redesign

This week I've been taking part in the NA readathon and today's mini-challenge hosted by Big Book Little Book is to redesign an NA cover. Now, I'm not artistic in any way and the only thing I have at my disposal on my laptop right now is MS Paint, so you shall have to forgive my shoddy attempt! But this was good fun.

For the redesign I chose One Week by Nikki Van De Car

Original:

Redesign:

I liked the image of the map so wanted to get that in in some way (as it's a road trip novel!) and managed to keep some good old fashioned hand-holding. But I don't think I'll have anyone knocking on my door asking me to do cover designing anytime soon ;)

For more about the NA Readathon visit BookishTreasures and A Daydreamer's Thoughts. And thanks to Big Book Little Book for hosting this challenge!

Image source: Map, Holding Hands

New Adult Readathon: Update and Goals

This week the New Adult Readathon hosted by Bookish Treasures and A Daydreamer's Thoughts is taking place. I've been really looking forward to this one because my Kindle is jam packed with NA titles I've been dying to read and this gives me the perfect excuse! This post is a day late because I had a blog tour post yesterday, but I'll try and post throughout the week.

 Goals:

My aim is to read 2-3 books. I have a busy week so I'm not sure how many I'll manage, so that seems like an achievable target!

Possible reads:

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Between Friends by Amanda Cowen

Freshman Forty by Christine Duval

April Showers by Karli Perrin

Shattered Promises by Jessica Sorensen

Stitch by Samantha Durante

Rocked Under by Cora Hawkes

Vampire University by V. J Erickson

Little White Lies by Erin Lawless

Obviously there's a lot more on the list than I'll actually manage to read, but I wanted to have a good selection to choose from. I've included a few non-contemps as well in case I feel I need a switch of genre!

I'll update this post as I go along, as well as linking to any of the mini-challenges I manage to take part in.

Update 1: 23rd July

I'm currently reading Hopeless by Colleen Hoover which I started yesterday, and I'm having mixed feelings. I don't like Holder which I think is going to affect how I feel about the rest of the book. We'll see!

Update 2: 23rd July
I finished Hopeless and did not like it. Oh dear! Well onto the next one... I'm now reading Stitch by Samantha Durante. Looking forward to getting stuck in! The premise seems really interesting so far.

Update 3: 25th July
So yesterday was crazy busy so I didn't get a lot read! I did cheat a bit because I had a library book due back I needed to finish so I had to dive back into that. But now it's done and I'm free to get back to Stitch!

Update 4: 27th July
I've finished Stitch! Still getting my head around it because it was like no book I've ever read. Now onto Between Friends by Amanda Cowen!

Update: 29th July
Well the readathon is over and I've had such a good time! Plus I managed to finish Between Friends yesterday which brings my total up to three books. I'm so happy! I'm glad I got to take part in some mini challenges as well. See my cover redesign here and my synopsis rewrite here. Thanks to Faye and Laura for hosting a great event!

Review: The Ballerina & the Fighter by Ursula Sinclair

Note: This book is New Adult and will contain themes that may not be suitable for younger readers. The recommended reading age from the author is 17+. For more information on New Adult and my policy on reviewing it, please read this post. Thank you!

The Ballerina & the Fighter by Ursula Sinclair 

Author: Ursula Sinclair Website|Twitter
Published: 1 July 2013 (Isisndc Publishing)
Format: E-book
Pages: 144
Buy the e-book: Kindle

Source: Received free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
I travel through life dancing.

All I ever wanted to do was dance, as did my best friend. We'd made so many plans together, but one night an explosion changed it all. Only one of us survived, and I promised myself I'd succeed for us both. And I did, until an accident almost ruined my career, but Maze came back into my life when I needed him most. He pulled me out of the depths of my despair. But could I save him now?

I travel through life fighting.

It had always been Ivy; from the first moment I saw her leaping through the air like she had wings to lift her from the ground. But she was my dream, something I wanted more than anything else in my life. I promised myself I would stay away from her. Violence followed me everywhere and I tried to keep her far away from it. She was my point of illumination in the dark tumultuous world I lived in. But I could not stay away from her. Not when I knew she needed me. As much as I needed her. But could she accept me as I am?

My Review:
The Ballerina & the Fighter follows the lives of Ivy, a ballerina destined to study at a prestigious ballet school in New York, and Maze, a fighter of mixed martial arts. When the two meet on the beach one summer they find themselves instantly drawn to each other.

The book is told in alternating chapters between Maze and Ivy. As characters I was pretty divided on my feelings for them because I really loved Ivy but I couldn't stand Maze. Either way, they were both pretty interesting and well developed (Maze just isn't particularly nice - more later) and I found the background on both of their abilities - dancing and fighting - really interesting. I also really liked seeing the friendship between Ivy and her friend Shel. They've attended separate schools yet they have this really strong bond and it was just nice to see a friendship like that.

The connection between Ivy and Maze is pretty instant and intense. I can kind of see why the relationship moved so quickly because it's a summer romance kind of deal, and I thought there were some moments where they had some good chemistry, but some moments were a big no-no for me. This is where my dislike of Maze comes in. Within seconds of meeting Ivy he's thinking of doing things to her that make him seem like a sex-mad lunatic. Like seriously, you've just met her, don't start mentally undressing her! There was a complete contrast in Maze and Ivy's chapters because Maze is this total lad - swearing, constantly thinking about sex, where was Ivy is obviously more innocent and naive when it comes to relationships. I know some people like the controlling bad boy type, but it wasn't for me. There were plenty of moments where I just felt very uncomfortable. The final nail in the coffin was when Ivy admitted to being scared of Maze (and having been scared of him for a while). Run away Ivy! Escape whilst you still can!

My dislike of Maze didn't totally ruin the story for me. The inclusion of Ivy's roommate Dante helped because he seems like all kinds of nice and I was totally rooting for something more to come with him. I loved how he looked out for Ivy and was protective of her in a caring friend sort of way (as opposed to the possessive way Maze is).  I also thought parts of Maze's life were really interesting, especially the darker sides of the fighting world. He gets drawn into some pretty scary and dramatic stuff and not by choice. There was a lot of suspense when it came to Maze being in dangerous situations and I would find myself gripped by the action.

The author managed to pull at my heartstrings a good few times during The Ballerina & the Fighter. There's some pretty emotional scenes and I liked how the traumatic moments really shook up the story. There was one particularly dramatic scene that sort of shakes up Maze and Ivy's relationship and that completely blew me away. It completely shifted the feel and tone of the book from that moment forward which I loved. I also liked the exploration of issues like racism and how the book tackles diversity as well as the fact that both Ivy and Maze come from not so traditional family set-ups.

The book falls into the NA cater gory with Ivy being seventeen - almost eighteen - and Maze being nineteen, and it explores those stronger themes that the age category tackles. There are some pretty explicit scenes throughout the story which is why I've included the disclaimer at the top. If you like your romance intense and steamy then this is for you!

The Ballerina & the Fighter is a nice short read at just under 150 pages. It was a book I got through in a day, but at the same time it felt like I'd been reading it a lot longer because I'd connected so much with the characters and been on such a rollercoaster of emotions whilst reading. I really liked the writing style and the book had a very intriguing cliffhanger so I'm intrigued to see where it goes and if there's more books! I'd still carry on if there was because I feel like these characters have potential (more Dante please!). The only thing that let this book down for me was Maze and the lines I felt he crossed.

Rating: 3*
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