The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer overview:

Author- Michelle Hodkin
Page count- 456 pages 
Publisher- Simon and Schuster Books
Publication date- September 27th 2011

Synopsis

Who is Mara Dyer?

After waking up in a hospital with no recollection of how she got there it's up to Mara to piece together what's really going on in her life. 

She is seeing things that shouldn't be there, seeing people that definitely shouldn't be there...

But after loosing her best friend and completely re-shuffling her life Mara doesn't think life can get any worse, and with her sanity now in question is there anyone out there who will listen to her?

Mara Dyer is not who you think she is.


My opinion

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is one of my favorite books/series so this review may be a bit bias (ok a lot bias) but I just really adore this book and the characters.

There is just something about Michelle's writing that captivated me from the beginning, and from the beginning I mean the first page, also the way the story comes out in bits and pieces for you to put together really spurs you on to read more. 

"My name is not Mara Dyer, but my lawyer told me I had to choose something. A pseudonym. A nom de plume, for all of us studying for the SATs. I know that having a fake name is strange, but trust me—it’s the most normal thing about my life right now."

But more than this element of who is Mara dyer? the book just has a brilliant set of characters; you have the loving and protective older brother, over bearing parents, the gay best friend *eye roll* (but he really is amazing) and of course the guy...

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is a paranormal/fantasy/mystery book with a hint of insanity, and it lives up to these genre's I was genuinely creeped out at some points, which is partly why i think I loved it so much and I don't want to ruin that for you if you decide to read it. 

And the next book; The evolution of Mara Dyer, just had me speechless, the plot and the twists and some of the STILL unanswered questions will have you even more hooked.

Rating: 8/10

Anna and the French Kiss

Anna and the French Kiss overview:

Author- Stephanie Perkins
page count- 372
Publisher- Dutton Juvenile 
publication date- December 2nd 2010

Synopsis

Anna had a good life, the perfect job, the best friend, the crush but this all changes when she gets shipped off to boarding school in Paris by her film worthy novelist of a dad. Needless to say Anna is less than pleased about this change of plans, things were just going so well for her, or so she thought...
Anna is homesick and insecure about her lack of French finesse when along come a mismatched crew of best friends who expose Anna to what Paris has to offer and to St Clair, Anna's Parisian life isn't looking so bad now, but so much can happen in a year, can Anna find where she truly belongs and who she is?
And maybe who she truly belongs with?

My opinion 

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins just screams CUTE, and you'll probably see everyone say that but it really is just a damn cute book.
I really loved this book, when I first started reading it I was like 'eh it's not that good' but after a few chapters I was hooked, completely immersed in it. It's such an utterly charming, funny, romantic, feel good book that made my face hurt from smiling so much. It's a book about first love, friendship, family, the transition into adulthood and all the problems surrounding these.
The book has a brilliant set of characters that I wish were real so that I could be friends with them they aren't perfect and they do have their flaws but that's why I loved them so much I mean is there such thing as a perfect teenager? and the love story in the book is beautifully presented with just the right amount of swoon and teen drama added to it.
The main protagonist Anna is a very relatable and genuine character that's sarcastic and witty and I just loved her really, and well It wouldn't be a chick-lit without a completely swoon-worthy boy to drool over; French named, English accented and American schooled Etienne St Clair ticks all the boxes, I don't know how to describe him for you other than very hot.

“I wish friends held hands more often, like the children I see on the streets sometimes. I'm not sure why we have to grow up and get embarrassed about it.”  

The romance between Etienne and Anna was cute (there's that word again) but it really was, their personal and relationship development and their magnetism was a really entertaining and pleasurable thing to read.
My favourite aspect of this book was how Anna calls St Clair "Etienne" whilst everyone else refers to him as 'St Clair' because it really shows the connection between these two and that distinct moment when Anna stops calling him 'St Clair' is a very defining moment in the book.





                                                    

And the next two installments; Lola and the boy next door and Isla and the happily ever after, which follow a new set of charcters but fear not, feature our beloved Anna and Etienne!

                                                                 Rating: 9/10

Valentines day

Hey guys, in erm honor?! Of valentines day I will post a review for Anna and the French kiss tomorrow. It's a really good book and I think it's fitting for this valentines weekend. 

I hope you've enjoyed whatever you've done today and enjoy the weekend 😘😊 

The Sea of Tranquillity

The Sea of Tranquillity 

Author- Katja Millay

page count- 426

publisher- Atria Books

Publication date- November 13th 2012

Synopsis 

Self inflicted mute Nastya Kashnikov want's nothing more than to get through life in her new high school as a mystery, she want's a clean slate, she also want's to make the person who tore her life apart to pay, but can she have both?

Josh Bennett is no mystery, everyone knows his story, by the age of 17 he has had everyone he loves ripped from his life and now he doesn't let himself get close enough to anyone in case they're ripped from his life too. But this all changes when Nastya implants herself into his life, giving him no choice but to care.

When the world's of these two teens collide everything changes, secrets are revealed, mystery's uncovered, but can these two find it within themselves to see past their tragedies and find solace in one another or will their pasts come back to haunt them?

Told in dual points of view this book is incredibly moving and unforgettable.

My opinion 

 The Sea of Tranquillity by Katja Millay is beautifully written.

Admittedly the book has a slow build up but I believe that reflects the reality of life, your stories come out slowly in life and that's reflected amazingly in this book. For a debut novel Millay has come out with a bang.

I cannot find the right words to express my feelings about this book it was beautiful, emotional, light hearted and heart wrenching at the same time, overall just an incredibly moving book. It's about two damaged teens, the survivors of equally devastating and traumatic tragedies, who come together and somehow find safety, love and happiness in each other and slowly begin to heal each other.

“We're like mysteries to one another. Maybe if I can solve him and he can solve me, we can explain each other. Maybe that's what I need. Someone to explain me.”  

The characters are complex and beautifully presented and they each have so many layers that are pealed off chapter by chapter until they are presented to you in their rawest form: the main character Nastya is both vulnerable and tough as nails which is why I loved her so much, she was strong and intelligent and sarcastic, and it's hard to find protagonists like this in YA novels.
Secondly we have Josh, who was angry and damaged but strong with a heart of gold at the same time. Josh was such a beautiful character, I wish there were more Josh Bennett's in this world.

                                                          Rating: 8.5/10

Ketchup Clouds

Ketchup Clouds: 

Author- Annabel Pitcher
Page count- 215
Publisher- Orion
Publication date- November 2012

Synopsis

Secrets, lies and guilt. This is what Zoe's life has become, a web of secrets, lies and guilt that's threatening to unravel.

Fifteen-year-old Zoe has a dark and terrible secret, one that she is only comfortable sharing with a criminal on death row because he knows all about secrets. 
   Written as a series of letters to 'Stuart' who is awaiting his death after having killed his wife. In these letters is the story that Zoe can't explain.
    And With each passing Letter Zoe's story gradually begin to unfurl. Zoe ends up addressing the prisoner as more of a close friend than a stranger going from 'Dear Mr Harris' to 'My dearest Stu'. The letters alternate between the past and present creating suspense for the reader as the question of 'what did she do?' isn't revealed until the end. 
   What makes the book so powerful is that while it does contain the infamous love triangle of YA novels, it is more a story about a young girl trying to find acceptance and understanding.

My opinion 

I really, really loved this book. Something about it was just so captivating that i was able to completely immerse myself in it. I found it to be one of those 'i'll just read another chapter books' that you finish in a day, the story has such a hook to it and I was itching to find out Zoe's secret. What i really loved was how Zoe established a sort of fondness towards Stuart as the book progressed; opening with 'My dearest Stu' and ending with kisses.  
The letters alternate between the past and present creating suspense for the reader as the question of 'what did she do?' isn't revealed until the end. 
   What makes the book so powerful is that while it does contain the infamous love triangle of YA novels, it is more a story about a young girl trying to find acceptance and understanding.

Let's pretend for just one moment that could actually happen. You close your eyes and I'll close mine and let's dream the same dream across the Atlantic, lighting up the darkness between us. Can you see it, Stu? Can you see us up there, shining in all the black?” 

Throughout the book I found myself wondering what Stuart would have replied to Zoe as the book doesn't show his reply's, I think it would have been interesting to read his reactions to the letters, was he touched by Zoe? Would he have replied if given the chance?
   If I had to sum this book up in one word it would be; enchanting.

                                                              Rating:  7.5/10

The Fault in our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars.

Author- John Green 

page count- 313

publisher- Dutton Books

publication date- January 10th 2012

synopsis 

 16 year old Hazel Lancaster  suffers from terminal lung cancer. Whilst at a support group Hazel meets Augustus Waters fellow cancer kid, and from there the journey begins...
Augustus and Hazel hit it off from the beginning, the magnetism between them is almost palpable, what I love is how Augustus seems to open Hazel up.

"there are books which you can't tell people about, books so special and rare and yours that advertising your affection feels like a betrayal"

Despite Hazel saying this, she shares her favourite book "an imperial affliction" with Augustus, who falls in love with it and becomes equally as obsessed.
Augustus' obsession leads him to using his saved wish from 'the genies' to take him and Hazel to Amsterdam to meet the author of the book.
Although Hazel is quite reluctant to develop a relationship with Augusts, she ends up falling for him while on a trip to meet with Peter Van Houten the author of "An Imperial Affliction". Following their trip to Amsterdam you discover that Augustus' Cancer is back, the next few months in the book become increasingly difficult for Hazel and Augustus who are battling with time, self discovery and acceptance.

My opinion

John Green's "The Fault in our Stars" is equally as heart-warming as it is heart-breaking, it's not your typical 'cancer book' it's about more than survival struggle and leaves a lasting imprint on both your heart and mind.
The way that Green conveys his characters is brilliant and you develop an attachment to them immediately, each of them is presented so strongly that you convince yourself that they exist, and that they are out there somewhere living, laughing, crying.
What I love about this book is that it makes you think, while the plot develops and becomes more and more heart-breaking, you begin finding yourself simultaneously crying and thinking about life and death and the in-between. I spent a good part of the book thinking 'GOD HAZEL YOU'RE SO PROFOUND' and 'WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THIS??'.


Word of warning this was me at the end of the book:

Rating:  7/10