RECENT READS #2

Ugly Love

Colleen Hoover

Ugly Love is a ‘New Adult’ novel that follows Tate after she moves to San Francisco and meets her neighbour, Miles Archer. Before I read this I was in a long reading slump, I hadn’t finished a book for months and anything that I read just wasn’t interesting me. New adult is my favourite genre to reach for when no other books are keeping my attention. They’re fast paced and addictive and Ugly Love was no exception. While the main element of the story is a romance there was enough grit and mystery to make me want to keep reading and I finished it within days. Out of the handful of similar books I have read this is quite possibly my favourite, the characters were likeable and realistic and I really enjoyed the writing style of Colleen Hoover.

3.5/5

The Five People You Meet in Heaven

Mitch Albom

I didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did. The story is quite self-explanatory, we follow Eddie, an 83 year old man who is killed in the first chapter and arrives in heaven to meet five people. Each person has been affected by some part of Eddie’s life and has something to teach him. It was the writing of this book that made me love it so much, it’s only a short 208 pages but its crafted in a way that there are moments where you have to stop reading and actually think about what is written on the page. It’s fair to think that a book with ‘heaven’ in the title might stray in to the realm of preachy or pretentious but it really isn’t, Mitch Albom presents his message and it’s up to you to interpret. This book is also home to one my favourite book quotes…

“No life is a waste” the Blue Man said. “The only time we waste is the time we spend thinking that we are alone”

5/5

The dedication from The Five People You Meet in Heaven

Brooklyn

Colm Toibin

Brooklyn was a complete impulse purchase; I only picked it up in Waterstones after seeing the film trailer. Brooklyn is the story of Eilis who moves to New York because she is unable to find work in Ireland. After being on my shelf for months I picked up Brooklyn wanting something romantic and slightly fluffy but the seemingly simple story ended up being an interesting fish-out-of-water story that talks about what home means and first love and growing up. When I had finished reading the book I couldn’t wait to watch the film. It was a really faithful adaptation and I loved Saoirse Ronan as Eilis, perfect casting.

4.5/5

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RECENT READS #1

Anna and the French Kiss - Stephanie Perkins

The story is so much more than the title suggests. In the book we are with Anna as she is sent to France to complete high school at a Paris boarding school. The story follows Anna as she steps out of her comfort zone, falls in love in with a new city and meets the dreamy ‘Etienne St. Clair’. I thoroughly enjoyed Anna and The French Kiss. It is the perfect happiness inducing summer read, look past the slightly cringey titles and you won’t regret it.

While I'm not running straight for another Perkins’ novel right now (my piled high bookshelf would object to that) I definitely plan on reaching for the rest of the trilogy next time I’m in need of some good old YA romance.

8/10

Yes Please - Amy Poehler

After reading Lena Dunham’s ‘Not That Kind Of Girl’ earlier this year (and loving it) I’ve wanted to pick up another memoir from another fabulous funny woman. Yes Please is hilarious, honest and so entertaining. I loved how open and frank Amy was about her life experiences, many celeb filled anecdotes were also a real treat. I’m almost at the end of a Parks and Recreation marathon so the chapters about Parks were emotional ones. It has quickly become my favourite show. 

One of the reasons I love books like Yes Please and Not That Kind of Girl is because you can keep them on your bookshelf and dip in and out of the chapters to relive the quotable words of such great women. I can’t wait to pick up Mindy Kaling’s ‘Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?’ very soon.

9.5/10

The Wrath and the Dawn - Renee Ahdieh

This is my favourite book that I’ve read in a while. Inspired by ‘A Thousand and One Nights’ the story is set in a kingdom where every day the young Caliph chooses a new bride and by dawn the next day she has been killed. Our protagonist ‘Shahrzad’ volunteers to marry the king with the intent of killing him. The plot is fast paced and honestly I got obsessed with the story, finishing it in only a few days.  The Middle Eastern setting is described beautifully and as it is told in the third person we hear from multiple perspectives – a feature I really enjoy in books.

As a general rule I tend to prefer standalone books. Probably from past years of reading YA dystopian series’ to be let down as the story was dragged out over unnecessary sequels.  However when I found out that this novel was the first in a series, I was so relieved and I can’t wait for the release of the sequel.

As an added bonus the hardback cover is absolutely gorgeous.

10/10