The Bride Test by Helen Hoang

ARC provided by the publisher though Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Like many of you I fell in love with the authors debut, The KISS Quotient last year and was really looking forward to her sophomore novel. I didn’t love this installment as much as I did The Kiss Quotient, but I still think that this book is a gem.I just need ya’ll to know the Helen Hoang is my new romance queen.

“Girl loves boy loves girl.”

Just like The Kiss Quotient, this is an ownvoices novel, Helen is Vietnamese and is Autistic. One of my favourite things about this book is seeing the difference between Stella from TKQ and Khai who is the main character of this book. I love how Helen brings enlightenment to the Autism spectrum and how each person has an individual experience and feelings. As I said in my review for TKQ my brother has Aspergers, and people seem to group everyone with autism in the same category. And this book does an amazing job at showing the differences each person experiences.

The Bride Test is written in dual perspective following Esme and Khai. The premise of this book is that Khai’s mother wants him to get married. Khai does not want to get married but his mom believes if she just finds him the perfect woman he will change his mind.

Khai – Vietnamese, Autistic, he is Michaels cousin from TKQ. He believes he can never fall in love, because he feels differently than other people he doesn’t recognize some emotions he experiences. He is a successful accountant at a large company. I really loved him as a character and thought his ba k story was really well written.

Esme – Biracial (Vietnamese and white), living in Vietnam with as a single mother with her daughter, mother and grandmother.She has never met her birth father. She works as a housekeeper in a hotel, where she meets a woman offering g her a chance to fly to California and marry her son, Khai. As the story goes on she developed real feelings for Khai. I really liked Esme as a character, she’s ambitious and hardworking, while being sweet and funny.

“My heart works in a different way, but it’s yours.”

I adore both Khai and Esme! Their chemistry was amazing and I loved how there relationship organic grew. They’re vastly different, but also worked so well together.I LOVED the relationship between Khai and his brother Quan. I really hope the next book will be his story!

My few complaints: As a parent I really didn’t like how Esme hid the fact that she had a daughter. Her child is a huge part of her life and ordinarily the main reason she agreed to come to California. She wants to give her a better life but yet she doesn’t tell anyone about her. I also wasn’t to thrilled about the Epilogue but I can’t talk about that because I don’t want to spoil anything.

Overall, The Bride Test wasn’t on the same level as The Kiss Quotient but it was still incredibly enjoyable.

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April Wrap Up

Hey, loves! I know this is so late! I  have been slacking with reviewing and commenting, but hopefully I’ll get that caught up soon. In May I have a lot of blog posts already planned out and many are drafted so I have a really good feeling about this month.

So to get to the books that I read during the month of April. I read some fantasy books this month which I feel great about as it’s my favorite genre but I have been struggling to get into lately, I give many thanks to the lovely ladies who buddy read with me! I have some varied ratings with the books I read starting from 2 stars up to 4 stars. Okay let’s stop talking and get into what books I read in the month of April!

(Like always, you can click the links in each of the titles to read a more in-depth review of each book.)

Caraval by Stephanie Garber – ★★★★

This was a re-read, because I really wanted to get to Legendary before Finale was released. This time around I read this book via audiobook and it was just as amazing as the first time I read it. This book was just absolutely ENCHANTING! From the very first page up until the last, there was never a dull moment.I got to fall in love with the characters all over again. Stephanie Garber is an incredibly talented author, and a master at weaving beautiful lyrical words.

Legendary by Stephanie Garber – ★★★★★

It has taken me over a year to read Legendary, and I am so happy to have finally read the sequel to Caraval. This book is on my must reads of 2019 and I can now say that I love this book so much! I loved being back in this world, Caraval was such a magical story and Legendary was no different. The romance in this book, I was completely living for it! And that ending!?! The big reveal took me by surprise because it felt a little to obvious so I wasn’t expecting it. Needless to say I am beyond excited for Finale!!

Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kauffman – ★★

I want to start this review by saying that I was very fortunate to have been given a EARC, I swear that my neighbors could hear me cheering. With that said, this book disappointed me so much! I really wanted to love it and I really didn’t like it until the last 30% of the book. I loved Jay and Amie’s Illuminae Files and I do enjoy there writing. I just wasn’t connecting with the story.This book was a huge miss for me, I know there is a lot of high praise already. I know I’ll probably get some hate for this but no one is more disappointed with my feelings than I am.

Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott – ★★.5

I originally rated this book a three but I took it down to two and a half stars. I only read this book because I want to see the movie. And I only want to see the movie because of Cole Sprouse. Anyway this book is about two teens living with cystic fibrosis, and there relationship. The story overall I enjoyed it, i found it entertaining but the writing was so cringe worthy. I love beautiful prose and this definitely want it.

The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson – ★★★★

I really LOVED this book! The Storm Crow is filled with the potential to be a great, captivating series. It’s gripping within the first chapter, the characters are all amazing and the magic is uniquely written. With a large variety of majestic crows that can control the elements they provide everything needed for it’s country.  The crows gave me major  How to Train your Dragon vibes. Josephson has created such a rich and gorgeous world!

Wilder Girls by Rory Power – ★★★★

Wilder Girls has been everywhere lately, with its gorgeous cover to amazing synopsis. I have to say this cover is probably my favorite cover of the whole year.I’m going to need all the sapphic horror books from now on. The female-female relationship in this book was everything! I loved these girls so much and was horrified for what they were going through.Rory power’s writing is beautiful yet it does a fantastic job at making your skin crawl, with it’s deliberate descriptive details. Power’s does not hold back on the horror scenes, as a horror movie lover I found some of the horror to be tame but to others it can be quite triggering. That being said this was one of the most unique young adult novels I had the pleasure of reading.

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing – ★★★★

Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey – ★★★★

THIS WAS SO ADORABLE AND CUTE!!! I’ve seen a couple of my friends give it a low rating and I can see why some people wouldn’t enjoy it. That wasn’t the case for me. This book is basically a long homage to romantic comedies, which made me realize I have not watched a lot of the movies mentioned, and I quickly wrote them all down to add to my Netflix queue.This book is the perfect summer beach read!

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That’s all! I am so sorry this is going up so late! So those are the books I read this month let me know down in the comments what your favorite book was in April.

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My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing

I received an ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

I have been unimpressed with thrillers lately both oh boy did this one deliver. If you’re a fan of Dexter, than you are going to love this book. Power couple, serial killers, that’s all I needed to know to pick up this book.This is a brilliant debut novel by Samantha Downing. I simply couldn’t get enough of this book, and I loved every minute of it.

“Officially, the Oaks is one of the safest communities in the state. That’s because all the violence is behind closed doors.”

I’m not going to go to much into the plot because the the best way to read thrillers, but here is a brief description. This book is told from the perspective of the unnamed husband, and centers around seeing the whole story from the perspective of the killers. Millicent and her husband have two children Rory and Jenna and they live in the suburbs. They look like everyone else in the neighborhood, a normal family. Millicent works in real estate and the husband is a tennis instructor at the country club. But they are hiding some very dark secrets, instead of role playing to spice things up, they indulge in murder.

The husband gives the reader a play by play of how the event unfold, while giving us a look at his inner dialogue and twisted thoughts. This book is so twisted, I was unable to put it down. Just when you think you have everything figured out Downing throws us upside down. I loved the tone of the story, it includes so dark humor that I often found myself smiling at the most inappropriate times.

If your looking for a book you cant put down, I would pick up My Lovely Wife and be prepared for a wild ride! I can’t wait to see what Samantha Downing comes up with next, this was an incredible debut.

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January Wrap Up and Book Haul

Hello loves! I hope everyone is having a good day! Can you believe we’re already got one month own in the books for 2019. Reading -wise, I thought I’d been incredibly productive this month. I ended up reading 10 books ! Which for me is a lot.

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Books Read

(You can click the links in each of the titles if you would like to read a more in-depth review of each book.)

Slayer by Kiersten White – ★★★

I have been so excited for this book ever since it was first announced that there would be a YA series set in the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer coming out. I found Slayer to be a quick and really fun story. I related to the characters and loved the relationships

The Wicker King – K. Ancrum★★★★

This was the first book for The Dragon and Tea book club created by Melanie and Amy. I have never heard of this book before and I’m so happy this was picked. I loved this book so much! The format of the book was really cool, uses art and colour to correspond with the tone of the book. The chapters were super short and I flew through them. I highly recommend!

Verity- Colleen Hoover★★★★★

This book was impossible to put it down until I  finished it! It is seriously creepy and disturbing.This storyline is very dark, but incredibly addicting. I went into this book knowing nothing about the plot, and I honestly think that is the best way to read this book.I haven’t read Hoovers latest book’s because I have read some really terrible reviews, this book though is nothing like anything I’ve ever read before. I love thrillers and horror, so its difficult for an author to fill me with such dread and anxiety, that this book has left me with

An Anonymous Girl – by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen★★★★

This was my first book by Hendricks & Pekkanen but it certainly won’t be my last. This is there sophomore novel and it follows a make up artist Jessica who is participating in a morals study. The character’s are amazing and I was really glad I picked this one up.

99 Percent Mine- Sally Thorne★★★

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne was one of my favorite reads last year. So, I was over the moon when I was approved to read 99 Percent Mine. This book is nothing like The Hating Game. I went in thinking that 99 Percent Mine would be one of my favorite romances of the year, but I was disappointed. I really love the friends to lovers/ brothers best friend trope, and there was a few really heartwarming moments but in the end the romance kinda fell flat for me.

The Wicked King- Holly Black★★★★★

First off this was an OUTSTANDING READ, and I loved every second of it! Holly Black has done it again. She is a literary genius, I have loved every book I’ve ever read by her.This book was perfect. I don’t think there’s any combination of words that could accurately convey just how good this book is. The political intrigue in this book, is so strong! There are so many twists and turns you won’t know what to believe. This book is 90% court intrigue, scheming, and angst, which is the recipe for an amazing story.

One of Us is Lying- Karen M McManus★★★1/2

I’ve been wanting to read One of Us is Lying for awhile now, and I really enjoyed the story. I felt the comparisons to the Breakfast Club and Pretty Little Liars was really spot on. This is a very quick read, I finished in in two days. I don’t want to say to much about the plot because it is a mystery. I will have a full review up very soon.

The Way I Used To Be – Amber Smith ★★★1/2

This was a brutally honest story about a 14 year old girl names Eden who was raped by her brother’s best friend in her own bed.It’s told in the span of her four years of high school and the lingering affects of trauma and how it changes you. I had a hard time rating this novel, I ended up giving it only three and a half stars, because I was hoping Eden story would have ended different.

DragonHearts- Nikita Gill, Amanda Lovelace and Trista Mateer ★★★★

When I saw that three of my all time favorite poets were coming out with a new collection I was over the moon. There three women write such beautiful and empowering prose. I love how there was no build up to the release, that we woke up one morning and surprise there’s this beautiful book! This is one of my favorite collaborations and I will definitely be reading it again.

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Book Haul

Physical Books I bought :

The Wicked King- Holly Black

The Kiss Quotient- Helen Hoang

All the Feels- Danika Stone

Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone – JK Rowling

Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets – JK Rowling

Ebooks I Bought

A Girl Like Her – Talia Hibbert

Netgalley / Edelweiss

Dark Shores – Danielle L Jensen

Serious Moonlight – Jenn Bennett

Never- Contented Things – Sarah Porter

The Bride Test – Helen Hoang

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Let’s chat, How was your reading month? What was your favourite book you’ve read?

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Waiting on Wednesday [#9]

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that everyone’s excited about!

Heartless by Marissa Meyers

Release Date: 8th of November
Genre: YA,Fantasy,Retellings
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Pages: 464 Hardcover

Goodreads Synopsis:
Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the yet-unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend and supply the Kingdom of Hearts with delectable pastries and confections. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next Queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the king’s marriage proposal, she meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship.

Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans

Blood and Salt by Kim Liggett Review

Book:Blood and Salt
Author:Kim Liggett
Genre:YA, Horror
Pages:341
Rating:5 Stars

Synopsis:

Romeo and Juliet meets Children of the Corn in this one-of-a-kind romantic horror.

These are the last words Ash Larkin hears before her mother returns to the spiritual commune she escaped long ago. But when Ash follows her to Quivira, Kansas, something sinister and ancient waits among the rustling cornstalks of this village lost to time.

Ash is plagued by memories of her ancestor, Katia, which harken back to the town’s history of unrequited love and murder, alchemy and immortality. Charming traditions soon give way to a string of gruesome deaths, and Ash feels drawn to Dane, a forbidden boy with secrets of his own.

As the community prepares for a ceremony five hundred years in the making, Ash must fight not only to save her mother, but herself—and discover the truth about Quivira before it’s too late. Before she’s all in—blood and salt “

My Thoughts

A dark, seductive, sensual book. Incredibly gripping. The atmosphere is creepy and chilling, Love the corn stalks it gives it a 80’s horror movie feeling. There were so many feels…so many twists…so many SECRETS!!

I absolutely flew through this book. I started it last night and had to leave it with only 50 so pages left and finished it just a few minutes ago. I’ve had my eye on this book ever since the cover was revealed, and I was not disappointed. I love it !!! I’m a big horror/paranormal fan and I didn’t really know what to expect when going into this book.

I loved all the characters Ash,Beth,Dane and Rhys( I want to know more about what he can do !! ) Really happy there is going to be a sequel because I need more to this story. The romance with Ash and Dane was sweet and had some time to build up, and the twist keep coming. I loved secondary characters.

I recommend to those who love YA romantic horror. Blood and Salt is the perfect young adult book for this season!! Patiently waiting for the sequel, Goodreads page says May 2017.

Waiting on Wednesday [#8]

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that everyone’s excited about!

Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Release Date: 18th of October
Genre: YA,Sci-Fi
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 608 Hardcover

Goodreads synopsis:
Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.
The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault.
Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy’s most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.
When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station’s wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.
But relax. They’ve totally got this. They hope.
Once again told through a compelling dossier of emails, IMs, classified files, transcripts, and schematics, Gemina raises the stakes of the Illuminae Files, hurling readers into an enthralling new story that will leave them breathless.

BOOK BLOGGER CONFESSIONS TAG

I haven’t done a tag in a while,decided to do this so my readers can get to know me.

Which book, most recently, did you not finish?
I did not finish The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson. I really wanted to like it because the cover is gorgeous, but I just couldn’t get into the story.

What book is your guilty pleasure?
The House of Night series by PC Cast , I love these books! I can understand why people wouldn’t like them. In some book’s the story dragged on , but the character’s have a special place in my heart.

Which book do you love to hate?
Allegiant by Veronica Roth. I hate the ending. The first two book’s I really liked, but Four got pretty annoying and then that ending. I was disappointed in how the trilogy ended.

Which book would you throw into the sea?
I cannot think of a book that I was that upset with as to throw it into the sea lol

Which book have you read the most?
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, This is where my obsession and love for reading began.

Which book would you hate to receive as a present?
I don’t think I’d hate to receive any book.

Which book could you not live without?
This is a tough one I want to say Harry Potter, all 7 of them.

Which book made you the angriest?
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, can’t say why cuz of spoilers.

Which book made you cry the most?
It’s a tie between Me Before you by Jojo Moyes and The Fault in our Stars by John Green

Which book cover do you hate the most?
The original Lux covers, there terrible.

August Book Haul !

I’m a few day’s posting this but been busy getting everything ready for school 🙂 I got a 13 book’s this month, from book outlet, the thrift store,amazon.

Book’s I bought

The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson
Goodreads

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
Goodreads

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
Goodreads

The Awful Apple Orchard by M.D. Spenser
Goodreads

Book Outlet

Don’t Stay up late ( A fear Street Novel) by R.L Stine
Goodreads

The Lost Girl (A Fear Street Novel) by R.L Stine
Goodreads

Fiendish by Brenna Yovanoff
Goodreads

The Year of Shadows by Claire Legrand
Goodreads

Truth or Dare ( Creepover) by P.J. Night
Goodreads

Beautiful Secret by Christina Lauren
Goodreads

Reads (Thrift store)

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Goodreads

Night Film by Marisha Pessl
Goodreads

Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly
Goodreads

Waiting on Wednesday [#4]

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that everyone’s excited about!

Empire of Storms by Sarah J Maas 

Release Date: 8th of September
Genre: YA,Fantasy
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Pages: 704 Hardcover

Goodreads Synopsis:
The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those don’t.

As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

Aelin’s journey from assassin to queen has entranced millions across the globe, and this fifth installment will leave fans breathless. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?