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Colourful, raw, brave, rich and fantastical – this mermaid tale is not for the faint-hearted.
Looking after a naked girl he found washed up under Hastings pier isn’t exactly how Rory had imagined spending his sixteenth birthday. But more surprising than finding her in the first place is discovering where she has come from.
Lorali is running not just from the sea, not just from her position as princess, but her entire destiny. Lorali has rejected life as a mermaid, and become human.
But along with Lorali’s arrival, and the freak weather suddenly battering the coast, more strange visitors begin appearing in Rory’s bemused Sussex town. With beautifully coiffed hair, sharp-collared shirts and a pirate ship shaped like a Tudor house, the Abelgare boys are a mystery all of their own. What are they really up to? Can Rory protect Lorali? And who from? And where does she really belong, anyway?

Disclaimer: I received this book from Hot Key UK in exchange for an honest review. This has not changed my views in any way.

This book reminded me very much of Ink, for a good reason and a bad reason. The good reason was the uniqueness. There is no denying I have never read a book like Lorali, or met characters like the ones in her world.

The bad reason, however, is the confusion. I liked the uniqueness, but you can go too far…and unfortunately, I feel like Lorali did.

Creating a whole new concept in YA is a brave thing – and I can say Dockrill did that. But even though the concepts for both Lorali and Ink are both good, they weren’t carried out in the right way.

For a start, the world of mermaids is a concept hard to get your head around, especially in this book. I think part of the problem was the writing – it felt so debut-y. And pre-teen-y. The language just didn’t seem right. Even though I enjoyed the different way Rory sounded in his writing, it came across as immature.

I also disliked the ending, which felt like it cancelled out some of the book for me. I won’t say anymore because of spoilers, but it kind of felt like she lost a lot of the things she gained by ‘surfacing’. Okay, I’m going to stop moaning in a second! The last complaint I have is the amount of different characters in this book. Oh, it confused me so!

Onto the good stuff. I think the concept salvaged this story more than anything else. It’s unique, it’s different, and a lot of people will love it. There are not many mermaid themed books, so this one definitely creates something fresh and interesting. I also can’t say I disliked the book while I was reading it. Sure, I found a lot wrong…but I didn’t hate the actual process of reading it.

So overall, mixed feelings. It’s been a tough choice, but I am going to carry on with the series and read Aurabal if I can! Even though I didn’t like the main ending, the epilogue has actually drawn me in.

I give this book…

★★★

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

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It’s been a year since Milly, Elyse and Leonie’s dad died, and a year since their last trip to Rome. Summer’s here again, and once again they are heading with their mum to Italy – but what’s it going to be like going without Dad? Rome still holds its familiar charms – the sun is still as warm, the gelato as delicious, the people as welcoming. But nothing is quite as it once was …
With grief still raw for all of them, Milly is facing the additional awfulness of having to see Luke again – gorgeous, gorgeous Luke, who she had a fling with last year, and who she made a total fool of herself with – or so she thinks. What’s going to happen this time? What’s more, things between Milly, her sisters and their mum are rocky – Leonie is being tempestuous and unpredictable, Elyse is caught up with her new boyfriend, and Milly feels like she just doesn’t know how she fits in any more.
Over one Italian summer, can Milly find a way back to the life she once had?

Disclaimer: I received this book from Hot Key UK in exchange for an honest review. This has not changed my views in any way.

It’s safe to say I loved this book. It was the perfect romance/contemporary and holiday read. As I explained in my video above, I loved most aspects of this book, and they all fit so well together.

The plot flowed pretty well. A week or two is a great time frame for a holiday read, and it really made me feel close to the characters and the setting!

The setting was one of my favourite parts of this book, and it really felt like I was, as a reader, in the setting and with the characters. This reminded me of Anna and the French Kiss, which also has a great representation of the setting.

Moving onto the characters, I really liked Milly. She felt real and relatable, struggling with many different things we feel day-to-day. She was a typical teenager with a love interest, but it really kind of worked. I really like that the entire book wasn’t completely focused on romance and it allowed room for other thoughts and feelings.

Some of these were really well represented, including worrying, paranoia and coping with grief from overcoming her dad’s death. The side characters were really well written, meaning a I found out about a lot of stories within the novel without being confused!

The only tiny gripe I could pick up in this book was the slight bit of insta-love, but I can’t really complain too much. As with much of the book, the love progressed with the story and it worked too!

Overall, I really liked this book. I didn’t want to finish it, and I actually avoided reading it for a while because I didn’t want to leave this story! I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves YA contemporary, romance and holiday reads.

I give One Italian Summer:

★★★★

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

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Disclaimer: I have been provided with a proof copy by Hot Key Books in exchange for an honest review. This has not changed my review or opinion in any way.

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Donating your heart is the most precious gift of all.
Adam is a teenage boy who lives with his mum and younger sister. His dad has left them although lives close by. His sister no longer speaks. His mum works two jobs. Adam feels the weight of the world upon his shoulders.
Then his grandfather dies and in doing so he donates a very precious gift – his heart.
William is the recipient of Adam’s grandfather’s heart. He has no family and feels rootless and alone. In fact, he feels no particular reason to live. And then he meets Adam’s family.
William has received much, but it appears that he has much to offer Adam and his family too.

To put it simply, this book is unlike any I have ever read before. The writing is unusual, the characters are different, the setting is one not often used and the whole concept is one I would love to see more of.

I love the mixture of writing – it was extremely clever in structure. We jumped from different characters viewpoints, between prose, story and sketches. This book really stands apart in many ways, and above all, it intrigued me.

We dive right into the story, and I will admit that it confused me slightly. To be thrown into a characters life is a lot to take in – and I didn’t understand everything straight away! But the pure difference of this book made me want to carry on and find out more about the people this story follows. I wanted to understand.

On the subject of the confusion, I’d say that’s the only bad part of this book. Although much of it becomes clear as the story unfolds – some things were a little misty. One that stood out to me, for example, was the age of William. I thought he was not much older then Adam, and then I found out he was around the age of Adam’s parents. I liked this feature a lot, as it showed the unimportance of age, but I wish it had been clearly stated earlier in the story.

This book holds a lot of meaning. It talks about things many YA novels don’t – abuse, depression, illness, mental health and race. I love the way this book explored nationality and I felt some of it directly related to situations in some communities here in the UK.

I felt Adam’s story really demonstrated the need for equality, and I wish we had more of that. It really struck a chord with me, and reminded me the real importance for stories like this to be told.

A lot of things in this book felt important. The need to stand up for others and stand together. The longing to support others in their times of need. The need for love among those who are quiet, who are loud, who are different in appearance and age and backgrounds and personality and race. The need for love among all.

☽ ☽ ☽ ☽
4 out of 5 moons

Goodreads | Amazon

Part romance, part love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs, Geekerella is a fairy tale for anyone who believes in the magic of fandom. Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic sci-fi series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball, and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. With savings from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck (and her dad’s old costume), Elle’s determined to win…unless her stepsisters get there first.
Teen actor Darien Freeman used to live for cons—before he was famous. Now they’re nothing but autographs and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Carmindor is all he’s ever wanted, but the Starfield fandom has written him off as just another dumb heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, Darien feels more and more like a fake—until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise.

This book is everything I have ever stood for. Everything I fight for. I feel as though Poston has ripped my heart out and scattered it among beautiful pages. It’s as though she described me better than I could ever describe myself – in a book.

This novel shows that fandom is real, and it can change your life. It captures the very essence of a con – that feeling of walking into a room and knowing everyone is just like you.

It demonstrated that no one can define who you are – except yourself. That bullies can come in every form and in places where you feel safest, but at the same time, not everyone is like that.

It showed the true meaning of words…and it showed that long distance relationships are manageable and can work, if you only remember to never miss a goodnight.

And it showed something I believe is even more important than anything else in this book. It showed that no matter who it is, what they do and wherever they are in the world – any two people can fall in love. Even through late night texts.

As you can tell, I related to this book on an infinite number of levels. I feel like talking about different things about this book would be pointless. Because everything – the plot, the characters, the writing, the concept – worked. This book is just…more than that. It’s more than picking apart the building bricks of it, because it’s just perfect. It’s just simply incredible. I don’t want to ever let this story, these characters, this fandom, go.

In fact, I think it’ll stay in my heart forever.

Look to the stars. Aim. Ignite.

Goodreads | Amazon

Forbidden to leave her island, Isabella Riosse dreams of the faraway lands her father once mapped.

When her closest friend disappears into the island’s Forgotten Territories, she volunteers to guide the search. As a cartographer’s daughter, she’s equipped with elaborate ink maps and knowledge of the stars, and is eager to navigate the island’s forgotten heart.

But the world beyond the walls is a monster-filled wasteland – and beneath the dry rivers and smoking mountains, a legendary fire demon is stirring from its sleep. Soon, following her map, her heart and an ancient myth, Isabella discovers the true end of her journey: to save the island itself.

This book surprised me for one reason, and one reason alone. It’s preteen! Ever since I started reading YA, I’ve never gone back to preteen. But I saw this book on sale as a card cover with beautiful maps inside and my heart just melted. I am a sucker for a good bookish map!

“Each of us carries the map of our lives on our skin,

Simply put, this book was beautiful. It wasn’t out of this world or extraordinary, I’ll admit, but I did really enjoy it! The plot followed a journey across an island, which made the story flow.

in the way we walk,

I liked the characters too, and I found Hargrave very clever in the way she presented them! The balance of good and evil, myths, legends and real life worked really well.

even in the way we grow.”

Overall, I would recommend this book to YA readers as well as preteen. It’s definitely still suited for preteen, but it also shared some lovely values about love, friendship and the importance of family.

☽ ☽ ☽ ☽
3.5 out of 5 moons

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

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Seed loves you. Seed will never let you go. 

Fifteen-year-old Pearl has lived her whole life protected within the small community at Seed, where they worship Nature and idolise their leader, Papa S. When some outsiders arrive, everything changes. Pearl experiences feelings that she never knew existed and begins to realise that there is darkness at the heart of Seed.  A darkness from which she must escape, before it’s too late.

I don’t even know where to start with this one. It’s one of those you have to digest after reading…just like all the best books force you to do.

To put it simply – this book is good. It’s really good. It’s 300+ pages, and I read it in 2 days. That would normally take me a week or more! I literally couldn’t put it down. I’ve been reading for hours, putting off schoolwork and doing my gaming blog and everything else just to read. When I wasn’t reading it, I was in a kind of Seed trance. Have you ever read a book so good you end up in a trance just thinking about it?

“It feels like I am underwater at the lake,”

The easiest way to describe Seed was that it turns the pages for you. It’s definitely a thriller, but not in a way like Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train. It definitely has dark undertones, and it’s definitely thrilling….but above all, it is strange. I mean this book is really messed up – but that’s what makes you want to read on. I just wanted to know what would happen.

“yet floating through the sky.”

I loved the characters in this book. I loved the setting. Both were complicated and confusing but also related highly to the ‘Outside’, or the real world. There were constant reminders that this was about people, even if they didn’t live conventionally.

“There a thousand butterflies dancing on my skin”

The plot was definitely fast paced, and I felt the constant twists and turns, wanting to follow the winding road to the end of the story. I did enjoy the first half of this book more than the second, though. I’m not sure why…but I have to say I thought the ending was a bit rushed. I found I blundered into it without even knowing where I was going. It all just felt a little hazy.

There was also a very big, unexpected event at the end of the book which I felt kind of eliminated some of the point of the book. It all built up to what would happen with a certain person and then another event means we’ll never even know.

But otherwise, the only other complaint I could possibly have is that I want more. I want to know about Pearl now. I want to know about her adventures and how she moves on from everything that happened in those last few pages.

I’m still giving this book top marks, though. I couldn’t possibly mark such a captivating page turner with any less.

 ☽ ☽ ☽ ☽ ☽
5 out of 5 moons

 -Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

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Goodreads | Amazon

Henry Page has never been in love. He fancies himself a hopeless romantic, but the slo-mo, heart palpitating, can’t-eat-can’t-sleep kind of love that he’s been hoping for just hasn’t been in the cards for him—at least not yet. Instead, he’s been happy to focus on his grades, on getting into a semi-decent college and finally becoming editor of his school newspaper. Then Grace Town walks into his first period class on the third Tuesday of senior year and he knows everything’s about to change.
Grace isn’t who Henry pictured as his dream girl—she walks with a cane, wears oversized boys’ clothes, and rarely seems to shower. But when Grace and Henry are both chosen to edit the school paper, he quickly finds himself falling for her. It’s obvious there’s something broken about Grace, but it seems to make her even more beautiful to Henry, and he wants nothing more than to help her put the pieces back together again. And yet, this isn’t your average story of boy meets girl. Krystal Sutherland’s brilliant debut is equal parts wit and heartbreak, a potent reminder of the bittersweet bliss that is first love.

The simplest way to put it is this book broke my heart in two. It’s up there with All the Bright Places – it is absolutely soul crushing.

It’s this old Japanese art form where they mend broken pottery with seams of gold.

I have no idea where to start with this book. I think I have a love/hate relationship right now, although I’m sure that will change as the whole thing seeps in. I just have to say this book completely enveloped me. My head was full of thoughts and sadness and heartbreak for the duration of this book – especially the second half. So let’s try and think about this logically. What about the characters?

Well, I liked them. They gave a relatable and real aspect to the story, one that I could find an easy emotional connection to (trust me, the tears flowed!). I can see a lot of people not liking them because of the amount of stuff they simply screw up, but to be honest that’s life. And it’s good that this isn’t a fairy-tale, because neither is life.

Like, they glue all the shattered pieces back together, and when it’s done it’s covered in these webs of gold veins.

To move on, I loved the plot. It kept me on my toes, guessing what was going to happen next. I did find it hard at times to keep track of everything – but I think that’s because this story simply made my head a little fuzzy. It overwhelmed me so I didn’t even know my left from my right…I was simply confused – just like the main character. And I love that Krystal made me feel that way – made me feel like I was living through just as much of a haze as

They do it because they believe that some things are more beautiful when they’ve been broken.

Overall, I still don’t know what the heck to say. I still don’t know how to describe such emotion. Which is ironic, considering this book is full of emotion written in words. But it does also explain how hard it is to write. How hard it is to say how we feel. This book is pure, real and honest. It’s not happy, not even close. But it’s still one of the best books I’ve ever read…simply because it made me feel something.

☽ ☽ ☽ ☽
4 out of 5 moons

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

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Goodreads | Amazon

Mark and Kate have sat next to each other for an entire year, but have never spoken. For whatever reason, their paths outside of class have never crossed.
That is, until Kate spots Mark miles away from home, out in the city for a wild, unexpected night. Kate is lost, having just run away from a chance to finally meet the girl she has been in love with from afar. Mark, meanwhile, is in love with his best friend Ryan, who may or may not feel the same way.
When Kate and Mark meet up, little do they know how important they will become to each other—and how, in a very short time, they will know each other better than any of the people who are supposed to know them more.

I won’t lie, I was highly skeptical about this book. I’ve heard a lot of good things about David Levithan and his writing…but I’d also only read Naomi & Ely’s No Kiss List before this one! And it’s safe to say that I didn’t particularly enjoy Naomi & Ely – it’s actually one of the only books I preferred as a movie.

But I still picked up this book cheap as I liked the synopsis and knew I needed to give David Levithan a second chance. Let’s start by saying I’m really glad I did!

You can be naked with someone and remain unknowable.

I loved the characters in this book. They made so many mistakes, it was basically awesome. They showed a lot of things through our eyes – teenagers who are deciding how they’ll be living their life after college but not really sure about anything. That includes love. They were mixed up and emotional, wild and free. They were perfect.

You can be someone’s secret without ever knowing what the full secret is.

I liked a lot of other things about this book, too. I found the plot and time scale (a week) easy to read and enjoyable. It made for a quick but very full 200 pages, which seemed to fly by at the same time as being a big story!

You can know he’s even more scared than you are, but that doesn’t make you any less scared yourself.

I also enjoyed the setting and the ending! A small part of me wishes the ending was different, but at the same time I understand and accept why it ended like it did. And I’m kind of happy, too. It needed to end the way it did to show the full extent of the characters. Because even if the ending wasn’t 100% fairytale – it was real..and that makes me smile.

Have you read this book? What did you think?

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

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Hi everyone and welcome to the second of three posts for the next two days! Counting down to Christmas, Pete and I are posting our reviews for the three short stories that make up Let It Snow by John Green, Lauren Myracle and Maureen Johnson.

Goodreads | Amazon

Today’s review is for the third and last short story of Let It Snow, which follows Addie and her two best friends Dorrie and Tegan. Addie’s Christmas break is ruined by her recent breakup with her boyfriend Jeb. Will she be able to work out everything going on in her head and have a good Christmas?

Beth’s Review

Well if you thought yesterday’s review was bad, good luck reading today! Although I have to say, I did enjoy A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle…I just had a LOT of annoyances with it. And anger surrounding John Green. And a *tiny* bit of PMT that may have possibly made me a little bit more angry than usual. Oops.

But I didn’t like this story for a totally different reason – the main character. Addie annoyed me because of several things. For one, she cheated on her boyfriend. I know, I can practically hear ‘It was only a kiss’ playing in my head, but she still cheated. Maybe it’s just me, but there’s no excuse! It’s something you just don’t do.

And two, her personality really annoyed me. She goes throughout the story basically realising she’s a very self-centered person who needs to change. And then…doesn’t do anything to change herself. Sure, she thinks about it. But she doesn’t really change all that much. Instead, she has some strange kind of epiphany that was so impossible it just annoyed me even more. She still has this whiny voice going on throughout the book that I just…ugh. Couldn’t deal with.

I also didn’t like Dorrie and Tegan. I actually just found them downright rude. You don’t just tell your best friend that they’re self-centered, even if they are. Not randomly, bluntly on Christmas day. You have to release that slowly, right?

Saying all of this, is wasn’t all bad. There were some parts of this story that I liked. For example, the ending. This story was given the goal of wrapping everything up, and I felt it succeeded. I liked the quick mention of all of the characters, and how they all ended up in Starbucks. It was cute, and warmed my heart a little after all those niggles! I have to admit though, yet again I sped through this story. It was partly to get all the Addie stuff over with, but I did enjoy it. It was a compelling read, and I liked the ending overall too.

So even though I’d only rate it 3 stars overall, I’d still say it was a good read and recommend it to those who don’t mind cliche as usual!

Pete’s Review

From me and Pete: Merry Christmas Eve everyone! Have a great day and thanks for reading these reviews. We hope you’ve enjoyed it 🙂

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

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