Series You Want to Start This Year | Top 5 Wednesday

Hi everyone. So for today's topic it is Series You Want to Start This Year! I actually own a lot of these so far so maybe this will inspire me to finally get on track and start reading them! 

1. Red Rising Trilogy by Pierce Brown

I've heard nothing but good things about this series. I will have a review up soon for the first book and the second one recently came out, so I can't wait to get my hands on it!  

2. Legend Trilogy by Marie Lu

This series has been on my shelf for so long now and I don't know why its taking me so long to finally read it. One of the challenges for the #2015readingchallenge is to read a trilogy so this one may be it! 

3. The Kingkiller Chronicle Series by Patrick Rothfuss

Another series that I own that I really need to get around to. A shorter companion novel was recently released so I hope to catch up before that companion one is made into a paperback edition! :P

4. The Raven Cycle Series by Maggie Stiefvater 

I own this series yet I haven't picked it up yet. :/ I just don't know why! So many people love it and have recommended it to me but I just haven't gotten around to it. I am hoping to soon! 

5. Falling Kingdoms Series by Morgan Rhodes

The boy picked up the first two books in this series for me a while back so I better get started on it soon. The third book was recently released so I definitely want to get my hands on it! 

What series are you hoping to start this year? Let me know in the comments below! 

Bout of Books 12 | Day 5 Update

Hi everyone. A little late with my update post from Day 5, but I've been busy prepping for the week and working on some homework. Anyways, I just finished off a book yesterday and fell asleep early because of my coughing fits. But hey! that is another book to the read list.

Books I read on Day 5: 

• Frostfire by Amanda Hocking 

Total # of pages read on Day 5: 201 pages

Books I completed reading overall:

• The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
• Lumberjanes Issue 1
• Lumberjanes Issue 2
• Lumberjanes Issue 3
• Lumberjanes Issue 4
• Lumberjanes Issue 5
• Lumberjanes Issue 6
• Lumberjanes Issue 7
• Bee and Puppycat Issue 3
• Bee and Puppycat Issue 4
• Bee and Puppycat Issue 5
• Bee and Puppycat Issue 6
• Bee and Puppycat Issue 7
• Love & Other Theories by Alexis Bass 
• Frostfire by Amanda Hocking

Total # of pages read overall: 1,345 pages

Pretty pleased with myself so far. That brings the total novel count to 3 and it was actually my first time reading something by Amanda Hocking which I really enjoyed. I hope to read a bit more of a book I started early this morning today and maybe finish it off, so we shall see. 

How are you doing so far on #boutofbooks? Let me know in the comments below! 

Review: Love & Other Theories by Alexis Bass

Love & Other Theories by Alexis Bass

Publishing Date: December 31, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen; An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Pages: 377 pages
Young Adult Contemporary Fiction

The Premise: The story follows 17-year old Aubrey Housing who is in her final year of high-school. With good friends and early acceptance to Barron, life for her seems just about uncomplicated and carefree as it can get. That is, until Nathan Diggs moves to town. Aubrey and her friends have a set of rules that they abide by to ensure that they are "heartbreak-free", but Aubrey is having a hard time keeping that rule with Nathan.

My overall thoughts and review: The premise of this story sounded really interesting when I was first offered the book. I found that the relationship between Aubrey and Nathan to be quite sweet. Nathan came from a small-town and had a close group of friends was just an all-around nice guy. I quickly learned that Aubrey and her friends were quite like the "mean girls" that every typical highschool contemporary romance had, and I've read books before that had the typical "mean girls" and I was okay with it (i.e. Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian's Burn for Burn series), but the mean girls in this book really irked me for some reason. No matter what, I just couldn't understand why for the life of me the character of Shelby. Even at the lowest points, I couldn't empathize with her and in turn, it made me really unsympathetic when things took a turn for the worst for Aubrey, the protagonist. I find it really hard to full enjoy a book, especially when you don't particularly like the protagonist. I also just can't empathize when a perfectly all-around nice guy is in a way ~ruined~. There was very little character development throughout the book and you only really see growth in Aubrey at the end. I think what I enjoyed most about the book is the ending because it was honest and truthful that in highschool, things may seem like forever, but in reality, they aren't. The ending wasn't a typical happy one and I think that it was the best way to end it. All in all, I enjoyed the book but it wasn't anything that dazzled me. If you are hoping for a YA-romance similar to that of Stephanie Perkins' writings, then I don't think this would be for you. It is worth the read, however, if you feel that the premise is something that you would be interested in.

My rating of the book: ✮✮✮ (3/5 stars) 

Now available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo

Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by HarperCollins Publishers for consideration/review. All opinions are my own. 

A Book Set in High School | 2015 Reading Challenge

I was able to finish another book this week for #boutofbooks that helps with my 2015 reading challenge and that is a book set in High School. This book is primarily about high school and senior year and what happens when high school comes to an end and what is to come in college. I initially wasn't going to include this one in my challenges, but it turns out it fits nicely, so I thought why not?

A Book Set in High School goes to:

Love & Other Theories by Alexis Bass

(Review: here!)

Have you finished any challenges from the #2015ReadingChallenge yet? Let me know in the comments below!

I recently finished A Mystery or Thriller which you can read about here! 

Bout of Books 12 | Day 4 Update

Hi everyone! I hope that everyone is doing well. We are basically more than half-way through the read-a-thon now which is insane! :D Here is my progress from yesterday - day 4!

Books I read on Day 4: 

• Love & Other Theories by Alexis Bass 
• Frostfire by Amanda Hocking (120 pages read) 

Total # of pages read on Day 4: 497 pages

Books I completed reading overall:

• The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
• Lumberjanes Issue 1
• Lumberjanes Issue 2
• Lumberjanes Issue 3
• Lumberjanes Issue 4
• Lumberjanes Issue 5
• Lumberjanes Issue 6
• Lumberjanes Issue 7
• Bee and Puppycat Issue 3
• Bee and Puppycat Issue 4
• Bee and Puppycat Issue 5
• Bee and Puppycat Issue 6
• Bee and Puppycat Issue 7
• Love & Other Theories by Alexis Bass 

Total # of pages read overall: 1,144 pages

So far, I completed two books and I am about 30% in for the next one by Amanda Hocking. I haven't had the chance to complete any challenges yet so I hope to do so soon. 

What is your progress so far for #boutofbooks? Let me know in the comments below!

Review: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Publishing Date: January 6, 2015
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Pages: 316 pages
Mystery/Thriller Fiction

The Premise: Before I give you the premise from my perspective, I just wanted to give you the snippet posted on Chapters for it because it is right now featured as the Indigo Spotlight book! "Three women, three men, connected through marriage or infidelity. Each is to blame for something. But only one is a killer in this nail-biting, stealthy psychological thriller about human frailty and obsession." When I first got this book, I only knew that it was similar to that of Gone Girl, and I loved that book so much so I was super excited to read a thriller again. I went into it not knowing much besides the fact that it follows three perspectives: Rachel, Meghan and Anna. Rachel takes the same commuter train everyday into work and therefore, she notices the same people and their homes on the other side of the tracks. She has even decided to name some of them. She sees this couple and names the girl Jess and on one day, instead of seeing the couple, she sees someone else. The next day, Rachel turns on the news to see that the woman she has been calling Jess, is actually missing. A mystery begins on what happened to Jess and how exactly all three female perspectives tie into it. I think it is best going into this book not knowing more than that so that it doesn't ruin anything for you. 

My overall thoughts and review: When it was said that it was similar to Gone Girl, I obviously had high expectations for it and Hawkins did not disappoint. This book was so intriguing and I was so impressed by how she managed three different perspectives so clearly and never once jumbling it all together. Each character had a distinctive voice. I also really enjoyed the twists and turns. Having read Gone Girl, I really anticipated the story to go one way, but in the end, I was honestly surprised by the turn of events. I spent a good few hours reading it and I just couldn't put it down. It was definitely a thrill ride. All in all, I enjoyed it a lot and I would definitely recommend it for fans of Gone Girl and to those who are just interested in something that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

My rating of the book: ✮✮✮✮ (4/5 stars) 

Now available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo

Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by Random House Canada for consideration/review. All opinions are my own. 

Bout of Books 12 | Day 3 Update

So yesterday was a lazy day for me. I'm still feeling incredibly sick and with no voice, so I spent most of yesterday sleeping but I was able to read some comic issues. :D

Books I read on Day 3: 

• Vanessa and Her Sister by Priya Panmar (only read 43 pages) 
• Lumberjanes Issue 1
• Lumberjanes Issue 2
• Lumberjanes Issue 3
• Lumberjanes Issue 4
• Lumberjanes Issue 5
• Lumberjanes Issue 6
• Lumberjanes Issue 7
• Bee and Puppycat Issue 3
• Bee and Puppycat Issue 4
• Bee and Puppycat Issue 5
• Bee and Puppycat Issue 6
• Bee and Puppycat Issue 7

Total # of pages read on Day 3: 331 pages 

Books I completed reading overall:

• The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
• Lumberjanes Issue 1
• Lumberjanes Issue 2
• Lumberjanes Issue 3
• Lumberjanes Issue 4
• Lumberjanes Issue 5
• Lumberjanes Issue 6
• Lumberjanes Issue 7
• Bee and Puppycat Issue 3
• Bee and Puppycat Issue 4
• Bee and Puppycat Issue 5
• Bee and Puppycat Issue 6
• Bee and Puppycat Issue 7

Total # of pages read overall: 647 pages

So far, I've completed one book and 12 comic issues. I am quite proud of my progress thus far. I also finished a book earlier today, but that will be in my page count for tomorrow. 

How are you doing so far on #boutofbooks? Let me know in the comments below!