Tag: blog

Reviews

What If It’s Is Us Review

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on What If It’s Is Us Review

36341204This gave me Serendipity vibes!

This book follows the story of Arthur and Ben who ran into each other at the Post Office. Arthur is in New York for the summer and has an internship at his mother’s law office and Ben just broke up with his boyfriend and was trying to post a box with all of his ex’s things. They have a conversation and immediately feel a connection but loose each other in a crowd.

First of all this was hella cute! I was pretty much immediately enraptured by the storyline and was highly engaged throughout. I loved seeing them going about their lives after this pretty small interaction but unable to forget each other because of the connection that they felt for that brief period of time.

I found Arthur terribly endearing and adorable. He felt very genuine and real in his awkwardness. He hasn’t had a lot of experience with other boys and he has lived a very sheltered life in comparison to Ben. I like how honest Arthur is with everyone and isn’t afraid to share his feelings. I liked that he finally spoke up and shared his feelings with his friends and they eventually explained what was happening and why. Ben I liked but didn’t really love. He has his own insecurities and idiosyncrasies and also isn’t afraid to speak up for himself. I loved the relationship he shares with Dylan and how comfortable they are with each other.

I like that both characters are flawed and regularly make mistakes and say the wrong thing but the other will definitely call them out on it and they both grow together. Their whole relationship was quite charming and their dates were hilariously disastrous.

The premise as a whole I thought was interesting and had me intrigued. The overall plot was a little bit predictable though and the ending was a little underwhelming for me but it was also pretty realistic so I can’t really complain. Happy endings don’t always happen in real life and summer flings sometimes don’t last.

⭐️4/5 A super cute, diverse, contemporary summer romance!

Tags

Avengers Book Tag 🏷

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Avengers Book Tag 🏷

I saw this tag over on both Sara the Bibliophagist and Kristin @ KristinKravesBooks blogs and since Endgame is all everyone has been talking about the last few month I figured I would give it a go as well.

 *Fun Fact* I haven’t seen any of the Avenger movies… 🤷🏾‍♀️

IRON MAN: A BOOK THAT MADE YOU LAUGH OUT LOUD

Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry – Michael was actually super witty in this book and there were a few instances where I caught myself laughing at one of his jokes.

y648

CAPTAIN AMERICA: A BOOK THAT SENDS A POSITIVE MESSAGE

Simon vs. the Homosapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli – The overall message about loving and accepting yourself for who you are really shone from this book!

51YD0qrSr6L._SX328_BO1204203200_

THOR: A BOOK WITH A CHARACTER’S STRENGTH YOU ADMIRE

Red Sister by Mark Lawrence – Nuna had to endure so much in her short life and it feels like she doesn’t get a reprieve at all throughout the course of the book.

51oBuBFqgHL

BLACK WIDOW: A BOOK WITH A KICK-ASS FEMALE PROTAGONIST

Skyward by Brandon Sanderson – I loved Spensa’s character in this book! She refuses to give up on her dreams even though she is shunned by literally everyone!

36642458

HULK: A BOOK THAT MADE YOU INCREDIBLY ANGRY

Circe by Madeline Miller – Not really angry more so disappointed. This book was so incredibly hyped and acclaimed but I was just bored by this book!

9781408890080

HAWKEYE: AN UNDERRATED BOOK YOU THINK MORE PEOPLE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young – I just read this book recently and absolutely loved it! It did come out last year and I may have missed the memo but I haven’t heard a lot of people talk about it.

34726469

*BONUS* LOKI: A BOOK WITH A TWIST OR SURPRISE THAT TRICKED YOU

The Death of Mrs Westaway by Ruth Ware – I definitely had my predictions as I progressed throughout the book but lo and behold I was completely wrong!

36373481

Reviews

The Poppy War Review

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on The Poppy War Review

*SPOILERS, SPOILERS*

y648Very immersive!

The Poppy War follows the story of a young girl Rin, who is a war orphan. She grew up with a very abusive foster family who used her for free labour in their shop and also as a drug mule. Wanting to be free from that life Rin decides to study for the Keju an Empire wide test that if she passes could see her out of her home town and off to the capital to the revered Sinegard the most elite military academy in Rikan.

The world is super expansive and well developed and is one of the things I loved about this book the most. You are really able to get lost in this world and delve into the histories surrounding the Empire and how it came to be. I think R.F. Kuang really took her time developing the back story and the origin of Rikan and that is something I always appreciate from an author.

Rin is basically the reason I didn’t give this book 5 stars. I love me a strong female protagonists and seeing her arc over the course of the storyline was definitely inspiring, but some of the decisions she made kind of grated me. She was definitely right when she said that the Gods have no sway over her, she made all of the decisions that led her to that ultimate conclusion and most of those decisions didn’t sit well with me. When she chose to side with Altan over Master Jiang that’s really when I knew I wasn’t feeling her anymore. She wouldn’t heed the advice of those who have had years and even decades more experience than her.  Even though she only found out she was a Speer a few months ago she already knew everything and could handle the Phoenix god just because she’s Rin. That arrogance and overconfidence was a bit of an overkill for me.

The first half of the book when Rin was in Sinegard I absolutely loved! Magical/military style school settings I just love to read and this was no different. Seeing Rin struggle to fit in, being at the bottom of her class and then clawing her way to the top was wonderful to read. All of the characters were distinct and interesting and the feud with Nezha was so entertaining! The second half however, kind of dragged a little. The siege was just a little boring for me personally; it was just a lot of Altan locked away in his office and Rin wandering around or on guard duty. I like a lot of action and intrigue and this was just waiting around for the action to happen.

The overall premise I found highly original and engaging and the magic system was unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Definitely enjoyed the majority of my reading experience however, I’m a little bummed I wasn’t as in love with the story as much everyone else seems to be.

⭐️3/5 stars Really enjoyed, didn’t love!

Book Lists

5 Books I Would Never Unhaul

by amyleighreads2 Comments on 5 Books I Would Never Unhaul

So the Top 10 Tuesday prompt for this week is Books I Refuse to Let Anyone Touch. I thought about it for a while and I realized I just wouldn’t say no to someone who asked to borrow a book of mine. Just because I love to promote reading and encourage my family/friends to read more, however there are quite a few books on my shelves that I know I would never get rid of, so I figured I would list my top 5 books I would never unhaul and why!

The Princess Diaries Mia Goes Fourth by Meg Cabot – I was super obsessed with this series when I was about 10/11 and I remember I owned every single one of the books in this series but over the years they’ve somehow dwindled to this remaining one.

IMG_3759

Harry Potter Paperback series by J.K. Rowling – I have read and reread this series since they were released and these paperback editions are so small and easy to handle that I know I will keep them until they fall apart!

IMG_3757

Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer – I will admit I was absolute trash for the Twilight series! I remember I read the series before all of the hype with the movies and Breaking Dawn was my favourite of all the books so I just read and reread this one book so many times. I have had every opportunity to replace this edition and get a new one but I could never go through with it!

IMG_3755

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis – I’ve owned this bind up of all the books from the Chronicles of Narnia for maybe 10-15 years now! When I was younger whenever I got a new book then I would just read it constantly; I can’t tell you how many times I have read this cover to cover. This just has so much nostalgia attached that I know I could never part with it.

IMG_3758

Rowan of Rin the Journey by Emily Rodda – Another bind up of a series from my childhood that I will never get rid of! I remember my sister had to read this book for school when she was in year 4 or 5 and I stole it and read it instead. I loved the adventurous nature of the books and the coming of age arc that Rowan undertakes!

IMG_3756

Reviews

Sky in the Deep Review

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Sky in the Deep Review

*Some Spoilers*

34726469This was great!

Eelyn has been raised to be a warrior alongside her clansmen the Aska from the time she could walk. In the midst of an ancient feud with the Riki clan her life has been a brutal one. Fighting for survival, losing her mother and brother over the years all she has left is her father and her fighting mate Myra. That is until one day on the battlefield she sees the impossible, her brother she watched die 5 years ago.

The plot of the book was quite simple but I was so engaged and entertained that it was easily overlooked! It was fast paced, rich with lore and culture and I loved the Viking aspect I thought it was fresh and original, unlike anything I’ve read in a very long time.

I loved Eelyn’s arc over the course of the storyline. Unable to shed her warrior nature even when she is captured she is still trying to look for any and every opportunity to escape and return home. Seeing her struggle with her beliefs and preconceived notions about the Riki whilst she lives amongst them was a joy to read. Living with that deep rooted hatred all of her life and to see her brother accepted and one of them has shaken her to the core and thrown everything that she has ever known up in the air. I like that she adjusts her views slowly throughout the course of the book, rejecting everything at first because she is so hurt and angry and then slowly coming around and seeing how pointless all of the fighting is, especially when they have an even bigger enemy coming for them all.

The romance aspect felt right to me as well. It wasn’t pushed upon us too quickly and kind of happened organically. Some of the scenes between Eelyn and Fiske were so charged and almost electric and I thought it was perfect honestly. Again it’s that hate to love trope that gets me every time!!!

There were so many moving scenes in this book and I was super invested from the start. The hard-core fighting and tense impasse to the eventual peace in the end and how it all came together I really loved! I was so impressed that this is a debut novel and I will definitely be reading anything else that Adrienne Young comes out with!

⭐️5/5 stars 100% pure Viking awesomeness!