Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty

My rating: ★★★★★
Book: The Summer I Turned Pretty (Summer #1)
Author: Jenny Han
This book was initially recommended to me by Joanna. It's a light, easy summer read, I was going to leave it till the summer to read it but I couldn't help myself.  This book turned the tables for me! Seriously!

Right on the top of the cover of this book, it has the following quote

"This book has what every girl wants in a summer." -- Sarah Dessen
I hate it when authors use other authors to promote their books, if that makes any sense at all. But yeah you know what i mean, it's one of my pet peeves, i can not stand it, and i still don't like the fact that it was there -_-. Putting that aside, i don't care who the quote was by but the quote itself it made me want to just eat the book up, i knew it would be about summer romances, long walks on the beach, all those little cute things that just make you all mushy inside.

When i got to the second chapter, i realised there were alternating chapters, going back to past summers at the beach house. Usually, I hate alternating chapters, i think it distracts away from the main story, but I honestly do think it worked perfectly for this book, we find out about certain things at the right time, it just brings the whole book together so perfectly, finding out about the mysterys of past summers, the first kiss, the first heartbreak, it adds to the foundation of the story in the present (Belly at age 16).

"Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along."

There isn't a proper plot to the book, but i didn't actually mind that. The book sort of just follows the course of the summer from their journey to the beach house at the beginning of the summer to the last day of summer, and it works. The book is from Bell's POV so naturally we can empathize with her, become her, live the moments she lives, we feel what she feels, the way Conrad makes her feel by just a look, the yearning to be noticed, her love for Susannah.
With Belly, you get to explore beaches, summer vacations, friendships, romances, family, love, illness, coming of age. It's not a deep book but it if for sure a fun book. I can't seem to get across how amazing this book is, it just gives you butterflies.

I Can not wait to dive into the second book, but as with Divergent and Pandemonium and about 50 other books I'm forcing myself to stop reading as much until after my exams in June. 

View on goodreads

Quote It Saturday (3)

" Moments, when lost, can't be found again. They're just gone." - Jenny Han (The Summer I Turned Pretty) 

The Sunshine Award

Laura from mybafflingbrain has awarded me with the sunshine award!

In order to accept this award i need to answer the following 'favourites' questions:


Favourite colour: Pink
Favourite animal: Elephant
Favourite number: 7
Favourite Pattern: Now i'm not to sure what this one is actually asking but i'll take a guess and i'm going to say 'Polka Dots' i love love love polka dots, i own so many polka dot dresses, i just think they're so cute.
Getting or Giving Presents: Giving presents for sure, i love come up with ideas for presents that people will hopefully cherish. That reminds me, i've been trying to think of 18 presents for my best friend on her 18th coming up. Any ideas guys? help me out :)
Favourite Day of the Week: Saturday, it's not my day off but i just tend to enjoy saturdays. I sont know, when i think 'saturday' i think of sunny summer days.
Favourite Flower: I love both roses and daisies.


I'm going to give this award to all of my followers! Thank you for following me :)

Question Wednesday (1) : All about 'me' themed

1. How old are you?  
• {17}
2. Why do you blog? 
• {I blog because i enjoy it. Simple as.}
3. What can we find on your blog? 
• {My blog is mainly for recording my book reviews, but i do have a lot of weekly memes, i love them and tfocuses on beauty. You can mostly find beauty related posts about make-up, nails, && hair care. I like to throw in a little bit about me every now and then too!}
4. If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be? 
• {I would go to Turkey, or Canada, or Paris.}
5. What do you do for a living? 
• {I am currently a student in Sixthform in London, I'm in my final year of A-Levels and I hope to go to university this September.} 

Teaser Tuesday (1)

Book: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Author: Lewis Carroll


"If you drink too much from a bottle marked 'poison' it's almost certain to disagree with you sooner or later." 

Review: Hana (Delirium #1.5)

My rating: ★★★★☆
Book: Hana (Delirium #1.5)
Author: Lauren Oliver
This story goes side by side with Delirium, i am...astounded by how amazing this book is. Hats off to Lauren Oliver, her books are amazing, even her short stories are amazing.

This book fits perfectly with Delirium, at first i was slightly scared that this book was going to a be repetative of Delirium, but it wasnt. You learn so much more about the characters, how they think and how they grow.

Being written from the POV of Hana, Lenas best friend gives us the chance to see how Hana thinks and how Hana sees Lena, how the rest of the world around Lena sees her. In Delirium we got to BE Lena and see how she sees the world. After reading both books, we get a chance to see the full picture.

I have to be honest with you, i started off reading Delirium and loving Hana's character, and near enough hating Lena. Yet after reading Delirium and Hana, i have to say the tables have turned, and i dont know why i really do not like Hana, maybe its because she's jealous of Lena, which even i would be if i was Hana. Or it may just be the ending of this book. I hate spoilers so I wont give anything away. But Aaaghhhhhh!

On that note...Endings! I love big endings, not cliffhangers but just those big BANG endings that make you want to scream, who knows what I'm talking about? 

View on goodreads

Movie Review:The Hunger Games

Since i started reading the books, i have been eagerly waiting for the movie to come out, and finally i got to see it, i went to see te movie on March 23, the official release date, i pre-booked the tickets the day they were released like 2 weeks ago. I went through a total crazy phase where I would come home very day and check every cinema website, until the day the tickets were released.   

I have to say, i absolutely LOVED the movie, it was amazing! Honestly, they all done an amazing job of it. Ahh Peeta <3 Yes, I am Team Peeta!

I never actually realised until I watched the movie how much detail there was to put into it; as with any book-movie there was some stuff missing, it did really get to me at first, it just didn't seem right, but then again there was about 400 pages worth of detail to get into a 2 and a half hour movie.


Lets start with the beginning, the whole reaping/volunteering/goodbyes scene really did get me emotional, I'm a total wimp like that. The second part was the 'Rue Scene' when she died, that was beautiful.

I give this movie 5 Stars.

★★★★★

Top Movie Moments *SPOLIERS*- Katniss and Buttercup; "I'll still cook you."
- Katniss saying goodbye to Prim, her mum and Gale.
- The multiple flashbacks to when Peeta threw the burnt bread out for Katniss.
- Rue stealing Cato's knife.
- Rue Dying
- District 11 rebellion.

- The Tributes Parade and the fire outfits.
- Katniss nearly strangling Peeta after his interview (he tells the world that he's liked her)
- Peeta's camouflage.
- Glimmer after the Tracker Jacker attack
- Peeta telling Katniss to run and her remembering her father’s death.
- Peeta saying how he has no chance of winning the Games at all.
- The cave scene, the kiss, Peeta and Katniss falling asleep in each others arms.
- The interview after the Arena.
- Oh oh oh, not forgetting the final scene with Seneca Crane ans the nightlocks - that was just.... 

5 Things they missed

- The eyes in the mutts, being the eyes of the tributes. 

- The redhead Avox girl

- the rooftop scene, although they sort of incorporated that, i would haved to have seen that scene on the rooftop with the tree. 

- Madge, her character was totally axed and instead Greasy Sae gives Katniss the Mockingjay pin.

- The dandelion, there was no reference to the dandelion in the flashbacks. I  really liked that. 

Musing Monday (2)

This weeks Musing Monday Question is...

Have you ever found a book out of the blue, read it, and then had it be surprisingly good - one that stuck with you for years? If so, what book was it?

A few years back i picked up a book from the library while scanning the isles, it was The truth about forever by Sarah Dessen. I dont know why but i always remember random parts of the book, when i read a book i sort of imagine it in my mind almost like a movie, sometimes randomly play little 'scenes' from the book in my mind. Okay noy you guys probably think i am really really odd. Never mind, Has a book ever stuck with any of you? 
I think i may re-read this book some time soon, maybe in the summer, after all it is a summer book. Below is the synopsis from goodreads. 

a long, hot summer... 
That's what Macy has to look forward to while her boyfriend, Jason, is away at Brain Camp. Days will be spent at a boring job in the library, evenings will be filled with vocabulary drills for the SATs, and spare time will be passed with her mother, the two of them sharing a silent grief at the traumatic loss of Macy's father.
But sometimes unexpected things can happen—things such as the catering job at Wish, with its fun-loving, chaotic crew. Or her sister's project of renovating the neglected beach house, awakening long-buried memories. Things such as meeting Wes, a boy with a past, a taste for Truth-telling, and an amazing artistic talent, the kind of boy who could turn any girl's world upside down. As Macy ventures out of her shell, she begins to wonder, Is it really better to be safe than sorry?

To see the weekly features i take part in and what they are all about click here

Memorable Monday (2)

This quote was actually on a poster in one the classrooms at school. The poster itself i thought was really cute, it had a picture of a sunset with a flock of birds in a heart.

Teamwork. It takes more than a single voice to achieve perfect harmony.

                      - Unknown

Song of The Week (1)

Week 1 - March 26

Katy Perry - Part of Me

I came across this song last week and i...LOVE it. I mean seriously i have it on replay in my head all the time.

Quote It Saturday (2)

" For sucess attitude is equally as important as ability." - Harry F. Banks

The Friday 56 (2)

Book: Catching Fire

Author: Suzanne Collins

"My mind searches frantically for a way out. I cant let president Snow condemn me to this. Even if it means taking my life..."

The Hunger games

I am so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so soooooooooooooo excited about The Hunger games tomorrow, I can not wait for it! I'm going to be thinking about it all day. My next post will probably be tomorrow after i have seen it, i may update on my tumblr a few times before! Blahhhh i havent managed to get my hands on any of the 'Capitol Colors' nail varnishes by China Glaze yet ( they don't sell them in the UK as far as i know) but i did paint my nails in the Hunger Games related colours. Yay. 


Plus, i have a new phone, technically not a new phone, its my mums phone which a new phone she got about 2 weeks ago but because she doesn't really use any of the features and they would come in handy for me, we swapped phones, my phone want too bad I was just getting sick of it i had it for over a year. 


I'm just so excited, this is abit of a random all over the place post, so sorry about that. 


Anyway, to those of you that have seen the hunger games already, I wish i was you. If you havent yet seen it, BUY TICKETS NOWWW! 
in true hunger games fashion...

"May the odds be ever in your favour"

Review: Harry Potter: The Prequel

My rating: ★★★☆☆
Book: Harry Potter: The Prequel 
Author: J.K. Rowling

This was a lot shorter than i had expected it was more of a scene than anything else. I knew it was 800 words but still a lot shorter than i expected, i wouldn't technically classify it as a book.


I have to say though, it was really funny, it made my laugh. I would have liked to see this as a part of an actual spin-off stand-alone short story. I'm still not ready to let go of harry :(


I can not wait for J.K. Rowling's new book later on this year.

Memorable Monday (1)

Here is a quote I came across on Tumblr a while back but it's sort of stuck with me. 

I always wonder why birds stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on the earth. Then I ask myself the same question.

                      - Harun Yahya

Musing Monday (1)

This weeks Musing Monday Question is...

Would you choose to review a book if its description sounded interesting but the cover was terrible?

Quite simply, yes.

Before I was part of this whole 'online book-readers community', my main reason for picking up a book was based on three things; the title, the blurb and the cover. Obviously if the cover and name appealed to me I would be intrigued and I would read the blurb. The blurb was the main decider, if the blurb managed to really grab my attention then I would read the book. But even if I didn't really like the cover but I liked the blurb I would probably read the book.

Recently, since I''ve started reading again I have been using Goodreads, if I like the synopsis I will generally read the book, even if I don't like the cover. But another big one fore me is reviews and ratings, if lots of people have written good reviews or lots of people have given 4/5 star rating then I will probably read the book; there's obviously something good about the book and I wouldn't want to miss out on anything great. 

But obviously, a good cover will make the whole book reading experience just that little bit more enjoyable, especially if the cover portrays an aspect of the book that you discover only by reading the book, those little details. For example, i'm currently reading Delirium by Lauren Oliver (buddy review up soon) the cover of the book has silhouettes of birds which i guess you could say represent freedom in the book. well thats what i would say. 

You'll understand what i mean from the following quote:

“After a while, though, I would just walk. I liked to watch the birds. They would lift off from our side and soar over into the Wilds, as easily as anything. Back and forth, back and forth, lifting and curling through the air. I could watch them for hours at a time. Free: They were totally free. I’d thought that nothing and nobody was free in Portland, but I was wrong. There were always the birds.”

To see the weekly features i take part in and what they are all about click here

Mr. Rothman's List of 100 contemporary American Authors

I re-watched A Walk To Remember about a week ago, just so you know A Walk To Remember is my all time favourite movie. I haven't actually read the book (by Nicholas Sparks) yet, but I bawl my eyes out each time a watch it. I cry thorough books, I cry through movies, I know I get way too emotional really quickly but hey what can i do?

Anyway, in the movie Jamie mentions "reading all the books on Mr. Rothman's list of 100 contemporary American Authors". Naturally, me being me, I 'Googled' it straight away and realised the list didn't actually exists. But, that did in a way inspire me to make my own list of 100 (i love lists).

I didn't Include The Harry Potter Series, The Twilight Series or The Hunger Games Series because...well, i didn't think there was much point in it, i've read all three series' and i bet most of you have too (if you haven't yet read them, i'd recommend you do read at least Harry Potter and The Hunger Games)


My List of 100 books to read
1) A walk to Remember - Nicholas Sparks
2) Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
3) The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
4) Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
5) Little Women - Louisia Alcott
6) Romeo an Juliet - William Shakespeare
7) The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
8) Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
9) Farenheight 451 - Ray Bradbury
10) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
11) My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult
12) Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
13) The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
14) Emma - Jane Austen
15) The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chboksy
16) The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Mark Haddon
17) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson
18) The Neverending Story - Michael Ende
19) The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - John Boyne
20) The Books Thief - Markus Zusak
21) The Complete Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tales - Hans Christian Andersen
22) Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
23) The Old Curiosity Shop - Charles Dickens
24) Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
25) Peter Pan - J.M. Barrie
26) Hamlet - William Shakespeare
27) Macbeth - William Shakespeare
28) A Midsummer Night's Dream - William Shakespeare
29) The Complete Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
30) A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
31) The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
32) The Fault in Our Stars - John Green
33) The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
34) Paper Towns - John Green
35) Looking for Alaska - John Green
36) An Abundance of Katherines - John Green
37) Delirium - Lauren Oliver
38) Pandemonium - Lauren Oliver
39) Requiem - Lauren Oliver (2013)
40) Divergent - Veronica Roth
41) Insurgent - Veronica Roth (May 2012)
42) Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
43) P.S. I Love You - Celia Ahern
44) The Time Of My Life - Celia Ahern
45) I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You (#1) - Ally Carter
46) Pretty Little Liars (#1)- Sara Shepard
47) Lola and the Boy Next Door - Stephanie Perkins
48) Anna and the French Kiss - Stephanie Perkins
49) The Solitude of Prime Numbers - Paolo Giordano
50) Sweethearts - Sara Zarr
51) The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (#1) - Michelle Hodkin
52) 13 Little Blue Envelopes (#1) - Maureen Johnson
53) The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner - Stephenie Meyer
54) Midnight Sun - Stephenie Meyer
55) Matched (#1) - Allie Condie
56) The Iron King (#1) - Julie Kagawa
57) If I Stay (#1) - Gayle Forman
58) I've Got Your Number: A Novel - Sophie Kinsella
59) Remember Me? - Sophie Kinsella
60) Wither (#1) - Lauren DeStefano
61) Hex Hall (#1) - Rachel Hawkins
62) Every You, Every Me - David Levithan
63) The Lover's Dictionary - David Levithan
64) The Realm of Possibility - David Levithan
65) 21 Proms - David LEvithan and Others
66) 10 Things I Hate about You - David Levithan
67) The First Time - Jessica Verday and Others
68) I'm Not Her - Janet Gurtler
69) Memoirs of a Teenage Amneseac - Gabrielle Zevin
70) Shatter Me (#1) - Tahereh Mafi
71) Such a Rush - Jennifer Echols (10th July 2012)
72) 40 Things I Want To Tell You - Alice Kuipers
73) Love? Maybe - Heather Hepler
74) Before I Die - Jenny Downham
75) Pieces Of Us - Margie Gelbwasser
76) Stolen: A Letter To My Captor - Lucy Christopher
77) She's So Dead To Us (#1) - Kieran Scott
78) Bittersweet - Sarah Ockler
79) The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight - Jennifer E. Smith
80) The Glimpse - Claire Merle
81) Starcrossed (#1) - Josephine Angelini
82) Noughts and Crosses - Malorie Blackman
83) The One That I Want - Jennifer Echols
84) That Boy (#1) - Jillian Dodd
85) Shades of Grey (#1) - Jasper Fforde
86) Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë
87) The Help - Kkathryn Stockett
88) The Woman In Black - Susan Hill
89) The Last Song - Nicholas Sparks
90) The Notebook - Nicholas Sparks
91) Dear John - Nicholas Sparks
92) The Best of Me - Nicholas Sparks
93) Safe Haven - Nicholas Sparks
94) One Day - David Nicholls
95) My Life Next Door - Huntley Fitzpatrick
96) Hush Hush (#1) - Becca Fitzpatrick
97) Not That Kind of Girl - Siobhan Vivian
98) Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials - Rosalind Wiseman
99) Uglies (#1) - Scott Westerfeld
100) The Nancy Drew Files - Carolyn Keene

Edit: There's 3 books in the list that have not yet been released, I've added the release dates next to them.

Quote It Saturday (1)

" We never noticed beauty because we were too busy trying to create it" - Unknown

The Firday 56 (1)

It is now 00.06 a few minutes past 12, i really wanted to do the Friday 56 yesterday, today, whatever. I got caught up editing my blog but I'm still going to post because i don't want to wait till next week to post :) So here goes...

Book: Delirium
Author: Lauren Oliver 

"... In his mouth it sounds musical, not angular, the way my teachers have always made it sound. His Eyes are a warm amber colour, and as I look at him I have a sudden, flashing memory of my mother pouring syrup over a stack of pancakes. I look away, feeling ashamed, as though he has somehow been responsible for dredging the memory up, has reached in with his hand and wrenched it from me. Embarrassment makes me feel angry, and i press on, ..."

Free Reads Week (InkSpell Publishing)

I first heard about this from another blog Here. This week, from March 12th to March 16th InkSpell Publishing are releasing one free story a day. Each book can be downloaded in 3 formats (.pdf , .ebup, .MOBI)

March 12: Forever Yours by Shilpa Mudiganti
March 13: Love, Lies and Other Disasters by Cecilia Robert
March 14: Beyond the Hidden Gate by Debbie Peterson
March 15: Coming Together by Naya Nikki
March 16: Aftertaste by Stephanie Lawton

Thats not all! There is also a contest too. All you have to do is answer one question about each book. You can be in with the chance to order one print book for free and a $10 Amazon gift card. Vheck out all the details at InkSpell Publishing.

Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

My rating: ★★★★☆
Book: Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3)
Author: Suzanne Collins


Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I literally just finished the book and i can not believe that The Hunger Games is over. For good. No more of it!! (this will probably take me a while to get over)


I always knew Katniss would make that final decision, i wont give any spoilers away. Those of you that have read it, know what I'm talking about.


But the ending. Am I the only one that didn't like it? I mean no, I liked the ending in the sense of what happened but I didn't like the way it was written. After 3 amazing books I expected the sort of ending that makes your heart PANG! and you just know that's the ending and its perfect. I don't know, maybe that's just me being me.


Other than that I didn't really have much else that I didn't like. The rest of the book was exactly the sort of Suzanne Collins genius we've seen before.
I'd definitely recommend the series to anyone!


Note: This was a previous review from my goodreads.

Welcome, welcome!

Hey there!

I don't think anyones going to be reading this any time soon still, first post woo!

Welcome to my blog! :P 

I dont really know what to say, other than i've started getting back into reading this year, and i am loving it the way i used to. I thought what better way to organize my thought about the books i read than to make a blog!  So here we are :)

I hope you enjoy my reviews.