tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39225172099327879542024-03-12T18:26:52.450+11:00inkcrushNomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.comBlogger376125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-11116575983199802812018-01-04T15:22:00.002+11:002018-01-04T15:22:46.180+11:00Faves of 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What an awesome reading year 2017 was! I mostly read whatever book I felt like according to my whim, as well as making an effort to read from my long term TBR list. I also read some YA that my teenage kids (aged 13, 15 and 16) were loving so we could have bookish chats and share faves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've read some books that received a lot of high praise and awards, but my personal faves still tend to be the cruisey, charming books that make me smile, swoon and relax. It's these books that continue to be my fave reading experiences, the ones that are feel good reads, where I just chill out and escape.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have pie charts and stats regarding everything I read in 2017: genres and audience, format and star ratings, author nationalities, years published and series verse standalone <a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2018/01/2017-reading-stats.html" target="_blank">in this blog post.</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In summary I read <b>135 books</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Adult Fiction:</b> 58</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Young Adult:</b> 63</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Middle Grade:</b> 7</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>New Adult:</b> 4</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This included</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>40 Audiobooks</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>15 rereads</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>I rated over 60 of my books 4 stars or higher (which means I either really liked, or loved, 60 books this year!) </b>This has made it hard to pick my stand-out reads, and many I picked are maybe not the best, most brilliantly written books I read, but are my personal favourites just because they matched my mood and brought me light, happiness and unputdownable goodness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Fave Contemporary YA</span></h2>
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1455814564l/25613472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1455814564l/25613472.jpg" width="211" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25613472-a-list-of-cages" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A List of Cages by Robin Roe</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;">A List of Cages was heartcrushingly good. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;">If I were to make a word cloud of this book, included would be: hopeful, tense, devastating, brotherhood, secrets, cute, tears, powerful, smiley.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34680953-letters-to-the-lost" target="_blank">Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This was a heart-in-mouth, unputdownable read. It also features one of my personal kryptonite fave tropes: letter writing with secret identity.</span><br />
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1485180375l/32021893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1485180375l/32021893.jpg" width="208" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32021893-stargazing-for-beginners" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stargazing for Beginners by Jenny McLachlan</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So funny and sweet with a slow burn, feel good crush. I loved the humour and so many hilarious scenes. It's a little bit quirky/over the top in some places (with some of the characters, climax and resolution) but I liked it in this book - I like off-beat humour with a lot of heart. </span><br />
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1480339049l/31683270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1480339049l/31683270.jpg" width="208" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31683270-bone-gap" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bone Gap by Laura Ruby</span></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;">A mesmerising blend of gorgeous writing and mysterious happenings, this contemporary/fantasy/magical realism/genre-blending novel completely stole my heart. I was hooked after a few chapters but I did not anticipate how much the characters would endear themselves to me. Laura Ruby is a born storyteller and some parts had me feeling like I was inside a fairy tale. This book not only had achey, brilliant, shining characters to fall in love with, but it was also unpredictable and daring and wholly original while remaining full of heart.</span><br />
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1472078174l/30256248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1472078174l/30256248.jpg" width="212" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30256248-by-your-side" target="_blank">By Your Side by Kasie West</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;">They hit that sweet YA spot (something light, swoony and unputdownable ~ with just the right amount of character development to add some ache and depth)</span><br />
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1395003700l/15819302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="269" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1395003700l/15819302.jpg" width="215" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15819302-orphan-train" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15819302-orphan-train" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Orphan Train by Kristina Baker Klein</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This started out slow and then I was suddenly hooked. I loved the history in this and the bittersweet discoveries which gave me actual tears right near the end. This was compulsively readable and a story I know will stay with me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">Fave Middle Grade</span></span></h2>
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1486743039l/30422650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1486743039l/30422650.jpg" width="211" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30422650-well-that-was-awkward" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well That Was Awkward by Rachel Vail</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Absolutely hilarious, cute and swoony. I grinned my way through this and often reread scenes just to let the smiley moments linger. I loved everything about this <3 <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14.85px;">True to the title, there were many hilariously awkward moments, so this should be your next read when you're in the mood for some LOLs (haha). I seriously loved this ~ it's a perfect blend of some of my fave things in fiction: light-hearted fun with the perfect amount of angst, awkward shenanigans, characters who are my people, and a plot which builds in anticipation to a sweet. sweet climax and charming and cool resolution.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1501458317l/35858214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1501458317l/35858214.jpg" width="211" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35858214-the-extremely-inconvenient-adventures-of-bronte-mettlestone" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone by Jaclyn Moriarty</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ahh, perfectly charming, whimsical, funny and wholly original with some wicked and wild unexpected twists. This book was such a delight to spend time with and so creatively realised. The characters endeared themselves to me and I loved every minute spent with them. It was a </span>whole<span style="font-family: inherit;"> lot of adventure and fun, but also with some tender and heart-wrenching tear-jerker moments. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>Fave Fantasy</b></span></h2>
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1431438555l/25526296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1431438555l/25526296.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25526296-every-heart-a-doorway" target="_blank">Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ooh, this was an unexpected fave. It's deliciously original, with such an intriguing premise (children tumbling into other worlds, and then being returned and rejected), a boarding school setting and some startling sinister activity. Once I got into this, I couldn't out it down and only wished it went for longer. </span><br />
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1462457112l/29008738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1462457112l/29008738.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29008738-the-bird-and-the-sword" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This fantasy novel just hit the sweet spot, it was perfectly timed to my reading mood and I loved the magic and world building. It also had a sloooow burn romance featuring a forced marriage (I love when that premise is done well). I devoured The Bird and The Sword in less than a day ~ another reading memory highlight of 2017.</span><br />
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1484022076l/33828904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1484022076l/33828904.jpg" width="208" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33828904-strange-the-dreamer" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Such a strange and epic fantasy unlike any I have read. The world in Strange the Dreamer came to life for me and was not unlike being inside a vivid dream. It had a slowish start but I knew it would pay off and it definitely did. What a gorgeous and vibrant and harsh and beautiful and devastating experience reading this book was! The imagination of Laini Taylor astounds me.</span><br />
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327538953l/7804123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327538953l/7804123.jpg" width="208" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7804123-white-cat" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">White Cat by Holly Black</span></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">Creative and clever and funny with a tightly plotted mystery and some great twists and reveals. I had seen this series around for a while but thought it didn't look like my thing - so glad I gave it a go as I binge read all three books and found them so satisfying and fun. New Holly Black fangirl!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>Fave Adult Fiction</b></span></h2>
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1475594041l/30821597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1475594041l/30821597.jpg" width="208" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30821597-my-not-so-perfect-life" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30821597-my-not-so-perfect-life" target="_blank">My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My Not So Perfect life is predictable chick lit. But it was also so happy-making! I loved the charm of this book, and spent a smiley afternoon delighting in this book. It's books like this which bring some added sunshine to my reading life - and I am always on the lookout for that. Can't wait for the next Sophie Kinsella. </span><br />
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Notable mentions</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I read 135 books - rating over 60 of them 4 stars or higher. So it's hard for me to just mention the ones above. I've tried to just stick to ones that made a lasting impression and I really loved reading, so I'm giving a shout-out to the ones below as I 100% recommend all of them!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Five contemporary YA's (and one fantasy/fairytale retelling)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1488066748m/31450976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="98" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1488066748m/31450976.jpg" /></a><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1405056924m/20621185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="98" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1405056924m/20621185.jpg" /></a><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1496281909m/33296118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="98" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1496281909m/33296118.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1456424870m/25165389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="98" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1456424870m/25165389.jpg" /></a><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1458716313m/26067503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="98" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1458716313m/26067503.jpg" /></a><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1467051330m/30653719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="98" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1467051330m/30653719.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Four series I very much enjoyed</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1501757657m/33276673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="98" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1501757657m/33276673.jpg" /></a><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1480481502m/33154647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="98" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1480481502m/33154647.jpg" /></a><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1472812855m/25716704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="151" data-original-width="98" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1472812855m/25716704.jpg" /></a><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1446829335m/24934065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="98" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1446829335m/24934065.jpg" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Three New Adult Books I loved</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1492406371m/33313124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="98" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1492406371m/33313124.jpg" /></a><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1470427482m/27362503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="98" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1470427482m/27362503.jpg" /></a><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1445292235m/27237358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="98" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1445292235m/27237358.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Two historicals that stayed with me</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Six Adult Fiction titles I loved</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Have you read and loved any of my 2017 faves?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>I would love to hear a few of your faves so leave me a comment and I'll add them to my 2018 TBR :)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Curious about my faves in previous years? Here's links to my other posts (I'm thinking of doing a very delayed faves of 2016 post which I missed last year):</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2015 </b> <a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/faves-of-2015-top-twenty-reads.html" target="_blank">Top Twenty Reads</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="line-height: 18.018px;">2014</b><span style="line-height: 18.018px;"> </span><a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/faves-of-2014-part-one.html" style="color: #006677; line-height: 18.018px; text-decoration: none;">Part One</a><span style="line-height: 18.018px;"> </span><a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/faves-of-2014-part-two-characters.html" style="color: #006677; line-height: 18.018px; text-decoration: none;"> Part Two</a><span style="line-height: 18.018px;"> </span><a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/fave-reads-of-2014-top-ten-reads.html" style="color: #006677; line-height: 18.018px; text-decoration: none;">Top Ten</a><b style="line-height: 18.018px;">2013</b><span style="line-height: 18.018px;"> </span><a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/faves-of-2013.html" style="color: #006677; line-height: 18.018px; text-decoration: none;">Top Ten</a><b style="line-height: 18.018px;">2012</b><span style="line-height: 18.018px;"> </span><a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/fave-books-i-read-in-2012.html" style="color: #006677; line-height: 18.018px; text-decoration: none;">Top Ten</a><b style="line-height: 18.018px;">2011</b><span style="line-height: 18.018px;"> </span><a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/faves-of-twentyeleven-books.html" style="color: #006677; line-height: 18.018px; text-decoration: none;">Part One</a> <span style="line-height: 18.018px;">(the books) </span><a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/faves-of-twentyeleven-characters.html" style="color: #006677; line-height: 18.018px; text-decoration: none;">Part Two</a><span style="line-height: 18.018px;"> (characters) </span><a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/faves-of-twentyeleven-scenes.html" style="color: #006677; line-height: 18.018px; text-decoration: none;">Part Three</a><span style="line-height: 18.018px;"> (scenes) </span><a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/faves-of-twentyeleven-random.html" style="color: #006677; line-height: 18.018px; text-decoration: none;">Part Four</a> (faves)<br /><b style="line-height: 18.018px;">2010</b><span style="line-height: 18.018px;"> </span><a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2010/12/end-of-year-survey-books-i-loved-in.html" style="color: #006677; line-height: 18.018px; text-decoration: none;">Faves</a><span style="line-height: 18.018px;"> and </span><a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2010/12/favourite-aussie-ya-2010-me.html" style="color: #006677; line-height: 18.018px; text-decoration: none;">Aussie YA faves</a></span></div>
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Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-16351088078006646702018-01-01T00:25:00.000+11:002018-01-01T00:25:04.041+11:002017 Reading Stats<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Although my blog (and social media efforts) have been very sleepy at times during 2017, my reading year has been fantastic ~ one of my most prolific reading years in a long time. I have a reading diary that I love filling out and flicking back through (I also record all movies, TV shows, and cinema visits, as well as games played ~ board/card games). I'm addicted to lists and notebooks so I love record keeping with ink and paper.<br />
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Before I share my fave reads in the next day or two, I've collated some reading data from 2017 :)<br />
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I read a total of <b>135 fiction books</b> this year, smashing my goodreads goal of 100. 15 of those were rereads, leaving 120 new books devoured.<br />
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In 2016 I moved away from YA and read over 80% adult fiction. This year saw me swing back to nearly 50% YA. I love mixing up adult fiction, YA and MG, as it really helps avoid burnout and book hangovers - as does varying the genres.</div>
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Ahh, I am such a contemporary girl. I am always on the lookout for great fantasy and historical fiction, but both are genres I tend to have a lot of DNF's in - especially if the world building is complicated or the plot has a slower start. I am really keen to read more fantasy in 2018 and still have a lot on my TBR, plus some of the 2018 releases look really promising. I'll be checking everyone's end of year best-of lists to see which fantasy I need to prioritise.<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">I am so pleased with the amount of books I enjoyed this year. I am really great at DNFing ~ if I am not enjoying the book, why keep spending time with it? I tend to read to 25-30% and if I'm still not engaged I happily move on to something else (I don't record DNFs in my reading totals). </span></div>
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5 stars means a new favourite book that I loved reading and was exactly perfect for me at the time - they represent my fave reading memories of the year and my fave new characters and literary worlds. 4 stars is also really really good, and all those 3 star reads are all books I liked and enjoyed. </div>
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* I marked <b>15 books as 5 stars</b>, and <b>46 books as 4 stars</b> ~ so over 60 really great reads tailored to my reading tastes = very happy :D</div>
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I am so surprised that a third of my reading titles were published this year. I honestly did not think I kept up with new releases so much. And one quarter from 2016 ~ a lot of these I added to my TBR after seeing other readers 2016 end of year fave lists. I read a lot of books from my library, and most of them eBooks ~ so there is always new releases being added to my library apps. In 2018 I want to keep making time for backlist titles (how far back is backlist??? - 20% of my 2017 reading was more than 5 years old) especially the ones on my TBR shelf.<br />
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I read 27 books by Australian authors this year, 20 from UK (and Irish) and only 3 from Europe and 3 from New Zealand. There were so many Aussie books I just did not get to, so my TBR for 2018 is already looking full of Aussie 2017 releases...</div>
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I am truly surprised to see nearly 20% of my reading are books from a series. I don't really feel like I follow too many series but here it is. I read 17 #1 books in a series (3 of them were re-reads as I lose my memory between #1 and #2 release dates). I plan to continue with 6 of the series I started this year.<br />
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And here is the big difference boosting my reading stats this year ~ audiobooks. In the past I've not listened to more than 10 audiobooks a year, some years barely that. This year I listened to 40 audiobooks - nearly one a week. This is thanks to my awesome library who have such a great range. I also sampled a lot more and abandoned, which is a great way to tear through my TBR, haha. I usually get an hour of listening in a day while walking my dog, plus extra if I'm driving around or doing housework. In October and November I was really sick in bed for weeks and got through 15 audiobooks, lying in the dark. I also listen to them at either 1.25 or 1.5 speed, depending on the narrator.<br />
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I also much prefer reading on my kindle but read physical copies for purchases and when my library doesn't have e-format.<br />
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My local library is my most valuable reading resource <3<br />
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I also read from my shelves (rereads, and TBR books that I've purchased, mostly secondhand, from previous years). And I ask for books as gifts and buy a small handful every year. 'Bought after' are books I read from my library and then bought my own copy for my favourites shelf. This year I added 23 books to my main shelves (bought new, second hand and gifts) ~ I've read all of these. I also have a mini TBR shelf (in my bedroom) with secondhand books I hope to get to in 2018.<br />
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<b>How did you guys go reading this year? </b></div>
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<b>I hope you found many more fave books to add to your shelves and store away in your reading memories.</b></div>
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<b>I'll be back soon listing my fave reads of 2017 <3</b></div>
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Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-414869126030463172017-11-20T16:10:00.000+11:002017-11-20T16:10:23.292+11:00The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Nevermore #1) by Jessica Townsend ~ Book Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://d1j7sgg6ckvcvy.cloudfront.net/books/thumbnails/9780734418074.jpg?v=7&scale=both&width=440" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="440" height="640" src="https://d1j7sgg6ckvcvy.cloudfront.net/books/thumbnails/9780734418074.jpg?v=7&scale=both&width=440" width="412" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">Morrigan Crow is cursed. Born on an unlucky day, she is blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks - and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on Eventide.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">It's there that Morrigan discovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for a place in the city's most prestigious organisation: the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she must compete in four difficult and dangerous trials against hundreds of other children, each boasting an extraordinary talent that sets them apart. Except for Morrigan, who doesn't seem to have any special talent at all.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests - or she'll have to leave the city to confront her deadly fate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ahh, how fun was this book!!! I had that 'this is going to be a good book feeling' right from the first chapter which caught me off guard with it's charming and whimsical vibe. </span>But it wasn't just amusing or funny, it was creative and magical and felt wholly original. I was absolutely enchanted the whole way through, and the twists and surprises delighted me and kept me up in the night.</div>
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As for the characters? Some loyal, some mysterious, others have you guessing: who can you trust? What is their real agenda? So many of them were unique and fun to meet and a small contingent have already burrowed their way into my heart as new fave fictional characters <3.</div>
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I loved all the little sneaky fun aspects of Nevermoor. From the food they ate, to the houses, transport, the history and the lands, the annual celebrations, the way they do Christmas, the mythical creatures, all the little magical touches were just so fun to discover and explore.</div>
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The trials (I love a book with trials)! So fun, thrilling and unexpected. I loved the final trial the most, where the creativity and talent of the contestants was amazing. Jessica Townsend seems to have an unlimited pool of imagination on which to draw from ~ oh my gosh I loved it so! </div>
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It was also delightfully creepy ~ enough to give some small thrills and scares with certain scenes. There was an escalating sense of danger where I wanted to scream into the book and tell Morrigan to take care! Look out! </div>
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This is the kind of book that is both an immense pleasure to read and also the rare kind of book that can cause the readers imagination to take flight and daydream. Not only do you visit an incredible world, but afterwards, there's the possibility of the reader themselves opening up their imagination to creating their own wondrous world, where anything could take place. </div>
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<i>The Trials of Morrigan Crow</i> was a fave read of the year for me and I am certain it will be a new favourite book for so many (I've passed it straight on to my 13 year old daughter). I absolutely recommend this for readers of all ages (it is a middle grade book but with the transcendent charm of Harry Potter/Narnia for older readers as well). If you have nieces and nephews/children to buy books for for Christmas this is sure to be a hit :) I can't wait for Nevermore #2 ~ there is a delightful promise of so much more to come.</div>
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<b><i>The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Nevermore #1)</i> is available everywhere now!</b></div>
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<a href="https://www.hachette.com.au/jessica-townsend/nevermoor-the-trials-of-morrigan-crow" target="_blank">Nevermore @ Hachette Australia</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33276673-the-trials-of-morrigan-crow" target="_blank">Nevermore @ goodreads</a></div>
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<i>Thanks to Hachette Australia for my review copy :) </i></div>
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Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-3053733335012059252017-08-26T15:26:00.000+10:002017-08-26T15:32:05.920+10:00Well, That Was Awkward by Rachel Vail ~ Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Gracie has never felt like this before. One day, she suddenly can't breathe, can't walk, can't </span><i style="background-color: white;">anything</i><span style="background-color: white;"> and the reason is standing right there in front of her, all tall and weirdly good-looking: A.J. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">It turns out A.J. likes not Gracie but Gracie's beautiful best friend, Sienna. Obviously Gracie is happy for Sienna. Super happy! She helps Sienna compose the best texts, responding to A.J. s surprisingly funny and appealing texts, just as if </span><i style="background-color: white;">she </i><span style="background-color: white;">were Sienna. Because Gracie is fine. Always! She's had lots of practice being the sidekick, second-best. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">It s all good. Well, almost all. She's trying.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Well, That Was Awesome!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Hello, new favourite book :)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Well, That Was Awkward</i> is one brilliantly funny, very clever, unputdownable, grin-worthy absolute blast of a book. Oh my gosh, I loved it so. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Well, That Was Awkward</i> is a charming loose retelling of </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1424757.Cyrano_de_Bergerac?from_search=true" target="_blank">Cyrano de Bergerac</a> ~ always a fun premise to remake for teens of today ~ who are texting and emoji-ing all over the place. It's a real feel-good story with delicious puns, quick witted humour, a tortoise (and a rabbit), a suddenly cute boy, best friends, epic inside jokes (Never. Gonna. Happen.), and the perfect amount of depth to flesh out all the characters. The characters are in grade 8 and they are perfectly awesome. Oh, and the parents were also complete classics! I love when parents are just as funny and original as the teen characters (shout out to all you awesome parents out there! Haha). </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">True to the title, there were many hilariously awkward moments, so this should be your next read when you're in the mood for some LOLs (haha). I seriously loved this ~ it's a perfect blend of some of my fave things in fiction: light-hearted fun with the perfect amount of angst, awkward shenanigans, characters who are my people, and a plot which builds in anticipation to a sweet. sweet climax and charming and cool resolution. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Note: this is a perfect one for all the MG readers out there, as well as YA readers - and adults who love to smile and reminisce about those awkward early teen years, haha. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30422650-well-that-was-awkward?from_search=true" target="_blank">Well, That Was Awkward @ goodreads</a></span></span><br />
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Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-65207061246040150062017-08-16T14:59:00.000+10:002017-08-16T14:59:39.563+10:00Interview with author Pip Harry #LoveOzYA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VlEdAVYaNbM/WZPBahT_TKI/AAAAAAAADFE/eBHBU9mr8ikZH-S--koBIwmNbwpX0VjpwCEwYBhgL/s1600/image1%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VlEdAVYaNbM/WZPBahT_TKI/AAAAAAAADFE/eBHBU9mr8ikZH-S--koBIwmNbwpX0VjpwCEwYBhgL/s320/image1%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am so happy to introduce Pip Harry to inkcrush. Pip is a #LoveOzYA author who writes contemporary novels for young adults. Her award winning novels are not just faves of mine, but of readers everywhere around the globe. She shares with us a bit about her inspriation for her lastest novel </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Because of You</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, her writing process, advice for writers, recent favourite reads and more... </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SkSxjDPcV08/WZPA7A1vkBI/AAAAAAAADE8/Lmtq0b1k1Ho6C5kO3xgG1ArNTiRmaBSowCLcBGAs/s1600/Author%2Bpic%2B2%2B-%2BPip%2BHarry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SkSxjDPcV08/WZPA7A1vkBI/AAAAAAAADE8/Lmtq0b1k1Ho6C5kO3xgG1ArNTiRmaBSowCLcBGAs/s400/Author%2Bpic%2B2%2B-%2BPip%2BHarry.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Author Pip Harry</td></tr>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A2favDI9JWk/WZPAznSD1-I/AAAAAAAADE4/vyOpqxcpW0wgFgnc8F8pla9nHKxgNsS9gCLcBGAs/s1600/Because%2Bof%2BYou%2B-%2Bcover%2Bimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1043" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A2favDI9JWk/WZPAznSD1-I/AAAAAAAADE4/vyOpqxcpW0wgFgnc8F8pla9nHKxgNsS9gCLcBGAs/s400/Because%2Bof%2BYou%2B-%2Bcover%2Bimage.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hello and welcome to inkcrush, Pip Harry :) It's so good to chat with you on here right after the release of your 3rd YA novel </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because of You</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. (I feel honoured for you to be stopping by!)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hello and thank you lovely Naomi for having me! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You've mentioned before that your best writing comes when you can personally relate on some level to the story. Can you share some of your own life experience that sparked Tiny and Nola's story?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I definitely need to emotionally click into the story on some level, so that’s always a big part of choosing what to write about. It takes me a couple of years to complete a novel, so I have to care deeply about the characters and story to stay interested and engaged! In my own life I met many tenacious, funny and intelligent homeless people while working as a volunteer once a week in a shelter, helping to facilitate a creative writing program. My experience with that program and those incredible writers sparked the story of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because of You</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. We even took our group to the Sydney Writers’ Festival to perform, which echoes a later scene in </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because of You</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">[N: I think the way you care for your characters reflects in the way readers also come to deeply care for them! And I am so thrilled that the later scene in Because of You was sparked by real events ~ incredible!]</span></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love both Tiny and Nola, who have not only different backgrounds and circumstances, but have unique voices and ways of looking at the world. Did the voices of Tiny and Nola come to you strongly formed or did it take a while to get to know them before you were able to flesh out their story?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tiny and Nola couldn’t be more different, so their friendship initially presented me with challenges. How would they first talk? What would they talk about? In the end, I realised they are still teenage girls, so initially they talk about boys and eat baked goods! </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tiny came to me pretty much fully formed and ready for action – but Nola was a problem child. In early drafts, she was coming off as very self-centred and whiny and my beta readers said they couldn’t relate to her as much as Tiny. They were right! I kept a little of Nola’s spoilt side in the final version, but explored her home life and relationships more deeply to give her more edge and depth. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">[N: Haha! Yes to boys and baked goods! ;) ]</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of my favourite things about your writing is meeting and falling in love with -- and being inspired by -- your characters. You write characters who are flawed, make mistakes, and struggle with all kinds of conflicting emotions and insecurities. At the same time, these characters are courageous, brave, true, and have moments of startling empathy, wisdom and honesty. How do you approach crafting your characters? (Plus any tips for budding writers?)</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oooh, that’s such nice feedback, thank you! I’m a very flawed person myself and I make all kinds of mistakes and I’m incredibly insecure at times … so all that goes into my characters! You will never find me creating a perfect human in my books, because they just don’t exist. I’m especially careful to write parents who have their own problems and inconsistencies, as I think that’s true to life. Tips for budding writers: don’t be afraid to be honest and get your character’s flaws down on the page, but also allow them to have moments of true courage and emotion. Allow them to be vulnerable and true. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">[N: That is so true about parents ~ being one myself ;). It's your vulnerable and courageous characters that make your stories resound long after reading the last page]</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I know you're more of a pantser than a plotter. Can you tell us a little bit about how that works for you? Do you get a lot of surprises along the way? (Any awesome surprises while writing </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because of You</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">?) Do you fly through your first draft and then face massive structural edits once you have found the story, or do you feel out the story over lots of versions and then plan once you know where you're headed?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oh yes, always a pantser. I enjoy the surprises along the way, some of the things my characters do are SO unexpected. That keeps it interesting for me. In </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because of You</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, I had no idea Mari (Tiny’s friend) was going to show up in the city. She just popped up! And the poetry was a bit surprising, I’d never really written poetry before. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I do not fly through any stage of writing books. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Apple Color Emoji'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">😉</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> More accurately I plod along, sometimes speeding up, sometimes dragging my heels, until I can type ‘The End’. I always print out the first draft and force myself to read it in raw form (and it’s usually pretty terrible) then I radically edit and polish before sending it to a few trusted readers. I do feel out the story as I go, and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because of You</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was changing right up to the final days before printing. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[N: Oh! The poetry was definitely one of the fave elements of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Because of You</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for me. I reread some of those passages a few times over. You definitely have a poets way of capturing moments and sharing secrets and emotions through verse]</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is it you love most about writing? Was there a writing highlight while working on </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because of You</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love being in another world with my characters and taking them on a journey, and then I love sharing that journey with readers. My highlight while working on </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because of You</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was taking the manuscript to the Djerassi Artists Retreat outside San Francisco. There, I did a YA workshop with 11 other writers and facilitator Nova Ren Suma. It was magical, and set the book on the right path and made me believe in it again. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is something you struggle with as a writer? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Starting the first draft is difficult for me, and I always put it off until the characters are screaming at me. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is one of your favourite things about writing for teenagers?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Teens are so open to new ideas, so engaged with the writing and super smart. I feel really privileged to write for and about them. I really, really love school visits. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">[N: As a teacher-librarian I know how much students love author visits! At a recent author visit for Book Week, one student told me (after talking to the author in a writing workshop) it 'was the best day of his life' :) ~ and students always leave so inspired and affirmed.]</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What advice do you have for aspiring writers? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do not ever give up or listen to the voice that says you’re no good. That voice is wrong. Keep at it, keep learning and keep writing. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Can you share some of your favourite books? (Everyone loves a good book rec!)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ooh, yes please! This year I have been blown away by the wonderful romances and relationships in Gabrielle Tozer’s </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Remind Me How This Ends</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Steph Bowe’s </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Night Swimming </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and Cath Crowley’s </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Words in Deep Blue. </span></div>
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1477435304l/29564838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="306" height="200" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1477435304l/29564838.jpg" width="128" /></a><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1486088517l/33128455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="307" height="200" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1486088517l/33128455.jpg" width="128" /></a><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1475234813l/10434679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="200" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1475234813l/10434679.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">[N: Three gorgeous #LoveOzYA novels! Speaking of author visits, my daughter met both Cath Crowley and Steph Bowe in July (a couple of weeks ago!) at a readers/writers festival and came home very inspired and full of excitement. Of course, I made her nearly repeat their sessions verbatim ~ hoping to catch just a sprinkle of their magic!]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What did you do to celebrate the book birthday of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because of You</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The weekend before my book came out I flew to Bali and stayed in a villa with four girlfriends. We raised many a cocktail glass in celebration! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you so much for sharing with us! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you Nomes! I’ve had so much fun. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">[N: Me too! All the best with your writing projects, school visits and continuing to celebrate!]</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59316daac534a5e2b2bd8fcd/5933a0c02e69cf4f365281f0/5933a0cee4fcb549ee85daaf/1496574238538/I'll+Tell+You+Mine.jpg?format=500w" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59316daac534a5e2b2bd8fcd/5933a0c02e69cf4f365281f0/5933a0cee4fcb549ee85daaf/1496574238538/I'll+Tell+You+Mine.jpg?format=500w" width="126" /></a><a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59316daac534a5e2b2bd8fcd/5933a0c02e69cf4f365281f0/5933a0c2e4fcb549ee85da5a/1496574213774/head+of+the+river.jpg?format=500w" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59316daac534a5e2b2bd8fcd/5933a0c02e69cf4f365281f0/5933a0c2e4fcb549ee85da5a/1496574213774/head+of+the+river.jpg?format=500w" width="129" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A2favDI9JWk/WZPAznSD1-I/AAAAAAAADE4/vyOpqxcpW0wgFgnc8F8pla9nHKxgNsS9gCLcBGAs/s400/Because%2Bof%2BYou%2B-%2Bcover%2Bimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="261" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A2favDI9JWk/WZPAznSD1-I/AAAAAAAADE4/vyOpqxcpW0wgFgnc8F8pla9nHKxgNsS9gCLcBGAs/s200/Because%2Bof%2BYou%2B-%2Bcover%2Bimage.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px;">Pip Harry is the author of YA novels I'll Tell You Mine, Head of the River and Because of You (Aug, 2017). A freelance writer and editor Pip has worked on a stack of women's magazines like Woman's Day, TV Week, New Idea and NW as well as for non-profit organisations. She currently lives in Singapore with her family and eats way too many noodles. When not at a keyboard her favourite things to do are swim laps (really), try variations of eggs and toast in hipster cafes, unravel on a yoga mat and read fiction. Her favourite hashtag is #LoveOzYA. (<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5364859.Pip_Harry?from_search=true" target="_blank">source: goodreads</a>)</span><br />
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<a href="http://loveozya.com.au/love/loveozya-qa-with-pip-harry/" target="_blank">Q & A at #LoveOzYA</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.pipharry.com/" style="color: #006677; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Pip Harry's website</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5364859.Pip_Harry?from_search=true" target="_blank">Pip Harry @ goodreads</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33296118-because-of-you?from_search=true" style="color: #006677; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Because of You @ goodreads</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.uqp.uq.edu.au/book.aspx/1438/Because%20of%20You" style="color: #006677; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Because of you @ UQP</a> (incl. Teacher's Notes)</div>
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My reviews for Pip Harry's novels:</div>
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<a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2017/08/because-of-you-by-pip-harry-review.html" target="_blank">Because of You</a></div>
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<a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/aussie-ya-mini-reviews-pip-harry.html" style="color: #006677; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">I'll Tell You Mine</a></div>
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<a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/head-of-river-by-pip-harry.html" style="color: #006677; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Head of the River</a></div>
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<b>Have you read Pip Harry yet? ;)</b></div>
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Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-27269506858415267672017-08-15T15:10:00.000+10:002017-08-15T15:10:15.660+10:00#LoveOzYA Giveaway & Survey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://loveozya.com.au/a/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Giveaway-4-752x752.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="752" height="400" src="https://loveozya.com.au/a/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Giveaway-4-752x752.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Just a heads up for everyone ~ you can be a part in helping to gather data on the reading habits of readers of Young Adult fiction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The #LoveOzYA crew are giving away over $1000 in books to 5 lucky winners as an incentive to particpate in a survey regarding your reading habits. The survey data will be collated into a report which will be invaluable in informing on the reading habits of Young Adult readers. Obviously, the more who participate in the survey, the more the data will reflect the reading community ~ so check out the link below to take the survey and find out more info. </span></div>
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<a href="http://loveozya.com.au/love/win-a-share-of-over-1000-worth-of-books/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Survey Link</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">#LoveOzYA is a community led organisation dedicated to promoting Australian young adult literature. For your chance to snap up a share of over $1000 worth of books, simply <a href="http://loveozya.com.au/love/win-a-share-of-over-1000-worth-of-books/" target="_blank">fill out this survey all about your reading habits</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">(the survey is open until the end of </span><span style="color: #333333;">September ~ plenty of time to pass on the link to any other YA readers in your world</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">)</span></div>
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<a href="http://loveozya.com.au/a/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Giveaway-5-752x418.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="752" height="220" src="https://loveozya.com.au/a/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Giveaway-5-752x418.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-87442095144422677032017-08-10T12:47:00.000+10:002017-08-10T12:47:28.793+10:00Because of You by Pip Harry ~ Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<em style="word-wrap: break-word;"><b style="color: #53565a; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;"><i>‘Books can save anyone. If they’re the right ones.’ </i></b></em></div>
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<em style="word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">Meet Tiny and Nola. Two very different girls with two very different stories who are just trying to find a place to belong. A powerful and compelling novel about friendship, love and acceptance.</span></em></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">Everyone has a story.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">Tiny is an eighteen-year-old girl living on the streets in Sydney, running from her small-town past. At a temporary homeless shelter, she meets Nola, a high school student on volunteer placement. Both girls share their love of words through the Hope Lane writing group. Can they share their secrets, too?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">Told through the eyes of both Tiny and Nola as they negotiate their way through homelessness, shifting friendships, betrayals, addiction and a little bit of romance, Because of You explores the vastly different coming-of-age stories of two girls who are learning to find their individual strengths</span></div>
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Wow ~ Pip Harry's latest novel <i>Because of You</i> felt real and, by the end, it took my breath away. I read because I love being transported into another time and place, into another persons shoes, and I love being pulled into and swept up into a story. But occasionally, a book will come along that ends up being more than just a good entertaining read, and it leaves me feeling moved. <i>Because of You</i> is one of those books that resonates long after the last page and has transformative power to challenge a readers viewpoint and empathy.</div>
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Things to love about Because of You:</div>
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<li>the budding friendship between Tiny and Nola was so refreshing, tentatively organic and precious. I love how they both made mistakes and needed forgiveness (from others and themselves) and how, despite their different circumstances, they had more in common than they would've first thought. </li>
<li>awesome parents (who are brilliant characters in conjunction with complicated relationships and issues).</li>
<li>writing group ~ writing and books and reading and creativity and finding your voice ~ all this is celebrated and adds a fun dynamic with bursts of humour and unexpected treasure</li>
<li>some gorgeous, really affecting and powerful snippets of writing from the writing group. I loved the poetry and humour and was absolutely floored by the honest and captivating writing the characters shared. Harry, through the voices of her characters, was able to capture emotion beautifully in so few words <3</li>
<li>hidden backstories and surprises, with tender and heartbreaking reveals. Nothing is as black and white as things may first seem.</li>
<li>a real mix of unique characters, both teen and adult, to care for ~ all with their own voice and story</li>
<li>a really inspirational and smiley climax and resolution ~ which just had me beaming from the inside out</li>
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Harry has nailed the art of letting her characters breathe life into the themes so that the message of the novel is fresh and authentic, never wandering into didactic or saccharine territory. <i>Because of You</i> is an absolute gem of a novel ~ hopeful and true, timely and challenging, with a genuine powerhouse message of empathy and resilience. I fell in love with the characters, and will be wholeheartedly recommending it to the teens and adults in my life. </div>
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My reviews for Pip Harry's previous novels:</div>
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<a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/aussie-ya-mini-reviews-pip-harry.html" target="_blank">I'll Tell You Mine</a></div>
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<a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/head-of-river-by-pip-harry.html" target="_blank">Head of the River</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.pipharry.com/" target="_blank">Pip Harry's website</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33296118-because-of-you?from_search=true" target="_blank">Because of You @ goodreads</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.uqp.uq.edu.au/book.aspx/1438/Because%20of%20You" target="_blank">Because of you @ UQP</a> (incl. Teacher's Notes)</div>
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<i>Many thanks to UQP for my review copy :)</i></div>
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Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-43253094146060584232017-08-03T18:51:00.000+10:002017-08-03T18:51:18.329+10:00Three Fave #LoveOzYA Contemporary 'Feels' Books<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FXNooq0fb3U/WYK_L81dmnI/AAAAAAAADDM/1iJkQdB-2TQvt_YPE0cJ1LtQZsII_EqFwCLcBGAs/s1600/LoveOzYABloggers-Feels-752x752.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="752" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FXNooq0fb3U/WYK_L81dmnI/AAAAAAAADDM/1iJkQdB-2TQvt_YPE0cJ1LtQZsII_EqFwCLcBGAs/s320/LoveOzYABloggers-Feels-752x752.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">Today I'm participating in the </span><a href="http://loveozya.com.au/type/loveozyabloggers/" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">#LoveOzYABloggers</span></a><a href="http://loveozya.com.au/type/loveozyabloggers/" style="color: #333333; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> fortnightly meme</a><span style="color: #333333;">. This fortnight's topic is: 'Feels'. (See meme details and how you can </span><span style="color: #333333;">participate</span><span style="color: #333333;"> at the end of the post). </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I spent a good, relaxing while perusing my shelves and noting that pretty much all my Aussie YA books match this fortnights prompt, haha. In the end I picked three faves where my heart totally broke for the characters ~ so much love for these three books!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pj2ogKJGwTc/WYK81u9HcyI/AAAAAAAADDE/p70k_kFqimYP08krD5Uj9Bz8W9W_dFL-ACLcBGAs/s1600/feels.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pj2ogKJGwTc/WYK81u9HcyI/AAAAAAAADDE/p70k_kFqimYP08krD5Uj9Bz8W9W_dFL-ACLcBGAs/s400/feels.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">My Big Birkett by Lisa Shanahan</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2010/06/road-trip-wednesday-best-book-of-month.html" target="_blank">(my review) </a>~ My Big Birkett is one of those hilariously comedic novels but with a sweet dose of unexpectedly hard-hitting feels, packaged up in one very cool, bad boy, Raven De Head. I still ache when I think about him and his brothers and the whole De Head family. </span><span style="color: #333333;">Excerpt</span><span style="color: #333333;"> from my review: </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">He is one of the coolest fleshed out love interests ever. He is so unpretentious. Somehow, his bad boyness is not at all cliché, but rather heart-wrenchingly honest. I loved the scenes with Raven and the De Head family. The whole De Head family really struck a chord with me. One of those families that have a bad reputation, multiple wrecked cars on the front lawn, a brother in jail and the whole town against them. I actually ached for the boys, so sweet, but all tough exterior.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"> </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Big Birkett is still one of my all time fave books :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Protected by Claire Zorn</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">The Protected is so tender and captivating. My heart just ached for Hannah, and grew in ache throughout (if that even makes sense, ha) and by the end I was crying actual tears (I rarely cry while reading). My heart was in my throat so many times and I just wanted </span><span style="color: #333333;">to</span><span style="color: #333333;"> reach through into the book and hold Hannah close for a little while. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Carly </3 ~ This tough and vulnerable surfer girl ~ and her achey and hopeful story ~ has stayed with me. Raw Blue is one of those books that gives you all the feels ~ rips you up and turns you inside out, plus then some. I was holding my breathe for Carly throughout the whole novel, madly wanting her to be okay.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Five girlies chatting about why they love Raw Blue<a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2011/08/intl-giveaway-raw-blue-by-kirsty-eagar.html" target="_blank"> on this inkcrush post</a></span></li>
<li><a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2010/08/raw-blue-by-kirsty-eagar.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My review for Raw Blue</span></a></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Which Aussie YA book(s) gave you all the feels?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><b>About the meme</b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;">#LoveOzYABloggers is hosted by</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"> <a href="http://loveozya.com.au/" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;">#LoveOzYA</a></span><span style="color: #333333;">, a community led organisation dedicated to promoting Australian young adult literature. Keep up to date with all new Aussie YA releases with their </span><a href="http://loveozya.com.au/subscribe/" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">monthly newsletter</span></a><span style="color: #333333;">, or find out what’s happening with </span><a href="http://loveozya.com.au/type/news/" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">News</span></a><span style="color: #333333;"> and </span><a href="http://loveozya.com.au/type/event/" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Events</span></a><span style="color: #333333;">, or </span><a href="http://loveozya.com.au/submit/" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">submit your own</span></a><span style="color: #333333;">!</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">You can link your post</span><a href="http://loveozya.com.au/love/loveozyabloggers-fantasy/" style="background-color: white; color: #006677; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> up here.</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Upcoming themes:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">August 14: SciFi</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">August 28: Series</span></span></div>
Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-25231374082851409112017-07-31T23:54:00.000+10:002017-08-01T16:16:58.406+10:00July Favourites<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_J94sGIF1IE/WYAcukXPzqI/AAAAAAAADCU/3lT5UJc6hbQI3-gMxH8GsMlpGuO4KVcbQCLcBGAs/s1600/july.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_J94sGIF1IE/WYAcukXPzqI/AAAAAAAADCU/3lT5UJc6hbQI3-gMxH8GsMlpGuO4KVcbQCLcBGAs/s400/july.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love July with it's 2 weeks of awesome winter holidays (which is not so winter-y on the Sunny Coast ~ an average of 24C/75F during the day). I also love how July is like a mid-year reflection period and a new start to the second half of the year. I have so many books I'm looking to reading in the rest of 2017 and still so many on my TBR I have not gotten to yet... Having said, that, I've read 87 book so far in 2017, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3842653-nomes?shelf=faves-of-2017" target="_blank">20 of them I've marked as new faves</a> (I'm so happy with nearly a 1/4 of my reads being perfectly matched to my reading tastes and moods)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">July was an awesome reading month. I:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">discovered 2 new fun authors to follow (Ingrid Paulsen and Lia Weston)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">read new books from 3 fave authors (Kasie West, Lucy Clarke, Mhairi McFarlane)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">read a long-standing TBR backlist title (a classic Meg Cabot! ~ <i>The Guy next Door</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">reread an old fave (<i>P.S I Like You</i> ~ on a glorious Saturday sleepy lie in bed morning)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">listened to a fave book in audio format <3 (<i>The Piper's Son</i>!)</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"><b>Books:</b> 11</span><br style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"><b>Audiobooks:</b> 1 </span><br style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"></span><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"><b>Adult fiction:</b> 7</span><br style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"><b>Young Adult fiction:</b> 4</span><br style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"><b>Australian fiction:</b> 2</span><br style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>Rereads:<span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;">2</span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ingrid Paulson's debut <i>Why I Loathe Sterling Lane</i> was totally fun and full of things made of win:</span></span><br />
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">boarding school and pranks</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">genuine loathing with barbed and witty banter and revengeful scheming</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Veronica Mars-style sleuthing</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">steamy, swoony pay-off</span></li>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.85px;"><a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2017/07/why-i-loathe-sterling-lane-by-ingrid.html" target="_blank">My review</a> elaborates on why I loved this book and I am so hoping more people find and fall in love with it too <3</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Australian author Lia Weston's <i>Those Pleasant Girls</i> is a cool, ridiculously smiley, seriously funny,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"> awesome</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"> read with a wild sense of humour and just the right touch of whimsy. I really loved this and you can<a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2017/07/those-pleasant-girls-by-lia-weston.html" target="_blank"> read my full review</a> here </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">(with bonus mentions of </span><i style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">The Gilmore Girls</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">, Jaclyn Moriarty and <i>Anne of Green Gables</i>).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">I love Mhairi McFarlane so much (her books have such a brilliant, funny UK vibe, with characters I genuinely care for). My two fave books of hers are </span></span><i style="color: #181818;">You Had Me At Hello</i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"> and </span></span><i style="color: #181818;">Who's That Girl </i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">~ so I was ridiculously thrilled to see Mhairi released a novella sequel to You Had Me at Hello (I've read YHMAT three times, I love it so). <i>After Hello</i> was pretty much perfect and I grinned my way through it ~ so happy to be back with Rachel and Ben (BEN!!!) and the gang. Mhairi's books bring a whole heap of addictive light and life and smiles into my life <3</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.85px;">Being back with Tom and Georgie and the gang was just perfect. I didn't even realise how much I missed them until I was listening. The audiobook was a really compelling format and my work commute was a definite highlight of my day for the week I spent listening to this. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">Oh, mate, some of the tropes in this book are my personal kryptonite: the whole secret identity/letter writing thing (which never gets old to me) and also a good old fashioned hate-to-love antagonistic romance. Even on the reread (when I knew where things were going) I struggled to put it down. I love this brand of cute, funny and smiley contemporary YA. I think this book is up there as one of my fave Kasie West titles ~ along with The Distance Between Us.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><b>So there's my happy-making faves of July titles</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><b>What about you? What's one book you've read recently and fallen in love with?</b></span></div>
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Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-11905659567477464052017-07-25T21:00:00.000+10:002017-07-25T21:00:20.511+10:00Those Pleasant Girls by Lia Weston ~ Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><span id="freeText338092763176526582" style="background-color: white;">Evie Pleasant, nee Bouvier, is back in town. In a figure-hugging skirt, high heels and a pin-up hairdo, she's unrecognisable from the wild child who waged war on Sweet Meadow in her youth.<br /><br />She's made a promise to herself: <i>'No swearing. No drinking. No stealing. No fires.'</i><br /><br />Trailing a reluctant 16-year-old daughter and armed with cake making equipment, Evie's divorce and impending poverty has made her desperate enough to return to Sweet Meadow to seduce her former partner-in-crime and start again.<br /><br />But the townsfolk have long memories and the renegade ex-boyfriend is now the highly-respected pastor. Evie's cakes have a job to do.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">Those Pleasant Girls is one cool, ridiculously smiley, seriously funny, absolute blast of a book. Lia Weston is gifted at creating disastrously perfect comedic scenarios, delivering snappy, witty observations and capturing the quirky side of small town country life. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This book reminded me of </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">The Gilmore Girls</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> ~ following both Evie (in her 30's) and Mary (aged 17 years). I loved Evie, whose wild child/teen memories of mishaps, </span>shenanigans<span style="font-family: inherit;"> and outright bedlam-ish nature endeared her to me straight away. She is in the process of reforming herself, but is (to her chagrin) still so wickedly-inclined (the best kind of accidentally Anne Shirley kind of wicked). Mary is just as awesome ~ more pragmatic and with a wry sense of humour ~ she was a delight to read. With dual POVs of mother and daughter, <i>Those Pleasant Girls</i> is really </span>accessible<span style="font-family: inherit;"> for fans of both YA and contemporary adult literature. Of course, there's a full cast of quirky and </span>lovable<span style="font-family: inherit;"> characters ~ including some swoony goodness from one dude in particular, haha.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There were so many small lines of dialogue, sneaky introspective thoughts and mini comedic scenes that had me chuckling my way through this. I could see this as a perfect rom-com flick on the Big Screen, and like most chick flicks ~ it was a perfectly cruisey, feel good, fun read. My only drawback was a kind of mid-book lag where the plot seemed to slow down a little, but then it picked up again and I was finishing it off in the squeaky hours of the morning, grinning like a </span>Cheshire<span style="font-family: inherit;"> cat into the darkness of my bedroom.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">Weston has her own astute, ridiculously awesome and wicked sense of humour ~ but if I had to pair her with similar authors I would say she has a blend of Sophie Kinsella/Meg Cabot/Ellie O'Neill and a touch of the Moriarty sisters* wild whimsy. And you all know that's a winning combo for me :). Such a happy making, sunshiney, delicious book ~ perfect for those lazy days when you need to relax, smile and swoon along with the craziness and delight that Those Pleasant girls are. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">* I'm grouping those 3 faves together ~ I love them all so (Liane Moriarty, Nicola Moriarty and Jaclyn Moriarty)</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34309532-those-pleasant-girls?from_search=true" target="_blank">Those Pleasant Girls @ goodreads</a></span></span><br />
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Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-36570405020751765642017-07-22T20:56:00.000+10:002017-07-22T21:04:09.240+10:00Three Fave #LoveOzYA Fantasy Series<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">Today I'm participating in the </span><a href="http://loveozya.com.au/type/loveozyabloggers/" style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">#LoveOzYABloggers fortnightly meme</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">. This fortnight's topic is: Fantasy ~ OoOohhh. (See meme details and how you can </span><span style="color: #333333;">participate</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"> at the end of the post)</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">I've picked three of my fave Aussie YA fantasy series, all very diverse! </span></span></span><br />
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<li>A fantasy/contemporary series by the brilliantly creative and original Jaclyn Moriarty</li>
<li>Urban/paranormal fantasy that's unputdownable with classic Aussie characters and loads of mystery, intrigue and sexual tension</li>
<li>And the gorgeous historical-Ireland-vibe fantasy series by fantasy legend, Juliet Marillier. </li>
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Jaclyn Moriarty's <b>Colours of Madeleine</b> series is my fave series of all time and it's wildly whimsical, hilarious and completely unexpected. (I've reviewed the <a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/p/reviews.html" target="_blank">whole series on inkcrush</a>: <b>A Corner of White, Cracks in the Kingdom and A Tangle of Gold</b>).<br />
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Paula Weston has created a believable, action-packed and addictive world with characters who I truly fell in love with. I am not a huge fan of urban fantasy, but the Aussie vibe in this series really made the <b>Rephaim</b> world a place I wanted to spend my fictional time. Waiting for each installment was agony and finishing each new release was a bittersweet rush. (I've reviewed the <a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/p/reviews.html" target="_blank">whole series on inkcrush</a>: <b>Shadows, Haze, Shimmer and Burn</b>).<br />
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Juliet Marillier has written so many gorgeous fantasy novels and retellings. My fave of hers is the <b>Sevenwaters</b> series and my two fave books in it are <b>#1 Daughter of the Forest</b> and #<b>2 Son of the Shadows</b>. Both were initially a slower pace than I was used to (especially as I am not a huge fantasy reader), but they lured me in, and it was 100% worth taking my time with because by then I was just so in love with everything about the world. Just thinking about them now has me hankering for a reread...</div>
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<b>Have you read any of these series?</b></div>
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<b>What is your fave Aussie YA fantasy novel/series?</b></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yUCq2PKFrcw/WXMlvGkrr2I/AAAAAAAAC-w/ih1WMTC7Dosu3lB4W_eW2enT4aDoaZ_fACLcBGAs/s1600/cellomap%2B%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="447" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yUCq2PKFrcw/WXMlvGkrr2I/AAAAAAAAC-w/ih1WMTC7Dosu3lB4W_eW2enT4aDoaZ_fACLcBGAs/s640/cellomap%2B%25282%2529.png" width="408" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonus: Kingdom of Cello Map ~ lovelovelove</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"><b>About the meme</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">#LoveOzYABloggers is hosted by </span><a href="http://loveozya.com.au/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e13c26; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;">#LoveOzYA</a><span style="color: #333333;">, a community led organisation dedicated to promoting Australian young adult literature. Keep up to date with all new Aussie YA releases with their </span><a href="http://loveozya.com.au/subscribe/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e13c26; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;">monthly newsletter</a><span style="color: #333333;">, or find out what’s happening with </span><a href="http://loveozya.com.au/type/news/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e13c26; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;">News</a><span style="color: #333333;"> and </span><a href="http://loveozya.com.au/type/event/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e13c26; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;">Events</a><span style="color: #333333;">, or </span><a href="http://loveozya.com.au/submit/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e13c26; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;">submit your own</a><span style="color: #333333;">!</span></span></span><br />
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You can link your post<a href="http://loveozya.com.au/love/loveozyabloggers-fantasy/" target="_blank"> up here.</a><br />
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Upcoming themes:<br />
July 31: Feels<br />
August 14: SciFi<br />
August 28: Series<br />
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Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-40568215689198879352017-07-15T14:24:00.001+10:002017-07-15T14:53:25.705+10:00Why I Loathe Sterling Lane by Ingrid Paulson<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><span id="freeText9060141484377938886" style="background-color: white;">Per her 537 rules, Harper Campbell keeps her life tidy—academically and socially. But the moment Sterling Lane transfers into her tiny boarding school, her twin brother gets swept up in Sterling’s pranks and schemes and nearly gets expelled. Harper knows it’s Sterling’s fault, and to protect her brother, she vows to take him down. As she exposes his endless school violations, he keeps striking back, framing her for his own infractions. Worst of all, he’s charmed the administration into thinking he’s harmless, and only Harper sees him for the troublemaker he absolutely is.<br /><br />As she breaks rule after precious rule in her battle of wits against Sterling and tension between them hits a boiling point, she’s horrified to discover that perhaps the two of them aren’t so different. And maybe she doesn't entirely hate him after all. Teaming up with Sterling to save her brother might be the only way to keep from breaking the most important rule—protecting Cole.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This was totally fun and full of things made of win:</span></span><br />
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<li>boarding school and pranks</li>
<li>genuine loathing with barbed and witty banter and revengeful scheming</li>
<li>Veronica Mars-style sleuthing</li>
<li>steamy, swoony pay-off</li>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Harper is so rigid and controlling and watching her unravel and finally feel free to give herself permission to test who she might be (without her self-imposed rules) was really well done. She can come across as </span>judgmental<span style="font-family: inherit;"> and stand-offish, but I loved the little peeks we got at her vulnerabilities, and the way she let down her guard to make unexpected </span>friends<span style="font-family: inherit;"> and allies. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">Sterling Lane is Harper's perfect match. He riles her up, gives as good as he gets and does not back down. He has his own secrets and, despite his confidence and bravado, he has a hidden soft side which round him out into a perfectly swoon-worthy love interest. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">This antagonistic/hate-to-love trope was not just a cute premise. They really do try to tear each other down and it's vicious, haha. This was a solid, amusing read for me until the last third, which really bumped it up into an unputdownable, grinning, swooning finale. I am so in for whatever Ingrid Paulson writes next :)</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31450976-why-i-loathe-sterling-lane" target="_blank">Why I loathe Sterling Lane @ goodreads</a></span></span><br />
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Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-5638204992976450222017-07-08T20:31:00.001+10:002017-07-08T20:31:09.723+10:00Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Juliet Young always writes letters to her mother, a world-traveling photojournalist. Even after her mother's death, she leaves letters at her grave. It's the only way Juliet can cope. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Declan Murphy isn't the sort of guy you want to cross. In the midst of his court-ordered community service at the local cemetery, he's trying to escape the demons of his past. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">When Declan reads a haunting letter left beside a grave, he can't resist writing back. Soon, he's opening up to a perfect stranger, and their connection is immediate. But neither Declan nor Juliet knows that they're not actually strangers. When life at school interferes with their secret life of letters, sparks will fly as Juliet and Declan discover truths that might tear them apart.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What an absolute riveting gem of a novel. I expected to enjoy this but had no idea how much this book would affect me. Four things I loved:</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #181818;">Surprises</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"> - The plot did not follow a typical path. It felt like the characters really drove the plot forward with their decisions creating an organic reading experience (rather than one that followed typical beats for the premise.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">Deep bellyaches ~ This happened to me. Those sharp intense stomach pangs when you suddenly feel the characters pain and see their hopes dashed and have your heart in your mouth just knowing there is more pain ahead before they can find their way out. The whole wanting to reach into the book and hold them tight <3</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">I love how the author managed to peel away layers on all of her characters so we see them so differently to how people may automatically perceive them. The characters were all beautifully flawed and wonderfully diverse.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">Also, can I just say how much I *love* the secret-identity-letter-writing motif? I've read a few books recently with variations on this and it's fast becoming and fave trope (bring on more, please). So much suspense and mystery and anticipation of either the reveal/the characters realising the identity. In Letters to the Lost this was done so well I seriously felt like I could barely out the book down because I had to see how it would all unfold. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">I cannot recommend this enough. Another fave read of the year for me :)</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34680953-letters-to-the-lost" target="_blank">Letters to the Lost @ goodreads</a></span></span></span><br />
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Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-27848967066551060462017-07-01T22:29:00.000+10:002017-07-01T22:29:40.114+10:00June Favourites<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">June has meant glorious summer-like days on the Sunny Coast with just a smidgen of a winter-y vibe in the evenings. Beautiful reading weather although I hope July brings some real snuggle up under the covers and read weather. I had a fab read count in June with two new fave books and a reread which I loved more than the original time I read it (it was perfectly timed and deliciously addictive).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>June book total:</b> 17</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Books:</b> 14</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Audiobooks:</b> 3</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Adult fiction:</b> 7</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Young Adult fiction:</b> 10</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Australian fiction:</b> 3</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Rereads: </b>1</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fave young adult read</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29074768-if-i-fix-you" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If I Fix You by Abigail Johnson</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If I Fix You totally took me by surprise (both with how much I ended up liking it and in the direction the story took). It felt messy and real and I couldn't put it down. Really excited for Abigail Johnson's sophomore novel <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33286378-the-first-to-know" target="_blank">The First To Know </a>which is out November of this year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Fave adult fiction</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1386446032l/19269423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="318" height="400" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1386446032l/19269423.jpg" width="295" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19269423-dinner-at-rose-s" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dinner at Roses by Danielle Hawkins</span></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, so good! I love Hawkins's effortless style that makes me feel like I am a part of the (fictional) family. Hawkin's dialogue is so superb, and her comedic timing lifts the book in places where there is sorrow and loss. The relationships and interactions are genuine and nuanced and the romance is all the more swoony for it's understated slow build and reveal. Love the New Zealand setting and I am so happy to have a new fave contemporary adult author to follow.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">Seriously ~ if you like contemporary adult fiction with small town settings, a bit of swoon, a lot of heart, effortless humour and unforgettable characters you need to be looking up Danielle Hawkins ASAP. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Fave reread</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327701369l/12983171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="308" height="400" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327701369l/12983171.jpg" width="258" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Perfectly delightful: funny, slightly ridiculous, swoony, feel-good fun. With the most smilingest of footnotes. LOVED.</span><br />
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<b>What's your recent most fave read? </b></div>
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Hope all is well in your world :)<br />
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xo Nomes</div>
Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-80940918794344389242017-06-22T18:30:00.005+10:002017-06-22T18:30:59.856+10:00Top 15 Most Anticipated Books for the Second Half of 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here are 15 young adult books all releasing in the second half of this year that I am most crazily excited for. All but two are straight up contemporary. All (except one which is a companion novel) are stand alone titles. Some I have been waiting on for what seems like such a long time (I'm looking at the new Paula Weston ~ can you believe it is almost here!) and others I've more recently stumbled upon and have high hopes for. </div>
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I am also so incredibly out of the loop regarding upcoming titles, both Australian and international, so I am sure there are other books out there that I really want too, haha, but these are my fave ones waiting on my goodreads TBR. </div>
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It goes without saying that if Jaclyn Moriarty's new book suddenly gets a pub date in 2017, that will be my number one ;)</div>
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They are listed here in order of release date. All links (in the titles) go to goodreads.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1485341737l/30199656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="400" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1485341737l/30199656.jpg" width="264" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30199656-what-to-say-next" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What To Say Next by Julie Buxbaum</span></a><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From the New York Times bestselling author of <i>Tell Me Three Things</i> comes a charming and poignant story about two struggling teenagers who find an unexpected connection just when they need it most. For fans of Sophie Kinsella, Jennifer Niven, and Rainbow Rowell.</span></b><br />
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes a new perspective is all that is needed to make sense of the world.</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">KIT:</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"> </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">I don’t know why I decide not to sit with Annie and Violet at lunch. It feels like no one here gets what I’m going through. How could they? I don’t even understand.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">DAVID:</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"> </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">In the 622 days I’ve attended Mapleview High, Kit Lowell is the first person to sit at my lunch table. I mean, I’ve never once sat with someone until now. “So your dad is dead,” I say to Kit, because this is a fact I’ve recently learned about her. </i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">When an unlikely friendship is sparked between relatively popular Kit Lowell and socially isolated David Drucker, everyone is surprised, most of all Kit and David. Kit appreciates David’s blunt honesty—in fact, she finds it bizarrely refreshing. David welcomes Kit’s attention and her inquisitive nature. When she asks for his help figuring out the how and why of her dad’s tragic car accident, David is all in. But neither of them can predict what they’ll find. Can their friendship survive the truth?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><b>July 11</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><b>Why I'm excited: </b>Absolutely loved Julie Buxbaum's YA debut <i>Tell Me Three Things</i>. I got my sister to preorder this for me as a bday gift (even though my bday was in January, haha, it's a belated gift I am very excited for).</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32704519-the-lake-effect" target="_blank">The Lake Effect by Erin McCahan</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">lake effect | n.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">The effect of any lake, especially the Great Lakes, in modifying the weather in nearby areas</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">It’s the summer after his senior year, and driven, focused Briggs Henry is ready to leave behind his ex-girlfriend, his comically aggressive grandmother, and his parents’ money troubles for Lake Michigan and its miles of sandy beaches. He’s lined up a summer job working as a personal assistant and living in a gorgeous Victorian on the water—exactly the kind of house Briggs plans to buy his parents once he’s a multi-millionaire. But when he arrives, his boss, the eccentric Mrs. Bosic, tells him to get dressed for her funeral. Uh . . . It’s the first of many funerals they’ll attend this summer—to hilarious and eye-opening effect. Add to this a new set of friends-cum-enemies-cum-friends-again, and Abigail, the mysterious girl next door on whom Briggs’s charms repeatedly fail, and “the lake effect” is beginning to take on a whole new meaning.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><b>July 11</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><b>Why I'm excited: </b>I really liked <i>I Now Pronounce You Someone Else</i> by McCahan (which had a refreshing and unique voice and premise) and this cover is pretty much perfect</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30285562-lucky-in-love" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lucky in Love by Kasie West</span></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">In this new contemporary from YA star Kasie West, a girl who wins the lottery learns that money can cause more problems than it solves, especially when love comes into the picture. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">Maddie doesn't believe in luck. She's all about hard work and planning ahead. But one night, on a whim, she buys a lottery ticket. And then, to her astonishment --</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">She wins!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">In a flash, Maddie's life is unrecognizable. No more stressing about college scholarships. Suddenly, she's talking about renting a yacht. And being in the spotlight at school is fun... until rumors start flying, and random people ask her for loans. Now, Maddie isn't sure who she can trust.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">Except for Seth Nguyen, her funny, charming coworker at the local zoo. Seth doesn't seem aware of Maddie's big news. And, for some reason, she doesn't want to tell him. But what will happen if he learns her secret?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">With tons of humor and heart, Kasie West delivers a million-dollar tale of winning, losing, and falling in love.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><b>July 25</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><b>Why I'm excited: </b>Kasie West!!!! I adore her books (her sassy, smiley characters and her boys!) and her cruise-y, feel good reads usually end up being fave reads of the year for me. I love how prolific she is becoming and will be reading this immediately upon release.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1477487597l/31145039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="400" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1477487597l/31145039.jpg" width="266" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31145039-kissing-max-holden" target="_blank">Kissing Max Holden by Katy Upperman</a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">Kissing Max Holden was a terrible idea...<br /><br />After his father has a life-altering stroke, Max Holden isn't himself. As his long-time friend, Jillian Eldridge only wants to help him, but she doesn't know how. When Max climbs through her window one night, Jill knows that she shouldn't let him kiss her. But she can't resist, and when they're caught in the act by her dad, Jill swears it'll never happen again. Because kissing Max Holden is a terrible idea.<br /><br />With a new baby sibling on the way, her parents fighting all the time, and her dream of culinary school up in the air, Jill starts spending more and more time with Max. And even though her father disapproves and Max still has a girlfriend, not kissing Max is easier said than done. Will Jill follow her heart and allow their friendship to blossom into something more, or will she listen to her head and stop kissing Max Holden once and for all?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><b>August 1st</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><b>Why I'm excited: </b>Uh, that title - can you go wrong? haha. Well, it just looks and sounds cute and the early reviews are so promising. This is a wild card read for me (new author) and I love the possibility of finding a new writer to love. </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33313124-the-undercurrent" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Undercurrent by Paula Weston</span></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">Eighteen-year-old Julianne De Marchi is different. As in: she has an electrical undercurrent beneath her skin that stings and surges like a live wire. She can use it—to spark a fire, maybe even end a life—but she doesn’t understand what it is. And she can barely control it, especially when she’s anxious.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">Ryan Walsh was on track for a stellar football career when his knee blew out. Now he’s a soldier—part of an experimental privatised Australian military unit that has identified Jules De Marchi as a threat. Is it because of the weird undercurrent she’s tried so hard to hide? Or because of her mother Angie’s history as an activist against bio-engineering and big business?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">It’s no coincidence that Ryan and Jules are in the same place at the same time—he’s under orders to follow her, after all. But then an explosive attack on a city building by an unknown enemy throws them together in the most violent and unexpected way.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">Paula Weston, author of the much-admired Rephaim series, returns with a standalone work: a futuristic thriller that is only slightly futuristic—but utterly and undeniably thrilling. Great writing, heart-burning characters, probing questions about where technology is taking us—and a plot that zips and zings like an electrical current itself</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><b>August </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><b>Why I am excited: </b>From the author who brought as Gaby, Jude and Rafa! I love Weston's Rephaim series so much and am so thrilled to have more characters to meet and fall in love with. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33296118-because-of-you" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Because of You by Pip Harry</span></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">Tiny is homeless. Nola has everything she could ask for. They meet when Nola is forced into volunteer work for the writers’ group at the homeless shelter where Tiny is staying, and at first it seems impossible that two people who are so different could ever be friends. But despite her initial prejudice, Nola quickly learns that there isn’t much separating her from the people who live on the streets. And Tiny begins to see that falling down doesn’t mean you never get back up. Because of You is a story about homelessness, prejudice and the power of words to provide a little hope. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">At its heart is the friendship between Tiny and Nola, and how this relationship changes both girls at the core. Pip Harry doesn’t shy away from some heavy topics—Tiny’s story is heartbreaking and the details about life on the streets of Sydney is horrifying—but Because of You is ultimately a hopeful story about human resilience and the life-changing power of discovering your best friend. YA readers aged 14 and up who loved John Larkin’s The Shadow Girl and Cath Crowley’s Words in Deep Blue should be diving for this powerful coming-of-age story.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><b>Why I am excited:</b> I love Pip Harry. Her characters have always seemed so real and managed to crawl under my skin (not in a creepy way, lol). Also, how awesome does this blurb sound? I am ready to have my heart broken and patched up again. </span><br />
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1497634263l/25107416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="400" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1497634263l/25107416.jpg" width="266" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25107416-the-arsonist" target="_blank">The Arsonist by Stephanie Oakes </a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">Molly Mavity is not a normal teenage girl. For one thing, her father is a convicted murderer, and his execution date is fast approaching. For another, Molly refuses to believe that her mother is dead, and she waits for the day when they’ll be reunited . . . despite all evidence that this will never happen.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="freeText11156127193390891479" style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><br />Pepper Yusef is not your average teenage boy. A Kuwaiti immigrant with epilepsy, serious girl problems, and the most useless seizure dog in existence, he has to write a series of essays over the summer . . . or fail out of school.<br /><br />And Ava Dreyman—the brave and beautiful East German resistance fighter whose murder at seventeen led to the destruction of the Berlin Wall—is unlike anyone you’ve met before.<br /><br />When Molly gets a package leading her to Pepper, they’re tasked with solving a decades-old mystery: find out who killed Ava, back in 1989. Using Ava’s diary for clues, Molly and Pepper realize there’s more to her life—and death—than meets the eye. Someone is lying to them. And someone out there is guiding them along, desperate for answers.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><b>Why I am excited:</b> From the author who brought us <i>The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly</i>. That book broke me, and kept me up all night - so good. Pumped to read what else Stephanie Oakes has in store for her readers. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493210816l/28936274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="305" height="400" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493210816l/28936274.jpg" width="256" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28936274-freshers" target="_blank">Freshers by Lucy Ivison and Tom Ellen</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><b>August 3rd</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><b>Why I am excited:</b> I adore this duo! <i>Lobsters</i> and <b>Never Evers</b> are both fave books of mine. They are absolutely hilarious and I love the UK YA vibe. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><b>Jane Unlimited by Kristin Cashore</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">Jane has lived an ordinary life, raised by her aunt Magnolia—an adjunct professor and deep sea photographer. Jane counted on Magnolia to make the world feel expansive and to turn life into an adventure. But Aunt Magnolia was lost a few months ago in Antarctica on one of her expeditions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, with no direction, a year out of high school, and obsessed with making umbrellas that look like her own dreams (but mostly just mourning her aunt), she is easily swept away by Kiran Thrash—a glamorous, capricious acquaintance who shows up and asks Jane to accompany her to a gala at her family's island mansion called Tu Reviens.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><b>September 19</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><b>Why I am excited;</b> Kristin Cashore!!! And, it also sounds intriguing :)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34448522-the-girl-with-the-red-balloon" target="_blank">The Girl With The Red Balloon by Katherine Locke</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="freeText17733692266450107309" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; text-align: left;">When sixteen-year-old Ellie Baum accidentally time-travels via red balloon to 1988 East Berlin, she’s caught up in a conspiracy of history and magic. She meets members of an underground guild in East Berlin who use balloons and magic to help people escape over the Wall—but even to the balloon makers, Ellie’s time travel is a mystery. When it becomes clear that someone is using dark magic to change history, Ellie must risk everything—including her only way home—to stop the process.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; text-align: left;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><b>September 1</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><b>Why I am excited: </b>Time travel, Berlin Wall, red balloons... This sounds unique and will hopefully be something special. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33281117-take-three-girls" target="_blank">Take Three Girls by Cath Crowley, Simmone Howell and Fiona Wood</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Kate</span>, a quiet boarder, making some risky choices to pursue the experimental music she loves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Clem</span>, shrugging off her old swim-team persona, exploring her first sexual relationship, and trying to keep her annoying twin, Iris, at arm's length.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Ady</span>, grappling with a chaotic family, and wondering who her real friends are; she's not the confident A-lister she appears to be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When St Hilda's establishes a Year 10 Wellness Program in response to the era of cyber-bullying, the three girls are thrown together and an unlikely friendship is sparked. One thing they have in common: each is targeted by PSST, a site devoted to gossip and slander that <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">must</em> have a source within St Hilda's.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Who can you trust when rumour is the new truth?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Take Three Girls </em></span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"></em>is a collaboration between award-winning, internationally published authors Cath Crowley, Simmone Howell and Fiona Wood. With its themes of friendship, feminism, identity and belonging, it is honest, raw and funny, a novel that will strike a chord with young readers everywhere.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>August 29</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Why I am excited: </b>Three of my fave authors <3</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31556136-like-water" target="_blank">Like Water by Rebecca Podos</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">A gorgeously written and deeply felt literary young adult novel of identity, millennial anxiety, and first love, from the widely acclaimed author of </span><i style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">The Mystery of Hollow Places</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In Savannah Espinoza’s small New Mexico hometown, kids either flee after graduation or they’re trapped there forever. Vanni never planned to get stuck—but that was before her father was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease, leaving her and her mother to care for him. Now, she doesn’t have much of a plan at all: living at home, working as a performing mermaid at a second-rate water park, distracting herself with one boy after another.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That changes the day she meets Leigh. Disillusioned with small-town life and looking for something greater, Leigh is not a “nice girl.” She is unlike anyone Vanni has met, and a friend when Vanni desperately needs one. Soon enough, Leigh is much more than a friend. But caring about another person stirs up the moat Vanni has carefully constructed around herself, and threatens to bring to the surface the questions she’s held under for so long.</span></div>
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<span id="freeText981863305980768051" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With her signature stunning writing, Rebecca Podos, author of </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">The Mystery of Hollow Places</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">, has crafted a story of first love and of the complex ways in which the deepest parts of us are hidden, even from ourselves.</span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><b>October 17</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><b>Why I am excited:</b> I loved Podos's debut The Mystery of Hollow Places. It was a great match for me and I'm really keen to read more of her work. Also - working as a mermaid sounds cool, haha. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33296134-untidy-towns" target="_blank">Untidy Towns by Kate O'Donnell</a></span></span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I ran away on a Tuesday afternoon in late March. Six pm and I was headed south-west in a train that smelt stale.</span></i><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">Seventeen-year-old Adelaide is sick of being expected to succeed on other people’s terms. She’s made a new plan: drop out of her fancy boarding school to read and dream. She just needs to stick it out at home for one more year and then she’ll be free.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">But before she can work out her next move, Addie’s grandad offers her a job at the local historical society. It’s dusty and messy, like her hometown, like her new life. Then she accidentally kisses Jarrod, the boy who spends his days getting into trouble. But he’s as stuck as she is and Addie starts to wonder that maybe when you really want something in life, you’ve actually got to do something about it.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">A heartfelt story about love, friendship and untidy towns.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><b>October</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><b>Why I am excited:</b> Sounds like my kind of read, and I've long since followed author Kate O'Donnell's blog and she has the most gorgeous and impeccable taste in books. I love this cover, too <3</span><br />
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1487206313l/33286378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="400" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1487206313l/33286378.jpg" width="263" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33286378-the-first-to-know" target="_blank">The First To Know by Abigail Johnson</a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><b>Don't miss the second gripping and heartfelt story from the author of If I Fix You! A girl's plan to find her father's birth family turns potentially devastating when the secret DNA test she has done reveals that she has a half brother her age she never knew about. </b><br /><br />Dana Fields's father never knew his parents. When Dana secretly does a DNA test for her dad, hoping to find him some distant relatives for his birthday, her entire world implodes. Instead of a few third cousins, Dana discovers a half brother her age whose very existence means her parents' happy marriage is a lie.<br /><br />Dana's desire to know her half brother, Brandon, and the extent of her dad's deception, clashes with her wish not to destroy her family. When she sees the opportunity to get to know Brandon through his cousin, the intense yet kind Chase, she takes it. But the more she finds out about Brandon, her father's past and the irresistible guy who'll never forgive her if he discovers the truth, the more she sees the inevitable fallout from her own lies. With her family crumbling around her, Dana must own up to her actions and find a way to heal the breach—for everyone—before they're torn apart for good.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><b>November 7</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><b>Why I am excited: </b>I unexpectedly loved Abigail Johnson's debut (<i>If I Fix You</i>) so I'm thrilled to be able to follow it up so quickly with her second novel release :)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33602144-not-now-not-ever" target="_blank">Not Now, Not Ever by Lily Anderson</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">The sequel to </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">The Only Thing Worse than Me Is You</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">, inspired by </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">The Importance of Being Earnest.</i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">Elliot Gabaroche is very clear on what she isn't going to do this summer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">1. She isn't going to stay home in Sacramento, where she'd have to sit through her stepmother's sixth community theater production of </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">The Importance of Being Earnest.</i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">2. She isn't going to mock trial camp at UCLA.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">3. And she certainly isn't going to the Air Force summer program on her mother's base in Colorado Springs. As cool as it would be to live-action-role-play Ender's Game, Ellie's seen three generations of her family go through USAF boot camp up close, and she knows that it's much less Luke/Yoda/"feel the force," and much more one hundred push-ups on three days of no sleep. And that just isn't appealing, no matter how many Xenomorphs from </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Alien</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"> she'd be able to defeat afterwards.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">What she is going to do is pack up her attitude, her favorite Octavia Butler novels, and her Jordans, and go to summer camp. Specifically, a cutthroat academic-decathlon-like competition for a full scholarship to Rayevich College, the only college with a Science Fiction Literature program. And she's going to start over as Ever Lawrence, on her own terms, without the shadow of all her family’s expectations. Because why do what’s expected of you when you can fight other genius nerds to the death for a shot at the dream you’re sure your family will consider a complete waste of time?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">This summer's going to be great.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><b>November 21</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><b>Why I am excited:</b> I loved The Only Thing Worse Than Me is You. This sounds just as awesomely good and I really am holding out for it!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">Just putting this post together has gotten me pretty excited about the rest of my 2017 reading life, tbh, lol! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><b>Are any of these books on your wishlist for 2017?</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><b>What upcoming books are you most excited for?</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">Hope all is well in your world,</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">:) Nomes</span><br />
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Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-49167163037047787772017-06-17T23:10:00.000+10:002017-06-17T23:10:21.314+10:00This Raging Light by Estelle Laure<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">Can the best thing happen at the worst time?</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;" /></span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">Her dad went crazy. Her mom left town. She has bills to pay and a little sister to look after. Now is not the time for level-headed seventeen-year-old Lucille to fall in love. But love—messy, inconvenient love—is what she's about to experience when she falls for Digby Jones, her best friend's brother. With blazing longing that builds to a fever pitch, Estelle Laure's soulful debut will keep readers hooked and hoping until the very last page.</span></span></span><br /><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Right from the first chapter I had that awesome feeling that this book was about to become a new favourite. It hooked me from the start with a captivating and believable scenario, characters who related to one another with ease (and drew me into their world) and prose that was fresh with little touches of ... whimsy? lyrical-vibe? slightly off-beat? (Hard to capture the prose-essense, but it felt kind of melodious to read).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I enjoyed my time with this, but it fell a little short of becoming a fave new contemporary YA read for me. On reflection, I *think* it was just a little bit too short, making some of the plot threads feel scattered, or like they jumped from one stage to another leaving me wondering 'why is this character doing that?' and 'wait, what?'. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I loved the depiction of Lucille and her little sister, Wren. I also loved the vibe at Lucille's restaurant workplace ~ lively and upbeat and fun. I would have loved to know the workplace characters a little more, they had all the makings of stand-out, unique characters and I'd love to explore some of their back stories.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Laure captured the next door neighbour relationships really well. The best friend thing had awesome history and a great vibe where they felt like best friends in all the little interactions. The swoon for the best friend's brother storyline was perfectly set-up and I was absolutely on board. But halfway through, I really felt confused by the weird tension in the BF relationship (and even in resolving this, it just seemed contrived) and also mystified by the complications in the romance side of things where the characters never actually talked about their complex changing relationship. I wish more time had been given to Digby and Lucille's relationship because it didn't feel as central to the story as the blurb had led me to believe it would be and it was hard for me to invest in it, in the end.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I hardly say this (mostly the opposite is true) but I wish this book had been longer. I would have liked more scenes with Digby and Lucille (either form present or past) so I could be a part of their story. I would have loved more restaurant scenes, and to know more about the co-workers (I loved the atmosphere built) and a little bit more of the neighbours (both sides) and also more about Lucille's parents and their family life ~ before it all fell apart (so I could have a sense of what was truly lost, and to see her mum and dad as more than just parental figures, but as unique characters). Because everything was there, in place, for me to love this book but it just flew by</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">too fast without giving me a chance to settle in and feel emotion alongside everyone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This Raging Light is a gorgeously written, unique and completely readable promising debut. I am looking forward to Laure's next book (a companion!) ~ I think Laure is an author to watch out for (for all lovers of contemporary YA).</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23208417-this-raging-light" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">This Raging Light @ goodreads</a></div>
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Check out all these gorgeous editions of This Raging Light! <3</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23208417-this-raging-light" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></div>
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Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-72370623516809802202017-06-10T13:51:00.000+10:002017-06-10T13:51:17.303+10:00Interference by Kay Honeyman <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: white;">I will not get involved…I will not get involved…I will not get involved…</i><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">As a congressman’s daughter in Washington, DC, Kate Hamilton always pushes to make things right. But when a scandal sends her family to Red Dirt, Texas, she decides to step back for a while. She’ll take pictures for her portfolio. She’ll volunteer at her aunt’s animal shelter. And most of all, she’ll stay out of politics (including her father’s latest election) and away from guys (especially after her ex’s betrayal).</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><i style="background-color: white;">But…</i><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">If Kate’s political skills can be useful in Red Dirt, should she really let them go to waste? After all, her friend Ana Gomez and quarterback Kyle Stone would be a perfect match. Her dad’s campaign could benefit from a teenage perspective. The irritatingly handsome Hunter Price should learn he doesn’t know everything…When Kate’s plans backfire, she must find the soul beneath her DC spin, and risk her heart—the biggest involvement of all.</span></span><br />
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<span id="freeTextreview1734454573" style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Interference is an Emma-inspired retelling (Jane Austin) that is really cute and full of energy, politics, football and a Texas small town vibe. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also included: ill-inspired matchmaking (see: Emma retelling), new friendships, hidden agendas and unexpected enemies, an animal shelter, plenty of mishaps and a swoony guy. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #181818;">Interference</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818;"> was lots of fun to read and Kate really is a force to be reckoned with. She is often brash, relentless and frequently found plotting and scheming. She's also vulnerable, determined and charming. Kate really makes a mess of a lot of things and has to face the consequences, but through it all you see her big heart and well meaning intentions. A lot of her relationships with other characters were complex ~ I loved that nothing felt straightforward and there were layers to both the relationships and the characters. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> I found Interference fast-paced and my only complaint is that at times it felt like there was a lot of story threads going on so the plot felt cluttered in the middle ~ but they all tie up brilliantly in the end.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some fave moments: the calf birthing scene, on top of the water tower scenes, learning to drive, photography scenes with Ana (what a gem <3), and, really, any of the scenes between Kate and her love interest (ha!). </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818;">I will be reading more from Kay Honeyman and absolutely recommend you check Interference out if you're a fan of YA contemporaries ~ especially if the football, small town, politics (and cute guys) premise intrigues you. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23001588-interference" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Interference @ goodreads</span></a></span></div>
Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-75517773728643794492017-06-05T17:29:00.000+10:002017-06-05T17:29:46.539+10:00May favourites<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My reading in May began beautifully with three back to back really good reads. Three in a row is a rare occurrence for me and I loved that buzzy feeling I got from having just read a great book times three. It reminded me of how awesome books can be and how having a great book currently waiting on my bedside table makes everything in life seem brighter. That sweet anticipation of getting home and getting back into my newest favourite literary world = <3</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The rest of May evened out into a few hit and misses and finally getting to some titles that had been wallowing on my TBR for way too long. At this point I am also impressed by my commitment to the whole audio book thing! Until this year, I'd only listened to a handful of audiobooks by myself (but having enjoyed heaps of middle grade audiobooks on car trips with the family). I have been finding time for audiobooks while walking my dog, doing dinner prep and solo driving about doing errands. It's a really easy way for me to sample books that are on my TBR as well - I've listened to heaps of openers and gotten a few chapters in to a few books before deciding to move on to something different.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>May book total:</b> 15</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Books: </b>11 (including 1 reread)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Audiobooks:</b> 4</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fave reads of May</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stargazing for Beginners by Jenny McLachlan (M<a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2017/05/stargazing-for-beginners-by-jenny.html" target="_blank">y review</a>)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This upbeat, warm and fierce novel is one of my most fave reads of this year! Add this contemporary YA to your TBR if you're looking for a breezy, charming read with a smart lead character</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"> S</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">woony, fun and a little bit quirky ~ </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">I found the whole novel to be so charming and completely refreshing and addictive reading experience. </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I had no idea I would love this book so! It's definitely different to my usual YA read (with kind of moody characters and darker themes) but everything was just handled to beautifully and honestly. It's a completely compelling, additive and affecting novel - all the love and lots of hugs for these characters. Review to come!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fave audiobooks</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>White Cat by Holly Black</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This was so good! Creative and clever and funny with a tightly plotted mystery and some great twists and reveals. Cassel is such a likeable narrator ~ Black does a great job of making this con artist with a conscience likeable and so easy to root for. The Curse Workers world feels fresh and original and I'm so happy to have a new YA series to get into. I've already got my 16 year old son started on this. Why did I take so long to get on board with this?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This whole series is narrated by Jesse Eisenberg and he does such an outstanding job as a voice narrator. Def recommend checking out the audio of this. Plus its very un-intimidating at a very doable 6 hours 40 minutes. It had me smiling from the first chapter. What do you think of the different covers?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Massive thanks to Trish (from <a href="https://trishtalkstexts.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Trish Talks Texts</a>) for recommending this to me as one of her fave male YA POV series. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><b>When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">The audio version of this book was really engaging and conversational. Charming and clever with a cast of characters who are a little eccentric but feel completely real. It also has a beautiful kind of sad and wistful ending. A super-quick listen which had me thinking back on all the clues planted throughout once the reveal took place and the mystery was being solved. And the naked guy (after the reveal!)! Haha! My daughter and I had a good laugh about that :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Other recommendations</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hunted by Meagan Spooner</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A very compelling and original Beauty and the Beast fantasy retelling which was a totally immersive reading experience for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Fave things: </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">the characters (just gorgeous narration and fully fleshed characters everywhere - all with unique characteristics and strengths and struggles)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">the setting (the winter and the woods and the cottage and the castle vibrantly came to life) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">family love (the fatherly and sisterly bonds just sang from the pages) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">the mystery of it all (why? How? What is going to happen?) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">plus discovering and being surprised with the unique twists and angles in revisiting this familiar story</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Smidgen disappointed because: I wanted a bit more of the romance and swoon between this Beauty and her beast. But that was not the books focus ~ it was more focused on Beauty's own journey, and the character struggles of the Beast ~ their restlessness and striving to find their place in the world (and Spooner did an outstanding job of exploring this). In the end, their inner struggles, desires and outlook on life made them kindred spirits (in some ways a stronger bond than a more romantic love). I think I may have loved this more if I known beforehand it was not romance focused (so my reading experience would not be clouded by those swoony hopes! haha). Hunted still strongly resonated with me and I'm really keen for more from Meagan Spooner.</span><br />
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<b>Interference by Kay Honeyman</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Review to come of this Jane Austin retelling. Lots to love here! Especially if you like football, small town politics and cute boys!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Whoo! Awesome reading month and I'm really keen for the books next up on my TBR which include:</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Have you read any of my fave reads of May? </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Or any from my June TBR list? </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What was the best book you read in May?</span></b></div>
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Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-40064708503424065112017-05-27T18:39:00.002+10:002017-05-27T18:39:34.704+10:00Stargazing for Beginners by Jenny McLachlan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Science geek Meg is left to look after her little sister for ten days after her free-spirited mum leaves suddenly to follow up yet another of her Big Important Causes. But while Meg may understand how the universe was formed, baby Elsa is a complete mystery to her. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">And Mum’s disappearance has come at the worst time: Meg is desperate to win a competition to get the chance to visit NASA headquarters, but to do this she has to beat close rival Ed. Can Meg pull off this double life of caring for Elsa and following her own dreams? She’ll need a miracle of cosmic proportions …</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Fans fell in love with the warmth, wit, romance and fierce friendships in Flirty Dancing, Love Bomb, Sunkissed and Star Struck, and Stargazing for Beginners has all that and galaxies more. This is the best kind of real-life fiction – with big themes and irresistible characters, it goes straight to your heart.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Stargazing for Beginners was an unexpectedly awesome a new fave for me - swoony, fun and a little bit quirky. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">I found the whole novel to be so charming and completely refreshing and addictive reading experience. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love it when my fave literary things align to create a a brilliant read. Stargazing for Beginners had so many magic components for me: </span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Meg is just so delightfully endearing. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Though there are deeper issues in this book ~ it did not cast a dark shadow over the whole tone of the book. I love finding novels that are funny, whimsical and light-hearted at the same time as dealing with some more serious themes. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love how a motley crew of friends slowly assembled - the side characters felt like protagonists<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"> of their own lives - fully nuanced and unique and diverse in a way that reflects real life. </span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some of the teachers in this novel really steal the scene. So. Hilarious and bumbling and charming. And, sneakily, caring and making a real difference. I love seeing teachers advocate for students - and teachers who don't mind being seen as daggy for the sake of genuinely caring for their<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"> students and wanting to inspire and nurture them.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The comedy! The laughs! Those awesomely awkward situations<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"> and moments! </span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">And Ed! Swoon! Fun! Antagonistic<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"> kind of rivalry with this slow burn of maybe liking? So many classic scenes together. LOL at the science fair, and the takedown moment on the science excursion. And the showstopping finale! </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Science! Smart kids. The whole universe and solar system and all that stuff :)</span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Finishing this book left me with a warm buzzing glow and I was straight away texting some reading BFF's to get on with reading it asap. Stargazing for Beginners was an ultimate feel good read with depth. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">Take note: it opens fairly dramatically and perhaps some of you may think: Eh? What's going on here? This might be too quirky for me? </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">But it really settles into a groove and everything becomes so genuine and heartfelt</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"> I really believe so many people will find a lot to love in this upbeat, warm and fierce novel. Absolute fave for me - I'm still smiling just thinking about it now. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add this contemporary YA to your TBR if you're looking for a breezy, charming read with a smart lead character</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32021893-stargazing-for-beginners" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stargazing for Beginners @ goodreads</span></a></span></div>
Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-13336192155973246602017-05-19T22:02:00.000+10:002017-05-19T22:02:59.667+10:00The Night That Changed Everything by Laura Tait and Jimmy Rice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><span id="freeText1412966944528568134" style="background-color: white;">Rebecca is the only girl she knows who didn't cry at the end of Titanic. Ben is the only man he knows who did. Rebecca’s untidy but Ben doesn’t mind picking up her pieces. Ben is laid back but Rebecca keeps him on his toes. They're a perfect match.<br /><br />Nothing can come between them. Or so they think.<br /><br />When a throwaway comment reveals a secret from the past, their love story is rewritten.<br /><br />Can they recover from the night that changed everything? And how do you forgive when you can’t forget?<br /><br /><b>The Night That Changed Everything is a funny, feel-good and bittersweet story, told in alternate chapters by Laura Tait and Jimmy Rice.</b></span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">This was so, so good! I loved the characters, the leads and all their crew, and the overall storyline, which felt fresh and unexpected. This book had the perfect mix of levity, humour, and heart-in-stomach moments. I was completely swept up, equal parts swooning and bereft. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Laura Tait and Jimmy Rice are really onto something with their alternating chapters (each author writing their male/female counterpart POV). I enjoyed their combo in their previous work as well ~ they have the right blend of humour and realism without ever getting too soppy or over-the-top ridiculous. It's authors like these and </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6434584.Mhairi_McFarlane" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #00635d;" title="Mhairi McFarlane">Mhairi McFarlane</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"> that have ruined me for other books in this chick-litty genre. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">I have a real love for these kinds of cruisey chick-lit novels set in the UK and spend considerable time sampling so many authors in the genre. So far these two authors and Mhairi MacFarlane are my faves! They both have a cruisey addictive feel, and manage to give real depth to their characters and stories (plus plenty of humour, swoon and unpredictability).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Also! I could not put this book down. A very addictive, unpredictable and immersive reading experience. That ending! <br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Waiting for news of Jimmy Rice and Laura Tait's next novel is killing me (please let it be soon!). If you're in a romantic comedy/drama kind of mood I absolutely recommend this to you! Especially if you favour spending bookish time in the UK. This was a stand-out read of 2016 for me and a new fave - so much love for this!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23346359-the-night-that-changed-everything" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Night That Changed Everything on goodreads</span></a></span><br />
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1391272102l/18657684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1391272102l/18657684.jpg" width="205" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also very good and completely recommended is their (2014) debut title <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18657684-the-best-thing-that-never-happened-to-me" target="_blank">The Best Thing That Never Happened To Me </a>:</span><b style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><i>Everyone remembers their first love.</i> </b></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Holly certainly remembers Alex. But she decided ten years ago that love wasn't about mix tapes and seizing the moment - though she's not exactly sure it's about secret dates with your boss, either. </span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"><i>But what if the feelings never really went away?</i> </b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Alex wants to make every moment of his new job count. It's a fresh start in a big city, and he's almost certain that moving to London has nothing to do with Holly. Almost. </span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"><i>How do you know if it was meant to be... Or never meant to happen at all?</i> </b><br />
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Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-31600450259878617572017-05-13T20:35:00.003+10:002017-05-13T20:35:52.030+10:00The Scared Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">With a harrowing poetic voice, this contemporary page-turner is perfect for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak, Julie Berry's All The Truth That's in Me, and the works of Ellen Hopkins.</strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Kevinian cult has taken everything from seventeen-year-old Minnow: twelve years of her life, her family, her ability to trust.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And when she rebelled, they took away her hands, too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now their Prophet has been murdered and their camp set aflame, and it's clear that Minnow knows something—but she's not talking. As she languishes in juvenile detention, she struggles to un-learn everything she has been taught to believe, adjusting to a life behind bars and recounting the events that led up to her incarceration. But when an FBI detective approaches her about making a deal, Minnow sees she can have the freedom she always dreamed of—if she’s willing to part with the terrible secrets of her past.</span></div>
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<span id="freeText6103165107070425923" style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly is a hard-hitting and hopeful story about the dangers of blind faith—and the power of having faith in oneself.</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;"> </span><a data-text-id="6103165107070425923" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17185496-the-sacred-lies-of-minnow-bly#" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px; text-decoration-line: none;">(less)</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was sold on this book when someone mentioned it was kind of in the same vein as Julie Berry’s </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>All The Truth That’s in Me</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Mate, I love that book hard. (Now, having read both, they are quite different, but both had the same unputdownable vibe with characters who are both tough and vulnerable). Plus this book has a few fave subjects I like in fiction: cults! mysteries! Fiery, tough and vulnerable characters! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I snuck a few chapters of this in between studying and then ended up abandoning all pretense of studying and reading this in nearly one-all-consuming sitting. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was intense and harrowing and painful, 100% compelling and, strangely, hopeful. I couldn’t look away. Not only was I engrossed in wanting to find out what happened and what was going to happen, but when reveals and twists came, it was unpredictable and the turns of the plot were really satisfying. Minnow got under my skin and into my heart and I loved watching her story unfold. </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I recommend this so much: for fans of good, relentlessly addictive books. </span></span></div>
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So excited for Stepahnie Oakes follow up novel <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25107416-the-arsonist" target="_blank">The Arsonist</a> due to be released in August 2017! Three months to go :)<br />
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Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-53198498620146673372017-05-06T16:40:00.001+10:002017-05-07T17:02:32.329+10:00April Favourites<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
April was a such a great reading month for me. Two weeks of school holidays meant extra reading time and I finally got my YA mojo back (after spending most of 2016 reading adult fiction titles). I saw a few of my goodreads friends reading some of my fave YA titles, which gave me reading envy and set me off on a bit of a reread binge of some old fave contemporary YA titles and it was perfectly like visiting with old friends.<br />
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<b>April book total:</b> 16<br />
<b>Books:</b> 12 (including 4 rereads)<br />
<b>Audiobooks:</b> 4<br />
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<b>Fave read of April:</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25613472-a-list-of-cages?from_search=true" target="_blank">A List of Cages by Robin Roe</a><br />
A List of Cages was heartcrushingly good. I knew very little about this book when I started (and I do recommend knowing little ~ so many reviews are absolutely spoilery) and I really did not expect the characters to win me other so completely.<br />
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If I were to make a word cloud of this book, included would be: hopeful, tense, devastating, brotherhood, secrets, cute, tears, powerful, smiley.<br />
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The seriousness of the subject matter is perfectly balanced with the levity of an outstanding cast of characters who were fun to hang out with and also reminded me of the life-changing power of teenagers who are awesome and stand up to make a difference. I rarely cry actual tears while reading but it was impossible to stay dry-eyed during A List of Cages.<br />
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<b>Fave audiobook:</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26109391-highly-illogical-behavior?from_search=true" target="_blank">Highly Illogical Behaviour by John Corey Whaley</a><br />
This was pretty cute and entertaining as an audiobook with dual narrators who definitely brought the story to life. I enjoyed the humour, pop culture nerdy/sci-fi references, and the underlying tension of the premise. I'm not sure I would have read this in book format, but the audio was good, light reading experience that kept me engaged.<br />
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<b>Other recommendations:</b><br />
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<b>Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett</b> was an entertaining YA read that was cute and addictive with a summer boardwalk/theme park(ish) setting that felt alive and surprisingly unique (the whole cave/museum thing was great). It didn't personally get me swooning but it did keep me smiling and I think you may find a lot to love if you're looking for a new cute summer-love YA read.<br />
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1445292235m/27237358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1445292235m/27237358.jpg" /></a><b>Making Faces by Amy Harmon:</b> I like the way Harmon writes and this story had a great message (that did not take over the narrative) with heartache, swooning, humour, and unexpected twists and turns. I didn't love it as much as I loved her fantasy <i>The Bird and The Sword</i> but it was an absorbing and worthwhile read that didn't shy away from hard topics. I liked the timeline of this book which spanned from early childhood, through high school and into early adulthood. If the premise appeals to you definitely give this a go :)<br />
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<b>The Impostor Queen by Sarah Fine</b> I was both captivated and intermittently frustrated with this original YA fantasy. I loved the world building and characters and the slow burn romance was also believable and satisfying, as was the unique and intriguing features of Fine's world. The only thing holding me back from listing this as a new fave were these weird pacing lulls where I would disengage with the story while waiting for things to keep moving. This complaint is more telling about me as a fantasy reader than the novel itself (I can be unfairly impatient with fantasy at times).<br />
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1470427482m/27362503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1470427482m/27362503.jpg" /></a><b>It Ends With Us</b> is the first Colleen Hoover book I have read and I can see her widespread appeal. Hoover has a seamless writing style that drew me in and kept me turning the pages through the night. It was so easy to engage with her characters and get swept into the story. I knew little about this story going in and for that I am so glad (DO NOT read reviews of this one as I loved the way I was taken by surprise). This story was not what I expected> I was hoping for a kind of guilty pleasure, swoony, mindless read but this ended up being quite powerful and affecting. <b>I would love any other Colleen Hoover recommendations</b> as her backlist is rather intimidating and I have no idea where to start. I am not generally a fan of angsty YA/NA novels, but always a fan of absorbing books with captivating characters :)<br />
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<b>What's the latest book you've read and loved?</b></div>
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:) Nomes<br />
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Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-82248300573223997762017-04-17T20:19:00.002+10:002017-04-17T20:23:13.571+10:00The Fifth Letter by Nicola Moriarty<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Joni, Deb, Eden and Trina try to catch up once a year for some days away together. Now in their thirties, commitments have pulled them in different directions, and the closeness they once enjoyed growing up seems increasingly elusive. This year, determined to revive their intimacy, they each share a secret in an anonymous letter to be read out during the holiday. But instead of bringing them closer, the revelations seem to drive them apart. Then a fifth letter is discovered, venting long-held grudges, and it seems that one of the women is in serious danger. But who was the author? And which of them should be worried?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">THE FIFTH LETTER examines the bonds of women's friendship groups, and the loyalty and honesty they demand, along with letting go of relationships that once seemed essential but are now outgrown.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">A new Nicola Moriarty! I have read and loved Nicola's previous two novels. <a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/free-falling-by-nicola-moriarty.html" target="_blank">Free-Falling</a> was charming and whimsical and <a href="http://inkcrush.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/paper-chains-by-nicola-moriarty.html" target="_blank">Paper Chains </a>was mysterious and emotional and both have been highlights of my reading life. I have been hanging out for Nicola's latest, even more so when Mands from <a href="http://thebookishmanicurist.blogspot.com.au/2017/02/the-fifth-letter-by-nicola-moriarty.html" target="_blank">The Bookish Manicurist </a>emailed to say she was loving it and it was Nicola's best book yet. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">The Fifth letter has a captivating opener which grabbed my attention and then held it resulting in me</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"> having to stop everything I had planned for the next 24 hours until I had finished the book. It is one of those up-all-night, can't-put-it-down books, the pacing and reveals sprinkled throughout only adding to the tension and need-to-know-answers vibe. The Fifth Letter has a much stronger mystery/suspense angle than Nicola's previous novels. It definitely sucked me in (evidenced by the speed in which I tore through it) but I did miss the more character-driven aspect that I loved in her first novels. I enjoyed reading about these characters, but I didn't fall in love with them. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">I love that amongst the twists and suspense and reveals, Nicola still writes with a touch of whimsy and smiley surprise. She has a flair for sneaking in little details which play out in deliciously satisfying ways. The novel touches on some heavier topics and humour is used in all the right places to add levity and charm. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I thought I had things figured out a few times throughout the novel, but the rabbit's hole always went deeper and I love how I thought things were headed one way and then they perfectly maneouvered somewhere else ~ somewhere better, more interesting and unexpected. It really was the mystery and reveals that kept me glued to the pages. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">The novel centres around four women who have been friends since high school and as the story unfolds there are numerous flashbacks to teenage years, making this a perfect novel for fans of both young adult and adult fiction.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">The Fifth Letter is brilliantly plotted with sneaky reveals and a really fun (unexpected) climax and ending that left me smiling and content with time well spent. I am so happy Australia has fun and unique authors such as Nicola Moriarty and am (as always) looking forward to what Nicola has for readers next.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><i>The Fifth Letter is available everywhere now :)</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31847647-the-fifth-letter" target="_blank">The Fifth Letter @ goodreads</a><br />
<a href="http://www.harpercollins.com.au/9781460706008/The%20Fifth%20Letter/#sm.000owqhys1da7e8isjm1iyrzqdj0h" target="_blank">The Fifth Letter @ HarperCollins Australia</a> (including free excerpt)<br />
<a href="http://www.nicolamoriarty.com.au/" target="_blank">Nicola Moriarty's website</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Fifth Letter: Australian, US and UK editions. Available everywhere now.</td></tr>
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<i>Many thanks to HarperCollins for my gorgeous review copy!</i></div>
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Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-2506921353327885802017-04-01T16:44:00.000+11:002017-04-01T16:44:49.688+11:00March Favourites <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rnfu5HigDcw/WN8l9t7QyUI/AAAAAAAACrI/81hXCbZ1x8cgoMctoEH8y6q2pvIxX3bTwCLcB/s1600/incrushfaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rnfu5HigDcw/WN8l9t7QyUI/AAAAAAAACrI/81hXCbZ1x8cgoMctoEH8y6q2pvIxX3bTwCLcB/s320/incrushfaves.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The first half of March was a beautiful, dream-like reading month. Back to back good reads and two new fave reads! The second half was littered with DNF books (which means I did get through a lot of titles that are no longer waiting on my TBR). After too many disappointing attempts in a row, I turned to re-reading some old faves which held up on the reread (occasionally a reread doesn't hold the same magic and the book can fall flat). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Total reads:</b> 9 books and 4 audiobooks</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fave reads of March:</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30256248-by-your-side" target="_blank">By Your Side by Kasie West</a> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">Light, swoony and unputdownable ~ with just the right amount of character development to add some ache and depth. This is a rainy day comfort read kind of book that was perfect for my reading mood.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31683270-bone-gap" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bone Gap by Laura Ruby</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A mesmerising blend of gorgeous writing and mysterious happenings, this contemporary/fantasy/magical realism/genre-blending novel completely stole my heart. I was hooked after a few chapters but I did not anticipate how much the characters would endear themselves to me. Laura Ruby is a born storyteller and some parts had me feeling like I was inside a fairy tale. This book not only had achey, brilliant, shining characters to fall in love with, but it was also unpredictable and daring and wholly original while remaining full of heart. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fave Audiobook for March:</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I really enjoyed listening to Salt to the Sea, which has four narrators to match all four teenage perspectives. The story was engaging the whole way through, effortlessly transporting me to another time and place, but it wasn't until the end that I really felt moved. I am absolutely glad I spent time with these characters and heard their stories, this is a story that will linger and that deserved to be told. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fave Rereads</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am such an Elizabeth Scott fangirl and I love to periodically revisit her work. Perfect You is one of my faves of hers and it always delivers. She captures teen voice so well, and Will is so dreamy! Ha! Tell Me Three Things was a fave read of 2016 and I'm still loving it <3</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>How was March for you? Any new fave reads?</b></span></div>
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Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922517209932787954.post-83332272562869208592017-03-11T22:39:00.000+11:002017-03-11T22:46:33.347+11:00Hello! :) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's Nomes :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've been letting inkcrush sleep for a long time. During that time I've been blogging elsewhere for my uni degree which I finally graduated from in December 2016! I was awarded with my Masters in Teacher-Librarianship and am now a qualified teacher-librarian (primary and secondary school) as well as a straight-up regualr (but awesome) librarian ~ qualified to work in any library (such as the council library, TAFE or at a uni library). Phew! My masters was a mammoth effort and I learnt so much but, underneath it all, my passion is still for literature and developing and nurturing a love of reading and learning how to create libraries that are both a haven and an inspirational space for creativity and lifelong learning (etc! Not about to get into my uni essay talk! Haha). Turns out there is more to be a librarian than just reading and talking about books all day! ;)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QghFr4_Cl_g/WMPXpSJyGdI/AAAAAAAACqU/tfbK_YE4jOgQp4MJ7HdlEFuAVi0ShO1dQCLcB/s1600/IIVT2100.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QghFr4_Cl_g/WMPXpSJyGdI/AAAAAAAACqU/tfbK_YE4jOgQp4MJ7HdlEFuAVi0ShO1dQCLcB/s400/IIVT2100.png" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Some grad pics @ Southbank in Brisbane (with some of my fam)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope you are all going well and finding new favourite books and authors, and spending time visiting old literary friends. I have had a quiet year online (both on here and I also had a rest from social media) but I hope to be back here (and visiting you all on your internet spaces) more frequently this year chatting about my new fave books, authors, literary characters and life! I fell in love with so many books in 2016 and already I have 7 new favourite reads from 2017 alone to talk about. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's three recent reads that are all new faves for me:</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">By Your Side by Kasie West</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I just love how Kasie West writes. Her books so easy to sink into and relax with. I spent a blissful day with this book and am already hanging out for Kasie's next release (which is in July! So thankful she keeps her books coming at me!). She is on par with Elizabeth Scott for me (one of my fave relaxing and swoon-delivering YA authors) and reading By Your Side definitely got me in the mood for revisiting Kasie's older titles (like The Distance Between Us and P.S. I Like You ~ both contemporary YA faves of mine). Her books really are reading highlights in my year. They hit that sweet YA spot (something light, swoony and unputdownable ~ with just the right amount of character development to add some ache and depth). </span><br />
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1459436163l/29748925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1459436163l/29748925.jpg" width="130" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Strange The Dreamer by Laini Taylor</b> is exquisite. Unique and vibrant and messy, the fantasy world vividly comes to life like no other fantasy world I have visited before (in my reading travels, haha). Laini Taylor is a born story-teller, and this story is complicated, romantic, haunting and altogether unexpected. Brilliant, imaginative and stunning ~ Strange the Dreamer was worth the wait. I'm so excited for everyone to read it!</span><br />
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1476831650l/30359003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1476831650l/30359003.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="130" /></span></a><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Pretty Delicious Cafe by Danielle Hawkins</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">I really, really enjoyed this charming New Zealand read! Refreshing and very smiley. Gorgeous setting with characters who feel like family. I loved it from the first chapter (with an awesomely awkward and smiley meet cute!). This book has swoon, humour, fantastically fun dialogue, and genuine family and friend messy relationships that never derives into melodrama. Definitely on the look out for more work from Danielle Hawkins and now I have her backlist titles to catch up on!</span></span><br />
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<b>What book have you read lately that is a new fave?</b></div>
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Talk soon! Nomes x<br />
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Nomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07995363401476834241noreply@blogger.com2