A Wrap Up: October 2018 Part Two

Hi, and thanks for stopping by.

Today's blog post is my second reading wrap up of the month of October 2018. These are the rest of the books I got to in the remainder of this month - there were some seriously good ones...

Maggie Stiefvater’s Shiver

3 stars

I remember enjoying this book so much the first time I read it, but this time it didn't seem quite the same. I guess it just felt a little cliche and predictable. I still felt like it was quite atmospheric and definitely entertaining - I'm hoping the next books in the series might inspire me more!!

Louise O’Neill’s Almost love

3.5-4 stars

Louise O'Neill's writing is so sharp and intelligent and interesting, no matter the genre or plot or characters. This was different to what I was expecting it to be (less dark, I think - especially in comparison to her previous books) but so engaging; I have never read a book about a toxic relationship of this kind but it felt really powerful.

Jessi Kirby’s The Other Side of Lost

5 stars

I picked this book up on the most random of whims, because I loved the forest-green colour of the spine when I spotted it on the book shelf in Waterstones. I am SO glad I did because I thought it was absolutely beautifully written. So much about exploration and nature and self-discovery and grief, alongside themes of social media, regret, insecurity & isolation.

Chelsea Pitcher’s This Lie Will Kill You

3.5-4 stars

I loved Chelsea Pitcher's writing style - it was creepy and atmospheric in the way of other great YA thrillers, like One Of Us Is Lying (if you enjoyed that, I think you'd like this too), but also this lyrical edge - I think that was stronger at the start and I wish it had been a little more prominent throughout because it was beautiful!! Lots of fun twists & turns. Definitely an author I'll be watching out for.

David Levithan’s Two Boys Kissing

4 stars

This book has this awesome, poignant narrative structure; a kind of collective, omniscient narrative made up of gay men who have already passed and are watching the current gay generation on earth. It works wonderfully. I loved all of the individual current-life stories, too (Hunter's was especially tragic) but I have to say that those narrative pieces about living life as a gay man were definitely my favourite parts. 

Alwyn Hamilton’s Rebel of the Sands

3.5-4 stars

I ended up really enjoying this book, although I’m not 100% certain I understand anything that happened during it…! It’s quite a complex mixture of fantasy/magical elements and mythology – at least, it was me for me, because I’m a contemporary-gal, through and through! I’m sure a more established fantasy reader wouldn’t have the same troubles. Once again, this book has me encouraged to read more from this genre, though. I think that might be a 2019 resolution, yknow…

So those are all the books I read in the second half of October - click here to read part one, if you haven't already!! Let me know your favourite book of the month by leaving a comment down below!

Till next time

Katie