Some Recommendations: Valentine's Reads

Hi, and thanks for stopping by.

Today's post is just a brief one, recommending some of my favourite romantic reads for this Valentine's season!! I think there are plenty of great books out there that don't include romance, but if you're looking for something cute or soppy to read today of all days, then here are my favourites!

I'm not going to talk about each book individually, because they all have similar merits/virtues and I love them all. I've tried to really give a mixture, in terms of diversity, but if you want to recommend even more diverse books, then please let me know down below in the comments section.

These books all have super special elements; positive, loving relationships, great humour but, weirdly, considering it's Valentine's Day and this is a lovey-dovey kinda post, they are all something more than just a love story (which for me has become more and more of a necessity). 

Carry On and Trial By Fire are my two non-contemporary picks; Carry On is basically an incredibly cool Harry Potter-style story about two guys at a magic school who "hate" each other (its masked chemistry, basically) and Trial By Fire is the first in a witchy trilogy, where Lily and Rowan, our protagonists, have the most awesome chemistry!!

Autoboyography is another story of two guys who fall in love with one another; Sebastian is a closeted gay Mormon and Tanner is openly, happily bisexual. The story deals really well with unrequited love, friendships, writing, religion & family dynamics. 

Alex, Approximately is a really fun contemporary romance that you can definitely get through in one sitting on Valentine's Day. Not only is it a super entertaining story, but it also deals with anxiety, phobias, mistaken identity & familial relationships. I have a full review uploaded here

Finally, I'll Give You The Sun. Where to begin with this book?! I plan to reread both this and The Sky Is Everywhere this year to make my final decision but, for right now, I'm actually saying that this is my favourite YA book of all time...I cannot even describe how beautiful it is. It has gay representation, a twin relationship, dealing with grief, growing up, falling in love for the first time... just read it, please!! You can read my full review here.

Those are just a few of my favourite romantic reads, but if you want to get some more suggestions, take a look at my other full reviews posted here or add me on goodreads!! Like I said before, please leave your Valentine's Day recommendations down below!

Till next time

Katie

A Haul: February 2018

Hi, and thanks for stopping by.

Today's post is my favourite kind...a haul!! I've definitely noticed I've been buying less books since starting the unwrapping-TBR concept, knowing that I can't read brand new ones until I've read the vast majority of the wrapped ones - one element of success in the challenge for sure!! But I certainly still treat myself to a few each month, and here they are...

[I should note that I rarely ever buy hardback books, but Meet Cute I was just too excited to wait (so hopefully it's worth it now...) and Everless & The Cruel Prince were both around £6/7 each, so cheaper than paperbacks!]

Cecelia ahern’s perfect

Since Judge Crevan has declared her the number one threat to the public, Celestine has been a ghost, on the run with the complicated, powerfully attractive Carrick, the only person she can trust. But Celestine has a secret - one that could bring the entire Flawed system crumbling to the ground. Judge Crevan is gaining the upper hand, and time is running out for Celestine. With tensions building, Celestine must make a choice: save only herself, or risk her life to save all the Flawed. And, most important of all, can she prove that to be human in itself is to be Flawed...?

Peter bognanni’s things I’m seeing without you

Seventeen-year-old Tess talks to Jonah every day; through texts, tweets and emails. So when she discovers Jonah has committed suicide, her world implodes. Feeling heartbroken and traumatized Tess unexpectedly finds herself at her estranged father's house, wondering how well she really knew Jonah. Now, having dropped out of high school, struggling with questions about life and loss, Tess and her father come together to try and find the answers.

Muhammad khan’s I am thunder

Fifteen-year-old Muzna Saleem is used to being invisible. So no one is more surprised than her when Arif Malik, the hottest boy in school, takes a sudden interest. But Arif is hiding a terrible secret and, as they begin to follow a dark path, Muzna faces an impossible choice: keep quiet and betray her beliefs, or speak out and betray her heart.

Cassandra clare’s city of ashes

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go...To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace.

[I seriously edited this goodreads blurb to avoid spoilers!!!]

Meet cute – an anthology

Whether or not you believe in fate, or luck, or love at first sight, every romance has to start somewhere. MEET CUTE is an anthology of original short stories featuring tales of "how they first met" from some of today’s most popular YA authors. This incredibly talented group of authors brings us a collection of stories that are at turns romantic and witty, epic and everyday, heartbreaking and real.

Sara holland’s everless

In the land of Sempera, the rich control everything - even time. Ever since the age of alchemy and sorcery, hours, days and years have been extracted from blood and bound to iron coins. The rich live for centuries; the poor bleed themselves dry.

Jules and her father are behind on their rent and low on hours. To stop him from draining himself to clear their debts, Jules takes a job at Everless, the grand estate of the cruel Gerling family.

There, Jules encounters danger and temptation in the guise of the Gerling heir, Roan, who is soon to be married. But the web of secrets at Everless stretches beyond her desire, and the truths Jules must uncover will change her life for ever ... and possibly the future of time itself.

Holly black’s the cruel prince

One terrible morning, Jude and her sisters see their parents murdered in front of them. The terrifying assassin abducts all three girls to the world of Faerie, where Jude is installed in the royal court but mocked and tormented by the Faerie royalty for being mortal.

As Jude grows older, she realises that she will need to take part in the dangerous deceptions of the fey to ever truly belong.

But the stairway to power is fraught with shadows and betrayal. And looming over all is the infuriating, arrogant and charismatic Prince Cardan . . .

So that's it for February.....so far!! Let me know if you've read any of these and what you thought of them, in the comments section down below!

Till next time

Katie