TOP 5 WEDNESDAY: Anticipated Pre-orders for the Rest of the Year

This year, I've been focusing on reading all the books that I currently have on my bookshelf without adding too much to my ridiculously long TBR list. So this list was a little tricky to put together, because I only had two books on my mind that I wanted to pre-order. But after perusing my Goodreads books, I realised that I am looking forward to a few releases in the next few months, and thus, I managed to reach my top five.

5. Love and Always by Sophie Jackson

This is a short novella that follows the first book in the series, A Pound of Flesh. Essentially, this novella is a continuation of the story between Carter and Kat, focusing on the trials and tribulations they endure to maintain their relationship. I'm so excited for this novella, because I was absolutely obsessed with their story in A Pound of Flesh. So, so, so excited!

Release Date: 3 August 2015 // Goodreads

Book Review: A Pound of Flesh by Sophie Jackson

4. Oblivion by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Who knows when this one will be released. No exact date has been given, and in all likelihood, it could be pushed back for whatever publishing reasons. I mean, it hasn't even got a cover yet. But nevertheless, I am excited for this book. The Lux series is one of my favourites, and though Daemon's point of view did annoy me in the main series, I am excited to see the beginning of the story from his POV.

Release Date: December 2015 // Goodreads

3. Sweet Temptation by Wendy Higgins

Although the tagline, "he's the boy your daddy warned you about," has me absolutely cringing from the sexism, I am so freaking excited about this book. A whole novel, from Kaidan Rowe's point of view! He's an insensitive, arrogant jerk, but goshdarn I love him unconditionally. I will likely re-read the series before diving into this one to refresh my memory before diving into the mind of Kaidan. I can't even deal.

Release Date: 8 September 2015 // Goodreads

2. Saga, Volume 5 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Over the last few weeks, I have become addicted to this comic book series. I was nervous about trying out this new reading format, but I came away thoroughly impressed and eager to try out new stuff. I have already read and loved the four volumes that have already been released, and I know this is one of those series I will avidly follow for as long as it is published.

Release Date: 6 October 2015 // Goodreads

Book Review: Saga, Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

1. Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

At the time of writing this post, I have just finished Crown of Midnight, so I have no idea what to expect for the rest of the series, but I know I want to be a part of it. I am just so excited by the potential of this series, and how much it has entertained me so far. I am currently in the midst of an obsession with Celaena Sardothian, and I know she is going to be an idol of mine in young adult literature for many years to come.

Release Date: 1 September 2015 // Goodreads

Book Review: The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas

Writing this post has now filled me with a special kind of frustration, which I'm sure you're all familiar with: the frustration that you cannot yet read the books you most want to read because they have not been published! I am now off to place my pre-orders... and perhaps purchase a few bonus ones along the way ;)

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Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Lainey of gingerreadslainey. I tend to participate only when the topic tickles my fancy and isn’t too difficult. Today was one of those occasions.

TOP 5 WEDNESDAY: Characters I Wish I Could Drown

So if there was a legal loophole that protected me from being found guilty of murder on all charges, I would not hesitate one moment to drown the following characters.

Honourable Mentions:

Dolores Umbridge from the Harry Potter series

Gale Hawthorne from the Hunger Games series

Evelyn Johnson-Eaton from the Divergent series

5. Juliette Ferrars, Aaron Warner and Adam Kent

I really did not enjoy the Shatter Me series, mostly because of the characters. They drove me crazy. Juliette, Warner and Adam all had me tearing my hair out. I was able to tolerate Kenji, so I might save him, but I would definitely drown everyone else.

4. Blake Saunders

Blake's role in the Lux series was a huge cause of my reading stress – he was so effing frustrating and I hated him with every ounce of my being. Love triangles usually annoy me, but this one absolutely enraged me in the best way possible. I loved hating him. That sounds stupid, but it's absolutely true. His character was complex, his backstory tragic, but if given the chance, I would not hesitate to drown him with a smile on my face.

3. President Snow

I don't know if I've read a character so inherently, deliberately evil. This man has no redemming qualities, nothing to even make me love hating him. His character is so grotesquely evil, and I hate him with a burning passion akin to Katniss's. I would happily drown him and then laugh as I watch his body crash down a waterfall.

2. Richie

Eleanor's stepdad is nothing short of terrifying. He is a monster, and reading about his abusive behaviour made me feel sick. His character was such a powerful, potent element to Eleanor and Park, and probably the number one thing that I keep thinking about, a year after reading the book. He is absolutely terrifying, but what is more terrifying is that there are people in the real world who are just like Richie, or who could make his character look like a fluffy bunny.

1. Marcus Eaton

And on a similar vein to Richie, Marcus has terrified me for a much longer period. His abuse of both his wife and son is disgusting, and it highlighted the bravery of my favourite character from the Divergent series – his son. The fact that he doesn't even consider his actions abusive or detrimental to the wellbeing of his family is awful, and his victim blaming is just unacceptable. There is no justification for his actions, and I would love to watch him drown.



I think that's enough negativity for one day. I'm off to think happy thoughts, have a cup of tea and read a book! Let me know in the comments below what you think of the characters I've listed here, and which characters you would drown. I'd love to hear from you :)

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Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Lainey of gingerreadslainey. I tend to participate only when the topic tickles my fancy and isn’t too difficult. Today was one of those occasions.

TOP 5 WEDNESDAY: Books Read in One Sitting

Another week, another Wednesday, another top five list! This time around we're discussing our top five books that we read in one sitting... or close enough to one sitting :P All of the books that I have listed below were read within a day (twelve hours or so).

5. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

I remember reading this book within about five hours. It's only 200~ pages, and therefore a very quick read, but you don't miss out on anything. It was such a deep, beautiful, soul-wrenching story that I completely adored.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

4. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Every year, I re-read The Hunger Games Trilogy around the time that the movies are released. And I am able to fly through a book per day, no worries. They're some of my all-time favourite books, and I'm proud that I can read them so quickly. It makes the story more approachable, knowing that it is always there, and that I can absorb the story again and again without having to dedicate a week or so to it.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

3. Saga, Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Most recently, I read the first bind-up of Saga, and I absolutely adored it. It probably took no more than three, maybe four, hours for me to read this one, because it was just so freaking fantastic that I could not put it down for a minute.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

2. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

This is the first book that I remember reading within a day, and being so gosh-darn amazed with myself for managing to do that. I don't know of anyone who doesn't love this book. This book was written to be adored by everyone who reads it, because no one could possibly deny the love between St. Clair and Anna. <3 <3 <3

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

1. Four: A Divergent Collection by Veronica Roth

I devoured this book as soon as I got my hands on it. Many people hated this book, but I'm one of the few who loved it. I loved being in Four's mind, seeing his side of things, witnessing his story. His childhood was heartbreaking, his determination inspiring, and his love for Tris overwhelming. It was definitely my favourite book in the series, and it only took me about three or four hours to fly through it.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★


Let me know in the comments below what books you've read in one sitting!

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Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Lainey of gingerreadslainey. I tend to participate only when the topic tickles my fancy and isn’t too difficult. Today was one of those occasions. 

TOP 5 WEDNESDAY: Books with Multiple POVs

Soo... as I was planning out this post, I realised that I haven't read all too many books with multiple points of view (or at least books that I actually enjoyed with multiple POVs). I've somewhat stretched the definition of "POV" to achieve this list, and so here they are :)

5. The Legend Trilogy by Marie Lu

This is one of my favourite trilogies of all time, and I thoroughly enjoyed the narration style. Having both June and Day narrate this series gave rich, detailed insight into the world and the characters. The layout, too, was beautiful – different colours and fonts for each character really helped to distinguish their voices, and gave just a little something more to the beauty of these books.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

4. The Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy by Laini Taylor

This is one where I had to stretch the definition of POV, because the whole series is narrated in the third person. But the focus of the narration shifts throughout this story, so that is why I have included it: one moment we're following Karou, the next Zuzana, the next Akiva. It switches around constantly, and I loved getting such a holistic account of the world, the characters and the story.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

3. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

One of my favourite books from 2014, this story is also bawl-your-eyes-out-in-hysterics sad. The alternating voices and narration from Eleanor and Park was lovely to read, but also heartbreaking. When their points of view didn't line up, when they began to doubt themselves, when they went through unspeakable trauma and felt too ashamed to seek support from each other – this book was like torture. A wonderful, wonderful story told from the perspectives of two beautiful characters.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

2. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

This was one of those books that is so frustrating because the POV changed so frequently, leaving sections on cliffhangers and, at times, overwhelming you with a sense of panic for every single character at the exact same time. It was exhausting! But oh so satisfying :3 I really, truly loved this book, and I cannot wait for the release of The Last Star next year (*cries because it is so far away*)

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

1. The Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling

Again, I'm stretching the "POV" definition, but this series has a whole bunch of different perspectives, all narrated in the third person. My personal favourite from the whole series was Snape's chapter at the beginning of Half-Blood Prince. Reading that chapter was a complete game-changer for me. My views towards Snape, my understanding of good/bad, my predicitions for the end of the series all changed with this chapter.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Alas, we come to the end of another Top 5 Wednesday. Let me know if you've read any of the books I mentioned here, and what books with mutliple POVs are your favourites! :)

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Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Lainey of gingerreadslainey. I tend to participate only when the topic tickles my fancy and isn’t too difficult. Today was one of those occasions. 

TOP 5 WEDNESDAY: My Favourite Books of the Year So Far

It's Top 5 Wednesday time, and this week I get to share with you my favourite books I've read so far! Yay for positive vibes!

Admittedly, I haven't read that many books this year. Only seventeen thus far, which is waaaay behind what I had read last year. But I've been busy with my studies, and I knew I wouldn't be able to read as much this year, but still. It's kinda upsetting to have read so few books in the year so far.

Anyway, here are my top five favourite books I've read so far. I haven't included re-reads, because that would have been cheating, I guess.

5. My True Love Gave to Me, edited by Stephanie Perkins

Does this one count? I mostly read it in December 2014, but I finished it in January, so technically it counts to my 2015 reading goal. This collection is such an incredibly cute read. They had me gushing for an abundance of new characters, and even though I only spent a few minutes with each of them, some of their stories will remain with me forever.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

4. Attachments, by Rainbow Rowell

The synopsis alone is enough to leave me squealing in a fangirl frenzy. How could anybody write something so gosh darn adorable?? This book was lovely, short and sweet. It told such a beautiful story of self-love and loving others, and everything in between.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

3. Dreams of Gods and Monsters, by Laini Taylor

This was a monster of a book, but so satisfying to finally read the conclusion to such a beautiful series. The series is definitely one of my all-time favourites, and this book didn't disappoint on epicness. Though I did have a few problems with the conclusion, it was satisfying enough to earn its place on this list.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

2. Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë

I never thought I would love this book, but I had been so keen to read it for so long. And I'm so glad that I finally picked it up. Praise for this book is 100% warranted. It is an incredible work of fiction, and so surprisingly modern in its sentiment and morals. The feminist themes and maturity of Brontë's writing style was completely unexpected, and I simply adored Jane's story.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

1. If I Stay and Where She Went, by Gayle Forman

And, of course, first place goes to this beautiful duology by Gayle Forman. I was laughing, sobbing, laughing, smiling, sobbing, sobbing, sobbing, hoping, dreaming, laughing, and sobbing throughout both of these books. They are so beautifully written, so beautifully unexpected. I love the movie equally so, and I hope they follow through with the sequel, but if not, I'll be happy to re-read these two books for the rest of time.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Let me know what your favourites reads of the year have been!

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Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Lainey of gingerreadslainey. I tend to participate only when the topic tickles my fancy and isn’t too difficult. Today was one of those occasions.