WWW Wednesday: 6th December 2017

December 6, 2017December 5, 2017 Ali@abookishlife30 Comments

The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

I started Everything is Lies by Helen Callaghan at the end of last week but had to park it to read a book for book club but now I’m back focused on it again. I loved the author’s previous book Dear Amy so I was very happy to be offered an ARC of this. It’s a thriller about a woman who discovers her parents after a suspected attempted murder / suicide. She doesn’t believe it and begins to dig into their past discovering that there’s a lot of things she didn’t know about her mother.

I’m around two thirds of the way through this as of this morning and am really enjoying it. Because it is an e-ARC there are some formatting issues (there are sections out of order) which mean I’m losing the flow a bit it’s still a really tense and engaging read.

Recently Finished

Goodbye, Perfect

Three books finished this week, the first of which was Goodbye, Perfect by Sara Barnard. As always I loved Barnard’s writing and it’s a very readable book but I had a general uneasiness about the student teacher relationship featured in the story. Thankfully it’s not the MC who gets involved with her teacher (it’s her best friend) but I still found it a little bit uncomfortable to read.

I did love the complexity of the characters and I was also very happy to see some under represented characters and issues featured, I just wish there had been a little more focus on them and a little less on that icky relationship.

The Muse

The second book finished was The Muse by Jessie Burton. This was this month’s real life book club book and consequently not one I probably would have picked myself. It does have a very pretty cover and, being the superficial person I am, I was tempted by that but was a little put off by the historical fiction thing.

I did find it a bit of a struggle in the beginning, it’s very heavy on descriptions and one character has an odd accent that appears and vanishes but I did find myself becoming sucked in to the story. I wouldn’t necessarily say I liked any of the characters but there was something intriguing about it and I am happy I read it.

La Belle Sauvage (The Book of Dust, #1) The third and final book finished this week was La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman. I have a physical copy of this but due to lack of time I ended up getting the CD’s from the library and listening it to in the car. As a result I think it’s taken me almost four weeks to finish it which probably stopped me becoming fully invested in the story. I did like it a lot and Michael Sheen does a brilliant job as narrator but I didn’t love it as much as I hoped I would. I didn’t fully connect with any of the characters and therefore wasn’t really emotionally engaged which for me is necessary for something to be a five star read. Maybe my views would have been different if I’d read it.

Reading Next

I found out last Friday that I’ve won an advance proof of Still Me by Jojo Moyes so I’m ridiculously excited and watching my letterbox for possibly the best book mail ever. If it appears I will be abandoning whatever I’m reading and picking it up immediately. Failing that I think I will probably be looking for a light and fluffy romance. December is unfortunately a super busy month at work for me so I don’t think I’ll be able to focus on anything more complex. I’m thinking either When It’s Real or It Only Happens in the Movies (I have a suspicion the latter may not be that light and fluffy).

Still Me (Me Before You, #3) When It's Real It Only Happens in the Movies

Have you read any of the books on my list this week? Any others you’d recommend? As always please feel free to leave comments and links below.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!!

Ten Bookish Settings I’d Love to Visit

December 5, 2017December 4, 2017 Ali@abookishlife29 Comments

The theme for this weeks Top Ten Tuesday over at The Broke and the Bookish is top ten bookish settings you’d love to visit. I have to admit I’ve found this one a bit difficult as I read quite a lot of dystopians and thrillers and who really wants to visit any of the places in those types of books. I was kinda tempted to include The Hunger Games, the food, clothes and hairstyles in the Capital do sound pretty good, but I’m not sure about the entertainment choices.

Anyway, here are 10 places I’d kinda like to see.

1 Diagon Alley (Harry Potter Series)

I have a sneaky suspicion that the wizarding world of Harry Potter might crop up in quite a few posts this week (I could fill the whole top ten with Harry Potter places) so I may as well put it up front. I was a little bit tempted to go with Hogwarts but I think I’m a little too old for school so where I really want to visit is Diagon Alley, otherwise known as shopping heaven.

alley GIF

I mean joke shops and owl emporiums sound pretty fun and I do need to go pick a broomstick, some robes for swishing, maybe a wand, a cauldron and some other magical junk. I also really, really want to go to Flourish and Blotts although I suspect I would never leave. And I suppose if I get the munchies I could always nip into the sweetshop or go to the Leaky Cauldron for some butter beer… mmmm.

2. Artemis (Artemis)

Space, the final frontier, these are the voyages of the book addict Ali. OK maybe not but a colony on the moon does sound like it would be pretty cool.

Image result for moon colony

I’m not sure it’s somewhere I’d want to live (I think it’d be a bit claustrophobic) but would be fun for a visit. I’d like to have a bounce around on the surface of the moon, be able to lift really heavy objects due to low gravity and see the site where Neil Armstrong supposedly took his first steps.

3. Jurassic Park (Jurassic Park)

I know they had a few issues with health and safety but I live with a very violent fluffy monster so I’m sure I’d be fine and really what’s the worst that could happen…

jurassic park GIF

Some of the dino’s were pretty cute and from memory of the film the food looked pretty good.

4. Howl’s Moving Castle (Howl’s Moving Castle)

Obviously I’d rather go after it’s had a bit of a clean, cos ya know it sounded a bit manky at the start of the book (and I hate cleaning) but I do love the idea of a castle with a door that opens into different places and that just kind of wanders around.

howls moving castle GIF

5. Gomorrah (Daughter of the Burning City)

There were also a few health and safety issues at this travelling circus/city and I would not want to go near any acts involving animals (they’re cruel) but I would be kinda tempted by the food stalls which sounded amazing (are you spotting a bit of a theme here).

6. The Library (The Invisible Library)

It’s a library so of course I want to go for that reason alone

beauty and the beast book GIF

but add to that the fact that time doesn’t really pass in the Library (you don’t get any older) and you have access to different realities (and their books) and it could be heaven.

7. Invictus (Invictus)

Time machine, do I need to say anything else? OK, red panda??? I really, really want to join the crew of the Invictus on one of their thieving adventures or even just on their vacations. They sound like such a fun group and while conditions may be a little bit cramped I don’t mind snuggling a red panda.

: I don’t have a pic so here’s a Firefly gif

8. The Metropol Hotel (A Gentleman in Moscow)

An actual real place this time (although who’s to say the previous ones don’t exist), The Metropol Hotel in Moscow is where Count Alexander Rostov is sentenced to house arrest in 1922. It’s a grand and luxurious hotel with fine food and drink, shops and with it’s proximity to the Kremlin it’s frequented by some of the most famous residents and visitors to Moscow. I’m not sure they’d let me in but I wouldn’t mind a little bit of luxury and reading this book made me so hungry for the food.

Image result for the metropol hotel moscow

9. The Red Abbey (Maresi by Maria Turtschaninoff)

A little less luxurious than the Metropol hotel, I still kind of like the idea of the island with the Red Abbey. I don’t mind mucking in and doing a bit of work and with no men it would be quite good for a proper girly holiday.

10. Strand Bookstore, NY (Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares)

Shockingly I have never been to New York but it’s somewhere I’ve always been desperate to visit especially at Christmas. I did have quite a few books to choose from to get me there but I really, really loved the New York from Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares. They seemed to go all over and find all of these little hidden gems including what sounds like the most awesome bookshop.

Image result for images of strand bookstore new york

I mean look at that sign, “miles of books” who doesn’t want to go. Also you never know, maybe some handsome stranger will have left a notebook for me to find.

So that’s my 10 bookish settings I want to visit. Would any of these make your list or do you have somewhere even better?

Feel free to leave comments below and links to your own top ten’s.

Teaser Tuesday: 5th December 2017

December 5, 2017December 2, 2017 Ali@abookishlife4 Comments

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purple Booker. If you want to join in grab your current read, flick to a random page, select two sentences (without spoilers) and share them in a blog post or in the comments of The Purple Booker.

This week my teaser comes from The Muse by Jessie Burton. This is not my usual type of read, it’s historical fiction, but it’s this month’s real life book club book and there is definitely something tempting about that cover. I did find it a little difficult to get into and having now finished it I’m not sure I liked it but it did turn into quite an engrossing read.

My Teaser

Her body was taut, every muscle tensed on her spare frame, the set of her jaw fixed as hard as the stone satyr in the fountain. She inhaled deeply and pulled the trigger.

~ Pg 275 The Muse by Jessie Burton

Blurb

A picture hides a thousand words . . .

On a hot July day in 1967, Odelle Bastien climbs the stone steps of the Skelton gallery in London, knowing that her life is about to change forever. Having struggled to find her place in the city since she arrived from Trinidad five years ago, she has been offered a job as a typist under the tutelage of the glamorous and enigmatic Marjorie Quick. But though Quick takes Odelle into her confidence, and unlocks a potential she didn’t know she had, she remains a mystery – no more so than when a lost masterpiece with a secret history is delivered to the gallery.

The truth about the painting lies in 1936 and a large house in rural Spain, where Olive Schloss, the daughter of a renowned art dealer, is harbouring ambitions of her own. Into this fragile paradise come artist and revolutionary Isaac Robles and his half-sister Teresa, who immediately insinuate themselves into the Schloss family, with explosive and devastating consequences . . .

Review: Hold Back the Stars by Katie Khan

December 3, 2017 Ali@abookishlife7 Comments

Hold Back The Stars by Katie Khan

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

More of a love story than a space adventure, this story may not be for everyone but I have to praise it for being so completely unique and yet so completely real.

THE BLURB

Ninety minutes.

A few years from now, not too far in the future, two people meet.

It is a classic story of boy meets girl.

Except that it’s not.

When we find them, they have an hour and a half left.

Unless they can save themselves, they won’t survive.

The clock is ticking.

MY REVIEW

It seems to have taken me forever to come up with a review for this as my thoughts on it have been and, a few weeks later, remain rather muddled.

Firstly I want to say that I absolutely loved it for its originality. In fact, I was so drawn to the concept behind it that I somehow ended up both buying a copy and requesting it from NetGalley (I forgot I already owned it). There was something about the idea of a man and woman adrift in space with only 90 minutes of air left and almost no hope of salvation that really appealed to me. Space has always seemed so big and terrifying to me and the thought of being adrift…. wow.

However, if you’re expecting a tense and nail biting fight for survival similar to Gravity or The Martian I fear you will be disappointed. While there is some attempt to save themselves the majority of the story is spent with Max and Carys reflecting back on their relationship. Interspersed with the current time, and their rapidly diminishing air supply, we get flashbacks to their first meeting and all of the ups and downs of their romance, leading up to how they ended up in their current predicament.

The story of their time together does make for a fascinating story and combining that with some truly incredible world building really did engage me but given how little air they had remaining I couldn’t help but think, shouldn’t you be trying harder and focusing more on that?

I felt there should have been more tension. The portrayal of their relationship is wonderfully real and the story is truly heartbreaking at times but I found it difficult to reconcile this leisurely stroll through their past with the thought of their rapidly approaching deaths.

Added to this I have to admit that I didn’t particularly take to either Max or Carys. The characters are believable and well rounded but Carys was too insecure and needy and Max too committed to his beliefs and unwilling to compromise. They do balance each other out in many ways but I never really got behind them as a couple and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was worth it (although maybe I’m just too much of a cynic).

The biggest highlight of this story for me was probably the world the author created. Set in the future it’s so incredibly well thought out and believable. There’s no info dumping but rather all of the details around the state of the world, the political situation and belief systems are revealed gradually and in a very natural way. I liked this idea that their are no real nationalities or religion but rather everyone is encouraged to be an individual, although it did seem a tad lonely and a selfish way of existing.

The pacing of the story is a little bit on the slow side but the writing does make it very readable and it was yet another I found difficult to put down. The ending when it comes is like a lot of the book, a little confusing, a lot unique but ultimately felt right.

Overall I have to say I loved how unusual this book was and also how real it was. I just wish there had been a little more tension and passion to it. If you’re looking for a sci fi space type story I don’t think this will necessarily be for you but if you like unique love stories this may be perfect. I know I will definitely be looking out for more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC. As always all views are my own.

WWW Wednesday: 29th November 2017

November 29, 2017November 28, 2017 Ali@abookishlife11 Comments

The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

I started reading an ARC of Goodbye, Perfect by Sara Barnard yesterday and am making good progress already. It’s a YA contemporary about a girl whose 15 year old best friend runs off with one of their teachers. I have to admit I’m not sure how I feel about it story wise given the subject matter. It’s definitely not the most comfortable reading but Barnard’s writing is as always very good. What I am liking is the way she looks at friendship and loyalty. I am very curious about where this is going to go.

La Belle Sauvage (The Book of Dust, #1) Also still working my way through the audio book of La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman. I didn’t do as much driving over the last week as usual so I’ve only made it through a couple more discs. I’m now on disc 9 of 10 so should probably finish it over the weekend which works out pretty well as it’s due back to the library on Wednesday. I am enjoying it but I can’t say I’m loving it, maybe because it’s taking me so long to get through it on audio.

Recently Finished

Two books finished again this week, damn you Netflix. Actually that’s not fair it was Holly Bourne’s How Do You Like Me Now? which was mostly to blame. I literally couldn’t put it down and became a bit obsessed with it so when I finished it I needed a bit of a break (plus it wouldn’t have been fair to start anything else while it was still buzzing round in my brain). I was kind of expecting some fluffy chick lit/rom com type book but there’s so much more to it than that. It’s much more a commentary on what it’s like to be in your 30’s in today’s society, especially when you’re not where you think you should be. There was so much I could relate to in this and I think I’ve highlighted half the book. It’s not out till June next year so it’s far too early to post a review but one of my top books of this year.

The second book I finished was My Side of the Diamond by Sally Gardner which I’d received from Readers First. It’s a very strange and sometimes confusing story which I mostly liked but I wasn’t too sure about the way the story was told. It’s in the form of various characters giving their accounts to a mysterious Mr Jones of events that happened a number of years ago. You only ever hear one side of the conversation (or interview?) though which is kind of irritating and I felt like it also distanced you from the story.

It was fascinating in some ways but I wasn’t overly invested in any of the characters or the relationships between them. I also felt like it skimmed over a lot that I wanted to know more about. It is a very quick read and not particularly taxing once you figure out what the heck is going on but didn’t wow me.

Reading Next

I just posted my Winter TBR yesterday so I should probably try sticking to it for at least a few days before I wander off and read something completely different 😀 I think the next book will likely be The Muse by Jessie Burton as it’s a book club book and the meeting is next week.

Have you read any of the books on my list this week? Any others you’d recommend? As always please feel free to leave comments and links below.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!!

12 Books on my Winter TBR

November 28, 2017November 27, 2017 Ali@abookishlife29 Comments

The theme for this weeks Top Ten Tuesday over at The Broke and the Bookish is top ten books on your Winter TBR which is perfect for me as I was planning on writing a winter TBR post. I’m not very good at sticking to a plan for my reading but I do find it helps to motivate me if I actually note them down. I can’t guarantee I’m going to read all of these but they are the ones I hope to get to.

ARC’s

I’ve been making great progress on my ARC’s over the past few weeks and finally managed to get my NetGalley ratio over 80%. Assuming I don’t go too nuts with the request button I only really have the following books due.

Everless by Sara Holland (YA Fantasy) – There seems to be quite a lot of hype around this which is making me kinda nervous about it but so far all of the reviews look positive so I am looking forward to it. I do love the idea of time as a currency.
Everything is Lies by Helen Callaghan (Thriller) – I read and loved the authors debut novel Dear Amy (review) so I jumped at the chance to get a copy of her new one. This one is about a woman who finds her parents dead in an apparent murder suicide. She doesn’t believe it so starts digging into the past.
Cruel Prince by Holly Black (YA Fantasy – This will be my first Holly Black book but I can’t wait to read it. It’s been far too long since I’ve had fey in my life.
Furyborn by Claire Legrand (Another YA Fantasy) – Hmm there seems to be a lot of YA fantasy on this list, oh well. This is a book I was swithering over requesting on NetGalley and ended up getting a copy in a book subscription box.

Library Books

Because I clearly don’t have enough books to read I’ve been hitting up the library yet again to get some more.

The Muse by Jessie Burton (Historical) – This is my next book club read but is one I’ve been curious about for a while. I don’t read a lot of historical fiction but there’s something very tempting about that cover
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green (YA Contemporary) – I know I swore after reading Looking for Alaska that I was never ever reading another book by Green but it seems to be everywhere so I feel like I have to read it. We’ll see how it goes and whether my Green ban is reinstated or ditched.
Forgive me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick (YA Contemporary) – I read another Matthew Quick book a year ago (which I totally can’t remember the name of) and found it weird but brilliant so I’ve been keeping my eye out for another book by him.
The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell (Gothic Horror) – I spied this at the library and couldn’t resist picking it up. I like a good spooky ghost story so I have high hopes.

Owned

I have so many books, physical and ebooks, that I just never seem to get round to reading that I’m hoping now my ARCs are semi under control I can finally get to. These are probably more possibles than definites as it will depend what I’m in the mood for.

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera (YA Contemporary) – I keep buying Silvera books but never seem to get around to reading them. This is my latest purchase and probably the one I’m most excited about.
It only Happens in the Movies by Holly Bourne (YA Contemporary) – I’ve literally just finished an ARC of How Do You Like Me Now? and absolutely loved it (it’s rare to come across a book which is just so real) so I really want to read another book by Bourne and this one is sitting on my kindle waiting for me.
When It’s Real by Erin Watt (NA Romance) – With all of these serious books I think I’m going to need a bit of romance so would really like to pick up this one.
The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye (YA Fantasy) – I have started this book three times and haven’t made it past chapter 2 yet. Nothing against the book, it’s just never been the right time. It does seem like it’ll be a good one for the Christmas holidays so maybe I’ll go on a series binge, fueled by mince pies and chocolate.

So that’s my TBR for the next couple of months. I would also really like to sneak in a classic or two, maybe a re read of Jane Eyre and my first attempt at Great Expectations or another Dickens, but we’ll see. I’m not generally very good at sticking to a reading plan.

Do you have a list of books you’re hoping to read over the winter period? Can you stick to a reading plan or are you more of a mood reader? Have you read any of the books on my list? Any I should race to read or avoid like the plague?

Feel free to leave comments below and links to your own top ten’s.

Teaser Tuesday: 28th November 2017

November 28, 2017November 26, 2017 Ali@abookishlifeLeave a comment

I really, really want to post a teaser from Holly Bourne’s new book How Do You Like Me Now? but as it’s not out till June next year I probably shouldn’t which leaves me a bit stuck as I’m not actually reading anything *runs off to hunt bookshelves*.

OK I never posted a teaser from Killman Creek by Rachel Caine so let’s go with that. This is the follow up to the brilliant Stillhouse Lake and is just as good. I won’t say much about it due to spoilers (and I wouldn’t advise reading the blurb) but my teaser is spoiler free and will possibly make you really paranoid about social media.

My Teaser

You never understand how vulnerable you are in this age of social media until something breaks against you, and then . . . then it’s too late. You can shut down Facebook, Twitter, Instagram; you can change your phone number and your email. Move to new places. But for dedicated tormentors, that isn’t a barrier. It’s a challenge.

~ Loc. 2051 Killman Creek by Rachel Caine

Blurb

Every time Gwen closed her eyes, she saw him in her nightmares. Now her eyes are open, and he’s not going away.

Gwen Proctor won the battle to save her kids from her ex-husband, serial killer Melvin Royal, and his league of psychotic accomplices. But the war isn’t over. Not since Melvin broke out of prison. Not since she received a chilling text…

You’re not safe anywhere now.

Her refuge at Stillhouse Lake has become a trap. Gwen leaves her children in the protective custody of a fortified, well-armed neighbor. Now, with the help of Sam Cade, brother of one of Melvin’s victims, Gwen is going hunting. She’s learned how from one of the sickest killers alive.

But what she’s up against is beyond anything she feared—a sophisticated and savage mind game calculated to destroy her. As trust beyond her small circle of friends begins to vanish, Gwen has only fury and vengeance to believe in as she closes in on her prey. And sure as the night, one of them will die.

ARC Review: Killman Creek by Rachel Caine

November 26, 2017 Ali@abookishlife19 Comments

Killman Creek by Rachel Caine

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

One of my most anticipated reads, the sequel to Stillhouse Lake didn’t let me down. It’s a fast paced and gripping story that still has a few surprises in store.

Spoiler Alert: as Killman Creek is a sequel both the blurb and my review contain spoilers for Stillhouse Lake.

THE BLURB

Every time Gwen closed her eyes, she saw him in her nightmares. Now her eyes are open, and he’s not going away.

Gwen Proctor won the battle to save her kids from her ex-husband, serial killer Melvin Royal, and his league of psychotic accomplices. But the war isn’t over. Not since Melvin broke out of prison. Not since she received a chilling text…

You’re not safe anywhere now.

Her refuge at Stillhouse Lake has become a trap. Gwen leaves her children in the protective custody of a fortified, well-armed neighbor. Now, with the help of Sam Cade, brother of one of Melvin’s victims, Gwen is going hunting. She’s learned how from one of the sickest killers alive.

But what she’s up against is beyond anything she feared—a sophisticated and savage mind game calculated to destroy her. As trust beyond her small circle of friends begins to vanish, Gwen has only fury and vengeance to believe in as she closes in on her prey. And sure as the night, one of them will die.

MY REVIEW

I was blown away by Stillhouse Lake when I read it a few months ago so I was beyond excited to finally get my hands on a copy of sequel Killman Creek from NetGalley and while my expectations were ridiculously high, Caine didn’t let me down.

Whereas Stillhouse Lake was a good old fashioned who dunnit which kept you guessing till the very end this is a much different type of thriller. Unlike the first book where Gwen was very much on the defensive this time she’s going on the attack. Her serial killer ex-husband is still on the loose and with help from hacker Absolom he seems to be able to find her and her children everywhere they go. She’s fed up of running and hiding though so she stashes the children Lanny and Connor somewhere safe while she and Sam go hunting.

Due to the nature of the story there’s a lot less mystery this time around, it’s more a game of cat and mouse, but that’s not to say there isn’t the odd unexpected twist and there are still a lot of questions over who can be trusted. It’s a fast paced and gripping story that does somehow make you question everything you previously thought was true.

Rather than being told solely from Gwen’s point of view, Killman Creek is told from multiple pov’s, something that took a little bit of getting used to. As well as Gwen, there are also chapters from Sam, Lanny and Connor’s points of view and while I liked some more than others it did add a new and interesting perspective to the story and let us get to know the other characters a bit better.

I have to say I do love Gwen/Gina. She does get put through the wringer time after time but no one can say she isn’t a fighter and I love how she always puts her kids first. Sam is quite an intriguing character, brother to one of Gwen’s ex-husband’s victims, he’s out for vengeance but is very confused about his feelings towards Gwen. It was great to see them spending so much time alone together this time around. The way the dynamic between them shifts and changes makes for some brilliant reading.

As for Lanny and Connor, gah!!! I know they’re young but really? Did they have to do everything they weren’t supposed to do? So frustrating but you just know they’re going to do the stupid thing that lands everyone in danger.

There aren’t very many new characters, and the ones there are come and go fairly quickly with only one or two making much of an impression, but really this is all about the relationships between those we know, so who cares.

This is pretty much non stop action and suspense from beginning to end and the final explosive showdown makes it all worthwhile. Caine’s writing is as always brilliant, creating just the right balance of tension, action and the more emotional scenes which keep you connected to and rooting for the characters.

Overall I thought this was a great conclusion to the story and definitely one I’d recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC. As always all views are my own.

Killman Creek will be published on the 12th December

WWW Wednesday: 22nd November 2017

November 22, 2017November 21, 2017 Ali@abookishlife25 Comments

The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

I’m currently reading an ARC of How Do You Like Me Now by Holly Bourne. It’s not out until June next year (there’s not even a cover yet) so should probably be further down my reading list but it just sounded like the type of book I was in the mood for. It’s Bourne’s first adult novel (although I have to confess I haven’t read any of her YA books) and is about a 31 year old self help guru who’s life is not going as well as her bestselling book would suggest. I only started this late yesterday but finding it difficult to put down. The MC is not overly likeable but she’s a very real character and reminds me of more than one person I could name.

La Belle Sauvage (The Book of Dust, #1) I’m also still listening to the audio of La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman. As of writing this I’ve just started disc 7 of 10 (this whole CD thing is weird) and I’m still really enjoying it. Michael Sheen does the narration and he’s really, really good. There are a couple of things that are still bugging me a little about the story but they are the same things that bugged me about the original trilogy so I can’t really complain.

Recently Finished

Only two books finished this week as I ended up having a bit of a Netflix movie marathon over the weekend. Does it count if I watched Mockingjay? Anyway the first book finished was Hold Back the Stars by Katie Khan. I received this from NetGalley then realized I already had a copy which I’d found in a bargain bin (sorry) in the newsagents. I obviously really liked the sound of it but couldn’t remember its name.

I did really love the concept, that a couple are adrift in space with only 90mins of air left, but this is definitely a lot more romance than a sci fi as the focus is very much on their relationship. There were parts I loved, parts that made me cry and the world building is incredible. There were just a few things about it that didn’t feel right. I finished it feeling very confused about the whole thing and I’m still not sure whether I would say I enjoyed it or not.

Killman Creek (Stillhouse Lake, #2) The second book finished was one of my most anticipated reads, Killman Creek by Rachel Caine, which I received from NetGalley. I read and absolutely loved Stillhouse Lake a few months ago so I was very happy to get my hands on the sequel. I’m not sure I would necessarily say it’s as good but I think that’s more because my expectations were higher rather than anything to do with the story. It’s a really gripping read, the stakes are even higher, and the conclusion is truly epic.

Reading Next

Miraculously I seem to have managed to get my NetGalley shelf under control (well almost) and my feedback is up to 80% so I think it’s time I read some of the bought books I haven’t had time to yet. Probably one of the following:

The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic (Grisha Verse, #0.5, #2.5, #2.6) They Both Die at the End Wonder Woman: Warbringer (DC Icons, #1) Nevernight (The Nevernight Chronicle, #1) It Only Happens in the Movies Forest of a Thousand Lanterns (Rise of the Empress, #1) Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Seek Memories of Ash (The Sunbolt Chronicles, #2) The Break Labyrinth Lost (Brooklyn Brujas, #1)

Have you read any of the books on my list this week? Any others you’d recommend? As always please feel free to leave comments and links below.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!!

Teaser Tuesday: 21st November 2017

November 21, 2017November 19, 2017 Ali@abookishlife6 Comments

This week my teaser comes from Hold Back the Stars by Katie Khan. This is a book I bought ages ago then accidentally requested on NetGalley and got approved. I read it at the end of last week as I was looking for something different and it’s definitely that. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it. There were bits I loved and bits I didn’t. I’m so confused

My Teaser

‘Settling,’ scoffs Gwen. ‘We all settle. There isn’t a person alive who matches every element of the fantasy we wish for. Every person in a relationship has settled. What you choose to compromise on is up to you.’

~ 81% Hold Back the Stars by Katie Khan

Blurb

‘We’re going to be fine.’
He looks around, but there’s nothing out here: nothing but the bottomless black universe on their left, the Earth suspended in glorious technicolour to their right.

Carys and Max have ninety minutes of air left.
None of this was supposed to happen.
But, perhaps this doesn’t need to be the end…
Adrift in space with nothing to hold on to but each other, Carys and Max can’t help but look back at the well-ordered world they have left behind – at the rules they couldn’t reconcile themselves to, and a life to which they might now never return.
For in a world where love is banned, what happens when you find it?

Hold Back the Stars is a love story like no other.