Hello,

How have you all been? It's been an age since I last did a wrap up/TBR blog post - I prefer to do them all on YouTube but it's kind of nice to have a written alternative don't you think?

I have my video for my November Wrap Up linked here however, I'm going to have a TBR video separately this time and a little bit later because at this point in time, I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to put on there. So I'm gonna do some thinking and you'll be able to get a sneak peek at the end ;)

I read a total of six books this month which I'm happy with, I think I could've read more if I managed my time a bit better but I'm still happy with six. I also loved every single book I read this month which makes me the most happy - it's always a plus when that happens.

NOVEMBER WRAP UP


1. Tower of Dawn - Sarah J Maas
I finally got back into this after not being in the right mood for it for a little while and holy heck, did I love it!! While I had some kind of expectations, I felt like I was - for the most part, going to enjoy this book but never did I anticipate loving this so immensely. All the characters were A plus and the story was fantastic. I have a full review here and this is 100% a favourite of the year.
5/5

2. A Quiet Kind of Thunder - Sara Barnard
A perfect contemporary. Our main character Steffi who has selective mutism meets Rhys, a boy who is deaf. Whilst this was written in what I think was a very realistic way for teenagers, I also thought it was written in a mature way so that older readers can still enjoy without it being 'teenagers'. The sign language details in the book were so damn brilliant and such a great and diverse addition to the book.
5/5

3. This is Where it Ends - Marieke Nijkamp
This fast paced novel was a great book to read during a 24 hour readathon (video here!) This follows a few characters point of views during a school shooting and was one of those books that you kind of need to keep reading until you're done - totally doable since it's quite a short book. I thought that some of the storyline could've been altered slightly to make the story make a little more sense at times but as a sensitive topic, I thought it was done quite well (though I have no kind of experience).
4/5

4. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin
I bought this book solely because it was one of Kristie's (@bookwormkristie) fave books and my interest was peaked, I then picked it up in the readathon because leading up to it, Kristie did not stop going on about it SO I NEEDED TO KNOW. At first I thought the book was gonna be a little cringe at times due to the high school-ness of it however, I highly enjoyed it. It was way more mature than I originally thought and the teen angst was FANTASTIC. The story was really great though there were times when I was much like the character and didn't know what was real and what was not (I still don't either). Overall, it was a thrilling novel that I thoroughly enjoyed and am very much looking forward to the next two books.
4/5



5. A Court of Wings and Ruin - Sarah J Maas
I fell into a little bit of a slump after the readathon and decided to pick this up as I was very keen to reread it after getting all the feels a few months ago and I think I enjoyed it even more the second time round because I was able to look into a few things more that I had paid less attention to last time. I won't go any further but I have a full review here if you'd like to know my thoughts from May.
5/5

6. One of Us is Lying - Karen M McManus (that's a lot of M's)
This book was part of the @badwitchesread bookclub and I was very excited to read it. This follows four students/now murder suspects as five students went into detention and one of them died during it. I thought both the story and the characters developed very well and I enjoyed the end of it - I did try and play detective and one of my theories ended up being correct (though I had a lot of theories).
4/5



DECEMBER TBR

1. Gemina - Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman (finally)

2. Empress of a Thousand Skies - Rhoda Belleza (maybe)

3. Godsgrave - Jay Kristoff (have to keep reading after I put it down, oops)

4. Wonder Woman Warbringer - Leigh Bardugo (also have to keep reading after I put it down)

5. The Hate U Give - Angie Thomas (yes, I haven't read it yet!!)


And there you have it friends. I was happy with my reading month but am hoping for more in December since it's the end of the year. My TBR is still a little so-so but we'll see what happens!

That is all I have for you today, make sure to head over to my YouTube channel for more content.

Until next time,

xx


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
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Twitter: @erenareads
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SPOILER FREE REVIEW
*Please note that while my review is spoiler free, the synopsis will give things away if you haven't read up to at least Queen of Shadows (book four). You can skip over it though if you still want to read my review.

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Title: Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass #6)
Author: Sarah J Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication date: September 5 2017
RRP: AUD 17.99 (paperback)

Synopsis:
Chaol has always defined himself by his loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since Aelin shattered the glass castle, since Chaol's men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken. Now he and Nesryn sail for Antica - the stronghold of the southern continent's mighty empire and of the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme. It's Chaol's one shot at recovery, and with war looming back home, Dorian and Aelin's survival could depend on Chaol and Nesryn convincing Antica's rulers to ally with them. But what they discover there will change them both - and be more vital to saving Erilea than they could have imagined.

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At first, I wasn't crazy excited for this book - not because of Chaol but because I was simply desperate to know what happened after Empire of Storms. The ending of book five left me face down on the couch wondering what to do with my life so I kind of really wanted that next story (now book seven in the series). Alas, when it came closer to the release date, I found I was SO DAMN EXCITED for it and especially the special edition I had pre-ordered (it's beautiful by the way!)

Tower of Dawn is classic Sarah J Maas writing and I've loved all of these Throne of Glass books however, this book blew me away and it deserves a standing ovation. The story was just so riveting and once you got stuck in, you were powering through it.

I adored Yrene immediately, she almost rivals Manon for my favourite character in the series but she'll have to settle for second. Yrene is smart and thinks about her actions and consequences and if you know me well, you'll know I love those kind of characteristics. Along with those though, she is all round badass and also lovely and like I said, I adore her.

I freaking loved Chaol in the first two Throne of Glass novels but as we had more and more point of views and more Dorian development, he seemed to fall off my radar a little bit. I still liked him, I just wasn't as obsessed HOWEVER, Tower of Dawn does wonders for him and he's just shot straight up to being next to Dorian as my fave males of the series (not in love with Rowan, soz). Sarah wrote him so well in this story and I've started imagining him with his shirt off, ok bye.

I honestly was not interested in Nesryn in the beginning of this story and I actually think that was the aim. When she ventures out in the city and starts spending time with other characters her character develops beautifully and I found myself craving her chapters as much as the others.

The story has the classic character frustrations, relationship developments, a little bit of angst, crazy shit that happens, cool shit that happens, scary shit that happens, you know... that kinda story. It made me happy and then I would honestly be scared shitless, sometimes I cried a little bit but at the end of the book, I was so delighted with the entire story.

This could possibly be my favourite book of the Throne of Glass series, I know, CRAZY! The only reason I don't know is because Manon and Dorian give me life (especially in Empire of Storms). I actually voted for Tower of Dawn in the Goodreads Choice Awards because it's a damn WINNER.

Anyway, I felt like I kind of spewed my emotions for this book on the screen *laughs to self* but I hope you enjoyed this review and if you haven't read it, I hope you do! It is brilliantly written and such a phenomenal story.

My rating: 5/5 (duh)



*This book was sent to me unsolicited by Bloomsbury Australia. All opinions are my own.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
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Spoiler free review

Title: Because You Love to Hate Me
Author: Multiple; edited by Ameriie
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication date: September 2017
RRP: $14.99 AUD

Synopsis:
In this collection each booktuber gives one author a writing prompt, from which the author has created a story, written from the point of view of a famous villain. They may be stories of vengeance, of defiance, of rage. They might be stories of pain, of heartbreak, of sorrow. But they will definitely not be stories about do-gooders doing good. Leave it to the heroes to help the world; villains just want to rule the world. We love to hate them and they hate to be loved.

I was so excited to receive this in the mail despite not always loving short stories - they're too short! However, a bunch of short stories about villains, YES PLEASE.

I've been putting off writing this review because I had no idea how to write it. I didn't want to talk about every single story and I didn't want it to be too short - it might be though, so here goes...

A few of the stories were average, some were below average. For some of the them, the story was simply too... bland and repetitive? Others had a great idea to them but there was too much time spent on the beginnings of the story and the middle and/or ending was therefore rushed.

I felt that some of the stories were done pretty well. My favourites were The Sea Witch by Marissa Meyer, Shirley & Jim by Susan Dennard, Beautiful Venom by Cindy Pon and Death Knell by Victoria Schwab. The stories were brilliant and I felt they were executed beautifully as a short story.


I also enjoyed Jack by Ameriie, Marigold by Samantha Shannon (a great message!) and Sera by Nicola Yoon.

I wasn't at all interested in the booktuber commentary part - I'm sorry! I tried to start reading it but I'm not into a lot of the booktubers that were in there so it was hard for me to read it and then I just ended up skipping all of them.

Overall, if you like short stories - more so if they are told in a villain's perspective, then I think you'll enjoy this book.



Rating: 3/5


*This book was sent to me unsolicited by Bloomsbury Australia. All opinions are my own.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
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Spoiler free review

Title: Moonrise
Author: Sarah Crossan
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication date: September 2017
RRP: $16.99

Synopsis:
Joe hasn't seen his brother for ten years, and it's for the most brutal of reasons. Ed is on death row.
But now Ed's execution date has been set, and Joe is determined to spend those last weeks with him, no matter what other people think...


Firstly, let me thank the book gods for another floppy paperback - I enjoy these. Secondly (another thanks), this cover is damn beautiful and I could have it forever on display.

Moonrise is written in what I think is a poetry layout - it isn't poetry but at a glance, it looks like it, does that make sense? It's from the perspective of Joe and flips between the present and the past as his memories which made for a more well developed and insightful story.

I've never read a fictional story like this before and it was interesting to read about a boy who has a brother on death row. This was an emotional read and I found myself crying towards the end. It makes me even more emotional that people actually go through this kind of situation on a daily basis - it's heartbreaking. Our main character, Joe, was a well developed character and I enjoyed reading from his point of view. The other characters in Moonrise were a great addition that helped the story continue.


The writing seemed simple but compelling and beautiful. I loved the structure of the book, it made it so easy to read and to be drawn in and to never want to put it down. I finished this in about 24 hours and wish I could rewind and read it all again for the first time - something only a few books have made me feel.

I highly recommend Moonrise, more so if you're looking for a quick read - though you may want to try and devour this as slowly as you can.

Rating: 4/5


*This book was sent to me by Bloomsbury unsolicited. All opinions are my own.




WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
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Title: Take Three Girls
Authors: Cath Crowley, Simmone Howell and Fiona Wood
Publisher: Pan MacMillan
Publication date: September 2017
RRP: $18.99

Synopsis:
Ady - not the confident A-lister she appears to be.
Kate - brainy boarder taking risks to pursue the music she loves.
Clem - disenchanted swim-star losing her heart to the wrong boy.
All are targeted by PSST, a toxic website that deals in gossip and lies. St Hilda's antidote to cyber-bullying? The Year 10 Wellness program. Nice try - but sometimes all it takes is three girls.
Exploring friendship, feminism, identity and belonging, Take Three Girls is honest, raw and funny.

I'm part of the blog tour hosted by Pan MacMillan (thank you!) for Take Three Girls and I'm very excited to tell you my thoughts on this book. Whenever I get contacted about #loveozya books I almost immediately say yes however, I make sure I read the synopsis first and then I can say 'yes' to my heart's content.

As you may (or may not) have noticed, this book has three authors and is told in the perspective of three different 16-year-old girls all attending the same school (in Australia!). Each author wrote a character each which I felt was smart even if it seemed like the normal thing to do anyway. Either way, it was written really well. I would say a downside though was that sometimes it would be in the present and suddenly switch to the past so fast and abruptly that I had to read the paragraph again (this happened a few times).
This book is centred around bullying, in particular, cyber bullying and how these characters deal with it and just you know, their lives really.

 This book took almost 300 pages for me to get really into it which was unfortunate BUT, I felt that it was worth it because after I reached that point, I didn't stop reading until I was finished and it honestly made me so happy (so happy that at one point, I had watery eyes from happiness).

I felt that the characters and situations were so realistic (I was that age 10 years ago - wow, am I old? -  and can tell you now, that most of this happened either to me or around me). I loved how some of the characters, mainly Clem I think, were so naive, even if it seems annoying, it was so damn real.

My favourite character was Ady, I simply adored her and she was who I had tears of joy for that I mentioned earlier. Though I felt like I related to each main character in a little way somehow, whether something relevant now or in my past - it was nice.

There was a little insta-love in the story but I didn't spend much time worrying about it because so much other stuff made up for it. I loved the message this book gave me and how important and relevant it is (fat-shaming, slut-shaming).
This might be a little random but I just wanted to emphasise something in the book how females are in a way, punished for who we are and choose to be. I am not one to usually say something like that but this book made me realise that with certain aspects in life, many women are degraded in a way that most men will never experience in their lifetime.

Okay, anyways... Overall, this book while it started slow, ended up being a good story and had a great message and I really enjoyed it.

Rating: 4/5

*This book was sent to me by Pan MacMillan as part of the blog tour and

in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.




WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
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Title: All the Dirty Parts
Author: Daniel Handler
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication date: October 1st 2017
RRP: $24.99

Synopsis:
Coles is a boy in high school. He runs cross country, he sketches, he jokes around with friends. But none of this quite matters next to the allure of sex. "Let me put it this way," he says. "Draw a number line, with zero is you never think about sex and ten is, it's all you think about, and while you are drawing the line, I am thinking about sex."
Coles fantasies about whomever he's looking at. He consumes and shares pornography. And he sleeps with a lot of girls, which is beginning to earn him a not-quite-savory reputation around school. This leaves him adrift with only his best friend for company, and then something startling starts to happen between them that might be what he's been after all this time - and then he meets Grisaille.


Upon being contacted about this book to review, my first thought was "ahh, not my kind of book". But then because of that thought, I changed my mind and wanted to give it a try.
Now you might think I'll go off track here but it's relevant, I assure you. You know Lemony Snicket? Author of A Series of Unfortunate Events? Have you ever wondered who he actually is? WELL, it is Daniel Handler, author of this novel: All the Dirty Parts, (fun fact??)

From the synopsis, you may be somewhat intrigued, just like I was. I did not think about the fact that this was told from the perspective of a 16-year-old high school boy however, once I finished, I did and well... I felt a bit weird. So basically, this book is literally the thoughts of said 16-year-old boy, Cole and how he constantly thinks about sex.

I liked how this book was written in Cole's thoughts with the dialogue kind of thrown in there however, I failed to see much of a story, it was really just his day-to-day thoughts and that's what really let me down. It was just about him and sex really, I wouldn't say it was for a 26-year-old female like myself. There was a point in the book that had the full potential to go into a story that I would have loved to read, alas I was left disappointed.
There were times (not too often) where there would be a sudden flashback to the other day or last month and then back to the present in the same sentence, it threw me off a little.

In saying all that, I think there are other readers who would find this novel far more entertaining (I'm now thinking about a line about hommus mentioned in the book). It was a really quick read as well, so if you're looking for just a little something to read and you don't mind reading about the sexual thoughts (some are more explicit than others) from a 16-year-old character then check out some of the reviews on Goodreads because I've seen some others enjoy it.

Rating: 2/5 



*This book was sent to me by Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.




WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
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Twitter: @erenareads
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Hello everyone,

I was wondering if I should still do these wrap up posts since I will always do them on my YouTube channel (unless for some unforeseen reason) and I actually have no idea if people like reading them or not? I decided to do one for August anyway because well, why not? I should be doing an assignment but aye, there's always tomorrow (bad Erena, bad!) If you're keen on watching my video for this click here!

I read a total of three books this month and I'm actually very happy with that seeing as it was an incredibly busy month for me at uni (I am desperate for this semester to end!!) but I do hope to get a bit more done during September.


BOOKS READ IN AUGUST

1. Winter - Marissa Meyer
This is a mountain of a book and it took me a while to get through it since I was so busy, but then all of a sudden I read almost half the book in one night. I felt that most of what happened was necessary so the big ol book was relevant. I loved seeing it all tied together and I really liked Winter's character though my favourite if Scarlet. I loved Cress' development too! Her and Thorne just break my heart. The story, while long, is exciting and Cinder gets real badass.
4/5



2. Genuine Fraud - E. Lockhart
When there was the opportunity to review this, I just HAD to have it. I loved We Were Liars and the I had a feeling this one was going to be just as good. Within the first few pages, I was hooked and I had to force myself to put it down to other human things. The main character Jule is questionable, I really enjoyed reading her character though despite some of the crazy things she'd say and do. If you're in the mood for a fast-paced and thrilling YA novel, this is the one for you! Full review here.
4.5/5



3. The Genesi Code - Tristen Willis
From a new, Aussie author, this dystopian/sci-fi novel is a short, fast paced story that has you wanting more. While the writing in the first few chapters seemed a bit rocky, I was soon immersed in the story and found myself really enjoying it. I love the main character, Luka, she is pretty badass and I enjoyed reading from her point of view. I loved the bouts of action and only wish, the other characters were explored more. I'm hoping for more depth in the next book! For a full review, click here.
3.5/5


SEPTEMBER TBR

1. Nevernight - Jay Kristoff
I've finally picked this back up and I have been loving it. It is brutal and hilarious and it's god damn great.


2. Because You Love to Hate Me - collection of short stories from authors edited by Ameriie
I'll be writing a review for this one.

3. Tower of Dawn - Sarah J Maas
AHH YES PLS

4. Wonder Woman Warbringer - Leigh Bardugo
Another AHH YES PLS (hehe)


5. Take Three Girls - Cath Crowley, Simmone Howell & Fiona Wood
I'll be part of the blog tour on this one, keep an eye out on September 29th!

6. All the Dirty Parts - Daniel Handler
 I'll have a review for this one too.


And there is my slightly ambitious TBR for the month of September. I won't tell you what I've read just yet (though you'll find out on my Goodreads or you'll see on Instagram from time to time). I'll try get the next wrap up post up sooner rather than more than half way through the month, my bad. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoyed my little reviews and an insight into what I want to read and I'll see you next time!

x




WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
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Title: Genuine Fraud
Author: E. Lockhart
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Publication date: 6 September 2017
RRP: $19.99

Synopsis:
Imogen is an heiress, a runaway, and a cheat.
Jule is a fighter, a chameleon, and a liar.
Imogen is done pretending to be perfect, and Jule refuses to go back to the person she was. Somewhere between the mansions of Martha's Vineyard and the shores of Cabo San Lucas, their intense friendship takes a dark turn.
Genuine Fraud is a masterful new psychological suspense novel - the story of a young woman whose diabolical smarts are her ticket into a charmed life. But how many times can someone reinvent themselves? You be the judge. How far would you go to be someone else?

When I saw E Lockhart had a new book coming out, I almost requested it without even reading the synopsis - though, of course I did, ha. Lockhart's previous novel, We Were Liars was so surprisingly good that I've been waiting for her next book to come out. As you may see from the synopsis above, Genuine Fraud somewhat of a suspenseful story. Literally within the first chapter you'll be wanting more, and you'll be trying to formulate what's happening immediately.

The story itself I found to be incredibly thrilling and it was hard to put down because I just wanted to know everything. It's set out so that the chapters go back in time and you find out what Jule and Imogen have been up to and what has led them to the present. The story gets quite dark (in young adult terms anyway), and when I found out everything that unfolds, I had a little jaw-dropped moment - actually there was a few of those.

It's told in the point of view of Jule and you are constantly questioning her words and actions. This is how you're easily able to continue reading without stopping, you need to know the WHY for everything she says and does. Even though she's kind of crazy, I quite like how Jule's character is written. I like reading about characters that are very different from what I'm used to reading, and further how the author keeps that character going.

Overall, Genuine Fraud is an exciting story that I highly recommend if you're interested in a fast-paced story that kind of resembles a thriller - I wouldn't exclusively call it a thriller compared to what I've read before but it is thriller enough for me, and definitely enjoyable. If you enjoyed Lockhart's previous novel We Were Liars, then I think you'll like this. If you don't usually read these kinds of novels and find yourself in a bit of a slump I think this would be a great book for you to pick up.

If you have read it/end up reading it I would love to know your thoughts. Until then, take care and see you soon!

4.5/5


*This book was sent to me by Allen & Unwin in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
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Title: The Genesi Code
Author: Tristen Willis
Publication date: 1st September 2017

Synopsis:
Luka was only eight years old when her father, Christopher Foster, was murdered.
Christopher had been working on a cure for the Genesi Code, which has plagued the human race since the government began experimenting on human DNA in an attempt to create a genetically-advanced army.Luka has spent the last ten years training for the military’s elite taskforce, known as Delta Force, so she can uncover the truth surrounding her father’s murder. But along the way, she uncovers a truth about herself that she is not yet ready to face. Could the truth surrounding Luka’s past be the key to curing the Genesi and ending the war? In the end, is revenge all that matters?


Firstly, I am so grateful that I got the opportunity to review this. Not only do I love supporting new authors but Australian authors too. Tristen is the owner of Burning Pages Candles and along with the book she sent some candles, solid perfume and tea based on The Genesi Code as well as a badge that I'm incredibly tempted to buy a jacket solely to sew it on there (well I'd get my mum to do the sewing since I have no idea how).


The first few chapters felt a bit rocky to me, though that feeling quickly left me - I'm not sure if the writing changed or I just got used to it, and I was enjoying the story. After this initial stage I think you'll find it very easy to read.

The plot was very fast paced however, there was only about two moments (I think) in the book that I felt could've slowed down. Other than that, I really loved the story. I would say this was a dystopian novel, with sci-fi elements (Tris, correct me if I'm wrong!) and I love what has been set up here. The world, and especially the Genesi are so interesting to me and I'm looking forward to finding out more.



I would have liked for the other characters to be explored more - especially Ren, so I'm hoping for that in book two. I really liked Luka's character, she was badass and smart, but still real at the same time. I liked her thought processes and I really enjoyed reading from her perspective.

Overall, The Genesi Code is a fast paced and exciting story that absolutely left me wanting more. I wouldn't call the ending a cliffhanger but you'll definitely be excited to see what comes next. I feel like so much of the story was set up in this book to further continue and explore in the coming books.

3.5/5

*I was sent this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
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Title: Stargazing for Beginners
Author: Jenny McLachlan
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication date: June 2017
RRP: $14.99

Synopsis:
Meg adores space. She is fascinated by science, loves logic and wants nothing more than to be an astronaut. Stargazing for Beginners sees Meg 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. While Meg may understand how the universe was formed, baby Elsa is a complete mystery to her.
Plus, 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 of this double life of caring for Elsa and following her own dreams? She'll need a miracle of cosmic proportions.

Let me begin by saying how stunningly beautiful the cover of this book is, I love watching the light reflect off it at different angles. This book is a great teenage read but as a 26-year-old, I very much enjoyed it. I'm so thankful that Bloomsbury sent it to me because it's not something I would usually pick up - though that could potentially be a lie if I did a 'cover buy'.

Firstly, Meg is an incredibly likeable character. She is hardworking, smart and likes to keep to herself. With the situation she's been put into (shame on you, mother!), as well some things that happen at school, she's had to change her ways quite a bit and I seriously admire her for how she takes it. I empathised with Meg a lot in this story and am grateful for it.


The story itself, I found very interesting, I mean, who just ups and leaves their kids because 'there is a greater cause that I must help out with' (not a quote from the book, but you gist right?). Anyway, their mum f***s off to Myanmar and I'm here like WTF? But that is the main reason for this story. Meg is plunged into this chaotic life and because of that, it really helped develop her character. I loved so many aspects of this story and I LOVED that she loved space.

The side characters were great. Her grandpa is hilarious, and the biscuit club grew on me pretty quickly (you'll understand if you've read it/once you read it). Annie was a great character to have in there and I loved her bluntness.

Stargazing for Beginners brought out so many emotions in me and while I didn't entirely resonate with Meg, there were so many parts in this book that reminded me of my own experience in high school. Thank you Jenny McLachlan for writing a brilliant story that made me feel.

I'll leave you with one of my favourite lines of the book:
"Wish me luck"
"No way. You don't believe in that rubbish"
"You're right. Wish me a logical outcome"

4/5


*This book was sent to me by Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.




WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
Goodreads: @erenareads
Twitter: @erenareads
YouTube: Erena Reads or click here

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Hello friends,

I thought I was well overdue for a blog post and decided to do this little tag since it was quick, easy and perhaps semi-interesting?

I was tagged by my beautiful friend Kristie from @bookwormkristie on Instagram - you need to check out her stuff, she has beautiful photos and also a BookTube!

Ok, here we go...


Books or eBooks?
I love, love, looove the feeling of holding a book and also enjoy its aesthetic purposes but e-readers are SO handy and I use them quite a bit. I am sorry, I cannot choose!

Heroes or villains?
Anyone who knows me will know what I pick (hehe!).... Villains! No surprise there. Villains always have interesting back stories and I like knowing everything about them. Though sometimes villains are too good at what they do and make me hate them.

Trilogy or series?
Probably a series. Sometimes a set of books is perfectly executed with three books but sometimes it isn't and sometimes I'm just not ready to let go and need more closure!!

Last read?
The Tuesday just gone, I (finally) received Unite Me by Tahereh Mafi - the Shatter Me novellas, in the mail. I started reading later that evening and finished it a few hours later because I'm obsessed and WARNER4EVAAA.

Last bought?
My last book purchase was also Unite Me which was four weeks ago - how good is that?! And yes, it did take that long to come *narrows eyes*. I have received two books from Bloomsbury though, they were No Filter by Orlagh Collins and Learning to Swear in America by Katie Kennedy - thank you Bloomsbury!

Secondhand books?
Absolutely love secondhand books. They're more than likely a great price and sometimes you find books you've always wanted to read or ones you've never heard of that turn out to be a favourite.

Everyone should read?
Harry Potter. Need I say more?

3 books that come to mind?
A Court of Wings and Ruin, Contagion, and Shadow and Bone


Film that was better than the book?
Love, Rosie, Twilight, The Host, The Mortal Instruments, Mockingjay off the top of my head.

Do i judge by covers?
Of course, though I can't help it. I'll still likely read the synopsis if I've picked it up but I'll never know of the books with unappealing covers because I walked straight past them, oops.


I hope this was a little interesting for you, and if it wasn't... well at least you only wasted a couple of minutes reading this, haha.

If you want to do this tag, I tag you! Let me know when you've done it because I would love to read your answers.


Until then,

AU REVOIR SHOSHANNAAAAA (Inglorious Basterds reference, sorry)


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
Goodreads: @erenareads
Twitter: @erenareads
YouTube: Erena Reads or click here

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Hello friends,

I realise I haven't done a blog post for a wrap up in a while... sorry! I do my YouTube video and then I just get lazy, but I am quite busy too so there's that. But I'm hoping to get back into it a little more so please be patient, Imma try my best! That being said, if you'd like to check out my video for my June Wrap Up & July TBR click here!

For the first half of June, I dedicated all my time to studying as I was in my exam block - I literally read maybe 2 chapters of a book that whole time. When my last exam was over I got straight back into reading and managed to finish 5 books (woo!)


BOOKS READ IN JUNE:

1. Spellslinger - Sebastian De Castell
This book had a great premise but I had to put it down because I just couldn't stand reading it at the time. It felt so slow for me because the male protagonist was very passive and it was doing my head in. I was thankful for the fact that he got slightly better and the story became more interesting, but that was more towards the end of the book and I didn't find it worth it at all. This book isn't terrible, it just wasn't a story for me - perhaps those who enjoy middle grade stories would like this. I have a full review here if you'd like to know more.
2.75/5

2. Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire - JK Rowling
I literally started my reread of this last year... LAST YEAR. I kept it as an 'in-between' read so that's why, and I'm okay with that, it is a reread after all. I forgot how much I loved this book, there's so many cute things that I love in this story that aren't in the movies, ESPECIALLY DOBBY!! I'm hoping to start rereading book five very soon!
5/5


3. Cruel Beauty - Rosamund Hodge
I went to Instagram for help to choose a fast paced fantasy novel and I was recommended this one and I ended up finishing it in less than 24 hours because it was just so addictive and I was keen to know everything that happened. This is a somewhat darker retelling of Beauty and the Beast and I seriously loved it so much and would highly recommend it - especially if you're in a bit of a reading slump. This is a very short book and I think it could done with a few more chapters to add to the story but overall, such a good read!
4.5/5

4. Shatter Me - Tahereh Mafi
This series (originally a trilogy, more books coming in 2018!) has been on my TBR for a quite a while and I just never got round to picking it up. I must've been seeing it on Instagram a lot because all of a sudden, I ordered the boxed set (three books) off Book Depository and get this... it came in less than four days - WHAT! I think that made it a sign and I jumped right in and FELL IN LOVE. This is a fast paced dystopian/romance novel with interesting characters - the only person I loved straight away was Warner (who is now my new bae), but it was addictive and intriguing and I freaking loved it.
4/5


5. Unravel Me - Tahereh Mafi
Of course I picked up book two immediately because I just needed to know what happened next. This book had what I felt Shatter Me lacked, and this is where my serious obsession for the series begins. Unravel Me was fast paced, action packed, I began to really like most of the characters as I felt more.. connected with them I guess? The story really branched out and Juliette's character development was great. There were so many lines and paragraphs and whole damn chapters that I wanted to tab because it was so freaking good - I'm also certain majority of the tabs involved Warner, if not all, hehe!
5/5 !!!


JULY TBR

1. Ignite Me - Tahereh Mafi
I finished Unravel Me on June 30th so very necessary to jump straight into this as my first read of July.

2. Unite Me - Tahereh Mafi
I was originally on a book buying ban but broke it because I needed these novellas - I am still waiting patiently for it to arrive!

3. A Gathering of Shadows - V.E Schwab
Continuing my read of the Shades of Magic series.

4. Winter - Marissa Meyer
Continuing my read of the Lunar Chronicles.

5. Holding Up the Universe - Jennifer Niven
I put this down because I felt I was reading too much contemporary at the time so I'm eager to pick this back up!



This is a very ambitious TBR for me seeing as I'm back at uni, but I'm hoping to manage my time really well and get at least four books read.

Let me know what you read in the month of June in the comments below - I'd love to know!

See you soon for more bookish posts :)

xx



WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
Goodreads: @erenareads
Twitter: @erenareads
YouTube: Erena Reads or click here

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Title: The Names They Gave Us
Author: Emery Lord
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication date: 2nd June 2017 (Australia)
RRP: $17.99

Synopsis:
Lucy has her perfect summer planned out: perfect boyfriend, perfect job and quality time with her perfect parents.
Then her mom's cancer comes back, and suddenly life makes no sense.
Before she knows it, Lucy finds herself agreeing to volunteer as a counsellor at a camp for troubled kids, where lives are more different from her own than she could have imagined possible. Here Lucy meets the dashing but mysterious fellow counsellor Jones, who will change the way she sees the world forever.
With tragedy hovering at the edges of Lucy's life, this summer she must find out who she really is and what it means to love.

I started reading The Names They Gave Us after already reading two other contemporaries - something I don't do often, so without realising it, I was already comparing it to those two other books as they were amazing reads. For me, this book started off slow and I wasn't really sure where it was headed or it would get any better but I'm glad I stuck with it because it got to a point where I did not want to put it down, eager to know everything that happened next.

I liked Lucy the whole way through the story, she was an empathetic character who seemed very understanding and mostly assertive, though as we got deeper into the story I found that I really loved her. She made me feel what she was feeling and the heart strings were constantly being tugged. I found her so easy to read from, which was an absolute delight. As someone who isn't religious, I was first nervous as to how I would go reading from someone who is, but yet again I was surprised with the way it was written without having the main character change from who she really is.


We meet a diverse range of characters in this book who come from different backgrounds and hardships and if you're anything like me, there is definitely going to be a character you don't like to begin with. Further on into the story though when different relationships start to develop you find that you really need that character you didn't initially like. I loved all the different relationships in this book, be it the romantic kind, or friendship, even the ones they have with the kids in the camp. Thinking of it now, it was such a delight having the younger children involved in the story - they added a sort of whimsical feel to the book.

The story itself was amazing. Like I said earlier, it started off slow for me and I wasn't sure I was going to like it or not but it develops really well and I honestly think that slow start was relevant - others may not find it slow like I initially did. After reaching that point, I really started to feel the flow of the story and I think Emery Lord has done an amazing job in writing this book. I loved getting to know the backstories of the other characters as well as see Lucy develop. I think there's something for everyone in this book; while we only read from Lucy's point of view, you might find yourself connecting with some of the other characters.

There were so many things I loved about this story - if you couldn't already tell, and I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy young adult stories. The Names They Gave Us was an emotional story, both fun and incredibly heart wrenching, and absolutely not predictable. I am so, so happy I read this story as I think it's definitely my favourite contemporary read of the year so far (oOoh!)

Rating: 5/5

PS - How beautiful is this book cover?!

*This book was sent to me by Bloomsbury Australia in exchange for an honest review
. All opinions are my own.



WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:
Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
Goodreads: @erenareads
Twitter: @erenareads
YouTube: Erena Reads or click here

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SPOILER FREE REVIEW

**This book may potentially trigger those suffering or recovering from an eating disorder or disordered thoughts about eating. It does not talk about numbers but contains many behaviours and may affect you if you are not in the right mind to read this.

Title: Countless
Author: Karen Gregory
Publication date: 1st June 2017
RRP: $16.99

Synopsis:
When Hedda discovers she is pregnant, she doesn't believe she could ever look after a baby. The numbers just don't add ip. She is young, and still in the grip of an eating disorder that controls every aspect of how she goes about her daily life. She's even given her eating disorder a name - Nia. But as the days tick by, Hedda comes to a decision: she and Nia will call a truce, just until the baby is born.
17 weeks. 119 days. 357 meals.
Surely she can do it, if she takes one day at a time?

In many countries across the world, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate within the mental illness spectrum. You probably weren't expecting that.

Books that cover eating disorders can be very hard to write. Sometimes they come from real experiences and sometimes, completely fictional. They can also be very triggering for a reader; though as long as they come with a trigger warning it is up to the reader to decide whether to continue or not. I think this book really got it right.

I found Countless incredibly interesting in the sense that it was a good story but also perhaps a very real one. What readers need to keep in mind is that those suffering from an eating disorder go through it very differently to others. What you might read in one story will be very different to another however, both may be what sufferers actually go through - it is never a one specific way. Karen Gregory managed to write this novel in a way that could help those who don't know a lot about these mental illnesses have a better  understanding of how a sufferer thinks in a perhaps, more broad sense.


Our main character, Hedda, falls pregnant while in the grip of an eating disorder - something I've definitely never read about before. It follows her life through different types of relationships, but the one most important to her is her eating disorder. Hedda's character was written really well and I was constantly feeling empathetic with her as the story drew me in with each page. One of my favourite aspects of the book is that it sends a message of what is truly required for recovery - I don't want to mention my specific thoughts since it could be somewhat of a spoiler.
The writing flowed very nicely and I always in tune with what was happening, in fact, eagerly awaiting more.

The other different characters we meet were very important to the story and I felt that every single one of them was necessary and relevant. I enjoyed every single chapter no matter who the other characters around Hedda were. It was always intriguing to know what was happening and I was never bored.

I really enjoyed Countless and highly recommend it to those interested in picking it up. It's an emotional story and one that more people should know about. I feel like this will definitely be one of my favourite contemporaries of the year and I'd love to know your thoughts if you read this one as it comes out tomorrow.

4.5/5

That's all for now, I'll see you soon for another book review very soon!

xx


*This book was sent to me by Bloomsbury Australia in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.



WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:
Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
Goodreads: @erenareads
Twitter: @erenareads
YouTube: Erena Reads or click here

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SPOILER FREE REVIEW: QUEENS OF GEEK BY JEN WILDE

Title: Queens of Geek
Author: Jen Wilde
Publication Date: 1 May 2017
RRP: $16.99

Synopsis:
Charlie likes to stand out. She's a blogger and actress promoting her first movie at SupaCon, and this her chance to show fans she's over her public breakup with co-star Reese Ryan. When internet-famous cool-girl actress Alyssa Huntington arrives as a surprise guest, it seems Charlie's long-time crush on her isn't as one-sided as she thought.
Taylor likes to blend in. Her brain is wired differently, making her fear change. And there's one thing in her life she knows will never change: her friendship with her best guy friend Jamie - no matter how much she may secretly want it to. But when she hears about a fan contest for her favourite fandom, she starts to rethink her rules on playing it safe.



I'm part of the blog tour for Queens of Geek and I am so, so excited to be bringing you this review.

After reading loads of fantasy novels, I decided to give myself a break and pick up what I heard was a great, diverse contemporary; and what a perfect time to do so. I read Queens of Geek in about a day because it had drawn me in deep and I did not want to put it down.

This book takes place in America and is about three characters almost graduating high school and hailing from Australia, told in two perspectives of the female characters. It's set in America, with the three friends going to SupaCon together, one as a celebrity guest and the others as fans and geeks. Yes, we get to see some fangirling/fanboying and you will love it.

Jen Wilde has written a perfectly balanced novel full of geekiness and diversity - diving into mental health, different cultural backgrounds and the LGBTQ community. This year I've been trying to seek out more diverse books and this has been done so well, I didn't feel like it was forced into the story like some other books are. The story was cute and flowed very well between the two perspectives. I was constantly engaged and definitely emotionally involved with the story.


Our two main characters. Charlie and Taylor, are very likeable and make it a breeze to read from their views. This is actually really important to me, especially when they are almost 10 years younger than I am and despite the age gap, I would absolutely want to be friends with them. Our other main-ish character is Jamie, and I love him too. He's loyal and protective, and just a dang angel.
Of course, you get a couple of douche-y characters but not only is that part of the story, it really adds to it as well. It means our main characters do and say things you want them to and you're constantly rooting for them.

I highly recommend this contemporary novel, though I suggest you clear your schedule for the next couple of hours because you might not be able to put it down. What the characters go through are very relatable for many people and I think (or at least for me) this is somewhat comforting. Some will read it and think "Okay, this person is somewhat similar to me and it's not abnormal like I thought it was". Queens of Geek was an absolute joy to read and an important one at that.

4.5/5


*This book was sent to me by Pan Macmillan Australia for a blog tour in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:
Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
Goodreads: @erenareads
Twitter: @erenareads
YouTube: Erena Reads or click here

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***PLEASE NOTE: While this doesn't contain spoilers for A Court of Wings and Ruin, you may find that it will spoil A Court of Thorns and Roses (book #1) and A Court of Mist and Fury (book #2). You have been warned!

Title: A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3)
Author: Sarah J Maas
Publication date: 2nd May 2017
RRP: $17.99

Synopsis:
Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin's manoeuvrings and the invading king threatening to bring Pythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit - and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.
As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the  dazzling and lethal High Lords - and hunt for allies in unexpected places.
The earth will be painted red as mighty armies grapple for power over the one thing that could destroy them all.


**Another note: There was a lot of talk about a certain line in the beginning of the book being acephobic (not sure if spelt right but a description for those who a negative to asexuals or asexuality). I will talk about it at the very bottom of this review (after the rating) as it may be spoilery.


How does one even start a review for A Court of Wings and Ruin?

I have been waiting a year for this book to come out, and the immediate time after A Court of Mist and Fury (book #2) and the last month before this book came out were the hardest. My most highly anticipated book of the year is finally here and what do I do? I stare at it in disbelief for a moment before beginning the start of Feyre and Rhysand's final story.

STORY/WRITING

You may have heard this from others and you'll also hear it from me... The first maybe half of the book was slow. Though for me, I was absolutely fine with this. We needed to know all the details of basically everything that was happening leading up to the inevitable war, and I was happy to read it all. The second half the story was much more intense, this increased one hundredfold in part three of the book. There were so many times were my heart felt like it had seized in my chest and was going to cease beating. I had no idea what to expect of the action scenes in this book; I am a massive sucker for crazy action scenes with fighting and magic, gore and blood. I must say, it really surprised me - it was more intense than I ever expected it to be and that filled my heart with joy (and many close cardiac arrests). I was so damn happy with the way this book was written. I think I would have loved A Court of Wings and Ruin no matter what but there was so much pressure on Sarah for this book and I think she executed it wonderfully.


FEYRE

As High Lady of the Night Court, Feyre had to take on a different role in this novel however, we still got plenty of wit, attitude and everything else we love about Feyre. She is my favourite female character in this story (many people go for Mor but I am totally in love with Feyre). She got even more badass following on from A Court of Mist and Fury and I am SUPER HAPPY about it. Over the entire trilogy, I've thought Feyre's character development has been phenomenal. It really changed in each book but in a good way and a way that flowed nicely with the story.

RHYSAND

Holy mother of gods and High Lords.
Rhys is my number one forever and always.
I cannot say more about him other than that I wish there were maybe a couple more chapters from him or at least an extended one. I love knowing his thoughts from his end. Maybe I can pray for a Rhysand novella??

FEYSAND

Once again, not much I can except the fact that I am totally and unconditionally in love with Feysand. MY TRUE OTP!! I do wish there were more sexy Feysand times in the story but I'm still about it.

OTHER CHARACTERS

I am so happy with what we got in regards to both new and old characters. This isn't a spoiler because we all knew it was coming but I was so happy with being able to meet the rest of the High Lords (give me a holler for Helion please). This addition truly added to the story and without it, I would have thought less of this book *gasp* but it didn't happen, so sit back down.
Cassian and Azriel, my other loves... When they first appeared back in the story I literally cried; I think because I love Feyre so much, I really read as if I am her so it intensified the feelings a lot haha.
We got to read more into Amren's and Mor's lives which I loved, it added so much more depth to the story as well as many unanswered questions.
Since A Court of Mist and Fury, I've grown to like Nesta much more but in this book I think I grew to love her?! I love her passion and fiery goodness and I'm hoping for another story from her because I have many questions.
I loved having Lucien back in the story. He wasn't in the previous book much so it was good to have my favourite witty fox back. His and Feyre's relationship development was SO GOOD and made me happy.
There are more characters that I'd love to talk about but... spoilers.

WORLD BUILDING

The only thing to really add in here is being able to explore more of the courts, I loved it! I'm hoping for the future stories set in this world, we get to know a bit more because I am greedy. Throughout the trilogy, I've really enjoyed the fact that it's divided by seasons and solars, so being able to explore more once again, added to the story.


OVERALL

I am so happy with how Feyre and Rhysand's story ended even though it's no secret I want to read about their lives for the rest of my life. I read this quite slowly because I was honestly terrified of what was going to happen but I'm really happy with how it turned out and it makes me so excited for the new books (if you're not sure what I'm talking about, there will be new books also set in this world but not from Feyre's perspective). I have some theories which characters they will be based on so if you want to talk more make sure you message me on Instagram (@erenareads). You can message me about anything really, especially if it's gushing over the Illyrian Warriors!

The ACOTAR series has been a real hit for me, it is honestly the perfect kind of book for me, more specifically book two and three. The way they are written is what a 26 year old like me likes to read. This book contains mature content (thank you Sarah) so make sure you're into that kind of thing and aren't too young before you decide to pick it up.

I'm sorry if this review is just a gush of emotions - I don't know how else to write a review for A Court of Wings and Ruin haha.

A brilliant 5/5 stars from me.
Thank you Sarah J Maas for writing this series that is perfection.




*Below is my thoughts on the 'acephobic comment'. Potential spoilers but not much.

Firstly, there were people who commented and judged it before they had even read it - seriously?
Secondly, I would not have noticed if people weren't talking about it, and this is why:

Asexuality or asexual people are those who are 'without sexual feelings' or attraction/association. Feyre makes a comment about the Hybern prince and princess about them not having any interest in beauty perhaps because their souls had been drained away.
Now if you've read the book, you know that as soon as Feyre meets them, she dislikes them and she has good reason as to why. So her making that comment fits in with how she feels about them.
Next is that a few chapters later, the Hybern princess goes on to tell Feyre about the fun she had f***ing Autumn Court males in the war.
That is where I will leave it. I strongly believe that it is not an acephobic comment and people shouldn't be so quick to judge.

ANYWAYS, that brings my review to a close. If you loved the book and want to talk spoiler ridden thoughts, then message me on Instagram so we can chat about it because I would love to!

I'll be back with another bookish post soon!

xx

*This book was sent to me by Bloomsbury Australia in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:
Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
Goodreads: @erenareads
Twitter: @erenareads
YouTube: Erena Reads or click here

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