Tuesday, January 22, 2019

My Most Anticipated Books of 2019

2019 is looking pretty good so far with a long list of books to be looking forward to. Here are my top ten most anticipated books, with some of my favourite authors like Sarah J. Maas, Cassandra Clare and Tahereh Mafi among them.

#10

Maybe This Time by Kasie West

One year. Nine events. Nine chances to . . . fall in love?

Weddings. Funerals. Barbecues. New Year's Eve parties. Name the occasion, and Sophie Evans will be there. Well, she has to be there. Sophie works for the local florist, so she can be found at every big event in her small hometown, arranging bouquets and managing family dramas.

Enter Andrew Hart. The son of the fancy new chef in town, Andrew is suddenly required to attend all the same events as Sophie. Entitled, arrogant, preppy Andrew. Sophie just wants to get her job done and finish up her sketches so she can apply to design school. But every time she turns around, there is Andrew, getting in her way and making her life more complicated. Until one day she wonders if maybe complicated isn't so bad after all . . .

Told over the course of one year and following Sophie from event to event, this delightful novel from master of romantic comedy Kasie West shows how love can blossom in unexpected places. 


#9

Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett

Mystery-book aficionado Birdie Lindberg has an overactive imagination. Raised in isolation and homeschooled by strict grandparents, she’s cultivated a whimsical fantasy life in which she plays the heroic detective and every stranger is a suspect. But her solitary world expands when she takes a job the summer before college, working the graveyard shift at a historic Seattle hotel.

In her new job, Birdie hopes to blossom from introverted dreamer to brave pioneer, and gregarious Daniel Aoki volunteers to be her guide. The hotel’s charismatic young van driver shares the same nocturnal shift and patronizes the waterfront Moonlight Diner where she waits for the early morning ferry after work. Daniel also shares her appetite for intrigue, and he’s stumbled upon a real-life mystery: a famous reclusive writer—never before seen in public—might be secretly meeting someone at the hotel.

To uncover the writer’s puzzling identity, Birdie must come out of her shell…discovering that most confounding mystery of all may be her growing feelings for the elusive riddle that is Daniel.

#8

If I'm Being Honest by Emily Wibberley, Austin Siegemund-Broka

High school senior Cameron Bright’s reputation can be summed up in one word: bitch. It’s no surprise she’s queen bee at her private L.A. high school—she’s beautiful, talented, and notorious for her cutting and brutal honesty. So when she puts her foot in her mouth in front of her crush, Andrew, she fears she may have lost him for good.

In an attempt to win him over, Cameron resolves to “tame” herself, much like Katherine in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. First, she’ll have to make amends with those she’s wronged, which leads her to Brendan, the guy she labelled with an unfortunate nickname back in the sixth grade. At first, Brendan isn’t all that receptive to Cameron’s ploy. But slowly, he warms up to her when they connect over the computer game he’s developing. Now if only Andrew would notice…

But the closer Cameron gets to Brendan, the more she sees he appreciates her personality—honesty and all—and wonders if she’s compromising who she is for the guy she doesn’t even want. 


#7

Untitled (The Shaw Confessions #3) by Michelle Hodkin 

 Who can resist Noah Shaw?













 


#6

Vow of Thieves (Dance of Thieves #2) by Mary E. Pearson

Kazi and Jase have survived, stronger and more in love than ever. Their new life now lies before them―the Ballengers will be outlaws no longer, Tor's Watch will be a kingdom, and the two of them will meet all challenges side by side, together at last.

But an ominous warning mars their journey back, and in their rush to return to Tor's Watch, just outside the fortress walls, they are violently attacked and torn apart―and each is thrust into their own new hell.

Unsure whether the other is alive or dead, Kazi and Jase must keep their wits among their greatest enemies and unlikeliest allies. And all the while, Death watches and waits.

 
#5 

Chain of Gold (The Last Hours #1) by Cassandra Clare

Welcome to Edwardian London, a time of electric lights and long shadows, the celebration of artistic beauty and the wild pursuit of pleasure, with demons waiting in the dark. For years there has been peace in the Shadowhunter world. James and Lucie Herondale, children of the famous Will and Tessa, have grown up in an idyll with their loving friends and family, listening to stories of good defeating evil and love conquering all. But everything changes when the Blackthorn and Carstairs families come to London... and so does a remorseless and inescapable plague.

James Herondale longs for a great love, and thinks he has found it in the beautiful, mysterious Grace Blackthorn. Cordelia Carstairs is desperate to become a hero, save her family from ruin, and keep her secret love for James hidden. When disaster strikes the Shadowhunters, James, Cordelia and their friends are plunged into a wild adventure which will reveal dark and incredible powers, and the true cruel price of being a hero... and falling in love.


#4

Defy Me (Shatter Me #5) by Tahereh Mafi

Juliette’s short tenure as the supreme commander of North America has been an utter disaster. When the children of the other world leaders show up on her doorstep, she wants nothing more than to turn to Warner for support and guidance. But he shatters her heart when he reveals that he’s been keeping secrets about her family and her identity from her—secrets that change everything.

Juliette is devastated, and the darkness that’s always dwelled within her threatens to consume her. An explosive encounter with unexpected visitors might be enough to push her over the edge. 

 
#3 

The World of Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass) by Sarah J. Maas

The official guide to the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series complete with characters, creatures, new artwork, and more!

Everyone knows the story of the assassin queen. But now, fans of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series will be immersed in her journey like never before. From Adarlan’s dark past to Terrasen’s bright future, this comprehensive guide will bring the people, creatures, settings, magic, gods, and world of Aelin’s epic journey to life in stunning illustrations and descriptive portrayals. Complete with an expansive vocabulary and timeline of events, this is the must-have official companion to the Throne of Glass series.
 

#2

The Traitor's Kingdom (The Traitor's Circle #3) by Erin Beaty

Unlikely alliances are forged and trust is shattered in the stunning conclusion to The Traitor’s Trilogy.

A new queen under threat.
An ambassador with a desperate scheme.
Two kingdoms with everything to lose.

Once a spy and counselor to the throne, Sage Fowler has secured victory for her kingdom at a terrible cost. Now an ambassador representing Demora, Sage is about to face her greatest challenge to avoid a war with a rival kingdom.

After an assassination attempt destroys the chance for peace, Sage and her fiancé Major Alex Quinn risk a dangerous plot to reveal the culprit. But the stakes are higher than ever, and in the game of traitors, betrayal is the only certainty.


#1

Untitled Novella (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3.2) by Sarah J. Maas

I wasn't the greatest fan of A Court of Thorns and Roses but from the second book on in this series I was simply sucked into the story, fell in love with the characters and can't wait to read the next book!









Monday, January 21, 2019

Books Read in 2018

Hi fellow bookworms! I still love books and am very passionate about reading. In the past year I just didn't find the time to sit down and concentrate on composing a new blog post. So I'm glad to change that now! Overall 2018 was a very challenging and emotional year and I am more than thankful for all the books that brought me joy. Here is the record of a fabulous reading year. Here are the 57 books of 50 books I challenged myself to read. Among them was the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas which I had been avoiding until 2018 and which just blew my mind! What an amazing universe! I'm hoping for more YA gems in 2019 and will be sharing my most anticipated books of this year as well as a few pictures of my trips to Japan and Scotland soon.

Happy New Year 2019!

 January


Into the Bright Unknown by Rae Carson 3/5 stars
First & Then by Emma Mills 4/5 stars 
Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West 5/5 stars JANUARY FAVOURITE


February


Turtles All the Way Down by John Green 4/5 stars
The Crown's Fate by Evelyn Skye 4/5 stars
Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories by Stephanie Perkins 4/5 stars
Love and Other Train Wrecks by Leah Konen 5/5 stars
For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund 3/5 stars
Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare 5/5 stars FEBRUARY FAVOURITE


March


Suspicion by Alexandra Monir 1/5 stars
Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi 5/5 stars MARCH FAVOURITE


April


May


Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett 4/5 stars MAY FAVOURITE
Der Fremde by Albert Camus
Der Fall Meursault - eine Gegendarstellung by Kamel Daoud
Passenger by Alexandra Bracken 3/5 stars 


June 
f

From Notting Hill with Love... Actually by Ali McNamara 3/5 stars
Everless
by Sara Holland 5/5 stars JUNE FAVOURITE
Throne of Glass
by Sarah J. Maas 5/5 stars JUNE FAVOURITE
Crown of Midnight
by Sarah J. Maas 5/5 stars JUNE FAVOURITE
Heir of Fire
by Sarah J. Maas 5/5 stars JUNE FAVOURITE
Queen of Shadows
by Sarah J. Maas 5/5 stars JUNE FAVOURITE
Empire of Storms
by Sarah J. Maas 5/5 stars JUNE FAVOURITE
Tower of Dawn
by Sarah J. Maas 5/5 stars JUNE FAVOURITE
Hot Mess
by Lucy Vine 2/5 stars
Das Mädchen, das in der Metro las
by Christine Féret-Fleury
Listen to Your Heart
by Kasie West 4/5 stars


July


Love & Luck by Jenna Evans Welch 3,5/5 stars
Since You've Been Gone
by Morgan Matson 5/5 stars
The Final Six
by Alexandra Monir 4/5 stars
This Adventure Ends
by Emma Mills 5/5 stars
All the Bright Places
by Jennifer Niven 5/5 stars
Fixing Delilah
by Sarah Ockler 4/5 stars
Replica
by Lauren Oliver 5/5 stars JULY FAVOURITE
Bittersweet
by Sarah Ockler 4/5 stars
Let Me List the Ways
by Sarah White 3/5 stars
Ringer
by Lauren Oliver 4/5 stars


August


The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James 4/5 stars
Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss by Kasie West 4/5 stars
Save the Date by Morgan Matson 4/5 stars
The Other Side of Lost by Jessi Kirby 5/5 stars AUGUST FAVOURITE
One in a Million by Lindsey Kelk 4,5/5 stars


September


Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson 4/5 stars
The Traitor's Kiss by Erin Beaty 5/5 stars SEPTEMBER FAVOURITE


October


The Heir by Kiera Cass 3/5 stars
The Crown by Kiera Cass 3/5 stars
The Traitor's Ruin by Erin Beaty 5/5 stars OCTOBER FAVOURITE


November


Evermore by Sara Holland 3/5 stars
Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas 5/5 stars NOVEMBER FAVOURITE
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas 3/5 stars
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas 5/5 stars NOVEMBER FAVOURITE
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas 5/5 stars NOVEMBER FAVOURITE
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas 4/5 stars
The Reckoning of Noah Shaw by Michelle Hodkin 4/5 stars

December
 

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard 3/5 stars
Snow in Love by Melissa de la Cruz,Nic Stone, Aimee Friedman, Kasie West 4/5 stars
The DNA of You and Me by Andrea Rothman 2/5 stars
The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson 5/5 stars DECEMBER FAVOURITE

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Books Read in 2017

2017 was a very busy year with a new job and quite a lot of required coursework for university. So I didn't meet my reading goal of 50 books but I was still happy about the 35 books I did read. So here's to many more amazing books in 2018!
Happy Reading! 

January


The Twelve Days of Dash and Lily by Rachel Cohn, David Levithan 4/5 stars
Diplomatic Immunity by Brodi Ashton 4/5 stars 
Hold Back The Stars by Katie Khan 5/5 stars  JANUARY FAVOURITE



February



March


Der große rote Sohn by David Foster Wallace
Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven 4/5 stars
By Your Side by Kasie West 5/5 stars MARCH FAVOURITE
Can I See You Again? by Allison Morgan 4/5 stars
Seven Days of You
by Cecilia Vinesse 3/5 stars
When We Collided
by Emery Lord 4/5 stars



April


Tiere für Fortgeschrittene
by Eva Menasse
A Million Worlds with You
by Claudia Gray 5/5 stars APRIL FAVOURITE
The Hidden Memory of Objects by Danielle Mages Amato 2/5 stars
Thirteen Reasons Why
by Jay Asher 3/5 stars
Cox oder Der Lauf der Zeit
by Christoph Ransmayr


May


Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett 5/5 stars MAY FAVOURITE
Kraft
by Jonas Lüscher
Der Lärm der Zeit
by Julian Barnes
The Secret History of Us
by Jessi Kirby 3/5 stars



June


These Things I've Done by Rebecca Phillips 3/5 stars
Hunted
by Meagan Spooner 4/5 stars
Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith 5/5 stars JUNE FAVOURITE
Words in Deep Blue
by Cath Crowley 3/5 stars
Changes in Latitudes
by Jen Malone 5/5 stars
Always and Forever, Lara Jean
by Jenny Han 5/5 stars
Swing Time
by Zadie Smith



July


Once and for All
by Sarah Dessen 3/5 stars




August

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman 2/5 stars
Coming Up for Air
by Miranda Kenneally 5/5 stars AUGUST FAVOURITE
Lucky in Love
by Kasie West 3/5 stars


September




October


Der nasse Fisch
by Volker Kutscher
The Unexpected Everything
by Morgan Matson 3,5/5 stars
Layover
by Amy Andelson, Emily Meyer 2/5 stars 



November


Juliet's Answer:
One Man's Search for Love and the Elusive Cure for Heartbreak by Glenn Dixon
The Becoming of Noah Shaw
by Michelle Hodkin 3/5 stars 



December


The Hating Game
by Sally Thorne 3,5/5 stars



Sunday, October 22, 2017

Frankfurt Book Fair 2017


A big book event finally brings me back to blogging! I had a fantastic time at this year's Frankfurt Book Fair and the least I can do is thank all the fabulous bookish people I met with this short recap. I spent three days in Frankfurt, Friday till Sunday, instead of only two days on the busy weekend and it was definitely worth it. The extra day bought me some free time to explore the city. France as Guest of Honour brought a special light show to Frankfurt's city hall and many people gathered in the evening to catch the pretty spectacle.

On Saturday the lovely Ulrike from Penguin Random House UK invited a few bloggers over for a blogger meeting, which was my personal highlight of Frankfurt this year! She was as thrilled about the upcoming Penguin titles as we were and brought us the best gift a blogger could ask for: fresh from the press copies of one of the most anticipated books this year: Turtles All the Way Down by John Green!!! Insert massive fangirl moment here and allow at least five minutes to resume normal breathing! Can't wait to read John Green's newest YA novel!

The rest of Saturday and the entire Sunday were spent roaming the international publishers' booths and the German exhibition halls which brought the total of books I got in Frankfurt up to around 30 books. So without further ado, here are the books I got in Frankfurt! Which one would you recommend as one of my next reads?


PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE 
The Atlas of Beauty by Mihaela Noroc
Nyxia by Scott Reintgen
Layover by Amy Andelson and Emily Meyer
Autumn by Ali Smith
Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton
Down and Across by Arvin Ahmadi
The Musum of Us by Tara Wilson Redd
The Girl in The Tower by Katherine Arden
The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar

HOT KEY
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

SOURCEBOOKS
As You Wish by Chelsea Sedoti

MACMILLAN
This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge
Dear Mrs Bird by A.J. Pearce
Roar by Cora Carmack
The Traitor's Kiss by Erin Beaty

SCHOLASTIC
Two Summers by Aimee Friedman 

Thanks to Penguin Random House UK, Macmillan, Sourcebooks and Scholastic for supplying me with books that will at least last me until the end of next year! And here are some of the German books I got:


Happy Reading! 

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Mini Reviews #32

Today I've got a small selection of some of my last summer reads. If you haven't read them already I can definitely recommend you pick up a copy of Catherine Clark and Robin Constantine's latest books!


Eleven Things I Promised by Catherine Clark

Seventeen-year-old Frances sets out on a bike race with friends from her high school to do every item on a special list dedicated to reconnecting with her best friend. Sounds unusual, right? I was surprised by the pitch of such an original YA story and certainly wasn't disappointed in the end. Frances was such a sensitive, strong and determined protagonist whose love and dedication to her best friends shine through even more brightly in the hardest moments of her trip. Considering she isn't even trained to go on that bike race one could consider her a lunatic, but couldn't she also be considered a hero? As the group around the racers grows closer together the further they go, the reader can't resist being drawn into this positive spirit as well. A few very sweet, funny and even unexpected romantic moments and adventures are to be expected along the way to this beautiful summer read.


4/5 stars **** ELEVEN THINGS I PROMISED – A strong message of friendship and the promise for adventure combine into a perfect summer read!

ELEVEN THINGS I PROMISED is a very active and optimistic story about friendship, personal happiness and being brave. Highly recommended!


Publisher: HarperTeen
Publishing Date: April 5th 2016
Length: 304 pages
Keywords: YA, contemporary, love, friendship, bike race
Source: Publisher
Goodreads Summary  
 
 

The Season of You and Me by Robin Constantine

Cassidy just knows her summer is going to be miserable. Her boyfriend broke up with her and now she is set to spend the summer with her father and his new family in a small beach town. Couldn't there be a better place to mend a broken heart?
Bryan is living in a place other people visit to only spend their summers. But what once was a dream has become a nightmare. An accident a year ago put him in a wheelchair and now he is dealing with all the consequences one stupid choice has brought upon him. Written from alternating perspectives, Cass and Bryan slowly fall in love with each other effortlessly and with the warm fluttery feelings of summer.
The Bed and Breakfast of Cass`s father and his new wife is this dreamy and idyllic place near the beach and I often caught myself wishing to be spending some time there as well. It`s also the perfect place for Cass to grow closer to her family again and find out who she really wants to be. The relationship between Cassidy and her little brother is adorable and apart from her ex-boyfriend she finally has the space to do the things that make her happy, showing readers what's most important in life. Bryan is this very honest and vibrant boy you just have to fall in love with. His disability is often a topic throughout the story and we get the chance to learn how Bryan experiences his new life. Very honest, very rewarding story!


4/5 stars **** THE SEASON OF YOU AND ME – Beach vibes, a light summery romance with emotional depth!

THE SEASON OF YOU AND ME is a great collection of funny little moments, emotional bonds between family and new friends and the thrill of new experiences and the importance of new chances.


Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publishing Date: May 10th 2016
Length: 352 pages
Keywords: YA, contemporary, love, friendship, beach, disability
Source: Publisher
Goodreads Summary  
 
 

We Were Never Here by Jennifer Gilmore

In Jennifer Gilmore's WE WERE NEVER HERE Lizzie meets Connor at the hospital. She is dangerously sick and he is selflessly paying visits to her as a patient. I had high hopes for Connor and Lizzie and appreciated that their budding romance alternated with very real scenes of medical appointments and diary entries about them. Connor is this selfless, sensitive boy and he loves his dog above all things. Doesn`t that just melt your heart? Well, maybe he isn`t the nice boy next door he pretends to be. And as the story unfolded it was with all the pretending and secrets that revolved around his person and their relationship that somehow soured down the at first sweet taste of their connection.


2,5/5 stars **/* WE WERE NEVER HERE – Strong emotions, adventurous moments and bad decisions.

This book is about some very great and moving topics that explore what being human really means in your darkest times. Jennifer Gilmore shows in a very gentle way what connecting with a person and learning to live can really mean but in the end and a handful of story twists later the story was just lacking empathy.


Publisher: HarperTeen
Publishing Date: June 14th 2015
Length: 320 pages
Keywords: YA, contemporary, love, health, recovery
Source: Publisher
Goodreads Summary