Tuesday 28 October 2014

Update

Hey Everyone,

Sorry for my lack of posting over the last two months. I've had a lot going on with school work and because of that I wasn't able to read a lot, let alone write up posts. But I'm happy to announce that I now have a lot of time on my hands (yay) so I should be able to post way more than I have been lately.

Yesterday, I finally posted up my Isla and the Happily Every After review that I read ages ago (I just didn't have the time to properly format the post cause that can be very time consuming but I finally got around to it). I also plan to post more movie review posts (not necessarily book to movie adaptations) as I'll also be watching way more movies in the coming weeks and months.

Anyway, I just wanted to post this to let you guys know what has been happening and that no, I haven't abandoned this blog but I'll be getting back into posting more often now. I'm so excited, so many books to read and movies to watch. But for the next hour or so, I'll be listening to Taylor Swift's new album (Actually, I'm listening to it while writing up this post. But hey, I've been waiting for ever for this.)

Monica


Monday 27 October 2014

Review: Isla and the Happily Ever After

Title: Isla and the Happily Ever After (Anna and the French Kiss #3)
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Released: August 2014
Pages: 352
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Favourite Quote: “I’m…getting there. I’m beginning to think that maybe it’s okay to be a blank canvas. Maybe it’s okay that my future is unknown. And maybe,” I say with another smile, “it’s okay to be inspired by the people who do know their future.”
Add on GoodReads
Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on introspective cartoonist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer, romance might be closer than Isla imagined. But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to confront the challenges every young couple must face, including family drama, uncertainty about their college futures, and the very real possibility of being apart. Featuring cameos from fan-favorites Anna, Étienne, Lola, and Cricket, this sweet and sexy story of true love—set against the stunning backdrops of New York City, Paris, and Barcelona—is a swoonworthy conclusion to Stephanie Perkins’s beloved series.

My Review

Initial Thoughts: Isla and the Happily Ever After follows Isla (we briefly met her in Anna and the French Kiss for like two seconds). Ever since she can remember, she has always had a crush on Josh but was always too scared to do anything about it. But after a chance meeting in New York at a small cafe, the two catch up. However, the next time she sees him isn't until they both arrive back at school in Paris for their senior year of school. Will they finally become an item?

The Pros: This book is just so damn cute and Josh and Isla are just so cute together. I couldn't stop reading it. I loved how finally I get to see two characters together for the most part of the book (unlike Lola and Anna where they get together in the end) and it was so cute seeing them interact together. I loved how she supported his drawing and how he was so smitten with her.

The crossover where Anna, St Clair, Lola, Cricket, Mer, Josh and Isla are all in Paris together. AT THE SAME TIME. INTERACTING. Perkins definitely knows how to make me have all those feels. And what happened with between two specific characters. I did not see that coming. Everything was so perfect. I loved seeing where all the characters were now and what's to come in their future. 

The Cons: Although the relationship was super cute, I found it to be a bit of insta-love. I get why Isla loved Josh - she's had a crush on him for like forever. But I didn't really understand how Josh could like her that quickly. I felt as though he only really took notice of her properly when he saw her in New York. I didn't believe that he could love her that quickly. But I'm not complaining too much. They were adorable to read about. 

Some of the problems the characters faced within the book I found to be quite small. Problems, I found, were often blown out of proportion and I think a lot of these problems could have gone away if they actually talked about it. But then again, I could easily see these problems being present in a real life relationship.

Would I recommend this book?  Overall, it is a really cute book. If you loved Anna and Lola, then you will love this book. I'm really upset now that this will be the end of the Anna and the French Kiss series. It was so enjoyable to read about and it helped me get back into reading when I was in a reading slump. This series will forever be one of my all time favourites. 

Friday 10 October 2014

Discussion: What makes me love a book

We all have those times where we just can't get into the books were reading. I'm kind of going through that right now. Usually, I try to persevere and finish the book just so I can mark it as 'Read' on Goodreads (let's face it, that's the only reason I will continue to read it). But I want to talk today about the books that make me want to continue reading. You know, those things that make a book enjoyable. So today, I'm going to go through what a book generally has to have in order for me to like it. It doesn't necessarily have to have it all of them, but have a few and I'm hooked.

- An engaging story - This is a big one. If the story is boring, I'm onto the next book

- Good writing - A few times the plot of the book seemed really interesting. However, the way it was delivered I didn't like. And it's sad, you know. I could have enjoyed that story but didn't

- Relatable Characters - This one pretty much speaks for itself. If the character seems like someone who will not exist in real life (because of their personality) or if one of the main characters are a complete asshole it can ruin a story for me (not always, but mostly)

- Humor - I love it when books have really funny dialogue or the character themselves are funny (eg. Daemon from Lux Series, Jace from The Mortal Instruments). It makes the book so much more enjoyable. I often love it in action type novels especially. It gives you a break from reading about all the action

- When books grab you from the first line - This I LOVE. For example, the first line in Divergent is 'There is only one mirror in my home'. This grabbed me. Who has only one mirror in their home? And if so, why does it seem as though it is intentional? I want to keep reading to find out why

- A romantic relationship that is super cute - My close friends know that I love fictional relationships whether it's in a book (eg. Anna/St Clair - Anna and the French Kiss) TV show (eg. Hanna/Caleb - PLL) or movie (eg. Becca/Jesse - Pitch Perfect). Those are just a few of my fictional relationship obsessions (actually, mainly I love the romantic interests). I'm always the one fangirling over them. And I love it.


That's all I can think of at the moment. What makes you love a book?