It's been a while since I've done a post and I've accumulated quite a few books recently.

Review books:

If I Stay by Gayle Forman - I'm so excited to read one of Forman's novel as I've heard so much about her writing. I also have to make sure I read this as I've heard there's going to be a movie!!!

Thank you Random House for giving me this to review!

Apple and Rain by Sarah Crossan - I haven't read many reviews on this so I'm not really sure what to expect but I have seen quite a few Aussie bloggers receive it as well.

Searching for Sky by Jillian Cantor

Flirty Dancing by Jenny McLachlan - I'm excited to read this! It's sounds like a cute novel which will be filled with humour.

I Won:

Spark by Rachael Craw - I'm really excited to read this (partly because I won it at a giveaway on Joy's blog) because I've read some good reviews - but not too many - so I don't have any expectation. Also look at the cover! It's so pretty!!!

PTA Live

At the start of PTA Live, the whole audience got to choose out of 3 books they could take home .(For FREE!!)

The Choices were:
Half Bad by Sally Green
The Cinderella Moment by Jennifer Kloester
Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek by Maya Van Wagenen

I also got the chance to by Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell at a discounted price of $13.50!!!! I'm so excited to read this as basically everyone's labelling it as every fangirls bible. (Yes I've literally heard people take it that far) I'm a little worried that the hype will ruin it for me.

So these are the books I've gotten lately. What's new on your shelf?

Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Release Date: April 2nd 2013
Publishers: Headline
Pages: 404
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Links: Goodreads | Buy the book

If fate sent you an email, would you answer?

When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.

Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?

Review

I want to start off by saying sorry for my sudden disappearance. I haven't had the time to blog at the moment let alone read and yada yada yada [insert bullsh*t excuse] 

This novel certainly lived up to the title by inducing such happy and fuzzy feelings inside me. In one word it would be cute! Everyone always talks about how well Smith writes and I have to say she is such a good contemporary romance writer. I am so excited to start The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight (Such long titles!) and I have to buy The Geography of You and Me. I want to own ALL her books!

Let's start off with the story-line. From the first page I knew I was going to enjoy it but I also knew it was going to be cliche. It's both sort of cliche and non-cliche at the same time. Cliche because of the whole 'middle of nowhere' town and a celebrity comes bringing unwanted paparazzi but not cliche in terms of the characters. Jennifer E. Smith creates such vivid imagery of what the town looks like and I feel like I could just a walk around the town. Usually I don't like reading in third person but in this case it worked really well. It changed POV between Ellie and Graham and it worked so well because there was a huge distinction between each characters.

The characters were really unique and I love how Smith portrays Graham (Famous movie star) as not the typical rude boy who's a rebel because he has fame but the caring kid who just wants time away from all the cameras. She puts a different light on what being a celebrity really means and it made me think that it's not as amazing as they advertise it to be. Ellie, our main protagonist, was such a down to earth character and didn't allow Graham's fame effect anything. It didn't give him the upper hand and in her eyes he was another ordinary kid. The one thing I liked about this story was the fact that each character had their own individual story. Weirdly enough, I found myself wanting to know more about the mother's past even though she's a secondary character.

There's nothing more I can really add because I know I can't do it justice. Trust me when I say that this is a book you should consider when you feel like a light, summery romance. Its a good length novel - 400 pages - so I felt like it ended on a good note and there were no potholes. This book made me so happy but the only negative thing I can say about it is that I want summer to arrive a lot sooner!

*I advise not to read this review if you have not read the book!*

The Fault in Our Stars movie has been all the talk for weeks and I finally got to watch the movie yesterday. After declining an offer to watch the pre-screening a couple weeks ago, I finally got the chance to watch it for a birthday party!

I'm not saying the movie was better than the novel but it was probably one of the best book to movie adaptations so far this year. This movie broke my heart again! I was always the odd one out because I never cried in the book but somehow I knew I would in the movie. Let's just say I did not bring nearly enough tissues for me and my group of friends.

It was just so exhilarating watching the movie with a whole cinema of fangirls. I think they needed to turn the audio up a little because I could barely hear the dialogue over the sniffling of girls (including me) ranging from all ages. It was kind of funny though because my friend was already bawling her eyes out from half way through the movie and things hadn't even gotten sad yet. The whole cinema ended up laughing because at every happy moment she would cry harder because we all knew these moments wouldn't last long.

Now onto the actual movie! Words cannot explain what a top job the producers did. There were obvious changes but it fitted in with the movie so well. They did such a good job of every scene they put in that it didn't matter so much. Prior to the movie I wasn't a huge fan of the casting. I thought I wouldn't be able to keep the image of Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort as brother and sister but surprisingly I did not think of that once.

Ansel played the perfect Gus and every scene he was in I was just grinning. He portrayed the humour perfectly and every time he smiled I couldn't help but do the same. I thought that Shailene wouldn't do a very good job of Hazel because she is a very down to earth character but I actually loved her as Hazel. I actually think she did a better job of Hazel than Tris. For some reason I really liked the parents in this movie, I feel like their emotions were displayed better in the movie than the book.

I don't think I can say anything else. You have to watch the movie to get the feels. All I can say is that even a girl like me who doesn't cry very often was brought down to a mess. It was kind of funny because every girl that exited the cinema would make a bee-line to the bathroom to fix up their ruined make-up. This movie receives an obvious 5 stars and I cannot wait till it comes out on DVD. They say The Notebook is the ultimate movie to make you cry...I'd say this beats it by a long shot.

Does anyone else feel like this month just zoomed by? It felt like yesterday I was doing my last wrap up post. I guess May has been a pretty eventful month for me since it was my blogoversary and I hosted a giveaway. Rebecca Graham won and you should definitely check out her blog. I also attended the National Book Bloggers Forum at the Random House headquarters in the city.

The Penguin Random House National Book Bloggers Forum was probably one of the best events I had been to so far since it went for the whole day! I was so impressed because some people flew over from all around Australia. Some said they came from Perth and I met a lovely girl who flew from Melbourne, check out her blog here. I also met Laura from Laura Plus Books and Joy from Thoughts by J for the first time. I saw Estelle again from Reading in the Dark, Mands from The Bookish Manicurist and Belle from Belle's Bookshelf. Of course I had already met the awesome Sunny before.

A group shot on the balcony of Random House Headquarters
Angel, Laura, Sunny, Estelle, me and Felicity (Penguin Teen publicist)

After the very confusing start of trying to find the venue I finally entered the building and suddenly felt very out of place. It was filled with adults heading out to work in their suits and there I was standing in plain jeans and a jacket... The first thing I noticed with the office was that it was very classy! I must say I was impressed and the view was pretty good.

Once I entered, I was greeted with the sight of these massive goodie bags filled with about 6-7 books. I was one of the first to arrive and once all the awkward introductions were over, everyone was finally at ease with each other.

The 'conference' room as I like to call it!

Random House in one word was hospitable. They were very friendly and a lot less intimidating than what I imagined they would be. They offered food and drinks and they started the program as soon as most of the people had arrived. They offered us great tips on how to get the most of online, tips to promoting our blogs, and even how to get publicised. I even learnt some cool facts like how 88% of bloggers are female and the other 12% are male! I found it funny because they encouraged us to be on twitter the whole time! Apparently it's ok to be on your phone while at these events...

We had Sneh Roy who owns the award-winning blog called Cook Republic  speak to us about her blogging experience. She was so inspirational because she had been blogging for 10 years. It's such a relief to see that she hadn't lost her passion. She said she only lost that passion about twice in her blogging experience. Sney gave us a few tips and basically said to stay true to yourself and just enjoy blogging.

These awesome floating bookshelves

2 authors spoke to us about their upcoming books which was interesting. Random House and Penguin also showed releases that we should look out for this year. I'm excited for some new books this year but I wish they showed more Young Adult novels.

During the breaks it was so much fun talking to the publicists. They are just as much a a fan as any other and it's so easy to talk to them. It makes requesting review books a lot less intimidating because you've actually met them and seen what there personality is like. Felicity from Penguin is just so funny and outgoing and her enthusiasm is very contagious. I'm so excited for the PTA Live event in June!

So in a nutshell that was my month! You probably saw a lot of my tweets on the National Book Bloggers Forum because I must say it was very exciting. I got to miss out on a day of school to basically talk about books!

How was May for you?

Did you read any interesting books?

If you haven't read Pivot Point, I advise you don't read this as it may contain minor spoilers.

Author: Kasie West
Series: Pivot Point #2
Release Date: February 11th
Publishers: Harper Teen
Pages: 360
Genre: Paranormal
Links: Goodreads | Author's Website  | Buy the book

Life can change in a split second.

Addie hardly recognizes her life since her parents divorced. Her boyfriend used her. Her best friend betrayed her. She can’t believe this is the future she chose. On top of that, her ability is acting up. She’s always been able to Search the future when presented with a choice. Now she can manipulate and slow down time, too . . . but not without a price.

When Addie’s dad invites her to spend her winter break with him, she jumps at the chance to escape into the Norm world of Dallas, Texas. There she meets the handsome and achingly familiar Trevor. He’s a virtual stranger to her, so why does her heart do a funny flip every time she sees him? But after witnessing secrets that were supposed to stay hidden, Trevor quickly seems more suspicious of Addie than interested in her. And she has an inexplicable desire to change that.

Meanwhile, her best friend, Laila, has a secret of her own: she can restore Addie’s memories . . . once she learns how. But there are powerful people who don’t want to see this happen. Desperate, Laila tries to manipulate Connor, a brooding bad boy from school—but he seems to be the only boy in the Compound immune to her charms. And the only one who can help her.

As Addie and Laila frantically attempt to retrieve the lost memories, Addie must piece together a world she thought she knew before she loses the love she nearly forgot . . . and a future that could change everything.

Review

There's only so many words that can explain how much I love Kasie West's writing. I thought she couldn't possibly beat Pivot Point but Split Second just took it to the next level. The only thing I'm disappointed with is that there's not going to be another book and I can't bare to let this story go!

After dealing with an extreme amount of drama inside the Compound, Addie decides to take a break and stays with her dad in the Norm world. After meeting people who seem familiar, one guy immediately grabs her attention. Trevor manages to make her heart beat erratically whenever he's present but she has no idea why. He's just a stranger to her or is he? In the Compound, her best friend Laila holds a secret that ways her down every day. She's has to learn how to restore memories but has no clue how to or if she can. All she has is a note from Addie who doesn't even remember writing it. 

Pivot Point changes between each search so we sort of bounce back and forth with two possible futures. But in this one we change POV's with Addie's best friend, Laila. I thought I wouldn't like it as much but I loved Laila's separate story line. It also enhanced our view of how deep their friendship runs. Both Addie and Laila would do anything for each other and they have such a loyal friendship. I never got confused between each chapters because each character had a different voice. 

In Split Second we go through all the feels of new love all over again. I fell in love with Trevor again as well and it was just as sweet as the first time. But along with the romance with Trevor and Addie we get a new relationship that begins to form. Laila gets a new love interest and it's cute viewing how Laila goes against everything she thought she knew about guys. 

Split Second is more suspenseful than the last and Kasie West doesn't let up on the plot twists. I'm constantly on the edge of my seat because anything can happen. I was happy with the ending but I wish West would continue and make it into a trilogy or make a short novella of what happens next. I guess I always want this in books, like an epilogue of some sort. For example Harry Potter had that little 19 year later thing.

Overall Split Second was a great read. I was up reading it when I was supposed to be studying for an exam but it was so worth it. I'll be buying the rest of Kasie West's books because I just love her writing style. There's humour, suspense, cute romance, plot twists and everything you need in a great novel.

Do you like Paranormal books?

Can you predict plot twists?

Note: I may not post at all next two week because I have assessments for school nearly every day...that'll be fun times! So obviously it means I won't have time to read let alone write any reviews. I may be able to squeeze in small discussions.

Author: Anna Banks
Series: The Syrena Legacy #3
Release Date:  May 13th 2014
Publishers: Hardie Grant Egmont 
Pages: 336
Genre: Mermaids
Links: Goodreads | Author's Website  | Buy the book

Emma and Galen’s kingdom and their love is threatened by long-lost Syrena in the brilliant conclusion to Anna Banks bestselling trilogy.

Emma, half human and half Syrena, and her Syrena love, Galen, need time together alone. Away from the kingdoms of Poseidon and Triton. Emma’s grandfather, the Poseidon king, suggests the two visit a small town called Neptune.

Neptune is home to both Syrena and Half-Breeds alike. But Emma and Galen didn’t sign up to be peacemakers between the ocean and the land-dwelling, freshwater Syrena. They didn’t bargain for meeting a charming Half-Breed named Reed, who can barely disguise his feelings for Emma. And they especially didn’t expect to find themselves in the middle of a power struggle that threatens not only their love but their ocean kingdoms.

In this stunning conclusion to her bestselling Syrena Legacy, Anna Banks thrills fans with more action and romance than ever.

*I'd like to thank Hardie Grant Egmont for sending me this for review, it does not influence my opinion.*

Review

This is another bitter-sweet ending to yet another trilogy and it's quite depressing that all my favourite books are ending. I'm so happy with how Of Neptune turned out and basically the whole series. They're so easy to read and you can't help but fall in love with the characters and the humour.

Emma is a good protagonist who has a funny inner-monologue that is constantly running. She has a good teen voice which is easy to relate too and a likable personality. I don't know whether it's because I had to wait a long time for this novel to come out but I ended up really missing the characters. Galen was his usual sweet and protective character. I think his character really shone through especially in this book as he was put to the test.

The thing I like about this series is that it's about mermaids. I don't often read about them so it's such a breath of fresh air. (Our should I say water?) It's also cool to see Anna Banks's take on mermaids and that's why I love books so much. You're never wrong and it's interesting seeing other peoples imagination translate into writing.

Of Neptune was a cute and fluffy read. I think I would have liked to read all three books in a row since they're so easy to read and the story flows a little better. There is nothing overly amazing but there was nothing that I didn't like about it. The ending was cute and it felt like it was a great way to wrap up the story nicely. I think these novels will be a re-read in the future when I feel like revisiting the Syrena world!

Dear My Crazy Bookish World

Before I had you I was merely a simple reader who didn't know about the whole world of Young Adult literature. I searched the library hoping for a new book that I was interested in that I hadn't already read. I never ventured out further than the Harry Potter and the Twilight series. I was happy, but I didn't know what I was missing out on. You have opened me up to a whole new world of literature and this past year has been a blast!

But with you, you have also caused me a great deal of unwanted stress. Catching terrible cases of writers block while I try and put my thoughts into words. Falling behind in my review books and my goodreads challenge. Putting all this effort into a post and not receiving any feedback! All these things add up and create a huge mess so I end up having to take a hiatus. Sometimes I have to take a break from you because too much of something can become bad.

Also trying to juggle you between my social and school life. Sometimes you get in the way of my priorities such as school exams and assessments. Sometimes you even take over my reading and cause me to fall into a massive slump. You're not perfect and I'm constantly having to keep up maintenance. I give you a new look every now and then and I fix whatever problems may pop up. Most of the time you frustrate me when you refuse to cooperate with me. For example you won't let me put my GFC up! Why do you continue to torment me?!

Even though some people might say you're more trouble than you're worth, I can never agree. You've enabled me to meet people who are like-minded and have the same interests. I've been able to go to many events and premieres for movies. You've kept me updated with what's happening in the bookish world and lastly you re-kindled my relationship with Sunny after many years.

Thank you for taking me on a long journey and I intend to continue it.

Yours sincerely 

Francoise

Well that was a weird post...I don't even know what inspired me to write something like that. You may relate and have the same feelings to your blog but to me my blog is like my child. I try and take care of it and give it enough attention.

But anyways, oh my gosh can you believe it's already been a year since this blog has been up and running? To me it feels like just yesterday when I was only a newbie trying to figure out what to name this blog. I remember it was so difficult just to change things as simple as the font but I can't say I have everything mastered as there are still some things I can't figure out.

To celebrate my 1 year blogoversary I have decided to host a giveaway. I'm sorry to those overseas but this is open to Australia only! Enter to win 3 physical copies that are upcoming releases in May published by Five Miles Press.

Guidelines:

• Open to Australia only
• You must be over 13
• All entries must be authentic as I will be checking it
• Winner will be drawn on May 31st
• Winner will get all 3 books

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author:  Kiera Cass
Release Date:  May 6th 2014
Publishers: HarperTeen
Pages: 323
Genre: Dystopia
Links: Goodreads | Author's Website  | Buy the book

The time has come for one winner to be crowned.

When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown--or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose--and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

*I'd like to thank HarperTeen Aus for sending me this for review, it does not influence my opinion.*

Review

Back in my review for The Elite I stated:

"To be honest I don't see how this story is going to end in a trilogy and I just hope that Kiera Cass has something up her sleeve to just mind blow us all. I think that the next book will seal the fate of the series as to whether I enjoyed it or not."

I'm glad to say that The One reached my expectations. I've always said that this novel was either going to be the make or break of this series and Kiera Cass did not let me down.

I have to start off by saying I am so proud of America! She frustrated me so much in The Elite because she tends to mess things up easily. For a smart girl she always managed to do the most stupidest things. America has gone through some major character development since The Selection and it's lovely witnessing her go along her journey. I love her character because she is strong-willed and isn't afraid to state her opinion and most of all she isn't' perfect and she knows it. She's a very flawed character that makes her realistic but still sometimes I question her common sense. Even when the competition became more intense, she stayed focused on only what she wanted.

The secondary characters also had a major breakthrough towards the end. Celeste who I hated throughout the whole series changed for the better. She actually made me laugh and I adored her character at the end. Despite it being a serious competition when it was only down to the four of them, all the girls came together let out what had been weighing them all down. Aspen who you all know I hated with a passion actually gained my respect in this book. I still don't entirely like him but he deserved the ending he got.

Maxon remained the sweet and passionate guy he always was. We really got to see into his heart and what he was really feeling as he opened up. He started off as just the prince who didn't know anything and was trapped inside his own bubble where everything is great. Now that America opened up is world he's been striving to be better and he achieved this. I love Maxon so much and it's sad to let him go!

Sunny and I did a post on what we predicted and what we wanted to have in The One and a lot of this was fulfilled. I won't tell you which of our predictions were correct but I'm happy to say that the rebel attacks were done much better this time round. It was explained properly and I liked the resolve in the end. I was always confused with the difference between the Northern and Southern rebels and it became clear what there different objectives were. I was a little disappointed because I wish they were a little more drawn out. They were over in like a flash and it didn't create as much of an impact as it could have. I wanted more of an action scene.

No words can describe how much I enjoyed it. I practically read it as soon as I got it in the mail and couldn't put it down once. The Selection series is so easy to read and it's easy to become so engrossed in the game of the selection. It's hard not to form an attachment to such unique characters and it's sad to see this trilogy end. It was a happy ending which all the characters deserved but it's sort of bitter-sweet that it ended.

I rate the whole series:

Author:  Ava Dellaira
Release Date: April 1st 2014
Publishers: The Five Miles Press
Pages: 327
Genre: Coming of Age
Links: Goodreads | Buy the book

It begins as an assignment for English class: write a letter to a dead person - any dead person. Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain - he died young, and so did Laurel's sister May - so maybe he'll understand a bit of what Laurel is going through. Soon Laurel is writing letters to lots of dead people - Janis Joplin, Heath Ledger, River Phoenix, Amelia Earhart... it's like she can't stop. And she'd certainly never dream of handing them in to her teacher. She writes about what it's like going to a new high school, meeting new friends, falling in love for the first time - and how her family has shattered since May died.

But much as Laurel might find writing the letters cathartic, she can't keep real life out forever. The ghosts of her past won't be contained between the lines of a page, and she will have to come to terms with growing up, the agony of losing a beloved sister, and the realisation that only you can shape your destiny.

*I'd like to thank The Five Mile Press for sending me this for review, it does not influence my opinion.*

Review

If Love Letters to the Dead was described in one word it would have to be emotional. I hold this novel close to my heart because it reflects the hardships of real life. I read books to take myself away from the real world but every once in a while you need a book like this where it brings you back down to earth and teaches you that life isn't all sunshine and rainbows.

Love Letters to the Dead is set in a letter format throughout the whole book and this unique style arrangement flowed really well. It made the book more personal and formed a strong connection with the protagonist. Each letter was addressed to a famous celebrity and it was fun finding small bits of information that I didn't know before. A lot of the people I had heard of before but I didn't really know anything about and it was interesting to see how each one impacted Laurel.

I respect Ava Dellaira for writing a novel that doesn't shy away from controversial topics. This novel explored drugs, alcohol, gay romance and many more topics that don't usually come up in Young Adult novels. I really wish more authors wrote about these matters because it makes me feel like adults think teenagers can't handle these pressing issues today. Can I just say...we can! These subjects are always been thrown in our face whether it's in school or in the media.

The characters were very unique in this book and each one had some quirky aspect to them. I loved Laurel as the protagonist and I think she portrayed a good teenage voice well but sometimes she came across older to me. The story followed her struggles of coping with the death of her older sister and how it effected her. Each person copes with grief differently and Laurel chose to write letters to the dead which was different (in the good way. Her character was realistic because sometimes she wasn't always as strong as she wanted to be and occasionally she spiraled out of control. To me this was a normal reaction. All the secondary characters displayed one lesson or story in one way or another and it was cool picking up these interesting messages. They each helped Laurel be her true self.

Love Letters to the Dead was an emotional read which put me through so many emotions. I really sympathised with Laurel and I felt a deep connection with her.This is a perfect 'coming of age' story and If you like a well-paced novel which covers a lot of deep topics then I highly recommend it to you. I never feel like I do a book justice with my reviews but trust me when I say you'll want to read this. (Be ready for the waterworks)

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews to basically show off what you've recently bought/burrowed. 

Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan
The Elite by Keira Cass
Spellcaster  b Claudia Gray
Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
Venom by Fiona Paul

I got all these books for $28! BARGAIN!

Author: James Dashner
Release Date: October 6th 2009
Publishers: Delacorte Press
Pages: 374
Genre: Dystopia 
Links: Goodreads | Author's Website  | Buy the book

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers--boys whose memories are also gone.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It's the only way out--and no one's ever made it through alive.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.

Review

The Maze Runner surprised me in a good way. Although I had heard so much talk and praise for this trilogy it never really compelled me to read it. It's always been something sitting on my TBR list, not getting any notice. The trailer for the upcoming movie pushed me in the right direction and boy am I glad. But I have to say, James Dashner, you are a legend! This faced paced novel managed to pull me out of my slump and I can't wait to read the next.

Thomas woke up dazed in a lift surround by faces of boys who weren't familiar. He had no recollection of who he was - but his name - and of his past and he soon found out that none of them did either. The Glade is surrounded by 4 large walls that leads to a maze that is forever changing. But when nighttime hits so do the nightmares. Creatures called Grievers prowl during the night and no one is said to survive a night out in the maze. It's the Gladers job to figure out the maze before it's too late.

The one thing I loved about this book is that you can't compare it to any other dystopia. I find quite often that people always see similarities between dystopian books which always irks me because every book is unique in their own way. The whole concept of this novel intrigued me and I found myself becoming immersed in the world of the Gladers really easily. First thing I noticed was the strange slang and mannerisms of the characters in this novel. Quite often I've had to stop myself from slipping into their unusual slang.

Usually I don't like male protagonists because I find it harder to relate and the authors don't always get it right. Jame's Dashner's style of writing is different so it actually worked well. I usually prefer 1st person but in this case 3rd person worked really well and I found myself viewing everything in the main character point of view. Thomas as the protagonist was perfect. I felt like I was him the whole time because every emotion he felt, I felt. When he was confused, I was too, when he got angry, I was right along with him. Dashner's style of writing took you on the experience along with the protagonist.

Thomas was the best character. He was very curious, courageous and brave. When times got hard and it looked like they were never getting out of the situation he never stopped trying to solve the maze. His persistence to survive was admirable because to be honest, if I were him I would have given up long ago. I also really liked the secondary characters, especially Minho and Newt. It wouldn't have been the same without them and their humour had me smiling a lot of the time.

The start was very confusing because of the lack of information but it kept me interested. The whole book I was on the edge of my seat because I had no idea what would happen next, in a situation like this, anything could occur. Many times I was actually scared because Dashner's description was perfect and I could visualise everything in my mind easily.

The Maze Runner was a pleasing read and I can't wait to start the next one. If you like a fast paced novel which will keep you hanging off your seat you have to try this one. And besides the movie is coming out soon. If I had describe this book in one word it would be emotional because these characters had it bad and desperation was all they had. This was the perfect book to read to finish off the month on a good note!

Sunny: So today we decided to do a joint discussion in a different format. We're thinking of doing more discussions like this so if you like it better this way please tell us!

Francoise: Since The One by Kiera Cass is being published on May 6th we thought we'd post our predictions for it. If you haven't read The Elite we strongly advise that you don't read this! And if you're Team Aspen...we're sorry!

oOo

Francoise: We have had many discussions about what we think will happen in The One. A lot of it revolves around who she'll choose and what's going to happen with the rebel attacks. 

Sunny: I think that there are numerous people who are involved in the rebellion. I think that Aspen and America's father are major parts in the rebel attacks.

Francoise: Yeah because think about it, her name is America which is conveniently what Illea used to be called. As soon as America confided in her dad about Gregory Illéa's diary the rebels tried to steal it. 

Sunny: It's likely they stole the other books in attempt to get the diary and it was a secret for a long time so how else would they have found out about it.

Francoise: Also, during the Halloween party, the father was walking around the grounds which is a bit suspicious if you ask me.
Sunny: So yeah I predict that her father is somehow involved in the attacks and that a bit more on that will hopefully be in the One. Also, the girl who part of the attack bowed sarcastically and she didn't raise an alarm. 

Francoise: Also I think Aspen is involved somehow. After all if the dad is involved they are good friends and it's funny how Aspen is a guard.
Sunny: Yes I know right, he can use America as an excuse to be there and find out information but also get a scope of the buildings.

Francoise: Exactly, how else would the rebels know where to go half the time. Maybe that's why he doesn't fight for her as hard, he just needs her to believe that he wants her. Basically in my eyes, he's using her.

Sunny: That's exactly what I think. Which also leads me to hope that we find out more about Aspen's character, cos we don't really know that much about him. No Aspen hate intended!

Francoise: Moving on from the theories on the rebel attacks, now let's talk about what we want to see. I for one really want to see more of a swoony Maxon.

Sunny: I would for him to defend himself more and just become stronger. He has good intentions and ideas, he just needs to voice them.

Francoise: He needs to grow more of a backbone, defend himself from the king and stand up against him. Also, he needs to be more straight forward with America and what he wants.

Sunny: Yeah they have communication issues. I want to see more of the Queen, I feel like she has the potential to be awesome. Learning more about Kota would be great because I think we all wanna know what's up with him.

Francoise: And finally, America needs to get her act together. I want the old America back, the one from The Selection. The one who knew what she wanted and wasn't so indecisive between each guy.
Sunny:Yeah America can rock when she wants, she just needs to find her awesomeness again. But overall these are just preferences and I think Kiera will do great.

So what did you think of this type of discussion?

Check out Sunny's blog to see our discussion on what team we're on and why!

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that shows upcoming releases that we're highly anticipating.

oOo

I don't do this meme often but there are two books that I am so excited to read. They aree both the last installments to their trilogies and they are both being published by HarperTeen!

Title: The One

Author: Keira Cass

Series: The Selection #3

Expected publication: May 6th 2014 by HarperTeen

The Selection changed the lives of thirty-five girls forever. And now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen.

America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the competition approaches its end and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

From the very first page of The Selection, this #1 New York Times bestselling series has captured readers' hearts and swept them away on a captivating journey... Now, in The One, Kiera Cass delivers a satisfying and unforgettable conclusion that will keep readers sighing over this electrifying fairy-tale long after the final page is turned.

Title: Sweet Reckoning

Author: Wendy Higgins

Series: The Sweet Trilogy #3

Expected publication: April 29th 2014 by HarperTeen

It’s time. 

Evil is running rampant and sweet Anna Whitt is its target. Nobody knows when or how the Dukes will strike, but Anna and her Nephilim allies will do anything necessary to rid the earth of the demons and their oppressive ways.

The stakes are higher than ever, and Anna is determined that the love she feels will be her strength, not a liability. But trying to protect the ones she loves while running for her life and battling demonic forces proves to be perilous—especially as faces are changing and trust is fleeting. When the Duke of Lust sends Anna’s great love, Kaidan Rowe, to work against her, Anna must decide how much she’s prepared to risk.

In the most sensual and fast-paced installment yet, Sweet Reckoning brings all the beloved Neph together one last time to fight for their freedom.

Since book to movie adaptations are all the talk at the moment, I thought this topic was appropriate. Some of you might be thinking, "What...books are always better!" Well I agree 100% but I think sometimes movies have the upper hand.

      1.    Music
Other than reading, music is another one of my passions that takes up a huge part in my life. Movies tend to have spectacular soundtracks that really go with the scene and it heightens the intensity of emotions the audience go through. In other words, the feels hit that much harder!

      2.    The actors/actresses
You have to admit that acting has gotten so much better these days and the casting for our favourite characters have been pretty accurate so far. These talented actors have been able to portray our characters and their emotions so well. With this our characters have come to life before us!
For example:

     3.    Cinematography
Along with the improved acting we also have better quality of cinematography. I saw Divergent recently and I was so impressed with what they did to make the scenery match the book.

      4.    More Advertisement
As much as I hate to say it, movies do have better advertisement. It’s not every day I’m walking down the street and see a poster for the newest release of a book. I wish they would do this because it would make it easier for us bloggers/readers. Along with this advertisement brings more fans. (I hate it though because people only read the book to watch the movie)

      5.    Brings fans together
Movies also bring fans together. There’s nothing like being in a cinema filled with fangirls and you all awwww or laugh at the same time. You feel like you’re part of a bigger community because sometimes you forget how many people enjoy the same things as you.

So these are my reasoning's for what movies can do that books can't. I'd love to here your feedback in the comments below ;)

Do you agree with me? 

Were there any points that I missed out?

Author: Kasie West
Release Date: February 12th 2013
Publishers: HarperTeen
Pages: 343
Genre: Mixture of paranormal, sci fi and dystopian
Links: Goodreads | Author's Website  | Buy the book

Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

Review

I know you didn't read the summary, go back up and read it! Seriously it will make you want to read this magnificent book. I have been in a reading slump for ages and this book just reminded me why I loved reading so much!

Loved these at the beginning of the chapters

Up the top I didn't really state what genre it is because to be honest I have no idea. It's like a mixture of paranormal, sci fi and dystopia and I think that's what makes this book so unique. Pivot Point in short is basically a girl called Addison - or Addie if you like - who lives on the Compound which is filled with people with advanced minds. And by advanced minds I mean people who have special talents and abilities. She has the power to see the two outcomes of a decision and her talent falls under the category of Divergence (weird I know!) which commonly gets mixed up with Clairvoyance. When Addie's parents confront her with their sudden divorce, she has to Search the outcomes on whether to choose to live with her dad or mum. But sometimes knowing what will happen doesn't make the decision any easier.

Each chapter alternates between Addison living with her mum and dad. I thought I'd get confused in each chapter but there's such a differentiation between each 'life'. If Addison decides to stay with her mum, she keeps living on the compound whereas her dad ventures out into the 'Norm' world leaving everything behind. One thing I liked is that each choice followed the same story-line yet have completely different outcomes in the end.

I haven't read any other novels written by Kasie West but she portrays such a good teen voice. I loved Addison as our protagonist and I felt such a strong connection with her. She was strong-willed and stood by her morals no matter what. Also she didn't care what people thought of her, as long as she stayed true to herself. Addie was also a very quirky character that often made me smile at her sense of humour.

Oh the romance! In each of her Searches there's a boy she'll end up with and to an extent it's almost a love-triangle...but not, because it's just what could happen. (Remember this whole book is about what could happen based on one decision) The love interests are polar opposites but have one common interest, football. This book is pure genius because every character somehow intertwines with each Search. If she stays with her mum she ends up with Duke, star quarterback, cocky with a winning smile and then there's Trevor who is a Norm. He once was a quarterback on the way to a bright future but got knocked out of the field after a fatal injury to his shoulder. From the beginning I was routing for Trevor but her decision isn't as easy as choosing one guy over the other.

I hold such a deep fondness for this ingenious story and I praise Kasie West for pulling me out of this long slump. It's so easy to immerse yourself into the clever plot and you won't be able to put the book down.  The only regret I have is not reading it sooner! Pivot Point was such a refreshing read with it's creative (but not too complex) storyline and it didn't suffer the 'No Parent Syndrome' or the common angsty teen drama which I loved.  My mission is to read all her other books and I'm dying to read Split Second. My review doesn't do the book justice but trust me when I say you won't regret reading this ;)

Happy reading!

Words cannot express how much I actually loved this movie! When the casting became public I was so worried that they would not do the book justice. Shailene Woodley was the best Tris and I can't imagine anyone else that would do a better job.

Jeez movies are becoming better and clearer! The first thing I noticed about the movie was the awesome cinematography. It wasn't what I imagined when I read the book but I have to say it was better. It was more modern and more...dystopia! They did a perfect job of how Chicago is meant to look. All the buildings were run down, exactly how a city after war looks like.

The Factions - 

The factions! The choosing ceremony was exactly how I imagined it and how the Dauntless jump off the train. Although I found the clothing very weird. It seemed a little fake and out of place for me at times just simply because of the vibrant colours but it worked well for the whole dystopian theme. The dauntless compound wasn't how I imagined it at all but it still fit into the movie really well.

The Fear Simulations -

I wish they spent a little more time on the aptitude test but I'm not entirely disappointed with that. It sort of breezed through it and I was like...ummm what just happened? The fear landscapes were amazing!!! It showed Tris's and Four's fears really well but again it wasn't what I imagined but it still was amazing! I would have liked them to focus more on Four's fears because I find that this scene is important to learn more of Four's character but I found it was still mainly focused on Tris.

Favourite Scenes - 

 My two favourite scenes in the movie were the Capture the Flag scene and the Zip-lining. They changed the capture the flag scene slightly but I don't want to spoil it for you. For those of you have watched it, don't you think it worked better with the different type of guns? The zip-lining was awesome because it showed the landscape much better. It showed how the effects of the war really took its toll on the city and how people today have to live with it.

Casting -

The characters...I felt like Christina, Will and Al weren't shown that much. As I said before, the movie was focused mainly on Tris and I would have liked to see more of her relationship with the other characters. Especially for later scenes because what should have had a great impact emotionally didn't really have one like it did in the book. Peter was not nearly as bad as he was in the novels. In the books I just had such hatred for him - almost on an Eric level - but in this one he was more snarky and almost funny. He needed to be more manipulative than just criticizing Tris. It was really weird to see Jai Courtney as Eric because I loved him in A Good Day to Die Hard and he was the good guy but he played Eric perfectly. Again I didn't really feel hatred for him like in the books, he was more intimidating.

Shailene Woodley portrayed Tris so well and I can't have picked anyone better. She went from poor defenseless Tris into a powerful girl who is more sure of herself. When Theo James was casted as Four, I'd have to say I was a little more than disappointed. He didn't look liked the Four I pictured but he acted the role naturally. He played the perfect cold-hearted training teacher at the start and then melted into that Four we all love and know.

This whole movie had me squealing with delight. I'm just so happy with what they did and even though there were a few changes in it, I still loved it. I was a little disappointed because Uriah wasn't in it :( Hopefully he'll be in the other movies. This movie had me going through all the Divergent feels all over again and I really want to see it again. (I'll probably buy the DVD!) I'm sorry if this review turned out to be a mess, it's a little hard to write when you're just thinking of Theo Ja- *cough* the movie! If you are a massive Divergent fan, then you must see it! You'll love it ;)