Midnight Bibliophile

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

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This book was hauntingly good. I loved every minute of it. Some moments were so hard to pull through because of the amount of emotions flowing through me. Sometimes it was slight angry, a lot of times sadness.

I really felt for Hannah Baker, so many times bad things had happened to her and yet no one was there to help. She could do nothing to stop it.

I really enjoyed reading this, even if some moments were hard. It was like reading mini stories all in one story. Some of her memories she was retelling, I had to stop and take a breather. After those moments I wasn't sure whether to continue or not.

I was highly anticipating the moment where it would get to Clay's tale. He had no idea why he was on the tape, and so far all of the reasons people were on the tapes is because of something bad. Lots was revealed.

I felt slightly annoyed at the ending, but only for the fact that Clay had so little to do with Hannah, but yet he could have prevented so much. I felt bad for him at that moment too. That was an 'if only...' moment. If only he had known.

Save to say, I really loved this book, it was so heartfelt, but it was hard to get through because it was such an emotional rollercoaster.

When I was eleven years old, I was going away during school. My teacher gave me this book and told me it was my homework. I was so annoyed, I didn't want any homework. One day, while away, I was bored and decided to read this book that I had been given. I loved it. I couldn't be pulled away.

I felt so horrible for the main character and her family. They were called so many names by their new neighbours. They were also treated badly. They had to deal with so many problems such as the name calling but they were strong and tried to not let it affect them.

All of the problems they faced were real life problems. Many people around Ireland are travellers or settled travellers. This was like realising the situation within the real world.
 
There were many emotions soaring through this book. I think the only reason why I still remember most things about this book is because I liked it so much.

When I came back home, I told my teacher I read the book. She smiles and asked me to tell her about it. I told her about the whole book and how much I enjoyed it. She said to the that that was the whole reason why she gave it to me, because she knew I would be able to appreciate the idea behind it and the real-life problem, that in my world, I had no idea about.

 So, this is going to be short.

I don't know how to feel about this book. There's so many things that are too difficult to understand. And they're not actually hard, I just can't wrap my head around the ideas and concepts.

I liked both main characters, June and Day. I preferred Day's point of view better than June's though. There were moments when I didn't like her. I loved how all the things Day was doing was for money for his family.

Even though her brother was barely in it, and it said on the blurb he was going to die, I was kind of sad.

The ending is the bit I am unsure about. For now, everything is okay for June and Day, but I don't know, I don't really feel satisfied buy the ending. Yes, I know there is another too books, but still.

All the government stuff was a bit much for me, and one of the reasons I'm not sure whether I am going to continue with this series. I felt kind of lost and bored during these parts.

Anyway, three out of five.

I haven't read the mini selection stories, The Guard and The Prince, but I included them in the series.

Plot of The Selection:

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

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-review of three books from now-

I started reading this series about a year ago. I never really had any expectations because I didn't know anyone who had read it. What I didn't know, was that I was reading the second book, The Elite. I only realised it was the second book when I felt there were pieces of the story missing. That was maybe, six chapters in. So, anyway, I stopped reading.

About two weeks ago, I read the first book. This time I heard my friend saying it was good. And yes, I think so too.

At first America was with Aspen, until, of course, she joined the selection. I did like Aspen as a character, although he was a little cheesy. He said some really cheesy thing about loving her. I found that a little funny rather than cute.

America, having no choice but having been picked, moves to the castle with no intention of getting to know the prince, Maxon. The only thing she wanted to do was get away from Aspen.

I think the first book was the best in the series. It held the most events. It also started the romance between Prince Maxon and herself. I would rate it five stars. I think it was a good first book for the series. There wasn't many events, apart from her with the other girls, on the report and with Maxon, but it was still a quick and enjoyable read.

I felt the second book was a little bit of a let down. The romance between Maxon and America was growing, but to me, it was they love each other or not. America was very back and forth with her feelings for Maxon. There were some more events in the second book, this time, such as the Italian royalty and German royalty coming to the castle.

During this book, what came as I shock to me, was the reason Marlee wanted to stay at the castle. Not because of Maxon but for some other reason. I was having a bit of an angry-fangirl moment. I felt like crying for Marlee.

After Marlee disappeared from the castle, everything, I felt, was a little rushed. Marlee, had been her best friend during their time in the castle, but yet she wasn't that sad she was gone.

Then Maxon brought Marlee to America. They said they would see each other again, but they barely spoke. I think this moment was a little underdeveloped and could have been a little more thought out. Especially for the fact that they were supposed to see each other again. Marlee didn't come back in until the near-end of the third book.

Again, during the third book, Maxon and America's love was a little back and forth. Yes, the book was about their future together, or lack of future, but it was a little annoying. America was annoying. She was stringing both Maxon and Aspen along.

The ending of the third book, I was unsatisfied. I felt it was not developed well. It was like, after Maxon picked America, that was it. The book had to be finished, whatever way. Even before that it was rushed.

When her father died, yes, she was brave, but she didn't seem to be very sad. If it was my mother who died, I would cry forever.

While the castle was attacked near the end of the third book, I was screaming at the book. It pretty much goes like this; everyone is ready. The castle is attacked. She gets away. Its a few hours later and loads of people are dead. Including, the King, Queen, Celeste and Anne. One minute they're alive. The next, they're dead.

Throughout the book, I didn't really like Celeste. She was mean and full of herself. But through the third book, she just proved how desperate she was. She was fighting against everyone because that was the only thing she had. She didn't hold his heart like America, or make a very good queen like Kriss. I felt kind of bad for her. Then she got, and safe to say, I was upset.

Maxon; wow, I don't know how I feel about him. I like him, and I don't like him. I know he was pretty much dating each girl but he had a special connection from the start with America and it was kind of, I guess, douche-y in a way? (If that's a word.) Especially when he had Celeste pinned up against the hallway. But then I liked him for his little cute moments with America. And moments he stood up for her.

America; I liked her for the fact that she was brave and stood up for the things she felt right. If she had to do something that she didn't like, such as sending a man to jail for life because he was desperate enough to steal clothes for his children, she would make her own rules. She would fix the problem her own way. It was a little annoying in these moments, though, that she was impulsive. She didn't think things through properly. The only moments I didn't like her was when she was going back and forth between Maxon and Aspen.

All in all, as a series, I give it four out of five stars. It was cute, enjoyable and an easy read. There were some moments that I loved, some that I hated, but as I whole, I liked the plot line. It was also very original.

Plot:

Brooklynn Summers has a plan for her life: graduate from high school, get into a top fashion school, prove to her family that she’s not a failure. She wishes someone in her life understood her need to create because her parents sure don’t support her dreams, her sister hates her, and the deadlines are soon approaching.

Enter Grayson Banks.

There are a few things in life Brooklynn can’t stand: mismatched patterns, cheap polyester, and Grayson. No boy has ever publicly humiliated Brooklynn like Grayson has. When he suddenly moved away in eighth grade, Brooklynn happily wished him good riddance. But on the first day of senior year, Grayson comes back, with his piercing blue eyes and a smile that melts icebergs, he is not exactly the boy Brooklynn remembers. She quickly realises that Grayson’s intentions have completely shifted, but she’s not sure if she can put their past behind her.

*

So, I got this story on my kindle for either really cheap or free. I was expecting a cute, cliché romance where the girl falls in love with the boy who used to bully her. For the most part, this was the plot.

What pulled me into reading this story was the fact that Brooklyn was a aspiring fashion designer and that her parents didn't accept this future career. One of the things I would hope to be when I'm a little older is a fashion designer. I love designing clothes. And also, my parents (well more one parent), doesn't accept this, and doesn't think it is a job that I would be able to handle.

I hated the way her parents didn't like this career or the fact that her sister was very cold and distant towards her. She acted like she hated her.

Throughout the book, Brook battles with her feelings for Grayson. She won't let any feeling for Grayson blooms because she still thinks he is the bully he once was. No matter how many times he tries to convince her, tries to change her opinion of him, she just won't budge.

I did like both main characters. Grayson more than Brook. Brook, at times, I found annoying because of the fact that she kept pushing Grayson away, although you could see he was sincere. I love Grayson's determination. He kept pushing and pushing to get Brook to accept her feelings.

I also like her best friends too.

At the beginning of each chapter, there are little quotes, I enjoyed them. Some were funny too.

All in all, this book was enjoyable. The thing that most annoyed me though was the ending. It felt too rushed. I think the problem should have been resolved either a couple chapters earlier or there should have been a couple extra chapters.

Great story for the author's debut YA.

I only realised that there was a second book in the series and I got so excited. I clicked onto it, hoping that it was a continuation of Brook and Grayson's story, but it wasn't. It's about their best friends, Chance and Dakota. Loved these characters so I'll probably like their story too. There'll also probably be a bit of Grayson and Brook, although it's not centred around them.

Hoping to pick up Chance and Dakota's story soon.

This is going to be short for the fact that I hated this book.

This story is about a girl who meets a guy. She keeps seeing him around and then they finally speak. She falls in love.

Her friends don't seem to like him, but her mother and sister love him. She goes around town vandalising things with him and being a rebel, and not finding anything wrong with it.

This story goes through this, things happening, it's his fault, she doesn't notice. Pretty much sums it up.

The first thing about this book that annoyed me was the chapters. They were just way too short. I don't really like long chapters anyway because I like to finish on a new chapter but these were beyond short.

The second; the main character. I didn't like her. She was just too annoying. And I hated the way that she was warned about the guy, Jem, but yet she ignored the warnings.

I for one, would be totally creeped out if I kept seeing the same guy around. But now, she didn't see anything wrong with it.

She was going around vandalising the city with him, and didn't see any problem with it.

Stuff from her father's place was stolen. 'Nope, couldn't be Jem. He wouldn't do that.' They were the only two in the apartment! This book bloody infuriated me!

Her friends didn't like Jem. He also dissed her friends. Again, she didn't see anything wrong. She was just so stupid!

After finally realising how messed up Jem was, her sister didn't believe anything was wrong with him. Then she left with him and ended up dead. What a great ending. (Note the sarcasm.)

For this horrendous story, I give it one star.

Even though I hated it, I read the whole story. It was suspenseful. I only kept reading to see if she got her head out of her ass and realised the psychopath that was her boyfriend.

Also written ages ago.

Anna Dressed in Blood is the first instalment in the Anna series written by Kendare Blake. This book is one that will make you want to sleep with the lights on because it has teeth and is a scary as hell. It will catch all of your emotions - happiness, fear, hatred, love and it will even break your heart. Prepare yourself for an emotional rollercoaster.

Okay, I wrote this review ages ago (as in like June, or whenever it came out), but I'm going to post it anyway.

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This book follows a girl named Cadence Sinclair Eastman. She comes from a wealthy and perfect family. Every summer her family goes to her Grandfather's Island. They each have a house there.