Tag: school

Posted in Colleen Hoover

Finding Cinderella – Colleen Hoover

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

18593175Synopsis

This novella is a companion novel to the Hopeless series, but can be read as a standalone.

A chance encounter in the dark leads eighteen-year-old Daniel and the girl who stumbles across him to profess their love for each other. But this love comes with conditions: they agree it will only last one hour and it will only be make-believe.

When their hour is up and the girl rushes off like Cinderella, Daniel tries to convince himself that what happened between them only seemed perfect because they were pretending it was perfect. Moments like that with girls like her don’t happen outside of fairytales.

One year and one bad relationship later, his disbelief in insta-love is stripped away the day he meets Six: a girl with a strange name and an even stranger personality. Daniel soon realizes the way he pretended to feel about Cinderella and the way he really feels about Six may not be so different after all. Especially when the two loves of his life end up being one in the same.

Unfortunately for Daniel, finding Cinderella doesn’t guarantee their happily ever after…it only further threatens it.

FIVE out of FIVE STARS

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My Review

GOD! Is there anything Colleen Hoover can’t do? She is pretty damn amazing in my eyes and every single book she has written has instantly become a favourite of mine and hot damn, Finding Cinderella, despite being a novella is pretty bloody perfect in my eyes. I want to thank Colleen for writing Daniel and Six’s story (I WANT…no NEED more of them though) and for making it free. That is an amazing thing to do, to thank us fans for loving you and your books. Even if it cost a bomb, I would have paid whatever to have a bit of Daniel in my life. I fell hard for him in Losing Hope.

Finding Cinderella, albeit a novella, makes you go through all the motions that a 300+ page does. Colleen Hoover knows emotion, she knows how to write it and how to drag it out of the reader. She knows how to use humour and angst and everything in between to keep you hooked, to keep you reading and who cares if this is 100+, this book has EVERYTHING wrapped up inside. The characters are developed, just like every single book of hers, the storyline drags you in, you fall for the characters, their lives, their emotions and you want to be with them and friends with them. Dear god, I will be fangirling so hard over Colleen on the 9th of this month when I meet her.

We previously met Daniel and Six in Hopeless and Losing Hope, as they are Holder and Sky’s best friends, who are always there for them throughout everything. It was great to finally see them get center stage and get to be loved like Holder and Sky’s love. They are both freaking fantastic characters, both outspoken, funny, sarcastic but definitely loyal and protective to their best friend’s. So when they meet for the first time when Six is back from Italy, and Holder tells Daniel not to do anything, well, of course Daniel isn’t going to listen to him.

Colleen gets suck right in from the first page and we all know that Daniel didn’t get given a lesson during a fourth period and hangs out in the closet and then BAM one day, a girl falls on top of him crying and thus begins the find for Cinderella when she leaves him a few weeks down the line. Never knowing each other’s names, nor what the other looks like, Daniel wants to find her but he never does find her…

So I don’t want to spoil what happens or anything but that cupboard changes Six’s life and dear god, when everything is out in the open, you will feel the utmost pain go through you, you will cry your eyes out for her and for Daniel. They fell for each other so fast and hard and god, you just know they are the ones for each other just like Holder and Sky. They go through so much in the short space and come out the other side.

You see their vulnerable sides, their fierce side, their loving side and their carefree sides. We all know Six’s personality, even from the short appearance in Hopeless, and although she has changed a hell of a lot during her year in Italy, you can see that she still has that spunk, that fun-ness to her, despite thinking over the time in Italy and what was left behind. She and Daniel are just perfect together and I am SO HAPPY that Colleen has decided to write a feature length book on these two because I cannot get enough of them!

‘Daniel’ even gave me a nickname and that nickname is ‘Sugar Boobs’ I will cherish this nickname (I call my friends ‘sugar tits’ so I suppose this is convenient and super bloody freaky that Colleen gave this to me HAHA). I have to say as far as Novellas go, THIS THIS THIS is the bloody best one I have ever read and I have read a lot. God, I just love Colleen so much and I cannot wait to meet her next week 😀

Posted in New Adult, Suspense

Breathe Into Me – Amanda Stone

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

16222687Synopsis Eighteen year-old Kelsey Rien is more than ready to leave her past behind her. Wanting nothing more than to walk into a room without everyone knowing the horrific details of an event that changed her life six years ago, she vows to concentrate on school and make something of herself. But then she meets Kane Riley – the local bad boy. Kane’s reputation is far from perfect, but is there more to him than what everyone else sees? Kelsey soon learns that you can’t run from your past, no matter how hard you try. When her nightmares find her once again, Kelsey must find the courage to face the demons that have been haunting her and save the people she loves most. 4 / 5 Stars add-to-goodreads-button3 ——————————————————–
My Review

Six years ago, something horrific happened in Kelsey Rien’s life. It changed her world upside down and changed who she was. As it would anyone who went through what she did.

For those six years, she has wanted nothing more than to just walk into a room and not have people know her history. Now eighteen, she and her best friend Jesse leave their small town behind and leave for college, away to a state where no one knows her and she can try to leave the past behind.

She never expected to meet Kane Riley, the resident bad boy. His reputation is anything but perfect yet there is more to him that meets the eye that has Kelsey intrigued by him. He’s nothing like his bad boy persona, yet everything still thinks he is. Has Kane really changed? He has some demons he’s fighting too.

Still battling her demons and her nightmares, Kelsey realizes she can’t run from the past, but opening up to Kane is the first step. But when her demon’s come to haunt her, she must face up to them and save the people she loves the most.

I had been waiting months for Breathe Into Me to be released. When I saw the cover on Goodreads it was an instant add to my TBR list and bad boys and tattoos and piercings always get my vote. The synopsis made me want to read it too. I like a bit of mystery wrapped up in books, so I really wanted to know what Kelsey’s past was so I had some theories.

I read this book over two days – mainly because I had to go to inductions for my new job, but I really did not want to put it down. I was hooked with the plot, with the characters and just with the book in general. Amanda Stone developed the story nicely, along with the characters, which you see journey throughout the book into better versions of themselves – due to being in love and growing up over the weeks. She has me laughing, smiling, crying and kindle throwing (throughout certain events throughout the book which frustrated me and of course, had me panicking over what was going to happen).

Although there are many books with the same storyline, it was a cute read with college characters falling in love, dealing with heartbreak with a terrible past added into the mix, but overall, I really did enjoy the book!

We first meet Kelsey when she is moving into her college dorm with her best friend Jessie. It’s a chance at a fresh start away from her past. We don’t find out until a few chapters in but there are hints about what happened to her those six years ago that changed her from the out-going little girl she was to a shy and reserved teenager. She has gone through so much. She feel guilty and although it wasn’t her fault, she harbours this guilt always.

One trip to get some lunch and everything changes. She catches eyes with a pair of grey eyes and from then she can’t stop thinking of them. It helps that the guy is friends with the guy her best friend is seeing later that night.

After that night, Kane and Kelsey become friends. They spend every day together, hanging out, doing work, generally becoming best friends until one night when it all changes. Kane has never seen Kelsey in anything dressy so when the four of them head to the club he works out, he’s stunned. Kelsey is simply stunning and Kane can’t hold back his feelings for her anymore. She’s consumed his every thought and he wants her.

Things are going great for Kane and Kelsey. They have both bared their souls to each other, they love one another greatly and spend all their time together until one night, everything goes wrong and Kelsey gets her heart broken even when it wasn’t Kane’s fault.

Battling heartbreak, even more drama occurs for Kelsey and when it’s a battle of life or death for her and her loved ones, she will do whatever she can to make sure they live.

Kelsey was a delicate character in the beginning. You could see the guilt pouring off her, for what, we did not know yet. She was shy to an extent; she didn’t like ‘putting herself’ out there even though she wanted to be the girl she used to be. You really do feel sorry for Kelsey. Her past has overtaken her life – throwing nightmares at her during the night at times, so she relives that one moment that changed her.

But throughout the book, we see her change; her friendship with Jessie and her friendship with Kane are both factors of this change. We see her turn back into the girl she was, the strong, playful, loving girl. We see her open up her past to Kane which took courage and trust. We see her think of the ‘best’ parts of her past which in turns makes her get a tattoo in memory of that one memory she tells us about. (Hint, it’s on the book cover)

I applaud Kelsey for the journey she took throughout this book. She learned to trust, learned to open up and learned to love and be loved. Although she still harboured the guilt, in time she began to realize that none of what happened was her fault. She has a strength to her that took over her in the end and although that was the past that made me panicky, I am glad that she let go of her past for good and did what she did. So kudos Kelsey.

Now Kane. Before he met Kelsey he had a rep. Love ‘em and leave ‘em rep. But this was his way of dealing with the guilt he had racked up inside of him too. Then one day he just flipped and decided he didn’t want to be that way anymore. Didn’t want to drink, do drug or sleep with numerous women whom he didn’t give a rat’s ass about.

He really didn’t have a bad boy rep if I’m being honest. He was the sweetest guy around. He changed himself for the better, even if he was protective around Kelsey; it was due to never feeling this way before. All these feelings he had, they were new to him and it was pretty lush to watch him fall in love with Kelsey. To want to be the one for her. He’s had his struggles too, he has guilt over his past too, but he bears his past to Kelsey too and in turn, they learn to trust and try to not let their demon’s get to them.

I love that Kelsey and Kane both let one another in. Their relationship was cute and I loved the trust and love they had for one another. It was instant, their attraction was undeniable and it was just perfect for them to be with each other. It was sweet and the things Kane told Kelsey, I just wanted to sweep him up into a hug and keep him for myself, plus I wanted to kiss his lips! Pierced lip is hot…I should know, I used to have my lip pierced 😉

I have to say, my favourite part was when they first had sex. I know, I know, but it was like the perfect scene. It was the perfect time for them to consummate their relationship (HAHA) and it was all Kelsey’s doing, Kane didn’t pressure her or anything and he was so careful and loving with her that he made it that much special for her. I was smiling like an idiot over that scene. I just loved the connection they had and the love for one another for them to take it to the next level.

Although there are quite a few questions that I would love to have answered, I am still giving this book 4 stars. I did enjoy it and I love a tattooed boy, as you should all know by now. If you are looking for a cute college romance, with broken characters with a past that they eventually try to get over together, then Breath Into Me is the book for you.

Mentioned above, I love the bald, tattooed drummer that is Jesse. Growing up with a drunk of a father who used to beat him until Jesse was old enough to fight back, protecting Emmie along with his band mates was the only thing that mattered. Making sure she was safe, especially when the band became famous. Nothing mattered more than Emmie.

Jesse really is a brilliant character. He loves unconditionally, hes strong yet he’s gentle, hes confident and cocky but he never really uses his famous status, more content on being grounded and just basking in the love that all this band mates and Emmie share together.

As everyone in the band, he has a past. He’s never really had anyone who he has felt ‘more’ with apart from Emmie, but he’s just her best friend, so when he hears and meets Layla for the first time, its like a shock to the system. He can’t get this girl out of his head. He just needs her, needs to be with her and have her. It was so nice to see Jesse this way; to find someone who he wants to be with, to pursue romantically because he and Layla had this sizzling chemistry right from the start. As much as she told herself to stay away, she couldn’t, and Jesse was adamant on having her. Their pull just overtook them both and they just had to be together.

I loved how he (and the group) took Layla’s sisters under their wings, treating them with care and love. It was perfect to see this band, who love music and don’t care for the famous status to embrace three new characters into their dynamic and love them unconditionally too.

Jesse really would do anything to make Layla happy – even when they had a tipping point during parts of the book – but in the end, Jesse loved Layla with everything. You will find out just how much throughout the book ;).

Posted in New Adult, Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday: April Showers – Karli Perrin

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. It’s a weekly event that allows all us book bloggers and lovers to talk about what upcoming book we’re most looking forward to reading.

Young hugging couple kissing under a rain, in passionTitle: April Showers
Author: Karli Perrin
Expected Release Date: May/June 2013
Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17831683-april-showers
[This is a self-published title so no pre-order purchase links will be available prior to publication.]

Synopsis

What happens when your head and your heart pull you in completely opposite directions?

April Adams is about to find out the hard way.

When April enrols at Manchester University, it feels like a whole new life. New city, new house, new friends…new crush.

Isaac Sharpe is the hottest guy on campus – with an even hotter reputation. After a chance meeting, April quickly finds herself wrapped up in all that he is. But what if all that he is isn’t what it seems?

Caught up in a battle between what she wants and what she thinks she needs, April meets Lukas Roberts. Lukas is the security blanket that she craves so desperately, and she finds solace in their friendship – but what happens when she finds more than she bargained for?

April has always been a big believer of fate, but will she learn that she’s in control of her own destiny before it’s too late?

Join April as she embarks on a life changing journey of love and loss, which will have you laughing and crying until the very end.

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Links

Blog link: http://karlijperrin.blogspot.co.uk
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17831683-april-showers
Twitter: @karli_uk

Posted in Cover Reveal, New Adult, Romance

COVER REVEAL + BLURB: April Showers – Karli Perrin

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

I am SUPER EXCITED to share the cover and blurb with you. Karli has become a good friend in a short amount of time and I love that she asked me to be a part of this reveal for her because she had been teasing me with snippets from April Showers and to be honest with you, from those short paragraphs I am already NEEDING to get my hands on this book and fall even more in love with Isaac. Yes, I have dips on him. Sorry guys 😉

So without further ado, here is the big reveal 😀 (And i LOVE LOVE LOVE this cover. Kissing in the rain? Swooooon)

Young hugging couple kissing under a rain, in passion

Title: April Showers
Author: Karli Perrin
Expected Release Date: May 2013
Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17831683-april-showers
[This is a self-published title so no pre-order purchase links will be available prior to publication.]

Synopsis

What happens when your head and your heart pull you in completely opposite directions?

April Adams is about to find out the hard way.

When April enrols at Manchester University, it feels like a whole new life. New city, new house, new friends…new crush.

Isaac Sharpe is the hottest guy on campus – with an even hotter reputation. After a chance meeting, April quickly finds herself wrapped up in all that he is. But what if all that he is isn’t what it seems?

Caught up in a battle between what she wants and what she thinks she needs, April meets Lukas Roberts. Lukas is the security blanket that she craves so desperately, and she finds solace in their friendship – but what happens when she finds more than she bargained for?

April has always been a big believer of fate, but will she learn that she’s in control of her own destiny before it’s too late?

Join April as she embarks on a life changing journey of love and loss, which will have you laughing and crying until the very end.

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Links

Blog link: http://karlijperrin.blogspot.co.uk
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17831683-april-showers
Twitter: @karli_uk
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So what are you all waiting for? Go add April Showers to your TBR list because it is definitely added to mine 😀

 

Posted in New Adult

ARC: Before You Go – Clare James

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

Sexy young couple passionately kissing in bedroom.Synopsis

Paralyzed by the past and terrified of the future, Tabitha Kelly is broken.
After a public sex scandal at her college, Tabby moves to a new city with a new school, convinced she can start over. But she soon realizes the changes are not enough. Tabby must take action to help her heal and move on from the past.
And though it sounds crazy, she believes a one-night stand is the best way to take back what’s hers. If she can choose where, when, and most importantly, who … maybe she can regain control.
First, she needs a willing participant.
She finds more than that when she meets Noah Adler.
Unfortunately, she can’t go through with it. And when she tries to forget about the plan—and the guy—it becomes impossible.
Noah quickly weaves his way into her new life and her heart. But as he comes dangerously close to discovering her secret, Tabby’s at risk of losing it all.

4.5/5 stars

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My Review

*Id like to thank Clare James for supplying me with an ARC of Before You Go in return for an honest review*

Tabitha has been through a lot in the past couple of months. From being involved in a sex scandal at her old school, to her friends ditching her, to drowning in a deep depression, it’s a lot to try and overcome so when she goes to live with her dad, she figures she can at least try to get through the next two years.

In doing so, she decides that she just wants one night, one night with a guy in which after, it will help her gain control on her life and she can start over. But not everything is that simple.

Picking up a guy in her local bar, she meets Noah Adler and he’s more than willing to sleep with her. But when they both get to the final stages before having sex, Tabitha can’t go through with it, and she becomes paralyzed and fakes illness.

Tabitha tries to forget about Noah, but it seems impossible when he seems to be everywhere she turns at school. He quickly weaves his way into her life, and her heart and it scares Tabby but she kind of likes it. But shes so scared of him finding out her secret, that she doesn’t tell him. What happens what it all comes out though? Will Noah stand by her or leave her?

When Clare James emailed me and asked if I would like to receive a copy of this book, I read the synopsis and instantly knew I wanted to read it. And I’m so glad I did because I couldn’t put it down. I even took to reading it over my friend’s house last night while they all talked amongst themselves. So yes, I can honestly say I was hooked. I know there are many books about popular girls and sex scandals but really…this book was nothing like any of them. It was completely different and took a different spin on them all, into something that wasn’t just focused on the love aspect, it focused on the issue at hand – the sex scandal and how it affected Tabitha’s life, to how she needed to control her life and get it back on track without anyone finding out about her past.

We meet Tabitha in her local bar and get a glimpse into her past – the night that changed everything about her. Everything that was taken from her. She’s depressed, scared, frightened, emotionally scarred but all she really wants is to move on and take control of her life, thinking the only way to do so is to find a willing guy who will have a one night stand with her. She thinks by doing this, everything will at least, try to be back to normal.

Spotting a hot guy at the bar, Tabitha approaches him, asks him to play bingo with the locals and they engage in drinks and literature all night until they get back to her apartment. But before anything can really go any further, Tabby stops it, a feeling a dread soaring through her, but Noah doesn’t mind, he stays with her, making sure she is alright and playing nurse. Such the cutie, right?

Thinking she would never see him again, shes surprised when he’s in her class and he’s her ‘boss’ at her internship with the school’s newspaper.  Noah never wanted her to be a one night stand but not wanting to pursue anything with him, at least that’s what she first says, he slowly worms his way into her life, makes her see that he’s not a bad guy and he really likes her and wants to help her through whatever is hurting her. She never knew that he was the guy she was looking for to help her and love her, loving him in return.

I fell for Noah the instant he appeared in the book. There was something about him that captivated not only me, but of course, Tabby. He was charming, he was sweet, but he also cared about Tabby, becoming persistent in being friends and wanting to pursue more with her. But he knew there was something deep down in Tabby that was still hurting her and I loved that he wanted to help her out, help her to stop being so scared of whatever it was, to help her overcome her need of being in control, both in her life and in the bedroom, in turn gaining her trust and not pushing her to tell him her secret, waiting until she was comfortable in telling him. He was literally the greatest boyfriend/friend that Tabby could have had, and to help her through everything, he was just perfect, even when he was hiding his own secrets.

I have to say; I enjoyed the scenes where Noah was helping Tabby overcome her need to control and her fear of being touched intimately. He knew just want to do to make her feel relaxed and let her, give him some of the control in turn, making her trust him and the ways he used to help her through this insecurity and dread. They were great scenes with Tabby slowly getting used to being touched by Noah and because of that, she let herself go, let Noah touch her, relax her and finally learn that sharing the control meant trusting one another, knowing they won’t push you into something you don’t want. It was great to see her journey throughout the book in gaining back pieces of herself.

I applaud Tabby’s strength. It took a lot of courage to let people in, even though she hadn’t told them about her past. Strength to let a guy in, to trust him and fall in love with him, to having a friend that she can lean on and a family that support her and love her. She pushed everything from her past away, including dancing, in which she loved. She didn’t want anything to do with the old her, but I loved that she just couldn’t stay away from her dancing. It was a big part of her, but also an escape but the more she danced, the more the old her was slowly seeping back. She found that strength to power through and try to overcome her past, and in doing so gained a best friend and a boyfriend who adores her and they both will do anything for Tabby, so when the scandal comes out, Noah does what any guy in love would do, hes there for Tabby. Like he would ever leave her. She has his heart for the taking.

The secondary characters from her Dad and stepmother, Amy to her friend Jules were big parts in Tabby’s story and life. They were constantly there for her, making sure she was okay, pushing her to achieve her potential and helping her overcome her past (even if Jules didn’t know what was wrong, she was there to comfort and assist in gaining that strength back).

Clare James has written a great debut novel, one that I think you should read. I love books that take characters on journeys, to be the best person they can be, and Before You Go is just that. It’s about a emotionally damaged girl who grows day by day in strength with the help of friends and family and who falls in love with the boy who stands by her throughout everything. It’s a perfect read and has the right amount of emotions for everyone. It’s a beautiful read and I definitely think you should add it to you TBR list and read it right now.

Posted in Romance, YA

The Kissing Booth – Beth Reekles

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

13410943Synopsis

Meet Rochelle Evans: pretty, popular – and never been kissed. Meet Noah Flynn: badass, volatile – and a total player. And also Elle’s best friend’s older brother… When Elle decides to run a kissing booth for the school’s Spring Carnival, she locks lips with Noah and her life is turned upside down. Her head says to keep away, but her heart wants to draw closer – this romance seems far from fairy tale and headed for heartbreak. But will Elle get her happily ever after?

2/5 stars

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My Review

I had wanted to read The Kissing Booth for a while now but when my computer crashed one night, I forgot what the book was called, seeing as I had a whole load of books in different tabs. But when I was browsing on NetGalley, this book appeared and reading the synopsis, I knew this was the book.

So thanks to NetGalley for approving me to read The Kissing Booth.

I really started out liking this book. The whole good girl/bad boy, best friend’s brother scenarios really catch my attention and I love reading them!! You’ve got to love a bad boy and how deep down he’s not really that bad, he’s just been ‘looking’ for the right girl.

Elle started off great. She’s popular, had the same best friend, Lee, all her life and has harboured a crush on Lee’s brother for years – even if she denies it to everyone and herself. She’d never been on a date, let alone kissed a guy, but it’s never seemed to bother her. She seemed content in her life, going to school, hanging out with Lee and their friends, life seemed great. Then The Kissing Booth came along and she kisses Noah – Lee’s brother – and that changes everything about her. And that is when Elle changes too. When her crush grows once again for Noah and he starts to harbour feelings for her too.

But then I started to get bored. It started to get tedious and Elle started to grind on me really badly. After the kiss, it was all back and forth, hiding this ‘relationship ‘which wasn’t even a relationship really. I’d describe it more as hook-ups – even though all they did was kiss. She never acted like she was taken, but I suppose you wouldn’t if you were keeping it a secret from your BFF, but still! She got pissed at him like all the time. I literally wanted to shake her and be like ‘GIRL! Just tell Lee so you can stop acting so goddamn bitchy and irritating.” If I was Noah, I’d tell her to grow the F up and tell Lee they were together. If my BFF and brother got together, I’d be more than happy they were both happy with one another. Although her reasoning was because she didn’t want to lose Lee, if he was any kind of best friend, he’d support they relationship, even if he didn’t really approve of it.

Okay so Noah. It seemed that he had always liked Elle, seeing as he warned off every guy from going near her or asking her out. Okay, so that would majorly have annoyed the hell out of me if my BFF’s brother did that, but Elle didn’t know he was doing that until someone tells her. I never really understood why Noah did that, because it’s just immature. She’s a big girl, she can date whomever she wants, but each to their own I suppose.

I didn’t actually think Noah should have been blamed for everything that happened. Elle should have taken the blame too. She seemed to let Noah take the blame, which annoyed me so much. He wasn’t even a player, like everyone dubbed him. We never saw that side. What we did see was a hot, overprotective, caring and sweet guy who truly liked Elle, even if he went a weird way of showing her at times. I never really understood why he wanted Elle though. She was just so irritating. But you can’t help who you fall for.

I did love the friendship that Lee and Elle had. It was great to see BFF’s that didn’t fall in love. Their friendship withstood anything thrown their way AKA the Noah fiasco. They were protective of one another, spent all their time together and were just there for each other, through the happy and sad times. I truly did love their relationship and it did show you the value of friendship, being there for one another when you don’t actually approve. (Even though Lee did get over the fact his BFF and brother were together in the end.)

I have to say, when I was sixteen and in 6th form, I was going to 6th form parties hosted by people in our school and getting drunk beforehand as we knew we wouldn’t get served alcohol. I was also going to house parties and drinking. I know many people are moaning about that fact, but most people who are 16 are drinking and having sex, so this didn’t bother me in the slightest.

The ending. Yeah it was okay. It did end on a way where there could be another book but if there isn’t, then it’s a nice way to finish it. We, as the readers, can think about what happens to Noah and Elle and if they do stay together or not. I, for one, would like to see another book, to see how they manage the relationship, but if there isn’t, then I can only imagine.

I’d also like to say that before reading The Kissing Booth, one of my friends mentioned that a girl from our (old) secondary school wrote it (This was before she knew I was about to read it) and when I googled Beth Reekles and the book, it really made me proud that someone local wrote this book and also acknowledged my old English language teacher at the end. He was a great teacher, got to be said!

So would I recommend it? I’m going to say yes. It probably wasn’t the book for me but it may be the book for you.

 

Posted in Jessica Sorensen, New Adult, Romance, Suspense

The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden (The Coincidence #1) – Jessica Sorensen

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

16113791Synopsis

There are those who don’t get luck handed to them on a shiny platter, who end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, who don’t get saved.

Luck was not on Callie’s side the day of her twelfth birthday when everything was stolen from her. After it’s all over, she locks up her feelings and vows never to tell anyone what happened. Six years later her painful past consumes her life and most days it’s a struggle just to breathe.

For as long as Kayden can remember, suffering in silence was the only way to survive life. As long as he did what he was told, everything was okay. One night, after making a terrible mistake, it seems like his life might be over. Luck was on his side, though, when Callie coincidentally is in the right place at the right time and saves him.

Now he can’t stop thinking about the girl he saw at school, but never really knew. When he ends up at the same college as Callie, he does everything he can to try to get to know her. But Callie is reserved and closed off. The more he tries to be part of her life, the more he realizes Callie might need to be saved.

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My Review

At age twelve, everything in Callie’s life changed. It changed her so much that she hacked off her hair, turned into a recluse and locked up everything that happened to her up. Never telling anyone about it. Six years later, it still consumes her every thought and she cannot wait to leave the small town to start college. It may not be a fresh start, but it sure as hell gets her away.

Kayden has suffered in silence from a young age. He vowed it was the only way to get through the pain when it happened. One night after making a mistake, it seems that his life may just be on the edge until he’s saved. Callie is coincidently at the right place, at the right time and saves him.

Four months after and Kayden can’t stop thinking about the girl who saved his life. But luck is on his side again when Callie is at the same college that he is and he will do whatever it takes to get to know her and owe her for that night. But Callie is closed off and doesn’t want to be owed. “I just did what anyone would have done.” But he knows that’s not true, people would have walked away. The more he tries to get to know her, the more is feels its Callie that needs to be saved.

Jessica Sorensen has done it again. First with The Secret of Ella and Micha and now with The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden. She makes me fall in love and feel all kinds of emotions throughout the books and I just can’t get enough. I always ask myself why I take so long to read such amazing book and I literally can’t answer. Well, I can and it’s because sometimes I’m scared. Scared to read it and then have it break my heart. Yes, I know it’s just a book, but no, it’s much more than that to me. I get hooked, captivated and I can’t get it out of my head until I finish it. And even after, I still think about it.

That’s exactly what happened with The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden. I was scared to read it, but I took a chance and I am so freaking glad I did! Despite the ending (WTFFFF), I couldn’t put the book down. Ms. Sorensen keeps me wanting more, keeps me turning every page until I am right at the end and begging for more. Begging for The Redemption of Callie and Kayden to be out now and in my hands where I can read it and find out what happens next. But alas, I have to wait until August. Counting down the day? YES I bloody well am.

Callie has been ‘broken’ since her twelve birthday when something horrific happened to her at the hands of her brother’s best friend. Before that incident she was happy and after, she died a little. She cut her long hair short, started wearing baggy clothes to try and make herself ugly and became a loner. She didn’t want attention on her and she certainly didn’t want any boys around her. She didn’t trust them.

Kayden has been dealing with pain since a young age. He has scars both inside and outside his body and going away to college is his chance to try and forget about his past, about his home. It’s his chance to try and start again, away from all the pain. He still owes his life to the girl who saved him all those months ago and when he finds out that shes at his college and is the girl he accidentally fell on top of, well, he’s going to stop at nothing to get to know her and thank for. Thank her for stopping it.

Callie and Kayden have actually known each other since they were kids but not really enough to call one another a friend, despite the fact that Callie’s dad was Kayden’s football coach for years. But one night, Callie was just coincidentally at the right place at the right time and saved Kayden’s life. Something he will never forget.

Four months later, Kayden arrives at college with his best friend Luke in tow. Callie has already been at college for four months, deciding to get away from home early and she’s found solace in Seth – her new best friend who also has secrets of his own. She’s still afraid of everyone, apart from Seth, so when Kayden wants to spend time with her, Seth calls her out and makes her pick things off the list to do. It results in her hanging out more with Kayden, Luke and of course, Seth and they build a close friendship unit, something Callie would never have thought she would be involved in.

She takes baby steps each day, with the help of the list, but shes beginning to trust Kayden, just not enough to tell him her secret, just yet.

Kayden has dealt with pain all his life and he knows Callie is hurting. From what? That he doesn’t know, but he wants to help her. He has learnt to cancel out feelings and emotions but around Callie, she makes him feel, which scares the hell out of him. He doesn’t want to be feeling but he can’t stay away from Callie. He’s protective of her, he dreams about her and as much as he wants to stay away, he just can’t.

The more time they spend together, the more you can see that Callie is slowly trusting him and Kayden begins to feel worthy of being with Callie. Together they are learning to heal from their pasts with the help and love of one another. It’s a tough journey as they have been hurt pretty badly, but just being together is building them back up.

It truly is a beautiful story. It’s powerful and breathtaking and I felt so many emotions whilst reading. The journey that Callie takes is one that I respect. I was proud of her for taking each day at a time and owning that list that she and Seth made. She powered through them like a trooper and I loved seeing her become happy – at least for a while when she wasn’t thinking about the past – and just living for the moment.

I loved how at the top of each chapter it had something from ‘The List’ that Callie had to do. It was a great way for her to try and regain something back in her life and it was a great way to help her along with her journey into at least trying to get over what happened when she was twelve.

Seth was a fantastic best friend to Callie. He was there for her completely. It was mad to think that they had only known each other a few months, but in that short time they had both confessed their deepest darkest secret to each other and that, in itself, made them close and made them determined to help each other through everything. It was a perfect friendship and I loved how Seth pushed Callie to her limit with the list, knowing she could do it and to not be scared to do things on the list as eventually it was breaking her barriers down and she was ‘getting’ better because of the list. It was an awesome idea.

One of my favourite scenes is actually linked to the book cover. When Callie runs into the rain and just spins around. It was like she just forgot everything for that moment and focused on the rain and how free she felt. When Kayden joined her, it was like there was no one else. At that moment it was just her and Kayden, no one else in the world. It was perfect. They are perfect and my heart was racing in the scene for those two where they had such a raw passion for one another.

Oh god, that cliff-hanger! After I clicked the next page hoping it would be okay, I realized it was the end. I cried. Yes tears ran down my face because Jessica Sorensen, that was evil! LOL. I seriously need The Redemption of Callie and Kayden now! I don’t want to wait until August because I’m not sure my heart can take it. I neeeed to know what happens next.

Sigh, I’ll just have to be patient and count down the days till it’s out.

The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden is a book not to be missed out. It’s about coincidences, trust, love, abuse, friendship and of course, being saved. It touches upon emotional, physical and sexual abuse, which is not taken lightly at all and both Callie and Kayden are whittled down to the core but surviving somehow. Ms Sorensen writes about the topic beautifully, and despite everything that happen to them, they are still getting along, day by day, trying not to let it affect them too much. They are broken by it, but together, they find a way to forget for a while and just be as two people.

I can’t say how much I enjoyed this book enough. I’m just still thinking about the ending and how I have months until the second book to see how it all ends.

If you’re like me and HATE starting series that have major cliff-hangers (I didn’t know this one did) then I would say wait until august to read this book but if not, then bloody well get your copy and read it now! You won’t be disappointed and you will fall in love with Callie, Kayden, Seth and Luke. Guaranteed.

Posted in Notes

How I got into reading.

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

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I think it all started in Primary school. We used to have one afternoon a week where the class would be split into 5 groups of 5/6 and we all had to decide on a book to read. Once decided, we would all go around in the circle and take turns reading it out loud. I remember wanting to pick a book about the Loch Ness Monster, but no one wanted to read it! I mean, who wouldn’t want to read it?!

I can’t remember what books we read, but I remember being excited when this day would come, and we got to read.

I also remember when our teacher would read Harry Potter at the end of every school day, before the bell would ring and I used to bring my copy in and follow the words she was reading to us all.  I was captivated.

When I got to year 5/6, my friends were all starting to read Jacqueline Wilson and so not wanting to miss out, I made my mum buy me some of her books. She bought me Vicky Angel, Girls in Love , Bad Girls, and Lola Rose. Whereas I would borrow The Illustrated Mum, The Suitcase Kid, The Lottie Project, etc. We weren’t a rich family, so borrowing books was how I would get my reading fix.

3473After a few years, I was being nosy in my mum’s room and picked up a book called ‘A Walk To Remember‘ by Nicholas Sparks. My mum told me to read it and so I did. And I fell in love with it. It is seriously my all time favourite book (and the movie is a favourite too.) I’m not sure what it is about A Walk To Remember, but I know I was completely hooked by it. Sure it’s based in 1958, but there was just something so different to it that what I had previously been reading with Jacqueline Wilson. It was more grown up. It had true love and heartbreak and cancer as a storyline. It was about a good girl and a bad boy falling in love and it was about changing and bettering yourself. I do have to admit, when i was in year 8 – 13/14 years old, I just used to come home from school, put the movie on and say every line along with the actors. This went on for about 6 weeks. YES, that is how in love I am with this book/film. Although there is quite a few scenes in the book that are not in the movie, none of that matter. Th love they had in the book, was portrayed brilliantly on screen. I think that is what had be obsessed over A Walk To Remember, and still now, after so many years have passed.

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Then Sophie Kinsella came along in year 9/10. My friend gave me “The Undomestic Goddess” to read, and I knew, after reading it, that Sophie Kinsella would become one of my favourite authors. After giving the book back, I asked my mum to buy me some Sophie books for Christmas (It was around Xmas when I borrowed it). I was not disappointing at all, and after receiving The Undomestic Goddess, Remember Me? and Can You Keep A Secret? I went out and bought The Shopaholics books. Since then, I have also purchased her books under ‘Madeleine Wickham.’ and bought I’ve Got Your Number. Obsessed much? Yes I think so.

When I got to 6th form and started making money from my part-time job and EMA, whenever I would go shopping with my mum or with my friends, I would always buy books. In Asda and Tesco, there would always be deals in like “3 books for £7” and this would happen every week! Because I read really fast, I was spending all my money on books until my mum told me to go to the library because it was cheaper. I didn’t listen to her though, and kept buying more books each week. It was a godsend when one of my best friends got into reading books too, so the both of us would switch books with one another. It did save money for a while, but I would just be drawn to the book aisle and would end up buying more.

Not my Kindle. Courtesy of Google.
Not my Kindle. Courtesy of Google.

When my mum bought me a Kindle for Christmas 2 years ago, when I was in university, I loved it! Although I didn’t have much time to read, i still piled it full of books to read when I did have spare time. I thought it was the most amazing thing ever and I still do. I class it as my baby! Because of my kindle, I have discovered new authors, new books, and an even stronger love for books that, of course, I set up The Book Lovers. Having a Kindle and having Amazon recommend books to me, having 1-Click (Which is super bad for me as I spend all my money clicking on books), it’s given me a range of different books at my becking-call. Although I still do buy paperbacks of my favourite books I have read on my kindle, and my grandparents still buy me paperbacks for Christmas, I don’t think I could ever go back to paperback, if I’m being honest. With my kindle, all you have to do is click buy for the book and its an instant download. You don’t have to wait days for the paperback to arrive and Kindle copies are released way before paperbacks too.

If asked, I would definitely tell people to buy a kindle because now I have so many favourite authors and new books that I love that I just wouldn’t have known who they were if it were not for my kindle.

 

So, that’s my story, how did you get into reading?

Posted in Colleen Hoover, New Adult, Romance

Point Of Retreat (Slammed #2) – Colleen Hoover

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

13496084Synopsis

Hardships and heartache brought them together…now it will tear them apart.

Layken and Will have proved their love can get them through anything; until someone from Will’s past re-emerges, leaving Layken questioning the very foundation on which their relationship was built. Will is forced to face the ultimate challenge…how to prove his love for a girl who refuses to stop ‘carving pumpkins.’

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My Review

Point of Retreat picks up from where Slammed ends. If you haven’t read Slammed, don’t read anymore of this review, as it will tell you what happens next in Lake and Will’s life.

After Julia’s death and the hardships to get to where they are now, Lake and Will are together, with nothing to keep them apart anymore. Lake and Will have proved that love can concur all, and they have waited so long to be together. The four of them are now a little family and although Julia is missed every day, they get by; with the love they have for each other.

But when someone from Will’s past emerges, she seems to do more damage than good and when Layken watches an interaction between Will and that person, it devastates her and leaves her questioning and doubting everything about their relationship.

With Lake heartbroken and not listening to a single word Will wants to say, it’s up to Will to prove just how much he loves this girl and how he can’t live without her. And with the help of his new neighbour, he’s determined to make Lake realize just how much he needs and loves her. Will he succeed in getting his soul mate back?

Colleen Hoover is perfection. Utter perfection. Oh Point of Retreat has my emotions all over the place. I was smiling, I was cursing, my heart fluttered, I was angry and I was in floods of tears. WHAT.A.SEQUEL! I couldn’t put this book down either.  In Slammed, it’s about the forbidden relationship, the love but also about the loss of the one remaining parent between them both – Julia. Point of Retreat shows us the bind that both Will and Lake have, not only losing both parents, but having to bring up their respective brothers. But more than that, their love and connection that binds them together is also foremost in Point of Retreat too. Their determination to be together, to stand strong together and still try to be the young adults they are whilst helping each other find that balance between being parents and still acting their age.

With Julia’s death, Lake and Will have more in common, dealing with the heartbreak of another family member’s death, but could this be something that could tear them apart? Having so much in common? With them both attending college, yet on different days, Will encounters a blast from the past that he would rather forget about, but since she’s in his classes, he can’t.

Enter Vaughn, the ex-girlfriend who deserted him when he needed her the most. Deciding it’s probably best not to tell Lake about her being in his class, Vaughn wants Will back after coming to her senses and realizing she threw someone as amazing as Will away. But no matter what Will tells her, that he loves Lake, Vaughn hits him with a hard blow and asks him the question: What if he’s only with her because he knows how it feels and he feels sorry for her?

After a confrontation and witnessing something so heartbreaking, Lake takes that question and turns it into something that could ruin their relationship forever. Yes, they have the loss of parents, the bringing up their brothers in common but is that why he loves her? Lake is planted with doubts over his love and tells him he can have days, weeks, even months to think about why he loves her. Months? Like he needs months to tell her but if only she would listen and not block him out, then he could tell her how much she means to him. So what does a guy like Will do to prove him love? Slam Dunk with poetry of course!

But with their love back on track, something even worse is coming their way and now it involves everyone. It’s times like these where this small close family of friends need to stick together and pray that it will all be okay.

I felt every single emotion when this happened – around the 75% mark. Will was frightened, he was scared, he was tired of waiting, not knowing what was happening, but he had to be strong. I cried so much during these few chapters because I hated seeing Will hurting so badly and I just wanted to crawl into my kindle and give him a hug and console him. His love was so strong and powerful that he would do whatever it took to make sure Lake was okay.

Lake kind of annoyed me when she began questioning Wills love for her, but in a way, I could see where she was coming from. They had so much in common at such a young age, that it could be seen as just being together for the sake of this, but in Slammed, they overcame so many obstacles to be together and proved that even when they weren’t together, their love couldn’t be vanquished. I know that now Lake has had to grow up after losing her dad and now her mum, and with Will already knowing what it’s like, their love could be built on that foundation, but even when she’s not here, Mama Julia knows best and is still there in spirit and there with her advice and wisdom to guide both of them through the hard times they are both experiencing.

And she of course, has something for every scenario and feeling both of them are going through, to prove that they can get through anything together. The lyrics, quotes and wisdom throughout the book gave it so much depth and meaning and each one integrated into the scene that was happening with grace and gave a whole lot of emotion back.

I loved the determination of Will to make everything right again with Lake, to prove that their relationship isn’t just based on the factors they have in common, that it runs much deeper than that – about the little things about Lake, her personality, their favourite band, the booth they shared their first Slam together. He poured his heart out during his Slam to win her back and prove that he was so in love with her; everything about her that who cares if they have deceased parents and brothers to look after, he loves her despite those factors.

Point of Retreat was in Will’s POV and I absolutely butterflying love it when authors write in the guys POV because so many are in the females’ that you have to guess their feelings and go off from what the girl is saying. HOLY SHIT! This book made me fall even more in love with this god of a man. I love that we got to see his true feelings, his emotions, his love and his fears come through. He wasn’t a guy afraid to show anything, he bared his soul, and of course, his soul is also bared through his poetry which is why he is so passionate about it. Can’t wait to read the third book which will also be in Will’s POV 😀 WOOP WOOP!

Gavin and Eddie are heavily involved within this book and I love them as much as I did in Slammed, as are my favourite boys Kel and Caulder who are now 11. Oh my boys are growing up! But two new characters in the form of Shelly and Kiersten, the new neighbours are brought into the book.

Oh Kiersten! She’s the boy’s age but well old before her time. I loved her wisdom and advice, which she had obviously inherited from her amazing mother Shelly. She and the boys are really close and they protected and stuck up for her when things in school weren’t going too well, but she never once had a sad smile on her face, she was always happy and always happy to help, much the same as Shelly who was like the adopted mum to Will, Caulder, Lake and Kel. She was there with advice and medicine when they all got ill. It was great to see that even though Julia had gone, they had Shelly to go to.

This close knit family of friends were always there for one another, through thick and thin and you could see how much they loved one another and would help out whenever they could.

I can’t say how much I love this series and Colleen Hoover. This series is perfection. Its powerful, its full of love, its full of amazing poetry and quotes that integrate within the situations at hand and it’s about finding that one person who will own your heart forever, even though the hardships and it’s about loss. I can’t wait to read Slammed from Will’s POV now when it’s out later this year. I can’t get enough of Colleen’s writing. She has be hooked from the beginning, the book begging me to keep going until the end and not stopping till I’ve finished. Read Slammed and then this book – you will not be disappointed and I assure you, you will fall in love with Will and Lake and everyone else involved in this series! I butterflying LOVE IT.

Posted in Colleen Hoover, New Adult, Romance

Slammed (#1) – Colleen Hoover

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

13372690Synopsis

Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she’s losing hope.
Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.
Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together, and the secret that keeps them apart.

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My Review

Three days ago, I was devastated, bitter, and hopeless. Today I woke up feeling happy for the first time in months.

After the sudden death of her father, 18 year old Layken is quite literally forced to be the rock in her family, for her mother and 9 year old brother. With her mother selling their house in Texas, they are uprooted from the house they have lived in all their life, to a smaller house in Michigan and Lake is not happy to be leaving at all. She’s still processing the death of her father, but she needs to act strong for everyone else.

What she didn’t expect to find upon her arrival was a very attractive neighbour in the form of Will Cooper. 21 years old, has a passion for slam poetry and has captured Lake’s attention, much as she has captured his. Within days, they are spending time together and have formed in intense emotional connection, leaving Lake with a feeling that maybe, just maybe she will be okay living here. But after a heart-stopping first date, Monday morning rolls around and shocks them both with the realization of what cannot happen between them both.

Daily encounters are painful, and with both their brothers becoming best friends and spending every second together, it’s becoming harder to keep a balance of being ‘just friends’ to staying away from one another when their feelings for each other keep pulling them back together, no matter how much they try to keep them at bay from the outside world.

I have to admit, I’m not one for poetry. It never has captured my attention and I just hated reading/writing it in school, but Colleen Hoover is the one exception! I have never heard of Slam Poetry but by gosh, the way Will describes how much it means to him plus his Slam poems really had me hooked on his every word, much like it did with Layken. Once I finished the book (1am UK time), I laid in bed, thinking of my own poem – it wasn’t very good, so I think I’ll let Will stick to the writing and performing it, he seems to know much better than me.

I say this with a lot of book that everyone on my Twitter timeline tweets about, but WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO READ THIS?! This is the second book I’ve read of Colleen’s and I was as much captivated by Slammed as I was with Hopeless. For avid readers of my reviews, you will know that I LOVE to read forbidden relationships and the forbidden factor of the whole relationship when they both eventfully find out who each other are. And Slammed, in no way, disappointed me.

Lake was super close to her dad, so when he died it was like her whole world fell apart. But she knew she had to be there for her mother and brother, to help them through the heartache too. I think that was one of the reasons she was so resilient in her life. On moving day, she meets her neighbours across the road, Will and his little brother Caulder, who instantly seems to become best friends with her brother Kel.

Upon meeting Will it was love at first sight – for both of them. Will asks Lake on a date, but it’s unlike any date she’s ever been on. They don’t indulge in the obvious ‘do you have a cat etc’ questions and he’s not about to take her to dinner either. Oh no, his plans involved Slamming and Slamming good!

Lake becomes absorbed in the Slam poetry, finding it powerful to hear and she begs Will to do one of his. He obliges and Lake just can’t seem to get enough of this guy. He’s something completely different and she’s fallen. But everything changes on that Monday morning, and her heartbreak over the realisation of who he is has not only shock her, but also Will. What is going to happen?

Will had had to grow up faster in his 21 years of life. He looks after his 9 year old brother Caulder, works his ass off to make sure he can pay his bills, put food on the table and make sure Caulder is okay. They have been through so much in their young lives that they only have each other now. He’s been closed off for years, but something sparks inside of him when he spots his new neighbour and he just has to know who she is.

Will knows this girl has awoken something in him and so he asks Lake out on a date. Of course, Will is different to every other guy and takes her to a club where he recites Slam poetry. Watching Lake’s reaction to the words people are expressing on stage, he’s falling that bit more for her over the fact she’s so affected by it.

Happiness being together has consumed both of them, even if they haven’t known each other long, but when he sees her Monday morning, he’s broken, he doesn’t know why this has happened, and no matter how much he wants Lake, he knows he can’t have her now. Not when it could affect his job and Caulder, who he has to put first.

Although both of them know they can’t be together, no matter how much it hurts seeing each other day in and day out, as well as having brothers who spend every spare minute together, they try to reach a middle ground where they try to be ‘friends’ because of their brothers but it’s getting harder and harder everyday to push their feelings away and act civil. They have to overcome many obstacles throughout the book, and you really do root for them to be together – they belong together. Everyone knows they belong together.

You go through all the emotions too; the fun times, the heartbreak, the tears. It broke my heart that Lake was hurting over knowing that she couldn’t have Will. She literally became obsessed with watching him come home from school, just so she could see a glimpse of him every night. But with so many factors standing in their way, and at times I did get annoyed at Will. Lake was doing so well trying to stay away and Will would just pull her right back in and made her start all over. I became obsessed to get to the end, hoping it was happy one, but although it was, in a way, I still had tears flowing down my face.  It really is such  a powerful book!

All the secondary characters in my eyes weren’t that. They were as much as the story as Will and Lake were. I loved Eddie from the beginning. She was a very bubbly person who embraced Lake on her first day and adopted her into her small group. You find out about Eddie’s past and you come to see that now, where she is, is where she should be. She keeps Lake grounded when everything is going to pot and she really is the best friend Lake could have in her life.

Julia, Lake and Kel’s mother was a wise one. She moves them to Michigan because ‘they have no money’ but Julia is hiding something from her children, which you will find out and it will leave you heartbroken over her news. She really has some great words of wisdom for every character, and she adopts Caulder and Will into their life, which in turn, she treats them both like her own. She forces Lake is ‘man up’ and do the right thing regarding Will, which includes a stage and her poem and you can really see how much Julia is respected in every characters life.  Regardless of her secret, she really was a breath of fresh air.

There are way too many parts of the book to choose from as a favourite, but one that sticks out is at the start of the book, when Lake finds a hairclip from her childhood that her dad gave her. Although it’s dusty and mucky, it holds so many memories of her dad that she just can’t leave it behind in Texas and it means so much to her, even if she doesn’t use it again, she knows that it’s ‘magic’ to her.

Slammed is not just another fluffy book – it speaks to you through Slam poetry, which is so powerful that even as someone who hates poetry, become absorbed in each Slam poem that was expressed on the pages, through each character that got on stage and poured their heart out. It gives you wisdom, it gives you heartache and it gives you love. The power of the words, the poems, the advice and wisdom really stick with you after the finish the book. It kind of gives you hope that one day you will find someone like Will, who will be your own rock and soul mate.

I also have a new book boyfriend in the form of Mr Will Cooper and book little brothers in the form of Caulder and Kel – those two are so sweet, especially when they fell asleep together, with their hands in the shape of a gun. Oh adorable. They are the little troublemakers you definitely would want as your brothers.

If you were like me and either have this book on your kindle, sitting there for months or haven’t grabbed yourself a copy of Slammed (And Point of Retreat – which shall be read tonight) then GET IT NOW! Colleen Hoover drags you into the story until you just have to keep turning pages to know what is going to happen. It’s completely entrancing and I cannot wait to continue Will and Lake’s story in Point of Retreat!!