Book Review: Amaranthine by Leah Crichton

Goodreads Summary:

Sixteen year-old Ireland Brady is sure she’s losing her mind.

After a horrific car accident leaves her barely clinging to life, she wakes from a coma with a renewed sense of gratitude to a world more surreal than she could have imagined, a world which includes Orion Alexander.

Darkly handsome, Orion is cool and confident and has his sights set on her—something she’s never experienced—and she finds herself falling hopelessly in love. But when Orion’s betrayal sends her straight into the arms of his rival, Damien, things go from bad to worse.

Despite Orion’s warnings, Ireland is attracted to Damien. He’s strong and protective, and harbors an intense dislike for Orion, which makes him… perfect.

But Damien is not one to be crossed.

When all the secrets are revealed, will Ireland trust the boy who broke her heart? Or is she doomed to suffer a fate worse than death?

My Review:

I started reading Amaranthine with no idea what it was about except for the mysterious summary from Goodreads. I don't want to give away any spoilers because this is one of those books that has a lot of 'oooh!!' mind blowing moments when you finally find out what's going on.

We meet Ireland Brady (can I just say I love that name?!) on the way to her new home on the other side of the country. She's hating her parents for forcing her to move and her bookworm brother is driving her mad with his optomistic attitude. Then the weather gets bad and they're in a car crash which leaves Ireland near death. When they finally arrive at their new house and Ireland goes to her new school, she meets a gorgeous boy who can't seem to leave her alone. But is he all he seems?

I had a bit of a love-hate relationship with Ireland. At the beginning of the book, she's this strong, funny, no nonsense girl who I personally wouldn't want to cross but who is perfect as our protaganist. She meets Orion and they have this witty banter that I just LOVE even if Ireland is a bit stuttery (I would be too, what with Orion's "onyx hair" and "aqua eyes") but then what happened, Leah Crichton, what happened? Your awesome character turned into a needy damsel in distress! Okay, maybe I'm being a bit harsh but I didn't love her so much in the middle. When Orion hurts her she justs hops into a car late at night with a stranger that people warn her about. Now, I love a bad boy but Damien is just plain creepy.

I wanted to shake her and tell her to sort her head out and luckily by the last quarter of the book she's back to her badass self!

The story was relatively unique and one thing I really loved about this book is how I didn't see anything coming and I never knew what was going to happen next. The second half of the book was so different to the first and it was such a rollercoaster ride that when I reached the last page I
needed a cup of tea and a sit down!

The romance between Ireland and Orion was HOT and ladies, he's a pretty swoonworthy book crush. Orion was funny and teased Ireland (in a good way) and he was such a breath of fresh air. Even Ireland's mum was flirting with him!

Ireland's family were great. They were a big part of the story and were well written and realistic, as were Orion's group of friends.

Amaranthine was a fast-paced enjoyable read that made me laugh and maybe even cry a little, so definitely pick up a copy if you can!

Rating: A
Cover: B (love the top half with the girl and her beautiful hair!)

Book Review: Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors

Goodreads Summary:

Katrina works in her grandmother's coffee shop in a small town in Washington State, which isn't exactly the coolest job, given that it's an old-world Scandinavian coffee shop rather than the ultra hip Java Hut next door. One morning, when she gives a free cup of coffee and muffin to a homeless guy sleeping out behind the shop, this random act of kindness turns her life upside down. She soon learns that the homeless guy is actually a teenage guardian angel intent on returning the favor. Fame and fortune seem like the obvious requests, but after two botched wishes, Malcolm knows Katrina is hiding something from him. But how can she tell him the truth, when her heart's desire has become Malcolm himself?

My Review:

Coffeehouse Angel was such a perfect, cosy winter read. I loved the whole atmosphere of the book.

Most of it takes place in an old Scandanavian coffeehouse (obviously) where Katrina, our main character, works and lives above with her grandma. I love that little shop. As I was reading I could practically smell the delicious aroma of coffee beans and hear the babble of chatter from the regulars.

Katrina was a likeable protaganist. She wasn't annoying (HUGE deal for me), she matured as the story progressed and her life didn't grind to a halt when she met a cute boy. A cute angel boy, no less.

She finds Malcolm in the alley outside of the shop, and initially thinking he's a tramp, leaves him a cup of coffee and something to eat before getting on with her life. Little did she know, he's actually an angel and because she performed a selfless good deed he has to repay her by making her deepest desire come true. With magic chocolate covered coffee beans!

The blossoming romance between Katrina and Malcolm was cute. He was trying to convince her to eat one of the beans but she was having none of it. The beans cause absolute havoc when they get into the wrong hands and soon Katrina's life is thrown into chaos. As if trying to keep the customers coming through the door and out of next door's more 'current' Java Heaven wasn't problem enough!

Malcolm was an adorably quirky character. He walks around in a kilt, calls Katrina out of an assembly in front of the whole school and relentlessly sticks around trying to find out her deepest desire. I loved the fact that their relationship kind of took a backseat to the rest of Katrina's life. She actually has one outside of her boyfriend!

The rest of the characters were well-written and endearing, especially Katrina's two best friends Elizabeth and Vincent. Elizabeth is a character I absolutely loved. She is outspoken but sweet and supportive and doesn't mind telling Katrina to get a grip when things get out of hand. Everything a good best friend should be. I found the friendship between Vincent and Katrina to be totally realistic and I'm glad things ended the way they did for those two. Also, can I just say Katrina's cat Ratcatcher is awesome?!

The writing was simple but engaging and I found myself rooting for all the characters I was supposed to. The ending was just the icing on the cake, and I look forward to reading more by Suzanne Selfors. If you're looking for a light, warm hearted read then I highly recommend getting your hands on this book!
Rating: A
Cover: B+

Book Review: Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

Goodreads Summary:

Lara Lington has always had an overactive imagination, but suddenly that imagination seems to be in overdrive. Normal professional twenty-something young women don’t get visited by ghosts. Or do they?
When the spirit of Lara’s great-aunt Sadie–a feisty, demanding girl with firm ideas about fashion, love, and the right way to dance–mysteriously appears, she has one last request: Lara must find a missing necklace that had been in Sadie’s possession for more than seventy-five years, and Sadie cannot rest without it. Lara, on the other hand, has a number of ongoing distractions. Her best friend and business partner has run off to Goa, her start-up company is floundering, and she’s just been dumped by the “perfect” man.

Sadie, however, couldn't care less.

Lara and Sadie make a hilarious sparring duo, and at first it seems as though they have nothing in common. But as the mission to find Sadie’s necklace leads to intrigue and a new romance for Lara, these very different “twenties” girls learn some surprising truths from each other along the way.

My Review:

Reading a Sophie Kinsella book is like snuggling up on the sofa with a cup of tea on a cold night. It's cosy and comfortable, and you know exactly what you're in for. I know it isn't YA but I was having a bad week and I wanted to read something cute, fluffy and hilarious which is exactly what this book was! Most of Sophie Kinsella's novels stick to a formula- whimsical twenty-something girl gets into a crazy situation, everything goes wrong but in the end they all live happily ever after. It works and it keeps me buying her books because I know it will be light hearted and won't leave me in a deep state of depression after I've finished it and Twenties Girl was no exception.

Lara is at the funeral of her 105 year old great-aunt Sadie, who she has never met, when suddenly a girl in her early 20s appears next to her. She is wearing a beautiful 1920s outfit and keeps asking where her necklace is. Lara figures out that it is in fact Sadie and resolves to help her great aunt find her beloved necklace.

Sadie is such a great character. She is bossy and can be a bit self-centred, but she helps Lara to come out of her shell and embrace life. She made me laugh out loud so many times and even though she drives Lara round the bend, Lara comes to think of her as a friend. I loved reading about Sadie's gorgeous 1920's dresses and learning about her past with a boy called Stephen, was the best part of the book for me. Lara is just as adorable as Kinsella's other main characters and being in her head is so much fun!

I also really enjoyed the cute relationship between Lara and Ed, even if my heart ached a bit for Sadie. Lara helped Ed loosen up in the same way that Sadie did for her, and the scenes with the Charleston lessons were so funny to read!

Sophie Kinsella is such a talented writer, and I think one of the things she does best is create a mystery with so many un-expected turns but it is still so believeable. I have been reading her books for years now, and she's definitely an author who I know will deliver time after time. So, if you're looking for something light and fun between heavier reads this book hits the spot perfectly!

Rating: A
Cover: A

Book Review: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter

Goodreads Summary:

The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women is a fairly typical all-girls school—that is, if every school teaches advanced martial arts in PE, chemistry always consists of the latest in chemical warfare, and everyone breaks CIA codes for extra credit in computer class. So in truth, while the Gallagher Academy might say it's a school for geniuses what they really mean is spies. But what happens when a Gallagher Girl falls for a boy who doesn't have a code name?

Cammie Morgan may be fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways (three of which involve a piece of uncooked spaghetti), but the Gallagher Academy hasn't prepared her for what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, and track him through a mall without him ever being the wiser, but can she have a regular relationship with a regular boy who can never know the truth about her? Cammie may be an elite spy in training, but in her sophomore year, she's doing something riskier than ever—she's falling in love.

My Review:

This book is so much fun! Who hasn't been bored during school and daydreamed about being a spy? Well, at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women the girls don't have to because their lessons are preparing them for life as spies.

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You is a cute, fun, smile-enducing novel that despite being 308 pages long is a quick read. It reminded me a lot of St Trinians with a bit of Princess Diaries thrown in. Nothing too serious but very entertaining and I could definitely imagine seeing this on the big screen.

I really liked Cammie as the main character. She could take down a grown man in seconds but when it came to actually talking to normal boys, she was pretty clueless. Cue the other Gallagher Girls- kick-arse Bex (love her!), slightly geeky and loveable Liz and the new girl in school, boy-expert Macey. I loved reading about the gadgets and I could totally imagine the action scenes in my head. I'm glad Cammie got to experience life outside of being a spy with Josh, and I really hope he is in the next books!

I know I am a late-comer to this series, but I'm definitely going to have fun catching up with the sequels!

Rating: A

Cover: A+

Book Review: Entangled by Cat Clarke

Goodreads Summary:

The same questions whirl round and round in my head:
What does he want from me?
How could I have let this happen?
AM I GOING TO DIE?

17-year-old Grace wakes up in a white room, with a table, pens and paper - and no clue how she got here.

As Grace pours her tangled life onto the page, she is forced to remember everything she's tried to forget. There's falling hopelessly in love with the gorgeous Nat, and the unravelling of her relationship with her best friend Sal. But there's something missing. As hard as she's trying to remember, is there something she just can't see?

Grace must face the most important question of all. Why is she here?

A story of dark secrets, intense friendship and electrifying attraction.

My Review:

I knew I wanted to read Entangled as soon as I saw the cover and read the synopsis. The cover is GORGEOUS! I love the model's red hair and does anyone else think she looks like Naomi Watts? Anyway, onto the less shallow things!

I was sucked into this book from the very first page. I honestly don't think anyone could read the first chapter and put this down. The book was so addicting that I read it in one sitting. I loved the fact that it was British because although I am British, I don't find that many contemperary young adult books set here. It was a gritty book and felt very true to life.

Grace's voice was very strong. She was sarcastic, moody and self-centred, especially when it came to her best friend Sal but despite that I still felt myself warming to her. She comes across as a tough cookie but inside I felt she was just lost, scared and lonely. Her mum is never there for her, Sal has a huge problem of her own and the person she loved more than anyone is gone. As the book progresses, Grace works through everything that's happened and she learns a lot about herself. She drags you through every emotion she feels and it's hard reading at times, because you're feeling what she feels every step of the way. Cat Clarke dealt with some difficult issues but they were never over-dramatized or so uncomfortable that it would make you want to put the book down.

One thing I was a little disappointed with was the whole Ethan/kidnapping scenario. I was expecting a bit more from this, and to have my mind blown at the end but it fell a little flat for me. I probably hyped it up too much in my head because I was expecting something different but I don't think it made the book any less enjoyable.

Overall, I would recommend this to anyone looking to get engrossed in a well written, thought-provoking book. But be warned, you might want to set aside a few hours or you'll have to drag yourself away from Grace's addicting story!

Rating: A
Cover: A+