REVIEW: Movie Night

MOVIE NIGHT

by Lucy Courtenay

Pages: 314

Publisher: Hodder Children's Books

Publication Date: January 11th 2018

Received From: Hodder Children's Books

One: I am hopelessly in love with Hanna Bergdahl. Two: for the first time since our recent reunion Hanna Bergdahl appears to be single. And three: I am in stuck in that inescapable netherworld of demons and acne - the Friend Zone.

Two best friends. One crush.

Sol and Hanna were best friends at primary school and after reuniting at college, they spend approximately seventy per cent of daylight hours together.

When disaster strikes at a New Year's Eve party and Hannah sees new boyfriend Danny Dukas kissing Lizzie Banks, a New Year's Resolution is formed. Sol and Hanna will watch one film a month for twelve months until the next New Year. After all, films hold answers to life's hardest questions. Maybe they'll figure out why they are both members of the dumpee club.

Only Sol Adams has a new year's resolution of his own: to kiss Hanna Bergdahl before the year is over.

When I read The Kiss I was completely enamoured with the way in which Lucy Courtenay constructs a contemporary romance. There was this added element of movie magic and I'm so happy that has carried on to her new book Movie Night. This book is unbelievably cute, laugh out loud funny at times and the quintessential YA will they, wont they romance that will turn your insides gooey. 

Movie Night is told from the perspective for our two main protagonists. First you have Hanna, the sixth form girl who fits in with the popular kids, changes boys like they're shoes and gets along with mostly everyone. Then there is Sol, Sol grew up with Hanna but moved away when he was younger. Now Sol is back he and Hanna are inseparable but he likes to keep things to himself, like the fact he has been in love with his best friend Hanna for longer than he can remember. Then one New Years Eve Hanna sees her boyfriend kissing someone else and on that night while comforting her Sol and Hanna make a pact. For the next year they are going to watch one movie a month together, because movies always have happily ever afters and maybe together they will find the answers they are looking for.  But with Sol trying to hold Hanna at arms length and Hanna slowly realising just how much he keeps from her their friendship is pushed to breaking point. It is a story about friendship, first love and learning to be who you want to be, not just who you are told to be. 

Throughout this book Sol and Hanna grow so much as characters, both together and apart that its hard not to love them. Movie Night is one of those coming of age stories that suck you in because you as a reader feel like you can connect with the characters. The book is written over the space of a year, a year that has our main protagonists applying for university and making big decisions about who they want to be. 

The characters melt your heart and the story keeps up pace throughout. The family dynamics are intriguing and if your favourite thing in this book isn't Nigel then I don't know what's wrong with you. There are moments in this book that show how hard it can be at that age and the pressure of some of the choices that need making but there is also a humour to it as well. It is the mix of depth and light heartedness that really elevated this book for me. 

Overall, Movie Night was one of those books I could read over and over again. It hit me right in the feels and from the very first chapter I needed to know if Sol got the girl. It is hard enough being a teenager but when you're in love with your best friend? Well that's when it gets complicated. 

**I received this book as an ARC from Hodder Children's Books to read & review. This is a 100% honest review.**

Waiting on Wednesday #7

FROGKISSER

by Garth Nix

Pages: 384 Hardback

Publisher: Piccadilly Press

ISBN: 9781848126015

Summary 

'Wise and wondrous' - Holly Black

Garth Nix is on hilarious form as he spins his very own fairy tale, featuring Princess Anya, who, with her loyal dog, must embark on a terribly important (capital Q) Quest to acquire the ingredients for a reversal lip balm, the vital item needed to change a frog back to a prince . . . oh, and save her kingdom from her villainous step(step)father.

A brilliantly funny take on fairytales and quests for younger readers. 

PUBLICATION DATE:
FEBRUARY 28TH 

This one is slightly different to my normal read but its GARTH NIX so exceptions shall be made. Also this is actually next on my TBR pile so I shall hopefully have a review for you lovely lot at some point in March so keep an eye out for that! 

What is your #WaitingOnWednesday this week? Comment below as I'm excited to see what everyone else is looking forward to! 

REVIEW: A Step Towards Falling

A STEP TOWARDS FALLING

by Cammie McGovern

Pages: 364 (paperback)

Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books

ISBN: 9781447280217
Received From: Macmillan Children's Books (My Kinda Book)

Summary 

Sometimes one mistake can change everything.

Emily doesn’t know why she froze. Or why Lucas did too. They could have helped Belinda, but they didn't.

Sometimes people can surprise you.

Emily thought she knew Lucas. And she thought she understood Belinda. But maybe she judged them both too quickly.

Sometimes good can come from bad.

Emily and Lucas’s punishment is community service with people with disabilities. People like Belinda. Soon they feel like maybe they're starting to make a difference. But can they do anything to help the one person they hurt the most?

Review

I honestly didn't know what to expect when this book came through the post. I have heard of Cammie McGovern's Amy & Matthew before but I have never read anything by her and I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed A Step Towards Falling.

The story is told through two point of views, the first is Emily and the majority of the book is from her perspective and the second is Belinda, who's story is just as paramount to the novel as Emily's. The book starts with an event, a football (american) game to be exact, where Belinda is attacked. Emily and a character called Luke both witness the attack but do nothing to stop it from happening which leads to Emily and Luke having to help out at a local centre for people with learning disabilities. Throughout the book you follow Emily, Luke and Belinda as they come to terms with that happened at the game and see how they learn to live with the consequences of that one night.

The thing I liked about this book the most was that Emily didn't spend the whole book asking why this was happening to her? Instead she is completely aware that she messed up and it is how she deals with the guilt in an environment that is completely alien to her. Having to 'volunteer' with disabled people when Belinda, the girl she let get attacked, also has learning difficulties proves harder than she thought to begin with.

When it comes to Belinda's sections I found it really interesting because McGovern used a style of writing that was almost childlike. The innocence of the character's personality was completely endearing and there were parts where she asked why she had been attacked? Why had it happened to her? She doesn't understand why and almost blames herself at one point and it kind of broke my heart a little.

Of course it isn't a YA novel without a little love story! Emily and Belinda both have a couple of love interests throughout the book, admittedly a little predictable at times as far as Emily's love life goes, but that doesn't take away from the story. Actually if anything it adds to it because the author gives the reader what they want.

Overall A Step Towards Falling is a novel with all the fundamental traits of a YA classic in the making.

• Love story - check! 
• Relatable characters - check! 
• Diversity - check! 
• And the most important part of a YA novel, a strong moral lesson at its centre - check!!!

This is a story about not judging a book by its cover and knowing that everyone makes mistakes, it is what you do after that makes or breaks a persons character. It's a heartbreaking and heartwarming story that I would whole heartedly recommend to anyone.

**I received this book as an ARC from Macmillan Children's Books (My Kinda Book) to read & review. This is a 100% honest review.**

The Hunger Games Catching Fire

The Hunger Games Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Rating: 3 out of 5

Summary (From Back Cover)

Katniss Everdeen survived The Hunger Games. Now the Capitol wants revenge.

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are still alive. Katniss should be relieved, but now these are whispers of a rebellion against the Capital - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

As the nation watches Katniss and Peeta, the stakes are higher than ever. One false move and the consequences will be unimaginable.

Review

For those of you who have read my review of The Hunger Games you'll know I have a disdain for Katniss and unfortunately this instalment doesn't change my opinion. However, there are so many new character's introduced in this book I can almost overlook my disliking of the winy main character. 

The story line for this is why I rated it lower than the first. As far as the actual writing, it's easy to read and has it's moments, although I think that - spoiler alert - sending Katniss and Peeta back into the arena was - in some ways - a lazy way to move the story forward. The story itself if set just after THG's finishes and takes a look at Katniss and Peeta's life after the games and the way they cope with their new celebrity status. It also follows Present Snow as he tries to rid himself of his biggest problem - Katniss and the rebellion she seems to ignite. 

The character's for me are this books saving grace. I do like THG's trilogy and I think it's entirely because of Collins vivid character building. In Catching Fire you get a better look at some of your favourite character - Effie's back - as well as the newbies. Look out of Finnick - I think I'm in love - and also Mags. 

Then there's Snow. We got a glimpse of the sociopath in the first book however, in this (and the next) instalment he will truly make you blood run cold. I don't think I've read a character that I've hated as much as Snow. He's diabolical and disturbing on a level that I've not seen before. After reading these books just the mention of a white roses gave me the creeps. 

Overall it's a half decent second novel, although I would have liked to gotten something new. The problem I had with this book is there were a lot of moments where I was getting a serious case of deja vu and it it's until the end or maybe even the next book that you see the point to any of it. But saying all that if you loved the first book then you'll like this one. Keep reading because Collin's does tie up the series well in the final book, Mockingjay.

Move Trailer

If you haven't check it out already that have a gander at my review for the first Hunger Games book. 

The Hunger Games

Wither

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Summary (From Back Cover)
What if you knew exactly when you would die?
In our brave new future, DNA engineering had resulted in a terrible genetic flaw. Women die at the age of 20, men at 25. Young girls are being abducted and forced to breed in a desperate attempt to keep humanity ahead of the disease that threaten to eradicate it.
16-year-old Rhine Ellery is kidnapped and sold as a bride to Linden, a rich young man with a dying wife. Even though he is kind to her, Rhine is desperate to escape her gilded cage - and Linden's cruel father. With the help of Gabriel, a servant she is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in what little time she has left.

Review
I'm currently re-reading this book as I wanted to refresh my memory before I started on the third and final instalment of The Chemical Gardens trilogy. I started last night and I've almost finished. You're thrown straight into the harsh world, that is future America with no apologies or a chance to hide it's forth comings. A dangerous world for women and a concept that feels all to real. The science behind the book makes it feel like this could be a possibility, which in a way makes it all the more heartbreaking.

DeStefano wastes no time getting started, throwing you straight into the story. There's no setting the scene, instead it integrates the back story into the first couple of chapters, dropping little snippets of Rhine's past here and there. Which, makes it a very easy book to get into. When I started reading Wither it had a kind of Beauty and the Beast feel to it, in the sense that there's a young girl locked in a mansion with an a monster of a capture and a handful of warm, loving servants. But as the book goes on and the story begins to unravel you start to connect with the House Governor, Linden, and come to realise the threat is coming from a different source entirely.

Stolen away from her life in New York,  Rhine is sold to a rich man named Linden. Along with two other girls, she is forced to marry the rich House Governor. Locked in the Florida mansion, half a world away from her home Rhine becomes close to Lindens first wife, Rose. Rose is at that fatal age of 20.

After Rose passes Linden starts to focus on his new wives. The only relief she has in this world is Gabriel one of the house attendants. The book follows Rhine as she tries to escape from her luxury prison, and Housemaster Vaughn's wicked clutches. But in doing so she discovers things within the mansion she was never meant to see. Will she be able to find away out of this new hell? Or is Linden a kinder man that she thought? Is there a chance she could be happy here? And if so, will she stay long enough to find out?

I'll admit I have a soft spot for Linden. I mean, I don't support buying wives off men in grey coats but at the same time I can think of worse people to be married to. He has a kind heart, and I feel reading this that the real monster in this story is his father, Vaughn. But at the same time I can't blame Rhine for wanting to leave, she has a family that she has to get back to. After all she didn't choose this life.

It's a story full of danger and surprises. A vivid world and written in such a way that you will find it easy to get lost within it's pages. A must read for any lover of dystopian fiction, and even if you're not, it's a great story that will make you wander...



Official book trailer:

City of Glass

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary (From back cover)

Amid the chaos of war, the Shadowhunters must decide to fight with the vampires, werewolves and other Downworlders - or against them. Meanwhile, Jace and Clary have their own decision to make: should they pursue the love they know is forbidden?

Review

I've said it before and I'll say it again, this is by far by favourite of all the Mortal Instruments books so far. The story follows our favourite Shadowhunters and Simon to Idris, the capital of all things Shadowhunter and Valentine's evil plots come to a dramatic conclusion. You're introduced to some new character's that will both excite you and creep you out all at the same time. Not to mention a possibility of a whole new order to this magical world. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

This book takes place in Idris, aka Shadowhunter home turf. It's been mentioned several times in the first two books but this time Clare takes us into it's old worldly streets. The Jace/Clary situation is still a main focus of this book, with Clary struggling to say no to Jace's continuing affections.

I don't really want to say much about this book as I feel too much will spoil it's constant plot changes. It's jam packed with exciting new characters, enchanting new settings and enough bombshells to satisfy the greediest of readers.

So give it a read my lovelies, you wont be disappointed.

City of Ashes

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Summary (From the back cover)

Haunted by her past, Clary is dragged deeper into New York City's terrifying underworld of demons and Shadowhunters - but can she control her feelings for a boy who can never be hers?

Review 

Before you go any further, do NOT read if you haven't read the first book as I will be dropping serious spoilers. 

Okay now that's out of the way, City of Ashes is probably my least favourite out of the series. I've tried to figure out why this is, and the only thing I can think of is it just wasn't as exciting as some of the others. Let me try to explain that better. 

With this book you get a deeper look into Simon and Clary's relationship as well as Simon in general. He's becoming a much more integrated part of the paranormal side of the story, not just Clary's sarcastic best friend. In fact you get a better look at the Downworlders in this instalment, and the inner workings of the Clave. In general I think my problem with it is it just seems to be a lot of setting things up and dropping little clues that will only really come together in the next book.

Now for all of you who have read the first book (which should be all of you, if you're still reading after I told you not to then you only have yourself to blame) we now know that Clary and Jace are brother and sister. Unfortunately that doesn't seem to stop Jace from wanting to do unspeakable things to her. Which of course leads to two character's fighting with their feelings for each other and trying to find a way to live with the fact they've fallen in love with their sibling. Although by the end of the book even I was rooting for them. Team Clace!  

The one thing this book doesn't disappoint on though is it's sarcastic wit! As ever the character's a sharp lipped and amusing from start to finish. My favourite quote from the whole book has to be this one liner from Jace...

"I make rude gestures at nuns."

Overall this book was a little unsatisfying, however important to the series it may have been. It just wasn't as gripping as I've come to expect for Clare. 

The third instalment, City of Glass is my favourite (I may have said that before), so do keep reading! 

The Name of the Star

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary (Off the back of Book)

Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux flies to London for the start of a new life at boarding school. But her arrival is overshadowed by a sudden outbreak of brutal murders, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific work of Jack the Ripper.

'Rippermania' grabs hold of London, and the police are stumped with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory has seen their prime suspect on the school grounds. But her friend Jazza didn't see anyone.

So why could only Rory see him? And why is he planning to do next?

Review

I have serious respect for this woman after reading 13 Little Blue Envelopes. Which, if you haven't read yet, get off your computer and down to your local library immediately. Even so, I was a little worried when I read that this was going to be a book about a school girl, however, Johnson has managed to escape the dreaded winey school girl stereo-type that a lot of YA books have and created a world that, in parts, can be truly terrifying. There's this one part with a kidney that made my skin crawl, but you'll discover that little gruesome gem on your own. 

She captures London in a way that makes the reader want to set foot on its busy streets and try their hand at ghost hunting. There is no denying the supernatural in this novel, with enough ghosts in it to satisfy even the greediest of readers. 

The quintessential YA love story is slightly less prominent in this one, with the main focus of the book not being who Rory falls in love with but how and if she can help save the people of London from a mad ghost. It was actually quite refreshing not to read a character that falls madly in love with the first guy she sees after knowing him a grand total of two seconds. 

Overall The Name of the Star is well worth a read if you want a little spook in your life. I won't lie to you though, there were moments I wish I didn't have such a vivid imagination and had the common sense not to read this before I went to bed. 

And to finish off this review I wanted to share with you one of my favourite quotes from this book...

"Welsh is an actual, currently used language and out next-door neighbours Angela and Gaenoe spoke it. It sounds like Wizard."

***

The Official book trailer from PenguinYoungReaders:

Enjoy my little ghost fighters! 

How I Live Now

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

Rating: 3 out of 5

Summary (Off the back of the Book)
Fifteen-year-old Daisy thinks she knows all about love.
Her mother died giving birth to her, and now her dad has sent her away for the summer to live in the English countryside with her cousins she's never even met.
There she'll discover what real love is: something violent, mysterious and wonderful. There her world will be turned upside down and a perfect summer will explode into a million bewildering pieces.
How will Daisy live then?

Review
First and for most I feel that I have an obligation to warn you that this book refuses to acknowledge the importance of speech marks, as in there aren't any! I was NOT warned about this and I have to admit it did take a little getting used to. Not one of those books you can skip to the dialogue with, as you'll no doubtingly miss half of it! Now that that's out of the way I can get on with the review.

There seems to be a lot of setting the scene and if I'm completely honest I was about ready to give up on it and self it with the rest of my Not Worth Finishing books. However, towards the middle it quickly picked up the pace and I wasn't able to put it down. Even though I found it slow getting off the ground looking back you can see why it was important as without it you wouldn't have cared what happened to the characters as the story progressed.

As far as the YA love story, that comes from a rather unlikely source, which again takes a little getting used to. At times I found myself a verging on uncomfortable with the romantic side of things due to the fact everyone is widely underage and in some shape or form related to each other. Although, saying that, Rosoff finds a way of making you look beyond that and get's you hooked on Daisy's journey as she tried to find her way home.

I wot give anything away but I did wont to say that no matter how I felt about the rest of the book the second half, especially the ending, was heartbreakingly brilliant and I can see how it won the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize back in 2004.

Character to look out for: Piper.
For me she was the heart of this story, well, her and her goat Ding.


Official trailer for the film:

WARNING there are a couple of quite MASSIVE plot changes in the movie. Whether it makes it better or not? Well i'll let you decide. 

City of Bones

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Summary (from the back of book)

Clary Fray is seeing things: vampires in Brooklyn and werewolves in Manhattan. Irresistibly drawn towards a group of sexy demon hunters, Clary encounters a dark side of New York City - and the dangers of forbidden love. 

Review

This is one of those books that's been mentioned to me several times, so much so that I purposefully didn't read it because I feared it wouldn't live up to all the hype. However, when I saw the movie trailer I eventually gave into my stubbornness and cracked the spines of City of Bones. I then went on and read the whole series (so far) in a matter of weeks.

The story itself is about a young girl - Clary - who finds herself drawn into the mysterious world of monsters and magic that thrives in New York City. It's jam packed with adventure. With twists and turns that take you all over the city, introducing you to Vampires, Werewolves, Faeries, Shadowhunters and one rather swarve Warlock named Mangus Bane.

The character's are what make this book so enticing, they're sarcastic and witty and fit perfectly within the world Clare creates. You have the sarcastic Jace, a loyal (if not slightly cruel at times) Alec and Isabelle the seducer. There's Simon, the love sick puppy who's one liners will have you smiling all the way through the book and last, but by no means least, a rather stubborn Clary.
That's not even mentioning the stories villain Valentine, a rouge Shadowhunter who is believed to have died fifteen years ago in an uprising against the Clave.

Like many of it's YA predecessors you will be dragged into the love triangle we're all very much used to. The best friend verses the new, stunningly attractive mystery man. However don't let that put you off, as even though it has a slightly predictable feel to it at times you can't help but fall in love these characters. So pick a side, Team Simon vs Team Jace. The Unknown vs The Familiar. You decide.

City of Bone is just the first of 6 books, the final one to be released later this year. If you like the first give the other's a read, my favourite is definitely book 3, City of Glass. Were we get a glimpse of Idris, home of the Nephilim and the climax to Valentines story.

Official Movie Trailer for Mortal Instruments City of Bones: