Jill's Book Blog

First Lines Friday – June 7

This is a weekly meme hosted by Wandering Words, where you give the first few lines of a book to hook your readers before introducing the book.

Here are my first lines:

“Dad had Uncle Eddie round, so naturally they had to come and see what I was up to. If Uncle Eddie (who is bald as a coot) says to me one more time, ‘Should bald heads be buttered?’ I may kill myself.”

Do you recognize these first lines?

…

And the book is… Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison.

Goodreads synopsis:

There are six things very wrong with my life:
1. I have one of those under-the-skin spots that will never come to a head but lurk in a red way for the next two years.
2. It is on my nose
3. I have a three-year-old sister who may have peed somewhere in my room.
4. In fourteen days the summer hols will be over and then it will be back to Stalag 14 and Oberfuhrer Frau Simpson and her bunch of sadistic teachers.
5. I am very ugly and need to go into an ugly home.
6. I went to a party dressed as a stuffed olive.
In this wildly funny journal of a year in the life of Georgia Nicolson, British author Louise Rennison has perfectly captured the soaring joys and bottomless angst of being a teenager. In the spirit of Bridget Jones’s Diary, this fresh, irreverent, and simply hilarious book will leave you laughing out loud. As Georgia would say, it’s “Fabbity fab fab!”

Have you read Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging? What did you think of it?

Review: The Golden Lion (Cleopatra in Space #4)

Title: The Golden Lion (Cleopatra in Space #4)
Author: Mike Maihack
Genre: Middle Grade, Graphic Novel
Publisher: Graphix
Source: Library
Format: Ebook
Release Date: June 27, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Cleo is back at Yasiro Academy, recovering from the tragic events that occurred on planet Hykosis. She feels responsible for the death of her friend Zaid, and trains nonstop. And when she learns that the Golden Lion — a star with immeasurable energy that could destroy them all if weaponized — has been located, she goes alone to the snowy, icy planet Cada’duun to find it. There, she faces off with a new enemy who has been instructed to destroy the Golden Lion… and her.

Review:

This is a fun series about Cleopatra in space.

Cleo is just a regular kid, even though she is the prophesied queen from ancient Egypt. She disobeys her teachers and doesn’t keep up with her algebra homework. However, she faces much bigger consequences than an ordinary kid would face by doing the same things. She travels to distant planets and almost becomes trapped when she can’t communicate with a group of people who speak only in equations.

There is tons of action in these graphic novels. I think they would be great for reluctant readers, because there are a lot of pages without a lot of dialogue. There are some fantastic battle scenes, which look like the characters are really moving. I love the art in these comics.

I highly recommend this fun series!

TBR Thursday – June 6

TBR Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly Faye Reads, where you post a title from your shelf or e-reader and find out what others think about it.

My pick this week is Replica by Lauren Oliver.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Lyra

From a distance, the Haven Institute, tucked away on a private island off the coast of Florida, looks serene and even beautiful. But up close the locked doors, military guards, and biohazard suits tell a different story. In truth, it is a clandestine research facility where thousands of replicas, or human models, are born, raised, and observed.

But when a surprise attack is launched on Haven, two of its young experimental subjects—Lyra, or 24, and the boy known only as 72—manage to escape. As they make their way through a new and menacing environment, they meet a stranger named Gemma, who has embarked on a perilous quest of her own. And as Lyra tries to understand Haven’s purpose, she uncovers earth-shattering secrets that will change the lives of both girls.

Gemma

Gemma has been in and out of hospitals her whole life. A sickly child, she has grown into a lonely adolescent whose life is circumscribed by home, school, and her best friend, April.

But after she is nearly abducted by a stranger claiming to know her, Gemma starts to investigate her family’s past and discovers her father’s mysterious connection to the secretive Haven research facility. Hungry for answers, she travels to Florida, only to stumble upon two human models, or replicas, 24 and 72—and a completely new set of questions. As Gemma tries to unravel the mysteries of Haven, she learns terrible truths about herself and her family that will threaten to destroy everything she loves.

Two girls, two stories, one novel.

While the stories of Gemma and Lyra mirror each other, each contains revelations critically important to the other story. Their narratives can be read separately or in alternating chapters.

Have you read this book? What did you think of it?

Review: In Case You Missed It

Title: In Case You Missed It
Author: Sarah Darer Littman
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Source: Borrowed from a friend
Format: Paperback
Release Date: October 10, 2016
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Everyone has secrets—until they go viral.
Sammy Wallach has epic plans for the end of junior year: Sneak out to the city to see her favorite band. Get crush-worthy Jamie Moss to ask her to prom. Rock all exams (APs and driver’s).
With a few white lies, some killer flirting, and tons of practice, Sammy’s got things covered. That is, until the international bank her dad works for is attacked by hacktivists who manage to steal everything in the Wallach family’s private cloud, including Sammy’s entire digital life. Literally the whole world has access to her emails, texts, photos, and, worst of all, journal.
Life. Is. Over.
Now Sammy’s best friends are furious about things she wrote, Jamie thinks she’s desperate, and she can barely show her face at school. Plus, her parents know all the rules she broke. But Sammy’s not the only one with secrets—her family has a few of its own that could change everything. And while the truth might set you free, no one said it was going to be painless. Or in Sammy’s case, private.

Review:

This was a powerful story about the negative effects of technology.

In this story, Sammy’s father’s company gets hacked. It leads to their family’s “cloud” storage also getting hacked and all of their documents get posted online, including Sammy’s online diary. This would be mortifying for anyone, but especially a sixteen-year-old girl, who made private comments about her friends in her diary.

One thing I liked about this book is that the adults had to face consequences for the actions as well as the kids. Sammy ended up losing some friends over comments she made in her journal, but her parents’ secrets were also exposed in the hack. They were keeping a big secret from Sammy, which they had to discuss with her once the world found out before her. This shows that adults can be affected by the same consequences as their children.

I really enjoyed this story.

‘Waiting on’ Wednesday – June 5

This is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. In this post we highlight a book that’s highly anticipated.

The book that I’m waiting on this Wednesday is The Best Lies by Sarah Lyu. The release date is July 2, 2019.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Remy Tsai used to know how her story would turn out. But now, she doesn’t even know what tomorrow will look like.

She was happy once. Remy had her boyfriend Jack, and Elise, her best friend—her soulmate—who understood her better than anyone else in the world.

But now Jack is dead, shot through the chest—

And it was Elise who pulled the trigger.

Was it self-defense? Or something deeper, darker than anything Remy could have imagined? As the police investigate, Remy does the same, sifting through her own memories, looking for a scrap of truth that could save the friendship that means everything to her.

Told in alternating timelines, Thelma and Louise meets Gone Girl in this twisted psychological thriller about the dark side of obsessive friendship.

What books are you waiting on this week?

Review: Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor, Vol. 2: The Weeping Angels of Mons

Title: Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor, Vol. 2: The Weeping Angels of Mons
Author: Robbie Morrison, Daniel Indro, Elena Casagrande
Genre: Graphic Novel, Science Fiction
Publisher: Titan Comics
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: June 30, 2015
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

The second collection of the sell-out smash new Tenth Doctor series, from award-winning writer Robbie Morrison (Spider-Man, Drowntown, Nikolai Dante) and Daniel Indro (Sherlock Holmes, Green Hornet), sends the Doctor and new companion Gabriella Gonzalez hurtling back into the past – and into the trenches of World War One!

Bombed by the German artillery, arrested as spies by the British, Gabby and the Doctor soon learn that there’s something even worse moving in the gas and wreathes of smoke out in No Man’s Land… stone statues who move only when you’re not looking at them! The Weeping Angels have come to feed on the futures of young soldiers — in their hundreds of thousands!

It’s an unmissable historical epic!

Cover by comics superstar Tommy Lee Edwards (TURF, 1985)!

Collects Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor #6-10.

Review:

The Weeping Angels are one of my favourite creatures from Doctor Who. They are statues of angels, which “kill” their victims by sending them back in time so they lose all their loved ones and the life they know. The only way to stop them is to look at them, which means not blinking.

The Weeping Angels target the World War One battlefield in this story because they can “feed” on many people all at once. The story is plausible, since so many people went missing and were never seen again during the war. This graphic novel even shows the lives that some of the soldiers lived after being sent back to the previous century.

I loved this book! The Angels were so creepy. There was a lot of historical significance since it took place during World War One. Gabby, the Doctor’s companion, wasn’t on the TV show, but she’s a great character in the graphic novels. This could also be read as a standalone story, if you haven’t read the first graphic novel in the series.

I love the Doctor Who comics! I highly recommend them for fans of the show!

Top Ten Tuesday – Books From My Favourite Genre

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and it is now hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s theme Books From My Favourite Genre. One of my favourite genres is teen thrillers, which I have a hard time finding. Here’s my list:

1. Sadie by Courtney Summers

2. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

3. One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

4. The Window by Amelia Brunskill

5. The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

6. Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus

7. Killing November by Adriana Mather

8. S.T.A.G.S. by M.A. Bennett

9. Come Find Me by Megan Miranda

10. Blood Will Out by Jo Treggiari

(All photos taken from Goodreads)

Review: The Beholder

Title: The Beholder
Author: Anna Bright
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Indigo Summer Preview
Format: Paperback
Release Date: June 4, 2019
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Selah has waited her whole life for a happily ever after. As the only daughter of the leader of Potomac, she knows her duty is to find the perfect match, a partner who will help secure the future of her people. Now that day has finally come.

But after an excruciatingly public rejection from her closest childhood friend, Selah’s stepmother suggests an unthinkable solution: Selah must set sail across the Atlantic, where a series of potential suitors awaits—and if she doesn’t come home engaged, she shouldn’t come home at all.

From English castle gardens to the fjords of Norge, and under the eye of the dreaded Imperiya Yotne, Selah’s quest will be the journey of a lifetime. But her stepmother’s schemes aren’t the only secrets hiding belowdecks…and the stakes of her voyage may be higher than any happy ending.

Review:

I was so excited to read this book! It is set in an alternate historical world, with similar countries and empires as our world.

I noticed some historical storytellers who worked on the ship, the Beholder, right away. Homer, Grimm, and Andersen were the ones I recognized. I was so excited to find these storytellers in the book. The story also had elements of different fairytales, such as Cinderella, Snow White, and The Odyssey. Selah has an evil stepmother who sends her away, like Cinderella and Snow White. She also goes on an epic journey like Odysseus. I wish there had been more storytelling throughout the book, because I loved these references to famous tales.

I was hoping that there would be more time spend with various suitors in this story. I didn’t realize it would be more than one book, so I was a little confused as to why Selah was spending so much time with only two suitors when she had many more to visit. However, I loved the historical elements from all of the places she visited.

The ending was fast paced and exciting. It gave a great cliffhanger for the next book!

Thank you Indigo for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? – June 3

This blog meme is hosted by Book Date. It is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organize yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment, and er… add to that ever growing TBR pile!

What I just finished:

This weekend I finished The Beholder by Anna Bright.

What I’m currently reading:

I’m currently reading In Case You Missed It by Sarah Darer Littman.

What I’m reading next:

Next I will be reading Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson.

What are you guys reading this week? Have you read any of these books?

Review: Once and For All

Title: Once and For All
Author: Sarah Dessen
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: June 6, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

As bubbly as champagne and delectable as wedding cake, Once and for All, Sarah Dessen’s thirteenth novel, is set in the world of wedding planning, where crises are routine.

Louna, daughter of famed wedding planner Natalie Barrett, has seen every sort of wedding: on the beach, at historic mansions, in fancy hotels and clubs. Perhaps that’s why she’s cynical about happily-ever-after endings, especially since her own first love ended tragically. When Louna meets charming, happy-go-lucky serial dater Ambrose, she holds him at arm’s length. But Ambrose isn’t about to be discouraged, now that he’s met the one girl he really wants.

Sarah Dessen’s many, many fans will adore her latest, a richly satisfying, enormously entertaining story that has everything—humor, romance, and an ending both happy and imperfect, just like life itself.

Review:

This is my first Sarah Dessen book and I loved it!

There were a lot of weddings in this story. Louna’s mother is a wedding planner, which looked like so much fun! This was a great setting for the novel. It made for some funny stories when things went wrong, such as a demanding mother of the bride who kept tissues in her bra!

One character was affected by a school shooting. I won’t give the details, since that is part of the suspense of the novel and I don’t want to spoil it. I was surprised that this is one of the first times I’ve read about this in a novel. Unfortunately, school shootings are a real part of life now, so I think they will be in many young adult novels in the future. It was heartbreaking to read about the way it affected a character in the novel.

I loved this book! I can’t wait to read more Sarah Dessen books!

Goodreads synopsis:

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Review:

What to read next:

Fallen Empires (Cleopatra in Space #5) by Mike Maihack

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Review:

What to read next:

Backlash by Sarah Darer Littman

Want to Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman

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Review:

What to read next:

Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor, Vol. 3: The Fountains of Forever by Nick Abadiz, Elena Casagrande, Arianna Florean

Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor, Vol. 1: After Life by Al Ewing, Rob Williams, Simon Frazer

1. Sadie by Courtney Summers

2. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

3. One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

4. The Window by Amelia Brunskill

5. The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

6. Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus

7. Killing November by Adriana Mather

8. S.T.A.G.S. by M.A. Bennett

9. Come Find Me by Megan Miranda

10. Blood Will Out by Jo Treggiari

Goodreads Synopsis:

Review:

What to read next:

The Selection (The Selection #1) by Kiera Kass

Caraval (Caraval #1) by Stephanie Garber

What I just finished:

What I’m currently reading:

What I’m reading next:

Goodreads Synopsis:

Review:

What to read next:

Save the Date by Morgan Matson

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen