Total number of books read: 12
Total number of pages read: 3767
Genres: 1 children's classic, 1 YA historical fiction, 2 non-fiction, 2 adult thrillers, 1 graphic novel, 3 YA contemporary, 1 YA thriller, 1 adult historical fiction.
Gender of author: 9 female, 3 male.
Nationality of author: 5 USA, 5 UK, 2 Canada.
Earlier last month I posted a mid-month reading wrap up and now I'm back for round two! I read a crazy-ass total of twelve books last month which I think is the most I've ever read in a month. I don't know what kind of reading-fuel I was on but it was clearly working - I didn't want to spend my time doing anything else! This is my wrap up of the final six books I read in April, so let's get down to my thoughts...
Seconds by Bryan Lee O'Malley | ☆☆☆
This is a magical realism adult graphic novel that focuses on the concept of fate and consequences. It's about Katie, a restaurant manager who discovers she can erase her mistakes and get a second chance, it all sort of snowballs from there and all of a sudden Katie is battling with multiple timelines and ancient house spirits. Seconds is a sweet and funny graphic novel but I felt that the plot was a little uneven and confusing and I think it could've been developed more.
Spot the Difference by Juno Dawson | ☆☆☆☆
Spot the Difference is a YA contemporary novella that was released for World Book Day. It follows Avery, who has been struggling with skin issues and bullies for the majority of her teenage years, as she undergoes a clinical trial for a new skin-clearing medicine and finds her life changing as a result. It's an engaging, thoughtful story with surprisingly well-developed characters for a novella and I really enjoyed it.
Under my Skin by Juno Dawson | ☆☆☆.5
I decided I was in the mood for more Juno Dawson so I picked up the YA thriller Under my Skin. Sally Feather has never put a toe out of line, but one day she is drawn to a mysterious tattoo parlour and walks out with a tattoo of pin-up girl Molly Sue, who, much to Sally's horror, begins talking in Sally's head. Before long, Sally realises she can no longer control Molly Sue and things begin to take a dark turn. I found Under My Skin enjoyable but the contemporary setting and characters mixed with the dark magical-horror aspect just felt a little jarring. For some reason I just didn't completely connect with it and I can't quite put my finger on why. I definitely want to read more from Juno Dawson though.
If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch | ☆☆☆☆.5
If You Find Me is about Carey and her younger sister Jenessa who have lived in a trailer in the woods with their mentally ill mother for as long as they can remember. But months after their mother disappears, leaving them alone in the woods, two strangers arrive, changing their lives forever. I've seen this book being marketed as a mystery but I'd definitely say its more of a slow-paced and character-driven contemporary than a plot-driven mystery. I think if you went into this expecting a mystery you might be disappointed but I went in purely because I was intrigued by the concept and I absolutely fell in love with it. Emily Murdoch's writing is beautiful, atmospheric and completely absorbing. The characterisation is excellent and heartbreaking and it actually made me cry a couple of times, which is rare for me when reading.
Asking For It by Louise O'Neill | ☆☆☆☆.5
If you haven't heard of Louise O'Neill's Asking For It then I'm not sure what planet you've been living on. Since it's release last year I haven't stopped hearing about this brutally real and groundbreaking YA novel. It is about beautiful, popular eighteen year old Emma O'Donovan who wakes up one morning after a party on her front porch with no memory of the night before, that is until explicit photos begin to surface on social media of Emma and a group of boys. Asking For It deals with rape, abuse, consent, self-image and bullying. It is horrifying and bleak read but it's without a doubt an extremely important one. This book, alongside All the Rage by Courtney Summers, needs to be read by everyone. We need to be talking about consent and the reality of rape and books like this open up the conversation.
The Girls by Emma Cline | ☆☆☆☆☆
My final read of April was The Girls by Emma Cline. I was kindly sent an early review copy by Penguin Random House and although it's not out until June, I couldn't wait and started reading it immediately after it arrived at my door. Set in dual timelines between the present day and late-60s California, The Girls is narrator Evie's account of being caught up in a cult at age fourteen, of living on the cusp of society and of frenzied gatherings and sex and the horrific events she never saw coming. Based on the real life Manson 'family' case, this is an incredibly beautifully written debut which will have you gripped from start to finish. Evie's story is heady, exciting, sad and frustrating, I absolutely loved it. Look out for a full review coming soon.
Have you read any of these books? What did you think?
Post a Comment