4 Reasons why you should read The Grown Up

Gillian Flynn’s books are by far, the most unpredictable, dark, fucked up and psychologically and emotionally draining thrillers I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Yes, I love them to bits. They always make me question my morals, empathise with the villains to the point that when I pointed out Amy’s reasons for orchestrating her own kidnapping in Gone Girl was….understandable on some level, my mate gave me a “you’re fucked in the head” look. So yes, Gillian Flynn’s books are an automatic must buy for me and that’s exactly what I did when I discovered ‘The Grown-Up’ was released.

The Grown Up

by Gillian Flynn
Released November 5th 2015

 Find Gillian Flynn on:
Website | Facebook| Goodreads

As this was a very short novella, instead of writing a review, I’ll simply give you 4 reasons why you should pick up this book.

1. It’s written by Gillian Flynn. 

If you liked any of Flynn’s previous full-length novels, then you must pick this one up. It fucks with your head that same way Flynn’s other books did.

2. It’s a short – around 80 pages – and speedy read!

Worried that you won’t finish your Goodreads Challenge before the end of the year? Getting tired of reading a 350 page novel that was sent for review? Well, definitely give this a go! Not only will this count as 1 book on your Goodreads Challenge, but you also won’t get sick of reading it because you’ll be done in literally 20 minutes.

3. Nothing is as it seems.

As with the other books, nothing is as it seems until the last 25%. Remember; don’t believe everything you’re told!

4. You’ll think about the storyline and ending long after you finish reading the last sentence. 

There are books I rate 5 stars but I’ll never think about again. There are also books e.g. Gone Girl, Harry Potter, The Pact, ACOTAR that I will re-read once every few months because they’re just so damn good. The Grown-Up is one of those books where I’m still wondering what the hell happened at the end and if Flynn will release an official statement to clarify the ending.

I don’t know about you, but I’m eagerly anticipating Flynn’s next full-length novel. I’m 100% positive it won’t disappoint :D

Mini Reviews: Breathless by Brigid Kemmerer & Tormenting Lila by Sarah Alderson

Breathless

by Brigid Kemmerer 
Publisher: Kensington Teen

Release Date: April 30th, 2013

Format: ebook

Too many secrets. Not enough time.

 Nick Merrick is supposed to be the level-headed one. The peacemaker. Since it’s just him and his three hotheaded brothers against the world, that’s a survival tactic.

 But now he’s got problems even his brothers can’t help him survive.

 His so-called girlfriend, Quinn, is going quick as mercury from daring to crazy. Meanwhile, Quinn’s dancer friend Adam is throwing Nick off balance, forcing him to recognize a truth he’d rather shove back into the dark.

 He can feel it—-the atmosphere is sizzling. Danger is on the way. But whatever happens next, Nick is starting to find out that sometimes nothing you do can keep the peace.

FANTABULOUS.

That sums up this novella perfectly. :)

Nick has always been my favourite Merrick brother; while the all the brothers had to deal with drama after drama occurring in their lives, Nick was always the calmest and most level-headed of them all so I guess he stood out. I never liked Nick and Quinn in Storm/Spark as Quinn always, without fail, annoyed the living hell out of me with her over dramatic reaction and completely unnecessarily rude attitude towards Gabriel. (Okay, so maybe Gabriel was being a douchebag but STILL. NO ONE MESSES WITH GABRIEL!!) However, I think my hatred for Quinn diminished a tiny bit after becoming acquainted with her home life and relationship with Nick. Now, instead of hating her, I pity her.

Adam is a character I found immensely intriguing :) I’m looking forward to learning his backstory and of course, I hope he’ll play a bigger role in the upcoming sequels! I also genuinely hope Nick will eventually be able to sort out his feelings and resolve all complications in his life at the present time. No matter what, I STILL LOVE YOU NICK<3

A massive thank you to Kensington Teen for providing a copy of Breathless for review!

Tormenting Lila
by Sarah Alderson
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Release Date: July 1st, 2013

Format: ebook

When Lila and Alex sneak off for a romantic weekend away, Lila’s hoping she’ll finally have a chance to work on Alex’s resolve. 

 But just as things start heating up news reaches them of a serial killer at loose on the island and it isn’t long before their intimate weekend away is interrupted. 

 A mind reader, a projector, a protective older brother and a serial killer. One of them is going to find Lila first. She's hoping it's the serial killer

Sarah Alderson’s back with another exciting story for us die-hard Alex fans! Reading Tormenting Lila made me realise how much I’ve missed Alex since Losing Lila last year….I’m so glad to be reacquainted with some of my favourite characters (though honestly, I was hoping for more Alex hotness!) 

 Just like with every other book by Sarah Alderson, I was grinning from ear to ear the whole time. I loved the reappearance of every character, and it was hilarious to see Jack's reaction whenever Alex and Lila are together :) I’ll have to admit, there isn’t much of a plot in this (even for a novella), but it was an entertaining read nonetheless.

 I liked meeting Ren and Jesse, the main characters in The Sound & I absolutely cannot wait to read The Sound now! :)

Mini Reviews: Storm & I Made Lattes for a Love God

Storm
by Brigid Kemmerer
Publisher: Kensington (US) / Allen & Unwin (AU)

Release Date: April 24th, 2012

Format: Paperback, 353pages

Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys all the ones she doesn't want. Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They're powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death. 

 And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca. 

 Secrets are hard to keep when your life's at stake. When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who's hiding the most dangerous truth of all. 

 The storm is coming

The Merrick Brothers are hot. I remember thinking when I finished reading this book a while back, that after meeting the Merrick Brothers, you’ll be sure to forget ALL your previous YA boy crushes! Nick and Chris were my favourites in this installment (hmm…I may have changed after reading Spark!) but honestly, ALL 4 brothers, and even Hunter were swoon-worthy J

Love Triangles (and insta-love) are the bane of my existence. Usually anyway. However, the love triangle in Storm was tolerable; even though it seemed to play a significant role in the story, I didn’t mind it at all.

Our main character Becca was likable, but unfortunately I didn’t love her character. She’s strong, stubborn and brave…traits that I usually admire in a heroine, but Becca didn’t stand out. The thing is, I would forget about her character after reading Storm. I guess she's just not…memorable.

Brigid Kemmerer is a genius and I love her for creating these four sexy brothers! I’m positive I’ll be reading every book Brigid writes J

A massive thank you to Allen & Unwin for providing a copy of Storm for review!

I Made Lattes For A Love God
by Wendy Harmer

Publisher: Allen & Unwin 

Release Date: November, 2012

Format: Paperback, 272 pages

 Elly Pickering has a juicy secret. A secret her PR mum won't let her tell anyone because if the kids at Oldcastle High knew that mega-star Jake Blake (yes, THE Jake Blake, teen sensation and all round heart-throb) was coming to Oldcastle to film his latest movie, they might just explode with excitement.

 Elly is determined to get on set and to get more than a glimpse of her Hollywood crush. But now thanks to an unfortunate incident involving a car, a red handbag and the paparazzi, it looks like Elly's lost a lot more than her opportunity to be close to Hollywood royalty. She's lost her dignity, her job and her best friend. How will she ever be able to get everything back to normal?

This has got to be one of the cutest, lightest and funniest books I’ve read in a long time!

The characters were honestly extremely immature, but I didn’t care half the time because 1) I vaguely remember myself thinking like them back when I was their age and 2) the layers of drama cause by these girls weren’t annoying in the I’m-going-to-pull-out-my-hair-and-scream kind; it was just amusing. They acted like the teenage girls they are and what they did were understandable. It was also hilarious reading about all the girls screaming, gossiping and fangirling over their latest celebrity crush! It reminded me of all the Beliebers and…well…some One Direction fans at my high school. (And no, I wasn’t one of them) The high-pitched shrieking of excitement and doing everything possible to see their idol in person felt familiar, and I couldn’t help but grin and support Elly and her friend’s wishes!

I Made Lattes for a Love God is a relaxing read; a book you can devour in one sitting after a tiring day at work or after finishing copious amounts of homework. (I read this in between studying for my exams!) It’s an easy read, so don’t think too much when you read this, just enjoy it! J

A massive thank you to Allen & Unwin for providing a copy of I Made Lattes for a Love God for review!

[Double] Mini-review: Slammed and Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover

Slammed 

by Colleen Hoover

Publisher: Atria Books

Release Date: September 18th 2012

Format: Paperback

Purchase: Book Depository

Layken Cohen's eighteenth year is proving to be the ultimate test of her resolve. Following the death of her father, she is forced to move across the country after the start of her senior year. Just when she thinks all hope is lost, she meets her new neighbor, Will Cooper. An intriguing twenty-one year old with a passion for Poetry Slamming. Layken and Will form an immediate connection. A connection so intense, only fate could have brought them together. But sometimes fate isn't enough. Layken and Will are slammed to the core when a shocking discovery reveals their relationship won't work. It can't work. Now Layken and Will are forced to find a balance between that which keeps them apart, and the feelings that pull them together. And that's only the beginning... Slammed intertwines heartache with humor, desires with ethics, and ultimately proves that the harsh reality of death can sometimes be overcome by the beauty of life.

I've loved almost every single New Adult book thrust my way, and Slammed was no exception. Slammed had me completely enthralled from start to finish, and even after finishing it, I still couldn't get enough of Will and Lake and the awesome slam poetry that the characters composed.

Will and Lake are no doubt one of my favourite couples ever. They're a perfect match! Lake was a character I instantly liked, and Will? He's the best boyfriend material ever. These two are actually really similar, both carrying the weight and pain of a loved one's (and in Will's case more than one) death. I can't imagine the amount of pain and responsibility Will had to endure at such a young age; it's something most of us many of us may never have to experience. But I'm so glad Will and Lake have each other :) Like I said, they're a match made in heaven!

In Slammed, we're introduced to a unique type of poetry - Slam Poetry. Poetry, is, to be honest, my weakest point and I try to stay far, far away from poetry (verse novels included) BUT I think I *may* start to like poetry a little after reading some of the spectacular compositions in Slammed. You know, maybe I'll be able to write one of my own soon :)

Point of Retreat

by Colleen Hoover
Publisher: Atria Books

Release Date: September 18th 2012

Format: Paperback

Purchase: Book Depository

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 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.'

While Slammed remains my favourite of the two, Point of Retreat is an impressive sequel in this trilogy. Told from Will's point of view, drama after drama occurs in this sequel.

In Point of Retreat, you get to see just how much Will really loves Lake. And seriously, the guy REALLY loves her. There's this particular scene where he tries to win Lake back, and dear god, that's the BEST way of winning a girl back. If you plan on reading this sequel, look out for a particular bathroom scene; it's the sweetest, most heartwarming act by a guy. I've recently been a little indecisive over whether true love exists, but reading Point of Retreat gave me renewed hope that true love does exist<3 

The ending was so perfect，I couldnt have asked for anything more. I've no doubt the third book will just as brilliant as the first two! Make sure you have a box of tissues next to you while reading this, a tear-jerker this one is! :)

Mini-review: Elixir by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Elixir

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Release Date: November 27th 2012

Format: Paperback

Purchase: Book Depository

Aiden St. Delphi will do anything to save Alex. Even if it means doing the one thing he will never forgive himself for. Even if it means making war against the gods.

Ms Armentrout really needs to write more novellas from Aiden's POV. I loved being inside his head; and if anyone has had any doubt of his love for Alex, well....all doubt will be obliterated when you read Elixir.

Aiden, Aiden, Aiden.....it was so heartbreaking that he had to choose between two  horrible options related to severing the bond between Alex and Seth. Both options were both horrendously painful for Aiden to think about...let alone act, but if, just if it may help Alex, will he do it to save the one he loves?

Alex is so lucky to have Aiden by her side; he''ll forever put her needs first; his every decision will centre around her and he'll literally do anything to protect her, even if it means defying and starting a war with the gods.

I'm so grateful Elixir didn't end in a cliffhanger; I don't think I can wait 5 months for the release of 
Apollyon as it is! Overall, a wonderful addition to one of my all-time favourite series. Now, bring it on, April 2013 :)

Mini Review: Pure by Jennifer L Armentrout

Pure 

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Release Date: April 2nd 2012

Format: Paperback

Purchase: Book Depository

There is need. And then there is Fate…

 Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn’t exactly awesome--especially when Alexandria’s “other half” is everywhere she goes. Seth’s in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom--so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do--and sacrifice--for her.

 When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies--lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon… and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn’t blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude… or killing her. When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.

Pure, the sequel to Half-Blood was just as thrillingly entertaining as the first book. I absolutely adored it! Ms Armentrout certainly has a talent for writing; with all her books once I started reading, I literally can't stop. I only have one complaint after devouring Pure - that is, a lack of appearances from Aiden. I think Half-Blood could be dubbed "Aiden's book" while Pure is "Seth's book". I believe, in Deity, there will be a showdown between these two hotties :) And yes, I'm eagerly anticipating the release of Deity!

Alex is as witty and humorous and plain awesome as ever. I loved her in Half-Blood, and I think I love her character even more after reading Pure :) She may be reckless and implusive and I suppose a little frustrating at times, but when it comes to Alex, I really didn't care. Now, onto the love interests. Aiden...Oh My Gods. Why is the guy so perfect? I don't know how anyone can not like Aiden after what he did at the very end. It was so ridiculously stupid but...so damn swoonworthy. Seth is still...Seth. He's mysterious, hilarious and infuriatingly narcissistic as ever. I may not *mind* him anymore, but I still don't trust him; and no matter how much he appears to care about Alex, I'll never become Team Seth. Just putting it out there;) Oh, and I do believe there's something up with Leon. His weird ability to always appear at the most crucial moments is seriously freaky. I'm actually debating whether I should trust him or not....

The plot is becoming as riveting as ever; so much happened in Pure, and a lot was also revealed. I loved what happened towards the end; it really set the scene and plotline for the future books :) In a nutshell, Ms Armentrout's a freaking genius and I'm in love with her. Guys, I don't care if you thought Half-Blood was too similar to VA, just...PICK UP THE SEQUEL. It is SO much better and totally different :)

Book Review -Glass Houses (The Morganville Vampires #1) (mini)

Title: Glass Houses
Series: Morgansville Vampires #1
Author: Rachel Caine
Publisher: Penguin Aus
Release Date: 04/01/2011 (Aus)

Summary: Welcome to Morganville. Just don`t stay out after dark. Morganville is a small town filled with unusual characters - when the sun goes down, the bad come out. In Morganville, there is an evil that lurks in the darkest shadows - one that will spill out into the bright light of day.For Claire Danvers, high school was hell, but college may be murder. It was bad enough that she got on the wrong side of Monica, the meanest of the school's mean girls, but now she's got three new roommates, who all have secrets of their own. And the biggest secret of all isn't really a secret, except from Claire: Morganville is run by vampires and they are hungry for fresh blood . . . 

My Thoughts:

 Unfortunately, I didn't quite finish reading this book. I got around half-way and I just couldn't bear it anymore. Nothing exciting ever happened and Claire was probably the most annoying MC I've ever read about. All I remember was the different ways Monica & her clique bullied Claire and then Claire declaring that she would continue school even if it meant getting killed.  Wow. I felt the author wanted Claire to be strong and independent (for not leaving the school even though she almost died), but there is a difference between being strong and being stupid. It's a shame this wasn't my cup of tea, since I really like reading about vampires. I don't know whether I'll finish this book or not, maybe it will get better but it's unfortunate that the beginning wasn't engaging enough to capture my interest. 

Favourite Quotes: 

"Damn, Claire. Warn a guy before you do a face-plant on the floor next time. I could have looked all heroic and caught you or something" -Shane