Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction, YA

Publication Date: 14th December 2015 by Curiosity Quills

Format: ebook sent to me for review by Curiosity Quills Press via Netgalley

Ella doesn’t remember what it’s like to be human; after all, she’s lived as a doll for thirty years. She forgets what it’s like to taste, to breathe…to love.

She watches the professor create other dolls, but they don’t seem to hang around for long. His most recent creation is Lisa, a sly goth. Ella doesn’t like Lisa. How could she, when Lisa keeps trying to destroy her?

Ella likes the professor’s granddaughter though, even if she is dying. It’s too bad the professor wants to turn Gabby into a doll, depriving her of an education…depriving her of life. 

With time running out and mad dolls on the rampage, Ella questions her very existence as she unearths the secrets buried in her past; secrets that will decide whether Gabby will befall the same fate…

(from goodreads.com)

This book was strange but I actually really enjoyed it. It definitely isn’t an all-time favourite but I’d say it’s definitely worth a read, as it’s unique and short. I particularly enjoyed the fact that Ella has lost her memory, so that the reader can relate to her in the way that neither knows what is going on, as obviously she is a character that you couldn’t normally relate to, being a doll.

I loved this book for how unique it is, I’ve never read anything else quite like it and it was a quirky read too. There’s a lot of mystery involved, as you don’t really find out what is truly going on until towards the end of the story. I did really enjoy this mystery though, it wasn’t overcomplicated, which was perfect as it is a short book and if it had been too complex it would have been too much and potentially overwhelming.

The characters were quite flat, I will say, but then I guess that’s mainly because Ella is a doll and doesn’t really know herself, so there is not a lot of room for development anyway. In fact, she was probably the least developed of them all, though this may seem to be so because her character is quite shallow and simple anyway. Gabby is the best developed, though I still feel as though there was a lot of room for improvement in terms of character in this book. Then again, it was a short book, so it perhaps wasn’t long enough for this to be included.

The plot was really what grabbed me though with this story – as I’ve said it’s very unique – and I did find myself engrossed in the events and wanting to know what was going to happen. Because all that Ella truly understood was what she felt it did mean that I felt her fear, so to speak, and I’d find myself seeing the characters through her eyes due to the way she’d react. I found this was really interesting as it gave the story a very one-sided view but worked to build up the tension and mystery that I particularly enjoyed.

Overall, I would recommend this book. It’s very short and quirky and definitely worth picking up. It wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read, and there were a lot of places where more development was necessary or could have been included, but nevertheless this is a fun read all the same.

Rating: 3 / 5 stars.

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, YA

Publication Date: 14th June 2012 by Dial Books For Young Readers (USA), 7th January 2016 by Egmont Publishing / Electric Monkey (UK).

Format: eARC from Egmont Publishing via Netgalley

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them… until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase’s family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

(From Goodreads.com)

 I feel the need to start with a disclaimer. I’ve read a lot of YA contemporary romances and so I am more critical than I would be of say, historical fiction, of which I’ve read very little. This book is cute, quirky and a perfect summer read, but save it for the time you’re on holiday and want a very cutesy book.

I say this, but I did genuinely enjoy it. It was so cute, there were just a few aspects that I didn’t enjoy. It really was a perfect holiday read (I read it in Barcelona) and for that I appreciate it. However, there were a couple of characters that I truly hated and felt needed hitting around the face with the book – though characters can make or break a book for me. Samantha’s mother and her partner were the most irritating and awful characters I’ve read for a long time, and it did definitely put a downer on the book for me. I couldn’t believe someone could be so terrible. However, I do recognise that the horrible character of her mother is essential for the plot and so I had to accept it.

The romance, however insta-lovey, was absolutely adorable. They were the cutest fictional couple I’ve read about in a long time and I fell in love with them myself. The insta-love did detract from it a bit, though because I read it on holiday I kind of was able to ignore this and just enjoy what I call a ‘fluffy’ story. It did have a bit of depth later on after the ‘accident’ (I’m saying no more because of spoilers), and this turn I appreciated otherwise it would have been constant arguments and not much else.

Leading from this, I found the characters a bit flat, though again, because I knew it would be a cutesy romance I could overlook this. I will admit I found it a bit dull at times but at other points I did feel dragged into the story, especially from about halfway through.

One thing that I did really like about this book was that it contrasted the difference in families by putting two completely different families as neighbours. I really enjoyed this feature as it looks at how those who should be ‘happiest’ aren’t necessarily and vice versa and it made the characters a bit more interesting with their differing family lives.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and it was a fun, adorable, quick read. I’d keep it for summer and holidays, because that’s when I feel this book can truly be enjoyed and its faults overlooked. In all honesty, would I pick up another book by this author? I don’t know, I doubt it. But I won’t say no, because if I want a fluffy contemporary next summer, I know exactly which author I’ll be heading for.

Rating: 3.5 / 5 stars.

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, YA

Publication Date: 3rd November 2016 by Corgi Children’s / Penguin Random House UK Children’s

Format: eARC from Penguin Random House UK Children’s via Netgalley

Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.

Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.

The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?

(from goodreads.com)

This book is more relevant now than it was when it was written; it’s about immigration, both legal and illegal. It’s a beautiful story with a powerful message that is more necessary now than ever before. Relevance made this already powerful book one of the most powerful I read last year.

Nicola Yoon fast became one of my favourite authors when I read Everything, Everything (read my gushing review here). I was so grateful and excited when I received the review copy I cannot explain (I read it straight away, this review is just delayed because of essays and uni), and it did not disappoint. The characters were wonderful and diverse, the plot intriguing but not over complicated, and I loved the format too.

One thing that Nicola Yoon excels at is writing diverse characters. She does it effortlessly – with some authors I find it can be quite forced – and the characters are unique and interesting, and well researched as well. I assume this because they are all very different with their varying backgrounds and thus would have to say that Yoon is successfully portraying different cultures and backgrounds.

Normally, I hate insta-love in novels, though this was, in a way, the premise of this book. However, it felt more genuine, as it is one-sided (I could expand but I’m too close to spoilers as it is, though I’d say this is fairly clear from the first chapter). The love story in this, although cheesy at times (it is a romance though, so I’m not going to complain because it’s to be expected – and it is rather adorable), is lovely and real.

I loved the balance between the characters, the differences that actually brings them together instead of pushing them apart, such as the difference between their interests; one loves science and one loves the arts (I’m fairly sure this says on the back cover). Again, Yoon’s characters are not always the ‘perfect match’ at first glance because they aren’t essentially the same character in terms of interests as I find quite common in books (possibly this is something I picked up on because my boyfriend and I are complete opposites in terms of interests, I don’t know). I feel like the relationships between her characters are real and honest – not forced in any way – and it makes for a much, much more enjoyable read.

There isn’t a massive amount to say about the plot. It’s simple, but wonderful. It only covers a day. That’s pretty much it. However, this short time frame really enabled me to connect with the characters and also understand their mindsets in their situations, especially with Natasha’s impending deportation. I’ve never read a book where the protagonist is facing this situation and thus it was interesting – and heartbreaking – to read about.

Overall I would highly recommend this book, and anything else Nicola Yoon has written / writes. This has made me certain that Yoon is one of my favourite writers, as I loved this just as much as Everything, Everything, and will definitely be picking up any future books by her.

Rating: 5 / 5 stars.