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LOADS OF CONTEMPORARY RECOMMENDATIONS
There are a lot of contemporaries out there. And there all unique and cute. And some of you have no idea where to start. Well I’m here to help. If you want to, you can check out my beginner fantasy recommendations, so click here if you’d like to see that. Let’s just begin. BOOKS I’VE READ THAT I RECOMMEND The Anna & The French Kiss by Stephenie Perkins is one of my all-time favourites. I fell in love with them. It’s about a girl who has to leave to Paris for boarding school and start a new life. She meets a guy and the story develops from there (that summary is vague but click here for a Goodreads synopsis. There is also 2 other companion novels so be sure to check ’em out. They’re great and I’ve read this one in particular multiple times. Another favourite of mine is To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy by Jenny Han. I adored these ones. They’re so loveable and cute. I reviewed them so click here to see that. I recently read Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell which was so good. It is relatable and awesome. Click here for my review. If…
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INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR PENNY JOELSON
Hi there everyone, Penny Joelson is the author of the YA novel I HAVE NO SECRETS, which is a mystery thriller that you should totally check out. Here is a link to her website http://www.pennyjoelson.co.uk/ I have a review for this book – click here. I’ve had the great privilege to ask her some questions. I highly recommend you go and read this book. Penny is such a lovely person and I really loved speaking to her. I hope you enjoy! *There are a few mild spoilers ahead* Where did this story start and develop? What was your inspiration? I had the idea of writing a thriller in which the person who knows who committed the murder is unable to tell anyone. Jemma’s character came to me quite fully formed. She came out of my experience of working with people with cerebral palsy though she wasn’t based on any particular person. I was also inspired by a play called ‘Paula’s Story’ about the life of Paula Rees, who has cerebral palsy and wasn’t able to communicate until she was ten, when someone discovered if they supported her arm that she could point to a letter board. From that point on she…
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Review: I HAVE NO SECRETS
Title: I Have No Secrets Author: Penny Joelson Page count: 330 Date published: 4 May 2017 Genre: Young Adult, Mystery & Thriller Thank you so much to Penguin Random House SA for sending this to me Rating: Synopsis: Jemma knows who did the murder. She knows because he told her. And she can’t tell anyone. Fourteen-year-old Jemma has severe cerebral palsy. Unable to communicate or move, she relies on her family and carer for everything. She has a sharp brain and inquisitive nature, and knows all sorts of things about everyone. But when she is confronted with this terrible secret, she is utterly powerless to do anything. Though that might be about to change… MY THOUGHTS (SPOILERS AHEAD) I really adored this book. I’d never heard of it before, but the reviews looked great so I said yes. As soon as I read the first page, I was already intrigued. I didn’t know that there was disability representation or that it was why Jemma couldn’t speak. It was a great read and I highly recommend. This book is so important and brings such an important message. At first, the book was quite slow. I enjoyed the characters, but that was about it. Then…
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MY POTTERMORE SORTING STORY
I thought this would be fun to share with everyone. I have multiple accounts because why not? And don’t we all? Anyway lemme share with you today’s weird post FIRST ACCOUNT Hogwarts House: Gryffindor Wand: Spruce wood with a Unicorn hair core 10 ¾” and Brittle flexibility Patronus: Kingfisher Ilvermorny House: Thunderbird Inside, I’m a Gryffindor. I love the house. Proabably because it’s the house we’re most familiar with. I like being in this house. When I was actually being sorted, I thought long and hard about my answers. I’m cool with the wand. I also think my patronus is a pretty elegant animal so I like that too. Don’t know much about Ilvermorny houses, but the name of mine is cool. SECOND ACCOUNT Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw Wand: Pine wood with a Unicorn hair core 10 ¾” and Brittle flexibility Patronus: Weasel Ilvermorny House: Wampus I was thoroughly suprised when I got results of this account. I really like Ravenclaw and I always thought I might be sorted into this house. Again, my wand is cool. I like unicorns so… I just laugh at my patronus. It’s quiet comical to me. And I don’t know much about Wampus. THIRD ACCOUNT Hogwarts House: Hufflepuff…
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ANOTHER WHAT'S UP, WEDNESDAY!
Holidays have started. Yay! So I have a lot of spare time to do whatever I want. I have time to read, binge series, chat more with you guys and post more on social media. I posted like 4 photos on my Instagram yesterday, if you want to check those out, be sure to check out my other social media because I tweet quite often too. Links are in blog header, but all my usernames are @rubyraereads MOVIES I haven’t really watched any movies since last week’s post. I did re-watch The Duff because I loved that movie the first time When the first movie came out, I was obsessed, but I was still young and didn’t know much about movies. Descendants 2 is not as good, but I did like the story. It was okay. I seriously feel like re-watching Harry Potter so I might do that. I also want to start the Lord of The Rings movies again because I loved The Hobbit movies. I should seriously get to read them too. But they’re very intimidating. TV SHOWS I have only a few tv shows to tell you guys about: I started Game of Thrones. What?! I’m enjoying,…
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MY FAVOURITE BOOKS FROM MY FAVOURITE SERIES
My first ever post was my all-time favorite series (click here to view). We all love one book more than another from our favourite series, so I want to share mine with you. Harry Potter (by J.K. Rowling) is awesome. I don’t where you have been if you’ve never heard of it. But I think my favourite of those books has to be Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows. It’s such a good book and I love it so much. The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare is that series that I was obsessed with and couldn’t put down. There are two books that I can’t really decide between: City of Lost Souls and City of Heavenly Fire. I think it might have to go to CoHF, but I genuinely love them both equally. I also love City of Fallen Angels. Arghhh this is too hard. Please don’t make me choose. I want to go to Camp Half-Blood. It’s next to Hogwarts for me. Anyways, I love Percy Jackson & The Last Olympian (by Rick Riordan from Percy Jackson & The Olympians). It’s great. I also really enjoyed Percy Jackson & The Battle Of The Labyrinth. Percy is awesome. Go and read it…
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Review: THE ONE MEMORY OF FLORA BANKS
Title: The One Memory Of Flora Banks Author: Emily Barr Page count: 303 Date published: 12 January 2017 Genre: Contemporary Thank you, Penguin Random House SA for sending this book to me in exchange for an honest review! Rating: 3 stars Star (Rating System)-1Star (Rating System)-1Star (Rating System)-1 Synopsis Seventeen-year-old Flora Banks has no short-term memory. Her mind resets itself several times a day, and has since the age of ten, when the tumor that was removed from Flora's brain took with it her ability to make new memories. That is, until she kisses Drake, her best friend's boyfriend, the night before he leaves town. Miraculously, this one memory breaks through Flora's fractured mind, and sticks. Flora is convinced that Drake is responsible for restoring her memory and making her whole again. So when an encouraging email from Drake suggests she meet him on the other side of the world, Flora knows with certainty that this is the first step toward reclaiming her life. With little more than the words "be brave" inked into her skin, and written reminders of who she is and why her memory is so limited, Flora sets off on an impossible journey to Svalbard, Norway,…
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WHAT'S UP WEDNESDAY!
I feel like we’ll be here a long time discussing movies because that’s literally all I’ve been doing: watching movies and also procrastinating. Anyways, this a post all about stuff I’ve watched and read. Basically a wrap-up. Kind of. TV SHOWS (I elaborate more on each of these in my TV SHOW TALK… click here) – I’ve been watching the last season of Teen Wolf every week – I recently binged the entire season 1 of Anne With An E which was amazing. Gilbert Blythe is amazing, by the way. – I watched Friends a lot. Do I need to explain? – I also finished Shadowhunters 2B and I have reviews for all of them, so be sure to check those out. MOVIES – I watched Everything, Everything this month and have a spoiler-free review. Click here to read all my thoughts. – I watched To The Bone which was intense. I was suprised how much I didn’t know. It was very emotional. – I also saw Feed which I really liked. Troian is the best and I really liked the storyline. I recommend it if you haven’t seen it. – I also did a rewatch of one of my…
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Review: FANGIRL
Title: Fangirl Author: Rainbow Rowell Page count: 459 Date published: 30 January 2014 Genre: Romance & contemporary Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars Synopsis: Cath and Wren are identical twins, and until recently they did absolutely everything together. Now they’re off to university and Wren’s decided she doesn’t want to be one half of a pair any more – she wants to dance, meet boys, go to parties and let loose. It’s not so easy for Cath. She would rather bury herself in the fanfiction she writes where there’s romance far more intense than anything she’s experienced in real life. Now Cath has to decide whether she’s ready to open her heart to new people and new experiences, and she’s realizing that there’s more to learn about love than she ever thought possible. MY THOUGHTS (SPOILERS AHEAD) I knew almost nothing about the book. Just that it was really amazing. And I really loved this book. I related so much to this story. I’m basically Cath. And I live in a small town. This book was so cute and lovely. Although, some parts were a little confusing because I pictured this book a little different in my head and…
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SPRING TBR
I have a long pile of books that I need to read. I don’t know why I don’t start them sooner. Lord Of Shadows by Cassandra Clare All the books in my August Book Haul One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus (sent to me by Penguin Random House SA – thank you!) Throne Of Glass books #1-3 by Sarah J. Maas Vampire Academy books #2-4 by Richelle Mead The Gentleman’s Guide To Vice And Virtue by McKenzi Lee Eliza And Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia There are so many books to read and I’m excited to read them all. Are any of you reading these or planning to read them too? Let me know in the comments. xo