Mini Review | Perfect by Cecelia Ahern

Perfect by Cecelia Ahern
Series: Flawed #2
Published On: April 6, 2017
Published By: Harper Collins
Genre: Dystopian
Pages: 428
Format: Hardcover
Source: Bought
Rating: 
★★★★
Amazon | Goodreads

Celestine North is Flawed. 
Ever since Judge Crevan declared her the number one threat to the public, she has been a ghost, on the run with Carrick, the only person she can trust. 
But Celestine has a secret—one that could bring the entire Flawed system crumbling to the ground. A secret that has already caused countless people to go missing. 
Judge Crevan is gaining the upper hand, and time is running out for Celestine. With tensions building, Celestine must make a choice: save just herself or risk her life to save all Flawed people.

[This review contains spoilers for Flawed by Cecelia Ahern]

Good conclusion to the series.
Perfect is the sequel to Flawed and the final book in the Flawed duology. I thought it was a good ending to the duology but felt more like a continuation of the first book rather than a sequel. I really loved the first book and wanted to feel the same about the second but it just wasn't quite as good and I did have a little issue with this book.

Everything I loved in Flawed I loved again.
I went into a lot of detail in my Flawed review about the society, the characters and the underlying messages, as well as why I loved them all so much. When I say a lot of detail I mean that was probably the longest review I've ever written! For that reason I won't go into all the details again. I did love all of those aspects just as much in this second book and I was glad the same underlying messages were still there in this book.

There's never a dull moment.
Just as in the first book, there was never a boring part of this book. There is something happening on every page and a new plan or complication keeping things exciting. I found that this made me fly through chunks of the book in what felt like no time at all and I just wanted to keep reading to see what happened next.

The love triangle strikes again.
As seems to be the norm these days, there was a love triangle aspect of this book that was not a prominent in the first book. I either love or hate a love triangle but luckily I did enjoy it in this book, though I know many others didn't. I think it really illustrated Celestine's struggles and added to the inner conflict she was facing between the life she left behind and the new one she has created. It also played a part in her biggest source of confusion throughout the book of who she could trust. I enjoyed that this love triangle actually seemed to have some purpose within the story rather than just some extra drama.

Everything wrapped up well.
I way very happy with the way things ended in this book and think the way everything was wrapped up was done very well. I had an idea of how things would end but nothing happened in the way I was expecting. Every time I was sure I knew what was coming, something slightly different happened to get to that point. It kept things very interesting and definitely had me turning the pages.

So many things were repeated!
This was my main issue with this book. I completely understand that in a sequel there is a need to recap some main things that happened in the book before. However, in this book everything seemed to be recapped multiple times. I'm sure I must have been reminded of the sixth brand and how it happened at least five times throughout the book, which wasn't necessary. I know it's a small thing that may seem easy to ignore but it did start to annoy me and began to take away from my enjoyment of the book.

Overall, this was a good conclusion to a great duology. I adore Cecelia Ahern's writing and she has proven she can write anything, including YA dystopian. I really hope she will write more YA books in future, I would love to see what else she can come up with.

Tag | Intimidating TBR Tag

This tag has been going around so long that the original booktube video of this tag has been deleted. I'm not sure exactly who created it but it looks like fun so I wanted to do it. My TBR is extremely intimidating to me, though I'm sure many have more intimidating TBRs than me, but I want to read all the books!

1. A book on your TBR that you haven't been able to finish?

The Maze Runner by James Dashner - I've started it twice and haven't gotten further than about 20 pages.

2. A book you haven't had the time for?

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - I'm only ever in the mood for historical fiction during winter but that time of the year is so busy for me that I always seem to run out of time to pick this one up.

3. A book you haven't read because it's a sequel?

UnSouled by Neal Shusterman - I can't remember much about the previous two books but I don't feel like re-reading them so this just keeps getting put off. 

4. A book you haven't read because it's brand new?

Perfect by Cecelia Ahern - This is my most anticipated book of 2017 and I had great intentions of reading it as soon as it came through my door but that didn't happen.

5. A book by an author you previously read and didn't like?

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella - I really didn't like Confessions Of A Shopaholic but I did like Sophie Kinsella's writing, which is why I still want to read her other books.

6. A book you just haven't been in the mood for?

Cinder by Marissa Meyer - I really want to read this book but I'm never in the mood to pick it up. I don't know why, I've heard such great things about it.

7. A book you haven't read because it's humungous?

The Host by Stephenie Meyer - I got this on my kindle in the hope that it would be less intimidating when I couldn't see it's size but that hasn't worked either.

8. A book you bought because of the cover?

Strictly Between Us by Jane Fallon - I love this cover so much! I don't think I actually read the back until after I had bought it but luckily it sounds great as well.

9. The book on your TBR you find the most intimidating?

Throne Of Glass by Sarah J Maas - I probably wouldn't have picked this up if I hadn't been given it as a Christmas gift. I do really want to read it but I'm so intimidated by the hype! Everyone loves this series and that scares me a little.

That was the intimidating TBR tag. What's the most intimidating book on your TBR?

Sophie :)

Review | Flawed by Cecelia Ahern

Flawed by Cecelia Ahern
Series: Flawed #1
Published On: March 24, 2016
Published By: Harper Collins
Genre: Dystopian
Pages: 402
Format: Hardcover
Source: Bought
Rating: ★★★★★

Amazon | Goodreads

Celestine North lives a perfect life. She’s a model daughter and sister, she’s well-liked by her classmates and teachers, and she’s dating the impossibly charming Art Crevan. 
But then Celestine encounters a situation in which she makes an instinctive decision. She breaks a rule and now faces life-changing repercussions. She could be imprisoned. She could be branded. She could be found FLAWED.

Flawed is Cecelia Ahern's first attempt at YA and it just proves that she can write anything and do it well. As one of my favourite authors, I was of course excited to hear that she was delving into the world of YA but I was also a little worried. I've loved all of her adult works I have read and I was so worried I wouldn't love this. However, there was no need to worry as I absolutely loved this book.

With the popularity of franchises like The Hunger Games and Divergent, the dystopian genre has also become increasingly popular and a lot of the dystopian novels are starting to sound pretty similar. This one was different. I thought this was a really unique, fresh take on the dystopian genre. The story and society were nothing mind-blowing but I found it to be an incredibly interesting society and one that clearly emphasises the flaws in our own. The way in which Cecelia Ahern made the things we often take little notice of in our society, like treating others poorly because of their circumstances, into major plot points that make the reader stop and think was so well done. The society itself was explained well and clearly, and without any ridiculous info dumps.

A society like this one is so realistic that this book made an impression on me in ways I never expected. As I mentioned, it outlines the flaws in our own society, but also highlights the fact that this is what our society today is becoming. There are comments about the way in which Celestine's mother is portrayed in newspapers and magazines, with headlines about her legs or her outfit choices, as well as discussions about a wife being at fault when her husband cheats. These comments are commonplace in today's society and it becomes even more evident when reading this book in these characters' situations just how wrong, but accepted, these things are.

Though I think the plot and the society it takes place in are the main selling points of this book, Cecelia Ahern, one again, has written some great characters. She has a way of making her characters so likeable and relatable, even if they only say a few lines in the whole book. Celestine is a great main character. She is your typical average girl that doesn't want to be the face of any kind of revolution, as is now seemingly the norm in these kinds of books. However, I found it interesting that all of her thoughts and beliefs that she has held for her entire life get called into question and seeing her whole mindset change as she uncovers the truth. You watch her grow from a naive, protected girl into a determined, powerful young woman. Cecelia Ahern can also write some not so likeable characters though. Judge Crevan was one of the best written bad guys I've read about and I was actually pretty scared of him myself.

Like I said, the plot is what made this book great for me. You don't have the intense, action-packed scenes you may expect from a book like this, but there definitely is not a dull moment. Something happens on every page. Most importantly, for me at least, is that the plot portrays a really great message. You have a girl who is punished for standing up for what she feels is right and then has her entire world turned upside down because of it. At the same time, though, she could have just changed the lives of many others. It really calls into question just how far you would be willing to go to stand up for what you believe in and what you would be willing to sacrifice to be the voice for those who can't speak up for themselves. It also made me question quite how "perfect" I am. You see people throughout this book look down on the Flawed and treat them like nothing, just like people in today's society do to other groups of people. This is definitely a book that will make you think.

Overall, I thought this book was pretty perfect. I have read it twice now and loved it equally both times. It's very fast-paced, both times I flew through it, as there is something happening all the time, but it also makes you think a lot. It discusses a lot of important topics without making them the focus of the story. I just think this book was so well done and I can't wait to finish the series.

Top Ten Tuesday | Top Ten Things That Will Make Me Instantly Pick Up A Book

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke And The Bookish. Lists galore, I can think of nothing better!

This week's theme is top ten things that will make you instantly pick up a book. Obviously there are many factors that influence whether or not I want to read a book, but there are a few things that instantly grab my attention.

1. A favourite author
If a book is by an author I have previously read and loved, I'm definitely going to add it to my TBR. A few of these auto-buy authors for me are Cecelia Ahern, Kasie West & Stephanie Perkins.

2. A beautiful cover
This isn't a factor that will guarantee I want to read a book but it definitely attracts my attention initially. I'm definitely a big cover buyer and many of the books on my shelves are there because of there covers. Beautiful Broken Things by Sara Barnard and Strictly Between Us by Jane Fallon are prime examples of that.

3. Airport/airplane settings
I have a strange love of airports and flying so any book set in an airport or involving a plane journey will peak my interest straight away. I really need to find more books like this but my favourite at the moment is The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight by Jennifer E Smith.

4. Epistolaries
Books written in letters, emails, diary entries and similar things just seem to be something I really enjoy. One of my favourite books Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern is written entirely in letters, emails, IMs, newspaper articles and I loved that format.

5. Christmas
If a book is set around Christmas or involved Christmas in any way I am all over it. Christmas is my favourite time of year so the more Christmas stuff the better. I read What Light by Jay Asher last Christmas and it was exactly what I wanted.

6. Children/Younger Siblings
This might seem like a strange one but if a book, particularly in NA, revolves around a character having kids or younger siblings it makes me way more likely to read it. I just love reading about little kids and especially close older/younger sibling relationships, which could be something to do with me always wanting a sibling. Ignite by Lily Paradis and I Want It That Way by Ann Aguirre are both books with great kids and that aspect really added to these stories for me.

7. Summer
There is nothing I love more than a summery contemporary to enjoy during the summer months. If the synopsis hints at summer adventures, beach trips and a bit of romance thrown in you can pretty much guarantee I want to read it. Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson is one of my favourites of this kind but I can't wait to read more this summer.

8. Hate-To-Love
I know this is a really over-done romance trope but I just love it. This is one that's a bit hit or miss as it can quite often not be done so well, but when it's done well I adore it. I particularly loved this in The DUFF by Kody Keplinger and PS I Like You by Kasie West.

9. College Setting
As a university student, this is just a relatable situation for me. I had a terrible uni experience the first time around so I really like reading about great experiences to make me forget about my first experience. I really loved the college setting in A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall.

10. New York City
My favourite place in the world! I obviously love this city as a setting since I love it so much. It's also partly the setting of one of my favourite books, Isla And The Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins.

What makes you instantly pick up a book? I would love some recommendations based on the things I have mentioned so please let me know if you have any.

Sophie :)

What I've Been Watching | March 2017

I had a pretty rubbish reading month in March due to being so busy and it was a similar situation for TV and movies. I didn't watch any movies at all in March, which makes me so sad, but I did watch a little bit of TV when I had the chance.

Broadchurch - Like pretty much the entire rest of the UK, I am obsessed with Broadchurch. I got so excited when they announced a third series that I actually cried. I'm not usually a huge fan of police/detective type shows like this but I really enjoy the way the mystery unfolds in this show. There's only one episode left of the third and final series now and I can't wait for it!

What It's About: "The murder of a young boy in a small coastal town brings a media frenzy, which threatens to tear the community apart."

Are You The One? - This is such a guilty pleasure show for me. I'm not a huge reality TV fan but I absolutely love this show. I watched the majority of season 5 in a couple of days because once I start watching I can't stop.

What It's About: "Male and female contestants stay for 10 weeks in a holiday destination to win $1 million and hopefully find love."

The Vampire Diaries - I was obsessed with this show for the first 4/5 seasons and then just lost interest completely when season 6 started. I just started rewatching this from season 6 at the end of March and have only gotten a couple of episodes in so far but I definitely plan to finish the whole series soon.

What It's About: "A teenage girl from Mystic Falls is torn between two vampire brothers, who are quite the opposite."

That's all I managed to watch in the month of March. Please no TVD spoilers, I've managed to avoid them quite well so far. What have you been watching recently?

Sophie :)

Bullet Point Reviews | The Forgotten Few

Over the past few years I have been blogging, there have been several books that I just never got around to reviewing. I make notes for reviews immediately after finishing a book but I have never been very good at writing and posting reviews shortly after reading the book (although I am getting better at that this year). This means that there are several books from the past few years that I have review notes for but have never actually reviewed. I didn't want to just not review those books so I decided, rather than trying to remember details about books I read up to two years ago to write a full review, I would just share with you the notes I made. So here we have the first of my bullet point reviews.

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
Published On: April 14, 2011
Published By: Plume
Genre: Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 323
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought
Rating: ★★★★
Amazon | Goodreads

- Adorable, funny story.
- I loved how it was written and the email format.
- I have previously been disappointed by popular authors' first books but this was great and hard to believe it was her first.
- It was so much more than I expected, particularly the family and friends aspect.
- I worried about connecting with Beth and Jennifer's characters if we were only getting to know them through their emails but I had no problems and ended up loving them. They are very witty, fun characters.
- I also loved Lincoln, he was quirky, adorable and unintentionally funny.



Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Series: Vampire Academy #1
Published On: January 2, 2007
Published By: Razorbill
Genre: Paranormal
Pages: 332
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought
Rating: ★★★
Amazon | Goodreads

- This was just an OK book for me.
- I don't really understand the hype around it but I do see potential and I have heard the series gets better as it goes on.
- I liked the different types of vampire, the magic and the history.
- I liked the friendship between Rose & Lissa, although it was a bit intense at times.
- I really liked the romance and the lack of instalove.
- There's nothing terribly wrong with this book, I just didn't find anything special about it.
- I will continue with this series at some point.


Where She Went by Gayle Forman
Series: If I Stay #2
Published On: April 5, 2011
Published By: Dutton
Genre: Contemporary
Pages: 264
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought
Rating: ★★★★★
Amazon | Goodreads

- Love, love, love.
- I loved Adam, even though I didn't in If I Stay.
- I loved the relationship, again even though I didn't previously.
- I really connected with the characters and was rooting for them throughout.
- I really felt for Adam, even though he was a bit of a jerk.
- I just loved everything about it.


Open Road Summer by Emery Lord
Published On: April 15, 2014
Published By: Walker Children's
Genre: Contemporary
Pages: 352
Format: Audiobook
Source: Audible
Narrated By: Rebecca Gibel
Rating: ★★★★
Amazon | Goodreads

- This is the perfect summer read.
- It's a great story of friendship.
- The whole book just reminded me of Taylor Swift. It did seem like Lilah's character was loosely based on her.
- I really loved all the characters, especially Reagan.
- I loved the relationships but the best part about them for me was that they were never more important than the friendships.


I know these reviews are not the most helpful but I wanted to share some of my thoughts on these books. If you want to know any more of my thoughts on a particular book, just let me know.

Sophie :)

Top Ten Tuesday | Top Ten Most Unique Books I've Read

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke And The Bookish. Lists galore, I can think of nothing better!

This week's theme is top ten most unique books you've read. I decided to split my list this week and do top five most unique books I've read as well as top five most unique sounding books on my TBR.

Top Five Most Unique Books I've Read:

1. A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall - Exactly as the title suggests, this book different to anything I have read before. It is a love story told from multiple different perspectives, including a squirrel and a bench but not the two main characters. I love it!

2. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon - This book I didn't love so much but I did love the format of the book. Almost every page is different and there are illustrations, it just added so much to the book. Unfortunately, I didn't love the story itself.

3. Where Rainbows End (Love, Rosie) by Cecelia Ahern - I love this book so much of course I had to mention it. This book is written entirely in letters, emails, texts, IM conversations, newspaper articles, and more things that I'm probably forgetting. It was such a unique way to tell Alex and Rosie's story.

4. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak - It's narrated by death. I don't think there's much more to say on the matter.

5. UnWind by Neal Shusterman - This is just such a unique idea. It's organ donation to the most extreme. The basic premise is that abortion is illegal but when a child is between the ages of 13-18 the parents can decide to have them unwound, meaning all of their organs are transplanted into others. It's unlike anything else I have read.

Top Five Most Unique Sounding Books On My TBR:

1. Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma - From what I hear this is an incest love story. That definitely sounds like a unique storyline to me.

2. Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy - The whole revenge bucket list plot isn't all that unique, but finding out your not actually dying after carrying it out definitely is. 

3. You by Caroline Kepnes - I believe this is written in second person from the perspective of a stalker, which is not something I have ever read before.

4. Cinder by Marissa Meyer - Fairytale retellings aren't all that unique but I haven't heard of any other fairytale retellings involving cyborgs.

5. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff - This is another book that is written in a really unique format. 

What unique books should I add to my TBR? I particularly love books written in a unique format.

Sophie :)