This has been a very slow summer of reading. A lot slower and unproductive than I would have hoped. Nevertheless, here are the reviews and summaries of the books I've read recently.
WHAT'S A GIRL GOTTA DO? (SPINSTER SERIES #3) // HOLLY BOURNE
★★☆☆☆
I finally got round to completing the third book in the series after not being able to get into it straight away. Sadly, this book didn't live up to the other two's standards; I don't know whether it was because the final focus of character of Lottie was not one I felt was relatable. The premise of this book was that Lottie wanted to start a feminist revolution by pointing out every patriarchal flaw she comes across while keeping up to date on a YouTube channel. There was, of course, the usual tropes that come along with a youtube video- it, of course, going viral. It did cover topics such as trolling which are important for our generation. However, I felt, apart from the obvious characteristics that put the girls in sixth form college, the overall writing was a little juvenile.
I don't know whether by this last book, I have outgrown the characters and the storyline but this one just didn't appeal to me. I know that there's the final add-on to this series by Holly Bourne "...And A Happy New Year?" which I do want to get round to completing so I definitely have still enjoyed this series and want to see how things are rounded off. Overall, this book (along with the series) carried some great messages but, for me, it was the weakest of the trilogy and may be more suited for a slightly younger audience than myself.
TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE // MITCH ALBOM
★★★★☆
I have reviewed before other Mitch Albom books that are always so beautifully written and resinate with me well but this one I have been trying to read on and off for years and I finally powered through and finished it: I am so glad I did. It was almost as if it was designed to be a little book of life advice disguised as a novel and I love that.
When Mitch returns to see his old professor in the last few months of Morrie's life, they share their last lessons together where both Mitch and you, as the reader, get some great take-home messages that will stick with you. The messages and the feelings I took away from this book were ones I haven't felt from a book in a very long time. If you want a short, powerful, thought-provoking read this is definitely one I'd recommend for you.
S.T.A.G.S // M.A.BENNETT*
★★★☆☆
I hadn't heard of this author before but, when HotKeyBooks sent me through a synopsis, I was intrigued and as soon as it came through my post box, I was reading it. It's set in a medieval school based on old legends surrounding, surprise, a Stag. It's a book of cult-like organisations within the upperclass network at this famously posh school. The main character, Greer, came to the school on a scholarship and spent her time feeling alone until she received an invite to attend a weekend at Henry de Warlencourt's house along with the other prefects known as the "Medievals". She was invited along to a weekend of bloodspots; Huntin' Shootin' Fishin'. However, things aren't as nice as they seem and as the weekend's events unfolds things become a little strange.
While this made a nice change to the usual YA I read, the plot was a little lacking; while saying it's a thriller it wasn't really edge-of-the-seat stuff and their weren't any twists and turns that shocked or surprised me as a reader. Nothing with the plot was left for the reader to decipher before a big reveal- answers were given on a plate. There was also a lot of pop culture references throughout this book; I liked the film references but the simple explanation of Greer liking movies was just that- simple. Also the talk of social media could make this book one that becomes dated very fast.
Having said that, it's still a book I would recommend for fans of E.Lockhart's We Were Liars if you like the mystery element of that book and also fans of her book the disreputable history... as the setting of the book seems fairly similar.
I'm hoping that, with what's left of summer, I will be able to get cracking on reading some more and maybe actually complete my goodreads yearly challenge (here's to hoping)!
What books would you recommend I read next?
Hope you're doing great,
Sarah X
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