After You by Jojo Moyes
"How do you move on after losing the person you loved? How do you build a life worth living?
Louisa Clark is no longer just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. After the transformative six months spent with Will Traynor, she is struggling without him."
As much as I loved the first book, I struggled to get into this one. It literally took me until past halfway to actually get into it and really want to continue reading. It definitely is one of those sequels that isn't really worth reading if you love the first, it slightly ruins the story and characters for you. The new teen character annoyed me so much at some points and although my annoyance had slightly lifted by the end it wasn't by far. Louisa's character deflated since the first book and lost most of her lovely quirky characteristics, however I'm glad she finally managed to move on from Will.
As much as I loved the first book, I struggled to get into this one. It literally took me until past halfway to actually get into it and really want to continue reading. It definitely is one of those sequels that isn't really worth reading if you love the first, it slightly ruins the story and characters for you. The new teen character annoyed me so much at some points and although my annoyance had slightly lifted by the end it wasn't by far. Louisa's character deflated since the first book and lost most of her lovely quirky characteristics, however I'm glad she finally managed to move on from Will.
6/10
Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom
"Parker Grant doesn’t need 20/20 vision to see right through you. That’s why she created the Rules: Don’t treat her any differently just because she’s blind, and never take advantage. There will be no second chances. Just ask Scott Kilpatrick, the boy who broke her heart."
Okay so one really interesting part of reading a book where the protagonist is blind is there are less visual descriptions, your mind doesn't have as much help to imagine the characters and surroundings which makes it so much more fun. There's one point in the book where Parker finds out physical features of her long term friends that she hadn't realised being blind, such as skin colour and physical fitness. It's really interesting that you feel a part of Parker and realise that you've been imagining this character as Caucasian when in actual fact they're not, when in usual books you'd know that from the start. There's loads more parts like that in the book and I totally recommend this book for a different sort of read, the story in general is alright but I found it a tiny bit unresolved. For example (spoiler) Parker takes up running and there's quite a bit in the book about it but then nothing's really said about it towards the end. I wanted to know if she'd compete. Anyways yes read it!
Okay so one really interesting part of reading a book where the protagonist is blind is there are less visual descriptions, your mind doesn't have as much help to imagine the characters and surroundings which makes it so much more fun. There's one point in the book where Parker finds out physical features of her long term friends that she hadn't realised being blind, such as skin colour and physical fitness. It's really interesting that you feel a part of Parker and realise that you've been imagining this character as Caucasian when in actual fact they're not, when in usual books you'd know that from the start. There's loads more parts like that in the book and I totally recommend this book for a different sort of read, the story in general is alright but I found it a tiny bit unresolved. For example (spoiler) Parker takes up running and there's quite a bit in the book about it but then nothing's really said about it towards the end. I wanted to know if she'd compete. Anyways yes read it!
8/10
The Loveliest Chocolate Shop In Paris * by Jenny Colgan
"It's true that Anna Trent is a supervisor in a chocolate factory...but that doesn't necessarily mean she knows how to make chocolate. And when a fateful accident gives her the opportunity to work at Paris's elite chocolatier Le Chapeau Chocolat, Anna expects to be outed as a fraud."
"It's true that Anna Trent is a supervisor in a chocolate factory...but that doesn't necessarily mean she knows how to make chocolate. And when a fateful accident gives her the opportunity to work at Paris's elite chocolatier Le Chapeau Chocolat, Anna expects to be outed as a fraud."
I loved this, I went in knowing only that there was going to be chocolate involved and boy did that happen. I especially wasn't expecting the accident to be what it was, although I admit apart from that a lot of the book was fairly predictable. Doesn't mean I didn't love it less though, I reckon most books that describe in depth about chocolate taste and texture I would love. Plus ya know it happened all in Paris!
8/10
In Progress by Jessica Hische
"This show-all romp through design-world darling Jessica Hische's sketchbook reveals the creative and technical process behind making award-winning hand lettering. See everything, from Hische's rough sketches to her polished finals for major clients such as Wes Anderson, NPR, and Starbucks."
"This show-all romp through design-world darling Jessica Hische's sketchbook reveals the creative and technical process behind making award-winning hand lettering. See everything, from Hische's rough sketches to her polished finals for major clients such as Wes Anderson, NPR, and Starbucks."
This might have been for University purposes but I really wanted to read Jessica's book ever since discovering it existed, it was just getting my hands on it. Not only was this perfect for kick starting my major project work but it's really inspiring just to flick through when you're needing that little push of motivation. If you're interested in anything to do with design, lettering, and typography I totally recommend having a read!
10/10
Game Of Thrones by George R R Martin
"In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes of the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom's protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to."
I've tried time and time again to try reading this book but failed. I love the TV show so much but never could I concentrate on the eBook enough to get further than the first chapter. However a few weeks ago I managed to get my hands on the physical copy and boy did things change! If it weren't for University work I probably wouldn't have put it down. I'm not usually a fan of books that have different characters point of view for every chapter but I think as I already knew the characters from the TV show it was much easier to follow along. As much as any book that's been turned into a TV show or movie it contained so much information that's been removed for screen. It was so much easier to understand some of the story lines and who was related to who in the book than it was on the show. Totally going to read the rest of the series, once I get my hands on the physical copies that is.
9.5/10
I've tried time and time again to try reading this book but failed. I love the TV show so much but never could I concentrate on the eBook enough to get further than the first chapter. However a few weeks ago I managed to get my hands on the physical copy and boy did things change! If it weren't for University work I probably wouldn't have put it down. I'm not usually a fan of books that have different characters point of view for every chapter but I think as I already knew the characters from the TV show it was much easier to follow along. As much as any book that's been turned into a TV show or movie it contained so much information that's been removed for screen. It was so much easier to understand some of the story lines and who was related to who in the book than it was on the show. Totally going to read the rest of the series, once I get my hands on the physical copies that is.
9.5/10
Under Italian Skies * by Nicky Pellegrino
"Stella has life under control - and that's the way she likes it. For twenty-five years, she's been trusted assistant to a legendary fashion designer, but after her boss dies suddenly, she's left with nothing to do apart from clear the studio."
Okay after reading Game of Thrones this was perfect! It was such an easy to read book that I finished it in just over a day. I will admit I guessed the ending from pretty much the first chapter but hey it did have a couple of twists and turns that made me second guess myself a few times. I normally read 'girly books' that have younger protagonists so it was nice and fresh to have an older one, although I admit I forgot she was 40-something at some points. It meant the storyline was a little different to my usual and I really enjoyed the different views. I must have raved about it a little to my Mum as she's now planning on borrowing it as soon as she gets here next week! I didn't realise until looking at her other books that characters from there turn up in this one, I may have to read their stories as soon as I'm done with my current reads.
7/10
"Stella has life under control - and that's the way she likes it. For twenty-five years, she's been trusted assistant to a legendary fashion designer, but after her boss dies suddenly, she's left with nothing to do apart from clear the studio."
Okay after reading Game of Thrones this was perfect! It was such an easy to read book that I finished it in just over a day. I will admit I guessed the ending from pretty much the first chapter but hey it did have a couple of twists and turns that made me second guess myself a few times. I normally read 'girly books' that have younger protagonists so it was nice and fresh to have an older one, although I admit I forgot she was 40-something at some points. It meant the storyline was a little different to my usual and I really enjoyed the different views. I must have raved about it a little to my Mum as she's now planning on borrowing it as soon as she gets here next week! I didn't realise until looking at her other books that characters from there turn up in this one, I may have to read their stories as soon as I'm done with my current reads.
7/10
* These copies were sent to me for reviewing purposes from Hachette NZ, although all opinions are my own.
