A bookish Christmas

First of all, a belated MERRY CHRISTMAS. I hope you've had a wonderful one. I certainly had, and it's been a really bookish one, too, 'cause I got a lot of books: 

I'm so excited to read them all, and most of them have been on my TBR list forever. I hardly know where to start. But I can promise you a lot of reviews in the near future. Oh well, as soon as I'm able to put them down, that is.

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Add to Goodreads

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion...she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit--more sparkly, more fun, more wild--the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood. When Cricket--a gifted inventor--steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

My thoughts 

After reading Anna and the French Kiss I had to read the companion novel, Lola and the Boy Next Door, because I loved Perkins' writing in Anna. Actually, I loved everything about Anna. Anyway, I was very excited to read Lola, but as a companion novel I couldn't help compairing it to Anna at times, and for that I was a teeny bit disappointed. I think it lacked the warm feeling that Anna always left me with, and then I just didn't like Lola as a character as much as Anna. But that doesn't mean I didn't like Lola, because I really did. It was a fun and sweet read, and I'll definitely be rereading it in the future. 

It all begins with Lola being with her boyfriend, Max, who I couldn't decide if I liked or not. Well, right until I met Cricket, whom I very much preferred. He was just a very sweet guy. And the best part was, that he felt real, because he acted like every normal guy, you know, he didn't always say or do the right things. Anyway, Cricket and his family move back in the neighbor house, and Lola is left as confused as ever while all her long buried feelings for Cricket slowly come to life again. I liked this inner struggle she has, and how she constantly tries to find out what she wants, and who she really is. 

I really liked Lola, though she was certainly a different character with all her constant costume changes and all her colour. At first I didn't quite understand it, but then I came to like her passion for clothes. I like when a character knows what she wants to do and go for it, maybe because I never know what I want to do. But Lola dressed up all the time and she never cared what other thought.
Cricket was.. very much Cricket (if that makes any sense). He was this geeky boy who was a little awkward, and a whole lot of sweet. I kind of find it hard to discribe him properly, so I'll just think I'll leave it to you to get to know him yourself. Though I can say I wish he was my neighbor.     

I very much liked all the side characters. They all had a part in the story, and they all contributed to the story in their own way. I espacially liked Lola's dads, they were both funny and very likable as parents - and I liked that for once the parents actually play a part in the story about a teenager.
Another reason why I love Perkins' books is how she makes all her characters unique, they all have things that makes them them. From what they like, what they say and do, and even these little things as small habits. And she doesn't just tell they this characteristic, she shows it, and they keep them through out the book. I really appreciate these little details. 

One of the things I had looked forward to upon reading this book, was a tiny glimpse of Anna and St. Clair. And I got that, actually they were present much more than I had expected. And I absolutely loved that. They are some of my favourite fictional couples, so it was nice seeing them together, and they were, like, always together.

Overall, besides missing that warm and fluffy feel that I had hoped for after reading Anna I really liked Lola and the Boy Next Door. I'll definitely recommend it, both if you've read Anna but also just as a contemporary, though you might want to read Anna and the French Kiss first. 

Now I'll just have to wait for May to read the last one, Isla and the Happily Ever After, which features Isla and Josh's story. Eeep!

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Waiting on Wednesday (9)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week I'm waiting for:

Crash by Lisa McMann
Release date: January 8.

If what you see is what you get, Jules is in serious trouble. The suspenseful first of four books from the New York Times bestselling author of the Wake trilogy.

Jules lives with her family above their restaurant, which means she smells like pizza most of the time and drives their double-meatball-shaped food truck to school. It’s not a recipe for popularity, but she can handle that.

What she can’t handle is the recurring vision that haunts her. Over and over, Jules sees a careening truck hit a building and explode...and nine body bags in the snow.

The vision is everywhere—on billboards, television screens, windows—and she’s the only one who sees it. And the more she sees it, the more she sees. The vision is giving her clues, and soon Jules knows what she has to do. Because now she can see the face in one of the body bags, and it’s someone she knows. Someone she has been in love with for as long as she can remember.

In this riveting start to a gripping series from New York Times bestselling author Lisa McMann, Jules has to act—and act fast—to keep her vision from becoming reality.


I onlys just saw this book recently, but I think it sounds awesome, so I'm really looking forward to reading it! I haven't yet read anything by the author, though I've seen her Wake trilogy around. Perhaps I should read that too, if I like this one. Anyway, I'm excited about this book, and I really like the cover.


What are you waiting for this week? Leave a link below and let me know :)

Top Ten Books I Read In 2012

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week topic is: Top Ten Books I Read In 2012. 

1. Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout: When I picked this one up I didn't expect that much, though it had gotten some really good reviews. I certainly wasn't expecting to find my new favourite book, but that is exactly what Obsidian has become. 

2. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins: This is just the cutest book ever! And I love that it makes me all warm and fluffy inside. 

3. The Covenant series by Jennifer L. Armentrout: I can't pick a favourite in this series, I just love them all.

4. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare: I absolutely loved this book and the world that Clare has created.

5. Unravelling by Elizabeth Norris: This was one of the surprises this year. I didn't know what to expect when I started reading it, but I was quickly caught up in the story and it was amazing. 

6. Persuasion by Jane Austen: I can't believe I haven't read this before this year. It was so very good, and I actually think it's my favourite Austen book. 

7. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness: It's a bit long and descriptive at times, but I don't care, because I love the story and the characters. 

8. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: I'd been hesitant to read this, mostly because I'm not much into dystopias. But I'm so glad that I finally picked it up, and that I had the foresight to buy the next two at the same time.  

9. Mastiff by Tamora Pierce: I've always loved Pierce's books. And I really liked the Beka Cooper series, though I was a teeny bit disappointed in the second in the series, Bloodhound. But I had to read this last part, and I'm soo glad I did, 'cause I was blown away by this book. I absolutely loved it, and I think it has become my favourite of all her books.

10. I've got your number by Sophie Kinsella: Kinsella's books always make me laugh, and this was no different. I think this is my favourite of her books. 


What is your top ten books you've read this year? Leave a link below and let me know :)

Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Add to Goodreads

No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it.

My thoughts 

This book is absolutely and freaking amazing. No one is like Daemon Black. That is so true. And no other series is like the Lux series. I've been waiting for Opal in like forever. Okay, maybe just a few months, but it felt like forever with the ending in Onyx. So, obviously, I was very excited when I received this one in my mailbox yesterday. I did a little happy dance, ogled at the cover a bit and then started reading. I didn't stop until I reached the last page.

Opal start where Onyx ended. Dawson has come home and is slowly starting to readjust to his old life, though he'll never be the same. Just like he'll never forget Beth, and since she is still with the DOD, he's determinded to free her. Meanwhile everyone is still grieving the loss of Adam, and especially Dee is heartbroken. She is so different from the first two books, that I was kind of shocked at times. And I really missed the old Dee. 

Katy is still trying to come to terms with those decisions she made that resulted in the fatal ending of Onyx. I really felt sorry for her. She blamed herself for everything, but while she did made some bad decisions in wasn't all her fault. But Daemon is there for her, and he understood. I think we really get too see his sweet and loveable side in Opal, though his jerkface and attitude is never long gone. But he wouldn't be Daemon without that, would he now?

Katy and Daemon are finally a couple, and I loved seeing them together like that. Actually there was a bit more romance in this book, and did I like that? No, I loved it! Because they are perfect for each other. But they are Katy and Daemon, so of course they still argue. A lot. But that's exactly what I love about them, because they have this incredible chemistry. 

Both Katy and Daemon has changed a lot since Obsidian and I liked that because they have been through a lot and that had to change them. Katy had to face that she had turned from a normal book nerd to a kickass hybrid who had to do things she would never ever had dreamed about before, both good and bad. I liked this inner fight she had, and that she didn't just accept things and were fine about it. And I liked that she was still stubborn Katy who stood her ground and didn't let Daemon push her around.

I had no idea what this book had in store for Katy and Daemon, and I was actually surprised quite a bit of the time. But it gave me everything I'd hoped for and more.

Opal ended on a major cliffhanger, so prepare yourself. It's even worse than Deity (and that was a mean one), but at least Elixir was there to lessen my endless frustration (though I still crave Apollyon). BUT THIS?! Gahhh.. I could kill for Origin right now. Okay, maybe not. Unless it's Blake. Nah, scratch it - I would do that for free! Mwahaha. Anyway, I like how JLA can leave a book on a cliffhanger, but in a way that don't make you go completely nuts. So I do kind of think it's the perfect ending.   

I loved Opal and don't even ask if I would recommend it. Of course I will. But I'll recommend anything by JLA, she's just the best. This book certainly proves that.

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Waiting on Wednesday (8)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting for:

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

Publication date: April 2. 

If fate sent you an email, would you answer?

When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds. 

Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs? 

This books sounds soo cute! And I really liked Jennifer E. Smith's book The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight so I can't wait to read this one. 

What are you waiting for this week? Leave a link below and let me know :)

Top Ten Favorite New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2012

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week topic is: Top Ten Favorite New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2012.

1. Jennifer L. Armentrout: JLA has definitely become one of my all time favourite authors. I love all her books, and her upcoming books are my most anticipated books. I love her writing, her characters, her stories. Everything. And I've kind of been obsessing about her ever since I read Obsidian, which was the first book I read by her. And that has remained my favourite book.  

2. Stephanie Perkins: After reading Anna and the French kiss Ms. Perkins easily entered my favourite authors list. I'm so glad I discovered her this year, though I still can't believe I hadn't done it earlier. Anyway, I loved Anna and how Perkins made the story come alive and the characters seem so real. But what I loved most was how insanely giddy this book made me - it made me smile all the time, even when I wasn't reading it. I can't wait to read her companion novel, Lola and the Boy Next Door, and any other of her books to come. 

3. Elizabeth Norris: I was very impressed by Norris and her debut novel Unravelling. Her writing is amazing, and I almost couldn't believe that she has only written one book! And she is one of the few authors who has accomplished to really surprise me with the plot in her book. I was guessing and second guessing all the way through the book, and when everything was revealed I was like: whoaa! I can't wait to read the sequel, Unbreakable.

4. Deborah Harkness: I really liked Harkness' take on vampires and witches in The All Souls trilogy, it was new and different, and very interesting. Also, Harkness has a way of discribing that made it easy to imagine everthing. Like you were watching a movie instead of reading a book. I'm eagerly awaiting her last book in the trilogy. 


Well, that's it. Huh. I would have expected more authors on the list. I guess I haven't read that many book by new-to-me authors.

Who are your new favourite authors? Leave a link below and let me know.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Add to Goodreads

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home. As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

My thoughts 

I can't believe I've waited this long to read Anna and the French kiss. This book is absolutely amazing! And I think I'm in love with it - and of course Étienne St. Clair. Sigh. 

This book made me soo happy and giddy while I was reading it, and when I wasn't reading it made me giddy just thinking about it and know I was going to continue soon. I actually smile just thinking about. It must be love! 

I loved Perkins' writing, she made everything come alive, and she made the characters seem real. And I liked that each character had their own place in the story, they weren't just there, you know, to fill out the story. Another important character in this story (okay so it's not technically a character, but it kind of feels like that) is Paris. I think Perkins did a wonderful job discribing the city, so you could almost picture yourself there. Ah, it definitely made me want to go to Paris again.

I loved Anna a lot, she was a joy to read about and I liked seeing the story through her eyes. She had a wonderful voice. I liked how she freaked out about things like "what does this mean?", "does that mean..?" and "what do I do now?". It was so hilarious. And don't we all do that at times? I do think she, unintentionally, was a bit mean sometimes, but I liked that she acknowledged that - that she regretted it, and tried to make up for it. She has easily become one of my favourite protags.

I LOVED St. Clair! He was soo sweet. And, and... I've no words, and I actually think you have to experience him yourself. Though I can say, I liked that he wasn't perfect, and that he made some mistakes along the way, but I think that made him seem more real. He and Anna had a fantastic chemistry, and I liked how everything felt so natural with them. That their friendship was so genuine.  

This is certainly one of the best books I've read this year. It made me happy, it made me swoon and I loved it all the way through. If you haven't read this yet, I recommend you read it immediately, if you in any way like contemporaries!

I have to read the companion novel Lola and the Boy Next Door ASAP!

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ 

Waiting on Wednesday (7)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting for:

The Collector by Victoria Scott. 
Publication date: Apirl 2.

He makes good girls...bad. 

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence has made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple, weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal opportunity collector and doesn’t want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within 10 days.

Dante doesn’t know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky, Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect—he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector, and uncover emotions deeply buried.

I  found this book recently and when I had read the blurb, I instantly added it to my TBR list. It sounds really good, and I can't wait to meet this Dante Walker. 

What are you waiting for this week? Leave a link below, and I'll be sure to check :)

Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward

Add to Goodreads

The third book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.
A former blood slave, the vampire Zsadist still bears the scars from a past filled with suffering and humiliation. Renowned for his unquenchable fury and sinister deeds, he is a savage feared by humans and vampires alike. Anger is his only companion, and terror is his only passion—until he rescues a beautiful aristocrat from the evil Lessening Society.

Bella is instantly entranced by the seething power Zsadist possesses. But even as their desire for one another begins to overtake them both, Zsadist’s thirst for vengeance against Bella’s tormentors drives him to the brink of madness. Now, Bella must help her lover overcome the wounds of his tortured past, and find a future with her…

My thoughts 

This is by far my favourite book in the series. I absolutely loved Zsadist's story. When we met him in Dark Lover I was wary about him, and he didn't come off as very appealing. But when I read about him in Lover Eternal I was intrigued, and wondered what story lay behind that attitude. Therefore, I was very excited to read Lover Awakened, and I was not disappointed. Zsadist's story was.. whew, really something. He was truly a tortured soul. Broken. I felt for him (which he probably wouldn't like), both when he was all tough and pushing everybody away, and when he was all open and raw. What he'd been through.. I definitely made me understand him much better, made me understand why he was the way he was now, and that's saying something from how he appeared in Dark Lover. 

There were a few times along the story when I couldn't see how he would possibly get a HEA, how he could ever find himself and see his own worth. He had a long way to go, but Bella was there for him all the time, she helped him through, though it wasn't very easy for her. Bella was a very strong character. She kept pushing when everyone else would have run away screaming. She knew what she wanted, and wasn't afraid to want it, either. I really admired her for it. 

This was a very emotional book, and I went through a lot of emotions during this read. I got teary-eyed, I was shocked, horrified, exicted, laughing and swooning. I hadn't expected that last one, I mean it's Zsadist, not really swooning material. But I'm happy to say that I was so wrong. 

There was, however, one thing about this book that I didn't particularly liked, or rather which I don't like about Ward's writing style, and that is how she focuses a lot on the other characters in the story. I liked to know some of them better, but I just think it was a bit too much, they took too much room from the central story. Especially the parts with the lessers - I have to admit I actually skipped over most of it, except from one part near the end. Anyway, I wish there'd been more focus on Zsadist and Bella's story and that they had had more time together.

Overall, I loved this book. It's definitely a keeper, and it's already got a spot on my favourite shelf. If you've read the first two in the series, I'd certainly recommend you read this. If you haven't read the series, well, then I'd recommend you read it. 

“I was dead until you found me, though I breathed. I was sightless, though I could see. And then you came...and I was awakened.”

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆