Scary Reads for October

1. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by: Ransom Riggs

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

2. The Graveyard Book by: Neil Gaiman

After the grisly murder of his entire family, a toddler wanders into a graveyard where the ghosts and other supernatural residents agree to raise him as one of their own.

Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead. There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod's family . . . 

Beloved master storyteller Neil Gaiman returns with a luminous new novel for the audience that embraced his New York Times bestselling modern classic Coraline. Magical, terrifying, and filled with breathtaking adventures, The Graveyard Book is sure to enthrall readers of all ages.

3. Dead of Night by: Jonathan Maberry

A prison doctor injects a condemned serial killer with a formula designed to keep his consciousness awake while his body rots in the grave.  But all drugs have unforeseen side-effects.  Before he could be buried, the killer wakes up.  Hungry.  Infected.  Contagious.  This is the way the world ends.  Not with a bang…but a bite.

4. Asylum by: Madeleine Roux

For sixteen-year-old Dan Crawford, New Hampshire College Prep is more than a summer program—it's a lifeline. An outcast at his high school, Dan is excited to finally make some friends in his last summer before college. But when he arrives at the program, Dan learns that his dorm for the summer used to be a sanatorium, more commonly known as an asylum. And not just any asylum—a last resort for the criminally insane.

As Dan and his new friends, Abby and Jordan, explore the hidden recesses of their creepy summer home, they soon discover it's no coincidence that the three of them ended up here. Because the asylum holds the key to a terrifying past. And there are some secrets that refuse to stay buried.

Featuring found photos of unsettling history and real abandoned asylums and filled with chilling mystery and page-turning suspense, Madeleine Roux's teen debut, Asylum, is a horror story that treads the line between genius and insanity.

5. Amity by: Micol Ostow

When Connor's family moves to Amity, a secluded house on the peaceful banks of New England's Concord River, his nights are plagued with gore-filled dreams of demons. destruction, and revenge. Dreams he kind of likes. Dreams he could make real, with Amity's help.

Ten years later, Gwen's family moves to Amity for a fresh start. Instead, she's haunted by lurid visions, disturbing voices, and questions about her own sanity. But with her history, who would ever believe her? And what could be done if they did?

Because Amity isn't just a house. She is a living force, bent on manipulating her inhabitants to her twisted will. She will use Connor and Gwen to bring about a violent end as she's done before. As she'll do again. And again. And again.

Inspired by a true-crime story, Amity spans generations to weave an overlapping, interconnected tale of terror, insanity. danger, and death.

Book Covers: Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas

Book Review: The Espressologist by Kristina Springer

Synopsis:

What’s your drink of choice? Is it a small pumpkin spice latte? Then you’re lots of fun and a bit sassy. Or a medium americano? You prefer simplicity in life. Or perhaps it’s a small decaf soy sugar-free hazelnut caffe latte? Some might call you a yuppie. Seventeen-year-old barista Jane Turner has this theory that you can tell a lot about a person by their regular coffee drink. She scribbles it all down in a notebook and calls it Espressology. So it’s not a totally crazy idea when Jane starts hooking up some of her friends based on their coffee orders. Like her best friend, Em, a medium hot chocolate, and Cam, a toffee nut latte. But when her boss, Derek, gets wind of Jane’s Espressology, he makes it an in-store holiday promotion, promising customers their perfect matches for the price of their favorite coffee. Things are going better than Derek could ever have hoped, so why is Jane so freaked out? Does it have anything to do with Em dating Cam? She’s the one who set them up! She should be happy for them, right?


     I was really excited to jump into this book, it sounded really cute, and it was a short read (less than 200 pages). But, this book really left me disappointed. 

     The idea behind this book was very unique, but it also seemed very unrealistic. I don't understand how someone could possibly match you with someone else, based on the type of drink you order. Personally, I order a variety of different drinks, which means that I could have been paired or matched with multiple different people. I understand that this is fiction writing, but I wasn't very keen on the idea of 'Espressology'. I do however, think the idea was very unique and different. I applaud Kristina Springer for her creativity. 

     I also found this book very predictable, as most contemporary books are. I knew all along, how the book was going to end. There were a few unpredictable events that occurred, but for the most part, I knew what was going to happen next.

     As for the characters, I enjoyed the main character Jane. She was an awkward kind of girl, but throughout the story her humorous side showed. I found myself laughing at some on the things she said, and overall thought she had an amazing personality. The only thing is, I didn't get a clear visual of what Jane looks like! Throughout the book, I tried imagining what she could look like, and the image kept changing. 

     I also found that the book seemed to be written for a younger audience. Although there is some cuss words thrown into the writing, I couldn't help but feel that this could be something a middle school child could be reading. 

     Overall, I didn't really enjoy this one, but that doesn't mean others won't! I still recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick contemporary read. 

Rating: 2/5

About the Author: 

Kristina Springer is the author of THE ESPRESSOLOGIST, MY FAKE BOYFRIEND IS BETTER THAN YOURS, JUST YOUR AVERAGE PRINCESS, and THE PAPARAZZI PROJECT. She has a Masters in Writing from DePaul University and she resides in a suburb of Chicago with her husband and children.

   

Young Adult Novels of 2015

     I thought I would make a list of my most highly anticipated books of 2015! What book are you most excited for? Leave a comment below!

Red Queen (Red Queen Trilogy #1) by Victoria Aveyard

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the center of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

Release Date: February 10th 2015

The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver

Ella and Maddy Lawton are identical twins. Ella has spent her high school years living in popular Maddy's shadows, but she has never been envious of Maddy. In fact, she's chosen the quiet, safe confines of her sketchbook over the constant battle for attention that has defined Maddy's world.

When—after a heated argument—Maddy and Ella get into a tragic accident that leaves her sister dead, Ella wakes up in the hospital surrounded by loved ones who believe she is Maddy. Feeling responsible for Maddy's death and everyone's grief, Ella makes a split-second decision to pretend to be Maddy. Soon, Ella realizes that Maddy's life was full of secrets. Caught in a web of lies, Ella is faced with two options—confess her deception or live her sister's life.

Release Date: April 28th 2015

The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Throne

Kate Quinn’s mom died last year, leaving Kate parentless and reeling. So when the unexpected shows up in her living room, Kate must confront another reality she never thought possible—or thought of at all. Kate does have a father. He’s a powerful politician. And he’s running for U.S. President. Suddenly, Kate’s moving in with a family she never knew she had, joining a campaign in support of a man she hardly knows, and falling for a rebellious boy who may not have the purest motives. This is Kate’s new life. But who is Kate? When what she truly believes flies in the face of the campaign’s talking points, she must decide. Does she turn to the family she barely knows, the boy she knows but doesn’t necessarily trust, or face a third, even scarier option?

Set against a backdrop of politics, family, and first love, this is a story of personal responsibility, complicated romance, and trying to discover who you are even as everyone tells you who you should be.

Release Date: March 17th 2015

The Night We Said Yes by Lauren Gibaldi

Before Matt, Ella had a plan. Get over a no-good ex-boyfriend. Graduate from high school without any more distractions. Move away from Orlando, Florida, where she’s lived her entire life. 

But Matt—the cute, shy, bespectacled bass player who just moved to town—was never part of that plan.

And neither was attending a party that was crashed by the cops just minutes after they arrived. Or spending an entire night saying “yes” to every crazy, fun thing they could think of.

Then Matt abruptly left town, and he broke not only Ella’s heart but those of their best friends, too. So when he shows up a year later with a plan of his own—to relive the night that brought them together—Ella isn’t sure whether Matt’s worth a second chance. Or if re-creating the past can help them create a different future. 

In alternating then and now chapters, debut author Lauren Gibaldi crafts a charming, romantic story of first loves, lifelong friendships, uncovered secrets, and, ultimately, finding out how to be brave.

Release Date: June 16th 2015

Book Review: The Appetites of Girls by Pamela Moses

Synopsis:

     Self-doubting Ruth is coddled by her immigrant mother, who uses food to soothe and control. Defiant Francesca believes her heavy frame shames her Park Avenue society mother and, to provoke her, consumes everything in sight. Lonely Opal longs to be included in her glamorous mother’s dinner dates—until a disturbing encounter forever changes her desires. Finally, Setsu, a promising violinist, staves off conflict with her jealous brother by allowing him to take the choicest morsels from her plate—and from her future. College brings the four young women together as suitemates, where their stories and appetites collide. Here they make a pact to maintain their friendships into adulthood, but each must first find strength and her own way in the world. 

     I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway kindly held by Penguin Canada and once it arrived, I immediately starting reading it. This book is different from most others that I read as it is an Adult book, but I believe that any girl of any age could equally enjoy this book as mush as I did. It's a story of growing and learning, and to learn to love and accept the person you are. 

     The story follows four girls (Ruth, Opal, Setsu, and Francesca) who are very different from each other, but face similar struggles. At the beginning of the book, each character gives a background about themselves before entering college. I could relate in a lot of different ways to each of these characters stories, as I'm sure most girls could. As they begin to progress into their time in college, these four girls become strong women. They begin to face even greater challenges than before, but help and empower each other. After learning about their lives in college, the story goes on to tell us about their lives after college. This is where you begin to see each girl stand up for themselves, start loving the person they are, and chase their dreams. They all grow as an individual and, become what they've always wanted to be. Throughout all their struggles and challenges, their friendship remains strong, even after all the time that has passed since their college years. 

     This book was such an emotional roller coaster. At times I thought I was going to sob like a newborn, and other times I literally had to put the book down because I was so frustrated. I find though, Setsu's story was the most emotional for me. Every time the story was told from her point of view, I had to mentally prepare myself. I won't go into much detail, as I could spoil the book, but the things she went through and the challenges she faced were unbelievable. But, every character had different struggles. They all went through ups and downs as we all do in life.

     I think every girl should read this book, we could all learn valuable life lessons from it. This book not only taught me to be more self-accepting, but also showed me that I was not alone in my struggles in life. It informed me that everyone has troubles at one point in their lives, and that often we face similar challenges. I believe this book has changed me, I now understand that I must learn to love myself and not worry about what others think. I have to put myself first. 

     This book does talk a lot about self confidence and weight problems, something I know most girls have trouble cooping with. You learn that the number on the scale doesn't represent your value in this world. This book made me realize I need to stop worrying about how I look, that I don't need to change for anyone. Francesca is portrayed as a larger woman in the book, and her confidence is so inspiring. A fictional character has now become my role model. Francesca throughout the story remains strong and confident with her life and appearance, and demonstrates that you don't need a man or woman to make you feel beautiful. 

     Overall this was an excellent book that has taught me a lot of valuable life lessons. I recommend this book to all girls of any age, I believe any girl could enjoy this story and its amazing characters.

Rating: 4/5

About the Author:

     Pamela Moses grew up in New Jersey. She attended Brown University and received a master's in English from Georgetown. After graduating, she moved to Manhattan to teach English at a girls' school. She now lives outside of New York City with her husband and two children. THE APPETITES OF GIRLS is her first novel.

Book Review: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Synopsis:

A SACRED OATH

A FALLEN ANGEL

A FORBIDDEN LOVE

Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.

So, after purchasing this book at chapters, I then found out that not a lot of people liked it. They said it was boring and dull and the characters weren't interesting. So when I did finally pick up this book, I wasn't sure what to expect. But, in my opinion, these people complaining were all wrong. To my surprise, I actually LOVED this book.

I didn't find it boring or dull at all! I loved the whole story because it was an adventure. I didn't know what was going to happen. Big and dramatic things were constantly happening and it leaves you trying to fly through the book to come to an explanation. Luckily, you do get answers, but not as many as you want. You’re left with questions that are unanswered, and leave you wondering. This makes me super excited to pick up the next book in the series!

I loved Nora, she’s a strong person and doesn't go down without a fight. I especially loved her because she wasn't your typical character. She was just your average teenage girl trying to survive high school, which I’m sure a lot of us could relate to. I also loved how Nora doesn't let anyone get to her. She’s a headstrong girl and is very determined to make her point. I find books need more strong female characters like Nora.

Patch is perfect. He was the perfect bad boy. When your first introduced to him, you make the wrong judgment, I know I did. At first you think of him as your typical, popular teenage boy, arrogant, cocky, and rude. But, as you continue reading, you can’t help but to fall in love with him. He’s sexy and mysterious, what girl doesn't love that? Also you get to know a different side of Patch, you see his kind and caring side begin to come out as the story progresses. He’s definitely a character you will love.

My only complaint about this book is, like a lot of other young adult books, it was very predictable. I like a story that keeps you on the edge and second guessing what is going to happen. This book did have a lot of exciting moments, but most of the time, the conclusion was predictable.

Overall I did really enjoy this book. I wasn't sure how I would like the whole angel idea, but it turned out great and I love it! I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read paranormal romance or just wants a quick young adult read.

Rating: 4/5

About the Author:

Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush saga, including Hush, Hush;Crescendo; Silence; and Finale all debuted as New York Times best-sellers. She graduated with a degree in health, which she promptly abandoned for storytelling. When not writing, she's most likely running, prowling sales racks for shoes, or traveling. She lives in Colorado with her family.

Book Questions

1: What is your favorite book?
It's a three-way tie between 'Divergent' by Veronica Roth, 'Graceling' by Kristin Cashore, and 'Between' by Jessica Warman

2: What was the last book you read?
The last book I read was 'The Iron King' by Julie Kagawa

3: What is the worst book you've ever read?
I'd have to say 'Never Let You Go' by Emma Carlson Berne, really didn't enjoy that one.

4: Top 3 book characters.
Katsa from 'Graceling'
Gwyneth from 'Ruby Red'
Celaena from 'Throne of Glass'

5: What is your favorite genre?
Young Adult dystopia and fantasy 

6: Book you cried the hardest reading?
Obviously 'The Fault in Our Stars', I don't think it's possible to read it without crying.

7: Book you laughed the hardest reading?
I laughed a lot reading Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier, Gwyneth is hilarious!

8: Which book character(s) do you most relate to?
I really relate to Ruth from 'The Appetites of Girls' which I'm currently reading. She could probably be my twin, there's a lot of things that we have in common which is such an amazing thing because it makes this book so much more enjoyable!  

9: Favorite author(s)?
Its a battle between Sarah J. Maas and Stephanie Perkins, amazing authors, their books are pure perfection.

10: Do you judge books by their covers?
Unfortunately most of the time I do, but I try my best to avoid it. 

11: What is your favorite quote from a book?
I don't think I have one, I can't think of any that really stick out for me.

12: Which book do you recommend to friends and family most?
'Divergent', it just seems like a book that anyone could enjoy.

13: Which book is so special to you that you don't share it with others?
Defiantly 'Between', that's the book that started my crazy reading habits and it will always have a special place in my heart,

14: Do you have any signed books?
I do! Often when I get books for review, their signed!

15: Have you met any authors?
No I haven't, there really isn't any book events that happen near me unfortunately:(
   
16: Buy books new, used, or go to the library?
Either one works! But I like having my own copy of a book; I don't really go to the library as much as I use to.

17: Where is your favorite place to read?
In my bed, I love reading in comfort!

18: Prefer books set in the past or the future?
I have a tendency to read futuristic books, but it doesn't really matter to me.

19: Do you ever hope to publish your own book?
ALL THE TIME! I've tried multiple times to write my own story and always fail. I never get overly committed to my writing and when I do, I never have time! I have so many good book ideas, I just can't write them the way I imagine them to be! I don't have any confidence in my writing skills!

20: Prefer stand alone or series?
It really depends, I enjoy both!
21: Do you mark/highlight/dog ear your books or keep them in perfect condition?
NEVER! I take such good care of my books. I may make notes in ARCs but that would be hard enough  for me to do!

22: Hardbacks or paperbacks?
That's a hard one, I like the feeling of both! Hardbacks I think look nicer, but paperbacks are easier to read I find.

23: Do you watch any booktubers?
I spend most of my days on Booktube, I watch a lot of different booktubers!

24: Do you like twist endings?
Yes! I hate when books are so predictable, a twist always makes a book more interesting.

25: Do you reread books?
I haven't reread any books before, and I don't know if I will. Maybe if it's a series and I want to reread the previous book before starting the new one.

26: E-readers or physical copies of books?
Physical copies all the way!

27: Do you like to write reviews when you finish a book?
It's what I love to do! That's why I have this blog :)

28: Favorite book cover(s)?
Currently my favourite book cover is 'Jewel' by Amy Ewing! Such a beautiful cover!

29: A book recommendation?
You guys should defiantly check out 'The Appetites of Girls' by Pamela Moses. I am currently reading this and so far, I love it!