The Brushed Off Sexual Assualt in Oblivion by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Hey everyone and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni, and today I want to discuss something pretty troubling in one of my most recent reads. Today, I'm writing about the sexual assault in Oblivion by Jennifer L. Armentrout.

If you are unfamiliar with Oblivion, it is the retelling of Armentrout's Obisdian, but in the male lead's POV, Daemon Black.

When I first started reading this book, I knew that there was going to be aspects of the book I would have problems with. One of these aspects is the toxic masculinity that takes the form of Daemon Black. The toxic masculinity is pervasive. Daemon ogles Kat because he's a guy, and that's just the way it is, right? He shows off for her and purposefully intimidates her and makes her angry just for the fun of it. Because who cares about someone else's emotional well-being, if it makes Daemon happy? There's also the idea that Daemon just can't understand Katy (his love interest, by the way) or his sister, because girls are girls and guys are guys. 

So obviously, I already had issues with Daemon before I read this book (I've read the other books in the series before this one). But I decided to give this a go because

1) it's a quick read 
2) I have forgotten a lot about Obsidian and 
3) I thought it would be fun!

And don't get me wrong, it was entertaining. But more than anything else it was troubling, specifically the scene where Katy is sexually assaulted, and yet it's brushed to the side. 

Let me set the scene for you. Katy goes to homecoming with Simon, who Daemon despises. One reason is that Simon is known for being touchy, but the big reason is because Daemon likes Katy, and yet can't admit this to himself. 

At homecoming, this happens: 

"Simon's hand glided down the front of her dress, causing Kat to jerk back. Her angry expression was lost in a sea of faces and...well, that was it. I was on my feet before I even realized it, moving between dancers, my hands curling into fists."

page 263

So already we see Simon sexually assaulting Kat. Daemon interferes and ends it (yay!) but no one asks Katy is she's okay after she was touched in a sexual manner without consent. All the readers are led to believe is that Simon is gross and Daemon is the hero, and OMG I just ship them SO much EEK! By having Daemon interrupt, Katy's first experience in the book being assaulted is made into this romantic scene. 

And yes, I said first. Because this happens just a few short pages later when everyone at homecoming goes to a field party. Dee, Katy's best friend and Daemon's sister, promised to look after Katy, and yet no one knows where she is. When Daemon arrives, he and Dee split up and decide to look for Katy. Daemon stumbles upon this:

" 'Simon, stop!' Kat's shriek cut through the muted hum of music.

Instinct flared and I shot off like a bullet. A second was too long, but I found her and rage erupted inside me like a violent volcano. The son of a bitch had her pinned against a a tree. His hands were on her. His body. His mouth."

page 270-271

 

So in these couple lines Daemon finds Katy pinned down and being sexually assaulted. Daemon then alien-punches Simon, and gets Katy out of there. Which, yeah, Daemon did the right thing here. Even his inner monologue gained some respect from me.

"It didn't matter that I warned her about him. This wasn't her fault. She didn't ask for it."

page 271-272

 Yay to not blaming the victim!! Thank you!!

BUT then this happens. In Daemon's car, Katy tries to put on her seat belt, but it gets stuck. She's gets frustrated, and so Daemon helps her out. Nice, right? Well, that's what I thought too. Here's the scene.

"Leaning over the center console, I gently pried her icy fingers off the strap and tilted my head as I pulled on it. My jaw grazed her cheek and then my lips, and I liked to think that last part was accidental. But I wasn't sure..... The seat belt was twisted, and I set about straightening it. As I flipped the strap over, the back of my knuckles brushed across her chest...That hadn't been on purpose."

page 274-275

And then after this, there is ~sexual tension~ between Katy and Daemon. Now, I'm not saying that there can't be romantic scenes with them, and Katy probably needs comfort. I'm just a bit bothered how Armentrout uses these two times where Katy was assaulted and spins them into these moments where the reader is just supposed to fall in love with Daemon. Like, if you are going to have sexual assault in your book, why can't you make the scene all about that and how horrific it is, instead of using it as a means to introduce a romantic scene?

But it's not done yet folks!! Oh yeah, there's just one more thing that gets me riled up. After accidentally brushing Katy's chest, Daemon looks at her lips and thinks about how he wants to kiss her. 

"What I wanted was way wrong, way wrong. Kat has almost been assaulted, for Christ's sake."

 page 275

Almost??? ALMOST?! More like she had, twice!! By saying Katy was "almost assaulted," Katy's experience is undermined. What, is only rape sexual assault? Because Katy was sexually touched, without consent, twice. And according to Daemon, that doesn't count as sexual assault. 

How Armentrout handled these scenes upsets me. The scenes right after Katy was assaulted are romantic scenes between Katy and Daemon, which just makes them look like a plot device, and that's horrible. And then, Daemon Black (who is supposed to be the love interest!!!) says she was "almost" assaulted. This completely belittles the assault, and makes it seem like it wasn't  important, and everything is totally fine because Daemon came to the rescue.

THEN, on the way home, Daemon and Katy are stopped by some Arum, who are evil aliens made out of shadows. In this scene, Daemon almost dies and then Katy saves his life. So both of them have had horrible nights. They end up comforting each other, which is actually a really nice scene. But they only talk about the alien attack, not how Katy was attacked prior. By adding this alien attack in, there is already something "more important" than the sexual assault, and it's not mentioned that much afterwards. In my opinion, the sexual assault wasn't taken seriously enough. 

While I enjoyed Obsidian for the most part, these 30 or so pages struck out to me in the worst way possible. Victims and survivors (whichever one is preferred) of sexual assault and their experiences should be taken seriously, no matter what type of assault they experienced. If they were raped, that's horrible. If they were forced to preform sexual acts, that's horrible. If they were touched without consent, that's horrible. The list goes on.

ALL sexual assault is bad. Saying that Katy was "almost" sexually assaulted belittles people's experiences, and sends a bad message to the young teens who might be reading this book. Katy WAS sexually assaulted, and it should have been taken seriously.  *takes deep breath*

I want to take this time to give you some sites if you want to know more about sexual assault or want some hotlines. 

RAINN - Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (for US) This is the largest anti-sexual assault organization in America. 

800.656.HOPE (4673) - If you call this number (in the US) you will be routed to a sexual assault service provider in your area (RAINN)

If you are from a country outside of the US, feel free and add the numbers, cites, etc, to the comments and I will add them into the post!!

I also want to give some appreciation to Amy @ A Magical World of Words. Every Tuesday she is posting about how abuse is being romanticized, and she inspired me to right my own post here. Please check out her content, as she brings up serious and important conversations!!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by!

I'll see you soon with another post!

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

My June TBR!

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! Today I'll be sharing with you the books I plan on reading in June. Now, it is no secret that I suck at TBRs. If you look back at my TBRs and then what I actually read, they differ quite often. Nevertheless, I have a naive hope that I can stick to my TBR this time. 

With school done for me, I have a ton of free time. Today for instance, I've just read, done chores, relaxed, and blogged. With these extra eight hours in my day I'll have time to actually stick to my TBR. Without further ado, here are the books I hope to read this June!

For Sure

1) Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout
So this might be cheating, but I just read Deity on the fourth! Deity is the third book in Armentrout's Covenant series, and it was pretty good. So far it has been my favorite in the series and I'm looking forward to reading the fourth. This series isn't my favorite of Armentrout's, but it is super fun. 

2) Apollyon by Jennifer L. Armentrout 
And....this is the fourth book in the Covenant series! I had to put this on here, because I know for sure that I'll be reading this. I'm determined to finish the series soon, and I might read the fifth and final book this June too. The way that the third book ended had me reaching for the fourth right away. 

3) City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare
After taking a break from the Shadowhunter world for almost a month, I'm ready to jump back in! I recently started reading City of Heavenly Fire and am really enjoying it. I've been spoiled about it a lot, some from my own fruition, but I'm still very excited to see how everything plays out. 
 
4) Windwitch by Susan Dennard
This is yet another fantasy book in a series I plan on reading! I guess I'm on a fantasy kick! While the first three are urban fantasy, this one isn't. Windwitch is the sequel to Truthwitch, which was published last January. I enjoyed Truthwitch, but I didn't love it. I'm listening to the audiobook of Widwitch right now and I'm already enjoying it more! 

5) Sleeper by MacKenzie Cadenhead
Sleeper is a thriller about Sarah, a girl who suffers from a REM Sleep Disorder that causes her to act out her dreams unconsciously. I am around 60 percent done with the book right now, and really enjoying it. I haven't heard any buzz about this, but hopefully some will start to circle around! 

6) Weregirl by C.D. Bell
I seriously need to finish this book. I have been reading this book for almost two months now. It's not that this book isn't good, there's just no push for me to read it and I keep forgetting about it. I'm determined to finish it in June though, because two months is an insanely long time for me to read a book. 

Waiting on Wednesday #3: Till Death by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine! Every week we showcase one upcoming release that we are excited about. This week I chose a upcoming release by one of my go-to authors, Jennifer L. Armentrout! Till Death comes out in late February, and it is a thriller romance. It actually reminds me of The Dead List, which Armentrout published via wattpad for fun. You can find my review of that book here.

Here is Till Death's stats:
Pages: 400
Publsiher: William Morrow
Expected Publication: Feb. 28, 2017

In New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout’s gripping new novel, a young woman comes home to reclaim her life—even as a murderer plots to end it. . .

It’s been ten years since Sasha Keaton left her West Virginia hometown . . . since she escaped the twisted serial killer known as the Groom. Returning to help run her family inn means being whole again, except for one missing piece. The piece that falls into place when Sasha’s threatened—and FBI agent Cole Landis vows to protect her the way he couldn’t a decade ago.

First one woman disappears; then another, and all the while, disturbing calling cards are left for the sole survivor of the Groom’s reign of terror. Cole’s never forgiven himself for not being there when Sasha was taken, but he intends to make up for it now . . . because under the quirky sexiness Cole first fell for is a steely strength that only makes him love Sasha more.

But someone is watching. Waiting. And Sasha’s first mistake could be her last.

Why I'm Waiting

Jennifer L. Armentrout is a go to author of mine. I don't have auto-buy authors, but I don have auto-read authors, and she's one of them. I really enjoyed reading The Dead List, and I'm looking forward to reading another thriller. I don't read too many thrillers, so I am looking forward to pushing my comfort zone! I know I'll be requesting this from my library once it is released! 

What did you pick this week? Are you looking forward to Till Death?

Thanks so much for stopping by and I'll see you soon with another post!

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

BOOK REVIEW | The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: The Problem with Forever
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publiation Date: May 17, 2016
Pages: 474
Source: I bought this at Barnes and Noble!

For some people, silence is a weapon. For Mallory “Mouse” Dodge, it’s a shield. Growing up, she learned that the best way to survive was to say nothing. And even though it’s been four years since her nightmare ended, she’s beginning to worry that the fear that holds her back will last a lifetime.

Now, after years of homeschooling with loving adoptive parents, Mallory must face a new milestone—spending her senior year at public high school. But of all the terrifying and exhilarating scenarios she’s imagined, there’s one she never dreamed of—that she’d run into Rider Stark, the friend and protector she hasn’t seen since childhood, on her very first day.

It doesn’t take long for Mallory to realize that the connection she shared with Rider never really faded. Yet the deeper their bond grows, the more it becomes apparent that she’s not the only one grappling with the lingering scars from the past. And as she watches Rider’s life spiral out of control, Mallory faces a choice between staying silent and speaking out—for the people she loves, the life she wants, and the truths that need to be heard.

Links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository | Goodreads

Currently Reading/TBR: The Rose Society, Stop!, Half-Blood

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni and today I'll be showing you all what I am currently reading and what I am planning to read next.

As of right now, I just started two books: The Rose Society by Marie Lu and Stop! by Alison G. Bailey. These two could not be more different. The Rose Society, as I'm sure you know, is the sequel to The Young Elites. Stop! is a contemporary novel that is following a young woman and her first year in college. 

While the books definitely have a different feel, I'm getting really interested in each of them! I haven't read a lot of contemporary recently, and I've been feeling the need to get back into the genre. The Rose Society is a fantasy novel that has a heroic villain of sorts as the lead. Adelina, the main character, isn't good news and her enemies know it! I'm excited to see how the story progresses and Adelina evolves into a darker, stronger, scarier characters. Hollis Murphy, the main character in Stop!, is on the other side of the spectrum from Adelina. After surviving an accident that left her severely burned and almost dead, Hollis is a very insecure and unstable girl. She is not confident in herself as of the exposition. Once again, I'm excited to see her character develop into a strong young woman. 

After those two, I don't necessarily know what I want to read. I did say I wanted to read The Winner's Crime, but I don't want to force myself into reading the book. If I do, I know that I will not like it or appreciate it as much as I would just reading it on my own time. I recently just bought Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout. I can't get enough of her! Her books are the equivalent of what crack is for drugs. They are addicting and give me an amazing high. I can't get enough of it!


If I don't read Half-Blood, I will be reading The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey. I planned on reading it in January, and I have a couple days left to fulfill that! The movie just came out (today actually!) and I want to read the book right before I see the movie so it is fresh on my mind. That way, I can give a review that is able to pinpoint the differences!

Have you read any of the books I am currently reading or planning to? What are you currently reading?

Thanks guys for stopping by and I'll see you soon with another post!

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

Cover Talk: The Problem With Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The cover just recently dropped for Jennifer L. Armentrout's upcoming release. and it is beautiful!

I absolutely adore this cover! In comparison to Jennifer L. Armentrout's other book covers, this is a masterpiece. All of her covers are cheesy and kind of cringe worthy to cart around in public, particularity the Lux series. I didn't have any expectations for this cover but I am astounded at how good this cover turned out. I really love the whole entire water color aspect and typography. The colors make the book really stand out and I can't wait to this on the shelves!

I have read an excerpt of this book, and boy am I excited for it! I don't know too much about this upcoming novel except that it is a young adult contemporary following a girl, Mallory, that is entering public school after being home schooled for quite a while. She is starting her senior year and has major problems with talking and is socially awkward. From the excerpt, I think something life altering happened to our main character that made her the way she is. Mallory likes anonymity and being just another face in the crowd, but her plan doesn't come into fruition because a guy she knows from her past, Rider, is in her class. I have really high expectations for this and I cannot wait! I have only read one other young adult contemporary by Jennifer L. Armentrout, The Dead List, but haven't read her others like Don't Look Back. However, I am familiar with her new adult contemporary, so I already know that I will like this one! Fingers crossed I'll even love it!

Here is the goodreads blurb if you want to know more! It sounds as if the story will be really intense, relationship and plot wise. I could not be more excited! :D


For some people, silence is a weapon. For Mallory “Mouse” Dodge, it’s a shield. Growing up, she learned that the best way to survive was to say nothing. And even though it’s been four years since her nightmare ended, she’s beginning to worry that the fear that holds her back will last a lifetime.

Now, after years of homeschooling with loving adoptive parents, Mallory must face a new milestone—spending her senior year at public high school. But of all the terrifying and exhilarating scenarios she’s imagined, there’s one she never dreamed of—that she’d run into Rider Stark, the friend and protector she hasn’t seen since childhood, on her very first day.

It doesn’t take long for Mallory to realize that the connection she shared with Rider never really faded. Yet the deeper their bond grows, the more it becomes apparent that she’s not the only one grappling with the lingering scars from the past. And as she watches Rider’s life spiral out of control, Mallory faces a choice between staying silent and speaking out—for the people she loves, the life she wants, and the truths that need to be heard.

What do you think about the cover? Are you anticipating Jennifer L. Armentrout's newest upcoming release? 

Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you soon with another post!

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read! 

Book Review: The Dead List by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Dead List was so addicting and fun!

I can never get enough of Jennifer L. Armentrout! She seems to show up every single month in my wrap ups and January will be no exception. The Dead List is actually a free online read on the website Wattpad! I've read a plethora of books from the wattpad app, and while there have been plenty I have really liked, there were others that were complete misses for me. However, I had high hopes for this one because I am so familiar with Jennifer L. Armentrout.

The Dead List is a contemporary thriller that follows our main character Ella after she is almost murdered. I haven't read much thriller or watched much for that matter, so unlike for some people, this was a breath of fresh air. There were some parts of the book that had a very Scream like vibe, but besides that I didn't mind the book not being as original compared to her other books. 

The Dead List was so much fun to read. It wasn't without it's faults, but the story and the characters carried it through for me. I was more interested in the plot than the characters because they didn't stand out for me. Ella is a classic character that is beautiful without really knowing and has several guys pining after her. Jensen, the love interest, is the classic jock (ex jock in this novel) that is a bit mysterious and a lot misunderstood. Though they were cookie cutter characters, their actions and what happened to them were not. 


Throughout the novel there are two different stories being told that intertwine with each other. While the storyline of the serial killer that attempted to murder Ella was the primary story, the secondary one was just as interesting. I love how they were connected with each other and it kept me on my toes. While I was guessing who the murderer was right along with the other readers on the wattpad app, the big reveal did take me by surprise. 

I really loved the romance of this book. While it was a bit predictable, the dialogue between the two sold it for me. What I love about all the relationships that Jennifer L. Arementrout writes about is how swoon worthy and intriguing they are. The idea that Jensen and Ella used to be best friends that grew apart because of a tragic accident kept me wondering what exactly had happened. 

Though The Dead List does get some criticism for its lack of originality, I enjoyed it as a whole. The plot intrigued me the whole entire time I was reading it and there was no dull point in my reading experience. If you are new to the app or thinking about getting it, I would recommend this one. The romance was cute and at times sexy, with the story achieving its goal of being thrilling. 

With that, I give this book 

4 out of 5 Stars!

Have you read any of Jennifer L. Arementrout's books? What was your favorite? 

Thanks guys for stopping by and I'll see you soon with another post!

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

P.S. Sorry for my mysterious disappearance! Finals week killed me. :D

Review: Dark Elements Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! Today I'll be doing mini reviews of the last two books and the one novella that comprises the Dark Elements series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. I was going to be doing full reviews of Stone Cold Touch and Every Last Breath, the second and third books in the series, but I read them really close together and couldn't help but mention one with the other. Not only did I read the last two books in the Dark Elements series, but the novella as well. Make sure to check out my full review of the first book ,White Hot Kiss, here! 

Stone Cold Touch

Stone Cold Touch was so much fun! We definitely see the "New Moon Syndrome" where the love interest stays away from the girl to "protect" her. I thought it was really obvious what Roth was doing, and it was refreshing that Layla picked up on it as well and didn't just mope around. Though I like Roth with Layla a lot more than Zayne, seeing her in a relationship with him was really eye opening. In this book, we see more of a focus on Zayne, and I did come to really like his character. His love for Layla is so pure and his intentions are really good. The one thing I didn't like about this book was it seemed as if Layla was jerking these two guys around. She says that she doesn't know if the others love her like she loves them, but come on. I wish she had made a decision in this book instead of the third. The 'twist' didn't really surprise me either. Even though I saw it coming, it was done really well, so I can't complain too much. The last twenty percent of the novel was so good! I didn't expect what happened to Layla in that last portion, so I was on the edge of my seat. Overall, it was a really fun novel that kept me on my toes. I gave this novel 4.25 stars. My problems were only minor and I did like this one just a bit more than the first.

Every Last Breath


Concluding novels are really hard to do, but Jennifer L. Armentrout knows how to write a good one! The aspect that I liked the most of this was that Layla made her decision between Roth and Zayne fairly quickly and there was no question about it through the majority of the novel. I was really happy with who Layla picked and loved all their cutesy moments.  At the end of the book, we see promise of these two other couples, and I really liked it! My only main issue with this book is that I didn't care about the Lilith that much. I was to the point that I knew that the good guys would prevail and all that. The turning point for me is when Roth lost one of his familiars. After that, I got more into the novel. There are so many scenes in the book that I loved and I had a ton of bookmarks on my e-reader when I borrowed an copy from my digital library. This book isn't just happy go lucky for the majority. Just like the last book, I cried a little a couple times. It was a really great concluding novel that ended in a way that I really liked. I gave this novel 4.25 stars. There was also this excerpt for Jennifer L. Armentrout's upcoming novel, The Problem with Forever, and it was SO GOOD! I can't wait to read it next year! 

Bittersweet Love

After finishing the series, I still wanted one little last taste of the world and saw that Bittersweet Love was available at my library as well! Bittersweet Love was everything I needed after reading Every Last Breath. It had that fun aspect that was lost a bit in Every Last Breath, and I really adored it. This novella tells the story of Dez and Jasmine, who are married with twins in the main three books of the series. Seeing them get together was so cute and I absolutely loved their story. I think it was a good length too. The novella really gave me some insight on the Warden life, considering Layla was always ostracized from that. I gave the novella 4 stars!

Overall, the series was is one of my favorites and I know that whenever I feel a reading slump coming on, I can read a little portion of any of the three novels or the novella and get right back into reading. I actually liked this series more than the Lux series and would recommend it for anyone who likes Aremntrout's other works or paranormal romance. I had some minor issues with it, but it was a really great series and has solidified Jennifer L Armentrout as one of my go-to authors. 

That's it for today guys! What is your favorite book by Jennifer L. Armentrout? Have you read this series or her Lux series? If so, tell me what your thoughts were!

Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you guys soon with another post!

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

November Wrap Up!

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! Today I am going to be wrapping up my reading month of November. I read a total of 7 books and one short story. I fell into a bit of a reading slump where I just wasn't really reading for a span of a week or so. Though I normally read more than seven books a month, I am still pretty happy that I read that much considering I got into my first reading slump since the year, really!

One thing that I noticed is that all of these books are part of a series or a companion series! I really want to read some standalone novels, so hopefully I'll pick some up in December. In November, I also finished four series! I always love finishing series because it gives me a sense of accomplishment. 

1.) Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry
Rating: 3 Stars
It was really hard for me to like Nowhere But Here. Nothing really clicked for me, and the novel didn't really stand out either. Katie McGarry's novels are blending together. Her writing style is very synonymous in all of her books, and I just got really frusturated. It was a good book and I understand why some people love it, but it just didn't do anything for me. Do I recommend it? I would, for fans of Katie McGarry or contemporary in general. Find more of my thoughts here in my review!

2.) Collide (The Taking #3) by Melissa West
Rating: 4.25 Stars
Collide was the final book in The Taking trilogy by Melissa West. The series is focused on the immenent war between the human race and an alien species. A lot went down at the end of Hover, the second book, and even more happened in this conclusion! I really loved how everything went down and it was a really solid ending to a great series. I did have small issues with it, but it didn't necessarily affect my reading experience. Find my review here!

3.) Winter (Lunar Chronicles #4) by Marissa Meyer
Rating: 5 Stars
Winter was the most anticipated book of this year for me, and it did not disappoint. My mind was blown. Right after I finished the book,  I couldn't see no fault, but now I do. Still, I think it deserves all five stars. If you haven't picked the series up, give it a try! I know I'm happy that I did! Read my fangirl review here!

4.) Sweet Temptation (Sweet #4)  by Wendy Higgins
Rating: 4.25 Stars
Sweet Temptation is another series I finished this month! I was on a roll here wasn't I? Reading this and Winter right after each other gave me a major book hangover and is the reason for the quasi slump. This novel was so much fun to read and it took me by surprise how much I liked it. I had issues with the first book in the series and did with the second as well, so I wasn't sure what to expect. What I got was a great book that exceeded my expectations. Here is my review!

5.) Dawn of the Dreamer by L.J. Higgins
Rating: 3 Stars
Dawn of the Dreamer is the opening novel of a dystopian series by L.J. Higgins. I read this with one of my goodreads groups I am a member in, and had a lot of fun! While I definiltey had some issues with the book, it had a solid story. The ending was tied up really well and I was overall really pleased with it. The characters and the plot were run of the mill, but it was an okay book overall. Read more of my thoughts here in my review.

6.) The Wedding by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Rating: 3.75 Stars
The Wedding is probably the shortest shorty story I have read so far. It takes place after the events of Opposition, the last book in the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout, which I finished earlier this year. The short story captures, you guessed it, a wedding between two vital characters in the series. This story was just really cutesy and gave me shipper feels, and I'm glad I stumbled upon it while scrolling through goodreads. It didn't necessarily add anything to the story for me, but I'm glad I read it.

7.) A Mad Zombie Party (White Rabbit Chronicles #4) by Gena Showalter
Rating: 4.5 Stars
A Mad Zombie is the last series that I completed this month. It centered around two different main characters than the first three books, but it was really fun! The plot was a little predictable for me in the physical conflict aspect, but that is my only major complaint. The White Rabbit Chronicles is always so much fun to read and I laugh out loud every time I read a book in this series! If you're looking for a series that is fun, sassy, and light hearted (most of the time), I would say to pick this one up! You can find my review of this book here! 

8.) The Crystal Key (Starjumper Legacy #1) by Christopher Bailey
Rating: 3.25 Stars
The Crystal Key started out a lot better than I expected, but then had some low point about half of the way through. This book is a science fiction adventure that follows Allie as she is thrust into a world she never new existed. Yes, it follows the common trope but it was a fun story! 

That's a wrap! While it wasn't my best reading month, I had some pretty amazing reads in November and can't wait to see what December brings! What books did you read in November? Have you read any of the books above?

Thanks guys for stopping by and I'll see  you soon with another post!

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

October Wrap Up!

Hey guys and welcome back! Today I'm going to be doing my October Wrap Up! October was an amazing month for me, I got all A's for my first report card and just yesterday my band won Grand Champion at a competition we hadn't won since 2003! I read a total of 12 books this month, 2 being new adult, 3 were young adult, 1 classic, and 6 manga novels. School was really starting to kick up this month and marching band season is just finishing this weekend, so I am so happy I got to so many books.

1.) Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

I absolutely loved Everything, Everything! I was a bit hesitant because of all the hype, but the novel was everything I was anticipated and more. Eventually, I will be wanting to buy this and probably re-read it. Right once I got this book I picked it up and didn't move from my seat until I was done. I was thinking about doing a review on it, but my thoughts were seriously too jumbled to form coherent thoughts. Nicola Yoon surprised me by how mesmerizing her writing is and I'm excited to see what she will put out next. This is by far one of my favorite books of this year! I gave Everything, Everything 4.75 Stars!

2-7.) Boys Over Flowers: Hana Yori Dango Vol. 1-6 by Yoko Kamio

Boys Over Flowers is a really popular manga series that I have had my eye on for quite a while. I read one of Yoko Kamio's other manga series, Cat Street, earlier this year in February. When I was reading Cat Street, I liked it enough the first three and gave them three stars, but the ones following the first three got better and better with the last one getting the illustrious five stars. I had the same sort of feel for the first six novels for Boys Over Flowers. I didn't particularly love the first couple, but the series really picked up in volumes four, five, and six. I can see myself really loving this series, but since it is so long, (37 Volumes!!) I'm going to take my time with it and probably read it whenever I have free time. I gave the first two 3 Stars and the next four volumes each 4 stars. I don't read a lot of manga, but this seems right up my alley so I am looking forward to how the series is going to proceed!

8.) The Crucible by Arthur Miller

I had to read the Crucible for my AP English class, and I liked it a lot more than I was expecting. The last two acts in this infamous play were so dramatic and I enjoyed it so much! The only thing that kept me from loving this book was how it was a bit all over the place. It was hard to keep track of all the characters, but I think if I read it again, I would get even more out of it. I gave the play 4 stars! This also inspired a whole entire post on my blog about the Stigma Against School Books! Check it out if you want!

9.) White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

White Hot Kiss was so much fun! I didn't really know what to expect; I have read plenty of Jennifer L. Armentrout in the past, but didn't know if I'd enjoy the series. I'm happy to say that I really enjoyed the book! I had some minute problems with the novel, but the plot kept me going. I'm probably going to be reading its sequel soon! Check out my review if you want to learn more about how I felt! I gave White Hot Kiss 4 Stars.

10.) The Fill in Boyfriend by Kasie West

The Fill in Boyfriend was such a disappointment for me. It has pretty solid reviews, but I was surprised at how many problems I had with this! Gia, the main character, was so immature throughout the whole entire novel. I might try Kasie West again because I didn't have any issues with her writing, I just didn't like the premise as much as I thought I would. If you want to know more about all the problems I had with this, check out my review (more like rant) of this! I gave the book 2 Stars.

11.) The Pact by Karina Halle

The Pact was exactly what I needed after the massive disappointment that was The Fill in Boyfriend. The characters were fledged out and complex, and everything I needed. The more I think about it, the more I like it! My thoughts are more in depth here at my review, where I gave it 4.2 Stars. If you are looking for some new adult books to read, go over to a list of the Best New Adult Books I've Read This Year! If I had read this before posting that, The pact would have made the list!

12.) The Offer by Karina Halle

The Offer is a companion novel to The Pact. I didn't like it as much as its predecessor, but it was still really good. I think the only reason I didn't like it as much was because the romance wasn't as much of a slow burn as it was in The Pact. Even though I didn't like it as much, I still recommend the series. Both of these books were 99 cents each, and a third book in the series is also coming out! I gave The Offer 3.9 Stars.




How as your reading month? Have you picked up any of these books listed above? What was your favorite book of the month? Did you have any major disappointments 
 
like I did with The Fill in Boyfriend?

Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you again soon with another post!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

Book Review: White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout

White Hot Kiss was fun, sexy, and enthralling!

White Hot Kiss is the first in a trilogy by the one and only Jennifer L. Armentrout. I'm sure you've heard of this author before; she's well known for not only her young adult series, but her new adult novels as well. Not only does she write supernatural novels, she also writes contemporary. Her most well known series is the Lux series. You can find my review of Onyx, the second book in the Lux series here! I had some issues with the series, but when I finished it this summer, I was in love.

I was really hesitant when I started reading White Hot Kiss because I feared I would have the same issues I had with Obsidian, the first novel in the aforementioned series. Thankfully, I had barley any problems with this novel! The book follows our main character, Layla, and the intricate tight rope she walks on everyday. Layla is different from anyone else. She is half Warden, half Demon. Wardens are protectors of the human race that fight off their natural enemy, the demons. As I'm sure you can infer, Layla doesn't ever feel at home in her own skin.

White Hot Kiss starts off with a bang and never slows down. We're immediately introduced to Layla's two love interests. One of them is her best friend, Zayne, who just so happens to be a Warden that lives with her.  The other is Roth, the mysterious bad boy demon. The kicker in this love triangle is that Layla cannot kiss anyone with a soul because she will actually consume it. Luckily for Roth, he doesn't have a soul. Unfortunately, Zayne does. I didn't have any main issues with this love triangle, but I liked Roth exponentially better than Zayne. His personality was much more likable to me and I feel like he made Layla comfortable with who she is and he accepted completely. Let's just say that if Layla doesn't end up with Roth I will throw something. In my mind, at least.

The main problem I had with this book overall was that Layla was a bit too immature for me. She was a really great character to read from and I loved her perspective, but sometimes she would react to certain situations, especially with Zayne, that seemed really childish. My only other problem is the character of Zayne. I get why so many people like him, but he rubs me the wrong way. Fingers crossed it won't be like that in the sequel, Stone Cold Touch!

One of the main reasons I loved this book as much as I did was because of Roth. He is pretty much my dream guy just based on his personality. Though I liked Daemon in the Lux series, Roth is on a whole other playing field. Not only was Roth a great character to begin with, but the dynamic and chemistry between him and Layla was spot on. My favorite scenes of the book was when they were together.

Jennifer L. Armentrout's writing draws you in and doesn't let go! Putting this book down was actually a struggle. Don't be hesitant to pick this up because the synopsis seems a bit weird, there's much more to it than a love triangle. As I'm sure you can tell, I really enjoyed this book! I'm definitely continuing with the series and I actually am debating picking up the second book right now. I had a few minor problems, but all in all White Hot Kiss was a super fun novel that kept my mind off of things.

With that, I give this book

4 out of 5 Stars!

Have you guys read any of Jennifer L. Armentrout's books? What is your favorite?

Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you soon!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read