Currently Reading/TBR - And I Darken, The Unexpected Everything (May 2016)

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni and today I'll be showing you the books I am currently reading this month.

As of right now I'm not really into any books. Just a couple minutes ago I finished Storm by Brigid Kemmer. I liked it, but I didn't love it and couldn't connect to any of the characters. The book was a three star read for me. It fell right down the middle and didn't leave a lasting impression.

I am about a tenth of the way through Kiersten White's upcoming YA release And I Darken. I'm liking it so far, but I'm waiting for the story to pick up. Hopefully I will become more interested in the book as the story progresses. And I Darken is a historical fiction where Vladamir is actually a girl. Lada, the main character (aka Vladamir) is a really interesting character. I can't wait to see her become the Vladamir everyone fears!

By the end of the month, I want to be finished with And I Darken and two other novels. I just got The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson, and I am so excited! I've loved the two other books that I've read by Matson (Amy & Roger's Epic Detour, Since You've Been Gone), so I have high hopes for this one. I've read five pages or so, and I can't wait until I have more free time.


Last but not least, I want to read The Red Queen this month. I have had it on my shelf for a while, and it's about time that I picked it up. I'm excited to see what the hype is all about, and even though I might not love it, I'll be happy that I gave it a shot. The second book just came out, and I've been hearing better things about the second novel.

So that it was I am currently reading and my upcoming reads for May! 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!

Book Review: One Paris Summer by Denise Grover Swank

*I recieved One Paris Summer via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All my opinions are my own and have not been altered.*

One Paris Summer was pure fun.

The novel centers around Sophie Brooks and her summer abroad when visiting her dad that left her and her brother the year before without warning. She's not that excited to go, as she hasn't spoken to her dad since she left and she doesn't get along that well with her brother. Sophie has to live with her brother, her dad, his new wife, and her daughter. The set up for this book was pretty simple. Sophie travels internationally and eventually falls in love with the city even when her step-sister Camille does everything she can to make Sophie miserable. 

There are two main reason why I liked this book: the music and the character development.

Music is portrayed so well throughout the novel. Sophie is a pianist, and even though she is on vacation, she still has to practice in order to maintain her skills. I loved how her passion didn't go on the back-burner just because she was meeting all these cute boys. Music is a part of her, and I really appreciated how much of an aspect it was in the book. I was able to connect with Sophie more because I am a musician myself (I play clarinet!)

The other reason this book was enjoyable was the character development. Not only does Sophie develop throughout the course of the novel, but so do the secondary characters and the relationships. However, Sophie's character development really stood out. In the first scene of the novel, she comes off as naive and somewhat weak. By the end of the story, she is sure in herself and what she wants. She grows into a character that I could not only relate to, but see myself being friends with. Her character development was paced so well and it wasn't just a big jump from her insecure self to her confident one. 

The only thing I didn't really like was the romance. I know, I know! Maybe I'm just picky, but I didn't like Matthieu that much. Sure, he was charismatic, but what sets him apart from the another standard love interest? Nothing, really. He has a bad ex, made a mistake in the past, jokes around, and has a great smile. Their relationship also progressed way too quickly for me. Sophie is just starting a relationship with him, and by the next month they love each other? It just wasn't believable to me. 

Besides that, I don't have any faults with the book. I liked the characters enough, but I didn't love them either. My favorite part was the growth of the cast of characters in the novel and the musical aspect. The familial tensions were also very well done. 

I would recommend this to anyone who wants an easy and fun contemporary novel. One Paris Summer isn't perfect, but it sure is fun. To put it simply, it's perfect for the summer. :D

With that, I give this book
3.5 out of 5 Stars!

 

What are some fun YA contemporaries that you have read recently?

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

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

Book Review: Switched (Trylle #1) by Amanda Hocking

I'm tired of disappointments. I'm tired of reading books where the main characters whine and don't think of anything but themselves. I'm especially tired of insta-love.

Switched had all of this and more, including a storyline that didn't live up to it's unique plot. I didn't have extremely high hopes when I started this book, but I expected more than I received. Switched, which is a self-published phenomenon in YA, just fell short. The story is about our main character, Wendy, and her journey after she finds out that not only is she a troll, but royalty as well.

Throughout the novel I could not connect with Wendy. She's supposed to be 15, which is just a year younger than I am. Maybe I'm mature or Wendy is immature, but I could not stand her. She only thought of herself. Most of the time she was just complaining, and I couldn't handle it after a while. However, there is one thing got me even more frustrated than the personality of the main character.

And that is the insta love. Oh my god. This has to be the worst insta-love I have ever seen. I might have thought that the love interest (I forgot his name he's so one dimensional!) was swoon-worthy when I was about twelve, but he has no depth. He's just this honorable soldier that would do anything for our main character because he fell in love with her the moment he saw her. UGH.

Even with all the negative things I have to say about this book, it still entertained me. Sure, there were times where I was so annoyed with the book I had to put it down, but I still kept thinking about it (no matter how painfully obvious the story was going to turn out). This series has promise, and for that reason I will be continuing on. Plus, I'm interested to see if Hocking's writing improves with time.

I wouldn't necessarily say that I liked this book, but I didn't hate it either. It was a combination of my frustration and it's promise of good to come that let to my feeling of mediocrity. I am interested to see what will occur in the next novels. At least now I'll now to get a couple at a time because nothing actually happened in the first book.

I wish I read this four years ago, because I would've loved it back then. I guess it's better late than never??

With that, I give this book
2 out of 5 Stars!

Have you guys read anything by Amanda Hocking? What did you think?

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

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

April 2016 Wrap Up!

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! In April I read 5 books. It's not the best, but by the end of May I'll have taken my AP tests and SATs (I just took my SAT this Saturday guys. It went well but it was exhausting!), so I'll have a bit more a free time before finals. I'll be listing the five books I read from worst to best.

5.) Switched by Amanda Hocking
I was so underwhelmed by Switched, the first book in Hocking's indie turned self-published Trylle series. Hocking has been on my radar for a while, so I decided to finally pick up one of her books. While the concept was really interesting, I didn't like the main character or her love interest. It felt like nothing really happened in the novel until the last 30 or so pages. However, I'll be continuing on with the series because I am still interested in what will happen. 2.75 Stars

4.) Too Late by Colleen Hoover
I am conflicted about Too Late by Colleen Hoover. It's the first of CoHo's books that I didn't love. While it was such an interesting story, I felt like Luke, the love interest, was one dimensional, as was the main character to an extent. Hoover wrote two epilogues and a prologue after the last chapter, and they didn't really add anything to the book for me. They didn't capture my interest and I felt like they were unnecessary. I did like this book, but I was expecting so much more. I have a review of this one here, but my rating is now lower.  3.75 Stars

3.) Homecoming by Kass Morgan
Homecoming is the final book in Morgan's The 100 trilogy. This was my favorite out of the series by far. The trilogy definitely improved as it progressed. However, it didn't blow my mind either. overall, I like the television adaption more than the book series. If you're able to keep an open mind while reading this story and not compare the two, then I feel like you will enjoy the series. If not, skip it. 4 Stars

2.) Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
I wanted to love this book so much. Unfortunately, something was just missing for me to do so.I couldn't connect to the characters that much, which is a big part of me enjoying a book. However, I loved the setting and I am very interested to see what happens in the sequel. You can follow this link to see my review! 4 Stars

1.) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
I am so surprised at how much I enjoyed this classic. I read this for my English class, and I wasn't very hesitant to do so. However, I ended up really liking it (but not loving it). If I were to read it again just for pleasure, I think I would enjoy it more. The set reading pace I had to follow took away from my overall enjoyment of the book. I don't really know how to rate this one just because of how complex the story is. 4.25 stars? 

And that was my April Wrap Up! I'm not going to be linking my post of April just because I should be studying for my AP English exam tomorrow than doing this. :D

What books did you read in April? If you made a wrap-up, link it below so I can see it!

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

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

Triannual Rewind: Most Disappointing Books

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! Today I am doing another post that is part of my Triannual Rewind! The following are the books that have disappointed me the most in the first four months of the year.

Once again, I just want to remind everyone that all these opinions are my own and I'm not trying to offend anyone! If you liked a book that I absolutely hated, then more power to you! These will be listed from worst to best. 

Also, I won't be mentioning Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater except for right now. I would pick it on the list, but to be quite frank, I don't want to talk about the book anymore. :D




1.) Together With You by Victoria Bylin
I wanted to branch out this year from my usual genres, but I was so disappointed with this adult romance. I had no idea that this was a Christian romance, and it threw me off. The characters fell flat for me and I just didn't care for their story at all. However, it did shine light on a problem that I was ignorant to, which did make it (almost) worth the read. 

2.) Be With Me by Jennifer L. Armentrout
This is the first book by Armentrout that I didn't like that much. I couldn't connect with the characters that much and I found the plot twists and points cliche and overused. To be honest, I would have rather not read this at all. I just want to read an Armentrout book that actually grabs me and doesn't let me go. 

3.) First by M.A. Grant
First never captured my attention. It was actually two stories in one, and both of them didn't have real substance. This is the first NA book that I didn't like. It is one of my least favorite books of the year, but it's not because its a horrible story. I'm just indifferent towards the whole thing.   


4.) Switched by Amanda Hocking 
Switched is the first book in Hocking's Trylle trilogy. This series is so popular, but I was so let down. I've had my eye on this for years and I was just disappointed. I would have loved this if I read it two years ago, but as I've grown so have my reading tastes. Nothing really happened throughout the book and though I will be continuing on with the story, I'm not expecting as much anymore. 

So those are my most disappointing books that I read in the first third of the year. Even though I was let down by these, it doesn't mean that you will be!

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

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

Triannual 2016 Rewind: Favorite Books

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni and today I will be showing you guys my favorite books of these past four months! So far, I've read a lot of great books, but there's only been one that has actually gotten five stars.You can head on over here if you want to know what series I have finished this year!

1.) Their Fractured Light by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
This is by far my favorite book of the year. I have no faults with this book at all. The writing in these novels just draw me in, and I love every single character. This concluding novel is my favorite out of the space trilogy, and the five stars are very well deserved. I  had such high expectations coming into this book, and they were met and surpassed! Here is my review!

2.) Endure by Sara B Larson
Endure is the third and final book of Larson's fantasy trilogy. I started this trilogy this year on a whim, and wasn't too impressed with the first book. However, I am so glad I continued on with the series. Every book got better as it progressed and by the time I finished Endure, I was in love with the series. I am so pleasantly surprised by Endure. Here is my series review!

3.) DIMILY Books 1 & 2 by Estelle Maskame
Estelle Maskame shocked me with her relatively new series. Did I Mention I Love You, or DIMILY for short, is a new contemporary trilogy written by Maskame, who is just a teenager! This series was actually a wattpad sensation, and I can see why! The first two books pulled me into the story and didn't let go. Eden and Tyler's relationship is so addicting, and I cannot wait to read their third and final book and get some closure! I would completely recommend this if you are in a reading slump. I have a mini review of the first book here.

4.) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
I was so surprised that I liked The Great Gatsby as much as I do. While this is a rare instance, I am actually glad I read this for school and not just on my free time. I was able to dissect the book at a deeper level than I think I would've on my own time. Though I don't love it, I am so happy that I read it. 

And those are my favorite books so far of 2016! What are some of your favorite books of this year?

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

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

Triannual 2016 Rewind: Finished Series

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni and today I will be showing you the series that I have finished in the first four months of 2016. I'll be doing this again two more times throughout the year. So far, I've read some amazing ones and others that were just okay.

My opinions are my own, and I don't mean to offend anyone! Just because I don't like a series doesn't mean your not justified to love it. These are going to be listed from worst to best.

4.) Wolves of Mercy Falls Series by Maggie Stiefvater
 
In these past four months,  I read the final novel of the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, Sinner. Unfortunately, Sinner was such a let down. I loved the first three, and the fourth just fell flat. Isabel and Cole fell flat for me, and the secondary characters were even more dull. However, I am happy that I finished the series and I still think it was worth the read, even though I gave it only 2.75 Stars. Check out my mini review here!

3.) The 100 Trilogy by Kass Morgan

The 100 book series is so different from the tv series. I would have to say that I like the tv series more, just because it delves much more into the complex world that Kass Morgan invented. My favorite aspect of reading this were the characters. I was able to spend more time with Wells and two other characters who aren't even in the television series (Glass and Luke). The books were all right, but it wasn't fantastic by any means. I would recommend this to anyone who is a big fan of the series. If you are able to keep an open mind and not compare the two time and time again, you'll be able to appreciate the series for what it is.

2.) Defy Trilogy by Sara B Larson

I picked up Larson's trilogy on a whim and I'm so glad that I did! While the first book didn't blow me away, the series got better as each book progressed.  Alexa is such a complex character and I loved watching her character develop. The fantasy series isn't the best I have read, but it is pure entertainment. If you want to read a fun and quick fantasy series, I would recommend this. Find out my full thoughts here where I review the trilogy.


1.) Starbound Trilogy by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

I love the Starbound Trilogy to pieces. It's an epic science fiction series and everything came together perfectly in the concluding novel that I read this year, Their Fractured Light. The last book was definitely my favorite, but they all received 5 stars or very close to that. This trilogy is pretty close to perfection and I would recommend it to anyone. I also wrote a review for Their Fractured Light here!  

And those were the four series that I have finished this year! I'm really looking forward to some of the series I will be finishing the rest of the year! What are some series that you have finished so far?

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

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!