Warning: Spoilers! (duh.)

Seventeen-year-old Flora Banks has no short-term memory. Her mind resets itself several times a day, and has since the age of ten, when the tumor that was removed from Flora's brain took with it her ability to make new memories. That is, until she kisses Drake, her best friend's boyfriend, the night before he leaves town. Miraculously, this one memory breaks through Flora's fractured mind, and sticks. Flora is convinced that Drake is responsible for restoring her memory and making her whole again. So when an encouraging email from Drake suggests she meet him on the other side of the world, Flora knows with certainty that this is the first step toward reclaiming her life. 

With little more than the words "be brave" inked into her skin, and written reminders of who she is and why her memory is so limited, Flora sets off on an impossible journey to Svalbard, Norway, the land of the midnight sun, determined to find Drake. But from the moment she arrives in the arctic, nothing is quite as it seems, and Flora must "be brave" if she is ever to learn the truth about herself, and to make it safely home.

Reading the Riot Act

The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr
Published January 12th 2017 by Penguin
Paperback 303 Pages

Flora Banks has no life. She has a best friend and a school and parents that love her - but her memory lasts barely a day, hours maybe. Still, she goes on, writing notes to herself on her arms, writing her memories down to tell herself later. Then, at his leaving party - Flora kisses her best friends boyfriend, Drake,...and the next morning, she remembers him. Then the next day, and the next day. The kiss on the beach and the boy. She remembers something, finally but the guy is gone, across the ocean and her friend hates her for kissing him. When her estranged brother becomes sick, Flora is left alone and after several R-rated emails between her and Drake, Flora is on a plane. She feels the memory slipping away and she knows Drake is the only person who can help her. 

She heads to the Arctic, with no idea where he is or what he's doing - but she goes anyway. I was really excited once she'd decided to go. This book has a lot of repetition. I mean A LOT!  Which is understandable, but still annoying as hell. The majority of it is re-reading the same stuff we read a few pages ago. Flora Banks has Amnesia - but I definitely do not! We get to the Arctic and here I am hoping things are about to happen. No. It's gonna take another 100 or more pages of wandering around in shops and having the same conversations over and over before she even gets an idea of where Drake is. This entire section made me wonder how insensitive I am - maybe that's the point. I didn't care that Flora was struggling, that she was in a new place and could not remember getting there. That she had no idea what was happening to her and still managed to make the slightest progress. Still, I hated her for getting in my way - for taking too long. 

When Flora begins to make friends, begins to recall more and more of what is happening, I become very proud of her. It's the point we know there is something more than Amnesia going on because without her medication, she is starting to remember more. She goes on excursions, sees polar bears and I forget about Drake - just like Flora does. I'm in the moment with her but it seems even sweeter, because I know I'm the only one who will remember it. 

Just as I give up on Drake - there he is. Flora, like a mad woman sails to his girlfriend's house with no memories. It's bonkers and I'm not annoyed at her anymore. FLORA IS A DAMN BADASS! Of course, we get there. Drake's girlfriend answers the door and he pretends not to be there. He slams the door in her face and the girlfriend brings her inside. It is horrible. He says that the kiss never happened, that all the emails were from Flora to herself, she imagined them all. She is crazy. And maybe she is. Suddenly the whole journey I've taken with Flora is bathed in suspicion, I don't know what to believe her on or if even she knows what's true and false.

Flora's parents bring her home, her father instantly seeming like the most comforting person we've seen in this book. Flora's brother is dying and he came to get her anyway. She doesn't know why none of them have spoke in years, there's still more to figure out but is any of it true? Is she just mad? Well, no. It's turns out the estrangement came when Flora's mother decided to buy illegal medication off the internet. In truth, the arguments between the mother and everyone else is because her Amnesia is getting better. The dad knows it, her brother knew it and now her best friend knows it. Flora is being doped up to keep her docile and it's affecting her memory. Then, her best friend to the rescue. She pops by for a visit, Flora lost in the fog of drugs. She tells Flora she knows she wasn't lying about Drake - because a girl from the party took a photo of them kissing. She does remember, and they are going to see a doctor who can help - besides she's only a week away from being 18. Soon, her mother won't be able to control her. And it ends. Just like that. I am furious. 

I have issues with the ending. First off, the whole point of writing about someone dealing with an illness is redundant if that person is magically healed. I get it was about the journey, but if I was suffering from something like Amnesia or a  memory disorder - I'd feel ripped off. Everyone in these stories ends up "normal" in the end. What a load of crap, why can't someone with a problem be allowed a story without them having to be magically cured of the problem? Why can't it be about representation? I didn't want Flora to get better, it felt...dishonest. Next, I had a problem with the parental plot twist (that everyone saw coming), I don't care how protective you are - I don't see any mother, especially the one we've watched worrying for Flora and wanting her to be happy- drugging her daughter to be sure she remains memory-less. It's too far-fetched and honestly, if the doctors knew that was happening, where the hell are the police? Why isn't the father doing anything? I didn't get it and I don't believe it. 

So yeah, The One Memory of Flora Banks was a mixed bag. Often, that can be a good thing - it keeps it all interesting. Overall, I gave this book a solid 3 stars! A totally respectable rating. 

You can find me on Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads and Facebook. Until then...Happy Reading.

Warning: Spoilers! (duh.)

Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin’s maneuverings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit—and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well. As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords—and hunt for allies in unexpected places. 

Reading the Riot Act

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas

Despite my best efforts, this series has slowly wormed it's way into my heart. When A Court of Thorns and Roses was released, I was ride or die with Throne of Glass. Then, Celaena died and Feyre was born. Aelin, was second to Feyre - and in the place of my beloved Chaol, was Rhysand. I know, I know, how disloyal of me. But A Court of Mist and Fury was one of the best books I have ever read. So, as you can imagine, I waited for this conclusion with bated breath. 

This book, was a wild ride. We start slow, building like a roller-coaster and Feyre - honey, I gotta say - is acting like a bit of an idiot. She's undercover in the Spring Court and every two minutes she's like...'Guys, how good a spy am I?' Not a great one Feyre. She's having mysterious headaches and her powers weakening but she notices none of it, she's too busy patting herself on the back for a job she hasn't even finished yet. There are 100 Rhysand-less pages and when everything finally kicks off, it is worth the wait. 

Hyberns men attack, Feyre EFFS up Ianthe (totally justified) and Lucien is along for the ride. Turns out Feyre was being poisoned the whole time and she had no clue. (Nice one, babe.) They flee into Autumn Court, on foot, and low and behold. More shit goes down. BAM. FIGHT. ICE. MOUNTAINS. AHHHH! It's so dramatic. I'm on the edge of my seat. We're only 150 pages in and could this be the end? Of course not! Sexy Illyrians fall from the sky, smashing into ice with bat-wings and chiseled jaws. The Court of Dreams. Whoosh, swept up, back to Velaris and our beloved friends. 

I've never been so happy to return to a setting before. Now with Lucien and Feyre's sisters and our darling, darling Rhysand. It's like I was coming home, and I didn't expect to miss Mor and Amren as much as I did. Suddenly the pace is different. It feels fast but so much is happening. Raunchy love scenes, sister drama, training. It's all so detailed but my mind is gone. I'm not reading the words, I'm there, trying to grow Illyrian wings and readying myself for battle. 

Warning: Spoilers! (duh.)

Who knows you well? Your best friend? Your boyfriend or girlfriend? A stranger you meet on a crazy night? No one, really?

Mark and Kate have sat next to each other for an entire year, but have never spoken. For whatever reason, their paths outside of class have never crossed.

That is until Kate spots Mark miles away from home, out in the city for a wild, unexpected night. Kate is lost, having just run away from a chance to finally meet the girl she has been in love with from afar. Mark, meanwhile, is in love with his best friend Ryan, who may or may not feel the same way.

When Kate and Mark meet up, little do they know how important they will become to each other -- and how, in a very short time, they will know each other better than any of the people who are supposed to know them more.

Reading The Riot Act Blog

Warning: Spoilers! (duh.)

Nerve follows Vee (as in Venus) who is quiet, smart and downtrodden. After a brutal betrayal by a friend and a few insults dressed as compliments, Vee finds herself a part of this colossal reality television game show. She meets a smoking hot guy and wins a ton of cool prizes, but that's not why Jeanne Ryan wrote this book. The plot takes a keen twist into a beautiful and resounding statement about reality tv. As someone who has been on reality television, I can relate and press the idea that there is nothing real about reality television - something myself, and Vee, learned the hard way.

Poor Vee is in over her head and yet summons this astonishing strength to hold her own against so many aggressive competitors and tasks. Struggling with a hidden past, the game becomes all too real and she becomes the kick ass heroine we all knew was in her from the start. It is a fantastic tale about inner strength, a corrupt world and the danger of trusting the media too much. I highly recommend.

 Now, onto the specifics.

I hate that they changed the end in the movie. I found that so disappointing as this ending was tense. When all the local competitors are in that room and the tasks escalate and escalate. Damn I wish there was a sequel - it was left open for one but no news yet.

Vee is literally a superhero, she was doing these things and I got that feeling I got when I read divergent. That moment when Tris is about to jump off the building, not knowing if there is a net there. I felt real panic and real fear - just as I did with this book. I was there. I was with her. And I was pooping my pants. Ian is a dreamboat and I loved the fact that afterwards she was only allowed out to run and he came and met her. That was just a really cute image. (For some reason I began with the ending - good job self!)

In the movie I did miss the backstory of Vee. On film she has a protective mother because her brother died and a few really terrible friends. I hate friendzoned characters - I hate the term in general, but the movie really amped up Tommy's character and turned him into this gross stereotype. I felt that way about her best friend too (I can't for the life of me recall her name). She felt 2D in the movie, I knew her motivation and it was just to be a bitch. Then there was all that crap with the hackers - I'm not even going into that!

In the book, Vee tried to commit suicide - but was caught by her parents. Since she had been gaining there trust back and on the night she was finally allowed a longer curfew, she gets caught up in Nerve. In the novel she pretends to be a weird prostitute and all sorts which is so fun to read. Her friends though the tension between them is there with unspoken crushes and resentments, there is something distinctly lovable about them. They are real and good. They are just messed up kids in the book and so their behaviour is a little more excusable. When they come to Vee's rescue at the end, I believe it. I didn't believe it in the film.

It was just a really engaging, easy read. 4 Stars!
If you enjoyed the movie - that is just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much beneath the surface and so many cracking scenes awaiting you in the book. Get it now, read it and come back! I must know you're favourite scene! Mine was definitely the celibacy group in the bowling alley! (CLASSIC!)

Happy Reading!

Image from mrripleysenchantedbooks I am really not sure how to start this review, mostly because I don't know how I feel about this book. Isn't that always an odd one? You finish and you enjoyed it but not sure what to make of it afterwards. Very odd - but I'll give this my best shot. This book was not what I thought it was going to be. I'm not sure what I was expecting but a floating island, kids adventure death mystery was not one of them. This is not a bad thing by any means, in fact it was refreshingly original. I'm not sure this book is for my audience - I tend to tell through the protagonist who was very young, far younger than myself and it was odd to read from a child's point of view. First of all the length, it was only 200 pages and the narrative arc was not as complex as I would expect so it is difficult for me to love it. I can appreciate a well-written book with diverse and smart characters. The story is predictable but still cute and it was perfectly enjoyable. I think if I had a child who was just getting into the world of YA this is the perfect transition book. It has all the pieces and expectations only in a smaller package. It's like a gateway drug to young adult fiction, only without the downward spiral afterwards. I think my issue is that the book is lovely and the characters are lovely but I didn't feel emotionally connected to them. Maybe in only 200 pages that can be difficult for a wisen-old reader like myself - maybe my own expectations let me down, but mostly I was just a little bored. I enjoyed it but with a none active reading boredom. It was very linear, very we are here and I know where we're going - there wasn't space for that time in between, the time when they are just walking and you learn them. It was very fast paced and the ending was rushed. I also had an issue with the maturity of these characters, 11 year olds are lining up to sacrifice there lives nobly for the island but are also stupid enough to walk into dangerous territories because someone called them a bad name. In some cases they acted older, like teenagers, then like 5 year olds and then like adults - there is a lot of inconsistency there for me. It is understandable, I could never write the inner monologue of an 11 year old, I don't remember what it was like to be 11 - to me it always felt like now. In the grand scheme of the story these things are minor and mostly just annoyances. For me it stopped me really connecting with this book, but that doesn't mean other won't. There was excitement, drama, mythology, a strange setting. It would be a great read for someone less picky I imagine - after all if I don't think a book has merits I stop reading and I finished this one. So that really says all you need to know. Let me know what you think. Happy Reading! 

There are some books, you think you're above. You snort at "tweens" reading twilight or roll your eyes dramatically at the thought of Shakespeare, but then there are those other books. Those books that you have a weakness for. If your reading ability was Superman, these books are your Kryptonite. You are defenseless against them and as soon as a book presents itself in that way, it is immediately in your basket.

For me, it  Fairy tale re-tellings. I want to pretend I'm above it, silly little genre with barely any originality - but I don't. Fairy tale re-tellings are some of the most outstanding literature I have read. They are so original and it is so interesting to have people take the same story and twist and manipulate it into something completely new. So to honour my book kryptonite, here is a list of my favourites, and if that's not enough, you can find more of the genre here.

1. Angela Carter

Angela Carter was an English Novelist. She wrote Angela Carter's Book of Fairy tale and The Bloody Chamber and other stories. These are by far her most popular books and they aren't like regular re-tellings. Often seen as feminist literature, Carter's writing is violent and terrifying and really takes a good look at the female position within fairy tales and society. She looks at the impact of fairy tales on our society and flips them on their head. I would highly recommend any of her literature to any human person ever.

2. Leigh Bardugo

If you have not read Leigh Bardugo - do it now. Don't even bother with finishing this article. Just go. For a little context Bardugo's fairy tale stories are all companion novellas to the Grisha Series:
The Witch of Duva
Little Knife
The Too Clever Fox
Little Knife is my favourite and all of them are so mystical and amazing. The world she builds in these tiny little stories are just stunning.

3. Marissa Meyer

Cyborg Cinderella? Moon-person Rapunzel? NUFF SAID! Lunar Chronicles are amazing.

4. Sarah  J Maas

Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses, do seem far away from a fairy tale, but in fact TOG was originally based on Cinderella and ACOTAR is based on Beauty and the Beast. These series are both amazing representations of the ways authors interpret different stories. It is one of my favourite aspects of this genre. One of my all time favourites.

5. ONCE UPON A TIME

I'm afraid I am about to be a cheater. This series is not a book, but it is still a masterpiece of fairy-tale makeovers. ABC'S Once Upon a Time is one of the most enjoyable shows I have watched. I adore the series and Emma and the way it uses contemporary life and society in order to highlight the characters past lives. Evil Peter Pan? Whhaaaatt? I love it. I love it so much, it has snuck it's way into my book blog. DAMN YOU EMMA SWAN!

So that's it, a few of my favourite book kryptonite. I sincerely hope you enjoyed this quick little bit and I urge you to let me know in the comments, what your kryptonite is.

Happy Reading

Warning: Spoilers! (duh.)

So a week ago at the very last minute I was jet set to Leeds with the delightful Fee for a Sarah J Maas signing (shocking that I wanted to go right!? SHOCKER!) I had previously been set to go to the Newcastle one but after irresponsibly quitting my job with no back up I could no longer go. So you can guess my joy when my mother surprised me with money to go! HOLLA AT CHA MAMA!


The signing started at 12:30 and as an incredibly worrisome person I made sure we arrived at Leeds for 10am, this probably seemed ridiculous and I had planned to get food and attend to natures call before lining up but as we found the Waterstones the line was already gigantic. So I had to sit for 2 and a half hours with my bladder about to burst, stomach making whale sounds and my tired, hungry mind annoying the other people lining up, but it was so worth it.

3 games of scrabble, two awkward conversations with strangers and 1 entertaining "wee wee" dance. The line started to move, we were still in the line for a good half our before we made it to Miss Maas and well...

...her face says it all!

My first thought was MY GOD SHE'S SO PRETTY! I saw her not only talking to Fee to be polite as she signed her books but genuinely having a chat with her and writing personalised messages. I haven't been to many signings but it was clear this isn't the norm.

Then it was my turn and to say I was at creeper level 100 would be an understatement. First of all I just stared at her, like I'd been searching my whole life for the Messiah and there she was. Luckily for me, Fee chimed in with the little 'she loves you' so it made my creeper level lower, or possibly higher. I'm never sure what to say in those situations but Miss Maas was polite and sweet and honestly tried to illicit conversation from me. I'm just a blank minded robot at the point where she does this.

I won't pretend I have learnt dome lesson about signings or how to handle it for next time, I did the exact same thing at Maggie Stiefvater so maybe we all have a signing type, mine just happens to be the creeper and Fee is the charmer. If your lucky you should find one, they make you seem a hell of a lot less weird.

That one piece of hair is gonna drive me insane.

Allow me to show you this picture.

Do you see it?

Do you?

You must.

Okay well, I suppose I'll just tell you then.


I have a real issue with the way publishers format series'. Bloomsbury USA posted this update yesterday that got me thinking about it.

I had been wanting to buy Hardback editions of this series but the cover did originally look like this:

and then when Crown of Midnight was released the designed changed completely so that only the Paperbacks matched. This post however showed me that publishers are aware that things like this annoy us. Heir of Fire is also going to be released in Paperback in the UK because the rest o the series is also in Paperback.

But not all publisher do that. Series tend to start of in Paperback format, then as they get more and more popular they upgrade to Hardback. And I hate it. I then have to choose between having them mismatched or waiting months for the other edition to come out.

Take the Divergent series for instance. I bought the first one in Hardback, with the silver cover. Then Insurgent came out in England, only in Paperback with a new purple design. I bought that and the first one in the new edition, assuming it would stay that way. Then Allegiant comes out  with that design but in GODDAMN HARDBACK! And the only way I can buy Allegiant in Paperback is in a full bind up of the series, but I already own the first two in that edition. Not to mention that Four came out in a tiny, odd sized hardback.

And that's another thing, sizing...

This has to be a joke right?

Why is Lola bigger than Anna? It's the same matching cover design. What made the publisher think that I wouldn't notice this inch difference (it might as well be the size of everest).

Okay fine, this shouldn't bother me as much as it does. And it didn't really, but with Bloomsbury reissuing hardback Throne of Glass' because they know fans want the matching set, I realised that publishers know this bothers us. I don't understadn why within publishing continuity isn't seen as important when it honestly drives me round the bend.

There is little that annoys me about books, but this is definitely one.



What about you? Does it annoy you? Am I crazy? Let me know!

Warning: Spoilers! (duh.)

The Selection changed America Singer's life in ways she never could have imagined. Since she entered the competition to become the next princess of Illéa, America has struggled with her feelings for her first love, Aspen--and her growing attraction to Prince Maxon. Now she's made her choice . . . and she's prepared to fight for the future she wants.

 This is the third and final book in The Selection series by Kiera Cass. Previously America Singer (The most annoying, bad decision, anti-feminist  protagonist of all time) was dating Aspen, got into The selection (basically The Bachelor but she can marry the prince at the end) She promptly falls for Prince Maxon (who's an ass) then they fall in love and out of love and in love and Aspen shows up and it should all be very exciting...but it isn't.

Admittedly I loved the first book, America was so different from all the other girls, she was a tomboy and did what she liked but that suddenly became annoying as she starting pining over Maxon and being completely unreasonable. In the second book, they literally agree to announce their engagement, then they have a slight fight so Maxon runs off and macks on Celeste. Then says it's her fault for being mean to him. Seems like the definite person you want to spend the rest of your life with. Fucking idiot. 

Okay, so onto The One. Maxon and America are something, I don't really remember but we start and she tries to seduce him which is honestly the funniest sequence I've ever read in my life. When she talks about going to war and then he just laughs at her trying to be sexy #awkies. Then we have many many pages of her and Maxon arguing. I blocked most of that out.


 We have this beautiful kissing in the rain scene when she finally realises that despite everything, she loves him and it was lovely and I just wanted her to tell him. Maxon had previously said that if she tells him she loves then that's it, they would be together. But America is a procrastinator so she's all "nah I'll tell him later" (I'm paraphrasing) which adds to why she infuriates me.

We have the redemption of Celeste in this book and I loved Celeste anyway. I thought she was so cool and badass and an absolute bitch - but in a very entertaining way. So we have her redemption and now she's fierce and strong and friendly (basically Beyonce') and then she dies! SHE FUCKING DIES! LIKE WHYYY! And so does The Queen! I mean my two most beloved characters and she just kills them off and then skips time so we don't have to deal with their deaths. They are now on my list of fictional characters it wasn't okay to kill, Right underneath Tris and Dobby and Finnick.


America goes through more terrible decisions gets shot and her and Maxon fall out so much. I should go into detail but it is honestly so dull, you wouldn't care anyway. But literally at one point, America has her hand on Aspen's chest and Maxon calls of the wedding. 'THAT'S IT! I'M MARRYING KRISS! FUCK YOU BITCH!' (Still paraphrasing) and then he gets shot and realises he, just like America is an idiot. They honestly deserve each other.

The problem with this series, is that even all of this infuriates me. I enjoyed reading it, it was really quick and I felt satisfied and like I'd had a good read afterwards. The point of a book is escapism and it definitely succeeds. I would say it was a terrible book and I hated it, but I loved it aswell. I have a Maxon/America relationship with this series. I love it but I don't want to because it's so stupid. 

That collage scene was super cute as well! And her dad's death! DEM FEELS!

I can't even fully describe this book, I would recommend because you will enjoy it, it will also drive you insane.

Warning: Spoilers (duh)

The heroic son of Poseidon makes an action-packed comeback in the second must-read installment of Rick Riordan's amazing young readers series. Starring Percy Jackson, a "half blood" whose mother is human and whose father is the God of the Sea, Riordan's series combines cliffhanger adventure and Greek mythology lessons that results in true page-turners that get better with each installment. In this episode, The Sea of Monsters, Percy sets out to retrieve the Golden Fleece before his summer camp is destroyed, surpassing the first book's drama and setting the stage for more thrills to come.

 After being incredibly impressed with the first book in this series I was expecting big things from Sea of Monsters. It was an excellent book but I did only give it 3.5 / 5 stars. There was nothing necessarily wrong with it, it just didnt excite me as much as the first book.

I think it was the format was pretty much the same as the first so I kind of got the feel about everything that was gonna happen. 

Percy was at school, gets expelled due to monster shenanigans, we get a little camp drama and then quest time. In the quest they constantly run into trouble that they overcome in each chapter and eventually succeed. Now there is nothing wrong with this format, it worked well in the first book and was just as good as the first book. I just wanted more, a little more edge. Percy's abandonment issues didn't really come forth as much in this book and seem a little forgotten but hey ho. 

I loved Clarisse in this book, I think she's the character in which its easy to imagine then very two dimensionally, yet in this book she got some depth which is really beautiful to see. Annabeth and Percy's relationship has already changed without me even noticing which is also really lovely and I thought Grover's storyline was hilarious and gave me  many belly laughs imagining him in a wedding dress. 

I am loving this underlying plot of Kronos though, and Thalia coming back to life, I've seen the film so I knew this would happen, but it did still make me scream out at 1am like 'WOW!' it was an excellent ending. 



I couldn't help but compare it to the movie of course and this one was a lot closer to the book than the first. It was still incredibly different though, I really don't understand the filmmakers desire to turn its back on the original plot. Very frustrating.

Overall, Sea of Monsters felt like the first book but not as  fresh and insightful but it is setting up a very interesting narrative, the whole prophecy idea I am just dying to figure it out. Now however I am in uncharted territory. I don't know what happens next and I am going to be avoiding spoilers like the plague or that one really drunk girl at a party. I can't wait to find out what happens and watch the plot unfold. 

P.S I hate the movie cover so much.  

Warning: Spoilers (duh)

 We are the Liars.

We are beautiful, privileged and live a life of carefree luxury.

We are cracked and broken.

A story of love and romance.

A tale of tragedy.

Which are lies?

Which is truth?

 I literally just finished this book and was going to do this review tomorrow but my oh my, I could not wait.  I cannot express the need for you to know nothing about this book. If you haven't read it, go away, read it and come back and we can talk about it. If you spoil the ending for yourself it will not be the same.

THERE ARE SPOILERS! DON'T RUIN IT FOR YOURSELF!

Okay now we have that out of the way. OH MY GOD! That ending right. I got a feeling a few chapters before because it was getting pretty morbid and I just got that feeling I tend to get before people die in books.

Quick review: after TFIOS this may be my favourite book ever. I devoured it. I just couldn't put it down. I even met one of my best friends new boyfriend and had the book under my nose. I was just carrying it around for 2 days in case I got a chance to read it. As you can tell, I am pretty character based when I read a book. I like narrative and style but generally I am characters driven. That's what pushes a book over the top from good to great for me. And my god was this book great.

Cady is delightful. She is so real and flawed and I am just pulled into her voice. She's privileged and quite frank a little selfish. The journey of the novel is basically based around an accident she had 2 years prior. She remembers nothing from that summer 'Summer Fifteen' and has suffered from terrible migraines and pain ever since. Her journey to discover what happened and why her friends 'The Liars' ignored her ever since is tragic and beautiful. Gat and Cady have a very complex and not remotely typical love story going on. Each member of The Liars was enchanting and heart-wrenching. They were all so funny and bounced so well off each other. And they felt real. Like I could bump into them in the street. Much like Cady I was dying to know the truth and my mind was buzzing with theories relating to Gat's girlfriend and drowning. But I never truly saw the twist end coming. Yet it made so much sense.



My favourite part of the book by far was after she remembered. The guilt and the way she told the story of the left behind princesses was a thing of beauty. Lockhart uses  these fairytale-esque retelling throughout and they escalate and escalate until that final one. In the end I loved 'The Liars' as much as Cady did. I felt her pain, the family politics, the confusion and angst. I felt it all.

Lockhart also has this incredible way with words. She could utter beautiful paragraphs and phrases, tragically lovely metaphors that just swept me up and make me want to turn my body into a book so I can wear the words upon my skin. I cannot recommend this book more.