For You Fridays

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini


Born a generation apart and with very different ideas about love and family, Mariam and Laila are two women brought jarringly together by war, by loss and by fate. As they endure the ever escalating dangers around them—in their home as well as in the streets of Kabul—they come to form a bond that makes them both sisters and mother-daughter to each other, and that will ultimately alter the course not just of their own lives but of the next generation. With heart-wrenching power and suspense, Hosseini shows how a woman’s love for her family can move her to shocking and heroic acts of self-sacrifice, and that in the end it is love, or even the memory of love, that is often the key to survival.

This book was incredibly emotional and beautiful. I completely understand why this is praised by everyone. Khaled's writing style. The characters. The emotions. The stories. AMAZING. Laila and Mariam were strong and wonderful characters that go through such hard and terrible circumstances, but keep going despite everything that has happened to them. I just didn't want to put it down.
A Thousand Splendid Suns is just a vividly real and breathtaking novel that really made me think.
Splendid.

For You Fridays

Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

"I walk around the school hallways and look at the people. I look at the teachers and wonder why they're here. Not in a mean way. In a curious way. It's like looking at all the students and wondering who's had their heart broken that day...or wondering who did the heart breaking and wondering why."

Charlie is a freshman. And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it. Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But Charlie can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.

I absolutely love this book; it's such a raw and emotional book that is explored through the letters/journal entries of the awkward and loveable MC Charlie. This book really touches me and hits me right in the heart. There are so many messages and hardships explored throughout that reveal the reality of this book and the life of a teen who struggles to fit in at school and understand the way things work. I also think that Perks allows people to discover mental illness (PTSD, Anxiety) through the character who is struggling with it's eyes and the effect it has on their lives. I definitely recommend this.

For You Friday

This book is an absolute favourite of mine and highly doubt that you won't like love it. It is packed with adventure, fantasy and a heart-warming romance (or two).

The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them...

You can see my review that I already posted to know about my thoughts and recommendations in more depth. Cassandra's style of writing is amazing and the characters she has created are obsession-worthy. I love the historical fiction element, which is one of my favourite genres as well the fantasy world. The shadowhunter world created in Clockwork Angel is surely a winner for all fantasy lovers as it is complete with angels, werewolves, demons, warlocks and so many more.

Enjoy,

Georgia

For You Fridays

I just recently posted a review for This Raging Light, so feel free to read that for a more in depth recommendation/review. 

This Raging Light by Estelle Laure

Can the best thing happen at the worst time?

Her dad went crazy. Her mom left town. She has bills to pay and a little sister to look after. Now is not the time for level-headed seventeen-year-old Lucille to fall in love. But love—messy, inconvenient love—is what she's about to experience when she falls for Digby Jones, her best friend's brother. With blazing longing that builds to a fever pitch, Estelle Laure's soulful debut will keep readers hooked and hoping until the very last page.

I loved every moment of reading This Raging Light. Estelle has this beautiful and artistic way of writing that makes reading this such a nice experience. The characters are great, the plot is great and the emotions that I felt whilst reading this ranged from melting-inside to why-Estelle-why. Overall, I highly recommend this heart-warming contemporary read.          

For You Fridays

Sometimes I just need a good cry and after reading this, I got the need completely out of my system. This book is so good, I'm contemplating re-reading it, even just after I have finished it.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

The monster showed up after midnight. As they do.

But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting. He’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming…

This monster is something different, though. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.


It wants the truth.

So i just recently read A Monster Calls and it was too good to not include in an FYF. The book is a children's novel but I believe that anyone of any age could read this - it was that good. A Monster Calls is a raw, dark and emotional read that left me hanging on every word and waiting until the end. I assure you that you will shed a couple tears over this once you finish it. A Monster Calls is also filled with many dark and wondrous illustrations that complete this book and make the message all the more powerful. If you're looking for something to read, definitely pick this one up, you won't regret it.

- Georgia

For You Fridays

I read this a couple of years ago and maybe I was slightly naive but I completely loved it. It was so much fun and a very light-hearted, romantic read.

Prince of Wolves by Quinn Loftis

Jacque Pierce was just an ordinary 17-year-old girl getting ready to start her senior year in high school in Coldspring, Texas. When a mysterious foreign exchange student from Romania moves in from across the street, Jacque and her two best friends, Sally and Jen, don't realise the last two weeks of their summer are going to get a lot more interesting. 

From the moment Jacque sets eyes on Fane she feels an instant connection, a pull like a moth to a flame. Little does she know that the flame she is drawn to is actually a Canis lupis, werewolf, and she just happens to be his mate; the other half of his soul. 

The problem is Fane is not the only wolf in Coldspring, Texas.

Just as Fane and Jacque are getting to know each other, another wolf steps out to try and claim Jacque as his mate. Fane will now have to fight for the right to complete the mating bond, something that is his right by birth but is being denied him by a crazed Alpha. Will the love Fane has for Jacque be enough to give him the strength to defeat his enemy, will Jacque accept that she is Fane's mate and complete the bond between them?


I found myself laughing out loud at least twice in every chapter of the novel and I loved every single character and their exchanges. Reading this novel made me completely hooked with the series; there are multiple books following Prince of Wolves. If your a hopeless romantic, especially for paranormal romance, I definitely recommend this book. Prince of Wolves will no doubt also possibly be great for getting out of a reading slump. All in all there are eight books in the series and if you read this, there is no doubt you'll end up reading the reast of the series. Also, this book is only available online and can be purchased from iTunes or Amazon for a very low price.

Do enjoy, 

Georgia

For You Fridays

Here is a good one (my absolute favourite), perfect if your looking for a mystery novel with a hint of romance that packs a punch of literary genius-ism (oops, not a word).

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

Sooooo in love!! I read We Were Liars in one sitting, and no wonder. The writing, plot, characters and ideas were all so engaging and interesting, I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through. Such a beautiful style of writing, E. Lockhart really has a way with words and using words to create so much suspense and drama. My favourite aspect of We Were Liars was the concept of fairy tales to explain situations. I absolutely recommend this novel for anyone looking for a mysterious, captivating YA read that will make you explode in excitement and definitely be worth the while. 

Go ahead, read it, and have an absolute ball.

- Georgia

For You Friday's

This novel is one of the multiple books that really got me into reading. It's an amazing fantasy novel full of angels, vampires, warlocks and werewolves so if you love draw-you-in don't-want-to-put-it-down fantasy, there is a fat chance that you'll love this.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know... 

City of Bones is very well written; Cassandra combines the perfect mix of romance, humour and action into a story of enchantment and serious fun. As well as this, all the characters are well composed, even the side characters, and I promise you will definitely come to love them if you read this novel. The best part of this book is the world building. This first novel introduces you the Shadowhunter world perfectly and as the story progresses, the world begins to develop into something that is so enticing you won't want to put the book down. I recommend City of Bones to all urban fantasy lovers and if you like (or most likely love) it, definitely go onto reading the rest of the series.

Have fun, 

- Georgia

For You Friday

Here is this weeks book recommendation, complete with a kickass heroine and a post-apocalyptic world infested by angels.

Angelfall by Susan Ee

It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

Angelfall is the best post-apocalyptic young adult I have read. Ever. This book has a kick-ass heroine, badass angels, high action scenes and funny dialogue, all the more reasons to have this book on your shelf. Angelfall has such a unique range of characters and plot you can't help but love it. A spin on the general angel scenario, Angelfall is set in a world where the angels have gone bad and become the enemy of all humans, especially Penryn whose sister was kidnapped by them. Also, to the delight of some, romance is barely a subplot in the novel and does not dominate the story.

I definitely recommend this book for anyone who loves dystopia, fantasy and kick-ass heroines.

- Georgia

For You Fridays

As promised, each Friday I will recommend a novel that you should read, here is this weeks pick by me.

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Every girl who had taken the test has died.

Now it's Kate's turn.

It's always been just Kate and her mom - and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear that her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerising. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld - and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy - until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride and a goddess.

If she fails...

This novel will be a great addition on your shelf if you love Greek mythology. The Goddess Test is loosely based on the story of Persephone and Hades. It is about a girl named Kate who has to complete seven tests in order to become ruler of the Underworld and wife to Hades, who will perish if he doesn't find a partner to rule with soon. Aimee's writing is smooth and magical and pulls this novel along at the right pace. If you're searching for light, mythical and romantic read, this is the perfect book. Sequels are also available; Goddess Interrupted and The Goddess Inheritance.                                                                                                                 Enjoy.

- Georgia