* TOP 14 FAVOURITE BOOKS OF 2014 *

*excuse the mess

From top to bottom:

Legend by Marie Lu - my review here 

Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman - my review here 

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi - my review here 

it by Alexa Chung - my review here 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (yes, the whole series) by J.K Rowling - my review not really a review here 

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson - my review here 

Winger by Andrew Smith - my review here 

Landline by Rainbow Rowell - my review here 

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo - my review here 

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins - my review here 

Angelfall Susan Ee 

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas - my review here 

Scarlett (basically the whole of the Lunar Chronicles series) by Marissa Meyer - my review here 

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare - my review here 

Most of these are books apart of a series or companion novels, they might be the second or third books and I have linked the goodreads pages and my reviews if I have one for them. 

I gave all these book (or most, I think) 5/5 stars because I loved them very much. 

My aim in 2014 was to read 50 books and I read a total of 65 and I'm pretty sure my goodreads aim for 2015 will probably be 70 books. You can follow me on goodreads here if you like. 

Also Happy (almost depending on where you are) New Year!

Have a fab 2015!

Gone Girl | Gillian Flynn

✴ . 5

In a nutshell, Gone Girl is bloody fucked up!

If we ever had to rank books on how high they were, I would have to say Gone Girl was on some new synthetic drug cause, bloody hell it was crazy. Here we go, this is gonna be a long one. Brace yo-selves. 

I psychically have no idea how to explain this book so here is the goodreads synopsis:

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne's fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick's clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn't doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife's head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. 

Under mounting pressure from the police and the media--as well as Amy's fiercely doting parents--the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he's definitely bitter--but is he really a killer? 
As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn't do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

Gone Girl is labelled as a psychological-thriller, mystery novel. Now this may intrigue many of you as it did me, but do not be fooled. If you’re slightly on edge about this then seriously don’t read it. This book is literarily amazing and fantastic, I applaud Gillian Flynn because it really was very well thought-out and with this being said I personally struggled to enjoy.

This review is sorta pointless because I believe that for the majority of people will think it's brilliant (and I think the idea of the book was brilliant) and give it 5/5 stars, which I understand. This book just wasn't my cup of tea. But I have to review book on how I felt, hence the 2.5.

Its very hard for me to review this book as it was very hard for me to read this book. I've decided it's a 2.5-3 FOR ME. I feel as though I should give it a 3/5 stars cause I mean the idea Ms Flynn had for this book was mind boggling and i-dont-know-how-one-comes-up-with-something-like-this-!!!

It's another case of: Its not the books its me.

It’s kind of a funny story….just the other day one of my very close friends described me and my blog/reviews as (and I quote) : ‘your reviews always remind me of that sort of person who like wears flowers in their hair and drinks tea and keeps a scrapbook’ so why would someone as said read such an odd book. I’m asking myself the same goddamn question.

Its another case of: Its not the books its me the only other time I've mentioned this is in my Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen review because it was the similar situation where many people would like the book but personally I did not.

SO MANY PEOPLE LOVE THIS BOOK and I understand why they did. I suffer from anxiety attacks/panic attacks and this book was just not something I should have been reading. I read this on a plane and planes already make me freak out because gravity and howww! So when I started reading this even though I was just reading the first half which was a bit toned down I was still 

uncomfortable.

It's partially my fault that I didn't look to see what this genre was properly. Like I didn't know that this was a psychological thriller, I thought it was just a mystery novel. There is a reason I don't read mystery books, (1) because I cannot contain myself to figuring out 'who did it?' (2) it spikes my panic attacks.

This book triggers...I don't know if many people say it but it does and it was probably the worst book in the sense that I had to put it down MULTIPLE times to contain myself from a panic attack. It deals with themes of obviously mystery, dysfunctional relationships, gore, rape, sex(not making love sex), mental attributes etc. I know many things can trigger people but I thought to just warn anyone who like me (very oblivious) who may want to read this. 

I have never read anything else by Gillian Flynn and that is another downfall to this review as I have nothing else to compare and her other works might be fantastic, I also don't think I want to read anything else by her....ever. Another case of: it’s not the book or author but me. I'm sure Ms Flynn is a wonderful person and a very unique writer.

This was probably the most difficult book to read in 2014 for me and I have no freaking clue why I chose to read this now when the year is coming to a close.

I tried so hard to read this book, you cant even fathom how much. After I got like halfway through the book I started to skip pages and skim through because I wanted to know what happens without all the painful details. You're probably wondering why I wouldn't just stop and put the book down for good but the thing is I got so far through I wanted to just finish it for myself and for this blog; to say that I read something I found hard to push through and accomplish. But unfortunately that's not how anxiety works.

This book made me very anxious and I honestly don't recommend this to people who may be squeamish to these themes or people who trigger very easily. I've read two psychological thrillers this year. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (reviewed that here)  and Gone Girl and I've decided that I should stop reading psychological thrillers and mysteries because it's literally bad for my health and wellbeing. This might sound like I’m being a pussy who can't take a bit of scare or whatever but I try very hard to be open to all books and I try to read them and it's just not happening and I don’t think it ever will. Psychological-thriller/mystery novels were never something I liked reading anyways.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - another book with the prominent themes surrounding a psychological thriller - was 'alright' it was more tone down than Gone Girl. I don't think this book is flagged as adult but it feels like it should be! These characters (another thing I will get to) are in their mid-thirties.This book was mental and brilliant at the same time. I applaud Gillian Flynn for coming up with such an original book idea which is something you don't see much of these days.

Again I mostly read YA and not books like these so it was a tough start. I don't want to bash this book because I highly recommend this to people who are interested in this genre and the themes that follow. I just want to add a trigger warning as this book is intense. Gone Girl made me laugh and cry. In a perfect world where I didn't have panic attacks, yes, I probably would have enjoyed this more.

Gillian Flynn is a fantastic writer, I'm putting it out there now! She knows her way around words, she creates amazing semantic fields in her writing as well as her way of description. I have not read any of her other works as I've said before but this book did showcase Gillian Flynn's talent for writing. 

I don't want to spoil so if you want to read this book and you haven't already, skip this paragraph as it might be a spoiler. Oh these characters were a handful. For one they ARE UNRELIABLE! I don't want to spoil as much of this book as it is a mystery, but another major thing I disliked about this book was the main character(s). Bloody hell this couple were painful to keep reading on with .These characters are VERY UNRELIABLE the book is very devious. Yes, alright I agree the main character -Nick- explains himself and his ways further into the book, but I don't understand how one is so fucking oblivious and just chill about the events in this book. It was so painful to read I had to keep putting this book down (im sure i put the book down more that 15 times throughout the 3 days I read it) to contain myself so I wouldn't like scream. Also for fucks sake, why you gotta cheat? Like reading that ordeal was actually painful for me. 

Talk about dysfunctional relationships....if this book kept on going I think I would actually go insane. 

This was truly insanely brilliant. Gillian Flynn, wow I don't even know how you came up with such an idea but congratulations on how well this book has done. 

p.s

Check out my most popular reviews:
Love and Misadventure by Lang Leav
I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson
Yes Please by Amy Poehler
To All The Boys I Loved Before by Jenny Han
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Alex + Ada by Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn 

follow me on goodreads to find out what I'm reading next! 

Attachments | Rainbow Rowell

✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ . 5

Yes, I know my 'book-tripod' holding up Attachments consists of an array of odd books. I am aware. Nevermind them...stop looking at them and look at Attachments because it doesn't completely display how cute the book is compared to how it made me feel. 

I try to keep the reviews on my blog strictly young adult with a few exceptions and Rainbow Rowell is one of them. This is an Adult, Contemporary novel although it can totally be read by Y/A readers so don't worry about that. Rainbow Rowell's books can all be read by the same audiences (Y/A and Adult/New Adult) even though she writes both adult and young adult. Rainbow Rowell is one of my favourite authors ever! I love literally everything she writes; I can now officially say that I have read all the books she has released so far and I cannot wait for what more she has to come. 

*clears throat* Attachments is set in the year 1999 where the internet is still an oddity. It follows 28 (i think) year old Lincoln, a shy IT guy responsible for monitoring peoples email, just to see that it's all professional and no one is emailing about how they have just adopted another cat or what they had for lunch. As well as Lincoln, at the newspaper office, two colleagues: Beth and Jennifer are emailing back and forth discussing their lives humorously and instead of sending them both warnings about the nature of their emails, he rather spends his hours reading every single exchange. The more Lincoln gets invested in their emails, the more he sees himself falling for one of them. A very heartwarming story about following your heart and finding out if there is a such thing as love before first sight. *squeals* 

If you're not familiar with Rainbow Rowell's works, I will recommend you some:

*...In another edition of Fiona recommends you...* 

Fangirl (I reviewed this here.)
Eleanor and Park (read this ages ago so no review :( but I did enjoy it and it was very heartwarming.)
Landline (my all time favourite by her and I reviewed this here.)
and of course Attachments (this is the review...)
She also did a short story in the Twelve Holiday Stories called My True Love Gave To Me.

I have also realised that in EVERY SINGLE RAINBOW ROWELL BOOK I CRY MY EYES OUT! THIS IS A MONSTROSITY but I still adore her books. It's a recurring theme and I've come to embrace it. 

So here's the sitch, my lovely, beautiful, wonderful friend Tess lent this to me and I cannot thank her enough for that (you can follow her on tumblr here) and she lent this to me on my birthday back in October....and it has taken me almost three months to get to it which is horrible but I've read it and now I will share. 

Rainbow Rowell has a way with words; building characters and her amazing sense of capturing love and what it feels like in her books. She is truly a terrific writer and I'd read anything she ever wrote! Her writing is filled with humour and at the same time you never want to stop reading; that's why every time I finish her books I feel as thought THEY ARE NOT FINISHED because I want more. She is a very flexible writer in the sense that her characters in each book she writes are really different to each other, the only thing she really keeps the same throughout all her books is the link to Omaha (Nebraska) is in literally all her books (but that's where she's lives so...) Her characters are filled with compassion and are always very funny you can't help but get attached (see what I did there....ha.....h...a....) and feel for these characters. Maybe that's why her books coax the waterworks back for most people. There is an emotional aspect in her books although there is always, somewhat a happy ending. There just has to be. 

I still feel as though Landline is my favourite and that's only because it was the book I most related towards and felt all nice & mushy on the inside. Not that I'm in my mid-twenties and am married with two kids but the ordeal that this couple go through in that book is just....*sighs*....very cute. Read it. Did I mention I had a review on that here? Well I do! It's here. Don't get me wrong, I did love Attachments but I didn't love it as much as Landline (ya feel? hence the 4.5) and I felt as though there could be more in Attachments as I thought it was quite abrupt and slightly obscure. But I still felt all nice & mushy. 

I've also been in a reading slump for a month and this is a fabulous 'pick-me-up'. 

Seriously read her books! You won't regret it. 

Cress #3 | Marissa Meyer

this is a very old photo i took like in april or something like that

✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴

This is the third book in the Lunar Chronicle series by Marissa Meyer and I know I've never reviewed a book by her on my blog and that's because I read the first two books: Cinder and Scarlet before I made this blog, however I do have a review (more like me trying to review) of Scarlet on my goodreads and I'll link it here. In order to understand the premiss of the series and this review if you haven't read the first two books, I think you should look at the goodreads pages I've linked above as you can then read the synopsis of the each book, even though this is a spoiler free review....it is the third book....and you have been warned. 

Seriously though, get on this series if you haven't already, these books get better as you read on and get more invested in the series and characters. Marissa Meyer is a phenomenal writer! I have no idea why it took me so long to finally get to this as I finished Cinder and Scarlet around the first couple of months of 2014 and I waited this long to read this book...I have no idea why. Like this was amazing, what is wrong with me. Winter (the fourth instalment of this series) might just be my most anticipated book of 2015, as of right now. 

Nevertheless, the books I have read from Marissa Meyer have been fantastic and I've given them all 5/5 stars because -omg-she-is-amazing-and-her-books-are-like-also-amazing-and-I-love-her-!!!-. 

The Lunar Chronicle's is a Young Adult, Fantasy series. Don't be frightened by the fantasy as it's no Game of Thrones or Throne of Glass but it's very well built and put together. I would definitely recommend this series to people who are just starting to get into fantasy or if you just want a good fantasy read.  

I will paste the goodreads synopsis of Cress here for people who have the read the first two books or for anyone curious, although if you have not yet started on this series, go look at the Cinder synopsis (these books are phenomenal!)

In this third book in the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.
 
Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.
When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.

These book are renditions of fairytales, for example the first book: Cinder is about Cinderella who is half cyborg. I don't know if that intrigues you or if you're running away right not but damn son I was hitting that up! 

The Lunar Chronicle's consist of (in order from first to last):

Cinder #1
Scarlet #2
Cress #3
Winter #4 (yet to be released)

As I mentioned before they are sorta, kinda like fairytale retellings but not exactly. You would have to read them to understand as Cinder is Cinderella who is half human half cyborg, Scarlet is Little Red Riding Hood, Cress is Rapunzel and Winter is Snow White. 

There are many things I love about this series but one thing I adore the most is how memorable these characters are and how relatable they can me. These books get better and better as they continue with another instalment and it's absolutely fantastic; each book has a new 'main' character, for example in Cinder, Cinder was the main character. In Scarlet, Scarlet was the main character, however in Scarlet, Cinder was still present and is still incorporated. Once we get to Cress...Cress is the main character along with Cinder and Scarlet and everyone they have met and it just becomes epic! They are like companion novel to each other but not like the Anna and the French Kiss books where the other characters make 'book cameos'. In the Lunar Chronicles everyone you meet becomes a large part of the book and follows all the main characters in third person. I seriously hope this makes sense.

I feel as though this book was so far the best. Like I said above the books get better as you read on and I can only imagine how awesome Winter will be when it comes out. Out of the three protagonist we have had the pleasure of meeting, I've related so much with Cress and it was quite emotional as she was basically me...in a book. I mean I'm no pro at hacking and I haven't been prisoner in a satellite but her personality and the way her mind works is much to mine and that made it so much more emotional because when she was upset I was upset. It was an emotional roller coaster.

Here is a tweet I remember tweeting yesterday when I was extremely sleep deprived and practically drooling on the book:

Oh yeah...how rude of me, now you can follow me on twitter @fionajadex you won't regret it *winks*. 

I believe that there are a couple of novellas in between these books, the one I'm most familiar with is Fairest (coming out around the beginning of 2015 I believe) which is a prequel follows the backstory of the 'evil' Queen Levana (which I believe is the Evil Queen in Snow White). Not to mention all these covers are breathtaking! 

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah (even though it's over), Happy almost Kwanzaa or whatever you celebrate! I hope you have a lovely one and even if you don't celebrate anything I hope you're having a fantastic day a cosy winter (summer if you're down under) and a fabulous last few days of 2014!  

Music that I recommend TO JAM OUT TO BECAUSE IT'S FLIPPING FANTASTIC *make the most of the last few days of 2014 guys, even if you're just belching songs* :

FKA Twiggs (tbh anything by her)
Nicki Minaj's new album The Pink Print - guys there are some emotional songs on there and it's a brilliant album.
One Direction - 'FOUR' if you're into it.
Sam Smith, Sam Smith, Sam Smith, Sam Smith, Sam Smith, Sam Smith, Sam Smith...
Youth Lagoon.
Taylor Swift *1989* it's a lovely album and has great tunes to get into the New Year with.
Beyonce...!!!
Meghan Trainor - YES, she has more songs than just All About That Bass and her full album is coming out in Jan or Feb.
BREAKING NEWS: FALL OUT BOY HAS NEW MUSIC and it's bloody amazing!
Ed Sheeran cause Ed Sheeran.
Bastille and Arctic Monkeys....anyone else you love, there is probably many I don't have time to mention but I hope you jam out to some of these.

I wish you all a very fabulous year ahead. 
I hope you guys are all surrounded by people you love and people who love you, even if you're not or you're not close to your family, listen to some good music and just be happy. 
Everything will get better. 
Stay safe. 
x

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows | J.K Rowling

✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴

Oh, how I'm gonna miss this series now that I've finished.

People say Harry Potter is their childhood and I agree, I mean these books are for any age, they never get old. 

I've read all seven throughout the year and given all 5/5 stars, but I have not reviewed them, not here. Why?......cause it's Harry Potter.....what is there to review! 

But as this year is coming to a close and this is the seventh; final book I though I might make a post and reminisce. The nostalgia is real. 

Lets first address this beautiful edition of the final book I have. This book was originally around £66 but I got it at a bargain price of £6. !!!!!!!. I'm not over this. I was at a friends place and she has a local bookstore nearby and they were having a sale on ALREADY BARGAINED PRICED BOOKS. I then went into my normal bookstore and saw that this was originally a whopping 66 pounds and this edition is so pretty! I did not get over this for like a month. It's a proper hardback with beautiful gold rimmed pages. 

You might be wondering why I have labelled pages with stickies. I did this because I want to put into perspective the deaths that occurred in this book compared to the other six books (also because it was fun). The rest of the Harry Potter series up until this book have legit, barley anyone dying but as we proceed toward the end of the series the death toll picks up. 

Also I didn't cry! I mean I probably would have but I already knew everyone who died and that might have been a factor to why I didn't cry. But I did tear up at Dobby. He was a wonderful elf. Also these books have been out for more that 10+ years so I think most people have extensive knowledge and if you don't and I have spoiled....sorry but 10+ years bruh! Get on it! 

This isn't a review... There isn't anything to review, I should have probably said this first but, any-who these books are great and you should really read them. 

After each book I've read I watched the movie for it and I have no regrets! The movies are absolutely fantastic. Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe, Evanna Lynch, Mathew Lewis and many more and just amazing and I love them all. 

I'm gonna miss this series as now it's ended ALL OVER AGAIN. I'm probably going to re-read them next year. I can't help myself. 

All was well. 

December.

I'm alive. 

Like seriously I didn't like give up on this blog or like decide to travel the world. But a lot and I mean A LOT has happened since my hiatus. Ferguson, Palestine, Mexico, Hong Kong, Thailand, more recently Sydney, Pakistan and many more and it's like a harrowing tragedy after another. I didn't feel in the mood in the midst of all these horrific events to be posting and reading anything really; I just felt that it was very tone deaf and could be held for another time. 

I was hoping that 2014 would be a fantastic year for myself as I was recovering and trying to find/understand myself more. I created this blog to document my reading journey, if you will. I was too focused on a relationship I have with a very lovely person whilst trying to focus on my studies whilst coping with social anxiety. I realised that there was a time and place for a relationship and right now at this time and place I didn't need that; I needed to help myself better in order to feel better. I'm glad I've overcome so much but a lot of  tragic incidents were littered through this year, I kept everyone affected in my thoughts and I hope right now that the people in Pakistan, Sydney are holding strong and everyone is staying safe.  Not just those, but everyone and everything else that has affected many, I hope you are safe. 

It wasn't just that these issues where going on and it was honestly so frightening to see this happen, but in the midst of this havoc I was going through some important exams and that consumed most of my time. I haven't read anything for the whole of November (apart from one book at the beginning of the month) and that is why there was no November tbr or wrap up. I don't think many people actually read this but more so for my documented thoughts and for that reason I didn't think I needed to rapidly update.  

Christmas/Hanukah is near and any other traditions you may celebrate are coming close as well as another year. I may or may not do a '2014 books I read' but then again very tone deaf and I would prefer to address all this first. 

If you care, I am currently reading/trying to finish Deathly Hallows and I have just about 90 or so pages left. I don't really have a tbr for this month and I'm more or less just going with it. If you would like to know what I am reading/any updates I will just link my goodreads and twitter. 

I hope you are all well and take care. 

Please keep all these people affected in your thoughts and prayers. 

Send love. 

x