Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

Publication date: 1st March, 2012

My rating: 3.75/5 stars

Goodreads page

Summary:

Greg Gaines is the last master of high school espionage, able to disappear at will into any social environment. He has only one friend, Earl, and together they spend their time making movies, their own incomprehensible versions of Coppola and Herzog cult classics.

Until Greg’s mother forces him to rekindle his childhood friendship with Rachel.

Rachel has been diagnosed with leukemia—-cue extreme adolescent awkwardness—-but a parental mandate has been issued and must be obeyed. When Rachel stops treatment, Greg and Earl decide the thing to do is to make a film for her, which turns into the Worst Film Ever Made and becomes a turning point in each of their lives.

And all at once Greg must abandon invisibility and stand in the spotlight.

My thoughts:

I read this book quite a while back but wanted to review and recommend it now to you guys before the movie came out. 

This. Book. Is. Hilarious.

Funniest one I've ever read without a doubt. From the summary you can deduce that it's got a The Fault In Our Stars vibe but I see it more like a TFIOS parody. Not that that was the intention of this book but it sure feels like it sometimes. They've got their similarities; girl with cancer, funny side character, weird main guy,have I mentioned cancer? yeah. 

This book is different though. It doesn't revolve around the disease which I really really appreciate. I don't actually have much to say about this book because every time I remember the scenes I burst out laughing. Jesse Andrews wrote a comical masterpiece. The swearing tho. *claps*

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Publication date: 1991

My rating: 5/5 (more like 5 billion)

Goodreads page

Summary:

The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is just back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an “outlander”—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of Our Lord...1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life, and shatter her heart. For here James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire—and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

My thoughts:

There are some books that you know you'll love before you even pick the damn thing up. It's not only that the summary intrigues you, it's almost like the book draws you towards itself and makes you restless to the point that unless you have successfully devoured the pages, you don't feel at peace. Needless to say, this book did just that. Why you ask?

Historical fiction - check.

Time travel aspect - check.

Hot Scot in a kilt - check.

Mindblowing steamy scenes - check.

Heartbreaking moments - check.

This book has it all. After finishing this book, I felt like my outlook on life itself had changed somehow. Maybe I'm exaggerating here but sue me. I was a bundle of nerves, ugly crying towards the end.

On having finished this book, I literally thanked Diana Gabaldon for being born and the universe for making this a longass series. I don't know about you but I need more Jamie. Even 8 books aren't enough. The TV show has done a fantastic job casting Sam Heughan. Let me demonstrate why.

Girl Online by Zoe Sugg

Girl Online by Zoe Sugg

Publication date: Nov 25th, 2014

My rating: 3.75/5 stars

Goodreads page

Summary:

Penny has a secret.

Under the alias GirlOnline, she blogs about school dramas, boys, her mad, whirlwind family - and the panic attacks she's suffered from lately. When things go from bad to worse, her family whisks her away to New York, where she meets the gorgeous, guitar-strumming Noah. Suddenly Penny is falling in love - and capturing every moment of it on her blog.

But Noah has a secret too. One that threatens to ruin Penny's cover - and her closest friendship - forever.

My thoughts:

Let's just get the controversy out of the way, shall we? Ever since this book released last year, many have claimed that this is ghostwritten, i.e. it's been written in part by someone else. Now, I don't know whether that is true but I do know it's been highly edited at least. Am I surprised? Of course not. We need to keep in mind that Zoe is a beauty vlogger and fashion guru. She wanted to write a book and so she did, with some help. Personally, I don't mind it. At the end of the day i got to read a good book and that's all that matters to me. Not everyone who has an idea can put it into words as beautifully as some great writers who have the knack for it. So should we not express our thoughts or publish our story? We should and we will. I don't condone what Zoe has done if the result has contributed a good piece of work to the field of literature.  So keep your controversy to yourself!

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Publication date- 10th February, 2015

My rating- 3.5/5

Goodreads page

Summary:

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of

those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

My thoughts:

The whole concept of Red bloods and Silver bloods is enough to draw anybody in, to be honest. Why wouldn't it be? In this dystopian world, the Silvers have all the power and are treated like Gods since they do possess special powers and abilities whereas the Reds are ordinary folks making up the working class and are treated like slaves.

I'm pretty sure the author did some kind of research on blood and saw the words 'bone marrow' and thought she could just interchange some letters and voila, we have the name of our protagonist. Mare Barrow. Am i the only one who saw through this silly little thing? I hope not. But i have to give it to her; she was a kick-butt character and definitely one of few in Young Adult novels who stayed focused throughout and kept her head in the game. She hated the Silvers with every bone in her body (get it? =P) and wasn't afraid to hide it.

There's a prominent love triangle in this which I thought was executed quite properly. Who is it gonna be? CAL OR MAVEN? The struggle was real.

But that plot twist though. 

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Publication date- 18th March, 2014

My rating- 5/5 stars

Goodreads page

Summary:

At twenty-two years old, Sydney is enjoying a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her best friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers that Hunter is cheating on her—and she’s forced to decide what her next move should be.

Soon, Sydney finds herself captivated by her mysterious and attractive neighbour, Ridge. She can't take her eyes off him or stop listening to the passionate way he plays his guitar every evening out on his balcony. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either. They soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one.

A passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance, Maybe Someday will immerse readers in Sydney’s tumultuous world from the very first page.

My thoughts:

While reading this book:

I LOVED this book. I'd heard a lot about Colleen Hoover and wanted to read some New Adult so i finally decided to read this one as it's one of her most recommended books. 

Let's just say this book ripped my heart right out of my chest.

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Publication date- August 17, 1945

My rating: 4.5/5 stars

Goodreads page

Summary:

Tired of their servitude to man, a group of farm animals revolt and establish their own society, only to be betrayed into worse servitude by their leaders, the pigs, whose slogan becomes: "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." This 1945 satire addresses the socialist/ communist philosophy of Stalin in the Soviet Union.

My thoughts:

This book is a political satire on not only the Russian Revolution and Stalin's era but also politicians and governing bodies in general. 

The animals of Manor Farm are sick and tired of being ruled and ordered around by the owner of the farm and so take it upon themselves to rid themselves of him and be their own leaders and live freely. In an epic battle that follows, Mr. Jones loses and runs for his life. The animals rename it 'Animal Farm' and adopt Seven Commandments which they have to adhere to.

After Old Major, the old boar dies, Snowball and Napolean, the two young pigs assume command but soon there is a fallout between them as they both want to adopt various policies for the benefit of the farm. Napolean through his tricking ways, makes the gullible animals turn against Snowfall who eventually leaves making Napolean their sole master.

As the years pass by, things at the farm keep changing. Old Commandments are forgotten and replaced by new ones thanks to the animals' short memories which Napolean uses to his advantage. The animals are made to work for grueling hours to build a windmill which keeps getting destroyed. They do not get enough food and are deprived of their freedom but they accept it all as they deem it necessary for the welfare of their farm. Napolean slowly takes over Mr.Jones' house and starts wearing clothes trying to resemble humans. The earlier Commandment of 'All animals are created equal' is in a sick turn of events, modified to 'All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others' and the name 'Manor Farm' restored.

The novella ends with the animals witnessing Napolean having a dinner party with animals and human allies where they can't differentiate between the two.

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

                                                       

Publication date - 27th May 2010 by Definitions

My rating- 5/5 stars

Summary:

She is pretty and talented- sweet sixteen and never been kissed.

He is seventeen; gorgeous and on the brink of a bright future.

And now, they have fallen in love.

But.... they are brother and sister.

Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As defacto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives—and the way they understand each other so completely—has also also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: a love this devastating has no happy ending.

Goodreads page

My Thoughts:

My physical state after finishing this book-

The first thing you need to know about this book is that it revolves around the very dark and controversial theme of incest. If that topic makes you uncomfortable in any way, i suggest to let this one go even though i personally didn't find myself squirming at any point of time; something i was expecting to do a lot in this book.

This book is an emotional roller coaster and when i read the summary on Goodreads and saw so many people rave about this book, i just had to pick it up. The best thing about this book for me was the way the author drew us into the story and made us witness their home life and everyday travails which helped to justify the relationship between Lochan and Maya. Tabitha didn't force their love on us but very effectively made us realise how in their situation it was not only possible but also their only option. 

The ending of this book made me wail for two hours straight and i couldn't function properly for a long period of time.