Waiting On Wednesday #1 : I WAS HERE by Gayle Forman

I have decided to start a new weekly post. After reading and taking inspiration from various other blogs about books, I have decided to start WAITING ON WEDNESDAY post. 

I WAS HERE 
by Gayle Forman

Publication Date : January 27th 2015
Publisher : Viking Juvenile
Genre: Young Adult / Contemporary / Romance
Available to order: Amazon UK





Cody and Meg were inseparable.
Two peas in a pod.
Until . . . they weren’t anymore.
 
When her best friend Meg drinks a bottle of industrial-strength cleaner alone in a motel room, Cody is understandably shocked and devastated. She and Meg shared everything—so how was there no warning? But when Cody travels to Meg’s college town to pack up the belongings left behind, she discovers that there’s a lot that Meg never told her. About her old roommates, the sort of people Cody never would have met in her dead-end small town in Washington. About Ben McAllister, the boy with a guitar and a sneer, who broke Meg’s heart. And about an encrypted computer file that Cody can’t open—until she does, and suddenly everything Cody thought she knew about her best friend’s death gets thrown into question.
 
I Was Here is Gayle Forman at her finest, a taut, emotional, and ultimately redemptive story about redefining the meaning of family and finding a way to move forward even in the face of unspeakable loss.

I love Gayle Forman's writing. Her stories are very down-to-earth, very relate able and very un-put-down-able. So I cannot wait to get my hands on her newest baby. 

But what are you waiting on this wednesday? 

Please let me know, I am always happy to here more suggestions ! 

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, 
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**

Naoki Higashida : THE REASON I JUMP ( Introduced by David Mitchell )

Warning: You will never look at autism the same way & you will finally understand.

THE REASON I JUMP is not a work of fiction. It's actually a work of truth. Naoki Higashida wrote it when he was only 13 years old. Naoki is autistic. He doesn't look at the world the same way we do, but he also understands the struggle of others to understand the children or adults who are autistic. So taking into the account his previous life struggles, he decided to answer some question you might have, but never will find answer to in any of other subject-related books.

David Mitchell is a well known and respectable author who wrote many international best-sellers. He has a daughter and a son. And his son has autism. Mr Mitchell went  through every possible book on the subject of autism available, but couldn't find the answers he was looking for. Until his wife brought home Naoki's book.

I have first came across this book when looking through reads on Waterstones website and through their book club. Immediately, it had caught my attention, but even I couldn't apprehend how special this book is. It's been sitting on my book shelf for quite some time, until finally it found its place on my January TBR list. And I couldn't make a better choice. It opened up my mind to understanding and realisation of what these wonderful children and people have to go through on daily basis. And not only it holds a wonderful explanation of the most common questions the general public has, but it helps parents and adults who's family member is autistic to understand their behaviour. 

Wrapped in beautiful paperback, Naoki write some answers to questions we all have. Why do you like jumping? Why are you preferring being alone? Why do you take ages to answer questions? And more and more. There is 58 questions and answers in total spread across 178 pages. And they truly give you a glance into a world of autism. You will finally understand a little bit better to their world and what is going around them. And you will have so much newfound respect for people who has been born with autism. 

This is one of the most inspiring, thoughtful and heart-shattering books I have ever read. Starting with the introduction written by David Mitchell You will left with tears as he describes his struggle with with his son's autism and when he was first diagnosed. Don't read it on the bus, people looked at me funny when they saw me all teared up.

But it's just kept on coming. I was truly engrossed with this book and the answers which are sometimes so unexpected. It's magnificent that Naoki wrote this only when he was 13 years old! His intelligence and talent shines all the way through. Not only he gives you a first hand view into his world of struggle, but he also writes stories which will leave you breathless. 

Beautiful. Mind-blowing. An Exceptional piece of literature which won't leave a dry eye in the house. I recommend for everyone to read, so they can understand the everyday struggle children and people like Naoki have to go through every single day. You will be left speechless. 

Gayle Forman : WHERE SHE WENT

Warning! If you are expecting a story similar to IF I STAY, then you are in for a surprise!

WHERE SHE WENT is sequel to best selling novel, If I Stay,  written by the talented Gayle Forman. Ms Forman took the world of literature by storm, when her debut novel climbed onto Times Best-selling list. Last year, we could see If I Stay, on the big screen too.


But Ms Forman isn't just a one time wonder. Her story-telling has become so popular that every novel from her pen becomes a best-seller within days from publishing. I have been meaning to read WHERE SHE WENT for quite some time, but there were always books I gave preference to, but this month this finally made on my January TBR list. Not only that, but it has also become the first book to be read in #ZCbookclub - an monthly book club started by the little me and Sara from Carpe Librum Girl on Instagram.


It's been 3 years since Mia Hall - the love of his life - walked out of Adam's life. He's been to hell and back. All his musical dreams came through, but he is haunted by the ghosts of past. He is struggling to cope with new-found fame and being always in the spotlight. Although he is trying to move on with his life, it always comes back to Mia and her leaving him behind. Adam hasn't seen Mia since she walked out on him, but one night in New York before he supposed to leave for the big tour, he find himself watching Mia's concert at Carnegie Hall. Will Adam find out the answers to his questions which have been on his mind since the awful day she left him behind? Or will it all be just a random encounter which leaves them both to move forward with both of their lives?

Let's talk about the edition of the book first. Paperback. 267 pages divided into 23 chapters. The beginning of each other chapter is marked with song lyrics by Shooting Star and their debut album Collateral Damage which always give a glimpse into Adam's feelings and mental state when he was writing that particular song. There is a beautiful photograph of Adam and Mia on the cover of the book. They are gazing into each other's eyes and communicate with their own silent language. The paperback also includes lyrics to Adam's debut album Prepare for Landing. A nice touch Ms Forman. You have really thought this through.


The writing. Firstly, I want to praise the decision of Ms Forman to write this book from Adam's point of view. It's been refreshing. The writing is raw, dark and very truthful. You can feel the anger Adam is feeling towards Mia for abandoning him. He is such a messed up guy with so many demons who are haunting him. He is addicted to pills which calm his nerves and help him with panic attacks. He feels alone in the world with nobody understanding him. Even though he reached all what he desired, at least where music is concerned, he is unhappy. He is missing Mia dearly. And all this emotions are expressed in Forman's writing. It's haunting. It's sad. It's heart-shattering. And it's un-put-down-able. I just couldn't stop reading the story. Straight away it got under my skin and wouldn't let go. And I must say, I preferred to the original story.

The story itself is packed with raw emotions, sadness, lost hope and loneliness. But soon enough, it starts to change and maybe, just maybe there is still hope for Adam and his lost love. I love how the author skips between the present and the past. It keeps you more engaged. It makes you more invested in the story. You just want to keep on reading. Slowly, but surely, the little flame of hope that Mia and Adam can find their way back to each other, turns into a full on flame. Blazing. Burning. A light in the darkness. But will they be able to put their past behind and step into the future? Will they be able to forgive each other? You have so many questions, and you are finding yourself reading more so you can get your answers.


I have loved the author's explanation of why Mia left Adam. Why she has broken the heart of the only boy she ever loved and when Mia explains, you will understand. I promise you. So keep on reading. Don't give up the hope for happy ending. The story is just getting started. After you finish it, you will be left speechless. It's beautiful. A wonderful love story which leaves you breathless. I have loved every page of it.

So thank you Ms Forman. Thank you for giving us a glimpse into Adam's life. Thank you for giving us answers. And THANK YOU for writing such a unique, heart-breaking, beautiful love story. You have taken my breath and mind away.

Jennifer E. Smith : THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

Warning! If you think this is just another love-story, you are wrong! There is so much more to this book than boy meets girl and they fall in love. It's one of those stories which takes you deeper than expected.

THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT is a contemporary YA novel  written by the lover of both New York and London, talented writer and always a dreamer Jennifer E. Smith. It was first published in 2012 and quickly became very popular in reader's world.

"A gorgeous, heartwarming reminder of the power of fate." NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

"Similar to ONE DAY, this story of love and heartbreak is a real gem." CLOSER

"I read it in one sitting and when I finally put it down I was beaming an a bit tearful" KERIS STAINTON

"Romantic and wise... a must-read. And the second you meet Oliver, you're going to pray you miss your next flight!" Sarah Mlynowski

"The ultimate feel good read. I defy anyone not to fall in love with it. A book that will touch even the most recusant romantics and will 100% make you believe in love at first sight."                             JESS (http://jessheartsbooks.blogspot.co.uk )

I have received this book from the lovely Sara from http://carpelibrumgirl.blogspot.co.uk . Bless her thinking of me around Christmas time. This book was one of the presents I have received from her and found under my Christmas tree. Of course, I had to read it. So many book bloggers and reviewers had said so many wonderful things about this book, I had to find out if the rave about it was all true. So, logically, the book found its place on my January TBR list. 

Do you believe in faith? Do you believe in love at first sight? Well... meet Hadley who has just missed her flight to London. She is on her way to her worst nightmare - her dad's wedding to 'the british woman' Charlotte. And she has missed her flight. By 4 minutes!! Not only, she has to attend a wedding she doesn't want to witness or take part in, but now she has to wait for another plane and there is no guarantee that she makes it on time. But then faith brings her to Oliver. The handsome, well mannered and well behaved, british guy studying in Yale. Every girl's dream. And the faith brings them together on the most unexpected night. Will it be love at first sight? Or will it be one night which won't mean a thing?

Ok, let's start with easy part. The edition. Paperback. 215 pages divided into 18 chapters. Every chapter has both time stamps - The Eastern Standard Time & The Greenwich Mean Time. Original. I am liking it. Bright beautiful cover with bold lettering and only two pairs of feet in pumps. The background and the bold part is the beautifully green grass. Simple, yet affective. I like it. It doesn't look cheep, it looks modern, indie kind of look. 

The writing style of Ms Smith is easy to read. Modern. Packed with pop culture references. The writing is so relate able that any reader can get easy to the story. The author lines the present story with the snippets from Hadley's memories. So the readers are not going blind into the story and can slowly create the picture of the past in their mind. 

The story. Every single review I have read describes this as a wonderful love-story which makes you believe in faith all over again. And I don't disagree. I am a big believer of faith. Every single thing in life happens for a reason. For Hadley and Oliver it was missing her flight which brought them together. And it is a love-story, yes. But the biggest and most important part of the story for me was the fallout between Hadley and her father. The scenes between them were the ones I remember the most. As they made me cry so much. I have loved how she fought him every chance she got. She didn't forgive him for leaving her and her mum. She was angry. But the best part for me was when she realised that she missed him and she wants to be part of his life again. I sobbed like a baby when reading these parts. 

Hadley and I had so much in common and therefore I could relate to her character the most. But I fell in love with Oliver. Any girl would. British. Gorgeous. Guy with manners. There is not many of his kind around the world anymore (no offence to the male population - but somehow they lost the touch with manners which made them so gentleman-y).


I really enjoyed reading this story with its turns and twists I have not seen coming. It was wonderful, exciting, tearful, heart-shattering but at the same time loveable story. I couldn't put it down! I had to read on. 

And you know what! Yes, it made me believe in the love at first sight a little bit more. But it also showed me how to forgive and let go. How to see the the bigger picture.. And at the end, it also formed even bigger belief in faith itself. 

Well done Ms Smith. What a wonderful, beautifully written story about love at first sight you have created. I have enjoyed every single sentence, page, chapter... Thank you. Thank you for reminding us of faith and forgiveness.

Excuse me now, I am going to hang around the nearest airport so I can meet my own Oliver ;-)

Stephanie Perkins : ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER

Warning! If you aren't a fan of romance and YA genre, just put the book back on the shelf. It's not for you. On the other hand, if you read YA and romance.. step closer, pick up the book, take it to the cashier, pay for and bring it home. Make yourself a cup of tea and get reading!!

ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER is a third book in the Anna and the French Kiss series written by the wonderful author of YA and romantic genre - Stephanie Perkins.


I know, I know.. Before you all start shouting at me. I know I have skipped one book, but I will get to it..Promise! It's just this book is green and my TBR list for January is themed with green books so I kinda decided to read it. And I will be honest, I didn't regret it it.




Meet Isla. The beautiful and very smart girl who is a bit of an introvert. She only has one friend - Kurt - who she's known since they both been in diapers. Isla is a student at the prestigious School of America in Paris and she has a major crush on Josh. Josh has been untouchable for past 3 years, but the senior year of high school is here. Josh is single and one summer afternoon Isla and Josh bump into each other. I can smell the romance from miles. 

Ok, let's have a quick look at the edition first. Green paperback with the skyline of New York. Bold lettering. 375 pages divided into 34 chapters. I love how all the books in the series have been themed to the same style. They compliment each other. I am always grateful when the publisher decides to stick with the theme.



The writing. Well it's what we can expect from Stephanie Perkins. Modern. Easy to read and relate to. It's funny, exciting, thrilling and very addictive. As usual, the writing captures my attention straight from the start. Stephanie knows how to write love-stories. Her story-telling just sings a wonderful melody to my heart.

The story is oh so romantic. If you liked Anna & The French Kiss, you will love Isla's story. If you loved Anna's story, you will absolutely adore Isla & Josh's love story. Everything about this book has a sign of a good romance. A nerdy girl who crushes on a boy but never think that she could catch his eye. A boy who rebels against rules and parents. By faith, they meet and fall in love in the City of Love and Light - Paris. You cannot go wrong. Of course, don't expect a smooth journey. These two have a long road to happiness ahead of them. Separation. Not enough trust. Past relationships all come to play and make sure that these two have to fight for their love story to reach a happily ever after.

Dear Stephanie! Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU for writing this wonderful and beautiful love story. I have fallen in love. I wasn't able to put the book down and it had me reading until the early hours of the morning.


All the characters in the book are so relate able to us. We all could find a piece of us in either of them.  Isla, the smart and beautiful girl, who lacks the confidence. Josh, the rebel who is extremely talented artist. Kurt, the best friend with little faults, but you love him even more for it. And of course, the sister who is out there to cause trouble.


And the best part was the ending... just wow!! Not only Stephanie brought together the characters from the other two books in the series, but she managed to write the most romantic ending I've ever read. It got me crying with happiness and joy.




What an amazing ending story to leave this book series with. Stephanie Perkins went out with a bang. I, now, cannot wait to read the only book I missed out in this series LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR. Sooner or later I will get you!!



All in all, I have fallen under the spell of Ms Perkins story-telling and I cannot wait to read other stories which will be produced from her pen.

Morgan Matson : SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE

Warning: If you expect Kelly Clarkson's song to be turn into a book, you are in for a big surprise.

Question: What would you do if you best friend suddenly disappears and all you have left is a list of things to do over the summer?

SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE is a YA contemporary novel written by the beautiful and very talented author Morgan Matson. This is Matson's third book and I am very excited to find out if the author's writing as wonderful as I have been told.

I have purchased this book over the summer as one of my book hauls on  www.amazon.co.uk/books . And since then, it has been sitting on my shelf. I have heard really good reviews about this books so of course I must have find out for myself if they are all true. So since I have joined Carpe Librum Girl's TBR Pile Challenge, this book was one of my first choice to be read. Actually, it's because of this book, most of my January Reading Challenge's books are green. Has anyone noticed that little detail?

Emily and Sloane are best friends and spend nearly all their time together.  Then one day, out of the blue, at the beginning of their epic summer together, Sloane and her family disappears. She doesn't pick up her phone, her house is empty and Emily is besides herself. Where is her best friend? Is she coming back? Why she didn't say goodbye? Is this the end of their friendship? And then, a letter arrives in Emily's mailbox. It's written in Sloane's handwriting and all it's in it is a to-do-list of tasks that wallflower Emily wouldn't normally do. Thinking it will bring her some answers, Emily throws herself into the journey of completing the tasks on the list. And on the way she finds some unexpected surprises. But will the completing of the list bring her back to Sloane?


Let's have a look at the edition of the book first. A paperback. 449 pages long written in two different fonts to establish what's the present and what's the past. A very summery picture of two best friends on front and the back. All you think about when picking up this book is, this could be a great summer read. And it really turns out to be a joyful ride.

The writing is easy to follow. Modern. Exciting. Very relate able. It's thrilling to read how the beautiful but very introvert Emily copes with the list of her tasks which includes : Skinny-dipping, Stealing, Breaking, Dancing Till Dawn, Hugging a Jamie, Spilling Secrets in Dark or Kissing a Stranger...

To be absolutely honest, I wasn't very excited about the concept at the start. When I first picked up the book, I thought it might be a mindless reading to keep my mind busy for a little while. Nothing too complicated. At when reading the first 30 pages I thought, it might be a little bit boring with the detailed descriptions. But it turns out, I was wrong.


I have enjoyed this book so so much. I actually wasn't able to put this down as soon as I discovered the list itself. Being able to relate to Emily's character and some of my friendship and girlfriends who remind Sloane in so many aspects, I was hooked. I wanted to find out how will Emily cope with the tasks in hand and if she will be able to complete them. But one thing I was sure about was the fact, that the list will change her and helps her open up a little bit.



I have love all the characters in the book. The beautiful Emily who lacks the confidence and needs to open up to the world more. The brainy and nerdy, but very cool and turns out sexy too, Frank - the class president... The girl, Dawn, who's heart has been broken by her best friend and boyfriend when she caught them kissing.. The always too confident, hard on the outside, but a big softie and teddy bear inside - Collins.. Even Sloane, who I couldn't stand at the beginning and was angry with for leaving Emily without saying goodbye, who turned out to be as damaged as any of us.. All of them were wonderful characters, every reader can find a piece of their soul and being in them. We all can find the one character we can relate to. We all can re-live our story through theirs. Very inspirational and beautiful.

At the end I was blown away by this book and couldn't say more praises about it. I have loved the ride filled with joy and unexpected surprises. I went through minutes of true happiness and then minutes of sadness when reading this story. At one point I found myself crying for Emily, and then kindly smiling at what was happening... I have truly enjoyed every single page and chapter and I have loved how the shy Emily - the ugly duckling - turn into a beautiful confident swan who found her true self at the end. She found who she meant to be all along.




Thank you Morgan. This story was an inspiring, exciting ride. I am now in a mood to write my own to-do-list filled with tasks I was afraid to do before. I know it will be worth at the end. What a wonderful tale of love, friendship and self-discovery.

BOOKS ' N ' BLOGGERS SWAP

Now that January is here and Christmas is over, we all feel a little bit let down. So much fuss for weeks and weeks and it's over within 3 days. No more holiday, no more presents. The cold weather is making us all grumpy and depressed. So I have decided to lift not only my spirits but also spirits of others, and I am taking a part in BOOKS ' N ' BLOGGERS SWAP organised by Chaotic Goddess Swap. Check out the blog and if you fancy and you are a blogger wanting to connect with others and score gifts in the process, you are in the right place: 

http://cgswaps.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/books-n-bloggers-swap-signups.html

SWAP OBJECTIVES - send your partner 3 books: 

1. A Book You Love
2. A Book You Haven't Read But Are Interested In
3. A Book From Your Partner's Wishlist

THE RULES: 

• After being accepted, you must post on your blog saying you are participating. Post must include the button / link back to the sign-ups and must be posted within 3 days of receiving your acceptance email. 
• Packages must contain 3 books that fit the criteria stated in the Swap Objective.
• Send books that fit your partner's genre preferences. 
• You must respond to emails from the swap hosts within a timely fashion. 
• Books MUST be mailed on or before January 24th!
• You must send a tracking number for your package to your partner and to Chaotic Goddes Swaps. 
• You MUST post and link up your swap reveal post. This is non-negotiable. 

DATES TO REMEMBER: 

• Sign-ups Start: Monday, January 5th at 12AM
• Sign-ups End : Monday, January 12th at 11:59PM
• First Post Must be Posted within 3 days of receiving acceptance email, latest possible January 12th by noon. 
• Partners assigned : Wednesday, January 14th
• Packages Shipped : on or before Saturday, January 24th
• Show-off Linky Opens : Wednesday, January 28th
• Show-off Linky Closes : Friday, February 13th

Please DO NOT SIGN UP for this swap if you cannot fulfil your obligation to the rules . 

 

I am really looking forward to this swap as I am sure that it will brighten up my cold months of January & February, plus it will give me a chance to meet other bloggers too. So if you are a blogger and would love to meet more people who enjoys books as much as you or I, don't hesitate and sign up!! 

ZC Book Club

You all know how much I love Instagram. I think it's my favourite social networking site / app. There are so many beautiful pictures of books & other things out there...but the best part is that you get to meet so many lovely people and bloggers who loves books as much as you do.

Last year I have met Sara from http://carpelibrumgirl.blogspot.co.uk . We have become fast friends. We talk all the time. And the other day, when Sara saw picture of my January TBR list, she suggested a read along since she is planning to read the same book this month. So we got talking and an idea of a monthly book club has been born - ZC BOOK CLUB & Read-Along on Instagram. 

The rules are easy. Every month we  - the little me & the lovely Sara - pick a book to read, which we all start reading around the 15th of the month. We give you 7 days to read the book and all you have to do is map your progress on Instagram. We will give you 5 days notice to join in. 

How do I join, you may ask? Follow me or Sara on Instagram, around January 10th 2015 we will post an invitational picture and you just need to repost it so we know that you are in. 

Don't forget to use the hashtag: #ZCbookclub ;-) 

Easy. Are you joining in with us?

So we are starting this month. Our choice for the month of January 2015 is (drum rolls please!!): 

WE SHE WENT by Gayle Forman

So all you have to do now is follow me and Sara on Instagram: @zuzvystrcilova & @carpelibrumgirl . 

We are both looking forward to see your posts!! 

Zuz xoxo

Kiera Cass : THE ONE

Warning: Prepare your tissues.. You are in for an emotional ride.

THE ONE is the third book in The Selection Series written by the very cool Kiera Cass. I have loved and adored this series so far so much, that I couldn't put it down, even when I wanted to and my eyes begged me to. And The One is no exception.


Finally, America has realised what and who she wants and is ready to fight and win her prince. Maxon is the love of her life and she is doing everything in her power to prove him that she loves him (even when the actual words haven't come out of either of their mouths..). But she doesn't have a smooth journey ahead of her. The king doesn't like her.. The rebels are still attacking the palace and Maxon hasn't told her that he loves her yet. He is still swinging between her and the other girls in The Elite. Will she prove her love to him at the end? And will the love be returned?


Let's start with the easy part. The edition. A paperback. 323 pages long. A beautiful image of America in white dress (Hint-hint about the ending maybe?) on the front. Kiera didn't disappoint with her dedication: " For Callaway, the boy who climbed into the tree house in my heart and let me be the crown on his." Beautiful. Heart-warming. But as usual she took the funny approach in her acknowledgement: "Can you just put your hand on the page and pretend I'm giving you a high five? Seriously. How else do I thank you for reading my books?" Humble. Funny. Very wonderful on Kiera's part.



The writing is exciting and easy to read as usual. There are so many twists and turns that my head spins and still  I cannot put the book down. Thrilling. Joyful. Heart-breaking. Heart-shattering. Beautiful. The story keeps on giving and just when you think that the happy ending is near and these two pull their heads out of their respectable behinds and tell each other how they feel... boom.. there is another twists and you are left huffing and puffing with disappointment and anger. Typical slow burn. I bet the Arrow writers read these books, because again I cannot stop and compare my beautiful Olicity to America and Maxon. Talk about a slow development in a relationship... And being scared to take the next step. 

Now, the story...wow.. as I said it keeps on giving. This woman knows how to make a reality show exciting. She knows how to engage the reader.. The modern writing means that you are hooked and cannot put the book down. Absolutely fantastic. I am so so SO happy that my stubborn mind didn't give up on the first impression and I have ended up reading this series as I fell utterly, deeply and undeniably in love with these books. I have loved every single page, chapter and book in this series.

Thanks to Cass' writing abilities and story-telling you are on a roller coaster of emotion. Love. Anger. Happiness. Disappointment... One minute you are laughing out loud or smiling like a goof, next you are throwing the book in the corner frustrated with the story. And that's what a good story should do. You should go through that roller coaster ride, because at the end it's worth it.

I am counting down the days to the next book being realised. THE HEIR  is being released on May 5th, 2015. In the meantime, after my ban for buying books has ended, I'll be purchasing The Selection  Stories Part 1 : The Guard & The Prince, as soon as I can.

Thank you Kiera Cass for such a wonderful, thrilling love story. It has been a joyful ride so far and I cannot wait to discover more from the world of THE SELECTION.

Kiera Cass : THE ELITE

Warning: This story is addictive! And if you are expecting an easy ride and love-story, you are in for a big surprise!

THE ELITE is the second instalment in THE SELECTION series written by the very talented Kiera Cass. You all know, how much I have enjoyed the first book, so logically I couldn't wait to put my hands on the the second book.

The only question was: 'Will the second book measure up to the first one?' As I have mentioned couple of times,  I have a major problem with the second books in series.. New Moon and Torment being the prime examples, so I was going into this little adventure with a small hope for a good instalment. But Kiera Cass didn't disappoint. She actually wrote even better continuum of the original story.

THE ELITE picks up where we left. America made it to the final six girls to compete for Maxon's heart and affections. Aspen is back on the scene and is doing everything possible to win America back. But he has stumbled on a slight problem. While he was away, America fell for our loveable Prince Maxon and is determined to find out if they can make it as a couple. So Maxon and America are getting closer, but the war is getting closer. The rebels continue their attacks on the palace and America keeps on struggling to become in terms of possibly becoming a Princess. She isn't sure she can be what everyone wants her to be. They a tragedy strikes, which drives a wedge between the lovely prince and her and it seems that our favourite OTP might not make it. Will be America the next to leave The Selection? Will she finally made her mind up and listen to her heart to find out who is her true love?





Let's talk about the edition first. Paperback. 323 pages long. A beautiful photograph of America in gorgeous dress on the front. I love the fact that the publishing house went with the original idea and made sure that all the instalments in the series have the same design. Kiera Cass didn't disappoint and there is a funny dedication again: "Call out the servants! The Queen is awake! (FOR MUM)" . Brilliant this woman is hilarious and I adore her for that. Not to mention the first paragraph from her acknowledgement : "Well, Hello there, Sassy Reader. Thank you for reading my book! I hope it made you have unbearable feelings that you find yourself tweeting about at 3:00AM. That's what it does to me, so..." Exceptional.

Let's dive to the story. Gosh, this story made me angry, happy, sad, angry, happy, sad, angry, happy sad, happy... in that order. Wonderful. Straight front the first page, I have been hooked even more than on the first book. I couldn't put it down. It had me on the edge with its constant twists and turns. There were times I was screaming at America, cursing Aspen and pushing Maxon not to lose hope. This book just got quickly under my skin and wouldn't let go. Even when I tried. I found myself saying : Just one more chapter! That was at 4AM in the morning and I had to force myself to put it down. We have finally got to explore more of Maxon's character. We got to know the Queen and the King a little bit more.

At times, I was cursing the author herself. What are you doing to me Ms Cass? You are messing with my OTP! You are making me angry so much. But at the end, that's what a story is about. Like Olicity (Felicity and Oliver's relationship on the show ARROW), it's a slow burn. But oh my... America needs to get her heart in order. It's time to fight for what she wants.

The writing was thrilling. Exciting. Modern. Easy to follow. It's a page-turner packed with twists which will make your head hurts. What a joyful ride.

I cannot wait to start reading the next book. THE ONE is the next book on my list and I am absolutely giddy to find out more from America's story. Will we find the end of the love triangle at the end. Who will win America's heart and which girl will become the next princess of Illea?

All in all a brilliant continuum to the story. Job well done Ms Cass!! 

JANUARY READING CHALLENGE

2015 is here. It's a brand new book with 12 chapters and 365 pages !! And January is the first chapter in this book. So let's make it awesome! 

Every month I will choose up to 6 books I want to read that month. Plus some other goals too. This months is a month of cleansing and fresh starts. 

Here are my 2 main goals for this month:

Health wise, I am going VEGAN for 30 days. It's a big challenge for me as I love cheese and eggs but this year I have decided to get the body of my dreams so going vegan is one of my new things. Also Yoga classes and running are a massive plus. At least 5 times a week :)

Now blog wise, I am going to read, read, read and read. 6 beautiful stories ahead. I am also theming up for read along challenge with Sara from http://carpelibrumgirl.blogspot.co.uk !! Announcement is coming soon,  so keep an eye on both of our  Instagram accounts for details ( @zuzvystrcilova & @carpelibrumgirl ). 

So let me share with you my TBR list for the cold month of January 2015: 

JANUARY READING CHALLENGE

THE KISS OF DECEPTION by Mary E. Pearson

A princess must find her place in a reborn world. 

She flees on her wedding day. She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection. She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father. She is Princess Lia, seventeen. First Daughter of the House of Morringham. The Kingdom of Morringham is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance. Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive - and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets - secrets that may unravel her world - even as she feels herself falling in love. 

THE REASON I JUMP by Naoki Higashida ( Introduced by David Mitchell)

One boy's voice from the silence of autism. 

THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT by Jennifer E. Smith

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of Hadley's life...

Her father is getting married in London to a woman she's never even met, and she's just missed her flight. 

Hadley has never believed in destiny or fate before...

But, stuck at the airport in New York, today is also the day she meets Oliver. He's British. He's cute. And he's on her new flight. 

Set over twenty-four hours, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it. 

ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER by Stephanie Perkins

Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on brooding artist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And, after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer break, romance might be closer that Isla imagined. But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to face uncertainty about their futures, and the very real possibility of being apart. 

Set against the stunning backdrops of New York, Paris and Barcelona, this is a gorgeous, heart-wrenching and irresistible story of true love, and the perfect conclusion to Stephanie Perkins's beloved series. 

SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE  by Morgan Matson

Emily's best friend Sloane disappears, almost without a trace - the only thing left behind is a to-do list. On it, thirteen Sloane-inspired tasks that wallflower Emily wouldn't normally do, and definitely not without her best friend. But what if completing the list could bring Sloane back?

Dance until dawn? Sure. Why not?

Kiss a stranger? Um...

Go skinny dipping? Wait...What?

Emily only has the summer to check everything off Sloane's list. The question is, what will she find at the end of it?

WHERE SHE WENT by Gayle Forman

It's been three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life. 

And three years he's spent wondering why. When their paths cross again in New York City, Adam and Mia are brought back together for one life-changing night. 

Adam finally has the opportunity to ask Mia the questions that have been hating him. But will a few hours in this magical city be enough to lay their past to rest, for good - or can you really have a second chance at first love? 

What is on your TBR list this month? Do you have any recommendations for me? I'd love to her your thoughts...

WELCOME TO 2015! The Year to make it big and wonderful!

I hope you have said a proper goodbye to 2014 and have welcomed 2015 with a bang. I am very excited about this year. So many plans. So many wonderful things ahead. And so many books and stories to be discovered. 

Firstly, I have decided to take a part in Sara aka Carpe Librum Girl 's TBR Pile Challenge 2015 and I challenged myself to read over 60 books this year. It seems that discovering fan-fiction last year caused me to lose focus on reading the books I have at home. It's time to take charge and read all the lovely stories which are waiting for me on my book shelves. 

Secondly, I have set myself a ban. I am not allowed to buy any books until March 31, 2015. According to my yesterday's count of un-read books I own, I came to a number 154...Wow..It's time to give my card a break and start reading what I already have. 

Thirdly, the time has come to make this blog even more beautiful and bigger. As you could see in recent moths, I have been playing with various settings, different picture taking, discovering new projects. I will try to do this and more in 2015. In Spring I am launching A blind date with a book where my unwanted books look for a new home. Will you adopt a book? It will include a little bit of a twist. But all will be revealed in later post. There will be some other posts coming out too featuring the love for books and everything related to it. 

So let's all enjoy the wonderful new time ahead of us. I hope you all have a wonderful and joyful year. Thank you very much for reading my blog last year, and I truly wish you will enjoy reading it this year too. 

HAVE A BRILLIANT 2015 darlings!! 

Zuz xoxo