5 Books I Want to Read in 2017

Everyone has very long TBRs or at least the book-people I know have, but there are certainly some books that I plan to read, somehow I couldn't get to reading them. These books usually end up being my favourites, mostly because I don't have big expectations towards them. Also, this year I didn't plan any Valentine's day book recommendations-post, because the ones I listed last year (click here to read it) are still my go-to romantic reads. So I thought I would share my list of books that I definitely plan to read these in 2017:

#1. Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare : I really loved the first three books in the Mortal Instruments series, but I ended up not finishing the series, because I didn't like the 4th and 5th book. But I enjoyed the Infernal Devices, so I really hope I am going to love this book and be able to return into the Shadowhunter world.

#2. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas : Again this is one of those books everyone is raving about, so I had to put it on this list, because I am curious. Normally I wouldn't pick up a fantasy series, but I just want to know what the hype is about.

#3. Paperweight by Meg Halston : I heard about this book from Booktube, I don't specifically remember who recommended it, but this is supposed to be a very accurate and realistic book about eating disorders, so I am curious if it really is or not.

#4. Heist Society series by Ally Carter: I already read the first book in the series by the time this post goes up and I am loving it. Ally Carter books are usually very entertaining and enjoyable reads, so I wasn't disappointed with Heist Society, needless to say I already ordered the rest of the series and cannot wait to read them.

#5. The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon: If you read my review about Nicola Yoon's other book Everything, everything (click here for the review), you know how much I loved it, so I don't think it's a surprise that this book was instantly on my TBR after reading Everything, everything.

I hope you Everyone had an amazing day, and if you have any book-recommendations to add to my TBR then comment down below this post.

Until next time,

Bianka

Take the Key and Lock Her Up by Ally Carter Book Review

How is Everyone doing? I had the most amazing weekend and now I am back with another book review. I cannot believe this series is already over... When I started reading it, I was still in high school and now I am a freshman at university. Yes, time goes by so fast. If you don't know what the Embassy Row series is about, then click here and you can read my spoiler-free review, which I did last year. I tried to keep this post as spoiler-free as I could, but I cannot say is 100% spoiler-free, so if you haven't read the first two books then I don't recommend reading further.

The synapses:

The princess is dead. Long live the princess.
Centuries ago, the royal family of Adria was killed…or so everyone thought.

Now Grace Blakely knows the truth: There was one survivor, and that survivor’s blood runs through her veins. This simple fact could cause a revolution—which is why some people will stop at nothing to keep it from coming to light.

There is only one way for Grace to save herself, save her family, and save the boy she loves. She must outmaneuver her foes, cut through the web of lies that has surrounded her for years, and go back to the source of all her troubles, despite the risk.

If she wins, she will inherit a throne.

And if she loses, she will inherit the fate of all the dead princesses who came before her.

My Thoughts:

Usually by the time I read a series I can decide, which book was my favourite, but this time I can't. Though I am leaning towards the this one as my favourite. It was very enjoyable and even funny at some point. 
Grace was so sassy and sarcastic in this book, I was laughing so many time, partly because I am a very sarcastic person too. She was very similar to Cammie in the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter, just a little bit more darker, if that makes any sense. 

Grace has the most amazing group of friends on the planet and at the beginning I was afraid that I won't get to see them work together as much as I would've loved to, but I was wrong. They were there supporting the "cause" all the way and they always showed up when Grace needed them. And now let's talk about Alexei. Is anyone out there, who loves this guy as much as I do?! He is such a perfect fit with Grace, although I find the way their relationship developed a little weirdly, because we could already see them getting close in the 2nd book, but in this one they just out of nowhere "define" their relationship, seal it with  kiss to be exact in the middle of a fight (which definitely gave me Pirates of the Caribbean vibes, because remember Elisabeth and Will's wedding in the middle of the fight?! Yes, I was a massive fan when I was a kid...). The main villain of the whole story was pretty predictable, but it wasn't instantly obvious who it is. 

 Since I am an International Relations student, the thing I would've loved to see more, would've been a little bit more of Embassy Row and politics, because I feel like in this book that was kind of in the background and I definitely missed it a lot.

The action scenes were good and also the tension was built up properly. I had that "I cannot trust anyone" feeling all the way, which I think made it  more enjoyable.

All in all, I think you should definitely read this, if you haven't yet or check out the whole series, because it is a fun- and very enjoyable read.

Until next time, 
Bianka

My Favorite First Lines

Who else loves first lines? Today I thought I would share with you my favorite first lines from the books I've read so far. I think a first line definitely sets the mood for the whole book, so it's really important. Here are my favourite first lines from books, I hope you enjoy it.

"Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood." 

(From The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan)

There is nothing like a book which starts with the narrator explaining himself that he doesn't wanted any of the book to happen. It just makes it more interesting.

"When I was twelve I broke my leg jumping off the wall between Canada and Germany,” I say, but the woman across from me doesn’t even blink."

 (From All fall down by Ally Carter): 

This is just one of those first lines I had to read so many times, before I understood it. It just sounds so crazy and this whole series is just crazy so, it's perfect.

"So here’s the file that almost killed me, Director."

(From Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff)

This first line just straight off made me excited for the whole book (even if I was already excited) and set the perfect mood for it. Not to mention that it describes the whole book perfectly in one sentence, but there is so much more behind it.

"Guilt is a hunter."

 (From Salt to the sea by Ruta Sepetys)

As I said before, this got me sucked into this book, because after this sentence you most likely want answers...

"Every morning I wake up and I tell myself this: It’s just one day, one twenty-four-hour period to get yourself through." 

(From Where she went by Gayle Forman)

This sentence just straight up describes a part of my life and after I read it, it stuck with me. 

"I just punched a girl in the face." 
( From Maybe someday by Colleen Hoover)

I remember reading this and I had to double-check it, because it was so weird. This is definitely one of the funniest first lines I have ever read.

"I suppose a lot of teenage girls feel invisible sometimes, like they just disappear."

(From I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter)

This is just relatable in my opinion.  

"So she tells me, the words dribbling out with the cranberry muffin crumbs, commas dunked in her coffee." 

(From Wintergirls by Laurie hale Anderson)

For some reason this sentence stuck with me, because it's so absurd, don't ask why. Plus it's the first line of an amazing book.

What are your favourite first lines from books you've read? Make sure to leave a comment about it and I'll be back with a new post on Sunday.
Until next time 
B

Talking As Fast As I Can by Laure Graham Book Review

Hello Everyone,
Today I am going to talk about one of the my most anticipated book for 2016, although it's already 2017. And yes, it's by Lauren Graham. You may or may not have heard about her and her most widely known and loved TV-show, Gilmore Girls. Let me tell you I am a huge Gilmore Girls fan and also a big Lauren Graham fan as well. I am almost entirely sure I have seen most of her interviews on youtube and watched her movies and tv-shows. So, yes I was excited for this book.

The synapses:

In this collection of personal essays, the beloved star of Gilmore Girls and Parenthood reveals stories about life, love, and working as a woman in Hollywood—along with behind-the-scenes dispatches from the set of the new Gilmore Girls, where she plays the fast-talking Lorelai Gilmore once again.

(click here for the Goodreads page)

My thoughts:

Going into it, I never anticipated it to be so real. I listened to the audiobook, which I never really do honestly, but hearing Lauren Graham reading it, just made it so real and "authentic". I normally don't like autobiographies, because often they are filled with facts and boring stories. This book was telling her life through a fun point of view,  the sort of I could really feel related to. What I gained from this book was, everyone has their own ups and downs, you just have to find a way to learn something from it. My favourite part out of the book was by far, was the part about the GG revival, because I truly felt like she was talking about "going home" or reuniting with er "family" and this just makes the whole GG thing more lovely and cute.

Also I really enjoyed how she was "telling" the story. It was mostly funny and sarcastic, exactly how you should reflect on your life in my opinion, because why be sad about it if you cannot change it anymore?!

So, yes, I recommend you reading this book if you love Gilmore Girls or if you don't and you just want an easy, entertaining read, but mostly I recommend listening to the audiobook, because it's just better that way. I never thought autobiographies can be fun like this and I actually think I will read more after reading this.

I hope you're all having a wonderful Sunday and I hope you enjoyed reading my review, if you have any suggestion for me to read or if you just want me to write about something, just leave a comment.
Until next time,
Bianka

January Wrap-Up

Is it just me or January really is already over?! Which means for me that freedom is over and uni starts again. Although I am going to have pretty good schedule this semester, still I am going to miss having tons of free time. Without me complaining about going back to "reality" here are the books I read in January:

Heartless by Marissa Meyer: 

This book was enjoyable, but the writing just wasn't for me and this kind of made it slower for me, but other that that I would recommend it. I actually have a review about this one so click here if you want to read it.

Heist Society by Ally Carter: 

I cannot believe I haven't pick this book up sooner. If you're reading my blog frequently, you can assume I love Ally Carter books. They are the perfect books to read if youre in a reading slum or if you want a "one-sitting" type of book. I'll definitely continue on with the series, because this was such an easy and fun read. If you're not familiar with the series, I'll link the Goodreads page of the book here, if you're interested.

World After by Susan Ee:

I gave this book 3 stars on Goodreads, because although it was enjoyable, it was a typical 2nd book in a series, so I cannot wait to read the 3rd book in the series and see where the story goes.

We can be mended by Veronica Roth: 

Okay, technically its not a book, but it's a bonus epilogue for the divergent series and in my opinion it really needed one, because that ending still makes me beyond angry. This epilogue made me so angry, I didn't even start Carve the Mark after this, because I am still so angry about that ending. It takes place five years after the series ended and we get the story from Tobias's point of view. I understand what Veronica Roth wanted with this epilogue, but seriously?! I don't want to spoil you with the details, I am just going to say, it wasn't what I was expecting, I definitely expected more from the writer, even were the story goes would be okay, but it could have been better written. Is it just me or you feel the same?

This was my brief wrap-up for January, I hope to read more books next month and also I am going to try and finally get back to my blogging schedule, because I really want to post more frequently.
Until next time,
Bianka