Hoohoo, guys!
We’re well into March already, but it’s never too late to show you the books I’ve read. Right? I read 9 books, so it was such a great month for me. The books marked with (ARC) were review copies I received from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
Which books did you read last month? Which were your favourites?
Ronja Räubertochter
Author: Astrid Lindgren | Translator: Anna-Liese Kornitzky | Publisher: Oetinger | Pages: 237 | Genre: children’s adventure / fantasy | TW: blood, death
In einem tiefen Wald hausen zwei Räuberbanden. Auf der einen Seite Mattis’ Bande und auf der anderen Borka’s. Konkurrenten waren sie schon immer. Daran änderte auch die Tatsache nichts, dass beide eines Tages Väter wurden. Mattis bekam eine Tochter und Borka einen Sohn. Erst als es Mattis gelingt, Borkas Sohn gefangen zu nehmen spizt sich die Situation gefährlich zu. Aber kommt seine Tochter Ronja auf eine ganz ungeheuerliche Idee, die sie um ein Haar die Liebe ihres Vaters gekostet hätte... (goodreads)
Wie fand ich es?
Ich war wohl eines der Kinder, die nie Ronja Räubertochter gelesen haben. Aber auch mit 23 Jahren hat mir das Buch sehr gut gefallen. Ich habe ein paar coole neue Schimpfwörter gelernt. Auch wenn die Geschichte teilweise ziemlich brutal ist, und die beiden Kinder (und die Erwachsenen) teils furchtbar mtieinander umgehen, so sind die Charakterentwicklungen klasse und sinnig, die ganze Welt mit dem Wald und den Geschöpfen darin ist sehr fantasievoll aufgebaut. Ein spannendes Buch für jung und alt.
Heartstopper Vol. 3
Series: Heartstopper #3 | Author: Alice Oseman | Publisher: Hodder | Pages: 384 | Genre: contemporary YA graphic novel | Rep: gay, bi,black, trans, lesbian, demi | TW: depression, eating disorder, homophobia
In this volume we’ll see the Heartstopper gang go on a school trip to Paris! Not only are Nick and Charlie navigating a new city, but also telling more people about their relationship AND learning more about the challenges each other are facing in private…
Meanwhile Tao and Elle will face their feelings for each other, Tara and Darcy share more about their relationship origin story, and the teachers supervising the trip seem… rather close…? (goodreads)
What did I think?
This is my favourite novel so far, I just love it so, so much. Nick and Charlie are the cutest but all the emotions and feelings of the others. The couples! The friendship! The diversity! And a trip to one of my favourite cities. Just… my heart is full of warmth and love for these graphic novels.
Yes No Maybe So (ARC)
Authors: Becky Albertalli & Aisha Saeed | Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK | Pages: 436 | Genre: contemporary YA | Rep: jewish, pakistani-american muslim, muslim, black, gay | TW: islamophobia, antisemitism, racism
Jamie Goldberg is cool with volunteering for his local state candidate – as long as he’s behind the scenes. There’s no way he’d ever knock on doors to ask people for their votes…until he meets Maya.
Maya Rehman’s having the worst Ramadan ever. Her best friend is too busy to hang out, her summer trip is cancelled, her parents are separating and now her mother thinks the solution to her problems is political canvassing – with some awkward guy she hardly knows …
Going door to door isn’t exactly glamorous, but maybe it’s not the worst thing in the world. After all, the polls are getting closer – and so are Maya and Jamie. Mastering local activism is one thing. Navigating the cross-cultural crush of the century is another thing entirely. (goodreads)
What did I think?
This book was so good and definitely really important! It tackles topics such as religion and race with the background of politics. The two main characters harmonize really well with each other, they’re so cute and both learning so much from each other and the reader alongside them. It was just amazing to read about teenagers who take politics seriously, who fight for their rights and freedom. Read my full review here.
My Type on Paper
Author: Chloe Seager | Publisher: Scholastic | Pages: 277 | Genre: Contemporary YA | Rep: sapphic side characters
Maya is down in the dumps … quite literally. She’s just been pied off by her boyfriend before what was supposed to be their last romantic summer before heading off to Uni. Luckily help is at hand in the form of her friends, determined to hook her up with a fun summer romance, no strings attached. And with a summer job working at fancy new beach resort in town, how can she fail to meet the guy of her dreams? Hot weather, hot guys, hot summer romance… it’s a dead cert. But with three perfect-on-paper guys to choose from, not to mention her snakey ex re-entering the picture, how will she know which guy to go for? (goodreads)
What did I think?
This was an interesting, fun read with some unexpected twists. There was some unnecessary drama but I enjoyed the character development of everyone. It was quite obvious where the story was going, but that didn’t faze me much, I just enjoyed all the awkward and the fun and the inside jokes and the friendships. It was all quite unrealistic and read like a weird dream at some points, but it is definitely an uplifting, quick summer romance.
The Earl Not Taken (ARC)
Series: The Wallflowers of West Lane #1 | A.S. Fenichel | Publisher: Kensington Publishing | Pages: 220 | Genre: historical romance
Finishing school failed to make a proper lady of Penelope Arrington. But as a Wallflower of West Lane, Poppy has a far more vital role—she and her three best friends have made a pact to protect each other from the clutches of dangerous, disreputable men. So when one of them is about to be married off to a duke sight unseen, Poppy makes it her mission to divine the prospective husband’s true character. If only she didn’t require the aid of London’s most unsuitable rake.
Rhys Draper, Earl of Marsden, has known the headstrong Poppy since she was a young girl naïve to the ways of men. To her eternal chagrin—and to his vague amusement—they have been at odds over the memory of their embarrassing first encounter all these years. Now, with his services in need, Rhys sees a chance to finally clear the air between them. Instead, he is surprised by the heat of their feelings. If the two do not tread carefully, they may end up in a most agreeably compromising position… (goodreads)
What did I think?
I had my problems with this book. What I liked though, was the friendship between the four women. It also has the enemies to lovers trope aka my favourite romance trope. And Rhys was kinda cool from time to time but… that’S unfortunately where it stops. There was too much drama, too much unnecessary drama, not enough character building. Read my full review here.
Eclipse the Skies
Series: Ignite the Stars #2 | Author: Maura Milan | Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company | Pages: 400 | Genre: YA scifi | TW: blood, death
Ia Cōcha never thought she’d be working for the Olympus Commonwealth. But that was before she found out her trusted brother Einn was trying to tear apart the universe. Now, Ia, the Blood Wolf of the Skies, has agreed to help the Royal Star Force on one condition: when she finds him, she gets to kill Einn herself.
Brinn Tarver has just come to terms with her Tawny identity when the public lashes out against her people, crushing her family. At her breaking point, she starts to question everything she believes in—including Ia.
After the death of his mentor, Knives Adams is doing his best to live up to a role he didn’t ask for as Aphelion’s new headmaster. Still, with each new step deeper into war, he feels torn between his duties and the pull of Ia’s radical—sometimes criminal—ideas.
As they fight to keep darkness from eclipsing the skies, their unpredictable choices launch this breathtaking sequel to explosive new heights. (goodreads)
What did I think?
Ahhhh my loves!!! I adore this duology, it’s one of my absolute favourite and I just love everything about it. The characters, the world building. Space. Everything was just amazing. I could scream about this book and its predecessor forever and ever. Read my full review here.
The Count of Monte Christo
Author: Alexandre Dumas | Publisher: dtv | Pages: 1.487 | Genre: historical classic | TW: death, loss of loved ones, blood, murder, slurs, slavery
The story takes place in France, Italy, islands in the Mediterranean and the Levant during the historical events of 1815–1838 (from just before the Hundred Days through the reign of Louis-Philippe of France). The historical setting is a fundamental element of the book. It is primarily concerned with themes of hope, justice, vengeance, mercy, forgiveness and death, and is told in the style of an adventure story. (goodreads)
What did I think?
I actually started this back in summer and finally finished it. I had about 2/3 of the book left and wow, what a ride. It’s so, so slow but so incredibly detailed and fascinating. I suffered with the main character and was feeling so much despite the book being soooo slow oh my god. I just wanted my happy end, was basically obsessed with this having a happy end despite everything that has happened. Ugh, my heart still hurts and cries and cackles. This book is a masterpiece of a revenge story and I’m so glad I finally finished it. The satisfaction of reading such a massive beast wow.
Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating
Authors: Christina Lauren | Publisher: Piatkus | Pages: 320 | Genre: contemporary romance | Rep: Korean, Korean-American
Hazel Camille Bradford knows she’s a lot to take—and frankly, most men aren’t up to the challenge. If her army of pets and thrill for the absurd don’t send them running, her lack of filter means she’ll say exactly the wrong thing in a delicate moment. Their loss. She’s a good soul in search of honest fun.
Josh Im has known Hazel since college, where her zany playfulness proved completely incompatible with his mellow restraint. From the first night they met—when she gracelessly threw up on his shoes—to when she sent him an unintelligible email while in a post-surgical haze, Josh has always thought of Hazel more as a spectacle than a peer. But now, ten years later, after a cheating girlfriend has turned his life upside down, going out with Hazel is a breath of fresh air.
Not that Josh and Hazel date. At least, not each other. Because setting each other up on progressively terrible double blind dates means there’s nothing between them…right? (goodreads)
What did I think?
Ahhhhh I loved it! This was such a fun read! The banter, the friendship(s), the romance. Hazel just blurting out what she thinks. Her living with her 4 pets and chaos. Josh is so nice, so sweet. I don’t even know what to say, I just enjoyed this story extremely and read it in one sitting. It’s all I want: light and fun, steamy and character driven. My heart, yet again, feels warm and soft.
Anna K. (ARC)
Author: Jenny Lee | Publisher: Penguin | Pages: 383 | Genre: contemporary YA, retelling | Rep: Korean, Korean-American, black, jewish | TW: racism, anxiety, depression, drug abuse, alcohol, alcohol abuse, death, cheating, blood
Welcome to the dizzying heights of New York’s Upper East Side: where privilege, partying and scandal rules.
And Anna K knows the rules by heart. Beautiful, rich and popular, she takes care to maintain her status as the perfect girlfriend, daughter and student.
Then a chance encounter at Grand Central station with notorious playboy Alexi ‘Count’ Vronsky changes everything. Anna knows she needs to avoid Alexi, but sometimes fate has other plans . . .
Soon Anna finds it impossible to resist him, and finds herself willing to risk everything she has to be with him – no matter the consequences. (goodreads)
What did I think?
God, had I problems at first. Every single character was just horrible. But the story was captivating and thrilling nevertheless and I kept on reading and this book probably has some of the best character development I have ever read. I actually ended up liking the characters I hated at first? And all the drama! Oh wow. Wow. Anna K. definitely was… something. You can read my full review here.
Until next time,
