Yes, I’m a bookworm...

Yes, I’m a bookworm. No, I don’t live in a secluded, cobweb-covered cottage, I’m not an old lady surrounded by cats and I don’t spend my life perched in a rocking chair. In fact, I’m just like your average teenager.

I believe that you can blame Beatrix Potter for said habit. I won’t bore you with a long, soppy back-story but I will tell you this, receiving a collection of her best-loved stories as a christening present meant I was read to a lot as a child, building the foundations of my imagination as it is today. There are some great incentives to help children read at a young age, take the Greenaway Project for example. Not only did I experience the fun as a youngster, completing tasks set in drama and art along with my friends, I also had the chance to play the counter part: helping out wherever the bossy little things let me! I first heard of The Arthur Spiderwick Chronicles doing such work; the illustrations were so beautiful that it quickly became a favorite.

As I've grown older (I know, three years is a really long time), I began to notice that there was a bigger presence of readers online, using sites like Twitter to chat and share their thoughts, even sharing books in giveaways! Interacting with others who felt the same way as me was a real confidence boost and I became more comfortable when it came to airing my opinions in real life as well, I never would have been able to share this article before! BookTubers (you know, YouTubers who talk about books?) keep things fun too! It’s not all about reviews either, catch-up posts let you know what’s trending and keep you up-to-date with all of the latest releases. Hearing these people speak with such enjoyment in their tone can keep me entertained for hours.

While putting my face in front of a camera isn’t an option, I’d make too many people jealous with my movie-star looks you see, I have started writing things down in a blog. It’s only been a few months but I’ve already been sent books from publishers for free in exchange for reviews, further expanding my collection. I just have one problem with this though: I’m running out of shelf space! The best part of it all? Getting a quote published in one of my favourite books, Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. Yes, I’M IN A BOOK! This was such a big deal for me, it felt like all of my hard work had paid off and more than that; I was hugely proud of myself!

Looking to the future, I hope my silly little obsession with writers will one day lead to the flipside of publishing: working in marketing and sending out the books to encourage others like myself. And who knows, maybe I’ll end up working with authors in the future, but that all depends on whether I can put my inner fangirl, complete with childish excitement, to rest and find a professional cool.

New Books! #6

Despite my slow reading pace, especially during exam time just gone, I keep gaining more books than I can keep up with! Not that I'm complaining, they look so pretty on my new shelves.

Georgia at The Bibliomaniac also calls her hauls by this name so be sure to check hers out as well!

*Quick disclaimer, I am not bragging about these, hauls are my personal favorites to read and I am very grateful for each of these!*

Where She Went by Gayle Forman (eBook)

After finishing If I Stay, I could now wait for the matching paperback to arrive so instead, I snapped up the ebook on my Nook and I regret nothing!

If I Stay by Gayle Forman (Paperback)

With the movie coming out in August (I think haha) I knew that this had to be pushed up to the top of my to be read list. That was a great decision as this series is now a favorite of mine!

Fallen by Lauren Kate (Paperback)

I realize while typing that I included this in my last haul but I've put my camera and books away now so I thought I'd keep that photo. Oops!

  

Looking for JJ by Anne Cassidy (Paperback)

If you've read any previous hauls, you'll know that I often buy second hand books from my supermarket. This month is no different, I bought this as the sequel was just released!

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell (Paperback)

I have an ebook version of this already but I'M QUOTED IN THE PAPERBACK! Aah, excitement because it's my first time and I'm so proud of myself for this achievement. Thank you Orion for sending me a copy!

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin (Paperback)

The start of a series which inspired one of my favorite TV shows. This was won in a giveaway from Bath Festivals, thanks!

  

Smart by Kim Slater (Hardback)

I love the cover of this books and have had my eye on it for some time! To celebrate the release day, Catherine Alport, Macmillan's publicity manager, held a giveaway which I won. Thank you!

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling (Hardback)

I've seen all of the movies but never had any interest in reading the books... Until halfway through an exam. I'm not sure why but I got the urge to do so and so I ordered the first I found 2nd hand online. I already have Deathly Hallows but that's a long story, maybe I'l tell it later. Also, surprise, it was a first edition and I paid £3 total for it, steal!

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare (Paperback)

The end has come *cries*. I had to get my hands on a copy as soon as I could to avoid the spoiler plague, eww, and so unfortunately it is the huge edition that does not match the rest of my series so I will have to buy another copy to complete my collection.

  

Huge thanks to each of the publishes who have send me books in this haul, I can't wait to read them! What have you picked up recently? Leave a comment letting me know!

Book Review: Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Title- Landline
Author- Rainbow Rowell
Genre- Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Format- Paperback
UK Publisher- Orion
Publication Date- July 3rd 2014
Buy HERE

*I was sent this advanced copy from the publisher for review, thank you Orion. This does not affect my thoughts in this review.*

Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble. That it’s been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems besides the point now.
Maybe that was always besides the point.
Two days before they’re supposed to visit Neal’s family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can’t go. She’s a TV writer, and something’s come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her — Neal is always a little upset with Georgie — but she doesn’t expect to him to pack up the kids and go home without her.
When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she’s finally done it. If she’s ruined everything.
That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts . . .

Now, don't be fooled; this is a review but it is also a discussion. About restrictions. About maturity. About comfort zones. Because Landline challenged all of these for me, and I've very grateful for that.

You see, I am sixteen but act like a ten year old most of the time. I can't think of anything worse than going to parties and drinking so much alcohol that I'm unable to stand. Yet people my age, people I know, do that on a weekly basis. The most grown up thing that I've ever done is buy a scratch card (which, may I brag, I won my money back on!) 

Because of such, it's probably a given that I hug the young adult genre. It's my safe place, I know the type of things to expect because I've read so many. Yet that's the thing; They're often similar when you get down to the bones. Whether it's contemporary or dystopian, some things in the skeleton are always a given. The girl chasing after the boy. Someone in dire need of saving. A 'huge disaster' which isn't even that big of a deal. I'm sure you get my point.

Rainbow Rowell quickly became one of my favorite authors after I'd ready just two of her books, her two young adult novels to be precise. Itching to get my hands on anything new by her, it gave me the confidence to try out an adult novel; I thought that Rainbow's writing style would adapt between the age gap and it truly did. That's what helped me to be able to finish this book. Not that it was bad but I couldn't relate to the themes, it made me realize that I'm not an adult. And it made me realize that I'm okay with that.

I haven't the first idea about marriage. I see my mum and dad together everyday but until you experience something first hand, it's hard to ever fully understand. So, when reading a book where the whole plot is so closely wrapped up in this bond which my mind cannot touch, it can be difficult. Trying to understand the responsibilities, jobs, kids, adult life of these characters was a real struggle so I felt a real distance from the characters. Yet, I have no doubt that in ten years time, when I pick up Landline again, it will become an instant five-star read.

This whole experience of exploring the adult genre has made me understand many things. Those stupid plot points in young adult books? They are my favorites. There is nothing that I love more that listening to a character drone on about all of their silly little teenage problems. They're predictable yet I still crave the endings. They're repeatable yet I still need the newest one. They're nothing but to me they're everything. So no, I won't be changing out of my age category anytime soon but I'm glad that I tried to. Because without doing so, I wouldn't have known how much I'd be missing.


    

YA Choice of July 2014

With the Young Adult genre becoming more and more popular, each month I will be bringing you my choice of the newly released books which I must share with you all! This month's choice is...

On The Fence by Kasie West

Released July 1st 2014

You can buy it now HERE.

Charlie Reynolds can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at a chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world. To cope with the stress of her new reality, Charlie takes to spending nights chatting with her neighbor Braden through the fence between their yards. As she grows to depend on their nightly Fence Chats, she realizes she's got a bigger problem than speeding tickets-she's falling for Braden. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.

Encase you didn't know, Kasie West has already written one super cute contemporary (you can see my review of it HERE) so I have no doubt that she has done it again with On The Fence. This screams SUMMER to me, a sweet little novel that I could fly through in one day. If I lived near a beach, I'd take it there. The premise sounds interesting to me also, kinda reminding me of My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick and I know that much-loved which adds to the excitement! Not to mention, Kasie is the loveliest; Don't believe me? I  interviewed her and she was so kind, be sure to check it out!  

Have you read Lies My Girlfriend Told Me since I recommended it last month? Let me know what you think in the comments!

July Update: Where Have You Been?

Hello, hello! You may know that I took a break these past few weeks, from reading and blogging, due to exams and revision. Afterwards, because of these stress-filled few months, I thought it would be good to give myself a week to do absolutely nothing (except watch Wimbledon because priorities) and I am so grateful for that free time. Now though, it is time for my return *cheers* !

Okay, that may sound a little dramatic but starting today, a new post will appear on The Reader Ramblings every Tuesday and Saturday. I've been a really negligent blogger recently but to prove my new found dedication, I've already got several posts scheduled. You can look forward to a review graphic for Cassandra Clare's City of Heavenly Fire, a discussion about YouTube book deals and another book haul which are always my favorite to read. Up next though, my pick of this month's new releases.

That's about all I've got for you now, I guess I'll see you on Saturday, bright and early! Until then, goodbye.