Book Review | Am I Normal Yet? by Holly Bourne

February 24th, 2021

| Released: August 2015 |
| Publisher: Usbourne Publishing |
| Genre: Contemporary |
| Sub-Genre: Mental Health |
| Length: 434 Pages |
| Age: Young Adult |
| ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ |

Hi Readers!

I’ve been wanting to read a Holly Bourne book for the longest time. She’s an author I see all over blogs and booktube, and I wanted to see what all the hype was about. Now that I’ve read Am I Normal Yet? I want to go on and read everything she has ever published.

All Evie wants is to be normal. She’s almost off her meds and at a new college where no one knows her as the girl-who-went-crazy. She’s even going to parties and making friends. There’s only one thing left to tick off her list…

But relationships are messy – especially relationships with teenage guys. They can make any girl feel like they’re going mad. And if Evie can’t even tell her new friends Amber and Lottie the truth about herself, how will she cope when she falls in love?

A question every teenager asks themselves, Am I Normal Yet? How can I fit in? How do I do this ‘teenager’ thing right? I know I did. I felt I was doing it all wrong, and it was also the time when my own mental health started acting up. I’m not a teenager any more, but boy do I wish I’d had this book when I was (techincally I would have if I’d read it when it first came out).

This book portrays mental health in a very honest and (I think) accurate light and addressed some of the concerns a teenager with mental health issues might have. As a teenager, your main worry is what other people might think. It hangs over you like a cloud, and stops you from opening up to the people who would care the most, for fear of losing them or them seeing you as fragile or unstable. Or worse, for fear they’ll laugh at you for it, and tell you to just ‘shake it off’.

This is what keeps Evie from telling her friends about her battle with OCD. She doesn’t tell them she’s in therapy, or on medication, or that she constantly struggles to fight against the ‘bad thoughts’ that threaten her living her life. You can see how this silence, this ‘I’ll get through this on my own’ mentality really impacts her recovery in a negative way and I liked that the overall message was to talk to your friends and if they don’t understand, help them to.

Other than mental health this book also addresses feminism and I loved the portrayal of that. Again, I was Evie’s age when feminism became something I associated myself with, and my experience was very similar to hers. Sixth form is a time when your views on the world are challenged (especially if you take Sociology) and I loved how this group of friends addressed and discussed these issues. Again, so relatable. I wish I’d read this 5 years ago.

Also, I love that it’s British! When I read that this book was set in college I assumed this would be more New Adult, and it would follow American college aged students. But turns out, it means college as in sixth form! I never see books set in sixth form! I think Sex Education was the first time I ever saw it portrayed in any way and it took me back to a pivotal couple of years in my life.

In the end, I think the only negative thing I found in this book is ironically part of the characters discussions, too much boy stuff. I love love in a book and one of the romantic plots I see was important for the main characters growth, but there’s a lot of side boys and side characters with side boys. In the end, I think this book quite ironically became what the characters were complaining about.

But overall, this book was great. And I’m ecstatic that there are two more books in this series following the other girls (I’m especially looking forward to Amber’s book). Have you read the Spinster Club series? What did you think?

Thanks For Reading,
Jess X

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Book Review | Dash And Lily’s Book Of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan| Blogmas

December 10th, 2020

Hi Readers!

I remember reading this a few years ago way back in 2013. The recent Netflix adaptation had me wanting to read it again.

What Is It About?

Dash isn’t a fan of Christmas and this year he thinks he’s escaped it, telling both his divorced parents who don’t speak to each other he’s spending Christmas with the other. A few days before the big day, he’s browsing the shelves of The Strand when he sees a moleskin journal and inside, a dare from Lily, who is a Christmas enthusiast.

What Did I Think?

This is kind of a scrooge x Christmas elf love story. Dash being the scrooge and Lily being the elf. Dash had almost succeded in escaping Christmas this holiday season until Lily has him on a scavenger hunt all through a very festive New York City. Forcing him the visit all the holiday hotspots.

I don’t think I enjoyed this as much as I did the first time I read it. It was a while ago so I can’t really remember, but seeing as my copy had an awful lot of index tabs marking off favourite moments, I’d say I enjoyed it quite a lot.

This time around though, I had a few issues with it. Firstly, this book has one of my pet peeves which is teenage characters who just aren’t teenagers. Yes there’s the angst, but that’s it. Doesn’t really make either of the characters very likeable or relatable, so I struggled to connect to them.

I think the reason I loved it so much as a teenager was because I wanted what happens to Dash and Lily to happen to me. I wanted to go to a bookstore and find a notebook with a dare written by a cute stranger who just happened to be my age. It sounds like the ultimate romantic adventure.

I was also admittedly quite pretentious as a teenager and that’s probably why this book spoke to me. Dash especially. A book where the characters Christmas wish is for the English Oxford Dictionary? As a teenager I ‘totally got it’ but now I just rolled my eyes.

If you love the idea of Christmas in New York, this is the book for you. Through Dash and Lily you visit the most festive places and you definitely feel the holiday bustle I think we’ll all be missing this year. It’s a fun story, just a bit obnoxious for my liking.

Thanks For Reading,
Jess X

Thoughts On Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer

| Published: August 2020 by Little Brown Books |
| Genre: YA Paranormal Romance |
| Themes: Vampires |
| Length: 768 Pages |
| My Rating: ⭐ ⭐ |

Hi Readers

The book we never thought would be, and it finally arrived in our hands just over a week ago now. For a lot of us it’s a 700 page chunk of teenage nostalgia, taking us back to the time when we obsessed over vampires, shapeshifters and a girl named Bella.

Just when we thought we were done with Twilight, Stephanie Meyer announces she’s completed writing Midnight Sun and is publishing it. And we all knew we’d be diving back into this world one more time.

Midnight Sun has been known about for a good 12 years now. Back in 2008 a draft of it was leaked and Twilight fans went crazy over it. Unfortunately this didn’t impress the author, who never spoke of it again. Until she saw how 2020 was going and decided we all needed a little help getting through the year.

What Is It About?

In 2006 a book called ‘Twilight’ was published, and since then has become one of the most talked about YA books. Midnight Sun is Twilight (book one) in Edwards POV. In this we go into the mind of a vampire who is struggling to control his thirst and not kill the girl he will come to love.

What Did I Think?

I went into this kind of knowing what my thoughts about it would be. It’s Twilight from Edwards perspective, it’s a story I already know very well. This isn’t going to be amazing, just something that’s fun to read. I was pretty much spot on.

This isn’t groundbreaking. It doesn’t add a whole lot of depth to Edward, it doesn’t make me think he’s less of a creep for breaking into Bellas room and watching her sleep (no matter how hard he tries to justify it). And it does feel repetitive as it is basically a book I read 2 months ago, just 300 pages longer.

Which is ridiculous, frankly. This book needed some serious editing because it was far too long. Honestly, I was bored for a lot of it. Like the original books, Stephenie Meyer likes her inner dialogue a bit too much.

But, as I knew I would, I had fun. I liked every moment when Edward was interacting with another Cullen. That family dynamic was something I was looking forward to and I did really enjoy seeing more of them. What we learnt:

– Jasper is brutal
– Alice is sweet but a little annoying (I’ll get to that)
– Rosalie is queen and the only sane one
– Emmett is my favourite
– Esme is the most supportive mum
– Carlisle …is Carlisle

I think each character could have had a bit more depth added to them. I don’t know if anythng we learnt was anything we didn’t already know. But I had fun reading them all the same.

Except for Alice. I don’t know, I love Alice, but her gift kind of ruined this whole book. It was just used too much and got really annoying. Even though we all know this story, her just telling the characters (and us) what was going to happen just meant there was no build-up.

I guess the biggest issue this book has is that the original wasn’t really very good either. As adults now, we’re able to see the more problematic content in these books and be a bit more critical of that. I also know that if it wasn’t for the nostalgic connection I have with these books, I never would have made it past the first chapter.

But I really appreciate what this book has done for me and others. It’s given us something to look forward to. This reminds me of a time when I was young and carefree so I really can’t knock it for that.

But unless you’re a really big fan of Twilight, you probably won’t get anything out of this.

Thanks For Reading,
Jess X

A Favourite Book.

Hi Readers!

I’ve said many times in various posts that Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is one of my favourite books of all time. I reread it recently and that statement still stands true, but I realised I’ve never done a review of it.

Seeing as I’ve now read it more times than I can count I felt a bit strange just doing a regular review of it, so I’m going to start a series where I make individuel posts for my FAVOURITE books. Starting with this one!

(Includes minor spoilers!)

---

What Is It About?

Aristotle and Dante are teenage boys who meet one Summer and bond over swimming lessons. Both of them are different to other boys their age and are kind of loners so they take a lot of comfort in each others company. Their friendship and feelings for each other grows, but all Summers must come to an end.

When Did I First Read This Book?

I first read Aristotle and Dante in 2017. I was a teenager like the characters and I think I loved it so much because I related to their sense of not fitting in.

Since then I’ve read it maybe four or five times. At least every Summer as it is one of those books that just reminds me of the Summer time. It’s about friendship, first love, discovering yourself and coming into your own.

Why Is It A Favourite?

Oh my gosh, where do I start?

The characters. They and their relationships are complex and multi-layered. I felt every emotion they felt. Their anger, their fear, their loneliness, their joy and their sadness. Whilst they’re nothing like me, (they’re teenage boys, Mexican American and living in the 1980’s) I’ve rarely understood characters like I do these and I think that shows the skill of the author. I really sympathised with them which made me that much more invested in their stories.

And the great characterisation doesn’t stop with Ari and Dante. One of my pet peeves is YA books that just don’t feature parents and this book has some of the best parental figures I’ve ever read about. They’re not the best because they’re perfect parents but because they felt like real people. They’re flawed and have their own issues, but they have so much love for Ari and I felt that love radiating off the page.

These characters learn and grow throughout the book. They don’t always make the right decisions and some of them could definitely do with seeing a therapist. But you do see them stumble through these mistakes and learn from them which just makes them feel that much more real.

Ari has a lot of anger and not a lot of self-worth. Dante is his opposite, he’s affectionate and a lot more open. They seem like an unlikely pair but you can just feel how much they care about each other. Seeing their bond grow into more was so beautiful.

The writing as well is so poetic but also quite relatable. It really feels like the character talking and there are these moments where he puts a feeling into words in a way I’d never thought about before.

Spoilery Thoughts

This time around reading this book something occured to me that hadn’t before. This doesn’t feel like a teenager talking. It also doesn’t feel present. It almost feels like an adult Ari looking back at this time in his life and working through what he was thinking and feeling in these significant moments.

And, I hate to say this, it also feels like Dante maybe isn’t in his life anymore? This book is getting a sequel and so far we know nothing but a maybe title ‘There Will Be Other Summers’. Now I already feellike this sequel isn’t going to be a happily ever afterromance because where they live is extremely homophobic. But what if we also see their relationship end?

I don’t know if I could handle that. In my head they went to college together, became poets and now live in a lakehouse with no light pollution for miles.

Have you read this book? I’d love to discuss it with you if you have!

Thanks For Reading,
Jess X

Book Review | Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

| Published: April 2018 by Penguin |
| Genre: Contemporary |
| Length: 339 Pages |
| Themes: Body Image, LGBT+ |
| Source: Review Copy by Penguin |
| My Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ |

Hi Readers

I love Becky Albertalli’s books and this is just another example of why she can do no wrong. I now go into her books without any fear because I know I’m going to enjoy myself. She’s quickly become one of my go-to authors. 

This is the sequel to Simon Vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda where we once again meet the lovable characters of Creekwood. This time Simon’s best friend, Leah, takes centre stage.

She’s a drummer, an artist and has a young single mum who she tells everything to, even that she is bisexual, something she has yet to tell her closest friends. But when her squad starts to fracture, college on the horizon and she starts falling for someone she can’t have, Leah doesn’t know what to do.

I love everything about the Creekwood characters. Becky is, putting it simply, one of us. She gets us and our nerdy ways and that makes it so easy for her to create characters that we relate to. She just hits the nail on the head on what it’s like to be a teenager these days.

I love the references in this book, Hamilton, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Anime, Troye Sivan, there’s even a Six of Crows reference. Again, it just makes these characters so relatable and so real. It’s impossible not to find a character in one of her books that you just think ‘is she writing about me right now?’

As for Leah, she’s fat, she’s bi, she’s single af and I loved reading about her. There aren’t many books I’ve read where the main female character isn’t straight and it’s so refreshing to see this narrative. When it comes to representation Becky does it so flawlessly. I’m 22 now so I’m not a teenager, and I really wish this book had been around when I was one.

“I swear, people can’t wrap their minds around the concept of a fat girl who doesn’t diet. Is it that hard to believe I might actually like my body?”

Leah On The Offbeat

Not only does this achieve peak cuteness and adorableness, it also brings up some very important current discussions. Racism and calling it out when you hear it, labels and what they can mean and also growing up constantly thinking about money because it doesn’t come easily for your family like it does others. 

If you’re looking for a light read this summer that is comical, cute and angsty then this is the book for you. Seriously, read it.

Would I Read Again? Yes
Would I Recommend? Yes

Thanks for reading, 
Jess X

Book Review | The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

| Published: 11th April 2017 by Balzer + Bray |
| Genre: YA Contemporary |
| Themes: LGBT+, Same Sex Marriage, Coming of Age |
| Source: Library |
| Length: 336 Pages |
| My Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ |

Hi Readers

This is my second time reading this book and it still stands as one of my favourites. It was a quick read because I couldn’t stop turning the pages. I just love everything about this book.

Plot

This follows 17 year old Molly who has never gotten past the crush stage (relatable.) But when her twin sister gets a new girlfriend and she’s introduced to her hipster friend she decides it’s time to end her fear of rejection. And then a nerdy, GOT obsessed work colleague comes into the picture, who definitely isn’t crush material, right?

Characters

The characters are great, they are flawed and diverse and I really enjoyed reading about them and found them to be very relatable. 

The parents were awesome. They were always present and always saying exactly the right stuff. At one point I was actually teared up when they talked to Molly about growing up because it was so relatable and they said is so perfectly. They were GOOD PARENTS, in a YA NOVEL. Authors, take note.

Writing

The representation was on point. Becky Albertalli is an author who effortlessly includes diversity in her books. Again, authors take note. It has a MC who struggles with body image, mixed race couples, LGBT+ couples, anxiety in teenagers, and it’s all so well done. 

Also love that this book doesn’t just centre around romance. It’s about family love, sisterly love, friendships, growing up, being a teenager. However I do also really love the romance. 

It’s full of cute moments and is such a fun, quick read that will stay with you after finishing it.

“Because I have to admit: there’s something really badass about truly, honestly not caring what people think about you.”

The Upside of Unrequited Love

Would I Read Again? Absolutely
Would I Recommend? I don’t just recommend, I demand you read this book!

Thanks for reading
Jess X

Book Review | Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson… now I want to go on an American Summer road trip

Published: 2010 by Simon & Schuster Books
Genre: Contemporary
Themes: Road Trip, Summer, Grief, Romance
Length: 343 Pages
My Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Hi Readers!

This is my third time reading this book and I was pleasantly surprised with how much I still enjoy it! I’ve realised this is the first time I’m reading this book outside of a readathon and I had overall a better experience with this book when I took my time with it rather than reading it in one day!

After the sudden loss of her father, Amy’s mother decides to move across the country for a fresh start, with Amy to follow on once she’s finished her Junior year of high school. Now it’s Summer and Amy’s mother has enlisted the help of a family friends son Roger to drive her to their new home. A road trip of healing, detours and romance ensues.

This book deals heavily with grieving the loss of a parent and I thought it was done really well. Amy’s grief is still so strong from losing her father. She’s not the same girl she used to be and she’s still feeling survivors guilt. On this road trip Amy goes through a lot of healing and it was so nice to read her character grow.

Roger, while nice, is a little bit more forgettable. He’s got his own mission on this trip and it makes him feel quite vacant a lot of the story. It’s not until his and Amy’s bond grows that you really start getting to know him.

My only little quelm with this book is a thing that’s typically seen in YA books. Where is her mother? Okay so to be fair she’s dealing with grief herself, but to leave her 16 (17?) year old daughter to travel across the country with a boy she hasn’t seen since childhood after she saw her father die? What the heck is wrong with this woman?

Being a Morgan Matson book, it wasn’t all about grief. Seeing Amy & Rogers relationship grow was so cute and fun to read. It has the perfect balance between light-hearted and heartbreak.

I also really like that this was left open ended. It gives you the feeling that the characters still have a long way to go. Their story isn’t over just because you’ve got to the final page of the book. It made them feel more real to me.

“The best discoveries always happen to the people who aren’t looking for them.”

Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour

Would I Read Again: Oh yes. Probably next Summer.
Would I Recommend? Absolutely!

Thanks For Reading,
Jess X

Non-Spoiler Review | The Ballad Of Songbirds and Snakes… This book made me so mad.

| Published: 2020 by Scholastic |
| Genre: Dystopia |
| Themes: War, Hunger Games, Poverty |
| Length: 528 Pages |
| My Rating: ⭐ |

*Before I get into this review I want to say that there are probably a lot of reasons why I ended up giving this one star, which I’m going to try and explain. Hopefully I am in the minority here!

Hi Readers…

I could pretty much tell from the first paragraph of this book how I would end up feeling about it. From the beginning it set off a tone I wasn’t a fan of and I’m so gutted to say how disappointed I am in it.

When it was announced this was about Snow’s beginnings, I was intrigued. But that first paragraph had me playing those tiny violins and I just couldn’t get them out of my head.

It was just so, ‘why should I care?’ Aww, he’s suffered? That’s a shame. Maybe I’ll let Katniss and the other 1,800 children that were sent to their deaths know and ALL will be forgiven.

I think not.

Plot

It’s the 10th Hunger Games and a young Coriolanus Snow has been made a Mentor for the girl from District 12. These games are very different to the techy, celebrated games we see Katniss take part in however.

The Capital is still feeling the effects of the rebel uprising and the games themselves aren’t celebrated or even really watched by a lot in the Capital. They need to get viewing figures up or their show’s going to get cancelled.

What a shame that would have been…

What do I like about it? I liked seeing how the Games have evolved. I just wish it had been done differently. I felt so uncomfortable with the idea of feeling sympathtic for Snow and the Capital and it really left a bad taste in my mouth.

Characters

You are introduced to SO MANY new characters in this and I did not care for a single one. None of them stuck with me and I honestly think that comes down to the person Collins decided to tell this story through.

I think Lucy, the girl from District 12, was supposed to be that character you root for but she really wasn’t my cup of tea (although I can see why others may disagree). Honestly I found her slightly annoying and out of place in this series.

Writing

I hate to say this, but the writing just didn’t do it for me either. I mean, this is an actual sentence (quite early on in the book) that made me burst out laughing it was so cringey:

“The cabbage began to boil, filling the kitchen with the smell of poverty”.

Ugh. She’s just trying so hard to get us to sympathise with Snow the way we sympathised with Katniss and it just didn’t work for me.

I also wasn’t a fan of the pacing. This is told in three parts and the first two, while I still didn’t enjoy them, kept my attention because they were largely about the games. But part three started and I was just done. I didn’t care about the characters or the story and I just couldn’t wait for the book to be finished.

The ending was also anti-climatic, but it also kind of made my blood boil a little. If you’ve read it I’m hoping you understand but I’m going to do a spoiler review soon so we can talk about it more then!

Overall Thoughts

It’s not very often I feel so negatively about a book and I know it’s partly because I’m comparing the story and the characters to that of The Hunger Games, and can anything ever really compare to that? I think this book has just proved to me it can’t.

It also fell victim to my general opinion on prequels which is, are they really necessary? Like I said I think it was interesting reading about how different the Games were in their early stages, but I personally think that could’ve been done in a novella. This didn’t need to be a 500+ page book.

I don’t know if maybe it’s my fault. Did I hype it up too much in head? Should I have not reread THG and reminded myself of all the manipulative and cruel things Snow has done to characters who I LOVE?

Honestly though, I just don’t think this book was ever going to be for me.

I would love to know your thoughts about this! Hopefully you enjoy it more than me!

Thanks For Reading,
Jess X

‘Twas The Summer of Nostalgia For Millenials and Gen Z | Exciting Bookish News!

Hi Readers!

If you haven’t logged into ‘book’ twitter recently you would have been missing out on a lot of exciting things happening that has been making everybody feel about ten years younger.

I’m talking Twilight, The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, etc. All of those franchises that were at their height in or around 2010-13, when we were all teenagers or young adults. For a while things have been quiet from them, until recently. And now their fans are reemerging from the depths of the internet in their shared elation.

It’s like all of these authors and creators have seen how hard we find ‘adulting’ and just agreed to make us feel young again. And I for one very much appreciate that.

In case you missed it, here’s some exciting bookish news that’s been announced recently!

Book News!

The Hunger Games Prequel: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

This is out in just three days! Yes, it’s the backstory of a manipulative, power hungry control freak who annually sends children to their death. BUT it could be interesting. I have faith in Suzanne Collins!
Saying that, I am a little nervous that she’s going to try and make us feel sympathy for Snow and I’m just not here for that.

Twilight With a Twist: Midnight Sun

Ever wondered what the heck is going on in the brain of a mind reading, 100 year old vegetarian vampire who’s incapable of not falling in love with the one human he wants to kill the most? Yes? Well, it’s your lucky day because you’re about to find out! This is Twilight told from the POV of Edward Cullen.

TV Show/Movie News!

The Selection: Is Being Made Into A Netflix Movie!

This has been a long time in the making. I think a few years ago they were talking about a TV show but things went quiet again. Now it’s been confirmed we’ll be getting a Netflix adaptation and I am so excited!
Just think of the dresses, the drama, the romance! It’s going to be a lot of fun!

The Grisha Trilogy: Is In Post-Production

We’ve known about this for a while but just in case you missed it, the Shadow and Bone trilogy by Leigh Bardugo is coming to netflix as a TV show! It doesn’t have a release date but I’m thinking earliest would be beginning 2021? The cast for this is incredible, I especially love whose playing the Darkling…

PERCY JACKSON IS GETTING A TV SHOW!

And I have faith this one will be amazing! Now, don’t get me wrong. I am a sucker for the first PJ film (I just love Logan Lerman okay? (not enough to like Sea of Monsters though that was a hot mess)). It’ll be adapted by Disney+ and I believe Rick Riordan will play a part in it so hopefully that means they finally get it right!

The Infernal Devices: Will Be Adapted By the BBC

This was announced and yes, everyone is sceptical. But I do have hopes as it’s in the hands of the BBC and I think they make great adaptations. I just really hope they don’t screw this up like the other adaptations. (Also looking forward to see who will play Magnus Chase for a third time). We’ve got a long time to wait though as casting hasn’t even been announced yet.

Random Other Stuff

Harry Potter: A Quarentine Audiobook

Well, whoever said self-isolation was gonna be all bad? We’ve been gifted in many ways recently and this is a pretty amazing one? It’s an audiobook of Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, recorded by stars of the movies. The best bit? The first chapter is narrated by Daniel Radcliffe!

HAMILTON IS COMING TO DISNEY+ THIS JULY!

Okay so this isn’t ‘nostalgic bookish news’ but it is the best news EVER and I just had to share it because I am THAT excited about it!
July 3rd, we’re getting the filmed show of Hamilton. With the cast in all it’s original glory! I’m so excited!!!

What bookish news are you most excited about?

Thanks For Reading,
Jess X

My Thoughts After Rereading ‘The Hunger Games’ Trilogy | Do I Still Like Them?

Hi Readers!

Back in 2008 a book inspired thousands of teenagers to pick up a book and read. For me personally I read The Hunger Games for the first time in 2012. It was the year the movie was released but if I’m honest the only reason I was interested in it was because Taylor Swift was on the soundtrack!

Little did I know this would be the series that would help me find blogging and booktube and definitely sparked a whole new passion for reading.

Needless to say this is a very special series to a lot of us and I know I’m not the only one anticipating the release of the prequel next week. To prepare for it I just had to reread the trilogy, right? I was so scared going into them that they wouldn’t live up to my memory of it. But they did that, and more.

Rereading The Hunger Games trilogy only reaffirmed in my mind that it is the best YA Dystopia series of all time. It’s both tense and romantic. The symbolic Mockingjay which sparked the flames of a revolution is genius and I enjoyed every single page. Even the slightly more criticised final book.

I fell in love with all of the characters all over again. The twists and turns still kept me gripped even though I knew what was going to happen. It also made me appreciate how well the films are done. This whole franchise is a gift to entertainment.

Here are some random thoughts I had on each of the books whilst rereading them (SPOILERS!)

The Hunger Games ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

• Katniss is so suspicious of Peeta it made me suspicious of him and made me not trust him either, even though I’m pretty sure he loves her from the beginning. I’d LOVE these books from his POV.
• When they start bigging each other up to Haymitch. It’s so cute!
• I love Peeta’s story of how he’s noticed and admired Katniss since their first day of school. He remembers how she had her hair and what she sang and it just doesn’t click with Katniss that what he’s saying is true.
• Katniss plays up a lot more to the cameras in the arena than I remember. She literally tilts her head so they can get a good shot of her.
• The movies did amazing at making the action more continuous. This book is quite stop and start which is why it’s 4 stars, not 5.

Catching Fire ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

• Them writing the book whilst Katniss is bed bound.
• How they comfort each other at night during the victory tour.
• Peeta giving her the pearl.
• Peeta rubbing Katniss’s back whilst she’s trying to work out what the spile is.
• Their last picnic. OMG I love them!
• Kind of wish Gale’s and Katniss’s relationship was platonic on both sides. I know she says they probably would have married if it hadn’t been for the games but she didn’t seem too thrilled about the idea.
• When Peeta almost dies and Katniss is panicking.
• I think I know why I love this book so much. It’s pure Everlark gold.
• I love it when they’re meeting all the other victors. They’re nuts but I love them.

Mockingjay ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

• I hate how responsible Katniss feels for District 12 being destroyed. Anyone else just want to give her a big hug?
• District 13 is a lot more vicious than I remember. I completely forgot what they did to Katniss’s prep team.
• Coin’s character is so well written. So quietly evil. So manipulative and controlling.
• It’s actually heartbreaking what happens to Peeta.
• Finnick’s wedding!
• Finnick 😦
• Prim learning to be a doctor!
• Prim 😦
• Gale really shows his true colours in his book. His District 2 plan was pure evil.
• I definitely don’t think this book deserves all the hate it gets. I think it’s a great finale. 

We are now just one week away from the prequel, ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,’ being released and I’m both excited and nervous at the same time. I’m going to try and stay positive about it. But could it ever possibly be as good as this trilogy? I guess we’ll find out.

Are you looking forward to the release of the prequel? Have you been rereading The Hunger Games to prepare for it?

Thank For Reading
Jess X