February & March's Monthly Recaps

I didn't have much to share in February, so I thought instead I would post a recap that covered both February and March.


February Reviews:

• Starborn by Lucy Hounsom (review copy) - This was a really intriguing fantasy, but I found there weren't enough questions answered regarding the world, and there was a hugely problematic scene for me. I might pick up the second book, but I'll be in no rush to do so.
• The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore (bought) - This book was gorgeous! A wonderful, captivating magic realism novel, and I absolutely loved it!
• The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig (eProof) - The sequel now, please?! Oh my god, I completely fell in love with the world of this book and the characters, and oooh, I could just live in it! I bought a physical copy after reading, which is in the photo.
• Loud Is How I Love You by Mercy Brown (bought eBook - not pictured) - I enjoyed this NA novel a whole lot more than I expected. Such a great story.
• Tell Me Again How A Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan (bought) - This was a sweet story, but the pacing was off, and I didn't feel the romance, unfortunately.
• The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury (bought eBook) - I loved this epic retelling of Aladdin, but I would have loved more of Aladdin, and I didn't feel the romance in this one either.
• When Everything Feels Like the Movies by Raziel Reid (proof) - I didn't like this book at all. I found it incredibly disturbing, and offensive on multiple levels.

March Reviews:

• Dumplin' by Julie Murphy (review copy) - This book is so incredibly empowering! I loved it; beautifully deals with body image and friendship, and is so wonderfully feminist!
• Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (review copy) - Oh my god, this book is incredible! Such a fantastic sequel to Cinder, with an epic ending! I am so excited to read Cress!
• Maresi by Maria Turtschaninoff (bought) -  I cannot tell you how much I loved this book. It's a quiet, captivating feminist high fantasy, and I absolutely adored it!
• How Hard Can Love Be? by Holly Bourne (proof) - I really, really enjoyed this, but I loved Am I Normal Yet? more. I found Amber to be immature and irritating. However, I loved this one covered alcoholism, and still dealt with feminist issues!
• Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (borrowed) - This book is absolutely incredible! Oh my god, it left me feeling so much! I was completely heartbroken and numb, but also SO inspired. Such a beautiful, beautiful read. I am SO looking forward to the movie - I will most definitely be an emotional wreck. I bought my own copy after reading, which is in the photo.
• The Night that Changed Everything by Laura Tait & Jimmy Rice (proof) - This is a really awesome story, but it's not the romance you're going to expect. A really poignant but uplifting read!

Other posts:

• I started a new feature called Story Time, where I highlight some of my favourite picture books. In this first edition, I discuss:
• With Your Hand in My Hand by Mark Sperring & Brita Teckentrup
• What a Wonderful World by Tom Hopgood
• The Boy Who Loved the Moon by Rino Alaimo
• Kiss It Better by Smriti Prasadam-Halls & Sarah Massini
• I'll Never Let You Go by Smriti Prasadam-Halls & Alison Brown
• I wrote about Five Books that Changed My Life, inspired by Almost Amazing Grace and Queen of Contemporary.

Reading Challenges:

Debut Author Challenge 2016:

• The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig (YA)
• Loud is How I Love You by Mercy Brown (NA)
• When Everything Feels Like the Movies by Raziel Reid (YA) - UK Debut
• Dumplin' by Julie Murphy (YA) - UK Debut
• Maresi by Maria Turtschaninoff (YA)

Total so far: 7/12

LGBTQIA Challenge 2016:

• Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan
• When Everything Feels Like the Movies by Raziel Reid

Total so far: 5/30

2016 Diverse Reads Challenge:

• The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore (Latina MC/#OwnVoices Latina author/Queer author)
• The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig (biracial MC/#OwnVoices biracial author/author with bipolar)
• Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan (Iranian Lesbian MC/#OwnVoices Iranian Lesbian author)
• The Forbidden Wish by Jessia Khoury (MCs based on Middle Eastern/South Asian folklore/biracial author)
• When Everything Feels Like the Movies by Raziel Reid (Gay MC/#OwnVoices Gay author)
• Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (quadriplegic MC)

Challenge is to read more, no levels or points. Total so far: 10

British Books Challenge 2016:

• Starborn by Lucy Hounsom
• How Hard Can Love Be? by Holly Bourne
• Me Before You by Jojo Moyes 
• The Night that Changed Everything by Laura Tait & Jimmy Rice

Total so far: 4/12

Retellings Reading Challenge 2016:

• The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore (Romeo and Juliet)
• The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury (Aladdin)
• Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (Little Red Riding Hood)

Total so far: 4/12

Contemporary Reading Challenge 2016:

• Loud Is How I Love You by Mercy Brown (NA)
• Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel (YA)
• Dumplin' by Julie Murphy (YA) 
• How Hard Can Love Be? by Holly Bourne (YA)
• Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (adult) 
• The Night that Changed Everything by Laura Tait & Jimmy Rice (adult)

Total so far: 8/16

Flights of Fantasy Reading Challenge 2016:

• Starborn by Lucy Hounsom
• The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury
• Maresi by Maria Turtschaninoff

Total so far: 3/12
 
NetGalley Reading Challenge 2016:

• The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

Total so far: 4/21


Read the Books You Buy Reading Challenge 2016:

• Loud Is How I Love You by Mercy Brown
• Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan
• The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury
• Maresi by Maria Turtschaninoff

Total so far: 30.77%

Elsewhere:

• Kody Keplinger wrote a fantastic post on Disability, Quality of Life, and the Hypothetical Cure.
• Heidi Heilig has an interview on Disability in Kidlit about Captain Slate in The Girl From Everywhere and bipolar disorder. It's fascinating and eye-opening!
• After reading the above interview, I found a post from S. Jae-Jones on Disability in Kidlit, I'm Not Your Manic Pixie Dream Creature - Debunking Bipolar Stereotypes. It's a long post, buut it's similarly eye-opening and educational.
• Erin Lange wrote an article for The Guardian - Harry Potter Made Me Read With a Sense of Wonder Instead of a Critical Eye - about how J.K. Rowling reignited her love of reading and got her writing. 
• Chris Callaghan was on The Guardian talking about Ten Reasons Why You Should Eat Chocolate While Reading.
• David Owen wrote an incredible brave and honest post, How My Book Deal Saved My Life.