Speak

Title: Speak

Author: Laurie Halse Anderson

First Published: October 22nd 1999

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: YA Fiction, Contemporary

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 208

My Copy: Physical copy 

My Overall Rating: 9/10

Goodreads Summary

"Speak up for yourself--we want to know what you have to say." From the first moment of her freshman year at Merryweather High, Melinda knows this is a big fat lie, part of the nonsense of high school. She is friendless, outcast, because she busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, so now nobody will talk to her, let alone listen to her. As time passes, she becomes increasingly isolated and practically stops talking altogether. Only her art class offers any solace, and it is through her work on an art project that she is finally able to face what really happened at that terrible party: she was raped by an upperclassman, a guy who still attends Merryweather and is still a threat to her. Her healing process has just begun when she has another violent encounter with him. But this time Melinda fights back, refuses to be silent, and thereby achieves a measure of vindication. In Laurie Halse Anderson's powerful novel, an utterly believable heroine with a bitterly ironic voice delivers a blow to the hypocritical world of high school. She speaks for many a disenfranchised teenager while demonstrating the importance of speaking up for oneself.

Speak was a 1999 National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature.

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Asking For It

Title: Asking For It

Author: Louise O'Neill

First Published: September 3rd 2015

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: YA Fiction, Contemporary

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 346

My Copy: Physical copy 

My Overall Rating: 9/10

Goodreads Summary

It's the beginning of the summer in a small town in Ireland. Emma O'Donovan is eighteen years old, beautiful, happy, confident. One night, there's a party. Everyone is there. All eyes are on Emma.

The next morning, she wakes on the front porch of her house. She can't remember what happened, she doesn't know how she got there. She doesn't know why she's in pain. But everyone else does. 

Photographs taken at the party show, in explicit detail, what happened to Emma that night. But sometimes people don't want to believe what is right in front of them, especially when the truth concerns the town's heroes...

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If I Was Your Girl

Title: If I Was Your Girl

Author: Meredith Russo 

First Published: May 3rd 2016

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: YA Fiction, Contemporary

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 288

My Copy: Physical copy 

My Overall Rating: 8/10

Goodreads Summary

Amanda Hardy is the new girl in school in Lambertville, Tennessee. Like any other girl, all she wants is to make friends and fit in. But Amanda is keeping a secret. There’s a reason why she transferred schools for her senior year, and why she’s determined not to get too close to anyone. 

And then she meets Grant Everett. Grant is unlike anyone she’s ever met—open, honest, kind—and Amanda can’t help but start to let him into her life. As they spend more time together, she finds herself yearning to share with Grant everything about herself…including her past. But she’s terrified that once she tells Grant the truth, he won't be able to see past it.

Because the secret that Amanda’s been keeping? It’s that she used to be Andrew.

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Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Title: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Author: Becky Albertalli

First Published: April 7th, 2015

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: YA Fiction, Contemporary

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 320

My Copy: Physical copy 

My Overall Rating: 8/10

Goodreads Summary

Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised. 

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

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Since You've Been Gone

Title: Since You've Been Gone

Author: Morgan Matson

First Published: May 6th, 2014

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: YA, Contemporary

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 449

My Copy: Physical Copy

My Overall Rating: 8/10

Goodreads Summary

It was Sloane who yanked Emily out of her shell and made life 100% interesting. But right before what should have been the most epic summer, Sloane just…disappears. All she leaves behind is a to-do list.

On it, thirteen Sloane-inspired tasks that Emily would normally never try. But what if they could bring her best friend back?

Apple picking at night? Okay, easy enough.

Dance until dawn? Sure. Why not?

Kiss a stranger? Um...

Emily now has this unexpected summer, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected), to check things off Sloane's list. Who knows what she’ll find?

Go skinny-dipping? Wait...what?

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How Hard Can Love Be?

Title: How Hard Can Love Be?

Author: Holly Bourne

First Published: February 1st 2016

Series: Normal #2

Genre: YA, Contemporary

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 480

My Copy: Physical Copy

My Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Goodreads Summary

Amber, Evie and Lottie: three girls facing down tough issues with the combined powers of friendship, feminism and cheesy snacks. Both hilarious and heart-rending, this is Amber’s story of how painful – and exhilarating – love can be, following on from Evie’s story in Am I Normal Yet?

All Amber wants is a little bit of love. Her mum has never been the caring type, even before she moved to California, got remarried and had a personality transplant. But Amber's hoping that spending the summer with her can change all that.

And then there's prom king Kyle, the guy all the girls want. Can he really be interested in anti-cheerleader Amber? Even with best friends Evie and Lottie's advice, there's no escaping the fact: love is hard.

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Am I Normal Yet?

Title: Am I Normal Yet?

Author: Holly Bourne

First Published: August 1st 2015

Series: Normal #1

Genre: YA, Contemporary, Mental Illnesses

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 434

My Copy: Physical copy

My Rating: 8/10

Goodreads Summary

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?

Every Last Word

Title: Every Last Word

Author: Tamara Ireland Stone

First Published: June 16th, 2015

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance, Mental Illness

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 368

My Copy: eBook

My Rating: 9/10

Goodreads Summary

If you could read my mind, you wouldn't be smiling.

Samantha McAllister looks just like the rest of the popular girls in her junior class. But hidden beneath the straightened hair and expertly applied makeup is a secret that her friends would never understand: Sam has Purely-Obsessional OCD and is consumed by a stream of dark thoughts and worries that she can't turn off.

Second-guessing every move, thought, and word makes daily life a struggle, and it doesn't help that her lifelong friends will turn toxic at the first sign of a wrong outfit, wrong lunch, or wrong crush. Yet Sam knows she'd be truly crazy to leave the protection of the most popular girls in school. So when Sam meets Caroline, she has to keep her new friend with a refreshing sense of humor and no style a secret, right up there with Sam's weekly visits to her psychiatrist.

Caroline introduces Sam to Poet's Corner, a hidden room and a tight-knit group of misfits who have been ignored by the school at large. Sam is drawn to them immediately, especially a guitar-playing guy with a talent for verse, and starts to discover a whole new side of herself. Slowly, she begins to feel more "normal" than she ever has as part of the popular crowd . . . until she finds a new reason to question her sanity and all she holds dear.

Made You Up

Title: Made You Up

Author: Francesca Zappia

First Published: May 19th 2015

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance, Mental Illness

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 448

My Copy: eBook

My Rating: 9.5/10

Goodreads Summary

Reality, it turns out, is often not what you perceive it to be—sometimes, there really is someone out to get you. Made You Up tells the story of Alex, a high school senior unable to tell the difference between real life and delusion. This is a compelling and provoking literary debut that will appeal to fans of Wes Anderson, Silver Linings Playbook, and Liar.

Alex fights a daily battle to figure out the difference between reality and delusion. Armed with a take-no-prisoners attitude, her camera, a Magic 8-Ball, and her only ally (her little sister), Alex wages a war against her schizophrenia, determined to stay sane long enough to get into college. She’s pretty optimistic about her chances until classes begin, and she runs into Miles. Didn't she imagine him? Before she knows it, Alex is making friends, going to parties, falling in love, and experiencing all the usual rites of passage for teenagers. But Alex is used to being crazy. She’s not prepared for normal.

Funny, provoking, and ultimately moving, this debut novel featuring the quintessential unreliable narrator will have readers turning the pages and trying to figure out what is real and what is made up.

I Was Here

Title: I Was Here

Author: Gayle Forman

First Published: January 27th, 2015

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: YA, Contemporary

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 270

My Copy: Physical, paperback

My Rating: 8/10

Goodreads Summary:

Cody and Meg were inseparable.
Two peas in a pod. 
Until . . . they weren’t anymore. 

When her best friend Meg drinks a bottle of industrial-strength cleaner alone in a motel room, Cody is understandably shocked and devastated. She and Meg shared everything—so how was there no warning? But when Cody travels to Meg’s college town to pack up the belongings left behind, she discovers that there’s a lot that Meg never told her. About her old roommates, the sort of people Cody never would have met in her dead-end small town in Washington. About Ben McAllister, the boy with a guitar and a sneer, who broke Meg’s heart. And about an encrypted computer file that Cody can’t open—until she does, and suddenly everything Cody thought she knew about her best friend’s death gets thrown into question.

I Was Here is Gayle Forman at her finest, a taut, emotional, and ultimately redemptive story about redefining the meaning of family and finding a way to move forward even in the face of unspeakable loss.

The Probability of Miracles

Title: The Probability of Miracles

Author: Wendy Wunder

First Published: January 1st, 2011

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: YA, Contemporary Fiction, Romance

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

My Rating: 8/10

Goodreads Summary:

Dry, sarcastic, sixteen-year-old Cam Cooper has spent the last seven years in and out hospitals. The last thing she wants to do in the short life she has left is move 1,500 miles away to Promise, Maine - a place known for the miraculous events that occur there. But it's undeniable that strange things happen in Promise: everlasting sunsets; purple dandelions; flamingoes in the frigid Atlantic; an elusive boy named Asher; and finally, a mysterious envelope containing a list of things for Cam to do before she dies. As Cam checks each item off the list, she finally learns to believe - in love, in herself, and even in miracles.

A debut novel from an immensely talented new writer, The Probability of Miracles crackles with wit, romance and humor and will leave readers laughing and crying with each turn of the page.

When I picked up this book and saw it was about a girl with cancer, my mind immediately jumped to The Fault in our Stars. I wondered if this book would be as sad as that one.

I'm happy to say it's not (as) depressing.

In Promise, Maine, everything seems to be looking up for Cam. She's getting better, she's making new friends and meeting new people... Especially the cute guy Asher. Their relationship grew on me. At first, I didn't really see them together, but at the end, you can really tell that they love each other.

So, steering clear of any spoilers, this book was really well written and it makes you appreciate life a lot more. The ending was realistic, which I preferred.

So, if you liked TFIOS, this is a good book for you. Funny, deep and terribly sad at times, it reflects our lives and what it means to live.

My Chosen Quote:

"The magic thing about home is that it feels good to leave, and it feels even better to come back."

99 Days

Title: 99 Days

Author: Katie Cotugno

First Published: 2015

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: YA, Romance

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook

My Rating: 7/10

Goodreads Summary

Day 1: Julia Donnelly eggs my house my first night back in Star Lake, and that’s how I know everyone still remembers everything—how I destroyed my relationship with Patrick the night everything happened with his brother, Gabe. How I wrecked their whole family. Now I’m serving out my summer like a jail sentence: Just ninety-nine days till I can leave for college, and be done.

Day 4: A nasty note on my windshield makes it clear Julia isn’t finished. I’m expecting a fight when someone taps me on the shoulder, but it’s just Gabe, home from college and actually happy to see me. “For what it’s worth, Molly Barlow,” he says, “I’m really
glad you’re back.”

Day 12: Gabe got me to come to this party, and I’m actually having fun. I think he’s about to kiss me—and that’s when I see Patrick. My Patrick, who’s supposed to be clear across the country. My Patrick, who’s never going to forgive me.

Molly just screwed up big time. Cheating on her boyfriend, with her boyfriend's brother? And then having her own mom turning this into a bestselling book so the whole town finds out? This isn't your dream summer. Now, with 99 days until Molly can leave to college, she just has to endure it. But is it that easy?

I thought this book falls under the category of 'Messed-up Relationships' and 'Annoying Lead Character'. Molly is having a hard time choosing between Patrick and Gabe, the two brothers that she both had a relationship with. And with all her previous friends ignoring her, she finds some new ones. Tess and Imogen treat her kindly, ignoring the past, but Molly still manages to screw it all up. She's happy with Gabe but she still goes back to Patrick. Honestly girl! Make up your mind! What is worse is that Tess is Patrick's current girlfriend. In the end, Tess breaks up with Patrick (partly because of Molly) and stops being friends with Molly. So, she's stuck with no friends.

Which is an absolutely great thing. I'm not trying to sound mean, but Molly really deserved that. She acts like the victim for most of the book, and although she deeply regrets her decisions, she still doesn't do much to solve her problems. Instead, she runs away from them. I'm sorry but Molly got on my nerves throughout the book. She just doesn't really think about how her actions may be affecting the people around her. Fortunately, Molly's character development does end up well. She finally sees her mistakes and vows to be a better friend to others in the future.

Overall, this book was really well written. Told in Molly's POV and each 'chapter' is one of the 99 days until Molly leaves for college. I loved the ending, especially how Molly makes peace with everything and she leaves to start a new life; turn over a new leaf. And that was the best part.

The Beginning of Everything

"There's a big difference between deciding to
leave and knowing where to go."

Title: The Beginning of Everything

Author: Robyn Schneider

First Published: 2013

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: YA, Romance, Contemporary, Coming-of-age

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook

My Rating: 9/10

Goodreads Summary:

Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: in one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra’s knee, his athletic career, and his social life.

No longer a front-runner for Homecoming King, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike anyone Ezra’s ever met, achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent, and determined to bring Ezra along on her endless adventures.

But as Ezra dives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: if one’s singular tragedy has already hit and everything after it has mattered quite a bit, what happens when more misfortune strikes?

Ezra Faulker? The popular guy, tennis champion, prom king. Well, that was all in the past. A twist of events leaves Ezra back to square one. No friends, no nothing. Not even the teachers are as fond of him as before.

Then, enter Cassidy Thorpe: the wild, crazy, unique girl- everything Ezra needs to pick up his life and continue living. But of course, not everything turns out as planned and maybe Cassidy will teach Ezra more than he could ever learn in a lifetime.

The Beginning of Everything is told from Ezra's perspective, giving us a clear view of his thoughts, and what goes on in his mind of his. It's a Teen-Fic, if that's what you call it. Ezra slowly develops a crush on Cassidy, hanging out with her group of friends and doing all sorts of crazy stuff together. Cassidy teaches Ezra a lot about life and all the great possibilities it brings. Then, boom! Here comes the tragedy. Ezra finds out (keeping this as vague as possible to avoid spoilers) something that links him to Cassidy, something not so great.

It really depends on how you look at it, but this book does have a happy ending. Well, Romeo and Juliet may not end up together, but sometimes, love may not be the most important thing at this time of your life.

Cassidy, as a character, is like an idol for Ezra. She is the person he believes he can trust whole-heartedly and without limits. But as we progress through the book, we eventually see that we don't know a whole lot about Cassidy and her life before. The mystery just defines her as a character, especially the fact that she is hiding something. She wants to live in the moment, something we should all learn to do.

My Chosen Quote:

“Life is the tragedy,' she said bitterly. 'You know how they categorize Shakespeare's plays, right? If it ends with a wedding, it's a comedy. And if it ends with a funeral, it's a tragedy. So we're all living tragedies, because we all end the same way, and it isn't with a goddamn wedding.”

Extraordinary Means

"And the thing about trying to cheat death
is that, in the end, you
still lose."

Title: Extraordinary Means

Author: Robyn Schneider

First Published: 2015

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook

My Rating: 9.5/10

Goodreads Summary:

At seventeen, overachieving Lane finds himself at Latham House, a sanatorium for teens suffering from an incurable strain of tuberculosis. Part hospital and part boarding school, Latham is a place of endless rules and confusing rituals, where it's easier to fail breakfast than it is to flunk French.

There, Lane encounters a girl he knew years ago. Instead of the shy loner he remembers, Sadie has transformed. At Latham, she is sarcastic, fearless, and utterly compelling. Her friends, a group of eccentric troublemakers, fascinate Lane, who has never stepped out of bounds his whole life. And as he gradually becomes one of them, Sadie shows him their secrets: how to steal internet, how to sneak into town, and how to disable the med sensors they must wear at all times.

But there are consequences to having secrets, particularly at Latham House. And as Lane and Sadie begin to fall in love and their group begins to fall sicker, their insular world threatens to come crashing down.

Told in alternating points of view, Extraordinary Means is a darkly funny story about doomed friendships, first love, and the rare miracle of second chances.

I loved this book. Why? Because it's by Robyn Schneider (Just a tiny, minor detail). I've already read one of her other books, The Beginning of Everything. Her writing style is what sucked me in from page one. Told from Lane and Sadie's point of views, the book revolves around their lives in Latham House and their struggles to survive Tuberculosis. Most books about illnesses these days are mainly based on mental illnesses - and that's perfectly fine. It's just that sometimes, we need to read about different types of illnesses, like the ones caused by bacteria/viruses and other harmful living organisms. We have to spread awareness that there are some sinister diseases still lurking out there,

How does this book keep it realistic, you may ask? Well, no illness book is complete without death, am I right? But I'm going to stop right there, to avoid accidentally spilling the dying and the dead. The book also opened up the floodgates - I cried too many times to count. I found myself asking at many points during the book: Why did this have to happen? But the answer is right there: because that's life.

The book is filled with meaningful quotes that should definitely be jotted down. They all add to the ending of the book - which is a happy ending, depending on how you want to look at it. I found it to be a happy ending. Not for everything though, because not everyone gets happy endings.

It was a great read. For everyone out there, I recommend Robyn Schneider's books. They are masterpieces in the modern literary world. It sometimes reminds me of Jandy Nelson's writing. Beautiful books. 

All The Bright Places

"It's not what you take. It's what
you leave."

Title: All The Bright Places

Author: Jennifer Niven

First Published: 2015

Series: Stand-alone

Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance

Available As: Paperback, Ebook

My Rating: 9.5/10

Goodreads Summary:

Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the 'natural wonders' of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.

Meet Finch. The boy who wants to die. Meet Violet, the girl who wants to live again. How did they meet? On a bell-tower. What happened afterwards? They found peace.

It's an absolutely amazing book. It really makes you think about life and death, especially with the people suffering from depression and those who think about suicide. It unearths all these questions that have different answers, and you just want to keep reading and reading in hope for one.

The book deals with loss, suicide and all these kinds of touchy subjects. But it really opens up the topic and that's how we can learn about what really happens. Suicide is not an easy topic to talk/write/read about, but Niven does a great job at it.

I miss Finch. He was the best character and the perfect boyfriend for Violet. Aaaand, that never really happens. Sorry, spoiler there!

I cried. And cried. And cried. I've never cried so much over a book since TFIOS. And that wasn't even waterworks. That was just sniffles. Why?! This book made me cry too much. That's how good it is. Well, bad for my eyes though. They're a tiny bit swollen.

Definitely recommended if you want a heart-warming but heart-breaking read. Woah, that's a bit contradicting. Oh well. :)

Extra note: if you are suffering from depression or having suicidal thoughts, please, tell somebody. You are not alone, and you never will be. There are hotlines where you can talk to people if things get too unbearable. Talking really helps.

My True Love Gave To Me

Title: My True Love Gave To Me

"Long, cold nights are for falling
in love."

Author: Stephanie Perkins (Editor)

First Published: 2014

Series: Stand-Alone (12 short stories)

Genre: YA, Romance

Available As: Hardcover, Ebook

My Rating: 9.5/10

My True Love Gave To Me is a book, edited by Stephanie Perkins, containing 12 winter romances! This was my Christmas present, and I was so excited to read this book, especially during Christmas! I was definitely not disappointed by the book!

Goodreads Summary:

If you love holiday stories, holiday movies, made-for-TV-holiday specials, holiday episodes of your favorite sitcoms and, especially, if you love holiday anthologies, you’re going to fall in love with My True Love Gave To Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by twelve bestselling young adult writers, edited by international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins. Whether you enjoy celebrating Christmas or Hanukkah, Winter Solstice or New Year's there's something here for everyone. So curl up by the fireplace and get cozy. You have twelve reasons this season to stay indoors and fall in love.

1. Midnights by Rainbow Rowell. It tells the story of a young girl who meets a boy
with whom she slowly falls in love with. The story revolves around each New Year's Eve they spend together. It's cute and sweet. I was captivated by the plot straight away. From the beginning, you can tell it's going to be a great story.

2. The Lady and the Fox by Kelly Link. It was a nice story, but the writing wasn't as captivating as it could've been.

3. Angels in the Snow by Matt de la Peña was epic. It started strongly, and ended strongly. It's not your cliché love story, but the main character was definitely someone you could relate and sympathise with. Of course, Haley was awesome. You can tell those two are in loooove!

4. Polaris Is Where You'll Find Me by Jenny Han. I haven't read any books by her (but I'm planning on it!) but I've heard mixed reviews about her writing. Some say she's a great writer, but some say she's not the best. I agree with the former! Her writing is really nice! (Minus the open ended ending)

5. It's a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown by Stephanie Perkins absolutely warmed my heart. The characters were really unique, especially North. It's not everyday a guy comes and helps you rearrange your apartment and life, for that matter.

6. Your Temporary Santa by David Levithan was quite good. The style of writing was nice, and it was quite funny. It isn't your average Christmas romance, so *winks*, get ready.

7. Krampuslauf by Holly Black was interesting. I've seen reviews about her writing, and they were pretty mixed as well. Apart from the title (that my brain found confusing to pronounce - or that's just my limited vocal chords), the story was okay!

8. What the Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth? by Gayle Forman was an okay read. I have ready other books by her: If I Stay and Just One Day. Her writing is fabulous! The plot was well though out, just... I took longer than expected.

9. Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus by Myra McEntire was pretty interesting. The characters were likeable and so was the plot.

10. Welcome to Christmas, CA  by Kiersten White was amazing. Maria works at a restaurant, and they just hired a new chef. She's experiencing some family troubles, and the chef helps a lot. This story nearly made me cry buckets, especially the ending. It was so heart-warming an I re-read it twice!

11. Star of Bethlehem by Ally Carter was a very interesting story. There was also a touch of mystery, so it really brought forth the mood.

12. The Girl Who Woke The Dreamer by Laini Taylor was a really different story from the others. This seems to be set in some alternate universe where magic is everywhere. The title is also quite eye-catching and I loved the story.

So, these 12 winter romances were absolutely amazing to read. I was sitting there, with my hot chocolate, devouring the book. And it was the time of my life! This is one of the best books to read during the winter, and you can also find this book on my Winter Recommendations post!
So, happy winter! And enjoy what's left of it! :)

Girl Online

"Every time you post something online
you have a choice."

Title: Girl Online

Author: Zoe Sugg (A.K.A Zoella)

First Published: 2014

Series: Stand alone

Available As: Hardcover

My Rating: 8.5/10

Under the pseudonym 'Girl Online', Penny writes all about her life, her troubles, her happiness on her anonymous blog. It was just her way of escaping her life and be herself. She was able to write all her feelings without the fear of being found out. Except for her best friend Elliot, of course. He was the only one who knew about her blog.

When her parents bring Penny to America to help with organising a wedding, she meets the charming, mysterious, sweet Noah. The guy that seems to be her soulmate, her first love. Life just seemed to get a lot better in a couple of days. And of course, she blogs about this Brooklyn Boy. But, what if her sweet relationship just got a whole lot sour?

Girl Online was such a great book about facing your fears and first love. Penny was an awkward, down-to-earth girl, who is likeable. She learned to face her fears and conquer them through many different ways, thanks to the support of her family and friends. She's quiet, shy, but also stands up for what's right. And this book can teach you so much.

This here is Penny's tent. Keep out!
... unless your name is Noah.

Girl Online is Zoe's first novel, and it was written perfectly. It had those moments where you would just want to melt, cry or laugh at the same time. It was very mature, and told exactly from the perspective of a teenage girl. Overall, it was a really good read, and it is perfect for a warm winter day.

Why winter? I don't know. Probably because I read this during winter. By the way, don't you wish for a tent with fairy lights? How beautiful would that be?

Just One Day

"Anything can happen in just one day " 

Title: Just One Day

Author: Gayle Forman

First Published: 2013

Series: Followed by Just One Year

Genre: YA, Romance, Contemporary

Available As: Paperback, ebook

My Rating: 8.5/10

Allyson is ready to go on her trip to Europe! She and her friends, are touring around Europe, visiting different places, meeting new people. The day Allyson is set to leave, she meets Willem, a charming, mysterious actor who invites her to spend a day in Paris with him. In the spur of the moment, Allyson says yes and they leave to Paris together. A lot can happen in just one day but is it worth it?

At first, Allyson struck me as a sweet, good girl, until she met Willem. I found it interesting when Allyson called herself Lulu when she and Willem met for the first time. Once she met Willem, Allyson was ready to go on an adventure, and be a new her. Sort of like Mia in If I Stay, when she dresses up as the punk chick for Halloween? I'm beginning to think in Gayle Forman's books, the girl will always have a small change in character, even if it's only for a while.

Spoilers Below! Sorry!

But once Willem left Allyson in the middle of the night, it was like in that moment (and after), the old Allyson had disappeared. She's still nice, but a bit more closed off from others. And she doesn't care what her mother thinks anymore. She spends most of her time trying to find Willem for the rest of the book, determined to figure out what really happened. I loved how she finally went back to Paris and re-met everyone. I thought it was really cool, how it went back right where it started. 

Spoilers Over. Yay!

Willem obviously means a lot to Allyson and vice versa (I hope). He taught her so much, let her experience so much, in just one day. I really felt for this book, I thought it was so beautiful. After reading, I had a sudden urge to go to Paris! Is it me, or do people seem so nice in other places? 

I loved the book so, so much. The sequel is Just One Year, and it tells the story of Willem and what happened during that year. Can't wait!!!