What I've Been Reading Recently- Spring Edition 2021| Carenza Bramwell

I refuse to believe that we are already a third of the way through the year. This year is going insanely fast, which is both a good and bad thing. Like everyone else, I want to go back to normal and we're getting one step closer to that. However, I finish my degree next month and don't have anything planned, which is causing me a lot of anxiety. So if time could slow down, that would be great. Between March and April, I read 12 books. 

March

In March, I read four books. This was quite a slow reading month for me as I was very busy with uni work and wasn't very well for most of March. Here are the books I read in March.

The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis

The first book I read in March, I decided to pick this up after adoring the TV show. You can read my review of the Netflix adaptation here. I did spot that there were some changes from the book to the show, which I think have been changed for the best. I still think that Beth is a great protagonist and I really enjoyed reading about her. Personally, I do think I prefer the TV show as the descriptions of chess were a bit lost on me. With the TV show, you had the visuals to help you. I enjoyed my time reading this book and gave it 4/5 stars.  

Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare

I was so excited for the release of the second book in the Lost Hours series. I do have a whole review of this book, which you can read here. Without discussing any spoilers for this book, I will admit that I was unsure how to feel about it when I finished. I read it in three days, which I think was a mistake. I ended up finding it a bit underwhelming for what I was expecting. I still enjoyed reading it and am interested to see where the series goes. I gave it 4/5 stars.  

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

This was an impulse purchase before the shops closed in December and I'm glad I decided to get it. The writing style was beautiful. I have never read a book by Maggie O'Farrell before and I would be interested in reading from her again. This is a retelling/ fictionalised version of William Shakespeare's life. More specifically, it's about his son Hamnet and how he is supposed to have inspired Hamlet. I felt that this book required a basic knowledge of Shakespeare's life and Hamlet, which I have. I think if I hadn't had that knowledge, some of the story would have been a bit lost on the reader. I also gave this one 4/5 stars. 

Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh   

I haven't had the best experience with Renee's books and sadly this was no exception. I just found this underwhelming. There were too many characters and POVs for my liking. I did like the feminist message at its core, but this book just ended up not being for me. I have one more book by Renee to read and that is The Wrath and The Dawn. I've heard such good things about it, so we'll have to see if I get along with this book. I gave it 3/5 stars. 

April

In April, I read 8 books, 3 of which were rereads. I'm very happy with the books I managed to read this month as I started the month not feeling well and swamped by uni work. 

The Binding by Bridget Collins

I actually started reading this in March, but didn't finish it until April. I think the best way to describe my thoughts on this book were that they were all over the place. The plot, the characters, the writing, it was just all over the place. It was split into three sections and I did actually really enjoy the middle section. Apart from that, this book just wasn't for me. I do have Bridget's other book, The Betrayals, which I am not unsure about how I'll feel going into it. I gave it 3/5 stars.   

Through the Moon- Dragon Prince by Peter Wartman

I recently watched The Dragon Prince on Netflix and was very happy when I discovered there were graphic novel spin offs. I thought this one was okay. There were some odd character decisions, which felt a bit off for them. The artwork was stunning. I am going to continue with this series and can't wait to see where they take the characters. I gave it 3/5 stars. 

If We Were Villains by M.L Rio

This was by far my favourite read of the month (excluding the books I reread). I was hooked. I couldn't stop reading this. I do have a full review for this book, which you can read here. I loved the story and the characters. The atmosphere was wonderful. This book made me miss the theatre with every fibre of my being. I will say that the Shakespearean dialogue did get a bit annoying after a while and I did start to skim read it in places. Asides from that, I adored this book. I gave it 4.5/5 stars.  

The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo

This was a lovely little feminist novella with a non-binary protagonist. I enjoyed reading it. My only issue with it was that I needed a tiny bit more information about the world as at times I felt a bit lost. There is a second novella in this series, which I am going to read when I get it. I gave this one 3/5 stars.  

The Call by Peadar O'Guilin 

I bought this back in 2017 after seeing it on a BookTubers channel. I think if I had read it in 2017, I would have really enjoyed it. However, reading it 2021 it just wasn't for me. I felt that the author built a wonderfully creepy atmosphere, which this book needed. I struggled to connect with the characters, partly because they were all 14-15 (and I'm nearly 21) and partly because of how they were written. There was something in the writing style that really bothered me. I have decided to part ways with this book and that I won't be continuing with the series. I gave it 3/5 stars. 

Heartstopper Volume One to Three by Alice Oseman

I decided to reread the Heartstopper comics in a spur of the moment decision. I needed something a bit lighter and fun for various reasons. I also wanted to refresh myself of the story with the fourth volume coming out this month. Alice is so good at creating interesting and complex characters. I adore these comics. I can't wait to see where the story goes. I gave them all 5/5 stars.

That concludes my spring what I've been reading recently. What have you been reading recently?

Most Anticipated Releases of 2021| Carenza Bramwell

I know I'm a bit late to posting this, but I've complied a small list of books I'm looking forward to reading in 2021. I'm also going to include an honourable mentions section as I'm trying to be quite select with what books I buy this year.

Most Anticipated 

Liberte by Gita Trelease- February 18th 

Taken from Google Images

The sequel to Enchante in 2019, this is a YA urban fantasy set in revolutionary France. I remember really enjoying Enchante when I read it, but will have to admit that a reread is required. Revolutionary France is one of my favourite historical periods, so after my reread, I know I'll dive straight into this one. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here. 

Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare- March 1st

Taken from Google Images

It will come as no surprise as I'm a huge Cassandra Clare fan, but a book I'm really looking forward to is Chain of Iron. This is the sequel to Chain of Gold, which is the first book in a new series. This follows the children of The Infernal Devices and their adventures in Edwardian London. Chain of Gold was a book I loved and I will probably reread it before Chain of Iron. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here. 

 

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston- June 6th  

Taken from Google Images

Casey wrote a book I really enjoyed in 2019, Red, White and Royal Blue. Her latest novel follows a young woman who falls in love with someone she meets on the subway and discovers they are from the 1970s. Casey writes great LGBT comedies. This one comes out in time for summer in hardback, so if you're looking for an LGBT rom-com, then look no further. Just to preface but Casey's books are not YA, they do have explicit sex scenes so be aware of that. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here.   

Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Oseman- June 13th

Taken from Google Images

Alice is a favourite writer of mine, so another volume in the Heartstopper series will automatically go on my most anticipated list. This graphic novel series follows Charlie and Nick, two boys who fall in love. It goes from their relationship starting to in this instalment, being ready to say I love you to each other. Alice is an incredible writer and illustrator. Each instalment gets better and better. They do tackle important issues such as mental health. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here.     

The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson- June 15th 

Taken from Google Images

This is a spin-off novel from the Truly Devious world. It follows Stevie on her first case as a detective outside of that world. I reread the first two books so I could finish the series, reading the trilogy in just over a week. These a fun and easy mysteries. I've read another book from Maureen, which was just as enjoyable so if you're looking for a fun and addictive mystery, look no further. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here.  

Gods and Monsters by Shelby Mahurin- August 8th 

Taken from Google Images

Quite possibly my most anticipated release is Gods&Monsters by Shelby Mahurin, the final book in the Serpent&Dove series. I adored the first book, but not the second one. I really hope this series has a good conclusion as it deserves one. I will most likely reread the series in the lead up to it's release. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here.  

Honourable Mentions

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas- January 12th

Taken from Google Images

This is already out, but it's a prequel to The Hate U Give. I read and loved that book back in 2017. This follows Starr's father as he becomes teen father. Like many books on this list, I think THUG is due a reread around the time I read this. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here. 

Girl A by Abigail Dean- January 21st

Taken from Google Images

I stumbled across this book while reading a BBC article about upcoming releases for the year. It's about a young woman raised in abusive, horrific household and what happens when her mother dies in prison. I'm trying to read more adult/modern literature, so this sounds right up my alley. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here. 

The Project by Courtney Summers- February 2nd

Taken from Google Images

Sadie was a favourite book of mine in 2019, so to find out Courtney has a new book coming out is very exciting. This one is about a young woman raised in a cult and returning to investigate. If it is anything like Sadie, it will be a book you won't want to put down. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here. 

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo- March 18th

Taken from Google Images

This is an LGBT historical romance novel set in San Fransisco in the 50s. It follows a lesbian couple looking for somewhere to spend one last evening together before the other is deported. It also tackles the attitudes towards communism at the time. I've really gotten into historical fiction lately, so this sounds like something I'll really enjoy. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here.  

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid- May 27th

Taken from Google Images

Taylor is a beloved writer of mine, so of course I had to put her newest release on here. Set in the 1980s across one evening, it follows four rich siblings as they throw their annual end of year summer. Across this one evening, secrets will be spilled and by the morning, their relationship won't be the same. Cannot wait for it to come out. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here.  

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalia Harris- June 1st

Taken from Google Images

Similar to Girl A, I found this book on that BBC article. A satire and thriller rolled into one, it follows two black women working together in a mostly white environment. At first they get along, but strange things start happening around the office and it becomes a race to find out who did it. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here.  

Rise to the Sun by Leah Johnson- July 1st

Taken from Google Images

Leah wrote You Should See Me In A Crown, a YA LGBT black girl romance that I really enjoyed. This one is about two teenage girls who meet at a music festival and their lives are changed forever. If it's as fun and fluffy as the previous one, then this will be another hit. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here.  

Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong- November 16th

The sequel to These Violent Delights, a 1920s urban fantasy Romeo and Juliet retelling set in Shanghai. I have mixed feelings about the first book, but I'm curious to find out how this duology ends. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here.  

The Black Volume of the Dead by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu- N/A 

The conclusion to the Eldest Curses series, the Magnus and Alec spin-off series, comes out at some point in 2021. I like this series, not as much as some of the main series, but am happy to read more about Magnus and Alec. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here. 

That concludes my most anticipated list for 2021. What are some books you are looking forward to?

Carenza :) x 

What I've Been Reading Recently- Summer Edition| Carenza Bramwell

 As we gradually shift from the bright blues of summer to the softer hues of autumn, it is time for me to share the books I read this summer. I managed to read a total of sixteen books over July and August. My reading has been staying pretty consistent, with my average amount of books read per month staying at eight.  

July 

As I mentioned, I've been reading roughly eight books a month and July was no exception. I read a lot of new releases as well as continuing to tackle my TBR pile.

The first book I read in July was The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant. I had heard good things about this book and it was supposed to be a fantastical retelling of Les Miserables. I have a weakness for stories set in France, specifically Paris. I saw that this was on offer on the Kindle store and bought it for a mere 99p. I'm glad I decided against buying it in physical format as I ended up not enjoying it as much as I hoped. I have a full spoiler filled review, which you can read here. I would say my main complaint is that the narrative jumped around too much for my liking and offered very little explanation as to why. I ended up being underwhelmed by this book and have no intentions of continuing the series. I gave it 3/5 stars. 

Next I read Fly by Night by Frances Hardinge. I picked this up three years ago as a World Book Day book as I knew Frances had won a Costa award for her other works. I enjoyed the first chapter and that was about it. I think this was aimed at someone a lot younger than me and I could see the appeal in why a younger audience would enjoy this. I struggled with staying engaged with it and was very glad when my time with it came to an end. I gave it 2/5 stars.  

Then I read a book I was really excited for, it was probably in my top three books for the year, and that was Loveless by Alice Oseman. Alice has become a favourite author of mine in the past year and I will order anything she writes. This is another one I have a full review of, which you can read here. It had amazing ace/aro rep and was another classic YA Contemporary from Alice. I did find it a bit repetitive at times, but apart from that I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it. I gave it 4/5 stars.  

An unexpected love of mine was the Traveling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa. I had bought this years ago and had decided to finally pick it up. It's about a Japanese man who adopts a cat from the streets and their lives together. It is told mostly from the perspective of the cat, which added a lot of humour to the book. It was a very easy, yet highly entertaining read. I believe there are plans for it to become a film at some point in the future. I gave it 4/5 stars.

A hyped up book that I decided to purchase was You Should See Me In A Crown by Leah Johnson. I knew that this was a Black Girl LGBT+ Rom Com going in and if that doesn't get you to want to read it, then I don't know what would. I found it very funny and sweet. It was the perfect summer contemporary. My only complaint is a personal one and that it was written in first person. I generally struggle with first person, I just don't vibe well with it for some reason. Apart from that, it was a solid cute contemporary. I gave it 4/5 stars.

The next book I read has become a new favourite of mine. That is The Diviners by Libba Bray. Evie O'Neil is my new favourite female fictional character. I loved the setting and the mystery. I will say that it does take a while to get to the central plot but once you're there, then it gets really good. I also have a review for this one, which you can read here. I had the audiobook from before I cancelled my subscription and the audiobook was superb. I gave it 4.5/5 stars.

Moving away from 4 star books, my next read was Girl, Serpent Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust. Again, I had heard good things about it, particularly the LGBT+ rep. In the end I had mixed feelings about this book. I felt it could have been shorter as it dragged out the story quite a bit. I enjoyed the first section of this book, but I struggled with the middle and ending. I had wanted to really enjoy this but it ended up falling flat for me. I gave it 3.5/5 stars.

My final read of July was The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutowski. Back in the day, I had heard amazing things about this book, especially about the political side of it. What I read, I found dull and unenjoyable. Nothing happened in this book. I didn't care for either of the main characters. I just found it disappointing. I gave it 3/5 stars.

August

August is my favourite month of the year as it is my birthday month. I also had quite a good reading month too, which made August an even better month. I managed to read eight books in August.

The first one is actually one I started in July but finished in August and that was Carry On by Rainbow Rowell. I know there is lots of controversy around Rainbow at the moment, due to some accusations of racism in her book Eleanor&Park. I have decided to donate all of the books of hers that I own as I have come to the conclusion I'm not a big fan of her work and I don't want to support someone like that. Carry On is a well loved book, but personally I had a lot of issues with it. My main one was you could tell it was written by an American author trying to make it sound authentically British. I also found the characters very annoying and didn't care for the plot. I've seen a lot of descriptions of it being a "knock off Harry Potter", which I agree with to some extent. This did start as fan-fiction from one of her other books, so I don't know why it became an actual book. It was not for me in the end, so I gave it 3/5 stars.

I then jumped back into The Diviners series, by reading Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray. This is the second book in the series. While I still enjoyed it, Lair of Dreams suffered from second book slump syndrome and was not as engaging as the first book. I did love reading more from Henry, who has become another favourite character of mine. I didn't like the introduction of a love square. The romance felt kinda unnecessary. The mystery was not as engaging as the first book as well. I have a full review of this book, which you can read here. I gave it 4/5 stars. 

A quick read for me was the script for In Bruges by Martin McDonagh. Martin is one of my favourite screenwriters and In Bruges is a family favourite film. I've watched about six times in the last year, so I finally decided to read the script for it. There were some bits that were different from the film, but apart from that it was an easy and fun read. I gave it 4/5 stars.

Next I read Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor. Laini is one of my favourite authors, I adore the Strange the Dreamer duology. I had actually read the first book in this series, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, over two years ago. I decided to finally continue with this series. I think leaving such a big gap between books was a mistake. I struggled to understand the world and the plot, but Laini's writing is so beautiful it makes up for that. I was glad to be back in that world, but the two year gap between instalments was a bit confusing. I should have probably reread the first book, but I really wanted to finish this series. I gave it 4/5 stars. 

Once again, I jumped back to the Diviners with Before the Devil Breaks You by Libba Bray, the third book in this series. For a series I loved so much, I found with each book I enjoyed it less and less. I had major issues with a certain element of this book, which I will be writing about in my review of this book. Again, I didn't care for the mystery as much. But I adore these characters and the setting so much. I gave it 4/5 stars.

Another Alice Oseman book I read was the newly released paperback for Nick and Charlie, a Solitaire novella. While I found this a cute and easy read, it was filled with far too much drama for my liking. It was also fairly predictable. I did read this in one sitting, which was nice. I love Alice, so I gave this 4/5 stars.

I finally finished the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series, by reading the final book, Dreams of Gods and Monsters. Now that I was back in this world, I had a grasp on what was happening. I really enjoyed the first part, but ended up struggling quite a bit with the second half. Laini is a great writer and I really admire her writing style. I'm glad that I've finally finished this series, even if it did take me over two years. I gave it 4/5 stars.

My final read for August was a slightly unsual one and that was The Promise: An Avatar the Last Airbender Comic bind-up. I recently rewatched ATLA for the first time in many years and fell head over heels in love with it again. I had been meaning to pick the comics up for a while, so I treated myself to one. I found it enjoyable. It takes place after the series has ended, so I won't go into details about the plot as to avoid spoilers. I will say that it felt a bit filler-esque and was setting it up for the next comic book. I gave it 4/5 stars.

That concludes my wrap up for July and August. I'm really happy with all the books I've been reading lately.

Carenza :) x 

My Favourite Authors- 2020 Edition| Carenza Bramwell

If you scroll into the depths of my blog, you will find an ancient blog post from 2016-17 (oh those were to good days, can we go back to then?) which lists some of my favourite authors from the time. Three to four years later, it's safe to say that my reading tastes have changed a lot, so I am making an updated reading list which includes my current favourite authors. Quite a few authors have been removed from that list for various reasons and lots of new authors have been added. 

Cassandra Clare

Cassandra Clare made the cut in 2016/7 and she makes it again this year. Cassie's books will always hold a special place in my heart as they were the books that led me to discovering YA books. I've always been a bookworm, but these books opened the door for me and made me want to read all the time. I am always excited for the latest release from Cassie and what she's going to do with my precious babies next. The Infernal Devices will always be my favourite series from her and I am enjoying being back in that world so much with The Last Hours. Cassie creates easy to read, yet highly engaging books. She has some of the most diverse book casts out there and there is a book and character for everyone.  

Adam Silvera

Another writer who made the cut on the original list and makes it again is Adam Silvera. Despite the fact that I didn't enjoy his most recent release, Adam is still the king of contemporary novels. I've read all of his contemporary releases to date and each one punches me in the gut harder than the last one, which is just rude. Adam always tackles incredibly important issues, especially LGBT ones and being Latino. He has a way of creating characters that makes you fall for them and get emotionally devastated when he ruins their lives. Just once can't he write a happy contemporary where they have a happy life?   

Laini Taylor

For the first new to this list author, I had to choose Laini Taylor. Exactly a year ago, I read Strange the Dreamer and fell in love with her writing style. She has such a beautifully descriptive style, yet the story and meaning never get lost in the words. Her characters are also so layered that you can't help but fall for them. I had the pleasure of meeting Laini in 2017, after the release of Strange the Dreamer and I was ashamed that I had never read one of her books before. The Strange the Dreamer duology is amongst some of my favourite all time books, from the exterior to the interior, these books are some of the most beautiful I own. I am slowly making my way through the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series and thoroughly enjoying it.  

Shelby Mahurin 

A little book called Serpent and Dove dropped last year and changed my life. It had been a very long time since I had fallen head over heels in love with a book. I am desperate for the sequel to come out in about a months time in the UK. It was a book that I couldn't put down. It was a book I didn't want to put down. I was desperate to find out what would happen to Lou and Reed next. They had one of the best hate to love relationships I have ever seen. The characters were sassy and funny. I hope nothing too bad happens to my little beans in Blood and Honey but knowing what authors are like, they do like to torture their characters and readers.  

Taylor Jenkins Reid 

I remember everyone raving about The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and saying how great it was. For once, they hype was aptly deserved. That book was incredible. It was another one that I couldn't put down and I read it in about two days. I loved how the story moved from the present day to Evelyn's life. The title draws you in, you want to know why she had seven husbands. But ultimately you want to know who was the true love of her life. The characters felt so real and the way it was written, you felt as though you had been dragged into the book. You were going along on this journey with the two main characters. I did also enjoy Daisy Jones and the Six, but not as much as Evelyn. I look forward to what Taylor releases next and to catch up on some of her books that are currently released. 

Alice Oseman 

Finally on this list is one of my new favourite contemporary authors, Alice Oseman. Alice writes the best UK based YA Contemporary novels. I have loved pretty much everything she has released. All her books tackle LGBT themes, which is something you don't see that often in UK based novels. She is also the only British author to make it on this list. The Heartstopper series is so wholesome while tackling quite series issues. She just knows how to craft a story and how to make you care. I will automatically buy anything she releases. She also happens to be an exceptionally talented artist and I am desperate to get my hands on some of her artwork.

So that concludes my new favourite authors list. I imagine I'll update this in about five years time with new favourite authors. Who is your favourite author?

Carenza :) x

Loveless by Alice Oseman Book Review (Contains Spoilers)| Carenza Bramwell

Title- Loveless
Author- Alice Oseman
Series- N/A
Published- 2020
Page Count- 435 pages
Publishing House- Harper Collins
Rating- 4/5 stars

About the Author

Alice Oseman is an author/illustrator and was born in 1994 in Kent, England. She has written four YA contemporary novels about teenage disasters: SOLITAIRE, RADIO SILENCE, I WAS BORN FOR THIS, and upcoming LOVELESS. She is also the creator of LGBTQ+ YA romance webcomic HEARTSTOPPER, which is now published in physical form by Hachette Children's Books.

Alice’s first novel SOLITAIRE was published when she was nineteen. Her YA novels have been nominated for the YA Book Prize, the Inky Awards, and the Goodreads Choice Award, and HEARTSTOPPER has been optioned for TV. She can usually be found staring aimlessly at computer screens, questioning the meaninglessness of existence, or doing anything and everything to avoid getting an office job. 

Taken from Alice's website.

Plot

The fourth novel from the phenomenally talented Alice Oseman – one of the most authentic and talked-about voices in contemporary YA.

It was all sinking in. I’d never had a crush on anyone. No boys, no girls, not a single person I had ever met. What did that mean?

Georgia has never been in love, never kissed anyone, never even had a crush – but as a fanfic-obsessed romantic she’s sure she’ll find her person one day.

As she starts university with her best friends, Pip and Jason, in a whole new town far from home, Georgia’s ready to find romance, and with her outgoing roommate on her side and a place in the Shakespeare Society, her ‘teenage dream’ is in sight.

But when her romance plan wreaks havoc amongst her friends, Georgia ends up in her own comedy of errors, and she starts to question why love seems so easy for other people but not for her. With new terms thrown at her – asexual, aromantic – Georgia is more uncertain about her feelings than ever.

Is she destined to remain loveless? Or has she been looking for the wrong thing all along?

This wise, warm and witty story of identity and self-acceptance sees Alice Oseman on towering form as Georgia and her friends discover that true love isn’t limited to romance.

Taken from Goodreads. 

Opinions

Alice Oseman has become one of my favourite authors in the past year. I adore her Heartstopper series with every fibre of my being and her fiction novels are amazing. I have been very excited for this book ever since I found out about it. For once, I enjoyed a 2020 release. I feel that there have only been three books released this year that I adored and one of those was the third instalment in the Heartstopper series. 

Alice is great at writing LGBT+ books and this was no exception. This is all about Georgia's journey to discovering she is aromantic-asexual (aro-ace) for short. I don't think I'd ever read a book with these two different sexualities discussed before, which made it really refreshing to read. I believe that Alice herself identifies as aro-ace, which meant this was an own voices novel and heavily based on her life. 

Other than the heavy emphasis on Georgia's sexuality, it also has a strong influence on going to uni. Set at Durham University, the university Alice went to herself, it focuses on the drink culture and the pressure to have relationships and so on. As someone going into their final year of university, there was a lot of content I could relate to. The scariness yet excitement of starting university. Not really fitting in with the drink culture and being uninterested in relationships, casual sex or dating. It captured a lot of what I felt in my first year. 

The relationship between Georgia and Rooney, her roommate, was one I could also relate to. Although I didn't share a room with anyone in my first year, I relate to that need to bond with people that Georgia went through. A lot of my friends from uni are the ones I met in my first week and sort of clung on to. I was very much shy, like Georgia, and the idea of having to make new friends and go out scared me. I've been friends with people who are more like Rooney, the go out party lot, while being very much like Georgia, and wanting to stay inside all the time. 

My only complaint with this book, and it is very minor one, is that at times it got a little bit repetitive. I've found with a lot of books told from the first person, you tend to get told the same thoughts over and over. After a few chapters of Georgia struggling with this internal monologue, it got a bit annoying. There was also a little bit too much drama for my liking, but that is the way with university students. Even though we're all adults, there is still a lot of issues with friendship groups and so on.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was another solid book from Alice, who never fails to write good YA contemporary. You could tell that a lot of times it was based on her life and things that had happened to her. I adored the aro-ace representation and the depiction of university life. I can't wait to see what Alice release's next.  

Carenza :) x

My Favourite LGBT Books| Carenza Bramwell

Happy Pride Month!

June is Pride Month, a whole month of celebrating the LGBT+ community. Obviously, the LGBT+ community is celebrated the whole year, but this month is dedicated to them and their achievements. I am proud to be an ally of the LGBT+ community, something I have been for many years. In today's post I thought I'd share with you some of my favourite LBGT+ books and authors. 

Adam Silvera

Obviously, I had to mention Adam Silvera's books. I have been reading them for many years now and with the only exception being his fantasy novel, I have really enjoyed all of his books. They are always guaranteed to hit you right in the feels. Adam himself identifies as a gay man and his books always feature gay characters. They are widely regarded as good books, especially for their featuring of characters from the LGBT community. I will always get whatever book Adam releases as you know you are in safe hands. 

Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst 

I still can't believe that I am waiting for the sequel to this book to come out in paperback in the UK. An LGBT fantasy novel about two girls falling in love? Sign me up! I remember really loving this at the time I first read it back in 2017/18. I will have to reread it before I purchase the sequel, but I love fantasy and I love LGBT novels, so it was perfect for me. It also comes with the added bonus of it being an own voices novel, which is always good in my book. 

Autoboyography by Christina Lauren

I remember flying through this back in 2018. I had heard nothing but good things about it and it did not disappoint. It is one of the few books I have see deal with LGBT issues and religion. It is a bit predictable and cliched, but it is a solid read. I would highly recommend it if you haven't read it. The edition I have also came with a bunch of LGBT books, music and films recommended in the back.  

Heartstopper Series by Alice Oseman

These are probably some of my favourites on here. The Heartstopper series is an LGBT graphic novel series that started as an online comic. It is also the only entry on this list that is by a British author and set in Britain. It follows Nick and Charlie, a young couple as the fall in love. The art is beautiful and the story is great. Anything Alice Oseman writes is a god send and I can't wait for her other two books coming out this year. 

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston

This book took the bookish community by storm last year and rightly so. It is a what if novel about if the son of the United States of America fell in love with the Prince of England. It is NA, New Adult, so it is a bit more explicit than your average YA book. It was another fun and fluffy contemporary. I believe Casey is writing another LGBT book and honestly I can't wait, if it's anywhere as good as RW&RB.

Angles in America by Tony Kushner 

I'm technically cheating with this one as it's a play, but it is my favourite thing in the whole wide world. Angels in America is an LGBT play set in 1985 New York and follows a group of people affected by the AIDs crisis. With elements of Magical Realism thrown in, it takes you on an epic journey. I will never stop talking about this play and what it means to me.

Honourable Mentions

I was unsure if I should include these two on my list, but I decided to include them in this little section. The first is Simon Vs the Homosapiens Agenda, or Love, Simon by Becky Albertalli, as it's now known. It is a well known LGBT novel about a boy called Simon who gets outed as gay at his school. It was turned into a film adptation, which I have yet to see. I was hesitant to include it as it is written by a straight author, however it is an excellent LGBT novel.

The next book I was unsure to include are the Gentlemen's Guide series by Mackenzi Lee. Mackenzi Lee has been revealed to be highly problematic, featuring racist and transphobic content in her novels. That being said, I did really enjoy the first Gentlemen's Guide book and saw it as a solid LGBT novel at the time I read it in 2018. 

Those are some of my favourite LGBT novels. What are some of yours?

Carenza :) x

Belated 2020 Anticipated Releases| Carenza Bramwell

Yes, I am aware that we are almost a quarter of the way through the year at the time this is being posted, but I still wanted to share with you guys my anticipated releases of the year. On this list, I will be including those that have already been published. I think I have some that might have slipped under the radar for others as well as some popular releases. This list is in publication order. 

Infinity Son

By Adam Silvera

Published January 14th 2020.

Adam Silvera's latest novel is the first entry on this list. I am a huge fan of Adam's other books, so I was super excited when he announced his first fantasy novel. I have read it and sadly it was not for me. For more details why I gave it 3/5 stars, follow the link to my most recent wrap up. 

Yes No Maybe So

By Becky Albertalli and Amed Saeed. 

Published February 4th 2020.

I stumbled across this when I was scrolling through Goodreads and it was recommended for fans of Adam Silvera. I loved Simon Vs and I had read Becky's other collaborative novel. I am a huge fan of politics, so a YA novel centred around politics peaked my interest. It ended up being an okay read in the end. For more details, read my most recent wrap up.   

Heartstopper Volume 3

By Alice Oseman

Published February 6th 2020.

I am a huge fan of the Heartstopper series and the third volume did not disappoint. It's a cute LGBT graphic novel, I adore them. Volume four now please. For more details, read my most recent wrap up. 

The Shadows Between Us

By Tricia Levenseller.

Published March 1st.

The first book on this list that I haven't actually read. I stumbled across this, I think probably watching people's recommended releases. It seems like a really interesting fantasy novel, which revenge at the core. I've ordered a copy and I can't wait for it to arrive. 

A Question of Holmes

By Brittany Cavallaro.

Published March 3rd.

The final book in the Charlotte Holmes series. I loved the first two books, but sadly have not been a fan of the last two. I might have to binge read the series again as I feel reading them in one go might be a better experience than waiting for the newest book. I gave this book 3/5 stars.  

Chain of Gold

By Cassandra Clare.

Published March 3rd.

One of my most anticipated books of the year. My review just went up for this book. I absolutely adored it and am so sad that I now have to wait for the remanding books in this series. Obviously, I gave it 5/5 stars. 

The Gravity of Us

By Phil Stamper.

Published May 14th.

I believe this might already be out in America, however I am still waiting for it to be published in the UK. It's an upcoming LGBT own voices YA novel. The background of this book is the NASA programme and follows two boys who end up being connected by it. I'm really excited for a new LGBT novel.  

Jo&Laurie

By Melissa De La Cruiz.

Published June 2nd.

I'm a bit hesitant to put this book on my list as I haven't heard the best things about it, however, after watching the most recent adaptation of Little Women, I thought this book sounded fun. Melissa has done a bunch of other adaptations, so I think we're in safe hands. I know this is a fun, fluffy book, so I'm not expecting it to be brilliant, just a fun read. 

The Confession

By Jessie Burton.

Published June 2nd.

Technically this book is already out, however, I am waiting for the paperback to be released. I recently read The Muse by Jessie Burton and I loved it. I still need to read The Miniturist, but if the Confession is anything like The Muse, then I know that I'll love it. Jessie Burton has become one of my favourite modern literature authors.  

Loveless

By Alice Oseman.

Published July 9th.

As I've already mentioned my love for Alice's novels, it comes as no surprise that she has not one, but three mentions on this list. Loveless is her newest novel and features an aromantic/asexual character. I haven't read many stories featuring this, so I'm very excited. I also know that Alice is a great contemporary writer, so I can't wait for this book to come out. 

Blood&Honey

By Shelby Mahurin.

Published September 2nd.

Quite possibly my most anticipated release of the year. I cannot put it into words how much I love Serpent&Dove. This comes out a few days after my birthday and I am not joking when I say I would happily skip my birthday (which I love celebrating even though I'm turning 20 this year) so I can read this book. I cannot wait to be reunited with my faves again. 

The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal's and Shipwrecks 

By Mackenzi Lee.

Published September 3rd.

I absolutely adored the first two books in this series, but wasn't the biggest fan of the third one. Mackenzi Lee writes amazing LGBT historical fiction, so I have high hopes for this one. I might have to reread the other books in this series before this one comes out. 

Nick&Charlie 

By Alice Oseman.

Published September 3rd.

Surprise surprise, another Alice Oseman book. This one is actually already out in eBook format, but it is now being published in physical format. It's a short story set a few years after the Heartstopper comics have ended. Like with her other books, I'm so excited to read this. 

The Madness Blooms 

By Mackenzi Lee.

Published November 24th.

Another Mackenzi Lee book. I am a bit hesitant to put this on my list as I have seen a lot of controversy around it before it has even been published. It does seem to be another LGBT historical fiction novel and I'm hoping that once ARCs start being handed out to reviewers, some of the controversy is cleared up.  

That concludes my list of anticipated releases for 2020, what books are you excited for this year?

Carenza :) x

Book Review- Radio Silence by Alice Oseman (Contains Spoilers)| CarenzaOnBooks

Title- Radio Silence
Author- Alice Oseman
Series- N/A
Published- 2016
Page Count- 416
Publishing House- Harper Collins
Genre- YA Contemporary
Rating- 5/5 stars

About the Author

Alice Oseman was born in 1994 in Kent, England. She completed a degree in English at Durham University in 2016 and is currently a full-time writer and illustrator. Alice can usually be found staring aimlessly at computer screens, questioning the meaninglessness of existence, or doing anything and everything to avoid getting an office job.

Alice's first book, SOLITAIRE, was published when she was nineteen. Her second, RADIO SILENCE, was released in early 2016, and her third, I WAS BORN FOR THIS, in 2018.

(Taken from Alice's Website)

Plot

What if everything you set yourself up to be was wrong? Frances is been a study machine with one goal. Nothing will stand in her way; not friends, not a guilty secret – not even the person she is on the inside. Then Frances meets Aled, and for the first time she's unafraid to be herself. So when the fragile trust between them is broken, Frances is caught between who she was and who she longs to be. Now Frances knows that she has to confront her past. To confess why Carys disappeared... Frances is going to need every bit of courage she has. Engaging with themes of identity, diversity and the freedom to choose, Radio Silence is a tor de force by the most exciting writer of her generation.

(Taken from Goodreads)

Opinions

I want to preface this blog by saying that this year, I have only read 7 5 star books. To put this into context, I have read 65 books at the time of writing this. I used to hand out 5 stars all the time, but now I have become very reluctant to give them out. To me, a 5-star book should be truly phenomenal and blow your mind. It should be one of your favourite books of the year. I would happily say that at the time of writing this and publishing it, that Radio Silence meets these criteria. 

I had wanted to read Alice Oseman's novels for a while, especially after picking up the first two volumes in the Heartstopper series (both of which I gave 5 stars and am waiting for the final two volumes to be published next year). My wonderful best friend got me all of her current novels published for my birthday at the end of August and I have since read them all. Radio Silence quickly established itself as my favourite. 

I have a feeling this is something I have mentioned on here before, but in case you are new to my blog or have just stumbled across it, I really don't like the first-person perspective. Despite the fact that every sentence begins with "I", "my" or "me", I find it hard to connect with the character telling the story. I find it oddly off-putting for some reason. This is one of the few first-person perspectives I have actually liked. I found that, in a way, I was able to connect to the main character in the story. I found her relatable and if I had picked this up a year ago, I would have found it spookily relatable.

Frances is a study machine, academia is her life and she doesn't really have much time for anything else. Except for Universe City, a YouTube podcast that she is obsessed with. At school, she is a goody-two-shoes, head girl and has a reputation for being a study machine. But at home, she is different and is more comfortable with being herself. There were definitely elements of her story that I related to. When I was in secondary school, I was known for being very hardworking and was always expected to get the top grades. I'll cut to the chase and let you know that I very rarely got the top grades, and when people found this out, people would say to my face "but I thought you were smart". On an almost spiritual level, I related to Frances because it's hard when people only see you as a study machine or smart kid. I loved the journey that Frances went on from wanting to go to Cambridge to realising there is more to life than education. It's a similar journey to myself (though I never even thought of applying to Oxbridge because there was no way I was getting into those schools). I've reached a point in my life where I am happy with what I'm doing and grades don't mean everything to me, though it has taken me a very long time to get to this point in my life. 

The supporting cast was great too. Aled was a wonderful addition to this book and it was refreshing to see a boy-girl friendship that didn't evolve into a relationship. I wish there were more books like this. It also had a fantastic amount of LGBTQ+ representation (as do all of Alice Oseman's books). Frances was bisexual, Aled was a demisexual asexual, Daniel was gay and I believe Raine and Carys end up in a relationship. It also tackled some very heavy themes such as academic stress and mental health, as well as abusive parents. Aled and Carey's mother was abusive towards them, to the point of pushing them away forever. The abuse included forcing them to dress and look a certain way, burning their possessions, taking important things away from them, forcing Aled to close down his podcast, killing the family dog (via putting it down) and pressuring them academically. It made me uncomfortable that it was only the "kids" in this book that challenged the mother and that none of the adults did anything about it. To knowingly let someone be abused is unacceptable and I have spotted that in Alice's books parents are great at being parents (which not every parent is, but they are all suspiciously absent-minded).  

The reveal that Aled was the creator of Frances favourite podcast was almost a shock except from the fact as soon as she heard his voice it should have been obvious. Frances listens to this podcast religiously, yet it took her a while to work out it was Aled. It was still a cute moment and moved the story forward nicely. Although I gave this book five stars, I will say that the big reveal about Carys was a bit disappointing. When you read the blurb, you expect this epic mystery about why she disappeared off the face of the earth. I genuinely expected her to be found dead or it to be very dramatic. It was revealed that she left of her own volition due to her mothers' abuse, which is a valid reason to leave, but it felt as though it was building to something a bit bigger. She was also very easily convinced to return to her home life. I personally would have liked a bit more from this reveal.

Radio Silence was a moving story about friendship, negotiating teenage life and deciding what to do with your life. Alice Oseman is exceptionally good at making her teenage characters feel realistic and capturing what it's like to be a teenager in this day and age. I look forward to reading her next book, LOVELESS (coming out in 2020)