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Such a good story!
 When I started reading this book I immediately realized I had already read the first book in this series. This book can totally be read as a stand alone. This continuation of Natalie and Lucas's story, I think it is one of the best I've read in a while. Both Natalie and Lucas have to learn the art of communication, dealing with emotions, and over coming obstacles of change.
I give this story 5 out of 5 stars for the unique and unexpected twists, the overcoming spirits that the characters display, and the great story line.
I love Beth Wiseman's stories and this one did not disappoint, just leaves you wanting more.
I volunteered to read this book from Zondervan Fiction in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
  
Being Jamie Baker (Jamie Baker, #1)
Being Jamie Baker (Jamie Baker, #1)
Kelly Oram | 2010
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
4.5 stars.

Now this is a YA book that I got sucked in to, which is good after my last two failures.

This is my third book by the author and all of them have had either a 4.5/5 rating. I just love the authors writing and will now be making it a mission to read all of her work. She has now become a "favourite" author and I will be giving her her own shelf.

At the start of this I had no idea how it was going to play out but within those first few chapters I had started to fall for Ryan. He was so charming and nice and persistent in regards to Jamie and I loved it. What else can I say??

I can't wait to read the rest of the series!
  
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Christine and the Queens recommended Berlin by Lou Reed in Music (curated)

 
Berlin by Lou Reed
Berlin by Lou Reed
1973 | Rock
7.7 (3 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"It's not just an album to me; it's like a movie. It's a whole story—there's cruel, tragic storytelling. I listened to it for the first time in Berlin. Sometimes when I travel, I like to find things that relate to where I am. So I listened to this, and for the whole afternoon, I was like, Oh man. How am I going to leave the apartment? Something changed after I listened to this album. I love Lou Reed, because his voice sounds like your inner conscience. When I read a book, it's Lou Reed's voice narrating it. It's very intimate. I can't really listen to this album casually. It's like going to a museum and seeing a painting that really means something to you—a sacred moment. I don't have many albums that do that for me."

Source
  
Dare (Pixieland Diaries #3)
Dare (Pixieland Diaries #3)
Christina Bauer | 2021 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A daring third installment!

I'll be honest, I've not read the first two books.....I know I've missed a treat having read Dare. It's a nice easy read, perfect for a lazy afternoon in the garden.

It's well written fun with twists and surprises. Although short you still get to know the characters and form your own relationships with them. I love the optimism and closeness of Calla and Dare, the way they think along similar lines and have a bit of a mischievous streak. It was fun seeing each of them grow and discover things about themselves.
    They definitely fit well together.

There are characters that I don't like, with good reason, and ones that I just generally don't care for.

Christina Bauer never disappoints with her writing but always amazes me with her imagination.

 @Merissa
  
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Phillip Youmans recommended Touki Bouki (1973) in Movies (curated)

 
Touki Bouki (1973)
Touki Bouki (1973)
1973 | Drama
(0 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"First up, Touki Bouki. It’s such a raw experimental work. I love its visual honesty and color palette. It also speaks to such an interesting experience within the diaspora – the idea of feeling sort of alienated by your own home. By Djibril Diop Mambéty, it speaks on a ton of things: cultural domination, neocolonialism, how you can feel alienated from your own culture. A visceral and brutal film made in the ’70s in Senegal. It starts with this beautiful wide static shot. We [the audience] are on sticks looking out as this herd starts to approach, and the color palette is insane. Like I said, it was made in the early ’70s, and they don’t shy away from showing anything. I don’t want to go too deep into what they don’t shy away from, because it’s a lot."

Source
  
Cars 3 (2017)
Cars 3 (2017)
2017 | Animation, Comedy, Family
The third (obviously!) in Pixars anthropomorphic 'Cars' sereis, that returns to the roots of the first movie after the spy sheenanigans of the second.

This time around, Lightning McQueen is starting to lose races to a new generation of racers, and to feel his age with lots of talk of his early retirement (I would love that. he doesn't).

To get back into his former winning ways, the plot of the movie has him teaming up with a younger race technician who always wanted to race herself and, well, you can see where this is heading ...

As always with Pixar, superlative animation alongside a tale which tries to teach some life lessons (here, around ageing), although I have to say that, as a whole, the 'Cars' film do not really rank up there amongst their best output for me.
  
My Life Next Door
My Life Next Door
Huntley Fitzpatrick | 2012 | Fiction & Poetry, Romance, Young Adult (YA)
6
6.8 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
*I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I'd been looking at this book for a while. I've recently noticed a love for YA Contemporary Romances. And this is that.

I liked it but I thought that their relationship progressed a bit too quickly in the beginning. One minute they were meeting for the first time and several pages later they were kissing and touching each other. I get that they'd been watching each other for years and felt like they knew each other but I kinda missed that awkwardness of it all--though admittedly that bit came later with the "family planning" aisle.

I'm still feeling torn over my rating of this. I wasn't blown away by it at all but the romance and connection between them, once it really got going was really sweet.
  
The Family Upstairs
The Family Upstairs
Lisa Jewell | 2019 | Crime, Mystery, Thriller
8
8.6 (9 Ratings)
Book Rating
A compelling, creepy and riveting read from start to finish.

When Libby hits her 25th birthday, she inherits a house in Chelsea with a very dark past. Gradually, you begin to learn of that past with the use of different time periods and different character viewpoints. I admit that at first this took a while to get my head around but it does fall into place and works extremely well.

The story is gripping and dark; the characters are well developed, interesting and authentically flawed; the writing is easy to read and set at a good pace and the mystery elements are perfectly formed.

I would most definitely recommend this to people who love a good psychological thriller and want to thank Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.