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Firsts is a novel about high school, friendships and growing up. Mercy hears a guy lament about making his first time with the girl he loves perfect. But all of the pressure is completely freaking him out, so Mercy steps in. She offers to essentially coach him through his first time, so when he's with his girlfriend it is perfect. (Like she expects.) His words, actions, and the ambiance will be all that she dreamed. Her "good deed" goes from five guys to ten, then continues to spiral until her life is out of her control, When her secret gets out, Mercy must find a way to walk the halls despite the cruel names (and food) flung at her. She learns who her friends are, even if she had taken them for granted in the past - learn and grow from her mistakes. This is an entertaining book with likable (and detestable) realistic characters and you might just learn a thing or two about life - or chemistry, from it.
Dana (24 KP) rated Magonia (Magonia, #1) in Books
Mar 23, 2018
Oh my goodness! This is a mix of magic, pirates, and sadness. Trust me, you will need some goddamn tissues near you when you are reading this book. It was so good! The characters are very realistic, the relationships are drawn very well, and the plot goes by very smoothly. There were only a few slow parts, but even those were good. The only thing I wished for was a little more world building. I wish we could have known more about the non main character's backgrounds and a little about the magical world and how it all works. I really recommend this book to people who like magical, piratey books. But really, if you haven't picked this book up yet, do it now. I mean, just by looking at the cover you should want to read it!! If you want to know more about the book, go to: <a href=" video</a> to watch a brief explanatory video from Epic Reads!
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Eden at the Edge of Midnight (The Vara Volumes, #1) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
***NOTE: I received a free copy of this book from StoryCartel in exchange for an honest review***
This was a well-written fantasy with well defined and realistic characters. That always makes it so much easier to be concerned for their well-being, and I did care what happened to Sammy and her companions. Sammy is an average human teenage girl who finds herself alone on a strange world, trying to survive and find her way home. Along with her new-found companion Mehrak and his dinosaur/house Louis, Sammy has to escape crabmen, decide which of those trying to help her are really on her side, and find the book that will show her the way to get back to Earth.
I started to panic about 20 pages from the end because I knew there was not enough time for everything that I wanted to happen, to happen! Thankfully book 2 is on the way, but I will have to wait until October to read Back to the Vara.
This was a well-written fantasy with well defined and realistic characters. That always makes it so much easier to be concerned for their well-being, and I did care what happened to Sammy and her companions. Sammy is an average human teenage girl who finds herself alone on a strange world, trying to survive and find her way home. Along with her new-found companion Mehrak and his dinosaur/house Louis, Sammy has to escape crabmen, decide which of those trying to help her are really on her side, and find the book that will show her the way to get back to Earth.
I started to panic about 20 pages from the end because I knew there was not enough time for everything that I wanted to happen, to happen! Thankfully book 2 is on the way, but I will have to wait until October to read Back to the Vara.
Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated Ten Cents a Pound in Books
Jun 18, 2018
Ten Cents a Pound by Nhung N. Tran-Davies is a short, poetic, back-and-forth conversation between a mother and daughter. This is the story of a unnamed young girl whose mother is working hard so that her daughter may have a better life. It tells many stories within the pages that are filled with heart warming illustrations. It is the story of a mother's love, of hope, determination, a child's love and concern for her mother and for the giving of each, so that they may both be safe, and happy.
The book simultaneously draws attention to the difficulties of living with low wages, while optimistically looking forward to the opportunities and possibilities of the future due to education.
The lovely illustrations are both realistic and wistful, and while this story may require some additional explanations for young children, it paints a beautiful picture of determination and potential.
I received a ARC from Second Story Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I give this book 4/5 stars.
The book simultaneously draws attention to the difficulties of living with low wages, while optimistically looking forward to the opportunities and possibilities of the future due to education.
The lovely illustrations are both realistic and wistful, and while this story may require some additional explanations for young children, it paints a beautiful picture of determination and potential.
I received a ARC from Second Story Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I give this book 4/5 stars.
Louise (64 KP) rated The Opposite of Loneliness: Essays and Stories in Books
Jul 2, 2018
Marina Keegan could definitely write! I loved loved loved this book, whatsmore it is a non-fiction. Marina was obviously a well loved member of the Yale community and always took pride and wanted to be the best at everything she did. Her writing is truly amazing and this book contains a few short stories that Marina wrote and they're excellent. My favourite story from the fiction part of the book has to be 'reading out loud'. The stories were all very different and realistic. The non-fiction part was equally as good and I think this is the part in which she excelled. My favourite was 'why we care about whales' I am a sucker for animals, however this story was very thought provoking and makes you think of things that you probably wouldn't have thought about before.
I definitely recommend this book if you want to start out with a non-fiction book.
It's so sad, this young girl had such a promising career and life ahead of her and then taken so quickly.
I definitely recommend this book if you want to start out with a non-fiction book.
It's so sad, this young girl had such a promising career and life ahead of her and then taken so quickly.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015) in Movies
Jul 4, 2018
Avengers meets John Wick
Having been completely unfamiliar with the source comic book material, I was unsure the tone or visuals I viewed in this film are consistent with that or not, so I just have to judge on their own merits.
Anyone who follows my reviews knows I am not the hugest fan of nonsense or robust excessive CGI in place of good acting story and screenplay, so I have to say this film suffered from a little bit of that. Some of the kill scenes bordered on a little silly, having been done much better and more realistic in John Wick.
Having said that, I was never bored while watching and thought the acting, especially that of Samuel L. Jackson, was pretty good for the most part.
It definitely feels like more style than substance in some parts, but maybe that was the point. I will always side with realism over hyper-realism unless done very well, and I feel this film falls a bit short.
Anyone who follows my reviews knows I am not the hugest fan of nonsense or robust excessive CGI in place of good acting story and screenplay, so I have to say this film suffered from a little bit of that. Some of the kill scenes bordered on a little silly, having been done much better and more realistic in John Wick.
Having said that, I was never bored while watching and thought the acting, especially that of Samuel L. Jackson, was pretty good for the most part.
It definitely feels like more style than substance in some parts, but maybe that was the point. I will always side with realism over hyper-realism unless done very well, and I feel this film falls a bit short.
Sarah (7799 KP) rated Love...and Sleepless Nights in Books
Aug 13, 2018
Fun and lighthearted
Whilst Nick Spalding will never win any literary prizes for this series of books, he really does well to sum up real life situations and emotions. The writing is good but what really makes this story entertaining is the characters. Laura and Jamie are a very relatable couple and their diary/blog entries are so down to earth and realistic. I doubt anyone could read this book (or any others in the series) and not find a handful of comments, thoughts or situations that they’ve experienced in their own life. This story is also pretty funny and I found myself laughing out loud on many occasions.
It may not be the most thought provoking or insightful of reads, but this is a great fun and lighthearted story that is refreshingly short - I finished it in less than 2 hours so it’s one you can easily get through. One I’d recommend trying if you’re stuck with a fairly long commute - I may leave books 3 and 4 for my next long distance train journey for work!
It may not be the most thought provoking or insightful of reads, but this is a great fun and lighthearted story that is refreshingly short - I finished it in less than 2 hours so it’s one you can easily get through. One I’d recommend trying if you’re stuck with a fairly long commute - I may leave books 3 and 4 for my next long distance train journey for work!
Eilidh G Clark (177 KP) rated Turning Forty in Books
Jun 21, 2019
Typical Mike Gayle
I loved this book. Written in a first person point of view, the reader counts down the days with Matt, until his 40th birthday. The beginning of the novel see's Matt in his expensive house, admiring his new shed paid for by his high flying job. This false sense of security is short lived and the reader watches as the protagonist's life falls apart.
For me, this novel is all about the character's; Ginny, the back up plan, Gerry, the ex music idol and now charity shop manager, Rosa, the too young and too controlling girlfriend, and many many, more. These characters are believable and cringe worthy at the same time.
I think the most refreshing thing about the novel, however, is the ending. All the way through the story I held out hope for Matt, and the ending, although not exactly a fairytale ending, was realistic.
I love Mike Gayle's work, easy to read, believable, funny and sad, a real look at the idiosyncrasies of people.
For me, this novel is all about the character's; Ginny, the back up plan, Gerry, the ex music idol and now charity shop manager, Rosa, the too young and too controlling girlfriend, and many many, more. These characters are believable and cringe worthy at the same time.
I think the most refreshing thing about the novel, however, is the ending. All the way through the story I held out hope for Matt, and the ending, although not exactly a fairytale ending, was realistic.
I love Mike Gayle's work, easy to read, believable, funny and sad, a real look at the idiosyncrasies of people.
Shadowlands: The True Story of C S Lewis and Joy Davidman
Book
'We feasted on love, every mode of it - solemn and merry, romantic and realistic, sometimes as...