Faking Perfect - Rebecca Phillips | Review | BethanyReadsBooks

4.5 out of 5

Wow. i loved this book. Not only was the story great but it held aspects that were relatable that brought the characters to life.

The book is focused on the life of Lexi, whilst her life is utter chaos, to the outside world (excluding Nolan, his family and Tyler) she’s ‘Faking Perfect’

I really enjoyed Lexie, i thought she was a good character to read, i found myself laughing at her/ with her… but a truly admirable thing was the fact i found myself getting annoyed with her (in the best way) which is realistic, i personally don’t know anyone that poo’s rainbows (is perfect) so seeing little flaws getting annoyed at her is an attestment to the author's skills.

While the storyline is… creative, it’s not so far fetched that it could never happen, i’m sure it has somewhere in the world. which just helps to make it much more realistic, which i really enjoy from a book… i like when a book makes you feel like you’re their, like you can interact with the characters and this book delivered for me, i even teared up a bit (however that might be due to my heightened emotional state - New babies will do that to you!)

I’m considering a re-read of this book at the end of the summer (on my holidays) and those of you that know me realise that’s big because i rarely read a book twice. So i would definately reccomend this book

This book was received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Heart Grow Fonder - Cristy Rey | Review | BethanyReadsBooks

4.5 out of 5 stars. 

I loved this story, it's told in the alternate prospectives of Jessie and Boyd two people who i would say aren't best suited for relationships due to their inner demons that i think they help each other fight throughout this book.  (i don't want to go into too much depth with the plot because i think it would be great to read it fresh but the blurb is here) 

Okay so i'm going to start off by saying that i loved Jessie, i thought she was well developed and although she appeared a little dependant i liked her attitude, there was just something really likable about her. 

and Boyd.... I will praise the author, Christy Rey is from Miami and i don't know much about whether she had lived in England before or whether she had someone help but the English terms were correct ( i.e Flat instead of apartment) and small dialogue things that really just shaped this character to be who he was, being from England i often find myself annoyed at authors who misinterpret British culture or language and i was very happy reading this to realise that the small details had been looked at and were accurate. 

The Gay best friend Cliche can be done either right or wrong... and in this book it was done right, it was there, it wasn't hidden but he was just an average guy ( well as average as a movie-star can get) and i loved that, i loved that Jessie and Tyler's relationship was about love and respect and friendship rather than his sexual orientation, somthing i think we can all respect.

The reason i didn't give this book 5 stars is purely because i found the writing style to be confusing at first, however this wasn't a major issue and i soon grew comfortable with it, hence only the half star docking instead of a full.

All in all i would recommend this book, its a great book to read this summer should you be looking for a summer read 

and you can buy it here : 

UK

USA

This book was received free from Netgally in return for an honest review. The Thoughts and Opinions are all my own.

Rebel: A Stepbrother Romance - Kim Linwood | Review | BethanyReadsBooks

 4 stars out of 5

okay, so Rebel is about Gavin and Angie. We meet Annie as she decides that she needs to lose her V-Card so she's 'ready'  for her boyfriend. Her best friend manages to  be a great wing woman and Angie heads home with a muscular hunk of a man... only to chicken out as things heat up... 

still don't think it's a good story? Wrong, it turns out that the muscled man is Gavin... Her soon to be stepbrother to be (that her mother has forgotten to mention). This obviously leads to problems and... a Wedding?

I really enjoyed this book, i loved the story and the characters and the writing style. 

I was at first a bit dubious at the whole 'step-brother' thing... however i didn't really find it a problem, the characters managed to ease any anxiety i had as they were so likable apart from the boyfriend... i didn't like him (Read to find out why) 

I have to admit, Angie and Gavin  were two of my most liked characters to read and i can't pinpoint  exactly why but i feel like they are written in a way where the chemistry isn't superficial, its not oh! let me jump your bones (just because), there is an undercurrent of awareness of feelings, both in Angie's confusion and Gavin's willingness to protect her.

depite not being sold when someone first suggested Rebel: a stepbrother romance

i am now recommending you go buy it yourselves as it is a great read and one that could be considered quite summery.

Into a million pieces - Angela V. Cook | Review | BethanyReadsBooks

I'm going to give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

Into a million pieces is about Allison who is a Succubi. Her twin is constantly pushing the boundaries of their 'curse' which puts Allison on edge. Despite her own protective measures she meets Ren who shows her that not all Succubi are incapable of love as she has been told. There are some major plot turns in this book that i think are best left for you to enjoy, but i have to say that i did not see them coming AT ALL.

Now, Into a million pieces is the first Succubi novel I've read and i have to say i enjoyed it, i love the uniqueness, because while i do enjoy a good Vampire novel i prefer something with a bit of originality and this book had it in spades from what is typically available.

At first I'll admit i was a bit dubious about the story and it took me a whole day to summon the energy to read it... though that might of been the eight hours of sleep i didn't get last night coupled with the Exam i had at 9am... However now that i have finished the book, I'm sad i haven't read it earlier, and i would most definitely recommend this book. 

Not only is it a unique YA read but there is NO sex... well not the dirty stuff that you find in NA (not saying i dont like a bit of steam sometimes but not all the time)... there was kissing and a little bit more but the book portrayed this a sweet, Ren is so understanding towards Allisons 'condition' never pushing for anything more and even says at one point that he just wants to be with her which for my romantic heart was completely heart melting... something i personally crave with Romance.

I can respect Angela V. Cook's character development in this book, the main character alone goes through so many changes and experiences that by the end of the book she appears to be someone different to who she was at the beginning, but not to different that it seems unbelievable. 

The only complaint  i have is that i can't find out when or if the sequel is coming out and i really want a sequel :( 

This book was received free from Netgally in return for an honest review. The Thoughts and Opinions are all my own.

Wrecked - Priscilla West | Review | BethanyReadsBooks

I'm going to give this book a 4 out of 5.

I've got to admit I'm increasingly becoming a fan of Priscilla West's books and this one was no different. Wrecked is about two people (Hunter and Lorrie) who are what you could classify as broken should and they slowly start to fix each other before something happens (so glad there is a sequel <3)

However the story isn't two dimensional which is what can happen to books in the Romance genre nowadays, i felt like i knew the characters and that meant that i could empathize. 

The book seemed to have a very realistic vibe that made it seem easier to read than some of the more complicated books and it also helped me connect as a reader to the story and the emotions of the character. 

The story was told from the point of view of the heroine, Lorrie, and i loved her. She was classy, she stuck to her guns for the first half of the book (then she let herself feel ;) but no spoilers) and all in all i just found her likable which is a huge selling point for the novel because i personally don't like the rapunzel type Heroines, i like heroines who can recognise their own self and Priscilla has delivered this with Lorrie.

Priscilla Wests Writing style is also something i enjoy, i love the way she can tell a story and make it so believable, i think that's a great quality to have as an author.

I'll admit i'm always up for a good heart-wrencher and this story is definitely that... the story of two broken souls coming together to form something beautiful and i cant wait to see how their story ends in Rescued which im going to go and read after this blog post despite the fact that its 4am. 

This book was received free from Netgally in return for an honest review. The Thoughts and Opinions are all my own.

The Memory Game - Sharon Sant | Review | BethanyReadsBooks

I'm Giving this book 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. 

The Memory Game is about a boy, David, who dies and is hanging around his small town in his ghost form. He eventually finds out only Bethany ( My name <3 ) can see him and so begins to form a relationship with her whilst trying to deal with his fears of ever moving on. They play The Memory Game to help him remember as his memories begin to fade and he needs help remembering the small things.

One of the things i loved most about this book was that although it was short the character development was there, there is depth to the characters that we can empathise with.

I thought David was portrayed really well and i found myself rooting for him and feeling sorry for him, all things i believe the author was trying to achieve. 

Now i dont normally like Ghost type romances but i actually really enjoyed this, the romance was subtle and not too in your face, in the beginning we can see that there both just looking for someone to speak to, and we can see the gradual development of the relationship between them as they start to see that we aren't all who we appear to be. 

i did deduct this book half a star because of the ending... it seemed like it kinda just cut off and although it could be a satisfying ending for some, for us curious people i pray there is a sequel. Other than the ending i loved the book and look forward to reading more from Sharon Sant as i've fallen in love with her storytelling. 

This book was received free from Netgally in return for an honest review. The Thoughts and Opinions are all my own.

Reckless - Priscilla West | Review | BethanyReadsBooks

OBSIDIAN (LUX 1) - JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT (BethanyReadsBooks Reviews)

OBSIDIAN (LUX 1) - JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something... unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don't kill him first, that is. 

okay, so i'm just going to say that this is a book that i can most definitely add to my favourite books of all time . i loved this book and the characters in it. 

i must admit that at first i thought it was a bit hyped up but man was that  not true, this book encompasses many things and while i'm not going to give spoilers because why ruin it? go girl power! 

i have to say when i picked up this books i was a bit like aliens? WTF? but the way Jennifer has presented the Luxen is amazing and refreshing. 

this review is going to be short because i honestly don't think anything i can say will do it justice 

the characters are amazing and realistic (and there definitely isnt any of that love at first sight) well as realistic as aliens can be. in all honesty i just think you should pick up this book and decide for yourself, but i think i might be a bias. 

as my mother would say dont like it lump it.. no idea where lump it came from but yeah, i enjoyed the book very much and hope you will to.  can't wait to read the rest of the series.. promise there will be more detailed reviews then ;) 

#SCANDAL - SARAH OCKLER (BethanyReadsBooks Reviews)

#SCANDAL - SARAH OCKLER

Lucy’s learned some important lessons from tabloid darling Jayla Heart’s all-too-public blunders: Avoid the spotlight, don’t feed the Internet trolls, and keep your secrets secret. The policy has served Lucy well all through high school, so when her best friend Ellie gets sick before prom and begs her to step in as Cole’s date, she accepts with a smile, silencing about ten different reservations. Like the one where she’d rather stay home shredding online zombies. And the one where she hates playing dress-up. And especially the one where she’s been secretly in love with Cole since the dawn of time.

When Cole surprises her at the after party with a kiss under the stars, it’s everything Lucy has ever dreamed of… and the biggest BFF deal-breaker ever. Despite Cole’s lingering sweetness, Lucy knows they’ll have to ’fess up to Ellie. But before they get the chance, Lucy’s own Facebook profile mysteriously explodes with compromising pics of her and Cole, along with tons of other students’ party indiscretions. Tagged. Liked. And furiously viral.

By Monday morning, Lucy’s been branded a slut, a backstabber, and a narc, mired in a tabloid-worthy scandal just weeks before graduation.

Lucy’s been battling undead masses online long enough to know there’s only one way to survive a disaster of this magnitude: Stand up and fight. Game plan? Uncover and expose the Facebook hacker, win back her best friend’s trust, and graduate with a clean slate.

There’s just one snag—Cole. Turns out Lucy’s not the only one who’s been harboring unrequited love... 

After receiving this book in the post four hours ago you could say i was exited to read it and did so in one sitting with no breaks (not even for the bathroom) which is admittedly sad but a true testament to the writing of sarah ockler in this novel.

so the story centres around social media and i guess the way that we can be influenced by it. when Lucy's best friend gets sick and asks her to attend senior prom with cole the guy she has loved since freshman year but is also her friends boyfriend, lucy agrees not knowing the trouble it would unwittingly cause. 

After all the book is called #scandal (after a competition of sorts hosted by Miss demeanor an anonymous facebook profile from someone at her school) and scandal follow Lucy in this book after a picture of her kissing Cole ends up on her facebook profile thanks to the fact her phone has been stolen by a certain someone, and Lucy's misspent night aren't all that's being uploaded, it seems to everyone else's dirty little secrets are posted on her profile as well.

So while trying to find out who did this and unraveling lots of other things in the midst (sorry no spoilers ;)) she has to deal with the constant bullying from her class mates.

I would give this book a 5/5, i think it tackled real problems that we face and also the amount of influence social media has in our lives. the way our words or actions can be misinterpreted and that in the end it doesn't rule our lives. it tackles relationships with realistic approaches and responses and i think that's important with any story. 

i recommend you guys to purchase this book or borrow it, i think it might have earned a place on my favourites list (and taught me to never let my phone out of my sight) 

might just get some more Sarah Ockler books, as i found myself to rather enjoy this one.

LOSING IT - CORA CARMACK (BethanyReadsBooks Review)

LOSING IT - CORA CARMACK

Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, Bliss Edwards decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible - a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half-a-brain would ever believe. And as if that weren't embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theatre professor. She'd left him naked in her bed about 8 hours earlier.

okay i guess i'm going to start of by saying that it wasn't my favourite book in the world which isn't really a shocker. Don't get me wrong i liked the book, in fact i would probably give it a whole 3 and 1/2 out of five and might read it again once i get the other books in the series finding it and faking it

 

the truth about why i didn't give this book five stars is that to me it just felt too short for what happened in it.

the story is about a girl who wants to lose her virginity at the beginning and goes to a bar to find a man to do it with. while there she finds a sexy man with an english accent and ends up at her home with him after realising he lives in the building next to hers and burning her leg getting off his motorcycle. in short she doesn't quite go through with it (a nonexistent cat is in there somewhere) and attending class the ext day it turns out she's already met her professor.

Whilst dealing with this revelation she also gets the 'shock' that her best guy friend is in love with her and i think this is where my problems with the book start. while i did enjoy it the love triangle is crummy at best and from this point in the novel the story becomes slightly hurried and at times i cringed slightly.

i did enjoy the book overall but probably need to keep it as a summer read as it is something light that i think would be perfect for when you just want to lighten up your mood, a bit of smutt and fluff to give you the feels. Which is something i think everyone needs in a while, which is why i recommend this book as a simple summer read that will be good for the beach or just for lightening the mood.

The duff - book review

The Duff (designated ugly fat friend)
by Kody Keplinger

I waited quite a while to buy this book and now that i have read it i don't understand my hesitation. the book contained a perfect balance of humor and romance for me and i found the main character 'Bianca' really easy to connect with.
At the beginning of the book i was unsure as to whether i would like it or not as it seemed off somehow, however with the introduction of Wesley rush, one of the MC's love interests the whole plot takes on a new lease of life and i found my self unable to put the book down.

Blurb:    Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.
Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone