Book Update: March (2020) + O.W.L.s checkpoint!

Hey Happy Bookworms!

So I know this is legendarily late & I was just gonna skip March since I only read like 2 books, but this month I have picked it up! *woo go me* So I know that my April update is gonna be looooong & I thought I might as well unload some of it here so I don’t swamp you. I could also use this as a little checkpoint in my O.W.L.s!

The first two/three are from March (It’s weird – on my phone it says I finished the enigma game on the 1st but on my laptop it says the 31st?! And there is no way I’m remembering so we’re just gonna have to live with the mystery….) And then the fourth one I finished this month but to count in the readathon you have to have started it this month as well, which I didn’t (and now I’m rambling I’m gonna shut up)

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

This has been my least favourite of all the books so far but by no means bad (obviously!) I think it’s just a little awkward as it’s kinda setting everything up for the last book and resolving a lot that’s happened…kinda just what has to be done before the epic finale!

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

Oh my freaking god. I don’t think I’ve cried this much for a book in a long time.

This went on my TBR ages ago & I don’t like reading the synopsis for any book right before I read it so I went into this completely unaware of what it was about. At first, I was a bit like meh – a normal contemporary, a couple of super swoon moments…and a couple of weird, problematic ones (basically a normal contemporary though right 😂) I even though the plot would be like her choosing between Ryle & Atlas or something, plus I thought the Ellen thing was super dumb 😅 But it was so. Much. More. This book is incredible & a powerful insight into abusive relationships and the real reasons it’s so hard to leave someone.

I loved the character development for Lily’s mum and how that played into the story even though she was only a little part of the book. I loved that Lily was a complete boss with her own business and how she never compromised it. And I love how this showed friendship as well, how Alyssa was Ryle’s sister but ultimately Lily’s best friend.

Overall, I’m just really glad that this book could teach me something *there’s no emoji for a sad smile*

The Enigma Game by Elizabeth Wein

I got this as an ARC from netgalley & I was so excited since I loved code name verity & really want to read some more historical fiction but I was really disappointed with! I don’t know if it’s because I read it in digital & not physical form? But Louisa just got a bit annoying sometimes with how naïve she acted. It had some good bits but I just overall didn’t really enjoy it

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

This was a lovely buddy read with one of my GR friends, Gabby!

I really really loved it at first, it was following in the vein of strange the dreamer to be one of my favourite books, lovable characters, beautiful words & it was all going great until the romance sped the hell up, like I felt like speeding tickets were in order because damn it went from zero to one hundred!
One second we had these cute flirty little moments on tops of cathedrals & the next Akiva was confessing his love for her & waging battle against his friends. I’m not saying that wasn’t the appropriate response in his situation but it took all the fun out of it 😖 I mean it’s a trilogy – I expected to have the will they/won’t they adorableness for at least a book more!

Then the Madrigal thing – I didn’t really like it. *spoilers* because thing is, I love Karou and I….didn’t like Madrigal & then they were one person so idk what to think of that?

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O.L.W.s 🦉

Have to read:

• Charms//Lumos Maxima: white cover ✔
• Defence Against the Dark Arts//Grindylows: book set at the sea/coast ✔
• Potions//Shrinking Solution: book under 150 pages
• Transfiguration//Animagus lecture: book/series that includes shapeshifting
• Herbology//Mimbulus mimbletonia: title starts with an M

3 Others:

• Arithmancy//Magical qualities of number 2: balance/opposites – read something outside your favourite genre ✔
• Care of magical creatures//Hippogriffs: creature with a beak on the cover ✔
• Astronomy//Night classes: read majority of this book when it’s dark outside

Wilder Girls by Rory Power

This was originally going to be my shapeshifting one but after reading it I don’t think it really counts? I looked up the definition of shapeshifting & I think that you have to be able to change back also they don’t really change form or anything…IDK WHY’S IT SO CONFUSING?! 😭 Anyway, I changed this to Arithmancy because I’ve never really read any horror before so this is kinda perfect for that at least!

And oh my god this was gruesome in parts! Definitely not for the faint hearted *shudders*

I liked the plot & how suspenseful it was, kinda like a girl version of lord of the flies (but actually good *cough cough*)
And I liked the characters – Hetty & Reese 💕 but I just didn’t quite connect with the story like there was just a little wall with them on one side and then me on the other…idk?

I really didn’t like the ending though *spoilers* I mean first they leave all the other girls after having a screaming match with Taylor & the headmistress about leaving them & being selfish (talk about hypocritical!) And then I honestly thought Hetty was gonna die at the end because like that’s kinda the only option? Like, there’s no possible way they’d be allowed to live so…. But then the author just cuts out at the end?! Basically she couldn’t think of a good way to resolve it 😅 But I just feel a bit incomplete like there was so much that didn’t get answered – like we had a bit of Byatt’s backstory, enough to make us interested but not enough to really complete it. Plus the last ‘epiphany’ is that the tox is trying to help them, now it might just be me, but wasn’t that kinda obvious? I mean they’re all just showing signs of evolution…Which obviously it’s bad evolution but my point is – that’s what you end it on?! Like that’s some big reveal? Anyway, I did quite enjoy the rest of it 😂

Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven

This is obviously my charms one! White background, easy peasy!

“I know what you’re thinking – if you hate it so much and it’s such a burden, just loose the weight, and then that job will go away. But I’m comfortable where I am. I may loose more weight. I may not. But why should what I weigh affect other people? I mean, unless I’m sitting on them, who cares?”

At first I thought this was another really cringy contemporary but then I actually loved it? 😂

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

This was my Defence Against the Dark Arts/coast one – private island, very fancy schmancy.

My head just felt really foggy through the whole of this, like I now that’s how you’re meant to feel in mystery books but I just didn’t feel ANYTHING ELSE. I really didn’t like the characters & felt like the story was told with this distance between the reader & everyone inside, which I guess may have been purposeful but just doesn’t make for a great read.

Saffy’s Angel by Hilary McKay

There are birds. Birds have beaks. Yes, they are very small birds but it still counts!

I remember sitting in history a couple months ago and I just randomly remembered Caddy’s way of revising for her GCSEs, how she sticks all these post its up, a different room for each subject & I suddenly had this urge to reread these books, idk maybe because all this exam stress just makes me want to comfort read but I’m so glad I did!

This book is so feel good & funny & just incredible! Like this family is just the best thing ever OMG PLS JUST GO READ IT!

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Wow I didn’t realise it would be this long (imagine if I put it all in one post for my April wrap up *I can see you shuddering*)  guess I just had a lot to say… 😂

Anyway, I won’t make it any longer – quickfire: Have you read any of these? Opinions? How are your O.W.L.s going if you’re doing them? TELL ME ALL!