Book Update: May (+ 200 followers?!)

Hey Happy Bookworms!

It feels like a long time since I’ve written anything even though it really isn’t – it’s been less than a week even? Idk does anyone else get this weird feeling sometimes 😂

Anyway it’s the end of May! Time is flying by & I’ve only got one half term left before the summer holidays begin! Which will feel really weird…
But let’s wrap up some books I read this month! I was kinda slumping after my massive readathon of last month but I still did pretty well 🙂

As usual, I’ll try to keep it as spoiler free as possible & put spoiler warnings on anything that needs it…also bear with me, I’m trying to get used to the new editor 😑

*🌠 means that I got an e-copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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🌠 Descendant of the Crane by Joan He

Because of my slump I didn’t enjoy this as much as I should – also I’m beginning to come to terms with the fact that I just don’t really click with eBooks for reading fantasy.
But that’s besides the point – this book is really really beautiful & I loved exploring the world (I’ve never read anything set in this setting & period before) so I’m obsessed with the whole atmosphere of it 🌸

• It was more political than I was expecting but that wasn’t necessarily bad (just not the best thing when you’re in a slump 😅)
• I also was not expecting the mystery thing but I kinda loved that as well (although, as always, there was a whole lot of chance riding on what happened 🙄)
• And the romance was such. A. Slow. Burn. But I loved that as well & can’t wait for the continuation of the story 😉 (I’m guessing there’ll be a part 2 even though I can’t find mention of it anywhere)

But yeah I really loved going somewhere new with fantasy 🙂

Puddin’ by Julie Murphy

This book had some really cute moments & I loved Callie’s character (fierce 🔥) but some of Millie’s moments were a bit slow? I’m just never a fan of faux cursing & I know that Millie’s innocence was meant to be endearing & it was pretty cute in some parts but just not really my vibe, I found her adorable as a side character in Dumplin’ but not as a main character in this.
Plus Willowdean was kinda mean in this 😂
Anyway, dumplin’ was definitely better but this was a sweet follow up to check up on the characters 😊

Normal People by Sally Rooney

This was a really interesting book. It was told kinda disjointedly in fragments & sometimes it would go on a bit of a tangent where you lost where you where originally. Plus the characters are slightly removed from you just in the way it was told & the author’s word choices but it all worked for this book? Like normally that would be a horrible combination but it really worked for this.

This stretches over a long period of time too & I love how we don’t see a lot of their lives, how we were just left to fill it in ourselves & assume. Sometimes this made me feel a bit disorientated but ultimately I liked how the author didn’t feel the need to explain every detail & event to us because it made the ones that were shown more effective.

I can’t wait to watch the series! 🙂

The Circle by Dave Eggers

I finally finished it!
This book was a bit of a trek for me but when I properly sat down & gave it a go it was actually really interesting.
Definitely an important, albeit scary, read.
I have to say that I suspected the Kalden reveal for a long time so that wasn’t really shocking to me & probably would have made the ending better if I hadn’t guessed.
But overall, sure the plot’s a little strange & repetitive in some places but the book’s worth a read for the frightening brainwashing normal people with technology can trigger. (you know, if you’re into reading fun stuff like that)

🌠 Every Little Piece of My Heart by Non Pratt

I can’t remember the last time I read a book about normal British teens and this was. So. BOMB. Like I literally loved it!

I loved all the characters, this had some great rep in it (but like casual rep which is the best kind, not forced rep) and the relationships between them were written really well. Plus it was a multi POV and I didn’t get bored with any of them!
I also loved the plot, not a new idea per se but with enough new elements to make it feel unique & different. Plus it was actually really funny (my favourite thing in books 😆) And to top it all off I actually really liked the ending, I know it’ll be probably be a marmite ending but I think it was a great way to end it.

Although all the GCSE talk gave me anxiety – plausible deniability right? 😂

Publish date: 6th August

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Also guysssss I hit 200 followers ☺ It means so much to me that you guys stick around to read my random book thoughts 💕💕

Have you read any of the books above? Do you plan to? Opinions? Tell me all! 💖