Review: For the Record by Charlotte Huang

For the Record by Charlotte Huang
Expected publication: November 10th 2015 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Number of Pages: X
Series: No

   Chelsea thought she knew what being a rock star was like . . . until she became one. After losing a TV talent show, she slid back into small-town anonymity. But one phone call changed everything.
   Now she’s the lead singer of the band Melbourne, performing in sold-out clubs every night and living on a bus with three gorgeous and talented guys. The bummer is that the band barely tolerates her. And when teen hearthrob Lucas Rivers take an interest in her, Chelsea is suddenly famous, bringing Melbourne to the next level—not that they’re happy about that. Her feelings for Beckett, Melbourne’s bassist, are making life even more complicated.
   Chelsea only has the summer tour to make the band—and their fans—love her. If she doesn’t, she’ll be back in Michigan for senior year, dying a slow death. The paparazzi, the haters, the grueling schedule . . . Chelsea believed she could handle it. But what if she can’t?

* I recieved an eARC of For the Record from Random House in exchance for a honest review *

   I have so much love for this book and I am beyond happy I got the chance to read it five months prior to its publication. This book just truly has it all: a rock band composed on fun and different characters, a cute Hollywood movie star, the love for music and an outstandingly fun main character, Chelsea, who spreads her wings as lead singer of Melbourne.
   Charlotte Huang did an amazing job at capturing the different emotions that go through Chelsea as she experiences her first concerts and everything that belongs to being the new kid in town, or rather the new girl in the band. And I love the fact that she didn't just do that in the first twenty pages and then forgot about it, but rather that it took her the entirety of the book to develop confidence in what she does and finding her place in this entirely new world she finds herself in.

   Chelsea is a great main character and story narrator. Her thoughts and descriptions of her emotions are very clear and seem real, like they would belong to someone who went through all that she went through. She is fun and she has a personality. She isn't just a bleak character who just seems to exist and do whatever the author wants her to do, but rather like a layered character with flaws and traits which make her the person she is. All her decisions fit her personality and way of thinking.
   The other guys in the band, Pam, Malcom and Beckett are a lot of fun and they are all unique and different. Pam is more of a grumpy cat, Malcom like one who likes groupies and Beckett the guy you'd like to hang out with and talk about music for hours. I enjoyed them as characters a lot and it was really hard to say goodbye to them once the book was over.

   Another thing that makes this book great and stands out is the degree of insight we get to see into the life of a rock band, of the life on tour and how it feels to be the one on stage and not in the crowd. It perfectly captured the dynamics of the band and how crazy life can get when you are in the spotlight, when you are the one with thousands of fans who watch every step you take and gossip knows your secrets before you know them.

   All in all I think this book was amazing, fun and felt incredibly real, which is always a big plus. For the Record is exciting, fun and filled with endearing characters which will make saying goodbye to the book surprisingly hard.
   I think this book is definitely something for those who always dreamed of being a rock star themselves or wondered how life on tour must feel like. I recommend it to, basically, everybody because it's great and something like a fan girls dream come true.

I give For the Record by Charlotte Huang 5 out of 5 rock stars.

Ask the Author: Lindsay Cummings (The Murder Complex)

   Hey guys!
   I'm super excited about this weeks Ask the Author because I have the lovely Lindsay Cummings, author of The Murder Complex and The Death Code, for you. First let's have a look at her novel, The Murder Complex, and then the interview. Enjoy!
 

The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings
Published: June 10th 2014 by Greenwillow Books
Number of Pages: 398 pages (Hardcover)
Series: Yes, #1 in The Murder Complex Series
Buy it: Book Depository
~ Free worldwide shipping ~

   An action-packed, blood-soaked, futuristic debut thriller set in a world where the murder rate is higher than the birthrate. For fans of Moira Young’s Dust Lands series, La Femme Nikita, and the movie Hanna.
   Meadow Woodson, a fifteen-year-old girl who has been trained by her father to fight, to kill, and to survive in any situation, lives with her family on a houseboat in Florida. The state is controlled by The Murder Complex, an organization that tracks the population with precision.
   The plot starts to thicken when Meadow meets Zephyr James, who is—although he doesn’t know it—one of the MC’s programmed assassins. Is their meeting a coincidence? Destiny? Or part of a terrifying strategy? And will Zephyr keep Meadow from discovering the haunting truth about her family? (goodreads.com)

Interview with Lindsay Cummings

   1 - Describe The Murder Complex is 7 words.
   A blood-soaked futuristic thriller in Florida :)

   2 - How did you come up with the idea of creating a future where the murder rate is higher than the birth rate?
   I figured it would just be really, really creepy if that were the case. And sad. Ideas sort of pop into my head. I wish I had a cooler answer for that!

   3 - How long did it take you from first idea until publishing deal? And how many queries did it take until you found 'the one’?
   The first book I wrote got 120 rejections from agents. The Murder Complex was sent to a few agents, and the first one I sent it to, Louise Fury, is still my agent today!

   4 - If Meadow and Zaphyr would be transported into our normal world, how would they react to it? Especially because our reality isn't as bloody and horrifying as theirs seems to be.
   I think they’d be incredibly shocked. And Meadow, probably, would be very very bitter and angry about it. She’d wish her family could have a world like this. Zephyr would settle in—but feel guilty for being there, because he’d think he didn’t deserve it.

   5 - What music, if any, did you listen to while writing The Murder Complex?
   None!! I actually can’t listen to music while I write!

   6 - How much time do you spend on writing on a weekly basis?
   I try to write a little bit every single day! Even if it’s just 200 words.

   7 - Are you a plotter or someone who writes what comes to their mind and edit it all later?
   I usually just write what comes to mind..but lately, I’m having to learn to become a plotter!

   8 - You were a successful book blogger before you became a published author, how did you manage to do both time wise?
   Same way I still do now! I just separate my day into chunks, and do a little of each thing.

   9 - Chocolate or Vanilla?
   CHOCOLATE ALWAYS OMG!!

   10 - If you were forced to participate in The Hunger Games, as female from District 12, what would be your strategy? Fight or flight?
   I’d take a Foxface route, and try to be sneaky. Then, if I survived long enough…I’d fight. And probably die. lol

   11 - What advice would you give aspiring authors?
   Read and Write every single day!!

About the Author

   Lindsay Cummings is the 24-year-old author of THE MURDER COMPLEX series from Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins, and the MG trilogy THE BALANCE KEEPERS, from Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins.

   Lindsay deals with chronic fatigue, can’t get enough of her two pesky German Shepherds, wolf cub, and two horses. She's still waiting on her letter from Hogwarts--it was probably just lost in the mail. You can follow Lindsay on twitter @authorlindsayc

Ask the Author: Francesca Zappia (Made You Up)

   Hey guys!
   Today I have something really special for you, something that's never been on Bettgeschichten before and I am super excited because of it. I got the chance to interview Francesca Zappia for you guys! Her book, Made You Up, is currently way up there on my list of most anticipated books of 2015, and it also happens to be her debut novel.

Made You Up by Francesca Zappia
Published: May 19th 2015 by Greenwillow Books
Number of Pages: 448 Pages (Hardcover)
Series: No
Pre-order it: Book Depository
~ Free worldwide shipping ~

   Reality, it turns out, is often not what you perceive it to be—sometimes, there really is someone out to get you. Made You Up tells the story of Alex, a high school senior unable to tell the difference between real life and delusion. This is a compelling and provoking literary debut that will appeal to fans of Wes Anderson, Silver Linings Playbook, and Liar.
   Alex fights a daily battle to figure out the difference between reality and delusion. Armed with a take-no-prisoners attitude, her camera, a Magic 8-Ball, and her only ally (her little sister), Alex wages a war against her schizophrenia, determined to stay sane long enough to get into college. She’s pretty optimistic about her chances until classes begin, and she runs into Miles. Didn't she imagine him? Before she knows it, Alex is making friends, going to parties, falling in love, and experiencing all the usual rites of passage for teenagers. But Alex is used to being crazy. She’s not prepared for normal.
   Funny, provoking, and ultimately moving, this debut novel featuring the quintessential unreliable narrator will have readers turning the pages and trying to figure out what is real and what is made up. (goodreads.com)

Interview with Francesca Zappia

   1 - Describe Made You Up in the shortest way possible.
   Schizophrenic teenage girl must survive her senior year of high school intact.

   2 - What was the first initial thought or thing that sparked the idea of Made You Up? Was it a name or the most basic idea of a story about a girl with schizophrenia?
   Made You Up started a LONG time ago, and the story has changed a lot since then, but one thing that has always stayed the same are the main characters, Alex and Miles. I think they're the initial spark--them as people and their relationship together.

   3 - How much research did you do on schizophrenia? And did you, at some point during research, feel discouraged or anxious in terms of writing about it, or rather incorporating it into your story?
   I wrote most of Made You Up while I was in high school, and I did about as much research as a high school student could do. I read books on it, I watched documentaries, and I went online to forums where people who have schizophrenia were discussing the illness. Weirdly enough, I never felt anxious or discouraged while writing about it. I do get anxious now, though. Many people have said they're interested in reading the book because they know someone who has schizophrenia, and I just hope I don't let them down.

   4 - Did you have a personal motivation behind writing a story with schizophrenia or was it out of pure interest in the illness itself?
   I actually didn't want to write the story because of the schizophrenia. I wanted to write about Alex and Miles, people who needed help but didn't quite know how to ask for it. I don't have any personal ties to schizophrenia, but it has interested me for a long time, and I wanted to explore that.

   5 - How long did it take you from first thought until publishing deal? Out of curiosity, how many queries did you have to send until you found 'the one'?
Oh, gosh. Probably ten years? Like I said, it went through a lot of changes since the very first draft I ever wrote, and I probably queried with it and other stories for around five years before I landed an agent. I believe the final time I sent out around seventy-five queries before signing with my agent (whom I actually didn't even query). In the entire five years of trying to get an agent, I sent out hundreds of queries. It was a very long process.

   6 - How do you feel about the fact that in only a few more months thousands of readers will be able to hold and read your debut novel?
   Very, very nervous. But it's also exciting, because it's like, "This thing I've been working on my whole life will finally see the light of day! People will read it!" It's awesome.

   7 - Why do you thing the readers out there should pick up Made You Up?
   Because it's way more lighthearted than they'll expect. It's not just about Alex's problems, it's about this whole community around her, the friends she makes, and the mystery she unravels. I had a lot of fun writing it, and I think people will have fun reading it.

   8 - While writing the story did you ever imagine how a cover might look like and what do you think about the absolutely gorgeous final version?
   I did sometimes think about what the cover might look like--and even tried making some myself, when I was in high school--but I never imagined it would end up looking the way it does. The cover Greenwillow came up with for Made You Up is stunning, and I couldn't have asked for anything better. What I love most about it is that it encompasses so much of the story without giving away anything.

   9 - Did you listen to any particular songs or artists while writing Made You Up? If so, could you give us an example?
   Yes! I always listen to music while writing. Every story has its own flavor of music, and if I can't find any music for an idea, that typically means the idea isn't going to go anywhere. For Made You Up, it was a lot of music that makes me feel nostalgic--like Eve 6's "Inside Out" or Harvey Danger's "Flagpole Sitta". Then there's "Clint Eastwood" by Gorillaz and "Touches You" by Mika. My favorite songs, though, are the German ones--particularly "Guten Tag" by Wir Sind Helden. If anyone wants to know what kind of mindset I was in while writing Made You Up, listen to "Guten Tag."

   10 - Any final words or message to your future readers out there?
   I hope you enjoy the ride!

About the Author

   I'm a YA writer represented by Louise Fury of the Bent Agency. My debut, MADE YOU UP, will be out from Greenwillow/HarperCollins on May 19th, 2015. I like writing, reading, drawing, anime, playing way too much Pokemon, and other things.
   I'm on Twitter @ChessieZappia, Tumblr (exeuntstormtroopers.tumblr.com), Instagram @ChessieZappia, and on my website, www.francescazappia.com.

Review: John Wick (Film, 2014)

John Wick
Originaltitel: John Wick
Erscheinungsjahr: 2014
FSK: 16
Länge: 96 Minuten
Hauptdarsteller: Keanu Reeves (John Wick)
Alfie Allen (Iosef Tarasov)
Michael Nypvist (Viggo Tarasov)
Willem Dafoe (Marcus)

   John Wick genießt seinen frühen Ruhestand in der Vorstadt. Doch als seine Frau  einer tödlichen Krankheit erliegt, verfällt er in Trauer. Nur sein Hund bleibt ihm noch als Gefährte – und wird von drei russischen Gangstern getötet, als die in Wicks Haus einbrechen, um einen 1969er Boss Mustang zu stehlen. Damit wird Wick von seiner finsteren Vergangenheit eingeholt, war er doch früher einer der besten Auftragskiller des Landes. Er verlässt die Vorstadtidylle und macht sich, seine Rache vor Augen, auf die Suche nach den Einbrechern. Einer von ihnen ist Iosef Tarasov, der Sohn des einflussreichen Verbrecherbosses Viggo Tarasov, für den Wick selbst einmal gearbeitet hatte. Doch alte Verbindungen zählen jetzt nicht mehr. Und so hat der Rächer bald auch den Ex-Kollegen Marcus an seinen Fersen...(www.filmstarts.de)

   Was lehrt uns dieser Film? Breche niemals in das Haus eines Profikillers ein, töte nicht seinen Hund, welcher das letzte Geschenk von seiner verstorbenen Frau ist, und klaue nicht anschließend auch noch seinen 1969-iger Boss Mustang denn dafür wirst du bitter büßen..
   John Wick ist ein Action Thriller der seinem Genre alle Ehre macht. Es gibt viele überragend gut choreografierte Kampf und Aktion Sequenzen, viel Thrill während Szenen in dem man sich fragt wie er nur aus dieser oder jener Situation lebend wieder herauskommen wird und jede Menge genialer Musik. Ein bisschen Humor kommt sogar auch noch dabei herum.
   Für Keanu Reeves ist dies sicherlich mehr als nur eine erfolgreiche Rückkehr zum Action Genre. Sein Charakter, John Wick, bringt er überzeugend und mit viel Scharm, tiefe und Glaubwürdigkeit auf die Leinwand. Sehr schnell wird einem klar das, was auch immer man tut, man sich definitiv nicht mit John anlegen sollte.
   Ein weiterer Star den man schnell wiedererkennt ist Alfie Allen, welcher bei Game of Thrones die solle des Theon Graufreud spielt. In John Wick spielt er Iosef, den Sohn von John's früherem Boss, ViggoTarasov. Sehr überzeigend bringt er Iosef mit seiner totalen Planlosigkeit und dem verlangen zu zeigen dass er genauso hart ist wie sein Vater und seine handlanger rüber obwohl einem schnell klar wird, dass Iosef mehr Schein als Sein ist, denn eigentlich ist er eher ein Angsthase als ein harter Gangster

   Jedoch, was für mich noch viel mehr heraussticht als die genialen Kampfszenen, ist der Soundtrack welcher in einem eher düsteren und rockigen, mit ein paar elektoeinflüssen, Klima gehalten wurde. Er geradezu perfekt zu dem Film, den Szenen und John Wick selbst passt. Zweimal treffen wir beispielsweise auf "Killing Strangers" von Marilyn Manson. Dieser Song spiegelt auf grandiose Art und Weise die Stimmung des Filmes wieder. 'Wir töten unbekannte bevor diese jene die wir lieben töten können' heißt es im Text an einer Stelle. Perfekte Wahl.

   Alles in allem ist John Wick ein grandioser action-Streifen in dem Keanu Reeves zeigen konnte dass er ein grandioser Schauspieler ist und das solche Filme genau sein Ding sind. John Wick mag nichts für schwache Nerven sein und wahrscheinlich auch nicht etwas für einen Kuschel Abend, jedoch wenn man einen aufregenden Hitmen Film mit viel rums und guter Musik steht, dann ist dies genau dass, was man sehen sollte.

Ich gebe John Wick 5 von 5 Sternen.

Review: Fifty Shades of Grey (Film, 2015)

Fifty Shades of Grey
Originaltitel: Fifty Shades of Grey
Erscheinungsjahr: 2015
FSK: 16
Länge: 125 min
Hauptdarsteller: Jamie Dornan (Christian Grey)
Dakota Johnson (Anastasia Stelle)

   Während eines Interviews für ihre College-Zeitung lernt die 21-jährige Studentin Anastasia Steele den 27-jährigen Milliardär Christian Grey kennen. Nachdem sich zwischen ihr und Christian langsam eine Beziehung entwickelt, erfährt sie, dass Christian in seinem Appartement zahlreiche BDSM-Utensilien bereithält. Dort überreicht er ihr einen Vertrag, der klarstellt, dass ihre Beziehung eine rein sexuelle Form von Dominanz und Unterwerfung sein soll, und zwar ohne romantische Bindung. Ana willigt ein und begibt sich damit auf eine immer intensivere Reise ins Reich der sexuellen Praktiken. (moviepilot.de)

   Fifty Shades of Grey mag vieles sein, langweilig und unbehaglich sind zwei davon, jedoch interessant, sexy oder gar romantisch ist dieser Film definitiv nicht. Viele meinen der Film sollte eher Fifty Shades of Beige heißen, und dem kann ich nur zustimmen.

   Ich habe das Buch, oder eher gesagt die gesamte Trilogie, gelesen und fand diese schon ausgesprochen miserabel daher hatte ich keine wirklichen Erwartungen was den Film angeht. Ich war daher nicht wirklich überrascht, als sich herausstellte, dass der Film ungefähr genauso schlecht ist. Schlecht genug das einer der Kinobesucher während meiner Vorstellung eingeschlafen ist.
   Wenn mich jemand fragt worum es in Fifty Shades of Grey geht, lautet meine Antwort ganz schlicht: ein Reicher Mann erkauft sich eine persönlichkeitslose Durchschnitts Frau mit seinem Aussehen und teuren Geschenken um diese dann als "unterworfene" zu halten. Keine Beziehung, keine liebe nur Sex, wenn er gerade Lust darauf hat, und auch nur so wie er es will.
   Wenn es um die nackt-und Sexszenen geht, kann man sagen, dass, wenn man mit denen bei Game of Thrones kein Problem hat, man mit denen in Fifty Shades of Grey auch keine haben wird.

   Die Dialoge sind oftmals schmerzhaft kramfig und beinahe schon unangenehm mitanzusehen, denn man wundert sich echt was mit den beiden, und besonders mit Anastasia, nicht stimmt. Während des Interviews mit Christian ist sie tollpatschig und schüchtern, aber auf eine übertriebene Art und Weise. Und dann folgen auch noch solche Aussagen wie "sieh mich doch mal an", was so viel bedeutet wie "wer bin ich denn schon". Anastasia stellt sich selber als ungenügend und 'unwürdig' dar, nur weil sie keine teuren Klamotten trägt oder Wagen fährt. Sie ist nicht wie Christian auf mehr als nur eine Art und Weise. Generell stellte sich mir des öfteren die Frage, warum sie eigentlich immer weiter macht, da sie beinahe von Anfang an mit der ganzen Situation Unglück zu sein scheint. Es ist fast traurig mitanzusehen was Anastasia willig ist mitzumachen nur um mit Christian "zusammen" zu sein.
   Wenn wir schon bei dem Thema Christian Grey sind. SM hin oder her, jedem das seine heißt es ja so schön, jedoch was mir ein noch viel größerer Dorn in Auge war, war die Kontrolle die er über Ana ausübte. Er musste immer wissen was sie macht, er sagte was sie machen werden, wann sie es machen werden, was sie tragen soll. Er legte ihr auch einen Vertrag vor, der so etwas wie eine Willenserklärung ist all die Dinge zu tun, die eine 'Unterworfene' tut, jedoch reichte dieser noch viel weiter in ihr Leben als nur in ihr sexuelles Zusammensein. Er verbot ihr bestimmte Dinge zu essen, Alkohol zu trinken, zu rauchen, falls sie dies den wollen würde, und noch so vieles mehr. Oft benahm er sich einfach wie ein Stalker, was definitiv nicht romantisch ist. Sicher, er gab ihr Geschenke, nahm sie auf einen Flug mit seinem Helikopter und Gleitflugzeug mit, jedoch war dies alles was er ihr gab. Sie durfte nicht einmal ein Bett mit ihm teilen.
   Die Schauspieler an sich gefielen mir auch nicht sonderlich gut. Jamie Dornan war meiner Meinung nach nicht das, was man sich vorstellte wenn man das Buch gelesen hat. Ihm fehlte ein gewisses etwas und das aussehen. Er mag nicht schlecht aussehen, aber eben auch nicht wie der atemberaubende Christian Grey der einem im Buch vorgestellt wird. Dakota Johnson spielte Anastasia Steele recht gut, wobei dies keine wirklich große Herausforderung war, da Anastasia die meiste Zeit über beschämt aussah. Sie sieht mehr oder weniger genauso aus wie das "graue Mäuschen" welches man, oder zumindest ich, mir beim Lesen vorgestellt habe.

   Der Film folgt jedoch, soweit ich mich daran erinnere, der Geschichte des Buches recht treu und so lassen sich auch hier und da ein paar dialogstellen aus dem Buch wiederfinden, zumindest in der englischen Version die ich gesehen und gelesen habe. Jedoch hat der Film, zumindest die ersten ca. 45% davon, mehr Humor als das Buch, welche das Publikum zum Lachen gebracht haben. Am interessantesten war jedoch die Tatsache das so ziemlich der gesamte Kinosaal in tosendes Gelächter ausgebrochen ist als die Credits kamen, und somit der Film vorbei war. Dies mag an dem gesamten Film, oder an dem (zwar dem Buch treuen) ende gelegen haben, dass abrupt und unnötig überspitzt und dramatisch war.

   Das einzige womit der Film bei mir punkten konnte ist, nicht wie erwartet Christian Grey oder eher gesagt Jamie Dornan und sein aussehen, sondern der grandiose Soundtrack den dieser Film hat. Der Soundtrack enthält unter anderem zwei geniale Songs von Beyoncé, The Weeknd und auch Ellie Goulding. Die Songs passen wirklich gut zu den Szenen in denen sie gespielt wurden.

   Alles in allem hat Fifty Shades of Grey ein paar, sehr wenige, Moment die ganz gut sind dadurch wie sie gefilmt worden sind oder weil jemand etwas lustiges gesagt hat, jedoch ist der Großteil des Films einfach nur langweilig. Fifty Shades of Grey fehlt einfach das gewisse etwas und dieses gewisse funken zwischen den Hauptdarstellern welches ihre 'Beziehung' glaubhafter machen würde. Meiner Meinung nach wurde dieser Film fiel zu sehr gehypt wodurch man viel zu hohe Erwartungen an den Film hat, welche er einfach nicht erfüllen kann.

Ich gebe Fifty Shades of Grey 2 von 5 Sternen.

Review: Lovely, Dark and Deep by Amy McNamara

Lovely, Dark and Deep by Amy McNamara
Published: December 3rd 2013 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Number of Pages: 342 Pages (Paperback)
Series: No
Buy it: Book Depository
~ Free worldwide shipping ~

   Wren Wells is trying to outrun the accident that killed her boyfriend and wrecked her plants to live a normal life. Instead of going to college, she retreats to her father's isolated art studio. There, in the remote northern woods of Maine, she meets Cal Owen, a boy who wears his own hurt like a badge. But when their connection threatens Wren's hardwon isolation, she has to choose: open up her broken heart or join the ghosts who haunt her.

“So this is life. Love. We spend all this time reaching for each other and 

mostly we end up hurting each other until it's over.”

   If you are looking for an action packed, dramatic/melodramatic or romance-based novel, keep on looking because this one probably isn't what you are looking for.
   Lovely, Dark and Deep is exactly like the title. This book is really dark, due to the fact that it deals with grief and the struggle of trying to survive even in times when you think you can't do it anymore. This book is deep because of the topics discussed, the characters, especially Wren who is just such a deep and layered character it's breathtaking. And this book is lovely, but not in a necessarily delightful way, but rather because of the feeling of reality one gets from it.
   I've read a lot of books which dealt with loss and grief but many of them failed to capture the actual mindset of someone who is amidst grief and pain and facing the darkness that is life after someone you loved is dead and gone. Lovely, Dark and Deep caught that feeling and mirrored it on point. While reading I really felt like it was me who was going through what Wren was going through. All the things she felt seemed real and realistic. Nothing was overdramatized for sheer dramatic purposes. Everything that happened seemed not like fiction, not like something someone just made up, but rather like the actual thoughts and emotions of a real person grieving.

“If you slip far enough out of your life, time picks up. 

Passes in waves instead of notches. One month rolling by, then another.”

   As mentioned before, the characters in Lovely, Dark and Deep are perfect. They all seem very real, not flat at all, even those who only show up for a scene or two.
   Wren is a fantastic narrator in the sense that she tells you exactly how she feels. She doesn't try to sugarcoat any of her emotions. She feels real, fragile and raw with a beautiful poetic touch and a love for Phillip Larkin. Her personality is beautifully undefined because she herself isn't even sure anymore who she is. You can feel her panic, her confusion and just how lost she is sometimes.
   Cal was great. Despite his sickness he was there for Wren. He didn't run away when he saw that she isn't in a good place right now. He stayed no matter what and it was beautiful.
   It was beautiful to see how their relationship started to build very slowly and subtly over the course of the book, which was another thing that just made this book feel so realistic. Everything was happening very slowly, at its own pace which was appropriate for the state Wren was in at the begging and the end of the book.

“I came here because it's pine-dark and the ocean is wild. The kind of 

quiet-noise you need when there's too much going on in your head. Like 

the water and the woods are doing all the feeling, and I can hang out, quiet 

as a headstone, in a between place. A blank I can bear.”

   All in all Lovely, Dark and Deep is a book which focuses in big parts on an inner process going on inside of Wren, it focuses on her trying to deal with life and loss. It's a very poetic and raw book which captures feelings and throughts truthfully. This is easily one of my favorite books of all time and I'm sure I will return to Wren's story more than once in the future.

   I give Lovely, Dark and Deep by Amy McNamara 5 out of 5 Stars.

5 Songs I've been loving lately

   Hey guys!
   Today I want to talk about five songs I've been obsessing over lately. These are completely random songs but, I don't know if it's because of the shitty weather outside or the season itself, most of them have a sad/melancholic tone to them. 
   But, let's just get to the songs now so you'll see what I mean.


#1 - The Courage or The Fall by Civil Twilight
Album: /
Year: 2014

    I really like Civil Twilight. Their music is great so it came as no big surprise to me that I fell in love with this song. I love the tragic feel that this song has to it, and let's face it, it's a great song to write to if you are amidst a dramatic scene.

 

#2 - Break the Rules by Charli XCX
Album: Sucker
Year: 2014

    I discovered Charli XCX through The Fault in Our Stars and its amazing soundtrack. But, I admit, I didn't really dive further into her music until I heard Break the Rules on the radio and fell in love with the energy that this song has. The song immediately makes me want to jump around, break stuff and just have a good time. It's a great song to listen to when you have a not that awesome day. It'll make you feel much better really fast.

 
 
#3 - England Skies by Shake Shake Go
Album: /
Year: 2014

    The melody of England Skies is really beautiful, alongside the lyrics and the voice of the singer. It's a peaceful, evening type of song which always makes me think of happy things somehow. I stumbled upon this one while listening to a playlist on spotify, one that of course wasn't created by me, and I ended up playing it on a repeat for a while because I immediately liked this song.
 

#4 - Kommando Untergang by Anna Depenbusch
Album: Die Mathematik der Anna Depenbusch
Year: 2011

    This one is quite the surprise I'd say. I'm not a big fan or music in German, simply because I dislike the way songs sung in German sound like and the fact that I immediately understand what the lyrics mean. I know, sounds weird considering that I also understand English songs immediately but, it's just hard to explain what exactly bothers me. But, with this song it's different. I enjoy listening to it a lot and I love the lyrics and the story they tell. I love the pain filled passages and the singers voice.

 
#5 - B a noBody by SOAK
Album: /
Year: 2014

Another very nice, soft and slightly melancholic song. It reminds me of a peaceful sundown on the beach or near a lake with a soft breeze and small, soft waves. I think this would be a nice song to listen to during a summer evening.

 

   And that is it. Those are the five songs I am currently listening to almost on repeat whenever I get the chance to listen to music. If you want to, tell me which songs you are currently loving down in the comments or tweet me about it (@Alice_Reeds).

    Cheerio!

Review: Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
Published: August 5th 2014 by Atria Books
Number of Pages: 322
Series: No
Buy it: Book Depository
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   When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she doesn't think it's love at first sight. They wouldn't even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn't want love, she doesn't have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.
   Never ask about the past.
   Don't expect a future.
   They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can't handle it at all.
   Hearts get infiltrated. 
   Promises get broken.
   Rules get shattered.
   Love gets ugly. (goodreads.com)

“When life gives you lemons, make sure you know whose eyes
 you need to squeeze them in.”(Cap)

   I've heard a lot about this book, and I have heard even more about Colleen Hoover in general. Before picking up Ugly Love I've read one other book by her, which I quite enjoyed but it wasn't mind-blowing or anything. I was sceptical when I started to read Ugly Love but Chapter 1 already made me change my mind.
   This is a story which at first might remind you of movies like Friends With benefits (hated that movie) but at the end of the day this story has  way more to offer than just that.
   One thing that definitely makes this book different is the style in which some of the chapters are written. They are much more lyrical and have a beautiful prose, while the rest of the chapters are written in the typical way we are used to. Some of the chapters carried much more weight with them which was even more pronounced by the way it was written, sometimes it looked like the text was about to fall off of the page or dance from joy.
   I am a fan of stories which are not just focused on the romance itself but also on sad topics and tragic moments and all that dramatic stuff. Sure, contemporaries are in most cases aimed at making you feel happy and fluffy, but Ugly Love rather does the opposite. It makes you think about Love, it makes you think about human nature and about how certain events can change an entire person and their view on life and love.

“I wish I were in high school again so I could call him a butthole. 
Adults don't call their brothers buttholes, though.” 

   Tate was an interesting and also entertaining protagonist. She was working as a nurse and she just moved in with her brother, Corbin. Despite the fact that she knew that she shouldn't hope, she still did. She shouldn't ask but she still wanted to. I liked her, but she wasn't necessarily one of those mind blowing characters which will stay in your mind for days.
   Miles on the other hand was a fascinating character scared by what he went through with a past so horrible you wouldn't even wish your worst enemy one like that. I liked how guarded and dark he was. I really liked reading his chapters, which played six years in the past, which slowly and in a very beautiful way explained why Miles is the way he is when he met Tate.

   All in all, this book is just like the title. This book is Ugly Love and exactly what you'd expect from a contemporary with such a title. Colleen Hoover managed to spark my curiosity about Miles which kept me reading and the chapters in which Tate and Miles interacted with each other were cute and funny, though sometimes also really frustrating.
   This book was exactly what I wanted it to be and I had a great time reading it, though it took me longer then I thought it would. And it definitely gets a plus point for the awesome cover.

I give Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover 4 out of 5 Stars. 

Review: Ignite by Lily Paradis

Ignite by Lily Paradis
Published: August 26th 2014 by Empire Books
Number of Pages: 326 Pages (Paperback)
Series: Yes, #1

   After her father’s untimely demise in a mining accident and her mother’s abandonment, Lauren Lindsay is no stranger to loss. She’s used to living life for one person: herself. That is, until another family tragedy thrusts three children into her care and uproots her life in ways she could never imagine.
   Lauren's first instinct is to run, until she meets their striking, mysterious neighbor Dean Powell. Their immediate chemistry and his connection with her late father just might be enough to keep her in town long enough to uncover pieces of her past that she never had answers to. Dean’s shady past and her reluctance to trust him could cost her the life she's always been searching for, but will she run back to her old life?
   Or will she choose to stay and live the life her father always imagined for her? (goodreads)

"This was turning out to be a quick lesson in what not to do when you find out 

you've been given children as an early Christmas present." (Lauren)

   This book is an absolutely beautiful debut by author Lily Paradis. It had about anything and everything I wanted it to have and it was exactly what I needed. It also happened to be the first book I read in 2015 and it was great!
   Ignite follows Lauren Anabelle Lindsay who happens to meet the stunning Dean Powell at the DMV and, over the course of this novel, they have something wonderful going on. Besides that Lauren is also faced with the fact that her dad's wife dies unexpectedly and leaves Lauren her three kids, which of course is definitely not something Lauren expected to have to deal with at twenty one. But, she manages to handle the situation way better then I think most people would, especially at her age.
   This book is packed with twists and turns and unexpected events and it just seriously made me admire the author for managing to squeeze just so many things into these 326 pages, it's really unbelievable. But all of it was amazing and on point. Sure, it was just a tiny bit unrealistic and only a tat too sweet at times but that doesn't matter. It's perfect!

   The characters in Ignite are amazing. Lauren was a great protagonist and reading from her point of view was just really a lot of fun. She always found a way to say the right things or stay silent when needed but she also had her flaws which made her a very real, likable and strong character.

"No shit, Sherlock. It was my fault we'd been trapped by an avalanche. Who does that?

Only really, really stupid people." (Lauren)

   Dean on the other hand was flirty, witty and just all around a really fun character. His past was horrible but he grew a lot over the course of this book and, to be honest, I think every girl deserves to have a Dean in her life, despite his past.

“He was wearing glasses. Who was he, Clark Kent? No one looked this good all the time. 

It just wasn’t possible.” (Lauren about Dean)

   Even though I am not the biggest fan of kids I found the three, Chase, Emma and Callie, to be very interesting characters which never broke character and were very distinct and appropriate for their age. I didn't like Callie for a big part of the book but in the end I started to like her and Emma was just the cutest kid ever.

   All in all, Lily Paradis managed to simply craft a beautiful plot with great characters and fun dialogues which always gave you all the feels, especially toward the end of the book when all the pieces started to be put together and just this gorgeous picture opens up in front of it.
   Ignite is a great contemporary novel which I highly recommend to anyone who is up for a nice read which has it all.

   I give Ignite by Lily Paradis 5 out of 5 stars.

December Wrap Up

   Hey guys!
   December is gone and I must admit it was yet another not very reading heavy month for me. I don't even understand why. I got so many books yet I couldn't really get myself to sit down and just read. But then again there was Christmas and New Year's Eve and all that fun stuff you spend with your family and friends, rather than with a book.
   Book of the Month is definitely The Martian by Andy Weir because it was just such a different and unique read unlike anything I have ever read before.

Books read:

• Killing Sarai by J.D. Redmerski [5 Stars]
• Zeznania Niekrytego Krytyka by Maciej Faczyk [5 Stars]
• The Martian by Andy Weir [5 Pirate-Ninjas]

Books acquired:

• Zeznania Kiekrytego Krytyka by Maciej Fraczyk
• Let It Snow by John Green, Lauren Miracle and Maureen Johnson [Polish edition]
• Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi
• The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason
• Sins & Needles by Karina Halle
• There is no Light in Darkness by Claire Contreras
• Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
• The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin [Hardcover]
• Make up: Your Life Guide to Beauty, Style and Success Online and Offline by Michelle Phan
• The Martian by Andy Weir
• My True Love Gave To Me by 12 Authors
• The Aftermath by Jen Alexander
• Lovely, Deep and Dark by Amy McNamara
• Across the Universe by Beth Revis
• Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
• The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

~ In Progress ~

• The Aftermath by Jen Alexander [42%]

   And that is it. These are all the books I read and acquired in the last month of 2014. For 2015 I am hoping to read at least 55 books, simply because I managed 58 this year while having way less time then I will have in 2015 (probably). I hope to read more diverse books and break out of my usual reading comfort zone. Pick up more fantasy and also many something from the historical fiction genre. Let's be brave!

   Cheerio and have a good one!