We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han Book Review!

 

Title: We'll Always Have Summer (Summer #3)
Author: Jenny Han
Publish Date: April 26th, 2011
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Source: Taken from my sister's bookshelf!

It's been two years since Conrad told Belly to go with Jeremiah. She and Jeremiah have been inseparable ever since, even attending the same college—only, their relationship hasn't exactly been the happily ever after Belly had hoped it would be. And when Jeremiah makes the worst mistake a boy can make, Belly is forced to question what she thought was true love. Does she really have a future with Jeremiah? Has she ever gotten over Conrad? It's time for Belly to decide, once and for all, who has her heart forever.

Penelope's Review

This is it. The end of summer... Ugh I was crying at the end of this book simply because it's all over. And I am sad. BUT that won't stop me from writing a glowing review for this fantastic book! Because it really was... this whole series just touches something special in my heart. I can't quite put into words what it means... but it just brings all of my hopes and dreams and way of looking at life as a 16 year old kid right to the forefront and I love it. Sigh. Anyway let's get on with it!

So in this book we have fast-forwarded by two years and Belly is in her first year of college! Despite the way the second book ended, this book starts with Belly and Jeremiah together. I am firmly Team Conrad so I was a little miffed at this development lol! But I like the back and forth in the timeline so that we slowly piece together what happened between Belly and Conrad and how Belly and Jeremiah ended up together. The whole book is an absolute whirlwind of emotions, and we get so much from the love triangle that we haven't previously seen. It was all so, so epic.

The writing is great, as per usual. As I've said in previous reviews, I really like how Jenny Han is able to channel the reality of characters at the age she writes them. In other words, it doesn't sound like an adult trying to speak college freshman... it just sounds like a college freshman! Overall, this is such a fantastic book and an even more fantastic series. I love the twists and turns this book takes, and I'm happy with the ending, though of course sad that it's over. The great thing abut summer though, is that even though it always comes to an end... there's always another summer right around the corner.

Rating: 5/5 Devils!

It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han Book Review!

 

Title: It's Not Summer Without You (Summer #2)
Author: Jenny Han
Publish Date: April 27th, 2010
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Source: Taken from my little sister's bookshelf!

Belly finds out what comes after falling in love in this follow-up to The Summer I Turned Pretty from the New York Times bestselling author of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (soon to be a major motion picture!), Jenny Han.

Can summer be truly summer without Cousins Beach?

It used to be that Belly counted the days until summer, until she was back at Cousins Beach with Conrad and Jeremiah. But not this year. Not after Susannah got sick again and Conrad stopped caring. Everything that was right and good has fallen apart, leaving Belly wishing summer would never come.

But when Jeremiah calls saying Conrad has disappeared, Belly knows what she must do to make things right again. And it can only happen back at the beach house, the three of them together, the way things used to be. If this summer really and truly is the last summer, it should end the way it started—at Cousins Beach.

Penelope's Review

Belly's story continues in this second installment to the Summer trilogy! I absolutely ADORED the first book, so I dove right into the second one with high hopes! Happy to report that I was definitely NOT disappointed. 

Everything has changed. This book is so full of emotion, both happy and sad. Belly is starting to grow up, though she's still a bit immature. Again, her character stays true to her age and I was once again struck by how relatable she is! I loved getting to know her even more and going on such an emotional roller coaster alongside her lol! I don't know if I said this in my review of the first book but I am Team Conrad! Yes, yes I know he strings Belly along a bit but... I just get him! He's this tough, keep everything inside kind of guy but really he's a little mushball that's so helplessly in love! SWOON! When Conrad goes missing, Belly jumps at the chance to face him again and see where she stands. I loved this whole storyline honestly, despite missing Susanna like crazy! 

We also get to see some chapters in Jeremiah's point of view which was SUPER exciting! Despite being Team Conrad, I love Jeremiah's character! I think he's so fun and sweet and it was great getting to see into his head. My heart wishes for some Conrad POV but that's ok lol.

I still love Jenny Han's writing style - it's clean, simple, and relatable. She's really great with characters, and making them sound exactly like real kids. Overall, this was such a great addition to the series and I am both over the moon excited and sad to read the last book in the trilogy next!

Rating: 5/5 Devils!

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han Book Review!

 

Title: The Summer I Turned Pretty (Summer #1)
Author: Jenny Han
Publish Date: May 5th, 2009
Publisher: Simon Schuster
Source: Taken from my little sister's bookshelf lol

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer—they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

Penelope's Review

Omigosh! This is such a fun, nostalgic summer read! I'm so glad I've started this series! With the TV show releasing Friday, I decided to read the books before delving into the show and I'm so happy I did.

Isabel AKA Belly is our main female lead, and she spends every summer at Cousins Beach with her mom, brother, her mom's friend Susannah and her two sons, Conrad and Jeremiah. Belly is such a relatable girl! She's fifteen, turning sixteen and has the maturity level that I would expect for a girl her age. That is hands down the best thing about this book - the fact that every character acts their age (in my opinion) and I could 100% see myself in these situations reacting the exact same way. It just made me feel... young again! Granted, I'm saying this at age 27 LOL but still! You get what I mean if you read this :)

I loved Conrad and Jeremiah. As brothers, we get to see the good and the bad - the protective side of one, the adoration from the other, the arguments expected of a pair of teenage boys, and so on. They are both so, so different personality wise, and yet I loved them both!

Plot wise, this story is full of love and heartache, innocent fun, and a summer full of adventure! It hits every nerve, it'll have you laughing one page and crying the next, you'll relate to Belly and her struggles with first love.... I really just can't say enough good things about it. AND the writing is great!!! I cannot stress this enough - it DOES NOT sound like an adult trying to write a 16 year old... it just sounds like a 16 year old! That's one of my favourite aspects because I can't stand it when a book features a young girl and it's written the way an author THINKS a girl that age would speak. This one just flows naturally. Highly recommend to readers any age!

Rating: 5/5 Devils!

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas Book Review!

 

Title: A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOTAR #3)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publish Date: May 2nd, 2017
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Source: Purchased my own copy!

FEYRE WILL BRING VENGEANCE.

She has left the Night Court - and her High Lord - and is playing a deadly game of deceit. In the Spring Court, Tamlin is making deals with the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees, and Feyre is determined to uncover his plans. But to do so she must weave a web of lies, and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.

As mighty armies grapple for power, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords - and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

BUT WHILE WAR RAGES, IT IS HER HEART THAT WILL FACE THE GREATEST BATTLE.

Penelope's Review

Wow... yet another 5 star read. That's three for three with this series lol! Usually, even with a really fantastic series, I find that there's a 4 star in there somewhere.. but so far these books are KILLING it. I will say that I was a little iffy at the start - it was a bit on the slow side, and I felt myself going into "meh..." mode.. and then BOOM. Book saved lol. 

So this book is all about the battle - Hybern's forces are ready to go and the good guys are struggling to get a leg up. Alot of strategy, war talk, etc. in this one (and mayyyybbeeee it couldv'e been a slightly shorter book) but I'm still happy with it! Feyre is her usual strong, independent, badass self. Rhysand is sweet, loyal, and willing to sacrifice anything and everything to save his family. And then we have all of our LOVELY side characters - Nesta and Elain, Mor, Cassian, and Azriel, Amren and Lucien, and so on. I love that Maas has so many characters and yet each and every one of them is so distinct and unique. I never struggle to recall someone's name or their purpose - I know them all and love all of their different personalities.

In terms of plot, there is SO MUCH that goes on in this book... obviously I won't go into detail to avoid spoilers (for all of the readers who are late to the game like me lol!) but I'l just say that the revelations and twists and turns this book takes are INSANE. The last half of this book is definitely a page-turner. We don't leave off on any kind of cliff-hanger so I actually wasn't sure where this series was going, but it looks like we are switching gears in the next book and Nesta is taking center stage! I'm SO excited to get into her head lol I feel like she's going to be such a dynamic character. Anyway! This book was amazing, this series is amazing, and I will forever be a Sarah J. Maas fan. See you guys for the next one!

Rating: 5/5 Devils!

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas Book Review!

 

Title: A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOTAR #2)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publish Date: May 3rd, 2016
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Source: Purchased my own copy!

Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

Penelope's Review

OMG. I literally can't even with this series.... I thought the first book was good. Great. Fantastic even! But this book? This book blows the first book out of the water! Holy shit it has everything I need and want in a book - absolutely amazing characters, great plot, great writing, adventure, growth, romance, tension, and so on. You name it, this book has it! Yet again, I come here to say - Sarah J. Maas is so NOT overrated in my opinion. This series deserves ALL the hype.

So let's start with characters. I am LOVING Feyre yet again here - the growth, the maturity, the range of emotions... all so, so good. She really comes into her own here, realizing who she is, what she wants, and what she needs. Yes, she has some help in getting there but she does most of the grunt work. Honestly, when the inevitable Feyre/Rhys drama unfolded (you know, the scene where the main couple discovers something about the other that makes them storm away and stop speaking to the other) I was like oh here we go. Another completely over-dramatic, unrealistic way of handling things. But it DIDN'T TURN OUT LIKE THAT! Feyre realized what he had done wrong, and realized what she had done wrong, and was just so completely adult about the whole thing! I loved the maturity, it just made the conflict seem so much more realistic.

Rhysand... oh Rhys. I am a die-hard fan. Forever and always. I thought I was Team Tamlin... though I did have some doubts even in the first book... but now I'm like Tamlin who??? GIVE ME RHYS! And we get Rhys.... boy oh boy do we ever get Rhys... SUCH a well-written character. Honestly, he's just so perfect. Ugh, I love it. 

And all of our side characters? I genuinely love every single one. They are all so MEMORABLE! Which is really rare honestly, usually I only really remember the main characters and maybe one or two supporting characters... but this book gives stellar qualities to each and every one of them. Mor, Cassian, Azriel, Lucien, Amren, etc. There's so many characters and yet they are all written really well. I think Maas' strength really lies in her ability to write excellent characters!

Anyway, in terms of plot - amazing. I FLEW through this book, not a signle page had me slowing down, or bored in any way. I needed to know what was going to happen next at ALL times. And that ending?! Dear God I didn't even know what to do with myself... so I picked up ACOWAR and kept reading lmao! But seriously, I can't say enough good things about this. Excellent series, only two books in and already taking a spot in my top 5 faves.

Rating: 5/5 Devils!

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas Book Review!

 

Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR #1)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publish Date: May 5th, 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury 
Source: Purchased my own copy!

Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price ...

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.

Penelope's Review

Why did I wait 7 years to start this series you may be asking? Well firstly because I didn't know it existed until about 2 years ago and secondly because I was then convinced that it could not possibly live up to the hype. I was so... so wrong. This is very quickly turning into one of my favorite series (I am halfway through the second book as I write this review lol). 

So we have Feyre, a badass 19 year old who hunts out of necessity to feed her family, though what she'd really like to be doing is painting! She and her family, as well as most of the mortal world holds a deep hatred for faeries who live on the other side of the wall. When Feyre murders a faerie in the shape of a wolf one day, Tamlin comes to collect her and bring her to the Spring Court to live out the rest of her days as a sort of payment for killing one of their own. 

Phew... the drama gets so, so good from there on out lol! I absolutely adore Feyre - I think she's smart, sarcastic, and totally relatable. And Tamlin was also right up there for me - he's sexy, yet reserved, and has this control to him that's so much fun to watch come undone. I really liked these two - loved the buildup and tension between them, loved the eventual passion, and loved the loyalty and dedication. 

The plot itself was also great - I really liked the Beauty and the Beast ties, and loved the action and fast pace. I will say that when it came to a particular riddle... I found it really easy to solve which kind of took away a bit of the fun. But overall, this was just a really great read. I also really enjoyed the side characters - Amarantha was evil and badass, a fantastic villain really. Alis was sweet, and I liked her role. And then there was Rhysand. Boy oh boy am I excited to see more of him. I really and truly don't know who I prefer - Rhysand or Tamlin. I loved them both. Looking forward to finishing the second book and seeing where all of this goes!

Rating: 5/5 Devils!

Defy Me by Tahereh Mafi Book Review

 

Title: Defy Me (Shatter Me #5)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Publish Date: April 2nd, 2019
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Purchased a copy for myself!

The gripping fifth installment in the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling Shatter Me series. Will Juliette’s broken heart make her vulnerable to the strengthening darkness within her?

Juliette’s short tenure as the supreme commander of North America has been an utter disaster. When the children of the other world leaders show up on her doorstep, she wants nothing more than to turn to Warner for support and guidance. But he shatters her heart when he reveals that he’s been keeping secrets about her family and her identity from her—secrets that change everything.

Juliette is devastated, and the darkness that’s always dwelled within her threatens to consume her. An explosive encounter with unexpected visitors might be enough to push her over the edge.

Penelope's Review

Holy. My mind can't even cope with all of these revelations and twists and turns and surprises. Seriously. This series is INSANE. Literally insane. This time around, the book is told from Juliette, Warner, and Kenji's point of view!! So exciting! I have loved Kenji from the moment we first met him and it was so fantastic to get some time exploring his inner thoughts.

This book is just mind-blowing. Seriously. Despite learning about some things in Restore Me, I still didn't see everything we learned in Defy Me coming. I finished this book in a day, which is both exciting and sad because I only have one book left in the series. I hope this all ends well.

Also, I absolutely adored the ending to this book. Everything about it was absolute perfection. There's really not much more I can say about this without giving anything away so I'll leave it here. I will say that I found this book an amazing addition to the series and  my fingers are crossed so hard that the last book brings me just as much excitement and ends the series in a good way.

Rating: 5/5 Devils!

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi Book Review

 

Title: Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Publish Date: February 4th, 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Purchased a copy for myself!

With Omega Point destroyed, Juliette doesn’t know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But that won’t keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world . . . but that’s not all he wants with her.

Penelope's Review

Tahereh Mafi has not ceased to amaze me. Unlike some series, the Shatter Me series seems to get BETTER with each installment that comes out. I'm not bored, I'm not slowing down, I just want more. And more. AND MORE. So if you've read my reviews for Shatter Me and/or Unravel Me then you know that I started this series back in high school - I thought that I read the first three but I can say with almost 100% certainty that I have never read this book before. Which is amazing. Because I did not know what was going to happen, and everything. Was. EPIC. Ignite Me brings stronger character development, brilliant writing, and what is quickly becoming my favorite love story of all time. 

Now because I am obviously reading and reviewing this book in 2022, I am well aware that the series does not end with this book as it was originally supposed to. Therefore, it's a bit difficult for me to say how I feel about the ending if it had been the finale. I think I would have been satisfied, but also sad that Juliette and Warner's story had come to an end. I think I would have felt like I didn't have enough time with them you know what I mean? But thankfully, it is 2022 and I've already got the fourth book flipped to the front page, ready to go! 😂 So moving on!

Juliette is BADASS in this book. Like holy smokes where did all this confidence come from?! I am LIVING for it. I have always loved Juliette as a character - but I think she was portrayed perfectly in this book. Her journey has been written in such a way that I feel like I've grown with her, and I love that connection. Warner has become front and center in my eyes. The man can do no wrong. Seriously. If he wants to kill someone in the name of protecting me... go for it. I will forever be in love with him. I love his love for Juliette. It's just so... raw and powerful. The kind of love every girl deserves. I look forward to seeing where this relationship goes, and how it grows. 

Once again, we have an outstanding storyline. Once again, I was not bored for a second. And once again, I flew threw the pages in a matter of a day or two. There is just something about this world, and these characters, that Tahereh has poured her heart and soul into that has me feeling all sorts of ways. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - amazing author, amazing writing skills, amazing stories. I hope the next three books bring just as much passion and strength as this book has and as the previous two have. 10/10 recommend this series to those both young and old.

Rating: 5/5 Devils!