Book Review #778 - Grim Crims and Convicts 1788 -1820 (Fair Dinkum Histories #2) by Jackie French

I read this book for the 2018 Popsugar Reading Challenge to read a book relating to your ancestry. I'm an amateur genealogist and so far have discovered three convict ancestors.

I shamefully did not know that much about the settlement of New South Wales at all. I am from Western Australia and we have a strong convict history ourselves and so that is what I learnt in school.

I've said this many times before but I love history books aimed at children because they are packed full of information but at the same time are told in such a fun and entertaining way.

There was a small mention of the Launceston settlement which I loved because that was where 2 of my convict ancestors (my 3x great grandparents) were sent.

I would definitely recommend this book to Australians wanting to learn Australian history in an effortless way or any fans of Horrible Histories and this is most definitely the Aussie version of that.

Book Review #777 - To All the Boys I've Loved Before (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #1) by Jenny Han

Lara Jean's love life is about to go from imaginary to out of control.

Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her - one for every boy she's ever loved. She can say anything she wants, because the letters are for her eyes only. Until the day they're sent out …

My Rating: 4.5/5

I went into this book with relatively high expectations especially through all the extra hype it has been receiving lately due to the Netflix movie.

I always thought the plot was a little juvenile which has been what has deterred me from picking it up earlier and whilst this was something that I did think whilst reading, I was easily able to overlook this.

My favourite aspect in this book was the family dynamics especially between Lara Jean and her sisters. I don't have any sisters but their relationship seemed real and was the soul of the story.

I was actually a little disappointed that Margot left for a majority of the novel as I just loved the Song sisters' chemistry with one another.

Kitty was a fun character to read. She made up for Lara Jean's somewhat boring personality and her book long quest to get a dog was very similar to my brothers years ago.

I never really connected to Lara Jean all that much. I found her rather boring and was overshadowed by the much more colourful supporting characters. Although I definitely related to her when it came to being an introvert and the abundance of Harry Potter references. 

I can potentially foresee this series developing a love triangle which I really do not want to see especially as I liked neither Peter nor Josh.

Peter was too arrogant and took a little too much joy in making Lara Jean uncomfortable. 

Josh on the other hand was too mopey and was always looking for attention and validation. 

Overall though I am really happy with how the book ended up and am hoping that Margot is more present in future books.

Book Review #776 - Hive (Hive #1) by A.J. Betts

All I can tell you is what I remember, in the words that I have.

Hayley tends to her bees and follows the rules in the only world she has ever known.

Until she witnesses the impossible: a drip from the ceiling.

A drip? It doesn't make sense.

Yet she hears it, catches it. Tastes it.

Curiosity is a hook.

What starts as a drip leads to a lie, a death, a boy, a beast, and too many awful questions.

My Rating: 2/5

I had to read this book for a book club and as an added bonus being a local author, A.J. Betts came and spoke to us about the book as well.

Firstly, the book pitched to me was not the book that I had expected to read. I was told it was a story about a girl living in an underwater city and not knowing that until she one day finds a leak.

Instead, the book was an underdeveloped utopian story that was more confusing than anything else.

I really would have liked more world building as I think what was delivered was interesting just massively underdeveloped.

Book Review #775 - The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

How do you stop a murder that’s already happened?

At a gala party thrown by her parents, Evelyn Hardcastle will be killed--again. She's been murdered hundreds of times, and each day, Aiden Bishop is too late to save her. Doomed to repeat the same day over and over, Aiden's only escape is to solve Evelyn Hardcastle's murder and conquer the shadows of an enemy he struggles to even comprehend--but nothing and no one are quite what they seem.

Deeply atmospheric and ingeniously plotted, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a highly original debut that will appeal to fans of Kate Atkinson and Agatha Christie.

My Rating: 4/5

I am not the biggest crime fiction reader especially when it comes to adult crime fiction.

I saw this book in an airport bookstore and the title and synopsis intrigued me so I borrowed it from my local library when I returned home.

Firstly, this book is wholly unique. I can guarantee I have not read any book anything like it before and being written by a debut author makes this even more amazing.

The writing style was rather basic but considering the complexity of the plot as the book progresses this was most definitely a positive thing.

Book Review #775 - Zac and Mia by A.J. Betts

When I was little I believed in Jesus and Santa, spontaneous combustion, and the Loch Ness monster. Now I believe in science, statistics, and antibiotics.

So says seventeen-year-old Zac Meier during a long, grueling leukemia treatment in Perth, Australia. A loud blast of Lady Gaga alerts him to the presence of Mia, the angry, not-at-all-stoic cancer patient in the room next door. Once released, the two near-strangers can’t forget each other, even as they desperately try to resume normal lives. The story of their mysterious connection drives this unflinchingly tough, tender novel told in two voices.

My Rating: 3/5

This book was written by a local author and is actually also set in my home city which I had mixed feelings about.

On the one hand, I loved the fact that I knew all the places that were mentioned but on the other hand as I knew the settings really well I could tell when the story moved outside of Perth to regional Western Australia not much research was obviously done.

Plot wise on the surface this book seems like an Aussie version of The Fault in Our Stars but whilst the characters in TFIOS seem much older than their teenage years, Zac and Mia felt very much like the adolescents they are.

I really enjoyed this book and I finished it in one day and the only real negative thing I can think of is that I didn't like the open ended way the book finished.

Book Review #774 - Road to Riverdale Vol 3 (Road to Riverdale) by Mark Waid, Chip Zdarsky, Marguerite Bennett, Adam Hughes and Fiona Staples

In the past two years, the little town of Riverdale has changed in a number of amazing ways. The entire Archie universe has been given a fresh coat of paint and it's only getting bigger and better from here. Road to Riverdale presents to readers all of the third issues of each of our new series so far, including Archie, Jughead, Betty and Veronica, Josie and the Pussycats, and Reggie & Me. This graphic novel features riveting stories and dazzling artwork from superstar writers and artists like Mark Waid, Adam Hughes, Marguerite Bennett, Fiona Staples, Chip Zdarsky and much more. You won't want to miss out on this one-of-a-kind collection that shines the spotlight on the New Riverdale, and serves as the ultimate guide for both new readers and long-time fans.

My Rating: 3/5

There is not much else I can say about this book that I haven't already said in my reviews of the first and second volumes in this series other than I hope they make more of these and in the meantime I might try and pick up some of the original Archie comics.

Book Review #773 - Black by Fleur Ferris

Ebony Marshall is in her final year of high school. Five months, two weeks and four days . . . She can't wait to leave the town where she's known only as ‘Black'. Because of her name, of course. But for another reason, too. 

Everyone says Black Marshall is cursed. 

Three of her best friends have died in tragic accidents. After Oscar, the whispers started. Now she's used to being on her own. It's easier that way. 

But when her date for the formal ends up in intensive care, something in quiet little Dainsfield starts to stir. Old secrets are revealed and terrifying new dangers emerge. 

If only Black could put all the pieces together, she could work out who her real enemies are. Should she run for her life, or stay and fight?

My Rating: 4.5/5

I read this book over a weekend and if you knew how amazing that is for me you would go and immediately pick this book up. I am a massive sports fan and so weekends are no time for me to pick up a book let alone read an entire one.

Given the author's background as a policewoman and paramedic I find her fascinating as an author especially given she writes about topics she obviously has experienced in some capacity in her careers.

Although her first book Risk was based upon real events more than this one.

This book follows teenage outcast Ebony who after the deaths of a few of her friends the town believe she is cursed and has the devil inside her.

There were times throughout where I wondered whether this book was going to take a supernatural twist but once again it proved that humans are scarier than any other monsters out there.

Ebony was really relatable as she felt very authentic and the way she dealt with her situation felt very believable and likely what I would have done in the same situation.