Review: Wreck by Fleur Ferris

Publication:  July 3rd 2017 by Random House Australia

Source: Purchased

Goodreads description: Tamara Bennett is going to be the first journalist to strictly report only good news. Finished with high school, Tamara is ready to say goodbye to her sleepy little town and part-time job at the local paper. O-weeks awaits, which means parties, cute boys and settling into student res with her best friend Relle. Things take an unexpected turn, however, when she arrives home to find her house ransacked and her life in danger. What is this mysterious note? And why does it mean so much to one of Australia's most powerful media moguls? Caught between a bitter rivalry and dangerous family secret, who can Tamara trust? Or should she trust herself?

---

I loved this book so much! Fleur Ferris is an auto-buy author for me and Wreck was one of my most anticipated 2017 releases. My expectations were set pretty high and this book did not disappoint! I loved the action filled plot, the mystery and the suspense. The story had me from the first page and I hated any time I was forced to put the book down.

I'm Australian and I loved that this book was set in Australia, as it's something that I come across quite rarely. Actually knowing of some of the places in Sydney and Melbourne that were mentioned enhanced my reading experience and enjoyment of the book.

I found Tamara's character and situation to be very relatable, as I've experienced the exciting yet terrifying transition from finishing high school to starting university. She was also quite resilient and determined, which was admirable considering that her friends had been targeted and she was next.

I liked the mystery behind Zel and Knox and the fact that I was kept constantly second guessing about who the bad guy was. But I am happy that I worked it out before everything was revealed.

Overall this was a fantastic thriller suspense novel by a brilliant YA author. I gave it a 5/5 rating and highly recommend it.

Review: No Virgin by Anne Cassidy

Expected Publication: November 3rd 2016 by Hot Key Books

Source: I received a free copy of this book from Hot Key Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads description: A raw, powerful, moving tale about a girl attempting to deal with the aftermath of a sexual attack.

My name is Stacey Woods and I was raped.

Stacey is the victim of a terrible sexual attack. She does not feel able to go to the police, or talk about it to anybody other than her best friend, Patrice. Patrice, outraged, when she cannot persuade her to go to the police, encourages Stacey to write everything down. This is Stacey's story.

A tautly told and important book, perfect for readers of Asking for It by Louise O'Neill.

---

As soon as I read the synopsis I was interested in reading this story. The topic of rape and sexual assault is such an important one that more people need to be made aware of. This is a shorter book so it was a very quick read for me. The pacing was excellent and the story pulled me in to the point where I didn’t want to put the book down.

However, I did find it difficult to relate to the characters, which is where the book was a little bit of a let down for me. While I sympathised with her situation, I just found Stacey to be very unlikeable. She acted childish and immature at times, had a tendency to overreact in certain situations and showed extremely poor judgement in trusting a complete stranger!

I also have mixed feelings about the ending. While a part of me thought that it was probably a fitting ending to this short book, a bigger part of me was left feeling unsatisfied at the end because I still had so many unanswered questions about how things ultimately turned out.

Despite that though, I still feel like it is an important book to read, particularly for teenagers because it depicts just how easily young girls can find themselves in a vulnerable position where they could end up a victim of sexual assault. The aftermath of the assault also felt like a very accurate portrayal of the victim’s feelings of shame, self blame, self doubt over whether it was her fault or not and why so many rapes go unreported to the police.

Overall, I gave this book a 3 out of 5 rating. While I had perhaps been expecting a little bit more from this book, I thought that the author did a great job in giving a realistic portrayal of the difficult but important subject of sexual assault, particularly within the shorter page length.

Review: The Cabin by Natasha Preston

Expected Publication: September 6th 2016 by Sourcebooks Fire

Source: I received a free copy of this book from Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads description: There may only be one killer, but no one is innocent in this new thriller from Natasha Preston, author of The Cellar and Awake.

When Mackenzie treks to a secluded cabin in the woods with six friends, she expects a fun weekend of partying, drinking, and hookups. But when they wake to find two of their own dead and covered in blood, it's clear there's a killer among them.

As the police try to unravel the case, Mackenzie launches her own investigation. Before long secrets start to emerge, revealing a sinister web of sins among the original seven friends. The killer is still free. Every one of them is a suspect. And Mackenzie starts to realize that no one is innocent…

---

This was a super quick read which is exactly what I want from a mystery thriller novel. It ended up being much more dark and twisted than I was expecting, which I was fine with for the most part, but there were some disturbing things that just made me uncomfortable. I was drawn into the book, but rather than being captivated by the story, the main motivation for me to keep reading was that I just wanted to know who the killer was.

I did have some problems with the characters. They were all at least 18 but they seemed younger than that from the immature way that they were portrayed. It seemed like all they wanted to do was get drunk, do drugs and sleep around, which isn’t exactly a good message to send out. I found it very difficult to connect with the characters, and for the most part, they were just very unlikeable. I can appreciate that no one is perfect and that their flaws make them more realistic, but they just said and did things that I didn’t like. And it only got worse as the book went on and each of their deep dark secrets were revealed. Some said horrible, despicable things while others did morally questionable and possibly criminal acts.

I did like that I was continually kept guessing as to who the murderer actually was. I’d decided who the killer wasn’t early on in the book but I was always second guessing myself when it came to who it was. I didn’t know who to trust and I actually didn’t work it out in the end and I definitely did not see those twists coming.

However I really wasn’t a fan of the ending. It just came out of nowhere and left on a cliffhanger which I do not cope well with. I like to have some kind of closure and now I’m forever going to be wondering what ultimately happened in the end.

Overall, I gave this book a 3 out of 5 rating. The plot sounded very intriguing and had the potential to be great. While it definitely wasn’t the worst book I’ve read, I do have to say that there are YA mystery thrillers I’ve read that I enjoyed more than this one. 

Review: One Was Lost by Natalie D. Richards

Expected publication: October 4th 2016 by Sourcebooks Fire

Source: I received a free copy of this book from Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads description: Damaged. Deceptive. Dangerous. Darling. Are they labels or a warning? The answer could cost Sera everything.

Murder, justice, and revenge were so not a part of the plan when Sera set out on her senior camping trip. After all, hiking through the woods is supposed to be safe and uneventful.

Then one morning the group wakes up groggy, confused, and with words scrawled on their wrists: Damaged. Deceptive. Dangerous. Darling. Their supplies? Destroyed. Half their group? Gone. Their chaperone? Unconscious. Worst of all, they find four dolls acting out a murder—dolls dressed just like them.

Suddenly it's clear; they're being hunted. And with the only positive word on her wrist, Sera falls under suspicion…

---

This was a fantastic YA mystery thriller. From the moment I started reading it was one of those books that I just couldn’t put down because I had to know what happened next. The writing and the description was great and actually made me feel like I was lost out in the woods as well! The mystery and suspense of it was very well written and this book definitely had the creepy factor needed for a mystery thriller.

It was extremely fast paced, which is exactly what I like to read! I was on edge the entire time I was reading it and the author did such a convincing job of leading us in the wrong direction that I didn’t even suspect who was behind it all until it was revealed. It continually had me second guessing myself over who could and couldn’t be trusted.

The characters were also pretty likeable (most of them). I was a bit unsure at the start because everyone was a suspect but I ended up really liking them. I do wish we had seen more of Madison and Hayley though, but they were separated from the group at the beginning. 

I also liked the romance as well. There was already a bit of history between the two characters, so I didn’t really consider that to be instalove. I could understand why some people would feel like the romance does take over the story in places, but I liked the characters and I liked them together, so I was okay with that. Although, I did think it was kind of a weird situation to be rekindling that romance, lost in the woods with a crazed psychopath on the loose probably isn’t the best time to be concerned with your love life.

One issue that I did have was that I found the whole situation with Sera’s mother to be confusing and I still don’t really know what happened. I feel like this part could have been left out as it wasn’t necessary to the story and the romance still would have worked without it.

I did feel that it started to drag a little towards the very end, because they were so close to making it out of there and it was just one thing after another that kept hindering that and I just wanted to see them to get out alive already!

I also think that the reason or explanation for why those particular teens were targeted could have been developed more. The reveal happens but there’s too much going on at that moment and then the story kind of just moves on from there.

I did like how things ended though. It was a little open ended, but I was still left feeling satisfied with how everything left off in the end. Overall I gave it a 4 out of 5 rating and I would recommend this book if you’re looking for a great and entertaining mystery thriller. 

Review: Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

Publication: October 7th 2014 by Simon & Schuster

Source: Purchased

Goodreads description:

Britt Phieffer has never been that adventurous, but that's about to change. Wanting to impress her ex-boyfriend, Britt convinces best friend, Korbie, to take a trip with her and go trekking through the Grand Teton Mountains in Wyoming. But when a freak storm leaves the girls stranded they seek shelter in a cabin, and find two knights in shining armour, Shaun and Mason, who are also hiding out.

But all is not as it seems, and Britt quickly discovers that the guys are there for reasons other than hiking…dangerous reasons that mean they need to get off the mountain, fast. In exchange for her life, Britt is forced to guide them down, and as they set out on a harrowing journey through the cold and snow, Britt realises the only way to get out of this alive is to pretend she is on their side.

But playing nice is hard, especially when Britt is unsure whether Mason, gorgeous and sexy, is the enemy or an ally. And as she begins to lose track of who is in control it is only a matter of time before things turn deadly…

---

This was a book that I kept putting off reading because I hadn't heard the greatest things about it. However the synopsis did grab my attention and kept me interested in reading it. I went into it not expecting too much and while the book wasn't particularly spectacular, I did really enjoy it. I loved the setting and the author did an excellent job of creating the terrifying situation where if the psychopathic murderer doesn't kill you, then the harsh and unforgiving weather will get you instead.

The plot was fairly predictable and I had the plot twists worked out well before they were revealed. However I liked the mystery and suspense and the way that the author still managed to make me second guess myself at times. There were points where the book felt like it was dragging but it was still captivating enough that I didn't want to put the book down because I needed to know what was going to happen next and if my suspicions were correct.

I wasn't really a fan of the characters either. The main character Britt was likeable enough, and I really admired her survival instincts but she just did and said some stupid things at times which was frustrating.

The romance aspect also could have been handled better so that it was more believable. While I was okay with the epilogue and how things ended, the romance was just one of the most ridiculous instances of instalove that I have read.

Not everything about the plot was entirely believable and there were some unanswered questions I had at the end, but overall I really enjoyed this book and I gave it a 4/5 rating. Pick this one up if you’re looking for a good YA mystery thriller. 

Review: The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

Publication: May 3rd 2016 by Simon & Schuster

Source: Purchased

Goodreads description:

Andie had it all planned out.

When you are a politician’s daughter who’s pretty much raised yourself, you learn everything can be planned or spun, or both. Especially your future.

Important internship? Check.

Amazing friends? Check.

Guys? Check (as long as we’re talking no more than three weeks).

But that was before the scandal. Before having to be in the same house with her dad. Before walking an insane number of dogs. That was before Clark and those few months that might change her whole life.

Because here’s the thing—if everything’s planned out, you can never find the unexpected.

And where’s the fun in that? 

---

Morgan Matson is one of my favourite YA contemporary authors and after reading all three of her novels in 2015, I had such high expectations for The Unexpected Everything and I was hoping that I wouldn’t be disappointed. Especially after such a long wait for it to be published! I needn’t have worried though because it was exactly what I had been wanting and hoping for from a Morgan Matson book.

I will say that this book focused a lot more on the characters and their relationships and felt like it was much less plot driven than her previous books. That may have been the reason why it took a little bit for me to really get pulled into the book right at the start. I was expecting to just love it immediately and that didn’t happen, but it certainly turned out to be an amazing read.

However, that allowed for a lot more character development and growth throughout the book, which was something that I loved. The main character Andie definitely had some emotional issues that she needed to work through rather than always shutting down and running because she was scared. Andie could be such a frustrating character at times, but by the end of the book she had definitely matured and learned a lot about who she is in the process. I really enjoyed seeing Andie’s personal growth and the change in her at the end.

I also loved the strong emphasis on relationships in this book. Not just romantic relationships between a boyfriend and girlfriend, but also the bond between a parent and child and family relationships. I really liked seeing the change in the family dynamic between Andie and her father throughout the novel. Also, this book featured one of the best female friendship groups I have come across. That’s not to say there wasn’t drama and conflict within the group though, because there definitely was.

And how can I not mention Clark? He’s probably too good to be true in real life, but he was just about the perfect fictional boyfriend. He has a successful career as a fantasy novelist, he’s sweet, respectful and can also charm the parents. What more could you want? 

Also, the dogs! They were such a big part of the storyline and I loved that the author took the time to develop their personalities just as she did with the human characters. 

The one small issue that I had was that the book had such long chapters accompanied with small font. This is purely just my own personal preference but I don’t like the combination of long chapters with tiny font. It didn’t change how I felt about the story itself, but the formatting just seemed to make the book drag out a little, even though I still read it pretty quickly.

Overall I ended up loving this book and Morgan Matson proves once again why she is the queen of summery YA contemporary romances and why she is one of my auto buy authors. I give it a 5/5 rating and would definitely recommend to read it if you’re a fan of this genre. However I do suggest to read her books in publication order because characters from the previous books appear again in the later ones.  

Review: Confess by Colleen Hoover

 

Publication: March 10th 2015 by Atria Books

Source: Purchased

Goodreads description:

Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there’s no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a risk and puts her heart in control, only to discover Owen is keeping major secrets from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.

The last thing Owen wants is to lose Auburn, but he can’t seem to convince her that truth is sometimes as subjective as art. All he would have to do to save their relationship is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin…

---

This book was amazing and without a doubt the BEST Colleen Hoover book that I have read so far (I have also read Maybe Someday, Maybe Not and Ugly Love) and I loved everything about it.

Everything about this book was perfect. The writing was captivating and there were a few plot twists that completely threw me. I did not see them coming at all and I like when a book can shock me like that.

I especially loved the idea of the confessions. That was such a unique concept and it really worked well with this book, as did the paintings that were specifically created.

Colleen Hoover is fantastic at writing believable characters that you just can’t help but love. Auburn was an amazing character. Her situation was heartbreaking and I couldn’t believe how strong and determined she was, especially at such a young age. But then again, she was tough because she had to be.

I also loved the character of Owen. He was basically perfection in every way and usually I have an issue with characters that are too perfect but that wasn’t the case here. The way he was written was believable and it just worked in this book.

I LOVED the romance in this book. Owen and Auburn were so adorable together and I liked that the relationship between them wasn’t forced. Auburn still could not fully let go of losing her first love and Owen wasn’t trying to take his place or make her forget him.

Of course the characters I hated were Lydia and Trey, but even as evil characters they were so well written. Colleen Hoover writes deranged creepy evil sinister psychopath really well! So believable. And even Owen’s father redeemed himself in the end.

The epilogue was perfect. It really did bring everything together and answered every question that I had. I loved how lines and small details that you don’t think mean much in the beginning actually do come back into the story at a later point. Everything was connected and I absolutely loved that. Especially when we finally learn the truth behind Owen and his history with Auburn. I lost it at that point. Colleen Hoover is definitely a master at writing the feels, I was an emotional wreck by the end of this book.

This book NEEDS to be a movie! Ugly Love is already being made into one, so maybe this one can be next.

Overall, this was a superb YA contemporary romance. I gave it a 6 star rating and I recommend it to everyone!