More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

I honestly don't know what took me so long to read this book!!! It is so beautiful and honest and I loved every single word of it. It has left me in an over-emotional state but in a very good way. 

If you don't know what More Happy Than Not is about or who Adam Silvera is then where have you been?!?! Ok, maybe that is a little mean...

Just a warning before you think about picking this book up, it does have trigger warnings for depression, self-harm, suicide and abuse. 

More Happy Than Not surrounds sixteen year old Aaron. Aaron is dealing with a lot in the book, for example his father's suicide, this leaves him struggling to find happiness. It forces him to confront both his past and his future to come to terms with the situation he finds himself in. 

There is honestly so much about this book that I loved. One of the first things that made me fall in love with this book is that all of the characters are normal. They are normal in the way that they are not perfect or good looking or in any way spectacular. They are real teenagers going through some real teenage issues with just a little bit of not so unreasonable made-up stuff thrown in there. It was so refreshing to read about characters like that because you don't really find many. 

Something else I loved was the relationships of the characters. They were what real relationships really are like. You've got the kid who you grew up with who you always thought of as your best friend but isn't really that great of a friend. You've got all of the people you hang out with just because you live near each other. You've got the brother who you love because he's your brother but you really don't like him very much as a person. You've also got those people who you know but don't really know at the same time. 

The thing that truly won me over with this book though was the honesty of Adam's writing. The way he explained situations and problems and describes his characters is beautiful. It is just so honest and real. I think that is why you get to the end of the book and feel so overwhelmed with emotions that you just have to sit and take everything in and process it like it all just happened to you or to a friend of yours. 

I'm not sure if I could pick this book up again, not right away anyway. Yes, it is beautiful and an amazing story but it carries so much information and emotions with it that you need time to separate yourself from it before picking it up again. I will be recommending this to people though, I can guarantee you that. 

Coral and Bone by Tiffany Daune

Coral and Bone Giveaway

Looking for a fast-paced, exciting read? Like mermaids, shapeshifters and otherworldly creatures? Then look no further, this is definitely the book for you!

Coral and Bone is an enchanting read about love, loss and hope. It is a tale of evil mermaids, shapeshifting beings and a whole lot of action. 

When I picked this book up for review, it didn't really think much of it. If I am honest I had low expectations for it. By golly was I wrong. I totally under-estimated this book. From the minute I picked it up I didn't want to put it down. I got so wrapped up in the story that it was literally all I could think about. I spent every possible moment with this book in my hand, I even lost sleep over it.

I loved the way that Tiffany wove in the title of the book. I think the way that she did it was very clever with it having a purpose in the story.

I loved the characters in this book. They all had their own reasons for helping Halen (which is a great name) and the cause. They were all complicated and wonderful in their own right and I loved each and every one of them. Though my favourite character has to be Tage. The way she cares about Halen and was willing to die to help her is amazing. She is such a great friend to Halen and she is also a badass character. 

The twist at the end when it is revealed that Dax is really Halen's guardian I found kind of predictable. I guessed from the first meeting between the two that there was something more to him than simply a romantic interest especially when he seemed so attached to Natalie. That being said I like the reason behind why it was hidden from her. 

I truly loved every word of this book and even after finishing it I want to pick it up again. Tiffany Daune's writing is truly remarkable and I honestly believed every word I read like it was part of the real world. The description and the characters were all made to be real in my mind. 

Below is a little insight into more about the story and the author. 

Can you tell me a little bit about your series and what inspired it? 
The Coral & Bone series is filled with mermaids, shifters and otherworldly creatures. It's a story of love, loss and hope. My writing is most influenced by the beloved stories I read as a child, such as Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid and C.S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I'm drawn to mystical realms and love it even more when magic collides with our world. 

The Etlins in the Coral & Bone series are shifters. If you could be a shifter what animal would you want to be and why?
Definitely a raven because they are wickedly smart and eerie.  

Can you share a little about the current title you are working on? 

I'm currently editing books two and three of The Siren Chronicles and working on an outline for an exciting new series. Keep an eye on my Instagram account where I'll be posting a sneak peek very soon.

When did you know that you wanted to write professionally and how did you take the leap to get into the business?  

I started writing with the intent of publishing seven years ago. I faced a lot of rejection letters, but I kept submitting and writing, until I received my first contract for Surface and the sequel Landlocked. Unfortunately, my publisher closed, and I had to start over. So, instead of resubmitting Surface, I wrote Coral & Bone which won a watty award in 2016.  

What book is currently on your nightstand? And who are some of your favorite authors?

I have five on my nightstand right now. I'm currently lost in the pages of The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey. I'm also reading some great works on Wattpad.

I could never pick just one, but I a few of my faves are Alyson Noel, Tehereh Mafi, Casandra Clare, John Green, Taran Matharu, Jennifer L Armentrout and Kendare Blake. 

What was your favorite childhood book?

I loved so many books as a child, it’s hard to pick one. My top three would have to be The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Are you there God It’s Me Margaret. As a teen, I devoured anything by Stephen King, John Saul & Anne Rice.

What’s your favorite writing food?

Popcorn, cucumbers and chocolate.

What is one of your favorite quotes?

Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light. ~ Albus Dumbledore

Want to win some mermaid themed goodies?

Well Tiffany is holding a Rafflecopter giveaway for the items picture below. 

To enter just follow the link below:

Coral and Bone Giveaway

Below are all of Tiffany's interweb links

Website:                      www.tiffanydaune.com

Newsletter:                   http://eepurl.com/5hU0z

Facebook Page:           https://facebook.com/tiffanydaune

Twitter :                       @TiffanyDaune

Goodreads:                  www.goodreads.com/author/show/6904400.Tiffany_Daune

Tumblr:                       http://tiffanydaune.tumblr.com

Instagram:                   @TiffanyDaune

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Thirteen Reasons Why has recently become popular due to the release of the TV show on Netflix. Though I am very disappointed in myself to say that I jumped on this book for the same reason, I am glad that I did. 

If you don't know what Thirteen Reasons Why is about, 1. Where have you been?! And 2. Its about a teenage girl who commits suicide and leaves behind seven tapes explaining the thirteen reasons that lead her to it. 

I want to start by saying that this book has a very powerful message in it. I love the way it explains that your action can affect someone, even in the instances when you don't do anything at all. It also explains what happens after a suicide and how everyone is left unsure in how they played a part or if they could have helped in some way. 

I finished watching the TV show around the same time as finishing the book and I decide that in this instance I actually enjoyed the show better that the book. I know, I know, it's sacrilege. Let me explain why. 

The characters in the book just seemed to be there. You got no background to who they were or what they were like, you only got what Hannah knew. I liked that the TV show gave them more to their story. Justin in the book was a jerk, there is no other way to describe him other than that. In the show you got to see who he was and why he did some of the things he did (not that I'm sticking up for him, he is still a jerk) and it allowed you to understand him more. I feel the same way about the rest of the group too, they were all given more background and more time to explain what they were doing. 

Clay was the same in both the book and the show for me. So well done Dylan Minnette for pulling that off. He truly did an amazing job and I couldn't fault it at all. 

Hannah... where do i start... In the TV show I understood why she felt the way she did and why as a result she did some of the things that she did. I got it. In the book though, she just got on my nerves. By the end of the book I found her so infuriating that I had to keep putting the book down.

Overall I really did enjoy this book and recommend that teenagers, not just the girls, pick this up. Adults too, adults need to read this too. Anyone and everyone needs to read this at least once in their live to be perfectly honest. I do think the TV show did a better job at explaining things though, so you sound totally give that a watch too if you haven't already.