BookTuber TMI Tag!

Hey there internet! Today i turned on my new shiny camera and filmed a new video!

Here we go with the BookTuber TMI Tag!

Meghan xx

If I Were A Book Tag

Hello again internet! I'm back again today with another tag that i've seen floating around for a while that i thought looked fun. Let's get into it!

If i were a book...

1) What would the title of your book be?

I'm going to go with 'Like and Subscribe' because i spend far too much time watching YouTube that i think it'd fit quite well. 

2) What author would write your story?

If i could have some form of mix between Stephen King and Jay Bell that would be great. Can i just have them team up and write it? Great.

3) What book cover would you choose?

I am a BIG fan of the Fallen book series covers!

4) Would your book be paperback or hardback?

I prefer paperbacks, so i would want it to be paperback i think.

5) How long would it be?

Between 300-400 pages, that's pretty much the best length of books.

6) What genre would it be and why?

Contemporary mixed with horror? They're my favourites so if i could somehow have them mixed together that would be cool.

7) Whose review would you want printed on the back of your book?

Oh man! Erm... J.K Rowling, George R.R. Martin, Jay Asher...so many more!

Meghan xx

Top 5...#14

Hello again internet! So today i'm going to do another top 5, only this one is more of a sequel to my top 5 #2. It's been a while since i thought over what my books on my kindle are my favourite - so here it is. Top 5 on my kindle round 2!

Here we go!!

5: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

I really liked this cute little story. I had some issues with how it ended and what happened towards the end, but overall i really enjoyed the book, and if i ever want a cute little pick me up kind of book i'll probably head over to this one. I loved the characters, the story, the interactions between characters, the relationships (family, friends, love...all were great) and i just had a good time reading it.

4: A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

Oh man do i love a bit of Game of Thrones. I bloody loved reading this on my kindle, because i could carry it around with me and it didn't fill my entire bag like the rest of the series does! (why did i get physical copies of the rest of the books?!) But i love the whole world of the Song Of Ice and Fire series. I love the characters, the way they interact with each other...everything.

3: You're The One That I Want by Giovanna Fletcher

I think everyone knows that i adore a good old romance book, and that's what i thought i was getting - i didn't sign on for the emotions this book caused! Damn you Mrs Fletcher! I absolutely adored reading this and i want more stories about all three of the characters!! Oh man was it good. It twisted and turned so much that i had no idea how it would end, but i knew it would end with my tears no matter what - and i was so right. I love a book that can make me happy cry.

2: Something Like Lightning by Jay Bell (Storms book one)

Speaking of happy crying...and sad crying...and everything in between. I think that it comes as a surprise to literally no one that i love Jay Bell's writing, and Something Like Lightning was oh so perfect. I loved Kelly. I loved Nathaniel. I loved William. I even loved Jason. And oh man am i happy that my three favourite people made a return! I could read about the characters in Jay Bell's world forever and still want more. I cannot express how much i enjoyed this book, and it had me in tears and laughing in equal measures, and that's all i want in a book.

1: Something Like Winter by Jay Bell (Seasons book two)

Now this is a surprise...yeah thought not. Something Like Winter is easily in my top 3 favourite books of all time - right up there with The Catcher in the Rye and Thirteen Reasons Why, and i cannot tell you how much i love it. Tim is pretty much my favourite fictional character to read about ever (so i was super happy we saw him in Lightning!) and getting to see the story i loved so much from Something Like Summer told from his perspective was SO GOOD and i couldn't have asked for more. It was the perfect addition to a story i already adored, and i just can't explain how happy i am that i found this series, and that i found out about Jay Bell in general. If you still haven't read any of his books, stop what you're doing and go read one...or all of them! Seriously, Jay Bell can do no wrong, his books are my happy place. They're always exactly what i want, and i love them all so much. Pretty much all of his books are on my kindle so take this spot as a mix of it SLW being first, and Jay Bell in general being first.

Meghan xx 

Review: Shut Out

Hello there internet! I'm back today with one of many overdue reviews! This one is of a book i loved and i think it's just a super great read...Shut Out by Kody Keplinger!!

As always, i do try to keep my reviews pretty spoiler free - however spoilers happen and i am sorry, so read with caution :)

*I was sent a free copy of Shut Out to review - however all thoughts are my own and 100% honest*

Shut Out follows a girl named Lissa and how she is fed up with the constant rivalry between the Football team and the Soccer team, as are all the other girls at Hamilton High. To finally put an end to this rivalry Lissa comes up with an idea which she shares with all the other girlfriends of the boys on the teams - go on a sex strike. The girls all decide that they will have no sexual contact, including kissing, with any of the guys until they finally end the feud that none of them were around for the start of.

What i really love about this book, is that it has the cute, funny romance that i love about contemporary YA, and excellent character developments which i sometimes find missing in these kinds of books.

Lissa is such a great perspective to read from, and seeing her friendships develop, break, and rebuild is really lovely, and not to mention her romantic relationships during this no-hookup plan!

There are two guys in Lissa's love life - her boyfriend, Randy (perfect name choice) and the ever present rival on and off the field, Cash Sterling. Now Randy is the guy that i hated during this book, and we are definitely meant to. He is the epitome of crappy boyfriend and Keplinger has done an amazing job in making him easy to hate. However Cash is the opposite of Randy, he is lovely, caring, funny, and cute as hell. However, as in real life, there are moments when Randy is likeable, and there are times when you question how nice Cash really is...but it all works out perfectly.

I adored this book. It hit on really important ideas. There is a certain section where the girls are fighting about who is the biggest 'slut' and telling the virgins that they need to 'give it up' to their boyfriends. And then comes the greatest moment i think i have ever read in a YA book...They call out how stupid all of this is. Keplinger wrote such an amazing speech about how girls need to stop shaming each other on whether or not they've had sex, or how much they have sex, or (and this was the best, unexpected moment) on whether they even enjoy having sex! If i could get all girls to read that section at least, i would be so happy, because it is the most important thing that i think i have ever read in YA. 

I love this book, and i hope that everyone goes out and reads it, because my gosh is it a good one!

Meghan xx

A-Z YA Book Tag!

Hello there internet! I'm here today with a super fun tag that i found flying around on the blogging world, and thought i'd give it a go - the A-Z YA Book Tag :D

Here we go!

A book you wish you owned.

Salinger. It looks like such an amazing and fascinating book!

Best YA book cover?

I am a massive fan of the cover of Panic by Lauren Oliver. I think it looks so great.

Could you ever see yourself with any of your favourite fictional characters?

I mean me and Draco are forever. Also, me and Jace have got a good thing going on.

Do you ever wish you could live in a fictional world?

Who doesn't?! 

Epic battle or love story?

I mean i love both, but i will always be a sucker for a love story.

Favourite YA title you have read so far this year?

Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington. I ADORE that book.

Ghosts or Aliens?

I'm not a big fan of either...sorry! But if i had to choose, i'd probably go with aliens?

How do you choose which books to buy?

If i like the author, if it sounds good, if it has a nice cover...that's pretty much it.

If you could be a fictional character for a day, who would you choose?

Isabelle Lightwood. I don't even have to think about that one.

Judge books by their covers?

Totally. If it's a nice cover, i'll pick it up and read the blurb!

Killing characters in YA books - should it be allowed?

Definitely. As long as they're not being killed just for the sake of it, but if it helps with the story, 100% do it.

Least favourite YA book you've read?

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman. I hated it so much.

Male or Female protagonist?

Both.

Name a YA book you're desperate to read.

Panic, i can hear it calling me from my shelf!

One YA book you want everyone to read?

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. It's one of my all time favourite books.

Pick 3 fictional characters you'd want on your side in the apocalypse.

(It would've been so easy to just have TMI characters...) 

Isabelle Lightwood, Draco Malfoy, Finnick Odair.

Quick read or Long read?

Usually i prefer a long read, but recently i'm into shorter reads.

Reading is essential to a happy life - agree?

I think it depends on the person. For me, if i couldn't read i know i wouldn't be as happy as i would be with reading. However, i know people who would happily go through life without reading, and i don't think one of us would have an advantage/a happier life than the other.

Series or stand-alone?

I'm a sucker for a good series. Although i do love stand alones!

Tell us the most recent book you've read.

I'm currently reading Something Like Lightning by Jay Bell - it's fantastic!

Vanquish which YA series with a magic wand?

Vanquish as in get rid of? Noughts and Crosses.

Vanquish as in defeat by reading? Divergent.

What do you love most about YA fiction?

A lot of things. I think one of the main things is that with YA i'm closer to the ages of the characters, or i've already been that age, so i just feel more connected to them - even if their world is completely different to ours!

X marks the spot! - Where is your favourite reading spot?

My bed.

Your house is on fire! - Which three YA books do you save?

Harry Potter series. The Mortal Instruments series. Thirteen Reasons Why.

(and yes i am having the entire series'!)

Zombies or Vampires?

Vampires. Every time.

Meghan xx

Top 5...#13

Hello there internet! As today is National Coming Out Day i thought i would celebrate it by looking back at my favourite LGBT books/characters. This was easily one of the hardest top five's i think i have ever done, but i love all of the books mentioned SO MUCH.

Here we go!!

5: Boys: An Anthology by Various Authors

This book is something new for my top five series as it's a non-fiction book, and my gosh is it an amazing one. This book is made up of different stories by different guys in the LGBT community, all of them true, and all of them wonderfully written. I cannot stress how much love i have for this book.

4: Alec and Magnus (The Mortal Instruments series) by Cassandra Clare

The relationship that develops between Alec and Magnus, as well as  the individual character developments of them both, are basically my favourite parts of this whole series. I adore Alec. I love Magnus. And my gosh am i the number one supporter of their relationship! They make me laugh, make me cry, and make me go awwwwwh far too many times. I love them and i hope more 'popular' YA series carry on to have equally amazing LGBT characters. 

3: Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

I love, love, love this book. I love Paul. Noah is as cute as hell. Tony breaks my heart. And Infinite Darlene was everything missing in YA. I adore how this book isn't set at a school with a few LGBT teens who are struggling with their sexuality/bullying (as pretty much all of the LGBT books i had read before were) but rather it was the classic, funny, heart warming contemporary romance YA we all love, but everyone is LGBT...and it's fantastic!!

2: Will Grayson, Will Grayson by David Levithan and John Green

I bloody love this book. I love the differences in the characters, i love Tiny, i love everything. This book is truly one that just warms my little heart, and is easily my favourite thing either author has ever done. The way this book mixes the classic YA boy likes best friend who is a girl and the great boy meets another boy online and weird friendships and romances appear, alongside slight Holden Caulfield vibes from one of the Will Grayson's...it's fantastic.

1: Something Like Winter by Jay Bell

*Insert all of Jay Bell's books under this heading* Seriously though, Jay Bell is the king of LGBT books, and the king of my reading heart. He can do no wrong. Something Like Winter is my favourtie book of his, but in all honesty it's pretty much the same as asking someone to pick their favourite child. All of Jay Bell's books have a special place in my heart, and the relationships in SLW are just perfect. Every character in this book i love. Every relationship warms my heart and stresses me out in their own way, and it has everything i want in a book. So if you're ever in the mood for some good writing with excellent LGBT characters - Jay Bell is your man!

Happy Coming Out Day.

Stay Happy. Stay Safe.

I love you.

Meghan xx