About Amy Hello, I'm Amy, an aspiring motorsports writer and former blogger. If you dig deeper enough, you find some very old blog posts, as this started as a book blog, but that's really where I got my start in writing: book reviews, hot book topics and as well as the odd personal essay. After leaving university, I left the book blog behind, but continued writing and going in the world of social media, writing film reviews and promoting queer cinema, but after a tragic event in my personal life, I quickly discovered Motorsports. What started as a love for Formula 1, while finally watching the Formula 1 film, Rush, and discovering Formula 1 TikTok, this love soon expanded to everything Formula E, IndyCar, Formula 2, Formula 3, as well as F1 Academy. I soon found the itch to write come back, with the fast-moving news of motorsport, to the drama, the competition, and the journey of drivers trying to find a race seat. I found that it was the people and storie...
Mini Book Reviews #4: Moonrise, Holding Up The Universe, This Is Not A Love Story, When Everything Feels Like The Movies
* I have received this book for review from the publisher but this in no way affects my review *
Title: Moonrise
Author: Sarah Crossan
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Rating: 4/5 stars
(Goodreads|Amazon)
Book Review:
Moonrise was a book that I randomly picked a proof copy of at YALC and on a whim, I decided that I would read it and I don't regret this one bit. Moonrise was a poignant book that you will not forget months after reading it.
I had had some negative experiences with Sarah Crossan in the past as I didn't really love One which is her most famous book but this was not the case and I really loved Moonrise.
Moonrise follows two brothers as one of them is on death row and the other has gone to have a relationship with his brother before he dies. This story was very touching and even though you can expect the ending the story has a way of having hope as they try to get him out of prison.
The book is also written in verse which makes it even more powerful with one line pages that are quite poignant. This also makes it a lot easier to read and you can do read it quickly for better or for worse.
I really did love Moonrise which was a surprise and it did make an impression on me and was a really great book. I would highly recommend it.
The Verdict:
Moonrise is a wonderful and powerful read but get your tissues ready this one would definitely have you weeping.
Title: Holding Up The Universe
Title: This Is Not A Love Story
This Is Not A Love Story is an enjoyable read which would be perfect summertime reading.
I was definitely interested in When Everything Feels Like The Movies as I was intrigued by the concept, however, I didn't really like the book and it did not live up to my expectations.
The book was not my favourite, I could definitely see what the book was trying to do and I think that this would work for some people but this just did not work for me although the concept was quite cool.
I think the biggest let down for me was definitely the characters. I just could not connect with him and I just didn't find anyone in the book likeable and I found the way that the characters reacted to the main protagonist just to not be the best. I always say that the make or break thing in a book is the characters and this was the worst part for me and was the reason for such a bad review.
I did somewhat like the plot of the story and the writing was OK but I think that this did not make up for the poor characters which are why I didn't like the book.
Book Review:
Moonrise was a book that I randomly picked a proof copy of at YALC and on a whim, I decided that I would read it and I don't regret this one bit. Moonrise was a poignant book that you will not forget months after reading it.
I had had some negative experiences with Sarah Crossan in the past as I didn't really love One which is her most famous book but this was not the case and I really loved Moonrise.
Moonrise follows two brothers as one of them is on death row and the other has gone to have a relationship with his brother before he dies. This story was very touching and even though you can expect the ending the story has a way of having hope as they try to get him out of prison.
The book is also written in verse which makes it even more powerful with one line pages that are quite poignant. This also makes it a lot easier to read and you can do read it quickly for better or for worse.
I really did love Moonrise which was a surprise and it did make an impression on me and was a really great book. I would highly recommend it.
The Verdict:
Moonrise is a wonderful and powerful read but get your tissues ready this one would definitely have you weeping.
Title: Holding Up The Universe
Author: Jennifer Niven
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Penguin
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Book Review:
Holding Up The Universe was a book that I was somewhat apprehensive about reading as there had been a lot of negativity around the book from before its release. Although there was this stigma around the book from the start, I did enjoy the book but on reflection, I do see some negatives around the book.
The book follows Libby and Jack who both have their problems and meet and form a loving relationship. Although I do like their relationship it does start in a problematic way with the high school game in the book with Jack doing into Libby as she is deemed unattractive. You can, therefore, see that their relationship is therefore somewhat problematic but this does form their relationship.
I did, however, enjoy both their characters individually and I do believe that the way that Libby is treated definitely did counteract what all of the negativity in the book was about in the same place. It did allow Libby to feel comfortable in her own skin and being a plus sized girl this was a good and positive thing about the book.
The Verdict:
Holding Up The Universe is a book that I would recommend for anyone who loves Jennifer Niven's book but also contemporaries who would like a solid love story.
Title: This Is Not A Love Story
Author: Keren David
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Atom
Rating: 4/5 stars
Book Review:
This Is Not A Love Story was a book that I was quite excited about as I was in the mood for a good contemporary and that is what I got. This Is Not A Love Story is an interesting and enjoyable contemporary which is well worth a read.
It took me the longest time to finish reading the book but this did not hinder my reading experience for the book and is not the book's fault as I have been reading other things.
I really did like this book's setting which was Amsterdam as I have never read any books in there and this definitely did add to the story and is something that I would like to see more of in books.
I did also enjoy the characters and the relationships that are developed in the book although I wasn't really enjoyed the end of the book. I wasn't the way that I was expecting and although I did like the plot twist at the time as I have left it I definitely do not like this.
I still, however, do like the book but there were elements that I didn't particularly enjoy and did somewhat hinder my experience but can still recommend for people who like contemporaries.
The Verdict:
Title: When Everything Feels Like The Movies
Author: Raziel Reid
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Atom
Rating: 2/5 stars
Book Review:
The book was not my favourite, I could definitely see what the book was trying to do and I think that this would work for some people but this just did not work for me although the concept was quite cool.
I think the biggest let down for me was definitely the characters. I just could not connect with him and I just didn't find anyone in the book likeable and I found the way that the characters reacted to the main protagonist just to not be the best. I always say that the make or break thing in a book is the characters and this was the worst part for me and was the reason for such a bad review.
I did somewhat like the plot of the story and the writing was OK but I think that this did not make up for the poor characters which are why I didn't like the book.
The Verdict:
When Everything Feel Like The Movies is an interesting read but was not for me but this could be someone else's favourite book.
Have you read any of these? What did you think of them?
See you soon,
Amy
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