Happiness for Humans by P.Z. Reizin

Released: 11th January 2018

Published by: Hachette

Genre: Adult Contemporary

Source: Publisher

Pages: 452

My Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

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Don't tell anyone, but Jen is one of my favourite people. 

(Machines aren't supposed to have favourites. Don't ask me how this has happened.) 

Jen is sad. Aiden wants her to be happy. Simple? Except that Jen is a thirty-something woman whose boyfriend has just left her and Aiden is a very complicated, very expensive piece of software. Aiden knows Jen inside out. With access to all her devices, he knows her most played song, can find her favourite photos and single out the insta-quotes which most inspire her.

Based on observations and unique algorithms, he has calculated that Jen should find a new man to achieve optimum wellbeing. And with the whole of the internet at his disposal, he doesn't have to look far to find a perfect specimen and engineer a meeting. Except Jen seems to be remarkably unwilling to fall in line with Aiden's flawless plan.

Can a very artificially intelligent machine discover emotional intelligence in time to fix Jen's life? And find out what exactly makes human beings happy?

It's not every day that you come across a book this witty, enjoyable and delightfully charming. Happiness for Humans is at times outlandish, yet never strays too far from being endearing and funny in all the right places. Jen works with Aiden as part of her job to make 'him' become more human-like and relatable. When he escapes onto the internet however, anything could happen. But what would an AI system know about love and happiness? That's just what this novel challenges us to find out, and remember that romance can blossom from even the most unlikely of circumstances.

This is a bit of a flyer, but here's what seems to have happened. Because I am a massively complex system, programmed to learn for myself, to correct my own mistakes, even to redesign my own software, I have somehow - by accident - definitely by accident - found myself with the ability to be aware of my own thoughts.

The narration and writing style stands out for its unique perspectives and alternating POV's. It's hard to fathom being able to 'relate' to an AI system in a book, but somehow P.Z. Reizin has made these sections some of the most heartwarming. Poor Jen has just had her long-term boyfriend leave her for someone else (with some drama that follows from that little side-note), finding Aiden and her best friend Ing as confidants of sorts. Seeing things from quite a methodical, and yet also heartfelt perspective with Aiden was definitely an interesting way to explore how relationships develop.

Don't be fooled by the blurb, as far from being over-technical or drawling on into a predictable love story, there is so much more substance here which makes it such a worthwhile read. To what extent can algorithms predict the compatibility between two people? And just how do we decide what's best for us? If there's one thing to learn from this book, it's that being human is messy, complicated, and sometimes downright confusing. Though in the small things, like a smile to express the indescribable joy of simply being alive in the present moment, is where we can find what makes our existence worthwhile. After all, in the end there are some things that even the most intelligent machines will not be able to understand.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Part romantic comedy, and think-piece on what makes us human, P.Z. Reizin's debut is a ray of sunshine in the latest literary releases. Cleverly written and uplifting, if you want a surefire way to brighten up your day, you need to read this book.

Review: Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend - Marvelously magical.

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
Series: Nevermoor #1

Released: 10th October 2017

Published by: Hachette

Genre: MG Fantasy

Source: Publisher

Pages: 449

My Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Goodreads | QBD | Booktopia

A breathtaking, enchanting new series by debut author Jessica Townsend, about a cursed girl who escapes death and finds herself in a magical world--but is then tested beyond her wildest imagination.

Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she's blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks--and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday. But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor.

It's then that Morrigan discovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for a place in the city's most prestigious organization: the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she must compete in four difficult and dangerous trials against hundreds of other children, each boasting an extraordinary talent that sets them apart--an extraordinary talent that Morrigan insists she does not have.

To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests--or she'll have to leave the city to confront her deadly fate.

Nevermoor is a delightfully enchanting read which captures a sense of adventure on every page. Australian author Jessica Townsend's debut certainly has met the hype which came with her release, with comparisons made to Harry Potter that set the bar high. This new series does have the potential to become the stuff of legend for today's young readers, standing on its own as a uniquely imagined world of wonder and excitement with a protagonist who pushes past her vulnerabilities and is willing to 'step boldly'. 

She thought of the night before - of the wonderful moment when Jupiter had shown up at Crow Manor, the joy she'd felt at the break of dawn when she'd landed safely in the forecourt of the Hotel Deucalion. She'd believed a whole new world had opened up to her. 

This is a story which you can't help but be drawn to from the very first page. Even the most reluctant readers are sure to be hooked as they learn of Morrigan Crow's doomed fate and the dramatic circumstances which could change her life forever. What gives Nevermoor its charm is the world which Townsend has so intricately created. The idea of the Wundrous Society and telling of each trial which stands between Morrigan and her curse are all crafted in vivid detail which brings the plot to life. Although I would say this novel isn't as dark as Harry Potter, it still maintains a balance between the real danger following our protagonist and the fun of new experiences such as staying at the Hotel Decaulion and meeting a 'Magnificat'. At its heart, even when you take away the fantastical elements of this book, there is a message which readers both young and old will appreciate, about finally seeing what makes you special, and having the confidence to embrace it. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

Nevermoor has enough charm to appeal to people of any age, capturing the enchantment of a world where what hides behind the shadows is no match for the magic which lies within. I can't wait to see what happens next in this series!

Waiting on Wednesday: Understory

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where the participants tell their readers about an upcoming release they are waiting to read. This week I've picked Understory: A Life With Trees by Inga Simpson.

A memoir about staying in one place, told through trees, by the award-winning author of Mr Wigg, Nest and Where The Trees Were. 

 The understorey is where I live, alongside these plants and creatures. I tend the forest, stand at the foot of trees and look up, gather what has fallen. Each chapter of this absorbing memoir explores a particular species of tree, layering description, anecdote, and natural history to tell the story of a scrap of forest in the Sunshine Coast hinterland - how the author came to be there and the ways it has shaped her life.

In many ways, it’s the story of a tree-change, of escaping suburban Brisbane for a cottage on ten acres in search of a quiet life. Of establishing a writers' retreat shortly before the Global Financial Crisis hit, and losing just about everything when it did. It is also the story of what the author found there: the literature of nature and her own path as a writer. Understory is about connection to place as a white settler descendant, and the search for a language appropriate to describe that experience.

I've heard amazing things about Where the Trees Were (which I'll definitely be reading just before this one), and I'm always fascinated to read about how authors reflect on a sense of place in their work - especially when it revolves around nature. Upstream by Mary Oliver is another book with a similar theme which I'm also hoping to pick up. I don't normally read a lot of non-fiction but I'm definitely looking forward to branching out into it!

Releasing 30th May 2017 from Hachette

Review: The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel - Old house, small town, disturbing secret

The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel

Released: 14th March 2017

Published by: Hachette

Genre: Thriller

Source: Publisher

Pages: 277

My Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Goodreads | QBD | Booktopia

After her mother's suicide, fifteen year-old Lane Roanoke came to live with her grandparents and fireball cousin, Allegra, on their vast estate in rural Kansas. Lane knew little of her mother's mysterious family, but she quickly embraced life as one of the rich and beautiful Roanoke girls. But when she discovered the dark truth at the heart of the family, she ran fast and far away.

Eleven years later, Lane is adrift in Los Angeles when her grandfather calls to tell her Allegra has gone missing. Did she run too? Or something worse? Unable to resist his pleas, Lane returns to help search, and to ease her guilt at having left Allegra behind. Her homecoming may mean a second chance with the boyfriend whose heart she broke that long ago summer. But it also means facing the devastating secret that made her flee, one she may not be strong enough to run from again.

As it weaves between Lane's first Roanoke summer and her return, The Roanoke Girls shocks and tantalizes, twisting its way through revelation after mesmerizing revelation, exploring the secrets families keep and the fierce and terrible love that both binds them together and rips them apart.

Thank you to Hachette Australia for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Before the prologue even begins, the quote on the very first page from Vladimir Nabokov sums up the essence of this story: "Look at this tangle of thorns". The Roanoke Girls is a darkly enigmatic novel about what happens behind closed doors, the perpetrators of unthinkable acts and the people who protect them. While the major 'twist' of where this disturbing conduct stems from came a little too early to have that lasting impact on the story for me, this book is testament to Amy Engel's ability to write successfully in a genre other than YA.

She stayed. That's what it meant to love. Never letting go. Never giving up. Never giving in. And when it was all over, she would be the last one standing.
The only one left for him to love.

Engel's prose provides the feeling of being unsettled from the beginning, unveiling the first piece of shock factor with the detailed revelation of Lane's mother's instability and eventual suicide. The 'family tree' of Roanoke women proves useful in the pages to come, as the story switches back and forth between the disturbing events of then and now. With quite a few to keep track of, in the sections referring to the past, it did create a slight detour in the continuity of the plot, although since this is a relatively short read anyway it did help shape the context of the future events that followed. I'm being deliberately vague here as to say any more about the fate of these girls would give away too much, but it was not what I expected and made my skin crawl.

After a lifetime of relying only on myself, believing in someone else felt nearly impossible. But the look in his eyes, as if I were the most precious thing he had ever seen, made me want to try, to give in a little and trust that maybe he wouldn't let me down.

Where Engel succeeds is in her depiction of characters who are all dysfunctional - in their relationships, and at their very core. It seems that not only the Roanoke girls themselves, but everyone in the rural town is inadvertently hurtling towards destruction. Lane running from the devastating events at her home and coming to Roanoke to once more be pulled into its tortured embrace is at first glance a recipe for disaster. Her cousin Allegra, whose name ironically would translate to 'happy', and her feverish dalliances, are a prelude to Lane's tense determination to find out the truth of why she went missing. The men of their past; Tommy as Allegra's quick but intense fling, and Cooper as Lane's old flame, have their own roles to play in the drama which unfolds. Yet what was more intriguing was seeing how the miasma of deranged desires lay at the heart of Roanoke itself. Although some of the twists were perhaps convenient, Amy Engel certainly knows how to create a sense of place - and that is what stood out to me the most.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Roanoke Girls is a dark novel about the twisted personalities within a brooding house, in a town which has been touched by the disconcerting mysteries which come from it. 

Review: Difficult Women by Roxane Gay - A brutal, surreal take on feminism

Difficult Women by Roxane Gay

Released: 10th January 2017

Published by: Hachette

Genre: Short stories

Source: Publisher

Pages: 260

My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads | QBD | Booktopia

A collection of stories of rare force and beauty, of hardscrabble lives, passionate loves, and quirky and vexed human connection from award-winning author and powerhouse talent Roxane Gay.

The women in these stories live lives of privilege and of poverty, are in marriages both loving and haunted by past crimes or emotional blackmail. A pair of sisters, grown now, have been inseparable ever since they were abducted together as children, and must negotiate the elder sister's marriage. A woman married to a twin pretends not to realize when her husband and his brother impersonate each other. A stripper putting herself through college fends off the advances of an overzealous customer. A black engineer moves to Upper Michigan for a job and faces the malign curiosity of her colleagues and the difficulty of leaving her past behind.

From a girls' fight club to a wealthy subdivision in Florida where neighbors conform, compete, and spy on each other, Gay delivers a wry, beautiful, haunting vision of modern America.

Thank you to Hachette Australia for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review 

It takes great skill as an author to provide an immediate connection to characters and the situation they are facing in a short span of pages. Roxane Gay in her collection of stories has achieved just that. With piercing insight into the nuances of everyday life with all its pitfalls, and small triumphs where there is an upheaval of power imbalances, Gay's prose is equally commanding and authentic.

The stories within this book take on topics such as rape and assault in an everyday context with an unflinching brutality, and the loss of a child with words that are heavily laden with emotion. The characters are flawed, at times frustrating, but ultimately realistic. From the bonds between sisters, to exploring with sardonic wit the different stages of a relationship, either blossoming with sweet innocence in its early stages, or taking a malignant turn towards the end, each topic is probed without inhibition. The author has coaxed us into the lives of these women who are not so much difficult as they are complex, emotionally and physically.   

The stone thrower lives in a glass house with his glass family. He is a flesh-and-blood man going about the business of living with his glass wife and glass child, their glass furniture and glass lives. - Requiem for a Glass Heart 

Nestled among the shocking moments however are those that cause you to take a step back and think in a different way. One of my favourites in this book is the piece 'Requiem for a Glass Heart', which at just seven pages is perhaps one of the most hard-hitting. It is a tale of a woman who is not simply flesh and bone, whose intimate moments are left exposed, yet her inner thoughts remain guarded. It is personification of a totally different kind, subverted to display both the fragility of this woman and her sharper strength of mind. 

I wanted to tell her that we did not dare speak, that what was once the sun might once again become the sun. I wanted to tell her the sky lightened the day my perfect child was born and that with time, the world would be bright again. - The Sacrifice of Darkness

In another story which takes on a sci-fi/speculative angle, 'The Sacrifice of Darkness', the absence of the sun allows one love to blossom while deep seated resentment against the couple threatens to taint their union. In contrast to the many instances of men undermining women or attempting to make them feel somewhat inferior, the tenderness here offers a glimpse of hope. When there is enough darkness to be found in the everyday snide remarks or not so subtle digs at what a woman should be, Gay puts the spotlight on deserving better. 

FINAL THOUGHTS 

As with most collections of stories, there were some which resonated with me more than others, but there were definitely enough defining moments in this book to make it worth a read. This is an unflinching portrayal of love when it is tender, and when it is twisted beyond recognition, being a woman who has suffered but is not broken, and the state of humanity in this mad world we live in. 

Waiting on Wednesday: The Roanoke Girls

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where the participants tell their readers about an upcoming release they are waiting to read. This week I've picked The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel.

A gripping, provocative thriller about the twisted secrets families keep, perfect for fans of The Girls.

Beautiful. Rich. Mysterious. Everyone wants to be a Roanoke girl. But you won't when you know the truth.

Lane Roanoke is fifteen when she comes to live with her grandparents and fireball cousin at the Roanoke family's rural estate following the suicide of her mother. Over one long, hot summer, Lane experiences the benefits of being one of the rich and beautiful Roanoke girls.

 But what she doesn't know is being a Roanoke girl carries a terrible legacy: either the girls run, or they die.

For there is darkness at the heart of Roanoke, and when Lane discovers its insidious pull, she must make her choice...

I'm fortunate enough to have a copy of this book for review, and can't wait to see how its compelling secrets come to light. To see this compared to The Girls by Emma Cline which was one of my top reads last year definitely makes for some high expectations!

Releasing 14th March 2017 from Hachette

Review: Girls on Fire by Robin Wasserman

Girls on Fire by Robin Wasserman

Released: 10th May 2016

Published by: Little Brown (Imprint of Hachette)

Genre: Adult suspsense

Source: Publisher

Pages: 320

My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads | QBD | Booktopia

This is not a story of bad things happening to bad girls. I say this because I know you, Dex, and I know how you think. I'm going to tell you a story, and this time, it will be the truth. 

Hannah Dexter is a nobody, ridiculed at school by golden girl Nikki Drummond and bored at home. But in their junior year of high school, Nikki's boyfriend walks into the woods and shoots himself. In the wake of the suicide, Hannah finds herself befriending new girl Lacey and soon the pair are inseparable, bonded by their shared hatred of Nikki.

Lacey transforms good girl Hannah into Dex, a Doc Marten and Kurt Cobain fan, who is up for any challenge Lacey throws at her. The two girls bring their combined wills to bear on the community in which they live; unconcerned by the mounting discomfort that their lust for chaos and rebellion causes the inhabitants of their parochial small town, they think they are invulnerable.

But Lacey has a secret, about life before her better half, and it's a secret that will change everything . . .

Starting - and ending - with tragedy, Girls on Fire stands alongside The Virgin Suicides in its brilliant portrayal of female adolescence, but with a power and assurance all its own.

Thank you to Hachette Australia for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Girls on Fire had me hooked from the first page. In this unnerving thriller, Wasserman has created a story that is suffused with an aura of vengeance, where girls turn on each other not just because of jealousy, but unbridled obsession. There are parts of this book entering territories you wouldn't think it would dare, but find that although you may want to look away before it all comes undone...those pages won't stop turning until the final, didactic end.

Hannah wanted to be invisible. Dex wanted to be seen. Dex was a rule-breaker, a liar, a secret keeper; Dex was wild, or wanted to be. Hannah Dexter had believed in right and wrong, an ordered world of justice. Dex would make her own justice. Hannah would show her how. 

What this novel excelled at is cleverly weaving multiple perspectives, each with a distinct narrative voice. Detailing the time of 'Us' from November 1991-March 1992 from both Hannah/Dex and Lacey's perspectives, it soon becomes clear just how twisted the dynamic relationships operating in this situation are. Lacey is insubordinate in every way, bordering on diabolical. Hannah's humdrum existence once letting her into her life is completely transformed. Their defiant duo is held together by a bond formed through unabashed manipulation, with an all too willing participant. Make no mistake, Wasserman's tone of prose is scorching - the whole premise for this novel is set up to keep you wanting more, discovering the hidden secrets which really drive these girls towards the fate which awaits them. As readers, when beginning this book you are lighting a match - then stand to watch it burn.

The trappings of evil were for scary movies and school assemblies; the real devil wore pink and smiled with pastel lips. And here, in the dark, we all knew who she was. 

And then there was Nikki. The resident 'golden girl' whose boyfriend took his own life. It's interesting how Dex and Lacey 'bonded' over this 'shared' ostensible virulence towards her. But who out of the trio is really the 'wolf in sheep's clothing' - that is, if any of them are? Girls on Fire searingly explores the bounds of loyalty and the devastating implications of betrayal. Emotions are powerfully expounded, chillingly expressed and manifested in ways which only these characters could accomplish. It's a tangled web of desire, defined by the 'us versus them' kind of subversive attitude that so often is depicted by adolescents today.

She was so good at it, acting cold-blooded. The secret of pretending to be someone else, she told me, was that you didn't pretend. You transformed. To defeat a monster, you had to embody one. 

I have to say, Girls on Fire definitely had shock-factor. All the while reading this, you know that something eventually will go awry. There is no way that such an intensely ferocious imbroglio would end without an explosion of some sort. And there is one. Just...not the one you may be expecting. How far will these girls go to get revenge? How deep are those scars from the past? You'll just have to read this for yourself and find out. In any case, I don't believe what eventually happened was there simply to shock the audience. The ending isn't rushed, and in the last few pages I found what the essence of this book was all about. Wasserman closes her story with words that will make you think, that leave an imprint your mind for a good while after you've closed it.

What matters isn't how we found each other, Dex, or why. It's what we did, and what happened next. Smash the right two particles together in the right way and you get a bomb. That's us, Dex. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

In Girls on Fire, flames lick the edge of the adolescent experience, lighting a trail of dangerous obsession and inexorable jealousy. Robin Wasserman's caustic prose draws in the most intense of human emotions, and places them in destructive circumstance; ultimately creating a read that you can't put down - even if you want to.

Genie's Weekly News (52)

It's the last day of the uni holidays, and I write this after coming home from a very busy day at work - no surprise since it's 'Harry Potter release day'! It of course doesn't have quite the hype of another book being released, but I'll be happy to see how it compares anyway.

*Reading Right Now*

*Previous Posts*

• Review: Breathing Under Water by Sophie Hardcastle
• Review: The Diary of William Shakespeare, Gentleman by Jackie French

*Recommendation of the Week*

ALL THE FEELS.  That is all.
Well, full review to come as well...

*From The Interwebs*

• Jen @ YA Romantics shared her review of 'Three Truths and a Lie'
• Aentee @ Read at Midnight designed more Throne of Glass Wallpapers
• Cait @ Paper Fury shared tips for TV shows to match some of her favourite books
• Mel @ The Daily Prophecy did a a-z getting to know her
• Emily @ Loony Literate offered advice on how to tackle an overwhelming TBR
• Jeann @Happy Indulgence discussed When "diversity" isn't actually diverse

*Haul/Book Event Recaps*

It's been a very bookish week in general, with not one but two book events...and a TBR that has grown even larger in the meantime!

1. Hachette Christmas Roadshow

These publisher events are a great way to bring together booksellers, authors and those working to bring those stories into stores. It was great to see what new books will be coming up from Hachette for the rest of 2016 and 2017, plus those crime/thrillers in the goodie bag look especially intriguing!:

• The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney (February 2017) - A psychological thriller with a house that holds secrets from the past.
• Ragdoll by Daniel Cole (February 2017) - Gory crime, the first in a series.
• See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt (April 2017) - A retelling of the Lizzie Borden murders.

2. Rachael Craw Skype Event

Although all Aussie fans of the SPARK series would love to meet Rachael in person, this Skype event at Dymocks and hosted by Emily @UncoverAllure  was the next best thing! It was great to hear her thoughts on the series, and us fans got to ask some burning questions about what's happened in the series. She also shared some details about her next book, and I'm hooked already!

Review: Breathing Under Water by Sophie Hardcastle

Breathing Under Water by Sophie Hardcastle

Released: 12th July 2016

Published by: Hachette Autralia

Genre: YA Contemporary

Source: Publisher

Pages: 310

My Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Goodreads | QBD | Booktopia

Nineteen minutes and eleven seconds separated us at birth. On the official documentation, he is older . . . Although it really has nothing to do with age. What it really means is that I am, and have always been, second. 

Ben and Grace Walker are twins. Growing up in a sleepy coastal town it was inevitable they'd surf. Always close, they hung out more than most brothers and sisters, surfing together for hours as the sun melted into the sea. At seventeen, Ben is a rising surf star, the golden son and the boy all the girls fall in love with. Beside him, Grace feels like she is a mere reflection of his light. In their last year of school, the world beckons, full of possibility. For Grace, finishing exams and kissing Harley Matthews is just the beginning. Then, one day, the unthinkable.

The sun sets at noon and suddenly everything that was safe and predictable is lost. And everything unravels. Breathing Under Water is a lyrical and emotionally powerful novel about life, death and learning to breathe in between.

Thank you to Hachette Australia for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Sophie Hardcastle's debut novel is at once effortlessly melodic and powerful;a story of grief, healing and moving forward when the unthinkable occurs. This YA contemporary novel is a stand-out in #LoveOzYA, and definitely will hold its place as one of my top recommended reads of the year! 

I listen to the tumble of each white wash, feel the pull of the tides, the bubble of undercurrents, taste the salt and smell the foam. I imagine all the creatures that have lived and died in this blue body. 

Ben and Grace are twins growing up in a coastal town where being in the water is second nature. Both surfers, they compete together and bond over each other's successes, even if Ben is drifting further as a rising star. Hardcastle has captured this sibling dynamic in all its complexities, along with the very essence of the Walker family. Each and every character is well developed, their weaknesses and struggles depicted in a way which makes them both relatable and so real. With the aftermath of a tragedy to contend with, it was fascinating to see how everyone coped - by either acting out, retreating into a shell or simply being indifferent. What I love about this book is how it portrays the intensity of such strong emotions with a sensitivity and nuance that is completely fitting. There is no 'quick fix', and perhaps it seems that the stages of pain and anguish are necessary to finally reconcile with the past and move forward, more assured of your identity once more; even in the absence of somebody who will be missed. 

The night is so still the sea has turned to glass. As I dip my toes in the water, a wave kisses my ankles. I close my eyes as I wade through time and my mind starts to drift with the tides. During the day, we see ourselves relative to others. We know our place. But out here, cloaked in shadows, my place in the universe is impossible to define. I am stardust, yet I breathe.  

While there is a potential romance on the horizon for Grace, I was glad to note that it didn't in any way supersede the key themes of the novel. The young adults themselves in this book truly take the stage with all their escapades, mistakes, and navigation of the different relationships in their lives. From a tricky situation developing between best friends who seem to be drifting apart, to seeking an escape in the wrong places - I think teens will have a lot to take away from this book. Everyone had their own voice in this novel, and when set against such a beautifully described backdrop, this made for a read that I was completely ensconced in from beginning to end. 

Then I hear her, the ocean - singing. My body sways in purple sea currents, as her melody, a cradlesong, serenades me. I feel blood pulling in my chest like the tides and remember I am still alive. I exist. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

In all, Breathing Under Water blew me out of the water. Hardcastle deserves high praise for this debut which ebbs and flows with the intricacies of healing and coming up for air after being submerged in the depths of grief. 

Tiwi Girls Book Launch Recap!

When I was invited to attend a launch at Hachette Australia for a book produced in one week I was definitely curious and excited to see just what it was all about. The Indigenous Literary Foundation and Hachette have worked with a group of nine girls from the Tiwi Islands to publish the special book which is "Nginingawila Ngirramini: Our Story".

We are so pleased to have published 'Nginingawila Ngirramini' by Tiwi College Senior Girls today! pic.twitter.com/rR4SSe2o0g

— Hachette Aus Books (@HachetteAus) November 6, 2015

I had a flick through the book itself while at the event, and it is a beautiful portrayal of the experiences of these girls, their cultural background, school life, sacred places and aspirations for the future. From front to back and everything inside, it's amazing to think that all of it has been produced in such a short period of time. With mentors working with them on the project such as renowned authors Anita Heiss and Pamela Freeman and the dedicated Hachette team, it's clear that this project has been a resounding success!

Managing director Louise Sherwin-Stark spoke about her involvement with the girls and how they all can achieve their goals for the future; whether it is to become a police officer, ranger, PE teacher - anything is possible. What was really wonderful to see was the presentation which the girls gave on the day, providing us in the audience with a glimpse into what life is like at Tiwi College, their traditional beliefs and some of the important things they've learnt so far.

It's great to be at the launch for the book these girls from Tiwi College and @HachetteAus produed in one week! pic.twitter.com/gPJD3G4Fd1

— Eugenia (@Genie_inabook) November 6, 2015

It's always fun to meet some fellow bookworms in person at the launch, and this time I met Rebecca and Alison who run The YA Chronicles, and Emily from Emily The Book Addict. It was lovely to have a QnA with some of the girls to find out more about what they like to read, and they got to know a little about us and what we do as bloggers. Plus, finding fellow Harry Potter fans is always a bonus!

Bloggers and #Tiwi girls united by their love of Harry Potter. @IndigenousLF @HachetteAus pic.twitter.com/6ofkpTYCy8

— Louise Sherwin-Stark (@LSherwinStark) November 6, 2015

In all, I am so grateful for the opportunity to attend this special event, and am sure that this book will be a big hit! 

"Nginingawila Ngirramini: Our Story" will be available in early 2016. 

Hachette YA Blogger Night Recap

Tonight was a very special book event - the annual Hachette YA Blogger Night! I was invited to the first one last year which was fantastic, and this time it was just as amazing, if not even better. Not only was it a great opportunity to meet with other bloggers and YA lovers in person (matching twitter handles to names!), but also a time to meet the lovely Sophie Hardcastle and Holly Black. Ashleigh and Kim were wonderful hosts, and I think I speak for everyone when I say the night was a big success!

First of all, it's at events like this that the bookish community can really come together - and aside from the fangirling and general book conversations which occurred, the #DABNight hashtag actually trended at #1 across the country!

😍 😍 #DABYANight @HachetteAus @DateaBook #AusYABloggers #LoveOzYA pic.twitter.com/t47915D60R

— Diva Booknerd (@divainpyjamas) August 17, 2015

Sophie Hardcastle

After following the smell of popcorn from the elevator to the offices and then getting some snacks/socialising - it was time for one of the special guests of the night, Sophie Hardcastle to speak about her memoir. It was quite moving to hear her story of dealing with bipolar disorder and how she came about writing her book, and I am looking forward to reading it soon. I also got to meet Sophie and get it signed which was lovely too. 

Running Like China Releases 25th August 2015

What's new and coming up

One of the most exciting things about going to a publisher's is learning of all the books they're excited about, and what there is to look forward to!

1. Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver

I personally really loved this book when I first read it (and you can see just how much in my review). The best news? Lauren Oliver will be visiting Australia later in the year! 

2. Thunderwith by Libby Hawthorn

This was first published in 1989 but is making a comeback with a new jacket. I love Australian contemporary YA so this is definitely going on my TBR.

3. Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between by Jennifer E. Smith

This is another one of those books set in a short period of time (12 hours), and I'm interested to see how it pans out since I've heard lots of good things about Jennifer E. Smith's novels. 

4. The Masked Truth by Kelley Armstrong

Now this sounds like a pretty intense thriller - and I'm up for it!

5. The Dead House by Daen Kurtagich

A psychological thriller that has interview transcripts, medical records and other interesting pieces of information woven in. I love multimodal fiction, and this looks like it's going to be a hit! The 'urban legend' sound of it almost reminds me of Night Film by Marisha Pessl.

6. The Raging Light by Estelle Laure

I can already tell this is going to be an emotional contemporary - definitely one to pull at the heartstrings I'm sure.

7. Lying Out Loud by Kody Keplinger

As a companion novel to the DUFF, this seems like it has the potential to be just as fun as its predecessor

7. Changers by Drew T Cooper & Allison Glock-Cooper

When I was hearing about this book tonight it did remind me of Every Day by David Levithan, but I can see where this will also have it's major differences. It's the first book in a four-part series, and I'm really looking forward to it. 

8. Every Exquisite Thing by Matthew Quick

I recently read and reviewed Love May Fail by Matthew Quick which was really good, and so this new book of his definitely has now found its way onto my list of books to keep an eye on. Quirky contemporary with unexpected turns definitely is something I'd be interested in reading.

9. Mosquitoland by David Arnold

This roadtrip novel already seems to stand out from the rest just from its description, and so I am eagerly awaiting reading it for myself!

10. Court of Fives by Kate Elliot

Historical fantasy usually gets a big tick from me, so Court of Fives certainly has my attention.

SERIES

Yep, Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo is getting so much hype at the moment (and no wonder why - it looks amazing). Some people were lucky enough to win ARC's tonight, so hopefully they love it!

Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard, the sequel to Red Queen is a DEFINITE MUST-READ for me once it comes out! (next February). That ending was a killer so we must know what's next in store for Mare!

Hachette will be publishing the third book in the Reckoners trilogy! I haven't gotten around to starting this series yet myself, but now that I know about it - why not?

Author Spotlight: Louise O'Neill

I'm so glad this spotlight was on because it reminded me how  much I really want to read Only Ever Yours and Asking For It as well. Both are shaping up to be very poignant reads from the sounds of things. 

Author Spotlight: Ryan Graudin

This is another author whose work I really need to read! In particular, the new alternate-history novel she has coming out called Wolf by Wolf sounds absolutely fascinating. Definitely one to watch out for! We were shown a video with Ryan talking about it and reading the first lines, and just from that I'm hooked already.

Basically,

 

Keep your eyes out for those page-turners coming soon!

Holly Black

UNFORTUNATELY, my copies of The Darkest Part of the Forest and The Coldest Girl In Coldtown didn't arrive in time for the event today (though knowing my luck they're probably what's waiting for me at the PO). Even so, it was so exciting to see Holly Black in person (with her super-cool hair and accent). She shared some really interesting insights into how she researched fairies to use in her novels, and how her creative family background influenced her. 

There were references made to creepy doll searches, and even Robert Pattinson (though not necessarily in the same sentence). Aside from her infectious laugh, she also had some other things to share like the fact that she'll probably never write a contemporary novel, and her views on character relationships. It's always inspiring to hear authors speak about their works, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to have seen Holly Black in person! She's so charismatic, lively, and passionate - and those are characteristics which can make for a very talented author which she is.

Book People!

 Bloggers/Booklovers I met in person for the first time:

• Cassie @ Cassie The Weird
• Sass @ Supergirl Sass
• Elspeth @ Arabella Strangely
• Keely @ My Spin on Books
• Gina @ Behind The Pages

Bloggers it was lovely to see again:

• Kat @ Cuddlebuggery
• Joy @ Thoughts by J
• Sunny @ A Sunny Spot
• Jess @ My Reading Dress
• Jaz @ Fiction in Fiction in Fiction
• Pavan @ Keep It Fictional

The Haul

I got some books from Keely and Kat, as well as some goodies in the gift bag!

Overall

Thanks again to the amazing team at Hachette Australia for hosting the event again this year! I had an awesome time and can't wait it to come around again next year :)

Dual Reviews NA Edition - Paradise City & What If

Paradise City by C.J. Duggan
Series: Paradise #1
Released: 28th April 2015
Published by: Hachette Australia
Genre: NA Contemporary
Source: Netgalley
Pages: 363
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Goodreads | Bookworld | Book Depository

There's bound to be trouble in Paradise . . .

 When her parents decide a change will be good for her, seventeen-year-old Lexie Atkinson never expected they'd send her all the way to Paradise City. Coming from a predictable life of home schooling on a rural Australian property, she's sure that Paradise will be amazing. But when she's thrust into a public school without a friendly face in sight, and forced to share a room with her insipid, hateful cousin Amanda, Lexie's not so sure. Hanging out with the self-proclaimed beach bums of the city, sneaking out, late night parties and parking with boys are all things Lexie's never experienced, but all that's about to change. It's new, terrifying . . . and exciting.

But when she meets Luke Ballantine, exciting doesn't even come close to describing her new life. Trouble with a capital T, Luke is impulsive, charming and answers to no one. The resident bad-boy leader of the group, he's sexier than any boy Lexie has ever known. Amidst the stolen moments of knowing looks and heated touches, Lexie can't help but wonder if Luke is going to be good for her . . . or very, very bad?

Thank you to Hachette Australia for sending me a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Paradise City is the first book I've read by C.J. Duggan, and a first in my experiences reading Aussie NA fiction. While it did hold some of the stereotypical tropes of the genre, I can honestly say that it was nonetheless an addictive read. It would definitely be perfect for summer reading on the beach, and for a book which takes relationship drama, some steamy romance and witty banter along the way - I'm definitely willing to check out more of this author's work and her other series. 

Lexie was a straight-A, good girl who moved in with her cousin Amanda and her family to Paradise City, only to run into all the teen drama and of course...the boys. Coming from a country town in Red Hill, there certainly wasn't much of that - and once she meets Luke Ballantine ( right on cue as the bad boy), she certainly changes her tune.

Suddenly trying to fit in with the cool crowd became important to Lexie, as well as perhaps getting some attention from a certain someone. But despite the seeming melodrama, there was more to this story and Lexie was at times a funny character with her awkwardness at times and taboos. She also cared about her new friend and tried to make an effort to stay out of trouble...though with Ballantine that of course wasn't easy. The romance was charged with tension, and there were some twists which I didn't see coming which made the whole thing all the more interesting.

FINAL THOUGHTS

After that cliffhanger, I do want to know what will happen next in this series. C.J. Duggan is an author on my watchlist now, and not only do I want to see more from Lexie and Luke - but her other books too. It's great to see Australian authors tackling this genre and making a success of it!

What If by Rebecca Donovan
Released: 22nd January 2015
Published by: Penguin
Genre: NA Contemporary
Source: Publisher
Pages: 384
My Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Goodreads | Bookworld | Book Depository

What if you had a second chance to meet someone for the first time? Cal Logan is shocked to see Nicole Bentley sitting across from him at a coffee shop thousands of miles from their hometown. After all, no one has seen or heard from her since they graduated over a year ago. Except this girl isn't Nicole.

 She looks exactly like Cal's shy childhood crush, but her name is Nyelle Preston and she has no idea who he is. This girl is impulsive and daring, her passion for life infectious. The complete opposite of Nicole. Cal finds himself utterly fascinated and falling hard. But Nyelle is also extremely secretive. And the closer he comes to finding out what she's hiding, the less he wants to know. 

When the secrets from the past and present collide, one thing becomes clear: Nothing is what it seems.

Thank you to Penguin Australia for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

What If is a NA novel which did have some some promise, though in this case it was  a problem of not being able to establish a genuine connection with the characters or the plot. Basically, I'm going to have to sit on the fence - while I enjoyed to an extent the mystery surrounding a possible case of mistaken identity, on the whole I can't say that this is my favourite NA novel.

In short, none of the characters are ones which I found all that likable (hence the connection issue). Cal didn't really have much substance and Nyelle was definitely a 'free spirit', but it seems a twisted one at that. I'm usually all for books which explore the complexities of these fascinating characters, but in this case they just weren't developed enough for me and the storyline took some weird turns which left me questioning why I was even persevering. There is a backstory though with the alternating past and present chapters, though in the beginning I couldn't see where their relevance fit in.

FINAL THOUGHTS

In all, What If was unfortunately a disappointment. I had been looking forward to a NA mystery with depth, but was personally left with a story that fell flat. However, though this wasn't necessarily my cup of tea, you don't know until you try right?