Summer is coming.

Now, after I've made that trying- to-be ASoIaF reference, it's time to talk about books! This time of the year is all about light. easy, enjoyable read no matter if you are somewhere on the beach with salt in your hair or lying in your aparment under the air conditioner.

I loved and utterly enjoyed every book listed below and highly recommend you read them!
 

1) Always and Forever, Lara Jean - Jenny Han

 Lara Jean’s letter-writing days aren’t over in this surprise follow-up to the New York Times bestselling To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and P.S. I Still Love You.

Lara Jean is having the best senior year a girl could ever hope for. She is head over heels in love with her boyfriend, Peter; her dad’s finally getting remarried to their next door neighbor, Ms. Rothschild; and Margot’s coming home for the summer just in time for the wedding.

But change is looming on the horizon. And while Lara Jean is having fun and keeping busy helping plan her father’s wedding, she can’t ignore the big life decisions she has to make. Most pressingly, where she wants to go to college and what that means for her relationship with Peter. She watched her sister Margot go through these growing pains. Now Lara Jean’s the one who’ll be graduating high school and leaving for college and leaving her family—and possibly the boy she loves—behind.

When your heart and your head are saying two different things, which one should you listen to?

2) Everything, Everything - Nicola Yoon

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster. 

3) 1000 Days of Spring - Tomislav Perko

A true story of a young successful stockbroker going broke, and lifting his thumb in search for his true self, by traveling the world.

After almost five years of traveling on five different continents, Tomislav laid down in a hammock in one village on the coast of Ecuador, and started writing a book. 

He was determined to put down everything he knows about traveling, and with that, answer the questions that many people ask him for years: 
- How is it possible to travel with almost no money? 
- Is his way of traveling safe enough? 
- What are the worst, and the best moments on the road? 
- How can you earn money while traveling? 
- Where to look for sponsors? 
- How did his parents and friends react? 
- Why is he traveling in the first place? 

Since it was impossible to give a simple and short answers to those questions, he started answering them in the only way possible - by telling his life story. 

Tomislav wrote about his student days, about the days when he had a well paid job as a stockbroker, about going bankrupt, about turning his life around, about first ventures on the road with a backpack on his back, and about finding a way that he will follow in the years to come - by traveling. 

Tomislav wrote about hitchhiking in numerous countries, sleeping in homes of strangers, camping on the side of the road, eating in supermarkets and drinking beer in parks, volunteering, many anecdotes that he encountered on the road, natural beauties that left him breathless, and about the beautiful people that he met on the way. 

Tomislav wrote about love.

4) The Storyteller - Andrea Tomić

Terrible things can happen when a storyteller falls in love.


There are thousands of stories of forbidden loves, many of them including a princess and a slave. When you live in a world of nine kingdoms and each has its own rulers and legends, the chances of not hearing a story like that are minimal.

Ever since her father, the king of the Third kingdom, passed away, princess Rachelle has been entertained by her servant Daniel. He would tell her his own stories or the ones she had already heard. None of this would be a problem if he hadn't fallen in love in with her over the years.
Now not only does he need to spend every day near his loved one knowing she could never love him back, but he has to hide every glimpse of his feelings. Because if he doesn't, he might get killed.
But when the princess starts feeling the same way, their fairy tale begins. 
However, unlike every other story he had ever told, this one might not have a happy ending. This time the Storyteller became a character and lost his possibility of creating happy endings. 

5) World Whisperer - Rachel Devenish Ford

Seven years ago, Isika’s mother walked out of the desert with three children in tow, leading the priest of the Worker village to marry her and take in her children. In all those years, fourteen-year-old Isika has never been able to fit in as a Worker or live up to her role as the priest's daughter, and worse, she has been helpless against the tragedies that have fallen on her family.

But now the four goddesses they serve want another sacrifice, and Isika's stepfather has chosen the next child to be sent out to sea: the little brother who Isika loves more than anything.

This time Isika will not be powerless.

Together, she and her two remaining siblings leave the walls of the Worker village to save their brother, traveling into unknown lands and magic they never could have imagined.

6) Confessions of a Queen B* - Crista McHugh

Alexis Wyndham is the other type of Queen B—the Queen Bitch. 

After years of being the subject of ridicule, she revels in her ability to make the in-crowd cower via the exposés on her blog, The Eastline Spy. Now that she's carved out her place in the high school hierarchy, she uses her position to help the unpopular kids walking the hallways. 

Saving a freshman from bullies? Check. 
Swapping insults with the head cheerleader? Check. 
Falling for the star quarterback? So not a part of her plan. 

But when Brett offers to help her solve the mystery of who’s posting X-rated videos from the girls’ locker room, she’ll have to swallow her pride and learn to see past the high school stereotypes she’s never questioned—until now.

7) Chasing a Croatian Grl: A Survivor's Tale - Cody McClain Brown

This is the lighthearted story of American Cody McClain Brown’s adjustments to life in Croatia. After falling in love with an enigmatic, beautiful Croatian girl (whom he knows is from Croatia but assumes that means Russia), Cody eventually woos her and the two move to Split, Croatia. There, he encounters a world of deadly drafts, endless coffees, and the forceful will of his matriarchal mother-in-law. Chasing a Croatian Girl moves past the beautiful pictures of Croatia and humorously discovers the beauty of Croatia’s people and culture.

8) Slip - David Estes

As sea levels rise and livable landmasses shrink, the Reorganized United States of America has instituted population control measures to ensure there are sufficient resources and food to sustain the growing population. Birth authorization must be paid for and obtained prior to having a child. Someone must die before another can be born, keeping the country in a population neutral position at what experts consider to be the optimal population. The new laws are enforced by a ruthless government organization known as Pop Con, responsible for terminating any children resulting from unauthorized births, and any illegals who manage to survive past their second birthday, at which point they are designated a national security threat and given the name Slip.

But what if one child slipped through the cracks? What if someone knew all the loopholes and how to exploit them? Would it change anything? Would the delicate resource balance be thrown into a tailspin, threatening the lives of everyone?

And how far would the government go to find and terminate the Slip?

In a gripping story of a family torn apart by a single choice, Slip is a reminder of the sanctity of a single life and the value of the lives we so often take for granted.

9) Luna Tree: The Baby Project - Maya Berger

Maya is kicking up her heels, living the fabulous and mostly carefree life of a twenty-something young woman. However, in the back of her mind continuous longing for a good marriage and family lingers. How do you find the right man, the one who sticks through thick and thin? Will he provide you with the things you find essential in a relationship? Maya kissed a few frogs before finding her Prince Charming, but what followed was of higher importance. She started feeling chronic pain in her lower back, the pain that wouldn't let her neither sit nor stand. Thus Maya began her relentless quest for diagnosis and healing, which she ends after discovering Energy healing. She travels the globe to receive and raise her own stored Energy, the one that changes everything. Her ultimate desires come true.

10) Anna and the French Kiss - Stephanie Perkins

Can Anna find love in the City of Light?

Anna is happy in Atlanta. She has a loyal best friend and a crush on her coworker at the movie theater, who is just starting to return her affection. So she's less than thrilled when her father decides to send her to a boarding school in Paris for her senior year.

But despite not speaking a word of French, Anna meets some cool new people, including the handsome Étienne St. Clair, who quickly becomes her best friend. Unfortunately, he's taken —and Anna might be, too. Will a year of romantic near misses end with the French kiss she's waiting for?

 11) Once and for All - Sarah Dessen

As bubbly as champagne and delectable as wedding cake, Once and for All, Sarah Dessen's thirteenth novel, is set in the world of wedding planning, where crises are routine.

Louna, daughter of famed wedding planner Natalie Barrett, has seen every sort of wedding: on the beach, at historic mansions, in fancy hotels and clubs. Perhaps that's why she's cynical about happily-ever-after endings, especially since her own first love ended tragically. When Louna meets charming, happy-go-lucky serial dater Ambrose, she holds him at arm's length. But Ambrose isn't about to be discouraged, now that he's met the one girl he really wants.

Sarah Dessen’s many, many fans will adore her latest, a richly satisfying, enormously entertaining story that has everything—humor, romance, and an ending both happy and imperfect, just like life itself.

12) Everwind - Barbara Mišković

Deep in the dark and dreary Scandinavian forest there lies an ancient fortress of Stormgard. It is an orphanage for talented children who posses the priceless gift of magic. Unfortunately, after the dreadful war that nearly devastated Stormgard it became difficult for the Archmage to find new teachers for his apprentices. A beautiful, fire-haired woman from Great Britain applies for the job of an enchantress but Torval is unsure if she's really cut out for the job. Little does he know that their new enchantress has a secret. A secret so great that it could change everything!

13) Republic of Stone - Tanja Radman

After decades of dictatorship of the tyrant Rector, a resistance awakens alongside the truth withheld from the young heroes, who suddenly face tasks beyond their understanding. Learning about their magical origin, as well as the powers they gained in a rather bloody way, five young sorcerers are preparing for another war - one which might change everything, or even worse, nothing at all.

'Republic of Stone' is a historical fantasy novel situated in the medieval times of the Republic of Ragusa (today Dubrovnik, Croatia). It is the first of the Lex Legis series, which was translated into English after the Croatian paperback version sold out in two editions. Combining real historical places, events and characters with elements of Slavic mythology and pure epic fantasy, this book will take you on a journey you will never forget. If you decide to be adventurous and visit Dubrovnik, one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, you will be able to carry this book around real locations you can still visit today and relive the amazing magic battles from the story, bow before the evil Rector’s statue and defiantly whisper the forbidden sentence only the members of the Lunarian secret society know, learn about the hidden magical life of one of the most famous Croatian medieval scientists – Marin Ghetaldus, and walk the streets where the young heroes of this book learned about their destiny…

14) Bridesmaids - Jane Costello

I recieved a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Big thanks to author Nicole Schubert.

This was an okay read. I have to admit - it did take me a while to get myself into the story and I had my doubts about rating this book, but I decided to give it 2*

There are two things I really liked about this book. First of all, our MC had a goal she wanted to achieve and realistic obstacle she had to overcome, something many people can relate to. Francie wants to be a tennis player, but the problem is that she's injured her knee.

Another topic that this book touches is alcoholism. Francie's dad's alcoholism in this particular story. I think it added some depth to the plot and another perspective to our MC.

This in a way leads us to my main problem with this book: Francie and Chet. Maybe it's just me, but their relationship seemed very forced and I didn't really like them as characters. They were both annoying in different ways and, even though they were bearable, I had to put the book down couple of times.

What really slowed the book down and made book difficult to read was the writing style. Sentences were really short, breaking the natural flow of the text and making it hard to put yourself in the story. This would have been less of the problem had the story been told in first person, but third person point of view just made it stand out more.

On a side note: it made me smile when author mentioned one band in her Acknowledgements called Plavi orkestar. I grew up on some of their songs and to see them mentioned in a book that is in a different language was such a nice detail.

read in January 2017

I recieved a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Big thanks to author Andrea Tomić!


"This story is for all of you who sometimes feel like lost souls, sitting in sofa next to the window, covered in the warm blanket while you are reading familiar, and yet unknown words.(...) And you will learn soon enough that terrible things can happen when a storyteller falls in love."

This is a story many of you had already heard before. Two people who can't be together fall in love. As the author heself said, this story is a cliche. Oh boy, but what a beautiful one. What makes this one stand out is not only a little bit different take on a usual story, as Daniel and Rachelle are both very aware of their situation. What Tomić does here is take the essence of your average cliche romance and mocks it while putting our main characters in the same situation.
This is beautiful story about two people who really loved eachother. It is filled with a rollercoaster of emotions, characters you will love and hate and, most important of all, good story. Or stories, as we get to read those Daniel tells Rachelle.

This book is not for those who look for something new and revolutionary, because it isn't and it isn't even trying to be. This is for "dreamers, lovers and lunatics." This is for all of you who are looking for an enjoyable, emotional read and for those who are still looking for love that can be found in fairy tales.

Whilst I might not have adored Ari and Dante as much as some other people, I still really loved it - devouring it in one sitting on my sofa.

I loved the lyrical prose of this novel, and the growth of the relationship between Ari and Dante. Ari is hiding his feelings from himself so well that it comes almost (but not quite) as a surprise when he finally admits how much he has come to care for Dante.

Ari was a puzzle. I think he was very confused and in a lot of pain (both physical and emotional), but he could also be a bit irritating (just like anyone, I guess). Dante, on the other hand was a cute little shite and I wanted to jump into these pages and smother him with love.

I will definitely be one of those people that say: omg you have to read Ari and Dante!

If you're looking for a book with a happily ever after ending, If You Could Be Mine is most certainly not it.

I liked this novel, though I had some reservations about the main character and her motives. I know that she wanted to be with her best friend (who is also a girl), and so she thought she was willing to do anything in order to make that happen - including getting a sex change. But I felt like this kind of ... not trivialised but maybe undermined the struggles that transgender young adults go through. This was kind of touched on in the novel, where the main character (Sahar) speaks to a transwoman who says that she's glad that her body reflects who she is but it was hard. But even so, I wasn't 100% on board with that aspect of the book.

My favourite character was Sahar's gay cousin (I can't remember his name). For some reason I absolutely adored him and felt a fierce protectiveness for his character. Bless that he turned out safe and okay, otherwise *breathes fire*