The 2016 Bookish Bingo Challenge WRAP UP + GIVEAWAY

Hello friends! It's been a while, hasn't it? (The reason for my falling off the face of the earth this year is a discussion for another day, lol.)

The 2016 Bookish Bingo Challenge had an excellent start this year, and I was so thrilled with the massive number of you who showed interest in this silly little game I conjured up. With the introduction of the exciting new Mystery Missions, the challenge gained more popularity than I had ever expected. It was so exhilarating to have this fun little group of people to discuss books with.

2016 Bookish Bingo Challenge Wrap up will be posted tomorrow! 2.1.17

Sorry for the delay!

Mystery Mission Reveal #3 // The 2016 Bookish Bingo Challenge!

Hey guys! I know I've been MIA for quite some months now, but I'm back with the third mystery mission reveal. I know it's very late, so I won't make you wait any longer.. here it is..

This idea was inspired my my fascination with royalty, both in real life and in fiction. There's just something about the throne that throws the stakes up a little higher. It's thrilling. This challenge can include anything from a rich fantasy novel, to the Princess Diaries!

I know I'm still behind with releasing these missions but I promise they'll be coming out soon. Thanks for your patience and enjoy the challenge.

Happy reading, 

Mystery Mission #2 Reveal // The 2016 Bookish Bingo Challenge

Hello again, friends! The time has come (once again) for me to reveal the latest Mystery Mission of the 2016 Bookish Bingo Challenge. In case you missed the first reveal, you can see that one here.

So, you wanna see it?

Okay. Wait for it...

Wait for it...

Here it comes!!

Let's discuss: Do you listen to music while you read?

We daydreamers often find comfort in the loving embrace of both music and reading, but for as long as I can remember, there has been a debate over whether the two result in a delightful immersive experience, or create an absolute catastrophe.

Review: Alienated by Melissa Landers

Title: Alienated
Series: Alienated #1
Author: Melissa Landers
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Publication date: February 14th, 2014
Genres: Young adult, Contemporary, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Romance

Synopsis:
Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.

Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.

But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

I'm a conspiracy theory nut, so whenever I get the chance to explore books about Aliens (fiction or not) it's almost always a great time. Provided that there's a believable basis, and their interactions with humans come with realistic consequences. Otherwise, count me out. I believe it was last year, or maybe even the year before, where Alienated was receiving a HUGE amount of hype, particularly in the BookTube community. It definitely peaked my interest, and I've finally gotten around to picking it up!

Waiting on Wednesday | The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

This week I'm waiting on The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson.

Mystery Mission #1 Reveal // The 2016 Bookish Bingo Challenge

2016’s Bookish Bingo Challenge comes with a little bit of a twist. This year five boxes on the bingo card are marked with a mysterious question mark. As a result of not knowing what lies beneath them, they prevent you from attaining your precious BINGOs. Every second month a new mystery mission will be unveiled here on the blog so you may work towards completing your card. These mystery missions aren’t in any way superior to the other tasks in the challenge.

This is the first of the five mystery missions to be unveiled! I’m excited for you all to see it, because it’s a little bit of an subjective one. Though I had originally intended to choose the missions myself, I decided that you guys should be able to leave suggestions, so these mystery missions have been created by the members of the 2016 Bookish Bingo Challenge group on GoodReads.

Review: The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

Title: The Start of Me and You
Author: Emery Lord
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication date: March 31st, 2015
Genres: Young adult fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Friendship

Synopsis:
It’s been a year since it happened—when Paige Hancock’s first boyfriend died in an accident. After shutting out the world for two years, Paige is finally ready for a second chance at high school . . . and she has a plan. First: Get her old crush, Ryan Chase, to date her—the perfect way to convince everyone she’s back to normal. Next: Join a club—simple, it’s high school after all. But when Ryan’s sweet, nerdy cousin, Max, moves to town and recruits Paige for the Quiz Bowl team (of all things!) her perfect plan is thrown for a serious loop. Will Paige be able to face her fears and finally open herself up to the life she was meant to live?

Back in 2014 I fell in love with Emery Lord's debut novel, Open Road Summer. It was the quintessential contemporary novel in my eyes, so of course I jumped at the opportunity to read more from her. The Start of Me and You gave off a different vibe, not nearly as playful or witty. From the premise it seemed this story would something more in the same vein as Gayle Forman's novels, and if you know me, you'll know that Gayle Forman's novels are my absolute favourite.

That's a Wrap! A look back at January 2016

I honestly cannot comprehend the fact that another month has passed. I told myself that 2016 would be the year I finally begin to blog consistently, and though it's been a bit of a bumpy ride, it's definitely been rewarding. So much has happened over the course of the past month and I thought that this was the perfect opportunity to highlight some of the reading related things that occurred in January. Let's get into it!

My 2016 Reading Resolutions

With every new year comes an opportunity for change, for a fresh start. We all anticipate ripping out a new calendar and starting with a clean slate, filled to the brim with renewed promises to be better, that for 99.9% of people, dwindle and disappear. But I am determined to be that 0.1% and achieve some, if not all, of my new year's resolutions. As cliché as it sounds, my year always begins with setting goals for areas in my life which need improvement as evidenced by the preceding year. Each and every single one of my goals is a small step in working towards my 'big picture goals' and becoming the person I want to be.

Review: The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West

Title: The Fill-in Boyfriend
Author: Kasie West
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication date: May 5th, 2015
Genres: Young adult, fiction, romance, contemporary

Synopsis:
When Gia Montgomery's boyfriend, Bradley, dumps her in the parking lot of her high school prom, she has to think fast. After all, she'd been telling her friends about him for months now. This was supposed to be the night she proved he existed. So when she sees a cute guy waiting to pick up his sister, she enlists his help. The task is simple: be her fill-in boyfriend—two hours, zero commitment, a few white lies. After that, she can win back the real Bradley.
The problem is that days after prom, it's not the real Bradley she's thinking about, but the stand-in. The one whose name she doesn't even know. But tracking him down doesn't mean they're done faking a relationship. Gia owes him a favor and his sister intends to see that he collects: his ex-girlfriend's graduation party—three hours, zero commitment, a few white lies.
Just when Gia begins to wonder if she could turn her fake boyfriend into a real one, Bradley comes waltzing back into her life, exposing her lie, and threatening to destroy her friendships and her new-found relationship.

Confession: this is my first ever novel by Kasie West. I know, I know, shocking. But true. Whenever I ask for contemporary recommendations I am bombarded with tweets suggesting her novels, but it can be a little intimidating. I can now say that I am a fan. You know when you're in a terrible reading slump, and it kind of makes you want to impale yourself in the eye? No? Well, it's a feeling I've come to know quite well, and what I've found that occasionally works is light, breezy and cute contemporaries. And you know, when I see my all-time favourite trope appear (a.k.a the fake relationship) I simply can't help myself. The characters in this novel are really what won me over.

The 2016 Bookish Bingo Challenge!

It's that time of year again folks!! Buckle up, because it's time for the 2016 Bookish Bingo Challenge!

I created the 2015 Bookish Bingo Challenge on a bit of a whim. Coincidentally it turned out to be the single most successful idea that I've ever had. The challenge gained WAY more momentum than I ever could have imagined, and I am so thankful for all the beautiful friends I've come to make because of it. So without further a do, let's jump straight into it!

The 2015 Bookish Bingo Challenge Wrap Up + Giveaway!

I like to think the 2015 Bookish Bingo Challenge came to me in an epiphany. In reality, it was just one of those random shower thoughts, only it was one that I actually brought to life. When I created this challenge, my only goal was to have at least five people sign up and enjoy it. My blog was, and still is, quite small. But after its launch, the 2015 Bookish Bingo Challenge took off, gained momentum, and in no time those five sign ups arrived. I had reached my goal, and I was ecstatic. Only then I gained about a hundred more sign ups and my brain was just about ready to explode. People from all over the globe were interested in this crazy, spur of the moment, shower idea.

Review: All Fall Down by Ally Carter

Title: All Fall Down
Series: Embassy Row #1
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication date: February 5th, 2015
Genres: Young adult, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

Synopsis:
Grace can best be described as a daredevil, an Army brat, and a rebel. She is also the only granddaughter of perhaps the most powerful ambassador in the world and Grace has spent every summer of her childhood running across the roofs of Embassy Row.

Now, at age sixteen, she's come back to stay - in order to solve the mystery of her mother's death. In the process, she uncovers an international conspiracy of unsettling proportions, and must choose her friends and watch her foes carefully if she and the world are to be saved.

The Maddie Diaries: November in a Nutshell

November has come and gone, and I can't quite believe it. 

I've been MIA for quite some time, and while I wish I could spill all the details of what has happened over the past few months, that would be one heck of a long post. So I thought I'd show you a glimpse into my life, here's my November in a nutshell.

I'm (NOT) Sorry - Let's Live Unapologetically

If there’s one thing I hate about myself it’s that I am constantly apologising when I have no reason to be. There are many things I feel quilty about, not posting on this blog for over six months is one of them. I have  drafted this post about seventeen times, and each time the first thing I’d do is apologise. But for what? For wanting to focus on my studies? For spending time with my family? For wanting to lessen my stress?

Earlybird Review: The Girl At Midnight by Melissa Grey + My Tragic Attempt at Nail Art

Title: The Girl At Midnight
Series: The Girl At Midnight #1
Author: Melissa Grey
Publisher: Hachette
Publication date: April 28th, 2015
Genre(s): Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic, Adventure

Synopsis:
Beneath the streets of New York City live the Avicen, an ancient race of people with feathers for hair and magic running through their veins. Age-old enchantments keep them hidden from humans. All but one. Echo is a runaway pickpocket who survives by selling stolen treasures on the black market, and the Avicen are the only family she's ever known.

Echo is clever and daring, and at times she can be brash, but above all else she's fiercely loyal. So when a centuries-old war crests on the borders of her home, she decides it's time to act.

Legend has it that there is a way to end the conflict once and for all: find the Firebird, a mythical entity believed to possess power the likes of which the world has never seen. It will be no easy task, but if life as a thief has taught Echo anything, it's how to hunt down what she wants . . . and how to take it.

But some jobs aren't as straightforward as they seem. And this one might just set the world on fire.

The Girl at Midnight had me hooked from the very first page. The story started off with what I can honestly say was probably the best prologue I’ve ever read - I was captivated by it and it lead my hopes for this book to become incredibly high.

Review: Soulprint by Megan Miranda

Title: Soulprint
Author: Megan Miranda
Publisher: Bloomsbury Australia
Publication date: February 1st, 2015
Genre(s): Young Adult, Science Fiction, Action

Synopsis:
With the science of soul fingerprinting a reality, Alina Chase has spent her entire life imprisoned for the crimes her past self committed. In an attempt to clear her name, Alina unintentionally trades one prison for another when she escapes, aided by a group of teens whose intentions and motivations are a mystery to her. As she gets to know one of the boys, sparks fly, and Alina believes she may finally be able to trust someone. But when she uncovers clues left behind from her past life that only she can decipher, secrets begin to unravel. Alina must figure out whether she’s more than the soul she inherited, or if she’s fated to repeat the past.

It's not very often that I come across epic and adventurous standalone novels, but I hit the jackpot recently, ladies and gents. I got my hands on a copy of Soulprint.

We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach | Blog Hop + Giveaway!

Title: We All Looked Up
Author: Tommy Wallach
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Australia
Publication Date: April 1st, 2014
Genre(s): Contemporary, Apocalyptic

Synopsis:
Four high school seniors put their hopes, hearts, and humanity on the line as an asteroid hurtles toward Earth in this contemporary novel.

They always say that high school is the best time of your life.

Peter, the star basketball player at his school, is worried “they” might actually be right. Meanwhile Eliza can’t wait to escape Seattle—and her reputation—and perfect-on-paper Anita wonders if admission to Princeton is worth the price of abandoning her real dreams. Andy, for his part, doesn’t understand all the fuss about college and career—the future can wait.

Or can it? Because it turns out the future is hurtling through space with the potential to wipe out life on Earth. As these four seniors—along with the rest of the planet—wait to see what damage an asteroid will cause, they must abandon all thoughts of the future and decide how they’re going to spend what remains of the present.