Holiday Reading Wrap Up!

So, I went on holiday at the end of July.

I went to a little town near Alicante, in Spain, to spend ten days with my grandparents, aunt, uncle, and three cousins, alongside my mum and brother. It’s been tradition since I was fourteen, and I always have an amazing time. I eat paella, I drink their insane idea’s of a single vodka and lemonade and I get chased by firework wielding men dressed as demons.

And, I also read a lot of books.

This year, I read eleven books and three graphic novels. Some were good, some were really good and I have a select top few that I’m so in love with while simultaneously wishing I drowned them in the pool for how bad they hurt.

So I’ll be going through the list, and the final five will be my top reads of the holiday!

Without further ado, let’s get started.

Proxy by Alex London.

Proxy is a distopian sci-fi novel set in a broken America. The novel follows the idea that the rich can hire the poor as shields to take their punishment – so when a rich person breaks the law, the Proxy is punished instead.
One evening Knox, a patron, makes a drastic mistake – one that will end his Proxy, Sid’s, life. But Sid and Knox realise there’s only one way out of the mess they’re both in – to run. And the further they run, the more they learn about the Proxy state.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. For one thing, there’s really good minority representation. This might not seem like a massive deal but considering how little stories push their characters out of boundaries we don’t even realise we have in place it is a refreshing change.

I loved the characters; Sid plays an absolutely amazing protagonist, with no real idea what he’s doing and no desire to actually be part of what he is; he just wants to live his life as a Proxy and be done with it. He’s so used to the system, but is angry at the unfairity of all of it, knowing it’s not fair he wasn’t born into a position of privilege.
Knox, on the other hand, is equal parts sincere as he is damn infuriating. He does not understand in the slightest about the unfairity of the Proxy – Patron situation. In his mind, it’s “not his fault he was born that way” and “it’s just the way it is.” He has been so wrapped up in this privilege his whole life he really doesn’t get why it’s his problem to change anything and having him journey with Sid, watching them grow as characters together, is endlessly interesting and fascinating.

There’s also a whole host of supporting characters whom are extremely unique from one another and all give something more to the story.

The story itself? I really enjoy it. It’s a great idea and it’s executed really well, with hilarity, flair and turns that not many see coming.

The ending broke my heart – no spoilers but I was rooting for something to happen all book, it happened, and immediately after it was crushed. Like a grape.

Overall though, it’s a really good and very much worthwhile read, with the sequel already out and available to read!

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Twins, Cath and Wren, have always done everything together – until they start university. Wren wants to party, socialise and have a “normal” university lifestyle – Cath didn’t even want to go. Cath wanted to stay at home and bury herself in the world of fanfiction and the ones she writes about her dear Simon Snow, and not deal with her strange roommate or her even stranger friend. But as the year goes on, Cath finds out more and more about the real world, and more about the fictional one she’s been buried in all this time.

I have heard nothing but good things about Rainbow Rowell; Landline and Eleanor & Park are all in my Wishlist, waiting for me to pick them up and read them through. I ended up buying Fangirl on a whim after hearing a Booktuber say that it’s a really great introduction into Rainbow Rowell and so it ended up on my shelf, in my suitcase and now, in my “Read” pile.

For the most part it is just a fluffy read – there’s not a mega super deep story, and at some points a characters motives are so very unclear and confusing to me I literally sat there like “What?” But ultimately it’s a very real story and one I felt like I related to a lot.

I saw a lot of myself in Cath, her enthusiasm for her fandom and her absolute terror of 1) having to get it go and 2) having to share it with others incase they mocked or demeaned her for it. I’ve been in those shoes, and those shoes are a really shitty fit for anyone. I really liked the story for that reason – the idea that your fandom is important, and that even though adult life is going to throw a lot at you, it doesn’t mean you have to let go of that thing you love, it just means juggling some priorities. Mad props Rainbow Rowell – I haven’t actually read a story like this before so this was such a refreshing novel.

Cath’s anxiety is also portrayed really well too. She doesn’t fit in at all and is terrified of trying, despite her sister trying to push her to do so – she has no desire to be extroverted and loud, and is afraid of looking like an idiot if she tries. It’s also not portrayed in a very hit-and-miss way a lot of authors seem to go for, where the kid thinks they’re too cool to “fit in” – Cath just doesn’t want to and is nervous to. And I liked that.

Again, don’t go in expecting a life changing story – the characters have really sloppy motives at times, but I suppose most actual people do too. It’s a really good read, that’ll hopefully make you relate to some things and feel better about others!

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

Leonard Peacock is going to shoot his ex-best friend today. He has the gun ready and the gifts for the few people in the world who cared about him. And we’re about to find out why…

This was one of the most depressing books I’ve ever read in my entire life. I’m really not sure what to say other than that. I don’t mean it in a bad way – it’s a good read, with a compelling protagonist who’s emotions you cling onto really quickly, and you’re desperate for his motive. The writing style is also really great; it’s mostly Leonard talking, and occasionally he’ll reference something and it’ll become a footnote/citation – sometimes a very very long one.

This book just knows how to hurt you. You spend the whole thing wondering why Leonard is planning to kill his ex-friend and himself in this double suicide and slowly, you start to suspect why. And then when the reveal comes it’s like being punched in the stomach multiple times. It’s truly a really sad, sad book.

I’d say definitely give it a read, but there’s certain themes I know a lot of people won’t be able to stomach. No spoilers here but give the book a google, and then see if you can handle that for yourself.

It’s a well written book that tears your soul out and makes you wander about empty for a while. In a good way.

The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas

An omnibus of all five novella’s that take place before the events of Throne of Glass, The Assassin’s Blade follows Celaena’s story before the slave camp, the glass castle and the king’s tournament.

I had a lot of fun with this book. A combination of all five prequel novella’s, it’s a must have for anyone who’s reading the Throne of Glass series. Each story follows Celaena and her relationship with others in the guild, with Arobynn Hamel as the Head Assassin and Sam Cortland as her rival.

This honestly is a must read if you’re currently reading, or plan to read, Throne of Glass and it’s sequels. You get to understand Celaena and her attitude a lot more once you read these novella’s, and understand the absolute agony of the tale behind her first love. Each story is well woven with the same narrative from the original series; laced with sarcasm and dark humour, Celaena kicks ass and takes names with a grin and a twinge of selfless acts.

I can’t really say much more without spoiling some of the events that go on, but just know that once you realise who turned Celaena in (if it’s a smidge predictable) you’re going to lose your mind. Your heart is going to hurt, you will cry and you will try and throw the book into the nearest water source.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

When Thomas wakes up in a cold, dark elevator, he remembers absolutely nothing about his life – except for his name. And he has yet to find out exactly how his arrival at the Glade is going to change everything for the boys trapped inside…

I enjoyed The Maze Runner one hell of a lot! The mystery behind the maze is incredible complex to figure out – and once you do, it’s so horrifying that you want the maze back. The twists and turns this story takes are incredibly tense, and a lot of fun to read. You feel so damn sorry for these kids in the story, these kids you grow to learn about, to identify and to love – it’s beyond terrifying and heartbreaking when anything happens to them.

The Maze itself is such an interesting concept – if you’re like me and incredibly claustrophobic, the thought of a huge maze that you cannot solve surrounding you constantly is absolutely horrifying, but thrilling. The more you find out about the maze and the things that comb the halls after dark, the more you wish you didn’t know.

It’s a really excellent read, a lot of fun and a lot of heartbreak. Definitely a recommended read.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

To contain the outbreak of vampires, Coldtown’s were created to keep them away from humanity. Broadcast on reality TV, Coldtown’s immortal residents are but a horrific and glamorous distance from the mortal world –  until Tana wakes up one morning from a house party, with everyone around her but her infected ex, a vampire and herself, dead. The three begin a journey to the Coldtown and along the way, deadly historical secrets begin to unfold.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Coldest Girl in Coldtown. I heard a lot of very good things, about both Holly Black and this book, so I thought I’d give it a try – and I am genuinely impressed. The vampires are much more like the historic, Dracula vision of vampires, with no disturbance to gore and murder, and are exceedingly cunning and cruel, even when they seem dashing.

Tana as a character is a fascinating read; a teenage girl with a history of a turned family member, she knows all too well what going Cold will mean for her and for Aiden, and the hysterical, excruciating struggle it is to stay Cold for the weeks you must resist. She’s had it rough, and she knows how to carry herself.

The story surrounding the young, chain up vampire in the room with her ex is also an interesting one – and one I honestly didn’t see coming! It was a great surprise.

I really enjoyed it, I enjoyed the ending, and I will be picking up The Darkest Part of the Forest as soon as possible!

The Woods by James Tyrion IV

The Woods is a graphic novel about how an entire school is transported from Earth to an alien planet, and how a group of children separates from the chaos and hierarchy growing in the school to find out where they are, and why they’ve been brought here.

Volume 1. of The Woods is such a fantastic introduction to this series; the artwork is absolutely fantastic and really different to any other artwork I’ve seen in the graphic novel side of things. The first volume is mostly setting stages, so introducing us to characters, to the situation and to a larger story that’s coming into play.

The characters are really great and I’m super invested in them. The way the school system starts to fall apart and how a hierarchy of violence and aggression is built is horrifying to watch, but nothing less than you’d expect from certain people in a highly intense and panicked situation.

I would sincerely recommend picking this up from your local comic store, really, it’s a fantastic read that is equal parts in grossness, funniness and tensitness. Because those are words.

Sex Criminals by Matt Fraction

Two people discover that when they have sex, time stops. Those two people meet. Those two people have sex. Those two people start robbing banks.

Honestly, is there a better premise out there? Because this is fantastic. This is such an original, wonderful concept and I am still struck by how much delight and hilarity I get out of it. The execution matches, and even goes beyond it’s premise, in that sense. It’s a deeply funny story, but ultimately it has it’s intensely serious moments, dealing with themes like consent, rape, alcholism, hetero-normaty and so on and so forth. Our narrator, Suzie, is a bluntly honest young woman, open both about her sexuality and about everyone elses. She’s smart, she’s beautiful and she’s just really fucking funny.

The first volume instantly draws you in, with this amazing diverse cast of characters and an antagonist who is just as hilarious as the protags. It’s a fantastic graphic novel and I could not recommend it more. Spoiler alert though; it contains a lot of nudity and sex.

Also, these two wrote it.

So what could go wrong?

172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad

N.A.S.A holds an incredible lottery; for three lucky winning teenagers, it’s the chance to go up to the moon to launch their new space base, and encourage publicity and interest in N.A.S.A careers in the youth sector. However, when the crew get to the moon, they realise they’re not alone as they think, and that N.A.S.A has some secrets they’re keeping.

This book fucked me up so badly. I was terrified. For one thing, the setting is incredibly perfect; it’s the fucking moon. There is no just running away from the moon, no calling the police to come get you – you’re pretty damn stuck, and when there’s an unknown, horrifying monster coming after you and your crewmates, that isn’t where you want to be.

This book is so genius, so scary and so, so great. It contains a lot of links to actual events that occurred in N.A.S.A history, and also nods nicely to the theories of Emilie Sagee and that there is alien life on Earth’s moon.

It’s also genuinely terrifying, and not just for the setting; it’s just a really creepy, unsettling book. It draws you in with it’s amazing, beautiful atmosphere and concept, with all these clues and nods – and then it strikes, lashing out with an awful, gut wrenching grip and unnerving you on a permanent basis.

If you really like space and are really into the paranomal, or just into being scared out of your wits, 172 Hours on the Moon is the book for you.

We’re now approaching the Top 5 on my list. You may disagree with the fact these five are the top choices, but they are the ones that left me desperately needing more, that I thought “Holy shit, that was super awesome” about, and the ones that just touched me the most. I sincerely recommend every book on this list, and then especially these five.

The Thirteen Treasures by Michelle Harrison

Tanya has always been able to see fairies; and they’ve always been able to mess with her as a result. After one visit goes horrendously wrong, Tanya is sent to live in her Grandmothers old, fairy-riddled estate – a living hell for Tanya.
But then an old photograph shows Tanya an unsolved mystery that haunts the family – a missing girl who vanished in the woods 50 years ago. But no one will talk of what happened – so Tanya and Fabian, the caretakers son, decide to find the truth. And discover a sinister history about to repeat itself…

The Thirteen Treasures is honestly great. It’s aimed at a sort of middle school/young teen audience, but I honestly think everyone could really enjoy this book.

The fairy lore is great – these fairies aren’t delicate little creatures who grant wishes and are sweet and kind – they’re spiteful, vindictive and harsh little monsters, playing pranks, biting people and stealing things. They’re wicked little individuals. Harrison makes a delightful little cast of fairies, who are as interesting and funny as they are mean. From the little fairy that lives in the kitchen and swaps the sugar for salt, to the little hogfairy that sneezes and snuffles in the night, they’re all intensely interesting and not just side hosts to Tanya’s story.

The other supporting characters in this story are all interesting; Tanya’s grandmother makes for a wonderfully aloof woman who you can’t bring yourself to dislike at all, because it does feel like she reaches out to Tanya best she can. Warwick plays the scary butler with a dark tormented past role to a goddamn T, but still remains to be a somewhat likeable character, if only tarnished by how mean he can be to his own son – but he has his merits, and really does prove himself at the end. His own father, Amos, is an incredibly tragic character, driven to insanity with age and with the accusations of a crime decades old weighing on his shoulders. He shouts, he hollers, he attacks physically and verbally with no real coherentness – it’s scary and incredibly sad.

Fabian is an interesting character; obsessed with science and keeping logs, he’s incredibly intelligent, but isn’t a play on the defenseless nerd stereotype. He stands up to his father and reacts to things as most teenage boys living on an estate with their butler dad and deranged grandfather would – he’s just angry and isolated. But he’s also loyal, and he makes for an incredibly good friend to Tanya.

Tanya herself is fantastic. She’s clearly adapted to her abilities, despite finding them a constant, miserable burden on her life. She hates the fairies and the fact they know they can mess with her, but she’s not entirely heartless to them. When she finds a fairy crushed on a car windscreen, she buries them properly and delicately. When a Gnome is being bullied in her garden, she does her best to shield him from their wickedness. She works out how they communicate and how to bargain. In short – Tanya is a really intelligent, witty and caring protagonist. She’s emotional but not overwhelmed with angst. She does her best to do right, even if the fairies don’t agree with it, and she learns incredibly fast how to dodge their punishments and schemes.

The story itself is marvelous; dark, gritty and terrifying. It’s a story of two best friends making a costly childish mistake, and two realms at war. The ending wraps everything up so nicely, but not with perfect results, as most good stories shouldn’t. It’s scary, adventurous and overall just a really fantastic read. It’s the first in a series of three, and I’ve already picked up The Thirteen Curses eagerly.

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Todd Hewitt is the last boy in Prentisstown. Prentisstown is a town where it’s citizen’s are made only of males, after a virus wiped out all of the women – and made their animals talk, and brought the Noise. The Noise is the sound of every single persons thoughts, at all times. There are no secrets or privacy in Prentisstown.

Then, a month from his birthday to make him a man, Todd stumbles upon a spot of total silence. And then he sees the girl.

And then he has to run.

Oh my fucking God, you guys. The Knife of Never Letting Go is the first in a series called The Chaos Walking series, and I am beyond impressed. Stunned. Heartbroken and amazed at this wonderful, wonderful book and so angry at myself that I didn’t read this sooner.

I picked up this book years and years ago, and it’s sat in my cupboard until a friend insisted I take it with me and read it. So I did. And guys, I’m in love.

From beginning to end, the story totally grips you. From the psychopathery from the people of Prentisstown to the mystery behind the Girl and her silence, everything is intricately woven together into this amazing and devastating plot. When you start to piece together what really happened in Prentisstown, when the Noise came and wiped out the female population, you’re horrified. It’s terrible, it’s sickening and it’s magnificent to read. Without spoiling too much, it’s a really dark, dark tale that pulls no punches, dealing with themes of misogyny, genocide, and PTSD.

The other characters in the story are wonderfully complex, and there are a lot of them. They each play a crucial role in the story, helping fit together the puzzle that is the Noise. Todd’s carers, Ben and Cillian are unflinchingly like what you’d expect of two parents – his relationship with them is like most with their parents. Cillian insists Todd doesn’t do enough and berates him for his stubbornness, Todd argues he does a lot. Cillian and Todd but heads often, and then there’s Ben, to calm them and give them both equal chance. They clearly adore Todd, and when shit hits the fan, their one joint priority, is Todd.

The other people of Prentisstown are a mix of characters, but mostly, they are terrifying. There’s the deeply disturbed Aaron, the priest of the town, who only grows more and more sickening and unflinchly grotesque as the story continues, and Mayor Prentiss’s son, the unflinching leader of his army.

Mayor Prentiss is the perfect villain. He’s so set in what he’s doing and he’s doing it so well that he is constantly formidable. There’s never a moment you think to take him lightly, or think Todd and The Girl might have him beaten – he is a permanent threat and fixture, with an unwavering might. He honestly might be up there in my list of most memorable antagonists, he’s just genuinely fucking scary.

The Girl is a great character, and reminds me of the role of Teresa in The Maze Runner but on a much higher scale. Her arriving literally changes everything Todd thought he knew about the world he lived in, and it has devastating effects on everything around them. She is beyond crucial to this story, and there’s never a dull moment with her. She’s interesting, complex and your heart breaks a little for her when details of her past start to unwind.

And oh, I can’t not mention Manchee. Manchee is Todd’s talking dog, and I loved him from his first utterance of “Need a poo, Todd.” He’s just the best talking animal ever; like a mix of Dug from Up, Chance and Shadow from Homeward Bound he’s unwaveringly loyal, entirely simple and just the best. I loved that stupid dog. I loved his weird little phrases, loved his totally inappropriate little commentaries on things and argh. This dog broke my heart at least 30 times.

Todd himself is what you’d expect of most teenage boys who find out their entire lives are lies and he has to go on a really dangerous quest – he’s a bit of a shit. He’s an angry, lonely kid with only his very simple dog for a friend, and he’s mean and rude and fairly violent. He swears a tonne and is just a total brat, and it’s kind of okay. Because most 13 year old kids are. And then as his story goes on, he really changes; develops. He learns to give a shit, to challenge all he once knew. He’s brave, he’s loyal and he can be incredibly kind. His panic over the thought of spreading his Noise to the Girl and making her sick is constant, and he tries his best to keep away from her while wanting to keep his only other friend in this new and terrible world close.

Overall, this book has not a single fault. It’s unflinching, it’s brave and it’s in your face. Patrick Ness is a fantastic writer, hitting the mark on every single part of this book, and I couldn’t recommend it more.

Oh, and prepare to lose your shit at the ending. I shouted a lot. I nearly put this book in the pool, and for me, that’s the sign of a great twist – that you want to drown the novel and pretend it didn’t happen. I did it with the Red Wedding from ASOIAF I can totally do it here

The Wicked + The Divine Volume 2: Fandemonium by Kieron Gillen

Every ninety years, twelve God’s return as young people. And in two years, those young people die.

Fandemonium is the second Volume in the series of The Wicked + The Divine. No spoilers here on how Volume 1 ended, but it follows on really wonderfully. Our protagonist is in a state of both grieving, and trying to harness something she’s not even sure she’s been given.

Having been so close to the new God’s so far, and broadcasting it on social media, she’s now become a pillar for the fanbase. She’s loved and hated as much as the God’s are and even develops her own fanbase. There’s an honest look at conventions, fandoms and the effect of social media – even if you aren’t a God, just being close with them is enough.

There isn’t a lot I can say without spoiling events up to this point, so what I will say is this; pick up the first volume. Then pick up the second. And sit and cry with me as we wait for Volume 3, which will take a while to be out.

The artwork is stunning; anyone who read the recent Young Avengers run from Marvel! Now, will recognize the work, the gorgeous and colourful designs, the stunning page layouts and the inventive story telling. The quick wit, the scary but wonderful individual characters – and the God’s. The God’s are fucking incredible. They’re all so different, and amazing. They each have their own agenda, they’re deeply rude and mean and free-living; but who wouldn’t be with only two years to walk the Earth?

Shit well and truly hits the fan at the end of this novel, and now I’m so scared of being spoiled for what happens next, I’ve been avoiding any talk of the individual novels for weeks. I am in torture. I am in limbo.

How can you do this to me guys? We already spoke about my pain when Teddy and Billy separated in Young Avengers, so, yanno. Please.

The Young Elites by Marie Lu

A blood fever sweeps the world, and leaves in it’s wake a cast of malfetto’s – abominations. Marked by horrendous scars, they are outcast, abused and untrusted. However, some malfetto’s are left with more than scars – they are left with powerful gifts and abilities. They are Young Elites.

This is the fate of Adelina Amoutero, with a jagged scar to replace her left eye. Her power is dark, deadly and thrives off the vengeance in her heart. And unless she learns to control it, she’s a bigger threat than anything else the world has known – Young Elite, malfetto, or not.

The first thing that comes to mind when I think about this book is just a constant, incoherent shrieking in my brain. Words honestly seem to fail me, because there aren’t words for the adoration I have for this book. I am so, so fucking impressed, more so than I ever thought I would be.

When I first read about this book, I assumed – Girl finds out she has Dark and Mysterious Power and she Learns to Use it for Good. But oh it is so, so much more.

First off, the world building is beyond impressive. I can picture the towns, the people and their states of mind so very clearly. The anger, the hatred towards malfetto’s, the everything. Adelina’s father and sister play realistic and terrifying side characters; her sister is not a malfetto, somehow escaping from the blood fever unaffected, and while she doesn’t join in with the abuse, she certainly doesn’t step in to stop it. Her father is a seething, grotesque and abusive man, and the more you find out about the horror’s he subjected his daughter too, the more you understand why Adelina’s powers are embedded in darkness.

The other Young Elites are just such fantastic characters too. Mostly aloof and distrusting (for some very, very clear reasons.) they all have these incredible powers, controlled by such an individual concept. Some powers seem so small, but they’re incredibly useful and wonderful. They have their own personalities and are really great, memorable characters. They’re also very unperfect and selfish – like most people looking to build an army, they only save the malfetto they consider useful and it’s something the audience and Adelina pick up on very quickly. It’s a very uncomfortable scenario, to back people with such selfish motives.

When you discover why this particular group of Young Elites have banded together and who their leader, Enzo, really is, everything makes horrifying sense – because it means literally everything to the story. It is just such a punch to the gut and it’s not even the worst one.

The worst punch comes later, taking the story in a direction I didn’t expect when I opened this book. Adelina isn’t some kid with cool but ghastly powers – her powers genuinely lie within a darkness, that she can only allow to grow if she wants to learn control.

I just. Argh. I can’t even really be coherent about this book, because it really, really shocked me. It’s amazing, it’s horrifying and it broke my fucking heart. I was so angry and disturbed for a lot of it, and I was so angry on Adelina’s behalf – half supporting her, half being just as afraid of her as everyone else is.  I love this book, I love it, I adore it, and I will be picking up The Rose Society, the sequel, when it comes out on October 15th.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness – from an original idea by Siobhan Dowd.

The monster shows up just after midnight. But it’s not the monster Conor has been expecting; it’s not the monster from his loud, screaming nightmares that he has every night, and has since his mother’s treatment began.

This monster is different. This monster is going to tell Conor three stories in exchange for the most dangerous thing of all – The Truth.

Siobhan Dowd originally thought of the story for this book – though sadly, due to her premature death from cancer, she was unable to write it herself. Patrick Ness took the story, and wrote it best he could in her memory. And in my opinion, he did a spectacular job.

This story is one about love, loss and the moral greys of human life. It’s genuinely distressing, unfair and troubling – and it’s happening to a young child. It’s hard to read at times, but you have to read it.

The monster Conor speaks of is scary, but he’s not here to destroy anything – he’s here to guide Conor, and to take the truth from him. The truth of how Conor really is coping with what’s happening to his mother.

I feel like this book is best gone into without saying too much, so I will just say how I feel about the book.

I feel like this is a book that’s changed my entire world-view for the better. It’s so dark, but so full of hope. I started it being scared of the monster, and by the end, all I felt was this overwhelming sadness. I cried, a lot, genuine massive gulpy cries where talking wasn’t an option. It’s a book that flips all these expectations and world views on it’s head, and only gives you what it want’s from Conor – the truth. It’s unflinching, it’s beautiful and it’s just so beyond tragic.

This is a book that’s become very dear and important to me, and I feel like everyone should read this book.

If you can, pick up the illustrated version. The illustrations are done by Jim Kay, and they fit perfectly in with this story. They’re beautiful and dark, just as this tale is, and I loved them.

So that’s it; my reading wrap up for my vacation. I cried, I laughed, I got sunburnt getting too sucked into them while sitting in the mid-afternoon heat. They were my faithful, exciting (if also mean, depressing and aggressive.) friends on my ten day trip with my family and I am genuinely so happy I got to go on all these adventures with them.

I sincerely do recommend every single book on this list, I really do. Let me know if you’ve read any of them or have had any thoughts about picking them up! Because then we can talk about them all and I’d like that.

I hope you’ve all been good and that life has also been good to you.

Fare thee well,

Fran.