The Choice

The choice

Author: Nicholas Spark

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Year published: 2015

Pages: 305 (paperback)

Rate: 2/5

After seeing the movie trailer of the choice, I instantly wanted to read the book because the trailer portrayed a cute love story, and I wanted to read the book before going to watch the movie.

But when I did read the book I was disappointed as it was not what I expected at all, for me I could not fully get into the book nor did I feel like I could connect with the characters.

The story is about Gabby and Travis, Gabby moves in next door with her dog and when her dog suddenly gets pregnant she assumes its Travis’s dog that has gotten her dog pregnant. This is how the two meet, and from there their love story begins.  

I now feel that after reading many Nicholas sparks books I know what to expect and I know exactly what’s going to happen, somehow the two people will meet, will get to know each other and within a week or so they fall in love, they will either already be with someone or they will be someone in the way of their love, and one of the main characters will always end up in the hospital.

I wouldn't mind reading a romantic story like this but after reading a few of Spark’s books which always follow in the same direction there’s no fun in reading the book as you know what’s going to happen. 

I didn't really enjoy reading this book, and I when I did sit down with the book I wasn't really eager to read the book, that’s why I gave this book 2/5 stars.

But I still can’t wait to watch the movie; I hope it turns out to be better than the book. 

The Girl On The Train

The Girl On The Train

Author: Paula Hawkins

Publisher: Transworld Publishing 

Year published: 2015

Pages: 319 (paperback)

Rating: 3.5/5

The girl on the train is such a well written and precisely planned out book.

This book is amazing and worth the read, it definitely makes you think deeply about the things which happen in the book and it will make you not trust any of the characters in the book.

The book is about Rachel who takes the same train every morning and passes the same houses where she watches the same couple every morning getting on with their daily routine. But one morning when she passes their home whilst on the train she sees something shocking, which she can’t keep to herself and she must tell the police. But has she done more harm than good in telling others what she saw.

There’s so much which happens in the book that it keeps you interested whilst reading it. There are so many secrets and the mystery in the book will definitely keep you entertained while reading this thriller story.

Even though this book was a good read and it didn't take me long to read it, I couldn't help but feel like there was something missing from the book. I don’t usually read books like this and it was a good read but I probably wouldn't pick this book up again. 

A Walk To Remember

A Walk To Remember

Author: Nicholas sparks

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Year published: 2004

Pages: 240 (paperback)

Rating: 4/5

Yes, it’s another Nicholas Sparks book. Having already seen the movie of a walk to remember I knew already what the story was going to be about but still I wanted to read it.

I don’t know why, but most of the time I prefer to read the book then to watch the movie, and I have to say that a walk to remember is better to read then watch.

The book has so much more emotion and much more detail then the movie which is why I preferred the book to the movie. Even though the book and the movie are really different this book is defiantly worth the read.

A walk to remember is about a girl name Jamie Sullivan and Landon Carter. Jamie is the daughter of a preacher; she’s quiet and always carries the bible with her, whereas Landon is the complete opposite. Landon would have never of dreamed of talking to Jamie, but when he asks her to the homecoming dance things change, and their life’s change forever.

When reading the story, I could sort of guess at times what would happen, but I really enjoyed reading the story about Landon and Jamie their love story is cute and I would definitely read this simple love story again. 

Isla And The Happily Ever After

Isla And The Happily Ever After

Author: Stephanie Perkins

Publisher: Usbourne Publishing

Year published: 2014

Pages: 375 (Paperback)

Rating: 5/5

Isla and the happily ever after, would have to be my favourite book from the three of them. I was hoping for a cute romance story and that’s what I got from this book and I absolutely loved it. If you've read the first book in this series Anna and the French kiss then you’ll probably remember Isla from it with her crush on Josh.

This book is about is about Isla and Josh and how after three years of crushing on Josh Isla finally speaks to him when she sees him at a coffee shop. This book takes places in both Paris at the boarding school and in Manhattan when they are on summer break. But when both Isla and Josh return back to school many things happen which make Isla and Josh uncertain their future together.

This book was the best out of the three to me because I felt like I could relate to Isla and her story which made me want to read her story.

I loved the love story between Isla and Josh I just thought it was so cute and I enjoyed reading about their love story.

Another thing which I really liked about this book is that the other characters from the book made an appearance and it’s nice to see how their getting along in their lives.

I would definitely read this story again; have you read the books in this series, which was your favourite out of the three? 

Lola And The Boy Next Door

Lola And The Boy Next Door

Author: Stephanie Perkins 

Publisher: Usborne Publishing 

Year published: 2014

Pages: 384 (paperback)

Rating: 2/5

Lola and the boy next door is the second book from Anna and the French kiss, I was so excited to read this book because I knew this would be another romance book with a cute love story too it, but sadly I was disappointed because I didn't enjoy reading this book as much.

It took me a while to finish reading this book; just because I got bored halfway through that I just left it to the side.

The book is about a girl named Lola who loves dressing up in different costumes she wears wigs and different costumes every day. Lola is happy and content with her life with her rocker boyfriend, but when the bell twins arrive next door all past feeling return for Lola but it takes her a while to realise that she is in love with Cricket.

There was just something about this book which I just didn't enjoy, with this book I felt like I couldn't really connect and relate to the characters and so this book just wasn't for me. I didn't really like the main characters and probably that’s the reason why I didn't like the book.  

I wouldn't read this book again, but I can’t wait to read the next book in this series which is Isla and the happily ever after. 

Anna And The French Kiss

Anna And The French Kiss

Author: Stephanie Perkins

Publisher: Usborne Publishing

Year published: 2014

Pages: 400 (paperback)

Rating: 4/5

What’s better then reading a book which is set in Paris, the city of love. I loved this book from the plot to the characters it was such a good read for me.

This book is about a girl named Anna who is sent off to Paris by her father to study. Anna’s upset about leaving school and leaving her friends behind, but once she gets to Paris she finds herself making new friends. Étienne is one of the new friends she makes and Anna starts to like him but he’s taken.

One of things which I loved about reading this book was the characters, they were all so unique and they all had their own personalities which made the book much better to read. I loved all the characters in the book and I loved getting to know each of the characters.

The book is an easy and quick read and it’s cute and the romance between Anna and Étienne is so simple and easy to read about and their love story is so cute.

But yes even though Étienne is taken they somehow make things work, and even though he sorts of cheats on his girlfriend it didn't seem like a big thing to me while reading the book because I didn't really the his girlfriend, and anyway it’s a book and even though this really happens in reality it just sort of worked in the book.

There are three books within this series, but they can each be read alone as there are not carried on from one another, but the other characters do make appearances in the book. Anna and the French kiss is the first book in the series.

I would definitely read this book again, and would recommend it to all to read.

Safe Haven

Safe Haven 

Author: Nicholas sparks

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Year published: 2013

Pages: 365 (paperback)

Rating: 2.5/5

Before reading this book, I had already seen the movie so I knew what to expect and basically I knew what was going to happen, but I still wanted to read the book just because I always feel like the book would be better than the movie. But in this case I would have to say that I enjoyed watching the movie than reading the book.

Safe haven is about a woman named Katie, who is on the run from her past, she moves to a new town makes a new friend one is her neighbour Jo and the other is a shop owner called Alex and he has two children. As the story goes on Katie and Alex fall in love, but Katie hides her secrets from the past and eventually the past does catch up with her.

I found this book quite boring to read as there was too much detail where it was not needed. Such as when describing each characters day to day life and what they do from the minute they wake up is not something I want to read about, I want to read about the excitement in their lives and the adventures they get up to, I don’t want to read about boring things about getting up and having breakfast.

The only thing I liked about reading the book was that it each chapter was in the point of view of different characters and some characters chapters were more enjoyable to read then others.

I probably wouldn't read the books again but I would watch the movie. 

The Fault In Our Stars

The Fault In Our Stars

Author: John Green

Publisher: Penguin Book

Year published: 2013

Pages: 318 (paperback)

Rating: 1/5

After seeing countless reviews of the fault in our stars, I decided to read it to see what was so good about it that everyone seemed to love it. I was really disappointed after reading this book because I didn't enjoy reading it at all.

Having high expectations because of what others had said about the book, I thought I was in for a good read but I didn't find the story interesting at all. The writing style just wasn't for me, and the characters weren't very likeable. I felt like the story jumped from one thing to another really quickly and some bits just didn't make sense to me.

The story is about two people Hazel and Grace who meet at a cancer support group, despite them both being diagnosed with cancer they continue to live their life and fall in love with one another.

The fault in our stars is meant to be an emotional story but it is not that at all, when something emotional did happen in the book- I won’t give spoilers, but it does not make you feel emotion and it just continues as if nothing has happened.

This is a book that I would never pick up again to read, I didn't enjoy reading it and most of the book was just boring, I found it very hard to finish reading this book and will definitely not read it again. 

The Last Song

The Last Song 

Author: Nicholas sparks

Publisher: sphere

Year published: 2010

Pages: 432 (paperback)

Rating: 4/5

Having already seen the movie before reading the book I knew what to expect and knew what was going to happen, but I have to say that the movie does not do the book justice. The book is written so well and the way everything is described just makes reading the book better than watching the movie.

The story is about Veronica “Ronnie” who is a seventeen year old with a bad attitude and is rebellious. Ronnie and her brother Jonah are going to their visit their dad in North Carolina for the summer, but hasn't spoken or seen him in three years ever since her parents divorced. Ronnie decides to completely ignore her father, whereas her younger brother Jonah helps their father in making a stained glass window for the church. During the summer Ronnie meets a local boy called Will and soon they fall in love. Ronnie also slowly starts to trust her father again, but when the truths come out Ronnie has a lot to face.

This book is definitely a tear jerker and there’s a lot of emotion from joy love and tears which makes the book all the better to read.

This book was a good read and I would definitely read the book again. 

Broken Fences

Broken Fences 

Author: Camilla Noli 

Publisher: Orion

Year published: 2011

Pages: 288 (Paperback)

Rating: 3/5

I don’t usually go for books which are about mothers and children, not because I don’t like them but because I feel like I can’t connect to the book or relate to it because I wouldn't really know how they are feelings.

The story is about a Clair the mother of two kids; she lives with her husband and has set up the perfect life for her family. Clair does everything she can to make sure no harm would come to her kids, until new neighbours move in and Clair instantly knows that the little girl who has moved in with her family is not going to be good for her family. Clair does everything she can to make sure that her children are safe and tries to keep them away from the little girl as much as she can.

Broken fences is a quick and simple read, I liked the book as it gets straight to the point and draws you in from the first page, and keeps you interested till the end.

The books main focus is on the relationship between a mother and her child. I did enjoy reading the book, but because I felt like I couldn't relate or connect to it I wouldn't read the book again. 

Eleanor and Park

Eleanor and Park 

Author: Rainbow Rowell 

Publisher: Orion 

Year published: 2013

Pages: 325 (Paperback)

Rating: 2/5

Eleanor and Park, is about a two teenagers called Eleanor and Park. Eleanor is new town and she sticks out from the others kids as she’s completely different with her red her and mismatched clothes. Park is the boy with the headphones on and always with a book. After sitting next to each other on the bus the two teenagers become friends and from there they start to fall in love.

After reading this book I couldn't help but feel as though something was missing from the book, I didn't really enjoy reading this book as I just couldn't feel myself understanding the characters or really understanding much of the book.

The book goes through the point of view of both the characters, and at the beginning of the book I was starting to enjoy it but then towards the middle I just wasn't interested much as before. I didn't really like the writing style either I felt like it was too simple and the story moved on from one thing to another really quick. Even at the end of the book I felt like there was still so much missing from the book, and like it was left incomplete.

I wouldn't go back and read this book, as I didn't enjoy reading it. 

The Longest Ride

The Longest Ride

Author: Nicholas sparks

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Year published: 2013

Pages: 416 (Paperback)

Rating: 5/5

So far from all the Nicholas Sparks books which I have read, the longest ride has to be my favourite.

I absolutely loved this book and the way Nicholas Sparks told the love story of two couples in this book.

The story starts off with Ira a ninety one year old man who has just been in a car accident and is finding it hard to stay conscious after the crash, Ruth his dead wife appears and Ira reminisces the time which they spent together, and this helps Ira to hang on to his life.

Ira and Ruth story was just so beautiful that I especially loved reading about their love and the obstacles which they had to overcome when they were together.

The other couple in the book was Sofia and Luke, Sofia is in college and Luke is a bull rider. Sofia has just come out of a relationship and is not really looking to meet someone, but when her friends drag her to a rodeo and that’s where she meets Luke, they instantly connect and fall in love, but with many obstacles in their life too which they need to overcome.

Nicholas Sparks then brings the two couples together, and both their stories are just wonderful that I couldn't stop reading the book. There’s so much love and emotion and obstacles which the couples have to overcome and they way the book is written is I just loved it all.

This is now one of my favourite books and I would definitely recommend it to all. I can’t wait to read this beautiful love story again. 

Lonely Girl

Lonely Girl

Author: Josephine Cox

Publisher: Harper  

Year published: 2015

Pages: 400 (Paperback)

Rating: 5/5

It’s hard to find a book that draws you in straight away, but this book did just that it hooked me right in from the very first page.

The book is an easy and simple read and can easily be read within a day or two; I especially liked the story line even though it was a bit repetitive at times I still enjoyed reading this book.

The story is about a young girl called Rosie; she lives with her father who adores her and her stepmother who hates her. Rosie’s father tries hard to protect Rosie from the beatings and abuse from her step mother, but then when something terrible happens he’s no longer there to protect her.  Rosie is then alone trying to find the truth with many obstacles in her path.

I really enjoyed reading this book, this little girl Rosie goes through so much at such a young age it’s interesting to see how she overcome’s everything in her path and how she matures as such a young girl.

I would definitely read this book again and recommend it to all it's such a good book. 

The Guest List

The Guest List

Author: Melissa Hill

Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton  

Year published: 2013

Pages: 370 (Paperback)

Rating: 5/5

I saw this book twice, the first time I seen it I was a bit wary about getting it because it looked like nothing major would really happen in the book, the second time I saw it I decided to get it because I loved the cover and why not just get a book with a beautiful cover to add to my shelf.

The book is about Shane and Cara who get engaged and when they share the news with their family, each family member has something to say about how the wedding should be done. Secrets come out, lies are told and confessions are made. It has everything in it for the perfect read.

This book is a really good read, and I absolutely loved it, it goes through all of the character’s point of view and I loved this because you get to see how each of the characters are thinking and how they each feel. In most books writing from all characters point of view doesn’t really go but in this book it worked really well and this made the book all the better.

This is one book that I felt like I could relate to the characters, as they all each have their own unique personalities and I could literally see my own family in the characters.

I would definitely recommend this book to all as it’s an amazing book; if you do read it make sure to read it to the end as you’ll definitely be in for a shock. 

Every Time We Say Goodbye

Every Time We Say Goodbye

Author: Kristina McMorris

Publisher: Avon/ Harper Collins

Year published: 2012

Pages: 420 (Paperback)

Rating: 4/5

“Two people. Two cultures. One love. One war.”

This was the one sentence which instantly drew me too the book, after reading this one line I definitely wanted to read this book. I'm a sucker for a good romance story and knowing fully well that this would be one I was pretty excited to read it.

The story is about two people who fall in love with each other despite coming from different cultures/races. Against their families wishes the couple elope and this is when the war begins between the two countries. Maddie and Lane have known each other for a long time, with Lane being Maddie’s brother’s best friend. They get married and after a while the Japanese bomb pearl Harbour (Lane is Japanese), war then breakouts between the two nations and because of their different cultures Lane and Maddie find it difficult to be together. Both Lane and Maddie have to try and fight for their love while the rest of the world tries to tear them apart.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and I instantly liked the characters too, it's a love story but there's so much more to it than that. The book goes through a lot of emotion and it is definitely worth the read.