BOTM #11

I have also done a wrap up post on my YouTube channel so if you want to take a peek at what I intend to read in September click on this link -> http://youtu.be/340kb_VGaSc
Here's the books that I read in August:

• Foretold by Jana Oliver ****
• Wake by Amanda Hocking ***
• Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles *****
• Semi-Charmed Life by Nora Zelevansky ***
• Velvet by Mary Hooper ***
• Glitch by Heather Anastasiu ***
• Heaven by Alexandra Adornetto ****

And you may have guessed which book of the month goes to which is...

Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

It was an easy choice this month as I only had one five star rating but there was a couple of four stars which came close in the end I can't have a book of the month which is a four star when I have a five star.

I loved this book and I'm a little gutted that this series is now over but I will re-read this series as it's one of my favourite series. For my full review click here.

Book Review: Semi-Charmed Life

Semi-Charmed Life by Nora Zelevansky

Format: e-arc
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Published: 3rd July 2012
Pages: 336
Main Characters: Beatrice, Veruca, Ben
Date Started: 7th August 2012
Date Finished: 19th August 2012
Rating Given: ***

Blurb from Goodreads:

In Nora Zelevansky’s hilarious debut, Semi-Charmed Life, an Upper West Side naïf, Beatrice Bernstein, gets swept up in the seemingly magical life of socialite Veruca Pfeffernoose, while ghost writing her blog. Veruca’s glitteringly opulent world soon seduces Beatrice away from her own insular, arty family with a promise of fancy parties, travel outside Manhattan (for once) and one desperately cute guy. But when her new glitzy lifestyle starts to take on dark undertones, Beatrice has to decide who she is—once and for all. With her own magical touch, Zelevansky deftly explores the world of rarified Manhattan in this sparkling modern fairy tale of first love, finding one’s voice and growing up.

 I was sent an email from the publishers to see if I wanted to review this book which sounded like something that I haven't tried before and it sounded good so I thought I would give it a try. I am glad I did as it was a likable book just not a great book.

This cover I love and to be honest it would have sold me the book if I actually had seen it before I started reading it. I love that it looks like the cover has been drawn which is fitting to the actual story as there is a lot of art influence throughout the book. I do think the title should have been more bolder as the rest of the cover over powers it.

This is a debut novel from Nora Zelevansky which I think she has done a good job as I did find it funny and I think she will only get better with time. I did get confused to some of the things she had written as at the beginning I thought that it was set in the past but then when I went further into the book I found that it was actually set in the present time.

I did find it a bit too shallow for my liking as I was expecting a bit more from this book. When I got the email telling me about this book they said if I liked Gossip Girl then I would love this and yes I love Gossip Girl and yes this book was similar I just didn't love it as much because the characters was annoying. I did get a bit lost at times as I just didn't get what was happening even when I finished the book I felt lost. Some of the time when I picked the book up to read a bit more I didn't like it but there was a lot of times when I would pick it up and think it was a good book. There wasn't any action in any shape of form it just lacked that sparkle that I love to see in a contemporary book.

Beatrice was a bit annoying in the way that she just dropped her close friends for 'friends' that she had just met I just didn't get why she would do that. I also found her very naive and just let everyone walk all over her. Towards the end she did grow on me and found she started to act more like her age which was 21 instead of someone a lot younger. Veruca I didn't like throughout the book as she seemed like she just uses everyone but then there is a huge twist at the end which made me re-think her character. Ben I liked he was funny and I loved the interaction between him and Beatrice.

Overall a likable read but there was times when it was good and then other times when I just didn't get on with it. It was a light read with nothing too heavy going on.

It's Monday What Are You Reading? #43

It's Monday What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey in which we plan our reading week!
(Click on images to send you to Goodreads)

Finished Reading

(Click on title for review)

Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

Semi-Charmed Life by Nora Zelevansky (No review yet)

Velvet by Mary Hooper (No review yet)

Currently Reading

Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

Only just started it today and have only read the first chapter but so far it's a bit slow and I'm not into it as of yet but hopefully that will change once I read some more.

Reading Next

Love Lines by Diana Nixon

Heaven by Alexandra Adornetto

So that's what I'm planning on reading this week. What's everyone else reading?

Teaser Tuesday #34

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! To find out more about the books click on the picture which will take you to Goodreads.




My teasers:

Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

I didn't mean to knee Luis in the nuts.
    Okay, so that's not entirely true. I meant to knee him where it counts. I just didn't mean  to do it hard-in front of everyone, including the bride and groom. And my parents. And his mother. And everyone else who happened to be on the dance floor at the time. - Page 42

I love this series and this book is no different I am going to seriously miss these Fuentes brothers. There was so many teasers that I could have chosen from and I'm not even finished yet but I decided to go with this one because I found it funny and a couple of pages after this was also a contender!

        Semi-Charmed Life by Nora Zelevansky

He peered incredulously at her. "I know you don't have many windows down here with the pod people, Princess, but it's actually almost noon." Noon! She'd completely forgotten to set her alarm. Lovely. She'd missed her first class. "Anyway, I'm gonna go rejoin the land of the living. You're welcome. I think." He turned to leave.
"For what? You said the roach didn't pose a threat yourself" - Page 45

I'm not sure what to make of this book yet I couldn't seem to get into it straight away but I am starting to get interested now. (This is an arc copy so the quote may differ to the final copy)

It's Monday What Are You Reading? #42

It's Monday What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey in which we plan our reading week!
(Click on images to send you to Goodreads)

Finished Reading

(Click on title for review)

Foretold by Jana Oliver

Wake by Amanda Hocking

No more Olympics now so I have more time to read.

Currently Reading

Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

Only just started this yesterday but I am loving it already!

Semi-Charmed Life by Nora Zelevansky

Again not read much but it it did start a bit slow so I'm hoping that it will pick up soon.

Reading Next

Velvet by Mary Hooper

So that's what I am planning on reading this week let me know or leave a link to what you're reading

It's Monday What Are You Reading? #41

It's Monday What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey in which we plan our reading week!
(Click on images to send you to Goodreads)

Finished Reading

(Click on title for review)

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

As you may have guessed it was a bad week of reading from me again as I am addicted to watching the Olympics. They are coming to a end soon so I will have more time to read plus I read when something is on that I don't need to know about.

Currently Reading

Foretold by Jana Oliver

Just under 100 pages left of this book and so far it's a brilliant book they seemed to have saved the best until last. If you are from the UK then you can win a copy of this book in my stop of the Foretold Blog Tour. (Click here to enter)

What I plan on reading next

Wake by Amanda Hocking

If you have seen a previous It's Monday post you will know that I was planning on reading this book a couple of weeks ago but I never got around to reading it so this week I will definitely be starting this one.

Semi-Charmed Life by Nora Zelevansky

Another book that I have said that I was going to read in previous posts but never got around to it, this time I will start it.

So that's my week of reading planned, what are you planning on reading this week?

In this post I mentioned about my UK only giveaway but I also have a International giveaway going on (only a couple of days left to enter). This is a chance where you can win an ecopy of Vampire Shift by Tim O'Rourke. (To enter click here)

It's Monday What Are You Reading? #40

It's Monday What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey in which we plan our reading week!
(Click on images to send you to Goodreads)

Finished Reading

(Click on title for review)

No books reviewed this week as I had a week of from blogging and been in hospital and recovering so not much read. I am now back on my feet so will try and read some more but I am into the Olympics.

Currently Reading

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

By the time you read this I will have finished this book it has taken me awhile to read it but it has nothing to do with the book as it is a brilliant book and very addictive I highly recommend this book.

Next up to read

Foretold by Jana Oliver

I am really looking forward to read this book as it's the last one and I can't wait to see how it's all going to end.

Semi-Charmed Life by Nora Zelevansky

I was going to start this book a couple of weeks ago but never got around to it but I am going to try and start it sometime this week.

That's what I am planning on reading this week let me know what you're reading

It's Monday What Are You Reading? #38

It's Monday What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey in which we plan our reading week!
(Click on images to send you to Goodreads)

Finished Reading

(Click on title for review)

Spark by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Otherkin by Nina Berry

Currently Reading

Taken By Storm by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

I am just over halfway through this book and I am really enjoying it as loads of things are happening that I just never expected.

Burn by Heath Gibson

Only read a few chapters so I'm not too sure about what I think of it. It has started good enough and very intriguing I just wish it would pick up pace.

Reading Next

Revived by Cat Patrick

Semi-Charmed Life by Nora Zelevansky

Both these books sound really good so I do hope they live up to my expectations.

So that's hopefully my reading plan for this coming week. Leave me links to your week of reading and I will come take a look :)