books

What I’m Reading: Relationships Editor Emmi Bowles

As a keen reader who runs a book reviewing blog, I love to read as many books as possible. But, with university work and NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), getting through a book a week has been hard. Luckily for me I have read some brilliant books recently and have some highly anticipated ones on my shelf ready. 

Recent reads

University takes up a lot of my free time but I have read two books recently that I would give five star ratings and recommend to anybody.

The first is a new adult book, Always the Bridesmaid by Lindsey Kelk. It follows the story of Maddie Fraser, an event planner who is stuck trying to make a good impression on her boss, stop her best friend from crying about her divorce, and help her other best friend plan her wedding; as well as finding the time to see a hot laywer. 

This may sound like your average romcom but Lindsey Kelk knows how to write a comedy that will make you sit up and laugh. The characters all have unique personalities that make you fall in love with them instantly. They may even remind you of some of your friends. The plot is not what you will expect and Kelk delivers plot twist after plot twist, leaving you hanging on the edge of your seat. 

The second book is Fire colour one by Jenny Valentine, a short young adult novel about a girl, Iris, who finally gets to meet her father, Ernest, on his death bed. It focuses on both of their lives, and on the retelling of some of their experiences. Iris opens up about her compusive need to set things on fire, and Ernest tells his daughter why they have not met until now. Jenny Valentine gets you to connect with these two main characters before they are taken from each other. But that’s when she drops a bombshell on the reader that you will not see coming. This is only a very short read but one that is truly satisfying, especially with the plot twist at the end. 

Currently reading

I have finally picked up the first book in the best selling series Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas. The story is about Celaena Sardothein, a trained assassin who has been hired to represent the Prince in a fight to the death tornament. 

So far I am only a few chapters in but I cannot wait to pick it up again and continue. This whole series has been praised highly and the fourth book has recently been published. The series features a kick-ass female heroine; something the YA genre needs a lot more of. I have high expectations and I have no doubt that they will be fulfilled.

To be read (TBR)

As a book worm I have so many books on my shelf waiting to be read, but some are a higher priority than others.

Cress by Marissa Meyer is the third installment in the Lunar Chronicles series. The books are a retelling of different fairytales, from Cinderella to Red Riding Hood.The final installment in the series, Winter, comes out on November 11th.

The Rose Society by Marie Lu is also very high up on my TBR pile. Marie Lu is one of my favourite authors and her dystopian trilogy, which is comprised of Legend, Prodigy and Champion, are by far my favourite dystopian novels, even outweighing the likes of The Hunger Games and the Divergent series. Her newest series, The Young Elites, debuted in October of last year and now the second book in the series has been released.

Finally we have Half Wild by Sally Green. I have a signed copy of this novel and, despite loving the first book, Half Bad, I still have not gotten around to reading it yet. This series follows the story of Nathan as he tries to live as a half-black and half-white witch in a world where his black witch father is being hunted by everyone. I loved the first novel and really need to get around to picking this one up as soon as possible.

Have you read any of these books? What’s currently on your reading pile?