#amyengel

Well I've read a couple more books since I last updated you guys so thought I'd get sharing them on here.

9. Countless by Karen Gregory

I actually really enjoyed this book. I didn't think it was a literary masterpiece, but I enjoyed my time learning the story of Hedda, a pregnant anorexia-suffering teenager. I can't comment myself on the quality of the representation of anorexia in this book, but what I do know about it was reflected well. Hedda must make the biggest choice she ever has; does she keep the baby, or keep the anorexia? On top of this she then has to decide, if she has the baby, is she keeping it, or putting it up for adoption? Although this story didn't move me to the extent I imagined it would, I found this an emotional and at the same time enjoyable read - would recommend.  

10.  Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

I had mixed feelings about this book. It is based on The Wizard of Oz, concerning another 'Dorothy' arriving from Kansas in the land of Oz. Since the original story has left off, Dorothy has returned to Oz, and become and evil and power-hungry ruler. It's the first book that I have read as an e-book, so was taking this into account as I was reviewing it. I was very interested in the storyline, and I felt like a re-telling of the Wizard of Oz was a very interesting place to go. But, it didn't do everything for me I wanted it to. I went into this book not knowing that it was part of a series, so I assumed that the drama of the book would come to a solution by the end. When this was not the case, I was disappointed with the time I had committed to it. Never the less, it was an enjoyable storyline and I think that carrying on with the series would be a good move if I enjoyed the story as a whole a little bit more.

11. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

I really enjoyed this book. The story follows Mara, whose friends died in a tragic accident. She moves to a new school, in a new town, to try and move on with the situation. She struggles to leave it behind because she can't remember what happened to her friends, and why they were even at the site of the accident on that night. Alongside all of her confusion, and stresses of starting a new school, somewhat paranormal things start happening to her that she can't understand or control. This is the first paranormal romance I have read of the year so far, and I really enjoyed it. The romance wasn't too heavy and definitely not forced. I have read similar stories with the truth of an accident being uncovered so really liked how this story was close to those, but had added supernatural elements. It's part of a series, which I have not delved into yet, though I am keen to do so. Would definitely recommend to a YA reader who needs a new type of supernatural. 

12. It Only Happens in the Movies by Holly Bourne

Upon starting this book, I didn't realise that it was the same author as my number 3 read of the year (see first book update), who I did not enjoy. This book was very similar. I enjoyed the storyline, though hated the additional elements of 'feminism' thrown in. The story follows Audrey, who is so over romance after the divorce of her mum and dad and the break-up with her first boyfriend. Then she meets Harry at her new job at the cinema, who is deeply into making his own films. She is asked to take the starring role, and Audrey can't help but fall for Harry. I enjoyed this part of the book, with the soppy to-good-to-be-true romance, but I got a little bit fed up with the underlying messages Holly Bourne was trying to push. Audrey stars as a zombie in Harry's film, but she just HAS to make this a feminist zombie, which I really didn't agree with. All in all, I LOVED the cover of the book, but hated the underlying messages. I'd recommend it to a 10-12 year old girl who wants a romance, but doesn't pick up on some of the authors opinions. 

13. The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

I stupidly enjoyed this book. It was a YA romance, that was definitely to-good-to-be-true, that you expect from the beginning, but love anyway. Caymen lives above the doll-store her mother owns; they are struggling with money and can't afford to pay the bills. The story line is sort of predictable, but I feel like that didn't matter at all to me. The fact I thought I knew what would happen next made me want to keep reading so I could find out, and I was like that every chapter. It was a very easy read; I read it in 2 days on my phone. It was perfect for a really stressed out couple of days revising, so the nice, easy, happy romance worked out well for me. I really would have liked this story to go further though. I wanted it to go further, to see what would happen between the two characters in the future. I think either the book could've been longer, or there should have been a sequel. I have so many questions about what happens next! I would definitely recommend it as a summer romance read.

14. Trouble by Non Pratt

I am very torn about this book. It follows Hannah, a teenager in high school without the best reputation with the boys, and Aaron, the history teachers son who is new to the school. Hannah finds herself pregnant and the talk of the school is the identity of the father. I thought this book had so much potential, and that there were many wasted opportunities with the storyline. When I was about halfway through the book, I wrote down my guess to the father's identity. It was scandalous,but it would've worked, and I think it would have made the perfect story. But, I was wrong. I obviously won't say who the father is, but I really thought my guess would have made more logical sense. Although saying that, I did really enjoy the book - enough to finish it in two days! I found the writing style easy to follow. Usually I don't like dual perspectives but because there would be no more than 1-2 pages, and sometimes only 1-2 sentences in someones perspective, I actually found this very interesting to read. So on the whole, I enjoyed it and would recommend it to others, but I have some thoughts that would've made it even better!!

15. More Than This by Patrick Ness

"A boy drowns, desperate and alone in his final moments. He dies. Then he wakes, naked and bruised and thirsty, but alive. How can this be? And what is this strange deserted place?". I've had to just copy that from the blurb of the book because the storyline is impossible to describe. It's one of those books that you just HAVE to read, otherwise it will literally make no sense if someone tries to explain it. This is a difficult review for me. I struggled to get into the book, but when I went away for a couple of days and only had this to read, I found myself reading 100+ pages a day. The storyline was good because the reader's understanding of the world develops slowly throughout, and each small chapter leaves you desperate to read the next one. But, I was not happy with the ending. I don't believe there is a sequel to this book (correct me if I'm wrong) but I think I need one to close the story for me. I don't like how it's been left, and all in all that ruined the whole experience for me. I'd recommend this book but I think a couple of changes could be made to make it an absolute fantastic read.

16. The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel

And finally, The Roanoke Girls. This book was actually recommended to me, as a 'dark' adult fiction. It was definitely dark, that's for sure. But saying that, it wasn't shocking. "Everyone wants to be a Roanoke girl. But you won't when you know the truth." Those two lines really drew me into this story; I needed to know why I didn't want to be a part of their family. I didn't enjoy the writing style of this book all to much, because it switched between the present, the past of the main character and also of every other character in the book. I felt it hard to keep up with at times, but managed to pull all of the chapters together as an enjoyable read. I did guess the 'big secret' in the first few chapters of the book, but there were also tidbits along the way that really did throw me off course. I would recommend this book, but not to those of a sensitive nature. It's not for the light-hearted.  

General Reading Update:

I am still about half way through Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, which I have been since April - I really don't have the motivation to sit and finish this!

I said in April that I was thinking about picking up Carve the Mark, which I did, but I DNF'd it very shortly after starting. It wasn't for me, which is a shame because I really love the Divergent series.

I am around 100 pages or so into Heartless by Marissa Meyer which is the story of the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland before she was the Queen. It's actually quite interesting but I'm struggling to get through at any sort of speed.

I am also listening to Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys on audio book. I have never listened to an audio book before so I'm generally excited to see how it goes. I'm not very far in but I'm picking it up whenever it's quiet in the office and I can sit and have it playing in the background. I don't know how much I'm soaking in but I like the comforting feeling of a book being read while you go about your day.

I think the next book for me is Clean by Juno Dawson. I got this out of my local library and am excited to start it as soon as I finish Heartless.