Showing posts with label YA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label YA. Show all posts

Wednesday, 18 September 2019

Challenge Review: All the Bright Places

My #dymocks52challenge book 22/38, for week 36.
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Title: All The Bright Places
Author: Jennifer Niven
Published: 6/1/15
First appearance in 101: 2016 (#72)
Years in 101: 3
2019 101 ranking: -
Rating: 2 stars


Why I chose this book:
This has made three of the last five years of 101 lists, so it nudged out some of the more recent entries, though it didn't make this year's list. This was one I wasn't sure I really wanted to read, but figured it would be easy to get through.

Thoughts:

Ah, more tragic heroes being praised by readers. I can appreciate that this was a powerful glimpse into teenage mental illness (stay away if you're triggered easily) but overall it seemed a little too contrived for me, and I wasn't particularly attached to the two leads. 

You can read my full review on Goodreads here.


Verdict: Was it worthy?

Maybe? I mean, to me it was trying too hard to be a John Green book, but this might be a valuable insight for people who have no idea what it's like to experience mental illness, either directly or through a family member/close friend. I'll give it the benefit of the doubt, because if it helps ease some of the stigma surrounding mental illness then I'm all for it.

Thursday, 25 July 2019

Instagram Giveaway

Hello friends!

Just for something a little different, I'm doing my first ever giveaway!

Astrid Bell Dutiful daughter. Classical singer. Secret pop songwriter. And suffering from stage fright. 
Jacob Skalicky. Trust Fund Kid. Indie singer. Immensely gifted performer. And refusing to sing again. 
Are they polar opposites? In his grief and fury at the world, Jacob certainly thinks so.
But when Jacob loses everything and Astrid uncovers a shocking family secret, they may need each other to make sense of their lives.

So goes the blurb for Taryn Bashford's latest offering, The Astrid Notes. This is Bashford's second #LoveOzYA novel and is a moving story of two teens navigating the rocky path to their dreams.

I'm all about chasing dreams wherever they take you so I'm pretty stoked to be able to support the release of this book with a giveaway thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia.

All you have to do is head over to my Instagram page, find the giveaway announcement, and tag someone you want to thank for supporting your dreams.

To be considered by the random-winner-generator (i.e. have your name put in the shoe box) make sure you're following my Instagram. You can tag as many supporters as you like, but it's only one entry per person. This giveaway is only open to ANZ residents.

Competition closes at midnight Saturday 3/8/19 AEST. Winner will be announced on Sunday via my Instagram. 

Make sure you've subscribed to my blog to read my full review for The Astrid Notes once the competition ends, as well as my other book reviews. Good luck! :)

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The Astrid Notes is available now. You can read more about it here and learn more about the author here.