On the Other Side - by Carrie Hope Fletcher

Title: On the Other Side

Author: Carrie Hope Fletcher

Published: 14 July 2016

Series: -

Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis:
A love story like no other, this is the debut novel from Carrie Hope Fletcher, author of the Sunday Times No. 1 bestseller All I Know Now.
Evie Snow is eighty-two when she quietly passes away in her sleep, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. It's the way most people wish to leave the world but when Evie reaches the door of her own private heaven, she finds that she's become her twenty-seven-year-old self and the door won't open.
Evie's soul must be light enough to pass through so she needs to get rid of whatever is making her soul heavy. For Evie, this means unburdening herself of the three secrets that have weighed her down for over fifty years, so she must find a way to reveal them before it's too late. As Evie begins the journey of a lifetime, she learns more about life and love than she ever thought possible, and somehow , some way, she may also find her way back to her long lost love . . .
On the Other Side will transport you to a world that is impossible to forget. Powerful, magical and utterly romantic, this is a love story like no other from everyone's favourite 'big sister', Carrie Hope Fletcher.

Your soul is too heavy to pass through this door
Leave the weight of the world in the world from before.
Once it is lighter, your key shall then turn
And you will be able to have what you yearn.

I listened to this as an audiobook and finished it in one sitting.

This book is a magical realism sort of book - a reality/magic cross over sort of genre. I think this is the first book (that I can think of) that I've read in that genre.

I love that Evie isn't a small, thin person - that she has big hips and thighs from bread and cheese. 

There are a few parts of this book that are my favourite. Mainly, that getting a husband isn't at the top of Evie's priority list! She shows that you can be independent and do what you want to in life without needing a man. Another is that Vincent isn't perfect but Evie still loves Vincent for exactly how he is. 

I may not normally be able to pick up on themes in books, but I definitely think I've figured this one out - the stop and smell the roses theme vibe, seeing people/things rather than just looking, and that happiness has nothing to do with money.

The bridge wrestling was also quite cute and amusing. It kinda sucked that it was insta-love, but I adored the pair other than that.

Carrie singing the song in the audiobook that Evie does to her son, August, was lovely to hear. But I may be biased on that as I love Carrie's voice in general.

In the audiobook, Sunny to me sounded a bit like Ron Weasley. I can also imagine Carrie as Evie because of how happy and bubbly etc we normally see her in her YouTube videos.

Great adventures can start small. Even as small as a sweet. Help yourself to an adventure.

Spoilers!

Foreshadowing was included in the book as by the time you reach the third secret, you remember that the tree was mentioned early on in the book with Evie's son, August.

I cried at a few places in the book. When we heard the ambulance and found out Vincent left at the same time, Jim's speech, Evie's speech to sleeping Vincent, and especially Vincent dying.

Evie, you were my single greatest adventure.

There seemed to be quite a bit of  representation of different people/things in general which was great too. Vincent being bisexual, Isla the staff member being pansexual, Eddie being gay. Curvy girls were represented by Evie, and marriage problems were even represented by August and Daphne.

I did notice that all the main surnames were to do with weather and seasons - not sure if that was on purpose or not though. Summer, Winters, Snow, Frost, and Sunny Shine.

I'm also curious about a couple of things: Who's CB and PF in the initials on the lift doors when Evie's daughter, Isla, goes to fetch the shoebox? Plus Leafy said there's ways without the wall if someone passes and you need to tell them things - what are the ways?

End Spoilers!

Ruby Red - by Kerstin Gier

Title: Ruby Red

Author: Kerstin Gier

Published: 10 May 2011

Series: Precious Stone Trilogy #1

Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis:

Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!
Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

I listened to this as an audiobook. It is also translated by Anthea Bell, but it's done well so you can't really tell it's been translated.

My favourite parts about this book are the cover, and that romance is involved in the story but action is the main focus.

I loved that  Gwynn grew up around all the time travel aspects in her family, but didn't really know a single thing about it. How does she solve this issue? The internet! Having a main character simply Google something when they didn't know the answer was quite nice.

The time travel machine using a drop of the traveler's blood is an interesting idea to help control when and where they travel to too. Plus Madam Risini sounded quite lovely, and little Rob sounded pretty cute.

One "Omg!" moment was who I guessed the people Gwynn saw when she time travelled at the high school were. I may be right, or I may be wrong, but if I'm right then I'm quite excited to find out about that story.

I do have a couple of questions though. Why does Gwynn see herself each time she time travels? And what is the note/quote after each chapter about?

Overall, this was a good story to read and I didn't really want to stop.

Spoilers!

From the start, my guess was that Charlotte probably couldn't time travel but Gwynn could, so it wasn't much of a surprise when we find that out.

I'm curious to see if Gideon is a double crosser or not. Can't remember what specifically made me think that, but it would be interesting to find out.

One confusing point for me was that I'd guessed that Paul and Lucy were the ones at the start holding the baby, but how were they holding Gwynn and calling her their daughter if they aren't her parents?

End Spoilers!

__________________________________________________

All books in this series:

    1 | Ruby Red
    2 | Sapphire Blue
    3 | Emerald Green

Down Among the Sticks and Bones - by Seanan McGuire

Title: Down Among the Sticks and Bones
Author: Seanan McGuire
Series: Wayward Children #2
Published: 13 June 2017
Rating: 4 stars
Synopsis:
Twin sisters Jack and Jill were seventeen when they found their way home and were packed off to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children.
This is the story of what happened first…
Jacqueline was her mother’s perfect daughter—polite and quiet, always dressed as a princess. If her mother was sometimes a little strict, it’s because crafting the perfect daughter takes discipline.
Jillian was her father’s perfect daughter—adventurous, thrill-seeking, and a bit of a tom-boy. He really would have preferred a son, but you work with what you've got.
They were five when they learned that grown-ups can’t be trusted.
They were twelve when they walked down the impossible staircase and discovered that the pretense of love can never be enough to prepare you a life filled with magic in a land filled with mad scientists and death and choices.

I listened to this as an audiobook. It was read by the author which I found a nice little touch. I'm loving these covers though!

This book is a prequel and follows Jack and Jill from the previous book, showing that their home life wasn't all rainbows and daisies. Their parents essentially wanted the "perfect family".

These two sisters manage to stick together throughout their childhood and their slight sibling rivalry. The book also shows why children should be able to choose who they are for themselves and what they do and don't like. This book shows you that there's a million ways to be a girl, but none of them are wrong.

Some adventures require nothing more than a willing heart and the ability to trip over the cracks in the world.

Having to earn a vampire's name is an idea I hadn't thought about before too.

I like that Dr Bleak lets Jack try and work out the bath for herself. She's never had to do that before but she wants to learn new things. He gives her all the tools to do what's needed, but lets her work out how - better than her real parents were.

Finding out about Mary was definitely a bit of a shock.

Time keeps moving through the door too which is interesting. I would have thought that if you go through the door at twelve years old, then you'd go back to your original world still being twelve. But that's not how it works. Jack and Jill managed to go from twelve to seventeen - having to go through periods, hormones, friendships or lack of them, and relationships, all while in The Moors.

A single revelation does not change a life. It is a start.

Spoilers!

I don't think Jack's sexuality is stated for sure, but Jack having a relationship with another girl didn't feel like it was forced on the character or like it was an afterthought to the story as it flowed well.

End Spoilers!

__________________________________________________

All books in this series:

    1 | Every Heart a Doorway
    2 | Down Among the Sticks and Bones
    3 | Beneath the Sugar Sky
    4 | In an Absent Dream

4.5 | Juice Like Wounds
    5 | Come Tumbling Down

    6 | Across the Green Grass Fields

    7 | Where the Drowned Girls Go

What If It's Us - by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera

Title: What If It's Us

Author: Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera

Published: 9 Oct 2018

Series: -

Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis:

Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it.
Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things.
But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them?
Maybe nothing. After all, they get separated.
Maybe everything. After all, they get reunited.
But what if they can’t quite nail a first date . . . or a second first date . . . or a third?
What if Arthur tries too hard to make it work . . . and Ben doesn’t try hard enough?
What if life really isn’t like a Broadway play?
But what if it is?

What if we haven’t seen the best us yet?

I received this book as an ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Arthur James Seuss: a 5’6” Jewish kid with ADHD and the rage of a tornado. Ben Hugo Alejo: a freckle faced Catholic Puerto Rican. The book centres around both of these boys but you manage to love the secondary characters just as much as the main ones.

Dylan: On the sad scale, how are you feeling today? Opening-montage-of-Up sad? Or Nemo’s-om-dying-sad?
Ben: …last-five-minutes-of-Toy-Story-3 sad.

There are also many references in the book too. Harry Potter, Star Wars, Lyft, Avenue Q, Titanic, The Fault in Our Stars and a few more.

Dylan acts how most best friends would (and how mine definitely does) – asking about how their friend’s date went. “Who is he? Name. Address. Social security number. Twitter and Instagram handles.”

I loved this book and there were so many themes that should be shared around so that the entire human race finally hears them and hopefully finally absorbs them!

1. Not everything is love at first sight
2. You can still be friends after you break up
3. Not being ready for sex is okay
4. Asking about things to do with sex is okay
5. LGBT+ should be able to come out when they’re ready and not be pressured into it
6. Everyone doubts themselves about something
7. Take people as they are! Not everyone from a certain race etc can speak the language or follows the religion etc.
8. Not kissing someone before you’re ready to is okay
9. Some people are able to jump into love and others have to take their time
10. Sometimes you just need time to love yourself before you can love someone else

I also love that Juliet is biromantic ace.

Plus I think the treasure hunt was probably my favourite part of the book. I’m a sucker for cute things like that.

Maybe it’s all about people coming into your life for a little while and you take what they give you and use it in your next friendship or relationship. And if you’re lucky, maybe some people pop back in after you thought they were gone for good.

Spoilers!

I did guess that Arthur was going to meet the actual Hudson, but the meeting was more amusing than I thought it was going to be.

Also, I very much wanted to scream at the man on the train that was being super rude and anti-gay. You can have your own opinions about sexuality etc, but there’s definitely no need to shout it at someone and make them feel terrible just because you have your own opinion of something. We are called individuals for a reason!

End Spoilers!