2019 Reading Challenge - #Dymocks52Challenge

This year Dymocks challenged people to try and read one book per week and I figured I'd attempt it. If there's a book in the list that you'd like to see a review of but it hasn't been done yet, leave a comment and I'll review it. My dates be a little out from what Dymocks is posting with, but as long as I pick one set of dates and stick to it, I think I'll be okay. We'll see how far I get...

Week One (1 Jan - 7 Jan)

Book: There's a Monster in Your Book
Author: Tom Fletcher
Finished: 7 Jan

Week Two (8 Jan - 14 Jan)

Book: Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Finished: 11 Jan

Book: Illuminated
Author: Aditya Koppula
Finished: 14 Jan

Week Three (15 Jan - 21 Jan)

Book: Memories of Heaven: Children's Astounding Recollections of the Time Before They Came to Earth
Author: Dr. Wayne W. Dyer and Dee Garnes
Finished: 21 Jan

Week Four (22 Jan -28 Jan)

Book: Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass #5)

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Finished: 27 Jan

Week Five (29 Jan - 4 Feb)

Book: Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass #6)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Finished: 31 Jan

Week Six (5 Feb - 11 Feb)

Book: Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass #7)

Author: Sarah J. Maas
Finished: 7 Feb

Week Seven (12 Feb - 18 Feb)

Book: Heart of Mist (The Oremere Chronicles #1)
Author: Helen Sheuerer
Finished: 15 Feb

Week Eight (19 Feb - 25 Feb)

Book: Shadow and Bone (Grisha Verse #1)
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Finished: 22 Feb

Week Nine (26 Feb - 4 Mar)

Book: Rebel's Blade (The Aermian Feuds #1)
Author: Frost Kay
Finished: 28 Feb

Book: The Dark Unwinding (The Dark Unwinding #1)
Author: Sharon Cameron
Finished: 3 Mar

Week Ten (5 Mar - 11 Mar)

Book: The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy
Author: Mackenzi Lee
Finished: 9 Mar

Week Eleven (12 Mar - 18 Mar)

Book: -
Author: -
Finished: -

Week Twelve (19 Mar - 25 Mar)

Book: -
Author: -
Finished: -

Week Thirteen (26 Mar - 1 Apr)

Book: Beauty Queens
Author: Libba Bray
Finished: 28 Mar

Week Fourteen (2 Apr - 8 Apr)

Book: -
Author: -
Finished: -

Week Fifteen (9 Apr - 15 Apr)

Book: -
Author: -
Finished: -

Week Sixteen (16 Apr - 22 Apr)

Book: Blue Bloods
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Finished: 18 Apr

Week Seventeen (23 Apr - 29 Apr)

Book: -
Author: -
Finished: -

Week Eighteen (30 Apr - 6 May)

Book: Aurora Rising
Author: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Finished: 4 May

Book: A Spark Unseen
Author: Sharon Cameron
Finished: 6 May

Week Nineteen (7 May - 13 May)

Book: -
Author: -
Finished: -

Week Twenty (14 May - 20 May)

Book: Heartstopper, Volume One
Author: Alice Oseman
Finished: 17 May

Week Twenty-One (21 May - 27 May)

Book: The Flatshare
Author: Beth O'Leary
Finished: 23 May

Book: Five Feet Apart
Author: Rachael Lippincott
Finished: 26 May

Week Twenty-Two (28 May - 3 Jun)

Book: Paranormalcy
Author: Kiersten White
Finished: 1 Jun

Week Twenty-Three (4 Jun - 10 Jun)

Book: -
Author: -
Finished: -

Week Twenty-Four (11 Jun - 17 Jun)

Book: Blackbird
Author: Anna Carey
Finished: 16 Jun

Week Twenty-Five (18 Jun - 24 Jun)

Book: Deadfall
Author: Anna Carey
Finished: 23 Jun

Week Twenty-Six (25 Jun - 1 Jul)

Book: Tokyo Ghoul, Vol. 1
Author: Sui Ishida
Finished: 26 Jun

Book: Tokyo Ghoul, Vol. 1
Author: Sui Ishida
Finished: 26 Jun

Week Twenty-Seven (2 Jul - 8 Jul)

Book: Furyborn
Author: Claire Legrand
Finished: 8 Jul

Week Twenty-Eight (9 Jul - 15 Jul)

Book: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Author: J.K. Rowling
Finished: 10 Jul

Book: Tokyo Ghoul, Vol. 2
Author: Sui Ishida
Finished: 10 Jul

Book: The American Lover
Author: Rose Tremain
Finished: DNF

Book: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Author: J.K. Rowling
Finished: 12 Jul

Book: Heartstopper, Vol. 1
Author: Alice Oseman
Finished: 15 Jul

Week Twenty-Nine (16 Jul - 22 Jul)

Book: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Author: J.K. Rowling
Finished: 17 Jul

Book: Nevernight
Author: Jay Kristoff
Finished: 19 Jul

Book: Tokyo Ghoul, Vol. 3
Author: Sui Ishida
Finished: 21 Jul

Book: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Author: J.K. Rowling
Finished: 21 Jul

Week Thirty (23 Jul - 29 Jul)

Book: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Author: J.K. Rowling
Finished: 29 Jul

Week Thirty-One (30 Jul - 5 Aug)

Book: Undying
Author: Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
Finished: 1 Aug

Book: Memento
Author: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Finished: 1 Aug


Book: Heartstopper, Volume Two
Author: Alice Oseman
Finished: 2 Aug


Book: Tokyo Ghoul, Vol. 4
Author: Sui Ishida
Finished: 3 Aug

Book: Godsgrave
Author: Jay Kristoff
Finished: 4 Aug

Week Thirty-Two (6 Aug - 12 Aug)

Book: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Author: J.K. Rowling
Finished: 11 Aug

Week Thirty-Three (13 Aug - 19 Aug)

Book: The Bone Witch
Author: Rin Chupeco
Finished: 16 Aug

Book: In an Absent Dream
Author: Seanan McGuire
Finished: 17 Aug

Book: It's Not What It Looks Like
Author: Molly Burke
Finished: 17 Aug

Week Thirty-Four (20 Aug - 26 Aug)

Book: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Author: J.K. Rowling
Finished: 26 Aug

Book: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Author: Newt Scamander (J.K. Rowling)
Finished: 26 Aug

Week Thirty-Five (27 Aug - 2 Sep)

Book: Reign the Earth
Author: A.C. Gaughen
Finished: 30 Aug

Book: They Both Die at the End
Author: Adam Silvera
Finished: 1 Sep

Week Thirty-Six (3 Sep - 9 Sep)

Book: Strange the Dreamer
Author: Laini Taylor
Finished: 6 Sep

Book: Winter's Snow
Author: Carrie Hope Fletcher
Finished: 7 Sep

Book: Muse of Nightmares
Author: Laini Taylor
Finished: 9 Sep

Week Thirty-Seven (10 Sep - 16 Sep)

Book: Animal Farm
Author: George Orwell
Finished: 10 Sep

Book: Super Lexi
Author: Emma Lesko
Finished: 10 Sep

Book: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Finished: 13 Sep

Book: A Court of Mist and Fury
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Finished: 16 Sep

Week Thirty-Eight (17 Sep - 23 Sep)

Book: A Court of Wings and Ruin
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Finished: 20 Sep

Book: A Court of Frost and Starlight
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Finished: 20 Sep

Book: The Quintland Sisters
Author: Shelley Wood
Finished: 22 Sep

Book: Dare to Dream
Author: Izzy Judd
Finished: 23 Sep

Week Thirty-Nine (24 Sep - 30 Sep)

Book: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Author: L. Frank Baum
Finished: 24 Sep

Book: The Little Paris Bookshop
Author: Nina George
Finished: 26 Sep

Book: The Near Witch
Author: V. E. Schwab
Finished: 27 Sep

Week Forty (1 Oct - 7 Oct)

Book: -
Author: -
Finished: -

Week Forty-One (8 Oct - 14 Oct)

Book: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
Finished: 9 Oct

Week Forty-Two (15 Oct - 21 Oct)

Book: -
Author: -
Finished: -

Week Forty-Three (22 Oct - 28 Oct)

Book: City of Ghosts
Author: Victoria Schwab
Finished: 22 Oct

Book: An Abundance of Katherines
Author: John Green

Finished: 23 Oct

Book: The Princess Diaries
Author: Meg Cabot

Finished: 25 Oct

Week Forty-Four (29 Oct - 4 Nov)

Book: 
Author: 
Finished:

Week Forty-Five (5 Nov - 11 Nov)

Book: 
Author: 
Finished:

Week Forty-Six (12 Nov - 18 Nov)

Book: 
Author: 
Finished:

Week Forty-Seven (19 Nov - 25 Nov)

Book: 
Author: 
Finished:

Week Forty-Eight (26 Nov - 2 Dec)

Book: 
Author: 
Finished:

Week Forty-Nine (3 Dec - 9 Dec)

Book: 
Author: 
Finished:

Week Fifty (10 Dec - 16 Dec)

Book: 
Author: 
Finished:

Week Fifty-One (17 Dec - 23 Dec)

Book: 
Author: 
Finished:

Week Fifty-Two (24 Dec - 31 Dec)

Book: 
Author: 
Finished:

BOOKS COMPLETED: 66/52

The Christmasaurus: The Musical Edition - by Tom Fletcher

Title: The Christmasaurus: The Musical Edition

Author: Tom Fletcher

Published: 16 Nov 2017

Series: -

Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis:

They sang and danced a merry celebration with their new dinosaur friend . . . It was a Christmas Eve that none of them would ever forget.
The Christmasaurus is a story about a boy named William Trundle and a dinosaur, the Christmasaurus. It's about how they meet one Christmas Eve and have an extraordinary adventure. It's about friendship and family, sleigh bells and Santa, singing elves and flying reindeer, music and magic. It's about discovering your heart's true desire, and learning that the impossible might just be possible . . .
The Christmasaurus: The Musical Edition includes 14 songs on CD, all written and performed by Tom Fletcher, accompanied by a full orchestra with performances by Giovanna Fletcher, Carrie Hope-Fletcher and Santa Claus! And listen out for newcomer Max Reader singing 'Someone More Than Me' and Harry Judd on drums in 'Afraid of Heights'. 
Throughout the book you'll find prompts telling you which track to listen to as you read the story, and at the back are all the lyrics, so you can sing along, too!

Sometimes the right things to do are the hardest.

I listened to this as an audiobook.

The introduction is read by Tom Fletcher which is a nice touch. I also like that he added in the science behind why there are no more dinosaurs. The made-up words also make it fun to listen to and I'm sure that children would love the words too when it's read to them.

In the physical book, there are lovely illustrations by Shane Devries and there are also illustrated gift tags in the margins where it tell you that you can play the scene-specific songs from the exclusive soundtrack if you wish to.

In the audiobook, it automatically heads straight into the song for you, rather than you having to press play on the next song while reading. I also like that Tom mentioned that music is a type of magic too as it's very true - it can sometimes help lift your spirits when you're feeling rotten, and it can help you to continue to be happy when you're in a good mood.

The songs are wonderfully catchy, and I'm pretty sure I know every word to #1! However, when you look up Tom Fletcher's music video to #12 and really listen to the words, it does make you become sad. I'm also glad that Tom's wife Giovanna and his sister Carrie both sing a song or two as it does make it feel a little more homely. Song #5 can make you sad when you listen to the lyrics too.

The narrator has a good tone of voice and makes it sound as if a grandparent was telling a story to a child. You can also tell which character is which, and even the Christmasaurus has a unique voice.

There are some great life lessons to be learned in this book too - even for an adult!
- It's okay to be different
- Some people have a disability
- Bullying isn't okay
- It's okay to feel rotten

One point I do find interesting is the theory of how the elves act and how they make the toys for good children. We always think of elves as little creatures that physically make the toys - but in The Christmasaurus, we find out that maybe everything they say is in rhyme and they dig in the ice for the toys instead.

The soundtrack:
1. It Must Be Christmas Time
2. Dig, Diggedy Dig (The Digging Song)
3. The Christmasaurus
4. Thin Ice
5. Someone More Than Me
6. The Nice List
7. I've Been a Good Girl
8. I Believe It Could
9. I Ho, Ho, Hope It's Santa
10. I Love Creatures
11. Christmas Makes Me Sick
12. Afraid of Heights
13. Don't Know What It Is
14. If You Believe

__________________________________________________

All books in this series:

    1 | The Christmasaurus

    2 | The Christmasaurus and the Winter Witch

A Mother's Confession - by Kelly Rimmer

Title:A Mother's Confession 

Author: Kelly Rimmer

Published: 28 Oct 2016

Series: -

Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis:

'He’s dead and I’m safe, but I’m still scared. Sometimes I actually miss him, but then in the very next breath I find that I hate him so much that I hope there is a hell, just so that he can be suffering like he left me here to suffer.' 
Olivia and David were the perfect couple with their whole lives in front of them. When beautiful baby daughter Zoe came along, their world seemed complete. 
But now David is dead and Olivia’s world is in pieces. While she is consumed with grief, her mother-in-law Ivy is also mourning the loss of her son. Both women are hiding secrets about the man they loved. Secrets that have put the family in danger. 
Something was very wrong in Olivia and David’s marriage. Can Olivia and Ivy break their silence and speak the truth? A mother should protect her child, whatever the cost…shouldn’t she?

Trigger Warning: domestic violence

I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

There is a good theme in this one - each new day is a new start. It also shows what domestic violence looks like from two points of view. Also the feeling of 'anyone can snap in a second' was interesting at the end.

Things I didn't really like? Sebastian seemed to be stereotypically mushy, plus the long conversation in Natasha's office felt like an information dump, I didn't like the slow build up either as it felt like it was a little bit too slow.

Things I did like? Natasha as a whole. The way that she cared and didn't rush Olivia in the way that she needed to heal. She was probably my favourite character for this reason. Also the twist at the end when we find out about Zoe was something I liked.

At one stage I did think that Ellen the childcare worker was going to kidnap Zoe, but I was gladly proven wrong.

Spoilers!

My guess is that David's mother was the entire reason for his behaviour.

Finding out that Zoe was possibly Sebastian's because Olivia cheated on her husband was interesting to find out because I wouldn't have pictured Olivia as a character cheating on anyone.

Even though I called it towards the end, finding out that Zoe was dead the entire book was a surprise and did make me shed a few tears. Especially because David was the one that performed the murder-suicide.

End Spoilers!