... goodbye blogger!

If you're reading this: THANK YOU for sticking with me!!
I missed blogging SO MUCH! I swear, right after I announced that I was taking a little break, a million ideas for posts popped into my head. Two days after, I was already itching to get back to blogging. But I told myself I needed this break, so I lay low for a while.

But then, I started thinking about doing a big change. I was sick of my theme and I wanted to change my url. It basically felt like the perfect time for a makeover!
I started looking for new themes, but the choice for Blogger isn't that big. Nothing pleased me, so I went to look further and thought "why not change to Wordpress?". And I just freaking did it. I've always wanted to do this, but for some reason I never did . Until now.
For the last two weeks, I've been working on transferring my blog and editing my new theme.

This is my new banner!

I hope you all like it as much as I do, because I've been dying to share this with you for a long time! But before I share the link, I have to give some info first:

There were two little downsides to the whole relaunching.  During the transfer it could be that some posts look a bit weird. Such as line breaks missing etc. I'm still slowly working through every post to fix this.

The second this is that I lost all my stats and followers. I'm basically starting from zero. All comments, likes and followers were not transfered. So I would love it for you if you could follow me on my WordPress version of this blog. This Blogger version will not disappear, but it won't be updated anymore. I would be so happy if you could share this to your bookish friends!

Now, on to the good part! I say goodbye to the horrible editing possibilities of Blogger (no offense, but it's true haha), to my crappy theme, to my weird looking widgets... and I welcome you over to my new blog:

https://inabookishworld.wordpress.com

Much love, Melissa

Little announcement

I have some bad news. I'm taking a little break from my blog. 

As you probably noticed I haven't been posting regularly anymore. It started off because of my traveling but now I haven't been able to catch up with my schedule due to some "personal problems" too (sorry, I'm being so vague).

That's why, instead of fussing about the fact that I have no posts for you, I decided to take a little break. I don't know for how long yet, though. It may be for a week, two weeks or a month. As soon as I feel like I can do this again, I'll be back in full force, I promise. 

But right now, I just need a little time to get everything sorted again.

But I won't disappear completely :) I'll still be updating my Goodreads and Instagram. Reviews on Goodreads will take a bit more time than usual, but I'll still continue with my reading.

I promise you, when I'll be back, I'll have so many reviews on my blog, that you won't even notice I was gone :)

And just in case I haven't been clear in the past: I love you all for following my blog. I thank you for all the time you spent on my blog, reading my random (and crazy) posts and review. Just thank you, thank you, thank you.

See you soon! <3

With much love,

Melissa

Review: A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas

Series: A Wicked Thing #1
Genre: YA, fairy tale, romance 
Release date: February 24th 2014
Length: 337 pages

Rhiannon Thomas's dazzling debut novel is a spellbinding reimagining of Sleeping Beauty and what happens after happily ever after.

One hundred years after falling asleep, Princess Aurora wakes up to the kiss of a handsome prince and a broken kingdom that has been dreaming of her return. All the books say that she should be living happily ever after. But as Aurora understands all too well, the truth is nothing like the fairy tale.

Her family is long dead. Her "true love" is a kind stranger. And her whole life has been planned out by political foes while she slept.

As Aurora struggles to make sense of her new world, she begins to fear that the curse has left its mark on her, a fiery and dangerous thing that might be as wicked as the witch who once ensnared her. With her wedding day drawing near, Aurora must make the ultimate decision on how to save her kingdom: marry the prince or run.

Rhiannon Thomas weaves together vivid scenes of action, romance, and gorgeous gowns to reveal a richly imagined world … and Sleeping Beauty as she’s never been seen before. 

My rating: ★★★★

 *I listened to the audiobook*

When I asked on Instagram how people experienced this book, I received “weird” and “different” as a response. It made me a little nervous and worried, because the reviews on Goodreads aren’t splendid either. But I already bought it on Audible, so I had to give it a chance.

First of all, saying this is a retelling is wrong. It’s just continues the story of The Sleeping Beauty we all know so well (with the slight change that it starts where she’s kissed). I think that’s why people end up being disappointed. They expect to know what will happen. So, NO, this is not a retelling, but more like… a continuation or a re-imagination.

The storyline had his ups and downs, but it was definitely way better than I expected! I liked the storyline a lot and yes, it was “different” like people said, but it was a good different. It has some romance, friendship, betrayals and deaths.

And the characters are very interesting! Aurora is confused about how to proceed with her life (100% understandable if you wake up after 100 years), but she’s very brave too. Rodrick is a blushing sweetheart, Finnegan was more interesting that I could have imagined and Tristan is complicated and irresistible at the same time. Trust me, although there are not only one, or two, but THREE interesting hot guys, there’s no love triangle (or square?) going on. Every guy fit perfectly in the story.

This first book in the Wicked Thing series is a very promising start and I cannot wait to find more about the characters and how everyone will react after that big ending. I also feel like there will be an epic sci-fy twist with the magic and the dragons (!!). February can’t come any faster!

I hope you all won't look too much at those 1 or 2 start reviews and still will give this book a chance. It might surprise you and make you love it more that you can ever expect!

Review: Yours Truly/Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher

Series: standalone
Genre: YA, romance, mystery, contemporary
Release date: October 7th 2014
Length: 288 pages
 
Dear Mr. S. Harris,
Ignore the blob of red in the top left corner. It's jam, not blood, though I don't think I need to tell you the difference. It wasn't your wife's jam the police found on your shoe.
I know what it's like.
Mine wasn't a woman. Mine was a boy. And I killed him three months ago exactly.
Zoe has an unconventional pen pal--Mr. Stuart Harris, a Texas Death Row inmate and convicted murderer. But then again, Zoe has an unconventional story to tell. A story about how she fell for two boys, betrayed one of them, and killed the other.

Hidden away in her backyard shed in the middle of the night with a jam sandwich in one hand and a pen in the other, Zoe gives a voice to her heart and her fears after months of silence. Mr. Harris may never respond to Zoe's letters, but at least somebody will know her story--somebody who knows what it's like to kill a person you love. Only through her unusual confession can Zoe hope to atone for her mistakes that have torn lives apart, and work to put her own life back together again.
Rising literary star Annabel Pitcher pens a captivating second novel, rich with her distinctive balance between humor and heart. Annabel explores the themes of first love, guilt, and grief, introducing a character with a witty voice and true emotional resonance.

My rating: ★★★★

“That's not how you're going to live, Bird Girl. Not on my account. Spread those strong wings of yours. Fly.”

When I saw this book in the store I was immediately drawn to it because of the cover. After reading the blurb I realized this was "Ketchup Clouds", a book that has been sitting on my tbr for ever.
I decided to buy it and on my way home I started reading it immediately.

When I saw it was in letter form I started getting annoyed because I was NOT in the mood for this kind of book. But I'm SO glad I continued reading, because although it's in letter form, there are still conversations. And it's written perfectly. It reads so easily (I read this one in a day and a half!) and the anticipation to know what happened is very enjoyable.

But.. as much as I loved the story of Zoe, I have to admit that the big reveal was a little disappointing. I saw it coming and I don't know why I kept hoping for something big. I also don't really like that the ending was so open. I mean, a million things could still have happened and... we will never know. I'm left with too many question to be satisfied about this book.

“I never realized there was so much of it,' Sandra muttered. 'Hours. I feel every minute.” 

 

The title of this book has been changed from "Ketchup Clouds" to "Yours Truly"

 

Review: Yes, Please by Amy Poehler

Series: standalone
Genre: non-fiction, memoir, humor
Release date: October 28th 2014
Length: 329 pages

In Amy Poehler’s highly anticipated first book, Yes Please, she offers up a big juicy stew of personal stories, funny bits on sex and love and friendship and parenthood and real life advice (some useful, some not so much), like when to be funny and when to be serious. Powered by Amy’s charming and hilarious, biting yet wise voice, Yes Please is a book full of words to live by.

My rating: ★★★

*I listened to the audiobook.

I'm not sure if three stars is the correct rating for me. To be honest I'm not 100% sure of what I think about this (audio)book.
The beginning where she talked about writing this book was very funny and I certainly enjoyed that part. But then... I don't know... it's not that it was boring, but it wasn't very exciting either. I guess memoirs aren't really my thing.

I did loved the way she read her own book. Because she did not only read it, she made it a personal audio and I loved that. I guess that's what kept me listening. She's definitely something.

So if you enjoy Amy and haven't read this book yet, you totally should. But listen to the audiobook and experience the whole thing!

August wrap up & haul

Summer is almost over aaaahhh!!!  I just hope the weather will still be a little nice, because I want more sun as I'm not ready for winter yet :D I hope you all had an amazing summer! I did at least. I went to Punta Cana for a week and it was amazing. That's also the reason why I read so much. Vacation is perfect for me to catch up with my tbr. I managed to read 10 books and I hope next month I'll be able to keep it up.

To all of you who start school tomorrow: GOOD LUCK!! 

Here's what I read in August:

1. Stone Cold Touch by JLA: ★★★★

2. HP The Making Off: ★★★★

3. Magonia by Maria Headley: ★★★

4. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins: ★★

5. Every Last Breath by JLA: ★★★+0.5

6. Doing it for Love by Cassie Mae (ARC): ★★★★

7. Scorched by JLA: ★★★+0.5

8. Yes, Please by Amy Poehler: ★★+0.5

9. Left Drowning by Jessica Parker: ★★★★★

10. Yours Truly/Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher: ★★★+0.5

 My haul

I've been incredibly lucky to win two gorgeous signed copies this month! I was super excited when I received them. I mean, seriously, I rarely win something!
I've also bought some (e)books because I couldn't resist to not read the next in series asap :D

Here's what I bought in August:

1. Yours Truly/Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher

2. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

3. Every Last Breath by JLA (ebook)

4. Scorched by JLA (ebook)

5. Restless Waters by Jessica Park (ebook)

And here's what I won:

1. Ricochet by Keri Lake (signed)

2. Charmed by Michelle Krys (signed)

 What did you read/bought this month?? ;)

Review: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Series: standalone
Genre: adult, thriller, contemporary
Release date: January 13th 2015
Length: 323 pages

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

My rating: ★★+0.5

Oh god, where do I start? I hope I won't be too harsh...
Okay well first of all: why the hell is this a bestselling? I saw this book everywhere! I thought that if it appeared here on the shelves of the unknown bookshops in Belgium, that it must be damn good. And it's so damn not. I mean, sure, it would have been awesome if 80% of this book doesn't resembles to Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Seriously WHY?! And even if it didn't had so many similarities, I definitely read MUCH better! I did not have that exciting thrill I'm supposed to get while reading this kind of genre and that was very disappointing.
I was unimpressed by the ending too as it was a little predictable...
The writing itself was okay and it's definitely a quick read, but still... I just don't recommend this book, sorry!