May TBR

Hello, I hope you're all well & safe! 

Lockdown is the perfect time to make a dent in the big old tbr pile that seems to be never ending. Which is why this month I've added some books I've been super excited about for quite a while and are also super popular within the YA community. I don't know if I will read all of these books as I am a mood reader and don't know what the month of May will have in store for me. But hopefully I can get through half and read a decent amount through out the month. My May tbr is compiled of some very popular old cliche YA books, new releases, popular books & a reread. 

So this post won't be published on the first of the month but scroll down to the bottom to find out some interesting mythology/history/folklore regarding the first day of may! 

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1. Voyager by Diana Gabaldon. 

The third book in the Outlander series. I will be listening to this via audio but don't expect to finish it this month! I'm hoping to make some good progress!

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Their passionate encounter happened long ago by whatever measurement Claire Randall took. Two decades before, she had traveled back in time and into the arms of a gallant eighteenth-century Scot named Jamie Fraser. Then she returned to her own century to bear his child, believing him dead in the tragic battle of Culloden. Yet his memory has never lessened its hold on her... and her body still cries out for him in her dreams.

Then Claire discovers that Jamie survived. Torn between returning to him and staying with their daughter in her own era, Claire must choose her destiny. And as time and space come full circle, she must find the courage to face the passion and pain awaiting her...the deadly intrigues raging in a divided Scotland... and the daring voyage into the dark unknown that can reunite or forever doom her timeless love.

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2. Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin.

A highly anticipated read! There is SO much hype surrounding this book within the YA community and I really hope that it lives up to my now high expectations. I got this in a FairyLoot box last year and I've been excited about it ever since. A forbidden romance & witches? YES PLEASE.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Bound as one to love, honor, or burn.

Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.

Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou's, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony.

The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou's most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made.

And love makes fools of us all.

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3. Bone Crier's Moon by Kathryn Purdie. 

Recently published in the UK Bone Crier's Moon is something I am excited to get to this month as it has such a unique and interesting plot!

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Bone ​Criers have a sacred duty. They alone can keep the dead from preying on the living. But their power to ferry the spirits of the dead into goddess Elara’s Night Heavens or Tyrus’s Underworld comes from sacrifice. The gods demand a promise of dedication. And that promise comes at the cost of the Bone Criers’ one true love.

Ailesse has been prepared since birth to become the matriarch of the Bone Criers, a mysterious famille of women who use strengths drawn from animal bones to ferry dead souls. But first she must complete her rite of passage and kill the boy she’s also destined to love.

Bastien’s father was slain by a Bone Crier and he’s been seeking revenge ever since. Yet when he finally captures one, his vengeance will have to wait. Ailesse’s ritual has begun and now their fates are entwined—in life and in death.

Sabine has never had the stomach for the Bone Criers’ work. But when her best friend Ailesse is taken captive, Sabine will do whatever it takes to save her, even if it means defying their traditions—and their matriarch—to break the bond between Ailesse and Bastien. Before they all die. 



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4. Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon.

So I was kindly gifted this from my wishlist a little while ago and I've been so excited to pick it up! It's been a while since I've read a rom-commish book with the whole kind of loathe to lovers vibes so this will be a nice change to my usual romance lacking tbr.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The first novel in a series set at an elite international boarding school, that’s a contemporary spin on Beauty and the Beast.

Will the princess save the beast?

For Princess Jaya Rao, nothing is more important than family. When the loathsome Emerson clan steps up their centuries-old feud to target Jaya’s little sister, nothing will keep Jaya from exacting her revenge. Then Jaya finds out she’ll be attending the same elite boarding school as Grey Emerson, and it feels like the opportunity of a lifetime. She knows what she must do: Make Grey fall in love with her and break his heart. But much to Jaya’s annoyance, Grey’s brooding demeanor and lupine blue eyes have drawn her in. There’s simply no way she and her sworn enemy could find their fairy-tale ending…right?

His Lordship Grey Emerson is a misanthrope. Thanks to an ancient curse by a Rao matriarch, Grey knows he’s doomed once he turns eighteen. Sequestered away in the mountains at St. Rosetta’s International Academy, he’s lived an isolated existence—until Jaya Rao bursts into his life, but he can't shake the feeling that she’s hiding something. Something that might just have to do with the rose-shaped ruby pendant around her neck…

As the stars conspire to keep them apart, Jaya and Grey grapple with questions of love, loyalty, and whether it’s possible to write your own happy ending.

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5. To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Christo.

So this will actually be a reread for me. I read this book a couple of years ago and gave it five stars. However, I cannot remember a single thing about it and why I loved it. I'm in the mood for an enemies to lovers and mermaids and this offers BOTH. yay. So I'm going to give it a reread and hope that it lives up to the five star rating I originally gave it.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.

The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?

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6. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare.

I'm currently reading The Mortal Instruments series for the first time, mostly via audiobook. Yes, I have never read the entire series. I had read the first book (city of bones) a few years ago but decide to start over and make my way through the series. The issue I have with reading these books is that I do not like Clary or Jace; the main characters in this series. So I find it difficult at times to physically read them so thats why I am using the audiobooks. I do love the world and plot overall though so I am enjoying them. This is the third book in the series and I'm looking forward to it as I enjoyed the second book a lot more and hoping it will be the same with this one!

Synopsis from Goodreads:

To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City - whatever the cost?

Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the third installment of the New York Times bestselling series The Mortal Instruments.

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7. The Selection by Kiera Cass.

Okay so the main reason I have added this book to my tbr is because I heard it's becoming a Netflix show so naturally I was intrigued to see what it's all about. This is definitely one of those OG cringe ya books that everybody read back in the day. I however, am not one of them. So I figured now is about as good a time as any to finally read it.  This is the first in a series so if I enjoy this one I'll pick up the rest.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

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8. Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold. 

Right so I've got to be honest with you guys. This is a total random one for me and the only reason I want to read it is because it involves wolves. Wolves are my favourite animal and this sounds like such a cool and mysterious book. It's also got horror-ish vibes to it and I don't ever read any horror or anything of the sort so this will be something a bit different on my tbr. It's a fairly new book that was published in February this year.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

You are alone in the woods, seen only by the unblinking yellow moon. Your hands are empty. You are nearly naked.

And the wolf is angry.

Since her grandmother became her caretaker when she was four years old, Bisou Martel has lived a quiet life in a little house in Seattle. She’s kept mostly to herself. She’s been good. But then comes the night of homecoming, when she finds herself running for her life over roots and between trees, a fury of claws and teeth behind her. A wolf attacks. Bisou fights back. A new moon rises. And with it, questions. About the blood in Bisou’s past and on her hands as she stumbles home. About broken boys and vicious wolves. About girls lost in the woods—frightened, but not alone.

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9. The Winner's Curse by Marie RutKoski.

Another OG cliche ya book is the first in The Winners series; The Winner's Kiss. I've added this to my tbr for this month as a lot of people in a book club I am in love this book and we were doing a reread. I missed the reread but decided I still wanted to read it and see if I liked it as much.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love...

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart. 

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That wraps up my May TBR. I'm not expecting to read all of these books but hopefully some.

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Have a wonderful month full of good books, love & positivity.

MAY DAY marks the Celtic festival of Beltane; half way between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. It is a time of the year when the veil between our world and the shadow world is extremely thin and exactly half way to Halloween.

Thank you for reading, 

BOOK REVIEW | The Court Of Miracles by Kester Grant

"You must make your enemies your allies. And if you can't do that, then destroy them.

Them, and all who follow them, so that fear doesn't come for you when you sleep." 

A diverse fantasy reimagining of Les Misérables and The Jungle Book. Fantastic!

A great Young Adult fantasy novel with a wholly original plot and great world building. 

This book is set in 1828 Paris after a failed revolution; in times that are dark and sinister with a royal regime lacking any real interest or compassion for those less fortunate themselves. These royals are merciless and pretty much live for themselves and fellow nobility, leaving the remaining residents of Paris to live in famine, poverty and despair. As a result nine underworld criminal guilds known as the Court of Miracles have formed. Our protagonist Nina, is a very talented cat burglar and is a member of the Thieves Guild. When her adopted sister Ettie attracts the unwanted and terrifying attention of the Tiger (the lord of the Guild of Flesh), Nina is forced to embark on a dangerous path to protect Ettie and do all she can to keep her safe and out of the ruthless clutches of the the Lord of the Guild of Flesh. Breaking into the palace of Louis XVII, stealing from royals, seeking allies with ghosts and facing her fears, Nina's will to protect her younger adopted sister forces her into the worst parts of the dark underbelly of Paris. But saving Ettie from the Tiger risks setting off a vicious war between the guilds. 

Admittedly, it started a little slow with a lot of information and world building thrown at you. I did become slightly worried that the plot wouldn't have much suspense or keep my interest. However it was totally worth the slow plot as that all changed a few chapters in and I was enthralled into an underworld of secrecy, law, thieves, assassins and more! 

This book is beautifully written with amazing descriptive language and little stories of revolution thrown in between chapters. I loved the historical aspects of this book and the way in which the author greatly captured a dark Paris in a unique and interesting way. The court systems and 'Guilds' where also really well explained and added SO much more depth; it made the story and the protagonists feelings and decisions easier to understand and empathise with. The characters where also a very well done element of this fantastic book; all unique and likeable which made you invested in them and the story so much more. The main character in this book was probably the best thing about it. Starting as a small, quiet girl relying on her sister and leading a sad average life, she later becomes a fierce and brave admirable woman who you can't help but cheer for through out the story. Her character development was very well done!

I greatly enjoyed this book and once I got through the slow start I couldn't put it down! I cannot wait for a sequel as the story of Nina and Ettie doesn't seem to be over just yet. Their friendship and sisterhood warmed my heart and proved that love trumps all. A four star read that I'd highly recommend if you love a good fantasy. If you’re not a fan of romance in your books, then this book is for you! There isn't any romance in this book but there is definitely enough to suggest there could be in a sequel. Instead, this book greatly focuses on sisterhood and friendship and i adored it. 

Available:  04/06/2020. 

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Thank you for reading, 

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

Les Misérables meets Six of Crows in this page-turning adventure as a young thief finds herself going head to head with leaders of Paris's criminal underground in the wake of the French Revolution.

In the violent urban jungle of an alternate 1828 Paris, the French Revolution has failed and the city is divided between merciless royalty and nine underworld criminal guilds, known as the Court of Miracles. Eponine (Nina) Thénardier is a talented cat burglar and member of the Thieves Guild. Nina's life is midnight robberies, avoiding her father's fists, and watching over her naïve adopted sister, Cosette (Ettie). When Ettie attracts the eye of the Tiger--the ruthless lord of the Guild of Flesh--Nina is caught in a desperate race to keep the younger girl safe. Her vow takes her from the city's dark underbelly to the glittering court of Louis XVII. And it also forces Nina to make a terrible choice--protect Ettie and set off a brutal war between the guilds, or forever lose her sister to the Tiger. 

BOOK REVIEW | The Love Hypothesis by Laura Steven

I really enjoyed this book! It was such a lovely cute read. The aspects of physics made it so interesting and gave it much more depth. I could definitely tell that a lot of research had gone into this book and I actually learned a thing or two about some scientific theory ha! The representation in this book is also a really good thing about it. The main character was so fun and well written and the innuendos added so much more humour. I also liked how the book had some good emotional elements and was a story showing a young girls journey to self discovery and sexuality. I really adored both her dads especially Vati he was a hilarious character! A book that I read with ease and thoroughly enjoyed. 3.5 stars!

Rating: ★ ★ ★.5 

Thank you for reading, 

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

Physics genius Caro Kerber-Murphy knows she’s smart. With straight As and a college scholarship already in the bag, she’s meeting her two dads’ colossal expectations and then some. But there’s one test she’s never quite been able to ace: love. And when, in a particularly desperate moment, Caro discovers a (definitely questionable) scientific breakthrough that promises to make you irresistible to everyone around you, she wonders if this could be the key. What happens next will change everything Caro thought she knew chemistry – in the lab and in love.

Is her long-time crush Haruki with her of his own free will? Are her feelings for her best girl friend some sort of side-effect? Will her dog, Sirius, ever stop humping her leg?

2020 Reading Goals

It's 2020. A new year ahead with new reads, re-reads, one star reads & five star reads. I AM EXCITED. I have super high ambitons when it comes to reading this year and I am determined to make this year my best reading year yet. My Goodreads goal is 50 books. So get yourself prepared because this may be a long read. I'd advise a cup of tea, a yummy snack and a comfy spot to prepare you for the reading ahead.

So, what are my reading goals for this year?

For one I think it's about damn time I read a classic! Yep that's right, I haven't actually read a classic in my entire 22 years of being a bookworm. Why you may ask? because classics intimidate the hell out of me. The writing style is obviously a lot different to modern writing along with the flow and plot. Classics can often reflect certain societies and values in a particular time which is what intrigues me but also discourages me; the story may be un-relatable or possibly even difficult to comprehend if not understanding the principles and social circumstances within that time period. For example a lot of Jane Austen novels are set within her own time and are loosely structured around life as a woman within that time. Soooo, back to my original goal; STOP BEING INTIMIDATED AND PICK UP A BLOODY CLASSIC ALREADY. I want to read at least five classics this year. Realistic? probably not. But there is hope yet.

What five classics do I want to read?
- Alice In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
- Dracula by Bram Stoker
- Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
- Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
- Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Secondly I would like to read more adult fantasy. I bloody love ya fantasy and when I've ventured into adult fantasy in the past I have really enjoyed it thus leading me to this goal. I think this year should be the year for more Tolkien, Sanderson, Kristoff & Sapkowski. 

Fantasy books at the top of the list for 2020:
-The Priory of The Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
-The Lord of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
-Skyward & Starsight by Brandon Sanderson
- The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
-Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
-Blood Heir by Amelie Wen Zhao
-Game of Thrones by George. R. Martin

Some chunky books amongst the list but by discovery of audio books shall guide the way!

Could 2020 be the year of Manga?

Manga is a genre I have never had any real interest in up until now. Being a lover of graphic novels I think naturally branching out to manga is a must. I think it'll be a bit of a difficult goal for me as getting used to the format and finding a story I'll like will be the hard part. But if I can read at least one manga this year I'll be happy. And who knows, I might even enjoy it.

Manga I'm considering: 
-The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare (manga edition)
-Deathnote by Tsugumi Ohba
-Orange by Ichigo Takano
-Blackbird by Kanoko Sakurakoji

Graphic Novels; a comeback. 
So a couple of years ago I was comic book obsessed. I still am even though my graphic novel reading has massively reduced. I was particularly fond of Marvel comics and making my way through a lot of the 616 universe. I even produced a 'master list' of which I'd tried to figure out a bunch of comics from a variety of characters who's events chronologically happened within the same universe; the marvel universe we see in the films. I gave up a tiny portion of the way through. There are far too many comics to keep up with so after buying a good portion of them I then decided to buy which ever 616 comics I wanted and read them in whatever order I wanted too. I have a huge comic book collection most of which is unread. So my goal for this year is to make my way through all of them as well as branching out into DC and the rest of the Monstress series. 

Another neglected genre: Thrillers. 
Believe it or not I really do love a good thriller. Yet, for some reason I mostly tend to read them in the summer but particularly when on holiday. This is definitely some weird habit I need to get out of as I miss reading an engrossing thriller. I received lots of thriller books for Christmas so I have a large supply on my shelf. 

Thrillers I want to read:
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
The Woman In The Window by A. J. Finn 
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn 
She Lies In Wait by Gytha Lodge 
Then She was Gone by Lisa Jewell
The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup 

So that pretty much wraps up my super duper big list of things I'll probably honestly never read this year but maybe putting it into a blogpost will give me the motivation to at least try? who knows but I enjoyed writing this no matter how stupidly ambitious it may be. Uploaded rather late into the year as I randomly decided to finish writing this in the middle of march. 

Thank you for reading, 

PIN IT

BOOK REVIEW | The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller

'They never found the body of the first and only boy who broke my heart. And they never will.'

Our protagonist Alessandra's heart was broken by her first love and since then has turned cold when it comes to love; seducing lovers who give her expensive things and using them for her own needs until she discards them when she no longer has a use for them. Eventually she tires of this same routine and comes up with a new plan. When her farther comes to inform her that her sister has had no luck of winning the affections of the Shadow King, Alessandra see's this as an opportunity to acquire all that she desires; power. She will win the King's heart, make him fall hopelessly in love with her, marry him, become queen and and then kill the king; taking the kingdom for herself. But theres a catch, it is the law that you cannot be within 5 feet of the King and his shadows. Alessandra must find a way past this to win his heart and take the kingdom. 

I ultimately enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down. It was a super easy read and I actually read it within a day. The plot was super interesting and I was always wondering where the story would go. The reason it was a three star for me was simply because I struggled to really like or empathise with the main characters. They are very selfish and there is also a lot of classism and dislike towards the poor in this book which kind of took away my enjoyment at times as I had issues with it. It's not the most action packed book but the romance aspect was really fun and I really liked it overall! 

Rating: ★ ★ ★ 

Thank you for reading, 

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power:

1) Woo the Shadow King.
2) Marry him.
3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself.

No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it.

But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen?

BOOK REVIEW | My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

"Femi makes three, you know. Three, and they label you a serial killer."

I picked this book up from my work as it was in our proof copies pile and decided to give it a read due to the fact it's shortlisted for the Women's Prize For Fiction 2019 and, not to mention it's title being very intriguing in it's own right. I wasn't too sure on what to expect regarding this book due to how short it is at just 223 pages. All I knew going in is that it follows two sisters; one being a serial killer. 

This novel is set in Nigeria amid a corrupt system of law and order; a country that doesn't have the best policing and police resources available, following a protagonist named Korede. Korede is used to continuously coming to the aid of her younger sister Ayoola, helping her clean up and dispose of the bodies of boyfriends that she apparently kills in 'self defence'. At the start of the book we quickly learn that Ayoola may be very beautiful on the outside but on the inside is the opposite, as it becomes apparent early on that she doesn't ever seem to have any guilt or that of a conscience regarding the murders of her previous boyfriends. 

"She killed him on the first strike, a jab straight to the heart. But then she stabbed him twice more to be sure. He sank to the floor. She could hear her own breathing and nothing else." 

This quote in particular gives us an insight into the type of person Ayoola is and further instigates her cold-heartedness. Her sister Korede on the other hand seems to feel far more guilt and remorse for her sisters victims. 

Korede is a very quiet nurse with an obsession for neatness and cleanliness. We find out early on that she isn't the most sociable character as she seeks comfort and friendship in a patient who is in a comatose state; spilling all her sisters secrets and her own suspicions as to weather or not they truly were acts of self defence or if her sister is now statistically, a serial killer after three murders. We are also alerted to her love interest at the start of the book, a colleague of hers, Tade the doctor. However the only thing close to a plot twist in this book is her sister Ayoola winning the attentions and affections of Koredes crush, Tade. This deeply impacts our protagonist as it pains her emotionally, but also gives way to much worry and stress over the likely possibility of the man she loves becoming just another of Ayoola's victims. It is clear throughout the book that deep down Korede carries a lot of anger towards her sister and a great deal of jealousy due to her sisters remarkable beauty and ability to always get her own way throughout life. However, despite these feelings she always puts her sisters wellbeing and freedom from being caught first; helping her to get rid of evidence and continuously coming to her rescue regardless of the personal cost. Ayoola is completely self absorbed and unaware of the hardships she puts onto her sister through her actions, which, she never takes any real responsibility for. 

The sister's dynamics in the book are what I find to be most compelling and add so much more depth and intrigue to the story. Even though Korede thinks her sister may well be a serial killer, cold blooded and soulless as opposed to the victim she continuously claims to be, she cannot stop herself from protecting her younger sister in any way she can, even if that means going against what she knows to be right and just. 

I really enjoyed the uniqueness of this book and the constant suspense it provided, never knowing if the sisters where about to be caught at any given moment. The story is very intriguing as you never know what may happen next and what turn it may take. However, I was very disappointed that this story lacked any plot twists, it definitely would have made the story a lot more interesting. The writing was also rather mediocre and could have been done better to give the book an even more thrilling feeling to reflect it's very bold title. Another thing that did disappoint me when finishing this book is that the story isn't over when the book is. We never truly get to understand why Ayoola is the way she is, and how she truly feels about the murders. Therefore I feel that the ending could have been done a lot better by giving the reader these answers, or at least a reason behind why the characters have the particular traits they do. 

I rated this book four stars on goodreads as I did really enjoy it. It was an interesting, easy read that I couldn't put down and a book that holds my interest and attention that well is deserving of four stars for me! 

Thank you for reading, 

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

My Sister, the Serial Killer is a blackly comic novel about how blood is thicker - and more difficult to get out of the carpet - than water...

When Korede's dinner is interrupted one night by a distress call from her sister, Ayoola, she knows what's expected of her: bleach, rubber gloves, nerves of steel and a strong stomach. This'll be the third boyfriend Ayoola's dispatched in, quote, self-defence and the third mess that her lethal little sibling has left Korede to clear away. She should probably go to the police for the good of the menfolk of Nigeria, but she loves her sister and, as they say, family always comes first. Until, that is, Ayoola starts dating the doctor where Korede works as a nurse. Korede's long been in love with him, and isn't prepared to see him wind up with a knife in his back: but to save one would mean sacrificing the other... 

BOOK REVIEW | DID I MENTION I LOVE YOU? BY ESTELLE MASKAME

Okay so I didn't really know what to expect from this book... the storyline sounded really interesting and i'm a sucker for ya romance books they're totally my guilty pleasure. However the whole 'main character falling in love with her stepbrother' storyline did make me a little apprehensive. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this book and ended up giving it four stars on goodreads although,  I probably would have given it a 3.5 if I had the option. 

So I won't lie; this book is full of cliches and is very cheesy at times but I found that once I was a couple of chapters in I couldn't stop thinking about reading it when I wasn't. You know when a book just consumes your thoughts and when you aren't reading it your mind is constantly wondering whats going to happen next? well that is how the book made me feel. 

At first I didn't really understand how the main character Eden could possibly fall for her stepbrother Tyler because he just seemed like a totally awful person and I didn't fathom how there could be more to him and also how he could redeem himself. However, I like how the forbidden romance unfolded between the two. 

An aspect of this book I really enjoyed was the mystery surrounding Tyler and why he was such a 'jackass' as described by Eden. This element of the story made it all the more intriguing. I would have to argue it was a little bit of a slow burner but worth the wait. The ending did seem a little bit rushed to me in a way *SPOILER WARNING* as the whole story builds up to everything happening just so that Eden and Tyler could be together; they have finally admitted their feelings to one another, Tyler has ended things with Tiffany yet all of a sudden Eden decides to quit at the final hurdle... After Eden realised her feelings for Tyler she did everything she could to continue things with Tyler in a way and seemed very enthusiastic in pursuing their forbidden romance. Then suddenly Eden out of nowhere decides to do the right thing and end things just as things can begin... It was kind of disappointing and even though  it was a good element to the story and more realistic it could have been executed better and not so abruptly. The rushed ending to the story and slightly strange epilogue is what decreased by rating. But I did really enjoy this book and I can't wait to pick up book 2 in the future! 

Thank you for reading, 

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

When sixteen-year-old Eden Munro agrees to spend the summer with her estranged father in the beachfront city of Santa Monica, California, she has no idea what she’s letting herself in for. Eden's parents are divorced and have gone their separate ways, and now her father has a brand new family. For Eden, this means she's about to meet three new step-brothers. The eldest of the three is Tyler Bruce, a troubled teenager with a short temper and a huge ego. Complete polar opposites, Eden quickly finds herself thrust into a world full of new experiences as Tyler's group of friends take her under their wing. But the one thing she just can't understand is Tyler, and the more she presses to figure out the truth about him, the more she finds herself falling for the one person she shouldn't – her step-brother.

Throw in Tyler's clingy girlfriend and a guy who has his eyes set on Eden, and there's secrets, lies and a whole lot of drama. But how can Eden keep her feelings under control? And can she ever work out the truth about Tyler?

Did I Mention I Love You is the first book in the phenomenal DIMILY trilogy, following the lives of Eden Munro and Tyler Bruce as they try to find their way in an increasingly confusing world.