Ravenspire #1 The Shadow Queen

Presenting Ravenspire #1 The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine.

Here is the summary of the book:

Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.

In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman…and bring her Lorelai’s heart.

But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose.

Snow White meets Snow White & the Huntsman & Once Upon A Time (Tv show). The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine puts in a new twist to the classic of Snow White. Part of a series, each a standalone (as far a I know) called Ravenspire ..... and I will definitely not be able to see apples the same way again.

Lorelai was a strong protagonist, possess an analytical mind, with a penchant for over thinking the situation. She has something the conventional Snow White never did, magic. After the tragedy Lorelai, her brother Leo and their guard flee the castle, bidding their time and amassing support before they make their play. In a very Robin Hood-esque way they steal from the Queen and give to the people suffering starvation. A well laid plan but then Prince Charming enters and all of her well laid plans go astray.

Kol, the new King of the neighboring kingdom is a dragon (cool). More like he is a human, who can also shift to a dragon form. Their country is facing extinction against the horde of Giant. In a bid to gain support Kol enters Ravenspire thinking with its widespread drought & starvation they would claimer to get all the help needed ..... but he realizes the futility of the situation, when in return the Queen traps him to hunt Lorelai down and bring back her heart.

Gorgeous writing from Redwine. The world building was also very well placed and the characters were very well placed about the plot. While Lorelai was all that is analytical and aggressive and somewhat proud. Kol was all charm with the added dragon. It also wasn't insta romance but a gradual build-up and I loved experiencing their journey through the pages. The magical showdown throughout the pages were epic enough to set our hearts racing and rooting for the good.

But really that was all of it. Somehow I still got bored through the ordeal a lot. Really the good guys were just good and the bad guys felt just as bad. Even the evil Queen didn't really have much to add just that she breached new levels of evil with pretty much everything she did. Where was the dynamics, the hidden spices in their characteristics. They don't really add anything new to what's been done, so many times before.

So, verdict is good .... but it just didn't have that feeling of excellent to it but i'm definitely looking forward to the next story in the series.

"An exciting magical take on Snow White. And there are Dragons too"

Genre :     Young Adult, Fairytale re-telling, Romance, High Fantasy

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Release Date: 16th February, 2016

My Copy: publisher & edelweiss

Rate:             3/5 (Liked It)

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

Reign of Shadows #1 Reign of Shadows

Presenting Reign of Shadows #1 Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan.

Here is the summary of the book:

Seventeen years ago, an eclipse cloaked the kingdom of Relhok in perpetual darkness. In the chaos, an evil chancellor murdered the king and queen and seized their throne. Luna, Relhok’s lost princess, has been hiding in a tower ever since. Luna’s survival depends on the world believing she is dead.

But that doesn’t stop Luna from wanting more. When she meets Fowler, a mysterious archer braving the woods outside her tower, Luna is drawn to him despite the risk. When the tower is attacked, Luna and Fowler escape together. But this world of darkness is more treacherous than Luna ever realized.

With every threat stacked against them, Luna and Fowler find solace in each other. But with secrets still unspoken between them, falling in love might be their most dangerous journey yet.

Rapunzel meets 30 Days of Night (movie, without the vampires). An eclipse cloaked the world in shadows and the monsters from deep within the depths of the Earth have come out to stay.Sophie Jordan's latest presentation Reign of Shadows has it all. An eye catching cover. A strong plot and very very strong characters to drive the plot forward. This is pure and simply a post apocalyptic dystopia as the denizens make ends meet to survive this Reign of Shadows.

The strong survive and the weak suffer. Miss Jordan has presented here a bleak and terrible era for humanity. A cut throat world in earnest is where the story begins with Luna, the lost princess of Relhok, hidden way in the mystery tower with her aides when the world began to grow dark. Not purely Rapunzel but our story takes its queue from the classic. Luna was a breath of fresh air. She is strong, agile and remarkably vigilant to everything that happens around her. Fiercely loyal and stubborn. She knows she must forevermore stay hidden and stay safe but she doesn't want that. She was something else. Something more.

There is something about Luna that endears us to her. So vulnerable, yet so strong. So different yet just extraordinary. A light in the darkness. She is something different than what we usually see amongst heroines of this genre and I love her dearly for it. She may have been coddled and sheltered her entire life but she definitely knows to grab the opportunity when it rises and I respect her for it.

Our gruff and strong protagonist is Fowler. The tall and stern guy with his own closet full of secrets to carry around. Comes off as cruel at first. But it soon becomes apparent that he carries great sorrows in his heart. He believes staying alone and not forming attachments is how you survive in this world. But gradually Luna penetrates that thick shell and out comes a vulnerability and sense of protectiveness that warms not just us reader but Luna too.

A selfless soul, Fowler may have taken her with him at first to repay a debt but through their journey they reach newer heights together in this dying world. A burgeoning slow building romance that helps to balance the dark and dreary that surrounds them. The world building was appropriately proportioned and the plot well paced through the pages. A lot of question were raised her which i'm hoping the sequel would address ....... That brutal cliffhanger though ...... is definitely making me desperate.

"Dark and the apocalyptic. Sophie Jordan ensnares us with this brand new and thrilling beginnings"

Genre :      Young Adult, Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopia, Romance, Fairytale re-telling, High Fantasy

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: 9th February, 2016

My Copy: publisher & edelweiss

Rate:              5/5 (It was Awesome)

Other Books from the author I have read:
                       (review links)
           
Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

The Diviners #2 Lair of Dreams

Presenting The Diviners #2 Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray.

Here is the summary of the book:

The longing of dreams draws the dead, and this city holds many dreams.

After a supernatural showdown with a serial killer, Evie O’Neill has outed herself as a Diviner. With her uncanny ability to read people’s secrets, she’s become a media darling, earning the title “America’s Sweetheart Seer.” Everyone’s in love with the city’s newest It Girl…everyone except the other Diviners.

Piano-playing Henry DuBois and Chinatown resident Ling Chan are two Diviners struggling to keep their powers a secret—for they can walk in dreams. And while Evie is living the high life, victims of a mysterious sleeping sickness are turning up across New York City.

As Henry searches for a lost love and Ling strives to succeed in a world that shuns her, a malevolent force infects their dreams. And at the edges of it all lurks a man in a stovepipe hat who has plans that extend farther than anyone can guess…As the sickness spreads, can the Diviners descend into the dreamworld to save the city?

In this heart-stopping sequel to The Diviners, Printz Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Libba Bray takes readers deeper into the mystical underbelly of New York City.

This book weighed a ton and somehow still managed to bore me to sleep. Really wasn't expecting this after the sensation that was the first book, The Diviners. Thing is The Diviners didn't really need a sequel because it did well as a standalone adventure. It had an escalating murder mystery and a fast paced plot coupled with the gorgeous flapper era introductions. The best.

So you can imagine, the excitement of finding a sequel and then getting disappointed that not only did its release date get pushed back a lot but it also wasn't anywhere near the pace set by its predecessor instead of just taking pages-after-pages to spew nonsense. I might be amongst the minority that didn't enjoy this book that much too. Skimming through a lot of sections to get through it. Not a good sign when trying to enjoy a book but pretty much 80% of the book just dragged with useless nonsense and there were too much 20s slang. Did not like that part at all.

Evie has left the museum and does radio shows now to read for people and the remaining time she party's and gets disgustingly drunk. Will is pushed to the side. Jericho is left to care for the museum, while pining after Evie. And Mabel is just put there to pine and whine after Jericho. Sam researches his past and Project Buffalo. Theta and Memphis are there in background roles and Henry and Ling are walking dreams.

I did appreciate the author exploring dreams and myths and fantasies. Sleeping Sickness. Lucid dreaming. Changing structure in dreamscapes and the like. I liked Henry & Ling making such discoveries in their sleep but they took too so much time to realize what was going on that the novelty of that doesn't strike it much as you would expect it to be. So no I didn't like this book but i'm not giving up on this series too. Will wait and see what Ms. Bray publishes next.

"Dreams or no dreams, Lair of Dreams just didn't strike my fantasy at all"

Genre :     Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Horror, Mystery

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Release Date: 25th August, 2015

My Copy: publisher & netgalley

Rate:             2/5 (It was Ok)

Other Books in the Series(review links):

           #1 The Diviners 

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

Jackaby #1 Jackaby

Presenting Jackaby #1 Jackaby by William Ritter.

Here is the summary of the book:

“Miss Rook, I am not an occultist,” Jackaby said. “I have a gift that allows me to see truth where others see the illusion--and there are many illusions. All the world’s a stage, as they say, and I seem to have the only seat in the house with a view behind the curtain.”

Newly arrived in New Fiddleham, New England, 1892, and in need of a job, Abigail Rook meets R. F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary--including the ability to see supernatural beings. Abigail has a gift for noticing ordinary but important details, which makes her perfect for the position of Jackaby’s assistant. On her first day, Abigail finds herself in the midst of a thrilling case: A serial killer is on the loose. The police are convinced it’s an ordinary villain, but Jackaby is certain it’s a nonhuman creature, whose existence the police--with the exception of a handsome young detective named Charlie Cane--deny.

Doctor Who meets Sherlock in William Ritter’s debut novel, which features a detective of the paranormal as seen through the eyes of his adventurous and intelligent assistant in a tale brimming with cheeky humor and a dose of the macabre.

Enjoyably quirky and exhilaratingly adventurous. Jackaby marked as Doctor Who meets Sherlock, provides for mystery and murder tinged with the paranormal and the supernatural. R.F. Jackaby and his new assistant Abigail Rook form an unlikely pair of detectives where the first is the seer of the paranormal and the latter is as ordinary as her boss is extraordinary. Richly detailed and exotic in view, Jackaby spins his tale through the eyes of Miss Rook. in an astounding chronology of events.

While the culprit is rather easy to spot once we are faced with all the facts but it proved a fun adventure nonetheless. Jackaby is as awkward in company as he is proficient in his skills as a detective. While Abigail Rook on the other hand may have no sight to the supernatural world to call her own but she was brave quite bold in her own right and able to stand upto others when needed. Of course you can't discount the ghostly house mate, a rather temperamental frog and the assistant turned-duck amidst all of the paranormalia, set the tone of the tale perfectly. Well done Mr. Ritter.

"A must read for all the Doctor Who and Sherlock fans"

Genre :     Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Mystery

Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers

Release Date: 16th September, 2014

My Copy: bought (hardback)

Rate:             5/5 (It was Amazing)

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

Sherlock Holmes: The Seven-Per-Cent Solution

Presenting Sherlock Holmes: The Seven-Per-Cent Solution by David Tipton, Scott Tipton, Ron Joseph.

Here is the summary of the book:

The best-selling Sherlock Holmes novel by writer/director Nicholas Meyer comes to comics! The real story behind Sherlock Holmes final confrontation with Professor Moriarty is at long last revealed! Who is the real Moriarty? Why did Holmes disappear for so long? The game is afoot!"

I confess beside Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's literature, I don't know much about the later adaptation by the different authors. So I was pretty surprised that this graphic novel was adapted from the novel of the same name and it had a pretty famous movie to call its own as well. Hopefully I can somehow get it. Meanwhile the Graphic Novel showcases crisp and clear illustrations as the sordid tale comes to life throughout the cells

Sherlock Holmes: The Seven-Per-Cent Solution calls into question two of Holmes & Watson's last adventures together and says that 'what if' they were faked. What if they were fabricated by Watson to hide what really happened. We all know the great sleuth used cocaine for recreational purposes but what if, the addiction finally got to him. What if Moriarity was not the mastermind criminal of the conventional order but a personal demon of the past.

Doesn't really paint a pretty picture does it. The story is dark enough to warrant intrigue as Holmes spirals down into the throws of addiction and concerned Dr. Watson and older brother Mycroft with the help of Dr. Sigmund Freud devise the best way to cure him. All the while Holmes stumbles upon a case of international importance and the motley crew races to avert a world war abeit shortly.

"A dark and exciting take on Sherlock Holmes"

Genre :     Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Release Date: 22nd March, 2016

My Copy: publisher & netgalley

Rate:             4/5 (Really Liked It)

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

Assassin's Heart #1 Assassin's Heart

Presenting Assassin's Heart #1 Assassin's Heart by Sarah Ahiers.

Here is the summary of the book:

In the kingdom of Lovero, nine rival Families of assassins lawfully kill people for a price. As a highly skilled member of one of these powerful clans, seventeen-year-old Lea Saldana has always trusted in the strength of her Family. Until she awakens to find them murdered and her home in flames. The Da Vias, the Saldanas’ biggest enemy, must be responsible—and Lea should have seen it coming. But her secret relationship with the Da Vias’ son, Val, has clouded her otherwise killer instinct—and given the Da Vias more reason than ever to take her Family down.

Racked with guilt and shattered over Val’s probable betrayal, Lea sets out to even the score, with her heart set on retaliation and only one thought clear in her mind: make the Da Vias pay.

With shades of The Godfather and Romeo and Juliet, this richly imagined fantasy from debut author Sarah Ahiers is a story of love, lies, and the ultimate vengeance.

More of a His Fair Assassin (by Robin LaFevers) meets Romeo & Juliet and The Godfather, instead of without the latter. Assassin's Heart by Sarah Ahiers takes those elements and manages to wrangle a fascinating and exciting plot that befits its gorgeously attired cover. Here are Assassins or called clippers. Beautiful Italian architecture. The Goddess of death and resurrection Saefrella, revered throughout Lovero by the Assassins and the commoners alike. The nine clipper families warring to attain the first status. And in the middle of it all is Lea Saldana and from the rival Da Via clan her beau Val Da Via.

Lea and Val are lovers but their respective clans, the Saldanas and Da Vias have been at differences with each other for quite sometime. Thus they kept it all a secret but then Saldana family house burns to the ground and she knows somehow Val is responsible. The sole Saldana left, with revenge in her mind, she sets out to Yvain to seek help and maybe meet her destiny.

The author could have easily kept her plot true to the Romeo & Juliet scenario by keeping Val innocent till proven otherwise but thankfully she doesn't. And that is where the story really begins to take shape. Lea was a strong, brave, and resilient human being. God fearing and duty bound in her calling. She loves deeply but not blinded by said feelings. She is also the clipper who uses poisons and is very good at her job. Of course life strikes back and Yvain proves to be equally informative and full of surprises as well as trouble.

Val definitely was not my favorite of the lot but Alessio was a charmer. His connection with Lea may appear instant but their road to such realizations was an exciting event and I enjoyed every bit of the show. He is a budding clipper and very talented and eager enough to learn the trade. He clicks with Lea in a way Val never could and that in my opinion raised the stakes very much.

The narrative may have been slow at first but it picks up speed pretty soon with some well placed secrets and twists to keep things interested. Although the story was entertaining in its own rights but it doesn't nearly capture our attention, so it gets a star less from me ....... but on the whole a good first book by the author. I will surely keep watch for future sequels in this series.

"Fans of His Fair Assassin will enjoy this debut"

Genre :     Young Adult, High Fantasy, Romance

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: 2nd February, 2016

My Copy: publisher & edelweiss

Rate:             4/5 (Really Liked It)

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

The Corridor #2 The Thirteenth World

Presenting The Corridor #2 The Thirteenth World by A.N. Willis.

Here is the summary of the book:

Time is running out for Stel Alaster. The Corridor, the only portal between First and Second Earth, is failing and the barriers between all twelve worlds are thinning. Using her unique ability to travel through the multiverse, Stel sets out to save the Corridor . . . and ends up discovering a mysterious new world.

In the sequel to The Corridor, will the thirteenth world hold the key to the Corridor’s secrets? Or will the portal implode and take every last universe down with it?

Alternate realities - Worlds - Dimensions, words taken in context maintain the same meaning whichever way demonstrated. A. N. Willis' The Corridor series with the first book of the same name and the 2nd book titled, The Thirteenth World speaks of alternate worlds, especially Earths and at the center of it Stel Alaster with the special power of creating doorways to said Earth(s) and how she must battle to save her Earth before it gets destroyed by forces beyond fathom.

Sci-fi at its best. It is not uncommon to come across alternate dimensions in this genre. In regards, The Corridor duology exerts its presence by being the series that revolves around inter-dimensional travel with proven or otherwise argued theories to support its plot. With the right balance between the fantasy and the science, the plot, the characterization and the world building, the finale proves both breath-taking and exciting. Well paced plot and exciting twists & turns, the thirteenth World keeps us well on the edge of our seats as we journey with Stel and Cohl and everyone else's desperate attempt to divert the oncoming storm.

Emotions raging higher than ever, Stel proved to be a worthy heroine yet again. She brave, fearless and very much reckless, loyal to a fault and compassionate to the deserving. She loves Cohl without abandon but she is also capable of sacrificing that love if that meant he be safe. Cohl was the best of the lot. He had the patience of a saint, knowing that when Stel up her mind for something there is no stopping her, so he doesn't try to stop her but tries to help, the much he is capable.

Really, I loved every bit of the book and browsed through the pages as the finale took shape right infront of our screens. The only thing I found confusing were the names of the Earths. I got confused alot about the different zodiac Earths but other than that this is one of my favorite sci-fi series and since both the first and the second books were gladly lended by the publisher and netgalley. So I am definitely getting their ebooks soon. This is a solid and much entertaining ..... Well done!

"Exciting and unputdownable till the end. This is a sci-fi not to be underestimated"

Genre :     Young Adult, Sci-fi, Thriller, Dystopia, Romance

Publisher: Alloy Entertainment

Release Date: 29th September, 2015

My Copy: publisher & netgalley

Rate:             5/5 (It was Amazing)

Other Books in the Series(review links):

           #1 The Corridor 

Buy:           Amazon 

Odditorium #2 Alistair Grim's Odd Aquaticum

Presenting Odditorium #2 Alistair Grim's Odd Aquaticum by Gregory Funaro.

Here is the summary of the book:

When Grubb, an orphan and runaway chimney sweep, entered the wondrous world of the Odditorium, his life changed forever. Apprenticed to the mechanical marvel’s strange proprietor, Alistair Grim, Grubb unfortunately must settle into his new position on the lam, as the whole of London is convinced that Alistair Grim is a villain bent on mass destruction. Grim, however, has come up with a plan to expose the real villain: Prince Nightshade, a wicked necromancer who wants the Odditorium’s power source for himself.

With the evil prince hot on their trail, Grim, Grubb and the rest of the Odditorium's crew embark on a perilous adventure to find the legendary sword Excalibur: the only weapon capable of penetrating Nightshade's magical suit of armor. As expected, their quest turns out to be anything but ordinary. Not only can the Odditorium fly, but it can also swim! And so the crew battens down the hatches and sets off on an underwater voyage to the otherworldly realm of Avalon, home to Excalibur. Along the way, they must battle a banshee assassin, sea monsters, and a witch who seeks revenge on Alistair Grim for stealing her magical objects.

But that’s not all. Unbeknownst to Grubb and the others, their fate has been written in an ancient Avalonian prophecy—a prophecy that holds the key to a destiny not even Alistair Grim could have possibly imagined.

Of Magic, mysteries and your classic broom riding - lightning throwing witches. Of ancient lores and odder still the adventures to be had. Presenting the highly awaited sequel to the whimsically magical Odditorium series by Gregory Funaro, Alistair Grim's Odd Aquaticum. Mr. Grim, his newly discovered son Grubb (spelled like the worm with a double 'b') and all of their magical and non-magical cohorts have escaped the adventures of the first book and are very much eager for the next step.

So you know, the odditorium can fly can also disappear but did you knowm it can also swim! Yes you heard right, prepare to be amazed for their next set of palns to defeat the evil Prince Nightshade, they must journey to Avalon, the home of Excalibur. Along the way in this Odd Aquaticum, they must battle assassin banshees, wrestle with sea monsters, outwit mad witched, battle mechanical sharks and appease a tempramental goose. Just your everyday dealings at the Odditorium. With gorgeously illustrations and Funaro's words, magic is there within its pages. No matter how dire it gets, there is still always fun to be had and a solution to be infered.

But in the thicket of it all, grubb finally has found his family and learning loads under the tutelage of his father. Of course, secrets rear their heads but there are truths in them too. Alistair Grim's Odd Aquaticum was as mavelous as Alistair Grim's Odditorium was and I am very excited to know what happens next. There is magic within its pages, the awe of a new world and the sure chances of adventure .... I recommend this for all ages .... If you haven't picked it up then do so immediately.

"Mind blowing, rip-roaring adventure"

Genre :     Young Adult, Historical Fantasy, Steampunk, Middle Grade

Publisher: Disney Hyerion

Release Date: 5th January, 2016

My Copy: publisher & netgalley

Rate:             5/5 (It was Amazing)

Other Books in the Series(review links):

           #1 Alistair Grim's Odditorium 

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository

World of Ink and Shadow

Presenting World of Ink and Shadow by Lena Coakley.

Here is the summary of the book:

Charlotte, Branwell, Emily, and Anne. The Brontë siblings have always been close. After all, nothing can unite four siblings quite like life in an isolated parsonage on the moors. Their vivid imaginations lend them escape from their strict, spartan upbringing, actually transporting them into their created worlds: the glittering Verdopolis and the romantic and melancholy Gondal. But at what price? As Branwell begins to slip into madness and the sisters feel their real lives slipping away, they must weigh the cost of their powerful imaginations, even as their characters—the brooding Rogue and dashing Duke of Zamorna—refuse to let them go.

This richly conceived, haunting fantasy draws on the early writings of this most famous literary family to explore the deathless bonds between sisters and brothers, between writers and their creations.

About the Brontes and of the Brontes. Lena Coakley tells of the siblings before they wrote their famous stories - Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, The Tenants of Wildfell Hall and many more (with a twist). An original concept with tinges of fantasy. Before everything there was Verdopolis and Gondal and the siblings in the throughs of enchantment opening doorways to their fictional worlds by their co-written words. But as always magic has a cost.

The story as I stated carries an original concept mixed with history ...... but there in lies the problem which might not make sense to someone not privy to the history of the Brontes. So if you are interested in jumping into the story I suggest you all research their lives before you begin. The story would largely make much more sense then and you won't be so lost as you might have been otherwise.

Its in essence much more about the lush and opulent Verdoplis  and the cut-throat land of Gondal than the siblings' life themselves. I would have loved it more if it was a bit about both. The story reads well and its not bad at all but that's just it, nothing eventful happens and the way they escape the call of their fictional world's didn't really gather much notion ...... Do I recommend the book? I'd say try but don't expect much. You just might like it better.

"History mixed with the paranormal. A good try but the idea fails to be flourish"

Genre :     Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fantasy

Publisher: Abrams

Release Date: 5th January, 2016

My Copy: publisher & netgalley

Rate:             3/5 (Liked It)

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

To All The Boys I Have Loved Before #1

Presenting To All The Boys I Have Loved Before #1 To All The Boys I Have Loved Before by Jenny Han.

Here is the summary of the book:

Lara Jean keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her.

They aren't love letters that anyone else wrote for her, these are ones she's written. One for every boy she's ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she can pour out her heart and soul and say all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

Sugar. Spice. And Everything nice ..... right sorry don't confuse this with Powerpuff girls but Jenny Han's To All The Boys I've Loved Before, felt just like that. Its sugary. Its Bubbly. Its Cute. And all round perfect. I am no contemporary fan but I decided to make an exception for it after reading such glorious reviews for this delightfully precious drama of middle sister Lara Jean and her clandestine love letters to the 5 boys she ever loved.

Mind you those letters are only meant to be for closure and not to be seen by the addressed boys. But somehow they get sent. One returned to Lara Jean. Another turned out to be gay. One didn't say anything to her. Then there is her next door neighbor, her best friend and older sister Margo's ex-boyfriend, Josh Sanderson and the last to Peter Kavinsky, the school heartthrob and her first kiss.

Lara Jean was a cutie. A dreamer at heart and the middle sister between Margot and Kitty, she tries to uphold her relationship with her sisters. She tries to be a good daughter to her father. Optimistic by nature, loyal to a fault. She decides to get a fake boyfriend just so Josh won't regret no looking to her before and so he and Margot can get back together.

And then goes and falls for said fake boyfriend. (I'm pretty sure you all know who that is if you are familiar with the story ... if not that's great and I'll congratulate myself on keeping this spoiler free) after spending time and getting to know the guy. He was definitely a likable guy, this fake boyfriend. His public image may say otherwise but he was a considerate boyfriend to Lara Jean and brought a different color to her life aside from all the drama and angst surrounding them.

Its not exactly a love triangle here. Pretty clear who should be with who because Lara Jean and that guy had a pretty great chemistry and they shared some very poignant and swoon-worthy scenes together. Jenny Han really puts it on the go here. The narrative doesn't feel forced at all but rather maintains the perfect pace and just flows like water.

The whole book maybe filled with cliches but Han keeps it simple and charming. The romance is important but family is very very important. Before you know it, you are so into the story that you don't wanna let go at all and it has you warm and fuzzy all over ..... because i'll say it again its cute and so - so perfect ...... But why did it end there *gasps* *oh the horror*.... why didn't I get the second book too, when I bought this one .... Need it ASAP ..... I TOTALLY RECOMMEND THIS.

"A charming tale so easy to get into and so fun to experience"

Genre :     Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Release Date: 15th April, 2014

My Copy: bought (hardback)

Rate:             5/5 (It was Amazing)

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository