An excellent end to this trilogy! I love Rainbow's witty and/or emotional writing style, and the twists of this final instalment kept me on my toes. IAn excellent end to this trilogy! I love Rainbow's witty and/or emotional writing style, and the twists of this final instalment kept me on my toes. In fanfic tag terms, this is angst with a happy ending, hurt/comfort, the grumpy one ends up with the sunshine one, and a few other well-loved tropes....more
Such a gorgeous love story between two adorable high-profile sons of their respective countries. Sweet and heartbreaking, but definitely with a trimupSuch a gorgeous love story between two adorable high-profile sons of their respective countries. Sweet and heartbreaking, but definitely with a trimuphant ending. I have no idea how to describe this, but I loved it....more
Here's the scoop: Super cute summer self-discovery story pulls the feelings from my cold, dead, heart... (more soon)Here's the scoop: Super cute summer self-discovery story pulls the feelings from my cold, dead, heart... (more soon)...more
An enjoyable road trip story, about discovering that you can't go back to before a major change. More soon...An enjoyable road trip story, about discovering that you can't go back to before a major change. More soon......more
Claire Christian's Beautiful Mess was the winner of the Text Prize for 2016, and for good reason.Review posted on Tea in the Treetops in October 2017:
Claire Christian's Beautiful Mess was the winner of the Text Prize for 2016, and for good reason. This important book examines the issues of depression and anxiety, but also grief of those left behind after a suicide.
It might sound like a grim start, and it is to a certain extent. Not my usual read at all, but Claire Christian has a delightfully Aussie voice to her writing that added so much light to the story, mostly through Gideon.
Ava is grieving for her friend, Kelly. Gideon is a socially awkward nerd, who also happens to write amazing slam poetry. They strike up their friendship initially through letters to one another, which really helps Ava to let go of the gruff persona she has taken on to deal with her trauma, and also to end the toxic relationship she'd been in with Kelly's brother, Lincoln.
I loved Gideon’s family. It's so nice to see positive family dynamics and his two mums were gorgeously in love. I wish there had been more in the story with Gideon’s family!
Beautiful Mess reinforces the message that you can't fix someone with anxiety or depression, just be there for them, listen when they need you, and give them space if they need it. It also examines positive ways to deal with anxiety and depression, including counselling, medication, and strategies.
Claire has created an authentic and informative book for young adults, while also an enjoyable read....more
Krystal Sutherland's second book, A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares (longest title ever)Review posted on Tea in the Treetops in October 2017:
Krystal Sutherland's second book, A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares (longest title ever), is about anxiety, family breakdowns and despair, but it is also about hope, love and lobsters.
If you've been reading this blog for long, you'll know that I don’t often read Contemporary YA - I tend to stick to genre fiction. But when I do read contemp, this is what I like it to be. Quirky, eccentric, with a hint of magic that you're never quite sure is really there.
Esther Solar lives with her brother, Eugene, who is afraid of what lurks in the dark. Her father hasn’t left the basement for six years, and her mother is a compulsive gambler who is afraid of bad luck. Her family is cursed to have one great fear, which will eventually lead to their demise, thanks to her grandfather meeting a man claiming to be Death himself while serving in the Vietnam war.
One day while at the bus stop, Esther runs into her old friend and classmate Jonah Smallwood, who pickpockets her money and food. Next time she meets him, he asks her about the Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares he stole from her bag. It’s a list of 50 things Esther is potentially afraid of, that she avoids at all costs. Jonah convinces her to face each fear, one each week for the next year.
There is a gorgeous romance between Jonah and Esther, which only burns so long because Esther cannot let herself fall in love in case it all goes wrong. Jonah is dealing with an abusive father, but he is caring and sweet, and he has a cat called Fleayoncé which tickled me every time I read about it.
Krystal Sutherland's style is almost whimsical, very funny at times and desperately sad at others. A Semi-Definitive List contains a dizzying array of potentially trigger issues, including obsessive behaviour, selective mutism, psychosis, alcohol-fueled child abuse, suicide, gambling addiction, and murder. For most of the book, the light banter and antics of Esther and Jonah contrast well with the darker elements.
Similar to Beautiful Mess (another great #LoveOZYA recent release), this book has a focus on anxieties and insecurities and how they can also affect those around us. It's so important that such engaging stories are available for young people, or for anyone really, to reinforce the message that it’s okay to not be okay, to seek help from trusted places, that you’re not alone. I hope this book finds its way into school libraries and onto classroom lists. It's already become one of my favourites for the year....more
Pride and Prejudice, with Dragons, you say? Where do I sign?
I wanted to love this book so much. I meReview posted on Tea in the Treetops in June 2017:
Pride and Prejudice, with Dragons, you say? Where do I sign?
I wanted to love this book so much. I mean, I've read quite a few P&P retellings now, and even watched one, but none of them really hold a candle to the original story, do they? But this... this has everything I love in a story - enemies-to-lovers, a manor-house-type setting, and dragons!
I did enjoy the story, but it took a while to get into it. Heartstone does exactly what it sounds like it does - takes a beloved story and drops it into a high fantasy setting. All the characters are there, with slightly altered names, and all the events, from the dances, the dinners and the visits to far-flung estates, the ill-fated proposals and outraged denials, the pride and yes, the prejudices.
Mr Bingley Brysney is a wyvern rider and Mr Darcy Daired rides a dragon. They arrive at Merybourne Manor to assist with a gryphon infestation. At first, Aliza Bentaine is horrified at Daired's rudeness, but heartened by the way her sister, Anjey, gets along with Brysney.
So far, so P&P, right? How does the fantasy element come into it? Well, there are a host of fantastic creatures, from the smallest hobgoblins, upwards to lamias, gryphons and giant worms. Much of the early part of the book is world-building and relationship-establishing, so it does tend to drag a little, but as the story goes on it gets better and better, and there's a truly epic finale that brings all the fantasy elements together.
Even though the modern fantasy writing style makes it feel like fan fiction at times, ultimately Heartstone is an engaging and inventive read, and should appeal directly to fans of fantasy and of Jane Austen....more
A very sweet story of two young artists and their friends, their secrets and their loves... told in Cath Crowley's inimitable lyrical way. A gorgeous,A very sweet story of two young artists and their friends, their secrets and their loves... told in Cath Crowley's inimitable lyrical way. A gorgeous, light listen on Bolinda audio - loved the dual narration too!...more
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that second-hand bookshops have a special mReview originally posted on Tea in the Treetops blog in April 2017:
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that second-hand bookshops have a special mystery about them. There’s something about the smell and the feel of books that have been places and seen things. They store the collected memories of a community.
Australian author Cath Crowley returns with Words in Deep Blue, a story about one such bookshop in suburban Melbourne called Howling Books. It's also about two recent school-leavers and erstwhile best friends Henry and Rachel.
Henry lives upstairs from Howling Books with his family. His parents are in the process of a divorce, and finances are tight. His girlfriend Amy has just broken up with him again. She’ll be back, though–she’s the love of his life.
Rachel moved away from the city and her best friend Henry three years ago. Her brother, Cal, recently drowned in the Southern Ocean and Rachel has cut herself off from her friends in her grief. But now it’s time to move back to the city, away from the ocean’s constant reminder of her loss.
Told in alternating points of view, Words in Deep Blue explores the journey of grief. Rachel has avoided telling anyone in the city about Cal's death, instead making up a story about taking a year off after school before going to university. Henry is confused by the changes in her. He doesn't understand how she could just stop talking and writing to him after they were inseparable for so long.
Even though events are repeated sometimes between Henry’s and Rachel’s chapters, they each have a distinct voice. The repetition shows how profoundly they know each other–they often have similar thoughts and reactions, making their lies and withdrawals all the more heart-wrenching, but their reconciliation all the sweeter.
Crowley writes about intelligent young adults discovering their place within the world. Her previous book, Graffiti Moon, was a love story based around the worlds of art and poetry. Words in Deep Blue is also a romance, but explores how the written word can connect people and allow them to make sense of a complex world. She writes with a lyrical, almost whimsical voice, with gorgeous descriptions to enhance the emotional parts of her writing, and witty dialogue to lighten the tone.
Howling Books is a special place to the community of Gracetown because of its Letter Library: a section of the shop dedicated to favourite books that customers can write in. They can circle or mark their favourite sections or words, leave messages in the margins, or tuck letters inside books for other readers to find.
The act of writing on the pages of a printed book is considered taboo by many people. From a young age, children are taught that the printed pages of books are sacred, and not to be marked, so the act of writing messages or marking favourite passages seems deliciously rebellious. The Letter Library allows people a safe environment to express their love of books and the words contained in them, and to engage with the bookshop community. If only every bookshop had a Letter Library!
Various characters in the story interact via notes passed in Letter Library books. While Henry’s parents bond over a copy of Great Expectations, his sister George and her mystery correspondent pass notes in the pages of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. The Library becomes an integral part of the story, allowing people to express in letters what they are unable or unwilling to say face-to-face. The notes and letters show the ability of words to record snippets of people's lives, even when they are no longer with us, to be rediscovered in quiet moments.
The references to literature are many and varied, making this story appealing to a wide audience. There are mentions of other contemporary Australian authors such as Kirsty Eagar, and other recent books such as The Fault in Our Stars and Cloud Atlas.
Almost every character in this story is experiencing a loss of some kind, whether it be a family member, a best friend, a girlfriend or a home. Despite all the loss, there is a feeling of hope that gradually creeps in as the story goes on. Henry helps Rachel to understand that it’s okay to be depressed and withdrawn after a traumatic event. Just being near Henry and her other friends helps Rachel to reconnect with the world, and start to emerge from her grief.
You’ll find Words in Deep Blue on the young adult shelf in your local bookshop, but book lovers of all ages will find something to smile at within the pages....more
Yes, this is Supernatural fanfic, starring Destiel (Dean & Castiel). Also, explicit M/M romance. But hear me out :)
I've only recently discovered proper fanfiction and the AO3 site. The great part about reading fan fiction is that you already know the characters - the author doesn't have to spend time establishing personalities and motivations, or even appearances. That means they can just get right into the story, and the characters already feel familiar.
The world building here is amazingly detailed. I have no idea whether the authors took existing mythology from another source, but the Hamiaah culture and customs are beautifully described and applied to Dean and Cas' situation. Also, the characterisations are spot on, especially for Dean and for Bobby.
The language of flowers was a really sweet touch, and the first half was all exquisite slow-burn just-get-it-on-already romance. The rest of it alternates between sweetness and explicit sex scenes (don't say I didn't warn you), as well as some nail-biting action scenes.
Sure, Angel's Wild has its faults. It's much too long, even if I loved the details. There are grammatical errors and typos. But to be honest, if they changed the names of the characters and removed some of the references to the tv show, this would make a convincing urban fantasy/romance novel that I would have loved to read. ...more
Yes, this is Supernatural, Destiel fan fiction, set around the time of the Vietnam war. No, I am not a shipper for Dean and Cas Oh, my heart...
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Yes, this is Supernatural, Destiel fan fiction, set around the time of the Vietnam war. No, I am not a shipper for Dean and Cas in the actual show, but I find the beautiful things that fans make and write irresistible!
And this, this story... the second half is so beautifully written, my chest hurts just thinking about it.
In the first half, there are rather a lot of explicit sex scenes between Dean and Castiel, which kind of isn't really my thing, but it gradually grows into such a gorgeous love story, that I forgot that it was supposed to be based on characters I know, and just enjoyed it for what it was - a tragedy that ripped my heart out and stomped on the shattered pieces. ...more
Twelve Christmas romances, authors including Stephanie Perkins, Rainbow Rowell, Kelly Link, Matt de le Pena, Jenny Han, David Levithan, Holly Black, GTwelve Christmas romances, authors including Stephanie Perkins, Rainbow Rowell, Kelly Link, Matt de le Pena, Jenny Han, David Levithan, Holly Black, Gayle Forman, Myra McEntire, Kiersten White, Ally Carter and Laini Taylor.
This was completely adorable - all of it. Even the creepy ones! Even the ones with no magic at all! I'll try to write a longer review soon, but basically, Rainbow Rowell's was as cute as you can imagine, and seriously, I can't choose a favourite out of the others. Kiersten White made me cry, and others had me unable to put the book down.
I'm not usually much of a short story reader, but this was great!...more
It took me a long time to read this, and I think it was mostly because it wasn't what I needed over the summer holidays :-/ The characters are great, It took me a long time to read this, and I think it was mostly because it wasn't what I needed over the summer holidays :-/ The characters are great, the story is inspiring (eventually), but it's all just so slow that I felt I wasn't getting anywhere through most of it.
Ginny Loftin is a writer, living in the Bronx with her mother and artistic siblings. Ginny is shattered when her childhood friend and love of her life, Charlie, proposes to another woman at his mother’s insistence. Lost in grief, she pours out her worries into a novel, and is convinced to attend a meeting of the Fifth Avenue Artists Society hosted by a friend of her brother.
The Fifth Avenue Artists Society is an evocative story of a bygone era, with society clinging to old class rules while forging ahead to the turn of the twentieth century, with its motor cars and women accepted into careers they were previously barred from. There are a few cameos from artists and famous publishers of the time, and the descriptions of the big, smelly city and quieter neighbourhoods are vivid.
I loved the way that each of Ginny’s siblings had an artistic talent to make a little money on the side: Bess with her millinery, Alevia’s piano performing, Mae is focused on education and their brother Frank’s painting. Since their father died, Frank is the only one with a steady income, but there is still a lingering wish from Bess to marry into a wealthy family so that she can become a lady of leisure. When I found out that this story was based on real people from Joy Callaway’s family, I wasn’t surprised. They seem like they would have been amazing personalities!
While the characters were life-like and relatable, I almost put this book down on a couple of different occasions. The pacing of the story is just… slow. Hardly anything happens for the first half of the book – it’s mostly Ginny being desperately sad. Even when things do start to happen they are followed by further slow sections of misery for one reason or another. Perhaps I have been reading too many action-packed books lately, but I found myself wishing things would hurry along, which is never a good thing while reading.
I’d recommend this book to historical fiction fans, or those who need motivation in their artistic endeavours, especially in the publishing world....more
Ah, where to begin? If you've been listening to Tea in the Treetops Podcast for long, you'll have heard Philippa and me raving about the first Lady Helen book. Well, I'm pleased to report that the second book, Lady Helen and the Dark Days Pact (or outside of Australia, just The Dark Days Pact), lived up to expectations.
After the disastrous events of her own ball in London, Lady Helen flees with the Dark Days Club members to Brighton, ostensibly for her health, but really to begin her training as a Reclaimer. Lord Carlston's condition seems to be deteriorating, especially when Helen is near. Is the vestigal madness finally catching up with him, or could it be something stranger? When Mr Pike arrives in Brighton, he makes Helen take the Reclaimer oath, then gives her a task to perform. Helen must choose between her honour as a Dark Days Club member, or her loyalty to her friends.
It's obvious that Alison Goodman is passionate about the Regency period and has researched thoroughly not only the Brighton of the early 19th century, but also the customs of the different classes, their clothing, hair, even the foods they ate. The settings are evocative and although the Brighton of today is quite different to how it is described in the book, I could imagine the bathing machines and ladies in their bathing gowns down on the pebbly beaches.
The attraction between Lady Helen and Lord Carlston is gaining momentum and their charged glances and accidental touches are pure swoon for readers. I do still feel, as I did in the first book, that Carlston is still very much a 'Mr Darcy' figure - moody and grumpy, but apparently with a heart of gold. I have always found (and I fully understand I'm going to be smacked down for this) Mr Darcy to be insufferable and his behaviour appalling, no matter how he redeems himself later in Pride and Prejudice. I hope that Carlston is able to soften in book three, despite the events at the end of this one (no spoilers!).
Helen herself spends a lot of time in this book dressed as a man, which really doesn't help her in finding her new role in the Dark Days Club. She's only just discovering the extent of her Reclaimer powers, and is appalled at the idea that she will probably have to take lives in the name of duty to the crown. There are so many secrets and lies, twists and turns that Helen must keep track of and I was on the edge of my seat with worry about how it was all going to pan out.
The supporting cast also got plenty of action and growth here too, from the Duke of Selburn with his untiring efforts to win Helen's affections; the Dark Days Club aides, Mr Hammond and his sister, Lady Margaret; Helen's Terrene-to-be, Darby; and a host of new characters introduced.
I flew through this book whenever I got a moment to read, and I was lucky enough to be able to read the last few chapters undisturbed on a plane trip. That did prevent me from screaming "Nooooooo!" for a lot of the ending, though. I'm desperate to know what happens next!
If you're a fan of Regency-period romance, paranormal hunting-type stories or are interested by a combination of the two, then get into this series! It's still a firm favourite of mine....more
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