Empire of Storms by Sarah J Maas Reivew

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Apparently there are a ton of mixed reviews on this novel, but I'm not really sure why. I absolutely loved this book from start to finish! The plot is a bit hard to follow, but if you pay attention and keep up with all the little threads running throughout the story, you should be fine. I enjoy something that makes me think, even if this is considered YA. This is one of the best books I've read so far this year; I can see myself re-reading this series because there is so much going on in each book. Between the novels and the novellas, there are a ton of characters and settings. Again, pay attention to everyone and keep an open mind and you will fall in love with the series.

The characters are unique and show tons of development as the plot progresses, although it is a little tough to keep everyone straight in my mind at times. It's not an issue simply because Maas is a master story-teller and knows how to weave everything together. I was a little stressed out when I realized there wouldn't be a resolution in this particular book, but I am excited to see where she goes with it. Hopefully the next book comes out soon!

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The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton Review

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If I hadn't know Hinton was only sixteen when she wrote this, I would have had no idea! Seriously, she is way beyond her years and she wrote a fantastic story!! This isn't normally a book I would go for, but it's a classic (and it fit one of the criteria for my yearly reading challenge); it definitely deserves recognition.

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Troublemaker by Leah Remini Review

Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars

The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is mostly because Remini repeats herself several times throughout the book. Like, literally copies and pastes sentences (or changes a few words and inserts them into other paragraphs). Definitely an eye-opening read! I knew very little about Scientology before reading this, and I'm still not 100% sure exactly what they believe in. However, I do have a better understanding now. I want to find more information on the religion/ cult, and I would love to read more biographies from actors and actresses who have left the church (even though not many would likely publish a book similar to this one).

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Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell Review

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I didn't like this book as much as I was excepting to... but I also didn't hate it as much as I thought I would either. My main issue with the book is the fact that it's marketed as a "coming of age" novel, even though it mainly revolves around Cath's fanfiction. This book offers a somewhat realistic narrative about the life of a college freshman, I really wouldn't call this a "coming of age" story simply because there really isn't enough character development to warrant this claim. Yes, Cath grows up a little bit as the story progresses. However, it's a little silly to me that she would be so concerned with writing her fanfiction that she pretty much blows off her college courses (plus her career, relationship, family, etc.) to finish it. I also hate that this whole story is based around a horrible Harry Potter fanfiction... Sorry, but I can't let that one go. Honestly, if fanfiction weren't the major focus of this book, I would have liked it soooooooooo much more. I know I'm not Rowell's target audience, so that's probably part of the reason why I wasn't overly impressed.

Don't get me wrong, I love good fanfiction! As long as it's not overdone and ridiculous. Unforuntaely, Cath's/ Rowell's piece is not quite up to my standards. Sorry guys... this just wasn't the book for me.

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The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood Review

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Where do I even start with this review? It's probably important to note that this book is definitely controversial, and the Goodreads community had given it mixed reviews (which really isn't shocking based on the subject matter being presented). I'm not one to read reviews before writing my own, but I was curious to see what others thought; and I'm still not 100% sure what to make of all the conflicting opinions/ reviews.

Some people get hung up on the grammatical aspects (or possibly Atwood's writing style?), thus missing the overall purpose of this story. Our narrator is UNRELIABLE- she says multiple times through her account that it may not be accurate and she doesn't even want to be recounting what transpired. She is not meant to be trusted completely. Additionally, she is only one voice, and therefore only has one perspective of the society as a whole, the actions of those around her, etc. etc. Yes, there are a lot of unanswered questions, and we really don't have a "proper ending." That's the point. You're meant to question everything.

If you don't ask questions and you take what everyone says for gospel, we will end up creating the culture and society presented in the book. Don't just blindly follow what someone else is telling you. Don't accept all things as fact until you have the evidence to prove it. Even then, be cautious.

In my opinion, Atwood's overarching goal is to make the reader question every single detail given to them. I haven't read anything quiet like this, even though I have read my fair share of dystopian novels. It's unlike anything else, and for good reason.

I'm not even going to get into the political side of this, simply because I don't feel qualified enough to do so. Political science is not my strong suit. I would love to have my poli-sci minded boyfriend read this and pick his brain for more information. If that does end up happening, I'll update this review!

Anyway, I highly recommend this to anyone and everyone. It should be a requirement for high school or college level classes (assuming the students are mature enough to handle the content), in my humble opinion. Honestly, give it a try, especially if you're interested in watching the Hulu series!

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#GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso Review

#GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

So, let's be honest- I don't know much about Sophia Amoruso other than the fact that she's the founder of Nasty Gal. That being said, I didn't really have many expectations for this book (good or bad), and I really didn't know how I would feel about it in the end. I'm not hating on her, but I just don't understand why so many authors/ entrepreneurs/ businessmen and women constantly degrade my generation. Not everyone is lazy, not everyone is unintelligent, and not everyone is just looking to live paycheck to paycheck. At one point I almost couldn't finish this book because Amoruso pretty much glorifies the fact that she succeeded without a college degree. I get it- not everyone can or should go to college. You don't need a college degree to succeed, but you also shouldn't discount the importance of degrees in certain professions.

She should be proud of all she has accomplished, especially at such a young age. Maybe the wording is what got me? I don't really know. I'm not offended by any means, I just can't say this is one of my favorite books. Honestly, if you need a kick in the ass to get you motivated, this is probably a good book for you to check out. Otherwise, I'm not super into it.

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How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather Review

How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was much better than I was expecting to be, in all honestly. I like the plot twists (even though some of them were a little predictable), and the characters really grow and develop throughout the story. I'm obsessed with learning everything I can about the Salem witch trials, so I thought it was pretty cool that the author is actually a descendent. Overall, pretty good, but I probably won't read it again.

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The Young Elites by Marie Lu Review

The Young Elites by Marie Lu
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm giving this a 3.5 out of 5 because I really enjoyed the majority of this book. The ending was a little "meh" for me, but only because it was pretty predictable. I know it's young adult fiction, and there are so many narratives with similar plots; I just expected a little bit more from Lu as a writer. I'm definitely starting the next book asap, though! I need to see how this is all going to play out. There are some loose ends (obvious, since it's a series), and I'm totally okay with that as long as they are all tied up in the end. We shall see!

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The Rose Society by Marie Lu Review

The Rose Society by Marie Lu
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this installment in the Young Elites series because it's much darker and terrifying than I imagined! I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting much because this is YA, so maybe that's why I'm so impressed. I know I've said it countless times, but Lu's writing style is perfection! She knows how to develop her characters, keeps a consistent pace, and is able to draw the reader into the world she's created. She's a master when it comes to adding plot twists- they're never overly obvious! She could take a number of different routes to finish this series, so I'm excited to see how she structures the next book.

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Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur Review

Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 1/2 stars (Baelien bookclub)

The only reason I'm not giving this 5 stars is because I don't see myself reading this again. I know that sounds bad, but let me explain.

This book made me cry. This book also made me question a lot of aspects about my relationship and life in general. I'm thankful that Kaur is able to bring out my emotions (I needed a good cry, I guess), but I'm not one to read books like this very often. Poetry isn't my favorite; that being said, her poems are incredible! I love that they're short, sweet, and to the point. The illustrations also add lots of human emotion to each piece.

I recommend this, but only if you're looking to do some serious soul searching.

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You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero Review

You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

(Baelien Bookclub)

This book is incredibly inspiring, motivational, and eye-opening! Seriously, I forgot I was reading a self help book because I felt like I was having a heart-to-heart conversation with the author. I love the length of the chapters, and the fact that she uses lists/ bullet points as an outline for her advice. I recommend this to everyone, whether you're looking for a way to deal with depression, anxiety, relationship problems, work issues, stress, etc. etc.

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Fairest by Marissa Meyer Review

Fairest by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars

The only reason I'm not giving this 5 stars is because it was a tad slow for me in the beginning. Once you get into it (maybe 40 pages in?), this book is incredible! You really start to rationalize Levana's insane/ irrational behavior because of everything she's been through- not that I agree with anything she's done, but ya know. It makes sense now. Anyway, the writing style is awesome, great character development, and the sequence of events fits perfectly with the rest of the Lunar Chronicles.

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Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya Review

Fruits Basket Collector's Edition, Vol. 1 by Natsuki Takaya
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was just kind of "meh" for me... I'm not really sure why, but I just couldn't get invested in the characters or the plot. Maybe because it's meant for the younger generation? I remember this being a huge deal when I was in school, but I don't get the hype. I may read the second one.

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Stars Above by Marissa Meyer Review

Stars Above by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

These short stories/ novellas are wonderful! I like seeing a different side of the characters, and I especially like the way this book is broken into different sections. Each section focuses on a different character or a set of characters, but the overall story arch is still in place (and makes sense!). A+ character development and pacing. The only reason I'm giving this one 4 stars is because the ending was super abrupt and too sudden for my taste. But it's overall still an awesome read.

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The Death of WCW by RD Reynolds Review

The Death of WCW: 10th Anniversary of the Bestselling Classic - Revised and Expanded by R.D. Reynolds
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So, my boyfriend got me hooked on wrestling almost two years ago, and I've been obsessed since. I've learned that it takes an incredible amount of talent, hard work and dedication, and a little bit of insanity to be a part of the business. From bookers to upper management to the actual in-ring talent, the world of wrestling is absolutely crazy! Before reading this book, I had a pretty basic understanding of the business, but I didn't really know about the history behind WWF/ WWE or WCW.

That being said, this was, by far, one of my non-fiction favorite books I've ever read! If you're even slightly interested in the business, I highly recommend checking this book out! I'm sure it's not 100% historically accurate, but I love that Reynolds and Alvarez stick to the objective facts and don't really talk shit about anyone. They just present it exactly like it went down. It's eye opening, for sure.

To anyone looking to break into the business one day: use this book as an example of everything not to do when working for/ running a company. You can thank me later.

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The Midnight Star by Marie Lu Review

The Midnight Star by Marie Lu
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars

Some authors seem to forget to tie up all the loose ends, to make sure each character gets their own ending (whether it's happy or not so happy), but Lu is a master when it comes to conclusions! Parts of this book were a little slow, so that's the only reason I'm giving it a 4.5 instead of a 5. The ending seemed a tad bit rushed because the middle was so long, but it ultimately works out in the end. I love the character development, the plot twists, and the fact that the ending was not predictable in the least!

I'm not sure if there are more installments or plans for more books in this series, but I would be happy either way. There's a definitive ending. On the other hand, she definitely left herself some interesting things to work with if she did choose to continue the series. Just some random thoughts.

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Crazy Is My Super Power by AJ Mendez Brooks Review

Crazy Is My Superpower: How I Triumphed by Breaking Bones, Breaking Hearts, and Breaking the Rules by A.J. Mendez Brooks
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Edit: 10/1/2017

So, after doing some research and actually watching AJ Lee in the ring, I definitely want to edit this review. I guess instead of editing, I'll just write an updated review because there are some things I would like to touch on.

I still stand by what I said about the majority of this book. AJ is an inspiration to young women, as she should be. She struggled to get into the business due to a number of factors (including her mental health problems, and the simple fact that she was a woman in a male-dominated industry), but still prevailed. To this day, many wrestling fans will tell you that she is the sole reason for the Women's Revolution, and she seems to think so, too. As I sit here watching her old matches, I'm starting to wonder why she's held on such a high pedestal. For someone who didn't want to be known just for her body, she certainly doesn't seem like she was unwilling to wear her "skimpy, little outfits" (which she talks about extensively in the book). Yes, she is one of the more talented workers of her era; yes, she should be given credit for attempting to revolutionize the division. However, she should not be hailed as a revolutionary by any means. She pushed for longer matches and deeper story lines for the women, but I wouldn't say that she was the only one who made these things happen.

I still enjoy bits and pieces of this book- mostly the sections about her childhood and her battle with mental illness. I just can't say that I respect her nearly as much as I did before watching her matches.

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I have nothing but positive things to say about this autobiography. It's truly inspiring to see where AJ came from and know the struggles she faced before breaking into the business. Although her career was cut short (in my opinion), she influenced the women's division and changed the face of the business for the better. All too often we praise female athletes for their bodies/ their looks rather than their in-ring talent, a point which AJ makes throughout the second half of her book. Her accomplishments are remarkable and, honestly, she should be given more credit for her role in WWE. A few people have said that she "shit on the company," but I didn't pick up that sort of tone from her. She is very matter-of-fact and blunt. Maybe some people just can't handle the truth? I'm not sure, but either way, I absolutely loved Crazy is my Superpower from start to finish, and I hope to god she writes another book soon. I'm fascinated by the business in general, but the women's division (for obvious reasons) has always held my attention more than the "main roster Superstars" in most cases.

If you enjoy wrestling even a little check this out. If you need a strong female role model in your life, give it a go. Or, if you just need a really good book that keeps you engaged the entire time, I highly recommend this one.

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Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel Review

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this because it was part of the End of the World book club, and I definitely don't regret picking it up! This isn't my favorite post-apocalyptic novel (The Girl with All the Gifts is still my all-time favorite) only because it was a little slower paced and less action-packed than I had hoped it would be. There is a little bit of a plot twist, but it wasn't anything super original or shocking; most of the characters don't have enough time to develop and evolve due to the number of characters present in the book. I like that the author chose to focus on different characters set in different times and locations, but I wish there would have been some sort of thread connecting them all together at the end. Honestly, the plot kind of falls flat for me, maybe because I've read so many dystopian/ post-apocalyptic novels. Either way, it's not my favorite, but I would recommend it to someone who is new to the genre.

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A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas Review

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've seen a few mixed reviews on this series. Some of my friends read it, and hated it, while some absolutely loved it. A few people have said that they couldn't finish it and just gave up on Maas. Honestly, I'm obsessed with this series!! I'm not sure if I'm just partial to her writing style, or the genre in general, but I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. She did give us a bit of closure at the end, and most of the lose ends are all tied up. I think she did leave some things untouched mostly because the next book is apparently coming out in 2018? I'm not sure if she's continuing the main story arch or if she's planning on writing a series of novellas; either way, I'm excited!!

I really do love this series for so many reasons. We see lots of character development, the pacing is pretty good (too fast in some places, a little slow in others, but I can forgive that), and the dialogue is spot on. There isn't any wasted energy, and by that I mean there really isn't a single scene that makes me think, "why was this necessary for the plot?" It makes sense, and it fits well with the rest of the series.

This sounds kind of silly, but I kind of wish there were fewer happy endings. I know, I know- horrible. I just think it would have been better for certain characters to suffer for their previous actions, but that's just me. I'm happy with the outcome so far. We'll see where we go from here :)

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Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo Review

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I know I'm way late on this bandwagon, but I really did enjoy this book! I'm glad I (finally) started this series (I'm not sure why I waited so long to read it... But better late than never, right?). The world is believable, yet unique, and I love the Russian elements. I don't know a ton about Russian folklore, but that hasn't been a problem; Bardugo does a wonderful job immersing her reader without overwhelming them. The characters are dynamic and vastly different from one another, however, this is a ton of room for development later on. I've already started the second book, and I can already tell that this well be one of my favorite YA series. I rated it four stars mostly because it was a little slow and it did drag on a bit in the middle. I don't mind, though, and it's nothing that will keep me from continuing the series (obviously!).

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