Open Road Summer - Emery Lord

This was another summery read for the month of August, and it’s such a shame that Birmingham hasn’t had the weather to match! But here’s some good news - I’m out of my reading slump!

Reagan O’Neill is on tour for the summer with her country superstar best friend, Lilah ‘Dee’ Montgomery. One summer, twenty-four cities.

Reagan is ready to ditch her bad behaviour this summer, as she’s finally rid of her bad-news boyfriend - with only a broken wrist to remember him by.

Dee is also nursing a broken body part - her heart. Her high school sweetheart, Jimmy, loves her but doesn’t want to hold her back, and they’ve broken up.

When the press release a false scandal about Dee, and reveal Jimmy to the world, it destroys her reputation. A young musician on her music label is invited onto the tour to do damage control.

Matt Finch is nothing like the guys Reagan usually goes for, but there’s just something about him that she cannot resist.

Only one problem - they have to keep their romance secret as the press think he’s dating Dee, and he’s saving her reputation by pretending so.

I really enjoyed this book, but I don’t know why I envisioned Dee and Reagan as Hannah Montana and her best friend Lily!

I wish I could have a romance like Reagan and Matt - I was so jealous! This book broke my heart in places but it’s a perfect read for the summer. ★★★★★

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The Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot

I received an electronic copy of this book for Netgalley and in return, here is my honest review of the book.

Before now, I had never read a book in the Princess Diaries series, despite the film being one of my favourite films of all time. I love the book just as much.

In order to review this book, I’ve compared it to the film. So if you haven’t read the book or watched the film, read at your own risk as there will be spoilers. 

It shocked me that the film is so different to the original story, although this doesn’t make the film, or the book, bad. It just means that some details have been changed that change the story somewhat.

The plot is the same; a geeky girl discovers she is the heir to the throne of Genovia, gets a makeover and is outed to the public. The characters have the same names for the most part, except the bodyguard is not Joe and I loved Joe in the film.

The book is set in New York City, rather than San Fransisco. I can’t decide which works better, but it made scenes harder to visualise because I remember the conversations being had riding down the hills of San Fran rather than walking down Manhattan. But I love both places so ultimately I didn’t mind.

Her ‘outing’ is done by a completely different, and unexpected, person - which came as a complete shock to me as I didn’t expect that detail to be changed. I think the film works better in that respect.

The biggest shock of the book is that Mia’s dad is alive. In the film, he died a few months ago, prompting her grandmother to visit and announce that she is now the sole heir to the throne. In the novel, there is less urgency to get her ready to be royal, as she has both her grandmother and her father to follow before she would become Queen.

Another thing that surprised me was her relationship with Michael, as it was portrayed a lot differently in the film. In Mia’s diary entries, you can see that there are some feelings lingering under the surface for Michael, whereas in the film it seems he likes her and she is completely oblivious. I suppose going from book to screen with diary entries is problematic, and it was easier to show the romance through Michael’s eyes.

I found it funny that the Queen demands that Mia addresses her as Grandmére, and I wish that it had been included in the film. I could imagine Julie Andrews doing that in her role as the Queen, but then again the family dynamic is slightly different from book to screen. In the film, she had never met her grandmother, whereas in the book, she saw her every holiday.

This was a wonderful, hilarious book that I am so glad I got around to reading, and despite it’s differences I loved it just as much as the film. I can’t even decide which I prefer! I will definitely be reading the others in the series. ★★★★★

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That Summer - Sarah Dessen

This was my first Sarah Dessen novel, and it did not disappoint. I expect her books will be cropping up on my TBR piles in the future.

Haven is fifteen and her whole life is changing; her dad is getting remarried, her mother is still heart-broken that he left, and her sister Ashley is getting married and moving out. 

With her family split into two, Haven wants to hold onto the past. When Sumner, Ashley’s ex-boyfriend, comes back to town, he reminds her of the good times before her dad left.

What I really liked about this book was that Haven and Sumner can just be friends without any romantic attachment. It was such a refreshing change.

When Haven’s best friend, Casey, is having troubles of her own and isn’t there for Haven. Sumner appears out of the blue to help - and expects nothing in return.

But Haven doesn’t know the reason Ashley broke up with Sumner, and wonders why she feels nothing at the mention of his name.

I really enjoyed this book. It was short, making it quick to read, and Haven’s story was so easy to get in to. I would definitely recommend this book to someone looking for a summer read. ★★★★

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Top Ten Tuesdays - Fairytale retellings

Welcome to another Top Ten Tuesday! This week’s topic is my top ten fairytale retellings which I’ve either read or want to read - this is so much fun for me! However, I’ve only read one of the books on this list, so it’s mainly a TBR Top Ten Tuesday. Enjoy!

1. Uprooted

I’m a massive fan of Rapunzel, so this is right up my street. It’s the fairytale retelling I am most excited to read - but I’m waiting patiently for the paperback.

2. Beastly

I haven’t read this book yet, but after writing this I’ve decided to order it. I really enjoyed the film adaptation, as it’s a really interesting take on Beauty and the Beast.

3. A Court of Thorns and Roses

this retelling is in my TBR pile, and has been for a while, so I’m hoping I’ll be able to get around to reading it either this month or next.

4. Cinder

I’m intrigued by this series, as each book is a different fairytale retelling, and I’m wondering whether to buy it next time I visit Waterstones.

5. Bewitching

this book really intrigues me, as it follows a witch over three hundred years of here life and has fairytale themes in it. I need to buy this right away!

6. Towering

that’s three Alex Flinn books in one post, but I really want to read all of her books - they sound brilliant and exactly what I’m looking for!

7. Dorothy Must Die

I’m struggling to think of them now, so I’m stretching the boundaries. My friend bought me this book for Christmas and I can’t wait to read it.

8. Tiger Lily

Peter Pan is my favourite children’s book, so it’s no surprise that I already have this book! I’m so excited to read it.

9. Alice in Zombieland

this is the only book on this list that I’ve read! It was very strange, a lot different to Alice in Wonderland, but it was a very good read.

10. Shadow and Bone

this was recommended to me in Waterstones last weekend as a good fairytale retelling - I can’t wait to check it out!

I hope you enjoyed reading this list, and let me know what you thought of any of the books I’ve mentioned! :)

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My August wrap-up!

Well, another month is over and here is my reading wrap-up! I didn’t get to read as many books as I wanted (only four paperbacks and two kindle novellas) due to working so much, but I’m hoping I can get out of my slump next month!

The Last Summer of Us by Maggie Harcourt

three best friends go on a road trip through Wales, to forget about their problems and… fall in love? ★★★★

The Potion Diaries by Amy Alward

when Princess Evelyn takes a love potion and falls in love with herself, Sam joins a competition to be the alchemist to cure her…against a boy she likes ★★★★

Happy Again by Jennifer E. Smith

Ellie and Graham are back, and it’s been a year since they unexpectedly crossed paths. But long distance isn’t ideal for everyone… ★★★★★

Nick and Charlie by Alice Oseman

revisiting characters from Solitaire, Tori’s brother, Charlie, and his boyfriend Nick are struggling to come to terms with their imminent separation when Nick goes to university in September ★★★★★

Lorali by Laura Dockrill

when Rory finds Lorali, a naked human girl, lying under the pier in his hometown, he has no idea what she really is… a mermaid princess ★★★★★

The Wanderers by Kate Ormand

when Flo accidentally exposes the shape-shifter circus in a stunt gone wrong, the hunters come after them and no one is safe ★★★★★

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