Friday, 18 September 2015

Twenty Boy Summer - Sarah Ockler

I usually don’t read the same author twice in a row, but I wanted to fit in as many summery reads into August as possible - what was left of my summer TBR will have to wait until next year.


Twenty Boy Summer is about Anna’s trip to Zanzibar bay with her best friend, Frankie, who proposed they meet one boy every day in order to find their summer flings - a twenty boy summer.

But Anna cannot focus on their twenty boys and summer flings, as she’s been keeping a secret from her best friend that’s eating away at her. Frankie’s brother, Matt, and Anna were secretly dating and didn’t get around to telling Frankie before Matt died in a car crash.

So when one of the summer boys, Sam, captures Anna’s attention, she worries it will make her forget about Matt, when she doesn’t want to. And deep down Anna knows she needs to tell Frankie, despite promising Matt she wouldn’t.

I really enjoyed this book, the flashbacks interspersed with the present worked really well and it got to me that Matt had died, because the more I read about him the more I wanted to see of him and Anna as a couple. A brilliant read ★★★★★

I’m really ill today but I’m still blogging! I’ve decided that since I still haven’t posted my August wrap up that I will have to put the books I read in with the ones I read in September. I’m sorry I’ve not been that active recently but my life is really crazy right now.

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Friday, 11 September 2015

The Summer of Chasing Mermaids - Sarah Ockler

I’m actually ashamed of myself for how long it has taken me to review this beautiful book. I had been looking forward to reading it for months, so I started as soon as it arrived. I’ve just been in a bit of a reviewing slump recently, for which I apologise and I hope to pick up the pace now I’m feeling better.


Elyse d’Abreau was going to be a world famous singer with her sister, up until she lost her voice in a boating accident. With her dreams crushed, she leaves her family in Tobago for Atargatis Cove, Oregon, a small town named after the first ever mermaid.

Here in Oregon, Elyse meets Christian Kane - he’s a well-known player, and she knows she should stay away from him. But he’s honest with her, and doesn’t treat her like she’s fragile - like everyone else - just because she can’t speak. 

Elyse also bonds with Christian’s younger brother, Sebastian; they hunt for mermaids, and he convinces himself that she is one, too, and Elyse helps him fulfil his dream to dress up as a mermaid. Meanwhile, she helps Christian prepare his boat for the Pirate Regatta, and finds herself falling for him in the process.

This book wasn’t what I expected at all, but I really enjoyed it. I loved Elyse and her story touched me. Sarah writes beautifully and I can’t wait to read more of her books. ★★★★★

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Tuesday, 1 September 2015

YAShot Blog Tour - Q&A with Sarah Sky!

Welcome to lize bronwen reviews, and today I’m honoured to be a part of the blog tour for YA Shot - a YA and MG festival taking place in Uxbridge on Wednesday 28th October. Sadly, I cannot make it, but I hope everyone who goes has a wonderful time!

So as part of the blog tour, today I will be interviewing the wonderful Sarah Sky, author of the Jessica Cole: Model Spy Series, which so far consists of three books; Code Red Lipstick, Fashion Assassin and Catwalk Criminal.
1) What made you decide to become a writer?

I've always wanted to be a writer - ever since I was a child. I used to carry a notebook around with me so I could jot down notes for stories - something I still do. When I was about seven, I tried to get my first book published. It was called The Moondrop Family and I'd written and illustrated it myself. I had a very nice rejection letter from a publisher saying 'no' but not to give up. I didn't and was thrilled to be able to write the Jessica Cole: Model Spy series for Scholastic - Code Red Lipstick, Fashion Assassin and Catwalk Criminal.

2) Did you like to read or write as a child?

Reading and writing were my favourite pastimes at school - as well as outside school. I used to read vociferously - all the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew and Enid Blyton books I could get my hands on, particularly the Famous Five and Secret Seven. I also loved A Little Princess, Anne of Green Gables and The Wolves of Willoughby Chase. I used to write lots of stories as a child and I never stopped.

3) Are there any authors who you are inspired by?

There are lots of authors I'm inspired by - I always find it fascinating to see how other authors plan and structure their books. I think Malorie Blackman is a huge inspiration - she's achieved so much in her career and really put YA books in the spotlight by launching YALC last year. I hope it continues to run every year as it's great to bring so many amazing YA writers together in one event.

4) What gave you the idea for the Jessica Cole series?

I read a diary kept by a teenage supermodel during Paris Couture Week, which was published in a Sunday magazine. I found it fascinating to see how she could be modelling for huge designers one minute and then scuttle off the catwalk to catch up on her GCSE homework the next. It made me start to wonder about the double life a model could lead: could they be doing something else that no one else knew about at a fashion show? It suddenly struck me that being a fashion model would be a great front for working for MI6. It would give a teenage girl the perfect opportunity to travel the world, working for different photographers and designers, while spying for the Secret Intelligence Service.

5) Do you have any other books planned?

I'd love to write more books in the Jessica Cole: Model Spy series. I have plenty of ideas for further books.

I've recently finished writing a new YA book, which I'm very excited about. It's about love and friendships and secrets - and not a spy in sight! I'm also working on quite a dark thriller - the research is fascinating. I'm really enjoying exploring very different characters.

I’d just like to thank Alexia Casale and Sarah Sky for making this blog post possible, I love you both!
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Tuesday, 18 August 2015

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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Friday, 14 August 2015

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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