January Reads

Hello (:

In 2015, I decided I was going to read more. It's not that I never read, because I do. But I wanted to be more active about it and not fall into 'reading ruts' as easily. I figured the best way to document what I have read was to blog about it. So, here we are, January's reads!

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
Lola Nolan is a sixteen year old, living in San Francisco, attending school and working at the local cinema. She designs outfits and wears a different 'character' each day, opting for colourful wigs over her own hair. Her life has been coasting along just fine, until the return of her childhood next door neighbours. Calliope and Cricket Bell are back to stir Lola's life up once again in ways she had never even thought possible. Between the two of them, an older boyfriend, two dad's and an alcoholic mother, Lola's life is anything but ordinary.

Lola and the Boy Next Door is the second installment in Perkins' interlinking novels. I didn't quite enjoy this as much as it's predecessor, Anna and the French Kiss. I found Lola to be a bit irritating in places and I found myself never fully rooting for her. There's a lot of build up surrounding the Bell twins, then it's a bit disappointing when you find out what really happened. It's a decent young adult novel, and the links between this and Anna and the French Kiss are subtle and quite clever. 3/5. 

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
Hazel's lungs don't work properly since she suffered with cancer as a teenager. She meets fellow survivor, Augustus Waters, at a teen cancer support group. From that day on, they become best friends and eventually, first loves, until after a life changing trip to Amsterdam, tragedy strikes and nothing is ever the same again.

I've had this book for a while, but I've been putting off reading it. I was worried I'd find it too upsetting, but I didn't cry at all! It's a bittersweet love story that is brought to a halt sooner than you'd like it too. I did like Hazel's character, and her support group pal, Isaac. It was easy to feel sympathy for each of the characters, and the trip to Amsterdam is written beautifully. Green has handled a difficult subject with sensitivity and tact, but I didn't feel a real connection with the characters. 3/5

I'll Take New York by Miranda Dickinson
In New York, Bea James has been stood up by Otis Greene once again, in front of her entire family. In San Francisco, Jake Steinmann is packing up his life after his wife, Jessica has filed for divorce. In the wake of their destructive break ups, Bea and Jake meet and forge a friendship based on 'The Pact' to be done with relationships for good. Only, things aren't quite as simple as they first thought.

I'm a sucker for anything set in New York. Dickinson has created a group of likeable characters, but none of them really make a lot of impact. It's a frothy, dreamy love story, with a beautiful backdrop. The descriptions are enviable in places and the overall story is good. It does drag a little in places and I found I was reading whole sections without feeling properly engaged. A good book for a touch of escapism, but not one that will stick with you for a long time after. 3/5

Out of the three, if I had to recommend one to you, it would be The Fault In Our Stars. 

I wish I was a faster reader, I really do! I tend to race through books I really like then put off reading if I'm not enjoying a book as much. If you have any recommendations please pop them in a comment, I love to know what others are enjoying reading at the moment.

Until next time!