Erin's 50 in '15 || Update 2

June 22, 2015


Hello everyone! I'm back today with another update of what books i've been reading! (For those of you who don't know, i've been doing the "50 in '15 Challenge (find out all about it here), and you can read my first update here.)

I've been really busy over the past few months with personal issues, and also university, (there's another 'Life Update' post coming soon) so i've only managed to read 9 books since the last update. So I shall quit rambling, and get reviewing!

The first book I read was "The Miniaturist" by Jessie Burton. Now, where to start with this.. Um, I can't make up my mind whether I enjoyed this or not. it was very strange. I would say it's definitely not up there with my favourite books, but I hate leaving books unfinished, thus meaning I finished it. I had high hopes for it, as it's a huge bestseller, but I was disappointed. It was quite difficult to get into, and until about halfway through, I was very bored. However, the second half I really enjoyed, I thought it was very fast paced and everything started to make sense. However, what annoyed me was how it ended. While you get answers to many of the questions, there are a lot of major things that you're left guessing about! Overall.. Not sure i'd recommend this.

The next book was such a page turner, and it's now up there with one of my favourite books. I seriously couldn't put it down, and read it in under two days. It's called "We Were Liars" and it's by E. Lockhart. This book is really difficult to explain, without spoiling anything, but i'll try my best. It's a tale of friendship, love, summer, and of course, lies. It honestly makes you question what's true and what's not. There's also a shocking twist in it which I didn't see coming at all, it was amazing. It's one of those books where it's better to start reading it without knowing anything about it beforehand. I don't know what else to say, but seriously, read it. You will not regret it. I can (almost) guarantee that.

Next up is a book that has been very highly reviewed and raved about over the past few months. I'd heard a tonne of mixed reviews about it and, of course, as a huge bookworm, I had to get on the bandwagon and read it. It is of course "The Girl On The Train" by Paula Hawkins. Contrary to a fair few reviews, I loved this book. I thought it was a real page turner, and it left me trying to piece together parts of the puzzle myself, which I love in a book. It wasn't easy to figure out the conclusion in my opinion, but when it was revealed, I was like "ohhhh, how could I miss that?!"The only part I didn't like about this book was the ending. I feel like there could have been so much more to it. Overall, a definite myst read, particularly if like me, phycological thrillers are your thing.

So, the next book I read is now the biggest selling book in the UK of all time. It beat Harry Potter, which made me a little bit bitter, i'm not going to lie. It is of course "Girl Online" by the well known YouTuber and Blogger Zoe Sugg (aka Zoella). I was apprehensive to read this book because of all the controversy surrounding who was responsible for writing it, and just generally, i'd not heard great things of it. However, curiosity got the better of me, and I read it. It was a very easy read, and it was quite predictable. As a nineteen year old, i don't think this book is aimed at my age. It is definitely more for young teenagers, as it's a very stereotypical story about love, and the problems surrounding it. Also, as a fan of Zoe's work, I found that it was just too personal to her own life. It was okay, but not one i'd rave about.

They say never judge a book by it's cover, but I did exactly that for this next book. The front cover was too pretty to resist! The story, eh, not so much. It is "The Lemon Grove" by Helen Walsh. In my opinion, I wasn't a fan of this book. The plot was very simple, and it's pretty much spoiled in the description of the book. It's about an older lady called Jenn, who goes on holiday each year with her husband. However, this year her stepdaughter is coming with her boyfriend, who Jenn takes a fancy to. I'm sure you can guess the rest. The characters weren't developed at all, and in my opinion, there wasn't really a proper plot. I do not recommend, sorry Helen Walsh!

However, this next book, I loved. It's "Never Let Me Go" by Kazou Ishiguro. I've wanted to read this book since I saw the film version last year (which is one of my favourite films), but just never got round to it. However, now i've read it, and i'm ready to rave about it! Just a heads up tough, it's one of those books that will make sense more if you've seen the film. It's about Kathy, a woman who went to a school called Hailsham, which is said to be a perfect place, but it's all out Kathy figuring out just exactly the purpose of this school. It's amazing, but also heartbreaking. I definitely recommend.

First of all, can we talk about how nice the front cover is? Very minimalistic. Exactly what I love in design. I was given this book by a friend for my birthday. It is called "A Work In Progress" by YouTuber Connor Franta. I wasn't expecting much of this book, I won't lie, but I was pleasantly surprised! (I actually featured it in my 'May Favourites') It's basically a run down of his life so far, and it's so beautifully written, and filled with glorious pictures, and personal stories. Through reading this, I found that I could really relate to a lot of things he was saying, which in turn made me love the book even more. A beautiful read, which offered a deeper insight into the mind of a creative, determined and inspiring individual.

Another book i've read was "Me Before You" by Jojo Moyes. This was such a good book. It was really easy to get into, and once i'de started, I couldn't put it down! I spent every chance I could reading the book. To summarise, it's about a girl Lou who is asked to be a carer for a disabled man in a wheelchair called Will. Sound boring? Think again. It's all about the relationship that builds between them, and you get a real deep insight into both the lives of a first time carer, and someone who's live has totally changed after a bad accident. The characters were so well developed, and it left me thinking about it long after i'd finished it. It was a tear-jerker, but so thought provoking. A definite must read for everyone, but hurry and read it before the film comes out next year!

The most recent book i've read (I finished it yesterday!) Is called "Trust In me" and it's by Sophie McKenzie. This is yet another book I thoroughly enjoyed! It's a 'who done it' story, and it left me guessing right until the end! I was so positive I had the killer, and I was so wrong! The plot twist is incredible, it was such a gripping read. I finished it in two days I think. It's about two best friends, and after something happens to one, the other is determined to find out the truth. A serious must read for those who love crime thrillers. 5/5.

So that's what i've been reading over the past few months. Have you read any of them? What did you think? Let me know!

If you wish to contact me, my email is: erindocherty3@gmail.com

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