The Chase by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg | Book Review #163

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
The Chase by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg

Are there spoilers?

Nope.

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Title: The Chase 

Author: Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg

Series: Fox and O'Hare #2

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Pages: 304

Published: 2014

Publisher:  Bantam 

Genre: Mystery, Fiction, Romance, Crime

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Date Read: May 2, 2019

Rating: ★★★☆☆

An internationally renowned thief and con artist Nicolas Fox runs daring cons now teams undercover for FBI with the agent who caught him, Kate O'Hare. Together they catch the world’s most wanted—and untouchable—criminals, next to Carter Grove, former White House chief of staff, now the ruthless leader of BlackRhino private security for a rare Chinese rooster from the Smithsonian.

The Rating:

My Review:

The Chase didn't catch and hold onto my attention like The Heist did but it was still a good read. This one had a lot of the same elements that the first one had too.

I love how Kate and Nick's relationship is still going on like a slow burn. they obviously have a lot to sexual tension between them and they flirt with each other so it's all there. And I can't wait to see when it starts to get more official.

Kate's father is still my favorite character. He's just so cool. And I still think that Sylvester Stallone or Bruce Willis or even Jean-Claude Van Damme could play him. Or maybe a little bit of the three of them in one. Crazy but smart, and a loving father, and a good fighter/sharpshooter. But also I don't think he'd be old. Like I know he's retired but I don't think he's old-old. Ya know?

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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Where You'll Find Me by Natasha Friend | Book Review #162

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Where You'll Find Me by Natasha Friend 

Are there spoilers?

Nope.

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Title: Where You'll Find Me

Author: Natasha Friend 

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Pages: 272

Published: 2016

Publisher:  Farrar, Straus, and Giroux 

Genre: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Mental Health

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Date Read: April 30, 2019

Rating: ★★★★☆

The first month of school, thirteen-year-old Anna Collette finds herself…

Dumped by her best friend, Dani, who suddenly wants to spend eighth grade “hanging out with different people.”

Deserted by her mom, who’s in the hospital recovering from a suicide attempt.

Trapped in a house with her dad, a new baby sister, and a stepmother young enough to wear her Delta Delta Delta sweatshirt with pride.

Stuck at a lunch table with Shawna the Eyebrow Plucker and Sarabeth the Irish Stepper because she has no one else to sit with.

But what if all isn’t lost? What if Anna’s mom didn’t exactly mean to leave her? What if Anna’s stepmother is cooler than she thought? What if the misfit lunch table isn’t such a bad fit after all?

With help from some unlikely sources, including a crazy girl-band talent show act, Anna just may find herself on the road to okay.

The Rating:

My Review:

Just by looking at this book you'd think it would hold a beautiful story full of happiness and friendship but no! The pretty flowers and paster rainbows have nothing to do with the story and I love it.

This book deals with such a powerful theme. The main characters mother almost dies of an overdose on painkillers and leaves her daughter to deal with it. 

But that's not just it. Anna also deals with adults being inconsiderate and malicious gossip. Along with losing friends, not knowing when other kids are being nice or messing with her, new stepmom and a baby step-sibling. This kid is barely a teen and she has already dealt with so much. That I couldn't help but root for her to find some sort of peace in all the mess she was in.

I think I might have cried twice. Not only because of what Anna went through but because of her friends'stories. There are just too many moments in this book that tugged at my heartstrings and made me cry so much.

And in the end, I was left being so thankful for the messed up childhood I had because it ever went beyond the point of being completely alone in a tough situation like Anna was. 

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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Manga Classics: Sense and Sensibility by Stacy King | Book Review #161

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Please Send Help by Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin

Are there spoilers?

Nope.

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Disclaimer:

This book was sent to me by the publishing company (St. Martins Press) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Sense and Sensibility ( Manga Classics)

English Script and Story Adaptation by Stacy King

Original Author: Jane Austen

Artist: Po Tse

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Pages: 308

Published: 2016

Publisher: Udon Entertainment

Genre: Classics, Manga

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Date Read: March 17 > March 18, 2019

Rating: ★★★★☆

Impulsive Marianne Dashwood and cautious Elinor are as different as two sisters could be, yet both are shattered by their father's sudden Death. Elinor's attachment to the reserved Edward Ferrars is torn asunder by family opposition and his own dark secret, while Marianne's brilliant romance with the dashing John Willoughby comes to a tumultuous end in a devastating public betrayal. Can the two sisters overcome these trials to find true, lasting happiness?

Jane Austen's beloved first novel, filled with romance, redemption and social critique, is brought to life for a modern audience in this gorgeous manga-style adaptation!

The Rating:

My Review:

I actually read Sense and Sensibility after I read Jane Eyre so it was something I was excited about.

Not only was the art good but the way the characters were portrayed made me relate and understand everything that was going on so much more than if I were to read it in text only. I think that this way I got to see all the things that I wouldn't have been able to picture otherwise.

Marianne and Elinor were such good characters. They were the complete opposite of each other when it came to love and they both went in different routes but their goal was always true and strong and healthy love. Which is admirable and made me relate to both of them.

Though let's be honest I would have pushed Willoughby aside (hand on face pushing) and went to Colonel Brandon's arms. Cause that man was dashing.

And in the end, I was left with the feeling of wanting to drop everything and watching the movie and whatever other adaptations exist.



Image found in google

Like the 1995 adaptation with Kate Winslet and Emma Thompson. Which I've ever seen.

But I have seen From Prada to Nada and loved it so I will be adding that as the next movie I see as well.

Although I did watch Material Girls a long time ago. Mostly because I was a fan of anything Hilary Duff did. But it wasn't as good as I thought it was gonna be so not watching that again. Or maybe I will?

The question now is.
Do you think there should be a new modern adaptation to Sense and Sensibility like From Prada to Nada and something better than Material Girls? Or do you want another period drama?

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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Manga Classics: Jane Eyre by Stacy King | Book Review #160

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Manga Classics: Jane Eyre by Stacy King

Are there spoilers?

Not really. But this is also based on a classic so it shouldn't matter if I'm the one spoiling this for ya.

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Disclaimer:

This book was sent to me by the publishing company (UDON Entertainment) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Jane Eyre (Manga Classics)

English Script by Stacy King
Original Author: Charlotte Brontë
Artist: SunNeko Lee
Story Adaptation: Crystal S. Chan

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Pages: 319

Published: 2016

Publisher:  Udon Entertainment  

Genre: Manga, Romance, Classics

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Date Read: March 5 > March 6, 2019

Rating: ★★★★☆

As an orphaned child, Jane Eyre is first cruelly abused by her aunt, then cast out and sent to a charity school. Though she meets with further abuse, she receives an education, and eventually takes a job as a governess at the estate of Edward Rochester. Jane and Rochester begin to bond, but his dark moods trouble her. When Jane uncovers the terrible secret Rochester has been hiding, she flees and finds temporary refuge at the home of St. John Rivers.

The Rating:

My Review:

Jane Eyre is one of the books I didn't think I would get to anytime soon but when I saw it on NetGalley I could help but to request it. And I got it.

I've wanted to read Jane Eyre for some time but the heft of the book always scared me off. Because it's such a big book. So reading it in manga for was perfect. I still want to re-read it sometime in the future but I was happy to get to see all the beautiful and detailed illustrations.

The story is still there. The characters are more expressive than in the movie adaptations. Especially the really old ones. I caught the ending of one that was black and white and the guy who was Mr. Rochester was going too strong in being serious.
But the manga managed to capture me for a full day without me having to stop in the middle. I was enamored by it all.

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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Can't Wait Wednesday #24 - 10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston

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Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Wishful Endings. 

I've decided to switch to this since Waiting On Wednesday has been over for a long time now. But its basically the same concept. Books that I can't wait to get my hands on, or am really interested in that are to be released soon. I should also add that its rare that I manage to actually get my hands on these books.

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Why I Can't Wait:

Ok, so, I don't know I it's the cool cover (with the gold balloons [super smart!]) or the synopsis that sounds like it could be crazy yet good, but I'm into this book.

10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston

Sophie wants one thing for Christmas-a little freedom from her overprotective parents. So when they decide to spend Christmas in South Louisiana with her very pregnant older sister, Sophie is looking forward to some much needed private (read: make-out) time with her long-term boyfriend, Griffin. Except it turns out that Griffin wants a little freedom from their relationship. Cue devastation.

Heartbroken, Sophie flees to her grandparents' house, where the rest of her boisterous extended family is gathered for the holiday. That's when her nonna devises a (not so) brilliant plan: Over the next ten days, Sophie will be set up on ten different blind dates by different family members. Like her sweet cousin Sara, who sets her up with a hot guy at an exclusive underground party. Or her crazy aunt Patrice, who signs Sophie up for a lead role in a living nativity. With a boy who barely reaches her shoulder. And a screaming baby.

When Griffin turns up unexpectedly and begs for a second chance, Sophie feels more confused than ever. Because maybe, just maybe, she's started to have feelings for someone else . . . Someone who is definitely not available.

This is going to be the worst Christmas break ever... or is it?

Published by: Disney-Hyperion

The Release Date for the book is:

October 1, 2019

Goodreads || Barnes & Noble || Book Depository. || Amazon

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The Bookish Island

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Please Send Help by Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin | Book Review #159

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Please Send Help by Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin

Are there spoilers?

Nope.

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Disclaimer:

This book was sent to me by the publishing company (St. Martins Press) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Please Send Help

Author: Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin

Series: I Hate Everyone But You #2

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Pages: 320

Published: July 2019

Publisher:  Wednesday Books 

Genre: Young Adult, New Adult

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Date Read: March 31, 2019

Rating: ★★★☆☆

In this hilarious follow-up novel to the New York Times bestseller I Hate Everyone But You, long distance best friends Ava and Gen have finally made it to the same time zone (although they’re still over a thousand miles apart).

Through their hilarious, sometimes emotional, but always relatable conversations, Ava and Gen are each other’s support systems through internships, relationship troubles, questionable roommates, undercover reporting, and whether or not it’s a good idea to take in a feral cat. Please Send Help perfectly captures the voice of young adults looking to find their place in the world and how no matter how desperate things seem, you always have your best friend to tell it like it is and pick you back up. 

The Rating:

My Review:

Please Send Help is the Sequel to I Hate Everybody But You which I read a while back. And although its the sequel it didn't have the same themes throughout it. And I'm not mad at it. But I'm also not thrilled.

It was good to see that the friendship between Ava and Gen was still going. Despite them now being in two different (and far away states) they still kept texting and emailing each other. Which is also the format of the book.

And through those texts and emails, you could see how they dealt with a lot of things and still managed to stay in constant communication and care about one another. Despite how needy and childish they were to each other at times.
They also contradicted each other in the way they treated each other.

One of the things that bothered me with this story is that nothing really seemed to happen. The hurdles they were thrown in got patched up quick and it didn't seem to leave an effect on the two. Some of the things they did should have had bigger consequences than they got. And it left me not understanding their choices and issues.

I'm not saying that I didn't like the characters and the way they interacted with each other or how the two "worlds" Ava and Gen were living in were created and utilized. What I'm saying is that it seemed to have a lot of little climaxes that had equally little resolutions that didn't really fix anything because some of the situations they were in didn't make that much sense.
And like I wrote above they were not the sort of problems that left the characters changed. Yeah, they seemed to grow as new adults now that they had graduated from college (since in the first book they were freshmen in college [which was a huge leap between the two books]) and were starting their jobs,  but nothing else. They were in the same situations as the first book just a little bit different.

Still, I'm glad I got to read this book. Because I got to see how strong Ava and Gen's friendship is and to see how they are still figuring things out as they go. And didn't magically know how the world work. It was enjoyable although frustrating at times.

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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Darwin: An Exceptional Voyage by Fabien Grolleau & Jérémie Royer | Book Review #158

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Darwin: An Exceptional Voyage by Fabien Grolleau & Jérémie Royer

Are there spoilers?

Nope.

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Disclaimer:

This book was sent to me by the publishing company (Nobrow) in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Darwin: An Exceptional Voyage

Author: Fabien Grolleau & Jérémie Royer

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Pages: 184

Published: February 2019

Publisher:  Nobrow

Genre: Nonfiction, Graphic Novel, Biography, Comic

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Date Read: March 30, 2019

Rating: ★★★☆☆

The year is 1831. A gifted yet somewhat distracted young man named Charles Darwin has been offered a place aboard the H.M.S. Beagle. The journey will change both his life and the course of modern science…

This is an intelligent and immersive graphic novel from award-winning duo Fabien Grolleau and Jérémie Royer that follows legendary scientist Charles Darwin as he embarks on the voyage that began his career. Join him on a journey of thrilling discovery as he explores remote corners of the natural world and pieces together the very beginnings of his revolutionary theory of evolution.

The Rating:

My Review:

I ended up giving this 3 stars out of five and here are my reasons.

The illustrations/art in this book were incredible. I had the same feelings when I was reading Audubon. And I think I like how the animals were done more than the people but that's just because the animals look beautiful. Nature was also beautiful in this book. The endpapers were cool and the cover with all the animals surrounding Darwin was very beautiful.

These two (the author and illustrator) managed to bring a story I didn't know about come to life through the form of a graphic novel. And it was easy to follow and understand.

I felt something and although it wasn't a good feeling and it left me angry it happened.
And this is all I have to say on that.
In the end, I'm stuck with the same thoughts as I had while reading Audubon. Humans are terrible. And the natives didn't deserve the treatment they were getting. And although Darwin was opposed of the way the natives were treated he didn't do anything. He wasn't a saint despite his contributions to science.

Aside from these three thoughts, I can't seem to feel anything else in regard to this book. Which is why I gave it that rating. So a solid 3 is a good rating with all that in consideration.

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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Does my Rating System make sense?

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Does my Rating System make sense?

So I watched Lala from Books and Lala video on her dilemma with rating books, and how her rating system works for her, and her experiment with all of that. And I couldn't help but think about my own rating system. 

Watch her video it's long but it's really good. I watched all of it.

I was thinking that I don't really know how to rate books. And how that doesn't stop me from continuing to do so. I have given a certain amount of stars to books and later changed my mind. And I've also forgotten to rate a book and sometime later go back to see what I gave it and see nothing. So I think about giving it a star rating but can't seem to come up with anything.

And I think it has a lot to do with me not understanding certain things about the book community and books in general. Along with some of the lingo and being still so new to all of this despite having been doing this for more than 4 years.

Still, I made it simple all those years ago. I made a super easy system for myself.

Rating System:

★★★★★  .....  I loved it. This means I will most likely talk/photogaph the book nonstop. And I will most likely re-read it.

★★★★☆  .....  I liked it. This means that the book was good but because of one or two things, I didn't love it. Would probably re-read.

★★★☆☆  .....  I enjoyed it. It was a good book but it wouldn't be on any of my favorites lists.

★★☆☆☆  .....  I dislike it. Not a fun time was had when I was reading this book. Or too many aspects of the book weren't to my liking.

★☆☆☆☆  .....  I hate it. I rarely give this out. But when I do I have a strong opinion on it and its a thing that has gotten me pissed off and/or ruined the time I spent reading the book. 

Its super simple. And I rarely give out half stars but now I'm beginning to think that I don't follow this system at all.

I give out a lot of 5 stars to books that I don't think are "perfect" or will actually re-read. Mostly because I have a weird thing with experiencing shows, movies, books more than once. But I shouldn't be saying that I would give those books 5 stars when I mean 4.

Or when I give 3 stars to certain books when I'm not even sure I enjoyed reading them.

I know that saying this is going to mess my whole system up but I like to think that now I just have to re-evaluate things more. Not just write a review or give a star rating without thinking first. Take a few days to take everything in. Write more notes of what I thought or felt on the books I've read. 

Stop thinking about hurting someone's feelings and consider my own more. I'm not saying I'm going to be mean, I'm not like that, but I'm not gonna sugar coat my thoughts anymore.

I don't really know why I'm doing this except to remind myself that it's okay to change things up. To rethink a certain way of doing things and to be more honest with me instead of doing it for the sake of doing it. 

I started this reading journey as a way to de-stress and not get in over my head with college and adulthood but now that I've graduated I'm doing this for me so why not take my time and do a better job.

Anyway, I just wrote this because I was left thinking after watching Lala's video and wanted to get it off my chest. I hope it makes some sort of sense.

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The Bookish Island
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Round 5 of 2019 Reading Challenges

Eleven Books Read!!!
This is so cool.

❥---❥---❥---❥---❥---❥---❥---❥---❥---❥---❥---❥---❥---❥

Round 4 Wrap Up

In the fourth round of rolls, I completed 3 squares and the first mystery challenge for Romanceopoly. It took me a while but that's because I read a whole bunch of books back to back and forgot about the Romanceopoly wrap up.

Him by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Ryan

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

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With Him

• I completed one of the LGBT Lane squares in Romanceopoly. 
• Read A book by two female authors for the PopSugar Reading Challenge. 
• And #10 - About a women athlete for the Reading Women challenge.

With Persuasion

• I completed the Taxi square in Romanceopoly.
• And doesn't really go for any of the challenges for the PopSugar Reding Challenge.
• And doesn't really go for any of the challenges for Reading Women.

With Dirty Little Secret

• I completed the Library square in Romanceopoly.
• And doesn't really go for any of the challenges for the PopSugar Reding Challenge.
• And doesn't go for any of the Reading Women challenges.

With Jane Eyre

• I completed the Mystery #1 square in Romanceopoly.
• And doesn't really go for any of the challenges for the PopSugar Reading Challenge.
• And #20 - Historical Fiction book for the Reading Women challenge.

This round was not all that productive with the challenges. Since the books I picked didn't contribute to the challenges that much. But I'm thinking about doing a separate post week I tick off more of the challenges based on books that I've read outside of my Romanceopoly picks since they count too.

❥---❥---❥---❥---❥---❥---❥---❥---❥---❥---❥---❥---❥---❥

This Round

This is the round that took me so long to finish. Mostly because I took a mental break from everything. I didn't blog or post anything on Instagram for a long time. I just wasn't feeling it. I didn't even read.

But In this week I read the books and decided to close this round despite not having read two out of the five squares I rolled for.

So here's the thing I fully accepted that I sometimes either don't want to read a specific book for no reason, or I just don't have the book and can't access it. I've accepted it. So I'm just gonna read books I can get to. That's it.
What's weird is that I should have accepted that earlier. But what can ya do?

Listen to Me by Kristen Proby
Us by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy
Hungry for More by Alexa Riley
NotDoingThis
A Dog's Way Home by W. Bruce Cameron


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Romanceopoly

I went ahead and rolled five times this round because I had a feeling that I wouldn't be able to do another round in a while.
And for my first roll, I landed on Subway (Downtown). The second one as Freedom Friars.
The third round was Bad Boy Circus but I already did that one so I went for the one next to it, Erotic Eaves. The fourth one landed me on the Magic Row square. The last one went to Heartbreak Hospital.

Like last time I decided to opt out of two of the squares. So I didn't do Subway and Magic Row.
Subway because I couldn't get Listen to Me and Magic Row because I couldn't find a book I wanted to read for this. I also don't read a lot of paranormal books.

The books I will read are:
Subway > Liste to Me
Freedom Friars > Us
Erotic Eaves > Hungry for More
Magic Row > Nothing

Heartbreak Hospital > A Dog's Way Home


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PopSugar.
For this challenge, A Dog's Way home can go for A book becoming a movie in 2019. And I think that Us and Hungry for More can go for A book told from multiple character POV.

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Reading Woman
None of the books from this round qualified for any of the challenges but that's okay I don't think I'll do all of the challenges from this one.

That's all I have for this but I'm going to put this reminder up. I am posting my rolls in Instagram and will also include photos that have to do with Romanceopoly or the other challenges.

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The Bookish Island
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