Reading Shananagins

Just a book lover's blog

[readingshananagins]

If You’re Looking For a Book to Make You Cry -

LOOK NO FURTHER.

Archer’s Voice: Mia Sheridan 

Synopsis:

I wanted to lose myself in the small town of Pelion, Maine. To forget everything I had left behind. The sound of rain. The blood. The coldness of a gun against my skin. For six months, each breath has been a reminder that I survived -- and my dad didn't. I'm almost safe again. But the moment I meet Archer Hale, my entire world tilts on its axis... and never rights itself again. Until I trespass into his strange, silent, and isolated world, Archer communicates with no one. Yet in his whiskey-colored eyes, something intangible happens between us. There's so much more to him than just his beauty, his presence, or the ways his hands communicate with me. On me. But this town is mired in secrets and betrayals, and Archer is the explosive center of it all. So much passion. And so much hurt. But it's only in Archer's silence that we might just find what we need to heal... and live.

REVIEW:

Oh. My. Gosh. THIS BOOK!!!!  This book is so hauntingly beautiful. It’s one of those books that will stick with you for awhile. I cried (sobbed) an embarrassing amount of times.

If you think too closely about it, it’s kind of weird how fast it all happened? Like he was legitimately a recluse and then went to boning some random girl he met not too long ago. Like it’s weird. BUT it’s a fictional novel, and we’re all romantics at heart. It’s another one of those things too that it’s only not weird because he’s super attractive, apparently.

Otherwise, my only complaint was the sex scenes. Like enoughhhhhh already. We get it. Y’all love having sex. Move on.

What I did love though, was the little things they would text each other. Like “what are your favorite moments in life” or something like that. It was adorable and so outside the norm of usual conversation (”what’s your favorite color”). 

The characters working through their past trauma was so real and heartbreaking. And the whole theme of not judging someone who might be a little different than you… everything about this book was so, so sad but SO wonderful and worth reading. EVERYONE should read this book.

Five stars, for sure. 

[mostly-sarahjmaas]

🚨🚨🚨ACOSF SPOILERS 🚨🚨🚨

I’m still not good at Tumblr text posts lol

Derry Girls>>>> Any other show

[readingshananagins]

From Lukov With Love

Just finished this one, and I have a lot of thoughts so buckle up. 

**Spoilers below**

First off, I did enjoy it. I loved the banter between Ivan & Jasmine. I loved their relationship once they stopped being uber stubborn and were only just stubborn. 

But I have deduced that I do not like “slow burns”. I was increasingly frustrated throughout the entire novel. Like, just screaming in my head “KISS ALREADY!!”. It was annoying. 

There was so much going on that I wanted more clarification on. Like, Ivan had a bunch of random pets? But then we don’t really get much more on that? Why not? 

Jasmine is discussed having a learning ability, and she writes L & R on her hands but again, we don’t get many details? She says she has to practice extra hard but we don’t really get told WHY? For such a long book, we are left to assume quite a lot. I don’t like assuming.

I felt like it could have been two books. Or we could have had less inner monologue and more actual details that mattered to the story with a zillion moving parts. I really wanted to love this book, and I did like it a lot but it left me feeling a little bit of disappointment. 

The ending was adorable, the epilogue ALSO adorable, but just not enough!!!!

Now I’m just in a “meh” mood wanting more. *heavy sigh*.

[readingshananagins]

Shanna Simpkins's review of Wild at Heart (Wild, #2)

5/5: This book WRECKED me in the best way. I love Jonah and Calla so much. Talk about learning to love YOURSELF!!! I love love love that although Calla moves there for him, she learns to love it for herself and live there FOR HER. At one point she talks about how our lives are completely different from what we post, and I was bawling. It’s so true. The happiest posts on social media don’t show the ugly side that is real life. This series is such a realistic take on a happily ever after - that it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows and real life is hard and takes an unbelievable amount of work. ...

[readingshananagins]

Let’s Dive Into Zodiac Academy...

Zodiac Academy: The Awakening (book 1) by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti

Honestly, it took me quite awhile to actually get invested into this story. I put it down so many times. It was just...confusing and chaotic, IMO. I went into it mostly blind so was surprised (but not unhappy) that there was dual POVs. 

So, while the plot could be interesting, all the characters were just BEYOND cruel. I know it’s “beasts and bullies”, but seriously what the heck guys? Can anyone be nice for once? Just a bunch of teenagers running around being absolute frickin a**holes to each other. It was honestly exhausting. 

Just when you think someone has a redeeming moment, they prove you wrong. Absolutely every character drove me craaaazy and it was so hard to ENJOY any part of this book. It did end with a cliffhanger, which lead me to reading book two, but I seriously contemplated even finishing out the series because this book made me so angry and I felt too many overwhelming emotions for the main characters. 

Lots of world building, lots of a-hole characters, but now that I’ve read all the books I’m fully invested. 

[readingshananagins]

These Hallow Vows - I Can’t Think of a More Accurate Title.

These Hallow Vows: Lexie Ryan

**Book Review**

HOLY PLOT TWISTS BATMAN. Seriously, I could not figure out who to trust, who I liked, who I shipped Brie with, ANYTHING. This book really tugged at my heart because POOR BRIE!! I felt like every direction she went led her to people lying or deceiving her in some way. But talk about entertaining! It hooked me from the start. **spoilers below** **************** I really felt like this was one of those books that showed you how an abusive relationship can happen under your nose, without you even realizing it. We all shipped a certain character, surely, and then he started doing questionable things but Brie (and probably a lot of readers - myself included) were just like, nah he's fine...and then boom, he was actually the worst. It enraged me LOL. The plot kept me entertained right from the start, and the constant romance intertwined in there also kept my romantic heart sated. That freaking ENDING though!!!!!!! It wrecked me. I cannot wait for book 2.

[readingshananagins]

The Lux Series

In the last five days, I finished the Lux Series by Jennifer L Armentrout. 

I’ve kind of steered away from YA, but I found a completed list (that you can add check marks next to the book) of all the books written by JLA and my OCD was like, I must check all these boxes. So here we are. 

Not to mention the first few books are on Kindle Unlimited, so, how could I possibly pass up a free reading experience??? First up - 

Shadows (Lux, #0.5)

This was the sweetest, but also the most HEARTBREAKING novella. Like, okay wow...what a way to start the series! Dawson is the epitome of a sweet little cinnamon roll (who could also kill you). He is just, *chef’s kiss*, the cutest. I am getting to the point where I feel like I am too old to read about “kids” in high school settings, but I did very much enjoy this interesting little alien novel. 

 I was completely unprepared for that ending - it literally had me looking like a goldfish with my mouth just gaping open and closed. I had to sit in silence for a minute to just process. 

Obsidian (Lux, #1)

Ah yes, new girl meets next door neighbor who is also a royal asshole. Love this trope - LET’S GO. 

And boy is he a frickin asshole. Daemon is probably going to be one of my favs, I just know it. 

At first, this book was giving me hella Twilight vibes, and I was eye rolling a lot. Seriously, read this and tell me you don’t immediately think of Twilight throughout the majority of it. Dee is a little sweetie whom I’m glad we get to see more of. I relate best with Katy because well, she loves books - and here I am, writing reviews about books on a blog (just like her). All in all though, I did end up enjoying it and it hooked me enough that I continued on in the series...

Onyx (Lux, #2)

So, *spoilers*, something happens and Katy and Daemon are now connected together - and they’re fighting their feelings still. I totally love the angst, but I also freaking hate it? Just admit how you feel. TELL THEM THE TRUTH!! It drove me crazy the entire time. I rolled my eyes so many times I thought they would get stuck. In Katy’s defense, Daemon was being a huge freaking tool. But just apologize and admit your feelings and PLEASE BE TOGETHER AND PUT ME OUT OF MY MISERY.

Also, Blake is the worst and I really hate him and everything to do with him. I seriously guessed every almost everything that was going to happen here. Almost..

Opal (Lux, #3)

Now sh*t’s getting crazy. So much trauma and what not, but now we’re getting to the point where I am not finding myself guessing every single outcome, which is nice. I’m here for the sweetie that is Daemon Black OMG. When he commits, he COMMITS!!! AND DAMN. I just love him. He’s like a little PG-13 Casteel and I. AM. HERE. FOR. IT. Ooooooof man. That ending though. Saw that coming but it didn’t hurt any less. 

Origin (Lux, #4)

SO, this book was pretty freaking heart-hurting for many reasons. I say heart-hurting because it didn’t break my heart per say, but I definitely felt a lot of things. The sh*t they put Katy through was really freaking rough. And just frustrating as all get out - like they tried to make her unstable, and then turn around and are like “yep, unstable”. YEAH BECAUSE YOU MADE HER BE!!! Sorry, I’m so annoyed. 

But YES - all hail king Daemon. OF COURSE he’s going to get his girl. The hella protective instincts are what I LIVE for ladies and gents. LOVING THIS. I very much enjoyed this novel - and it definitely sealed the deal for me on adding a new book boyfriend to the cache. 

Opposition (Lux, #5)

Here we go - the ending. I was very much wondering how this series would finish off, considering everything they have already book through. Sometimes when there’s more than three novels, I feel like series can kind of drag or ruin the ending. But I very much enjoyed this one and thought it wrapped up nicely. Lots of heartbreak, but a solid HEA that I’m good with. LOVE Daemon so much. He has zero flaws in my book. Katy has made her way into one of my fav heroines too. 

Now I’m in a series book hangover and I am The Big Sad, TM. 

I still have Oblivion to read, which is Daemon’s POV from the first three novels (which were told solely in Katy’s POV). So I’m not done with the series for good quite yet, but I am very sad it’s over. UGH.

[readingshananagins]

Hi I’m new here

Hello! I’m new at this, and also super awkward - which I’m sure will make my posts awkward. Yay. 

I created this to write book reviews and such... 

So, to start, I’ll just go with what I’m currently reading.

CURRENTLY READING: 

Storm & Fury: Jennifer L Armentrout

Thoughts: 

This book was really hard for me to get into. I usually like to read books that capture my attention right away, and I felt like this required a lot of world building and took me maybe until the halfway mark for it to not feel like a chore to keep reading. I thought maybe since I had read The Dark Elements series first, I would be totally raptured by this one, but alas.. 

I am almost done though, and I am enjoying it! Not my absolute favorite book, but not a chore to read it anymore.