Review: Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

Freitag, 30. Januar 2015

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
Published: August 5th 2014 by Atria Books
Number of Pages: 322
Series: No
Buy it: Book Depository
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   When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she doesn't think it's love at first sight. They wouldn't even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn't want love, she doesn't have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.
   Never ask about the past.
   Don't expect a future.

   They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can't handle it at all.
   Hearts get infiltrated. 
   Promises get broken.
   Rules get shattered.
   Love gets ugly. (goodreads.com)



“When life gives you lemons, make sure you know whose eyes
 you need to squeeze them in.”(Cap)

   I've heard a lot about this book, and I have heard even more about Colleen Hoover in general. Before picking up Ugly Love I've read one other book by her, which I quite enjoyed but it wasn't mind-blowing or anything. I was sceptical when I started to read Ugly Love but Chapter 1 already made me change my mind.
   This is a story which at first might remind you of movies like Friends With benefits (hated that movie) but at the end of the day this story has  way more to offer than just that.
   One thing that definitely makes this book different is the style in which some of the chapters are written. They are much more lyrical and have a beautiful prose, while the rest of the chapters are written in the typical way we are used to. Some of the chapters carried much more weight with them which was even more pronounced by the way it was written, sometimes it looked like the text was about to fall off of the page or dance from joy.
   I am a fan of stories which are not just focused on the romance itself but also on sad topics and tragic moments and all that dramatic stuff. Sure, contemporaries are in most cases aimed at making you feel happy and fluffy, but Ugly Love rather does the opposite. It makes you think about Love, it makes you think about human nature and about how certain events can change an entire person and their view on life and love.


“I wish I were in high school again so I could call him a butthole. 
Adults don't call their brothers buttholes, though.” 

   Tate was an interesting and also entertaining protagonist. She was working as a nurse and she just moved in with her brother, Corbin. Despite the fact that she knew that she shouldn't hope, she still did. She shouldn't ask but she still wanted to. I liked her, but she wasn't necessarily one of those mind blowing characters which will stay in your mind for days.
   Miles on the other hand was a fascinating character scared by what he went through with a past so horrible you wouldn't even wish your worst enemy one like that. I liked how guarded and dark he was. I really liked reading his chapters, which played six years in the past, which slowly and in a very beautiful way explained why Miles is the way he is when he met Tate.

   All in all, this book is just like the title. This book is Ugly Love and exactly what you'd expect from a contemporary with such a title. Colleen Hoover managed to spark my curiosity about Miles which kept me reading and the chapters in which Tate and Miles interacted with each other were cute and funny, though sometimes also really frustrating.
   This book was exactly what I wanted it to be and I had a great time reading it, though it took me longer then I thought it would. And it definitely gets a plus point for the awesome cover.
I give Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover 4 out of 5 Stars. 

Review: Ignite by Lily Paradis

Freitag, 16. Januar 2015

Ignite by Lily Paradis
Published: August 26th 2014 by Empire Books
Number of Pages: 326 Pages (Paperback)
Series: Yes, #1

   After her father’s untimely demise in a mining accident and her mother’s abandonment, Lauren Lindsay is no stranger to loss. She’s used to living life for one person: herself. That is, until another family tragedy thrusts three children into her care and uproots her life in ways she could never imagine.
   Lauren's first instinct is to run, until she meets their striking, mysterious neighbor Dean Powell. Their immediate chemistry and his connection with her late father just might be enough to keep her in town long enough to uncover pieces of her past that she never had answers to. Dean’s shady past and her reluctance to trust him could cost her the life she's always been searching for, but will she run back to her old life?
   Or will she choose to stay and live the life her father always imagined for her? (goodreads)

"This was turning out to be a quick lesson in what not to do when you find out 
you've been given children as an early Christmas present." (Lauren)

   This book is an absolutely beautiful debut by author Lily Paradis. It had about anything and everything I wanted it to have and it was exactly what I needed. It also happened to be the first book I read in 2015 and it was great!
   Ignite follows Lauren Anabelle Lindsay who happens to meet the stunning Dean Powell at the DMV and, over the course of this novel, they have something wonderful going on. Besides that Lauren is also faced with the fact that her dad's wife dies unexpectedly and leaves Lauren her three kids, which of course is definitely not something Lauren expected to have to deal with at twenty one. But, she manages to handle the situation way better then I think most people would, especially at her age.
   This book is packed with twists and turns and unexpected events and it just seriously made me admire the author for managing to squeeze just so many things into these 326 pages, it's really unbelievable. But all of it was amazing and on point. Sure, it was just a tiny bit unrealistic and only a tat too sweet at times but that doesn't matter. It's perfect!

   The characters in Ignite are amazing. Lauren was a great protagonist and reading from her point of view was just really a lot of fun. She always found a way to say the right things or stay silent when needed but she also had her flaws which made her a very real, likable and strong character.

"No shit, Sherlock. It was my fault we'd been trapped by an avalanche. Who does that?
Only really, really stupid people." (Lauren)

   Dean on the other hand was flirty, witty and just all around a really fun character. His past was horrible but he grew a lot over the course of this book and, to be honest, I think every girl deserves to have a Dean in her life, despite his past.

“He was wearing glasses. Who was he, Clark Kent? No one looked this good all the time. 
It just wasn’t possible.” (Lauren about Dean)

   Even though I am not the biggest fan of kids I found the three, Chase, Emma and Callie, to be very interesting characters which never broke character and were very distinct and appropriate for their age. I didn't like Callie for a big part of the book but in the end I started to like her and Emma was just the cutest kid ever.

   All in all, Lily Paradis managed to simply craft a beautiful plot with great characters and fun dialogues which always gave you all the feels, especially toward the end of the book when all the pieces started to be put together and just this gorgeous picture opens up in front of it.
   Ignite is a great contemporary novel which I highly recommend to anyone who is up for a nice read which has it all.

   I give Ignite by Lily Paradis 5 out of 5 stars.

December Wrap Up

Freitag, 2. Januar 2015

   Hey guys!
   December is gone and I must admit it was yet another not very reading heavy month for me. I don't even understand why. I got so many books yet I couldn't really get myself to sit down and just read. But then again there was Christmas and New Year's Eve and all that fun stuff you spend with your family and friends, rather than with a book.
   Book of the Month is definitely The Martian by Andy Weir because it was just such a different and unique read unlike anything I have ever read before.

Books read:
  • Killing Sarai by J.D. Redmerski [5 Stars]
  • Zeznania Niekrytego Krytyka by Maciej Faczyk [5 Stars]
  • The Martian by Andy Weir [5 Pirate-Ninjas]
Books acquired:
  • Zeznania Kiekrytego Krytyka by Maciej Fraczyk
  • Let It Snow by John Green, Lauren Miracle and Maureen Johnson [Polish edition]
  • Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi
  • The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason
  • Sins & Needles by Karina Halle
  • There is no Light in Darkness by Claire Contreras
  • Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
  • The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin [Hardcover]
  • Make up: Your Life Guide to Beauty, Style and Success Online and Offline by Michelle Phan
  • The Martian by Andy Weir
  • My True Love Gave To Me by 12 Authors
  • The Aftermath by Jen Alexander
  • Lovely, Deep and Dark by Amy McNamara
  • Across the Universe by Beth Revis
  • Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
  • The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
~ In Progress ~
  • The Aftermath by Jen Alexander [42%]
   And that is it. These are all the books I read and acquired in the last month of 2014. For 2015 I am hoping to read at least 55 books, simply because I managed 58 this year while having way less time then I will have in 2015 (probably). I hope to read more diverse books and break out of my usual reading comfort zone. Pick up more fantasy and also many something from the historical fiction genre. Let's be brave!

   Cheerio and have a good one!