The Crown - Kiera Cass

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Publication Date: May 3, 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genre: Contemporary
Pages: 279 pages
Goodreads

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion of the book. 

It's been a while, but I'm back! If you follow my Youtube channel, you'll see that I have still been reviewing the Bailey's Women's Fiction prize, which has been amazing so far - and is almost ending!

However, amongst all those literary books, I craved some YA and I was ecstatic when I was approved for The Crown on Netgalley. Because, in case you missed it, The Selection series is my guilty pleasure. While I see everything that is problematic with it, and the author and agent, I still can't keep away. I don't want to focus too much on the drama, but more on the story.

First of all, if you don't like clichés, don't read this series. The Crown is the fifth, and final, instalment in the series. While books 1 to 3 focused on Prince Maxon's Bachelor journey to find his wife (and I'm sure there are some prologues and short stories books too, but I never really read those), book 4 and 5 focus on Maxon and the lucky winner's daughter Eadlyn bachelorette journey - and The Crown was the winner of the cliché competition.

In this dystopian world, the royal family likes to pawn off their own children by featuring them in a bachelor-like match making show where random citizens are chosen to participate and in the end there is a wedding that keeps the whole population quiet. The Crown focuses on Eadlyn's decision who to get married to and if she wants to marry at all.

In the Heir, book 4, I already didn't really like Eadlyn. While she laments constantly how everyone sees her as cold, mean and rude to everyone, she actually doesn't really do anything to prove people wrong. She is cold, mean and rude to her family and suitors. While in this novel, she does some growing up, mostly with her way nicer attitude to her family, she's still those things.

SPOILER PARAGRAPH: Not to ruin the ending completely, but towards the end, she decides to just pick someone to get married with because it will save her crown. Even though she doesn't love any of the guys left. And is pretty sure she never will. She almost subjects these perfectly nice guys to a life of misery. Though she sees her mistake, it takes her a remarkably long time for an intelligent woman.

And while there's a certain attempt at empowering women in this book, Eadlyn's final 'I'm going to stand for something' moment falls remarkably flat in the main scheme of things. There's also a massive threat looming throughout the book, however it is fixed in one line in a way that confused me. If it was so easy, why did it take 300 pages?

So why do I still love these books? Because they're easy. It's like that cheesy Backstreet Boys song (everyone has one; mine is I Want It That Way) that you shouldn't be singing if you're older than 15. But you do. And you probably always will. There's SO much wrong with The Crown, but the predictably of who will marry who, the easy to read style and the strategically placed plot twists, as on queue as in a soap opera, makes this irresistible to me.

If you're heading to the beach this summer, you want this book. You don't need to think; you can just gush and ship couples and enjoy the book version of a Lifetime movie. However, because of all its flaws, I can't give it five stars. Though it is enjoyable. I can't wait to read a novel that is as easy and enjoyable as The Crown series, but with way less problematic elements. 

Birthday Celebration: My Favourite Literary Ladie

It's my birthday today! To celebrate my own birthday (hey, why not?), I want to take a look at my four favourite literary ladies. Reading has been such an essential part of my life for the past years and I want to celebrate some of the characters that have shaped me!

1. Scarlett from Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

This is no surprise to anyone who has seen me this last year. I read this book, I loved this book and I felt an instant and deep connection with Scarlett. She's far from perfect, but I enjoyed reading her and her confidence in accepting her own opinion and what she believes in. She might rub many people the wrong way, but for me that just means I love her even more. Also, I love the movie version and I want to be Vivien Leigh when I grow up - just another reason to love Scarlett.

2. Anna from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Complete and polar opposite from Scarlett, besides the fact that they both are amazing and kickass. Anna taught me that you can still be an amazing woman if you fall in love. I know, this sounds cliché, but honestly, most literary female characters become so sappy and annoying once they're in love. Anna makes Etienne a better person and together they are beautiful. She never gives up on her own dreams and I'll always have a soft spot for her.

3. Jane Eyre from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Sappy love woman reports! I adore Jane Eyre, but don't get me started about the ending and why she had to end up with Mr. Rochester - I don't get it and I never will. However, throughout the story Jane really grows and shows the reader that it's okay to not have everything figured out yet in life; it will happen eventually. The strength in her decision making (even when it are decisions I don't like sometimes) is admirable and something we should all have. 

4. Nicole from Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Probably one of the least known, Nicole is a hidden gem in one of Fitzgerald's most underrated works. Nicole goes from a psychiatric patient to a woman finding her own way without any help. She's far from perfect and makes many mistakes along the way, but Nicole loves hard, feels hard and gives everything she has. No matter what circumstance, she gets out and that's why I love her so much.

My top four! Who is your favourite female literary character of all times and why? Please let me know in the comments!

The Green Road - Book Talk & Give Away!

Don't forget the give away! Comment on any of the Baileys Women's Prize posts (for example this one) with what book you think will win. One winner will receive two shortlisted books of their choice. The give away is international, as long as book depository ships to your address.

The Square Root of Summer - Harriet Reuter Hapgood

Rating: ★★★★☆

Publication Date: May 3, 2016
Publisher: Macmillan Books
Genre: Contemporary
Pages: 304 pages
Goodreads

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion of the book. 

The Square Root of Summer is one of the biggest releases in the YA world this year, so when I got the chance to read it, I immediately jumped on it. My expectations were high, since I've been hearing about this since YALC last year, and I've left the book with warm fuzzy feelings.

Gottie's summer starts with the return of her childhood best friend Thomas, her dealing with the almost 1-year anniversary of her granddad's death and suddenly seeing more of her ex. This would be enough to drive anyone crazy, but Gottie starts losing time. Somehow, she's transported to the previous year at random moments and is forced to deal with all her worst memories. She dives deeper into the scientific world of time travel to figure out what's going on and how to stop it, but can she do this before the whole summer passes her by ? 

What I love most about this book is the depiction of Gottie. In a world of YA characters that are obsessed with literature, it was nice to see a character who loves science and time travel. Instead of focusing on how weird it is that she can time travel, Gottie tries to figure out how this is possible and what laws of nature are working to get her in this situation. Even though I'm clueless about time travel, I loved reading about it and seeing Gottie so focused on trying to figure stuff and changing it.

Because I'm not a huge fantasy reader, the plot was very original for me. I'm not used to the combination of time travel and contemporary romance, so I enjoyed it. Even though, and that's my only criticism of the book, I wish the time travel made more sense in the end. I don't believe in it, neither does Gottie, yet we never really figure out how it's possible and what's making it happen. Some people might like this opening ending, but I felt unsatisfied and like I was cheated a little bit. I wish I had more closure and answers.

Overall, The Square Root of Summer was a fun and enjoyable read perfect for this time a year. It's contemporary with a twist and has characters that are well-rounded and surprising in many different ways. Though it wasn't perfect for me personally, I still liked it and I think a lot of people will really love this. If you're a contemporary reader who wants to ease into fantasy, this is perfect. If you're a fantasy reader who wants some contemporary influences, this is also perfect. 

Ruby - Cynthia Bond/ Book Discussion and Giveaway!

Instead of reviewing the Baileys Women's Prize traditionally, I figured I'd use videos again. These book are so big that I just want to talk about them more than review them.

However, the give away is still on! Comment on any of the Baileys Women's Prize posts (for example this one) with what book you think will win. One winner will receive two shortlisted books of their choice. The give away is international, as long as book depository ships to your address.