Underrated Books #1

I have decided to start a new series on this blog in which I highlight books and/or authors that I feel are under appreciated. Also seeing as I am from Ireland I feel like I can showcase some books that are lesser known in other countries.

1. Soulmates by Holly Bourne

I have already reviewed this book and you can read my full review here, however I still feel as though not enough people have read this book. Holly Bourne has an amazing way with words and makes you fall in love with all the characters in the story. This book is a modern tragic love story with all the ups and downs you'd expect. There is also aside story of two researchers/scientists that runs in alternate chapters throughout the book. In the second storyline of the scientists we hear how this relationship will only end up in disaster however, you as a reader still keep hope until the last few pages. This is a fabulous book which I highly recommend!

2. All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

Yet again I am aware I have raved about this book several times prior to this but it still doesn't take away from the fact that this is an INSANELY good book! With the amount of dystopian novels appearing at the moment I can see how it may get lost in the crowd but with a plot as original and exciting as this it would be a damned shame if this book didn't get the hype it deserves! This book not only has a rich and exciting plot line but also has the most interesting character development I have ever read! I do have a fuller review of this book which you can see here.

3. Jacqueline Wilson

This woman was my all time favourite author from the age of 6 until I was 13/14 and I love all of her books. I know she is very well known in the UK and Ireland but outside of here she is never talked about and that has to change! She is an amazing writer who is not afraid to deal with hard hitting topics despite her target audience being middle grade and young teens. Through her books I have been reading about abuse, bullying, self image issues, coming out, mental illness and so much more from a fairly young age. Because of this I believe I have turned into a more understanding person and I owe a lot of it to Miss Wilson! If I were to suggest a few books of hers I would suggest: Kiss, My Sister Jodie, the Girls series and Diamond Girls. But really you can't really go wrong with any of this woman's books.

4. The Butterfly series by Denise Deegan

I truly believe this book isn't already hyped up because it was published by an Irish based company therefore it hasn't hit a large enough audience. This is such a surprising series I picked up the first one expecting not to like it that much but ended up loving it and the second book is one of only a handful of books that have literally moved me to tears! The series follows a group of friends who attend a well off school in Dublin, the first book follows Alex who is the daughter of emotionally distant rock star Dad and still struggles with her Mum's death. That's all you need to know it is best to go into all these books with little knowledge of what they are about. Trust me give this book a chance and you will not regret it because it just sucks you in and keeps you entertained from start to finish.

That's it for the first in my "Underrated Books" series let me know what you think of it and please let me know what books you think are completely underrated. Have a nice day and I'll see you again soon.

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Opening any Stephanie Perkins novel is like opening a ray of sunshine. They are the perfect feel good read and I can't stop smiling the whole time I am reading them.

Isla and the Happily Ever After is the perfect conclusion the Anna and the French Kiss series. If you haven't read the first two books in the series you can still read Isla and the Happily Ever After however it may include some spoilers for the first two books.

This book is very different from the other instalments of the series as the majority of the book is following the actual relationship between Isla and Josh rather than the build towards the relationship; because of this book is so much cuter but also so much more aggravating than the other two instalments. Though the story can be aggravating I love it because it shows the real trials and tests within a relationship.

My favourite thing about this book was it wasn't purely about Isla and Josh's relationship it was about how their relationship helped them grow as people and helped them discover who they really are.
I loved this book as it is yet again another fantastic novel by the queen of contemporary- Miss Stephanie Perkins!

Now it has come to the end of series awards!!!

Favourite Female: Anna
Favourite Male: Josh
Favourite Couple: Anna and St. Clair
Funniest Book: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Cutest Book: Anna and the French Kiss


Let e know what you think and

Finding a Voice by Kim Hood

"Jo could never have guessed that the friendship she so desperately craves would come in the shape of a severely disabled boy. He can’t even speak. Maybe it is because he can’t speak that she finds herself telling him how difficult it is living with her eccentric, mentally fragile mother.

Behind Chris’ lopsided grin and gigantic blue wheelchair is a real person — with a sense of humour, a tremendous stubborn streak and a secret he has kept from everyone.

For a while it seems life may actually get better. But as Jo finds out just how terrible life is for Chris, and as her own life spirals out of control, she becomes desperate to change things for both of them. In a dramatic turn of events, Jo makes a decision that could end in tragedy.

This is the story of how an unusual friendship unlocks the words that neither knew they had."


This heart warming tale of friendship is a fantastic feel good book.I loved this book and how it played with the so called normal aspects of friendship and turned it on it's head. The author did a fantastic job of making a severely disabled boy relateable to everyone. I must applaud the author for dealing with the two very touchy subjects of disability and mental illness and showing how no matter what people can live full and happy lives as long as they are cared for and listened to.
This was a fantastic novel that highlighted how even when helping others we must take time out to look out for ourselves too. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

Watch Out for this book: Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini

I received this book from lovereading.co.uk ahead of it's release in September 2014

"Love burns. Worlds collide. Magic reigns.

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying many of the experiences that other teenagers take for granted...which is why she is determined to enjoy her first (and perhaps only) high-school party. But Lily's life never goes according to plan, and after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly Lily is in a different Salem - one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruellest of all the Crucibles is Lillian . . . Lily's identical other self in this alternate universe. This new version of her world is terrifyingly sensual, and Lily is soon overwhelmed by new experiences.

Lily realizes that what makes her weak at home is exactly what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. It also puts her life in danger. Thrown into a world she doesn't understand, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone, and a love she never expected.

But how can Lily be the saviour of this world when she is literally her own worst enemy?"

A must read fantasy adventure of different worlds, witches and war. This addicting first in the Worldwalker trilogy is thrilling and already has me counting down the days until the next installment.

Magic, romance and doppelgangers- what more could you ask for? 

Lily is torn from her own world to a new one where she is no longer a sickly teenager but a powerful rival to the Lady of Salem, Lillian (aka Lily's other self.)

I absolutely adored this book and the world Josephine Angelini has created where magic is abundant. The idea of parallel worlds is not new but this book makes it feel different and exciting. I loved how in the world of New Salem magic is used in replacement of electricity, plastic and science itself- but is that a good thing? Through the use of multiple view points it is very hard to see what is right and what is wrong which makes me even more eager for the next book.

The use of romance in this book was cleverly done in a way that only adds to the main plot line rather than distract. I applaud Josephine for finding the perfect balance of romance in a Y/A fantasy novel as other examples have proved how crucial that is to writing a truly great story.

I highly recommend this book to everyone and I cannot wait until 2015 when Trial of Tears (the next installment) is released.