Gallagher Girls

Some books stay with you for a life time. They get into your soul, your veins and you cannot get them out.

*Begins to hum Andrew Belle*

For some it's Harry Potter, or The Hunger Games or even Twilight.

For me, it's the Gallagher Girl series by Ally Carter.

Now let me tell you something about these books that force their way into your soul - you can read them more than once. And that's what I did. I re-read the Gallagher Girls.

I think I've actually read I'd Tell  You I'd Love You But I'd Have to Kill You (book 1) about six times now.

Oops.

But I've only read the last book, United We Spy, about twice so it's okay. That's only because it came out in 2013 but that's not the point here.

As I was saying before, I have recently reread the series (yes I should have been revising but it only took two weeks and I'm revising now Brownie Promise (I was in the Brownies I can promise like that)), my love and appreciation for Ally Cater's amazing series has grown by, like, 1000%. Also fear has increased because Cammie (the main character y'all) is no longer older than me. She is actually younger than me in the first three books (i think), so now it's official I am getting older hahahahahahahahahahhahahahaha you can almost hear me repressing every emotion can't you? 

Speaking of getting older and growing up, I have literally grown up with Gallagher Girls in my life. I first found the book when I was eleven, a small year seven in 2008 hanging around the school library, and in that library featured a display, with a cool mannequin wearing what was supposed to be Gallagher Girl uniform and book marks. (I still have mine - see?). So there was little me, enthralled with the Gallagher Academy and Cammie's world, wanting to be a secret spy student with cool friends like Bex and Liz. Oh and I really wanted my school to be an old building like the Academy because my school was built in 1964 and has currently been modernised (excuse me whilst I mourn my old history classroom which was dark and lovely. It's now bright and painted yellow so ew)

Where was I? It's 9.20pm give me a break okay?

Oh yeah, living through Cammie (May I just add if a film is created I will be 95% disappointed and 4% angry if I am not cast as Cammie) (I joke - I will fully support any actress which is blessed with the role) (seriously though I have dark blonde hair and I'm ignored 97% of the time it could work) What's that about being ignored, why is that important? I hear you ask, well reader wouldn't you like to know? Cammi Morgan is a chameleon - not literally, she is a pavement artist. She can trail suspects and there is a high probability that they will not see her.Not even paranoid Mr Smith, who she tails in book one for a CovOpts mission.

Anyway, back to growing up with the series. When I say growing up, I mean every year of secondary school I could look forward to another Gallagher Girls book - until my last year, when the series ended and I finished my secondary school career. So now, every time I think of my years 7-11 at school, hopefully I'll always remember the Gallagher Girls series. I'm still in education (woo go A Levels) obviously, but it's no longer obligatory, I am choosing to be there.

I keep getting distracted. I need to stop. Is this what happens when I hand write this at 9.30pm?

Focus Megan.

Now okay, I get it, a book series about a secret spy school only for girls may sound cheesy and stereotypical blah blah blah. But it's not okay. Mainly because it's first person narrative from a girl. A teenage girl. Who is very intelligent and did I mention goes to a secret spy boarding school? Her mother is also the headmistress of the school and her Aunt Abby is just the coolest. In fact, I think she is my favourite character, especially after a scene in book 3 where something happens that made me feel shock, horror and elation. (I'm obviously not going to say anything because spoilers). I actually love all the characters, even the villainous types. Not once has a character appeared and I've gone "oh not you again  please leave". Now seems like a good time to mention Zach *inhales*. I feel so much emotion towards Zach. Mainly because of the character development. The excellent character development. Zach doesn't arrive until Cross My Heart And Hope To Spy so I'll keep this brief, because spoilers, except I will say the cocky, sarcastic mysterious Blackthorn Boy that arrives is so much more. I think you'll be telling yourself a lie if after reading the series (which you will be doing) you said you didn't want your own Zach. Because I do. Without the deep dark secret and everything else I can't mention because of spoilers.

May I also suggest another reason why this series is excellent- the books get better and better. I can honestly say the first novel is the worst in the series (not that it isn't brilliant and fantastic because it totally is). But do you know how rare it is to say that? Most books start off really great, but by the last book it has gotten so bad that you forget why you wanted to read the series in the first place. It's so sad.

Now if you are still sat (or walking or pacing I don't know you) reading this and thinking 'hey I might read this but I'm not so sure" let me point out something to you: You are spared the agonising year of waiting for the next instalment. You also won't miss the happiness of receiving that parcel of books through the post. You will however feel the sadness when you come to the end. Sorry not sorry.

Even if you still don't think you want to read Gallagher Girls, check out Ally Carter's other series Heist Society (Maybe I'll reread that one and make a blog post about it)

The Gallagher Girls series can be found on amazon and any excellent bookstore.

Please come speak to me here and here

The dreams continue to be weird y'all

Y'all

I really like saying it.

Or typing it in this case.

Anyway, if you remember in September 2013 I wrote a post about some strange dreams and because I feel like writing and I haven't finished reading the Gallagher Girls series yet (hint hint next blog post), I feel I should share with the internet some dreams that I have had since writing the said blog post.

Let me describe the one what I had the first night in Valencia. October 2013

I'll set the scene: It was 3am, the hostel bed I was in was really uncomfortable and squeaked every time I moved. It was the first night in a strange country and a strange bed so I was having difficulty sleeping. I think I was so tired I was hallucinating because I don't even know what went off in this dream. Firstly, my friend and I were sat in a cafe where everyone spoke perfect English even though I assumed it was in Valencia. The cafe owner and I got on very well. I asked for a job. She declined and ran off crying. I then went to this great ice-cream place in Valencia and I ordered in French (at least I said French words), the ice cream lady became very angry because I should have been speaking Spanish. Back to the cafe and I asked the owner why she rejected me. Now here's where it got weird: She rejected me because I was black. I'll let you all know I am in fact not black, I am extremely white and pale. This is the reason why I remain so very confused. Maybe it was the influence of my History studies (Civil Rights in the USA). I'm not sure but I woke up the next morning feeling like I had -5 hours of sleep. That was the day were had to walk all around Valencia. Oh that trip tired me out so so so much.

Time for dream number 2:

My Spanish teacher is secretly Anna Kendrick.

Or at least my brain wants me to think that. She revealed it in the middle of class stating "People can usually tell with my smile! Teaching Spanish is my real passion so please don't tell anyone!" That dream also featured my best friend getting excited over salad and a non Spanish student joining the class because she was going to Mexico and needed 'all the Spanish"

I've just realised both of the dreams feature Spanish.

Not sure what this means.



Talk to me here and here

A Kiss in the Dark

A Kiss In The Dark by Cat Clarke

*Breathes*

Let me gain thoughts and emotions that fully express how much I love this book because it has been at least three days now and I still can't read another book without internally feeling like I've betrayed something.

Only me who feels like that?

Oh okay.

Firstly, may I just point out, that not only does this restore my faith in the goodness of people but also my faith in the human race as a whole. Both characters, Alex and Kate do some pretty hurtful things towards each other, both intentional and unintentional, yet both appear to do the right thing in the end. Yes, I understand that they are fictional characters and do no exist blah blah blah but let me keep this feeling of content before another human does something horrid that makes me hate all the people again.

I'm kidding. I think.

I'm going to avoid as much of the story line as possible, so this maybe short and sweet but we have to avoid spoilers people! Also I'm initially handwriting this after scribbling down a whole history essay and my hand hurts.

There is a secret, which in turn is also a lie, between Kate and Alex, and what makes this worse is it is an unintentional secret and lie, one where you have to continue it on for the rest of eternity, or until you breakdown in a mess of guilt and sadness. That's only the first lie. Yep you guessed it, there's two. The second lie pretty much had me on the edge on my seat, I was almost afraid to finish the book. If you read any of Cat Clarke's novels, especially Undone, you'll probably understand why I was afraid to finish it because, well, the endings can be a little unexpected and not what you wanted to happen at all. The truth of the matter is those kind of endings are the best endings so I equally hate and love them.

Now, back to the secrets and lies that lay between our couple and threaten to ruin not only their relationship and lives. Sounds cheesy and very cliché right? Thinking about not reading because you've read stuff like it before? Let me just shake you by the shoulders because this book is far from cheesy and cliché, in fact, depending on the individuals involved the events in this novel could actually happen, maybe with different circumstances but still it could happen. Especially the second part.

I haven't given much into the story or plot but I beg you please read this book, if not for the story but for the message it sends out. Here I give you the hard hitting (and what people should believe anyway) quotes from the book.

"Love is love"

"People are people"




A Kiss in the Dark by Cat Clarke is available 3rd April 2014

Talk to me here and here

A huge thank you to Quercus for sending me the novel!

Also do this!

"Tweet why you want a signed competition copy of Cat Clarke’s A Kiss in the Dark between the 31st March and 4pm on 4th April. Make sure you @Cat_Clarke & include the #AKITD to be in with a chance of winning. The winner will be announced on Friday 4th at 4:30pm. Good luck."