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.



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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

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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."

Aren't you Heather Wells?

What do you call a chick lit with a hint of murder mystery? Make that a whole lot of murder mystery.Whatever it's called, the Heather Wells series written by Meg Cabot is definitely it. Funny and sassy with a bit of murder thrown in there what's not to love? Meg Cabot writes books that you can't help but love, and the Heather Wells mystery is another you can't not but read.

The first title: Size 12 is Not Fat. Speaks out to many women who, due to the increase in the portrayal of size 0 women in the media, feel fat and overweight due to their clothes size. The series begins with a humourous scene in a dressing room, trying on jeans. Now, for a woman, we are typically secluded to numbers that mean nothing to no one, this means that it is extremely to difficult to find well fitting jeans. (For me they are always too long - I'm short okay?). Heather - a previous teen pop sensation, now working New York College residence hall Fisher Hall - is outraged at the vanity sizing being used by the shop - which is revealed when Wells over hears a size two, who can't fit into size 0 because of the vanity sizing. The humourous way in which this is presented reflects the whole series, you feel as if Heather is almost a friend, an allie in this world obsessed with a woman's appearance. Not only does this book reinforce the idea that people are not determined by their weight, but also that yes there are always, probably, going to be people who put you down (Comically shown by the constant "You would look like Heather Wells if you were a bit skinnier") but, most importantly, this should not bother you, and you should be proud of how you look, even if you do want to diet but keep failing - it's okay.

Now back to the series and that hint of murder mystery I mentioned. To keep this book from just being a chick flick (is there a book word for that? There must be). The residence hall Wells is the assistant director of, has a nickname - Death Dorm. Why? Because of the murders that occur there. For example, in the first title, a girl is found at the bottom of the elevator shaft - dead. A protagonist wouldn't be a true protagonist without realizing something no one else did. In the first novel - it is obvious that girls don't elevator surf! (Which is named the cause of death) This means that Wells get's herself into a spot of bother in pretty much every book. Much to the delight of NYPD Detective Canavan, who constantly finds Heather is all spots of bother - no matter how many times he warns her!

Speaking over people warning Heather to keep away from murderers, I bring you to Cooper Cartwright. AKA the other half of my OTP (One True Pairing, if you didn't know what that meant what are you doing on the internet I mean come on). The brother of Jordan Cartwright, Heather's ex. Throughout the first two novels Heather's crush for Cooper is very apparent This also means that the audience develops a certain crush on him too.

Oh c'mon you can have a crush on a fictional character okay do not judge me.

Heather also comes along with a lot of personal 'baggage', did you catch the fact she has a crush on her ex's brother, but not only that she also lives with him? That's not all, Heather met Jordan in her teen pop star years (Hence the whole "aren't you Heather Wells? thing"), if you have been paying attention to this, you'll have realised Wells is no longer a pop sensation, why? Her Mother ran off with her manager - and all her cash. Her father also starts the series in jail for not paying taxes. Yeah.

Now if you're in for a book that's entertaining and makes you cry with laughter at some points then you get fine with this series.

Heather Wells Series by Meg Cabot can be found on amazon 

Titles in order

• Size 12 is Not Fat
• Size 14 is Not Fat Either 
• Big Boned
• Size Twelve and Ready to Rock
• The Bride Wore Size Twelve 

Did I also mention that each of the books are as good as the first?

This took way too long to write and I apologise.

Bye bye

Why flu is the worst thing ever, like ever.

Prepare yourselves for a post moaning about the illness that took me down like a bullet at the weekend.

That said illness? Flu. Or a really bad cold that came with a headache, a sore throat, a cough and tiredness.

So there I was, last week, in the middle of writing a cracking post about the Heather Wells series by Meg Cabot (to come soon) and it was Monday night so I thought, y'know I might leave this until the weekend to finish I'll have time then.

Ha, I was so wrong

I believe it started that Monday afternoon, when I placed myself next to a girl who was coughing every 30 seconds. It then turned out she had pneumonia. Oh. Apparently, according to Google, there are forms of bacteria that are contagious - not sure how far I'll trust this information but within 3 days I had a sniffle and I knew something bad was coming.

I think it was going to sixth form on Friday that did it. I pretty much spent that day feeling like death and begging for the day to end when I could go home and curl up in bed. Of course that was the day I was a given an essay and two lessons worth of biology notes as homework. Oh and I had given myself personal homework to finish my blog post over the weekend. If gods and such are real, one of them definitely had it in for me.

So there I am, Friday evening wrapped in my quilt watching Miranda, pretty sure that with a good nights sleep I will be feeling 100% (Maybe 95%) for Saturday. I didn't take into account the fact I had a blocked nose, this meant I spent half the night figuring out how to breathe. I do not take illness well.

I actually don't remember Saturday that much. I think I attempted to do my biology homework and I watched the Speak Now World Tour - according to my tweets anyway. But one thing I do remember from Saturday - getting angry at being ill, getting dressed in proper clothes at 5pm and stating that I would not let this illness take me down. The Sunday came and I felt 100x worse. My plan had failed. Until I had drunk about 5 hot lemons and then Sunday evening I felt as good as new, as if I hadn't felt like death in the hours previous. I ate some toast and I enjoyed it - it tasted like toast not some sort of bland crunchy food I'm being forced to eat. But by then it was about 8pm, and then I remembered the biology notes in for Monday.

So I did them, I rushed them, because I actually like biology and I don't want to ruin my track record of handing every notes in on time. But the stupid thing is? My teacher never asked for them Monday. I could have spent Sunday evening contemplating how the flu left as quick as it arrived. Or watched Doctor Who I mean my options were limitless.

Not really sure that there is a point to this post. Only that I'm still alive and I haven't abandoned this blog.

Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Talk to me here and here

“I love you. Remember. They cannot take it” - Lauren Oliver, Delirium

It took me a year but I finally did it. I finally finished reading the Delirium trilogy by Lauren Oliver. I'm going to be honest with you. I no longer know what to do with myself.

This will probably contain spoilers, so hold on to your hats.

Last year, around New Year, I downloaded the first book for my new kindle - Delirium written by Lauren Oliver. I'd been waiting for this moment for weeks, after I first saw Requiem, the last book in the trilogy, advertised in a magazine. I knew that this would be the first book I would download and read on my kindle. And there I was, New Years Eve 2012, probably, (hey the New Years Eve 2011 I was reading the Hunger Games trilogy don't judge me) reading my new favourite book. I think I read it in a matter of days. I quickly moved onto the short story Hana, then onto Pandemonium and finally the short story Annabel. I had quickly ran out of Delirium trilogy to read and it hadn't even been a week. I know. I'm a fast reader. I was itching for the final installment Requiem. Which finally just read, due to the fact it was exam season the date in came out and a lack of money and the fact I was told I may or may not get the books in physical book form for Christmas.

But why is this series so addictive? Firstly, the idea that love is a disease is extremely interesting. That original idea was the formation of wanting to read it. I have never read, or come across, any fiction which explores the idea that love is disease and it be eradicated with a cure. Secondly, the way it is written and the words used are just perfect and meaningful. So many quotations can be taken from the series that apply in that fictional world, and ours. This enables the book to stick with you, almost imprinting itself on your soul and in your mind. I have forever memorised the quotes “You can't be happy unless you're unhappy sometimes" and “He who leaps for the sky may fall, it's true. But he may also fly.” Another thing that makes the trilogy so amazing is each book is written differently. The first book is continuous, in time with Lena and her life, with a few flash backs and memories of course. The second book, still  from the viewpoint of Lena, but split between two different times of her life. I will admit, this is a little confusing at start, but it works so well - in my opinion the book would have dragged if told in time order like the first. The third, and final installment is presented via two narratives Hana's and Lena's, this gives the reader equal insight into what is happening in the Wilds and the society. This difference does risk disappointment with any of the books, but I feel the difference keeps the books fresh and original.

The protagonist Lena, well I couldn't help but connect with her good-two shoes nature in the first book, as someone who's terrified to hand in their homework late I obviously felt some serious connection. Although being afraid to fall in love in a society where falling in love is probably more serious than murder our circumstances are very very different. This connection allows the reader to fall in love with Alex, and mourn Alex with Lena in the second book. Reading Pandemonium for the second time, I actually began to love Julian also, instead of mentally screaming "No, not him, remember Alex, Lena, remember Alex!" like I did first time reading. Of course then Alex returns and feelings of confusion are felt and you don't know what's really happened until Requiem. 

The secondary characters within the trilogy are easy to love, or hate depending who they are (Fred, I'm looking at you). Raven, is probably the most profound character, in fact she may be my favourite. When did she become my favourite character though? When Blue died. Up until that point I think I just assumed Raven had been in The Wilds (outside of the delirium free society) all her life. And then I couldn't just feel like my heart had been ripped out near the end of Requiem (you're just going to have to read it).

Now here's time for  a fun fact: I've been writing this post for at least two weeks. Why? I love this series too much, anything that I write seems wrong. I think I may be a perfectionist. I can't even put into words how much I love this series and if you see this book anywhere pick it up, look and the blurb and the maybe, hopefully, you will read it. Or at least contemplate reading it. 

Until the next post

Goodbye

In my head burning Red...

I welcome all of you into the new year with a new book review - so don't say I don't give you anything. I actually wanted to review this before Christmas, but seeing as the paperback isn't out until tomorrow (that's January 2nd 2014) I thought I'd better wait. Of course, if you're living in the digital age then you can download it right now via amazon.

So, back to the book, which I haven't yet named, did you notice? Red by Alison Cherry, in case you were wondering, stood out to me for many reasons

• I am a huge Taylor Swift fan so the title Red sticks out to me anywhere
• My best friend is a red head 
• Not sure if she would have forgiven me for not taking the opportunity to read it. 
• "Blondes need not apply" I am blonde. Why should I not apply? Why am I being targeted? What can I not do? 
• The whole concept of book was very intriguing, I mean, a whole town full of red heads who hold all social status? The complete opposite of what happens in society today. Personally, I don't see why red heads are taunted for their hair colour. This novel turns that upside down - the brunettes and the blondes are victimised because of their genetics.  

"Felicity St. John has it all: loyal best friends, a hot guy, and artistic talent" Of course, as soon as you read that sentence you know she's going to have some deep, dark secret. Her secret? She isn't a natural red head at all, she's a blonde. Now for all of us living in the real world, where dying your hair is pretty common and accepted, we can't really see the dilemma. But in Scarletville (I know), the rare hair colour of red gives you all the power, and if your a 'fake' red head you are treated as if you killed a man. I may be exaggerating here but you get my point. The hair salon which dyes the hair of all those fakers out there? Yeah, top secret and hidden where no one would find it. Unless your Gabby Vaughn, of course. 

I had high hope for the character Gabby Vaughn. Flicking through the novel and spotting the name Gabby made me pretty excited, because the best friend who is a red head? Yeah her name is Gaby. Spelling may be different but it's still the same. As this is a novel dedicated to red heads, I automatically assumed Gabby Vaughn would be a red head. So, there I was turning the first few pages, anxiously waiting for my Gaby to fictionalized. Oh how my hopes were wrong. It turns out, Gabby Vaughn is a brunette, my dreams of throwing the book at Gaby and screaming 'you are in this book, a fictional red head of you is in here now read it!", were destroyed. So what? My brain said, it'll be okay, she's just brunette. Then I continued reading who will be a contestants for the Miss Scarlet Pageant, and it becomes obvious that Gabrielle Vaughn is not only a brunette, but is the antagonist of the story as she begins to black mail Felicity, who is terrified that her secret will be spilled, so obviously gives into all the demands made by Gabby Vaughn.

The initial idea of the book is fantastic, I had extremely high hopes for this novel. Maybe my hopes were a little too high as I found myself not as thrilled with the book as I thought I would be. I often found myself rolling my eyes at Felicity for believing her life would be over if anyone saw her roots, annoyed at her best friend Haylie for being so selfish and dramatic, and angered at Felicity's mother, Ginger St. John, for dying her daughters hair practically since birth - afraid that her own social status would be ruined if she didn't have a red haired child. I suppose that's how characters are supposed to be, when sheltered from the rest of society, believing hair colour is what you should be judged on, instead of personality and morals. 

Overall, Red is a good book. It's not the best book I've read in a while, but I did thoroughly enjoy reading each page. So, if you're up for a book which is light on the emotions and doesn't make you rethink your entire existence (unless you are one of these people that hates on red heads then you should start rethinking your life right now) then Red is a the book to go with.

Go buy Red, written by Alison Cherry!  

Until next time friends :) 

Thank you to Quercus for sending me Red! 

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