I received this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange of an honest review!
I just couldn’t resist this one when I saw it up on Netgalley. One II received this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange of an honest review!
I just couldn’t resist this one when I saw it up on Netgalley. One I really love Mike Lowery’s art + two that title + blurb. It was just so good and I needed it. Thankfully, I got it quickly and instantly read it afterwards. I just HAD to. I couldn’t wait!
In this one we get big page-sized illustrations from various fun locations (like Taj Mahal or Alhambra) and along with that HILARIOUS one star reviews. All of which made me laugh. I mean, one person gave a 1 rating because Victoria Falls had too much water. Yes, really. Or how someone was angry because her dad was yelled at for touching a tortoise in Galápagos Islands. I loved that Mike Lowery has a whole collection of these and didn’t just go for the standard ones, but really selected some that were just dead hilarious. Like how someone apparently visited Angkor Wat and was angry that the floors were uneven and a tripping hazard. UM, boo. I also read several of them to my hubby who laughed a lot as well. We both just had so much fun with this one.
As for Amsterdam. YES, nothing special indeed. And not listed in the review, but I can tell you it is way too crowded and has become way too touristy. I stopped visiting and going for a fun shopping time years ago because all the fun stores disappeared and you barely had any breathing space.
And as I said, I also picked this one up because I really like Mike Lowery’s art. And it was fun again. I love the big illustrations, but also loved the faces on people (or sad statues). I also liked that some pages had travel stamps!
I do hope that Mike Lowery makes more of these books, I mean, according to the delightful introduction he has a whole collection. Now I kinda want to scour the internet as well to search for hilarious reviews!
I would HIGHLY recommend this one and when it comes out in a week I will definitely be buying it! I need this one!
Dear Dwayne Johnson, I have a confession to make! I just adored this book to bits.
I am in a real Eliza Gordon mood, I am so happy I found out about hDear Dwayne Johnson, I have a confession to make! I just adored this book to bits.
I am in a real Eliza Gordon mood, I am so happy I found out about her through doing a promo post on this book. Because she sure can write!
I am still a bit tired, but I do want to write a review, so I will do a good/not-so-good review (though it will mostly be a good review).
Say hello to Danielle, a girl with a job she doesn't like, a relationship that is mostly just for the (terrible) sex, a big fondness of delicious baked goods (and who can blame her), a dream to become an actress, and a big love for Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
Good/Amazing/Awesome: -I just adore the MC's name. Huge plus-points to that. And no, I won't tell you why I am loving her name so much. :P -Her determination is just amazing. True, she had a few days that just didn't go right, but can we blame her? I would also take a day or more off if that crap would happen to me. Your whole world is crashing down. But she still keeps going on. Maybe also a bit because she has a giant crush on her trainer. ;) But I think mostly it is because she loves seeing herself getting fitter, she has a real family at the gym, and she just can't wait to meet The Rock. -The contest and what it entails. Gee, I would want to participate even if I am not in for the winning. It always has been one of my dreams to do an obstacle course! -I love that her diary is addressed to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. That is just too cute! I wish I had thought to use a celebrity to address my diary entries to when I was still writing my diary. Instead I just went with the lame Dear Diary/Lief Dagboek. -The diary entries. I had lots of fun reading them. -The romance/sparks between Danielle and Marco. I just adored those two together and I can tell that from the moment their eyes met I was rooting for them to get together. Kiss. All the other things. I am happy with the writer and that she build the romance up and didn't just let them BOOM go for romance. Sure, I was definitely shouting at times that they should just kiss for once already, arghhh! -The book club at Danielle's work. Or I should say "book club" as these girls just mostly eat, gossip and eat some more. -Howie! I wasn't sure at times, but he seemed to be a great guy and I just loved how happy he seemed to spread knowledge and talk books. -On that point I also love how Danielle was there for him, talked with him about books, read his book suggestions, gave him food. She did all sorts of things for him. -The cover! -The FBI/hacking stuff. Yes, it did feel a bit out of place, but now that I have read the whole book I can say that it does fit. Plus it gave Danielle new opportunities, gave her a chance to talk to her mom and sisters, and several other things. -Minotaur/several other people in the gym. They were just the greatest and I love how protective and kind they were. -That thing that happened in the ending (and no I cannot spoil it). That was so sweet of Marco to do that, it must have been terribly hard to keep silent about it. -The auditions. I would have liked to see a few more, but I am already happy we saw a few of them. -The ending! Perfection!
Bad: -How people reacted when Danielle's online + not published diary got online. Some reactions were sweet, but mostly I was just pissed at how no one would believe her that she got hacked and that this stuff was meant for her eyes only. -Trevor. My word, what a dickwad that dude is. I don't even want to go into all the reasons why he is just the worst human in this book. -The mom. My lord that woman... :|
Well, I could probably rave on and on about this book, but I think I have said/mentioned everything I wanted to mention, so I will just say that I would highly recommend this book to everyone. A very dedicated MC, a cute romance, a crazy as hell family, auditions, and more!
"Plus no one hands me a beaver or a moose or a flask of maple syrup. I thought that was part of the deal. Americans, when you go to Victoria, British "Plus no one hands me a beaver or a moose or a flask of maple syrup. I thought that was part of the deal. Americans, when you go to Victoria, British Columbia, they don't give you syrup."
So I first started reading the second book, though I didn't know it was the second book! But eventually I just decided to check ŷ if any books by this author that mentioned a bit more about Holly. And thus I came across this book.
This was such a sweet, delightful, hilarious, silly, wonderful read. I just adored every page, laughed, but also rooted for Hollie.
Because Hollie's life isn't the easiest, though that is also a bit to do with herself. While inside she is sure of what to do, in real life she keeps making silly mistakes, is afraid to speak her mind. Like with her relationship with Keith. She knew their relationship was in a dead end, yet she stayed with him even though he annoyed her to death (and not to mention the incestuous yorkies that got everywhere). I was definitely happy when she finally broke it off with him. Can you imagine the last straw was because he deleted her shows? :P And come on the guy burned off your nipples because he thought it would be cool to make nachos on your naked body. *snorts* And yes, this really happened. Sexy time all around, right? Then there is her work that just frustrates her and also makes her quite unhappy. She is a dispatcher at 911 and her work isn't the most fun. People die, her co-workers are crappy (and one was especially annoying, because why in heaven's name are you keeping track of when someone dies and who was the dispatcher?), the management sucks (I get that someone died, but Hollie did all she could to help that people yet she gets reprimanded?). Did I already mention the demon goat her dad has at his home? Or her missing mother? Or the downstairs old bat of a neighbour who keeps asking for all sorts of stuff.
Yep, Hollie is ready for something brand-new, something to refresh her life, time away from all of this crap. Thankfully, her dad just gifted her a luxurious resort appointment (officially meant for her and Keith). And I was so happy that she just went to do it. Didn't wait, didn't think to much about it, but just went off. Even though it did start with hilarity as Hollie, in a very intoxicated state, calls the resort and talks to a guy named Ryan there. She spills all the beans about everything that happened, and well, thanks to the second book I just knew this had to be THE Ryan, and I was squeeing.
Her resort time balances between Hollie please what are you doing (getting stuck outside naked and having to go to the front desk for instance) and ooohhhh hot guy alert! We also read about the various fun stuff there is to do in the resort, the gorgeous scenery (I really want to go there), the spa, and much more! I did feel sorry that she fell down and her ankle was sprained, meaning that she had to take it easy. Poor girl. All she wants is to just let go of everything, just have a moment for herself, and instead has to hobble around.
Not to mention mister hot date... well, no I am not going to tell you. I just will tell you this, I wanted to kick him in his balls. :|
At first I didn't quite like Ryan. He was just a bit too bossy for me, seemed to be very close by when Hollie needs him, plus he always had a judgement ready. But he definitely improved as the story continues and I started liking him more and more. I could see that he just cares about Hollie, and that he wants her to be happy/safe.
In the end I was really rooting for them to be together. They made such a cute pair, and I just wanted them to share some kisses (and more!).
The thing that happened near the end of Hollie trip? OMG, poor Ryan! Thankfully Hollie kicks some ass! Go girl! Go!
The ending was just brilliant, I just loved every bit of it. I was happy for Hollie and I was cheering for her! And then came that one part and I just felt tears pop up. Awww!
Oh and before I forget, I just adore Hollie and her love for otters! Otters are the best.
There were a few instances that I wondered if it was a deliberate error or something else. Like Nekked (who the hell says Nekked?) or Monies.
But all in all a very big OMG you need to read this to everyone! If you are in the mood for a cute, hilarious read with a wonderful (but silly) protagonist and sweet romance, be sure to check out this book.
And now I can finally continue with book 2! *dances*
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
OMG OMG OMG, this was just absolutely brilliant. I thought at first that it would I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
OMG OMG OMG, this was just absolutely brilliant. I thought at first that it would just go as all the Cinderella stories, and in a way it did, but in an other way it totally flipped the story around and I laughed my butt off.
At first everything is just like all the Cinderella stories. We meet a girl who looks hapless and who is working her butt off for her stepsisters and stepmother, but then suddenly this girl takes matters in her own hands and just calls her own fairy Godmother. Yep, she just takes matters in her own hands. If only she knew what that fairy would do to her. :P
The prince was also a delight, when x happened I thought, oh here we go, the story is back on the rails. But then, BAM, suddenly surprise! Of course I won’t tell you what, haha, no, I will keep the surprise as it is.
The ending? I loved it, I haven’t seen a Cinderella story ending in this way, so I am giving extra points for it. It definitely fit the Cinderella in the story, and I was so happy for her.
The art? Fabulous! Fantastic! I was already hoping (when I saw the cover) that it would keep that style, and it did! It is colourful, fun, funky. I just realised that the art is by an illustrator that I already know, she also illustrated Snow White and the 77 Dwarfs (yes another retelling), and oh my, I just realised it is also by the same author!
I guess I will have to add this book to my collection when it comes out, and I am hoping that this duo will make many more retelling books!
Hahaha, I just can't believe I never heard of this manga. It is brilliant. Can't wait to see what this girl has to say when our demons can finally comHahaha, I just can't believe I never heard of this manga. It is brilliant. Can't wait to see what this girl has to say when our demons can finally communicate with her! Pochi, the poor girl, though she is pretty awesome and kick-ass. Doing feints, hitting a demon prince, and much more. Go go girl!...more
Hamster, gryphons, unicorns, mermaids, oh my! What pet will this girl pick?
I saw this one in the book store (Gasp, one of the Rare English books). At Hamster, gryphons, unicorns, mermaids, oh my! What pet will this girl pick?
I saw this one in the book store (Gasp, one of the Rare English books). At first I was attracted to the title. A person would love to have a gryphon as a pet? That doesn't sound all too safe. Then I grabbed the book and saw the cover, and I knew then I had to read/get this book! That cover just is so adorable and fun, and I loved recognizing all the various mystical beasts that were surrounding the girl in the chair.
And the the book starts off with a hamster. A hamster! One of my favourite animals, and I was a bit tsking at the girl. A hamster is not boring, a hamster is fun, well... except during the night time when they like to be awake and won't mind gnawing, going around in their wheel for hours at an end. Or like my hamster used to do (and which scared the crap out of me on various occasions), staring at me from the top floor of their cage. Yep. Waking up to go to the bathroom, turn on the light, and see a stock still hamster just sitting there staring in space. Fun times, fun times. :D
But this girl doesn't see the fun in a hamster, he is calm, and doesn't do much, just pees around and is lazy (well duh, generally they are asleep during the day). So she dives into her book, yes, girls and boys, we have a bookworm in our midst, and imagines all the various mystical beasts which seem so much more fun. But she quickly finds out that each mystical beast brings something that isn't fun. Unicorns are beautiful and lovely, but are terribly shy. Dragons and sneezing? Bad idea! And so it continues, she goes past some more known creatures, but also some that are lesser known, and I just loved that the author didn't shy away from those.
What the girl does at the end? Well you will have to find out. I do have to give extra points for that wonderful ending. Oh my, I didn't see that one coming! Love!
The art is gorgeous, really, I loved it to bits. The colours are vibrant and fun, and I enjoyed how the creatures were drawn.
All in all, this is a book I would highly recommend! Bookworms, mystical beasts/creatures, pets, hamsters, and more!
Loading...
