October Wrap-Up, 2015!

Hello my Avid Readers!

I loved my reading selection for October and highly recommend you check these books out if you haven't already.
I tried to keep my post as spoiler-free as possible, but I'll need to work on that a little for next month. (I didn't realise how hard that is!)
Enjoy!


1. Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell
12th September - 5th October.
5/5
So this is the second time I've read Fangirl, and I loved it even more than I did the first time around. (I didn't think I could!)
Everything from Cather and Wren's growing apart, to the rough start to Cath and Levi's relationship was relatable to me.
The part that really makes me love this book is Cath's struggle with anxiety. It's not the main theme in the book, but it's spoken about just enough to make me feel like Cath's character was written just for me.
Levi's wit is fantastically charming, and not too overdone, and Reagan's sarcasm kept me giggling the whole way through.
The thing I love most of all is that Fangirl has inspired me to finally take up writing, instead of just jotting down ideas for 'someday'.
Favourite Line: "Because I'm the kind of girl that fantasizes about being trapped in a library overnight."

2. Unite Me - Tahereh Mafi
5th - 19th October.
4.5/5
I'm going to start off by saying that the Shatter Me series is an absolute favourite of mine, and I immediately fell in love with Mafi's writing style. She uses words so beautifully and honestly, you can picture things so clearly in your mind and feel everything so deeply.
Unite Me is a book comprising of two companion novels, Destroy Me and Fracture Me, and Juliette's journal.
I enjoyed hearing from Warner's POV in 'Destroy Me' and I can relate to Warner's need for order and cleanliness and also his way of coping by building walls in his mind until he's forced out all other thoughts. Also, it was wonderful to see how his mind works and to read his thoughts and feelings towards Juliette.
The only thing I don't like about the companion novel 'Fracture Me' is that I thought maybe Adam's cold attitude toward Juliette would be explained more from his point of view. I was hoping that he would redeem himself a little and that I could start to like him again, but it just didn't happen. At least not well enough to convince me. Maybe I just ship Warnette too hard (not possible) and Adam just bores me now because I just want more of Warner?
Yeah, that is definitely it.
Juliette's journal was a great addition, and I loved reading it and then going back to the series having a clearer understanding of Juliette's time in isolation.
Favourite Line: "I almost forget that she still hates me, despite how hard I've fallen for her.
And I've fallen. So hard. I've hit the ground." - Destroy Me

3. Carry On - Rainbow Rowell
19th - 21st October.
6/5 (..is that allowed?)
I wasn't sure what I would think of Carry On, but it's turned out to be one of my favourite books!
It came out a little later here in Australia, but I had it in my hands by the 19th. I started reading right away and just couldn't put it down, partly because I was just waiting for Baz to finally show up!
Funny and clever, I loved the idea behind the magic and how their spells work (I won't spoil it for anyone!).
Despite the fact that Rowell tied it all up nicely at the end, there are still a lot of things that were left unanswered and I would love to see a sequel in the future!
I just want to read this again and again, and I feel I have so much more to say about this book and why I love it, but I don't know how to without spoilers, so I'll leave it at that.
Favourite Line: “I am going to die kissing Simon Snow. Aleister Crowley, I'm living a charmed life.”

4. Dumplin' - Julie Murphy
21st October - 1st November.
5/5
This book was so wonderful in so many ways.
It sends a powerful message, and such an important one. Although other books have touched on the subject of self-love and acceptance, and the struggle to get there, none that I have read have done so as effectively as Dumplin'.
Although I have always been relatively thin, I can definitely relate to feeling insecure in my own skin, as I'm sure we all can.
I want to recommend this book to anyone who will listen, to anyone who's ever had even the slightest doubt in themselves.
Moving on from the book's main theme, El and Willowdean's friendship struggles are what really hit close to home for me.
I've had the exact feeling Will does countless times, and never knew how to put it into words until Julie Murphy wrote the following line for me (it certainly feels like it anyway).
Favourite Line: "I stare at the words, wondering what might happen if I hit send. I press the delete button because the fear of her not responding is too great for me to risk it."


That's it for October, I hope you will go and read these books if you haven't already.
Happy reading for November everyone!

- The Avid Bookworm.

Tips and constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated. Thankyou for reading, and keep an eye out for more posts.