Best Books This Year (So Far)

I saw this post on some other blogs and I really liked them, so here's my version! I just came back from a lovely week on Rhodes, so I'm rested and have read some amazing books. But deciding what books I thought were the best this year was pretty hard. I totally love Goodreads for giving me a nice overview of all my reads and ratings. So I stared at all those pictures (68 so far!) and tried to make up my mind. 
And here's what came out:

1. Glitch by Heather Anastasiu (review)
I finished this book just before I left for my holiday and I haven't stopped thinking about it. This is one of the books you HAVE to read this year!

2. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
The most amazing thing about this book is the writing style. Just for that you have to read this book. It's one of a kind. 


3. I Heart London by Lindsey Kelk
I read this book on Rhodes and it's definitely the best Chick Lit I've read this year. This books makes you laugh!


4. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Dystopians are totally hot right now and this might be one of the hottest! I thought it was amazing. 

5. Bunheads by Sophie Flack
Another one of my vacation reads. I love books about dancing and this is one of the best I've ever read. 


6. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (review)
Why didn't I read this sooner?! When am I going to learn?


7. The Curse Girl by Kate Avery Ellison (review)
An amazing retelling of Beauty and The Beast. One of the books that really took me by surprise!

8. Stealing Phoenix by Joss Stirling (review)
I love this series. The world setting is just so good. It makes me feel happy. 


9. A Witch in Winter by Ruth Warburton (review)
I love books about witches and this is a very good one! I'm going to start in the second book soon!


10. Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier
The third book in this series already got published in Dutch and let me tell you: it's a perfect ending. This books makes you laugh out loud!


What are the best books you've read this year?

Review The Curse Girl by Kate Avery Ellison

Title: The Curse Girl

Author: Kate Avery Ellison 

Published: May 14th, 2011 (EllisonBooks)

Pages: 194

Source: bought

Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads: When Bee is imprisoned in a magical, cursed house because of her father's selfish choices, she has just one plan... escape! But she must solve a riddle and help her fellow prisoners break the curse that binds them all before she can leave, and that is proving more difficult than she originally thought thanks to the bitter young master of the house, Will. 
Will wants nothing to do with Bee or her help (and he certainly isn't planning on falling in love with her), but he might have underestimated just how determined and clever--and irresistible--she can be.

I discovered this book when the author befriended me on Goodreads. Normally I select my books in a different way (mostly recommendations), but I was so intrigued by the synopsis that I decided to give it a chance. And I wasn't disappointed. 


It's a retelling of the fairytale Beauty and the Beast. If you like stories that are inspired by fairytales, you should read The Curse Girl.
The main character Bee (short for Beauty) is imprisoned in this house where the people don't even know their real names anymore, the rooms are never in the same place and at night there is a Beast wailing in the darkness. Bee loathes Will, the master of the house, so when she's told to stay in her room, she goes looking for the Beast who cries all night. She befriends him and decides she wants to lift the curse for him, to set him free, and of course herself. 


I admired Bees determination. She doesn't stop before the curse is lifted.  She even goes looking for the witch who put it on the house and it's residents. 
Because the story is inspired on the well-known fairytale you know how it's going to end, but the author also gave a beautiful twist to the story so I didn't even notice until a very obvious point that the end was coming (I must add here that I read it as an ebook, so I literary didn't know the end was coming). I really loved the story! And Kates writing style made it even better. 


The only downside: it's so short. But that's really a compliment. I would have liked to read some more, because I liked it so much. 


I'm really enthusiastic about The Curse Girl and I definitely recommend it, especially for those who like the books of Alex Flinn. 

Upcoming (4)

In Upcoming I talk about the books that I will review on this blog. So you know what you can expect here in the upcoming days / weeks. I hope you enjoy it!

This week

Review The Fame Game by Lauren Conrad

In Hollywood, fame can be found on every corner and behind any door. You just have to know where to look for it. Nineteen-year-old Madison Parker made a name for herself as best frenemy of nice-girl-next-door Jane Roberts on the hot reality show L.A. Candy. Now Madison's ready for her turn in the spotlight and she'll stop at nothing to get it. Sure, she's the star of a new show, but with backstabbing friends and suspicious family members trying to bring her down, Madison has her work cut out for her. Plus, there's a new nice girl in "reality" town—aspiring actress Carmen Price, the daughter of Hollywood royalty—and she's a lot more experienced at playing the fame game... When the camera's start rolling, whose star will shine brighter?

Filled with characters both familiar and new, Lauren Conrad's series about the highs and lows of being famous delivers Hollywood gossip and drama at every turn.

Synopsis from Goodreads

Review De IJzerkoning (original title:The Iron King) by Julie Kagawa

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

Synopsis from Goodreads

Review The Curse Girl by Kate Ellison Avery

When Bee is imprisoned in a magical, cursed house because of her father's selfish choices, she has just one plan... escape! But she must solve a riddle and help her fellow prisoners break the curse that binds them all before she can leave, and that is proving more difficult than she originally thought thanks to the bitter young master of the house, Will.

Will wants nothing to do with Bee or her help (and he certainly isn't planning on falling in love with her), but he might have underestimated just how determined and clever--and irresistible--she can be.

Synopsis from Goodreads

Next week:


Review The Game by Krystyna Kuhn
Atom published a new cover this week and it's so gorgeous! I read the book a while ago, but this cover deserves a review. 


Review Fated by Alyson Noël
I loved her Immortals series. I read the first few chapters so far and it is pretty good. 

Upcoming (3)

In Upcoming I talk about the books that I will read and review. So you know what you can expect on the blog in the upcoming days / weeks. I hope you enjoy it!

This week

 

Review of Slated by Teri Terry

Kyla’s memory has been erased,
her personality wiped blank,
her memories lost for ever.

She’s been Slated.

The government claims she was a terrorist, and that they are giving her a second chance - as long as she plays by their rules. But echoes of the past whisper in Kyla’s mind. Someone is lying to her, and nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust in her search for the truth? 

Synopsis from Goodreads

Review of Hush, hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along.
With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life. 

Synsopsis from Goodreads

Next week

Review of The Curse Girl by Kate Avery Ellison

A retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I definitely recommend this one. 

Review of The Fame Game by Lauren Conrad

Next to YA I like to read chicklit.The Fame Game is the beginning of Lauren Conrads new series. Read my review here next week!

Hope to see you soon!