Let's Talk: The "Faith" Series

Here we have another one of my series reviews! I'm writing the reviews as I read them and then throwing a couple thoughts on the series as a whole in the end! Let's just jump in because this series is 5 books long and there is a lot to talk about.

So here we have...The Faith series by Nikki Bolvair. 

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~Book 1~

Title: Love Is Not Lost

Publication Date: November 12, 2015

Date Started: November 7, 2016

Date Finished: November 8, 2016

Rating: 4/5 stars 

This book drew me in so quickly and before I knew it, I had read the whole thing. I immediately bought the rest of the series. The characters just made me feel warm and fuzzy and I loved how this book was such a nice introduction of what else was to come.

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~Book 2~

Title: Brokenly Found

Publication Date: December 30, 2015

Date Started: November 8, 2016

Date Finished: November 8, 2016

Rating: 4/5 stars

The characters really grew in this book, and so did the romance. I enjoyed every single scene with Faith and the boys. It was so fun reading and it even got a little steamy at some points (um, yes please!). The drama of this series started to get more intense, which I really liked. All in all, I loved this book.

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~Book 3~

Title: Gaining Ground

Publication Date: April 8, 2016

Date Started: November 8, 2016

Date Finished: November 8, 2016

Rating: 5/5 stars

This book raised this whole series up to another level. The boys and Faith got even closer in this one, and the drama amplified. I loved how the boys were able to help Faith and I loved every scene where they were with her and helping her (and getting steamy with her). The supporting characters in this installment also grew and I really enjoyed them.

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~Book 4~

Title: Silent Secrets

Publication Date: August 23, 2016

Date Started: November 9, 2016
Date Finished: November 9, 2016

Rating: 5/5 stars

This book blew me away. I cried, I laughed, and I am eagerly anticipating the next novel (hopefully there is one). I was a little disappointed that we didn't get the scene with her and all three guys that had been building up. I (and other readers) were really anticipating that steamy scene but it didn't happen in the book. I hope that the next book has more steamy scenes. However, this book also took the series another direction that I really enjoyed. I loved how it ended (and that plot twist!). I loved this book and this series and I am seriously hoping that there is another book added.

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~Book 5~

Title: Just Married
Publication Date: March 26, 2017
Date Started: March 26, 2017
Date Finished: March 27, 2017
Rating: 5/5 stars

While I always want more of this story and of Faith and her guys, I do think that this was the perfect ending to this series. I loved getting to see more of Faith and Tyler and Lincoln and Kayden. I especially loved that we finally got that one anticipated scene with all five of them. When I finished this book, I was so surprised that I had reached the end. I wasn't paying attention to how far I'd read and then I read the words "The End" and almost cried. I want more! I have a feeling this will be one of those series that I go back to and binge-read whenever I need a pick me up.

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~The series as a whole~

I loved this series. It was light-hearted, fun, and had just the right amount of drama for me. I love all the boys and wish I had some of my own. I am excited for the spin off series, despite wanting more of just Faith and her guys. I think that this series is definitely going to be one of my favorites for many years to come! I will definitely be binge-reading it again (probably sometime within the next year)

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Thanks for reading
xoxo
Lauren

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Unpopular Opinions Tag: 2017 Edition

I've seen this tag around BookTube and multiple book blogs for a while now and I finally decided to do my own. Opinions do change throughout the years, so maybe this could be an annual book tag! That would be super fun, if I'm being honest. You can find the original video from the creator here. Let's get into it!

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#1: A popular book or series that you did not like?

This one is pretty tough because I do like or enjoy most books I read on a basic level. However, I am going to go with the Divergent series by Veronica Roth and Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. 

Now, I didn't hate either of these books. In fact, I rather enjoyed both Divergent and Fangirl. But I did not think that Fangirl lived up to all the hype. There were plenty of times that I was bored while reading the book. When it comes to Divergent, I actually really love the first book, but I can't get into the sequel, especially knowing how the series ends. 

Neither of these books/series lived up to the hype for me.

#2: A popular book or series that everyone else seems to hate but you love?

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer <3

I love this series so much despite what everyone says about it. I read it when I was young and I read it for entertainment. I didn't read it to critique it, and I simply let myself enjoy this book. I can see where people think this book went wrong and understand why some people don't like it, but I am a die-hard twi-hard and I'm proud to admit it.

#3: A love triangle where the main character did not end up with who you wanted OR an OTP that you do not like?

I don't think there's ever been a time where I was not happy with how a love triangle turned out. I seriously can't think of a single time, because usually I love both guys so much that I also go through the decision process that the main character goes through. 

There have been a few OTPs, however, that I just did not like or preferred other ships over. A few that come to mind that I just did not ship include Layla/Zayne from Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Jaxon/Sam from How To Hang A Witch by Adriana Mather, and Chaol/Celaena from Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas (le gasp! such controversy). 

I know a lot of people wished Chaol ended up with Celaena, but I personally never saw them working out as a great couple. They're both just too headstrong. 

#4: A popular book genre that you hardly reach for?

Horror, 100% hands-down. Just, heck no!

I do not like being scared. It is not something I enjoy unless it's on a roller-coaster or jumping out of a plane. I cannot handle horror movies either. I just can't. If I ever get a boyfriend, he is never allowed to take me or force me to watch a horror movie just so he can "comfort" me when I'm scared. I'd rather he comfort me during a sappy crying movie or after the ending of Empire of Storms. 

#5: A popular or beloved character that you did not like?

Étienne St. Clair.

There. I got it off my chest. I do not like Étienne very much. In my opinion he was moody and dragged two girls on at the same time. I did not like him, and I honestly don't know why everyone says that he was the perfect book boyfriend. After reading "Anna", I honestly felt under-whelmed and disappointed in his character.

#6: A popular author you can't seem to get into?

I don't really know for sure if there's a specific author that I can't get into, because most authors that I read different series from I end up enjoying. However, I think I'll go with John Green on this one. I haven't finished TFIOS (I put it down one day and just never picked it up--that was 3 years ago) and I was severely disappointed in Paper Towns.

#7: A popular book trope that you're tired of seeing?

Insta-love.

I do like some insta-love when it happens over a few days, because that occasionally happens in real life. But when two characters meet for the first time and then two hours later they're saying "I love you" and acting like they've known each other for years? How about no. Unless this is a werewolf/supernatural mating story, that just doesn't happen. I can understand falling in love in a few days, but in two hours...just no.

#8: A popular series that you have no interest in reading?

The Wrath and the Dawn duology by Renee Ahdieh. 

At this time, the premise doesn't sound interesting to me. I don't want to say that I'll never read this book, but I just have no interest in it at the time being.

#9: The saying goes "the book is always better than the move". But what movie or TV show adaptation do you prefer more than the book?

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.

I liked the book just fine, but I ended up bored towards the end. The movie was a lot better, though. It cut out some scenes that I thought were boring and unnecessary. I do think some things didn't need to be changed the way that they were, but I do prefer watching the movie to reading the book.

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Thanks for reading and (hopefully) understanding my controversial opinions.

xoxo

Lauren

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Let's Talk: Caraval

Title: Caraval
Author: Stephanie Garber
Series: "Caraval" Book 1
Genre: YA Fantasy
Page Length: 404 pages
Publication Date: January 31, 2017
Date Started: March 7, 2017
Date Finished: March 11, 2017
Rating: 5/5 stars
Goodreads Review

*SPOILER FREE SECTION*

HOLY CRAP THIS BOOK! This book messed my mind up so many times. It was so flipping good. You really do have to follow the instructions and "Remember it's only a game" because EVERYTHING tries to convince you otherwise.

I was laughing and then I was mesmerized and then I was crying and then I couldn't put it down. When I first picked up this book I was pretty interested in it, but I definitely wouldn't have picked it up without the hype (and the gorgeous cover...this was a 85% cover buy for me). Even after I bought it, I was skeptical as to if it would live up to all the hype. Let me tell you guys...this book needs MORE hype! I loved it! It was so much better and different than I expected! In my personal opinion, it 100% needs more hype. Everyone should read this book; it definitely has elements for everyone.

Let's talk Julian. I loved Julian. He was so up and down and hot and cold at the beginning but I came to love him at the beginning of the book. I definitely have another Julian to add to my book boyfriend harem. Scarlett was amazing. I honestly can say I would not have been able to be in her situation and do so well in it. She's smart and witty and I loved it. I can't wait to see what book 2 has in store for us.

All of Caraval was pretty freaking awesome. The glamour and the games and the performers. It was fantastic. I highly recommend this book and if you've read it already, feel free to continue on to my spoilery section :)

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

Let me just make a list of things that messed with my mind:
-Julian was Legend, and then he wasn't and was actually trying to get revenge on Legend, and then he ended up being one of Legend's pawns, and then he ended up actually just being a performer and Legend's brother
-There was always different theories on who Legend was and they ALL made sense!
-We never actually met Legend and he was instead being played by a person named Caspar
-Julian was killed and then brought back to life (totally NOT cool! The tears were real!)
-Tella was dead and then brought back to life by love magic from Scarlett
-Everything was a game to get Tella and Scarlett away from their father
-Legend and Tella had been corresponding
-Julian
-The whole freaking book

Alrighty then. I thought I had things figured out pretty early on. I was dead wrong. Everything was so different than I expected it to be. I loved the plot twists (I honestly didn't expect so many; maybe one or two but not the gazillions that we actually got). Everything just shaped up to be a seriously well put together book that could probably spin my brain in even more circles and make me enjoy it.

Let's just talk/theorize/gush about a few quick points:
-The tears were very very real. There was sobbing and I had to put the book down at times because I couldn't see the pages.
-I hate Scarlett's father. He's an abusive manipulative turd.
-Her fiancé is no better--he can go die in a hole or in the depths of the tunnels for all I care. But there was something in the book about Scarlett thinking she would see him again? Will the next book have a retaliation from him?
-The ending note talked about the girls seeing their mom soon. WHAT?! I am totally behind this. What will happen with it though? Is the focus of the next book going to be on them finding their mom?
-I really want to see more of Dante in the next book (I feel like he needs to be there because yes). I also think so much can be done with his character.
-I kind of ship Tella and Legend. I feel like their relationship could go beyond a mystical being who helped her out and blossom into more. Do we think Legend was the one who actually danced with her and slipped her the note? Or was it another one of his performers?
-If Julian and Scarlett have relationship trouble in the next book I will riot.

All in all, I loved this book. I loved the characters, the plot, and the magic of it all. I really connected with these characters, which I always love. I can't wait for book 2 (*sobs* January 2018? *sobs*). I am definitely going to try to get my hands on an arc of book two when I got to ALA this summer. Also, I am definitely going to be buying the UK edition. I'm not sure if I want a specific under the cover design but I know I want one. I also definitely feel the need for a movie or TV show adaption! I would love to see how the world comes to life!

Sorry for this review being all over the place, but my feelings are all over the place. Just a quick ending note: this book was amazing and I loved it so much.

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Thanks for reading

xoxo

Lauren

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