Pieces of You by Eileen Merriman: Book Review

Wise, tough, heart-breaking, funny, this compulsive love story is about facing your demons.

Fifteen-year-old Rebecca McQuilten moves with her parents to a new city. Lonely but trying to fit in, she goes to a party, but that’s when things really fall apart. 

I couldn’t tell anyone what had happened. Especially since I was the new girl in town. Who would want to believe me?

Things look up when she meets gregarious sixteen-year-old Cory Marshall.

‘You’re funny, Becs,’ Cory said.

‘You have no idea,’ I said, and clearly he didn’t, but I was smiling anyway.

And after that, he was all I could think about.

Cory helps Rebecca believe in herself and piece her life back together; but that’s before he shatters it all over again . . .

SPOILER FREE REVIEW

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I was lucky enough to be one of the few people who received an early copy of Pieces of You along with a box filled with related goodies inside, all thanks to Penguin Random House New Zealand. I was so excited that I took a bunch of photos of everything and posted them on Snapchat. This book was nothing but a brilliant piece of young adult literature and I am so glad that I was able to have the chance to read something that brought a fraction of my teenage reality to life. I've never come across a novel that has been able to pin point specific issues that teenagers struggle with every day and has been able to resolve it in a way that doesn't leave you feeling frustrated and ripped off. I'd like to personally award Eileen Merriman for writing the most accurate and unbelievably heartfelt young adult debut EVER!

Pieces of You has to be one of the most important young adult novels ever written because it shines a light on depression, self harm, rape, and grief - a few of the many things that can bring a person to their death if not dealt with sooner than later, and that's exactly what this book entails. Rebecca 'Becs' McQuilten is a fifteen-year-old girl who is forced to move to Auckland from her South Island hometown of Dunedin where she struggles to fit in with her peers. Like many young girls, Becs feels self-conscious about her appearance and struggles with adjusting to her new life where winters are unbearably cold with no snow and being the new girl in a big city is just as bad as moving to a tiny one. I absolutely loved this book with a passion, despite having to put it down many times because of university work. Much of the content reminded me of personal matters I had to deal with during my teenage years, including depression and self-harm, although I used the nail-digging method rather than a blade but I had friends who did and felt exactly the same as Becs. This became almost too much at times because it reminded me of the countless nights where I would worry for hours, staying up texting, trying to make sure my friend wouldn't take their own life. In a way, Becs is the beacon of light that many teenagers might need to relate to and I am so grateful for that. My only worry is that this book may be somewhat of a trigger to those who have cut themselves and I firmly suggest preparing yourselves for a few hard-to-cope-with scenes - I personally had to put the book down during the very top of page 166 because it had hit me a little too hard with the imagery. It hasn't triggered me to self-harm again but it might for others so please be careful.

Here are a list of pages that may be triggering: 22, 35, 44, 94, 165 & 166.

"Nothing compares to kissing the boy you've fallen in love with. Nothing."

One thing I loved was that there were so many times that actual places in New Zealand were mentioned and Maori language was used as well. The Marshall's beach house in Cooper's Beach, Kaitaia, and the Four Square (a mini supermarket which is placed in almost every city and small town of NZ). Being quite connected with the rest of the world and having knowledge about Maori words and traditions, I realised that the book did not have a glossary at the back for those that may not know what some of the words were. I personally was so excited to see them included but I realised that my friends around the world who will probably want to read this book might need a little help with the language so I've taken it upon myself to write a small glossary here so that everyone can refer to it when they read it.

Maori translated to English:

Kia ora: Hello, thank you

Kia kaha: Be strong

Hongi: A Maori tradition where two individuals will press their noses and foreheads together as a greeting (this word was not mentioned but I noticed this happened on page 238 - your welcome!)

Ngai Takoto: A Maori iwi from Northland, New Zealand

Iwi: Tribe

I think the most beautiful thing about Pieces of You is how real and intense the relationship that Becs had with Cory Marshall. Despite having many inner demons, she opens up to him through their mutual love of literature. Their relationship isn't forced like many in other YA novels, it falls together piece by piece and is glued tight with trust and hope. Cory is the type of male that every girl wishes she'd find - a guy who loves reading and writes poems to illustrate the beauty and darkness of the life around him. Without giving too much away, Pieces of You does an amazing job of showing how someone can struggle so much with their own problems that sometimes it blinds them to the suffering of others. I love that this book did not end on a sour note or made out to be a perfectly happy ending, because real life doesn't work that way and depression and grief needs to be tended to over time, not just fixed with a magical pill or potion.

I have chosen to give this book a 5 out of 5 stars for it's ice-breaking reality and beautifully told story that might help inspire many teenagers around the world to see that there is so much more on the other side of the blinding mountain. It is well deserved and I think that this is probably the only book I've read that has really shown what it is like to live as a modern day teenager in the suburbs of Auckland (damn the fact that we don't get snow!). I would recommend to everyone because this is a story that the world needs to read, no matter the location - this is the story that will hopefully help change lives. We all need more heroines like Rebecca McQuilten!

Thank you Penguin Random House NZ for the review copy!

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Are you suffering with a mental illness such as depression or anxiety? Here are some helpful links from BetterHelp that you can check out and find tips on how to live a happier life:

BetterHelp Advice - Anxiety
BetterHelp Advice - Depression
How To Deal with Depression: Tips, Techniques And Finding the Right Treatment

How Do I Find A Therapist Near Me?

10 Depression Quotes That May Change Your Life

Go add Pieces of You to your Goodreads list HERE

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Buy it on Book Depository with free shipping world wide HERE

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Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige: Book Review

First kisses sometimes wake slumbering princesses, undo spells, and spark happily ever afters.

Mine broke Bale.

Seventeen-year-old Snow has spent her life locked in Whittaker Psychiatric—but she isn’t crazy. And that’s not the worst of it. Her very first kiss proves anything but innocent…when Bale, her only love, turns violent.

Despite Snow knowing that Bale would never truly hurt her, he is taken away—dashing her last hope for any sort of future in the mental ward she calls home. With nowhere else to turn, Snow finds herself drawn to a strange new orderly who whispers secrets in the night about a mysterious past and a kingdom that’s hers for the taking—if only she can find her way past the iron gates to the Tree that has been haunting her dreams.

Beyond the Tree lies Algid, a land far away from the real world, frozen by a ruthless king. And there too await the River Witch, a village boy named Kai, the charming thief Jagger, and a prophecy that Snow will save them all.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW

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In all honesty, I have to say that this book was not up to the exact level of excitement I thought it might be. But that aside I will admit that I definitely thought this book was an awesome retelling of "The Snow Queen" by Hans Christian Andersen. I didn't actually read the original story until just after I had finished the book but I could definitely see the similarities and how Danielle managed to weave many of the same elements into her own little fantasy story. This review may be filled with mixed emotions about multiple parts of the book as I felt like there were some things about it that I thought could have been better or slightly different to enhance the overall opinions from many readers including myself - though I do feel like I enjoyed the themes that lay within the fantastical world filled with snow-covered cities and beauty amongst the darkness of an evil king who had ruled Algid for many years before Snow's arrival.

The protagonist of the story is a young girl who is introduced as Snow and resides, much to her dismay, in a mental asylum in New York where she is monitored on a daily basis by her orderly, Verne, takes pills that she named after the seven dwarves, and lives for the moments when she gets to see Bale - which is almost never since he broke her wrist after their first kiss - and all of that because she tried to walk to a mirror as a young girl and cut herself badly by accident. I personally felt like I could resonate with Snow as she is described to have issues controlling her anger and I feel like that is something that many people struggle with but there is so much stigma around the idea because it can be a scary thing for those that don't want to know about it or be around people who have the potential to blow up for any particular reason. Her issues trusting her mother and feeling hardly any love for her because of the mirror incident is something that I feel is believable and true for those where their family won't support or help them when they feel like they need it the most. Snow goes through many instances where her loyalties are tested and ties are torn in ways that are brutal, and in that way I felt for her because she never knew her family like she thought she did. The friendships she gains along her journey to fulfilling the prophecy are of deep importance and show Snow what real life, despite having entered a fantasy world, can be for her if she decides to choose to stay and help Algid defeat their curse. Unfortunately a bit of the plot seemed slightly off track and went in directions that didn't quite add up - I was thinking that maybe the manuscript could have been edited up to be a little better prepared for publication.

I know that this would have been a book that I would have said five stars to right away when I was only a young teenager starting out with young adult novels like The Twilight Saga and the Vampire Academy series, but sensibly with time I have come to a state of mind where every thought seems to be critical in the best and worst ways sometimes. I definitely did enjoy Stealing Snow but I just feel like it wasn't written the best way it could have been. Many people I know have mentioned their distaste for the love triangle and I totally get that. But it didn't bother me as much as I thought it might so I'm sure many others can feel the same way I do! I'm thinking that the next book will follow things up in terms of the spread-out plot so it could impress a lot of the readers that may not have liked this one. I'm just hoping that we get to see more badass magic, snow-tornados, and Gerde and Kai because their scenes just weren't enough and I loved them specifically to bits! Snow's anger issue didn't exactly have much development and a clear resolution or point of importance in my opinion. There were a few other things that should have been cleared up as well but I guess I could be wrong with my assumptions and they might all be answered with absolute detail and serve a better purpose for the second novel. But I guess we won't know until it comes out!

I have decided to give Stealing Snow a 3 stars out of 5 because it would appeal more to a younger audience that may not have many issues with the simplistic style of writing and feel too overwhelmed by the direction of the plot line. I do think many people will love reading this story for the awesome fact that it's almost like envisioning Elsa from the Disney movie, Frozen, as Snow with her magical flurry of ice powers. It just lacked in major character development, a clear vision of the story, and better sentence structure, which might have really given this book a kick of enthusiasm. However, I am still looking forward to reading Danielle's other series, Dorothy Must Die, as I heard it is a great series and is a retelling of The Wizard of Oz which is absolutely awesome considering it being such a classic oldie! 

Thank you Allen and Unwin NZ for the review copy!

Check out their links here:

Official Website: http://www.allenandunwin.co.nz/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllenAndUnwinNZ

 

  Go add Stealing Snow to your Goodreads list HERE

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Find it on the Allen and Unwin website HERE

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Unfiltered by Lily Collins: Book Review

In this groundbreaking debut essay collection, featuring never-before-seen photos, actress Lily Collins―star of Mortal Instruments and Rules Don’t Apply―is opening a poignant, honest conversation about the things young women struggle with: body image, self-confidence, relationships, family, dating and so much more. 

For the first time ever, Lily shares her life and her own deepest secrets, proving that every single one of us experiences pain and heartbreak. We all understand what it’s like to live in the light and in the dark. For Lily, it’s about making it through to the other side, where you love what you see in the mirror and where you embrace yourself just as you are. She's learned that all it takes is one person standing up and saying something for everyone else to realise they’re not alone.

By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Lily’s honest voice will inspire you to be who you are and say what you feel. It’s time to claim your voice! It’s time to live your life unfiltered.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW

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The very first time I remember seeing Lily Collins on screen was the 2013 release of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and I couldn't help but be enamoured by her performance. I wasn't ever totally obsessed with her like I had previously been at different stages of my life with Avril Lavigne, Miley Cyrus, or Kristen Stewart, but something about her made me strangely intrigued by her unique look and imbued confidence. The second time I started to really find her fascinating as a person was when I realised that she was basically Sasha Alsberg's dopplegänger - Sasha had vlogged her day out to The Mortal Instruments movie cast signing and Lily had pointed her out, noticing their similarities, and asked to take a photo with Sasha. Here is a photo of them together and the video if you would like to watch it:

Anyways, I digress! This book was so good from the first page that I dreaded not just sitting down and finishing it as soon as receiving it! I always have university work to do so therefore it was important to do that first or I won't pass this year! But I basically read half in the first couple of days that I had received it and then waited about a week before devouring the rest. I am honestly so sad that it was so short but it was definitely worth it and not a time waster at all!

I've been planning for a very long time to write my very own memoir so you can probably only imagine how inspired I've become since reading about Lily's life. She is the not-so-typical sweet chick who has had an abundance of confidence ever since she was young and isn't afraid to be who she is and do what she wants. The way she has opened up to her fans in this book shows how grateful she is to the world and the opportunities she has been given in order to live the life that she always wanted. She has explained in rough details how her relationships started to define her life and why we should never let a guy (or girl) make us feel like we don't deserve to be happy. If there is anyone in the world that I feel most inspired by right now, it would have to be the woman of the hour: Lily Collins!

Now I know this may sound a little cliché, but I honestly think that Lily and I could be the best of friends if we had have met, despite the obvious circumstances - her being an international sell-out with her movies and now her already best-selling memoir, and me who is trying to get by in a tiny country where only so many have been able to be recognised by the world (the few including Lorde, Broods, Six 60, K.J. Apa–the guy who plays Archie on Riverdale that used to be on Shortland Street– and Temuera Morrison). But other than that, we share so many similarities! Like our passion for writing about what we love and speak our minds about the topics that matter. Or the fact that we found our love for baking while trying to impress our boyfriends and ended up being somewhat of a therapy to take our minds off of the craziness of life. Lily can be that girl-next-door who knows exactly when you need that hug you've needed all day or the smile that lifts you up when nothing else can improve your mood. If you need a new best friend, then pick up Unfiltered and become inspired like I did!

Because the book was so tiny, I don't want to give too much away - all I'd like to say is that I've never enjoyed a memoir so much in my life and I know that everyone would live the best three hours of their lives if they bought a copy and read it. Lily has managed to write a masterpiece of brilliance, inspiration, and creativity, all while she was still filming many different films in the time frame of a year. Um, hello... it has taken me three years just to get a basic outline and fourteen chapters of my fantasy novel! So with that, I have decided to give Infiltered a five out of five stars for its unique stories and spark of ingenuity that has changed my life for the better. Now if you see my memoir out sooner than later, you can thank Lily for being such a gem for pushing me out of my comfort zone to help others like myself as well. There's nothing better than to feel like you can be just like the celebrity you love.

Thank you Penguin Random House NZ for the review copy!

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Official Website: http://penguin.co.nz/

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Go add Unfiltered to your Goodreads list HERE

Go buy it on MightyApe with 1 day delivery in New Zealand HERE

Buy it on Book Depository with free shipping world wide HERE

Find it on the Penguin Random House NZ website HERE

Are you suffering with a mental illness such as depression or anxiety? Here are some helpful links from BetterHelp that you can check out and find tips on how to live a happier life:

BetterHelp Advice - Anxiety
BetterHelp Advice - Depression
How To Deal with Depression: Tips, Techniques And Finding the Right Treatment

How Do I Find A Therapist Near Me?

10 Depression Quotes That May Change Your Life

Find more out about me at:

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Twitter: ellabellabellz

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Carve The Mark by Veronica Roth

Cyra is the sister of the brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet people. Cyra’s currentgift gives her pain and power — something her brother exploits, using her to torture his enemies. But Cyra is much more than just a blade in her brother’s hand: she is resilient, quick on her feet, and smarter than he knows.

Akos is the son of a farmer and an oracle from the frozen nation-planet of Thuvhe. Protected by his unusual currentgift, Akos is generous in spirit, and his loyalty to his family is limitless. Once Akos and his brother are captured by enemy Shotet soldiers, Akos is desperate to get this brother out alive — no matter what the cost.

The Akos is thrust into Cyra's world, and the enmity between their countries and families seems insurmountable. Will they help each other to survive, or will they destroy one another?

Carve the Mark is Veronica Roth's stunning portrayal of the power of friendship — and love — in a galaxy filled with unexpected gifts.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW

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Having waited a whole year since I’d heard about the new highly anticipated novel by Veronica Roth, the author of the Divergent series of which I am definitely a fan, I almost couldn’t believe that it had finally shown up at my doorstep the day of it’s release. My immediate action following was to post a tweet about it and ask all my bookish friends and followers if they had gotten their copy yet as I was thrilled to be a part of something that had already been talked about by many BookTubers like Whitney Atkinson and Sasha Alsberg. However the response I received there wasn’t the desired result and instead made me wonder if I had been filling myself up for months and months with a false hope. One person said they didn’t want to read it and another said they would read it anyway but weren’t too excited for it – all because this book supposedly had a theme of racism. As many might realise, this had guttered me to the point where I literally considered just leaving it and explaining my biased opinion to HarperCollins NZ and the public. But I quickly realised how I’d felt about most things I’d heard about biased opinions towards books or authors recently and decided that I would give it a chance anyway. This is where I tell you that I do not regret that decision one little bit.

In a magical fantasy/sci fi world where everyone harbours a currentgift that represents their inner selves, Cyra Noavek and Akos Kereseth are nothing alike, yet fate will bring them together in a way that will change the divide forever. From the first chapter I was hooked onto every little word, detail, scene, and twist – I found myself wanting to return to reading it just so I could be a little more satisfied everyday and find out what Cyra Noavek would say next. This novel has been written in a strange way that seems to bring out the best in the outcome of the novel. Cyra is written in first person and Akos is written in third person; I assume this may be because Cyra’s reputation makes her a questionable character so reading in first person would help connect with her and understand her more. Akos is more creditable and comes from the peaceful planet of Thuvhe, which makes it understandable that he would be written in third person. But honestly, it’s probably only because Veronica Roth was trying to state who the main protagonist was and use Cyra as an example for those who may not understand people that suffer through chronic pain (as Roth had mentioned in her acknowledgements at the end). There seemed to be an endless amount of room for interpretation so you never quite know what is going to happen next, although I have to admit that I managed to figure out a few basic things on my own before it happened. I think this was only because when I wasn’t reading Carve The Mark, I was thinking about it – the storyline, the characters, the currentgifts, what the hushflowers and saltfruit would taste like in real life. I guess that says enough about how gripping it was – I wish I could say more!

In terms of the controversy of racism in Carve The Mark, I feel like I can understand how some, or a lot, of people got upset at the thought. However, in my opinion I feel like the accusation may have gone a little too far. Yes, it is based on hostility between two different bloodlines and that the Noavek family, who have darker skin, are said to be brutal and unforgiving. But it honestly did not feel like Veronica Roth was making it a point to do this in a way that was offensive or intended. Maybe she was trying to get at a point but have a turning point at the end of her series where everyone forgives each other for the past and move on with better leaders and more cooperation. Either way I think that it is fair to say that this was indeed an intensely written book with bloodshed, magic, and powerful bonds of love that made it an unforgettable read. I cannot think of a way to explain how shocked I was to find that this novel was almost as good as the Divergent trilogy. Character development is through the roof with A+’s, grammar and punctuation on point, and sentences bloomed with colour and adjectives with every page turned. I felt like I was watching the movie inside my mind with a vivid force and I cannot go another day without knowing that this will definitely be optioned. I’m sure with Veronica’s success in the past, it won’t be long before it’ll happen again. Just please don’t be biased by rumours or opinions you hear on the Internet – everyone is different and it pays to give books a chance. I wouldn’t have become the reader I am today if I had never picked up Twilight. Just saying!

Things I LOVED About Carve The Mark!

·       ‘Carve the mark’ means carving a mark and adding feathergrass for each kill/loss a person has. If there was any more reason to get another tattoo, it would be this novel. In my mind, the idea of having consecutive cuts on the wrists is usually when someone is depressed and has cut their skin for emotional relief. So the way that Veronica has included this in Carve The Mark makes me feel better for those who still have those scars. I hope it inspires them to not be embarrassed or hide them – symbolically they show their strength and that they made it through the bad times. That they survived their ‘fight’.

·       Cyra is a representation of those who suffer through chronic pain. I love when authors make the effort to include a certain character who will represent others in real life that are suffering so that readers will gain an insight as to what they might be going through. If more authors could do this with their protagonists and maybe even the entire cast of their novel, more and more people would become aware of conditions that plague many real people everyday and make them want to do something that could help raise more awareness – spread the word, guys!

·       Hushflowers, iceflowers, saltfruit, feathergrass? Yes please! If there is anything more satisfying while reading a novel, it’s reading about food and plants that are made up but still sound amazing when being used to make a potion or meal that you’ve never tried before. The imagination goes wild when trying to imagine how an imaginary fruit or flower might taste like. Is your mouth watering yet? No? Hmm, try reading Carve The Mark, and then get back to me!

·       Currentgifts are basically like Twilight vampire powers, only cooler! So basically there is the current, which is an invisible power that flows through the currentstream and surrounds all the planets -this gives power to ships, boats, weapons, and even gives the people their currentgifts. The usual time people find out their currentgift power is when they go through puberty – so now I feel ripped off with life and feel like asking God for a refund. Anyway, I think my currentgift would be to feel and change emotions of other people, kind of like Jasper from Twilight. What would yours be? (Comment yours below!)

·       Space travel has never felt more real than when I read this novel! If only it were possible to have space ships like the one the Shotet use for their sojourns, I would absolutely love to go to another planet and immerse myself in their different cultures and languages. If there were anything I would like to know about the universe, it would be to know that we are not alone in this dark abyss. One day in the far future we might be like the Shotet travelling to far away planets and creating alliances with other species like ourselves.

·       This book has a theme that many people still don’t realise: Unity. If I’ve learnt anything in my lifetime living in New Zealand (being such a multicultural/multiracial country), and observing USA from afar (noticing that they are too a multicultural/multiracial country but have a history of slavery and racism), I’ve come to the realisation that the only way that everyone will accept one another is if we all unite and love one another, no matter the skin colour, religion, or gender. I believe that this series will be a development of unity between different races, but it is very much something that many of us still need to work on. History is the past and unity is the future. Start believing that we are all worthy of one another – Cyra and Akos eventually figured it out and we can too.

This has been the first novel to ever make me revel the idea of space travel, made me knowledgeable about the reality of people suffering with chronic pain, and align me with the true importance of unity. Cyra, like myself, finds herself fascinated with things that may not be as appealing to others. Akos finds a thick skin being around Cyra but learns that there is a bigger story behind the ones who withhold their emotions to appear strong. The symbolism in this novel would be enough to touch the hearts of those who don’t think they deserve to feel the reassurance of love and kindness. If you are one of the people who aren’t willing to read Carve The Mark because of what you might have heard or read online, then please hear what I am saying and try to give it a chance. Try to understand that authors aren’t trying to come across as racist or sexist, they are only storytellers trying to fill the imaginations of those who seek fantasy’s refuge.  We as readers of the modern age have become such dictators of the author’s work that they can no longer do their jobs without feeling like they have a target on their back. We have to remember that they are doing what they love and they want to know that you will love it too. Carve The Mark has more important themes and symbolism than anyone may realise and it deserves to be given that chance to be heard. Veronica Roth also deserves a chance to show that she had innocent motives while writing this book. I personally feel like she was trying to be diverse with both race and sexuality (yes, there is a theme of LGBT in here too), which made me feel so much better about my decision to read it. I don’t know what else I can say to convince those who have already made up their minds to DNF it before they had even started, but mostly I just wanted to convince everyone that it isn’t terrible like some people say. The deeper you look into it, the more you will realise how the development of the two races in this novel will astound you. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book!

After giving it much thought, I’ve given this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars. Don’t get me wrong; I’d love to give it outright 5 stars because I actually loved it a lot! However, there were a few things at the end that I felt weren’t quite wrapped up as well as they could have been. This could just be Veronica angling the storyline towards an action-packed sequel so please forgive me if I made a bad call. I guess the plain fact that I am aching to know what happens next is reason enough to push my followers to pick it up and go for it. I’d be happy to hear everyone’s thoughts on it down below in the comments to see if I have missed anything important or just to read everyone’s opinions

Thank you HarperCollins New Zealand for the review copy of Carve The Mark! Go check out their links here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Harpercollinsnz

Website: http://www.harpercollins.co.nz/

Go add Carve The Mark to your Goodreads list HERE

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Buy it on Book Depository with free shipping world wide HERE

Buy it on the HarperCollins NZ website HERE

My Spotify Playlist for

Carve The Mark

Find more out about me at:

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