August favourites :D

So I know this is a book blog, but since this is *my* blog more than anything, I can post whatever the hell I want. So this is me, listing my favourites of this month, which will include music and TV at the end :)

BOOKS || I read three books this month  

ELIZA & HER MONSTERS > FRANCESCA ZAPPIA || 3 / 5 ||

This book is about Eliza, who is your typical introverted teenager in her senior year of high school. She's plain, mundane and many think she is boring and a creep. But that is just because they don't know her, who she really is. Through her screen, she is the illustrator and writer of the most popular webcomic online. Her fanbase is absolutely massive, she sells merch, runs forums, and her fans even get quotes and tattoos from her webcomic, monstrous sea. Everything is perfect as she talks to her fans anonymously and eats eggs. But one day, someone new comes to school, and he so happens to be the most popular fanfic writer for her webcomic.

Okay now everyone on booktube and Goodreads were saying this book was absolutely amazing. I agree that it is a pretty good book, but it was definitely over-hyped for me. If I went into this without the high expectations that I had, I think I would have enjoyed this book way more than I did. Don't get me wrong, this book was really good. I enjoyed it while I was reading it, but only one month after, I have basically forgotten everything that had happened. I remember being extremely annoyed at Wallace and how he treated Eliza in the end, and at her parents cause they were horrible. I can understand why people loved this book though. If you are introverted and love art and stories, I think you could relate to Eliza. Eliza in all is a relatable character to everyone in some way or another. One part I did really enjoy about this book was her texts messages with her friends. Towards the end of the book when she didn't really text her friends all that much, I think I was missing them more than she was. I didn't like how Eliza took everything for granted, that was one of her flaws that really irked me. Overall, this book was a fun read at the time, and I would recommend it if you want a light read.

SIMILAR BOOKS >  Fangirl, geekeralla 

THE MUSIC OF WHAT HAPPENS || 4 / 5 ||

This book is told in two pov's. Max is sort of your typical jock, he plays football, loves the sun and spends all of his time playing video games at his friend's house. He came out to them ages ago and it was never a huge deal. He's out to his friends, out to his parents and those are the only people that matter. Jordan, on the other hand, is completely different. He isn't femme but isn't super masc. He's insecure and seems to always worry what people think. He loves his 'wives' but internally hates how they treat him. But all of that doesn't matter. What matters right now is that his mom doesn't work, and the leftover money from his dad has completely gone. All they have left is their house and an old food truck his dad left for them. This story follows two strangers, coming together and falling in love while they save a family with packets of instant lemonade.

So the reason why I started this book was that I read Bill Konigsberg's other book openly straight. Since I really enjoyed that book I started this one. And 3/4 of the way through I almost dnfed (did not finish) it. The reason why I almost dnfed it, wasn't because this was a bad book by any means, it was because this was a lot more emotional than I thought this was going to be. I am going to have to say that this book absolutely wrecked me. Openly straight was such a fun light-hearted book, and that's what I thought I was getting going into this. Specifically, the person who almost made me not read this book was Jordan's mom. Jordan's mom has got to be one of the most complex characters I have ever read. I cannot hate a character more than I hate her. I hate her more than I hate clary Fairchild, and that's saying a lot (ps, love tmi but just hate clary). But the mom was written in such a clever way, and now looking back at it, I can really appreciate the character building.

Anyway, I really loved their relationship. I thought it was so cute and I loved that scene when they went to that fast-food chain together and just sat in their car and talked, though I wish we got to see more of their conversations. I also really loved that game they played (I can't remember the name but it was something no-goodery). I also loved the fact that we see the whole story through both of their eyes, I'm a sucker for multiple POVs.

One thing I didn't like was that Jordan's situation wasn't taken seriously enough. If I was going through that I would be thinking about it NON STOP. I know giving out 1000$ worth of food is selfless, but you need to have survival skills! Max should have intervened there. Also, I wish we got more of the three amigos hanging out with Jordan and his wives.

Right after I read the book, I thought it was average, now that I have thought about it, I loved it. I love the complexity of it, and how it was written. I loved the characters and I loved max. Max is just such a bean and so complex, I love him. He feels really real to me, just amazing.

Overall, I highly recommend you read this book if you are into stories that are based around romance but are so much more. I will have to put a trigger warning on rape with this one though since Max goes through quite a lot in this book. I loved it so much, and I highly recommend the audiobook too, because I read it on that

SIMILAR BOOKS > Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe (my 2nd favourite book of all time), Autoboyagraphy, Openly straight and a gentleman's guide to vice and virtue

RED WHITE AND ROYAL BLUE - CASEY McQUISTON || 4.5 / 5 ||

Red white and royal blue is set in an alternate universe where the winner of the 2016 elections was won by a divorced woman with biracial children. Alex Claremont is in college, his mom is the president of the United States and his dad in California. His whole family is rooted in politics, but his international relations currently aren't in the best state. Henry, the prince of England is cocky,  big-headed, narcissistic and annoyingly good looking. But Alex never notices the later fact. Henry is competition, but Alex has been invited to the royal wedding, and he is not excited. Henry has been forced to hide who he really is and who he wants to be. Cake, PR teams and royal drama. Red, white and royal blue :)


I wrote I separate review for this book on this blog (which isn't amazing so I will update it soon). This has got to be one of my favourite books of this year. As I said before, it's crazy how perfect this book was for me. I love books about fictional celebrities, but I can't find a lot of book about them. The whole story, all of the character was just so amazing. I loved this with all my heart, Alex and Henry's relationship was just so amazing. This was amazing, I highly recommend.

SIMILAR BOOKS > a Gentleman's guide to vice and virtue, openly straight

MUSIC || These were all my favourites 

THE END OF TEN ALBUM - NICK CAMRYN

Nick Camryn is one of my new favourite artists. I found him in my apple recommended where they recommended his single Alone, which is extremely good. This album is one of my new all-time favourite albums. I listened to this while I was reading in Australia and that was so nice.

My favourite songs on the album are Lost and Vicious Valentine. They are so amazing.

17 - XXTENTACION

Okay yes, I know it's basic, but I really liked this album while I was reading. I didn't do a lot of listening to music this month, I mostly listened to these two albums while I read or did homework. This album is just so so good and I really love it. rip.
My favourite songs on the album are Orlando, Everybody dies in their nightmare and Ayla.

YOU BELONG WITH ME - TAYLOR SWIFT

Okay, I wasn't going to include this, because I really only listen to it for memories sake. Taylor Swift was my favourite singer as a kid, and I absolutely loved her. Now she is kind of my guilty pleasure, but I don't really feel guilty for listening to her. This was my favourite song as a kid, still love it to this day

Favourite Taylor songs are You belong with me, Back to December, wildest dreams and teardrops on my guitar.

TELEVISION AND YOUTUBE || What I've been watching this month

STRANGER THINGS (ALL THREE SEASONS)

Yes, I know I know. I jUsT finished watching Stranger things, I know, I'm ashamed. I've got to say that the first season was not worth the hype, but season 2 and seasON THREE WERE SOO GOOD. I really loved this show. It was so good, not going to talk too much about it because everyone is probably sick of people talking about it.

Favourite character is Will, of course.