This month has been a crazy one, both on my blog and in my personal life. October was the month I finished my three-year university degree and also the month I discovered I was accepted into a masters program at my university for next year! I honestly don’t know how I managed to read seven books this month, amidst end-of-year exams and essays. All I know is I’m exhausted.
October TBR
At the beginning of October, I made a post of all the books I wanted to read during the month. Out of the 12 books on that list, I only read three of them. (Eek). I have an excuse, though: many of the books on the list were from my local library and I am (still) waiting for them to become available as someone else is currently reading them. I have set myself a new goal now: to read the remaining nine books before the end of the year. That goal is a little more attainable.
Books Read
Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
4.5 stars.
I think almost everyone read Crooked Kingdom this month. It was such a heart-breaking, amazingly perfect novel. You can really tell how hard Bardugo worked on this novel – her skill truly shines through.
Read my full review.
Read my Six of Crows review.
Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley
3.5 stars.
This book had been recommended to me by several people and I kept seeing it everywhere, both on Goodreads and in local bookstores. So I decided to see what all the fuss was about. It was an enjoyable book, but some of the characters turned me off. Still, Highly Illogical Behavior is a very quick and easy read if anyone is looking for a novel they don’t need to concentrate on.
The Mine by John A. Heldt
3.5 stars.
This novel was a requested review by the author, which was very exciting. I really enjoyed The Mine. I love time-travel fiction so this one definitely appealed to me, although it is more of a romance than a sci-fi adventure. Any fans of pre-WWII American history and romance, check this book out.
The Midnight Star by Marie Lu
4.5 stars.
Another highly anticipated novel, and one I was particularly looking forward to reading. In the past few months, I have become obsessed with Lu’s The Young Elites series and The Midnight Star was a truly deserved conclusion. I’m getting teary-eyed just thinking about it.
Read my full review.
Read my The Young Elites review.
Read my The Rose Society review.
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
5 stars.
It Ends With Us was my first Colleen Hoover book and I’m so glad I decided to start with this book. It was beautifully poignant, heart-breaking and so important. Everyone needs to read this book.
I also read Anything Could Happen by Will Walton and Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover. The reviews for these books will be up very soon.
4.5 stars 4 stars
I absolutely adored Anything Could Happen when I didn’t think I would. I thought it would be another Highly Illogical Behavior and it was a lovely surprise when I discovered I really enjoyed it.
Ugly Love was a mix between a romance and a cry-your-eyes out drama. Hoover has a knack for making me fall head over heels in love with her characters, no matter if they are good or bad.
Currently Reading:
I am thoroughly enjoying Confess. It is truly a unique novel and I can’t wait to finish it.
Gemina made me squeal with excitement as soon as I opened the novel and saw the incredible work Kaufman and Kristoff did to create this behemoth of a book.
I can’t wait to finish both of these amazing books.
Best Book read in October
READ. THIS. BOOK. That is all.
Monthly Disappointment
I had to label A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir as a DNF, which I only rarely do as I detest it. I got to about 100- and 30-something pages in before I had to stop reading it. I was very disappointed in the quality of the novel – it was nothing like the first book in the series, An Ember in the Ashes. The writing is sub-par and I cannot connect with either of the main characters.
In An Ember in the Ashes, I loved Elias, but in this book he behaves like a love-sick fool. Laia is just as annoying as she was in the first book, but I was really surprised by how boring Helene seems, especially since I adored her in the first book. Oh well.
I will attempt A Torch Against the Night again, because I really want to know what happens, but if I find I don’t like it, I won’t be continuing the series.
Read my An Ember in the Ashes review.
Book Memes
I also participated in the Top 10 Tuesday and Top 5 Wednesday book blog memes! These memes are a great way to spread the love of books and getting involved with other reviewers and bloggers. Check out the T10T and T5W pages and get involved!
October T5W:
Longest Books
Non-Canon Ships
Book Covers
That’s it for the October Wrap-Up! It was such a busy, but fun, month. Bring on November!
– Laura
thebookcorps 
Can’t wait to read Midnight Star!
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It’s amazing!!! I’m sure you’ll love it
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I know I will: I don’t think Lu will let me down! (She better not!! Lol)
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