Happy Birthday to you…and the song goes on~

Hewwwwwwo, sweet peopleeeeee! Guess who? How are you, lol? Been so long since I talked to y’all, ahhh! AnYWaYs, I’m sorry to say but I am still on my hiatus, and this is just a quick break I took to wish a really good friend of mine(and yours)!

As some of you might know, today is a big day as Nehal(@Books And Words) who is a great friend of mine, my almost twin, a fantastic book blogger and an amazing writer was born on the same day exactly fifteen years ago(My girl grew up, what the hell?🤧!

A HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY TO YOU, NEHU! WE DEMAND A PARTY, NOW DON’T WE?🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

sorry to kinda spam w GIFs but there’s a reason Nehal and I made a tag based on GIFs-

What are you still doing here? GO GO GO GO GO TO HER BLOG AND WISH HER!😂🙄

Wonder by R. J. Palacio | Read-a-thon Update #3 + A big thank you + hiatus announcement!

Hey there! To those unaware, I participated in a Read-a-thon, to know more go here, and this morning I got done with the third aka the last book from my TBR, which I had chosen for the task Unlock Manifolds: read a book that features disability rep and the book was Wonder by R. J. Palacio.

Now, a big good news! A few days back, we here at Fictionally Crazy reached 150 followers! Woohoo! A big thank you to all of you who take time out of your busy schedules and read the stuff I write! Every like, every view, every comment, everything means so much to me, you can’t even imagine! Once again, THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Moving on, I want to announce that I am taking a break from WordPress possibly till end of February. The thing is my exams are nearing and they are gonna be offline, which is a big deal because to be honest, I cheated in the online tests and would have to take these quite seriously. Normally, I would have managed but since a few days I haven’t really been enjoying blogging, and I am not having fun reading either not gonna lie, my posts seem dull, plus you would have noticed that I hadn’t been much active on your posts either, I felt like it’s been forever since I commented spammed someone’s comment section. So yeah, I won’t be available here and I may not read your posts either. A huge apology for that. Also, all the best for my exams, cause if I don’t study I’m definitely gonna flunk some subjects! XDD

Moving on the review!

Title- Wonder

Author- R. J. Palacio

Blurb(Goodreads)-August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. Wonder, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. 

Rating-

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Oooooof, this book was truly a wonder!(me trying to make a pun, failing miserably)

The writing style. It was sweet, sad, light and yet deep too. The book had an optimistic aura to itself, which I hadn’t expected at all. Another thing was book was divided into multiple POVs including Auggie and his friends, and it was really nice to read them, and know how they felt about his features, and yet supported him and loved him all the same.

I loved all the characters, even selfish Via and sad Auggie. I liked Jack most of all, and I really liked how loving the parents were. And Justin, too. Like there was this part where the author wondered how universe was cruel towards Auggie due to his features but also took care of him with the loving people who surround him. I really liked that part, it showed that there is always a bright side and all.

Another thing I loved was the sense of humour of all the people there. I’m a big fan of humour, and I was impressed.

I liked how short the book was. With the exams, I didn’t really have much time to read, and the short length of it helped me squeeze it in between my schedule, so that was a big plus point.

One thing I didn’t like(big spoiler alert) I felt that Jack deserved the award more than Auggie. I was really disappointed at that part, even Summer would have worked for me, but not Auggie for some reason. But that was the only thing that irked me, apart from that this book was perfect! I really think everyone should read this!

Have you read the book? What did you think? Let me know in the comments!

The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson | Read-a-thon Update #2!

Hey! Basically, I am participating in a read-a-thon, to know more, click here. And, I got done with the second book from my TBR of three, which was for the task Clear Asteroids: read a scifi! The book was The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson.

Title- The Space Between Worlds

Author- Micaiah Johnson

Blurb(Goodreads)-

Multiverse travel is finally possible, but there’s just one catch: No one can visit a world where their counterpart is still alive. Enter Cara, whose parallel selves happen to be exceptionally good at dying—from disease, turf wars, or vendettas they couldn’t outrun. Cara’s life has been cut short on 372 worlds in total.

On this Earth, however, Cara has survived. Identified as an outlier and therefore a perfect candidate for multiverse travel, Cara is plucked from the dirt of the wastelands. Now she has a nice apartment on the lower levels of the wealthy and walled-off Wiley City. She works—and shamelessly flirts—with her enticing yet aloof handler, Dell, as the two women collect off-world data for the Eldridge Institute. She even occasionally leaves the city to visit her family in the wastes, though she struggles to feel at home in either place. So long as she can keep her head down and avoid trouble, Cara is on a sure path to citizenship and security.

But trouble finds Cara when one of her eight remaining doppelgängers dies under mysterious circumstances, plunging her into a new world with an old secret. What she discovers will connect her past and her future in ways she could have never imagined—and reveal her own role in a plot that endangers not just her world, but the entire multiverse.

Rating-

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Oooooh, I think I’m in love yet again!

This was my first book exploring the parallel universes, and I enjoyed it quite a lot! Guess I’m gonna pick another book about parallel universes soon!

I really loved the writing style, it was deep, and somehow to the point and just beautiful. To be honest, I being a fan of humour, felt that it was missing, but it was just so engrossing at times, that the lack of humour didn’t even bother me.

I loved all the characters – Cara, Dell, Esther even Nik Nik and was utterly disgusted at Adam, which is a big plus point to the book because if I don’t like the characters(and hate the antagonists) then it makes it hard for me to enjoy the book that well.

The plot – ah, what can I say? It was perfect and unique. Like the idea of our lives being changed completely just based on a single decision was so beautifully emphasised in the book that it makes you think about what ifs, and how there might be a world where you are possibly the complete different based on the shoes you wear.

Another fact I liked was that the book focused on importance of decisions and choices, plus a little on classism. It also said a lot about consequences of extreme power and fame.

Oooh and one thing I’m a big fan of was that this book was a standalone! It’s rare you find sci-fi standalones, if you ask me, and I believe it to be pure talent to be able to craft a whole different world in a single world with so much beauty.

One thing that bothered me though was that the book was a bit hard to grasp at the start, but it was definitely worth it.

So if you’re a fan of sci fi, or just are in search of a good book, do check this one out!

Have you read the book? What did you think of it? Let me know!

It Won’t Be Christmas Without You by Beth Reekles | Read-a-thon Update #1!

Hello people! How are you, lah?

To those unaware, I am participating in an Among Us Read-a-thon, where I am the Red Crewmate, to know more I’d ask you to visit here. And yesterday, I got done with reading the first book from my TBR of thirteen, which was It Won’t Be Christmas Without You by Beth Reekles as my way of finishing task Swipe Card OR Fix Wiring: a standalone OR a sequel.

Title – It Won’t Be Christmas Without You

Author – Beth Reekles

Blurb(Goodreads)-

Eloise, a self-confessed Christmas obsessive, can’t wait for the big day. Devoted to her Michael Bublé playlist, she’s organising the school nativity play and even her gorgeous Grinch of a neighbour, James, can’t get her down.

Her workaholic twin sister, Cara, on the other hand, plans to work over the holiday – and figure out what secrets her seemingly-perfect boyfriend George might be keeping from her.

The sisters used to be close but since Cara moved to London, everything’s been different. Only, Eloise isn’t giving up just yet, and with a white Christmas on the cards, Cara can’t fail to be moved by the magic of the season … can she?

Rating-

⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Okay, let’s be honest here, the book felt kinda meh. I’ve read almost all the other books of Beth Reekles, and I really enjoyed them, but I don’t know, this one didn’t have the same hold on me.

For starters, it was a little slow. Me, being a fan of drama, expected a lot from it, and while there was a little drama, it felt forced and I didn’t like it. Plus, everything was kind of predictable, didn’t like that either.

The characters were too similar, like I get it, they’re twins, but they were too much a copy of another, at times I had a bit of a trouble determining which sister we were following in the chapter, and it was quite irritating. But then again, I liked the romantic interests, they sounded cute, and I especially am a fan of Jamie, because I relate with him on the matters of character.

What I did love was how cute and simple the plot was, and how it still held that little Christmassy charm in itself.

I also loved how Reekles focused lightly on topics like importance of family and company, and honesty. Also how family is a little too important than work, so mind that.

And! The book was short! I love short books at times because I could squeeze them in between almost anything and you don’t get bored much if the book isn’t really much engaging.

So if you’re a fan of short, sweet and cute books, or are in mood of Christmassy book(even though Christmas is over) then I’d say you give this one a try!

Have you read the book? What did you think of it? Let me know!

Book Bloggers Set My January TBR!

Hello there! How you doin’?

Yeah! You guessed it right! This January I’ll be following a TBR(yay) which is made up of books loved by fellow book bloggers! A big thank you to Ashmita @The Fictional Journal for coming up with this idea, it’s just awesome innit? And another big thank you to all those book bloggers I contacted and troubled with my extraordinary demands(sorry for that)!🤩😅

Let’s see the books we have here, shall we?

Oh and I’ll be going with just five books since as you might know(or not) I’m a little busy in January😔

Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith

Blurb-

Let luck find you.

Alice doesn’t believe in luck—at least, not the good kind. But she does believe in love, and for some time now, she’s been pining for her best friend, Teddy. On his eighteenth birthday—just when it seems they might be on the brink of something—she buys him a lottery ticket on a lark. To their astonishment, he wins $140 million, and in an instant, everything changes.

At first, it seems like a dream come true, especially since the two of them are no strangers to misfortune. As a kid, Alice won the worst kind of lottery possible when her parents died just over a year apart from each other. And Teddy’s father abandoned his family not long after that, leaving them to grapple with his gambling debts. Through it all, Teddy and Alice have leaned on each other. But now, as they negotiate the ripple effects of Teddy’s newfound wealth, a gulf opens between them. And soon, the money starts to feel like more of a curse than a windfall.

As they try to find their way back to each other, Alice learns more about herself than she ever could have imagined…and about the unexpected ways in which luck and love sometimes intersect.

Windfall was recommended to me by Riddhi @Whispering Stories more than twice, and the cover looks fantastic, synopsis is great, I’m like why the hell not? And I’ve actually heard way too many good things about it so there’s that.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Blurb-

First, there were ten—a curious assortment of strangers summoned as weekend guests to a little private island off the coast of Devon. Their host, an eccentric millionaire unknown to all of them, is nowhere to be found. All that the guests have in common is a wicked past they’re unwilling to reveal—and a secret that will seal their fate. For each has been marked for murder. A famous nursery rhyme is framed and hung in every room of the mansion:

“Ten little boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were nine. Nine little boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were eight. Eight little boys traveling in Devon; One said he’d stay there then there were seven. Seven little boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in half and then there were six. Six little boys playing with a hive; A bumblebee stung one and then there were five. Five little boys going in for law; One got in Chancery and then there were four. Four little boys going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one and then there were three. Three little boys walking in the zoo; A big bear hugged one and then there were two. Two little boys sitting in the sun; One got frizzled up and then there was one. One little boy left all alone; He went out and hanged himself and then there were none.”

When they realize that murders are occurring as described in the rhyme, terror mounts. One by one they fall prey. Before the weekend is out, there will be none. Who has choreographed this dastardly scheme? And who will be left to tell the tale? Only the dead are above suspicion. 

This one was recommended by Rachel @A Bookworm’s Paradise after a lot of ‘brain racking’ because um, I had a few conditions, so sorry about that!😅

Now, I’ve read three of Christie’s books, and while I’m not what you might call a big ‘fan’, I did enjoy her books, and am really looking forward to reading this one – I mean, look at the synopsis!

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing

Blurb-

A couple’s fifteen-year marriage has finally gotten too interesting…

Our love story is simple. I met a gorgeous woman. We fell in love. We had kids. We moved to the suburbs. We told each other our biggest dreams, and our darkest secrets. And then we got bored.

We look like a normal couple. We’re your neighbors, the parents of your kid’s friend, the acquaintances you keep meaning to get dinner with.

We all have secrets to keeping a marriage alive.

Thank you to Fajar @The Write Path for recommending this to me. Like seriously look at the plot, how did I not pick this up before?

Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel

Blurb-

For the first eighteen years of her life, Rose Gold Watts believed she was seriously ill. She was allergic to everything, used a wheelchair and practically lived at the hospital. Neighbors did all they could, holding fundraisers but no matter how many doctors, tests, or surgeries, no one could figure out what was wrong with Rose Gold.

Turns out her mom, Patty Watts, was just a really good liar.

And she’s waited such a long time for her mother to come home.

Sanskriti @Portals Into Books suggested this one for me. This one feels like a pretty cool spin off to Everything, Everything, can’t wait to pick it up. Though, I really don’t like the cover.

A List Of Cages by Robin Roe

Blurb-

When Adam Blake lands the best elective ever in his senior year, serving as an aide to the school psychologist, he thinks he’s got it made. Sure, it means a lot of sitting around, which isn’t easy for a guy with ADHD, but he can’t complain, since he gets to spend the period texting all his friends. Then the doctor asks him to track down the troubled freshman who keeps dodging her, and Adam discovers that the boy is Julian—the foster brother he hasn’t seen in five years.

Adam is ecstatic to be reunited. At first, Julian seems like the boy he once knew. He’s still kindhearted. He still writes stories and loves picture books meant for little kids. But as they spend more time together, Adam realizes that Julian is keeping secrets, like where he hides during the middle of the day, and what’s really going on inside his house. Adam is determined to help him, but his involvement could cost both boys their lives…

Thank you to Cherelle @A Bolt Out Of The Book for recommending this to me! Again, I’ve heard a lot about this book, it has been on my TBR since ages! Plus, I love the cover(look at me judging books by their covers)

And that’s all my TBR holds for the moment! Again, thank you so much to all of the book bloggers I troubled, you were a great help! Now I may asked to be excused, thank you.

A New Blog For Y’all – That Weird Club!

Hello people! How’s you day going?

Also, HAPPY NEW YEAR Y’ALL! Can you believe it 2020 is over? Like yesterday, I was reading some book, and I just stop doing everything, and I sit and then I realize big time that Gosh, I need to write 2021 in dates from now on! Yeah, it’s a big deal for me, in the months of January and even February, I could be found writing wrong dates much too often.😅

Anyway on to the big, great and amazing part! On this new year, to give you a something extra, cozy and weird, my friends – Nehal, Riddhi, Aanya and I have launched a new collab blog for you! Now if you all know us, you’ll know much too well about our peculiar habits, and That Weird Club, our new blog, is where we expect to have fun with overloaded weirdness! Please do check it out, and c’mon support us!😍😍😍🤩🤩🤩

Once again, Happy New Year! Have fun, it’s our year! And please do check out our blog!

Among Us Read-a-thon!

Hello! So you might not know this, but I am kinda obsessed with Among Us, and I love that game! And now, there were two of my beloved things combined, did you really think I’d not participate? Of course, I have to! So, hey, here we are! This read-a-thon is hosted by Halee and to know more I’d ask you to visit here.

I was actually having a hard time deciding what colour crewmate I wanted to be, I wanted to go for a lot of books but then I realised I can’t because I already have a lot to do in January😔And eventually, after hours of debate with myself, I came upon the decision that I’ll go for the Red crewmate, and would read three books.(Trust me, I’m not proud)

Let’s do this!

THE MAP-

MY CHARACTER CARD-

MY TASKS-

(3 required books) = +300 bonus points (if all tasks are completed)

Swipe Card OR Fix Wiring: a standalone OR a sequel

Aw, I’d go with It Won’t Be Christmas Without You by Beth Reekles. I’ve been wanting to read this book since forever but wasn’t able to find it anywhere, and after finally getting it I’m like why not now, right?

Clear Asteroids: read a scifi

For this one, let’s go with The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson!

Unlock Manifolds: read a book that features disability rep

Wonder by R. J. Palacio! I’ve heard a lot about this one, and can’t wait to get to it!

And that is about it! Do you play Among Us? Have you read any of the books there on my TBR? And most importantly, are you participating in the Read-a-thon, too? Let me know!

WWW Wednesday #3!

And here I bring to you another WWW Wednesday post!

For those unaware, WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @Taking On A World Of Words, where you’re supposed to answer three simple questions. And here we go!

What are you currently reading?

Staring At The Light by Frances Fyfield, it’s boring, I’m not liking it. Might even DNF it!

What did you recently finish?

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman. Loved this one, I love Charlie a lot, and Nick is so perfect! Seriously I’m not the one to go for comics, but my, was I surprised. I really think everyone should give this one a try! It was so cute and sweet, I think I had the heart-eye look all the time. Plus, I don’t know why, but I feel really smug right now.😂😏

What you you think you’ll read next?

I genuinely do not know at the moment, possibly Heartstopper volume 2?

Have you read any of the books I mentioned? How were they? Let me know in the comments section!

End Of Year Book Tag!

Hello, hello, hello, hello, hello! How are you doing ahhh? I feel like I haven’t posted in ages, so well, here I am!😁

Oh my! It’s the end of year! Could you believe it? I can’t! Anyway, to end the year on a sweet note, here I bring to you a sweet tag from your sweet friend God, that’s too many ‘sweet’s in a sentence🙃😂 A big thank you to Riddhi @Whispering Stories for tagging me in this awesome tag! If you haven’t already, please do check out her blog, it’s awesome!

Let’s start, yeah?

Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson. I’ve read around 1/5th of it, but I can’t bring myself to continue, I’m in mood of a romance, so I just hope I get to that moment where I can pick it up later.

Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?

Not really, no.

Is there a new release you’re still waiting for?

Nope!(At least not at the moment, you never know)

What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?

Hm, the three are Forever My Girl by Heidi McLaughlin, Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and Staring At The Light by Frances Fyfield.

Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favourite of the year?

Not really but I think Secret Garden could be the one of the favourites.

Have you already started making reading plans for 2021?

Despite having disorganized plan for December, I do have plans for 2021😏

Basically I am participating in a Read-a-thon, plus I have decided to go according to a well decided TBR for once in my life. Let’s see how that turns out!

AND THAT WAS IT!

I’m keeping this tag open, for, if you haven’t noticed already, it’s too close to the end of year, and I really don’t wanna pressurize anyone to participate! Therefore, if you are interested and haven’t done this tag already, feel free to take up the offer! And oh, do let me know if you do do it, I’d love to see your plans!

Do you have any reading plans for 2021? Let me know, yeah?

WWW Wednesday #2!

Welcome to another WWW Wednesday!!

Basically, WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @Taking On A World Of Words, where you’re supposed to answer three simple questions. Let’s start shall we?

What are you currently reading?

Uh, I’m still on the Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett😅😅

What did you recently finish?

Ahhh, The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren. Oof, way too much drama. I freaking loved this book, you should get it since I squeezed this book in between exams, and I read it in a single day(today, I have the test tomorrow, see the desperation). The book was simply hilarious, I loved Ethan, hated Dane, enjoyed hearing about Ami and Olive and…well, I just loved it, okay?

What you you think you’ll read next?

I’m not sure, but probably Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. I’ve heard a lot about it and would love to give it a try, especially since I’m in mood of a happy romance.

Have you read any of the books I mentioned? How were they?