The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire - Dan Howell and Phil Lester

(text on the back)

Hello Reader!

In this book is a world. A world created by two awkward guys who share their lives on the Internet. We are Dan and Phil and we invite you on a journey inside our minds! From the stories of our actual births, to exploring Phil’s teenage diary and all the reasons why Dan’s a fail.

Learn how to draw the perfect cat whiskers, get advice on what to do in an awkward situation and discover which of our dining chairs represents you emotionally. With everything from what we text each other, to the time we met One Direction and what really happened in Vegas...

This is The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire!

If anyone doesn't know who they are, they are basically two Youtubers (Dan (left) started in 2009 and Phil (right) in 2006). They met on the Internet and now live together. 

First of all, I'm so proud of them and what they have achieved and I hope to meet them in the future. Because I love these dorks, I obviously loved the book. But putting my love for them aside, I'll review the book.

So, the cover. It's not that special, you may say, but it fits them perfectly. When I got the book in the post, I saw the letters on the front and back cover had this little glow (it's 3D too), I just had to touch it! It's a gorgeous cover for these two dorks. 

Okay, the book. SO MANY COLORS. It was like being attacked by green, red and blue. I loved it. The book smells amazing, as Phil had already said: 'If you don't want the book you can just buy it to smell it.', which was certainly true! It has a lot of things I didn't know about them before, and I'll cherish it with my life. From baby pictures to awkward meet-up stories, this was everything I wanted in life.

I'd give this book 5/5 stars, it was such fun to read and I highly suggest you to check out one of their videos :)

Title: The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire

Authors: Dan Howell, Phil Lester

Publisher: Ebury Press

Age: All Ages

Price: €14,99, £16,99, $18,99

Pages: 224

ISBN-10: 1785031090
ISBN-13: 9781785031090

Dominique (@myxmasreading on Instagram)

Precious Stone Trilogy: Sapphire Blue - Kerstin Gier

Gwen’s life has been a rollercoaster since she discovered she was the Ruby, the final member of the secret time-traveling Circle of Twelve. In between searching through history for the other time-travelers and asking for a bit of their blood, she’s been trying to figure out what all the mysteries and prophecies surrounding the Circle really mean.

At least Gwen has plenty of help. Her best friend Lesley follows every lead diligently on the Internet. James the ghost teaches Gwen how to fit in at an eighteenth century party. And Xemerius, the gargoyle demon who has been following Gwen since he caught her kissing Gideon in a church, offers advice on everything. Oh, yes. And of course there is Gideon, the Diamond. One minute he’s very warm indeed; the next he’s freezing cold. Gwen’s not sure what’s going on there, but she’s pretty much destined to find out.

The cover is beautiful, I had the Dutch cover (right) which also had a little cord you could use as a bookmark and wow, I love the illustrations on the front/back of the book. I find the English cover less beautiful, but it still gives you the same ambiance the book is all about. 

Wow, I am in love with these books. Kerstin is an incredible writer, because she knows how to put romance in a book without making it cheesy, there's humor, usually caused by Xemerius, and mistery, that's why I couldn't lay this book down. I wanted to know, wanted to know what's going on, and I was surprised.

Okay, I do have to say, this book will tear you apart. Gideon, do you love her or don't you? Are they going to be together or not? Will she make it? Will he make it? What's going on with Lucy? SO MANY QUESTIONS.

I love Gideon so much, but I always have a thing for the 'douchebags that change because of the female'. There were times where I just wanted to slap him in the face, but there were also times where I just wanted to hug him. As I said, this book will tear you apart.

I'd give this book 5/5 stars, it's just a light book that will make you happy.

• Series: The Ruby Red Trilogy
• Publisher: Square Fish
• Age: 12-18
• Price: €15,99, $17,99
• Pages: 384
• ISBN-10: 1250034167
• ISBN-13: 978-1250034168

Dominique (@myxmasreading on Instagram (Christmas is cominn)

Eleanor & Park - Rainbow Rowell

Bono met his wife in high school, Park says.
So did Jerry Lee Lewis, Eleanor answers.
I'm not kidding, he says.
You should be, she says, we're 16.
What about Romeo and Juliet? Shallow, confused, then dead.
I love you, Park says.
Wherefore art thou, Eleanor answers.
I'm not kidding, he says.
You should be. 

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits - smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you'll remember your own first love - and just how hard it pulled you under.

First of all, the cover. It fits the book perfectly, since Eleanor and Park came in touch through music and comics. But it's not very special, because imagine when you don't know the story, would you go for this book or for a book that jumps out and get's you to grab it immediately? But again, it fits the story, because being in love certainly isn't roses and pink clouds.

The book changes from Eleanor's point of view and Park's point of view, which I actually really enjoyed. They both have such different lives and different insecurities. Park is Asian and throughout the book he will grow and find his own style, he has a loving Asian mom and a white dad, who love each other and show interest in Eleanor. But Eleanor is so insecure, maybe even more than Park. She hates her bright red hair, her curves and lives with an abusive stepdad and three siblings. She gets assaulted by this mystery person, whom I won't name, but when you get to the point where you find out who it is, wow, I was so shocked. Then a lot of things happen at a time and when I finished the book I wanted to throw it against a wall (which means I loved it).

Eleanor's mother and stepdad don't have much money. Richie -her stepdad- spends it on gambling and booze, which is why Eleanor and her three siblings have to sleep in one room, don't have nice clothes (Eleanor only has one bra which she wears with a paperclip) and have to get groceries in a store where everything is after date. This made me realise how lucky I am to have parents who make enough money to buy me clothes and food. 

The story had a lot of swearing, which is fine if you're used to that. But if you'd rather read a book with a lot of swearing (b and f), then I suggest you don't read it.

I will give this book 4/5 stars. It was different than what I normally read, but still beautiful and I loved it.

Extra: Movie rights are sold for the book, so there will maybe be a movie soon.

Title: Eleanor & Park

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Publisher: Orion Books

Age: 14+

Price (Hardcover): €16,50, $18,99

Pages: 336

ISBN: 978-1-4091-5725-0

                                                 Dominique (@myperfectreading on Instagram)

Shatter Me- Tahereh Mafi

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

The cover is really beautiful. You'd think, why an eye? I mean, that has nothing to do with the fact her touch is fatal. But, as mentioned in the book, Juliette doesn't know her eye colour. She hasn't looked in the mirror for years, and she is afraid to do so. Also, she recognized Adam by his eyes. 

Yep guys, love triangle. Aaron Warner, the leader of the Reestablishment, and Adam Kent, the only person who has ever been nice to Juliette. I'd say, by reading the first book, that I'm totally Adam. I did pity Warner, because his parents have never truly loved him. They threw him out like garbage, which I also thought he was.

The good thing about this book was (it has a lot of good things), is that they keep the excitement and action in it. It never gets boring. It has some cheesy love scenes in it, but come on, don't we all love that? 

I didn't find out the secrets until the very end. When I was done reading (I read it in 3 days, on vacation), I didn't know if I would throw the book at the wall or hug it, which is a good thing, I think.

I'll give this book 4,5/5 stars, minus all the really cheesy scenes, it'd have been 5 stars.

Extra: There will probably be a film made out of the books, or a tv-show.

Dominique (@myperfectreading on Instagram)

Vampire Academy: Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead

Rose Hathaway is a dhampir, half-vampire and half-human, who is training to be a guardian at St. Vladimir's Academy along with many others like her. There are good and bad vampires in their world: Moroi, who co-exist peacefully among the humans and only take blood from donors, and also possess the ability to control one of the four elements - water, earth, fire or air; and Strigoi, blood-sucking, evil vampires who drink to kill. Rose and other dhampir guardians are trained to protect Moroi and kill Strigoi throughout their education. Along with her best friend, Princess Vasilisa Dragomir, a Moroi and the last of her line, with whom she has a nigh unbreakable bond, Rose must run away from St. Vladimir's, in order to protect Lissa from those who wish to harm the princess and use her for their own means.

The cover is not that special, I don't think it suits the book perfectly. To be honest, I like the Dutch cover better. I do like the fence on the book, which you'll find in the book too, Rose, Lissa and the other Moroi and dhampirs can't leave the Academy. 

Okay, hold my purse so I can start fangirling. I WAS SO ADDICTED! I've always been a fan of vampires since Twilight (yeah, I know, still love the story). I read this book in 2/3 days, which is pretty fast for me. I had seen the movie before and I absolutely loved it, so I needed the books! I finally found them so I decided to read them :).

I really, really enjoyed the idea of Rose falling in love with her mentor, who is 7 years older than she is. Their relationship is pretty complicated, since they can't be together because of their work. 

I love Rose, this ass-kicking-sassy Guardian. They only one she really cares about is Lissa, who she has a special bond with since 'the accident'. She always does before she thinks, and has gotten in trouble for that many times.

I'd give this book 5/5 stars, it was amazing and I loved it so much (yeah, I love a lot)

Extra: This book has been adapted to a movie, click here to see the trailer.

Dominique (@myperfectreading on Instagram)

The Iron Fey: Call Of The Forgotten: The Lost Prince - Julie Kagawa

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

God, I love Julie Kagawa. I have read all of the previous Iron Fey books and when I heard she also made a series about Meghan's little brother, I decided I needed to have it. 

I love the cover (Dutch and English), they have such a faery-like ambiance and I think it fits the book perfectly. Julie always uses the same font, which I like.

The book was really nice, but I must say I needed to lay it down a lot (only to pick it up ten minutes later). I didn't know what to think of Keirran. I have heard many spoilers (I will not share them with you) about him and that made the reading a little bit less for me. There was not many action in the book, sometimes it was a tiny bit boring, but I still wanted to keep reading because of the secrets you just wanted to know. 

Ethan and Kenzie, aaah! I like them together. I mean, who doesn't like a badass girl in books? Only to get sad in the end...

I'll give this book 4,5/5 stars.

Dominique (@myperfectreading on Instagram)

The Hunger Games trilogy: Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games. She and fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime maybe more than friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at a distance. Peeta turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol, a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create. 

As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol’s cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can’t prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

It comes as a shock for Katniss, Peeta and their families. The vengeful president Snow is planning to sent them back to the arena, again....

First of all, yeeyeeyeey! I can't tell you how obsessed I am with The Hunger Games. I have watched all the movies and read the two first books. I love it.

This book? Mmh, not so much. It was almost the exact same as the movie. Not that that's wrong, the movie was adapted later than the books, but you still expected everything, which made it pretty boring at some times. 

Also, why wait that long on giving Katniss and one of the boys (don't want to spoil for the ones who have never heard of THG (what)) a kissing part? Like, why does Katniss wait that long? I had these moments where I was just like: 'UGH, WHY DON'T THEY KISS ALREADY JUST MAKE A CHOICE!' 

The good thing is, Haymitch is in the book too. He makes the book so much more fun with his drinking problem and his whatever mood all the time. And Effie just makes my heart light up, she is so sweet and you can tell she really cares about her little winners.

This review is getting too long, but I'll have to say this. Finnick is officially the hottest dude ever. If I wouldn't ship Katniss and Peeta, I would definitely ship them. 

With that being said, I will end this post with giving the book 4/5 stars. 

Dominique (@myperfectreading on Instagram)

Precious Stone Trilogy: Ruby Red - Kerstin Gier

Gwendolyn Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful niece Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwendolyn, who suddenly takes her first jump to another time!

Gwendolyn must now solve the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon -the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line- Together, Gwendolyn and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century in London, they can trust.

I love this. Really, I have nothing bad to say about it, it's absolutely perfect. You would think Gideon will be one of those typical douche bags that suddenly turn out to be really nice (okay, he kind of was a douche bag) but the way the author describes him and Gwendolyn/Gwyneth is just amazing. You can feel with Gwendolyn, because she has never been prepared for any of this, but yay Gideon is :).

I love Gwendolyn! She's so upbeat and even though she travels through time and has this badass skill, I could really feel with her and relate to her. She's really clumsy, just like me :). She isn't the best in handling the whole time-traveling situation but she didn't make me feel bad about myself (that's why I don't read many Dystopians, because the protagonists all have these talents and I'm just a girl on the internet).

Gideon was a bit full of himself at first, but I got to know him more and more, which, again, made him actually really sweet. (I'm sorry, I'm just a little bit obsessed with Gideon and Jannis Niewöhner).

This book is for every age and reader, Fantasy/Sci-Fi fans will love this especially.

I'll give this book 5/5 stars, there were literally no flaws.

Extra: A movie is adapted from the book. If you want to see it, click here.

Dominique (@myperfectreading on Instagram)