Winners!

Hey everybody! Sorry I took so long announcing the winners of my 100 followers giveaway, but I was away the last three days. Anway, thanks so much  to everyone who entered the competition and followed my blog! I am now at 185 followers, and I had 119 at the beginning of the giveaway! Thanks so much everyone :) So without further ado, here are the results....


100 follower giveaway #1- 
Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend by Cora Harrison
Jasmine Skies by Sita Brahmachari
All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Winner is - Beverley from A Reading Daydreamer

100 follower giveaway #2 - 

Shiver

Linger by Maggie Stievater

Winner is - Natalie Henderson

Congratulations both of you! You will both receive an e-mail shortly. If you don't reply within 3 days, a new winner will be chosen. Thanks for entering!

Thanks to Macmillan and Scholastic for providing the prize packs!

Letterbox Love #3

Letterbox Love is a new weekly meme, hosted by Narratively Speaking. It's a great way of sharing what books you receive every week, and I'm delighted to be taking part!

For review

Shift by Em Bailey
This looks amazing, I am dying to read it! Thanks Electric Monkey!

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth
I've heard mixed reviews about this, I'm looking forward to seeing what I think of it!














Won

The Case of The Cambridge Mummy by Joan Lennon
This looks a bit young for me, but still good enough! I'm sure I'll get round to it at some point.












Borrowed

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Macker
I was so happy to get this, it's been on my wishlist for ages! I'm reading and loving it!












What did you get in your letterbox?

I've been absent...

Hey everyone! I'm so sorry, I haven't posted in ages :( I do actually have a reason though! I have been really busy lately, with family stuff (not bad stuff, just stuff) as well as studying for some tests I have coming up, so I haven't really had any time at all to do any blog-related stuff. I haven't even been commenting lately or anything! For the next two weeks, I have even MORE family stuff, and I REALLY need to study for these exams! There's nine of them, oh my goodness ;) So I won't be posting much until the end of May when we get our summer holidays, and then I will be posting lots. I hope to post maybe 1 or 2 reviews and Letterbox Love's in the next two weeks, but I can't guarantee anything. See you soon (enough)!

Letterbox Love #2

Letterbox Love is a new weekly meme, hosted by Narratively Speaking. It's a great way of sharing what books you receive every week, and I'm delighted to be taking part!


For review

The Girl Who Cicumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
I had never heard of this book or this publisher! - before earlier on in the week when I got an e-mail about it, but I thought it looked good, and after receiving it I am dying to read it! The name is such a mouthful though ;) Look out for a blog tour for this one in June! Thanks Corsair and Blare.










What did you get in your letterbox?

100 followers giveaway - UPDATE!

Hey guys! You know how I said if I was feeling nice I might add an extra prize pack...? Well, thanks to Scholastic, I am! The prize pack is one copy of Shiver and one copy of Linger by Maggie Stiefvater. I haven't read the books, but I've heard they are amazing and am sure you will love them! Make sure you check out Maggie's website here and find out more about her upcoming book The Raven Boys here. Now onto the giveaway!



Giveaway rules:
- Open to UK entrants only - sorry international peeps!
-Prizes will be sent out by the publisher
-Neither me or Scholastic are responsible for any prizes lost in the post
- Giveaway closes on 24th May 2012 at 12:01a.m. - results will be announced in the next couple of days
-To enter fill in the Rafflecopter below

Good luck!

Thanks to Scholastic for donating the prizes!



a Rafflecopter giveaway


P.S. I just need to clarify a couple of things! There will be ONE winner, who will win a copy of each of the books. Although this is part of my 100 followers giveaway, there will be one winner of this prize pack and one winner of the other prize pack. If you have done a blog post on the other prize pack, it doesn't count for this giveaway and you can't enter it in to this Rafflecopter, you will need to do another post!
If you have any other questions about this giveaway or the other one, e-mail me at booksterreviews@hotmail.com

REVIEW: How To Keep A Boy As A Pet by Diane Messidoro

This is the Official Truth about dating the Male Human Species! I am Circe Shaw...And I refuse to spend my entire life swooning pointlessly. I must become a fabulously sophisticated journalist and reveal the actual scientific truth about dating boys...Circe Shaw is on a mission! She needs to discover the secrets of male human pet control. Urgently. But life is beyond complicated. Circe has to deal with a poisonous rival, her mum's annoying 'just friends' men and her own Dark Past. Can dressing like a horse or acting like a disco really help? Will Circe finally catch a boyfriend? Or will she break her heart...


I just LOVED How To Keep A Boy As A Pet! The first 40 pages didn't really impress me, I found things confusing, and didn't enjoy it, but I kept going and am SO glad I did! With a crazy, loveable heroine, a hilarious dialogue and super-cute characters, How To Keep A Boy A Boy As A Pet is not a book to miss!


Circe is an awesome character! It's just impossible not to like her. I would love to have her as a friend! Circe is determined to get a boyfriend and will stop at nothing to get one, getting herself into some very embarrassing situations in the process! I was laughing constantly! I never really warmed to Rufus though. He was rude and moody, and yeah, he had a bad past, but so did Circe and she was still lovely! I didn't see what Circe saw in him at all. But whatever, at least she was happy :) I also loved Circe's friends Tash and Ben, they were so cute togther! Ben seemed like a character with a lot of potential though, and I was disappoint he wasn't in it more! I also loved the cool, mysterious American commenter, Savvy Rose - I won't spoil, but let's just say I was VERY surprised at the ending...


I loved the format of the blog posts. It was original and appealing. I think telling stories in blog format is like the new 'modern' diary format. It's really fun to read and I think it will be popular among the 'technology generation'! I know I loved reading it, and will definitely be giving this book to my friends!


Most of the book is light and fun, but near the end the tone changes quite suddenly, and it becomes very deep and sad. We find out a lot of serious stuff about Circe's past, and I felt really sorry for her and just wanted to give her a hug! I wish her mum had been more supportive of her and less self-absorbed, I was quite cross with her. We also found out a lot about Rufus's past, and I suppose I did feel sorry for him a little bit too... But, wait, I STILL don't understand what the big deal was about the 29th???? Could someone please tell me?!


How To Keep A Boy As A Pet was one of  my favourite books so far this year, and I can't recommend it enough! I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this fabulous series, What NOT To Do In The Dark. I'm not sure when it comes out, but when it does there will certainly be a copy of my shelf beside How To Keep A Boy As A Pet! And you better get a copy of this book too - you won't regret it!

Source: For Review - a massive thanks to the publisher for sending me this in exchange for an honest review.

Format: Paperback
Pages: 336

Age group: 12+
Official Publication Date: 7th May 2012
Publisher: Electric Monkey

Challenges: ABC Reading Challenge, British Books Challenge 

Interview with blogger Beth

I am absolutely delighted to welcome to Bookster Reviews the awesome and lovely Beth from Page-Turner. Page-Turner is a brilliant blog, on of my favourites and I hope it is one of yours too! She very kindly agreed to let me interview her - I'm sure you will enjoy reading her answers as much as I did!

1. Hi Beth! Tell us a little bit about you and your wonderful blog, Page-Turner.

Aw thank you so much! :) On Page-turner I love to do book reviews, blogger/author interviews, book-news.......and just post about bookish things! ;) (because I am ADDICTED to books!) I set up my blog around 10 months ago, and I really don't know how I didn't blog before then, reading and blogging are my two favourite things to do! I'm a book-addicted girl and I am obessed with

bookshops!

2. When and how did you begin blogging?

 I was in contact with Jean Ure, an author, and she was the first author I ever really got in contact with. I did a review for her book "Fizzy Pop" and so did some other girls around my age. I asked Jean Ure if she could put me in contact with one, as I love talking to people about books! :) Jean Ure put in contact with Zoe Crook. Me and her became "e-mail pals" ;) and I later found out that she ran a book blog called BOOKHI...and I fell in love with blogging! Zoe, through e-mail, taught me how to set up my own blog and I've been blogging for around 10 months now, as I began blogging 2011 in July. :) And so thank you so much Zoe!! 

3. What are some of your favourite books?

.....There are to many!! Some of my favourites are; The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Divergent by Veronica Roth, Delirium by Lauren Oliver, Starters by Lissa Price and Torn by Cat Clarke......and so many more! ;)

4. What are you favourite and least favourite genres, and why?

My favourite genre is probably dystopian! (or dystopia?....;)) I only really discovered that genre over the past few months, and I'm so glad I did! I think I have loved mostly every dystopian book I've ever read! I also like romance, thriller, chic-lit and sometimes paranormal. My least favourite genres are probably horror and sc-fi. I haven't read many horror books at all. I don't mind sci-fi, but like horror, I haven't read many sci-fi books. I did really enjoy Virals by Kathy reichs, though, which is a sci-fi book and so my least favourite genre is probably horror. 

5. What do you like to do when you aren't blogging or reading?

I love to write and draw (even though I'm not very good at it!) and I also love to cook. :)

6. What type of post is your favourite to write: reviews or discussion posts?

....Uhh...ummm......if I had to choose it would probably be reviews. Discussion posts are such fun to write and I love writing them, but I do really love sharing my thoughts on a book and seeing what other people though of it aswell. :)

7. If somebody told you they hated reading, what book/books would you give to them to convince them to read?

I would give them Delirium by Lauren Oliver. It instantly drew me in, and it was always exciting and it was just such an amazing book! I would also give them The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Even though, at first, it didn't pull me in, I found it a really brilliant read! 

8.  What books are you most looking forward to reading this year?

....So many!! There's loads in my TBR I can't wait to read; Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, Cinder by Marissa Meyer, The List by Siobhan Vivian, The Name of The Star by Maureen Johnson, Fury by Elizabeth Miles and loads more!  I am so excited to read (and for the release of!) the third book in the Angelseries; Angel Fire. I also NEED to read 

 Enders (the sequel to Starters) which is released in December and Reached, the third book in the Matched trilogy. :) (which is released November 13th)

9. What tips would you give to new bloggers?

I am quite a new blogger, but what I've learn from blogging is don't give up. I was dissapointed when I didn't instantly start getting ARC's, author interviews, blog tours etc, but if you put effort into each of your posts, eventually they will happen! :) Publishers, authors and bloggers are all so nice. I don't know what I would have done without the advice of authors and my "blogger buddies!"

10. Quick-fire round:

Reading or blogging? Uhhhh....both? ;) ;)

Music or movies? Movies (only just!)

Pink or blue? Blue

Chocolate or sweets? Chocolate!

Reviews or interviews? Umm...both? ;)

Thanks for being on the blog today Beth!

Thanks so much for the interview, Cliona!! :) :)

Letterbox Love #1

Letterbox Love is a new weekly meme, hosted by Narratively Speaking. It's a great way of sharing what books you received that week, and I'm delighted to be taking part!

For review

How To Keep A Boy As  Pet by Diane Messidoro
I am currently reading this, and it's so good and really funny! Expect my review up this week. Thanks to Electric Monkey!











Won

School Friends: Mystery At Silver Spires by Ann Bryant
This looks cute, but a bit young for me! I might read it sometime :) I won this off Girl Heart Books.











What books did you get this week?

REVIEW: Wonder by R.J. Palacio

I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse. 

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances? 


Wonder is unlike anything I've ever read before. It's unique, moving and eye-opening. I couldn't put it down, and there wasn't a page I read that I didn't enjoy! Wonder was told from the perspective of 10-year-old Auggie, members of his family, his friends and his peers. I loved the way it was told, it made me enjoy the book even more because it was really interesting to see things from lots of different points of view. Something I just find absolutely incredible is how something as simple as how someone looks can affect and alter so many lives. R.J. Palacio portrays this is a wonderful, appealing and fascinating way.


Auggie was a lovely, funny, although sometimes self-absorbed character. He was only in fifth grade though, I suppose, so I'll forgive him for that! He provided most of the books humour, and had me laughing at times. I felt sorry for him, because all he wanted was to be considered ordinary but he knew that would never happen. But Auggie wasn't ordinary. He was extraordinary. He was such a wonderful character. He felt so real and genuine, I had to remind myself that he was fictional!


I loved Auggie's school friends, Summer and Jack. Summer was awesome, so sweet, but I had a sort of love-hate relationship with Jack. But in the end I decided I liked him! I felt sorry for Auggie's sister Viv too - she was so supportive and protective of Auggie, but was sometimes - well, not neglected by her parents, but sort of brushed aside. Auggie always came before her, and I thought she didn't deserve it, she was such a lovely character. All of the characters were so believable and felt so real, Palacio did a great job developing them. Except there was just one thing - these kids were like, 10 and they all had boyfriends and girlfriends. They seemed to be growing up very fast! That was just something that surprised me, but it didn't really bother me that much. 


The story wasn't thrilling, but I still didn't ever want to stop reading! Wonder told the story of Auggie's first year at a proper school, and was fascinating and so enjoyable to read. I read it for two hours straight two nights in a row, and if I had the time I would have read it in one sitting! The chapters are short and easy to read, and I was hooked from the very first page! My only complaint was that I wish the book had been longer - I could have read it forever!


As I mentioned before, I loved the alternating vantage points. I liked getting an insight into all these peoples lives, seeing their perspective and how each one viewed Auggie. I don't think I would have enjoyed Wonder as much if it wasn't told in this way. I thought it made such a difference to the book!


I never, ever, ever cry at books, but I nearly did reading Wonder! It will make you laugh one minute and the next you will be shedding a tear! It really is amazing. I could honestly go on forever about it but I'm just going to leave it here! Heartwarming and heartbreaking, Wonder will surprise, delight, and move you, whatever age you are!

Source: For Review - a massive thanks to the publisher for sending me this in exchange for an honest review.

Format: Hardback
Pages: 317

Age group: 9+
Official Publication Date: 1st March 2012
Publisher: Bodley Head (an imprint of Random House)

Challenges: ABC Reading Challenge

REVIEW: Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver

'On the third night after the day her father died, Liesl saw the ghost.' 

Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice - until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone. That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable. Will's mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey. 

I absolutely LOVE Lauren Oliver's books, and was dying to read Liesl and Po. I love middle grade fantasy, so I had really high expectations for it! And I'm glad to say, it lived up (if not exceeded!) them! 

Liesl and Po was honestly, completely different from what I thought it would be like! I wasn't too sure what to expect really, but it wasn't this! However, fortunately, it was good different :) It was quite a funny book, and it made me giggle often! I loved the way the children outwitted their rivals, I love it in books when a child makes a fool out of an adult! 


The characters were absolutely amazing! Every single one was so well though out, and given a detailed, and interesting, but not boring background story. My favourite was the kind-hearted guard Mo, and I also liked the sweet apprentice boy, Will and the cute cat-dog, Bundle. But Liesl herself... There was just something about her. She just didn't feel as real as the others, and I didn't feel like I connected to her as much as I did with the other characters. I liked her, but she didn't stand out to me. I loved all the other characters though!


The writing was of course, incredible! Lauren is one of the best YA writers out there at the moment (in my opinion) and in Liesl and Po, her first middle grade novel, she has outdone herself! The writing is beautiful and I am just in awe of the way she writes! The metaphors and comparisons she uses are wonderful. The writing was one of the book's best qualities. 


The illustrations were gorgeous! They were so pretty, and I loved looking at them. I haven't read a book with illustrations in a looong time, and they were just so nice to look at! They helped me to imagine what the characters looked like, and were a lovely, unique touch.


I finsihed reading Liesl and Po with a smile on my face. Honestly I did! It was just the cutest, loveliest book ever! I actually felt something while reading the book, an unusual feat in middle grade fiction! But of course, Lauren was able to pull it off! It was actually quite emotional, I thought :) Liesl and Po was the best middle grade novel I've read in ages, and also one of the best novels overall that I've read in a good while! It's a magical, compelling, humorous and original book - highly recommended!

Rating: 5/5

Source: For Review - a big thanks to the publisher for sending me this in exchange for an honest review.

Format: Paperback
Pages: 336

Age group: 9+
Official Publication Date: 12th April 2012
Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton 

Challenges: ABC Reading Challenge


The official Liesl and Po website: www.lieslandpo.com

100 followers GIVEAWAY!

Hey everyone! This post is SO late, but it's taken me ages to organise the giveaway and everything so I've actually reached 119 followers by now! Thanks so much to everyone who follows my blog, it was amazing to reach 100 followers! So I decided to celebrate it with a giveaway, because, who doesn't love giveaways :) Without further ado, here are the prizes! Bom bom bommmmm:

Prize Pack: 
Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend by Cora Harrison
Jasmine Skies by Sita Brahmachari
All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Isn't it a fab prize? I have read and loved Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend (see my review) and I have the other two books in my TBR pile, and am really looking forward to reading them! Alll you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter below, and you're in with a chance to win 1 brand new shiny copy of each of the three books! Yay! Isn't it exciting?! :)

Giveaway rules:
- Open to UK entrants only - sorry international peeps!
-Prizes will be sent out by the publisher
-Neither me or Pan Macmillan are responsible for any prizes lost in the post
- Giveaway closes on 24th May 2012 at 12:01a.m. - results will be announced in the next couple of days

Good luck!

Thanks to Macmillan for donating the prize pack!

P.S. Another prize pack MAY be added if I get to 200 followers by the end of the giveaway, or just if I'm feeling nice ;) Please don't get your hopes up though, this is just a maybe! I will post more info on that when I know more.





a Rafflecopter giveaway