My Christmas Book Haul: Part 1

I'm actually doing a Christmas catch up post on Monday, so I'll talk about the last two weeks in full there. It will also be talking about some blogging changes that are coming, nothing too major so don't worry. I'm not quitting or anything. There's just a few things being addressed in that.

The main thing to know about my last two weeks is that I had a great time. I didn't have to work, which felt absolutely incredible. I spent an amazing Christmas day with my family, got some beyond amazing presents and way more books than I could have imagined. There was food, drinking, laughter, games and so much fun. I loved every minute of it.

On Boxing Day we all went to the Harry Potter Studio Tour, which was so much fun. It was my second time going, but this time it was during the Christmas period - so the Great Hall is decorated for Christmas and the castle is snow covered. We had a great day and I really enjoyed it.

The above photo is almost every single book I received for Christmas, except for two childhood favourites my mum got me. That's 75 books. CRAZY! Clearly they all listened to me when I said all I really wanted for Christmas was books. There are far too many books for me to put in one post though, so I'll be splitting the books up and posting over two or three posts. I also won't be posting the blurbs for all the books and series, just because it would make these posts far too long. 

Something Real by Heather Demetrios

Seventeen-year-old Bonnie™ Baker has grown up on TV—she and her twelve siblings are the stars of one-time hit reality show Baker’s Dozen. Since the show's cancellation, Bonnie™ has tried to live a normal life, under the radar and out of the spotlight. But it's about to fall apart . . . because Baker’s Dozen is going back on the air. Bonnie™'s mom and the show's producers won't let her quit and soon the life that she has so carefully built for herself, with real friends (and maybe even a real boyfriend), is in danger of being destroyed by the show. Bonnie™ needs to do something drastic if her life is ever going to be her own—even if it means being more exposed than ever before.

I have wanted to read this for so long because of all the wonderful reviews. I hope I love it, I didn't have much luck with the authors latest book Exquisite Captive, but hopefully this works out well. 

Only Ever Yours by Louise O'Neill

freida and isabel have been best friends their whole lives.
Now , aged sixteen and in their final year at the School, they expect to be selected as companions - wives to wealthy and powerful men. The alternative - life as a concubine - is too horrible to contemplate.
But as the intensity of the final year takes hold, the pressure to remain perfect becomes almost unbearable. isabel starts to self-destruct, putting her beauty - her only asset - in peril.
And then, the boys arrive, eager to choose a bride.
frieda must fight for her future - even if it means betraying the only friend, the only love, she has ever known...

I had to buy myself this one after reading some very glowing reviews. I've just become ridiculously curious about it. For example, why do names no longer have capital letters, it pains my eyes. 

Childhood Favourites

Beeswax the Bad by Andrew Martyr, P. Lawford

Dr. Dog by Babette Cole

My parents got each of us sisters a copy of Beeswax the Bad, which was our favourite book as children. It's such a funny book and I loved it when I was little. Dr. Dog is another classic, so I was beyond happy to receive both of those. 

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch, The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings, Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins and Of Metal and Wishes by 

Snow Like Ashes - *flails* I HAVE IT! I must read it and love it.

The Murder Complex - I went back and forth on this one for so long but Bookstagram has sold me on it.

Rebel Belle - This one seems like it will be a fun read, plus I have the sequel waiting to be read, so I will be getting to it very soon.

Of Metal and Wishes - A retelling of Phantom of the Opera, I don't need to know anything else. SOLD!

Talon by Julie Kagawa, Uninvited by Sophie Jordan and Loop by Karen Akins

Talon - YAY! I held off on downloading this from Netgalley because I was hoping I'd receive it for Christmas. I squealed with excitement when I opened this one. I have it and it's one of the prettiest books I've ever seen. Let's hope the story is as good as the cover. 

Uninvited - I read and loved this earlier in the year and I needed it on my shelf.

Loop - Another book I suddenly wanted to read thanks to Bookstagram. Love the cover for this one too.

Doon and Destined for Doon by Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon

Very excited to find these two under my tree, this series really intrigues me.

Half-Blood, Pure, Deity and Apollyon by Jennifer L. Armentrout 

Cinder, Scarlet and Cress by Marissa Meyer

I've already read Cinder and Scarlet, but now I can finally binge read them and get to Cress. I hear it's the best of the three, so bring it on. 

Blood Red Road, Rebel Heart and Raging Star by Moira Young

This one made it onto my Christmas list because I was curious to see how it ended. I read and enjoyed one, once I finally got into it, but then was really unhappy with book two. Then I just had a really sudden urge to see how it all ended. I've heard nothing but terrible things about Raging Star since then though, so now I am scared. 

Rot & Ruin, Dust & Decay, Flesh & Bone and Fire & Ash by Jonathan Maberry

I've been saying I'm going to read this series for so long now. I've been wanting to read a good zombie story for quite some time. 

Anna Dressed in Blood and Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

Another series I've been saying I'll read forever. I'm hoping owning these series will get me into reading them... but who knows. 

City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels and City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

James wins points for knowing I wouldn't want book 6 when it's in the larger paperback. Hurry up and release the small one. I want to try this series again, I once read book one and didn't like it, Cait's love of it has made me curious. 

The Killables, The Disappearances and The System by Gemma Malley

I read and loved the authors other dystopian series so I am very hopeful when it comes to this one. 

Blood Promise, Spirit Bound and Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

I had books 1-3, but finally having the last 3 means that I can binge read this. I am so desperate to love this series. 

Reached by Ally Condie, Flame by Amy Kathleen Ryan & Defector by Susanne Winnacker

It was bothering me that I owned the first two books in both these trilogies but not the final books. I've read Reached before, but still need to get to Flame. Defector, the sequel to Impostor, is one that Amanda was kind enough to gift me for Christmas.

Golden Son by Pierce Brown

With shades of The Hunger Games, Ender’s Game, and Game of Thrones, debut author Pierce Brown’s genre-defying epic Red Rising hit the ground running and wasted no time becoming a sensation. Golden Son continues the stunning saga of Darrow, a rebel forged by tragedy, battling to lead his oppressed people to freedom from the overlords of a brutal elitist future built on lies. Now fully embedded among the Gold ruling class, Darrow continues his work to bring down Society from within. A life-or-death tale of vengeance with an unforgettable hero at its heart, Golden Songuarantees Pierce Brown’s continuing status as one of fiction’s most exciting new voices

I might have flailed far too much when I received this. Thank you so much to Hodder & Stoughton for this beautiful hardback. It's so pretty.... soooooo pretty.

All Fall Down by Ally Carter

Grace can best be described as a daredevil, an Army brat, and a rebel. She is also the only granddaughter of perhaps the most powerful ambassador in the world and Grace has spent every summer of her childhood running across the roofs of Embassy Row.Now, at age sixteen, she's come back to stay - in order to solve the mystery of her mother's death. In the process, she uncovers an international conspiracy of unsettling proportions, and must choose her friends and watch her foes carefully if she and the world are to be saved.

There's no way this won't be awesome.

The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey

Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing Me

My Year in Books: End of Year Book Survey

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

20 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Me