This October was a good one, reading-wise. Partly because I finished all work ahead of schedule, and partly because of all those Kindle deals. I’d been introduced to books by authors I hadn’t known before, and for the most part, I loved it! There are books by one particular author that I wasn’t really impressed with, so much so that I felt like it was such a waste of money and time (especially since I bought three books altogether, never again!). But the rest made up for it, especially books by Nicola Yoon and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I’m now officially a fan.

Bloodstream by Tess Gerritsen

My friend recommended Tess Gerritsen a long time ago, but it wasn’t until now I got my hand on one of her books. It’s definitely a good thriller, with a detailed medical background (you might want to get yourself familiar with some of the medical terms so you wouldn’t get lost). The story itself is a bit unbelievable, and the ending isn’t quite satisfying. Still good though, and I’m curious to read more of her books. 3/5 stars.

Dear Stranger: Letters on the Subject of Happiness

I wrote a lot about this in this post, so I won’t write much here. This book helped me understand more about mental health and how to cope with it, and I found it useful. 3/5 stars.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

I know, the title was enough to put me off to be honest, but John Green recommends it in his vlog (in fact, he speaks highly of it). I adore John Green and his books, so I thought I’d give it a try. But oh god. This might be the worst book I’ve read this year, if not ever. Not even the setting of Paris could help this book. Save yourself from reading about ungrateful spoiled brats making too much of a big deal of inconsequential things. 1/5 star.

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Even worse than Anna and the French Kiss, I wish I hadn’t bothered. 1/5 star, and I’m being generous here.

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

To my surprise, I found this book to be slightly more bearable than the other two. The characters are more mature (although still overly dramatic), and I felt that Perkins here did a better job in digging a bit deeper about their emotions. 2/5 stars

Behind Closed Doors by B A Paris

For a debut novel, B A Paris did well with this one. It’s not on a par with Gone Girl, but it’s definitely a page-turner. It was a harrowing and uncomfortable read (as you’d expect from a psychological thriller), and I found myself flinch every few pages. Paris definitely knows how to keep the readers engaged. Despite some flaws and the abrupt ending, I liked this book. 3/5 stars.

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

This book was only 2 quids on Kindle so I bought it on a whim, and I LOVED it. Lovable characters + unique story + unpredictable plot twist = an amazing read. The graphics and notes add more personal touch to the characters, which I always love. Unfortunately, the graphics aren’t too great on Kindle (I had to squint my eyes to be able to read the minuscule letters), so I’d recommend buying the paperback or hardcover for this one. 4/5 stars.

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

A short essay which was written based on Adichie’s personal experiences. This is the first piece from Adichie that I read, and I’ve fallen in love with this shrewd, eloquent, and opinionated woman. 5/5 stars.

Halloween Party by Agatha Christie

Compared to the other Poirot novels, this one is okay. It’s good, but I didn’t find the story compelling or interesting enough. It’s not that complex either so when the mystery is finally unraveled, I wasn’t surprised or excited or anything. 3/5 stars.