Lifestyle – Page 12 – Adventures in Polishland

Category: Lifestyle

Upcoming Adventures | August Blog Chat

Posted on July 31, 2016July 19, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! August will be here tomorrow, and I want to give you a sneak peek to what you will see on Adventures in Polishland next month. Things will be changing ever so slightly, so make sure to keep reading to find out what my upcoming adventures are for August!

If you follow me on Instagram, you might have noticed that I’ve been sharing more food photos than I normally do. The reason for this is because I’ve changed my eating habits! I decided to make the switch to a vegan lifestyle about a month and a half ago now. The food was the first, and easiest, thing for me to change. I was already a vegetarian, and so all I had to do was stop consuming dairy, eggs, and honey. I am surprised at how easy this change has been for me! I used to eat copious amounts of cheese every single day, but after two weeks I wasn’t craving it at all. I’m feeling great, and am making sure to eat my daily nutrient requirements.

What does this mean for my blog? Well, part of being vegan means not using any products that are tested on animals or contain animal products as far as is possible and practical. That means that from now on I will no longer be featuring non-vegan products on my blog. The only exception to this are my empties posts, in which I will share the non-vegan products I used up during each month, as I am slowly using up the things I already own instead of throwing them away. Otherwise, my blog content will not change at all. You will still get my regular beauty posts and lifestyle posts, and I bet that you wouldn’t have noticed much of a change at all if I wasn’t telling you! However, I wanted to share this lifestyle change with you so you’ll understand why some of my once favorite products and brands will not be on my blog any longer.

I hope that you will continue to read and enjoy Adventures in Polishland! I will not be preaching a vegan lifestyle, nor will I be mentioning veganism all the time. I will still focus on Adventures in Polishland’s mantra as well, which is living a fabulous and affordable life. It will just so happen that all of the products I use from now on will be vegan. I hope that makes sense!

Moreover, I am also making an effort to share more lifestyle posts on Tuesday and Thursdays. I love writing book reviews, but I do want to diversify my content for you. This will include food, games, fashion, travel, or anything else I happen to be enjoying in my life. If you have any requests or questions for me, you can feel free to let me know in the comments!

That wraps up my August Blog Chat! I hope you are as excited as I am for the next chapter of not only my blog’s life, but my life, too. Here’s to a great August!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Popcorn Recipe | Vegan Snack Idea

Posted on July 28, 2016July 7, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I’m excited to bring you a new recipe, as it’s been quite a while since I shared one here on the blog. I recently posted a photo of my popcorn on Instagram, and quickly got a question about the recipe. This Chocolate Peanut Butter Popcorn is super tasty, but it’s beyond easy to make. It also happens to be vegan! I decided back in June that I was going to transition to a vegan lifestyle, and the first thing I did was change my food. I’m slowly transitioning all of my beauty products, skincare, and clothing, but will share more about that in the future. Today it’s all about the delicious popcorn that I like to enjoy as dessert, so let’s jump into the recipe!

Remember how I told you this recipe is super easy? All you need is two ingredients and your microwave and you’re good to go!

The two ingredients are popcorn and Peanut Butter & Co. Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter. You can use any brand of popcorn you like. I love the Pop Secret Popping Corn because it’s 100% all natural popping corn without any added ingredients whatsoever. You can also use your choice of peanut butter flavor, or perhaps even a chocolate hazelnut spread!

I also use the Nordic Ware Microwave Popcorn Popper to make my popcorn. I received this for Christmas this past year, and it is such an amazing kitchen gadget. It allows you to make popcorn in the microwave without purchasing the ready-made bags. It’s also super affordable at under $10! If you love popcorn, I highly recommend getting this popper. It’s much less hassle than shaking a pan over the stove top.

The first step is to make the popcorn. I go by the directions on my Nordic Ware Popper, and use 1/3 cup of popcorn. I microwave it for about 1 minute 30 seconds, and then stop the microwave to give the popper a shake before microwaving it for 1 minute more. This helps to pop almost all the kernels without any of them burning. Of course, our microwaves vary so make sure to stop the microwave when there are 1-2 seconds between pops.

Once the popcorn is done, I take 2 Tablespoons of peanut butter and place it in a microwave safe dish. I microwave it for 30 seconds, and then stop to stir it before microwaving it for another 30 seconds. This liquifies the peanut butter so it mixes onto your popcorn easily. You can find Peanut Butter & Co. at many stores nationwide, just check the brand’s website HERE to find a location near you.

Finally, carefully pour the melted peanut butter onto your popcorn and stir gently with a spoon. Use a potholder or towel when picking up the melted peanut butter so you don’t burn your hand on the hot container. I also like to eat the popcorn with a spoon because it is messy, though very delicious! This snack is full of fiber and a great option for dessert. Of course, it is really quick and easy to make, too! The recipe is below so you can easily copy & paste to print it out at home. Please tag me on social media if you end up making this recipe so I can see your popcorn!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Popcorn

Ingredients:

1/3 cup popping corn
2 Tablespoons Peanut Butter & Co. Dark Chocolate Dreams (or peanut butter of your choice)

Directions:

Pop popping corn according to the directions on the package.
Place peanut butter into a microwave safe container and microwave for 30 seconds. Stir.
Microwave peanut butter for another 30 seconds. Stir. Repeat if necessary until peanut butter is fully melted.
Pour peanut butter over popcorn and stir.

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Book Review | When We Collided by Emery Lord

Posted on July 26, 2016July 20, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

When We Collided by Emery Lord

Published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens on April 5, 2016

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 352

Source: Library

Goodreads: ★★★★ 1/2

We are seventeen and shattered and still dancing. We have messy, throbbing hearts, and we are stronger than anyone could ever know…

Jonah never thought a girl like Vivi would come along.

Vivi didn’t know Jonah would light up her world.

Neither of them expected a summer like this…a summer that would rewrite their futures.

In an unflinching story about new love, old wounds, and forces beyond our control, two teens find that when you collide with the right person at just the right time, it will change you forever.

REVIEW

My love for young adult contemporary prompted me to pick up When We Collided by Emery Lord shortly after its release this year. This book chronicles two teenagers and is written in a dual perspective format. Readers follow Vivi and Jonah as they meet one summer in Jonah’s hometown, and begin a whirlwind relationship unlike any other. I absolutely loved this book, and the characters we meet in the pages.

When We Collided is very character driven, and there is not much of a plot whatsoever. We know that Vivi is struggling with something that happened in her past, which is the mystery that kept me engaged throughout the book. While I did feel like I was wandering around without direction for much of the book, the story worked in the end. I especially enjoyed Lord’s writing style. She does an amazing job at capturing the voices of both Vivi and Jonah at all times throughout the book. I was very impressed when the tone of the writing changed to match each character’s current mental state.

In addition, I absolutely adored Vivi and Jonah’s relationship. I know it is critiqued by other readers as insta-love, but for me it was very realistic. Both characters need one another in this moment, albeit in different ways. They cling to one another naturally, and their romance progressed quickly because of their unique situation. I think many of us can relate to relationships that form immediately, whether they be romantic or not. Vivi and Jonah come together at the perfect time, and I love how it is portrayed in the book.

Similarly, I also really liked how family plays a role in When We Collided. We see how important it is to care for those around us, even when it seems too difficult to handle. All of the side characters in this book really help to round out the story, too. For example, Vivi befriends a rough-around-the-edges police officer that many townies avoid. It is nice to see how Vivi is affected by this friendship, and how she then encourages others to see the officer differently as well.

Of course, I also appreciate the mental health aspect of the book. It appears to be very highly researched and written in a realistic and sensitive way. I learned a lot about Vivi’s particular disorder, which is revealed later in the story, and it helps me empathize more with people in real life. I think it’s great that fictional stories can help shed light on issues that aren’t talked about much in everyday life.

Overall, I really enjoyed When We Collided and highly recommend it. If you liked All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, you will like this one as well because it has a similar storyline but is executed in a new way. I know I now plan to read Emery Lord’s other books, and look forward to giving this one a reread at some point in the future.

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My Morning Routine | How to Be Bold Every Day with Listerine! #MyBoldMoments

Posted on July 25, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MyBoldMoments #CollectiveBias

Happy Monday! Today I am excited to share with you my current morning routine. While I wouldn’t say I am a morning person, I do believe that I am more productive in the early hours of the day. Thus, I always try to wake up early and prepare myself for the day ahead so I can be confident and bold each day. The key is with the morning routine I create for myself to ensure I not only look my best, but feel my best, too. This blog post will take you from my shopping trip at CVS, where I pick up Listerine, a necessary component to any morning routine, to my step-by-step process of getting ready for the day. It’s time to live boldly!

PREPPING FOR MY MORNING

First things first, I need to go shopping! I headed over to my local CVS Pharmacy to pick up my Listerine. Plus, I always love to browse the sales at CVS and use any coupons I have that week!

I headed directly to the Oral Care aisle in my local CVS. For me it is located right behind the beauty and skincare products, so I know just where to go. I spend a lot of time browsing this area of the store!

The mouthwash is all the way at the end of the aisle. I’m glad CVS has such clear signage to make the shopping experience really easy. It’s always nice when I don’t have to spend a lot of time hunting down the product I’m purchasing.

I spotted my Listerine right in the middle of the shelf in the Flouride area. Can you see the purple Listerine Total Care? That’s what I picked up! I’ll share more about the product later in this post, but you bet I’m snagging the mouthwash with as many health benefits as possible. Plus, I was in luck this day – Listerine was on sale! Score!

MY MORNING ROUTINE

Now that I have everything I need to start my day off boldly, it’s time to wake up and get started! Here is my routine step-by-step.

STEP 1: BREAKFAST

Okay, I’m the first one to admit this breakfast looks a bit sad, but the truth is I absolutely love to eat oatmeal in the morning. The boost of carbohydrates gives me the energy I need to start my day. Plus, oatmeal is super delicious! I change my recipe up regularly, but today I’m sharing my brown sugar and cinnamon variety. I use quick oats, mix in some brown sugar and almond milk, and microwave my concoction. I finish up with a sprinkle of cinnamon for some added flavor. Of course, I have my coffee and water nearby to pep me up and rehydrate my body!

STEP 2: JOURNALING

While mornings can be very hectic, I always like to schedule in a little time for myself. This helps me relax and not feel rushed. I like to change up my morning activity depending on my current mood. In my days as a student I watched a lot of YouTube videos while I ate breakfast. Today I much prefer to read a book or journal. I have two dedicated journals that I write in each morning. It only takes a few minutes, but helps to calm me down and gives me time to spend on myself. It is worth waking up early to get in some ‘me’ time!

STEP 3: ORAL CARE

Now it’s time to head to the bathroom! At this point I’ve already showered and gotten dressed, so I get right to my oral care routine. I floss, brush, and use Listerine before doing any skincare whatsover. As I mentioned earlier, I use the Total Care variety of Listerine because it provides 6-in-1 benefits! This one mouthwash helps prevent cavities, restore enamel, strengthen teeth, kill bad breath germs, clean the whole mouth, and freshen breath. Of course, Listerine helps wake me up with it’s intense and tingling feeling!

STEP 4: SKINCARE, MAKEUP, AND HAIR

Last but not least, I use my skincare products, put on some makeup, and do my hair. While you don’t have to wear any makeup to look great and feel confident, I do find that when I put a bit more time into my appearance I feel a bit bolder and ready to start the day. In the summer I go lighter with the makeup, and I let my hair dry naturally. My hair gets frizzy in the summer humidity anyway, so I embrace the natural waves and don’t sweat it with any heat tools. My morning routine is now complete, and I’m ready to live boldly!

All in all, I know that my morning routine is very important if I want to start my day off right. Every step helps prepare me for the day, from my breakfast to my oral care to my makeup! I’m sure you’ve experienced those days where if your morning starts off poorly, your whole day heads south. I definitely try to avoid that by sticking to these steps! I would love to hear how you live boldly, so head to Listerine’s website HERE to share your tips! Of course, you can find Listerine at your local CVS store, and online HERE. I will also leave Listerine’s social media links below if you would like to follow the brand online!

Do you have a morning routine? Share it with me in the comments!

Follow Listerine: Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Book Review | The Sound of Us by Julie Hammerle

Posted on July 21, 2016July 21, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

The Sound of Us by Julie Hammerle

Published by Entangled Teen on June 7, 2016

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Coming of Age

Format: eARC

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads: ★★★ 1/2

Kiki Nichols might not survive music camp.

She’s put her TV-loving, nerdy self aside for one summer to prove she’s got what it takes: she can be cool enough to make friends, she can earn that music scholarship, and she can get into Krause University’s music program.

Except camp has rigid conduct rules—which means her thrilling late-night jam session with the hot drummer can’t happen again, even though they love all the same TV shows, and fifteen minutes making music with him meant more than every aria she’s ever sung.

But when someone starts snitching on rule breakers and getting them kicked out, music camp turns into survival of the fittest. If Kiki’s going to get that scholarship, her chance to make true friends—and her chance with the drummer guy—might cost her the future she wants more than anything.

REVIEW

When I heard that Entangled Teen was releasing a book that takes place at opera camp, I knew I had to read it. I love when music plays a role in the novels I read, and The Sound of Us by Julie Hammerle definitely piqued my interest. Readers follow teenager Kiki Nichols as she goes away to a prestigious opera camp to compete for one of seven scholarships to college. Kiki is a shy girl who spends most of her time watching TV and talking with her Twitter friends, and hopes to break out of her shell at camp.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Sound of Us. The story idea is great, and had me turning pages to find out what would happen next. I loved the competitive aspect of Kiki’s opera camp, and could relate to everyone vying for one of the seven scholarships. Plus, there was an added mystery element to the novel, because one of the students is a mole, and will tell the teacher if any of the kids break the rules. Of course, it is also great to see Kiki grow in the short time she is away at camp.

Similarly, I liked the writing style and think it is very well done. Hammerle does a great job at maintaining a realistic teenage voice, while at the same time not compromising the quality of her writing. I’ve read a lot of young adult books that speak just as a teenager would, and for me that detracts greatly from the reading experience. The Sound of Us is easy to read, but not cliché.

Unfortunately, there are several things about the book that I did not enjoy. First, I was very uncomfortable with the role of underage drinking in the novel. Yes, some teenagers do drink in real life, but I think the way it is handled in the book does not send a good message to the readers. Not only are the repercussions for the drinking very minor when the students are caught, but Kiki makes a statement that really caused me to take a step back. In one scene, Kiki says: “The beer is a license to make bad decisions.” Kiki never seems to realize why it is not okay to use alcohol as an excuse. While drinking does play a small role in The Sound of Us, it definitely impacted my enjoyment of the novel.

In the same way, I also felt very uncomfortable with how cheating is portrayed in the book. I won’t discuss this issue fully due to spoilers, but I did want to mention it because I know many people will not read a book if they know it involves cheating. Just as the drinking issue is not fully resolved, the cheating isn’t either. At the end of the book, it’s basically swept under the rug without being dealt with head on.

Moreover, there are a few little things about The Sound of Us that detracted from my reading experience. For example, I really loved how pop culture plays a role in the book. Kiki loves TV, and often talks about how the people she meets in real life remind her of actors or characters in pop culture. However, Kiki is a big fangirl for a fictional show called Planet Earth. At times I was confused between the fictional references versus the real life ones. There were some instances where I didn’t know if I just missed a reference, or if it was based on something fictional.

The author also uses a slang word quite often in the book that I had to look up to get the meaning. It turns out the word is British slang, which I found surprising, as the book is set in America and none of the characters in The Sound of Us are from the UK.

Finally, I got a bit annoyed with how often Kiki talks about how she doesn’t want to be seen as the ‘aunt’ in her friend group. Apparently, being seen as an aunt is a bad thing to her, as it seems to mean she is the side character that no one likes. As a proud aunt myself, I thought this was frustrating and quite insulting, especially because it is repeated so much in the book.

Thus, while I did really enjoy The Sound of Us for the most part, there are definitely things along the way that I wish were not included in the novel, or were handled in a different way. This is Julie Hammerle’s debut novel, and I would definitely consider reading books from her in the future if the story sounds like something I would like. I do recommend this book if the premise sounds interesting to you. It is a quick and fun read, and great for music lovers.

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Book Review | After Alice by Gregory Maguire

Posted on July 19, 2016July 19, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

After Alice by Gregory Maguire

Published by William Morrow on October 1, 2015

Genres: Adult, Historical Fiction, Fantasy

Format: eARC

Pages: 273

Source: Edelweiss

Goodreads: ★★

From the multi-million-copy bestselling author of Wicked comes a magical new twist on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, published to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Lewis’s Carroll’s beloved classic

When Alice toppled down the rabbit-hole 150 years ago, she found a Wonderland as rife with inconsistent rules and abrasive egos as the world she left behind. But what of that world? How did 1860s Oxford react to Alice’s disappearance?

In this brilliant new work of fiction, Gregory Maguire turns his dazzling imagination to the question of underworlds, undergrounds, underpinnings — and understandings old and new, offering an inventive spin on Carroll’s enduring tale. Ada, a friend of Alice’s mentioned briefly in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, is off to visit her friend, but arrives a moment too late — and tumbles down the rabbit hole herself.

Ada brings to Wonderland her own imperfect apprehension of cause and effect as she embarks on an odyssey to find Alice and see her safely home from this surreal world below the world. If Euridyce can ever be returned to the arms of Orpheus, or Lazarus can be raised from the tomb, perhaps Alice can be returned to life. Either way, everything that happens next isAfter Alice.

REVIEW

After Alice by Gregory Maguire is a retelling of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. While I’ve not yet read the beloved classic, I did read and enjoy Maguire’s Wicked several years ago. Unfortunately, After Alice was not my cup of tea, and I struggled to get through the novel despite its short length.

The main reason why I had a difficult time with After Alice is the flowery and complex writing. I’ve been reading so much young adult literature lately that it can sometimes be hard to transition back to adult. I did settle into the book’s pace after a while, but I honestly never got into the writing style completely. The vocabulary was difficult to follow, partly because this is a historical fiction book. This dense writing slowed down the pace of the book, and I even put it down to read another book at one point.

Moreover, there are a few things I really did enjoy about After Alice. First, I thought the setting was really interesting. The book takes place in Oxford, England in the 1860s, and follows two families of the time. Ada is the daughter of a vicar, and suffers from a physical handicap that makes it difficult for her to walk. Her only friend is Alice, of the original Wonderland story, who lives nearby. I really enjoyed learning about the society of the time when it comes to family, race, the class system, and more. I did learn quite a bit, and it’s always nice for fiction to teach a thing or two about history. Charles Darwin is even a character!

In addition, I kept reading the book because I wanted to know what was going to happen. Ada ends up falling into Wonderland, and she is trying to find Alice so she can bring her home. Ada meets many of the familiar Wonderland faces along the way, so I was intrigued to find out if she would find Alice after all. Unfortunately, the ending was a bit lackluster to me, and a bit of a let down in the end.

Thus, while there are a lot of aspects of After Alice that I did enjoy, my reading experience was not a great one. I think it would have improved significantly if the book was constructed in a different way. For example, the point-of-view, though always in third-person, changed randomly throughout the story. Sometimes we are following Ada in Wonderland, other times her governess Miss Armstrong and Alice’s sister Lydia. This constant switch did create suspense in the story, but it also was quite confusing. I also found that many aspects of the book were skimmed over when I wish they were explored more.

While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend After Alice, I think if you enjoy retellings of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland this might be more your style. I did enjoy the book I read by Maguire in the past, so I’m not giving up on his writing completely. One day I want to return to his Wicked series, and I would also love to hear your thoughts on his books in a comment.

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Erin Condren Life Planner Monthly Color Comparison 2016 vs 2017 | #PlanWithPolishland

Posted on July 16, 2016July 7, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I’m here with a quick #PlanWithPolishland blog post to share a color comparison between the 2016 and 2017 Erin Condren Life Planners. I purchased the Horizontal Life Planner for both 2016 and 2017, and I noticed that the colors in the planners are the same, just in a different order. I thought this information would be really helpful for all of you who, like me, purchase stickers in the monthly colors. That way you can easily figure out which stickers from last year go with the 2017 planner! First I will show you the planners side-by-side in video form, and then provide you with a shareable graphic. If you would like to learn more about the 2017 Erin Condren Life Planner, you can see my unboxing and review HERE.

As you can see in the video, the 2017 monthly colors are the same as the 2016 colors, with a very minor change on the Monthly Calendar. This is the case if you own the 2016 Horizontal or Hourly planner, but not the Vertical planner. While all of the new 2017 Life Planners in the Watercolor color scheme share the same color palette, the old Vertical planners had different colors. Thus, only the colors in the 2016 Horizontal and Hourly match with the new 2017 color scheme.

I created this graphic so you can have an easy-to-use list of the matching colors. Feel free to share it on Pinterest or social media, or print out a copy to keep in your planner! You can also place this in your sticker collection as a cheat sheet if needed!

That wraps up today’s #PlanWithPolishland blog post! I hope you found it helpful if you purchased the new 2017 Erin Condren Life Planner in the Watercolor color scheme. I know many sticker shops put their monthly colors on sale at the end of every month, so take advantage of the affordable pricing and stock up on stickers for next year. Of course, if you are a new Erin Condren shopper, please use my referral link HERE to save $10 off your first purchase! Let me know in the comments what you think of the Erin Condren color scheme – do you love it, or do you prefer the neutral (black and white) planner? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Book Review | The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Posted on July 14, 2016July 14, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Published by Harlequin Teen on May 17, 2016

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 480

Source: Library

Goodreads: ★★★★

For some people, silence is a weapon. For Mallory “Mouse” Dodge, it’s a shield. Growing up, she learned that the best way to survive was to say nothing. And even though it’s been four years since her nightmare ended, she’s beginning to worry that the fear that holds her back will last a lifetime.

Now, after years of homeschooling with loving adoptive parents, Mallory must face a new milestone—spending her senior year at public high school. But of all the terrifying and exhilarating scenarios she’s imagined, there’s one she never dreamed of—that she’d run into Rider Stark, the friend and protector she hasn’t seen since childhood, on her very first day.

It doesn’t take long for Mallory to realize that the connection she shared with Rider never really faded. Yet the deeper their bond grows, the more it becomes apparent that she’s not the only one grappling with the lingering scars from the past. And as she watches Rider’s life spiral out of control, Mallory faces a choice between staying silent and speaking out—for the people she loves, the life she wants, and the truths that need to be heard.

REVIEW

I was drawn to read The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout from the moment I saw its stunning cover. After hearing great reviews from bloggers that I trust, I decided to pick up the book from the library. I was in a bit of a reading slump, and needed to read something I knew would be quick, yet heartfelt. The Problem with Forever is definitely the book I wanted at just the right time.

The story is told from teenager Mallory’s point-of-view. Mallory grew up in an abusive foster home, but was adopted four years ago by a loving couple. After being homeschooled, Mallory decides to attend public high school for her senior year. It is there when she comes face to face with her hero and best friend from childhood, Rider. Mallory and Rider quickly rekindle their friendship, and perhaps become something more.

The Problem with Forever opens with a bang and creates a lot of tension in the reader. This shocking opening scene immediately sucked me into the story, and I read the book at a very quick pace. I really enjoyed that this book focuses on the foster care system in the United States, and also mental health. While I am not highly educated on these topics, it felt like they were handled very well and with respect. I admire that Armentrout chose to wrote a book about such difficult topics in a non-preachy way.

In addition to the book’s subject matter, I really enjoyed the characters. Mallory is a very sympathetic character, but so is Rider and many of the teenagers Mallory meets at school. They have flaws, but they try to be better people for themselves and those around them. It is so nice to see a young adult book with realistic characters in situations that many teenagers are facing on a daily basis.

My one critique of the novel is the writing style. The Problem with Forever has a cliché feeling that many of the romance novels I’ve read share. There is something about it that makes me cringe at some points. For example, there are a few times in the book where Mallory is “worrying her lower lip,” and many others where she spends a bit too much time describing Rider’s body. While there is nothing wrong with this writing style, it is just not my cup of tea. That being said, I read Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout a couple years ago and I much preferred the writing in The Problem with Forever.

All in all, I really enjoyed my read of The Problem with Forever, and definitely recommend this book if you are looking for an emotional read. I laughed, and I cried, and I fell in love with the characters. I know I read this book at the perfect time, but I think it is one I would enjoy even when not in a reading slump. I am definitely interested in reading some of Armentrout’s other work now, after having a good experience with this book.

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Book Review | The Crown (The Selection #5) by Kiera Cass

Posted on July 12, 2016July 12, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

The Crown (The Selection #5) by Kiera Cass

Published by HarperTeen on May 3, 2016

Genres: Young Adult, Dystopian, Romance

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 279

Source: Library

Goodreads: ★★

When Eadlyn became the first princess of Illéa to hold her own Selection, she didn’t think she would fall in love with any of her thirty-five suitors. She spent the first few weeks of the competition counting down the days until she could send them all home. But as events at the palace force Eadlyn even further into the spotlight, she realizes that she might not be content remaining alone.

Eadlyn still isn’t sure she’ll find the fairytale ending her parents did twenty years ago. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you…and soon Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more impossible—and more important—than she ever imagined.

REVIEW

The fifth and final book in The Selection series is here, and I made sure to reserve it at my library so I could read it as soon as possible. I was excited to discover how the series would conclude, and who, if anyone, Eadlyn would choose as her husband. Unfortunately, The Crown fell flat for me, and I’m quite disappointed with it. Let me share why with all of you.

I’ll begin this review with the things I did enjoy about this book. First, I am beyond happy that Kiera Cass finally includes some characters in this series that are not heterosexual. The lack of diversity in this series thus far was one of the biggest drawbacks for me, and I’m so glad Cass not only included some LGBTQIA+ characters, but she also gives a quick explanation of how these characters are treated in Illéa both historically and currently. It is disappointing that one of the characters is written in a stereotypical manner, but it’s great we finally got this inclusion nonetheless.

In addition, I did enjoy the overall ending of the series. Eadlyn ended up with the boy I thought she would, and I think she made a great choice. I also liked finding out more about America’s siblings, and seeing Grandma Singer. However, that’s where my enjoyment of The Crown ends.

My first critique of this novel is the writing style. The quality of writing throughout this series changes with every book, and it is at its weakest point in The Crown. Eadlyn’s first-person-perspective is more colloquial than ever, including cringeworthy sentences such as “I followed his gaze, and he was right. It was seven ’til,” (p. 264). I do think that younger readers of this series will enjoy this writing style more than I do, because The Crown reads as if a teenager is telling you the story. For me, though, it is very annoying, and not the style I like to read.

Similarly, I became quite frustrated with the construction of the novel. Keeping in mind that The Crown is a work of fiction set in a dystopian world, I found that there is a lack of logic in the events of the book. The rest of this paragraph will include mild spoilers for The Crown. Please skip to the next paragraph if you do not want to be spoiled. An example of my frustrations is when Eadlyn takes over as queen for her parents. It makes no sense whatsoever for an 18-year-old girl, whom the general populace dislikes, to suddenly take over the throne when the current king is still alive and able to serve. Illéa is in distress and needs a strong ruler. Yes, this is a fictional world, but in ‘reality’ Eadlyn would never be allowed to suddenly take the throne. The same is true of Eadlyn and Josie’s magically mended relationship. Eadlyn absolutely despises Josie, and the feeling is somewhat mutual. However, when Josie shadows Eadlyn for just one day, the girls’ entire relationship changes. They become best friends and understand each other instantaneously. Again, this would never really happen, and because it did the book lost a lot of credibility for me.

Moreover, the epilogue of The Crown felt completely unnecessary to me. It is only half a page long, and instead of wrapping up the story or showing a glimpse of Eadlyn’s future, it included a series of cliché statements. Not one character name is mentioned, nor anything new learned. I would have really loved an epilogue that served a purpose, especially after the ending of the book. Perhaps Kiera Cass will write another one in the future.

Overall, I’m very disappointed with The Crown. If you’ve read The Heir and want to find out what happens, I recommend just looking up spoilers for this book and calling it a day. I don’t think it’s necessary to read this book, and I honestly wouldn’t recommend this series. I’m very glad that I read it, because it receives so much praise that I think my thoughts provide something different from the mass opinion. If you do enjoy The Selection, I fully understand why, and I’m happy you can get fulfillment out of these books. At this time I don’t think I will be picking up any of Kiera Cass’s other books in the future.

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Book Review | Homecoming (The 100 #3) by Kass Morgan

Posted on July 7, 2016July 7, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Homecoming (The 100 #3) by Kass Morgan

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers on February 24, 2015

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian

Format: Paperback

Pages: 340

Source: Library

Goodreads: ★★★★

Weeks after landing on Earth, the Hundred have managed to create a sense of order amidst their wild, chaotic surroundings. But their delicate balance comes crashing down with the arrival of new dropships from space.

These new arrivals are the lucky ones—back on the Colony, the oxygen is almost gone—but after making it safely to Earth, GLASS’s luck seems to be running out. CLARKE leads a rescue party to the crash site, ready to treat the wounded, but she can’t stop thinking about her parents, who may still be alive. Meanwhile, WELLS struggles to maintain his authority despite the presence of the Vice Chancellor and his armed guards, and BELLAMY must decide whether to face or flee the crimes he thought he’d left behind.

It’s time for the Hundred to come together and fight for the freedom they’ve found on Earth, or risk losing everything—and everyone—they love.

REVIEW

I was beyond excited to finish The 100 trilogy by reading Homecoming! This book picks up immediately after Day 21 closes out, with the Colonists on the dropship crashing down on Earth. I really appreciated that the author includes a lot of quick recaps in Homecoming, so that if you forgot the details of the first two books you get a refresher in this one. While these reminders were included a bit too much throughout the novel, they were very helpful. If you’ve read the first two books in the series and it’s been a while, don’t hesitate to jump right into book three!

Moreover, it took a while for me to get into the story, which I found surprising. However, because Homecoming is such a quick read, once I was about 100 pages into the novel the rest flew by. I did really enjoy the inclusion of new characters, and as always I had no idea what was going to happen next in the story. Morgan is great at crafting intricate plot lines that don’t reveal themselves until everything comes together in the end.

The ending, however, was a bit of let down for me. While I like the way the trilogy wrapped up, I was left wanting so much more! I would have appreciated an epilogue to include more of an explanation for something that happens and to check in on the characters. Similarly, the ending was quite cheesy and some things worked out a bit too easily. I’m able to look past a lot of the cliché moments in this book because the characters do go through intense challenges and are going through things I can’t even imagine experiencing. Thus, I think the cheesy moments are understandable in an otherwise bleak world.

All in all, I am happy with how The 100 trilogy concluded, and if you’ve read the first two books I definitely recommend picking up this last one. While this is more of a 3.5 star read for me, I did bump it up to a 4 star rating because I enjoyed it so much. I’m so glad I gave this series a read, as it’s one of my favorite young adult dystopians thus far. I will be watching the television show at some point, and hopefully getting my own copy of this trilogy so I can reread it in the future!

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