Emily Barr – Fangirl Fury

May was an absolutely fantastic reading month for me! Since I read 10 books this month, I kept my thoughts short and sweet, going from my least favorite read to my favorite read of the month.

Nemesis by Brendan Reichs // 2/5 Stars

Even though this is a YA novel and the main characters are teenagers, Nemesis felt more like a middle grade to me. While the premise was exciting and had some Lord of the Flies vibes, the plot and characters just didn’t deliver for me.

The Cabin by Natasha Preston // 2/5 Stars

My sister loves Natasha Preston’s books, so I typically read them alongside her. I was unfortunately very disappointed, as The Cabin’s premise was exciting, but the story itself didn’t have any sort of spark and was WAY too long– it took us forever to get to some sort of “solution”

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab // 3.75/5 Stars

Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy ADSOM as much as I thought I would, being head-over-heels for Schwab’s This Savage Song and Vicious. I thought that the plot was a bit predictable and unexciting at times, however, I plan on picking up the next book soon!

Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith // 4/5 Stars

While Windfall was over 400 pages long, it was a pretty quick read for me. I found it to be a little tropey and I didn’t completely enjoy the romance. I loved Leo and seeing Alice’s journey outside her relationship with Teddy. I teared up when she reflects on her parents’ lives with her uncle.

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli // 4/5 Stars

I finally read Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda and really enjoyed it! There’s a dog and Oreos!! I have a full review here.

Geekerella by Ashley Poston // 4.5 Stars

Geekerella was the fandom+fairytale novel that I didn’t know I needed until I started reading. My full review can be found on Fangirl Fury here.

The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr // 4.75/5 Stars

The One Memory of Flora Banks took me by surprise, as it was one of my favorite reads of May. My review can be found here.

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas // 4.5/5 Stars

One of my most anticipated reads of 2017 finally delivered this month. I have a full review of ACOWAR here, including a mini conflicted rant about there being more books in the ACOTAR world.

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman // 5/5 Stars

My only 5/5 Star read of the month, Radio Silence was the type of book that I just fell into. There’s Tumblr and Youtube and fanart and friendship and family and school all rolled into one perfect contemporary read.

The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord // 5/5 Stars

From the moment I started The Names They Gave Us, I was hooked. Emery Lord’s latest release about family, friendship, religion, and grief was an emotion-filled story rolled into a summer contemporary. I have a full review here.

What did you read in May? Share in the comments below!

Summary: Since she was ten years old, seventeen-year old Flora Banks has been unable to create new memories. Her mind often resets itself during the day, and she has no short-term memory whatsoever. Until she kisses her best friend’s boyfriend, Drake, and remembers it. Now faced with this one memory, Flora believes that Drake is not only responsible for restoring her memory, but for also making her feel like a normal teenage girl. With “be brave” written on her arm, Flora is determined to travel to Norway to find Drake and thank him for allowing her to reclaim her mind and her life.

My Rating: 4.75/5 Stars

My Thoughts:

If you’re looking for a quick, yet meaningful read, look no further: I didn’t realize how addicted I would become to The One Memory of Flora Banks until I had read the first fifty pages within a half hour. You soon find yourself wanting to learn more about Flora, rooting for her along her journey in and out of Penzance, and feeling heartbroken for our main protagonist. The One Memory of Flora Banks was the first book I’ve read that’s told from the perspective of someone with amnesia. While some readers may not be drawn to Flora’s repetition, as she needs to constantly needs to remind herself of who she is, where she is, who she should know, etc., but I feel that it gave a more authentic portrait of her. This book has been compared to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time , as The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is told from the perspective of an individual who has a mental illness and has a more-so innocent mindset like Flora. Having read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time also, I felt more drawn to Flora’s story because of its more unique plot and main POV.

While The One Memory of Flora Banks has some frustrating parts (Paige’s ignorance, Flora’s very controlling parents), I loved this story and left me wanting the best for Flora. She is such an innocent individual who just needs the right support and community in her life. If there was one character I wish we had more involvement from, it would have been Jacob, Flora’s brother. He just cared for Flora so much, and he was one of the few people in Flora’s life that was completely honest with her. I also loved the community of people Flora finds in Svalbard—they make her feel like the normal person she wishes to be and how she should truly be treated. Without being too spoilery, the uncovering of the “truth” behind Flora’s life in the last section of the novel had me totally intrigued and wanting more.

Have you read The One Memory of Flora Banks? Share your thoughts and feels in the comments!

Fangirl Fury

Tag: Emily Barr

What I Read in May

Review: The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr