Any Way the Wind Blows Review

October 20, 2021October 18, 2021 fangirlfury2 Comments

Summary (from the publisher): In Carry On, Simon Snow and his friends realized that everything they thought they understood about the world might be wrong. And in Wayward Son, they wondered whether everything they understood about themselves might be wrong.

In Any Way the Wind Blows, Simon and Baz and Penelope and Agatha have to decide how to move forward.

For Simon, that means deciding whether he still wants to be part of the World of Mages — and if he doesn’t, what does that mean for his relationship with Baz? Meanwhile Baz is bouncing between two family crises and not finding any time to talk to anyone about his newfound vampire knowledge. Penelope would love to help, but she’s smuggled an American Normal into London, and now she isn’t sure what to do with him. And Agatha? Well, Agatha Wellbelove has had enough.

Any Way the Wind Blows takes the gang back to England, back to Watford, and back to their families for their longest and most emotionally wrenching adventure yet.

This book is a finale. It tells secrets and answers questions and lays ghosts to rest.

FALL MOOD READ: Pumpkinheads Review

October 11, 2019October 4, 2019 fangirlfury6 Comments

Summary (from the publisher):

Deja and Josiah are seasonal best friends.

61aM-kW30cL._SX351_BO1,204,203,200_ Every autumn, all through high school, they’ve worked together at the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world. (Not many people know that the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world is in Omaha, Nebraska, but it definitely is.) They say good-bye every Halloween, and they’re reunited every September 1.

But this Halloween is different—Josiah and Deja are finally seniors, and this is their last season at the pumpkin patch. Their last shift together. Their last good-bye.

Josiah’s ready to spend the whole night feeling melancholy about it. Deja isn’t ready to let him. She’s got a plan: What if—instead of moping and the usual slinging lima beans down at the Succotash Hut—they went out with a bang? They could see all the sights! Taste all the snacks! And Josiah could finally talk to that cute girl he’s been mooning over for three years . . .

What if their last shift was an adventure?

My Rating: 5/5 Stars

My Thoughts:

Whether you’re new or old to Fangirl Fury, you’ll know that I’ve been screaming about Pumpkinheads across the Bookternet since 2017. How could I not be excited about a graphic novel from my all-time favorite author, Rainbow Rowell, about two best friends who work in a pumpkin patch?? At the time of reading this graphic novel, I also just finished reading Faith Erin Hick’s Comics Will Break Your Heart, so I couldn’t wait to see her art work.

I am happy to report that I loved Pumpkinheads as much as I thought I would. If you’re ready to embrace the season, Pumpkinheads is a more than the perfect read. I ate up this book up one night during the first weekend of September. While the weather was still fairly warm, I broke out my Hogwarts candle and favorite cozy blanket to set the mood. I might’ve also picked up some pumpkin-spice flavored K-cups for my coffee machine that Sunday…

Although I tend to focus more on the plot when it comes to graphic novels, I couldn’t help myself from pouring over all the details at the pumpkin patch. When I first heard the concept of Pumpkinheads, I thought it would be about best friends Deja and Josie working in a field of pumpkins. Let me tell you, I am so happy that I was wrong! The patch is so much more than pumpkins, as the space is filled with food stands and other fall-themed activities.

Pumpkinheads will not only fulfill your fall mood, but it will also cause the fall-themed food cravings you didn’t know you had! While Josie spends most of the night trying to work up the courage to talk to the girl he’s always had a crush on, Deja’s number one mission is to eat all of the pumpkin patch’s treats on the duo’s last night. Much like Josie, I didn’t know how much I needed a pumpkin bomb in my life until Deja introduced it to me. My next baking mission is going to be tackling this pumpkin pie sandwich, with vanilla ice cream in between its pie slices and covered in chocolate – or I’ll just have to find a fall festival that sells them! I also wouldn’t mind an apple cider slush or double dipped caramel apple.

I overall loved Faith Erin Hick’s work. I love the patch maps on the book’s inner cover. The color scheme was just so smart, as the book goes from lighter to darker tones as the story goes on. This choice both follows the book’s sequence from daytime to nighttime and captures the plot and character’s emotions.

Regarding the plot, Pumpkinheads was the perfect fall-themed Rainbow Rowell story. While the book is fairly short and the plot is fast-paced, I felt that we really get to know Deja and Josie as friends and maybe something more. While Josie is upset that this is his last night at the patch (and is trying to figure out why that’s so), Deja just wants to enjoy the night with her best friend as much as possible. To no surprise, I think Rainbow Rowell really captured Deja and Josie’s (dis)stress over everything changing as they spend their last time at work together before college.

Overall, Pumpkinheads is the perfect fall-mood read that I wanted and more. I am so happy that we have two total Rainbow Rowell books this fall (hello Wayward Son!), and I’m really looking forward to exploring Faith Erin Hicks’ graphic novels.

Have you read Pumpkinheads? What’s your favorite fall treat or drink? Share in the comments!

THOUGHTS, FEELS & RANTS: Wayward Son Review

October 7, 2019October 4, 2019 fangirlfury2 Comments

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

My Thoughts:

My Rainbow Rowell and Pre-Wayward Son Feels

It’s no secret that Rainbow Rowell is my all-time favorite author, and it’s no secret that I needed another book by my all-time fave this year. You can then imagine my excitement that 2019 brought us Rainbow and Faith Erin Hick’s fall-themed graphic novel, Pumpkinheads, and the much anticipated sequel to Carry On, Wayward Son.

Like most Carry On fans, I was pretty excited for Wayward Son. I admit that I wasn’t super anticipating it or staying up until midnight to start reading it upon release because Carry On isn’t my all-time favorite Rainbow Rowell book (look at my blog’s name for a hint at which book of hers is). However, I did find myself getting more and more excited for Wayward Son as September 24^th came closer. I was just so excited to have a new novel by my favorite author, realizing that we didn’t have a full Rainbow Rowell novel since Carry On came out in 2015. Fortunately for me, I had a few days off from school at the end of the month, which meant having extra free reading time- and let’s be honest I definitely neglected some school work along the way. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the Barnes and Noble exclusive edition. Rainbow Rowell’s B&N editions have the best fan art as end papers!

Somewhat returning to my anticipation, I didn’t really have too many expectations for Wayward Son going in. I knew that the book explored what happens after ‘happily ever after and the hero saves the day’ for Simon in quite an unexpected way- a U.S. cross-country road trip. It made the book just seem so much fun. I was ready for a fluffy story following Simon, Baz, and Penelope’s trip across America. While there was some fluff, even with my little expectations, Wayward Son’s plot was completely what I was not expecting, even as someone who didn’t have expectations.

REREADING FAVORITES & SERIES: 2019 Reread Goals

April 5, 2019March 30, 2019 fangirlfury7 Comments

Us book bloggers (okay, ME) always talk about books that we need to reread.

I am definitely someone who’s been working on her rereading over the past two years -yes, my TBR still scares me, but we’re working on our relationship. I intend to reread the following books at some point this year, either for revisiting a favorite read or necessary for continuing a series.

FAVORITES REREADS

Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian

Stay Sweet was the type of book I went in expecting to love and I thankfully did. Siobhan Vivian has become one of my favorite contemporary authors. I’m really hoping her next book comes out this year, but nevertheless, I want to revisit Stay Sweet to re-experience those ice cream and summertime feels.

The Anna and the French Kiss trilogy by Stephanie Perkins: Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door, & Isla and the Happily Ever After

The Anna and the French Kiss trilogy is such a YA staple. I often reference these three book in Top Five Wednesday or recommendations posts, so I think it’s time to re-learn why I love this series so much.

What I Want to Reread in 2017

March 15, 2017March 17, 2017 fangirlfuryLeave a comment

I’m always so focused on my growing TBR pile that I feel like I don’t have time to go back and reread. While i constantly look to Harry Potter and Fangirl for my rereading needs, I’m hoping to expand outside my ‘comfort zone’ and re-pick up these books before the end of 2017!
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell– I absolutely loved Carry On when it first came out and I’m still obsessed. Frankly, I love all of Rainbow Rowell’s books and I’d read her grocery list if I could (she often tweets about cake from Whole Foods, so I think my wish is already semi-complete). I can’t wait to dive back into the world of Simon Snow and Baz and magic and romance and everything else! Since I own two copies of the book already, one signed, you could say that I’m more than prepared for this reread. And you better believe I’m buying the gorgeous paperback edition when it comes out in May!

A Court of Thorns & Roses and A Court of Mist & Fury by Sarah J.Maas– I would love to reread A Court of Thorns and Roses and A Court of Mist and Fury before the conclusion to this series, A Court of Wings and Ruin, comes out on May 2. I plan on rereading these alongside Kristin of Super Space Chick, Cristina of Girl in the Pages, and Alexa Loves Books’s ACOTAR Series Reread event. Like me, these bloggers know how everyone is super-busy trying to manage their TBR piles. That being said, this reread event has a relaxed reading schedule and what makes it extra-exciting is that Kristina, Cristina, and Alexa will be hosting giveaways in their wrap-up posts for each novel!

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon– With the film adaptation coming out on May 19th,I want to refresh my memory of Everything, Everything before seeing the movie. Since the book is on the shorter side, I should have no problem giving this a quick reread. Everything, Everything follows a girl and her allergy to the outside world, the latter becoming more problematic when she falls in love with the boy next door. If you plan on reading the book before the movie, I recommend not watching the trailer, as in true 2017 movie trailer fashion, the trailer gives away most of the book’s plot.

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner– I picked up this book in 2015 and I enjoyed it, but I really was not into the sci-fi aspect of the novel. This book is often hyped as ‘Titanic in space’, as two protagonists come from two different economic backgrounds and are the only ones to survive when their luxury spaceship liner crashes. Since I’ve picked up more sci-fi since then and love Kaufman’s The Illuminae Files, I really want to give These Broken Stars another go. Its gorgeous cover is also giving me motivation to reread.

If you could reread any book in 2017, what would it be? Share your answers and comments below!