Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Here are my obsessions this week.

BOOK

Famous In Love by Rebecca Serle

Famous In Love was one of my must gets at BEA (my MUST GET if I am being honest). I love everything about the premise of this book. What girl didn't have this day dream at some point? Honestly, I am pretty sure it's a given. It should not surprise anyone that I couldn't wait to read it. I've already devoured it and fell in love. I am excited to be celebrating it's release with a blog event that will be revealed later! Mark this one on your calendars if you love Hollywood gossip, CW shows, and love triangles! It's a must read.

Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios

This is another case of not being able to wait until close to release to read it. Heather's world building is insane, and the sexiness of this book is off the charts. It's an understated sexy that caught me off guard. I talked to the lovely Margot from Epic Reads while in New York about this one, and she made me even more excited. Now that I am done though, all I want is book two. Luckily, as I am part of the Blogger Caravan, there is plenty of exciting things coming up between now and the release date.

MOVIE

The Night Before Our Stars

The Fault In Our Stars opens this weekend but I was able to go see it last night as part of a special event. The Night Before Our Stars was held in theatres throughout North America. It was a screening of the movie followed by a live simulcast Q and A with John Green, the cast, director and producer of the movie. The movie itself is a faithful, thoughtful adaptation of the source material. It mostly comes down to the wonderful casting choices (Ansel Elgort in particular stood out as Augustus Waters) and the scripts decision to capture the essence of the novel. So many of the iconic lines from the book made their way into the movie. It's a surreal experience to be ugly crying in a room full of other people who are also ugly crying, but it was amazing.

They also gave us a poster and cute charm bracelet as we arrived. I love both of them.

What are you obsessed with this week?

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Here are my obsessions this week.

BOOK

Isla And The Happily Ever After - ARC edition

Penguin Teen via their Instagram posted this...

Copyright to Penguin Teen via Instagram

And I freaked out. It's a real book. This means we almost get to read it. I can't wait until August!! I've already got this pre-ordered and am keeping my fingers crossed it gets here on release day.

MOVIE

The Night Before Our Stars

You may have heard about this event. It's an advance showing of The Fault In Our Stars and I believe there will be a Q & A session with the stars of the movie shown as well. I am excited to get my tickets for the Canadian events when they go on sale next week.

Disney's Cinderella (live action)

Only Disney could show us nothing but a glass slipper and convey the feeling of magic and wonder. The musical score is perfect, and easily fits the Cinderella tale. I am looking forward to seeing this in March.

They also released the first promo poster for the movie, and I adore it just as much as the trailer.

Simple, magical, and I love that this is the first image they released.

What are you obsessed with this week?

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Here are my obsessions this week. Sort one this week, but I expect that'll change in the upcoming weeks (see reason below).

BOOKS

Cover for Plus One by Elizabeth Fama

*Gasp* SO PRETTY! I love it. They've captured the feel of the synopsis perfectly. The romance, and the night/day separation. This cover is going to be stunning on a hardcover book, and I can't wait to have it on my bookshelf. It's a possible contender for best cover of 2014.

Cover for Elaine Lui's Listen To the Squawking Chicken

If you've visited my blog before, you'll most likely know that celebrity gossip is another of my favourite things. Canada's resident Gossip Queen, Elaine Lui, from the amazing website Laineygossip is one of my favourites to get my celebrity gossip from. She wrote a book, and it has TWO different covers. I love them both. The US one is my personal favourite (the black with the pink writing) but the Canadian one is rather cute too. Here is hoping she does a huge Canadian book tour, and makes Ottawa a stop! If you haven't, be sure to add this book to your Goodreads account.

MOVIE/TV 

The Fault In Our Stars trailer

I was against this casting at first. I really wasn't feeling either of the leads. After seeing the trailer though, I totally get it. I get why Ansel Elgort and Shailene Woodley were cast as Augustus and Hazel. I can barely make it through the trailer without getting teary eyed. The movie is going to leave me a crying mess. Just check out this trailer.

'I can't tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity' *sobs* Yup, I predict this movie is going to make a whole lot of money and leave everyone crying as they leave the theatre.

So what are you obsessed with this week?

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Here are my obsessions this week:

BOOK

Dangerous Creatures cover

They cover has been revealed. This means I need to finish the first series! I love that they have a lollipop on the cover. It totally reminds me of Ridley.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Everything single thing you've heard about this book is true (or is it, maybe I am lying). It's wonderfully written. It's beautiful. It's crushing. It's romantic. I can't wait for more people to discover it in 2014 when it's finally released. Needless to say, a hardcover edition will be making it's way into my library. Be sure to add it to your Goodreads list!

MOVIE/TV

The Fault In Our Stars movie poster

Tag line aside, I actually really like the movie poster. I love that they allowed Shailene Woodley to be photographed with evidence of Hazel's illness for the poster. However much I dislike the tag line, the poster is certainly creating a lot of buzz, and the two leads look adorable together. It's been brought up that Augustus and Hazel would LOVE the tag line, and yes, I think they would. However, I don't think it's a good marketing tool. I am excited to see this, and cry all the tears.

Wicked is Coming!

Once Upon A Time revealed during their winter finale that the Wicked Witch of the West is on her way! I am excited to see what twist they'll put on Oz, and The Wicked Witch in general. Here's hoping that she's not related to Henry in some way (let's be honest though...she totally will be).

Dallas Buyers Club

I don't think I've mentioned that I've see this, or that I loved it. Jared Leto is my pick for Best Supporting Actor. He was almost unrecognizable in this role, and I really hope he ends up picking up a few awards this season. It's an emotional, but well acted movie.

So what are you obsessed with this week?

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
Release Date – January 10, 2012
Publisher Website –  Penguin
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter
Pages -318 pages
My Rating- 5/5
**obtained from Book Expo America/publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.  

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault. 

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

This novel should come with a warning label. It should first warn you that you will fall hopelessly in love with Augustus Waters. Secondly, it should warn you to have tissues at the ready.

I had not read a John Green novel previous to this, and I am not at all sure why. His writing is effortlessly charming and engaging. I found myself loving so many passages and quotes as I was reading. His skill with humour, sarcasm, and realism blend to create something truly amazing.

Hazel knows she is dying. She's known for awhile. The treatment she is currently undergoing isn't doing much other than buying her time. Time she is perfectly happy spending with her parents, watching Next Top Model episodes and reading her favourite book. This character could have been so many different things. Dealing with cancer could have made her angry, bitter, and cancer could have been her defining trait. Instead John Green made her still be Hazel. He's written her as someone with cancer rather than having the illness define who she is. She's aware of how much it sucks, and deals with it using her sense of humour and grace. I loved her and agonized, cheered and sighed along the entire journey with her.

Augustus Waters, the good looking guy she meets in support group provides Hazel with a reason to venture outside her comfort zone, and let down some of the walls she has built. I adored Augustus from first time he put his unlit cigarette to his lips. His quirky sense of humour, mixed with his adorable charm made me fall for him right along with Hazel.

The romance is really captivating. The chemistry between Hazel and Augustus is undeniable and joyous to see develop. They lift each other up, experience new things together and see each other through their best and worst.

The cancer plot was written with respect, and is unflinchingly real. The humour in which the characters deal with their illness is contrasted with the stark realities of this devastating illness.

The last ¼ of this book destroyed me. The ending few lines lingered long after the last sob escaped my mouth. The simple words “I do” left me gasping with tears as I closed the novel. I felt fortune to have experienced Hazel and Augustus journey and these are two characters I will never forget. John Green’s achingly beautiful novel will leave you in tears, make you laugh and remind you that while we can't protect ourselves from pain, we can chose who impacts our lives.