Monthly Monkey Mini Review – January

Published on by theorangutanlibrarian

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Well hello! Welcome to my first mini reviews of the year! Now, of course, this only being a few days into the New Year, I don’t have any books from 2018 to review yet. But, being super disorganised, I left a fair number of reviews unfinished from last year. Also I was in a massive slump towards the end of the 2017 (and still kinda am) so there aren’t many on this- let’s get to it!

november 9

November 9– This was funny, quirky and entertaining!! If you don’t like cheesy stories, then look away- but for everyone else that appreciates an extra dollop of cheese THIS IS DEFINITELY FOR YOU.  The romance was really good, I genuinely didn’t expect it to go in the direction that it did and it ended on a high- which is exactly what you want in this kind of book. It also had some great subplot elements and the use of subplots to do with writing and reading made it surprisingly meta. Plus the little poems in between each part were really good. So this will come as no surprise for romance fans: Colleen Hoover strikes again!

Rating: 4½/5 bananas

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wonder

Wonder– Wonder really was wonderful. It made me feel *all the feels*. By the end I was so moved I was all tingly. It was very well written, the characters were beautifully crafted and I appreciated all the lots of different perspectives. The only reason why I don’t have a proper review is because I was too engrossed in the novel to take notes! But I will say it had powerful messages about being kind to each other.

Rating: 5/5 bananas

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bridge to terabithia

Bridge to Terabithia– Another one I didn’t write any notes for. I still want to mention it though because it was a very moving book and it’s worth checking out if you haven’t already. I did already know what was gonna happen because I’d seen the film years ago, but it was still impactful and got me to tear up anyway.

Rating: 4/5 bananas

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So have you read any of these? Do you plan to? Let me know in the comments! 

78 thoughts on “Monthly Monkey Mini Review – January”

  1. Read Bridge to Terabithia sooooooo long ago in school. I remember liking it though and I believe I liked the movie as well. Wasn’t it really sad at the end? First 5/5 this year for Wonder eh? I’ll have to check it out some day!

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  2. I want to read Wonder before watching the movie, but I read Bridge to Terabithia a couple years ago. I definitely remember the movie better than the book, but I think I had a couple problems with the American dialect in the writing, because I was still very young then. But it was a good book 😀

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  3. I haven’t read any of those, but I really want to read Wonder! I’ve heard so many people say it’s amazing! Also one of the dorms at my school has a Wonder theme this year and two of my close friends live there, so I feel like I have to read it now!

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  7. The movie Bridge to Terabithia has been on my to watch list for such a long time now that I can’t even remember when I put it there. The other books I have (shame on me 🙈🙈), never heard of, but seeing the rating you have given them, I know I should be adding these to my to read list ASAP. 😀
    As always, great post! 😀

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    1. ah I absolutely *loved* the movie- it’s what inspired me to finally pick up the book. And now I actually want to rewatch it, cos it was so well done. hehehe no worries- I really think you’ll like Wonder- it’s incredibly heartwarming and just a beautiful story. 😀
      Thank you!!

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  8. I watched Bridge to Terebithia when it came out. Man, that hurt. So when I actually read the book a couple of years ago I knew what to expect. Didn’t really make it any easier to deal with though.

    So does this catch you up on all your 2017 reviews?

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    1. I know- I did too- it really did. I knew absolutely nothing about it and was completely shocked. But yes, even knowing what was going to happen didn’t make it any easier.

      And surprisingly no- I still have a couple left- but I had more to say on them, so I need to finish writing up the reviews 😉

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  11. You’re in a reading slump, but you still managed to get through over 200 books last year? I’m going to guess you’re either a) reading lots of 50 page novellas, b) an actual monkey who is given an endless supply of paperbacks by their zookeeper or c) Stephen Fry. Am I right?

    I love your mini reviews! I really want to read Wonder. I haven’t seen/read the Bridge to Terabithia but I remember my friend coming back from the cinema totally ruined by it. I’ve avoided it ever since.

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    1. 😂😂😂 Well I read a lot until the last month of the year 😉 and then I really didn’t and haven’t been reading much in the last week. But I also realised (after someone asked me) that I normally read harder books, but last year a *huge* number of books were YA and children’s- which makes sense! (but I actually wish I was Stephen Fry) Although- what makes you think I’m not a real monkey?! 😂😂😂 😉

      Thank you so much!! And both are brilliant! To be honest, even if you know what happens in Bridge to Terabithia, it’s still an emotional journey and I recommend it for sure!

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  18. I really want to read Wonder, it sounds like such a great book. Happy to hear you enjoyed it 🙂 I haven’t read Bridge to Terabithia, but I have seen the movie a while ago when it was released and… well, I cried like a baby hahahaha. I’ll have to read the book at some point, when I’m ready for the tears 😛
    Great reviews! 🙂

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  19. Wonder and the Bridge to Terabithia are two that have been on my TBR for a while now. I’m just curious about Wonder, but I saw part of the movie for Bridge to Terabithia and that made me want to read it. Good to see they’re good reads.

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  20. Love these mini reviews just as much as the normal ones! You always manage to get your point across and really make want to read/turn me off a book in any few sentences, so kudos 😀
    I will definitely have to try Colleen Hoover sometime, even though I’ve heard some pretty mixed reviews… As for BoT and Wonder, I think I’ll skip them for now as I’m not too keen on sad books at the moment!
    Wonderful post ❤

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  21. I’ve been wanting to read November 9 for a while now because I have yet to read a CoHo book. I actually have a signed copy sitting on my shelf, which makes it even worse. I don’t tend to reach for light hearted or “fluffy” books, but when I do, I appreciate when they are well done, which I’ve heard CoHo books are.

    I’ve also wanted to pick up Wonder. My son read it 2 years ago with his 3rd grade class and he really enjoyed it. My son is a reluctant reader, so whenever he actually likes a book I try and pick it up.

    I read Bridge to T when I was in grade school and remember it was a heart breaking read… definitely time for a re-read since it’s been like 20 years ((yikes))

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    1. Oh definitely a good one to start with then! I completely understand that- I’ve only more recently even started to read books like this, so I can relate. And hers definitely are well done 🙂

      Brilliant!! I definitely think it’s a great book and can see why your son liked it 🙂

      Ahh yes it’s such a heartbreaking read!!!

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  22. I haven’t read any of these books (I’m almost ashamed to admit) but I have some of Colleen Hoover’s releases on my TBR list just because people seem to love her work and I need to know what the fuss is all about. Also I love YA contemporary just because of the fluff and the happy endings and, yes the cheese as well, so maybe her work will be perfect for me as well. 🙂
    Great reviews, and I’m really glad you enjoyed all these books as well! 😀 ❤

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    1. hehe no worries!! Something to look forward to 😀 I only started reading Colleen Hoover last year and I do recommend her if you like romance 🙂 And if you like happy endings and fluff, then she’s great, although she works in some tougher themes as well, which is good. Really hope you like her work! Thank you so much!! 😀 ❤

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  23. I was actually considering Bridge to Terabithia the other day and was like nah.. I will cry too much haha. Then I started a different book and guess what? It made me cry bahaha. I think I might be a bit of an emotional basket case right now. I need to just jump in and read it. The film was moving. I know the book will be that much more.

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  27. Wonder made me feel as if a person’s heart isn’t this combustible, interchangeable mechanism that today’s world can make it seem, but a gift from places we do not yet understand. I loved the book.

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  28. I have been thinking about Wonder… I almost said wondering about Wonder haha. I have heard some great things but from people that read more YA and middle grade than me so I wasn’t sure if it would be for me. I’m so glad to see you liked it so much.

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  31. Bridge to Terabithia is so sad!!! Oh my gosh, I remember being mad with that one too. Wonder is on my list and my oldest daughter loved it so much. I have it on my shelf and can’t wait to get to it. Great post! ❤

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  32. I read November 9 last week, and it’s definitely not my type of book… I think my review will look very different from yours… but it’s like you said: if someone likes cheesy romances, the book is quite good! I particularly liked the part towards the ending best (if you know what I’m talking about!!). Such great twist and mystery!!

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    1. Ah that’s very fair- it really is a quintessential cheesy romance, so I think that if it’s not your genre then that makes sense! (I actually look forward to your review to see how different it is from another perspective 😉 ) Absolutely!

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