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Those Not-So-Sweet Boys Series Review

| Ardin Patterson

I’ve officially completed volumes 1-7 for this series, and thought it was about time that I do a complete review of the series.

Please note that this may contain a few spoilers.

Okay! So, I found this series to be very cute overall. Although the ending seemed a bit rushed to me, and I wish that there was a bit more tension throughout with the whole love-triangle tease, I was satisfied with how it all wrapped up. Each of the characters were well rounded, and it didn’t take me long to choose favourites.

Like Love in Focus though, and as I mentioned above, some parts of the story felt a bit rushed, as if the author was just trying to wrap things up as quickly as possible. This is their longest series so far, so it could be that they just struggled with how to conclude the events of the story without it dragging out too long.

I absolutely adore the art style of this series, and loved how the children, teens and adults were all designed. It was also a fun, light read.

Overall I would give this series a 4.5 because although I enjoyed it and found it cute, I felt as though things could’ve been taken a little further to raise the stakes in certain books throughout the series. Other than that it was a nice, cute shojo series, and super enjoyable.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Check out my other manga reviews and recs!

Daytime Shooting Star Series Review

| Ardin Patterson

After completing the entire series, I thought I’d do a quick, spoiler free review of my thoughts on Daytime Shooting Star as a whole.

If you’ve read my previous reviews of the series, you’ll know that I was not a big fan of Mr. Shishio. I didn’t like how insecure and vulnerable he made Suzume, nor the positions he put her in. That entire relationship was fairly uncomfortable to read…however, I really enjoyed the series.

Most of my ratings were between 4 and 5 stars for this manga, and since I mentioned that I didn’t want to spoil anything, as I’d like others to be able to go into this series and see events transpire for themselves, I’d say that it was a fun read. It was filled with moments of drama, and some cute moments as well.

Out of all the characters in the story Mamura was one of my favourites. His character really grows on you during the first few volumes, and it continues from there.

I highly recommend checking out this series, if you enjoy shojo romance, however if you’re like me and find say…Ezra and Aria’s relationship in Pretty Little Liars really problematic, you’ll probably feel as I did towards Mr. Shishio. I can say…and this may be considered a bit of a spoiler, that I was very satisfied with how the series ended.

Overall, I would give the series a full 5 star rating.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Happy reading everyone!

Check out my other manga reviews and recs!

Ima Koi Vol. 1 – Manga Review

About Sometimes the greatest romantic adventure isn’t falling in love—it’s what happens after you fall in love! After missing out on love and dating because she…

by Ardin Patterson

The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza – Arc Review

| Ardin Patterson

About

As seen on The TODAY Show! New York Times bestselling Mac Barnett and Caldecott Honor award-winning illustrator Shawn Harris turn their massively popular The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza live cartoon into an action-packed and hysterical graphic novel series–perfect for fans of Dav Pilkey, Raina Telgemeier, and Jeff Kinney. A Kids’ Indie Next List Pick and an Indie Bestseller!

Something terrible is happening in the skies! Rats are eating the MOON!

There’s only ONE hero for the job, a bold and fearsome beast bioengineered in a secret lab to be the moon’s savior and Earth’s last hope! And that hero is . . . a cat. A cat who will be blasted into space!

Accompanied by the imperious Moon Queen and LOZ 4000, a toenail clipping robot, the First Cat in Space journeys across a fantastic lunar landscape in a quest to save the world. Will these unlikely heroes save the moon in time? Can a toenail-clipping robot find its purpose in the vast universe? And will the First Cat in Space ever eat some pizza? 

Thoughts

This was such a fun read! I loved absolutely everything about this graphic novel it. There are songs! I haven’t read a book with songs in it in so long. The story put a huge smile on my face.
I’m so happy that I received an advanced copy. Thank you so much!

Rating

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Parked – Review

About Jeanne Ann is smart, stubborn, living in an orange van, and determined to find a permanent address before the start of seventh grade. Cal…

by Ardin Patterson

My Blog Is 2 Today!

| Ardin Patterson

Today is my blogs 2 year anniversary, and it’s also Earth Day!

I’ve had a lot of fun using this space to talk about books, and to share updates on my personal projects.

Spring is absolutely wonderful. I love waking up to birds chirping in the morning, and feeling the suns rays coming through the blinds. It’s comforting, although sometimes it’s so peaceful I don’t want to get out of bed.

Here’s to the future! May we work together to make our world thrive, so that everyone who comes after us may enjoy waking up to singing, and sunny skies.

Momo from Peach Girl by Miwa Ueda

It’s my Birthday!

| Ardin Patterson

It’s my BIRTHDAY!

Hooray!

Sometimes I don’t feel very old…and then I feel SUPER OLD. Obviously, I’m still a youngish person, seeing as how my mom calls people my age “kids” but I pay taxes, and have life insurance and…like those were things I never had to think or care about when I was a teenager. I kind of miss not caring about my dental coverage.

Being an adult isn’t terrible. It’s not easy, but I know for a fact that I would never choose to be like 13 again. I absolutely hated being 13.

In other news, but still somewhat birthday related, today I got some really cute Vermin themed merch in the mail that I am so excited about. They’re adorable! I love them. I don’t know if my excitement is coming across as I type, but for the record my face hurts from smiling.

Speaking of books, I got another free ARC on Thursday that came with a letter from the author! I was like “WHAT? A LETTER? FOR ME?” and I read it aloud. It made me want to read the book even more. The cover is also beautiful. I’m already in love with the story, and can’t wait to share my review. I’m only on the 2nd chapter, but I already love this one character to pieces, and if anything happens to them I will cry and hug Mr. Buckwheat who, if you’ve ever seen my instagram is featured fairly often.

This is what he looks like! He’s from the show Goblin, which had a name change or something but it’s a K-Drama my sister and I were obsessed with. We have 3 of the plushies from the show. I added a bow his hair that I got from my Nana. He’s my nieces fave plushie to borrow and snuggle with when she visits me.

This month I’ve gotten a lot of great ARCs through work, so I’m totally set reading wise…although I always welcome book recommendations.

I was recently recommended the new Star Wars book series by my co-worker, and I am so excited to check them out. I haven’t read a Star Wars book since…I think it must’ve been 8th grade? I read it around the same time I was reading the Halo series books. All my buddies were super into Halo at the time, and I read the books because I didn’t have an Xbox. That…sounds so sad.

I’d like to get some work done on my manuscript before any festivities start, so I think I’ll stop my post here and get to work.

Peter’s Playlist

| Ardin Patterson

All right, time for Peter’s playlist! Out of everyone I think he has the most happy/chill songs on his list (well aside from Julius). I tend to listen to his playlist when I’m sketching, or writing flash back scenes, he’s also got a lot of older songs on his playlist. I’d definitely say his songs are more feel good versus Roland and Dianna’s.

This last song is both Peter and Roland’s playlists. Every time I listen to it, it makes me laugh and I usually doodle pictures of them doing stupid stuff while I listen to it.

Goodbye 2021

| Ardin Patterson

It’s time to say goodbye to 2021.

This year I got to work on so many fantastic projects, including Polly Pocket, and my debut novel Vermin came out in August!

Aside from that, I’ve got to say I’ve had a lovely year. I think at a certain point during this whole pandemic, I decided it would be best to focus on the people and things that bring me joy, like hanging out with my family, or sharing books I’ve read, or playing games with my sister and friends.

I had fun working on and editing my next few novels, which I’m excited to discuss in further detail this year, and I really enjoyed all of the recordings I did this year! Even the silly songs I made up on the guitar and recorded for my niece.

So…thank you 2021 for all of the simple, little joys you brought me, like chats with friends old and new, hot chocolate, and books and blankets. I look forward to more in 2022.

On the Winonah

| Ardin Patterson

Yesterday after work my family and I went on a boat tour of the Muskoka on the Winonah II. It was really neat. I like learning new things, especially history. I find it interesting.

The folks that lived on the islands were an extremely friendly bunch, waving as we sailed along the lake. The tour was two hours, but it really didn’t feel that long, and the lemonade was lovely since I was siting in the sun. My one arm is more tanned than the other now, but I’ve been needing a tan all summer so at this point I could care less about the evenness of it.

Afterwards we popped in to see our folks, and got to see my cousins baby for the first time! I couldn’t believe how big her other child has gotten since I last saw them. We also dropped my friends birthday gift off and then met up online later to play games via social distance. I’ve always been a person who valued the time I spent with others but with the pandemic, and not seeing anyone for so long I’ve truly come to cherish it. I’m a family person, and it was hard enough for me not seeing my folks and friends while I was off at university…but this has been so different. Although I’m a person who can entertain myself for extended periods of time without interacting with people, I hate missing out on time with my family. It’s really sad that most of us haven’t seen one another since Thanksgiving 2019! Time has flown by so fast that these last few years feel more like one…big…mesh of time.

In conversations with co-workers I think that many of us have become nostalgic for the simple things like brunch and coffee dates with friends, going to the movies, conversations with the wonderful folks making your drink at Starbucks, seeing another persons smile, holding a new baby, giving piggyback rides and high fives and slaps on the back.

The optimist in me has learned to appreciate the sound of another persons voice, their eyes, decorative masks, someone’s outfit, waving wildly to great someone. Thinking this way has been a comfort to me…and I often try to on days when I get frustrated about the fact that I haven’t been able to spend Saturdays with my Dad and sister going to our favourite art store, and then going to Dairy Queen. It was something I always looked forward to and haven’t been able to do since 2019. I’ve watched some of my favourite places go out of business…and it’s so sad.

I’m glad I got to get out of town for a day and just relax on a big ship, and sit in the sun and watch the water. I also found a cute blue beetle looking thing. Not sure what it was and to be honest I’m not a huge fan of bugs but this bug was pretty.

The change was nice for a day.

If you haven’t heard yet, my debut novel Vermin is out! It’s been a long time coming and I’m so thankful for everyone who helped make this book possible.

I thought I would feature this drawing of my character Roland that my sister did for me, which features the cover as a backdrop. You can find her artwork @nuggiedraws on Instagram!