I was a big fan of THE SELECTION, so I was super excited to read THE ELITE, because Kiera Cass did a good job of leaving me with intriguing questions...moreI was a big fan of THE SELECTION, so I was super excited to read THE ELITE, because Kiera Cass did a good job of leaving me with intriguing questions at the end of book one that needed to be addressed in book two.
^^That was my initial reaction on Goodreads right when I finished so I'm going to leave that there for memories.
But onto an actual review.
Perhaps the best way I can explain how much I loved FANGIRL is to describe the moment when I looked down at my Kindle and realized I was only 40% through. Instead of panicking that I wasn't reading fast enough (looming stacks of review books be darned) or wondering how much longer it was going to take me to finish, I was... happy. Overjoyed, really. This is one of those books that you will pick up and read and from the first chapter you'll think to yourself, I wouldn't mind reading this... for forever.
Now, don't worry-it won't actually take you forever to read it. If you're someone worried about other book deadlines and such. What it WILL do is engulf you totally in the story and make you feel like you're hugging Rowell's writing style (love).
As far as the actual plot goes, we're following Cath through life as she starts college. She is famous in the fanfic world for writing epic stories about Simon Snow, a character from a book series that is about to release its final book. She is also a twin who, expectedly, has a personality quite different from her sister Wren.
Cath is a very interesting girl to follow around because of her attitude towards life. When she first arrives at college, she is concerned about two specific things: her fanfic, and her sister. She had imagined her college life going much different than it actually is (namely, she thought she would be rooming with her sister), and she avoids many of the opportunities college gives freshmen to become acquainted and make friends.
It's at this point Cath is forced to figure out how she's going to be and what she's going to change. And this is where her roommate and her roommate's friend come into play.
Rowell has written a cast of characters so incredibly deep and full. Even thinking about them now, several weeks after I finished because I needed to decompress (if you saw me on Twitter the night I finished I was nearly incoherent), I feel like I KNEW these people. Like I was a girl that lived in the dorms near Cath and knew them, or I worked at the library she goes to, or I sat near them in the dining hall. And when you have incredibly real characters, their relationships are incredibly real and deep as well. And Rowell's flowing prose is so BEAUTIFUL you're connected to each and every scene and you care about everyone and it's just...
I'm starting to get a little rambly. But I hope you understand some of what I mean.
A lot of people are going to try to compare FANGIRL to ELEANOR & PARK, and I'm here to tell you to not do that. They are not set in the same world, they don't have any crossover characters, nothing about them is the same (besides Rowell's superb writing). They are so clearly two different complete stories that it does neither justice to compare and poke and prod between the two.
I have already pre-ordered this one so that I can have it on my shelf, because I literally want to hug it. I want to flip through the pages and reread chapters. I really loved this book.(less)
I frequently browse self published titles on Amazon because there have been some very good contemporary books to come out of there. They've even start...moreI frequently browse self published titles on Amazon because there have been some very good contemporary books to come out of there. They've even started to be picked up by publishers, which backs up my decision to be reading these self published authors, as some of them have really good characters and writing style.
I heard about FLAT-OUT LOVE awhile ago, and have had it in my Kindle library for months. When I finally decided to read it, it didn't take me long to finish as I found the writing compelling.
Julie is off to college, but when she gets there she finds out the apartment she was supposed to be renting doesn't exist. Her mom's college friend lives in the same town, and offers Julie a place to stay while she finds different arrangements. Julie has never met this family, and ends up staying in the room of a son that is gone, but also living with another boy her age and a younger sister.
Julie hears a lot about Finn, the boy of the room she is staying in, and eventually friends him on Facebook. They start talking a lot, and Julie slowly starts to fall for him.
The dynamics of the family situation Julie is now living with are extreme, and this keeps the plot moving while allowing us to learn more about the characters we are reading about. The last chapters of the book are especially surprising, which cemented this book as a great read for me, because it is clear Jessica Park spent some time developing her plot and characters.
I don't think this book is being picked up by a publisher currently, but I could be wrong. I think this author might be a strong supporter of self publishing as well, but I could also be confusing that with someone else and I can't find the place where I may have read that, so this paragraph could be full of misinformation - take from it what you will :)
Really solid contemporary in the self published realm!(less)
The other day I was wandering around next to my bookshelves, unsure of what I wanted to read. After a moment of browsing through some series I need to...moreThe other day I was wandering around next to my bookshelves, unsure of what I wanted to read. After a moment of browsing through some series I need to read, my eyes were immediately pulled to Parallel. After that, the rest is history.
Well, not history. But I rescued the book from the depths of bookshelf hell and sat down and promptly read 100 pages. It didn't take me long after that to finish the whole thing, so clearly whatever vibe this book was putting out was a good one.
Not long into the book, Abby Barnes finds herself in a different reality than the one she had known the past eighteen years. After a little research, and the help of her best friend Caitlin, she discovers that something happened which entangled her with her parallel's life.
Yes, my brain exploded too. Many, many times. I've read about different realities and I've read some science fiction but nothing that describes the lives of a parallel world. Lauren Miller takes turns flipping us from world to world, which are a year apart, so it's important that you pay attention as you read. And even then there will probably be parts of the book where you'll just need to go with the flow and keep reading because it will take you a minute to figure it out.
Saying all of that, I found PARALLEL to be an excellent book. And it's going to sit especially well with people who like brain explodey things. Or who like to talk about fate and destiny.
Miller does a great job of taking this complicated concept and applying it to the life of an eighteen year old girl. And while I was confused in the beginning, I was able to learn about parallel worlds right along with the narrator, which made it a little easier on me. By the end I was in no way an expert, but the way Miller tied it all together was very solid. And I felt complete when I finished, which I wasn't sure I would feel seeing as how the topic is so complicated.
The relationships and the science fiction are a great blend, and PARALLEL will definitely fit into that recommendation category.(less)
It took me awhile to realize that the author of THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US is the same author as PIVOT POINT. In fact, I only realized it once the gals o...moreIt took me awhile to realize that the author of THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US is the same author as PIVOT POINT. In fact, I only realized it once the gals on #TeaTime mentioned the book and then said that Kasie West had written another book. Duh, self!
I was eager to dive into this because after finishing PIVOT POINT I knew I'd read other books by West and it was a double bonus that her next book was a contemporary novel!
Caymen and her mom live above their doll shop, and they haven't talked to Caymen's dad for years. The only thing she knows is that he came from a rich family and ditched them. So when a cute boy wanders into the shop, she is immediately wary because it's clear he comes from a family of money.
Following Caymen's story was a lot of fun, and West's narration style was great as I expected it to be. I flew through the pages easily as Caymen figured out her boyfriend situation and tried to figure out what was going on with her mom's strange behavior.
My only disappointment was that a few things about the book were cliche. The main characters both had the two most unique eye colors in the world (I had just read an article about the most uncommon eye colors, so this probably stuck with me more than it would others) and the ending was a little nicey nicey. There were some major issues in the novel so I was expecting more depth throughout the conclusion. The end wasn't bad by any means-some things were just very easily solved.
Overall I was satisfied with THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US. I'm still really excited to see what Kasie West does with PIVOT POINT #2!(less)
If this book looks at all intriguing to you, or you're a big fan of dystopian, you're going to love NOT A DROP TO DRINK.
The title is pretty descriptiv...moreIf this book looks at all intriguing to you, or you're a big fan of dystopian, you're going to love NOT A DROP TO DRINK.
The title is pretty descriptive of the world that Lynn lives in. The world is struggling for water, and the beginning chapters describe the pond that her and her mother live near (and protect) because it's their only water source. Mindy McGinnis takes no time at all to get to the gritty details of living in conditions like this, and as a reader you're instantly engulfed in this world.
It's my favorite to read a dystopian where the author isn't afraid to GO THERE, and McGinnis is of this type, so be prepared to read a true dystopian that doesn't skirt around things that would actually happen in a situation like this. I was utterly glued to the pages from the first chapter on, and the last few chapters are completely heart pounding. Even better is that this is a standalone, and McGinnis did an excellent job of building up the characters and the plot and the world and also ending it all without a cliffhanger.
This is a MUST. BUY. for dystopian fans, fans of true gritty worlds, fans of fast page turners. (less)
After I finished THE FIFTH WAVE, I spent several days recounting the book in my head, unable to read anything else. I had heard great things about Ric...moreAfter I finished THE FIFTH WAVE, I spent several days recounting the book in my head, unable to read anything else. I had heard great things about Rick Yancey, but I had never read anything by him. Let me tell ya, I will be one of the first to pre-order #2 when it is announced!
There is a lot of mystery in the beginning of THE FIFTH WAVE. I mean, the title in of itself is kind of mysterious - we don't know what each of the waves mean or why we're on the fifth. And because Yancey is an ace storyteller, he doesn't just lay it all out right away but rather weaves the story together through dialogue and character narration.
The most compelling piece of the book is the fact that you don't know if you can trust anyone. You feel an intense sense of urgency for the "humans," but since the ones causing havoc can look exactly like the humans we all know, you are constantly looking over your shoulder and urging everyone along, all while attempting to figure out who is telling the truth and who is not.
There are several very emotional scenes in this book, and Yancey isn't afraid to "go there." This book is going to hit big when it is released.(less)
ANATOMY OF A SINGLE GIRL is a follow up to ANATOMY OF A BOYFRIEND, written several years apart by Daria Snadowsky. The first thing you'll realize is h...moreANATOMY OF A SINGLE GIRL is a follow up to ANATOMY OF A BOYFRIEND, written several years apart by Daria Snadowsky. The first thing you'll realize is how similar the voice and characters are between the two - Snadowsky did a great job pulling herself back into Dom's world and continuing the story.
Dom is older now, eighteen, and is dealing with figuring out who she is without her previous boyfriend (who she first had sex with). She meets a boy and has a more casual encounter with him, giving Dom some different things to think about in her life, especially when it comes to boys.
Snadowsky writes in such a realistic way. She doesn't shy away from any topics, and Dom's life could be the mirror image of many girls at this junction of life. She has already completed a year at college, so this could definitely be a good recommendation for older teens looking for older protagonists.
While I don't think you necessarily have to have read the first ANATOMY book, I think the overall picture of Dom and her previous relationships would help you to connect with this book more. It's easy to see the places she has matured as an individual and to appreciate how she has grown. And this book is a definite recommendation for those who liked the first!(less)
Collaborations between authors are some of my most favorite things in the YA world, especially when it's two authors that I already know I love. I wen...moreCollaborations between authors are some of my most favorite things in the YA world, especially when it's two authors that I already know I love. I went in to JUST LIKE FATE with a neutral feeling just so I wouldn't spoil myself into liking it any less, but that wasn't necessary because I loved this book.
The entire book is spent alternating between chapters-if she had stayed with her grandmother in the hospital, and if she had left the night she died. The stories are clearly distinct, and the chapter headings remind you which story you're in, so I had no problem following along. I did wonder a few times which author had written which chapters, but I didn't even know if they did it that way or if it was more collaboration overall so I didn't spend too much time wondering.
It is really interesting how both of the lives end up weaving together in certain ways, bringing fate into the equation. Initially you would assume the two separate lives would bring Caroline in two separate directions, but because of the idea of fate there are some things that begin to work out in both lives, though in very different ways.
I think JUST LIKE FATE is going to live up the expectations it has set. I especially recommend this to those who loved PIVOT POINT. These authors are both great and have come together in an even greater way. I hope they have plans for other collaborations!(less)
So I started book one as Team Tucker, ended book two as Team Christian, and started book three not knowing which way I thought was up.
I expected BOUND...moreSo I started book one as Team Tucker, ended book two as Team Christian, and started book three not knowing which way I thought was up.
I expected BOUNDLESS to start where HALLOWED left off - with Clara and Angela in Italy. But nope! She's already back. Things happened while in Italy, but they don't become clear until later.
The summary of BOUNDLESS does a great job getting you interested without sharing a lot of the details that will make your eyes bug, so I'm not going to spoil that for you, either. Just know this: this is a series really worth reading. And remember that this is coming from a girl that reads at least 80% contemporary in her normal life.
For what it's worth, if you're here reading this review and you've already finished the UNEARTHLY series, I highly, highly recommend you pick up SHADE, SHIFT, and SHINE by Jeri Smith-Ready. The readability between the two is very similar, they both have a paranormal element that doesn't cheese out, and they both have love interests. I would be very surprised if someone who loved one did not love the other.(less)
If I hear even just a whisper about a good contemporary book on Twitter that I haven't read, I know that I'm going to read it. ELEANOR & PARK not...moreIf I hear even just a whisper about a good contemporary book on Twitter that I haven't read, I know that I'm going to read it. ELEANOR & PARK not only had whispers, but full discussions, yells, and exclamations, meaning I not only knew I would read it, but that I would read it SOON.
I ordered the book, it came a few days later, and it sat on my side table for one day before I couldn't stand it anymore and picked it up. Fortunately the day I read it I didn't have work because I stayed curled up on my couch fully engulfed in the lives of Eleanor and Park, loving every minute of it.
I didn't read the synopsis at all before I read the book, so I had no idea what to expect. It actually ended up being a more serious book than I thought it would be, because Eleanor's life is less than ideal. And while Park had some really great moments, it's Eleanor who I connected with, and yearned for, and wished for. My heart ached for her family situation, and then it got warmed by the little things Park would do for her, especially in the beginning as they got to know each other. On top of that, the banter and the writing of Rainbow Rowell had me laughing out loud at several points, showing that the author is a master of balancing both the humor and the more serious aspects of life.
I tried to read the ending slowly because I didn't want the book to end, but there's a series of events at the end that had me flying from page to page, where I soon found myself reading the last sentence. I am completely happy with the way Rowell ended the book, and for awhile I was scared that I wouldn't like what she had come up with because the rest of the book was so great for me.
The recommendations all over the Internet for ELEANOR & PARK are completely warranted.(less)
I read SMART GIRLS GET WHAT THEY WANT by Sarah Strohmeyer and liked it. It was a pretty solid read. I...moreFirst of all, I loveeeee this cover change! Love.
I read SMART GIRLS GET WHAT THEY WANT by Sarah Strohmeyer and liked it. It was a pretty solid read. It didn't appeal to me as much as one of her adult books that I've read, but I still was looking forward to what else she'd be putting out in the YA realm... and along came HOW ZOE MADE HER DREAMS (MOSTLY) COME TRUE!
The setting for this book is one of the most fun I've ever read-a fairy tale theme park. What! Zoe and her cousin are there for the summer to work as characters in fairy tales and hopefully win the scholarship the park offers to one boy and one girl who work at the park each summer. Upon arriving, Zoe discovers she hasn't been assigned a character role but rather is the assistant to the "queen," the lady who runs the park. Zoe is sent all over the place on tasks for the queen, but we still get to see the people who are playing princes and princesses and the other characters in the stories, which makes it super fun.
Along with the fairy tales, Zoe is attempting to solve a mystery that has happened on fairy tale grounds. The mix of mystery and fairy tales made this a great vacation read (which is where I read it).
I enjoyed ZOE more than SMART GIRLS, which is what I was hoping for. The end of ZOE isn't completely predictable, which gives it an extra kick. I only wish I got to read this book with the new cover so I could stare at it from time to time in between chapters :)(less)
It takes a little extra oomph for me to pick up a dystopian or paranormal novel over a contemporary, and for TAKEN it was the cover and mention of exc...moreIt takes a little extra oomph for me to pick up a dystopian or paranormal novel over a contemporary, and for TAKEN it was the cover and mention of excitement on countless blogs for a Top Ten Tuesday feature. I had heard about it here and there but hadn't really committed myself to reading it until so many blogs exclaimed excitement and I decided to look into it for myself.
A beautiful cover doesn't mean everything, of course, so I decided to sample a few pages at random from the beginning of the book before making the decision to read the whole thing. Erin Bowman's writing style instantly drew me in, and I promptly sat down and read 100 pages.
The synopsis is full of mystery, but the book surely lays out the facts and lets you learn right alongside Gray. The first thing we learn about is the Heist, which has boys vanishing the instant they turn eighteen years old. The community Gray lives in has just come to accept this fact, as it happens year after year with no change. After Gray's brother gets taken, he discovers something that urges him to find out more about the Heist and the Wall that is holding them all in Claysoot.
Erin Bowman has created an excellent world, and intricately woven a story that starts right on page one and follows through to the end. Many things are not as they seem, and felt like I had been punched in the gut a few times as details were revealed that I never would have considered. That being said, I allow myself to go along for the ride and am not actively trying to solve mysteries as a read, so it's possible you could figure out a thing or two before Gray does, but I encourage you to try not to.
When I read dystopians, I love to be caught up in the world and have mysteries unfold, and that's exactly what TAKEN did for me. Highly recommended.(less)
The cover of NANTUCKET BLUE truly threw me off. At first glace (and at second glace too) it seems to be a love story on a beach. Now, there are certai...moreThe cover of NANTUCKET BLUE truly threw me off. At first glace (and at second glace too) it seems to be a love story on a beach. Now, there are certainly elements of love and the beach involved, but Howland has gone so much deeper than that.
It doesn't take long for the story to get complex, and this is when I found myself going from "like" to "love." Cricket's best friend's family suffers through a tragedy, and Cricket does the best she can to be there for her friend - but keeps finding herself wondering why Jules would treat her the way she is. This theme runs throughout the whole book. There are other stories and characters involved as well, of course - Cricket possibly finds love, she makes new friends, has to find a job.
I was immediately pulled in by Howland's writing style, and after getting deeper into the plot I was hooked. This is a definite must read for contemporary fans.(less)
The first book I officially read start to finish in 2013, WILD AWAKE gives me more reason to shout about contemporary YA from the mountaintops. Or fro...moreThe first book I officially read start to finish in 2013, WILD AWAKE gives me more reason to shout about contemporary YA from the mountaintops. Or from my couch-top, seeing as how the mountains here have many feet of snow and it would be hard to get up there.
The current synopsis for WILD AWAKE is mostly bullet points, which sometimes doesn't do a book much justice, but somehow works for this one. You get enough of a glimpse into the story to be intrigued, and the bullet points are actually quite accurate, or as much as they can be for being the bare bones parts of a story.
Kiri is a pianist working towards an audition that she has been practicing for for years. Her older sister, basically disowned by her parents and living on her own in a "studio" so she can focus on her art, is killed. Rather than reschedule their vacation, Kiri's parents decide to go anyway, leaving Kiri alone at home for a big part of the summer, where she is to be practicing piano while internally dealing with her sister's death.
Along with the piano and her sister, Kiri is also involved in a Battle of the Bands with a boy she has been in love with for a long time, and also receives a mysterious phone call from someone claiming to have her sister's stuff. The combination of all of these things force Kiri to find out the truth about many things she was unaware of before while discovering what is important to her.
Hilary T. Smith has a writing style that is engaging and flowing. The bits of mystery that are mixed in to the plot will keep you reading, and each of the characters are well defined.
An excellent start to 2013, WILD AWAKE is a must read in 2013 for fans of contemporary, particularly those who love music in a plot.(less)
It was really interesting to read this book nearly right after I read EMPTY by KM Walton as they both deal with weight in very different ways. While E...moreIt was really interesting to read this book nearly right after I read EMPTY by KM Walton as they both deal with weight in very different ways. While EMPTY brought me down a deep dark hole, 45 POUNDS had me wandering around the top of a hole and wondering which way I was going to go before ultimately marching me away, and it was nice to have a different outcome.
Ann is having a really rough time with her weight. She doesn't feel comfortable in her clothes, and she has tried seemingly every diet with no success. When her aunt announces a wedding, she vows to lose weight so she can feel confident in a bridesmaid dress, and to do that she decides to order from a telemarketing commercial.
As most of us probably expect, the "kit" she receives is less than ideal. It has prepackaged food which tastes horrible, and an exercise DVD that's pretty hard. But she sticks with it, at least enough to start learning about herself and what she can do. It doesn't all go perfectly, especially with her peers, but that's the important part of the story and KA Barson does it well.
Bonus points! 45 POUNDS is set in Michigan, my home state. Which is always fun to read about.(less)
There is an air of mystery as you start THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY. Nastya is starting at a new school and has something wicked from her past that has her...moreThere is an air of mystery as you start THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY. Nastya is starting at a new school and has something wicked from her past that has her not speaking and only observing the world around her. She soon starts to develop relationships, even without dialogue, even without wanting to get to know anyone.
If you're reading this and know anything about me, you know that I love Jennifer Echols (well, her books anyway. Though I'm sure if I met her in real...moreIf you're reading this and know anything about me, you know that I love Jennifer Echols (well, her books anyway. Though I'm sure if I met her in real life I'd be able to tell you she's awesome in that form, too). I have a growing list of authors that make me squee, but Jennifer Echols is probably at the top of the list (or at least tied with Morgan Matson), so it took a few moments for me to move from hugging this book to actually reading it.
Bailey is awesome at playing the fiddle. Really awesomely awesome. She and her sister Julie used to tour together, Julie singing melody and playing guitar, Bailey singing harmony and playing fiddle. When they got discovered by a record label, the executives decided they only wanted Julie. Afraid she is going to ruin her sister's career, Bailey's parents ship her off to live with her grandfather while Julie prepares her performances and songs with strict instructions to not do anything that could draw attention to her, lest the public find out the record label ditched one of the sisters in favor of another.
While living with her grandfather, Bailey plays fiddle at the mall in various country throw-back groups - Dolly Parton, Elvis. There she meets Sam, who invites her to play with his band, and Bailey has to figure out if he's using her talent to get himself closer to the top or if he actually likes her as a person.
First of all, the setting in DIRTY LITTLE SECRET is perfect. Echols does an outstanding job of setting the scene, and readers will be hearing country music playing in their heads within the first few pages (and, in the case of me, may find themselves playing country music on the radio to fill the time when they have to put the book aside for other life duties). Bailey as an individual is a girl scorned, feeling the brunt of her family's abandonment, but Echols slowly lets us into her life, and as we start to understand Bailey's situation we start to care for her more and more.
The love interest is complex, as his intentions aren't immediately clear. Bailey is no fool, though, and knows that Sam could be using her and her family's connections to climb up the musician ladder. Echols does an outstanding job of balancing the weariness of this possible complication and the emotion that drives Sam and Bailey together.
In short, DIRTY LITTLE SECRET has a perfect mix of Nashville, emotion, and protagonist. You'll angst right alongside Bailey as she figures out what her family means to her, what Sam means for her, and what she means to herself. (less)
The moment I knew I would like this book is when the dog Sandy Koufax was described. From the moment he was introduced I imagined him like Peso (my do...moreThe moment I knew I would like this book is when the dog Sandy Koufax was described. From the moment he was introduced I imagined him like Peso (my dog), so from then on I just hoped nothing bad happened to him. BUT most of the book happens in a different country from where Sandy Koufax is because...
...Danny goes to Japan! It is a really awesome setting for a book. He goes there because his mom has died of cancer, and Japan is the place she spent much of her time before she passed away. He is left with questions and feeling lost, so when he heads to Tokyo he is on a mission not only to settle his feelings about his mom but to figure out how he wants to live from then on.
Danny as a character grows a lot, and being in Tokyo forces this a lot more than if he had remained at home. He learns more about what his mother was thinking before she passed, and this helps him discover more about her than I think he was even expecting.
Daisy Whitney writes in a full, descriptive style that I really love. I felt engulfed in this book as I was reading, which is really special because I've never been to Tokyo and that was a major theme of the book. Beautiful.(less)
On a vacation two years ago, I read Jennifer Castle's debut THE BEGINNING OF AFTER. I thought it only appropriate to bring her sophomore book YOU LOOK...moreOn a vacation two years ago, I read Jennifer Castle's debut THE BEGINNING OF AFTER. I thought it only appropriate to bring her sophomore book YOU LOOK DIFFERENT IN REAL LIFE along with me on vacation this year, and I'm glad I did because I was able to pass it along to two different girls after I was finished, all while gushing about how much I truly loved it.
Books about TV and media kind of automatically get put in a different category. It's assumed the whole thing will have a different sort of feel, perhaps more focus on the cameras than the characters. That has certainly been the case with some of the media books I have read, but I am here to firmly report that that is not the case with YOU LOOK DIFFERENT IN REAL LIFE.
Justine is an interesting character. She's going through an inner battle as a film crew reappears in her life to tape her at the age of sixteen, as they had when she was six and eleven. She is one of five kids all at the same school involved in this project, chosen when they were in kindergarten. As expected, the kids grew into different individuals and the relationships between all of them are quite different than they were when they were six. So Justine not only has to battle with how they are all connected, but she also has to come to terms with her role in the show; what the viewers will expect to see in Justine after five years, and what she really is.
I loved Castle's writing even more in this book than her first. She wove a plot together with all of the characters that made the book feel full and complete, which I really appreciated. Each of the characters had a distinct personality, and learning about them at each stage of their lives as documented in the movies helped round out the experience.
I fully, wholeheartedly loved YOU LOOK DIFFERENT IN REAL LIFE. This is one I definitely will recommend. (less)
I'm an Elizabeth Eulberg fan in general - I had a lot of fun reading TAKE A BOW because I especially love reading about the performing arts. Unfortuna...moreI'm an Elizabeth Eulberg fan in general - I had a lot of fun reading TAKE A BOW because I especially love reading about the performing arts. Unfortunately, REVENGE OF THE GIRL WITH THE GREAT PERSONALITY was really off the mark for me.
The beginning started off good enough. I do enjoy watching Toddlers and Tiaras, and it seemed Lexi's life mirrored that show a bit, with her little sister Mac. Mac does pageants all of the time, with their mom spending way too much money to do them. Lexi spends her weekends at these pageants, where she takes note of how much work all of the contestants put into their appearance.
On the flip side, Lexi in her normal life is a girl that people like, but that boys don't see as a girlfriend. After a dare from her friend, she learns how to put on makeup and wears it to school - where she is instantly recognized as a beautiful girl and receives attention from boys.
Now, the message of the whole book was really off for me. I went into it thinking it would be a girl who maybe has a makeover but then shows everyone how ridiculous it is (revenge is in the title, after all). Instead, she puts makeup on and wears different clothes and everyone loves her, and she decides it's not so bad. It's a really mixed message. And while I'm not against girls feeling good about how they look, I also don't agree that they should ever feel the need to wake up an hour before school to put makeup on to achieve that.
I'm not afraid to try Eulberg's future books, but I won't be recommending this one.(less)
MONUMENT 14 ended with the cliffhanger of all cliffhangers. Needless to say, since I finished that book I have been chomping at the bit to read SKY ON...moreMONUMENT 14 ended with the cliffhanger of all cliffhangers. Needless to say, since I finished that book I have been chomping at the bit to read SKY ON FIRE. The minute it arrived on my doorstep I sat down and read it, all in one sitting.
SKY ON FIRE starts nearly exactly where MONUMENT 14 left off - most of the kids on a bus headed for Denver, and some of the others left in the superstore they were all in for most of the first book. The world is just as dangerous in this installment as it is in the first, which keeps you flipping the pages.
Told in alternating viewpoints, we bounce from the group on the bus to the group left in the store. Some may fear that the story line would start to feel tired after two books, but Emmy Laybourne is a master of suspense and keeps the action moving, progressing towards that final goal of safety for each of the survivors.
This is a definite must read for fans of MONUMENT 14. I am happy to report it doesn't leave off at as much of a cliffhanger as the first book, but it does leave the possibility of a third book, which I am intrigued about because I haven't heard anything. Great sequel.(less)
I hadn't heard anything about NOBODY BUT US and didn't read the summary before I started, so I had no expectations. Sadly, this contemporary and I jus...moreI hadn't heard anything about NOBODY BUT US and didn't read the summary before I started, so I had no expectations. Sadly, this contemporary and I just did not mesh.
Zoe and Will are on the run, Will saving Zoe from her abusive father. They drive across the nation, headed for the west.
Will and Zoe are several years apart in age, and they are supposedly madly in love but I really did not connect with nor care for their relationship. Many of the ways that they interacted seemed unhealthy to me, from page one until the end. There is jealousy, violence, no trust... on and on. Nothing really gets resolved by the end, either.
The thing I liked about this book was that they came to the city in Nevada that I live, which I have never read about in a book before because it's in the middle of nowhere. I didn't recognize any of the places they went, so I'm not sure if the author has actually been here or if I just haven't been to the places they were.
I dove right into WATCH ME (formerly REALITY CHICK) after reading two other Lauren Barnholdt books because I found her writing style addicting. While...moreI dove right into WATCH ME (formerly REALITY CHICK) after reading two other Lauren Barnholdt books because I found her writing style addicting. While I didn't adore WATCH ME as much as her others, I still had a decent time reading it and don't regret doing so.
I know that my friend Katie really loves this book (I think it's her favorite book of the year, actually), so I knew that I needed to read it (after a...moreI know that my friend Katie really loves this book (I think it's her favorite book of the year, actually), so I knew that I needed to read it (after all, her last recommendation to me was CINDER and I loved that one).
I am a big fan of the "crime" books I've read previously - the Gallagher Girls by Ally Carter are probably the most "similar" to HOW TO LEAD A LIFE OF CRIME, but in all reality they aren't very comparable. They both have schools where the students learn crime techniques, but HOW TO is a much darker version.
Flick enters the Mandel school and quickly learns that he needs to show his dominance. Students are ranked by ability, and the top students rule over all others, so Flick's initial goal is to reach those ranks to protect himself and others. The school only graduates nine students at a time, and the lowest students are occasionally expelled.
Kirsten Miller does an excellent job with world building. I can clearly picture the school and the different areas where scenes take place. I also felt the intense emotion that the students at that academy were feeling as they discovered their ranks and tried to claw their way to graduation. The ending had me gasping over and over because I truly didn't know what Miller had planned for the characters I had grown to know and root for.
HOW TO LEAD A LIFE OF CRIME is a great choice for those looking for a really solid world and want to get involved in a story. The length is a little longer than most young adult books, but Miller's writing style and the plot keeps it moving. Thank you to Katie for another great recommendation!(less)
I'm an advocate for good sports focused books, so when ONE SHOT AWAY came across my doorstep and I saw that the premise was wrestling, I was excited t...moreI'm an advocate for good sports focused books, so when ONE SHOT AWAY came across my doorstep and I saw that the premise was wrestling, I was excited to give it a try since I have no wrestling book suggestions in my repertoire.
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