I have mixed feelings about this one. I felt like it took a while to get started, and the last 20 pages seemed to drag on (however, the *very* ending...moreI have mixed feelings about this one. I felt like it took a while to get started, and the last 20 pages seemed to drag on (however, the *very* ending was satisfying). I wanted more 90s details and references and I wished the relationship with Justin was built up more. We mostly only saw them in the record store and it didn't give me a sense of their long friendship. Even though I wanted more details on certain things, in terms of writing I really loved how the author took the time to give us the small gestures and movements that make characters feel real and alive.
I did enjoy the book. I've never read a time travel novel before but I enjoyed this and appreciated the story, rules and consequences of time travel. (less)
Quite the creepy book for such a young audience. It's considered middle grade and although the characters are 10-13 the writing alone reads much older...moreQuite the creepy book for such a young audience. It's considered middle grade and although the characters are 10-13 the writing alone reads much older. Which is fine by me--growing a kid's imagination and reading skills is always a good thing, as long as she doesn't scare too easily. I don't normally read books with magical elements but I'm glad I read this one--bought as much for the gorgeous cover as the high recommendations. (See the UK cover, under the title "Fire Spell." Us Yanks got the better cover but the UK one is also very pretty.) I fell in love with Lizzie Rose and Parsefall almost immediately and I loved the story of Clara's home life. The visuals in this book are stunning and I can't help but think it would make a brilliant movie. Here's hoping!(less)
I enjoyed this book and the way Morgan Matson takes her time in her writing. She creates the full image without bogging the writing down with too many...moreI enjoyed this book and the way Morgan Matson takes her time in her writing. She creates the full image without bogging the writing down with too many details. The only thing that kept me from loving it was that I felt like I always knew where the story was going. There were no surprises. However, I loved being there at Lake Phoenix with the Edwards family and the rest of the vacation town residents. It was a lovely place to spend a few days reading about.(less)
Reading this I felt like I was listening in on intimate conversations between two real people. Like any good book, even the so-called B plot is strong...moreReading this I felt like I was listening in on intimate conversations between two real people. Like any good book, even the so-called B plot is strong (and unforgettable), but the story keeps its focus on Eleanor & Park, seamlessly weaving their home lives into their personal interactions--how they relate and react to one another is a direct result of what their home is like and how each was raised. This could make the story feel claustrophobic--like, it's all E&P, all the time--but instead it managed to feel intimate and genuine. I loved this book to the end. Quite the beauty.(less)
I never would have thought I'd find myself reading a book about President Garfield. Honestly, I couldn't have told you when he was president or that h...moreI never would have thought I'd find myself reading a book about President Garfield. Honestly, I couldn't have told you when he was president or that he had been assassinated. I read it for a book club and and am so glad I did, not just for what I learned but from the sheer enjoyment of the book. It felt like a quick read. And as I read through the ending, I couldn't believe how sort of Hollywood some of it felt, and I mean that in the best possible sense. Even though the president died needlessly, mostly in part because of other men's egos, many of the other people in this story have encouraging, bright endings. If it'd been a novel I might have rolled my eyes at wrapping things up so neatly and nicely.
I'm so glad Millard chose to tell this story and also glad my book club chose to read it!(less)
Once I started reading this I almost couldn't put it down--helped, in my opinion, by the short chapters. "I'll just read one more...!" I was excited t...moreOnce I started reading this I almost couldn't put it down--helped, in my opinion, by the short chapters. "I'll just read one more...!" I was excited to read my first book from Harlequin Teen (the idea of the imprint is genius) and I wasn't disappointed. However, I feel like this book is slightly misjudged. I feel like it's less of a romance and more of a deep, emotional story about heavy issues--foster kids, mental illness, repressed memories. The author has a lot in here and did an excellent job of it. Just about anyone who reads it seems to like it (like me!) but I don't think it can be looked at as just a teen romance. There's some real meat here.
And yes, she did a great job of the tension between Echo and Noah. There were only a couple of tiny things that irked me. Noah kept saying to Echo, "You're mine. You belong to me," which gave me a queasy feeling. And there were a couple of pockets of dialogue that didn't sound like teens at all, so much that it gave me pause while reading it. I wish an editor had marked them for the author to fix.
But hey, I loved the book and will most definitely be picking up the next one, DARE YOU TO.(less)
I read this on a sunny Sunday afternoon and don't regret missing the fresh air for it. It's a deceptively quick read with many layers of friendship, e...moreI read this on a sunny Sunday afternoon and don't regret missing the fresh air for it. It's a deceptively quick read with many layers of friendship, emotions, mystery men and mean kids. Georges has to learn how to deal with the truth as Safer tackles his own issues. The only thing I worry about is how Candy's teeth will fare!(less)
The writing isn't great but I think enough people have said that so I'll skip over it. I wasn't sure about reading about a SEAL spilling any kind of d...moreThe writing isn't great but I think enough people have said that so I'll skip over it. I wasn't sure about reading about a SEAL spilling any kind of details about missions and it wasn't until the very end that he explains why he wrote the book. I can accept his explanation, even if I still don't feel great about it. It's not part of his job to set the record straight for the public, especially since nothing sinister had been said about the mission or the guys who carried it out. Just some inconsistencies.
That said, I found it a compulsive read. I couldn't help but love reading all the things any special forces guy goes through to complete a mission. Much respect to them all for the self-lessness of it all, and how it's just a job to them, like how you and I go to work each day for some random company and do what we're supposed to do--except their jobs have such huge meaning and consequences and could easily cost them their lives.
So I appreciate the story being told and really enjoyed reading it. I'm just not sure it was this guy's duty to tell it...yet I'm glad he did. So I'm torn.
Huge respect to all SEALs, Rangers, and other special forces guy. (less)
Excellently well written story. It's a dark book. Not a lot of joy in it but sometimes that's what I'm in the mood to read. This is a complex, interwo...moreExcellently well written story. It's a dark book. Not a lot of joy in it but sometimes that's what I'm in the mood to read. This is a complex, interwoven story that fits in nicely with my other YA military themed books from this year. (less)
**spoiler alert** Oh, I was so close to giving this five stars but then...the ending! Much like the characters, I had a moral issue with how this was...more**spoiler alert** Oh, I was so close to giving this five stars but then...the ending! Much like the characters, I had a moral issue with how this was handled. I really feel like Grace got off easy. I don't feel she lost enough. She certainly didn't have to pay her debt to society, so to speak. She committed a felony. This is no joke. And she did pay what was the equivalent of hush money to the Garrett family. Sure, she quit the race but she still got to keep her money, dignity and freedom (at least publicly). I'm still not sure just how guilty she feels about it. I just wonder why the author didn't send her to jail or have the Garretts go to the police--which they absolutely should have done. I can't imagine a reason why they didn't. I didn't buy this weird sort of peace at the end. I wonder what other people think of this.
Other than this final 20 pages or so I absolutely loved this book. This seems like a given but novels that have such *full* stories and characters...well, there's a reason why they're highly rated. I feel like I knew everything about Sam and her life. The romance was so perfectly played, from the physical to the emotional. (I wasn't surprised to read that the author is a former editor at Harlequin.) I just adore Sam and Jase and the entire Garrett family.
Can't wait to see what the author writes next. I'll definitely buy it! (less)
Rebel is the kind of character that makes editors buy books. Like, it kind of doesn't matter what she does, you're going to keep reading because she's...moreRebel is the kind of character that makes editors buy books. Like, it kind of doesn't matter what she does, you're going to keep reading because she's just so *alive.* The dialogue is excellent, and I loved Rebel and Lacey Jane and all the others. I got a little bit bored in the last third just before the pageant, and even a bit during the pageant itself. I wanted to skim ahead to see what happens. Still, this is an adorable book with a strong, memorable main character. It's books like this that I need to think more of when I'm creating my own characters!(less)
This one started off so strong for me. The voice is excellent, Greg is a likable and flawed guy. He's an honest narrator with a crazy best friend and...moreThis one started off so strong for me. The voice is excellent, Greg is a likable and flawed guy. He's an honest narrator with a crazy best friend and a love for making movies. His emotions seem real for someone his age--slightly mortified that he has to hang out with this girl who has cancer and having no idea what to say to her or how to make her feel better.
About 2/3 of the way through it I felt like the story had lost steam. The quirks of the writing that I'd enjoyed in the first half bothered me in the second half because I wanted more story and fewer bullet points. I found myself just wanting to finish it. Hate it when that happens.(less)
Such an adorable book! This is what they talk about when they talk about a book's "voice." Strong from beginning to end, the author (and Mo!) almost h...moreSuch an adorable book! This is what they talk about when they talk about a book's "voice." Strong from beginning to end, the author (and Mo!) almost had me talkin' slang with an NC accent out loud. This is a full story about such a sweet family and a couple of mysteries to boot. It's good old fashioned fiction with a great story, outstanding characters, and the best voice I've read in months. Go, Mo LoBeau!(less)
I can't deny Caletti's excellent writing. An entire book of my own couldn't compare to one single paragraph of hers. Although there was a lot to enjoy...moreI can't deny Caletti's excellent writing. An entire book of my own couldn't compare to one single paragraph of hers. Although there was a lot to enjoy in this book, I also felt there was a lot going on and perhaps more than necessary. So many secondary characters, I felt she could have cut them by half and the overall theme would still have held up. I wanted to focus more on some of these characters but they kept leaving, and when they came back it took my mind a bit to click into place as to why I cared about them. Did we need the Martinellis and the postman neighbor? What about stalker boy? I would rather have seen more of Scarlet's best friend, for example, than the elderly neighbor's email scheme.
No denying Deb Caletti's talent, and I'll always be a fan!(less)
Sometimes you read the right book at just the right moment and that's what this was for me--exactly what I needed, right when I needed it. Probably be...moreSometimes you read the right book at just the right moment and that's what this was for me--exactly what I needed, right when I needed it. Probably because not too long ago I moved from NYC to the suburbs of Virginia. Not exactly small town Texas (although I am from the Lone Star state) but a bit of culture shock nonetheless.
It's also my favorite kind of book--fun, deceptively light read with tons of heart. I loved the descriptions of Broken Spoke (also the name of a real life, old school honkey-tonk in Austin) and life there--especially teenage life.
I've been in love with this cover since the book came out but frankly didn't think the story could hold up to such greatness. Well! How wrong I was. I only wish I hadn't read it yet so I could start it all over again. (less)
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