R8: SS Team ReadyPlayer2 (2)

[Maddie]

I'm 57% through Starters.

[Shy The WidowMaker]

Im almost done with mine should be either tonight or tomorrow afternoon.

[Elle]

Same here. Tonight or tomorrow afternoon for me.

[Maddie]

Yeahp :) At least I know for the next roll I'll be ale to read a first in a series, because we'll be landing in the 10's somewhere, so that one'll be easier to fill.

[Maddie]

1st Roll Completion

Task: Read a book either 9th in series or set in California
How it fits: Set in California
Date read: 20/7/16
Rating: 5 stars

Review: I actually really enjoyed this book! I liked the fact that there wasn't much romance, and what was (view spoiler)[wasn't even really real. (hide spoiler)] I liked how original the story was, and how even though it was sort of dystopian, it wasn't typical. I like the background, and the pages seemed to turn themselves. I found myself constantly flicking back a chapter just to see how many pages there were in that chapter because I felt like I'd just started a new chapter. It was really good, and it surprised me. I was kind of expecting mediocre, but I enjoyed this :) I like the whole idea of (view spoiler)[people renting their bodies out, but then things started to go wrong, with the murders. (hide spoiler)] One thing I didn't quite like was (view spoiler)[how easily Helena gave up on her plan to assassinate the Senator. (hide spoiler)] I found it totally freaky how (view spoiler)[Old Man was really Blake, (hide spoiler)] and (view spoiler)[that fat old guy was in Michael's body and he licked her! (hide spoiler)] But I'm pleased that (view spoiler)[Lauren was on her side in the end, and how Helena gave them her things when she died. Sad that she died though. (hide spoiler)]

[Shy The WidowMaker]

Week 1 Completion

Task: Set in CA
How it fits: Set in California
Date read: 7/20/16
Rating: 3 stars

Review:
So while I rated this one 3 stars I am still kinda on the fence about this one. I liked the concept and the plot I mean who doesn;t like a book about a ghost who is also a klepto. The characters were likeable but they didn't make me love them. I enjoyed the book but didn't especially love it.

[Shy The WidowMaker]

How's everyone looking for finishing their book. We need all reviews in tomorrow before we can roll tomorrow night at Midnight.

[Maddie]

What happens if we don't get all of the reviews in?

[Maddie]

And do novellas count? Like can we round them up? Or must they be actual series books?

[Elle]

Week 1
Spot 9
- (Setting California)
Finished 7/20/16
Rating: ★★★

Review:
My first Amy Tan book was Valley of Amazement. Unfortunately, because this was my first impression of her, I believe I unfairly placed certain expectations on her debut novel, The Joy Luck Club. By no means do I think the book was "bad". It's inventive and creative with lots of scattered morsels about Chinese culture. This is what makes Amy Tan so darn awesome. However, I failed to find the actual "story" in this book. Each character had a separate but similar struggle but the time and character jumping didn't add or contribute to anything compelling for me. This similar format was done in Valley of Amazement but the storytelling was still linear and all of the characters connected beautifully. I am still very impressed by her and I suspect her first novel will be the least successful for me which is actually pretty darn cool.

[Elle]

Maddison wrote: "And do novellas count? Like can we round them up? Or must they be actual series books?"

✸Half books: ½ or .5 count only if they meet the page requirement AND will be judged by preceding whole number numeral on goodreads.
Example: Spot 8: A MacKenzie Clan Gathering (MacKenzies & McBrides, #8.5) would count for spot 8 because it meets the page limit

[Maddie]

Ah alrighty thanks. So 0.5 wouldn't count for 1 :/

[Shy The WidowMaker]

And if we dont have all reviews in we cant roll.

[Brenna]

Week 1 Completion

Task: Set in California
How it fits: Set in California
Date Read: 7/20/16
Rating: 4.5 Stars

Review:
As a musician I really enjoyed this book! I felt like I could relate to Lucy well (view spoiler)[except for the fact that throughout the book she crushes on an older, married man, that was just weird to me... (hide spoiler)] but certain parts felt unnecessary to the story (view spoiler)[such as Reyna's situation with the divorce and her argument with Lucy, I feel like her character should have been more cheerful and less judgmental, like how Carson was (hide spoiler)]. Despite this though, the writing style worked really well for the story and I liked how you get to "discover" Lucy's past through Intermezzos and how the sections of the book also have musical names such as Tempo Rubato. Overall I would definitely recommend this book, especially to those who enjoy music.

[Shy The WidowMaker]

Ok we only need Steph's I sent her a pm to check in. We can't roll tonight until her review is in.

[Steph]

Week 1
Spot 9

Set in california
4 stars
Date read: 7/21/16

I had read the first book in the series awhile back and was kind of lost for the first few chapters but they were still really well written and enticing. After I fell back into the original storyline I was super happy I chose to read this. It was really cool to have the story from a different perspective than Mia's. Id definitely recommend picking this up if youve ever read If I Stay.

[Shy The WidowMaker]

Thanks Steph, Ok we are set for next roll. If someone does it tonight just let us know what it is and then I will link all reviews and get our spot posted for the week.

[Elle]

Sounds good. I will roll and post after midnight.

[Elle]

We rolled a 3. This puts us on spot number 12. Book 1 in series, Book 2 in series, Stand Alone, or Title L.

[Maddie]

Easy book to read haha. Is it standalone allowed too because it's in the 10's?

And I'll be reading

[Shy The WidowMaker]

Ok getting us all linked up and will post our spot.

Maddison I loved that book.

[Shy The WidowMaker]

Im going with for 1st in series.

[Elle]

I'm going to read - 1st in series

[Brenna]

I'm going to read for 1st in series

[Maddie]

I loved The Gathering! And I read Cinder a while back. That was pretty good. Need to finish the series.

Yeah I've heard good things. Just hope I can read it haha. I might have to DNF Heir of Fire. Can't seem to get through it.

[Maddie]

Changing my #1 to which I'm starting now.

[Steph]

First in a series

[Maddie]

Changing it back to ACOTAR haha.

[Shy The WidowMaker]

Week 2 Completion

Task: 1st in Series
How it fits: 1st in Series
Date read: 7/26/16
Rating: 3 stars

Review:
I am shocked that I liked this one as I have heard mixed reviews on it. Gemma was a likeable character but a little too guillable at times for me. I loved the concept of her not feeling emotions though as it was unique and different. I didnt care for Alex as first and the whole boy treats me like crap but I still want to be around him thing but he eventually grew on me. Overall it was a quick easy listen and I plan on reading the next in the series.

[Shy The WidowMaker]

How are we looking for this week ladies?

[Elle]

I finished last night. Will post my review today.

[Elle]

Week 2
Spot 12
1st in series
Finished 7/26/16
Rating: ★★★

Review:
I'm glad I was able to finally read a Kelley Armstrong book! I enjoy her writing and overall, I enjoyed this story. The plot was interesting with an adopted girl and the secrets of her Native background. For the first in the series, it seemed to mainly be an introduction of the characters and the connecting web between them. The trouble with many YA books is that you have to sometimes deal with the high school dynamic clichés. The "bad boy", the "jock", the unattractive overweight girl, the blond bimbo, and of course, the brunette who is smart and athletic. This book unfortunately had all of these lined up and part of the main conflict. Overall, it annoys me but Armstrong still made it interesting.

[Brenna]

I just finished today, I'll post my review either tonight or tomorrow morning

[Maddie]

Yeah I'm 45% through, but I'll binge-read for the rest of the day (well when I can). Review's due tomorrow, right? Gosh I actually kind of forgot about this challenge :p Maybe when I get home I might have to switch to finishing off Messenger of Fear because that's a more likely book that I'll be able to finish. Oh gosh I do not want to hold the team up! I'll try my hardest!

[Steph]

Im about 84% done. I should finish tonight

[Steph]

Week 2
Spot 12

1st in series
Finished: 7/27

This book surpised me. I didn't expect to like it as much as i did. A girl who was a model before a horseback riding accident suffers body image issues after she gains 60 pounds. The love story involved was typical until the end but the story just kept me wanting to read more&more.

[Maddie]

Awesome job :D I'll be swapping back to Messenger of Fear.

[Maddie]

How many more hours to we have? Because I'm only on page 133/308 of my book, and I'll get about another 150 read on the bus tomorrow, but I really need to finish so I don't let you guys down.

[Shy The WidowMaker]

You have until midnight tonight.

[Maddie]

Yeah but I'm in a different time zone so I need it spelled out for me.

But I finished it anyway which was nice. I read 180 pages on the bus, which was a real accomplishment :D

[Maddie]

Week 2 Completion

How it fits: 1st in series
Pages: 309
Date read: 29/7
Rating: 5 stars

Review: (view spoiler)[She killed Samantha!? (hide spoiler)] I so do not remember that from the first time I read this book! I love it though haha. It's very graphic and gory, and detailed within that, which I really enjoyed. I liked the idea, that justice to bullies is deserved, but is hard to dish out. (view spoiler)[I couldn't believe that they 'burnt' Derek alive. (hide spoiler)] I'd forgotten about that too. Also the lack of romance was nice, and that the most feelings she got was from (view spoiler)[Oriax :p (hide spoiler)] Enjoyed this book, as I rated it 5 stars this time around rather than the initial 4.

[Shy The WidowMaker]

Ok we just need Brenna and we are done for the week but we can't roll without hers

[Maddie]

And I suppose we couldn't roll? :/

[Shy The WidowMaker]

I sent her a pm.

[Maddie]

Okay. Well when can we next roll? Do we need to wait until next week?

[Elle]

As soon as Brenna posts her review today, I will roll.

[Brenna]

Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry guys! I'm an officer in my orchestra this year (my position is librarian and I've been making copies of music for everyone) and the last few days have been really busy since we've been trying to get ready for next school year... I'm writing my review right now!

[Shy The WidowMaker]

Im stepping out to lunch but once I get back and if we have rolled then I will get all reviews linked up and get our spot posted.

[Brenna]

Week 2 Completion

How it fits: 1st in Series
Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
I was afraid this book would be too similar to the original Cinderella story but it ended up being different enough to make it really interesting. From the point where (view spoiler)[you find out that Cinder is Lunar and hear about Princess Selene I pretty much had it figured out that Cinder would probably be her or find her by the end of the book (hide spoiler)] so I felt like some of the plot points could be a bit obvious. I really enjoyed the suspense with the queen and Prince Kai though! Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I'll definitely read the next book in the series!

[Elle]

Ok- all reviews are in! We rolled a 7. This puts us on spot 19. Read 1st in series, 9th in series, Geek/Nerd/Genius Romance or a Stand alone (because of the "1").