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Showing posts with label grade A. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grade A. Show all posts
Wednesday, 7 August 2013
Author: Katie McGarry
Date Published: July 31, 2012
Grade: A
Goodreads Summary: No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.
Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.
Review: I remember reading the summary for this book when it first came out and wanting to read it very badly. However, as the release date passed, Pushing The Limits started slipping lower and lower on my TBR list. Finding myself in a reading slump, I usually turn to novels that are driven by one key element - romance. This novel had romance, but it also contained a emotionally driven story that had me at the edge of my seat throughout my reading experience.
The chapters are told through the point of view of the main characters, Echo and Noah. I find myself being drawn to these stories more now as you can see into the minds of both love interests. Not only is this a major bonus in my books, but I noticed that lately these books are the ones that keep me engaged longer. Thinking back to the book now, I realize that this story reminded me a lot of The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay. Though not quite up to the level of Millay's masterpiece, Pushing The Limits features alternating points of view and two characters with emotional pasts. Apparently, these stories are my element, and boy do they ever keep a reader entertained.
Another reason why my eyes were glued to this novel was the writing and pacing. Katie McGarry's writing was vivid enough to make each scene translate into movie scenes in my head. Not to mention the scenes between Noah and Echo had butterflies - or as Echo would say pterodactyls - flying rapidly around my stomach. When I can find an author who can do that, I know that I can always turn to their novels during any of my reading slumps. The pacing, too, of the relationship and even the revelations of Echo's past pieced together wonderfully and always kept the reader engaged in the plot.
Though this book may have received many mixed reviews (some people loved it and some people just couldn't connect with it), I definitely could not tear myself away from the world Katie McGarry created. Her story reminded me of Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles with its sizzling chemistry and complex characters. If you loved Perfect Chemistry then you cannot miss this book. If you haven't read either book, I highly suggest you give both a try!
Happy reading!
~ SARINA
Friday, 2 August 2013
Author: Lauren Morrill
Date Published: November 13, 2012
Grade: A
Goodreads Summary: Meant to be or not meant to be... that is the question.
It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").
But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.
Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.
Review: I completely devoured this one, man, I had such a good time reading it. I think it was definitely the most fun I've had reading a book in a long time. Like some reviews are saying, I found Meant to Be similar to Anna and the French Kiss: Cute, quirky, FUN.
Reasons why Meant to Be was meant for me :)))
1. Firstly, the cover screams adorable YA romance (okay I admit I kind of judge books by their covers)
2. Julia, the main character, is one of the most lively, animated characters I've had the pleasure of reading about in a long time. She's awkward, witty, undoubtedly clumsy, a swimmer, a "book licker", a rule follower, and undeniably hilarious. Her voice is strong and constant throughout the entire book. Not only did her observations and thoughts make me laugh out loud every other page, I found Julia crazy relatable, as I saw so much of myself in her character.
3. Jason, I admit, came off annoying and arrogant in the beginning, (spoiler... however you should all see this coming anyways) but like Julia, I ended up falling for him hard. His care-free personality and optimism makes him incredibly lovable- how can you not fall for a boy who takes you to a small British Cafe and dances with you? Or serenades you with your favorite Beatles song in a skatebaording park?
4. The unlikely romance formed between this couple, the strict rule follower and the laid back rule breaker, is swoon-worthy. Watching this young couple experience first love together- without them even knowing that they're falling for each other- is so exciting. It's how most girls my age dream of falling for a guy. Not to mention it takes you on a ten day adventure around London.
5. Just when you think the story is becoming predictable and you feel as if you already know how everything will end (because that's what I initially thought)- BOOM, Lauren Morrill inserts a twist or two into the plot. I thought the ending was great, perhaps a little rushed though.
Overall, Meant to Be was a book filled with comedy and romance (kinda like a romcom in book form?). The story kept you on your feet and the characters worked perfectly together. It also offers a little reminder that sometimes, the image we conjure up in our heads of a perfect "happily ever after" can be completely different from reality. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a happy-go-lucky, fun read.
Have fun laughing out loud to yourself with this one!
PAULA :)
Have fun laughing out loud to yourself with this one!
PAULA :)
Friday, 19 July 2013
Name: Golden
Author: Jessi Kirby
Date Published: May 14, 2013
Grade: A
Goodreads Summary: Love, tragedy, and mystery converge in this compelling novel from “an author to watch” (Booklist).
Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost has never taken the road less traveled. Valedictorian and quintessential good girl, she’s about to graduate high school without ever having kissed her crush or broken the rules. So when fate drops a clue in her lap—one that might be the key to unraveling a town mystery—she decides to take a chance.
Julianna Farnetti and Shane Cruz are remembered as the golden couple of Summit Lakes High—perfect in every way, meant to be together forever. But Julianna’s journal tells a different story—one of doubts about Shane and a forbidden romance with an older, artistic guy. These are the secrets that were swept away with her the night that Shane’s jeep plunged into an icy river, leaving behind a grieving town and no bodies to bury.
Reading Julianna’s journal gives Parker the courage to start to really live—and it also gives her reasons to question what really happened the night of the accident. Armed with clues from the past, Parker enlists the help of her best friend, Kat, and Trevor, her longtime crush, to track down some leads. The mystery ends up taking Parker places that she never could have imagined. And she soon finds that taking the road less traveled makes all the difference.
Review:
"Tell me, what do you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" - Mary Oliver
This quote was mentioned many times during this novel and every time I found myself admiring the quote. That and "sometimes we meet our destiny on the road we take to avoid it". As you can most probably already tell, this books was beautifully written and incredibly good. It's a story within a story about a girl, Parker Frost, who has always lived her life the way her mother envisioned it. Being class valedictorian and a candidate for a full ride scholarship to Berkeley, she has had a safe, boring life. Until she falls upon a journal of a dead resident of her town, who happened to be the perfect girl. Julianna had a perfect life that was ended way too soon, and Parker takes a chance and reads her journal. From that point on, her life was never the same.
When I first looked at the book, I thought that it wouldn't be possible to be that great because it looked like a really thin book. And it was, but Jessi Kirby wrote the story so well that the length was perfect to encompass the story. Her writing was easy to understand and like I said above, beautiful. There were so many words that made me think which always shows how well written a novel is. When an author can make you consider their words.
There were multiple love stories in this book but that of the main character wasn't the main one, surprisingly. Though it was nice to read, it was light. The story within the main one was the one that entertained me. It was sorta predictable, but I love the direction it took.
This book was a summer delight. Being both deep and light, the story will keep you entertained, and you will have no trouble getting into this one. I haven't read any other novels by Kirby, but I definitely plan on catching up after this one!
Happy reading!
~SARINA
Tuesday, 9 July 2013
Author: Kasie West
Date Published: July 2nd, 2013
Grade: A :)
Goodreads Summary: Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.
So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.
She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.
Review: Ah this was such an adorable book! I had been waiting for The Distance Between Us for the longest time- but it was definitely worth the wait. Although the book was pretty short, it had all the elements required for a great, young adult read.
Ever since reading Pivot Point, I have adored Kasie West's writing. Her voice is so strong, it always keeps you one hundred percent engaged in the story. West's writing is also undeniably hilarious, I found myself chuckling every other page (you know it's a good book when it can make you laugh). There's something about her writing that flows so nicely together, it's simple, yet addictive. Kasie West also has this wonderful ability to create the most adorable male characters, characters whom she develops so well, all us female YA readers fall head over heels for.
Let's talk about Xander. At first, I was kind of hesitant on whether or not I liked him... But then, twenty pages later, I get to the part of the story where he brings her hot chocolate and shows up on her doorstep and he's all smart and funny and witty and can handle her sarcastic comments and then BOOM. This happens.
Actually though, even if you hold some grudge against Kasie West and you don't like her writing or whatever, READ THE BOOK FOR XANDER AND CAYMEN'S CHEMISTRY. It's so much fun watching their characters develop with each other. The sarcasm and humor that occurs between the two is refreshing and funny. Caymen was also a great character. Typically, I dislike the female protagonists in books, but from page 1, I loved Caymen's wit and "dry humor". She is independent and hilarious, a sass master who has perfected the art of sarcasm- Honestly, she's the type of girl you want as a best friend. Kasie West also made sure she wasn't perfect. Of course she made mistakes, but that just made her that much more relatable and lovable.
The plot itself was smooth and worked well. Nothing really awful ever happened, so there was no huge life changing climax or anything. However, I really loved the story. I loved the little twists and turns throughout the book. My one complaint would be that the ending felt pretty rushed, although I liked the final twist. The Distance Between Us was definitely an addictively funny, happy, summer read, one that had me smiling the entire time I was reading it. I definitely recommend it for you YA readers looking for a light, cute read with the two most sarcastic, funny protagonists of all time.
Happy reading y'all!
PAULA :)
Friday, 28 June 2013
Author: Jessica Verdi
Date Published: April 2, 2013
Grade: A
Goodreads Summary: Lucy just had the worst week ever. Seriously, mega bad. And suddenly, it's all too much—she wants out. Out of her house, out of her head, out of her life. She wants to be a whole new Lucy. So she does something the old Lucy would never dream of.
And now her life will never be the same. Now, how will she be able to have a boyfriend? What will she tell her friends? How will she face her family?
Now her life is completely different...every moment is a gift. Because now she might not have many moments left.
Review: When I first read the synopsis for this book, I really didn't know what to expect. The summary on Goodreads was intriguing; What drastic, life changing challenge will Lucy be having to face? I wondered. This book really exceeded my expectations; It was heartwarming, thoughtful, well written, and informative- with just the right amounts of realism, romance, self discovery, and dream chasing thrown in as well.
Lucy is a sixteen/seventeen year old actress in the making, a smart and talented girl who has her entire future ahead of her. After what seems to be an awful week, she makes some bad decisions that leads to a life changing event- Lucy is diagnosed with the sexually transmitted disease, HIV. My Life After Now shows how Lucy transforms from being ashamed of herself and shutting those she loves out of her life, to a girl ready to make the best of the rest of the life that has been given to her with the ones she loves. Along the way, not only does Lucy learn a ton about HIV/AIDS, she learns how to love again- She learns to love herself, even with what she considered an "infection running through her", and she learns to love the people around her again.
I loved Lucy as a character. Although she made plenty of mistakes, this made her relatable, real, and her flaws only proved how realistic her and her story was. Lucy was funny at times, and still completely fearless when she needed to be. The connections she had with her friends and parents (the two gay dads aspect of the book made it really fun to read!) were also really enjoyable to read because of the genuineness of all the characters. The romance felt powerful as well, and because both Lucy and Evan were such developed characters, I found myself being more and more drawn in by their story.
It felt really nice to read a book that tackled such a serious issue, an issue that normally is avoided. The author, Jessica Verdi, did an amazing job of informing the readers, and at the same time, keeping us engaged. I loved this book. Not only does My Life After Now bring awareness of HIV/AIDS to the lives of teenagers, it also reminds us that life is short, and that we should make the best of what we can. I highly recommend this book to those ready for an addictive, highly compelling, and eye opening read.
Happy reading!
PAULA :)
Monday, 24 June 2013
Author: Sarah Ockler
Date Published: May 21, 2013
Grade: A
Goodreads Summary: When all signs point to heartbreak, can love still be a rule of the road? A poignant and romantic novel from the author of Bittersweet and Twenty Boy Summer.
Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.
Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas? Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?
Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.
Review: First and for most, I would like to apologize on behalf of both me and Paula that we are sososososo sorry that we have not posted in such a long time! The school year was winding down, and with exams and everything, it was hard to dedicate much time to the blog. But now exams are over and summer has begun, and we are thrilled to read and review more books! The first book of the summer for me was The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler. I got this book, and it was teasing me from my bookshelf while I was studying for exams, so I decided that a few pages wouldn't hurt. Fast forward a few hours, I had finished the book. It was that good.
This book follows the life of Jude Hernandez as her father recently developed Early Alzheimer's. In hopes of recovering any part of his memory, she decides to hire a mechanic to restore an old Harley of his. One problem - the mechanic she hired just so happens to come from the one family she has swore to her sisters to stay away from. The Vargas Family.
Jude was a phenomenal character. Lately, I've read many books where the main character is slightly annoying (okay I usually can't stand them), but I could sympathize well with Jude. Her struggles, her hold backs, everything seemed to make sense, and I highly enjoyed that. At first glance, Alzheimer's doesn't seem like a make it or break it disease. But reading this book, I realized that it was. The family dynamic between Jude, her sisters, and her parents was so well written that I felt like I was experiencing all the pains of the Hernandez family.
And the boy. Emilio Vargas, what can I say. He said the right things, he did the right things, he even made me feel the oh so right things. Emilio was a perfect character to balance out Jude, and they complemented each other so well. A perfect romance for a summer read.
Overall, this book was exactly what I needed when I needed it. Sarah Ockler has always been on my reading radar, but this book sealed the deal. Her writing is phenomenal, and there's nothing more I can say that could explain how good this book was. If you're looking for a story to start off your summer, I highly suggest picking this one up!
Happy reading!
~SARINA
Friday, 24 May 2013
Author: Kasie West
Date Published: February 12, 2013
Grade: A
Goodreads Summary: Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.
In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through... and who she can’t live without.
Review: EVERYONE LISTEN UP I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE. I AM VERY, EXTREMELY, SUPER EXCITED AND PLEASED TO WELCOME A NEW FICTIONAL MALE CHARACTER TO MY LIST OF BOOK BOYFRIENDS. YAYYY.
Normally, I'm not one to love supernatural/super power books and I prefer to stick to the reality young adult novels. However, this book was incredible and has completely changed my attitude towards supernatural books. Just the concept of a community with people each having a different power- it almost reminded me of Divergent, except with a cuter, more believable romance and slightly less fighting/action- is a pretty neat concept. Unlike the normal supernatural concepts we come across as young adult readers (vampires/werewolves etc.), this cool idea of mind powers and abilities really stood out to me as original, engaging, and fascinating to read.
Gah. And the characters and romance in this book.. GAHHH. By the end of the 350 pages of this book, I felt as though I knew the characters so well, the main ones were all so well developed and complex- each having their own challenges and obstacles to face. Addie is super-relatable and lovable, expecially being a teenager who loves to read and does somewhat dorky things, and experiences the things normal teenage girls go through. Most of the characters also worked super well together. Especially the romantic chemistry between Addie/Trevor and sometimes Addie/Duke. The chemistry between these two was incredibly enjoyable to read. Addie and Trevor's relationship also felt very consistent, never faltering. They were just so funny and adorable with each other, always responding to each other with witty comments, and saying the cutest things at just the right moments. Trevor- *sighs* -was the cutest thing ever, with his cowboy boots, smart and clever responses, and his sensitive and artistic side. I seriously wish I could have seen more Traddie moments (They already have a relationship name! That's how much I ship them!). Aaaaand, like I said earlier, he has officially made my top ten list of book boyfriends! Welcome Trevor!
Kasie West's writing is also really quite amazing. Her writing is easy to follow and extremely engaging. I never found myself bored. She's not the type of person who needs millions of metaphors and deep quotes to grab your attention, her writing is straight forward and fun to read, not to mention straight up hilarious at times. This was definitely a book that I was not able to put down!
The ending of the book killed me. No- actually what killed me was the adorable chemistry between Traddie... And then I came back to life after calming myself, and then I died again after finishing it. "Why?" You might ask? Well, the ending came so suddenly, and everything was so chaotic, and not everything was resolved, and I was upset! Then, I checked Goodreads and HALLELUJAH, a sequel to Pivot Point is supposed to come out next year! Thank goodness. So now, I'm back, alive, and really looking forward to next year. This book is definitely one you do not want to miss, especially if you're a fan of cute romantic chemistry (duh, who isn't?) and supernatural stuff. And don't make the mistake that I almost did of turning away from this book because if has supernatural stuff. It's a really great read and I highly recommend it.
PAULA :)
Friday, 17 May 2013
Author: Cath Crowley
Date Published: August 1, 2013
Grade: Solid A
Goodreads Summary: "Let me make it in time. Let me meet Shadow. The guy who paints in the dark. Paints birds trapped on brick walls and people lost in ghost forests. Paints guys with grass growing from their hearts and girls with buzzing lawn mowers."
It’s the end of Year 12. Lucy’s looking for Shadow, the graffiti artist everyone talks about. His work is all over the city, but he is nowhere.
Ed, the last guy she wants to see at the moment, says he knows where to find him. He takes Lucy on an all-night search to places where Shadow’s thoughts about heartbreak and escape echo around the city walls. But the one thing Lucy can’t see is the one thing that’s right before her eyes.
Review: I MUST MAKE AN APOLOGETIC STATEMENT RIGHT NOW. I AM SORRY CATH CROWLEY, I AM SORRY SARINA, I AM SORRY MY GOODREADS FRIENDS WHO TOLD ME TO READ THIS BOOK A LONG TIME AGO BUT OBVIOUSLY MY STUBBORN, STUPID SELF DIDN'T LISTEN. Let me explain. Alright, so a year and a half ago, Sarina came up to me, excited, telling me about this super great book that I had to read because it was "asdfghjkl-good". I had a couple books on my plate already so I sort of glanced at the back summary and read the first couple pages and thought "meh", and decided that it didn't seem so great. So I gave it back to her saying I didn't want to read it. Then, a couple weeks ago, I was in need of a good YA book to read and I remembered the raving reviews about this one, so I re-borrowed it from Sarina to give it another try- and I read it almost all in one sitting and now here I am, about to tell you the amazing adventure I had with the most lovable, funny characters, Lucy, Ed, Jazz, Leo, Daisy, and Dylan. I miss them already (I am going through serious post-book-achy-sulky-feeling).
The thing about Graffiti Moon is that it only happens in one night. And that's actually one of the things that turned me away from the book initially- I thought the characters wouldn't be complex or the story would become slow or something dumb like that... But no! It was quite the opposite actually. Even though I only got to spend a mere ten hours with the characters, I completely fell in love with them. Especially Ed and Lucy. They're romance/tension-between-them-that-was-obviously-flirty-tension was so, so much fun to read. They were hilarious together. They just seemed to get each other. They could talk about anything with each other, from the deepest things to the most ridiculously funny things. During the entire book, all I could thing was "KISS ALREADY DAMMIT KISS. OH MY GOD JUST KISS PLEASE KISS OKAY". Jazz and Leo were also such great characters. Leo's poems and Jazz's psychic abilities made the book that much more interesting to read. And Dylan and Daisy were just straight-up funny. All the main characters in the book were so well developed and each had so many layers, they all had their own dreams and goals and problems and wishes. This might be my favorite overall cast of characters ever, especially considering I LOVED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM (which is extremely rare).
The story itself was really interesting to read, told in alternating points of views by Lucy, Ed, and some of Leo's poems. It was funny seeing some of the story overlap and intertwine, because that way you got to see what both Lucy and Ed was thinking during the same scenes. It was pretty special to see Ed and Lucy fall for each other as each hour passed by and they had more and more discussions about life and art and love. The writing was so vivid and brilliantly written, Crowley described all the artwork so well. It was beautiful. As I was reading this book, I kept imaging two teens running through a city at night in hopes of finding an adventure together, with the lights of the city surrounding them, as if they were stars, guiding the way. Beautiful.
When I finished the book, I had this kind of achy, sad/beautiful, *deep-breaths* feeling in me. I wanted morrrreeee. Overall, this book was such a great read and I am so glad that I finally read it! Engaging, hilarious, beautiful, this book has it all. A must read for lovers of YA novels. I hope you fall in love with Graffiti Moon as much as I have!
PAULA :)
When I finished the book, I had this kind of achy, sad/beautiful, *deep-breaths* feeling in me. I wanted morrrreeee. Overall, this book was such a great read and I am so glad that I finally read it! Engaging, hilarious, beautiful, this book has it all. A must read for lovers of YA novels. I hope you fall in love with Graffiti Moon as much as I have!
PAULA :)
Thursday, 2 May 2013
Author: Morgan Matson
Release Date: May 8, 2012
Grade: A
Goodreads Summary: From the Flying Start author of Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, a powerful novel about hope in the face of heartbreak. Taylor Edwards’ family might not be the closest-knit—everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled—but for the most part, they get along just fine. Then Taylor’s dad gets devastating news, and her parents decide that the family will spend one last summer all together at their old lake house in the Pocono Mountains.
Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven’t actually gone anywhere. Her former best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend…and he’s much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.
As the summer progresses and the Edwards become more of a family, they’re more aware than ever that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance—with family, with friends, and with love.
Review: I honestly don't know where to begin this review. This book has been sitting on my nightstand for countless days, and I am very ashamed that it took me this long to finish it. I knew that Morgan Matson was a phenomenal writer the second that I finished Amy & Roger's Epic Detour. That book is one of my all time favourite stories, and I was afraid that this one wouldn't live up to Amy standards. Though I can't say that I liked this one better than Matson's debut, Second Chance Summer is definitely a book that you do not want to miss out on.
After finding out that her father has stage IV pancreatic cancer, Taylor Edwards and her family decide to visit a summer lakehouse that they have not visited in 5 years. This turns out to be Taylor's least favourite idea when she realizes that her former friend and boyfriend are still living in town. When I first started this novel, it seemed really slow. I couldn't really get into the rhythm of the writing, and everything seemed to drag on a bit too long. However, once I got past the first 50 pages, things started to become more interesting.
At the first glance, this book looks big boned. And it is. But knowing that this book revolves around cancer worried me because I felt that it would be too heartbreaking, too painful, too sad. It was much to my surprise though that Matson does a wonderful job of incorporating not only the family relationship of Taylor's story, but her other relationships too. Reading about Taylor's friend and boy issues really helped lighten this novel and make it a lot easier to read.
Like I said before, I initially thought that this book mainly revolves around cancer. But it's way more than just that. It's about second chances. With friends, with love, and with family. It was hard to read about Taylor finally strengthening her relationship with her father just as it was going to be broken forever. I cried for the last 50 pages of the novel, and when I finished the book, the first thing I did was go tell my dad that I loved him.
If you're considering reading this book, don't make the mistake I did and wait any longer. Morgan Matson's incredible ability to create a cast of unforgettable characters and beautiful descriptions of scenery make this a must read. Pick this one up as soon as you can!
Happy reading!
~SARINA
Sunday, 7 April 2013
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Date Published: June 14, 2012
Grade: A
Goodreads Summary: A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another.
"One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."
The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?
A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over.
Review:
It started of with the cover. Then the title. Reading the synopsis for My Life Next Door, I was beyond excited to pick up this debut by Huntley Fitzpatrick. As I heard the blogging community gushing about this book, I immediately pre-ordered it. And boy, was it ever the right choice to make.
My Life Next Door deals with many things ranging from family issues to friendship troubles, and finally, to first love. Samantha Reed is a strong protangonist that appears to have the perfect life of the surface. However, for Samantha, she longs for more. Living in a single parent household, she's forced to live a strict life with a mother that rather spend time on her election than with her daughter. As the sun sets and the stars rise, Samantha looks over to her neighbours - the Garretts - and they're everything her family is not. Loud. Messy. Full. Happy. One day, Jase Garrett climbs over the trellis dividing the two houses, and suddenly the Reed's and the Garrett's worlds begin to collide.
I think the mark of a great novel begins with character development, and Fitzpatrick did a fantastic job at this. First of all, Samantha was a very relatable and very mature protagonist. I don't think there was ever a moment where I was left wondering why she would make a certain decision because she always had my sympathy. Despite all that, the Garretts stole the show for me. That one family consisted of 10 characters, and each one of them has his or her own special quirks. My favourites were George and Jase. George was a cute little kid that was definitely a whole lot smarter than I was at his age. He was funny and charming and different from any other character I have ever read. Jase, on the other hand, was... perfect. Jase. *sighs*
This leads me to another point - the romance. As you find out more about me, you'll figure out that the way into my good books (pun intended) is a well written romance. Sam and Jase's relationship is one of my all-time favourites. There was a sense of innocence and discovery in their relationship that had me flipping through pages so fast that I had to reread paragraphs just to understand how beautiful their love truly was. Also, let's face it. What girl wouldn't want a gorgeous next door neighbour who is a gentleman, jock, and genuine sweetheart to come knocking on your bedroom window? Perfect romance? I think so.
Around 3/4 of the way through the novel, there's an obstacle that arises in the book. Some people found it very abrupt and that it changed the mood of the story too drastically. Personally, I thought it only made the story that much more enjoyable. To see Sam and Jase figure out their way through some pretty rough times was very moving, and it strengthened the novel in my opinion.
Overall, this is a fantastic read that I have reread many, many times. No matter what kind of genre you like to read, I can assure you that you do no want to miss out on this one. Huntley Fitzpatrick blew my mind away with My Life Next Door, and I cannot wait to read her next novel. Even if it's half as good as this one, then I'm in for a treat.
Happy reading!
~SARINA
Sunday, 31 March 2013
Author: John Green
Date Published: March 3, 2005
Grade: A
Goodreads Summary: Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. Then he heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart. After. Nothing is ever the same.
Review: This book had been on my too-read shelf on Goodreads for many, many months now, and after reading so many reviews about it, I decided to finally pick it up and read it myself. It was truly an amazing, inspiring, and heartbreaking read, however, because I recently read John Green`s newly acclaimed novel The Fault in Our Stars (which I found AH-MAY-ZING), I put a lot of pressure on Looking for Alaska and my expectations of it were extremely high. Even though I was trying to refrain myself from doing so, it still felt as if I were comparing the two books; the characters, the storyline... It`s not like I was disappointed by the book, it still left me applauding Green thinking "Whoa. He has done it again, that talented talented man", it just didn't seem to pull me in as much as The Fault in Our Stars was able to. This being said, I think it is still a very special, captivating, book that shows us the power words on paper can hold. While most YA novels I have read lately contain themes such as the stereotypical teenage romance, this novel brilliantly tackles the ideas of belonging and finding a greater meaning in life.
The first thing I noticed right when I began reading was the fact that there were no chapters, instead, there are days counting down leading to an event. The book is divided in two parts, "Before" and "After". The structural purpose of doing this is pretty obvious once you read the sections, but I think there's a deeper meaning to it, something related to Pudge's coming of age and growth. I'll let you guys figure it out for yourselves.
Although I couldn't seem to relate to the characters very much, I enjoyed reading about them and found myself fascinated by their quirks, and their flaws seemed to make the characters more real to me. For example, Miles, also known as Pudge, memorizes last words and his roommate the Colonel is pretty much an almanac who knows all the countries in the world, and their capitals. And then there's Alaska. I'm not even going to try and explain her character because, well, I can't. She's one of the most dynamic characters I have ever met, and although she annoyed me the half of the time- with her mood swings and Jake, her boyfriend, she is also the reason why this book is so stunning. That's all I can really say about her character because I think it's hugely important for readers to experience her as they read.
Personally, I thought it was really interesting reading the book from a boy's perspective- It was adorable being inside the mind of Pudge as he fell for Alaska. Like I would be reading along and suddenly, a really beautiful, deep thought would pop into his head. My all time favourite quote, which is probably really overused and you've all seen it a million times on Tumblr, happens as Pudge stares at a sleeping Alaska, wanting so badly to warp his arms around her, "But I lacked courage and she had a boyfriend and I was gawky and she was gorgeous and I was hopelessly boring and she was endlessly fascinating. So I walked back to my room and collapsed on the bottom bunch, thinking if people were rain, I was drizzle and she was a hurricane". *Sigggghs*. The only part of the storyline that I didn't like all that much, was how one-sided the romance was. I mean, after reading all about Gus and Hazel's unrequited love, it was sort of hard not having those adorable moments of two people hopelessly fallen for each other. Pudge and Alaska both seemed to always hold back their feelings (yeah, yeah she had a boyfriend... but still.) towards each other- whenever I sensed a romantic, cute scene about to happen, I was left sort of disappointed because one of them would fall asleep, or get angry, or leave. I guess that's just the romance craving reader inside of me.
I think this novel is one filled with raw emotion and power and I am really glad to have finally read it. Although heartbreaking, it wasn't *let me cry on my bed for hours with a box of tissues I hate the world* heartbreak, it was more of a satisfying *the world goes on and people go on and we just gotta appreciate what we have* heartbreak, as cheesy at that is. Looking for Alaska was beautiful and brilliant and touching and stunning all at the same time. Instead of the normal fairy tale ending most YA novels have, the ending of this novel will leave you with a much more powerful sense of love.
Thanks for reading!
Paula :)
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