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Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label review. 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 :)
Wednesday, 31 July 2013
Author: Kirsten Hubbard
Date Published: March 13, 2012
Grade: A
Are you a Global Vagabond?
No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.
Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward.
But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.
Kirsten Hubbard lends her artistry to this ultimate backpacker novel, weaving her drawings into the text. Her career as a travel writer and her experiences as a real-life vagabond backpacking Central America are deeply seeded in this inspiring story.
Review: I just finished this book a couple minutes ago and I'm still stuck in this sort of trance. As I turned that last page, I was already on my way to the computer, prepared to write Wanderlove's review.
The term "wanderlove" is described as "the places you get, the places that stick in your heart". Throughout the book, this term became more and more clear to me, and it hit me harder and harder, as if I were discovering it for the first time alongside Bria. "Wanderlove" can't exactly be explained; It's a sort of feeling that really makes you feel, like those breathtaking moments where the beauty cannot be captured by a camera, instead you just have to experience it. The book was a bit like that for me, I don't think I can do it enough justice by trying to write a really good review, you guys just have to read it and experience it for yourself. But I will try.
This book blew me away. It was such a good read. I've always been a huge fan of travelling books... But this one was so different from the typical travel book where girl meets boy abroad, girl falls for boy, girl achieves some sort of self discovery, etc. Although Bria did basically end up doing all of those things, it was so much more than a cute novel about finding one's self. And the writing was incredibly good; the whole story flowed smoothly and perfectly from chapter to chapter, day to day, adventure to adventure. It is also the perfect book to read while on vacation because whilst reading Wanderlove, I had the craziest urge to jump on a plane and backpack around the world.
Bria, the main character, is an eighteen year trying to re-invent herself. She signs up for an organised tour around Guatemala, in hopes that this new country will bring out a completely different Bria, one that doesn't have to face her ex-boyfriend back at home or the pile of art college admissions at her doorstep or her parents who don't seem to care about her. It's amazing to watch Bria decide to let go of the things that make her sad, and find herself again- bit by bit, drawing by drawing- Seriously, it's one of the most beautiful things about this book. Journeying alongside Bria and watching her not only learn about the liberating life as a backpacker, but also about love, is incredible, to say the least. Bria was so relatable and Hubbard did such a wonderful job of making the readers feel what Bria felt. I loved her as a character.
The development and growth of Bria and Rowan's relationship is also a beautiful thing to experience. You know how a lot of books have a really frustrating chemistry between two characters who you just know will end up together? When the only thought that goes through your mind while reading their scenes is "KISS ALREADY OKAY!? JUST UGHH HURRY UPPPPP". Well, although Bria and Rowan (SPOILER, BUT NOT REALLY BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY PREDICTABLE) do end up getting together fairly late into the book, their entire relationship throughout the whole book is pretty magical to read. Not to mention, he's adorable.
Enchanting. That's the word that describes this book perfectly. It was enchanting. Inspiring and beautiful, Wanderlove is such a wonderful book about self-discovery, risk-taking, and being happy. It's an important reminder that our pasts do not define us. We cannot cling to our mistakes, but we should not run away from them either. Instead, we need to appreciate the present and look forward to the future. I can go on and on about all sorts of life lessons I've learned from this book, but I think you guys should read it and experience wanderlove for yourselves. A beautiful and extremely well-written story :')
Happy reading!
PAULA :)
Monday, 29 July 2013
Author: Ernest Cline
Date Published: August 16, 2011
Grade: A-
Goodreads Summary: It's the year 2044, and the real world is an ugly place.
Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets.
And like most of humanity, Wade dreams of being the one to discover the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this virtual world. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground, OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune--and remarkable power--to whoever can unlock them.
For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that Halliday's riddles are based in the pop culture he loved--that of the late twentieth century. And for years, millions have found in this quest another means of escape, retreating into happy, obsessive study of Halliday's icons. Like many of his contemporaries, Wade is as comfortable debating the finer points of John Hughes's oeuvre, playing Pac-Man, or reciting Devo lyrics as he is scrounging power to run his OASIS rig.
And then Wade stumbles upon the first puzzle.
Suddenly the whole world is watching, and thousands of competitors join the hunt--among them certain powerful players who are willing to commit very real murder to beat Wade to this prize. Now the only way for Wade to survive and preserve everything he knows is to win. But to do so, he may have to leave behind his oh-so-perfect virtual existence and face up to life--and love--in the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.
A world at stake.
A quest for the ultimate prize.
Are you ready?
Review: I know, I know, this is definitely out of character for me- reading a sci-fi book? About a dystopian land where a Global Energy Crisis is occurring? About video games?? Let me explain. I was scrolling through my Kobo's "Must Reads" list, and then this book appeared on the screen. After reading the summary/description, I decided to give it a try because of the raving reviews and the super interesting premise.
Ready Player One is a dystopian novel that takes place thirty years from now. The novel shows how technology will become so addictive and advanced, that by the year 2044, humans will go to school, work, spend money, meet friends, go to parties, and basically live their lives in a virtual universe where they get to choose what they look like, sound like, and act like. There is rarely any more human to human contact, and most of the world chooses to communicate through their avatars online.
I am not going to lie, I was definitely confused at the beginning because I'm not exactly a computer/video games master. The first part of the book contained a lot of video game jargon, explanations about computers and how they work, along with dozens of 80's references. But when Wade found that first key, and the real action began unravelling, the story became so addictive- I just couldn't put it down. I don't think I have ever been so excited while reading a book; It was fast paced, smart, and entertaining.
Wade is basically a genius. At times, it was hard keeping up with his train of thought, but I think overall he is a really solid character. Imagine a young teenage boy, living on his own in a trailer park, a typical outcast of society who is completely devoted to "the hunt". Although flawed, Wade is a witty, super smart underdog. He's that character we sometimes see ourselves in, that character who we cheer for, who we want to see succeed. Wade's growth from an introverted "outcast" who depends on nothing but his computer to survive, to a real human being who falls in love, makes unexpected friends, and emerges an international hero, is so much fun to read. I think Ready Player One is a very good reminder that we cannot solely depend on ourselves to succeed in life. It is also an interesting warning about consumerism in the near future.
Ready Player One has been my first sci-fi read in a very long time and I can honestly say that I genuinely enjoyed reading it. Although this book isn't one I would typically pick up, I am very glad I chose to read it. Informative, refreshing, and oh so clever, Ready Player One is a wonderful read, especially for you sci-fi readers out there, or for those wanting a break from the typical YA novel.
Happy reading!
PAULA :)
Sunday, 28 July 2013
Author: Una LaMarche
Date Published: May 16, 2013
Grade: B-
The summer we were nine: Emma was branded “Skylar’s friend Emma” by the infamous Adam Loring... The summer we were ten: Maddie realized she was too far into her lies to think about telling the truth... The summer we were eleven: Johanna totally freaked out during her first game of Spin the Bottle... The summer we were twelve: Skylar’s love letters from her boyfriend back home were exciting to all of us—except Skylar...Our last summer together: Emma and Adam almost kissed. Jo found out Maddie’s secret. Skylar did something unthinkable... and whether we knew it then or not, five summers of friendship began to fall apart.
Three years after the fateful last night of camp, the four of us are coming back to camp for reunion weekend—and for a second chance. Bittersweet, funny, and achingly honest, Five Summers is a story of friendship, love, and growing up that is perfect for fans of Anne Brashares and Judy Blume's Summer Sisters.
Review: This book was picked up randomly one day at Chapters; I hadn't heard about it or seen it on Goodreads before, but after reading the summary, I decided it could be a good, fun, light-hearted read- perfect for when you're feeling bored on a hot summer's day. I find myself usually rating the light-hearted books I read fairly low. The reason for that is because most light-hearted, quick reads leave you with a sort of "oh okay" feeling. Nothing too spectacular, nothing too special, nothing that will make you see the world from a different point of view. Although Five Summers was a fun book that kept me engaged most of the time, it didn't seem to have any sort of emotional impact on me once I turned the last page. All I could really think was, "huh that was nice".
Five Summers is often compared to Anne Brashare's series, The Sisterhood of Travelling Pants, which I adored. I'm a huge fan of both the books and the movies. I know many people find it cliché to read about a group of girls who are "best friends", but I personally love it, which is why I really enjoyed reading Five Summers for the most part. Although the girls, Jo, Maddie, Emma, and Skylar were no where near as lovable and complex as Tibby, Lena, Bridget, and Carmen, they were still interesting to read about and each girl had her own qualities that were fairly well developed (although three out of the four girls got on my nerves quite often).
Continuing the comparison of the two, I found the friendship in Five Summers quite disappointing compared to The Sisterhood. I don't think readers were able to really see how close the four girls really were because there was just so much drama within the pages. I definitely didn't fully buy their "everlasting" friendship because right from the start, it seemed as if there was always a weird tension in the air between some of the girls, and this tension didn't feel completely resolved at the end. Furthermore, in The Sisterhood, there are some pretty solid love interests (like Kostos, he's pretty perfect, okay...). However, if you're looking for a similar read filled with romance, Five Summers isn't the book you're looking for. The male characters in Five Summers were not ideal, nor romantic, nor adorable- basically, there were realistic, average seventeen year old boys- immature and often exuding with confidence.
However, because of the drama filled pages, the book was very fast paced and I never once found myself getting bored. Una LaMarche did a great job of keeping readers engaged, even during the sappy, somewhat cheesy "let's make up!" scenes. There was no huge twist and the plot itself was pretty predictable. Five Summers was overall a simple, quick read about friendship and change.
Hope everyone's summer is going great!
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: Katja Millay
Date Published: November 13, 2012
Grade: A+
Goodreads Summary: I live in a world without magic or miracles. A place where there are no clairvoyants or shapeshifters, no angels or superhuman boys to save you. A place where people die and music disintegrates and things suck. I am pressed so hard against the earth by the weight of reality that some days I wonder how I am still able to lift my feet to walk.
Full of rage and without a purpose, former pianist Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone discovering her past and to make the boy who took everything from her pay.
All 17 year-old Josh Bennett wants is to build furniture and be left alone, and everyone allows it because it’s easier to pretend he doesn’t exist. When your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space.
Everyone except Nastya, a hot mess of a girl who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. The more he gets to know her, the more of a mystery she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he may ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding or if he even wants to.
The Sea of Tranquility is a slow-building, character-driven romance about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances.
Review: You know when you hear about a book that everybody's obsessing about, and you're worried if it'll live up to its expectations? That was this book for me. You know how you're scared that it's not exactly your cup of tea when you read the first few chapters, and you just can't connect with the story? That's still this book for me. You know when you keep on reading a book, and it starts to get better and better to the point where you cannot tear yourself away from it even to go to sleep? Well that's what happened to me when I read this book.
There were so many things that the author did well with this novel that I find it hard to list them all. I also don't want to give anything away that will ruin the mystique of the novel. I guess the first thing that I really liked about the book was the character/relationship development. To be quite frank, I really disliked Nastya's character at first. Josh's not so much, but I couldn't connect with Nastya at all. I knew that she had her inner demons, but I decided that I needed to find them out before I would truly like her character. However, as her relationship with Josh began to grow (and at a really natural, true pace), her character seemed to get more likable. By the end of the story, I found myself sympathizing with her and liking her attitude. Another character that I loved was Drew. At the surface, he seemed like the typical douchey player type, but I loved how the author bypassed that stereotype and made his character more developed. You find out many things about Drew during the book, but the main thing is that he's a decent guy. Kudos to the author for that.
Usually, I can't stand novels where there's a broken character who is always cryptic about their past, but somehow this novel did it in a way that I didn't mind. Katja Millay did an excellent job of writing the story in a way that kept you intrigued the whole time by slowing revealing bits and pieces of Nastya's terrible past. Contrasting to Nastya's secretive behaviour was Josh's quite open story. By having dual perspectives, the story allowed you to see all the pains Josh and Nastya struggled with, and you could see them both slowly open up to each other as the story progressed. This part of the story was done exceptionally well in my opinion.
Overall, this story will grab you by hand and refuse to let go until you have read the last page. It's raw and beautiful and everything you want in a story about two broken people being each other's salvation. If you hesitate to begin it like I did, don't stop. It gets better, trust me. This is not one that you want to miss out on!
Happy reading!
~SARINA
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 :)
Saturday, 29 June 2013
Name: Audrey, Wait!
Author: Robin Benway
Date Published: April 10, 2008
Grade: A-
Author: Robin Benway
Date Published: April 10, 2008
Grade: A-
Goodreads Summary: California high school student Audrey Cuttler dumps self-involved Evan, the lead singer of a little band called The Do-Gooders. Evan writes, “Audrey, Wait!” a break-up song that’s so good it rockets up the billboard charts. And Audrey is suddenly famous!
Now rabid fans are invading her school. People is running articles about her arm-warmers. The lead singer of the Lolitas wants her as his muse. (And the Internet is documenting her every move!) Audrey can't hang out with her best friend or get with her new crush without being mobbed by fans and paparazzi.
Take a wild ride with Audrey as she makes headlines, has outrageous amounts of fun, confronts her ex on MTV, and gets the chance to show the world who she really is.
Now rabid fans are invading her school. People is running articles about her arm-warmers. The lead singer of the Lolitas wants her as his muse. (And the Internet is documenting her every move!) Audrey can't hang out with her best friend or get with her new crush without being mobbed by fans and paparazzi.
Take a wild ride with Audrey as she makes headlines, has outrageous amounts of fun, confronts her ex on MTV, and gets the chance to show the world who she really is.
Review: This book was unique to say the least. I was thrilled to find a summary of a book that was so different from anything that I had ever read, and when I kept on reading glowing reviews, I knew I had to pick it up. While I never found Audrey, Wait! to be the kind of book that sucked me in and kept me reading until the last page, overall, I thought it was a great book with a great story.
I think my favourite part about this book was the narration. After breaking up with her musician boyfriend, Audrey taught that she could turn the page and start a new life. Little did she know, a song, titled after the last words her ex-boyfriend ever said to her, would go national and take the world up in a storm. All of a sudden, she's no longer a normal teen that deals with just school and work. Now she has to deal with fans and paparazzi. Audrey's voice was so sassy and funny that it made this read a lot more entertaining. Actually, her voice reminded me of Jessica Darling a bit which I know preaches out to a lot of avid YA readers.
Keeping the book light, the romance was refreshing rather than consuming the storyline. While it was ever present, there wasn't a swoon worthy romance going on, but a nice one that kept the book interesting to read while the book carried on. It wasn't bad, it was different. A good different.
Overall, I liked Audrey, Wait! very much based on its unique storyline and sassy voice. I highly recommend this book to readers of the Jessica Darling series and basically any other person who loves a witty narrator!
Happy reading!
~SARINA
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 :)
Author: Lisa M. Stasse
Date Published: July 10, 2012
Grade: B
The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway.
Review: The Goodreads summary is what initially drew me in so quickly about this book. Lately, I've been really falling in love with dystopian novels. Along with this whole Lost similarity, with an island and a higher power controlling things, and different "sides" of the island, mixed in with a bit of Lord of the Flies and Hunger Games, I had very high expectations for The Forsaken.
Let's start off with what I liked. It was definitely a refreshing read because it was so different compared to the young adult novels I've been reading lately. The Forsaken is a very fast paced book, filled with action and adventure, I never found myself bored and my eyes leaped from page to page, desperately wanting more. Along with the many mysteries lurking within the story, there are also many twists hidden for the readers as the book goes on, which is always fun to read.
Although this novel did have a "romance" in it, 1) there was an annoying love triangle (which I found unnecessary and tiring to read) and 2) I never quite believed in the relationship between Liam and Alenna because it all happened so fast. She literally met him, talked to him once, and then they decided they were "apparently" in love with each other. It was pretty hard to feel their connection because they rarely had moments that showed their true personalities. Which leads me to my next point- most of the characters didn't really have much of a personality, especially Alenna, the protagonist. I don't think she showed enough emotion at all, and even when she did, it was boring to read. I didn't really like Alenna- her priorities seemed muddled up. At times, she would be like "Yeah! I'm an independent girl ready to go fight for myself and keep on trekkin'!" and then the next thing you know its all "I miss Liam.". LITERALLY THOUGH. It was irritating jumping back and forth between her two identities. Also, there tended to be a sentence italicized randomly every so often. I don't think it made the sentence any more dramatic. It was just weird.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Forsaken because of its quick pace and really interesting, engaging story line. Although this book was definitely not perfect, with its flat characters and questionable romance, I will definitely stick with the series and I anticipate the release of The Uprising, which is the second book in the Forsaken series.
Happy reading!
PAULA :)
Tuesday, 25 June 2013
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Author: Sarah Dessen
Date Published: June 4, 2013
Grade: C+
Goodreads Summary: Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.
Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.
Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby? Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?
Sarah Dessen's devoted fans will welcome this story of romance, yearning, and, finally, empowerment. It could only happen in the summer
Review: Okay, so ever since, like, grade eight, I have always loved Sarah Dessen novels. Her books were actually what sparked my love for young adult novels. With stories such as The Truth About Forever, Just Listen, and Along For the Ride, along with her amazing male characters such as the swoon worthy, lovable Wes and the comforting, silent, strong Owen, and finally, the quirkily intriguing Eli, Sarah Dessen really set some high standards for herself. Unfortunately for Dessen fans such as myself, I found The Moon and More extremely disappointing for a number or reasons: the whole plot in general, the "love interest", and the lack of developed characters. As I dove into this book a couple days ago, I was looking for a refreshing, summer read; However, personally, I found that the book lacked interest, romance, and it was unnecessarily long.
The novel centered around Emaline, this eighteen year old girl, as she basically just lived her life during the summer. I found it boring. Nothing that exciting or engaging ever truly occurred; I think it had the potential to be a really great read because Sarah Dessen chose such a beautiful setting for her book- a small town by the ocean, one where everyone knew everyone, a place with a board walk, a beach, and even a ferris wheel. The setting screamed perfect, especially for a young adult book. However, throughout the novel, I found myself questioning the whole point of the story multiple times. There was so many little things going on, but nothing felt significant enough to be the main point of the story. Also, it felt so choppy, as if the scenes were disconnected, resulting in a confusing and tediously drawn out story.
I couldn't relate to Emaline very much either. Although I did respect how she stood up to Luke, there was nothing that drew me in about her. She seemed like a "goody goody" type girl, one who was good at literally everything- lacking flaws (which resulted in a boring character). It felt as if she was missing personality, and constantly being pushed around by everyone around her. However, I do give her credit for her somewhat sassy and "bad-ass" (quoted from the book itself) responses at times. Secondly, OH MY GOD THEO WHAT. So Emaline's apparent "love interest" of the summer was first portrayed as this really quirky in all the right ways, super-in-love-with-her boy, Theo, while her boyfriend Luke, was presented as this over-confident, average guy. Then, as if Sarah Dessen suddenly and completely changed her mind about the two, the roles were reversed multiple times and boom bada boom we have ourselves a mess here. I'm still unsure whether or not there was a love story. I mean Theo, the apparent love interest (I think) ended up being the most arrogant, condescending, and down right pretentious "love interest" I have ever met. I didn't feel any connection or chemistry between Emaline and Theo, it was really rough. Apart form Morris who I found funny, the rest of the characters in the book were pretty flat and undynamic as well.
I might have been very harsh in my review on The Moon and More, but I had pretty high expectations for this new Sarah Dessen novel. I've seen mixed reviews about it and I'm sure this disappointment is not faced by everyone... But personally, if you're looking for a looonnng read filled with lots of eye rolling and exasperated sighs and no romance whatsoever, I think that this is definitely the book for you.
Monday, 24 June 2013
Author: Sarah Strohmeyer
Date Published: April 23, 2013
Grade: B+
Goodreads Summary: From Sarah Strohmeyer, author of Smart Girls Get What They Want, comes this romantic comedy about one girl's summer job from hell. Think The Devil Wears Prada set in Disney World.
When cousins Zoe and Jess land summer internships at the Fairyland Kingdom theme park, they are sure they've hit the jackpot. With perks like hot Abercrombie-like Prince Charmings and a chance to win the coveted $25,000 Dream & Do grant, what more could a girl want?
Once Zoe arrives, however, she's assigned to serve "The Queen"-Fairyland's boss from hell. From spoon-feeding her evil lapdog caviar, to fetching midnight sleeping tonics, Zoe fears she might not have what it takes to survive the summer, much less win the money. Soon backstabbing interns, a runaway Cinderella, and cutthroat competition make Zoe's job more like a nightmare than a fairy tale. What will happen when Zoe is forced to choose between serving The Queen and saving the prince of her dreams?
Review: How Zoe Made her Dreams (Mostly) Come True was definitely a fun read. A fluffy one, as well. I think if was a great way to kick off the summer because it was so easy, warm n' fuzzy, and light-hearted to read.
Firstly, what made me pick up the book was the idea behind it. I was super excited to read about the adventures of Zoe and her perky, loyal cousin Jess as they journeyed through Fairyland, basically what is the equivalent to Disneyland. The story was mostly about this group of teenagers who all worked and lived in Fairyland for the summer, as actors who played "Disney characters", such as Cinderella, Snow White, Prince Charming, Little Red Riding Hood, etc. This whole premise really intrigued me, because I had never heard of anything quite like it before. In the end, I thought Sarah Strohmeyer executed this idea pretty well, although at times it was confusing.
The story started off pretty slow, to be honest. I didn't really feel the book until a third or so of the way in. When the characters each began to develop more, I only then began to get sucked into the book. One of the main reasons I liked this book, is because I really liked the main character. Zoe was super sassy when she needed to be, she was funny and independent, she didn't make any really stupid decisions, she tried hard, she was selfless, and all the while, she was still just a teenage girl going through a time patch in her life. There was never any angst between Zoe and her cousin Jess either; Jess was always loyal and faithful towards Zoe, and she never doubted Zoe's intentions. I loved their relationship because it was so unwaveringly strong- none of this backscratching and turning against each other stuff we see so often in most Young Adult novels these days. Finally, I also really liked the chemistry between Zoe and her love interest (I'll omit his name for spoiler reasons). I found it believable and adorable right from the get-go.
I ended up giving this book a B because of it's "climatic" scenes. I don't know if this is just me, but I began getting a bit confused while reading the scenes- maybe that was the author's intention? To portray the chaos going on? However, during these scenes, I found it hard to keep up with the story line because so much happened in such a short period of time, my brain never really processed any of it. Furthermore, all of the problems in the book seemed to be solved just like that *snaps fingers*. Seriously though, everything was resolved unusually quickly, it felt pretty forced and really quite unrealistic.
Other than those little problems, I thought the overall story line was really well done! It is evident to see that Sarah Strohmeyer is very talented at interweaving different stories to make one giant plot that ends up fitting together quite nicely. The writing was engaging, smart, and funny- I even found myself laughing out loud a couple times. This was definitely the right book to start off the summer with, as it was such a fun, light read, it gave me lots of momentum to pick up some more books and dive right in them.
...And they lived happily ever after (with their books)!
What are you guys reading this summer?
PAULA :)
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 :)
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Grade: B
Goodreads Summary: If fate sent you an email, would you answer? When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.
Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?
Review: When I first heard the premise of this novel, I was instantly intrigued by it. Everything about this book screamed perfect romance. A movie star accidentally emailing you and continuing on a conversation that lasts months? Could this please happen to me?
The book began with the first emails exchanges between Ellie and Graham. They set the tone of the rest of the story really well as you could feel an instant connections between the characters. The more they talked, the more charmed I was by their budding romance.
I was not expecting this book to be long because Smith's previous novel, The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight, was fairly short. So it was much to my surprise when I picked up this book, and it was a 400 pages long. For me, that was its one fault. Though I loved reading about Ellie's and Graham's life, I found myself to be wanting to skim over some parts as they seemed to drag on a bit.
Something I couldn't help but notice though was Smith's amazing description. There were many lines that seemed so simple yet poignant, and I found myself rereading certain paragraphs because the writing just so good.
This book is one that will make you feel happy. I recommend it to fans of Smith's previous novels, and any other fan of the YA romance genre. Don't shy away from its length like I almost did though. Otherwise you'll regret having missed out on this one.
Happy reading!
~SARINA
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