Waiting on Wednesday (1/2/13)

Requiem by Lauren Oliver, the third and final book in the Delirium trilogy.

"Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.

After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor. Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge."
Release Date: March 5th

 Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted weekly by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

 



Little Miss Red by Robin Palmer

Little Miss Red

Author: Robin Palmer

Published: February 9th, 2010

Publisher: Speak

 

Goodreads Summary: "The ideal L.A. fairy tale for fans of Once Upon a Time and L.A. Candy, from the author of Geek Charming.Sophie Greene gets good grades, does the right thing, and has a boyfriend that her parents— and her younger brother—just love. (Too bad she doesn’t love him.) Sophie dreams of being more like Devon Deveraux, star of her favorite romance novels, but, in reality, Sophie isn’t even daring enough to change her nail polish. All of that changes when Sophie goes to Florida to visit her grandma Roz, and she finds herself seated next to a wolfishly goodlooking guy on the plane. The two hit it off, and before she knows it, Sophie’s living on the edge. But is the drama all it’s cracked up to be?"

 

Concept/Ideas: 4/5
Storyline/Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing Style: 5/5

This was the first book I read by Robin Palmer. I've seen the Disney Channel movie Geek Charming, and attempted to read the novel, but wasn't into it at the time. After reading Little Miss Red, I expect to go back to it.

Robin Palmer's writing is just so fun, girly, and light! I absolutely loved Little Miss Red. Not only that, but who doesn't love the cover art?! Sparkles, sparkles, sparkles, and lots of nice, bright colours. Robin Palmer definitely has a knack for writing, and I feel that I relate her to be very similar to others authors like Lisi Harrion, although less shallow, and with more substance to her books. The lessons in Palmer's books are always very easily recognizable, and can be related to people of any age.

Little Miss Red started out fast-paced, and didn't let go. I enjoyed the storyline, and found it to be quick and to the point. You really see how much Sophie grows throughout the novel, realizing more and more what was really going on, and that life on the wild side isn't always so picture perfect, and doesn't always have a fairy-tale ending.

The only part of the book I didn't really like, was how much Sophie continually talked about her obsession with Devon from her favorite novels and how much she used her as a way make excuses for actions and decisions she would make. Over and over, at least every two pages... "just like how Devon in *insert book title here*". Talk about annoying.  



The Space Between Us by Jessica Martinez

The Space Between Us

Author: Jessica Martinez

Published: October 16th, 2012

Publisher: Simon Pulse

 

Goodreads Summary: "From the author of Virtuosity, a novel about two sisters and the secrets they tell, the secrets they keep—and the secret that could tear them apart.Amelia is used to being upstaged by her charismatic younger sister, Charly. She doesn’t mind, mostly, that it always falls to her to cover for Charly’s crazy, impulsive antics. But one night, Charly’s thoughtlessness goes way too far, and she lands both sisters in serious trouble.

Amelia’s not sure she can forgive Charly this time, and not sure she wants to . . . but forgiveness is beside the point. Because Charly is also hiding a terrible secret, and the truth just might tear them apart forever."

 

Concept/Ideas: 5/5
Storyline/Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing Style: 5/5

The Space Between Us by Jessica Martinez was a great read! It had such an original idea to it as well. I loved that it wasn't your typical teenage pregnancy type of novel, but instead it incorperated so much more to it.

The storyline was fast-paced and an easy read, despite the heaviness of the subject. You were really kept in the dark about a lot of things, until surprising revelations were revealed later on. Ones that I never expected. This book really threw you in for some unexpected surprises. I found the storyline to be unpredictable, which was definitely a nice change.

The setting! Ah!
I loved that Martinez threw such a big change up in the scenary, and made the girls move from Florida to Alberta for 6 months. It definitely made for an interesting setting and read overall because of it, and added to the novel. Since I live in Ontario, Canada, it was so interesting to see all the landmarks that us Canadians have and see what it was like for the girls to struggle and adapt from their climate to ours. All the discovery and mayhem the snow caused was definitely interesting to see.

The characters were not the most likable of characters, although for some weird reason, I still liked them. Amelia was stubborn, snotty, negative, and downright mean to her sister Charly. Charly on the other hand, was whiny and immature. Although I feel that both girl's characters and maturity as well as outlook really improved and grew by the end of the novel. They both found strength that they didn't know they both had, and became better people because of it, standing up for what they believed in and supporting each other. This was definitely a nice coming of age novel and it goes to show just how important family is, and that you always need to be there for them, no matter what they're going through, and no matter how it may affect your own life.
Family is family, no matter what.

Jessica Martinez made for a great novel, and I recently purchased her other book, Virtuosity, which I'm eager to start. An author on the rise in my eyes.

Butter by Erin Jade Lange

Butter

Author: Erin Jade Lange

Published: September 4th, 2012

Publisher: Bloomsbury

 

Goodreads Summary: "A lonely obese boy everyone calls "Butter" is about to make history. He is going to eat himself to death-live on the Internet-and everyone is invited to watch. When he first makes the announcement online to his classmates, Butter expects pity, insults, and possibly sheer indifference. What he gets are morbid cheerleaders rallying around his deadly plan. Yet as their dark encouragement grows, it begins to feel a lot like popularity. And that feels good. But what happens when Butter reaches his suicide deadline? Can he live with the fallout if he doesn't go through with his plans? With a deft hand, E.J. Lange allows readers to identify with both the bullies and the bullied in this all-consuming look at one teen's battle with himself."

 

Concept/Ideas: 4/5
Storyline/Plot: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing Style: 5/5

Butter was an amazing novel. I'm personally somebody who loves issue related books, and this one was not your typical one. Instead of books related to eating disorders based on anorexia and bulimia, this one centered around Butter, who's an obese high school student who has a serious eating addiction.

Me, being overweight as well, I could connect with Butter really well. I know what it feels like, so it was easy for me to feel sympathetic for him, and understand that it's not as easy as it sounds to "just lose weight", especially when its an addiction. And yes, food can be an addiction, literally.

Butter was written in a way that was not too likable at first though, I must add. As the book progressed though, Butter grew as a character, and became more likable. Although throughout most of the book, he still seemed to have a "poor me" attitude that would continually pop up throughout various parts. Otherwise, Butter was indeed a caring, lovable, and kind person.

The writing was great, and Lange really helped to show the way it feels to be Butter, through the eyes of Butter himself. She doesn't sugar coat anything about the raw feelings that people like Butter have to live and deal with on a day to day basis.

The story did end on a good note, which I liked a lot. It showed hope and change and courage on Butter's part, which was refreshing.

An amazing read recommended to everyone.

Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay

        Love and Leftovers            

Author: Sarah Tregay

Published: December 27th, 2011

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

 

Goodreads Summary: "My wish is to fall cranium over Converse in dizzy daydream-worthy love.

(If only it were that easy.)

Marcie has been dragged away from home for the summer--from Idaho to a family summerhouse in New Hampshire. She's left behind her friends, a group of freaks and geeks called the Leftovers, including her emo-rocker boyfriend, and her father.

By the time Labor Day rolls around, Marcie suspects this "summer vacation" has become permanent. She has to start at a new school, and there she leaves behind her Leftover status when a cute boy brings her breakfast and a new romance heats up. But understanding love, especially when you've watched your parents' affections end, is elusive. What does it feel like, really? Can you even know it until you've lost it?

Love & Leftovers is a beautifully written story of one girl's journey navigating family, friends, and love, and a compelling and sexy read that teens will gobble up whole."

 

Concept/Ideas: 3/5
Storyline/Plot: 2.5/5
Characters: 3/5
Writing Style: 3.3/5

Eek... Sarah Tregay's Love and Leftovers did not do it for me whatsoever. I understand that this book was one of the most widely read contemporary books of 2012, but I just couldn't see the like to the book!

Firstly, I did in fact love that the book was written in verse. Knowing me, I'm a huge fan of any novel in verse, especially Ellen Hopkins. So when I went to dive into this book, I was expecting a great read. Sadly, I was disappointed.

I felt that Love and Leftovers fell short. I wasn't neccesarily expecting a lot from the synopsis, but at the same time, I still expected more.

The characters were not very likable, and I found that they lacked personality and a real face to them. I'm not sure if it's just because of the way the book was written, or what, but I didn't feel that they had any real substance to their individual characters -- even the main one.

I feel that although Ellen Hopkins for example, writes all of her novels in verse, you still get a real, raw feel for each character, and they are definitely not faceless. Maybe Tregay's writing just wasn't deep enough for me.

It got a bit better toward the ending, and I found that I liked it at some point, but not enough for me to really take it into consideration when I thought about how I felt about the novel overall.

That's why I feel that it is in fact better than a 3 stars, but just not quite 3.5 star matierial.

This book was an okay read, but nothing spectactular.
I still expect to read more of Tregay's writing though, and can only hope that her others novels are better.



Sacred by Elana K. Arnold

Sacred
Author: Elana K. Arnold

Published: November 13th, 2012

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Summary: "Growing up on Catalina Island, off the California coast, Scarlett Wenderoth has led a fairly isolated life. After her brother dies, her isolation deepens as she withdraws into herself, shutting out her friends and boyfriend. Her parents, shattered by their own sorrow, fail to notice Scarlett's pain and sudden alarming thinness. Scarlett finds pleasure only on her horse, escaping to the heart of the island on long, solitary rides. One day, as she races around a bend, Scarlett is startled by a boy who raises his hand in warning and says one word: "Stop."

The boy—intense, beautiful—is Will Cohen, a newcomer to the island. For reasons he can't or won't explain, he's drawn to Scarlett and feels compelled to keep her safe. To keep her from wasting away. His meddling irritates Scarlett, though she can't deny her attraction to him. As their relationship blossoms into love, Scarlett's body slowly awakens at Will's touch. But just when her grief begins to ebb, she makes a startling discovery about Will, a discovery he's been grappling with himself. A discovery that threatens to force them apart. And if it does, Scarlett fears she will unravel all over again."

 

Concept/Ideas: 4/5
Storyline/Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing Style: 4/5

Sacred was a beautiful, heart wrenching, and mysterious read. I really enjoyed Arnold's novel, and I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was. The number one thing I loved about this book? The setting. The fact that the novel took place on Catalina island off the coast of California was an intriguing concept, and left for a lot of imagination for this book's scenery and small town feel.

At first, I found the main character to be unlikable. She came across as whiny, and had that whole "boohoo, poor me" attitude. But as the book progressed, I found her to be more and more likable, and she seemed to grow a backbone and improved and flourished as a person. You can feel what Scarlett was going through, and I became extremely sympathetic to her pain. She only got more relatible, stronger, and likeable as the novel goes on (don't judge her on the first half of the book, guys ;) I promise she get's better!).

The characters were all likable too, and I loved that Scarlett's best friend (who for the life of me, I can't remember the name of -- it's been awhile) was always there for her, despite her steretyped personality. She was always right behind her, and helped her to get better throughout the novel. She was what every girl would want in a best friend.

Will wasn't my favorite to say in the least. I found him to be underdeveloped, and didn't have a lot of personality to him. I can understand why he's more on the mysterious side for this book, but hopefully he comes out of his shell more in the next installment. But Will just didn't do it for me in this one. I couldn't see the like.

The pain that is experienced throughout the novel was absolutely heart-breaking. It was something that took up a good chunk of the book, but at the same time, didn't stall the book from having a bigger point to it either. This book was a perfect balance of sadness, joy, excitment, mystery, and I loved it. A reccommended read for sure!

Adaptation by Malinda Lo

Adaptation

Author: Malinda Lo

Published: September 18th, 2012

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

 

Goodreads Summary: "Reese can’t remember anything from the time between the accident and the day she woke up almost a month later. She only knows one thing: She’s different now.

Across North America, flocks of birds hurl themselves into airplanes, causing at least a dozen to crash. Thousands of people die. Fearing terrorism, the United States government grounds all flights, and millions of travelers are stranded.

Reese and her debate team partner and longtime crush David are in Arizona when it happens. Everyone knows the world will never be the same. On their drive home to San Francisco, along a stretch of empty highway at night in the middle of Nevada, a bird flies into their headlights. The car flips over. When they wake up in a military hospital, the doctor won’t tell them what happened, where they are—or how they’ve been miraculously healed.

Things become even stranger when Reese returns home. San Francisco feels like a different place with police enforcing curfew, hazmat teams collecting dead birds, and a strange presence that seems to be following her. When Reese unexpectedly collides with the beautiful Amber Gray, her search for the truth is forced in an entirely new direction—and threatens to expose a vast global conspiracy that the government has worked for decades to keep secret."

Concept/Ideas: 5/5
Storyline/Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5

Adaptation blew me away! I did not expect to love this book as much as I did... Wow! When I first read the synopsis for this book, I didn't get the feel that this book was going to be about aliens or Area 51, or anything of that nature. I really wasn't too sure what the book was going to be about really, except that there were birds that were causing distress through America. Personally, I am a huge fan of alien and Area 51 like subjects, and this concept just made the book a whole lot more interesting for me. This was a dystopian type of novel, although modern day at the same time. The book was fast-paced from the start, right down to the last page. I found myself absolutely glued to the novel, and it never hit a dull moment for me. I just loved this book. There was always some mystery, some suspense, some love, some questions, some of everything, that sucked you into turning page after page. The writing was just fantastic and this book is definitely one of my favorites of 2012.

Recommend it completely! An AMAZING read!
For fans of dystopian, mystery, and people with interests of alien life

Every Day by David Levithan

Every Day

Author: David Levithan

Published: August 28th, 2012

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

 

Goodreads Summary: "In his New York Times bestselling novel, David Levithan introduces readers to what Entertainment Weekly calls a "wise, wildly unique" love story about A, a teen who wakes up every morning in a different body, living a different life.

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.

There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

With his new novel, David Levithan, bestselling co-author of Will Grayson, Will Grayson, and Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, has pushed himself to new creative heights. He has written a captivating story that will fascinate readers as they begin to comprehend the complexities of life and love in A’s world, as A and Rhiannon seek to discover if you can truly love someone who is destined to change every day."

 

Concept/Ideas: 5/5
Storyline/Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Writing Style: 5/5

The best love story i've ever read...

David Levithan's Every Day was a book I was not expecting to love as much as I did. Hearing only good things about this book, I had to give it a try. I had never read any DL before this book, so I was pleasantly surprised at how great the book truly was.

First of all, the cover. Beautiful, isn't it? Don't tell me you can pass up a beautiful book like this... I sure couldn't...

Every Day instantly drew me in from page one. The concept for this book was so interesting, and I've never read anything like it.

Rhiannon I actually found to be a bit annoying, but at the same time, a likable character. I'm not too sure as to why A was drawn to her, but love is mysterious, is it not?

Although A had no gender, I definitely got the vibe that he was male. So although Levithan tried to keep it gender neutral here, I found myself trying to find a way to identify A.

The story was fast-paced and I could feel the tension and love throughout the whole book, and A's struggles and pain.

The ending was by far the best part. I found it to be just so beautiful, and it was the perfect way to end the book, although it was unexpected. Ah, absolutely amazing.

I enjoyed that the ending didn't turn out to be fairytale perfect, which actually ended up making it... more perfect.

 

Tweet Heart by Elizabeth Rudnick

   Tweet Heart

Author: Elizabeth Rudnick

Published: June 29th, 2010

Publisher: Hyperion

 

Goodreads Summary: "Claire is a #hopelessromantic. Lottie is determined to set up her BFF with Mr. Perfect. Will wants his #secretcrush to finally notice him. Bennett is a man with a plan.
Claire can't believe it when her dream guy starts following her on Twitter. She never thought he noticed her, and suddenly he seems to understand her better than almost anyone.
But the Twitterverse can be a confusing place, especially when friends act differently online than they do in person. Things get even more complicated when Claire realizes she's falling for someone else, the last person she ever would have expected....
Told in an innovative format combining tweets, emails, and blogs, "Tweet Heart" is a contemporary romantic comedy that will set your heart atwitter."

Concept/Ideas: 3/5
Storyline/Plot: 4/5
Characters 3.5/5
Writing Style: 4/5

Tweet Heart was a light, fun, read. The book is written in emails, blogs, and tweets, which was refreshing. The concept for the book was not original, although the formatting made it original in it's own way. I enjoyed the storyline, and thought that it was fast-paced, and it all evened out fairly well. The characters were of course a bit hard to get a feel for, since it was all through online formatting, but overall you did get a feel for each personality. The writing style was light, fun, bubbly, and heart-wrenching at times. A great, light read for anyone looking for something short and sweet!

Sirens by Janet Fox

Sirens

Author: Janet Fox

Published: November 8th, 2012

Publisher: Speak

 

Goodreads Summary: "When Jo Winter’s parents send her off to live with her rich cousin on the glittering island of Manhattan, it’s to find a husband and forget about her brother Teddy’s death. But all that glitters is not gold,. Caught up in the swirl of her cousin’s bobbed-hair set—and the men that court them—Jo soon realizes that the talk of marriage never stops, and behind the seemingly boundless gains are illicit business endeavors, gangsters, and their molls. Jo would much rather spend time the handsome but quiet Charles, a waiter at the Algonquin Hotel, than drape herself
over a bootlegger. But when she befriends a moll to one of the most powerful men in town, Jo begins to uncover secrets—secrets that threaten an empire and could secure Jo’s freedom from her family. Can her newfound power buy her love? Or will it to ruin Jo, and everyone around her?"

 

Concept/Ideas: 4.5/5
Storyline/Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing Style: 4.5/5

A murder mystery and the 20s all wrapped up into one...

Sirens was a fantastic read filled with suspense, love, mystery, and an amazing feel for the Roaring 20's! Wow. All I can say is wow. I was blown away at how much I loved this book. Typically, I have tried to read so, so many books that revolve around the 20s, 30s, and flapper life-style, and I have never been able to get into one. I've tried the Vixen series, and I've probably tried to read Bright Young Things five times. I was convinced it was the subject matter that turned me away. I guessed wrong...

Right off the bat, this book through me into an alien world, filled with history and different times. I loved seeing the differences that was the past, and comparing it to today's world. It's pretty amazing when you get down to it, just how much society, and things have changed since the 20s.

This book leaves you begging for more, throughout the whole book, AND during the end. The storyline was extremely fast-paced and interesting. The mystery in this book was amazing, and it was so suspensful at times, I just couldn't put it down. The characters were likeable, and I found them relatable, and deep. The secrets that are revealed about each one is surprising!

For anybody who usually doesn't feel drawn to historical YA, I would defnitely reccommend you give this book a shot. Especially if you like mystery and suspense, this will be a favorite. It's not a typical flapper type of novel with drama, drama, drama... Instead, this book is much deeper, and full on packed with action. 

Winter White (Belles #2) by Jen Calonita

Winter White (Belles #2)

Author: Jen Calonita

Published: October 9th, 2012

Publisher: Poppy

 

Goodreads Summary: "Isabelle Scott and Mirabelle Monroe are still reeling from the revelation that they share more than just the roof over their heads. The media has pounced on their story and the girls are caught up in a flurry of talk-show appearances and newspaper interviews. They've put on a happy public face, but someone is leaking their true feelings to the press, and while it seems like the world is watching their every move, at least they have each other.
But with cotillion season right around the corner, Izzie and Mira have barely had time to process their newfound sisterhood. Mira has dreamed of making her debut in a gorgeous white gown forever-now, if only she could find an escort. Izzie, meanwhile, is still struggling to find her place in Emerald Cove and it's seeming ever more impossible with EC mean-girls, young and old, doing their best to keep her down. As cotillion preparations heat up, though, there are dance steps to learn, manners to perfect... and secret initiations to complete? As if sophomore year wasn't hard enough!
It's time for the gowns to go on and the gloves to come off."

 

Concept/Ideas: 4/5
Storyline/Plot: 3.5/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing Style: 4/5

The second installment in the Belles series was overall a great sequel to the first. I found myself drawn to the cover especially, since it's simply so beautiful! The book started off fast-paced, and as it usually does with Calonita's writing. I was pulled in. and I found the characters a lot more likeable in this one, especially Mira. She seemed to mature just a bit more, and have a voice of her own, which I liked a lot. In Winter White, she is not the same follower she was in Belles... I actually found Izzie to be a bit annoying. I can't put my finger on it, but Izzie seems to be too "All-American, 'can do no wrong' type of girl, who easily is starting to get on my nerves. Why? I'm not too sure. I'm not a huge fan of the secondary characters though either. I find it hard to connect with them, and they seem a bit... shallow? Cookie-cutter? Although I did thoroughly enjoy this book, it did get slow toward the end. It picked back up eventually, but I didn't find myself as pulled in as I did with Belles. I loved the concept Calonita created for this book with the ball, and it was fun, light, and elegant. I loved all the challenges they had to go through, and that Savannah finally got what she deserved. But again, just like Belles, the author leaves you with a huge revelation that just leaves you hanging for more. I find this to be somewhat annoying (doesn't anyone else know what I mean?!?!). In this series, I feel like a lot of the intense action always happens in the last... PAGE. Which leaves me a bit annoyed. Of course, it always leaves you excited to pick up the next one, to see what's going to happen. Overall, a fun, light, girly read! If you liked Belles, you will not be disappointed with Winter White!




My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

My Life Next Door

Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick

Published: June 14th, 2012 (My Birthday, hehe)

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Reader

 

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."

Concept/Ideas: 4.5/5
Storyline/Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Overall Rating: 4.5/5

My Life Next Door was a beautiful story of love, family, and friendship.

I don't know why it's taken so long for me to read this one, but I'm glad I finally did.

First of all, the cover. What's not to love? It's beautiful, sweet, and so beautifully in sync with the story.

The concept for the book was original, and I loved that it pulled you in, and kept your attention from page one, right down to the final page. It was refreshing to have a main character who was lovable, and not one of those typical angst filled teenage girls we read about again and again. Jase and Samantha both were mature characters, and ones that you could connect with instantly. I found there to be good character development, and none of the characters fell flat. I loved George, and the Garrett's in general. You could just feel that wholesome big family feeling, and then feel the complete opposite when thrown into Samanatha's house.

The storyline was fast, although I found it to be a bit slow in some parts. When the middle of the book hits, and a tragedy occurs, I couldn't stop reading. It just made you want to keep turning page after page. It was completely heart-wrenching, and you could feel for Samantha and her part in it so much.

I love the twists that Fitzpatrick threw into what you would believe to be a typical teenage romance. Oh, it was so much more.

The only thing that left me wondering at the end was: "What happened to Nan?".. amidst things about other characters that I won't comment on since it'll contain spoilers. I felt that Fitzpatrick unfortunately left the reader with a bittersweet feeling in the end. I would have liked to know what happened to some of the characters, since she left things off at a bit of a cliff-hanger. Although, I'm sure it was intended to leave it up to the reader to tie up those loose ends.

Overall, this book was a read that for sure, deserves all of the hype it's recieving. Probably one of the top three of contemporaries I've read this year. Fitzpatrick is an amazing author, who I was surprised to find out is a debut author as well. She knows what she's doing, and can pen out one hell of an amazing story. I look forward to more of her writing!

 

Tempest (Tempest #1) by Julie Cross

Tempest (Tempest #1)

Author: Julie Cross

Published: January 17th, 2012

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

 

Goodreads Summary: "The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

 

Concept/Ideas: 4/5
Storyline/Plot: 2.5/5
Characters: 3/5
Writing Style: 3/5
Overall Rating: 2.5-3/5

Tempest, Tempest, Tempest.. what can I say? A total let down for me! What initially drew me to the book was the cover. Beautiful, mysterious, and just so eye-catching! But I must say... that was unfortunately the best part for me...

Initially, the concept for this book was interesting, and a good idea. I haven't read any books about time travel, so I thought I was in for something different.

The book started off great. I was really into it, and it kept my attention... until about halfway through. It just hit a point where the book felt repetitive, and it just bored me to no end. In my opinion, there wasn't really any great action, and most of the book centered around Jackson trying to understand why he was the way he was, and it just didn't keep my attention.

I felt that Jackson was a really flat character, and i'm not too sure why. I just couldn't connect with any of the characters.

I could barely finish the book. Not my style whatsoever.
I will most likely not read the second book in the series.

Still, I would reccommend the book to anyone who's interested in time travel, sci-fi, a bit of mystery, and books with spy-like elements in them. Also, if your a fan of books with males as the main character, this is for you. Personally, I hardly have ever enjoyed books with male protagonists.

But don't take my word for it if your into these types of YA. If it looks interesting to you, read it!

52 Reasons To Hate My Father by Jessica Brody

52 Reasons To Hate My Father

Author: Jessica Brody

Published: July 3rd, 2012

Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux

 

Goodreads Summary: "Being America’s favorite heiress is a dirty job, but someone’s gotta do it.Lexington Larrabee has never to work a day in her life. After all, she’s the heiress to the multi-billion-dollar Larrabee Media empire. And heiresses are not supposed to work. But then again, they’re not supposed to crash brand new Mercedes convertibles into convenience stores on Sunset Blvd either.

Which is why, on Lexi’s eighteen birthday, her ever-absent, tycoon father decides to take a more proactive approach to her wayward life. Every week for the next year, she will have to take on a different low-wage job if she ever wants to receive her beloved trust fund. But if there’s anything worse than working as a maid, a dishwasher, and a fast-food restaurant employee, it’s dealing with Luke, the arrogant, albeit moderately attractive, college intern her father has assigned to keep tabs on her.

In a hilarious “comedy of heiress” about family, forgiveness, good intentions, and best of all, second chances, Lexi learns that love can be unconditional, money can be immaterial, and, regardless of age, everyone needs a little saving. And although she might have 52 reasons to hate her father, she only needs one reason to love him."

 

Concept/Ideas: 5/5
Storyline/Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Overall Rating: 4/5

52 Reasons to Hate My Father was an awesome book! It took your typical rich, Paris Hilton type socialite, and threw a twist right along with it.

The writing for this book was great. It was easy, light, and fast-paced. Definitely a fun read. The storyline was fast, and there were no slow parts whatsoever.

I found the concept for this book beyond interesting. It definitely made the book stand out. I loved the concept of Lexi having to do 52 different, low-wage jobs in order to get her trust fund. Whether rich or not, you can learn a lot from the book. It really teaches you the value of money, family, friends, and shows you that not everything is as it seems. Although Lexi's dad seems like the bad guy during the novel, by the end you'll quickly think differently. I loved that the book really gave great development and depth to the characters, who otherwise you wouldn't think would have when beginning to read the novel. Lexi may seem like the spoiled, rich brat, but I promise you that your in for a surprise by the end.

Overall, a great read.

Burn for Burn (Burn for Burn #1) by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

Burn for Burn (Burn for Burn #1)

   Authors: Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

Published: September 18th, 2012

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

 

Goodreads Summary: "BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY...
THEY GET EVEN.

Lillia has never had any problems dealing with boys who like her. Not until this summer, when one went too far. No way will she let the same thing happen to her little sister.

Kat is tired of the rumours, the insults, the cruel jokes. It all goes back to one person– her ex-best friend– and she's ready to make her pay.

Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she's not the same girl anymore. And she's ready to prove it to him.

Three very different girls who want the same thing: sweet, sweet revenge. And they won't stop until they each had a taste"

 

First of all, I must say that the cover for this book is simply beautiful. It's mysterious, feminine, and enticing.

 

Concept/Ideas: 4/5
Storyline/Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Writing Style: 4.5/5
Overall Rating: 4/5

The concept for this book was not too original, when you first read the summary. Girls getting back at enemies? How many times has that been done? Wrong. The two authors managed to take a common, simple concept and turn it into something unique and put their own spin onto it.

Burn for Burn follows three girls, Lillia, Mary, and Kat. These three girls are all somehow intertwined, whether it be from the past, or through mutual social circles. All three band together through circumstances that drive them to make a pact to get revenge on certain people who have hurt them, their family, friends, or simply because.

I love that the authors incoperated three very different girls, which always makes the storyline more interesting.

The book was extremely fast paced, and I found myself devouring the book. I constantly wanted to know what was going to happen next, and it was exciting at suspenseful, especially at the end...

Good character development and a great writing style. It was witty, light, girly, and catty.

I can't give too much away without spoiling, but this is a great read for anyone interested in girly, light, reads with an evil twist mixed into it. Very similar to The Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard.

The ending will leave you begging for more. Oh, why... Why must authors do this to us? I can't wait for the second book!

Go out and pick it up! I reccommend it!

Stalker Girl by Rosemary Graham

Stalker Girl

Author: Rosemary Graham

Published: August 5th, 2010

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Genres: Suspense, romance

 

Goodreads Summary: "Carly never meant to become a stalker. She just wanted to find out who Brian started dating after he dumped her. But a little harmless online research turns into a quick glance, and that turns into an afternoon of watching. Soon Carly is putting all of her energy into following Brian's new girlfriend--all of the sadness she feels about her mom's recent breakup, all of the anger she feels over being pushed aside by her dad while he prepares for his new wife/s new baby. When Carly's stalking is discovered in the worst possible way by the worst possible person, she is forced to acknowledge her problem and the underlying issues that led to it."

Concept/Ideas: 4/5
Storyline/Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Overall Rating: 3.5/5

I thought the concept for Stalker Girl was an interesting one. That's what originally pulled me into the novel, and tempted me to read it. It seemed like it would be somewhat of a suspenseful, enticing read about a girl who stalks her ex-boyfriend's new girlfriend. Unfortunately, it was a bit of a letdown. I was expecting a lot more from the book to be honest. I think it fell short because there just wasn't enough substance to the book. I felt as if Carly was a very flat, bland character, and was not someone who you could easily relate to. She seemed very emotionless in the novel. Because of lack of character development, it just sets the whole book off for a hard time being able to get a feel for the book, and even enjoying it. Throughout the first three quarters of the book, it mainly tells the story of how Carly and her now ex-boyfriend Brian meet. From there on, it basically builds up the storyline to the present day plot. You increasingly start to understand why Carly did what she did, and how it developed. There was some substance and development there, but still, not enough for my tastes. Although, I could really feel for Carly when dealing with her mother, and the divorce. That was probably one of the only parts of the book that affected me or even moved me in the slightest. The 'stalker' part that the title suggests really isn't an appropriate title in my opinion, since most of the book had nothing to do with the actual stalking of the new girlfriend. It was only in the first 10-15 pages at the beginning, and then 15-25 pages in the end that any real action happens. The plot was weak in my opinion, and it could have had a lot more to it. But maybe that's just me. I just expected 'stalking' out of it (as bad as that sounds, haha!).

The writing was alright, but nothing too amazing. I found myself stuck in a lot of slow parts, and had a hard time getting through the novel at times. In the end, it was still worth the read and I reccommend it.

Overall, like I said, the characters and their development was a bit weak, and the plot line was slow at times, but it was still an interesting read with a different concept to it than most YA novels. If you're looking for something different, I'd definitely ask you to check this one out.

The Magnolia League (Magnolia League #1) by Katie Crouch

The Magnolia League

Author: Katie Crouch

Published: May 3rd, 2011

Publisher: Poppy



Goodreads Summary: "When her free-spirited mother dies in a tragic accident, sixteen-year-old Alexandria Lee is forced to leave her West Coast home and move in with a wealthy grandmother she's never known in Savannah, Georgia. By birth, Alex is a rightful if unwilling member of the Magnolia League-Savannah's long-standing debutante society. But white gloves and silk gowns are a far cry from the vintage t-shirts and torn jeans shorts she's used to.
Alex is the first in decades to question the Magnolia League's intentions, yet even she becomes entangled in their seductive world. The members enjoy youth, beauty and power...but at what cost? As Alex discovers a pact between the Magnolias and the Buzzards, a legendary hoodoo family, she discovers secrets-some deadly-hidden beneath the glossy Southern veneer.
New York Times bestselling author Katie Crouch's poignant and humorous voice shines in this enchanting and mysterious story about girls growing up in a magical Southern city."

Concept/Ideas: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Storyline/Plot: 3.5/5
Overall rating: 4/5 stars

So I'm completely torn. When I first thought of what I was going to rate this book, I was thinking a 3/5. But, as I really began to think about it... it more deserves a 4/5. What happened with me, is that honestly, I'm not a fan of books with magic in it, blah, spells, potions, blah (Except for Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins). But other than that, it wasn't too bad. They kept the magic at a good medium, and it wasn't crazy all over the place, constant new terms and things to remember as you read like in... say... Harry Potter?

The storyline and plot was original though, I have to give Katie Crouch that. I liked the settings, and it was very different, which made it an exciting read. I loved that Alex was from a communal farm, and the fact that her grandmother's big estate, and all the Magnolia stuff was set in Georgia, the south.

I loved the characters Hayes and Madison, Thaddeus, Alex, etc.. They were all deep, and I thought each one had a big role in the book.. It wasn't just a bunch of random characters that had no real signifigance. Each one had his or her own important meaning to the book.

The beginning was slow, but it soon got amazing, and I couldn't stop reading.

The plot went a long fast, and I finished it quickly.
Overall, a great read, and I DEFINITELY reccommend it.

No Safety In Numbers (No Safety In Numbers #1) by Dayna Lorentz

No Safety In Numbers

Author: Dayna Lorentz

Published: May 29th, 2012

Publisher: Dial

 

Goodreads Summary: "Life As We Knew It meets Lord of the Flies in a mall that looks just like yours

A biological bomb has just been discovered in the air ducts of a busy suburban mall. At first nobody knows if it's even life threatening, but then the entire complex is quarantined, people start getting sick, supplies start running low, and there's no way out. Among the hundreds of trapped shoppers are four teens.

These four different narrators, each with their own stories, must cope in unique, surprising styles, changing in ways they wouldn't have predicted, trying to find solace, safety, and escape at a time when the adults are behaving badly.

This is a gripping look at people and how they can--and must--change under the most dire of circumstances.

And not always for the better."

 

*I have an author interview up with Dayna Lorentz on my blog! Go check it out!

 

Concept/Ideas: 4/5

Storyline/Plot: 3.5/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Writing Style: 4/5

An interesting read, none the less. I loved the idea for this book. A bomb in a mall that causes a toxin to make people ill? Whoa.

The mall being shutdown with people locked in it in solitude and sickness for a week? Interesting.

I did enjoy the story very much. The characters alternate between four people. Two boys, and two girls. I found the characters to be relatable and likable, although I wasn't fond of Ryan's POV.

The plotline was good, but perhaps a little slow in parts. I kind of hoped for a little more action in the novel.

Apparently, this is book one... so i'm hoping the next one is coming out soon.
I look forward to reading it. Hopefully though, more will be discovered, and more action and drama will persue.

Family by Micol Ostow

Family

Author: Micol Ostow

Published: April 26th, 2011

Publisher: EgmontUSA

 

Goodreads Summary: "i have always been broken. i could have. died. and maybe it would have been better if i had. It is a day like any other when seventeen-year-old Melinda Jensen hits the road for San Francisco, leaving behind her fractured home life and a constant assault on her self-esteem. Henry is the handsome, charismatic man who comes upon her, collapsed on a park bench, and offers love, a bright new consciousness, and—best of all—a family. One that will embrace her and give her love. Because family is what Mel has never really had. And this new family, Henry’s family, shares everything. They share the chores, their bodies, and their beliefs. And if Mel truly wants to belong, she will share in everything they do. No matter what the family does, or how far they go.

Told in episodic verse, family is a fictionalized exploration of cult dynamics, loosely based on the Manson Family murders of 1969. It is an unflinching look at people who are born broken, and the lengths they’ll go to to make themselves “whole” again."

 

Concept/Ideas: 4/5
Storyline/Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Writing Style: 3/5
Overall Rating: 3/5

I pretty much know as much as a person can know on the Manson family case, but personally I just couldn't get into this book despite my intense facination of the murders in general. Like many of the others who reviewed this book, I'm one of those people. One of those people who totally got pulled into the Manson family, the case, the 60s, Sharon Tate, and the whole helter-skelter 'ness' of it all. Fascinating stuff.

The ideas were great, and I liked that she tried to recreate the case into poetry and verse. But I just don't know that it went over too well. It got confusing, and the way she wrote it got annoying by the end of the book. Good ideas, good potential, but not executed in the best way. At the end, it left me wondering, what the hell just happened? Although we all know how it ends, the way she wrote it was completely confusing. It seemed as if Mel let "the singer" go, as in, didn't kill her and let her run free. But it was written in a way that made me wonder, did she actually flee into the "inky night", or was that seriously just a metaphor for actually killing her, meaning her soul flew into the night? Considering in real life we know what happens, I'm going to assume it's a metaphor. Still, this was not the greatest "re-telling". There was so much repitition, and random < rise > < henry > shit that it was ridiculous. It could have added to the book given the right amount, but this didn't do it. It just made the book confusing and put it all over the place.

Cover art: Vert relevant to the case in real life, but not a huge fan of the cover in general. It captures your attention though, i'll give it that.

Would this book make a good movie?: Well, considering the book is based on the real life events, no. We have already re-created this case so many times, although I'm always open to a more recent one.

 



Wicked (Pretty Little Liars #5) by Sara Shepard

READ: MAY 2010

Book Title: Wicked

Author: Sara Shepard

Pages: 320

Published: November 2008

Publisher: HarperTeen

Series Number: Book five

Goodreads Summary:

"In idyllic Rosewood, Pennsylvania, four very pretty girls just can't help but be bad. . . .
Hanna will do anything to be Rosewood's queen bee. Spencer's digging up her family's secrets. Emily can't stop thinking about her new boyfriend. And Aria approves a little too strongly of her mom's taste in men.
Now that Ali's killer is finally behind bars, the girls think they're safe. But those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it. And they should know by now that I'm always watching. . . ."

My Review

Hm... what can I say about this book? This is definitely the take-off book of the series. After this one, everything flies.

New and old secrets, obviously.

But never, ever old.

In this one, the thrill and suspense get pretty epic. Well things seem safe for the girls, they are far from it. They believe that A's killer is behind bars. But of course, if you've read farther into the series, you know that it is FAR from over.

The girls are sadly mistaken when they start recieving text messages -- from A.
After this, it all starts up all over again.

I really can't say a whole lot of different things in this review, than any other, because they are all pretty similar, so it's very hard to come up with a unique and original review everytime around.

Love the girls, although Hanna and Spencer definitely get annoying. In my opinion, especially Hanna. Very snobby, annoying, and yet a part of the main reason this book happens. Sadly enough.