Saturday, December 29, 2012

Burger Wuss by M.T Anderson

Summary: (from goodreads)  Anthony has never been able to stand up for himself —- that is, not until his girlfriend is in someone else’s arms. Then Anthony vows revenge and devises the Plan. It begins with getting a job at the fast-food restaurant where his nemesis happens to be a star employee. But when the Plan is finally in place, will Anthony’s hunger for revenge be satisfied? Will he prove he’s not a wuss? 
Review: This was a pretty lighthearted and funny read. It is a humorous look at revenge and working in the fast food industry. Although I did enjoy it I found it a little bit hard to connect to the characters. The situations they found themselves in were a little bit hard to relate to. This book is pretty short as well which although it didn't need to be any longer, probably added to the lack of character development. Although this wasn't my favorite I would reccomend it to anyone who is looking for something mindless and funny. It was still a good read.  This is going to be a really short review because I don't relly have much esle to say about this book.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Confessions of an Angry Girl by Louise Rozett

Summary:(from goodreads) Rose Zarelli, self-proclaimed word geek and angry girl, has some confessions to make…1. I'm livid all the time. Why? My dad died. My mom barely talks. My brother abandoned us. I think I'm allowed to be irate, don't you?2. I make people furious regularly. Want an example? I kissed Jamie Forta, a badass guy who might be dating a cheerleader. She is now enraged and out for blood. Mine.3. High school might as well be Mars. My best friend has been replaced by an alien, and I see red all the time. (Mars is red and "seeing red" means being angry—get it?)Here are some other vocab words that describe my life: Inadequate. Insufferable. Intolerable.(Don't know what they mean? Look them up yourself.)(Sorry. That was rude.)
Review: I honestly wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this and found myself pleasantly surprised. Something about the story just completely sucked me in right from the beginning. I think what I really was able to connect with was how honest this story was. it wasn't dark or overly dramatic or scary and paranormal. It was just a story about a teenage girl and the struggles of high school and I really felt that. I think Rose is a character that everyone can relate to. Everyone has had some experience with at least one of the things that she is going through. She also starts to change a little bit by the end of the book and although I don't think this book really needs a sequel I am glad there is going to be one because I am excited to see where Rose's story goes next. Any fans of YA contemporary should give this one a try.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Flat Out Love by Jessica Park

Summary:(from goodreads) Flat-Out Love is a warm and witty novel of family love and dysfunction, deep heartache and raw vulnerability, with a bit of mystery and one whopping, knock-you-to-your-knees romance.
Something is seriously off in the Watkins home. And Julie Seagle, college freshman, small-town Ohio transplant, and the newest resident of this Boston house, is determined to get to the bottom of it.When Julie's off-campus housing falls through, her mother's old college roommate, Erin Watkins, invites her to move in. The parents, Erin and Roger, are welcoming, but emotionally distant and academically driven to eccentric extremes. The middle child, Matt, is an MIT tech geek with a sweet side ... and the social skills of a spool of USB cable. The youngest, Celeste, is a frighteningly bright but freakishly fastidious 13-year-old who hauls around a life-sized cardboard cutout of her oldest brother almost everywhere she goes.And there's that oldest brother, Finn: funny, gorgeous, smart, sensitive, almost emotionally available. Geographically? Definitely unavailable. That's because Finn is traveling the world and surfacing only for random Facebook chats, e-mails, and status updates. Before long, through late-night exchanges of disembodied text, he begins to stir something tender and silly and maybe even a little bit sexy in Julie's suddenly lonesome soul.To Julie, the emotionally scrambled members of the Watkins family add up to something that ... well ... doesn't quite add up. Not until she forces a buried secret to the surface, eliciting a dramatic confrontation that threatens to tear the fragile Watkins family apart, does she get her answer.

Review: I liked this books so much more than I thought I would. When I started reading it, I didn't have that high of expectations for it. However, the plot quickly became really intriguing. This is definitely a character driven story and the plot isn't particularly action packed, but I quickly became sucked into the story. The best part about it though, was the fact that I quickly fell in love with the entire Watkins family. Erin, Roger, Matt, Celeste, even Finn were all so awesome. I also really like Julie. All the characters were fun and unique, they all had their own little quirks that made them who they are. It's obvious that this family has their fair share of issues, but it took me a long time for me to figure out what was really going on. Looking back, I almost feel like i should have known sooner.  I really loved the way the book ended. I thought it was really sweet. I am honestly going to miss all these characters. I will definitely be checking out Jessica Parks' other books.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott

Summary:(from goodreads) Abby accepted that she can’t measure up to her beautiful, magnetic sister Tess a long time ago, and knows exactly what she is: Second best. Invisible.Until the accident.Now Tess is in a coma, and Abby’s life is on hold. It may have been hard living with Tess, but it's nothing compared to living without her.She's got a plan to bring Tess back though, involving the gorgeous and mysterious Eli, but then Abby learns something about Tess, something that was always there, but that she’d never seen.Abby is about to find out that truth isn't always what you think it is, and that life holds more than she ever thought it could.
Review: I am big fan of Elizabeth Scott's books and this was was pretty good as well. The plot was interesting and there was one plot twist that I was really surprised by. I thought the surprises in the plot added another layer of depth to the story and kept things interesting. There were some parts that were pretty predictable, especially where the romance is involved. I liked the way that everyone slowly starts to change and learn how to live with what has happened, especially Abby. There were a few parts where i wanted to yell at her for the way she was acting about Tess and Eli. I almost had a hard time believing that she was that clueless. I can only take so much self pity. Other than that, I thought this book was a really good look at how what you see in a person is only a little part of who they really are. The exploration and character development made me really like it and I am looking forward to reading more of Scott's books.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Never Enough by Denise Jaden

Summary:(from goodreads) Loann’s always wanted to be popular and pretty like her sister, Claire. So when Claire’s ex-boyfriend starts flirting with her, Loann is willing to do whatever it takes to feel special… even if that means betraying her sister.But as Loann slips inside Claire’s world, she discovers that everything is not as it seems. Claire’s quest for perfection is all-consuming, and comes at a dangerous price. As Claire increasingly withdraws from friends and family, Loann struggles to understand her and make amends. Can she heal their relationship —and her sister—before it’s too late.
Review: I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. Although, the plot is a little bit slow in the beginning, things start to pick up as things start to steadily get worse. This is definitely a character driven plot that explores the sibling relationship really well, while also delving into some serious issues. I also appreciated that the romance of this book was really slow paced and took the whole length of the book to develop. I thought it was a nice change from the books that make the romance the center of the plot. The characters in this book were very well written. I really Liked Loann and Claire. They were both very complicated characters and the exploration of their relationship and their issues really made the book great. I liked Marcus as well, even though his story didn't get quite as much face time I thought he was a really awesome guy. Overall, I liked this book a lot more than i was expecting to and would recommend it to fans of contemporary books like this. review

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Tilt by Ellen Hopkins

Summary:(from goodreads) Three teens, three stories—all interconnected through their parents’ family relationships. As the adults pull away, caught up in their own dilemmas, the lives of the teens begin to tilt….Mikayla, almost eighteen, is over-the-top in love with Dylan, who loves her back jealously. But what happens to that love when Mikayla gets pregnant the summer before their senior year—and decides to keep the baby?Shane turns sixteen that same summer and falls hard in love with his first boyfriend, Alex, who happens to be HIV positive. Shane has lived for four years with his little sister’s impending death. Can he accept Alex’s love, knowing that his life, too, will be shortened?Harley is fourteen—a good girl searching for new experiences, especially love from an older boy. She never expects to hurdle toward self-destructive extremes in order to define who she is and who she wants to be.Love, in all its forms, has crucial consequences in this standalone novel.
Review: I don't even really know what to say about this book. I really loved this story. This story is focused on the teens from her adult novel Triangles which I haven't read and it didn't affect my enjoyment of this one at all. The plot was really well paced and although this book is 600 hundred pages I couldn't put it down until I was done. I really liked the characters as well. They were all so easy to connect with and i couldn't help but feel bad for them as things spiraled out of control. I liked how all the characters were so connected, it added a lot to the depth. I also enjoyed the brief Perspectives from all of the minor characters as well. It really made the story more enjoyable to get brief glimpses into all their lives. This is such a heartbreaking story in many ways, but it is also a story of hope and love. I don't really have much else to say except that fans of Hopkins's other books will not be disappointed with this one.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

This review may contain spoilers of previous books in the series
Summary:(from goodreads) There can only be one alpha.Bryn is finally settling into her position as alpha of the Cedar Ridge Pack—or at least, her own version of what it means to be alpha when you’re a human leading a band of werewolves. Then she finds a teenage boy bleeding on her front porch. Before collapsing, he tells her his name is Lucas, he’s a Were, and Bryn’s protection is his only hope.But Lucas isn’t part of Bryn’s pack, and she has no right to claim another alpha’s Were. With threats—old and new—looming, and danger closing in from all sides, Bryn will have to accept what her guardian Callum knew all along. To be alpha, she will have to give in to her own animal instincts and become less human. And, she’s going to have to do it alone. 
Review: This is the second book in this series and I was pleasantly surprised by it. The plot was exciting. As soon as you thought you knew everything another little piece of information would be revealed and would change things. Also, the way this book ended made me really curious to see how this series is going to continue. There was a lot going on that kept things exciting and was very surprised by the events that happened at the end. Bryn is a really awesome main character. Her determination to protect everyone made me really like her. She is a really tough character but also has her share of issues. Devon and Lake were awesome and fun as well, but I thought Chase was annoying. Their relationship didn't seem all that believable and it seemed like it was barely brought up in this book. Hopefully that will change in the next one. overall, this is a good read and i am excited to read the next book.
 

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

Summary:(from goodreads)  It was a beautiful, warm summer day, the day Danny died.Suddenly Wren was alone and shattered. In a heartbroken fury, armed with dark incantations and a secret power, Wren decides that what she wants--what she "must" do--is to bring Danny back.But the Danny who returns is just a shell of the boy Wren fell in love with. His touch is icy; his skin, smooth and stiff as marble; his chest, cruelly silent when Wren rests her head against it.Wren must keep Danny a secret, hiding him away, visiting him at night, while her life slowly unravels around her. Then Gabriel DeMarnes transfers to her school, and Wren realizes that somehow, inexplicably, he can sense the powers that lie within her--and that he knows what she has done. And now Gabriel wants to help make things right.But Wren alone has to undo what she has wrought--even if it means breaking her heart all over again. 
Review:  I was really intrigued by the premise of this book and thought it played out really well. Although, it was a little bit too drawn out which made it a little bit slow in parts, I really enjoyed it. I read this book pretty quickly and had a hard time putting it down in parts.  I have mixed feelings about it because some things about I really liked and others I didn't. The message that this book sends about love, loss and grief is strong and adds another dimension to the story rather than typical mushy paranormal romance. On the other hand I thought Wren was annoying for most of the book. I was frustrated with the fact that she was determined to do everything by herself and keep everyone who cares about her at arms length. It started to get annoying after a while.  At the same time though, I could really relate to her struggle with love and loss and trying to move on and do the right thing. I did like this book though and will probably read the sequel eventually but I'm really not sure what else could happen.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Summary:(from goodreads) Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris--the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead. Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts ferociously alongside her. But even as more girls' bodies pile up in the city and the Fenris seem to be gaining power, Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves. She finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax and Scarlett's only friend--but does loving him mean betraying her sister and all that they've worked for?
Review: This is the first book in this fairy tale retelling series. It is a retelling of little red riding hood and I really enjoyed it. Although, there are many parallels to the original story. In this book the story is completely transformed into something unique. The plot was paced really well and there were a few surprising plot twists to keep things interesting. The action at the ending worked well, but I was a little bit confused about how things worked out so nicely for them, it's not really explained.  I thought the way things were left was a good ending to the story, but I do wish the epilogue had been a little bit more detailed. Scarlett, Rosie and Silas were all awesome characters. I especially loved the connection between the two sisters. Although, they were both very different they had a very close connection that nothing can break. The history of these three characters really added a lot to the book and made me connect with them even more. So, even though I did have a few small problems I did enjoy this and will definitely continue with the series.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Summary:(from goodreads) No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal, but The Reestablishment has plans for her. Plans to use her as a weapon. But Juliette has plans of her own. After a lifetime without freedom, she's finally discovering a strength to fight back for the very first time—and to find a future with the one boy she thought she'd lost forever.
Review: This book was better than I thought it was going to be. The premise sounded interesting and I think it was done really well. It was well paced. Once things got exciting towards the end I couldn't wait to finish. However, the way it was narrated kind of annoyed me, especially in the beginning.  I can't exactly pinpoint what the difference is but I didn't like it. I think that also made it difficult to connect with Juliette as a character. Although I did like her, I couldn't completely relate to her situation. I did like Adam though. he was a really awesome character and I liked him more and more as the story went on. I hope in the next book we learn more about the dystopian society and how it came about. Overall, I enjoyed this book and i am definitely looking forward to reading the sequel.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

This review may contain spoilers of previous books in the series.
Summary:(from goodreads) Nora Grey can't remember the past five months of her life. After the initial shock of waking up in a cemetery and being told that she has been missing for weeks - with no one knowing where she was or who she was with - she tried to get her life back on track. Go to school, hang out with her best friend, Vee, and dodge mom's creepy new boyfriend.
But there is this voice in the back of her head, an idea that she can almost reach out and touch. Visions of angel wings and unearthly creatures that have nothing to do with the life she knows.And this unshakable feeling that a part of her is missing.Then Nora crosses paths with a sexy stranger, whom she feels a mesmerizing connection to. He seems to hold all the answers...and her heart. Every minute she spends with him grows more and more intense until she realizes she could be falling in love. Again.
 
Review: This is the third book in the Hush, Hush series and I thought it was a pretty good addition to the series. I was a little bit annoyed with how things started off but was glad when it started to pick up. It has been a while since I read the last book in the series and it was nice to get back into this world. The pacing of the plot was good. The second half of the book was a little more intense and fast paced and I flew through it pretty quickly. Nora was a good main character towards the end but i started to get a little bit frustrated with her memory loss. It was a little bit slow as Nora had to rediscover everything that had been revealed in the last two books. The way this book ended made me really curious to see how this series is going to end. Overall, I liked this book more than i thought I would and will definitely be picking up the sequel.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

Summary:(from goodreads) In the zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America where Benny Imura lives, every teenager must find a job by the time they turn fifteen or get their rations cut in half. Benny doesn't want to apprentice as a zombie hunter with his boring older brother Tom, but he has no choice. He expects a tedious job whacking zoms for cash, but what he gets is a vocation that will teach him what it means to be human.
Review: I picked this book up completely on impulse back when my local Borders was closing and finally decided to read it. I have to say I am really happy that I did because I really loved this book. The plot was well paced and there was a lot of depth added that made the story really interesting. This book is close to 500 pages but I raced through it and couldn't put it down, especially towards the end. Although there are a few good fight scenes, this book doesn't really focus on that side of the story, which might disappoint some people, but I thought it was one of the best things about the book. I absolutely loved Benny and Tom. They are both such awesome characters. They are both struggling to come to terms with the way of their society. It was fun to see the way Benny changed throughout the book. Tom was probably my favorite character though. As the story goes on you slowly learn more about his life and past and it made me really like him. Also, the epilogue made me cry. I loved this book and can't wait to start the next in the series.

Once by Anna Carey

This review may contain spoilers of previous books in the series.
Summary: (from goodreads) When you're being hunted, who can you trust?
For the first time since she escaped from her school many months ago, Eve can sleep soundly. She's living in Califia, a haven for women, protected from the terrifying fate that awaits orphaned girls in The New America.But her safety came at a price: She was forced to abandon Caleb, the boy she loves, wounded and alone at the city gates. When Eve gets word that Caleb is in trouble, she sets out into the wild again to rescue him, only to be captured and brought to the City of Sand, the capital of The New America.Trapped inside the City walls, Eve uncovers a shocking secret about her past--and is forced to confront the harsh reality of her future. When she discovers Caleb is alive, Eve attempts to flee her prison so they can be together--but the consequences could be deadly. She must make a desperate choice to save the ones she loves . . . or risk losing Caleb forever.In this breathless sequel to "Eve," Anna Carey returns to her tale of romance, adventure, and sacrifice in a world that is both wonderfully strange and chillingly familiar.

Review: This is the second book in the Eve trilogy and although I enjoyed the first book this one was not my favorite. Aside from one big twist at the beginning, the plot was pretty predictable. I found myself getting bored throughout the book. Things did start to get a little bit more exciting towards the end and based on the way it ended I might have to pick up the third book eventually just to find out how things end. I hope that there is more excitement in the third book.  This was a pretty typical dystopian book which isn't enitrely bad, I just wish more had happened. I do like the characters though. Eve is a good narrator, she was a strong and determined but was still vunerable at some points. Caleb is also really awesome. The way things stand with these two characters at the end is really the only thing that makes me want to pick up the third book. It's not going to be a priority to ick it up though.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Perception by Kim Harrington

This review may contain spoilers of previous books in the series.
 Summary:(from goodreads) When you can see things others can't, what do you do when someone's watching you? Everybody knows about Clarity "Clare" Fern. She's the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past. Only Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her. But then someone starts playing with her head . . . and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare's pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare's hopeful ex-boyfriend who'd do anything to win her back? One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared. 
Review: This is the second book in the Clarity series and I thought it was a good follow up. Although, the plot was somewhat similar to the first book it was different enough to keep things interesting. It was well paced and the way things turned out was pretty surprising. I really liked the characters in this book. Clare is a really awesome narrator although the way she dealt with the romance issues in this book were really annoying to me. I also thought that Perry and Mallory were both really great side characters as well. I don't really see how this series is going to keep going. Hopefully the author can come up with another plot line that is completely different than the first two books. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this book and look forward to reading more.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

The Chaos by Rachel Ward

This review may contain spoilers of previous books in the series.
Summary:(from goodreads) Adam sees “numbers” – when he looks in peoples’ eyes he can see their death-dates, just like his mum Jem used to. Adam has trouble dealing with his awful gift, and when he realises that everyone around him has the same series of numbers, he becomes deeply afraid of what might happen in 2027.Desperate to find out what could be about to go wrong, Adam spends hours researching possibilities – war, nuclear accidents, killer viruses. He knows something big is coming, but what? And is there anything he can possibly do about it?
Review: This is the second book in the numbers trilogy and I thought it was a really good story. Although, I thought the plot was somewhat similar to the first book, it was still unique enough and very well written. The plot was well paced and I couldn't put this book down when I got to the last few chapters. Adam and Sarah were both really great main characters although they both did things that were kind of annoying towards the beginning. Sarah's pov was a really great addition to the story. I thought her story line made things more exciting and the book wouldn't have been as good if the entire book was Adam's pov. I'm excitied that there is alittle bit of mystery at the end of this book and I am excited to read the final book in this trilogy.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Happy Birthday to Me by Brian Rowe

Summary:(from goodreads) Seventeen-year-old Cameron Martin has a huge problem: he’s aging a whole year of his life with each passing day!High school is hard enough; imagine rapidly aging from seventeen to seventy in a matter of weeks, with no logical explanation, and with prom, graduation, and the state championship basketball game all on the horizon. That’s what happens to Cameron, a popular pretty boy who's never had to face a day looking anything but perfect.All Cameron wants to do is go back to normal, but no one, not even the best doctors, can diagnose his condition. When he finds love with a mysterious young woman, however, he realizes his only hope for survival might be with the one person who started his condition in the first place...
Review: This was a really awesome story. I've had this book for a while and was excited to finally read it. The premise was really interesting and very well paced. i was somehwta surprised to find out that this was the first in a trilogy because I think it works well as a standalone book. However, i will definitely be reading the rest of the series. I really liked Cameron as a mian character. He is really likeable and easy to relate to througout the enitre book and I really love the character develoment that he goes through. This book had quite a few funny parts, while other parts were more serious. The balance really made for an awesome book. Although, I think its unnecessary I am glad that there is more to come.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Shifting by Bethany Wiggins

Summary:(from goodreads) After bouncing from foster home to foster home, Magdalene Mae is transferred to what should be her last foster home in the tiny town of Silver City, New Mexico. Now that she's eighteen and has only a year left in high school, she's determined to stay out of trouble and just be normal. Agreeing to go to the prom with Bridger O'Connell is a good first step. Fitting in has never been her strong suit, but it's not for the reasons most people would expect-it all has to do with the deep secret that she is a shape shifter. But even in her new home danger lurks, waiting in the shadows to pounce. They are the Skinwalkers of Navajo legend, who have traded their souls to become the animal whose skin they wear-and Maggie is their next target. Full of romance, mysticism, and intrigue, this dark take on Navajo legend will haunt readers to the final page. 
Review: I thought this book was just ok. I thought the plot was a little bit slow in the beginning and it took to long for the paranormal elements to be discussed. Towards the end things started to get more exciting but I think it could have been made a little shorter. After a while the paranormal parts of the book seemed to get a little bit repetitive. However, I did think the paranormal aspects were done really well. the concept of shape shifters was used really well in this story along with Navajo legends being tied in. The characters in it were believable although I thought they started to get a little bit annoying after a while. I'm also pretty sure that this book is a standalone, which I liked about it. It was nice to have everything all wrapped up in one book, which doesn't happen very often with paranormal books. Overall, I this was a good book and I know lots of people will enjoy it.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Angry Management by Chris Crutcher

Summary:(from goodreads) Every kid in this group wants to fly. Every kid in this group has too much ballast.Mr. Nak's Angry Management group is a place for misfits. A place for stories. And, man, does this crew have stories.There's Angus Bethune and Sarah Byrnes, who can hide from everyone but each other. Together, they will embark on a road trip full of haunting endings and glimmering beginnings.And Montana West, who doesn't step down from a challenge. Not even when the challenge comes from her adoptive dad, who's leading the school board to censor the article she wrote for the school paper.And straightlaced Matt Miller, who had never been friends with outspoken genius Marcus James. Until one tragic week--a week they'd do anything to change--brings them closer than Matt could have ever imagined.Chris Crutcher fills these three stories with raw emotion. They are about insecurity, anger, and prejudice. But they are also about love, freedom, and power. About surviving.And hope.
Review: This is a book of three short novellas based on the characters from some of Crutcher's other books. All of these stories are about characters who are viewed a certain way by the people around them and are trying to live their lives in spite of that. I really liked all three stories but the one that stuck with me the most is Meet Me at the Gates, Marcus James. It was really well written and I couldn't help but feel bad for some the characters. I also liked the fact that Sarah Byrnes was included in this anthology because she is such an awesome character that think a lot of people can relate to in some way. I always think its somewhat hard to review anthologies so I'm just going to say that I think that fans of Chris Crutcher will enjoy this one as well.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Plague by Michael Grant

This review may contain spoilers of previous books in the series.
Summary:(from goodreads) It's been eight months since all the adults disappeared. GONE.They've survived hunger. They've survived lies. But the stakes keep rising, and the dystopian horror keeps building. Yet despite the simmering unrest left behind by so many battles, power struggles, and angry divides, there is a momentary calm in Perdido Beach.But enemies in the FAYZ don't just fade away, and in the quiet, deadly things are stirring, mutating, and finding their way free. The Darkness has found its way into the mind of its Nemesis at last and is controlling it through a haze of delirium and confusion. A highly contagious, fatal illness spreads at an alarming rate. Sinister, predatory insects terrorize Perdido Beach. And Sam, Astrid, Diana, and Caine are plagued by a growing doubt that they'll escape - or even survive - life in the FAYZ. With so much turmoil surrounding them, what desperate choices will they make when it comes to saving themselves and those they love?
Review: This is the fourth book in the Gone series and I enjoyed this one just as much as the others. I really like the direction the plot took in this book and thought everything was really well done. I am surprised that the author can constantly keep this series fresh and engaging and keep it from getting dull or repetitive. The way this book ended made me really excited to read the next book. I think things have finally been taken to a different level in the series. The characters, as always, were really great. Dekka became on of my favorites in this book and I started to like Caine in this book for some reason. I also thought Toto was really funny. This is a really awesome series that I think dystopian fans will enjoy.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Summary:(from goodreads) Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.
Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length . . . everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world. . . . and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

Review: This is the first book in the Infernal Devices series. I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one as much as I enjoyed the Mortal Instruments series, but I did really enjoy it. The plot was well paced. Even though this book is close to 500 pages it never thought it was slow. The twist near the ending was surprising and the somewhat of a cliffhanger ending made me really want to read the sequel. I really liked the characters in this book. Tessa was a really strong main character, although it took me a while before I really liked her. Jem and Will were both awesome but i have to say as of this moment I am team Jem. The setting in this book was really great. Even though we don't get to see much of it, the fact that this is set in Victorian London really added a lot to the story. This setting and time period really defined a lot of the characters thought and behaviors which I liked.  Also I wish Magnus had a larger part in this book. overall, I really liked this book and am anxious to start the sequel, although it will probably be a while before i do because i plan on reading City of Fallen Angels first.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Summary:(from goodreads) Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.
Review: I thought this was a really interesting retelling of Cinderella. The plot was well paced and although I figured out what was going to happen pretty early on, I still really enjoyed it. i thought the world building was really well done but i do hope that in the rest of the series we get a little bit more history of how things came to be the way they are. I appreciated how unique this story was while still staying somewhat true to the original. It had a good balance of old and new that i really liked. Cinder was a really great main character. I was rooting for her throughout the entire book. Kai and Dr. Erland were really awesome characters as well. I think Queen Levana is one of the characters that we all love to hate and i am sure excited to see what all of these characters are up to as the series continues. Overall, I think this book is a great choice for anyone who is a fan of fairy tale retelling.

Monday, October 22, 2012

The Lighter Side of Life and Death by C.K. Kelly Martin

Summary:(from goodreads) Sixteen-year-old Mason Rice is having the night of his life. He's just delivered an incredible performance in the school play, basked in celebratory afterglow vibes at the party of the year, and lost his virginity to one of his best friends—the gorgeous but previously unobtainable Kat Medina. His dreams are coming true, and the future looks golden.
Unfortunately, Kat sees things very differently. Crossing the friendship line was a big mistake, and all she wants is to forget it and move on, even if that means forgetting Mason altogether. What's a guy to do? Well, if you're Mason, you hang your hopes on the first attractive twenty-three-year-old you cross paths with. At first Mason wonders if he's imagining the chemistry . . . until Colette invites him over to her apartment. Suddenly Mason's living in a whole new world.

 Review: I thought this book was just ok. The plot was pretty basic and predictable. Although I still enjoyed watching things slowly unfold. I also didn't really connect with any of the characters. Mason was an interesting protagonist but he kinda started to get annoying after a while. I just couldn't relate to any of the characters and that took away from the story for me. I thought the chemistry between the characters seemed kind of forced and not really that believable. my biggest problem though was the lack of reaction from everyone when the truth came out. I thought that Mason's dad at least should have reacted to the situation a little bit more than he did. They just made it seem like no big deal and that bugged me. Despite that stuff though, I did enjoy this book and i think people who want a romance with a little bit of drama will enjoy this one, it just wasn't one of my favorites.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

This review may contain spoilers of previous books in the series.
Summary:(from goodreads) Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small Southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home, strange and impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena's Claiming. Even Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals is affected - and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What - or who - will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin?For Ethan, the chaos is a frightening but welcome distraction. He's being haunted in his dreams again, but this time it isn't by Lena - and whatever is haunting him is following him out of his dreams and into his everyday life. Even worse, Ethan is gradually losing pieces of himself - forgetting names, phone numbers, even memories. He doesn't know why, and most days he's too afraid to ask.Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending.
Review: This is the third book in the Caster Chronicles and I have to say I really enjoyed it. I love the suspenseful plot that doesn't let up for a moment. This book was full of surprises and twists and the ending in particular, was really surprising. Although, I hope it doesn't turn the next book cheesy and annoying. As always I really love the characters in this series. Ethan and Lena are both really awesome characters. I really feel their connection and am excited that there is still another book to come. i am finding it hard to say very much that hasn't already been said about this series, but if you are looking for and awesome southern story full of supernatural excitement, then I recommend this series.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

Summary:(from goodreads) When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early forties, the town of Pagford is left in shock.Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils...Pagford is not what it first seems.And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?
Review: I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this and although it wasn't perfect, I did enjoy it. This book follows a lot of characters and when I first started reading it I was confused about who everyone was. After a while though, it got easier to follow along. This book didn't have a whole lot as far as plot. The main plot focuses on fighting for the empty council seat and things slowly start to spiral out of control for several characters. I would say this book is mostly character driven and I enjoyed getting to know all these characters even if I didn't really connect with any of them. The only perspective i started to get annoyed with after a while was Krystal.   In a nutshell, this book is 500 pages of secrets. lies and gossip in a small English town and I enjoyed it. If you go in to this expecting an action packed magical mystery, you are going to be disappointed, but otherwise i think it is an enjoyable read. I have to say that if you start reading don't give up on it if things seem slow. It does get better and the ending was surprising. Overall, this is a good read.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

So Over You by Gwen Hayes

Summary:(from goodreads) Layney Logan, girl reporter. That's all she's ever wanted to be. This year, her senior year, not only does she have to share the coveted Senior Editor position with her arch nemesis, Jimmy Foster, she also has to figure out how to keep the school paper alive. With the local paper closing and the school cutting Journalism from the budget, it's a long shot. Working side-by-side with Foster, the guy she likes to call Lucifer, makes it even worse.The only thing Layney dislikes more than swimming in the high school dating pool is Jimmy Foster thinking he got the best of her, so she takes his ridiculous newspaper assignment--to go on twelve blind dates--to prove his powers of darkness won't work on her. The trouble is, the more she learns about herself on her journey of bad blind dates, the more she wonders if maybe Foster has known her better than she knows herself all this time. And maybe she should have trusted him with the secret she’s kept for four years—the secret that broke them up to begin with.
Review: I thought this was a cute and sweet, light hearted romance story. The blind date twist added a unique twist on the story and it was fun to watch Layney experience the blind date rollercoaster. What i didn't like about it was that it seemed like as the story when on, the dates were given a backseat to Layney's other conflicting emotions and issues. I thought the secret that Layney revealed towards the end was surprising. It added a differetn dimension to the story and made Layney a more relate able character. Layney was the only character that I really liked in this book. She was the only one that I could really connect to and despite the fact that dating and romance play a big part in this book, I didn't feel the chemistry with any of the male characters, even though there are some who had potential. On the other hand, I really liked the character development that happened over the course of the book. Layney really was a changed person by the end. Even though the ending was somewhat openended, it was easy to imagine where these characters end up and I did enjoy it.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Easy by Tammara Webber

Summary:(from goodreads) When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup two months into sophomore year. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she's single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, and failing a class for the first time in her life.Leaving a party alone, Jacqueline is assaulted by her ex's frat brother. Rescued by a stranger who seems to be in the right place at the right time, she wants nothing more than to forget the attack and that night--but her savior, Lucas, sits on the back row of her econ class, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. Her friends nominate him to be the perfect rebound.When her attacker turns stalker, Jacqueline has a choice: crumple in defeat or learn to fight back. Lucas remains protective, but he's hiding secrets of his own. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.
Review: I thought this was a pretty good book. The plot was well paced, especially where the romance is concerned. I liked the slow buildup of their relationship, especially during the first half of the book. I really liked Jacqueline and Lucas and wanted them to end up together. They were both very well rounded characters. I thought the revelations about Lucas' past really added a lot to the story. My only real problem was that he romance became the center of attention and all the other story lines kind of fell flat. Jacqueline's music practices and escpecially the story line involving Buck. I felt like the could have been explored more and the story could have taken a different direction, which is kind of what I expected based on the summary. Overall, though I really did like this book.

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Miracle By Elizabeth Scott

Summary:(from goodreads) Megan is a miracle. At least, that’s what everyone says. Having survived a plane crash that killed everyone else on board, Megan knows she should be grateful just to be alive. But the truth is, she doesn’t feel like a miracle. In fact, she doesn’t feel anything at all. Then memories from the crash start coming back.Scared and alone, Megan doesn’t know whom to turn to. Her entire community seems unable—or maybe unwilling—to see her as anything but Miracle Megan. Everyone except for Joe, the beautiful boy next door with a tragic past and secrets of his own. All Megan wants is for her life to get back to normal, but the harder she tries to live up to everyone’s expectations, the worse she feels. And this time, she may be falling too fast to be saved.
Review: This is one of those books that focuses on emotional trauma of the main characters. It is definitely a character driven book and I enjoyed it. The plot was well paced and the story was wrapped up nicely but it was still easy to imagine where the characters are headed by the end. I liked Megan as a main character. The thoughts and feelings that she had seemed really realistic and it made me fell sorry for her and want her to do better. However, she was the only character I did like. The way her parents acted throughout most of the book was annoying to me. I also didn't really understand David's issues. His problem isn't really explained all that clearly and he seemed like a normal kid to me. I also didn't feel any real connection to Joe. Apart from that this is another pretty good book from Elizabeth Scott.  It is different from her other books but still really enjoyable.

Monday, September 24, 2012

All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab

Summary:(from goodreads) Carly: She was sweet. Smart. Self-destructive. She knew the secrets of Brighton Day School’s most privileged students. Secrets that got her killed.Neily: Dumped by Carly for a notorious bad boy, Neily didn’t answer the phone call she made before she died. If he had, maybe he could have helped her. Now he can’t get the image of her lifeless body out of his mind.Audrey: She’s the reason Carly got tangled up with Brighton’s fast crowd in the first place, and now she regrets it—especially since she’s convinced the police have put the wrong person in jail. Audrey thinks the murderer is someone at Brighton, and she wants Neily to help her find out who it is.As reluctant allies Neily and Audrey dig into their shared past with Carly, her involvement with Brighton’s dark goings-on comes to light. But figuring out how Carly and her killer fit into the twisted drama will force Audrey and Neily to face hard truths about themselves and the girl they couldn’t save.
Review: This book is one of those that has been on my wishlist for a really long time. I am glad that i finally got around to reading it because I really liked it. The premise of uncovering the mystery surrounding Carly's death was an interesting premise. The plot was well paced and as pieces of the puzzle started to get revealed I became more and more addicted to it. The ending was surprising and everything came together really well. I really liked Neilly and Audrey. They were both very well written and easy to connect with. I thought the way that all the characters were connected was really interesting and the many flashback scenes in the first half, really allows the reader to know about the history of this group of students. I did think that at some points the characters seemed older than they really were, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.  Overall, this was a pretty good mystery type story.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Things Change by Patrick Jones

Summary:(from goodreads) Sometimes things change, and sometimes they don't...Johanna always feels like she has to be perfect-the perfect student and the perfect obedient daughter, which leads her to being the perfect outcast among her high school peers. They say opposites attract, and that could be the only explanation for her attraction to Paul. Always the life of the party, Paul won his seat on the student council by running on an apathy platform. Wherever Paul goes, laughter follows, and Johanna longs to be a part of his inner circle. And whenever Johanna wants something, she plans and works hard to achieve her goal. Getting Paul into her life turns out to be the easy part. Keeping Paul happy while juggling all her other responsibilities is tough even for an overachiever like Johanna. Soon Paul's happiness becomes more important to Johanna than her own. More important than her relationship with her parents and friends. More important than her grades, her safety, and her future.
Review: I enjoyed this book quite a bit, but I didn't think it was amazing. This book follows the fairly typical outline of this type of story. I liked that there were a few chapters from Paul's perspective scattered throughout the book. These sections allowed the reader to know a lot more about Paul's past and maybe even offers and explanation of some of his behavior. I thought both of the main characters were very well written. Johanna is a character that is easy to understand and relate to, even though I have never been in her situation. I couldn't help but want her to be happy and get what she wants. Even if I did question some of her actions. I don't really have much else to say other than this book was pretty enjoyable and if you like this kind of book I suggest picking this one up.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Perfect Escape by Jennifer Brown

Summary:(from goodreads) Kendra has always felt overshadowed by her older brother, Grayson, whose OCD forces him to live a life of carefully coordinated routines. The only way Kendra can stand out next to Grayson is to be perfect, and she has perfection down to an art -- until a cheating scandal threatens her flawless reputation. Behind the wheel of her car, with Grayson asleep beside her, Kendra decides to drive away from it all -- with enough distance, maybe she'll be able to figure everything out. But eventually, Kendra must stop running and come to terms with herself, her brother, and her past.
Review: I have really enjoyed Jennifer Brown's books in the past so I had pretty high expectations for this one. I have to say I really enjoyed it. The characters were really well portrayed and I thought Grayson and Kendra were really easy to relate to. They both have plenty of flaws and and are slowly able to accept them by the end of the story. I did think the plot was slow in a few places. As fas as road trip books go, this was not quite as exciting and adventerous. It was more along the lines of I don't know where we are and we have no money. I liked the plot lines involving Zoe and Rena. I think without them the stroy would have been alot more boring. They both added a certain level of drama and allowed all the characters to grow. My only other problem was that I think it ended a little bit to soon. I would have really liked to see how their road trip ended and how kendra ended up solving her problems. Overall, I quite enjoyed this book and i think fans of Jennifer Brown's other books will enjoy this one as well.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger

Summary:(from goodreads) Whitley Johnson's dream summer with her divorcé dad has turned into a nightmare. She's just met his new fiancée and her kids. The fiancée's son? Whitley's one-night stand from graduation night. Just freakin' great.Worse, she totally doesn't fit in with her dad's perfect new country-club family. So Whitley acts out. She parties. Hard. So hard she doesn't even notice the good things right under her nose: a sweet little future stepsister who is just about the only person she's ever liked, a best friend (even though Whitley swears she doesn't "do" friends), and a smoking-hot guy who isn't her stepbrother...at least, not yet. It will take all three of them to help Whitley get through her anger and begin to put the pieces of her family together.
Review: I thought this book was a pretty good read. The story deals with a lot of tough issues, mostly focusing on family problems. Despite this, there was still some light hearted and fun moments. This is definitely a character driven story, so the plot wasn't all that action packed. My only problem as far as the plot was the things that happened involving Facebook. I just didn't think that any of the characters reactions were all that realistic. Other than that, I loved the characters. I thought Whitley was a really well written character that was easy to relate to. I also really liked how much her character had changed by the end of the book. Nathan, Bailey and Harrison were also really great characters. I honestly didn't want this book to end. There were so many things happening when the book ended, like the wedding and Whitley going off to college, that I wanted to see happen. I wish this book wasn't a stand alone because I really connected to these characters. Fans of kody keplinger's other books will enjoy this one as well.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Legend by Marie Lu

Summary: (from goodreads) What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.
Review: This book was a pretty good read. The plot was well paced and although it follows the plot line of a typical dystopian book, I enjoyed the fact that the two main characters are from different sides of the situation. I really liked both of the main characters. Day and June were both really likable and I was rooting for them even with the odds stacked against them. They were both strong and determined to do the right thing. My main problem with this book was that there was no background or history about this society. I think that information about the war came about and how these societies formed really would have added alot to the story. Even the revelations of what this government is doing wrong weren't explained that clearly. I hope that more information will be given in the sequel. The way the book ended did make me excited to read the sequel.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

 Summary:(from goodreads) Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead. So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father’s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn’t expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.
Review: I really liked this book. The plot was surprising and full of twists especially towards the end. I liked that this book was actually really creepy. A lot of young adult books that are meant to be scary sometimes fall short. I wouldn't recommend reading this one before you go to sleep, or if you are especially squemish. This book was much darker than I expected and i really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters of Cass and Anna, they were both well written and believable characters that I enjoyed getting to know. I don't really know what to say about this book, but if you are looking for a creepy read than I would recommend this one. I am really excited to read the sequel.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

This review may contain spoilers of previous books in the series.
Summary: (from goodreads) To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her new found powers to help save the Glass City - whatever the cost?
Review: This is the third book in the Mortal Instruments series, and it is my favorite of the series so far.  I liked that much of this book takes place in Idris, which was a really unique setting. I liked getting even more shadowhunter history. This book had a lot of shocking plot twists that kept me hooked. The last few chapters were so intense and although this book was originally meant to be the end of the series. I am really glad that there is more to come. This book is close to six hundred pages long, but I flew through it, especially the last few chapters. I don't have anything else to say except that Clary and Jace are awesome and adorable and I love them both. Can't wait to continue with this series. I am also going to start reading the Infernal Devices series, which is the prequel series to this one.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

That Boy by Jillian Dodd

Summary: (from goodreads) That Boy is a contemporary romance about falling in love with the boys next door.You know, being friends with two cute boys does have its benefits. There's Danny. Danny is a golden boy in every way. He has dreamy blue eyes and blonde hair that always looks perfect, even when it’s windblown or been stuck under a football helmet. He’s the boy every girl crushes on. The boy I get into trouble with, the boy I fight with, the hot quarterback no girl can resist, not even me. Being with Danny is like being on an adventure. He has a bright, contagious smile and abs to die for. He’s pretty much irresistible.Equally crush worthy is Phillip. Adorable, sweet Phillip, who I have known since birth. Phillip has dark hair, a perfect smile, brown eyes, and the sexiest voice I have ever heard. He’s the boy I talk to every night before I go to sleep. The boy who rescues me, the boy who can read my mind, the boy who is always there for me, the boy who tries to keep me out of trouble, the boy who irritatingly keeps getting hotter, and whose strong arms always seem to find their way around me. And when he gives me that grin, I can never say no.One boy will give me my very first kiss.One boy will teach me to make out.One boy will take me to prom.And finally, one boy will ask me to marry him.They will both be my best friends.But only one of them will be the boy I fall in love with.\Only one of them is That Boy.
Review: This book is a sweet and light romantic read. I expected this to be a little bit of a love triangle between three best friends type of book, but it was more than that. I liked that this took place over many years of JJ's life.  In the first chapter she is in fourth grade and by the end of the book she is out of college. That is a lot of jumping around and at the beginning of the book, it kind of annoyed me because it would only show brief scenes and then jump to a later time period. However, once she was older it caught up to "present day" and then it became one continuous story. Basically, the first part of the book is giving  a background on these characters. I didn't expect things to be so obvious, as far as which guy she would end up with. I expected a t least a little bit of suspense and surprise. I liked the characters. Although, JJ was a little bit annoying at times. I'm not sure if I am going to read the sequel because JJ's attitude about things was really getting to me. If the kindle edition ever goes on sale than I will probably get it, but otherwise I don't know if I will. I'm honestly not sure there ever needed to be s sequel because this is a sweet and fun story and there is nothing wrong with things ending here. Overall, this a sweet and fun read that I did enjoy.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Summary:(from goodreads) I’ve left some clues for you.If you want them, turn the page.If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?
Review: I have read the other books that Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written together but this one is by far my favorite. It was such a sweet and exciting story. The plot was a lot simpler than I expected it to be. The notebook as a way of meeting and communicating worked really well. This book was a really quick read. Its only 260 pages and I was flying through the chapters. I also liked that this book took place during Christmas vacation. It added an extra element that I really enjoyed. Dash and Lily were both really cool characters. They were unique and interesting and I liked getting to know them both. My favorite thing about this book was the sweetness of it. A lot of ya romance is full of drama and love triangles, where characters suffer from lack of parents and instalove. This wasn't like that. It was sweet, tentative and unexpected. I thought that was really refreshing. Fans of David Levithan and Rachel Cohn will enjoy this one as well.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Perfect by Ellen Hopkins

Summary:(from goodreads) Everyone has something, someone, somewhere else that they’d rather be. For four high-school seniors, their goals of perfection are just as different as the paths they take to get there. Cara’s parents’ unrealistic expectations have already sent her twin brother Conner spiraling toward suicide. For her, perfect means rejecting their ideals to take a chance on a new kind of love. Kendra covets the perfect face and body—no matter what surgeries and drugs she needs to get there. To score his perfect home run—on the field and off—Sean will sacrifice more than he can ever win back. And Andre realizes that to follow his heart and achieve his perfect performance, he’ll be living a life his ancestors would never have understood.Everyone wants to be perfect, but when perfection loses its meaning, how far will you go? What would you give up to be perfect?
Review: I really loved this book. The premise was really good and I was pretty excited to start reading this. Ellen Hopkins is amazingly talented. She is able to create such an emotional and powerful story, written enitrely in verse. All of the characters are very well developed. I couldn't help but want the best for all of them. The message that this book sends about having unrealistic expectations for yourself and others is a really strong one. I think writing a review of a book I absolutely loved is hard, because I can't put my feelings about it entirely into words. So all i am going to say is read this book. Also, this book was written as a companion novel to her earlier book Impulse, in which Cara's twin brother Conner is a main character. I would reccomend reading Impulse first because it adds a lot to the story if you know what happened in Impulse.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Note: I received this book for free from goodreads first reads.
Summary:(from goodreads)What if you were bound for a new world, about to pledge your life to someone you'd been promised to since birth, and one unexpected violent attack made survival—not love—the issue?Out in the murky nebula lurks an unseen enemy: the New Horizon. On its way to populate a distant planet in the wake of Earth's collapse, the ship's crew has been unable to conceive a generation to continue its mission. They need young girls desperately, or their zealous leader's efforts will fail. On board their sister ship, the Empyrean, the unsuspecting families don't know an attack is being mounted that could claim the most important among them...Fifteen-year-old Waverly is part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space; she was born on the Empyrean, and the large farming vessel is all she knows. Her concerns are those of any teenager—until Kieran Alden proposes to her. The handsome captain-to-be has everything Waverly could ever want in a husband, and with the pressure to start having children, everyone is sure he's the best choice. Except for Waverly, who wants more from life than marriage—and is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.But when the Empyrean faces sudden attack by their assumed allies, they quickly find out that the enemies aren't all from the outside.
Review: To be honest I was a little bit hesitant to read this book, only because I usually stay away from science fiction space type books. However, I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would. This book is told from both Waverly and Kieran's point of view. I enjoyed Waverly's perspective better. I thought Kieran and Seth started to get a little bit annoying after a while. The plot well paced but a lot of this book was building up for the rest of the series. What I really liked is that it is somewhat hard to tell what some of the character's intentions are. It added a level of suspense to the story. Although, I didn't really connect with any of the characters, I did really like Waverly. her determination to not give up made her a really strong character. I am excited to hopefully have some questions answered in the next book. Thanks to Goodreads and St. Martin's for sending me this. This is one that I might not have discovered otherwise.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

This review may contain spoilers from previous books in the series.
Summary: My name is Meghan Chase.I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.This time, there will be no turning back.
Review: This is the third book in the Iron Fey series and I had very mixed feelings about this book. I started to feel like alot of the plot points were recycled from the previous two books. I also thought the plot was somewhat predictable. Although, I was pleasently surprised by the way this book eneded and I am interested to see where the next book leads, especially since it is told from Ash's perspective. The thing I really enjoy about this series is the characters and world building. I liked getting to explore the Nevernever along with all these awesome characters. Ash and Puck are my favorite. They are both so awesome and strong characters. After reading this book, I am excited to see what happens next.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

From Bad to Cursed by Katie Alender

This review may contain spoilers of previous books in the series.
Note: I recieved this book for free from goodreads first reads.
Summary:(from goodreads) Worried about her sister, Alexis and her best friend Megan decide to investigate by joining the Sunshine Club. At first, their connection with leader Aralt seems harmless. Alexis even finds herself reveling in her elegance and success. Still, the group is crumbling from within, and soon Alexis finds herself battling her own personal demons.
Review: This is the second book in the Bad Girls Don't Die series and I thought it was a great continuation of the series. When I first read Bad Girls Don't Die a few years ago I didn't know that it was the beginning of a series and I was really excited to read this one. The premise had me really excited to read this and it had me hooked pretty early on.  Although, this book is about ghosts it wasn't overly scary. There were some creppy elements but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. The way this ended made me really excited to read the next book in this series.  Alexis is a really awesome main character. She is a really well written character. She is fun and can't help but get herself into trouble. I really liked Lydia in the last book, but in this one she seemed like a completely different person. Kasey and Carter were also really great characters. Kasey really steps up to the plate in this book and isn't afraid to do what needs to be done and carter is just a really sweet and awesome guy. I kind of felt bad ofr him because he didn't know what was going on. Overall, this was a pretty good read and I will definitely be checking out the next book in the series.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Jenny Pox by J.L Bryan

Summary: (from goodreads) Eighteen-year-old Jenny Morton has a horrific secret: her touch spreads a deadly supernatural plague, the "Jenny pox." She lives by a single rule: Never touch anyone. A lifetime of avoiding any physical contact with others has made her isolated and painfully lonely in her small rural town.Then she meets the one boy she can touch. Jenny feels herself falling for Seth...but if she's going to be with him, Jenny must learn to use the deadly pox inside her to confront his ruthless and manipulative girlfriend Ashleigh, who secretly wields the most dangerous power of all.
Review: I enjoyed this book more than I thought I was going to. I was intrigued by the premise when I started reading it and was immediately pulled into Jenny's story.  Jenny lives a very solitary life and I couldn't help but like her as her struggle for a normal life becomes more and more difficult. I thought the plot was well paced and although not much happened until the last few chapters I was never bored. When things did start to get exciting, I was hooked. The climax had me on the edge of my seat. The author did a really good job of tying everything together. Things get a little bit out of hand and I am looking forward to seeing how the next book picks up and deals with the consequences of what happened. Jenny and Seth were both really well written characters. They were very likable and it was easy to hope that things work out for them. My only slight problem was that there was a few very graphic scenes. I didn't really like reading those scenes, and becasue of that many younger teens won't read this. Which is annoying to me, because other than that this book was awesome. I can't wait to read the sequel.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder

Note: I received this book for free from Goodreads first reads.
Summary: (from goodreads) Campbell Cooper has never been in love. And if the doctors are right, she'll never have the chance. So when she's told she needs a miracle, her family moves 1,500 miles north to Promise, Maine--a place where amazing, unexplainable events are said to occur--like it or not. And when a mysterious envelope arrives, containing a list of things for Cam to do before she dies, she finally learns to believe--in love, in herself, and maybe even in miracles, as improbable as they may seem.
Review: I was really excited when I found out I had won a copy of this book, and was even more excited when it finally arrived in my mailbox. I have been wanting to read this for a while and it definitely lived up to my expectations. I'm having a hard time putting my thoughts about this book into words. It was a really thoughtful book about hope, love and miracles. Promise was such a great setting. It was so vivid and imaginative it started to seem like a real place. I also really enjoyed the Disney aspect that was added in,  the capital of love and miracles.  This book made me cry in some parts and laughing in others. This deep and thoughtful story was told in a lighthearted way which made all the more of a great read. my favorite part of the book though, was Cam. She started out as such a cynical character, but as the story went on she changed so much. I feel like got to know her so well in only a few hundred pages. She was one of the most real and relate able characters I have come across in a long time. I absolutely loved this book. I hope there is more to come from Wendy Wunder.

Monday, July 23, 2012

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Summary:(from goodreads) Mara Dyer doesn’t think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.There is.She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love.She’s wrong.

Review: I didn't know much about this book going into it and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed the mysterious elements of this book.  There were a lot of plot twists that kept the story interesting. Although, I had put some peices of the puzzle together long before Mara did, it was still exciting to slowly have some questions answered. The cliffhanger ending made me really excited to find out what happens next. I really liked Mara and Noah. Some of the dialogue between them is hilarious. Mara has a lot of issues after the accident and she is a very real character. I did think she was kind of whiny, especially toward the end. Noah was just adorable and awesome. I hope there is alot more of him in the next book. i also hope that Jamie makes another appearance. This book had me hooked until I was finished. The only thing that started to get annoying was that Noah slowly started to replace Mara's parents. They were spending more and more time together and her parents worried about her less and less. But overall, this book was awesome and i can't wait for the sequel.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Lies by Michael Grant


 

This review may contain spoilers of previous books in the series.
Summary:(from goodreads) It's been seven months since all the adults disappeared. Gone.It happens in one night. A girl who died now walks among the living; Zil and the Human Crew set fire to Perdido Beach; and amid the flames and smoke, Sam sees the figure of the boy he fears the most: Drake. But Drake is dead. Sam and Caine defeated him along with the Darkness--or so they thought. As Perdido Beach burns, battles rage: Astrid against the Town Council; the Human Crew versus the mutants; and Sam against Drake, who is back from the dead and ready to finish where he and Sam left off. And all the while deadly rumors are raging like the fire itself, spread by the prophetess Orsay and her companion, Nerezza. They say that death is a way to escape the FAYZ. Conditions are worse than ever and kids are desperate to get out. But are they desperate enough to believe that death will set them free?
Review: This is the third book in the Gone series and I really liked this one. This was a really good continuation of the series. The first part of the book was mostly character driven issues and problems I really felt bad for Sam in this book. I couldn't help but cheer him on. A lot of the characters are dealing with emotional problems in the early parts of this book. What I really liked about this book was that some of the mysteries behind the fayz are being unravelled.  Of course, you are really left with more questions than answers, which is just one of the reasons I am excited to read the next book. The action that happens towards the end of this book is completely crazy. The only part I didn't like was the plotline invloving the island. I don't really get why that was inportant to the overall, story, I guess I will just had to keep reading to find out.  I can't imagine where the story is going to go next, but i can't wait to find out.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr



Summary:(from goodreads) As children, Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick were both social outcasts. They were also one another's only friend. So when Cameron disappears without warning, Jennifer thinks she's lost the only person who will ever understand her. Now in high school, Jennifer has been transformed. Known as Jenna, she's popular, happy, and dating, everything "Jennifer" couldn't be---but she still can't shake the memory of her long-lost friend. When Cameron suddenly reappears, they are both confronted with memories of their shared past and the drastically different paths their lives have taken.
Review: This is the second book by Sara Zarr that I have read and I really liked this one a well. I thought the plot was well paced and I really loved the flashback scenes that told a lot about Jenna and Cameron's past together. Their friendship was probably one of my favorite things about the book. Jenna and Cameron were both very complicated characters and I liked seeing how the events of one day could affect them both for so long. Jenna's internal struggle with her past self was also an interesting apect. The fact that she was trying so hard to fit in and hide her past made her a very real character. But I though all Jenna's friends were really annoying. Ethan and Katy especially seemed really shallow and was getting really annoyed at both of them. The only big thing I didn't like was the ending. I wish things could have ended differently. I also wish there had been a little more explanation for why Cameron came back. All in all, I think think fans of Sara Zarr's other books will enjoy this one as well.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Summary:(from goodreads) Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?"
Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's sitting in her row.
A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more?
Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

Review: This book is a really sweet contemporary romance. I like the fact that the book takes place over 24 hours which keeps things moving pretty quickly. The plot was pretty simple and predictable but I really enjoyed it. The converations between Hadley and Oliver were some of my favorite parts of the book. I really liked Hadley as a main character. She was easy to relate to and she changed alot by the end of the book. I wish more information about Oliver had been given. By the end of the book, i still felt like I barely knew anything about him. I guess this is realistic since they have only known each other for a day, but I was still left wanting more. Overall, I really liked this book though.