The Homecoming Masquerade by Spencer Baum

Summary:(from goodreads) In a posh suburb of the nation’s capital, at the most exclusive high school in the world, the vampires who secretly run the government have created a game for America’s daughters of privilege. Show up to Homecoming in a black dress and you’ve entered yourself in a contest where the winner lives forever, and the loser becomes the winner’s first meal.
Only the wealthiest, most connected students can hope to win, so when new girl Nicky Bloom wears a black dress to Homecoming, everyone assumes she has a death wish. They don’t know that Nicky has her own agenda. As the dance continues into the night, they will find out that Nicky Bloom is far more than she seems.
Review: I had didn't have very many expectations going into this book but was pleasantly surprised. This entire 250 page books takes place over the course of one night. Which might have been a little boring if not for all backstory and world building interspersed throughout it. Now the vampires controlling a city full of humans plotline is nothing new but the one thing that makes this one stand out is homecoming and all the tradition surrounding it. The second half of the book was definitely more action packed and drama filled than the first, but that's usually the case when starting out with a new series. None of the characters really stood out to me that much. I thought Nicky was by far the most interesting one. She very quickly became the focus of the book which was unexpected but appreciated. There were a few surprises towards the end that made me curious to see where the next book will lead. I hope the next books can surprise me even more than this one did.

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

This review may contain spoilers of previous books in the series.
Summary:(from goodreads) The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories. But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Review: This is the third and final book in the Divergent trilogy and I really enjoyed it. I wasn't sure what direction the story would go in after how the last book ended. It was different than what I expected. I liked that there was a lot happening. The plot was well paced but there was also a lot of character development going on. I think that Tris and Tobias both changed a lot over the course of the book. I thought the new plot line introduced in this book was an interesting one but also slightly annoying at times. I am honestly having mixed feelings about how this series ended. There were certain parts I liked. I was happy with the way most of the characters ended up, but there were a few things that should have ended differently. Overall, this is a really great series and I strongly recommend it to anyone who hasn't read it yet.

Fire by Kristin Cashore

Summary:(from goodreads) It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to his throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves and lawless men.This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she had the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her power, unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she has so many of her own. Then Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City, The royal family needs her help to uncover the plot against the king. Far away from home, Fire begins to realize there's more to her power than she ever dreamed. Her power could save the kingdom. If only she weren't afraid of becoming the monster her father was.
Review: I was interested to see what would happen in this book after reading Graceling and I was surprised to see how different the setting really was. The events in this book happen before Graceling and it was different from what I expected. The plot was interesting and well paced and there were a few unexpected twists to keep things interesting. There was one part of the story that was unexpected and seemed like it didn't really need to be there. Another thing that bothered me was the way it ended. There were a few questions left unanswered and I wish it tied more into the story line of Graceling.  I liked the characters in this books even if some of them were kind of annoying. I instantly loved Brigan and Hanna. Even though Fire was a bit whiny at times I liked her character overall, and she changed a lot over the course of the book. This book was good and I think it made a good addition to the series but I think I liked Graceling a bit more. Certain aspects of this world were a little bit annoying after a while and wished more had been explained about the connections between the two worlds.

Light by Michael Grant

This review may contain spoilers of previous books in the series.

Summary:(from goodreads) It's been over a year since all the adults disappeared. Gone. In the time since every person over the age of fourteen disappeared from the town of Perdido Beach, California, countless battles have been fought: battles against hunger and lies and plague, and epic battles of good against evil. And now, the gaiaphage has been reborn as Diana's malicious mutant daughter, Gaia. Gaia is endlessly hungry for destruction. She yearns to conquer her Nemesis, Little Pete, and then bend the entire world to her warped will. As long-standing enemies become allies, secrets are revealed and unexpected sacrifices are made. Will their attempts to save themselves and one another matter in the end, or will the kids of Perdido Beach perish in this final power struggle?  Review: This is the sixth and final book in the Gone series and I am disappointed to see it end. This book was just as action packed and exciting as the rest of the series. The stakes were pretty high and I liked the dynamic had changed a little bit. We also get to see quite a bit of what is going on outside the dome which added an extra layer to the story. I was satisfied with the way the series ended. I liked knowing what happened to the characters. I wish certain parts of the story had been drawn out a little bit more but other than that I was satisfied with where things ended. I don't really have much else to add except to say that I am going to miss this series and will definitely be reading more of Michael Grant's books in the future.

Unbreakable by Kami Garcia

Summary:(from goodreads) When Kennedy Waters finds her mother dead, her world begins to unravel. She doesn’t know that paranormal forces in a much darker world are the ones pulling the strings. Not until identical twins Jared and Lukas Lockhart break into Kennedy’s room and destroy a dangerous spirit sent to kill her. The brothers reveal that her mother was part of an ancient secret society responsible for protecting the world from a vengeful demon — a society whose five members were all murdered on the same night.Now Kennedy has to take her mother’s place in the Legion if she wants to uncover the truth and stay alive. Along with new Legion members Priest and Alara, the teens race to find the only weapon that might be able to destroy the demon — battling the deadly spirits he controls every step of the way.
Review: I haven't read that many YA ghost stories. I don't know if that's because they aren't being written or I just don't read them but either way I can count on one hand the number of genuinely creepy ghost stories I have read. This one was really well done. I am a fan of the Beautiful Creatures series and I have been curious to see what these authors could do on their own. There was a lot of new information about this world being thrown out but it didn't bog down the story at all. The plot was well paced with a lot of creepy scenes. My favorite was probably Hearts of Mercy. I was on the edge of my seat during that part of the book. I liked Kennedy as a main character although she wasn't the type of character that stands out, That's what made her seem like a realistic character. Lukas, Jared, Alara and Priest were all awesome characters. Priest was probably my favorite though. His passion about building weapons makes him awesome. I can't believe the way this book ended. It was an intense ending and I need the next book to come out now. The only thing that slightly annoyed me was the uncertainty about Kennedy's family history. I wished we had been given some definite answers. Overall, though I really liked this book.

SYLO by D.J. MacHale

Summary:(from goodreads) Fourteen-year-old Tucker Pierce prefers to fly under the radar. He’s used to navigating around summer tourists in his hometown on idyllic Pemberwick Island, Maine. He’s content to sit on the sidelines as a backup player on the high school football team. And though his best friend Quinn tells him to “go for it,” he’s too chicken to ask Tori Sleeper on a date. There’s always tomorrow, he figures. Then Pemberwick Island is invaded by a mysterious branch of the U.S. military called SYLO. And sitting on the sidelines is no longer an option for Tucker, because tomorrow may never come. It’s up to Tucker, Quinn, and Tori to uncover the truth about the singing aircraft that appears only at night—and the stranger named Feit who’s pushing a red crystal he calls the Ruby that brings unique powers to all who take it. Tucker and his friends must rescue not just Pemberwick Island, but the fate of the world—and all before tomorrow is too late.
Review: I have been a fan of D.J. MacHale's books for a long time so I was excited when I discovered that he was releasing a new series. This one did not disappoint. There was a lot of mystery and action that had me hooked. I liked the main characters, especially Tucker and Quinn. They were different but their determination to uncover the truth made them strong characters.  The way the book ended made me very interested to see where the next book is going to lead, which isn't going to be released until next year.  There were a few things that happened that I wasn't happy about but I am hoping there will be a better explanation in the next book. This was one of those books where just when you think things can't possibly get any worse for the characters it does. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I am really excited to read the sequel.

Wrecked by Elle Casey

 

Summary:(from goodreads) An ill-fated Caribbean cruise and four teenagers: a nerd, a jock, a mouse, and a beauty queen…an island, a treehouse, some nefarious interlopers…life and death…fear and loathing…love and laughter. Follow Jonathan, Kevin, Candi and Sarah as they find their typical high school lives and their worlds totally WRECKED.
Review: This was just an ok book for me. The plot was pretty typical and I found myself a little bit bored at times. The characters also seemed pretty typical but they did change over the course of the book. My favorite characters were probably Jonathan and Sarah. They were both really interesting and Jonathan's facts were entertaining. I loved how much Sarah developed over the course of the book. She started out as a pretty typical character but I actually really liked where things ended for her.  Candi and Kevin were just a little bit annoying. Especially Kevin, he was probably the one who changed the least. I liked Candi but she wasted to much time worrying about getting in with the cool crowd that it got annoying after a while.  The things that happened on the island towards the end were a little bit ridiculous. I guess it sort of needed to happen but I felt like it could have been a little bit more developed.  I was interested to see that there is a sequel to this book and based on the way this book ended I will be interested to see where it leads.  Overall, this was a fun book and I will be reading the sequel eventually.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Summary:(from goodreads) Cath is a Simon Snow fan.Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . .But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere. Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone .For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind.
Review: I absolutely loved this book. The plot was simple I was hooked from the beginning. I could relate to so much of what Cath was thinking and feeling. This book was so real and relevant to so much of my life. The characters are a huge part of what make this book so special. Cath and Levi are some of the best characters I have read in such a long time. I loved them both so much. I didn't really like Wren or Reagan very much at first but as the story went on I liked them both a little bit more. I thought the book ended so perfectly as well, as much as I didn't want it to end at all. I love the snippets of Simon's story that we got to read. It added a lot to the story and helped me imagine the world that Cath was such a big part of. It's honestly really hard for me to put my thoughts about this book into words. I loved it. I am very excited about reading some of Rainbow's other books.

The Best Night of your (Pathetic) Life by Tara Altebrando

Summary: (from goodreads) An all-day scavenger hunt in the name of eternal small-town glory. With only a week until graduation, there's one last thing Mary and her friends must do together: participate in the Oyster Point High Official Unofficial Senior Week Scavenger Hunt. And Mary is determined to win.Mary lost her spot at Georgetown to self-professed "it" bully Jake Barbone, and she's not about to lose again. But everyone is racing for the finish line with complicated motives, and the team's all-night adventure becomes all-night drama as shifting alliances, flared tempers, and crushing crushes take over. As the items and points pile up, Mary and her team must reinvent their strategy--and themselves--in order to win.
Review: This was a really fun book. The premise seemed fun and exciting and the book lived up to that promise. It was well paced and at 240 pages is a pretty quick read. I had mixed feelings about the characters. At the beginning of the book I didn't really like Mary that much. She was whiny and kind of annoying at times. However, during the second half of the book she changed quite a bit and was a lot more mature about some of the things that were going on. My favorite character in the book was definitely Dez. He was the character I connected with the most. Some of the issues that he was dealing with are more difficult then the petty relationship games that everyone else seemed to be playing, which honestly started to get annoying after a while. Overall, though this was a fun bunch of characters that were fun to spend some time with. The ending was pretty predictable but I didn't really mind because it was such a fitting ending. Although, I did have some issues with the book it was a fun and crazy adventure that I enjoyed reading.

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

 

Summary:(from goodreads) I should not exist. But I do.Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . .
For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.
Review: The premise of this book was a really interesting and unique one. I didn't expect the plot to be as dystopian as it was. At the beginning it seemed like the book was going to be different than it was. I really liked that the book was told from Eva's perspective but I wish we had gotten some of Addie's pov as well. I liked both of them  a lot, even though there were times throughout the book when they were both being annoying. The history behind this world was interesting and I hope that we get a little bit more of it in the next book. The one thing I didn't like about this book was the ending. The events that unfolded in the last few chapters was kind of unsatisfying. There were a few things that really wanted to see happen at the end and they didn't. Based on where this one left off I am excited to see where the next book leads but there was so much more that could have happened it seemed like it was a little bit rushed. I did enjoy this book and will definitely be picking up the sequel eventually.

Sever by Lauren Destefano

This review may contain spoilers of previous books in the series.

Summary: (from goodreads) With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them.Meanwhile, Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future—and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain.
Review: This is the third and final book in this trilogy and it was by far my favorite. I liked all of the characters a lot more in this book than I did in the previous two. Linden was the one that especially grew on me. I didn't really like him earlier on in the series but I understood him so much more as his character grew. Reed was another character that I liked a lot. There were certain points where I wanted to slap him but overall, he was a good addition to the story. There were a few really surprising plot twists that kept the story interesting. My only problem with this book is that I feel like the world was not explored enough. A lot of information about how things were and what was being done to fix it was kind of skimmed over.  I liked the way the book ended but I wanted to know about what was being done to try and find a cure. I wish the ending hadn't felt so rushed. This is a good dystopian series and i am excited to see what Destefano has in store for us next.

Xbestia by Melissa Conway

Summary:(from goodreads) Twenty years into the future, bioengineered animals provide organs for human transplantation. Grafts of animal skin have replaced tattoos in popularity, which gives rise to a unique new demographic: xenofreaks. Bryn Vega’s father is head of the Pure Human Society and when she’s kidnapped by the Bestia Butcher, the most notorious of the criminal xenosurgeons, she assumes it's payback for her father’s anti-xeno activities. Scott Harding is her taciturn jailer-called Cougar because of the claws replacing his fingers-but Scott is not who he seems. Deep under cover for the Xenofreak Intelligence Agency, he’s been given unprecedented immunity to find the Bestia Butcher’s lair and do whatever it takes to bring him to justice. When Bryn is forced to undergo a radical xenoalteration, she discovers a terrible secret: her father is using The Pure Human Society as a front for his own purposes. His willingness to sacrifice his daughter to accomplish them sends her running to Scott for protection, and into the hard-core underground subculture of the very xenofreak society she once despised.
Review:  I thought this book was just OK. The premise is unique, but I thought there were some things that were a little bit confusing. There were a lot of characters and roles that were a little bit hard to keep straight. I also had a hard time connecting with any of the characters. Both Bryn and Scott were well written characters but they both annoyed me at times. The plot was entertaining and well paced but overall I thought the whole thing was a little bit drawn out. It seemed as if everyone was overreacting to everything. The actions of a lot of the characters didn't seem justified. The second half of the book was better than the first half and based on how things ended I am curious to see what happens next in the series. This book wasn't one of my favorites but it was enjoyable and I will be continuing with the next book. I hope that things start to make a little bit more sense.

Teeth by Hannah Moskowitz

Summary:(from goodreads) Be careful what you believe in.Rudy’s life is flipped upside-down when his family moves to a remote island in a last attempt to save his sick younger brother. With nothing to do but worry, Rudy sinks deeper and deeper into loneliness and lies awake at night listening to the screams of the ocean beneath his family’s rickety house.Then he meets Diana, who makes him wonder what he even knows about love, and Teeth, who makes him question what he knows about anything. Rudy can’t remember the last time he felt so connected to someone, but being friends with Teeth is more than a little bit complicated. He soon learns that Teeth has terrible secrets. Violent secrets. Secrets that will force Rudy to choose between his own happiness and his brother’s life.
Review: I have been a fan of Hannah Moskowitz for a while now so I excited to get my hands on a copy of this book. It's different than her other books. This one has a magic element which I liked a lot more than I thought I would. It's hard for me to write this review because I can't pinpoint exactly what it is about this book that I liked so much. Rudy and Teeth were both really great characters and despite the circumstances they were relate able. i think the two of them is really what made this book for me. It wasn't really a book about magical fish but about the friendship these two develop. I was drawn into the story pretty easily. Despite the magic involved everything about this book just felt so real. Not sure how much sense that makes but it's true. The only thing that I didn't like about this book is the way it ended. I wish it could have had a more satisfying ending. I will definitely be reading more of this author's books in the future.

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Summary:( from goodreads) After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.
Review: I had mixed feelings about this book while I was reading it. I didn't really know what to expect going into it and was surprised by what I found. i haven't read that many books about aliens so I don't really have much to compare it to, but I thought the world building was done well. The alternating pov's really added a lot to the story. Ben was probably my favorite character. I found his pov to be the most interesting. There were a few things that were somewhat predictable. Because of the multiple pov's the reader knows more about what's going on than any of the characters which took away the element of surprise. The second half of the book was much more exciting than the first half. The characters were all so well written and believable. The way they react  to certian situations is understandable and that made me really like them. I was sceptical when I first started this book but i am glad i read it. Even if there were a few things that bothered me it was still a pretty enjoyable read.  Overall, I enjoyed it and am excited to continue with this series. I am curious about where the story will lead.

Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Summary:(from goodreads) There are people in this world who are Nobody. No one sees them. No one notices them. They live their lives under the radar, forgotten as soon as you turn away. That’s why they make the perfect assassins.The Institute finds these people when they’re young and takes them away for training. But an untrained Nobody is a threat to their organization. And threats must be eliminated. Sixteen-year-old Claire has been invisible her whole life, missed by the Institute’s monitoring. But now they’ve ID’ed her and send seventeen-year-old Nix to remove her. Yet the moment he lays eyes on her, he can’t make the hit. It’s as if Claire and Nix are the only people in the world for each other. And they are—because no one else ever notices them.
 
Review: There were two things about this book that caught my attention when it was released. First, it was by an author that i was familiar with and have enjoyed books from before. The other thing was the premise. For the most part, I thought this world was developed really well. I would like to know the history behind this world and how it came to be. The book was well paced. There was enough action to keep things interesting without becoming to predictable. The characters were interesting although the dynamic between them was kind of strange. As the book went on I liked them more and more and was rooting for them to succeed by the end. I also liked the fact that this book is a stand alone. The story could have continued but it doesn't really need to and I like the way things were left. This book is not over the top as far as scifi goes. There was just enough to keep it entertaining along with a dystopian element which i wasn't expecting. This is probably my favorite book that i have read by this author so far and I will be reading more in the future.

Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King

Summary:(from goodreads) Lucky Linderman didn't ask for his life. He didn't ask his grandfather not to come home from the Vietnam War. He didn't ask for a father who never got over it. He didn't ask for a mother who keeps pretending their dysfunctional family is fine. And he didn't ask to be the target of Nader McMillan's relentless bullying, which has finally gone too far.
But Lucky has a secret--one that helps him wade through the daily mundane torture of his life. In his dreams, Lucky escapes to the war-ridden jungles of Laos--the prison his grandfather couldn't escape--where Lucky can be a real man, an adventurer, and a hero. It's dangerous and wild, and it's a place where his life just might be worth living. But how long can Lucky keep hiding in his dreams before reality forces its way inside?
review:  This was one of those books that I picked up simply because everything I heard about was really good. However, after reading it I hate to say it didn't live up to the hype. I thought it was an OK book. The second half of the book was stronger. The first half lacked in plot a little bit and there was nothing special to make it stand out. I didn't really connect with the characters. I liked Lucky and was rooting for him to overcome his issues. I liked the message this book had about overcoming obstacles in our lives and felling trapped by our circumstances. The way the title played into it was really great as well. I appreciated the deeper meaning this story had and I thought that was the best thing about it. However, on a simpler level I just didn't connect with the characters and story. I will probably try more of this author's books in the future because this one did have promise and I know lots of people love them. I am curious to try more.

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

This review may contain spoilers of previous books in the series.

Summary:(from goodreads) The fates of Cinder and Scarlet collide as a Lunar threat spreads across the Earth...Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.
Review: This is the second book in the Lunar chronicles and I loved it as much as the first one. The plot was engaging and although there weren't as many plot twists as there were in the first book, there was still a lot happening. All the characters from the first book make an appearance in this one as well as a few new faces. I liked Scarlet a lot. She was a brave and determined character. The plot line involving her character really added a lot to the story. The connection between the two books was really interesting. I hope that it continues for the rest of the series. I did find a few things to be somewhat predictable but I loved the rest of the story enough that it didn't really affect my enjoyment of it. I can't wait for the next book to be released. anyone is a fan of fairytale retelling should check out this series. It's quickly becoming one of my favorite series.

10 things to do Before I Die by Daniel Ehrenhaft

Summary:(from back of book) Looking for a way to kill time in a New York City diner, sixteen year old Ted Burger and his friends write down ten things that Ted's got to accomplish before he. one faraway day,kicks the bucket. but when Ted discovers he actually is dying, the list turns into a beat the clock carpe diem mission. Now ted is about to embark on the wildest ride of his life... where the last thing he'll ever do is rest in peace.
Review: I have really mixed feelings about this book. When I started reading I expected the book to have a much more serious tone than it did. This book takes a much more lighthearted and fun approach to life and death. That wouldn't have really bothered me that much if it hadn't been for how ridiculous the characters reacted to the situation at hand. I honestly hope that no one would really behave that way in those circumstances. However, I think the book did have a good message about living life. I have to admit that as much as the characters annoyed me at times there was a lot of development that happened towards the end of the book. If you want a serious and emotional book about life and death than I suggest that you look elsewhere. But this is a good pick if you want a funny, quick and entertaining read about living life to the fullest that you might enjoy this one.

Are We There Yet? by David Levithan

Summary:(from amazon) Sixteen-year-old Elijah is completely mellow and his 23-year-old brother Danny is completely not, so it’s no wonder they can barely tolerate one another. So what better way to repair their broken relationship than to trick them into taking a trip to Italy together? Soon, though, their parents’ perfect solution has become Danny and Elijah’s nightmare as they’re forced to spend countless hours together. But then Elijah meets Julia, and soon the brothers aren’t together nearly as much. And then Julia meets Danny and soon all three of them are in a mixed-up, turned-around, never-what-you-expect world of brothers, Italy, and love.
Review: David Levithan has become one of those hit or miss authors for me. I thought this book was just OK. There was something about the way it was written that left it a little lacking. However, I did enjoy the traveling in the book. pretty much the entire book takes place in Italy which I liked reading about. Elijah and Danny both annoyed me throughout the book. I couldn't understand why they didn't like each other. I couldn't help but laugh at how wrong they were about each other. It seemed like their issues with each other could have been so much more developed which would have added a lot to this book. The plot line was pretty predictable and I wish there had been more to the story. Even the plot line involving Julia could have been so much more drawn out and dramatic. I just thought the whole thing was a bit rushed.  This book was an OK read. There were some things I liked and others I didn't. I will probably read more of Levithan's books in the future. I still have high hopes for his books.

Forgotten by Cat Patrick

Summary:(from goodreads) Each night at precisely 4:33 am, while sixteen-year-old London Lane is asleep, her memory of that day is erased. In the morning, all she can "remember" are events from her future. London is used to relying on reminder notes and a trusted friend to get through the day, but things get complicated when a new boy at school enters the picture. Luke Henry is not someone you'd easily forget, yet try as she might, London can't find him in her memories of things to come. When London starts experiencing disturbing flashbacks, or flash-forwards, as the case may be, she realizes it's time to learn about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future.
Review: This is one of the books that i was drawn to because the premise was something unique that I haven't heard of before. It was an enjoyable read. The plot was well paced and I was immediately drawn into London's story. When I first started reading I was worried that it was going to be confusing. However, it was done in a way that was easy to follow and stay engaged. There wasn't a whole lot of action happening. This is a very character driven story. I liked London and Luke a lot. They were both well written and awesome characters. There was one thing that annoyed me about the plot line involving Luke but I was able to overlook it. The main thing I didn't like was the way things ended. I felt like the ending was a little bit rushed. I wish a few of the plot points had been wrapped up better. An extra few chapters would have gone a long way in giving this story a stringer ending. Overall, though this was a good book that I would definitely recommend.