The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin 

Mara Dyer #1

Published by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; September 27, 2011

Hardcover, 452 pages

Borrowed from library

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.

- Description from Goodreads.com

If you've read this book, you know what I'm going to scream about in a minute. If you don't, you will find out soon. But first, before we get to the GOOD part, let me get some actual reviewing in. Despite how many times I DIED while reading this book, it wasn't perfect. 

Warning: if you're looking for a paranormal with hints of romance, don't pick this book up. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is 100% romance with hints of paranormal. While I enjoyed the romance thoroughly (EEEEEE), I loved the bits of paranormal as well and really wished the author would have spent more time on it. The story would have been even better! I also wish that the author would have interspersed all the paranormal bits evenly throughout the book and not just jammed everything at the end. By then, the book was becoming too realistic to handle the weird, supernatural activity. It was akin to the hallucinations Mara had. One minute, I was happily swooning over Noah, the next, giant alligators are biting at him? Hold on girl, what just happened?!?

But besides that, I really had no qualms about this book. Why? Come on, I've already alluded to it! Because of Noah, silly! If you have read this book, you understand. I mean, GOSH is Noah a jerkface but for some reason unknown to me, I liked him. And not just like, LOVE. SWOON. Every time the name Noah was inked on the fine pages of this book, my heart flipped. And by the time I finished this book, my heart flipped twenty thousand times, I died about five hundred times more, and Noah will forever be my BBY. Sorry hon, he's mine now. 

And that cliffhanger at the end? I nearly fainted, I swear. I totally did NOT see that coming and now? Now, I'm crying because what is this going to mean for Mara and Noah? And unfortunately, with THAT ending, I have no choice but to read the next book. Though, let's be honest, I would have read it either way for Noah.

Overall, I thought The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer was a great read. I loved the romance though I would have wished to seen a greater emphasis on the supernatural aspects so if you're coming for the supernatural, you might be a bit let down. But if you're coming for Noah, oh my gosh, let's squeal together! 

Criminal by Terra Elan McVoy

Criminal by Terra Elan McVoy

Published by Simon Pulse; May 7, 2013

Hardcover, 288 pages

Borrowed from library

A searing and gripping read that explores the depths of desperation true love can inspire, from the author of Being Friends with Boys.

Nikki’s life is far from perfect, but at least she has Dee. Her friends tell her that Dee is no good, but Nikki can’t imagine herself without him. He’s hot, he’s dangerous, he has her initials tattooed over his heart, and she loves him more than anything. There’s nothing Nikki wouldn’t do for Dee. Absolutely nothing.

So when Dee pulls Nikki into a crime—a crime that ends in murder—Nikki tells herself that it’s all for true love. Nothing can break them apart. Not the police. Not the arrest that lands Nikki in jail. Not even the investigators who want her to testify against him.

But what if Dee had motives that Nikki knew nothing about? Nikki’s love for Dee is supposed to be unconditional…but even true love has a limit. And Nikki just might have reached hers.

- Description from Goodreads.com

Despite all the great things I'd heard about Criminal before reading it, I was still rather skeptical. Terra Elan McVoy was an author I knew for writing fun, light reads so Criminal was a far cry from her usual books. In addition, I didn't particularly love her light reads (see The Summer of Firsts and Lasts) so going in, I didn't really expect to be blown away. But my god, this book was great! I mean, is this even the same author that wrote The Summer of Firsts and Lasts? The writing seemed completely different. Nikki was a strong narrator who managed to tell her story very matter-of-fact but also with a lot of emotion...if that makes any sense.

The actual storyline of the book, I have to say, is rather dull which is fine because it's NOT the storyline that makes this book so great. For me, the main attraction of this book was the idea that not everything is black and white. Lines are blurred in reality and they are in this book. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to feel bad for Nikki or not. On one hand, she did totally assist a murder and I don't really think that 'love' was a solid excuse for that. Not that you could call what Nikki and Dee had 'love'. It's more of an addiction as Nikki says, a need to be wanted. Which I can accept because who doesn't like to be wanted? But gosh, Dee was such a dick - not to mention completely shady. I really wished Nikki listened to Bird about Dee. It would have saved her going through a lot of crap. 

But at the end, I couldn't help but feel proud of Nikki. She has gone through so many crappy things and the fact that all those things happened to her and she could still be positive? I think that really says something about the character development in this book.

While this wasn't the strongest book, I loved the themes McVoy touched upon in this book. Definitely dark and gritty but incredibly eye-opening!

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling
Published by Crown Archetype; November 1, 2011
Hardcover, 222 pages
Borrowed from library

Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck–impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress prone to starting fights with her friends and coworkers with the sentence “Can I just say one last thing about this, and then I swear I’ll shut up about it?”

Perhaps you want to know what Mindy thinks makes a great best friend (someone who will fill your prescription in the middle of the night), or what makes a great guy (one who is aware of all elderly people in any room at any time and acts accordingly), or what is the perfect amount of fame (so famous you can never get convicted of murder in a court of law), or how to maintain a trim figure (you will not find that information in these pages). If so, you’ve come to the right book, mostly!

In Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Mindy invites readers on a tour of her life and her unscientific observations on romance, friendship, and Hollywood, with several conveniently placed stopping points for you to run errands and make phone calls. Mindy Kaling really is just a Girl Next Door—not so much literally anywhere in the continental United States, but definitely if you live in India or Sri Lanka.

- Description from Goodreads.com

I'm never sure how to review a memoir so I tend to not do them but this book was just too funny not to share with you!

I've loved Mindy ever since I found her on Twitter. She's a bit cynical, a bit sarcastic but overall, just a very funny, very lovable person. I watched a few episodes of The Mindy Project and remember laughing so hard by stomach ached like crazy. And that's what happened again with this book! Mindy is hilarious and her voice is distinct. So even though she lives in Hollywood and is basically Twitter royalty, Mindy is able to allow herself to connect to the reader. 

I think I'm going to have to do a Quote Madness for this book. There are too many great quotes that it would be a shame for me to not to make note of them.

One last thing, Mindy, will you be my best friend? Please? 

Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols

Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols

Published by MTV Books; July 16, 2013

Hardcover, 288 pages

Received from publisher through NetGalley - thanks!

From the author of the “real page-turner” (Seventeen) Such a Rush comes an unforgettable new drama that follows friends-turned-lovers as they navigate the passions, heartbreaks, and intrigue of country music fame.

Bailey wasn’t always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey’s were hushed away.

Bailey has tried to numb the pain and disappointment over what could have been. And as Julie’s debut album is set to hit the charts, her parents get fed up with Bailey’s antics and ship her off to granddad’s house in Nashville. Playing fiddle in washed-up tribute groups at the mall, Bailey meets Sam, a handsome and oh-so-persuasive guitarist with his own band. He knows Bailey’s fiddle playing is just the thing his band needs to break into the industry. But this life has broken Bailey’s heart once before. She isn’t sure she’s ready to let Sam take her there again…

- Description from Goodreads.com

I think I've become hooked on Jennifer Echols now. And here's why:

The characters are the most UNLIKEABLE people ever (except for Ace. I love you, man). Three-quarters of the time, I wanted to punch them and kick them but somehow, Miss Echols managed to keep me under control. And uhh, actually like the characters at some points. 

Take Sam, for instance. He is a nice-looking boy, all Southern charm and class but he's known to be a heartbreaker - and don't forget absolutely SELFISH. He really never thinks about other people and when he does, it's always because he gets something from it. Always. But then all of a sudden, he goes all sweet and charming on me. And what happens to all my anger? Flies straight out the window.

It's confusing, all right! I never know what to expect from the characters. Are they going to tolerable or are they totally going to make me blow my top? Sometimes, the way the characters switch from mood to mood feels completely off but it's too much of a breather for me to complain.

And come on, who can resist Jennifer's writing? It runs smoothly and easily and at times, it was almost lulling me to sleep, to forget the issues I had with the characters.

Great, easy read! But I agree with the other Jennifer Echols fans, read this AFTER you've already established yourself as an Echols lover!

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Published by Philomel Books; March 22, 2011

Hardcover, 344 pages

Borrowed from library

Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.

Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously--and at great risk--documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives. Between Shades of Gray is a novel that will steal your breath and capture your heart.

- Description from Goodreads.com

I'm a sucker for historical fictions and so I was ecstatic when my quasi-book club picked this for this summer's read. I have close to no knowledge about Stalin and the Soviet Union so I was really excited to learn something. This book was not only educational, it was enjoyable.

Ruta Sepetys' writing in Between Shades of Gray is incredibly detailed, almost as if she were retelling the story as it happened to her. This made it easy for me to understand, even just a little, what the deportees were going through. I give kudos to her for being able to include so many different scenarios that the deportees had to face during such a grim period. She really showed the reader a vast range of the outcomes the people under Stalin's rule faced without straying too far from the central storyline.

Lina's flashbacks were another thing I liked about this book. They provided great background to Lina's story that we wouldn't have otherwise been able to learn. The flashbacks also helped build up Lina's character. As you read on, your understanding of her grows. By the end, I was totally hooked by her and I didn't want her story to end.

There's no doubt that Ruta Sepetys is a master storyteller. Between Shades of Gray was wonderfully crafted and yet, for me, I just wasn't feeling it. Something about the book came a bit short for me. But even so, I don't have to hesitate to claim this is one of my favourite historical fictions ever.

Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci

Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; August 1, 2009
Hardcover, 403 pages
Borrowed from library

Acclaimed authors Holly Black (Ironside) and Cecil Castellucci (Boy Proof) have united in geekdom to edit short stories from some of the best selling and most promising geeks in young adult literature: M.T. Anderson, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, John Green, Tracy Lynn, Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Barry Lyga, Wendy Mass, Garth Nix, Scott Westerfield, Lisa Yee, and Sara Zarr.

With illustrated interstitials from comic book artists Hope Larson and Bryan Lee O'Malley, Geektastic covers all things geeky, from Klingons and Jedi Knights to fan fiction, theater geeks, and cosplayers. Whether you're a former, current, or future geek, or if you just want to get in touch with your inner geek, Geektastic will help you get your geek on!

- Description from Goodreads.com

 

Well, you can bet that I was in for a pleasant surprise when I picked up this book. I'm not very good with reading anthologies but this one was so delightful. I didn't understand half of it but still, so delightful! I'm not being sarcastic, by the way. This is just my twisted humour.

All the stories were amazing and I loved how they all touched on different parts of geekery. You just feel like you get a very full representation of geeks even though I'm sure there's tons missing (Like, hello, where's my Harry Potter?). Also, great comics!

After reading (most of) this book, I'm definitely way more in touch with my inner geek. Thank you, Holly and Cecil, for compiling a kick-ass anthology of awesome geektastic stories!

*If you would like to read mini-reviews of the stories in this book, scroll down.*

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Once You're a Jedi, You're a Jedi All the Way by Holly Black & Cecil Castellucci

The familiar "did I sleep with a stranger?" storyline is reintroduced in Once You're a Jedi (the answer is, yes you did). Here, a Klingon girl finds herself in a strange hotel room which she later discovers to belong to a Jedi. And she doesn't have any memory of what happened.
Annie's Comments

Yay! A great beginning for a 'geektastic' anthology. Everything was easy to understand (even for me who hasn't watched (or read in some cases) Star Wars and Star Trek). Plus, the story was told in alternating perspectives which is the exact thing I love in books. 

2. One of Us by Tracy Lynn

A popular cheerleader has problems understanding her boyfriend when he talks about things such as Star Wars and Buffy so she hires geeks to teach her.
Annie's Comments

One of Us was super cute albeit a bit predictable. The characters were all super likeable. I kind of wished I had learned more about the things they were teaching Montgomery but that would have made an awfully long story, wouldn't it?

3. Definitional Chaos by Scott Westerfield

A guy has been recruited to look after 84 000 dollars (with the help of his ex-girlfriend) as it is being shipped to ComCon via train.

Annie's Comments

Errr... I feel like I'm missing something because I didn't get this story at all. What is going on????

4. I Never by Cassandra Clare

There's a party for the players of The Game and a girl goes with her friend to meet the guy she talked to online.

Annie's Comments

I loved this story! It was absolutely adorable and I loved the flow. Jane was a cutie and so was Noah. I mean, he wears toggle coats! Isn't that the cutest thing ever? The end was so obvious but it was amazing nonetheless. Bonus points for making up your own game (which should actually cease to be fictional because it's so cool). 

5. The King of Pelinesse by M.T. Anderson

A boy travels to Maine to confront his favourite author, R.P. Flint about a supposed affair with his mother (the boy's, that is).

Annie's Comments

This was quite confusing at the start but once the fundamentals had been established, I found myself really enjoying this story. It was original and I loved the way the theme of the anthology was woven into the story. It was geeky but not really, if you get that.

6. The Wrath of Dawn by Cynthia & Greg Leitich Smith

Dawn attends a Buffy sing-along with her step-sister, her step-sister's boyfriend, and her own date, Eric.

Annie's Comments

The Wrath of Dawn was one of the shorter stories in the anthology and had a large emphasis on Buffy. Which I have never seen. I'm indifferent to this story, but not really because Buffy is so foreign to me. The whole thing was just really short, especially the ending which felt rushed.

7. Quiz Bowl Antichrist by David Levithan

Literature genius, Alec and his quiz bowl team prepare themselves again for another year of intense button-pushing.

Annie's Comments

DAVID LEVITHAN IS THE BEST! I will never, ever get tired of anything he writes because he's just so fantastic. Quiz Bowl Antichrist was easily one of my favourite stories in Geektastic. I totally appreciated David for making his story about geeks something everyone can understand. Great characters and amazing story. I bow down to you, Levithan!

8. The Quiet Knight by Garth Nix

In one night's LARP (live action role play) adventure, Tony a.k.a The Quiet Knight meets Sorayah and her little brother. He sees them at school the next day and must make an important decision.

Annie's Comments

Another absolutely adorable story! I thought it was delightful but it didn't wow me. 

9. Everyone But You by Lisa Yee

Felicity and her mom move to Maui and she finds it difficult to fit in among her peers.

Annie's Comments

I don't really see how this story fits in with the others but maybe that's because the previous stories have been exploring a different kind of geekiness than the one we see in this story. Perhaps. But moving on, I thought the fast forwarding made the story really confusing because there was no 'heads up, we're skipping two months'. It just seemed as if one second Felicity was being hated on and the next second, she's hot baton twirling hula girl. 

10. Secret Identity by Kelly Link

Billie, a fifteen year old girl, meets a middle aged man through an online gaming site and proceeds to meet him at a hotel. But he's not there so she's writing him a letter recounting the events that occurred at the hotel (and apologizing for multiple somethings I won't say).

Annie's Comments

I am not ageist, okay? God knows how many twenty/thirty-year-old celebrities I've had a crush on but isn't it a bit creepy and scary that a fifteen-year-old and a thirty-four-year-old are having a fling? Like, I'm not actually in love with Andrew Garfield and just hypothetically, if he were to ask me to meet him at a hotel - oh who am I kidding?!? That will never happen because I know better than to meet a stranger at a hotel (and also, he doesn't know me). Anyhoo, this was a really confusing story. I didn't get it at all.


11. Freak the Geek by John Green
Two girls are targeted for an annual 'freaking of the geek' (which is when you torment geeks and laugh at them).
Annie's Comments
It's John Green. The person who wrote Tumblr's favourite novel and the best Youtuber on the planet. Of course I wanted to love it! But alas, this story disappointed me. While there were some signature John Green lines that I adored, the only thing that happened in the story other than them running away from the meanies was a fight between the two girls. That was the end.


12. The Truth About Dino Girl by Barry Lyga
Dinosaur-obsessed Katie has her eyes set on baseball-playing Jamie and fantasizes about being with him.
Annie's Comments
Okay, I'm not too sure what the moral of this story is. Like, what's up with the ending? But the dinosaur theme was cute.


13. This Is My Audition Monologue by Sara Zarr
The title sums it up pretty well. This is her audition monologue.
Annie's Comments
I'll admit, I didn't actually read this one. I started skimming it but then I just flipped to the end and moved on. Now you know why my summary is very bare-bones. I just didn't have it in me to read an 11-page monologue about why a girl should be cast into a play.


14. The Stars at the Finish Line by Wendy Mass
Ever since fourth grade, Peter and Tabitha have been fierce competitors, always trying to edge out one another. When Tabitha hears of a Messier Marathon (a thing where you have to find all 110 stars in one night), she eagerly joins. And because Peter has a secret crush on her, he asks to help.
Annie's Comments
Wendy Mass is one of my favourite childhood authors (Thanks for introducing me to her! A Mango Shaped Space, remember?) and I haven't read her work in so long so when I saw this story, I screamed my head off. It was amazing! A lot of what Wendy writes is amazing but seriously, when she talks about stars and the universe, it is like magic. Every Soul A Star has been one of my favourite books by her and yay, I love this story!


15. It's Just a Bump to the Left by Libba Bray
I didn't read this either. I'm sorry but I heard it was about the Rocky Horror Picture Show and I was just like ehhh. So much for keeping an open mind, right?

Taylor Swift: The Unoffical Story (Platinum Edition) by Liv Spencer

Taylor Swift: The Unofficial Story (Platinum Edition) by Liv Spencer
Published by ECW Press; June 1, 2013
Paperback, 192 pages
Received from publisher through NetGalley - thanks!

Chronicling the meteoric rise of one of today's hottest music stars, this comprehensive biography of Taylor Swift reveals how she conquered the pop and country music charts, earned a shelf full of awards, and broke multiple chart records—all before she turned 20. Beginning with her childhood in Pennsylvania, the account recalls her early ambition to land a record deal, describing her personal deliveries of demos to Nashville record companies at age 11, her first failed deal with RCA Records, and her ultimate success signing with Big Machine Records. Alongside full-color photos, the guide goes on to detail Taylor's songs, albums, and tours; friends and boyfriends; and other must-know facts, from musical influences, duets, and acting gigs to charity work and future plans. This updated edition includes new chapters with coverage of all her recent romances and adventures in the spotlight and a section on Swift’s 2012 album Red. Lively and engaging, this unofficial story gets to the heart of a fearless young star and shows how she captured the world

- Description from Goodreads.com

Anyone who knows me knows I love Taylor Swift. Like, so much it's become a daily conversation topic (sorry friends! I promise I'll find something else to talk about!). And as a major Swiftie, it makes sense why I need to be up to date with all my deets so when I stumbled upon this book on NetGalley, I went out on a limb and requested it just because I love Taylor Swift. Now, I've finished reading it and I'm super happy. Because Taylor Swift, guys.

Biographies are not necessarily written for you to enjoy, they're written for you to learn and gain an understanding of a person. And I thought I knew Taylor before this book? Boy, was I wrong! There were so many things I learned about her from reading this book! I've read a biography about her previously (and checked her Wikipedia) so I have quite a bit of background knowledge on Taylor and I was so happy to find new details in here I did not know.

The writing was easy to read and the pictures were nicely interspersed throughout the book. Though I recall some pictures that seemed to make no sense in their placing. I actually jotted down an example. RE: 'some pictures were awkwardly placed, ie. picture of Kellie Pickler & Taylor together with text talking about Taylor headlining acts.' Although now I suppose it could be because Kellie and Taylor met as headlining acts but I'm pretty sure if I didn't know that then, then it probably should have been saved as a picture after we had been provided with that fact.

I also really liked the Swift Notes and the music video concept parts. Taylor is my homie because I love her music and I was happy that there was a lot of detail on her music (and practically none at all about her relationships which, frankly, I have heard enough about. Let's leave the poor girl alone! Honestly, I could go on forever with this but I'll stop while I'm ahead). I didn't really have any interest in poring over the timeline but I suppose if you're planning on writing your own biography of Tay, it could be useful.

I was really happy to read this book and I'm sure Swifties would love to get their hands on this too! The writing is simple and straightforward so even younger readers can enjoy this. The pictures are great and there was lots of detail. Though it got a bit dull at times, I'm sure fans won't mind reading about their idol. Then again, who else would be reading this?

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen
Published by Viking Juvenile; June 4, 2013
Hardcover, 435 pages
Borrowed from library

Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.

Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.

Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby?

Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?

Sarah Dessen's devoted fans will welcome this story of romance, yearning, and, finally, empowerment. It could only happen in the summer.

- Description from Goodreads.com

After last month's darker Dessen, I won't lie, I was happy to jump back into a bright setting with vibrant characters and a fun summer romance. Though this book wasn't the best Dessen I've read (I think that title goes to This Lullaby), I did thoroughly enjoy it.

I liked

...Benji and Ivy. They had personalities that struck out for their clarity. By far, the more developed characters in this book.

...the rental business! I didn't even know this kind of thing went on and it was super fun to read about the business.

...Emaline. She was a likeable character with narration that was super easy and comfortable to read.

...Luke. I really did like him even though he didn't appear a whole lot in the book. He was perfect as Emaline made him out to be.

...the setting. This was my first glimpse at Colby and I left wowed. 

...the ending because it felt realistic. I also liked the whole surprise at the end with Clyde because I totally did  not see that coming!

I did not like

...the other secondary characters. There were simply too underdeveloped (and too many!) for me.

...all the sub-plots. Again, too many! I would have preferred less.

...Theo. He was arrogant and honestly, I don't see what Emaline saw in him. Which leads me to my next point.

...the Theo and Emaline relationship. The whole thing felt forced because I was not provided with a solid enough understanding of Theo's character to grasp why Emaline would be attracted to him.

...the slow start. 

While there were things that I didn't like, I thought overall, The Moon and More was a great read. It was fun and cute, the perfect novel to kick off summer! I especially liked reading about Colby but now, I'm kind of wishing for some more BEACH here where I live!

PS. I totally appreciated the This Lullaby reference. Hate Spinnerbait!

Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella

Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella
Published by The Dial Press; February 26, 2008
Hardcover, 389 pages
Borrowed from library

Lexi wakes up in a hospital bed after a car accident, thinking it's 2004 and she's a twenty-five-year old with crooked teeth and a disastrous love life. But, to her disbelief, she learns it's actually 2007 - she's twenty-eight, her teeth are straight, she's the boss of her department - and she's married! To a good-looking millionaire! How on earth did she land the dream life??! She can't believe her luck - especially when she sees her stunning new home. She's sure she'll have a fantastic marriage once she gets to know her husband again. He's drawn up a 'manual of our marriage,' which should help. But as she learns more about her new self, chinks start to appear in the perfect life. All her old colleagues hate her. A rival is after her job. Then a dishevelled, sexy guy turns up...and lands a new bombshell. What happened to her? Will she ever remember? And what will happen if she does?

- Description from Goodreads.com

Whenever I'm in a reading slump, I turn to Sophie Kinsella. Her books never fail to crack me up and this one was no exception. Remember Me? is a fun book with enough charm to grip you until the very end. If you've read some of Kinsella's previous novels, you'll notice some of the same characteristics in this book: financial sub-plot, hilarious and quirky main character, guys, and a giant obstacle the main character has to overcome. But even with all these similar attributes, Kinsella is still able to keep things fresh. This time, she brings out the old amnesia storyline. With Lexi having absolutely no clue about her life, ridiculous antics are sure to follow. And they do, progressing the story wickedly fast.

The only thing I had qualms about was the financial sub-plot in this one. I would have liked to see some follow-up about that and also, a bit more information as to how it all works out for her in the end. I suppose it's nice to keep the reader thinking but that was a bit too open for me.

In short, Remember Me? was a delightful read sure to please old and new Kinsella fans. Everything that's familiar about Sophie Kinsella is included here, along with a fresh storyline and some important lessons to take away. Absolutely hilarious, if you're looking for enjoyment, look no further!

Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky

Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky
Anatomy #1
Published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers; January 9, 2007
Hardcover, 272 pages
Received from the author - thanks!

Before this all happened, the closest I'd ever come to getting physical with a guy was playing the board game Operation. Okay, so maybe that sounds pathetic, but it's not like there were any guys at my high school who I cared to share more than three words with, let alone my body.

Then I met Wes, a track star senior from across town. Maybe it was his soulful blue eyes, or maybe my hormones just started raging. Either way, I was hooked. And after a while, he was too. I couldn't believe how intense my feelings became, or the fact that I was seeing—and touching—parts of the body I'd only read about in my Gray's Anatomy textbook. You could say Wes and I experienced a lot of firsts together that spring. It was scary. It was fun. It was love.

And then came the fall.

- Description from Goodreads.com

This book was definitely worth the read! I was a bit hesitant at first because of the sex scenes but in truth, they didn't even bug me that much. Okay fine, a little bit but not as much as I had anticipated.

The story with Anatomy of a Boyfriend is really quite simple and straightforward: two teens meet and fall in love. There are no confusing sub-plots to take away from the main story and I loved that! Often, books are so layered with storylines that it just feels too heavy. I liked how this book was stripped of all that, choosing only to focus on the main idea of the story which is a teenage relationship. Because of this, the ups and downs of the relationship really shone through and made it seem that much more realistic.

Now onto the sex. Honestly, I thought all the scenes were very tastefully done and not at all overdone. You know how authors tend to overwrite when it comes to scenes like these? That simply wasn't the case here and thank goodness for that! I loved how both Dom and Wes were realistically naive when it came to sex and you could see that inexperience shine through some of the first scenes. The sex scenes also didn't feel superfluous, like filler. It definitely fit with the story.

The only thing I have some beef with is that Wes' character wasn't very...defined. It was hard to identify who he was at times in the book. What I did like about Wes is that he wasn't the womanizer or playboy you see when you meet books with heavier sex themes. He was simply an average Joe who didn't mean any harm.

And finally, the ending. Um, can I get some more of Calvin please? Now there's a guy who I like! But good on Daria's part to not have Dom jump at Calvin immediately. Again, being realistic. But I would really like to see them get together. Perhaps in the next book?

Overall, I thought this was a great book. Wes and Dom's relationship was great to read about and I thought it was very realistic (though I probably said that around fifty times so far so I doubt I need to repeat myself). Finally, a book that portrays teen relationships accurately! :)

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Published by St. Martin's Press; February 26, 2013
Hardcover, 325
Borrowed from library

"Bono met his wife in high school," Park says.
"So did Jerry Lee Lewis," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be," she says, "we’re sixteen."
"What about Romeo and Juliet?"
"Shallow, confused, then dead."
''I love you," Park says.
"Wherefore art thou," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be."

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.

- Description from Goodreads.com

Describing this book is hard. Really hard. Because Eleanor & Park is way more than just your average story of friendship and love. It's way more than your average story about broken teens searching to be repaired. It's way more than the words I'm typing now. I don't think it's the best book ever, or that it lives up to all the five-star reviews and hype that it gets, but I certainly agree with anyone who says that Rainbow Rowell is a damn good writer. The words just flow so naturally in this book, and I feel like in order to do justice to how well-written this book was, I'd have to match Rainbow's fluidity. Which I obviously can't. But I'll try.

The thing I liked the most about this book was that it wasn't a love story. No, it's a story about  people finding love. And I love Rainbow for writing it in the most organic, natural way ever. I loved seeing how their relationship progressed. In no way did it feel fake or plastic. On the contrary, it felt so real that Eleanor and Park seemed to pop up from the book. They tugged at my heart and tugged and tugged until I had to cry. Because there is so much going against these two. It's as if the universe just totally does not want them together when for some odd reason, they are meant to be. At times, the problems Eleanor was facing seemed too overpowering and a bit flimsy. I'm not saying that it's impossible for someone to go through everything Eleanor was going through all at once. I just think that it was a bit overdone. 

I'll try to leave this short and sweet because I seriously think you should read this book to figure out for yourself how good this book is. But before I leave you I'd just like to say, if you are a crier, this book will make you BAWL. I'm no crier, but I was practically on the verge of tears the entire time. Eleanor and Park fit so perfectly together that whenever they're not together, it's the most aggravating thing ever. But at the end, you'll love Rainbow for making you feel so much. :)

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Divergent #1
Published by Katherine Tegen Books; February 27, 2012
Paperback, 487 pages
Borrowed from library

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

- Description from Goodreads.com

I am ashamed of myself. I had gone into this book with my expectations so low. I really expected to dislike this book but I did not. I actually really, really liked it! I thought it was a wonderful, fast-paced story to read through, and the idea of having factions intrigued me. I thought it was very realistic and I certainly could imagine our society heading down this path.The only thing that really bugged me was the role Chicago played in this. Really, I think Ms. Roth would have been better off just creating an imaginary world, because, to be honest, Chicago is insignificant and supplies nothing to this story. 

I'll admit: I had to imagine quite a bit pre-Dystopia Chicago because there weren't many details given as to how this came to be. This didn't really affect my overall thought of the book, because I enjoyed it! I loved Dauntless initiation and every single page left my heart pounding. It was intense and I was so caught up in it. The romance with Tobias was also extremely intense, and is probably the cause of all my hyperventilating.  I wanted to rip the tension at the beginning in half, because everyone knew where this was going. Get on with it, Veronica! I'm tired of waiting! 

The pacing was awkward, and I felt myself starting to become less excited towards the end (though that could also have been because of this other thing...). I found the end came about all of the sudden, it didn't feel complete to me. 

Next, I've noticed that this book has been compared to The Hunger Games a lot, and I will not say anything on this because The Hunger Games has nearly left my mind. I really can't remember anything, but I can say that Mockingjay was really bad. I'm happy to say Divergent wasn't THAT bad and hopefully, the third book in this series won't be either. I know many people preferred The Hunger Games more, but for me, I thought Divergent suited my tastes better. Note here I'm only going by my feelings, and Divergent definitely made me feel more, although it may not be the best literally.

I'm making my final decision based how I felt when I first picked up this book. Divergent is definitely not an amazing book, but considering how amazing I thought it was, I think it deserves all the rave it's getting. If a book has the ability to let me forget about criticizing later on on my blog, if a book can make me lose my senses, if a book is able to make me forget everything and let me simply enjoy the story, then I would say that that book is well worthy of praise, even if it there were many flaws. It's not often you come across a book capable of doing this, and I think you should give it a shot despite some harsh criticism it might have gotten. Hey, a book doesn't win a Book of the Year award because nobody liked it! Chances are, you will too.

I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan

I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; May 17, 2011
Paperback, 392 pages
Borrowed from library

Emily Bell believes in destiny. To her, being forced to sing a solo in the church choir--despite her average voice--is fate: because it's while she's singing that she first sees Sam. At first sight, they are connected.

Sam Border wishes he could escape, but there's nowhere for him to run. He and his little brother, Riddle, have spent their entire lives constantly uprooted by their unstable father. That is, until Sam sees Emily. That's when everything changes.

As Sam and Riddle are welcomed into the Bells' lives, they witness the warmth and protection of a family for the first time. But when tragedy strikes, they're left fighting for survival in the desolate wilderness, and wondering if they'll ever find a place where they can belong. Beautifully written and emotionally profound, I'll Be There is a gripping story that explores the complexities of teenage passions, friendships, and loyalties.

- Description from Goodreads.com

I'll Be There is a book that I've been wanting to read for a while now and I'm so glad I got to it! It was amazing! I have never read a book so intricate and so movie-like! Every second spent reading this book went by gorgeously because the description that went into this book was brilliant! 

The thing about I'll Be There is that it's written from a third-person perspective which allows the author to travel between characters, which is quite useful, considering that one of the themes of this book is that we are all connected. Holly shows the connection between each character wonderfully and the way she writes little, mundane details into their lives makes it so realistic. However, the third-person perspective also distances us from the characters which can make it hard for me to connect to what the characters are feeling at times, for example, when Riddle and Sam were stuck in the woods. 

I actually really loved this book and I still have no idea why I gave it a three on Goodreads. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I took so long to read this - not because I was bored, but because of an overload of school work. That might have sucked the emotion out of me when I read this, but truthfully, if I were REALLY connected to this book, I don't think the connection would have been lost so easily. It would've reconnected as soon as I picked up the book again, or at least, that's what I think would happen. 

Although I do have some mixed feelings on this and am still trying to screw my head on correctly, I'll Be There is a wonderful book you have to read. It will change your life and I promise you, the fact that it's written to play like a mini movie in your head is not a bad thing. 

Plus, you have your own little theme song to listen to when you read this. I'll Be There by Jackson 5. I'm listening to it as I type this, and I can tell you that it fits perfectly with this book. Sweet, slow, reassuring.

PS A Seeing Double feature will be made for this book. Stay tuned to find out what it is! Told you I loved features, haha. :)

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
Published by Viking Juvenile; April 6, 2006
Paperback, 371 pages
Borrowed from library

Annabel Greene is the girl who has everything. At least, that's what she portrays in her modelling shoots. But Annabel's life is far from perfect. Her friendship with Sophie ended bitterly, and her older sister's eating disorder is weighing down the entire family. Isolated and ostracized at school and at home, Annabel retreats into silent acceptance  Then she meets Owen - intense, music-obsessed, and determined to always tell the truth. And with his guidance, Annabel learns to just listen to herself and gains the courage to speak honestly. But will she be able to tell everyone what really happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends?

- Description from Goodreads.com

This is the first book for the first month of the Sarah Dessen Challenge hosted by I Eat Words and what a great way to start it! I feel like I need a list to organize my thoughts so here are the:

The Things I Liked

- The way Sarah merges flashbacks with the narration so seamlessly. It really helped me understand the main character, Annabel and the story being told.

- Whitney's eating disorder. An eating disorder is something many teens go through and so I was very happy to see it taken seriously. And yet, although it was taken seriously, it wasn't hard to relate to what Whitney was going through or what Annabel was feeling while Whitney was in treatment. 

- The Will Cash situation. Realistic. 

- The friendship with Sophie. Realistic. 

- I liked Owen, or rather Annabel's relationship with Owen. It didn't move fast at all which made it feel very natural, not like "He's the only guy that I'm close to so I'm going to hook up with him".

- The cute Anger Management terms Owen shared with Annabel and technically, us. It made me feel like I was part of this huge inside joke.

There really isn't much I didn't like. I kept on trying to be more critical and ended up with some valid dislikes. Afterwards, though, I felt that was a bit nit-picky and so I didn't include them. After all, if I didn't recognize them during reading, surely they're not important?

Highly recommended. You will cry.

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
Published by HarperTeen; March 9, 2010
Paperback, 422
Borrowed from library

At age eleven, Taylor Markham was abandoned by her mother. At age fourteen, she ran away from boarding school, only to be tracked down and brought back by a mysterious stranger. Now seventeen, Taylor's the reluctant leader of her school's underground community, whose annual territory war with the Townies and visiting Cadets has just begun. This year, though, the Cadets are led by Jonah Griggs, and Taylor can't avoid his intense gaze for long. To make matters, worse, Hannah, the one adult Taylor trusts, has disappeared  But if Taylor can piece together the clues Hannah left behind, the truth she uncovers might not just settle her past, but also changer her future.

- Description from Goodreads.com

Jellicoe Road. Possibly one of the best books I have read in my lifetime. 

Funny. Sweet. Heartwarming. Annoying. Frustrating. Confusing. Sad. Marvelous.

These are all words I would use to describe this book. 

This was an amazing book. It was amazingly written! I loved Melina; she's amazing at writing vibrant settings and crafting brilliant characters. The premise of this book is unlike anything I've ever read. It was a breath of fresh air. There was a little bit of everything: some mystery, humor, fantasy, romance, and adventure. 

Having said all that, I thought Jellicoe Road was very confusing. Melina puts a lot of detail in her story - too much that I simply cannot recall all of the facts. This closely relates to the fact that I was put off by the altering narrations: one by Taylor and the other one which is bits and pieces of Hannah's story. It's only until around three quarters into this book that we actually find out how the story relates to Taylor. It's also around this time when Taylor actually starts "piecing together" her past. So yes, the story starts very slow and is very confusing in the beginning. To be honest, I'm still a bit confused and I'm pretty sure I need to reread this book to do it justice.

Another thing that bugged me was Jonah and Taylor. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved them together but their falling in love seemed rather fast to me...I mean, considering the fact that they both have a lot of baggage from their past, it would have just occurred to me that their inevitable attraction would have been stretched over a longer amount of time? pages? so I could understand exactly how their relationship was formed. To me, it just seemed like "collarbone-touching and then BAM". 

However, it still is an amazing book. I will admit that this was a very ambitious story to write, what with the whole alternating narrations. Extensive planning must have gone into this book and I'm happy to say that it paid off. The end result is a book so wonderfully woven that you can ALMOST forget all your confusion. Almost. Worth reading but one word of advice: ride it out even when it gets super confusing. You won't regret it. :)

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Published by Anchor Canada; August 28, 2007
Paperback, 229 pages
Bought

Far in the future, the World Controllers have created the ideal society. Through clever use of genetic engineering, brainwashing and recreational sex and drugs, all its members are happy consumers. Bernard Marx seems alone in feeling discontent. Harbouring an unnatural desire for solitude, and a perverse distaste for the pleasure of compulsory promiscuity, Bernard has an ill-defined longing to break free. A visit to one of the few remaining Savage Reservations, where the old, imperfect life still continues, may be the cure for his distress.… Huxley’s ingenious fantasy of the future sheds a blazing light on the present and is considered to be his most enduring masterpiece.

- Description from Goodreads.com

* Note the cover for Brave New World: It is Vintage Canada's edition and it is so absolutely wonderful. It's creepy and so clever.

Whew. What a long short book this was! I mean, 272 pages can seem like 500! There was so much going on and I am amazed at what the author was able to do. Let me start with this: Aldous Huxley must have spent at LEAST two years figuring this all out. Everything in this book was so well thought-out and planned and detailed. 

Now, I've seen some mixed reviews on Goodreads. People talking about how it's unbelievable and the storyline is crappy and this and that but MY opinion is this:

Aldous is a freaking genius. We've held so many discussions on this book in class that only before I have my big test on this book can I look back and say this. I've already mentioned how well planned this book was and I'll say it again...and again....and again. The things he thought up of! And the naming of the characters! All were so brilliant and so obviously from the mind of a genius. One thing that I really found interesting was the fact that Aldous was able to write a tale about a world so much like our own in the sense that I could definitely see our society going down this path. Perhaps not to such an extreme but yes, something like it. It's crazy. So so crazy.

The writing was confusing. I just couldn't keep up with the switching points of view. One second we were analyzing Lenina's thoughts and the next, John's. It was frustrating to have to constantly go back and reread to understand. If you're considering reading this book, know this: you need a lot of focus to read Brave New World. A lot. You CANNOT just blank out and skim. It doesn't work that way, trust me, I know. I've done it and have ended up needing to go onto SparkNotes to catch on everything I've missed.

The story was oddly paced. It was interesting but John, who was such a major character, was only introduced to us after a third of the book or so. After the introduction to him, everything else went by so fast which was quite different than the beginning which was drawn out really long. Which is understandable, after all, the author does need to spend some time to explain the society to us, but still weird.

Despite these minuses, I was still absolutely enthralled and captured by Brave New World. It made me look at our society in a new light. I understand and agree that it's not a masterpiece but the World State itself is the reason why you should read this. You WILL marvel at the detail and you WILL be glad you read this. It is a classic, after all. 

Annie

PS My test is tomorrow and I am really scared. HELP!

Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Published by HarperTeen; June 1, 2005
Paperback, 368 pages
Borrowed from library

In a Ya-Ya Sisterhood for teens, Peaches combines three unforgettable heroines who have nothing in common but the troubles that have gotten them sentenced to a summer of peach picking at a Georgia orchard.

Leeda is a debutante dating wrong-side-of-the-tracks Rex.

Murphy, the wildest girl in Bridgewater, likes whichever side Rex is on.

Birdie is a dreamer whose passion for Girl Scout cookies is matched only by her love for a boy named Enrico.

When their worlds collide, The Breakfast Club meets The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants in an entirely original and provocative story with a lush, captivating setting.

- Description from Goodreads.com

I love me a good friendship! And Peaches definitely brought it!

One thing I noticed a lot when I first read this book were the comparisons to The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants. And then I was like, Crappity Crap Crap Crap, because I LOVED The Sisterhood. I mean, no one can POSSIBLY beat the ultimate foursome's friendship. No one. So yeah, I think you can understand why I was be a bit worried for this book which sounded SO GOOD. Is there any possible way I can NOT compare it to The Sisterhood? 

But, acutally, I was surprised! I zoomed through this book without ever having to think of The Sisterhood once! It was so different and the characters were gorgeous. The only complaint I really have is that it seemed odd for them to have such a quick road trip, even if it is only on the pages. It was just weird. It went by so fast whereas the other bits were quite stretched out. And also, I think the transition between school during summer and ACTUAL summer holiday farm fun should be better. It took me a while to figure that all out.

BUT, besides all this, it was amazing! It read like a movie and everything was awesome! I loved Murphy's carefree personality, Leeda's not-so carefree one, and Birdie's shy-ish one. They blended together perfectly!

Definitely should read this if you are a fan of The Sisterhood. It was quite a treat! Though you might want to read it during the summer...