Book Review: Slammed

Slammed (Slammed #1)
by Colleen Hoover
ebook, 314 pages
Published January 5th 2012 by Colleen Hoover
Source: Stolen Borrowed from my mom. Thanks, ma! :)
Buy the book: Amazon | Apple iBookstore | Barnes & Noble

Summary:

Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she's losing hope.

Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.

Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together, and the secret that keeps them apart.

Review:

Ever heard of slam poetry? If not, I suggest that you take a look at this video first. The poem the guy is performing is called "The Lake" which was written by one of the characters in this book.

So, are you done watching it yet? I came across that video on Colleen's website while checking out Slammed. I'd never heard of slam poetry before this book and while I thought poetry was cute, I couldn't help thinking "ultra gaaaay" when boys wrote love poems (sexist, much? Sorry boys! At least you're all cute! <3 ) but then I watched the video and then I couldn't think about "ultra gaaay" anymore. All I could think about was "ULTRA HOOOT!" I wanted to marry that guy! Or Will, the character who wrote the poem. Or Colleen since she wrote the book. But most especially Will Cooper. Yes, definitely Will Cooper. After watching the vid, I immediately stole grabbed my mom's kindle and read Slammed to my heart's content.

Slammed is filled with interesting characters that are so easy to love. I didn’t know what to make of Lake at first because she sounded so bored of her life. Her boredom sort of leaked onto me and the tone she used to speak with her mom, I didn't like, so I immediately found her a bit uninteresting. Then she did something really cute for her little brother, Kel, and my disinterest was suddenly replaced by a warm approval of her character. Lake is a relatable character who is quick to connect with. Her family moved to Ypsilanti after selling their house in Texas due to debts left by her father's sudden death several months ago.

Across their new house lived Will Cooper, a 21-year-old guy whom Lake became fast friends with. I should warn you that there is an insta-love here. Gods know how much I dislike instant romance, but strangely enough, it didn't bother me at all in this book. If anything, I really adored Lake and Will's relationship though there were also times that I found their romance tedious especially when they go all "hey, you're sad, let's hug each other so you can feel my sexiness but sorry, we still can't be together" or something along the lines. But at the same time, it wasn't hard to sympathize with both characters especially as the story progressed and the plot is slowly uncovered. I didn't know what I was expecting when I read Slammed, only that it had some awesome poems that I'd love. Other than that, I thought it was going to be a light read but no, because as the story moved on we find out the real reason why Lake's family moved to Ypsilanti and we'd experience all the heart breaks that followed.

I loved how Lake dealt with her problems and I loved that Will and her friends were always there for her. Eddie, Lake's best friend has a backstory that will surely tug at your heartstrings. She's a happy spontaneous character. You wouldn't think she'd been through all those hardships once you meet her. Will is a very responsible older brother to Caulder. All the sacrifices he made for his younger brother will move you as well. Kel and Caulder are smart and perceptive younger brothers with dry sense of humor. All in all, Slammed is a well-written, heart-warming novel that delves deeply into love and family; of making the right choices at the right time; and of accepting and making the most out of what's left to us.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars!

Book Review: My Life Next Door

My Life Next Door
by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Hardcover, 395 pages
Published June 14th 2012 by Dial Books For Young Readers
Source: Bought
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another

“One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.”

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over.

Review:

The first time I saw this book on Goodreads, I squealed in delight. I thought it had the cutest premise ever. Not the most original one out there, but a cute premise is cute. It sounded like something I'd like at first then dislike for a while but will ultimately love in the end. So, did I like it a first? Yes, yes I did. Did I dislike it for a while? Oh, yes. But did I ultimately love it in the end? YES!

Although I predicted my feelings for this book, what really went on in the book was far from predictable. My Life Next is Door is well-paced but kinda dragged for a bit around the middle part. The romantic relationship between Jase and Sam started out early in the book but it didn't feel like insta-love at all (thank goodness!); but it was also sort of alarming because when a relationship is already perfect in the first quarter of the book, you just know that something big is about to happen. And indeed, something big did happen. But I'm not going into more details there. All I can say is that it will definitely shock you. It will make you cry for a while and then make you want to cuddle all the characters.

Samantha was quite a relatable protag even though it was a little hard to connect with her at first. I didn't love her character but I liked her and I enjoyed seeing her character grow. Between Sam and her older sister, she was expected to be the responsible one. I thought she was going to be a boring character but when she met Jase and the rest of Garretts, it was then that her life started to become interesting. She learned that there was more to life than the life her mother had painstakingly built inside the fence. Her relationship with Jase was both innocent and passionate and it was delightful to see them work around their relationship and learn more about life together. Another character I liked was Tim. While Samantha and Jase appear to be the most loved characters in this book by majority of the readers, I found Tim more amusing and dare I say, adorable, despite his foul language and alcoholic self. I hated him at first because he was a selfish addict who cared about no one; he even went so far as endangering the lives of her sister and Sam. I wanted to pluck him out of the book and throw him into rehab. However, as the story progressed and we get to see more of him, it was just hard not to love him. The character that I found the most convoluted though, was Clay Tucker. I didn't like the guy and his ability to talk himself into everything and into anyone both fascinated and scared me.

Then there's also the Garretts family. One does not simply forget to include the Garretts when writing a review of My Life Next Door. Because seriously? That family is full of awesome and cute. Each of the family members have personalities that are far apart from each other but all of them are simply adorable. George and Patsy are my favorites! They are too cute they make my knees go weak. Seeing their family together was aww-inducing; the chaos, the banters, the FUN! Makes you want to have a Garretts family of your own. If you're looking for a quick heart-warming read with adorable characters and an unpredictable solid plot, My Life Next Door is the book for you.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Book Review: Serial Hottie

Serial Hottie
by Kelly Oram
Paperback, 374 pages
Published July 10th 2012 by Bluefields
Source: Bought
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

Ellie’s sweet sixteen is a summer of firsts. First car. First kiss. First boyfriend. First serial-killing stalker?

Hockey-obsessed tomboy Eleanor Westley has never been the object of a guy’s affection before. So when the hottest boy she’s ever seen moves in across the street and starts treating her like she’s the center of his universe, naturally she’s going to be a little skeptical. But everything starts to make sense when girls who look just like Ellie start dying all around the city. Obviously the new guy is the killer, and of course he only likes her because he wants to slice her into tiny pieces. Right?

The more Ellie gets to know Seth the more she’s convinced he’s a psychopathic killer. The problem is he’s the sweetest psychopathic killer she’s ever met. Not to mention he’s brutally hot. No matter how hard she tries, she can’t help but fall for him. Will Ellie find true love, or will her summer of firsts turn out to be a summer of lasts?

Review:

Serial Hottie has got to be one of the most hilarious books I've read all year! The characters were so much fun! I almost rolled on the floor laughing during Ellie and Seth's first meeting. It was probably one of the most embarrassing and awkward way of meeting your crush, especially when you both have been spying on each other for days.

At first, I thought Ellie was that type of character that was an outcast and only had one friend (or three, in this book). She was a tomboy who had no girly bone in her body and had no regards with having fist fights with boys her age. She never had a crush and had never been kissed. Until this hottie, Seth, moved across their house and started showing interest on her. I know this all sounds very cliched, but believe me when I say it's not. I had mixed feelings about Ellie at first. She was very rude to Seth and her sister, Angela. But as the story progressed, I just couldn't help admiring her growth as a character.

Seth was very sweet and he genuinely liked Ellie. The problem was, every time he tried to show her his affection, it always came out the wrong way. There were times that I just had to pity him for how rude Ellie treated him. But however sweet Seth was, he might not be the type of guy you'd like to spend the rest of your life with, or be your boyfriend. He was too creepy, overprotective and controlling that sometimes, I couldn't blame Ellie for suspecting him as the serial killer. Even now after I read the book, I'm still having second thoughts about their relationship. But also, I couldn't blame him for what he'd become because what he was in the book was only the result of something traumatic that happened when he was younger.

I can't say whether this was predictable or not as I was fooled many times by the author into thinking who really the serial killer was, but maybe toward the end it all became obvious. Anyway, all in all, Serial Hottie is a quick, light read that's not only about serial killers and teenage love. It's also about family and friendship, but   devoid of angst and drama. If you're looking for an easy and fun read, I suggest that you read Serial Hottie now!

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Book Review: The One That I Want

The One That I Want
by Jennifer Echols
ebook, 256 pages
Published December 6th 2011 by Simon Pulse

Summary:

Gemma can’t believe her luck when the star football player starts flirting with her. Max is totally swoon-worthy, and even gets her quirky sense of humor. So when he asks out her so-called best friend Addison, Gemma’s heartbroken.

Then Addison pressures Gemma to join the date with one of Max’s friends. But the more time they all spend together, the harder Gemma falls for Max. She can’t help thinking that Max likes her back—it’s just too bad he’s already dating Addison. How can Gemma get the guy she wants without going after her best friend’s boyfriend?

Review:

Gemma and Addison have been the best of friends since they were ten. Having lost both their fathers in a divorce, Gemma’s mom thought it would be nice for her daughter to have someone to confide into. So ever since then, they did everything together. Or more like, Gemma did everything Addison wanted her to.

In other young adult books, it’s usually the richer ‘BFF’ who gets to order around the other less richer ‘BFF’. But in Gemma and Addison’s case, it’s the other way around. Partially it’s because Addison has always been the more outgoing and pretty one while Gemma has always been ugly, fat friend although she’s lost so much weight now that they’re older. But more than that, it’s because since Gemma’s father left her family, she’s been afraid of being left alone again, so she puts up with Addison no matter how horrible her attitude is.

Gemma and Addison might call themselves bestfriends but inside, they’re best enemies too. They are very competitive with each other. Like when they were kids, they had baton lessons together. When Addison grew tired from it, she quit. But sometime later, when she found out that Gemma was trying out to become a majorette, she did so as well. Addison is also extremely selfish. She says embarrassing things about Gemma in front of her and other people. There’s also a scene where she purposely hit (though not entirely obvious) Gemma on the nose with her baton to embarrass her in front of two hotties. She later dragged Gemma to the boys and started flirting with the guy Gemma had her eyes on. Addison never apologized for hitting her, or for other horrible things she did. She also appears to be extremely ignorant and mostly, just shrugs off the horrible things she’s done.

I think Addison’s attitude is too extreme to be real. It seems as if she was created for the sole purpose of annoying the readers. Gemma, on the other hand, is an okay character. But she isn’t all that easy to like nor was she a relatable character. Though I appreciate the romance between her and Max. The development was smooth and just at the right time. Max’s family is probably one of the very few likable parts in the book. They are very fun and you’ll just want to read more about them. I think the ending is also very fitting for the book. Oh, and did I mention about that hot and heavy scene between Gemma and Max? Well, it was just that. Hot and heavy. But, I’ve always known Jennifer Echols is awesome at writing sexual tension and hot and heavy scenes.
As always, Echols’s books are easy and quick to read. I love her books even though some of them have struck a nerve. I just wish she would start writing about lovable characters instead of dislikable, annoying ones.

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Book Review: Chain Reaction

Chain Reaction (Perfect Chemistry #3)
by Simone Elkeles
Hardcover, 308 pages
Published August 16th 2011 by Walker Books for Young Readers
Source: Bought

Summary:

Luis Fuentes has always been sheltered from the gang violence that nearly destroyed his brothers’ lives. But that didn’t stop him from taking risks—whether he’s scaling a mountain in the Rockies or dreaming of a future as an astronaut, Luis can’t stop looking for the next thrill.

Nikki Cruz lives her life by three rules—boys lie to get their way, don’t trust a boy who says “I love you,” and never date a boy from the south side of Fairfield. Her parents may be from Mexico, but as a doctor’s daughter, she has more in common with her north-side neighbors than the Latino Blood at her school. Then she meets Luis at Alex’s wedding, and suddenly, she’s tempted to break all her rules.

Getting Nikki to take a chance on a southsider is Luis’s biggest challenge, until he finds himself targeted by Chuy Soto, the new head of the Latino Blood. When Chuy reveals a disturbing secret about Luis’s family, the youngest Fuentes finds himself questioning everything he’s ever believed to be true. Will his feelings for Nikki be enough to stop Luis from entering a dark and violent world and permanently living on the edge?

Review:

I honestly don't know when the Goodreads summary changed. I distinctly remember that Luis was first described as the innocent, honest-to-goodness Fuentes brother, and the girl, as the one who unintentionally dragged him to the rebel side. That was probably the only reason I was so looking forward to reading the final installment in the Perfect Chemistry series. I was hoping that somehow, it would be different from its predecessors. So you can only imagine my disappointment when none of what I expected came out.

If you have read Perfect Chemistry and Rules of Attraction, you know that both books practically have the same formula: the Latino blood, the family, the girl, the cheesy epilogue, you know what I'm talking about. I honestly thought Elkeles would finally change that formula in Chain Reaction, perhaps reverse the situation in which the girl is the rebel and the boy is the good one just like how I thought it was going to be, but boy I was wrong.

I thoroughly enjoyed PC despite it being so cheesy. I liked RoA because it reminded me of PC. But with Chain Reaction, the Fuentes brothers no longer amused me. It was practically like reading PC or RoA all over again. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy Chain Reaction because I did enjoy it, only not that much.

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Book Review: Graffiti Moon

Graffiti Moon
by Cath Crowley
Hardcover, 224 pages
Expected publication: February 14th 2012 by Knopf Books for Young Readers (first published August 1st 2010)
Source: NetGalley

Summary:

"Let me make it in time. Let me meet Shadow. The guy who paints in the dark. Paints birds trapped on brick walls and people lost in ghost forests. Paints guys with grass growing from their hearts and girls with buzzing lawn mowers."

It’s the end of Year 12. Lucy’s looking for Shadow, the graffiti artist everyone talks about.

His work is all over the city, but he is nowhere.

Ed, the last guy she wants to see at the moment, says he knows where to find him. He takes Lucy on an all-night search to places where Shadow’s thoughts about heartbreak and escape echo around the city walls.

But the one thing Lucy can’t see is the one thing that’s right before her eyes.

Review:

I've been looking forward to reading Graffiti Moon ever since it was published in Australia last year. That's why I just about died when I found out that this was made available on NetGalley by the awesome Knopf Books for Young Readers. And what's even more awesome than that is, this book lived up to my super high expectations!

The summary absolutely doesn't do justice to how awesome this book is. It sounds cliched, predictable and bland. But wait! There's actually more to Graffiti Moon than those. What I like about this book is that the readers know from the start that Ed and Shadow are the same person, unlike what the summary seems to imply.

This is told in alternating POV's of Lucy and Ed with Leo's poems (those beautiful, beautiful poems) before some chapters. Ed dropped out of school in year 10 and has been working at a paint store until the owner who he view as his own father died and he was left jobless. Lucy has been obsessing over meeting the elusive graffiti artist, Shadow, feeling as if an artist like him is the only one who could understand what the artist in her truly feels. Leo is Ed's best friend and works with Ed on writing poems on his graffitis. Jazz is the resident psychic. Daisy is Dylan's girlfriend, and he is the only one who knows who Shadow and Poet are.

Crowley's characters are distinctive and very well-crafted. They are very fun to read and are extremely likable. Though there were also times that I'd find myself tearing up at some parts of the story. Most of which are from Ed's flashbacks. His father left his mom when she got pregnant at 16. His mom is still attending nursing school and also, he couldn't read.

Crowley's Graffiti Moon is one beautiful story I would love to read a hundred more times. Crowley's writing is eloquent. The dialogues, descriptions and poems were simply divine! I absolutely, totally, highly recommend  this book to all readers out there! Believe me, you will not be disappointed!

Rating: 5/5 stars!

Disclosure: This e-galley was received from the publisher (Knopf Books for Young Readers via NetGalley) for free in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Love Story (ARC)

Love Story
by Jennifer Echols
243 Pages - Paperback
Expected publication: July 19th 2011 by MTV Books
Source: ARC from S&S Galley Grab

Summary:

SHE'S WRITING ABOUT HIM. HE'S WRITING ABOUT HER. AND EVERYBODY IS READING BETWEEN THE LINES.

For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions--it's her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family's racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin's college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter . . . so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?

Then, on the day she's sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He's joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin's heart with longing. Now she's not just imagining what might have been. She's writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter . . . except this story could come true.

Review:

As an heiress to a wealthy millionaire, Erin Blackwell’s grandmother wants her to pursue business course. But Erin has other plans for herself. She wants to be a writer. As a result, she is stripped off of all her inheritance. Worse, her grandmother had to give it to Hunter; the stable boy from her childhood. Now, Erin has to balance life from work and college. It’s already hard enough that she has to study and work her butt off. The only place she could relax is in the creative writing class. So when Hunter enrolled in the same class, all hell break loose. It doesn’t help that Hunter has to read the story she prepared on his first day, inspired by the same stable boy she met from childhood.

The story opens with a short story written by Erin about a forbidden tryst between a stable boy and his lady. I pretty much enjoyed this short story as well as the others. Though between Erin and Hunter, I enjoyed the latter’s works much better.

The plot is quite predictable, but what I love about Echols’s works is that no matter how predictable the plot is, you just can’t help anticipating the next events. However, no matter how much I liked how the events were unfolding, I gotta say that I was seriously disappointed with the last quarter of the book. Erin and Hunter had an argument. And although both parties were responsible, I was disappointed by how fast the fight ended. Without a single apology from either of them. It was a WTF moment for me. That said, I think the ending is rushed. I felt like it could still go on for 20 more pages, but unfortunately, it was cut short.

Erin also talked about the final story she wrote for the creative writing class before she and Hunter went back to the horse farm. The story is not featured in the book though, unlike her other stories. I thought that it was going to be an epic epilogue to the novel since it’s her and Hunter’s story. But all in all, I enjoyed reading Echols’s Love Story. Just not as much as her Going Too Far and Forget You.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Disclosure: This e-ARC was provided by Simon & Schuster (via S&S Galley Grab) for free in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Stillburrow Crush

The Stillburrow Crush
by Linda Kage
212 pages - Paperback
Published January 27th 2010 by The Wild Rose Press
Source: Bought

Summary:

Sixteen year old, Carrie Paxton, isn't the most popular girl in her small town of Stillburrow. But that's never concerned her before. Her life revolves around her writing, and she loves her job as the student editor of the school paper.

But when she gets assigned to interview the football team's beloved quarterback, she takes one look into Luke Carter's blue eyes and is a goner. Suddenly, she doesn't like her lowly rank so much. Then her dreamy, popular crush surprises her when he starts to act as if he likes her in return. But there's no way Luke Carter could possibly ever like a nobody like Carrie Paxton. Is there?

Review:

After reading Elizabeth Scott's Bloom, I have lost faith in perfect boyfriends. But The Stillburrow Crush brought that faith back! I know popular jocks with perfect academic status, perfect family, perfectly handsome face and a characteristic of a perfect gentleman sounds boring. Scott's image of a perfect boyfriend has tattooed on my mind that they are annoying and not fun. They're not even swoon-worthy. But oh, The Stillburrow Crush's Luke Carter has all the characteristics of that perfect boyfriend and yet he's fun, he's interesting, he's swoon-worthy and did I say swoon-worthy? Because I all but melted over him whenever he appeared in the book.

You know that expression "warmth that spreads from your chest..." when the protagonist internally swoons over the love interest? Yeah. I totally felt that not with Luke, but with his relationship with Carrie. They're so cute and so adorable to look at. The characters are all so very likable. Carrie is a straight up honest girl, the editor of the school's paper, who thinks she's not good enough to be with people like Luke. But even if she's aware of this, she's not the type of girl who will back down from him. She's aware of it and is very vocal about it. Though her tendency to downgrade herself could be very uncomfortable.

I love the development of their relationship. Carrie fell in crush with Luke the first time she interviewed him for the school paper. And she is not ashamed of admitting this to him. I love their moments together. Their first phone conversation was epic as well. I took pleasure seeing Luke completely disoriented and baffled over Carrie's blunt attitude. So cute!

Ah, after two days, Luke still makes me feel giddy and bouncy. If you haven't read this book yet, I suggest that you head to your nearest bookstore/library or wherever it is you get your books and pick The Stillburrow Crush. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!

Rating: 5/5 stars! - This book is an awesome incarnate!

Book Review: Between Here and Forever

Between Here and Forever
by Elizabeth Scott
258 pages - Hardcover
Expected publication date: May 24th 2011 by Simon Pulse
Source: ARC from Simon & Schuster Galley Grab

Summary: (from Goodreads)

Abby accepted that she can’t measure up to her beautiful, magnetic sister Tess a long time ago, and knows exactly what she is: Second best. Invisible.

Until the accident.

Now Tess is in a coma, and Abby’s life is on hold. It may have been hard living with Tess, but it’s nothing compared to living without her.

She’s got a plan to bring Tess back though, involving the gorgeous and mysterious Eli, but then Abby learns something about Tess, something that was always there, but that she’d never seen.

Abby is about to find out that truth isn’t always what you think it is, and that life holds more than she ever thought it could..

Review:

Between Here and Forever is a powerful novel that delves deeply into the topics of sexuality, racial discrimination and self-acceptance. Abby has been living in the shadow of her sister, Tess, for all her life. In Abby's eyes, Tess is the most perfect girl in town. She has learned how to deal with having a sister who is loved by everyone. That is, by accepting that she is nothing compared to Tess. Although she claims that she is perfectly contented with who she is, it is clear that she is insecure and tries to hide it by flat out downgrading herself.

She also claims that she hates her sister; how she always gets everybody's attention, including the first boy she ever loved. Which could be true but despite whatever she says, it is obvious that she truly loves her sister. She does everything to make her sister wake up; bringing a good-looking boy to her hospital room and making him talk to her. As if his swoon-inducing voice could make her sister magically open her eyes and start conversing with him.

Between Here and Forever has a lot of depth and surprising turn of events, but despite that, this book didn't quite work out well enough for me. The characters and plot were okay. Eli and Abby are not the most likable characters there is. The atmosphere in this book is quite gloomy as well. I didn't like how Abby always sees the worse in herself. Like when Eli told her that Clement called her a 'firecracker', she thought Clement just compared her to 'a thing that people blow up on holidays'. Or when Eli compared her to a dragon, she thought '[I] ...got called a big scaly-firebreathing monster'. It's amusing at first but when you find out that she's actually serious, it suddenly gets annoying..

But nevertheless, the story in its entirety is still worth the read. I finished this in a little over than four hours. This is my third Scott book and although it didn't quite reach my expectations, I'm still on the look out for her future works. And as well as past.

Rating: 3/5 stars

*This e-ARC was provided by the publisher (Simon & Schuster via S&S Galley Grab) in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Not That Kind of Girl

Not That Kind of Girl
Siobhan Vivian
322 pages - Hardcover
Published September 1st 2010 by Push
Source: Bought

Summary:

Natalie Sterling wants to be in control. She wants her friends to be loyal. She wants her classmates to elect her student council president. She wants to find the right guy, not the usual jerk her school has to offer. She wants a good reputation, because she believes that will lead to good things.

But life is messy, and it's very hard to be in control of it. Not when there are freshman girls running around in a pack, trying to get senior guys to sleep with them. Not when your friends have secrets they're no longer comfortable sharing. Not when the boy you once dismissed ends up being the boy you wants to sleep with yourself - but only in secret, with nobody ever finding out.

Slut or saint? Winner or loser? Natalie is getting tired of these forced choices - and is now going to find a way to live life in the sometimes messy, sometimes wonderful in-between.

Review:

While I like the fact that Natalie Sterling thinks and acts like an honest to goodness feminist, I think her take in this subject is rather different. Natalie is a very proud and an uptight character. She thinks she's superior to everyone especially those abomination called highschool jocks. She thinks very little of them and won't even give them the time of the day if she could. She's a smart character though, the president of student council. She's against girls who make a fool of themselves around boys and tries to teach these girls how to act like a woman with self-preservation. That is, by acting proud and uptight like herself and ignore the lowly creatures. This includes not going to parties, not having boyfriends unless it's a genius handsome guy who's ready for a lifetime commitment, and avoiding vices and skimpy clothes. In short, to live a boring life and focus on studies and school activities.

Natalie is the type of character you'd take pleasure in slapping, shaking and slapping some more. Yes, she is that annoying. She loves to manipulate people. Even her best friend did not escape from her human controlling skills. And while it is clear that she only wants to help girls be tougher and to stand up to jerks, I dislike how meddlesome she is.

Also, this book reminds me of the anime/manga Maid Sama! where in the student council president is also a feminist, who thinks so highly of herself and so lowly of the boys. But has a secret of her own that opposes her definition of feminism. However, Natalie is much more stubborn than the protagonist in Maid Sama!. It's hard to sway her away from her principle. I once read a quote from goodreads about how people with no vices have annoying virtues. This seems to be completely true with Natalie.

Anyhow, all in all, I truly enjoyed reading this book. Despite Natalie's annoying qualities, it is easy to understand and connect with her. Plus, this also has a lot of depth. I also like the plot's pacing. It's fast and really quick to read.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Book Review: Bloom

Bloom
by Elizabeth Scott
231 pages - Paperback
Published April 24th 2007 by Simon Pulse
Source: Bought

Summary:

There's a difference between falling and letting go.

Lauren has a good life: decent grades, great friends, and a boyfriend every girl lusts after. So why is she so unhappy?

It takes the arrival of Evan Kirkland for Lauren to figure out the answer: She's been holding back. She's been denying herself a bunch of things (like sex) because staying with her loyal and gorgeous boyfriend, Dave, is the "right" thing to do. After all, who would give up the perfect boyfriend?

But as Dave starts talking more and more about their life together, planning a future Lauren simply can't see herself in -- and as Lauren's craving for Evan, and moreover, who she is with Evan becomes all the more fierce -- Lauren realizes she needs to make a choice...before one is made for her.


Review:

I think all girls have, once in their life, dreamt of having the perfect boyfriend. Handsome face, gentleman, smart, rich, athletic, thoughtful, caring, loyal... you name it. Lauren thinks she should be lucky that of all the girls in the whole student body, it's she that Dave chose. The perfect boyfriend all the girls dreamt of. But for some reason, Lauren is not happy. Not with Dave. Instead, she finds happiness from a boy who’s the opposite of perfection.

It's easy to hate Lauren and condemn her for her decisions. To get mad at her and tell her to just do what's right. The thing is, she knows she's not doing the right thing AND she wants to right it. But she always ends up doing the opposite. I understand what she's going through. Why it's so hard for her to decide between Dave and Evan. She thinks that by staying with Dave, she's doing the right thing of not disappointing/hurting the person who loves and trusts her the most. The same thing her mother failed to accomplish when she was just a young girl.

But in staying true to her words of not letting herself become like her mother, she started becoming a more awful person. It was a bit hard to connect with the characters here unlike the characters in Perfect You, another book by Scott which I've just finished reading. The atmosphere here is a little gloomy as well. But once again, I am struck by Scott's writing. I know there is a one year difference between the publication date of this book and Perfect You, but the difference between the atmosphere and characterization is so apparent. If I just picked this one up without looking the author's name, I wouldn't have thought that they were written by the same author. Point is, Elizabeth Scott has one heck of a writing ability. She can write different characters with different personalities but each can make an impression to the readers. I can't wait to read more of Scott's works.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Book Review: Sixteenth Summer (ARC)

Sixteenth Summer
by Michelle Dalton
320 pages - Paperback
Expected publication: May 3rd 2011 by Simon Pulse
Source: ARC from Simon & Schuster Galley Grab

Summary:

Anna is dreading another tourist-filled summer on Dune Island that follows the same routine: beach, ice cream, friends, repeat. That is, until she locks eyes with Will, the gorgeous and sweet guy visiting from New York. Soon, her summer is filled with flirtatious fun as Anna falls head over heels in love.

But with every perfect afternoon, sweet kiss, and walk on the beach, Anna can’t ignore that the days are quickly growing shorter, and Will has to leave at the end of August. Anna’s never felt anything like this before, but when forever isn’t even a possibility, one summer doesn’t feel worth the promise of her heart breaking…

Review:

I’ve never really been in love before. But if you count the many hot fictional characters I’ve fallen in like and lust with… er, no. I don’t think you’d count that. So I’ve never really been in love before. But reading Anna’s narrative about how she fell in love with Will; from the first awkward moments up to the time they really fell for each other and the time when they finally had to part... I don't know why, but I really felt like I was an old woman whose reliving the moments of her first love. And mind you, I'm only a teenager. While Anna's describing the emotions Will's making her feel, I swear I keep nodding my head like I know exactly what she's talking about. I'm not saying that this book makes readers feel like old people though.

Anyway, it was a little hard to connect with the characters at first. Anna and Will's blooming relationship seemed plenty awkward and forced. I couldn't feel the spark between them. But as the story moved forward and they grew more familiar with each other, the connection became more and more apparent as well. This is where I started feeling like a nostalgic old woman. I love Anna and Will's moments together. They are so adorable and sweet. I liked that both of them seemed like ordinary people. They are not popular or outcasts. They don't have mysterious past. Both are not over the top gorgeous. They are plain, ordinary, uninteresting. But throw them together and you get a sweet and special summer love story.

Sixteenth Summer is very light without family and peer drama. Unlike other contemps that never fail to sport those kinds of drama. This is a pure summer love story that involves heat, beach, ice cream, ghost crabbing, sand castle making, baby turtles and love, love, love! I really enjoyed reading this book. I especially like the different activities Will and Anna did on the island. Dalton's description of the bits and parts of the island were vivid enough I felt like I could see what the characters were seeing.

My only complaint in this is the ending. At the beginning of the book, Anna tells about how she knows the feeling of being in love. Which gave me the impression that she's telling her story as it happened in the past and not as it happens in the present. So the abrupt ending didn't make a lot of sense to me.

Rating: 4/5 stars

This e-ARC was received from the
publisher (Simon & Schuster via S&S Galley Grab)
in exchange  for an honest review.

Book Review: Perfect You

Perfect You
by Elizabeth Scott
282 pages - Paperback
Published March 25th 2008 by Simon Pulse
Source: Bought

Summary:
Kate Brown's life has gone downhill fast.

Her father has quit his job to sell vitamins at the mall, and Kate is forced to work with him. Her best friend has become popular, and now she acts like Kate's invisible.

And then there's Will. Gorgeous, unattainable Will, whom Kate acts like she can't stand even though she can't stop thinking about him. When Will starts acting interested, Kate hates herself for wanting him when she's sure she's just his latest conquest.

Kate figures that the only way things will ever stop hurting so much is if she keeps to herself and stops caring about anyone or anything. What she doesn't realize is that while life may not always be perfect, good things can happen -- but only if she lets them....

Review:

Kate Brown tends to wallow a lot in her own misery. She is pessimistic and always assumes the worst in a person, even in herself. She acts as if she’s got all people figured out, so she goes ahead of them and often says something bitchy. Her character is not something that is very likable, but it is easy to empathize with her given the situation she’s in.

Kate’s life is a total mess. Her long-time best friend, Anna, suddenly stopped talking to her and is hanging out with the popular people they used to make fun of. Her brother who has graduated from college chose to make a career in watching television instead of finding a real job. Her father quit his desk job in order to live up to his ‘dream job’ which is selling vitamins at the mall. And her grandmother who they all dislike is coming over to help with financial problems, because apparently, Kate’s dad’s new job isn’t providing enough for the bills and other expenses.

The characters here have intense personalities. Even though they tend to be immature, annoying and sometimes unrealistic, they all add a very good flavor to the story. In Kate’s family, she’s the only one who seems to have a good grasp with maturity, though she’s not one without attitude problems. I really like Will a lot. He’s hot, cute, thoughtful, understanding and has very nice teeth! He’s the sanest character in the book. Other than them, all the characters could be nerve wracking. Her father acts like a grade-schooler. He’s too caught up with his dream that he doesn’t realize that he’s neglecting his family. I also hate how he does everything to avoid bad news and confrontations. Her mother is also very disappointing. She’s TOO understanding for her family’s own good. She understands why her husband seems to have neglected their family. She understands why he chose selling vitamins at a mall instead of getting a real job. The grandmother tends to be really annoying as well, but among the family, she’s the one who understands things the most.

This is my first Scott book, but this will surely be not the last. I love Scott’s writing. The way she wrote Kate was simply amazing! I especially love the ending. I was a little scared back then because there were only a few pages left, and everything in Kate’s life was still a total mess. I was worried that the ending may seem rushed, but oh, she nailed it! She totally nailed it! It’s probably one of my favorite contemp endings. This book has great pace, great plot, great writing, great everything! Absolutely recommended to everyone of all ages!


Rating: 5/5 stars!

Book Review: Where She Went

Where She Went
by Gayle Forman
264 pages - Hardcover
Published April 5th 2011 by Dutton Juvenile
Source: ARC borrowed from Ms. Bethy (my tutor!)

Summary:

It's been three years since the devastating accident ... three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Julliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future - and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

Review:

If there was one thing I really hated about If I Stay, it was the ending. If I Stay was one of my best reads of 2010, but the ending seriously made me want to throw the book out the window. I adored Mia and Adam’s unlikely relationship so much. I wanted to know so badly what happened after Mia woke up; what they did a month later… a year later… Oh, was I obsessed! And now, here is Where She Went. The sweet things I dreamt of happening to them hardly did. 

In Where She Went, we get to see Adam three years after Mia broke all her ties with him, leaving Adam a total wreck. I knew Adam truly loved Mia, but the sorrow he went through after she left him was overwhelming. He resolved to isolating himself in his room for months. And the songs that brought him fame were the product of Mia’s disappearance from his life. He became withdrawn to everyone including his band. And even though he was with another woman, it was apparent that his heart still belonged to Mia.

Forman’s writing is really beautiful. She made Adam’s anger and sadness almost palpable. After three years, you’d think he would have moved on from Mia, but no. His feelings for her were as intense as they’ve ever been. But this didn’t mean that he was still the same person like he used to be. The difference between the ‘then’ and ‘now’ Adam was very apparent that it made the flashbacks more painful. The sweet Adam was replaced by an angst-driven boy who struggled to live through everyday - someone who had to give himself a pep-talk to have the courage to stand up and live a normal life when nothing seems normal at all. He has always loved making music, but when he finally got everything he has ever dreamt of, he still felt incomplete. Without Mia, he was a total wreck.

But despite all the heartaches and tears that I shed, I am still quite satisfied with the ending. I had to let out the breath I was holding by the end of the book. I don't want give away any spoilers, so I'll just stop here, but not without saying first that Where She Went by Gayle Forman was truly an amazing read. I felt an overwhelming amount of emotion, from sadness to joy, but it's truly worth it.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Book Review: Where I Belong

Where I Belong
by Gwendolyn Heasley
289 pages - Paperback
Published February 8th 2011 by HarperTeen
ISBN: 0061978841 (ISBN13: 9780061978845)

Summary:

Meet Corrinne. She's living every girl's dream in New York City—shopping sprees at Barneys, open access to the best clubs and parties, and her own horse at the country club. Her perfect life is perfectly on track. At least it was. . . .

When Corrinne's father is laid off, her world suddenly falls apart. Instead of heading to boarding school, she's stripped of her credit cards and shipped off to the boonies of Texas to live with her grandparents. On her own in a big public school and forced to take a job shoveling manure, Corrinne is determined to get back to the life she's supposed to be living. She doesn't care who she stomps on in the process. But when Corrinne makes an unlikely friend and discovers a total hottie at work, she begins to wonder if her life B.R.—before the recession—was as perfect as it seemed.

Review:

The book starts with a letter from Corrine telling the readers not to be too annoyed with her snobby attitude because she'll get better towards the end of the novel. I think this is a very smart move by the author because had she not included this letter, I would have given up on Corrine halfway through.

You’d be surprised by how much Corrine’s attitude got to me. Or not, if you have read this book already. I was utterly annoyed with her attitude. She felt as if she was superior to all the people in Broken Spoke. She was so bitter and condemned everyone and everything for not being as good as her peers back in New York.

The plot predominantly revolves around Corrine’s character development so there's not much romance here.. I almost did not notice her growth as a character though, had I not looked at the story as a whole. She learned to accept life in Broken Spoke, as well as its people and traditions. But what I really liked about Corrine’s character development is that she did not transform from a snobby rich New Yorker to an all time friendly and humble Texan. Her snobby attitude is rather irritating, but it is one of the qualities that define her character and I am glad that it did not vanish towards the end of the book. She’s still not the friendliest or the most humble person, but her life in Broken Spoke has made her such a smart and an open-minded character. Corrine doesn't have the most likable personality ever, but who she is is what made her such an interesting character as well.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Book Review: Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler

Fixing Delilah
by Sarah Ockler
320 pages - Hardcover
Published December 1st 2010 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 0316052094 (ISBN13: 9780316052092)

Summary:

Things in Delilah Hannaford's life have a tendency to fall apart.

She used to be a good student, but she can't seem to keep it together anymore. Her "boyfriend" isn't much of a boyfriend. And her mother refuses to discuss the fight that divided their family eight years ago. Falling apart, it seems, is a Hannaford tradition.

Over a summer of new friendships, unexpected romance, and moments that test the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, Delilah must face her family's painful past. Can even her most shattered relationships be pieced together again?

Rich with emotion, Sarah Ockler delivers a powerful story of family, love, and self-discovery.

Review:

This reminded me a lot of Jandy Nelson’s The Sky Is Everywhere. It’s one of my best reads of 2010, so I was a little blah with the similarities. Which means that I was a little biased and was trying hard to point out the ‘un-nice parts’ in the book so I’d end up not liking it (it happens most of the time), but alas! I couldn’t find anything to rant about, so I came to the conclusion that both are similar and different in many good ways and both are very good and worthy reads.

First, let me point out how much I love the title. At first, I thought it was a typical title for a contemporary YA with a problematic teenager protagonist. But after reading the book, I felt that it’s more connected to the story than what it seems.

When Elizabeth Hannaford, the grandmother whose name Delilah had not been allowed to speak for over 8 years died, Delilah and her mom were forced to go back to Vermont where it all started. And to relive what transpired 8 years ago that made her aunt Rachel and mother break all their ties to her grandmother. But what really happened in Vermont was triggered by a more painful event that affected Delilah’s life in more was that she could ever imagined.

Nobody knows why her aunt Stephanie died. But when Delilah found her diary, she started obsessing with finding out how her aunt died and what truly happened 8 years ago.

The plot practically revolves around how Delilah’s aunt Stephanie affected her family’s present life. The mysteries, lies and secrets that her mother had to keep from her all came down to her aunt’s death. Delilah was undergoing the rebellious phase of her life back in Pennsylvania when she went to Vermont. Her grades dropped, a picture of her and a boy making out was on the school paper, and she was sneaking out at night to meet with her ‘non-boyfriend’.

I felt real sympathy for Delilah about the father she never met. She spends time wondering what it’s like to have a father. Imagining what his voice would sound like, what his cologne would smell like… she stalks him on the internet, trying to get more information about his life before he met her mother. It really tugged on my hearstrings when she discovered the truth about him.

But not all angsty contemporary YA’s are all about angst. When Delilah went back to Vermont, she was reunited with Little Ricky, her childhood best ‘summer’ friend, and immediately felt sparks. I think their romance was a little rushed, though. They’ve known each other since they were kids and they pretty much spent a lot of time together when she came back to Vermont. There were a lot of opportunity to develop their relationship but each time they work on that aspect, it always fell flat.

The plot is medium-paced and Ockler’s writing is simple, making it easy to read. I can’t say Delilah is a unique character as I didn’t really see anything special about her, but there’s something about her narrative that made me keep reading the book. The ending, however, did not satisfy me. There are many aspects in the book that left me hanging towards the end. I would’ve liked to see all her questions come to a close, especially about her father. Though, I can also live with the fact that Delilah’s story did not just end as the book ended. I like to look at the brighter side and think that the book’s end is only the beginning of her story.


Rating: 4/5 stars