Lola Carlyle's 12-Step Romance by Danielle Younge-Ullman

Title: Lola Carlyle's 12-Step Romance

Author: Danielle Younge-Ullman

Release Date: May 5, 2015

Publisher: Entangled Teen Publishing

Source: Publisher

Synopsis (Goodreads): Lola Carlyle is lonely, out of sorts, and in for a boring summer. So when her best friend Sydney calls to rave about the fun she’s having at a luxurious Malibu rehab (it’s basically a spa!) and reveals that the love of Lola’s life, Wade Miller, is being admitted, Lola knows what she has to do. Never mind that her worst addiction is decaf cappuccino; Lola is going to rehab. Lola fakes her way into Sunrise Rehab, only to discover she’s actually expected to be an addict. And get treatment. And she has insane roommates, and an irritatingly attractive intake advisor, Adam, who’s determined to thwart her at every turn. Worst of all is the strictly enforced NO ROMANCE rule.  Oh, and Sydney? Is gone.  Turns out Sunrise is more jail-like than spa-like, and it’s going to take more than Lola bargained for just to get through the program. 

My Review

I really enjoyed Lola Carlyle's 12-Step Romance. I thought that it was a really cute, summery type of book that had a lot of good things in it. 

The plot moved by really quickly, with a lot of crazy things happening. It was basically Lola's story of her time in rehab, which was very interesting. The main problem I had with this book though was that it was hard to believe. I didn't think Lola faking her way into rehab was something that could really happen. Other than that, this book was really cute and fun. 

I thought that the characters were a major part of this book, and were a huge positive. Lola started out kind of snotty and rude, but throughout the book she grows as a character into someone that everyone can relate to. I really loved Adam, because he was dorky and adorable, and I thought Wade was perfect for his role in the story. 

The dialogue in this book was hilarious. There were a lot of references to social media and everyday technology, and teenagers my age would use a lot of the same references and talk like the characters in Lola did. 

Rating: 4/5 worms

Dating Down by Stefanie Lyons

Title: Dating Down

Author: Stefanie Lyons

Release Date: April 8th, 2015

Publisher: Flux

Add it: Goodreads

Synopsis (Goodreads): When a good girl falls for a bad boy

She thought she loved him. She thought she could change him. She thought if she just believed in him enough, his cheating and his drugs and his lying would stop, and she'd be his and he'd be hers and they'd love each other forever.

But for Samantha Henderson, X-the boy she will not name-is trouble. He's older, edgier, bohemian . . . and when he starts paying attention to Sam, she can't resist him. Samantha's family and friends try to warn her, but still she stays with him, risking her future and everything that really matters.

As moody and vivid as it is captivating, Dating Down is told in scenes and bursts of poetry that create a story filled with hurt, healing, and hope.

My Review

When I found out that this book was told in verse, I was ecstatic. Having read all of Ellen Hopkins' books, I had very high hopes for this one. While it did deliver some good points, I was still slightly disappointed. 

Verse books, in my opinion, are very character oriented. It's hard to have a very intense plot told completely in poetry. Thus, characters are a very important part of verse stories. I didn't feel a major connection to any of the characters in this book. Sam is our main protagonist, but I felt very distanced from her. I didn't feel any emotions toward her or her situation, which is something I look for in books told in verse. I also didn't get to know any of the other characters very well. The main event in this book is Sam's romance with X, and I felt really indifferent to him as a character. He was just kind of there. 

Plot in verse is always interesting, and I think Stefanie Lyons did a good job of showing Sam's relationship really well. One of my favorite things about books told in verse, is that they are quick reads, and this one was no exception to that. I read this really quickly, even though I felt that this book was pretty predictable. 

I applaud Stefanie for writing in verse, because it is truly an art form. She did a great job, with a new style on each page. I love books in verse, and the writing of this one was very well done. 

Rating: 3.5/5 worms

The Bottom Line: A nicely done verse book that tackles the subject of teenage relationships. 

A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty

Title: A Corner of White

Author: Jaclyn Moriarty 

Release Date: April 1st, 2013

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books

Format: Audiobook

Add it: -Goodreads

Synopsis (Goodreads): The first in a rousing, funny, genre-busting trilogy from bestseller Jaclyn Moriarty!

This is a tale of missing persons. Madeleine and her mother have run away from their former life, under mysterious circumstances, and settled in a rainy corner of Cambridge (in our world).

Elliot, on the other hand, is in search of his father, who disappeared on the night his uncle was found dead. The talk in the town of Bonfire (in the Kingdom of Cello) is that Elliot's dad may have killed his brother and run away with the Physics teacher. But Elliot refuses to believe it. And he is determined to find both his dad and the truth.

As Madeleine and Elliot move closer to unraveling their mysteries, they begin to exchange messages across worlds -- through an accidental gap that hasn't appeared in centuries. But even greater mysteries are unfolding on both sides of the gap: dangerous weather phenomena called "color storms;" a strange fascination with Isaac Newton; the myth of the "Butterfly Child," whose appearance could end the droughts of Cello; and some unexpected kisses...

My Review

I knew that I was going to love this book. I just knew. This book is so original, and it's unlike anything that I've read from the Young Adult genre before. 

This book was incredible. I'm just going to say that before I start. It was so original. The world, or should is I say worlds, in this book is incredibly well developed. This book reminds me a lot of a fairytale retelling, except it's not a fairytale and it's not a retelling. The plot of this book isn't crazy, which gave the book a sense of perfect balance. It is essentially the story of two people who are dealing with some problems in their lives, but in two different worlds. I think this book is best to go into without any synopsis, so I'm not going to go into any more details. 

The relationship between Elliot and Madeleine is really what this book is about. Sure, there may be other things that intrigue you, but Elliot and Madeleine have such a true relationship. It's not romantic, which made this book a breath of fresh air. These two characters are forming a friendship across two worlds, and they are able to help each other with their problems. That is incredible. 

Jaclyn Moriarty, your writing is incredible. This book sucked me in instantly, and the writing was beautiful. As I said above, this book reminded me of a fairytale retelling because of the writing; it was fabulous. This book made me feel nostalgic, and I felt like I knew each of the characters on a personal level. Bravo. 

Rating: 5/5 worms

Read it. You won't regret it. 

Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid

Title: Let's Get Lost

Author: Adi Alsaid

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: July 29th, 2014

Format: Hardcover

Source: Harlequin Teen Panel

Synopsis: Five strangers. Countless adventures. One epic way to get lost. 

Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named LEILA. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most.

There's HUDSON, a small-town mechanic who is willing to throw away his dreams for true love. And BREE, a runaway who seizes every Tuesday—and a few stolen goods along the way. ELLIOT believes in happy endings…until his own life goes off-script. And SONIA worries that when she lost her boyfriend, she also lost the ability to love.

Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila's own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth— sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you're looking for is to get lost along the way. 

My Review

Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier

Title: Sapphire Blue (Precious Stone #2) 

Author: Kerstin Gier

Release Date: October 30th, 2012

Publisher: Henry Holt 

Source: Own 

Add it: Goodreads

Buy it:  Book Depository

Synopsis (Goodreads): Gwen’s life has been a rollercoaster since she discovered she was the Ruby, the final member of the secret time-traveling Circle of Twelve. In between searching through history for the other time-travelers and asking for a bit of their blood (gross!), she’s been trying to figure out what all the mysteries and prophecies surrounding the Circle really mean.

At least Gwen has plenty of help. Her best friend Lesley follows every lead diligently on the Internet. James the ghost teaches Gwen how to fit in at an eighteenth century party. And Xemerius, the gargoyle demon who has been following Gwen since he caught her kissing Gideon in a church, offers advice on everything. Oh, yes. And of course there is Gideon, the Diamond. One minute he’s very warm indeed; the next he’s freezing cold. Gwen’s not sure what’s going on there, but she’s pretty much destined to find out.

My Review

I was really looking forward to reading Sapphire Blue. Ruby Red left on such a good note, and I was so excited to read the next installment. Since this is the second book in the Precious Stone trilogy, there will be spoilers for the first book, Ruby Red. 

The first thing I noticed right off the bat when I was reading Sapphire Blue was the romance. It was insta-love, and it happened right at the end of Ruby Red and carried into Sapphire Blue. I don't like insta-love, so that really peeved me that it was in this book.

I felt like this book wasn't as captivating as Ruby Red was. It was slightly bland, but still interesting and energetic. Not as much happened, and there wasn't very much drama.

The characters were still good. Gwen is still trying to understand the time travel gene that she was born with, and is still slightly naive. I'm still trying to figure out Gideon's character, but I'm thinking that I like him. And of course, Lesley is still the best friend that anyone could as for.

Rating: 4/5 worms

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Title: Ruby Red

Author: Kerstin Gier

Release Date: May 10th, 2011

Publisher: Henry Holt

Page Number: 336

Source: Own

Add it: Goodreads

Buy it: Book Depository

Synopsis (Goodreads): Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

 My Review

So, this book was basically amazing. Not gonna lie. It was an extremely fast read that I flew right through, and I was mesmerized the whole time. 

This book was about a Gwyneth who can time travel. That's basically all you need to know, besides the fact that this book was so action packed that I didn't want to put it down. I was drawn into the world of time travel instantly, and I didn't want to leave. However, I will say that I felt like this book was really short, even though it is the first book in the series. 

I was really worried about reading a book that had been translated. Yes, I'd read translated books before, but not knowingly. I was afraid that somethings in this book would get lost, but that wasn't the case. I understood all the references and the dialogue and writing wasn't choppy like I expected it to be. Guess I can leave those stereotypes behind next time I jump into a translated novel. 

Gwyneth was a good main character. She was strong when she needed to, but she also had the innocence of someone who hadn't been exposed to a lot of things, which I feel is rare in Young Adult literature today. As for Gideon, he drove me crazy half the time, but I ended up liking him in the end. The rest of Gwyneth's family was just a giant soap opera, and it was hysterical to read about. And Gwyneth's friend Leslie was everything a best friend should be: loyal, caring, and imaginative. The characters get a gold star. 

Rating: 5/5 worms

The Gift of Charms (The Land of Dragor) by Julia Suzuki

Title: The Gift of Charms

Author: Julia Suzuki

Publisher: Dino Books

Release Date: September 4, 2014

Pages: 288

Source: Author

Synopsis (Goodreads): In a secret land, far away from the habitation of man, dwell the world's remaining dragons -- hoping the dragsaur beasts have vanished forever. Here they try to live their daily lives, but all is not well and their talents are fading. 

Things change, however, when, from a strange egg, Yoshiko is born - a dragon with a unique destiny. 

Great adventure lies ahead as many challenges must be overcome, leading to a dangerous mission to the human world in attempt to return to the clans their missing magic!

Can Yoshiko make it in time?

My Review

I had never heard of The Gift of Charms before the author contacted me to review it, but I'm really glad that I read it. It's a really cute middle grade book that I flew through. 

The Gift of Charms tells the story of a dragon named Yoshiko, who is born different then any other dragon. It tells the story of his adventure that he undertakes and is a really quick read. I thought that the writing style was really easy to fall into and it kept me engaged throughout the book. I wish that the book would have gone a little more in depth and been a little bit longer, but it is a middle grade book so I totally understand why. 

I thought the world of Dragor was really interesting to read about, as well as the back story about this incredible land. There was a lot of information in this book that got carried throughout the story, so you got to see characters and events that were mentioned earlier come back in the end. The land of Dragor was described very well and I could picture the setting very well. The characters and clans were also described really well, and I had no trouble picturing the colored dragons. 

I found that I liked the main character Yoshiko more as the book went on. He started out rather whinny, and kind of hard to relate to, but as the book went on he really grew up both mentally and physically. He turned into a character that I enjoyed reading about. The other characters in this book were nice to read about too, especially Guya. I liked reading about some of the side characters stories, and would have liked to have known even more about them. 

Rating: 4/5 worms

This book is a very well written middle grade book that I would recommend to anyone who wants a fun and quick read! 

 

Broken City by D.D. Chant

Title: Broken City

Author: D.D. Chant

Release Date: February 11, 2011

Format: Ebook

Page Number: 363 

Source: Author

Synopsis (Goodreads): Deeta Richards has never seen the outside world. Before she was born a banking crisis brought civilization to an end and now no one leaves the safety of the compounds unless they need to, but Deeta still dreams of seeing more than the building she was born in. 

Tom is in the guard, this group are the only people that the tribal elders allow to leave the compound and Tom knows only too well that Deeta could never survive the harshness that exists outside. Then tragedy strikes and Deeta and her sister Jan find themselves captured by a hostile tribe. Why does Tom know so much about these people? And why do they know so much about him? As this mystery draws to a climax, they discover that their friend Tom is not quite what he seems...

My Review

Broken City took me way longer to read that I planned, but that was completely my fault. I had school, after school activities, and life in general, but that's besides the point. I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to discuss it. 

Broken City is set in a post apocalyptic world where the world is divided into various tribes, and many people never go outside. When I was reading Broken City, I thought that the world building and the descriptions of the world were beautiful and very vivid. There is a particular scene where the descriptions are particularly lovely. There are various settings, and I was able to imagine all of them with perfect clarity. There is a lot of information given to you about the world in this book, and I think I would have retained a lot more of this book if I read it in less sittings, but never the less, I really enjoyed the world. 

The characters were rather hard to keep straight. There were so many characters that I couldn't keep them all straight; this also might have been because I read this book during a long period of time. Deeta's character was good; she was very trusting and compassionate. Tom felt very guarded during the book, but you find out why in the end. I absolutely loved Jan as a character, because she was so spunky and funny. She had funny dialogue and I couldn't help thinking of Jan from the Brady Bunch when I was reading this book. Meeting the characters from other tribes was also really interesting, because you get to see the differences in their ways of life in the book. 

I really enjoyed D.D. Chant's writing style. There really weren't any slow parts, and the book kept a good pace. There was a lot of words I had never heard before, and I really appreciated the variety of vocabulary. A lot of the dialogue in this book was hilarious, and I marked various passages that I loved. I also liked that this book wasn't filled with instalove, and all of the romances were developed and drawn out.  I felt that the ending of the book was very abrupt, but there is a sequel, so I can understand the abruptness. 

Rating: 4/5 worms

I really, really enjoyed this book and I wish I would have read it quicker. This book is a really great post apocalyptic book that has a lot to offer! 

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Title: Sisters Red

Author: Jackson Pearce

Release Date: June 7, 2010

Publisher: Little Brown Books

Format: Paperback

Source: Own

Buy Sisters Red!

Synopis (Goodreads): Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris--the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.

Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts ferociously alongside her. But even as more girls' bodies pile up in the city and the Fenris seem to be gaining power, Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves. She finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax and Scarlett's only friend--but does loving him mean betraying her sister and all that they've worked for?

My Review

I had been meaning to read Sisters Red for forever, so when I finally picked it up I was a little disappointed with it. 

Sisters Red follows two sisters as the fight werewolves to keep other girls safe. That alone made me want to read the book. I was so excited to read a book that had a little more gore to it, and I definitely got that. This book has a lot of action and is definitely a dark retelling of the classic story. 

I was not expecting the romance that I got in this book. For once I was hoping to find a book without any romance! And while that wasn't the case, I thought the romance in this book was cute. It wasn't adorable, but it was cute. What I found more interesting than the romance was the bond between Rosie and Scarlett. Rosie feels indebted to Scarlett and continues to help her fight the werewolves even though she wants a different life. These two sisters really loved each other, and it was really obvious throughout the book. 

The writing in this book was good. The action scenes were filled with action, and the book was very well paced. I really enjoyed reading this book and I found that I flew through it. 

Rating: 4/5 worms

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Release Date: September 29, 2011
Publisher: Dutton Books
Format: Paperback
Source: Own

Goodreads | Book Depository

Synopsis: Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion...she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit--more sparkly, more fun, more wild--the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket--a gifted inventor--steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

My Review

When it comes to reading books, I am a procrastinator. I will buy a book, and then place it on my shelf for years before I pick it up. Or, I will just forget the book came out and I won't read the book for a few years. Lola was one of those books. And I wish I had read it sooner. 

This review will probably be more of a rave, but I will try my hardest to keep the gushing to a minimum. 

Stephanie Perkins, you write the most adorable and beautiful books. When I read Anna and the French Kiss, I felt like I was in Paris. The imagery was beautiful! And reading Lola was no different. I felt like I was with Lola where ever she went. I could imagine her costumes and all the other little details. This book, also like Anna, was cuteness overload. I actually squealed a couple times during this book, because the cuteness overwhelmed me! 

All the characters were perfect. I honestly didn't think any of them had any flaws, at least in my mind. Lola was fabulous. She was spunky, creative, and she reminded me of cinnamon. She also had tons of character development throughout this book. And then there is Cricket. Ah, Cricket. He is adorable, simply adorable. I loved his character from the first time we saw him. He is perfect. And we got to see Anna and St. Clair in this book! That just made me love the book even more. 

While Anna and the French Kiss was mostly fluff, I felt like Lola had a lot more substance. Throughout this book, we see so many real life issues; these things would actually happen. I felt that Lola and the Boy Next Door was more real than Anna and the French Kiss, but I still love Anna. This book also had one of the few love triangles that I actually liked. It wasn't cheesy, it was real! Thank you Stephanie Perkins for making a realistic love triangle. 

Rating: 5/5 worms

If you haven't read Lola and the Boy Next Door yet, don't be like me! Read it now, you won't regret it. 

Torn Away by Jennifer Brown

Title: Torn Away

Author: Jennifer Brown

Release Date: May 6, 2014

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Page Number: 288

Source: Netgalley

Synopsis (Goodreads): Born and raised in the Midwest, Jersey Cameron knows all about tornadoes. Or so she thinks. When her town is devastated by a twister, Jersey survives -- but loses her mother, her young sister, and her home. As she struggles to overcome her grief, she's sent to live with her only surviving relatives: first her biological father, then her estranged grandparents.

In an unfamiliar place, Jersey faces a reality she's never considered before -- one in which her mother wasn't perfect, and neither were her grandparents, but they all loved her just the same. Together, they create a new definition of family. And that's something no tornado can touch.

My Review

I was really blown away by Torn Away. When I picked it up, I wasn't expecting much, but I really enjoyed this book. This book tugs at your heart and makes you feel all the feels, but it is also a really touching story. 

This story is a very sad story about a girl named Jersey who loses all she has because of a tornado. It's raw, it's sad, but it's also very real. People lose everything  to tornadoes sometimes, and it just made the story that much more real. 

This book was very character driven. The main character, Jersey, goes through a lot in this book as she deals with the deaths of her mom and sister. She was a very realistic character, and she was broken throughout this book. Throughout this book, you could see Jersey's coping mechanisms for what happened to her, and it was very interesting to read about. At the end of the book, Jersey finally starts to heal, and that made me feel good. 

This book was incredibly descriptive. I could imagine everything that was happening during the tornado, the wreckage after, and everything else. Jennifer Brown's writing really drew me into the story and it was a really quick read. 

Rating: 4/5 worms

We Are the Goldens by Dana Reinhardt

Title: We Are the Goldens

Author: Dana Reinhardt

Release Date: May 27, 2014

Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books

Format: eBook

Page Number: 208

Source: Netgalley

Synopsis(Goodreads): Nell worships her older sister, Layla. They're one unit, intertwined: Nellayla. As Nell and her best friend, Felix, start their freshman year in high school, on Layla's turf, there's so much Nell looks forward to: Joining Layla on the varsity soccer team. Parties. Boys. Adventures.

   But the year takes a very different turn.

   Layla is changing, withdrawing. She's hiding something, and when Nell discovers what it is, and the consequences it might have, she struggles. She wants to support Layla, to be her confidante, to be the good sister she's always been. But with so much at stake, what secrets should she keep? What lies should she tell?

   Award-winning young adult author Dana Reinhardt explores questions of loyalty, love, and betrayal in this provocative and intimate novel. 

My Review

I was really looking forward to starting We Are the Goldens. It sounded like it could be really interesting. However, when I finished, I was really let down. This book wasn’t quite what I hoped it would be. 

This book is about two sisters who are really close, and Nell (the younger sister) knows a secret about Layla (the older sister). I was really intrigued by this concept, however, it just fell flat. To me, it felt like this book was mostly about the Nell and not about the secret the sisters shared. It didn’t have any of the spark that I was hoping for, and overall it was just okay. 

This book is told in second person point of view, and that was interesting because I had never read something in second person before. I thought it worked for the most part in this story, because Nell was telling this story to Layla. However, sometimes I got confused with the point of view and I didn’t always know who Nell was talking to. Overall, I think the point of view hurt the story. 

The characters in this book were really lifeless. They didn’t show any emotion, and since this book was Nell telling a story to Layla, we didn’t get to see much of the other characters. I didn’t really like any of the characters, because they just seemed boring and lifeless to me. I wished we could have gotten to know the characters better and that they had seemed more alive. 

Rating: 2/5 worms

Overall, this book was kind of a let down. Everything was rather bland and I thought it could be much better. 

The Sting of Summer by Katherine Over

Title: The Sting of Summer

Author: Katherine Over

Release Date: May 11, 2014

Page Number: 246

Source: Author

Synopsis(Goodreads): Summer has arrived. For seventeen-year-old Becca, it marks the start of the wedding season. Her family operates an event venue in the form of a renovated barn, and nearly every weekend a wedding takes place in their backyard. Becca lends a helping hand for the accelerated schedule, but work is not the only task on her mind. Seth, her longtime crush, has nabbed a photography internship that requires wedding coverage, putting the two of them in close proximity. Becca intends to make Seth something more than a far-reaching fantasy, but it's hard to build a dream when a growing tension in her family life cannot be avoided. Will Becca succeed in her quest for love? Or will summer collide with her plans and leave nothing but a sting in her heart?

My Review

The Sting of Summer is an interesting book about family, change, and life. One of the main things I loved about this book were the themes it had. It talked a lot about family, change, and how sometimes things aren't always what they seem. The main character, Becca, realizes that her life is changing and that sometimes what she wants isn't what she thought it was. These themes are really relevant today and I think that people can really gain from this.

Becca was a really funny character. You got to see her try to find summer romance while she was dealing with change, and it was really interesting. She had a really quirky personality and is probably one of the funniest characters that I've read about in a while. All of the other characters were really interesting to read about, and they felt really well rounded. Andie was really funny and Nolan was really cute. 

As for writing style, I had a few problems with it. I felt that the overall plot of the book was really predictable, and you could figure out what was going to happen. I also didn't like how Katherine Over never used contractions; it made some of the dialogue really awkward and choppy. There were also some spelling and grammar errors. However, when Katherine was writing about the weddings, she used such detail that I found myself imagining the weddings in perfect detail. The characters were really well described and so were the situations that they were in. 

Rating: 4/5 worms

Overall, I think this is a book that many people would like. The characters are funny, there are great themes, and the writing is vivid.  

Second Star by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Title: Second Star

Author: Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Release Date: May 13

Source: Netgalley

Format: ebook

Page Number: 256

Purchase: Book Depository

 

Synopsis (Goodreads): A twisty story about love, loss, and lies, this contemporary oceanside adventure is tinged with a touch of dark magic as it follows seventeen-year-old Wendy Darling on a search for her missing surfer brothers. Wendy’s journey leads her to a mysterious hidden cove inhabited by a tribe of young renegade surfers, most of them runaways like her brothers. Wendy is instantly drawn to the cove’s charismatic leader, Pete, but her search also points her toward his nemesis, the drug-dealing Jas. Enigmatic, dangerous, and handsome, Jas pulls Wendy in even as she's falling hard for Pete. A radical reinvention of J. M. Barrie's classic tale, Second Star is an irresistible summer romance about two young men who have yet to grow up—and the troubled beauty trapped between them.

My Review

This book was beautiful. Absolutely wonderfully awesome. I have been obsessed with Peter Pan retellings ever since I read Tiger Lilly and I was so happy to get my hands on a copy of Second Star for review.

 

The retelling aspect of this book was perfect. I thought it was done brilliantly and I couldn't have thought of a better way to do it. I really enjoyed the surfing aspect of the book, because it was really unique and different. I liked how most of the story was original with some aspects of Peter Pan woven in. It took me a little while to get into the story, but when I did, I was completely involved and I loved it.

 

The characters in this book were really, really good. Wendy was very focused on finding her brothers, and while she was sometimes naive, I really liked her. As for Pete and Jas, well, I couldn't pick a side in that love triangle. Both love interests really cared for Wendy and it was interesting to see the differences in each of their relationships. All the side characters, such as Belle, were also really interesting to read about, and they added a lot of flavor to the story.

 

The whole last half of this book completely got to me. I wasn't expecting that sort of an ending at all, and I was blown away. The last half of the book went by so fast and I loved every second of it. This book deals with Wendy's struggle to try to find her brothers, and it was so fantastic. The writing in this book was also wonderful, and it made me want to drive to a beach and read.

 

Rating: 5/5 worms

This book was absolutely wonderful, and I think anyone would really enjoy it.

 

 

The Legend of the Blue Eyes by B. Kristin McMichael

Title: The Legend of the Blue Eyes

Author: B. Kristin McMichael

Release Date: March 15, 2013

Publisher: Lexia Press

Source: Publisher 

Format: Paperback

Page Number: 256 

Synopsis (Goodreads): Arianna Grace liked her boring, Midwestern, teenage life where she ignored the many unanswered questions of her childhood. Why were her parents dead? Why did she not have family? Where was she raised until she was five? When someone offers to explain it all, Arianna thinks she’s just getting answers. Instead, she is thrown into a world of night humans who drink blood.

On Arianna's sixteenth birthday, her world is thrown upside down when she changes into a vampire. Night humans, or demons, as some call them, live in normal society. Learning all of the new rules of a world she didn’t know existed might be hard enough, but it's further complicated by two former-friends that now want to help her take her role as the successor to her grandfather. 

There is a war going on between the night humans. Sides have been taken and lines are not crossed. Four main clans of night humans are struggling for control of the night. Divided into two sides, clans Baku and Tengu have been at war for centuries with the clans Dearg-dul and Lycan. That is, until Arianna Grace finds out the truth; she’s the bridge of peace between the two sides. But not everyone wants peace. With the night humans divided, Arianna is now a pawn in the war between them. She must choose a side—her mother’s family or her father’s—and for once in her life, decide her own fate.

My Review

The Legend of the Blue Eyes was not just another vampire book. This was a vampire book with some bite (pun intended). I thought this book was an interesting take on the typical vampire novel. 

I really liked the plot in this book. I thought it was interesting to hear about two vampire clans at war. However, you don't really see any war in this book, which was disappointing. It was interesting to see all the different character relationships, and it was interesting to see how the main character acted. Some times in this book I felt the pacing was too fast, and I didn't really understand, and I sometimes I lost interest. However, the end of the book really picked up speed. 

I thought Arianna had some issues. I thought she was a little too trusting and a little too naive, especially for being thrown into a new scary situation. I thought she handled her new situation a little too well, because I know if it were me, I would be freaked out. I liked reading about all the breeds of creatures in this book. It was really interesting to get to read about all the characters, but I also thought the romance between them and Arianna was a little odd. 

I thought the writing style in this book was good. The way B. Kristin McMichael wrote was really engaging, and I could imagine the world that Arianna was living in. The book was very fast paced, and I thought that was good. 

Rating: 3/5 worms

Overall, I liked this book. I had issues with Arianna and sometimes I didn't understand what was going on, but I really liked the concept behind this book. 

Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott

Title: Fire and Flood

Author: Victoria Scott

Release Date: Feburary 25, 2014

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Format: eBook

Page Number: 304

Source: Netgalley

Synopsis(Goodreads): Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.

Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

My Review

In a world dominated by dystopians, I think that Fire and Flood was really good. Though it had some things that could be compared to The Hunger Games, I still think that it held its own. 

One thing I want to mention is that Fire and Flood is not just another Hunger Games wanna be. Fire and Flood has its own unique story line with its own unique twists and turns. Though some things seemed rather close to the Hunger Games, the Pandoras and other elements in the story made it different. 

The main character Tella was kind of meh. She was really obsessed with Guy and her Pandora Madox, and it was kind of weird. I also felt she was trying to hard to be tough, and she was really naive at some parts of the book. The side characters of the book, especially Tella's friends were really interesting and it was cool to see their reasons for entering the race. 

There was a ton of awesome stuff that went down in this book. It was filled with tons of action and was really fun to read. Sometimes the writing made everything seem kind of awkward, but other times it was really good. The whole book was really engaging and it was a fast paced read!

Rating: 4/5 worms

Graphic Novel Review: The Undertaking of Lily Chen

Title: The Undertaking of Lily Chen

Author: Danica Novgorodoff

Release Date: March 25, 2014

Publisher: First Second Books

Format: Ebook

Page Number: 432

Source: Netgalley

Synopsis (Goodreads): In The Undertaking of Lily Chen, Deshi, a young man struggling to make a life for himself in rural China, watches his life comes unhinged when he accidentally kills his older brother in a fight. His distraught parents send him on a hopeless journey to acquire a bride for his brother to marry posthumously so he doesn't enter the next world alone—an ancient Chinese tradition with many modern adherents. Eligible female corpses are in short supply, however. When Deshi falls into company with a beautiful, angry, and single young woman named Lily, he sees a solution to his problems.  The only hitch is Lily is still very much alive. Danica Novgorodoff, author of Slow Storm and Refresh, Refresh, brings her distinctive voice and gorgeous, moody watercolors to this wry, beautiful, and surprising literary graphic novel.

My Review

This book was very different. And I didn't completely enjoy it. There was a lot of weird things going on through it, but some things I enjoyed. 

Since this is a graphic novel, I'm going to do a different kind of review.

Likes

• The Premise- The idea of this book was really different. It was something I had never heard before. 
• Super Quick Read- I read this book in about an hour and a half. It was really quick read. 

Dislikes

• The Creepiness of the Drawings- The art in this book was nice, however, it was so creepy that I couldn't enjoy it. 
• Weirdness- The whole book was just to creepy and weird. 
• Speed- Everything in this book went by too fast. 
• Ending- I didn't think anything in the ending really wrapped up the story. 

So, overall I didn't really enjoy this book. I just thought the whole thing was too weird, and not in a good way. 

Rating: 2/5 worms